NBC Sports Radio’s popular and highly-regarded weekday broadcast, Pro Football Talk Live with Mike Florio, is strengthening its roster with two expert NFL analysts. Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms continues as a part-time co-host during the radio/TV simulcast hours on NBC Sports Radio and NBCSN, PLUS longtime NFL insider Peter King has been added to PFT for a weekly two-hour simulcast. Simms and King add exciting new energy to PFT, enhancing its reputation as the premiere go-to destination for NFL fans.
Mike Flioro
Pro Football Talk Live with Mike Florio, which premiered in January of 2015, currently airs on more than 150 stations nationwide, from 6:00-9:00 am ET and again at 6:00-9:00 am PT. There is also a Best of Pro Football Talk weekend edition. In addition to broadcast stations, PFT can be heard on SiriusXM Channel 205. For on-demand listeners, there is a PFT Live podcast and companion PFT PM podcast for afternoon listening, both of which have grown exponentially with record-setting download and listening numbers. The podcasts are available on iTunes.
Florio's daily show features current news and analysis, thought-provoking debate, and marquee interviews with a wide variety of NFL insiders, experts, players, and coaches -- including Tom Brady, Von Miller, Kirk Cousins, and newcomers like Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen. The show broadcasts live from all major NFL events including the Super Bowl, NFL Owners Meetings, and League meetings.
Former college and NFL quarterback Chris Simms joined NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football coverage as a studio analyst in 2017. Simms previously served as a football analyst for FOX Sports and CBS. In February 2014, Simms joined Bleacher Report, where he currently serves as an NFL analyst and co-hosts The Simms & Lefkoe Podcast with Adam Lefkoe.
Peter King has been one of the most prolific and respected NFL writers for decades. King has covered pro football for 35 years, including 29 years at Sports Illustrated. He wrote SI.com’s most popular NFL column, “Monday Morning Quarterback,” from 1997-2018. In 2013, he founded The MMQB, Sports Illustrated’s pro football microsite, serving as editor-in-chief and columnist.
Following is NBC Sports Radio’s current programming lineup:
Monday - Friday
1 AM - 3 AM Scott Seidenberg
3 AM - 6 AM Dave Smith Replay
6 AM - 9 AM Mike Florio
9 AM - Noon Mike Florio Replay
Noon - 3 PM Newy Scruggs
3 PM - 7 PM Keith Irizarry
7 PM - 10 PM Mark Malone
10 PM - 1 AM Dan Schwartzman
Saturday
12 AM - 5 AM Rob Buska
5 AM - 7 AM Best of PFT Live
7 AM - 9 AM Safety Blitz with Rodney Harrison
9 AM - Noon Matt Chernoff
Noon -3 PM Brian Webber
3 PM -6 PM Kate Delaney
6 PM - 9 PM Pete Fox
9 PM - 1 AM Dave Smith
Sunday
1 AM - 5 AM Rob Buska
5 AM - 8 AM Jim Daniels
8 AM - 9 AM Jim Daniels (Speaking of Sports)
9 AM -12 PM Jon Stashower
12 N - 3 PM Jeff Biggs
3 PM - 6 PM Kate Delaney
6 PM - 9 PM Pabst & Perloff
9 PM - 1 AM Dave Smith
More than 8 in 10 American households have access to at least one on-demand TV service, and the proliferation of these content sources is having a dramatic effect on TV viewing behavior, according to Marketing Charts citing a new data from Hub Entertainment Research.
In its latest analysis of TV content sources, Hub found that for the first time more TV viewers turn to an on-demand source than to live TV for their TV entertainment.
To be fair, live TV remains the single most-used “default” TV source, as a plurality (39%) of respondents said it’s the first thing they turn on when they want to watch TV. However, live TV’s influence has greatly receded, down from being the default source for 47% of viewers last year and 50% in 2013. (These figures are derived from surveys of people who have broadband at home and watch at least 5 hours of TV per week.)
In combination, live TV and over-the-air are the default source of programming for only a minority (44%) of TV viewers this year, down from 54% just a couple of years ago.
Netflix Is Now The Default For Younger Viewers
In a sign of the changing times – and likely foreshadowing what’s to come – Netflix alone has surpassed live TV to become the default source of TV content for 18-34-year-old viewers.
Specifically, more than one-third (35%) say they default to watching content on Netflix first, up from 32% last year. That tops the 26% who turn on live TV first when they want to watch some TV, which is down from 35% last year.
The trends are pointing in the same direction for older viewers, too, but there’s a ways to go before they reach the same milestone.
TV In General Has Far More Appeal With Older Viewers
As expected, those averages mask some significant differences by age. For respondents ages 55-74, for example, 36% default to watching TV as their primary source of entertainment. Just 24% of 18-34-year-olds concur.
Hubbard Radio’s 105.7 The Point – the source for “Everything Alternative” in St. Louis – is hosting “Donny Fandango’s 28-Hour Radiothon & “The Rizzuto Show’s 24-hour Lock In” this Thursday and Friday, July 26th and 27th, 2018.
