Report: Pat Fili-Krushel OUT at NBC

Pat Fili-Krushel

Six months after being replaced as the head of NBC News by Andy Lack, Pat Fili-Krushel  executive will exit the company on Nov. 1, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Fili-Krushel was brought to NBCUniversal by CEO Steve Burke, with whom she worked closely with at ABC, where she was president of ABC Television Network from 1998 to 2000. Burke appointed her to run the company's news assets in 2011. It was shortly after Ann Curry's infamous departure from Today, and Burke was looking toward Fili-Krushel to impose some stability. Fili-Krushel ousted longtime NBC News president Steve Capus, who is now at CBS News, and hired Deborah Turness to run the company's flagship news division.

Several current and former NBC News sources blamed Fili-Krushel for the NBC news division's overall decline, citing her lack of experience in news.  The news division continued to generate headlines for a series of personnel conflagrations. There was the highly public ousting of Meet the Press moderator David Gregory and more recently, the news division has been rocked by the fall of Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, who was found to have embellished multiple accounts of his time reporting from the field.

And in March, Burke named Lack chairman of NBC News and MSNBC.

An NBCUniversal spokesman declined comment.

Moonves: NFL On CBS Access Possible

The CBS All Access streaming service could get NFL football one day in what would be a "game changer" for the fledgling offering, CEO Les Moonves says.

The service has been used as catch-up on library content by subscribers since its launch last October, though it also features live content from many TV stations.

But, according to Seeking Alpha: “Obviously the big thing that is missing from All Access is the NFL,” Moonves said at Wednesday's Bank of America/Merrill Lynch investor conference.

CBS will be pushing a record amount of streaming this year, and Moonves thinks a more open approach may be a matter of time for the league. “Clearly they are looking for an answer for their digital needs,” Moonves said. “They are exploring it along with us."

CBS launched All Access in October 2014, with live local content from its owned and operated and other certain TV stations as well as a library of about 6,500 network shows. But the offering – which costs $5.99 per month, hasn’t been able to carry NFL games like its linear broadcast network.

Report: ABC's David Muir Is 'Anchor Monster'

David Muir

“ABC World News Tonight” anchor David Muir is being nicknamed “Anchor Monster” by network staffers after repeatedly losing his temper with his crew over being beaten in the ratings by his rival, NBC’s Lester Holt, according to The NY Post.

Muir’s heavily hyped big interview with Hillary Clinton — in which she finally apologized for using personal e-mail — tanked on Wednesday night as Muir’s newscast was clobbered by ­ rival “NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt.” NBC averaged 8.3 million total viewers over ABC’s 7.3 million.

Muir’s “big get” with Pope Francis also disappointed last week. Friday’s heavily promoted “20/20” special featuring Muir and the pope was only neck-and-neck with a repeat of NBC’s “Dateline.” On Monday, “World News Tonight” aired segments from Muir’s papal session, but the ABC broadcast again trailed NBC by nearly a million viewers — with a little more than 8.01 million compared to NBC’s average of 9 million. NBC says “Nightly News” has been No. 1 in total viewers all 11 weeks since Holt was officially named anchor.

An ABC source tells us, “Despite the biggest ‘get’ in the world — the pope — David is still losing to Lester. David feels under pressure and returned to New York from Rome cranky and has been lashing out at the staff. He screams at the crew unless [ABC News President] James Goldston is around. On an open mike he was heard complaining he wanted less of the reporters’ voices and more of his own during the pope town hall. He’s becoming known as ‘Anchor Monster.’”

Meanwhile on CableTV: Fox News Channel has been on a streak since its GOP debate ratings coup, prevailing in weekly primetime cable ratings for the fifth week in a row.The network averaged 1.86M viewers overall to ESPN's 1.82M. Disney Channel was third with 1.5M, while HGTV and USA Network tied with 1.4M viewers.

Radio Show Luncheon To Feature CBS' Lara Logan

Lara Logan

CBS news correspondent Lara Logan will be the featured speaker at the Radio Luncheon, held September 30 during the Radio Show and sponsored by NextRadio.

Logan’s address will provide insight on her experiences as a leading international news reporter. The 2015 Radio Show, produced by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), is held September 30 – October 2 in Atlanta.

Logan began contributing to CBS News’ “60 Minutes” in 2005. She was named CBS News chief foreign correspondent in February 2006 and chief foreign affairs correspondent in 2008. Logan was named a full-time "60 Minutes" correspondent in May 2012.

“Lara Logan is a brilliant example of informative and compelling news reporting," said RAB President and CEO Erica Farber. "Her accounts of life in some of the world’s most dangerous places and situations and the personal struggles she has faced will surely captivate and inspire Radio Luncheon attendees.”

Logan has provided in-depth coverage of some of the most significant events of modern times.

As previously announced, George G. Beasley, chairman, chief executive officer and founder of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., will receive the National Radio Award during the Radio Luncheon.

