WBD: Netflix Emerges as Front-Runner

Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) board intensified its review of second-round acquisition bids on Wednesday, with Netflix positioning itself as the likely frontrunner through a mostly all-cash offer for WBD's studios and streaming assets—potentially valued at over $70 billion—while Paramount Skydance sweetened its full-company bid to $24 per share backed by Gulf sovereign wealth funds, and Comcast proposed merging the Warner Bros. studio into NBCUniversal with a management role for CEO David Zaslav, according to Bloomberg and Reuters reports. 

The developments, unfolding amid a stock surge of 83% for WBD since September, could lead to exclusive negotiations as early as this week, reshaping Hollywood's streaming landscape by bundling Netflix with HBO Max at reduced consumer costs and bolstering Netflix's IP arsenal with Warner's vast library of films, TV, and DC Comics. 

As the auction accelerates toward a possible year-end close, analysts at Bank of America hailed the scenario as a "historic transformation," warning of antitrust scrutiny but praising Netflix's potential to "kill three birds with one stone" by gaining theatrical distribution, premium content, and subscriber synergies without the baggage of WBD's declining cable networks.

Paramount Skydance's aggressive escalation on December 2 included a $5 billion breakup fee hike and fresh backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Qatar Investment Authority, and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala—marking the first time all three major Gulf funds aligned on a single U.S. media deal—aiming to acquire the entirety of WBD, including CNN and legacy cable like TBS, in a cash-and-stock package that Ellison's team believes maximizes shareholder value despite regulatory hurdles from overlapping Paramount+ and Max services. 

Comcast's counteroffer, per Bloomberg, would fold Warner Bros. film and TV into NBCUniversal for cost savings, paying WBD shareholders cash and stock while offering CEO David Zaslav a leadership role; it excludes non-entertainment assets, likely forcing the breakup WBD had planned for mid-2026.Netflix’s bid proposes a discounted bundled Netflix–HBO Max tier, capitalizing on 80% subscriber overlap, and secures perpetual rights to Warner hits like The Batman and Dune, ending licensing costs. Despite a 2% stock dip on dilution fears (Reed Hastings sold $40M shares), BofA forecasts a 20-30% subscriber surge to 400 million.

The bidding frenzy, which kicked off in October after WBD's "strategic alternatives" review drew inbound interest, has already rejected an initial $23.50-per-share Paramount offer as too low, prompting the December 1 deadline for revised proposals that now pit tech disruptors against legacy giants in a zero-sum game for Hollywood's future.

TV Ratings: Fox News Extends Win Streak. NFL Dominates Top 10

Cable news saw Fox News extend its streak to 96 quarters as the top non-sports cable network, with The Five topping all shows at 3.85 million viewers on Tuesday (up 3% WoW) and Hannity leading the demo at 320,000; the network's holiday week surge was tied to 24/7 Trump cabinet buzz, outdrawing MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show (1.12 million average, flat) and CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 (678,000, down 4%). 

MSNBC's primetime total held at 785,000 with 85,000 demo viewers, a modest 1% gain from election highs but still 45% below 2024 levels, while CNN's 512,000 total and 105,000 demo reflected a 7% slide, with analysts blaming fragmented streaming shifts and lighter holiday news cycles. 

Nielsen's data, blending big data panels with live metrics, shows Fox's edge widening to 3x MSNBC's audience, even as all three posted year-to-date declines: Fox down 2% in total viewers through November, MSNBC down 12%, and CNN down 18%.Season-to-date through November 30, broadcasts averaged CBS at 5.3 million primetime total viewers (up 1% YoY), NBC at 4.9 million (down 3%), and ABC at 4.7 million (down 5%), per Nielsen, while cable news figures stood at Fox 2.3 million (flat), MSNBC 920,000 (down 10%), and CNN 580,000 (down 15%). 

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWSCASTS

ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir topped the ratings for broadcast evening newscasts during the week of November 24, 2025, averaging 7.45 million total viewers and 945,000 in the key Adults 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen live + same-day data. This marked a 2% dip week-over-week from November 17 but held a strong lead over competitors NBC and CBS, even amid holiday distractions like Thanksgiving travel and family gatherings. 

