Saturday, November 9, 2024

Radio History: Nov 10


Kate Smith

➦In 1938...32-year-old Kate Smith first sang Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America' on her CBS radio network show. Smith was a major star of radio. She began with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931–33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934–35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934–35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935–36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936–37).

The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music, and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater for eight years (1937–1945). The show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, introduced their comedy to a nationwide radio audience aboard her show, while a series of sketches based on the Broadway production of the same name led to The Aldrich Family as a separate hit series in 1940.

Smith continued on the Mutual Broadcasting System, CBS, ABC, and NBC, doing both music and talk shows on radio until 1960.

"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song.

Irving Berlin wrote the song in 1918 while serving the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York, but decided that it did not fit in a revue called Yip Yip Yaphank, so he set it aside.

In 1938, with the rise of Adolf Hitler, Berlin, who was Jewish and a first-generation Russian immigrant, felt it was time to revive it as a "peace song," and it was introduced on an Armistice Day broadcast in 1938, sung by Kate Smith on her radio show. Berlin had made some minor changes; by this time, "to the right" might have been considered a call to the political right, so he substituted "through the night" instead. He also provided an introduction that is now rarely heard but which Smith always used: "While the storm clouds gather far across the sea / Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free / Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, / As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer." (In her first broadcast of the song, Kate Smith sang "that we're far from there" rather than "for a land so fair".)

➦In 1950...a radio comedy series 'The Magnificent Montague' starring Monty Woolley debuted on NBC. It may rank as radio’s last original sitcom. Ironically, its final airing was exactly one year later, as TV continued to steal the radio audience.

➦In 1956...Billboard magazine's DJ survey reveals that Elvis Presley is the country's number one male artist on both the pop and country charts.

➦In 1966...British newspapers break the news that the Beatles were ending their live concerts.

Sean Hannity Doesn't Expect Trump Media Retribution


Fox News host Sean Hannity spoke with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on Thursday night (November 7) and among the topics covered was whether Donald Trump would seek “retribution” against his critics during his presidency.

According to TVInsider, the pair discussed Trump’s presidential election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday (November 5), with Hannity telling Smith, “You were very gracious, by the way. Privately, we have our own conversations, and you said that to me, ‘I’ll live with it.'”

“I’ve had elections that I really wanted my side to win, that they lost, and you know what, Stephen A.? I go on and I plow through and I do my job,” the Fox News host continued.

Per Mediaite, Hannity promised that Trump would not enact retribution on those who spoke out against him, including the hosts of ABC’s The View. “There’s not gonna be retribution. None of the hosts of The View are gonna be taken off [the air],” he stated.


“I used to go on that show,” Hannity added. “They wouldn’t even allow… they wouldn’t accept a conversation with me at this point. Isn’t that pretty pathetic? Because I used to like Whoopi Goldberg. Joyless Behar, eh, she’s a little…”

Smith, who appeared on The View earlier that day, responded, “I would ask that you don’t look at the show. What you should look at is the ideological tilt that has taken place in our country.”

NYC, LA, Chicago Radio: iHM Makes Staffing Moves


iHeartMedia announced Friday that Steve DeLusant has been named Region President for the New York market and Adam Kurtz for the Chicago market, effective immediately. DeLusant and Kurtz will report to Bernie Weiss, Division President, iHeartMedia.

“I’m thrilled to promote both Steve and Adam. It’s especially rewarding to find the best candidates for key leadership roles in your own buildings,” said Weiss. “They’re extremely knowledgeable about our ever-evolving business and have built some of the best media sales teams in the country. I’m confident that they will continue to elevate our New York and Chicago operations to even greater heights and continue to drive revenue.”

Prior to his new role, Steve DeLusant has held the position of Senior Vice President of Sales of iHeart New York since January 2020. He re-joined iHeartMedia in 2013, where he advanced through the ranks, holding various sales positions, including Director of Sales and Vice President of Sales. Earlier in his career, DeLusant was Senior Account Executive for Emmis Communications and a sales associate for WLTW.

DeLusant, Kurtz
Adam Kurtz is a seasoned media veteran with 23 years of sales experience at iHeartMedia including 14 years in sales management. Kurtz began his media career at WLIT in Chicago where he was an account executive for nine years. Throughout his career he has built and led high-performing sales teams that consistently delivered results.

Meanwhile, iHM has announced key leadership promotions in Los Angeles. Jeff Thomas, a 26-year company veteran, has been promoted to EVP of Sales and Business Development for the market, continuing to lead sales in addition to now overseeing iHeartMedia Los Angeles' Local News Talk Endorsement Network and iHeartCX, iHeart's retail in-store radio network. Previously, he was RVP of Sales in Los Angeles. Additionally, Adam Wolfson has been elevated to SVP of Sales.

Julie Martzke will also be elevated to SVP of National and Event Sales for Los Angeles. Martzke's long history with iHeart spans 14 years, as she has successfully overseen top iHeart brands such as KIIS, KOST and MYFM. "Julie has an unprecedented track record for leading teams to success and has a passion for experiential partnerships, and we're excited to see her thrive in this new role," said Thomas.

