Radio News Recap For The Week of October 21-30, 2026

➤FCC and Regulatory Developments

🗼FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned broadcasters against airing what he called “entirely Fake Polls and Suppression Polls” designed to interfere with the electoral process ahead of the midterms. In an October 21 X post, he advised stations to avoid “News Distortions or Broadcast Hoaxes” under FCC rules, without naming specific polls (one fabricated example, Wedgewood Polls, had recently admitted to publishing fake data as an “experiment”). Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez publicly disagreed, stating that good-faith reporting of available polls does not trigger news-distortion or hoax rules. The warning drew criticism as potential overreach into content ahead of the elections.

Radio History: Nov 1

Grantland Rice

➦In 1880...Sportswriter Grantland Rice was born in Murfreesboro Tennessee.  He was with the NY Herald Tribune when he was pressed into service as a broadcaster; he was at the mike for the first World Series game which aired on  KDKA in 1921 and the first complete World Series WJZ in 1922. He died July 13, 1954 at age 73.

➦In 1894…Billboard Advertising, a 10-cent trade publication dealing with billboard advertising, began publication. After a few years, it started to focus on the entertainment shows advertised by billboards, and by the 1930s Billboard, as it came to be known, was covering radio and sales of a new medium, juke box records.

➦In 1922...KHJ radio, owned and operated by the Los Angeles Times, made its first broadcast with a new Western Electric 500-watt transmitter on 400 meters, equivalent to 750 kilocycles.  The 2 hour broadcast from 8 to 10 p.m. took place on Wednesday, November 1, 1922, from KHJ's  new $30,000 broadcasting plant, with a new studio and transmitter room.  

During FLA Rally: Trump Rips Into Fox News Channel

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Fox News on Friday for what he called disproportionate airtime given to Democrats, specifically targeting Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) as a frequent guest he labeled a “total dope” and declaring that he was “not happy” with the network’s coverage.

Speaking at a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida, held to boost Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) in her reelection race against Democrat Angie Nixon and Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds against Democrat David Jolly, Trump tied his complaint to his intensive campaign schedule ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. He said he has been traveling the country for Republican candidates only to return and see their opponents featured on the network.

Trump rips Fox News: "Fox is giving Democrats more time than they give Republicans. I'm working my ass off. I'm doing rallies. And I come back and watch the opponent of the person I did the rally for." https://t.co/0xeRVFw4vW

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 31, 2026

“I watched this total dope — Ro Khanna — Fox puts him on all the time,” Trump told the crowd. “You know, Fox is giving Democrats more time than they give Republicans. I don’t know what the hell’s—” He continued, “I’m working my a** off. I’m doing rallies, and I come back, and I watch the opponent of the person I did the rally for. I’m not happy.”

Earlier Friday, Khanna had appeared on Fox & Friends with co-host Ainsley Earhardt. The two discussed the war in Iran, potential impeachment proceedings against Trump, progressive policy priorities, and allegations involving Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). The exchange stayed cordial; Khanna opened by congratulating Earhardt on her recent marriage to fellow Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Buck-Aikman: It's Not Only About The Money

Troy Aikman’s personality and clashes with Joe Buck, not only money, are driving tensions that could end their Monday Night Football partnership, according to a Friday report by The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.

ESPN executives have observed friction between the longtime duo over the past four years. Aikman, described as aloof and verbally abusive toward staff, has contributed to the turnover of five producers and directors before the current team of Steve Ackles and Artie Kempner settled in. Sources said Aikman’s demands for specific replays created untenable conditions for the production crew.

The strain surfaced in a heated argument before the Oct. 12 Bills-Rams game. Aikman, who believed Buck was behind the frequent staff changes, told him, “I just never thought you’d do it to me.” Buck replied, “They got rid of them because you were screaming at them,” Front Office Sports reported.

Contract disparities have compounded the issues. Buck recently signed a six-year, $108 million deal. Aikman’s five-year, $90 million contract with ESPN/ABC/Disney, signed in 2022, expires after the Super Bowl broadcast on Feb. 14, 2027. Aikman sought $30 million annually, citing Tom Brady’s $37.5 million Fox deal, but ESPN rejected it. He later requested an 18 percent raise matching Buck’s, which would have amounted to roughly $127.5 million over six years. ESPN has deferred further talks until after the Super Bowl.

