The Pulse Briefing Has The Day's Big News For Thursday, Nov 6

Radio Broadcasting

Carr Talk:  FCC Chair says he is unconcerned about possible investigations or subpoenas and remains willing to work with lawmakers of either party when they share his policy goals. He noted that he has already testified several times before House and Senate panels. MORE

Family Feud: Dolly Parton’s estate has dropped its lawsuit against Bryan Seaver, her nephew and longtime head of security, according to a court filing Thursday. MORE

Secrecy Remains: A woman accusing Garth Brooks of sexual assault may be allowed to keep her identity confidential, a federal appeals court has ruled. MORE

Media Industry

Broadcast Dominates: NBC News drew the largest primetime audience for 2026 midterm election coverage, leading a total of about 31.2 million viewers across 13 television networks, according to Nielsen. MORE

FNC Wins Cable: Among cable networks in primetime total viewers, Fox News finished first (ahead of CNN at about 4.14 million and MS NOW at about 3.74 million). CNN led the adults 25-54 demographic among cable outlets. MORE

Not So Nasty: Terry Bradshaw says the reported feud between longtime “Monday Night Football” partners Troy Aikman and Joe Buck is not as nasty as media accounts suggest, and he does not believe it centers on money. MORE

U-S News

Retribution OK For Dems:  Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has vowed to fight an impeachment effort and defended the decision to attack Iran, despite calls for his resignation following Republican losses. President Trump has expressed support for Hegseth, Dem lawmakers have signaled plans to bring articles of impeachment.

TX Hits Pause: Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa says Texas will pause data center development until new laws are established to protect residents, particularly in rural communities. Her position reflects a broader national trend where voters expressed opposition to data center construction during the 2026 midterm elections.

Death Row: Three separate states executed death row inmates on Nov. 5, 2026, marking the second triple execution in the U-S in 2026. The executions took place in Indiana, Florida, and Alabama. In Calif, Gov. Nesom plans to commute all 548 death sentences to life in prison without parole.

Final Nielsen Ratings: NBC News Dominates

• ‘Kornacki Cam’ More Than Doubles Election Night Views, Surpassing 63 Million Across Platforms
• NBC News Dominates TikTok with More Than 39 Million Views

NBC News drew the largest primetime audience for 2026 midterm election coverage, leading a total of about 31.2 million viewers across 13 television networks, according to Nielsen.⁠

NBC averaged 6.74 million viewers from 8 to 11 p.m. ET on Nov. 3, ahead of ABC News (5.19 million) and Fox News (about 4.32 million). The overall audience was up roughly 23% from the 2022 midterms (about 25.4 million viewers across 12 networks), though it remained below the 2018 peak of roughly 36 million.⁠

NBC’s performance was its first lead in total midterm election-night viewers in 24 years. The network also led in the key adults 25-54 demographic with about 2.8 million viewers. Its coverage was anchored by Savannah Guthrie, Tom Llamas, Kristen Welker, and Hallie Jackson, and featured chief data analyst Steve Kornacki, whose dedicated “Kornacki Cam” livestream drew a record 29 million views across platforms (including 6.1 million on YouTube) and ranked as the top election livestream on the platform. Kornacki appeared simultaneously on the linear broadcast and the livestream from the same set.⁠

Among cable networks in primetime total viewers, Fox News finished first (ahead of CNN at about 4.14 million and MS NOW at about 3.74 million). CNN led the adults 25-54 demographic among cable outlets. CBS News finished last among the major networks with roughly 2.76 million viewers. Of the overall 31.2 million primetime viewers, about 57% watched broadcast networks and 43% watched cable.⁠

The audience increase came as Democrats gained control of both the House and Senate. Viewership rose on most networks compared with 2022, with NBC posting one of the largest gains (more than doubling its prior midterm total). Fox News, which had led cable and overall in some past cycles, saw a decline of roughly 40% from its 2022 midterm primetime audience.

Nielsen’s figures include out-of-home viewing and some streaming simulcasts of linear coverage (such as on Peacock, Hulu/Disney+, Paramount+, and Fox platforms) but do not fully capture independent digital or social-media viewing. Viewership peaked around the 9:30 p.m. ET half-hour.

Carr Talk: Ready To Work With Democrats

Democrats’ midterm victories will give the party control of both chambers of Congress in January, opening the way for tougher scrutiny of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and the Trump administration’s telecommunications policies. Lawmakers will have greater power to investigate agency decisions, hold hearings and challenge the administration’s agenda.

Carr said he is unconcerned about possible investigations or subpoenas and remains willing to work with lawmakers of either party when they share his policy goals. He noted that he has already testified several times before House and Senate panels.

USA Today Reports Net Loss for 3Q

USA TODAY Co. reported a 7.4% decline in third-quarter revenue and a $4.6 million net loss as it began a cost-cutting program expected to save $100 million annually. The company did not say how many jobs would be eliminated.

