TGIF: Here's The Pulse For July 31

Radio Broadcasting

Yancey Now Bi-Coastal: 102 JAMS (KRBQ-FM) announces Andre Yancey as its new Brand Manager. In this role, Yancey will oversee the station's content strategy, talent, operations, and branding. He will continue to serve as the Assistant Brand Manager for 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York.

Sutton Succeeds Cody: WSM Radio will launch “The Kelly Sutton Show” on Aug. 10, airing weekdays. Longtime WSM Radio personality and Grand Ole Opry host Charlie Mattos will serve as producer and co-host alongside WSM Studio Director Annie Ney. 

WHYY Acquiring WPSU: WHYY Philadelphia has finalized its acquisition of Penn State University’s broadcast properties for $1 and filed the transaction with the FCC.

WTOP Simulcast Ending: Hubbard’s all-news WTOP is ending its 19-year simulcast on WTLP in the Hagerstown, Maryland, area and leasing the frequency to Christian broadcaster K-Love through 2029.

Media Industry

ABC Accuses FCC: ABC accused the FCC on Thursday of launching an unprecedented intimidation campaign aimed at punishing the network for news coverage disliked by the Trump administration, after the agency ordered early reviews of licenses for eight Disney-owned stations

COO Exits SiriusXM: SiriusXM Chief Operating Officer Wayne Thorsen is leaving the company less than two years after joining to help reshape it around technology, product development and operational efficiency.

GMA Tops: “Good Morning America” ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers (2.792 million) for July 2026, based on based on Most Current Big Data+Panel Ratings. “GMA” outdelivered NBC’s “Today” (2.779 million) and “CBS Mornings” (1.627 million).

U-S News

Middle East Deal: Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups agreed to a plan that, if followed, would see the groups disarm and lose power in the Gaza Strip as long as Israel withdraws from the enclave, U.S. officials said.  The officials, speaking to reporters Thursday evening, said the agreement is the start of an indefinite, multiphase process to end Hamas’s rule in Gaza and rebuild the enclave. 

U-S, Iran Boast: President Trump and Iranian leaders are ratcheting up bellicose messages for each other as hostilities resume and the war appears perched to blow into a regional conflict with Tehran's continued attacks on Jordan and Kuwait.  The U.S. military launched strikes in Iran July 29 in response to a "surprise attack" by Tehran, with Trump saying he wanted to hit them "very hard" and "smack them a little bit" after Iran launched missiles at U.S. and Saudi forces in the week.

Shooter's Dad Sentenced: The father of a teenager who committed a deadly mass shooting in September 2024 at a Georgia high school has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in making firearms available to his son. Colin Gray was convicted of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in March, where a judge found he allowed his teenage son to possess a weapon despite knowing he was a danger to himself and others. 

Disney's ABC Accuses The FCC Of Intimidation

ABC accused the FCC on Thursday of launching an unprecedented intimidation campaign aimed at punishing the network for news coverage disliked by the Trump administration, after the agency ordered early reviews of licenses for eight Disney-owned stations.

Walt Disney-owned ABC said the FCC’s threat to revoke the stations’ broadcast licenses serves as a warning to other media companies: accommodate the administration’s preferred view of news coverage or face consequences. 

“The retaliation against ABC is a signal to every media company in the country: accommodate the administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price,” ABC stated in a filing. 

The agency’s objective, it added, is “a media industry too fearful of official reprisal to report the news freely.”

Brendan Carr

FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered the early reviews in April, even though the stations’ license renewals were not due for consideration until October 2028. The FCC had not ordered such an early review in more than 50 years. The move came a day after President Trump urged ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Carr could take further action after a final public comment deadline on August 5. He did not immediately comment Thursday.

ABC reported that more than 150,000 comments have been filed, with over 95% supporting the stations. Numerous local officials and groups in the eight states have also filed in support. “From its earliest days, this administration has made clear its intent to punish ABC for its news coverage and to create a chilling effect on ABC and others,” the network said.

San Fran Radio: Andre Yancey Named Brand Manager At KRBQ-FM

102 JAMS (KRBQ-FM), an Audacy station in San Francisco, announces Andre Yancey as its new Brand Manager. In this role, Yancey will oversee the station's content strategy, talent, operations, and branding. He will continue to serve as the Assistant Brand Manager for 94.7 The Block (WXBK-FM) in New York.

“As a Bay Area native, Andre understands what the community wants and needs,” said Skip Dillard, Urban AC and Throwbacks Format Vice President, Audacy. “We look forward to seeing how his creative instincts and acute eye for technology come together to elevate the brand and deepen its connection with listeners.”

Andre Yancey

“Radio has been part of my life since I was a kid growing up in the South Bay – a companion, a soundtrack, a way to feel connected,” said Yancey. “Complex has been an incredible steward of JAMS, and we're going to continue building on everything he's put in place. JAMS is a love letter to The Bay and its contribution to culture, and more than ever, companionship and connection are what radio is about. Thank you to Skip Dillard, Chris Oliviero, Dave Richards, Jeff Sottolano, Jim Ryan, and Kieran Geffert.”

