Report: Streaming TV Is Having An Existential Crisis

Streaming television is going through an existential crisis, involving the people who make it and the viewers who watch it. Travie M Andrews at The Washington Post reports its revolutionary zeal has naturally faded, as that initial wave of near limitless expansion, boundless creative opportunities and vast archival choices crashes ashore, after a spate of megamergers and a drop in new subscribers.

Just when streaming has finally attracted more viewers than cable or broadcast TV, its major players are engaged in a long-predicted war for subscribers, who are becoming all too aware of rising subscription prices and, both subtly and directly, a change in what programs get made and how long they stick around. Commercials could soon become more common, and services may be bundled (for one low monthly price!), already triggering visions of a future that recalls the dark days of cable.

The list of seismic rumblings in recent weeks is long, as chronicled in the Hollywood Reporter, Variety and elsewhere: Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting shows from its archives and unfinished movies from HBO Max as it prepares to merge it with its sister streaming service Discovery Plus, having promised its shareholders a $3 billion cut in costs. Faced with a plunging stock price and worrisome subscriber loss, Netflix plans to add an advertising-supported model for a lower price and may crack down on password sharing. Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus, which can all be subscribed to in a cable-esque bundle, are raising prices after taking a more than $1 billion hit in the fiscal third quarter. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime just debuted the most expensive show ever made — a Lord of the Rings drama — in hopes to gain ground in a crowded market.

“The streaming services are moving more toward becoming more similar to the broadcast networks and cable networks that existed before,” said Tim Doyle, a TV writer and producer who has been in the industry for more than three decades. “They’ve suddenly come up with this great idea that if you put in advertising, you can make money selling the ads! So they’re basically just kind of retreating back to the things that are familiar.”

One industry veteran who has worked in both streaming and network television and agreed to speak with The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity to avoid career repercussions, said most services now give “a ton of notes … because they’re risk-averse.”

“My observation is that they’re all trying to develop what I would say is less interesting television,” the creator said. “They all want more networky stuff. The irony to me, and to many, is that networks have destroyed themselves with really bland, cookie-cutting programing over the years and people turned them off more and more. Then streaming came along, especially Netflix, with really interesting stuff. And now I think streaming and Netflix have decided they want their stuff to look more like network. I think in their minds, they think it makes it more accessible. But I think for the audiences, it makes it less interesting.”

James Rabe Now Working The Syndicated Night Shift

Townsquare Media Inc. has announced the next chapter in the exciting journey of our nationally-syndicated Classic Hits show, The Night Shift.

The Night Shift was conceived of by host Craig Allen, WKXW Brand Manager Anne Gress and Townsquare Media SVP/Programming Kurt Johnson, who called the show when it first launched, “Great music, great content all with a nighttime attitude.” For the last three years, Craig has been the man behind the microphone, guiding listeners through his nightly party packed breaks alongside the greatest hits of all time. As Craig moves forward on his own journey, his legacy will forever be wrapped up in the life of The Night Shift.

Carrying that legacy further is James Rabe, the new host of The Night Shift. James is a longtime radio personality and music fan who first hit the airwaves when he was just 16 years old. Since then, James has held down a few heavily-listened-to morning shows and has become a nationally recognized on-air talent heard on stations from Maine to Washington and nearly every state in-between

“Craig is a giant in our industry,” James says of his friend and predecessor. “It is an enormous honor to be asked to host The Night Shift. There are some pretty big shoes to fill here in the studio. For now, I’ll stuff the toes with extra socks.”

After that first broadcast at age 16, James has gone on to interview everyone from Eddie Money and The Beach Boys to Kenan Thompson, Caitlyn Jenner and even Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses.

“The ‘70s, ’80’s and ‘90s are my jam,” James says with his trademark smile. “A big thank you to Townsquare Media for giving me the chance to fulfill a longtime dream.”

When he’s not hosting The Night Shift or his local morning show on Y105 in Rochester, Minnesota, James is an avid supporter of community—whether it’s his or his listeners’.

James Rabe proudly states “The thing I like most about my job is being able to reach into the community and remind people they’re not alone,”. Believing in the actual work of volunteering, James has served on many non-profit boards, from food bank boards to family organizations. On top of that, he’s an organ recipient and is a strong advocate for organ donation.

The Night Shift airs Monday-Friday 7p-Midnight on Townsquare Media Classic Hits radio stations across the U.S., and is available to affiliates and national sponsors through Compass Media Networks. For more information, reach out to Doug Ingold at dingold@compassmedianetworks.com.

