Good Morning: The Week Starts With The Pulse For Monday, April 20

Radio Broadcasting

YouTube dominates radio listener social media habits in 2026, with 83% of U.S. radio listeners 18+ using it weekly. This beats Instagram (77%), Facebook (73%), and TikTok (72%). Spanish-language radio listeners show distinct platform preferences, with 59% using WhatsApp weekly versus 39% of English-language listeners. Radio stations investing heavily in TikTok while ignoring YouTube are chasing the wrong platform. These findings come from surveying 2,798 radio listeners across the U.S. in March-April 2026.

98 Rock (KRXQ-FM, in Sacramento, unveils a new weekday lineup effective Monday, April 20th. Abe Kanan is moving to morning drive with the debut of “Abe Kanan Mornings,” airing from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. PT. Joining the station for afternoon drive is Michael “Marty” Whitney, who will be heard from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. PT.

RIP: Bob Kevoian, longtime co-host of the syndicated "Bob & Tom Show," died Friday at age 75.  Kevoian took a sudden turn for the worse Thursday night. By 5:30 p.m. Friday, his family knew the end was near. Kevoian had been battling cancer for three years but continued living with humor and optimism, even planning a possible trip to Disney World for the weekend. READ MORE

Media Industry

Federal Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Halting Nexstar-Tegna Merger:  A federal judge in California has blocked Nexstar Media Group’s completed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc., preventing the two largest U.S. television station groups from integrating operations. The ruling, issued Friday, came in response to antitrust lawsuits from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and seven other states, plus a related challenge from DirecTV. The court cited risks of reduced competition, higher prices for advertisers and consumers, and potential widespread newsroom layoffs. Nexstar has vowed to appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The deal would have given Nexstar control of 265 stations nationwide. 

NAB Show 2026 Kicks Off in Las Vegas:  The broadcast industry’s flagship event, the 2026 NAB Show, opened this weekend (conferences April 18–22, exhibits April 19–22) at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The gathering focuses heavily on AI-driven workflows, streaming, sports media, the creator economy, and monetization strategies. Industry leaders are discussing next-gen technologies, consolidation pressures, and the future of local broadcasting amid ongoing challenges like dashboard visibility and competition from streaming services. 

Ongoing Industry Consolidation and Layoff Pressures: Media outlets continue to report on the ripple effects of mergers and cost-cutting. Discussions around the Nexstar-Tegna freeze highlight broader concerns about local TV newsroom reductions. Separate reports note persistent layoffs across legacy media as companies adapt to digital shifts, with examples including recent cuts at various stations and ongoing restructuring at major outlets. 

U-S News

U-S Fires On Ship: A U.S. Navy destroyer repeatedly warned an Iranian-flagged cargo ship to stop over a six-hour period on Sunday before firing on the ship’s engine room, disabling the Iran-bound vessel to allow helicopter-borne Marines to board and seize it, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. When the crew of the Touska, the Iranian ship, ignored the American warnings, a destroyer fired its MK 45 gun into the cargo ship’s engine room, Central Command said. On Sunday, Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were conducting a search of the vessel, which is now in American custody. Trump said on Truth Social, “blowing a hole” in its engine room.

Pump Pain: Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said on Sunday that gasoline prices in the United States had probably peaked but acknowledged that they could remain elevated for months, undermining President Trump’s earlier claim that high fuel prices would be “short-term.”

8 Kids Die In Shooting: Eight children were killed in a domestic violence shooting spree that spanned at least three locations in Shreveport, La., on Sunday morning, the authorities said. The gunman, Shamar Elkins, 31, was fatally shot by officers during a chase, the police said. The victims ranged in age from 1 to 14, according to Cpl. Chris Bordelon of the Shreveport Police Department, who spoke at a news conference. He said the shooting appeared to be domestic in nature.

Where Things Stand: The Nexstar, Tegna TV Merger

Background: In August 2025, Nexstar Media Group announced its plan to acquire rival local television station owner TEGNA Inc. in a $6.2 billion deal (with some reports citing an equity value around $3.5–3.54 billion). 

Nexstar was already the largest U.S. broadcast station group; adding TEGNA’s stations would create a combined entity owning or operating approximately 265 full-power TV stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, reaching roughly 80% of U.S. television households.