An accomplished content strategist, Yancey brings over a decade of expertise in brand management, audience growth and digital transformation to his work. He began his radio career in the Bay Area on the KMEL street team, eventually working alongside the station’s legendary Morning Zoo. In 2021, Yancey joined Audacy as the Director of Morning Content Operations for WCBS-FM in New York, where he successfully relaunched the flagship morning program post-pandemic. Shortly after, he helped launch 94.7 The Block, earning consecutive Gracie Awards and building the platform into Audacy’s most-used urban streaming brand.

📻Listeners can tune in to 102 JAMS (KRBQ-FM) in San Francisco on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.

Nashville Radio: Kelly Sutton Succeeds Bill Cody At WSM-AM

WSM Radio will launch “The Kelly Sutton Show” on Aug. 10, airing weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Longtime WSM Radio personality and Grand Ole Opry host Charlie Mattos will serve as producer and co-host alongside WSM Studio Director Annie Ney. 

WSM personality and Sutton’s Amazon Music co-host Amber Anderson will contribute regularly. 

Segments of the show will stream across WSM’s social media platforms.

Sutton, a CMA and ACM Award-nominated broadcaster and the first-ever female Grand Ole Opry announcer, previously co-hosted WSM’s “Coffee, Country & Cody” for five years. 

She will continue hosting her nationally syndicated show “Y’all Access with Kelly Sutton,” Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast, and “The Nashville Show” on Absolute Radio Country in the United Kingdom.

“I am truly honored to be entrusted with carrying on the incredible legacy of WSM Radio,” Sutton said. “Being part of Coffee, Country & Cody for the past five years has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Bill Cody was so much more than a coworker—he was a dear friend, a mentor, and someone who helped shape both my career and my love for this audience. Our listeners have always felt like family, and that won’t change. I’m excited to help create a morning show that’s filled with laughter, great music, and genuine connection. Charlie, Annie, Amber and I can’t wait to wake up with our listeners each morning and continue the tradition of making WSM feel like home.”

WSM General Manager Eric Marcum added: “Kelly’s personality, her passion for the music community, and the genuine relationships she’s built with artists and fans is exactly what our listeners connect with. We’re excited to continue WSM’s long tradition of live, local programming that connects with audiences around the world. The Kelly Sutton Show will carry on the authentic Nashville storytelling that have been at the heart of WSM and The Grand Ole Opry for more than 100 years.”

SiriusXM COO Wayne Thorsen Exits

SiriusXM Chief Operating Officer Wayne Thorsen is leaving the company less than two years after joining to help reshape it around technology, product development and operational efficiency.

The satellite radio company disclosed the departure Thursday while reporting second-quarter earnings, saying only that Thorsen had “decided to leave the company.”  CEO Jennifer Witz briefly noted the move on the earnings call before shifting to financial results.

Wayne Thorsen

“We appreciate Wayne’s many contributions to SiriusXM and thank him for his service,” Witz said. “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Thorsen joined in December 2024 as executive vice president and chief operating officer, a newly created role. He previously served as chief business officer at ADT and held senior positions at Google, SoFi, Microsoft and Viacom. He oversaw product and technology organizations, business development, corporate strategy, subscriber acquisition and key commercial activities.

At the time of his hiring, Witz said he would play a central role in executing SiriusXM’s revamped strategy of sharpening focus on its core subscription business while improving operating efficiency and returns on technology and marketing investments.

SiriusXM has not announced who will assume Thorsen’s responsibilities or whether it plans to fill the COO position.

NAB Meets FCC Commissioner over Radio Ownership Caps

Led by President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt, the NAB met with Anna Gomez and her staff this week. The association also recently met with FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty as well to support the commission’s proposal to remove the TV caps.

Following FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s announcement of an Aug. 6 vote on that proposal, Gomez, the lone Democrat commissioner, issued a sharp statement. “This unlawful effort to hand control of the public airwaves to billionaire buddies of this administration will destroy local newsrooms, silence community reporting and drive-up costs for the American families who depend on local stations for news and emergency alerts,” she said. She added that Congress set the 39% national cap in federal law and that the commission lacks authority to waive it.

Anna Gomez

In a Tuesday ex parte filing, NAB stressed that revising the local radio ownership rule is essential for the industry’s survival amid a shifting media landscape. Current rules limit a single entity to eight radio stations in the largest markets, with no more than five on either the AM or FM band. 

While no formal proceeding exists to lift the caps, radio groups have intensified lobbying as part of the FCC’s quadrennial review.

NAB wants the restrictions eliminated. “Local radio broadcasters cannot survive in today’s digital audio and advertising markets while hamstrung by three decades-old restrictions on their scale,” the association wrote. It cited data showing big tech and digital platforms dominating local ad markets at radio’s expense. Owning more local outlets would allow more diverse programming, including niche formats, boosting listenership and ad revenue, NAB argued.

Critics of relaxing the caps point to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a factor in radio’s declining local ad revenues. NAB countered that localism is costly and that radio’s economic viability is now in serious question, requiring regulatory relief immediately.

