TV Ratings: The Five Delivers 4M+ Viewers

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the week of January 26 averaging 3 million weekday primetime viewers and 295,000 A25-54, leading NBC in total viewers (2.9 million viewers) and CBS across the board (2.2 million viewers and 281,000 A25-54), according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. 

Throughout Monday - Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC averaged 1.7 million viewers and 160,000 in the 25-54 demo and in primetime saw 2.6 million viewers and 245,000 in the 25-54 demo, recording the network’s highest rated week since September 2025. For the week, FNC held 55% share of cable news viewers in primetime and drew 90 of the top 100 telecasts in all of cable news.

The Five delivered over 4 million viewers and drew 335,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking its highest rated week in total viewers since September 2025 and securing a 63% share of cable news viewers for the hour. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 3 million viewers and 272,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing CBS Evening News for the month of January in key markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington DC, Las Vegas, and more. The Ingraham Angle at 7PM/ET saw 2.7 million viewers and 251,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 3.3 million viewers and 285,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity averaged 2.7 million viewers and 248,000 in the 25-54 demo, while FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher averaged 1.6 million viewers at 11PM/ET.

FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged over 3 million viewers and delivered 352,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to lead all late-night competition in total viewers and the 25-54 demo. It also continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2 million viewers; 279,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2 million viewers; 296,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.1 million viewers; 204,000 A25-54).

FNC continued to see its daytime programs outperform the broadcast competition. America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 2.2 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2.2 million viewers) The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3PM/ET; 1.9 million viewers) and The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2.3 million viewers) all led CBS Mornings (1.8 million viewers) and ABC’s GMA 3 (1.8 million viewers).

Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN

On Saturday: Kayleigh McEnany's Saturday In America (Saturdays, 10AM-12PM/ET) was the highest rated show of the weekend with total viewers delivering over 2 million viewers and 144,000 in the A25-54 demo. FOX News Live anchored by Aishah Hasnie (Saturdays, 12 - 2PM/ET) delivered 1.7 million viewers and 134,000 in the A 25-54. FOX Report with Jon Scott (Saturday, 3-5PM/ET) drew 1.3 million viewers while The Big Weekend Show (Saturdays/Sundays, 5-8 PM/ET) averaged nearly 1.6 million viewers.

On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) was the number one cable news show of the day with nearly 2 million viewers and delivered 140,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) hosted by Jacqui Heinrich delivered 1.7 million viewers and 126,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show (Saturdays/Sundays, 5-8PM/ET) was the highest rated show of the day in the A25-54 demo averaging 144,000 viewers.

Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 1-26-26 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

The TV ratings for the broadcast evening newscasts (ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir, NBC's Nightly News, and CBS's Evening News) for the week of January 26, 2026 (covering January 26–30, based on available Nielsen Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel data) show ABC maintaining a strong lead.

• ABC World News Tonight averaged 9.244 million total viewers, 1.182 million adults 25-54, and 877,000 adults 18-49. It ranked No. 1 across all broadcast and cable newscasts in these categories. Highlights included Monday's edition drawing 9.804 million viewers (the most-watched network news telecast in over three years at that point), with strong performances Tuesday (9.6 million), Wednesday (9.2 million), and Thursday (9.1 million).
• NBC Nightly News averaged 7.150 million total viewers, 1.040 million adults 25-54, and 703,000 adults 18-49. This placed it second overall, trailing ABC by about 2.094 million total viewers.
• CBS Evening News averaged 4.538 million total viewers, 623,000 adults 25-54, and 479,000 adults 18-49. It remained in third place, significantly behind ABC (by 4.706 million total viewers) and NBC.

ABC outperformed NBC by +29% in total viewers (+2.094 million), +14% in adults 25-54 (+142,000), and +25% in adults 18-49 (+174,000). Compared to CBS, ABC's leads were even larger: +104% in total viewers (+4.706 million), +90% in adults 25-54 (+559,000), and +83% in adults 18-49 (+398,000).