San Diego Radio: KSSX Now Importing Tony Cochino For Mornings

iHeartMedia San Diego has announced the  debut the “Tino Cochino Radio Morning Show,” on JAM’N 95.7 (KSSX-FM), Today’s Hip Hop and R&B Station. The “Tino Cochino Radio Morning Show” will air weekdays 6 – 10 am, beginning September 12.

Tino Cochino and his team have enjoyed great success with “Tino Cochino Radio” (TCR), which has become one of the fastest growing radio shows in the country. The team is excited to move into AM Drive with the “Tino Cochino Radio Morning Show.” Listeners can expect to be entertained with relatable topics and situations, including relationship drama, and the show’s take on celebrity buzz with “Tea Time.”

“The graduation from an evening and nighttime show to mornings is one of those moments I’ll forever remember and appreciate,” Cochino said.

Tino Cochino got his start in radio at the age of 13 and has since turned TCR into the #1 English-speaking Latino-hosted radio show in America. The show is cohosted by Serina Perez, DJ Nicasio, and executive producer Matt.

“Tino Cochino exemplifies high-energy, personality-driven radio,” said Joe Haze, Program Director of Jamn 957, Channel 933, and STAR 94.1. “We’re excited to introduce Tino and his team to San Diego’s morning listeners.”

JAM’N 95.7 Programming Lineup:

• 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. Tino Cochino Radio Morning Show
• 10 a.m. – 3p.m. Dreena Gonzalez
• 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Pablo
• 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. Beto

Audacy Sports Stations Ready For Some Football

Audacy, the unrivaled leader in sports radio, is gearing up for kickoff of the 2022-23 NFL and college football season, announcing a series of content across its broadcast and digital portfolio.

“The fall is one of the most exciting times for sports fans and we are thrilled to have expanded our network of former players, analysts, writers, hosts, handicappers, broadcasters and personalities to all corners of the football landscape,” said Matthew Volk, Senior Vice President of Sports, Audacy. “With more than a half-dozen national shows in the NFL and college football landscape, a podcast for every NFL team and more, Audacy has further put its stake in the ground as a clear leader in the sports content ecosystem.”

For the first time ever, in partnership with Westwood One, affiliated Audacy stations will air every national primetime game - Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football - on the Audacy digital platform.

Also new his season, 2400Sports, Audacy’s sports podcast studio, has unveiled seven national football podcasts, including:

Kickoff with Boomer and Valenti: Beginning September 9, WFAN-FM/AM morning show host Boomer Esiason and 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) afternoon show host Mike Valenti are teaming up to deliver a one-stop shop for everything NFL, including all the best matchups, all the football issues, picks, angles, opinions and more. Boomer and Valenti will give listeners unparalleled insight and opinions for all of the weekend NFL action. In addition to the show being available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard, this show will air across all Audacy sports stations. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

The Crew: The Crew is coming to Audacy in its second season. This NFL-centered debate show podcast mixes in a provocative dose of real-life talk with senior NFL insider Josina Anderson, Hollywood actor Morris Chestnut and former NFL cornerback Fred Smoot. This year, the show upgrades its production by filming in-person in Brooklyn, NY once a week. Guests this season will include star athletes along with entertainers, artists and intellectuals. Last year’s VIP list included Marshawn Lynch, Terrell Owens, Sean Payton, Matthew Judon, Chris Harris Jr., Leonard Fournette and many more. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s Twitch channels.

In The Huddle: Starring former NFL player and current Audacy NFL insider Brian Baldinger and 105.7 The Fan host, Audacy NFL insider and NFL reporter Jason La Canfora, In the Huddle dissects film breakdown and the top player, team and league storylines twice a week. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

1st & Pod with Parkins and Poni: 670 The Score’s Danny Parkins and 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi are best friends from college who host radio shows in two very passionate NFL cities, Chicago and Pittsburgh respectively. Separated by about 500 miles but united by their love of the NFL, they are inviting listeners into their group chat. Mondays and Fridays during the season, the guys reunite to catch up and talk storylines and major takeaways from every game. Give them 40 minutes and they’ll give you the league. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Sports Betting Podcasts: The relaunch of sports betting podcast Cash the Ticket sets the stage for the weekend of football with the extra juice listeners need to bet confidently. Every Thursday and Friday, the high energy 97.1 The Ticket duo of Mike Valenti and Jim Costa bring listeners fresh perspectives on everything from the biggest matchups to the best value on the board until the end of the season, breaking down all the trends with the information they need before kickoff. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Additionally, on the BetQL Daily Boost, the BetQL editorial team, led by BetQL managing editor Dan Karpuc and BetQL Network hosts and writers Lucy Burdge and Nick Ashooh, scan the betting landscape each day to find the best odds boosts and tell you why they might be worth a bet. Plus, they each give their best bets of the day. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

The BetQL brand goes local with two regional sports betting podcasts: BetQL Picking Fatties and BetQL Boston. Picking Fatties, hosted by Jason Bishop of “The Sports Junkies” and Scott Torregrossa, focuses on teams and players within the DMV area. BetQL Boston, hosted by WEEI’s Mike Mutnansky, is a Boston sports-betting centric show. These multi-sport podcasts air seven days per week and will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard.

