Netflix Issues Gloomy Outlook

Netflix Inc dashed hopes for a quick rebound after forecasting weak first-quarter subscriber growth on Thursday, sending shares sinking nearly 20% and wiping away most of its remaining pandemic-fueled gains from 2020.

Reuters reports the world's largest streaming service projected it would add 2.5 million customers from January through March, less than half of the 5.9 million analysts had forecast, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Netflix tempered its growth expectations, citing the late arrival of anticipated content, such as the second season of "Bridgerton" and the Ryan Reynolds time-travel movie "The Adam Project."

Shares of Netflix plummeted nearly 20% to $408.13 in after-hours trading. Competitor Walt Disney Co, which has staked its future on building a strong streaming business, saw its shares sink 4%. Streaming device Roku Inc fell 5%.

Netflix added 8.3 million customers from October to December, when it released a heavy lineup of new programming including the star-studded movies "Red Notice" and "Don't Look Up" and a new season of "The Witcher." Industry analysts had projected 8.4 million.

The company's global subscriber total at the end of 2021 reached 221.8 million.

In a letter to shareholders, Netflix said it believed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economic hardships in several parts of the world like Latin America may have kept subscriber growth from rebounding to levels seen before the pandemic.

COVID "created a lot of bumpiness" that made it hard to project subscriber numbers, "but all the fundamentals of the business are pretty solid," Co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos said in a post-earnings video interview.

Netflix last week raised prices in its biggest market, the United States and Canada, where analysts say growth is stagnating, and is now looking for growth overseas.

D/FW Radio: KEGL-FM Host Charged With Producing Child Porn

Clo Rabon

A Dallas-Fort Worth radio DJ was charged with producing child pornography on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced.

The Dallas Morning News reports Clois Glenn Raborn, 49, who occasionally appeared on the afternoon Treehouse and  The Russ Martin Show on iHeartMedia's KEGL 97.1 FM, made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

The investigation started in March when Raborn’s roommate discovered explicit images of children on Raborn’s laptop.

According to the criminal complaint, authorities searched the laptop and found images of who they believe to be Raborn “allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with a young child.”

The child’s mother confirmed her daughter’s identity in the photos and told law enforcement she also recognized Raborn’s hand in some of them, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

The woman estimated that her daughter was 4 to 6 years old when the photos were taken, the office said.

If convicted, Raborn faces up to 30 years in federal prison, it said.

The U.S. Secret Service’s Dallas field office and Euless police conducted the investigation.

Fox News To Debut New Weekend Primetime Lineup

Lawrence Jones, Brian Kilmeade

FOX News Channel (FNC) will debut a new Saturday primetime line-up beginning January 29th with programs hosted by Lawrence Jones and Brian Kilmeade, announced Suzanne Scott, CEO of FOX News Media. 

Jones will host a new one-hour show entitled Lawrence Jones Cross Country airing at 10 PM/ET, while Brian Kilmeade will helm his own program from 8-9 PM/ET and Unfiltered with Dan Bongino will move to 9 PM/ET. The 8 PM/ET hour was formerly hosted by Jesse Watters who was named solo host of the weeknight Jesse Watters Primetime (debuting on Monday January 24th), while the 9 PM/ET Saturday evening timeslot was previously hosted by Jeanine Pirro who was named co-host of The Five.

The promotion renders Jones, 29, the youngest Black solo host of a program in cable news. In addition to this new role, he will continue as the enterprise reporter for the FOX & Friends franchise. Lawrence Jones Cross Country will focus on newsmakers from across the political and cultural spectrum, spotlighting the leading concerns facing Americans nationwide. Jones will frequently travel across the country to showcase a multitude of key topical stories from the issues at the border and crime in cities to the impact of Covid policies, providing an in-depth look at underserved communities.

Kilmeade will remain a co-host of FNC’s unrivaled morning franchise FOX & Friends while also hosting the three-hour daily Brian Kilmeade Show on FOX News Audio and What Made America Great on FOX News Media’s streaming service FOX Nation, which is now in its eighth season with the latest installment of the program dropping on January 26th. His new FNC weekend show will provide perspective and context to the week’s major stories with power players throughout the news landscape and an overall theme of placing country before party.

Jones added, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that Suzanne has provided me over the last four years, encouraging me to travel the country and seek out the stories of everyday Americans, many of whom have been overlooked by the rest of the media. I look forward to delivering insightful, thought-provoking coverage on the key issues that really matter to the heartland of the nation.”

Kilmeade commented, “I am truly honored that Suzanne has given me another incredible opportunity at FOX News Media. My ultimate goal is to create a program that will always seek solutions rather than sow division.”

Since joining the network in 2018, Jones has become known for his signature storytelling and “man-on-the-street” segments focusing on the impact of various issues on local communities, most often in primetime on Sean Hannity’s eponymous top-rated program. He was later named enterprise reporter for the FOX & Friends franchise in May 2021 and has filled in as guest-host for the top-rated cable news morning show on both the weekday and weekend editions. Throughout 2021, Jones also served as a regular host for the nightly FOX News Primetime at 7PM/ET.

Kilmeade joined FNC as a sports reporter in 1997. He was soon named to the FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) role in 1998 which he has been co-hosting alongside Steve Doocy and Ainsley Earhardt. The show quickly climbed to the number one morning program in cable news within three years of his tenure and has remained there for 20 consecutive years. His nationally syndicated 9AM – 12 PM/ET radio program, The Brian Kilmeade Show, is among the most popular offerings on FOX News Audio with over 250 terrestrial radio affiliates nationwide, along with his daily show podcast which just notched its best year ever in unique downloads with 180% year-to-year growth and nearly 2 million unique listeners in 2021. He also guest hosted the weeknight FOX News Primetime throughout 2021.

