the HOT List

As the clock struck midnight Saturday, CMG was already on the offensive, noting how the direct broadcast satellite provider “already dropped hundreds of stations over the last few months,” and that “this latest drop is a continuation of its ongoing mission against local journalism.”

The CEO of Taylor Communications, through a newly formed company, has emerged as the winning bidder of all 10 stations put up for auction in a bankruptcy court to resolve debt associated with Rocking M Media. A February 15 court date to approve the auction is the final step in the process.

In a transaction that was just announced at RBR+TVBR's Thursday news deadline, Gray Television confirmed that is engineering a facility swap that will see it depart two Wyoming markets. In return, it is poised to get a future broadcast TV station serving DMA No. 27.  

In a transaction that sees Kalil & Co. as the broker, the Neuhoff Family has agreed to sell its radio stations in both Danville and Decatur, Ill.  The proposed sale, the Neuhoff Family Limited Partnership says, is part of "an overall strategic decision" to exit the broadcast industry after nearly 70 years.

A rule change that would pave the way for GeoBroadcasting Solutions’ “ZoneCasting” technology has been pending for more than a year. The FCC has now committed to keeping the proposal alive, thanks to an order and further notice of proposed rulemaking. A joint statement of support came from Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks.

In the eyes of a key DirecTV leader, the migration of live pro sports games from regional sports networks to over-the-air broadcasters "may not be such a good thing for the American people." Robert Thun offered those remarks at a Wednesday Congressional hearing also attended by the head of Scripps Sports.

He's stated on multiple occasions that he seeks to own the largest collection of broadcast television stations in the U.S. Now, Byron Allen has made a bid for a significant interest in the owner of CBS News & Stations. While there's been much press on the subject, AMG is saying little about the bid.

The owner of broadcast TV stations and the new Assembly studio and media production hub in Doraville, Ga., also shared a positive update on its Q4 2023 guidance with improved low-end estimates. Additionally, Gray revealed it expects to earn hundreds of millions of dollars through the sale of BMI, Inc.

As former FCC General Counsel and current Wiley co-chair of its Issues & Appeals practice Tom Johnson sees it, recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions could impact the FCC’s enforcement work — including potential reforms that the Commission could consider to its current processes.

Newly released data from Nielsen suggest original programming isn't as popular as acquired shows — presenting a fresh concern for a platform rapidly evolving to include advertising ... and more programs that are purchased, rather than produced.

A veteran Hispanic market media executive who today is the longtime leader of Telemundo Puerto Rico has been selected to serve in the bigger role of President of Telemundo Station Group. He takes a role last held by Manuel Martinez, who retired in 2023.

The rapidly growing all-news network led by CEO and Head of Media for Bridge Media Network Vince Bodiford is entering market No. 59. How is it doing it? By acquiring a low-power facility licensed to the town of Greenwich that uses a large AT&T tower located in New Scotland, N.Y.

The broadcast TV station owner under majority control of Apollo Global Management is warning its viewers that one of the nation's two direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service providers is planning to drop its stations from local channel lineups. Call it a preemptive advisory that suggests a retransmission consent impasse could be just days away — again.

North Carolina's broadcast stations could be in for a windfall of new ad revenue, as the State Lottery Commission has confirmed that approved, licensed sports wagering operators will be able to begin accepting online wagers in the state in a matter of weeks.

Fabrice Polynice, the long-time operator of an unlicensed FM radio station at 90.1 MHz based in North Miami, Fla., has received a multimillion-dollar fine from the FCC under its "PIRATE Act" authority for the continued broadcasts of the pirate operation. It is one of five proposed fines.