The Five Star Zone: Rico Beard, co-host of 97.1 The Ticket’s “The Valenti Show,” breaks down the latest storylines, teams and matchups around the Big Ten conference, including in-depth, twice weekly analysis of top programs like Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and more. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

4th and Manageable: The biggest clashes in college football often come in the SEC and 4th and Manageable will be the year-round home to all the biggest news, perspective and analysis on the conference. Former ESPN college football analyst Brad Edwards, former NFL quarterback Tyler Bray and reporter Ashley Holder – all alumni of SEC schools Alabama and Tennessee respectively – bring listeners in-depth opinions from both professional experience and the passion of being fans themselves. Edwards, Holder and Bray will be frequently joined by rotating guests of some of the biggest names in the SEC landscape. The show will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Video distribution of the show will be available on Audacy’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Audacy will also offer a robust portfolio of podcast content with a dedicated show for every NFL team this season, including postgame podcasts following every game. These shows will be available on the Audacy app and wherever podcasts are heard. Select shows will be featured weekly on the Audacy app, including: Kickoff with Boomer and Valenti, 1st & Pod with Parkins and Poni and Cash The Ticket, 6 Rings & Football Things and The Five Star Zone. For a full list of team shows, please click here.

With 17 radio play-by-play partnerships – more than any radio broadcaster – Audacy is bringing more fans closer to the action than ever before through its broadcast content. Its rich collection of on-air talent across the country, which includes 40 former NFL players, provides insightful opinions all season long. Weekly interviews, like New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones on WEEI-FM/AM in Boston, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) in Dallas and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on 610 Sports (KCSP-AM) in Kansas City keep fans connected throughout the week as they get ready for Sunday.

This season, Audacy also returns its NFL insider program, featuring some of the biggest names in the game, including Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin, former NFL player and color analyst Brian Baldinger, former NFL player and podcast host Ross Tucker and 105.7 The Fan host and CBS NFL insider Jason La Canfora. The insiders will join Audacy stations and podcasts across the country, providing in-depth analysis of players and teams from the preseason through 2023 NFL Draft.

On CBS Sports Radio stations across the country, Damon Amendolara will continue to host Sunday Morning Football, heard nationally on nearly 200 affiliates, on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET. Zach Gelb returns on “Eye on Football,” a fast-paced look at the day’s NFL action with live updates, analysis and opinion from each game as it happens, Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.

Additionally, to consume a comprehensive collection of stations, podcasts, and on-demand episodes for all 32 teams, the Audacy app now has the ability to search by team name to follow custom pages updated daily with all the latest audio a fan needs in one place – including exclusive interviews, live reactions, rants and expert analysis localized to each market. Audacy will continue to offer 400 hours of weekly video simulcasts of 11 leading sports brands including New York (WFAN-FM), Boston (WEEI-FM), Detroit (WXYT-FM), Chicago (WSCR-AM) Dallas Fort Worth (KRLD-FM), Miami (WAXY-AM), Sacramento (KIFM-AM), San Francisco (KGMZ-FM), Pittsburgh (KDKA-FM), the BetQL Network and “The DA Show” on CBS Sports Network. Coverage is available on Twitch, YouTube and Audacy’s platforms.

Audacy’s BetQL Network – home to You Better You Bet, the No. 1 sports betting podcast in the U.S. – recently announced its fall lineup for this season. Please click here for more info.

Fox Sports Radio Talker Doug Gottlieb Got It Wrong

Sports talker Doug Gottlieb

Sports talker Doug Gottlieb has apologized to MLB agent Casey Close and retracted a controversial report he made about Freddie Freeman in June, reports The NY Post.

Freddie Freeman signed with the Dodgers this past offseason on an eight-year deal worth $168 million. Gottlieb, a host for Fox Sports Radio, tweeted that Freeman had received a late offer to stay with the Braves — but Close didn’t tell him about it, and Freeman was upset with the agent (whom he wound up firing).

In July, Close sued Gottlieb for libel – and now the radio host is eating crow.

“On June 29, I commented on alleged circumstances surrounding Freddie Freeman’s negotiations with the Atlanta Braves and his relationship with his former agent Casey Close. While I always strive to report accurate information, I prematurely reported on these events and simply got it wrong. Upon further vetting of my sources, a review of the lawsuit filed against me in this matter, and a direct conversation with Casey himself, I have learned that the conduct I alleged did not occur and there is no credible basis for stating that it did,” Gottlieb tweeted on Wednesday.

