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.