President Tells Stern He'll Debate Trump

President Biden said on Friday that he would participate in a general-election debate with former President Donald J. Trump, a striking shift after months in which he and his campaign declined to commit to appearing onstage with his Republican rival.

Biden’s announcement, made in response to a question from the radio host Howard Stern on SiriusXM, comes after pressure from television networks and Trump’s campaign for the president to agree to participate in debates.

When Stern asked Mr. Biden if he would debate Trump, the president replied: “I am, somewhere, I don’t know when, but I am happy to debate him.”

Biden tells Howard Stern he’ll debate Trump #shorts https://t.co/Bi3dvuOG2W via @YouTube

— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) April 27, 2024

Biden’s remarks appeared to be off the cuff, rather than a planned announcement of a shift in his campaign’s strategy, according to a top Democratic official familiar with its thinking. The Biden campaign directed questions on Friday about whether its stance on debates had changed to Biden’s comments on the Stern program.

On Stern's Show Friday, Biden made the following claims...

On Howard Stern's show today, Biden claimed...

- He saved 6 people from drowning as a lifeguard (Lie)
- He received "salacious pictures" from women in the 70s that he handed to Secret Service (Definitely a lie and senators don't have secret service protection)
- That he was… pic.twitter.com/1SKlIAT88i

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 26, 2024

This month, the five major TV news networks and The Associated Press wrote an unusual letter to the Biden and Trump campaigns urging them to debate. Some of Mr. Biden’s top aides and closest advisers have been longtime critics of the presidential debate system, which is organized by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates.

'Nerd Prom' to Air Live Saturday Night

Journalists, politicians and entertainers will gather tonight to eat, laugh and raise money at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

President Joe Biden will attend and speak at the event, which some have jokingly dubbed “nerd prom.” “Saturday Night Live” veteran Colin Jost will be the featured entertainer.

The dinner begins at 8 p.m. Eastern at the Washington Hilton Hotel and will be televised on C-SPAN. ABC News Live, CNN and MSNBC are also airing coverage.

FOX News Channel’s Jimmy Failla will host FOX News Saturday Night from the red carpet at the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Emanating from the Washington Hilton from 9-11 PM/ET, Failla’s show will feature interviews with celebrities in attendance, as well as FOX News Media personalities attending the dinner, including White House correspondent Peter Doocy, FOX News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream and America Reports co-anchor Sandra Smith, among others. Failla will also react to President Joe Biden and host Colin Jost’s speeches during the dinner.

NY1,com reports the dinner, which began in 1921, raises money to support journalists who cover the president, provides scholarships for future reporters and educates the public about the value of a free press.

“Colin Jost knows how to make Saturday nights funny, and I am thrilled Colin will be live from the nation’s capital as the headline entertainer for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” WHCA President Kelly O’Donnell of NBC News, who is hosting the event, said in a statement in February when the association announced Jost would be performing.

Aside from Jost and Biden, this year’s dinner guest list includes actors Rachel Brosnahan, Fran Drescher, Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson (who is married to Jost), Andrew McCarthy, Chris Pine, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Molly Ringwald and Hiro Sanada, as well as rapper Quavo. 

Among the political figures expected to attend are Vice President Kamala Harris; first lady Jill Biden; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. 

“My hope is that we can use this night overall to remind people about why a free press is so vitally important, especially in a campaign year,” O’Donnell told Deadline. “I want the night to also reflect on members. I want them to see themselves in the evening. When we gather for these White House Correspondents’ dinners, there’s always a lot of fun, a lot of energy, all of those good things. I wanted to also feel like it’s about the story of the press corps and why our work matters.”

Report: Bob Bakish May Be A Short-Timer At Paramount Global

Paramount Global is reportedly considering removing longtime CEO Bob Bakish and replacing him with a group of executives as the entertainment giant inches closer to a deal with Skydance Media.

