controlling 60 percent of the radio ad revenue. Justice stepped in and blocked part of a sale in Rochester NY, which would have seen stations owned by American Radio Systems, Inc. Virtually the only agency telling the industry to slow down its rate of mergings is the U.
Federal Communications Commission-even those where petitions to deny the sales have been filed. Almost all proposed sales and mergers have been routinely approved by the U.S. Stern had cost his employer, Infinity Broadcasting, $1.7 million in fines to settle five indecency charges at the FCC. This brings morning shock jocks Don Imus and Howard Stern to the network that has Dan Rather. The $3.9 billion merger brought 83 stations (FM and AM) under one roof, based in New York city. One of the largest radio mergers involved CBS and Infinity Broadcasting merging with Westinghouse/Group W. The new Telecommunications Act was passed in 1996, which has encouraged former competitors to get together with one buying the other out, or large group owners swapping stations so that "super duopolies" of four or five FM stations in a large market can have the same ownership. A duopoly occurs when two or more FM stations in one city have the same ownership. 4 FMusings New Telecom Act Allows Up to Five FMs in a Market to be Owned By One Company The trend, mentioned in the fast edition "FM Atlas," toward duopolies in station ownerships continues.