the HOT List

The National Association of Broadcasters is taking its fight to "modernize" the FCC's broadcast ownership rules by sending a message to consumers that they are at risk of losing live sports on free broadcast channels. And, the NAB is doing so through a new advertising campaign.

The Alpha Media purchase, first announced on May 5, saw Brigade Capital Management contributing much of the cash to make the transaction happen. Originally, closing was anticipated to occur in late 2025. 

The company led by Jim Schwartzel is investing even more dollars into local media by creating a duopoly that some may already be raising their eyebrows over. While it creates a permissible duopoly, the close relationship between the McBride Family's radio and TV stations and Sun could be reviewed.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies’ on Tuesday returned from the Labor Day holiday by acting to remove any funding for local public broadcasting stations in its proposed FY 2026 appropriations legislation.

The FCC on Tuesday returned from the Labor day holiday by taking additional actions designed to speed up television broadcasters' shift to ATSC 3.0, the digital broadcast standard powering NEXTGEN TV and broadcast data opportunities led by such entities as BitPath.

Stephen A. Smith has redefined what it means to build a modern media brand. His rise wasn’t by chance — it’s the result of a barrier-breaking approach that reshaped how audiences connect with content and how companies deliver it. Forecast 2026 attendees will be able to sit in on an exclusive conversation with Smith. 

The largest Hispanic-owned media company serving Spanish-speaking consumers across the U.S. has completed the sale of its three television stations in Puerto Rico, earning $5.7 million of immediately available funds. Word of the deal's closing came concurrent with the release by SBS of its Q2 results.

A potential loss of access to all FOX-branded cable television channels and FOX Television Stations properties for those who subscribe to YouTube TV has been prevented — officially.

With CBS preparing for the May 2026 end of The Late Show and host Stephen Colbert's final program, a FOX O&O that found itself at the center of a license renewal battle with Preston Padden believes it has its own solution to a forthcoming late-night void. And, it just may be taking a page from "Gutfeld!"

Soo Kim in April 2024 sued the FCC and its then-Chairwoman and Media Bureau Chief for a decision to put his proposed TEGNA deal in front of an Administrative Law Judge. Race discrimination on the part of the Commission was at the crux of his legal battle. A D.C. federal appeals court just dismissed his case.

A $2.5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has put the wheels in motion on a three-year NAB-led initiative that will develop ATSC 3.0-powered newsroom services for broadcast television stations across the U.S.

He's been at the held of WPVI "6abc" in Philadelphia since 2007 and before that led WTVD "abc11" in Raleigh-Durham as President/General Manager. Now, his successor is being sought, as this local leader has just confirmed he is retirement.

If the FCC retains a national audience reach cap for television station ownership groups, should common ownership of stations that are not affiliated with the "Big Four" networks be excluded from the cap? The SVP of Regulatory Affairs at NBCUniversal Media has given the Commission its answer to this question, just in the nick of time.

It's a transaction that could have many people talking. Milwaukee Radio Alliance, presently led by Acting CEO Diane Sutter, has agreed to sell two FM radio stations in Wisconsin's largest city. Who the buyer is will be one topic of chatter. The other will be the price tag on this deal involving Kalil & Co.

Should the man who successfully engineered the combination of his radio broadcasting company with the much-larger Alpha Media been given the role that today is held by Kelli Turner? A state-level judicial body in the Constitution State won't be asked to offer its answer to the question for what is likely two years.