Good Morning! Let's Check The Pulse for Tuesday, Feb 17

Radio Broadcasting

Regulatory and Ownership Discussions:  The FCC continues its periodic review of broadcast ownership rules, with recent Senate Commerce Committee hearings (early February) focusing on media ownership in the digital age. Testimony from NAB leaders and others debated potential relaxation of limits, including national TV caps (relevant to broader consolidation discussions) and local radio rules unchanged for decades amid streaming competition. No final actions occurred in mid-February, but the ongoing process could lead to changes allowing more flexibility for radio groups. Other FCC updates include minor operational tweaks, such as FRN update requirements and foreign ownership codifications.

Formats:  "Yacht Rock" has emerged as a breakout format trend in early 2026, blending classic soft rock with modern appeal on several stations. Yacht Rock refers to a retroactively named genre of smooth, polished soft rock from the late 1970s and early 1980s. It features glossy production, breezy vocals, sophisticated arrangements (often with jazz and disco influences), and laid-back grooves that evoke images of leisurely sailing on a yacht in sunny Southern California waters. The term originated from a satirical 2005 YouTube comedy series called Yacht Rock, which poked fun at the era's "smooth" music scene. Read More: HERE

Media Industry

Streaming and Digital Media Momentum:  Streaming platforms are accelerating growth, with forecasts showing robust ad revenue and sports rights investments. Roku projected strong 2026 platform revenue (~$4.89 billion, up 18%) driven by ad-supported streaming shifts and expectations to exceed 100 million streaming households. Streamers are poised to spend $14.2 billion on sports rights in 2026 (up from $13.2 billion in 2025), with Amazon Prime Video leading. Netflix and others emphasize ad-tier expansion, while global content spend rises modestly (streaming up ~6% to $101 billion). Broader trends include AI fatigue, journalist-led independent platforms (e.g., Substack), and trust concerns around undisclosed AI content.

Advertising and Broader Industry Trends:  U.S. ad markets show resilience, with political/midterm election spending and events like the World Cup providing tailwinds. Analysts highlight programmatic growth across TV/audio/commerce media, AI-driven personalization, and hybrid models. Pharma marketing discussions (e.g., around RFK Jr.'s HHS role and potential ad restrictions) reflect policy intersections with media. Entertainment faces labor talk preparations and consolidation speculation (e.g., Warner Bros. Discovery reassessing Paramount merger dynamics amid bids).

U-S News

• Trump Administration Foreign Policy Moves:  Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized strong U.S. support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during a visit to Budapest, calling Orbán's success vital to American interests ahead of Hungary's tight elections. Rubio highlighted close ties between Trump and Orbán.
• President Trump criticized a clean energy agreement between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the United Kingdom as "inappropriate," slamming direct dealings with a Democratic governor.
• Domestic Incidents and Crime: A deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice skating rink during a high school hockey game killed at least two people (reports vary on exact toll), described as targeted. Police responded to chaos with players and fans fleeing.
• In Georgia, an undocumented immigrant allegedly caused a fatal car crash while fleeing ICE agents, killing a public school teacher (Dr. Linda Davis). The incident has fueled immigration enforcement debates.
• Ongoing developments in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case, including family members cleared as suspects and new details from authorities.