Headlines
March 2026 Broadcast Media Transactions: Steady Activity Led by Strategic TV Acquisitions
As shown in our monthly transaction chart, March delivered a measured but meaningful set of broadcast transactions, totaling approximately $69.8M in television deals and $25M in radio.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Station Sales Rise As March Surge Lifts Radio’s First Quarter Totals
More radio stations sold during the first quarter of 2026 than one year ago, with bigger ticket sales pushing the Q1 transaction value more than tripling year-to-year. BIA Advisory Services reports 119 radio station sales were filed at the Federal Communications Commission during the first quarter worth a combined value of just shy of $56 million.
Radio
Cumulus Media Nearing Bankruptcy Exit
Cumulus Media’s creditors have voted to approve the broadcaster’s prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization plan, clearing the path toward a bankruptcy exit that would eliminate $592 million in obligations if a Houston court confirms the plan at today’s hearing.
The Case for Radio Ads Is in the Data Marketers Miss
New research finds marketers are undervaluing creative’s contribution to sales lift by a factor of two, and have been every year since 2020. For radio, the finding is both a vindication and a sales pitch that could help budgets flow back to over-the-air.
In-Car Screens Reshape Radio’s Future, New Report Finds.
A new industry report finds that while AM/FM radio remains standard in U.S. vehicles, it is becoming harder for listeners to find amid increasingly complex, screen-driven dashboards and growing competition from streaming platforms.
FCC
FCC Foreign Ownership Rule Overhaul To Take Effect May 11
The Federal Communications Commission says new rules designed to clarify its foreign ownership review process will take effect next month.