Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Localized news radio app readies

It’s a Pandora-like hyperlocal approach to traffic with “musical interludes” from
U.S. Congress

Committee set to review Telecom policy

Communications Subcommittee Chair Greg Walden and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton have
SBS / Spanish Broadcasting System

What’s up with “El Mandril”?

SBS’s top-rated morning driver “El Mandril” (Ricardo Sanchez) has been off the air at KLAX-FM LA for weeks because of what we’ve heard to be contract negotiations (his current contract ends 1/13). Well, the LA Times says it may be more than that:
Microphone

Is there a future for progressive political talk radio?

Conservative dominance of the political talk genre is a given, and what little liberal presence there is seems
Shopping / Christmas / Holiday

SCOTUS stays out of brick & mortar v. internet dispute

Retailers with a physical presence in the communities they serve are tired of being forced to collect sales taxes while losing business to etailers who bear no such burden. With the Supreme Court ducking the issue, the International Council of Shopping Centers is turning back to Congress for help.
Gavel

Political noncom loophole undone

A 9th Circuit Court ruling that would have permitted political advertising on non-commercial radio and television
Univision Communications, Inc.

Univision Radio debuts “El Bueno, La Mala, y El Feo”

It’s the morning show replacement for Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo: Translated, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,”

UK government to sell additional DAB licenses

Ed Vaizey, the UK Communications minister, is expected to announce a major expansion of

Cable also seeking auction moving expense reimbursement

It’s already bad enough that some television broadcasters will be forced to change channels
Cumulus

Lew Dickey, Sr. passes

Sadly, Lew Dickey, Sr., passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday at age 86. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia; six children: Pat, Lew (Cumulus CEO), David, John (Cumulus COO), Michael and Caroline; and eight grandchildren. Here is the obituary:
Yahoo!

Alas, poor Couric! I knew her!

OK, OK, our headline is way over the top –we just couldn’t resist. But when Katie Couric accepted the job as global anchor of Yahoo News, internet portal The Daily Beast wondered if it signaled “the end of old media dominance.” Count us among the skeptical.
Mike Huckabee

Huckabee to turn off his mic

His long-form mic, anyway. 200 radio stations are going to have three hours to fill in their schedule as former governor and presidential candidate and current Cumulus Talker Mike Huckabee focuses on alternate opportunities.
Chart

Another slip in consumer confidence

According to the Conference Board, consumers lost their faith in the economy modestly during
SBG / Sinclair Broadcast Group

Inside the Sinclair Portland Maine Max-out

The ties between Sinclair’s CBS WGME-TV Portland ME and Max Broadcast Group’s Fox WPFO-TV

ACA echoes Rockefeller in call for SSA review

The practice of combining certain operational facets of local television stations via JSAs and SSAs