Radio History: Dec 14

➦In 1877...Ernst Werner von Siemens received a patent for improving the performance of Thomas A Edison's loudspeaker.  He was a German electrical engineer, inventor and industrialist. Siemens's name has been adopted as the SI unit of electrical conductance, the siemens. He was also founded of the electrical and telecommunications company Siemens.

➦In 1908...Actor/comedian Morey Amsterdam was born in Chicago.  While he was featured on NBC Radio’s weekend Monitor programming in the 50’s & 60’s, and had his own show in the earliest days of the TV era, he will always be best remembered as Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show.  He died after a heart attack Oct 27, 1996 at age 87.

➦In 1942...Onetime New York City personality, Dave Herman, was born. Most notably heard on WNEW-FM and WXRK-FM.

Dave Herman

Herman began his career at WHTG in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and then moved on to become WMMR's first rock DJ. His show, dubbed The Marconi Experiment, debuted on April 29, 1968. The first song played on the show was "Flying" by The Beatles. He then moved to WABC-FM, which would later become WPLJ.

Most notably, he later became the morning drive host on WNEW FM, where he was the morning host from 1972 to 1982, 1986 to 1991 and then again from 1996 until the station dissolved in 1998. He was one of the station’s best-known voices.  He was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of notable disc jockeys.

In 2013, Herman was arrested at the airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, after going there from his vacation home in the area. The criminal complaint stated he expected to meet a woman and her six-year-old daughter, who he allegedly believed was being brought for a sexual encounter with him. He was charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Herman died of an aneurysm on May 28, 2014, in Essex County Jail in Newark, NJ, while awaiting trial. He was 78.

➦In 1953...WWRL 105.1 FM in NYC signed on. Station is now iHeartMedia's WWPR.

The station was co-owned with WWRL 1600 AM by radio enthusiast William Reuman.  The call sign was changed to WRFM in October 1957, breaking away from the AM simulcast with a diversified and classical music format.

According to Wikiwand, Bonneville International, the broadcast arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, purchased WRFM in 1967. The following year, WRFM, billing itself as "Stereo 105," adopted a beautiful music format.  Ratings for the station were good, and for a couple of times, WRFM was the top-rated FM station in New York.  The station's ratings continued to be strong, but by 1985, the easy listening audience was starting to age and was not as attractive to advertisers. On April 17, 1986, the station switched to a gold-based adult contemporary format with the call letters WNSR, for New York's Soft Rock.  WNSR focused on songs from the 1960s and 1970s, with some 1980s titles and a moderate amount of current adult contemporary songs as well. Initially, the station's ratings were modest. However, once AC competitor 103.5 WYNY went to a country music format, WNSR's ratings went up.

By 1990, the station became known as "Mix 105", and shifted to more of a hot adult contemporary format, focusing on 1970s, 1980s and current hits, with only a few 1960s titles. By April 1992, when the station changed its call letters to WMXV, the 1960s hits were gone, and more recent music was added.  On November 13, 1996, the Hot AC format at WMXV abruptly ended, the station switched formats to an adult-friendly Modern AC format as WDBZ ("The Buzz").

On August 5, 1997, with ratings on the decline, the call sign changed back to WNSR. The original plan was for the station to drop the "Buzz" format in favor of an oldies-based AC format, playing songs from 1964 to current hits. Bonneville sold the station to Chancellor Media, which also owned WHTZ, WLTW, WKTU, and WAXQ.

Gradually, from September through November 1997, the station returned to HotAC, and then Mainstream AC. For the next few months, the station would simply be known on-air as "FM 105.1", and only used the WNSR call sign for the legal IDs.

On January 21, 1998, at 6:30 p.m., the station relaunched as "Big 105," with the call letters WBIX.

Initially, Big 105 was musically very close to WLTW, but evolved to a HotAC format by that May, similar to what WPLJ was playing at the time. WBIX also added Danny Bonaduce of The Partridge Family TV show fame as its morning show host.

On December 10, 1998, at 6 p.m., the station flipped to then-growing "Jammin' Oldies" format, and branded as "Jammin' 105." On March 1, 1999, WBIX changed call letters to WTJM, in order to match the "Jammin'" branding. The station played rhythmic and dance pop hits of the mid-1960s through the 1980s. TV comedian Jay Thomas was hired for morning drive time. WTJM did better in the ratings than the previous format, and its results initially challenged those of longtime oldies station WCBS-FM.

Chancellor merged with Capstar Broadcasting to form AMFM Inc. in 1999. Then, in 2000, Clear Channel Communications merged with AMFM Inc., giving WTJM and the other four stations a new owner. Under Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia), WTJM evolved into an urban oldies direction, and then to an urban adult contemporary format, while keeping the "Jammin' 105" moniker.

At 6:05 a.m. on March 14, 2002, the station abruptly changed, as it flipped to its current mainstream urban format as WWPR-FM "Power 105.1." A speculated reason for the format change is that while they could not beat competitor WQHT Hot 97, they could take enough ratings away from them to keep them from being number one, which would leave WWPR's sister station WLTW as the number one station in the market, after battling WQHT for top honors.

