The National Association of Broadcasters is telling the Federal Communications Commission the modern radio marketplace bears little resemblance to the one that existed when today\u2019s ownership rules were written, arguing broadcasters are now fighting for listeners and ad dollars against streaming services and giant digital platforms rather than simply competing with one another.<\/p>\n
In comments filed in the FCC\u2019s biennial communications marketplace review (GN Docket No. 26-78<\/a>), NAB says radio stations are operating on a \u201cplaying field fundamentally tilted against them\u201d because broadcasters remain bound by ownership restrictions and other regulations while competing against largely unregulated tech and streaming companies. It urges the Commission to modernize local radio ownership caps as a way to even things out.<\/p>\n The center of the argument is that fundamental technological and market changes have affected the competitive position of ad-supported broadcasting. NAB says the Commissions has in the past \u201cclung to the outmoded notion\u201d that broadcast radio competes only against other radio stations to justify retention of \u201coutdated and harmful structural ownership restriction.\u201d It says the recent decision to allow Nexstar to buy Tegna<\/a> finally took a \u201cmore realistic\u201d look at competition \u2014 and the report to Congress on competition should follow the TV merger\u2019s conclusions.<\/p>\n The trade group argues radio is increasingly competing inside a blended audio-video ecosystem where consumers move freely between different services. NAB backs its argument with a collection of industry data showing how rapidly listener behavior has shifted. Citing Edison Research data, the filing says 61% of all audio listening now occurs through digital devices, while 28% happens through AM\/FM receivers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mere fact that AM\/FM radio offers services free to audiences cannot justify disparate regulation \u2014 particularly retention of burdensome caps and subcaps on ownership of broadcast radio stations alone,\u201d NAB says.<\/p>\n Connoisseur Media makes a similar argument in its own filing, telling the FCC the radio marketplace \u201cis not an island unto itself, but is instead in daily, direct competition with digital media.\u201d The company, which owns roughly 190 stations, says the Commission must conclude that the current local radio ownership rules are a \u201crelic of another age, and should be repealed in their entirety.\u201d<\/p>\n Connoisseur says Edison data also shows podcast listening surpassed broadcast radio for spoken-word listening time in 2025 for the first time ever.<\/p>\n \u201cThis statistic is yet another measurement of how the listening habits of Americans have drastically changed,\u201d Connoisseur writes, arguing the FCC \u201ccan no longer downplay\u201d digital competition \u201cas an insignificant threat to radio\u2019s dominance in the audio marketplace.\u201d<\/p>\n At the same time, NAB says radio\u2019s revenue foundation continues to erode as local advertising dollars migrate toward digital. The filing cites Borrell Associates estimates showing local digital advertising now accounts for roughly 70% of all local ad spending. NAB says most of that money flows to companies like Google and Meta.<\/p>\n The filing argues the financial consequences for radio has been severe. According to the filing, the number of AM stations has fallen by 480 since 2009<\/a>, while commercial FM station totals have declined by nearly 200 since 2019.<\/p>\n Using BIA data, NAB says total radio advertising revenue \u2014 including over-the-air and digital revenue \u2014 has fallen 30.1% since 2007.<\/p>\n