the HOT List

"We are very proud of the results from Q4 but even more excited about how our 2019 has started and what is ahead for the Townsquare team," CEO Bill Wilson told RBR+TVBR ahead of his company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 earnings results call.

There's no longer any concern about a loss of listeners in an area of NE PA where Entercom sold a Class A FM to meet regulatory approval for its merger with CBS Radio. That's because an FM translator will soon serve as this station's replacement.

What does one financial analyst who in July 2018 declared that Entercom “will be a multi-bagger” over the next three to five years think of his prognostication today? "The results were exactly on point," Gregory Vousvouis says, confirming his revenue and profit expansion thesis.

Retransmission consent is a thorny thing, especially in recent years. Now, one operator is claiming Nexstar has failed to negotiate retransmission consent rights in good faith. Here's the rub: This MVPD hasn't even started offering services yet.

On February 15, Apollo Global Management said it would take a majority interest in Cox Media Group's TV stations, the Dayton Daily News, and CMG’s radio properties in the Miami Valley. On Wednesday, a dollar figure in the billions became known.

Those who still believe Univision Communications isn't committed to radio may wish to squelch such talk. With the unification of the company's music and audio properties under its Uforia brand, Univision Radio has made an emphatic statement that it is in it to win it.

As part of Entercom's acquisition of CBS Radio, legendary spoken word stations in the nation's biggest markets became siblings to an already formidable portfolio of AMs and FMs across the U.S. But, the diamond in the rough in this deal just may be Radio.com, which has been reborn under the leadership of J.D. Crowley.

In a major move, Gray Television is acquiring a highly successful NBC affiliate in a big college town from Waterman Broadcasting. As a result, the CBS, ABC and FOX stations in this market, which it presently controls, are being sold, with Gray stressing it will not have any involvement.

The FCC has set the Comment Date and Reply Comment Date for "MB Docket No. 18-349" -- its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that commences the agency's 2018 quadrennial review of its media ownership rules. Here's all of the information you'll want to know.

With Cox Media Group's TV stations being shifted to a new entity with Apollo Group getting majority interest, is The E.W. Scripps Co. in a position to grow its stable of stations? That was a question addressed to Scripps' CEO during the company's Q4 2018 call, which also revealed the end of 'Pickler & Ben.'

Gray Television on Thursday unveiled its Q4 and full-year 2018 results, and there's many positives to report -- once one gets beyond a $134.43 million income tax benefit that make net income comparisons a tad difficult for financial novices. Meanwhile, a longtime FOX News and former CNN face is joining Gray.

Steady as she goes. Most local advertisers will maintain their total ad total spend and media allocations in 2019, with no fluctuations. But, there is one ad category that is projected to grow. It's not Automotive, which is not in the discussion ... and could put a damper on BIA Advisory Services' findings for media.

Sinclair Broadcast Group has put its failed controversial bid for Tribune, heading to Nexstar Media Group pending regulatory approval, well into its past. How so? It's present and future look bright, based on the company's positive Q4 and full-year 2018 report. Investors responded in a big way on Wednesday.

A series of damaging claims from a group of second-lien noteholders displeased at actions taken by LBI Media were filed in mid-January in the Delaware bankruptcy court overseeing LBI’s Chapter 11 restructuring plan. Now, these junior noteholders are being thwarted by LBI in pursuing an adversary complaint.

The House of Representatives on Monday, by voice vote, passed the "PIRATE Act." But, the House in the 115th Congress did the same. It's the U.S. Senate that must act. If and when it does will be much more meaningful than Monday's actions, as one brazen pirate remains on the air in South Florida.