In this week’s issue… FCC regulatory questions vex broadcasters – Promotion for Ford – Levine back on the scene – Curry retires from Lehigh Valley’s Hawk
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*It’s rare that the inner regulatory workings of the FCC escape from Washington into the general public’s attention, but these are rare times, and Audacy’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy has become one of those stories that’s taken on political dimensions far beyond the usual obscurity of the Commission’s processes.
The FCC approved the Audacy restructuring deal on Monday, but the approval came on a narrow partisan 3-2 majority, with Republican commissioners Nathan Simington and Brendan Carr dissenting. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel fired back in a statement criticizing Simington and Carr for claiming the plan received preferential treatment, a claim that’s been making the rounds heavily on conservative media in recent weeks.
At the heart of the dispute, of course, is the presence of financier George Soros as one of the funders behind the restructuring. To hear some conservative media outlets tell it, Soros plans to take control of the Audacy stations to push his own political agenda, and while we’re not here to take political sides, the facts are pretty clear: there’s no real evidence that Soros is in this for any reason other than to try to make some money. (It’s worth noting that, if anything, Audacy’s talk stations have been trending to the right lately – KRLD in Dallas, for instance, has been replacing news blocks with more conservative talk.)
What we’re here to do this week (since it’s otherwise a slow news week) is to offer some other observations about some FCC trends that have us raising our eyebrows. Keep reading…
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...
