Ratings Recap: Day 3 of Nielsen PPMs

Nielsen continues to release its March Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings, covering the survey period from March 5 through April 1. The four-week book included the shift to Daylight Saving Time, the arrival of spring, and the start of Passover.

MIAMI-FT. LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD:  Status Quo

Just when you thought the leaderboard might shake things up, the top four stations on the 6+ dial stayed locked in place like an old familiar playlist — though every one of them took a step backward this time around.

Cox Media Urban AC WHQT (Hot 105) slid back into the #1 throne with a 7.2–6.7 share. Right behind it, AC WFEZ (Easy 93.1) held onto silver with a 7.0–6.3 dip — its smallest share since last June. Audacy AC WLYF (101.5 Lite FM) cruised in at #3 with a 6.3–6.0 reading, while Televisaunivision Spanish Hot AC WAMR (Amor 107.5) rounded out the top four at 6.2–5.7.

Then the momentum shifted. The two stations that had been battling for #5 last book both climbed — with SBS Spanish Contemporary WCMQ (Z92.3) breaking away to claim the spot solo at 5.1–5.5. 

Meanwhile, Audacy Classic Hits WMXJ (102.7 The Beach) eased back to #6 with a 5.1–5.4 share.  In the cume race, WLYF turned up the volume with a healthy 2.6% lift, surging into the #1 position (779,700–800,000). Across the market, total listening rose a modest 1.2%.

In the 25-54 demographic, the script flipped dramatically:  After more than a year of dominance, WFEZ finally lost its crown. It tumbled to #2 with its lowest score in over 12 months. Stepping into the spotlight was WHQT, which posted a slight uptick to seize the #1 spot — though the gap between the two remained razor-thin. Further down the chart, iHeatmedia's Spanish Adult Hits WMIA (Magic 93.9) came roaring back, vaulting all the way from #8 to #3 as it shook off a string of soft books. WLYF cooled off to #4, ending its four-book hot streak. Cox Media Rhythmic AC WFLC (Hits 97.3) slipped to #5 despite managing a small share gain, while WMXJ and WCMQ landed in a dead-heat tie for #6.

Cumulus Media: The Harm Is Irreparable

Cumulus Media is arguing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is no longer a hypothetical risk — it is concrete evidence of the severe damage caused by Nielsen’s controversial “Network Policy.”

In a new appellate brief, the radio broadcaster states that one of the irreparable harms it warned about has now occurred: “Cumulus declared bankruptcy.” The company directly links the bankruptcy to the loss of access to Nielsen’s national “Nationwide” ratings, claiming the policy forces broadcasters to buy expensive local ratings data to obtain the national product essential for selling advertising.

Without nationwide ratings, Cumulus says it cannot effectively sell national ad inventory, leading to immediate losses of customers, market share, and goodwill. The filing urges the Second Circuit to quickly reinstate a preliminary injunction that would block Nielsen from tying its national and local ratings products together.

The dispute centers on Nielsen’s Network Policy, which Cumulus calls an unlawful tying arrangement. Even when a standalone national ratings option was offered, the company argues the pricing made it impractical. Cumulus warns that the radio industry stands at a crossroads, with its own bankruptcy highlighting the urgent need for more competition in audience measurement services.

Cumulus is asking the appeals court to affirm U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas’s January preliminary injunction, which halted the policy. It notes that a key September deadline looms, after which it will lose access to Nationwide ratings, making the harm increasingly urgent.

Nielsen, however, is pushing the Second Circuit to overturn the injunction. The ratings company argues that Cumulus’s bankruptcy has undermined the core premise of the injunction, stating that “bankruptcy has now occurred, and a preliminary injunction cannot stop what has already happened.” 

Nielsen denies a direct causal link, attributing Cumulus’s financial troubles primarily to broader industry challenges such as declining radio audiences, digital competition, macroeconomic pressures, high interest costs, and looming debt maturities.

The expedited appeal continues even as Cumulus’s underlying antitrust lawsuit (filed last October) remains paused due to the bankruptcy proceedings. Cumulus filed for Chapter 11 in March and recently received court approval for its reorganization plan, which eliminates roughly $600 million in debt. The company expects to emerge from bankruptcy next month, pending FCC approval.

Comcast Beats Q1 Estimates

Comcast topped Wall Street expectations for the first quarter, reporting stronger-than-expected revenue and earnings, fueled by a blockbuster sports lineup at NBCUniversal and a sharp slowdown in broadband customer losses.

