Amid Investor Jitters, Netflix Pishes Hard For WBD Deal

In a high-stakes investor call Friday morning, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos ramped up the sales pitch for the streaming giant's blockbuster $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets, declaring the company "highly confident in the regulatory process" and "running full speed" toward approval."

This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it’s pro-creator, it’s pro-growth, and our plans here are to work really closely with all the appropriate governments and regulators, but we’re really confident that we’re going to get all the necessary approvals that we need," Sarandos told investors, emphasizing the complementary nature of the businesses. 

"These two businesses are complementary, and they’re also loved businesses, which is really fantastic."

The announcement, made just hours after Netflix sealed the deal in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at about $27.75 per Warner Bros. Discovery share, sent ripples through Hollywood and Wall Street. The acquisition—Netflix's largest ever—would merge the world's top streaming service, with over 300 million global subscribers, with Warner Bros.' iconic library of franchises like Harry Potter, Batman, Game of Thrones, and Friends, alongside HBO Max's 128 million users. 

Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters echoed Sarandos' optimism, calling the move a way to "improve our offering and accelerate our business for decades to come" by blending Warner's century-old production prowess with Netflix's digital distribution muscle.

Deal Emerges from Fierce Bidding War

The path to this mega-merger was anything but smooth, emerging from a cutthroat auction process that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) kicked off in October amid mounting debt, sluggish streaming growth, and a sagging stock price. WBD, formed from the 2022 merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, had planned to spin off its studio and streaming units from its legacy cable networks like CNN and TNT by mid-2026, creating a leaner entity focused on linear TV. But rival bids derailed that strategy.

Paramount Global, newly led by Skydance's David Ellison and backed by his billionaire father Larry Ellison, emerged as the early frontrunner with a $30-per-share offer that included a $5 billion termination fee and a potential executive role for WBD CEO David Zaslav. Comcast also threw its hat in the ring, eyeing Warner's assets to bolster its Peacock service. Yet Netflix, long viewed as a "builder not a buyer," swooped in with the winning $28-per-share bid, outmaneuvering competitors after weeks of escalating offers. 

Sources described the process as "tainted" from Paramount's perspective, accusing WBD of favoring Netflix due to internal executive conflicts and a rushed timeline.

To sweeten the pot, Netflix pledged a hefty $5.8 billion breakup fee if regulators block the deal, along with commitments to preserve Warner's theatrical film releases—a nod to theater chains fretting over Netflix's streaming-first ethos. The company also promised $2 billion to $3 billion in annual cost synergies, expanded U.S. production, and more original content spending.

Critics, including former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar, blasted the move on social media as "a more effective way to reduce competition in Hollywood than I could imagine," warning of an economic crisis for independent filmmakers and exhibitors. Theater owners, from chains like AMC to indie operators, voiced alarm that even with theatrical promises, Netflix's day-and-date streaming model could erode box office revenue further.

If approved, this union would crown Netflix as a vertically integrated behemoth, blending Warner's $15 billion-plus annual content spend with Netflix's $17 billion war chest—dwarfing rivals like Disney and Amazon. It signals the tech insurgents' final conquest of legacy Hollywood, following Amazon's 2022 MGM buyout, and could spark a fresh merger wave among smaller players desperate to scale.

WBD's CEO Tries To Reassure Anxious Employees

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav moved quickly Friday to calm growing employee unease about job security, telling staff in an internal town hall that merger partner Netflix has explicitly expressed its desire “to keep most people” from WBD once the all-stock deal closes, expected in the second half of 2026.

Speaking to thousands of WBD employees via livestream, Zaslav described recent high-level discussions with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and other executives, saying Netflix views WBD’s creative and operational talent as a core strategic asset rather than a cost center to be slashed. “They don’t want to come in and just gut the place,” Zaslav reportedly said. 

“Ted has been very clear: they want to keep most people. This is about building something bigger together, not about massive headcount reduction.”

The remarks directly addressed weeks of mounting “trepidation” inside WBD, where staff have been rattled by memories of the brutal 2022 WarnerMedia-Discovery merger that eliminated thousands of positions and entire divisions. 

Multiple sources inside the company described morale as “in the toilet” in recent months as rumors swirled that Netflix, known for its lean culture, would impose Wall Street-pleasing synergies of $2–3 billion, largely through layoffs.

Zaslav pushed back hard on that narrative, emphasizing that Netflix’s subscription-driven, tech-first model actually needs seasoned content executives, marketers, publicists, and production personnel that WBD has in abundance. 

While the CEO acknowledged some “inevitable overlap,” particularly in corporate functions and certain international territories, he framed the overall integration as additive rather than reductive. “This isn’t 2022 again,” he said, according to attendees. “Back then we were combining two very similar companies. This time we’re bringing together highly complementary skill sets.”

Netflix declined to comment on specific integration plans, but a spokesperson reiterated that the company is “excited about the world-class talent at WBD” and is approaching the merger “with the goal of creating the strongest possible combined team.”

Netfix, WBD Deal Could Simplify Streaming For Consumers

Netflix's blockbuster $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) film and TV studios, along with its HBO Max streaming service, promises to deliver a one-stop entertainment powerhouse for everyday viewers, potentially reducing the hassle of juggling multiple subscriptions while unlocking a treasure trove of iconic content like Batman, Harry Potter, and Friends under a single roof. 

The deal marks a seismic shift in Hollywood, handing Netflix control over one of the industry's oldest and most prized assets. For the average consumer tired of "subscription fatigue," this could mean fewer apps, broader libraries, and possibly bundled pricing options that make binge-watching more affordable and seamless. 

However, as regulators scrutinize the merger for antitrust risks, everyday users might face short-term disruptions, content blackouts, or even higher costs if Netflix leverages its new dominance to hike fees.

