Industry News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — TEGNA shareholders have voted in favor of the plan. Now, regulatory approval is the only obstacle to an effort that Soohyung Kim and his Standard General LP have waged for some two years — gaining control of the broadcast TV station and Premion owner.

That’s not so easy, it turns out. Common Cause, The NewsGuild-CWA, and Public Knowledge wish to stop the transaction, which sees Cox Media Group’s majority shareholder, Apollo Global Management, take a non-voting equity stake in TEGNA.

And, they’ve convinced the FCC to allow more time for providing the Media Bureau with information they believe is needed to fully assuage the situation.

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The Policy Division of the FCC’s Media Bureau has signed off on an application for certification to operate an open video system serving a host of major markets.

With no comments regarding the application received by the Commission, it has gone forward with an affirmative nod to the ask.

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By Michael Ferguson

SAN FRANCISCO — The case for diversity is solid and has long been established: diverse teams outperform their peers when it comes to revenue generation, workplace efficiency, innovation, market share, and employee wellness. Even then, majority of organizations still struggle with unconscious bias in their recruitment process where age, gender, race, and other role-irrelevant factors still significantly influence hiring decisions.

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Mick Hubert has called every Florida Gators college football game since the 1989 home opener at the University of Florida’s main campus.

Longtime fans expecting his signature “Oh My!” this fall will be at a loss, however.

Hubert is retiring, and will be devoting game days to his wife and their Sarasota home.

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A Class D daytime-only AM station, along with its FM translator serving the Rose Hill, N.C., area is poised to change hands.

Pending regulatory approval, Mega Media will be the new owner.

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The facts surrounding the felony conviction of Central Pennsylvania radio station owner Roger Wahl, as previously reported by local media and by RBR+TVBR, involve some rather disturbing tales of voyeurism, and finding men to engage in unwanted sexual activities with a local woman.

The conviction prompted the FCC to conduct a License Revocation Hearing, for which Wahl is serving as his own legal counsel, that will eventually determine whether or not he’s ultimately able to retain control of his radio station, WQZS-FM 93.3 in Meyersdale, Pa.

Officially known as Media Bureau item No. 21-401, the hearing under the office of the FCC’s Administrative Law Judge has already created fireworks between ALJ Jane Hinckley Halprin and Wahl, who was warned to treat the proceeding no different than an in-court legal affair. Now, Wahl has provided answers to a second set of interrogatories from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau.

Some of Wahl’s responses are eye-opening, and could further cloud his chances of remaining a licensee.

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A multi-platform news organization established by The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism has teamed up with “Your Public Radio” — the main NPR Member station serving Baltimore — for the creation of a joint operating agreement that will allow each organization to work collaboratively “to deliver quality journalism” across the state of Maryland.

The pact involves YPR, based at WYPR-FM 88.1 in Baltimore and heard in both Frederick and Ocean City on WYPF-FM and WYPO-FM, respectively; and the Baltimore Banner.

What’s that? Compared to Tribune’s Baltimore Sun, today controlled by Alden Capital and targeted for significant reporter and editor downsizing, the Banner has embraced hyperlocal journalism. “We’re leaving the national news to others and focusing on the daily lives of the people who live and work here,” the news organization says. “The Baltimore Banner is bringing together Baltimore reporters and editors to make sure you know what’s happening in your neighborhood. As a nonprofit, we’re committed to delivering trustworthy journalism that tells the varied stories of our community and holds our leaders accountable.”

With WYPR already established as a not-for-profit local programming creator, the two organizations will forge bonds that tie the WYPR newsroom and chat show Midday and On the Record with the Banner.

“Both teams will work together to cover stories, special reports and develop joint programming to serve the needs of communities throughout Baltimore and around the state,” YPR said. One of the first collaborations will be to cover the upcoming local elections. Joint podcasts and radio programming are on the horizon.

In addition to content sharing, newsroom collaboration and the ability to reach a broader audience, the agreement allows expanded marketing and sponsorship opportunities to be offered, creating added value for sponsors and financial support for both organizations. “The Baltimore Banner will benefit from access to WYPR’s strong dedicated listenership and network of supporters, including recently acquired WTMD 89.7 FM,” it said.

The deal was struck in late April, and it’s just been filed with the FCC for its blessing.

If regulatory approval is given, and that’s expected, two Oklahoma FM radio stations will be licensed to JL Radio LLC.

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MIAMI — Fresh off of its first Upfront in New York, TelevisaUnivision has selected a new Senior VP of Corporate Events.

It’s a newly created role designed to consolidate and “fuel” the company’s global corporate events portfolio.

Taking the post is a former SVP of Content Relations at Nickelodeon who has spent the last five years in posts ranging from a Celebrity Cruises entertainment strategy developer to leading entertainment and events for the Oneida Nation in New York State.

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The Association of Public Radio Engineers has recognized Rich Parker with its 2022 APRE Meritorious Service Award.

“APRE’s engineering award is granted on an annual basis to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the art and/or science of radio engineering [and] that has made a significant impact on, or improvement, in the state of the public radio industry,” said the nonprofit.

For a decade, Rich was the master control and studio engineer at WHYY in Philadelphia, followed by 17 years as director of engineering at Vermont Public Radio. Since 2014, he has been director of engineering for CoastAlaska, handling broadcast engineering and IT support as well as planning and management for the seven Alaskan stations in Juneau.

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According to APRE President Victoria St. John, Rich was one of the founding members on the association’s board and is deserving of recognition, having been an active part of the public radio engineering community for decades.

“I had the privilege of working with him for many years at Vermont Public Radio and I am proud and pleased for Rich to be recognized for his years of inventive and cheerful service,” she said.

Parker was honored April 22 at the Public Radio Engineers Conference (PREC) dinner in Las Vegas, just prior to the NAB Show.

Rich Parker, left, is shown at the PREC event with colleague Scott Hanley. Photo by Jim Peck.

The post APRE Honors Rich Parker With Engineering Service Award appeared first on Radio World.