A Morning To Remember: The Pulse For Sep 11

Radio Broadcasting

We Remember: Today is the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.  The attack silenced four FM and nine TV stations in New York City.

Papa's Back On KNBR: Cumulus Media’s KNBR The Sports Leader announces that Greg Papa, longtime Bay Area sports broadcaster and voice of the San Francisco 49ers, has entered into a new agreement with KNBR to host a new midday feature, “Lunch With Papa,” on the Sports Talk station and twice-weekly “Niners Updates With Greg Papa” during KNBR’s morning drive and afternoon drive shows. 

Best Girlfriend Signs-Off: Toni Terrell signed off for the last time Thursday, Sept. 10, ending a 20-year run as a familiar voice on Tennessee Valley radio, including five years as morning host on 94.1 WHRP.

Media Industry

Kimmel Claim: Jimmy Kimmel posted his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico online after claiming the FCC threatened the network about airing it, highlighting the FCC's recent guidance that late‑night talk shows are not automatically exempt from the equal‑time rule.

FNC Growth: FOX News Channel (FNC) concluded the week of August 31st with nearly 2.2 million weekday primetime viewers and 207,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, surpassing broadcast network CBS (1.9 million viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research

Media Rights: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is evaluating whether to rework its media packages for the next rights cycle as viewing habits shift toward streaming, speaking in Melbourne, Australia, ahead of Thursday night’s Rams-49ers game.

U-S News

Drone Tribute: Thousands of drones recreated the silhouette of the Twin Towers, a tribute honoring the 2,977 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001

Free Speech or Stunt?: President Donald Trump pledged a $5,000 check to every adult American if Republicans keep control of Congress, prompting Democrats to label it a bribe and sparking legal debate over whether the promise constitutes illegal vote purchasing or protected political speech.

Vance At GOP Convention: Vice President JD Vance struck a drumbeat about traditional family and America's "national birthright" as the keynote speaker on day two of the Republican midterm convention.

September 11: A Day We Remember

Today is the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.  The attack silenced four FM and nine TV stations in New York City.

Since three of the major television broadcast network owned-and-operated stations had their transmission towers atop the North Tower (One World Trade Center), coverage was limited after the collapse of the tower. The FM transmitter of National Public Radio station WNYC was also destroyed in the collapse of the North Tower and its offices evacuated. For an interim period, it continued broadcasting on its AM frequency and used NPR's New York offices to produce its programming.

The satellite feed of one television station, WPIX, froze on the last image received from the WTC mast; the image (a remote-camera shot of the burning towers), viewable across North America (as WPIX is available on cable TV in many areas), remained on the screen for much of the day until WPIX was able to set up alternate transmission facilities. It shows the WTC at the moment power cut off to the WPIX transmitter, prior to the towers' collapse.

During the September 11, 2001 attacks, WCBS-TV channel 2 and WXTV-TV channel 41 stayed on the air. Unlike most other major New York television stations, WCBS-TV maintained a full-powered backup transmitter at the Empire State Building after moving its main transmitter to the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The station was also simulcasted nationally on Viacom (which at the time owned CBS) cable network VH1 that day. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the station lent transmission time to the other stations who had lost their transmitters, until they found suitable backup equipment and locations.

Television coverage of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and their aftermath was the longest uninterrupted news event in the history of U.S. television.  The major U.S. broadcast and cable networks were on the air for days with uninterrupted coverage from the moment news first came that the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

Millions of shocked television viewers watching live pictures of the World Trade Center saw the second plane hit and both buildings come down. In order to keep up with the constant flood of information, at 10:49 a.m. EDT, Fox News Channel began running continuous updates in the form of a news ticker that crawled along the bottom of the screen. This was so well received by viewers that it became a permanent feature on the channel and was adopted by many other news channels.

Like television, almost all radio stations across the United States put a halt on all programs and commercials to simulcast affiliated news coverage of the attacks from ABC News Radio and CBS Radio News, or taking an audio simulcast of a television news operation, be it local or national, while national morning shows hosted by personalities such as Rick Dees or Howard Stern focused on providing both information about the attacks and call-in forums for listeners to express sympathies.

Bay Area Radio: Papa's Back And KNBR's Got Him

Cumulus Media’s KNBR The Sports Leader announces that Greg Papa, longtime Bay Area sports broadcaster and voice of the San Francisco 49ers, has entered into a new agreement with KNBR to host a new midday feature, “Lunch With Papa,” on the Sports Talk station and twice-weekly “Niners Updates With Greg Papa” during KNBR’s morning drive and afternoon drive shows. 

