Sean Hannity To Host New Long-Form Interview Show On Fox Nation

FOX News Channel’s Sean Hannity will host a new long-form interview show for FOX Nation entitled, “Sean” premiering today on the platform, announced Lauren Petterson, its president. The new series will feature in-depth sit-down interviews with a variety of guests spanning the world of sports, entertainment, and politics. Episode one kicks off with iconic actor, writer and director Sylvester Stallone alongside his wife, entrepreneur, and model Jennifer Flavin Stallone.

This Thursday, December 5th, Hannity will serve as the emcee of FOX Nation’s signature Patriot Awards, a ceremony which honors and recognizes America’s finest patriots, including military veterans, first responders and other inspirational everyday heroes.

In making the announcement, Petterson said, “Sean’s signature political commentary has advanced the cultural conversation while connecting with the FOX News Media audience for more than 28 years. FOX Nation subscribers will have the opportunity to see Sean in a new setting as he conducts long-form interviews with newsmakers and celebrities, delving deep into their life journeys and the challenges and successes they have had along the way.”

Hannity added, “Throughout the course of my career, I’ve had the honor of meeting the world’s most interesting people. It is often the struggles and obstacles they have overcome that makes them most captivating. I look forward to sharing these conversations with FOX Nation viewers.”

Featuring a new episode each month, “Sean” captures candid conversations that dive deep into the lives, passions and perspectives of the country's most interesting people while providing behind-the-scenes stories and unfiltered discussions about the moments that shaped their lives. Following this week’s debut, the second episode will feature a sit-down with Stephen A. Smith, the firebrand commentator and host of ESPN’s First Take and podcast The Stephen A. Smith Show. In episode three, Hannity will interview celebrity fitness trainer and media personality Jillian Michaels. Additional guests will be announced at a later date.

FOX Nation is a direct-to-consumer on-demand streaming service designed to complement the FOX News Channel experience with a members-only destination for its most passionate and loyal super fans.

TV Ratings: MSNBC Hits 20-Year Low

MSNBC had one of its worst days in two decades last week as the liberal network continues to struggle on the heels of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

On November 26, MSNBC had the lowest-rated, non-holiday weekday among the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54 in 20 years. MSNBC managed only 38,000 average demo viewers, its smallest non-holiday audience among the critical viewers since July 19, 2004.

Viewers between the ages of 25 and 54 are the most sought after by advertisers, as they presumably have spending power but aren’t completely set in their ways. The only times MSNBC had a smaller weekday audience among the critical viewers over the last 20 years came on New Year's Day and July 4. 

Fox News Digital reports a variety of MSNBC programs hit all-time lows on Tuesday, as "The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle" and "Jose Diaz Balart Reports" had their smallest audiences ever among total viewers and "Chris Jansing Reports," "Deadline: White House" and "Katy Tur Reports" had their worst days ever among the demo. 

Multiple MSNBC programs have lost more than half their audience since Election Day when comparing demo viewership to 2024 averages. 

The ratings debacle comes as Comcast recently announced it would spin off NBCUniversal cable assets, including MSNBC, into a separate company that will not be tied to NBC News. As a result, the fate of shared resources and even the cable network's name and editorial direction are in question. 

"The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle," "All In with Chris Hayes," "Chris Jansing Reports," "Inside with Jen Psaki," "The Rachel Maddow Show" and Joy Reid’s "ReidOut" all shed at least 50% of its audience among adults age 25-54 since Trump’s victory. 

Bangor Radio: Stephen King To Shutdown 3 Stations

Stephen King’s raucous rock ‘n’ roll radio station is going silent at year’s end.

AP News reports the renowned author and lifelong rocker who used to perform with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band that featured literary icons, said Monday that at age 77, it’s time to say good-bye to three Bangor, Maine, stations that have been bleeding money. King kept the stations afloat for decades, and he said he and his wife, Tabitha, are proud to have kept them going for so long.

“While radio across the country has been overtaken by giant corporate broadcasting groups, I’ve loved being a local, independent owner all these years,” King said in a statement. “I’ve loved the people who’ve gone to these stations every day and entertained folks, kept the equipment running, and given local advertisers a way to connect with their customers."

King’s foray into radio began at age 36 with his 1983 purchase of a radio station that was rebranded WZON in deference to his book, “The Dead Zone.” That station went through a few permutations before closing, and then being reacquired by King in 1990.

The ZONE Corporation's current lineup consists of WKIT-FM, which bills itself as “Stephen King's Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio Station," along with WZON-AM Retro Radio and an adult alternative station, WZLO-FM. They'll go off the air on Dec. 31.

Ken Wood, the stations' general manager, said he’s sad that the era is ending but happy that it happened. “Independent, locally owned radio stations used to be the norm. There are only a few left in Maine, and we’re lucky we had these three as long as we did,” he said.

NYC Radio: Charlamagne Tha God Blasts Democrats Over Pardon

Biden Holding His Weapon

Popular radio personality Charlamagne Tha God criticized Joe Biden and the Democratic Party on Monday following the president's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.

The Breakfast Club host rejected Biden's justification for the sweeping pardon, which covers Hunter's recent convictions and any potential illegal conduct spanning nearly a decade from January 2014 through December 1, 2024.

"Hunter was singled out because he broke the law. That's number one," Charlamagne said Monday. "He was singled out because he had an illegal gun and tax evasion charges, not because he was the president's son."

Newsweek reached out to the White House and Hunter Biden's attorney via email for comment on Monday.

The pardon, the first such action involving a sitting president's child, comes just weeks before Hunter's sentencing. He faced up to 25 years in the firearms case and 17 years for tax evasion, though shorter sentences were expected. The sentencing hearings were set for December 12 and December 16, respectively.

Hunter responded to the pardon in court documents filed Monday and acknowledged his past struggles while defending his recovery.