Aikman signed his original MNF deal without confirmation that Buck, his Fox Sports booth partner of 20 years, would join him.

The Time Has Come: Shifting Daylight

Millions of Americans will turn their clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, as daylight saving time ends for 2026. The change returns most of the country to standard time and gives people an extra hour overnight.

The shift moves daylight earlier in the morning and brings sunset earlier in the evening. In Boston, for example, sunrise is expected at 6:17 a.m. Sunday, compared with 7:16 a.m. Saturday; sunset will be at 4:37 p.m., down from 5:39 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Boston Radio: Cumulus Brings ZoneCasting™ to 104.5 XLO

• Among the First U.S. Radio Stations to Adopt the Technology
• 104.5 XLO Will Offer Advertisers New Geographic Targeting Capabilities

Cumulus Media today announced plans to introduce ZoneCasting™ technology on Boston's 104.5 XLO (WXLO-FM) in partnership with Aktira, positioning the station among the first in the country to offer advertisers the ability to deliver different commercials simultaneously to listeners in distinct geographic areas within the same radio market. 

The technology is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2027.

Unlike traditional FM broadcasting, where all listeners hear the same commercial regardless of location, ZoneCasting™ will allow 104.5 XLO to deliver geographically targeted advertising to listeners in a designated zone east of Route 128, while audiences outside that zone continue to receive the station's primary broadcast. This gives advertisers greater flexibility to reach consumers in specific areas of Greater Boston without sacrificing the broad reach and impact of FM radio.

For local, regional and national businesses, the technology opens new opportunities to deliver messages that are more relevant to where consumers live, work, shop, and travel. 

A retailer, for example, could promote a location or offer specifically to listeners east of Route 128 while a different commercial airs at the same time elsewhere. The initiative also complements Cumulus Media's use of Xperi's DTS AutoStage platform, which provides near-real-time insights into in-car radio listening. Together, these technologies create new opportunities for advertisers to better understand where audiences are listening and deliver more relevant messages to consumers throughout the market.

Manosphere Influencers Chill On Politics

Joe Rogan helped define 2024 as the “podcast election.” But two years later, some of its biggest players have receded from politics or soured on President Donald Trump.

Manosphere influencers including Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, Andrew Tate, and Joe Rogan have lost substantial approval among young men, according to new polling, reflecting broader disillusionment among the group.

Data from the Speaking With American Men Project (SAM), published by Puck and based on tracking of 2,000 young American men aged 16 to 29, shows Joe Rogan down 11 points to 42% approval, Elon Musk down 14 points to 37%, and Tucker Carlson down 8 points to 24%. Andrew Tate, arrested this year on sexual assault allegations, holds a -30 approval rating among the same cohort. The figures mark a notable contraction for figures long associated with large young male audiences.

The declines are part of a wider pattern in which many young people’s political views appear more reactive than principled. Disillusioned young men of various political leanings have sought influencers who acknowledged their concerns without condescension, ranging from figures on the far left such as Hasan Piker to those on the far right such as Nick Fuentes. These voices offered a consistent message of recognition and potential solutions.

Comcast Cuts 634 Jobs At HQs As 'Transitioning' Commences

Comcast is cutting 634 jobs at its Philadelphia headquarters as part of a companywide restructuring aimed at reducing costs and accelerating investment in artificial intelligence. The layoffs are scheduled to begin Dec. 31, and the company has started notifying affected employees.

The company also reported cuts of 119 jobs in New Jersey, 159 in Washington state and 82 in California. At the same time, Comcast plans to hire for more than 1,100 positions, including more than 500 in Philadelphia, according to notices filed with regulators.

Comcast said the changes are intended to make the company more agile, improve customer service and strengthen its ability to compete. The company employs about 179,000 people worldwide, including 15,000 in the Philadelphia area.

