the HOT List

Manoj Bharvaga and Vince Bodiford are at it again. Only, this time they've signed a pair of asset purchase agreements giving their Bridge News LLC ownership of full-power broadcast facilities on two different Hawaiian islands, pending FCC approval. 

The news was shared with CBS News & Stations staff via an internal memo sent by Wendy McMahon. A copy was received by RBR+TVBR.

"Power 106" is "#1 for Hip-Hop," and has a 25kw facility atop Mt. Wilson. Because of terrain, reaching the Antelope Valley cities of Lancaster and Palmdale hasn't been easy. This will soon change for the Meruelo Media-owned FM, thanks to GeoBroadcast Solutions' MaxxCasting system.

It's been a ratings success, and many of those Nielsen Audio victories for WRHQ-FM in Savannah, Ga., is tied to 50-year-plus market veteran Jerry Rogers, who became the afternoon host and Music Director of former Top 40 WSGA-AM and later purchased this FM. Now, Rogers is retiring ... and he's found a local buyer.

Audacy Inc. has shared that it "continues to engage in discussions with lenders to deleverage its balance sheet," while confirming that it has elected to use a 30-day grace period for a cash interest payment on its Senior Secured 2029 Notes — funds that were originally payable by the close of Monday.

Late Friday, Urban One confirmed that a delisting process has begun on the part of Nasdaq. But, that could be for naught after all, as the company belatedly released its Q1 2023 earnings and supplied them to the SEC with the clock running out of time to do so.

Time is ticking for the FCC to complete its 2018 quadrennial review, or provide a federal appeals court a solid reason why it cannot — even after it has announced the start of its 2022 review, by law.

With hours to spare, the federal government late Saturday averted a shutdown, with an overwhelming number of senators signing the legislation. The omnibus legislation’s passage put the wheels in motion on important confirmations of new terms to two FCC Commissioners.

Between October 2022 and August 2023, J.D. Power gathered responses from 23,584 customers for its 2023 U.S. Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study. The study evaluated overall satisfaction based on seven factors to offer a comprehensive assessment of perceptions of current television service providers.

Facing bankruptcy and a looming court deadline, Sinclair Broadcasting subsidiary Diamond Sports has proposed a significant cut in broadcasting rights fees to the NBA and NHL. The move comes as a desperate attempt to avoid liquidation and ensure its survival for at least another year.

At the start of 2023, the FCC's Media Bureau received a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed by the Portland, Ore.-based Alpha Media that would allow it to increase its foreign ownership stake to 100%. Public comment was gathered by Audio Division Chief Al Shuldiner. The radio station owner's plan has received Commission approval.

With the 2023-24 season underway, San Francisco 49ers fans have already enjoyed access to live Spanish-language game broadcasts. The en español play-by-play is thanks in part to Audio over IP technology, and a decision by the club to create a simple remote broadcast workflow for away games.

Core ad categories for broadcast media — including Automotive, Retail and Travel — have mostly rebounded from pandemic-level declines. But, they are showing signs of softness. And, while Pharmaceutical, Telecom and Professional Services remain "relatively strong" in terms of ad spend, the U.S. broadcast station industry is shaky.

The reclassification of broadband under Title II, which opponents have been bracing for over a nearly three-year period in which Democrats lacked a third vote necessary to make the rulemaking come alive, would bring back a Wheeler Commission decision that was erased under the FCC of Ajit Pai.

iSpot, a TV measurement company seeking to serve as an alternative to Nielsen, has earned its first Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation.