September 11 Radio History

➦In 1909....Radio announcer Kenneth Banghart (right) born in Paramus, NJ (Died at age 70 - May 25, 1980 in Delray Beach, FL).

Banghart was working as a tour conductor and manager of Thomas Cook and Son Travel Agency in Washington, D.C., when he became a radio announcer at WRC, then went on to be a radio and television announcer, and a news commentator and sportscaster. Served briefly during WWII, as a war correspondent, then in 1944, he moved to New York where he became an NBC staff announcer.

He was the announcer Archie Andrews,  Katie's Daughter (1947-1948); syndicated program, Proudly We Hail (1947-1957); The Private Files Of Rex Saunders on NBC (1951); Encore on NBC (1952-1953); Best Of All on NBC (1954-1955).

Host of The Ken Banghart Show on NBC-Radio (1947); News Game on NBC-Radio (1954). Commentator on The Gillette Summer Sports Reel for NBC-TV (1953). In 1962, Banghart left NBC to work at CBS until he retired to Florida.

➦In 2000...John R. Gambling does the last “Rambling With Gambling” show on WOR 710 AM NYC.  Gambling joined his father as co-host of Rambling with Gambling in 1985, and took over as sole host in 1991 after his father's retirement. When WOR ended Rambling with Gambling in 2000 after 75 years on the air, John R. Gambling moved up the dial to 77WABC, taking over the post-morning-drive 10 a.m. - noon slot. Gambling was fired by WABC on February 29, 2008 in a cost-cutting move

➦In 2001...Terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City silenced four FM and nine TV stations.

Since three of the major television broadcast network owned-and-operated stations had their transmission towers atop the North Tower (One World Trade Center), coverage was limited after the collapse of the tower. The FM transmitter of National Public Radio station WNYC was also destroyed in the collapse of the North Tower and its offices evacuated. For an interim period, it continued broadcasting on its AM frequency and used NPR's New York offices to produce its programming.

The satellite feed of one television station, WPIX, froze on the last image received from the WTC mast; the image (a remote-camera shot of the burning towers), viewable across North America (as WPIX is available on cable TV in many areas), remained on the screen for much of the day until WPIX was able to set up alternate transmission facilities. It shows the WTC at the moment power cut off to the WPIX transmitter, prior to the towers' collapse.

During the September 11, 2001 attacks, WCBS-TV channel 2 and WXTV-TV channel 41 stayed on the air. Unlike most other major New York television stations, WCBS-TV maintained a full-powered backup transmitter at the Empire State Building after moving its main transmitter to the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The station was also simulcasted nationally on Viacom (which at the time owned CBS) cable network VH1 that day. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the station lent transmission time to the other stations who had lost their transmitters, until they found suitable backup equipment and locations.

Television coverage of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and their aftermath was the longest uninterrupted news event in the history of U.S. television.  The major U.S. broadcast and cable networks were on the air for days with uninterrupted coverage from the moment news first came that the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

Millions of shocked television viewers watching live pictures of the World Trade Center saw the second plane hit and both buildings come down. In order to keep up with the constant flood of information, at 10:49 a.m. EDT, Fox News Channel began running continuous updates in the form of a news ticker that crawled along the bottom of the screen. This was so well received by viewers that it became a permanent feature on the channel and was adopted by many other news channels.

Like television, almost all radio stations across the United States put a halt on all programs and commercials to simulcast affiliated news coverage of the attacks from ABC News Radio and CBS Radio News, or taking an audio simulcast of a television news operation, be it local or national, while national morning shows hosted by personalities such as Rick Dees or Howard Stern focused on providing both information about the attacks and call-in forums for listeners to express sympathies.

Local New York all-news radio operations WINS and WCBS, along with Washington's WTOP carried locally based coverage that was simulcast on those sister FM stations without operations destroyed at the World Trade Center as AM operations with transmitters on the outskirts of metropolitan areas were unaffected outside of security concerns for studio and transmitter facilities.

The Emergency Alert System was never activated in the terrorist attacks, as the extensive media coverage made it unnecessary.

XM Radio, a subscription-based satellite radio service headquartered in Washington, D.C., was scheduled to launch on September 12, 2001. As a direct result of the attacks, the launch was delayed until September 25 when the service debuted on a limited basis in San Diego and Dallas.

➦In 2005…Sportscaster Christopher Eugene Schenkel died at age 82 (Born - August 21, 1923).  Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio.

He began his broadcasting career at radio station WBAA while studying for a premedical degree at Purdue University. He served in the military during World War II and the Korean War.  He worked in radio for a time at WLBC in Muncie, Indiana and then moved to television, in Providence, RI, and in 1947 began announcing Harvard football games. For six years he did local radio and called the Thoroughbred horse races at Narragansett Park.

In 1952, Schenkel was hired by the DuMont Television Network, for which he broadcast New York Giants football and hosted DuMont's Boxing From Eastern Parkway (1953-1954) and Boxing From St. Nicholas Arena (1954–56), replacing Dennis James as the network's primary boxing announcer. Schenkel was at the microphone for DuMont's last broadcast and its only color telecast, a high school football championship game held on Thanksgiving in 1957.

In 1956, he moved to CBS Sports, where he continued to call Giants games, along with boxing, Triple Crown horse racing and The Masters golf tournament, among other events. Along with Chuck Thompson, Schenkel called the 1958 NFL Championship Game for NBC. He was the voiceover talent for the first NFL Films production ever made, the 1962 NFL Championship Game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants.

ABC Sports hired Schenkel in 1965, and there he broadcast college football, Major League Baseball, NBA basketball, golf and tennis tournaments, boxing, auto racing, and the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. He became widely known for covering professional bowling, mainly for the Professional Bowlers Association (with the program becoming known as the Professional Bowlers Tour). He covered bowling from the early 1960s until 1997, as it became one of ABC's signature sports for Saturday afternoons.

Chris Schenkel also did play-by-play (with Bud Wilkinson providing color commentary) for the legendary 1969 Texas vs. Arkansas football game, known as the "Game of the Century", culminating the first 100 years of College Football in 1969. The game, also known as the "Big Shootout", garnered a share of 52.1, meaning that more than one half of the televisions in the United States were tuned in. Years later, Schenkel said "it was the most exciting, most important college football game I ever televised".

Schenkel went on to broadcast many more huge games, including the celebrated Nebraska-Oklahoma match on Thanksgiving Day 1971, as well as the Sugar Bowl national championship showdown between Notre Dame and Alabama on New Year's Eve 1973 (with Wilkinson and Howard Cosell, in a rare college football appearance). Schenkel was replaced by Keith Jackson as ABC's lead play-by-play man for college football telecasts in 1974, but continued to call college football games for several more years.

In 1976, Schenkel was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in the "Meritorious Service" category and in 1988 was inducted into the American Bowling Congress (now United States Bowling Congress) Hall of Fame, he was inducted in 1981 in the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame.

He was named National Sportscaster of the Year four times, and in 1992 received a lifetime achievement Emmy Award. Also in 1992, the Pro Football Hall of Fame presented Schenkel with its Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award. In 1999, he received the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award.

In a 2009 vote by its members, the American Sportscasters Association ranked Schenkel 25th on its list of the Top 50 Sportscasters of All-Time.

➦In 2009...Producer, screenwriter Larry Gelbart died from cancer at age 81.   Drafted shortly after World War Two, Gelbart worked for the Armed Forces Radio Service in Los Angeles.

Larry Gelbart

Gelbart began as a writer at the age of sixteen for Danny Thomas's radio show after his father, who was Thomas's barber, showed Thomas some jokes Gelbart had written. During the 1940s Gelbart also wrote for Jack Paar and Bob Hope. In the 1950s, his most important work in television involved writing for Red Buttons, for Sid Caesar on Caesar's Hour, and in Celeste Holm's Honestly, Celeste!, as well as with writers Mel Tolkin, Michael Stewart, Selma Diamond, Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Woody Allen on two Caesar specials.

In 1972, Gelbart was one of the main forces behind the creation of the television series M*A*S*H, writing the pilot (for which he received a "Developed for Television by __" credit); then producing, often writing and occasionally directing the series for its first four seasons, from 1972 to 1976. M*A*S*H earned Gelbart a Peabody Award and an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series and went on to considerable commercial and critical success.

Kristy McNichol is 60

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Earl Holliman is 94. 
• Comedian Tom Dreesen is 83. 
• Movie director Brian De Palma is 82. 
• Actor Lola Falana is 80. 
• Drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead is 79. 
• Guitarist Leo Kottke is 77. 
• Actor Phillip Alford (“To Kill a Mockingbird”) is 74. 
• Actor Amy Madigan is 72. 
• Guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx is 69. 
• Sports reporter Lesley Visser is 69. 
• Drummer Jon Moss of Culture Club is 65. 
• Actor-director Roxann Dawson (“Star Trek: Voyager”) is 64. 
• Actor Scott Patterson (“Gilmore Girls”) is 64. 
• Keyboardist Mick Talbot (The Style Council, Dexys Midnight Runners) is 64. 
• Actor John Hawkes (“Deadwood”) is 63. 
• Actor Anne Ramsay (“Mad About You,” ″A League of Their Own”) is 62. 
• Actor Virginia Madsen (“Sideways,” ″American Dreams”) is 61. 

• 

  Ariana Richards is 43

  Actor Kristy McNichol is 60. 
• Musician Moby is 57. 
• Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 55. 
• Actor Taraji P. Henson is 52. 
• Actor Laura Wright (“Guiding Light”) is 52. 
• Guitarist Jeremy Popoff of Lit is 51. 
• Singer Brad Fischetti of LFO is 47. 
• Rapper Mr. Black is 45. 
• Guitarist Jon Buckland of Coldplay is 45. 
• Rapper Ludacris is 45. 
• Actor Ariana Richards (“Jurassic Park” films) is 43. 
• Singer Charles Kelley of Lady A is 41. 
• Actor Elizabeth Henstridge (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) is 35. 
• Actor Tyler Hoechlin (TV’s “Teen Wolf”) is 35. 
• Actor Mackenzie Aladjem (“Nurse Jackie”) is 21.

✞DEATH ANNIVERSARIES

• Actor Lorne Greene died on this day in 1987. He was 72.
• Nikita Khrushchev, head of state of the Soviet Union, died on this day in 1971. He was 77.
• Actor John Ritter died suddenly of a ruptured aorta on this day in 2003. He was 54.
• Actress Jessica Tandy died on this day in 1994. She was 85.
• Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas died on this day in 2002. He was 69.

Report: TV Networks Now Farm Teams for Streaming Shows

Broadcast networks are launching fewer new shows than usual this fall, the latest sign of their diminished popularity and ambitions amid ever-growing competition from streaming services, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The parent companies of ABC, NBC and CBS now see the networks as a first stop for their content before it moves to their sister streaming services. They argue that is the role they should be judged for now.

“That is an infinite loop we believe in,” said Mark Lazarus, chairman of Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, which operates NBC and the Peacock platform. “We are able to move our audiences through our services.”

Shannon Bream Takes Charge On Fox News Sunday

Shannon Bream this weekend kicks off a new era on “Fox News Sunday,” the jewel of the news side at Fox News Channel, which often gets more attention for its opinion programming, reports Variety . She will be the programs’ first permanent female host and will be the first permanent replacement for Chris Wallace, who burnished his reputation for prosecutorial questioning of newsmakers and politicians over a tenure that lasted just under two decades. 

Wallace raised eyebrows in late 2021, when he announced on air he was leaving the show. He later disclosed he had jumped to CNN, where he is slated to host a new program for both HBO Max and CNN’s Sunday schedule.

News Of Queen's Death Captivated The World

The world was seemingly put on notice early Thursday when word broke that her family was rushing to be by her side as Buckingham Palace put out a rare statement saying doctors were “concerned” about Elizabeth’s health, according to Poynter.

Final NBC Episode of 'Days Of Our Lives' Cut Short By King Charles

East Coast fans of “Days of Our Lives” were not happy that the final few moments of the last episode to air on NBC was interrupted on Friday by a live speech from King Charles following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, reports TheWrap.

“I understand that the queen died and it’s a big deal…in Europe. But we are not a monarchy. We actually revolted against it. So we don’t need 24/7 coverage when Days of Our Lives is airing their last episode ever on NBC,” tweeted one irate U.S. fan — in all caps.

Someone else tweeted, “This final episode of Days of Our Lives to ever air on NBC is disappointing. We aren’t British. Give it a rest!”

Chris Bedell wrote, “So disrespectful of NBC to interrupt Days of our Lives on its last day on regular tv for non breaking news! Completely disrespectful! Cable news exists for a reason!”

Another fan observed that these kind of news interruptions won’t happen on Peacock: “You know what I’m not going to miss Days of Our Lives on NBC Interruption after Interruption after Interruption at least on peacock we get to see the whole hour.”