The layoffs have affected workers in roles ranging from engineering and product management to information technology and business analysis. Some employees described a tense atmosphere at the company’s Center City headquarters, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Appeals Court Upholds That NFL Overcharged For Sunday Ticket

A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated a jury’s finding that the NFL overcharged Sunday Ticket subscribers in violation of antitrust law and ordered a new trial on damages, overturning a lower court judge who had thrown out a $4.7 billion verdict.⁠

Reuters reports the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez erred in 2024 by excluding key expert testimony from the plaintiffs and granting judgment as a matter of law to the NFL after a Los Angeles jury trial. The three-judge panel held that the jury’s liability verdict should stand because “a jury verdict must stand unless it is clearly not supported by the evidence,” but it affirmed the judge’s separate conclusion that the damages award was improper.⁠

In June 2024, the jury awarded roughly $4.6 billion to about 2.4 million residential subscribers and $96.9 million to roughly 48,000 commercial subscribers such as bars and restaurants. Those damages covered DirecTV Sunday Ticket packages of out-of-market NFL games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons. Under federal antitrust law, successful damages awards are automatically trebled, which would have pushed the total near $14 billion.

NFL On TV: Here's Why CBS and Fox Alternate Sunday Doubleheaders

CBS and Fox take turns airing Sunday afternoon doubleheaders to balance NFL coverage across local markets. League rules limit each network to no more than two games in a market on a given Sunday, so one network typically carries two games while the other broadcasts one. The following week, the arrangement usually switches.

Since 1998, CBS has generally carried games featuring an AFC road team, while Fox has typically shown games featuring an NFC road team. But the NFL’s 2014 television agreements introduced “cross-flexing,” which lets the league move games between the networks regardless of conference. That flexibility helps balance early-afternoon matchups and place more appealing games in the 4:25 p.m. national window.

Class Action Suit Showcases Beef With McDonald's

A federal judge ruled Friday that McDonald’s must face parts of a proposed class action alleging that the company misled customers about the meat in its McRib sandwich.

U.S. District Judge April Perry allowed consumer deception, fraud, and unjust enrichment claims to proceed while dismissing five other claims without prejudice. The ruling does not determine that McDonald’s engaged in deceptive advertising.

Atlanta Radio: Bert Weiss Launches Two Podcasts

Former “The Bert Show” hosts Bert Weiss and Kristin Klingshirn are moving into podcasting, launching separate programs through digital media company Pionaire. Weiss’s travel show, “Trip Happens with Bert Weiss and Amanda Weiss,” debuted Oct. 29, while Klingshirn’s daily talk show, “Barely Functioning with Kristin Klingshirn,” is set to launch Monday, Nov. 2.

R.I.P.: Jerome 'YoJ' Ronquillo, Former KRBE Personality

Jerome “YoJ” Ronquillo, a longtime Houston radio personality and KRBE production director, died Thursday at 57. The station announced his death Friday but did not disclose a cause.

Ronquillo joined 104.1 KRBE in 1994 and spent more than three decades at the station, working in several roles. His voice reached Houston listeners through on-air shifts, club broadcasts and commercials. KRBE described him as “one of the most spectacular, charismatic, and hilarious people that walked our radio station hallways.”

Radio History: Oct 31

➦In 1912...actress & singing cowgirl Dale Evans was born as Lucille Wood Smith in Uvalde, TX (Died of congestive heart failure at age 88 – February 7, 2001) She was the third wife of singing cowboy Roy Rogers.

She had a tumultuous early life. Her name was changed to Frances Octavia Smith while she was still an infant. She spent a lot of time living with her uncle, Dr. L.D. Massey, a general practice physician, in Osceola, Arkansas. At age 14, she eloped with and married Thomas F. Fox, with whom she had one son, Thomas F. Fox Jr., when she was 15. A year later, abandoned by her husband, she found herself in Memphis, Tennessee, a single parent, pursuing a career in music. She landed a job with local radio stations (WMC and WREC), singing and playing piano. Divorced in 1929, she took the name Dale Evans in the early 1930s to promote her singing career.

➦In 1942..."White Christmas" by Bing Crosby hit No. 1 on the pop singles chart for the first time.

➦In 1942...CBS radio debuted 'Thanks To The Yanks', a wartime themed game show starring Bob Hawk, the quizmaster who had introduced Take it Or Leave It to radio, the original $64 Question show.

➦In 1963...The Beatles returned to London from Sweden to be greeted by hundreds of screaming fans and a mob of photographers. Ed Sullivan happened to be at Heathrow, and was struck by the sight of Beatlemania in full swing. This was the day he determined to have the Fab Four appear on his Sunday night CBS TV variety show, thus introducing The Beatles to North America.

➦In 1968..'The War of the Worlds' was a radio drama, was aired by Buffalo, New York radio station Top40 WKBW 1520 AM.

