A Call For The FCC To Fix Minority Ownership ‘Suppression’
Are you among the group of individuals who believe the FCC incubator program is destined to fail? You may want to read this. The Southern Journal of Policy and Justice this week published a 61-page law review article with the salacious title, "How The FCC Suppressed Minority Ownership, and How the FCC Can Undo The Damage It Caused?" We've perused the article and offer up its key points.
Ripley’s Path For Sinclair, Minus Tribune
What's the future for Sinclair Broadcast Group now that it will not be merging with Tribune Media? That question was most likely on everyone's minds at the second and concluding day of sessions at NAB Show New York. In a candid midday conversation Thursday, company President/CEO Chris Ripley shared Sinclair's strategy for long-term success in a media landscape that is drastically expanding.
Future Focus: TV’s Leaders On Retrans, Next Gen Broadcasts
With their sights on the future and, without a doubt, the Next Generation broadcast TV standard, some of the industry's leading CEOs on Wednesday morning confirmed their commitment to the technological advancements that — combined with live and local — will propel the medium into the future. The comments were delivered to a packed room of NAB Show New York attendees.
Tribune Shares Recover From Post-Sinclair Slide
On July 16, Tribune Media shares nosedived after it became known that it would not be proceeding with its planned merger with Sinclair Broadcast Group. One month later, investors reassessed the situation -- and became believers in Tribune once again as it seeks a new suitor. On Wednesday, Tribune officially closed at its highest point since that unfortunate summer's day.
Scripps Takes Triton After Audioboom Deal Goes Bust
Just because they didn't want to own radio stations anymore doesn't mean they don't see the continued value of audio content delivery to listeners across the globe. The E.W. Scripps Company is purchasing Triton, a top tech provider serving the audio media industry. While $83.5 million was earned from the sale of its radio division, Scripps must still dive into its piggy bank for $66.5 million in additional funds to fund the purchase.
Univision Attacks DISH In Court With Counter-Claims
The battle between Univision and DISH has heated up in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, as Unvision has filed counter-claims against the DBS provider, which is the plaintiff in this legal matter. Why? We reviewed the 36-page filing made October 12, and have some of the details.
DISH Resolves Its Latest Retrans Fee Feud
Some seven weeks after a group of broadcast TV stations were dropped from DISH Network in the absence of a new retransmission fee agreement, a resolution has finally come. Each of the impacted channels are now restored to DISH's systems, while terms of the new deal were not disclosed.
Silent Mourning: Powell Won’t Repair Panama City FMs
In April 2012, four FM radio stations in the nation's 224th-largest rated market were sold to a diversified Baton Rouge-based company with its roots in food distribution and agriculture. On Friday, faced with the decision to invest in the substantial reconstruction of its most recent radio acquisitions or to abandon them, Powell Broadcasting chose the latter.
Local Radio, TV Struggles To Return After Michael’s Malice
It could be months before the power grid is restored in Bay County, Fla., where Gray Television and Nexstar Media Group, in addition to iHeartMedia and locally owned radio stations, are slowly recovering from devastation caused by Hurricane Michael. Also impacted is Sinclair's FOX affiliate in Albany, Ga.
R.I.P. NextRadio? Emmis Makes A ‘Heartbreaking’ Decision
"This is an interesting quarter, obviously, as we'll get into," Emmis head Jeff Smulyan noted during his company's fiscal Q2 2019 earnings call for financial analysts and investors. Net revenue dipped by more than $10 million, "fueled by a very tough June, one of the toughest months we've had." But, the biggest news involves TagStation LLC and NextRadio. Both are "dramatically reducing" operations.
Submitted For FCC Approval: iHeart’s BK Getaway
In seven separate Form 314 filings made with the FCC on Tuesday, reflecting the unique licensee names used by the nation's No. 1 owner of AM and FM radio stations, iHeartMedia officially presented to the Commission its Chapter 11 restructuring plan -- and how it plans to operate once it emerges from debtor-in-possession status. The biggest takeaway from the filings involves the role Liberty Media will have.
The NAB’s STELAR Death Wish
"Congress never intended for satellite TV legislation that permits 'unserved homes' to import distant network TV signals to live in perpetuity," the NAB argues. That language paints a clear picture of how broadcast media's chief Capitol Hill lobbying group feels about the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act. The NAB wants it to die.
Comments Wanted On AM Interference Protection
What sort of interference protection should big, booming Class A AM radio stations, which reach multiple states after dark thanks to skywave reception, have in the modern age? That's exactly what the Commission would like to answer, and it is turning to the public for assistance in reaching its conclusion.
‘HOW Is iHeart? Ross Gets Bob To Talk
"Bob Pittman's approach to business is something I find inspiring," notes Ross Kaminsky. Who's that? Kaminsky is the morning host at iHeartMedia-owned Talk KHOW-AM 630 in Denver. On Friday, Kaminsky's on-air guest was the big boss himself: iHeart Chairman/CEO Pittman.
Cumulus’ PD Rewind: Swanson Returns To Legendary AMs
For 17 years, Jack Swanson commanded as PD two of the nation's most successful spoken-word radio stations: KGO and KSFO. He had been associated with KGO since 1983, and on Oct. 14, 2011 notified station staff via an e-mail that he was exiting KGO and KSFO. His plan? Swanson said he was "heading for some small island very far away to rest, and think and reinvent." Siesta time is over, after a stint at a KGO crosstown rival.