AT&T Fires Back At Apollo, CMG Over Retrans ‘Blackout’
A war of words has erupted between DirecTV owner AT&T and Cox Media Group in the wake of an impasse over a new retransmission consent agreement. On Wednesday, AT&T fired back at the owner of such stations as KIRO-7 in Seattle, the market's CBS affiliate and home to Super Bowl LV.
Bob and David Sinclair Bid Farewell To California
Bob and David Sinclair have decided to refocus Sinclair Communications' efforts on its home market of Norfolk. As such, it is selling its three FMs and FM translator serving Napa and Somona Counties, just north of the San Francisco Bay Area. An LMA for another FM is being handed to the buyer, a South Asian telecom entrepreneur with a Harvard MBA.
Directly Dark: Cox Stations Fade To Black In Latest Retrans Tussle
On January 29, word first surfaced that Cox Media Group would soon face a new retrans "blackout." Lo and behold, that has transpired. On Monday evening, all of CMG's broadcast TV stations were blocked from viewers who get their TV services from AT&T's direct broadcast satellite service.
A Pandemic-Proof Audio Content Purveyor? Look at Sirius XM
For an audio media company, such achievements could be the stuff of dreams, considering the battering COVID-19 and the pandemic, entering its 12th month, has brought to Radio. Yet, that's exactly what Sirius XM is touting, as its Q4 and full-year 2020 results paint a rosy picture that will certainly make newly appointed CEO Jennifer Witz happy.
Gray’s Quincy Deal: Six Market Spins, Including Tucson
In order to pass muster with the DOJ and FCC, six Quincy Media, Inc., stations will be spun to a third-party in markets where Gray Television already has a presence. These DMAs include Tucson, where the NBC affiliate is poised to see its third owner in three years.
Gray Television Grabs Quincy Media in a Mega Deal
On January 7, Illinois-based broadcast media operation Quincy Media Inc., owner of 24 over-the-air TV stations, confirmed that it was “considering” a sale of all of its assets. Less than one month later, a buyer has emerged. And, it's the entity that successfully merged with Raycom Media just over two years ago.
Univision Buys A Key AVOD Player en Español
Less than 24 hours after a major shakeup in its corporate ranks, Univision Communications on January 12 moved forward with its widely discussed plans to launch an advertising-supported streaming service serving Spanish-speaking U.S. Hispanics. Now, the company seeks to "accelerate" PrendeTV in the U.S. by buying a big pan-Latin AVOD player.
Ed Stolz: Surrender, Or Else, To U.S. Marshals
The continuing saga of the man known for his quixotic quest to annul an Entercom Communications transaction consummated a quarter-century ago, an individual who is losing ownership of all but one of his radio stations, has reached its zenith, thanks to a judge presiding in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Suddenly, Suddenlink Impasse With Cox Ends
It was hardly expected, considering all of the back and forth rhetoric and typical "it's their fault" statements between a TV station owner and an MVPD in the midst of heated negotiations during a retransmission consent accord impasse. But, Altice USA-owned Suddenlink on Thursday restored each of the Cox Media Group stations that had blocked from viewers.
Legendary Programming Exec Bill Tanner Dies
From his days in Pittsburgh as a young, up-and-coming programmer from Jackson, Miss., to his most recent role as EVP/Programming for the Carl Parmer-led SummitMedia, Bill Tanner has had a career full of success -- despite some setbacks in both his professional and personal lives. Tanner died late Wednesday at the age of 76.
Nexstar OK’s $1 Billion Share Repurchase Authorization
That's not the only big financial news announced Thursday by the nation's largest owner of broadcast TV stations. Nexstar’s Board of Directors has also OK'd an increase in the company's quarterly cash dividend — a somewhat incredible feat as some radio broadcasting companies saw COVID-19 suspend their dividend altogether.
Who’s Owed What: Behind Alpha’s Restructuring Plan
Just after Midnight on Monday, Alpha Media filed Official Form 201, a Voluntary Petition for Non-Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy with a Virginia Eastern Bankruptcy Court. The case has been assigned to Kevin Huennekens, and the deadline for filing claims has been set for July 26. Who are the biggest creditors Alpha Media, headed by Bob Proffitt, needs to pay?
SXM-7 Damage Downplayed by Sirius XM
On December 13, Sirius XM Holdings successfully launched its SXM-7 satellite. In-orbit testing of the satellite began on January 4, 2021. Something went wrong. Now, Sirius XM is assuring consumers and investors that it "does not expect" its satellite radio service to be impacted by "adverse SXM-7 events."
Nexstar Finally Gets Antietam To Add A D.C. DMA Property
It has been absent from the channel lineup of a small MVPD ensconced within the vast Washington, D.C. DMA since the end of 2018. As of Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, this Nexstar Media Group property once owned by Quorum Broadcasting is back on the lineup.
Apollo’s Black Mark: CEO’s Jeffrey Epstein Ties Lead To Resignation
A decade ago, a majority of Sirius XM's shareholders voted against Leon Black retaining his seat on the Board of Directors. Who knew today that the founder of Apollo Global Management, the majority owner of Cox Media Group, would be facing much wider scorn -- and end up relinquishing control of his private equity firm?