the HOT List

With confirmation of the report yet to arrive as Midnight struck in Washington, daybreak brought the reason for the last-minute agenda change: An influential Democratic Senator had suffered a stroke, but is expected to fully recover. While his recovery could take weeks, Sohn's hearing is being delayed by just seven days.

The leader of CNN Worldwide has abruptly tendered his resignation, a decision largely tied to his revelation that he developed an improper relationship with his "closest colleague" — an individual he had worked with for more than two decades.

Thanks to the efforts of Volker Moerbitz, the longtime Research Analyst with the Kagan arm of S&P Global Market Intelligence's Media & Communications broadcast sector advisory services, a full review of the 2021 transactions marketplace has arrived. What's the biggest takeaway?

An owner of broadcast media properties that include radio and television stations is about to launch its own sports network. Only, it is to be a digital multicast piggybacking on its CBS affiliate.

Two of the biggest Spanish-language media companies in the world are now officially united in fiscal matrimony.

Things are continuing to look up for Townsquare Media. A top Wall Street market intelligence firm has upgraded the local media and digital solutions company's outlook.

Gigi Sohn as a FCC Commissioner would sit out on matters involving retransmission consent or TV broadcast copyright for the first three years of her term. She has also agreed to recuse herself for four years from a docket concerning retransmission consent.

The Senate Commerce Committee will consider the nomination of a highly controversial figure the Biden Administration wants seated as the fifth FCC Commissioner. At the same time, the House Judiciary Committee is moving forward with consideration of proposed legislation that would impose a tiered royalty structure on music played on AM and FM radio stations across the U.S.

As of today, there's a new individual charged with overseeing the day-to-day management for the eight ABC-owned television stations owned by The Walt Disney Company.

A veteran local media executive who most recently served as VP/GM of the CBS affiliate in Atlanta recently transferred to Gray Television through its merger with Meredith Corporation has returned to the Golden State capital affectionally called by some as Cowtown.

In December 2021, all seemed to tilt in favor of McDonald's as a federal judge dismissed a racial discrimination lawsuit filed against the fast-food giant by Allen-held Entertainment Studios. But, the judge left the door open for ES to file a Second Amended Complaint. Allen's team moved forward with this filing, leading McDonald's to ask the judge to dismiss it. He declined.

By law, Dish on January 12 blocked its customers from receiving a group of stations in Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio. It was the latest retransmission fee impasse to surface in recent years. Now, it has ended. But, there's chatter that another carriage dispute has just been resolved, hours before a "blackout" by law was to take place.

The company co-founded by CEO Daniel Barreto has widened its nearly five-year partnership with Hearst Television, giving the broadcast TV station owner's "FAST" live channel content another distribution point.

In the final days of 2020, the FCC approved a request by Univision to accept foreign investment in excess of the 25% benchmark set forth in its regulations. Then, in summer 2021, the company sought the Commission’s OK for two specific non-U.S. based entities to grab a share of Univision ownership. A Declaratory Ruling was released by the Commission on Friday.

A new "virtual Over the Air" streaming service offering a "local broadcast bundle" based on one's location has been brought to market. And, the company offering the service says it is the first and only legal platform seen yet in the United States. We've got the exclusive details on LocalBTV's rollout.