FCC's Carr: Pelley, Journalists 'Out of Touch'

FCC Chair Brendan Carr criticizes veteran journalist Scott Pelley as emblematic of legacy media's disconnect, responding to Pelley's expressed surprise at his recent firing from CBS' "60 Minutes."

In a post on X, Carr stated: “One of the reasons why trust in media is so low is because many legacy journalists are completely out of touch.” He added that Pelley's attitude revealed how “blind some are” to workplace norms, noting that such behavior “could not get away with that... at any run of the mill job.”

The remarks came after Pelley, a longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent, told The New York Times in a profile that his ousting “hadn't occurred” to him — describing it as “the furthest thing from my mind.” Pelley was fired this week following a heated meeting with the show's new executive producer, Nick Bilton, amid broader changes at CBS under new ownership.

Pelley Calls for Bari Weiss' Ouster

In his first interview since being fired, longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of “putting a thumb on the scale” for the Trump administration and called for her removal.

Speaking with Lulu Garcia-Navarro of The New York Times, Pelley detailed his concerns from the start of Weiss’ tenure and described what he called direct editorial interference in a story about protests in Minneapolis against an ICE crackdown.

Pelley specifically claimed Weiss pushed changes — just hours before airtime — to the segment on the fatal shooting of Renee Good. He said she asked to make protesters appear more violent and to describe Good’s car as driving toward the officer, a version he said contradicted video evidence.

Pelley expressed early doubts about Weiss’ leadership, citing her lack of television experience and no background managing a large global news operation like CBS News.

YouTube Surpasses Netflix in Average Daily Usage

Google-owned YouTube has overtaken Netflix in average daily viewing time per account, according to new data from London-based analytics firm Digital i.

YouTube users now spend an average of 99.1 minutes per day on the platform, up from 87.2 minutes in 2024. Netflix’s daily average fell from 100.5 minutes to 93.4 minutes over the same period.The shift reflects YouTube’s growing dominance on TV screens, with its share of viewing time rising from 28% to 35% between January 2024 and December 2025, while mobile viewing declined from 35% to 31%. 

Audiences are increasingly treating YouTube as a primary entertainment destination rather than just social media.

Perspective: Radio Keeps Studying Instead of Listening

Radio Keeps Studying Listeners Instead of Listening to Them

By Dave Van Dyke, 

President

Bridge Ratings Media Research 

Radio Keeps Studying Listeners Instead of Listening to Them

Radio has never had more data.
We know what people listen to. We know when they listen. We know how long they stay. We know their age, gender, location, and device. We conduct perceptual studies, music tests, focus groups, audience surveys, and analytics reviews.

Yet somehow, despite all of this information, many broadcasters seem less connected to their listeners than ever before.

That's because somewhere along the way, research became a substitute for listening.
Research is valuable. I've spent much of my career studying audience behavior. Good research helps remove assumptions and reveal patterns. But research was never meant to replace human observation. It was meant to support it.

News Source Trust Diverges Sharply Along Partisan Lines

Trust in news sources diverges sharply along partisan lines in the United States, with Democrats far more likely than Republicans to trust major national outlets, according to Pew Research Center surveys.

Recent Pew data shows Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents express significantly higher trust in information from national news organizations. As of late 2025, 69% of Democrats report at least some trust in national news, compared to just 44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

MLB Blackouts To Get Worse, Before They Get Better

Major League Baseball’s first labor proposal includes an offer from owners that could eventually dismantle the territorial TV rights system responsible for out-of-market “blackouts,” allowing local team broadcasts to be consolidated into a single streaming service over time.

The Athletic reports the change would blur — and possibly eliminate — the frustrating “in-market” versus “out-of-market” distinction that currently forces fans to consult maps and juggle services just to watch their favorite team. Under the existing setup, fans inside a team’s territory cannot access that team’s games through MLB.tv, the league’s out-of-market streaming platform. However, the proposal does not create a simple, all-in-one solution. 

Good Morning! The Pulse Is Ready for Monday, June 8

Radio Broadcasting

Trust In Media: Trust in news sources diverges sharply along partisan lines in the United States, with Democrats far more likely than Republicans to trust major national outlets, according to Pew Research Center surveys.

Perspective:  Radio Keeps Studying Listeners Instead of Listening to Them. Radio has never had more data. Yet somehow, despite all of this information, many broadcasters seem less connected to their listeners than ever before. More HERE

AI Attracts: Entravision is pointing to strong audience growth for "Al Aire y Sin Permiso," its innovative Spanish-language radio program that pairs a human host with what the company describes as the industry's first Latino AI-powered radio personality.

CBS Shake-Up Leaves '60 Minutes' With Trust Crisis

The firing of longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley and other recent shake-ups at the CBS newsmagazine have left only Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim as remaining correspondents.

It remains unclear whether the iconic program — a viewer mainstay for 57 years — can regain its footing or preserve public trust under CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss' leadership, as the changes draw sharp criticism from journalists and fuel an escalating public feud, According to The Wrap. Weiss continues to face internal skepticism, with the aggressive handling of Pelley's exit adding to perceptions of poor crisis management.

