According to insightradio.com, Cumulus media has applied to the FCC to allow “up to 100%” foreign ownership. I remember thinking at the time of the Cumulus bankruptcy that for Carlos Slim, coughing up a billion dollars to take over Cumulus Media would be a very good investment. Taking over Westwood One and 458 radio stations would go a long way towards ending the culture that we call the United States.
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/177005/cumulus-petitions-fcc-for-up-to-100-foreign-ownership/
In a week, WPLJ-FM in New York City will start playing “I love Jesus” music and it’s not a big stretch to suggest the WABC might start playing Mexican accordion music shortly. Ajit Pai and the NAB want more foreign ownership of radio.
“I’m a singing Bye, Bye Miss American Pie…”
Once the Mexican drug cartels officially take over, I wonder what will happen to the South Side of Chicago…?
I was hoping that after their bankruptcy, Cumulus media would come back as Cirrus ex-AM. 😉
Mary Berner,who took over Cumulus with no prior radio experience, just got herself named to the NAB (radio) board of directors.
http://www.insideradio.com/free/mary-berner-kevin-perry-join-nab-radio-board/article_956d3282-7df3-11e9-ae71-0f5cb7c42dd0.html
Can’t speak regarding Mary Berner personally, but it would be hard for the NAB to exclude Cumulus from a leadership position – they are a big player in the market.
The 9,000 AM and FM “mom and pop” licensees who are not owned by foreign sovereign wealth funds would probably disagree.
Q: ¿ What is habeas cumulus?
A: When Mark Levin shouts at you across the network, “¿ What kind of idiot are you? ”
lol
Well, spanish language broadcaster Univision is upping the pressure to find a buyer, retaining Morgan Stanley
https://www.wsj.com/articles/univision-privately-owned-for-more-than-a-decade-explores-sale-11562183016
As far as I know, they haven’t found a buyer yet for The Onion. Even if they did, it probably would not pay off the $7 billion in debt. That is about one-third of what killed of clear channel, for similar reasons. However Univision has TV stations.
Back in the ancient history, the Reagan administration forced the licenses away from Univision on the premise that the network was actually being run by Mexicans. It temporarily was owned by Hallmark, but they ended up going bankrupt.
There may be strength in diversity, but that does not translate into ad revenue to pay off debt.
Paging Sinclair. They already own more than 1400 stations….
oh wait, that is Sinclair Oil Corporation. Sinclair Broadcast Group owns far fewer.
Sinclair Broadcast Group does syndicate Sharyl Attkisson’s weekly program, Full Measure, which is well received in conservative circles and available for streaming free from its website.
If you like conservative talk radio, I think you will like her show with current and back episodes available free here: http://fullmeasure.news/