TV Ratings: FOX News Channel Dominates Cable News

During the week of December 2-8, FOX News Channel (FNC) commanded 71% of the primetime cable news share, while MSNBC and CNN continued to shed viewers following the election. 

FNC continued to lead all of cable with primetime and total day viewers during the final regular season week of college football. In primetime (8-11 PM/ET), FNC earned 2.5 million viewers and 280,000 in the 25-54 demo, commanding all of cable news across the board. 

In total day (6AM-6AM/ET), FNC posted 1.7 million viewers and 208,000 in the 25-54 demo. Notably, FNC secured 99 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the week. Additionally, through the week FNC crushed CNN by 426% with total day viewers and 579% with primetime viewers and trounced MSNBC by 269% with total day viewers and 294% with primetime viewers. The FOX Nation Patriot Awards, which aired on Sunday on FNC at 10 PM/ET, delivered over 1 million viewers, far outpacing CNN Heroes by 263% on the same night.

• For the week, MSNBC and CNN reached a number of historic lows. Its programs including Alex Wagner Tonight (595,000 P2+), Inside with Jen Psaki (651,000 P2+) and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (61,000 A25-54) along with CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins (77,000 A2-54) all suffered their worst week ever.
• Since the election, FOX News occupied 73% of the cable news audience in primetime as the majority of those watching the genre are turning into the network while MSNBC and CNN’s viewership drop-offs continue. In primetime, MSNBC has seen 62% of its A25-54 audience flee the channel with the network delivering only 56,000 in A25-54 and 603,000 in viewers (-55%). CNN has lost over half of its audience in primetime in the A25-54 demo in primetime, averaging 78,000 (-51%) in A25-54 and 401,000 in viewers (-46%). Audiences have continued to dwindle in total day for MSNBC and CNN with MSNBC losing over half of its audience in A25-54 with 43,000 (-53%) and down nearly fifty percent in viewers with 455,000 (-47%) and CNN dropping 41% in A25-54 with 57,000 viewers and 330,000 in P2+ (-35%). 

Ratings Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN

• For the week, The Five averaged 4.1 million viewers and 431,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news with viewers. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 3.1 million viewers and 344,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.9 million viewers and 326,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.5 million viewers and 383,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the top show in cable news primetime in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.9 million viewers and 333,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.6 million viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo.
• FNC also saw a number of its daytime programs outrank the broadcast competition. Most notably, Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2,221,000 P2+) and Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 2,111,000 P2+) outpaced CBS Mornings (2,096,000 P2+). The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 2,053,000 P2+), America’s Newsroom with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 2,045,000 P2+), America Reports with Sandra Smith and John Roberts (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1,972,000) and FOX & Friends (1,430,000 P2+) all outpaced NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna (1,396,000 P2+), ABC’s GMA3 (1,361,000 P2+), CBS’ The Talk (1,269,000 P2+) and NBC News Daily (1,210,000 P2+).

• On Saturday: FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 10 AM/ET) was the most-watched show of the day with 1,554,000 viewers and 149,000 in the 25-54 demo. Cavuto Live (weekends, 10 AM -12 PM/ET) followed with 1,519,000 viewers and 145,000 in the 25-54 demo. Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) was the most-watched show in primetime with 1,432,000 viewers.
• On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday 10 AM/ET) was the top show of the weekend with 1.7 million viewers and 159,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 10 PM/ET, the FOX Nation Patriot Awards secured over 1 million viewers and 106,000 in the 25-54 demo. CNN Heroes, which also aired in primetime on Sunday night, struggled to only grab 276,000 viewers and 46,000 in the 25-54 demo. Life, Liberty & Levin was the most-watched show in primetime with 1.3 million viewers.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 12-2-24 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.

A trio of MSNBC programs hit all-time viewership lows last week as the network continues to struggle on the heels of President-elect Donald Trump’s Election Day victory.  "Alex Wagner Tonight," "Inside with Jen Psaki" and "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" all hit rock bottom last week despite a busy news cycle that included the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the ensuing manhunt for his killer, a slew of news related to Trump’s Cabinet picks, the fallout from President Biden announcing he would pardon his son, Hunter, and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad being ousted from power. 

Edison Research: Top Ten Findings For 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, Edison Media Research has unveiled ten of their favorite insights from the work they conducted this year.

Edison’s Top 10 Findings of 2024 include:

Number Ten...Smart Devices Have Triumphed: From smart speakers to wearable tech, smart devices are an integral part of daily lives. Ninety-three percent of the U.S. population age 12+ own a Smartphone, Smart TV, or Smart Speaker – an estimated 267 million Americans.

Nine...Roe’s end moved voters’ attitudes about abortion, but not necessarily their votes: Exit poll data from the 2024 election shows how views on abortion have changed significantly regardless of party since 2020. The combined numbers for the two ‘legal’ positions went from 51% of Americans in 2020 to 65% this year. Election Bonus Finding: Exit polling is a vital part of international elections: Polls from Venezuela and Georgia demonstrate the importance of collecting third-party data from voters in countries where the official count may be susceptible to manipulation or other uncertainties.

Eight...YouTube is the service used most often for podcast listening: YouTube, typically known as the go-to platform for video content, has risen to the top as the most popular service used for podcast listening in the U.S. with 30% of weekly podcast listeners age 13+ choose YouTube as the service they use most to listen to podcasts.

