D.C. Circuit Dismisses Challenge to Nexstar-TEGNA Merger

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has granted the FCC's  request to dismiss appeals in the consolidated Free Press v. FCC case, clearing a key legal obstacle to Nexstar Media Group’s approved acquisition of TEGNA.

The ruling represents a significant win for both the FCC and Nexstar, the nation’s largest local television station owner. It removes a major regulatory hurdle that opponents had hoped would derail or delay the multi-billion-dollar merger, which regulators had already approved.

With the D.C. Circuit appeals now dismissed, Nexstar will shift its legal focus to the Ninth Circuit, where it is appealing a preliminary injunction. That injunction currently requires the company to maintain TEGNA as a separate “hold separate” entity, limiting integration and operational synergies while the broader litigation continues.

Nexstar officials said the company remains committed to completing the transaction and will pursue all available avenues to lift the hold-separate order. The Ninth Circuit appeal is expected to address whether the injunction should remain in place during ongoing proceedings.

The Free Press v. FCC challenges centered on arguments that the FCC improperly approved the merger, claiming it would reduce competition, harm local journalism, and concentrate too much control in the broadcast television industry. By granting the FCC’s motion to dismiss, the D.C. Circuit effectively upheld the agency’s regulatory decision and rejected those challenges at the appellate level in that venue.

The development marks the latest chapter in a high-stakes battle over media consolidation. If ultimately completed, the Nexstar-TEGNA deal would create an even larger broadcast powerhouse, owning hundreds of television stations across the country. Proponents argue the combination delivers economies of scale and strengthens local broadcasting; critics contend it threatens viewpoint diversity and local news independence.

Charlotte Radio: Future of WBT AM Towers Remain Uncertain

More than six months after Radio One moved WBT’s news-talk programming from its legacy 1110 AM frequency to 107.9 FM, the future of the Carolinas’ first commercial radio station is still unclear.

At the end of 2025, the station’s owners shifted the format to FM, promising an announcement on the AM signal “soon.” Since then, 1110 AM has aired only an instrumental music loop and a recorded message directing listeners to the new FM home. The powerful 50,000-watt “clear channel” signal continues to legally identify as WBT.

Radio listener Johnny Caudle has launched a Change.org petition to preserve part of the historic broadcast site. He cites reports that the 19-acre transmitter property on Nations Ford Road in south Charlotte is for sale and fears the three towers could be removed for redevelopment.

“I think they are probably doing the best they can locally with the cards they’ve been dealt, but their silence leaves everyone out here to draw conclusions on our own,” Caudle said. “I heard the land was for sale… I started thinking we need to save something.”

Caudle emphasized he is not trying to block any sale, only to protect a piece of local radio history. Several prominent Charlotte radio personalities, including John Hancock, Sheri Lynch, and Arroe Collins, have signed the petition.

First licensed in 1922, WBT was the Carolinas’ original commercial radio station. Its strong AM signal was once heard from Miami to Maine. The station’s transmitter site is now marketed as a “garden multifamily development opportunity” in south Charlotte. (Hat Tip To WCNC-TV)

iHM Reaches FCC Settlement Over Event Disclosures

iHeartMedia has agreed to overhaul its sponsorship disclosure practices following a U.S. senator’s complaint about alleged payola-style arrangements in which radio airplay was allegedly traded for free artist performances at company events.

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau adopted a consent decree Wednesday closing the investigation with no fine. Under the agreement, iHeart admits the factual findings but does not admit any legal violation. 

The company must appoint compliance officers, create a formal compliance plan, train relevant staff, implement new public disclosures for major events, and file regular reports with the FCC over the next three years.

Senator Blackburn

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sparked the probe with a January 2025 letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. She alleged that iHeart stations were offering artists increased airplay in exchange for performing free shows at company events, with the implicit threat of reduced airplay for those who declined.

Days after the complaint, the FCC issued an industry-wide enforcement advisory on the practice. 

Chairman Carr followed up directly with iHeart in February 2025, seeking information related to the iHeart Country Festival in Austin. iHeart responded that artists appeared for promotional value—likening short festival sets to movie trailers—and said airplay was never part of any arrangement. 

