Radio News

The individual who ascended to the role of Digital PD of iHeartMedia's San Francisco Bay Area station group in April 2017 following stints at such internet players as Stitcher has just been elevated to a corporate-level podcast-focused executive role. 

Just shy of two years ago, Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson agreed to take over the reins at RBR+TVBR. In doing so, he pledged that RBR+TVBR would not be another of the many radio industry trade publications to continuously offer glowing commentary about the "great" state of the business. Guess what? He's got something to say about the "pathetic" lack of presence radio presently has in two markets ripe for opportunity.

Here's a bit of news that's a long time coming: shares for the nation's second-largest radio broadcasting company by number of stations improved 3.5% in Monday's trading — to $15. Volume was scant, however, at just 132 shares traded. What other ups and downs were seen on Wall Street? iHeart is down on more bankruptcy-related news.

Four weeks after an AM and FM translator used to bring a locally originated Classic Hits to Memphis were sold, the other half of the on-air operation has been dealt. This sees a Class D AM and its two associated FM translators getting a send-off for a little bit more than the first deal's transaction price.

A 3kw Class A FM that's a rimshot to Rockford, Ill., to the north that scrapes Chicago's far-western suburbs is trading hands. The deal, which sees Media Services Group's Bob Heymann as the exclusive broker, gives Mid-Way Radio ownership of this Hot AC.

There's more sports chat to be had on the iHeartMedia app. On Monday, the popular audio streaming app added ESPN Audio’s content via a multi-year agreement.

Hot on a report from Bloomberg and a Tweet from Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel that the FCC is preparing to debate a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would address the national TV audience reach limit for television, the NAB late Friday announced that it will "urge" the Commission to "modernize outdated radio ownership rules as part of its quadrennial media ownership review proceeding planned for later this year."

For nearly a decade, this individual served as an Atlanta-based Regional VP for the second-largest radio broadcasting company in the U.S. by number of stations. He left for a four-year stint in a business development role at an engineering based systems integrator, only to return to Cumulus until June 2017. Now, he's heading to the Florida Panhandle to run a four-station cluster for Jim Leven and Bruce Mittman.

In November 2016, RBR+TVBR reported on the rebirth of a Class C 1kw AM radio station that some 40 years ago was ranked No. 1 in the Fort Lauderdale Arbitron ratings. This was spearheaded by broker Mark Jorgenson, who acquired the dark facility and brought it back to life. Now, it is being sold.

Legislation proposed by Reps. Leonard Lance and Paul Tonko just moved out of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, the next step in moving the so-called "PIRATE Act" to an eventual floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill does not include an amendment from Rep. Chris Collins, who decided not to offer it ahead of today's markup.

In this latest Hispanic Radio Podcast hosted by RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson, veteran national sales pro Jose Villafañe — recently appointed Head of Sales and an Advisory Board member for MLC Media — discusses the top things a radio station should consider when evaluating syndicated programming for a key daypart.

One month ago, RBR+TVBR exclusively reported on the plight of a Reno, Nev., air personality who thought radio station ownership would be fun, and a logical next step in his career. Instead, Chris Pruett ended up with a "big mess." Now, Pruett is selling his stations — and is making a profit on it.

Houston Christian Broadcasters is celebrating 56 years of “of keeping him close by.” One year ago, as the religious nonprofit tells it, “The Lord opened a door for KHCB to expand its ministry with the purchase of three stations.” Now, this Houston-based operation is again broadening its coverage of the Lone Star State by acquiring an AM/FM combo in a town known as the home of Fort Concho. 

With Entercom shares trading ex-dividend as of Tuesday's Opening Bell, "The Fox of Wall Street" has chimed in with his take on whether or not investors should consider the radio broadcasting company's stock. What's the prognosis from Patrick Doyle? Buy, he says.