The Video Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau has issued an Order to a broadcast television station owner linked to the creator of 5-Hour Energy liquid supplements to file early license renewal applications for its stations, following an investigation for compliance with its obligations as a licensed broadcaster.
The news is surprising for multiple reasons. First, it involves Bridge News LLC, formerly led on a day-to-day basis by Vince Bodiford and bankrolled by Manoj Bhargava. Between early 2023 and summer 2024, Bhargava emerged as one of the most significant new buyers of broadcast television stations in the U.S. Then, after a big push to compete against cable TV news outlets and Scripps News, Bridge News’ NewsNet digital multicast network abruptly ceased operations.
Now, more than 1 1/2 years later, Video Division Chair David J. Brown shares that the FCC has been investigating Bridge News for possible violations of the FCC’s prohibition on unauthorized transfers of control of the station licenses.
Even though NewsNet met its demise, some 83 low-power TV stations remain under Bridge News LLC ownership, in a wide range of large and mid-sized DMAs.
“While Bridge News LLC has purported to respond to two FCC Letters of Inquiry, the FCC has determined that additional actions are appropriate at this time,” Brown said.
As Brown sees it, “FCC rules provide that whenever the FCC regards an application for a renewal of a license as essential to the proper conduct of an investigation, the FCC has the authority to call the broadcaster’s licenses in for early renewal. Doing so both allows the FCC to conduct its ongoing investigation and enables the FCC to ensure that the broadcaster has been meeting its public interest obligations more broadly.”
Furthermore, calling Bridge News’ licenses early for renewal, Brown believes, can be done under the Communications Act’s public interest standard “is essential within the meaning of agency regulations.” Bridge News LLC now must file license renewal applications for all of its licensed stations by May 27.
Many believe that a similar Order could be in the works for The Walt Disney Co. regarding a potential early renewal of ABC Owned Stations licenses, something Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez has lambasted as politically motivated and meritless.
Bridge News’ legal counsel has been Dan J. Alpert of Arlington, Va.