New NAB President/CEO Unveils His Vision For Lobby Group

New National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt shared his vision and outlook for the organization and the broadcasting industry in a virtual town hall for NAB members today. 

LeGeyt was joined by members of NAB’s policy team for a briefing on legislative and regulatory issues facing broadcasters, as well as an update on the association’s work to support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the industry.

LeGeyt, who assumed his position on January 1, praised broadcasters for their work during challenging times over the past two years and pledged to champion for the tools and resources broadcasters need to continue serving their communities. He said the three areas he is focused on as president and CEO are winning policy fights that ensure a broadcast business that can thrive in today’s media landscape, ensuring that NAB engages in business-oriented initiatives prioritized by the organization’s membership and restoring NAB Show’s preeminent stature as a destination for the entire broadcast community.

Curtis LeGeyt

LeGeyt also spoke about his experience advocating for broadcasting during his 10 years at NAB and the importance of local broadcasters’ grassroots engagement in achieving legislative and regulatory success.

“You have the compelling story to tell about your stations work in their communities. And it is incumbent on all of us to ensure policymakers recognize the importance of our investigative reporting, emergency alerts and philanthropic efforts that local stations provide to their constituents,” said LeGeyt. “We need your help sharing our story with policymakers – tell them about the issues that you care about and the unique role you play in your community.”

Executive Vice President of Government Affairs Shawn Donilon spoke about the organization’s legislative priorities for 2022. Donilon highlighted NAB’s support for the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which would allow broadcasters and other media outlets to better negotiate with Big Tech companies about how their content is shared online. Donilon also touted congressional support for the Local Radio Freedom Act, a resolution opposing a performance royalty on broadcast radio stations that has garnered more than 225 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and Senate. He also provided an update on the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which would provide news media outlets with a tax credit for the hiring and retention of local news journalists, and the Broadcast VOICES Act, legislation that would reestablish a diversity tax certificate program to spur broadcast station ownership by people of color.

Chief Legal Officer and EVP, Legal and Regulatory Affairs Rick Kaplan discussed the work by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the past year on a number of issues without a full complement of commissioners, such as the Emergency Alert System, EEO data collections, foreign-sponsored programming identification and TV white spaces. Kaplan also discussed potential issues at the Commission in 2022, including the FCC’s review of local and national media ownership rules, the regulatory fee regime, accessibility of programming and regulations regarding NEXTGEN TV.

Chief Diversity Officer and President of the NAB Leadership Foundation Michelle Duke provided an update on the organization’s DEI efforts, including a virtual two-part diversity symposium NAB hosted designed to help broadcasters develop corporate DEI strategies. She also discussed upcoming initiatives such as a Broadcast and Community Organization Summit designed to strengthen relationships between broadcasters and community organizations that target diverse and underrepresented populations, as well as the development of resources to attract diverse entry-level candidates to the broadcasting industry and assist broadcasters with their diversity recruitment and retention efforts.

Following the briefing, LeGeyt and NAB staffers answered questions submitted by audience members. Among the topics covered were music licensing and radio’s relationship with performance rights organizations, cannabis advertising and the status of NEXTGEN TV’s rollout.

Steve Jones Named COO/President At Skyview Networks

Skyview Networks announced today that Steve Jones, its COO/President, has been elevated to CEO/President. In his new role as chief executive officer, Jones will lead the sales, content, broadcast distribution and technology company as it continues to build on a successful period of growth and innovation.

Ken Thiele, Founder and CEO, moves to Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board, where he will continue to engage in a high-level advisory role for the company. “Over the last 25 years, Skyview has evolved into a dynamic solutions leader in network audio, and through our enduring growth, we have always maintained a commitment to innovation and quality,” commented Thiele. “I have had the privilege of working alongside Steve both as a client and as a leader within our company—he embodies these characteristics, which are also matched with an unyielding drive for excellence, keen business sense, and distinguished experience. I am privileged to welcome him to the role of CEO.”

Steve Jones

Since joining Skyview Networks in 2019 as COO/President, Jones has diversified and expanded the company’s business portfolio, resulting in a substantial revenue and market share increase.

“I am grateful to Ken for trusting me to steward the company he has built in partnership with longtime EVP, Jeanne-Marie Condo,” said Jones. “During the last three-years, despite pandemic challenges, Skyview Networks has become the fastest growing leader in network audio sales, syndication and distribution. Our unwavering commitment to customer service and proven financial performance have convinced content creators and influencers to join Skyview, while simultaneously providing advertisers effective, efficient and creative campaigns that achieve their marketing goals. At the core of this success is our company culture built on integrity and transparency, resulting in employees committed to one another and to our customers.”

“Steve is the consummate leader with total dedication to our employees, the industry and most of all, the growth of Skyview. He guides each step with intelligent, strategic thinking and is sought after by industry leaders for counsel,” commented Jeanne-Marie Condo, EVP, Skyview Networks. “It has been a privilege for me to partner with Ken and I thank him for this insightful decision. I am excited to continue working alongside Steve taking Skyview to the next level.”

Prior to joining Skyview Networks, Jones established a highly successful executive career at Disney/ABC.

