Cumulus Drops ‘Poison Pill’ Plan as Takeover Concerns Fade
One year ago, Cumulus Media initiated a “poison pill” defense to stave off the looming threat of a hostile takeover from billionaire Manoj Bhargava. Now Cumulus is quietly putting that shareholder rights plan to bed as the danger fades, per an SEC filing.
Audacy Expands Its CBS Podcast Sales and Distribution Deal
Audacy's Podcasts division has expanded its exclusive, multi-year sales and distribution partnership with CBS. The agreement now includes CBS Entertainment, CBS Media Ventures, CBS News, and CBS Studios podcast slates.
A Response To FCC Country Festival Probe Comes From iHeart
The FCC earlier this week took its first stab at investigating whether Radio is engaged in artist performance policies that do not comply with federal "Payola" regulations. On Wednesday, iHeartMedia responded to a formal letter of inquiry from Chairman Brendan Carr.
FEC: No Violations in iHeart Contributions to Pro-Cruz PAC
The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint that alleged iHeartMedia’s nearly $1 million in podcast-related contributions to a super PAC supporting Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) violated federal campaign finance laws.
KROI Claims Sabotage With Transmitter Line Cut
SBS says a saboteur on Sunday clipped all of the wires to KROI-FM in Houston's transmitter. RBR+TVBR first learned of the incident on Sunday afternoon, putting the market return of Hispanic radio icon Raul Brindis at SBS's $7.5 million acquisition in an emergency situation. As of 11am Central Monday, Brindis was on the air.
Financial Details Revealed In Iliad/Montana Radio Deal
As RBR+TVBR reported on February 20, a Boise, Idaho-based radio broadcasting company serving Boise and Twin Falls is venturing into a neighboring state. Terms of the "membership interest purchase" between Iliad Media Group Holdings and the parties behind The Montana Radio Company, the group Iliad is acquiring, are now known.
KQED Implements MaxxCasting To Improve East Bay Reception
It has a 110,000-watt signal atop San Bruno Mountain, allowing this station to cover nearly all of the San Francisco DMA. That said, the Bay Area is notorious for its hills and valleys, which can make FM reception particularly troublesome. KQED-FM is now acting to resolve that problem in the East Bay.
TelevisaUnivision In Q4: U.S. Up, Mexico Down
How did TelevisaUnivision perform in Q4? In the U.S., there was growth and it was fueled by ViX, the direct-to-consumer platform. In Mexico, there was none, impacting the overall results. The good news: the company's full-year net loss continues to decline, albeit slowly.
An Idaho Radio Owner Grows With Montana Move
A Boise, Idaho-based radio broadcasting company with stations here and in the Magic Valley region that includes Twin Falls is venturing into a neighboring state, thanks to a deal announced late Wednesday.
Civic Media Expands To Minnesota With Second Zoe Deal
Sage Weil has built a network of liberal-leaning Talk stations across the state of Wisconsin, and in late November 2024 agreed to purchase an FM licensed to Hayward, Wisc., from a licensee led by Mike Oberg. Now, Weil and Oberg have an agreement in place that expands Weil's Civic Media to the land of 10,000 lakes.
Infinity Name Resurfaces At CRS With Audacy Move
For a generation of radio broadcasting industry professionals, the name "Infinity" may conjure up images of Mel Karmazin, Howard Stern, The Don & Mike Show and Opie & Anthony. Now, the Infinity name is returning thanks to the company that merged with CBS Radio — the successor to the original Infinity Broadcasting.
SoundExchange Seeks To Audit A Flurry Of Radio Companies
The Copyright Royalty Judges sitting on the Copyright Royalty Board have announced that they've received a series of notices of intent from SoundExchange to audit seven radio station licensees concerning royalty payments made over two different three-year periods.
Former Doubleday Radio Head, Media Broker Dies
This industry veteran served as interim Chairman of the Board of Saga Communications in 2022. He also ran Doubleday's radio stations and was a WMCA in New York "Good Guy" during its Top 40 era in the 1960s. Now, many across the radio industry are pausing to mourn the man known professionally as Gary Stevens.
U.S. Soccer, Westwood One Ink A Rights Deal
The multi-year exclusive partnership gives Westwood One Sports broadcast rights to all U.S. Soccer Federation-hosted matches, including all USWNT and USMNT friendlies, Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal matches, and the SheBelieves Cup. The first broadcast is scheduled for Thursday night.
Former Radio Station Owner Joel Hartstone Dies
He teamed with Barry Dickstein as the co-owner of a group of radio stations before evolving the operation in 1994 to StoneGate Capital Group. He was also a successful media brokerage advisor, and later in life an entrepreneur and Justice of the Peace. Now, family and friends are gathering to remember Joel Hartstone.