Good Morning: Check the Pulse for a Happy Wednesday, April 22

Radio Broadcasting

Cumulus MIA: Due to the ongoing antitrust lawsuit between Cumulus Media and Nielsen, Cumulus stations are not included (or are no longer publicly listed/visible) in the March 2026 PPM ratings now being released. Cumulus's contract with Nielsen expired on December 31, 2025, and the two parties have not reached a new agreement amid the litigation (filed by Cumulus in October 2025, with Nielsen counterclaims and related appeals/stays).

All He Needs Is Love: K-LOVE has announced Gator Harrison will be joining the radio division of the Ministry, assuming the role of Chief Media Officer on the Ministry Leadership Team (MLT) and overseeing the K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks, live events and partnerships.

A Tale of Two Commissioners: At the NAB Show 2026 underway in Las Vegas, two FCC commissioners delivered contrasting messages to broadcasters, highlighting ongoing tensions over regulatory obligations, free speech, and the future of the industry in a competitive media landscape

Media Industry

Prediction Markets: Why Media Companies Are Taking an Interest?  Media outlets are increasingly partnering with prediction market platforms—not as competitors, but as complementary tools for storytelling, audience engagement, and new revenue. 

Joe Hosts Game Show: Veteran sportscaster Joe Buck is nearing a deal to host a new ESPN-branded version of Jeopardy! n The program is expected to debut this summer across Disney platforms, with streaming availability on Hulu and Disney+ and possible linear runs on ABC and ESPN, according to sources. If finalized, the series would represent a high-profile extension of the Jeopardy! brand produced by Sony, which owns the property and has been exploring expansion opportunities.

U-S News

Dems Win In VA:  Democrats maintained their electoral momentum on Tuesday by securing the passage of an aggressively gerrymandered House map in Virginia, which could deliver the party up to four extra seats as it tries to win back control of Congress. National party leaders had been heavily invested in the outcome.

Trump Extends:  The status of U.S.-Iranian negotiations to end the war in the Middle East was unclear on Wednesday morning, hours after President Trump said that he was extending a fragile cease-fire. There was no immediate public response from top Iranian officials to Mr. Trump’s announcement.

DOJ Vs SPLC: The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that a grand jury indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center for making fraudulent payments of millions of dollars to members of the Ku Klux Klan and other neo-Nazi organizations. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a news conference that the 11-count indictment filed in an Alabama federal court alleged the left-wing nonprofit had in the past decade paid at least $3 million to eight members of the far-right groups.

Radio Recap: More PPMs From Neilsen

Nielsen has begun releasing its March Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings, covering the survey period from March 5 through April 1. The four-week book included the shift to Daylight Saving Time, the arrival of spring, and the start of Passover.

SAN FRANCISCO: Two Tie At The Top

The 6+ leaderboard is typically ruled by two spoken-word powerhouses. In March KQED Inc. News/Talk 88.5 KQED remained #1 for the third consecutive book but slipped to its lowest share in over a year (9.9 – 8.6). That opened the door for Audacy All-News 740 KCBS / 106.9 KFRC to climb and tie for the lead (8.8 – 8.6).

Bonneville Adult Contemporary 96.5 KOIT held steady as the top music station at #3 (5.0 – 4.8). A pair of stations tied for #4: Bonneville Hot AC/CHR 99.7 NOW (KMVQ) edged up one spot (4.6 – 4.5), while iHeartMedia Soft AC 98.1 The Breeze (KISQ) soared from #7 to tie it with its strongest showing since November (3.7 – 4.5).

iHeartMedia Hot AC Star 101.3 (KIOI) eased back to #6 (4.7 – 4.1). KOIT further extended its cume dominance, growing 12.7% (1,016,200 – 1,145,600). Overall market listening was up 2.7%.

In 25-54: A flat 99.7 NOW (KMVQ) rose to #1 for the first time since August. KQED dropped to a very tight #2, ending a two-book run at the top. Star 101.3 (KIOI) returned to #3 with a modest gain.

It was a jump ball for #4: KOIT held its position despite a small share dip, while flat Audacy Alternative Live 105 (KITS) climbed from #6. iHeartMedia Pop CHR WiLD 94.9 (KYLD) slipped to #6 with a slight decrease.