Seven...Podcast listening location, and popular podcast genres, differ in the UK and the U.S.: 6% of UK weekly podcast listeners listen to podcasts most often on public transportation compared to the 2% of U.S. weekly podcast listeners. Nineteen percent of U.S. weekly podcast listeners listened to a True Crime podcast in the past week, while 11% of UK weekly podcast listeners did the same.

Six...Many True Crime consumers listen to podcasts but not true crime podcasts: An opportunity is uncovered for True Crime podcast creators to reach a new audience – 17% of the U.S. population age 13+ (48 million Americans) are True Crime consumers who listen to podcasts, but not True Crime podcasts.

Five..Gen Z and Millennial U.S. Latino listeners are more likely to listen or watch podcasts with other people: Among U.S. monthly Latino listeners who listen or watch podcasts with other people, those aged 18-24 are 47% likely to share their podcast listening experience with others. 25-34-year-olds are close behind at 46% and listeners aged 35-44 are the most likely to listen or watch podcasts with others at nearly half, 49%.

Four..U.S. women are sports fans, and they listen to sports audio: 57% of the U.S. female population age 13+ consider themselves sports fans – an estimated 83 million Americans. Thirty-three percent of female sports fans listened to sports audio content in the last week, while 37% of weekly female sports audio listeners spent 5+ hours listening to sports audio in the last week.

Three..Spotify is now the primary source Americans age 12+ use to find new music: Around half of music listeners agree it is important to keep up-to-date with new music, and their means of music discovery has changed. In 2016, 4% said Spotify was the one source they use most often to keep up to date with new music. That number skyrocketed to 18% in 2024, beating out all other platforms in our survey.

Two..The Top Five kids’ podcasts for kids: Kids are consuming podcasts created especially with them in mind, and these are the ones that reach the most kid listeners. The Top Five Kids Podcasts among kids 12 and under are: Story Pirates, Brains On! Science podcast for kids, Wow in the World, Circle Round, and What if World – Stories for Kids.

One..The audio day of Americans has changed significantly in the past 10 years: Americans age 13+ now spend an average of 18% of their audio day listening to streaming music from sources such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify, 14% listening to YouTube for music, and 10% listening to podcasts. AM/FM radio still takes the largest portion of the audio day on a 13+ basis with 36%, driven heavily by in-car listening.

Bonus finding: 19% of those age 12+ are currently using X (formerly known as Twitter), a 30% drop from the findings in the 2023 Infinite Dial study.

SiriusXM Radio Pivots Its Strategy For 2025

Sirius XM Holdings has announced the appointment of Wayne D. Thorsen as Executive Vice President and to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.

Thorsen officially began his new duties on December 1 and will oversee SiriusXM’s product and technology functions, as well as aspects of the company’s commercial operations, including business development, automotive, and streaming distribution.

Wayne Thorsen

In his new role, he will report directly to SiriusXM’s Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Witz. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of security company ADT Inc.

“We are pleased to add Wayne to the SiriusXM team at this pivotal time for the company,” said Jennifer Witz, Chief Executive Officer of SiriusXM. “Wayne is a seasoned leader who brings significant experience driving business development and innovation, and he is well-positioned to help guide the company through this next chapter as we sharpen our focus on delivering meaningful results alongside greater efficiency. While at Google, where Wayne led business development for the devices and services division, Wayne was a wonderful partner for SiriusXM, and I look forward to working closely with him to drive SiriusXM forward.”

“As a long-time SiriusXM subscriber myself, I have always admired SiriusXM’s platform and its commitment to providing listeners with unmatched content. It is an honor to join this company as it enters its next phase,” said Thorsen. “This is an important time for SiriusXM, and strong execution will be critical as the company implements its new strategy. I’m excited to work alongside Jennifer and the rest of the SiriusXM leadership team to turn the company’s vision into results-driven, efficient action and capture the opportunities ahead.”

Thorsen’s appointment comes as SiriusXM announces plans to pivot away from streaming to focus on core aspects of its business, including its automotive subscriber segment and exclusive, curated premium content.

Shares of Sirius XM Holdings Inc., the online radio service that’s home to shock jock Howard Stern, fell as much as 9.8% after the company issued a 2025 revenue forecast that fell short of Wall Street estimates and said it will undertake a new cost-cutting drive.

The stock was down 8.7% to $26.25 in New York trading after falling as low as $25.92, the steepest one-day drop since late September. It had retreated 47% this year through Monday.

Reflecting this strategic shift, SiriusXM announced the departure of Joseph Inzerillo from his role as Chief Product and Technology Officer, effective immediately. Inzerillo oversaw the development of SiriusXM’s tech platform and led the launch of the company’s streaming app.

“At SiriusXM, we are focusing on the strengths that set us apart – including our strong core subscriber base, our unique position in vehicles, and our unrivaled, curated content – while taking steps to drive profitability and cash flow as we face marketplace headwinds impacting the company’s growth trajectory,” said Witz. “We have a clear path forward and are confident we can deliver for our stockholders.”

Info-Wars Sale To The Oinion Blocked By Bankruptcy Judge

A federal bankruptcy judge has rejected the sale of Alex Jones’s Infowars platform to satirical news website the Onion, ruling Tuesday that the November court-ordered auction of Jones’s website lacked transparency.

The decision capped a two-day hearing that stretched late into the night in U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez’s Houston courtroom.

“I don’t think anyone acted in bad faith here. I think everyone was trying to buy an asset and put their best foot forward and play by the rules,” Lopez said as he delivered his decision. The judge took issue with the lack of transparency from the sealed bidding process selected by the court-appointed trustee Christopher Murray, who was overseeing the sale of Jones’s assets. The judge added that he was troubled that the process, however well intended, “did maximize value in any way, based on the record before me.”

“I don’t think it was enough money,” Lopez said of the winning bid, adding he did not think the backup bid was high enough, either.

Lopez said he does not want another complex auction, but deferred to Murray on how to proceed with fetching top dollar for Jones’ assets.

Global Tetrahedron, the Onion’s parent company, was named the winning bidder of a Nov. 13 auction to acquire Infowars. The platform was among the assets Jones was forced to sell to help pay the roughly $1.5 billion in damages he owes to families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting who sued for defamation after Jones claimed the massacre was a “hoax.”

Minutes after the verdict, Jones appeared live on X, telling more than 440,000 viewers: “A judge followed the law.”

Key Findings Resulting From Taylor Swift's Record-Breaking Tour

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has grossed more than $2 billion in ticket sales, her production company confirmed to The New York Times. 

According to Anna Fleck at Statista, this makes it more than twice that of gross ticket sales for any other concert. Swift’s worldwide tour was made up of 149 shows across five continents, in front of a total of more than 10 million fans. It has now come to a close, after 149 shows, the final three of which were in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Rolling Stone has since confirmed reports that Swift paid the performers and crew of the Eras Tour $197 million in bonuses since starting the tour in March, 2023. These bonuses were on top of the salaries of crew members, from truck drivers and caterers to carpenters and hair stylists.

The U.S. pop star rarely cancels shows, however, did so twice during her Eras Tour. Last November, she postponed the second night of her Rio de Janeiro gig due to extreme heat, following news that an attendee had died on the tour’s first night in the city. Three nights, running August 8, 9 and 10 were also canceled over concerns for the safety of fans in Vienna after local authorities confirmed that two men had been arrested in connection to an alleged terror attack at a Swift concert.

In addition to the live tour, the pop star’s tour movie became the highest-grossing concert film in history, grossing over $260 million in global box office revenue. In the first weekend alone, it grossed over $93 million in the domestic box office and was shown in 3,855 U.S. theaters.

Apple Updates iOS adding ChatGPT

 
Apple released updates for its iPhone, iPad and Mac software on Wednesday that include a long-awaited ChatGPT integration with Siri.

CNBC reports the ChatGPT integration triggers when users ask Siri complicated questions. When Siri is asked a question that Apple’s software identities as better suited for ChatGPT, it asks the user permission to access the OpenAI service. Apple says that it has built in privacy protections into the feature, and that OpenAI won’t store requests. The integration uses OpenAI’s GPT-4o model.

Apple users don’t need an OpenAI account to make use of the ChatGPT integration, but users can pay for upgraded versions of ChatGPT through Apple. Users can also access ChatGPT through some text menus.

The iOS 18.2 release is a critical milestone for Apple, which is relying on Apple Intelligence to lead the iPhone 16 lineup’s marketing campaign. Apple Intelligence is the company’s suite of AI features. Apple first announced the ChatGPT integration back in June.

Apple released the first part of Apple Intelligence in October. Those features included writing tools that can proofread or rewrite text, a new design for Siri that makes the whole phone screen glow and notification summaries.

The company says it will release another update to Apple Intelligence next year that includes significant improvements to Siri, including the ability for it to take actions inside of apps.

Many investors believe that as Apple Intelligence adds features, it will boost iPhone sales, drive an upgrade cycle and potentially cement Apple as a leader in consumer-oriented AI.

Amazon Pulls CEO Murder Merch

From T-shirts and hoodies to coffee mugs and shot glasses, merchandise referring to the suspected gunman in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk is popping up on the internet.

Online sellers, looking to cash in on the sympathies that some have expressed for suspect Luigi Mangione, have drawn criticism.

"Some attention in this case, especially online, has been deeply disturbing, as some have looked to celebrate instead of condemning this killer," Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a recent news conference.

Among the merchandise is a Christmas ornament with “Deny” “Defend” and “Depose” – the words found on bullet shell casings at the crime scene in New York – and “Free Luigi” stickers. Some platforms are taking down the merchandise, saying it violates their rules.

Etsy, an online platform where the Deny, Defend Depose ornament is listed for sale, did not respond to a request for comment.

Online marketplaces generally prohibit the sale of items that glorify violence, but that prohibition does not extend to all Mangione-related merchandise.

“eBay policies do not prohibit the sale of items with the phrase ‘Deny. Defend. Depose,’” the company said in a statement. “However, items that glorify or incite violence, including those that celebrate the recent murder of UHC CEO Brian Thompson, are prohibited.”

Amazon told USA TODAY it has pulled merchandise using the phrase for violating company guidelines. A search now only yields links to the 2010 book “Delay, Defend, Deny: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.”

Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a wealthy family was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a customer at a McDonald's spotted him. He faces charges of second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a weapon in the third-degree. He was denied bail Tuesday and is fighting extradition to New York.

Milwaukee Radio: News/Talk WISN Tweaks On-Air Line-Up for New Year

iHearttMedia/Milwaukee announced Tuesday that Conservative talk-radio host Dan O'Donnell will take over Mark Belling's afternoon drive-time slot at WISN1130 AM next year.