The company posted adjusted earnings per share of 79 cents, beating analysts’ average forecast of 73 cents. Revenue climbed 5% to $31.46 billion, surpassing estimates of $30.43 billion.

Broadband losses narrowed significantly to 65,000 customers in the quarter, compared with 183,000 losses a year earlier. Comcast has responded to intensifying competition from wireless carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile by rolling out more aggressive pricing packages and accelerating its mobile business, which added 435,000 new lines and now serves 9.7 million customers.

• Cable TV losses also improved, falling to 322,000 from 427,000 in the prior-year period.
• Comcast’s net income dropped nearly 36% to $2.17 billion, or 60 cents per share, from $3.38 billion a year ago. 
• Adjusted EBITDA declined roughly 17% to $7.93 billion.

NBCUniversal delivered standout results thanks to a powerhouse sports slate that the company dubbed “Legendary February,” which included the Super Bowl, Winter Olympics, and NBA All-Star Weekend.

The media segment’s revenue surged nearly 61% to $7.28 billion. Excluding the Olympics and Super Bowl, revenue still rose about 13%. Domestic advertising jumped 135% to $3.45 billion, though it was up a more modest 4.7% on a normalized basis.

Live sports continued to dominate traditional TV and streaming, drawing premium ad dollars. NBC charged an average of $8 million per 30-second Super Bowl spot.

Peacock streaming also benefited, growing subscribers 12% year-over-year to 46 million. Revenue nearly doubled to $2.1 billion, though the service posted a wider quarterly loss of $432 million compared with $215 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the media segment showed a loss of $426 million, driven by elevated costs from the Olympics, Super Bowl, and NBA rights fees.

The results reflect Comcast’s ongoing shift toward digital growth and competitive bundling as it works to offset legacy cable declines and capitalize on premium sports content.

Good Morning! Check Your Pulse for Thursday, April 23

Radio Broadcasting

Cumulus Pain: Cumulus Media is arguing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is no longer a hypothetical risk — it is concrete evidence of the severe damage caused by Nielsen’s controversial “Network Policy.” Cumulus states that one of the irreparable harms it warned about has now occurred: “Cumulus declared bankruptcy.” The company directly links the bankruptcy to the loss of access to Nielsen’s national “Nationwide” ratings, claiming the policy forces broadcasters to buy expensive local ratings data to obtain the national product essential for selling advertising.

WABC Tops: John Catsimatidis, the 77-year-old billionaire owner of New York grocery chains and oil assets, has transformed the once-fading AM station WABC into the most listened-to talk radio station in the United States, according to Nielsen data. Since acquiring the station in 2019, he has grown its weekly audience to more than 400,000 listeners.

No Bull for Gates: After 18 years as the heartbeat of 94.9 The Bull, Kristen Gates — the longest-serving on-air personality in the station’s history — has exited the country powerhouse. The 52-year-old Atlanta radio veteran made the announcement on social media, leaving fans and industry insiders stunned and searching for answers. Gates offered no explanation for her sudden departure.

NFL Defends Broadcasting Strategy

The National Football League defended its television distribution strategy in a meeting with Federal Communications Commission officials last week, as regulators examine the ongoing shift of live sports from free over-the-air broadcast networks to paid subscription streaming services.

The NFL met with senior FCC staff on last Friday. Documents detailing the meeting, dated Tuesday and released publicly on Wednesday, show the league presented a 17-page slide deck emphasizing that more than 87% of its games remain available on free broadcast television. Additionally, 100% of games in the local markets of the competing teams air on local over-the-air TV. The NFL stated this broadcast percentage has remained relatively stable for two decades.

"This distribution model is good for our fans, for local television broadcasters, for our 32 clubs in small and large markets alike, and for the competitiveness of the game itself," the NFL told the FCC. The league highlighted that 86 of the top 100 TV programs in 2025 were NFL games and that it strategically selects matchups each week to deliver the most compelling games to individual broadcast markets. It also noted that Sunday Night Football on NBC has been the No. 1 primetime program for 15 consecutive years.

The FCC has been reviewing how the migration of marquee sports programming to standalone subscription streaming platforms fragments the market and raises costs for viewers. Many events once available on free broadcast or traditional cable packages now require separate paid services, frustrating fans. In 2025, NFL games appeared across 10 different services, with estimates suggesting fans could spend over $1,500 annually to watch every game.

