Hot List: So Much Is Possible

“In a marketplace where competition and technologies are evolving, the FCC needs to get its policies right for broadcasters and the communities they serve.” - FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty stating the obvious at her NAB Show session.

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Hello from Possible. You can almost smell the AI-agents cooking up outcomes in the Miami air.

We will be here on the look out for you, our beloved TVREVians who cannot be fooled by ad-tech hocus-pocus or beguiled by buzz word bingo.

But you don’t need to be at a conference to catch some fresh ideas or thoughtful discussions from industry analysts, there is plenty of that in this week’s Hot List!

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Will Netflix’s Shaky Ad Business Be Reed Hastings’ Legacy? - Alan Wolk

Why An Idea Ahead Of Its Time Might Deserve A Second Chance - Tim Hanlon

TriCoast's Nick Risher On Why Owning The Content Changes The Math - Alan Wolk

TV Is TV Again - Annie Krukowska

NEW EPISODE: Broadcasters Vs Big Tech: The Streaming Challenge

In an AI World, XR Makes Sure TV Actors Get Paid for Digital Characters - Jon Lafayette

Tube Trends: How TurboTax Owns Tax Season On YouTube - John Cassillo

Dear John Ternus - Alan Wolk

‘Zootopia 2’ Sets the Floor. ‘Avatar,’ ‘Hoppers,’ and ‘Star Wars’ Set the Ceiling' - Brandon Katz

Dollar Shave Club Women’s Launch Is a Creative Win — AI and All - Eleanor Semeraro

Quantifying TV And Video's GLP-1 Ad Market

FREE SPECIAL REPORT: All Grown Up: FAST Comes Of Age from Alan Wolk

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Warner Bros. Discovery Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Paramount Megadeal, but Vote Against Exit Pay Packages for Zaslav and Other Execs [Variety]

• TL;DR: Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved its Paramount merger, clearing a major hurdle in ongoing media consolidation.

Advertisers are optimistic about Netflix’s dynamic ad options [Marketing Brew]

• TL;DR: Advertisers are optimistic about Netflix’s dynamic ad insertion during the Women’s World Cup as a breakthrough for live sports monetization.

Fox Just Gave Its Ad Portfolio a Massive AI Upgrade [Adweek]

• TL;DR: Fox is rolling out a major AI upgrade to its ad portfolio, centered on tools that simplify planning, targeting, and insights across its properties.

ICYMI

• Get ready for the great American TV trade-in rush [Fast Company]

• Inside Paramount's 2026 Upfront Dinners [Adweek]

• As upfront negotiations near, buyers chart path through complex sports market [Digiday]

• Roku Launches New ‘City Dash’ Game [Variety]

• Teads and LG Ad Solutions Expand Global Partnership to Bring High-Attention CTV Ads to the ‘Omnichannel Living Room’ [Markets Insider]

• NFL Makes Its Case to FCC During Regulatory Scrutiny [The Wall Street Journal]

• Disney Seeks $10 Million for Super Bowl Commercials, But Advertisers Push Back (EXCLUSIVE) [Variety]

• Tim Cook Will Step Down as Apple C.E.O. [The New York Times]

• Federal Court Temporarily Freezes Nexstar’s Merger With Tegna [The New York Times]

• WPP Restructures Commerce Expertise Into One Team [Adweek]

• RFK Jr. says he would support a potential ban on junk food TV ads [CNBC]

• World Cup Changes Lift Fox, Telemundo Cash Projections [Sportico]

Hanlon’s Local Links

• Nexstar CEO Perry Sook Rips DirecTV In Tegna Merger Battle, Says “Two Or Three Companies” Will Soon Control All Of Local TV: “It’s A Matter Of Time” - Dade Hayes [Deadline]

• FCC Petition Aims To Sell TV Spectrum, Push TV Stations Off The Air - Tyler Kleinle

• Scripps To Re-Acquire Two Dozen Previously-Divested Ion Stations - Matthew Keys [TheDesk.net]

• Are Local, Over-The-Air Networks The Future Of Regional Sports Broadcasting? - Manny Soloway [Awful Announcing]

• Victory+ Lands First WNBA Deal With Minnesota Lynx As Free Local Streaming Home - Sam Neumann [Awful Announcing]

• Local Linear Isn’t Broken, But the Way We Buy And Post It Is - Joe Cerone [TVNewsCheck]

• The FCC Should Open The AM Translator Window Now, Not Later - Garrett Searight [Barrett Media]