Radio & TV Business Report (RBR+TVBR)

Christensen Broadcasting Acquires Four Small-Market Radio Stations From Connoisseur Media

Christensen Broadcasting has completed the acquisition of four small-market radio stations previously owned by Connoisseur Media, serving Luverne, Minnesota and Madison, South Dakota. The transaction was brokered by Kalil & Co. and is now officially licensed to Christensen Broadcasting.

TEGNA Brings More ‘9News’ To Denver Viewers

TEGNA has added two new 30‑minute “9News” broadcasts at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on its MyNetwork TV affiliate KTVD‑20 in the Denver‑Boulder market, also streaming via the 9News+ app. The 5:30 p.m. slot competes directly with NBC Nightly News on KUSA‑9. TEGNA...

OmniPlayer 3 Enters The U.S. Marketplace

M&I Broadcast Services, part of Valsoft, has introduced OmniPlayer 3, its flagship radio‑automation platform, to the U.S. market. The software, already a staple in the Dutch radio sector and used by the BBC, promises to streamline workflows and future‑proof broadcast operations....

An iHeartMedia Tweak Seek Requires A Redo

iHeartMedia filed an FCC minor‑change application to shift WROV‑FM’s city of license from Martinsville, Va., to New Castle, Va. The FCC’s Audio Division rejected iHeart’s claim that the move would serve a larger population, citing a staff engineering analysis that shows...

A Big Week For A Tex-Mex Fast Casual Giant

Chipotle topped spot‑cable advertising for the week of Feb 16‑22, 2026, ranking only behind NCAA basketball promos on iHeartMedia’s Media Monitors. The fast‑casual chain out‑performed traditional advertisers such as Liberty Mutual, Progressive, and Chase, which also posted strong activity. Spot‑television rankings...

A ‘Classic Radio Station’ Finds A New Owner

A 1 kW Class C AM station broadcasting vintage 1960s rock from Oregon’s capital is set to change hands, pending Federal Communications Commission approval. The outlet, operating with a single tower, has cultivated a dedicated niche audience that values analog authenticity. Ownership...

Sinclair To Acquire Ex-CMG Station From Todd Parkin

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will acquire a Tulsa‑based MyNetworkTV station previously owned by Todd Parkin’s Rincon Broadcasting Group. The station changed hands from Cox Media Group to Imagicomm Communications in 2022, then to Parkin in July 2025, and is...

A New Lineup Arrives For Wisconsin Talk Network

Civic Media is revamping its News/Talk format across Wisconsin under the Civic Media Network brand, launching new local programs on stations in Wausau, Madison, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh‑Appleton. The refreshed schedule features a flagship morning show, Daybreak with Brian and Jamie,...

Sinclair Broadcast Group to Acquire Tulsa TV Station From Rincon Broadcasting Group

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will acquire a MyNetworkTV‑affiliated TV station in Tulsa from Todd Parkin’s Rincon Broadcasting Group. The sale follows Rincon’s purchase of the station in July 2025, marking a new transaction in the market’s broadcast landscape.

NAB Rolls Out Hyper-Local AM Advocacy Spots

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has introduced hyper‑local public‑service announcements that thank individual legislators for backing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. The spots are customized for each of the 49 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S....

Sinclair Given FCC OK To Buy Three SSA Partner Stations

Sinclair Broadcast Group has received Federal Communications Commission approval to acquire three stations it already operates under shared services agreements. The transactions include the Howard Stirk Holdings NBC affiliate in Flint, Michigan, a Cunningham Broadcasting station in Traverse City, Michigan,...

Are Gray Media Shares Undervalued Right Now?

Zacks Equity Research examined Gray Television (GTN) and found its shares have risen 20.8% year‑over‑year but remain well below the 2021 trading range. The research note highlights the company’s solid cash‑flow generation from local broadcast advertising and a dividend yield...

CRTC Clears A New Path For New First Nations FMs

First Peoples Radio’s CFPT‑FM (ELMNT FM) in Toronto signed off on September 1, 2024 after struggling with revenue and ratings. The Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) responded by announcing a new regulatory pathway to license additional First Nations‑focused FM stations. Toronto...

Connected TV and Latinos: An Intertwined Growth Story

LG Ad Solutions’ February‑May 2024 study of 1,435 Connected TV users shows that 94% of Hispanic Americans can access Connected TV, and most favor streaming over traditional broadcast. The primary drivers are greater control and broader content choices, with the...