This aligns with ABC's ongoing dominance in the evening news slot during the 2025-26 season, often leading by wide margins in total viewers while the race in the key 25-54 demographic has been more competitive at times earlier in the year (e.g., NBC briefly edging ahead in early January weeks). 

CBS continued to trail notably, consistent with reports of challenges under its current format and anchor changes. Ratings can fluctuate based on news events, preemptions, or seasonal factors, but this week reflected a solid win for World News Tonight.

Back To Black: SiriusXM Reports Net Income Rose During 2025

SiriusXM today announced its operating and financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2025 on February 5, 2026, reporting mixed performance with revenue declines offset by a strong swing to profitability, robust free cash flow that beat guidance, and strategic progress in content and advertising.

SiriusXM ended the fourth quarter of 2025 with 31.3 million self-pay subscribers (often referred to as total paid subscribers). For the full year 2025, self-pay subscribers declined by 301,000 overall, despite a positive net addition of approximately 110,000 in Q4 alone.

Monthly self-pay churn improved modestly to 1.5% in 2025, compared to 1.6% in 2024, reflecting better retention in areas like vehicle-related and non-pay categories.

The company's total subscriber count—including those on paid promotional plans—stood at approximately 33 million at year-end 2025. This figure has stayed relatively stable in recent periods but was down about 1% from the prior year.

The total trial funnel (users on free trials) was 7.2 million at the end of 2025, slightly lower than the 7.3 million reported a year earlier.

The company delivered $8.56 billion in full-year revenue, down 2% from 2024, and $2.67 billion in adjusted EBITDA, also down 2%, while generating $1.26 billion in free cash flow—an increase of about $241 million year-over-year and ahead of expectations. 

Notably, SiriusXM swung from a $2.08 billion net loss in 2024 to $805 million in net income for 2025, driven by disciplined cost controls (including $250 million in incremental gross savings) and operational efficiencies.

For the fourth quarter specifically, total revenue was approximately $2.19 billion (flat year-over-year but slightly above analyst estimates), with adjusted EBITDA at $691 million (beating expectations).

However, GAAP earnings per share came in at $0.24, missing some consensus views, though adjusted figures showed strength in areas like free cash flow generation.

Operationally, the company highlighted subscriber trends with a full-year decline but positive fourth-quarter self-pay additions, aided by initiatives like the broader rollout of its 360L platform, multi-year dealer subscription programs across more than 15 brands, and new service options such as Continuous Service and Companion Plans.

In content and growth areas, SiriusXM renewed its key Howard Stern deal for three more years, expanded high-profile programming in news, sports, and culture, and significantly boosted its podcasting business— with podcast revenue surging 41% in 2025. 

Pandora and off-platform revenue held roughly flat at $2.14 billion, supported by podcast and programmatic ad gains despite softer streaming music demand. The SiriusXM Podcast Network ranked as the top national network in weekly listener reach.

The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share.

Looking ahead, SiriusXM indicated a stable outlook for 2026 with revenue expected close to 2025 levels (around $8.5 billion), continued focus on deleveraging, cost discipline, high-return investments, and shareholder returns, while projecting a path to higher free cash flow by 2027.

Trump Pivots On Netflix, WBD

President Donald Trump announced he will stay out of the high-stakes battle between Netflix and Paramount Skydance over control of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), leaving the decision entirely to the Department of Justice.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News anchor Tom Llamas on Wednesday, Trump described the shift as a deliberate choice despite outreach from both sides. "I haven’t been involved," he said. "I must say, I guess I'm considered to be a very strong president. I've been called by both sides. It's the two sides, but I've decided I shouldn't be involved. The Justice Department will handle it."

This marks a clear reversal from his stance in December, when he publicly indicated he would personally weigh in on any Netflix-related deal for Warner Bros. assets. At the time, Trump expressed concerns about market concentration, stating that Netflix already held "a very big market share" and that adding Warner Bros. would increase it significantly. He told reporters he would consult economists and added, "I'll be involved in that decision."

