An FCC filing hints that further collaboration could be coming between the UK’s Global Media and iHeartMedia.

The owner of brands including “Captial“, “Heart“, and “LBC” as well as its own digital app and billboards across the UK and Europe, purchased an 6.8% equity stake in iHeartMedia in 2021 and at the time sought FCC approval to own as much as 49.99% of iHeart through its Bahamas based Global Media & Entertainment Investments Ltd. and its sole shareholder in Michael Tabor’s The Global Media & Entertainment Investments Trust. A battle between the companies was finally settled with the FCC approving iHeart’s counter request to limit its stake to 14.99% following an agreement with Global.

In a new Petition for Declaratory Rulemaking, iHeart has asked the FCC to allow the transfer of some or all of Global’s holdings in iHeart to sibling company Global Media Investments Limited noting that “Upon transfer of some or all of Michael Tabor’s iHeart investment to GMI, it is anticipated that Ashley Tabor-King will closely advise and exert a degree of influence with respect to his father’s investment in iHeart through GMI.” Tabor-King, who began working at UK radio station’s as a teenager, founded Global in 2007 with financing from his father Michael Tabor and other lenders.

The petition also asks the FCC to allow other members of Global’s board and management to hold more than 5% ownership stakes in iHeartMedia. The iHeart petition notes that it was not necessary for a new declaratory ruling to be filed since, “The insertion of these entities could be accomplished without a new declaratory ruling because they involve the insertion of new foreign-organized companies that are under 100 percent common ownership and control of a foreign investor that was approved in the iHeart 2021 Declaratory Ruling. The only changes that require a new ruling involve Mr. Tabor’s son, Ashley Tabor-King CBE and certain other individuals who serve as directors to Mr. Tabor’s businesses and for whom iHeart is seeking advance approval to preserve flexibility. Thus, the facts underlying the Petition are analogous to the categories of applications that the Commission generally excludes from referral to the Committee in the first instance.15 In addition, iHeart has notified the Committee of the proposed ownership changes and understands that the Committee has determined and communicated to the Commission that it does not view referral as necessary in this case.”

The two companies have an existing podcast business deal where iHeart represents Global’s portfolio in the United States, while Global reps iHeart’s properties in the UK and Ireland.

The full petition to the FCC can be read here.