➦In 1959…Billboard magazine reported the record industry’s practice of payoffs to disc jockeys and radio station music directors was all but dead, after it was exposed in the government’s “payola” investigation.

➦In 1977..."Saturday Night Fever," premiered in New York City. It was a huge commercial success. The film significantly helped to popularize disco music around the world and made John Travolta, already well known from his role on TV's Welcome Back, Kotter, a household name.

NYC Radio: Hot 97’s “Ebro In The Morning” Show Abruptly Ends

New York radio suffered its biggest shake-up in years as the flagship morning program Ebro In The Morning vanished from MediaCo-owned WQHT (Hot 97) virtually overnight. 

All traces of the show – hosted by Ebro Darden, Peter Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez – have been scrubbed from Hot 97’s website, confirming the program’s immediate departure after nearly 13 years as the station’s morning cornerstone.

Syndicator Superadio, which distributed the show nationally, released a short statement late Wednesday:

“While the distribution of Ebro in the Morning in its current form is ending, Superadio remains fully committed to the Ebro brand. We look forward to continuing to bring Ebro’s voice and talent to the masses across new platforms, which we’ll be sharing more about very soon.”

Ebro Darden himself broke the news on X with a terse post:  “It’s done. More to come. #EbroInTheMorning”

Co-host Peter Rosenberg followed with an emotional reflection: “I lived out a childhood dream and it was amazing. Very excited for what’s next.”

The sudden exit caps a turbulent few months at the legendary hip-hop station. In September, longtime nighttime king Funkmaster Flex shifted to the 5–10 p.m. slot, while 27-year station veteran DJ Enuff and MD/VP of Artist & Label Relations TT Torrez both departed. 

Those moves, combined with the loss of the morning show that defined Hot 97’s brand for over a decade, signal the most dramatic overhaul of the station’s on-air lineup in its 40-year history.

Neither Hot 97 nor its parent company MediaCo have commented publicly on what will replace Ebro In The Morning or whether the hosts were let go, walked away, or some combination of both. 

For now, one of New York radio’s most influential platforms has gone silent on its future – while Ebro, Rosenberg, and Stylez appear headed to new ventures under the continued backing of Superadio.

NYC Radio: The Block Shakes Up Line-Up

New York’s classic hip-hop station 94.7 The Block (WXBK) is undergoing major changes as morning host Tarsha "Miss" Jones and syndicated evening personality Ed Lover have both exited the Audacy-owned outlet, with industry observers speculating the moves could clear the way for a high-profile new morning show.

The nearly simultaneous departures come just days after the abrupt end of Ebro In The Morning at rival Hot 97, prompting questions about whether Ebro Darden and his team might resurface on The Block.

Ed Lover, a hip-hop radio and TV legend, had been hosting evenings on WXBK since adding New York duties in March 2022. He joined Audacy in April 2018 as morning host at sister station 104.3 Jams (WBMX) in Chicago before transitioning to a syndicated nighttime program later that year, which expanded to markets including Seattle, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.

Jones and Lover

Prior to Audacy, Lover rose to fame co-hosting Yo! MTV Raps and held influential morning gigs at Hot 97 (WQHT) New York from 1993 to 1999, helped launch Power 105.1 (WWPR-FM) in 2002 alongside Doctor Dre, and had stints at Los Angeles’ KKBT, SiriusXM, and a Radio One syndicated show out of Atlanta from 2015 to 2017.

Miss Jones joined The Block for mornings in August 2022, marking her return to New York radio. A former R&B singer turned broadcaster, she began her on-air career at Hot 97 as part of the Star & Buc Wild morning show, later moved to Philadelphia’s WPHI (103.9 The Beat), returned to Hot 97, was syndicated back to Philly, and hosted mornings at iHeartMedia’s Power 99 (WUSL) from 2009 to 2011.

Audacy has not yet announced replacements or detailed programming changes for WXBK. The station, which flipped to classic hip-hop/throwbacks in late 2021, has been building a personality-driven lineup in the competitive New York market, but these exits signal another wave of transition amid ongoing shifts in urban radio.

AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act Gains Massive Support

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979) has surged to unprecedented bipartisan backing in the U.S. House of Representatives, amassing more than 300 cosponsors as of December 2025, clearing the path for a potential full floor vote that could mandate AM broadcast radio as standard, no-cost equipment in all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States.

Reintroduced in February 2025 after expiring in the previous Congress, the legislation—led by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ)—advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in September on a strong bipartisan vote. Its companion Senate bill (S. 315), sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA), has also garnered over 60 cosponsors and cleared committee early in the year.

Proponents, including the NAB, emphasize AM radio's critical role in public safety, delivering emergency alerts via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) during disasters when cell networks fail. Supporters point out that several automakers, particularly for electric vehicles, have phased out AM receivers due to interference issues, risking access to lifesaving information in rural and underserved areas.

The bill directs the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring AM-capable devices in vehicles manufactured or imported after the rule's effective date, with clear labeling required in the interim for any models lacking it. It also commissions a Government Accountability Office study on AM's effectiveness versus emerging alternatives for emergency communications.

Endorsements span more than 125 organizations, from emergency management groups and the American Farm Bureau to AARP and diverse broadcaster associations. Industry leaders argue the mandate preserves free, over-the-air access to news, weather, sports, and alerts without additional consumer charges.