Illinois Is Hardest Hit State For Newsrooms

Illinois has been harder hit by newsroom unemployment than any other state. 

Since 2005, Illinois has lost 86% of its journalists, versus 60% nationwide, according to Mediapost citing a breakout from the Medill State of Local News, a report issued in October. 

Observers blame the fact that many of its news organizations are owned by corporate chains, according to WBEZ Chicago, 

“Those ownership groups have been especially aggressive about cutting costs, especially Tribune-owned Alden Global Capital,” said Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, during a recent presentation,

One bright spot is the passage in May of a bill that will provide g $25 million in tax credits to local news organizations over five years.  The law, which takes effect in 2025 is “hugely significant and a major step in the right direction,” Franklin said.

“Is it going to fix the local news crisis in Illinois?” Franklin asked. “No. But could those tax credits help preserve some local news coverage in Illinois for residents? Yes. Could it help provide a runway to give some local news outlets time to figure out a new model? Yes. And for some smaller local news outlets, these tax credits could even be a temporary lifeline.”

Illinois and New York are the only states to offer tax credits to support local news outlets,  WBEZ continues.

WARC: The Audio Investment Gap: Breaking Down Barriers

A new white paper is released by WARC Advisory and multiplatform audio media and entertainment company Audacy today. Breaking down the barriers behind the Audio investment gap takes on a number of misperceptions driving the under-utilization of audio by marketers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 experts across leading brands, agencies, measurement companies and publishers in the audio field to better understand the issues from a 360 degree perspective.

Ray Borelli, SVP, Research & Insights, Audacy, comments, "There are more options available to marketers in audio than ever before, and we see time and again the positive results that come when brands increase their audio spend. However, investment in audio is being constrained for some by a series of perceptual barriers. This white paper aims to dispel those misperceptions and highlight the opportunities that are in front of marketers who embrace audio advertising."

Paul Stringer, Managing Editor, Research & Advisory, WARC, adds: “Now - thanks to an explosion in audio listenership - there is a growing volume of evidence to suggest that audio drives a big impact in terms of attention, brand lift and key business KPIs. Yet a gap remains between investment and consumption. We’ve touched on this gap before in previous WARC research. But this paper goes one step further to understand precisely why audio is lagging behind other channels in terms of investment. After reading this paper, I hope advertisers and agencies feel more inspired and more confident about giving audio the attention and investment it deserves.”

“Breaking Down the Barriers Behind the Audio Investment Gap” spotlights the central role Audio plays in the lives of many Americans. Driven by growth in streaming and podcasts, time spent with Audio is growing significantly faster than media consumption overall.

Edison Research shows that average daily Audio consumption is 220 minutes: one-third of the total. This increase is evident across all age groups. Audiences aged 55 – 64 now spend 39% more time with Audio than they did in 2020; for those aged 16 – 24 the daily consumption has risen by 21%.

The medium's challenge, however, is that it is realizing just 8.4% of advertiser spend, per WARC Media data. The findings show that spending would need to increase nearly threefold to match its share of ad-supported consumption.

This latest research uncovers myths that may lead to lack of investment in Audio.

Despite the misconception that Audio does not deliver campaign KPIs and is highly fragmented, evidence shows the medium delivers attributes that brands need most:

• Unparalleled reach: In the USA, Audio’s total daily reach is 96%. Broadcast radio alone reaches 84% and 34% of Americans listen to at least one podcast a week.
• High levels of attention: Podcast ads register 10,630 attentive seconds per thousand impressions (APMs) compared to TV at 4,430 APMs.
• Strong targetability: Audio buys are now based on consumer interests, behaviors and contextually relevant moments.

Positive impact across every stage of the path-to-purchase journey: Recent research by Radiocentre found that allocating budget to the channel enhances overall campaign performance by boosting organic search volumes, increasing paid search impressions with improved conversion and uplifting response to paid social ads. Nielsen states that Audio consistently ranks as a top-tier medium for ROI.

The white paper is available to read in full here.

Entravision’s Adds Jamil Downey as VP/GM Americas Expansion

Entravision has announced the appointment of Jamil Downey as Vice President & General Manager, Americas for its mobile advertising and Connected TV technology platform, Smadex . Reporting directly to Chief Revenue Officer Phil Gontier, Jamil will lead Smadex’s U.S. expansion strategy, building on the division’s robust growth trajectory while leveraging Entravision’s extensive market presence and deep-rooted industry relationships to accelerate success.

Downsey brings a wealth of expertise from his tenure at Apple, where he spearheaded high-impact initiatives within the Apple Search Ads division. His exceptional leadership and strategic insight will be instrumental as Smadex continues to strengthen its reputation as a leader in programmatic advertising.

Jamil Downey

In his new role, he'll will oversee strategic growth initiatives across the Americas, with a primary focus on the U.S. market. Collaborating closely with the CRO and executive leadership, he will build on Smadex’s successes and drive broader adoption of its innovative ad solutions.

“As Smadex continues to execute on its ambitious growth plan, we are thrilled to welcome Jamil as the leader of our Americas team,” said Phil Gontier, Chief Revenue Officer at Smadex. “Jamil’s experience, strategic mindset, and deep industry knowledge make him the perfect choice to lead and accelerate our expansion. We are looking forward to the value he will bring to our team, clients and partners.”

Smadex continues to deliver exceptional revenue growth, significantly outpacing industry benchmarks. This performance reflects our commitment to innovation and delivering customer success. Jamil’s appointment underscores our dedication to sustaining this momentum and further solidifying Smadex as a leader in mobile and Connected TV advertising.

“I’m excited to join Smadex at such a pivotal time of growth and opportunity,” said Jamil Downey, VP & GM Americas at Smadex. “Smadex’s commitment to delivering impactful advertising solutions perfectly aligns with my vision for growth and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team to help accelerate success in the U.S. market and beyond.”

