the HOT List

It was a solid second quarter for Beasley Broadcast Group, with net income and net earnings surging. However, on a pro-forma basis, net revenue slipped despite a gain in Station Operating Income. Nevertheless, BBGI shareholders appear pleased with the results, with shares up more than 5% in midday trading before ending the day up 1.9%, to $10.50.

It's turning out to be a grey and gloomy Monday for Silver Spring, Md.-based Discovery Communications. As Wall Street digests the news that the pay-TV giant is acquiring Scripps Networks Interactive (not to be confused with broadcast radio and TV owner The E.W. Scripps Co.) for $14.6 billion, Discovery reported adjusted net earnings that missed analysts' estimates by three cents per share. The double whammy led to a sell-off of "DISCA" shares, which finished down 8.2% on very heavy volume.

If there were two key takeaways from Entercom's Q2 earnings call held Friday morning, each are tied to the company's pending merger with CBS Radio. First, letters of intent on all of the planned divestitures from the merger have been finalized. Second, the process of merging CBS Radio and Entercom is akin to a sloth running a half marathon. 

A pure-play radio broadcasting company active in six markets including Honolulu could be poised for growth in the coming months. That's because Jon Kelly — a key investor in Birmingham, Ala.-based SummitMedia —has agreed to purchase the controlling interest in the company held by Highpoint Holdings.

What’s the legislative and regulatory future for retransmission consent? That's what the Digital Policy Institute at Ball State University sought to answer in a webinar held Thursday morning from its Muncie, Ind., main campus. With significant escalation in the prices paid by MVPDs to carry TV stations choosing the retrans option, and disputes leading to "blackouts" of channels dominating the headlines for much of the start of 2017, some believe its time for a change. Others say leave it up to market dynamics, including several webinar participants.

Come next Wednesday, Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr will be one step closer to getting new offices at The Portals. That's when the Senate Commerce Committee will hold an executive session to consider their appointments, as well as the renomination of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and David Redl as the head of the NTIA.

Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas on Wednesday introduced legislation that would establish a new "Viewer and Listener Protection Fund" within the U.S. Treasury to make certain broadcasters nationwide can stay on air. The move follows the introduction of similar legislation in the House of Representatives by Rep. Frank Pallone.

Looking for inspiration and innovative ways your radio stations can best connect with your community, thus driving revenue and an increase in listeners? A supermarket chain found across Western New York that's growing across the mid-Atlantic region and in Massachusetts just might be a surprising fountain of ideas. Our Editor-in-Chief shares his thoughts on why radio's C-Suite can learn from a beloved grocer that's unlike any you've ever shopped at.

Nielsen's National Out-of-Home Reporting Service will now featue metrics for one of the nation's most prolific pay-TV news network, and for its sports-focus brethren. The announcement comes following Tuesday's news of the addition of “eligible TV viewing” from Hulu and YouTube TV to Nielsen’s Digital in TV Ratings service.

The owner of two low-power TV stations has received a provisional grant from the FCC for carriage on Cable One systems in a small market in the Deep South. There's no guarantee the stations will end up on the MVPD's channel lineup, however. That's because Cable One has been given the opportunity to prove it's unable to receive a quality broadcast signal needed to add the channels.

That's an assertion made by House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) on Tuesday in his opening remarks at a Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing focused on oversight and the reauthorization of the FCC.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn has emerged as a leader on communications and technology issues in the House of Representatives, primarily through her role as Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee devoted to those two business areas. That's why her thoughts on key issues such as net neutrality carry strong sway with Congress. She was vocal on the end of Title II reclassification, while also taking a swipe at the leadership of former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

Less than 24 hours after the FCC restored the UHF discount, allowing broadcast TV companies to effectively own more stations, Sinclair Broadcast Group on April 21 agreed to acquire the Randy Bongarten-led Bonten Media Group Holdings for $240 million. That deal, and its approval by the FCC, was slammed by Democratic Commissioner Mignon Clyburn in her opening testimony at a House Oversight and Reauthorization of the FCC.

In late-afternoon trading on Monday, Saga Communications shares were off by 2%, to $41.55. Then, the bottom fell out, with "SGA" stock sliding 11% in after-hours trading after the Closing Bell rang on Wall Street. Saga started Tuesday's trading at $37.75. Even with a midday rebound, it's an unusual dip for the media company, which is shedding its TV assets to refocus on small- and medium-sized radio stations. Why could investors be sour on Saga?

Looking for solid metrics on programs like the acclaimed drama "The Handmaid's Tale?" It just got easier, thanks to the addition of "eligible TV viewing" from Hulu and YouTube TV to Nielsen's Digital in TV Ratings service. Even more, this service contributes directly to C3/C7 currency.