With supermajority House support and momentum from prior near-passage in the last Congress, advocates are pressing for swift floor action before year-end, potentially sending the measure to the president's desk and ensuring AM radio's survival in the dashboard era. Automakers have raised concerns over costs and technical challenges, but the overwhelming congressional backing signals broad recognition of AM's enduring public-service value.

Conservatives Lobby FCC To Consider Revoking NPR Licenses

A conservative advocacy organization has called on the Federal Communications Commission to open a formal inquiry into whether NPR and PBS affiliates should lose their broadcast licenses, arguing that the networks no longer serve the "public interest, convenience, and necessity" after Congress eliminated all federal funding for public broadcasting earlier in 2025.

In comments filed December 10 in the FCC's "Empowering Local Broadcast TV Stations to Meet Their Public Interest Obligations" proceeding—a rulemaking originally aimed at addressing power imbalances between national networks and local affiliates—the Center for American Rights (CAR), led by President Daniel Suhr, contended that the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) signals Congress's view that NPR and PBS "failed to serve the public well."

The group urged the FCC to require NPR, PBS, and their member stations to submit detailed financial disclosures, donor information, long-term business models, and potential "wind-down or transition plans" for markets where stations might close. CAR further suggested reallocating spectrum if the networks cannot demonstrate viability without taxpayer support, citing warnings that defunding could force some affiliates "to go dark."

CAR also raised ideological concerns, claiming NPR and PBS programming has "alienated much of the US population" by failing to represent diverse political and cultural perspectives.

The filing aligns with broader actions by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has revived complaints against major networks for alleged bias and previously investigated public broadcasters. Public media lost approximately $1.1 billion in previously allocated CPB funds through fiscal 2027, prompting station closures, budget cuts, and operational wind-downs—including the CPB itself shutting down by late 2025.

Scott Pelley: 60-Minutes Free Of Front Office Interference

Veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley told an audience Thursday that the iconic CBS newsmagazine has experienced “no corporate interference of any kind” under Paramount’s new Skydance-led ownership, even after the company paid $16 million to settle a Trump lawsuit over a controversial Kamala Harris interview and committed to installing a news-division ombudsman.

Speaking while accepting the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism for his coverage of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against major law firms, Pelley directly addressed months of industry anxiety following the Paramount-Skydance merger and the abrupt departures of longtime “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens and CBS News president Wendy McMahon.

Scott Pelley

“In that season last year, all of our stories got on the air,” Pelley said. “We got them all on the air with an absolute minimum of interference — nothing that anyone in this room would have been alarmed by. It’s early yet, but what I can tell you is we are doing the same kinds of stories with the same kind of rigor, and we have experienced no corporate interference of any kind.”

Pelley insisted editorial independence has remained intact so far this season.

The veteran anchor was blunt, however, about the human cost of the leadership upheaval, calling the exits of Owens and McMahon “heartbreaking” and describing them as “the most outstanding leaders in journalism I have ever known in my career.”In a lighter moment, Pelley reminded the crowd that threats to press freedom are hardly new, joking, “There was a time when freedom of the press was in worse shape than it is tonight — 1798, when the Sedition Act made it illegal to criticize the government.”

Miami Radio: Soros-Backed Radio Mambi Drops Talk Format

Miami's iconic Radio Mambí (WAQI 710 AM), a 40-year pillar of the Cuban exile community and conservative Spanish-language talk radio, ended its live programming at midnight on December 12, 2025, with most staff laid off amid declining ratings and financial pressures.

The station, often called "La Grande," shifted to archived shows, music, and sports broadcasts (including Spanish-language coverage of the Miami Marlins and Heat), with most staff laid off.

George Soros

Founded in 1985, Radio Mambí became an iconic platform for political debates, denunciations of the Cuban regime, and community discussions among Miami's Hispanic population, particularly older Cuban exiles. It was acquired in 2022 by Latino Media Network (LMN), a Democrat-led group with funding linked to George Soros, as part of a $60 million purchase of 18 Spanish-language stations from TelevisaUnivision. 

The sale sparked controversy, with conservatives fearing it aimed to moderate or silence right-wing voices; several hosts defected to competitor Americano Media.

LMN intended to make the programming more "moderate, centrist, and factual," but critics argue little changed in tone, and efforts faltered due to low investment in promotion and resistance from staff.

WAQI 710 AM (50 Kw)

Ratings declined (to a 1.1 share in November 2025), and financial struggles led to the decision. This followed the earlier shutdown of sister station WQBA (1140 AM) in June 2025, which also went to an all-music format after failed reform attempts.

For more than four decades, Radio Mambí (WAQI 710 AM) served as a cornerstone of Miami's Cuban exile community and broader Latino audiences in South Florida.The station hosted presidents, governors, mayors, dissidents, former political prisoners, cultural figures, and everyday community members, fostering a platform deeply tied to anti-communist sentiment and conservative viewpoints.

Critics, however, long accused it of promoting right-wing extremism and spreading misinformation.

In 2022, Latino Media Network—a bipartisan but Democrat-led group backed in part by liberal investor George Soros—acquired Radio Mambí and sister station WQBA as part of a $60 million deal for 18 Spanish-language stations nationwide. 

