Below is the technical guide for the WOR Radio Network.

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LEVEL SETTING

The WOR Radio Network is designed to sound as locally produced as possible. Therefore, it is in the affiliate’s best interest to make sure that audio levels are set properly.

Local audio levels for liners and rollovers should be approximately 2dB above the network levels. This will ensure that the liners do not get buried under music beds. All other program elements should be matched as closely as possible to the levels coming from the Network.

BACK-UP HOURS

There may be instances where the Network feed is not available for air at an affiliate’s location. These instances may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• • Some problem that temporarily affects your automation system.
  • Some problem with your satellite downlink system.
  • Some problem affecting The WOR Radio Network transmission. (This would be extremely rare. The WOR Radio Network employs UPS protection at the studio end and has a backup generator. In addition, we maintain backup equipment and transmission facilities.)
  • Sun Outage. Two times per year, in the early spring and early fall, the earth’s tilt is such that the sun will align directly behind the satellite as your dish sees it. The interference generated by the sun will cause the satellite signal to fail at your facility for a period of between 2 minutes and 15 minutes. The WOR Radio Network will be happy to provide our affiliates with a prediction of the Sun Outage cycle at your particular location upon request.

AUDIO PROCESSING

The WOR Radio Network is produced in our studios in New York to the studio automation. This signal then travels via uncompressed transmission lines to the satellite uplink facility. The audio, as received from your Starguide III receiver, will be equal to or better than the audio that can be produced at the local level.

The WOR Radio Network employs mild limiting to prevent overdriving the digital transmission channel. This limiter employs mild compression to help even out audio levels.

Audio processing on the affiliate end is entirely up to the sound the affiliate wants on their air.

DISH ALIGNMENT

The WOR Radio Network is delivered via GE-8, located at 139 degrees west longitude.

Please refer to the manual that was included with your Starguide III receiver for proper installation and aiming directions for your satellite dish.

DIGITAL AUTOMATION SYSTEMS

There are numerous Digital Automation Systems available for broadcast use. Only you can determine which one is correct for your facility.

Any automation system you choose should:

• • Allow at least two sources on air at once (network audio and liner).
  • Mute network audio during local breaks.
  • Accept dry contact closures for cueing.

It is preferable that your system unmute network audio on a timed basis.

SATELLITE INFORMATION

Satellite: GE-8

Orbital Position: 139 Degrees West Longitude

Receiver Required for reception: Starguide III

Receiver Configuration: One audio card: optional ABC NetCue II Card

Carrier frequency: 990000 kHz

Data rate: 12288000 BPS

VIT: 2/3

Provider: ABCNY

Service: WOR1/WOR2

Audio output from the Starguide III is discrete Left (WOR Network #1) and Right (WOR Network #2) audio channels. DO NOT use the mono output of the audio card! Doing so will give you a mix of both networks!

CONTACT CLOSURES

Contact closures to fire liners, and spot breaks are available on the DB-15 connector of the audio card, the DB-37 connector on your ABC NetCue II card, or via on-channel subaudible tones. The WOR Radio Network’s closures are as follows:

• ROLLOVER LINER
• LOCAL SPOTS

CONTACT CLOSURE DEFINITIONS

ROLLOVER LINER: Intended to fire a liner not longer than 5 seconds in length over the network audio.

SPOT CUE: Fires off a local break.

WHO TO CALL

Starguide Support/Technical Issues:

ABC Radio Networks 212-456-5000, menu option 5

Engineering Hotline (all hours): 212-642-4477

Engineering Department (9AM-5PM)

Thomas R. Ray, III 212-642-4462

Corporate Director of Engineering

STUDIO EQUIPMENT

The WOR Radio Network utilizes relay closures derived from either the relays on the audio card in your Starguide III, the relay closures from your optional ABC NetCue II card, or relays in your subaudible decoder. These closures allow The WOR Radio Network to trigger your local breaks, as well as station liners. This will help give The WOR Radio Network a “local” sound on your station.

You will need the following to properly present The WOR Radio Network to your audience:

• • A digital hard-disk based automation system capable of accepting a contact closure to start your local breaks and mute the network feed: and the ability to accept an additional closure for liners. In addition, the system should have some method to synchronize the computer’s clock with a time base. Please consult your system’s technical manual on how to set up these functions.

• • If you do not have a digital automation system, you should have some method to play your local commercial breaks. Additionally, you should have 1 dedicated cart machine for liners.

DEAD ROLLS

Not all affiliates liners are the same length. When recording your liners for air play, you will want to make sure that the timing is correct so that the liner does not step on the beginning of your break.

Liners should be the following length:

Not longer than 5 seconds

The WOR Radio Network hours generally end with a music bed that ends exactly @ 58:50.