KPNT’s morning-hosts The Rizzuto Show and mid-day host Donny Fandango will join forces to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis. According to Program Director Tommy Mattern, “We’re combining two different pre-planned Point events into one big campaign, in order to double down on our efforts.”
At the long-awaited Rizzuto Show 24-Hour Lock In punishment Jeff Burton, Moon, and Tony Patrico will all enjoy 24 hours straight of “togetherness” in a booth at Gingham’s Homestyle Restaurant, located at 1861 Sherman Drive and Hwy. 94 in St. Charles, Missouri. This special on-air punishment begins at 10:00 am on Thursday 7/26 and will continue through 10:00 am on Friday.
Also, starting at 10:00 am on Thursday 7/26 – it’s the annual Donny Fandango 28-Hour RADIOTHON to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis! Donny will broadcast LIVE from The Point studio playing on-demand requests and shout outs for the public’s donations.
And to sweeten the deal, the incredible folks at Gingham’s Homestyle Restaurant have agreed that over the entire 24-hour period that Patrico, Burton, and Moon are there, they will donate 20% of every check to Ronald McDonald House Charites of St. Louis and this year’s Radiothon. Plus, Donny will be checking in with the guys throughout the night from Gingham’s – which should make for awesome radio around 3:00 am!
This year’s event will be Donny’s 8th Annual RADIOTHON – over the past several years, Donny has raised over $146,000 to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. “It’s an incredible time every year seeing our listeners step up for such a great cause,” notes Donny. “I hope that - along with the Rizzuto Show guys – The Point can make this year the biggest fundraising effort ever!”
Rizzuto commented on the upcoming 24-Hour Lock In, noting, “To have all our listeners come together for such a great charity is awesome! The Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis do amazing things for so many families in our area, it’s the least we could do to help out.”
As part of the partnership, Entercom Houston’s six stations, 100.3 The Bull (KILT-FM), 95.7 The Spot (KKHH-FM), CBS Sports Radio 650 (KIKK-AM), Mega 101 FM (KLOL-FM), Mix 96.5 (KHMX-FM) and Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), will conduct a three-week fundraising challenge on-air and via station websites, beginning July 30 and will lead the rebuilding of the homes of five families impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
“We are proud to partner with Rebuilding Together Houston and to be a part of the long-term recovery effort for our fellow Houstonians,” said Sarah Frazier, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Houston. “Radio is a community connector, and with our reach of over three million Houstonians weekly, we believe we can make a huge impact in helping to rebuild our community.”
“Hurricane Harvey devastated families across the greater Houston area, the recovery here will take years,” said Christine Holland, CEO and Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Houston. “We’re very thankful for the partnership with Entercom – together we will help tie Houstonians back to the need across the city one year after Harvey and give Houston citizens and businesses the opportunity to join us and help.”
On Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25, Entercom Houston employees and their families will volunteer in a two-day rebuilding project of five homes in Independence Heights, a suburb of Houston.
Rebuilding Together Houston supports disaster recovery by working with partner organizations and volunteer teams to repair the homes of those in need throughout Harris County.
The meeting lasted less than a minute. By the time it was over, reporters and editors at The Daily News had been told that the newsroom staff was being cut in half and that the editor in chief, Jim Rich, was out of a job.
According to The NYTimes, Grant Whitmore, an executive at Tronc, the media company that owns The News, presided over the meeting, which took place shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday in the seventh-floor newsroom at 4 New York Plaza in Lower Manhattan. About 50 members of the newspaper’s staff were in attendance. The group did not include Mr. Rich or Kristen Lee, the managing editor, who is leaving as part of Tronc’s aggressive plan.
The new editor in chief is Robert York, currently the editor and publisher of The Morning Call, a Tronc-owned daily newspaper in Allentown, Pa.
“We are fundamentally restructuring the Daily News,” an email from Tronc to the staff on Monday read. “We are reducing today the size of the editorial team by approximately 50 percent and re-focusing much of our talent on breaking news — especially in areas of crime, civil justice and public responsibility.”
Sports and the photo desk were expected to be particularly hard hit in the latest round of cuts, insiders said.
Crosstown rival NY Post reports Tronc bought the 99-year old tabloid from real estate mogul Mort Zuckerman for $1 in September — and has been cutting back-office personnel as well as design and production staffers. Much of the design and production work has been outsourced to Chicago.
First Edition June 26, 1919
The latest cuts — expected to play out over two days — mark the first major cutback of reporters, columnists and editors since the takeover. The expectation is that the company plans to refocus most of its efforts on digital.
“The decisions being announced today reflect the realities and the need to adapt an ever-changing media environment,” Tronc said in the email. “They are not a reflection on the significant talent that is leaving today. Let there be no doubt these colleagues are highly valued and will be missed.”
