Thursday, June 12, 2025

WARC Downgrades Global Ad Market Prospects

U.S. ad market prospects have been cut by half a point by WARC, as its global growth forecasts for advertising spend have been downgraded further this year. This follows an initial $20 billion cut seen in March by the research firm.

A Heritage AM Is Silenced By Copper-Stealing Vandals

It is a locally owned radio station launched in 1994 to target the growing Hispanic population in Memphis. Now, it is scrambling to resume over-the-air broadcasts of its AM radio station after becoming the victim of copper theft at its transmitter.

CBS Los Angeles Debuts Its AR/VR Studio

Technology has helped in paving a divergent path for a news organization that vigorously competes against NBCUniversal, Nexstar Media Group's storied KTLA, KABC-7 and FOX Television Stations' KTTV "FOX 11."  Now, the tech advantage is tilting toward CBS L.A., they believe.

Terminated KDHX Volunteers, Associates Can’t Stop Gateway Sale

An attempt by a group of terminated associates and non-paid workers linked to the troubled St. Louis community-focused eclectic noncommercial music station has failed. However, a debtor's motion submitted to the court gives hope that the KDHX beloved by its supporters will have a future. 

The Problem Of PIRATE Act Enforcement, Flaunted In Miami

Late Friday, yet another attempt to punish brazen Miami-area pirate radio operator Fabrice Polynice surfaced from the Commission. But without true firepower — such as a potentially life-threatening gunfight in North Miami — can Radio Touche Douce at 90.1 MHz be finally silenced?
David Cerullo

Imagicomm’s Deltavision Deal Gets Regulatory OK

The Media Bureau has granted the unopposed application for the assignment of a collection of TV stations from the David Cerullo-led Imagicomm Communications to an entity owned and operated by Webb Collums. It's noteworthy, as the Carr Commission has granted another "top-four" network affiliation waiver.

A Dios le Pido: SBS Spins Mega TV’s Puerto Rico Facilities

Spanish Broadcasting System, the company founded and led by Raúl Alarcón Jr., has reached a deal that confirms SBS is selling its TV assets in Puerto Rico but retaining its stateside properties. Who is acquiring the three TV stations serving cities across La Isla del Encanto? Look no further than Joni Lamb.
Brian Wieser

‘Significant Threats’ Loom, But Can’t Dampen 2025 Ad Forecast

A stronger than expected first quarter was seen for U.S. advertising, and that's led respected media and marketing financial analyst Brian Wieser to update his firm's quarterly domestic advertising model. Wieser explains that it is being adjusted "to reflect revised expectations" for the remainder of 2025.
Nathan Simington

FCC Surprise: Simington Says He’s Exiting Commission

Nathan Simington, born in Canada and appointed by President Trump during his first term in office, has formally announced that he will step down as a FCC Commissioner at the end of this week. It's hardly expected, with no formal announcement seen ahead of the distribution of the FCC's Daily Digest on Wednesday.
Corporation for public broadcasting logo

Public Media Vociferously Responds to Trump’s Budget Erasures

President Trump’s recission package was sent Tuesday to Capitol Hill. This came after his proposed FY 2026 budget proposal was sent on Friday. Public media leaders are aghast.

Stephens Media Sells More Bayou State Radio Stations

In late March, a Tulsa-headquartered owner of broadcast media stations in such markets as Merced and Monterey-Salinas, Calif.; Rochester, N.Y.; Medford, Ore.; and Yakima, Wash., sold its assets in one mid-sized Louisiana city. Now, Stephens Media Group is preparing to exit a second market in Cajun Country.

WANF To Drop CBS Affiliation In August

After 31 years of alignment with CBS across three different ownership groups, WANF on August 16 will become an independent news-focused flagship property owned by Gray Media doubling down on its "Atlanta News First" branding introduced in fall 2022. Where's the CBS affiliation going? An CBS O&O is grabbing it.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Byron Allen at Byron Allen's Oscar Gala at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for Allen Media Group / Byron Allen)

Byron Allen To Tackle Debt With TV Station Sales

Byron Allen is placing some, but not all, of Allen Media Group's broadcast properties on the market. The decision, which is tied to a debt relief effort, comes at a moment where industry consolidation and an end date for ATSC 1.0 digital transmission are poised to reshape the TV landscape.
KDHX-FM

K-LOVE Outbid For Embattled St. Louis FM Noncomm

As May ended, so did the likelihood that K-Love Inc. would be gaining ownership of KDHX-FM. Instead, a heritage in-market competitor for Christian music lovers will be getting it, pending a bankruptcy judge's OK in the coming days. Two groups supporting KDHX's "renewal" said Monday they will continue their fight.
Nathan Simington

Simington Proposes TV Streamers Be Brought Under FCC Purview

While the FCC opens the door to deregulation for traditional broadcasters in the wake of unregulated digital competitors, Commissioner Nathan Simington has suggested a second, concurrent way to level the playing field: bringing streaming platforms under the same rules that govern cable and satellite providers.