OutKick Finishes Q4 2026 with Strong Growth

National multimedia sports platform OutKick finished Q4 2026 with strong growth across all categories with 8.8 million average monthly total desktop and mobile unique visitors, up 83% versus the prior quarter and up 42% versus Q4 2025, 122 million total multiplatform views, up 54% versus the prior quarter and up 43% versus Q4 2025, and 156 million total multiplatform minutes, up 31% versus the prior quarter and up 101% versus Q4 2025, according to Comscore.*

In June 2026, OutKick saw 10.6 million total desktop and mobile unique visitors, 45 million total multiplatform views, and 47 million total multiplatform minutes. Additionally, OutKick delivered 16.4 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors, which ranked 21 out of over 350 sports entities in June 2026. The platform finished ahead of Draft Kings, AP News-Sports, Complex Sports, The Ringer, and many more.**

In commenting on the digital performance, OutKick’s senior vice president and managing editor Gary Schreier said, “OutKick continues to drive the conversation across sports and culture while delivering tremendous audience growth. Throughout the fourth quarter, the platform generated significant coverage through high-profile interviews with Cheryl Hines, Noah Syndergaard, and Michael Wilbon, while leading the discussion around some of the biggest stories such as the landmark Supreme Court decision on transgender athletes in female sports, the NFL draft, the NBA Finals, and more."

On Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram in Q4 2026, OutKick saw over 2 million social actions and over 24.2 million total video views on Facebook, X and YouTube. according to ComscoreSocial.***

In Q4, OutKick also announced its integration with Fox News Digital and signed Dan Dakich, the host of Don’t @ Me to a multi-year extension.

*Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, June 2026, Desktop and Mobile, US.

**Source: Comscore Media Metrix® Multi-Platform, June 2026, Total Digital Population, US

***Source: Comscore Social, Metrics & Trends, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, June 2026, Report Date: 07/15/2026. Custom-Defined List including Outkick.

FOX News Channel Outranks ABC And CBS In Primetime

FOX News Channel (FNC) concluded the week of July 6th with over 2.4 million weekday primetime viewers and 2.1 million Monday - Sunday primetime viewers, outranking ABC (2.1 million weekday viewers; 1.9 million Monday - Sunday viewers) and CBS (2 million weekday viewers; 1.952 million Monday - Sunday viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. 

In Monday – Sunday total day, FNC nabbed nearly 1.5 million viewers and in weekday total day, FNC notched over 1.7 million viewers. Notably, ABC posted its lowest-rated primetime week of the 21st century among the 25-54 demo, averaging 279,000 viewers.

FNC’s The Five continued to dominate the week, claiming over 3.3 million viewers and 279,000 in the 25-54 demo. In the 6 PM/ET hour, Special Report with Bret Baier garnered 2.6 million viewers and 238,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle saw more than 2.4 million viewers and 211,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 8 PM/ET hour, Jesse Watters Primetime clinched almost 2.6 million viewers and 216,000 in the 25-54 demo. In the 9 PM/ET hour, Hannity delivered nearly 2.1 million viewers and 157,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher secured 1.4 million viewers and 151,000 in the 25-54 demo.

FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weeknights, 10 PM/ET) edged out the competition with more than 2.6 million primetime viewers, dominating ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.8 million viewers), CBS’ airings of Comics Unleashed hour one (809,000 viewers), Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (425,000 viewers), and Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live (274,000 viewers).

Buffalo Bills Expand Radio Network to 23 Stations

The Buffalo Bills have officially unveiled a significantly expanded radio network for the 2026 NFL season, adding stations across New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida as the team prepares to play its first games in the new Highmark Stadium.

As part of a complete overhaul of its radio coverage, the organization will now produce and manage its own broadcasts. The flagship station returns to 97 Rock (WGRF-FM), where Bills games last aired from 1998 to 2011. The expanded network of 23 affiliate stations has the potential to reach more than 30 million listeners.

The team also announced brand-new live pregame and postgame shows, expanding game-day programming for fans. Buffalo Rumblings Editor-in-Chief Chris Trapasso has been named co-host alongside former Bills Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse.

The two-hour pregame show will air two hours before kickoff, with Trapasso and Morse breaking down key storylines, welcoming special guests, and building excitement for the game. Following the final whistle, the duo will return for an approximately two-hour postgame show featuring in-depth game analysis, locker room reactions, fan calls, and live press conferences from head coach Joe Brady and quarterback Josh Allen.

