Radio+Television Business Report

The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology is welcoming a new Associate Chief and Chief of the Laboratory Division. It is an individual who brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning engineering, operations, customer service, research, and equipment‑build and compliance roles across media providers.

In August 2015, Bob Haschke and Robert "Boots" Elliot agreed to a $1.1 million transaction that gave their VilleCom LLC eventual ownership of two AMs and two FMs serving a Texas city southwest of Fort Worth.  Now, they've successfully closed on the sale of these stations in a deal brokered by Eddie Esserman.

The final month of the second quarter has begun, and for the low-power television station licensee known as HC2 Broadcasting, a change in majority control is in the works. Pending FCC approval, approximately 75% of HC2's ownership will be held by an entity led by CEO Kyle Kiser and founded by the man behind Dish.

FOX News Media’s free ad-supported streaming television weather service is readying for its Wednesday debut across the nation's lone subscription-based satellite radio service. Since launching in 2021 as a FAST channel, FOX Weather has added numerous distribution partners.

Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio production system at InfoComm 2026, scheduled for June 17-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Independent nationally distributed Radio Network News (RNN) has officially launched in the United States, and is doing so by using the NewsCloud platform — described as "a modern newsroom efficiency and productivity" product. 

A Congressional effort to protect intellectual property rights in the voice and visual likeness of individuals, and for other purposes, has commenced. This sees Senators weighing the pros and cons of a bill introduced on May 20 that would axe "deep fakes" while protecting entertainers and air personalities alike.

On May 13, RBR+TVBR first shared the news that Connoisseur Media had agreed to part ways with a group of radio stations in Millbank and Watertown, S.D., respectively. On Monday (6/1), the asset purchase agreement was submitted as part of a LMS filing seeking FCC regulatory approval of the sale.

On the morning of June 10, the House Judiciary Committee will conduct a hearing that seeks to examine the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 and its effect on the modern broadcast market for major sports leagues. By special request , the Commissioner of the NFL has been asked to offer testimony at the session.

When the clock struck Midnight on Saturday, May 23, Red Apple Audio Networks officially launched its Worldwide News Network, under the direction of newly hired VP of News Lee Harris. Getting the new audio offering up and running very much involved a platform developed by Radio.Cloud.

For the last several weeks, the spot for TV spots for one of the nation's leading auto insurance specialty companies has been national Spot Cable. For the final week of May 2026, it has company — from a category peer that recently recruited actor J.K. Simmons as its spokesperson.

The NAB is pushing back on a proposed 46% fee hike from the FCC and calling on the Commission to make Big Tech pay its share, with the filing landing the same week several small radio station classes crossed the de minimis exemption threshold for the first time.

Brett Miller has been a media broker since forming Miller & Associates in 1988, which today is MCH Enterprises. In this column, he discusses what he refers to as "The Premium Dilemma" — why sellers with money‑losing stations should not be asking top dollar if they really want a suitable suitor to purchase their properties.

The FCC's Media Bureau late Friday moved forward with establishing a formal pleading cycle and ex parte procedures for the early renewal applications of the eight ABC Owned Stations owned by its parent, The Walt Disney Co.

A comment period has been established that will guide the Media Bureau in determining whether or not to renew the licenses for the company that operated the now-defunct NewsNet — bankrolled by the man who invented 5-Hour Energy.

Jeff Winemiller, one of the most prolific buyers and sellers of low-power TV stations, has struck another deal. This time, it involves his company's acquisition of six properties in the state of Washington — including one in Seattle.

He's been linked to a spoken word AM radio station associated with CBS Radio since it purchased the property in 1932 from General Mills. Now, he has officially retired from the property that is today owned by Soros Fund Management-controlled Audacy Inc.

The National Association of Broadcasters on Friday announced the results of its 2026 NAB Radio and Television Board of Directors elections. The two-year terms of the elected board members will begin this month.

The owner of a Class B1 FM serving downstate Illinois communities such as Centralia and its city of license, Mount Vernon, and an AM radio station in Cairo, Ill., has received two Notices of Violation from the FCC. A lack of white obstruction lighting is one of the matters at hand for Benjamin Stratemeyer.

"We’re making audio more measurable, targetable, and performance-driven through identity-based tools, large-scale audience reach, and major partnerships." That's how the nation's satellite radio operator describes its new expanded relationship with LiveRamp, one designed to support "scalable identity solutions" across programmatic audio.