The Wall Street Journal reports, Bakish, who has been privately critical of the company’s talks to merge with Skydance, would be replaced on an interim basis with an “Office of the CEO,” comprised of the company’s division heads. 

Bob Bakish

No decision has been made about Bakish’s future, however, and he may remain in place, but the speculation comes at a pivotal time for the conglomerate, which is controlled by media heiress Shari Redstone through her family business National Amusements. Paramount — home to Showtime, CBS, MTV, movie studio Paramount Pictures, and the streaming service Paramount+ — has been hammering out details for a merger with Skydance that it hopes to finalize next month. 

But Redstone and some of the board members have “soured” on Bakish, questioning whether the CEO pursued strategic opportunities for the company “aggressively enough,” including a potential sale of the Showtime channel. 

Spokespeople for the Paramount Global special committee, Paramount Global, and Skydance declined to comment. Bakish, who had been viewed as Redstone’s right hand, was named CEO of Viacom in 2016. He was elevated to the top job after the daughter of the late Sumner Redstone merged the company with CBS in 2019. 

Shari Redstone

Bakish’s critics pointed to Paramount’s eroding TV business, loss-making streaming business, and debt-laden balance sheet. Redstone has blamed Bakish for the company’s overall predicament and what she views as missed chances to strike sound deals. 

People close to Redstone said the mogul was open to selling premium channel Showtime, home to “Billions,” “Dexter,” and “Yellowjackets,” but that Bakish turned down bids — even rejecting a $3 billion offer from former Showtime CEO David Nevins last year. 

Instead, Bakish folded Showtime and its content into Paramount+. Bakish supporters beg to differ, saying that the exec put the company on the map with streaming via its Paramount+ launch, acquisition of Pluto TV (an ad-supported TV streaming service), as well as maintaining CBS’s strong industry position, among other things. 

Paramount’s market value has plunged to $8.4 billion from $25.3 billion in 2019. Removing Bakish could add more chaos to an already turbulent time for Paramount as it explores the deal to merge with Skydance, run by David Ellison, son of Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Borrell Unveils Top Digital Performers

According to Borrell Associates, radio’s largest operators have been witnessing a significant shift in revenue sources. As digital platforms continue to grow, the question arises: Which companies are leading the way in digital revenue?

Here are the key findings from Borrell’s 2024 Annual Benchmarking Report released this week.  

The report evaluates the digital revenue contributions of publicly traded US and Canadian media companies:

Entravision: Currently, Entravision leads the pack with an impressive 84.3% of its total revenue stemming from digital channels. However, this status is under threat due to the withdrawal of Meta from a major revenue deal, which could significantly impact Entravision’s digital earnings.

Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media secures the second position among radio contenders. Digital formats accounted for 52.3% of its total 2023 revenue.

Salem Media Group: Salem Media Group finishes third, with digital contributing 42.3% of its revenue. Note that this data may have changed in the last quarter of the year, as data from its radio segment was only released through the third quarter of 2023.

iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia rounds out the top five, with digital making up 30.5% of its revenue in 2023. This figure surpasses that of its competitors Urban One, Audacy, Cumulus Media, Beasley Media Group, and Saga Communications, which have digital revenue percentages under 10%.

While newspapers lead the way with a whopping 45.5% digital share, radio continues to outperform television in this arena.

NYC Radio: Student Run Radio Airs Coverage Of Protests

WKCR, Columbia University’s student radio station, has been playing a crucial role in covering the ongoing student protests on campus. As pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue to unfold, WKCR’s undergraduate reporters have become an essential news source, working tirelessly for up to 18 hours a day. A story in The Guardian recapped the details:

Quick Transition: On April 17, WKCR swiftly shifted its focus from music and specialized programming to breaking news. As students established a pro-Palestinian encampment on the university lawns, WKCR’s broadcasting studio became a hub of activity. Student journalists collaborated with field reporters to provide live coverage, capturing everything from police presence to performance arts clubs entertaining classmates.

