the HOT List

Hispanic-targeted broadcast radio and TV station owner and global ad solutions company Entravision enjoyed a share bump on the NYSE Monday as investors reacted positively to the news that the company has entered into a new multimillion-dollar credit facility.

With its share price down 38.2% since February 28 and continued challenges leading to a downward Q1 2023 revenue forecast, iHeartMedia has moved forward with an initiative that CEO Bob Pittman and CFO Rich Bressler told employees in an internal memo distributed Friday is "forcing us to make tough choices on costs and priorities."

The legal counsel representing the two companies and Cox Media Group have moved forward with another attempt to get the full Commission to vote on the proposed merger and overrule the ALJ's decision. If not, the hearing could ultimately kill Standard General's plan to acquire TEGNA.

The FCC's Administrative Law Judge has affirmed a Media Bureau decision to issue a Hearing Designation Order to consider concerns raised by the proposed acquisition of TEGNA by Standard General, putting the privatization effort led by Soohyung Kim in a precarious situation.

What if you could enjoy a local broadcast radio station's audio stream without all of the commercials? Is there a thirst for such an option, given the array of streaming audio selections available to those with internet connectivity? Auddia says the answer is yes, and it is seeing "better than expected" initial subscription conversion rates for its flagship mobile app.

Deal volume among U.S. and Canadian media and telecom companies "collapsed" by 36% year over year in February, to a mere 89 transactions. That's the sober conclusion of a new data analysis from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Aggregate transaction value in the sector plunged.

“TikTok plays a growing role in culture around the globe," says WARC Media Head of Content Alex Brownsell, who has released a report that takes a deeper look at the TikTok for the advertising community. The report's release couldn't be more timely, as TikTok's CEO has been summoned to Capitol Hill.

While Audacy surpassed analysts' estimates on Earnings Per Share by 2 cents in Q4, revenue came in shy of their forecasts. In short, Field said to begin his earnings call remarks, "2022 was certainly not the year we expected," noting, "The situation is challenging and we are addressing it with eyes wide open."

Diamond Sports Group is finalizing a Restructuring Support Agreement with holders of a majority of the company’s debt, and Sinclair Broadcast Group, to eliminate more than $8 billion of DSG’s outstanding debt. To implement its restructuring, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection.

In a highly one-sided statement released Tuesday afternoon, direct broadcast satellite company DirecTV "took a stand for its customers" by mounting a legal challenge against what it calls "a conspiracy" among three broadcasters to illegally increase content costs for free over-the-air TV.  The matter involves the No. 1 owner of broadcast television stations in the U.S.

What is TV? And, from that answer, what are the implications for marketers? The Video Advertising Bureau (VAB)'s just-released report "What Is TV? A Modern Look At How Consumers Define TV," gets to the heart of those two questions, offering a comprehensive look at the TV ecosystem, as well as the impact—and opportunities—for marketers.

With "affordable, reliable high-speed broadband" availability in 100% of the U.S. one of its top priorities, the FCC on Monday revealed its FY 2024 budget and personnel amounts it is requesting from the federal government. If the agency led by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel gets its wish, a sizable dollar-infusion increase will be granted.

A "put notice" has been delivered to MGM National Harbor LLC that requires it to purchase 100% of Urban One's interest in the property.  It represents a huge payday for Urban One, which also revealed late Friday that it is unable to file its annual report by the March 16 deadline.

A second bank, located in New York, has been closed by state regulators and placed under FDIC authority. And, like with SVB, all depositors of this institution "will be made whole." It's a financial institution HC2 Holdings did business with under the leadership of former CEO Philip Falcone. 

Silicon Valley Bank, the financial institution owned by SVB Financial Group, which recently bought influential Wall Street advisory firm MoffettNathanson, was closed on Friday by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. It appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver.