the HOT List

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wants the Commission to tackle what she is calling billing practices by cable operators and direct broadcast satellite service providers DirectTV and Dish that are unfair to consumers.

A New York-based investment firm that says it emphasizes "business building and growth, rather than debt, as it pursues long-term capital appreciation" is confirming its lead role in a shareholder group that seeks to acquire Broadcast Music, Inc., the music rights group known as "BMI."

U.S. businesses and consumers continue to express caution regarding spending on technology, with spots of more intensive interest around critical areas of new technology. This suggests more dollars will be invested in everything from information security and cloud computing to AI, a new survey from S&P Global Market Intelligence shows.

With the Ninth Circuit overruling a motion filed by Ed Stolz in his California federal district court case that attempted to block Larry Patrick from selling his FMs, the sale of all of his stations in a concurrent Nevada Bankruptcy Court case — which negated the FM sale — is now roaring toward the finish line. For KEXP, that will bring a Bay Area entry it's already discussing.

Looking at AI from a business lens and what it can do — "create capacity" — is a centerpoint of how Graham Media Group is using generative artificial intelligence in the right way, and ensuring the TV station owner doesn't run afoul of the law. That's a statement shared by the company's CEO during the closing Executive Super Session at Forecast on Wednesday afternoon in New York.

Artificial intelligence is already bringing new opportunities for broadcasters, in particular radio station owners. But, what could bring monetary benefits could also yield a mess of legal troubles, an esteemed panel of industry leaders shared on Wednesday afternoon at Forecast.

Investing in broadcast media remains an opportunity for strong cash flow and profitability, a Forecast panel featuring a billionaire known for supermarket ownership in New York, a veteran media broker and the SVP of Government Relations and Distribution at Gray Television shared on Wednesday.

Nielsen EVP/Managing Director for Local Television and Audio Catherine Herkovic revealed that she will be retiring at the end of 2023. What does this mean for the leadership of the Nielsen Audio and Nielsen Television Client Services? Audio is being placed "in the very capable hands" of a former Arbitron executive, as is the TV arm.

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is being circulated among the Commissioners that Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel believes will support local journalism. How so? She proposes to prioritize processing the review of applications for license renewal or for assignment or transfer of license for stations that provide "locally originated programming."

Based on a Wall Street analyst’s assessment of the pay-TV market by examining Q3 revenue reports from MVPDs, ensuring broadcast TV gets their “fair share” in compensation from vMVPD may be the most vital long-term goal for the industry. Why? “There is no light at the end of the pay-TV tunnel.”

With a hearing scheduled at Nasdaq on November 30 to discuss its non-compliance for failure to timely file its Q1 and Q2 2023 financial results with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Urban One has now confirmed that its Q3 2023 report won't be coming anytime soon, either.

The third retransmission consent dispute between the privately held broadcast TV station owner and the DBS provider in less than 10 years quietly ended on Friday. Hearst declined to comment, while Dish offered a statement via an email ahead of official word of its new CEO.

As the RSN model shows its weaknesses, how are broadcasters working to fill the void? The question was one of several pondered during a panel discussion held Thursday (11/9) at the Matrix Media Ad Sales Summit.

For companies such as Gray Television, getting more dollars from vMVPDs is vital to their future. In contrast, vMVPDs are dead-set against the idea. However, some resolution will be needed. If not, an increase in possible "blackouts" such as the one impacting a Gray property in Phoenix could raise the ire of consumers.

In Canada, much like in the U.S., radio station ownership groups have been challenged by core advertising slowdowns. How did the third quarter of 2023 fare for North America's most dominant multimedia ownership group? Rogers Communications blew past analysts' forecasts.