It was a modernized version of the original radio drama aired by CBS in 1938.

WKBW program director Jefferson Kaye (d. 2012), a big fan of the original Orson Welles version from three decades earlier, wondered what The War of the Worlds would sound like if it was made using up-to-date (for 1968) radio news equipment, covering the "story" of a Martian invasion. Up until this point, most radio renditions of the 1938 broadcast were simply script re-readings with different actors or had minor variations to account for significantly different geographical locations. Kaye decided to disregard the original script entirely, move the action to Grand Island, New York, and use actual WKBW disc jockeys and news reporters as actors.

Bari Weiss Downplays Concerns Over Weak 60 Minutes Ratings

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss addressed the network’s ratings performance during her tenure in remarks at an industry conference on Wednesday, stating that she does not prioritize precise viewership figures for individual 60 Minutes segments.

Speaking at an event organized by the tech publication The Information, which did not offer press credentials, Weiss said, “I could never build anything if I were focused on the precise number of people that happen to tune in to the second feature on 60 Minutes on a given Sunday.” She described the program as doing “tremendously well” overall.

Carr, Gomez Clash Over FCC Warning To Broadcasters

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said his warning about “fake” election polls targets fabricated surveys, not good-faith reporting. Commissioner Anna Gomez countered that airing a poll—even one later shown to be fabricated—does not, by itself, meet the legal standards for news distortion or a broadcast hoax.

Asked whether there was evidence that broadcasters had aired the polls Carr cited, he said he did not know. He also said he was unaware of an FCC investigation, but urged the public to file complaints. Carr named polling outlets he alleged were inventing results, saying politicians in both parties had complained that the polls harmed their fundraising and campaigns.

NYTimes Gives Trump What He Needed

A New York Times report about a second candidate named Dan Sullivan gave President Trump a fresh election-season talking point, allowing him to accuse Democrats of voter fraud days before the midterms.

Trump seized on allegations that Democrats aligned with Senate candidate Mary Peltola recruited a candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, potentially confusing voters. He called it “Voter Fraud at the Highest Level” on Truth Social and demanded that Peltola be removed from the ballot and prosecuted.

TODAY Wins First October In Total Viewers In 15-Years

• TODAY Delivers Its Biggest October Total Viewer Advantage Over GMA in 15 Years
• TODAY Is the Only Morning Show to Grow Total Viewership Year Over Year, Marking 9 Consecutive Months of Growth

NBC News’ TODAY won in total viewers and the key demo A25-54 for the month, marking its first and largest October total viewer win over GMA in 15 years. TODAY is the only morning show to grow in total viewers year over year, marking 9 months of consecutive growth.

Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN

For the month of October, TODAY averaged 2.832 million total viewers, beating GMA by +136,000 (+5%) and CBS by +1.064 million (+60%).

In A25-54, TODAY averaged 602,000 viewers, leading GMA by +149,000 (+33%) and CBS by +303,000 (+101%). TODAY has won the key demo for 38 consecutive months, capturing the largest October share of morning news A25-54 viewers (44.5%) in 15 years.

Burger King Attracts Price-Conscious Diners

Burger King’s U.S. turnaround accelerated in the third quarter, with same-store sales rising 8.4% and helping parent Restaurant Brands International grow profit and strengthen its position against fast-food rivals. The gains more than doubled Burger King’s 3.1% growth a year earlier.

Chief Executive Josh Kobza said the chain had reclaimed the No. 2 spot in the U.S. burger category after years of work under its “Reclaim the Flame” strategy, which focuses on modernizing restaurants and improving the menu.

FCC Bans Chinese Labs From Testing Electronics In U-S

The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to bar Chinese labs from testing electronic devices for the U.S. market, citing national security risks. The restrictions are set to take effect in December 2028.

The ban covers labs and certification bodies in countries that do not offer reciprocal access to U.S. testing facilities. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said 82% of electronics were tested in China in 2025, while about 4% were tested in U.S. labs. He warned that testing labs may access confidential product information before devices reach the market.

The FCC previously barred labs owned or controlled by the Chinese government and said it would streamline approvals for devices tested in the United States or in countries it considers lower risk. The move adds to a series of U.S. restrictions on Chinese technology, including bans on certain drones, routers and equipment from companies such as Huawei and ZTE.