The network aimed to shift both toward more moderate, fact-based news and talk programming.Efforts to revamp WQBA included hiring renowned broadcaster Oscar Haza to lead a new lineup launched in 2024. But by July 2025, the station ended all news and talk content, laying off staff and switching to an all-music format amid financial struggles.

Now Radio Mambí has followed suit, ending its live news and talk programming after 40 years—a decision attributed to economic pressures, declining audiences, and younger Latinos shifting to digital platforms.

Boston Globe Editor Exits

Nancy Barnes, editor of The Boston Globe since early 2023, announced to staff on Friday that she will step down from the position today.

In an internal email, Barnes said she plans to remain with the organization as editor-at-large, where she intends to contribute to a fundraising effort aimed at supporting journalism in New England's news deserts.

“It’s time for me to take a break from the daily firestorm of news, consider new challenges and tend to some personal issues,” Barnes wrote. “This is a special newsroom, full of dedicated journalists with big hearts, who are driven to deliver great journalism day in and day out — as you have these last three years. It has been my great privilege to work with you."

Nancy Barnes

Boston Globe Media CEO Linda Pizzuti Henry, in a separate email to employees, praised Barnes' leadership and said more details on the newspaper's future leadership would be shared soon. “Over the past three years, Nancy has led the Globe newsroom with extraordinary dedication, guiding us through this historic news cycle and helping us deliver exceptional and award-winning journalism that will have a lasting impact on our community,” Henry wrote. “While it is a loss for her to step back, we are thrilled that she is staying with the organization.”

Barnes, who interned at the Globe during college, became the newspaper's 13th editor—and its first woman in the role—after being hired by owners John and Linda Pizzuti Henry following their 2013 purchase of the paper from The New York Times Company. 

Prior to the Globe, Barnes served as senior vice president of news and editorial director at NPR, and as executive editor at the Houston Chronicle and the Star Tribune in Minneapolis (now known as the Minnesota Star Tribune).

Arkansas Non-Com To Exit PBS Affiliation

The Arkansas Educational Television Commission has voted to sever ties with the national PBS network, making Arkansas the first statewide public television system to disaffiliate following Congress's summer decision to strip more than $500 million in annual funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The move, effective July 1, 2026, will remove popular PBS shows such as “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Sesame Street,” “Nova,” and “Antiques Roadshow” from over-the-air broadcast in Arkansas, though many programs may remain accessible online or via streaming. 

The network is rebranding immediately to Arkansas TV, with plans to significantly increase locally produced content focused on the state's people, places, history, cuisine, and community issues.

Executive Director and CEO Carlton Wing described the decision as “strictly financial,” citing annual PBS membership dues exceeding $2 million—roughly matching the $2.5 million lost in federal support. Without the change, he warned, the network faced bankruptcy within two years. 

“We were forced to choose between keeping PBS or losing public media in Arkansas altogether,” Wing said, emphasizing essential services like severe weather alerts for tornado-prone areas remain a priority. Currently, only about 5.5% of aired content is locally produced, a figure he vowed to “multiply in short order.”

A PBS spokesperson called the disaffiliation “a blow to Arkansans who will lose free, over-the-air access to quality PBS programming they know and love,” noting a June YouGov survey found over 70% of residents view PBS as providing excellent community value.

Wing expressed openness to alternatives, including reconsidering ties if PBS reduces fees, adding that the network anticipates growing support from donors, foundations, and sponsors for its new Arkansas-centered focus.

Adweek's Take on 2025's Logo Revamps

In a year where brand scrutiny hit fever pitch, Adweek's Robert Klara dissected five standout logo overhauls in "Five Memorable Logo Revamps of 2025 and Why They Worked (or Didn't)."

From nostalgic backlash to sleek successes, these updates underscore a hard truth: In 2025, a logo isn't just ink—it's a lightning rod for consumer passion, amplified by social media and cultural shifts.

The piece, framed by FutureBrand CCO Daniel Andersson's insight that "logos are where [consumer] feelings coalesce," spotlights revamps that grabbed eyeballs, sparked ire, or quietly nailed relevance. Klara argues the era of silent rebrands is over; today's audiences demand (and deliver) verdicts in real-time. Here's the rundown of Adweek's picks, ranked by impact, with why they landed (or flopped). 

1. Cracker Barrel: Nostalgia Backlash Backfires (The Big Miss)
Cracker Barrel's August 19 debut of its first logo update since 1977—a modernized script font ditching the rustic charm—ignited a firestorm. Social media erupted with boycott calls, memes mocking the "corporate" vibe, and petitions to "bring back the old barrel." Sales dipped 3% in Q3, per Nielsen data cited by Adweek.

✔Why it didn't work: It severed the brand's folksy, heritage-rooted identity without clear gains. Klara calls it a "teachable moment": Consumers crave authenticity; tweaking icons without storytelling feels like betrayal. Lesson? Test with superfans first.

2. Korean Air: Merger Magic Elevates (The Smooth Win)
Fresh off acquiring Asiana Airlines, Korean Air unveiled its first visual refresh in 41 years on June 15—a streamlined wing motif blending Korean hanbok curves with global minimalism, in a bolder red palette. Passenger surveys showed 78% approval, and stock rose 5% post-launch.

