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 76

🎂HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

• Actor Topol (“Fiddler on the Roof”) is 86. 
• Singer Inez Fox is 79. 
• Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 76. 
• Guitarist John McFee of The Doobie Brothers is 71. 
• Actor Tom Wopat is 70. 
• Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 69. 
• Actor Angela Cartwright (“The Danny Thomas Show,” ″Lost In Space”) is 69. 
• Actor Hugh Grant is 61. 

• 

  Michelle Williams is 40

  Actor Charles Esten (“Nashville”) is 56. 
• Actor Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) is 56. 
• Actor-comedian Adam Sandler is 55. 
• Model Rachel Hunter is 52. 
• Actor Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”) is 50. 
• Actor Henry Thomas (“E.T.”) is 50. 
• Actor Goran Visnjic (“ER”) is 49. 
• Jazz singer Michael Buble’ is 46. 
• Actor Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” ″Dawson’s Creek”) is 41. 
• Singer Paul Janeway of St. Paul and the Broken Bones is 38. 
• Actor Kelsey Asbille (“One Tree Hill,” “Teen Wolf”) is 30. 
• Contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle is 30. 
• Country singer Hunter Hayes is 30.

Survey: 90% of Americans Say The Internet Has Been Essential

Results from a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted April 12-18, 2021, reveal the extent to which people’s use of the internet has changed, their views about how helpful technology has been for them and the struggles some have faced.

The vast majority of adults (90%) say the internet has been at least important to them personally during the pandemic, the survey finds. The share who say it has been essential – 58% – is up slightly from 53% in April 2020. There have also been upticks in the shares who say the internet has been essential in the past year among those with a bachelor’s degree or more formal education, adults under 30, and those 65 and older.

A large majority of Americans (81%) also say they talked with others via video calls at some point since the pandemic’s onset. And for 40% of Americans, digital tools have taken on new relevance: They report they used technology or the internet in ways that were new or different to them. Some also sought upgrades to their service as the pandemic unfolded: 29% of broadband users did something to improve the speed, reliability or quality of their high-speed internet connection at home since the beginning of the outbreak.

Still, tech use has not been an unmitigated boon for everyone. “Zoom fatigue” was widely speculated to be a problem in the pandemic, and some Americans report related experiences in the new survey: 40% of those who have ever talked with others via video calls since the beginning of the pandemic say they have felt worn out or fatigued often or sometimes by the time they spend on them. Moreover, changes in screen time occurred for Americans generally and for parents of young children. The survey finds that a third of all adults say they tried to cut back on time spent on their smartphone or the internet at some point during the pandemic. In addition, 72% of parents of children in grades K-12 say their kids are spending more time on screens compared with before the outbreak.1

For many, digital interactions could only do so much as a stand-in for in-person communication. About two-thirds of Americans (68%) say the interactions they would have had in person, but instead had online or over the phone, have generally been useful – but not a replacement for in-person contact. Another 15% say these tools haven’t been of much use in their interactions. Still, 17% report that these digital interactions have been just as good as in-person contact.

CNN's Summer Of Discontent

Despite being a jam-packed summer of breaking news, viewers continued to flee from the so-called "most trusted name in news," according to FOX News.

From June 1 through August 31, the news cycle did not take a summer vacation, which included the migrant crisis at the southern border, skyrocketing crime in cities across the country, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, growing inflation concerns, the tragic Surfside condo building collapse, the battle over infrastructure spending on Capitol Hill, the shocking overturned conviction of Bill Cosby, the resignation of Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Biden administration's chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

However, none of the major headlines were enough to salvage CNN's dwindling viewership. 

Chris Cuomo

Over the course of 92 days, CNN failed to reach 1 million viewers on 53 of them, roughly 58% of the summer, according to Nielsen data. The network averaged just 603,000 in total day viewership, a staggering 42% decrease from Summer 2020. 

At one point this summer, CNN suffered a 13-day stretch without ever reaching 1 million viewers throughout the entire day from July 28 through August 9. The breaking news of Cuomo's announced resignation broke the network's streak of six-digit viewership on August 10. 

CNN's primetime lineup, which provides the network's most-watched programming, went a whopping 80 out of 92 days below 1 million viewers, a devastating 87% of the time and marking over a 50% drop from last year. 

