the HOT List

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."

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.

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?

After more than 42 years of serving America from Michigan Avenue and the "Magnificent Mile," a former integral piece of the Tribune Media family is fading to black. Sunday, February 29, is the final day for WGN America. It's part of a bigger plan for the cable network now led by Sean Compton and owned by Nexstar Media Group.

With no immediate impact expected for its radio stations, at least in the short-term, Alpha Media has announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

CMG stations once owned by Brian Brady's Northwest Broadcasting have been blocked from Suddenlink customers due to a retransmisson consent fee impasse entering its third week. Now, the Member of Congress serving Northwest California is ready to take action on Capitol Hill that could help thwart such disputes -- and the consumer harm they create.

Larry King, the famous radio and television talk show host who retired from CNN in fall 2010 yet continued to remain a Talk force across the next decade, has died at the age of 87. CNN reported King's death early Saturday.

HC2 Holdings Inc., the owner of low-power TV stations across the U.S. formerly led by Philip Falcone, confirmed Friday (1/22) that it is seeking to refinance all of its existing 11.500% senior secured notes due 2021 and a portion of existing 7.5% convertible senior notes due 2022.

Despite what station management led by Rob Rohr (pictured) calls its "best efforts," the dominant TV station serving Ohio's Miami Valley was "blacked out" by a small MVPD serving a county due north of metropolitan Dayton. There's a lot more to the story, as the county impacted is the subject of a 2018 FCC action that amended the market for this Dayton TV station.

The controversial donation-based broadcast TV service provider that says it is a non-profit — thus avoiding retransmission consent negotiations — has debuted in two more markets in the U.S. Southeast. One is a major banking hub and home to Bank of America. The other is home to the nation's biggest collection of theme parks.

With the November 2016 election and subsequent transition to Republican leadership at the FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel became a political pawn. She left on Inauguration Day 2017, unable to secure a re-nomination — only to return six months later thanks to President Trump. Now, he's indirectly responsible for her ascension to interim FCC leader.

What are the most important policy issues facing local television and radio stations during the 117th congress that the NAB will be advocating to policymakers and Members of Congress? That was distributed on Thursday, one day after Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States.

FCC v. Prometheus is certainly a huge matter, but other legal issues impacting radio and TV in 2021 deserve attention. What’s the first one that comes to mind to Gregg Skall, the noted Washington, D.C. communications attorney with boutique firm Telecommunication Law Professionals? Find out in the latest InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM. LISTEN HERE

It's a topic of conversation no one wants to have: a big transaction that a company hoped to close didn't make it to the finish line. That's exactly what has transpired with multiple deals involving Deb McDermott and radio and TV properties found across the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York; and TV stations that were to be sold by Bill Christian and Mike Reed.

In November 2020, RBR+TVBR first reported on the October 16 signing of an Asset Purchase Agreement that would see the transfer of ownership of a pair of UHF properties to Soohyung Kim-led Standard Media Group from Sinclair Broadcast Group. The FCC last week gave its blessing to the sale.