San Antonio's longtime adult hits station KJXK ended its 20-year run as "102.7 Jack-FM" and relaunched as "102.7 Bob-FM" Monday with a new emphasis on local content and the positioning "80s, 90s and Whatever."
The rebrand by Connoisseur Media shifts the station away from the national "Jack-FM" brand—known for its "playing what we want" slogan and sarcastic voiceovers by announcer Howard Cogan—to a more customized adult hits format tailored for South Texas listeners.
Connoisseur VP/Market Manager Morgan Harrison said the change allows greater focus on San Antonio's neighborhoods, culture, and community involvement while retaining the eclectic playlist spanning decades. "This is all about serving our listeners and clients even better," Harrison stated.
"102.7 Bob-FM keeps the adult hits format people enjoy, while giving us more room to spotlight San Antonio — its neighborhoods, its culture, and its sense of fun. We’re making radio that feels local, alive, and connected — the way it should be."
Operations Manager Greg Martin added that the goal is to "keep it fun and keep it consistent," delivering familiar music with personality that "fits San Antonio perfectly."
The station was among more than 200 owned by Alpha Media until Connoisseur Media completed its acquisition of the entire Alpha portfolio in September 2025, expanding Connoisseur into a top-10 U.S. radio group.
➦In 1912...actor/comedian Danny Thomas was born Amos Muzyad Yahkoob in Deerfield Michigan. His broadcast credits began in radio with Baby Snooks, the Bickersons (Drene Time) & The Big Show. Besides his own successful TV sitcom Make Room for Daddy (later renamed the Danny Thomas Show) he had a hand in producing the Dick Van Dyke Show, the Andy Griffith Show, and the Mod Squad. He founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
He died Feb 6, 1991 after a heart attack, at age 79.
➦In 1939...producer/journalist Carlton E Morse, premiered 'I Love A Mystery', which aired afternoon's on NBC's West Coast radio Network.
He is best known for his creation of the radio serial One Man's Family, which debuted in 1932 and ran until 1959 as one of the most popular as well as long-running radio soap operas of the time.
Carlton E Morse
A radio legend, he experimented with television and published three novels. Morse is considered by many to be one of the best radio scriptwriters.
After losing his newspaper job, Morse brought several scripts he had written throughout the 1920s to an interview with NBC. He soon was offered a job at KGO, the San Francisco outlet of NBC's Blue Network, and began his radio career scripting House of Myths. Morse began work on NBC Mystery Serial, which included such episodes as "Captain Post: Crime Specialist" and "Case of the One-eyed Parrot". Other mysteries scripted by Morse included The Witch of Endor, The City of the Dead, Captain Post: Crime Specialist, The Game Called Murder and Dead Men Prowl.
He also did four programs based on San Francisco Police Department files: Chinatown Squad, Barbary Coast Nights, Killed in Action and To the Best of Their Ability. Morse worked closely with San Francisco Police Chief William J. Quinn, who narrated all four series.
"One Man's Family" was a daily soap opera, targeted at housewives, and "I Love a Mystery" was an adventure serial for adolescents and lovers of the macabre. Both are regarded by radio historians as two of the all-time best radio serials.
➦In 1941...a young actor appeared for the first time in a new program on CBS Radio, 'Home of the Brave'. This marked Richard Widmark‘s professional acting debut. His first film appearance was 6 years later.
➦In 1945...a new mystery drama ‘The Saint’ based on the Leslie Charteris novels, began a Saturday evening run on NBC radio. Vincent Price did not come to the lead role of Simon Templar until 1947 on CBS.
➦In 1957…Elvis Presley made his third and final appearance on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show, performing seven numbers over a 20-minute segment. Among them were “Peace in the Valley” and “My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again.” Sullivan called Presley a “fine boy” and said he was easy to work with.
Sullivan demanded that the cameramen shoot Elvis only from the waist up this time. Presley sang seven songs: "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Peace in the Valley" (at the request of the network), "Too Much," and "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again."
