The truth is, none of this bodes well for Entercom, whether it's long term or short term. Years ago, I worked at a station that endured and won (maybe "survived" is a better word) a license challenge that began as an "inquiry," so I know first hand how it affects day-to-day operations.
It's like variations of the same event being the lead story for six months. Some days there's very bad news, some days encouraging developments. It hangs like a rain cloud over the operation, affecting every member of the staff. There's never a shortage of rumors, lots of closed-door meetings and even the weekly staff meetings which were implemented to clear the air keep people up to date became suspect.
The challenge my station endured resulted from alledged discrepancies related to political advertising, rates and disclosure within the public file. It was child's play by comparison to what Entercom is facing, yet it was distracting, drained finances and was physically exhausting. After our station's challenge was resolved, the expectation was that life would return to normal. It didn't. Within six months, more than 50% of the staff left for other jobs.
What's going on at Entercom Sacramento is light years worse. The employees who were involved in that fiasco (and were dimissed) likely will not work in the foreseeable future, they're named in lawsuits and they may be subject to criminal charges. Entercom most likely won't lose the license, but it will cost them a bundle to defend themselves. And as a publicly traded company, major shareholders will want to know "what the hell is going on?!!" I wouldn't be so quick to say this will all blow over and life will return to normal for the station, the employees or the company.
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