Fox News Digital Sees Double-Digit Monthly Growth

FOX News Digital finished January continuing its streak as the top news brand with both multiplatform views and minutes seeing double-digit monthly growth, according to Comscore. 

Notably, this marks 35 consecutive months that FOX News Digital has led news brands with multiplatform minutes and 16 consecutive months that it has been the leader in multiplatform views. FOX News Digital closed out the month reaching 3.3 billion total multiplatform minutes, 1.7 billion total multiplatform views, and 110 million multiplatform total digital unique visitors.* 

Additionally, FOX News Mobile App reached 6 million unique visitors in January, beating CNN’s mobile app for the second straight month.**

FOX News was once again the most engaged brand on social media in the competitive set in November, with 22.3 million total social interactions, marking the 113th consecutive month FOX News has placed on top, according to Emplifi. FOX News drove 5.5 million interactions on Facebook, 14.9 million Instagram interactions and 1.9 million X interactions, seeing double digit month-over-month gains across all platforms. On YouTube, FOX News secured 186 million video views, according to Shareablee.****

FOXBusiness.com drove 178 million multiplatform views in January, surpassing CNN Business and Bloomberg.com once again. Additionally, the business site delivered 264 million multiplatform minutes (+8% vs. December) and 28.4 million multiplatform unique visitors (up 6% vs. December).*** FOX Business’ videos on YouTube remained the most viewed among the business news competitive set for the 26th straight month, achieving 59.3 million views in January which was up 35% year-over-year, according to Shareablee.*****

➤JANUARY 2024 FOX NEWS DIGITAL VS. CNN.COM AND NYTIMES.COM

Radio History: February 16

➦In 1901...American musician, songwriter, singer and orchestra leader Wayne King was born in Savanna, IL.

In early radio of the 1920`s his band was featured in half-hour`remote` broadcasts from Chicago`s Aragon Ballroom.  In the 1930`s he was heard on the networks in weekly half-hour broadcasts for Lady Esther cosmetics, a line he is credited with popularizing.  In the mid-40`s he was a summer replacement for the Jack Benny and Jimmy Durante programs.  The saxophonist and bandleader died July 16, 1985 at age 84.

Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen

➦In 1903...American actor, comedian and radio performer, Edgar Bergen was born (died September 30, 1978 at age 75).    With his little wooden ‘sidekicks’ Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd, he delighted audiences for decades.  He had a featured Sunday evening show first on NBC and then on CBS Radio from 1937 to 1955.  He died in his sleep following a performance in Las Vegas Oct 1 1978 at age 75. He was also the father of actress Candice Bergen.

➦In 1922...WDAF (now Sports KCSP)  was started by the Kansas City Star. The official starting date is open to dispute, because the Star's broadcasting activities pre-dated WDAF.

On February 16, 1922, the Star used WOQ, the station of the Western Radio Company, to broadcast what the newspaper described as a "wireless telephone concert". The Star had just constructed radio studios at its building at 18th and Grand. In that evening's newspaper, the program appeared on the front page:

Courtesy of route56.com

The Star adopted the WDAF call letters May 16, 1922. WDAF bounced around various frequencies, traveling to 750, 730, 680, 820 and 810 kHz. WDAF moved to 610 kHz in 1928, splitting time with station WOQ. WDAF joined the NBC radio network before moving to 610 kHz, running both Red & Blue programs up until 1930, when they became a primary NBC Red affiliate.

It also had become the westernmost affiliate of the NBC Red Network. WDAF retained its NBC affiliation well into the 1960s.

WDAF changed its call letters KCSP on September 23, 2003, after moving the longtime country music format to the FM. Entercom still maintains the WDAF-FM call letters at 106.5. Today KCSP airs Sports Talk.

➦In 1929...KGIO changed call letters to KID-AM in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

The station was first licensed under the call letters KGIO, and began broadcasting on December 3, 1928 on a frequency of 1320 kHz.  On February 16, 1929, the call was changed to KID, and the station began broadcasting under this call.  The station had moved to 1350 kHz by 1942 (likely in the March 29, 1941 changes, pursuant to the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, that saw many stations raise frequency by 10 to 30 kHz), where it stayed for several years.  In 1950, the station changed from 1350 to its current 590 kHz frequency.

