the HOT List

First, it was KTLA-5 in L.A. and the Clippers. Then, it was Scripps Sports and the WNBA. Now, Gray Television has scored a game-changing broadcast rights agreement with the NBA and WNBA franchises serving Arizona.

The E.W. Scripps Co. is putting more fuel into Scripps News as it seeks to further attract audiences from not only over-the-air choices but also a reinvigorated NewsNation at a time when CNN and FOX News may each be at their most vulnerable.

An initial status conference in the TEGNA acquisition hearing in front of the FCC's Administrative Law Judge was held yesterday, and on Thursday an Order summarized what transpired. The big takeaway: After discussing timing issues with the parties during the status conference, the Presiding Judge ruled that the optimal course of action is to suspend this hearing proceeding until further notice. 

Unbeknownst to some, he was the Mayor of the City of Cincinnati in 1977 and 1978 and ran, unsuccessfully, as a Democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1982. For most Americans, he's remembered for his genre-redefining television talk show, as a radio host and, a 2006 run on ABC's Dancing with the Stars. 

As the President and CEO of Cumulus Media sees it, the Atlanta-headquartered audio content creation and distribution company through the first three months of 2023 extended its track record "of strong operational and financial execution during challenging times." Challenging times, indeed. Cumulus' first quarter results weren't pretty. But, did they surpass analysts' forecasts?

With CEO Caroline Beasley "thrilled" to share Q1 2023 financial results that highlight "the significant success and growth" Beasley Media Group is seeing based on its strategy to leverage its local talent to build a growing digital platform, CFO Marie Tedesco provided specific details as to how strong the first three months of the year were.

The E.W. Scripps Co. has selected the VP/GM of its CBS affiliate in Missoula, Montana, a role he has held since January 2021, to take on similar duties at KMGH-7, the ABC affiliate in Denver that newly named SVP/Local Media Dean Littleton has been in charge of.

The owner of WISH-8 and WNDY-20 in Indianapolis, through his legal counsel at Bose McKinney & Evans, on Tuesday proved good to his word by filing an appeal of a U.S. District Court decision that presented a victory to both DirecTV and Dish Network, and dismissed twin racial discrimination claims filed against the digital broadcast satellite service providers.

“I’m very happy with the start of 2023 from both an operational and financial perspective," said Wade Davis, CEO of TelevisaUnivision, the world's biggest Spanish-language multimedia company.  He has an influx of Mexican Pesos to thank for the positive first quarter fiscal report.

“The Commission cannot continue to ignore its clear duty under the law,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.

When it comes to U.S. cable television news networks, polarizing opinions have defined the difference between FOX News Channel and CNN in recent years. Today, however, each of the MVPD-distributed channels have one thing in common. Each of the network's most high-profile anchor-personalities have been dismissed by their respective employers.

Now that the asset purchase agreement has been signed, some market analysts are drawing attention to the valuation of KROI-FM, serving Houston from the south. Was it a steal of a deal, or was the price SBS is paying a fair price for a Black Gospel station with various formats to its name under Urban One ownership?

A 57-page Mandamus Request was submitted with the court on March 28. On Friday, it was denied. This puts the proposed TEGNA transaction, which also sees Cox Media Group majority owner Apollo Global Management take on a significant non-voting majority stake in a "new TEGNA," in serious peril.

Even as KROI and KTHT in Houston were placed in a trust, Urban One confirmed that had agreed to sell KROI “to a minority-owned broadcaster that is a new entrant to the Houston market.” All eyes turned to the company that recently acquired a pair of Florida FMs — divestitures tied to Cox Media Group. Late Thursday, SBS was confirmed as the buyer.

Brian Lawlor has just landed the first significant rights agreement as head of the recently created Scripps Sports division of The E.W. Scripps Co., and it involves Friday night telecasts of select WNBA games.