Radio company Audacy filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

[bcla]

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/07/radio-giant-audacy-files-for-bankruptcy

They used to be known as Entercom, which I remember when one of my local radio stations was doing promotional discounts for local events and I received tickets from them. I think at one time they were officially Radio.com. At least in my area they operate a major sports talk station as well as the biggest news station.

 

[SueInBoston]

I listen to a local radio station's morning show through Audacy, but there are so many ads that I usually switch mid morning.

 

[RangerPooh]

Interesting. I often listen to a SF Bay Area station on it, from out here in TN. Hope I can still listen. Prior to Audacy they aired on I Heart Radio.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It would impact 8 stations here including my favorite (and really only one left) of alternative rock, plus the only real rock station left plus one of the main pop stations I listen to. Although I don't listen to it one of the sports radio stations would also be impacted.

I can only hope they stay on, we just had a restructuring of several radio stations here and they got rid of the other alternative pop station altogether.

 

[tvguy]

At least in my area they operate a major sports talk station as well as the biggest news station.

The biggest news station, or the ONLY news station?

 

[bcla]

The biggest news station, or the ONLY news station?

I think it can be argued that public radio stations have substantial news operations.

KGO-AM was more a call-in talk show format since the 1980s although they had a small news operation. Didn't really listen much to it other than for Cal football so I'm not really sure. Might have changed when ABC sold it. I remember back in the 80s when they were operating out of the same building as KGO-TV in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. A family member owned a business in the neighborhood and I'd been there a few times during the summer.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Never heard of them but I lost a lot of interest in radio when that car radio company was pushing (Cirrus?) itself. I really despise the current version of American commercial radio. It tries too hard to insult my intelligence.

 

[tvguy]

I think it can be argued that public radio stations have substantial news operations.

KGO-AM was more a call-in talk show format since the 1980s although they had a small news operation. Didn't really listen much to it other than for Cal football so I'm not really sure. Might have changed when ABC sold it. I remember back in the 80s when they were operating out of the same building as KGO-TV in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. A family member owned a business in the neighborhood and I'd been there a few times during the summer.

Yes, public radio does have a HUGE news operation, which here in Sacramento is a part of their current financial mess. Sad as I have 6 friends working in that operation. I think KFBK has about 1/3 the staff, probably not enough staff as I have several friends who do fill in there because they don't have enough to cover the vacation time their on air people have. But KFBK has a bigger audience.

 

[bcla]

Yes, public radio does have a HUGE news operation, which here in Sacramento is a part of their current financial mess. Sad as I have 6 friends working in that operation. I think KFBK has about 1/3 the staff, probably not enough staff as I have several friends who do fill in there because they don't have enough to cover the vacation time their on air people have. But KFBK has a bigger audience.

Some amount local public radio news operations serve as a feeder for NPR News or other public radio programs. Not sure how that's handled financially. KQED in San Francisco has a pretty extensive news operation with several local bureaus.

 

[RangerPooh]

I think it can be argued that public radio stations have substantial news operations.

KGO-AM was more a call-in talk show format since the 1980s although they had a small news operation. Didn't really listen much to it other than for Cal football so I'm not really sure. Might have changed when ABC sold it. I remember back in the 80s when they were operating out of the same building as KGO-TV in the Tenderloin in San Francisco. A family member owned a business in the neighborhood and I'd been there a few times during the summer.

My dad would occasionally listen to KGO for 49ers and Giants games in the 90s.

 

[bcla]

My dad would occasionally listen to KGO for 49ers and Giants games in the 90s.

They had the most iconic call in the history of American sports broadcasting. I'd think even more iconic than the Miracle on Ice. The game was televised on KHBK though, although I've seen video of it sync'ed with the radio call.

 

[Lumpy1106]

It would impact 8 stations here including my favorite (and really only one left) of alternative rock, plus the only real rock station left plus one of the main pop stations I listen to. Although I don't listen to it one of the sports radio stations would also be impacted.

I can only hope they stay on, we just had a restructuring of several radio stations here and they got rid of the other alternative pop station altogether.

And you can thank Audacy (Entercom) for that. They destroyed KROQ and basically set the same playlist for every station they own. A minor tweak here or there, but it is really common to hear the same songs on every station they own. iHeart is not much better. Gone are the days of any real variety or anything that could be considered "cutting edge". They made it nearly impossible for any non-conglomerate station to exist in the process. Firing the KROQ morning crew practically the day COVID shut-downs happened was beyond low. I have zero sympathy for Audacy or any of the people who are running it. Congratulations - you ruined on-air radio. Was it worth it?

 

[tvguy]

Some amount local public radio news operations serve as a feeder for NPR News or other public radio programs. Not sure how that's handled financially. KQED in San Francisco has a pretty extensive news operation with several local bureaus.

Yes, I worked for an NPR station at the start of my career. All the member stations fed stories to NPR. There was no financial compensation in those days (1975-76). You just got to brag your stocy got picked up by NPR. Commercial radio and TV networks used to pay for stories, But, as I learned in 1993, ABC had stopped paying for stories. I shot video, with my home VHS camcorder, on my own time, but on my way to work of a crash involving a member of the Sacramento Kings after a game. It made the top of the 11 pm news, then went to ABC, CNN and ESPN. Didn't get a penny.