No Retrans Impasses For Gray With Agreement Renewals Lock

Gray Television is spreading the word that it has surpassed "a major retrans renewal milestone." How so? It reached new carriage agreements without any disruption to viewers.

TVB: TV The Top Influencer Across The Purchase Funnel

Television is the most important influencer at all stages of the purchase funnel, and holds true across all key age groups and ethnicities. That's a key conclusion from the TVB's just-released 2024 Purchase Funnel Study, conducted by GfK for the association.

Strong Q4 Report Can’t Prevent FUBO Stock Slip

Fubo has released Q4 2023 results that beat analysts' estimates and show healthy subscriber growth. Yet, it appears the specter of the FOX/Disney/WBD platform-to-be is still making investors skittish. At Friday's Closing Bell, FUBO was down to $1.90 per share — a big change from fall 2021.

Jesse Jackson Asks Rosenworcel For WADL Sale Update

The proposed $75 million sale of WADL-38 in Detroit has yet to win Commission approval, nearly 10 months after an asset sale agreement was signed. That's led the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition to press FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for answers.
Perry Sook

Nexstar Sues FCC For Tightening TV Ownership Rules

The FCC’s prohibition on owning more than one top-four full-power network station in a DMA not only continues but now extends to digital multicast channels and LPTV stations, thanks to the 2018 Quadrennial Order approved at the end of 2023. Nexstar has responded with a lawsuit.
TEGNA President/CEO Dave Lougee

Dave Lougee: ‘TEGNA Is Back On Offense’

With its failed merger acquisition by Standard General well in the past, capital return commitment and sustained shareholder returns are among the many investor benefits TEGNA CEO Dave Lougee is touting. The news came as Q4 2023 revenue and EPS missed analysts' forecasts and Q1 is pacing down.
Rick Kaplan

NAB To FCC: Toss Aside ‘Blackout’ Reporting NPRM

The Chief Legal Officer at the NAB has made it clear that the FCC should reject a proposal that would require MVPDs to notify the Commission when a broadcast signal is "blacked out" for 24 hours or more due to a retransmission consent impasse.
Chris Ripley, as pictured in June 2021

Sinclair Touts Q4 Results Versus Guidance Ahead Of Call

"Sinclair delivered a solid finish to 2023 with our local media segment meeting guidance and Tennis Channel exceeding expectations,” said President/CEO Chris Ripley. A swing to a net loss was seen, with consolidated EBITDA declining on higher expenses in Q4.
Perry Sook

Nexstar Pushes Broadcast Model ‘Power’ On Lower Q4 Results

Nexstar Media Group couldn't overcome the challenges impacting ad-driven businesses as 2023 came to a close, with net revenue falling short of Wall Street analysts' expectations in the fourth quarter. That didn't stop company head Perry Sook from touting broadcast TV's power.
CUMULUS MEDIA Stacked

Cumulus Swaps New Debt For Old Debt, At A Price

Cumulus Media is agreeing to a two percentage-point hike in its interest rate. The benefit? The company led by CEO Mary Berner and CFO Frank López-Balboa will have until 2029 to repay the notes, the company shared on the same day it released its Q4 and full-year 2024 results.

Keystone State’s Senators Defend WTXF

Senators John Futterman and Bob Casey Jr. have written to the FCC in defense of FOX-owned WTXF-29 in Philadelphia. It's a potential game-changer in a battle waged by a group asserting the station repeatedly presented false news about the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Money

Kagan Outlines ‘Challenges and Opportunities’ For Broadcasters

A new 2024 analysis from S&P Global Market Intelligence's Kagan unit finds that the U.S. broadcast station industry is expected to reach $36.68 billion in total advertising revenue in 2024. This represents an 8.4% increase from $33.84 billion in 2023. Yet, the Automotive category will remain soft.
Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr

Carr: EEO Data Sharing Order ‘Violates the Constitution’

Brendan Carr slammed the 3-2 vote to reinstate a federal requirement for broadcasters to provide the U.S. government the race and gender of their employees. "Instead of confining today’s decision to lawful agency action, the FCC chooses a different course," he said. Nate Simington is also displeased.
Cable / Satellite

MVPDs Poised To Get Their Own FCC Diversity Report

The Commission on a 3-2 party-line vote has moved ahead with a plan to create an identical requirement for multichannel video programming distributors ranging from cable TV suppliers to direct broadcast satellite companies.

FCC Brings Back An EEO Form For Broadcasters

Over the objections of the FCC's two Republicans, the FCC has reinstated a collection of workforce composition data from broadcasters on Form 395-B. The Rosenworcel Commission says it is also addressing a 2004 Petition for Reconsideration and seeks comment on Form 395-A data.