the HOT List

Nexstar Media Group shares soared to another new high on Thursday, one day following the release of a Reuters report that suggests buyout firm Apollo Global Management has expressed interest in acquiring the company. Volume was nearly twice its average, as NXST inches closer to its 1-year target estimate.

In a vote that was largely anticipated, the FCC on Thursday voted 3-1 to launch a proceeding to seek comment on proposed revisions to its children's television programming, or "KidVid," rules.

The FCC's July Open Meeting is set for Thursday, but Chairman Pai already has his sights on what's to be debated and discussed at the Commission's August Open Meeting. Among the things on the agenda: Ray Baum's Act (and repack reimbursement dollars), and the FCC's broadcast "incubator" program.

Starting Monday, fans of Arrow, Jane The Virgin and Supergirl will have a channel adjustment to make if they live in northeast Ohio. Effective July 16, The CW Network's programming will air on one of two Raycom Media-owned facilities serving the Cleveland-Akron market.

The American Television Alliance (ATVA) on Monday officially filed comments on the proposed transfer of two South Dakota TV stations from Red River Broadcast Co. to Gray Television. Gray is creating a duopoly in this market by buying a peacock in a deal brokered by Kalil & Co. If approved, the transfer would give Gray a “top four duopoly” in DMA No. 110. The ATVA argues that Gray has failed to make an adequate public interest showing in its desire to own the NBC affiliate. 

What sort of shifts in small to medium-sized businesses' marketing habits are taking place across the U.S.? Early results from Borrell Associates' 2018 survey of local advertisers are in, and Gordon Borrell says he's picked up on a shift since 2017 in how SMBs are buying media. Here's a glimpse of what Borrell's team finds.

The FCC at the end of 2017 gave its blessing to a construction permit for a new 50kw radio station with a transmitter to the northwest of the greater Phoenix area. That was unsettling news to one of the nation's largest operators of radio stations targeting Hispanics, and an objection was filed with the FCC. Now, the Commission has spoken, and Entravision won't be happy with the ruling.

By Noon on Friday, a report in the New York Post that private equity firm Silver Lake Partners "has recently shown interest in buying the bankrupt iHeartMedia" was being widely distributed among radio industry cognoscenti. If it's true, it would put a "Silicon Valley deal pioneer" that The Wall Street Journal labeled a "predator" for its backing of a hostile bid for Qualcomm in the driver's seat at the No. 1 radio broadcasting company in the U.S.

In late June, Newsmax, the American Cable Association and the Parents Television Council each filed petitions to deny the merger of Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media with the FCC. Sinclair and Tribune have now responded with their joint filing of their "second consolidated opposition" to the petitions to deny their marriage.

From 1960 until late May, Dick Biondi lit up the Chicago airwaves like few others. He became famous as a DJ at "89 WLS," and earlier this year was dismissed by Cumulus Media from WLS-FM 94.7, which continues on with many of the Classic Hits the AM boomer turned into hits years ago. Now, a longtime listener in making a film about Biondi.

On July 3, 1968, the FCC first concluded that equal opportunity in employment was essential to the public interest. The regulatory agency over radio and TV broadcasters committed to ensuring that the national policy against discrimination in hiring applied to broadcast licensees. Fifty years later, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai believes equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules should get the same type of enforcement as that given to squelching pirate radio operators.

For 35 years on the AM band and an additional quarter-century at 102.3 MHz, WJET was a bit of a local legend for Erie, Pa., residents. Among its "Good Guy" DJs some 50 years ago was Randy Michaels, of Clear Channel and Jacor fame. At the same time, WJET-24 has provided local viewers with ABC programming for 52 years. All of this can be traced back to an investment made in 1951 by an individual who has passed away at the age of 92. 

Telemundo may be the home of some of the most bruising battles in the world right now, thanks to its coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. That said, there's a furious firefight being waged by Univision and DISH Network, as a new retransmission fee deal could not be reached. The impasse could be lengthy, and impacts Entravision and Sinclair Broadcast Group.

The Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council is set to become the licensee of a pair of AMs serving the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. How did this come to be? We have all of the details right here.

Another day, another gunfire-fueled tragedy. This time, the murder of five staffers of a newspaper in Annapolis, Md., hit home for RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief. Numb and not yet ready to deal with the mourning yet again of victims of gun violence, he tuned to a Class A FM serving Maryland's state capital just before 10am Friday. "Radio provided the perfect way to grieve and soothe the soul," our editor writes.