the HOT List

With a new Congressional session coming to Capitol Hill, could Washington legislators be swayed to approve any reintroduced bill, given what has transpired in Southern California since January 7? Janene Drafs hopes so.

For Janene Drafs, celebrating five years at the helm of KTLA-5 in Los Angeles may come at a later date. On Wednesday, she and her team entered their second week squarely focused on keeping viewers alert and informed on what's next with the devastating Palisades and Eaton Fires — and any potential new threats.

Sinclair Inc.'s "Sinclair Television Group Inc." group and "certain affiliated entities" have entered into a Transaction Support Agreement with a group of secured creditors — including lenders holding term loads under its existing credit facilities and some noteholders on the terms of new money financings.

As the 3pm Pacific hour began on Friday, January 10, CBS Los Angeles — the twin TV stations of KCBS-2 and KCAL-9 — had been live and in continuous coverage of the Southern California firestorm for more than 72 hours. Notably, this included multiplatform coverage extending to the Pluto TV FAST channel platform, bringing live coverage to viewers across the U.S. 

In an exclusive interview, KTTV "FOX 11" in Los Angeles head Steve Carlston talks with RBR+TVBR about how the station's news team sprung into action as the Palisades Fire and, later, the Eaton Fire, brought widespread devastation to communities across Southern California. For "FOX 11," flames visible from the station brought a unique dimension to an unfolding tragedy.

In the Central Valley of California, a vigorously competitive broadcast TV battle sees Sinclair and an ABC Owned Station fight for viewers against a pair of stations owned by Nexstar Media Group. Those two TV properties now have a new leader — an individual who led "FOX26" and "CW59" in Fresno for more than a decade.

One week ago, the MVPD controlled by Altice USA dropped the MSG Network. At 5pm Eastern on Friday, it blocked access to 63 Nexstar Media Group-owned broadcast TV stations across 42 markets, as well as NewsNation.

The data may reflect what the FCC observed as of October 1, 2023, but the results are hardly shrug-worthy. The Seventh Report on Ownership of Broadcast Stations, released late Thursday by the Commission, finds that majority ownership interest in commercial full-power radio and TV stations by Blacks and Hispanics remains paltry.

"This brings to a close a year’s worth of strategy decisions that at nearly every turn left us with many more questions than answers," says MoffettNathanson investment analyst Rob Fishman. Yet, he does present a conclusion that could have many tongues wagging: FOX may be the "unintended winner" with the sudden fizzle of Venu.

A station that is presently operated by Gray Media via a shared services agreement with its owner has submitted paperwork with the FCC seeking its approval to purchase the station, which serves Rochester, Minn., outright. It is a property Gray gained control of following its acquisition of Quincy Media, Inc.

The collective decision by the three companies not to move forward with the contemplated joint venture is effective immediately, the companies said early Friday. In response, a DIRECTV spokesperson issued a statement of their own.

A host of conservatives have been critical of the FCC's approval of a restructuring structure that supposedly fast-tracked an increase in Audacy's foreign ownership concentration. Now, Audacy has told the Commission that non-U.S. ownership matter is moot, and as such any un-doing of its post-bankruptcy regulatory OK is unwarranted.

When it comes to media and technology, CNBC reporter Julia Boorstin has emerged as a key voice. On Wednesday, she moderated a conversation that saw its participants gush over a new Comcast ad tech collaboration that positions Universal Ads as a breakthrough tool providing "front-door access to the premium video category."

A broadcast television station serving the Alamo City that was an affiliate of The CW Network until the start of the 2010 season and since then has been the MyNetwork TV affiliate for the market is facing a hefty fine for failing to participate in three nationwide tests of the Emergency Alert System.

For KTLA-5 in Los Angeles, which was offering Breaking News devoted to the devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades while starting coverage of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., a January 7 deadline for a fresh retransmission consent deal between Nexstar and Optimum owner Altice USA loomed.  Talks are ongoing.