the HOT List

For nearly four years, he's been the Senior Director of News and Content for Spectrum News 1 in Los Angeles, the Charter Communications MVPD-delivered all-news channel serving Southern California. Starting March 28, he'll be in charge of CBS News and Stations' two broadcast television properties serving San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Santa Rosa.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a consortium is very much near the conclusion of negotiations that could see the sale of the nation's dominant — yet shaky — audience measurement and consumer data analytics firm. This triggered a buying frenzy for Nielsen shares, which were up by more than 30% in Monday's trading session.

More streaming services and podcasts are helping the ever-eroding shares of local radio over-the-air advertising, even as some stations air lengthy stop sets twice an hour. As such, it forecasts $14.7 billion will be spent on ad-supported local audio platforms including broadcast radio and digital audio. 

Eight months ago, Sovryn Holdings, led by former HC2 Holdings head Philip Falcone, engineered a $2 million deal to acquire a low-power TV stations serving Phoenix. The deal never closed because Falcone changed his mind, he says. Now, seller Lotus Communications has a new buyer — one that's been adding to its LPTV stable in addition to consummating big mergers in recent years.

The owner of a Missouri AM station airing the English-language service of the Voice of Russia in mornings and early evenings has a beef with NAB chief Curtis LeGeyt. The association head's request to pull any state-sponsored programming from Moscow was flatly rejected, labeling the ask "a call to disregard our right of free speech."

Roger Wahl is a convicted felon. He's also the owner of an FM radio station and faces a possible license revocation. That may not happen for a year, however.

The GM of the television broadcasting company's NBC affiliate in Louisville, formerly the head of its WVUE-8 in New Orleans, is being promoted to a senior-level position as Chris Mossman is exiting after more than 22 years. At the same time, Gray has created the position of RVP/GM and is elevating five General Managers into this new role.

On its earnings call held Thursday, Saga Communications SVP/Operations Chris Forgy offered a peek at what the company's top three ad categories were in the final quarter of 2021. At the same time, CFO Sam Bush shared details on something Forgy praised as "beautiful" to Saga's bottom line — its Local Direct prowess.

How did the "local first" company that derives much of its revenue from digital, rather than its small to mid-size market radio stations, perform? "A strong Q4 finish with great momentum for 2022" is how the company describes its financial health report.

With Emily Barr's exit, announced in January, and the naming of Catherine Badalamente as her successor, a shift back to Detroit for broadcast TV station owner Graham Media Group's HQ was all but certain. On Wednesday, that move became official.

Clarksburg-Weston and Elkins, W. Va., comprise a TV market that's of importance to Gray Television. It owns a CBS affiliate there. And, it wants better coverage of the mountainous market. 

The four Commissioners of the FCC will be congregating at an oversight hearing convened by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone Jr., on the final day of March.

The head of low-power television licensee Lowcountry 34 Media has given his approval to a Consent Decree with the FCC to resolve a matter in which the company was charged with abusing the Commission's licensing process. As such, he's writing a hefty check to the U.S. Treasury while avoiding a formal fine.

Following a studio move, Graham Media Group determined that replacement of the aging HDTV cameras at its Roanoke property was necessary. In the end, WSLS-10 purchased six new studio cameras. Today, it believes its on-air look is improved, and its production sets are better represented.

The owner of the TV One and Cleo cable TV networks, and the Radio One and Reach Media audio content creation and distribution arms, now has the freedom to engage in some significant stock buybacks — should it elect to do so over the next two years.