Report: Fans Mutiny Over Cutbacks With Howard Stern

Fans of “The Howard Stern Show” on SiriusXM are staging a mutiny, with longtime listeners canceling subscriptions en masse after plans surfaced to slash the program to just one new live episode per week, reports The Sun.

The reduced schedule is set to take effect after Stern’s annual summer hiatus, following Labor Day, with the rest of the airtime filled by archived material from the show’s decades-long catalog. The change was disclosed to staff during a Zoom call in mid-July, when roughly a dozen employees—including some on-air personalities—were laid off and sent home immediately with tenure-based severance packages. 

Stern is retaining a core group of veteran producers, sources said, because “he just doesn’t need that much content anymore.” 

The cut follows Stern’s December 2025 three-year contract extension with SiriusXM, which he described on air as allowing “more free time and continuing to be on the radio” through a more flexible schedule. 

At the time, the arrangement appeared to trim his previous roughly 100 shows a year (typically three days a week for much of the year) by about a third. The further reduction to a single weekly three-hour broadcast marks a sharper downsizing for the 72-year-old host, who pioneered the shock-jock format and joined Sirius in 2006 after building his career on terrestrial radio since the late 1970s. 

CBS News President Under Fire for Dismal Viewership

CBS News President Tom Cibrowski is under fire after “CBS Mornings” posted its lowest-rated week on record, averaging 1.59 million viewers for the week of July 13 — the first time the Gayle King- and Nate Burleson-anchored show has fallen below 1.6 million, a 13% drop from the same week last year, according to Nielsen data obtained by The NY Post.

The decline comes amid broader viewership drops across the network and lands squarely on Cibrowski, who assumed day-to-day control of the morning program this year at the direction of CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, network sources said. 

Tom Cibrowski

“Tom is dead meat,” one source said, noting that all-time lows are embarrassing even if Weiss may not prioritize the show. Cibrowski and Weiss have previously clashed over the network’s direction, raising the possibility he could be held accountable if ratings keep sliding.

Critics point to Cibrowski’s failure to name a permanent third co-host after Tony Dokoupil moved to “CBS Evening News” in January, leaving a revolving cast of fill-ins that sources say has damaged the program’s cohesion. He also removed executive producer Shawna Thomas in March and installed Jon Tower on an interim basis; one source said Cibrowski is effectively running the show himself. 

Some insiders blame an ill-conceived pivot to softer “news you can use” stories aimed at Middle America — weight-loss, weather and holiday travel pieces that one source dismissed as unwanted: “People need news.” 

More Storm Clouds Developing For CBS Network

Nexstar Media Group’s CBS affiliates will drop out of the CBS Newspath service, according to sources. The move follows Nexstar’s decision about a month ago to pull its NBC stations from NBC NewsChannel. 

The company will instead rely on its NewsNation network to supply the national and international video, packages, live hits and other content that the network affiliate services previously provided. Nexstar will also stop feeding content from its local newsrooms back into CBS Newspath and NBC NewsChannel, a shift that could create coverage gaps in some regions because of the large number of stations the group owns.

San Jose Radio: KBAY Boosts Reach with New 98.5 FM Signal

Connoisseur Media has announced country station 98.5 KBAY (Bay Country) is significantly expanding its broadcast footprint by adding the 98.5 FM frequency, dramatically increasing coverage across the South Bay and surrounding communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The move places KBAY’s popular country format on the stronger 98.5 FM signal — previously home to KUFX — giving the station substantially greater reach while keeping its existing programming, on-air personalities, and local focus intact. During the transition, KBAY will simulcast on its longtime frequency until the previously announced sale of that signal to K-LOVE is finalized.

“Expanding Bay Country to 98.5 is an investment in both our listeners and our advertising partners,” said Brian “Fig” Figula, Regional Operations Manager. “This gives KBAY the stronger signal and broader reach the brand deserves while preserving everything our audience already loves about the station.”

Houston Radio: Tessa Barrera Lands PM Drive On Sunny 99.1

Former Houston Life co-host Tessa Barrera has joined iHeartMedia’s KODA Sunny 99.1 as an afternoon host, airing daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Barrera announced the role in a YouTube video posted this week. The move returns her to Houston radio and reunites her with iHeartMedia, where she previously worked on The Rod Ryan Show at 94.5 The Buzz starting in 2019 before shifting to television.

She most recently hosted a daily afternoon talk show at KPRC for three years, departing in March. 

“Sunny is one of the biggest pop radio stations in the country,” Barrera said in the video. “And it was just kind of serendipitous, like right place, right time type of thing.”

Happy TGIF: The Pulse Starts Your Day

Radio Broadcasting

Stern Troubles: Fans of “The Howard Stern Show” on SiriusXM are staging a mutiny, with longtime listeners canceling subscriptions en masse after plans surfaced to slash the program to just one new live episode per week.