Knoxville Radio: Matt Brodie New Programmer at WCYQ-FM

SummitMedia has appointed Matt “Brodie” Lesley brand manager of its four-station Knoxville cluster. Lesley will also host middays on country station WCYQ (100.3 The Wolf), bringing more than 20 years of programming and on-air experience to the market.

Lesley most recently served as program director and afternoon host for WNOK in Columbia, South Carolina, and WWXM in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, from 2019 to 2026. During that period, he also curated music for iHeartMedia CHR stations in Cincinnati, Fresno and Austin.

Instagram Targets YouTube

Instagram is launching a long-form video feature called Features, allowing clips of up to 90 minutes and offering top creators as much as $500,000 to shift from YouTube, as Meta seeks a larger share of television viewing time.

The initiative, announced by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, marks a direct bid for the living-room screen that YouTube has come to dominate. YouTube now accounts for 15.8 percent of U.S. TV viewing and generated $11.2 billion in advertising revenue in its most recent quarter, even as growth slowed to 9 percent. With roughly 3 billion monthly active users, Instagram is positioning Features as a natural extension of Reels, enabling longer click-through videos while leveraging Meta’s existing advertising infrastructure.

In a Jiffy: Get Up-To-Date With The Pulse For TGIF Oct 30

Radio Broadcasting

Carr Talk: FCC Chair said his warning about “fake” election polls targets fabricated surveys, not good-faith reporting. Commissioner Anna Gomez countered that airing a poll—even one later shown to be fabricated—does not, by itself, meet the legal standards for news distortion or a broadcast hoax. MORE

Brighter Future: SiriusXM raised its full-year 2026 outlook by $25M, citing subscription value from sports programming that now includes Audacy’s local sports stations. The 24 stations, added September 1, would rank third among SiriusXM’s sports destinations by listenership. MORE

New PD In Knoxville: SummitMedia has appointed Matt “Brodie” Lesley brand manager of its four-station cluster. Lesley will also host middays on country 100.3 The Wolf, bringing more than 20 years of programming to the market. MORE

Media Industry

Political Rates: Republicans filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a federal judge to invalidate a longstanding campaign advertising rule they say gives Democrats an unfair advantage. MORE

A Little Help: A NYTimes report about a second candidate named Dan Sullivan gave President Trump a fresh election-season talking point, allowing him to accuse Democrats of voter fraud days before the midterms.  MORE

Worst Day Ever: Google shares plunged 13% Thursday wiping roughly $500 billion from Alphabet’s market value as investors weighed the risks of AI to the company’s core search business—and the mounting cost of competing in the technology. MORE

U-S News

Trump Barks: President Donald Trump lashed out at a Reuters reporter on Oct. 29, 2026, after being questioned about the cancellation of a campaign rally in Salina, Kansas. Instead of in-person appearances, the White House announced Trump will conduct over 20 tele-rallies to support Republican midterm candidates ahead of next week's election.

Trick or Treat: Trump paused his midterm campaign blitz on October 29, 2026, to participate in the annual White House Halloween trick-or-treat tradition. Hosted by First Lady Melania Trump, the event featured festive decorations, musical performances by the Air Force Strolling Strings, and themed activities reflecting administration priorities.

RIP: Acclaimed British actor Patrick Stewart, renowned for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek" and Professor Charles Xavier in "X-Men," has died at age 86. He passed away at his L-A home following a battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia. 

Republicans Sue FCC Over 'Lowest Unit Charge'

The Republican National Committee and the Texas Republican Party filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a federal judge to invalidate a longstanding campaign advertising rule they say gives Democrats an unfair advantage.

The suit, brought in the final days of the midterm elections, targets the “lowest unit charge” provision of the Federal Communications Act of 1971. That rule requires television and radio stations to offer political candidates the lowest advertising rate they charge any commercial advertiser during a specified pre-election period, but it does not extend the same rate to political parties. The plaintiffs argue the distinction benefits Democrats and have asked the court to strike it down.

Audacy Sports Scores For SiriusXM

SiriusXM raised its full-year 2026 outlook by $25 million across its three guidance metrics, citing subscription value from sports programming that now includes Audacy’s local sports stations. The 24 stations, added September 1, would rank third among SiriusXM’s sports destinations by listenership, behind NFL Radio and ESPN Radio, the company said.

