Two recent market surveys of Internet music services and AM/FM radio confirm my suspicion that nobody knows where the latter medium is going/staying in relation to the former. If you are an Internet streaming music booster, you will be buoyed by new data from the NDP consumer research group. The survey concludes that in the […]
Archive | Policy
What should college and community radio tell the FCC about its indecency rules?
The Federal Communications Commission is asking the public for input on its indecency rules. Last summer the Supreme Court declared the FCC’s sanctions against “fleeting expletives” to be unacceptably vague, largely because the government didn’t give Fox and ABC TV “fair notice” about the relatively new regulations before fining them for various shows. “Regulated parties […]
Radio revenue up in 2012, especially on digital platforms
The commercial radio business is looking stronger, especially on digital platforms. Terrestrial and digital radio revenue went up in 2012, with 4th quarter revenues surging even more. That’s according to a report from the Radio Advertising Bureau. Revenue from commercial spots inched up 1% for the year overall, but increased 4% in the 4th quarter, […]
Make way for LPFM: FCC dismisses 3000 translator station applications
According to the Fifth Report and Order released in March, the FCC has started dismissing backlogged translator station applications based non ational and local caps. In that Order the FCC established caps for the number of applications a single applicant could pursue in a given market, and nationwide, in order to ensure open frequencies are […]
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 […]
Latest FCC Statistics Show Increase in Number of Licensed Radio Stations in 2012
Today the FCC released its quarterly list of the total number of licensed broadcast stations in the United States. Based on FCC statistics through December 30, 2012, the number of licensed broadcast radio stations is still on the rise, continuing the trend that we’ve seen every quarter this year. Based on this list, there are […]
Memo to FCC: one radio station makes a difference
The Federal Communications Commission’s media ownership rules are once again the spotlight of attention. After years of litigation and turmoil, the agency is again considering a deregulatory measure that would make it easier for TV networks to buy newspapers in major markets. The specter of Rupert Murdoch purchasing more newspapers hangs over this proceeding (his […]
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 […]
South Florida pirate radio station bites Lexus owners?
The Sun Sentinel, which covers all matters related to Broward County, Florida, has an interesting pirate radio story this week. Apparently a slew of folks around the Hollywood police station (Hollywood, Florida, that is, north of Miami) were having trouble opening their Lexus and Toyota vehicle doors via their keyless entry gizmos. Fingers pointed all […]
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 […]