The Journal-Sentinel reports O'Donnell, who has hosted his own show at the Milwaukee talk-radio station from 9 to 11 a.m. since 2017, will take over WISN-AM's drive-time slot from 3 to 6 p.m. starting Jan. 2. Belling, whose drive-time show has been one of Milwaukee radio's most listened-to programs since he took it over in 1989, announced in October that he was shifting his show to a podcast-only format in 2025.

Benjamin Yount, news director at WISN-AM and an on-air substitute host at the station, will take over O'Donnell's 9-to-11 a.m. slot, also starting Jan. 2.

Dan O'Donnell

The rest of the iHeartMedia station's daytime lineup remains the same: Jay Weber's show, from 6 to 9 a.m.; the syndicated show “Clay Travis and Buck Sexton,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Vicki McKenna, from 2 to 3 p.m.

On his own show Tuesday morning, O'Donnell noted that he had been telling WISN-AM director of programming and operations Jerry Bott that he needed an extra hour to get in all the topics he wanted to talk about.

"My wish has come true," he told his listeners.

Before he hosted his own show, O'Donnell spent more than three years as a news anchor, reporter and substitute host at the station. Before that, he worked for more than a decade at WTMJ 620 AM, as a reporter, news anchor and sports show host.

The new podcast version of Belling's show, recorded under the WISN-AM and iHeart umbrella, will begin May 1. Under the contract extension Belling signed in October 2022, the talk-radio host got some downtime during the first four months of the year.

Belling, now 68, had a stroke while on the air in February 2019, but he said at the time of his contract extension that he wanted to do "a little less" to make sure he was working up to his own standards — and "to spend some time in warmer weather."

Trump Picks Kimberly Guilfoyle As Ambassador To Greece

Kimberly Guilfoyle

President-elect Donald Trump announced former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle Tuesday as his pick for ambassador to Greece, tapping a longtime ally who campaigned extensively with him and has been romantically involved with his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

However, The NY Post reports Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle have broken up. Insiders add that Trump Jr. has moved on with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. There have been rumors for months that Don Jr. and Guilfoyle’s relationship has been on the rocks: Multiple sources have told us recently that the political power couple had split, or were on shaky ground.

"For many years, Kimberly has been a close friend and ally," Trump wrote on social media. "Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad."

USaToday reports Guilfoyle worked at Fox News for more than a decade, co-hosted "The Five" and previously served as a prosecutor.

She shared in a post on X she was "honored" to accept the nomination.

Guilfoyle is the latest individual with close ties to the Trump family to receive a position in his second administration. The president-elect chose Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to be ambassador to France. Trump also selected Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany Trump, for an administration job. Jared Kushner and his wife, Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, served in the president-elect's first administration.

Pete Hegseth SecDef Nomination Remains On Track

Former Fox Host Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s supporters this week launched an intense pressure campaign to keep lawmakers in line behind the president-elect’s most controversial nominees. It appears to be working, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Trump’s pick of Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary drew concerns from Republican senators because of a swirl of allegations about sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. Amid blowback from Trump allies and after several weeks of sit-down meetings with Hegseth, many senators say they are supportive of letting the confirmation process play out next year. While some still aren’t guaranteeing a “yes” vote, they are signaling they want to get to “yes.”

“As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources,” said Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), a military veteran who had remained noncommittal on Hegseth and faced threats of a primary challenge in 2026 unless she got on board.

with Senator Joni Ernst

Other senators, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), also indicated they don’t plan to throw up roadblocks. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.) said Hegseth pledged to him that he wouldn’t touch alcohol while Defense secretary, and that he would give him the benefit of the doubt ahead of his confirmation hearing.

The turnaround for Hegseth shows the power of Trump’s MAGA moment, even as the president-elect himself has continued to back him publicly but has largely stayed above the fray. After former Rep. Matt Gaetz was forced to withdraw as the attorney general pick, Trump’s aides feel it is important to beat back the doubts over Hegseth to make sure concerns about other nominees don’t snowball, according to people familiar with the dynamic. 

Hegseth’s defenders have rejected various allegations against him, saying they are spurious and invalid coming from unnamed sources. In one incident that blindsided the Trump transition team, Hegseth faced a sexual-assault allegation from 2017, which he paid his accuser to keep secret even while denying the claims. Hegseth’s attorney has said he would consider suing the woman at the center of the 2017 allegations for defamation if she speaks publicly about the events.

Baltimore Radio: Suspect Has Family Ties to WCBM Radio

A prominent Maryland family says in a statement that they are "shocked" and "devastated" after Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania and charged in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

CBS News reports Luigi is related to the Mangiones, a family in Maryland that owns several country clubs, including Haysfield Country Club in Hunt Valley, as well as health care facilities and real estate companies in the Baltimore area. 

"Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione," Nino Mangione said in a statement from the family. "We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi's arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved. We are devastated by this news."

According to The Baltimore Banner, Luigi's late grandfather, Nicholas Mangione Sr., was a self-made real estate developer who owned country clubs, nursing homes and a radio station. His grandmother Mary, who died in 2023 from Parkinson's disease, was described in an obituary as a hospital benefactor and a music patron.

The Banner reports the Mangione family purchased Turf Valley Country Club in 1978, establishing it as a golf course resort and residential community. According to the Banner, family businesses also include the Lorien Health Services nursing homes and radio station WCBM 680 AM.