Veritonic Optimizes Video Podcast Strategies

Veritonic, the industry’s comprehensive audio research and analytics platform, announced today enhanced capabilities to analyze and optimize the audio performance of video podcasts. As platforms like YouTube emerge as the dominant destination for podcast consumption, Veritonic’s innovative solutions help creators, brands, and advertisers unlock deeper insights into how their audio content resonates within the video podcast environment.

The podcasting world has undergone a transformative shift. While audio-based podcasts once ruled the space, platforms like YouTube have propelled video podcasts to the forefront, offering listeners an immersive and dynamic experience. As YouTube becomes the most popular podcast platform in the U.S., it’s clear that video podcasts are here to stay, with 84% of younger listeners—particularly Gen Z—reporting a preference for video podcasts, according to recent studies.

“The way people consume podcasts has changed fundamentally,” said Scott Simonelli, CEO and Founder of Veritonic. “It’s no longer just about audio—today’s podcast audience wants to engage with content visually as well. Our platform’s ability to analyze the audio elements of video podcasts is crucial for creators and brands looking to maximize engagement, refine content, and better connect with viewers. As video podcasts continue to dominate platforms like YouTube, the power of the audio experience cannot be overlooked.”

Veritonic’s platform offers advanced audio analytics that can be applied to video podcasts, providing a comprehensive view of how audio performance influences listener engagement and sentiment when paired with video. With measurement solutions that assess tone, emotional resonance, and content effectiveness, Veritonic’s robust insights allow podcast creators and advertisers to optimize their content for the unique dynamics of video podcast consumption.

Key Features of Veritonic’s Video Podcast Audio Analytics include:

• Cross-Platform Analysis: Gain insights into the audio performance of video podcasts across platforms & channels
• Audio-Visual Synergy: Understand how the combination of video and audio affects listener engagement, retention, and sentiment
• Second-by-Second Engagement Metrics: Second-by-second engagement measures the emotional impact of podcast audio down to each word in the script, helping creators fine-tune content to elicit the desired response from their audience
• Brand and Ad Effectiveness: Assess how audio-driven brand messages and advertisements perform in video podcast environments

As YouTube cements its position as the leading platform for podcasts, creators are adapting to the need for more visually engaging content. Whether through enhanced video production or integrating cameras into their recording setups, creators are increasingly optimizing podcasts for video-centric experiences. For advertisers, video podcasts present an exciting opportunity to reach audiences with rich, multi-sensory content—driving deeper connections between brands and listeners.

YouTube Expands Its Lead As The #1 Platform For Podcasts

YouTube has hit a new high as America’s primary podcast destination.

In 2021, YouTube was the third most accessed destination for podcasts. In 2022, it tied Spotify as the platform used most among weekly podcast listeners. Now across two years’ worth of studies in 2023 and 2024, YouTube has pulled away from the pack and leads as the most used podcast audience platform in the U.S., hitting a new high of 34%.

For the thirteenth edition of the Podcast Download series, Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights retained MARU/Matchbox to conduct an in-depth study of 603 weekly podcast consumers from October 3-7, 2024. Two studies are conducted annually. The Fall 2024 Report highlights trends from prior studies and examines topics such as platform preference, content trends, perceptions of brand safety and content appropriateness, and more.

Liz Mayer, Insights Manager of the Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group®, and Paul Riismandel, President of Signal Hill Insights, conducted an extensive analysis of the Podcast Download consumer study.

Key takeaways:

• Hitting an all-time high, YouTube is the most utilized podcast listening platform in the U.S.: 34% say it is the platform they use the most, followed by Spotify (17%) and Apple (11%)YouTube is used most among Podcast Newcomers, Podcast Pioneers, and heavy podcast consumers
• As the world’s entertainment search engine, YouTube is the dominant podcast discovery platform where audiences are more likely to find podcasts
• Those who discover a podcast on YouTube say they stick with the platform for video, comments, community, entertainment, recommendations, and platform features
• However, the YouTube podcast audience is not exclusively tied to the platform
• Watchable podcasts are growing in popularity as 1 in 3 weekly podcast consumers now say they prefer actively watching podcasts with videos
• Podcast Newcomers are more likely to prefer actively watching podcast videos
• Preference for watchable video is a key driver in platform used most: YouTube is a runaway #1 among podcast consumers who prefer podcasts via video
• YouTube dominates association as the platform where podcasts can be watched and heard
• Younger podcast consumers are more likely to consume a podcast because of the thumbnail image on YouTube versus older podcast consumers
• Text and the podcast title on the thumbnail are the biggest reasons podcast consumers will pick a podcast on YouTube

Those who only watch podcasts are 13% of the weekly podcast audience

Given that video is becoming a growing podcast tuning option, the definition of podcast consumption was expanded in the April 2022 Podcast Download study. Since then, those who only watch podcasts have been accepted into the Podcast Download survey of the weekly podcast audience.

The inclusion of those who only watch podcasts expanded the podcast audience. Over five studies in the last two years, an average of 10% of the weekly podcast audience indicate they only consume podcasts via “watching.”

YouTube is the most utilized podcast platform in the U.S., hitting an all-time high: 34% say it is the platform they use the most, followed by Spotify (17%) and Apple (11%)

Two-thirds of weekly podcast listeners consider the “big three” as their most preferred podcast platform. YouTube’s lead over Spotify for “use most” is now 2X and 3X Apple.

Much has changed over the last six years. In July 2019, Apple was the dominant podcast audience platform. At the time, 29% said they used Apple most versus Spotify (16%) and YouTube (15%).

Two years later in October 2021 it was a three-horse race between Apple, YouTube, and Spotify as an equal proportion said they used each platform the most.

