Radio History: Nov 8

➦In 1939...WQXR-FM NYC signed-on as W2XQR.

WQXR-FM is the outgrowth of a "high-fidelity" AM station, WQXR 1560 AM, which was founded in 1936 by John V. L. Hogan and Elliott Sanger. Hogan began this station as a mechanical television station, W2XR, which went on the air on March 26, 1929.

One of the station's listeners was the inventor of frequency modulation, Edwin Howard Armstrong. When Armstrong put his experimental FM station, W2XMN, on the air, he arranged to rebroadcast some of WQXR's programming. This ended in 1939, when Hogan and Sanger put their own experimental FM station on the air, W2XQR on this date, just down the dial from Armstrong at 42.3 MHz.

When the Federal Communications Commission began licensing commercial FM stations, W2XQR moved to 45.9 MHz and became W59NY; the special FM call signs were later dropped and the station became WQXQ.

➦In 1953...Buddy Holly and Bob Montgomery (billed as “Buddy & Bob”) appeared on radio station KDAV in their hometown of Lubbock, Texas, in the first of a series of Sunday country music shows.

➦In 2012....WXRK NYC changed call letters to WNOW-FM. The calls today are WINS-FM. The station is owned by Audacy Communications and airs an All-News format via a simulcast with 1010WINS-AM. (An Alternative music format airs on HD-2)

The station, first known as WMCA-FM, went on the air on December 25, 1948. It was co-owned with WMCA 570 AM by former New York state senator Nathan Straus. FM radio was not a successful venture for Straus, and he sought to either sell it or close the station down altogether.

WNYL logo

In late 1950, Straus sold the station to the owners of WHOM 1480 AM, now WZRC, and WHOM-FM appeared on February 26, 1951, featuring a variety of formats, including ethnic, background music, classical, Spanish, and easy listening. By the early 1970s, WHOM-FM had a Spanish-language easy listening format.

Following the sale of the WHOM stations to SJR Communications, the FM station became WKTU, taking on an adult contemporary format that began on June 5, 1975. At that point, WKTU was positioned as a "soft rock" station and called "Mellow 92". Ratings were relatively low. The station held on to the format in spite of low ratings until 1978.

iHM Is Betting The Farm On Technology

iHeartMedia, Inc. today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Debt Exchange Transactions and Cost Efficiency Actions

• The company entered into a transaction support agreement with a group of debt holders representing approximately 80% of the Company’s outstanding term loan and notes to exchange $4.1 billion of existing debt; extend maturities by three years; keep consolidated annual cash interest essentially flat; and provide debt reduction
• Announced cost programs expected to generate $150 million of annual cost savings in 2025. In addition, programs enacted earlier this year will generate another $50 million in 2025, for a total of $200 million of year over year savings in 2025. Offset by $50 million of cost increases for 2025, for a net benefit of $150 million

Q3 2024 Consolidated Results

• Q3 Revenue of $1,008 million, up 5.8%; within guidance of up mid-single digits
• Excluding Q3 Political Revenue, Q3 Revenue up 2.0%
• GAAP Operating income of $77 million vs. $69 million in Q3 2023
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $205 million, within previously disclosed guidance range of $200 million to $220 million, compared to $204 million in Q3 2023
• Cash provided by operating activities of $103 million
• Free Cash Flow of $73 million
• Cash balance and total available liquidity 2 of $432 million and $858 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2024

Q3 2024 Digital Audio Group Results

• Digital Audio Group Revenue of $301 million up 13%Podcast Revenue of $114 million up 11%
• Digital Revenue excluding Podcast of $187 million up 14%
• Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $100 million up 7%Digital Audio Group Adjusted EBITDA margin of 33.2%

Q3 2024 Multiplatform Group Results

• Multiplatform Group Revenue of $620 million down 1%Excluding Multiplatform Group Q3 Political Revenue, Multiplatform Group Q3 Revenue down 3%
• Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $130 million down 20%Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.0%

“We’re pleased to report that our third quarter results were in line with our previously provided Adjusted EBITDA and Revenue guidance ranges,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. 

Bob Pittman

“We continue to see evidence that this is a recovery year for advertising revenues, and the strong momentum in our podcast business, our digital ex-podcast business, and the sequential improvement of our Multiplatform Group’s year over year revenue performance reflect the power of our unparalleled reach, consumer relationships and range of assets.” 