The week, spanning Monday, November 24, through Friday, November 28, saw overall viewership for the trio of newscasts decline slightly due to the short holiday frame, with total audiences down 3% from the prior week across all three programs.

NBC's Nightly News with Tom Llamas placed second, drawing 6.28 million total viewers and 890,000 in the demo—a flat performance week-over-week but down 12% from the same period in 2024. CBS Evening News, anchored by John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, trailed with 4.52 million total viewers and 645,000 demo viewers, reflecting a 1% gain in total audience but a 3% drop in the demo compared to the previous week. 

All three newscasts experienced year-over-year declines in both metrics, continuing a trend attributed to shifting viewer habits toward streaming and cable news amid anchor transitions earlier in the 2025 season.

The holiday timing played a role in the softer numbers, as Thanksgiving Day (November 27) broadcasts typically see reduced tune-in due to dinner preparations and travel; ABC's edition that day dipped to 6.8 million viewers, while NBC and CBS hovered around 5.5 million and 4.0 million, respectively. Despite this, ABC maintained its season-long dominance, up 5% in total viewers year-to-date through late November. 

Nielsen's data, which includes additional local airings in select markets, highlights ABC's consistent edge in both raw audience size and advertiser-preferred demographics, even as the networks navigate post-election news cycles and cord-cutting pressures.

FCC Opens Public Comment For $6.2 Billion Nexstar-Tegna Merger

The FCC has  launched a public review process for Nexstar Media Group's proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc., inviting input from consumers, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders on whether the deal serves the public interest amid concerns over media consolidation. 

Petitions to deny the merger are due by December 31, 2025, with oppositions due January 15, 2026, and replies by January 30, 2026.

The merger, announced in August 2025, would combine Nexstar's portfolio of over 200 stations with Tegna's 64 full-power TV stations, one AM radio station, and one FM station, creating a broadcast giant reaching approximately 80% of U.S. households and controlling 265 stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia. 

Nexstar, already the largest U.S. local TV owner, currently reaches about 39% of households under FCC rules that cap national audience share at that level (with a 50% discount for UHF stations). Post-merger, the combined entity would exceed this threshold at 54.5%, prompting Nexstar to request waivers for both the national cap and local ownership rules in 23 designated market areas (DMAs).

R.I.P.: David Jones Rhode Island Radio Broadcaster

David Jones (1947-2025)

David Jones, the longtime morning show host whose warm baritone and witty banter made him a household name across Rhode Island airwaves for over four decades, died on December 2, 2025, at his home in Florida, his family confirmed Tuesday; he was 78. 

The news, first shared by Lite 105 (WWLI-FM) on social media, prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues, and stations where Jones built his legendary career, including WICE, WPRO, WSNE, and WWLI, where he co-hosted the award-winning "Jones & Heather in the Morning" for seven years until his retirement in 2022. 

No cause of death was immediately disclosed, but Jones had relocated to Florida in recent years to be closer to family, battling health challenges that kept him off the air.

David Jones

Jones's death marks the end of an era for Rhode Island broadcasting, where he was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2011 for his enduring impact; his career began in the late 1960s with "The Davey Jones Locker" on WICE-AM, a quirky music and talk program that captured the counterculture vibe, before evolving into mainstream morning radio staples. 

He later teamed with Joan Edwardsen on WSNE (Country 93.3) for the "Jones & Joan" show from 1995 to 2012—the longest-running non-married male-female duo in U.S. radio history at a single station—earning "Best of Rhode Island" honors multiple times for their blend of humor, local flavor, and community engagement. 

Transitioning to Lite 105 in 2012, Jones paired with Heather Gersten for another hit morning drive, again voted Rhode Island's best for four straight years, featuring segments like school closings, traffic updates, and celebrity chats that endeared him to generations of commuters.

Tributes flooded social media Tuesday, with Lite 105 posting, "We all send our sincere condolences to David's family in Florida," and former co-host Gersten calling him "the voice that started my mornings for years—irreplaceable." A public memorial is being planned for early 2026 in Providence, with details forthcoming via the Hall of Fame; Jones leaves behind his wife, two children, and a legacy etched in Rhode Island's airwaves, where his sign-off—"Keep it country, keep it light"—will echo on.