Nino Mangione, a Republican state lawmaker in Maryland, previously hosted a show on WCBM 680 before taking office in 2018.

Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested at a McDonald's Monday afternoon in Altoona, PA on firearm charges after he was recognized by an employee. He was later charged in New York for Thompson's murder.

Thompson was shot and killed on December 4 outside the Hilton Midtown Hotel in Manhattan, New York. 

Houston Radio: KRBE Radiothon Raises $164K+ For Miracle Net

Cumulus Media’s 104.1 KRBE, Houston’s #1 Hit Music station, presented the 3rd annual “Houston’s Little Heroes” community fundraising event on Thursday, December 5th to benefit Texas Children’s Hospitals. The successful effort raised a total of $164,012.32 in funds for the Texas-based charity.

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education, and research.

104.1 KRBE’s “The Roula & Ryan Show” kicked off the daylong event with a live broadcast from Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, which continued throughout the day with Afternoon Drive on-air personalities Kevin and Audrey. 104.1 KRBE listeners heard poignant and uplifting stories from hospital staff, patients and families sharing how Children’s Miracle Network has improved the lives of children facing medical emergencies and hospitalization.

“We are so grateful for the incredible support from our community. This Houston’s Little Heroes is an opportunity for our listeners to come together and make a real impact,” said Leslie Whittle, Regional Content Director for KRBE-FM. “We’re excited to offer a fun and interactive way for our listeners to get involved while supporting a cause that truly matters on a local level.”

Listeners can contribute by calling 800-234-6217 or by texting “KRBE” to 51555. They can also visit https://donate.mygift4kids.org/getdonor to donate. Every donation, large or small, makes a difference in supporting Texas Children’s Hospital.

Philly Radio: WOGL Radiothon Raises $241K+ For CHOP

Audacy Philadelphia’s WOGL (BIG 98.1) has raised $241,253 for the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with its 23rd annual “BIG 98.1 Loves Our Kids Radiothon.” 

Proceeds from the radiothon go towards highly trained CHOP staff – the Child Life Specialists who offer tailored care and support to children and families facing illness, injury, or hospitalization. These services include age-appropriate preparation, education, therapeutic play, creative arts therapies, and more.

“Child Life Specialists at CHOP are the real heroes, comforting kids when they need it most. They’re like best friends to the patients and a lifesaver for the parents. We’re proud to use our platform to support them,” said David Yadgaroff, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Philadelphia. “The ‘BIG 98.1 Loves Our Kids Radiothon’ is a special event for us and our community. We couldn’t do it without the amazing support of our listeners and advertisers.”

The “BIG 98.1 Loves Our Kids Radiothon” was hosted by morning show host Coop, who talked to patients, their families, CHOP staff and an array of co-hosts, including talent from sister stations at WBEB-FM (B101) (WBEB-FM ), WIP-FM (Sports Radio 94WIP) and KYW Newsradio (103.9 FM / 1060 AM) about the miracles that happen every day at CHOP. The event was broadcast live from Audacy corporate headquarters in Philadelphia on December 5 and 6.

Radio History: Dec 11

➦In 1899...The fame of radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi took a leap forward on this day when William Preece, the Chief Electrical Engineer of the British Post Office, gave a public lecture in London called "Telegraphy without Wires", praising the Italian's ideas. Marconi had left his native Italy earlier in the year believing that his work was unappreciated by his countrymen. Aged 21, he thought he would have more success in the United Kingdom.

Preece became involved when he was alerted by a Customs officer at Dover who found electrical apparatus in Marconi's case. The Post Office man became fascinated by the Italian's experiments and they formed a friendship which led to Preece's lecture. From then on Marconi's fame grew, culminating in the first transatlantic radio communication in December 1901. It was transmitted from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, and received at St John's Newfoundland. An excited Marconi later wrote about the experience:

"I placed the single earphone to my ear and started listening. The receiver on the table before me was very crude – a few coils and condensers and a coherer; no valves, no amplifiers, not even a crystal.

➦In 1936... King Edward VIII, decided to abdicate the British throne.  He made the announcement in a worldwide radio broadcast.

He famously said, "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love."

He added that the "decision was mine and mine alone ... The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a different course".

Edward departed Britain for Austria the following day; he was unable to join Simpson until her divorce became final, several months later. His brother, the Duke of York, succeeded to the throne as George VI. George VI's elder daughter, Princess Elizabeth (who passed in September 2022), became heir presumptive at that time.

➦In 1944..."The Chesterfield Supper Club," a 15-minute weekday program airing at 7:00 p.m. (ET), debuted on NBC Radio. Initially, Perry Como hosted all the shows. Beginning with the second season, he reduced his schedule to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while Jo Stafford hosted Tuesdays and Thursdays. In 1948, Peggy Lee took over the Thursday broadcast. In September 1949, the show aired weekly and it was extended to 30-minutes.

➦In 1954...Allan Waters purchased 10-year old Toronto radio station CHUM 1050 AM from patent medicine king Jack Part, for shares Waters held in Part’s companies, and $500 a month.

CHUM was a 1000 watt daytime-only station, which Waters built into a 50,000 watt top 40 juggernaut.

Less than three years after Waters acquired the station, and soon after bringing the new full-time transmitter online, a major programming change was made. On May 27, 1957, at 6 AM, Waters switched the station to a "Top 50" format that had proven itself popular in some U.S. cities; Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" was the first song played. "1050 CHUM" pioneered rock and roll radio in Toronto, and was noteworthy for hosting many noteworthy rock concerts including, among others, visits to Maple Leaf Gardens by Elvis Presley (1957) and the Beatles (1964, 1965, and 1966).