Philly's WHYY Finalizes Deal To Acquire Penn State Broadcasting

WHYY Philadelphia has finalized its acquisition of Penn State University’s broadcast properties for $1 and filed the transaction with the Federal Communications Commission.

The deal, first agreed to nine months earlier, transfers Public News/Talk/Classical 91.5 WPSU-FM and PBS affiliate WPSU-TV in State College to WHYY. It also includes the WPSU-FM simulcast translators 90.1 WPSX Kane, 92.1 W221BD DuBois, 100.9 W265BB Bradford, 102.5 W273BE Huntingdon, 104.7 W284AK Clearfield, and 106.7 W294AE Altoona

Penn State loses direct ownership and operational control of its primary public broadcasting outlets but retains educational partnerships and gains financial relief to refocus on its core mission. WPSU-TV (PBS affiliate) and WPSU-FM (NPR member station, with its translators/simulcasters) transfer to WHYY as a standalone subsidiary for $1. 

The stations keep the WPSU call letters and local branding, with commitments to maintain operations in State College (including leased facilities near campus) for at least three years and to prioritize local content where feasible. 

This ends Penn State’s role as licensee and operator of the stations that have served roughly 1.5 million people across central and northern Pennsylvania for decades with local news, educational programming, cultural content, and community outreach. 

The university no longer subsidizes the outlets (previously about $3.4 million annually) or controls programming, staffing, or day-to-day decisions. Endowments and designated gifts move with the assets. Student opportunities continue: WHYY and Penn State have agreed to preserve hands-on experiences, internships, and partnerships with the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, which has long used WPSU as a training ground.

DC Radio WTOP Ending 19-Year Simulcast In Maryland

Hubbard’s all-news WTOP is ending its 19-year simulcast on WTLP in the Frederick, Maryland, area and leasing the frequency to Christian broadcaster K-Love through 2029.

WTLP 103.9 FM (350 watts)

The move places the station under the Contemporary Christian Music network’s umbrella alongside former WINC-FM 92.5 in Winchester, Virginia, and former Mix 107.3 (WRQX) in Washington. A pending acquisition of 100.7 WZBA in Westminster, Maryland, is also underway.

WTOP listeners in Frederick—due north of Montgomery County via I-270—are being directed to the station’s main 103.5 FM signal, a 44 kW Class B facility that delivers a strong in-car signal but lacks a city-grade contour in Frederick. 

Streaming is offered as an alternative.

Hubbard acquired WTOP in April 2011 as part of a $505 million purchase of 17 stations from Bonneville International Corp. The lease announcement coincides with WTOP General Manager Joel Oxley’s planned departure after decades leading the station.

TV Ratings: GMA Tops Broadcast Morning Shows

“Good Morning America” ranked as the No. 1 morning newscast in Total Viewers (2.792 million) for July 2026, based on based on Most Current Big Data+Panel Ratings. “GMA” outdelivered NBC’s “Today” (2.779 million) and “CBS Mornings” (1.627 million).

“Good Morning America” averaged 2.743 million Total Viewers, 442,000 Adults 25-54 and 320,000 Adults 18-49 during the week of July 20, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

• “GMA” ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers, leading NBC’s “Today” on Monday (+142,000 – 2.747 million vs. 2.065 million), Thursday (+12,000 – 2.667 million vs. 2.655 million) and Friday (+20,000 – 2.720 million vs. 2.700 million).
• “GMA” improved year to year in Total Viewers (+3% – 2.743 million vs. 2.664 million) and Adults 18-49 (+17% – 320,000 vs. 274,000).
• “GMA” cut its gaps with “Today” week to week in both Adults 25-54 (-8% – 87,000 vs. 95,000) and Adults 18-49 (-57% – 24,000 vs. 56,000). “GMA” delivered its narrowest news demo performance with “Today” in 6 months — since w/o 1/12/26.
• “GMA” (2.743 million, 442,000 and 320,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Mornings” (1.592 million, 219,000 and 151,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+1.151 million), Adults 25-54 (+223,000) and Adults 18-49 (+169,000). In addition, “GMA” led “CBS Mornings” in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 for the last 1,435 weeks overall — since w/o 1/18/99.

TV Ratings: Meet the Press Tops Sunday Talk Shows

Meet the Press with Kristen Welker was ranked the #1 Sunday public affairs show for key A25-54 demo viewers this past Sunday, July 26, according to Nielsen.

This Sunday, Meet the Press averaged 359,000 key A25-54 viewers, leading ABC by +15,000 (+4%) and CBS by +39,000 (+12%). Meet the Press outperformed CBS — which continues to rate for just 30 minutes of its hour-long broadcast — for the fourth consecutive week. In addition, Meet the Press increased viewership across the board vs. last year. 

Meet the Press averaged 2.377 million total viewers this past Sunday. For the 2024-25 broadcast season, Meet the Press was the #1 Sunday public affairs show among key A25-54 demo viewers and ranks #1 season-to-date for the 2025-26 season. Meet the Press has never lost a month in the Washington, D.C. market among total viewers.