R.I.P.: Steve Cropper, Soul Guitar Legend

Steve Cropper, the lean, soulful guitarist whose stinging riffs and songwriting defined Memphis soul as a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.'s and a key producer at Stax Records, died Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in Nashville at age 84. 

His death at a rehabilitation facility followed a recent fall, according to longtime associate Eddie Gore; a specific cause was not immediately disclosed by family or the Soulsville Foundation, which operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis. Cropper's passing marks the end of an era for the interracial house band that backed icons like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave, co-writing timeless hits such as "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay," "In the Midnight Hour," and the instrumental smash "Green Onions."

Cropper's guitar work—crisp, economical, and infused with blues grit—powered Stax's golden age in the 1960s, when the label rivaled Motown as soul's creative epicenter. Ranked No. 39 on Rolling Stone's list of greatest guitarists, he shaped the "quintessence of soul guitar" through explosive bends in "Green Onions" and filigreed fills in Redding's posthumous chart-topper, earning two Grammys and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 with the M.G.'s. 

His production touch graced dozens of Stax sessions, blending raw energy with interracial harmony in a segregated South, as he once recalled: "When you walked in the door at Stax, there was absolutely no color."Born October 21, 1941, in Willow Springs, Missouri, and raised in Memphis, Cropper picked up the guitar at 14 and cut his teeth in local R&B circles. By 1961, at 20, he joined the fledgling Satellite Records (soon rebranded Stax) as a session player with his band the Mar-Keys, whose horn-driven "Last Night" became the label's first national hit. Cropper soon co-formed Booker T. & the M.G.'s—keyboardist Booker T. Jones, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson Jr.—whose 1962 jam session yielded "Green Onions," a No. 3 pop smash that sold over 2 million copies and put Stax on the map. 

TV Ratings: Cowboys-Chiefs Most Watched In NFL History

The Dallas Cowboys' dramatic 31-28 upset over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, drew a record-shattering 57.23 million viewers on CBS and Paramount+, marking the most-watched regular-season NFL game in history and eclipsing the previous mark by 36%, per official Nielsen data released Wednesday. 

The late-afternoon matchup at AT&T Stadium peaked at 61.36 million viewers in its final quarter-hour, fueled by a star-studded clash featuring Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Travis Kelce amid family holiday gatherings, outpacing even the 2024 AFC Championship's 57.4 million and ranking as the third-largest TV audience of the year behind only the Super Bowl. 

Fox's early game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions averaged 47.7 million viewers—a 28% jump from 2024's Bears-Lions telecast and the second-highest regular-season figure ever—while NBC's primetime Bengals-Ravens blowout pulled in 28.4 million across NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo, setting a new holiday nightcap benchmark up 7% year-over-year.

The tripleheader's collective haul of 44.7 million average viewers across all platforms represented a 30% surge from 2024's Thanksgiving slate, underscoring the NFL's ironclad grip on the holiday amid Nielsen's enhanced big-data measurement that captures streaming, smart TVs, and nationwide out-of-home viewing for the first time. 

Bad Bunny Tops Spotify's Most-Streamed Artist List

Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has once again been crowned Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally in 2024, marking an unprecedented fourth time he has claimed the title (2018, 2020, 2023, and now 2024). 

The reggaeton and Latin-trap icon dethroned Taylor Swift, who held the top spot in 2023 with a record-breaking 26.1 billion streams during her blockbuster Eras Tour year.Spotify unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 Wrapped campaign on Wednesday, giving more than 600 million users worldwide access to their personalized year-end listening summaries. Alongside individual recaps, the platform revealed its official global and regional charts highlighting the artists, songs, albums, and podcasts that defined the past 12 months.

Global Top 5 Most-Streamed Artists of 2024

1. Bad Bunny
2. Taylor Swift
3. Drake
4. The Weeknd
5. Billie Eilish

In addition to the usual personalized slides showing users their top five artists, songs, genres, albums, and podcasts, Spotify introduced new features this year, including:  “Your Music Evolution” – showing how listening tastes shifted month by month.