LA Radio: Shocker! Don Martin, Robin Bertolucci Exit iHM

Don Martin, Robin Bertolucci

iHeartMedia Executive Vice President of Sports Don Martin, who is also Senior Vice President of KLAC-AM in Los Angeles, is stepping down. Martin, who has also been a key figure at FOX Sports Radio as SVP of Programming, is expected to continue his involvement with Premiere Networks and Fox Sports Radio for the near future. His wife, Robin Bertolucci, is also departing her Program Director position at Talker KFI 640 AM in Los Angeles.

Prior to moving to Los Angeles in 2002, Bertolucci worked for KGO in San Francisco and KOA in Denver.

Martin played a pivotal role in shaping the sports broadcasting landscape. His tenure saw the network flourish during the eras of Jim Rome, Jay Mohr, and others, helping to reestablish its prominence in the industry alongside Julie Talbott. Martin's influence was instrumental in attracting top talents like Colin Cowherd, Dan Patrick, Doug Gottlieb, Clay Travis, and Rob Parker.

In an internal memo, Martin reflected on his career, "We've seen a lot, we've done a lot, and we've won more than our share," he shared with his team, expressing his gratitude and bidding them farewell as he anticipates his next chapter with the FSR Family. He emphasized his ongoing passion for the industry, promising not to be a stranger and celebrating the team's success, especially after KLAC achieved the #1 status in October.

Former colleague Ken Charles, currently programming Cox Media's N/T WSB in Atlanta, issued a statement: "I am absolutely stunned to learn that Don Martin and Robin Bertolucci have chosen to exit. You won't find two more skilled programming executives and better people than Don and Robin. They did outstanding work in Los Angeles for iHeartMedia FOX Sports Radio KFI Talk Radio 640 AM and Premiere Networks, and deserve to be celebrated for all that they've contributed to the radio business."

Before his contributions in Los Angeles, Martin was the Program Director at 850 KOA in Denver from 1996 to 2003, where under his direction, KOA was named "Station of the Year" by the NAB for five consecutive years.

NYC, San Antonio Radio: iHM Jettisons Berman, Pags


It was not a good Friday for some veterans in New York City and San Antonio.  iHeartMedia has parted way with WOR-AM's morning show hosted by Len Berman and Michael Riedel.  In San Antonio, Joe 'Pags' Pagliarulo has exited iHM's WOAI 1200 AM.

Len Berman, who joined WOR in January 2015, is well-known for his long tenure as the lead sportscaster at WNBC-TV and for hosting NBC’s NFL pregame show in the early 1980s. His popular “Spanning The World” segment of sports highlights and bloopers aired on the Today Show from 1989 until 20161. Michael Riedel, who joined Berman in February 2018, had a distinguished career as a theater columnist for the New York Post and co-hosted “Theater Talk”

 Berman is an Emmy-Award winning broadcaster and New York Times Best Selling Author who has covered just about every major sports event including multiple Super Bowls, World Series and Olympics during his 50-year career in broadcasting. A native New Yorker, he graduated from Syracuse University where he began his broadcasting career at WAER Radio. He later received a Masters Degree from the Newhouse School.

He was been inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the WAER Radio Hall of Fame.

Michael Riedel is an American theatre critic, conservative broadcaster. Riedel has been a Broadway columnist of the New York Post for more than 20 years.

iHM has not released WOR's plans for morning drive starting this Monday.

Joe Pags
Also Friday... veteran talk  Joe Pags Pagliarulo exited his longtime flagship station, iHeart News/Talk 1200 WOAI San Antonio, as part of iHeartMedia’s ongoing layoffs. Pagliarulo had been with WOAI since 2005, where he hosted his show from 5-8pm. His Compass syndicated program show will continue.

He also hosted a weekend nationally syndicated radio talk show through Premiere Networks titled The Weekend with Joe Pags, which he stepped down from in 2022.

Pagliarulo has made many appearances on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC and previously served as a long-time frequent fill-in for Glenn Beck on Beck's television and radio programs. He has won multiple broadcasting awards from the Associated Press, his show is listed in the top 25 of Talkers Magazine's "Heavy Hundred", and his show has been named by Newsmax as one of the most influential talk shows in the country.

Before his tenure in San Antonio, Pagliarulo worked as a television news anchor in various cities including Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Albany. He began his radio career in West Palm Beach, FL, and later worked at stations like WXDX Detroit, WHAM Rochester, and WGY Albany.

iHeartMedia, Spotify Have A Good Week On Wall Street


Spotify rode a post-election wave of market enthusiasm to close above $400 for the first time on Friday (Nov. 8), valuing the music-streaming giant at nearly $80.5 billion. Before finishing at $400.68, up 4.1% for the week, the company’s stock reached an all-time high of $405.88.

Billboard reports tyhe Stockholm, Sweden-based company’s stock price has increased 113% in 2024 as the company overtook Universal Music Group (UMG) as the most valuable music company. 

When investors began to tire of high-growth streaming companies with little to show in profitability, Spotify underwent two major rounds of layoffs in 2023, helping reduce costs without sacrificing subscriber growth or revenue. With third-quarter earnings coming on Tuesday (Nov. 12), Spotify is expected to show it has maintained that momentum.

U.S. stock markets soared this week following the election of Donald Trump on Tuesday (Nov. 5) and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on Thursday (Nov. 7) to lower interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point.

