the HOT List

U.S. ad market prospects have been cut by half a point by WARC, as its global growth forecasts for advertising spend have been downgraded further this year. This follows an initial $20 billion cut seen in March by the research firm.

It is a locally owned radio station launched in 1994 to target the growing Hispanic population in Memphis. Now, it is scrambling to resume over-the-air broadcasts of its AM radio station after becoming the victim of copper theft at its transmitter.

Technology has helped in paving a divergent path for a news organization that vigorously competes against NBCUniversal, Nexstar Media Group's storied KTLA, KABC-7 and FOX Television Stations' KTTV "FOX 11."  Now, the tech advantage is tilting toward CBS L.A., they believe.

An attempt by a group of terminated associates and non-paid workers linked to the troubled St. Louis community-focused eclectic noncommercial music station has failed. However, a debtor's motion submitted to the court gives hope that the KDHX beloved by its supporters will have a future. 

Late Friday, yet another attempt to punish brazen Miami-area pirate radio operator Fabrice Polynice surfaced from the Commission. But without true firepower — such as a potentially life-threatening gunfight in North Miami — can Radio Touche Douce at 90.1 MHz be finally silenced?

The Media Bureau has granted the unopposed application for the assignment of a collection of TV stations from the David Cerullo-led Imagicomm Communications to an entity owned and operated by Webb Collums. It's noteworthy, as the Carr Commission has granted another "top-four" network affiliation waiver.

Spanish Broadcasting System, the company founded and led by Raúl Alarcón Jr., has reached a deal that confirms SBS is selling its TV assets in Puerto Rico but retaining its stateside properties. Who is acquiring the three TV stations serving cities across La Isla del Encanto? Look no further than Joni Lamb.

A stronger than expected first quarter was seen for U.S. advertising, and that's led respected media and marketing financial analyst Brian Wieser to update his firm's quarterly domestic advertising model. Wieser explains that it is being adjusted "to reflect revised expectations" for the remainder of 2025.

Nathan Simington, born in Canada and appointed by President Trump during his first term in office, has formally announced that he will step down as a FCC Commissioner at the end of this week. It's hardly expected, with no formal announcement seen ahead of the distribution of the FCC's Daily Digest on Wednesday.

President Trump’s recission package was sent Tuesday to Capitol Hill. This came after his proposed FY 2026 budget proposal was sent on Friday. Public media leaders are aghast.

In late March, a Tulsa-headquartered owner of broadcast media stations in such markets as Merced and Monterey-Salinas, Calif.; Rochester, N.Y.; Medford, Ore.; and Yakima, Wash., sold its assets in one mid-sized Louisiana city. Now, Stephens Media Group is preparing to exit a second market in Cajun Country.

After 31 years of alignment with CBS across three different ownership groups, WANF on August 16 will become an independent news-focused flagship property owned by Gray Media doubling down on its "Atlanta News First" branding introduced in fall 2022. Where's the CBS affiliation going? An CBS O&O is grabbing it.

Byron Allen is placing some, but not all, of Allen Media Group's broadcast properties on the market. The decision, which is tied to a debt relief effort, comes at a moment where industry consolidation and an end date for ATSC 1.0 digital transmission are poised to reshape the TV landscape.

As May ended, so did the likelihood that K-Love Inc. would be gaining ownership of KDHX-FM. Instead, a heritage in-market competitor for Christian music lovers will be getting it, pending a bankruptcy judge's OK in the coming days. Two groups supporting KDHX's "renewal" said Monday they will continue their fight.

While the FCC opens the door to deregulation for traditional broadcasters in the wake of unregulated digital competitors, Commissioner Nathan Simington has suggested a second, concurrent way to level the playing field: bringing streaming platforms under the same rules that govern cable and satellite providers.