✔Why it worked: It symbolized unity and forward momentum without erasing legacy. Adweek praises the "elegant evolution," crediting agency Work & Co for cultural sensitivity that resonated in Asia and beyond. In a consolidating industry, it projected stability.

Radio History: Dec 13

➦In 1897...Andrew Russell Pearson born (Died at age 71  – September 1, 1969). He was one of the best-known American columnists of his day, noted for his syndicated newspaper column "Washington Merry-Go-Round," in which he criticized various public persons.

From 1935 to 1936, Pearson and Robert S. Allen broadcast a 15-minute program twice a week on the Mutual Broadcasting System. They continued with a 30-minute music and news show, Listen America, in 1939–40, ending this partnership in 1941.

Drew Pearson

Pearson continued alone on NBC with Drew Pearson Comments from 1941 to 1953. His commentary was broadcast through 1968 on the now-defunct Intermountain Network.

In addition to radio, Pearson appeared in a number of Hollywood movies. In 1952 and 1953, Pearson hosted The Drew Pearson Show on the ABC and DuMont TV networks.

The "Merry-Go-Round" column started as a result of the Pearson's anonymous publication in 1931 of the book, Washington Merry-Go-Round, co-written with Allen, the Washington bureau chief for The Christian Science Monitor. The book was a collection of muckraking news items concerning key figures in public life that challenged the journalistic code of the day.

According to his one-time partner, Jack Anderson, Pearson saw journalism as a weapon to be used against those he judged to be working against the public interest.When forced to choose between a story's accuracy and Pearson's desire to pursue a person whose views he disliked, Pearson had no qualms about publishing the story anyway. He faced 50 libel suits during his 40 year career, but lost only one.

➦In 1924...KOA-AM, Denver, Colorado, signed-on. KOA was originally owned by General Electric. The station started with 5,000 watts, and in 1927, increased to 12,500 watts. In the early 1930s, power was raised to the current level of 50,000 watts. KOA is the dominant clear-channel station on 850 AM.

At night the signal can be heard in over 30 states of the U.S. and over most of Canada and Mexico. KOA sometimes can be picked up in California, and is usually picked up in Central Washington state, both locations are west of the Rocky Mountains, an obstacle that prevents most east coast radio stations from traveling west of the Rockies. KOA is frequently heard in northern Europe, Australia and Japan, and is one of the most frequently reported stations worldwide.

John Stroebel

➦In 1926...WWVA Wheeling signed-on.  WWVA began broadcasting at 2 a.m. when John Stroebel threw the switch that sent power to a home-built 50-watt transmitter in the basement of his home. One week earlier, the Federal Radio Commission had granted a broadcast license on 860 kHz to the radio station WWVA. In its first year of operation, it broadcast to listeners with home-made crystal sets, principally from Stroebel's own home.

Through the years, WWVA has been granted several power increases. In May 1941, the FCC moved WWVA to 1170, and in August of that same year, granted it the highest power for AM stations: 50,000 watts. With the increase, WWVA became the most powerful AM station in the entire state of West Virginia.

WWVA has changed hands many times over the years. Past owners include Fidelity Investments, West Virginia Broadcasting Corporation, Storer Broadcasting, Basic Communications, Screen Gems Radio - a division of Columbia Pictures, Coca-Cola, Price Broadcasting, Osborn Communications, Atlantic Star Communications, AMFM Inc., and Clear Channel Communications, now iHeartMedia.

➦In 1926...KXL 400 meters (749.6 K.C.) signed on the air with 250 watts.  KXL’s inaugural broadcast hit the airwaves on December 13, 1926 from the top floor of the Mallory Hotel, beginning with a concert from the Mallory Orchestra. The second hour began with dance music presented by the Lyle Lewis Orchestra.

TV Ratings: FOX News Channel Continues to Outpace NBC YTD

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the week of December 1, continuing to beat NBC with weekday primetime in 2025, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Year-to-date in weekday primetime, FNC (3,184,000 viewers) leads NBC (3,141,000 viewers). In Monday - Sunday primetime, FNC nabbed 2.1 million viewers and 168,000 in the 25-54 demo. Across total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.4 million viewers and 114,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the week, FNC commanded 85 of the top 100 telecasts in all of cable.

The Five averaged 3.6 million viewers and 252,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news with viewers. 

At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.6 million viewers and 196,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.3 million viewers and 179,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 2.8 million viewers and 206,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.3 million viewers and 154,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher secured 1.4 million viewers.

FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 2.6 million viewers and 278,000 in the 25-54 demo, the top show among the younger 25-54. Gutfeld! continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2.2 million viewers), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.5 million viewers), and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.3 million viewers).

FNC continued to see its daytime programs outpace the broadcast competition. The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1.9 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 1.7 million viewers) and The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1.7 million viewers) each led ABC’s GMA3 (1.4 million viewers), NBC’s Today with Jenna and Friends (1.4 million viewers) and NBC News Daily (1.3 million viewers).

Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN

On Saturday:  Kayleigh McEnany’s Saturday in America (Saturday, 10 AM - 12 PM/ET) was the most-watched cable news show of the day with 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 6-10 AM/ET) followed with 1.1 million viewers. In primetime, My View with Lara Trump (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) was the top cable news show with 866,000 viewers.

On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) was the number one cable news show of the weekend with 1.4 million viewers. In primetime, Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) led the way with 1 million viewers. The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) hosted by Jacqui Heinrich drew 1.2 million viewers.

U.S. Ad Spending to Surge 11% in 2026

Magna Global, the research and investment unit of IPG Mediabrands, forecasts U.S. advertising spending will grow 11% in 2026, pushing total global media owner advertising revenue past the $1 trillion milestone for the first time. 

While digital platforms continue to dominate growth, radio is positioned to claim a meaningful share through rapid adoption of AI-driven targeting and interactive “shoppable” audio experiences.

The most important details first

Magna’s December 10 report highlights that traditional linear radio’s national market share will dip to approximately 7% in 2026 as streaming audio (Spotify, YouTube, podcasts) siphons listeners and dollars. However, radio broadcasters who integrate AI-optimized ad targeting and interactive formats — such as voice-activated responses, QR-code-triggered purchases during broadcasts, and shoppable podcast ads — are projected to outperform the category average and offset share erosion.

“Full-funnel” audio solutions that connect on-air impressions to immediate digital conversion are gaining traction with major brands. Examples already in market include iHeartMedia’s QR-code-linked live reads and Audacy’s voice-commerce integrations that let listeners add items to carts without leaving the audio stream.

Supporting context and data

• 91% of Americans now access audio primarily through smartphones (Pew Research, 2025).
• Edison Research’s latest Infinite Dial study shows monthly podcast reach has plateaued at ~42%, but time spent with mobile audio apps continues rising.
• Advertisers increasingly demand measurable ROI; interactive audio formats have shown 3–8× higher conversion rates than traditional 30-second spots in early tests.

Bottom line for broadcasters

The 11% overall ad market expansion offers a clear window of opportunity for radio groups to diversify revenue, but the clock is ticking. Stations that fail to deploy AI targeting and interactive capabilities risk accelerating share loss to pure-play digital audio competitors. Those that move quickly can turn legacy reach into modern, measurable performance — and capture a disproportionate share of the coming trillion-dollar ad pie.

Edison Reveals Key 2025 Audio Trends Impacting Radio

Edison Research hosted a free 30-minute webinar Thursday "The Top 10 Findings of 2025," drawing from the company's extensive data including Weekly Insights, custom studies, and syndicated services like Share of Ear® and Infinite Dial reports.

The presentation highlighted evolving audio consumption patterns, with particular relevance for traditional radio broadcasters facing competition from digital formats.

Key impacts on radio broadcasting include persistent dominance of AM/FM radio in ad-supported audio, holding a commanding 64% share compared to podcasts at 20%, according to the latest Q3 2025 Share of Ear data analyzed in the webinar context.

This underscores radio's resilience, especially in-car (84% share) and among older demographics, where it far outpaces newer platforms.

However, challenges persist as podcast audiences continue to grow and mature—the median podcast listener age rose to 39 in 2025, up sharply from prior years, driven by surges in 45-64-year-olds.

Overall U.S. podcast exposure reached an all-time high, with 70% of Americans 12+ having ever listened, fueling shifts in spoken-word audio toward on-demand options.

Broadcasters are closely watching these insights for strategic adjustments, including potential format changes to retain younger listeners (where podcasts claim up to 32% of ad-supported time among 18-34s) and emphasis on interactive or holiday-themed programming that performed strongly in 2025 metrics.

Emerging technologies like AI integration in audio delivery and the rise of video podcasts (with YouTube now the top platform for many listeners) were flagged as areas influencing future ad strategies.

On the revenue front, while overall U.S. media ad spending faces varied projections—some forecasts suggest robust growth driven by AI and digital channels—the webinar's findings reinforce radio's value in reaching broad, engaged audiences amid slower traditional ad recovery.

Stations may leverage these data points to pitch advertisers on radio's superior reach (11X larger than ad-supported Spotify), countering perceptions of decline and preparing for 2026 opportunities in political and event-driven spending.

Details and potential recordings are available via Edison Research's site, with the Top 10 list synthesizing a year of research into actionable trends for the audio ecosystem.

WH Press Sec Calls Out CNN's Kaitlan Collins

WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

In a fiery exchange during Thursday's White House press briefing on December 11, 2025, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins and the media of failing to aggressively question the Biden administration on high inflation and border security, while now intensely scrutinizing the Trump administration's economic progress.

Leavitt directly called out Collins, stating: “NOBODY reported [inflation] being high under Biden... My predecessor stood up at this podium and said inflation doesn’t exist! She said the border was secure! People like you (CNN) took her at her word. Those were two utter lies. Everything I'M telling you is the truth, backed by real factual data, and YOU just don't wanna report on it, cause you wanna push UNTRUE narratives about the President.”

The clash erupted when Collins pressed Leavitt on President Trump's mixed messaging about the economy—highlighting his claims of a booming recovery alongside advice to parents to buy fewer Christmas gifts amid affordability concerns. Collins noted rising grocery prices and "mixed signals," arguing no one disputed inflation was higher under Biden.