Sunday’s broadcast featured interviews with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and a “Meet the Moment” conversation with Sheinelle Jones.

Concerts Are Booming, Live Nation Profit Grows

Live Nation reported second-quarter revenue of $7.67 billion, up 9% and ahead of Wall Street estimates of $7.56 billion, as strong concert demand drove growth, particularly internationally.

Concert sales, which account for most of the company’s revenue, rose 8%. Profit climbed to $294.4 million, or $1.05 a share, from $243.4 million, or 41 cents a share, a year earlier—well above analysts’ expectations of 66 cents a share.

The Ticketmaster parent said it recorded its highest-ever second-quarter concert attendance of 49 million fans. International attendance at stadiums, arenas and festivals jumped more than 20%. In the U.S., amphitheater and arena attendance rose by double digits, while stadium attendance fell because of show timing.

“More artists are on the road than ever—and fans keep choosing to be in the room with them, driving the strongest concert ticket sales we’ve ever seen,” Chief Executive Michael Rapino said.

Underlying demand remains solid, with sell-through rates for U.S. large-venue shows through the end of the quarter at or above year-earlier levels. Ticket prices rose only in the low- to mid-single digits across stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters as the company emphasized affordability.

Apple Misses Services Revenue Estimates, Shares Plunge

Despite Strong Overall Q3 Results Apple reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of $109.4 billion for the three months ended June 27, a 16% year-over-year increase, but its high-margin Services segment fell short of Wall Street expectations, triggering a more than 5% drop in the stock after hours.

Services revenue, which includes the App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple Pay and other offerings, rose 12% year over year to $30.74 billion. That figure came in below the consensus estimate of $31.36 billion, according to analysts.

The miss in the Services category—long viewed as Apple’s most profitable and resilient growth engine—overshadowed the broader beat on total sales. Investors reacted swiftly, sending shares of the company (ticker: AAPL) down more than 5% in extended trading.

The results cover Apple’s fiscal third quarter, which ended June 27. While overall revenue growth remained robust at 16%, the softer-than-expected Services performance raised questions about near-term momentum in the company’s subscription and digital content businesses amid ongoing competitive pressures and regulatory scrutiny in key markets.

Ad Revenue At Amazon Jumps 26 Percent

Amazon reported second-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations, driven by strong growth in its AWS cloud computing and advertising businesses, with few weak spots across the company.

Net sales rose 20% to $200.6 billion from $167.7 billion a year earlier. Operating income climbed 43% to $27.5 billion. Net income surged to $62.6 billion from $18.2 billion, lifted by a $53.4 billion non-operating gain primarily from Amazon’s investment in Anthropic.

The company also raised its full-year capital expenditures forecast by $20 billion to $220 billion to stay competitive.

Advertising revenue grew 26% to $19.8 billion. On the earnings call, President and CEO Andy Jassy said Sponsored Products remains the largest offering and a key growth driver, while noting progress in agentic and conversational ad experiences within Alexa+ and Alexa for Shopping. He highlighted strength in sports advertising, including 30 new NBA advertisers in the first year of that partnership, with inventory selling out for Thursday Night Football, the NBA, WNBA and NASCAR.

Radio History: July 31

➦In 1912...Irving "Irv" Kupcinet born (Died at 91  – November 10, 2003) was an newspaper columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, television talk-show host, and radio personality. He was popularly known by the nickname "Kup".

His daily "Kup's Column" was launched in 1943 and remained a fixture in the Sun-Times for the next six decades. In addition to writing his newspaper column and talk-show hosting duties, from 1953 to 1977 Kupcinet provided commentary for radio broadcasts of Chicago Bears football games with Jack Brickhouse (and was affectionately mocked for the signature phrase, "Dat's right, Jack").

Bill Todman

➦In 1916...Game show producer Bill Todman was born in New York City.  Todman teamed up with Mark Goodson for radio shows.

According to radio historian J. David Goldin, among their early work together was the show Treasury Salute, a program syndicated by the Treasury Department that honored military members. They later collaborated in producing game shows for radio, then moved into television, where they produced some of the longest-running game shows in history.

Their many shows included Beat the Clock, Card Sharks, Family Feud, Match Game, Password, Tattletales, The Price Is Right, To Tell the Truth and What's My Line?.

He died from a heart condition July 29 1979, two days short of his 63rd birthday.

➦In 1919...Curtis Edward Gowdy born (Died from leukemia at age 86 – February 20, 2006). He was a sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports and ABC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s. His accomplishments include coining the nickname "The Granddaddy of Them All" for the Rose Bowl Game, taking the moniker from the Cheyenne Frontier Days in his native Wyoming.

In November of 1943, recovering from back surgery, Gowdy made his broadcasting debut in Cheyenne calling a "six-man" high school football game from atop a wooden grocery crate in subzero weather, with about 15 people in attendance. He found he had a knack for broadcasting, and worked at the small KFBC radio station and at the Wyoming Eagle newspaper as a sportswriter (and later sports editor).

