the HOT List

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.

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.