In this week’s issue… It’s calendar time! – WXXI’s Silverstein, WDIY’s Capogna retire – Loftus changes companies – iHeart takes over in Atlantic City
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*PHILADELPHIA – With a (modest) road trip underway, we gave serious thought to postponing this week’s column and wrapping this challenging year up with one final regular issue next week.
But here we are, for two reasons: first, because we expect some bigger news next week that might overshadow the collection of items we have for you this week, and second, because Tower Site Calendar 2024 is about to come back from the printer and we’re especially proud of this year’s edition.
The bigger news? One piece we know – on Wednesday, the window for new low-power FM station applications will slam shut, with the FCC quickly releasing the list of applicants. How many will there be? LPFM expert Michi Bradley expects some 2,000 applications from around the country, though we’re betting the number will be somewhat smaller, especially when faulty or ungrantable applications are weeded out. That could translate to several hundred in NERW-land, though the FM dial is so full in many areas that it’s nearly impossible to cram anything else in, and we’ll have the full list for you December 18.
Another piece remains unclear: will any of the broadcast companies that are teetering on the financial edge end up in bankruptcy before the year is out? The rumor mill is swirling, especially around Philadelphia’s troubled Audacy group, and we’ll be ready with a breaking news update if there’s any action (though of course our colleague Lance Venta will have it even sooner at RadioInsight.com!)
*As for the calendar, it’s a beauty this year – another dozen pictures from my travels across the US and Canada, from the Bay Area to New York City and from Miami to London (Ontario, that is.)
We’ll begin shipping your orders the middle of this week, so if you’re hoping to have yours in hand for Christmas, now’s the time to click on the ad right below and place your order for our 23rd annual edition of radio’s favorite gift!
(We also have a very limited stock of the Radio Historian’s Calendar, so get your orders in immediately if you’re looking for one of those…)
With that, on with this week’s news, such as it is…
Behold, the 2025 calendar!
We chose the 100,000-watt transmitter of the Voice Of America in Marathon, right in the heart of the Florida Keys. This picture has everything we like in our covers — blue skies, greenery, water, and of course, towers! The history behind this site is a draw, too.
Other months feature some of our favorite images from years past, including some Canadian stations and several stations celebrating their centennials (can you guess? you don’t have to if you buy the calendar!).
We will ship daily through Christmas Eve. Place your order now for immediate shipping!
This will be the 24th edition of the world-famous Tower Site Calendar, and your support will determine whether it will be the final edition.
It’s been a complicated few years here, and as we finish up production of the new edition, we’re considering the future of this staple of radio walls everywhere as we evaluate our workload going forward.
The proceeds from the calendar help sustain the reporting that we do on the broadcast industry here at Fybush Media, so your purchases matter a lot to us here – and if that matters to you, now’s the time to show that support with an order of the new Tower Site Calendar. (And we have the new Broadcast Historian’s Calendar for 2025 ready to ship, too. Why not order both?)
Visit the Fybush Media Store and place your order now for the next calendar, get a great discount on previous calendars, and check out our selection of books and videos, too!
In this week’s issue… WBUR backs off local talk - EMF's expansion in NY, nationally - Rochester broadcasters honored - Russell finds new PA radio home - Remembering Bruce Stevens - The new calendar's here!
In this week’s issue… Remembering WNY's Palvino, Harris - Will King sell Bangor stations? - Kay moves earlier - New signal on LI - Cumulus cuts hit PA, New England - Frizzell sells in NH
In this week’s issue… Saluting a small-town radio vet - Bell moves CP24 - Scott heads west - Burlington gets Air 1, "Experimental Radio" - Family Life heads down I-86
In this week’s issue… NY TV anchor, radio historian both retiring - XPN PD to retire - More Cumulus cuts - Rogers sells FMs as Corus makes big talent cuts By SCOTT FYBUSH Jump to: ME - NH - VT - MA...