The New York Daily News, launched in 1919, had a peak weekday circulation of 2.4 million in 1947 and once sold more copies than any other paper in America. That total was down to 200,000 in 2017 when Tronc acquired the paper for a symbolic $1 plus the assumption of pension and operational liabilities. Layoffs began almost immediately and continued through the spring.
The Daily News isn’t alone in suffering cuts. More than a third of the largest U.S. newspapers, and nearly a quarter of the “highest-traffic digital-native news outlets,” experienced layoffs between January 2017 and April 2018, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of 110 newspapers and 35 digital-native news outlets published Monday. Large papers (with a circulation of at least 250,000) were more likely to have seen layoffs than smaller papers.
➦In 1911...radio actor Raymond Edward Johnson was born in Kenosha Wisconsin. He began his radio career working with the great Arch Oboler in Chicago, then moved to New York, where Himan Brown hired him to be the chilling host/narrator of Inner Sanctum Mysteries, his most famous role. From its first broadcast in January 1941 until he joined the army in the summer of 1945, Johnson sinisterly introduced himself each week as “Your host, Raymond.”
He also became a staple on many soap operas, playing romantic leads on Big Sister, The Guiding Light, Brave Tomorrow and Valiant Lady. A victim of multiple sclerosis beginning in his 40’s Johnson died Aug. 15 2001 at age 90. ➦In 1916...big band singer Bob Eberly was born in Mechanicsville, New York.
He first caught the public ear & eye by winning the “Allen Amateur Hour” on Fred Allen’s radio show. He spent much of his career with Jimmy Dorsey”s Orchestra, while his brother Ray Eberle sang with Glenn Miller. Bob’s hits include Green Eyes, Tangerine & Amapola with Helen O’Connell, and The Breeze and I. He recorded Besame Mucho with Kitty Kallen & was featured in the early 50’s on TV’s Top Tunes.
He died after a heart attack Nov 17, 1981 at age 65.
➦In 1933...the first broadcast of “The Romance of Helen Trent” was heard on midwest regional radio before becoming a CBS network staple three months later. The melodramatic soap continued on the air for 7,222 episodes and 27 years. Amazingly, Helen stayed at 35 years of age throughout the entire series! Helen Trent was played by just two actresses over the years …Virginia Clark (for 11 years) and Julie Stevens (for 16 years).
➦In 1933...during his fourth Fireside Chat, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt showed why the homey, warm, comfortable discussion was, indeed, a fireside chat. The President stopped the discussion on the air (remember folks, this was radio) and asked for a glass of water, which he then sipped. Newsman Robert Trout is credited with coming up with the name, Fireside Chat, because of real moments like this.
➦In 1943...the program Foreign Assignment, was first heard on Mutual radio. The title role of Brian Berry was played by Jay Jostyn, who also headlined another popular radio drama, Mr. District Attorney.
➦In 1978...WKTU 92.3 FM NYC changed to disco
➦In 2005... Joe O'Brien, a disc jockey who was one of the WMCA Good Guys on WMCA Radio in New York City, was killed at age 90 in a car crash in the Berkshire Hills, NY
O'Brien began his career in 1935 when he got his first radio job with WMCA-AM in New York City.
He worked at the station for 34 years and became one of the Good Guys team of disc jockeys in the late 1960's. In 1970 he left for WNBC-AM, where he 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.
➦In 2015…Writer/actress Peg Lynch, who wrote and starred in one of television's earliest situation comedies, died at the age of 98. Her sitcom began on radio as "The Private Lives of Ethel and Albert," co-starring Richard Widmark, in 1944 and became a weekly TV series with Alan Bunce playing Albert from 1953 to 1956.
A week ago, Amazon held their fourth annual Prime Day sale. True to form, it was a blockbuster event launched with mass reach television and AM/FM radio advertising. Overall, 18% of Americans reported making a purchase.
Westwood One commissioned IPSOS to examine purchasing during the 36-hour event, which began at 3PM on Monday, July 16th and continued to Tuesday, July 17th. IPSOS surveyed 2,010 Americans 18 and over with an online survey during and after the event.
Here are key findings from the IPSOS study:
The Amazon Prime Day TV campaign over delivered older consumers who did not purchase. Online and AM/FM delivered a more even audience distribution. Those who recalled having seen online and AM/FM radio advertising for the Prime Day were equally distributed among 18-34 Millennials, 35-54 Gen X, and 55+ Boomers. Those that recalled having seen the Prime Day television campaign skewed decidedly older. Almost half were over the age of 55.
AM/FM radio and online did the best job of converting awareness into purchases. Among those that recalled online ads for Amazon Prime Day, 26% made a purchase. 25% of those that recalled AM/FM radio Prime Day advertising made purchases. A smaller number of those who were aware of Prime Day TV ads (22%) made a purchase. Among 18-49 year olds, AM/FM radio had the highest conversion of awareness to purchase.
Frequent listeners to AM/FM radio programming formats were 61% more likely to make an Amazon Prime Day purchase. While 18% of 18+ Americans made an Amazon Prime Day 2018 purchase, 29% of radio listeners who are frequent listeners to key radio programming formats made a purchase.