Major broadcast station owners, including Fox Corp. and Sinclair, urged the FCC last month to address Big Tech companies acquiring rights to football, baseball, and other sports, warning it could weaken local TV news operations. A coalition of more than 700 affiliate stations for CBS, NBC, Fox, and ABC last week called on the FCC to act to keep high-profile sports on free over-the-air television, stating that "sporting events can’t unify Americans if the cost of watching them turns us into a nation of haves and have-nots."

The National Association of Broadcasters argued that global streaming giants such as Amazon Prime, YouTube (Alphabet), Apple, and Netflix can treat live sports as loss leaders to attract subscribers.

A 1961 federal law grants major sports leagues an antitrust exemption, allowing them to pool teams’ television rights and sell them collectively as a package. 

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly questioned whether heavy reliance on streaming could jeopardize this protection.  The NFL maintains its model remains the most fan- and broadcaster-friendly in sports, with local simulcasts ensuring accessibility even for nationally streamed games. The meeting and filings represent the league’s proactive response to the FCC’s broader inquiry into sports broadcasting practices and their impact on consumers and local stations.

TV Ratings: Fox News Makes Another Strong Primetime Performance

FOX News Channel (FNC) concluded the week of April 13 averaging 3.2 million weekday primetime viewers and 299,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading ABC (2.8 million and 458,000 in the 25-54 demo) and NBC (2.8 million and 452,000 in the 25-54 demo) in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. 

In Monday – Sunday primetime, FNC drew 2.7 million viewers and in Monday - Sunday total day, FNC drew 1.7 million viewers. FNC outpaced the cable competition combined among total viewers during Monday-Sunday total day and primetime. Notably, CBS Evening News (3,779,000 million viewers) posted its lowest rated week since host Tony Dokoupil took the helm with its second consecutive week under four million in total viewers.

The Five continued to command the afternoon with 3,838,000 million viewers and 339,000 in the 25-54 demo – outranking CBS Evening News (3,779,000 million viewers) in total viewers for the second week in a row. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 2.9 million viewers and 250,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle delivered nearly 2.8 million viewers and 217,000 in the 25-54 demo. Jesse Watters Primetime at 8PM/ET secured over 3.5 million viewers and 308,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity averaged over 2.9 million viewers and 256,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher at 11PM/ET notched nearly 1.7 million viewers and 197,000 in the 25-54 demo.

FNC’s late-night sensation Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged just over 3 million viewers and garnered 333,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to dominate late-night competition in total viewers and the 25-54 demo across the board. Gutfeld! continued to dominate the broadcast competition including CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in total viewers (2.1 million viewers and 302,000 in the 25-54 demo) and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.7 million viewers and 225,000 in the 25-54 demo).

FNC continued to see its daytime shows outpace the broadcast competition. America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), America Reports (weekdays, 1PM-3PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3-4PM/ET; 2 million viewers) and The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4-5PM/ET; 2.3 million viewers) all beat NBC’s Today Third Hour (2.0 million viewers), NBC’s Today Jenna & Sheinelle (1.3 million viewers), CBS Mornings (1.8 million viewers), and ABC’s GMA 3 (1.3 million viewers).

TV Ratings: ABC's WNT Top Newscast, Broadcast, Cable TV

A few months after taking the anchor seat at “CBS Evening News,” Tony Dokoupil still lags far behind his rivals, the latest Nielsen figures show.The nightly newscast pulled in about 3.8 million viewers and fewer than 500,000 adults in the key 25-to-54 demographic during the week of April 6 — a sharp drop that left it trailing both “ABC World News Tonight” and “NBC Nightly News” by wide margins, according to recently released ratings.

ABC’s flagship broadcast, meanwhile, remains the clear leader in the nightly news wars, drawing more than 8 million total viewers and topping 1 million in the 25-to-54 demo during the week of April 6 — nearly double CBS’s audience in both categories.

