In the Vicinity

eMarketer Senior Analyst Ross Benes joins Tim Hanlon to explore why football continues to defy television's broader shift toward streaming, how local advertisers benefit from the NFL's massive reach, and why moving too aggressively behind a paywall could weaken even the strongest sports leagues.

Local media remains a $185 billion market—but the way that money is spent, sold and measured is changing fast. BIA Advisory Services Managing Director Rick Ducey joins Tim Hanlon in episode 25 of In the Vicinity to explore how local television, CTV, streaming audio, social video and retail media are reshaping the competitive landscape.

In this episode of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with the President and Owner of Lakes Media Tom Birch to explore the realities of running six small-market radio stations across southern Virginia and northern North Carolina — and why relationships and results still matter more than sophisticated audience data in markets where traditional measurement often falls short.

In Episode 23 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with former E.W. Scripps executive and Media Inno Managing Partner Tom Sly to examine Scripps' efforts to rethink local news around a streaming-first, consumer-centric model and why he believes the industry can no longer afford to operate the way it has.

In Episode 22 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon is joined by Aaron Brown, Chief Innovation Officer at Madhive, for a deep dive into how AI is transforming local advertising. Brown explains why local media generates thousands of subtle signals that traditional technology has struggled to connect, and how Madhive's AI-powered Maverick platform is uncovering patterns that help advertisers reach the right audiences with greater precision.

The FCC has voted to eliminate the decades-old national TV broadcast ownership cap, opening the door to a new wave of consolidation across local television. But will bigger station groups actually strengthen local journalism—or simply centralize it? In Episode 21 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with TVND founder and former news executive Kirk Varner to unpack one of the most consequential moments in modern broadcasting. Together, they explore what the FCC's decision could mean for newsroom investment, local ownership, editorial independence, and the future of trusted local news.

The FCC is preparing to reshape one of the biggest rules governing local television ownership. But will allowing broadcasters to own more stations actually solve the industry's biggest challenges—or simply buy more time? In episode 20 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon and Madhive CEO Jim Wilson examine what the proposed FCC ownership changes could mean for local broadcasters, why scale alone isn't enough, and why the real opportunity lies in transforming from broadcast companies into true local media companies. Subscribe for new episodes of In the Vicinity, presented by TVREV and sponsored by Madhive.

Commercial broadcasters spend a lot of time talking about the future of local media. But what if one of the best blueprints is already hiding in plain sight? On Episode 19 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with Christy Tanner, President and CEO of New York Public Radio, to discuss why the industry's future isn't about protecting legacy platforms — it's about building stronger connections with audiences across every platform. Drawing on decades of experience spanning the Associated Press, CBS News, TV Guide, and now public media, Tanner explains how New York Public Radio has evolved into a multi-platform media organization built around radio, podcasts, newsletters, live events, streaming, video, and membership. She also shares why collaboration — not competition — will define the next era of local media.

The rules of local television are changing fast—and not necessarily for the better. On this solo episode of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon breaks down two of the biggest stories reshaping the future of local media. First, he examines the FCC's proposed elimination of the 39% broadcast ownership cap and asks whether more consolidation will truly strengthen local journalism—or simply accelerate the industry's long-term decline. Then he turns to the collapse of regional sports networks and explains why local broadcasters suddenly have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine their role in sports media. Will broadcasters use this moment to prove their value? Or will the leagues ultimately build a streaming-first future that leaves local TV behind?

The World Cup is the biggest event in sports—but for local advertisers, getting into the game is anything but straightforward. On this episode of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon welcomes back Madhive VP of Inventory Partnerships & Operations Anthony Campanella to unpack the complex local media dynamics behind the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They explain why premium live sports inventory is becoming harder to access, how streaming is reshaping local advertising opportunities, and what happens if future World Cups move from broadcasters to platforms like Netflix.

For years, addressable advertising has been one of broadcast television's biggest "what ifs." The technology existed, but the economics, infrastructure and industry relationships never quite aligned. That may finally be changing. On this episode of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with Hearst Television's VP of Distribution John Robertson and Viamedia President & Chief Strategy Officer Evan Rutchik to discuss a partnership that could reshape local broadcast advertising. Together, they explain how broadcasters can now deliver household-level targeted advertising within MVPD streaming environments, why this creates new revenue opportunities without disrupting existing business models, and what it will take to scale addressable broadcast across the industry.  

