Headlines
How Conversational AI Is Changing Discovery for Brands and Media
This episode of BIA’s Leading Local Insights Podcast explores how conversational AI is reshaping search, discovery, and online visibility for brands, broadcasters, and media companies.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Deal Digest: Solid Rock Foundation Adds Texas FM, Closes Another Deal
Gary Ware’s Solid Rock Foundation has filed a $10,000 deal to buy KKSH, Jacksboro, TX (90.3) from Richard Haynes-led Alpha Consulting Christian Education.
Television
Will Must-Carry Make It to NextGen TV?
“We’ve been here before” stands out among the profound rhetoric that poured into the FCC as it revived its rulemaking exploration of NextGen TV.
In Praise Of Local Public Access TV
For years, local broadcasters have wrapped themselves in the language of “localism,” invoking civic responsibility as both regulatory shield and public justification for the extraordinary privileges attached to free over-the-air spectrum licenses.
Radio
Audacy CEO Says Sports Radio Is ‘Thriving’ In Digital Era
Audacy CEO Kelli Turner says the rise of streaming platforms, podcasts, social media and AI-driven personalization has done little to diminish the strength of sports radio, arguing instead that audio remains one of the most effective ways for fans to connect with teams, personalities and each other.
Community Broadcasters Seek Changes To FCC Translator Plan Over LPFM Concerns
A coalition of community radio organizations is urging the Federal Communications Commission to rethink parts of its proposed FM translator filing window, arguing the framework still risks placing low-power FMs at a disadvantage and could undercut the very local broadcasters the proceeding is intended to help.
Tech
Byron Allen Closes BuzzFeed Acquisition, Says Company Is Now 'Officially Chasing YouTube'
Media entrepreneur and stand-up comedian Byron Allen now is the majority owner of BuzzFeed — the struggling digital media player that Allen plans to use to launch a free-streaming platform that he imagines will rival video colossus YouTube.
FCC
FCC Foreign Sponsorship ID Deadline Nears
The FCC is warning broadcasters: modified foreign sponsorship identification rules take effect June 7, giving stations days to meet certification requirements that have survived two compliance deferrals, a court challenge, and years of sustained NAB opposition.
Verticals
Study: Americans Still Prefer In-Store Grocery Shopping, Despite Digital’s Rise
Despite continued growth in online grocery shopping, most Americans still prefer shopping for groceries in person and regularly visit multiple retailers each month, according to a new industry report.
One million new-car buyers are gone and they’re not coming back soon
GM, Ford and Toyota have said they are planning for U.S. new-car sales to stagnate or shrink this year, as prospective buyers stay on the sidelines of the new-car market.