Moving isn't the only way smaller communities are hurt by corporate ownership

I have a business in a small town about 65 miles from a city of any consequence. The local station was fine until it was sold to a group owner. The station went 24/7 canned satellite programming. There is no local news. When the area experienced tornado warnings the station was...off the air due to technical difficulties. When the local teacher's association wanted a candidate forum broadcast and invited the station to carry it, they were told it would cost them $300 per hour. The station carries some advertising as a result of packaging ads with other stations in the group. Localism is zero. Sadly, yet another ownership transfer just took place to another station group and the local station is off the air again...missing the statewide tornado drill among other events.

My opinion is that this station was bought up just to reduce competition with their sister station which is a technically superior AM/FM combo. Groups owning multiple stations in the same area are counter productive to local community involvement. Several years ago the area stations were locally owned and operated. Each community had their voice and the stations actively participated in local events as well as promoting them. People tuned in to find out the latest local news and information. Unfortunately it's not there anymore. The residents of the smaller towns lose a vital information source. Local businesses lose a cost effective way of reaching area residents. Meanwhile the station operators continue to try to keep costs as low as possible rather than become an active productive member of the community.

I know this is a bit off topic and not about moving a station, but the economic impact is about the same. When stations are "moved" from smaller local communities to larger cities the local information source and cost-effective advertising goes away.