Today the station is owned by Townsquare Media and airs a News/Talk format at 590 AM.

Sonny & Cher

➦In 1935...Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono born (died in a skiing accident January 5, 1998 at age 62).  A talented songwriter and astute businessman, the multi-talented Sonny was, was, if not a great singer, then definitely an entertainer … I Got You Babe, Baby Don’t Go, The Beat Goes On. On TV, he co-starred in The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.  After show biz he became mayor of Palm Springs, CA, then a U.S. Congressman.

KC Radio: KKFI Personality Shooting Victim

Kansas City radio station KKFI confirmed Wednesday night that DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of “Taste of Tejano,” was killed in the shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.

Authorities said earlier that one person died and 21 others were hit by gunfire after a shooting broke out at the end of the event.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the station confirmed Lopez-Galvan’s death, saying the "senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC community."

“It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs' rally. Our hearts and prayers are with her family,” the statement read. “We encourage anyone who feels they saw something to reach out to law enforcement at 816 234 5111."

The shooting took place west of Union Station414, outside near the garage, as Chiefs fans were leaving, Kansas City police said earlier in the day. According to the police, three suspects have been detained.

At least one firearm was recovered, the police said. A motive remains unclear.

Gunshot victims were transported to several hospitals in the area, including eight with "immediately" life-threatening injuries and seven with life-threatening injuries, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

George Soros Firm To Become Largest Audacy Shareholder

George Soros’ investment firm is expected to become the largest shareholder of Audacy, the bankrupt owner of WEEI and other Boston radio stations. Audacy operates 225 stations in 45 U.S. markets, and its podcasts have more than 150 million monthly downloads.

Soros Fund Management, founded by the billionaire backer of Democratic politicians and causes, now has more than $414 million of Audacy’s debt, according to The Boston Herald citing a court filing this week.

The Soros investment firm appeared on a list of Audacy’s lenders in the filing out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Bloomberg was the first to report on Soros Fund Management and Audacy.

Soros Fund Management, a New York City-based investment manager for certain funds and accounts, has $279.8 million in term loans and $135 million in revolving credit.

Audacy filed for prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy at the start of the year, as the company’s leader blamed a “perfect storm” of financial challenges sparking a drop of several billion dollars in radio ad spending.

Meanwhile, the company entered into a restructuring agreement with a supermajority of its debtholders.

“The decision by our existing and new debtholders to become equity holders in Audacy represents a significant vote of confidence in our company and the future of the radio and audio business,” an Audacy spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We expect to emerge from our restructuring process with a strong capital structure and well-positioned to capitalize on our strategic transformation into a scaled leading multi-platform audio content and entertainment company,” the spokesperson added. “We intend to continue running our business, executing our strategy and delivering for our listeners and advertisers as we always do.”

Audacy anticipates that it will emerge from bankruptcy once regulatory approval is obtained from the Federal Communications Commission.

Other Audacy lenders named in the filing out of bankruptcy court include Goldman Sachs Asset Management, PGIM, SI Capital Commercial Finance, Solus Alternative Asset Management, and Mockingbird Credit Opportunities Company.

Beyonce Gets Cool Reception From Country Radio

Their quick rise to the top of the listening charts suggests audiences and fans are eating up the two new songs Beyoncé unexpectedly dropped in the middle of the Super Bowl, but radio executives may be harder to convince, as airplay for the much talked-about songs has yet to catch up to their apparent popularity, Forbes is reporting.

“Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” were No. 2 and 3, respectively, on the Apple Music charts as of Wednesday, the former holds a spot on Spotify’s Global Top 100 and on Tuesday Beyoncé became the first Black woman to top the Apple Music Country Chart.

The two visualizers—video content that does not have the production of a full music video— released with each song have racked up millions of views on YouTube: "16 Carriages" has been viewed 2.25 million times and "Texas Hold 'Em" had 2.7 million views as of Wednesday afternoon.

But despite the accolades, the songs have lagged behind in radio play—especially in country music.

