the HOT List

Is it ensuring false information that can incite and create violence and insurrection is blocked from receipt by the American public, or is it an extreme violation of Freedom of Speech? That's the big question emerging from Capitol Hill, where House Members have drawn a line in the sand on how "disinformation and extremism" can be prevented from dissemination.

Record-smashing political dollars in Q4, along with significant sequential improvements in revenue, are the key highlights for Entercom Communications' financial health report for the final three months of a punishing 2020. That said, the company's earnings per share missed Wall Street forecasts.

Record performance. It's a statement some companies may state, yet only tells part of a story that's inclusive of some blemishes and bruises. That's not the case with respect to Nexstar Media Group. 

With the last broadcast transaction of the year the broadcast deal volume for 2020 passed the $1 billion line, closing with a total of $1.02 billion. That's an 87% drop from 2019, Volker Mörbitz of S&P Global Market Intelligence notes, clearly highlighting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is, however, a volume 27% higher than that of 2010.

February 11 saw the release of the second in a series of Borrell Associates reports that examine 2021 spending plans for a dozen different types of local ad buyers. The analysis, drawn from a survey of 373 local businesses that buy TV ads, shifts focus to Broadcast TV Advertisers. Gordon Borrell shares more in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast presented by DOT.FM. LISTEN HERE

NBCUniversal first announced a move to impressions in September 2019, but clients and agencies who weren't trading on impressions were given more time to transition while they evaluated the impact the change would have on their business and clients. With the close of Q1 '21, all of NBCUniversal's owned TV stations and RSNs will be measured using CPMs only.

As the sun rose on the East Coast of the U.S. Monday, Colorado-based DISH -- a company involved in a host of retransmission consent disputes that's very intent on growing its 5G connectivity business -- released its Q4 and FY 2020 results. Revenue beat the street, but investors weren't thrilled. DISH was down 4.2% as the Closing Bell rang Tuesday.

A Florida-based tower company founded by Steven Bernstein has struck a new master lease agreement with a company actively transitioning from a direct broadcast satellite TV services provider to a major 5G connectivity player.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has increased funding to the five National Multicultural Alliance public media organizations – Black Public Media, the Center for Asian American Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, Pacific Islanders in Communications and Vision Maker Media. How much will each organization receive annually?

Ed Stolz is now in the custody of U.S. Marshals. Could it finally end a saga worthy of a Soap Opera, one that saw a Federal Judge set a daily fine for every 24 hours Stolz remained "a fugitive from justice"? While Stolz has surrendered, it's now known he's gone to the FCC in an attempt to keep three FMs now controlled by Larry Patrick.

From his days 50 years ago as a Top 40 DJ in Pittsburgh to his hire at KFBK-AM in Sacramento to replace Morton Downey Jr., the radio career of Rush Limbaugh was replete with disappointment, rebirth and tremendous success. Now, the world is pausing to remember Limbaugh, who has lost his battle with lung cancer.

Scripps – which sold its podcast company Stitcher in October and nearly doubled its return on that investment – was an early entrant into podcasting and digital audio. The Triton divestiture reflects Scripps’ consistent invest-for-growth strategy that capitalizes on emerging media marketplaces to unlock shareholder value.

She's been singled out by her new boss for her "extensive knowledge and experience" in the Atlanta market, along with her "winning attitude and impressive accomplishments." That's what Debora Collura, GM of WGCL-46 and WPCH-17 "Peachtree TV", has to say about the stations' new Director of Sales.

The Sunshine State is about to send a big thunderstorm in the direction of Facebook, Alphabet Inc., Amazon and other big tech companies that have sucked ad dollars away from broadcast media. Proposed legislation supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis would increase data privacy and security "and uphold the rights of Floridians over major technology companies."

By the end of March 2020, IHRT had shriveled to $4.87 per share. Questions about iHeart's ability to see profits amid a flurry of pandemic-fueled advertising cancellations and "hold for now" calls arose. An early June rally fizzled just one month later. Then came Election Day 2020. Since then, iHeart shares haven't stopped growing.