The Enforcement Bureau opened a formal inquiry in May 2025 and a supplemental inquiry in February 2026.The resulting consent decree requires iHeart to name a corporate compliance officer and market-level contacts within 30 days, develop a formal compliance plan within 60 days, and train employees who interact with artists, managers, and labels on sponsorship identification rules.

Radio Remains the Nation's Reach Leader

AM/FM radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, giving advertisers the broadest, most consistent audience of any major media platform, according to Nielsen Audience Insights.

The medium performs even stronger with younger listeners, reaching 81% of Adults 18-34 weekly — higher than any other measured platform.

Despite Americans spreading their time across more media options than ever, radio continues to deliver massive scale and reliability that complements today’s fragmented media habits.

Weekly Reach Across Platforms 18+

As consumers spread their attention across an ever-growing array of platforms, radio remains one of the few media channels that delivers broad, consistent reach across virtually every audience. According to Nielsen Audience Insights, radio continues to deliver exceptional reach among Black Adults 18+ and Hispanic Adults 18+, outperforming or strongly competing with other measured media in these important segments. For advertisers seeking to connect with America’s increasingly diverse consumers, radio offers unmatched scale and efficiency.

ABC WNT Continues Rein As No.1 Program In Total Viewers

For the 12th straight week, “World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.128 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of June 29, 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 (8.128 million), Adults 25-54 (964,000) and Adults 18-49 (741,000).
• “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.160 million, 856,000 and 612,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+32%/+1.968 million), Adults 25-54 (+13%/+108,000) and Adults 18-49 (+21%/+129,000).
• “World News Tonight” widened its margins over “NBC Nightly News” week to week in Total Viewers (+30% – 1.968 million vs. 1.517 million), Adults 25-54 (+66% – 108,000 vs. 65,000) and Adults 18-49 (+231% – 129,000 vs. 39,000). “World News Tonight” delivered its largest Total Viewer lead in 6 weeks and its biggest margin in Adults 25-54 in 5 weeks — since the week of 5/18/26 and 5/25/26, respectively.
• “World News Tonight” widened its Total Viewers margin over “NBC Nightly News” year to year by 14% (1.968 million vs. 1.726 million).

Fox News Channel Dominates The 3 Networks In Weekday Primetime

FOX News Channel (FNC) ended the week of June 29th with 2.5 million weekday primetime viewers and 224,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, dominating ABC (2.2 million viewers), NBC (2.2 million viewers) and CBS (1.9 million viewers) according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. 

In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC claimed 2.5 million viewers, and in Monday – Sunday total day, FNC averaged 1.6 million viewers. Notably, FNC also posted the most growth week-to-week in total day, notching a 16% increase in total viewers and a 24% increase in the 25-54 demo.

On Saturday:  FNC delivered its highest-rated July 4th in network history, averaging 3.5 million viewers and 357,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 2.3 million viewers and 262,000 in the 25-54 demo across total day – leading CBS in primetime (2 million viewers). 

Special coverage in Washington D.C. hosted by Bret Baier, Sean Hannity, Dana Perino, Harris Faulkner and Brian Kilmeade from 7 PM-1 AM/ET secured 3.9 million viewers and 459,000 in the 25-54 demo – capturing 73% of the cable news share. FNC’s Independence Day coverage peaked at 5.7 million viewers and 701,000 in the 25-54 demo during President Trump’s speech from 11:15-11:45 PM/ET. 

The network’s special program, America 250: Celebrating Freedom led the day with over 3.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of the weekend and the week. It was followed by America 250: America’s Newsroom with 2.9 million viewers and America 250: Outnumbered with 2.5 million viewers.

On Friday: FNC clinched 2.8 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 1.8 million viewers and 155,000 in the 25-54 demo throughout total day. Markedly, FNC outperformed CBS (1.7 million viewers) and NBC (1.5 million viewers) through primetime. FNC’s coverage of the America250 Times Square ball drop also garnered 2.1 million viewers and 197,000 in the 25-54 demo from 11:30 PM-12:30 AM/ET, leading ABC (2 million viewers).

