the HOT List

The artificial intelligence company known for its attribution services reported its fourth quarter 2019 results after Wednesday's closing bell on Wall Street. The numbers compared favorably against Q4 2018, setting the stage for continued acceleration of Veritone stock.

In January 2000, Louise "Weezie" Kramer joined Entercom Communications as a Regional VP, rising to COO in 2014. The company has just announced that, after more than four decades in broadcast radio, Kramer will retire later this year. Replacing her as COO is a fast-rising company executive who currently serves as a Regional President and Market Manager for Entercom/N.Y.

Across 2019, Beasley's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents per share. On Wednesday, the audio content and esports company's board moved forward with its latest dividend declaration. The news couldn't help lightly traded Beasley shares from a needed boost until the final minutes of trading. Still, a Feb. 20 Simply Wall St. report suggests "headwinds" ahead.

On Wednesday, Veritone Inc. got a very big shot in the arm from investors. Its stock price is back to where it was on October 1. Could a Canadian deal be the reason, or does it have to do with Q4 2019 results due following Wednesday's stock market close?

In mid-August 2019, Entercom Communications shares slid on word that the audio media company's board of directors had slashed its regular quarterly dividend to 2 cents per share, from 9 cents. It appears Entercom is sticking with giving its stockholders its two cents.

For viewers of NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo's breakfast show, Un Nuevo Día, the show's slogan — Más Cerca de Ti (Closer to You) — is something they've seen and heard on a regular basis. Now, NBCU is taking that brand promise to a whole new level by introducing a 360-degree interactive multiplatform studio.

Last week, Cumulus Media changed the call letters at a pair of AM radio stations it owns. One station is in Macon, Ga., while the other serves Amarillo, Tex., from its city of license, Canyon, Tex. Now, the stations are gone. Why? Cumulus took a page from Beasley Media Group by deciding to simply stop operating the AMs.

Gray Television's Q4 2020 earnings results, which came out Thursday, deserve a closer look — one that involves an examination on a two-year cycle of the growing company's results. It's something key Wall Street analysts did, and explains why they're upbeat -- as Gray C-Suiters are -- about Gray's performance in the last three months of 2019.

Standard General plans to push forward with its four previously selected candidates for election to the TEGNA board. More noteworthy, however, is the revelation that Standard General will nominate a fifth individual as an additional candidate for election to the board. That would be Larry Wert.

How did an owner of 60 TV stations in 42 markets perform? The E.W. Scripps Co. -- a company with a portfolio including the digital multicast Katz Networks, podcast platform Stitcher, and digital audio technology and measurement brand Triton -- reported Q4 2019 earnings that paint a bright picture for 2020.

Looking at the numbers on a combined historical basis is perhaps the best gauge of just how Gray Television, which merged with Raycom Media as 2019 began, performed in the final three months of 2019. The picture presented wasn't so great, and this, along with escalating fears over a COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic on a global scale, sent Gray shares wildly gyrating.

"We have a lot of positive news to share with you today, starting with results that met or exceeded our guidance estimates," Sinclair head Chris Ripley declared at the start of his company's Q4 earnings call on Wednesday. If that was the case, why did Sinclair's shares tumble with the ringing of the Opening Bell, and finish the day down a stunning 15%?

The nation's largest owner of broadcast TV stations had a huge final three months of 2019. But, like audio entertainment and media company Entercom, it requires a look at adjusted EBITDA. Once that's done, Nexstar's performance is one for investors to applaud. Coronavirus fears over the Summer Olympics could be spooking them today. Yet, Sook thinks a pandemic would actually help TV.

TEGNA's connected TV and "over-the-top" (OTT) advertising business has just received a shot in the arm from another broadcast TV company -- one that recently merged with Raycom Media. The pact allows Gray Television to serve as a reseller of Premion’s services across Gray’s 93 television markets.

For those wondering when Bob Iger would actually step down as Chief Executive of The Walt Disney Company, that moment has arrived. Disney's Board of Directors announced Tuesday after the Closing Bell on Wall Street that Bob Chapek has been named Chief Executive Officer, rising from Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.