Broadcast Media’s Forecast In a Digitally Focused World

Looking for what promises to be a realistic, no-holds-barred analysis of the current and future value of broadcast assets? A Forecast 2025 panel discussion to be moderated by someone with leadership experience in both radio and TV is just the place you’ll want to be.

“Prospects for Broadcast Media as an Investment in 2025: The Real Street Talk” will see former Jacor and Tribune Co. executive Randy Michaels place a spotlight on why investment in broadcast media shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Forecast 2025 session is poised to offer investment strategies for balancing traditional media with digital innovations, and tackling challenges while exploring the opportunities for broadcasters in 2025 and beyond. Speaking to RBR+TVBR on Wednesday, Michaels believes that while television is at a different inflection point than radio when it comes to the difficult conversations about long-term revenue prospects, “Broadcasters need to be looking at the opportunities that ATSC 3.0 might bring. People that have good plans there are going to make a lot of money. People that don’t will be confused when it all comes down.”

Then, there is the continued opportunities that radio station ownership can bring. Michaels himself recently invested in an FM radio station serving an area between Dayton and Cincinnati through his Radioactive LLC. He says, “If you pick your spots, there are tremendous bargains. Broadcasting remains ubiquitous. There is no other way to reach people everywhere that involves so little capital. The costs are fairly low and the maintenance capital fairly low. In every other business, the cost of goods is high and the capital requirements are relatively high. And, everyone has a radio or a smart speaker that gets a radio station. With a right business plan and the right product, there are opportunities.”

Panelists at this Forecast 2025 session include El Dorado Capital founder/CEO Tom Castro and CometPartners Principal Jeff Haley — who most recently worked with Cox Media Group and was the RAB’s CEO from 2005-2012 until later serving as CEO and, ultimately, Vice Chairman of Marketron from 2012 to 2022. Veteran media broker Dick Kozacko of Kozacko Media Services rounds out the panel. He’s fully aware of the challenges and admits, “There’s not a lot of good news.” Yet, positives regarding broadcast station ownership remain, and getting past the big, downbeat headlines is the first task.

With reports that full-power television stations are for sale, but buyers may not be coming to the table, and continued chatter that radio station investment just isn’t the best investment, Kozacko believes broadcast media investment is attractive under the right market conditions. “If you can find a station that shows good, continued growth and is on the path for cash flow extension over future years, then it is a good opportunity for investment,” Kozacko says. “The industry has had a number of challenges over the last couple of years, but Forecast 2025 offers a great opportunity to recognize some of the positive changes. If there is anything favorable in the marketplace and any points of optimism, I hope something can come out of this conference and can show that Radio and Television can still be a successful and profitable investment.”

JOIN US AT FORECAST 2025, presented by Radio Ink and the Radio + Television Business Report

If you’re even considering station ownership, this session is for you.

Join us as we “kick the tires” on transmitters, towers, and the physical assets of an increasingly digital media world.