San Diego Radio: Talk KFMB Adds Brett Winterble

KFMB 760 AM has announced the addition of 20-year talk veteran Brett Winterble to its on-air lineup in San Diego.

Winterble debuted on Tuesday  in the 3-6pm slot. Most recently heard in afternoons at KFWB 980 AM in Los Angeles.

With the addition of Winterble, Program Director Dave Sniff stated, "The bottom line is The AM 760 will be presenting more local information and more local conversation than ever before."

The  new KFMB Lineup:

• Armstrong and Getty: 5am - 10am
• Mike Slater Show: 10am - 2pm
• KFMB News Hour with Carlo and Lynda: 2pm - 3pm
• The Brett Winterble Show: 3pm - 6pm
• Glenn Beck: 6pm - 9pm
• Mark Levin: 9pm - Midnight

News Orgs Not Happy With Drone Bill

UPDATE 9/10/15 9AM:   California Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have restricted the flying of drones lower than 350 feet over private property without the owner's permission.

Earlier Posting..
A coalition of media organizations and press groups are crying foul on a proposed law in California governing the use of drones, according to The Hill.

The law, called Senate Bill 142, makes it a trespass violation to fly an unmanned aerial system (UAS) lower than 350 feet above private property “without express permission of the person or entity with the legal authority to grant access or without legal authority.”

The groups, including professional organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists and outlets like CNN and the parent company of the Los Angeles Times, said in a letter Thursday to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) that this restriction will make it incredibly difficult for reporters to use drones for newsgathering purposes.

“The proposed California legislation also poses a serious risk to the uses by journalists to gather and disseminate the news to the public, and the public’s right to receive news, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 2(a) of the California Constitution,” the groups told Brown. “Therefore, we urge that you veto this bill to allow time to further evaluate sound UAS policy and consider its full legal and detrimental impact.”

The groups added that it would be “daunting if not impossible” for journalists to get the needed consent, which they said was vaguely defined, to use drones — particularly during breaking news events.

Read More Now

Detroit Radio: Ryan& Rico Get More Airtime

Greater Media’s Detroit Sports  WMGC 105.1 FM, has announced the expansion of the Ryan & Rico show from weekdays 10am – 12pm to 8am-12pm in the Motor City.

Beginning on Thursday September 10th, the show will be expanded by two additional hours to provide Ryan & Rico fans more local information on all Detroit Sports topics, as well as national sports information. In addition, ESPN’s Mike & Mike will continue to air from 6am-8am on the station.

“Ryan and Rico have done an outstanding job for us at Detroit Sports 105.1 since we launched the radio station two years ago,” said Greater Media Detroit Vice President and Market Manager Steve Chessare. “We look forward to them continuing to engage Detroit sports fans on their drive to work.”

Ryan & Rico have been an intricate part of the Detroit Sports 105.1 family. The duo has helped to keep Detroit area Sports Fans at the top of their game with the latest local and national sports news.

Trump Challenges CNN, Fiorina Responds To Insult

The Donald

Donald Trump has an unusual proposal for CNN: He wants the network to donate its profits from next week's Republican primary debate to charity.

"I believe that all profits from this broadcast should go to various VETERANS groups, a list of which I will send to you in the near future," the GOP frontrunner said in a letter to CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker.

Trump published the letter on Wednesday morning. He said he's responsible for an expected spike in advertising revenue from the September 16 event. The first debate of the season, on August 6, drew 24 million viewers to Fox News, by far the biggest audience for a primary debate.

A letter to @CNN President Jeff Zucker- pic.twitter.com/HKUYv9tFRm

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2015

"While I refuse to brag, and as you know very well, this tremendous increase in viewer interest and advertising is due 100% to 'Donald J. Trump,'" Trump wrote.

A CNN spokeswoman declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump latest's close-up is coming from the unlikeliest of magazines: Rolling Stone.

When the magazine's cover story came out on Wednesday, the most-talked-about passage was a Trump comment about rival Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina.

According to writer Paul Solotaroff, he was sitting with Trump watching a newscast when a video clip zoomed in on Fiorina.

"Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that?" Trump said to Solotaroff. "Can you imagine that, the face of our next president."

Trump added, "I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not s'posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?"

"Look at that face!" Shocking quotes from latest @RollingStone profile on @realDonaldTrump. @brianstelter w details: http://t.co/isnKToFjLK

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) September 10, 2015

 The former Hewlett-Packard chief executive quickly brushed off Trump’s comment on her physical appearance. “I think those comments speak for themselves,” Fiorina told Megyn Kelly on FNC Wednesday night.

“Honestly, Megyn, I’m not going to spend a single cycle wondering what Donald Trump means, but maybe, just maybe, I’m getting under his skin a little bit, because I am climbing in the polls.”

Report: EMI To Sue Embattled KY County Clerk

Kim Davis Rally

Embattled Kentucky County Clerk, Kim Davis was ordered to be released from jail this week after refusing a court order that forbid her from denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She spent 5 days in jail.