Chaos and Thrills: WKCR’s live broadcasts have been as chaotic and thrilling as radio can get. During last Wednesday’s events, as NYPD officers arrested student protestors and Isra Hirsi (daughter of US Representative Ilhan Omar) faced suspension, WKCR reported directly from the encampment. The raw, unpolished dispatch conveyed the atmosphere of upheaval on campus, complete with audio gaps and hosts trying to keep up with the unfolding situation.

Dedicated Team: The station’s 19 reporters, mostly undergraduates, have been juggling their reporting duties with academic studies. Their commitment to delivering accurate news has been unwavering, even as tensions escalated during clashes between students, university administrators, and the NYPD. Columbia University’s renowned journalism school and other student publications have also contributed to comprehensive coverage from within the encampments.

“Chachi Loves Everybody” Podcast Releases Two New Episodes

Benztown announces the release of two new episodes of Chachi Loves Everybody, an original podcast produced by Benztown and featuring Benztown President and audio brand builder Dave “Chachi” Denes. The episodes feature Chachi’s recent sit-down at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas with Mike Hulvey, CEO, RAB, and his chat with Brad Samuel, Founder, Epic Media, from Benztown’s Los Angeles studios.

To listen to the new podcast episodes, visit: https://bit.ly/ChachiLovesEverybody.

Chachi Loves Everybody takes listeners with Denes – better known as “Chachi” – as he sits down for candid conversations with radio’s legends, master brand builders, up-and-comers, and innovators in the burgeoning audio space, revealing the true stories behind their successes and their insights into building iconic brands through audio.

Chachi’s first guest is Mike Hulvey, newly appointed CEO of the RAB, who takes listeners through his journey from being awe-struck by radio broadcasts at a young age to eventually climbing the ranks of broadcast management and leadership. Mike delves into his vision for the future of radio and the significance of local content engagement. He shares highlights and lessons learned in his career, the impact of his early influences, and his passion for developing future broadcasting talent through his summer mentoring program.

Hulvey has held prominent positions in various industry organizations, including the International Broadcasters Idea Bank and the National Association of Broadcasters. An advocate for local, state, and national volunteer organizations, he is also the founder of a nationally recognized summer mentoring program for aspiring broadcasters. Before joining the RAB as President and CEO, he was CEO of Neuhoff Communications.

Radio History: April 27

➦In 1791...Samuel Morse was born Samuel Finley Breese Morse (Died – April 2, 1872). He was an American painter and inventor.

After having established his reputation as a portrait painter, in his middle age Morse contributed to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs. He was a co-developer of the Morse code, and helped to develop the commercial use of telegraphy.

In 1825 New York City had commissioned Morse to paint a portrait of Lafayette in Washington, DC. While Morse was painting, a horse messenger delivered a letter from his father that read, "Your dear wife is convalescent". 

The next day he received a letter from his father detailing his wife's sudden death.   Morse immediately left Washington for his home at New Haven. By the time he arrived, his wife had already been buried.  Heartbroken that for days he was unaware of his wife's failing health and her death, he decided to explore a means of rapid long distance communication.

While returning by ship from Europe in 1832, Morse encountered Charles Thomas Jackson of Boston, a man who was well schooled in electromagnetism. Witnessing various experiments with Jackson's electromagnet, Morse developed the concept of a single-wire telegraph. The original Morse telegraph, submitted with his patent application, is part of the collections of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution.  In time the Morse code, which he developed, would become the primary language of telegraphy in the world. It is still the standard for rhythmic transmission of data.

➦In 1927..In Pacific Coast Biscuit Company launched KPCB in 1927 from Seattle.  Queen City Broadcasting took over the station in 1935, changing the call letters to the KIRO.  The station boosted its signal to 1,000 watts in 1937, and CBS soon moved its Seattle affiliation to KIRO. On June 29, 1941, KIRO's new 50,000-Watt transmitter on Maury Island became operational.