The station rose in popularity in Toronto in the late 1950s and early 1960s; though it never supplanted perennial Toronto ratings champ CFRB at the top of the ratings chart, it was still a major broadcasting powerhouse with a particular appeal to the teen market. As the station became more successful, it also built yet another new transmitter in Mississauga, Ontario (a few miles west of the current Toronto city line) along the Lake Ontario shoreline, and raised its power once again to its current 50,000 watts around the clock.

➦In 1964...Soul and gospel singer 33-year-old Sam Cooke was shot to death. He  died at the Hacienda Motel, in Los Angeles. Answering separate reports of a shooting and of a kidnapping at the motel, police found Cooke's body, clad only in a sports jacket and shoes but no shirt, pants or underwear. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, which was later determined to have pierced his heart. The motel's manager, Bertha Franklin, said she had shot Cooke in self-defense after he broke into her office residence and attacked her. Her account was immediately disputed by Cooke's acquaintances.

SiriusXM Unveils '25 Strategic Plan, Names New COO

SiriusXM expects to bring in less revenue next year than in 2024, according to the company’s latest guidance.

The satellite radio and audio-streaming company said Tuesday that it projects $8.5 billion in revenue for 2025 and is standing by guidance for $8.675 billion in revenue this year.

Sirius XM Holdings announced an updated strategic plan, which sharpens the focus on core subscription business; leverages the strength of its advertising business across its portfolio; accelerates efficiency throughout the organization; and emphasizes margins, free cash flow generation, and stockholder returns. 

Wayne Thorsen

The company will shift marketing and other resources away from high-cost, high-churn audiences in streaming to focus resources on core revenue-generating segments. SiriusXM is further optimizing efficiencies in key areas across the business. The company targets an initial incremental $200 million of annualized savings exiting 2025. 

SiriusXM expects to reduce its debt by approximately $700 million in 2025 and achieve a leverage ratio of 3.6x by year end 2025. The Board of SiriusXM remains committed to current quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share, or $1.08 per share annually. The Board authorized $1.166 billion common stock repurchase program remains in place.

SiriusXM also provided 2025 guidance for total revenue of $8.5 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $2.6 billion, and free cash flow of $1.15 billion. This follows the reaffirmation of 2024 guidance for total revenue of approximately $8.675 billion, adjusted EBITDA of approximately $2.7 billion, and free cash flow of approximately $1 billion.

Sirius XM has appointed Wayne Thorsen, former Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of ADT Inc., to serve as SiriusXM's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective December 16, 2024. Joseph Inzerillo has stepped down from his role as Chief Product and Technology Officer, effective immediately.

Nielsen: Streaming Nabs Largest Share of TV

Time spent watching TV in November reached a nine-month high, according to Nielsen’s latest report of The Gauge, as viewing levels increased 5% compared to October to record the largest monthly viewing total since February. TV viewership in the November interval was impacted primarily by sports, the presidential election and live streaming, all of which drove peak shares of TV for viewing categories each in separate weeks this month. Additionally, as this interval ended on November 24, the typical Thanksgiving holiday surge in TV viewing will be included in the December report of The Gauge.

The Gauge_November 2024

Broadcast viewing in November was up 3% and accounted for 23.7% of time spent watching TV. The first week of the interval was the most dominant for the broadcast category as it featured Games 3, 4 and 5 of the MLB World Series on FOX, in addition to the usual slate of NFL and college football games. The final three World Series games totaled over 10 billion viewing minutes combined, and the Dodgers’ victory over the Yankees in the Game 5 conclusion drew 18.2 million viewers to make it the sixth most watched broadcast telecast this interval. This more concentrated week of broadcast sporting events lifted the category to a peak share of 24.9% of TV in the first week of the month, and helped increase broadcast sports viewing by 34% over October.

Coverage of the presidential election drove viewing increases in the second week of the month, most notably for cable. While cable ultimately finished with a 25.0% share of viewing in November, its share during the week of the election jumped to 26.5% of TV with much of the increase attributable to cable news. Interestingly, cable news viewing was up just 1% on a monthly basis, but climbed from 36 billion viewing minutes to 48 billion viewing minutes between weeks one and two (+32%) to give it the boost in share.

Streaming viewership increased 7.6% in the November interval and the category posted a record share of TV with 41.6% (+1.1 pt.). Some of this increase can be attributed to viewers seeking solace from the atypical, election-fueled news cycle covered by many traditional TV networks, and was also illustrated by the streaming category reaching 42.6% of TV viewing during the third week of the interval. Moreover, Netflix also exhibited peak viewership during week three when it hit 8.5% of TV (compared to its overall monthly share of 7.7%). This peak for Netflix coincides with the live-streamed Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, and was also fueled by viewing to its original series The Lincoln Lawyer, which was the most watched streaming program this interval with 3.9 billion viewing minutes.

Trending

There were also three streaming services that notched platform-best shares of TV in November, including The Roku Channel (up 12% to 1.9% of TV), Prime Video (up 10% to 3.7% of TV), and YouTube, which secured a new category record with 10.8% of TV. Peacock, while short of its Olympics-driven platform record, still drew the largest monthly increase among streamers for 1.5% of TV (+0.2 pt.). Peacock’s considerable increase was partially due to Despicable Me 4, which drove 1.5 billion viewing minutes and a 58% increase in kids viewing on the platform.

