Get Updated Quickly! Check The Pulse For Wednesday, Oct 28

Radio Broadcasting

Streamer Sues Jennings: Progressive streamer Hasan Piker filed a federal defamation lawsuit against CNN commentator and Salem Radio Host Scott Jennings, claiming Jennings misrepresented sarcastic comments as a call to lynch Black Americans. MORE

Positioned For Expansion: Eastlan Ratings has added radio industry veterans Jay Kelly and Tommy Ehrman to its client training and support team as it prepares to expand into additional markets through 2027. MORE

RIP: Bud Sawyer, a familiar voice on Portland, Maine radio for five decades, has died at age 94. MORE

Media Industry

Another Door Opens: Jerry Jones said Tuesday it is “very possible” he could hire Troy Aikman for a role with the Dallas Cowboys, after the owner held a roughly 10-minute on-field conversation with the ESPN broadcaster. MORE

Layoffs: Scripps is eliminating 431 positions in an “enterprise-wide transformation” as layoffs and buyout offers reach nearly all of its television stations across the country. MORE

A Hit In Paris: The NFL’s first-ever game in Paris — a Sunday morning contest between the Steelers and Saints from Stade de France — averaged 7.7M viewers on NFL Network and NFL+. MORE

U-S News

Home Alone: Irene Miller, a 50-year-old mother from Kissimmee, was arrested at Orlando International Airport after allegedly leaving her four children unsupervised for four days.

30-Years: Three brothers, including former luxury real estate brokers, were each sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for a long-running sex trafficking scheme. Prosecutors stated the brothers used their wealth and social status to lure, drug, and assault women and girls across various high-end locations over more than a decade.

Here is the full Rays rally that forced a World Series Game 5! https://t.co/igyyvWxKk4

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 28, 2026

Rays Stay Alive: (Video Above...:44-seconds!) Tampa Bay survives in the World Series with 4-3 walk-off win over Brewers in 12th. Milwaukee’s Cooper Pratt goes deep in the top of the 12th, but Jonny DeLuca singles in the tying run and Ben Williamson adds the game-winner in the bottom of the inning.

Scott Jennings Hit With $72.5M Defamation Lawsuit

Progressive Twitch streamer Hasan Piker filed a federal defamation lawsuit Tuesday in Washington, D.C., against CNN commentator Scott Jennings, claiming Jennings misrepresented sarcastic comments as a call to lynch Black Americans.

The 38-page complaint focuses on an Aug. 11 episode of “The Scott Jennings Show.” Piker alleges Jennings aired edited clips from a 2024 Twitch livestream, inserted a quotation Piker never made, and accused him of advocating racial violence.

New Round of Layoffs At Scripps Properties

Scripps is eliminating 431 positions in an “enterprise-wide transformation,” the company said Tuesday, as layoffs and buyout offers reach nearly all of its television stations across the country.

In a memo to staff, President and CEO Adam Symson said the cuts affect employees who have made meaningful contributions to the company and acknowledged the impact on those leaving, their colleagues and their teams. He said Scripps hopes to fill as many newly created roles as possible with employees whose positions are eliminated.

Employees familiar with the cuts said they are affecting stations in markets including Detroit, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and West Palm Beach. The layoffs follow a similar round in September, when Scripps restructured its local news operations under regional general managers overseeing stations in 11 territories.

Ad Spend: New Categories Are Filling Car Commercial Void

Auto ad spots on traditional TV are thinning out as carmakers shift budgets to streaming and targeted buys amid financial pressures and changing viewer habits.

The Wall Street Journal reports national prime-time branding commercials that once dominated linear television, particularly cable networks, are being replaced by more precise streaming purchases and regional, sales-focused executions. The change reflects both intense scrutiny of marketing budgets and consumers’ move away from traditional TV.

When One Door Closes...Troy Aikman Could Land With The Cowboys

Jerry Jones said Tuesday it is “very possible” he could hire Troy Aikman for a role with the Dallas Cowboys, a day after the owner held a roughly 10-minute on-field conversation with the ESPN broadcaster before Monday Night Football in Philadelphia.

“And the answer is … not that necessarily we’re going to do something more direct with the team at this time,” Jones told Dallas station 105.3 The Fan. “But don’t rule it out. It’s very possible.”

NFL’s First-Ever Paris Game Draws 7.7M Viewers

The NFL’s first-ever game in Paris — a Sunday morning contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints from Stade de France — averaged 7.7M viewers on NFL Network and NFL+, marking the network’s third-most-watched NFL International Series game ever (2016-present | 27 games). The audience is up 29% from last season’s overall NFL International Series six-game average on the network.

University Makes Apology to ESPN's Pat McAfee

Pat McAfee said Monday he hopes not to return to the University of Utah after a social media video posted ahead of ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast made him feel unwelcome. In describing his discomfort during Saturday’s show, McAfee also alluded to the 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Utah apologized Monday night, saying it “missed the mark” with the post and taking responsibility for publishing it. The university said officials had contacted McAfee to express regret and emphasized that he and the “GameDay” crew are welcome on campus.

Eastlan Ratings Positions For Expansion

Eastlan Ratings has added radio industry veterans Jay Kelly and Tommy Ehrman to its client training and support team as it prepares to expand into additional markets through 2027.

The hires will bolster support for clients as the company grows its audience-measurement services. Eastlan said it expects to announce more staff additions and new markets in the coming weeks.

