What is iHeart in Favor Of?
Pittman and Bressler say the companies that disagree with the NAB position have argued for more strategic and targeted reform. "Leave the FM subcaps intact and eliminate only the AM subcaps, allowing for more ownership of AM stations." Pittman and Bressler told their team they support that position.
If More Deregulation, iHeart Would Look To Get Bigger
The Pittman/Bressler memo ends with a note to iHeartMedia presidents about the need to be on the lookout for stations the company might buy if more deregulation passes. Even though the company opposes deregulation, Pittman and Bressler believe that when the company fixes its balance sheet, which it's in the process of doing, it will be "the biggest buyer of additional stations."
Why iHeartMedia Opposes More Deregulation
The radio industry is divided when it comes to more deregulation. That's the opinion of iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman and CFO Richard Bressler who sent out a company note Monday detailing why the company opposes the NAB's plan to push the FCC for more deregulation. That opinion is not shared by the NAB.
Spitz Moving To SiriusXM
Veteran sports radio executive Eric Spitz is leaving CBS Sports Radio and joining SiriusXM as VP of Sports Programming. Spitz will be involved in the daily operation of SiriusXM’s sports channels, including the hiring of talent, programming development and live sports scheduling.
Former GAB President “Lanny” Finch Passes
Former Georgia Association of Broadcasters president Ellis Lanier “Lanny” Finch passed away the morning of June 22 following serious surgery. Finch was a longtime GAB board member, GAB board Chairman, GAB Director of Sales, and later on, the President of the GAB.
Larj Teams With TYT
Larj Media and The Young Turks Network have joined forces to co-produce a series of new podcasts that will be distributed on Panoply. TYT Network is an online talk, news, and entertainment network. Larj Media is a podcast production house started by Tina Nole.
Entercom Pulling Stations From TuneIn
As of July 6 all legacy Entercom stations will move over to Radio.com, the digital app Entercom picked up as part of the merger with CBS Radio. All legacy CBS Radio stations will be pulled off TuneIn by August 1. In a memo to staff Monday, CEO David Field said, "We are committed to making Radio.com a leader in the digital audio space."
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Scripps Exits Tulsa
The E.W. Scripps Company, which is in the process of selling off its radio stations, has reached an agreement to sell its group of five radio stations in Tulsa to Griffin Communications for $12.5 million.
Remembering The Great Dan Ingram
If you were on social media for a nanosecond, Monday, you saw the many moving tributes to one of the best Top 40 DJs of all time. Dan Ingram died Sunday at the age of 83. Former Saga Executive Steve Goldstein was lucky enough to work with Ingram and put his thoughts about the WABC host into a blog. Here are some excerpts from that post...















