RCS
TypePrivate
IndustryBroadcast automation
Founded1979 (1979)
FounderDr. Andrew Economos
Headquarters
White Plains, New York
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Philippe Generali, Chip Jellison, Mike Powell, Neal Perchuk, Sven Andrae, Robin Prior, Keith Williams, Chris Bean, Heather Dwyer, Barry Hill
ProductsZetta, GSelector, Aquira, RCSNews, RCS2GO, Revma, Zetta Cloud
ParentiHeartMedia
Websitewww.rcsworks.com

RCS, originally Radio Computing Services, is a provider of scheduling and broadcast software for radio, Internet and television stations.

History

RCS was founded in 1979 by Dr. Andrew Economos. The idea for RCS and its first product, Selector, came to him when he was in charge of computing activity at NBC. Economos saw a need for a way to automate the music scheduling process at company-owned stations, and replace the existing paper-based system, and he proposed the development of music scheduling software.

NBC executives deemed the project not important enough for the network to commit resources to. Economos left NBC after 15 years to develop the product on his own. Initial marketing of Selector was difficult due to the high cost of personal computers, and some resistance from stations who wanted to keep their paper-based scheduling systems. Sales of Selector gradually improved, and by 2006, the product had around 6,000 client stations in 100 countries.[1]

On January 26, 2006, Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) purchased RCS as a subsidiary company.[2][3] Clear Channel had acquired automation software company Prophet Systems in 1997. In January 2007, Clear Channel announced that the two companies would be merged.[4][5] In September 2018, at the NextRadio conference in London, RCS president Philippe Generali announced that GSelector and Zetta would be available as cloud services.[6]

Family of Companies

As RCS has grown, the company has made several acquisitions.

  • Air Check real-time analysis of songs and commercials
  • Florical Systems television automation and integrated playout
  • Hit Predictor listeners rate popular songs
  • Mediabase monitored airplay information
  • Media Monitors local media monitoring
  • Test All Media digital media research platform
  • RCS2GO mobile
  • Revma streaming solutions

References

  1. ↑ Fred Jacobs (October 14, 2014). "Radio's Most Innovative: Andy Economos' Selector". Jacobs Media.retrieved June 27, 2018
  2. ↑ "Clear Channel buys RCS". Radio Info. January 27, 2006.retrieved June 27, 2018
  3. ↑ W. Scott Bailey (February 26, 2006). "Clear Channel buys software company". San Antonio Business Journal.retrieved June 27, 2018
  4. ↑ "RCS and Prophet Systems to Merge". Radiomag. January 25, 2007.retrieved June 27, 2018
  5. ↑ "RCS, Prophet Systems Merge; Veterans Exit". All Access. January 19, 2007.retrieved June 27, 2018
  6. ↑ "A new kind of playout system - Philippe Generali". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.retrieved October 17, 2018
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