Fox's proposed acquisition of Roku. Walmart's purchase of Vibe. The TV operating system is quickly becoming the next battleground for local media—and broadcasters can't afford to ignore it. This week, Tim Hanlon is joined by TVREV's Mike Gasbara to unpack why the biggest stories in television are no longer just about streaming. They explore how TV operating systems are evolving into commerce platforms, why authenticated audiences may become local media's biggest competitive advantage, what the rise of retail media means for broadcasters, and whether local stations can leverage their trusted community relationships before Big Tech captures the opportunity. If the future of local media is about connecting content, commerce and measurement, this conversation explains why the home screen may be the most valuable real estate in television.

For decades, local media owned local advertising. Today, location data and digital targeting are changing the rules. On Episode 14 of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon welcomes Luke Stillman, Managing Director at Madison & Wall, to discuss why location data has become a scale advantage, how Google, Meta, Amazon, and streaming platforms are siphoning dollars away from traditional local media, and why broadcasters face increasing pressure to rethink their role. They explore why scaling through consolidation may not be enough, how regulation is inadvertently strengthening walled gardens, and what local television and radio companies can do to remain relevant in an era where advertisers care less about DMAs and more about business outcomes. Can local media compete with the tech giants—or must it learn to complement them?

Political advertising has long been a crucial revenue source for local media. But according to AdImpact's Updated Political Projections Report, the 2026 midterms are now on track to generate even more ad spending than the 2024 presidential election cycle. On this episode of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon sits down with AdImpact CEO Kyle Roberts to unpack the report's findings, including why political ad spending projections have been revised upward, which races and states are driving the surge, and why local broadcasters remain the biggest beneficiaries. The conversation explores the mechanics of modern political media buying, the growing role of CTV and audience targeting, the challenges of reaching voters in highly fragmented districts, and why campaigns continue to invest billions in both broad-reach and precision-targeted advertising.

The media world used to revolve around a handful of shared experiences. Today, audiences live in thousands of personalized bubbles. On this episode of In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon is joined by TVREV Co-Founder and Senior Analyst Alan Wolk to explore his emerging theory of "feudal media"—a fragmented landscape where YouTube, TikTok, Substack, streaming services, and AI-driven recommendations are replacing the monoculture that once defined television and news. Together, they discuss why YouTube may be local TV's biggest competitor, how AI could become the next great curator of local information, why traditional broadcasters are struggling to adapt to a streaming-first world, and what happens when opinion, news, and entertainment all blur together.

This week on In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon and Madhive CEO Jim Wilson explore how AI is transforming local media — from campaign planning and audience targeting to creative generation and omni-channel advertising sales. The conversation also dives into the future of broadcasters as full-service local media companies, the rise of AI-powered campaign optimization, and what CBS ending The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and shutting down CBS Radio News signals about the future of local affiliates, audience fragmentation, and legacy media brands.

This week on In the Vicinity, local media veteran Tim Hanlon is joined by guest Jason Damata, Founder & CEO of Fabric Media and the driving force behind TVREV, for a wide-ranging conversation about the unraveling of traditional broadcast media — and what might come next. From the shutdown of CBS Radio News after nearly 100 years to the end of Stephen Colbert's Late Show, Tim and Jason unpack what these cultural losses signal for local TV, radio, community identity, and the economics of media.  It's part media obituary, part industry therapy session, and part roadmap for what local media could become next.

This week on In the Vicinity, Tim Hanlon goes solo to unpack what the latest broadcast TV earnings reports are really signaling about the future of local media. From Scripps' aggressive sports-and-streaming push to Sinclair's ATSC 3.0 ambitions, Gray's hyper-local strategy, and Nexstar's focus on maximizing retrans and scale, Tim explores the very different paths broadcasters are taking as the traditional TV model continues to erode. The episode dives into the collapse of RSNs, the growing importance—and danger—of political advertising, the rise of sports as broadcast TV's survival strategy, and why broadcasters may finally be realizing they're no longer just "TV companies," but video companies competing in a streaming-first world.

