Noncommercial FM Growth Keeps Station Count Steady In Q2.

The U.S. radio station count was virtually unchanged during the second quarter, as continued growth in noncommercial FM and Low Power FM largely offset ongoing declines in AM and commercial FM.

The Federal Communications Commission counted 15,666 AM and FM stations as of June 30, down just one station from the end of the first quarter and 20 fewer than at the start of the year. Compared to a year earlier, however, the total remains up 15 stations, reflecting an industry whose overall footprint has stabilized even as its makeup continues to evolve.

AM radio continued to bear the brunt of station losses. The FCC counted 4,300 AM stations at the end of June, down 10 during the second quarter. But the AM band has lost 42 stations since the beginning of the year, and 60 from a year earlier. While the pace of decline has moderated compared to previous years, the long-term trend remains intact as operators continue to surrender licenses, consolidate facilities or shift listeners to FM translators and digital platforms.

Commercial FM has also seen some contraction. The number of licensed commercial FM stations slipped to 6,560 according to the FCC. That is down 14 during the second quarter, and a drop of 42 year-over-year. The relatively modest decline nevertheless extends a multiyear pattern in which consolidation and limited new commercial construction have steadily trimmed the number of commercial signals, particularly in smaller markets.

Countering those losses was another quarter of growth for noncommercial FM. The FCC counted 4,806 educational FM stations at the end of June, an increase of 23 during Q2. The tally was up a more substantial 117 from a year earlier. Noncommercial broadcasters have now become the industry's primary source of station growth, with educational, religious and community licensees continuing to add facilities while commercial counts trend lower.

Low Power FM also continued its gradual expansion. The number of LPFM stations reached 2,013 at the end of the second quarter, up six since March. There are also three dozen more LPFMs license compared to a year earlier. The increase likely reflects the impact of the FCC’s 2024 filing window for new LPFM stations, reversing a multi-year decline in the number of licensed LPFMs.

Meanwhile, the translator category continued to level off. FM translators and boosters totaled 8,846 at the end of June, down eight during the quarter and 34 from a year earlier. The gradual decline suggests that the rapid expansion fueled by the FCC’s AM revitalization initiatives has largely run its course, while some translators are now even disappearing as the AM stations they rebroadcast leave the air.

Beyond radio, television station totals remained largely unchanged during the quarter. The FCC counted 1,777 full-power television stations as of June 30, the same as at the end of the first quarter. The total included 1,390 commercial television stations and 387 noncommercial educational TV stations, reflecting only minor shifts between service categories.

Low-power television slipped slightly during the quarter, declining from 1,777 stations to 1,772. Class A television stations also edged lower, from 398 to 397.

When radio and television services are combined, the FCC reported 33,539 broadcast stations nationwide as of June 30. That is down 13 from the end of the first quarter but seven more than a year earlier.