the HOT List

Scripps President/CEO Adam Symson focused his conversation across the company's second quarter 2024 earnings call held Friday morning on two areas he believes make the company ripe for growth: Political advertising and live sports.

The E.W. Scripps Co.'s executive leadership team will be waiting until Friday morning to dissect its just-released Q2 report, giving investors and analysts time to digest the data and seek answers as to why the company missed the consensus revenue estimate of 5 analysts in a significant way.

“Nexstar delivered another period of solid financial results, building on our strong start to the year," company founder and Chairman/CEO Perry Sook said of Nexstar Media Group's second quarter earnings results. But, did the company meet or exceed Wall Street expectations?

"While we are overall pleased with our results in the second quarter, macro-economic and other factors largely beyond our control appear likely to result in somewhat lower revenues for the year than we previously anticipated." That, in a nutshell, is how Gray Television describes its Q2 performance.

Sinclair Inc. executives at 4:30pm ET Wednesday were poised to begin their Q2 earnings call. Ahead of that event, the company shared its Q2 2024 earnings presentation, in which it shared it exceeded its Adjusted EBITDA guidance as total ad revenue came at the low end of its guidance.

BIA Advisory Services has released its first look at its 2025 total U.S. local ad projections and says revenue will reach $171 billion next year — a rise of 5.5% on an ex-political basis. At the same time, BIA adjusted downward its 2024 forecast for linear TV and for radio, based on new expectations.

How did the NYSE-traded operation led by CEO Bill Wilson, Chief Operating Officer Erik Hellum and CFO Stu Rosenstein perform in Q2? Net revenue sailed past Wall Street estimates as non-cash impairment charges impacted the company's overall numbers.

A licensee formerly known as LeSEA Broadcasting founded in 1972 by Lester Sumrall has largely been known for Christian-themed programming. Now, the company is bringing one of the biggest Spanish-language networks in the U.S. to two of its TV stations. 

On November 7, 2022, a Class A FM serving a portion of Pennsylvania went silent, as the station's license expired due to a lack of its renewal. Nine days later, the station's license was reinstated. Now, this station is being acquired by Seven Mountains Media, adding to its Keystone State stable.

Over the last 18 months, the founder of 5-Hour Energy, Manoj Bhargava, emerged as one of the most significant new buyers of broadcast television stations in the U.S., with Vince Bodiford in the CEO role. Now, in a surprising and sudden move, their NewsNet operation has folded.

RBR+TVBR has independently confirmed the sale of a group of radio stations operating under the Desert Valley Media Group banner to a newly formed entity led by Mike Cutchall. This will see his group take ownership of "The Wow Factor, "Hot 97.5/103.9," and "Power 98.3" in the Phoenix market. Kalil & Co. brokered the deal.

For Cumulus Media, a look back at the three-month period ending June 30 yielded results that came in behind where the audio content creation and distribution company was a year ago. But, did the company led by CEO Mary Berner beat the Street? No, leading investors to sell "CMLS" shares.

The placement of broadband connectivity under Title II classification, commonly known as "net neutrality," will not be enforced as an Ohio Federal Appeals Court decides whether to jettison the FCC's return of the rules after the Pai Commission wiped them clean.

Graham Holdings Co. has released its Q2 2024 earnings, and it enjoyed a 7% revenue rise during the three-month period. That gain is thanks to gains at its education, healthcare and automotive divisions.  The revenue jump could have been higher — had it not been for TV segment weakness.

The Walt Disney Company-owned ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery, who have come together to launch a forthcoming standalone streaming service through a joint venture, has revealed its "launch price." It comes out to more than $500 per year, but some think it's a good value.