At its core, the deal fuses Netflix's original hits—think Stranger Things and Squid Game—with WBD's vast catalog of blockbusters and prestige series, creating what Netflix calls a "colossus" of entertainment that could dominate theaters, unions, and streaming charts alike. Consumers stand to gain immediate access to HBO Max's lineup without switching services, potentially slashing the average household's $50–$70 monthly streaming spend on fragmented platforms. 

Imagine paying one fee for everything from DC Comics epics to reality TV marathons, eliminating the need to cancel and resubscribe seasonally. 

Netflix has hinted at "innovative bundling" post-merger, similar to its Disney+ ad-tier partnerships, which could introduce family plans or add-ons for sports and news—assets WBD plans to spin off into a separate cable entity by Q3 2026. This convergence might also accelerate ad-free upgrades or personalized recommendations, drawing on WBD's data to refine algorithms that keep users hooked longer.

Yet, the rosy picture comes with caveats that could ripple through consumers' wallets and viewing habits.

TV Ratings: FOX News Leads With Total Day Viewers

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the week of November 24 as the top cable network with viewers across total day, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. In Monday - Sunday primetime FNC nabbed 1.6 million viewers and 129,000 in the 25-54 demo. Across total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.2 million viewers and 98,000 in the 25-54 demo.

The Five averaged 3.5 million viewers and 271,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news across the board. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.6 million viewers and 237,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.3 million viewers and 208,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 2.6 million viewers and 217,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher secured 1.2 million viewers.

FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 2.2 million viewers and 227,000 in the 25-54 demo continuing to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1.2 million viewers), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2.2 million viewers), and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.6 million viewers).

FNC continued to see its daytime programs outpace the broadcast competition. The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2 million viewers) led NBC’s Today with Jenna and Friends (1.7 million viewers). Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1.7 million viewers), America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 1.7 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 1.6 million viewers),The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1.5 million viewers) and America Reports (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1.4 million viewers) all led NBC News Daily (1.4 million viewers) and ABC’s GMA3 (1.3 million viewers).

On Saturday:  Kayleigh McEnany’s Saturday in America (Saturday, 10 AM - 12 PM/ET) was the most-watched cable news show of the day with 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 6-10 AM/ET) followed with 1.1 million viewers. In primetime, My View with Lara Trump (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) averaged over 1 million and Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) averaged 906,000 viewers.

Sunday Morning: Futures (Sunday, 10 AM/ET) was the number one cable news show of the weekend with 1.5 million viewers. In primetime, Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) led the way with 1.1 million viewers. The Sunday Briefing (Sunday, 11 AM/ET) hosted by Peter Doocy drew 1.2 million viewers.

Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 11-24-25 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude weekday specials, repeats and weekend includes specials, excludes repeats and include the corresponding program name.

Ohio State-Michigan Most-Watched CFB Game This Year

Fox’s broadcast of Ohio State-Michigan on Nov. 29 averaged 18.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched college football game of the 2025 season on any network and the second-highest regular-season audience in Fox history.

The matchup delivered a 49% increase over last year’s game while peaking at 20.54 million viewers. 

Only the 2023 edition (19.06 million) drew a larger regular-season crowd on the network. It also easily topped Fox’s previous 2025 high-water mark, the season-opening Ohio State-Texas game (16.66 million).

The surge came as No. 1 Ohio State snapped a four-year losing streak to rival Michigan with a convincing 27–9 victory, further cementing the defending national champions’ status atop the rankings heading into championship weekend.

The Buckeyes will face Indiana Saturday night in the Big Ten title game, with a win likely locking up the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.

The record-setting rivalry game capped a massive holiday sports weekend that also produced historic NFL audiences on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Consumers Tiring Of Keeping Up With The News

Thanks to radio, TV, emails, apps, and finally social media, news has never been more within reach. However, constant updates and pervasive push notifications are now causing a growing portion of Americans to consciously keep current affairs at arm’s length.

A survey update from Pew Research Center, published this week, found that the overall share of US adults who reported following the news all or most of the time fell to 36% in August 2025 — a significant drop from the 51% recorded in 2016, when the survey first began.

What’s particularly striking is that this trend tracks across all age cohorts, including those typically considered to be the most plugged in. From the Pew data, 30- to 49-year-olds have seen the biggest drop-off from 2016, with 20% fewer respondents in that age group saying that they keep up all or most of the time, while the share of 50- to 64-year-olds saying the same slumped 16% across the nine-year period.

“Brain rot” social media consumption that’s often blamed for the increasingly fragmented news landscape — in June, the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report for 2025 noted an “accelerating shift” toward social media and video as “diminishing the influence of ‘institutional journalism’” — is most commonly associated with Gen Z.

And though young adults do follow the news less closely than other age groups, and a growing number of middle-aged Americans are indeed using social media as a news source, the practice of active avoidance might lend just as much insight into the drop-offs as increasing time spent on TikTok or Instagram Reels.

The same Reuters study found that news evasion is at a record high globally, with 40% of respondents saying they sometimes or often avoid the news, up from 29% in 2017 — citing a “negative effect on their mood” and being “worn out by the amount” as top reasons for swerving the headlines.

NBC's MTP Is No. 1 In November In Key Demo

Meet the Press with Kristen Welker was the #1 Sunday public affairs show among A25-54 demo viewers in November according to Nielsen.

Meet the Press averaged 440,000 key A25-54 demo viewers, leading ABC by +102,000 (+30%) and CBS by +23,000 (+5%). This marks Meet the Press’s tenth consecutive month ranking #1 among key A25-54 demo viewers and fifteenth consecutive month leading ABC. Meet the Press averaged 285,000 A18-49 viewers in November, tied with CBS for the season, which continues to rate for just 30 minutes of its hour-long broadcast.”

