TV/Cable News

With several NPR member station in an end-of-year fundraising drive, perhaps it is fitting that Gray Television completed a "fund raising" of its own -- netting hundreds of millions of dollars from its drive. The owner of broadcast TV stations today finished its underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $14.50 per share.

In late July, Lenfest Broadcasting and Philadelphia-area licensee WMCN License Holdings LLC agreed to sell its channel-sharing agreement for a station that relinquished its spectrum in the FCC's incentive auction. The buyer then assigned its rights and obligations to acquire the "zombie" station serving the nation's fourth-largest market to the operator of a regional news network serving the New York Tri-State Area. The asset purchase agreement has now been filed with the FCC, making this news and information-focused entity's expansion to the Delaware Valley. Kalil & Co. served as the exclusive broker in this transaction.

After 37 years as Chairman of DISH Network Corp., Charlie Ergen can no longer add the title "CEO" to his role at the Englewood, Colo.-based direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service provider. Effective immediately, Ergen has relinquished his post as Chief Executive Officer "to devote more attention to the company's emerging wireless business." Meanwhile, all eyes are on the new role for Warren Schlichting.

In May 2017, Nexstar Media Group officially christened a newly created position at the broadcast TV company by announcing the hiring of a "proven ad technology and business strategy" executive. Today, Anthony Katsur is riding high as Nexstar's SVP/Platforms. He spoke with RBR+TVBR's Weekly Tech Update on his efforts to bring small and mid-sized media publishers and businesses ways to maximize revenue across every available channel.

NBCUniversal has said goodbye to its largest affiliate partner for its main Spanish-language network, Telemundo. That's because NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group is buying the company's assets and, pending FCC and other government approvals, will be welcoming their 13 TV stations in 10 markets fully into the O&O fold.

A client-only Borrell Associates webinar is set for Tuesday (12/5) that promises to delve into the local ad market experts' report dedicated to its outlook on 2018 local political advertising. The 45-minute presentation includes the report's author, Kip Cassino, and Chris Nolan, founder of political ad-buying network Spot-On. What can those listening in expect to take away?

SiriusXM has expanded its relationship with NBCUniversal by bringing a little more español to its satellite radio channel lineup, starting today. With TODAY Show Radio on channel 108, CNBC on channel 112, and MSNBC on channel 118, selected programming from the Hispanic TV network Telemundo makes it debut on SiriusXM, taking a high-end channel on select radios.

After nearly two months of darkness for DISH Network subscribers and a slatemate in its negotiations with the independent broadcast TV company based in Erie, Pa., for a new retransmission fee agreement, Lilly Broadcasting's stations will soon be returning to the DBS provider's lineups in five impacted regions.

Gray Television has priced its previously announced underwritten public offering of 15 million shares of its common stock, at a price to the public of $14.50 per share. Gray has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2.25 million shares of common stock. The offering is expected to close on Monday, Dec. 4, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

There's an entity that describes itself as “a publicly traded diversified holding company which seeks opportunities to acquire and grow businesses that can generate long-term sustainable free cash flow and attractive returns in order to maximize value for all stakeholders” which has been actively acquiring TV properties following the FCC's spectrum auction. This entity, HC2 Holdings Inc., earlier this week agreed to purchase two Mega TV affiliates in Florida. Now, its subsidiary -- HC2 Network Inc. -- is acquiring an entire TV network.

Grants from The Broadcasters Foundation of America will hit a milestone this year, as more than $1 million in aid is disbursed to broadcasters in acute need across the country. The record-setting figure is the most ever awarded in a single year by the charity, which this week launches its year-end appeal for personal donations to the Guardian Fund and corporate contributions to the Angel Initiative.

The "coercion" of American Cable Association members of carrying ATSC 3.0 signals, along with ATSC 1.0 signals, as part of a new beefier-to-broadcasters retrans consent deal will not be tolerated by the Pittsburgh-based advocacy association. In fact, it has sent a letter to the FCC telling it is keeping a close eye on the "thousands of agreements" members will be negotiating over the next five weeks.

There's a full-power TV station broadcasting from Howard Mountain in Idaho that serves the cities of Pocatello and Idaho Falls. It's a "failing station," says the company that just filed an Asset Purchase Agreement with the FCC, which must give its approval in order for this transaction to happen. A broker with Kozacko Media Services says there should be no question that this deal be consummated.

Gray Television has commenced an underwritten public offering, subject to market and other conditions, of 15 million shares of its common stock pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. In addition, Gray expects to grant the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 2.25 million shares of common stock.

How, exactly, does Sinclair Broadcast Group plan to fund its intended purchase of Tribune Media, assuming the FCC gives its blessings to a transaction made possible only by the restoration of the so-called "UHF Discount?" Loans, loans, loans -- billions of dollars in loans -- are on the way.