“My ultimate investigation into this matter confirms that Casey Close did, in fact, communicate all offers to Freddie Freeman and the sources I relied on were incorrect, in no uncertain terms. I appreciate the damage that misinformation like this can cause and have been in touch with Casey Close to apologize directly. I have also deleted my original tweet.”

Vegas County Official Held Without Bail in Reporter's Killing

Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles will be held without bail in the fatal stabbing of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, a judge ruled Thursday.

Robert Telles

Earlier in the day, Las Vegas police revealed that Telles’ DNA was found at the crime scene, according to the Review-Journal.

“This is a terrible and jarring homicide — one that has deeply impacted Las Vegas,” Sheriff Joe Lombardo said at a morning news conference. “Every murder is tragic, but the killing of a journalist is particularly troublesome.”

During a later court hearing, prosecutors linked German’s killing to his reporting on Telles’ conduct as an elected official. Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Scow said German’s reporting “ruined his political career, likely his marriage.”

“This was him lashing out, the defendant lashing out, at the cause of the unraveling of his life at this point,” Scow said.

Telles’ defense attorney, Travis Shetler, did not reply to requests for comment. He did not make an argument regarding Telles’ bail on Thursday.

Telles, 45, was arrested in connection with German’s death on Wednesday evening, about 12 hours after police arrived at his west Las Vegas house to conduct a search. He was loaded into an ambulance outside his home, and police said he was suffering from self-inflicted wounds. Authorities described the wounds as superficial cuts on his arms.

R.I.P.: Anne Garrels, Longtime NPR Foreign Correspondent

Anne Garrels, an international correspondent for NPR who reported from the front lines of major conflicts around the world, including during the American “shock and awe” bombing of Baghdad in 2003, died on Wednesday at her home in Norfolk, Conn. She was 71.

Anne Garrels

Her brother, John Garrels, said the cause was lung cancer, according to The NY Times.

Ms. Garrels started her journalism career in television at ABC News. But it was at NPR, where she worked for more than two decades, that she made her name covering strife and bloodshed across the globe. She became known for conveying how momentous events, like wars, affected the people who lived through them. Her backdrops included the Soviet Union, Tiananmen Square, Bosnia, Chechnya, the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Garrels’s reporting is full of history, context, analysis and humor, combined with the skillful use of natural sound.” So read the citation when she won an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for her coverage of the Soviet Union in 1997, though it could have applied to her body of work over the years.

Her elegant personal style and intellectual air masked a zeal for taking risks. She covered both Chechen wars despite a Russian ban on outside journalists. After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, she traveled to Afghanistan to report from the front lines of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. During that trip, when journalists in a convoy were ambushed and killed, Ms. Garrels decided that she would be safer traveling alone‌ and embarked by herself on a two-day bus ride to Kabul.‌

Her most acclaimed reporting came during the 2003 Iraq war. More than 500 journalists, including more than 100 Americans, covered the run-up to the war. But once the United States began the all-out bombing campaign known as “shock and awe,” she was one of 16 American correspondents not embedded with U.S. troops who stayed — and for a time was the only U.S. network reporter to continue broadcasting from the heart of Baghdad.

With her vivid reports often picked up by other broadcasters, Ms. Garrels — and her safety — became a story in itself.

Once she was home, other reporters interviewed her about her ordeal. She told of subsisting on Kit Kat chocolate bars and Marlboro Lights, bathing by gathering water in huge trash cans, and powering her equipment by attaching jumper cables to a car battery, which she lugged up to her hotel room every night.

She admitted to Terry Gross of the NPR program "Fresh Air" that she had been worried at times about being taken hostage, but she said she was usually so exhausted at night that she “slept like a baby through the bombing.”

British Media's Plans Were Coded 'Operation London Bridge'

Anchors and reporters on the United Kingdom’s public service broadcaster appeared onscreen in black clothing on Thursday, as concerns about the health of Queen Elizabeth II intensified.

This was just the first step on a list of strict protocols media organizations such as the BBC were obliged to follow in the event of the Queen’s death, reports Fortune.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement that following an evaluation, the Queen’s doctors were concerned for her health and had decided to keep her under medical supervision.

The Palace said at the time that the 96-year-old monarch, who was at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, was “comfortable.” Meanwhile, it was reported that senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, had traveled to Balmoral to be with the Queen.

At around 4 p.m. London time on Thursday, it was reported that a flight carrying members of the royal family had arrived at Aberdeen Airport near Balmoral.

