US

FCC Report 10/29

Following a series of objections from Saga Communications, the FCC has granted the modification application by Piedmont Communications to relocate 105.5 W288ED Charlottesville VA into the city. Piedmont acquired W288ED in October 2021 in a swap with iHeartMedia and then sought to move the translator to a new site. In its most recent objection, Saga stated that by taking W288ED silent in August 2022 for a little over two months it violated a condition of the license that required it to operate from its licensed facility for a twelve month period. Piedmont rebutted the claim the construction was temporary with proof of construction, remained in place during the silent period, and resumed operations from there, which the FCC agreed with. W288ED will rebroadcast Piedmont’s 640 WKTR Earlysville VA.

The FCC has opened up a proceeding to revoke the licenses held by Best Country Broadcasting for unpaid regulatory fees for 2002, 2012-19, and 2022. Best Country’s 920 WBOX Bogalusa LA owes $12,698.17 in total unpaid fees, while 92.9 WBOX-FM Varnado LA owes $8,906.97. The stations have 60 days to pay the unpaid fees or show cause as to why the fees should be waived or deferred.

License Cancellations
Crawford County Community Radio’s license for 89.9 WBRO Marengo IN has been cancelled after the station failed to respond to an FCC inquiry about deficiencies in their 2020 license renewal. The FCC flagged the renewal stating that Crawford County Community Radio, Inc. is no longer the entity in control of the station and that they were required to file an application to transfer control of the station to the actual operator, amend the renewal application signed by both that explains how and when control changed. It also noted that the station’s public file was defective as it was missing all of its required issues/programs lists.

Silent Notifications

Post Rock Communications’s 93.7 KZFX Ridgecrest CA (Damaged transmission line)
Reno Media Group’s 1270 KBZZ Sparks NV (More repairs needed for transmitter vandalization)
Alfred University’s 89.7 WALF Alfred NY (Server issues)
Norsan Media’s 1480 WZJY Mount Pleasant SC (Transmitter and copper theft)

AM Changes
Hubbard Radio’s Regional Mexican “La Mera Mera” 1050 WBQH Silver Spring MD proposes to relocate to the center tower of co-owned 1500 WFED Washington DC […]

US

KMXF Adds Tino Cochino Radio

iHeartMedia CHR “Hot 101.9” KMXF Lowell/Fayetteville AR has added YEA Networks’ Tino Cochino Radio for nights. Cochino will air from 7-11pm weeknights. The YEA Networks nationally syndicated Tino Cochino Radio show is celebrating their first week as the new night show on iHeart KMXF HOT 101-9 Fayetteville Top 40. The show launched on Monday the […] […]

ASIA

The One Word That Most Radio Talent Fear

Content from BPRAnd that word is …………. Aircheck.In a competitive market, with each music format filled with multiple stations, often the only USP a station has is the talent.

Some program directors find working with talent daunting and overwhelming; talent can find the aircheck session threatening and disheartening. And the worst end-result is for talent to fear air-checking and for program directors to avoid it.

From the talent’s perspective, some of them may be gun shy of the aircheck due to a series of bad coaches in the past.  To gain the talent’s trust, the program director must be respected; the talent must value the program director’s advice.  Talent shouldn’t leave an aircheck session with the thought “well, that’s just your opinion…what would you know”.However, sometimes that is just what they think.So how do you, the program director, avoid that happening?Easy…. put the aircheck into the listeners’ hands!That is why BPR developed Talent Check.Talent Check graphically captures the listeners’ points of engagement and disengagement instantly and demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of content using an online “worm”.Talent Check can be used to test the appeal (or lack of) shows, individual presenters and programming elements such as contesting, features and benchmarks.The graphic display means talent can see what content is working and what isn’t from the listeners’ perspective.While talent may disagree with the program director’s opinion, it’s hard for them to disagree with the opinions of a couple of hundred listeners!Here’s a link demonstrating how Talent Check works.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2cUIclaH4cNow remember, Talent Check is the start of the process; it pinpoints what the audience likes and doesn’t like. It’s the program director’s job to then show the talent where improvements could be made. Coach, direct and nurture them.Main Photo: ShutterstockIf you have any questions…. please contact us.By David Kidd, BPR […]

ASIA

India’s Radio Mirchi and Radio Orange bid to buy Big FM

According to local media reports, Indian FM Radio network Radio Mirchi, a part of Entertainment Network India Limited (ENIL), Radio Orange and Sapphire FM have each bid Rs 2.51 billion (US $30 million) to acquire Big FM Radio network, which is undergoing an insolvency process.Big FM, owned by Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (RBNL), is the country’s largest radio network with 58 stations and reach of over 1,200 towns and 50,000 villages.In February this year, India’s bankruptcy court admitted RBNL under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) on the plea of IDBI Trusteeship Services Ltd., which had approached the tribunal after the company allegedly failed to repay its dues of over Rs 1.74 billion.

Of the total admitted claims of the lenders of Rs 5.78 billion, IndusInd Bank’s claim is Rs 1.72 billon, HSBC Asset Management Rs 2.38 billion, Franklin Templeton MF Rs 1.03 billion and Reliance Commercial Finance’s claim is Rs 640 million.After considering the cash at Big FM, the total recovery for lenders could be as high as 55 to 60 per cent against the total admitted claims.Sources close to the process said that the lenders are likely to ask both the bidders to revise their bids upward. […]

No Picture
AU & NZ

Back in my day: The surprising stuff that happens at a radio reunion

“Once upon a time in old Melbourne town, there were two competing radio stations filled to the brim with the most excellent journalists. The years passed and they merged to become one big, happy family. More years passed and it was decided we really need to have a gathering.”Reunions can be a funny and sometimes… Read More
The post Back in my day: The surprising stuff that happens at a radio reunion by Sarah Patterson appeared first on Radio Today. […]

UK

Community Media Association offers free Radioplayer slots to members

Radioplayer UK and the Community Media Association have agreed on a deal for members to get a slot on Radioplayer as part of the CMA membership fees. Lawrence Galkoff, General Manager from Radioplayer Worldwide announced the news during the Community Media Festival 2023. Any Ofcom licensed radio station can apply to be on Radioplayer, including […] […]