Radio & Television Business Report

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr responded to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by The Walt Disney Company designed to put a halt to the early license renewal of eight ABC Owned Stations and Disney's First Amendment violation claim regarding "The View" and its status as a "bona fide" news program. He did so on FOX News.

As the Disney-owned unit that includes ABC Owned Stations sees it, it is being targeted by a Commission under the direction of Chairman Brendan Carr and influence of the Trump Administration as part of a campaign to silence free and independent voices in journalism.

Cumulus Media has dramatically reduced payroll through the reduction-in-staff of individuals across the U.S. Now, the company today led by CEO Mary Berner has issued its Q2 2026 results — all but certain to be the last it shares as a public company. How did the company once tied to the Dickey brothers fare?

Noting that both Nexstar Media Group and TEGNA "take seriously the concerns" expressed by DirecTV in regard to their compliance of a preliminary injunction ordering a "hold separate" state of affairs between the two TV station ownership groups, a freshly filed status report shows where Nexstar is on reconstituting TEGNA's Board of Directors.

Documents produced by Nexstar in a retransmission consent complaint brought against it and two shared services providers in March 2023 by DirecTV have been criticized by the plaintiff in the federal legal battle as being deficient. Still, DirecTV believes there's another data that tilts the ongoing price fixing claim in its favor.

Vermont Public has enjoyed the support of audiences to WVPS-FM 107.9 in Burlington from greater Montréal. Now, there's a new wrinkle to reaching Les Québécois — and its thanks to a new Arsenal Media FM approved by the CRTC.

It is described as "a fast-growing independent media company" founded by brothers Ben, Brett, and Jordan Meiselas in 2020 as a source for "pro-democracy news and commentary." As of today, it has an exclusive audio partner for sales and distribution, and its the entity under majority control of Soros Fund Management.

Come September 4, a 35-year career with the company originally known as Beasley Broadcast Group will come to its conclusion for the man who today serves as VP/Market Manager of its Charlotte radio stations. He joined Beasley in 1991, following a three-year run at Beta Broadcasting in Austin.

With the company late Friday reporting less than stellar second quarter earnings results ahead of a privatization effort involving Alden Global Capital that's already resulted in the parting of ways with many on-air and programming staff, Cumulus Media has signed off on the sale of a pair of FMs in two mid-sized markets in the South.

High Plains Radio Network, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2024 and saw no less than three proposed buyers back out of deals across the next two years, has agreed to transfer a group of 20 radio stations to a New York-based private equity organization founded by Chairman/CEO Atonn F. Muhammad.

Dan Bongino is headed back to radio, and he'll be part of a new three-hour offering being distributed through the national radio arm of the broadcast licensee nearly ready to emerge from voluntary debtor-in-possession status with more than 30% of its voting interest going to the man behind notorious newspaper publisher Alden Global Capital.

Even as consumers continue to gravitate toward streaming platforms, the "new fall season" and Upfronts remain an essential cog in the wheel of U.S. television. As such, accurate and dependable ratings data remains a key need for the networks and affiliates over the next year. Nielsen has spoken.

The notes were priced at 100% of par, and the offering of the notes is expected to close on Friday, subject to customary closing conditions. Gray will use the net proceeds of the offering to redeem a portion of Gray’s outstanding 10.5% senior secured first lien notes due 2029, among other needs.

The global retail media market's ad investment projections are forecast to surpass $200 billion in 2026 and reach $223.4 billion by 2027. However, newly released data from WARC Media show growth is slowing and heading into the single digits. The U.S. appears to be exempt from this worldwide review of ad activity trends.

Upfront advertising activity still matters a lot. And, that's what concerns Brian Wieser of Madison & Wall. Before the 2026-2027 Upfronts began, his firm expected linear TV upfront volumes to decline by 4.4%. As the summer progressed, it appeared that the market was "somewhat weaker" than initially expected. 

As AdLarge's VP of Ad Partnerships, the organization gains an individual whose resume includes roles at Scripps Networks, Discovery, and the National Hockey League — an individual lauded for "an extensive track record of developing brand partnerships and integrated sponsorship programs."