The week’s top music stock was iHeartMedia, which jumped 16.7% to $2.44 after the company announced it will restructure much of its retiring debt and plans to save $200 million in 2025 through cost cuts and the embrace of technology. 

“Technology is the key to increasing our operating leverage and is a constant focus for us,” CEO Bob Pittman said during an earnings call on Thursday. “It allows us to speed up processes, streamline legacy systems and it enables our folks to create more, better and faster.” iHeartMedia shares are down 8.6% year to date but have risen 180% since May 24. 

This past week, the company reported a net loss of $41.3 million, significantly worse than the year-ago period's $9 million loss. However, management renegotiated 80% of the company's debt during the third quarter. The maturity dates on $4.1 billion of debt were extended by three years without raising their interest rates. Guidance suggested $200 million of positive free cash flows in 2025, and some of that cash will be used to pay down debt balances.

Central PA Radio: At Least 5 Riffed at Cumulus Media


Popular York County talk show host Gary Sutton says he will no longer host his show on Cumulus Media's WSBA Radio after being let go due to cost-cutting.

According to a post on Sutton’s Facebook, yesterday, Nov. 7, was his last day with WSBA Radio. Sutton has hosted his show on WSBA for nearly 30 years, starting in 1991 and moving to full-time in 1997.

Although Sutton is leaving his long-time position at WBSA, he doesn’t plan on retiring just yet.

“Tomorrow is the first time in 52 years that I don’t have to work, but I hope that doesn’t last long because I am not retiring,” he said in one post. “God is in control, and I know there are new opportunities ahead and a new chapter in my life.”

He confirmed in another post that he and his producer, Mark McKenzie, were let go because of cost-cutting. He added that although he was let go, he has nothing but good things to say about the company and everyone involved.

Long-time fans of Sutton’s won’t have to wait long to hear him again, as he announced Jeff Coleman recently invited him to be on the panel during his Morning Light show on Lighthouse TV next Monday through Friday.

There were other departures from Cumulus stations in Central PA, including:

  • Dave Russell exits as Program Director/afternoon host of AC 103.3 WARM-FM York after nine years. 
  • AJ Cobain departs afternoons at Country “I105” WIOV-FM Ephrata/Lancaster. Cobain joined the station in 2018
  • Venetia Stephenson is out as APD/MD/afternoon host at Rhythmic CHR “Hot 106.7” WWKL Hershey after two decades.

FanDuel Sports To Air MLB Angels In Los Angeles Market


The Angels and the Diamond Sports Group have reached an agreement on a new deal that will allow fans to watch games on the FanDuel Sports Network, via cable providers or by subscribing to a streaming service, a source said.

The FanDuel Sports Network was previously known as Bally Sports.

The deal is expected to be announced in the coming days. The length of the new deal is unclear. Pricing for the subscription service is to be determined.

Under the previous arrangement with Diamond, fans in Southern California did not have access to the Bally Sports West broadcasts without subscribing to a third-party cable provider that carried the network.

The St. Louis Cardinals recently reached a similar agreement.

The sports media landscape has been shifting for years because of a growing number of viewers cutting cable in favor of streaming services. That led to bankruptcy for Diamond, which operated several regional sports networks under the Bally Sports name.

Diamond dropped broadcasts of several teams, leaving them to scramble to find a new home for their broadcasts and to replace the revenue lost from the television contract.

Diddy Tries Again


Sean "Diddy" Combs is again renewing his request to be released from jail ahead of his May 2025 criminal trial.

On Friday, Combs' legal team filed another bid for the hip-hop mogul to be freed from Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center by proposing what they called "an extremely substantial, comprehensive bail package." Combs' previous attempts to be released from jail on bond have been denied by multiple judges.

According to federal court filings reviewed by USA TODAY, Combs' attorneys added more conditions to their previous bond proposals to argue he is not a flight risk. They also denied he's a danger to society by suggesting the government's evidence of his alleged crimes — racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution — do not hold as much "weight" as they've suggested.

Combs' team also argues his detention "makes trial preparation impossible" due to his inconsistent access to his legal counsel and evidence being presented against him.

Judge: Zuckerberg Not Liable For Kids 'Addiction' To Meta Platforms


A federal judge said Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not personally liable in 25 lawsuits accusing his company of addicting children to social media.

Reuters reports U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California rejected accusations on Thursday that Zuckerberg directed Meta's efforts to conceal from children the serious mental health risks of using Facebook and Instagram.

The plaintiffs called Meta's billionaire co-founder the "guiding spirit" behind alleged concealment efforts, saying he ignored repeated internal warnings about the risks and publicly downplayed them.

But the judge found a lack of specifics about what Zuckerberg did wrong, and said "control of corporate activity alone is insufficient" to establish liability. Her decision does not affect related claims against Meta itself.

The plaintiffs brought claims under the laws of 13 U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Previn Warren, a partner at Motley Rice representing the plaintiffs, said on Friday his clients will continue gathering evidence "to uncover the truth about how Big Tech has knowingly prioritized profits over the safety of our children."

The 25 lawsuits are among several hundred by children, their families and school districts seeking damages from Meta, Alphabet's Google, ByteDance's TikTok and Snap's Snapchat over social media addiction.