The new programming marks Papa's return to KNBR's weekday lineup, where he spent seven years as a beloved daily fixture.

Greg Papa

KNBR's new one-hour feature, “Lunch With Papa," will debut later in the month, and will air Monday through Friday from Noon to 1:00pm. The feature pairs Papa with John Lund, whose midday show airs weekdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. In addition, during football season, Papa will be heard on KNBR in two segments each week in both Morning Drive and Afternoon Drive, where Papa will call in to give “Niners Updates With Greg Papa.”

Larry Blumhagen, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus San Francisco/Los Angeles, said: “Greg Papa is a Bay Area icon in sports broadcasting. His name and voice are synonymous with sports in this market. That connection is even stronger when speaking about the San Francisco 49ers. We are excited to have Greg back on air sharing his insights about all things Niners, and more!”

Greg Papa commented: “I’m thrilled to be back on The Sports Leader and even more thrilled to be working with my good friend John Lund again. Let’s do this!”

New Insights Highlights Car-Connected Driver's Wants

Connected-car audio is expanding as vehicles get smarter, and drivers who want more AI are leading the shift.

Voice technology and artificial intelligence are making it easier for people to find, control, and stay with audio on the road. 

At the same time, larger screens and growing autonomous features are giving brands new ways to reach consumers in the car. 

Audacy Insights highlights a 2026 study, building on five years of research into how connected-car technology is changing listening and advertising response, finds that audio’s role is growing as the technology evolves.

AI Intenders are the audience to watch. These are drivers who want more AI-powered features in their next vehicle. They are tech-forward and often younger, but they still want the audio they already know and use. They treat the car as part of a larger listening life that already includes phones and smart speakers, so seamless access across devices matters.

In the car, they listen more than the general in-car audience: 65% listen to AM/FM radio and 48% listen to podcasts. They also expect favorite stations and shows to travel with them. A Philadelphia driver should not lose KYW’s morning traffic report or Eagles talk just because they leave the local signal. Connected-car systems and station apps make that continuity possible. 51% listen through a radio app such as Audacy.

What they want next is simple: intuitive technology that feels tailored to them. Personalization and voice control sit at the top of that list.

New features are not replacing local radio. They are giving drivers more ways to reach it. Local stations, hosts, and personalities still matter. 

Local radio pairs timely information with familiar voices, such as 1010 WINS traffic reporter Andre Ferro guiding New York commuters. Among connected-car drivers, 7 in 10 turn to local radio for breaking news, weather, and traffic, ahead of social media and phone apps.

The through-line is consistent: as cars become more connected, personalized, and voice-driven, audio remains at the center of the experience, and trusted local listening travels with the technology rather than being left behind.

FNC Posts 25-54 Growth in Primetime, Total Day

FOX News Channel (FNC) concluded the week of August 31st with nearly 2.2 million weekday primetime viewers and 207,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, surpassing broadcast network CBS (1.9 million viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel.

In Monday–Sunday primetime, FNC saw 1.8 million viewers and 167,000 in the 25-54 demo, posting two percent growth year-over-year. In Monday-Sunday total day, FNC saw 1.2 million viewers and 119,000 in the 25-54 demo, delivering one percent growth year-over-year and 14 percent growth week over week. 

To date (9/06/26), FNC led CBS in weekday primetime viewers for the year (12/29/25), quarter (06/29/26), and since Memorial Day (05/25/26) with 2.8 million viewers year-to-date, 2.5 million viewers quarter-to-date and 2.6 million viewers since Memorial Day while CBS has only posted 2.7 million viewers year-to-date and 2 million viewers both quarter-to-date and Memorial Day to date. FNC also outpaced ABC (2.3 million viewers) quarter-to-date.

Ratings Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN

Notably, CNN and MS NOW showed week-to-week losses across both primetime and total day viewers. In total day, CNN posted an eight percent loss in both viewers and the 25-54 demo with only 371,000 viewers and 56,000 in the 25-54 demo. MS NOW saw a 10 percent decrease in viewers (541,000 viewers) and a two percent decrease in the 25-54 demo (55,000). In primetime, CNN posted a 15 percent loss in viewers (518,000) and a 14 percent loss in the 25-54 demo (97,000) while MS NOW saw a 12 percent loss in viewers (823,000).

