The latest quarterly broadcast station totals have been released from the FCC.
And, when one compares the numbers to the end of the third quarter of 2020, there’s one clear takeaway: noncommercial FM radio continues to be a growing opportunity for licensees, as the total number of commercially licensed FMs, and AMs, declined.
As shown below, the total number of AM stations declined by 14 in the six month period between Sept. 30, 2020 and March 31, 2021.
And, the number of commercially licensed FMs is down by 22, while educational FMs increased by 17, indicating a change in status for some properties through their sale.
Meanwhile, there is more stability among television stations, with no change in the number of class A TV stations in the past six months.
The other big takeaway is the incessant growth of FM translator and booster stations. There are 800 more of this facilities as of the end of Q1 2021 compared to the end of Q2 2018.
Not to be outdone, the number of low-power TV stations has also surged in the last two quarters.
Lastly, the number of translator TV stations has declined since the end of September 2020.
BROADCAST STATION TOTALS AS OF MARCH 31, 2021
(Compared to September 30, 2020)
TOTAL BROADCAST STATIONS: 33,511 (up 22)
All comparisons below to the end of Q3 2020
AM STATIONS 4546 (minus 14)
FM COMMERCIAL 6682 (minus 22)
FM EDUCATIONAL 4213 (plus 17)
TOTAL 15,441 (minus 19)
UHF COMMERCIAL TV 996 (plus 3)
VHF COMMERCIAL TV 378 (plus 3)
UHF EDUCATIONAL TV 265 (down 5)
VHF EDUCATIONAL TV 119 (down 1)
TOTAL 1,758 (no change)
CLASS A UHF STATIONS 355 (no change)
CLASS A VHF STATIONS 31 (no change)
FM TRANSLATORS & BOOSTERS 8,521 (up 182)
(up from 7721 as of June 30, 2018)
UHF TRANSLATORS 2533 (down 162)
VHF TRANSLATORS 773 (down 75)
UHF LOW POWER TV 1496 (up 103)
VHF LOW POWER TV 489 (up 22)
LOW POWER FM 2,114 (down 29)
