Cumulus Inks Deal With GatesAir To Upgrade Facilities

GatesAir, a global leader in wireless, over-the-air content delivery solutions for radio and TV broadcasters, has been awarded a significant contract from leading US radio broadcast group Cumulus Media.

The deal aligns with Cumulus Media’s broader modernization initiative for its RF facilities network-wide, with nearly 70 GatesAir Flexiva™ FM and AM radio transmitters rolling out in multiple markets over the coming months.

One key aspiration of Cumulus’ initiative was a reduction in operational expense and energy use in its RF plants, with an emphasis on long-term sustainability. GatesAir’s high-efficiency, solid-state transmitters will in many cases replace aging tube models, which will provide an immediate impact on reducing maintenance and cooling costs.

“We expect to see a sizable reduction in power costs due to lower cooling requirements, based on our heat-output analysis comparing our existing systems with the more efficient Flexiva design,” said Conrad Trautmann, senior vice president of technology and operations. “Tubes are also becoming harder to find and more expensive, so by investing in more modern technologies and RF innovations we are saving long-term expenses while improving our signal quality and reliability of service. Overall, this deal emphasizes our commitment to the future of over-the-air radio.”

The deal includes GatesAir Flexiva air-cooled systems for the majority of the FM stations, with a Flexiva FLX liquid-cooled transmitter ordered for WEBE(FM) in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Bridgeport site is one of several locations that will see a complete replacement of RF systems, including a modernized building to house all transmission, auxiliary and cooling systems.

The first sites are expected to roll out this spring, including several stations in the Bloomington, Indiana and Fort Walton Beach, Florida markets.