TV Ratings: ABC's WNT Leads NBC In Total Viewers

For the 21st week in a row, “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.508 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Aug 31, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

• ""World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.508 million) and Adults 18-49 (833,000).
• “World News Tonight” beat “NBC Nightly News” (6.988 million and 800,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+22%/+1.520 million) and Adults 18-49 (+4%/+33,000).
• “World News Tonight” improved by double digits on the same week last year in Total Viewers (+16%/+1.190 million – 8.508 million vs. 7.318 million), Adults 25-54 (+31%/+258,000 – 1.102 million vs. 844,000) and Adults 18-49 (+40%/+238,000 – 833,000 vs. 595,000), posting year-to-year gains for the ninth consecutive week.
• “World News Tonight” (8.508 million, 1.102 million and 833,000, respectively) more than doubled its lead over “CBS Evening News” (4.037 million, 544,000 and 393,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+111%/+4.471 million), Adults 25-54 (+103%/+558,000) and Adults 18-49 (+112%/+440,000).

TV Ratings: NBC's TODAY Wins Total Viewers, and Demo

NBC’s “Today” beat ABC’s “Good Morning America” in both total viewers and adults 25-54 for the week of Aug. 31, extending its lead in the broadcast morning race heading into September.

 

Ratings Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN

The competitive pattern in late summer has been consistent even when the total-viewer gap is small. “Today” has been the more reliable leader among adults 25-54, the demo that drives most national morning-show ad sales. 

NBC News VP News Programming Exits

Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News’ executive vice president of programming, told staff Thursday that she is leaving the network after nearly 12 years, becoming the second senior executive to depart since NBC News was separated from its cable sibling in last year’s corporate spin. 

Rodriguez oversaw NBC News NOW, “NBC Nightly News,” and the division’s breaking-news and specials operation. She did not name a next job. 

Janelle Rodriguez

In a staff memo, she wrote that she had “spent a long time thinking about what comes next” and that “it’s the right moment,” citing a year that included Super Bowl coverage, a presidential interview, the Olympics, the World Cup, a new show launch, and an interview with the pope. NBC News president of editorial Rebecca Blumenstein said Catherine Kim will become executive vice president of editorial and content, adding NBC News NOW and specials to her existing digital, social, Decision Desk, and newsgathering duties. 

Matt Carluccio will take on more editorial units, including business, health, investigations, and climate. “NBC Nightly News” executive producer Matt Frucci will report to Blumenstein. 

Jimmy Kimmel Brings Texas Candidate to YouTube

Jimmy Kimmel interviewed Texas Senate candidate James Talarico only on YouTube after saying the FCC threatened his show, network and local ABC stations for booking political guests.Kimmel posted the full 21-minute conversation Thursday and said the interview was kept off broadcast airwaves. 

He argued late-night shows have long hosted candidates, including Donald Trump twice when he was running, and that the government was now trying to dictate editorial choices.

“We are being targeted by the FCC for the crime of interviewing political candidates,” Kimmel said at the top of the clip. “Now I guess he doesn’t like me anymore — or the First Amendment. … So, tonight, we are bypassing the public airwaves and hosting this YouTube interview on YouTube, even though our government would clearly prefer that we not do it at all.”

Is Pat McAfee Worth the Money?

ESPN is negotiating a contract extension that could pay Pat McAfee more than $60 million a year — and as high as $65 million — making the former NFL punter the most expensive on-air figure in sports media if the talks close. The figure is roughly double his current package, which approaches $30 million annually when his production deal for The Pat McAfee Show, his College GameDay role, and other ESPN appearances are combined. 

McAfee still has two years left on that agreement. 

The new talks, first detailed by The Athletic, have centered on a similar structure: a licensing/production contract plus a separate talent deal, so ESPN is not simply writing a traditional on-air salary check. McAfee’s company still covers staff and production costs. His representatives opened at $100 million a year. The money is tied to more airtime. 

McAfee is already the most visible personality on College GameDay and hosts a weekday show that ESPN and YouTube carry together. This season he is expanding further into NFL programming, including a role on Monday Night Countdown alongside Scott Van Pelt, Jason Kelce, and others — a move that also positions him for Super Bowl coverage. ESPN has treated him as a franchise personality rather than a single-show host. 

Goodell Hints Next Media Rights Deal Mith Look Different

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is evaluating whether to rework its media packages for the next rights cycle as viewing habits shift toward streaming, speaking in Melbourne, Australia, ahead of Thursday night’s Rams-49ers game.

Goodell did not say whether the NFL will use an opt-out it can trigger after the 2029-30 season. He said the option is valuable because it lets the league assess the media landscape and decide what is best for fans and clubs.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says league could rework TV packages in next media deal https://t.co/FtmleQrRid

— CNBC (@CNBC) September 10, 2026

“One of the things we’re doing as a league is talking to our partners, talking to future partners, potential partners … and evaluating, should we repackage our current packages? Should we think differently about where we go with those things?” Goodell said.