January 21 Radio History

➦In 1919...actress/radio-TV host Jinx (Eugenia) Falkenburg was born in Barcelona Spain. She was a movie actress & popular model before & during World War II , after which she and her husband Tex McCrary were hosts of “Meet Tex and Jinx” a local radio talk show on WEAF, WNBC they conducted from Peacock Alley in New York’s Waldorf Astoria. They also hosted NBC TV’s At Home show, while she was a regular on TV’s charades show Masquerade Party. She died a month after her husband Aug 27, 2003 at age 84.

➦In 1927...the first opera broadcast on a national Radio network occurred. Radio listeners in Chicago, Illinois heard music from Faust.

➦In 1935...WFI-AM in Philadelphia merged with WLIT to become WFIL.

WFIL was formed by a merger of two stations that were launched in 1922. One used the call letters WFI, the other was originally WDAR. Each was owned by a major Philadelphia department store; WFI was operated by Strawbridge and Clothier, while WDAR was run by Lit Brothers.

While operated independently of each other, the two were able to work out amicable share-time agreements (hundreds of other American stations at the time were unable to do so, and frequently engaged in "jamming wars"). Around 1924, WDAR applied for and received the custom call-sign WLIT. By the late 1920s, the two stations were working jointly on various programs, promotions, and sponsorship efforts. In 1935, the two operators agreed to merge with each department store having representation on the new board of directors.

The new call-sign became WFIL, a combination of the two previous identifiers (the fact that the new call letters were close to a phonetic spelling of "Philadelphia" was merely a happy coincidence).

➦In 1938...the legendary deejay known as Wolfman Jack was born Robert Weston Smith in Brooklyn. His unique radio style made him an icon of ’60s radio, broadcasting from XERF, then XERB in Mexico and heard throughout a major part of the U.S.; On TV he was announcer for NBC’s The Midnight Special. He died following a heart attack July 1, 1995 at age 57.

Smith was the younger of two children of Anson Weston Smith, an Episcopal Sunday school teacher, writer, editor, and executive vice president of the Financial World, and his wife Rosamond Small. His parents divorced while he was a child. To help keep him out of trouble, his father bought him a large Trans-Oceanic radio, and Smith became an avid fan of R&B music and the disc jockeys who played it, including "Jocko" Henderson of Philadelphia, New York's "Dr. Jive" (Tommy Smalls), the "Moon Dog" from Cleveland, Alan Freed, and Nashville's "John R." Richbourg, who later became his mentor.

After selling encyclopedias and Fuller brushes door-to-door, Smith attended the National Academy of Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. Graduating in 1960, he began working as "Daddy Jules" at WYOU in Newport News, Virginia. In 1962, he moved to country music station KCIJ 1050 AM in Shreveport, Louisiana as the station manager and morning disc jockey, "Big Smith with the Records". He married Lucy "Lou" Lamb in 1961, and they had two children.

Disc jockey Alan Freed had played a role in the transformation of black rhythm and blues into rock and roll music, and originally called himself the "Moon Dog" after New York City street musician Moondog. Freed both adopted this name and used a recorded howl to give his early broadcasts a unique character. Smith's adaptation of the Moondog theme was to call himself Wolfman Jack and add his own sound effects. The character was based in part on the manner and style of bluesman Howlin' Wolf. It was at KCIJ that he first began to develop his famous alter ego Wolfman Jack.

Wolfman Jack played role of a DJ in 'American Graffiti'

According to author Philip A. Lieberman, Smith's "Wolfman" persona "derived from Smith's love of horror flicks and his shenanigans as a 'wolfman' with his two young nephews. The 'Jack' was added as a part of the 'hipster' lingo of the 1950s.

'The Fat Man'

➦In 1946...“The Fat Man” began its 5-year run on ABC radio. J. Scott Smart, who played the portly detective, weighed in at 270 pounds in real life.

➦In 1978... the soundtrack of “Saturday Night Fever” reached #1 on the album charts — a position it held for the next 24 weeks. It sold over 30 million copies world wide, making it the best selling soundtrack album of all time.

➦In 1984...singer Jackie Wilson died at the age of 49. He had been in a coma since his 1975 heart attack during a concert in New Jersey. His funeral was held in Detroit.

➦In 1997...music industry legend Col. Tom Parker, the immigrant Dutch promoter who guided Elvis Presley to stardom, died in Las Vegas from complications from a stroke. He was 87.

➦In 1996...WYNY 103.5 FM NYC confirmed rumors that they were dropping country.

➦In 1998...WNSR 105.1 FM NYC became WBIX "Big 105"

➦In 2005...College DJ, Dave Plotkin, from Rollins College's WPRK-FM in Winter Park, Florida, set a record for the world's longest continuous broadcast by a single DJ. He stayed on the air for 110 hours.

➦In 2006...after 18 years Bob Kingsley gave up his hosting of the syndicated radio show “American Country Countdown.” He was succeeded by singer Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, who is still doing it.

➦In 2010...WWRL 1600 AM NYC dropped “Air America” progressive talk format.

➦In 2013...WRXP 94.7 FM NYC becomes Country “NashFM”, soon changing call letters to WNSH.

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Opera singer Placido Domingo is 81. 
• Actor Jill Eikenberry is 75. 

