Radio’s push to loosen its ownership caps is picking up pace as the FCC moves toward eliminating a similar limit for television. New ex parte filings from Connoisseur Media and Beasley Media Group show broadcasters pressing FCC staff and a Commissioner to resolve the long-pending 2022 Quadrennial Review.
Connoisseur’s counsel at Wilkinson Barker Knauer detailed a July 15 meeting between veteran Washington communications attorney David Oxenford and colleague Jennifer Tatel and Media Bureau staff that included Acting Chief Alexander Sanjenis, Acting Industry Analysis Division Chief Ty Bream and Chad Guo. The meeting centered on a slide deck arguing that over-the-air radio no longer competes in an isolated market, citing steep declines in radio’s share of local advertising and listening time as digital audio and Big Tech platforms have expanded.
For Connoisseur, it was a follow-up to a June meeting that saw CEO Jeff Warshaw meet directly with Chairman Brendan Carr.
Meanwhile, Beasley Media Group made a similar case to Commissioner Olivia Trusty and her aide Marcus Maher, disclosing information regarding a July 16 meeting between the two and CEO Caroline Beasley herself, plus Executive Vice President and General Counsel Chris Ornelas. The filing argues that outdated ownership limits “impair broadcasters’ ability to achieve necessary scale,” and urges the Commission to repeal or substantially revise the Local Radio Ownership Rule.
In June, Carr and Beasley also met, while Beasley also took her company’s case to the Media Bureau.
