FCC Votes To Repeal TV Ownership Caps

The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 on Thursday to repeal the longstanding national television ownership cap that barred any single broadcaster from reaching more than 39% of U.S. TV households, replacing the bright-line limit with a case-by-case public interest review of proposed mergers and acquisitions. 

The decision, led by Republican Chairman Brendan Carr and supported by fellow Republican Commissioner Olivia Trusty, overturns a rule in place since 2004. Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez cast the sole dissenting vote, arguing that Congress alone has the authority to alter the statutory limit and warning that the change would accelerate media consolidation harmful to local news and competition. 

Under the new framework, the FCC will evaluate each transaction individually against standards of localism, viewpoint diversity, and competition rather than automatically blocking deals that exceed the old threshold. Carr has described the prior rule as outdated in an era when national programmers and streaming services face no comparable restrictions, saying the shift will let local broadcasters gain the scale needed to compete and invest in community journalism. 

The vote arrives as Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna remains frozen in legal limbo. The FCC’s Media Bureau waived the 39% cap in March to clear the deal, which would create the nation’s largest station group reaching roughly 80% of TV households (or about 54.5% after the traditional UHF discount). 

Nexstar closed the transaction the same day, but a federal judge later issued a preliminary injunction blocking further integration while an antitrust challenge by DirecTV and several state attorneys general proceeds. 

Opponents of the repeal, including public interest groups and some lawmakers, contend the agency exceeded its authority because Congress set the 39% figure in a 2004 appropriations law. Supporters, including the National Association of Broadcasters and major station groups, argue the FCC retains inherent power under the Communications Act to modify its own ownership rules and that the case-by-case approach better reflects today’s fragmented media marketplace.

The order is widely expected to face immediate court challenges.

News Corp Reports Broad-Based Growth

News Corp reported an 11% rise in fiscal fourth-quarter revenue to $2.34 billion, beating analyst expectations, while net income from continuing operations more than doubled to $230 million. 

Shares nonetheless fell more than 3% in after-hours trading.

Segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization climbed 31% to $423 million. On a per-share basis, earnings from continuing operations attributable to shareholders rose to 33 cents from 9 cents a year earlier. Adjusted earnings of 35 cents a share topped the 24 cents analysts polled by FactSet had forecast. The quarter ended June 30.

Growth was broad-based. Dow Jones revenue increased 7% to $644 million, with segment earnings up 20% to $181 million. Advertising revenue rose 5%, as digital gains more than offset print declines. 

The Wall Street Journal averaged more than 4.46 million digital-only subscriptions, up from 4.33 million in the prior quarter; total subscriptions including print reached 4.83 million, compared with 4.71 million previously.

Versant Media Shares Jump

Versant Media shares jumped nearly 12% after the company raised its full-year revenue outlook, even as third-quarter sales declined in its third earnings report since spinning off from Comcast.

The owner of cable networks CNBC, MS NOW and E! now expects annual revenue of $6.2 billion to $6.45 billion, up from its May forecast of $6.15 billion to $6.4 billion. Analysts estimate $6.41 billion.

The company posted a profit of $211 million, or $1.49 a share, down from $302 million, or $2.09 a share, a year earlier but above the $1.35 consensus forecast by FactSet analysts. Revenue fell 3.8% to $1.64 billion, beating the $1.62 billion projection.

Versant completed the divestiture of its youth-sports management platform SportsEngine in the second quarter. Excluding that business, total sales declined 2.8%.

Linear distribution revenue dropped 6.3% to $954 million. Advertising and content licensing revenue each fell less than 1%. Platforms revenue rose less than 1% overall and increased 9% excluding SportsEngine.

Executives had previously warned of quarterly fluctuations from content licensing, working capital and higher second-half programming costs, which are factored into the updated full-year guidance.

Versant’s platforms reached more than 120 million viewers monthly during the quarter, Chief Executive Mark Lazarus said. The company also secured multiyear renewal deals with two large distribution partners in the U.S. and Canada.

Layoffs Hit Cumulus Stations Nationwide

Cumulus Media has laid off air talent, programmers and management across multiple markets as part of its ongoing financial restructuring. 

The company has not disclosed the total number of employees affected, but confirmed departures span stations in California, Michigan, Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois and New York, with additional exits expected in the coming days.

Among the most prominent cuts are longtime KNBR San Francisco midday hosts Greg Papa and Greg Silver. Papa, the play-by-play voice of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, has been at KNBR since 2019 after previously hosting at KGMZ-FM. Silver joined the station in 2023 as a producer and moved to middays last November.

Other confirmed departures include Dave Fuller, afternoon host at WDVD Detroit; McConnell Adams, program director of KURB and KLAL in Little Rock; Leo “LB” Baldwin, program director of WOMG and WTCB in the Columbia, S.C., market; and Cami Marlowe, program director and afternoon host at WABD Mobile.

Also let go were Anthony “Big Ant” Simmons, program director at KMJJ and KRMD-FM in Shreveport; Wes Jordan, production director for the Bloomington/Peoria cluster and afternoon host at WZPW; Jordan Lass, assistant program director for WHTS and WKLQ in Grand Rapids and afternoon host at WLAV; and Jay Soderberg, vice president of digital programming operations, podcasts and digital operations in New York.

