Radio News

Does your group of radio stations make it easy for a potential client, or an everyday listener, to pick up the phone and speak with someone who can attend to a query? If so, it may be a rarity, Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson notes. Consider this an RBR+TVBR Observation worth responding to.

At Forecast 2019, a unique panel of successful radio entrepreneurs, broadcasters who found their niche and then grew their footprint and reach, will tackle the topic, “Why Smaller Can Be Better — and More Profitable.” What are their plans and strategies as they look to 2019 and beyond? The answers will come November 14 in New York.

With its shares under the $5 level since June 2017, Urban One -- formerly Radio One -- is turning to investors and analysts, among others, with a PowerPoint presentation outlining what CEO Alfred Liggins III and CFO Peter Thompson seek for the owner of radio stations, a cable TV network and a popular casino gaming resort in the D.C. area. In short, de-levering and a debt refi are wanted.

The online radio service offering close to 1,000 music channels to what it claims are more than 1.5 million unique listeners per month has signed a multi-year deal with Global's digital audio advertising platform, DAX. It's a blow to SiriusXM.

On New Year's Day 2018, Beasley Broadcast Group shares were riding high at just under $14 — record territory for the company. Beasley's stock was largely above the $10 mark for 6 1/2 months. Then came a steep dip that sent BBGI tumbling into the $6 range. Is the addition of Greater Media stations in key markets including Boston and Detroit indirectly tied to the stock swoon?

Amid charges that the FCC's broadcast incubator program is "destined to fail," and the dissent of Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, the Media Bureau is moving forward with plans to get the program -- intended to encourage investment in broadcast media by minority and women-owned entities -- up and going.

A Class C 1kw AM using 1 tower to cover the 107th-largest radio market in the U.S. has been sold. Here are the details of who is buying this News/Talk station, which also benefits from an FM translator.

Under the leadership of Chuck Bergson, Maui-based Pacific Media Group has successfully served the Valley Isle and the Big Island (Hawai'i) with a collection of AM and FM radio stations and respective online news blogs in competition with locally based daily newspapers. Now, PMG is heading to Kaua'i, giving Larry Fuss some new competition for his brand-new station.

The fourth quarter is here. In less than three months, Wall Street analysts expect Entercom stock to be at or near $11.50 per share. Is that a possibility or a reality? RBR+TVBR reviewed the radio broadcasting company's performance on Wall Street in Q3 and in the first four days of Q4, and it's not that great.

Among the media companies that have struggled of late on Wall Street, Salem Media Group is perhaps one of the more notable operators. On Thursday, the owner of conservative talk and Christian-themed radio stations saw its shares drop to a level that brings its perilously close to a new five-year low.

Once every so often, RBR+TVBR's Jefe, Eric Rhoads, will forward an item deemed noteworthy to the newsroom. On Thursday, Mr. Rhoads came across an item that grabbed our attention. The article puts into perspective how consumers are using media, and the biggest eye-opener deals with music streaming revenue -- competitive info that could be of keen interest to radio broadcasters.

While Polynice Fabrice is ignoring its maximum forfeiture of $144,344 by continuing to periodically use the 90.1 MHz signal for his "Radio Touche Douce," the Enforcement Bureau has successfully entered into a Consent Decree with another Miami radio pirate.

From September 2006 through September 2009, the Fort Wayne, Ind., market enjoyed a Spanish-language radio station branded as "Mega 102.3." In April 2010, a short-lived change to CHR/Pop ended, and Spanish-language programming returned to the facility. Now, some 8 1/2 years later, could the station again be saying adios to its Spanish-language programming?

Are you ready to reach your listeners through yet another platform?  Have you developed a strategy to monetize listening in an even “smarter” house? A session at Forecast 2019 in New York will allow you to get ahead of the next jump in technology.

Spin-offs have been a part of media for decades. This extends to station sales necessitated by the merger of two large companies, in order to meet federal ownership limits. In Q3, spinoffs resulting from the merger of two big radio companies and the announced merger of two big TV companies dominated the deal making.