Bob Iger To Step Down In 2026

Bob Iger

Disney CEO Bob Iger told the New York Times’ DealBook Summit on Wednesday he will “definitely step down” once his contract expires at the end of 2026.

The executive returned to the entertainment giant in November 2022 following the ouster of his successor-turned-predecessor Bob Chapek.

“I was disappointed in what I was seeing in the transition period and while I was out,” he said, but noted that he “worked hard at distancing myself from it.” He added that a “robust” process is currently underway to identify a new successor.

Edison: How The Pandemic Disrupted At-Home Listening

When Edison Research began measuring all audio in 2014 with their Share of Ear® product, at-home listening accounted for about 50% of all time spent with audio. That number hardly ever changed, never varying by more than one or two points in either direction as we updated the data quarter by quarter.

Then, of course, came the disruptions of COVID-19, and the picture of where people listened to audio abruptly changed. At-home listening immediately spiked to 60% of listening, and since then has only slowly retreated. In our most recent update, at-home listening accounts for 56% of all audio time. Clearly, the move of so many office workers to “work from home” has been a sticky phenomenon. Note that Edison asked respondents specifically where they are, and not what they are doing. So, while they also ask about listening in a workplace, someone who works from home is instructed to designate that as at-home listening.

There is a story deeper inside the numbers. Edison conducts the same number of interviews each day of the week, so they can actually visualize on which days people are going back into workplaces the most.

The nearby chart shows the gain in at-home listening between our 2019 or pre-pandemic estimate, and our most recent update:

As clearly shown above, Monday stands alone with the biggest rise in audio listening-from-home.

Intriguingly, before the pandemic Monday was typically the day with the least amount of at-home listening, now it is by a significant margin the weekday with the most. Wednesdays and Thursdays are by far the weekdays with the least at-home listening and as can be seen, with the least change in at-home listening compared to before the pandemic disruptions.

For many office workers, the workweek pattern is forever changed, or at least undone until the next disruption comes along.

Jimmy Fallon’ Tops Late Night Ratings

Cher w/Jimmy Fallon

“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” has topped late night ratings for the third week in a row, TheWrap can reveal exclusively.

During the week of Nov. 20-24, the late night show averaged a 0.30 rating in the key broadcast demo among adults 18-49, coming in first place among its peers, as “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” came next in second place with an average 0.24 rating while “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” trailed in third place with a rating of 0.15, according to Nielsen figures.

The 0.30 rating brought in by Fallon during the Thanksgiving week — which stands out as the best demo score any late night talk show has seen in a year — builds on the NBC late night show’s victory the week prior, as it averaged a 0.17 rating during the week of Nov. 13-17 — outpacing Kimmel’s average rating of 0.16 and Colbert’s rating of 0.13 in the demo.

Fallon also tied for the highest rating among late night talk show programming during the week of Nov. 6-10 as both shows averaged a 0.15 rating.

11/30 WAKE-UP CALL: Henry Kissinger Dead

Former presidential adviser Henry Kissinger has died, according to a statement posted on his website, bringing to a close one of the most polarizing and influential diplomatic lives in U.S. history. He died Wednesday at his home in Connecticut, said a statement by his consulting firm. He was 100 years old. The German-born academic was the only American official ever to concurrently serve as both secretary of state and White House national security adviser, giving him immense power during the Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford presidencies. That helped him end the U.S. war in Vietnam and to shape American foreign policy toward the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.

Kissinger’s diplomatic coups made him a hero to war-weary Americans fearing nuclear armageddon. But he drew the ire of both the American left, which held him responsible for brutalities committed abroad, and the right, which regarded him with suspicion for advocating detente with Communist regimes.  Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, along with the Vietnamese leader Le Duc Tho, for pursuing secret diplomatic talks that forged the Paris Peace Accords, ending the U.S. military campaign in Southeast Asia. 

➤TRUCE EXTENDED FOR ADDITIONAL DAY: Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the temporary truce by one day, following the release of 16 hostages held by militants in Gaza. Qatar announced the extension early Thursday. Before that announcement, 10 Israelis, including one who is also a U.S. citizen, were released as part of the soon-to-expire deal. Four Thai nationals and two Israeli-Russian citizens were also released, but they aren’t considered to be covered by the existing deal. In exchange, 30 Palestinians who had been imprisoned were freed under the truce deal, the Israeli prison service said. Israel is open to a new round of negotiations for the release of Israeli men and soldiers held in Gaza once all the civilian women and children hostages are freed, a senior official said Wednesday, indicating that the current truce could extend beyond this week, even as the Israeli government says it is prepared to resume its war with Hamas if necessary. Israeli leaders have come out strongly against a permanent cease-fire, in a demonstration of how the government is caught between Israelis’ conflicting desires to eradicate Hamas and bring home some 200 people captured on Oct. 7.