The transaction required regulatory approvals because it would exceed the FCC’s longstanding national ownership cap (limiting any single company to stations reaching no more than 39% of U.S. households) and trigger local ownership rule issues in dozens of markets. Nexstar agreed to divest six stations and make commitments related to localism, affordability, and journalism investment to help secure approval.

Current Status: The deal officially closed on March 19, 2026, after the U.S. Department of Justice granted unconditional early termination of its antitrust review and the FCC’s Media Bureau (via staff-level approval, without a full Commission vote) granted the necessary waivers. Nexstar immediately announced that it had completed the acquisition.

However, the merger is now effectively frozen on the operational side. On April 17, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley (Eastern District of California, Sacramento) issued a preliminary injunction blocking Nexstar from integrating or consolidating operations with TEGNA’s stations until a full antitrust trial concludes. The ruling does not unwind the completed ownership transfer, Nexstar legally owns TEGNA, but requires the two companies to continue operating separately to avoid irreparable harm to competition.

President Trump Issues Stark Ultimatum to Iran

Fox News' Trey Yingst

President Donald Trump delivered a blunt warning to Iran during a 20-minute phone conversation with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst on Sunday, stating that failure to sign a nuclear agreement would result in devastating U.S. military strikes targeting the country’s bridges, power plants, and broader infrastructure.

“If Iran doesn’t sign this deal, the whole country is getting blown up,” Trump told Yingst, according to the reporter’s account on Fox News. “Bridges and power plants will be targeted if Iran does not sign this agreement.”

Trump described the proposed deal as “very simple” and Iran’s “last chance,” emphasizing that he would not repeat past mistakes by providing cash payments or allowing Iran to maintain its nuclear program.

🚨 NEW: Fox’s Trey Yingst REVEALS he just got off the phone with President Trump: “I just spoke with President Trump for about 20 minutes, and he said if Iran doesn’t sign this deal, the whole country is getting blown up. He went on to say bridges and power plants will be… pic.twitter.com/fTgJJhH0ON

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) April 19, 2026

Diplomatic Push Underway

To seal the agreement, senior U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for high-stakes meetings scheduled to begin Tuesday and possibly extend into Wednesday. The talks aim to bring the negotiations “across the finish line” amid ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.Yingst reported that Trump views the current moment as a critical juncture, with the president making clear there will be no tolerance for delay or concessions similar to those made in previous administrations.

Tapper, Stefanik Clash Over Trump’s Warning to Iran

CNN anchor Jake Tapper pressed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) Sunday on whether President Donald Trump’s threat that “a whole civilization will die” if Iran does not comply constituted a “call for genocide” against the Iranian people.

Midway through the “State of the Union” interview, Tapper asked Stefanik if she condemns calls for genocide “across the board.” He referenced her past criticism of university presidents who would not condemn chants of “From the river to the sea,” which she and many Jewish groups view as a call for the genocide of Jews in Israel.

“You believe that wiping out an entire civilization is genocidal and nobody should make a call to do such a thing?” Tapper asked.

“Yes, of course,” Stefanik replied, defending her earlier line of questioning to college presidents as a clear, non-political test of whether calling for the genocide of Jews violates university codes of conduct.

Tapper then pivoted to Trump’s April 7 Truth Social post.

Survey: What 2800 Radio Listeners Said About Social Media Habits

• YouTube Dominates Radio Listeners’ Social Media Use in 2026

✅OVERVIEW: YouTube dominates radio listener social media habits in 2026, with 83% of U.S. radio listeners 18+ using it weekly. This beats Instagram (77%), Facebook (73%), and TikTok (72%). Spanish-language radio listeners show distinct platform preferences, with 59% using WhatsApp weekly versus 39% of English-language listeners. Radio stations investing heavily in TikTok while ignoring YouTube are chasing the wrong platform. These findings come from surveying 2,798 radio listeners across the U.S. in March-April 2026.

YouTube is the clear leader in weekly social media usage among U.S. radio listeners, with 83% using the platform weekly. It outpaces Instagram (77%), Facebook (73%), and TikTok (72%), according to a new survey of 2,798 radio listeners ages 18+ conducted by Crowd React Media in March–April 2026.

Spanish-language radio listeners show notably different habits, with 59% using WhatsApp weekly compared to just 39% of English-language listeners.

