➦In 1927…The term "Grand Ole Opry" was used for the first time to refer to the Saturday Night aired on WSM, Nashville. The show was originally named WSM Barn Dance, and George D. 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. On this day in, 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."
➦In 1940...the first NFL championship game heard nationally aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System. Red Barber called the game and the Bears beat the Redskins, 73-0, in the most one-sided NFL final ever.
➦In 1941…A Presidential Address was delivered at 12:30 p.m. to a Joint Session of Congress by U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one day after the Empire of Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii. Roosevelt described the previous day as "a date which will live in infamy."
Within an hour of the speech, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan and officially brought the U.S. into World War II. Britain and Canada also declared war on Japan, although both countries already had been fighting World War II in Europe against Germany.
➦In 1962…DJ-promoter Alan Freed appeared at his payola trial in NYC and admitted to receiving money from record labels to play their songs on the air.
He was found guilty, fined $300, and given six months probation, but the irreparable damage to his reputation and career had been done.
Dick Clark, host of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand," was also questioned but was cleared of all charges.
➦In 1962...During the 1962–63 New York City newspaper strike,WABC 95.5 FM programmed news for 17 hours daily. This was about two-and-a-half years before 1010 WINS launched its own around-the-clock, all-news format in April 1965.
The all-news effort on WABC-FM was followed by stints with Broadway show tunes and general freeform programming, including broadcasts of New York Mets baseball games.
➦In 1980...John Lennon, formerly of The Beatles, was fatally shot in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City.
The perp was Mark David Chapman, who stated that he was incensed by Lennon's lifestyle and public statements, especially his much-publicized remark about the Beatles being "more popular than Jesus" and the lyrics of his later songs "God" and "Imagine". Chapman also said he was inspired by the fictional character Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye.
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday said he has confidence in Pete Hegseth, even as he acknowledged “people were a little bit concerned” about his pick to lead the Pentagon amid a series of allegations related to drinking and sexual misconduct.
“Looks like Pete is doing well now. I mean, people were a little bit concerned,” Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker in an interview at Trump Tower. “He’s a young guy with a tremendous track record. Actually, went to Princeton and went to Harvard. He was a good student at both, but he loves the military, and I think people are starting to see it. So, we’ll be working on his nomination, along with a lot of others.”
Asked whether he thinks Hegseth can earn Senate confirmation, Trump said, “I think he will, yeah. I’ve had a lot of senators call me up saying he’s fantastic.” But Trump said he has not gotten any assurances from senators that he’ll be confirmed.
CNN Reports the comments from the president-elect marked the latest public praise for his embattled choice for secretary of defense after days of support behind the scenes.
Earlier in the day, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the military veteran and former television anchor “is doing very well” and that “his support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe.”
Asked by Welker whether he had concerns over reports of excessive drinking, Trump, who does not drink, said he’s “spoken to people that know [Hegseth] very well and they say he does not have a drinking problem.”
Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing and forcefully pushed back on what he has described as unfounded attacks against him. On Thursday, he concluded his first week of meetings on Capitol Hill as he seeks to shore up support with key senators who will vote on his confirmation.
Trump had told Hegseth he wants to see him fight for votes in the Senate, sources close to both men told CNN, and the continued backing is part of the reason Hegseth has appeared more bullish this week while he’s held critical meetings with Republican senators.
On Friday, he thanked the president-elect for his support, saying on X, “Like you, we will never back down.”
A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law requiring Chinese-based ByteDance to divest its popular short video app TikTok in the United States by early next year or face a ban.
The decision is a win for the Justice Department and opponents of the Chinese-owned app and a devastating blow to ByteDance. It increases the possibility of an unprecedented ban in just six weeks on a social media app used by 170 million Americans.
Reuters reports the ruling is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.
The appeals court noted the law was the result of Republicans and Democrats working together, as well as two presidents, as "part of a broader effort to counter a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the PRC (People's Republic of China)."
But free speech advocates immediately criticized the decision. The American Civil Liberties Union said it sets a "flawed and dangerous precedent."
"Banning TikTok blatantly violates the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans who use this app to express themselves and communicate with people around the world,” said Patrick Toomey, deputy director of the ACLU's National Security Project.
TikTok said it expected the Supreme Court would reverse the appeals court decision on First Amendment grounds.
"The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok said in a statement.
In its analysis, the court said China, through its relationship with TikTok parent ByteDance, threatened to distort U.S. speech through TikTok and "manipulate public discourse."
China's "ability to do so is at odds with free speech fundamentals. Indeed, the First Amendment precludes a domestic government from exercising comparable control over a social media company in the United States."
U.S. appeals court Judges Sri Srinivasan, Neomi Rao and Douglas Ginsburg considered the legal challenges brought by TikTok and users against the law, which gives ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell or divest TikTok's U.S. assets or face a ban.