Joe O'Brien
➦In 1969...NYC personality Joe O'Brien started at WNBC 660 AM. A Yonkers native, O'Brien began his career in 1935 when he got his first radio job with WMCA 570 AM in NYC. He worked at the station for 34 years and became one of the Good Guys team of DJs in the late 1960's. They played Top 40 hits and became nearly as popular as the music they played.
For a time, O'Brien was the No. 1 morning man in New York City.
O'Brien handled morning duties until he was replaced by Don Imus in 1972. Mr. O'Brien then went to WHUD in Peekskill, N.Y. He retired in 1986, but continued to do weekend specials for WHUD until 2000.
He died in a car accident in 2005 at age 90.
➦In 1971...WJRZ 970 AM sold to Pacific Southern. It changed its call letters on May 16 and became WWDJ, known on the air as "97-DJ", attempting to take on WABC and replace WMCA as the New York market's second Top 40 outlet.
For a brief time, program director Mark Driscoll began imaging the station as "9-J", giving rise to a recorded parody of the station called "Nine" produced by a group that included future disk jockeys Howard Hoffman and Randy West.
The station was hampered by a directional signal that covered Manhattan and parts of New Jersey well but suffered in the rest of the Five Boroughs and was virtually nonexistent on Long Island and western New Jersey. Eventually, FM competition from WCBS-FM and adult top 40 station WXLO (now WEPN-FM), and an evolution to adult Top 40 by WNBC (now WFAN), began to eat into WWDJ's ratings. In November 1973 it was ranked 15th in the Arbitron ratings.
Margaret Brennan, moderator of CBS's Face the Nation since 2018 and the network's chief foreign affairs correspondent, faces intense criticism primarily from conservative commentators and Republican figures, who accuse her of liberal bias, uneven fact-checking, and hostility toward right-leaning guests.
The most recent backlash erupted on January 4, 2026, during her interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the U.S. military operation capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Brennan questioned why other indicted regime figures, such as the defense minister with ties to Russia, were not also arrested, expressing confusion over the operation's scope. Rubio sharply rebuked her, calling the suggestion "absurd" and explaining the complexity of simultaneously raiding multiple sites without risking American lives or assets.
Conservative outlets like Twitchy, Daily Caller, RedState, and Gateway Pundit praised Rubio for "schooling" or "torching" Brennan, portraying her questions as downplaying a major U.S. success and reflecting anti-Trump media bias. Viral clips highlighted her facial expressions and body language as evidence of condescension toward Republicans, including during segments with Sen. Tom Cotton.
Similar partisan criticism has recurred. In February 2025, Brennan suggested during an interview that free speech in Nazi Germany was "weaponized to conduct a genocide," prompting accusations of historical inaccuracy (as the Nazis censored speech) and anti-free speech bias tied to Trump-era debates.
In the 2024 VP debate, she fact-checked JD Vance on Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, despite CBS's prior statement against moderator fact-checking—while not similarly interrupting Tim Walz—drawing ire from Trump allies. Clashes with figures like Vance (who famously said "I don't really care, Margaret") and others have fueled memes and claims of rudeness or agenda-pushing.
Critics on X and in right-leaning media often describe her as emblematic of mainstream media hostility toward Trump and Republicans, with calls for her replacement amid perceived efforts at CBS to address bias.
Tina Murley has left her position as Chief Revenue Officer at Beasley Media Group to join Connoisseur Media as Senior Vice President, Western Region, and Market Manager for the company's San Francisco and San Jose markets.
The move, announced on January 5, 2026, positions Murley to oversee Connoisseur's growing Bay Area radio portfolio. The company, under CEO Jeff Warshaw, recently expanded significantly in the region by acquiring Bonneville International's San Francisco cluster—including KUFX (Classic Rock), KBLX (Urban AC), KMVQ (99.7 NOW, Top 40), and KOIT (AC)—which joined existing stations such as KEZR (Hot AC) and KBAY (Country) in San Jose.