Since then, YouTube has steadily grown at the expense of Apple. Spotify has eroded slightly to the high teens and low 20% range for “use most.” Apple’s October 2024 “use most” response (11%) is an all-time low.

FOX Nation Patriot Awards To Spotlight Everyday Heroes

The sixth annual Patriot Awards, an event honoring America’s unsung heroes, is set to take place on Thursday, Dec. 5, at Long Island's Tilles Center for Performing Arts in Brookville. Hosted by FOX News Channel’s Sean Hannity, a Long Island native, the event will recognize military veterans, first responders and other inspirational figures whose contributions often go unnoticed.

The Long Island Press reports the ceremony, presented by FOX Nation, will stream live at 8 p.m. ET, with an encore presentation airing on FOX News Channel on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 10 p.m. ET.

Brian Kilmeade, a presenter at the event and a co-host of “FOX & Friends,” emphasized the significance of the awards.

“This event is about celebrating the people who don’t always get the spotlight but who do extraordinary things every day,” Kilmeade said. “It’s a red, white and blue event that perfectly aligns with what we stand for as a network and as a community.”

The Patriot Awards has grown in scope and significance since its inception, spotlighting categories like the T2T Stephen Siller Back the Blue Award, the FOX Weather Ultimate Patriot Award and the FOX Nation Salute to Service Award. This year’s honorees remain a closely guarded secret until the event, but organizers promise stories of courage and selflessness that will inspire viewers and attendees alike.

The awards will feature appearances by numerous FOX News Media personalities, including Will Cain, Harris Faulkner, Laura Ingraham and Dana Perino, among others. Leading up to the event, shows like “The Five and FOX & Friends” will broadcast live from the Tilles Center, offering fans a chance to engage with their favorite hosts through meet-and-greets.

“FOX Nation does an incredible job curating this event,” Kilmeade said. “They bring together stories from across the country, often highlighting people you may not have heard about but whose actions make a real difference.”

Kilmeade noted that the awards resonate deeply with FOX’s audience, who value stories of hard work, sacrifice and community.

The awards ceremony is made possible by partnerships with organizations like Tunnel to Towers, Patriot Mobile and Golden Corral, further underscoring its mission to uplift those who dedicate their lives to service.

CRS New Faces Of Country Music Show Voting 2025 Now Open

Voting is now open for the Class of 2025 New Faces of Country Music Show through Dec. 6 at    CountryRadioSeminar.com.

This year’s nominated artists for the 2025 New Faces of Country Music Show are Ashley Cooke (Big Loud/Back Blocks), Bryan Martin (Average Joes), Chase Matthew (Warner Music Nashville), Chayce Beckham (19 Recordings/BBR/BMG), Dasha (Warner Records), Drew Baldridge (Lyric Ridge/BMG/Stoney Creek), Dylan Marlowe (Sony Music Nashville), Tucker Wetmore (UMG Nashville/Back Blocks), Warren Zeiders (Warner Records) and Zach Top (Leo33).

CRS New Faces showcases five emerging artists who have achieved notable success on country radio during the qualification period, which spans from Nov. 1, 2023 to Oct. 31, 2024 for the 2025 edition. The final lineup for the New Faces of Country Music Show 2025 will be determined based on the five acts with the most votes. Eligible voters must be full-time employees primarily involved in the programming, promotion and distribution of country music.

The New Faces of Country Music Show has played a pivotal role in the careers of nearly every major country star since its inception in 1970.

Portland Radio: 99.5 The Wolf Relieves $4.6 Million in Medical Debt

Audacy Portland’s 99.5 The Wolf’s “Nick and Kristen in the Morning” (KWJJ-FM) relieved $4.6 million in medical debt for the Pacific Northwest through “The Nick and Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff.” The married morning show partnered with Undue Medical Debt and collected donations from November 18th to 22nd. With the local community’s contributions, “The Nick and Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff” helped relieve medical debt for 3,345 people. 

“We are once again humbled and inspired by the generosity of the 99.5 The Wolf listeners and local business owners,” said Nick and Kristen from “Nick and Kristen in the Morning.” “After four years, we’ve paid over $16 million in medical debt for the Pacific Northwest. As a married morning show, we’ve experienced the pain of medical debt and are overjoyed that thousands of families will enjoy a holiday free of medical debt thanks to the giving nature of our audience. ‘The Nick and Kristen Medical Debt Payoff’ proves that local radio can make a big impact in the lives of our community.” 

Founded ten years ago, Undue Medical Debt is a national nonprofit with the mission to help end medical debt. This is the fourth year that “The Nick and Kristen’s Medical Debt Payoff” has partnered with the nonprofit, eradicating a total of $16 million in medical debt. 

99.5 The Wolf’s “The Nick and Kristen Medical Debt Payoff” is part of Audacy’s commitment to making a meaningful difference at scale. Audacy uses its reach and personal connection with listeners to advance causes that promote strong mental health and build sound communities.

Radio History: Dec 3

➦In 1927...singer Andy Williams was born in smalltown Iowa.   After singing with three siblings in The Williams Brothers quartet on midwest radio as early as 1938, he became a featured soloist on NBC-TV’s Tonight Show, hosted in the early 50’s by Steve Allen.  Later he was host of his own TV series (1962-71) and a number of Christmas specials on NBC.  Most of his 44 albums were featured on MOR radio stations throughout his life.  He succumbed to bladder cancer Sept. 25 2012 at age 84.

➦In 1928…NBC radio gave birth to what would be the longest run of any semi-classical music broadcast.  It began as The Firestone Hour, evolving soon into the 30-minute Voice of Firestone, which aired o Monday evenings for 28-years.  It was also a simulcast on NBC TV beginning in 1949, it moved to ABC in 1954 and ended its almost 35-year run on ABC-TV in 1963.

