the HOT List

Some media companies say they are all about serving the communities in which their stations are located. One company, with stations in small cities located across New York State, South Carolina, and Florida's Panhandle, is all about community. If not, this operator's very name would be a misnomer. In this exclusive RBR+TVBR INFOCUS report, we peek inside the studios and offices of a cluster of stations owned by a company that's all about being loyally local.

In an impassioned statement released late Friday, Univision President/CEO Randy Falco expressed pride in the multicultural America "we live in and our making." He then turned to the recent racially motivated events in Charlottesville, Va., by turning to the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall before noting, "The current insanity threatens to spiral out of control and has to stop. Leadership is needed."

On Wednesday (8/16), representatives from two key broadcast media multicultural advocacy organizations, a big D.C. law firm, a major Christian-themed broadcaster and a Black-owned broadcaster based in Alabama held court with one of the most influential individuals in Washington, D.C. That person is FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. What did they discuss? We now know.

Is the 1990s simply horrible and unworthy of a radio station of its own that you can profit from? That's what some consultants may say. That's what some owners may say. RBR+TVBR's Editor-in-Chief disagrees. He believes there's a "throwback" format out there that can make you money. All it takes is thinking like a millennial.

The company that intends to merge with Tribune Media on Thursday announced an agreement for all of its ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC affiliates, and the Tennis Channel, to be carried in their respective markets once YouTube TV debuts in those respective locales.

For Whitney Media owner William O'Shaughnessy, a legendary figure in New York broadcasting, it all comes down to one key goal, and gaining influence with local leaders. If not, your radio station could just be another jukebox or entertainment purveyor ... and that's not a recipe for longevity, O'Shaughnessy says in this exclusive RBR+TVBR INFOCUS report.

By all accounts, Cumulus Media — the nation's No. 2 radio broadcasting company by number of stations — enjoyed a strong Q2. But, how does Cumulus match up against the industry's biggest players? Capital Cube asks this very question, and on Wednesday conducted an analysis by pitting Cumulus against seven publicly traded radio competitors.

If there's one Wall Street analyst who has emerged as a prolific writer and prognosticator, it's Pivotal Research Group Sr. Research Analyst for Advertising Brian Wieser. He's been quite busy as of late writing up lots of reports and briefs on the state of advertising-driven media companies, and now he's released his forecast on how 2017 will fare for ad growth. 

Net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA were both up for Cumulus Media in Q2, as the company's net income improved considerably. There's also more cash on hand. While the company's total debt remains unchanged — at $2.42 billion — this was a good Q2, thanks to Westwood One.

Word that three leading Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce Committee have accused FCC Chairman Ajit Pai of favoritism toward Sinclair Broadcast Group reached Wall Street on Monday afternoon. That news didn't sit well with investors, as the company's stock slid 3.8%.

Has FCC Chairman Ajit Pai given favorable treatment toward Sinclair Broadcast Group, the broadcast media company that is on track to merger with Tribune Media? Three top Democrats in the House of Representatives think so, and wrote to Pai on Monday to express their concerns.

It didn't take long for the newest FCC Commissioner to saddle up and staff up. On Monday morning, he announced the appointment of four key individuals that will serve in his newly minted office in acting capacities. Later in the day, Chairman Pai announced the FCC's new Acting General Counsel.

The FCC is once again a Federal agency with four Commissioners and its Chairman. While Jessica Rosenworcel was effectively reappointed, bringing the Democrat back to the Commission after a seven-month absence, today marked the start of what will be a lengthy tenure as a Commissioner for Republican Brendan Carr. 

Pivotal Research Group Senior Research Analyst for Advertising Brian Wieser kept the midnight oil burning late Wednesday, as he reviewed the "weak advertising revenue trends for national TV" seen in Q2. He thinks they're down by about 1%. Get used to it, Wieser advises: He says growth for the traditional medium is unlikely to return any time soon. But, there are opportunities for growth, he adds.

From job growth picking up and income lagging behind to weak housing investments and the current political climate, consumers are being bombarded with a slew of mixed indicators that are making them less willing to open their wallets and spend. That's the important takeaway for broadcast media sales executives and the C-Suite from a newly released study from IRI.