WATCH IN FULL: President Donald J. Trump's interview with @LlamasNBC on @NBCNightlyNews and @TopStoryNBC pic.twitter.com/PZYkvyoYBA

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 5, 2026

The ongoing contest centers on Warner Bros. Discovery's valuable film and television studios, extensive content library, and iconic franchises, which both Netflix and Paramount Skydance (backed by interests including David Ellison) have pursued aggressively. Netflix has proposed a major acquisition reportedly valued around $72 billion or more for key assets, while Paramount Skydance has mounted a rival bid, including elements of a hostile approach aimed at blocking or outmaneuvering Netflix.

The Department of Justice's antitrust review remains the key hurdle, with potential concerns about reduced competition in streaming and content production. Senate hearings have already featured testimony from executives, including Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, amid scrutiny over market dominance and broader industry implications.

Trump's decision to step back hands the outcome to career regulators, potentially reducing perceptions of direct White House influence on the process. The development comes as the media landscape continues to consolidate amid streaming wars and shifting viewer habits.

Savannah Guthrie: 'Bring Her Home'

"Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie issued a tearful public plea Wednesday evening for the safe return of her missing 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Tucson-area home in Arizona.

In an emotional Instagram video posted with her brother and sister, Savannah addressed reports of ransom notes circulating in the media. "We are ready to talk," she said. "However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her." 

The post was captioned simply: "Bring her home."

New: @SavannahGuthrie and siblings release video appealing for their mother’s return, and address any abductor(s) pic.twitter.com/jw5uqn88rI

— Jonathan Carlson (@TVreporter) February 5, 2026

The family emphasized that Nancy Guthrie has fragile health and relies on medication she no longer has access to, which is critical for her survival. "We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen," Savannah added, urging direct contact.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has classified the disappearance as a crime, stating authorities found concerning evidence at Nancy's home—including signs she did not leave willingly—making it a "crime scene." 

Investigators are actively reviewing reported ransom notes sent to media outlets, though no suspect or person of interest has been identified. The FBI is assisting, and officials continue to prioritize tips while believing Nancy remains alive and in the area.

On Wednesday evening, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with Savannah Guthrie and was directing all federal law enforcement resources to support the family and local authorities immediately. 

"We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely," he wrote.Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home Saturday night, January 31, 2026, and reported missing Sunday after missing church.

 Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

Appeals Court Lifts Restrictions on Nielsen

A federal appeals court has temporarily lifted restrictions on Nielsen's national radio ratings policies by granting the company's request for a stay in its ongoing antitrust dispute with Cumulus Media.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an order granting Nielsen a stay pending appeal. This pauses enforcement of a preliminary injunction from a lower court, meaning the restrictions are not in effect while the full appeal proceeds.

The injunction, issued in December 2025 by U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in New York, had blocked Nielsen from enforcing its "Network Policy." That policy links access to Nielsen's national radio ratings, a critical tool for selling national advertising, to the purchase of local market ratings data. The district court found Cumulus likely to succeed on claims that this constituted unlawful tying under Section 2 of the Sherman Act. It also restricted Nielsen from charging what the court deemed commercially unreasonable rates for standalone national ratings and cited the "Subscriber First Policy" as discouraging switches to competitors like Eastlan.

Cumulus, which operates local stations and the Westwood One national network, argued that Nielsen's practices effectively forced broadcasters to buy bundled local data to obtain usable national ratings, harming competition in the radio measurement market.

Nielsen appealed urgently, arguing the injunction would severely disrupt its audio business, interfere with legitimate pricing, and create impractical compliance burdens. The Second Circuit's stay restores the pre-injunction status quo for now.

The underlying antitrust lawsuit, Cumulus Media New Holdings, Inc. v. The Nielsen Company (US) LLC, remains active in district court. Recent developments include Nielsen filing counterclaims against Cumulus, alleging breach of contract for allegedly sharing confidential ratings data with rival Eastlan.

Nielsen's national radio ratings continue to serve as the dominant industry benchmark for network radio advertising buys, making the case's outcome potentially significant for how ratings data is bundled, priced, and competed within the radio marketplace. The appeal's resolution could clarify boundaries on tying practices in media measurement services.

iHM Signs Podcast Deal With Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny, the global reggaeton superstar, has entered the podcasting world through a new partnership between his sports management company, Rimas Sports, and iHeartMedia.

