FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai visited Pittsburgh’s historic KDKA-AM on Tuesday, meeting with the Pittsburgh Radio Broadcasters’ Rountable. KDKA is the first commercial station in the US, and Pai reflected on Pittsburgh radio history as he told the roundtable that radio regulations are “overdue for an overhaul.” Pai reiterated his support for the revitalization of the […]
Archive | Consolidation
Chicago Tribune chronicles Sam Zell’s and Randy Michaels’ mismanagement
I had intended to post about this last week, but dealing with some website stability issues, and then moving our site to a new host, kept me from getting this up. But the article series is so good and well researched that it deserves a look. The Chicago Tribune practiced a bit of self-analysis last […]
FCC Affirms Decision to Allow Release of Privilege Log from KUSF Letter of Inquiry
With 2012 drawing to a close, there’s a new twist in the nearly two-year-old saga of KUSF 90.3 FM. Although the FCC has approved the license assignment from University of San Francisco (USF) to Classical Public Radio Network (CPRN), various appeals are ongoing. Former KUSF listener Ted Hudacko, who filed a Freedom of Information Act […]
FCC Grants License Assignment for WFTI from Family Radio to Radio Training Network
Family Stations, which owns and operates a network of Christian radio stations under the branding Family Radio, is in the midst of completing another sale of a station in its network. Last week the FCC granted the assignment of WFTI 91.7 FM in St. Petersburg, Florida to another religious broadcaster, Radio Training Network. Family Radio […]
Clear Channel says Happy Holidays with mass firings nationwide
This is what consolidation looks like. Industry veteran Jerry DelColliano called it: hundreds of Clear Channel employees, including management like program directors and on-air talent, received pink slips Thursday. DelColliano also thinks that this move is anticipation of a possible merger. News of firings has come in from Clear Channel stations in Tampa, Denver, Detroit, […]
Chicago’s WXRT celebrates 40 years serving up an increasingly rare format
It’s an increasingly rare thing to find a station that has maintained its format (and call letters) for more than a decade, nevermind 40 years. This week Chicago commercial rock station WXRT begins celebrating its fortieth year on air with something called “40 years in 40 days.” Starting Monday, each day the station is highlighting […]
Classical KDFC Maps Future as Los Gatos Translator Transfers to USC
The ongoing broadcasts of Classical KDFC in the San Francisco Bay Area have been made possible by a complicated series of transactions involving both commercial and non-commercial radio entities. Today the KDFC brand is owned by Classical Public Radio Network (CPRN), although its broadcasts also appear on stations that are owned by University of Southern […]
Berkeley Urban Radio Station KBLX Sold to Entercom
On June 21, the FCC approved the assignment of the radio license for Berkeley-based KBLX 102.9 FM from the bankrupt Inner City Broadcasting‘s subsidiary Urban Radio III to Entercom. This sale marks the loss of yet another black-owned radio station. KBLX had featured a music format focused on R&B and smooth jazz under the brand […]
SiriusXM sees strong 1st quarter amid minor turmoil
SiriusXM announced positive first quarter results on Tuesday, with the number of subscribers growing to an all time high of 22.3 million. The company also said that its retaining 45% of subscribers who got a trial subscription with the purchase of a new satellite radio equipped car. Its stock (SIRI) price jumped a bit–from $2.26 […]
Corporate FM Premieres at Kansas City Film Fest
At Radio Survivor we obsess about radio consolidation every day of the year, but this topic isn’t pervasive across mainstream popular culture. Because of that, I was excited to hear about a new film, Corporate FM, which delves into the “downfall of commercial FM.” The movie premieres tonight at 8:30pm at the Kansas City Film […]