Revenue was $519.2 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30. Same-store revenue, which excludes acquisitions and divestitures, fell 5.8%. The net loss narrowed from $39.2 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Scripps Reports A Profitable Quarter

The E.W. Scripps Co. reported a profitable quarter Thursday, even as it cut jobs and restructured operations to reduce costs.

The broadcaster earned $37.7 million on revenue of $544.9 million. Strong political advertising at its local television stations helped drive the results, generating $82.6 million during the quarter, up from $5.5 million a year earlier.

Nexstar Reports Increase Revenue, Profit

Nexstar Media Group reported higher third-quarter revenue and profits, fueled by its acquisition of TEGNA and record political advertising. Political ads generated $317 million, while TEGNA contributed approximately $765 million in revenue, the company said.

Net income rose to $250 million from $65 million a year earlier, and operating income increased to $532 million from $175 million. Net income attributable to Nexstar reached $255 million, compared with $70 million in the prior-year quarter.

Entravision Communications Reports Revenue Surge

Entravision Communications reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $226.3 million, up 88% year over year, and nine-month revenue of $651.2 million, up 108%.

Advertising Technology and Services (ATS) revenue rose 133% to $177.2 million for the quarter and 182% to $514.6 million for the first nine months, driven by growth in active advertisers and revenue per advertiser. Media revenue increased 10% to $49.1 million for the quarter and 4% to $136.6 million year to date, supported mainly by advertising and retransmission revenue.

Jacobs Media's Techsurvey 2027 Launches in January

Jacobs Media announced today that registration is now open for commercial radio stations in the U.S. and Canada to participate in Techsurvey 2027.

The 2026 survey was fielded this past January and February with more than 500 participating radio stations across North America. Nine different formats were represented among a diverse group of broadcasting companies, yielding nearly 31,000 respondents to radio’s largest research survey devoted to media and technology.

ESPN Digital & Social 2026: Best month ever in September

ESPN Digital & Social had its best month ever in September with 236.5 million unique users, up 8% YoY and reaching 86.7% of U.S. adults across digital, YouTube and social media platforms, according to recently released Comscore data. 

Bradshaw On MNF Feud: Not As Nasty As Reports

Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw says the reported feud between longtime “Monday Night Football” partners Troy Aikman and Joe Buck is not as nasty as media accounts suggest, and he does not believe it centers on money.⁠

Bradshaw, who worked alongside both men at Fox Sports from 2002 to 2022, made the comments during an appearance on FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show.” He said he had texted Buck to express skepticism about the public reports and emphasized his personal relationships with both broadcasters.

Cable News' Ad Spend Surges

The three major national cable news channels drew $156 million in advertising from Oct. 5 through Nov. 3, a 47% increase over the previous 30-day period, according to iSpot estimates. The rise came as political news attracted strong viewership ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Dolly's Estate Drops Lawsuit Against Nephew

Dolly Parton’s estate has dropped its lawsuit against Bryan Seaver, her nephew and longtime head of security, according to a court filing Thursday.

The filing voluntarily dismisses the estate’s claims without prejudice, meaning they could be brought again. Lawyers for both sides did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether the dismissal resulted from a settlement. Seaver’s attorneys said in a court filing last week that the sides had been “engaged in good faith discussions in an attempt to resolve this matter.”

She’s Alive LLC, the entity managing Parton’s posthumous affairs under longtime manager Danny Nozell, sued Seaver in September. The estate alleged he had tried to extort money since Parton’s death a month earlier, citing messages that included “I’m a killer” and “all I do is warfare.”

Garth Brooks' Accuser I-D To Remain Concealed

A woman accusing Garth Brooks of sexual assault may be allowed to keep her identity confidential, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned a trial judge’s ruling that Jane Roe had to use her real name in the case. Roe accuses Brooks of assaulting her while she worked for him as a hairstylist.

The lower-court judge had said Roe’s privacy interest was “weakened” because her name was already “out of the bag”: Brooks had disclosed it in court filings, and it was also included by mistake in a separate filing. But in a decision issued Wednesday, the appeals court rejected that reasoning.

Radio History: Nov 6

➦In 1933...Windsor Ontario radio station CKOK and London, Ontario's CJGC merged to create CKLW. The call letters stood for “London-Windsor”.  CKLW (“The Big 8”) became one of the most influential powerhouses of early Top40 radio, breaking national hits and dominating Detroit ratings for years in the late 1960’s and early ’70’s.

Armstong

➦In 1935…Edwin H. Armstrong announced his development of FM broadcasting after conducting the first large-scale field tests of his new radio technology at RCA's facilities on the 85th floor of the Empire State Building from May 1934 until October 1935.

In 1937, Armstrong financed construction of the first FM radio station, W2XMN, a 40-kilowatt broadcaster in Alpine, New Jersey.

The signal (at 42.8 MHz) could be heard clearly 100 miles (160 km) away, despite the use of less power than an AM radio station.