Canadian Broadcasters Says Regulators Share Shutdown Blame

Rogers Communications in Canads this week said declining audiences and ad revenue are behind its decision to shut down two Vancouver radio stations.

But Kevin Desjardins from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, a trade association for private broadcasters, says the government and regulators also share some of the blame.

The closures, which took effect Tuesday, July 7, 2026, include:

• Vancouver: Sportsnet 650 (CISL-AM), the city's last remaining all-sports station, and 1130 NewsRadio (CKWX-AM).
• Calgary: Sportsnet 960 (CFAC-AM) and 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM).
• Halifax: NewsRadio 95.7 (CJNI-FM).
• Kitchener: 570 NewsRadio (CKGL-AM).

Philly Radio: Jen Scordo Lands Midddays At Country 92.5 XTU

Beasley Media Group is pleased to announce that Jen Scordo has been named the new Midday Host at Country station 92.5 WXTU-FM in Philadelphia. The announcement was officially unveiled at 9am Friday, July 10th during the Andie Summers Show. Jen will begin her new role immediately.  

A familiar voice to WXTU listeners and a longtime Philadelphia broadcaster, Scordo officially joins the station’s weekday lineup after serving as the station’s fill-in midday host. Over the years, she has worked in the promotions and engineering departments at Greater Media, served as an audio technician and stagehand at NBC10, hosted middays at Cat Country 107.3, worked as a producer and on-air personality at 97.5 The Fanatic, filled in as an anchor for This Morning with Gordon Deal, and held on-air roles at WMMR, WMGK, and WXTU.

Jen Scordo

“Jen has earned this opportunity through her talent, professionalism, and ability to build authentic connections with listeners,” said Paul Blake, Vice President and Market Manager of Beasley Media Group Philadelphia. “She understands the WXTU brand, embraces the Philadelphia community, and has done an exceptional job on the air. We’re excited to officially welcome her to the midday lineup and look forward to what’s ahead.”

“She is a true talent and has a natural ability to connect with listeners in a real and authentic way,” said Chuck Damico, Program Director of 92.5 WXTU.  “Jen has a tremendous work ethic, a great sense of humor, and the ability to make listeners feel like they’re spending time with a friend. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the WXTU family full-time.

“I honestly couldn’t be happier,” said Scordo. “Philadelphia has been my home for the past 25 years, and WXTU has always represented everything I love about country radio. To have the opportunity to spend middays with the incredible listeners of XTU Nation is truly a dream come true. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait for what’s ahead.”

Happy TGIF: Here's The Pulse Briefing For July 10

Radio Broadcasting

FCC Ends Payola Probe: iHeartMedia has agreed to overhaul its sponsorship disclosure practices following a U.S. senator’s complaint about alleged payola-style arrangements in which radio airplay was allegedly traded for free artist performances at company events.

Reach Is Radio's Thing: AM/FM radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, giving advertisers the broadest, most consistent audience of any major media platform, according to Nielsen Audience Insights.

Towers Dilemma: More than six months after Radio One moved WBT’s news-talk programming from its legacy 1110 AM frequency to 107.9 FM, the future of the Carolinas’ first commercial radio station is still unclear.

Netflix Discussing Adding Live Channels

Netflix is discussing the addition of live channels that continuously stream specific programs or genres, as well as bundling other subscription services like NBCUniversal’s Peacock into its app, according to people familiar with the matter. 

The moves would appear as tiles on the streamer’s homepage and mark a significant shift from its on-demand roots.

The initiatives aim to boost engagement as the company faces mounting pressure. Shares have fallen more than 40% over the past 12 months. In April, Netflix issued disappointing second-quarter guidance, including lower year-over-year operating margins. 

Its share of TV viewership dropped to 7.8% that month, the lowest since May 2025, per Nielsen data.

Executives have also explored selling subscriptions to rival services through Netflix’s main platform, similar to how Amazon and Apple already operate.