 

The campaign also highlights broader cultural moments, such as the continued dominance of Latin music (Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma, Karol G, and Feid all ranked in the global top 20), the resurgence of pop-punk and emo-rap nostalgia, and the explosive growth of regional Mexican music worldwide.

Fans immediately flooded social media with their colorful Wrapped slides, memes, and reactions—reviving the annual tradition that has made Spotify Wrapped one of the most viral marketing events of the year since its launch in 2016.

For the first time in three years, Taylor Swift does not sit atop the throne, but her cultural dominance remains undeniable: she still claimed the most-streamed album globally with The Tortured Poets Department and continues to hold the record for the biggest single-day streams by any artist in Spotify history.

As the holiday season kicks into high gear, Spotify Wrapped once again serves as both a personal time capsule for listeners and the music industry’s unofficial year-end scoreboard—proving that, in 2024, Bad Bunny’s global reign is far from over.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Announces Star-Studded Lineup

ABC and Dick Clark Productions have unveiled the largest performer lineup and longest telecast in the show's 50-plus-year history for "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2026," set to air live on Wednesday, December 31, starting at 8 p.m. ET, with next-day streaming on Hulu. 

This year's extravaganza features an "explosive" roster of global icons, rising stars, and genre-spanning acts across multiple cities, including New York’s Times Square, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Puerto Rico, expanding the broadcast by 90 minutes to run until 4 a.m. ET for the first time ever.

Headlining the festivities is host Ryan Seacrest in his 21st year at the helm, joined by co-host Rita Ora in Times Square. Grammy winner Chance the Rapper will lead the inaugural live Central Time Zone countdown from Chicago, his hometown. In Las Vegas, NFL legend Rob Gronkowski returns alongside Julianne Hough, making her co-hosting debut in the "Entertainment Capital of the World." 

The performer slate boasts a diverse mix of pop powerhouses, hip-hop legends, country favorites, K-pop sensations, and holiday royalty, promising unforgettable sets from:

• 
  Mariah Carey, the undisputed Queen of Christmas, delivering her iconic hits.
• Post Malone, bringing his genre-blending energy to the stage.
• 50 Cent, the rap icon set for a high-octane performance.
• Demi Lovato and Charlie Puth, pop sensations with powerhouse vocals.
• Chappell Roan and Ciara, rising stars and dance-floor dynamos.
• Maren Morris and Pitbull, infusing country and global party vibes.
• AJR, 4 Non Blondes, BigXthaPlug, and Grammy-nominated Chance the Rapper (also hosting).
• DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! featuring Busta Rhymes and T.I., for a hip-hop throwdown.

This marks the third year partnering with iHeartMedia for live radio simulcast on 150 stations nationwide, ensuring the party reaches millions. As the No. 1 New Year's Eve special, the show continues its legacy of epic moments—from Taylor Swift's 1989 medley to recent sets by Sabrina Carpenter and Lenny Kravitz—while pushing boundaries with multi-time-zone coverage and a record-breaking scale. Executive producers include Seacrest, Michael Dempsey, and Barry Adelman. 

Tune in for a countdown that promises to make 2026 unforgettable.

Radio Ratings: Nielsen Releases Day 2 November PPMs

Nielsen Audio unveiled Day 2 of its November 2025 Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings on December 3, 2025, covering the survey period from October 16 to November 12

📻Washington, D.C.:  Hubbard Radio's all-news WTOP (103.5 FM) retained the #1 spot with a 12.1 share among adults 12+, up slightly from 11.9 in October, solidifying its dominance in the nation's capital. Trailing closely was American University's public news/talk WAMU (88.5 FM), which climbed to 11.6 (from 11.0) but narrowed WTOP's lead from 0.9 to just 0.5 share points, highlighting the intense competition in news formats amid ongoing political and local coverage demands. Howard University's urban adult contemporary WHUR (96.3 FM) secured a comfortable third place at 7.0 share, edging up from 6.6 in the prior book and maintaining a two-share-point cushion over challengers like iHeartMedia's modern/alternative rock "DC101" WWDC-FM (5.0, down from 5.5) and adult contemporary WASH (97.1 FM, steady at 4.9).