As of Tuesday, only eight of the 150 stations that report to Billboard’s Country Airplay chart reported having played “Texas Hold ‘Em” in its first day—one station played it twice—and none said they had put the slower “16 Carriages” on the air.

Neither of Beyoncé’s new singles made it onto Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, with the publication reporting that “Texas Hold ‘Em” was played “over 200 times” though mostly on pop stations, while “16 Carriages” didn’t receive much air time at all.

TWH Frustrated With Media Reports

The White House is making its frustration over recent media coverage known.

In a letter Tuesday to the White House Correspondents’ Association, Ian Sams, spokesperson for the White House Counsel’s Office, expressed concern over how the news media has covered Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on President Joe Biden’s handling of classified material.

In the letter, which CNN is first to report, Sams conceded that “covering the report is challenging,” given that it is “nearly 400 pages long” and “not straightforward.” Hur’s references to Biden’s mental acuity, he acknowledged, have stolen attention from the crux of the matter, writing that Hur’s “wrong and inappropriate personal comments have distracted from due attention to the substance.”

“But those facts stress the importance of careful, patient coverage,” Sams wrote. “Instead, many outlets have reported striking inaccuracies that misrepresent the report’s conclusion about the President, and reporters in the White House Briefing Room have asked questions that include false content or are based on false premises.”

2/15 WAKE-UP CALL: Radio DJ Dead, Many Wounded

Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory parade dissolved into chaos yesterday when a gunman opened fire near the city’s Union Station, killing one person and injuring at least 20 others, including 11 children. Many in the crowd of hundreds of thousands ran for cover when the gunshots started. 

At least one person was killed and at least 22 others were shot after a shooting at the tail end of the Chiefs' Super Bowl parade in Kansas City, Missouri, where over 800,000 people were in attendance. With three suspects in custody, @Perezreports. https://t.co/MHSbvvkZKY pic.twitter.com/FU9MoCTwOs

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) February 15, 2024

Three people allegedly linked to the shooting were detained, according to the Kansas City police chief. They included one armed suspect who was wrestled to the ground by fans attending the celebration. Local news station KMBC said the Kansas City Chiefs players had left the stage and were on their buses at the time of the shooting, but some emerged to help comfort children caught in the melee.

Breaking: Alyssa Marsh-Contreras
KMBC 9 viewer video shows police taking a person into custody outside of Union Station following a shooting at the #ChiefsParade 2024 Super Bowl Rally. #GunControlNow #ItsTheGuns pic.twitter.com/B5QuBDbGqV

— SillyClaw 🦀 (@_sillyclaw) February 14, 2024

A fearsome situation erupted Wednesday when gunshots rang out in a crowd near Kansas City's Union Station Wednesday afternoon, shortly after a Super Bowl victory parade for the Chiefs. At least one person was killed. a DJ for KKFI,  and 10 people were wounded, Kansas City officials said. Two armed people have been taken into custody, police said.

JUST IN: The moment a man was tackled by brave Chiefs fans after the shooting at Union Station in Kansas City.

The fans could be seen heroically tackling the suspect as he ran away.

Shortly after the man was tackled, police swarmed the area where they found a gun.

A sniper… pic.twitter.com/lhoYxGKNr9

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 14, 2024

Areas that had been filled with crowds just moments before the shooting were empty after terrified fans ran for cover. Before the chaos unfolded, throngs of people had lined the route, with fans climbing trees or standing on rooftops for better views of the celebration. Players rolled through the crowd on double-decker buses, DJs and drummers heralding their arrival for the festivities to mark the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers.

“I’m angry at what happened today.”

One person was killed and up to 15 were injured in a shooting at the end of the parade to celebrate the Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs, the city’s police chief said. pic.twitter.com/PSCZhYj9sq

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 14, 2024

➤FOUR D-C OFFICERS WOUNDED: At least four law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C., were injured, three by gunfire, when a suspect shot at them from inside a home Wednesday morning as they tried to serve a warrant for animal cruelty. DC police said shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday that authorities were negotiating with the suspect. "Sometimes he's up, sometimes he's down," Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said, indicating the person may be moving between floors. "But we're still in communication with the subject."