➦In 1948...Bing Crosby's song "White Christmas" debuted on the U.S. music charts. That was 7 years after it was first sung on a radio show sponsored by the Kraft Company on Christmas Day, 1941.

A Young Paul Harvey

➦In 1950...ABC Radio began airing Paul Harvey news and comment nationwide.

Paul Harvey Aurandt broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays on the ABC Radio Network.  He also voiced his famous "The Rest of the Story" segments. From the 1950s through the 1990s, Harvey's programs reached as many as 24 million people a week. Paul Harvey News was carried on 1,200 radio stations, 400 Armed Forces Network stations and 300 newspapers.

Harvey made radio receivers as a young boy. He attended Tulsa Central High School where a teacher was "impressed by his voice." On her recommendation, he started working at KVOO in Tulsa in 1933, when he was 14. His first job was helping clean up. Eventually he was allowed to fill in on the air, reading commercials and the news.

While attending the University of Tulsa, he continued working at KVOO, first as an announcer, and later as a program director. Harvey, at age nineteen spent three years as a station manager for KFBI AM, now known as KFDI, a radio station that once had studios in Salina, Kansas. From there, he moved to a newscasting job at KOMA in Oklahoma City, and then to KXOK, in St. Louis in 1938, where he was Director of Special Events and a roving reporter.

Harvey then moved to Hawaii to cover the United States Navy as it concentrated its fleet in the Pacific. He was returning to the mainland from assignment when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He eventually enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces but served only from December 1943 to March 1944.

Harvey then moved to Chicago, where in June 1944, he began broadcasting from the ABC affiliate WENR. In 1945, he began hosting the postwar employment program Jobs for G.I. Joe on WENR.

Harvey added The Rest of the Story as a tagline to in-depth feature stories in 1946.

On April 1, 1951, the ABC Radio Network debuted Paul Harvey News and Comment "Commentary and analysis of Paul Harvey each weekday at 12 Noon". Paul Harvey was also heard originally on Sundays; the first Sunday program was Harvey's introduction. Later, the Sunday program would move to Saturdays.

Harvey died on February 28, 2009, at the age of 90 at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.

➦In 1955...Elvis Presley's first single release for RCA Victor.  No, it wasn’t ‘Hound Dog’ or ‘Heartbreak Hotel.’ The first two sides were actually purchased from Sam Phillips of Sun Records: ‘Mystery Train’ and ‘I Forgot to Remember to Forget.’  RCAVictor called Elvis "The most talked about personality in recorded music in the last 10 years."

Elton John Reveals Loss Of Eyesight

Elton John revealed he has lost his eyesight after his battle with a “severe” infection.

Page Six at The NY Post reports the iconic musician, 77, made the shocking confession on Sunday night while addressing guests at Dominion Theatre in London’s West End following “The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical” charity gala night performance.

“As some of you may know, I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed listening to it,” John told the crowd, per the BBC.

The Grammy winner also credited his husband, David Furnish, for helping him throughout the ordeal.

“To my husband, who’s been my rock, because I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because as you know, I’ve lost my eyesight, so it’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it,” John continued, per a video posted on TikTok.

The “Rocket Man” singer previously addressed his eyesight in early September, revealing he only had “limited vision in one eye” after dealing with a “severe eye infection” over the summer.

“I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye,” John wrote in a statement at the time.

He further elaborated on his condition in an interview with Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America” last week.

.@eltonofficial shares a glimpse into his personal life with new documentary, "Elton John: Never Too Late." The music legend revealed to @robinroberts that he lost sight in his right eye in July due to an infection. pic.twitter.com/sKza3RMbQo

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 25, 2024

“I, unfortunately, lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France and it’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see,” he said.

“And my left eye’s not the greatest so there’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment…”

NYC Radio: Elvis Duran On His Special Bond With Z100 Listeners

If you don't recognize his face, you may know his voice. Since 1996 the 60-year-old disc jockey has been host of "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show," the country's most popular Top 40 morning program. "I can't believe it's been 30 years, because it's been nothing but fun," he said.

Every day, millions of listeners nationwide wake up to Duran and his crew dishing about music, pop culture … pretty much whatever's on their minds. "I've been working with some of the same people for 25-30 years," he said. "The energy with each other is what makes it work. I don't need to be the center of attention."

With 70 markets across the country listening, Duran's a rarity these days – a nationally-known radio DJ.

But it's everyday listeners with whom Duran feels a special bond. He said, "We are in the friendship business. I think about you when you hop in your car in the morning. You're either leaving a house that may be full of turmoil, or going to a job with a boss you don't like. But I have you for 20-30 minutes, and I can be your friend."

Houston Radio: John McClain OUT At KILT AM

Longtime Houston radio host John McClain has been an icon in the local media scene for the better part of four decades. However, Awful Announcing reports he learned on Wednesday that his lengthy tenure at SportsRadio KILT 610 is coming to an end.

McClain got his start in radio all the way back in 1985, covering the Houston Oilers for NewsRadio 740 for 15 years. He then moved to SportsRadio 610, where he has been for the last 24 years.

1) This will take a few tweets, so please bear with me. For the first time in 24 years, I won't be appearing on @SportsRadio610 because I've been laid off. Friday is my last day. I'd been making 6 appearances, writing 4 columns and doing 3 Houtopia Football Podcasts each week.

— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) January 31, 2024

The legendary radio personality took to social media on Wednesday to inform his fans that he has been laid off, with his last show set to take place on Friday.

In a series of 12 follow-up tweets on the matter, McClain went on to express his gratitude to his colleagues at the station over the years, as well as expressing that he has no ill will towards the station after this decision.

R.I.P.: Andy Paley, Record Producer, Composer

Andy Paley, a record producer, composer and rock ’n’ roll chameleon who worked with artists as varied as Madonna, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jonathan Richman, and who helped resuscitate the career of the Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson after his much-chronicled emotional flameout, died on Nov. 20 in Colchester, Vt. He was 73.

