R.I.P.: Marshall Adams, Veteran Radio News Anchor, Programmer

Michael Kunkle (aka Marshall Adams)

Michael Paul Kunkle, of Irwin, Pennsylvania—known professionally as Marshall Adams—died unexpectedly Monday at the age of 51.

At just 14, while still a student at Penn-Trafford High School, he launched the Harrison City Post, a scrappy community newspaper he printed on a mimeograph machine in his parents’ basement. Around the same time, he began contributing part-time to the Penn-Franklin News, the weekly paper he later called “the heartbeat of Westmoreland County.” 

That early hustle set the tone for a career built on relentless curiosity and an ear for the story behind the headline.

He cut his teeth in radio, bouncing across call letters like a signal skipping towers: stints at small-town stations, including WKSB, WRAK Williamsport, PA gave way to bigger markets, each gig sharpening his voice and timing. 

He wore his proudest achievements like merit badges—an anchor chair at WBT in Charlotte, news editor at KTRH in Houston, and, the pinnacle, program director at KDKA in Pittsburgh, the station he’d fallen asleep to as a boy dreaming of the big time.

In 2012 he planted a flag in Atlanta, converting WYAY into the city’s first all-news FM station—a gamble that paid off in ratings and respect. 

Never one to rest, he soon founded Marshall Adams Media, a boutique production house where he crafted award-winning audio for the Fisher House Foundation, giving voice to the families of wounded warriors.

TuneIn Acquired by Stingray Group

Stingray Group, a Montreal-based music and media company, has acquired TuneIn, a leading U.S. streaming radio platform with over 75 million monthly active users, in a deal valued at up to $175 million.

The transaction includes a $150 million upfront payment and up to $25 million more contingent on TuneIn meeting 2025 revenue and EBITDA targets of $110 million and $30 million, respectively. 

The deal is expected to close by year-end, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.

TuneIn, which distributes over 100,000 radio stations, podcasts, and live audio channels across 200+ connected devices—including major in-car systems—will operate as a standalone brand under Stingray.

The acquisition combines TuneIn’s global streaming reach and ad tech with Stingray’s extensive content library and Canadian radio network of over 100 stations.

The combined entity will generate pro forma annual revenue exceeding $400 million, strengthening its position in digital audio advertising, in-car entertainment, and global content distribution. Stingray CEO Eric Boyko called it a step toward building “an unmatched audio ecosystem,” while TuneIn CEO Richard Stern highlighted the partnership’s potential to scale live audio worldwide.

Financing is secured via a $150 million term loan under Stingray’s renewed credit facility.

The acquisition will enhance Stingray’s reach by combining its premium music and video content with TuneIn’s robust partnerships with major device manufacturers, automotive companies, and content providers. TuneIn currently serves over 75 million active listeners each month worldwide, providing access to more than 100,000 radio stations, podcasts, music channels, news, sports, and audiobooks. TuneIn’s content is distributed across more than 200 platforms and connected devices, including over 50 in-car audio systems, in over 100 countries.

Trump Demands $1B From BBC

President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for defamation, seeking no less than $1,000,000,000 in damages unless the broadcaster issues a full retraction and public apology by 5 p.m. ET on Friday.

The demand, sent via Florida attorney Alejandro Brito on November 9, accuses the BBC’s Panorama documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?”—aired October 28, 2024—of deliberately editing Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech to falsely suggest he incited violence. 

The program spliced non-consecutive clips, omitting his call to “peacefully and patriotically” protest. BBC Chairman Samir Shah has apologized to UK Parliament, calling the edit an “error of judgment” that created a misleading impression. 

The scandal triggered the resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness on November 9.

Trump, in a Fox News interview, called the edit a “butchering” of his “beautiful, calming speech” and vowed legal action to combat “dishonest” media.

Legal experts say the $1 billion claim is unlikely to succeed due to jurisdictional challenges, high U.S. defamation standards, and rare billion-dollar awards. A settlement in the low six figures is considered more probable.

The BBC has until Friday to respond. No lawsuit has been filed yet.

MSNBC Rebrands To MS NOW

MSNBC, the long-standing liberal-leaning cable news network launched in 1996 as a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC, is undergoing a significant rebranding to MS NOW (short for "My Source News Opinion World").

This change is part of a larger corporate restructuring by parent company Comcast, which is spinning off several cable assets—including MSNBC, CNBC, USA Network, E!, and others—into a new independent entity called Versant, led by executive Mark Lazarus. 

The move severs MSNBC's ties to NBCUniversal and NBC News, aiming to eliminate any potential brand confusion between the opinion-driven cable channel and the more neutral NBC News division.

The rebrand was first announced in August 2025, with promotional teasers rolling out in early November. However, the official switch happens on November 15, 2025—just a few days.

Programming, editorial direction, and key talent like Rachel Maddow, Joe Scarborough ("Morning Joe"), Chris Hayes, and Lawrence O'Donnell remain unchanged, but the iconic NBC peacock logo is being dropped, along with the "NBC" in the name.

