the HOT List

The Delaware bankruptcy court judge charged with overseeing LBI Media's Chapter 11 restructuring has given his approval to a key document that will likely pave an obstacle-free path to a new start for the Hispanic broadcasting company. On Wednesday, a list of LBI's unsecured creditors surfaced. Among them: a public school district owed thousands of dollars.

Rumors continue to swirl about the future of Cox Media Group's TV stations. Now, there's even talk that the company wants to deal all of its Dayton holdings. With that backdrop, Cox has inked a new ratings deal with Nielsen -- a company also looking to pare down its assets.

It's been a very busy 48 hours in a Delaware federal bankruptcy court, which is reviewing LBI Media's Chapter 11 restructuring petition. Much like top radio company iHeartMedia, LBI Media is engaged in a major tussle with a group of noteholders. They say they're owned millions.

Here's a four-minute read that could save your station from lost revenue and/or a decline in listeners in 2019. Why? Pandora's marketing pros are at it again -- this time with a blog post listing the top reasons digital audio "is a must buy." Really? We have an RBR+TVBR Observation for our friends in Oakland.

Brian Wieser, of Pivotal Research Group, has just updated the Wall Street advisory firm's financial models for CBS Corp., Discovery Communications, The Walt Disney Co., and Viacom. Why? He's incorporated year-end 2019 price targets, which are generally higher. It's good news for Viacom shareholders.

A few years ago, before its merger with Greater Media, Beasley Media Group thought about staging a "hackathon" as a way to connect with the Consumer Electronics Show. Its first event came to fruition with CES 2019, and Beasley EVP Buzz Knight calls it a success in this exclusive interview with RBR+TVBR.

As of May 2018, some 16 million homes are considered "OTA." That number is on the rise, and as consumers look for more on-demand and cost-effective options, there's been a resurgence in this type of TV household. A new report from Nielsen is designed to "to really grasp this trend."

In mid-March 2018, Cox Media Group President Kim Guthrie told RBR+TVBR that an outright sale of its TV properties was not in the company's plans. “We are looking not to sell our stations, but to pursue a merger or partnership,” she said at the time. A fresh CNBC report counters Guthrie's statement. 

The FCC may be effectively closed thanks to the partial government shutdown, but it is still accepting the submission of transactions and such documents as "ex parte" letters. David Honig at MMTC just submitted two such letters, detailing calls made to two Commissioners on the subject of EEO.

A potentially ugly and long-lasting battle between an owner of TV stations seeking to merge with Nexstar and one of the nation’s largest MVPDs is now over. Terms were not disclosed.

Mike Gravino of Airwaves USA, the entity born out of the six-year-old LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition, is salivating. He believes ATSC 3.0's benefits will give low-power TV stations, including Class A facilities, a huge boost. In fact, he thinks LPTVs have a leg up on full-power facilities.

Sinclair Broadcast Group -- the TV station owner that wasn't able to merge with Tribune Broadcasting -- is now pushing the envelope on bringing next-generation digital broadcast TV to the car, and in a big way. This was one of the biggest takeaways on the first full day of CES 2019 in Las Vegas.

On Christmas Eve, Veritone shares stumbled to a new all-time low, dipping below $4. On Thursday, a robust Q4 report was released after the Closing Bell on Wall Street. Were investors pleased? You bet, based on immediate after-hours trading.

The partial shutdown of the Federal government has left bathrooms at national parks filthy and the National Mall an unsightly mess in spots. It has also led to a cessation of most operations at the FCC. Could this retrans-like battle go on for weeks, and ice any deal-making activity?

The new agreement ensures viewers in five markets — including a major Sunshine State DMA and one of the Midwest’s largest markets — need not enter a “great affiliate swap.”