Radio News

Thanks to a partnership with programming provider Fútbol de Primera, founded by famed soccer commentator Andres Cantor, radio stations in 16 markets owned by Entravision Communications will air 53 of the 64 total matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The deal includes all quarter-finals, semi-finals, third place and final matches.

Bishop Cheen, that is. Cheen has made a name for himself as a veteran broadcast media analyst on Wall Street, and is presently an appraisal consultant for SNL Kagan. If a federal bankruptcy court judge in New York says yes, he'll also be an expert witness for Cumulus Media in its Chapter 11 reorganization petition.

If Duncan's American Radio were to see a Roseanne-like reboot in 2018, there's one chapter that may be larger than any others: Chapter 11. The fourth radio broadcasting company to seek federal bankruptcy protection since Jan. 1 made its move on Tuesday (3/27) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. This company's stations, however, are located outside of Chicago.

The first quarter of 2018 effectively concluded Thursday, as U.S. financial markets are closed today in observance of Good Friday and the start of Passover. RBR+TVBR reviewed the first quarter performance for several companies' stocks. For Salem Media Group, the picture is clear — Q1 wasn't so hot. 

Along Strawberry Plains Pike on the east side of the Holston River sits a dormant 10kw Class D daytimer that until recently was the home of a Sports format powered by SB Nation Radio. It is one step closer to returning to the air, as the station is being traded to an entity wholly controlled by John Pirkle. 

As part of its detailed annual 10-K filing with the SEC, Cumulus Media on Thursday (3/29) offered financial details on its full-year performance for 2017, offering comparisons for the previous four years. While Cumulus' net loss is considerably lower than that seen in 2016 and in 2015, the company's net revenue is heading in the wrong direction.

Beasley Broadcast Group shares enjoyed a welcome move in the right direction on Wednesday. At the Closing Bell, the radio industry pure-play saw its shares finish at its highest level since March 5. Still, with Q1 2018 coming to a close, shares are down -- albeit slightly -- from where they were on New Year's Day.

In this latest Hispanic Radio Podcast from Streamline Publishing, Skyview Networks National Hispanic Audio Sales Manager Blanche Joesten talks with RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief about the potential to bring in more revenue while building a brand-new connection to an underserved — and very passionate — audience. How can your radio station tap into this fervent fan passion? The answer could come in just seven minutes.

Streamline Publishing's Radio Ink has named her one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” since 2005. Now, she can be called President of Katz Radio Group.

With a 1-year target estimate of $13.67 and the recent addition of the former CBS Radio stations, one would think investing now in Entercom Communications stock would present shareholders with strong long-term value. That's not exactly happening. In fact, Entercom shares are poised to end Q1 on a significantly downbeat note: Prices haven't been this low since September 2014.

On Monday RBR+TVBR shared details on new legislation introduced Thursday (3/22) in the Senate by Iowa Republican Charles Grassley that would amend U.S. copyright law to provide for the payment of performance royalties to "certain producers, mixers, and sound engineers of sound recordings, and for other purposes." The NAB has been watching this bill brew on Capitol Hill closely. Their assessment of this latest federal push for increased royalties? Don't fret, FM and AM.

SBS on Monday revealed that "certain transfers of the company's outstanding Series B Preferred Stock may, when attempted, have had no effect as a legal matter and were void and remain void today." As a result, the company says, "there are genuine questions regarding valid ownership, or good title, to these shares." This is tied to questions regarding SBS's foreign ownership compliance that arose in fall 2017 and continue today.

The efforts of a Michigan-based broadcaster with a presence in the Lone Star State to get the FCC to reconsider the expiry of a 100kw FM's license and subsequent call letter deletion have proven to be for naught. The Commission on Friday adopted a Memorandum Opinion and Order that effectively kills a Class C station along the Texas Gulf Coast. 

"Our work in traditional media has seen its challenges," notes broadcast leadership expert Kelly Orchard. "The recent bankruptcies of two of the largest radio broadcasters, as well as mergers, acquisitions, and transitions, are main topics as I continue to engage in conversations with my colleagues. Their opinions are as varied as the size of their radio markets." In this column, Orchard reviews "the good, the bad and the ugly" of the radio industry, while reviewing today's top concerns for smaller markets and, in particular, family owned stations.

A few weeks ago, RBR+TVBR offered readers a scholarly Media Information Bureau report on U.S. digital TV proliferation and its implications for advertisers. The author was Head of Television for Cambridge Analytica — the data firm that's at the center of a furor over its cozy relationship with Facebook and controversy tied to the election team of President Trump. Questions about brand safety on Facebook have again been raised by those questioning the digital media giant. Why hasn't the radio industry shouted, "We're Safe! Come to us, CMOs"?