Thursday’s episode was also bumped for live coverage of the queen’s death. NBC reran it at 3 a.m. Friday.

Survey Confirms Younger Demos Prefer Online Reading

More than half of American and British news consumers now prefer reading newspapers online than in print, reports The Pres-Gazette.

But the picture is the other way round for magazines, where the preference is still strongly for the print experience, according to new Yougov data polling 111,000 people in the UK and 55,000 in the US.

PA Radio: WHLM Flips To Pop Radio

WHLM’s new “Pop Radio” music format debuted this week.   Gone are classic rock oldies, “The Morning Buzz” and Penn State football, according to The Bloomsburg, PA Press-Enterprise.

New ownership of the station by Seven Mountains Media was finalized Aug. 31. It had been announced in March that Seven Mountains would purchase the station from Joe and Nancy Reilly for $450,000.

The new format aired on local airwaves Tuesday morning after a holiday weekend of *NSYNC’s 2001 release, “Pop,” playing on a loop across most of WHLM’s frequencies.

WI Radio: Good Karma's 'Tundra Trio' Net To Air NFL Packers

Gary Ellerson is considered by many to be Wisconsin football royalty. Ellerson was a running back for both the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers but is perhaps best known to some as a local sports radio voice.

Ellerson will be part of Good Karma Brands football coverage on the new Tundra Trio Radio Network (620 WTMJ, 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee and 100.5 ESPN Madison).

He’ll co-host Green Bay Gameday with Greg Matzek, which will air for three hours prior to the kickoff of every Packers Game during the regular season and post season.

Reno Radio: Tim Rayne Gets Wake-Up Duty At KRAT

Tim “Rayne” Rainey is now hosting mornings at top-rated KRAT ALT 92.1 in Reno, Nevada.

Rainey was previously PD/Morning Show host at KUDL 106.5 The End in Sacramento since 2015. Before that, he programmed WDZH 98.7 AMP Radio in Detroit and WNOU RadioNOW 100.9 in Indianapolis. Rainey was previously heard on KDOT, KNEV and KWNZ in Reno while still in high school. Rainey later went on to graduate from UNLV in Las Vegas.

Tim Rayne

Tim commended, “Growing up in Reno, it’s great to be back on the air in the city that started it all for me. ALT 92.1 has quickly become the alternative music voice of the Truckee Meadows and I’m excited to be a part of it. Big thanks to Jerry Evans, Henry Evans and John Lund for having me be a part of this great brand and continuing broadcasting excellence in Northern Nevada.”

Tim Rainey said, “ALT 92.1 is terrific. This week alone I’ve had The Killers, Jack White, and Maneskin on the show welcoming me to Reno, and I’ve asked the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tame Impala to join me next week.”

Tim is joining the staff at ALT 92.1 while the station is enjoying its highest audience share in history. The Spring Nielsen ratings show KRAT-FM is #1 Men 18-34 and 25-54, and #2 among Adults 18-49 and 25-54.

KRAT is owned by Evans Broadcast Company, Reno’s only locally owned and operated broadcast company. General Manager, Henry Evans, commented, “Tim is a great addition to the ALT 92.1 team. He’s a native Nevadan, has major market experience, and a passion for the format. We’re anticipating big things for his morning show, and we are thrilled to have him on board.”

R Kelly Ordered To Surrender Nearly $28K From Inmate Account

R Kelly was ordered to surrender nearly $28,000 in his prison inmate account to be applied toward $140,000 in unpaid criminal fines as well as possible restitution to his sexual-abuse victims, reports Bloomberg.

US District Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday rejected Kelly’s argument that the money had been “impermissibly confiscated” from him by federal prosecutors and prison officials. She imposed the fines on Kelly in June when she sentenced the R&B singer to 30 years in prison for racketeering and sexual exploitation of minors.

Kelly, who is in federal custody in Chicago, had demanded the return of the money, which can be used to buy snacks and toiletries from the prison commissary. But Donnelly said his arguments had “no merit.”

Seizure of funds in his prison account “is an appropriate measure under the circumstances of this case, where the defendant owes unpaid fines and is also subject to mandatory restitution that has not yet been quantified,” the judge said. She gave prison officials ten days to issue a check to the court for more than $27,828.

September 10 Radio History

 

➦In 1920...KNX Los Angeles began broadcasting as 6ADZ. Although KNX received its first formal broadcasting station license on December 8, 1921, the station has traditionally dated its founding to September 10, 1920, starting with broadcasts conducted by Fred Christian over his amateur station, 6ADZ. Christian was a former shipboard radio operator, who later explained that he began the broadcasts in order to provide something to listen to by customers who had constructed receivers from parts purchased at the store. Christian began making broadcasts with a five-watt vacuum-tube transmitter, operating on the standard amateur wavelength of 200 meters (1500 kHz).

KNX - 1925

Initially there were no specific standards in the United States for radio stations making transmissions intended for the general public, and numerous stations under various classifications made entertainment broadcasts. However, effective December 1, 1921, the Department of Commerce, regulators of radio at this time, adopted a regulation that formally created a broadcasting station category, and stations were now required to hold a Limited Commercial license authorizing operation on wavelengths of 360 meters for "entertainment" broadcasts or 485 meters for "market and weather reports" (833 and 619 kHz). By the end of 1922 over 500 stations would be authorized nationwide.

On December 8, 1921, the Electric Lighting Supply Company was issued a broadcasting station license with the randomly assigned call letters KGC, authorizing operation on the 360 meter entertainment wavelength. The station's location was listed as Fred Christian's Harold Way home. The shared 360 meter wavelength required times-haring agreements between an increasing number of stations needing exclusive time periods. On May 4th the Los Angeles Times reported that a total of seven local stations were slated to make broadcasts that day, comprising a schedule that ran from noon to 9:00 p.m., with KGC assigned 2:00-2:30 and 7:30-8:00 p.m.

KNX Request Line Operator

On May 4, 1922, the Electric Lighting Supply Company was issued a broadcasting license for a station with the randomly assigned call letters of KNX, also on 360 meters.  This was technically considered to be a second station in addition to KGC, however, after KGC was formally deleted on June 20, 1922, the Department of Commerce concluded that KGC and KNX were functionally the same station, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) records list December 8, 1921 as KNX's "date first licensed".

The new authorization coincided with preparations for a move to the California Theater, with Fred Christian continuing as station manager. On June 12, 1922 the Los Angeles Times reported that "After more than two months of preparation, the new broadcast station at the California Theater had its opening program Saturday evening at 9:15, sending out a wavelength of 510 meters [588 kHz].