For the Sunday, November 30th show, Meet the Press increased its viewership across-the-board vs. prior week and increased its A25-54 and total viewership vs. prior year. Meet the Press reached its largest A25-54 audience in eleven weeks, its largest A18-49 audience in seven weeks, and its largest total viewer audience of the season.  Compared to prior year, Meet the Press reversed its total viewer gap vs. ABC (+70,000 vs. -275,000 prior year).

Meet the Press was the #1 Sunday public affairs show among key A25-54 demo viewers for the 2024-25 broadcast season and continues to rank #1 in A25-54 demo viewers season-to-date. Meet the Press has never lost a month in the Washington, D.C. market among total viewers. 

November’s broadcasts featured interviews with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and more. It also featured a “Meet the Moment” conversation with “Wicked: For Good” director Jon M. Chu

Radio History: Dec 6

➦In 1877...Thomas Edison made his first recording of a human voice. On the recording Edison recited, “Mary had a little lamb. Its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go.”  Edison recordings were made on tin foil and could sustain replaying only a few times.  Nevertheless, Edison’s little machine was an immediate sensation, widely demonstrated and covered by the press.

After the initial excitement around his invention, Edison turned from work on his “talking machine” to improve the electric light bulb.  He would not work on the phonograph again until the late 1880s, when wax cylinders replaced tin foil as his recording medium.

Sound recording instruments before Edison’s did exist, but they were not intended to replay what had been recorded.  Notable among these was Frenchman Leon Scott’s phonautograph.

Inspired by Edison’s work with sound recording, other inventors sought to improve the phonograph. Among the most noted were Alexander Graham Bell and Emile Berliner.  Bell and his associates experimented with disc and cylinder recordings and their graphophone, which employed wax cylinder records, became a popular dictating machine.  Berliner had commercial success with disc records and the machine to play them—the gramophone.

➦In 1923...President Coolidge became the first president to address the American people on broadcast radio from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. Coolidge delivered a message about national priorities and the state of the nation to a joint session of Congress. Nowadays, that speech is known as the State of the Union address.

Over the years, technology has greatly changed the way Presidents deliver the State of the Union address. We've moved from broadcast radio to television, and now the Internet. Here's a timeline of some of the digital "firsts" when it comes to the State of the Union address:

• President Calvin Coolidge in 1923: First radio broadcast of the address
• President Harry Truman in 1947: First televised broadcast of the address
• President George W. Bush in 2002: First live webcast on the Internet of the address
• President Barack Obama in 2011: First to live-tweet the address

While there isn’t an exact number of how many people listened to President Coolidge’s first State of the Union address, the White House Historical Association estimates that his 1925 inaugural address reached more than 23 million radio listeners. In past administrations, reaching that many Americans was practically unheard of.

In 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) spoke on the telephone to the instrument’s inventor, Alexander Graham Bell. Two years later, Hayes had his own telephone in the White House, but the invention was so new that very few homes or offices in Washington had phones, so Hayes had few people to talk to. In fact, the president’s telephone number was "1".

➦In 1943...the prestigious hour-long drama show “Theatre Guild On the Air” began an almost ten-year run, debuting on CBS radio.  For much of its run it was known as “The United States Steel Hour” first on ABC and then NBC radio, before moving to TV in 1953.

➦In 1957... Elvis Presley visited Memphis radio station WDIA 1070 AM where he met two of his music idols, R&B singers Little Junior Parker and Bobby “Blue” Bland.

Report: Netflix To Acquire WBD, Deal Excludes CNN

Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery

• Expected to close in 12 to 18 months
• Netflix to own WBD's studio and HBO Max
• Cash & stock deal at $27.75 per WBD share
• $72B equity value / $82.7B enterprise value
• Both company boards approved deal unanimously
• Early indications from DC say the White House views deal with "heavy skepticism"
• Warner Bros still intends to spin out its global networks unit (CNN, TNT, Discovery, etc.) in a separate deal

Netflix has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) studios, streaming business (including HBO and HBO Max), and related assets in a transformative deal valued at an equity price of $72 billion and an enterprise value of $82.7 billion. 

The acquisition follows a weeks-long bidding war and marks a seismic shift in the entertainment industry, combining Netflix's global streaming dominance with Warner Bros.' storied legacy in film, TV, and IP. The deal excludes WBD's Global Networks division (e.g., CNN, TNT, Discovery+), which will be spun off into a separate publicly traded company named Discovery Global, expected to complete in Q3 2026.

The transaction was unanimously approved by both companies' boards and is positioned as a way to enhance content offerings for consumers while driving efficiencies. Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters described it as uniting "two pioneering entertainment businesses," emphasizing innovation and storytelling. WBD CEO David Zaslav highlighted Warner Bros.' century-long impact on audiences.

Deal Terms 

• Valuation and Payment Structure: WBD shareholders will receive $23.25 in cash and 4.501 shares of Netflix common stock per WBD share, valuing the acquired assets at $27.75 per share.
• Timeline: The deal is contingent on the Discovery Global spin-off, regulatory approvals (including antitrust reviews in the U.S. and Europe), WBD shareholder approval, and other standard conditions. Closing is anticipated post-spin-off in late 2026.
• Breakup Fees: Netflix will pay a $5.8 billion reverse breakup fee if the deal fails due to regulatory issues; WBD faces a $2.8 billion fee if it backs out for another offer.
• Synergies: Netflix projects $2–3 billion in annual cost savings by year three, through optimized production, content distribution, and operations.

Hollywood Producers Sound Alarm OverNetflix Acquisition

A group of prominent feature-film producers has sent an unsigned open letter to members of Congress from both parties, sounding the alarm that a Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery would destroy the theatrical movie business and trigger a broader collapse of Hollywood’s economic model.