The Grammys: Beyonce Now Most Nominated Artist

 

Beyoncé became the most-nominated artist in Grammy history with 11 nods for her country album “Cowboy Carter.” 

The Wall Street Journal reports the pop star now has 99 career nominations and 32 wins. After the nominations were announced on Friday, she is in the running for album of the year—an award she has never won—record of the year and song of the year (for “Texas Hold ’Em”). For the first time, she is also up for country honors with five nominations in the genre, including best country album and best country solo performance (for “16 Carriages”). 

This year’s TikTok ear-worms also dominated the nominees. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” Charli xcx’s “360” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” are all up for awards at next year’s ceremony, which is expected to take place Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. 

Breakout star Chappell Roan earned six nominations, including for best new artist. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images

🎵2025 GRAMMY Nominations: Artists' Reactions. HERE

Beyoncé’s Grammy nominations in the country genre come after “Cowboy Carter” received zero nods from the Country Music Awards, a decision critics deemed a snub. The album reopened heated debate over the pop star’s complicated relationship with the country music industry. In 2016, her performance of her song “Daddy Lessons” with the Chicks at the CMAs drew intense backlash from country fans who said the pop star should not have been present, and in an Instagram post announcing “Cowboy Carter,” the singer rebuked the industry’s frosty reception after she “first entered the genre.”

“It means a whole heck of a lot,” Mason Jr. said of Beyoncé’s first-time country nominations, noting that songs from the album were also nominated in other genres like pop and rap. “Crossing lines, blurring genres and being recognized by those voting members. To me, that’s exciting.”

R.I.P.: Brian Wheeler, Former Radio Voice of NBA Trail Blazers

Brian Wheeler (1962-2024)

Portland Trail Blazers radio broadcaster Brian Wheeler has died after an extended illness. He was 62.

Wheeler was the play-by-play voice of Blazers basketball on the radio for 21 years, calling 1,823 games for Portland since he joined the organization in 1998. 

During the 2018 through 2019 season, Wheeler missed broadcasting most of the games due to illness and did not return. Travis Demers replaced him. 

Radio History: Nov 9


➦In 1895
...George Dewey Hay born in Attica, Indiana (Died – May 8, 1968). He was radio personality, announcer and newspaper reporter. He was the founder of the original Grand Ole Opry radio program on WSM-AM in Nashville, Tennessee, from which the country music stage show of the same name evolved.

In Memphis, Tennessee, after World War I, he was a reporter for the Commercial Appeal, and when the newspaper launched its own radio station, WMC-AM, in January 1923, he became a late-night announcer at the station.  His popularity increased and in May 1924 he left for WLS-AM in Chicago, where he served as the announcer on a program that became National Barn Dance.

George D Hay
On November 9, 1925, he moved on to WSM-AM in Nashville. Getting a strong listener reaction to 78-year-old fiddler Uncle Jimmy Thompson that November, Hay announced the following month that WSM would feature "an hour or two" of old-time music every Saturday night. He promoted the music and formed a booking agency.

The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and Hay billed himself as "The Solemn Old Judge." The Barn Dance was broadcast after NBC's Music Appreciation Hour, a program featuring classical music and grand opera. One day in December 1927, the final music piece on the Music Appreciation Hour depicted the sound of a rushing locomotive. After the show ended, "Judge Hay" opened the WSM Barn Dance with this announcement:

“ Friends, the program which just came to a close was devoted to the classics. Doctor Damrosch [host of the program] told us that there is no place in the classics for realism. However, from here on out for the next three hours, we will present nothing but realism. It will be down to earth for the 'earthy'. ”

Hay then introduced the man he dubbed "The Harmonica Wizard," DeFord Bailey, who played his classic train song, "The Pan American Blues," named for the crack Louisville and Nashville Railroad passenger train The Pan-American. After Bailey's performance, Hay commented, "For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry."

During the 1930s, he was involved with Rural Radio, one of the first magazines about country music, developing the Opry for NBC and working on the movie Grand Ole Opry (1940). He was an announcer with the radio show during the 1940s and toured with Opry acts, including the September 1947 Opry show at Carnegie Hall.

He was featured in Hoosier Holiday, a 1945 film from Republic Pictures, in a cast that also included Dale Evans.  Hay was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame two years before his death in 1968.

➦In 1925...KQP in Portland Oregon signed-on and the station changed its call sign to KOIN on April 12, 1926.

It became an affiliate of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), now known as the CBS Radio Network, on September 1, 1929.  During the golden years of radio, KOIN was one of Portland's major radio stations, with an extensive array of local programming, including live music from its own studio orchestra.

As a CBS radio affiliate, KOIN was the local home for CBS radio programs such as the CBS World News Roundup, Lux Radio Theater and Suspense. An FM station, KOIN-FM at 101.1, was launched in 1948. Both stations were owned by Field Enterprises, Inc. from 1947 until sold in 1952 to the Mount Hood Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation.

KOIN and KOIN-FM were sold on May 1, 1977 to the Gaylord Broadcasting Company, and effective May 12, 1977 their call signs changed to KYTE (both AM and FM).  Its affiliation with CBS ended, and the CBS Radio Network's programming in the Portland market moved to KYXI at that time.

The stations using the former KOIN frequencies currently are KUFO (AM) and KXL-FM.