Rural Virginia FM Poised To Trade Hands After Failed Deal

A Class A FM station serving Virginia’s Appalachian border with Kentucky has been sold to the Somerset Educational Broadcasting Foundation, pending FCC approval. The deal replaces a 2024 transaction that fell through, marking the station’s first change of hands in...

BPS: A New Beat for Sam Matheny

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is championing the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) as a resilient alternative to GPS, citing growing concerns over satellite signal vulnerability. Sam Matheny joined the effort as BPS Executive Vice President at the start of...

NAB To FCC: ‘Act Expeditiously’ On ATSC 3.0 Transition

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) submitted reply comments to the FCC’s proceeding on the ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard, urging the agency to accelerate the transition. NAB emphasizes the need for additional licensees to adopt the next‑generation system and ultimately...

Bicultural Latinos: A Cultural and Economic Force, Under iHeart’s Spotlight

iHeartMedia released a study with Collage Group highlighting bicultural Latinos as a “cultural and economic force.” The research finds they represent 40% of U.S. Hispanics, wield $4.1 trillion in purchasing power and consume audio primarily in English while still valuing Spanish...

CBS Rolls Its AR/VR Studio Technology Into Charm City

CBS’s Paramount unit has equipped Baltimore’s WJZ‑13 with an augmented‑reality/virtual‑reality (AR/VR) studio, extending a technology already live in markets such as New York and Los Angeles. The new system will debut on Monday, delivering immersive, hyper‑local weather graphics and dynamic, 3‑D sports...

TEGNA Extends Deal with Seattle Kraken

TEGNA has secured a multi‑year extension to broadcast Seattle Kraken NHL games on its twin Seattle‑Tacoma stations, KCPQ and KZJO. The deal reinforces TEGNA’s local sports portfolio as the company approaches the final stages of its merger with Nexstar Media...

RAB Webinar Takes On ‘Unity, Focus and Radio’s Collective Strength’

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) is hosting a live webinar titled “One Voice for Radio, Better Together” on March 14 at 1 pm Eastern. The session will feature RAB President Mike Hulvey alongside senior leaders from Townsquare Media, Cox Media Group, Lenawee...

Gray Media Completes WBBJ Deal

Gray Media Completes WBBJ Deal

Gray Media has completed the acquisition of WBBJ, a local television station, expanding its broadcast portfolio. The transaction was announced on February 18, 2026, and the financial terms were not disclosed.

Cumulus, Nielsen Get New Deadlines in Escalating Ratings Lawsuit

A federal judge in the Southern District of New York has established a detailed briefing schedule for the next phase of the Cumulus Media versus Nielsen lawsuit. Nielsen’s counterclaims allege Cumulus illegally shared confidential ratings data with Eastlan Ratings, violating...

WMSA: Focused On Securing Wireless Mic Spectrum

The Wireless Microphone Spectrum Alliance (WMSA), formed in 2025, is lobbying U.S. regulators to protect and expand spectrum for professional wireless microphones used in large live events. Recent data from the Super Bowl 2026 and Paris 2024 Olympics show massive...

Accelerated Access, Superior Choice: Noland Speaks

ATSC President Madeleine Noland told RBR+TVBR that ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) is now live in the United States, South Korea, parts of the Caribbean and Brazil, where a hybrid broadcast model is used. While adoption has been uneven—some markets lagging and...

Sahai to Appear At Two Investor Conferences, Pitching Sinclair

Sinclair Inc. CFO Narinder Sahai will present at two investor conferences in March, using the platform to promote the company’s transition to ATSC 3.0 broadcast technology. The appearances aim to showcase Sinclair’s growth strategy, its portfolio of stations—including flagship WBFF‑TV in...

‘GAIM’ Grows Nashville Studio As Bronze Shines In Bigger Role

GAIM, a Nashville‑based operator of five digital multicast networks, announced a major expansion during its self‑described "transformative period." CEO Joel Wertman and Co‑President/COO Otto Padrón are guiding the growth, which includes a new studio in the Marathon Village district. The...

Latuff Upped to Zeno’s Chief Growth Officer Role

Zeno Media announced the promotion of Nikols Latuff from Vice President to Chief Growth Officer. Latuff, praised for her market intelligence and relationships with broadcasters and creators, will steer the company’s next phase of growth. Zeno is concentrating on podcast...

Ideastream Goes With Nautel For New Transmitter Needs

Ideastream Public Media has placed an order for four new Nautel transmitters to replace or augment equipment at its three full‑power FM stations and an FM translator in Northeast Ohio. The package includes two GV2‑30ND high‑power units, a GV2‑3.5 medium‑power...

