the HOT List

America First Legal is an organization whose mission is to oppose "the radical left's anti-jobs, anti-freedom, anti-faith, anti-borders, and Anti-American crusade." Add "anti-Soros" to its list of goals, as it has launched an investigation into the FCC for what it calls the "apparent fast-tracking" of Audacy Inc.'s post-bankruptcy restructuring plan.

Connected TV viewership and the gap between advertisers increasingly investing in this growing platform and reaching verified audience members — versus fraudulent bots — is a hot topic. And, it is one that broadcast television ad sales leaders are increasingly having. Justin Skogen, VP of Enterprise and Government at Digital Element, addresses TV advertisers' demand for assurance in this guest column.

The Governor of the State of California has signed a bill introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Miguel Santiago that mandates state agencies develop plans to increase their advertising spending in media outlets serving California’s diverse populations.

It's being called a "comprehensive broadcast solution," and it will see 20 games from both the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League franchises serving the Mile High City air on free-to-air television, thanks to an arrangement between the teams, Altitude Sports and TEGNA.

A U.S. District Court Judge in Grand Rapids, Mich., has said no to a legal request from the nation's No. 1 owner of broadcast television stations to dismiss a complaint filed by a former WOOD-8 News Director and his assistant — a move that keeps their defamation suit alive.

Dish has submitted a request for monetary sanctions against Soo Kim and his Standard General, calling his lawsuit against the FCC for alleged civil rights violations — a legal action that includes Dish and head Charlie Ergen as non-government defendants — a costly response from "an entitled entrepreneur" who simply didn't get what he wanted.

After three years, the Portland Trail Blazers left ROOT Sports in a decision announced in August. Now, the NBA franchise has revealed that its games, like those of a growing number of pro sports teams, will be heading to a free over-the-air broadcast scheme. Interestingly, it is Diamond Sports Group parent Sinclair Inc. that secured the Blazers.

Connected TV has presented myriad opportunities for addressable advertising, and an advertising experience that marketers today are eager to tap into. This makes a new report from Wurl a must-read for broadcast TV station ownership groups, as the funnel continues to grow for Connected TV and digital platforms while core advertising for linear television remains a key blemish for many station owners.

To learn more about independent WFMZ-69 in Allentown, Pa., and how it continues to thrive as a Philadelphia-market offering focused on the Lehigh Valley, station President/GM Barry Fisher joins RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson on this InFOCUS Podcast, presented by dot.FM.

A SEC filing shows that the former SBS exec is gaining an equity interest in the owner of WBLS and "Hot 97" in New York, and the operator of Estrella Media. Meanwhile, joining Rodriguez in MediaCo’s C-Suite is Brian Kei, who served as Estrella Media's COO and CFO. Additionally, Andrew Carington is on lease as Chief Legal Officer from Standard General.

Misinformation is spreading rapidly in the digital universe, especially during election season. As a faculty member of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications sees it, untrustworthy hyperlinks found on news sites — some of which may be dubious, themselves — may be partly to blame.

The Chief Legal Officer and EVP of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the NAB has shared his thoughts in a new blog post about the FCC’s proposed rulemaking that would require disclaimers on political ads that use AI. In short, Rick Kaplan has told Jessica Rosenworcel that the Commission shouldn't be ones to set the rules.

The broadcast television station ownership group led by Chris Ripley has increased its advertising guidance for the third quarter 2024 to account for what it labels "stronger-than-expected" political revenues.

The multimedia company led by Byron Allen has reportedly engaged both Moelis & Co. and Kirkland & Ellis as part of a plan to address its debt maturities amid cost cutting that a source says includes permanent work-from-home arrangements for staff in New York and in Southern California.

Wade Davis is no longer the Chief Executive Officer of TelevisaUnivision, the company announced early Thursday, after reports in The New York Times and Reuters distributed Wednesday evening cited unnamed sources close to the matter that a change in leadership was imminent. Who's his successor?