According to Katie Miller, VP of Strategy at Crowd React Media, the findings suggest many radio stations may be misallocating resources by heavily prioritizing TikTok while underinvesting in YouTube, the platform where their audience is most active.

Study: Social Media Detox Boosts Emotional Well-Being

Taking a break from Facebook and Instagram can meaningfully improve emotional well-being, according to one of the largest randomized studies on the topic.

Researchers at Stanford University tracked roughly 36,000 active users in the weeks before and after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Participants who were paid to deactivate their accounts for six weeks reported significantly higher emotional well-being compared to those who only logged off for one week.

The benefits were clearest for Facebook users. Those who stayed off the platform for the full six weeks experienced a substantial lift in emotional state. Instagram users saw a smaller improvement, which was only marginally statistically significant under stricter testing.

Strongest Gains in Specific Groups

• Facebook’s positive effects were most pronounced among users over age 35, undecided voters, and people without college degrees. 
• On Instagram, the largest mood improvements appeared among women ages 18 to 24.

Streaming Giants Hike Prices, Leaving Subscribers Frustrated

Major streaming services like Netflix are significantly raising their subscription rates, and many viewers have reached their breaking point. Former cable users are taking to platforms like Reddit to express their frustration over monthly fees that are beginning to rival traditional cable bills.

"I’m done with the constant price hikes. After years of loyalty, I’m out," one recently canceled Netflix user shared, echoing the sentiments of many who refuse to pay up to $30 a month for premium streaming tiers.

Over the past year, nearly every major platform has increased its prices. According to Kourtnee Jackson, a senior editor at CNET, companies attribute these hikes to the rising costs of technology upgrades and expensive content, including heavy investments in gaming and live sports.

Recent price increases across the industry include:

• Netflix: The Premium tier rose from $24.99 to $26.99 a month. Standard plans increased to $19.99, and the ad-supported tier went up to $8.99.
• HBO Max: The Premium plan increased from $20.99 to $22.99. Standard plans climbed to $18.49, and the Basic with Ads tier rose to $10.99.
• Disney+: Premium ad-free streaming jumped from $15.99 to $18.99, while the ad-supported option increased to $11.99.
• 
  Peacock: Premium Plus saw a steep hike from $13.99 to $16.99, and the entry-level ad-supported plan surged roughly 38% to $10.99.
• Apple TV: The flat monthly fee saw a 30% increase, jumping from $9.99 to $12.99 with no ad-supported alternative.
• Hulu: The ad-supported plan increased to $11.99, though the ad-free tier remained at $18.99.
• Amazon Prime Video: While the base $14.99 Prime membership remained untouched, the cost to remove ads increased from $2.99 to $4.99 a month.

Fake Avatars Flooding Social Media

Hundreds of AI-generated influencer accounts promoting pro-Trump and “America First” messaging have rapidly appeared on social media in the months leading up to the midterm elections.

The accounts feature attractive, realistic-looking men and women delivering commentary on topics such as the war in Iran, abortion, and pop culture while flirting with the camera. President Trump has reposted content from at least one of them — a platinum-blond avatar spreading false claims about California’s governor.

The New York Times identified at least 304 such accounts on TikTok since January, many of which have since vanished. Researchers from Purdue University’s GRAIL lab found another dozen across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, while digital threat firm Alethea identified nine more on YouTube. Several accounts have gained over 35,000 followers, with individual posts exceeding 500,000 views. None were labeled as AI-generated.

Experts say it remains unclear who is behind the accounts, whether a hired content farm, foreign influence operation, or independent experiment, but creating and deploying such AI avatars has become dramatically easier and cheaper. 

Researchers noted the effort appears aimed at engaging conservative audiences already receptive to meme-style and influencer-driven political content. No comparable network of left-leaning AI influencers was found.

TikTok said it reviewed the accounts flagged by The Times and determined they were not part of a covert influence operation, but rather “spammers” seeking engagement. The platform stated it is in the process of removing them.

Sactown Radio: New Weekday Lineup For 98 Rock

(L-R): Abe Kanan, Ashley O and Marty)

98 Rock (KRXQ-FM), an Audacy station in Sacramento, unveils a new weekday lineup effective Monday, April 20th. Abe Kanan is moving to morning drive with the debut of “Abe Kanan Mornings,” airing from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. PT. Joining the station for afternoon drive is Michael “Marty” Whitney, who will be heard from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. PT.

