Radio News

With its Indianapolis radio stations soon to comprise nearly all of the broadcast facilities it operates, Emmis Communications is a leaner -- and perhaps healthier -- company designed to grow in ways that no longer involve AM or FM. That said, the company saw radio net revenues for the first fiscal quarter of 2020 that were flat compared to last year.

On Wednesday, full details of a Texas FM station's acquisition by a big Houston-based broadcast ministry, conversion to noncommercial status, and the price this facility is fetching became known.

Proceedings have started that could see a license revocation involving an FM in North Carolina, as well as an AM in Georgia. The reason? Each of these licensees owe the FCC delinquent regulatory fees, administrative costs, and penalties owed.

It's been 51 weeks since the Bordes family sold a big chunk of Beasley Broadcast Group stock, sending investors scurrying and the company's stock on a downturn that has yet to ebb. With Tuesday's Closing Bell, BBGI is traveling back down toward the $3 level.

At Wopsononock Lookout, pictured here, is a collection of radio towers serving Altoona, Pa. Among this market's stations are two AMs with FM translators, and two FMs -- one with a booster -- that have just been acquired by an operator with two AMs serving adjacent towns.

"Now is the time to gird yourself for the license renewal juggernaut," John Wells King and Erwin Krasnow declare in this freshly written exclusive column that is a must-read. They've prepared a list of "what’s and what-not’s" designed to assist you in your stations' license renewal process.

Who are the winning bidders? We now know, as the Office of Economics and Analytics teamed with the Media Bureau in providing detailed information concerning the winners, in addition to down payments, final payments, refunds, FCC Form 349 filing requirements, and other post-auction procedures. 

It may be just three days into the third quarter, but Entercom shares are on a roll since Monday morning. At the Opening Bell on July 1, ETM was priced at $5.89. As of 12:45pm Wednesday, they were finally above $6.25 per share -- last seen May 21.

On June 26, Cox Media Group‘s radio station portfolio — as well as CoxReps and national advertising business Gamut — were sold to a new entity tied to Apollo Global Management. To make the deal happen, two FMs are being divested. We now know who the trustee is.

At 9am Central, a most unexpected and somber Tweet appeared. With "great shock and sadness," fans and listeners of a popular syndicated radio show were delivered the news of the "untimely and sudden" passing of one of the show's hosts, John Walton.

Beasley Broadcast Group shares finished the second day of trading of the third quarter with a six-cent dip, to $3.24. It was a step backward for the owner of radio stations that has seen considerable year-to-date weakness on Wall Street -- with most of the downward movement coming in the last 30 days.

At the Closing Bell on Monday, Emmis Communications shares were up nearly 20%, finishing at their highest value in more than four years. That's thanks to the creation of a newly formed company that sees Soo Kim's Standard General take 76% ownership.

Until October 2018, a Kahului-based multimedia company had focused its efforts on serving Maui and the big island of Hawai'i. At that time, expansion to Kaua'i was solidified. Now, Pacific Media Group has entered Oah'u with the addition of four big FM stations.

Billed as "Liberty County's Only Daily News Source," a Texas radio station has dutifully served its listeners as a Full Service facility blending "music mixed with things that matter." Now, the FM has been sold. Monday is the final day of operations, ahead of a shift to online-only delivery.

For radio industry C-Suiters, the addition of political dollars to their overall revenue in 2020 is something many have been salivating about for the last several quarters. But, is Radio far behind other media? New data from Kantar Media says yes, thanks to digital.