Telecom Act: 20 Years Later

On the Cover: Author and Speaker Larry Bailin | The Forecast Issue | Annual Legal and Brokers Roundtables

Competitors would prefer you stay home. Dozens of broadcasters, ad buyers, lawyers, and deal advisers will not. Forecast returns to Manhattan with more than 70 organizations represented, and a last call is out for anyone still deciding whether to be in the room.

The FCC’s first FM translator window for noncommercial educational stations is running longer than planned. Filing system problems kept some would-be applicants from submitting, so the Media Bureau moved the close back and extended a related freeze on minor modification applications to match.

Ask radio’s salespeople what is holding back business, and one word keeps coming back: attribution. A NuVoodoo survey finds thin staffing and growing admin work competing with prospecting as economic pressure and measurement doubts weigh on businesses.

Podcast and audio budgets grew for most brands this year, but the momentum may not last. Oxford Road's latest survey of advertising buyers finds optimism cooling for 2027, with other channels, measurement gaps, and the listening environment forming barriers.

(Randy Lane) Humor is the lifeblood of a great morning show, but often, up-and-coming talent and even seasoned vets fall into the trap of thinking “funny” means jokes, wacky impressions, or laughing at their own bits. Personality show humor isn’t about being a comedian.

(Mike Blinder) Nationally, AdImpact tracked $11.87 billion in political advertising through November 2. Broadcast television collected $5.84 billion, or 49%. Radio received $284 million. They should also ask how much of their future they are willing to build around another delivery.

Tony Richards built his reputation owning radio stations. Now he wants engineers and operators to know him for software. As CEO of newly launched Fusion Air, he is rolling out broadcast tools meant to keep stations on the air and live shows running smoothly.

Entravision's broadcast side finally got a lift, but it still isn't the one doing the heavy lifting. Political ad dollars helped the stations return to a small profit in the third quarter, while the company's ad tech arm generated nearly all of the growth.

Happy Friday! This week’s Blast From The Past comes from the Radio Ink archives, courtesy of Bernie Merrill, showing off KLGA-AM in Algona, IA. Send your Blast From The Past story and photo to Editor-in-Chief Cameron Coats for your chance to be featured.