LAWSUIT:

The Spanish Broadcasting System amended its lawsuit against Clear Channel Communication and the Hispanic Broadcasting Company July 31 and are now seeking damages of more than $500 million, claiming that the companies broke anti-trust laws.

SBS filed a lawsuit against Clear Channel and HBC last June, alleging that the companies have affected SBS's ability to raise capital, depressed its share price and interfered in its business opportunities and contractual agreements in order to acquire it.

SBS is the nation's largest Hispanic-owned radio operator. HBC is the nation's largest Spanish-language radio company. It announced in June its merger with Univisi¢n Communications. Clear Channel is the nation's largest radio company.

BANKRUPTCY:

Hispanic Television Network, which launched in January of 2000, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection July 24.

HTVN stated that the filing is intended to allow the company to operate its business as a debtor in possession while a plan of reorganization is prepared with the Bankruptcy Court.

The company has entered into an agreement with the Delaware-based company BroadcastLinks to form a combined entity. BroadcastLinks will become the principal shareholder.

HTVN is the nation's third largest Spanish-language network.

AWARD:

National Public Radio's Latino USA was bestowed the Edward R. Murrow Award in the category of investigative reporting by the Radio Television News Directors Association.

Latino USA won the award for its special report Brewster Heights Poisoning, a documentary about agricultural workers in the state of Washington who fell ill because of poisoning at a fruit-packing plant.

RTNDA will host the Edward R. Murrow awards ceremony on Oct. 7, 2002, in New York.