the HOT List

For over 30 years, Ascential-owned WARC has been serving marketers as a data analytics company that has also taken a key role in examining domestic ad expenditures by medium on an annual basis. WARC's 2021 U.S. ad spend projections have been released. And, "even in a build-back year," WARC says, "ad spend in the U.S." is projected to be significant.

Wells Fargo media analyst Steven Cahall not only gave ViacomCBS a downgrade, which led to a further pummeling of that company's stock, but presented Discovery Inc. with some bad news of its own. Investors reacted, sending DISCA spiraling.

ViacomCBS shares have slid since Monday, when the company's stock finished the day with a valuation of more than $100 per share. At first, a $3 billion equity offering seemed to be negatively impacting ViacomCBS. Then came concerns that Paramount + growth estimates may be too generous, leading to two key analyst downgrades. The result: a Wall Street slide.

DuJuan McCoy has become known across the U.S. as the owner and day-to-day leader of two Indianapolis TV stations. Now, McCoy is widening his territory just a little bit. He's just agreed to purchase low-power TV stations in two other Indiana DMAs from HC2 Holdings.

The company led by Bob Bakish has now priced its stock offerings. That didn't stop investors from continuing to shed ViacomCBS stock across Thursday's trading session. Furthermore, ViacomCBS now has to deal with a downgrade from one of Wall Street's most respected media analysts.

The Nielsen Total Audience Report’s March 2021 edition is now available for public consumption. And, it’s filled with informative new insights on advertising across today’s media. Peter Katsingris, SVP of Audience Insights at Nielsen, chats with Adam R Jacobson about some of the key findings in this fresh podcast, presented by DOT.fm. LISTEN HERE

The powers that be at Spongebob's employer responded to the incredible growth of ViacomCBS stock by initiating a mammoth $3 billion equity offering following Monday's Closing Bell on Nasdaq. The reaction from investors? Sell! Sell! Sell! ViacomCBS shares are in a free-fall, with a 23.2% decline seen on Wednesday. Early after-hours trading saw a further dip for VIAC.

"Grow with our audience, and grow with us." That's the pitch presented to new and returning brand managers and CMOs across a digitally delivered event that was one-part Upfront presentation and another part a full introduction to two new key members of the largest multimedia company superserving U.S. Hispanics.

Comscore is devoting its future to local cross-platform measurement and says groups and agencies are shifting from talk to action. EVP of Commercial Steve Walsh shares how Comscore is driving the mastery of matching homes with the actual purchase behavior seen in those homes in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM. LISTEN HERE

Nearly eight weeks after a Apollo Global Management “Conflicts Committee” and its board of directors completed a previously announced independent review of Chairman/CEO Leon Black’s previous professional relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, Black has exited Apollo. It comes several months ahead of the transition plan released in January.

Comscore's five-year stock trend is far from pretty. Two years ago, SCOR was suddenly slipping from a $20 price range; it started 2017 in the mid-$33 range. By August 2019, Comscore shares were at $1.86. Today, they start the week on a strong note, with a 7.4% jump in value on Monday. For CEO Bill Livek believes they're seriously undervalued.

After amassing a formidable stable of low-power and full-power television properties between the first quarter of 2017 and third quarter 2019, HC2 Holdings appears to be in the midst of a significant asset paring. The company now led by Chief Executive Officer Wayne Barr Jr. has signed off on its fourth divestment deal since the start of 2021.

The National Football League has reached new long-term deals with its media partners, and the head of the lobbying group representing the interests of small MVPDs is less than pleased with what it will do for cable customers. As Matthew M. Polka sees it, it only strengthens the need for Congress to pass legislation that eliminates retransmission consent.

Get ready for another fiery day on Wall Street for Urban One. The company on Thursday morning released its fourth quarter and full-year 2020 earnings. And ... they're spectacular. In pre-market trading, UONE was up by some 12%. While that set the stage for another growth spurt for Urban One stock, tepid growth was seen at market close.

In an exclusive report, RBR+TVBR has learned that Global's initial stake in iHeartMedia was made in violation of the FCC's foreign ownership rules. What companies can do to prevent such a situation from happening may now be the newest hot-button topic floating between the C-Suite and their outside legal counsel.