• 

  Emma Bunton is 46

  Guitarist Jim Ibbotson (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 75. 
• Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 72. 
• Actor Robby Benson is 66. 
• Actor Geena Davis is 66. 
• Actor Charlotte Ross (“NYPD Blue”) is 54. 
• Singer Marc Gay of Shai is 53. 
• Actor Karina Lombard (“The L Word”) is 53. 
• Actor Ken Leung (“Marvel’s Inhumans,” ″Lost”) is 52. 
• Rapper Levirt of B-Rock and the Bizz is 52. 
• Drummer Mark Trojanowski of Sister Hazel is 52. 
• Singer Cat Power is 50. 
• DJ Chris Kilmore of Incubus is 49. 
• Singer Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) of the Spice Girls is 46. 
• Actor Jerry Trainor (“Wendell & Vinnie,” ″iCarly”) is 45. 
• Singer Nokio of Dru Hill is 43. 
• Actor Izabella Miko (“Coyote Ugly”) is 41. 
• Actor Luke Grimes (TV’s “Yellowstone,” film’s “Fifty Shades of Grey”) is 38. 
• Actor Feliz Ramirez (TV’s “Grand Hotel”) is 30.

WVA TV: Reporter Stays Live As She's Hit By Car

A reporter and Philadelphia area native went viral when she was hit by a car on live television on her last week on the job.

The Philly Inquirer reports Tori Yorgey, a breaking news reporter for WSAZ TV in West Virginia, was reporting from the scene of inclement weather in Dunbar, West Virginia Wednesday when she was abruptly hit by a car, knocking Yorgey out of view for a second. She quickly recovered, reassuring the on-air anchor that she was fine, sounding shaken but marching forward with reporting the news.

“I just got hit by car, but I’m OK,” Yorgey can be heard saying. “I just got hit by a car, but I’m OK, Tim.”

“We’re all good. I’m OK. That’s live TV for you.”

The driver of the car that hit Yorgey is heard stopping to check on her, with Yorgey telling the driver she was not hurt. Yorgey went to a local hospital to check herself out and is doing fine.

"We're good, Tim." pic.twitter.com/9kn2YElDLK

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 20, 2022

The viral clip of Yorgey’s hit was filmed in her last week on the job at WSAZ, as she’s set to start as a reporter for WTAE-TV, in Pittsburgh. According to a profile in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Yorgey was born and raised outside of Philadelphia and graduated from Penn State University.

Yorgey turned down several job offers in other parts of the country to take her new gig at Pittsburgh, bringing her back to her to her native Pennsylvania. Her first day is Feb. 1.

TV Ratings: Viewers Surged During Cold Weather Weekend

An average of 30.5 million people watched the NFL’s wild card games on television and digitally over the weekend, which the league said was up 21% over the same games in 2021, reports The Associated Presss.

One game alone..Georgia’s victory over Alabama for the NCAA football championship last week reached 22.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. That allowed the NCAA to rebound from the lackluster ratings of the New Year’s Eve semifinals, which featured two non-competitive games.

TV ratings for the NFL’s wild-card round increased 21% over last year despite most of the games not being in doubt going into the fourth quarter.

The six games averaged 30.5 million viewers, making it the second-highest average for the postseason’s opening weekend over the past six seasons, according to The AP.

CBS and Nickelodeon’s broadcast of San Francisco’s 23-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys led the weekend, averaging 41.5 million viewers. The audience peaked at 50.2 million for the conclusion. It is the most-viewed game this season, surpassing the 40.8 million for the Thanksgiving Day game between the Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders.

It is also the second-most watched wild-card game over the past eight seasons, with Detroit-Dallas in January 2015 (42.3 million) being the only game to outdraw it.

The Nickelodeon-only audience was 1.33 million, which was down 35% from last year’s 2.06 million. More viewers were likely to stick with the traditional CBS broadcast because of the game going down to the final play.

Boosted by their wild card games, CBS averaged 10 million viewers and NBC had 6.8 million in prime time last week. ABC averaged 2.7 million, Fox had 1.7 million, Univision had 1.6 million, Ion Television had 1 million and Telemundo had 900,000.

📺The Top 20 Prime-Time TV Shows (Total Viewers):

1. NFL Wild Card: Pittsburgh at Kansas City, NBC, 28.94 million.

2. NFL Wild Card: New England at Buffalo, CBS, 26.37.

3. “Wild Card Post Game” (Sunday), CBS, 25.5 million.

4. NCAA Football Championship: Georgia vs. Alabama, ESPN, 22.26 million.

5. “Wild Card Pre Game” (Sunday), NBC, 19.64 million.

6. “NCAA Championship Post Game,” ESPN, 18.37 million.

7. “NCAA Championship Pre Game,” ESPN, 13.78 million.

8. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 11.29 million.

9. “FBI,” CBS, 8.45 million.

10. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 7.7 million.

11. “Chicago Fire,” NBC, 7.41 million.

12. “Chicago Med,” NBC, 7.33 million.

13. “Ghosts,” CBS, 6.48 million.

14. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 6.44 million.

15. “FBI: International,” CBS, 6.29 million.

16. “Chicago PD,” NBC, 5.81 million.

17. “Magnum, P.I., CBS, 5.77 million.

18. “FBI: Most Wanted,” CBS, 5.56 million.

19. “United States of Al,” CBS, 5.48 million.

20. “911: Lone Star,” Fox, 5.03 million.

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir finished the week of Jan. 10, 2022 as the No. 1 evening newscast, both in total viewers (9.03 million) and among adults 25-54 (1.73 million). TVNewser reports the newscast’s 9.03 million average makes it the second-most-watched TV show of the week, excluding sports, specials and syndication. Additionally, ABC’s evening newscast has now defeated its competition from NBC and CBS 162 of the past 163 weeks in average total viewers—and 92 of the last 94 weeks among adults 25-54.

Late Night TV

Cable TV

According to TVNewser citing live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, Fox News Channel averaged 1.45 million total viewers in total day during the week of Jan. 10, 2022, making it the most-watched network on basic cable in the Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-6 a.m. time period. FNC also averaged 232,000 adults 25-54 in total day this past week, placing it at No. 2 on basic cable in the daypart behind ESPN (480,000).

