Eco-OK Move For Broadcast Carriage Election Notice Rules
The FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai is doing its part to help the environment while perhaps also getting a commendation from the Lorax. In an unanimous vote, the Commission voted to update its carriage election notice rules by eliminating its paper requirement.
The Bleeding Can’t Stop For Comscore Stock
More than five months have passed since former CEO Bryan Wiener and ex-President Sarah Hofstetter exited Comscore -- a company that positioned itself as a worthy competitor to Nielsen. Now, its stock has dipped to yet another all-time low, despite a big international product launch.
Ed Stolz Strikes Out Again In Washington
Some 23 years after the sale of a Class B radio station in Sacramento by Royce International to Entercom, former owner Ed Stolz has been committed to rewinding the deal or, at the very least, getting the FCC to deny license renewal applications tied to Entercom in the market. He's failed again.
Capitol Hill Butts In On Nexstar/DirecTV Retrans Tussle
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and a host of other D.C. leaders dove into the latest retransmission fee agreement failure to plague America -- one that pits the soon-to-be largest owner of broadcast TV stations in the U.S. against AT&T and its DirecTV and U-Verse services.
No Prices Needed In TV Ads, Federal Judge Rules
Pending further appeal from the U.S. government, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical companies and broadcast and cable TV companies are now off the hook from being forced to display the prices of prescription drugs in any advertisements shown to viewers.
DirecTV’s CW Silence In SWFL Quietly Reaches Six-Month Mark
Over the last several years, an affiliate of The CW Network serving a Florida market has had its issues with DirecTV. Today, those difficulties are worse than ever: it's been absent from the DBS provider for more than six months -- and nary a word has been said about it.
The ‘Nexstar Playbook’: AT&T Responds To Latest Retrans Battle
"Nexstar pulls or threatens to pull their stations from the customers of TV providers to increase fees for stations far beyond their value," says DirecTV and U-Verse parent AT&T in response to the impasse with the broadcast TV company that has led to a "blackout" of its stations.
Univision Confirms Review of Strategic Options
Univision Communications has confirmed that its Board of Directors is reviewing strategic options for the company. It comes in a response to a Wall Street Journal article, citing unnamed sources.
Former Powell Cluster Flipped, At A Big Premium
Hurricane Michael caused extreme damage to a group of FM stations then-owned by Powell Broadcasting Company. Rather than rebuild the station’s facilities, Powell abandoned them, and in May 2019 agreed to sell three of them to a Fort Lauderdale-based attorney. He's now spinning them for a big profit.
A Giant Leap Forward For An Oklahoma Broadcaster
As first reported by RBR+TVBR via Twitter late Monday, Stephens Media Group is acquiring 37 radio stations from Mapleton Communications. It's a deal that sees the family-run company take a giant leap forward on a national scale. But, it may not like all of that attention.
The End Of The Road For Mapleton
The sale of 37 radio stations to a Tulsa-based broadcasting company marks the end of ownership for a media entity that grew quickly in the early 2000s, only to find itself burdened by debt by the end of the decade. Here's the story of Mapleton Communications.
Meet The Man Who Created Mediaco With Jeff Smulyan
Who's Soo Kim? He's the CEO of the entity that's just entered into a partnership with Emmis Communications that will see his Standard General take 76% ownership of Mediaco. It's first two assets are the nation's biggest radio stations superserving African Americans.
Emmis Teams With NY Investment Firm For Gotham Deal
Rumors that a deal involving at least one of Emmis' radio stations in New York was in the works came to fruition on Monday. However, WLIB-AM isn't involved. Rather, Emmis is partnering with a private investment firm on a partnership with two big FMs.
IPO Nixed For iHeart As Grand Return To Nasdaq Is Set
Mark July 18 on your calendar for a somewhat monumental day in the history of a company once called Clear Channel Communications. That's when its Class A common stock will return to trading on Nasdaq, making iHeartMedia's exit from Chapter 11 status complete.
Cumulus Cuts Loose WABC For $12.5 Million
WABC-AM 770 in New York -- a faded legend steeped in radio lore -- is set to get a rebirth of sorts. It's just been sold to a local businessman who has a penchant for Talk radio. This led Cumulus Media's leader, Mary Berner, to use a hashtag to quell employee concerns.