What happens when the RSN model starts to fall apart? In this episode of In the Vicinity, local media veteran Tim Hanlon sits down with guest host Anthony Campanella, VP, Inventory Partnerships & Operations, Madhive, to break down the chaos — and opportunity — reshaping local sports. From disappearing regional sports networks to the rise of streaming and patchwork distribution, they unpack how leagues like Major League Baseball are navigating a fragmented future — and what it means for fans, broadcasters, and advertisers trying to keep up. The takeaway: local sports isn't dying — it's being rebuilt in real time.

A trip to NAB reveals an industry that's more optimistic—and more self-aware—than you might expect. In Episode 7 of In the Vicinity, local media veterans Tim Hanlon and Jim Wilson break down the real conversations happening across local media right now—from the push to simplify fragmented ad tech stacks to the ongoing challenge of training sales teams to confidently sell across linear, digital, and CTV. Plus, a look at the growing role of digital out-of-home, the realities of "Frankenstack" infrastructure, and why—despite all the disruption—local content may be the industry's most durable advantage. Because in a world of endless fragmentation, trust and community still win.

At the NAB Show, the battle lines are clear: broadcasters vs. big tech. In this episode of In the Vicinity, local media veterans Tim Hanlon and Jim Wilson break down the growing pressure on local media as streaming platforms and digital giants dominate both audiences and ad dollars. From the stalled Nexstar-Tegna merger to the rise of AI-powered advertising and unified marketplaces, they explore what it will take for broadcasters to compete—and whether they can move fast enough to do it.

What happens when the definition of "local" stops making sense? In this episode of In the Vicinity, local media veterans Tim Hanlon and Jim Wilson unpack the growing tension between broadcast's DMA-driven reach and streaming's zip-code-level precision — and why the future of advertising lies somewhere in between. From bespoke geographies and AI-powered creative to the real-world implications for national, regional, and local ad dollars, the conversation explores how marketers are navigating a landscape where scale and specificity are finally converging. Plus, a deep dive into CBS's exit from late night — and what it signals about shifting network priorities, affiliate value, and the broader economics of content in a fragmented media world.

There's one story dominating local media right now — and it could reshape the entire industry. In this episode of In The Vicinity, local media veterans Tim Hanlon and Jim Wilson break down Nexstar's blockbuster acquisition of TEGNA, a deal that creates the largest broadcast station group in the U.S. and raises big questions about consolidation, competition and the future of local TV. Is scale the key to survival in a market increasingly dominated by Big Tech? Or does this level of consolidation risk weakening the very thing that makes local media valuable — local journalism and community connection? From regulatory end-runs and legal challenges to retrans economics, digital transformation and the shifting role of affiliates, Tim and Jim unpack what this deal really means — not just for broadcasters, but for the future of local media itself.

Everyone in local media agrees the future is digital. So why is the industry still operating like it's not? In this episode of In The Vicinity, local media veterans Tim Hanlon and Jim Wilson dig into the growing disconnect between where audiences are heading—and how local broadcasters are still structured to do business. Despite years of investment in CTV, streaming and digital ad platforms, the gravitational pull of linear TV economics continues to shape strategy, slowing real transformation.

In this episode of In The Vicinity, local media veterans Tim Hanlon and Jim Wilson dig into a big question: could consolidation—think potential deals like Nexstar and Tegna or Charter and Cox—actually be the industry's best shot at staying competitive? They break down the pros, the risks, and whether joining forces might be the only way local media can hold its ground against a new generation of tech-driven competitors.

In the premiere episode of In the Vicinity, Vertere Group founder Tim Hanlon sits down with Madhive CEO Jim Wilson—former founder of Premion at Tegna, board chair of GSTV, and board member at Audacy—for a candid look at the future of local media. Wilson traces his journey from visiting local stations with his father to building one of the first major CTV platforms for broadcasters, and now leading a company that powers local streaming. Drawing on decades of experience across TV, radio, out-of-home and ad tech, he argues that local broadcasters should reinvest linear profits into digital transformation—or risk being left behind.