Full time employment and having kids in the home makes AM/FM radio the engine of e-commerce. According to Nielsen, the vast majority of AM/FM radio listening comes from Americans with a full time job. AM/FM radio is the soundtrack of the American worker. Most AM/FM radio programming formats over index with homes with children.
Amazon Prime Day 2018 is the latest example revealing AM/FM radio listeners are much more likely to use e-commerce. In the 2015 study, IPSOS revealed that AM/FM radio had one of the highest conversions of awareness to purchase. Another IPSOS study conducted for e-commerce site Jet.com found AM/FM radio listeners purchased at a higher rate.
Those who are full time employed and from homes with kids were far more likely to purchase on Amazon Prime Day 2018. Versus the average, full time employed consumers were 44% more likely to purchase. Households with kids were 50% more likely to purchase.
Entercom has announced the appointment of Tom Cook to the role of Director of Music Programming in Baltimore, effective July 30. Cook will oversee programming on Today’s 101.9 WLIF-FM and Mix 106.5 WWMX-FM.
“We are delighted to welcome Tom to our team,” said Tracy Brandys, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Baltimore. “He has an amazing track record of accomplishments at the various stations he has programmed, and we look forward to him bringing that enthusiasm and experience to us here in Baltimore.”
“I am beyond excited to join the team at Entercom Baltimore,” Cook said. “These stations have amazing on-air talent and content teams, which makes this role a dream for me.”
Prior to joining Entercom, Cook was the Michigan Regional Operations Manager for Townsquare Media, where he oversaw programming for 23 stations in five markets. He also held Operations Manager and Brand Manager roles. Cook also held various on-air and programming positions at Clear Channel Communications, now iHeart Media.
Dave, Sheley and Chainsaw are officially looking for a new home. Their exit from Midwest Teelevision's KFMB 100.7 FM comes after negotiation on a new contract failed.
KFMB GM Alberto Mier Y Tern issued a statement:
"After extensive negotiations and a generous offer to the DSC team, we were unfortunately unable to reach an agreement to keep the show here at KFMB. We wish the DSC the very best with their future pursuits.
We also want to thank and wish Shelly Dunn well on her retirement, which she announced last week. She’s had an incredible 30-year career and will be missed.
We are looking to the future and remain committed to our listeners in San Diego."
The departure of Dave Richards, Shelly Dunn and Cookie Chainsaw Randolph disrupts 28-years in the market.
On Thursday the FCC sent Sinclair's $3.9 billion proposed purchase of Tribune Media Co. to an administrative hearing that could take months -- long enough to potentially kill the deal.
Ajit Pai
According to Bloomberg, the decision seemed an abrupt turnabout for Pai, a Republican chosen by President Donald Trump. Critics say he has gone out of his way to befriend Sinclair, known for its conservative views and admiration of the president. He even appeared at a Sinclair gathering in its hometown of Baltimore -- and he has mowed down media ownership rules the company opposed.
"For too long the FCC has twisted & bent its policies to serve the business plans of Sinclair Broadcasting," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, the agency's sole Democrat, said in a tweet Thursday. "As I've said before, this is not right. I'm glad my colleagues now agree & have supported halting the Sinclair-Tribune merger."
Pai's FCC has benefited Sinclair's business model in several ways. The agency has loosened restrictions on broadcasters owning multiple stations in a market, and eliminated a requirement for them to keep a local studio. It's also reduced scrutiny of how TV stations share services and revenue and is considering further easing broadcast ownership restrictions.
Jessica Rosenwarcel
Democrats have complained and the FCC's inspector general is probing whether Pai improperly pushed for rule changes that helped Sinclair -- an accusation the FCC called "absurd." Republicans and the industry, on the other hand, have welcomed what they say are overdue steps to eliminate outmoded regulations.
With the Tribune merger under review last August, Sinclair's Ripley told investors the "FCC has been very constructive in terms of its review."
That view from the broadcaster's corporate offices may have changed this week. On Monday, Pai, in his first public assessment of the deal, expressed criticism. The FCC order released on Thursday contained harsh language.
"There is a substantial and material question of fact as to whether Sinclair affirmatively misrepresented or omitted material facts," the FCC said as it assigned the deal, which was first proposed last year, to a hearing before an FCC administrative law judge.
The New England Patriots have announced a lineup change to their preseason broadcast team.
Beginning this preseason, the familiar voices of Bob Socci and former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak will move from the WBZ 98.5 FM The Sports Hub's radio booth to the WBZ-TV television booth to call each of the Patriots' four preseason games, beginning with the opener vs. Washington on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. CBS Boston's WBZ-TV will once again serve as the flagship station for each of the locally produced preseason games
Former Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich will join the broadcast team and report from the sidelines. WBZ-TV's Steve Burton will continue to provide interviews and reports from the sidelines and Patriots Football Weekly's Paul Perillo and Andy Hart will remain in their role of providing insight and observations throughout the game, as well as engaging with fans through social media.