Introducing iSpot SAGE: A Proprietary Agentic AI Platform

iSpot launched iSpot SAGE, an agentic AI platform that leverages its proprietary TV ad measurement data to deliver actionable insights. The system runs on NVIDIA AI servers and was built over two years with input from brands like General Motors...

For Super Bowl LX, CP Delivered For NBCU

CP Communications supplied the full‑scale broadcast communications backbone for NBC and Telemundo’s Super Bowl LX coverage, deploying an HD21 mobile unit, a private wireless network, and extensive intercom infrastructure. The company positioned nine radios across Levi’s Stadium, linked 64 Dante and...

To Attract Top Talent, Consider A Purpose-Driven Culture

Alexander Group, a revenue‑growth management consultancy, argues that attracting top talent in media sales requires a purpose‑driven culture. The firm highlights that the modern account executive must possess advanced technological skills that younger professionals naturally bring. By linking mission‑focused values...

The InFOCUS Podcast: Washington Edition

Adam R. Jacobson, editor‑in‑chief of RBR+TVBR, visited the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) headquarters on February 11, a day after the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the national TV‑ownership reach cap. In the InFOCUS Video Podcast, he recaps key moments from...

A Sovereign Call To Pay Up, Or Lose Its Licenses

A broadcast group based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, led by Bill Curtis (legal name William C. Gleich) and Tim Sabean, has operated 11 radio stations acquired from Northern Star Broadcasting for more than 15 years. The duo now confronts...

February FCC Meeting To Consider New Noncomm FM Translators

The Federal Communications Commission will discuss a Media Bureau proposal at its February open meeting to create new non‑commercial FM translator authorizations. Translators rebroadcast existing stations, extending coverage into underserved areas. The agenda item targets both religious and secular non‑commercial...

Full Ownership For A Lone Star FM For Laukhuf

In September 2024 Cowboy Broadcasting Network announced the acquisition of KRXT‑FM, a 6 kW Class A station serving Rockdale, Texas. Stephen Laukhuf is now buying Jim Schwertner’s 50 % ownership for $262,844.09, with $225,844.09 already paid and the remaining $37,000 due by April 1,...

Spring Awakening: Braves Go With Gray Duo For Broadcasts

The Atlanta Braves have expanded their spring‑training partnership with Gray Media, adding 15 games to the broadcast lineup on WANF‑46 and WPCH‑17. The coverage will also be distributed free over‑the‑air to 26 Southeast markets within the Braves’ MLB territory. A...

‘Rumba’ Dances Off To FM Translators In Tampa Bay Shuffle

iHeartMedia is moving its Spanish‑language "Rumba" brand from the primary 95.7 FM signal to two low‑power translators at 95.3 MHz and 102.9 MHz, swapping frequencies with its heritage sports talk station WDAE‑AM 620. The 95.7 FM frequency will now carry WDAE’s sports programming, bolstering its...

Nielsen’s VideoAmp Lawsuit Should Be Tossed, Judge Suggests

A Delaware federal judge recommended granting VideoAmp's motion to dismiss Nielsen's patent infringement lawsuit, effectively ending Nielsen's claim over its proprietary audience measurement technology. The case centered on Nielsen's allegation that VideoAmp used its patented methods without permission. The judge's...

Broadcast Media Nemesis Saying Goodbye To CTA

Gary Shapiro is stepping down as chief executive of the Consumer Technology Association after a 35‑year tenure, moving into an executive chair role on May 1. Current president Kinsey Fabrizio will assume CEO responsibilities while retaining her board seat. Shapiro’s final...

TVB: OTA Access To Local Sports Is Important

TVB’s 2026 Sports Survey reveals that traditional linear television continues to dominate sports consumption among enthusiasts, despite the rise of streaming platforms. The study shows 90% of sports fans consider local broadcast TV essential, and 75% tune in at least...

Board Leadership Unveiled For Public Media Infrastructure

The Public Media Infrastructure, created in November with one of the final Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) grants, has announced its inaugural Board of Trustees. The organization was founded just before CPB’s wind‑down, which follows the cessation of federal funding...

Global Ad and Marketing Spend To Jump By Nearly 10%

PQ Media’s latest forecast shows global advertising and marketing expenditures climbing almost 10% in 2026, reaching roughly $800 billion. The surge is anchored by high‑profile sports moments such as Lionel Messi’s campaigns and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which...