The deal, announced exclusively by Variety, involves producing original podcasts and content for iHeartMedia's My Cultura podcast network, which focuses on Latino voices and stories.

Bad Bunny

The podcasts will feature Latino athletes as hosts, aligning with Rimas Sports' emphasis on representing and elevating Latino talent in sports and entertainment.

This marks an expansion for Bad Bunny beyond music, touring, and his recent high-profile moments—like Grammy nominations and Super Bowl halftime buzz—into media production via his business ventures.

The My Cultura network, launched in 2021 in collaboration with iHeart on-air personality Enrique Santos, already hosts various Latino-centered shows. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The partnership highlights Bad Bunny's growing influence as a cultural entrepreneur, building on his Rimas label and sports agency to create content that resonates with Latinx audiences.

Barry Manilow Postpones Concerts To Rest

Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow, the 82-year-old legendary singer of hits like "Copacabana," has announced  that he is recovering well from recent surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his left lung but needs additional time to heal, leading to the postponement of his February 12-21 residency shows at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

In a direct social media update shared via Instagram, Manilow wrote: "I'm doing great and recovering very well after my surgery. I've been getting exercise and spending some time in the studio, which has been fantastic." He attributed the decision to delay the performances to his doctor's guidance, stating: "We have decided to postpone my residency dates at Westgate Las Vegas from February 12-21 so I can stay focused on healing and getting ready for the tour that's kicking off at the end of February. Having a few extra weeks to rest and prepare is what the doctor ordered!"

Tickets for the postponed dates are fully refundable at the point of purchase, according to his representatives and venue information. His residency schedule now resumes with shows set for March 26-28.

The health update follows Manilow's December 2025 revelation that a prolonged bout of bronchitis prompted an MRI, which detected the early-stage cancerous spot. He described the discovery as "pure luck (and a great doctor)" since it was caught early, requiring only surgical removal—no chemotherapy or radiation. He humorously noted recovery would involve "chicken soup and I Love Lucy reruns."

Manilow remains optimistic about his upcoming 2026 arena tour, which begins at the end of February and extends through April, with recent date additions announced prior to this postponement. He emphasized prioritizing full recovery to ensure readiness for the road shows.

Good Morning! Let's Check the Pulse for Thursday, Feb 5

 

Radio Broadcasting

Appeals court lifts restrictions on Nielsen in Cumulus antitrust dispute:  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has granted Nielsen a stay (temporary pause) on a lower court's preliminary injunction. This allows Nielsen to continue its "Network Policy" of linking national radio ratings access to local market purchases while the appeal proceeds. The original December 2025 injunction from a New York federal judge had blocked the policy, citing likely antitrust violations through coercive bundling. Nielsen recently escalated by countersuing Cumulus, alleging the broadcaster secretly shared Nielsen's proprietary ratings data with rival Eastlan Ratings (described as Nielsen's "crown jewels") in bad faith during contract negotiations. This ongoing battle underscores tensions in radio ratings methodology, pricing, and competition between measurement providers.

Spotify reaches major daily listening milestone: Edison Research's latest Share of Ear study (based on Q4 2025 data) shows Spotify now reaches 25% of Americans aged 13+ on a typical day, marking a significant milestone in audio consumption. This represents a 317% increase in daily usage since 2015, positioning Spotify as the second-most popular streaming audio brand behind YouTube's offerings. The growth occurs amid a highly competitive landscape, pressuring traditional radio by capturing more share of daily ear time—especially as streaming continues to erode radio's dominance in music and on-demand listening. Radio remains strong in spoken-word and local content, but these figures highlight accelerating shifts toward digital platforms.

Media Industry:

Savannah Guthrie releases emotional video plea for missing mother:  "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, joined by siblings Annie and Camron, posted a heartfelt video on Instagram on February 4, 2026, pleading for the safe return of their 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona home after an apparent abduction over the weekend. In the video, the family addresses potential captors, acknowledges reports of a ransom note (possibly demanding Bitcoin), and stresses the need for undeniable proof that Nancy is alive due to concerns over manipulated media and her health issues (including a pacemaker and lack of medication). 