Scott Zolak and Bob Soccie
"Scott Zolak has quickly become a favorite among Patriots fans, not just for his insight and analysis, but for the passion in which he delivers it," said Matt Smith, the executive producer of Kraft Sports Productions. "He and Bob Socci have such great chemistry together on the radio, we thought they would be the perfect pairing for our preseason telecasts and give them exposure to a television audience that extends throughout New England. Adding Rob Ninkovich to the broadcast is another bonus. Rob retired from the Patriots just a year ago, so he is still very familiar with the current team and will be able to offer a unique perspective on what it is like to go through training camp and the preseason as a member of the Patriots."
Socci is best known as the radio play-by-play voice of the Patriots. He will enter his sixth season in 2018 when he broadcasts all 16 regular season games on 98.5 The Sports Hub, the team's flagship radio station. Socci also does work for patriots.com, including a weekly podcast during the season. Zolak is entering his seventh season as an analyst in the booth. Additionally, Zolak does a weekly interview with Head Coach Bill Belichick for Patriots All Access, including a popular telestrator segment previewing the upcoming opponent. Prior to moving upstairs, he spent the 2012 season as a sideline reporter with the legendary broadcast team of Gil Santos and Gino Cappelletti. Ninkovich enjoyed an 11-year NFL career, including an eight-year career with the Patriots and helped lead New England to two Super Bowl wins.
Dan Roche from WBZ-TV and former Patriot and Super Bowl Champion Matt Chatham will do the broadcasts for the preseason games on 98.5 The Sports Hub, before Socci and Zolak return for the regular season.
Christian Fauria, a former tight end who previously participated in radio and television broadcasts of Patriots coverage, was suspended from his weekday show for five days earlier this year after impersonating athletic agent Don Yee with a racially offensive accent. Yee represents Patriots athletes including quarterback Tom Brady and receiver Julian Edelman.
ESPN play-by-play voice Beth Mowins, analyst Brian Griese and sideline reporter Laura Rutledge will call the New York Jets vs. Detroit Lions NFL game from Ford Field to kick off ESPN’s season-opening Monday Night Football doubleheader on Sept. 10.
Mowins returns to ESPN’s NFL booth for the second straight year. In 2017, she became the first female announcer to call a National Football League game in 30 years and the first female broadcaster to call a nationally televised NFL game when she handled the play-by-play for ESPN’s Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos telecast to open the season. Mowins also called four more NFL games for CBS in 2017.
The Jets-Lions game (7:10 p.m. ET) will lead into the Los Angeles Rams vs. Oakland Raiders game (10:15 p.m.) when ESPN’s new MNF team of Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters will make its debut. MNF Schedule.
Beth Mowins
“Beth will continue her groundbreaking NFL role calling another prime time game on Monday Night Football with Brian, whose experience in the league combined with his ability as a broadcaster makes him a natural fit for this assignment,” said Stephanie Druley, Senior Vice President, ESPN events and studio production. “Joined by Laura on the sidelines, this talented and entertaining team will kick off our NFL opening night on ESPN.”
Beth Mowins
A veteran and pioneering broadcaster, Mowins joined ESPN as a play-by-play commentator in 1994. She has called college football games since 2005 and is a staple on ESPN’s regular-season men’s and women’s basketball schedules. She has called NCAA Championships in basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball and has been the voice of the Women’s College World Series for more than 20 years, among other assignments. She has also called Oakland Raiders preseason NFL games in the Bay Area since 2015, in addition to regular-season NFL games for CBS.
Brian Griese
Brian Griese
A top ESPN college football analyst since 2009, Griese just signed a new multi-year extension with the company. He played 11 NFL seasons (1998-2009), most notably with the Denver Broncos, who selected him in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. An AFC Pro Bowl selection in 2000 and a member of the Super Bowl XXXIII-winning Broncos, Griese holds the single-season passer rating records for both Denver and Tampa Bay, and won the NFL passing title in 2000 with a 102.9 quarterback rating. He and his father, legendary Dolphins quarterback and former ABC Sports broadcaster Bob Griese, are the only father/son quarterback combination in NFL history to win Super Bowl titles. In addition to his work with ESPN, Griese will call 2018 Broncos preseason NFL games locally in Denver with his ESPN booth partner, Steve Levy.
Laura Rutledge
Laura Rutledge
Rutledge joined ESPN in 2014 as an SEC Network reporter. She covers a wide range of Southeastern Conference and national college sports – football, basketball, softball and baseball – in addition to hosting the traveling SEC Nation pregame show and SEC Now. In 2016, she began working on ESPN’s Thursday night college football games. She has also anchored editions of SportsCenter and just signed a new multi-year extension.
ESPN senior coordinating producer Tim Corrigan, ESPN/ABC’s lead NBA producer, will again oversee production of the MNF doubleheader game.
According to The Daily Beast, Salem Radio Network home to prominent conservative voices such as Hugh Hewitt and Lou Dobbs, is looking to bring on Sebastian Gorka, the controversial, firebrand ex-Trump adviser, as one of its new hosts.