The layoffs come as Cumulus awaits FCC approval to complete its Chapter 11 restructuring. The court-approved plan would eliminate roughly $592 million in debt, cut annual cash interest expense by about $49 million and transfer ownership to the company’s lenders.

Cumulus has not publicly commented on the reductions or announced programming plans for the affected stations. Several vacancies, including morning and programming leadership roles, are expected to require replacements in the coming weeks.

San Fran Radio; KNBR Lays-Offs Cancer Stricken Greg Papa

Cumulus Media's KNBR has laid off longtime Bay Area sportscaster Greg Papa, 63, and his midday co-host Greg Silver. The pair will be replaced on the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. show by John Lund, a veteran Bay Area radio voice who was dismissed by the station in November 2024.

Silver confirmed the layoffs. Papa declined to comment.

Papa, a 42-year broadcasting veteran and four-time California Sportscaster of the Year, retains his separate contract as the San Francisco 49ers’ radio play-by-play announcer, a role he has held since 2019. His status with the team is unchanged, a team spokesman said.

Papa was diagnosed with leukemia just over a year ago. He returned to his North Bay home last month after a life-threatening 78-day hospital stay at UCSF Medical Center that included lung failure. He underwent a successful bone marrow transplant on March 4 and is now cancer-free, though he continues to use supplemental oxygen at reduced levels after both lungs collapsed during his nearly three-month hospitalization.

Conservatives Audiences Give Trump Best Approval Numbers

President Donald Trump’s job approval varies sharply based on a person's primary news source. Data from national surveys, such as the Marquette Law School Poll, show a distinct political polarization of news audiences, where right-leaning outlets record high net approval ratings and mainstream or public media audiences lean heavily negative.

Pro-Trump and Conservative Audiences

Audiences whose primary news sources are conservative networks or alternative media platforms report high rates of approval for President Trump: 

• Newsmax: Highest net approval, with audience approval ratings around 85% (+70 net margin).
• Fox News: High approval, with roughly 68% to 74% approval among its regular viewers (+36 net margin).
• Podcasts: Show majority support, averaging around 58% approval (+16 net margin).

Neutral and Mixed Media Audiences

Audiences relying on local reporting, general social platforms, or traditional print show split or moderately negative margins:

• Local Radio: Sits near an even split, with roughly 47% approval (-6 net margin).
• Social Media: Leans negative, with roughly 39% approval (-22 net margin).
• Local Newspapers: Leans more negative (-30 net margin).

Consumers Now Spend 11 Hours a Day Using Media

A recent Ampere Analysis survey underscores the growing dominance of media in daily life, revealing that consumers in the UK and US devote nearly 11 hours each day to it—more time than they typically spend sleeping or working. The study also highlights how varied and fragmented these habits have become.

People now draw from an expanding array of options shaped by mood, age, and immediate needs. “Today’s consumers have more varied media diets than ever before, selecting from an expanding menu of media depending on what they want in the moment,” said Ampere Research Manager Sam Nursall. 

“Whether they’re looking to relax, discover something new or simply fill spare time, each medium serves a different purpose. That’s today’s attention economy. For advertisers and broadcasters, understanding those different moments is just as important as understanding the audience itself.”

Key findings include:

TV Ratings: ABC's WNT Leads All Broadcasts

For the 16th week in a row, “World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.168 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of July 27, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

• “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.168 million), Adults 25-54 (1.078 million) and Adults 18-49 (822,000).
• “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (6.620 million, 948,000 and 708,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+23%/+1.548 million), Adults 25-54 (+14%/+130,000) and Adults 18-49 (+16%/+114,000).
• “World News Tonight” (8.168 million, 1.078 million and 822,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (4.127 million, 570,000 and 401,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+98%/+4.041 million), Adults 25-54 (+89%/+508,000) and Adults 18-49 (+105%/+421,000).

FOX News Channel Dominates All Weekday Primetime

FOX News Channel (FNC) wrapped up the week of July 27th with 2.7 million weekday primetime viewers, dominating all of television, surpassing NBC (2.6 million viewers), ABC (2.3 million viewers) and CBS (2.2 million viewers) according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. 

Year to date (12/29/26 - 8/02/26), FNC has overtaken CBS in weekday primetime viewers, averaging 2,885,000 viewers while CBS is averaging 2,878,000 viewers. In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC secured over 2.3 million viewers, marking a two percent increase week to week and leading CBS (2.1 million viewers) and ABC (2.1 million viewers). 

In Monday – Sunday total day, FNC notched nearly 1.5 million viewers, marking a four percent increase week to week and a three percent increase year over year. Notably, CBS’ CBS Mornings (1,568,000 viewers; 228,000 A25-54) continued its downward trajectory, delivering its lowest-rated week in the program’s history, posting under 1.6 million viewers for the third consecutive week. The week also marks the program’s tenth straight week below 300,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo.