Curt Gowdy

After several years in Cheyenne, he accepted an offer from CBS's KOMA radio in Oklahoma City in September 1945. He was hired primarily to broadcast Oklahoma college football (then coached by new-hire Bud Wilkinson). In 1947-1948, in addition to calling football and basketball on KOMA, Gowdy was also broadcasting the baseball games of the Texas League Oklahoma City Indians, on station KOCY. When Gowdy announced in early 1949 that he was leaving Oklahoma to work in New York, his replacement was fellow Oklahoma City sportscaster Bob Murphy.

Gowdy's distinctive play-by-play style during his broadcasts of minor league baseball, college football, and college basketball in Oklahoma City earned him a national audition and then an opportunity with the New York Yankees in 1949, working with (and learning from) the legendary Mel Allen for two seasons.

Gowdy began his Major League Baseball broadcasting career working as the No. 2 announcer to Mel Allen for New York Yankees games on radio and television in 1949–50. There, he succeeded Russ Hodges, who departed to become the New York Giants' lead announcer when the Yankees and Giants decided to broadcast a full slate of 154 games, instead of sharing the same radio network and announcers for the 77 home games of each team that had been broadcast (no away games of either team were broadcast).

In April 1951 at the age of 31, Gowdy began his tenure as the lead announcer for the Red Sox. For the next 15 years, he called the exploits of generally mediocre Red Sox teams on WHDH radio and on three Boston TV stations: WBZ-TV, WHDH-TV, and WNAC-TV (WBZ and WNAC split the Red Sox TV schedule from 1948 through 1955; WBZ alone carried the Red Sox from 1955 through 1957; and WHDH took over in 1958). During that time, Gowdy partnered with two future baseball broadcasting legends: Bob Murphy and Ned Martin. He also did nightly sports reports on WHDH radio when his schedule permitted.

Gowdy called Ted Williams' final at-bat where he hit a home run into the bullpen in right-center field off Jack Fisher of Baltimore. He also called Tony Conigliaro's home run in his first at-bat at Fenway Park on April 17, 1964 at the age of 19.

He left WHDH after the 1965 season for NBC Sports, where for the next ten years he called the national baseball telecasts of the Saturday afternoon Game of the Week and Monday Night Baseball during the regular season (and the All-Star Game in July), and the postseason playoffs and World Series in October.

➦In 1933...Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy first aired.  It was a radio adventure series which maintained its popularity from 1933 to 1951. The program originated at WBBM in Chicago on July 31, 1933, and was later carried on CBS, then NBC and finally ABC.

Armstrong was football hero at fictitious Hudson High School who saved the day from dastardly villains. Somehow, these adventures would take Jack and his cousins, Betty and Bill Fairfield, to exotic locales where they would make use of industrialist Uncle Jim’s yacht and a hydroplane they referred to as the Silver Albatross.

➦In 1964...Country Music Hall of Famer James Travis Reeves died (Born - August 20).  With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville sound (a mixture of older country-style music with elements of popular music). Known as "Gentleman Jim", his songs continued to chart for years after his death. Reeves died in the crash of his private airplane.

Anthony Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment at Covid-19 Hearing

Dr. Anthony Fauci Wednesday repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 100 times during a contentious, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on COVID-19 origins and pandemic response, prompting extensive live and post-hearing coverage across cable and broadcast networks that highlighted the partisan clash with Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). 

Fauci, the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, appeared under subpoena. In his opening statement he accused Paul of an “unhinged obsession” with prosecuting him and said he would not answer questions on his attorneys’ advice to avoid potential perjury claims. Paul responded by announcing a planned committee vote the following week on holding Fauci in contempt; one of Fauci’s lawyers was removed after interrupting. 

Republican senators pressed on lab-leak theories, gain-of-function research funding, diary entries recently released by Paul, and pandemic policies, while Fauci declined even basic questions (such as the day of the week or the color of his tie). 

Democrats on the panel criticized the hearing as an entrapment effort. 

Fauci Attorney Escorted Out Of Hearing Chamber

Cable news networks provided wall-to-wall live feeds, clips, and analysis that largely tracked their established editorial lines. 

• Fox News emphasized the refusal as lacking justification, the lawyer’s ejection, GOP frustration (including Sen. Josh Hawley’s mocking questions and Sen. Bernie Moreno’s sharp criticism), the earlier diary release, and calls for contempt charges. It aired defining moments, live updates, and commentary framing the session as accountability for alleged misleading statements on virus origins and lockdowns. 
• CNN described the hearing as “dramatic,” ran video of Fauci pleading the Fifth (noting counts exceeding 70 or 100 times in different reports), quoted Paul’s contempt vow, and contextualized Fauci’s statement about fearing prosecution. Coverage noted the political theater of unchallenged Republican monologues and Democratic pushback, while highlighting that this was Fauci’s first use of the Fifth after hundreds of prior congressional appearances. 
• MS NOW coverage aligned more closely with critical framing of the Republican-led probe (consistent with the network’s historical treatment of Fauci-related stories), focusing on the spectacle and defending the legitimacy of invoking constitutional protections amid accusations of a personal vendetta, though specific contemporaneous clips emphasized the partisan nature over new factual disclosures.