FNC's Judge Pirro Secures First Daniel Penny Interview

FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Jeanine Pirro will present the first interview with former Marine Daniel Penny, following the not guilty verdict in the trial of the chokehold death of Jordan Neely.

NY Post Graphic

The exclusive interview will be released on Wednesday, December 11th on FOX Nation with a first look airing today on FNC’s The Five at 5 PM/ET.

Pirro currently serves as a co-host of cable news’ highest-rated program The Five (weekdays, 5-6 PM/ET) and has thoroughly covered the Penny case for the network.

She is a former district attorney of Westchester County where she held office for three consecutive terms. Notably, she was the first woman to prosecute murder cases and started the first domestic violence unit in a prosecutor’s office in the country as Westchester’s assistant district attorney. In 1990, Pirro was elected as the first woman to serve as a Westchester County Court judge. She was appointed by then-Governor George Pataki to chair the New York State Commission on Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board in 1997, whose research assisted in passing increased protection for domestic violence victims.

Influential Senator Out To Defund NPR

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has introduced the Senate companion to the No Propaganda Act to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). 

The bill would block federal funding for the CPB because of the organization’s chronically biased content.

“The Corporation for Public Broadcasting refuses to provide Louisianians and Americans with fair, unbiased content. It wastes taxpayer dollars on slanted coverage to advance a leftist political agenda. The No Propaganda Act would save taxpayer money by putting an end to Big Brother’s propaganda outlet,” said Kennedy.

Congress has appropriated more than $15 billion to fund the CPB, which it allocates to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). 

CPB states that its goal is to, “educate, inform, foster curiosity, and promote civil discourse essential to American society.” However, in April, a whistleblower exposed NPR’s decision to not broadcast the Hunter Biden laptop scandal because NPR believed covering the story would help presidential candidate Donald Trump during the 2020 election cycle.

In 2020, reports also revealed that PBS used taxpayer dollars to partner with a Chinese Communist Party-controlled media outlet, CGTN, to produce a pro-Beijing film.

LA Radio: KNX News Goes Live from New Studio & Newsroom

L.A.’s Morning News co-anchor Mike Simpson was the first anchor behind the mic in the station’s new Studio 1 at Audacy Los Angeles, after nearly 20 years in facilities on a different floor.

Take a look at our new newsroom and studio! pic.twitter.com/AcnP26WAzJ

— KNX News 97.1 FM (@knxnews) December 9, 2024

The makeover took over a year to complete. KNX News extends its heartfelt thank you to the crews and IT team who worked tirelessly to bring this new the newsroom and studio to life.

KNX News went live from its new studio at 11 a.m. on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/pttcrR19ye

— KNX News 97.1 FM (@knxnews) December 9, 2024

Rupert Loses Murdoch Family Feud Over Succession

 

A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly against Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to change his family’s trust to consolidate his eldest son Lachlan’s control of his media empire and lock in Fox News’s right-wing editorial slant, according to a sealed court document obtained by The New York Times.

The commissioner, Edmund J. Gorman Jr., concluded in a decision filed on Saturday that the father and son, who is the head of Fox News and News Corp., had acted in “bad faith” in their effort to amend the irrevocable trust, which divides control of the company equally among Murdoch’s four oldest children — Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence — after his death.

The ruling was at times scathing. At one point in his 96-page opinion, Gorman characterizes the plan to change the trust as a “carefully crafted charade” to “permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch’s executive roles” inside the empire “regardless of the impacts such control would have over the companies or the beneficiaries” of the family trust.

A lawyer for Murdoch, Adam Streisand, said that they were disappointed with the ruling and intended to appeal. A lawyer for James, Elisabeth and Prudence did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The battle over the family trust is not about money — Murdoch is not seeking to diminish any of his children’s financial stakes in the company — but rather about future control of the world’s most powerful conservative media empire, which includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and major newspapers and television outlets in Australia and Britain.

Murdoch, now 93, has long intended to bequeath these sprawling media conglomerates to his children, much as his own father had passed on his vastly smaller media company to Murdoch and his sisters. But he is also determined to preserve the right-wing bent of his empire, and reconciling these two desires has become a growing challenge for him.

James and Elisabeth are both known to have less-conservative political views than their father or brother. If Mr. Murdoch fails to lock in Lachlan’s leadership of the company, he will be unable to ensure that Fox News will remain a right-wing news outlet after his death, putting in jeopardy the legacy of the conservative empire he had spent his life building. In seeking to consolidate Lachlan’s control over this empire, Mr. Murdoch has argued that maintaining the political bent of his outlets — and stripping the voting power of three of his children — is in the financial interest of all his beneficiaries.

Comcast Warning Spooks Wall Street

Comcast Corp.'s typically steady stock price was down 9% on Monday after the tech giant's cable chief warned investors of high broadband losses.

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports the decline in share price would be Philadelphia-based Comcast's largest daily swing of the year in either direction, trumping a 6% increase on Nov. 6.

Comcast Cable CEO Dave Watson said on Monday the company's fourth quarter is resembling Comcast's first half of the year when it lost nearly 100,000 subscribers per quarter.

Watson, speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, described competition in the space as "competitively intense," particularly with price conscious customers. He added that hurricanes Milton and Helene alone would result in about 10,000 net broadband losses in Florida.

