However IIRC there was never allegation that the management of RKO General had
any participation in, or even knowledge of, the wrongdoing of the corporate
parent, nor was that wrongdoing in any way related to broadcasting.

That is correct, but back then, character qualifications extended throughout
other branches of the same company, and IIRC that was why RKO-General was
allowed to sell the licenses rather than have them yanked.