📻Boston: For the first time since January 2025, Beasley Media Group’s WBZ-FM "98.5 The Sports Hub" reclaimed the #1 position in Boston with a massive 9.4 share (12+) surging an astonishing 82% (+4.2 shares) from October as the New England Patriots caught fire on the field. The station, flagship for Patriots football, rode a wave of game-day listening and post-win talk, marking its strongest performance in nearly two years and ending a nine-month absence from the top spot. Audacy’s adult contemporary powerhouse "Magic 106.7" WMJX fell to a close second at 8.6 (down from 9.2), just 0.8 points behind the Sports Hub after sharing the crown in October. Beasley’s classic hits sister WROR dropped from co-#1 to third with 7.9 (+0.3), maintaining a solid podium finish. iHeartMedia’s CHR leader "Kiss 108" WXKS-FM held fourth at 6.8, while Boston University’s NPR news/talk WBUR (90.9) cracked the top five for the first time since May with 6.7 (+1.1), reflecting strong public-radio interest in the post-election environment.

📻Miami: iHeartMedia's WHQT "Hot 105.1" (Urban AC) locked in its 23rd consecutive #1 book in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market with an 8.7 share, dipping slightly from 9.9 in October but holding firm against a tightening field as the holiday season loomed. The station's enduring streak—spanning nearly four years—highlights the format's stronghold in South Florida's diverse, rhythm-driven listener base, where smooth R&B and throwbacks continue to outdraw pop and Spanish-language rivals amid post-election stability. Audacy's adult contemporary WFEZ "Easy 93.1" surged to #2 at 7.9 (up from 6.8), priming for its annual all-Christmas flip that would challenge the top in December's early data, while Cox Media Group's country WSFL "99.5 The Wolf" climbed to #3 with 6.5 (+1.2), capitalizing on crossover appeal in a market hungry for upbeat escapes. Univision's Spanish AC WRMA "El Mago" (106.7 FM) held fourth at 6.2 (steady), underscoring bilingual formats' consistency, as iHeart's Spanish urban WPOW "Power 96" rounded out the top five at 5.8 (-0.4).

WBD: To The Victor Belong The Spoils

While we enjoyed the long holiday weekend, a host of huge names like Paramount Skydance, Comcast, and Netflix had their bankers and lawyers working on a new round of bids for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), according to reports. 

Whichever way you slice it

The latter of those companies, Netflix, already the biggest streaming service in the world, is reportedly interested in just the studio business and HBO Max streaming platform from WBD, offering a bid consisting mostly of cash for those assets, Bloomberg reported at the start of the week.

Comcast has a similar idea. The telecoms and media giant wants to merge the same two segments with its NBCUniversal division, meaning that a successful bid from either would allow WBD — the home of mega media brands like HBO and CNN, as well as huge chunks of IP like the “Harry Potter” franchise and DC Comics characters via its studio business — to still go ahead with plans to spin off its major networks, per the reporting.

But what of the companies that want the entire WBD pie? What would they get in a deal that could nudge toward the $75 billion mark, if suitors stump up the $30-per-share price that Warner execs want?

In a particularly dramatic-sounding Bank of America note on Monday, a group of analysts wrote: “The global media industry stands at the precipice of historic transformation.”

Still, when you look at the brands under the Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella (assembled after a merger between the companies that make up each half of its name) and consider the behemoths that could one day possess some of them, the BofA writers might have a point.

NYC Radio Santelises, Wilson Promoted at Power 105.1 FM

iHeartMedia’s Power 105.1/New York’s home for Hip-Hop and R&B  has announced two significant leadership promotions.

Alexander Santelises, known on-air as DJ Prostyle, has been named Assistant Program Director, and Symantha Wilson has been promoted to Music Director for Power 105.1 and Producer for “The Breakfast Club,” effective immediately.

Wilson

In their new roles, Prostyle and Wilson will help shape the station’s programming vision and music strategy while strengthening Power 105.1’s connection with listeners. Both will work closely with the station’s leadership team, including Thea Mitchem, Executive Vice President of Programming, and Eddie Fennell, Assistant Program Director and Executive Producer for “The Breakfast Club.” Prostyle will also continue his role as Evening Air Talent on iHeartMedia New York’s 103.5 KTU.

