Forecast 2026 Agenda

7:30-8:20 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Sponsored by Entravision and Nueva Network

8:20-8:35 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Rob Babin, President, Cox Media Group/Radio
Sean Compton, President, Nexstar Networks
Deborah Parenti, President/Publisher, Radio Ink and RBR+TVBR
Juliet Huddy, Forecast Emcee

8:35-9:20 a.m.
Economic Forecasting: Broadcast Revenue Trends and Expectations for 2026
2026 will challenge broadcasters as political and Olympic ad dollars recede and new government policies continue to take shape. With economic uncertainty and rapid advances in AI, traditional ad revenues are expected to soften, while digital and connected TV opportunities expand. Our expert panel will forecast the key challenges and growth areas, offering insights on how broadcasters can adapt and thrive in a shifting revenue landscape.
Moderator: Andrew Rosen, Partner, Miller Kaplan
Erin Callaghan, President/Enterprise Partnerships, Futuri
Eric Meyrowitz, EVP/Group Head, Hearst Television
Tina Murley, Chief Revenue Officer, Beasley Media Group
Jen Soch, Executive Director of Channel Solutions, WPP Media NA

9:20-10:05 a.m.
Prospects for Broadcast Media as an Investment in 2026: The Real Street Talk
In 2026, broadcast media is drawing renewed interest from private equity, Wall Street, and banks, driven by undervalued assets and the potential for industry consolidation. Analysts predict that private equity will be the primary consolidator. Wall Street expects a wave of mergers and acquisitions to temporarily boost valuations, with new regulatory and market conditions making large-scale deals more feasible. The panel will deliver candid insights into the rewards and pitfalls of broadcast as an investment class in 2026, spotlighting the strategies and expectations of private equity, banks, and institutional investors as they reshape the industry’s future.
Moderator: Randy Michaels, Radioactive, LLC
Todd Hartman, Executive Vice President, Kalil & Co, Inc.
DuJuan McCoy, Owner/President/CEO, Circle City Broadcasting
Marcos Torres, Managing Director and Global Head/Communications, Media & Entertainment investment banking group, RBC Capital Markets
Jeff Warshaw, Founder/CEO, Connoisseur Media

10:05-10:50 a.m.
Main Street Media: Where Local Broadcast Survives & Thrives
This session spotlights how independent and small-market broadcasters are not just surviving but thriving in 2026. Fueled in part by the midterm elections, political advertising could generate significant local spending, with 36 governor’s races and 33 Senate seats up for grabs. And Main Street media outlets know how to leverage deep community connections, trusted local voices, and innovative digital integrations to maintain their competitive edge. Panelists will share the strategies that keep local TV and radio vital and profitable, revealing the “secret sauce” that helps them adapt and flourish in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Moderator: Steve Newberry, CEO, QUU
Brian Lilly, Founder & Co-Owner, Lilly Broadcasting
Natalia Sanchez Alvarez, CEO, Norsan Media
Jeff Ziesmann, General Manager/CEO, WNKR Radio

10:50 -11:05 a.m. Break
Sponsored by: Hearst Television

11:05-11:50 a.m.
Broadcast’s Digital Reckoning: AI, Data, and the New Media Mix
For decades, radio and television broadcasters sold reach, scale, and influence. But in today’s AI-powered, data-driven media market, reach alone no longer cuts it. Advertisers expect attribution, personalization, and proof of outcomes. This panel of industry leaders will explore how traditional broadcasters and radio executives can transform their businesses into precision growth engines. We’ll dig into the power of unique live and local content in a streaming-first world, the data strategies needed to compete with walled gardens and digital-first platforms, and how agentic AI will reshape everything from ad sales to audience measurement. The conversation will deliver practical guidance for legacy media leaders facing digital disruption: how to turn signal into competitive advantage, prove value to advertisers, and secure broadcast’s role in a media ecosystem increasingly defined by AI, streaming, and commerce.
Moderator: Brett House, SVP/ Product GTM & Growth, MediaRadar
Jessica Hogue, Chief Data Officer/Consumer Media, Hearst
Rio Longacre, Partner/Advertising and AdTech,Omnicom’s Credera

Noon-1:45 p.m.
Luncheon Program
Sponsored by: CNN Newsource

12:15-12:35 p.m.
Leadership Awards
Lynn Beall, TEGNA
Randy Michaels, Radioactive, LLC

1:00-1:40 p.m.
“Broadcasting at the Crossroads: Defending Free Speech in a New Era”
Floyd Abrams, nationally acclaimed First Amendment attorney, author, and lecturer

2:00-2:45 p.m.
Signals of Change: What’s on the Docket for 2026
This session highlights the major legal and regulatory challenges broadcasters face in 2026, including the push to modernize outdated ownership rules, meet strict compliance and enforcement standards, adapt to emerging technologies like ATSC 3.0 and FM booster “geocasting,” and address evolving accessibility and public interest obligations. Experts will discuss how these issues will impact broadcasters in navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.
Moderator: Chris Winkle, President & CEO, Kentucky Broadcasters Association
Alysia M. Long, Esq., SVP/ Associate General Counsel, Law & Policy, Cox Media Group
Frank Montero, Partner, Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth
Gregg Skall, Member, Telecommunications Law Professionals PLLC

2:45–3:30 p.m.
Watch the Throne: What Content Reigns in a New Media Kingdom?
Go beyond theory. Get ready to dive deep into real-world examples from some of broadcast’s most innovative executives on how they’re adapting to changing listener and viewer habits. On this panel, real-time data, cross-platform distribution, and targeted advertising aren’t just corporate jargon — they’re driving real audience and revenue growth. If you have questions about how hybrid models, subscriptions, and brand partnerships can help you stay competitive and profitable in a digital world, this is the panel for you. If “content is king,” then what strategy should take the throne?
Moderator: Gigi Stone Woods, National TV anchor/journalist, Founder/Stone Woods Media
Brian Fisher, Chief Revenue Officer, MediaCo
Jeff Sottolano, Chief Programming Officer, Audacy

3:30-3:45 p.m.
Break
Sponsored by: Hearst Television

3:45-4:30 p.m.
Beyond a Brand: The Unconfined Approach of Stephen A. Smith
Sponsored by:

The rise of Stephen A Smith from covering high school sports to the face of ESPN didn’t happen by chance. His barrier-breaking approach to media is leading companies to do away with their pure-play approach in favor of delivering content on multiple platforms, selling across unique delivery systems, and embracing talent in a fashion that maximizes the value of the audience’s loyalty.
An exclusive Fireside Chat – Mike McVay with Stephen A. Smith

4:30-5:20 p.m.
Executive Super Session
Sponsored by Madhive

Join broadcasting’s top decision-makers and influencers as they share candid perspectives on the industry’s direction for 2026 and beyond. In this closing session, two leading group executives and the CEO of the industry’s most influential trade association discuss how broadcasters are navigating rapid change, technology shifts, and new competitors. Get insider insights on key priorities, challenges, and the strategic moves shaping the future of broadcast careers, audience engagement, and growth. This high-impact conversation reveals what’s next for broadcasters—and what’s on the minds of those shaping tomorrow’s media landscape.
Moderator: Steven Portnoy, National Correspondent, ABC News
Rob Babin, President, Cox Media Group/Radio
Sean Compton, President, Nexstar Networks
Curtis LeGeyt, President/CEO, National Association of Broadcasters