Radio News

In 1996, Dennis Wharton joined the NAB as VP of Media Relations. A year later, he added SVP stripes, followed by an ascension to EVP in 2006. It followed roles as a journalist in Ohio and as Washington Bureau Chief for Tinseltown trade Variety. Now, Wharton is retiring from the NAB. But, he will still be actively assisting its President/CEO.

Latino consumers who prefer the sounds of such Spanish-language recording artists as Christian Nodal, Banda MS and La Arrolladora Banda el Limón have a new place to turn to in Jacksonville. That's because Regional Mexican programming has just replaced Sports Talk on an iHeartRadio FM property in the market.

For many, a visit to a grocery store isn't as simple as it was until the COVID-19 pandemic's start in mid-March. As such, prepare-and-serve grocery delivery companies such as Schwan's Home Service are helping. Now, radio listeners are able to learn more about Schwan's thanks to a radio spot that has just won Oink Ink Radio's annual spot competition.

Humboldt County, Calif., has always been a unique part of the Golden State. And, the local economy has long been fragile. With the COVID-19 pandemic, what has that meant for media companies serving communities here? RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson gets the answer in this Coronavirus INFOCUS Podcast with Lost Coast Communications GM Bill Prescott. LISTEN HERE

On April 20, Carl Como Tutera, known for operating the former CBS Sports Radio affiliate in Orlando, agreed to sell an FM translator serving a tiny patch of Greater Miami. The buyer? A licensee tied to Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS). Why would SBS want it? We have the answer.

In January 2013, longtime Roanoke-area radio station owner Mel Wheeler, Inc., led by Leonard Wheeler, agreed to purchase a Class A 6kw FM licensed to Lynchburg, Va., for $1,025,000. The deal was challenged, but eight months later the FCC approved the transaction. Now, Mel Wheeler Inc. is agreeing to part ways with the property, handing it to locals.

To the west of Fresno is the small town of Firebaugh, Calif., home to a silent FM. Travel 67 miles south to Avenal, Calif., and you'll find the tower for another silent FM, a 920-watt facility. Both FM stations have now been ordered by Media Bureau Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner to cease broadcast operations immediately. Here's why.

For 45 years, he was considered "the epitome of a local entrepreneur and businessman." It began at age 23, after his father unexpectedly passed away. Sadly, history has repeated itself. John D. Engelbrecht has died of a massive heart attack. News of his passing was made known via LinkedIn by his son, JP Engelbrecht.

According to Univision, an "information gap" has emerged for Hispanics who prefer to consume Spanish-language media with respect to COVID-19 related information and news updates. As such, it has unveiled a campaign expressly designed to help U.S. Hispanics "grapple with the impact of the pandemic based on consultation with community partners and audience needs."

Hits and music variety, en español. That's the brand promise for a Class B AM serving the Boston market, which has been airing a Spanish Contemporary format and iHeartLatino Chief Creative Officer Enrique Santos' syndicated morning show. It now appears that the Hub's "Rumba" is about to be removed: The property is being donated.

Due to its operations being impacted by COVID-19, Urban One was unable to finalize and file its annual report on Form 10-K on a timely basis to meet its annual report filing deadline of March 30. But, a SEC order made March 25 allowed for a 45-day extension, and Urban One took it. On Wednesday, the filing of its annual report finally came.

As businesses start to reopen following weeks of restrictions designed to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the need to share with consumers that they're open again has led many to Radio. But, are stations ready to write and produce ad copy? If not, Write Label may have a good solution, as we learn in this latest RBR+TVBR Coronavirus INFOCUS podcast from CEO Gideon Stein. LISTEN HERE

As many local businesses and industry observers have noticed, Saga Communications prefers to operate in its local markets under specific names that best describe the locally focused efforts of those radio properties. Saga also has a dozen subsidiary licensees, and an FCC move involving Form 316 filings has opened a window to a Florida reincorporation.

Through the newly formed Mediaco, Jeff Smulyan continues to have top oversight of two of the nation's foremost radio stations superserving African American consumers. What has their role been through the COVID-19 pandemic? We find out in this new RBR+TVBR Coronavirus INFOCUS Podcast hosted by Adam R Jacobson. LISTEN HERE

"In the face of the economy hitting the brakes hard in March, SiriusXM's first quarter results were very strong," says SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer. The company's Q1 2020 results look sharp. In fact, SiriusXM delivered what Zacks Equity Research calls an "earnings surprise" -- a positive one, at that. Revenue in the quarter beat its estimates by 2.6%.