the HOT List

Cox Media Group's Kim Guthrie has made it clear in comments made exclusively to RBR+TVBR that its radio stations aren't for sale, and that it wants a merger or partnership for its TV stations, rather than a full-blown divestment. That hasn't stopped the rumormongers from suggesting that Guthrie is not being truthful, and a new hire by Cox Enterprises has only fueled such talk among industry observers.

As the first half of 2018 came to a close, it is clear that the upcoming midterm elections are giving media a needed boost in their advertising dollars. But, was the boost big enough to overcome softness across many of the radio and TV industry's core advertising categories? Matrix Solutions' 2018 Midyear Ad Spend Report provides the not-so-pleasant answer.

Fraudulent Inducement. Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility. Misappropriation of Trade Secrets. Those are the charges brought against one of the nation's biggest radio broadcasting companies by a provider of traffic and weather information to local and syndicated radio stations across the country that's had its fair share of bumps and bruises in the last six months.

The former flagship radio stations of the now-defunct Journal Communications, which ended up in the hands of The E.W. Scripps Co. following its April 2015 merger, are being sold by Scripps to a local owner with a familiar last name to radio industry executives and observers. Kalil & Co. is the broker, and is shopping around Scripps' other available properties.

Could this be Nielsen's "Tragic Thursday"? CEO Mitch Barns' retirement at year's end was announced -- along with confirmation that Nielsen is conducting "an in-depth strategic review" of its Buy segment. This news came alongside lackluster Q2 results showing flat revenue growth and a sharp drop in net income. At the Closing Bell, NLSN shares were down 25.3%

The wordsmith of Wall Street, Brian Wieser, took a magnifying glass and a full moment to fully examine Nielsen's Q2 2018 results. He called them "weak," and then slashed his price target on the company's stock. That said, he believes the market is discounting Nielsen stock -- and it is still worthy of an investment.

A long-awaited FCC Oversight Hearing started with Democrats assailing President Trump for a late-night Tweet on Tuesday that slammed the FCC for having an Administrative Law Judge consider Sinclair Broadcast Group's proposed merger with Tribune Media. Chairman Pai and the Commissioners were asked what they thought of the Tweet.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has delivered a major blow to nonprofit organizations including Free Press, Common Cause, and Prometheus Radio Project by dismissing their May 2017 petition seeking a reversal of the FCC's restoration of its so-called "UHF Discount."

In mid-March, Cox Media Group President Kim Guthrie told RBR+TVBR that talk of the company selling off nearly all of its radio stations was unfounded. It turns out that the chatter focused on the wrong media: Cox has confirmed that it "will explore strategic options" for its 14 TV stations, including partnering or merging the stations into a larger company.

Some 75 miles to the west of Huntsville, Ala., are the cities of Florence and Muscle Shoals. It is here that an affiliate of The CW Network has made headlines throughout 2018 for its inaccessibility to DISH subscribers in the Huntsville DMA for the last six months. Now, it is in the news because of an ownership change. The buyer? Nexstar Media Group.

Rep. Steve Scalise returned to work on Sept. 28 as the survivor of a shooting while at a Congressional baseball team practice three months earlier. Now, he's set to make himself known as the man who wants to do away with one of the thorniest matters facing broadcast TV companies and MVPDs of all shapes and sizes. The NAB isn't pleased. The American Cable Association and ATVA are.

In late June, Beasley Broadcast Group noted in an SEC filing that it "may offer and sell" up to $250 million in stock, debt securities, warrants and units "from time to time in one or more offerings." Guess what? The company on Monday announced a proposed offering of shares of its Class A common stock. Investors revolted.

How did the national advertising market fare during the second quarter of 2018? The latest Standard Media Index data is in, and there was growth in the quarter. This came despite a "modest decline" in National TV, when factoring out the biggest sporting event on the planet.

Beasley Broadcast Group shared its preliminary estimated financial results for Q2 2018 and for the first six months of the year in an SEC filing made Monday. The 8-K filing also includes the company's best guess on just how many millions of added revenue it would have seen from Q2 2017 to Q1 2018 from its newest acquisition — a station Beasley signed on 34 years ago.

With negative reports about the health of and atmosphere at Univision Communications meriting headlines across the trades and business news, the company is firming up its Puerto Rico asset ownership thanks to changes in the FCC's Duopoly rules. It's forking over a few million dollars to do so.