Tina Murley
Murley brings more than 30 years of media sales, marketing, and management experience. At Beasley, she progressed from Director of Sales in Boston (2014) to Vice President of Sales (2020) and Chief Revenue Officer (early 2025), overseeing traditional and digital revenue company-wide.
She has been recognized as one of Radio Ink's Most Influential Women in Radio, served on the Radio Advertising Bureau board, and completed the NAB Broadcast Leadership Training program. Her prior roles include sales leadership positions at Viacom, CBS, and Hearst.
The transition highlights ongoing executive shifts and consolidation in the radio industry as companies like Connoisseur aggressively build market share in competitive regions like Northern California.
A federal judge has granted Cumulus Media a preliminary injunction against Nielsen, blocking the ratings company's controversial "Network Policy" that ties access to national radio ratings data to purchases of local market data, while capping standalone national rates during the ongoing antitrust lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled last week, that Cumulus demonstrated irreparable harm, a strong likelihood of success on its monopoly-tying claims under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, a balance of hardships favoring Cumulus, and that the public interest supports the injunction. The order bars Nielsen from enforcing the policy and from charging "commercially unreasonable" rates for its Nationwide Report, defining reasonable rates as equal to or below the highest 2026 annual rate charged to any other broadcaster. Cumulus must post a $100,000 bond to maintain the injunction, which remains in effect throughout the litigation."We're extremely pleased with the Court’s decision," a Cumulus spokesperson said, adding that the ruling "affirms the strength of our position and validates the arguments we’ve made from the outset."
Nielsen, however, vowed to fight on. "Nielsen maintains that its policies and practices are legally compliant, and looks forward to fully vindicating its position as the case proceeds," a company spokesperson said. Nielsen has previously accused Cumulus of using the lawsuit as "lawfare" to demand an "untenable" 50% price reduction it says was never offered, warning that granting such demands could encourage frivolous requests from other subscribers.
The detailed opinion explaining the ruling is currently sealed due to competitively sensitive information, with parties required to propose redactions before a public version is released.
Cumulus filed the antitrust suit in October 2025, alleging Nielsen's tying policy is a "textbook abuse of monopoly power" that forecloses competition—such as from rival Eastlan Ratings—and forces broadcasters to buy unneeded local data. The lawsuit highlighted a 36% price hike for Westwood One's national ratings in 2022, followed by further increases linked to the policy.
Cumulus' prior ratings contract with Nielsen expired Dec. 31, 2025. The injunction ensures continued access to national data under the capped terms as the case advances, potentially influencing pricing and competition in radio audience measurement industry-wide.
92.9 FM ESPN (WMFS-FM/AM), an Audacy station in Memphis, has announced a series of programming updates effective January 12. “J&J” with John Martin and Jason Smith will be heard weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT. “Jeffrey Wright and Company" is extending to a three-hour show and will be on air middays from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT.
After 16 years with 92.9 FM ESPN, veteran columnist Geoff Calkins is departing the station to focus on his lead role at the Daily Memphian. Calkins, a nationally recognized host who helped launch the station and earned numerous industry accolades, will make his final broadcast on January 9. This marks the end of a tenure defined by his popular morning show and long-standing evening segments.
“Since helping launch the station in 2010, Geoff Calkins defined the brand through his unique ability to blend smart, prepared sports storytelling with deeply resonant coverage of the broader Memphis community,” said Brad Carson, Brand Manager and Operations Manager, 92.9 FM ESPN.
“We’re excited for the new generation of talent he personally mentored to build upon the powerful legacy he leaves behind and the foundation he built. Our listeners can remain confident that the station will uphold its commitment to unrivaled sports coverage and the authentic, community-driven storytelling that Memphis relies on.”
The new 92.9 FM ESPN weekday programming lineup is as follows.