The decision -- unless the Supreme Court reverses it -- puts TikTok's fate in the hands of first President Joe Biden on whether to grant a 90-day extension of the Jan. 19 deadline to force a sale and then President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20. But it's not clear whether ByteDance could meet the heavy burden to show it had made significant progress toward a divestiture needed to trigger the extension.
In a recent three-month period, six top networks' national linear TV advertising -- broadcast and cable -- is down 13% to $5.9 billion, according to estimates from EDO Ad EnGage.
For the period from September 7-December 5, total advertising airings are down 6% to 243,760.
MediaPost reports NBC, CBS and Fox are posting the strongest results -- at $1.41 billion, $1.36 billion, and $1.26 billion, respectively. All these totals are down around 10% to 15%.
ABC is at $1.04 billion -- down 25% from a year ago. It has had significant declines in airings to now total 37,830, down from 49,290.
For NFL programming, ABC is airing 14 simulcasts with ESPN (including two playoff games) and three games exclusively on ABC. There are more simulcasts with ESPN this season.
Two big cable TV networks are virtually at the same advertising revenue levels as a year ago. ESPN at $563 million (versus $574 million a year ago), Fox News Channel at $295 million (versus $296 million).
Geico and Progressive Insurance remain top advertisers on networks -- with Geico at $41 million (Fox), $35.9 million (NBC), and $29.8 million (CBS). Progressive is at $29.7 million (NBC), $26.5 million (Fox), and $22.8 million (CBS).
Fox scored $142.8 million from all automotive/home insurance brands, while NBC did best with non-luxury car brands at $137.5 million and CBS came in at $123.2 million from auto/home insurance; and ABC, $72.7 million from auto/home insurance.
iHeartMedia has announced Paul Lambert has been named Region President for iHeartMedia Houston, effective immediately. He will report to Eddie Martiny, Division President, iHeartMedia.
Paul Lambert
“I have had the pleasure of working with Paul for over 20 years; I have witnessed him excel in numerous management roles and his track record has been remarkable. I am confident that Paul’s knowledge and leadership skills will allow iHeart Houston to continue its winning ways,” commented Martiny.
Lambert, a Louisiana native, has been working for iHeartMedia for the past 24 years and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Sales in Houston. He started as an account executive and rose through the ranks, working as Local Sales Manager, General Sales Manager and Director of Sales.
“Under Eddie’s leadership, iHeartMedia Houston has had an almost unmatched winning record. I’m honored to carry the torch on behalf of our wonderful clients and the amazing team of iHeart individuals who make magic happen every day!” said Paul Lambert.
A Connecticut appeals court on Friday largely upheld a nearly $1.3 billion defamation verdict against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in a case accusing the Infowars founder of spreading lies about the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting.
Reuters reports a three-judge panel of the Connecticut Appellate Court found that a jury's October 2022 decision to award $965 million in damages plus attorney's fees and costs to families of the shooting's victims was not unreasonable given the mental anguish they suffered due to the lies by Jones about Sandy Hook.
Alex Jones
In affirming the verdict, the judges found fault only with a portion awarding $150 million in damages under a state unfair trade practices law, finding that should be thrown out because it did not properly apply to the facts of the case.
Jones claimed for years that the 2012 shooting deaths of 20 students and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, were staged with actors as part of a government plot to seize guns from Americans. He has since acknowledged that the mass shooting occurred, but plaintiffs said Jones cashed in for years off his lies about the massacre.
An attorney for the Sandy Hook families, Alinor Sterling, praised the ruling.
"The jury's $965 million rebuke of Jones will stand, and the families who have fought valiantly for years have brought Alex Jones yet another step closer to true justice," Sterling said in a statement.
Jones' lawyer Norm Pattis said in a statement that the jury was falsely led to believe Jones made millions of dollars off the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories and that Jones was to blame for the families' anguish.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced immediate backlash online after nearly doubling the number of Americans who purportedly approve of President Biden’s sweeping pardon for his son.
President Biden issued a sweeping pardon for Hunter Biden on Sunday after he had repeatedly said he would not do so. The first son had been convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year. He pled guilty to federal tax charges in September, and was convicted of three felony gun charges in June after lying on a mandatory gun purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. For over a year, the president and Jean-Pierre repeatedly insisted Hunter would not get a pardon.
The backlash against Karine Jean-Pierre stems from her incorrect claim that 64% of Americans supported President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. In reality, the poll she referenced showed that 64% of Democrats supported the pardon, while only 34% of Americans overall approved of it. This discrepancy led to significant criticism online and from various media outlets.
In her defense of the pardon, Jean-Pierre appealed to the American people's understanding of the "difficult" decision. While doing so, she cited a poll, the results of which were the opposite of what she claimed.
