Reports: WBD Considers Reopening Talk With Paramount+

Warner Bros. Discovery is considering reopening merger talks with Paramount Skydance, according to reports from Bloomberg, The New York Times, Variety, and other sources.

The company's board is weighing whether to re-engage after Paramount submitted an amended, sweetened bid last week. This comes despite Warner Bros. Discovery's existing agreement to sell its studios and streaming business (including Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO, and Max) to Netflix.

Key details on the deals:

• In December 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to a deal with Netflix valued at about $83 billion enterprise value (around $72 billion equity), with the latest amendment making it all-cash at $27.75 per share (subject to adjustments). This involves spinning off WBD's cable networks as "Discovery Global" separately.
• Paramount Skydance has pursued a full acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for $30 per share all-cash, valuing it at around $108 billion including debt. Its latest offer (the ninth in the saga) did not raise the per-share price but added sweeteners: covering WBD's $2.8 billion termination fee to Netflix if the Netflix deal ends, plus a "ticking fee" of about 25 cents per share quarterly (roughly $650 million per quarter) starting in 2027 until closing, signaling confidence in quick regulatory approval.

TFN: Savannah Guthrie Steps Away From TODAY

Savannah Guthrie will remain off the "Today" show for the foreseeable future as the desperate search for her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, continues into its 15th day with no resolution or arrests.

The "Today" co-anchor, 54, is staying in Tucson, Arizona, to support the ongoing investigation into her mother's disappearance, which authorities are treating as a kidnapping. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area on Jan. 31, 2026, and was reported missing the next day after failing to appear for a planned church service. Investigators believe she was taken against her will in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, with evidence including doorbell camera footage showing a masked suspect wearing an Ozark Trail backpack, bloodstains confirmed to be hers, and DNA recovered from her property belonging to someone not in close contact with her or her family.

The FBI has doubled the reward to $100,000 for information leading to her recovery or an arrest, and law enforcement has deployed advanced tools like aerial Bluetooth signal detectors to try to locate a signal from Nancy's pacemaker, which disconnected around the time of her disappearance. Recent efforts have included multiple search warrants at residences near her home, vehicle tows, and forensic processing, but no arrests have been made, no one remains in custody, and authorities say the case could take months or years to solve despite thousands of public tips.

Rumors have circulated about Guthrie's long-term future on the NBC morning program, where she has co-anchored since July 2012. However, sources close to the network emphasize strong support during this crisis.

“The entire show and network is rallying together in support of our beloved colleague and friend as we navigate this unimaginable time,” an NBC source told Page Six.

Savannah Guthrie has publicly pleaded for her mother's safe return, sharing emotional Instagram posts, home videos, and FBI-released images of the suspect while expressing belief that Nancy is still alive and urging anyone with information to come forward. The family and community in Tucson continue to hold out hope amid the intensifying but so-far fruitless search.

Newsmax CEO Threatens To Sue The FCC

Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy has threatened to sue the FCC if it raises or eliminates the national television broadcast ownership cap to allow major mergers like the proposed Nexstar-Tegna deal.

The 39% cap , a long-standing rule set by Congress that limits any single company from owning TV stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. households, is at the center of the dispute. Ruddy, testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee last week, called any FCC attempt to bypass or change this limit a "blatant violation of congressional law." 

He stated he is "prepared to litigate the matter," arguing it would enable massive consolidation, reduce competition, threaten viewpoint diversity, and allow a few corporations to dominate local news.The threat stems from ongoing FCC considerations under Trump-appointed Chair Brendan Carr, amid pressure for the $6.2 billion Nexstar-Tegna merger, which would exceed the cap and create the largest U.S. TV station group. 

FCC Commisioners Differ On Broadcast Ownership

FCC Commissioners Olivia Trusty (Republican) and Anna M. Gomez (Democrat) have expressed sharply differing views on the FCC's ongoing review and potential relaxation of broadcast ownership rules. These rules limit how many radio and TV stations (or national reach) a single entity can own, aiming to promote competition, localism, viewpoint diversity, and prevent excessive media consolidation.

The FCC is in the midst of its 2022 Quadrennial Regulatory Review (required every four years under the Telecommunications Act of 1996), examining rules like local radio ownership caps (e.g., limits on stations per owner in a market), local TV ownership limits, the national TV audience reach cap (currently 39% of U.S. households), and the dual network rule. Broadcasters often argue for deregulation to better compete with streaming giants and digital platforms amid declining ad revenue.

Commissioner Olivia Trusty's Position:  Trusty supports modernizing (and likely easing or removing) these outdated rules to help broadcasters stay competitive. She emphasizes empowering local stations to attract viewers, generate revenue, and reinvest in newsgathering and operations. In a February 2026 Brookings event and other statements, she described the FCC's efforts as creating a "dynamic, vibrant, and competitive" media ecosystem that supports local news without unnecessary regulatory barriers. She views deregulation as a way to boost competition rather than hinder it.