During the radio’s golden age in the 1940s and 1950s, KIRO recorded countless hours of CBS programming for time-delayed broadcast.  Many of these discs are the only extant recordings of CBS’ news coverage of World War 2, according to Faded Signals.

Bonneville International purchased KIRO-AM-FM-TV in 1964. By this time, KIRO-AM was carrying a full-service format of news, talk and middle-of-the-road music.  In 1973, it dropped CBS and affiliated with Mutual.  The station became “KIRO Newsradio 71” in 1974, replacing most music programming with news and talk.  The station spent the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s at the top of Seattle’s radio ratings.

On August 12, 2008, KIRO began simulcasting their programming on sister station KBSG-FM, which dropped their long-running classic hits format. This began the transition of KIRO Newsradio from AM to FM.  To complete the transition, KIRO switched to a sports radio format (as 710 ESPN Seattle) on April 1, 2009, and began carrying Seattle Mariners games, beginning in the 2009 season. KIRO also simulcasts the Seattle Seahawks games with KIRO-FM, and has extensive team-related programming throughout the year. KIRO-FM continues the news/talk format.

Bonneville sold KIRO-TV to Belo in 1995 and then sold KIRO-AM-FM to Entercom.  Bonneville bought back the stations in 2007.

➦In 1932...Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem born in Detroit (Died at age 82 – June 15, 2014).  He was the host of several music radio countdown programs, notably American Top 40 from 1970 until his retirement in 2009. He also provided the voice of Norville "Shaggy" Rogers in the Scooby-Doo franchise from 1969 to 1997, and again from 2002 until 2009.

Report: Paramount, Skydance GettingCloser to Deal

Paramount Global and Skydance Media are reportedly making significant strides toward a merger. The two media companies are actively working on a deal that would not only combine their forces but also involve the buyout of controlling shareholder Shari Redstone. 

Here are the key details:

Valuation and Equity: Paramount Global’s special committee, along with David Ellison’s Skydance Media (supported by private equity firms KKR and RedBird Capital Partners), is currently focused on determining the value of Skydance’s assets as part of the merger. Additionally, discussions are underway regarding how much equity to inject into the company through recapitalization.

Agreement on Value: The sides are close to agreeing on a value for Skydance. The entertainment company is expected to be valued at approximately $5 billion and will merge with Paramount Global. To facilitate this, Ellison and the private equity firms plan to raise approximately $4.5 billion to $5 billion in new equity.

YouTube Revenue Drives Alphabet's 1Q Earnings

YouTube, the Google-owned video giant, continues to dominate the advertising landscape. In the first quarter of 2024, YouTube’s ad sales reached an impressive $8.1 billion, marking its highest Q1 total to date. This figure represents a 21% year-over-year increase in ad revenue. Notably, this amount doesn’t even include subscription revenue generated by YouTube.

Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, reported overall revenue of $80.54 billion, a significant 15% growth, and net income of $23.66 billion (up 57%). These robust results exceeded Wall Street expectations, driving Alphabet’s stock up by 12% in after-hours trading.

YouTube creation has also seen a lift. “In 2023, more people created content on YouTube than ever before,” Phillip Schindler, chief business officer for Google, said on Alphabet’s earnings call.

Additionally, its YouTube Partner Program has paid out “more than any other creator monetization platform,” Schindler said. In the past three years, the creator monetization platform has paid over $70 billion to creators, artists and media companies.

Media Mogul Sues FCC Over TV Deal Gone Sour

Media Mogul Soo Kim has filed a lawsuit against the FCC, alleging racial discrimination.

The lawsuit stems from the FCC’s decision to derail an $8.6 billion deal to purchase Tegna Inc. Kim claims that he was not considered the “right type of minority” for the FCC’s diversity goals. 

Soo Kim

Here are the key details: Soo Kim, is a Korean American raised in New York, and his company, Standard General, won a public bidding auction to buy Tegna and its 60-plus television stations in 2022.

Kim intended to install a female chief executive, and the transaction was poised to be a historic leap forward for both minority ownership and female leadership of broadcast stations.