He said one thing will not change: 100% of NFL games will remain available on local broadcast television.

This season’s NFL game distributors include CBS, Fox, ESPN, ABC, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video, Netflix and NFL Network. Out-of-market Sunday afternoon games require NFL Sunday Ticket, which costs $240 for the season for new subscribers, payable as $30 a month over eight months. Returning subscribers pay significantly more if they buy it bundled with YouTube TV or as a standalone product.

Study: NFL Ad Revenue to Hit A Record $6.3B

NFL ad revenue is projected to reach $6.3 billion in the 2026-27 season, an 8% increase from last year, according to a new study from Guideline.

The forecast includes $48 million from the inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game. The projection follows a record $5.9 billion in ad sales during the 2025-26 season, a 7% year-over-year increase. Regular-season ad revenue rose 6% last year, while playoff ad revenue jumped 13%.

“Overall ad demand looks healthy headed into the 26/27 season,” said Sean Wright, Guideline’s chief insights and analytics officer. “Upfront commits are pacing up double digits ahead of where they were last year, partly driven by increases in pricing, partly in a surge of new ad budgets. We’ll see how much ultimately gets booked but right now, the regular season is shaping up to be another potentially record setting year.”

Streaming-exclusive games accounted for 13% of full-season revenue in 2025-26, nearly double their 8% share two seasons earlier. Ad growth on streaming-exclusive networks rose 6% year over year last season.

Scripps Revamps Local Media Division

The E.W. Scripps Company is reorganizing its Local Media division into 11 regions and eliminating 27 local market and sales leadership roles as part of a broader effort to overhaul how it operates.

Each region will be led by a regional general manager responsible for two to four markets in most cases. 

Every Scripps market will keep a local news operation led by the station’s news director, so news decisions remain with journalists closest to their communities.

Scripps said the changes are meant to reflect how audiences now watch, discover and rely on news. The new regional structure follows other recent station-level shifts, including expanded 24/7 streaming news and greater use of technology, including AI and automation, to modernize production for both streaming and linear broadcasts.

“Local television is changing, and the way we operate local stations has to change with it,” 

Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson said. “Through this transformation, we are rethinking outdated operating models built for a different era while creating a more technology-forward media company to sustain local journalism and bring more consistency, scale and support across our markets.”

Audacy Partners With Comedy Powerhouse Smosh

Audacy has announced a strategic, multi-year podcast and video partnership with Smosh – one of the largest sketch comedy brands and a pioneer in creator-first entertainment – to serve as the exclusive sales and distribution partner for Smosh’s growing podcast slate. Marking the next phase of Smosh’s investment in its podcast business, this partnership gives advertisers new opportunities to connect with the brand’s highly engaged audience and further expands Audacy’s growing presence in video and creator-led content.

With more than 75 million social media followers and 20 billion YouTube views, Smosh has been redefining what comedy looks like in the connected age for more than 20 years. Founded in 2005 by Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox as one of YouTube’s earliest breakout sketch comedy channels, Smosh helped pioneer a new model for how comedy could be created, shared, and experienced online, long before digital creators were recognized as the future of entertainment. Available across a broad slate of digital and live channels, Smosh is a leading independent comedy studio and media brand.

"Smosh’s podcasts are a core piece of our broader content strategy and an important way for us to connect with our growing audience,” said Alessandra Catanese, Chief Executive Officer, Smosh. 

“As we continue to invest in this part of our business, Audacy brings unmatched advertising and distribution. Partnering with them also enhances our ability to bring larger, more creatively ambitious projects to life.”

Athens, AL Radio: 'Your Best Girlfriend', Toni Terrell Signs-Off

Toni Terrell signed off for the last time Thursday, Sept. 10, ending a 20-year run as a familiar voice on Tennessee Valley radio, including five years as morning host on 94.1 WHRP.

Known to listeners as “your best girlfriend,” Terrell marked the day with a station celebration that drew friends, colleagues and fans. Guests stopped by for hugs, photos, gifts and laughter as they recalled her energy, personality and signature laugh on commutes, school runs and throughout the day.

“Today we celebrate 20 years in the Tennessee Valley with your best girlfriend. Holla at ya girl!” Terrell said during the event.

The send-off included emotional looks back at the experiences that shaped her career. Terrell made clear the end of the morning show is not the end of her ties to the community.

“When you see me, say hi, take a selfie and give me a hug. Take care of yourselves. God bless you,” she said.

