There has been plenty of talk about the FCC ownership caps in local television in recent months. Zimmer Communications President John Zimmer wants that same focus on local radio ownership.
What We Know: As part of the 2022 Quadrennial Review, the Zimmer Radio President said he would like to see ownership limits eliminated. It isn’t a new statement from Zimmer. In 2019, the company petitioned the FCC for modernization of the ownership caps. Additionally, Zimmer’s comments align with the NAB’s, which has continually lobbied for ownership deregulation. The NAB has stated that it helps local broadcasters compete with tech giants in the advertising and content spaces.
What They Said: “Radio broadcasters compete with streaming music platforms and podcasters that didn’t exist then and that now reach audiences anywhere and everywhere through smartphones and other digital devices that no one had in the last century … If permitted under FCC rules, Zimmer Radio would invest in more stations. … The same competitive forces that have already devastated local newspapers now seriously threaten broadcasters and their services to local communities.” -John Zimmer
What It Means: As companies watch the Nexstar Media Group-TEGNA merger and subsequent court battles, things have been largely quiet on the radio front. That potentially could be changing if others in the industry echo similar sentiments shared by John Zimmer. It’s something we’ll watch closely in the coming days, weeks, and months following a large broadcaster get-together at the NAB Show in Las Vegas late last month.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