FCC’s Decision: However, the FCC nixed the deal in favor of Black media tycoon Byron Allen. The complaint alleges that the FCC believed Allen’s black-owned company deserved greater solicitude than Kim’s Asian American-owned company.

Byron Allen

Racial Discrimination: Kim’s lawyers argue that the FCC’s diversity policies and practices did not consider being Asian as a factor. They assert that Kim’s race was used against him with pernicious stereotypes.

Equity and Fair Treatment: Kim seeks accountability and equitable treatment, emphasizing that every person appearing before the FCC deserves to be treated fairly. 

Kim accused the FCC of dragging its feet by taking over 300 days to take action on Standard General’s license-transfer applications for the Tegna stations before the deal was "killed" without notice. 

"Standard General was one of the largest shareholders, losing nearly $85 million based on its 10.6 million shares owned when the deal died," the complaint said. "The FCC chairwoman and her personal staffer blocked the deal at the behest of Mr. Allen, who used business allies and six-figure political donations to destroy Mr. Kim’s chances of acquiring TEGNA – to the tune of over $200 million in losses to Standard General and Mr. Kim and nearly $2 billion in losses to TEGNA shareholders."

Nielsen Releases 2024 Annual Marketing Report

Nielsen has released its sixth global Annual Marketing Report, revealing marketers’ priorities and plans to improve ROI in 2024 and beyond.

The report, which surveyed nearly 2,000 global marketers, found that marketers continue to view social media, search, online/mobile video, and online/mobile display as the most effective marketing channels for ROI, but could miss out on key revenue opportunities without a cross-media strategy and approach.

The 2024 Annual Marketing Report surveyed marketers on topics including budget allocations and spending optimism, brand building strategies, media balance, and overall confidence. 

Some of the key findings globally include:

Marketer spending optimism is up in 2024: Despite the presence of inflation, consumer spending, and supply chain uncertainties as key planning considerations, 72% of global marketers expect bigger ad budgets this year, up from 64% on a year-on-year basis.

Marketer tactics may not drive top KPI results: Marketers’ top KPIs are long-term ROI and full-funnel ROI. At the same time, however, 70% of respondents plan to prioritize performance marketing over brand building initiatives. A shift to performance marketing, without supporting brand-building marketing, could limit long-term ROI and may cause brand decay.

FCC Proposes NALs Totaling $857K+ For Pirate Operators

 

The Federal Communications Commission Thursday proposed fines against seven pirate radio operators under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act) for operating six pirate radio stations.  

These pirate radio stations, investigated during the Enforcement Bureau’s sweep in the Boston area under the PIRATE Act, now face proposed fines totaling $857,775.

Pirate radio is an unauthorized transmission of radio signals on the frequencies in or adjacent to the FM and AM radio bands.  Pirate radio operations pose public safety risks, including causing harmful interference to licensed radio stations which transmit public safety emergency alert messages.  Operating a pirate radio station is illegal under the Communications Act of 1934 and subject to the FCC’s enhanced enforcement capabilities enacted by Congress in the PIRATE Act in 2020.  Under the PIRATE Act, the FCC can fine pirate radio operators up to $119,555 per day and a maximum of $2,391,097, as adjusted for inflation.

NYT Slams Biden For 'Systematically Avoiding' Media Interviews

The New York Times has issued a scorching statement, criticizing President Joe Biden for avoiding questions from independent journalists during his term. 

The Times finds it troubling that Biden has actively and effectively sidestepped interviews with major news organizations. 

They argue that this behavior not only undermines an important norm but also sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents to evade scrutiny and accountability. 

The statement came following a report from Politico about escalating tensions between the Times and the White House.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger reportedly confronted Vice President Kamala Harris over Biden's decision to avoid interviews with major newspapers. After Sulzberger questioned Harris on why Biden had not done sit-down interviews with major newspapers, including his own, Harris told him to get in touch with the White House press office. She later "grumbled" to her aides, Politico reported, about the exchange being a waste of time. 

