the HOT List

As RBR+TVBR first reported on Thursday, Cumulus Media has received an unsolicited privatization bid from a consortium led by the founder and CEO of Connoisseur Media. The company led by Mary Berner has commented on the offer. And, it is reviewing the proposal. 

When Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned Dielectric returns to the NAB Show exhibit floor, it will be celebrating not just its return to the event for the first time in three years, but also its 80 years of operations.

The future of broadcast and broadband delivery is a focal point of nearly every TV company from Kingston, Jamaica, to Fairbanks, Alaska. As such, it's likely no surprise that ATSC 3.0 and NEXTGEN TV will be under a big spotlight at the 2022 NAB Show, which opens April 23 in Las Vegas.

Many broadcast media companies are busily computing their first quarter 2022 financial results, with earnings calls on tap for early May. At Miami-based Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS), however, the company led by Raúl Alarcón Jr. that trades on the OTC Pink sheets has just released its fourth quarter and full-year 2021 financial results.

In 1922, a 15-year-old boy began selling crystal radios in his hometown of Quincy, Ill., after his parents decided to start a business from their apartment’s kitchen. A century later, radio and television stations around the globe can thank Henry and Cora Gates for giving their son his first job — one that would result in the creation of what is today known as GatesAir.

The owner of Bally Sports RSNs, over-the-air television stations and broadcast transmitter maker Dielectric will reveal its first quarter 2022 financial results on May 4. Ahead of that full look of the company's performance in the first three months of the year, Sinclair Broadcast Group released preliminary media revenue results for its broadcast segment.

Paperwork has been filed with the FCC that will see it decide whether or not Cox Media Group may sell 18 television stations — including major “Big Four” network affiliates — to the parent of recently reinvented cable television network INSP. The deal was first announced March 30. On Monday, the value was revealed. It's huge. It's a blockbuster of a deal. 

As the voluntary rollout of the new ATSC 3.0 digital television broadcast standard sees market launches across the U.S., one of the lesser-discussed points is the lack of embrace of the tech powering "NEXTGEN TV" by every market player. In Virginia's state capital, that's not the case — every local broadcast TV station has launched their NEXTGEN TV signal.

Gray Television has been aggressively acquiring low-power TV stations. In its latest purchase, which awaits Commission approval, Gray is picking up a LPTV property not too far from its Atlanta headquarters. 

“It’s always great to hear firsthand about the current events of our political system, even more so when discussed by a senior Hispanic member of the U.S. Senate and former presidential candidate.” Those are the words of Beasley Media Group Director/Latin Formats Nio Fernandez, who will be interviewing Marco Rubio at the Hispanic Radio Conference.

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved H.R.4330. This would establish protections for journalists at the federal level regarding the revelation of their confidential sources except in defined circumstances such as threats to national security. The NAB was pleased with the vote.

Ad spend grew an "unprecedented" 18.5% in 2021 over 2020. Given the challenges seen two years ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's hardly surprising. But, the difference — or lack thereof — in ad spend between 2021 and 2022 is the bigger story.

In the ATSC era, having a digital channel on the VHF band isn't as beneficial as having one on the UHF band. This explains why many licensees have petitioned the FCC for its permission to shift a TV station to a more-appealing UHF channel. Gray Television is on the list of companies that are seeking such a transition.

The latest quarterly broadcast station totals have been released from the FCC. And, when one compares the numbers to the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, one big takeaway is obvious.

Recently, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Georgia) joined 31 members of the Congressional Black Caucus in penning a letter to President Joe Biden with one goal in mind. They want the White House to do more to direct federal advertising dollars to Black Owned media.