the HOT List

Republicans don’t want it. Democrats do, and with three votes the return of Title II classification for broadband services appears to be a lock — turning the clock back to the Wheeler Commission rule change reversed by the Commission under Ajit Pai.

In a major victory for GeoBroadcast Solutions, overcoming widespread opposition from various radio industry voices, the FCC has adopted changes to its rules that will allow FM booster stations to originate programming — "subject to future adoption of processing, licensing, and service rules" as proposed in a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

CBS has signed an agreement that sees it retain Gray Television's in-house news research and consulting group as a provider of market research and news consulting services to all 14 CBS owned and operated television stations.

The Spanish-language broadcast TV network owned by the privately held media company led by CEO Peter Markham has added an affiliate for the San Francisco DMA.  It's thanks to a newly signed agreement with an individual known for his service to South Asian consumers.

MSG National Properties LLC is shedding a big chunk of its stake in Townsquare Media, thanks to a repurchasing agreement executed by the owner of local radio stations in mid-sized and small-sized markets as well as a digital marketing solutions company and a digital advertising network.

The Video Advertising Bureau (VAB) has taken a fresh look at streaming trends, and how they may be influencing marketers' plans. With a look back to 2023, how many predictions and trends were not only proven true, but have in fact accelerated?

Digital momentum led MAGNA to raise its 2024 advertising market forecast by 9%. But, what does this mean for linear TV? The outlook is hardly welcoming, while "the erosion of linear radio" is also weaved into a narrative that could point to another bumpy year for broadcasters.

In late 2017, Monte Spearman and his High Plains Radio Network were singled out by multiple brokers as an active buyer. By March 2020, Spearman emerged as an asset shedder. Now, with the first quarter approaching its conclusion, HPRN has filed for federal bankruptcy protection.

Adell Broadcasting's quest to gain FCC approval of its proposed $75 million sale of a full-powered UHF facility presently serving as Detroit's MyNetwork TV affiliate is getting an unprecedented fifth push at the FCC. The latest session, to be held via Zoom, involves one of the Commission's key Democrats.

As listeners across the Baltimore region began their day, local radio and television stations were actively sharing the latest details regarding the overnight collapse of the Key Bridge, taking calls while asking for social media shares of photos or video. It again demonstrated the power of local media.

After nearly 40 years of leadership in local television, Ray Carter will depart on April 1 as President of Content for Cox Media Group and as VP/GM of its flagship station, WSB-2 in Atlanta, which RBR+TVBR first reported on January 5. We now know who will take on Carter's dual roles at CMG.

The owner of a Detroit UHF station who has agreed to sell the facility to Mission has signed off on a deal amendment that pushes the termination date by nearly three more months. The move by Kevin Adell is indirectly tied to the FCC's investigation into Mission Broadcasting and Nexstar.

Madison & Wall's Brian Wieser, a top advertising-based media financial analyst, now believes the first quarter will expand by 8% ex-political, while the full year will see 5.6% growth, ex-political. That's up from 7% and 5.2%, respectively, but are radio and TV absent from the growth?

The FCC has given the nation's No. 1 licensee of broadcast TV stations two divestiture options under which Mission and Nexstar can remedy the matter. Oh, there are also proposed forfeitures for each company "tailored to their apparent violations."

The FCC late Thursday handed Nexstar Media Group a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for what the Commission believes is the company's de facto control of Mission Broadcasting-owned WPIX-11 in New York. Nexstar Chairman/CEO Perry Sook immediately responded.