CEO Jennifer Witz said more than 80% of Audacy-station listeners are tuning in outside their home markets, following familiar local voices covering teams such as Philadelphia’s Eagles, Phillies, 76ers and Flyers. Nineteen Audacy news/talk stations are expected to join later this year.

Worst Day Ever For Alphabet

Google shares plunged 13% Thursday, their worst day on record, wiping roughly $500 billion from Alphabet’s market value as investors weighed the risks of AI to the company’s core search business—and the mounting cost of competing in the technology.

The selloff also dragged on major U.S. stock indexes, deepening concerns that spending on the global AI build-out may be growing faster than the returns. Investors have supported Big Tech’s AI investments partly because companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon have long-running businesses that generate dependable profits.

K-C Radio: 106.5 The Wolf Imports Mo & StyckMan

Mo & StyckMan

106.5 The Wolf (WDAF-FM), an Audacy station in Kansas City, is adding “Mo & StyckMan” to its weekday lineup. The duo will be heard evenings from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT starting November 2.

106.5 The Wolf’s new weekday programming lineup:

• 6:00 a.m: “Jenny and Jagger in the Morning”
• 10:00 a.m: “Katie & Company” with Katie Neal
• 3:00 p.m: “Mo & StyckMan”
• 7:00 p.m: “The Rob and Holly Show”

Mo and StyckMan can also be heard weekday afternoons on US 101 (WUSY-FM) in Chattanooga, TN, and Big 98.5 (WRXL-HD2) in Richmond, VA, and weekday mornings on 99.7 The Wolf (WLFP-FM) in Memphis. The duo also hosts “3rd Shift Country,” Audacy’s nationwide overnight show.

Streaming Growth Leads To Revenue Increase At Universal

Universal Music Group’s third-quarter revenue rose 11.7% to €3.39 billion ($3.87 billion), led by subscription streaming growth and the integration of Downtown Music Group. Excluding Downtown, revenue increased 5.3%. Results topped analysts’ expectations of about €3.37 billion.

Subscription streaming revenue climbed 17.9% to €1.81 billion, with Downtown contributing €146 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 9% in constant currency to €729 million, while the adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 0.4 percentage points to 21.5%.

Nexstar Settles FCC Violations for $80,500

Nexstar Media Group has agreed to pay an $80,500 fine to the FCC to resolve violations concerning children's television programming, political advertising public inspection files, and station modification filings.

Radio History: Oct 30

➦In 1938...Orson Welles's radio adaptation of HG Wells' War Of The Worlds caused panic in the US by convincing many listeners that Martians had really landed in New Jersey.

During the '30s, Welles worked extensively in radio as an actor, writer, director and producer, often without credit.  Between 1935 and 1937 he was earning as much as $2,000 a week, shuttling between radio studios at such a pace that he would arrive barely in time for a quick scan of his lines before he was on the air.

SCOTUS To Hear Nielsen-Comulus Dispute In Weeks

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider on Nov. 13 whether to take up Nielsen’s antitrust appeal against Cumulus Media, a case that challenges a lower court ruling preventing Nielsen from requiring broadcasters to buy local radio ratings in order to access its full national ratings service. The justices could agree to hear the case, deny review, or delay a decision, with an announcement possible shortly after the conference.

The dispute stems from a July decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld a preliminary injunction against Nielsen’s ratings sales policy. The injunction bars Nielsen from tying access to its nationwide ratings to the purchase of local ratings services and prohibits the company from charging commercially unreasonable prices for standalone national ratings.

Agenda Preview: CRS 2027 to Spotlight Radio’s Future

Country Radio Seminar has unveiled an early look at its CRS 2027 agenda, featuring general sessions focused on music discovery, audience measurement, transparency, career transitions, and the evolving ways the industry gauges artist and radio success. The event, set for March 17-19 in Nashville, will also include a new four-part “Cycle of a Song” series and the return of its popular label luncheons.

Among the featured sessions, “Fundamentals of Finding Music” will examine radio’s unique role in breaking artists and building fans, while “The New Radio Scoreboard: Measuring Success With or Without Ratings” explores how stations can evaluate performance beyond traditional ratings metrics. Other sessions include “Life After Layoff,” featuring professionals who share their career journeys after workforce reductions, and “Certified Human: Trust & Transparency,” which focuses on the role transparency plays in maintaining listener, advertiser, and industry confidence. “Beyond Vanity Metrics” will bring together industry leaders to discuss how radio, streaming, social media, and fan engagement data can provide a more complete picture of audience growth.