ATLANTA: A Streak Stops — Then Snaps Back

In February, Cox Media News/Talk WSB-AM saw its impressive six-book winning streak in 6+ come to an end at the hands of Urban One Urban AC Majic 107.5/97.5 (WAMJ). This month, WSB-AM came roaring back to reclaim the #1 spot (6+) with a strong gain (6.6 – 8.5).

The battle for second place remained tight. Cox Media Classic Hits 97.1 The River (WSRV) returned to #2 (6.8 – 7.0), while WAMJ slipped to #3 (7.2 – 6.9).  Audacy Urban AC V-103 (WVEE) held steady at #4 (6.0 – 6.7). Cox Media Urban AC Kiss 104.1 (WALR) climbed to #5 (5.7 – 6.4), and Cox Media AC B98.5 (WSB-FM) eased to #6 (5.9 – 5.8).

WSB-AM continued to dominate cume, posting a 1.1% increase (762,100 – 770,600). Overall market listening ticked up 0.3%.

In 25-54:  Last month WVEE and WAMJ were co-leaders. This book, V-103 (WVEE) rebounded strongly to capture the 25-54 crown for the seventh consecutive survey. Majic 107.5/97.5 (WAMJ) slipped to #2 with a modest decline.

B98.5 (WSB-FM) held at #3 with a small gain, while 97.1 The River (WSRV) rose to #4 — marking its fourth straight up book. WSB-AM posted its highest 25-54 share since November as it jumped two spots to #5. Audacy Sports 92.9 The Game (WZGC) tumbled four places to #8, hitting its lowest share since September.

Why Are Cumulus Media Stations Missing From March PPMs?

Due to the ongoing antitrust lawsuit between Cumulus Media and Nielsen, Cumulus stations are not included (or are no longer publicly listed/visible) in the March 2026 PPM ratings now being released.

Cumulus's contract with Nielsen expired on December 31, 2025, and the two parties have not reached a new agreement amid the litigation (filed by Cumulus in October 2025, with Nielsen counterclaims and related appeals/stays).

As a result, Cumulus stations have been absent from publicly released Nielsen data since the start of 2026. This was already noted with the January 2026 PPM ratings and continues with the March 2026 book (survey period approximately March 5–April 1, 2026).

Industry sites covering the March 2026 PPM releases explicitly note that Cumulus-owned stations are not shown or "do not subscribe" in affected PPM markets, such as Dallas (e.g., KPLX, KSCS), Houston (e.g., WKHX), and others. Leaderboards and rankings exclude them.

The core issue involves Nielsen's "Network Policy," which Cumulus alleges unlawfully ties access to valuable national/network ratings to the purchase of local ratings in all markets where Cumulus operates stations. A preliminary injunction was initially granted in Cumulus's favor but has faced stays on appeal, and the broader case has been paused due to Cumulus's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. This has left Cumulus without full access to (or public inclusion in) Nielsen's PPM data for many markets.

In larger PPM markets (e.g., Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta), some data flow may have continued earlier in the dispute, but by the March 2026 releases, Cumulus stations are consistently omitted from public ratings reports due to the lack of a subscription/agreement.

This situation affects how Cumulus stations can be compared or ranked in the released books, though private/subscriber data access may differ. The ratings releases are ongoing (typically over several days), but the exclusion of Cumulus is a noted constant in current coverage.

Where Things Stand: Media and Prediction Markets

Prediction markets are online platforms that allow participants to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcomes of real-world future events—such as election results, sports outcomes, economic indicators, award winners, or geopolitical developments. 

These are typically binary "yes/no" contracts (e.g., "Will Candidate X win?") that pay out $1 if the predicted outcome occurs and $0 otherwise. The market price of a contract (e.g., trading at $0.65 for "yes") reflects the crowd's collective assessment of the probability of that event happening.

Traders with better information or analysis have an incentive to buy or sell accordingly, creating a self-correcting mechanism: prices aggregate dispersed knowledge more efficiently than polls or expert forecasts in many cases.

Why Media Companies Are Taking an Interest

Media outlets are increasingly partnering with prediction market platforms—not as competitors, but as complementary tools for storytelling, audience engagement, and new revenue. 