The NY Times reports his wife, Heather Crist Paley, said the cause of his death, at a hospice facility, was cancer.

A curator of the spirit of classic 1960s pop, Paley played many roles over an ever-evolving career. He got his start in the late 1960s as the frontman for a Boston-area power-pop outfit called the Sidewinders, which briefly included the future FM radio staple Billy Squier on guitar and opened for groups like Aerosmith.

Later that decade, he banded with his younger brother, Jonathan, to form a highly regarded, if short-lived, pop duo, the Paley Brothers. With their winsome looks and mops of blond hair, they appeared in the pages of teen bibles like 16 magazine and Tiger Beat and toured with the pop confection Shaun Cassidy.

A skilled multi-instrumentalist, Paley often went on the road with his close friend Mr. Richman and filled in on keyboards on Patti Smith’s 1976 tour of Europe.

Influenced by studio wizards like Phil Spector, Paley also produced songs for numerous performers, including Debbie Harry, K.D. Lang, NRBQ, Little Richard and Brenda Lee. In the 1980s, he began to produce for Seymour Stein, the visionary label chief of Sire Records.

Paley was also a songwriter. Among his many credits, he helped write two songs for Madonna’s 1990 album “I’m Breathless” — “Now I’m Following You” and “I’m Going Bananas” — released in conjunction with the film “Dick Tracy,” in which Madonna co-starred with Warren Beatty. Mr. Paley produced and contributed songs to the film’s soundtrack album as well.

Five years later, he produced and co-wrote several songs for “Young Blood,” a return-to-roots album by the combustible rock ’n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis. And he wrote songs for the cartoon series “The Ren & Stimpy Show” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

Social Media: Journalists Flock to Bluesky

When Ashton Pittman, an award-winning news editor and reporter, first joined the app Bluesky, he said, he was the only Mississippi journalist he knew to be using it. Until about five weeks ago, he said, that was the case. But now, Pittman said, there are at least 15 Mississippi journalists on Bluesky as it becomes a preferred platform for reporters, writers, activists and other groups who have become increasingly alienated by X.

NBC News reports Pittman’s outlet, the Mississippi Free Press, already has more followers on Bluesky (28,500) than it ever did on X (22,000), the platform formerly known as Twitter, and Pittman said the audience engagement on Bluesky is booming.

“We have posts that are exactly the same on Twitter and on Bluesky, and with those identical posts, Bluesky is getting 20 times the engagement or more than Twitter,” Pittman said. “Seeing a social media platform that doesn’t throttle links really makes it clear how badly we were being limited.”

Since Elon Musk bought Twitter, has turned the platform into an increasingly difficult place for journalists, and many had come to suspect that the platform had begun to suppress the reach of posts that include links to external websites. On Sunday, Musk confirmed the platform has deprioritized posts including links, which was how journalists and other creators historically shared their work. But four journalists told NBC News that after millions of users migrated to Bluesky, an alternative that resembles a pared-back version of X, after the election, they are rebuilding their audiences there, too. 

Platform and audience editors at The Guardian and The Boston Globe have publicly noted higher traffic to their news websites from Bluesky than from competitors including Threads, Meta’s X alternative. Rose Wang, Bluesky’s chief operating officer, quoted the Guardian’s stats, writing: “We want Bluesky to be a great home for journalists, publishers, and creators. Unlike other platforms, we don’t de-promote your links. Post all the links you want — Bluesky is a lobby to the open web.”

➤Read Full Story: HERE

TV Ratings: Giants, Cowboys Attracted 38.5M Viewers

The Thanksgiving Day game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys drew an impressive 38.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched game of the 2024 NFL regular season. Despite both teams having subpar seasons and missing their starting quarterbacks, the game still managed to attract a massive audience.

The Cowboys-Giants game aired at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox and peaked at 41.3 million viewers during the second quarter2. This viewership number is the fourth-highest for a Thanksgiving game ever. The Cowboys' strong viewership draw, regardless of their performance, and the Giants' presence from the country's biggest media market contributed to these high numbers.

Interestingly, the primetime Thanksgiving game between the Packers and Dolphins drew 26.6 million viewers, slightly down from last year's 26.9 million for 49ers-Seahawks2.

MLB Wants Control of Local TV Broadcasts

Before baseball commissioner Rob Manfred can enact his plan to reshape the sport’s television landscape, he’s going to have to clear one major hurdle: the big-market teams.

As The Athletic reported last week, Manfred is pushing for Major League Baseball’s central office to take control of local team broadcast rights so it can sell more inventory nationally come 2028. That’s the year MLB’s national broadcast deals expire, and when MLB hopes deep-pocketed streaming companies scoop up more games than they feature today.

But Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, whose local media rights dwarf the value of most other teams’ — and who already has a deal with Amazon’s Prime Video to broadcast Yankees games — wants clubs to be able to choose whether they’re in or out.

“We’ve had discussions with Rob in the past,” Steinbrenner said last week at MLB headquarters when asked about Manfred’s plan. “He knows my take, which is that at the very least, it needs to be an optional thing, but I’m gonna leave it at that. But we’ve got a good board of directors at the YES Network, and we’ve got a good network, and we’re doing pretty good right now.”

The YES Network, the regional sports station partially owned by the Yankees, televised 125 of the Yankees’ 162 regular-season games in 2024. Almost all were exclusive telecasts: most of the time, no other national MLB partner like Fox simultaneously carried the game. YES and the Yankees are under contract through 2042.  Another 21 games in 2024 were carried exclusively by Amazon, which owns a piece of YES.

Under Manfred’s plan, the number of games available for YES — or any team’s typical broadcasting partner — would likely drop. Instead, more games would be televised exclusively by the streaming company that wins the bidding for a given package.

