the HOT List

In a largely anticipated move, provisions related to the soon-to-sunset Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act Reauthorization (STELAR) have been included in what's formally titled the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020. It passed the House on Tuesday and now needs Senate approval by Friday to avoid a government shutdown.

Spanish Broadcasting System on Monday afternoon confirmed that it has received a letter from "a recognized multinational financial services broadcast lender" stating that it is "highly confident of its ability" to arrange secured debt financing for SBS in an amount of $300 million.

An announcement made just before 9am Monday (12/16) confirmed rumors that CEO Steve Burke would be exiting. At the same time, it revealed who would be filling his shoes.

He first found fame as a "Fly Jock" in an era long before multi-market satellite-delivered live shows and is today one of the most renowned African American hosts to ever sit behind a microphone.  At 10am Friday, "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" came to its end, with Joyner officially heading into retirement.

Townsquare Media on Dec. 9 agreed to amend the employment agreements agreed to by its CEO, Bill Wilson; CFO, Stuart Rosenstein; and Local Media COO Erik Hellum. The company that focuses on small and mid-sized markets also said yes to an amended agreement with former CEO and current Executive Chairman Steven Price.

While conventional wisdom might have assumed that TV’s loss was digital’s gains, the more accurate story -- courtesy of Wall Street analyst Michael Nathanson -- is that digital is being fueled by "an army of small and medium-sized advertisers" who have benefited from the efficient targeting capabilities of Facebook and Google.

In a historic move that cements the Pai Commission as one that will not tolerate unlicensed radio broadcasters, the FCC proposed a $453,015 fine against an individual determined to be the operator of a Boston-area pirate radio operation. Now comes enforcement, which could be difficult.

The FCC has proposed the maximum allowable fine by law be handed to a Boston-based operator of a pirate radio station calling itself "Radio Concorde." It was the second, and lesser, penalty of the day to a Bay State buccaneer. But, will the individual behind the unlicensed operation comply, or thumb its note at the FCC?

The FCC’s EEO Compliance and Enforcement Notice of Proposed Rulemaking saw 82 Broadcasters join together in the Nov. 4 submission — through Womble Bond Dickinson attorney John Garziglia — of Reply Comments. Now, the MMTC has a lot to say. It made its thoughts known in a 22-page letter to the FCC's five decision makers.

Three months ago, a group of stations licensed to entities controled by Cowles Media found themselves absent from DirecTV lineups across a host of cities. Among the impacted stations: NBC affiliate KHQ-6 in Spokane. Now, KHQ is among a group of stations recovering from a much bigger problem.

Think over-the-air TV is "dead"? Well, Deloitte's Duncan Stewart implores nay-sayers to think again about where over-the-air television is heading into 2020. "Hold on to your hats," he says.

With nary a Member present, an affirmative voice vote came midday Tuesday to the Television Viewer Protection Act. Now comes a needed vote in the U.S. Senate. If passed, the legislation would establish "good faith" negotiation between MVPDs and TV broadcasters, while ending "hidden cable TV fees."

When it comes to deal-making, there are perhaps no two parties who have such a long, entwined history as Richard French's RNN and Ted Bartley's NRJ. In September 2011, RNN and NRJ struck a deal involving a Reading, Pa.-based TV station. Now, RNN is buying back that property -- and other stations owned by NRJ.

Television viewers and journalists from across New England are mourning the sudden loss of a popular news anchor. She joined the CBS affiliate serving Connecticut in 1986, and has been a steady presence at the Meredith Corp.-owned station ever since.

If there's one media company with a hot stock set to close out 2019 with a bang, its the entity with a "local first" approach to reaching consumers via broadcast radio, programmatic and digital solutions in small and mid-sized markets across the U.S. That would be Townsquare Media.