President Trump pivots on Netflix-WBD deal, says he'll stay out:  In interviews with NBC News and others, President Donald Trump reversed his earlier stance, stating he will not intervene in the high-stakes battle over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). He previously suggested involvement in reviewing Netflix's proposed acquisition of WBD's streaming and studio assets (valued at around $82.7 billion in enterprise value, recently amended to all-cash). Trump now says the Justice Department will handle any antitrust or regulatory scrutiny, despite being contacted by both sides.

Warner Bros. Discovery continues navigating the Netflix-Paramount Skydance rivalry: WBD has filed preliminary proxy materials to accelerate a shareholder vote on the Netflix deal (potentially by April 2026), while Paramount has extended its hostile tender offer deadline to February 20 and is soliciting votes against the Netflix agreement. If shareholders reject Netflix, Paramount could push for board changes. The saga underscores massive consolidation pressures in media, with concerns over market dominance, content control, and antitrust hurdles in streaming, studios (including HBO, DC, Warner Bros. Pictures), and linear networks (set for spin-off as Discovery Global).

U.S. News

US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks enter second day in UAE amid ongoing strikes:  Trilateral negotiations involving U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian representatives resumed in Abu Dhabi on February 5, following what White House officials described as a "productive" first day. Discussions continue despite fresh Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. This marks a significant diplomatic push under the Trump administration to broker an end to the nearly four-year conflict, with potential implications for U.S. foreign aid, NATO alliances, and global energy markets.
Savannah Guthrie's emotional video plea for missing mother Nancy Guthrie

Trump administration pushes critical minerals trading bloc to counter China:  The administration announced plans for an allied trading bloc on critical minerals (essential for EVs, weapons, tech), using tariffs to secure supply chains and counter China's dominance. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted this at a meeting with officials from dozens of nations, amid recent Chinese restrictions tied to U.S. tariffs. This reflects escalating U.S.-China economic tensions with broad impacts on manufacturing, defense, and green energy.

Winter Olympics 2026 underway in Milan-Cortina, with U.S. leading athlete contingent:  The 2026 Winter Games continue, with Team USA fielding its largest-ever Winter Olympics delegation (232 athletes). Coverage focuses on events like curling (U.S. medal hopes starting), hockey, and more, amid live updates from venues. This serves as a major national pride/story amid global events.

Google Earnings Beat Wall Street Expectations

Alphabet's aggressive push into artificial intelligence is fueling strong growth in its advertising and cloud businesses, while the company plans to nearly double capital spending in 2026 to lead the AI race.

The Google parent reported fourth-quarter revenue of $113.8 billion, up 18% year-over-year and beating analyst expectations. Net income rose 30% to $34.5 billion (or $2.82 per share). Google Cloud revenue surged 48% to $17.7 billion, driven by demand for AI infrastructure and solutions.For the full year 2025, Alphabet achieved a milestone with revenue exceeding $400 billion for the first time, reaching approximately $403 billion (up 15%), and profit of about $132 billion.

The company dramatically raised its 2026 capital expenditure guidance to $175 billion to $185 billion, roughly double the $91 billion to $93 billion spent in 2025. The increase focuses on building data centers, servers, and other infrastructure to meet exploding AI compute demand and train/run advanced models. CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized balancing rapid scaling with long-term efficiency amid challenges like power supply constraints for data centers.

AI momentum continues to accelerate: The Gemini app now has over 750 million monthly active users, and the launch of Gemini 3 marked a key milestone. AI features are boosting search usage and early monetization efforts, while YouTube's annual revenue surpassed $60 billion across ads and subscriptions.

YouTube's combined revenue from advertising and subscriptions surpassed $60 billion in 2025, driven by strong performance in both areas. This milestone was revealed in Alphabet's fourth-quarter 2025 earnings report, released after the market closed on Wednesday.