Why couldn’t the games be available both via the national package and YES at the same time? It’s technically possible, were all the parties to agree, just unlikely. Streaming companies will pay more if fans have to sign up for their service to get the games, and Manfred has a big-dollar blueprint in mind.

Bloomberg Audio Renews Multi-Year Deal With Audacy

Key Networks, a next generation radio syndication company, and Bloomberg Audio   ,   a leading provider of radio business news in the U.S., announce that Bloomberg Audio and Audacy have renewed their agreement to deliver Bloomberg Audio business and consumer news programming across the majority of Audacy’s 26 all-news and news talk stations. 

Audacy owns and operates many of the most influential news and news talk stations in America, including 92.3 FM and 1010 WINS (WINS-AM)/92.3 FM in New York, News KNX-FM 97.1 and 1070 AM News Radio (KNX-AM/FM) in Los Angeles, WBBM Newsradio (WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM) in Chicago, and many more. 

Bloomberg Audio has been Audacy’s primary business and consumer news provider for several years.

Under the new multi-year agreement, Bloomberg Audio will continue to provide Audacy with business and consumer news provider for several years.

Under the new multi-year agreement, Bloomberg Audio will continue to provide Audacy stations with access to its world-class radio news content, including live, customized reports, Bloomberg Money Minutes, and specialty features including: Bloomberg Business of Sports, Bloomberg Business of Entertainment, Green Report, Small Business Report, Real Estate Report, and more. 

FCC's Carr: Social Media Should Follow X On Free Speech

Brendan Carr, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, praised Elon Musk’s advocacy for free speech with X, arguing more people need to move in his direction and “away from government control,” reports The Washington Examiner.

When asked about a ban of social media platform TikTok in the United States and whether or not Trump would take action to stop this ban, Carr pointed to how this topic is “in the court system,” adding that “we’ll see the actions” that Trump takes regarding it.

“I think we’re all going to follow President Trump’s lead on that one, but what’s clear is we need a lot more competition,” Carr said on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, guest-hosted by Jackie DeAngelis. “We need more competition to Facebook. What Twitter has done, what X has done now with Elon Musk in terms of restoring freedom of speech, that’s so important and integral to this country. We need to continue to move in that direction; we need to move away from government control and towards freedom of speech.”

🇺🇸NEW: Trump FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is dead serious about taking on the Censorship Industrial Complex:

“Combatting Big Tech censorship is going to be a top priority. We need to restore Americans' right to free speech…[Tech companies] have been part of a censorship cartel… pic.twitter.com/l8uDexbSxy

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) December 1, 2024

Carr contended that restoring freedom of speech is vital to the nation, adding that Facebook and other social media platforms have been part of a “censorship cartel” in cooperation with advertisers to censor people. He added that when censorship abounds, people’s ideas become silenced, going against the boundary-pushing for which the U.S. is known.

Trump’s FCC chairman nominee was also asked if he had any information on Trump’s recent meeting with Meta-CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to which he said he did not, but that Zuckerberg will “hopefully” continue to embrace freedom of speech.

In November, shortly after Trump nominated Carr to be part of his Cabinet, the nominee said that combating tech censorship would be one of his priorities as part of the incoming Trump administration. Another major factor would be to eliminate the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the FCC, for which Carr argued “there’s no place.”

Michigan, Ohio State Fined Over TV Footbrawl

The Big Ten Conference has fined Michigan and Ohio State $100k each for their involvement in Saturday’s postgame brawl, the conference announced.

“The Big Ten Conference has determined that the actions of both teams following the Michigan-Ohio State football game on Saturday, November 30, 2024, violated the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy,” the conference said in a press release.

Following Michigan’s 13-10 victory, a Wolverines player attempted to plant a Michigan banner on the Buckeyes logo at midfield in Ohio Stadium, which led to pushing and shoving and eventually punches being thrown by members of both teams. Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen snatching the flag and throwing it away.

Massive fight ensues after @UMichFootball tries to plant flag midfield in Ohio Stadium

Players from both teams engaged in a massive brawl after Michigan pulled off a shocking 13-10 upset of No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus Saturday, prompting officers to deploy pepper spray. pic.twitter.com/qJkIURI4xt

— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) December 1, 2024

CNN reports it took several minutes for stadium security and police to separate the two teams, with pepper spray being deployed to get the situation under control, according to multiple media reports. The television broadcast showed players wiping their eyes and coughing in the aftermath of the brawl.

“Not only did the actions of both teams violate fundamental elements of sportsmanship such as respect and civility, the nature of the incident also jeopardized the safety of participants and bystanders,” the Big Ten added.

According to the Big Ten, no other fines or suspensions will be handed out.

“For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. Bad for the sport. Bad for college football,” Michigan running back Kalel Mullings told the Fox broadcast.

“At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose. You can’t be fighting this stuff just because you lost the game. All that fighting, we had 60 minutes, we had four quarters to do all that fighting and now people want to talk and fight. That’s wrong. It’s bad for the game. Classless in my opinion. People got to be better.”

Pending Business: NAB Pushes For AM Radio Act

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is gaining traction in a lame-duck Congress. The bill aims to require carmakers to keep AM radio in dashboards, citing its importance for emergency alerts and public safety. With a filibuster-proof majority of 63 Senators and 268 House members co-sponsoring the bill, it has strong bipartisan support.

There are two main strategies being considered to pass the bill. One is to attach it to must-pass legislation, such as government funding bills or disaster relief efforts. The other is to wait until the newly-elected Congress takes office in January, when Republicans will hold the majority in both chambers.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is actively working with congressional leaders to find the best path forward. However, the auto industry is lobbying against the requirement, citing interference issues between electric vehicle batteries and AM signals.