Bob Crane - 1960

KNX's power was raised to 100 watts in early August 1922. In the fall of 1924, Guy Earl, Jr., owner of the Los Angeles Evening Express, arranged for the newspaper's purchase of KNX. The Express made significant upgrades, including increasing the power to 500 watts, and began broadcasting from the Paul G. Hoffman Studebaker building in Hollywood. KNX was one of the last stations to have stayed on the original 360 meter wavelength, and the newspaper engineered a move to 890 kHz. It remained on this frequency until November 11, 1928, when the station was reassigned to 1050 kHz, under the provisions of a major reallocation resulting from the Federal Radio Commission's (FRC) General Order 40.

In early 1928 KNX changed owners and was then operated by the Western Broadcast Company. In 1929 the station's transmitter power was upgraded from 500 to 5,000 watts, followed by an increase to 10,000 watts in 1932. In 1933, the station moved its studios to another part of Hollywood, after being granted permission by the FRC on June 7, 1932, to raise its output to 25,000 watts. The following year, KNX's transmitting power was raised to the nationwide maximum of 50,000 watts, which the station continues presently.

CBS purchased KNX in 1936 and began operating it as its West Coast flagship, which ended CBS's eight-year affiliation with KHJ. In 1938, the CBS Columbia Square studios were dedicated for KNX as well as West Coast operations for the entire CBS radio network. That October, the station carried Orson Welles' celebrated version of The War of the Worlds. In March 1941 the station was shifted to 1070 AM as part of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement assignments, where it has been ever since.

In 2009, KNX adopted the slogan "All news, all the time." It was previously used for 40 years by KFWB, KNX's historic rival in the news radio wars before both became sister stations through the 1995 merger of Westinghouse Electric (KFWB's owner) and CBS. KFWB's format change to news-talk in September 2009 (and currently as a Regional Mexican station) now leaves KNX the only all-news outlet in the Los Angeles area, which is now emphasized in its alternate slogan, "Southern California's only 24-hour local news & traffic station".

On February 2, 2017, CBS agreed to merge CBS Radio with Entercom (now Audacy). The merger was approved on November 9, 2017 and consummated 8 days later.

➦In 1933…Early radio entertainer Jimmy Durante first appeared Eddie Cantor's "Chase and Sanborn Hour" with Eddie Cantor.

➦In 1935…The radio program "Popeye, the Sailor," debuted on NBC Red Network as a 15 minute, three-times-a-week feature. But instead of spinach giving him strength (as in the comics and cartoons), it was the sponsor’s breakfast cereal Wheatena. “Wheatena’s me diet / I ax ya to try it / I’m Popeye the Sailor Man”.

➦In 1945...KLS 1310 AM changed its call letters to KWBR and changed its format to focus on an African-American audience. In 1959, it was bought by the owners of Memphis radio station WDIA, and the call letters were changed to KDIA. During the 1960s through the 1980s, the station was the premier soul and funk station in the San Francisco Bay Area. The station helped launch the careers of such musicians as Sly and the Family Stone. Its tagline at that time was "KDIA, Lucky 13."

For twenty-five years, the call letters KDIA were synonymous with soul music in the Bay Area, according to the Bay Area Radio Museum.  Descended from the pioneering Oakland station KLS — which itself was born from an early experimental station, 6XAM, in 1921 and became KWBR in 1945 — the 1,000-watt station had begun emphasizing programs that targeted the local African-American audience around the end of World War II.

By the late 1950s, while still known as KWBR, the station was competing with KSAN 1450 AM in San Francisco for black listeners with rhythm-and-blues music and popular disc jockeys, including Big Don Barksdale and Bouncin' Bill Doubleday. In July 1959, KWBR was sold for $550,000 to the Sonderling Stations group, operator of the legendary Memphis station, WDIA. On September 4, 1959, KWBR became KDIA, reflecting its new parentage. (Sonderling also owned KFOX in Los Angeles and WOPA in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park.)

Under Sonderling ownership and the management of Walter Conroy, KDIA directed its full programming effort toward the emerging black audience, keeping Don Barksdale and Bill Doubleday on its staff and adding high-caliber talent over the years that included Bay Area Radio Hall of Famer George Oxford (previously a competitor at KSAN), John Hardy, Belva Davis (later known for her television work at KRON, KPIX and KQED), Rosko (nom de radieux of William Roscoe Mercer), Roland Porter, Bob White, Bill Hall, Johnny Morris and Bob Jones. The station leveraged its dial position — 1310 AM — into its identity as "KDIA Lucky 13."

In 1965, KDIA's power was raised to 5,000 watts from a new transmitter facility near the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza which also housed the station's new studios and offices. The five-fold increase in power made KDIA a veritable powerhouse and helped to hasten the demise of the old KSAN, which had become KSOL in 1964. (Going full circle, it was another KSOL — this time on 107.7 FM — that would eventually end KDIA's supremacy in the late 1970s.)

The station thrived through the 1970s, but was sold by Sonderling to Viacom International in 1980. KDIA continued with an Urban Contemporary music format under Viacom until 1983, when the station was sold again (along with WDIA) to Ragan Henry. In 1984, KDIA changed hands once more, becoming the property of Adam Clayton Powell III, who flipped the station to All News KFYI.

After the failure of KFYI's news format, the station went off the air on April 9, 1985, only to be revived under new ownership as KDIA in October of that year. In subsequent years, the station was owned by future San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris, and by James Gabbert, who had also owned KIOI and KOFY. In 1997, Gabbert entered into an agreement to air the syndicated "Radio Disney" programming format on KDIA in advance of selling the station to ABC, Inc.  The station's call letters were changed to KMKY on January 20, 1998, and ABC purchased the station for $6.25-million in May 1998.

The KDIA call letters are currently assigned to the religious-formatted station known as "The Light For San Francisco," licensed in the city of Vallejo and operating at 1640 kHz.

➦In 1948…WW2 Nazi radio broadcaster Mildred "Axis Sally" Gillars was indicted for treason. Originally charged with ten counts of treason, the U-S citizen was convicted on March 10, 1949 on just one count of treason.  She was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison, and a $10,000 fine. She served 12-years.

➦In 1962...The BBC banned "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett finding it in poor taste. The novelty tune eventually went on to be a U-K No.3 pop hit after the ban was lifted in 1973.

➦In 1984...The Federal Communications Commission changed a ownership rule allowing broadcasters to own 12 AM and 12 FM radio stations. The previous limit had been 7 of each.

