the HOT List

On July 23, Salem Media Group shares achieved a year-to-date high. Whatever excited investors then disappeared by the time Salem's Q2 2020 results surfaced earlier this month. Since then, SALM has been in a nosedive. Now, with Monday's Closing Bell, Salem has a dubious achievement: Its shares are now valued at just under $1 per share.

Wall Street analyst Michael Nathanson has released an investor note in which he begs Fox Corporation C-Suiters to consider a sale of its networks and O&O TV stations. In doing so, Nathanson offered some perspective on the enterprise value of four "major pure-play station operators." The result: Gray's enterprise value is higher than that of FOX stations and the network.

Saturday night was a special one for Gray Television, a Graham Media Group property, and radio stations owned by Townsquare Media, Bonneville International, Alpha Media and a growing privately held operator in Missouri. That's because all are owners of stations honored during the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation's 2020 Service to America Awards.

On May 29, RBR+TVBR was first to report on Gray Television‘s decision to acquire low-power TV station KATH-LD 5 in Juneau, and translator KSCT-LP 5 in Sitka, Alaska, from GCI’s Denali Media Holdings. Signing off for the buyer: Nancy Johnson, GM of Gray’s NBC affiliate KTUU-2 in Anchorage. Now, Gray is grabbing control of another GCI property.

A broadcast TV company led by Ohio-based Dennis Thatcher is grabbing two additional stations that hold shared services contracts with Nexstar. The seller? Sheldon Galloway's operation.

Today, as the U.S. celebrates "National Radio Day" and WWJ's 100th anniversary is observed, its success continues despite ongoing worries that the "Radio" will be forever lost as in-vehicle entertainment-filled dashboards become commonplace across all cars and trucks. What's the view on radio's presence in the car from Fred Jacobs?

As part of our salute to WWJ/Detroit's 100th birthday and to Radio, RBR+TVBR has placed its focus on Detroit. For the latest RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Podcast, we engaged Detroit Public Media President/CEO Rich Homberg in a conversation that spans from life at a PBS Member station to recipes for success built on a 12-year tenure as WWJ's VP/GM. LISTEN HERE

Are social justice initiatives designed to elevate the Black community in the U.S. "trendy," or representative of a real sea change?  What role does Black Media play in this ... and what exactly is Black Media? Key Black media leaders tackled these topics and more during Wednesday's first-ever Black Media Symposium, a RBR+TVBR online event presented by Triton Digital.

Across the Hawaiian Islands, "Island News" has come courtesy of an ABC affiliate owned and operated by two brothers from Erie, Pa.: Brian and Kevin Lilly. That ownership will soon come to an end, thanks to one of the most aggressive buyers in broadcast television today.

The TV stations formerly owned by Brian Brady-led Northwest Broadcasting were among those regularly embroiled in protracted retransmission fee fights. Today, they are a part of the new Cox Media Group. But, old desires haven't died.  The former Northwest stations could be yanked from a direct broadcast satellite service provider very soon, CMG warns. It's hardly a surprise.

Roland Martin recently signed on as a contributor to the Black Information Network (BIN). He's one of two esteemed keynote interview participants at RBR+TVBR's Black Media Symposium, presented by Triton Digital. The hour-long live event is on Wednesday, and RBR+TVBR spoke with Martin for an advanced look at what's up for discussion.

Come Wednesday, Emmy-winning commentator and journalist Ed Gordon will serve as a co-keynote interview participant in RBR+TVBR's Black Media Symposium, presented by Triton Digital. The hour-long live event on Facebook Live and the RBR+TVBR YouTube channel is a free event. RBR+TVBR spoke with Gordon, who offers a preview of what's to come Aug. 19.

Omar Thompson is a panelist on the August 19 Black Media Symposium, and he spoke with RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson ahead of the event in this fresh InFocus Podcast. How are marketers are responding to Black consumer needs? Get the answer in this 10-minute listen! LISTEN HERE

How did Meredith's Local Media Group fare in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2020? Viewership is up thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and two new syndicated daytime programs based on national media brands are forthcoming. The financial picture? Meh.

In a preview of what attendees can expect to learn from the August 19 Black Media Symposium, RBR+TVBR spoke with event participant DuJuan McCoy. He's the owner of two TV stations in Indianapolis. Are there positives to being an independent operator at this time? How has 2020 impacted initial plan of action? We get the answers.