Listeners have already begun asking what comes next. For now, Terrell said, she plans to sleep in — a well-earned pause after two decades of mornings on the air.

R.I.P.: Timothy Joseph, Former Hot 97 NYC Radio Personality

Timothy Joseph ('79-'26) 

Timothy Joseph, the radio personality known as Buc Wild from the influential “Star & Buc Wild” show, has died at 47, HOT 97 said.

Joseph died Sunday at the Pink Houses housing complex in Brooklyn. A cause of death has not been confirmed publicly. His death was announced Wednesday, Sept. 9, by longtime friend and former co-host Troi “Star” Torain during a YouTube livestream.

Joseph and Torain built a decades-long partnership that became a major presence on HOT 97’s morning lineup and later continued at other stations and through broader media projects. For many New York hip-hop radio listeners, the pair defined a distinctive era of the city’s airwaves.

Their relationship went beyond radio. Torain said he had helped raise Joseph and recalled working with him on dyslexia while they were at HOT 97. One recurring bit, “Buc Wild’s Lottery Numbers,” turned Joseph’s difficulty reading lottery numbers into a feature meant to build his confidence rather than embarrass him.

Torain described Joseph as a likable person with a support system around him, while acknowledging that their bond could be complicated, mixing disagreements with years of loyalty and friendship. He ended the livestream by saying he had more to say about his longtime partner.

Radio History: Sep 11

➦In 1909....Radio announcer Kenneth Banghart (right) born in Paramus, NJ (Died at age 70 - May 25, 1980 in Delray Beach, FL).

Banghart was working as a tour conductor and manager of Thomas Cook and Son Travel Agency in Washington, D.C., when he became a radio announcer at WRC, then went on to be a radio and television announcer, and a news commentator and sportscaster. Served briefly during WWII, as a war correspondent, then in 1944, he moved to New York where he became an NBC staff announcer.

He was the announcer Archie Andrews,  Katie's Daughter (1947-1948); syndicated program, Proudly We Hail (1947-1957); The Private Files Of Rex Saunders on NBC (1951); Encore on NBC (1952-1953); Best Of All on NBC (1954-1955).

Host of The Ken Banghart Show on NBC-Radio (1947); News Game on NBC-Radio (1954). Commentator on The Gillette Summer Sports Reel for NBC-TV (1953). In 1962, Banghart left NBC to work at CBS until he retired to Florida.

➦In 2000...John R. Gambling does the last “Rambling With Gambling” show on WOR 710 AM NYC.  Gambling joined his father as co-host of Rambling with Gambling in 1985, and took over as sole host in 1991 after his father's retirement. When WOR ended Rambling with Gambling in 2000 after 75 years on the air, John R. Gambling moved up the dial to 77WABC, taking over the post-morning-drive 10 a.m. - noon slot. Gambling was fired by WABC on February 29, 2008 in a cost-cutting move

➦In 2001...Terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City silenced four FM and nine TV stations.

July Gauge: TV Usage Kicks Usual Summer Slowdown

The July television landscape was fueled by the final weeks of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ coupled with streaming’s traditional summer boost, according to Nielsen’s July 2026 reports of The Gauge™ and Media Distributor Gauge. While total TV usage typically follows a flat to downward trend in the June-to-July transition, this month exhibited a 2.2% increase in overall usage to rival the Olympics-driven pattern of July 2024 when monthly usage rose 2.3%.

NBCU mirrored is June Playbook, which helped power NBCU-Versant* to No. 2 in Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge with 9.2% of TV in July (+0.1 pt.). Peacock scored double-digit viewing increases for a second consecutive month as its viewership jumped 15% compared to June, bringing its share of TV to 2.6% in July’s report of The Gauge (+0.3 pts.). In back-to-back months, Love Island USA was the most-streamed title of the interval, generating 4.9 billion viewing minutes in July and 11.7 billion minutes across both months combined. The impact Telemundo’s World Cup simulcasts had on Peacock’s success was also further evidenced by the streamer’s two most-viewed days this interval, including July 5 when Mexico played England in the Round of 16, and July 19 when Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup Final.

FOX continued to benefit from huge FIFA World Cup 2026™ viewership, leading it to the largest monthly viewing increase among media distributors for a second consecutive month (+7% vs. June). On top of the 73% increase its broadcast affiliates exhibited in June, FOX’s World Cup coverage drove another 36% bump on FOX affiliates in July. Additionally, FOX owned 25 of the top 26 July telecasts, including the record-breaking World Cup Final on July 19. FOX ultimately added 0.4 share points to finish with 7.8% of TV in July.