➦In 1925...the three day Fourth National US Radio Conference began in Washington, D.C. During the year since the previous conference, the number of US stations with 500 watts or more had nearly doubled from 115 to 197.

➦In 1930...sportscaster Charlie Jones was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. For more than 30 years he called NFL football for NBC Sports.  He also broadcast baseball, golf, tennis, track & field at the Olympics, and soccer.  Jones died June 12 2008 at age 77.

➦In 1948...“This is Your Life” debuted on NBC radio. Ralph Edwards hosted the radio show for two years and for nine more (1952-1961) on television.

➦In 1961...Brian Epstein saw the Beatles play for the first time, at one of their lunchtime sessions at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He became interested in the group after a customer in his record store inquired about a German import single of the Beatles backing singer Tony Sheridan on “My Bonnie.” Epstein soon became the Beatles’ manager, cleaning up their greasy, Teddy Boy image with collarless grey suits and the now familiar Beatle haircuts.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Paramount Reports Big Streaming Gains


Paramount Global, the parent of CBS, MTV and its namesake Hollywood movie studio, reported big gains in streaming subscribers in the third quarter, but overall sales were weaker than expected due to declines in TV and film revenue.

Bloomberg reports adjusted earnings were 49 cents a share, excluding some costs, the New York-based media giant said in a statement Friday. That surpassed Wall Street’s estimates of 23 cents. Revenue dropped 6% to $6.73 billion in the three months ended Sept. 30, missing analysts’ forecasts of $6.95 billion.

In Paramount’s direct-to-consumer division, which includes Paramount+ and the ad-supported Pluto TV streaming service, revenue increased 10% to $1.86 billion, driven by sports such as the NFL and UEFA and original programming like Tulsa Kings. Paramount+ added 3.5 million subscribers in the quarter, beating the 2.37 million analysts were expecting and bringing the total to 72 million. The unit reported its second quarter of profitability.

In Paramount’s TV media unit, which includes CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV and other channels, revenue decreased 6% to $4.3 billion, driven by driven by lower affiliate revenue and fluctuations in licensing revenue.

The company’s filmed entertainment unit saw revenue decrease 34% to $590 million, dragged down by a 71% decrease in theatrical revenue.

Paramount is working to close its merger with Skydance Media in a deal that’s expected to close in the first half of 2025 and would see producer David Ellison take over the company.

Like other traditional media companies, Paramount is focusing on its streaming business to boost growth as customers move away from traditional television, taking advertising dollars with them. Despite hits like the animated Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, Paramount has said it’s looking for a joint-venture partner in streaming, to better compete with market leaders Netflix Inc. and Walt Disney Co. On Wednesday, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. posted surprising strength in adding new subscribers to its streaming unit, home to Max. The company’s shares rose 12% on the news.

Paramount was in talks with Warner Bros. about a merger for months before giving up when no concrete offer was received, a regulatory filing disclosed earlier this week. The company held talks with at least 12 alternative bidders before cutting a deal with Skydance.

iHM's 'Modernization' Expected To Save $200M In 2025


As iHeartMedia deals with weak advertising trends and another round of layoffs, the country’s largest broadcast radio company will save $200 million in 2025 compared with 2024 and has renegotiated 80% of its long-term debt, the company revealed on Thursday (Nov. 7) in its third-quarter earnings release.  

The debt “exchange offers,” which are expected to close by the end of the year, will extend the majority of iHeartMedia’s debt maturities by three years, allow cash interest expense to “remain essentially flat,” and provide for “some overall debt reduction,” CEO Bob Pittman said during an earnings call. “The transaction support agreement marks an important step in our effort to optimize our balance sheet, and it provides the company with the flexibility to remain focused on iHeart’s transformation.”  

Billboard reports the disclosure about cost savings and revamped debt comes days after news broke that iHeartMedia had laid off dozens — hundreds, according to one report — of staffers from radio stations around the country. Pittman called the layoffs part of iHeartMedia’s “modernization journey” that will create a flatter organization, eliminate redundancies and make it easier to do business with the company. Those cuts add to three rounds of layoffs in 2020 as the radio business struggled with an advertising slump during the first year of the pandemic.  

Throughout the earnings call, Pittman and CFO/COO Rich Bressler underscored the company’s embrace of technology to make improvements and cut costs. “Technology is the key to increasing our operating leverage and is a constant focus for us,” said Pittman. “It allows us to speed up processes, streamline legacy systems and it enables our folks to create more, better and faster.” Technology alone will reduce annual expenses by $150 million in 2025, he said, while measures taken earlier this year will bring the total annual savings to $200 million.

In explaining how iHeartMedia uses technology to save such a large sum of money, Pittman gave the example of expanding the reach of on-air talent. “What we’re able to do now, because we’ve got technology, is we can take talent we have in any location and put them on the air in another location,” he explained. “So it allows us to substantially upgrade the quality of our talent in every single market we’re in and allows us to project talent into the situations in which you’re going to have the best impact.” 

iHeartMedia’s Q3 2024 financial metrics: 

  • Revenue: up 5.8% to $1.01 billion 
  • Adjusted EBITDA: flat at $204 million 
  • Net loss: up 360% to $41.3 million 
  • Free cash flow: up 8.4% to $73.3 million 

Saga Reports Revenue Drop During 3Q


Saga Communications, Inc. Thursday reported that net revenue decreased 3.5% to $28.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to $29.1 million for the same period last year. 

