Radio News

Until now, consumers of Cumulus Media-owned radio stations that wished to stream any of the company's AMs or FMs needed to do so via two commonly used apps. As of today, the third widely used live audio streaming app has added all of Cumulus' broadcast stations to its platform.

A "major evolution in response to the rapid digitalization of audio consumption" is about to take place for radio ratings across some of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world. How so? Live streaming data is to be integrated into a new multimillion-dollar hybrid measurement system. This effort doesn't involve Nielsen, however.

Until recently, a 3,500-watt Class A facility with a broadcast tower in the city of Oak Brook, Ill., could barely penetrate the Loop and much of the city of Chicago. Today, EMF owns the station, which carries the WAWE-FM call letters. And, for the first time ever, it fully reaches Chicago's most populous zones. Thank GeoBroadcast Solutions for making it happen.

Of the big regional religious radio broadcasting operations, the Houston-based entity devoted to "keeping Him close by" has emerged as a force in the Lone Star State. It's expanded well beyond its home market, and is now ready to enter two new Texas locales.

Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned Dielectric has literally changed how FM broadcast antenna manufactures validate directional pattern studies for new FM broadcast antennas. In fact, the company's research played a key role in the recent FCC filing of a Petition for Rulemaking, written with leading broadcast consultancy Merrill Weiss Group, that could be approved within weeks.

HD Radio, touted by parent Xperi Corp. as "the most successfully deployed commercial digital radio system worldwide," has expanded into the motorbike category. The HD Radio receivers are currently available on the digital dash display of one motorbike brand -- an uncommon one across the U.S. 

Expanding the range of smart home devices through which radio broadcasters can engage their audiences, streaming and podcast product provider StreamGuys is now offering custom development of Google Actions.

Salem Media Group has successfully completed a refinancing effort that effectively sees old debt replaced by new debt. The move, the company notes, shrinks its debt by more than $9 million. 

*Sponsored Content* - While technology makes it possible to harness the power of data to create truly targeted advertising, how then can one turn all of this potential into profit for broadcasters? The Adthos Creative Studio, introduced last week, offers some intriguing opportunities.

Kent State University is the home of a Class B FM that offers "Public Radio News for Northeast Ohio," primarily to Akron and Canton and also to the Cleveland market due north of campus. That programming isn't likely to change anytime soon. But, the ownership could be, following the initiation of a "public service operating agreement" at the end of the month.

As America mourned and recovered from the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Premiere Networks rolled out a syndicated talk show featuring Sean Hannity. Today, the program is still going strong, and is heard on more than 650 stations.

Borrell Associates has just completed the analysis of its survey of local ad agencies, and it is now releasing the findings. What's the biggest takeaway for the radio industry, or for TV industry executives? Radio is the largest non-digital media among agencies buying and/or managing media for clients, the survey finds.

That's a question financial blog Simply Wall St. is asking about the audio media company that's home to Cadence13, Pineapple Street and what had been the Radio.com app until its rebranding to Audacy. With the company's shares on the NYSE sputtering of late, it's an interesting look at "who really controls" the company formerly known as Entercom.

Licensed to the municipality of Egypt Lake, Fla., is a Class B AM with 2,800 watts from 2 towers when the sun is up and 800 watts from 3 towers after dark. It serves the entire Tampa-St. Petersburg region, minus Polk County. Giving it a boost in central Hillsborough County is an FM translator at 101.9 MHz. Both have been sold by Neal Ardman's NIA Broadcasting. 

A 1,000-watt daytime-only AM radio station could be on the hook for a financial penalty for being delinquent with its FCC license renewal application. It's just the latest Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture handed out to a radio station that was tardy.