• “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.411 million, 943,000 and 658,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+27%/+1.734 million), Adults 25-54 (+7%/+67,000) and Adults 18-49 (+13%/+86,000).
• For the eighth straight week, “World News Tonight” built on its Total Viewer lead over “NBC Nightly News” year to year (+18% – 1.734 million vs. 1.474 million) by double digits.
• For the seventh week in a row, “World News Tonight” saw gains on the same week last year in all key target demos: Total Viewers (+9%/+644,000 – 8.175 million vs. 7.531 million), Adults 25-54 (+3%/+28,000 – 1.010 million vs. 982,000) and Adults 18-49 (+3%/+22,000 – 744,000 vs. 722,000).
• “World News Tonight” (8.175 million, 1.010 million and 744,000, respectively) more than doubled the performance of “CBS Evening News” (3.804 million, 482,000 and 347,000, respectively) in Total Viewers (+115%/+4.371 million), Adults 25-54 (+110%/+528,000) and Adults 18-49 (+114%/+397,000).
• “World News Tonight” increased its margins over “CBS Evening News” versus the year-ago week in Total Viewers (+17% – 4.371 million vs. 3.721 million), Adults 25-54 (+11% – 528,000 vs. 474,000) and Adults 18-49 (+2% – 397,000 vs. 388,000).

Atlanta Radio: Frank Ski Returns As V-103 Tweaks Line-Up

Francesca Amiker, Frank Ski and DJ Sturgess

V-103 (WVEE-FM), an Audacy station in Atlanta, announces a series of programming updates effective May 11.

Four-time Emmy Award–winning broadcaster Francesca Amiker is joining “The Big Tigger Morning Show” as the new co-host, weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET. DJ Sturgess, a producer on “Greg Street Afternoons,” is elevated to night show host and will be heard weeknights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM and on Saturdays.

Frank Ski returns to the station as a weekend host on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m ET and will be heard throughout the week as the station’s contributor.

“Francesca is a powerhouse talent and we’re excited for our listeners to hear her on ‘The Big Tigger Morning Show,’” said Reggie Rouse, Vice President of Programming and Brand Manager, V-103. “This new lineup, highlighted by Francesca’s arrival, Frank Ski’s return, and the well-deserved elevation of DJ Sturgess, reinforces V-103’s position as the city’s most influential station. V-103 continues to be the heartbeat of Atlanta, driven by personalities who truly care about our community.”

“Joining V-103 feels like stepping into history while helping shape its future. This station is the heartbeat of Atlanta and the soundtrack to so many lives, including mine. To be a voice on that platform alongside Big Tigger—an icon —is surreal,” said Amiker. “I grew up listening to V-103, and that connection only grew stronger over time. I’m excited to return home to Atlanta with a station that truly puts the people first and get to pour back into the community that taught me everything I know.”

The new weekday lineup for V-103 is as follows:

• 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. ET: “The Big Tigger Morning Show”
• 10:00 am. - 3:00 p.m. ET: Danie B
• 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET: Greg Street
• 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. ET: DJ Sturgess
• 10:00 p.m. -1:00 a.m. ET: Joyce Littel-Quiet Storm

San Antonio Radio: CMG Adds Jay Shannon As OM

Cox Media Group San Antonio has appointed veteran radio programmer Jay Shannon as its new Operations Manager, effective May 4, 2026.

In the role, Shannon will oversee programming strategy and day-to-day operations for the company’s San Antonio radio cluster. The stations include 99.5 KISS (Rocker), 101.1 KONO (Classic Hits), 100.3 KCYY (Country, Y100), 106.7 KTKX (Classic Rock, The Eagle), 105.3 KSMG (Hot AC), and 860 KKYX (along with its business news/talk AM operations).

Shannon joins Cox Media Group from iHeartMedia, where he held senior programming leadership positions across multiple Texas markets, including Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. His career spans more than 30 years and covers a wide range of formats, including CHR, Rhythmic CHR, Hot AC, Alternative, Urban, and AC. He brings deep expertise in programming, branding, marketing, and talent development.

Jay Shannon

Mark Shecterle, Vice President and Market Manager for CMG San Antonio, welcomed the hire, stating that Shannon brings extensive industry experience and strong leadership. He will collaborate closely with the existing team to support and grow the cluster’s stations.

Shannon expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, noting he is looking forward to working with the well-established San Antonio stations and their respected formats.

The appointment comes as CMG San Antonio’s FM stations have shown strong recent performance, with all five frequently occupying the top ratings positions in the market in key demographics and dayparts. 

Shannon’s return to the San Antonio market — where he previously worked — positions him to build on that momentum through strategic programming and operational oversight.

Radio History: April 23

Roy Orbison 1936-1988

➦In 1936...singer Roy Orbison was born in Vernon, Texas. His biggest hit was “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which stayed at No. 1 for three weeks in 1964. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and died of a heart attack on Dec. 6, 1988, in Madison, Tenn., at age 52.