FNC averaged 2.29 million total viewers in primetime, good enough for No. 2 on basic cable behind ESPN (3.85 million average total viewers), but -1% from the previous week. The network also ranked No. 2 behind ESPN among the A25-54 demo this past week, averaging 346,000 viewers, a loss of -5% from the previous week.

Despite the decline in primetime, Fox News averaged more total viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined for the 22nd consecutive week.

Graphics courtesy of RoadMN (used w/permission)

On the programming front, The Five, which was the most-watched show on cable news in Q4 of last year, was the most-watched show on cable news yet again, averaging nearly 3.5 million total viewers in the 5 p.m. hour. Tucker Carlson Tonight averaged the most adults 25-54 on cable news last week, delivering 544,000 on average at 8 p.m.

Tucker Carlson Tonight was the second-most-watched cable news show of the week (3.43 million), followed by Hannity (2.9 million), Special Report with Bret Baier (2.5 million) and The Ingraham Angle (2.42 million) rounding the top five in average total viewers.

NBC Hosts Will Not Attend Winter Olympics

As the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games approach and COVID-19 concerns mount, NBC Sports will not send any of its announcing teams to China, a spokesperson told USAToday Sports Wednesday afternoon. 

“The announce teams for these Olympics, including figure skating, will be calling events from our Stamford (Conn.) facility due to COVID concerns,” Greg Hughes, senior vice president communications, NBC Sports, said in a phone interview. 

"We’ll still have a large presence on the ground in Beijing and our coverage of everything will be first rate as usual, but our plans are evolving by the day as they are for most media companies covering the Olympics.”

The network’s Olympic host, Mike Tirico, will still be in China for the Feb. 4 opening ceremony and the first few days of the Games, but will then leave for Los Angeles to host the Feb. 13 Super Bowl, which also is on NBC this year. 

Many of the announce teams for the various Winter Olympic sports were already scheduled to be based in Stamford. NBC employed a similar strategy for its coverage of the Tokyo Summer Olympics in July-August 2021, although some of the broadcasting crews were on site for the most popular sports. 

That of course was well before the omicron variant began raging around the world, creating increasing concerns that anyone traveling to Beijing, from the athletes of the world to accredited members of the media, could test positive while at the Games and have to spend days and even weeks in quarantine. 

“The Beijing model is going to be very similar to Tokyo in that the heartbeat of our Olympic operation will actually be in Stamford, Conn., at our NBC Sports headquarters. We’ll have more personnel there than in the host city,” said Molly Solomon, president and executive producer, NBC Olympics Production.

Justices Deny NPR Mask Report

NY Post graphic 1/20/22

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement Wednesday denying a National Public Radio report that claimed he had asked his colleagues to wear masks on the bench in deference to fellow Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The statement by Roberts constituted a rare rebuke of reporting by veteran NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg, whose Tuesday story stated that Justice Neil Gorsuch’s refusal of Roberts’ purported request had forced Sotomayor to take part in oral arguments remotely.

“I did not request Justice Gorsuch or any other Justice to wear a mask on the bench,” said Roberts in the statement issued by the court’s press office.

According to Totenberg’s story, Sotomayor — who is diabetic — “did not feel safe in close proximity to people who were unmasked” amid the surge in infections caused by the Omicron variant.

“Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us,” the statement read. “It is false. While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends​.”

Totenberg went on to describe Gorsuch, who was nominated to the high court by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2017, as a “prickly justice, not exactly beloved even by his conservative soulmates on the court.”

NPR said Wednesday that it “stands by” Totenberg’s initial story.

Fox News anchor and chief legal correspondent Shannon Bream challenged the NPR report Tuesday on “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

“I am told that is not accurate,” Bream said. “A source at the Supreme Court says there have been no blanket admonition or request from Chief Justice Roberts that the other justices begin wearing masks to arguments.

“The source further stated Justice Sotomayor did not make any such request to Justice Gorsuch,” she added. “I’m told, given that fact, there was also no refusal by Justice Gorsuch​.”

Bream noted that all nine justices have been vaccinated and boosted, and are subject to regular COVID-19 testing.

Sotomayor was criticized earlier this month for making a series of incorrect claims during arguments challenging the Biden administration’s vaccinate-or-test rule for large companies. At one point, the Bronx-born jurist wrongly stated that “Omicron is as deadly as Delta,” as well as that “100,000 children” were in “serious condition” due to COVID-19.

Insights: 3 Ways Radio Makes Facebook Ads Better

For many advertisers, social media is a great way to stay in front of customers and create impact. But how can it be used to grow business? This week’s CUMULUS MEDIA | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog post outlines 3 ways AM/FM radio makes Facebook ads better.

• Facebook is losing its youngest audience and growing with older 55+ audiences: While a large platform, Facebook’s audience has seen a -9% erosion, according to Edison’s “Infinite Dial” study.
• Facebook’s persons 12-34 audience is down -28% while its 55+ audience is up +16%.
• Grow reach: Add AM/FM radio to social media campaigns: Nielsen Scarborough reports that AM/FM radio’s audience trumps all social media platforms. +56% more people listen to AM/FM radio than use Facebook.
• AM/FM radio ads stand out more: The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) conducted a study on content engagement and concentration. Americans were asked to indicate how much they concentrated when exposed to various forms of media. Social media had the lowest level of consumer concentration, meaning social media ads suffer from low attentiveness as well.
• Ads in social media struggle given low consumer value perceptions and weak levels of engagement and concentration.
• AM/FM radio offers more frequency compared to social media: Nielsen’s latest Q2 2021 Total Audience Report reveals AM/FM radio’s average daily time spent (1 hour and 22 minutes) is double that of social media (40 minutes).