Leavitt countered by emphasizing positive metrics under Trump: inflation has dropped slightly from 2.9% inherited in January 2025 to around 2.5%, wages are rising (with average workers projected to gain $1,200), and gas prices are falling. She accused the press corps of applying far more scrutiny now than during Biden's term, when inflation peaked at 9% and real wages declined.

Leavitt referenced former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's past denials of inflation's severity and claims of a secure border, implying media outlets like CNN accepted those statements without sufficient challenge. The exchange grew heated, with both women interrupting each other, before Leavitt declined Collins' follow-up question.

🔥 White House Press Sec CALLS OUT Kaitlan Collins for FAILING to grill Biden's Press Secretaries about his failed economy.

"NOBODY reported [inflation] being high under Biden...My predecessor stood up at this podium and said inflation doesn’t exist! She said the border was… pic.twitter.com/1zdRj8ltbD

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) December 11, 2025

Later in the briefing, Leavitt suggested CNN would benefit from new ownership amid declining ratings, echoing President Trump's criticisms. The White House Rapid Response account amplified the confrontation on social media, labeling Collins "Fake News" and a "mouthpiece for the Democrat Party."

Conservative outlets praised Leavitt for "walloping" Collins and exposing media bias, while left-leaning sources described her as snapping or losing composure when pressed on voter concerns over lingering affordability issues. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and mainstream media over economic narratives, with inflation remaining a key voter issue despite recent modest declines.

AI-Generated Podcasts Flood the Market

A Los Angeles studio called Inception Point AI has single-handedly released more than 200,000 full-length podcast episodes — approximately 1 % of every podcast ever uploaded to the internet — using entirely synthetic hosts that speak with confidence, sass, and emotional nuance virtually indistinguishable from humans, according to The LA Times.

The most important facts first

• Episodes cost roughly $1 to produce, turning a profit with as few as 25 regular listeners.
• Inception Point’s 100+ AI personalities have already attracted 400,000 subscribers on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• When conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot in 2025, the company’s AI detected the trending story, wrote, voiced, illustrated, and published multiple biography shows — including titles “Charlie Kirk Death” and “Charlie Kirk Manhunt” — within 60 minutes, briefly topping search charts.
• Platforms are accelerating the trend: YouTube and Spotify now offer one-click voice cloning and automatic translation into dozens of languages.
• “Diary of a CEO” host Steven Bartlett has launched an entire spin-off series narrated only by an AI clone of himself.

Human podcasters are fighting back — and losing ground

• Erica Mandy (“The Newsworthy”) used an ElevenLabs AI voice to cover a single episode when she had laryngitis. Even after full disclosure, listeners called it “weird” and some demanded she never do it again.
• Edison Research VP Megan Lazovick warns that replacing or augmenting human hosts with AI “breaches the trust” and destroys the parasocial bond that drives loyalty.
• PRX executive Jason Saldanha, whose network distributes creators like Ezra Klein, says the flood of cheap synthetic shows will never command premium ad rates and is “devaluing premium content in a tyranny-of-choice environment.”

The tech is now too good to ignore

Voice-AI companies such as Hume AI ($50 M funded) and ElevenLabs can now regenerate a single sentence inside an existing episode with identical emotion, tone, and breathing patterns. Hume CEO Alan Cowen states flatly: “We’ve just crossed the threshold where voice AI is pretty much indistinguishable from human.”

Bottom line

Podcast creation has become essentially free, instant, and infinitely scalable. An unprecedented content tsunami — much of it niche, some of it polished, all of it synthetic — is overwhelming directories and charts. Human creators who once owned the medium’s intimacy now face an existential choice: clone themselves and compete at AI scale, or risk being drowned out by bots that never get sick, never demand raises, and can publish a new show every minute.

LA Radio: After 18 Years, Deborah Howell Exits KTWV

Deborah Howell, the longtime afternoon drive personality on Audacy's Rhythmic AC "94.7 The Wave" (KTWV), has departed the station after an 18-year tenure, capping a lineup revamp that promotes evening host Frankie Ross to the key 2-7 p.m. slot.

The exit ends Howell's run as host of the "No Stress Express," where her warm, sophisticated voice became synonymous with Southern California's unwind hour. 

In an emotional Facebook post, Howell reflected: “Thanks, Radio! You’ve been my best friend, my muse, my deep love and my constant companion for as long as I can remember. Thank you for making all my wildest dreams come true.”

Stepping into afternoons is Frankie Ross, a seasoned programmer and on-air talent with deep roots in urban and R&B radio. Ross, previously heard evenings from 6 p.m. to midnight, brings experience from managing artists like Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill, plus stints at stations including WBLS New York and KJLH Los Angeles.

The shift completes recent changes at KTWV, including Greg Mack's move from weekends to mornings last month and Liz Hernandez transitioning to middays. The adjustments aim to refresh the station's "Soul of Southern California" vibe amid evolving listener habits in one of the nation's most competitive markets.