➦In 1976...Flashback...

➦In 1995...Radio, TV sportscaster and personality Howard Cosell died of a heart embolism at age 77 (Born Howard William Cohen  March 25, 1918). He was most prominent and influential on radio, television and print media from the early 1960s into the mid 1980s.

Radio Recap: More PPMs From Neilsen

Nielsen has begun releasing its March Portable People Meter (PPM) ratings, covering the survey period from March 5 through April 1. The four-week book included the shift to Daylight Saving Time, the arrival of spring, and the start of Passover.

SAN FRANCISCO: Two Tie At The Top

The 6+ leaderboard is typically ruled by two spoken-word powerhouses. In March KQED Inc. News/Talk 88.5 KQED remained #1 for the third consecutive book but slipped to its lowest share in over a year (9.9 – 8.6). That opened the door for Audacy All-News 740 KCBS / 106.9 KFRC to climb and tie for the lead (8.8 – 8.6).

Bonneville Adult Contemporary 96.5 KOIT held steady as the top music station at #3 (5.0 – 4.8). A pair of stations tied for #4: Bonneville Hot AC/CHR 99.7 NOW (KMVQ) edged up one spot (4.6 – 4.5), while iHeartMedia Soft AC 98.1 The Breeze (KISQ) soared from #7 to tie it with its strongest showing since November (3.7 – 4.5).

iHeartMedia Hot AC Star 101.3 (KIOI) eased back to #6 (4.7 – 4.1). KOIT further extended its cume dominance, growing 12.7% (1,016,200 – 1,145,600). Overall market listening was up 2.7%.

In 25-54: A flat 99.7 NOW (KMVQ) rose to #1 for the first time since August. KQED dropped to a very tight #2, ending a two-book run at the top. Star 101.3 (KIOI) returned to #3 with a modest gain.

It was a jump ball for #4: KOIT held its position despite a small share dip, while flat Audacy Alternative Live 105 (KITS) climbed from #6. iHeartMedia Pop CHR WiLD 94.9 (KYLD) slipped to #6 with a slight decrease.

ATLANTA: A Streak Stops — Then Snaps Back

In February, Cox Media News/Talk WSB-AM saw its impressive six-book winning streak in 6+ come to an end at the hands of Urban One Urban AC Majic 107.5/97.5 (WAMJ). This month, WSB-AM came roaring back to reclaim the #1 spot (6+) with a strong gain (6.6 – 8.5).

The battle for second place remained tight. Cox Media Classic Hits 97.1 The River (WSRV) returned to #2 (6.8 – 7.0), while WAMJ slipped to #3 (7.2 – 6.9).  Audacy Urban AC V-103 (WVEE) held steady at #4 (6.0 – 6.7). Cox Media Urban AC Kiss 104.1 (WALR) climbed to #5 (5.7 – 6.4), and Cox Media AC B98.5 (WSB-FM) eased to #6 (5.9 – 5.8).

WSB-AM continued to dominate cume, posting a 1.1% increase (762,100 – 770,600). Overall market listening ticked up 0.3%.

In 25-54:  Last month WVEE and WAMJ were co-leaders. This book, V-103 (WVEE) rebounded strongly to capture the 25-54 crown for the seventh consecutive survey. Majic 107.5/97.5 (WAMJ) slipped to #2 with a modest decline.

B98.5 (WSB-FM) held at #3 with a small gain, while 97.1 The River (WSRV) rose to #4 — marking its fourth straight up book. WSB-AM posted its highest 25-54 share since November as it jumped two spots to #5. Audacy Sports 92.9 The Game (WZGC) tumbled four places to #8, hitting its lowest share since September.

Radio Hall Nominees Unveiled

The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced today the selection of the Radio Hall of Fame 2026 nominees. The 24 nominees were chosen by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, with input from the radio industry and listeners.

Voting for inductees begins Friday, April 24th, 2026, and runs through Friday, May 8th, 2026. The top six vote recipients will gain induction as part of the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Induction class. The additional inductees that will make up the induction class will be selected by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.

Nearly 1000 industry members will receive a ballot on Friday, April 24th, to cast votes for up to six nominated individuals. The confidential ballot will be conducted by Votem.com and overseen by Miller Kaplan‘s Andrew Rosen.

The Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 will be announced on Wednesday, May 20th, and will be honored at the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, October 8th at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. Information on tickets for the event will be available soon.

The 2026 Radio Hall Nominees Are:

• Andie Summers
• Big D & Bubba
• Bob Stroud
• Boomer Esiason
• Charlie Van Dyke
• Enrique Santos
• Fred Winston
• 
  Funkmaster Flex
• Helen Little
• Joey Reynolds
• John & Ken
• Johnny Magic
• Kevin Matthews
• Kid Leo
• Larry Elder
• Lee Arnold
• Monica May
• Pat Hughes
• Raul Brindis
• Rickey Smiley
• Ryan Cameron
• Shotgun Tom Kelly
• The Electrifying Mojo
• Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!

Report: Joe Buck To Host ESPN Jeopardy!

Veteran sportscaster Joe Buck is nearing a deal to host a new ESPN-branded version of Jeopardy!, sources told Front Office Sports.

The program is expected to debut this summer across Disney platforms, with streaming availability on Hulu and Disney+ and possible linear runs on ABC and ESPN, according to sources. If finalized, the series would represent a high-profile extension of the Jeopardy! brand produced by Sony, which owns the property and has been exploring expansion opportunities.

Buck, the longtime lead play-by-play voice for ESPN’s Monday Night Football and part of the network’s Super Bowl broadcast team alongside Troy Aikman this coming season, is no stranger to the show’s format: he guest-hosted a week of Jeopardy! in August 2021 following Alex Trebek’s death.

ESPN Jeopardy! is expected to tilt toward celebrity competitors rather than open casting, with multiple on-air ESPN personalities reportedly slated to participate. The concept is not without precedent: a sports-focused iteration, Sports Jeopardy!, aired on Crackle from 2014–2016 and was hosted by Dan Patrick.

Sony will produce the series, and further details — including an official announcement, episode count, exact premiere date and full contestant lineup — have not yet been released.

Houston Radio: Gerardo Sproet Exits Middays At KKBQ

Gerardo Sproet, the longtime voice on 93Q Country, has exited his role as midday host, leaving the popular Urban One-owned station searching for a replacement.

Station management has already posted a job listing seeking a new midday personality who is “fun, compelling, talented, professional” and skilled at creating great radio in a PPM-friendly environment.

A Houston native, Sproet spent his entire radio career at KKBQ (93Q Country). He started in the promotions department in 2019, moved on-air in 2022, was promoted to evening host in July 2023, and shifted to middays in January 2025. He took over the slot that had been without a permanent host since Corey Dillon departed in October 2024.

Gerardo Sproet

The Houston Chronical reports Sproet addressed his exit in a Facebook post, which quickly drew emotional reactions from listeners.

“What????? Nooooooo I liked listening to you — my radio stayed on 92.9 while you were on,” one commenter wrote.“This can’t be for real. He was the best on there. I’m gonna miss him,” another added.

“Will miss hearing you on the radio! But bigger things will be coming your way!” a third person commented.

KKBQ, branded as 93Q Country and “Houston’s Country Leader,” is one of the market’s most prominent country stations. Licensed to Pasadena and serving the Greater Houston area, the station broadcasts on 92.9 FM and has earned multiple Academy of Country Music (ACM) Radio Station of the Year awards.

Sproet’s departure marks the latest shakeup in Houston country radio this year. Earlier this month, the morning duo Frito & Katy was removed from 100.3 The Bull after roughly 15 months on air.

FCC Commissioners Attend NAB Show In Las Vegas

At the NAB Show 2026 underway in Las Vegas, two FCC commissioners delivered contrasting messages to broadcasters, highlighting ongoing tensions over regulatory obligations, free speech, and the future of the industry in a competitive media landscape.

In her remarks titled “Finding the Angel of the Public Interest,” FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty revisited a long-standing challenge in communications policy. Drawing from a 1998 speech by then-FCC Chairman Michael Powell—who famously described the search for an “angel” to clearly define the public interest—Trusty noted that while no single figure emerged to resolve the ambiguity, the concept remains foundational to broadcasting.

Rooted in the Communications Act, the public interest standard encompasses a broad array of obligations, including technical requirements, business practices, sponsorship identification, emergency alerts, and restrictions on indecent content. Trusty emphasized core duties such as the “equal opportunities” rule for political candidates, as well as the principle of localism—requiring stations to serve their communities’ needs and retain the flexibility to preempt network programming for important local or national stories.