America’s Best Small Airport Has a Radio Station Right in the Terminal
By John Caracciolo
JVC Broadcasting
President and CEO
Most radio stations broadcast from office buildings, broadcast centers or studios tucked away from the public. JVC Broadcasting decided to do something different.
It put a live radio studio inside an airport. And not just any airport.
Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), home to JVC’s LI News Radio 103.9 FM broadcast studio, has just been named the No. 1 Best Small Airport in America in USA TODAY’s 2026 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
For JVC Broadcasting, the recognition is especially meaningful. The independent radio company has maintained a live broadcast presence inside the airport since launching LI News Radio in 2013, creating one of the industry’s more unusual and visible broadcasting environments.
Located directly in the airport’s baggage claim area, the glass-fronted LI News Radio studio brings live radio into the daily flow of airport activity. Travelers can see broadcasters at work while newsmakers, elected officials, business leaders and community personalities come through the studio for interviews and programming.
It’s local radio in the middle of the community it serves
Most broadcasters spend a fortune trying to get their stations in front of people. We decided years ago to put our radio station where the people already are. Every day, travelers walk right past our studio. They see live radio happening in front of them. That’s the kind of connection local radio should have with its community.
More Than a Studio – A Unique Media Partnership
JVC’s relationship with MacArthur Airport extends well beyond broadcasting.
Since 2019, JVC has also served as the airport’s advertising concession partner, developing and managing advertising opportunities throughout the terminal.
The combination of live radio, digital advertising, airport displays, social media and JVC’s Long Island radio properties creates a distinctive marketing platform connecting local businesses with travelers and the wider Long Island community.
When MacArthur Airport was nominated for the USA TODAY 10Best award, JVC put that platform to work.
The company supported the airport’s campaign across its radio stations, encouraging listeners to vote and using its media reach to build awareness of the competition.
The effort reflected the power of locally owned broadcasting: bringing a community together behind something that matters to the region.
From No. 2 to No. 1
MacArthur Airport finished second nationally in 2025 before capturing the top position in 2026. The recognition represents a major achievement for the Town of Islip, airport leadership, employees, airline partners and the Long Island community.
For JVC, the victory reinforces the value of partnerships between independent media companies and the communities they serve.
We’re proud to have played a role in helping get the word out. This is a great airport, and we wanted the rest of the country to know it. We’re not some national media company looking at Long Island on a spreadsheet. We live here, we work here, and when something great happens for Long Island, we’re going to get behind it.
A Different Approach to Local Broadcasting
At a time when much of the radio industry is focused on consolidation, automation and reducing its physical footprint, JVC continues to invest in local visibility and community connections.
The airport studio demonstrates a simple philosophy: radio works best when it is part of people’s everyday lives.
From live news and talk programming to interviews with community leaders and visiting personalities, the studio serves as a highly visible reminder that local broadcasting remains relevant, accessible and connected.
And with MacArthur Airport now holding the nation’s top small-airport honor, JVC has another reason to celebrate the partnership.
People sometimes ask me about the future of local radio. My answer is pretty simple. Get out of the building. Get involved in your community. Do things differently. We’ve had a radio studio inside an airport for more than a decade, and now that airport is number one in America. That’s a pretty good story.
What’s Next for JVC at MacArthur Airport?
For JVC Broadcasting, the airport’s national recognition is not the finish line. It’s another opportunity to build on a partnership that has already demonstrated how broadcasting, advertising and community engagement can work together in unexpected places.
We’ve always believed that local radio needs to do things differently. Putting a live radio studio inside an airport was a pretty unconventional idea when we did it, and it’s turned into something special. But we’re not done. We’ve got some exciting ideas for the next chapter of our relationship with MacArthur Airport, and I think people are going to be pretty surprised by what comes next.
For now, we’re just proud to celebrate this incredible achievement with our friends and partners at ISP. But stay tuned. We’ve got a lot more planned.
John Caracciolo is president and CEO of JVC Broadcasting, an independently owned radio and media company operating radio stations and multimedia advertising platforms in New York and Florida. He can be emailed at johnc@jvcbroadcasting.com.
growth. Her extensive market knowledge, longstanding relationships throughout the business community, and proven ability to help local businesses succeed make her an outstanding addition to the JVC Broadcasting leadership team.” Bolster comments, “I am honored to join JVC Broadcasting and excited for the opportunity to lead the sales efforts in Panama City. JVC has built an outstanding reputation for local programming, community involvement, and delivering results for advertisers. I look forward to working with our clients, our stations, and our growing sales team to help local businesses connect with consumers and achieve their goals.” 
The recent shutdown of CBS News Radio isn’t just another media headline – it’s a wake-up call. A clear example of what happens when decisions about our information, our communities, and our voices are made in corporate boardrooms disconnected from real life.
once again bring together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners who are making a powerful impact across Long Island.” The 2026 Latino Business Awards Gala will take place on May 14 at Stereo Garden in Patchogue, New York. JVC Broadcasting CEO John Caracciolo says, “Latino-owned businesses are essential to the strength and growth of our local economy. Through the Latino Business Awards, we proudly highlight the entrepreneurs whose dedication, innovation, and leadership continue to move our communities forward.” Station operations manager Ana María Carballo adds, “These awards go beyond recognition — they tell the story of perseverance, sacrifice, and success behind every Latino-owned business. We are honored to provide a platform that celebrates their contributions and inspires future generations of entrepreneurs.”