She said the department is investigating whether police officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, the suspect fired at police who tried to enter the home and hit three officers. Police said the suspect had refused orders to come outside. A fourth officer was also injured at the scene, but not by gunfire, Glasgow said. All the officers' injuries are not life-threatening, though all four were taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said.

➤RUSSIA MAY BE GOING NUCLEAR IN SPACE: The U.S. has informed Congress it has new intelligence detailing Russia's desire to put a nuclear weapon in space, according to U.S. officials. The intelligence, confirmed by two officials not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, will be the subject of a meeting between President Joe Biden's top national security adviser and congressional leaders Thursday. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, warned of a "serious national security threat" in an ominously worded statement Wednesday ahead of the planned meeting. 

KC TV Videos Shows Police Running To Shooting Area

NY Post Composite 2/14/24

Three sports journalists were reporting live on air when they realized a deadly shooting had erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade Wednesday.

Channel 41 reporters Caitlin Knute, Kevin Holmes and Mick Shaffer were happily discussing the day’s celebrations in the Missouri city while they slowly realized there was an unusual amount of shrieking and running coming from the thousands of fans in the streets.

“We’ve got, uh — crowds are dispersing,” a confused Knute said as the camera panned to the crowd frantically looking for cover, shortly after shots rang out at the end of the victory parade west of Union Station.

Channel 41 reporters Caitlin Knute, Kevin Holmes and Mick Shaffer were on air when the shooting broke out.

Shaffer attempts to explain the sudden dispersment, but finds himself unable to find an answer before anchor Holmes trepidatiously notes: “It looks like they are running.”

The trio continues watching on in confusion as the realization that they could be in danger settles in.

“We might have a situation here. We’re trying to keep an eye on it,” Knute said.

“The crowds are dispersing rather quickly, and it looks a little different than in normal years,” Holmes added.

“We’re not sure if they’re rushing to their vehicles, or to the shows, or if there’s some sort of disturbance. I can see people jumping the fence right now, and I’m not sure exactly where it is that they’re going.”

My view from the KSHB set as police streamed into Union Station. pic.twitter.com/uL5izQnUKu

— Mick Shaffer (@mickshaffer) February 14, 2024

Footage shows the Chiefs fans desperately running in various directions as some officers weave through the crowds.

One group of jersey-wearing celebrants can be seen kneeing and laying low to the ground.

There had been a heavy police presence at the parade all day in anticipation of any type of disturbance, Knute notes.

That’s when bystanders began shouting at the three reporters, who were filming from an elevated stage, to take cover.

“Some people in the crowd are telling us to get down,” Knute said, before asking her in-station teammates to take over the broadcast so that she, Holmes and Shaffer could find safety.

One person was killed in the chaotic shooting and nine others were injured. Three victims were in critical condition, while five others suffered serious injuries, fire officials said.

Several suspected shooters were taken into custody.

Tampa Radio: Mike Calta Gets Long-Term Deal At WHPT

 Cox Media Group on Monday announced that Mike Calta has signed a new multi-year contract to stay at 102.5-FM “The Bone,” marking two decades in the Tampa Bay area radio scene.

Calta will continue his role as host of Tampa’s No. 1 morning drive talk show, “The Mike Calta Show,” weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m.

Calta has been with The Bone since 2007. In 2014, he rebranded himself and his show and stopped using the on-air name Cowhead. He started in Tampa Bay radio in 1989 at 93.3 WFLZ-FM, then known as the Power Pig.

“I’m grateful and proud to be continuing my radio career with CMG in my home Tampa Bay,” Calta said in a statement. “At 50 years old, my window to being a male dancer has surely closed, so this contract is extra special to me and my family.”

This multi-year deal will mark a 20-year partnership for Mike Calta and 102.5 The Bone, the station said.

“I couldn’t be more excited that The Mike Calta Show will continue to call 102.5 The Bone home for many years to come,” said John Brennan, director of branding and programming for 102.5 The Bone.