News anchors at the BBC wore black on Thursday, and regular programming was suspended to make way for a special news show for most of the afternoon.

While many of the U.K.’s major news outlets have had rigorous plans in place for years to prepare for the Queen’s death, the BBC’s protocols—which have been rehearsed for decades—are arguably among the most stringent of them all.

🌉Operation London Bridge

Under Operation London Bridge—a plan specifying in precise detail how the Queen’s death will be communicated to government officials, the media and the public—the news will go out to the media at the precise same moment a footman in mourning clothes crosses the grounds of Buckingham Palace to pin a black-edged notice to the gates, the Guardian reported five years ago.

The BBC will fire up its radio alert transmission system, known as Rats: a Cold War–era alarm that many of the organization’s staff are aware of but have never seen in action.

The broadcaster’s protocols will see its presenters continue to don black clothing after the Queen’s death is officially announced.

Its three main channels—BBC 1, 2 and 4—will be interrupted, as will its radio stations, the latter of which will play somber songs as they prepare to announce the news.

The procedure when it comes to music on the radio isn’t limited to the BBC.

According to leaked documents on Operation London Bridge, every radio station, even hospital channels, have playlists prepared which consist of “Mood 2” or “Mood 1” songs—“sad” and “saddest”—for teams to dip into in case of sudden national mourning.

Meanwhile, obituaries and commentary about the Queen and the royal family will dominate the airwaves across all major U.K. broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky.

Staff at British newspaper the Telegraph have been briefed to wear black clothing into the office for a number of days in the event of the Queen’s death, a source told Fortune.

September 9 Radio History

➦In 1908...Early radio actor, announcer Ed Prentiss born (Died at age 83 – March 18, 1992). He was perhaps best known for portraying the title role on the radio version of Captain Midnight. He was announcer on another kid’s radio favorite, Jack Armstrong the All-American Boy.

He was also the narrator for a number of daily hour of NBC radio soap operas.

➦In 1926... the National Broadcasting Company was created by RCA, the Radio Corporation of America.

NBC is the oldest major broadcast network in the United States. In 1986, control of NBC passed to General Electric (GE), with GE's $6.4 billion purchase of RCA. GE had previously owned RCA and NBC until 1930, when it had been forced to sell the company as a result of antitrust charges.

After the 1986 acquisition, the chief executive of NBC was Bob Wright, who remained in that position until his retirement. He was succeeded by Jeff Zucker. The TV network is currently part of the media company NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast, which formerly operated NBCUniversal in a joint venture with General Electric from 2011 to 2013 (and before that, jointly owned by GE and Vivendi). As a result of the merger, Zucker left NBC and was replaced by Comcast executive Steve Burke.

The radio network officially launched Nov. 15, 1926.  On January 1, 1927, NBC formally divided its programming into two networks, called the Red and the Blue. Legend has it that the color designations originated from the push-pins early engineers used to mark affiliates of WEAF (red pins) and WJZ (blue pins), or from the use of double-ended red and blue colored pencils.

The two NBC networks did not have distinct identities or "formats", and, beginning in 1929, they shared use of the distinctive three-note "NBC chimes". The NBC Red Network, with WEAF as its flagship station and a stronger line-up of affiliated stations, often carried the more popular, "big budget" sponsored programs. The Blue Network and WJZ carried a somewhat smaller line-up of often lower-powered stations and sold air time to advertisers at a lower cost. NBC Blue often carried newer, untried programs (which, if successful, often moved "up" to the Red Network), lower cost programs and unsponsored or "sustaining" programs (which were often news, cultural and educational programs). In many cities in addition to New York, the two NBC affiliated stations (Red and Blue) were operated as duopolies, having the same owners and sharing the same staff and facilities.

On April 5, 1927 NBC reached the West Coast with the launching of the NBC Orange Network, which rebroadcast Red Network programming to the Pacific states and had as its flagship station KGO in San Francisco. NBC Red then extended its reach into the Midwest by acquiring two 50,000–watt clear-channel signals, Cleveland station WTAM on October 16, 1930 and Chicago station WMAQ (coincidentally, a CBS Radio Network charter affiliate) by 1931. On October 18, 1931, Blue Network programming was introduced along the NBC Gold Network, which broadcast from San Francisco's KPO. In 1936 the Orange Network name was dropped and affiliate stations became part of the Red Network. The Gold Network adopted the Blue Network name.

In a major move in 1931, RCA signed crucial leases with the new Rockefeller Center management that resulted in it becoming the lead tenant of what was to become in 1933 its corporate headquarters, the RCA Building, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Under the terms of the lease arrangement, this included studios for NBC and theaters for the RCA-owned RKO Pictures. The deal was arranged through the Center's founder and financier, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., with the chairman of GE, Owen D. Young, and the president of RCA, David Sarnoff.

