In this week’s issue… K-Love adds in SE CT – OSM signs on 103.7 – GBH, NEPM move closer – Remembering PA’s Kmetz, CHCH’s McLean
By SCOTT FYBUSH
*The 32nd anniversary of this column passed without much notice a few months ago – after all these years, what’s one more, right? – but as we look back on how much has changed since the earliest years of “New England Radio Watcher,” there’s one trend that we haven’t commented on very much.
Back then, it was pretty much a given that when a commercial broadcaster put their station up for sale, the buyer would be another commercial broadcaster. This was especially true in the first few years of NERW, which overlapped with the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the lifting of some ownership caps and the move to larger clusters of radio stations increasingly owned by ever-larger companies.
But it’s not 1996 anymore, and the pool of commercial buyers who once bid up prices to astronomical heights just isn’t there anymore in most markets, a reality that was drilled home this past week, when not just one but all three of our top stories turned out to involve significant moves from noncommercial broadcasters.
Whatever you’re using right now for automation playout, scheduling, archiving, remote connectivity, apps and streaming, I can help you do it better and probably less expensively now that I’m the US representative for Myriad broadcast software. It’s the best software package you haven’t heard of… yet. Come see us at the NAB Show or let me set up a virtual demo for you.
Looking to get into station ownership? Our StationSale division has some great new listings for you, including a very successful multimedia combo including radio/digital/print in one of the finest small markets in the region, a major market FM translator opportunity, a profitable Midwest FM, an inexpensive entry into a fast-growing Western market, and a turnkey profitable FM/AM/translator small-market combo that’s ready for a new owner. Drop me a line at scott@fybush.com and I’ll set you up with an NDA and all the details…
And if your noncommercial FM station is ready to think about translators, there’s a filing window coming this fall from the FCC and it’s the perfect time to start making plans.
In this week’s issue… New tech, lots of regulatory questions at the NAB Show - iHeart, Audacy make staffing cuts - Community expands in VT - Sox find new RI radio home - WEEI shuffles afternoons - FMs sign off...
In this week’s issue… The industry gathers in Vegas - SBS files for bankruptcy - New top 40 in PA - Retirement in Brockville draws honors
In this week’s issue… Audacy cuts local managers - Cape Cod, VT, western PA FMs sold - WVOM ousts Bangor legend, draws ire - New owner for NJ duo - AM surrenders in VT
In this week’s issue… TEGNA deal consolidates Hartford, Scranton, Buffalo stations - CBS to close radio newsroom - Buffalo's Snyder to retire - New FM cancels amidst allegations - Erie's Stehlin retires - New LPTVs on the way