All Buffalo Bills Radio Network affiliates:

• 97 Rock | WGRF-FM — Buffalo
• The Score 1260 | WSKO-AM — Syracuse
• Rock 95.1 | WAIO-FM — Rochester
• ESPN New York 1050 | WEPN-AM — New York, NY
• ESPN West Palm 106.3 | WESP-FM – West Palm Beach, FL
• 1410 | WDOE-AM — Dunkirk
• 93.3 | WWSE-FM — Jamestown
• 94.7 The Met | WMTT – Elmira
• The Big Pig 95.7 | WPIG-FM — Olean
• 92.7 | WQTK-FM — Ogdensburg
• 94 Rock | WOTT-FM — Watertown
• Iconic Rock 100 | WIII-FM — Cortland/Ithaca
• 1590 | WAUB-AM — Auburn
• Finger Lakes News Radio 1240 | WGVA-AM — Geneva
• FOX Sports 980 | WOFX-AM — Albany
• FOX Sports 1430 | WENE-AM — Binghamton
• 1420 | WACK-AM — Newark
• 1190 | WSDE-AM — Cobleskill
• K Rock 94.9 | WKLL FM – Utica
• Kickin' Country 105.3 | WKPQ-FM – Hornell/Elmira
• Rocket 105 | WRKT-FM — Erie, PA
• News Radio 1400 | WRAK-AM — Williamsport, PA
• The Hero 100.1 | WBRR-FM — Bradford, PA

The game broadcasts will retain a familiar and highly regarded crew. Chris Brown returns for his fourth season as the “Voice of the Bills,” joined by color analyst Eric Wood and sideline reporter Steve Tasker, the Bills legend.For Buffalo Rumblings, the elevation of Editor-in-Chief Chris Trapasso to the official Bills radio team marks a proud milestone. From everyone at Buffalo Rumblings, congratulations to Chris on this well-deserved opportunity. We look forward to hearing him help Bills Mafia kick off and wrap up every game throughout the 2026 season.

FCC's Gomez Condemns Raising Ownership Caps

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gómez, the lone Democrat on the commission, has strongly condemned a Republican-backed proposal to raise the national television ownership cap, calling it unlawful and harmful to local media.

The proposed Order, released early Wednesday by Chairman Brendan Carr, is scheduled for a vote at the FCC’s August Open Meeting on August 6. It is expected to pass on a 2-1 party-line vote over Gómez’s objections.

In a prepared statement, Gómez said the measure represents “an unlawful effort to hand control of the public airwaves to billionaire buddies of this administration.” She warned that its approval “will destroy local newsrooms, silence community reporting, and drive up costs for the American families who depend on local stations for news and emergency alerts.”

Gómez argued that a free and diverse media landscape requires strict limits on how much of the public airwaves any one company can control. She accused the FCC of preparing to let local broadcasters “sell those airwaves off to the highest bidder.”

Her position aligns with cable operators, DirecTV, Dish, and groups like the American Television Alliance, which claim that larger broadcast groups would gain leverage to demand higher retransmission fees — though they have not presented definitive evidence.

Gómez maintains that Congress, which originally set the 39% national ownership cap, is the proper authority to raise or eliminate it.

FCC Set to Strip ABC’s ‘The View’ of News Exemption

The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to rule that ABC’s “The View” is not a bona fide news interview program, a decision that would end more than 20 years of precedent and force the Disney-owned daytime talk show to offer rival political candidates equal airtime.

Bloomberg is reporting that the FCC is also expected to advance a separate probe into Disney’s broadcast television licenses, potentially moving toward an administrative hearing that could jeopardize ABC stations in major markets including New York and Los Angeles. Both actions could be finalized before Labor Day, according to people familiar with the matter. The moves would mark the most aggressive FCC regulatory action against a major U.S. broadcaster in decades and a significant win for Chairman Brendan Carr’s push to tighten oversight of political programming on airwaves.

If implemented, the ruling would require “The View” to provide comparable airtime to opposing candidates whenever it features one running for office — a change ABC says would severely limit its editorial freedom.

Disney is expected to challenge the decisions in court. 

The Media Bureau’s determination on “The View” could be appealed to the full commission and then federal court, while the license investigation may proceed to a hearing before Carr or the full FCC.

