the HOT List

FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly is already preparing for the future. In communication to RBR+TVBR, he confirms he is leaving no matter who wins the 2020 U.S. presidential race. On Friday, he also released a blog post offering what may very well be his final thoughts on media rule "modernization" -- and the need to further deregulate local ownership rules.

The situation on Wall Street for the company led by Ed Christian and Sam Bush is far from bright, with respect to Saga shares. They're down by more than $6 a share since the start of August, and since mid-August have largely been below the COVID-19 fueled dip seen at the start of the pandemic.

Senate action is now needed to propel the bills into Federal law. Among the legislation: a bill that would require the FCC to consider, with the input of its Office of Communications Business Opportunities, market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace.

On West Palm Beach's Australian Avenue, a low-rise white structure bearing the ION Media logo is within walking distance of the offices and studios of NBC affiliate WPTV-5, one of the crown jewels of The E.W. Scripps Company. Call it serendipity: From today, the two operations will become siblings thanks to a multi-billion deal that brings ION to Scripps.

With the blockbuster transaction announced Thursday that will see The E.W. Scripps Co. merge with ION Media, some 23 ION stations will be divested in order to meet regulatory approval. It now appears ION's Denver O&O is one of the properties that will likely be spun, and it is thanks to a Scripps deal that doesn't involve ION at all.

RBR+TVBR has confirmed the sale of Royce International's three FM radio stations, and the deal's approval by California Central District Federal Judge Jesus G. Bernal. Nevertheless, embattled licensee Ed Stolz has submitted a plan with the court that would allow him to keep the radio stations -- a plan a noted broker that's the receiver of these stations says falls short.

As broadcast TV companies such as Nexstar Media Group have seen their stock values fully recover from the COVID-19 influenced swoon of six months ago, the radio industry has failed to experience the same recovery. For Beasley Media Group, Tuesday's closing price for its stock is far worse than its March 23 dip -- and a low not seen since early 2009.

Silicon Dust was already making networked TV tuners and DVR devices when ATSC 3.0 pivoted Nick Kelsey’s attention. Intrigued, he turned to Kickstarter last April to raise $50,000 for a 3.0-capable device. The response? It was incredible, he says in this report from Cora Leighter.

By 2016, Mike Hubbard had built a sports radio and television network and enjoyed a successful political career as the first Republican Speaker of the House in Alabama in 136 years. Today, he's embarking on a four-year jail sentence for ethics violations tied to his non-broadcast career. As such, he's spinning his radio assets in a deal that's bound to get a lot of attention.

With all eyes on a controversial and expected White House nomination of the Supreme Court successor to the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg likely reaching the Senate this week, a key Republican Senate leader has expressed doubts that moving forward with a vote on Mike O'Rielly's FCC replacement is in the cards.

On Thursday, WWD took a pause from its N.Y. Fashion Week coverage to share that Meredith Corp., the parent of such venerable women's lifestyle brands as PEOPLE, would be shedding 180 jobs. But, it turns out the Local Media arm of the Des Moines-based company is bearing the brunt of the layoffs.

Until now, the CBC operating in the U.S. — Capitol Broadcasting Co. — owns three television stations in North Carolina. Soon, the company led by Jimmy Goodmon will add a fourth property, a LPTV, to the mix. What's the plan for the company pioneering ATSC 3.0 and NEXTGEN TV in the Triangle region?

A 9 1/2-month saga for a Kentucky FOX TV affiliate has formally ended. It is now officially owned by Nexstar Media Group. As such, this TV station has a new VP and General Manager.

The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology -- led by Michael Doyle of Pennsylvania -- conducted Thursday a FCC Oversight Hearing steeped in broadband access discussion and debate. That didn't stop the House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone from taking a swipe at Ajit Pai's "modernization" efforts as they pertain to Radio.

Is there an abundance of sports at a time when TV viewing typically dips? That is a question Wall Street wizard Michael Nathanson, Senior Analyst at MoffettNathanson poses. What he says could flatten that fresh six-pack of beer and hasten the mold on that cheese pizza.