The news of Davis’ pending release inspired Huckabee supporters to arrange an impromptu rally that began moments after her release. However, record label EMI has taken issue with what happens next.

“They are well within their rights to hold a public rally in support of Kim Davis, or anyone else for that matter,” explains intellectual property attorney Paul W. Steiner. “Where they broke the law was when they played that song by Survivor without the permission of the rights holder.”

What Steiner is referring to is Kim Davis emerging from the jail to the triumphant sounds of Survivor’s 1982 rock classic ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Many will remember ‘Eye of the Tiger’ as the theme song from Sylvester Stallone’s boxing epic ‘Rocky III’, according to the National Report.



“As far as I have heard, no one secured the rights to that public performance of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and as a result they violated EMI’s intellectual property rights today,” adds Steiner. “It is illegal for someone to ignore IP law and would make the offending parties guilty of infringement under Copyright Law (17 U.S.C. § 501(a)).”

“Many times, a record company will look the other way in a situation like this, as it serves as free publicity for their intellectual property,” says Steiner. “Though, in this case, I believe that EMI does not want their song associated with someone like Kim Davis...and will most likely seek full damages for this incident.”

A violation of Copyright Law (17 U.S.C. § 501(a)) can land the offending parties a fine of $150,000 per unlicensed song performed.

And Mediaite is reporting When Donald Trump took the stage Wednesday to deliver a short stump speech at today’s anti-Iran deal rally in Washington, D.C., he did so to blaring sound of R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World.”

As could have been expected, the band did not appreciate his use of their song. Bassist Mike Mills responded to questions from reporters on Twitter with three words: “Cease and desist.”

WWOne's Jim Gray Scores Tom Brady Interview

In his first national one-on-one interview since the “Deflategate” ruling and winning the Super Bowl, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tells Westwood One’s Jim Gray exclusively that this off-season has been “mentally draining.”

It was just one of the many candid moments Brady shared with Gray for an in-depth pregame interview which will air Thursday night during Westwood One’s kickoff of the NFL season, when the Patriots host the Steelers at Gillette Stadium.



Among the other topics Brady discussed with Gray—

• If he feels any bitterness toward the league and Commissioner Roger Goodell
• Why he never publicly lashed out
• How it feels to go from being universally liked and respected to being maligned
• His reaction to this week’s ESPN story about new “Spygate”/Patriot allegations
• What he would say to those who believe the Patriots’ championships were not won fairly
• How the footballs have been prepared for the season opener

Listeners can hear those answers and more during Westwood One’s NFL pregame show Thursday night, starting at 7:45 pm ET.  The game can be heard on radio stations nationwide, as well as on SiriusXM radio and through NFL Game Pass (NFL.com/gamepass), which is available on NFL.com and the NFL Mobile from Verizon app.

WWOne Kicks Off 2015 NFL Season Coverage

Westwood One, the exclusive network radio partner for the National Football League, is proud to announce its 2015 NFL broadcast season package featuring 100 games.

The 2015 NFL regular season schedule kicks off on Thursday at 7:45 pm ET when the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The season concludes with historic Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers, on Sunday, February 7, 2016.

Westwood One’s NFL broadcasts can be heard on nearly 500 radio stations nationwide, as well as on SiriusXM radio and through NFL Game Pass (NFL.com/gamepass), which is available on NFL.com and the NFL Mobile from Verizon app.

Boomer, Kevin in the booth

Kevin Harlan and former quarterback and NFL MVP Boomer Esiason return to the booth as the lead broadcast crew for Monday Night Football. This marks Harlan’s sixth full season behind the microphone and Esiason’s 16th season as the lead analyst on Monday nights. Two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner will fill-in for Esiason on select Monday Night games during the season. Jim Gray will anchor the pregame and halftime portions of Monday Night Football and the Super Bowl for the 15th straight season. Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Arizona Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald return as contributors and will join Jim in the pregame show each Monday night.

Kevin Kugler will once again be the voice of Sunday Night Football, his third straight year in that role for the network. Hall of Famer James Lofton remains as the color analyst, his seventh season in the booth. For the 8th consecutive season, Ian Eagle will call all the action on Thursday Night Football. Tim Ryan and Tony Boselli will alternate as the analysts for this package of games. Scott Graham returns for the as the pregame/halftime/postgame host of all the remaining games in the primetime package, his seventh consecutive year in that role.

For Sunday afternoon NFL broadcasts, Tom McCarthy returns as play-by-play announcer and will pair with former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker to form one of the regular broadcast tandems. John Sadak and former Steelers quarterback Mark Malone will call the other Sunday afternoon game each week. Kevin Lee will fill-in on play-by-play on select Sunday afternoon games.

In addition to live game coverage, Westwood One Sports also offers the features NFL Insider, NFL today, NFL Preview, and Fantasy Football Forecast.