The company now boasts more than 325 million paid subscriptions across its consumer services, with Google One and YouTube Premium leading the growth.

During the earnings call, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted YouTube's dominance in streaming, noting that it has been the No. 1 streamer in the U.S. for nearly three years, based on overall living room watch time according to Nielsen measurements.

Other key highlights from the report include:

• In October 2025, viewers consumed over 700 million hours of podcasts on living room devices—a 75% year-over-year increase.
• YouTube Shorts now averages 200 billion daily views, with growing traction specifically in the living room environment.
• YouTube TV continues to attract significant interest, particularly in its skinny bundle options.

These figures underscore YouTube's expanding role in both mobile/short-form and traditional living room viewing, as well as its success in monetizing through ads, premium subscriptions, and bundled services.

Alphabet shares experienced volatility in after-hours trading following the results and guidance. The company faces ongoing antitrust scrutiny, including a recent federal ruling limiting exclusive default search deals (though avoiding harsher remedies like divesting Chrome, partly due to increased competition from AI players). A separate ad tech monopoly case continues.

Other tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have also reported strong AI-related results recently.

The Washington Post Shrinks

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, laid off approximately one-third of its entire staff on Wednesday in a major restructuring, affecting all departments and resulting in hundreds of journalists losing their jobs.

The cuts drastically reduce the newsroom—more than 300 of roughly 800 journalists—while eliminating or severely shrinking key areas including the entire sports section, books coverage, several foreign bureaus (including much of the Middle East team), metro/local reporting, and the flagship podcast. Executive Editor Matt Murray announced the reductions during a company-wide call, describing them as painful but necessary to adapt from a "quasi-monopoly local newspaper" structure to a more sustainable model amid ongoing financial losses and shifting reader habits.

The newspaper's spokesperson confirmed the one-third reduction across the company, while the Washington-Baltimore News Guild reported "hundreds" of newsroom staffers impacted. 

Affected journalists include Amazon beat reporter Caroline O'Donovan, Cairo Bureau Chief Claire Parker, and other Middle East correspondents and editors.

The Post framed the moves as "difficult but decisive actions" to strengthen its position, sharpen focus on distinctive journalism, particularly politics and government coverage, which Murray said will remain the largest desk and central to subscriber growth, and better engage customers.

The layoffs follow years of challenges for the Post and the broader industry, including steep circulation declines (from 250,000 average daily in 2020 to 97,000 in 2025), persistent losses (including $100 million in recent years), and subscriber backlash over decisions like not endorsing a candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

Bezos acquired the newspaper in 2013 for $250 million, pledging to preserve its journalistic tradition without interfering in day-to-day operations, though he has emphasized inevitable changes. Recent tensions include clashes with staff over editorial shifts toward "personal liberties and free markets," Bezos's perceived outreach to political figures, and an FBI search of a reporter's home in January.

Reactions have been sharp: one anonymous Post reporter called it a "bloodbath," unions criticized Bezos for withdrawing investment from the paper's mission, former editor Marty Baron and others warned of "enormous damage" to journalism, and former publisher Don Graham expressed sadness over losing longtime colleagues.

The Post joins other major newspapers struggling as audiences shift to social media and digital platforms disrupt traditional revenue models.

Meet the Press Ranks #1 in the Key A25-54 Demo Season-to-Date

Meet the Press with Kristen Welker was ranked the #1 Sunday public affairs show for A25-54 key demo viewers this past Sunday, February 1, according to Nielsen. 

Meet the Press averaged 463,000 key A25-54 demo viewers this past Sunday, leading ABC by +74,000 (+19%) and CBS by +27,000 (+6%). This marks Meet the Press’s tenth consecutive demo win over ABC. Compared to the prior year, Meet the Press improved its A25-54 lead vs. ABC by 38% (+75,000 vs. +54,000 prior year). Meet the Press has also outperformed CBS in the demo for four of the last five weeks, which continues to rate for just 30 minutes of its hour-long broadcast.