Sebastian Gorka
According to four sources with knowledge of the situation, the ousted White House official and Steve Bannon ally has been in talks with Salem, which recently approached him about joining their lineup as one of the daily on-air personalities. It is not clear if any deal has been inked or if Gorka has made a final decision yet. Salem did not immediately respond to requests for commit.
When reached for comment by The Daily Beast on Friday early evening, Gorka would not say whether he will join the right-leaning media outfit. Instead, he berated the reporter for referring to him by his first name, “Sebastian,” adding: "You don't f##king know me."
“I don’t talk to people who aren’t real journalists," Gorka added. “Goodbye, and delete this number.” (The last time The Daily Beast contacted him about a story on a then-unannounced media job, Gorka simply responded, “Why would I assist you?”)
Gorka is currently a Fox News contributor and, according to The Daily Beast, a friend of Sean Hannity.
ABC will tie Michael Strahan even more closely to its “Good Morning America” franchise when it pairs the popular host with Sara Haines in a third hour of the program slated to air in early afternoon on the network starting September 10.
Michael Strahan
According to Variety, a person familiar with the program confirmed details about its hosts and disclosed the show’s start date. ABC News, which produces the program, declined to make executives available for comment.
Launch of the show will extend the presence of “GMA” to the network’s daytme schedule from its early-morning grid, and allow ABC to create bigger packages for advertisers, as NBC does with four hours of “Today.” The idea should also boost affiliates, as ABC can promote the extension during the main “GMA” broadcast that airs between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The new hour is expected to be taped, not presented live, and run at 1 p.m. on weekdays. One scenario that has been discussed for the new hour would involve making use of the live, in-studio audience assembled each morning for the 8 a.m. hour of the flagship show. ABC said earlier this year it would replace “The Chew” with the new “GMA” hour.
➦In 1912...actor/announcer Jackson Beck was born in New York City.
Jackson Beck
Beck's early radio experience included work at WINS and WHN, both in New York City. Beginning in 1931, he worked with Myrt and Marge, among other roles. In 1934, he was the announcer for The Adventures of Babe Ruth on the radio. In 1943, he took over as narrator of radio's The Adventures of Superman; it was Beck who intoned the familiar prologue "strange visitor from another planet..." He also had recurring roles, voicing an occasional tough guy and also portraying Beany Martin, the Daily Planet's teenage copy boy. On Superman episodes featuring Batman, he played Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Pennyworth.
He also impersonated Joseph Stalin and other world leaders for The March of Time radio series, starred as The Cisco Kid on radio from 1942 to 1945 and sleuth Philo Vance in a syndicated series from 1948 to 1950, starred in the dramatic anthology Brownstone Theater on Mutual, and served as narrator for the radio adventures of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
Beck also co-starred in several episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. He died July 28 2004, two days after his 92nd birthday. ➦In 1937...legendary Top 40 Personality Robert W. Morgan was born.
As a youth growing up in Galion, Ohio, Morgan's interest was piqued while listening to his favorite DJs on Cleveland's top forty giant KYW which would eventually lead to his first on-air job was at Wooster College in 1955 on WWST & WWST-FM, for an initial salary of $1 per hour.
In 1959 Morgan moved from college radio to KACY Port Hueneme, California where he hosted the over night show called Kegler's Spare Time with Bob Morgan live from the Wagon Wheel Bowl before moving on to a succession of brief stints beginning in 1961 at KTEE Carmel as the second half of a two-man classical music announcer on KTEE with Bob Elliott, a Marine Corps Heavyweight Champion who later went on to radio fame as "K.O. Bailey," then a short time later as the morning drive DJ and mid-day board op for the Arthur Godfrey Show at KMBY, Monterey, then a jump to KOMY Watsonville, then back to KMBY Monterey followed in 1962 at "K-MAKE", KMAK, Fresno where he first worked with program director Ron Jacobs. This was followed in 1963 by an eight-month stay at KROY Sacramento before finally landing his first major-market job in 1964 at KEWB, San Francisco. It was here that he met and worked with his lifelong friend "The Real" Don Steele.
On April 27, 1965 the careers of Morgan, Steele and programmer Ron Jacobs would gain superstar status almost overnight when they joined the staff of KHJ-AM, Los Angeles. Programming genius Bill Drake along with a staff of talented DJs called "Boss Jocks" had transformed a sleepy giant into the city's most dominant radio station.
It was here that Morgan enjoyed his greatest on-air success as one of the original "Boss Jocks" on 93/KHJ which dominated the Top 40 radio market in Southern California from 1965 to 1973.
Morgan's signature, "Good Morgan Boss Angeles!" to his devoted morning drive time audience would stay with him until the end of his career. It was also Morgan that voiced much of the "Boss Radio/93 KHJ station promos and imagery. It was also during this time that Morgan co-produced and narrated the 48-hour History of Rock and Roll in 1969, a definitive on-air encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. It was the first-ever "rock-umentary" aired worldwide as a definitive history of the Rock & Roll genre—a "rockumentary," as producers Drake and Gene Chenault would call it—that would stretch from the early 1950s to 1989.