Hamas has freed 16 hostages, including American-Israeli Liat Beinin, a 49-year-old mother of three. At least eight Americans are still in captivity as negotiations to extend the six-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war continues. @mattgutmanABC reports. https://t.co/Rltse0bGSa pic.twitter.com/1LP8Zj4aEc

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 30, 2023

➤HOSTAGE FAMILIES HAVE QUESTION FOR BIDEN: The families of Americans still being held hostage by Hamas had a question for the Biden administration Wednesday morning. “Where are the U.S. Citizens?” Ruby Chen, the father of a 19-year-old Israeli American soldier being held by Hamas, said he planned to ask White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Chen, speaking with reporters Wednesday, wondered why only one American had been among the dozens of hostages released by Hamas in recent days. By late afternoon, one more American – Liat Binin, a 49-year-old high school teacher and guide at Israel’s Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem – was returned to her family. That left seven Americans and one permanent resident still in captivity.  Under the current negotiation's terms, only one qualifies for the release which cover women and children. But Hamas has released other adult males outside the scope of the agreement with Israel, including Thai nationals and a 25-year-old Russian-Israeli man. On Wednesday, two other 18-year-old males were released.

🚨#BREAKING: Chaos erupts As Pro-Palestinian Protesters try to Disrupt the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting breaking through barricades and fighting with police ⁰⁰📌#Manhattan | #NewYork ⁰⁰Currently Chaos is unfolding in midtown Manhattan, in New York City, as reports of… pic.twitter.com/MdfiLxHdxr

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) November 30, 2023

➤AMERICAN ASSAULTED IN RUSSIAN JAIL:  Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen who has been held in Russia since 2018, was assaulted by a fellow inmate after a conflict at his prison east of Moscow, according to the Russian prison service and Whelan’s family. The former U.S. Marine and corporate security executive from Novi, Mich., who is serving a 16-year prison sentence on espionage charges he denies, was taken to the prison’s medical unit on Tuesday with a graze under his eye following a minor altercation with another prisoner, Russia’s state news agency RIA said.

Fox News Channel Notches 90 Of Top 100 Telecasts In November

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished November 2023 with 90 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month, while CNN netted zero, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

The network remained cable television’s most-watched across total day viewership and second in primetime behind only ESPN. FNC also marked 34 consecutive months defeating the cable news competition in primetime total viewers by double and triple-digits across the board. In total day, FNC delivered 1.2 million viewers and 143,000 in the 25-54 demo and was the only cable news network to deliver over 1 million viewers in total day. In primetime, FNC netted 1.7 million viewers and 199,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership. 

Throughout November, FNC secured the top six programs in cable news with viewers and the top twelve cable news shows in the 25-54 demo. Notably, FNC continues to have the most engaged audience in cable news per Nielsen and was again the number one cable network with Democrats, Republicans and Independents with the 25-54 demo according to Nielsen MRI-Simmons Fusion data.

Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War on October 7, FNC has remained dominant for its continuous breaking news coverage. Notably, FNC has attracted 1.9 million viewers in primetime and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CNN’s 633,000 viewers and 151,000 in the demo, with a 196% and 47% advantage, respectively. In comparison MSNBC averages 1.1 million viewers and 113,000 in the 25-54 demo, FNC also maintains double-digit advantages in both categories (64% with P2+ and 96% with A25-54).

Musk Says Ad Boycott on X May Kill It

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, says the advertisers that have stopped spending on the platform due to his endorsement of an antisemitic post can “f——” themselves.

“What it’s going to do is it’s going to kill the company, and the whole world will know the advertisers killed the company,” Musk said at the New York Times DealBook conference on Wednesday. “Go f—- yourself.”

The post was the “worst and dumbest I’ve ever done,” said Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla Inc.

Still, if advertisers leave the company, its failure will be their fault, not his — saying they were trying to “blackmail me with money,” he said. “I won’t tap dance” to prove trustworthy, he said.

Bloomberg reports Musk took the stage at the DealBook conference following a tumultuous few weeks for the world’s richest person, with a net worth of around $226 billion.

