Radio & Television Business Report

Today, iHeartMedia, Cox Media Group and SBS each compete for listeners against low-power FMs and heritage AMs in Orlando — a thriving Hispanic community. Norsan Media now wishes to compete against these other players, launching a trio of new audio choices — a move that makes Orlando one of the nation's most diverse Hispanic radio markets.

Large swaths of Western North Carolina and eastern Georgia impacted last week by Hurricane Helene and its remnants remain without cell phone service — let alone electricity, potable water and in some areas any navigable thoroughfares. This reinforced the need for broadcast media services in an emergency situation — even as stations themselves struggled to stay on the air.

"With greater scale, we expect a combined DIRECTV and DISH will be better able to work with programmers to realize our vision for the future of TV, which is to aggregate, curate, and distribute content tailored to customers’ interests," DirecTV CEO Bill Morrow said in a prepared statement released early Monday.

The FCC's two Republican votemakers couldn't be more irate over what detractors of the deal have labeled a "Soros short cut" to gaining financial control — and, to conservatives, editorial control — of Audacy's radio stations. Yet, the Chairwoman remains steadfast that the same process used for three of Audacy's peers was applied with its emergence from bankruptcy protection.

As of November 16 Scripps News 24/7 national news programming will wind down, with the digital multicast network that evolved from OTT-distributed Newsy coming to its conclusion.

Don't call it a merger, but instead a strategic partnership. Longtime radio syndication company United Stations Radio Networks (USRN), founded by the late Dick Clark, and Key Networks, are uniting their sales forces.

“We are pleased to have successfully achieved all of our restructuring goals, emerging with an outstanding balance sheet, delivering industry-leading growth, serving our listeners and advertisers with excellence and honoring our commitments to employees and partners,” said David Field, who will continue as President/CEO of Audacy Inc. as it goes private.

While the release of the Commission's Memorandum Opinion and Order came early Monday, it was adopted in a divisive 3-2 vote on September 18, with Republicans Brendan Carr and Nate Simington vociferously disapproving the deal over Soros' ties to liberal and Democratic causes.

"While we do not take a position on the merits of this or any particular broadcast transaction, it is essential that the FCC’s regulatory processes are fair and predictable so that broadcasters can innovate and invest in their stations to the benefit of communities across the country," NAB head Curtis LeGeyt said.

The licenses for an AM radio station with an FM translator serving Oregon's state capital were transferred between family members — twice — without FCC authorization. That's yielded a proposed fine.

Matthew Wesolowski is known across the industry as the General Manager of SSR Communications in Flora, Miss., who had been a key advocate of a “Class C4” FM radio facility. Now, Wesolowski is in the news as the Audio Division has ordered his company to show why it can't move a Utah FM to a new frequency and a Nevada address.

Gray Media, the Atlanta-based TV station owner shifting from its Gray Television name, has reached a deal that will bring Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) programming to two of its stations in neighboring markets.

For gamers, virtual reality and augmented reality are each key attraction points. But can a television news department benefit from VR and AR capabilities? WBBM-2 will soon find out.

Some 64% of respondents of voting age are concerned about the media’s ability to shape perceptions and opinions, while 73% agree that it is “important to hear different voices and perspectives… so they can form their own opinions about things.” Those findings come from a just-released Hispanic consumer study on social, cultural and political shifts.

NielsenIQ has released its Mid-Year Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2025 report, which takes a closer look at macro catalysts across industries. Among the top takeaways from the study is that consumers remain determined and resilient despite uncertainty. This provides a strategic roadmap for retailers looking to win over consumers.

While it is a deeply personal experience, a well-crafted eulogy can offer comfort to others, observe the person’s life, and help you process your own emotions. Public speaking coach Rosemary Ravinal shares in this column how to write and deliver a meaningful eulogy, with tips to guide you through each stage of the process.