The dispute originated in February after “The View” interviewed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. That appearance prompted FCC questions about whether rival candidates received equal opportunities under federal broadcast rules. Carr later opened a formal inquiry into whether the program still qualifies for the long-standing equal-time exemption.

In May, ABC and its Houston affiliate asked the FCC to uphold its 2002 ruling that classified “The View” as a bona fide news interview program exempt from the requirement. Earlier this month, ABC escalated its defense, filing comments stating: “The First Amendment does not permit the government to sit in an editor’s chair.”

Semafor reported that “The View” has quietly reduced bookings of candidates in competitive races while the FCC review is pending.

"The Five" Marks 15 Years as Cable News' Top-Rated Program

Fox News' "The Five" is celebrating 15 years on air as the most-watched program in cable news, consistently drawing an average of more than 3.8 million viewers per episode and frequently outperforming even major broadcast network staples.

The panel show’s success stems from its light-hearted approach and dynamic format, according to co-host Greg Gutfeld. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Gutfeld said, highlighting the program’s unpredictable, freewheeling conversations that extend well beyond politics to keep audiences engaged.

What started as a temporary experiment has transformed into a long-running ratings powerhouse that continues to dominate its time slot day after day.

Fellow co-hosts Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, Harold Ford Jr., and Jessica Tarlov point to the strong personal chemistry and genuine friendships among the panel as central to the show’s appeal. Despite often spirited debates, they say mutual respect allows for robust ideological clashes without descending into hostility.

The program’s signature format—pairing conservative and Democratic voices—sets it apart by showcasing real disagreement alongside civil discourse. Viewers tune in daily to see opposing viewpoints expressed openly yet respectfully, a rarity that has helped build and sustain its loyal audience over a decade and a half. 

This combination of authenticity, humor, and balanced conflict has turned "The Five" into more than just a news show—it has become a cultural fixture where serious topics meet entertaining, unpredictable discussion.

Good Morning: The Pulse Briefing Is Ready For Thursday, July 16

Radio Broadcasting

Infotainment Doubles: Adoption of in-car infotainment systems has more than doubled since 2019 and is driving a sharp rise in digital audio listening, according to Edison Research’s latest Share of Ear study.

Cumulus Makes Measurement Decision: Cumulus Media is positioning itself as the first major broadcaster to adopt Xperi’s AutoStage Radio Audience Measurement Service, a move that delivers near–real-time, in‑car listening data to advertisers and stations. The deployment follows Cumulus’ recent agreement with Eastlan to supply ratings currency in markets such as Atlanta, where its use of Nielsen Audio data halted after a legal dispute.

Bills Radio Expands: The Buffalo Bills have officially unveiled a significantly expanded radio network for the 2026 NFL season, adding stations across New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida as the team prepares to play its first games in the new Highmark Stadium.

ABC's WNT With David Muir Leads Broadcast Newscasts

For the 13th week in a row, “World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.291 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of July 6, 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 (8.291 million), Adults 25-54 (1.058 million) and Adults 18-49 (778,000).
• “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.380 million, 935,000 and 699,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+30%/+1.911 million), Adults 25-54 (+13%/+123,000) and Adults 18-49 (+11%/+79,000).
• “World News Tonight” widened its Adults 25-54 lead over “NBC Nightly News” compared to the previous week by 14% (123,000 vs. 108,000) to its largest in 6 weeks — since w/o 5/25/26.
• “World News Tonight” widened its Total Viewers margin over “NBC Nightly News” year to year by 7% (1.919 million vs. 1.780 million).
• For the second week in a row, “World News Tonight” turned in gains versus the previous week in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+2%/+163,000 – 8.291 million vs. 8.128 million), Adults 25-54 (+10%/+94,000 –1.058 million vs. 964,000) and Adults 18-49 (+5%/+37,000 –777,000 vs. 741,000). “World News Tonight” hit a 10-week high in overall viewers and a 13-week best in the key Adult news demo — since weeks of 4/27/26 and 4/6/26, respectively.
• “World News Tonight” also improved the year-ago week across the board: Total Viewers (+9%/+694,000 – 8.291 million vs. 7.595 million), Adults 25-54 (+6%/+59,000 –1.058 million vs. 999,000) and Adults 18-49 (+13%/+90,000 –778,000 vs. 688,000).
• “World News Tonight” (8.291 million, 1.058 million and 788,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News” (3.788 million, 497,000 and 396,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+119%/+4.503 million), Adults 25-54 (+113%/+561,000) and Adults 18-49(+96%/+382,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” scored its largest lead in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 in 10 weeks — since w/o 4/20/26.
• “World News Tonight” widened its lead over “CBS Evening News” versus the year-ago week in Total Viewers (+19% – 4.503 million vs. 3.787 million).

