the HOT List

The NAB, in an ex parte letter sent to the FCC on Wednesday, asked the Commission engaged in a "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative sparked by Chairman Brendan Carr to eliminate the national cap on broadcast television ownership.

An option agreement allows Sinclair Inc. to purchase a television station in the Hoosier State from Gray Media while Gray is selling a property in Illinois to Sinclair. It puts the wheels in motion on a transaction nearly nine years in the making— and signed off by Ralph Oakley.

Don't look up. Rather, be prepared to place your gaze on a cloud-native NEXTGEN TV demonstration on a special broadcast channel in Las Vegas established by Sinclair Inc. specifically to showcase what a "full-spectrum" ATSC 3.0-powered broadcast may achieve.

The radio industry's quest to mandate no-cost access to AM radio stations in all vehicles manufactured and sold in the U.S. has reached a key support level in the U.S. Senate, as a filibuster-proof number of co-sponsors of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act can now be tallied on Capitol Hill.

It was only a matter of time. A group of U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats have launched an investigation into FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s "attacks on the First Amendment" and what they call "his weaponization of the independent agency."

A major licensee of low-power television stations across the U.S. has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC that would allow one of its properties to broadcast in the 3gpp -approved 5G Broadcast standard.

"While Disney started as an iconic American company, it recently went all in on DEI." That's the accusation against the parent of ABC Owned Stations being lobbed on X by the Chairman of the FCC. "I am concerned that their DEI practices may violate FCC prohibitions on invidious forms of discrimination," says Brendan Carr.

The FCC under Republican Chairman Brendan Carr has received much criticism since he acted to reinstate complaints against ABC, NBC and CBS that were dismissed under delegated authority by acting Bureau Chiefs in the waning days of the Rosenworcel Commission. Now, five former Commissioners — including the FCC Chairman prior to Jessica Rosenworcel — are asking Carr to end its probe of CBS.

First it was MAGNA. Now, WARC has decreased its global ad market growth forecast. And, it models three scenarios based on "differing severities of deterioration in underlying market conditions."

As RBR+TVBR first shared on Wednesday, Kyle Grimes will take an EVP position alongside Ashley Gold, Eric Meyrowitz and Nick Radziul at Hearst Television, shedding his role as President/GM of the company's flagship station in Boston. Who will now lead WCVB-5 has become known.

A flurry of announcements have been released from the PR team at TEGNA Inc. over the last 24 hours, and among the biggest ones were announcements as to when the NYSE-traded TV station owner will report its Q1 2025 results and who will be taking two key leadership roles under its Chief Experience Officer.

He's held the dual roles of President/GM of the company's flagship ABC affiliate serving New England's largest market and as a regional VP overseeing the company's stations across the region. Soon, he'll be relocating from Boston to New York and rising to the role of Executive Vice President at Hearst Television.

MAGNA says it had always anticipated a market slowdown in 2025 due to the strong comparables to 2024. That said, it is now further reducing its U.S. advertising growth forecast, as we are all living in "uncertain times."

The second episode of the all-new RBR+TVBR InFOCUS Video Podcast, presented by dot.FM, is now available for viewing on our YouTube Channel! In this 24-minute conversation, Radio + Television Business Report Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson chats with Hearst Television President Michael J Hayes.

Roughly 13 months ago, an ongoing legal battle between the owner of The Weather Channel and McDonald's moved to its next chapter, as legal counsel for Byron Allen confirmed they'd appeal the dismissal of a $100 million racial discrimination lawsuit against the restaurant chain. That appeal has been dismissed.