The Russian invasion of Ukraine is putting a fresh spotlight on Radio Sputnik, the English-language format that despite its Kremlin ties airs on AM stations in Washington and Kansas City. In a rare rebuke of a station’s programming decision, the National Association of Broadcasters, without specifically naming them, called on Multicultural Radio Broadcasting’s WZHF Washington (1390) and Alpine Broadcasting’s KCXL Kansas City (1140) to stop leasing time to Sputnik’s parent, the Russian-government backed Rossiya Segodnya.
For the two broadcasters leasing the time, the result can be lucrative with each pulling in more money than they might with a more traditional programming source. In Washington, filings with the Department of Justice show WZHF’s owner Multicultural Radio Broadcasting was paid $722,287 last year to air Sputnik 24-hours a day. And in Kansas City, KCXL received $100,217 for its six-hours per day.
Additional story at: https://tinyurl.com/2p83jnz6