Boston Radio: Ken Laird Named OM At Audacy's WEEI-FM

On the job since August 2021, Jeff Richard is out as program director at Audacuy's sports WEEI 93.7 FM.  In his place the station has promoted Ken Laird to the position of Operations Manager.

The change was first reported by columnist Chadd Finn at Boston.com:

Jeff Rickard’s time as WEEI program director didn’t last long. Per Audacy memo, he’s headed back to Indy. pic.twitter.com/brjvDPE6Xv

— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) January 19, 2022

Jeff Rickard

Richard joined WEEI-FM last August arriving from Emmis' WFNI-in Indianapolis. Richard started with Emmis as a part-time host and programming advisor before being tapped to take over programming duties full time in August of 2018. Rickard began hosting the Fan Morning Show in May of 2019.

Prior to joining WFNI, Rickard has hosted shows regularly on a number of Sirius XM’s sports channels, including NFL Radio, ESPNU, MLB Network Radio, Mad Dog Sports Radio and Fantasy Sports radio. 

Rickard’s first major programming job came in Salt Lake City where he led KKFN to consistent ratings and revenue success.

Personal announcement: I have accepted a new title of Operations Manager of @WEEI working under the great @mikethomasmt8. I will unfortunately be stepping away from an everyday role on @TheGregHillShow, but we will begin an exciting search for my replacement immediately!

— Ken Laird (@KenLairdWEEI) January 19, 2022

Ken Laird

Laird has been Assistant Brand Manager since Rickard's arrival at WEEI-FM.  

Laird broke into radio as an intern at WEEI in 2001. After graduating, Laird moved to Pittsburgh and climbed the ladder at ESPN Radio 1250, eventually hosting a nightly talk show while covering the Steelers and Penguins. Also served as ESPN’s national Steelers correspondent during this time. 

In 2011, Laird joined the Pittsburgh Tribune Review as a reporter and daily web-radio host on TribLIVE Radio. 

He then re-joined WEEI, holding various producer and contributor roles before eventually becoming morning drive executive producer and update anchor.

Wake-Up Call: Voting Rights Efforts Fails In Senate

Daily Mail graphic 1/20/22

The expected failure of voting rights legislation being pushed by Democrats took place in the Senate last night, with Republicans united in opposition and Democrats falling short of the votes to change the filibuster rules to allow it to pass without having to overcome a GOP filibuster. As they had said they would, moderate Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema voted against changing the filibuster rules for the voting legislation -- which they say they support -- and the attempt failed on a 48-52. After the votes, which came following a day of emotional floor debate and speeches, President Biden said in a statement, "I am profoundly disappointed." But he stated he'd, quote, "explore every measure and use every tool at our disposal to stand up for democracy." Among its provisions, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act would make Election Day a national holiday, ensure access to early and mail-in voting, and allow the Justice Department to intervene in states with a history of voter interference. Voting rights activists say changes in voting laws that have been passed in Republican-led states since the 2020 election will make it harder for Black voters and others to cast their ballot. But Republicans have cast the legislation as an attempted federal takeover of state election systems.

"I don't think I've overpromised at all": Biden says many Americans "don't know a lot of the detail" of big legislation passed in his first year, and Democrats must be clearer in what they stand for

"Think about this — what are Republicans for?...Name me one thing they are for" pic.twitter.com/l9MosuWasI

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 19, 2022

➤BIDEN THINKS RUSSIA WILL INVADE UKRAINE, WARNS PUTIN OF CONSEQUENCES: President Biden said yesterday that he thinks Russia will invade Ukraine, saying, "my guess is he will move in," and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of the consequences if that happens, saying his country will pay a, quote, "dear price" in lives lost and possibly being cut off from the global banking system. Speaking during a marathon news conference marking his first year in office, Biden also said a, quote, "minor incursion" -- which he later clarified to mean a non-military action, such as a cyberattack -- would draw a lesser response that would be a similar reciprocal one. While explaining the "minor incursion" remark, Biden referred to our NATO allies, saying, "it’s very important that we keep everyone in NATO on the same page." Tensions are high as Russia has massed some 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine. After talks last week failed to ease tensions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Ukraine yesterday, will be in Germany today for talks with allies, and will meet Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Switzerland.

Daily Mail graphic 1/20/22

 
During the nearly two-hour press conference, Biden addressed other issues include the pandemic and inflation, which he promised to take further action to tackle, voting rights, nuclear talks with Iran, trade with China, and his Build Back Better legislation, which has stalled in the Senate. Biden said he'd likely have to break up the sweeping legislation into "big chunks" and try to get them passed that way.

“Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes. But we’re doing more now," Pres. Biden says during remarks before rare solo press conference marking one year in office. https://t.co/LyA5TyT4TQ pic.twitter.com/mqytc6OpYG

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 19, 2022

➤SUPREME COURT PERMITS RELEASE OF TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS TO JAN. 6 COMMITTEE: The Supreme Court yesterday allowed the release of Trump administration presidential documents to the House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. With the 8-1 vote, the high court rejected an attempt by former President Donald Trump to keep the documents from the committee until his claims of executive privilege over them is resolved by the courts. Only Justice Clarence Thomas was in opposition. The documents, which are held by the National Archives and Records Administration, include presidential diaries, visitor logs, speech drafts, and handwritten notes related to January 6th from former chief of staff Mark Meadows' files. The committee began to receive the records after the ruling.