The anonymous collective, identifying itself only as “concerned feature film producers,” emailed the letter Thursday, explaining that signatories were withheld “not out of cowardice but out of fear of retaliation from Netflix, which wields enormous power as a buyer and distributor. Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery both declined to comment. 

A well-placed source confirmed to Variety that the group includes several high-profile filmmakers.

The letter warns that a Netflix-owned Warner Bros. Discovery would give the streamer enough market power to “effectively hold a noose around the theatrical marketplace,” shrinking the overall footprint of cinema releases and driving down licensing fees in every subsequent window (home video, pay TV, etc.).With Netflix potentially controlling both the Warner and Discovery libraries alongside its own massive slate, the producers argue the move would concentrate unprecedented power in one company. They urged Congress to scrutinize the deal closely on antitrust and cultural-preservation grounds.

FOX News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst Honored

FNC's Trey Yingst

Last night, FOX News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst was honored with the Prize of Excellence at the Foreign Press Awards.

Organized by the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the USA (AFPC-USA), the annual event took place at the National Press Club and brought together top foreign correspondents to honor their courage, dedication, and excellence in demonstrating the essential role of journalism in safeguarding democracy.

AFPC-USA board member and award-winning international business journalist Sissel McCarthy introduced Yingst, highlighting “his courageous frontline reporting and exceptional commitment to documenting major global conflicts in real time.” In bestowing the honor, she further extolled “Yingst’s journalism is marked by immediacy, accuracy, and deep respect for the human dimensions of conflict. His ability to deliver rapid, reliable information from volatile and dangerous environments reflects both professionalism and personal courage. Trey Yingst’s work upholds the core mission of foreign correspondence: to bear witness, document truth under threat, and bring international crises into public view with clarity and accountability.”

In accepting the award, Yingst thanked the Murdoch family along with the FOX News Media executive team, including CEO Suzanne Scott, president and executive editor Jay Wallace, sr. vice president of news coverage Greg Headen, sr. executive vice president and managing editor Tom Lowell along with FOX Nation president Lauren Petterson, sr. executive vice president corporate communications Irena Briganti, executive vice president news programming Kim Rosenberg and foreign desk manager Thomas Ferraro who were all in attendance. He also took time out to thank his father, Gerald Yingst, who “believed in me when everyone else told me this wasn’t possible. When I was 19 years old with a camera I bought on Amazon, a YouTube page that no one watched and a press pass that I printed at the campus library, you supported my dream.”

Yingst also dedicated his time to “acknowledging the fearless and tenacious Palestinian journalists in Gaza who do not have the luxuries we are afforded to simply leave when the story becomes too dangerous. May we not forget their sacrifice and contributions to our industry.” He further commented, “Let me also reiterate the position that international journalists must be given independent access to Gaza to report,” concluding with his mission to “continue to speak loudly and fairly, even when it is unpopular to do so. We must hold governments and militaries accountable for their actions. And we must continue to be a voice for the voiceless.”

Additional attendees and presenters included, Chairwoman Nancy Prager-Kamel, Allison Bromley from the Knight Foundation and Thanos Dimadis, executive director of the AFPC-USA.

Recap: Day 3 Nielsen November 2025 PPM Ratings

Day 3 of the Nielsen Audio PPM (Portable People Meter) ratings for November 2025 (covering the survey period October 16–November 12) was released Thursday. This batch focuses on mid-sized markets, providing insights into listener trends during a period that included early shifts toward holiday programming in some areas (e.g., stations transitioning to Christmas music around November 5). 

Key highlights include strong performances by Adult R&B and Country formats, with some stations setting new records or showing consistent growth. 

📻Market-by-market summary of the top stations and notable movers: 

• Charlotte: Radio One's Adult R&B "105.3 R&B" WOSF climbed to an 8.3 share, marking its fifth straight monthly increase (from 4.7 in July) and solidifying its dominance. Other Leaders: Beasley Media's Country 103.7 WSOC dipped slightly to 7.3 (from 7.7), while sister Adult R&B "V101.9" WBAV rebounded to 6.3 (up from 5.7). Classic Hits "K104.7" WKQC fell to 6.2 (from 7.7).
• Portland: iHeartMedia's Alternative "107.5 The End" KXJM held strong at a leading share, though exact figures show minor fluctuations amid competitive CHR and Hot AC battles. Key Movers: News/Talk stations saw upticks due to election coverage, but music formats like Adult Contemporary edged out with seasonal prep.
• San Antonio: iHeartMedia's Country "100.3 The Bull" KXXM maintained its lead, benefiting from local events. Notable: Spanish-language outlets like Tejano and Regional Mexican held steady, with one CHR station up 0.5 shares on youth demos.
• Salt Lake City: Cumulus' Country "93.3 The Wolf" KUBL surged to a new high, up amid holiday format teases. Key Movers: LDS-affiliated talk stations dipped, while AC formats rose with early festive programming.
• Orlando: Audacy's Classic Hits "105.9 Sunny-FM" WOCL maintaining its lead despite a minor dip. The market, now ranked #29 in Nielsen's Fall 2024 revisions (up from #30), showed resilience in nostalgic formats like Classic Hits and Classic Rock, while Adult R&B held strong but edged down. Country continued a downward trend.
• Sacramento: Audacy's Sports 1140 KHTK held firm, though music outlets like Country "93.7 Kiss Country" led overall. Key Movers: Regional Mexican "La Mega 97.9" jumped 1.8 shares, its best in a year.
• Pittsburgh: iHeartMedia's AC "100.7 Star 102" WPGB rose to 7.9, prepping for Christmas dominance. Notable: Steelers radio coverage boosted Sports 1020 KDKA, up 2.1 shares.
• Las Vegas: Beasley Media's Country "98.5 The B" KCYE dipped to 6.4 but remains a staple. Key Movers: Gaming/tourism news formats edged up, while Hip Hop "93.5 Damn!" rebounded 1.5 shares.
• Cincinnati: iHeartMedia's Talk 700 WLW soared to 9.2, driven by Bengals football and local talk. Notable: Alternative "97.9 The Fish" fell amid format shifts.
• Kansas City: Audacy's Adult Hits "98.1 KRBZ" continued shattering records, up to 10.1 share—its highest ever and fifth consecutive monthly gain. Key Movers: Country "94.9 Nash FM" held at 7.8, while News/Talk 98.1 KMBZ dipped post-election.
• Columbus: iHeartMedia's AC "Magic 98.9" WMGL climbed to 8.5, with early holiday tunes boosting listens.Notable: Buckeyes college football radio up 3.2 shares on game days.
• Cleveland: iHeartMedia's Sports "92.3 The Fan" WKRK led at 6.7, fueled by Browns coverage. Key Movers: Rock "96.5 The Lake" WLRS rebounded to 5.9 after a soft October.