SiriusXM Adds Subsribers, But Misses Expectations

SiriusXM added 22,000 paid subscribers in the second quarter, reaching 33 million total, and raised its full-year guidance, even as shares fell 13% in pre-market trading after adjusted earnings slightly missed expectations.

The satellite radio company reported revenue of $2.16 billion, up 1% year over year and above expectations, along with net income of $239 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.70, a 23% increase from a year earlier but a slight miss versus analyst forecasts. Monthly churn improved to 1.4%, the lowest level in company history.

SiriusXM now expects full-year total revenue of approximately $8.525 billion, adjusted EBITDA of about $2.625 billion, and free cash flow of roughly $1.375 billion.

“Since resetting our strategy, we’ve been focused on building a stronger, more durable SiriusXM, and our second quarter performance demonstrates that strategy is delivering meaningful results,” said CEO Jennifer Witz. 

“We achieved positive second-quarter self-pay net additions for the first time in four years, strengthened engagement and retention across our subscriber base, and continue to build momentum by delivering premium content and experiences that deepen our connection with listeners while creating new opportunities for advertisers. These results reflect disciplined execution and give us the confidence to raise our full-year guidance for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow. We remain focused on creating long-term value by investing in the areas that strengthen our listener relationships and further differentiate SiriusXM.”

Off-platform advertising revenue, which includes podcasting and Pandora, rose 5% year over year to $413 million, driven by strength in podcasting, higher programmatic demand and technology fees, partially offset by softer streaming music advertising. 

Podcasting revenue alone grew 30% year over year. The company has partnered with Apple to launch a new video podcast advertising service and with YouTube to become its exclusive advertising representative for inventory in the U.S.

In the past quarter, SiriusXM launched ABC News Live and 20/20 True Crime channels, added The John Kasich Show, and hosted Vice President JD Vance on The Megyn Kelly Show. It also renewed partnerships with Comedy Bang! Bang! and The School of Greatness and announced A History of the United States in 100 Objects, an original podcast produced with BBC Studios.

Separately, the company announced that Wayne D. Thorsen, executive vice president and chief operating officer, will leave effective Friday. SiriusXM does not intend to appoint a successor chief operating officer at this time.

SiriusXM Announces "SiriusXM Sports Pass"

SiriusXM has announced SiriusXM Sports Pass, a new subscription plan built for sports fans whose season never ends. SiriusXM Sports Pass will keep fans connected to the teams, hometown voices and sports conversations they love by bringing together SiriusXM's unmatched sports audio lineup into one low-priced subscription. Listeners will get every live game and event SiriusXM carries, along with local sports talk, exclusive sports channels, national sports voices, expert analysis and podcasts.

Launching September 1, as the college and NFL football seasons get underway, SiriusXM Sports Pass will be available to new subscribers in the U.S. for only $5 per month, or $49 for the year. SiriusXM's full sports programming lineup will also continue to be available in our most popular subscription plans, including Platinum, All-Access and Music and Entertainment. This will include the recently announced 23 local Audacy sports stations, including WFAN in New York, as well as the addition of ESPN LA 710, all joining the SiriusXM lineup on September 1.

Sports remains one of SiriusXM's strongest competitive advantages and an increasingly important driver of engagement, with more subscribers tuning in to sports than ever before. The average U.S. sports fan spends six hours and 26 minutes a day listening to audio - over two hours more than the average American1. SiriusXM Sports Pass is built for that always-on fan, bringing live games and the daily sports conversation together in one place, wherever they listen.

"Every new channel, artist performance, live event, and creator collaboration advances our vision for the future of audio: making SiriusXM a home for fandom, where listeners can go deeper into the things they love and feel part of a lasting community," said Jennifer Witz, Chief Executive Officer, SiriusXM. "SiriusXM Sports Pass brings that vision to life for sports fans by putting every game and event we carry, hometown voices, national personalities and the daily sports conversation into one simple, affordable subscription. No matter who you cheer for or where you listen, it brings you closer to the teams and voices that matter most to you."

Monthly Ratings : FNC Leads ABC, NBC and CBS in Weekday Prime

FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to exert its dominance in all of television for the month of July with 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers leading NBC (2.5 million viewers), ABC (2.3 million viewers) and CBS (1.9 million viewers). 

Additionally, FNC nabbed 2,332,000 primetime viewers from Monday-Sunday, leading ABC (2,292,000 viewers) and CBS (1,991,000) viewers. Across total day, FNC drew over 1.5 million viewers and commanded nearly 60% of the cable news share with viewers across total day and primetime while continuing to defeat CNN and MS NOW combined. Delivering the top 133 cable news telecasts, FNC saw month-over-month increases across the board powered by its America 250 coverage. The network was also number one in cable with Asians, Hispanics and upscale viewers throughout weekday total day during the month. Meanwhile, CBS saw a number of historic lows throughout the month, while FOX & Friends and Special Report continued to close the gap with CBS.

