the HOT List

Last month, the FCC's Media Bureau disagreed with Altafiber that Nexstar Media Group engaged in "good faith" violations as they pertain to retransmission consent negotiations. Altafiber isn't satisfied with acting Bureau Chief Erin Boone's decision, and wants the three voting members of the FCC to consider its case.

Do the Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Loper Bright and Jarkesy deliver the message that a federal agency’s financial penalty decision could not be the final one, leaving it to the judicial system to assess? Verizon and AT&T each think so, and sought input from the Supreme Court. Its now agreed to review the matter.

On August 14, 2025, Nexstar Media Group shares surged to an all-time high of $211.31, and then began a three-month downturn. Since then, however, Nasdaq-traded "NXST" has experienced a sharp rebound, with a strong upward trajectory that began in early December. It hasn't ceased.

It was reintroduced at the start of 2025, and again attracted overwhelming bipartisan support from Members of Congress. Yet, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act has stalled in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The Commander-in-Chief has made it clear he wants forward movement on the proposal.

It's a company that describes itself as a "systems integrator for safe, scalable beyond-visual line of sight operations for unmanned and autonomous aircraft." It is also an increasingly important technology entity to the broadcast TV industry, which explains why The E.W. Scripps Co. is teaming for a pilot project.

Fresh off a Senate Commerce Committee gathering that saw Democrats gang up on Chairman Brendan Carr by vociferously condemning his leadership, the House E&C Committee will be holding its own FCC Oversight Hearing next week.

Advertising has entered the artificial intelligence age in a whole new way, thanks to a partnership between NBCUniversal and Comcast's FreeWheel unit; independent agency RPA; and Newton Research. With the four entities working together, one can now buy "premium video" using agentic AI across both linear and digital platforms.

The Video Advertising Bureau is recommending the choice of either "Households" or "Persons 2+" as new co-standards for video audience guarantees. The recommended move "evolves the legacy buy/sell practice of guarantees on narrower, linear-TV-centric standards such as Adults 25-54," says the VAB.

A group of subscribers to Charter's Spectrum MVPD have filed a class action complaint with a U.S. District Court seeking a jury trial on the grounds that the company engaged in unfair competition, violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and fraud. Why? They say a "Broadcast TV Surcharge" is unlawful.

Gray Media claims the nation's TV networks are engaged in bargaining tactics that result in them retaining sole authority over the affiliates’ relationship with vMVPDs – either de facto or de jure. As such, "they are a method of undue interference with a local broadcaster’s right to control distribution of its signal."

The last day of 2025 also served as the final day interested parties could submit comments to the FCC in regard to Media Bureau docket No. 25-331, which seeks insight into whether or not TEGNA should be acquired by Nexstar Media Group. Among the groups chiming in are organization dead-set against the deal.

Ed Henson is a broadcast licensee. He’s also a veteran media broker who believes the National Association of Media Brokers remains a vital group of dedicated professionals who have the experience and knowledge to best navigate buyers and sellers toward the best possible deal agreement.

Press Communications is pressing the FCC — along with 18 other licensees of Class C and Class D AM stations — to reinstate a 2016 FM translator filing window (with minor modifications) for kHz-band properties. If granted, the rule making would allow for "substantial" FM translator transmitter site and channel moves.

Brian and Kevin Lilly have moved ahead with the acquisition of a group of stations within a short drive of their family-run company's headquarters in Erie, Pa. With the FCC's OK, they'll be gaining ownership of stations serving a Western New York city and properties targeting a city in far Northeastern Ohio.

Ogunquit, Me., isn't exactly a hub of U.S. Hispanic culture. Yet, in this small town resides a former print journalist who has chronicled — through his own lens — the history of Hispanic-targeted television in the U.S. Javier Marín doesn't hold back his questions and criticism, either.