the HOT List

Under FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, there has been a change in how the Commission offers a peek at what will be up for discussion at its Open Meetings — and possibly be approved, thus becoming a rule of law. Pai's "glasnost" is voluntary. An Illinois House member wants to make it the law, and one Commissioner approves.

It was certainly a big day for Entercom Communications, which effectively traded a Country station in the nation's ninth-largest market for the top-rated player. But, it was also a historic Thursday for Beasley Broadcast Group: That Country station, in the words of CEO Caroline Beasley, is "coming home." In this exclusive interview, she shares why the homecoming of WXTU is a pivotal move.

In the 22-page Hearing Designation Order that sees the Sinclair-Tribune merger headed to an hearing presided by an Administrative Law Judge, the petitioners who have standing in the matter were revealed. They include 12 groups, including a key voice on Capitol Hill for small and independently-owned MVPDs.

A 22-page Hearing Designation Order released Thursday by the FCC details how, among the applications filed with the Commission, three stick out like sore thumbs. These deals raise "significant questions as to whether those proposed divestitures were in fact 'sham' transactions," the FCC writes.

So much for Sinclair's attempt to get the FCC to approve its merger with Tribune Media through yet another reworking of its $3.9 billion deal, revealed Wednesday morning. The Commission has unanimously voted to adopt a Hearing Designation Order regarding the transaction.

In an apparent act of desperation designed to keep its pursuit of Tribune Media on track, Sinclair Broadcast Group has again adjusted the structure of the deal — with two major changes revealed by the company. A spin-off of Tribune's Chicago flagship property has been scratched. Also nixed is the sale of stations in Dallas and Houston, respectively, to Cunningham Broadcasting.

Did FCC Chairman Ajit Pai effectively thwart the U.S. Department of Justice from delivering its approval of Sinclair Broadcast Group's controversial $3.9 billion merger with Tribune Media? It appears so, "a source familiar with the matter" tells the nation's top legal news organization.

In December 2010,  Univision Communications made the bold move by turning to an individual with a background in Hispanic business publications to take over its news operations. Isaac Lee eventually climbed to a top content leadership role at UCI. Tuesday morning, he exited Univision by stepping down.

Forget that Weed Wacker stored in the back corner of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's office in Washington, D.C. Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media on Monday morning were each struck with a cattle prod any Kansas rancher would likely approve of. Sinclair commented late Monday afternoon. Once Sinclair spoke up, it wasn't shy about its thoughts on the matter, which bring new light to the history of Cunningham Broadcasting.

Veteran D.C. communications attorney Erwin Krasnow was just as surprised as many of the brokers and attorneys RBR+TVBR contacted following the release Monday morning of a statement from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that reveals he has "serious concerns" over Sinclair Broadcast Group's planned merger with Tribune Media. A draft hearing designation order was circulated by Pai. Is this a "deal killer?" Krasnow had some things to say about that.

At 11:15am Eastern, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media Co. each saw their shares plunge in value, setting up a tumultuous day on Wall Street. What happened? FCC Chairman Ajit Pai shared his feelings with the world about the marriage of Sinclair and Tribune. He has "serious concerns."

Here's a deal that's full of American Spirit, fueled by FCC "modernization." Raycom Media has forged an agreement with a longtime shared services agreement partner that would give it an Iowa TV station it could not legally obtain 15 years ago, when it owned another crosstown station. At the same time, Raycom is grabbing The CW affiliate serving the capital of the Old Dominion. Both stations will eventually wind up in the hands of Gray Television.

The license renewal of two of Fox Television Stations' biggest properties — granted in 2007 by the Commission — was challenged by The Voice for New Jersey; and the Office of Communication of the United Church of Christ, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and Free Press. Did these groups stand a chance in seeking Applications for Review?

A research firm created "to focus specifically on the intersection of technology and entertainment" has just released the latest findings from an annual study tracking the TV sources consumers consider their "go-to" viewing platform. The results, according to Hub Entertainment Research? Multiplatform use is continuing to rise, and there's a steady move away from live TV as a default source. We've got a "famous" RBR+TVBR OBSERVATION on this to share.

At the end of Emmis Communications' fiscal Q1 2019 conference call for Wall Street financial analysts, company founder and CEO Jeff Smulyan on Thursday morning had a clear, concise answer to a question many have likely had on their minds: "How does the radio industry return to growth?" For Smulyan, there's one thing that can bring big delivery that's top of mind.