Upfront advertising activity still matters a lot. And, that's what concerns Brian Wieser of Madison & Wall. Before the 2026-2027 Upfronts began, his firm expected linear TV upfront volumes to decline by 4.4%. As the summer progressed, it appeared that the market was "somewhat weaker" than initially expected.
The first mid-year data set from the ARF DASH TV Universe study has been released, and the data show that more than 30% of households have no access to linear free-to-air TV. At the same time, the percentage of households who receive their connection from an over-the-air antenna grew one percentage point over FY 2025.
As the Disney-owned unit that includes ABC Owned Stations sees it, it is being targeted by a Commission under the direction of Chairman Brendan Carr and influence of the Trump Administration as part of a campaign to silence free and independent voices in journalism.
With the company late Friday reporting less than stellar second quarter earnings results ahead of a privatization effort involving Alden Global Capital that's already resulted in the parting of ways with many on-air and programming staff, Cumulus Media has signed off on the sale of a pair of FMs in two mid-sized markets in the South.
High Plains Radio Network, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2024 and saw no less than three proposed buyers back out of deals across the next two years, has agreed to transfer a group of 20 radio stations to a New York-based private equity organization founded by Chairman/CEO Atonn F. Muhammad.
An asset purchase agreement has been finalized and submitted to the FCC for regulatory approval that would see the transfer of a pair of FM radio stations and their AM sibling in the Hoosier State end up in the hands of an Indiana-based entity controlled by Scott Huber.
Adam Jacobson
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