In 1987 NBC sold its remaining radio network operations to Westwood One, which continued using NBC identification for some of its programming until 2014. Beginning in 2016, NBC Radio News has been distributed in conjunction with iHeartMedia.

Elvis outside the Lamar-Airways Shopping Mall in Memphis 1954

➦In 1954...Young Elvis Presley performed at the opening of Lamar-Airways shopping mall in Memphis, and met audience member Johnny Cash for the first time. In November 1954, Presley performed on Louisiana Hayride—the Opry's chief, and more adventurous, rival. The Shreveport-based show was broadcast to 198 radio stations in 28 states.

➦In 1956...Elvis made the first of three appearances on Ed Sullivan's CBS show. (Sullivan had previously announced he would never have such an act on, but ratings prevailed and Sullivan offered Elvis a record $50,000 for the three shows.) With actor Charles Laughton filling in for an ailing Sullivan. Elvis performed "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender," "Ready Teddy," and "Hound Dog."  A record 54 million viewers -- nearly 83 percent of the nation's sets! -- were tuned-in.

➦In 1958...Stereo records and phonographs were introduced.

➦In 1965...The Hollywood Reporter printed an advertisement looking for ‘Madness rock & roll musicians, singers wanted for acting roles in new TV show. Parts for 4 insane boys.’  From the ad, The Monkees were born.

➦In 1974...George Michael aired first show at 77WABC. From December of that year...

➦In 1997…MLB Hall of Famer and Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Richie Ashburn died.  Starting in 1963 Ashburn became a radio and TV color commentator. He first worked with long-time Phillies announcers Bill Campbell and Byrum Saam. In 1971 Campbell was released by the Phillies and Harry Kalas joined the team. Ashburn worked with two future Ford C. Frick Award winners, Saam and Kalas, for the next few years. Saam retired in 1976, and Ashburn continued working with Kalas for the next two decades, the two becoming best friends. Kalas often referred to Ashburn as "His Whiteness", a nickname Kalas would use for the rest of his life for the man he openly adored.

According to his mother, Ashburn planned on retiring from broadcasting at the end of the 1997 season. He died of a heart attack at age 70 on September 9, 1997, in New York City after broadcasting a Phillies-Mets game at Shea Stadium.

➦In 2018...CBS announced the resignation of their longtime CEO Les Moonves amid accusations he sexually harassed and assaulted numerous women;  a stunning downfall for one of the industry’s most powerful figures.

Dee Dee Sharp is 77

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Topol (“Fiddler on the Roof”) is 87. 
• Singer Inez Fox is 80. 
• Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 77. 
• Guitarist John McFee of The Doobie Brothers is 72. 
• Actor Tom Wopat is 71. 
• Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 70. 
• Actor Angela Cartwright (“The Danny Thomas Show,” ″Lost In Space”) is 70. 

• 

  Michelle Williams is 42

  Actor Hugh Grant is 62. Actor Charles Esten (“Nashville”) is 57. 
• Actor Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) is 57. 
• Actor-comedian Adam Sandler is 56. 
• Model Rachel Hunter is 53. 
• Actor Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”) is 51. 
• Actor Henry Thomas (“E.T.”) is 51. 
• Actor Goran Visnjic (“ER”) is 50. 
• Jazz singer Michael Bublé is 47. 
• Actor Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” ″Dawson’s Creek”) is 42. 
• Singer Paul Janeway of St. Paul and the Broken Bones is 39. 
• Actor Kelsey Asbille (“One Tree Hill,” “Teen Wolf”) is 31.
•  Contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle is 31. 
• Country singer Hunter Hayes is 31.

✞DEATH ANNIVERSARIES

• Mao Tse-tung, the founding father of Communist China, died on this day in 1976. He was 82.
• Actor Burgess Meredith, whose roles included Mickey in Rocky and The Penguin on TV's Batman, died on this day in 1997. He was 89

Queen Elizabeth's Death Is Announced

 The BBC relayed the official News..

Emotional television presenters choked back tears today as they revealed the news that the Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral.

The Daily Mail reports Buckingham Palace announced just after 6.30pm today that the Queen died 'peacefully' this afternoon.

Last known photo - this week

On the BBC, Huw Edwards announced the news solemnly, looking into the camera to repeat Buckingham Palace's statement twice.

Edwards added: 'The new King and Queen consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.' 

The channel then transitioned to a somber instrumental rendition of the national anthem, backdropped by a picture of the late Queen.