Station operating expense increased 3.1% for the quarter to $23.5 million compared to the same period last year. For the quarter, operating income was $1.6 million compared to $3.5 million for the same quarter last year and station operating income (a non-GAAP financial measure) decreased 21.2% to $6.0 million. Capital expenditures were $625 thousand for the quarter compared to $760 thousand for the same period last year. We had net income of $1.3 million for the quarter compared to net income of $2.7 million for the third quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.20 in the third quarter of 2024.

On a same station basis for the three months ended September 30, 2024 net revenue decreased 5.8% to $27.5 million and station operating expense decreased 0.3% to $22.7 million while operating income decreased 49.7% to $1.8 million.

Townsquare Media Reports Significant Digital Revenue


Townsquare Media, Inc. reported earnings results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2024. 

For the third quarter, the company reported sales was USD 115.31 million compared to USD 115.1 million a year ago. 

Net income was USD 10.85 million compared to net loss of USD 37 million a year ago. Basic earnings per share from continuing operations was USD 0.71 compared to basic loss per share from continuing operations of USD 2.27 a year ago. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was USD 0.63 compared to diluted loss per share from continuing operations of USD 2.27 a year ago.

For the nine months, sales was USD 333.17 million compared to USD 339.45 million a year ago. Net loss was USD 37.26 million compared to USD 42.62 million a year ago. 

Brendan Carr Picking Up Support To Be FCC Chairman


The Fraternal Order of Police has sent a letter to President-elect Trump to encourage him to appoint Commissioner Brendan Carr as the next chairman of the FCC.

Traditionally, the FCC is staffed by three appointees of the president's party, including the chair, and when control of the White House flips, the chair resigns to allow the incoming administration to fill that vacancy on the panel. The FCC is currently led by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who was first appointed by President Obama in 2012 and has served as the chair since President Biden took office in January 2021.

Brendan Carr
Fox Business reports the FOP, which claims the title of being the world's largest organization of law enforcement officers, urged Trump to select Carr as the FCC chair after he takes office next year.

"Commissioner Carr has been a great partner to the men and women in law enforcement," said Patrick Yoes, national president of the FOP. "He is known as 'Mr. 5G' for his strong advocacy in accelerating the availability of this new technology. He was also one of the leaders on the FCC who helped secure the national license for FirstNet on the 4.9GHz issue."

Carr is the second-longest tenured commissioner, having served since 2017 after he was appointed during Trump's first term and confirmed by the Senate. He is the senior GOP appointee on the panel and previously served as the FCC's general counsel and as an aide to Commissioner Ajit Pai, who chaired the FCC from 2017 to 2021.

Fox News Channel Beats Every Network During Harris Concession


FOX News Channel’s (FNC) special coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris’ concession speech was number one in television Wednesday, delivering 7.9 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 25-54 demo, according to Nielsen Media Research data. 

Anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the FOX News Democracy 24 special coverage from 4:15-4:45 PM/ET set a record for post-election coverage and commanded 64% of the cable news audience. Comparatively CNN averaged 2.2 million viewers and 555,000 in the 25-54 demo and MSNBC saw 2.3 million viewers and 353,000 in the 25-54 demo. According to early Nielsen numbers, ABC nabbed 2.4 million viewers and 544,000 in the 25-54 demo and CBS took 1.8 million viewers and 362,000 in the 25-54 demo during the same timeframe.

Notably, Special Report with Bret Baier (6 PM/ET) averaged 5.1 million viewers and 928,000 in the 25-54 demo, besting CBS Evening News which saw 4.3 million viewers and 750,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Five commanded 7.2 million viewers and 1.2 million in the 25-54 demo, making it the second highest rated show on television yesterday behind FOX News Democracy 24.

FNC also reigned supreme in primetime nabbing 5.1 million viewers crushing CNN (749,000 P2+) and MSNBC (1 million P2+). During total day FNC nabbed 4 million viewers beating CNN (830,000 P2+) and MSNBC (1.1 million P2+) combined.

During the 2024 election cycle, FNC was the most watched cable news network in every swing state, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, according to Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, per Nielsen MRI Fusion, more Independents and Democrats continued to tune in to FNC over any other network and the network was also number one among Hispanic and Asian viewers. A recent YouGov study found more Independents get their news from FOX News than from any of the competition.

Report: YouTube Was Go-To Place For Millions of Voters


While network ratings for Election Night declined significantly compared to 2020, YouTube was the go-to spot for live election news for millions of people.

According to The WRAP, Here are the key stats: Nearly 84 million hours of live election content was streamed on Tuesday, according to Streamcharts, a streaming data company. And YouTube accounted for the vast majority of those hours, with 80.6%, or 60.7 million hours, of those hours being watched on the Google-owned streaming platform. (The U.S. accounted for most [72.3%] of those 84 million hours streamed overall.)

“Peak viewership for political streams on Election Day hit over 9.14 million viewers, with the average number of viewers throughout the day approaching 3.5 million [average],” Streamcharts said in a report accompanying its data. “Notably, audience engagement spiked closer to the end of voting and when the results were finally announced.”

Those stats stand out when considering viewership on traditional channels took a big hit this year. Nielsen reported 42.3 million people watched Donald Trump v. Kamala Harris coverage across 18 networks during prime time on Tuesday — down 25% from last election, when 56.9 million people watched election coverage during that time.

Fox News was the most popular broadcast streamed live on YouTube, setting a record 1.14 million peak viewers, according to Stream Charts data. NBC News trailed behind Fox, with 616, 900 peak viewers, according to the streaming report.

Nazar Babenko, product manager at Streams Charts, told Fortune the live-streaming platforms appeal to viewers because they allow for a back-and-forth. “It’s not just about watching anymore; people are actively debating and reacting in real time, reshaping election discourse in the process,” Babenko said.

WBD CEO Sees More Media Deals Under Trump


Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav anticipates a friendlier environment for deal-making under the incoming Trump administration, opening the door to industry consolidation, he said on Thursday.

"That would provide real positive and accelerated impact on this industry that's needed," Zaslav told investors on a conference call after the company released quarterly earnings. He was referring to the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president on Wednesday. The Republican defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Reuters reports Strict antitrust policies under the Biden administration have weighed on deal-making across industries over the past few years, limiting the options for media companies.

Zaslav told investors the entertainment and broadcasting industry was ripe for consolidation, which would improve consumer experiences in streaming as various services are combined into more coherent offerings.

"In general, Trump favors deregulation," said eMarketer television and streaming analyst Ross Benes. "That will increase the odds of more M&A. But most large media M&A deals in recent history have turned out poorly for employees and investors."

David Zaslav
Warner Bros Discovery and its peers are navigating through what Zaslav described as a "generational disruption," confronting an erosion of its lucrative television business as millions of consumers migrate to streaming video services.

A new regulatory filing reveals Zaslav had engaged in merger discussions with Paramount Global last December, though a deal never materialized. The company also explored a plan to split its streaming and studio businesses from its television networks.

In August, Warner Bros Discovery wrote down the value of its television assets by $9 billion. Paramount Global followed suit, taking a $5.98 billion charge for its television networks that same month. As recently as last month, Comcast said it was weighing spinning off its cable networks into a separate company, a strategy the Walt Disney Co earlier this year evaluated and rejected.

Earlier on Thursday, Warner Bros Discovery reported a surprise quarterly profit, helped by cost controls and an Olympics-driven record jump in streaming subscribers that made up for a lack of major box-office hits from its studio.

The company's Max streaming platform expanded into Europe weeks before the Olympic Games in Paris with exclusive rights to stream the showcase sporting event, boosting subscribers.

CNN Must Face Project Veritas' Defamation Lawsuit


A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday revived a defamation lawsuit accusing CNN of defaming Project Veritas in its explanation of why the conservative group, which is often accused of using deceptive tactics, was suspended from Twitter in 2021.

Reuters reports the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta said Project Veritas could sue over CNN journalist Ana Cabrera's on-air statement that it was suspended for "promoting disinformation," rather than for publishing private information, or "doxxing."

Without ruling on the merits, the three-judge panel also said Project Veritas plausibly alleged that CNN acted with actual malice, meaning it knew Cabrera's statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth.

CNN, part of Warner Bros Discovery and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Libby Locke and Joe Oliveri, who represent Project Veritas, said in a joint statement the case will proceed toward a possible jury trial.

Based in Mamaroneck, New York, Project Veritas is known for using covert recordings against opponents, and once obtained the diary of Democratic President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley.

Cabrera now works for MSNBC and is not a defendant. Twitter is now known as X and owned by Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla.

Cabrera told CNN viewers on Feb. 15, 2021 that Project Veritas' Twitter suspension four days earlier was part of a broader crackdown against misinformation.

Her colleague Brian Stelter appeared to agree, saying the group "got swept up in a Twitter policy by violating multiple rules."

After CNN refused a retraction, Project Veritas sued, citing Cabrera's Feb. 11, 2021 tweet stating the correct reason for the suspension.

WaPo Orders Staffers Back to the Office

Employees at The Washington Post will be expected to work from the office five days a week next year, according to a new memo from the newspaper’s chief executive, the latest crackdown on pandemic-era remote work policies.

According to the NY Times, all employees at The Post will be expected to return to the office by June 2, according to a memo from William Lewis, The Post’s chief executive. Managers must be back in the office full time by Feb. 3.

“We are really good when we are working together in person,” Lewis wrote.

The new policy at The Post — which is owned by the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos — mirrors a similar edict announced by the e-commerce giant in September. In a memo to Amazon employees, Andy Jassy, the company’s chief executive, said that in-person collaboration allowed Amazon to move fast and retain its culture.

William Lewis
The new policy at The Post could add to recent turmoil at the company, after Bezos’ decision to end the paper’s tradition of endorsing presidential candidates. That decision set off a wave of subscription cancellations and a rare rebuke from some of its top current and former journalists.

“We know for some people this shift from three to five days in the office will be welcomed and a straightforward transition,” he wrote. “For others, we know it will be an adjustment – you may need to adapt routines and rediscover old ways of managing work-life balance.”

“This is why we are giving more than six months for many of our colleagues to work it through,” Lewis added. 

The Washington Post currently allows employees to work from home two days a week.

