Headlines
Why Ad-Supported TV Is Having A Moment
In our latest Thought Leaders Circle Video, Rob Caruso, VP, Ventura TV OS at The Trade Desk explains why consumers are turning to ad-supported television and what needs to be done to ensure that they continue to have a good experience with the ads so that advertisers have better outcomes.
Sun Broadcasting Win Signals FCC Openness To Relaxing Media Caps.
The Federal Communications Commission is sending a fresh signal that it is likely to relax ownership limits with a decision to allow Sun Broadcasting to blow past the current limits of how many stations a single operator can own in the Fort Myers-Naples, FL market.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Station Groups Seek Routes Around An M&A Lull (TV News Check Plus subscription required)
DOJ investigations into pending transactions, volatile deregulation messaging from President Trump and an unusually quiet FCC have pressed the pause button on TV station group mergers.
FCC
FCC Remains Open Despite Partial Government Shutdown.
The Federal Communication Commission’s filing systems and databases remain online and the agency is continuing usual operations despite a partial shutdown of the federal government.
NAB Points To Survey Suggesting Voters Want Deregulation
The NAB has released the results of a “new nationwide survey” that it hopes will fuel the association’s lobbying efforts inside the Beltway to not only thaw the nation’s broadcast ownership cap, but altogether melt it away.
Television
Nielsen To Launch Co-Viewing Pilot Program Beginning With Super Bowl
The pilot program will use Nielsen’s proprietary wearable measurement devices
Radio
Format Counts: Country And Religion Battle For The Top Spot
A year ago, the top two radio formats in the U.S., according to Inside Radio/PrecisionTrak’s monthly counts — country and religion (the latter including stations featuring religious teaching, hymns and other related content) — were separated by a wide margin of 97 outlets. Not anymore.
Media Mix Modeling for Radio Needs Reset, Says John Fix
Media mix modelers should reconsider radio as a new media channel and avoid constraining current radio ROI with historical performance benchmarks due to improvements in as-run delivery data, according to former Procter & Gamble media analyst John Fix.
Pay TV
Structural Weakness in Local TV Leads Pivot To Performance For Charter Communications and Peers
Charter Communications, whose $1.5 billion in annual ad revenue makes it a top 30 seller of advertising in the United States, reported 4Q25 results this morning. Ad revenues including political advertising fell by -26%, although excluding political, revenues were essentially flat.