Curated Channels: Telemundo’s Breath of Life To XUMO
In the Spanish language, "humo" means smoke. But, there's definitely no smoke and mirrors behind a new effort from NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises that gives a breath of fresh air -- and life -- to parent Comcast's free ad-supported streaming TV service.
Political Propels Meredith’s TV Stations In Fiscal Q2
Bonus political dollars thanks to the twin Georgia Senate runoff races, along with non-election spot television advertising improvements from the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, led Meredith's broadcast TV arm to achieve a 141% year-over-year adjusted EBITDA increase in its fiscal Q2 of 2021.
Gray’s DTS Request: A Big Move In Upstate N.Y. and Vermont
Saranac Lake, N.Y., in recent years has gained attention for the acquisition of a failed radio station, silenced by its licensee, by two foreign citizens. It has also received attention for a UHF channel that's been the subject of a coverage battle with Comcast. That channel is today owned by Gray Television. And, it is poised to bring big riches to Gray in Burlington, Vt.
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?