Overall trends for Day 3 show resilience in Country and Adult R&B formats, with talk/sports gaining from November's election cycle.

Maurice DuBois to Exit CBS Evening News

Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson

Maurice DuBois, co-anchor of CBS Evening News, announced Thursday that he will depart the network on December 18, leaving the flagship broadcast without permanent anchors just two months into a sweeping revamp led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president Tom Cibrowski. 

The move follows co-anchor John Dickerson's exit announcement in October and comes as CBS News grapples with persistent third-place ratings behind ABC's World News Tonight and NBC's Nightly News.

DuBois, a 60-year-old veteran with 21 years at CBS-owned stations including WCBS-TV in New York, shared the news via Instagram, calling it "the Honor of a Lifetime." He reflected on delivering daily headlines and meeting "extraordinary people," ending with: "A couple weeks to go; until then, see you on The CBS Evening News every night at 6:30." 

No future plans were disclosed, though speculation swirls about a potential return to local anchoring at WCBS amid Paramount's cost-cutting post-Skydance merger.

Cibrowski praised DuBois in a statement: "Maurice has long represented what we do best at CBS News and Stations... For more than two decades, he has delivered the day’s biggest stories... Maurice is deeply valued and respected as a journalist by all of us and we wish him much success. It is my hope that we can work together again." 

A replacement is expected in January, marking Weiss's first major talent decision.

The departures cap a turbulent year for CBS Evening News, which has averaged 4.26 million viewers in recent weeks—trailing competitors by wide margins, especially among the key 25-54 demographic.

DuBois and Dickerson, an unconventional duo blending DuBois's "smooth delivery" with Dickerson's "kinetic" energy, took over in January after Norah O'Donnell's exit. Their tenure featured an experimental shift toward long-form, 60 Minutes-style segments over traditional breaking-news recaps—a format that "failed to get traction" and exacerbated ratings declines. Recent tweaks emphasized headlines more, but the show remains stuck in third place after years of reboots.

Charlotte Radio: N/T WBT Adding 100Kw FM Signal

Radio One Charlotte is dramatically expanding its flagship news-talk station WBT by adding a powerful new FM signal at 107.9 FM starting Thursday, December 11. The move places Charlotte’s top-rated spoken-word brand on a 100,000-watt signal, significantly widening its reach and audio quality across the region.

The full WBT lineup—Good Morning BT with Bo Thompson & Beth Troutman, Vince Coakley, Pete Kaliner, Brett Winterble, Brett Jensen, and TJ Ritchie—will now be available on the new 107.9 FM frequency in addition to its longtime AM home.  

To make room for WBT, Radio One is reshuffling several other stations in the market:

• WLNK (Mix 107.9) moves to 100.9 FM and 99.3 FM, keeping its Adult Contemporary format and on-air team (Matt & Liz, Holly Haze, Madison James, and Neal Sharpe).
• WPZS (Praise 100.9) shifts to 102.5 FM and 610 AM, continuing its gospel/inspirational programming with midday host Melanie Pratt.
• Hip Hop and R&B translator W273DA (102.5 The Block) will cease operations in Charlotte.

“We are thrilled to elevate WBT to the FM dial, ensuring that even more listeners can connect with the voices they trust every day,” said Marsha Landess, Vice President and General Manager of Radio One Charlotte. 

“These moves further strengthen our position in the market and reinforce our commitment to serving Charlotte with the best local programming, news, and entertainment.”

NYTimes Sues The Pentagon Citing A Free Press

The New York Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, alleging that new rules for journalists violate the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech and press and the Fifth Amendment’s due process protections.

The federal lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., seeks to block enforcement of an October 2025 policy that requires reporters to sign a 21-page agreement barring them from soliciting, receiving, or publishing any information—including unclassified material—not explicitly approved by the Defense Department.

Violations can lead to immediate loss of Pentagon access with no notice or appeal.

The Times argues the rules amount to an unconstitutional prior restraint on newsgathering, punish unfavorable coverage, and let officials arbitrarily revoke credentials. It says the policy is designed to silence independent reporting on the military and replace it with favorable outlets.

Dozens of major news organizations, including NPR, CNN, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and the Associated Press, have already surrendered their Pentagon badges rather than sign the agreement. The Pentagon Press Association endorses the lawsuit.

The policy stems from Secretary Hegseth’s broader overhaul, which has reassigned prime workspace from traditional outlets to pro-Trump and conservative media figures such as Laura Loomer, Mike Lindell’s LindellTV, and the O’Keefe Media Group. 

On Tuesday, the Pentagon held its first press briefing exclusively for these new credentialed outlets.

As of Thursday, the Defense Department had not responded publicly to the lawsuit.