Cumulus Media Adopting Xperi's AutoStage Measurement

Cumulus Media is positioning itself as the first major broadcaster to adopt Xperi’s AutoStage Radio Audience Measurement Service, a move that delivers near–real-time, in‑car listening data to advertisers and stations. The deployment follows Cumulus’ recent agreement with Eastlan to supply ratings currency in markets such as Atlanta, where its use of Nielsen Audio data halted after a legal dispute.

At the center of the shift is Cumulus’ role as the inaugural commercial licensee of the AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium. Xperi describes the platform as a next‑generation audience intelligence system capable of producing “near–census-level insights” into in‑car radio consumption — the dominant environment for radio listening. Advertisers gain access to next‑day audience samples, observed listening behavior, and market‑level trends designed to sharpen media planning and align campaigns with actual listening patterns.

The AutoStage ratings conversation intensified at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, where industry chatter suggested that tools like Broadcaster Portal Premium could challenge Nielsen Audio’s long‑held dominance, dating back to its 2013 merger with Arbitron.

Cumulus Media President of Operations Bob Walker says the company is embracing AutoStage as part of a broader effort to expand audience insight. He highlights the platform’s heat‑mapping capabilities, which visualize aggregated listening concentrations relative to advertiser locations — a feature he believes will help advertisers optimize campaigns and maximize impact.

Cumulus plans to roll out Broadcaster Portal Premium across all 393 of its stations in 84 markets, marking one of the largest deployments of Xperi’s audience‑measurement technology to date.

Number of Car Infotainment Systems Has Doubled

Adoption of in-car infotainment systems has more than doubled since 2019 and is driving a sharp rise in digital audio listening, according to Edison Research’s latest Share of Ear study.

Ownership of platforms such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay among Americans age 13 and older has climbed from 18% in 2019 to 40% in 2026.Among drivers who own these systems, digital audio now accounts for 36% of all in-car listening time — a major increase from just 14% seven years ago. 

Digital sources include streaming music services, AM/FM station streams, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Traditional non-digital audio still dominates, however, making up 64% of listening time even among infotainment system owners. This includes over-the-air AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and owned music such as CDs.

In 2019, non-digital sources accounted for 86% of in-car listening among these drivers. The shift shows that while digital listening has grown significantly, it has not displaced traditional radio.

Edison Research concludes that infotainment systems are expanding overall digital audio consumption in vehicles by giving drivers easier access to streaming and on-demand content, without eliminating the strong hold of broadcast and satellite radio on the dashboard.

NBC, Fox Dominate Baseball Viewership

NBC is dominating early-season baseball viewership after taking over Opening Day and Sunday Night Baseball rights from ESPN, averaging 2.25 million viewers per game through 11 broadcasts according to Nielsen.

Including Peacock streaming measured by Adobe Analytics, NBC’s average rises to 2.51 million viewers — a 51% increase from ESPN’s 1.66 million average through the same period last year.

The New York Yankees–Boston Red Sox game on Sunday, June 28, is the season’s most-watched so far, drawing 3.27 million viewers on NBC (4 million with streaming). The game went to extra innings after coverage joined in progress in the fourth inning due to a golf overrun.Several factors are boosting NBC’s numbers compared with last season on cable:

• Broadcast television on NBC reaches a larger potential audience than ESPN.
• NBC has aired fewer games so far than ESPN did at this point last year.
• Nielsen’s updated Big Data methodology has generally lifted measured sports audiences.

Fox ranks a close second, averaging 2.24 million viewers across 13 Baseball Night in America windows. Its top game — a July 4 regional doubleheader featuring the Mets-Braves and Cardinals-Cubs — drew 3.34 million viewers, up 7% from the same period last year. That gain falls within the range attributable to Nielsen’s new methodology, which has increased sports ratings by as much as 15% in some cases.