In July, CBS and ABC delivered historic lows, with CBS posted its lowest-rated primetime month dating back to 1992 with just 1,991,000 viewers. CBS Evening News produced the show’s worst month since Tony Dokoupil took over with 3.8 million viewers, while CBS Mornings drew its worst month in history with 1.6 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo. ABC saw its worst primetime month dating back to 1992 with 391,000 in the 25-54 demo.

FBN Delivers Year-Over-Year Growth In July

FOX Business Network (FBN) delivered year-over-year growth across the board with business day, market hours and total day viewers in July, according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. FBN’s Kudlow ranked within the top five business programs, surpassing CNBC’s Closing Bell for the 58th consecutive month.

FBN posted a 5% increase during business day for total viewers compared to 2025, nabbing 209,000 viewers. During market hours, the network delivered an increase of 6% from the previous year, securing 204,000 viewers. Meanwhile, during total day, the network saw 2% growth (126,000 viewers) year-over-year.

Weekly Ratings: FNC Leads All TV

FOX News Channel (FNC) ended the week of July 20th with 2.7 million weekday primetime viewers and 243,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo, leading all of television, outranking NBC (2.6 million viewers), ABC (2.4 million viewers) and CBS (1.6 million viewers) according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel.

In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC nabbed 2.3 million viewers, and in Monday – Sunday total day, FNC saw 1.4 million viewers. Notably, FNC delivered 94 of the top 100 telecasts in all of cable among total viewers.

The Five led all of cable news across the board, landing 3.3 million viewers and 306,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 6 PM/ET hour, Special Report with Bret Baier garnered 2.5 million viewers and 210,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle posted 2.3 million viewers and 204,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime claimed 2.9 million viewers and 247,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity averaged 2.5 million viewers and 207,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo.

TV Ratings: ABC's WNT Entrenched At The Top

For the 15th consecutive week, “World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program in Total Viewers (8.143 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of July 20, 2026, based on Live+Same Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings from Nielsen Media Research

• “World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast in all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.143 million), Adults 25-54 (1.050 million) and Adults 18-49 (820,000).
• “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.606 million, 960,000 and 735,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+23%/+1.537 million), Adults 25-54 (+9%/+90,000) and Adults 18-49 (+12%/+85,000).

Springfield MO: Midwest, Zimmer Combine For 9-Station Cluster

Zimmer Communications and Mid-West Family will merge their Springfield radio operations pending FCC approval.

The deal would combine Mid-West Family’s Springfield stations—KKLH (104.7 The Cave), KOMG (105.1 The Bull), KOSP (102.1 The Won), KQRA (Q92.9 Springfield’s Rock Station) and the Around the Ozarks multimedia brand—into Columbia-based Zimmer Communications. Zimmer currently owns and operates KTXR (98.7 The Dove), KWTO-AM (960 AM / 93.3 FM News/Talk), KWTO-FM (101.3 Real Country), KZMO (93.7 The Stage) and KBFL (1060 AM / 96.9 FM The Jock). 

If approved, Zimmer would manage nine heritage radio stations in the region. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring together two organizations that share the same values and a deep commitment to local broadcasting,” Zimmer Communications President John Zimmer said.

“After more than 35 years of ownership in the Springfield market, partnering with another legendary Missouri ownership group to create the next chapter of local media service to our communities is incredibly exciting,” Mid-West Family President Mike Paterson said.

Both companies will continue operating independently until FCC approval, which is anticipated by the end of 2026.

Edison: Audio Most Effective At Reaching Voters

As another U.S. election year arrives in 2026, Share of Ear® once again identifies the audio platforms most effective at reaching targeted voting-age audiences. With ad-supported audio connecting to 81% of the voting-age public every day, this medium is far too powerful to ignore. Share of Ear reveals exactly how audio can be leveraged more strategically to engage the hearts, minds, and ears of voters.

Certain ad-supported audio platforms are more efficient than others at reaching Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Political advertisements on AM/FM Radio or SiriusXM Radio are more likely to reach Republicans; with an index of 117 for AM/FM Radio and an index of 157 for ad-supported spoken-word channels on SiriusXM Radio. These statistics show that Republicans are 17% more likely than the average 18+ population to listen to AM/FM Radio in a typical day and 57% more likely than average to listen to SiriusXM Radio.

Good Morning: Here's The Pulse For Thursday, July 30

Radio Broadcasting

9 Station Cluster: Zimmer Communications and Mid-West Family will merge their Springfield radio operations pending FCC approval.

Audio Reaches Voters Best: As another U.S. election year arrives in 2026, Share of Ear® once again identifies the audio platforms most effective at reaching targeted voting-age audiences. With ad-supported audio connecting to 81% of the voting-age public every day, this medium is far too powerful to ignore. Share of Ear reveals exactly how audio can be leveraged more strategically to engage the hearts, minds, and ears of voters.

SiriusXM Launches Sports Pass: SiriusXM has announced SiriusXM Sports Pass, a new subscription plan built for sports fans whose season never ends. SiriusXM Sports Pass will keep fans connected to the teams, hometown voices and sports conversations they love by bringing together SiriusXM's unmatched sports audio lineup into one low-priced subscription. Listeners will get every live game and event SiriusXM carries, along with local sports talk, exclusive sports channels, national sports voices, expert analysis and podcasts.

