Headlines
FCC Cleared Translators To Revitalize AMs. Alabama Case Shows It’s Sticking To The Rules
Not only did the FCC reject its request to sell an Alabama FM translator, but the Media Bureau has also rescinded Brantley’s license for the permit since the company never closed the deal to buy the AM that the translator was tied to.
After Fox Settlement, Assault on Media Protections Is Likely to Continue
Those who argue that the news media should pay a steeper price for publishing false information are pushing to have a landmark Supreme Court ruling overturned.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Deal Digest: Tavis Smiley Will Pay A Bit Less For Los Angeles’ KBLA
Station sales, translator sales, and closings
Television
Broadcasters Thinking Out Of The Box To Attract Next Generation
QR codes, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, hyperlocal – if it provides another way to connect with viewers, broadcasters and content producers are trying it, several said during TVNewsCheck’s Programming Everywhere conference at the NAB Show on Sunday.
Upfronts Survey Indicates TV Spend Isn’t Going Anywhere
One of the big takeaways, right off the bat, is that 74% of respondents expected to spend at least as much as they did last year. Of those, 21% said they were planning to commit “a bit more” or “much more” than they did during the 2022 Upfronts.
Buttigieg Finally Makes Statement About AM Radio
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is finally speaking out on the subject of protecting AM radio in EVs.
Capitol Broadcasting Is Harvesting Reams Of Listening Data From Connected Cars
In a pilot study with connected car data company Wejo, the owner of 13 radio stations in Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington, NC is studying other use cases for leveraging in-car data.
CTV/OTT
Allen Media Launching High School Sports FAST Channel
Allen Media Group – in partnership with St. John Bosco High School of Bellflower, Calif., is slated to launch FAST channel Bosco+ later this spring.
Fox Television Stations And Amazon Announce New Content Distribution Deal
Fox Television Stations (FTS) and Amazon have jointly announced they are teaming up to distribute FTS’s local news content across Amazon’s devices.
Verticals
Car Dealers Have Almost Normal Inventory Again
America’s car dealers ended March with 1.89 million new cars in stock. That brings them close to pre-pandemic inventory levels.
US Leagues Partner For Responsible Sports Betting Advertising
Seven major US sports leagues have formed a group dedicated to responsible sports betting advertising as gambling companies continue to spend and the threat of federal action has never been higher.