Key reasons include:

• Real-time, crowd-sourced insights: Markets provide dynamic probabilities on breaking news, elections, or economics that feel more engaging than static polls. Journalists can reference "what the market thinks" to add depth to coverage, turning passive reporting into probabilistic, forward-looking narratives.
• Audience engagement boost: In an era of short attention spans and interactive digital media, embedding live market odds encourages readers/viewers to participate, debate, and return for updates. This is especially appealing for elections, sports, and entertainment coverage, where prediction adds excitement without requiring actual betting.
• Monetization and data licensing: Partnerships create revenue through data deals, sponsorships, and integrated content. Media companies gain exclusive or real-time feeds, while platforms get mainstream visibility and legitimacy.

Specific high-profile deals: CNN partnered with Kalshi as its official prediction markets provider for elections and major news; CNBC integrated Kalshi data into business programming; Dow Jones (publisher of The Wall Street Journal) struck an exclusive deal with Polymarket; Fox News, the Associated Press, and others have followed with similar integrations. 

These allow market probabilities to appear directly in broadcasts, articles, and digital products.

Media experts note that prediction markets and traditional journalism "exist in parallel" and need each other: platforms benefit from earned media exposure, while outlets tap into public hunger for interactive, data-driven content amid declining trust in conventional polls.

Critics raise concerns about blurring lines between journalism and gambling-like activity, potential market manipulation (e.g., well-timed bets on news events), or erosion of editorial independence. 

However, many in the industry view the trend as an opportunity to evolve, especially as prediction markets prove accurate and draw massive participation. Overall, media's embrace reflects a broader shift toward probabilistic, audience-centric storytelling in a fragmented information landscape.

Radio Pro Gator Harrison Segues to K-Love

K-LOVE has announced Gator Harrison will be joining the radio division of the Ministry, assuming the role of Chief Media Officer on the Ministry Leadership Team (MLT) and overseeing the K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks, live events and partnerships.

Harrison joins K-LOVE after a storied career in radio, bringing nearly 40 years of highly relevant experience to the role. Most recently, Harrison served as senior vice president of programming for more than ten years at iHeartMedia where he oversaw broadcast, streaming, digital, social media and live events. Additionally, Harrison has held various other roles in radio since beginning his career in 1986, each expanding his depth of experience, including program director, operations director, and on-air personality.

He has won multiple industry awards for his work including national recognition from the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Country Music Association (CMA), among others. While he appreciates the recognition, Harrison has found his ministry work to be equally rewarding. In 2015, he founded Believers – a ministry serving and discipling professionals in the music industry. His new role at K-LOVE represents the culmination of his incredible industry experience and his heart for people.

Gator Harrison

“I dedicated my life to Jesus in 1995 and prayed that He would allow me to do what I love, where I love, all for His glory,” said Harrison. “Through years of growth and preparation, He has faithfully answered that prayer. I am deeply grateful to iHeartMedia for their support and investment in my journey, and I am honored to join the K-LOVE and Air1 family.”

Harrison joins K-LOVE during an incredible time of growth for Ministry as it works to reach new, younger audiences and expand its footprint within the United States and internationally.

“We are thrilled to welcome such an outstanding industry expert to our team,” said Tom Stultz, K-LOVE Chief Executive Officer. “His blend of expertise, coupled with the industry connections and ministry work he so loves, will enhance our mission and further position K-LOVE to inspire people to move closer to Jesus.”

To conclude, Harrison shares: “I’m humbled by this next chapter and thankful that God qualifies the unqualified. I look forward to continuing my life’s work of inspiring others to draw closer to Jesus.”

Harrison officially joins K-LOVE on May 11th.

Report: Joe Buck To Host ESPN Jeopardy!

Veteran sportscaster Joe Buck is nearing a deal to host a new ESPN-branded version of Jeopardy!, sources told Front Office Sports.

The program is expected to debut this summer across Disney platforms, with streaming availability on Hulu and Disney+ and possible linear runs on ABC and ESPN, according to sources. If finalized, the series would represent a high-profile extension of the Jeopardy! brand produced by Sony, which owns the property and has been exploring expansion opportunities.

Buck, the longtime lead play-by-play voice for ESPN’s Monday Night Football and part of the network’s Super Bowl broadcast team alongside Troy Aikman this coming season, is no stranger to the show’s format: he guest-hosted a week of Jeopardy! in August 2021 following Alex Trebek’s death.

