the HOT List

Media owners' net advertising revenues (NAR) will reach $979 billion this year, growing by 4.9% over 2024 but slowing down from 10.3% in 2024, new data from MAGNA show. Neutralizing the significant impact of cyclical events on ad spend in 2024 and in 2025, "the market slowdown is still real but more modest."

The FCC has no quorum to conduct regular business or vote on any items on its agenda for the upcoming June Open Meeting. A leading Republican in the U.S. Senate wants to change this as soon as possible. Yet, his effort could be thwarted in a vote block from Democrats wanting a member of their own party seated concurrently.

A battle in California between media mogul Byron Allen, who is selling nearly all of Allen Media Group's television stations to address debt concerns, and one of the world's largest Quick-Service Restaurant chains has come to an end, RBR+TVBR has confirmed.

By a mere two votes, the full House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon approved the Rescissions Act of 2025, a move considered a victory for the Trump Administration in its quest to curtail all government funding of public broadcast organizations PBS and NPR.

U.S. ad market prospects have been cut by half a point by WARC, as its global growth forecasts for advertising spend have been downgraded further this year. This follows an initial $20 billion cut seen in March by the research firm.

It is a locally owned radio station launched in 1994 to target the growing Hispanic population in Memphis. Now, it is scrambling to resume over-the-air broadcasts of its AM radio station after becoming the victim of copper theft at its transmitter.

Disney CEO Bob Iger in September 2023 suggested the company was “open to considering a variety of strategic options” for its linear businesses. It is now clear that Iger is no longer actively seeking a buyer for its traditional TV properties.

Technology has helped in paving a divergent path for a news organization that vigorously competes against NBCUniversal, Nexstar Media Group's storied KTLA, KABC-7 and FOX Television Stations' KTTV "FOX 11."  Now, the tech advantage is tilting toward CBS L.A., they believe.

An attempt by a group of terminated associates and non-paid workers linked to the troubled St. Louis community-focused eclectic noncommercial music station has failed. However, a debtor's motion submitted to the court gives hope that the KDHX beloved by its supporters will have a future. 

Late Friday, yet another attempt to punish brazen Miami-area pirate radio operator Fabrice Polynice surfaced from the Commission. But without true firepower — such as a potentially life-threatening gunfight in North Miami — can Radio Touche Douce at 90.1 MHz be finally silenced?

The Media Bureau has granted the unopposed application for the assignment of a collection of TV stations from the David Cerullo-led Imagicomm Communications to an entity owned and operated by Webb Collums. It's noteworthy, as the Carr Commission has granted another "top-four" network affiliation waiver.

Spanish Broadcasting System, the company founded and led by Raúl Alarcón Jr., has reached a deal that confirms SBS is selling its TV assets in Puerto Rico but retaining its stateside properties. Who is acquiring the three TV stations serving cities across La Isla del Encanto? Look no further than Joni Lamb.

A stronger than expected first quarter was seen for U.S. advertising, and that's led respected media and marketing financial analyst Brian Wieser to update his firm's quarterly domestic advertising model. Wieser explains that it is being adjusted "to reflect revised expectations" for the remainder of 2025.

Nathan Simington, born in Canada and appointed by President Trump during his first term in office, has formally announced that he will step down as a FCC Commissioner at the end of this week. It's hardly expected, with no formal announcement seen ahead of the distribution of the FCC's Daily Digest on Wednesday.

President Trump’s recission package was sent Tuesday to Capitol Hill. This came after his proposed FY 2026 budget proposal was sent on Friday. Public media leaders are aghast.