Some on Biden's team believe the Times has not adequately covered the importance of the 2024 election, which they view as "a matter of democracy's survival," according to Politico Magazine's report on the tumultuous relationship between The White House and the paper. 

The people closest to Biden reportedly see the newspaper as "arrogant," and reluctant to give the president "his due."

4/26 WAKE-UP CALL: Economic Growth Is Slowing

Slowing economic growth and firm inflation spells trouble for Wall Street. Gross domestic product expanded at a 1.6% seasonally- and inflation-adjusted annual rate in the first quarter the Commerce Department said. The pullback from last year’s quick pace lagged behind the 2.4% projected by WSJ-polled economists. The data also suggested inflation, using the Fed’s preferred gauge, was likely firmer than expected in March. That gives investors another reason to stop expecting the central bank to cut interest rates in the coming months. 

Individual readings on growth and prices so far this year haven’t been enough to dramatically change the Fed’s outlook, but the cumulative effect has been notable. Investor concerns drove broad-based declines across U.S. stocks and government bonds.

NY Post 4/26/24

➤WEINSTEIN CONVICTION OVERTURNED:  New York’s highest court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for sex crimes. The court, in a divided ruling, said that a trial judge committed fundamental errors, including admitting testimony that shouldn’t have been allowed. In a leading case of the #MeToo movement, jurors found the Hollywood producer guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sex act for incidents with two women. 

In a stunning reversal, Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction in New York has been overturned by the state’s highest court, citing "egregious errors." The case galvanized the #MeToo movement, which targeted celebrities' sexual misconduct. @EvaPilgrim reports. pic.twitter.com/K8aqIalN6R

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) April 26, 2024

Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison, isn’t a free man, though. In a separate case, a California jury convicted him in 2022 of rape and other offenses, earning him a 16-year prison sentence. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it will “do everything in our power to retry this case.” A Weinstein representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

➤SCOTUS SEEMS OPEN TO TRUMP IMMUNITY DEFENSE: The Supreme Court appeared open to some of Donald Trump’s immunity claims. The justices considered whether former presidents should be granted immunity from being prosecuted for alleged crimes committed while in office, and specifically whether Trump could be prosecuted on charges that he conspired to steal the 2020 presidential election. He denies any wrongdoing, but has argued that if he broke the law, the Constitution’s framers preferred to let a president get away with crimes than worry about the potential of future prosecution. 

U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared to focus on a potential middle ground regarding presidential immunity as they heard arguments on whether former President Donald Trump should be granted immunity from prosecution on criminal charges of interfering in the 2020 presidential… pic.twitter.com/Ji7CPEqZst

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 25, 2024

The Supreme Court, which spent little time discussing the specifics of Trump’s case, signaled an interest in broadly protecting the presidency for the future. Any high court decision embracing that position could further delay or end Trump’s trial.

WATCH: @TulsiGabbard calls out MSNBC: "You look at the kind of stuff that Morning Joe says, they’ve never known a greater president, 'Joe Biden’s at the top of his game'. It’s become comical at this point, because the truth is staring us all in the face.”
pic.twitter.com/xj89u5u5ZI

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) April 25, 2024

➤PECKER TALKS:  David Pecker testified about deals to bury stories that could be damaging to Trump. Here's what he said.  Longtime tabloid publisher David Pecker was questioned by the prosecution and cross-examined by Donald Trump's attorney in the former president’s criminal hush-money trial. 

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testified again in court today, detailing the alleged scheme to quash negative stories about Trump and make up negative stories about his opponents during the 2016 presidential campaign.
@VaughnHillyard reports. pic.twitter.com/ipWyAtYDwu

— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) April 25, 2024

During the prosecution’s questioning on Thursday, the longtime tabloid publisher told jurors about the practice of buying stories that could be damaging to Trump and refusing to publish them. His testimony included references to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.