"Cuomo Prime Time," CNN's most-watched show, average a measly 948,000 viewers from June through August, falling below 1 million viewers over two-thirds of the time whenever anchor Chris Cuomo was on-air, which is a 50% decrease from the 1.9 million viewers he averaged a year ago. By comparison, Fox News' "Hannity" averaged 2.8 million viewers and MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" averaged 2.2 million viewers this summer, neither of them ever falling below 1 million viewers.

Tucson Radio: KiiM-FM 99.5 'Healing Field' To Mark 9/11 Anniversary

CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Country station KiiM-FM 99.5 will construct a “Healing Field” on Saturday, September 11, 2021, in Field 5 of Tucson’s Rillito Park at 4502 N. 1st Avenue in Tucson, AZ, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. 

The Healing Field will feature 2,977 American flags, each representing and remembering those that lost their lives 20 years ago after four U.S. commercial airplanes bound for west coast destinations were hijacked by terrorists. A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, D.C. and outside of Shanksville, PA, on September 11, 2001. The public is invited to visit the Healing Field in Field 5 of Rillito Park from dawn until 10:00pm on Saturday, September 11th.

Buzz Jackson, Program Director, KiiM-FM 99.5, said: “We wanted to give the community a place to reflect and remember the heroes and victims of 9/11 on the 20th anniversary. We thank our partners at Saguaro Solar, Tucson Fire Department, Northwest Fire Department, Tucson Police Department and Pima Country Parks & Recreation for their support in making this memorial a reality. We will never forget.”

CUMULUS MEDIA owns and operates five radio stations in Tucson, including: 97.5 The Vibe/KSZR-FM (Classic Hip Hop); KiiM-FM 99.5/KIIM-FM (Country); K-HIT 107.5/KHYT-FM (Classic Hits); Wildcats Radio1290/KCUB-AM (Sports); 1400 KTUC/KTUC-AM (Adult Standards).

Miami Radio: NBA Heat Voice Mike Inglis Retires

Miami Heat Composite

Veteran broadcaster, Mike Inglis, has decided to retire after serving as the Miami Heat’s English Radio play-by-play voice for more than two decades. 

In 23 seasons, Inglis called nearly 2,200 contests, including 216 playoff games. He was on the microphone for all 35 of the team’s NBA Finals games during their six appearances in the sport’s pinnacle series with his voice serving as the soundtrack of the team’s unforgettable NBA Championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013.

Hired prior to the start of the 1998 season, Inglis is one of just two people to ever hold the role as the team’s English play-by-play radio voice. His tenure will forever be associated with the most successful eras in HEAT basketball, and his legendary call commemorating the team’s initial title in 2006, “for the first time in franchise history, there will be a parade down Biscayne Boulevard!” remains one of the signature treasures in the archives of HEAT broadcasting. His 23 years as a broadcaster trail only those amassed by Eric Reid and José Pañeda, who begin their 34th and 33rd seasons, respectively.

In a remarkable testament to his durability and longevity, Inglis missed just five games over his HEAT career. The HEAT were the final stop during a distinguished media career that spanned nearly 50 years, one which included radio and TV work in the NFL, CFL, NBA and various hockey leagues.

Inglis will return for a yet-to-be-determined broadcast during the upcoming season in order to bid farewell to HEAT fans. The team will announce plans to fill the vacant broadcast position at a later date.

“Words could never describe how grateful I am to have had the privilege of broadcasting for the best sports organization in the Miami Heat,” Inglis said in a statement. “The past 23 years have been filled with friendships and experiences that, in my wildest dreams, I could have never imagined."

Calling games on flagship station WAXY 790 AM, Inglis worked in recent seasons alongside a combination of Ruth Riley-Hunter and Ron Rothstein.

Before that, he called games with John Crotty, until Crotty replaced Tony Fiorentino as Eric Reid’s partner on Heat television broadcasts to begin the 2017-18 season.

The Heat intends to continue producing separate television and radio broadcasts, but a successor for Inglis was not named. Heat TV studio host Jason Jackson is among possible replacements.

Wake-Up Call: Biden Talks 'Code Red' Climate Change Danger

President Biden toured neighborhoods in New Jersey and New York City yesterday that flooded from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, meeting with people whose homes had been destroyed or severely damaged by the intense flash flooding that left more than 50 people dead in several Eastern states. As he toured Manville, New Jersey, and part of Queens in New York City, Biden connected climate change to the historic flooding, as well as to stronger hurricanes and more intense wildfires in the Western U.S., saying it's become, quote, "everybody's crisis" and calling it "code red danger." Biden said, "The threat is here. It is not getting any better. The question is can it get worse. We can stop it from getting worse." Biden visited Louisiana on Friday, where Hurricane Ida struck on August 29th as a Category 4 storm, killing 15 people there.