6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. CT: "Unsportsmanlike" with Evan, Canty and Michelle
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT: “J&J” with John Martin and Jason Smith
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT: "Jeffrey Wright and Company"
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. CT: "The Gabe Kuhn Show" with former Memphis lineman Gabe Kuhn
For 15 years, 92.9 FM ESPN has served as the flagship station of the Memphis Grizzlies. As a three-time Marconi Award nominee, the station consistently competes with the nation’s largest sports markets. This legacy of quality was honored in 2024 when the station received the Tennessee Broadcaster Award for Best Sports Coverage.
📻Listeners can tune in to 92.9 FM ESPN (WMFS-FM/AM), in Memphis on-air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station via X, Facebook and Instagram.
Public radio stations across the U.S. are grappling with a severe crisis as 2026 begins, following 2025 congressional rescissions that eliminated all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — totaling over $1 billion — forcing layoffs, program cancellations, and potential closures, especially in rural areas where stations relied heavily on these grants for operations and emergency services.
On the commercial side, BIA Advisory Services forecasts a modest rebound with over-the-air radio revenue growing 1.83% in 2026, reversing 2025 declines, while digital revenue is projected to rise 5.01%, driven by political advertising in the midterm election year and emphasis on multi-channel, data-driven sales.
Cumulus Media secured a major legal victory in late 2025 when a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against Nielsen Audio, blocking its bundling policy for national and local ratings data and capping 2026 rates for Cumulus at competitive levels during the ongoing antitrust lawsuit.
Westwood One launched a new national nighttime CHR program, “Nightly with Jade & Tyler,” hosted by Jade Jones and Tyler Frye, debuting today with a focus on Top 40 hits, pop culture, and social engagement.
Momentum is building for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, with House and Senate leaders committing to advance the bipartisan bill early in 2026 to mandate AM receivers in new cars for public safety.
Under FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, the agency is pursuing aggressive deregulation, including a “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative to eliminate outdated rules, with potential relaxation of media ownership caps on the horizon to spur consolidation and local innovation.
Overall, 2026 shapes up as a year of adaptation for radio, with public media facing existential challenges, commercial broadcasters eyeing revenue growth through digital expansion, and regulatory shifts promising reduced burdens amid ongoing industry consolidation and programming refreshes.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is closer than ever to becoming law as 2025 ends, with House Republican leaders committing to an early 2026 floor vote and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) pushing for Senate action amid procedural hurdles.
In a recent NAB Podcast, Senior Vice President of Government Relations Nicole Gustafson outlined the path forward, stressing that continued grassroots advocacy from broadcasters is key to securing passage in the current Congress. She noted three senators have placed objections blocking unanimous consent in the Senate, forcing proponents to seek scarce floor time or attach the bill to must-pass legislation.
The bipartisan measure, dubbed "AM Forever," would mandate AM radio as a no-cost standard feature in all new U.S. vehicles, citing its critical role in public safety and emergency alerts when other systems fail.
Despite overwhelming support — including near-unanimous committee approvals this fall and commitments from Speaker Mike Johnson and other House leaders — procedural delays and congressional gridlock have stalled final votes. A government funding showdown in September further jammed the legislative calendar.
The bill's momentum stems from a swift national backlash after automakers began removing AM receivers from electric vehicles due to interference issues. Ford reversed its decision amid pressure, but others persisted, prompting legislative action.
Introduced nearly three years ago, it rapidly built a diverse coalition: 316 House co-sponsors in the prior Congress, broad Senate backing led by unlikely allies Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Ed Markey (D-MA), and endorsements from groups like AARP, the Heritage Foundation, labor unions, first responders, and emergency agencies.
Gustafson called it a "master class in legislating," fueled by local stations airing PSAs and urging listener outreach to lawmakers. She highlighted AM's reliability in disasters, such as one lawmaker adding support after Hurricane Helene.