Commissioner Anna M. Gomez's Position:  Gomez, the lone Democrat on the Commission, strongly opposes broad deregulation and consolidation. She warns that fewer owners lead to fewer independent voices, reduced local perspectives, and diminished editorial diversity—ultimately harming consumers and communities. In speeches (e.g., at the State of the Net Conference in February 2026) and statements, she compares potential outcomes to the "hollowing out" of local newspapers through consolidation, cost-cutting, and distant decision-making.

She argues for targeted, market-specific policies to address streaming competition and ad revenue shifts without sacrificing local ownership or public interest goals. Gomez stresses that the 39% national TV ownership cap is statutory law (set by Congress), not something the FCC can simply waive. She has expressed concerns that large media companies, dependent on FCC approvals, face pressure to align content with regulatory favor, and that consolidation could exacerbate declines in local journalism.

NAB Show 2026 AI Focused For Radio

Artificial intelligence will dominate discussions at NAB Show 2026, the broadcast industry's premier event, as organizers unveil programming heavily focused on AI's transformative impact on radio operations, programming, and monetization for AM/FM stations—especially in smaller and medium markets.

The Small and Medium Market Radio Forum, now rescheduled to Sunday, April 19 to align with the arrival of the broader broadcast community, kicks off with a dedicated AI panel. 

Titled around how artificial intelligence is reshaping station operations in markets 51 and beyond, the session will be moderated by Julie Koehn, President of Lenawee Broadcasting Company and Southeast Michigan Media. Panelists include Sun Sachs, SVP of Digital Products at Townsquare Media, and David Oxenford, media attorney at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP.

Following the AI-focused opener, the forum transitions to peer-driven roundtables tailored specifically for smaller-market operators. 

Remaining WaPo Staffers Said To Be Demoralized

Washington Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis resigned abruptly on February 7, just three days after the newspaper announced devastating layoffs cutting about one-third of its staff (more than 300 journalists). His exit capped a tumultuous two-year tenure marked by financial struggles, controversial initiatives, and widespread newsroom anger.

The layoffs eliminated the entire sports section, photography staff, and significant portions of local D.C./metro and international coverage. 

Former executive editor Marty Baron described it as one of the "darkest days" in the Post's history, while the Washington Post Guild called Lewis's legacy the "attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution."

Lewis's final days were described in Puck News as "more cowardly and craven than even the newsroom imagined." 

Report: FBI Gathered Intel On 1,000 Journalists

A confidential January 2026 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has revealed that the FBI conducted warrantless "assessments" on more than 1,000 individuals and groups, including dozens of journalists and news media members, over 100 religious organizations and leaders, and more than 500 public officials and political candidates, often without any evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

These assessments, a low-level investigative tool that requires no factual predicate or warrant, spanned 2018 to 2024 (covering parts of both the Trump and Biden administrations). They allowed the FBI to use methods such as physical surveillance, confidential informants, subpoenas to electronic communications services, and purchased data to gather intelligence on Americans not accused of crimes.

The report, obtained exclusively by Racket News and described as closely guarded (with instructions to destroy after use), highlights that of roughly 127,000 total assessments opened and closed in that period, only about 14% advanced to full investigations. Critics describe the practice as fishing expeditions that risk infringing on First Amendment protections.

MLB's Changing RSN Model To Impact Talks With Players Union

The accelerating collapse of Major League Baseball's regional sports network (RSN) model is delivering major short-term revenue losses for many teams, often in the tens of millions of dollars, and will heavily influence upcoming labor negotiations between MLB and the Players Association.

All nine MLB clubs previously partnered with FanDuel Sports Network (operated by cash-strapped Main Street Sports Group) have terminated their deals amid missed rights payments and the company's financial distress. Eight teams, the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Angels have shifted to MLB's in-house media operation, which handles local game production and distribution (often via streaming on the MLB app, with some local cable arrangements). 

The Atlanta Braves are pursuing their own independent local media network, modeled after the Texas Rangers' approach.

This shift has caused significant immediate revenue hits for the affected clubs, with smaller-market teams bearing the brunt due to reduced leverage in new deals compared to larger markets. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged the drag: “The RSN situation has an impact on our revenue growth because the decline there is... a drag on what is otherwise a growing industry,” he said, while noting positives like rising attendance and national viewership. He added that smaller markets are hit harder, affecting revenue-sharing dynamics.

Despite the short-term pain, Manfred has expressed long-term confidence in MLB's content value, citing strong engagement and eyeballs. He highlighted the major opportunity after 2028, when key national media-rights contracts expire: MLB plans to negotiate blended national and local rights packages—potentially centralizing more control, reducing blackouts, and partnering with streaming platforms to maximize overall value.

The RSN disruption accelerates MLB's transition to a more centralized, digital-first model, creating uncertainty for fans and broadcasters in the interim but positioning the league for a potentially more stable and lucrative media future post-2028. The revenue pressures will likely play a key role in collective bargaining agreement talks, as the current deal expires after the 2026 season.

Americans And News: It'd Complicated

Americans have a complicated, often conflicted relationship with the news, according to a major new study from the Pew Research Center's Pew-Knight Initiative. While most U.S. adults view staying informed as a vital civic duty—especially for making informed voting decisions—many simultaneously feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information, skeptical of sources, and highly selective in what they consume.

