the HOT List

GroupM's Global President of Business Intelligence, Brian Wieser, took a close look at the recently announced blockbuster merger between Univision Communications and Televisa, fueled by the U.S.-based Hispanic-focused multimedia company. His assessment suggests Televisa-Univision will need to spend a lot of money to make a lot of money.

Despite what analyst Michael Nathanson calls the "recent turmoil" among media stocks, the respected Wall Street financial house has increased confidence that Fox Corporation shares will outperform. Why? Nathanson points to "improving fundamentals in the near term." He also likes what Thursday night holds for FOX in the future.

Why did Alpha Media in late September 2018 agree to spin WRMF along with Country WIRK-FM 103.1, FOX Sports Radio affiliate WMEN-AM 640, Classic Hits WEAT-FM “Sunny 107.9,” Urban AC WMBX-FM “X102.3,” Rhythmic Top 40 “Party 96.3” W242CI, which uses the WMBX HD2 signal, and Talk WFTL-AM 850? That's what former head Larry Wilson asks.

On Wednesday, ABC News officially announced the much-discussed arrival of ex-CBS News leader Kim Godwin as its new President. One day later, CBS News responded with some major news of its own: It's putting its news division and owned television stations under one divisional and leadership structure. Co-heads have been named. One is an ABC veteran.

Kagan is putting the finishing touches on its annual Sports report. It examines how 2020's sports programming numbers stacked up against prior years. The report also provides status updates on the latest in the sports programming market and how pay TV operators are responding to the increases in sports programming costs.

For 16 years, she's been a key executive at Nielsen, rising to GM and Head of Product Advanced Video Advertising in January 2019. For 12 years, he's been a product development leader who in April 2019 ascended to the role of GM and Head of Product for Audience Measurement. Both will soon be former employees, presenting Nielsen with, perhaps, a new challenge.

TEGNA shares haven't been this high in nearly 14 years. And, that was technically when the company was known as Gannett. Now, TEGNA has released preliminary Q1 2021 revenue data and second quarter guidance that makes Soo Kim's sway play on greater board of directors control that much more difficult.

On July 13, per FCC rules, analog broadcasts on VHF Channel 6 -- which bring audio to 87.7 MHz -- are scheduled to cease, with a transition to full digital broadcasts required. While there's chatter among the licensees that this won't happen, a notable foe of these so-called "Franken FM" facilities has emerged. It's NPR.

Upon the unanimous recommendation of the independent members of Sinclair Broadcast Group's Board of Directors, the size of the board will grow from nine to 11 members. Taking one of those new seats: the EVP/CFO of Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Her appointment resolves a gender gap on the Sinclair board.

For years, Hispanic market observers, marketing executives, media professionals and political leaders all suspected that, some day, Univision Communications would strengthen its bonds with its all-important Mexican programming provider. That day will forever be remembered as April 13, 2021. Televisa’s content and media assets are being combined with Univision.

There’s been a bit of chatter across the radio industry this week about the latest blog post from Pierre Bouvard, the Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media and its Westwood One arm. Bouvard delves into the perception, versus “reality,” of AM and FM radio. He shares some of his latest insights on the subject in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM. LISTEN HERE

Did you know that there's a potential boost in the riches of AM and FM broadcast stations tied to ATSC 3.0? A big TV station owner, with radio properties in Seattle, is largely to thank for this tech progression.

While a NAB Show is planned for October 2021, a digitally delivered "NAB Show Premiere" kicked off Monday as a forum for innovation and discussion hub for radio and TV station owners in continuous transition as local digital nibbles away at ad dollars and localism's balance with budget realities continues to create challenges for some broadcast companies.

First, it was a branding agreement via a long-term licensing deal. Now, Bally's Corporation has signaled its ready to affirm an additional accord with Sinclair Broadcast Group that makes it a key content collaboration partner for the regional sports networks formerly owned by FOX. Commenting on the deal as Bally's Board Chair? A man tangling with TEGNA.

A key Wall Street media analyst has conducted the review as part of an assessment of NBC's "mostly" new reporting format. His report card shows that a "likely significantly rebounding NBC" — along with "healthy" cable EBITDA growth — will fuel Comcast share growth. As such, he raised his target price on Comcast.