the HOT List

McDonald's was the most recent company to say it's committing to a Black-owned media budget increase. Now, "an inaugural group of 20 clients" has pledged to spend at least 2% of their total annual media budgets in such entities as Urban One -- without naming the companies poised to benefit from the verbal promise.

Thomas O. Hicks was "an early pioneer" of the "buy and build" strategy of investing, his Hicks Equity Partners LLC says. For radio industry veterans, his name will forever be linked to iHeartMedia predecessor Clear Channel Communications. Now, it is set to be connected with a country music and lifestyle cable TV network.

Soohyung Kim has become known for his Standard General's equity interest in TEGNA and for his partnership in New York with Jeff Smulyan that involves Hot 97 and WBLS. Now, it's become known that Kim has attributable interest in the radio broadcasting company led by Mary Berner.

Here is an audio recap of all of the stories appearing at RBR.com, freshly prepared for the afternoon of June 8 and morning of June 9, 2021. Due to ongoing internet connectivity issues, the third-party distributor of the RBR+TVBR Daily Headlines Email could not be distribute the e-newsletter as normal. LISTEN HERE

On June 3, Clear Channel Airports announced that it has partnered with Rockbot to fill a void left by the demise of the CNN Airport TV Network service. Now, NBCUniversal is doing the same.

The company that's now majority controlled by Searchlight III UTD and ForgeLight and led by CEO Wade Davis is seeking the Commission's OK for two specific non-U.S. based entities to grab a share of Univision ownership.

Six days following the release of its first quarter 2021 fiscal results, SBS hosted an earnings call for analysts and investors featuring COO Albert Rodriguez and CFO José Molina. On the call, an analyst asked for additional color on "bullish" commentary provided May 28 with the release of its quarterly results. Rodriguez obliged.

It's a nationally recognized television advertising sales organization representing more than 800 TV stations across a majority of the 210 DMAs. And, it says it is giving its unwavering support to the industry-wide adoption of impression-based selling and buying for local broadcast television — just as ABC did earlier this week.

Meredith Corporation received an unsolicited proposal to acquire its Local Media Group, following the May 3 announcement that it had agreed to sell its broadcast TV assets to Gray Television for $2.7 billion in total enterprise value. What did Gray do? It responded with an increased offer for Meredith Local Media. Meredith Corporation said yes to new deal terms.

The nation's chief lobbying voice Inside the Beltway for radio and television broadcasters has slammed the FCC for suggested regulatory fees for fiscal year 2021 it calls "unsustainable."

Joining Adam R Jacobson on this latest Podcast, presented by dot.FM, is Mike Meara of NPG Broadcasting. He discusses the continued rollout of NextGen TV and the big advantages that come with ATSC 3.0. LISTEN HERE

George G. Beasley, who purchased WPYB-AM in Benson, N.C., in December 1961 and would go on to build what is today Beasley Media Group, died Wednesday morning at the age of 89. A memorial service will take place for family and friends in Naples, Fla. Details will be forthcoming.

The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill market is the latest to gain access to new technology that the NAB and the nation's Big Four networks have tried to exterminate. In the face of their opposition, Locast is now in its 33rd DMA — with little signs of a slowdown.

The Board of Directors for broadcast television company Gray Television has signed off on a quarterly cash dividend. The announcement could only further fuel Gray's stock price, which hit a five-year high on Tuesday.

For years, MVPDs have lamented that they have no choice but to pass any increased cost in carrying local TV stations on to customers. That's exactly what is now happening for those who rely on Charter Communications' Spectrum services. Higher bills are on the way, and it's all about retransmission consent fees to broadcast TV station owners.