Good Morning! It's Wednesday Feb 25, Let's Start And Check The Pulse

Radio Broadcasting

President Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address: The dominant national story on February 25 is coverage and reactions to President Trump's State of the Union speech from the night before. This major political event drives massive listenership for news/talk radio stations, public radio (e.g., NPR), and network radio news feeds.

• Highlights include Trump's emphasis on economy, immigration/ICE efforts, and a "golden age" narrative, with clashes against Democrats.
• Radio outlets like NPR, PBS affiliates (which often simulcast audio), Fox News Radio, and others provide live coverage, analysis, and follow-up shows.
• This boosts ratings and ad revenue for talk formats, while public broadcasters face scrutiny over perceived bias in coverage.Network news broadcasts (e.g., PBS News Hour, NPR News Now) on February 25 heavily feature SOTU recaps, extending into radio.

Industry Business and Operational Updates: 

• Audacy (major radio group) leadership commentary from CEO Kelli Turner emphasizes content as a "power play" one year into her tenure—relevant for how stations adapt to streaming competition.
• Broader reports highlight radio's ongoing evolution, with some outlets noting sports radio revenue growth and AI's "operational era" in media.

Media Industry

Intensifying Bidding War for WBD: Paramount has escalated its takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), reportedly raising the offer to around $31–$32 per share after earlier negotiations. WBD is weighing this against a competing deal with Netflix, which has granted extensions and waivers for talks. This saga highlights ongoing consolidation pressures in streaming and traditional media amid declining linear TV revenues and rising competition. Industry observers note potential antitrust scrutiny, with figures like director James Cameron voicing concerns over the Netflix-WBD angle.

Hollywood Bracing for New Labor Contract Talks: Following prior strikes, studios and unions (including SAG-AFTRA and writers) are gearing up for another round of negotiations on contracts. Reports indicate tense early discussions, with silence from both sides seen as potentially positive but signaling challenges ahead. This could disrupt production again if unresolved, affecting content pipelines for streamers and networks.

Streaming and Sports Growth, Plus Regulatory Shifts:   Sports viewership on streamers surged 52% in Q1, led by Prime Video. Vertical (short-form mobile) drama is booming on free platforms. In the UK, sweeping changes propose regulating major streamers (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+) more like traditional broadcasters via Ofcom. Broader marketing trends include the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and creator economy events like the ANA Creator Marketing Conference.

U-S News

Trump Delivers Record-Longest State of the Union Address:  President Trump gave the longest State of the Union speech in U.S. history (over 1 hour and 45 minutes, surpassing previous records). He portrayed a "golden age" for America, touting economic wins, immigration enforcement (including ICE efforts and border security), foreign policy achievements, and a "turnaround" under his leadership. He repeatedly emphasized that "America is back," "winning so much," and respected globally, while chastising Democrats on issues like the economy, immigration, and a partial DHS shutdown. The speech included made-for-TV moments, such as reuniting families affected by foreign governments, welcoming the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, and awarding medals.

Key Themes and Content from the Speech: 

• Heavy focus on the economy (claiming booms in jobs, manufacturing, and affordability, despite polls showing low approval on handling it).
• Strong defense of immigration crackdowns and mass deportations.
• Brief but pointed remarks on Iran, accusing it of restarting its nuclear program and laying out a case for potential military action (he said the U.S. would not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, amid ongoing tensions and U.S. military buildup in the region).
• Touches on Venezuela (including a family reunion related to Maduro's government) and other global issues.
• Calls for Congress to pass election security legislation (tied to his claims about voter fraud) and other priorities.

Democratic Response and Boycotts: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered the official Democratic rebuttal, accusing Trump of driving up costs (housing, health care, energy, groceries), sowing chaos, corruption, and instability abroad while enriching allies. Dozens of Democrats boycotted the speech, instead attending a counter-event called the "People's State of the Union" on the National Mall to criticize Trump's policies on immigration, health care, and the economy.