Meet the Press averaged 2.849 million total viewers this past Sunday, the only Sunday Affairs program to increase its viewership vs. prior year. Season-to-date, Meet the Press has reduced its total viewer gap with ABC by 45%. Meet the Press was the #1 Sunday public affairs show among key A25-54 demo viewers for the 2024-25 broadcast season. Meet the Press has never lost a month in the Washington, D.C. market among total viewers. 

FOX News Scores Best January in History on YouTube

FOX News Media kicked off 2026 delivering its best January ever on YouTube leading all news brands and broadcast networks, according to Emplifi. 

Delivering 466 million video views in January, FOX News increased its YouTube viewership 14% year-over-year and 60% compared to December leading MS Now (339 million views), CNN (237 million views), ABC News (124 million views), NBC News (118 million views), and CBS News (56 million views). Additionally, FOX News Clips generated 49.3 million video views in January, a 92% increase month-over-month.

FOX News Media also led all news brands on social media with interactions according to Emplifi. FOX News delivered 175 million social media interactions for the month with 104 million interactions on Facebook, 25.4 million interactions on Instagram, 7 million interactions on X and 38.3 million interactions on TikTok. Additionally, FOX News commanded its second-best month ever with social media video views driving over 2.6 billion views.

Data according to Emplifi: January 2026 YouTube Video Views

1. FOX News: 466 million video views
2. MS NOW: 339 million video views
3. CNN: 237 million video views
4. ABC News: 124 million video views
5. NBC News: 118 million video views
6. CBS News: 56 million video views

Baltimore Radio: Joe LaCroix Named Assistant PD of 105.7 The Fan

105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM), an Audacy station in Baltimore, announces the promotion of Joe LaCroix to Assistant Brand Manager. In this role, LaCroix will support the station’s content strategy, talent, operations and branding.

Joe LaCroix

“Joe has been an incredible resource and tremendous help to the entire team throughout the past year, stepping in without hesitation and taking on added responsibility,” said Scott Jameson, Brand Manager, 105.7 The Fan. “His work ethic, commitment to the station, and focus on fostering a collaborative environment have not gone unnoticed, making him the ideal candidate for this elevated role.”

“I’m delighted to accept this role and grateful for the opportunity,” said LaCroix. “I’m excited to continue working with this team and to help drive the continued growth and success of The Fan.”

LaCroix joined the station in 2017 as a part-time board operator, then rose to Executive Producer of the “Big Bad Morning Show” in 2021.

📻Listeners can tune in to 105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM) in Baltimore on-air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via X, Facebook and Instagram.

Edison: Spotify Reaches Milestone

Spotify has reached a major milestone in U.S. audio consumption, with one-quarter (25%) of Americans aged 13 and older now listening to the platform on a typical day, according to Edison Research’s latest Share of Ear® study for Q4 2025.

This places Spotify as the second most popular streaming audio brand in daily reach, trailing only YouTube's audio offerings. The achievement highlights Spotify's dramatic rise in a highly competitive audio landscape filled with radio, podcasts, and other streaming services.

In 2015, just 6% of Americans 13+ used Spotify daily. Since then, the platform has shown consistent year-over-year gains, resulting in a 317% increase in daily usage by 2025.Spotify's growth spans both its ad-supported and ad-free (premium) tiers, strengthening its position across different user segments.

The data comes from Edison Research’s quarterly Share of Ear study, which tracks Americans' audio habits through listening diaries. 

While Spotify has surged in daily reach, broader industry reports (including earlier 2025 waves) indicate that traditional AM/FM radio continues to dominate overall ad-supported audio time spent, with streaming music platforms like Spotify capturing smaller shares of total listening duration.

For deeper insights into tier performance, competitive comparisons, and evolving trends in the U.S. audio market, Edison Research encourages a Share of Ear® subscription. The full Q4 2025 findings underscore Spotify's enduring momentum amid ongoing shifts in how Americans consume audio content.

FL Radio: WSCF-FM (Christian FM) is #1 Adults 12+

WSCF-FM (91.9 FM), the Contemporary Christiann Music station serving Florida’s Treasure Coast has achieved the #1 overall ranking among Adults 12+, according to the latest Nielsen ratings (Fall 2025).