Over on Sky news, Dermot Murnaghan said: 'We have some very important news. Buckingham Palace has just announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died. She was 96-years-old.

'The Queen died... just a few moments ago the announcements at Balmoral. She was the longest-serving monarch in British history and the oldest head of state in the world. Her eldest son and heir Charles the former Prince of Wales is now the King.' 

Sky’s Royal Reporter Rhiannon Mills added: ‘This will clearly come as devastating news for the royal family and millions of people across the United Kingdom and around the world.

‘Queen Elizabeth II was a much loved and respected monarch and a truly unique figure on the world stage, a head of state without equal. Admired not just here in the United Kingdom but across the world by members of the public, politicians and religious leaders.’

The reporter added emotionally: ‘Many of us will simply not remember a time when she was not our head of state and she was a constant figure in every aspect of national life.’

On LBC with Andrew Marr and Shaleigh Fogarty the announcement came: ‘Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Queen has died,’ Andrew Marr said as he choked up.

On ITV, Robert Peston said 'A black cloud has descended over House of Parliament.

'There is a deep anxiety. The Queen has played such an important significant role in all our lives, and an important constitutional role.' 

Channel 4's Matt Frei said: ‘Whether you are in favor of the monarch, she is the mother of the nation.

‘Never before have we had a new prime minister and a new monarch in one week.' 

BBC One has suspended all regular programming to provide special Royal coverage after the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

Earlier today Bargain Hunt was taken off air to inform viewers that doctors were 'concerned' about Her Majesty's health, following a statement from Buckingham Palace. 

The BBC One afternoon schedule has been moved to BBC Two. It is unclear when the schedule will return to normal.  

Courtesy of the Daily Mail 9/8/22

As one of the most photographed women in the world, the Queen's reign has been documented through a camera lens year after year. From the earliest picture in a black mourning outfit when she had been sovereign for just one day to walking her corgis and through coal mines, this stunning collection of photographs documents her historic reign. 

Pictured: The Queen in a black outfit as she returns to Clarence House in London after the death of her father King George VI on February 7, 1952 (top left); in a leopard-skin coat at a horseracing event in 1962 (top, second from left); in her study at Balmoral on September 1, 1972 (second from right); in the South Sea Islands in 1982 (top right); assessing the damage caused by the Windsor Castle fire in 1992 (bottom left); enjoying a walkabout during a visit to Canada in 2002 (bottom, second from left); laughing with the Duchess of Cambridge whilst watching a children's sport event in Nottingham (2012); and at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2022 (bottom right).

Police Arrest Democrat Official In Reporter’s Stabbing Death

Clark County, Nevada Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested on suspicion of murder Wednesday evening in the fatal stabbing of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, whose investigation of the politician contributed to his primary election loss in June.

Victim: Jeff German

The Journal-Review reports the stunning development came a day after Las Vegas police asked for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in the case. An early morning search of Telles’ home on Wednesday provided the first indication that the Friday killing might be related to German’s work exposing public wrongdoing. The investigative reporter was pursuing a potential follow-up story about Telles in the weeks before he was killed.

Police arrived at Telles’ home on Spanish Steps Lane in the western valley around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday and blocked off nearby streets. Shortly before 9 a.m., police released a statement saying they were “currently serving search warrants” in connection with the homicide investigation.

They provided no further information until Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told the Review-Journal at around 6:30 p.m. that Telles had been arrested. Shortly before that, a Review-Journal photographer captured an image of Telles on a stretcher as he was loaded into an ambulance.

“The arrest of Robert Telles is at once an enormous relief and an outrage for the Review-Journal newsroom,” Executive Editor Glenn Cook said. “We are relieved Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official. Journalists can’t do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution. We thank Las Vegas police for their urgency and hard work and for immediately recognizing the terrible significance of Jeff’s killing. Now, hopefully, the Review-Journal, the German family and Jeff’s many friends can begin the process of mourning and honoring a great man and a brave reporter.”

The breakthrough in the case came after police released an image of a vehicle tied to the homicide suspect: a red or maroon GMC Yukon Denali.

Police released the image during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Later that evening, Review-Journal reporters observed Telles in the driveway of his home, standing next to a vehicle matching that description.

Apple Unveils New Hardware, Holding iPhone Prices Steady

Apple Inc. on Wednesday began a third year of nudging customers to iPhones with 5G-capable technology, betting iterative enhancements will still appeal to buyers who haven’t upgraded to the latest offerings, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The iPhone 14 lineup took center stage for customers and investors at the company’s annual September event at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters and on its website. The new models are an evolutionary offering after the late 2020’s iPhone 12 brought 5G cellular capability for the first time. 5G has been touted as offering faster download speeds, appealing for streaming video and videogames.