As 2026 begins, Gustafson urged broadcasters to keep pressing representatives, emphasizing that local advocacy drives Washington successes: "We’ve laid the groundwork this year. With your help, we can finish the job next year."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio made appearances on all three major Sunday political talk shows—NBC's Meet the Press (hosted by Kristen Welker), CBS's Face the Nation (hosted by Margaret Brennan), and ABC's This Week (hosted by George Stephanopoulos).
These interviews, conducted from Miami, focused heavily on the U.S. military operation the previous day that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were brought to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges.
Key Themes Across the Appearances
Rubio consistently emphasized that the operation was not an act of war against Venezuela but targeted drug trafficking threats to U.S. national security. He downplayed President Trump's statement that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela, clarifying it meant influencing policy direction rather than direct governance. Rubio highlighted ongoing oil sanctions (described as a "quarantine") as primary leverage to push for changes benefiting U.S. interests and the Venezuelan people, including stopping drug flows, gang migration, and adversary influence.
He avoided ruling out future military options, noting the president "retains all optionality," but stressed the current focus on economic pressure over occupation or boots on the ground. Discussions touched on opposition figures like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González (with Rubio expressing admiration but noting practical realities), and potential broader implications (e.g., hints at pressure on Cuba).
Tony Dokoupil made an early debut as anchor of “CBS Evening News” on Saturday, conducting a lengthy interview with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth about the U.S. military raids in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro — two days ahead of his scheduled Monday launch.
The special edition broadcast from a CBS-owned station in San Francisco, as the network rushed to cover President Trump's announcement of the strikes.
It marked Hegseth's first appearance on CBS and his first interview since the operation, personally arranged by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, according to a source familiar with the booking.
During the interview, Dokoupil — whose on-screen graphic labeled Hegseth “Secretary of Defense” rather than the Trump administration's preferred “Secretary of War” — questioned the operation's rationale.
“I want to go back to the rationale tonight: Is it about freedom, or is it about oil?” Dokoupil asked, noting Trump's press conference remarks suggesting both factors played a role. Hegseth cited multiple reasons, including Venezuela's actions against U.S. oil companies, hemispheric security, drugs, and cartels poisoning Americans — all justifying what he called Trump's “bold and courageous action.” He noted the operation proceeded without prior congressional knowledge.
Dokoupil's official “CBS Evening News” launch remains set for Monday from New York. His planned “Live From America Tour,” starting in Miami and visiting U.S. cities, has been delayed until later in the week.
The early debut comes amid scrutiny of CBS's editorial direction under Weiss, including recent statements emphasizing focus on average Americans over elites and new principles like “We love America.” Dokoupil himself posted online last week criticizing legacy media for over-relying on advocates, academics, and elites.
The New York Times and Washington Post delayed publishing details of a secret U.S. military raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after learning of it shortly before the operation began on the night of January 2-3, 2026, in order to avoid endangering American troops.
Senior editors at both outlets agreed to hold their stories for several hours following warnings from the Trump administration that premature reporting could expose and jeopardize U.S. forces involved in the high-risk mission.
The raid, part of Operation Absolute Resolve, involved over 150 U.S. aircraft disabling Venezuelan air defenses, followed by elite Delta Force commandos seizing Maduro and his wife from a compound in Caracas. The operation succeeded without U.S. fatalities, and the outlets published afterward.
This voluntary restraint aligns with longstanding U.S. journalistic practices during sensitive national security operations, where media sometimes withhold details to protect lives—despite no legal mechanism forcing such delays, unlike in some other countries.
Historical examples include delays on stories about the Bay of Pigs invasion, NSA warrantless wiretapping, and recent prisoner exchanges.
The decision has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions between the press and the administration, but sources familiar with the matter emphasized it was driven by ethical considerations for troop safety rather than partisanship.
The raid itself has sparked broader debates over its legality, international reactions, and U.S. intentions in Venezuela.
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