Pittman continued, “Technology is the key to increasing our operating leverage because it allows us to speed up processes, streamline legacy systems, and enables us to take another significant step in our modernization journey. We have flattened our organization, eliminated redundancies and broken down silos, which will have a major impact on costs, expected to generate $200 million of annual savings in 2025 compared to 2024, and benefiting full year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA by $150 million on a year over year basis.”

 iHeartMedia has acknowleged recent lay-offs during the past week are designed to make significant moves to streamline their operations and manage costs. The restructuring and staff cuts are part of a broader cost-saving initiative aimed at generating $150 million in annual savings by 2025. Additionally, they expect another $50 million in savings from earlier cost reductions, although these will be offset by $50 million in cost increases for the same year.

BFOA Launches Annual Year-End Giving Campaign

The Broadcasters Foundation of America has launched its annual Year-End Giving Campaign, which seeks to raise donations from tax-deductible personal contributions to the Guardian Fund and corporate contributions to the Angel Initiative. The Broadcasters Foundation, a 501c3 charity, is the only charity devoted exclusively to helping colleagues who are in dire need of monthly or emergency financial assistance due to life-altering illness or a disaster.

“We are devoted exclusively to providing aid to colleagues in broadcasting who are suffering from extreme illness, or hardship from a devastating disaster,” stated Tim McCarthy, President of the Broadcasters Foundation. “We also take care of colleagues who have retired. Grants are supported solely by contributions from individuals and companies within our industry and offer a ‘hand-up’ to our colleagues during trying times. We’re asking everyone in broadcasting to please consider including the Broadcasters Foundation in your 2024 charitable giving.”

Over the past 20 years, the Broadcasters Foundation has distributed over $15 million in aid to colleagues nationwide, across all states and territories, who need it most.

“Requests for aid continue to grow exponentially as more of our peers and their families are affected by severe illness or disasters, such as the recent flurry of destructive hurricanes,” explained Scott Herman, Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation. “Whether it’s a monthly grant or one-time aid in response to an emergency, the Broadcasters Foundation is often a refuge and beacon of hope for colleagues whose lives have been upended by unforeseen and tragic circumstances. Please consider a donation. Donations go directly to helping our colleagues who are in desperate need.”

For more information about the Broadcasters Foundation, including how to apply for aid or make a donation, visit www.broadcastersfoundation.org, or contact 212-373-8250 or info@thebfoa.org.

Warner Bros. Discovery Adds 7.2M Max Subscribers

 

Warner Bros. Discovery said Thursday its streaming platform Max added 7.2 million global subscribers in the third quarter.

CNBC reports it marked the biggest quarterly growth for the streaming platform since its inception. Max now has 110.5 million subscribers as of Sept. 30. Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streaming service has been growing its subscriber base at a fast clip this year since expanding internationally during the first half.

The streaming business has become a bright spot for Warner Bros. Discovery as its traditional TV networks have been pressured by cord cutting and a soft advertising market. Last quarter, Warner Bros. Discovery reported a $9.1 billion write down on its TV networks.

On Thursday, Warner Bros. Discovery reported third-quarter results that showed revenue decreased 4% to $9.62 billion compared to the same period last year. Total adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization were down 19% to $2.41 billion.

TV networks revenue rose 3% to $5.01 billion compared to last year, despite declines in both distribution and advertising revenue for the segment. Studios segment revenue dropped 17% to $2.68 billion, with theatrical revenue falling 40%, excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange, due to the lower box office performances of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Twisters” compared to that of “Barbie” last year.

However, the streaming business’s revenue increased 8% to $2.63 billion, driven by an increase in global subscribers, higher advertising revenue and global average revenue per user. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $289 million, an increase of $178 million compared to last year.

In October, streaming giant Netflix reported 5.1 million subscribers additions during the quarter, propelled by its ad-supported plan and beating Wall Street expectations. In total, Netflix now has 282.7 million memberships.

However, beginning in 2025, Netflix will no longer update investors on its subscribers numbers as it shifts focus toward revenue and other financial metrics as performance indicators.

News Outlets Could Benefit From Another Trump Bump

When Donald J. Trump pulled off a surprise victory against Hillary Clinton in 2016, the news media was a major beneficiary, as viewers stayed glued to cable news and readers signed up for newspaper subscriptions in droves.

Eight years later, Mr. Trump’s definitive White House victory could lead to another spike of audience interest in the news — at least in the short term — numerous experts said.