"And it said 64% of the American people agree with the pardon — 64% of the American people. So, we get a sense of where the American people are on this. Obviously, it's one poll, but it gives you a little bit of insight. Sixty-four percent is nothing to sneeze at," she emphasized.
But according to the YouGov poll, it was 64% of Democrats who supported the pardon. Of the American people, only 34% "strongly" or "somewhat" approved of the pardon, while 50% of Americans either "strongly" or "somewhat" disapproved.
Social media users were quick to point out the error.
She's wrong. The YouGov poll shows 64% of Democrats, not 64% of Americans, supported the pardon. 34% of Americans overall supported it, with 50% disapproving. https://t.co/VH92dNPNh0pic.twitter.com/3aHitv5PRd
RedState front-page contributor Bonchie said, "This is a psychotic level of lying. The kind of thing someone used to get shamed from polite society over. Of course, she'll be on MSNBC by next year."
Wisconsin has lost almost one in five of its newspapers in the past year. The state of newspapers has been dismal for years, and the 2024 figures are grim.
This his year alone, 130 newspapers nationwide shut down, according to a report by the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
But, according to The Public News Service in Wisconsin, amid an increasing climate of misinformation and media distrust among some Americans, the news outlets they say they trust the most are community newspapers.
Wisconsin is losing local news outlets at an alarming rate, with 19% of its newspapers closing in the past year. Even as distrust in the news media has grown in some circles, a new study shows people trust local newspapers the most compared to other types of news outlets.
In this polarized climate, Professor Robert Asen at the University of Wisconsin at Madison believes where people choose to get their news matters.
“It seems less and less that we’re willing – or able – to see things that we may share in common,” Asen said, “and that’s exacerbated by a media ecosystem where we’re not even getting the same information – where we’re not even sharing the same basic set of facts.”
In the survey, 74% of Americans believe not having a local newspaper would seriously impact their community. Yet more than half of all counties in the United States have just one local news outlet – or none at all. Bayfield, Wisconsin’s northernmost county, has no news outlets, while 22 other counties have only one.
Asen said the rise in social media as an information source, and options such as podcasts and talk radio shows, have greatly affected how people choose to get their news – which also plays a role in how accurate it is. A recent review of radio talk shows in Wisconsin found those with the largest audiences and the most advertising are led by conservative hosts who aired the most misinformation.
“When you look at public discourse and you look at public figures, and you see examples of a disregard for truth – or disregard for verifying stories, or disregard for fair and accurate representations – I think that those practices encourage more of the same practice,” Asen observed.
The season finale of FOX Nation’s critically acclaimed new series, Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints will air this weekend with Maximilian Kolbe on Sunday, December 8th. Hosted, narrated and executive produced by celebrated Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, the exclusive docudrama explores the remarkable stories of eight men and women who risked everything to embody humanity’s most noble and complex trait — faith.
With each episode focusing on a singular saint, including Joan of Arc, John the Baptist, Sebastian, Maximillian Kolbe, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene, and Moses the Black, Scorsese journeys over 2,000 years of history focusing on these extraordinary figures and their extreme acts of kindness, selflessness, and sacrifice.
On Sunday, December 8th, part one of the series concludes with Milivoje Obradović as Maximilian Kolbe, the Franciscan monk who martyred himself to save a fellow prisoner at Auschwitz. Born in Poland at the turn of the 20th century to devout parents, Kolbe’s views on Judaism were marred by the prevailing antisemitic rhetoric of the time, the same virulent hate that gave rise to Nazi ideologies as well. But his treatment of individual Jews did not reflect the same antisemitism. In 1941, his monastery near Krakow was housing 3,000 people displaced by the Nazis during World War II, half of them were Jewish.
When the Third Reich invaded Poland, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz, where he was subjected to backbreaking slave labor. When a man in his barracks escaped, 10 men were selected to starve to death as a punishment. Despite being spared, Kolbe offered to take the place of one of the prisoners – a stranger. Kolbe and nine other men were thrown into a small concrete bunker and forced to slowly starve.
Throughout the torture, Kolbe offered support and encouragement to his fellow prisoners, Jews and Catholics alike, firmly anchored to the power of hope. At the end of the second week, everyone was dead – everyone except for Kolbe and one fellow prisoner. The guards inject the men with carbolic acid, killing them instantly. When Kolbe was canonized in 1982, the man he chose to die in place of, Franciszek Gajowniczek, was in attendance. Today, Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of prisoners.
CAST: Martin Scorsese (host and narrator), Milivoje Obradović (Maximilian Kolbe), Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America magazine Father James Martin, S.J. (self), award-winning poet and bestselling author Mary Karr (self), Georgetown senior fellow and New Yorker contributor Paul Elie (self)
WHEN: Sunday, December 8th
WHERE: FOX Nation (www.FOXNation.com)
Part II of the acclaimed series will return in Spring 2025 featuring the stories of Francis of Assisi, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene and Moses the Black.
