TV/Cable News

Three of the top 10 slots in the Media Monitors Spot Ten Cable for the week ending May 7, 2017, are insurance companies. Meanwhile, the NBA picked up their activity as the 2017 playoffs edge closer to the championship round.

For broadcast television, the Golden Arches translates to advertising gold. There's also big new activity from two big makers of allergy medications, while a health and beauty brand finds itself in the Media Monitors TV Spot Ten for the week ending May 7, 2017.

Upon closing its merger with Tribune Media in Q4 2017, Sinclair will enjoy a whopping $4.3 billion in combined revenue, while enjoying coverage of 72% of the U.S. That's nearly double the size of the broadcast TV industry's other key players, and Wells Fargo Securities senior analyst Marci Ryvicker gives her thumbs up. Meanwhile, media brokers who spoke with RBR+TVBR see this as the beginning of a transformative time for the TV business.

Following rumors late Sunday that a deal was imminent, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media Co. have reached a deal that will see Sinclair acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Tribune for $43.50 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $3.9 billion. Sinclair will also assume approximately $2.7 billion in net debt.

With tough comps due to a loss of political dollars and a tightening advertising landscape, perhaps flat is good for a media company in the early months of 2017. For The E.W. Scripps Co., TV division revenue was statistically flat in Q1. Meanwhile, the company's radio stations experienced a 4.2% revenue dip during the quarter. What's truly hurting Scripps is its digital division, and there's one clear reason why.

Entravision Communications pocketed millions of dollars by relinquishing spectrum to wireless services companies in the just-completed FCC incentive auction. We now know that the company has entered into a channel-sharing agreement with a Washington, D.C.-based station that will allow the company to let a UHF station live on -- and finally relocate to the Nation's Capital 16 years after Entravision intended to do so.

Gray Television offered several comments with respect to its Q2 2017 guidance on Thursday, along with the release of its Q1 earnings results. Unlike some broadcast radio companies, Gray is anticipating double-digit local ad revenue growth in Q2, along strong national ad revenue. What's the overall prognosis for the quarter, on a combined historical basis?

The first three months of 2017 have been kind to a company dedicated to super-serving Hispanic media consumers across the U.S. Entravision Communications, which not only owns radio stations but is also the largest Univision and UniMás affiliate partner in the nation, saw its net income rise 15% in Q1. The good performance, thanks wholly to its TV segment, came as the company's board of directors approved a cash dividend to shareholders.

An additional NFL game and the presence of Super Bowl 50 on CBS-TV one year ago made a big difference for CBS Corp. in Q1. So did a loss of political dollars, as the company swung to a net loss. Net revenue was down to $3.34 billion, from $3.59 billion. But, the coming merger of CBS Radio with Entercom had perhaps the biggest impact on CBS's Q1 earnings.

Here's something every media company would like to see in its Q1 results: Despite an 86% drop in political advertising, Gray Television enjoyed a 17% year-over-year jump in its total revenue as its net income surpassed $10 million. That's on an as-reported basis, however. On a "combined historical basis," total revenue slipped by 1%, to $203.9 million.

Things are looking a little Gray in Vermont's biggest city. That's because Gray Television has snagged the biggest CBS affiliate in the Green Mountain State.

With the completion of the new ATSC 3.0 broadcast TV standard now just weeks away, experts from the broadcast television industry will gather in Washington, D.C. in less than two weeks for a day-long conference devoted to next-generation television sponsored by the Advanced Television Systems Committee.

Cars.com is driving off from the company formerly known as Gannett before spinning off its newspaper division in 2015. But, prior to the separation into two separate publicly traded entities, Cars.com will make a one-time cash distribution of $650 million to what's now known as TEGNA. Once the spin is done, TEGNA President/CEO Gracia Martore will head into retirement.

Sinclair Broadcast Group stockholders may not be thrilled with the company's Q1 performance. Just before Noon Eastern, the company's shares tumbled to $36.10 before recovering somewhat with a 2.6% decline, to $37.35. Could it be the company's Q2 so-so pacings that are spooking investors?