The survey of 3,560 U.S. adults (conducted December 8–14, 2025) reveals a core tension: Eight-in-ten Americans believe people have a responsibility to be informed when voting, yet far fewer see regularly following the news as extremely or very important in everyday life. About half say they can remain adequately informed even without actively seeking out news.

News consumption habits split evenly between active and passive approaches. Roughly equal shares of adults report that they mostly seek out news intentionally versus letting it come to them incidentally (through social media, notifications, or conversations). This reflects the modern reality where information floods in from digital platforms, often whether people want it or not.

ASCAP Claims Record Payouts

ASCAP reported record-breaking financial results for 2025, collecting $1.945 billion in revenue—an increase of $110 million, or 6.0%, over 2024—and making $1.759 billion available for royalty distributions to its songwriter, composer, and publisher members, up $63 million, or 3.7%.

This marks the highest revenue and royalty distributions in ASCAP's history.

ASCAP operates debt-free with the lowest overhead rate among U.S. performing rights organizations at 10%, returning 90 cents of every dollar collected to members as royalties without charging commissions or taking profits. As the only major U.S. PRO not owned by private equity or outside investors, its members are the sole beneficiaries of this growth.

Vatican OKs Beatification of R/TV Pioneer Fulton Sheen

The Vatican has once again approved the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the renowned U.S. radio and television evangelist whose journey toward sainthood was previously stalled by a prolonged legal dispute over his remains and later by questions regarding his handling of clergy sexual abuse cases during his time as bishop.

Following a thorough six-year investigation into those concerns, the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has cleared the path forward. The Diocese of Peoria announced on February 9, 2026, that the beatification—originally planned for Peoria, Illinois—can now proceed as intended.

No specific date for the ceremony, which would declare Sheen "Blessed" and represent the final major step before potential canonization, has been set yet. Diocese officials are coordinating with the Vatican to finalize details.

The Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV. Sheen, a pioneering broadcaster who brought Catholic teachings to millions in the mid-20th century, was declared Venerable in 2012, and a miracle attributed to his intercession was approved in 2019.

Radio History: Feb 16

➦In 1901...American musician, songwriter, singer and orchestra leader Wayne King was born in Savanna, IL.

In early radio of the 1920`s his band was featured in half-hour`remote` broadcasts from Chicago`s Aragon Ballroom.  In the 1930`s he was heard on the networks in weekly half-hour broadcasts for Lady Esther cosmetics, a line he is credited with popularizing.  In the mid-40`s he was a summer replacement for the Jack Benny and Jimmy Durante programs.  The saxophonist and bandleader died July 16, 1985 at age 84.

Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen

➦In 1903...American actor, comedian and radio performer, Edgar Bergen was born (died September 30, 1978 at age 75).    With his little wooden ‘sidekicks’ Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd, he delighted audiences for decades.  He had a featured Sunday evening show first on NBC and then on CBS Radio from 1937 to 1955.  He died in his sleep following a performance in Las Vegas Oct 1 1978 at age 75. He was also the father of actress Candice Bergen.

➦In 1922...WDAF (now Sports KCSP)  was started by the Kansas City Star. The official starting date is open to dispute, because the Star's broadcasting activities pre-dated WDAF.

On February 16, 1922, the Star used WOQ, the station of the Western Radio Company, to broadcast what the newspaper described as a "wireless telephone concert". The Star had just constructed radio studios at its building at 18th and Grand. In that evening's newspaper, the program appeared on the front page:

Courtesy of route56.com

The Star adopted the WDAF call letters May 16, 1922. WDAF bounced around various frequencies, traveling to 750, 730, 680, 820 and 810 kHz. WDAF moved to 610 kHz in 1928, splitting time with station WOQ. WDAF joined the NBC radio network before moving to 610 kHz, running both Red & Blue programs up until 1930, when they became a primary NBC Red affiliate.

It also had become the westernmost affiliate of the NBC Red Network. WDAF retained its NBC affiliation well into the 1960s.

WDAF changed its call letters KCSP on September 23, 2003, after moving the longtime country music format to the FM. Entercom still maintains the WDAF-FM call letters at 106.5. Today KCSP airs Sports Talk.

➦In 1929...KGIO changed call letters to KID-AM in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The station was first licensed under the call letters KGIO, and began broadcasting on December 3, 1928 on a frequency of 1320 kHz.  On February 16, 1929, the call was changed to KID, and the station began broadcasting under this call.  The station had moved to 1350 kHz by 1942 (likely in the March 29, 1941 changes, pursuant to the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, that saw many stations raise frequency by 10 to 30 kHz), where it stayed for several years.  In 1950, the station changed from 1350 to its current 590 kHz frequency.

Today the station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a News/Talk format at 590 AM.

Sonny & Cher

➦In 1935...Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono born (died in a skiing accident January 5, 1998 at age 62).  A talented songwriter and astute businessman, the multi-talented Sonny was, was, if not a great singer, then definitely an entertainer … I Got You Babe, Baby Don’t Go, The Beat Goes On. On TV, he co-starred in The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.  After show biz he became mayor of Palm Springs, CA, then a U.S. Congressman.