the HOT List

If there's one word that's been shared more than any other in the commentary complementing the earnings results for broadcast media companies during the first quarter of 2022, it's this: Strong. That's great news for over-the-air radio and television, and Gray Television is the latest publicly traded entity to be delivering "strong" revenue in Q1.

With seconds to spare before RBR+TVBR's Thursday afternoon news deadline, iHeartMedia released its first quarter 2022 earnings report. How did the nation's No. 1 audio content creation and distribution company perform? It's recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic with flying colors.

A "modified Dutch auction" tender offer has been announced by the Atlanta-based audio content creator and distributor that includes Westwood One in its asset portfolio. The plan will see Cumulus acquire half of the $50 million in shares it intends to repurchase.

As total company revenue slipped by 1% in Q1 '22, TV Media dollars were off 6% year-over-year. There's a "super" reason for this, however, and CEO Bob Bakish is upbeat about "the power and potential" of Paramount Global's unique assets. Still, much of the company's focus is not on CBS or the cable networks but on Paramount+ and Pluto TV, thanks to their strong growth.

In recent months, Gray has become a big investor in Spanish-language media, thanks to its build-out of Telemundo affiliates. Now, that Telemundo growth is about to expand even further.

After a quarter century at the helm of what was once the American Cable Association, the President/CEO of what is today ACA Connects is taking a cue from former Senator Gordon Smith. Matthew M. Polka is stepping down from the helm of the organization that advocates for small and independently owned MVPDs on Capitol Hill and at the FCC.

Analysts Robert Fishman and Michael Nathanson opine that the recent struggles at Netflix mean the business model isn’t as attractive as once thought. And, that's due to "the intensifying competition for time, attention and consumer spending." What does that mean for broadcast television station owners and managers?

Roughly three years ago, the seven-year Vice President of News for NBCUniversal's West Coast NBC flagship property packed up and moved two hours to the south to become President/GM of NBC O&O KNSD-7 and Telemundo O&O KUAN-20 in San Diego. Now, he's returning to Los Angeles, replacing an individual who had been appointed to the post in September 2011.

Nielsen shares inched ahead on lower-than-average volume on Tuesday despite the release of a Q1 2022 fiscal report card that saw the audience measurement giant beat the street. Is it a realization that the release of first quarter earnings may be the last, as Nielsen mulls over a privatization bid led by Elliott Management?

Byron Allen, the one-time comedian turned media mogul, is one of five recipients of a Leadership Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America. Allen's acceptance of the honor will be remembered for a generation — he hammed it up on stage before delivering a poignant message to the industry VIPs in attendance. RBR+TVBR was there, and we have the full audio of Allen's speech. LISTEN HERE

What do the President of Katz Radio Group, the Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media and Westwood One, the retired head of a now-defunct broadcast TV station owner, the now-retired longtime spokesman for the NAB and a comedian-turned-media mogul all have in common? All can now call themselves Leadership Award recipients

New York Festivals TV & Film Awards competition announced the 2022 Storytellers Gala award winners. World-class content created by global storytellers from 42 countries were celebrated at the virtual Storytellers Gala, held Tuesday.

How did the entity led by Wade Davis do on a combined historical basis during the first three months of 2022? The answer arrived Tuesday morning, smack dab in the middle of a highly active NAB Show thousands of miles away from TelevisaUnivision's C-Suite.

Given all of the differences of opinion between the Democratic FCC decision-makers and the NAB on topics such as broadcast ownership deregulation, there was certainly the possibility of an acrimonious moment or two during Tuesday's Fireside Chat with Jessica Rosenworcel. Not so, as association head Curtis LeGeyt kept it light and jovial.

There's been much chatter across broadcast media about the political dollar bonanza set to come across the second half of 2022. Indeed, mid-term political advertising will be huge. In fact, Q1 mid-term political advertising was tremendous, topping all previous first quarters.