Friday, December 5, 2003

Bilotta To Run

Joseph M. Bilotta, COO of Buckley Broadcasting, owner of WOR, New York City, among a host of other stations across the country, and member of the Board of Directors of New Jersey Broadcasters Association has thrown his hat in the ring to run for the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters.  Most recently, Joe was the chairman of the very successful Radio Show in Philly, and is the financial chair of the RAB.  Joe’s first broadcasting job was with WIBG in Philadelphia when Buckley owned it, and he has never left, rising to his present position as Chief Operating Officer. He has been Rick Buckley’s sidekick for 31 years.  Joe is not only extraordinarily competent; he is one of radio’s original nice guys.  NJBA is pleased to support Joe’s bid and urges all New Jersey NAB members to vote for Joe. 

NJ Loses Another Local Station

Last year, New Jersey Radio Partners, a South Carolina Based group bought WSNJ from longtime owners Katherine and Ed Bold for $20 million dollars. At the time, QuickNews suggested that the price was lot to pay for a Bridgeton Station, but a bargain for a Philadelphia stick.  NJ Radio Partners received FCC permission to move to Pennsauken, just across the river from Philadelphia. Radio One just bought the station from NJ Radio Partners for $35 million. They will construct the station along the Delaware, and although a class A, it will cover all of Philadelphia. Radio One is a renowned mostly urban operator, and operates many fine stations in many major and medium markets, including Philadelphia’s WPHI-FM and WPLY-FM. Alas, another New Jersey Community joins the long list of other communities who have lost their local radio and TV service to join the big city guys. 

TV 40 To Stay Non Union

Several weeks ago the employees of WMGM-TV, NBC 40 in Atlantic City turned down an attempt by NABET, part of the Communications Workers of America Union, to organize the station. The employees voted 21 to 11 to pass on joining the union. According to a station spokesman, the personnel at the station look forward to working with the new owners. The station sale should close at the beginning of January. The price wound up being $22 million dollars. 

So Long, Biennial Reviews

A little reported item in the omnibus budget bill still waiting congressional approval is the change in the congressional requirement that the FCC conduct a complete review of its broadcast rules every two years. The bill changes it to four years and of course, the highly publicized deal that freezes the national TV ownership cap at 39%. This cap will permit both CBS and Fox to keep all of the TV stations they presently have under ownership wavier. However, the 39% cap is very much more then a compromise of two numbers. The original notion was to keep the cap for one year. Now the 39% cap is permanent. The FCC cannot change it. It will take an act of Congress to make any changes.

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