The NYTimes reports cable news ratings, subscriptions to digital news organizations and philanthropic giving will probably increase, as audiences sort through a news-intensive post-election period. But that enthusiasm could wear off in the coming weeks and months as viewers become exhausted by the relentless news cycle.

“Trump 2.0 will likely be a very different administration than we saw before,” said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and a former Washington bureau chief of CNN. “That will carry immense consequences and news value. It will energize right-wing media, and it will panic the left.”

The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers saw a sudden influx of subscriptions in 2016 as readers puzzled through the consequences of Mr. Trump’s initial victory. Those news organizations capitalized on that surge with ad campaigns embracing new readers and, in the case of The Washington Post, adopting a slogan that underscored a commitment to aggressive reporting: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

David Clinch, a revenue consultant for Media Growth Partners, a media advisory firm, said that he thought news organizations would see another uptick in customers, but that it would be more muted than in the first Trump administration, because some readers have become fed up with or exhausted by mainstream news coverage.

Clinch said he expected news organizations to begin fine-tuning marketing campaigns to reach specific readers who might have heightened interest in the news after the election.

Big Trump Bet Pays Off For Elon Musk

Elon Musk spent more than $100 million to send Donald Trump back to the White House. Now that he has won, the billionaire industrialist and top executive of Tesla and SpaceX could reap enormous financial rewards—potentially presenting an unprecedented conflict of interest at the highest levels of government. 

The Wall Street Journal reports billions of dollars in revenue for Musk’s companies hang on government decisions: which rocket to use for a space launch, how many satellites to allow in low-Earth-orbit, whether to permit driverless cars on the highways.

Musk, who has been promised a role auditing federal expenditures and regulations in a Trump administration through a proposed Department of Government Efficiency, will likely have a seat at the table where many of those decisions are made, giving him the opportunity to tailor policy to suit his own financial interests.

Musk oversees six companies—including electric-vehicle maker Tesla and rocket launcher SpaceX—with more than $1 trillion in assets held by investors.

He and his companies have been repeatedly probed by government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department, over concerns about user-data protection at X, formerly Twitter, the safety of his cars and his super political-action committee’s activities in the election.  

How Does A Trump Return Impact the FCC?

Historically, the party in power has held a 3-2 majority at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), allowing them to carry out the president’s policy agenda. Traditionally, the sitting chair has stepped down, allowing the President to pick a new FCC chief. 

So, with Trump in the White House, that means the FCC will be Republican-led and likely by sitting Commissioner Brendan Carr. Though Trump hasn’t specified his choice for FCC chair, Carr is the most senior Republican on the Commission and analysts have singled him out as the probable pick. 

Brendan Carr

Carr also happens to have authored a chapter in the Project 2025 policy proposal outlining the conservative take on what the future of the FCC should look like under the next Republican President.

According to fierce-network.com, highlights of his chapter include calls to rein in Big Tech via the elimination of Section 230 protections internet companies currently enjoy; to force internet companies to contribute to the Universal Service Fund (USF); to expand the list of companies which are deemed to pose a security risk to the U.S.; and to fully fund the Rip and Replace program to swap out suspect telecom equipment.

Project 2025 aside, Carr has also opposed net neutrality rules adopted by the FCC, as well as rules designed to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in political ads. 

Additionally, he argued against the FCC’s decision to revoke Starlink’s $885 million Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) subsidy award, calling it “regulatory harassment” of Starlink owner Elon Musk. Why does that matter? Well, Musk potentially has a lot to gain should policy for the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program swing in favor of Starlink’s satellite service. Granted the FCC isn’t in charge of administering BEAD – the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is – but Musk would likely find an ally in Carr.

TV Ratings: 42.3M Americans Viewed Election Results

Tuesday night’s election coverage for the 2024 presidential election was down more than 25% when compared to the 2020 election.

As viewers tuned in to watch results spill in for the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, election night coverage brought in 42.3 million viewers across 18 TV networks from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day figures. That’s down 25.6% from the 2020 election, whose night-of coverage for the race between Joe Biden and Trump — whose results ended up stretching into the weekend — brought in 56.92 million viewers across 21 channels. according to The Wrap.

FOX News Media reports its primetime coverage (8-11PM/ET) of election night across FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Network, FOX Business Network (FBN) and FOX News Digital topped all television networks with nearly 13 million viewers and 4 million in the 25-54 demo, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research. 