News Corp Reports Dow Jones, Real Estate Units Growth


News Corp beat estimates for fourth-quarter revenue and profit on Thursday, driven by strength in its Dow Jones unit and strong performance in its real estate listing and book publishing businesses, sending its shares up 4% in extended trading.

Reuters reports the company said it was also evaluating options for Foxtel, its Australia-based subscription television provider, in response to interest from a third party.

News Corp, part of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's empire, has benefited from continued growth in its business information unit, Dow Jones, which includes publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and Market Watch.

The London Stock Exchange Group signed a multi-year news and data partnership with Dow Jones last month and Sam Altman-led OpenAI has partnered with the company for access to its news content.

"News Corp hit on nearly all cylinders in the fourth quarter ... Additionally their agreement with Open AI will be additive," said Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital.

"Overall, their emphasis on digital seems to be working much as it has for their competitor, the New York Times."

Revenue at Dow Jones grew 4% to $566 million, driven by growth in circulation and subscription revenue. Revenue from its book publishing unit, which consists of HarperCollins, rose 15% on higher sales of its physical and digital books.

However, revenue from its news media unit, which includes News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post, fell 5%, hit by lower advertising, circulation and subscription revenues.

Podcast Power: Changing Americans Perceptions


As brands continue to find ways to compete for share of voice, podcasts have become an increasingly valuable medium for capturing the attention of target audiences, gaining trust, and even changing perceptions of brands or topics.

The 2024 Podcast Marketing Trust Index Report, issued by Quill Inc. in partnership with Ipsos, found that one-third (33%) of Americans reported having changed their opinions on a topic or brand discussed in a podcast, with 35% being males and 50% being those ages 18-34. This further illustrates the power of podcasting with just under half (42%) going as far as to say they, to some degree, trust podcasts more than traditional forms of media such as TV or newspapers.

The report released today finds that:

IMPACT ON TRUST:
  • Over half (56%) Americans say the endorsement by the host of the podcast influences their trust in a product or service to some degree, with men (60%) and those aged 18-34 (62%) most likely to be influenced by host endorsements.
  • Just under half (42%) of Americans say they trust or somewhat trust information presented on podcasts compared to traditional forms of media. Whereas 37% feel about the same toward podcasts as they do traditional forms of media such as TV or newspapers.
  • Trust in podcasts sponsored by a brand is primarily driven by transparency or clear disclosure of sponsorship (54%), followed by expert guests or a diversity of perspectives (46%).

CONSUMER TRENDS:
  • Three-in-five Americans listen to podcasts (59%). Among them, one-third discover podcasts through social media (34%), and over one-quarter do so through recommendations from friends (30%), or by searching online (24%).
  • 44% of Americans say they have or have considered purchasing a product or service they heard about on a podcast, with those ages 18-34 having purchased or considered purchasing the most (66%).
“This survey reassures how important trust is for effective storytelling, and the unique power podcasts have to instill trust and influence opinions on critical topics from politics to personal values,” says Fatima Zaidi, founder and CEO of Quill Inc. “In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information, we are committed to showcasing how authentic storytelling can spark meaningful conversations and reshape perspectives on topics and brands, driving real change in how people think and engage with important issues.”

As consumers increasingly seek and value authenticity and transparency, brands need to collaborate with hosts and experts who genuinely care about the brand or topic to move the needle.

Milwaukee Radio: Two FMs Have Gone Country

Two Milwaukee FM radio stations that switched to Halloween-themed music nearly two weeks ago have finally given up the ghost — in favor of country music.

On Nov. 7, the FM translator stations for WZTI-AM (1290) — the oldies format known as Fonz MKE — switched the programming on 100.3 FM and 107.3 FM from The Haunt to "Froggy MKE," "where Milwaukee discovers country."

The launch of “Froggy 100.3 & 107.3” by the Milwaukee Radio Alliance, with Gordon Mays at the helm, is airing a mix of both emerging and popular country artists to the airwaves. Mays’ experience from his time at Mid-West Family in Rockford should bring a lot of expertise to the new station.

In the early going, Froggy MKE's playlist included a range of current country hits, including Tim McGraw's "One Bad Habit," Cole Swindell's "She Had Me at Heads Carolina," Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan's "Cowboys Cry Too," Jelly Roll's "Save Me," and Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire's "Dear Rodeo."

The Froggy MKE stations have plenty of country music company on the Milwaukee radio dial. In addition to WMIL-FM (106.1), area country stations include WVTY-FM (92.1) and WMBZ-FM (92.5).

LA Radio: KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Returns December 14


Audacy’s KROQ in Los Angeles will host KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, presented by GAIN, on December 14 at the Kia Forum. The 33rd annual event will feature performances from The Smashing Pumpkins, Beck, 311, Sublime, Jimmy Eat World, Franz Ferdinand, Royel Otis, AWOLNATION, The Linda Lindas and bby.

KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas benefits two local organizations dedicated to supporting local youth education – Para Los Niños and Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center.

“KROQ'S Almost Acoustic Christmas is a SoCal holiday tradition, and we're thrilled to announce the 33rd anniversary with this year's stellar lineup,” said Kevin Weatherly, Senior Vice President of Programming, KROQ. “We're very grateful to these artists who will join us to support two incredible organizations that empower and uplift our local youth.”