The new “Cycle of a Song” series will follow music from creation to airplay, highlighting the writers, artists, labels, and radio partners involved in developing careers and hit records. Sessions include a look at Drew Baldridge’s path to a No. 1 hit with “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” a discussion on women’s impact across the industry, an exploration of artist development and career-building strategies, and a songwriter-focused panel on the craft and business of hit-making.

CRS 2027 will also bring back its daily luncheon showcases, featuring Warner Records Nashville, Team MCA at the Ryman, and Big Machine Records’ Friday finale. Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley will return as a centerpiece event, offering additional live music performances and networking opportunities.

The seminar will take place March 17-19 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Organizers are also offering a one-day Fall Sale on Oct. 29, providing a 10% discount on the current three-day registration rate at CountryRadioSeminar.com.

SiriusXM Reports Revenue Wobbles Lower, Subs Remain Flat

Sirius XM Holdings reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $2.15 billion, down slightly from a year earlier mainly because of lower equipment sales tied to higher memory costs. Net income rose 7% to $317 million, while earnings per diluted share fell 7% to $0.78 from $0.84, reflecting the accounting treatment of convertible notes, including fair-value adjustments and assumed dilution.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 3% to $694 million, and the margin expanded one percentage point to 32%. The gains came from stable revenue and tighter expense control, including lower programming costs, more automation in customer care, and reduced sales and marketing spending. Free cash flow climbed 14% to $293 million, helped by higher adjusted EBITDA, favorable working capital, lower interest expense, and reduced capital expenditures.

The company raised its full-year financial guidance, citing progress in stabilizing the subscriber base, improving engagement, and growing its advertising platform.

“Our third-quarter performance reflects the progress we're making in building a stronger, more durable SiriusXM,” CEO Jennifer Witz said. She pointed to deeper subscriber engagement through differentiated content, expanded advertising reach via partnerships such as YouTube Audio, and greater long-term value from enhanced subscription offerings."

Average listening time rose about 5% year over year across all subscriber tenure groups. Year-to-date app trends are on pace for the highest average listening time and most active days per listener since the current app launched in late 2023. Exclusive programming included the Dolly Parton Tribute Channel, which became the year’s most-listened-to artist pop-up channel, along with performances by Shania Twain and John Mayer and special programming featuring Billy Joel and Talking Heads. “Life with John Mayer” ranked as the top streamed artist channel.

SiriusXM Delivers The Soundtrack To The Holidays

SiriusXM is making spirits bright with the return of its beloved holiday music lineup, bringing the sounds of the season to listeners with 25 handcrafted festive channels. From traditional holiday staples to seasonal hits, this year's lineup has something for everyone, including Hallmark Radio, Trans-Siberian Orchestra Radio, Mannheim Steamroller Channel and more. The most wonderful time of the year starts Monday, November 2 on SiriusXM, with many channels launching in-car and streaming on the SiriusXM app.

SiriusXM's highly anticipated holiday lineup brings nonstop cheer to listeners with a merry mix of festive music curated by fan-favorite personalities and brands that bring the magic of the season to life. From timeless holiday classics and traditional Christmas carols to Radio Hanukkah and genre-specific channels featuring holiday pop, country Christmas, seasonal soul and more, SiriusXM has the perfect hand-picked soundtrack for every holiday moment.

TV Ratings: Fox News Channel Notches Week-to-Week Growth

• FNC Leads All of Cable in Total Day with Total Viewers for 41st Consecutive Week
• CBS’ ‘60 Minutes’ Posts Lowest-Rated Episode of the Season, Draws Smallest 6th-Episode Audience Since the Year 2000

FOX News Channel (FNC) concluded the week of October 19th with 2.1 million weekday primetime viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC landed 1.7 million viewers.

Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN

 In Monday – Sunday total day, FNC averaged 1.2 million viewers, notching week-to-week growth in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. FNC also led all of cable in total day with total viewers for the 41st consecutive week. Markedly, on October 25th, CBS’ 60 Minutes posted its lowest-rated episode of the season and smallest 6th-episode audience since the year 2000, delivering 5.6 million total viewers and 586,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo.