Radio News

“We have taken a very conservative, thorough and thoughtful approach to our company’s gradual reopening plan to provide, first and foremost, a safe and healthy work environment for our employees,” CEO Caroline Beasley said.

With the FCC presently seeking comment on whether or not to grant a transfer of majority control in Univision Communications to private investment firm SearchLight Capital Partners and ForgeLight, a company focused on media and consumer technology, the Miami-based Hispanic media entity released its Q1 2020 results. How did Univision do?

Three years ago, a Minnesota-based owner of radio stations headed by Kathy Lau and Shawn Skramstad made headlines for the liquidation of its properties. Now, Lau is in the news again -- this time for the sale of telecom assets in central South Dakota.

To protect itself from a possible hostile takeover bid, Entercom's board in late April gave an affirmative nod to a “limited duration shareholder rights plan.” Now, the board at the nation's No. 1 audio media company by radio station count has taken a similar course of action.

As the toll from the coronavirus has grown dramatically over time, the percentage of those who say journalists have greatly or slightly exaggerated the risks of the outbreak has decreased notably in recent weeks. That's a key finding from a newly released report from Pew Research Center.

A software developer and investor has taken a close look at the stock performance across the COVID-19 pandemic of one of the audio media industry's biggest companies. His conclusion? "Townsquare Media appears to be oversold." That's quite possibly some of the best news the company has received in weeks. Yet, its share price continues to be soft.

It's an unusual thing in unprecedented times: Saga Communications is the first radio broadcasting company to report its quarterly earnings for the three-month period ending March 31, 2020. Visibility is akin to a fogged-in airport, but things could start to look up in Q3, CFO Sam Bush and CEO Ed Christian said on their conference call that added color to the numbers it shared.

For 22 years, he dedicated his professional life to the radio broadcasting operation formerly known as CBS Radio. Now, he's back at Gotham properties this radio industry veteran knows very well, as he's succeeding Susan Larkin as SVP/Market Manager for Entercom/New York.

British and Polish citizens, respectively, who emerged as the buyers of an Upstate New York FM left for dead by its previous licensee in May 2019 formed a partnership with another husband-and-wife operator of radio stations in the region. Now, the two couples have united in licensee matrimony.

The nation’s leading multimedia company superserving African American consumers is requesting the FCC give it experimental authority to bring all-digital transmissions to one of its radio stations in Indianapolis. What’s noteworthy about the request? Digital multicasting on an AM signal.

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.