Corporate Split: Comcast's decision to divide NBCUniversal into two companies (one focused on broadcast/streaming like NBC News and Peacock, the other on cable via Versant) required MSNBC to forge its own identity. Shared resources, like Washington D.C. correspondents, ended in October 2025, prompting MSNBC to build its own newsroom and secure deals (e.g., with Sky News for international coverage).

The rebrand has sparked widespread mockery, confusion, and debate, especially on social media and in media circles. Critics argue it risks alienating a loyal (but aging) audience—median viewer age: 72—by ditching a 29-year-old brand for something that sounds generic or punchy.

Accuweather Lands Partnership With MS NOW, CNBC

AccuWeather has secured a multi-year deal to become the exclusive weather provider for the new Versant cable networks, including the rebranded MS NOW (launching November 15, 2025, as a successor to MSNBC) and CNBC, delivering hyper-local forecasts, live meteorologist appearances, and custom graphics to millions of viewers across daily news and business programming.

The partnership fills a critical gap for Versant—spun off from Comcast—by integrating AccuWeather’s “Superior Accuracy”™ forecasts, severe weather warnings, and a team of over 90 expert meteorologists into flagship shows like Morning Joe on MS NOW and Squawk Box on CNBC. 

It includes branded segments, real-time storm updates, and digital content tailored to news, business, and lifestyle impacts, such as travel disruptions or commodity market effects from extreme weather.

FCC Revived News Distortion Policy Triggers 1A Fears

The FCC has reactivated its long-dormant “news distortion” policy, placing every radio/TV newsroom in America under a microscope for alleged bias or suppression of facts—and top broadcast attorneys say the vague rules could cost local stations hundreds of thousands in legal fees and even jeopardize their licenses.

Speaking at Radio Ink's Forecast 2026 conference at the Harvard Club, a panel of former FCC chiefs of staff and First Amendment litigators warned that the policy—last enforced in the 1970s—lacks clear definitions for terms such as “intentional distortion,” “bias,” or “suppression.” Commissioner Anna Gomez, in a blistering dissent filed November 8, called the revival “a weaponized tool to chill speech,” predicting it will invite politically motivated complaints against stations in battleground markets.

The policy applies to any licensee that airs news regardless of format or ownership size. Complaints can be filed by any listener, and the FCC has pledged to fast-track reviews under Chairman Brendan Carr’s “regulatory sprint” agenda.

Forecast 2026 Panel Predictions

• Court Battles Loom: Veteran FCC attorney David Oxenford told attendees, “We will see the first constitutional challenge within 90 days. The vagueness alone violates the First Amendment.”
• Documentation Mandates: Stations were urged to retain raw audio, reporter notes, and editorial decision logs for at least three years—triple the prior industry norm.
• Political Targeting: In swing states like Pennsylvania and Georgia, hyper-local talk stations reported a 300% spike in pre-filed “distortion” complaints since the policy’s October 31 notice, according to NAB data.

Joe Rogan: We're Closer To Civil War

Podcast host Joe Rogan declared on Tuesday that the United States is sliding toward civil war, pointing to the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk in September and the online jubilation that followed as proof the nation has reached a dangerous new level of political hatred.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience with co-host Brian Redban, Rogan placed the country at a “seven” on a hypothetical 10-point scale to civil war—up from what he previously thought was a “four or five.”

“Charlie Kirk gets shot and people are celebrating like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You want people to die that you disagree with?’” Rogan said. “Like, where are we right now on the scale of one-to-civil war? Where are we? Are we at seven? Because I thought we were at a five. I thought we were like four. Four or five.”

The 29-year-old Kirk was killed by a lone gunman during a TPUSA student event at the University of Arizona on September 14. The shooter, identified as 24-year-old left-wing activist Marcus Hale, opened fire from a rooftop overlooking the outdoor rally, striking Kirk in the head and chest before being killed by campus police. Video of the incident spread rapidly online.

🚨NEW: Joe Rogan says *CELEBRATION* of Charlie Kirk Assassination shows US well on way to "CIVIL WAR"🚨

"You want people to die that you disagree with?"

"Where are we right now on the scale of 1 to civil war? ... I thought we were ... 4 or 5. But after the Charlie Kirk thing,… pic.twitter.com/IEsrK35ivE

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) November 11, 2025

Rogan cited:

• The 2024 attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
• Multiple arson attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers.
• Riots outside the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
• Physical assaults on conservative campus speakers documented by TPUSA since 2023.

“This isn’t just disagreement anymore,” Rogan told Redban. “This is people cheering when the other side gets murdered in broad daylight. That’s not politics—that’s bloodlust.”

He argued the Kirk killing marks a turning point because it was the first high-profile political assassination of a major conservative figure since the 1960s, and the first to be met with widespread public celebration rather than universal condemnation.

Rogan urged listeners to recognize the pattern: “Every time one side does something crazy, the other side does something crazier to ‘balance it out.’ That’s how you get to ten.”

More Content Means Subscription Hike For Paramount+

Paramount Skydance is raising Paramount+ prices in the U.S. starting January 15, 2026, while pledging over $1.5 billion in additional 2026 programming investments to fuel content growth.

