the HOT List

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.

A House Member representing Wisconsin's Fifth District could be doing the entire radio industry a big favor as legislation that would establish new royalty fees for the airplay of recorded music makes it way across Capitol Hill. With H.R. 3350, a database of nondramatic musical works and sound recordings would be created in an effort to help identify and compensate the rights holders. Could this be the answer for those opposed to Darrell Issa's efforts?

Another deadline, another extension. That's a common theme for iHeartMedia in recent weeks, and on Thursday the nation's No. 1 radio broadcasting company released that it has extended — for a ninth time — the deadline for participation in term loan offers to lenders and exchange offers to its debtholders. Investors seem displeased, with iHeart shares down nearly 13% on Monday.

The streaming audio company's shares on Monday ended the day at their highest point in more than eight weeks. The latest growth is attributed to a SunTrust analyst maintaining his "buy" rating on Pandora, and the revelation that Jana Partners has made an investment in the company.

By way of a Public Notice distributed on Thursday, the FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force and the Media and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus have identified each station subject to a winning reverse auction bid in the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction for which an incentive payment is ready to be paid.

It's been a great July for Nexstar Media Group shareholders, as the company's stock has sharply rebounded from a mid-May swoon. Tomorrow's trading could be even bigger for the broadcast TV company, which today reached a tentative agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group "on principles" to coordinate the transition of the over-the-air delivery of ATSC 3.0 next-gen TV services in 97 television markets.  

The House E&C Committee has finally rescheduled its oversight hearing on the FCC — scrubbed in March as it conflicted with the Senate Commerce Committee's oversight hearing. Now, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Michael O'Rielly are set to head to the Rayburn HOB on Tuesday morning for what will likely be a nearly three-hour inquiry.

With TV broadcasters already requesting "significantly more" than the $1.75 billion set aside to cover all costs related to the post-FCC Incentive Auction repack process, the top Democrat on the House Energy & Commerce Committee has introduced legislation that would create a $1 billion emergency fund. Not only would these additional funds boost the reimbursement purse, but House E&C Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-New Jersey) says his bill will keep viewers' TVs from going dark.

After nearly three hours of queries from members of the powerful Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, the expected confirmation of two new FCC Commissioners is closer to arrival.

In prepared testimony delivered Wednesday to the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, former Democratic Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel stated her case as to why the word "former" should be deleted, and why she should return to the FCC. In doing so, Rosenworcel reflected on her months away from the Commission by saying that, while trite but true, a little distance provides perspective. "In my time away, one thing has become abundantly clear," she says. "The future belongs to the connected."

The final installment in a nine-part annual newsroom survey for 2017 developed by Bob Papper, Professor Emeritus at New York's Hofstra University, has been released by the RTDNA—the Radio Television Digital News Association. This last installment looks at earnings, and pay stubs. How are local TV news personnel faring, wage wise? "It was a decent year for salaries," Papper says. But, it could have been a little better. 

Since stepping down as FCC Chairman on Inauguration Day in January, Tom Wheeler has been relatively mum on what's transpiring at his ol' stomping grounds since becoming a senior fellow at Washington, D.C. think tank The Aspen Institute. Wheeler broke his silence on what the Commission is plotting following his exit in a big way last week, by way of a "Techtank" column appearing at the Brookings Institution's website.