🛫SOME FLIGHTS CANCELED BY AIRLINES AFTER 5G ROLLOUT: Some flights to and from the U.S. were canceled by airlines yesterday due to the 5G high-speed wireless service rollout, even after AT&T and Verizon scaled back the rollout due to concerns by airlines that it could interfere with altimeters on planes, which measure their altitude. Following warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration and airplane maker Boeing, international airlines that rely on Boeing planes canceled flights or switched to different planes. Airlines that rely most on Airbus jets seemed to be less affected by the new 5G, according to the Associated Press. Airlines had canceled more than 320 flights by yesterday evening, according to FlightAware, a little over two percent of the total in the U.S. AT&T and Verizon agreed to a reduced 5G rollout near more than 80 U.S. airports while a longer-term solution is reached.

➤TWO MARINES KILLED IN NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY VEHICLE ROLLOVER: Two U.S. Marines were killed and 17 others injured, two of them critically, yesterday when their large military vehicle rolled over near North Carolina's Camp Lejeune. The driver of the seven-ton tactical vehicle was going too fast while trying to make a turn, causing the rollover. Seventeen Marines in the back of the vehicle were ejected, and another military vehicle that was behind them was unable to stop and hit one of them. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said that the 19-year-old driver of the tactical vehicle, Louis Barrera, had been charged with one count of exceeding a safe speed and two misdemeanor counts of death by motor vehicle.

Cardi B has offered to pay for the funeral and burial costs of those killed in the apartment building blaze in the Bronx earlier this month. https://t.co/4Ag8aG988W

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 19, 2022

➤FBI CARRIES OUT SEARCH OF REP. CUELLAR'S TEXAS HOME: The FBI carried out what it said was a "court-authorized" search of the Laredo home of Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat, Wednesday evening, saying it was part of an "ongoing investigation." They didn't provide further information. CNN cited a Cuellar spokesperson as saying the congressman, quote, "will fully cooperate in any investigation," adding, "He is committed to ensuring that justice and the law are upheld." Valerie Gonzales of The Monitor newspaper tweeted that, quote, "by around 7:30 p.m., a group of agents loaded large bags, plastic bins, and a computer into a federal vehicle."

☕NEW REVIEW SUGGESTS COFFEE CONSUMPTION CAN STIMULATE DIGESTION:  Coffee can aid in digestion, suggests a new study. Researchers reviewed over 100 studies, and determined that coffee has a stimulating effect on some digestive processes, and a possible protective effect against common digestive complaints such as gallstones. They also found some evidence of coffee consumption reducing one’s risk of pancreatitis, but say more research would be needed on that. Specifically, they found coffee is associated gastric, biliary, and pancreatic secretions, all necessary for the digestion of food; coffee appears to be associated with positive changes in the composition of gut microbes; and coffee is associated with stimulation of the colon—and can be linked to a deceased risk of chronic constipation. The scientists also note the latest findings also suggest that coffee may protect against liver diseases, including one of the most common types of liver cancer.

 
💰SURVEY..LESS THAN HALF OF AMERICANS HAVE $1,000 TO COVER UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY:  If you have an unexpected emergency that required $1,000 to handle, would have the money to do it? A new survey from personal finance company Bankrate found that less than half of Americans could, with only 44 percent saying they had enough saved to cover a $1,000 emergency. At the same time, that's the highest percentage who would be able to cover such an emergency expense in the last eight years of polling. For those who couldn't come up with $1,000 from their savings, 20 percent said they'd charge it to a credit card, 10 percent said they' borrow from family or friends, and another four percent said they'd take out a personal loan. Age didn't play a factor, with the survey finding only a small difference between generations in being able to cover a $1,000 emergency cost, but there was a difference in education levels, with 59 percent of college graduates saying they'd be able to use savings to cover the expense, compared to 40 percent of those who only attended some college and 34 percent of those with just a high school diploma. Despite those who could cover the expense with savings being at an eight-year high, respondents cited inflation as a factor, with 49 percent of adults saying they were saving less due to inflation.

🧒STUDENTS WITH ATTENTION PROBLEMS MORE LIKELY TO CHEAT:  Kids who have issues paying attention in class are more likely to admit to cheating. Ohio State University researchers found that inattention led to hyperactivity in students, and both together contributed to higher levels of cheating. The issue is important because many students with attention problems don’t get an official diagnosis. Study leader Eric Anderman explains, “Students diagnosed with ADHD get a lot of support and help in school, but many other kids with attention problems fall through the cracks. They don’t get the help they need that could help them do better in school and avoid cheating.” Ultimately, inattention was found to be the main driver of problems in the classroom. About seven-to-nine percent of kids ages 17 and younger have ADHD, but studies suggest that up to three times as many have problems with attention or hyperactivity. Anderman adds, “There are so many evidence-based programs that can help these students who have problems with attention learn to self-regulate, to learn how to be a learner. If they had access to these programs, they could learn in class and they wouldn’t have to cheat.”

🏀EMBIID TIES CAREER HIGH WITH 50 POINTS IN 27 MINUTES: Philadelphia center Joel Embiid tied his career high with 50 points in the 76ers' 123-110 win over the Orlando Magic last night, scoring them in just 27 minutes. The MVP candidate also had 12 rebounds, and according to Elias Sports Bureau, he had at least 50 points and 10 rebounds in the fewest minutes of any NBA player since 1955.