The ad-supported Essential plan will increase $1 to $8.99 monthly ($89.99 annually, or $7.50/month), and the ad-free Premium tier will rise $1 to $13.99 monthly ($139.99 annually, or $11.67/month). 

These hikes—the second since August 2024—aim to support reinvestment in user experience and original programming, CEO David Ellison wrote in the Q3 2025 shareholder letter, adding that Paramount+ remains competitively priced.

FCC Chair Urges Both Sides To Settle Carriage Dispute

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr urged Disney and Google to immediately resolve their carriage dispute on November 10, 2025, to restore ABC, ESPN, and other Disney channels to YouTube TV subscribers who have been blacked out since October 31.

The blackout, affecting over 8 million users during peak NFL and college football season, stems from failed negotiations over higher carriage fees, bundling terms, and protections for Disney’s upcoming direct-to-consumer ESPN app in 2026. Disney accuses YouTube TV of demanding anti-competitive terms; YouTube TV says Disney is seeking above-market rates.

Carr emphasized consumer harm, stating, “People should have the right to watch the programming they paid for—including football.” His intervention adds regulatory pressure amid broader FCC scrutiny of network practices that limit local broadcasting access.

Both companies have traded public accusations, with no resolution as of November 11. Similar disputes, including YouTube TV’s ongoing blackout of TelevisaUnivision, highlight growing tensions in live TV streaming.

Analyst: Blackout Costing Disney $30M Every Week

Walt Disney Co. is losing approximately $30 million in revenue per week as its channels, including ESPN and ABC, remain blacked out on YouTube TV, according to a Morgan Stanley analysis released Monday, intensifying pressure to resolve a contract dispute that has entered its second week and disrupted programming for roughly 10 million subscribers during a peak sports season.

The blackout began October 30 after negotiations between Disney and YouTube TV’s parent company, Google, collapsed over carriage fees and bundling terms. Disney-owned networks—including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ABC, Disney Channel, Freeform, FX, and National Geographic—are no longer available on the streaming service, forcing subscribers to miss live events such as “Monday Night Football,” NBA regular-season games, and major college football matchups.

Morgan Stanley estimates the weekly $30 million revenue hit stems primarily from lost affiliate fees that Disney would have collected from YouTube TV. The figure assumes an average per-subscriber fee of about $3 for Disney’s linear channels, multiplied across the service’s estimated 10 million users. The analysis notes that the financial damage compounds daily, with no resolution in sight and both sides publicly blaming the other for failed talks.

Kansas County To Pay $3M for Raid On Newspaper Office

Marion County, Kansas, will pay more than $3 million and issue a formal apology to settle lawsuits over a 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record, a small-town weekly newspaper.

The $3.095 million settlement—announced November 10, 2025—resolves four federal lawsuits stemming from the August 11, 2023, raid that seized computers, phones, and files from the newsroom and homes of publisher Eric Meyer and a city official. 

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office also expressed “regret” for the “unintended consequences” of the operation, which sparked national outrage over press freedom.

Publisher Eric Meyer receives $1.5 million, including a direct $50,000 county payment and a regret statement. City Council Vice President Ruth Herbel gets $650,000 with a similar apology. Reporter Phyllis Zorn is awarded $600,000, and former reporter Deb Gruver receives $250,000. Insurance covers most of the payout.

The raid, led by then-Police Chief Gideon Cody, followed the Record’s investigation into a local restaurant owner’s DUI record. No charges were filed against the newspaper. 

Cody later resigned and faces felony obstruction charges. Meyer’s 98-year-old mother, Joan, died of a heart attack the day after her home was searched; he blames the stress.

The case drew condemnation from journalism groups and the U.S. Justice Department, highlighting threats to rural newsrooms. The settlement is seen as a victory for press rights and a warning to local officials.

Burlington VT Radio: Izzy Mitchell Promoted To WXXX PD

Vox AM/FM has promoted Izzy Mitchell to Program Director for CHR WXXX-FM (95 Triple X) in Burlington, VT, effective January 2026.

Izzy Mitchell

Mitchell, currently midday host at 95 Triple X, program coordinator and host at WERS-FM in Boston, and podcast operations intern at CNN, will shift to afternoons (2–7 p.m.) and oversee all programming, content, sound design, promotions, label relations, and audience engagement.

Operations Manager Ted Richards called Mitchell “one of the brightest young talents in the industry,” adding her “winning attitude” will drive fresh listener connections and represent “the next generation of radio leadership.”

Mitchell said leading the station is “an incredible honor” and feels “like coming home,” having grown up listening to Vermont radio. She aims to preserve what makes 95 Triple X special while strengthening community ties.

WERS Brand Manager Ken West praised Mitchell’s leadership, personality, and audience connection, predicting she’ll “shine through immediately.”

Chicago Radio: WGN Honored By Illinois Broadcasters

WGN Radio earned three awards at the 2025 Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) Silver Dome Awards, including two honors for the WGN Radio newsroom. The awards, which recognize the top-tier in Illinois broadcasting, were announced on November 6 at a reception held at the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago.