Howell, who performed under the name Deborah Rath early on, joined The Wave in 2008 after more than two decades in New York City. Her Big Apple resume included middays at Dance CHR "Hot 97" (WQHT, 1986-1994 as Deborah Rath), afternoons at R&B Oldies "98.7 Kiss FM" (WRKS), and a decade at Smooth Jazz "CD 101.9" (WQCD).  In L.A., she replaced voice-tracked talent Don Burns, going live and building a loyal following with celebrity interviews (e.g., saxophonist Boney James, comedian Nikki Glaser) and entertainment insights.

Topeka Radio: After 12-Years OM Amber Lee Exits Cumulus

Amber Lee has exited Cumulus Media after nearly 12 years as Operations Manager for its Topeka, Kansas, cluster, with her position eliminated.

In a social media post announcing her departure Thursday, Lee wrote: “After 11yrs and 11mos my position with Cumulus was eliminated... Reaching almost 12 years with a single employer is a remarkable feat in media.” 

Amber Lee

She thanked listeners for their engagement over the years and noted, “The state of radio today can be hard to love,” adding that her next steps are “TBD.”

Lee joined Cumulus Topeka in January 2014, overseeing the six-station group including Majic 107.7 (KMAJ-FM), V100 (KDVV-FM), 99.3 The Eagle (KWIC-FM), 102.9 Cat Country (KTOP-FM), AM 1440 KMAJ, and AM 1490 KTOP. She also served as Program Director and afternoon host for Majic 107.7 and, earlier this year, added PD duties for CHR “107.3 The Vibe” (KMJK) in Kansas City.

Prior to Cumulus, Lee was Operations Manager for Great Plains Media’s Lawrence, Kansas, cluster from 2009 to 2013 and held on-air roles at stations in Joplin, Missouri; Boise, Idaho; and the Twin Cities.

Eastlan CEO Attends Hearing for Cumulus vs Nielsen Lawsuit

Eastlan Ratings, a smaller independent radio audience measurement firm, played a key role in a December 11, 2025, court hearing in Manhattan federal court, where its CEO Michael Gould provided testimony in Cumulus Media's antitrust lawsuit against dominant ratings provider Nielsen.

The evidentiary hearing before U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas focused on Cumulus's motion for a preliminary injunction to block Nielsen's controversial "tying" policy, which conditions access to its monopoly national radio ratings data on purchasing its local market services—effectively forcing broadcasters to buy from Nielsen even in markets where cheaper alternatives like Eastlan exist.

Cumulus argues the policy stifles competition, particularly harming Eastlan's growth, while Nielsen maintains it affects only a handful of large clients and points to Eastlan's recent expansions as evidence of a competitive market. Cumulus also claimed fear of Nielsen retaliation is deterring other industry witnesses from testifying.Eastlan, based in Washington State and founded in 2009, uses telephone surveys for cost-effective local ratings in small- and mid-sized markets, positioning itself as a lower-priced rival to Nielsen's diary- and meter-based methods. 

Cumulus already subscribes to Eastlan in some markets, like Memphis, and says Nielsen's policy coerces stations away from such alternatives.

The lawsuit, filed October 16, 2025, in the Southern District of New York, accuses Nielsen of Sherman Antitrust Act violations through monopolistic practices, seeking to halt the policy amid claims of irreparable harm to Cumulus's Westwood One network and broader radio industry competition. \

As of Thursdayy, no ruling has been reported from the closed hearing, with outcomes potentially emerging via future filings.

Paramount Skydance Eyes 10% Bid Boost to Hijack WBD

Paramount Skydance, the media powerhouse formed earlier this year through a merger led by David Ellison, is weighing a significant escalation in its hostile takeover pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). 

Sources tell the New York Post the company could raise its all-cash offer from $30 per share to as high as $33 per share—representing a roughly 10% increase—for the owner of Warner Bros. studios, HBO, CNN, and other assets. Valued at nearly $86 billion, the sweetened bid would dwarf Netflix's recently inked merger agreement and comfortably offset WBD's $2.8 billion breakup fee, equivalent to about $1 per share, if the board walks away from the streaming giant.

This potential hike comes just days after Paramount Skydance launched a formal $108.4 billion hostile tender offer, going directly to WBD shareholders to bypass a board that had already endorsed Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for the company's studios and streaming division. The Netflix pact values those assets at $27.75 per share in a mix of cash and stock but excludes WBD's cable networks like CNN and TNT, which would spin off as "Discovery Global." Paramount's full-company bid, backed by Ellison's billionaire father Larry, aims to create a vertically integrated rival to Netflix, combining Warner's film library and HBO Max with Paramount's broadcast and cable holdings. 

Insiders note the raised offer could close in 10-12 months, faster than Netflix's projected 12-18 month timeline, while providing $18 billion more in immediate cash to shareholders.

The move intensifies a high-stakes bidding war that has gripped Hollywood, with political undertones amplifying the drama. President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of the Netflix deal, warned over the weekend it could "be a problem" due to antitrust risks, as the combined entity would control 43% of global streaming subscribers. 

Larry Ellison reportedly lobbied Trump directly against the merger, while Paramount's financing includes ties to Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and Middle Eastern sovereign funds like Saudi Arabia's PIF and Qatar's QIA—drawing bipartisan fire from lawmakers like Sen. Elizabeth Warren over national security and monopoly concerns.