CPB Awards $4.4M In Grants to Bolster Rural Journalism in 8 States

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded $4.4 million in grants to eight public media organizations to expand local news coverage in rural and underserved areas through its new Rural News and Information Services initiative. 

The funding aims to strengthen community-focused reporting in regions often lacking consistent media presence.

“Public media is rooted in community,” said CPB Chief Operating Officer Kathy Merritt. “These grants empower stations to report on the stories, people, and innovations shaping rural life—ensuring these communities continue to be seen, heard, and understood.”

Key projects include:

• Wisconsin: PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio launch Rural Voices, using town hall sessions and existing rural bureaus to spotlight remote-area issues.
• Ohio: Ideastream Public Media adds an Appalachian Reporter and a Community Collaborations Editor to the Ohio Newsroom, serving five underserved southeast counties and sharing stories across public, nonprofit, and commercial outlets.
• Arkansas: KUAR, KUAF, and KASU form the Arkansas News Collaborative, a regional radio newsroom covering rural economic development, quality-of-life issues, and major changes such as new steel plants and shifting land use.
• 
  High Plains region: High Plains Public Radio creates the High Plains Civic News and Information Network, delivering multi-platform reporting across an 89-county area in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Nebraska—averaging fewer than 10 residents per square mile.
• Appalachia: West Virginia Public Broadcasting expands Inside Appalachia Folkways, training local residents as reporters, in partnership with WEKU in Eastern Kentucky, to fill news deserts with authentic community voices.
• Tennessee: Nashville PBS partners with rural content creators and social media influencers across 72 counties to extend reach through Tennessee Crossroads and the digital series Jaunts.
• Michigan: WCMU Public Media hires a dedicated rural life and agriculture reporter for 35 counties, contributing to the CPB-funded Harvest Public Media collaboration on food systems.

The announcement comes as CPB begins winding down operations after Congress eliminated its federal funding. Having lost approximately 70% of its staff, the organization says it remains committed to supporting essential public media services through the transition period.

CPB emphasized that the grants reinforce public media’s core mission to inform and connect overlooked communities, even amid the organization’s uncertain future.

Edison: TikTok Is Gateway For Audio Consumption

TikTok is driving significant discovery of audio content, according to the debut of Edison Research’s new report, The Infinite Scroll: A TikTok Report, released this week.

Key findings from a national survey of over 5,000 Americans aged 13+ show that 64% of TikTok users have discovered new music through the app, 47% have found new podcasts, and 30% have discovered audiobooks — confirming TikTok’s growing role as a gateway to longer-form audio consumption on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Audible.

The report highlights TikTok’s outsized influence among younger and diverse audiences: 34% of weekly users are aged 13–24 (vs. 20% of the U.S. population), 43% are 25–44, 17% are Black or African American, and 22% are Hispanic or Latino. 

Additionally, 83% of weekly users aged 13+ have taken action after seeing an ad, underscoring the platform’s high commercial intent.

Edison Research, known for its long-running Infinite Dial series since 1998, launched The Infinite Scroll as its first TikTok-specific study. The report positions the app not just as entertainment, but as a powerful trendsetter steering users — especially Gen Z — toward music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Radio History: Dec 5

➦In 1901...Walter Elias Disney born (Died at age 65 – December 15, 1966).  He was the founder of the Disney entertainment empire and an animator, voice actor and film producer. 

Mickey & Friend

A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards earned by an individual, having won 22 Oscars from 59 nominations. He was presented with two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards and an Emmy Award, among other honors. Several of his films are included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Born in Chicago in 1901, Disney developed an early interest in drawing. He took art classes as a boy and got a job as a commercial illustrator at the age of 18. He moved to California in the early 1920s and set up the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy. With Ub Iwerks, Walt developed the character Mickey Mouse in 1928, his first highly popular success; he also provided the voice for his creation in the early years.

➦In 1902...Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first readable wireless radio signals 3,200 km across the Atlantic from his station at Glace Bay, Cape Breton to Poldhu in Cornwall, England.

➦In 1906...Radio, TV writer, producer and director William Spier was born in NYC (Died at age 66 - May 30, 1973). He is best known for his radio work, notably Suspense and The Adventures of Sam Spade.

Spier began his career on the editorial staff of Musical America magazine, eventually becoming its chief critic.   His radio career began in 1929, when he produced and directed The Atwater Kent Hour, an hour-long Sunday night presentation of Metropolitan Opera artists.

Spier was chief of the writers' department and director of development at CBS in 1940, when he was co-producer of Suspense and Duffy's Tavern. In 1947, he won a Mystery Writers of America award for The Adventures of Sam Spade. A 1949 magazine article said Spier "is generally rated radio's top-notch creator of suspense-type dramas."

➦In 1925...WIBX Utica NY signed-on. WIBX 1460 AM would move around the dial until 1948

According to the WIBX website,  at the time WIBX began transmitting, there were about 1,600 radio stations operating throughout the United States. It was estimated that when WIBX signed on the air, only about 19-percent of households actually had radio receivers and it wouldn't be until the late 1930s that radios would be considered standard features in cars. 

Over the years, WIBX's programming would change significantly. In the 1930s, WIBX would become an affiliate of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and would broadcast programs from "the Golden Age of Radio" including dramas, comedies, soap operas, and sports; as well as newscasts which would become the standard for the top and bottom of every hour. In the 1950s, the sports talk program Sportswatch debuted and would continue until 2013, with many legendary hosts that would move on to the national scene. Through the 1960s and 70s, WIBX would become known for its Middle of the Road (MOR) format which would include a mixture of music and personality, sports, nationally syndicated programs and news. In the late-1980s, WIBX dropped music and moved towards the news-talk format that it runs today, that features Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated program and its affiliation with Fox News Radio.

Bing Crosby

➦In 1936...Bing Crosby started hosting the Kraft Music Hall radio show on NBC.

