Gulf Coast Broadcasting’s recently acquired Panama City trio of “Classic Rock 95.9” WRBA Springfield, Country “103.5 Hank-FM” WKNK Callaway, and Variety Hits “105.1 Bob-FM” WASJ Panama City Beach have announced they will add speeches from President Donald Trump to their playlists.
While originally claiming in the the press release that the speeches will continue through the 2020 election, Owner Sam Rogatinsky tells RadioInsight that they are running two minute excerpts between their regular programming and will keep it going as long as the listeners are enjoying it. He also told TheWrap.com that in order to comply with equal time regulations, “If anybody requests it, it won’t be an issue. If Bernie Sanders wants equal time then we’re going to comply with the law.”
INSTANT INSIGHT: These three stations recently returned to the air after their previous owner turned them off following the damage caused by Hurricane Michael. While using the Trump speeches to draw attention to the stations is a sound move to drum up attention to the restored stations, using someone who is so polarizing to the general public also risks driving away potential listeners and advertisers away from the company forever.
Gulf Coast Media, Inc. a radio station operator of three FM signals covering Bay County, Florida has implemented new programming effective immediately to ensure that all three of their stations, BOB FM, 105.1, WASJ, HANK FM, 103.5 WKNK and Classic Rock 95.9 WRBA will broadcast Donald Trump speeches from now until the 2020 election.
This past week President Donald Trump arrived in Panama City Beach and stood before hurricane ravaged residents to tell them that he would do everything he legally could to get more money to help the people of Panama City. In the same speech he announced that because Hurricane Michael was now considered a Category 5 storm, the Trump administration would be able to reimburse up to 90 percent of the recovery costs and he announced an additional $448 million Hurricane Recovery Fund.
Gulf Coast Media, Inc. senior management acknowledged that broadcasting the President’s speeches may not be consistent with conventional commercial FM radio, but we have taken this approach to show the community’s sincere appreciation for President Donald Trump’s work in Panama City and Bay County.
People around the world think that Floridians are accustomed to getting battered by Hurricanes and have for the most part ignored the huge losses experienced by people in Panama City and Bay County. People have forgotten about us and the community is so thankful that President Donald Trump made it crystal clear that he was here to help us. After announcing the $448 million relief fund President Donald Trump stated, “No games, no gimmicks, no delays. We are just doing it – You’re getting your money one way or the other.”
Are there still equal time regulations? I thought the Fairness Doctrine was deep-sixed years ago.
Fairness doctrine, yes.
However equal time is statutory and applies only in given circumstances such as legally qualified (registered, bonafide candidates) and within a window before an election.
Fairness doctrine applied to any controversial issue at any time.
Maybe… the plan is to have the stations fail by such a ridiculously awful stunt. The Producers comes to mind.