the HOT List

One of the nation's most respected communications law practitioners got his start in the industry, as did many other radio professionals, by spending more time at his St. Louis University college radio station than in classes. Now, he'll have plenty of time to listen to the radio without distracting his work: John Garziglia is retiring.

On December 9, noted media revenue analyst Gordon Borrell will offer Radio's Financial Summit, Forecast 2021 LIVE, attendees an exclusive look at the findings from a just-completed survey of 944 radio buyers. Ahead of the appearance, Borrell has released topline results from Borrell Associates' 2020 Local Advertiser Survey. What are the key findings?

On Tuesday evening, 63 television stations owned by TEGNA were blocked from DirecTV customers, as talks regarding a new retransmission consent agreement between the two companies failed to reach a fresh deal before the prior accord expired. Twenty-four hours later, an even bigger "blackout" transpired, and it involves Dish and Nexstar.

Retransmission consent is an increasingly troubling problem for broadcast TV. To learn more about the history of retransmission consent and why, perhaps, it is such a contentious matter, former NAB General Counsel Jack Goodman spoke with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson in this fresh InFOCUS Podcast, presented by DOT.FM. LISTEN HERE

BIA Advisory Services has released its U.S. Local Advertising Forecast for 2021. What is it predicting? Growth is the magic word, with a 2.5% year-over-year increase from a year battered by COVID-19.

GroupM Global President of Business Intelligence Brian Wieser is one of a host of top-flight media and advertising industry experts and thought leaders on the agenda for Radio's Financial Summit, the virtual Forecast 2021 LIVE, scheduled for December 8-9. In a taste of what attendees will hear, Wieser has offered his U.S. end-of-year forecast for 2020. He's optimistic.

Want to watch CBS programming in the National Capital Region or in Tampa-St. Petersburg? If you're a DirecTV subscriber, you're out of luck. The same can be said for DirecTV subscribers in markets such as Buffalo and Portland, Ore., who want to watch their local NBC affiliates. Chalk it up to the latest retransmission fee dispute.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has approved three presidential nominations, which are now subject to approval by the full Senate. The trio of Trump selectees includes Section 230-repeal friendly choice Nathan Simington. Will the Senate approve Simington as Mike O'Rielly's FCC successor?

The shift includes the promotions of Romina Rosado and Ronald Day in the Entertainment and Content Strategy division, as a newly redesigned Revenue Strategy and Distribution unit will be led by Peter Blacker. He takes a broader role, reporting to Beau Ferrari.

With the newly established routines of consumers, the colder winter months and increased movement restrictions will further solidify daytime TV as a true work companion, Nielsen believes. In its words, "Understanding these behaviors now is vital, as they can leave a lasting impact on a post lockdown world."

In this special RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, Scott Herman, Chair of the Broadcasters Foundation and CEO of SHH Media Management, shares with Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson the Broadcasters Foundation's call on #GivingTuesday to help people in dire need, and how the Foundation has continued to meet its mission in a most challenging year. LISTEN HERE

It's been a much-discussed topic since it became clear that Joe Biden would be the next President of the United States: Would there be two openings at the FCC, as Republican Commissioner Mike O'Rielly's exit was all but sealed by the Trump Administration prior to his defeat in the 2020 elections? The answer is now a confirmed affirmative.

From 1964 until early 2013, Family Radio served the New York Tri-State Area through the use of an FM radio station now home to country music and owned by Entercom. On February 27, 2015, Family Radio's service to the Big Apple returned by way of a heritage AM. Now, the future of that facility is in question, thanks to a big land sale in Queens.

On eleven occasions roughly two years ago, a 30-second commercial aired during a program broadcast during "KidVid" hours on a MyTVNetwork station operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group via a shared services agreement. That's a no-no, and the licensee — but not Sinclair — now faces a sizable FCC fine.

With the help of a former Republican FCC Commissioner appointed to the agency by President George W. Bush, Gray Television has filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Commission and the NAB that supports their belief that the Third Circuit is unfairly throwing a monkey wrench into needed "modernization" of TV station ownership rules.