Radio & Television Business Report

It is a Class C2 FM serving Alabama's biggest market from Gardendale offering a blend of Top 40 music anchored by the syndicated Tino Cochino Radio in morning drive. Soon, that will all end, as Summitmedia has agreed to sell the facility.

The Acting Chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has OK'd a Consent Decree resolving an obscenity and indecency investigation involving a TEGNA station. While there is no longer an investigation against the station, the parent of KREM-2 will be making a hefty "voluntary contribution" to the U.S. Treasury.

A former FCC Commissioner has urged the agency to "strongly reject" any government regulatory policy that requires the abandonment of ATSC 1.0 broadcast signals in order to bring ATSC 3.0 opportunities to their fullest potential.

"Another day, another reflexive, innovation-blocking FCC filing from the usual suspects – cable lobbyists, legacy advocacy groups and industry players who oppose anything that might strengthen free, over-the-air broadcasting." Those fierce words open a thought piece distributed Wednesday by the NAB's legal head.

On Tuesday, broadcast TV company Gray Media announced a private offering of $900 million aggregate principal amount of 9.625% senior secured second lien notes due 2032. One day later, the NYSE-traded company unveiled the pricing of the offering, and it is an upsizing — a mark of success for Gray.

In an unusual twist, the license holder of Miami's NPR Member station has filed a Petition to Deny the transfer of control of a West Palm Beach move-in to the South Florida Public Media Group. The entity has been operating the station on behalf of the Miami-Dade County School Board, which is protesting the purchase.

As 2025 began, a Lakeland, Fla.-based radio broadcasting company attracted attention for saying goodbye to the Program Director and morning co-host of its Adult Hits FM in its home market, with his on-air companion also relieved of his duties. Now, Hall Communications is parting ways with "MAX 98.3."

"Radio Touche Douce" operator Fabrice Polynice has taken a cue from former FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington in presenting a landmark challenge to the agency's ability to levy a financial penalty to an individual or licensee that has violated its rules. For Polynice, a $2.39 million fine handed to him is "unconstitutional."

It was a partnership that started in 2023. Today, Hope Media Group and Worship 24/7 are set to formally unite in a merger of the two Christian radio networks. It is now known how much HMG will be paying to obtain Worship 24/7's assets, based on a series of filings posted to the FCC's LMS on Wednesday.

Nasdaq-traded Auddia Inc. has named the successor to Michael Lawless as Chief Executive Officer. The change comes as Lawless is retiring after 13 years of leading the company and its predecessor, Clip Interactive.

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau is terminating its investigation and resolving a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture handed to a Randolph, Mass., individual for unlicensed FM radio broadcasts on two different frequencies. It is doing so by entering into a Consent Decree that involves a small civil penalty and a much bigger default fine.

"This strategic collaboration delivers a powerful blend of live TV and exclusive on-demand content, reinforcing both companies' commitment to serving U.S. Spanish-speaking audiences with culturally relevant programming," DirecTV and TelevisaUnivision said in a joint statement distributed Thursday.

It signed on the air on July 31, 1955 as KRNT-TV, and was owned by the Cowles family until 1983. Today, the station is CBS affiliate KCCI-8 in Des Moines, and the Hearst Television property is gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

While AI is rapidly becoming an integral part of consumer decision-making, it often falls short on one crucial element – trust. And that's where traditional media, particularly radio, plays a surprisingly vital and unique role, new data from Audacy show.

The workforce of the U.S. is comprised of more and more minorities, such as Hispanics. Furthermore, there is a positive association between the rise in Hispanic workers and Hispanic buying power, a FSU Master's student writes in a column worthy of a close read. "This implication is one that marketers must be proactive in responding to," the report concludes.

U.S.-based employers announced 47,999 job cuts in June, down 49% from May’s 93,816. It is down 2% from 48,786 announced in the same month last year, according to a report released this week from global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.