the HOT List

How can a local TV station weather the COVID-19 pandemic together with its audience, and local businesses that depend on foot traffic? Here's a lesson in how a broadcast media station can be an important business partner, courtesy of Michael Valentine, VP/Station Manager of TEGNA's flagship WUSA9 in Washington, D.C. — today's podcast guest. LISTEN HERE

To learn how Hawaii News Now is serving a statewide audience in the best way possible while ensuring the safety of its own team, RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson spoke with GM Katie Pickman for an exclusive look inside KGMB-TV and KHNL-TV in this new Coronavirus INFOCUS Podcast. LISTEN HERE

Many love New Orleans, and the stories we’ve been hearing about the novel coronavirus’ high impact on Louisiana is just devastating. How has this impacted TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate WWL-4, and its ability to deliver important news and information to its viewers? That's the subject of the latest RBR+TVBR Coronavirus InFOCUS podcast.

As broadcast media journalists risk their health to keep the news flowing, the spotlight has only briefly shone on the heroes who have made significant adjustments to how they do their work – and where. With this in mind, the RBR+TVBR Coronavirus InFOCUS podcast debuts today. Our first guest: Meredith Local Media President Patrick McCreery. 

The senior leadership team and members of the board of directors of The E.W. Scripps Company  are taking voluntary salary and fee reductions, effective immediately. The company will donate an amount equal to those cuts to a fund to support its employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

To help industry professionals deal with the psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, Streamline Publishing Chairman Eric Rhoads has engaged experts through a video series he believes can help during these stressful times. In this episode, Rhoads speaks with Lee Milteer, an author and performance coach who has counselled and trained more than 1 million people in her speeches.

One year ago, Marshall Broadcasting Group filed a lawsuit against an entity it acquired three stations from for what it says are this company’s active efforts “to undermine” its TV trio. Now, it is selling the three television stations. Who's the buyer? That will certainly have people talking.

The NAB, News Media Alliance, National Newspaper Association (NNA) and America’s Newspapers have asked Congressional leaders to provide critical support to local news media in its next coronavirus relief stimulus bill. It follows outreach seen Wednesday from PEN America, Common Cause, and Free Press Action on behalf of nearly 50 organizations.

On Aug. 31, 1987, an independent station serving an Ohio city due south of the state capital signed on the air bearing call letters in honor of its owner and founder. He sold the station in 1994, and today it is the home of The CW Network's Columbus affiliate. The man who gave birth to the station, an owner of other radio and TV stations, has died at the age of 97.

Cumulus CEO Mary Berner noted Tuesday in a video message distributed to all employees that she was "literally astounded" by their capabilities. She gave shout-outs to those producing on-air radio programs from home, and to the sales department for shifting to "pitch perfect telesales with timely and topical proposals and products." Then came news of temporary job cuts.

On Oct. 3, 2018, FEMA conducted a live test of the Emergency Alert System. But, it seems listeners of an Entercom radio station in New York heard a similar tone during the morning show earlier that day. A whistleblower informed the Enforcement Bureau that the EAS tone aired as part of a skit lampooning the test. Now, Entercom faces a proposed fine for the act.

Many small radio and TV station owners have questions as to how to best proceed on getting money in their hands, and as soon as possible. They were directly presented in a special Facebook Live discussion held Tuesday with Womble Bond Dickinson partner Stephanie Few, hosted by RBR+TVBR and Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti and Radio Ink Editor-in-Chief Ed Ryan.

Until now, the promise of ATSC 3.0 -- the new digital broadcast TV standard -- involved over-the-air broadcast TV's ability to bring a better picture and improved audio quality to consumers. Addressable advertising for these stations is also a major takeaway. But, did you know NEXTGEN TV also brings a killer opportunity, one designed to extinguish MVPDs?

TEGNA is the latest media company to adjust employee salaries and implement a furlough. However, it isn't as severe as what has been seen at some of the nation's biggest radio broadcasting companies. The temporary pay cut is small, percentage-wise, and the furlough totals one week of service.

The studios of a TV station owned by Griffin Communications reopened Sunday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in its Saturday shut-down and deep cleaning. Meanwhile, in Pensacola, Fla., a Sinclair Broadcast Group TV station has suspended production in its newsroom "for the next several days" after two employees tested positive for the coronavirus.