🎾THIRD SEED MUGURUZA UPSET IN SECOND ROUND AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Third-seeded woman Garbine Muguruza of Spain was upset in the second round at the Australian Open yesterday, falling to 61st-ranked Alize Cornet in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Also eliminated was sixth-seeded Anett Kontaveit, while Number 2 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round, but needed three sets to hold off 100th-ranked Wang Xinyu. On the men's side, 13th-seeded Diego Schwartzman was upset by wild-card entry Chris O'Connell, while Number 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas and Number 5 Andrey Rublev were among those who advanced to the third round.

🏈NFL ASKS COURT TO DISMISS GRUDEN LAWSUIT: The NFL has filed a motion asking a Nevada court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. The NFL said Gruden's accusations that the league leaked his offensive emails from several years ago are "baseless." Gruden resigned from the Raiders last October after the emails that included racist, misogynist and homophobic language surfaced. He accused NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell of carrying out a, quote, "malicious and orchestrated campaign" to destroy his career. The NFL denied leaking the emails, which were sent to former Washington Football Team executive Bruce Allen and others from 2011 to 2018 when Gruden was an ESPN announcer. They came from 650,000 emails obtained by the NFL during an investigation into the workplace culture at Washington.

 

Caitlyn Jenner: Lia Thomas shows NCAA needs to 'protect women's sports' https://t.co/9fkeisyS6p pic.twitter.com/HnVpzIJsAq

— New York Post (@nypost) January 20, 2022

➤NCAA INSTITUTING SPORT-BY-SPORT APPROACH FOR TRANS ATHLETES: The NCAA's Board of Governors yesterday (January 19th) approved a new sport-by-sport approach for transgender athletes, effective immediately, under which their participation in each sport will be determined by the policy for the sport's national governing body. By doing this, the NCAA will be following for college athletes the latest guidelines for the U.S. and International Olympic Committees. The previous policy was uniform across all sports and was based on hormone therapy requirements.

➤UNIV. OF MICHIGAN REACHES $490 MILLION SETTLEMENT OVER SEXUAL ABUSE BY SPORTS DOCTOR: The University of Michigan announced Wednesday that it had reached a $490 million settlement with more than 1,000 people, most of them men, who said they were sexually assaulted by Dr. Robert Anderson during the sports doctor's nearly four decades at the school. The accusers say they were abused during routine medical exams by Anderson, who died in 2008. Anderson, who worked at the university from 1966 until he retired in 2003, was the director of the university's Health Service and physician for several athletic teams. A report conducted by an outside firm hired by the school found that staff had missed many opportunities to stop Anderson.

Fresh footage shows the devastation caused by a volcanic eruption and tsunami in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga https://t.co/kvrcgftDFy pic.twitter.com/ZZXwQ23hRI

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 20, 2022

 

iHM Personality Endorsements Cited in Texas A-G Lawsuit

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday, Jan. 19 sued Google, alleging the company asked local radio DJs to record personal endorsements for smartphones that they hadn’t used or been provided, according to CBS/DFW.

In the lawsuit filed in Montgomery County, Paxton said Google engaged in false and misleading practices in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices—Consumer Protection Act.

The lawsuit says Google hired iHeartMedia in October 2019 to have its radio personalities — including those in markets in the Dallas and Houston areas — record advertisements for the Pixel 4, a Google-brand smartphone.

But at the time the advertisements were recorded, the lawsuit says, the phone wasn’t released yet and none of the DJs had used them.

The suit says that even though iHeartMedia “expressed to Google the violative nature of the advertisements” if the DJs had not used them, Google did not provide phone samples.

Google spokesman José Castañeda said Wednesday that they take compliance with advertising laws seriously and have policies in place to help ensure they follow regulations.

Country Consultants Unveil Additions To Pre-CRS Seminar

• Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Present Their 28th Annual Pre-CRS Seminar
• Co-Sponsored with Big Machine Label Group's BMLG Records

Mike O’Malley, Becky Brenner, and Kenny Jay have announced additions to their  28th annual Pre-CRS seminar, Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at Nashville’s Omni Hotel from 8:30-11:30 am.

Excited to be back in person, the first announced addition to the program is Futuri’s Daniel Anstandig “The Next Generation of the Connected Country Listeners”

What does your brand need to do to attract and engage the next generation of country listeners? Based on research conducted by Futuri, SmithGeiger, and Nielsen, Anstandig will provide insight into the changing media consumption habits and behaviors of country audiences.

During this fast-paced 22-minute session, you’ll learn about 11 important takeaways that will help you to point your country brand towards a brighter future! You will want your management team to see this session.

Daniel Anstandig is the CEO and Founder of Futuri, the innovative company behind content, audience, and revenue growth software for media companies. A future-minded, driven, and passionate leader in the evolution of media and emerging technology, Anstandig and the Futuri team are focused on developing the next generation of media brands, through partnerships with broadcasters that are all about speed, passion, proactivity, and trust.

Consulting Partner Becky Brenner adds, “Daniel’s takeaways are always smart, actionable, and produce immediate successful results for clients. We are thrilled to have him on the agenda.”

Guests will also enjoy a performance from BMLG Nashville newcomer Laci Kaye Booth.

Follow along with more of Laci’s journey via Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

The A&O&B team will also present the first highlights from their 16th annual online perceptual study, “Roadmap 2022.” Data analysis from thousands of Country P1's from across the U.S and Canada will focus on the state of country music and country radio; along with social media & technology.

The A&O&B Pre-CRS Seminar is free, open to all clients and music industry professionals, as well as to broadcasters in non-competitive situations. You can RSVP to Becky Brenner becky@aandoandb.com or Kenny Jay kenny@aandoandb.com.

Register for CRS 2022 here