Country Get New Signal: Connoisseur Media has announced country station 98.5 KBAY (Bay Country) is significantly expanding its broadcast footprint by adding the 98.5 FM frequency, dramatically increasing coverage across the South Bay and surrounding communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Barrera Is Back: Former Houston Life co-host Tessa Barrera has joined iHeartMedia’s KODA Sunny 99.1 as an afternoon host, airing daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Barrera announced the role in a YouTube video posted this week.

DOJ Drops NYTimes Reporter's Subpoenas

The Justice Department on Thursday withdrew subpoenas seeking phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times journalists who reported on the security capabilities of President Trump’s new Qatari-donated Air Force One jet.

The move came after a federal judge in Manhattan grilled Justice Department lawyers for nearly an hour over their handling of the subpoenas, which The Times had moved to quash and described as an effort to intimidate its reporters. 

Judge Arun Subramanian told the government it was not barred from issuing new subpoenas later if it followed proper procedures. He stressed that subpoenas to journalists “are not the first thing you do — they are the last thing you do,” calling compliance with the law and the department’s own regulations on news-media investigations “a matter of basic compliance with the law.”

The case marked a high-profile escalation of the Trump administration’s pressure on independent news organizations. The subpoenas, some delivered by federal agents at reporters’ homes, followed The Times’s disclosures about the jet, which Trump had flown to Turkey this month and publicly showcased. Shortly after the reporting appeared, the White House directed FBI Director Kash Patel to open a leak investigation aimed at identifying confidential sources who had shared information on a national-security matter.

After the hearing, the Justice Department criticized Judge Subramanian, saying his “conduct overrides clear longstanding principles and common sense.” It added: “Make no mistake, this investigation remains ongoing, and we will pursue justice against those threatening national security by leaking classified information, a serious federal crime.” The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

PSKY, WBD Merger Now On Hold Thru August 17th

Paramount Skydance must pause its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery through August 17 after a federal judge ruled Thursday, giving the company more time to fight a potential longer delay that it warns could cost more than $1 billion and plunge the deal into uncertainty.

U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in Oakland, California, extended an earlier temporary hold that had been set to expire August 3. 

The ruling comes as Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) seeks a three-day hearing in August to present evidence that the combination would strengthen competition in film and television rather than harm it. The company has argued that a months-long pause while litigation continues would create significant financial and operational risks.

A California-led coalition of states sued to block the transaction, contending it would reduce competition, damage movie theaters, and hurt cable companies. In a separate case, the Writers Guild of America alleges the deal would lower demand for screenwriting work. The judge’s latest order keeps the acquisition on hold pending further proceedings on whether a more extended injunction is warranted.

Connoisseur Restructures West Coast Programming Duties

Connoisseur Media has announced multiple programming leadership changes across its Bay Area and Portland radio stations following this week’s frequency expansion of 98.5 KBAY (Bay Country) in San Jose.

• Brian “Fig” Figula has been promoted to Regional Operations Manager for the Bay Area. He will oversee Connoisseur’s stations in San Jose, San Francisco, and the East Bay while continuing as Operations Manager for the San Francisco cluster. Figula now assumes day-to-day programming duties for Mix 106.5 (KEZR) and 98.5 KBAY (Bay Country) and will continue programming heritage AC 96.5 KOIT/San Francisco.
• Chris Jackson joins Mix 106.5 as its new midday host.“Jazzy Jim” Archer has expanded his programming role, adding Urban AC 102.9 KBLX/San Francisco and Top 40 KBFF (Live 95.5)/Portland. He will continue programming Top 40 KMVQ (99.7 NOW)/San Francisco.
• In Portland, Operations Manager Ross MacLeod adds Country station KUPL (98.7 The Bull) to his duties while retaining oversight of Triple A 101.9 KINK-FM and Active Rock 102.9 KUFO-FM. Jamie Tanchyk moves from middays on 98.7 The Bull to afternoons on Live 95.5, with Bay Country afternoon personality Emily Harlan taking over middays at The Bull.

Smartphones Dominate Digital Audio Across All Generations

Smartphones have solidified their position as the primary hub for digital audio, handling the vast majority of music streaming, podcasts, audiobooks, and short-form clips. Portability, intuitive apps, personalized recommendations, and seamless daily integration drive this dominance.

Over 90% of podcast listening now occurs on mobile devices, led overwhelmingly by smartphones. Apple iPhones account for about 60% of listening, with Android phones adding roughly 20%. 

In March 2026 Harris Poll and EMARKETER data, 80% of Gen Z and 79% of millennial digital audio listeners primarily tune in via smartphones—the top device across every generation. Broader online audio usage reinforces the trend: 81% of Americans age 12+ listened in the past month, with mobile phones fueling growth, particularly among older adults.