The discussions signal Netflix’s willingness to pivot. For years, co-founder Reed Hastings emphasized focus and simplicity as keys to success. However, the company now contends with intensifying competition from Disney, HBO Max, and YouTube, while fast-growing free ad-supported services like Tubi and the Roku Channel—featuring linear channels and more casual viewing—are rapidly gaining audience share.

50M Viewed Disney's 24-Hour 250th Anniversary Special

Disney Entertainment Television marked the nation’s historic 250th anniversary, reaching 49.6 million Total Viewers with the ambitious 24-hour programming block “Disney Celebrates America,” which kicked off Friday, July 3, and continued through Saturday, July 4. 

“World News Tonight” anchor and managing editor David Muir led the coverage alongside a powerhouse team of national and local news talent, featuring 70 live remotes and reporting from all 50 states. Coverage included stories about local celebrations and hometown heroes, along with a unique exploration of the seven natural wonders of America.

The sweeping programming event, which was available across ABC, Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, National Geographic, Freeform, FX and ABC News Live, culminated in a one-of-a-kind celebration from the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, as Emmy® Award-winner Ryan Seacrest hosted the three-hour live special “Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash.”

“Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest” (12:30-1 p.m. EDT) delivered 5.017 million Total Viewers and a 0.68 rating among Adults 18-49, vaulting to an all-time high in Total Viewers.  The half-hour special more than tripled last year’s performance, up +209% in Total Viewers (vs. 1.624 million) and +48% in Adults 18-49 (vs. 0.46 rating) over last year.

Radio History: July 10

➦In 1856…Nikola Tesla was born. (Died – 7 January 1943). He was an inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.

Nikola Tesla

Tesla, one of history’s most under-appreciated and under-acknowledged engineers. Credit for his work is often gray and debated, sometimes due to unscrupulous competitors and sometimes due to timing.

Indeed, Tesla is known to have worked on a radio before Marconi, an X-Ray machine before Roentgen, an induction motor around the same time Ferrari claimed his, and experimented to find “small charged particles” years before Thomson was credited with proving the existence of electrons.

Tesla is perhaps best known within engineering circles for his work on AC (alternating current) and his “War of Currents” feud with Thomas Edison (side note: Edison, an employer of Tesla’s for some time, is known in some engineering circles as the man who copied and used Tesla's ideas).

Even with such challenges and a lifetime of illnesses, Tesla accrued about 300 patents. He died penniless and in debt in his New York apartment on January 7, 1943, at the age of 86. After his death, much of Tesla’s papers and works were impounded by the United States' Alien Property Custodian office. This was despite the fact that Tesla had become a US citizen at 35 years old.

Eventually many of his personal notebooks and works were declared “top secret” by the FBI and shuttered away from public view. Reasons given for doing so were that Tesla had done significant work with various US government agencies. 

Tesla's theories on the possibility of the transmission by radio waves go back as far as lectures and demonstrations in 1893 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the National Electric Light Association.  Tesla's demonstrations and principles were written about widely through various media outlets.  Many devices such as the Tesla Coil were used in the further development of radio.

SiriusXM CEO Talks Potential Merger with iHeartMedia

SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz addressed rumors of a potential merger with iHeartMedia, the evolving audio competitive landscape, the company’s growing partnership with YouTube, and positive trends in customer metrics during a sit-down interview with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin. 

Witz discussed the reported combination talks amid a broader push for scale in the audio entertainment sector, emphasizing SiriusXM’s focus on strategic opportunities to strengthen its position without confirming specifics of any deal.

Competitive Landscape and Strategic Moves

In the interview, Witz highlighted SiriusXM’s efforts to stand out in a crowded audio market that includes streaming giants, podcasts, and traditional radio. She pointed to improvements in subscriber engagement, customer satisfaction, and retention as key signs of progress. The company continues to invest in premium content, multi-platform distribution, and advertising growth to compete effectively.

Witz elaborated on SiriusXM’s partnership with YouTube as a significant step in expanding reach and enhancing its streaming presence. This collaboration aligns with the company’s strategy to meet listeners across more platforms in an increasingly digital audio environment.