Radio + TV Business Report

As the 11am Eastern hour began, the senior Democratic Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission revealed on social media platform X that he had just informed President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he intends to resign “later this spring.” https://lnkd.in/eD5Nnh-4

On Wednesday, January 29, the leadership of an audio content creation and distribution company founded as Entercom by Joseph Field and most recently led by his son, David Field, saw the naming of an interim President/CEO. Now,?Audacy Inc.,?has given her permanent executive leadership stripes as a series of other corporate-level moves has transpired at the company with majority ownership today held by Soros Fund Management. Many high-profile people have exited. At the same time,?Chris Oliviero?— once associated with the former CBS Radio — and?Bob Philips?are earning promotions and will serve as close lieutenants to CEO?Kelli Turner.

This is the premiere episode of the Radio + Television Business Report's InFOCUS Video Podcast, presented by dotFM? The .FM Top-Level Domain Registry. Our inaugural episode features an interview between Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson and Johnny Green, Jr.., the President and Regional General Manager for CBS overseeing both Boston and New York. If you've not seen it yet, here's the link!

Streamline Publishing's Radio + TV Business Report is proud to bring you the debut the premiere episode of the?RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Video Podcast,?thanks to the support of longtime sponsor?dotFM? The .FM Top-Level Domain Registry. Our inaugural episode, which is roughly 25 minutes in length, features an interview between Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson and Johnny Green, Jr.., the President and Regional General Manager for CBS overseeing both Boston and New York. WCBS | CBS New York WBZ | CBS Boston Green has been a part of the CBS family for a decade and in July 2021 rose from interim News Director to President/GM in New York. He added responsibilities in Boston in September of last year.

The broadcast media industry’s key leaders have been asking for it. Soon, they’ll likely get it.?FCC Chairman?Brendan Carr?on Wednesday announced that the agency has launched what he calls “a massive, new deregulatory initiative.”

“This morning we’re reporting terrific fourth quarter and year-end results, a strong move-down in year-end leverage, and really meaningful progress on performance improvement for the Scripps Networks that we first told you about last year.” That’s how?The E.W. Scripps Co.?President/CEO?Adam Symson?opened?his company’s Q4 2024 earnings report, which saw the chief executive advocate for regulatory rule relief from the FCC — making it a key part of the earnings call. Symson also shared that, when deregulation arrives, it’s not a likely buyer as it seeks to continue to lower its debt.

“Good things come to those who wait,” so the saying goes. That’s indeed the case when it comes to investors in?The E.W. Scripps Co.?With a significant round of debt refinancing announced just after Tuesday’s Closing Bell on U.S. financial markets, Scripps cleared a big hurdle as it prepared to discuss its Q4 2024 results this morning after a short postponement of their release. And, it turns out, Scripps swung to net income on a healthy revenue climb.

Atlanta-headquartered?Gray Media?is celebrating the first new combination of top-four rated television stations this decade, as the Carr Commission has granted a waiver of its local ownership rules and will allow the company to complete its purchase of the FOX affiliate serving the Rochester, Minn., market.

It’s been said that?Sinclair Inc.?was considering the sale of broadcast television stations it believed to be non-essential to the company, freeing up cash as it invests in ATSC 3.0’s rollout across the U.S. and in a handful of other countries. The company is also looking to put its Bally Sports era squarely in the past, given the financial challenges associated with its regional sports network acquisition and spin into a subsidiary operation. Now, Sinclair is turning to a former Bally Sports sales executive as it agrees to sell five television stations, including its Milwaukee property.

?In May 2023, some 36 years after starting her career,?Kelley Dunn?departed The E.W. Scripps Co.’s NBC affiliate serving West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and the Treasure Coast. This left?Michael Williams,?her co-anchor, in the role of Dean of local news in the market. Now, Williams has decided to conclude his own storied career in TV.