➦In 2001...Sean Hannity went into radio syndication. Hannity is a conservative political talk show that features Hannity's opinions and ideology related to current issues and politicians. The Sean Hannity Show began national syndication on over 500 stations nationwide. The program was made available via Armed Forces Radio Network in 2006.

Danny Hutton is 80

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Greg Mullavey (“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”) is 89. 
• Jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers is 82. 
• Actor Tom Ligon (“Oz,” ″Another World”) is 82. 
• Singer Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night is 80. 
• Singer Jose Feliciano is 77. 
• Actor Judy Geeson (“Mad About You”) is 74. 
• Guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith is 72. 
• Actor Amy Irving is 69. 
• Actor Clark Johnson (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) is 68. 
• Actor Kate Burton (“Scandal”) is 65. 
• Director Chris Columbus is 64. 
• Singer Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama is 64. 

• 

  Misty Copeland is 40

  Actor Colin Firth is 62. 
• Singer-guitarist David Lowery of Cracker is 62. 
• Actor Sean O’Bryan (“The Princess Diaries” films) is 59. 
• Drummer Robin Goodridge of Bush is 57. 
• Guitarist Stevie D. of Buckcherry is 56. 
• Singer-guitarist Miles Zuniga of Fastball is 56. 
• Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 54. 
• Director Guy Ritchie is 54. 
• Actor Johnathon Schaech (“To Appomattox,” ″That Thing You Do!”) is 53. 
• Contemporary Christian singer Sara Groves is 50. 
• Actor Ryan Phillippe is 48. 
• Actor Jacob Young (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” ″All My Children”) is 43. 
• Bassist Mikey Way of My Chemical Romance is 42. 
• Ballerina Misty Copeland is 40. 
• Guitarist Matthew Followill of Kings of Leon is 38. 
• Singer Ashley Monroe of Pistol Annies is 36. 
• Actor Hannah Hodson (“Hawthorne”) is 21.

Cincy-Pittsburgh Radio: iHM Ups D J Hodge To Metro President

iHeartMedia announced today that D.J. Hodge has been named Metro President for Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, effective immediately.

Hodge previously served as Market President for Cincinnati, and now as the newly appointed Metro President, he will add oversight to the Pittsburgh market and be responsible for all operations for the Pittsburgh market in addition to the Cincinnati market. He will continue to develop and manage key partnerships with current and potential clients across both market’s portfolio of stations. Hodge will report to Tom McConnell, Division President for iHeartMedia Multi-platform Group.

D J Hodge

“D.J. is very strategic and balances creative thinking with data-driven solutions extremely well,” said McConnell. “Not only does he have a great understanding of both content creation and revenue generation, but he is one of the top performing leaders in the division and has earned the opportunity to take on an expanded role.”

D.J. Hodge most recently served as Market President for iHeartMedia Cincinnati. In addition, he also previously served as the Senior Vice President of Sales for iHeartMedia and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and Ohio University.

“It is an absolute honor to work with Market President Tim MCaleer and the amazing team at iHeartMedia Pittsburgh,” said Hodge. “I look forward to supporting them in their continued growth and success with our brands and massive audiences in that region. I appreciate this opportunity and thank Tom McConnell and the entire leadership team at iHeartMedia for putting their faith in me to continue the impressive growth trends for iHeartMedia in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.”

Cleveland Radio: iHM Promotes Kris Foley To Metro President

i

HeartMedia announced today that Kris Foley has been named Metro President, effective immediately. 

Foley previously served as Market President for Columbus, Ohio, and now as the newly appointed Metro President, Foley will add oversight to the Cleveland market and be responsible for all operations for both the Cleveland and Columbus markets. She will continue to develop and manage key partnerships with current and potential clients across their portfolio of stations. Foley will report to Tom McConnell, Division President for iHeartMedia Multi-Platform Group.

Kris Foley

“Kris is an exceptional leader and has over delivered on every opportunity presented to her,” said McConnell. “She has built an incredible culture of trust, ideation and accountability. I’m excited to have her playing an even larger role for the Division.”

Foley has served in several leadership roles at iHeartMedia, including VP of Business Development of the Multi-Markets Partnership team and Senior VP of Sales for iHeartMedia Cleveland. Foley is a graduate of Ohio University.

“We have iconic brands and talent in Cleveland, and I’ve seen first-hand how they create powerful results for partners,” said Foley. “I’m thrilled to be back working with Market President Keith Hotchkiss and this team. Columbus and Cleveland are both cities on the rise with numerous opportunities to collaborate as we further engage audiences and generate next-level ROI for marketers.”

Carolinas Radio: Dave Carwile Named Metro President For iHM

iHeartMedia announced today that Dave Carwile has been named Metro President for the Carolina markets, effective immediately. 

Carwile previously served as Market President for Charlotte, NC. As Metro President for the Carolinas, Carwile will be adding oversight for four additional Carolina markets, including Raleigh, NC; Ashville NC; Greensboro, NC; and Greenville, SC. He will report to Tom McConnell, Division President for iHeartMedia Multi-Platform Group.

Dave Carwile

“Dave understands how to build and cultivate high-performing teams,” McConnell said. “He has proven his ability to drive ratings and revenue across multiple markets, making him the perfect choice to lead the Carolina markets.”

Carwile has been a stalwart for iHeartMedia in the Carolina region for over two decades, with his expertise touching various sides of the business. He previously served as Region President for these markets in 2016 and returns after stints as President of the Virginia-Carolina Region and his current position as President of the Charlotte Metro market. Carwile first joined the company as a Sales Manager for Clear Channel in 1999 in the Richmond, Va. area and has gone on to hold various titles in the region. He is a graduate of Liberty University with a BS Degree in Advertising.

“I’m thrilled to be once again led the Carolina Region using iHeartMedia’s one-of-a-kind assets and resources to benefit our listeners and partners,” said Carwile. “There’s already an unparalleled synergy among these five cities. I look forward to working with our new regional team to amplify this special connection and drive even more success across these five markets.”

CFO Says Spotify On The Cusp Of Profitability

After investing billions in spoken-word entertainment and related businesses, Spotify is poised to turn a profit on podcasting “over the next 12 to 24 months,” according to CFO Paul Vogel.