Steve Alaimo, the honey-voiced music maverick who helped create the Miami sound, passed away on November 30th, 2024 at the age of 84. Known as much for his mischievous grin as his golden ear for hits, Alaimo lived life like one of his beloved records – with perfect timing and always leaving them wanting more.
Anyone who followed Henry Stone’s TK Records in the 1970s knows Alaimo’s name from the record labels. He was the guy who made the all time classic, “Rock Your Baby” by George McRae, into a massive hit. He was also involved with Gwen McRae’s “Rockin Chair” and KC and the Sunshine Band.
Alaimo was also responsible for producing Sam & Dave’s early pre-Atlantic Records. He wrote their first hit, long before “Soul Man” and “Hold On I’m Coming.” It was called “No More Pain,” on Marlin Records. Below you can find his official obit and listen to that Sam & Dave record. Sam Moore tells me Alaimo changed his life before Ahmet Ertegun happened on the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers singing in Miami.
From his early days as a teen idol (with hits like “Everyday I have to cry” and “Cast Your Fate to the Wind”) He had nine singles on the Billboard Top 100 Chart and was the host of Dick Clark’s “Where the Action Is” to his later role as music industry kingpin, Alaimo’s career read like a who’s who of American music.
Alongside Howard and Ron Albert, he co-owned Audio-Vision Studios and Vision Records, where his legendary ear and irreverent wit helped shape countless hits. His earlier venture with Henry Stone, TK Records, became the launchpad for disco sensations like KC and the Sunshine Band, George McCrae, Betty Wright and Bobby Caldwell.
A man who could make even a boring industry meeting feel like a party, Alaimo approached life with a wisecrack ready and a twinkle in his eye. He split his time between making music magic and handicapping horses, often suggesting that the latter was the more reliable way to make a buck in the entertainment business.
➦In 1907...Arch Oboler born (Died at age 79 – March 19, 1987). He was a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, and director who was active in radio, films, theater, and television. He generated much attention with his radio scripts, particularly the horror series Lights Out, and his work in radio remains the outstanding period of his career. Praised as one of broadcasting's top talents, he is regarded today as a key innovator of radio drama.
➦In 1921...KWG (now 1230 AM) in Stockton, CA was licensed. It was initially licensed to the Portable Wireless Telephone Company as the second formally licensed broadcasting station west of the Mississippi River. In addition, it traces its history to an earlier amateur station operated by Paul Oard. Today it is owned by IHR Educational Broadcasting and airs inspirational "Catholic Talk Radio" programming.
➦In 1930…Experimental Boston TV station W1XAV broadcast a video portion of CBS radio’s “The Fox Trappers” orchestra program.
➦In 1938...The St. Louis Dispatch begins a two-year experiment to deliver newspapers by radio facsimile, first transmission via W9XZY KSD-AM (now KTRS). It was the world’s first daily newspaper transmitted by radio signals to facsimile printers located in homes. The daily special edition of the Post-Dispatch was published for two years. The newspaper was dubbed the “radio edition” and was transmitted via ultra-high frequency.
➦In 1941... For most Americans, news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor came as an interruption to their favorite radio programs on an otherwise tranquil Sunday afternoon on December 7th, 1941. An Associated Press bulletin at 2:22 PM Eastern Standard Time first reported the attack to mainland news organizations and radio networks. After confirming the initial bulletin with the government, the major radio networks interrupted regular programming beginning at 2:30 PM, bringing news of the attack which was still in progress,
In New York City, station WOR broke into the local broadcast of the Giants and Dodgers game while CBS informed listeners of the attack at 2:25 PM EST. NBC broadcast their first bulletin nearly 4 minutes later at 2:29:50 PM . Within minutes the CBS radio network broke into normal programming with more information read by announcer John Daly.
Honolulu NBC radio affiliate KGU, provided the first and most comprehensive radio coverage of the event. What was not known at the time was that Japanese planes, still swarming overhead in Honolulu, had used the station's signal to guide their planes to Hawaii.
While the attack was still in progress a reporter for KGU radio climbed to the roof of the Advertiser Building in downtown Honolulu with microphone in hand and called the NBC Blue Network on the phone with the first eyewitness account of the attack, "This battle has been going on for nearly three hours... It's no joke, it's a real war" said the reporter. Ironically, a Honolulu telephone operator interrupted the broadcast after 2 ½ minutes declaring a need for the line for an emergency call.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was an unannounced military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. It resulted in the United States' entry into World War II. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war that the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against Britain and the Netherlands, as well as the U.S. in the Philippines. The attack consisted of two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.