ESPN Jeopardy! is expected to tilt toward celebrity competitors rather than open casting, with multiple on-air ESPN personalities reportedly slated to participate. The concept is not without precedent: a sports-focused iteration, Sports Jeopardy!, aired on Crackle from 2014–2016 and was hosted by Dan Patrick.

Sony will produce the series, and further details — including an official announcement, episode count, exact premiere date and full contestant lineup — have not yet been released.

Oxnard-Ventura Radio: Bill Smith New VP/MM For Cumulus

Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed William E. “Bill” Smith as Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Oxnard-Ventura, CA.

Smith joins Cumulus Media from American General Media, where he was General Manager for its Bakersfield, CA, stations. Prior to that, he was Local Sales Manager for Hearst Television in Sacramento, CA, and was Director of Sales for News Press Gazette Television in Idaho Falls, ID.

Bill Smith

Bob Walker, President, Operations, Cumulus Media, said: “We are eager to welcome Bill to lead Cumulus Oxnard cluster. Bill brings a proven track record of building and leading high-performing sales organizations, along with a commitment to partnering with content teams to create meaningful connections that help local businesses grow. We are excited for the energy, leadership, and results he will bring to the community.”

Smith commented: “I’m honored to step into this role at such an important moment for the Oxnard-Ventura market. My focus is on understanding the needs of our partners, our customers, and our team so we can build on what’s already working while thoughtfully improving where we can. I’m excited to contribute to that process and help us move forward.”

📻Cumulus Media serves the Oxnard/Ventura, CA market through four powerful audio brands across its radio and digital platforms — The New 95.1 KBBY/KBBY-FM (Hot AC); 100.7 KHAY/KHAY-FM (Country); KRUZ 103.3/KRUZ-FM (Classic Hits); and Groovy 106.3/KVYB-FM (Oldies).

FCC Commissioners Attend NAB Show In Las Vegas

At the NAB Show 2026 underway in Las Vegas, two FCC commissioners delivered contrasting messages to broadcasters, highlighting ongoing tensions over regulatory obligations, free speech, and the future of the industry in a competitive media landscape.

In her remarks titled “Finding the Angel of the Public Interest,” FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty revisited a long-standing challenge in communications policy. Drawing from a 1998 speech by then-FCC Chairman Michael Powell—who famously described the search for an “angel” to clearly define the public interest—Trusty noted that while no single figure emerged to resolve the ambiguity, the concept remains foundational to broadcasting.

Rooted in the Communications Act, the public interest standard encompasses a broad array of obligations, including technical requirements, business practices, sponsorship identification, emergency alerts, and restrictions on indecent content. Trusty emphasized core duties such as the “equal opportunities” rule for political candidates, as well as the principle of localism—requiring stations to serve their communities’ needs and retain the flexibility to preempt network programming for important local or national stories.

Olivia Trusty

She underscored broadcasters’ vital role in delivering free, universally accessible information, especially during emergencies, along with local news, weather, and community-focused programming. Trusty acknowledged the intense competition from streaming services, podcasts, and unregulated digital platforms, arguing that the FCC must modernize policies to keep licensed broadcasters competitive and financially viable while upholding their unique public interest responsibilities.

She outlined three guiding policy goals: promoting competition, ensuring diversity of voices, and supporting localism. Trusty suggested that certain legacy regulations may need revisiting or elimination to better reflect today’s marketplace. She also expressed concern over the migration of major sports programming to subscription-based streaming, warning that such shifts could reduce public access to shared cultural events and run counter to the public interest. 

Looking forward, she called for strengthening broadcasters’ ability to innovate while maintaining transparency and public trust, noting that local stations continue to rank highly in credibility despite financial pressures and the spread of misinformation online.

Later in the day, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez—the commission’s lone Democrat—returned to the NAB Show platform one year after her 2025 address denouncing what she described as government pressure on broadcasters to silence dissenting voices. Speaking as part of a session on “The First Amendment and Press Freedom in Today’s Media Landscape,” Gomez reiterated her call for broadcasters to resist what she termed the “weaponization” of FCC rules.

Anna Gomez

Gomez told Inside Radio she was unsurprised that few broadcasters have pushed back publicly, attributing the restraint to the “chilling effect” created by the threat of regulatory action. “All of these people have business before the FCC,” she said, “and what we’re learning is this administration doesn’t hesitate to retaliate against those that speak out against it.”