Elon Musk is the hero the internet needs right now
pic.twitter.com/RDkZi8KmDc

— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) November 30, 2023

Earlier this month, Musk agreed with a post that said Jewish people hold a “dialectical hatred” of white people. That message has since drawn criticism from the White House as well as several Tesla investors. Major corporate spenders, including Walt Disney Co. and Apple Inc., distanced themselves from the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Sactown Radio: New Line-Up Hits the Air On KSEG-FM

Justin Case

Audacy has announced a new weekday programming lineup for Classic Hits  96.9 The Eagle (KSEG-FM) in Sacramento. The station welcomes Ken Anthony as afternoon show host, heard weekdays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. PT. Anthony will also serve as Assistant Brand Manager. Current afternoon drive host Justin Case has transitioned to mornings and is now heard weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The new weekday lineup includes the following:

• 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. PT: Justin Case
• 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT: Jolene
• 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. PT: Ken Anthony
• 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. PT: Remy Maxwell

“We're delighted to unveil a dynamic new chapter for 96.9 The Eagle in Sacramento as we move Justin Case to kick off our mornings and introduce the seasoned talent of Ken Anthony in our afternoons,” said Stacey Kauffman, Regional Vice President, Audacy Sacramento. “We’re confident this new lineup will offer our listeners fresh and engaging content that resonates throughout the day and position this heritage brand for greater success in the future.”

Eras Tour On Track to Be Highest-Grossing Tour in History

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is poised to become the highest-grossing global tour of all time, according to Billboard’s estimates.

While no official numbers have been reported yet, Swift’s tour should pass current record-holder Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour with more than $900 million in ticket sales so far.

On Sunday (Nov. 26), Swift played her last scheduled show of the year, wrapping an intense run of 66 concerts in the United States, Mexico and South America. Representatives for The Eras Tour have not yet reported official revenue or attendance figures to Billboard Boxscore or any other trade journal or news entity, but the enormity of The Eras Tour is impossible to ignore, with a total that amounts to a staggering average of nearly $14 million per show.

Cumulus, Barometer Partner For Podcast Measurement

Cumulus Media has announced Cumulus Podcast Network will now provide brand suitability and safety measurement across the Cumulus Podcast Network through Barometer.

Barometer provides brand-suitability measurement and contextual targeting unique to the podcast space. The team built an AI engine to analyze podcast content and report on content suitability based on the GARM (Global Alliance for Responsible Media) framework as well as contextual targets in alignment with the IAB content taxonomy 3.0.

Marketers and media agencies are now able to review podcasts to ensure they meet their brand’s safety and suitability standards. Brands are also able to monitor their ad-buys during and after the campaigns to ensure their standards are being upheld.

Varney, Kudlow Top Two Business Shows

FOX Business Network’s (FBN) Kudlow (weekdays, 4 PM/ET) and Varney & Co. (weekdays, 9 AM-12 PM/ET) ended the month of November as the top two highest rated shows in business news, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

Notably, the two shows have dominated the business ranker for the past 21 months. FBN’s critical pre-market program hosted by Maria Bartiromo, Mornings with Maria (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET), and newly launched evening show The Bottom Line (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) with Dagen McDowell and Sean Duffy, each marked four straight months beating the competition. Additionally, all of the network’s business day programs placed among the top 20 shows in business news viewers.

Stuart Varney and Larry Kudlow

Larry Kudlow’s eponymous Kudlow drove business news ratings with the highest-rated business audience on television, crushing its CNBC competition for the 26th consecutive month. The program netted 279,000 viewers, a 49% advantage over CNBC’s Closing Bell. For the 21st straight month, FBN’s three-hour market-open program Varney & Co. outshined Squawk on the Street delivering 256,000 total viewers, an 18% advantage (CNBC: 217,000 viewers). Opening the day with pre-market coverage, Maria Bartiromo’s Mornings with Maria bested CNBC’s Squawk Box for the fourth month in a row with a 5% advantage, averaging 116,000 viewers.

Fox Weather Expands To Dish and Sling Freestream

FOX Weather, FOX News Media’s free ad-supported streaming television (“FAST”) weather service has expanded its distribution to include DISH Network and Sling Freestream subscribers effective today announced its president Sharri Berg.

In making the announcement Berg said, “As we continue to grow our premium live weather news service, we are thrilled to expand FOX Weather’s reach to include DISH Network and Sling Freestream consumers.”

Launching nationwide to DISH Network on November 29th, FOX Weather will be available on channel 222 on the America’s Top 120, 200 and 250 Packages. Viewers will also have access to the comprehensive weather service through the DISH Anywhere TV app.