FNC’s Democracy 2024 primetime coverage averaged nearly 10 million in total viewers and 2.9 million in the 25-54 younger demographic, dominating the competition in both categories and beating ABC, NBC, CBS and all cable news networks for the second election in a row.

Co-anchored by Special Report’s Bret Baier and The Story’s Martha MacCallum, the network’s marathon coverage from 6 PM – 3 AM/ET averaged 8.2 million viewers and 2.4 million in the 25-54 demo, leading all of television. 

FNC’s coverage peaked during the 10 PM/ET hour with 10.3 million viewers and 3.1 million in the 25-54 demo. Across total day (3 AM – 3 AM/ET), FNC also reigned supreme, averaging 4.4 million viewers and 1.1 million in the younger 25-54 demo for the duration of Election Day coverage. In the 1 AM/ET hour, FNC’s Decision Desk was the first major network to call the race for former President Donald Trump and the channel commanded over 7 million viewers and 2.2 million in the 25-54 demo, leading CNN and MSNBC combined. In terms of cable news share, FNC occupied 49% of viewers in primetime and 51% across total day.

In commenting on the ratings performance, FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said, “FOX News dominated every aspect of this historic election cycle from primary debates to town halls to being the only network to conduct interviews with all four candidates in both parties in a one-week span as Bret Baier helmed the most buzzed about interview of the race. I am extremely proud of our team’s commitment to delivering the top reporting and analysis to the largest and most politically diverse audience in news and once again beating every broadcast and cable network across the board.”

FOX Business Network’s simulcast in primetime secured 710,000 viewers and 303,000 in the 25-54 demo marking the business network’s most-watched primetime in network history in the younger demo. Comparatively, CNBC’s primetime coverage averaged just 105,000 viewers and 48,000 in the 25-54 demo.

According to Nielsen Media Research, FNC was the most watched cable news network in every swing state, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Additionally, more Independents and Democrats continued to tune in to FNC over any other network, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion, and the network was also number one among Hispanic and Asian viewers. According to a recent YouGov study, more Independents get their news from FOX News than from any of the competition.

TV Ratings: NFL Football, Fox News Dominate

During the week before the election, October 28 - November 3, FOX News Channel (FNC) was the number one network with primetime and total day viewers, beating out the football focused sports networks across all dayparts.

FNC was also the most-watched network in cable news combined across both primetime and total day. In primetime (8-11 PM/ET), FNC earned 2.7 million viewers and 350,000 in the 25-54 demo, commanding all of cable news across the board. In total day (6AM-6AM/ET), FNC posted 1.7 million viewers and 226,000 in the 25-54 demo. Notably, all of FNC’s daytime programs led NBA coverage on TNT (1.1 million P2+) and ESPN (1 million P2+) for the week.

MSNBC was the week’s clear winner registering as the only network to see week-to-week gains during both dayparts in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, both Fox News and CNN lost viewers in primetime in both measured categories, but saw gains during total day.

TV Newser reports Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week saw FNC average 2.746 million total viewers and 350,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was down in total viewers by -1% and -4% in the demo rrelative to the week prior (the week beginning October 21).

Fox News averaged 1.703 million total viewers and 226,000 A25-54 viewers in total day viewing for gains of +2% and +7%, respectively. Among all basic cable networks, FNC remained No. 1 in total primetime viewers and jumped one spot to second place in the primetime demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.418 million total viewers and 162,000 A25-54 viewers for gains of +9% and +5%, respectively. On the basic cable charts, MSNBC was stuck in third place in total primetime viewers and moved from seventh to fifth in the demo. During total day, it was the No. 2 network in total viewers and jumped two spots from No. 6 to No. 4 in the demo.

In primetime, CNN averaged 797,000 total viewers and 181,000 A25-54 viewers for drops of -17% and -9%, respectively. CNN slid from fourth to fifth place in total primetime viewers, but performed better in the demo with a fourth place finish. The network also remained fourth in total day total viewers and climbed up one spot to third place in total day demo.

Fox News held 12 of the 15 spots for most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five (3.812 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) remaining No. 1. MSNBC occupied the remaining spots, with Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.848 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) landing at No. 10.