In 1970 Morgan made a surprise move from Los Angeles to WIND Radio Chicago where he remained in the morning slot until finally being enticed back to his KHJ morning show in 1972.
Until his departure from KHJ in October 1970, Morgan had commanded unparalleled radio ratings in Los Angeles. Morgan's return to his former time slot in L.A., which saw a significant spike upward for KHJ until he departed just a year later.
In 1973, Morgan and Steele walked out of KHJ and joined Bill Drake six months later at KIQQ-FM, Los Angeles. The ratings were sub-par, though, causing Morgan to leave the morning slot a year and a half later for weekends and fill-in slots at the prestigious KMPC Los Angeles. He stayed at KMPC until 1984. After a short stint at KMGG, Morgan returned to KMPC.
Morgan was heard in 1973 on Saturday night segments of the long-running NBC Radio program Monitor, an attempt to freshen that program's image. While with KMGG, he was at one time heard as a substitute host of American Top 40. During the mid to late 70s, Morgan also did his own one-hour radio weekly special highlighting one artist or group per show. "Robert W. Morgan's Special of the Week" was often played on radio stations that also carried Casey Kasem's American Top 40 as the same company, Watermark, distributed both.
The year 1992 would signal the twilight years of Morgan's distinguished radio broadcast career when he signed on as morning show host of "oldies" K-EARTH 101, where he again enjoyed solid ratings in the Los Angeles market before announcing in May 1997 that he was suffering from lung cancer. According to L.A. radio personality Bob Shannon, Morgan told his listeners, "It could have something to do with the two-packs-a-day cigarette habit I had for the last 35 years."
In an emotional on-air statement, Morgan stated that he was taking some time off to fight the disease full-time. His friend and colleague Don Steele died, also of lung cancer, in August 1997. Morgan continued to do broadcasts from his home studio until 1998.
He died from cancer May 22, 1998 at age 60. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame the following year. ➦In 1940..Don Imus born.
Imus - 1970
Imus was born in Riverside, California, the son of Frances E. and John Donald Imus, Sr., and the older brother of former talk show host Fred Imus.
He served in the Marine Corps as a bugler from 1957 to 1960.
Imus was a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Upon winning a talent contest at Johnny Otis's nightclub, he began working as a singer/songwriter, managed by Otis. After hearing a morning disc-jockey, he went to the nearby radio station and persuaded the owner to hire him. Thus he began his career as a radio disc jockey on June 28, 1968 at radio station KUTY in Palmdale, California. He stayed at the station until 1969 when he left for a job at KJOY, a small radio station in Stockton, California. He was later fired for saying "hell" on air.
After being fired in Stockton, he went to KXOA in Sacramento, California. His on-air pranks, such as calling up a restaurant and ordering 1200 hamburgers to go, made his show immensely popular and boosted ratings. He was inspired to pursue a career in radio by listening to California radio personality Don MacKinnon.
After a stint at WGAR 1220 AM in Cleveland, Ohio, Imus moved to New York City and WNBC radio in December 1971. During this first stint at WNBC 660 AM, Imus recorded three record albums, two for the RCA Victor label (1200 Hamburgers to Go, including some of his more popular humor from KXOA, WGAR and WNBC broadcasts, and One Sacred Chicken to Go with Anthrax, a primarily studio-created album centering on his satirical character, The Right Rev. Dr. Billy Sol Hargis) and one for the Bang label (This Honky's Nuts, an album of his stand up comedy act at the Manhattan nightclub "Jimmy's". There was also a 1973 RCA Victor single, "Son of Checkers," issued by Imus. The single reached #123 in the Record World survey.
"Imus...In The Morning...In The Evening" aired nationally in the fall of 1973, part of NBC Radio's attempt to revive "Monitor", it's long-running weekend magazine. The Saturday night segment rotated popular hosts Imus, Wolfman Jack, and Robert W. Morgan
Imus was fired from WNBC in August 1977 along with several of the station's other personalities, in an effort to revamp the station's sound and boost ratings. In 1978 he returned to Cleveland radio as afternoon drive host on WHK.
In a surprise change of fortune Imus was rehired by WNBC in September 1979, and revived his morning drive show. From 1982 to 1985, the station also employed talk-radio host Howard Stern, and WNBC heavily promoted the pair in print and television ads, which often featured the slogan "If We Weren't So Bad, We Wouldn't Be So Good." Although Stern's show aired later in the day, Imus and Stern often made brief appearances on each other's shows, giving the audience an occasional glimpse of an on-and-off-air rivalry that continued for many years.
During this period, Imus was best known for character Billy Sol Hargis, a radio evangelist whose name was a cross between infamous real-life radio and television preacher Billy James Hargis and real-life Texas fertilizer swindler Billie Sol Estes. As Hargis, Imus touted on-air the merits of the "First Church of the Gooey Death and Discount House of Worship".