The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one minelayer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and killed 2,402 and wounded 1,282. Japanese losses were minimal, with 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.
The nation's only Sunday afternoon newspaper was the only paper in the country that got word of the attack on Pearl Harbor into its regular edition. On Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, Publisher George B. Utter stopped the presses to get the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the front page. While the attack occurred at 2:22 p.m. EST, the Sun reported it as 2:23 p.m. in its headline. With history altered by a minute, the Sun got the story in its regular Sunday edition.
Note: America First Committee, referenced at the end of the story above, was an isolationist organization that was opposed to America becoming involved on the War in Europe.
The committee claimed a membership of 800,000 and attracted such leaders as General Robert E. Wood, the aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, and Senator Gerald P. Nye. Though failing in its campaigns to block the Lend-Lease Act, the use of the U.S. Navy for convoys, and the repeal of the Neutrality Act, its public pressure undoubtedly discouraged greater direct military aid to a Great Britain beleaguered by Nazi Germany. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the committee dissolved and urged its members to support the war effort.
➦In 1941...Chattanooga Choo Choo by The Glenn Miller Orchestra was the number one song in the U-S.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that TikTok can be banned in the U.S. over national security concerns, upholding a federal law requiring the popular social media app to shed its Chinese ownership to keep operating.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said Congress has the power to take action against TikTok to protect U.S. interests.
The Wall Street Journal reports the ruling rejected a First Amendment challenge brought by the app and several of its star users, who argued the ban was an unconstitutional infringement on free speech.
The sell-or-ban law—signed by President Biden in April—passed with bipartisan support after lawmakers received classified briefings from the intelligence community about China’s ability to use TikTok to surveil Americans and spread Chinese propaganda.
“The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States. Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States” Judge Douglas Ginsburg wrote for the court.
TikTok, a U.S. entity owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has claimed that American security fears are speculative and overblown. It didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ban’s terms are set to take effect in mid-January, but that doesn’t mean that TikTok will necessarily disappear from app stores by that time.
The long Thanksgiving holiday resulted in all three networks experiencing week-to-week declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo. Double-digit drops in both measured categories were recorded during this slow news period, reports TV Newser citing data from Nielsen.
Fox News continued to lead in primetime and total day, capturing 70% of the total day A25-54 share and occupying 98 of the week’s top 100 cable news shows.
Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of Nov. 25 saw FNC average 2.012 million total viewers and 237,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -25% and -27% in the A25-54 demo relative to the week prior.
Fox News averaged 1.359 million total viewers and 163,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing for week-to-week declines of -20% and -21%, respectively.
Among all basic cable networks, FNC finished second in total viewers and the demo during primetime, falling behind ESPN in both cases. In total day, the network was No. 1 in total viewers and No. 2 in the demo.
MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 465,000 total viewers and 37,000 A25-54 viewers for respective declines of -29% and -38% compared to the week prior.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC landed in ninth place in total viewers during primetime and fell from 29th to 43rd in the demo. During total day, the network slipped to the fifth position in total viewers and tumbled from No. 23 to No. 38 in the demo.
During primetime, CNN averaged 297,000 total viewers and 51,000 A25-54 viewers for declines of -28% and -35% in the demo compared to the previous week.
On the basic cable charts, CNN ranked at No. 23 among total viewers during primetime, and at No. 34 in the primetime demo. During total day, CNN it landed at eighth place with total viewers, and dropped to No. 24 in the demo.
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay will leave afternoon drive time radio effective after the Dec. 13 edition of ESPN New York radio’s “The Michael Kay Show,” an industry source confirmed to Newsday.
Kay will move to a solo show middays from 1 to 3 p.m., with Alan Hahn expected to replace Kay alongside his longtime partners Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg in late afternoon.
The changes will take effect on Jan. 6. The news first was reported by The Athletic. ESPN declined to comment.
Michael Kay
Kay has had a show on ESPN New York radio since 2002 and has been in drive time since 2005. His ratings battles with WFAN’s Mike Francesa were some of the most entertaining sports media content of the late 2010s.Kay, 63, has talked for years about cutting back on radio because of the demands of his other big job — the YES Network television voice of the Yankees. He will remain in that role, according to Newsday.
The Athletic reported that Hahn’s current partner, Bart Scott, will move to the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. show with Dan Graca. Those moves would knock Mike Greenberg’s national show off ESPN Radio’s current 880-AM terrestrial radio home.
It is still to be determined whether YES Network will simulcast Kay’s new show and/or the program in afternoon drive. There has been a synergy with Kay as he has called Yankees games on the network since it launched in 2002.
He had been the radio broadcaster alongside John Sterling from 1992-2001 prior to becoming the TV voice. The move to mid-days, while less financially lucrative, gives Kay a better work-life balance.