“I’m incredibly honored and thrilled to step into this next chapter of my career as APD at Power 105.1,” said DJ Prostyle. “This station has been a defining voice in Hip-Hop, and I’m excited for the opportunity to help shape its next era alongside the best in the business. Thank you, Thea, for this incredible opportunity. I’m happy to be back—let’s go!”

Santelises

“Stepping into these roles with The Breakfast Club and Music Director at Power 105.1 feels like a full-circle moment,” said Symantha Wilson. “This station shaped my earliest years, so joining Thea Mitchem, Eddie Fennell and Prostyle on the leadership team is an honor.”

“Prostyle and Symantha have truly earned these promotions through their hard work, creativity and dedication to the Power 105.1 brand,” said Thea Mitchem, EVP of Programming. “Both bring an unmatched passion for music and a deep understanding of how to engage listeners and grow audiences in today’s competitive landscape. Their leadership will be instrumental as we continue to elevate Power 105.1 and deliver the authentic experiences our listeners expect.”

Joe Rogan Tops Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Podcast Charts

The Joe Rogan Experience claimed the No. 1 spot on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube’s 2025 year-end charts, marking the first time the long-running show has dominated all three major platforms simultaneously and solidifying Rogan’s unmatched influence in the podcasting world.

The milestone caps Rogan’s sixth consecutive year at the top of Spotify’s global podcast rankings, where it edged out Theo Von’s This Past Weekend for the U.S. crown. On Apple, the show surged from No. 3 in 2024 to the top U.S. spot based on listenership, dethroning The Daily from The New York Times. YouTube’s inaugural annual podcast data, released this year, also crowned Rogan king, driven by video episodes that drew massive views.

Standout episodes fueled the sweep, including Rogan’s high-profile chats with Elon Musk (No. 4 on Apple’s top episodes), Bernie Sanders, and Mel Gibson, which blended politics, tech, and culture to pull in diverse audiences. Video podcasts, now comprising 24 of Spotify’s top 50 shows (up one-third from 2024), amplified the buzz, with 390 million people tuning into video content — a 54% year-over-year jump.

Platform-Specific Breakdown:

Spotify (Global Top 10): 1. The Joe Rogan Experience; 2. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von; 3. The Mel Robbins Podcast; 4. Call Her Daddy; 5. Crime Junkie; 6. The Shawn Ryan Show; 7. The Tucker Carlson Show; 8. The Daily; 9. Huberman Lab; 10. Good Hang with Amy Poehler.

Apple (U.S. Top 10): 1. The Joe Rogan Experience; 2. The Mel Robbins Podcast; 3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler; 4. The Charlie Kirk Show; 5. Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce; 6. The Telepathy Tapes; 7. The MeidasTouch Podcast; 8. The Shawn Ryan Show; 9. Call Her Daddy; 10. The Daily.

YouTube: Rogan led the platform’s first-ever podcast rankings, with video formats proving a key differentiator amid rising competition from shows like The Tucker Carlson Show and Huberman Lab.

Rogan’s non-exclusive Spotify deal, renewed in early 2024 for a reported $250 million, has broadened his reach since the platform’s video podcast push in 2020. The achievement comes amid podcasting’s explosive growth, but it also highlights Rogan’s polarizing style — from UFC commentary to unfiltered interviews — resonating with millions despite ongoing debates over content moderation.

As year-end Wrapped features roll out across platforms, Rogan’s trifecta underscores a shift toward multi-platform stars in an era of fragmented listening habits.

NAB Names 50 Finalists for 2026 Crystal Radio Awards

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced 50 finalist radio stations for the 2026 Crystal Radio Awards on December 3, 2025, recognizing their exceptional year-round community service efforts, including radiothons for children's hospitals, veteran support, and disaster relief food drives. 

Ten winners will be selected by a panel of broadcast, community service, and public relations judges, with awards presented at the NAB State Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026; finalists each receive a commemorative plaque, highlighting radio's pivotal role in local engagement since the awards' inception in 1987.

