the HOT List

For the first time in its 19-year history, Forecast 2022 offered attendees an exclusive series of conversations that encompassed both the radio and television industries. And, welcoming broadcast TV leaders to Forecast was welcomed across the board — in particular by Borrell Associates CEO Gordon Borrell, who moderated an event-closing “Super Session.”

The former Republican Senator from Oregon, who has served as the NAB's head since November 2009, received the Radio Ink Lifetime Achievement Award at Forecast 2021, held Tuesday at the Harvard Club. Among those praising Smith: Caroline Beasley and Jordan Wertlieb.

Is investment in a publicly traded broadcast media company a wise one? Has Wall Street responded to the much-heralded benefits of NEXTGEN TV and the potential nontraditional revenue growth tied to the new ATSC 3.0 digital broadcast standard? Those are just some of the questions addressed at a Forecast 2022 morning session.

"A meeting is only as good as the results it inspires and/or achieves." Those are the words of Streamline Publishing President and Publisher Deborah Parenti as she welcomed a capacity in-person crowd of the broadcast media industry's top leaders at Forecast 2022, held at the Harvard Club in midtown Manhattan.

Three months ago, history was set to repeat itself for Sinclair Broadcast Group and Dish Network — entities that have had less-than-pleasant negotiations over retransmission fee agreements three times in the last decade. That didn't happen, thanks to short-term contract extensions. This morning, the companies ensured any "blackout" won't happen — at least for a few more years.

Meredith Corporation's Board of Directors last week signed off on a stock distribution that effectively signals the coming closing of its merger with Gray Television and the immediate spin-off of Meredith's National Media arm to the Barry Diller-fronted IAC. The last necessary task: winning regulatory approval of the deal. That has now transpired.

As 2021 comes to a close, the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) has taken a look back at TV advertising trends for the first half of the year. What stands out from the VAB's research is the lingering effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the TV advertising landscape. 

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Democratic Commissioner nominee Gigi Sohn are set to get separate nomination hearings in the U.S. Senate. With Rosenworcel's nomination set for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, it's a safe bet that a 2-2 deadlock at the Commission won't change for a while. One key Senate Republican blasted President Biden for selecting Sohn, a "Net Neutrality" promoter.

RBR+TVBR is presently welcoming the broadcast technology community to communicate directly with key decision makers across the radio and television businesses in our first-ever Winter 2021 Special Report. With this in mind, we chat with Multidyne executive Jesse Foster to learn more about what lies ahead in 2022 for the company in this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM. LISTEN HERE

Linear Networks revenues at The Walt Disney Co. decreased 4% in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2021, moving to $6.698 billion from $7.012 billion. At the same time, operating income decreased 11% to $1.6 billion. With Disney+ subscriptions well below expectations, Disney shares were down by 7% on Thursday.

On Tuesday, November 16, attendees of Forecast 2022 will likely enjoy the last-ever public appearance as NAB President/CEO of former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith. Ahead of that discussion, Smith on Wednesday delivered his final State of the Industry Address. Much of what Smith shared was self-reflective, while endorsing LeGeyt as his successor. We've also got all of the Marconi Award winners here!

Meredith Corporation's Board of Directors on Tuesday signed off on an action that effectively puts the Meredith/Gray Merger Marathon at Mile 26, with the finish line clearly in sight. In fact, Meredith has a date within the next month when it expects the closing to occur.

While more categories have invested more in advertising with Audacy's on-demand audio offerings and its broadcast radio stations, the struggle is real for the radio station owner and parent of podcast entities Cadence13 and Pineapple Street. The company still registered a net loss in Q3, although a smaller one than one year ago. The problem? Analysts expected earnings per share of $0.09.

A new multi-year affiliation agreement is in place that will prevent a "great affiliate switch" from taking shape in some 47 local TV markets across the U.S. It's thanks to a pact signed by the company that will soon complete its merger with Meredith Local Media. 

Should the FCC be required under Federal law to 'modernize" reporting requirements related to political advertising aired by broadcasters by making reports machine-readable? That's the goal of the newly introduced Fair and Clear Campaign (FCC) Transparency Act.