Digital Music News reports Vogel shed light upon podcasts’ path to profitability during an interview conducted during the first day of Evercore’s ongoing tech conference. For reference, Spotify has poured a substantial sum into podcasting in recent years, including on the programming side (The Joe Rogan Experience, Meghan Markle’s Archetypes, and Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, to name just some) and to acquire companies like Podsights, Chartable, Whooshkaa, Megaphone, The Ringer, Parcast, and Gimlet Media.

But profitability has thus far eluded the division (and Spotify as a whole), notwithstanding indications that the platform’s cumulative podcasting efforts are making a material impact in the space.

And despite the stiff competition within the podcast arena – it was only last month that YouTube launched a dedicated landing page for podcasts, whereas SiriusXM over the summer dropped a reported $150 million to buy Conan O’Brien’s podcast company – Paul Vogel says that profitability is on the horizon for the segment, as initially highlighted.

“The second thing is we do believe that the business model for podcasting is very strong over the long term,” Vogel indicated. “I said at the Investor Day that 2022 will be the peak in terms of the impact of podcasts, the negative impact that podcasting has had on gross margins. … We’ve had this drag from podcasting, which will flip to profitable over the next 12 to 24 months, which will then help drive gross margins higher.”

ELsewhere during the half-hour discussion, Vogel spoke of Spotify’s controversial two-sided marketplace programs, the on-platform sale of concert tickets, the possibility of implementing price increases, music’s gross margin, and more.

On the Possibility of Raising Spotify’s Monthly Cost

“We do think over time, we will have opportunities for pricing. We’ve done it a little bit in the past. We haven’t done it more recently. We did it a little over a year ago. But obviously, the economic situation right now is also one where you’re going to be mindful of it, and it’s not something that necessarily we think we need to do right now. But we obviously think we have pricing over time.”

Bill Stalls To Force Big Tech To Pay Publishers For Online News

Proposed legislation that would force Big Tech to pay publishers for aggregating news content online stalled in the Judiciary Committee Thursday after an amendment introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz to prohibit censorship “collusion” narrowly passed, sharply dividing the bipartisan sponsors of the bill, reports The Chicago Tribune.

“I don’t think we can support this bill anymore,” said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a co-sponsor of the bill. “I think the agreement that we had has been blown up.”

The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which would temporarily exempt newspapers, broadcasters and other publishers from antitrust laws to collectively negotiate an annual fee from Google and Meta/Facebook, will be held over for a future committee hearing to determine if it moves to the Senate floor for a vote.

Google and Meta/Facebook, which dominate the nearly $250 billion U.S. digital advertising market, are the only two platforms targeted by the proposed legislation, which seeks to level the online playing field and boost struggling local news media.

A Meta spokesperson declined to comment, while a Google spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The legislation would cover thousands of local and regional newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune and other Tribune Publishing newspapers, which were acquired by hedge fund Alden Global Capital for $633 million in May 2021. It excludes the largest national publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, which have more successfully navigated the digital transition through increased subscription revenue.

The bill also covers local TV and radio broadcasters — including network owned and operated stations — that publish original digital news content and meet other eligibility requirements.

The Judiciary Committee approved several amendments during Thursday’s markup session, including reducing the sunset clause in the bill from 8 years to 6 years and requiring the loser pay attorneys fees in any litigation, before the Cruz amendment brought the session to a halt with concerns that Big Tech and media might collude on “blanket censorship.”

The Cruz amendment said the antitrust exemption “shall not apply” during negotiations if any participant “engages in any discussion of content moderation” policies.

“What this amendment would do is say when the cartels sit down and negotiate, they’d say we’re not going to discuss censorship, we’re going to discuss price,” said Cruz, R-Texas.

Klobuchar said the Cruz amendment would give Google and Meta/Facebook a “get out of jail free card” by providing an opportunity for gamesmanship during the negotiations.

“Since news outlets depend on the antitrust exemption, while the covered platforms do not, the platforms could then raise content moderation at the first opportunity in an attempt to avoid the joint negotiations,” Klobuchar said.

A study released in June by Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism found newspapers are folding at an average of more than two per week, and that the country has lost more than a fourth of its newspapers — about 2,500 overall — and 60% of its working journalists since 2005. That has created so-called news deserts, where 1 out of 5 people in the U.S. have limited access to local news.

Podcasting Movement Apologizes To Ben Shapiro

Ben Shapiro greeting people at The Podcast Movement event

The media trade association that vilified Ben Shapiro last month for simply appearing at a recent trade show apologized Thursday, saying its treatment of The Daily Wire star “wasn’t right.”

Podcast Movement, the industry’s biggest trade group and host of annual  conferences that bring together top media companies, said in a statement it was wrong to claim Shapiro’s presence at its recent Dallas show caused “harm.” The mea culpa came after The Daily Wire and media giant Cumulus both vowed to end their support for the organization.

“As we stated, we’re continuing to evaluate our policies guiding social media & events with inclusivity, diversity & respect for all,” Podcast Movement said in its statement. “We have to start by sincerely apologizing to Mr. Shapiro for our reaction when he visited a booth we sold his company. That wasn’t right.

WARNING: Some viewers may find the following video of @benshapiro at @PodcastMovement disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised. pic.twitter.com/hBL7kT8y7G

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 25, 2022

Shapiro, the Harvard Law-educated radio host, podcaster, and best-selling author who engages regularly in civil debates with conservatives and liberals alike, was seen chatting amiably with attendees at the event. The Daily Wire had paid to sponsor a booth at the trade show, and Shapiro accompanied several company employees to it. But one person in attendance was apparently triggered by his mere presence and complained to Podcast Movement on Twitter.

That complaint prompted Podcast Movement to send out a series of tweets that painted Shapiro in a negative light, apparently for no reason other than his conservative beliefs. The organization said Shapiro’s presence caused “harm” to some in attendance and promised to be “more careful” when considering sponsors in the future.

U-K Broadcasters Put Commercials On Pause

The UK’s broadcasters, publishers and platforms have scrambled to pause advertising in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s death at the age of 96.

The Drum reports ITV, the country's biggest commercial broadcaster, will run with no commercial breaks on its main TV channel until at least the end of Friday as it instead dedicates its entire schedule to rolling news coverage and special programming commemorating the Queen’s life and 70-year reign.

Channel 4 has confirmed that “all advertising and sponsorship has been temporarily suspended on Channel 4 and All 4” while Bauer Media, one of the UK’s biggest commercial radio networks, said it will suspend regular programming and introduce an obituary schedule. For a time, all commercial messaging including airtime, sponsorships and promotions will be suspended.