Additionally, Sling Freestream will add FOX Weather on the same date. Accessible through the SLING TV app and website, FOX Weather will join Sling Freestream’s lineup which includes over 400 free channels and a library of over 41,000 on-demand titles.

Since launching in October 2021, FOX Weather has expanded its reach to include platforms such as Verizon Fios, Samsung TV Plus, Cox Communications, The Roku Channel, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Fire TV Channels, Optimum, Spectrum, LG Channels, DIRECTV STREAM, Xumo Play, WOW!, Vizio Watchfree+, TuneIn, Plex, Audacy and Astound Broadband. The service continues to be available through FOX Television Station Diginets in top markets including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, among others.

Miami Radio: New Local Programming Debuts On Radio Libre 790

Audacy unveiled a new weekday programming lineup for Radio Libre 790 (WAXY-AM) in Miami, highlighted by three new local shows built to entertain and inform South Floridians. The new lineup is effective immediately.

The station concurrently names Miguel ‘Mijo’ Irizarry as Brand Manager. In this role, Mijo will oversee the station’s content strategy, talent, operations and branding.

“Mijo's extensive experience and passion for Hispanic radio make him the perfect person to usher in the next chapter of Radio Libre,” said Claudia Menegus, Regional President, Audacy. “He will play a pivotal role in shaping our content strategy, enhancing the brand, and continuing our vision. Together, we look forward to delivering a fresh and vibrant listening experience that resonates with our diverse audience."

“The Ashley & Brad Show” Offers Free “Holiday Fun Fact” Audio

Skid Trax, an audio programming and voice tracking services company, and Key Networks, a next generation syndication company, announce that nationally syndicated radio program, The Ashley & Brad Show, is now offering radio stations Holiday Fun Facts, 24 free one-minute audio vignettes that give listeners different trivia facts about the holidays. Holiday Fun Facts are fully produced short features that are perfect for any format, universal to fit with any station’s imaging, and available for broadcast any time, now through December 25, 2023.

Brad Abrell, Co-Host, The Ashley & Brad Show, said: "We all love listening to holiday music on the radio during December. Why not add extra trimming and let listeners unwrap a little knowledge on the music and traditions surrounding the holidays?”

Ashley & Brad

Ashley Paige, Co-Host, The Ashley & Brad Show, added: "These tidbits will amuse, entertain, and even spark some trivia you can share with others around the family dinner table. Avoid those controversial topics and keep the peace with these Holiday Fun Facts, instead!”

Holiday Fun Facts deliver timely holiday imaging with little-known trivia on topics spanning holiday traditions, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, candy canes, holiday safety, holiday spending, Christmas tree origins, Santa Claus, holiday songs, mistletoe and more.

Stations can broadcast the vignettes throughout the days leading up to Christmas, sell local sponsorship around the features, and schedule one or two per hour throughout Christmas Day, whatever works best for the format.

Futuri, RCS Partner To Distribute Futuri Products

Futuri, the leader in AI-powered software solutions for the media industry, today announced the formation of a new partnership with RCS, the world’s largest broadcast software company. Now, in addition to RCS automation Zetta fully integrating with Futuri AudioAI™ (formerly known as RadioGPT), the company will now resell that product and SpotOn, Futuri’s end-to-end solution for creating spec spots, commercials, and promos, in markets outside the US.

The partnership comes as Futuri continues its global expansion. Since the February 2023 launch of Futuri AudioAI™, the company has entered into several new agreements with partners like Audiotainment Südwest in Germany and Maison FG in France. The addition of RCS to Futuri’s network of international resellers provides additional support to help drive the company’s rapid growth.

“Futuri has driven the conversation about the adoption of AI in the broadcast industry, and the response we’ve had from companies worldwide that want strategic AI solutions has been vast,” said Futuri Founder and CEO Daniel Anstandig. “We’re proud to partner with Philippe Generali and the fantastic team at RCS to help bring our solutions to the global markets that need them.”

Generali, President and CEO of RCS, states, "Expanding upon our collaboration with Futuri, we leverage our respective strengths to propel new technology on a global scale. This partnership represents a noteworthy milestone in the evolution of audio creation and consumption. We are excited to reshape the media landscape, a tradition we have upheld for decades."

📲For more information, contact: Zena Burns | zena@futurimedia.com | 216.236.9020 or Diana Stokey |dstokey@rcsworks.com | 914.259.4733