'Vulture' Fund Trying To Get Tentacles Into Radio

Heath Freeman, president of Alden Global Capital, will hold a 31.86% voting interest in a reorganized, debt-reduced Cumulus Media through Next Gen Radio Enterprises LLC, according to Transfer of Control Amendments filed with the FCC earlier this month, pending regulatory approval.

The stake makes Freeman one of the largest post-bankruptcy stakeholders in one of the nation’s biggest radio station ownership groups. Industry observers note the move could signal significant job cuts, echoing Alden’s record of deep staff reductions at newspapers.

Heath Freeman

Alden has drawn widespread criticism in journalism circles for gutting newsrooms in cities where it has owned once-major dailies since acquiring MediaNews Group out of bankruptcy about 16 years ago. A union effort in Fort Lauderdale blocked planned cuts at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Similar patterns have played out across the beleaguered print industry.

Alden was founded in 2007 by Randall D. Smith as an investor in distressed debt. By 2010 it had entered media through MediaNews Group, eventually controlling titles including the Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Boston Herald, New York Daily News, Orange County Register and dozens of other daily and weekly papers. These were largely consolidated under Tribune Publishing, which Alden fully acquired in 2021.Critics have long labeled Alden a “vulture” fund. 

On the day it completed the Tribune acquisition, NPR described its signature approach as making deep newsroom cuts. NewsGuild reported that Alden offered buyouts across Tribune newsrooms within days of taking control, reducing news staff by roughly 20%. 

NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss has said Alden cut nearly three-quarters of its newspapers’ combined workforce between 2012 and the end of 2020. Nieman Lab has described a consistent pattern: acquire a distressed paper, sell real estate and other assets, cut staff until margins recover, and reinvest little back into the newsroom.

Atlanta Radio: The Fan Resigns Chernoff and Chuck

Chernoff and Oliver

Chuck Oliver and Matt Chernoff have signed multi-year contract extensions to remain afternoon hosts on 93.7/680 The Fan.

The longtime duo, known as “Chuck and Chernoff,” both grew up in metro Atlanta and have been station staples for 18 years. They started in middays before moving to the more prestigious afternoon slot in 2011.

David Dickey, general manager and president of The Fan for the past three decades, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that negotiations went smoothly. “It helps when you are locally owned and operated and work side by side every day,” he said.

In the June 2026 Arbitron ratings, their show ranked No. 13 overall and No. 6 among men 25-54. The numbers trail those of Carl Dukes and Mike Bell on rival 92.9/The Game, which has a stronger FM signal.

Both hosts previously worked at the now-defunct 790/The Zone for several years (though not together) before pairing up at The Fan in 2008. Oliver specializes in college football and brings encyclopedic knowledge across sports; Chernoff is an expert on the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves and sports business.

Their fast-paced show features an “Odd Couple” dynamic, with Oliver’s analytical style contrasting Chernoff’s cynicism and sarcasm. Arguments frequently spill beyond sports into food, pop culture and social mores.

Atlanta Radio: Star 94 Tweaks The Music..Again

Star 94 has modestly shifted its sound in July by restoring many softer pop/rock hits it dropped in 2020 when it adopted a dance-heavy format. Artists once in heavy rotation during the 1990s and 2000s are back on the playlist, including Nickelback (“How You Remind Me”), OneRepublic (“Counting Stars”), 3 Doors Down (“When I’m Gone”), Plain White T’s (“Hey There Delilah”), and Train (“Drops of Jupiter”). 

Ballads the dancier version of the station previously avoided have also returned, such as Adele’s “Someone Like You” (2011), One Direction’s “Night Changes” (2014), and Lukas Graham’s “7 Years” (2015).

Program Director Emily Boldon said there was no official format change. “Just playing some different titles." The playlist remains expanded in one key way: hip-hop classics from the 1990s and 2000s that Star never played when they were new, including 2Pac’s “How Do You Want It,” Gucci Mane’s “Bricks,” and Jeezy’s “And Then What,” continue to air.

Emily Bolden

Rodney Ho at AJC.com reports the adjustment arrives a few months after the station hired a new morning team, Kevin Avery and Taylor Scott, who spent a quarter-century at Christian pop station Fish 104.7 before it shut down early last year.

In 2020, Star made its largest change in more than 30 years by pivoting heavily to dance and hip-hop under the branding “The Rhythm of Atlanta,” emphasizing “feel good” and “throwback” music. It briefly mixed in disco-era tracks by Donna Summer and the Bee Gees, 1980s hits from Madonna and Prince, and current songs by Dua Lipa and The Weeknd. 

Songs from the 1970s were later cut, followed more recently by nearly the entire 1980s catalog and many pure dance tracks from the 1990s and 2000s.In the most recent Arbitron ratings, Star ranked 13th overall and seventh among women 25-54. Closest competitor B98.5 has consistently outperformed Star and ranked fifth overall in June with more than double Star’s audience share.