“With his strong history in Northern California and A+ talent, Marty is the perfect fit for 98 Rock. Our listeners are going to love and connect with his infectious, friendly energy and heart for the community,” said Andy Hawk, Brand Manager, 98 Rock. “We are amped to have Abe lead our mornings. Combined with Ashley O in middays, and Marty taking over afternoons, this lineup is designed to dominate the dial and carry forward the legacy of this iconic Sacramento brand.”

“I am overjoyed and honored to contribute to the great winning legacy of 98 Rock in Sacramento with the support of Andy Hawk, Aaron Miller, Ryan Castle and Dave Richards,” said Whitney. “Born in the Bay and raised in the Sierra, I started as a Sacramento radio listener in the crowd at Metallica’s July 23, 1994, Cal Expo show. Now destiny and luck have brought me to serve my NorCal community as the afternoon voice of the legendary 98 Rock! We're ready to roll in and ride the lightning.”

The new weekday lineup for 98 Rock is as follows:

• 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. PT: “Abe Kanan Mornings”
• 10:00 am. - 3:00 p.m. PT: Ashley O
• 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PT: “Marty In Your Ear Afternoons”

Kanan, a radio veteran with over 20 years of experience, transitions to the morning slot after successfully leading 98 Rock's afternoons since 2024. His elevation to the morning drive signals a bold new chapter for the station, bringing his signature high-energy style to brighten mornings for Northern California residents.

Whitney is a radio host and producer with a decades-long track record across iconic stations and streaming platforms. From hosting on San Diego’s legendary 91X to executive producing global hits for Nicki Minaj at Apple Music’s Beats 1, his career is defined by high-stakes creative leadership. Beyond his consistent #1 demographic rankings, he is a versatile live host and technical specialist. He pairs a radio veteran's expertise with a listener-first approach that resonates across every platform he touches.

📻Listeners can tune in to 98 Rock (KRXQ-FM) in Sacramento and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can connect with the station via Instagram, Facebook and X.

Commentary: What Radio Can Do That Streaming Can’t

Radio Offers Connection

By Dave Van Dyke,  President

Bridge Ratings Media Research 

In a world overflowing with perfectly curated playlists, algorithmic precision, and on-demand everything, it’s easy to assume streaming has won. But that assumption misses something important.

For all its personalization and control, streaming can’t do one thing radio still does better than anyone:

Show up in the moment.

That may sound simple. It’s not.

When something happens right now—a breaking news story, a sudden storm, a traffic nightmare, a community celebration—radio doesn’t need to buffer, upload, edit, or optimize.

It just… talks.

Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are extraordinary at delivering what you already like.

Radio delivers what you need to know right now.

And that difference is everything.

Radio Is Immediate. Streaming Is Prepared.

Streaming is built on planning. Playlists are programmed. Podcasts are produced. Content is uploaded.

Radio is built on reaction.

A great air talent doesn’t need a production team or a content calendar to respond to what’s happening. They hear it, feel it, and deliver it—live, unfiltered, and in real time.

That’s not just speed.

That’s connection.

Radio Can Turn On a Dime

Radio needs no special video production team and if they did responding in the moment would not be immediate-we’d have to wait for production. 

Immediate ticket giveaway for a JT’s announced Superstar concert. 

Radio can do it.

Want to rally listeners for a last-minute blood drive or community event?

Radio can do it.

Weather suddenly perfect for a weekend promotion at a local park?

Radio can do it.

No cameras. No edits. No approvals. No waiting.

Just a microphone, a message, and a moment.

R.I.P.: Don Schlitz, Songwriter Penned Many Country Hits

Don Schlitz, the songwriter behind country classics including “The Gambler,” has died at 73. He passed Thursday at a Nashville hospital after a sudden illness, the Grand Ole Opry said; a cause of death was not immediately released.

Industry leaders paid tribute. CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said Schlitz “loved his family, his home state of North Carolina and, above all, songs and songwriters,” and remembered him smiling with a guitar in hand. Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young called Schlitz “a songwriting great” whose presence made Nashville richer.

