August 2022
Ed Christian Passes at 78
Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Ed Christian, founder and chairman of Michigan-based Saga Communications passed away August 19 following a short illness. Christian bought WCER AM/FM (Charlotte) in 1970, but would sell the stations three years later to become VP/GM of 100.3 WNIC Detroit. He would then rise to President of Josephson Communications until purchasing the company for $38.5 million to form Saga.
Read MoreHeritage Broadcasting Announces New Lifestyle Show
Cadillac-based Heritage Broadcasting Company has announced an additional hour to its (already) 9 hours of news and content by launching Good Day Northern Michigan beginning September 6. Viewers can watch this show on WWTV/WWUP-TV starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. This move will make the one-hour show the only local content northern Michigan can watch in this timeframe.
Read MoreFCC Releases Second EEO Audit Notice for 2022 – Reviewing a Broadcaster’s EEO Obligations (Five Michigan Stations on List)
The FCC last Friday released its second EEO audit notice for 2022 (available here), this time targeting approximately 130 radio and TV stations. Those stations, and the station employment units (commonly owned stations serving the same area) with which they are associated, must provide to the FCC…
Read MoreAudacy Debuts ”Cash The Ticket” Football Betting Podcast
Audacy has announced the debut of “Cash the Ticket,” a new football betting podcast from 2400Sports, the company’s sports podcast studio. Hosted by WXYT-FM (97.1 The Ticket)/Detroit’s Mike Valenti and Jim Costa, twice weekly episodes will spotlight both the NFL and college football from Labor Day until the end of the season.
Read MoreYou’re a Radio DJ. You’ve Lost Your Job. How to Take Control of Your Online Presence.
Stay in the radio business long enough, and sooner or later you’ll find yourself out of work. It’s a rite of passage.
But that doesn’t change the fact that in the moments immediately following your dismissal, you’re prone to panic. I’ve been there more than once twice: carrying a box full of office supplies and old backstage passes out to the car.
Read MoreWEMU Gets Visit From NPR President and CEO
On Wednesday, August 17, NPR President and CEO, John Lansing, dropped in for an informal visit with WEMU-FM (Ypsilanti). Lansing has Michigan ties with newsroom stops in Kalamazoo and Detroit but is relatively new to public broadcasting. Discussed was WEMU’s hyper-local news focus in Washtenaw County and the important niche it fills for a highly educated and engaged community that has no local TV and no daily newspaper.
Read More$60,000 Fine on LPTV Station For Political Broadcasting and Sponsorship Identification Issues with Ad Packages Containing News Program Appearances
Last week, the FCC entered into a consent decree with the operator of a low power TV station, where the broadcaster admitted to violating FCC rules by selling advertising packages that included guaranteed appearances of the advertiser on a local news and information program…
Read MoreHow Your Radio Station Can Accept Donations Through Venmo and The Cash App
These days, people are using mobile devices to do just about everything — including making donations to their favorite causes. According to the Blakbaud Institute, 28% of online donations are made from mobile devices. Given the growing trend of mobile giving, it makes sense for public and Christian radio stations…
Read MoreWDIV-TV Wins Prestigious 2022 National Murrow Award
WDIV-TV (Detroit) has received the coveted 2022 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast (Local 4 News at 11 p.m.) for coverage of the Oxford High School shooting. Earlier this year, the station won the 2022 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
Read MoreMAB Adds Member Benefits
The MAB remains focused on being forward thinking and helping members through programs and initiatives that prepare Michigan TV and radio stations for the future. Over the past nine months, the MAB has worked in collaboration with our membership, board, and committees to identify new opportunities.
And over the next several weeks, the MAB is launching a series of new initiatives to provide support and education to our members.
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