The program debuted June 26, 1933 as a musical-variety program featuring orchestra leader Paul Whiteman and served to supplement print advertising and in-store displays promoting Kraft products. During its first year the show went through a series of name changes, including Kraft Musical Revue, until it finally settled on Kraft Music Hall in 1934. Paul Whiteman remained the host until December 6, 1935. Ford Bond was the announcer.

Bing Crosby was host until May 9, 1946. Other entertainers who appeared regularly during Crosby's tenure included Connie Boswell, Victor Borge, and Mary Martin. A review in Billboard magazine commented, "It is a tribute to Bing Crosby, program's highlight, that the Music Hall seems to survive all talent change -- these changes simply pointing up the fact that the show is completely dependent on Crosby."

For the advertising managers at Kraft, it was imperative that advertising and entertainment be kept separate. For this reason, Kraft insisted that an announcer, not cast members, read its commercials.

➦In 1952..Mutual Radio broadcast “The Green Hornet” for the final time. The show left the air after 15 years on Mutual, NBC and ABC. “The Green Hornet” reappeared in 1966, this time on TV.

➦In 1955...Disc-Jockey Alan Freed‘s movie “Rock Rock Rock” (with Connie Francis singing for Tuesday Weld) opened to packed theaters in New York City. Other artists featured were Chuck Berry, LaVern Baker, Teddy Randazzo, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, and The Teenagers with Frankie Lymon.

➦In 1967... Top 40 WMCA 570 AM  was rated by Billboard magazine as the most influential in selling single records in New York.

Tampa Radio: Miguel & Holly Return To Market On WMTX

Miguel & Holly are returning to Tampa Bay mornings on Mix 100.7 (WMTX), starting Monday, January 5, 2026.

Miquel & Holly

The popular duo Miguel Fuller and Holly O’Connor will host weekdays from 6–10 a.m. on iHeartMedia’s Adult Contemporary station, marking a full-circle homecoming after nearly four years away.

Miguel & Holly previously dominated Tampa mornings on Cox Media Group’s Hot 101.5 from 2015 to 2022, building a loyal following with their relatable humor, charity initiatives, and community events.

After moving to iHeartMedia Charlotte in 2022, they were let go in October 2025 amid company-wide layoffs.

iHeartMedia Tampa Bay VP of Programming Tommy Chuck said he’s “thrilled” to bring them back, citing their unmatched energy, authenticity, and deep connection to the market.

Miguel called the move “a true homecoming,” adding, “We’re excited to be back, and I can’t wait to reconnect with our listeners every morning.” Holly added, “I’m thrilled to be back in Tampa Bay, the place my family calls home, and even more excited to be back in the studio with Miguel.”

The show replaces the current Mix morning program and reunites the duo with Tampa Bay listeners who have campaigned for their return since 2022.

Tampa Bay's airwaves buzz with a diverse lineup of radio hosts, from country and R&B to talk and community-driven shows, showcasing local talent across formats. The market features long-time staples, rising stars, and niche voices on stations like 99.5 QYK, 101.5 The Vibe, WMNF 88.5, and Newsradio 970 WFLA. 

These personalities drive ratings through humor, community engagement, and genre expertise, often blending music, news, and charity work.

WBD: Netflix Emerges as Front-Runner

Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) board intensified its review of second-round acquisition bids on Wednesday, with Netflix positioning itself as the likely frontrunner through a mostly all-cash offer for WBD's studios and streaming assets—potentially valued at over $70 billion—while Paramount Skydance sweetened its full-company bid to $24 per share backed by Gulf sovereign wealth funds, and Comcast proposed merging the Warner Bros. studio into NBCUniversal with a management role for CEO David Zaslav, according to Bloomberg and Reuters reports. 

The developments, unfolding amid a stock surge of 83% for WBD since September, could lead to exclusive negotiations as early as this week, reshaping Hollywood's streaming landscape by bundling Netflix with HBO Max at reduced consumer costs and bolstering Netflix's IP arsenal with Warner's vast library of films, TV, and DC Comics. 

As the auction accelerates toward a possible year-end close, analysts at Bank of America hailed the scenario as a "historic transformation," warning of antitrust scrutiny but praising Netflix's potential to "kill three birds with one stone" by gaining theatrical distribution, premium content, and subscriber synergies without the baggage of WBD's declining cable networks.

Paramount Skydance's aggressive escalation on December 2 included a $5 billion breakup fee hike and fresh backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Qatar Investment Authority, and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala—marking the first time all three major Gulf funds aligned on a single U.S. media deal—aiming to acquire the entirety of WBD, including CNN and legacy cable like TBS, in a cash-and-stock package that Ellison's team believes maximizes shareholder value despite regulatory hurdles from overlapping Paramount+ and Max services. 

Comcast's counteroffer, per Bloomberg, would fold Warner Bros. film and TV into NBCUniversal for cost savings, paying WBD shareholders cash and stock while offering CEO David Zaslav a leadership role; it excludes non-entertainment assets, likely forcing the breakup WBD had planned for mid-2026.Netflix’s bid proposes a discounted bundled Netflix–HBO Max tier, capitalizing on 80% subscriber overlap, and secures perpetual rights to Warner hits like The Batman and Dune, ending licensing costs. Despite a 2% stock dip on dilution fears (Reed Hastings sold $40M shares), BofA forecasts a 20-30% subscriber surge to 400 million.

The bidding frenzy, which kicked off in October after WBD's "strategic alternatives" review drew inbound interest, has already rejected an initial $23.50-per-share Paramount offer as too low, prompting the December 1 deadline for revised proposals that now pit tech disruptors against legacy giants in a zero-sum game for Hollywood's future.