IBA also recognized Dave Eanet, whose two stints on WGN Radio encompass more than 30 years, with the 2025 Chicago/W. Russell Withers Jr. Broadcast Pioneer Award. Eanet is the voice of Northwestern Wildcat football and men’s basketball as well as serving as a fill-in anchor on the WGN-TV sports desk. He is a respected voice in college athletics and has been synonymous with Northwestern football radio broadcasts since 1990. The award is named after the late W. Russell Withers Jr, founding father of the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation.

WGN Radio received the following Silver Dome Awards:

• Best Continuing Coverage – “Trial of Michael Madigan” | Credit: WGN Radio
• Best Feature – “Chicago Teachers Told to Pass Migrant Students” | Credit: Sylvia Snowden, Ryan Burrow
• Best Radio Personality – John Williams | Credit: John Williams

Local Radio Nets, Picklejar Partner For National Distribution

PickleJar Entertainment Group, a leading Texas-based music and entertainment software company, has announced a new strategic broadcast partnership with Local Radio Networks (LRN) to serve as the national distribution partner for its flagship overnight country radio show, PickleJar Up All Night. 

This agreement expands PickleJar’s brand reach and audience engagement through an aggressive nationwide affiliate growth strategy.

Under the agreement, LRN will work closely with local and regional broadcast partners for their award-winning show, PickleJar Up All Night, broadcasting weeknights from Nashville. Hosted by Katie Cook and Scott Gaines, PickleJar’s curated blend of artist stories, exclusive performances, and fan-driven interaction brings the energy and authenticity of Nashville’s country music scene to listeners everywhere. 

Bob Ross Paintings Sell for $600K to Support Public Broadcasters

Three Bob Ross paintings fetched more than $600,000 at a Los Angeles auction on Tuesday, kicking off the sale of 30 canvases by the iconic artist and TV host. The proceeds will support public broadcasters nationwide amid federal funding cuts.

Bonhams, the auction house, announced the sales and plans to offer the remaining 27 works at upcoming auctions in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles next year.   The funds will aid public television stations hit by the elimination of $1.1 billion in public media support.

Ross, who passed away in 1995 at age 52, gained fame in the 1980s hosting PBS’s “The Joy of Painting,” aired on hundreds of public stations.

Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., which manages the artist’s legacy, donated the 30 paintings to American Public Television—the syndicator behind “The Joy of Painting” and other programs. Most of these works were only ever seen during Ross’s on-air creations.

The auction idea stemmed from Bonhams’ August sale of two private Ross paintings, each for about $100,000.

The NY Times reports proceeds will flow to American Public Television, which will distribute them to struggling broadcasters. Neither organization was available for comment late Tuesday.

Radio History: Nov 12

➦In 1917...Singer Jo Stafford was born in Coalinga Calif.

Jo Stafford  1948

With her mother's encouragement, Stafford originally planned to become an opera singer and studied voice as a child, taking private lessons from Foster Rucker, an announcer on California radio station KNX.  Because of the Great Depression, she abandoned that idea and joined her older sisters Christine and Pauline in a popular vocal group the Stafford Sisters. The two older Staffords were already part of a trio with an unrelated third member when the act got a big booking at Long Beach's West Coast Theater. Pauline was too ill to perform, and Jo was drafted in to take her place so they could keep the engagement. She asked her glee club teacher for a week's absence from school, saying her mother needed her at home, and this was granted. The performance was a success, and Jo became a permanent member of the group.

The Staffords' first radio appearance was on Los Angeles station KHJ as part of The Happy Go Lucky Hour when Jo was 16, a role they secured after hopefuls at the audition were asked if they had their own musical accompanist. Christine Stafford said that Jo played piano, and the sisters were hired, though she had not previously given a public piano performance.  The Staffords were subsequently heard on KNX's The Singing Crockett Family of Kentucky, and California Melodies, a network radio show aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System. While Stafford worked on The Jack Oakie Show, she met John Huddleston—a backing singer on the program, and they were married in October 1937.  The couple divorced in 1943.

The sisters found work in the film industry as backup vocalists, and immediately after graduating from high school, Jo worked on film soundtracks. She died July 16 2008 at age 90.

➦In 1931…In London, the Abbey Road recording studios opened.

It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, which owned it until Universal Music took control of part of EMI in 2013.

Abbey Road Studios is most notable as being the 1960s' venue for innovative recording techniques adopted by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, the Hollies, among others. One of its earliest world-famous-artist clients was Paul Robeson, who recorded there in December 1931 and went on to record many of his best-known songs there.

In 2009, the studio came under threat of sale to property developers. However, the British Government protected the site, granting it English Heritage Grade II listed status in 2010, thereby preserving the building from any major alterations.

iHeartMedia Swings To Loss, Stock Dips

iHeartMedia Inc. Monday reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of $997 million slightly down 1.1% year-over-year but topping analyst expectations of $980 million, as robust growth in podcasts and digital audio cushioned declines in traditional broadcast and political advertising. 

The results, however, were marred by a $209 million non-cash impairment charge on FCC licenses, driving a GAAP operating loss of $116 million— a sharp reversal from last year's $77 million profit— and a net loss of $65.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA held steady at $205 million, aligning with company guidance, while shares dipped 2% in after-hours trading to $4.45 amid mixed reactions to ongoing cost-cutting efforts.

