FCC Approves Expedited Sale of More Than 200 Radio Stations to George Soros’s Investment Firm

Hungarian–American billionaire and major Democratic Party donor George Soros will buy a stake in the media company Audacy, giving his investment firm control over more than 200 radio stations across 40 markets just ahead of the presidential election.

Republicans have criticized the Federal Communications Commission’s review process for the sale, with one Republican-appointed FCC commissioner saying the acquisition is in violation of federal law.

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hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

Meh. No one listens to the radio anymore. The big owners of radio and TV stations here in Canada are shutting the doors on the channels.

sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M

@hippyjoe1955 CHED seems to be doing ok

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@hippyjoe1955 That's not totally true. They call it drive time for a reason. Many listen during their commute and when traveling. Soros want to shut down the conservative talk shows on the stations that have them.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@sunsporter1649 Well funny you should mention that. It's all news sister station at 880 was shutdown because of lack of revenue so now CHED is moving to 880 and shutting down its 630 band. Corus is in a world of financial hurt right now and is scrambling to keep the lights on. Then there was Bell shutting down 1260. Someone else took over the all sports format at 1440 but the ownership of 1440, Stingray just shut changed formats in its Kamloops station. Radio is not nearly as profitable as it would seem.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@Gibbon While people may listen in their cars how many are listening to the talk shows? Be honest.

sunsporter1649 · 70-79, M

@hippyjoe1955 Foster Hewitt would not be happpy

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@hippyjoe1955 WMAL in DC has a large audience and is available streaming as well. It's conservative talk all day between the news breaks. Dan Bongino and Mark Levin are the headliners and Soros would love to shut up both of them.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@sunsporter1649 Life goes on and media changes. AM radio in particular is hard hit. FM is only marginally better off. I heard that one of the car manufacturers was going to stop selling AM radios in their vehicles. I guess they have changed their mind since then.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@Gibbon Well I get a lot of information from streaming services that are independent. If Bongino has a product worth listening to he doesn't need a big studio to back him up. Witness Tucker Carlson and Judge Napalitano.

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@hippyjoe1955 AM has broadcast distance advantages in emergency situations. The FCC limited their broadcast power because of that. When I was a kid I listened to Wolfman Jack from the other side of the country at night. That kind of distance is still possible.

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@Gibbon Of course night time skip is a very real thing. I used to listen to a station in Arizona while driving in central Alberta.