more than 20 years in Florida talk radio, Don Miller has built a reputation for being candid, unfiltered and deeply connected to the community.” Company market manager John Griffo says, “We’re thrilled to welcome Don back home to Florida Man Radio. He brings a voice that’s bold, thought-provoking, and completely authentic — exactly what Florida Man Radio is all about.” Flordia Man Radio is heard on WZLB, Ft. Walton Beach; WYOO, Panama City; and WYGC, Gainesville. JVC Broadcasting CEO John Caracciolo says there are more affiliate stations coming for the format. “Florida Man Radio is one of the most real and entertaining talk networks on the air right now,” said Caracciolo. “We’re building something different — live, local, and full of personality. This is talk radio the way it’s supposed to be, unfiltered and unafraid.”
lineup anchored by Shannon Burke (PM drive) and Bubba the Love Sponge (AM drive), and will welcome Panama City’s own Brian Rust to the network as the new 9:00 am to 12:00 noon host. JVC CEO John Caracciolo says, “This is more than a format flip; it’s a statement. By bringing WYOO into the Florida Man Radio Network, we’ve created a single, dominant talk radio platform that spans from Pensacola through Panama City and beyond. The Florida Panhandle is one of the most politically engaged and conservative regions in the country. This move allows us to deliver content that speaks directly to the values, voice, and lifestyle of real Floridians.”
owned radio station, a distinction underscored by its long-standing dedication to providing authentic, community-focused content hosted by Tallahassee media staples like legendary sports talk host Jeff Cameron, award-winning morning show host Greg Tish, and investigative reporter Steve Stewart.” Jopling says, “As someone who has lived and worked in Tallahassee for over 23 years, I understand how important it is for our city to have trusted local voices on the airwaves. This transition isn’t just about ownership — it’s about strengthening our commitment to the people of Florida’s capital city. We’ll continue to focus on real news, real conversations, and real connections that matter to the people that live here — delivered by people who live here, too.” Jopling adds, “We’ve had a lot of success at 93.3, and we are thankful for the continued support of all our incredible listeners, fans, and advertisers. Or as we like to call them, our extended family. I’ve been privileged to be in charge of the station, but now, as the owner, I know our family will only get better.”
Griffo will have oversight of the Panama City market and Matt Stone, PD for the company’s Fort Walton Beach operations will serve as program director. JVC Broadcasting president and CEO John Caracciolo says, “This isn’t a corporate merger. This is a local broadcaster investing in local communities. We believe in radio that serves the neighborhoods we live in, not just the bottom line.”
market (fed by WXUS-HD3). Florida Man Radio continues to air on WZLB-FM, Fort Walton Beach. The programming includes Bubba the Love Sponge in morning drive, Don Miller in middays, and Shannon Burke in afternoon drive. JVC president and CEO John Caracciolo says, “Programming like FMR is what makes terrestrial radio relevant and strong. We have to dare to be different and produce content that drives listeners to our platform and that entertains, educates and sometimes just makes us laugh out loud. The vision of a locally based talk station that isn’t afraid to confront the big topics while not taking itself too seriously, screams the mantra of JVC. We need to keep live and local radio working for our clients and listeners.”
Radio 103.9” and “EnVivo 93.3” – broadcast live from Brookhaven Town Hall to promote the Town’s INTERFACE Toy Drive. This year’s event collected 14 bikes, 4 TV’s $2,900 in donations and over 2,000 toys. The Bikes or Bust! Event in Ft. Walton Beach collected 400 bikes, a storage pod and a half of toys and helmets, and over $26,000 in donations. JVC CEO John Caracciolo says, “I am so proud of the JVC teams, this is truly local radio at its finest. You don’t see Pandora, Spotify or XM doing stuff like this. That’s why I totally agree with Harry Von Zell, live and local radio is the most intimate and socially personal medium in the world.”
networking and mostly music. As the Latino community grows in Suffolk County, we found that they have no full-time news and information source, no outlet for them to express their thoughts or hear the talk radio that they want. We knew that we needed a sister station to ‘LaFiesta’ that was dedicated to the community and was their ‘LI News Radio’ or WINS. Ana developed the concept of live, local, community talk radio for this demo and named it ‘En Vivo’ — or ‘Live,’ now all I had to do was find an outlet for this amazing concept she developed. When WLIM 1440 and 93.3 became available we knew we had to make the move and bring them into the JVC cluster.” Carbalo adds, “Long Island ‘En Vivo’ knows today’s decisions affect our community tomorrow and the best tool to drive us to a better future is information. News, politics, finance, sports, entertainment, health & lifestyle – we cover it all. Long Island has a huge Hispanic population that continues to be underserved. That was made abundantly clear during the pandemic. Long Island needed information in Spanish… So now we have a dedicated source that will not only deliver relevant information about what happens in our area but also educates and creates opportunities for the Hispanic population to prosper by providing the tools and resources they need.”
unexpectedly on June 5 after a brief illness at the age of 59. JVC Broadcasting executive vice president Bruce Shepard states, “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I bring you the news that early this morning, Lev, a dear member of our JVC Family, our co-worker, our friend, lost his battle and was taken from us way too soon. We will miss Dave more than words can possibly say.”
Daytona 500 on February 19. JVC Florida director of programming Stevie DeMann says, “ESPN Radio offers the access to play-by-play, nationally known talent, and athletes that cannot be replicated. ‘ESPN 660 Orlando’ will air events like the Daytona 500 and the College Football Playoffs, giving radio listeners long-awaited access to these ‘must listen to’ sports, that previously were not available in Central Florida. We will have the largest selection of compelling sports content on ESPN 660 Orlando.”