TV Ratings: Fox News Extends Win Streak. NFL Dominates Top 10

Cable news saw Fox News extend its streak to 96 quarters as the top non-sports cable network, with The Five topping all shows at 3.85 million viewers on Tuesday (up 3% WoW) and Hannity leading the demo at 320,000; the network's holiday week surge was tied to 24/7 Trump cabinet buzz, outdrawing MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show (1.12 million average, flat) and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 (678,000, down 4%). 

MSNBC's primetime total held at 785,000 with 85,000 demo viewers, a modest 1% gain from election highs but still 45% below 2024 levels, while CNN's 512,000 total and 105,000 demo reflected a 7% slide, with analysts blaming fragmented streaming shifts and lighter holiday news cycles. 

Nielsen's data, blending big data panels with live metrics, shows Fox's edge widening to 3x MSNBC's audience, even as all three posted year-to-date declines: Fox down 2% in total viewers through November, MSNBC down 12%, and CNN down 18%.Season-to-date through November 30, broadcasts averaged CBS at 5.3 million primetime total viewers (up 1% YoY), NBC at 4.9 million (down 3%), and ABC at 4.7 million (down 5%), per Nielsen, while cable news figures stood at Fox 2.3 million (flat), MSNBC 920,000 (down 10%), and CNN 580,000 (down 15%). 

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWSCASTS

ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir topped the ratings for broadcast evening newscasts during the week of November 24, 2025, averaging 7.45 million total viewers and 945,000 in the key Adults 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen live + same-day data. This marked a 2% dip week-over-week from November 17 but held a strong lead over competitors NBC and CBS, even amid holiday distractions like Thanksgiving travel and family gatherings. 

The week, spanning Monday, November 24, through Friday, November 28, saw overall viewership for the trio of newscasts decline slightly due to the short holiday frame, with total audiences down 3% from the prior week across all three programs.

NBC's Nightly News with Tom Llamas placed second, drawing 6.28 million total viewers and 890,000 in the demo—a flat performance week-over-week but down 12% from the same period in 2024. CBS Evening News, anchored by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, trailed with 4.52 million total viewers and 645,000 demo viewers, reflecting a 1% gain in total audience but a 3% drop in the demo compared to the previous week. 

All three newscasts experienced year-over-year declines in both metrics, continuing a trend attributed to shifting viewer habits toward streaming and cable news amid anchor transitions earlier in the 2025 season.

The holiday timing played a role in the softer numbers, as Thanksgiving Day (November 27) broadcasts typically see reduced tune-in due to dinner preparations and travel; ABC's edition that day dipped to 6.8 million viewers, while NBC and CBS hovered around 5.5 million and 4.0 million, respectively. Despite this, ABC maintained its season-long dominance, up 5% in total viewers year-to-date through late November. 

Nielsen's data, which includes additional local airings in select markets, highlights ABC's consistent edge in both raw audience size and advertiser-preferred demographics, even as the networks navigate post-election news cycles and cord-cutting pressures.

FCC Opens Public Comment For $6.2 Billion Nexstar-Tegna Merger

The FCC has  launched a public review process for Nexstar Media Group's proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc., inviting input from consumers, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders on whether the deal serves the public interest amid concerns over media consolidation. 

Petitions to deny the merger are due by December 31, 2025, with oppositions due January 15, 2026, and replies by January 30, 2026.

The merger, announced in August 2025, would combine Nexstar's portfolio of over 200 stations with Tegna's 64 full-power TV stations, one AM radio station, and one FM station, creating a broadcast giant reaching approximately 80% of U.S. households and controlling 265 stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia. 

Nexstar, already the largest U.S. local TV owner, currently reaches about 39% of households under FCC rules that cap national audience share at that level (with a 50% discount for UHF stations). Post-merger, the combined entity would exceed this threshold at 54.5%, prompting Nexstar to request waivers for both the national cap and local ownership rules in 23 designated market areas (DMAs).

R.I.P.: David Jones Rhode Island Radio Broadcaster

David Jones (1947-2025)

David Jones, the longtime morning show host whose warm baritone and witty banter made him a household name across Rhode Island airwaves for over four decades, died on December 2, 2025, at his home in Florida, his family confirmed Tuesday; he was 78. 

The news, first shared by Lite 105 (WWLI-FM) on social media, prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues, and stations where Jones built his legendary career, including WICE, WPRO, WSNE, and WWLI, where he co-hosted the award-winning "Jones & Heather in the Morning" for seven years until his retirement in 2022. 

No cause of death was immediately disclosed, but Jones had relocated to Florida in recent years to be closer to family, battling health challenges that kept him off the air.

David Jones

Jones's death marks the end of an era for Rhode Island broadcasting, where he was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2011 for his enduring impact; his career began in the late 1960s with "The Davey Jones Locker" on WICE-AM, a quirky music and talk program that captured the counterculture vibe, before evolving into mainstream morning radio staples. 

He later teamed with Joan Edwardsen on WSNE (Country 93.3) for the "Jones & Joan" show from 1995 to 2012—the longest-running non-married male-female duo in U.S. radio history at a single station—earning "Best of Rhode Island" honors multiple times for their blend of humor, local flavor, and community engagement. 

Transitioning to Lite 105 in 2012, Jones paired with Heather Gersten for another hit morning drive, again voted Rhode Island's best for four straight years, featuring segments like school closings, traffic updates, and celebrity chats that endeared him to generations of commuters.

Tributes flooded social media Tuesday, with Lite 105 posting, "We all send our sincere condolences to David's family in Florida," and former co-host Gersten calling him "the voice that started my mornings for years—irreplaceable." A public memorial is being planned for early 2026 in Providence, with details forthcoming via the Hall of Fame; Jones leaves behind his wife, two children, and a legacy etched in Rhode Island's airwaves, where his sign-off—"Keep it country, keep it light"—will echo on.