FNC’s The Five continued to lead the week, claiming nearly 3.4 million viewers and 302,000 in the 25-54 demo. In the 6 PM/ET hour, Special Report with Bret Baier garnered almost 2.6 million viewers and 198,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle saw 2.5 million viewers and 226,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 8 PM/ET hour, Jesse Watters Primetime clinched more than 3.1 million viewers and 298,000 in the 25-54 demo. In the 9 PM/ET hour, Hannity delivered nearly 2.6 million viewers and 236,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher secured almost 1.5 million viewers and 132,000 in the 25-54 demo.

All Commercials for 2027 Super Bowl Have Been Sold

The Walt Disney Co. has sold out all commercial time for ESPN’s telecast of the 2027 Super Bowl, which will air on ABC on Feb. 14.

Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston announced the sellout during the company’s earnings call Wednesday. The game, to be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, will also air on ESPN with an alternative feed hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning, and stream on the ESPN app and NFL+ app.

Disney did not disclose pricing, though reports indicated it sought about $10 million for a 30-second spot—matching rates NBC achieved the prior year. Spots went to 58 brands across 34 product categories, including financial services, candy, personal care and software; nine of the brands will appear in the Super Bowl for the first time.

The Super Bowl remains the most-watched television event of the year and a major revenue driver. Fox reported more than $800 million across its platforms for the 2025 contest, in which the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. Viewership reached a record 127.7 million on Fox and Tubi in 2025, following 125 million the previous year on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock.

ESPN has carried NFL games since 1987 but has never produced a Super Bowl. ABC last aired the game in 2006 (Super Bowl XL), when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks drew 90.7 million viewers under Nielsen’s then-methodology, which excluded out-of-home viewing.

Good Morning! Here's The Pulse For Thursday, Aug 6

Radio Broadcasting

More Layoffs: Cumulus Media has laid off air talent, programmers and management across multiple markets as part of its ongoing financial restructuring.  The company has not disclosed the total number of employees affected, but confirmed departures span stations in California, Michigan, Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Illinois and New York, with additional exits expected in the coming days.

Papa Out: Cumulus Media's KNBR has laid off longtime Bay Area sportscaster Greg Papa, 63, and his midday co-host Greg Silver. The pair will be replaced on the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. show by John Lund.

Media Life: A recent survey underscores the growing dominance of media in daily life, revealing that consumers devote nearly 11 hours each day to it—more time than they typically spend sleeping or working. The study also highlights how varied and fragmented these habits have become.

San Fran Radio: Cumulus Is Shedding Staffers Plus At Least One Station

Cumulus Media is further trimming its portfolio by returning the license of 560 KZAC San Francisco to the FCC, ending the station’s nearly century-long history.

The company had kept the station silent since March 2025 after moving its programming to 810 KGO in November 2024. 

During that silent period, Cumulus told the FCC it was negotiating a sale that ultimately did not materialize.

(5kw)

Originally launched as 1390 KTAB Oakland in 1925, the station shifted frequencies before settling on 560 in 1929. It adopted the KSFO call letters in 1935 and retained them until 2024, when Cumulus transferred the intellectual property to the former 810 KGO frequency. The two stations simulcast until KZAC went silent.

Acquired by Gene Autry’s Golden West Broadcasters in 1956, the station ran a middle-of-the-road format into the early 1980s, followed by adult standards and oldies. It flipped to talk in 1993 and later became a conservative talk outlet after becoming co-owned with the former KGO.

Buffalo Radio: Paul Peck, Kevin Sylvester Join Bills Team

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s Buffalo Bills football returns to Cumulus Media’s 97 Rock/WGRF-FM, the station is bringing back two of Western New York's most respected and recognizable sports voices. Veteran broadcasters Paul Peck and Kevin Sylvester will join the station's Bills coverage team, delivering in-depth analysis, insight, and entertainment as part of an expanded pregame lineup this season.

Peck and Sylvester will host the first two hours of 97 Rock's game day coverage, beginning four hours before kickoff each week. They will be followed by NFL Draft and Buffalo Bills analyst Chris Trapasso and former Buffalo Bills center Mitch Morse, giving fans a full four hours of comprehensive pregame coverage leading into every Bills game.

The Buffalo Bills’ first full game at the new Highmark Stadium will be a preseason game on August 15th against the Carolina Panthers. The regular season kicks off on September 13th when the Bills travel to Houston to take on the Texans on Sunday Night Football, followed by the team's home opener on Thursday Night Football against the Lions.

Joe Russo, Program Director, 97 Rock, said: “Together, Paul Peck and Kevin Sylvester bring decades of experience covering the teams, players, and moments that have defined Buffalo sports. Their deep local roots, combined with their passion for entertaining fans, make them the perfect team to help launch a new era of Bills coverage on 97 Rock. We are so excited to welcome them to our team.”

Peck brings more than three decades of experience covering Buffalo sports. He currently serves as the play-by-play voice of University at Buffalo football and basketball, a role he has held across multiple decades. He spent 24 years at WIVB-TV, where he became one of the region's most recognizable sportscasters and served as the primary Buffalo Bills beat reporter for 15 years. Peck was also part of WIVB's coverage of all four Buffalo Bills Super Bowl appearances. For Peck, the assignment represents a homecoming.