the HOT List

It wasn't posted to the company's SEC filings as of 4:20pm. It also wasn't on their corporate website. The only place Cumulus Media, the nation's No. 3 owner and operator of radio properties by station count, decided to share its third-quarter results was by way of a GlobeNewswire press release. So, how did Cumulus do on a day it declared it is now offering a "lead guarantee"?

A deal has been reached between DOJ and no less than 6 owners of broadcast TV stations — including a company that just bought a group of radio stations from The E.W. Scripps Co. The other companies involve Sinclair, the company set to merge with Gray Television, and the company that won't be merging with Sinclair.

Miami-based Spanish Broadcasting System somewhat stealthy released its Q3 2018 earnings results following the Closing Bell on Wall Street Friday. By the end of Monday, it was clear among key shareholders that SBS, despite its numerous leverage issues and outstanding debt, is a cash-flow monster. Net income was seen, compared to a net loss a year ago, as net revenue improved by 4%. 

November 11, and the U.S. government holiday the following Monday, are meant to allow Americans to remember and honor those who have served in the Armed Forces. For shareholders of some of the top radio companies, it's best that we forget how their investments are performing on a day full of losses on Wall Street.

Among the many companies falling under the microscope of financial analyst Bret Jensen is none other than Entercom. For Bret Jensen, this radio industry pure-play is "an overlooked small cap concern" that he describes as "one of the most off the radar names in my current portfolio." Thanks to Jensen's positive report, Entercom could be on the radar of many more investors.

Call it profiteering? Or, is there something within the Q3 results from The E.W. Scripps Co. that led shareholders to start selling shares on Friday morning? We took a look, as the company that just sold all of its radio stations posted earnings per share and net revenue that easily beat the Street.

It was a tale of ups and downs for many companies reporting Q3 earnings results this week. For Discovery Communications, gains on Wall Street were seen after the company offered results that beat FactSet consensus estimates. For Entravision, a 19.2% slide in its stock value came following the release of its earnings performance Wednesday afternoon.

"Nexstar delivered another quarter of record financial results with top-line profitability and cash flow metrics exceeding consensus expectations," says President/CEO Perry Sook, who founded the broadcast TV company. Indeed, Nexstar has beat the Street in three of the last four quarters, and its stock is just pennies off a record high. How did Nexstar do in Q3?

Just don't bother looking at Entravision Communications' net income in Q3. Greatly impacted by a $263.94 million check by participating in the FCC's incentive auction, Entravision made a bundle of cash a year ago that everyone knew wouldn't be matched this year. So, how did the company specializing in Hispanic media do in Q3? And, where is its Chief Revenue Officer going?

You may have been sick of political ad after political ad while watching TV over the last several weeks. But, that was a bonanza for local broadcast TV's bank accounts. Total spending on political advertisements on local broadcast television in 2018 set an all-time record for a midterm cycle— and any previous election cycle.

If your company's employee roster doesn't reflect the multicultural audience it seeks, does it truly understand that audience, respect it, and want it? That's the subject of the latest Hispanic Radio Podcast, in which RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson tackles "The Case For Change" -- and how it could lead your company to not only change the format of a struggling radio station to one of interest to Latinos, but also lead your company to fully embrace the "new American mainstream."

"Tribune who?" Sinclair Broadcast Group easily beat Wall Street forecasts by registering strong net revenue gains and net income improvement in Q3, even when factoring in "ticking fee costs" tied to the dissolution of its now-aborted merger with Tribune Media. The quality Q3 led Sinclair's Board of Directors to increase its quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock.

Entercom shareholders may not be pleased with the company's Q3 earnings results, given the sharp drop in value seen across Tuesday's trading, but President/CEO David Field is confident Q4 and the months ahead in 2019 will bring the benefits of CBS Radio ownership to full fruition. That said, what types of advertisers are leading the charge as Entercom seeks to achieve greater net income? 

Fifty-one weeks ago, CBS Radio officially became a part of Entercom, greatly transforming the company. But, just how broken were the CBS Radio stations? While Entercom head David Field says his company is right where it thought it would be, as the company's Q3 2018 earnings were released, a glimpse of its top markets omit the biggest places where Entercom should be monetizing its assets.

Clayton, a self-described “poor young kid from the hills of Bardstown” who became an international leader in telecommunications innovation and a trustee and lifelong supporter of his alma mater, Bellarmine University, died on Nov. 3.