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.