If passed, the bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule mandating access to AM broadcast stations in motor vehicles. Automakers would have at least two years to comply, with smaller manufacturers given up to four years.

X Stepping Into Legal Fight Over Infowars

Elon Musk’s X is intervening in the bankruptcy sale of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars, in what is believed to be the first time a social media platform has stepped in to a legal dispute over account ownership.

CNN reports Jones’ Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, was recently auctioned off to help pay some of the nearly $1.5 billion Jones owes the families of Sandy Hook massacre victims after he was found guilty of defamation. The satirical news site The Onion was declared the winner of the auction, with the backing of some of the families, in a seven-figure bid that Jones and his allies are challenging in court.

The sale includes Infowars’ website, studio equipment, online dietary supplement store and social media accounts, which are followed by millions of users.

In past legal disputes over account ownership, social media companies have left it to the courts and parties involved to work it out. But in this case, X is stepping in, objecting to Jones and Infowars’ X accounts being part of the sale.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a social media platform arguing to a court that no one can transfer ownership during a dispute over who owns an account because they will just switch it off,” said Toby Butterfield, who teaches social media law at Columbia University’s Law School.

In a filing last week with the Texas bankruptcy court, attorneys for X said the company does not object to the overall sale of Infowars’ parent company, but “objects to any proposed sale or other purported transfer of any account used by Jones or FSS that is maintained on the X platform (“X”).”

That’s because X says its terms of service make it clear that accounts cannot be sold, and are ultimately owned by X.

NYC Radio: 77 WABC to Raise Money on Giving Tuesday

77 WABC Radio has partnered with Shriners Children’s™️ for a multi-media campaign that will increase awareness and support for the mission of providing The Most Amazing Care Anywhere™️.

Running through Giving Tuesday on December 3, 77WABC is airing promos on air and in its e-newsletter soliciting donations to Shriners Children’s healthcare system. WABC Radio personality and legendary New York TV anchor Ernie Anastos is the voice of the campaign.

On Giving Tuesday, WABC Radio will expand the promotion to include a stream display on the 77WABC app, video social media posts from all talent, and pre-rolls on its podcasts, with the call to action to donate to Shriners Children’s. Donations to Shriners Children’s on Giving Tuesday will be 3X matched by one of their supporters for triple the impact on children’s health.

WABC's Sid Rosenberg

In addition, on Giving Tuesday listeners will be invited to donate $225 per person to the WABC Radio Foundation, with net proceeds earmarked for Shriners Children’s, to be part of an intimate, 40-person audience for a live broadcast of Sid & Friends In The Morning with host Sid Rosenberg. The live broadcast will take place in January at Studio 77, WABC Radio’s state-of-the-art audio/video event space. These audience members will have the opportunity for a picture with Sid and will receive a Shriners Children’s Love to the rescueÒ blanket. In addition, a silent auction to benefit Shriners Children’s will take place for listeners attending the live broadcast, who will have the opportunity to bid on Shriners Children’s Love to the rescue baskets, including items signed by 77WABC on-air personalities.

“Shriners Children’s gives hope to children and their families across the country and around the world, regardless of their ability to pay,” said John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Media and WABC Radio. “At WABC Radio, we are proud to help support Shriners Children’s mission to deliver specialty medical care to children.”

Radio History: Dec 2

➦In 1917...actor/director Ezra Stone was born in New Bedford Mass.  ezra-stone His major acting success was as the teenaged son, Henry, in the popular radio comedy The Aldrich Family. As director he shot that show when it came to TV, as well as The Munsters & Lost in Space. He died at age 76 in an auto accident Mar 3, 1994.

➦In 1932..."The Adventures of Charlie Chan" first aired on the NBC Blue Radio Network. The Chinese detective became even more popular on the movie screen in the 1930s and 1940s.

On radio, Charlie Chan was heard in several different series on three networks (the NBC Blue Network, Mutual, and ABC) between 1932 and 1948.  Walter Connolly initially portrayed Chan on Esso Oil's Five Star Theater.  Ed Begley, Sr. had the title role in NBC's The Adventures of Charlie Chan (1944–45), followed by Santos Ortega (1947–48). Leon Janney and Rodney Jacobs were heard as Lee Chan, Number One Son, and Dorian St. George was the announcer.

➦In 1963...Jay Nelson aired his first morning show on CHUM 1050 AM Toronto.

Born Frank Coxe in Scranton, Pa., Nelson was a disc jockey there before arriving in  Buffalo, where WKBW was riding the crest of rock's surging popularity.

He joined Joey Reynolds, Danny Neaverth, Fred Klestine and a handful of other star disc jockeys who were kings of radio and school record hops. Owing to the station's 50,000 watts of power, their irreverent voices and record selections boomed into homes up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

On weekends Nelson changed into a pith helmet and khakis for his role as host of WKBW-TV's "Jungle Jay Show," a humorous audience participation series that aired on Saturday morning.

The program was a hit with Canadian viewers as well, and it was Nelson's cross-border popularity that earned him the morning job at CHUM.

Nelson had a 17 year run in morning drive at CHUM, finally stepping down in 1980.

Nelson went on to gigs at CITY-TV, CKFM, CKEY, CHFI and CJEZ and was teaching radio at George Brown College in Toronto shortly before his death.

On February 18, 1994, Toronto radio fans were shocked at the news that long-time CHUM morning man Jay Nelson had died.

➦In 1971...Don Imus started at 660 WNBC, New York City.

Imus was a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Upon winning a talent contest at Johnny Otis's nightclub, he began working as a singer/songwriter, managed by Otis.  After hearing a morning disc-jockey, he went to the nearby radio station and persuaded the owner to hire him. Thus he began his career as a radio disc jockey on June 28, 1968 at radio station KUTY in Palmdale, California. He stayed at the station until 1969 when he left for a job at KJOY, a small radio station in Stockton, California.