Trump Abruptly Storms Off MTP Sit Down Interview

MTP Moderator Kristen Welker

President Donald Trump abruptly ended a pre-recorded interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker after roughly 50 minutes, citing repeated disruptions from rain pounding a metal barn roof and growing frustration during a tense exchange over election integrity claims.

The sit-down, conducted Friday, June 5, 2026, at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was arranged at the White House’s request and took place inside a barn before Trump appeared at a farming roundtable. Heavy rain created loud interruptions on the metal roof, delaying segments multiple times along with a technical issue.

FCC Considering EAS Upgrades

The FCC is set to adopt new cybersecurity rules requiring broadcasters and other Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants to protect their equipment with network firewalls (or equivalent segmentation) and strong, unique passwords.

The agency plans to vote on the requirements at its June 25, 2026, open meeting. The move aims to safeguard the nation's public warning system against a rising number of cyberattacks that have targeted EAS gear in recent years.

If approved, the rules will apply to radio and TV stations, cable systems, and other EAS participants. They specifically cover EAS encoders/decoders, studio-to-transmitter links (STLs), and any remotely managed equipment that routes, processes, or inserts content into programming streams.

Report: ESPN Bracing For More Layoffs

ESPN is bracing for another round of layoffs this summer, sources told Front Office Sports.

The cuts are expected to affect both talents and non-camera-facing employees, sources said.

An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.

Annoying Kars4Kids Jingle is back

The long-running Kars4Kids jingle is back on the air in California after a court lifted a temporary ban, allowing the ads to continue while the charity appeals a false advertising ruling.

A California man sued Kars4Kids last month, claiming the ads misled donors by failing to disclose that car donations primarily benefit Oorah, a Jewish organization that funds youth trips to Israel and other religious programs. An Orange County court initially ruled the jingle violated California’s false advertising law and ordered it off the air. Kars4Kids appealed, and the court has now permitted the ads to resume during the appeals process.

R.I.P.: Stacey King, Chicago Bulls Broadcaster

Chicago Bulls broadcaster Stacey King died Sunday at age 59, the team announced.

A three-time NBA champion from the 1990s Bulls dynasty, King spent the last two decades as the team's beloved color commentator, moving from CSN Chicago to NBC Sports Chicago and finally CHSN. 

Known for his high-energy style, catchphrases and ability to connect with fans, King brought the same enthusiasm to the broadcast booth that he once showed on the court.

“Stacey loved being a Bull,” Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. “You could feel it in everything he did — the way he played, the way he called games and the way he connected with our fans. He had a unique gift for bringing people together and making every game feel personal... We will miss him dearly, and his impact, memory and legacy will remain a part of the Chicago Bulls forever.”

Selected sixth overall by Chicago in the 1989 NBA Draft, King played five seasons with the Bulls, contributing to the first three championship teams of the dynasty era. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1994, played additional NBA and overseas seasons, had a brief coaching stint, and then returned to Chicago as a broadcaster.

King quickly became a fan favorite for his colorful commentary and signature phrases — such as “Give me the hot sauce” and “I want to go higher!” — that became part of Bulls lore. Just last month on his “Gimme the Hot Sauce” podcast, he reflected on his passion for the job: “We enjoy what we do. It’s a fun job. It never seems like work for me. Every night, I go to work, win, lose or draw, I’m having fun.”

R.I.P.: Craig Carpenter, Former SoCal Radio Personality

Craig Carpenter

Southern California radio personality Craig "Sea" Carpenter, a distinctive voice on the region’s legendary rock stations during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, died June 1 after a short illness. He was survived by his children, siblings and extended family.

Carpenter built a decades-long career at some of Southern California’s most influential stations, including KLOS, KMET, KROQ, KNAC, KNX and KEZY. Known for his smooth delivery and deep knowledge of rock music, he became a familiar presence to generations of listeners during radio’s rock-and-roll heyday. His final radio home was at KOCI in Orange County.

Born in Los Angeles, Carpenter spent part of his childhood in Florida after his father’s transfer with the U.S. Air Force, then returned to California as a teenager. 

His early passion for radio led to his first professional job at KLOS and a career spanning multiple stations. Beyond his on-air work, Carpenter produced and hosted a radio interview series that featured rock artists in their homes, giving listeners intimate glimpses into the musicians’ lives. 

Radio History: June 8

➦In 1947...Lassie debuted on ABC radio. It was a 15-minute radio juvenile adventure program. It was broadcast on ABC from June 8, 1947 until May 30, 1948, and on NBC from June 5, 1948, until May 27, 1950.

➦In 1967...The Beatles thematic album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' quickly climbed to number one after being released just a week earlier. It was their 8th studio album and spent 15 weeks at number one in the U-S.  In the U-K,  the album went to #1 after just one week, where it remained for an incredible 27 weeks. It was the first album to print the lyrics on the sleeve.

It was lauded by critics for its innovations in production, songwriting and graphic design, for bridging a cultural divide between popular music and high art, and for providing a musical representation of its generation and the contemporary counterculture. It won four Grammy Awards in 1968, including Album of the Year, the first rock LP to receive this honor.