The quarter highlighted iHeartMedia's pivot toward digital platforms, with the Digital Audio Group delivering standout performance: revenue climbed 13.5% to $342 million, fueled by a 22% surge in podcast sales to $140 million, and adjusted EBITDA rose 30% to $130 million for a robust 38.1% margin. 

Paramount Plans for Fresh Layoffs

Paramount Skydance Corp. announced plans Monday to cut an additional 1,600 jobs as part of an aggressive cost-saving push aiming for at least $3 billion in annual efficiencies—$1 billion more than the company's previous $2 billion target following its merger with Skydance Media.

The layoffs, detailed in a shareholder letter and first post-merger earnings report, target a 15% overall workforce reduction and come on top of about 1,000 U.S.-based cuts last month and roughly 600 voluntary buyouts triggered by a new five-day-a-week return-to-office mandate starting in January. The moves are designed to streamline operations amid declining linear TV revenue and streaming competition, with one-time restructuring costs estimated at $800 million in 2026 and $400-500 million in 2027.

Miami Radio: CMG Promotes Jimmy Farrell To Cluster VP/MM

Cox Media Group has named Jacksonville VP/Market Manager Jimmy Farrell as the new leader of its four-station Miami radio cluster, succeeding Ralph Renzi, who is departing for a new opportunity.

Farrell, who started his career as an intern with Cox Miami before returning in 2003, rose through roles including Account Manager in Orlando, Local Sales Manager for Country “K92.3” WWKA, and General Sales Manager. 

He joined Jacksonville as Director of Sales in March 2020, earning promotion to Market Manager in August 2022. He also held Account Manager positions at WBZL-TV and Beasley Media in Miami.

Jimmy Farrell

“I’m very excited to come home to lead CMG Miami Radio and continue their outstanding efforts to positively impact our loyal listeners, outstanding communities and clients,” Farrell said. “I’ll miss our CMG Jacksonville team, but I look forward to the meaningful opportunity in front of me.”

Cox Radio President Rob Babin added, “Jimmy is a terrific leader who builds strong teams and achieves extraordinary results. After succeeding in roles of increased responsibility across the CMG Radio business, he’s earned the deep respect and trust of his teams and the industry. I know CMG Miami Radio will thrive under his leadership, just as the Jacksonville team has done.”

Renzi, who has led the Miami cluster since 2017 after serving two years as General Sales Manager, previously spent most of his career in Washington DC with companies including Clear Channel, Bonneville, Infinity, Radio One, Red Zebra Broadcasting, and Hubbard.

Thriller: Michael Jackson First Artist With Top 10 Hits Across Six Decades

Michael Jackson has made Billboard history as the first artist to score Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 in six different decades, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

The record was sealed on November 10, 2025, when his 1982 classic “Thriller” surged from No. 32 to No. 10 on the chart dated November 15, driven by a 57% spike in streams (14 million) and strong Halloween-season radio play.

This marks Jackson’s 30th career Top 10 hit and his first in the 2020s, extending a chart reign that began with his 1971 solo debut “Got to Be There” (No. 4). He previously shared the five-decade record with Andy Williams, whose holiday staple “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” reached the Top 10 in the 2010s and 2020s.

Jackson’s decade-by-decade Top 10 highlights include:

• 1970s: “Got to Be There,” “Ben” (No. 1)
• 1980s: “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” (both No. 1)
• 1990s: “Black or White” (No. 1)
• 2000s: “You Rock My World” (No. 10)
• 2010s: “Love Never Felt So Good” with Justin Timberlake (No. 9)
• 2020s: “Thriller” (No. 10, 2025)

Now 16 years after his 2009 death, “Thriller” becomes Jackson’s longest-charting Hot 100 entry at 26 weeks. The milestone arrives amid hype for the upcoming biopic Michael, set for release in April 2026.

Tucson Radio: Longtime R/TV Journalist Bill Buckmaster To Sign-Off

Bill Buckmaster

Bill Buckmaster, the veteran TV and radio journalist inducted into both the Arizona and Nevada Broadcaster Halls of Fame, announced Monday that he will retire at year's end.

“I'm very proud of what I've done, but I honestly would like to kick back a little bit and spend more time with my fiancée, perhaps travel one week out of every month, and pursue some other projects,” Buckmaster said.

His namesake radio program will continue airing weekdays at noon on KVOI 1030 AM through Dec. 30.Spanning more than 50 years—with over three decades in Tucson—Buckmaster estimated Monday that he has interviewed more than 10,000 people.

Politicians, journalists, and community leaders lauded his integrity, balanced reporting, and deep institutional knowledge.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero called Buckmaster “one of our community’s most respected journalists.”

NEPA Radio: After 45-Years, Jeff Walker Gets Extension At WKRZ

Audacy Top 40 station 98.5 KRZ (WKRZ) in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has renewed the contract of afternoon drive host “Jumpin’ Jeff” Walker, securing the legendary personality for continued dominance in one of radio’s most competitive markets.