Imus was also the utility announcer for Geraldo Rivera's monthly TV series Good Night, America, which aired as a recurring segment of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment program, and he was one of the inaugural video jockeys for the launch of the VH-1 cable network in 1985.
In 1988, WNBC radio was sold to Emmis Broadcasting; on October 7, 1988, WNBC permanently signed off the air and Emmis' WFAN was moved from 1050 AM to WNBC's former spot, 660 AM. Imus in the Morning remained at 660 AM among WFAN's sports programs with his music and comedy bits as the staples of the program and the beginnings of a political forum.
The radio show became nationally syndicated in 1993, and began simulcasting on MSNBC in 1996. He wore his signature cowboy hat during his broadcasts.
Imus won four Marconi Awards, three for Major Market Personality of the Year 1990, 1992 and 1997 and one for Network Syndicated Personality (1994).
Imus retired in March 2018.
➦...Lucille Ball and Richard Denning debuted the radio sitcom “My Favorite Husband,” which ran for three-years on CBS Radio. It was a predecessor to Ms. Ball’s star-making turn in TV’s “I Love Lucy.” “Husband” also made it to TV but with Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson in the leading roles.
Dick Biondi
➦In 1963...Former Chicago nighttime DJ Dick Biondi ends his self-imposed exile from radio and joins KRLA 1110 AM in Pasadena, Calif. Both KRLA and KFWB are neck and neck in the overall radio ratings in Los Angeles.
The KRLA line-up is Reb Foster, Casey Kasem, Bob Eubanks, Dick Biondi, Ted Quillin and Bob Hudson.
➦In 1963...New York City is the nation’s largest radio market and competitionis fierce. Most of the larger stations are owned by corporations - WOR - RKO, WABC-ABC, WNBC-NBC, WCBS-CBS, WINS-Group W (Westinghouse), WHN-Storer, WNEW-Metropolitan. Each is 50,000 watts and all have rather goodsignals. There’s another competitor - this one’s only 5,000 watts and is family owned and operated - WMCA 570 AM - which is owned by the Straus family.
The ratings are in and for the first time ever, WMCA is on top. The station has adopted adifferent concept to their DJ lineup - personality and team togetherness and itshows on the air and in person - more than any other station in the United States.
Thanks to program director Ruth Meyer,the WMCA Goodguys are taking NewYork by storm. The WMCA Goodguys show up at events together, as many as possible - all with their sweatshirts and black pants. WMCA’s music policy is to play the hits and be the first to jump on music trends. It considers itself a very competitive radio station.
➦In 1966...Coca-Cola launched the biggest radio spot campaign in its history, featuring top recording artists in an all-out drive for the teen market. Each artist is spotlighted in a different version of the “ Things Go Better With Coke ” jingle. Coke was the seventh largest radio time buyer last year, will now vault to the number one buyer of national radio commercials. Artists signed by ad agency McCann-Erickson for showcasing include Petula Clark, the Coasters, the Four Seasons, Freddie and the Dreamers, Wayne Fontana and the Mind Benders, Jan and Dean, Tom Jones, Roy Orbison, the Shirelles, the Supremes and Sue Thompson.
The jingle was written by William Backer of McCann-Erickson. Backer says each commercial will strive to retain the artist’s individuality in the recording of each version of “Things Go Better With Coca-Cola.” In that way, the artist’s unique singing style and basis for his appeal is harnessed to capture the listener’s attention.
➦In 1966...KBLA 1500 AM in Burbank, Calif, fires its staff of DJ’s in order to give listeners more music. According to general manager Mel Leeds, the Top-40station would now be able to play more music than those stations with air personalities. The policy now for KBLA will be to play two-three or more records without DJ interruptions. This is unheard of in top-40 radio. Released by the station were DJ’s Chet Douglas, Larry Tyler, Jim Wood, and Tom Clay. Leedssays that by eliminating talk, the commercial messages are showcased moredramatically and effectively.
➦In 1966...Both WMCA and WABC, NewYork pull ‘They’re Coming To Take MeAway” by Napoleon XIV off the air. WMCA says they have received various complaints about the record, which lampoons mental illness. Even though the record is #1 on theWMCA Goodguy survey, they’re not playing it! Teens picketed WMCA carrying such signs as “We’re coming to take WMCA Away! Unfair to Napoleon in Everyway.” Aplane flying a banner over popular JonesBeach over the weekend, protested WMCA’s banning of the record. WABCProgram Director Rick Sklar said his station had letters from doctors and institutions saying the record hurt their image.
➦In 1982...KTSA 550 AM San Antonio goes stereo. ➦In 1985...bandleader Kay Kyser, host of radio’s longrunning Kollege of Musical Knowledge (1937-49), died of heart failure at age 80.
➦In 2010…Newsman/commentator (CNN, CBS, NPR) Daniel Schorr, the first on-camera employee hired at CNN, died at the age of 93.