President-elect Donald Trump agreed to sit down with NBC News’ Kristen Welker in an exclusive interview airing on Meet the Press on Sunday, Dec. 8. The interview will take place on Friday and marks his first network interview since winning the election.
Highlights from the interview will be released prior to Meet the Press on NBC News, NBC News NOW and NBCNews.com, all available on the NBC News app. The full video interview and transcript will publish on NBCNews.com this Sunday, Dec. 8.
Welker last sat down with President-elect Trump for an NBC News exclusive interview in September 2023. It generated 12 million views on YouTube and remained his only network sit-down during the 2024 campaign cycle.
Meet the Press with Kristen Welker was the #1 Sunday public affairs show in the key A25-54 demo this past Sunday, December 1, according to Nielsen. This marks Meet the Press’ third consecutive key demo weekly win and sixth consecutive week overperforming ABC’s This Week. Season-to-date, Meet the Press ranks #1 in A25-54.
Meet the Press airs at 10:30 a.m. ET in New York and Washington, D.C. and is available on local NBC stations across the country. Check local listings for the program time according to local market.
Meet the Press with Kristen Welker (MTP) was the #1 Sunday public affairs show in the key demo this past Sunday, December 1, according to Nielsen panel data. This marks the third consecutive key A25-54 demo weekly win for MTP. MTP is ranked #1 for the 2024-2025 broadcast season among viewers aged 25-54.
#1 in the Key Demo This Past Sunday
MTP was #1 in the demo most valued by news advertisers, averaging 449,000 viewers in A25-54 and outperforming ABC’s This Week by +34,000 (+8%) and CBS’s Face the Nation by +85,000 (+23%).
This is the third consecutive key A24-54 demo weekly win for MTP and the sixth consecutive week in which MTP has outperformed ABC among key A25-54 demo viewers.
President-elect Donald Trump accepted the “Patriot of the Year” award Thursday at a Long Island event organized by Fox Nation.
Trump, 78, accepted the award, designed to resemble the American flag, after a live performance of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” – the president-elect’s go-to entrance song.
In his acceptance speech, Trump reflected on his campaign for the White House and argued that the country is already seeing the fruits of his victory against Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We had such a spectacular election,” Trump said after receiving the award at the Tilles Center for Performing Arts in Brookville, NY.
“It was a tremendous day, a tremendous night, a tremendous period of time,” the president-elect added, noting that he went “72 days” without a day off in the run-up to Election Day.
“I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years, and we’re not even there yet,” he continued, adding, “We’re going to make America great again.”
The ceremony – FOX Nation’s sixth annual Patriot Awards – honored several inspirational figures, including military veterans, first responders and Stephanie Diller, the widow of slain NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller.
The ceremony was emceed by Fox News host Sean Hannity, who described this year’s recipients as “an eclectic blend of people” that “deserve recognition.”
“What I love about it is unlike, say, the Oscars or the Grammys or the Tonys, this honors the men and women that really do make the country great every day, unsung heroes and real patriots. They never get any recognition,” Hannity told Fox News Digital.
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Todd Cavanah as Vice President of Classic Hits for the company. Cavanah will provide content counsel for Cumulus Media’s 24 Classic Hits-formatted radio brands across the U.S. In the newly created position, Cavanah will report to Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media. He will continue to be based in Chicago, IL, where he serves as Program Director for Classic Hits powerhouse 94.7 WLS-FM, Cumulus Media’s biggest Classic Hits station.
Todd Cavanah
Cavanah joined Cumulus Media and WLS-FM last October, after 33 years at Audacy CHR WBBM-FM ( B96) Chicago, where he was named Program Director in 1993. He also served as VP/Programming for CBS Radio Chicago and Audacy Chicago and programmed Country station, WUSN (US 99), Classic Hits station, WJMK (104.3 K-Hits), and Classic Hip Hop station, WBMX (104.3 Jams). Prior to Chicago, Cavanah held positions at KRXY-FM in Denver, CO, and at Elektra Records.
Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media, said: “Todd Cavanah is a respected long-time winner, and a force of nature. He has radically re-energized WLS-FM, putting it back on top in Chicago. Todd is a natural fit to lead our Classic Hits formats, a prime example of the caliber of talent that Cumulus can bring to our most competitive markets.”
Todd Cavanah commented: “It has been just over a year since I landed at Cumulus, and I am proud of the job our team has done taking 94.7 WLS to the top of the Chicago ratings. I am grateful to the company for allowing me the freedom to reinvent the Classic Hits format, and I’m eager to collaborate with the Cumulus fleet.”
KIRO Newsradio has announced that veteran Seattle journalist Charlie Harger will be the new host of Seattle’s Morning News, taking over for the legendary Dave Ross, who is retiring after a remarkable 47-year career at the station.
