Forecast 2026 Agenda

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

8:20-8:30 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

8:30-9:15 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.

9:15-10:00 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.

10:00-10:45 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.

10:45 -11:00 a.m. Break

11:00-11:40 a.m. TBA

11:50 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Luncheon Program
Sponsored by: CNN Newsource

Noon-12:20 p.m.
Leadership Awards
Randy Michaels, Radioactive, LLC
Lynn Beall, TEGNA

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

1:45-2:30 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.

2:30–3:30 p.m.
TBA

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

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

4:30-5:20 p.m.
Executive Super Session
They are the visionaries and the ultimate “deciders” of where the broadcasting industry will go in the years to come. They wield the power and the influence to chart the course that will impact not only broadcast career paths but listening and viewership potential against a host of non-licensed competitors. What are they thinking, and where do they see broadcasting headed next year and beyond? We ask industry leaders to share their perspectives and insights in a fascinating closing session.

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

5:30-7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Leadership Reception
Sponsored by Mediaco