Radio & Television Business Report

On procedural grounds, the U.S. Supreme Court put the breaks on a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that would have prohibited anyone other than a political candidate from eligibility for the Lowest Unit Rate afforded by broadcast media when buying election-based advertising.

Nearly one year ago, a plan to create a duopoly in Southern New England by acquiring the non-licensed assets of the station formerly branded as “ABC6,” in Providence, R.I., was put into motion by Sinclair Inc. Now, the company is moving ahead with converting a SSA and JSA with the station's licensee to outright ownership. 

Federal District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan has been asked by none other than U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to toss a First Amendment violation claim filed against the Federal Communications Commission by ABC and its parent, The Walt Disney Company. 

Low-power television station licensee HC2 Broadcasting has emerged as one of the biggest champions of 5G Broadcast technology. Now, it is agreeing to purchase the first low-power TV station to test the alternative service to ATSC 3.0 in the Boston market — putting HC2 in the driver's seat on a quest for 5G Broadcast.

As RBR+TVBR first reported on September 2, a booming Top 40 station, along with its Classic Rock and Country siblings, are poised to leave the Cumulus Media stable. Information including the price Cumulus agreed to sell the trio of FM radio stations for are now known.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has told a Salem Media talk host that a much-awaited vote of the 'AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act' will be seen on the House floor at the start of next week. And, it was getting the legislation incorporated into an approve-or-else transportation bill that prompted the Congressman to instead schedule a vote on the bill. 

Local ad dollars and Big Tech competitors are pulling harder than any single strand can withstand. Broadcast groups have to use everything in the playbook, together, to get stronger. A Forecast 2027 panel moderated by newly minted New York State Broadcasters Association President Heidi Raphael tackles the subject.

An AM/FM combo serving Joplin, Mo., and an FM translator giving that kHz band facility a bit of "revitalization" are poised to become the latest possessions of a Pittsburg, Ks.-based media company led by William Wachter.

After five years, the agreement that saw the Dallas Mavericks partner with an iHeartMedia FM that dropped its Hot Talk/Sports Talk presentation during the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a return to its previous Rock branding ended. Now, the team's games will air on an Audacy FM — joining the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.

A transaction first announced on May 13, with details later surfacing in early June, has closed. This puts stations in two South Dakota cities held by the company founded and led by Jeffrey Warshaw in the hands of Carolyn Becker, thanks to a deal brokered by Kalil & Co.

A conservative spoken word AM serving Houston is being acquired by a limited liability company led by Yasmeen Qureshi. What does this mean for "The Voice of Texas"? If anything, it concludes a second round of ownership for the man who since 2015 has been the Lieutenant Governor of the Lone Star State.

The individual who since 2021 has served as Hearst Television’s VP of Distribution has been promoted to Senior VP of Strategy & Distribution, a newly created position in the operation. He'll continue to report to Nick Radziul, the Hearst TV Executive VP whose oversight includes distribution and government affairs.

It's been a big 2026 for a European online clothing reseller as it seeks to pluck away consumers from Poshmark and the like. How is it growing name recognition and product sales? Spot Cable is just one reason why Vinted is becoming a household name across the U.S. 

New capabilities from Comscore AI Intelligence have been brought to market, and the company seeking to provide consumer data and consumption insights believes this can offer brands and publishers the ability to measure sponsored chat-based advertising and establish its impact on digital traffic, engagement, and consumer behavior.

Consolidation, public interest, enforcement priorities, and advertising regulations are all among the policy fights that will shape the industry's 2027. The people steering those fights for the NAB, FOX, and Salem Media are bringing the inside view to New York City at Forecast 2027.

In the coming years, media historians may look back at 2025 as the year Canadian radio and television growth prospects permanently fell behind those of online services. A newly released report from the CRTC offers the clearest illustration yet of just how broadcast media's challenges now stretch to digital encroachment.