Radio+Television Business Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some five years ago, in support of a goal to preserve a vacant channel for use by white space devices and wireless microphones, the FCC proposed rules for television stations applying for a new, displacement, or modified facility in the television band.

Now, largely due to “other actions” the Commission has taken to support white space devices and wireless mics, GN Docket No. 12-268 has been terminated.

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In normal times, he’d likely be celebrating the birth of a brand-new digital multicast network, thanks to a recent purchase through his growing broadcast media operation, at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach while attending NATPE Miami.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that event is now a virtual affair. But, that’s likely not stopping Byron Allen and his team from cheering about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day transition of Light TV to the latest offering superserving Black TV consumers.

As RBR+TVBR first reported on October 30, Allen Media Group has acquired MGM‘s over-the-air broadcast television networks This TV and Light TV, offered a digital multicast offerings across the U.S., for an undisclosed price.

Launched in 2008, This TV is programmed with films, and other limited general entertainment content in the form of classic television series.

Light TV dates to 2016; it has featured family-friendly movies and series. That fare will disappear on January 15, 2021 – the start of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend.  At that time, Light TV will officially transition to TheGrio.TV.

According to Allen Media, TheGrio.TV will feature African American-focused content reaching over 100 million U.S. households via over-the-air broadcast television stations, cable/telco/satellite platforms, and free digital streaming. With its new network brand slogan Our Culture Forever, TheGrio.TV will feature movies, sitcoms, dramas, concerts, talk shows, variety shows, game shows, news, and lifestyle content.

What is “TheGrio”? The term, in parts of Africa, is used to define a storyteller.

At one time owned by NBCUniversal, TheGrio.com was purchased by Allen in 2016 when it had less than 1 million monthly active users. In Summer 2020, TheGrio.com achieved its peak of over 10.5 million monthly active users.

“TheGrio.com is now one of the most visited news and entertainment sites for the African-American community, and is the largest employer of African-American journalists,” Allen said in a press release.

He added, “TheGrio.TV is especially important to me as it will both serve and uplift all viewers. TheGrio.TV is the first and only 100 percent African American-owned and targeted broadcast television network and free digital platform – making us truly authentic, without being filtered or controlled by others outside of the community.”

On Tuesday, TheGrio.TV received a big boost courtesy of FOX Television Stations. It will carry TheGrio.TV as a digital subchannel on 11 owned-and-operated broadcast properties, including WNYW-5 in New York, KTTV-11 in Los Angeles, and stations in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Minneapolis and Orlando.

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Byron Allen’s Group Makes ‘Island News’ With KITV Buy Adam Jacobson Across the Hawaiian Islands, “Island News” has come courtesy of an ABC affiliate owned and operated by two brothers from Erie, Pa.: Brian and Kevin Lilly. That ownership will soon come to an end, thanks to one of the most aggressive buyers in broadcast television today. Byron Allen’s Multi-Million Deal Includes LPTVs Adam Jacobson USA Television Holdings, the Bob Prather-led entity, on Oct. 1 revealed that it is agreeing to sell 11 broadcast television stations to Byron Allen’s Allen Media Broadcasting for $290 million. It is now known that the blockbuster deal includes several low-power TV stations. DuJuan McCoy’s Next Move: A Spin To Byron Allen Adam Jacobson One month ago, DuJuan McCoy emerged as the buyer of two TV stations in Indianapolis that Nexstar Media Group needed to sell in order to get regulatory approval of its merger with Tribune Broadcasting. Now, McCoy is poised to focus solely on those properties. Lightning Strikes For Byron Allen With Weather Channel Buy Adam Jacobson In the early 1980s, Byron Allen was best known as one of several commentators on the NBC comedy talk show Real People. Now, he’s a media mogul that just acquired The Weather Channel and its Local Now streaming service through his Allen Media LLC. Entertainment Studios CEO Byron Allen Upset by Industry Racism RBR-TVBR Media mogul corners President Obama at fundraiser and makes racist claims against AT&T. A TV Mogul Talks To The Audio World Adam Jacobson Once a host on NBC’s “Real People,” Byron Allen is today at the helm of one of the most successful broadcast media growth stories of today. He’s the founder of Entertainment Studios and Chairman/CEO of growing TV station owner Allen Media Group. So, why was Allen a keynote speaker at the virtual 2020 Radio Show on Thursday?

As RBR+TVBR first shared on its Twitter feed on Tuesday afternoon, the Republican majority of the U.S. Senate, by a 49-46 vote, confirmed Nathan Simington to be a member of the FCC.

Simington will take his seat as a Commissioner, replacing Mike O’Rielly, with the transition in power at the White House from President Trump to Joe Biden. Concurrently, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai will step down, as is traditional with a change in leadership at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.

Much discussion is being had across Washington about a “deadlock” at the FCC come January 21, 2021. But, is that just conjecture?

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Noemy Rodriguez and her Alcon Media isn’t just purchasing a full-power FM and an FM translator from a husband-and-wife ownership team in the Tri Cities of Washington state.

In a separate deal filed with the FCC concurrently, Alcon is also seeking FCC approval for its purchase of a second full-power FM and two more FM translators.

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Deloitte on Tuesday released its “2021 Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions,” which highlights how worldwide trends in TMT may affect businesses and consumers worldwide.

In addition, the report highlights how many of these trends are being driven by the global pandemic’s economic and societal impacts, resulting in growth for cloud technologies, the intelligent edge, media segments such as sports and the shift to telemedicine.

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EUREKA, CALIF. — On November 10, an asset purchase agreement codified the transfer of a series of full-power and FM translator radio stations from an estate, trust and related broadcasting company to an individual who served as the day-to-day president of the stations under the now-deceased seller.

Here are the details of this Golden State transaction.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — It may be non-binding, but it certainly has meaning.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed H. Res 549, a resolution reaffirming the lower body of Congress’ commitment to diversity in media.

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