the HOT List

In the last few months, allegations of sexual misconduct have spread rapidly from industry to industry, with fresh stories surfacing on almost a daily basis. We haven’t yet seen the magnitude to which these stories will impact the standards to which our society will hold brands. Could the radio industry be impacted in the coming weeks? Is there more fallout in local TV? It is likely that those standards are only going to get higher, says Media Information Bureau guest columnist Deb Gabor.

Nearly a week after Reuters learned of the details, the FCC on Thursday (12/21) made it official: Sinclair Broadcast Group has been handed a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for the apparent failure to make required disclosures in connection with sponsored programming that aired on its stations more than 1,700 times.

As RBR+TVBR continues its look back at 2017 and peek into what will make headlines in the next 12 months, we reviewed the total number of broadcast radio and TV transactions seen since January. Given all of the talk about what the FCC under Chairman Ajit Pai would do for the deal-making market, was 2017 a disappointment for brokers? Here's what Robert Heymann, Chicago-based Director for Media Services Group has to say about that.

There's a "FANG" (or "GAFA" to much of Silicon Valley) that's captured the attention of marketers, advertisers, and Wall Street analysts. The acronym represents the four big Goliaths of the digital universe: Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google (or, more accurately, parent Alphabet). Just how significant these companies are in the scope of total U.S. advertising dollars was punctuated by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)'s Q2 2017 report. The takeaway: Digital advertising grew at a much higher clip than TV did in Q2.

How did television advertising fare in Q3? The latest edition of the Standard Media Index (SMI), released Wednesday, tackled that question by comparing Q3 2017 to the same three-month period in 2015 and 2014, rather than against a time period that include the Summer Olympic Games. SMI's conclusion: There's a decline that's not just related to the lack of Olympic ad dollars.

If you're getting your television channels from AT&T U-Verse and live in either Chattanooga, Tenn., or Reno, Nev., you're missing out on one of your local stations. Effective 2pm Pacific on Tuesday, the CBS affiliate in Silver State's second city and the NBC affiliate serving River City were removed from U-Verse lineups in the respective markets. Why? It's the result of yet another impasse over a new retransmission fee agreement.

A bitter labor battle between SAG-AFTRA and Hispanic media company Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) impacting its two FM radio stations in Los Angeles has ended. The two parties have reached a settlement, and SAG-AFTRA values it at nearly a half-million dollars

This ain't no Hispanic reboot of The Love Boat. There's a new prime-time reality series set to debut Jan. 7 at 8pm Eastern on Univision Communications' flagship Univision network. While it is set to offer Spanish speakers a "big surprise," the biggest surprise for broadcast TV's C-Suite is perhaps the level of product integration and branding opportunities Univision is delivering for its partner on the show. What can you learn from this unique extra ROI partnership?

In a major move that brings the company formerly known as Gannett into "America's Finest City," TEGNA is acquiring not only CBS affiliate KFMB-8 in San Diego but also a News/Talk and Adult Hits radio combo from Midwest Television.

If you're a broadcast media company looking for a creative new way to bring additional ROI to an advertiser, check out what Univision Communications just did. With one click on a smartphone, thanks to an inaudible trigger, a consumer can redeem online or in-store a product offer tied to the corresponding content they've heard on the radio or have seen on the TV.

A presently silent low-power TV station serving Ohio's state capital is heading to a new owner. This facility was once the market's home for Azteca América programming. Who's the buyer? An Oxford-educated, New York-based investor in TV and media who runs a mini private equity portfolio.

According to a trio of undisclosed sources who spoke with Reuters, the FCC is ready issue a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $13.3 million to Sinclair Broadcast Group for its failure to notify viewers that they were watching paid programming.

On Sept. 11, investors weren't so sure about the growth trajectory of Nexstar Media Group. It was nine months since the company closed on its $4.6 billion acquisition of Media General, a deal struck in September 2015. It was also a period where scrutiny over Sinclair Broadcast Group's planned merger with Tribune Media increased in volume -- and five weeks before Tribune stockholders overwhelmingly approved the merger. Nexstar shares sat at $57.80. Today, they are at a record high.

The question of whether the Commission should modify, retain or eliminate the 39% national audience reach cap and/or its reinstated "UHF Discount" used by broadcast TV to calculate compliance with the cap will now be put to the public. The FCC said yes to an NPRM that, Republican Commissioners note, won't do anything but ask the question of whether changes should be made. However, such changes are all but certain, Democrats warn.

Despite all of the political theater, a "brief recess due to security concerns" as Chairman Ajit Pai delivered his statement, and dramatic dissents from Democratic FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel, the Commission today in a 3-2 vote approved an Order that in the GOP majority's view "restores Internet Freedom" by removing Title II classification of broadband internet access service after two years. What's next, assuming there is no roadblock for the removal of Title II classification? Here's what Boston College Law School professor Daniel Lyons has to say on the subject.