This milestone reflects WSCF’s heritage commitment to delivering uplifting, Christ-centered music and compelling content that resonates with listeners seeking hope and encouragement. WSCF has long super-served the community with a talent roster based on Christian FM’s “AC Total” lineup with Brant Hansen, Doug Hannah, Lisa Barry and Andy Youso. 

In 2008, the station became the launch pad for what has now become the top syndication service for CCM stations across America.

“Reaching #1 is a testament to the impact of Christ-centered music and the incredible listeners who support us every day,” said Geoff Moore, National Affiliations Director for Christian FM Media. “We’re grateful—and we believe this reflects the broader growth of CCM radio across the country.”

Multiple Christian FM clients across the nation have also reached #1 overall in their markets.

Christian FM Media offers three distinct 24/7 Christian music formats, fully localized and branded for individual markets. From filling a single daypart to providing complete turnkey programming, Christian FM Media delivers flexible, cost-effective solutions for stations of all sizes.

Radio History: Feb 5

➦In 1916...Pioneering radio, TV engineer Ernst Alexanderson successfully tested the multiple tuned antenna.  He was a pioneer in radio and television development. Alexanderson designed the Alexanderson alternator, an early longwave radio transmitter, one of the first devices which could transmit modulated audio (sound) over radio waves.  Alexanderson also created the amplidyne, a direct current amplifier used during the Second World War for controlling anti-aircraft guns. During some 45-years working for General Electric,  he was responsible for 322 patents.

➦In 1924...the BBC time signal was first transmitted at 9.30pm, introduced by Sir Frank Dyson, the Astronomer Royal. Ever since that date, equipment at the Greenwich Observatory generates six short “pips” starting at five seconds to the hour and ending exactly on the hour. The pips have been generated by the BBC since 1990 to mark the precise start of each hour.

➦In 1931... Eddie Cantor‘s long radio career got underway as he made his first appearance on Rudy Vallee’s “The Fleischmann Hour” on NBC. By September of 1931 he would be headlining his own variety hour for Chase & Sanborn. The show established Cantor as a leading comedian.

➦In 1940... one of the many Frank and Anne Hummert radio soap operas, ‘Amanda of Honeymoon Hill‘ began it six-year run, the first half on NBC Blue, and then on CBS. It was a 15-minute daily radio soap opera.

➦In 1940...WTIC-FM was one of the two pre-World War II FM stations in Connecticut, signing on the air originally as W1XSO and using a frequency of 43.5 MHz. In December 1941, it became a commercial operation using the call letters W53H. In 1943, the call letters were changed for the last time to WTIC-FM. On April 17, 1948, the station moved to 96.5 MHz where it has remained, and switched to a classical music format. It switched from classical to CHR/Top 40 on May 12, 1977; the first song played as a Top 40 station was "Feels Like The First Time" by Foreigner.

The station's classical music library was donated to the University of Hartford radio station WWUH a few months later.

WTIC 96.5 FM (20 Kw) Red=60dBu Coverage Area

The station switched to its current Hot AC format on June 15, 1994. This was done in order to remove controversial rap music from its playlist.

After the switch, the station's sound has become decidedly softer in subsequent years compared to its past, though this has changed in recent years, as the Hot AC format as a whole has embraced more upbeat music. Since 1977, the station has referred to itself on the air variously as "Hot Hits 96 Tics","96TIC-FM", and "The New 965 TIC-FM".

The original WTIC-FM Top 40 format in the late 1970s consisted of only current hit songs (no oldies) in a high-energy, jingle-heavy presentation designed by consultant Mike Joseph, and it was an instant success. Joseph would later term this formatic approach "Hot Hits" and put it into use at other stations around the United States, most notably WBBM-FM in Chicago.

The station is now owned by Audacy Communications.

➦In 1941...WNYC FM signed on as W39NY and was located at 43.9mc in the early FM band. On September 21, 1943, it became WNYC and in 1946 it moved over to 98.1 on the current FM band. By 1948, it settled on its current position of 93.9 FM.