Social platforms are also putting in place a moratorium on advertising, with Twitter understood to be turning off ads in the UK for 48 hours. The Drum has learned that Snapchat has also now informed media buyers of a pause to all advertisements across its news and public service broadcaster content on Discover in the UK for 24 hours.

The Daily Mail is among publishers pausing advertising on its website, with its news coverage overwhelmingly dominated by the reaction to the monarch’s passing.

Clear Channel, one of the biggest out-of-home networks in the UK, has suspended all ads on its digital displays. “As a sign of respect for the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, all Clear Channel UK digital displays will be blacked out until 6am on Saturday,“ it said.

Fellow OOH network JCDecaux said it will not post any new advertising and will pause all commercial advertising on its digital screens for 24 hours. All of its digital screens will show a tribute to the Queen - some will display the official portrait provided by Buckingham Palace (pictured above), while others will show tributes from landlord partners. It will also pause commercial digital advertising on the day of the state funeral and will be blanking all posters along the funeral route.

Biden Reportedly Not Happy With CNN

President Joe Biden and the White House are reportedly upset with CNN and the new direction they seem to be taking under the leadership of Chris Licht, RadarOnline.com has learned.

In a shocking development to come in the months following Licht taking over as Chairman and CEO of the struggling network, CNN’s coverage has substantially shifted closer to the political middle compared to the left-leaning position the network had under previous boss, Jeff Zucker.

But the Biden Administration is reportedly “irked” by CNN’s recent coverage of the president, as well as Licht’s recent decisions to axe pro-Biden hosts and correspondents from the network completely.

The White House was “irked” most recently following CNN’s negative coverage of Biden’s controversial speech in Philadelphia on Thursday, September 1.

Brianna Keilar

Brianna Keilar, one of CNN’s most outspoken hosts who has a long history of “grilling” officials who once worked under ex-President Donald Trump, criticized Biden not only for his tough rhetoric against MAGA Republicans but also for the visuals the White House included during the president’s speech.

The New Day host not only blasted Biden for having United States Marines stand behind him as he made his address but also for deciding to read his speech against a mostly dark red backdrop in the background.

“[It’s] wrong when Democrats do it. It’s wrong when Republicans do it,” Keilar said during her coverage of the speech.

The Biden Administration was also reportedly upset after another CNN anchor, Poppy Harlow, pressed White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre whether or not the president planned to apologize for calling MAGA Republicans “semi-fascists.”

Additionally, David Axelrod – a senior political commentator for the network who previously worked as a strategist for former President Barack Obama – has regularly criticized President Biden, his administration and the job they are doing in office.

Wake-Up Call: Britain Mourns For Queen

Queen Elizabeth the Second, who served 70 years on the British throne as the nation's longest-reigning monarch, died yesterday (September 8th) at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland. She was 96. Crowds began gathering at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects after news that she'd taken a turn for the worse, and the Independent reported that they fell silent when her death was announced.

Prince Charles automatically became King Charles III upon her death, and the 73-year-old said in a statement that his mother's death was a, quote, "moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," calling her "a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother." He added, "I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world." Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was ceremoniously appointed by the queen just two days earlier in her final public appearance, called Elizabeth "the rock on which modern Britain was built." President Biden was among the world leaders who reacted to the queen's death, calling her a "stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States."

There was total silence outside Buckingham Palace as the news broke, and then the crowds broke into song: God Save the King. pic.twitter.com/6kCUNSLw68

— Anna Stewart (@annastewartcnn) September 8, 2022

Elizabeth's death came just months after Britain celebrated her Platinum Jubilee with events over several days in June, but at which she appeared just twice publicly due to her mobility issues. Over her seven decades on the throne, Elizabeth became an icon, the only monarch most Britons now alive have known, living up to the pledge she'd made at age 21, almost five years before she became queen, that, quote, "my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service." Elizabeth's husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, died in April 2021 at age 99, and she is survived by her four children, Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. 

NY Post 9/9/22

• Key milestones in Queen Elizabeth's life: https://bit.ly/3RJXaxe
• Every living U.S. president pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth: https://bit.ly/3eECmJD
• Funeral and commemoration plans for next 10 days in the U.K.: https://nbcnews.to/3eBXC2z

God save the King: Liz Truss' poignant speech after Queen Elizabeth II dieshttps://t.co/fHULhzXNRN pic.twitter.com/0o1DD1QAns

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 8, 2022

➤BLINKEN VISITS KYIV, ANNOUNCES $2.8 BILLION IN AID TO UKRAINE, EUROPEAN NATIONS: Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv yesterday, and said the U.S. would be giving more than $2.8 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine and 18 European nations, quote, "potentially at risk of future Russian aggression." That was in addition to $675 million in heavy weaponry, ammunition and armored vehicles for Ukraine announced earlier in the day by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On this day in history, Sept. 9, 1776, American colonies named 'United States of America' https://t.co/rn4wj6CquW

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 9, 2022

 
➤JUSTICE DEPT. APPEALING JUDGE'S SPECIAL MASTER DECISION IN TRUMP DOCUMENTS CASE: The Justice Department said Thursday that it is appealing a judge's decision Monday granting Donald Trump's request for an independent special master to review thousands of documents taken from the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate when the FBI executed a search warrant in early August. The Justice Department also asked U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to put her directive on hold that barred the department from using the documents in its investigation into the presence of classified documents at the Florida estate as well as what it says were efforts to obstruct the probe. Cannon said the special master would review the documents to separate those that are potentially protected by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege.

➤BANNON PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO MONEY LAUNDERING, FRAUD CHARGES IN BORDER WALL SCHEME: Former top Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon pled not guilty Thursday in New York to charges including money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to the We Build the Wall organization that allegedly defrauded donors. New York prosecutors say Bannon promised that all donations to the organzation would go to building a wall on the southern border, but instead he was involved in funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the donations to himself and two other people involved in the scheme. Then-President Trump pardoned Bannon in 2020 on federal charges related to the alleged scam, but the pardon doesn't apply to state charges.

Two deputies were killed Thursday night while serving a warrant in a suburb near Atlanta, and a suspect remained barricaded in a home, authorities say. https://t.co/eVaMN7t30z

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 9, 2022

🏠MORTGAGE RATE HITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2008: The average 30-year mortgage rate has hit 5.89 percent, according to data published by Freddie Mac yesterday, which is the highest level since 2008. After a period of red-hot home sales and soaring home prices during the pandemic, sales have slowed as mortgage rates rose. Housing group Redfin said that for the first time in nearly 18 months, the average U.S. home sold below its asking price. The median home sale price was $370,000, up six percent year-over-year, but six percent below the record high of $393,725 during the four-week period ending June 19th.