Memphis Radio: Cumulus Renews Partnership with Tiger Sports

Cumulus Media Memphis announces that it has renewed its agreement with Tiger Sports Properties, the locally-based team of Learfield, extending the partnership for an additional multi-year term. Under the agreement, Cumulus Memphis will continue to serve as the exclusive radio home for University of Memphis Tiger football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball, along with football and men’s basketball coaches’ shows. All broadcasts will air on News Talk 98.9 The Roar of Memphis (WKIM-FM), the official “Home of the Tigers.”

“We are proud of our partnership with Tiger Sports Properties and the University of Memphis,” said Morgan D. Bohannon, Vice President/Market Manager of Cumulus Memphis. “Being the ‘Home of the Tigers’ is a mutually beneficial partnership full of fast, fun action and filled with passion from the community.”

NYC TV: WPIX-11 Ordered To Pay Ex-Anchor $2M+ For Discrimination

Oji

A New York judge has ordered Nexstar-operated WPIX/Channel 11 to pay former longtime anchor Ojinika “Oji” Obiekwe more than $2 million after ruling that the station unlawfully fired her for complaining about alleged racial discrimination in the newsroom.

Following a weeklong trial, the judge this week awarded Obiekwe $1,137,000 in compensatory damages for pain, suffering, and emotional distress, plus $1,280,000 in punitive damages, according to court documents.

Obiekwe, who spent 22 years at the station, claimed she was terminated in 2023 in retaliation for speaking out against what she described as racial discrimination. The jury sided with her after hearing evidence in the case.“I feel great! I’m grateful to God … I thank God for leading me to my lawyers because there’s no way I could’ve done this without them,” Obiekwe said after the verdict.

The decision marks a significant legal victory for the veteran journalist and delivers a financial blow to the station, a prominent local broadcaster in the New York market. Court records obtained by Page Six detail the breakdown of the damages, with the punitive portion intended to punish the station for its conduct.

Radio History: July 24

➦In 1911...Raymond Edward Johnson born in Kenosha, WI (Died at age 90 – August 15, 2001). He was a radio and stage actor best remembered for his work on Inner Sanctum Mysteries.

Johnson began his career in Chicago, some of his earliest work including a regular role on Edgar A. Guest's dramatic serial Welcome Valley (1932–1937) as Bill Sutter, and was featured on The National Farm and Home Hour in dramatic sketches as the Forest Ranger (a role also played by Don Ameche).

Ray Johnson

While in Chicago, Johnson began working with writer/director Arch Oboler, with roles on his Lights Out series. When both Oboler and Johnson relocated to New York City, the actor was featured in many episodes of Arch Oboler's Plays, notably as the title role in "The Ugliest Man in the World" (repeated five times) and as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in "This Lonely Heart" both from 1939.

While in New York, Johnson landed his most famous role when Himan Brown hired him for Inner Sanctum. From the first broadcast in 1941, Johnson was heard as the series host/narrator, introducing himself as "Your host, Raymond." The "Raymond" character became known for his chilling introductions and morbid puns, and his typical closing, an elongated and ironic "Pleasant dreaaaams, hmmmmmmm?" Johnson departed the series in 1945, when he joined the Army; although replaced for the remainder of the run by Paul McGrath as host, Johnson took the "Raymond" name with him. Johnson later hosted the radio version of the science fiction series Tales of Tomorrow.

He also became a staple on many soap operas, playing romantic leads on Big Sister,  The Guiding Light, Brave Tomorrow and Valiant Lady.

➦In 1933...the first broadcast of “The Romance of Helen Trent” was heard on midwest regional radio before becoming a CBS network staple three months later. The radio soap opera aired on CBS from October 30, 1933 to June 24, 1960 for a total of 7,222 episodes. The show was created by Frank and Anne Hummert, who were among the most prolific producers during the radio soap era.  Helen Trent was played by just two actresses over the years …Virginia Clark (for 11 years) and Julie Stevens (for 16 years).

Fox News Passes NBC, ABC, CBS During Weekday Prime

FOX News Channel (FNC) concluded the week of July 13th with 2.9 million weekday primetime viewers and 293,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, dominating NBC (2.5 million viewers), ABC (2.4 million viewers) and CBS (2.1 million viewers) according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. 

In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC notched 2.5 million viewers, and in Monday – Sunday total day, FNC saw 1.5 million viewers. Markedly, CBS Evening News averaged 3.8 million total viewers, posting its second lowest-rated week since Tony Dokoupil took helm – and its third consecutive week below 4 million viewers. In the 25–54 demo, the program averaged 471,000 viewers, delivering its eighth consecutive week below 600,000 viewers. CBS Mornings, meanwhile, delivered its lowest-rated week in program history in total viewers and 25-54 demo. It saw viewership decline by 13% percent to deliver 1,591,000 viewers as FOX & Friends grew 4% with 1,460,000 viewers, narrowing the gap to just 131,000 viewers.