Radio's Digital Share Poised for Greater Growth in 2024

The radio industry’s digital revenue rang in at a healthy 6.8% last year, reaching $1.9 billion and stealing market share from other local media competitors. The average market cluster now makes more than $2 million in digital sales. For 2024, the industry is likely to see double-digit growth rates, pushing revenue past the $2 billion mark as digital sales approach nearly $1 in every $5 of revenue.

The findings are part of RAB’s 12th annual digital benchmarking report, a 52-page document detailing how radio stations are developing their digital operations. The report, sponsored by Marketron, covers sources of digital revenue, attitudes of radio managers on how digital sales are developing, sales compensation and what types of digital products radio advertisers plan to purchase this year.

Among the findings:

• Radio grew market share of “obtainable digital revenue” for local media companies, stealing share from competitors.
• Strong digital sales since the pandemic have helped restore overall growth to the radio industry, delivering a positive Compound Annual Growth Rate of 6.4% since 2020 when adding digital and core radio revenue.
• Seventy percent of radio buyers are planning to purchase something new this year; the top three things are digital products that most stations sell.
• More than half of radio buyers don’t yet buy digital advertising from their radio station, signaling large upside potential.
• Station managers are clamoring for more digital-only sales reps to meet demand.

Edison Unveils Top U-S Podcasts Q4 2023

Looking for the most popular podcasts in the U.S.? This week Edison Research announced the Top 50 Podcasts based on number of weekly listeners for Q4 2023 among weekly podcast listeners age 13+. Edison Podcast Metrics is the only podcast measurement service in the U.S. that measures the relative audience size of all podcasts and podcast networks; this includes networks and shows that have not opted in to other industry rankers.

The top three podcasts had no change in rank from Q3, with The Joe Rogan Experience, Crime Junkie, and The Daily taking those spots, respectively. Changes are noted in the ranker below. 

1. The Joe Rogan Experience  
2. Crime Junkie 
3. The Daily 
4. Stuff You Should Know (+5) 
5. Dateline NBC (+5) 
6. New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce (Top 10 debut) 
7. This American Life (-3) 
8. This Past Weekend w/Theo Von (-3) 
9. The Ben Shapiro Show (+8) 
10. SmartLess (-4) 

While there was some movement among ranks four through ten in the Top 10, the big story is New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. New Heights not only broke into the Top 10 in Q4 at #6, but the show skyrocketed straight into the Top 10 from #67 in just one quarter (Q3), having been out of the Top 100 podcasts in the prior quarter (Q2). Edison Podcast Metrics data detailed the “Taylor Swift Effect” on New Heights in Q4 of 2023 as the show gained four and a half times the number of listeners, and saw a change in composition to 50% female weekly listeners.

Geraldo Rivera Gets New Gig With NewsNation

Geraldo Rivera and his iconic mustache have found a new basic cable home, TVLine is reporting.

The former Fox News personality has joined NewsNation effective immediately, where he’ll serve as correspondent-at-large and appear across the network’s daytime and primetime programming.

“Geraldo is a legendary journalist whose talent and experience is unrivaled in the industry,” Michael Corn, president of news at NewsNation, said in a statement. “We look forward to him joining the network and providing our viewers with his one-of-a-kind analysis.”

Fox News released the following statement in 2023 when Rivera exited: “We reached an amicable conclusion with Geraldo over the past few weeks and look forward to celebrating him tomorrow on Fox & Friends which will be his last appearance on the network.”

Geraldo Rivera

“I feel so verklempt,” Rivera said at the time. “I am leaving Fox, my dear friends. I was fired from The Five, so then I said, ‘I might as well resign totally,’ and I quit. And today is my last day. But I want to leave not thinking about those things; I want to leave thinking about how wonderful everyone has been to me.”

Two weeks later, Rivera appeared on ABC’s The View and alluded to a contentious relationship with one of the hosts of The Five.

“I was fired from The Five, the kind of antithesis to this program, the bitter enemy,” he said. “I had a very toxic relationship with another [one] of the cast members.”

He didn’t name names, but he was quick to rule out Jeanine Pirro. “I discovered Jeanine!” he exclaimed, referring to her myriad appearances on his eponymous 1990s talk show at the height of the O.J. Simpson trial.