the HOT List

The virtual MVPD that is seeking to put a stop to the Venu Sports joint venture that aims to bring a bevy of pro sports play-by-play and live action to a competing over-the-top platform in the works is pointing fingers at the biggest Spanish-language content creation and distribution company in the world for failing to agree on a new carriage deal.

No less than three EAS violations against the parent of one of the nation's Big Four broadcast television networks have been resolved with the signing of a Consent Decree by the Acting Chief of the Enforcement Bureau and the entity that could face renewed scrutiny from the Commission under Brendan Carr with respect to its future ownership plan.

He's served as a Member in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. Now, this politician representing a rural swath of North Carolina that includes portions of Fayetteville, Asheboro and Sanford is being placed in a position of high authority when it comes to the fate of the FCC.

It's been a frustrating eight years for long-term holders of Cumulus Media stock. In September 2016, a reverse stock split plan that would see one share divided into eight parts was put into motion. The act was tied to a Nasdaq delisting warning, should the company not get "CMLS" above the all-important $1 threshold. Next year could see history repeat itself.

While broadcast television companies across the U.S. have been busily signing rights agreements with various sporting leagues as the RSN model crumbles, there's been concern that in the near future an OTT "Big Tech" deep-pocketed Goliath could come forward and snap up the rights to a big-ticket item. Netflix has just stepped up to the pitch.

Is the future bright for broadcasters? That's a question posed to New York Interconnect CEO Andrew Kandel and Gray Television SVP of National Sales Becky Meyers in a "virtual candid conversation" shared this week by Matrix Solutions with its CEO, Mark Gorman, and Vertere Group founder and CEO Tim Hanlon.

The incoming head of the FCC has signaled that the Commission will give credence to a public interest law firm that has filed a petition challenging the pending merger of CBS News & Stations parent Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

A pair of digital low-power television stations licensed to Dalton, Ga., are being added to the Gray Media stable of broadcast properties, pending FCC approval of a transaction agreed to on Tuesday.

Atlanta-headquartered Gray Media is partnering with the Atlanta Braves MLB team on a multi-year partnership that starts with the 2025 MLB season. It sees Gray-owned WPCH-17 "Peachtree TV" in Atlanta agree to simulcast 15 regular season games produced and aired by Diamond Sports Group-owned FanDuel Sports Network.

As Hearst Television President Michael J. Hayes sees it, Grethen, who first joined the privately held operation in 1993, is not only among "the most respected and admired marketing leaders throughout the broadcast television industry" but is also "the standard bearer for excellence and viewer-centric marketing.”

A digital multicast network offering from Sinclair Inc. is poised to enjoy greater national coverage, thanks to a new distribution agreement with FOX Television Stations.

The strike price, says Audacy Inc., is $20 per share. What will the company that sees a majority stake held by Soros Fund Management do with the proceeds? The additional equity capital will be used to repay existing debt, it says. 

He most recently served as VP of Strategy and Acquisitions at A+E Networks, where he spent the past 11 years shaping the networks’ programming and content acquisition strategy. Starting today, he's the new SVP of Programming for The E.W. Scripps Co.

Both AM and FM stations continue to demonstrate their unmatched ability to engage U.S. Hispanic audiences at scale. And, as Latinos are projected to account for 71% of U.S. population growth between 2022 and 2031, there's no better time than now to target the Spanish-speaking radio listener. That's according to a new Hispanic Radio Alliance report produced with Nielsen.

With advertising revenue set to top $100 billion this year, and a global advertising audience of 2.2 billion, Mark Zuckerberg's creation is both the most-populous and best-monetized social media platform in the world. Is there a learning lesson here for broadcast media?