• For the week, The Five averaged 3.8 million viewers and 379,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.9 million viewers and 343,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 3 million viewers and 360,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.5 million viewers and 434,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the top show in cable news across in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.9 million viewers and 365,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.7 million viewers and 256,000 in the 25-54 demo.
• FOX News Channel’s Gutfeld! continued to lead all late-night television across the board. For the week, Gutfeld! averaged 3 million viewers and 391,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2 million P2+; 344,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.6 million P2+; 277,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show (1.1 million P2+; 261,000 A25-54).
• FNC also saw a number of its daytime programs outrank the broadcast competition. Most notably, Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2,241,000 P2+), Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET; 2,090,000 P2+), America’s Newsroom with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET; 1,980,000 P2+), America Reports with Sandra Smith and John Roberts (weekdays, 1-3 PM/ET; 1,837,000) and The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3 PM/ET; 1,782,000 P2+) all outpaced ABC’s GMA3 (1,342,000 P2+), NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna (1,287,000 P2+) and CBS’ The Talk (1,181,000 P2+).
• On Saturday, One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) was the most-watched show of the day with 1,671,000 million viewers and 162,000 in the 25-54 demo. Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) followed with 1,666,000 viewers and 158,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show (weekends, 7 PM/ET) averaged 1.6 million viewers and 184,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) nabbed 1.4 million viewers and 193,000 in the 25-54 demo.
• On Sunday, FNC aired the majority of its weekday lineup in advance of the election. Jesse Watters Primetime was the top show of the day across the board with 2.6 million viewers and 377,000 in the 25-54 demo. Hannity followed with 2.2 million viewers and 306,000 in the 25-54 demo. America’s Newsroom nabbed 1.8 million viewers and 263,000 in the 25-54 demo.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 10-28-24 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.

News Corps Urged to Drop Share Structure

Two more U.S. proxy advisory firms on Tuesday urged investors to support a hedge fund's campaign to change the company's dual-class share structure, saying no investor should have voting rights that are different from others.

Reuters reports Egan-Jones and its bigger rival Glass Lewis recommended investors back a recapitalization plan at the company's Nov. 20 meeting where all stock would have one vote for one share. They join prominent proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services, which last week urged News Corp investors to do the same.

Voting for the nonbinding shareholder proposal, which was made by hedge fund Starboard Value, would be a signal that investors are intent on breaking Rupert Murdoch's control over the media empire that publishes the Wall Street Journal.

Hedge fund Irenic Capital Management, which has also been pushing News Corp for changes, on Tuesday said it will back Starboard and vote to eliminate the dual-class structure.

"The economic stake of each shareholder should match their voting power and ... no small group of shareholders, family or otherwise, should have voting rights different from those of other shareholders," Glass Lewis wrote in its report, which was seen by Reuters.

In its report, seen by Reuters, Egan-Jones wrote: "A one vote per share principle would provide an equitable approach to ensure that shareholders are given a fair voice that is proportionate to their stake in the Company and would be able to hold the management accountable of their actions through casting a vote."

The two recommendations, issued on Tuesday, come just days after the largest U.S. proxy advisory firm, Institutional Shareholder Services, threw its weight behind Starboard Value. Starboard, the activist investment firm run by Jeffrey Smith, submitted a nonbinding proposal to eliminate dual-class share structure, Reuters reported in September.

Murdoch and his family own a 14% economic stake in the company but control 41% of the votes.

What Red Wave Means For Legacy Media

Donald Trump’s return to power is a hinge point for the American media – in ways big, small, and to be determined. His defeat of Kamala Harris is raising questions about the media’s credibility, influence, and audience. Some of the questions might not be answerable for years.

But, reports CNN, journalists are asking each other: What does this “red wave” election say about the information environment in the United States?

In the hours after Trump won reelection Tuesday, some of his loyalists asserted that his victory is a complete repudiation of the news media. For a time on Wednesday morning, The Federalist’s lead headline was not about Trump, it was about the “corporate media industrial complex” being “2024’s biggest loser.”

Woah. CNN panel silenced as @ScottJenningsKY explains Trump's victory is the “revenge of the working-class American” pic.twitter.com/AxtBkczWQv

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) November 6, 2024

Legacy media “is officially dead,” The Daily Wire podcaster Matt Walsh wrote on X overnight. “Their ability to set the narrative has been destroyed. Trump declared war on the media in 2016. Tonight he vanquished them completely. They will never be relevant again.”

That’s wishful thinking on Walsh’s part — Tuesday’s marathon election coverage was a testament to the media’s relevance — but the point is that many Trump voters share his wish. They believe the national news media is a big part of what ails America. Not only do they distrust what they read, they often don’t read it in the first place. Can anything be done to change that?

