Forecast 2027 Agenda

7:30-8:20 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Sponsored by:

8:20-8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Sally Breland, COO, Gray Media
Kelli Turner, CEO, Audacy
Deborah Parenti, President/Publisher, Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR

8:30-9:15 a.m.
Economic Outlook: Broadcast Revenue Trends for 2027
The broadcast industry enters 2027 facing continuing economic uncertainty and evolving revenue dynamics. With political advertising cycles concluded and traditional revenue streams under pressure, growth is increasingly driven by advancements in AI, data-informed advertising, and expanding digital and connected TV platforms. This panel will provide a focused look at the key trends shaping the year ahead and the strategic considerations for sustaining revenue growth.

9:15-10:00 a.m.
Who’s Buying Broadcast? The Money, the Deals, and the 2027 Shakeout
Broadcast media is on the radar of private equity, strategic buyers, and lenders as consolidation, valuation resets, and regulatory shifts create fresh opportunity. This session will take a hard look at where capital is moving, what deals are likely to close, and who stands to win in 2027. It will also explore what broadcast companies need to do now to stay attractive in a market that rewards scale, discipline, and smart positioning.

10:00-10:45
Main Street Media: The Local Advantage in a Changing Market
This session explores how independent and small-market broadcasters continue to compete and grow in a rapidly changing media landscape. With community trust, local relevance, and smart digital integration remaining key advantages, local TV and radio are finding new ways to stay essential and profitable. Panelists will share the strategies and market insights that help Main Street media adapt, strengthen their audiences, and build sustainable businesses — offering lessons that larger groups can apply as they sharpen their own local strategies.

10:45 -11:00 a.m.
Break
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11:00-11:40 a.m.
Converged Broadcast: The Cross-Media Radio, TV, and AI Playbook
Legacy silos are no longer sustainable in a fragmented landscape. This session brings together leading television, radio, and ad-tech executives to reveal how forward-thinking broadcast groups are successfully merging backend operations. Learn real-world strategies for building unified cross-platform newsrooms, retraining legacy sales forces to pitch bundled audio/video campaigns, and leveraging white-labeled digital tech and AI to maximize local market share.

11:50-1:30 p.m.
Luncheon Program

Noon-12:20 p.m.
Leadership Awards
Harvey Nagler, Retired CBS News Radio Vice President
Valeri Dobson Staab, Chairman, NBCUniversal Local

12:50-1:30 p.m.
Keynote

.1:45-2:30 p.m.
Broadcast on the Docket: Power, Policy, and Pressure in Washington
This session will examine the legal and regulatory forces shaping broadcast in 2027, from ownership policy and enforcement priorities to emerging debates over new technologies, accessibility, and public interest obligations. As Washington recalibrates its approach to media oversight, panelists will offer an inside look at the decisions, pressures, and policy shifts broadcasters need to watch closely.
Moderator: Frank Montero, Co-Managing Partner, Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C.
Nic Anderson, VP/Government Affairs, Salem Media Group
Joe Di Scipio, SVP/FCC Legal & Business Affairs and Assistant General Counsel, FOX
Rick Kaplan, Chief Legal Officer/EVP, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, National Association of Broadcasters

2:30–3:30. p.m.
TBA

3:30-3:45 p.m.
Break
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3:45-4:30 p.m.
TBA

4:30-5:20 p.m.
The Future Starts Here: A Visionary Closing Conversation
These are the leaders shaping what broadcasting becomes next. Their decisions influence the industry’s direction, the opportunities ahead, and how radio and television continue to compete in a fast-changing media world. In this closing session, four major executives will share candid, forward-looking insights on where broadcasting is headed next year and beyond — and what it will take to win.

5:20-5:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Leadership Reception
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