Community Marketing Revolution Rebrands as Community Revenue

As an ever-growing supply of content puts pressure on traditional media revenue models, Community Marketing Revolution has rebranded as Community Revenue, reflecting a shift in focus from using community as a marketing tactic to helping media companies and content creators build businesses powered by community itself.

The rebrand comes as broadcasters, publishers, podcasters, and independent creators face increasing competition for a limited amount of audience attention. With advertising, subscriptions, and other traditional revenue streams under pressure, even building a large, loyal audience no longer guarantees a sustainable business.

SBS Working To Emerge From Bankruptcy

Spanish Broadcasting System is asking the FCC to allow non-U.S.-based financial investors to take majority control of the company once it emerges from bankruptcy, a request that has drawn opposition from a party seeking to lock in the current Spanish-language programming on the stations after any ownership change.

In its filing, SBS seeks FCC approval for the foreign investors to hold the controlling interest as part of its planned exit from bankruptcy protection. The company operates radio stations and also serves as the parent of MegaTV, the LaMúsica digital app, and the Aire Radio Networks national audio arm.

Chief Growth Officer Exiting Townsquare Media

Kelly Quinn Townsquare Media’s chief growth officer will leave the company on Friday, ending a 25-year tenure with the media firm and its predecessor operations.

Kelly Quinn

The executive, who was appointed chief growth officer at the start of this year, informed colleagues of his departure plans in September. 

His exit comes after more than two decades of service that spanned Townsquare and the companies that preceded it under the current ownership structure.

Townsquare Media operates radio stations and digital platforms across the United States. The chief growth officer role, created or elevated for the executive earlier this year, focused on expanding the company’s reach and revenue opportunities. 

With his departure set for the end of the week, the company will need to address the vacancy in that position as it continues its ongoing operations.

Virtual News Center Adds Two Affiliates

Virtual News Center, a provider of professionally produced local newscasts for radio stations, is expanding its affiliate lineup with the addition of WICY, Wild Country.FM, in Malone, New York, and WSNN, B 99.3, in Potsdam, New York. Both stations are owned by Martz Communications Group, Inc., and will feature newscasts anchored by Peter Kileen.

The two stations serve communities across New York’s North Country, with WICY reaching listeners in the Malone and Franklin County area, while WSNN serves Potsdam and surrounding communities in St. Lawrence County. WICY also reaches listeners in nearby Canadian communities through its FM translator coverage. WSNN is based in Potsdam, near the communities of Canton and the St. Lawrence Valley.

R.I.P.: Bud Sawyer, Veteran New England Personality

Bud Sawyer (1932-2026)

Bud Sawyer, a familiar voice on Portland radio for five decades, died early Tuesday, Oct. 27, at age 94, his son Mark Sawyer said.

Born Wellington Oliver Sawyer Jr., Sawyer built a 50-year career in Portland radio and became a fixture for listeners across the area.

Radio History: Oct 28

➦In 1922...WEAF in New York broadcast the first collegiate football game heard over a widespread radio network. Princeton played the University of Chicago at Stagg Field in the Windy City. The broadcast was carried on phone lines to New York City, where the network transmission began.

➦In 1940...comedian Henry Morgan‘s radio career took a turn for the better as he debuted ‘Here’s Morgan,’ a nightly 15-minute strip on Mutual's WOR NYC.  He began his radio career as a page at New York City station WMCA in 1932, after which he held a number of obscure radio jobs, including announcing.

He strenuously objected to the professional name "Morgan". What was wrong with his own name, Henry van Ost, Jr.? he asked. Too exotic, too unpronounceable, he was told. "What about the successful announcers Harry von Zell or Westbrook Van Voorhis?" he countered. But it was no use, and the bosses finally told Henry he could take the job or leave it.

Thus began a long history of Henry's having arguments with executives.

➦In 1945...CHUM launched as a dawn-to-dusk radio station.

St Louis Radio: FCC Clears Hoffmann’s Purchase of Audacy Cluster

FCC regulators approved the $20 million acquisition of six stations—including heritage news/talk KMOX-AM/FM—rejecting an informal objection that raised concerns about media consolidation, editorial independence, and local journalism. The FCC called the claims speculative. 

The deal marks Hoffmann’s first entry into radio broadcasting; the company already has significant newspaper and digital interests through Lee Enterprises and Hoffmann Media Group.

Hoffmann’s Audacy St. Louis acquisition is the first concrete step in a deliberate national strategy to build a large-scale, multi-platform local media company by pairing newspapers with radio stations in the same markets.

Key Details of the St. Louis Acquisition

The portfolio includes:

• KMOX (1120 AM / 104.1 FM) — the longtime “Trusted Voice of St. Louis” and flagship for St. Louis Cardinals baseball.
• KFTK-FM (97.1) — News/Talk.
• Music outlets: KYKY (Y98, Hot AC), KEZK (102.5, Adult Contemporary), WFUN (96.3 R&B), and WHHL (Hot 98.7, Hip-Hop/R&B).

R.I.P.: Donnie Iris, Pittsburgh-Based Singer/Songwriter

Donnie Iris (1943-2026)

Pittsburgh music legend Donnie Iris died at age 83, just two weeks after announcing his retirement from performing.

Iris had been battling cancer for several years. Iris, born Dominic Ierace, was famous for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry in the 1970s and for his solo career with the Cruisers in the 1980s.