The tech giant focused on safety features for the iPhone 14 lineup and newest smartwatches, adding sensors that can detect car crashes and alert authorities. The new smartphones will get satellite connectivity for sending emergency messages to use in areas not touched by cellular towers.

Many analysts had expected to see Apple increase prices for some iPhones, but the company kept starting prices the same compared with a year ago for both base and high-end models. It dropped the cheapest iPhone Mini version.

Demand for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups helped Apple post record profits and sales in the past two years. IPhone revenue rose 39% in fiscal 2021 and is expected to rise another 6.7% to a record $205 billion this fiscal year, which ends later this month.

“The iPhone’s sales performance year to date has been impressive, and is the biggest reason why the company has largely bucked the economic downturn,” said Gene Munster, managing partner at Loup Ventures. “Keeping that segment’s momentum going this holiday in the face of a stressed consumer will be top of mind for investors when the new models are unveiled.”

Apple has defied an industrywide decline in smartphone shipments, which slipped almost 9% in the past quarter compared with a year earlier, according to researcher International Data Corp. During the first half, the bright spot in the market was smartphones priced above $900, according to Counterpoint Research.

Philly Radio: Mike Missanelli Signs Podcast Deal

Longtime sports talk radio host Mike Missanelli has signed a deal with Chicago-based gaming and betting company Rush Street Interactive to serve as a podcaster and brand ambassador for its BetRivers Network, reports The Philly Business-Journal.

Starting with the first week of the NFL season, Missanelli will tape two weekly podcasts that will be carried on BetRivers Network, along with all major podcast platforms. He will also represent BetRivers on multiple shows within and outside the sportsbook's network and appear in commercials across several radio, TV and digital mediums.

Mike Missanelli

Missanelli's duties also include meet-and-greet appearances at select sporting events throughout Greater Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Rush Street operates Rivers Casino on Delaware Avenue in Fishtown and its BetRivers.com online casino and sportsbook.

Missanelli abruptly left WPEN 97.5 The Fanatic on May 31 after serving as its afternoon drive host and ratings kingpin since joining the station in 2010. Missanelli, a former Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer who also has a law degree, had served two stints at rival SportsRadio 94 WIP-FM and wound up getting fired in 2008 due to an alleged altercation with an on-site producer. His afternoon drive show on The Fanatic took off and Missanelli usurped WIP in his time slot and fended off challengers such as the abrasive Josh Innes for almost a decade.

In a prepared statement, Missanelli said he is “raring to go" with the BetRivers Network.

"Joining the BetRivers team lets me share my love for Philadelphia sports in new ways and I really look forward to providing my insights to bettors at BetRivers here in my home state and in RSI markets throughout the country," he said.

Missanelli joins a stable of media personalities on the BetRivers Network of podcasts in its larger markets, including Mike Francesa in New York City, Dan "Danny Mac" McNeil in Chicago and Mark Madden in Pittsburgh. Francesa, like Missanelli, hosted a wildly popular afternoon drive sport talk show for New York’s WFAN, a sister station of Audacy’s WIP.

Rush Street is one of several casinos and sportsbooks that have been busy recruiting high-profile media personalities to produce content for them. FanDuel this week announced that Kay Adams, former host of the NFL Network's Good Morning Football, will debut on FanDuel TV with a weekday show called "Up and Adams."

For Missanelli, this marks his second post-Fanatic gig. Earlier this summer, JAKIB Media Partners announced he will join the digital platform's Philadelphia Eagles postgame show this season, beginning with the team's season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Missanelli will join former Eagles star Seth Joyner, reporter Derrick Gunn and host Devan Kaney for the online show, which broadcasts live from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City and airs on 6abc.com and YouTube.

R.I.P.: Bernard Shaw, An Original CNN News Anchor

Bernard Shaw (1940-2022)

Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw died Wednesday at the age of 82 of pneumonia, the network announced.

Shaw became the first chief anchor for the network in 1980 and remained with the network for over 20 years. A closed funeral for Shaw will be held for family and close friends along with a public memorial, according to his family.

"Bernie was a CNN original and was our Washington Anchor when we launched on June 1st, 1980," CNN chief Chris Licht said in a statement. "He was our lead anchor for the next twenty years from anchoring coverage of presidential elections to his iconic coverage of the First Gulf War live from Baghdad in 1991."

CNN chief executive Chris Licht announces the death yesterday of legendary former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw. pic.twitter.com/ODEM7r3HAU

— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) September 8, 2022

"Even after he left CNN, Bernie remained a close member of our CNN family providing our viewers with context about historic events as recently as last year. The condolences of all of us at CNN go out to his wife Linda and his children," Licht continued.