Cumulus Media reported a 12% drop in revenue as it moves forward with a prepackaged Chapter 11 reorganization. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has confirmed the company’s Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization, which is expected to take effect once it receives FCC approval and meets remaining conditions.
FCC's Carr Overstepping Authority: Republican Sen. Ted Cruz criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for overstepping his authority after the agency ordered Disney to file an early license renewal for ABC’s eight local broadcast stations. The request, due within 30 days or by May 28, stems from an investigation into potential violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC rules, including the ban on unlawful discrimination. It follows Carr’s earlier warnings regarding Disney’s broadcast licenses over the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Audacy is changing the format of its 97.1 FM station in Los Angeles to all-sports as “The Fan,” launching on May 11 and becoming the market’s first all-sports FM station. The company announced it will end the simulcast of its all-news station KNX on 97.1 FM. KNX will continue its news programming exclusively on its AM signal at 1070 and on 97.1 HD2.
Media Industry
FOX News Channel (FNC) led cable news ratings for the week of April 20, averaging 2.9 million weekday primetime viewers and 263,000 in the 25-54 demographic—surpassing ESPN’s 2.6 million viewers amid the NBA and NHL playoffs.
For the full month of April, FNC topped both ABC and NBC in primetime viewership according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel data. FNC averaged 3.224 million viewers in weekday primetime, ahead of ABC (3.125 million) and NBC (3.047 million).
The NAB) condemned the FCC’s decision to require an early license renewal for ABC stations amid the latest controversy involving Jimmy Kimmel and Donald Trump. In a Wednesday statement, the NAB called for industry unity against what it sees as FCC pressure on Disney’s broadcast licenses.
U.S. News
The Cost of War: U.S. military campaign in Iran has cost $25 billion to date, a senior Pentagon official said Wednesday, marking the first official estimate of the conflict’s price tag. With midterm elections six months away, Democrats are seeking to tie the unpopular war to economic concerns as they challenge Republican control of the House.
Trump Talks Strategy: President Donald Trump met with oil company executives to discuss strategies for minimizing the impact of a potential months-long U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, a White House official said Wednesday. The talks followed stalled diplomatic efforts, as the U.S. seeks international support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and continues restricting Iran’s oil exports.
SCOTUS Rules On Redistricting: A Supreme Court ruling that weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act could allow Republican state lawmakers to redraw congressional districts in the South with large Black or Latino populations. The decision, issued Wednesday, intensifies the ongoing national fight over congressional mapmaking and could provide Republicans with a long-term electoral edge.