Schlitz wrote or co-wrote numerous hits that shaped country music and crossed into the mainstream. His breakout came with Kenny Rogers’ 1978 recording of “The Gambler.” Other notable songs include “On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “When You Say Nothing at All” (recorded by Keith Whitley and later Alison Krauss). He also wrote for Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and rejoined Rogers with Dolly Parton on “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”

Born in 1952 and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Schlitz moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting. Though primarily behind the scenes, he received major recognition: ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year four consecutive years (1988–1991), induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, and a rare honor at the Grand Ole Opry as the only non-performing songwriter inducted in a century.

He is survived by his family. Further details about services or the cause of death have not been announced.

Radio History: April 20

➦In 1935...'Your Hit Parade' debuted on NBC, as a 60-minute program with 15 songs played in a random format.

Initially, the songs were more important than the singers, so a stable of vocalists went uncredited and were paid only $100 per episode. In 1936-37, it was carried on both NBC and CBS. The first number one song on the first episode was "Soon" by Bing Crosby. The dramatic countdown to the #1 song was adopted several years later, after the show had moved to CBS.

Some years passed before the countdown format was introduced, with the number of songs varying from seven to 15. Vocalists in the 1930s included Buddy Clark, Lanny Ross, Kay Thompson and Bea Wain (1939–44), who was married to the show's announcer, French-born André Baruch. Frank Sinatra joined the show in 1943, and was fired for messing up the No. 1 song, "Don't Fence Me In" by interjecting a mumble to the effect that the song had too many words and missing a cue. One source says his contract was not renewed due to demanding a raise and the show being moved to the West Coast. As he zoomed in popularity he was rehired, returning (1947–49) to co-star with Doris Day.

Hugely popular on CBS through the WWII years, Your Hit Parade returned to NBC in 1947. The show's opening theme, from the musical revue George White's Scandals of 1926, was "This Is Your Lucky Day", with music by Ray Henderson and lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva, Stephen W. Ballantine and Lew Brown.

Dozens of singers appeared on the radio program, including "Wee" Bonnie Baker, Dorothy Collins, Beryl Davis, Gogo DeLys, Joan Edwards (1941–46), Georgia Gibbs, Dick Haymes, Snooky Lanson, Gisèle MacKenzie, Johnny Mercer, Andy Russell, Dinah Shore, Ginny Simms, Lawrence Tibbett, Martha Tilton, Eileen Wilson, Barry Wood, and occasional guest vocalists. The show featured two tobacco auctioneers, Lee Aubrey "Speed" Riggs of Goldsboro, North Carolina and F.E. Boone of Lexington, Kentucky. The radio series continued until January 16, 1953.

The success of the show spawned a spin-off series, Your All-Time Hit Parade, sponsored by Lucky Strike and devoted to all-time favorites and standards mixed with some current hits.

➦In 1952...the "Big Show" finished a two year run on the NBC Radio Network.

The Big Show was radio 90-minute variety program featuring top-name comics, stage, screen and music talent, and was aimed at keeping American radio in its classic era alive and well against the rapidly growing television tide. For a good portion of its two-year run (November 5, 1950-April 20, 1952), it was hosted by legendary stage actress and personality Tallulah Bankhead,

The Big Show began November 5, 1950 on NBC with a stellar line-up of guests: Fred Allen, Mindy Carson, Jimmy Durante, José Ferrer, Portland Hoffa, Frankie Laine, Russell Knight, Paul Lukas, Ethel Merman, Danny Thomas and Meredith Willson.

The show's success was credited to Bankhead's notorious wit and ad-libbing ability in addition to the show's superior scripting. She had one of the funniest writers in the business on her staff: Goodman Ace, the mastermind of radio's legendary Easy Aces. She included renowned ad-libbers in the show—particularly Fred Allen (he and his longtime sidekick and wife, Portland Hoffa, appeared so often they could have been the show's regular co-hosts) and Groucho Marx, both of whom appeared on the first season's finale and appeared jointly on three other installments.

As Bankhead recorded in her memoirs, she took the show because she needed the money but nearly changed her mind when she feared she'd be little more than a glorified mistress of ceremonies with nothing to do but introduce the feature performers. "Guess what happened?" she continued. "Your heroine emerged from the fracas as the Queen of the Kilocycles. Authorities cried out that Tallulah had redeemed radio. In shepherding my charges through The Big Show, said the critics, I had snatched radio out of the grave. The autopsy was delayed."

➦In 1961…The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved FM stereo broadcasting.