"We could be looking at a broadband subscriber loss in Q4 of just over 100,000," Watson said.

Google Deletes Bad McDonald's Bomb Reviews

NY Post Graphic

Google on Monday removed derogatory reviews about McDonald's after the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson was arrested at its restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police say a customer alerted a local employee about him.

Reuters reports the negative comments aimed at McDonald's were the latest in what is known as "review bombing," where an establishment is hit with a litany of bad reviews based on a political view or an occurrence unrelated to its actual business.

In this case, the negative and one-star reviews showed up after Luigi Mangione, 26, was captured at a McDonald’s in Altoona. He was spotted eating at the restaurant by a customer who alerted a McDonald's employee, state police said.

"These reviews violate our policies and have been removed," a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The policy says that review contributions "should reflect a genuine experience at a place or business" and that "content that has been posted from multiple accounts to manipulate a place's rating" will be removed.

"This location has rats in the kitchen that will make you sick and your insurance isn't going to cover it," one review said.

The insurance executive's murder unleashed a wave of frustration from Americans who have seen their health insurance claims or care denied, faced unexpected costs or paid more for premiums and medical care - all trends that are rising, according to recent data.

Thompson, 50, was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel early on Wednesday morning by a masked man who appeared to wait for his arrival before shooting the executive from behind.

The suspect ran from the scene and then rode a bike into Central Park. Surveillance video captured him exiting the park and taking a taxi to a bus station in northern Manhattan, where police believe he got on a bus to flee the city. Police said Thompson appeared to be deliberately targeted.

WATCH: CNN’s @ScottJenningsKY pulls out a chart on live TV ripping the left for their reactions to UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s execution.

“Let me just help you understand if you're on the American left tonight.”

“The good guy today, Daniel Penny.”

“The bad guy, Luigi… pic.twitter.com/bMSkW9OxpA

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) December 10, 2024

The suspect was arrested after a five-day manhunt.

Audio: The Ideal Media Platform To Market Video Streaming Services

A series of tracking studies measuring American use of video services reveal podcasts and AM/FM radio are ideal marketing platforms for video streamers like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount+, Hulu, and Disney+. Each quarter, Screen Engine/ASI, a leading market researcher for movie studios, video streamers, and TV networks, conducts a study of 2,000 Americans to understand their awareness and usage of video services.

SEASIThe Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group® conducted an analysis of six recent quarterly studies spanning Spring 2023 to Fall 2024.

Key findings reveal:

• Nielsen: Since 2021, video streaming’s share of TV time spent has soared from 26% to 40%

• Americans are cutting back on the number of ad-free video subscriptions while increasing the number of video services with ads

• Screen Engine/ASI: The audience profile of video streamers closely aligns with podcast and AM/FM radio listeners, not linear TV viewers

• While the profile of heavy audio consumers is a perfect match for the video streaming audience, most of the media budgets go to linear TV

• Despite massive spending on linear TV, ad recall levels for video services among heavy TV viewers are identical to those among heavy audio listeners

• A wide variety of AM/FM radio programming formats provide reach for the video streaming target audience

• Nielsen: At any spend level, AM/FM radio dramatically outreaches linear TV

• Nielsen Media Impact: AM/FM radio makes your TV better: Hulu experiences a +76% increase in reach with a 20% reallocation to AM/FM radio; Much of the reach growth occurs among younger demos and light TV viewers.

To read the full blog post, click here.

Security Contractor To Seek Damages From CNN

A judge ruled Friday that a security contractor can seek punitive damages against CNN over a November 2021 report about war profiteers who charged Afghans who were trying to leave their country after the U.S. military withdrawal.

The LA Times reports the contractor, Zachary Young, said CNN destroyed his business by including him in a segment by chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt, which focused on how Afghans were being charged high prices by evacuation services.

The report used the term “black market” in an onscreen graphic and in a spoken introduction. Young, the only person mentioned by name in the segment, said the report gave the false impression that he was involved in illegal activity and exploited “desperate Afghans.”

Florida Judge William S. Henry had previously ruled that Young’s actions did not violate any laws and that he never took any money directly from Afghans. Young’s company sought corporate sponsors to pay for assistance in leaving Afghanistan.

Jay-Z Calls Rape Allegation Blackmail

Jay-Z was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean Combs in a lawsuit filed Sunday by an unnamed plaintiff. He vehemently denied the allegation and accused the lawyer who brought the suit of trying to blackmail him with false claims.

The NY Times reports the allegations against the billionaire rapper and hip-hop mogul came as part of the flurry of litigation against Combs, who is facing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges and at least 30 lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct. One of those lawsuits, filed in October, accused Mr. Combs and an anonymous celebrity of raping the teen at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in New York in 2000.

On Sunday, the plaintiff amended the lawsuit to name Jay-Z as the other celebrity, asserting in court papers that he and Mr. Combs took turns raping her after she arrived at the party and drank part of a drink that made her feel “woozy and lightheaded.” Jay-Z called the claims “idiotic” and said that he came from a world where “we protect children.” Mr. Combs has denied all allegations of sexual assault and misconduct and has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.

The lawsuit was filed by Tony Buzbee, a personal injury lawyer in Houston, who has filed at least 20 sex assault lawsuits against Mr. Combs and used a phone hotline, Instagram and a news conference to find clients.