the HOT List

On August 28, the American Cable Association argued in comments filed with the FCC regarding Gray Television’s proposed purchase of Raycom Media that the "considerable national consolidation" resulting from the deal "will raise retransmission consent prices." The ACA on Friday submitted its Reply Comments to the FCC on the matter, and it is sticking to its argument that retrans fees will go up if the deal is OK'd.

In one week, the third quarter of 2018 comes to a close -- as does the Radio Show, produced by the RAB and NAB. Just how is the deal-making marketplace shaping up in 2018? Kalil & Co. VPs Lou McDermott, Fred Kalil and Todd Hartman eagerly stepped up to the plate to offer their take on the transactions marketplace.

What is the state of the media marketplace in the U.S.? That's a question Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn would like as close to a definitive answer to on Thursday, when the subcommittee she chairs will hold a hearing devoted to the topic.

For the last five years, the total news share for Cox Media Group's WHIO-7 has averaged 74% of news viewing. With the Dayton Daily News and News/Talk WHIO-AM & FM in its stable, the company enjoys an unprecedented advantage in this Miami Valley city. But WHIO-TV wanted more — specifically, communities in the Lima, Ohio DMA. The Lima request was contested, and the FCC has just ruled on the matter.

There will be no "great affiliate swap" at any stations owned by Gray Television that air such programs as "The Good Place" and "Law & Order." An agreement has been reached in principle with the NBC Television Network that extends and renews all of Gray's existing affiliations.

The vote was unanimous and the bill now goes back to the House, despite the apparent best efforts of SiriusXM to scuttle it. Applause for the passage was widespread and it seems a formality that the bill will pass into law.

Should television viewers some 100 miles to the northeast of Atlanta that subscribe to DISH Network and AT&T's DirecTV be able to receive that market's TV stations? The government of rural Franklin County, Ga., says yes. That's why it filed a Petition for Modification of the Satellite Television Markets for four big Atlanta TV stations. On Monday, the Media Bureau rendered its decision.

As RBR+TVBR's Monday headlines e-mail was being finalized, word arrived via Pillsbury Law communications attorney Scott Flick that FEMA and the FCC have agreed to postpone the National EAS and Wireless Emergency Alerts tests scheduled for Thursday. The ongoing response efforts to Hurricane Florence mean there's a small delay.

In August 2014, then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler applauded a deal, crafted with the assistance of the MMTC, that saw Gray Television sell several stations to qualified minority and/or women-owned companies. One of these stations is now being reacquired by Gray, thanks to a loosening of local TV ownership rules carried out by the Republican-majority Commission under Chairman Ajit Pai.

So, that great new app that your station now has in the Apple App Store or Google Play download hub ... are your listeners downloading it? If they are, are they keeping it? A just-released report from mobile measurement company Adjust offers three data points to consider when "unmasking uninstalls." They could help your station in getting its app used, and not deleted.

The CEO of the Aloha Station Trust and the recently formed Ocean Station Trust, a radio industry veteran who has worked at such companies as Harte-Hanks Communications and Entravision Communications, has passed away.

The owner of the MeTV broadcast television network, in addition to four other digital multicast TV offerings and the "MeTV FM" Soft Oldies brand has just launched a next-generation broadcast TV station in the Windy City. The launch saw Weigel Broadcasting team up with six technology partners.

The Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council (MMTC) has stated that it is in favor of a plan to bring a new class of FM radio stations to the dial across the U.S. Such a move, it has said, could benefit minority and female broadcast media ownership. The MMTC has now reaffirmed its views on a new "Class C4" radio broadcast class in reply comments submitted to the FCC.

A private equity firm named The Arbitrage Event-Driven Fund on Monday filed a class action complaint with an Illinois federal district court against Tribune. A jury trial is being demanded. The charge? Tribune executives cost investors millions of dollars for failing to disclose Sinclair's ill-fated actions. 

Nielsen has "expanded the scope" of a strategic review of its troubled Buy segment to include "a broad review of strategic alternatives" for the company and its businesses. The move comes after an activist shareholder's call for an outright sale of Nielsen, and a stock dip bringing Nielsen shares to levels not seen since summer 2012.