ESPN’s numbers have dropped sharply, with its games (including two on ABC) averaging just 1.12 million viewers this season. On ABC, the Yankees–Red Sox game on June 27 led with 1.99 million. ESPN’s top regular-season game so far is Yankees–Royals on Memorial Day afternoon, which averaged 1.63 million.

The decline for ESPN is largely explained by scheduling: the network has shifted most games to weeknights this season, whereas last year’s stronger 1.66 million average included more weekend matchups. ESPN’s three weekday games last year averaged only 1.23 million, similar to this season’s overall performance.

FCC Expected To Repeal Ownership Caps

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says the Commission will vote August 6 on repealing the long‑standing 39% national television ownership cap — a move that immediately sent broadcast stocks surging. The decision, shared in an interview with Breitbart, shuts down speculation that broader media‑ownership reforms for radio or TV were on the table.

The proposal would eliminate the national cap and replace it with a case‑by‑case review process, rather than raising the limit to 69% or 100% as some industry observers had anticipated. Even without a percentage increase, investors reacted swiftly: By mid‑afternoon Tuesday, Nexstar shares climbed 3.8% to $182.24 after touching nearly $191 earlier in the day. Sinclair rose 3.6% to $14.30, Gray Media jumped 6.2% to $4.05, and Scripps traded at $3.07 after peaking at $3.17.

Industry leaders also moved quickly to endorse the proposal. NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt praised the Commission for advancing the order, arguing that broadcast‑only ownership limits are outdated in a marketplace dominated by digital competitors. Removing the cap, he said, would strengthen local stations’ ability to compete, invest, and serve communities with trusted news, sports, and entertainment.

Rumors had circulated earlier in the day that the FCC was preparing a broader overhaul of AM/FM and UHF/VHF ownership rules. Carr’s announcement made clear that, for now, the August vote will focus solely on the national TV cap.

NYTImes Files For Dismissal Of Latest Trump Subpoenas

The New York Times filed a motion Wednesday to quash Justice Department subpoenas demanding that three of its reporters reveal confidential sources, escalating a clash over press freedoms in an investigation tied to the newspaper’s coverage of President Trump’s new Air Force One jet.\

The subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a grand jury as part of a DOJ probe into how the Times obtained information for its reporting on the presidential aircraft.

In the filing, the Times argued that the subpoenas are unconstitutional and represent a serious threat to journalistic independence. The newspaper said forcing reporters to disclose sources would have a chilling effect on the public’s right to know about government actions.

The dispute stems from the Times’ reporting on the development and details of the new Air Force One, a high-profile project involving significant government contracts and national security considerations. The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the exact focus of the grand jury investigation.

This marks the latest high-profile confrontation between the Trump administration and major news organizations over leaks and source protection. The Times has vowed to fight the subpoenas vigorously, calling them an overreach by the DOJ.

Legal experts following the case say the outcome could set a significant precedent for how far the Justice Department can go in compelling journalists to testify about their sourcing on stories involving the executive branch. The motion to quash will now go before a federal judge.

Radio History: July 16

➦In 1934...the NBC Red radio network premiered the musical drama, 'Dreams Come True'. The show concerned the lives of baritone singer Barry McKinley and his novelist sweetheart.

Harry Chapin

➦In 1981...Harry Forster Chapin died in a traffic accident on the Long Island Expressway after suffering a heart attack (Born -  December 7, 1942).  He was a singer-songwriter, humanitarian, and producer best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs, who achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest paid performers. Chapin is also one of the best charting musical artists in the United States. Chapin, a Grammy Award winning artist and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, has sold over 16 million records worldwide and has been described as one of the most beloved performers in music history.

Chapin recorded a total of 11 albums from 1972 until his death in 1981. All 14 singles that he released became hit singles on at least one national music chart.  Chapin was best known for “Taxi,” a top-20 hit in 1972, and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” which hit number-one in ’74.

As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger; he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. Chapin is credited with being the most politically and socially active American performer of the 1970s. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.

➦In 1990..DJ Rick Dees debuted his TV show "Into The Night" on ABC-TV

➦In 1991…Radio announcer Dwight Weist died of a heart attack at age 81.  He announced on radio shows such as Inner Sanctum Mysteries), Mr. District Attorney, The Shadow and March of Time.  He was known as the "Man of 1,000 Voices." He also narrated countless film documentaries from the 1930s through the 1950s.

➦In 2003…Baltimore radio, TV personality Buddy Dean died from the effects of a stoke at age 78.