Entravision: Political Ads Drove Revenue During 3Q

Entravision Communications Corporation has announced financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024.

"During the third quarter we realigned our operating segments into two segments: Media and Advertising Technology & Services. Our media segment consists of sales of advertising through various media, including television, radio and digital. Our advertising technology & services segment consists of Smadex, our programmatic ad purchasing platform, and Adwake, our mobile growth solutions business," said Michael Christenson, Chief Executive Officer.

Christenson continued, "Our net revenue from continuing operations increased 25% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023, driven primarily by growth in political advertising revenue and Smadex. Our balance sheet remains strong, and we are focused on providing highly-rated news and content to our audiences, strengthening our digital marketing solutions in combination with our television and radio offerings, and continuing to grow Smadex."

Megyn Kelly: There's No Political Future For Harris

Megyn Kelly suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris will not easily recover from her 2024 presidential election loss.

“She’s not the leader of her party,” Kelly told the Washington Examiner. “She’s not respected in Democratic circles.”

The SiriusXM host of The Megyn Kelly Show called Harris an “avatar” for the Democratic Party and said the vice president’s political future is likely bleak. 

“She will be disposed of,” Kelly said. “She will be blamed. Her many, many deficiencies will be discussed ad nauseam. There will be an endless amount of magazine and newspaper articles written about how bad she was.”

“Now they can be honest about it, and she won’t recover from that,” Kelly continued. “She will not go forward as any sort of an important voice or leader in the Democratic Party.”

Kelly also warned that the United States is likely in for an “ugly few months” following Tuesday’s election, calling the time between now and inauguration a “nuclear winter.”

Trump Win Meltsdown The Late Night Shows

Jimmy Fallon jabbed that America 'got back together with its crazy ex' while Stephen Colbert hysterically admitted he's 'not doing great' as late night miserably went through their paces after Donald Trump had the last laugh at the polls. 

While not every late night show had a specifically political bent, all of the left-leaning talkers addressed Trump's victory in a depressed manner. 

Colbert and Meyers issued pep talks for his solidly Democrat, Trump-Hating audience while Jimmy Kimmel spoke to liberal podcast Pod Save America and Jimmy Fallon discussed the results and sang a hopeful song with The View's Whoopi Goldberg.

Seth Meyers gave his typical, 16-minute comic roundup of the show and The Daily Show went all-politics as usual. 

The shows also played recorded bits, with Fallon satirizing fast-talking anchors from cable news and Kimmel mocking Americans who were Googling basic facts of the election the day of the vote.  

Chicago Radio: Mix Men Wear Pink To Fight Breast Cancer

101.9 The Mix / WTMX Chicago - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Now in its 5th year, The Men of the Mix fronted by Morning Mix host Chris Petlak, teamed up with the Men Wear Pink campaign to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, an organization leading the breast cancer fight in the 21st century, and their commitment to creating a future free from the threat of breast cancer.

With the help of corporate sponsor Chick-fil-A Chicagoland, The Men of the Mix hosted two Live shows originating from Chicago area Chick-fil-A stores in Niles and Chicago. In return for donations, they treated the first 100 listeners to free lunch.

For the second year in a row, The Men of the Mix hosted a comedy night at Zanies Rosemont. This sold-out event featured stand-up comedy, performances of favorite features from The Morning Mix and Afternoon Mix, and a special performance by MIX artist Andy Grammer.

The Men of The Mix helped raise $440,543 for the American Cancer Society of Greater Chicagoland, placing the Chicago team third in nationwide campaigns for total funds raised. Every dollar raised helps the American Cancer Society save lives from breast cancer by funding innovative breast cancer research, providing education and guidance to help people reduce their risk, and offering comprehensive patient care.

Chris Petlak, host of The Morning Mix added “This year, The Mix audience helped us make a major impact in the fight against breast cancer for researchers, doctors, families, and most importantly - those fighting this horrible disease. I’m so grateful to Whip and McCabe - The Men of The Mix - and our partners in Chick fil A Chicagoland and Zanies Rosemont for their support. As a co-chair of the Men Wear Pink campaign here in Chicago, I am beyond proud of what we all accomplished together!

Jimmy Steal, 101.9 The MIX Vice President of Brand and Content “I’m so proud that Chris has again co-chaired the Men Wear Pink campaign. Chris recruited Morning Mix news personality Whip, and McCabe co-host of The Afternoon Mix. Together they were instrumental in helping raise money for this worthy cause.”