Radio & Television Business Report

The NAB has responded to efforts coordinated by a group of broadband associations designed to stop the FCC from moving forward with its decision to delete a Congressionally mandated 39% national TV ownership reach limit by largely supporting the agency's desire to move forward — and not wait for pending judicial review.

A federal magistrate judge has denied a motion designed to force Nexstar and TEGNA to respond to a question as part of the discovery process in its antitrust case filed by a group of state AGs and DirecTV.  The decision is a win for the nation's largest owner of broadcast TV stations — at least for this round.

The agenda for Streamline Publishing's Forecast conference is nearly complete, and this year's VIP symposium is poised be another five-star event with no media coverage — repeating our 2025 pledge to allow attendees to loosen their collars, share a little more and fully engage with their peers.

The FCC has abided by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' order to submit to the nation's highest court by Noon on Saturday a plan of action regarding a challenge to its "Lowest Unit Rate" Public Notice that effectively extends the political advertising advertising benefit to political action committees.

The President/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters will appear in a "fireside chat" focused on radio and television companies' battle against "Big Tech" for ad dollars and local media's core strengths and advantages at Forecast 2027, presented by RBR+TVBR and Radio Ink. 

It is a transaction that sees Tucson-based Kalil & Co. serve as the exclusive broker, and it will give the Sage Weil-led Civic Media a bigger group of radio stations — and an expanded presence in the Midwest that goes beyond Wisconsin.

Through the new agreement, Native Voice One, a division of Anchorage-based Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, will be able to continue to deliver public radio programs and topical specials to more than 200 stations, many of which are located in tribal and rural communities.

In February, the woman chosen to succeed LaFontaine Oliver as New York Public Radio‘s President/CEO was revealed. Now, the parent of WNYC Radio and Classical WQXR is seeking her replacement.

For more than a decade, iHeartMedia radio stations carrying national campaigns through its Premiere Networks arm and via local campaigns maintained exclusivity for a mobile speed dial rapid accessibility tool designed to aid recall and action in a Direct Response advertisement. Now, "Dial #250" is available to all.

The parent organization of the nation's dominant noncommercial Christian music-focused radio networks is expanding beyond the U.S., with international distribution of its content "to most of the world" coming soon. It is thanks to a just-reached agreement with Trans World Radio (TWR).

Connoisseur Media founder and CEO Jeff Warshaw says he is not chasing the Audacy CEO job in court. Soros Fund Management says his own complaint suggests otherwise. That is why SFM is asking a Constitution State judge to hold him to that position before the case moves any further down the road.

The lead attorney representing Disney and its ABC Owned Television Stations at the heart of an early license renewal process over what the FCC calls claims of "invidious" forms of DEI discrimination has told Judge Loren AliKhan that the Commission's "excuses" leading to the unprecedented move "only underscore their retaliatory motive."

In another sign that the Patrick Paolini-led TEGNA is most definitely an independently-run unit of Nexstar Media Group, he's just signed off on a "comprehensive, multi-year deal" that renews station affiliation agreements for all of the stations presently airing such programming as "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "The View."

On October 1, a New York venue served as a hub of discovery and insight into the future of the sports media business. "In The Arena," co-hosted by "Substack for sports" platform Puck and media-focused Wall Street financial house MoffettNathanson, addressed one key question of particular interest.

You might think a public speaking coach recommending AI-powered speech apps is inviting her own replacement. Yet, here is veteran public relations executive turned elucidation expert Rosemary Ravinal making peace with technology and recognizing where it belongs. Why?

There's a sense of stability along with rejuvenated longevity at National Spot TV, with commitment combined with a new spurt of activity that reinforces the power of broad reach broadcast television offers a marketer.  Last week, Walmart was among the brands making a return to a report that saw little movement at the top.