Radio News

Venture to the Central Hall of the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center through Friday, and you just may find yourself spending a little extra time at CES 2020 Booth No. 13518. That's the display center for an Orlando-based consumer electronics company founded as Audiovox Corp. in 1960, and for the John Malone-controlled satellite radio operation reportedly seeking control of iHeartMedia.

The provider of tools to radio stations for online contesting, marketing, revenue and promotions has affirmed a company wide multi-year agreement with the broadcasting entity led by Ed Christian and Sam Bush. As a result, all of this company's stations will be able to use Aptivada’s platform for its online promotions and related activities.

America's favorite tabloid, the New York Post, recently reported that the Justice Department may scrutinize a plan by Liberty Media -- parent of Sirius XM and Pandora -- to gain majority control of iHeartMedia. Investors appear to be energized by the suggestion.

In August 2016, a series of events led to the transfer of a highly valued FM translator from Educational Media Foundation to a single individual who then spun the facility to Cumulus Media for a nearly 600% profit. The translator was used to bring Cumulus' big New Mexico News/Talker some "AM revitalization." As of today, an even bigger FM home has come for KKOB.

In a deal consummated July 24 but not filed with the FCC until Sept. 10, The Erie Radio Company agreed to sell a Class A CHR/Pop station serving the Erie market to SJL of Pennsylvania. "SJL" is a licensee tied to the owner of TV stations serving Hawaii, the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It's just closed on the Erie radio station, and boy is it "Happi."

The 2010s were a decade of transformation for music consumption, and new RIAA decade-end data shared on Twitter offers an eye-opening glimpse of the disintegration of music sales. Is there also an impact on the consumption of music radio?

The North Carolina corporation led by President Jeff Andrulonis has completed its purchase of an FM radio station in Bolivia.  But, we must clarify that his company has not opted to compete against Dueri Media Group or Grupo Central Universal by entering the Santa Cruz or La Paz markets.

It's no secret that Univision Communications is looking for a buyer, and a report in the Dec. 19, 2019 edition of The Wall Street Journal suggests the Alan Sokol-led Hemisphere Media Group is one of three bidders for the company led by CEO Vince Sadusky. Who knew that a home builder would emerge as a confirmed acquisition party of Univision assets?

In a major shift after decades of providing Washingtonians hourly news reports and bulletins from CBS, WTOP on Jan. 1, 2018 made a big programming change. The Hubbard Radio all-News giant opted to provide listeners content from ABC News Radio. Two years later, WTOP has reversed course.

On October 22, RBR+TVBR was first to report the sale of a Class C1 100kw Adult Contemporary station known as “Sky FM,” and its 1kw Classic Country AM sibling. The "Flood"-fueled deal has now closed, bringing the combo to a new owner with a large presence across Nebraska.

On June 30, 2017, Continental Broadcasting Corp. sold a Class B AM in Phoenix to an entity controlled by Vic Michael Jr. Now, he's asked the FCC for a Construction Permit that will allow him to "diplex" the AM with another station under his auspices.

Some Michigan radio industry observers -- and listeners -- have wondered for a week if Northern Radio would retain a Petoskey property that's served as a simulcast partner of a station that was just sold to Ross Biederman's Northwestern Broadcasting. The mystery is up, as of today: WKLT is being sold. The buyer? The No. 2 licensee of radio stations in the U.S.

For many years, Radio Disney-branded stations across Mexico were among the top-rated FMs serving teens and young adults, offering a blend of Spanish-language and international pop hits. However, increased competition from other networks -- and Spotify -- put increased pressure on the network, a partnership between Disney and Grupo ACIR. Now, that pact is ending -- another sign of trouble for Radio as a teen magnet.

Since November 2007, following a 26-month silence due to Hurricane Katrina flood damage, WBOK-AM in New Orleans has remained a voice for African Americans. Now, its owners -- locals who also own the Los Angeles Sentinel African-American publication in Los Angeles -- are selling the venerable station.

Five months ago, a Class A FM in Michigan found itself in a tussle over its future ownership. A family trust filed an objection with the FCC against the station's transfer from its licensee to a new 50/50 partnership driven by the station's manager. "Misrepresentations" were noted by the trust. A Court Order has negated the deal proposed in August, handing this FM to a receiver.