Radio+Television Business Report

"By appointing a GM and establishing Strata as a dedicated platform organization, FreeWheel is deepening its commitment to brands, agencies and media sellers that rely on the software," the Comcast unit says.

The Walt Disney Company has created of a new enterprise marketing and brand organization the ABC parent says is "designed to align the company’s industry-leading marketing teams more closely across its businesses and strengthen how Disney connects with consumers around the world."

As global marketing firm WARC sees it, media planners must evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly complex, AI-driven marketing and media landscape. As such, "Systems Planning" should be adopted as traditional approaches are collapsing.

The latest station count, according to the FCC, for broadcast radio and television stations in the U.S. is out. And, as of the end of 2025, two big takeaways can be seen. FM noncomms rose in total number, thanks to stations signing off after a recent FCC application window for new facilities. At the same time, LPFMs were on the rise.

It is a silent FM radio station with a construction permit for a 33kw signal from a mountaintop facility due west of Skokomish, Wash., and the Tacoma area. Soon, it will no longer be a Jodesha Broadcasting property, with a new owner coming to this Grays Harbor-focused station.

In July 2025, prolific low-power TV station licensee Jeff Winemiller agreed to purchase a property serving Salt Lake City. Now, he's spinning it to a name very familiar to those following the LPTV business for the last several years. At the same time, Winemiller is acquiring a different Utah LPTV property.

"Predictive advertising" company Cadent has a new Senior VP of Marketing, while also adding a Chief People Officer to its New York-based C-Suite. Taking the marketing role is a woman who was formerly Sr. VP of U.S. Marketing at MiQ.

The FCC "has outlived the economic and technological conditions that justified its creation." That's the view of American Enterprise Institute nonresident senior fellow Mark Jamison. In a "working paper," Jamison explains how the Commission is presently in a "mission vacuum," and should disappear.

Rising Above, an annual virtual summit focused on leadership, sales, and growth in the broadcast industry, will be held from January 28–29, 2026, marking its seventh year.

The NAB has distributed a communiqué touting how "free, local broadcast television and radio stations are more than trusted sources of news, emergency updates and community connection." For the association, radio and TV stations "are a vital infrastructure supporting every corner of American life."

She is described by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation as a former financial advisor with expertise in restructuring, risk management, and governance. Introducing the newest member of the Cumulus Media Board of Directors. She replaces Joan Hogan Gillman, who has resigned from her seat.

A search discoverability and AI optimization platform powered by NVIDIA technologies has inked a strategic partnership with Audacy Inc. that puts the wheels in motion on a tool designed to boost local and regional businesses across the U.S.

He's gained outsized attention for his social media efforts and local promotional campaign designed to raise awareness and advertiser interest in the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis he oversees. Now, Charlie Grisham is moving to a sibling property in Nebraska to take on similar duties as GM and Director of Sales.

Acrimony was met with cordiality as the House Energy & Commerce Committee conducted a lengthy oversight hearing of the FCC. It was expected, with friendly GOP leaders effusive as Democrats largely blasted the Trump Administration for what it views as meritless meddling. 

She began her career with Salem Media Group in Columbus, Ohio. She then gained oversight of the company's radio stations in Tampa-St. Petersburg, and later Orlando and Miami. Now, she's part of Salem's senior leadership team.

The FCC adopted and released a Protective Order that codifies procedures that limits access to proprietary or confidential information in its consideration of Nexstar Media Group's proposed acquisition of TEGNA — a deal that cannot be done without Commission rule "modernization" or waivers.

Today, Entercom is known as Audacy Inc. The Field family is no longer in control, with Soros Fund Management holding the controlling interest in the audio content creation and distribution company. And as of February 2, "104.3 Jams" no longer exists in Chicago. In its place is an FM simulcast of an AM Sports Talk sibling. 

Thanks to a bipartisan appropriations bill, Congress has approved the dollars the FCC has asked for in its FY 2026 budget request — locking in a move under Chairman Brendan Carr to make the Commission a leaner, technology-driven compliance model.

Two key Members of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee have drawn accolades from the President/CEO of the NAB, who singles out their calls for the FCC to modernize "outdated" ownership restrictions and to lift the national television ownership cap.

A strong fiscal Q1 2026 for Radio and another troubling quarter for TV were expected by Corus Entertainment executives. For CEO John Gossling, his focus is on the company's "significant progress" in closing Corus' proposed recapitalization plan reducing its $500 million CDN-plus in debt and liabilities.