the HOT List

What's a radio or TV station owner to do to keep employees safe from COVID-19 and its Delta variant while balancing the need to have HR send out termination notices to unvaccinated employees? This encore InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, may provide some valuable insight and guidance on what path a media company should take. LISTEN HERE

One of North America's biggest communications companies on Thursday released its third quarter financial results.  How did Rogers perform? Quarterly earnings were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. But, its revenue fell short of Zacks' expectations by a slim 1.04%.

A Forecast 2022 panel session featuring Guggenheim Securities Senior Advisor Drew Marcus could offer an answer to the question. Marcus will moderate a panel of investment specialists who are poised to take a hard look at 2021 and what lies ahead in 2022 and beyond for broadcast investments. It's a “fact-based, tire kicking” session you won't want to miss.

With the final fate of his former FM radio stations still in limbo, as the FCC has not said yes to a transfer of control of the properties to VCY America from court-appointed receiver Larry Patrick, the most infamous licensee in the American West has moved forward with a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

In order for Gray Television to satisfy deal terms agreed to in June that call for Meredith Corporation shareholders to receive $16.99 per share in cash and 1-for-1 equity share in post-close Meredith, the broadcast television company is amending and restating its senior credit facility while concurrently seeking an additional incremental term loan valued at $1.5 billion.

Seven months after his return to the airwaves at a Class A radio station he controls, Roger Wahl now faces a license revocation hearing at the FCC. It's tied to his conviction of a felony and multiple misdemeanors in a case that left the victim and her attorney vocally disappointed. Now, Wahl must face the music in Washington.

In this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, Lisa Plaggemier, the interim Executive Director with the National Cybersecurity Alliance, offers important insight and intelligence on how to prevent a ransomware attack at your radio or TV station in an exclusive conversation. LISTEN HERE

"Technical difficulties" were seen at a host of broadcast television stations across the U.S. on Sunday, including a pioneer in broadcast television that was perhaps the first TV station to broadcast in color — WRGB-6 in Schenectady, N.Y. What happened? A SEC filing confirms that Sinclair has suffered a severe ransomware attack.

He's a former senior advisor at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). And, he's eager to learn about the key issues facing broadcast media companies. Republican FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington wants to hear from you. And, you can share your thoughts and desires with him directly — but only at Forecast 2022.

For decades, U.S. Hispanic media leader Univision Communications has maintained a sizable presence in the South Florida city of Doral. However, its corporate headquarters has been in Midtown Manhattan. A change is in the works that would see the C-Suite relocate from New York City to Miami-Dade County's business center.

“In today’s world where radio companies are essentially multimedia companies, the value in attending NAB Show cannot be overstated,” said Dave Santrella, president of Broadcast Media at Salem Media Group and NAB joint board chair.

Like other radio station licensees, Golden Isles Broadcasting has something to say to the FCC regarding its 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of Commission broadcast media ownership rules.  That said, the licensee's head -- noted media broker Eddie Esserman -- tells RBR+TVBR he believes his Reply Comments in M.B. Docket No 18-349 raise a new question.

A deal between Entravision and Univision that's been talked about for six months will soon come to fruition in Orlando. What's perhaps a surprise is that the two companies have signed off on a similar arrangement that hands Univision control of both of its over-the-air TV networks in nearby Tampa, and in the Washington, D.C., market come January 1.

For the first time, direct mail is forecast to not be the top media advertising platform, starting in 2022. Overtaking the tried-and-true yet fuzzy ROI solution for businesses big and small: Mobile, newly released data from BIA Advisory Services show.

What's going on at the FCC? Who will the official Chair of the agency be? President Biden hasn't made a move, and it's perplexing to many in Washington — including noted attorney Frank Montero of Fletcher Heald & Hildreth. In this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM, Montero offers a preview of a Forecast 2022 session poised to be a riveting one.