➤WHAT IS QUIET FIRING, AND IS IT HAPPENING TO YOU?: We heard of "quiet quitting", but now a new term is trending: Quiet Firing. The term can refer to employees being given more roles and stress without a promotion or raise, or when employers make a job so unbearable that employees quit on their own. "Eventually you’ll either feel so incompetent, isolated, and unappreciated that you’ll go find a new job, and they never have to deal with a development plan or offer severance," recruiting expert Bonnie Dilber wrote in a LinkedIn post. Hyper-critical feedback, years without raises or promotions, and canceled one-on-one meetings are some signs of quiet firing. Some tips on handling quiet firing include an honest discussion with management or leaving the company.

💃'DWTS REVEALS CELEBRITY CAST': ABC revealed the full lineup of celebrities for Season 31 of Dancing With The Stars Thursday on Good Morning America. Previously announced contestants, TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and her reality-star mom, Heidi will be joined by Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions), Shangela (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Teresa Giudice (RHONJ), Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels), Daniel Durant (CODA), Jordin Sparks (American Idol), Vinny Guadagino (Jersey Shore), Gabby Windey (Bachelorette), Jason Lewis (Sex and the City), Jessie James Decker (country singer), Trevor Donovan (90210), Sam Champion (GMA), and Joseph Baena (Fitness Model/Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son). Dancing With the Stars premieres Monday, Sept. 19th on Disney+.

"I need to be back where I came from." https://t.co/wbPNzm9d38

— ABC News (@ABC) September 9, 2022

🦞LOBSTERS PUT ON 'RED LIST,' SOME RETAILERS REMOVE THEM: Some retailers said they will no longer sell lobster after the influential conservation group Seafood Watch put it on its "red list" of species to avoid because of the risk to rare North Atlantic right whales from how they are fished. Whales can be injured or die when they become entangled in the gear that connects to lobster traps on the ocean floor. Seafood Watch said American and Canadian lobster fisheries', quote, "current management measures do not go far enough to mitigate entanglement risks and promote recovery of the species." Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, pushed back, saying the lobster industry in Maine has not had a documented interaction with a right whale in almost two decades.

✞BERNARD SHOW, CNN'S FIRST AND LONGTIME CHIEF ANCHOR, DEAD AT 82: Bernard Shaw, who was CNN's first chief anchor and remained in the post for two decades, died Wednesday of pneumonia. He was 82. Shaw, who was a pioneering Black broadcast journalist, was a former U.S. Marine who worked as a reporter at CBS and ABC News before becoming CNN's chief anchor when the cable network began in 1980. Former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno said, "He put CNN on the map." Shaw retired from CNN on February 28, 2001.

🏈BILLS DOWN SUPER BOWL CHAMPION RAMS 31-10 IN NFL SEASON OPENER: The Buffalo Bills downed the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams 31-10 last night in the NFL season opener at L.A.'s Sofi Stadium. Bills quarterback Josh Allen was 26 of 31, throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns and scrambling for a fourth TD. Rams QB Matthew Stafford passed for 240 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted three times and sacked seven times, brought down twice by Von Miller. Earlier in the day, the Rams announced that head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead had both agreed to contract extensions through the 2026 season.

ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!

📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/p48vi9M996

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 9, 2022

🏀SUNS DEFEAT SKY 72-63 TO REACH WNBA FINALS: The Connecticut Sun defeated the defending WNBA champion Chicago Sky 72-63 last night to win their semifinal series 3 games to 2 and advance to the WNBA Finals. The Sun had to overcome an 11-point deficit with just under five minutes remaining, scoring the final 18 points of the game. Connecticut will face the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals, with the first game on Sunday.

 

US Open 2022: Women's final set after semifinal thriller https://t.co/N4BV2STKW9

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 9, 2022

🎾SWIATEK, JABEUR TO FACE EACH OTHER IN U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S FINAL: Top-seeded Iga Swiatek and Number 5 Ons Jabeur will face each other in the U.S. Open women's final Saturday after they won their semifinal matches last night. Swiatek of Poland came back after dropping the first set to beat Number 6 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, Tunisia's Jabeur defeated Number 17 Caroline Garcia of France 6-1, 6-3, becoming the first African woman to play in a final at the U.S. Open in the professional era.

⚾MLB SET TO ADOPT RULES CHANGES TODAY TO SHORTEN GAMES: MLB's competition committee is set to adopt rules changes today that are intended to shorten games and increase offense and will go into effect next season: a pitch clock; limits on defensive shifts; and limits on how many times a pitcher can step off the rubber. A pitch clock will count down 15 seconds with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners. The shift limit will require four players to be in front of the outfield grass when a pitch is thrown, including two of the four on either side of second base. There will be a limit during each plate appearance of two pickoff attempts or steps off the rubber by pitchers. Additionally, the size of bases will increase to 18-inch square from 15-inch to reduce injuries and to increase stolen bases.

⚾CARDINALS' WAINWRIGHT, MOLINA TIE MLB BATTERYMATE RECORD: St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina made their 324th career start together yesterday, tying the MLB record for batterymates set by the Detroit Tigers' Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan from 1963 to 1975. The Cardinals went on to lose the game to the Washington Nationals 11-6. Wainwright and Molina made their first start together in April 2007, and they are set to break the record on September 14th against the Milwaukee Brewers.

🏈💸'FORBES': COWBOYS TOP LIST OF WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE SPORTS TEAMS: The Dallas Cowboys topped Forbes list of the world's most valuable sports teams released yesterday, with an $8 billion valuation. The NFL dominates the top 10, accounting for six of them, including the New England Patriots in second place with a $6.4 billion valuation and the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in third at $6.2 billion. MLB's New York Yankees are in fourth place, the most valuable team that's not in the NFL, at $6 billion, tied with football's New York Giants. The highest-valued NBA team is the New York Knicks, tied in sixth place at $5.8 billion with the NFL's Chicago Bears. Tied in eighth place at $5.6 billion are the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the NFL's Washington Commanders, and the NBA's L.A. Lakers are in 10th place at $5.5 billion. The most valuable franchise outside of North America is soccer's Real Madrid, which is at Number 13. No NHL teams made it into the top 50.

Firefighters struggled to control major wildfires in Southern California and the Sierra Nevada that have grown explosively, forced extensive evacuations and produced smoke that could interfere with solar power production. https://t.co/lON4jWfE5v

— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 9, 2022