the HOT List

The owner of Standard Media Index, Lumina, and SQAD finds that June 2023 marked the third lowest month in nearly seven years for proportion of spend against new entertainment programming (20.9%) versus repeat entertainment programming (79%). It is the lowest dip in share since the pandemic. 

The Walt Disney Company earns billions of dollars each quarter from its Linear Networks, one of three key components to the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution division's bottom line. How did those Linear Networks, which include the ABC Owned Stations, perform in the fiscal third quarter of 2023? Revenues were down 7%, while operating income slid considerably.

If it were up to broadcast television station affiliate group members, the NAB and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, retransmission consent regulatory policy would be extended to vMVPDs.  The two leading Republicans on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce aren't so keen on the idea.

As tough comps and continued macroeconomic uncertainty are heavily impacting the nation's top two radio station ownership groups, Townsquare Media in Q2 again sent the message that it's different — and its Digital Advertising prowess did much to help the company's revenue come in just shy of second quarter 2022's political dollar-aided results.

The nation's biggest owner of broadcast television stations issued its second quarter 2023 earnings report ahead of Tuesday's Opening Bell on Wall Street, and for shareholders the three-month period was a good one. Revenue came right in line with what 9 analysts polled by Yahoo! Finance predicted, while its diluted earnings per share easily surpassed the consensus estimate of 8 analysts polled.

The transaction was negotiated and recommended by Special Committees of Independent Directors of both companies and unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, DISH announced ahead of the release of its second quarter 2023 earnings report.

The conservative-leaning media company created with the merger of CRTV LLC and Glenn Beck-founded TheBlaze, today led by CEO Tyler Cardon, lost its bid to dismiss a complaint filed in February by a former host who alleges her on-air companion made disparaging, ongoing misogynistic comments during their show.

With year-over-year analyses marred by record 2022 political advertising and varying degrees of core advertising softness, "subscription" or "distribution" revenue is buffeting The E.W. Scripps Co. Revenue in Q2 for Scripps slipped by 1%, even though core ad dollars dipped by 5.2%. One big reason: a 14% rise in retransmission consent fees.

Just what do Gray Television investors think about the company's second quarter earnings results, released Friday morning? Simply take a look at the company's core ad growth during the three-month period. At Friday's Closing Bell, "GTN," which trades on the NYSE, was up by more than 20% from Thursday's close.

Victoria Harker, at the conclusion of TEGNA's second quarter 2023 earnings call for analysts, shareholders and debtholders, revealed that she'll be retiring in roughly 200 days. This gives Harker, and TEGNA, plenty of time for a transition, with her successor already revealed.

Automotive is up for the fourth consecutive quarter. That said, "Subscription" revenue, a.k.a. retransmission consent dollars, saved the day for TEGNA in Q2 ... as did a hefty merger termination fee paid for by Soo Kim's group.

On tough comps due to a banner 2022 for political advertising, Sinclair Broadcast Group widened its loss in the second quarter of 2023. That said, the company's revenue beat the consensus estimate of analysts polled by Yahoo! Finance.

The CW Network is extending, and expanding, its network affiliation agreement with Hearst Television. The accord keeps the network in six markets where Hearst stations enjoy affiliation agreements, while a new CW affiliate for Hearst bows on Sept. 1.

Nexstar Media Group has issued an open Request for Proposals seeking "a next-generation audience measurement partner capable of providing data that accurately reflects the scale and power" of its national and local media businesses. It's a direct shot at Nielsen, with Nexstar now aligning itself alongside NBCUniversal by expressing the need for "innovative new products."

Eight esteemed current and former radio industry professionals will be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame as part of its 2023 class. They include longtime air personalities, one esteemed local market leader, a familiar vote to NPR listeners, and Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR President/Publisher Deborah Parenti.