Today's announcement coincides with dual 45th anniversaries: KRZ’s launch as a Top 40 powerhouse in 1980 (First song:  New Kid In Town by The Eagles) and Walker’s unbroken tenure in the same afternoon slot—making him one of the longest-running single-market, single-station personalities in U.S. radio history.

Walker’s show has consistently delivered top-rated afternoon performance, anchoring KRZ as a perennial ratings leader in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre market (Nielsen DMA #71). His multi-decade run has spanned format evolutions, digital shifts, and generational listener turnover while maintaining cultural relevance and audience loyalty.

SVP/Market Manager Ryan Flynn praised the renewal: “We’re thrilled to ensure Jeff remains the cornerstone of our afternoon drive. Forty-five years of ratings dominance with the same station is an achievement that speaks for itself.”

Walker, known for high-energy stunts, unpredictable segments, and sharp pop culture commentary, reflected on his longevity: “I’ve always attempted to make afternoons wild, a little edgy and unpredictable. They say time flies when you’re having fun… this has been a hurricane!”

Walker’s voice has become synonymous with Northeastern Pennsylvania youth culture, from Gen X mallrats to Gen Z streamers discovering his archives online.

His 45-year streak includes: Surviving multiple ownership changes (from Wilkes-Swartz to Entercom, now Audacy).

Walker’s sustained success underscores the power of authentic local connection in an increasingly nationalized media landscape. KRZ continues to leverage Walker’s brand in digital content, social media, and community events, ensuring his influence extends beyond the traditional broadcast day.

TV Ratings: ESPN MNF Averaging 15.2M Viewers During First Half

Anchored by Monday Night Football, ESPN’s first half of the 2025 NFL season is seeing viewership gains across its entire game and studio shows, with numerous multi-year highs or near-record numbers. Monday Night Football is on pace for its second-highest audience in its 20 seasons on ESPN, while Monday Night Countdown, Sunday NFL Countdown, and NFL Live are all experiencing their best audience in at least six seasons, while impressively up double-digits year-over-year.

Monday Night Football’s strong first half sets the foundation for its second half, which begins tonight with the Eagles and Packers (November 10, 8 p.m. ET) at Lambeau Field, in a matchup of NFL division leaders.

Monday Night Football has reached 109 million fans through Week 9 (13 games), up 15% from the same point in 2024 (11 games), while averaging 15.2 million fans per game (13 games). The average audience of 15.2 million fans is ESPN’s second highest through Week 9, dating back to 2006 when ESPN first began airing Monday Night Football, and up 6% comparatively through Week 9 in 2024

Excluding MNF’s Week 4 and Week 6 this season, the two weeks ESPN had one game on ABC and a second on ESPN with overlapping action, ESPN’s Monday Night Football viewership jumped to 17.1 million viewers (9 games). This impressive number includes MNF Week 2 and Week 7, when ESPN aired a true doubleheader with a 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. kickoff.

ESPN’s viewership successes extend to individual games, with three games achieving audiences north of 22 million viewers (Week 1: Minnesota at Chicago; Week 3: Detroit at Baltimore; Week 5: Kansas City at Jacksonville). The Lions-Ravens telecast, with an audience of 22,835,000 viewers, is ESPN’s fourth most-watched MNF game in 20 seasons (350+ total games).

ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown is averaging 1.5 million viewers per show, up 20% year-over-year, while Sunday NFL Countdown is averaging 1.3 million viewers, up 11% year-over-year. In addition to growing their audience from the 2024 season, both shows are experiencing multi-year highs, with Monday Night Countdown delivering its best audience since 2017 and Sunday NFL Countdown its best since 2019.

NFL Live, ESPN’s daily NFL show, is off to the show’s best start since 2016 and up 20% year-over-year, delivering 440,000 viewers per show.

Paramount Streaming Surges 17%

Paramount Global unveiled its first quarterly earnings since the $8 billion merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media closed in August, spotlighting a 17% year-over-year leap in direct-to-consumer revenue—almost entirely powered by the Paramount+ streaming platform. 

The surge marked a bright spot in an otherwise flat pro forma top line of $6.7 billion, as legacy TV Media revenues sank 12% amid cord-cutting pressures and shifting ad markets. Under Ellison’s aggressive leadership, the company also escalated its cost-cutting crusade, lifting annual savings targets from $2 billion to at least $3 billion while slashing roughly 2,000 jobs to purge redundancies and obsolete roles.

Q3 Financial Breakdown

• Total revenue: $6.7 billion (unchanged YoY on pro forma basis)
• Direct-to-consumer segment: +17%, driven by Paramount+ subscriber growth and pricing gains
• TV Media segment: -12%, reflecting linear network declines
• Paramount+ global subscribers: 79.1 million (up from prior quarters)
• Full-year 2026 revenue guidance: $30 billion

The earnings call underscored a pivotal transition: streaming is now the growth engine, even as traditional broadcast and cable assets—including CBS, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon—face structural erosion. Executives credited Paramount+ price hikes, bundled offerings with partners like Walmart+ and Apple, and original hits such as Tulsa King and Lioness for the subscriber momentum.

