the HOT List

Paramount Global's third quarter earnings report has been released, and while the results topped analysts' estimates, there's a unsettling picture coming to light with respect to the financial performance of its linear television properties.

"The continued power of our broadcast television business model" is why Nexstar Media Group and its founder and head, Perry Sook, is celebrating its highest-ever Q3 revenue — fueled not only by political advertising revenue, but also big retransmission consent dollars.

The nation's largest audio content creator and distributor saw its net revenue jump over the $1 billion mark. But, expenses were up, and this contributed to a much wider net loss in Q3. At the same time, lenders have signed off on a debt maturities extension, giving iHeartMedia three additional years to deal with its high leverage.

As the company sees it, "solid third quarter results" were seen. As Wall Street sees it, revenue expectations were indeed met. It's just the Q4 forecast from Sinclair Inc. that "underwhelmed" analysts.

It was predicted by some, but wholly unexpected by many still digesting the results. Donald J. Trump will be the 45th and the 47th President of the U.S. come January 20, 2025. What this could mean for broadcasters is monumental, as the Rosenworcel Commission will be coming to an end, along with Democratic control of the upper body of Congress.

Challenges abound for publicly traded radio broadcasting companies. And, they're continuing for Beasley Media Group. Despite strong political advertising revenue for some media companies, the owner of properties in markets ranging from Detroit, Boston and Philadelphia to Charlotte, Tampa, and Augusta, Ga., registered another Q3 net loss.

How will broadcast advertising revenues in the U.S. be affected? Where are the biggest areas of opportunity? And how will AI alter the landscape? A panel of experts will share their perspectives and insights in a provocative opening Forecast 2025 session on November 13 at the Harvard Club in the City of New York.

The E.W. Scripps Co. expects total 2024 presidential-year political advertising revenue in the Local Media division to reach at least $340 million — a record level that far exceeded the guidance the publicly traded company led by CEO Adam Symson shared in August. But, how did the company perform on the whole in Q3? Good, yet Scripps shares sunk on Monday.

An appearance by VP Kamala Harris on "Saturday Night Live" just days before Election Day riled the senior Republican-aligned Commissioner at the FCC. He took to the X social media platform to blast NBC for what he believes is "a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC's Equal Time rule." Did NBC resolve the matter yesterday?

Revenue and EBITDA were "in-line" for the company in Q3, as President/CEO Mary Berner noted during a Friday pre-market earnings call for analysts and investors that the company "maintained our focus on what we can control." Investors were less than pleased, sending Cumulus Media shares down by nearly 20% on Friday.

On Monday, paperwork was submitted for regulatory approval regarding a pair of deals involving low-power television stations in Knoxville; Terre Haute, Ind.; and Greenville, S.C.; from Jeff Winemiller's Lowcountry 34 Media to HC2 Station Group. Now, a third deal has been filed with the FCC.

Behind every headline, there’s a delicate dance between advertisers, broadcasters, and the message itself. Who keeps the lights on in democracy? A Forecast 2025 session featuring NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt and Ad Fontes Media's Lou Paskalis is poised to bring in-person attendees a discussion one can't miss.

As RBR+TVBR was first to report on Monday, Nexstar Media Group has signed an agreement that, pending FCC regulatory approval, will give it a duopoly in the Cleveland market. We now know how many millions of dollars the company will pay to acquire the television station licensed to Akron, Ohio, in a deal brokered by Kalil & Co.

For some 50 consecutive years, the Grammy Awards telecast could be seen on CBS. A 10-year contract renewal signed in July 2016 between the network and the Recording Academy signaled the continuation of a long-standing deal, establishing a record for its duration. Come 2026, that historic relationship will come to its conclusion. 

The E.W. Scripps Co. has changed its mind on when it will release its third quarter 2024 results and host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss the performance. Now, the report will come four days earlier than originally scheduled. There's a good reason for the change.