For months, Gomez has conducted what she calls her “First Amendment tour” to spotlight these concerns. With FCC Chairman Brendan Carr not attending the NAB Show, her appearance highlighted potential flashpoints under the current commission, including investigations into immigration enforcement reporting, allegations of pay-to-play practices involving radio stations and concerts, and high-profile disputes with late-night hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert over equal-time rules for political candidates.

Together, the two commissioners’ appearances at the NAB Show underscored the deep divisions within the FCC and the complex balancing act facing broadcasters: fulfilling longstanding public interest obligations while navigating an evolving regulatory environment and defending core First Amendment principles amid heightened political scrutiny.

Radio History: April 22

➦In 1920...Hal March was born in San Francisco (Died at age 49 from lung cancer – January 19, 1970).  In 1944, March first came to note as part of a comedy team with Bob Sweeney. The duo had their own radio show for a time and performed, in the early 1950s, as "Sweeney & March" on CBS Radio.   He also partnered with actor/comic Tom D'Andrea in the early years of television in a series entitled The Soldiers.

He also appeared on Burns and Allen, The Imogene Coca Show and I Love Lucy. He was best known as the host of CBS TV’s $64,000 Question from 1955 to 1958. As a result of the quiz show scandals, the show was canceled and March was out of a job for nearly a decade. He started hosting another show, It’s Your Bet in 1969.

➦In 1943...Salty Brine took over as host of the morning show “T.N.T. Review” on WPRO in Providence, Rhode Island, in April 1943 (specific date is unknown). Brine was morning man until April 28, 1993. This 50-year tenure is a significant milestone.

 Breaking into television in 1955, WPRO broadcast a nautically-themed children's program called Salty Brine's Shack, produced live, which Mr. Brine hosted with a collie named Jeff. Both Salty and Jeff evolved into local celebrities. The show ran until 1968.

Born Walter Leslie Brine was a beloved radio personality known for his folksy style and community engagement. His long tenure at WPRO made him a fixture in Rhode Island broadcasting, hosting a morning show that blended music, news, and local flavor. His retirement in April 1993 marked the end of an era for traditional AM radio, as the industry faced increasing competition from FM and emerging digital platforms.

NY Times Radio Listing 4/22/1946

➦In 1946...Tex McCrary and (wife) Jinx Falkenburg debuted an morning show on WEAF 660 AM. The show was called, Hi, Jinx, which evolved into The Tex & Jinx Show.

The McCrary's radio show was broadcast five mornings a week on New York radio station WEAF, and became a hit with critics and the public for tackling controversial issues like the A-Bomb, the United Nations and venereal disease along with talk about theatre openings and New York nightlife. Their guests would be a mix of popular entertainers such as Mary Martin, Ethel Waters and Esther Williams and public figures such as Bernard Baruch, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Truman, industrialist Igor Sikorsky and Indian statesman Krishna Menon.

McCrary wrote the scripts and taught Falkenburg the art of interviewing and the basics of broadcast journalism. Over time she was considered the better interviewer, eliciting candid responses, often from the show's more intellectual guests. Her technique was to ask questions until she understood the answer and so presumably, did all the housewives at home listening to her.  "They developed an audience that was ready to start thinking at breakfast," wrote New York Times columnist William Safire who as a teenager was hired by McCrary to do pre-show interviews of guests.

WEAF later became WNBC and now Sports WFAN.

➦In 1985...Comedian Soupy Sales started at WNBC 660 AM. His program was between the drive time shifts of Don Imus (morning) and Howard Stern (afternoon), with whom Sales had an acrimonious relationship.

An example of this was an incident involving Stern telling listeners that he was cutting the strings in Sales' in-studio piano at 4:05 p.m. on May 1, 1985. On December 21, 2007, Stern revealed this was a stunt staged for "theater of the mind" and to torture Sales; in truth, the piano was never harmed.  Sales' on-air crew included his producer, Ray D'Ariano, newscaster Judy DeAngelis, and pianist Paul Dver, who was also Soupy's manager.

➦In 1996...Paul 'Cubby' Bryant started at WHTZ 100.3 FM Z100 NYC.