Since taking the reins, David Ellison has moved with startup speed inside a century-old studio. Within days of the merger’s closure, Paramount inked a blockbuster $7.7 billion, seven-year exclusive U.S. media rights deal with TKO Group Holdings for Ultimate Fighting Championship events, starting in 2026. The pact positions Paramount+ as a live-sports destination and secures high-value content for linear channels like CBS Sports.

The Wall Street Journal reported Paramount submitted three separate takeover proposals for Warner Bros. Discovery, each rebuffed by the David Zaslav-led board. A successful bid would fuse Paramount’s studio and Paramount+ with Warner’s legendary film library, HBO Max (soon to rebrand under a new moniker), and cable stalwarts like CNN, TBS, and TNT—creating a colossus capable of rivaling Disney and Netflix in both scale and content depth. While talks remain stalled, insiders suggest Ellison has not abandoned the pursuit.

FNC Greg Gutfeld Does Interview With NY Times Podcast

On November 8, 2025, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld sat down for a rare long-form interview with The New York Times Magazine, conducted by David Marchese for the outlet's podcast "The Interview." Titled "Fox News Wanted Greg Gutfeld to Do This Interview. He Wasn’t So Sure," the 51-minute conversation explores Gutfeld's rise as a conservative comedian, the decline of liberal late-night TV, and his unapologetic style of humor.

Gutfeld, known for his Fox News shows Gutfeld! (a late-night comedy roundtable) and The Five, was initially reluctant to participate—Fox News encouraged it as a chance to reach a broader audience, but he expressed skepticism about the Times' narrative tendencies. The interview has sparked significant discussion, with conservatives praising Gutfeld's sharp deflections and liberals noting its "gotcha" undertones.

Key Topics and Highlights

The discussion weaves through Gutfeld's career, cultural critiques, and recent industry shakeups. Here's a breakdown of the main themes:

Trust Crisis Rattles The BBC

In a stunning blow to one of the world's most trusted news organizations, two of the BBC's highest-ranking executives resigned on Sunday amid explosive accusations of editorial bias, sparked by the misleading editing of a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump. The departures of Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness have ignited calls for sweeping reforms, threatening the broadcaster's reputation for impartiality and fueling debates over its future funding and independence.

The crisis erupted last week when The Daily Telegraph published details from a leaked internal memo by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser on editorial standards. Prescott's dossier accused the BBC of "serious and systemic" biases across multiple areas, with the most damning revelation centering on a 2024 episode of the BBC's flagship investigative series, Panorama, titled "Trump: A Second Chance?" Aired just a week before the U.S. presidential election. The documentary spliced together non-consecutive excerpts from Trump's January 6, 2021, speech to supporters in Washington, D.C.—comments made roughly 50 minutes apart—to create a seamless, inflammatory narrative.

🚨 NEW: President Trump’s lawyers have written to the BBC over misleading Trump speech edit, demanding a retraction, an apology, some kind of compensation and threatening a lawsuit of a BILLION dollars pic.twitter.com/GuUQvRzhzd

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) November 10, 2025

Davie announced his resignation in an email to staff, calling it "entirely my decision" and accepting "ultimate responsibility" for the "mistakes made." Turness, who oversaw BBC News and Current Affairs since 2023, echoed this sentiment, stating the uproar had "reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC—an institution that I love." 

The fallout was swift and severe. Over 500 viewer complaints flooded the BBC's regulator, Ofcom, prompting an internal review that had flagged the edit as early as January 2025 but failed to prompt corrective action— a lapse BBC Chair Samir Shah publicly apologized for on Monday as an "error of judgment." Shah conceded the edit "gave the impression of a direct call for violent action" and vowed to implement stricter guidelines, though he stopped short of labeling it intentional bias. President Trump amplified the scandal on Truth Social, branding the BBC "corrupt" and "very dishonest," while threatening $1 billion in legal action over what he called an attempt to "step on the scales of a Presidential Election." 

Alabama Most-Watched College Football Team

Alabama leads Nielsen’s first-ever ranking of the most-watched college football teams through the season’s first 10 weeks, drawing 7.910 million viewers, with Georgia close behind at 7.626 million.

Overall college football viewership rose 4% year-over-year, based on Nielsen’s Big Data Plus Panel metrics for the same period. 

The Top 10 list aggregates audiences across ABC, Big Ten Network, CBS, The CW, ESPN networks, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and TNT.

In a separate weekly ranking of the top 25 live sports events (Oct. 27–Nov. 2), college football claimed 10 slots. The NFL took seven of the top 14 across Fox, NBC, CBS, Prime Video, ABC, and ESPN, led by the Chiefs-Bills game on CBS (nearly 31 million viewers). 

The World Series occupied five of the top 11, with Game 7 on Fox (26.9 million) ranking No. 2—the highest for a Fall Classic game since 2017.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Ordered To Restore Employee Health Benefits

A federal appeals court has ordered the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to restore health benefits and other terms from its 2017 contract for striking journalists, ruling the newspaper bargained in bad faith and illegally imposed changes in 2020.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on November 10, 2025, unanimously denied the newspaper’s appeal and fully enforced a National Labor Relations Board decision. The court found the Post-Gazette violated federal labor law by prematurely declaring an impasse, unilaterally cutting health coverage, reducing wages, and surveilling striking workers.