“Honestly, no one can fill Dave Ross’ shoes,” Harger said. “He’s a legend, and I’m just honored to be stepping into this role after him. It’s a big responsibility, and I’m excited to keep the tradition going.”
Harger, who’s been listening to KIRO since he was in kindergarten at Seattle’s Wedgwood Elementary in 1981, fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining the KIRO Newsradio team as the station’s news director in 2021.
“I’ve known Charlie for 20 years, my whole career, and he is such an inspiring storyteller and a good steward of journalism,” Colleen O’Brien, co-host of Seattle’s Morning News who’s also departing the show at the end of 2024, said. “When I heard that he was going to be taking over the show, I went, ‘OK. This show is going to be OK. Our listeners are going to be OK because you’re going to do a bang-up job, and you’re going to bring true journalism and great storytelling.”
Harger's radio journalism career began in 1996 when he was the news director for Green River College’s KGRG. After a brief stint in the tech industry, he returned to his true passion —news radio — in 2002 at KOMO Newsradio, where he worked as an editor, anchor and street reporter for 19 years.
His investigative reporting has gained international attention, exposing critical safety concerns with Boeing’s 737, 777 and 787 aircraft manufacturing. He conducted one of the only interviews ever granted by Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, leading to reopened investigations across the state into potential additional victims. His radio documentary on 9/11 eyewitness Tami Michaels contributed to her important testimony against attack plotters at Guantanamo Bay. He also broke the story of Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s resignation amid serious allegations.
Cumulus Media announces that KCMO, Kansas City’s Talk, 95.7FM and 710AM, has added longtime Kansas City broadcaster Kevin Kietzman to the station’s powerhouse weekday programming lineup with the launch of his new midday show, "Kevin Kietzman Uncanceled.”
The program debuted this week and airs on KCMO Monday through Friday from 10:00am-11:00am.
Kietzman is a well-known voice in the Midwest, having hosted his highly successful Sports/Talk radio show in Kansas City for over two decades. He is currently the host of the "Kevin Kietzman Has Issues" podcast, covering Kansas City news, sports, and politics.
Donna Baker, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Kansas City, said: “Under Pete’s leadership, KCMO Talk Radio is one of the fastest growing stations in the Midwest. Kevin’s passion and commitment to his craft make him the perfect fit for the KCMO Talk Radio audience and our client partners.”
Pete Mundo, KCMO Program Director and Morning Show Host, commented: “During my years in Kansas City, we have delivered on our promise, “If it’s happening IN KCMO, it's ON KCMO.” There are few who have entertained and informed Kansas City listeners for over two decades like Kevin Kietzman. Kevin's ability to engage fans, whether the topic of today is our Championship sports teams, the local news landscape, national politics, or the pop culture world, make him the ideal addition to KCMO Talk Radio.”
Kevin Kietzman said: “It’s great to be back on radio but even better to be a part of something as exciting as KCMO Talk Radio, now on 95.7 FM. I’ve known Pete Mundo for years and absolutely nobody in KC media works harder or is more dedicated to serving listeners than Pete and the management team at Cumulus Media. It’s a sweet spot to follow his popular morning show where Kansas City listens every day to learn what’s going on throughout Missouri and Kansas.”
Kietzman added: “These are historic times. Americans have spoken loudly that we are a free speech society, we have the most popular sports team in the world in our city, and I can’t wait to be back on air to talk about it all. I look forward to hearing from so many of you that have listened throughout the years. Let’s go!”
WABC Radio has partnered with Goya Foods and Gristedes Supermarkets to support the Police Athletic League (PAL) Annual Holiday Party.
Five thousand pounds of food will be handed out to 450 PAL families by WABC Radio Owners John and Margo Catsimatidis and WABC Radio personalities Ernie Anastos and Dominic Carter. The event takes place at the PAL Harlem Center, 441 Manhattan Ave. and West 119th St., this Saturday, December 7.
“We are long-time supporters of PAL, an organization that has changed the lives of many at-risk youths,” said Catsimatidis, who hosts a monthly luncheon to raise funds for PAL. “I want to thank Goya Foods for joining us to help PAL families enjoy the holidays with a healthy and satisfying meal.”
WABC Radio is also running on-air promos, asking listeners for donations at wabcradio.com/pal.
“For over 40 years, John, Margo, and their friends have come together to really make the holiday season special for our PAL kids, and they never forget it. Some of our staff members were PAL kids from the 80s and 90s, and they look forward to this event every year as adults because they’re having a ‘full circle’ moment. It’s nice to have these faithful donors for this long, and we’re grateful for support from WABC, Goya, and BronxCare Health System this year to provide an even bigger event for our kids,” stated PAL Executive Director, Carlos Velazquez.
"We are proud to partner with WABC Radio, our good friend John Catsimatidis, and the Police Athletic League this holiday season through our Goya Cares initiative. By donating 5,000 pounds of food, we hope to bring some joy and nourishment to 450 underprivileged families in our community. At Goya, we believe in the power of giving back, and it's our honor to support those in need during this special time of year," said Bob Unanue, President and CEO of Goya Foods.
Cumulus Media’s New Country 96.3 (KSCS-FM) in Dallas, TX, announces that morning show co-hosts Mark "Hawkeye" Louis and Michelle Rodriguez, of “Hawkeye in the Morning”, concluded the 6th annual 10,000 for the Troops holiday card drive this week, collecting a record 215,800 holiday cards for U.S. troops.
More are expected to arrive in the mail in the next week. The cards will send warm, hopeful wishes to the brave men and women serving our country overseas this holiday season. The station has partnered with Holiday Cards for Our Military Challenge, a 501(c)(3) organization based in New Hampshire, to send the holiday cards to units and individuals deployed overseas during the holiday season, are on a military base, or do not have support coming from home.
The campaign kicked off on October 21, 2024, with the goal of collecting 10,000 cards. This year, Comerica Bank stepped up as a Presenting Sponsor and provided card collection centers at over 50 Comerica Bank locations across the metroplex. Listeners and supporters could also mail their cards to New Country 96.3 studios or deliver them to any of the Dallas/Fort Worth Gigi’s Cupcakes, FASTSIGNS and participating IHOP locations. In addition, Averitt Transportation and Logistics helped deliver all supplies to participating drop-off locations and dropped off all collected cards to Holiday Cards for Our Military Challenge.
New Country 96.3 concluded the successful drive with a live broadcast on the plaza of Cumulus Media’s Dallas studios, where fans from across DFW, including busloads of students from local schools, stopped by to drop off their cards for the troops. Volunteers from the station, Comerica and Averitt spent multiple days proofreading, counting, and bundling cards for the troops.
The 10,000 for the Troops effort was launched six years ago, and since then, New Country 96.3 has collected 653,247 cards for the troops.
"Each year we see our community get more involved with this effort. Six years ago, we started with one drop-off location, and now we have 80. The number of schools, offices, churches, and community groups that took part this year was staggering," comments Hawkeye and Michelle Rodriguez on the record-breaking campaign.
WLS 890 AM Morning Host Ramblin’ Ray Stevens Kicks Off “The 12 Strays of Christmas,” Highlighting PAWS Chicago Pets in Need of Forever Homes This Holiday Season
“The 12 Strays of Christmas”! Every day for 12 weekdays starting Thursday, December 5th, WLS 890 AM Morning Host, Ramblin’ Ray will feature on-air and on social media a PAWS Chicago pet that's available for adoption. Listeners are urged to tune in every morning to learn about animals in need of forever homes this holiday season,
Kicking off the parade of adorable, adoptable pets is Finley, an energetic and playful three-month-old puppy with a heart full of love and a tail that never stops wagging! With soft, fluffy fur and floppy ears, he’s always on the move, ready for a game of fetch or a snuggle on the couch. Finley is a curious little explorer, always investigating new smells, chasing after his favorite squeaky toy, or making friends with everyone he meets. Finley's joyful spirit will be sure to brighten a pet-lover’s day.
HOW TO ADOPT A PAWS CHICAGO PET: Stop by the PAWS Chicago Lincoln Park Adoption Center at 1997 N. Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL, or visit pawschicago.org and make an appointment.
Ramblin Ray comments “We call them rescues, as if we are saving them, when in fact, they are actually saving us. Nothing will ever love you like a shelter pet.”
Charleston Radio Group has announced the passing of Mike Edwards, Program Director of WMXZ-FM, Mix 95.9 and the “Guy” on the top rated “Two Girls & a Guy” Morning Show.
Mike Edwards’ love of radio started at age 14 at a small community station in Pocahontas County, WV. He came to Charleston as the Program Director of 95SX in 1994 and in 1999 joined the “Two Girls & a Guy” Morning Show with Brooke Ryan and Tanya Brown. His career success took him to multiple markets but ultimately his love for the Lowcountry could not be denied. In 2014 “Two Girls and Guy” reunited on Mix 95.9 WMXZ FM with Mike, Brooke and Tanya and have been wildly successful entertaining our community ever since.
He was a multi-year winner of “Charleston’s Best Of” Radio Morning Show and Local Radio Personality awards and a huge supporter of the Charleston Animal Society and Charleston Pride Week.
Charleston Radio Group President Paul O’Malley shared, “Mike was an amazing person, beloved by his coworkers, listeners and our entire organization and will be truly missed by those fortunate to have crossed his path.”
