Radio Computing Services

Infobox Company
type =
company_
name = Radio Computing Services
foundation = 1979
location_city = White Plains, New York
location_country = United States of America
industry = Broadcast automation
products = Selector, GSelector, Linker, Master Control, RCSnews
parent = Clear Channel Communications
homepage = [http://www.rcsworks.com/ www.rcsworks.com]
intl = yes

Radio Computing Services, also known as RCS Inc., is a provider of scheduling and broadcast software for radio, Internet and television stations. The company was established in 1979 by Dr. Andrew Economos. On January 26, 2006, Clear Channel Communications purchased RCS as a subsidiary company. [Cite web |url=http://radiomagonline.com/currents/weekly/radio_currents_012306/ |title=Clear Channel Buys RCS |date=2006-01-26 |publisher=Radio Magazine Online |accessdate=2008-08-06] [Cite web |url=http://www.secinfo.com/dsvrp.u4Dk.b.htm |title=Clear Channel - form 10-K filing |date=2007-03-01 |accessdate=2008-08-06 |publisher=SEC Info - Fran Finnegan & Company]

Music scheduling software

elector

The first product developed by RCS was Selector, a music scheduling system. The original Selector was developed on a PDP-11/03 under RT-11 and was programmed in Fortran and FMS-11. The goal of Selector is to help music directors of radio stations to handle day-to-day operations such as daily schedule generation, maintenance of music library and format hours (also known as clocks).

Linker

RCS also provides a scheduling system for non-musical elements (jingles, promos, etc.) called Linker, a digital automation system for broadcasting from PC called Master Control, a commercial (spot) trafficking system known as Airwaves and software for radio newsrooms called RCSnews. As of 2007 RCS has approximately 9,000 clients worldwide and due to its widespread use is considered as the leader in the radio software industry.Fact|date=October 2007

GSelector

In April 2006, RCS introduced new music scheduling software for radio, satellite, DAB, HD and internet stations called GSelector. The original Selector system used Rules to determine what songs can be scheduled at given schedule positions: do not play two rock songs in a row (Sound Code rule); do not play a Beatles song in less than 2 hours (Artist Separation rule); do not play certain songs in the morning (Daypart Restriction rule) and many more. In GSelector, music director sets goals (hence the GSelector name) of what should happen; instead of rules the system provides a set of controls allowing to easily adjust (increase/decrease) balance and demand of a variety of music attributes: tempo, energy, mood, artist occurrence, etc.

Apart from goal-based scheduling GSelector also offers a new approach to music libraries. Unlike the previous system which maintains one library per database (whereas database usually refers to a single station), GSelector allows to operate individual stations (with individual schedules) that share one music library within a single database.

Prophet

Prophet is a digital automation system developed by Prophet Systems, Inc. Prophet Systems was founded in 1989 by Ray & Kevin Lockhart of Ogallala, Nebraska to develop a system that would run their radio stations. Prohpet went on to become a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications in 1997. On January 19, 2007, Prophet Systems was merged in to RCS. [Cite web |url=http://radiomagonline.com/news/rcs-prophet-merge/ |title=RCS and Prophet Systems to Merge |date=2007-01-23 |publisher=Radio Magazine Online |accessdate=2008-08-06]

The Prophet software features two main platforms, Audio Wizard and Nexgen, however the Wizard system is being phased out. Audio Wizard and Nexgen allow for voice tracking, remote control, and complete station automation; as well as dual redundancy, an emergency control room system, and satellite control. Alongside many other media organizations, Sirius Satellite Radio uses Nexgen to manage some of its programming.fact|date=August 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.rcsworks.com/ RCS Web site]
* [http://www.radioandrecords.com/Newsroom/2006_01_26/ccacquires.asp Radio & Records article on Clear Channel purchase]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E5DD1539F932A15755C0A960958260 The state of the radio industry - the role of RCS in the industry.] (June 21, 1996)
* [http://www.powergold.com/ Powergold, music scheduling provider]
* [http://www.a-ware.com/ MusicMaster, music scheduling provider]