The ruling requires the newspaper to:

• Reinstate the 2017 contract terms, including the original health plan for all bargaining unit members
• Pay back wages, benefits, and increased health costs with interest since 2020
• Reimburse the union for bad-faith bargaining expenses
• Resume good-faith negotiations upon the union’s request

The decision caps a five-year legal battle stemming from the 2022 strike—the longest in U.S. newspaper history—joined by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh after the paper ended health insurance for union workers. The union called the ruling a “major victory” and plans to vote soon on ending the strike and returning to work under restored terms.

The Post-Gazette, which has not commented on the ruling, must comply immediately or face contempt charges.

Treasury Sec Gives History Lesson To ABC's George Stephanopoulos

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clashed with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “This Week,” accusing the host of calling Republicans “terrorists” during the 1995-96 government shutdown and urging five moderate Democratic senators to cross the aisle to end the current one.

The heated exchange erupted when Stephanopoulos asked Bessent about President Trump’s push to eliminate the Senate filibuster. Bessent pivoted, citing a 2000 PBS interview and Stephanopoulos’s book All Too Human, where the former Clinton aide described portraying Republicans as extremists to force a compromise after the 21-day shutdown.

“I’ve got all your quotes here, George,” Bessent said, smirking that his recent Amazon purchase of the book was Stephanopoulos’s “one sale this week.” The host, 64, fired back: “That’s a mischaracterization of history,” insisting on focusing on the present crisis.

In 2001, George Stephanopoulos admitted to PBS Frontline that the Clinton Administration worked to paint Congress as “blackmailing the country to get their way” via government shutdown and characterized them as “basically terrorists.”

In 2025, he calls these quotes “a… pic.twitter.com/UhpWgl2emj

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) November 9, 2025

A shouting match ensued, with Bessent, 63, repeating his call for Democratic defections as the path forward—later proven correct when five senators did cross party lines. Stephanopoulos dismissed the history lesson: “We don’t need a history lesson right now.”

Radio History: Nov 11

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

➦In 1928...WGL-AM, Fort Wayne, IN signed-on. The station, now 1250 on the AM dial, was the first to broadcast in the city of Fort Wayne. Chester Keen and Lauer Auto founded what was originally called WCWK when it signed on in 1921. Keen bought the Lauer interests in WCWK in 1925. That same year, WOWO was established by the Main Auto Supply Co., with studios above Main Auto's downtown factory.

In 1928, Keen sold WCWK to WOWO owner Fred Zieg, and the call letters were changed to WGL (What God Loves), taking a callsign previously used by the current WADO in New York City.

WOWO and WGL were owned by the Zieg family until WOWO's sale to Westinghouse in 1936. Westinghouse sold WGL to the Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation in 1945. On September 24, 1947, the station's power was increased from 250 W to 1,000 Watts.

Subsequently it was purchased by the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. The call letters of WGL were reinterpreted as Wayne's Great Lady, referring to Helene Foelliger, who had markedly improved circulation of the News-Sentinel since becoming publisher less than a decade earlier, when she became the youngest, as well as one of the first female, publishers of a major newspaper. William Kunkle, publisher of the morning Journal-Gazette, followed by establishing WKJG (William Kunkle Journal-Gazette) in 1947, but while WKJG established a television station in 1953, WGL had no television license.

In March 2014, Adams Radio Group, LLC entered an agreement to purchase Summit City's cluster (which includes WGL). Days later, Adams announced they would purchase Oasis Radio Group's stations. To meet ownership limits, Adams will retain WNHT, WGL and WXKE, as well as acquiring Oasis Radio Group's WJFX and WBTU, while selling off WHPP to Fort Wayne Catholic Radio, and selling WGL-FM to Calvary Radio Network. WLYV and two translators (on 96.9 FM and 103.3 FM) will also be acquired by Adams. The transaction, at a price of $6.4 million, was consummated on June 2, 2014. As a result, Adams plans on massive format restructuring. WGL flipped to Fox Sports Radio programming on June 3 after "American Pie" by Don McLean bought a close to WGL and WGL-FM's oldies format.

➦In 1928...WOL-AM, Washington, D.C., signed-on. The station now at 1450 AM is owned by Urban One.

➦In 1928...WMT-AM in Cedar Rapids IA begins radio transmissions

➦In 1928...KXO-AM in El Centro CA signed-on

➦In 1930...NBC made first broadcast from 30 Rockefeller Plaza in NYC.

In a major move in 1931, RCA signed crucial leases with the new Rockefeller Center management that resulted in it becoming the lead tenant of what was to become in 1933 its corporate headquarters, the RCA Building, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Under the terms of the lease arrangement, this included studios for NBC and theaters for the RCA-owned RKO Pictures. The deal was arranged through the Center's founder and financier, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., with the chairman of GE, Owen D. Young, and the president of RCA, David Sarnoff.

In 1934...WOC-AM in Davenport Iowa splits from WHO-WOC.