The diverse list spans markets large and small, owned by major groups like iHeartMedia, Cumulus, Audacy, Cox Media Group, and Beasley, plus independents, showcasing initiatives from hurricane recovery broadcasts to school supply fundraisers amid 2025's economic and weather challenges. Entries covered service from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, with the October 31 deadline yielding standout entries that underscore radio's resilience in a streaming era.

Here are the 50 finalists, listed alphabetically by call letters:

KBHP(FM) Bemidji, Minn.; KBLB(FM) Brainerd, Minn.; KCLR(FM) Columbia, Mo.; KFGE(FM) Lincoln, Neb.; KFI(AM) Los Angeles, Calif.; KFRG(FM) Riverside, Calif.; KGLK(FM) Houston, Texas; KIKV(FM) Alexandria, Minn.; KIRO(AM) Seattle, Wash.; KIRO(FM) Seattle, Wash.; KKBQ(FM) Houston, Texas; KKFN(FM) Denver, Colo.; KNDE(FM) College Station, Texas; KNDE-HD3 College Station, Texas; KOSI(FM) Denver, Colo.; KRMG(FM) Tulsa, Okla.; KRSP(FM) Salt Lake City, Utah.

KSL(FM) Salt Lake City, Utah; KSTP(FM) Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minn.; KTAR(FM) Phoenix, Ariz.; KTMY(FM) Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minn.; KTXY(FM) Columbia, Mo.; KUPD(FM) Phoenix, Ariz.; KXKT(FM) Omaha, Neb.; KYGO(FM) Denver, Colo.; WALR(FM) Atlanta, Ga.; WAMO(AM) Pittsburgh, Pa.; WBAL(AM) Baltimore, Md.; WBZZ(FM) Pittsburgh, Pa.; WCCO(AM) Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minn.; WCFB(FM) Orlando, Fla.; WCLU(AM) Bowling Green, Ky.; WDRV(FM) Chicago, Ill.; WDSY(FM) Pittsburgh, Pa.

WDUV(FM) Tampa, Fla.; WEEI(FM) Boston, Mass.; WFLS(FM) Fredericksburg, Va.; WFMS(FM) Indianapolis, Ind.; WHJX(FM) Jacksonville, Fla.; WHPT(FM) Tampa, Fla.; WIYY(FM) Baltimore, Md.; WKIS(FM) Miami–Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; WMMR(FM) Philadelphia, Pa.; WNOR(FM) Norfolk, Va.; WOKV(FM) Jacksonville, Fla.; WSB(AM) Atlanta, Ga.; WTBC(FM) Tuscaloosa, Ala.; WTMX(FM) Chicago, Ill.; WYOT(FM) Rockford, Ill.; WZPL(FM) Indianapolis, Ind.

Ten winners will be announced in February 2026 and honored at the NAB State Leadership Conference on March 3, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Majority of Users Think They Spend “Too Much Time” On TikTok

A new Edison Research study reveals that 54% of weekly TikTok users aged 13–24 — an estimated 21 million Americans — believe they spend too much time on the platform, the highest level of concern among any age group.

Across all U.S. weekly TikTok users, 42% admit to spending excessive time scrolling, with the figure dropping to 40% among users 25–44 and just 27% for those 45 and older.

The exclusive findings will be released Wednesday during a live webinar, “The Infinite Scroll: A TikTok Report,” presented by Edison Research Senior Director Alex Bargiacchi and Associate Director Salma Aly. 

This first-of-its-kind custom study dives deep into America’s relationship with TikTok, one of the nation’s most popular and controversial social media platforms.

Key areas the report explores include:

• How often Americans actually use TikTok
• Attitudes toward a possible U.S. ban
• Trust in the information and content on the app
• Perceptions of TikTok advertising
• Overall usage habits and feelings of overconsumption

Survey: Younger Gen Z Spend 5.1 Hours a Day on Social Media

A recent S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan survey underscores social media’s growing dominance among younger users, with Gen Z adults averaging 5.1 hours per day on social platforms in Q1 2025 — up from 4.5 hours in Q1 2023.

The generational gap remains stark:Gen Z spends nearly twice as much time on social media as millennials.

And more than three times as much as Gen X, baby boomers, and seniorsNotably, while social media usage climbed further for Gen Z between Q1 2023 and Q3 2025, it declined across every other age group.

Additional key insights: