Friday, April 11,  2003

Live From The NAB, Las Vegas

Millennium Vs. Nassau

Charlie Banta’s Millennium Broadcasting serves Nassau Broadcasting with a temporary restraining order to prevent the purchase by Nassau from Mega Broadcasting of the Mega property in Egg Harbor City, WEMG-FM. As previously reported in QuickNews, Nassau paid $16 million for the property. The restraining order rests upon a non-compete that Millennium has with Nassau, as a result of the sale of Nassau Shore Stations to Millennium a little while ago. If the order sticks, will another New Jersey Broadcaster step up to the plate and make an offer for the powerful Egg Harbor Station?

So It’s Press

QuickNews couldn’t tell you last week that the purchaser for the Long Branch Big City owned station that was sold to Nassau was then spun to Press Broadcasting. Press presently owns and operates WHTG AM/FM in Asbury Park.  Press has taken the Long Branch operation off the air and will keep it off until it moves the transmitter back to its original location. Big City moved the station to better cover the NY Metropolitan Area. Moving the station back will give it a better signal over New Jersey.

Press Again!!!

Seems NJBA Chairman, Bob McAllan, has been on a shopping spree. Press has just heavy upped at the shore once again. Press purchased WBBO, Ocean Acres, NJ in Ocean County from Millennium.  The price has not yet been announced. This purchase will give Press its third station at the shore in less than three weeks. The sale is subject to Millennium closing on WCHR.

NAB Big Hit

Eddie Fritts, Prez and CEO of NAB, welcomed delegates to Las Vegas from all over the world. The convention is going very well. Many attendees are looking into HD Radio and TV. The entire Las Vegas expanded convention center is packed with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of people viewing them.

On the Government Relations front, the big issues are EEO Compliance, new license fees and political compliance issues.

Congressmen Sympatric

At the annual congressional breakfast, most of the members agreed that the question of Streaming audio and copy write is a major concern of broadcasters and that Congress must balance the two competing interests. However, don’t look for anything soon from Congress on the issue. They have a full plate now, mostly budget issues.

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