the HOT List

With key U.S. House of Representatives on the dais Tuesday for a Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing devoted to the future of AM radio, no less than 12 Senators have signed their name to companion legislation in the upper body of Congress. But, how many Members in the House are for the Act?

At a House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing devoted to AM radio held Tuesday, the President of Woof Boom Radio demonstrated the vital importance of AM radio while a N.J. State Police Homeland Security Branch Commander illustrated its essential role in the nation's EAS. For an automotive alliance representative, both AM and FM's future free availability in cars were put into question.

The ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has brought all scripted television to a standstill. With late-night shows off the table and other productions stymied and stalled, Sports has been one clear beneficiary to the shift of advertising dollars.

After the brutal September attack that left WWJ-AM anchor Jim Matthews dead and his family traumatized, the fate of the man accused of his murder has been decided. Arthur Williamson was sentenced Friday.

With core advertising subject to “macroeconomic weakness” and long-term retransmission revenue issues still being quantified, Sinclair Broadcast Group President/CEO Chris Ripley is convinced there are dollars — billions of them — for over-the-air television. He shares more in an exclusive interview appearing in our Summer 2023 Special Report.

With the non-consummation of its $8.6 billion proposed acquisition of the broadcast TV station owner, the Soohyung Kim-led hedge fund had to pay a termination fee. That’s been completed.

As of August 1, there will be a new leader for Bonneville International Corporation, the radio station licensee and owner of KSL-5 in Salt Lake City. The change is being precipitated by the retirement of its President, Darrell Brown. He's still well-remembered by TV industry veterans for his many years at McGraw-Hill Broadcasting.

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an all-important debt ceiling deal, and that led investors to buy stock on Thursday, sending U.S. financial markets upward. Did media companies benefit from the overall gains on Wall Street? Activity was mixed, as Veritone's $52 million purchase of Broadbean from CareerBuilder was not welcomed by shareholders.

How the FCC determines whether a television station from one market is "significantly viewed" in a distant community, vital to MVPD eligibility in a second market, is something Gray Television wants streamlined. And, it argues that Nielsen ratings should be dumped, with signal contours the lone determining factor for the Commission.

iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman and COO/CFO Rich Bressler have drafted a Team E-mail sent to company employees that addresses the potential AI tools such as ChatGPT can bring to the workplace. In short, iHeartMedia put the kibosh on such solutions, minus permission. And, the company's two top leaders alluded to their own AI tools in the coming months.

Paramount Global; FOX Corporation; and Cox Media Group have each come to terms with settlement agreements that will resolve advertising price-fixing claims against the three television stations brought forth by One Source Heating & Cooling, two Minnesota ad shops, and Cleveland-area retailer Fish Furniture. But, four ownership groups remain in litigation.

It is now known that the Regional President for the eastern region at TelevisaUnivision will be supporting the recently promoted Jesus Lara by taking on all revenue-generation responsibilities across the linear and digital properties serving U.S. Hispanics. This includes the company's radio and television properties and its digital offerings.

A 24-month collaborative effort "to explore and implement various ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV applications and use cases" has been forged between a U.S. non-commercial educational media entity and the Korea Radio Promotion Association that will help facilitate "the full adoption of ATSC 3.0" in public television stations across the U.S.

A $125 million preferred equity investment in the majority voting shareholder of CBS News & Stations parent Paramount Global has been made by a merchant bank "built to serve the distinct needs of family business owners and founders."

CEO Dave Lougee spoke of TEGNA's ongoing strength and low leverage levels, while CFO Victoria Harker offered a glimpse at the company's Q2 and full-year 2023 revenue expectations. It was the first time TEGNA held a quarterly earnings call since November 2021.