the HOT List

The 2023 U.S. Local Advertising Forecast has just been released by BIA Advisory Services, and now that all the numbers have been crunched, it has its prediction of just where media advertising revenues will be in 13 months. They'll be down by some $800 million. 

Add Cox Media Group to the list of broadcast television station owners that are presently engaged in a retransmission consent agreement impasse with a direct broadcast satellite company. This time, it involves Dish, and the "black out" sees each side, to little surprise, pointing fingers at one another.

In late January, the Attorney General of the State of Texas took action in response to what he perceived was a violation of the state's consumer protection laws. It involves Google, and iHeartMedia. Six other states followed suit, and the Federal Trade Commission got involved, too. Now, Google and iHeart are settling the matter, with the latter forking over much less than the digital Goliath.

A host of FOX Networks Group MVPD-distributed and broadcast channels will go dark at the end of Friday on a major DBS TV service provider, should a retransmission consent agreement fail to materialize. As such, the company's over-the-air FOX stations are at risk of being blocked — by law — from paying subscribers.

He'd been back for less than a day, but Bob Iger notified Disney employees via an e-mail on Monday of his intent to "restructure things." Could that further impact the division that houses the company's broadcast, cable and streaming media assets, which has already seen the exit of Kareem Daniel?

Did the state tax commissioner of Ohio properly subject broadcasts of NASCAR races in the Buckeye State to Ohio's commercial activities tax during an audit conducted between 2005 and 2010 — a tax that requires payments on a company's annual sales. No. The decision came from a Judge who happens to be the son of Ohio's Governor.

Block Communications' "Hometown Stations of Lima" operation in the Buckeye State has expanded their station’s broadcast capability through the use of two NVerzion technology offerings in conjunction with equipment from Telestream and Grass Valley.

A meteorologist for Gray Television's CBS affiliate serving the Charlotte market, along with the pilot at the controls, were killed on Tuesday as the helicopter they were flying in crashed into the southbound lanes of Interstate 77 in the southern part of the city.

A Petition to Deny the $60 million sale of 18 radio stations to the newly formed Latino Media Network, which secured debt financing from an investment entity affiliated with Soros Fund Management LLC, has been denied by the FCC. This puts the wheels in motion on the deal's closing.

The Walt Disney Company, in a surprise announcement, announced late Sunday that Robert Iger is returning to lead the entertainment and media giant as Chief Executive Officer. One key analyst immediately reacted by raising Disney's target price and stock rating.

Now that it's concluded, Forecast 2023 presented by Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR is being lauded as the best one yet. Among the leaders raving about the event are Deb McDermott, Brian Lilly, DuJuan McCoy and event TV Chair Jordan Wertlieb. Didn't make it? We have the Forecast 2024 date locked in!

Sticking to the theme of forecasting and looking at 2023, a group of top broadcast media executives shared their thoughts on what lies ahead for Radio and Television as Forecast 2023 concluded with an Executive Super Session sponsored by Skyview Networks. In short, optimism abounds.

From saluting local veterans to investing heavily in high school or collegiate sports, small and independent broadcasters will "survive and thrive." That's the message from four owners who participated in a Forecast 2023 panel discussion that placed a spotlight on resourceful, savvy, independent broadcasters who sit at the corner of Main Street & Retail Row.

On August 19, Warren Lada was appointed interim President/CEO by Saga Communications' board of directors in the wake of the untimely death of founder Ed Christian. But, the plans had Lada holding the role for a short period.  Now, the company has announced its new President/CEO and Senior VP of Operations.

A Forecast 2023 conference session featuring two Wall Street broadcast media analysts, a BIA Advisory Services numbers cruncher, and moderator Larry Patrick, the respected media broker and Wyoming radio station owner offered intriguing insight into whether or not radio and television station purchases would be a smart move today.