US President Joe Biden has visited areas devastated last week by Hurricane Ada. On a visit to New Jersey, he stopped to hug those who'd lost property and possessions in the storm.

More on this story: https://t.co/N464RZrxt2 pic.twitter.com/LQ8uL9adLt

— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 8, 2021

 

➤AS U.S. PASSES 650,000 COVID DEATH, IDAHO HOSPITALS BEGIN RATIONING CARE: The U.S. passed 650,000 deaths from the coronavirus yesterday, with the rate of deaths having increased as the delta variant has surged across the country. That news came as Idaho announced it had begun rationing care under "crisis standards" at hospitals in the northern part of the state because the hospitals had become overwhelmed by Covid patients. 

Hospitals will be allowed to allot their scarce resources like intensive care unit rooms to patients most likely to survive. Other patients will still get care, but they may not have some life-saving medical equipment or be put in hospital classrooms or conference rooms. Those with lower chances of surviving will be given "comfort care" to keep them out of pain, whether they recover or die. It also means that urgent surgeries can be put on hold in addition to elective surgeries, and other patients with serious, but not life-threatening medical problems will face delays in getting care. Other states are preparing to take similar measures if they have to.

➤TALIBAN ANNOUNCES INTERIM GOV'T. INCLUDING MANY FROM 1990s RULE, 20-YEAR WAR: The Taliban announced an interim Afghanistan government Tuesday that is made up of all men, many of them veterans from their harsh rule of the country in the 1990s and the 20-year war against the U.S.-led coalition. Among them is the interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who's on the FBI’s most-wanted list and is believed to still be holding at least one American hostage. The interim prime minister, Mullah Hasan Akhund, also headed the Taliban government during the last years of its rule. In addition to not including any women, there's little representation from other ethnic groups other than the dominant Pashtuns. AP noted this formation of the interim government doesn't seem like it would get international support, and in fact, the U.S. expressed concern that the Cabinet included only Taliban, no women and people with problematic histories.

#Taliban try to stop women protesters in #Kabul's Dashti-E-Barchi. Moments later, they passed. pic.twitter.com/B321g2hNre

— Nabih (@nabihbulos) September 8, 2021

➤MENTAL HEALTH EXAM ORDERED FOR COLORADO SUPERMARKET SHOOTER: A judge ordered a mental health examination yesterday for a 22-year-old man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket in March to determine if he's competent to proceed with the case. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa has been detained since the March 22nd shooting at a King Soopers supermarket. The defense claims there is a “reasonable belief” that Alissa has an unspecified “mental disability.” Investigators haven't given a possible motive for the attack.

➤STRONG EARTHQUAKE HITS NEAR ACAPULCO, ONE DEAD, NO SERIOUS DAMAGE: A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the resort city of Acapulco, Mexico, last night. There was only one reported death as of early this morning, and no serious reported structural damage. However, the quake could be felt hundreds of miles away in Mexico City, where it caused buildings to sway and cut out some electricity. Acapulco Mayor Adela Roman said in a TV new statement, "there is no really serious situation" so far, but there were gas leaks, and some landslides and fallen walls.

➤RFK'S WIDOW, ETHEL KENNEDY, SAYS ASSASSIN SIRHAN SHOULDN'T BE FREED: Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, said Tuesday that her husband's assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, shouldn't be freed from jail, speaking out after he was recommended for parole last month. The 93-year-old Kennedy said in a statement, "Our family and our country suffered an unspeakable loss due to the inhumanity of one man. We believe in the gentleness that spared his life, but in taming his act of violence, he should not have the opportunity to terrorize again." The parole panel's recommendation isn't final, with California Governor Gavin Newsom able to reject Sirhan's release. Two of Kennedy's children, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Douglas Kennedy, supported Sirhan's release, but six of their surviving siblings spoke out against it after the parole board's recommendation. Kennedy was killed in June 1968.

Newsday 9/8/21

➤NYC MEDICAL EXAMINER ANNOUNCESE TWO MORE 9/11 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED: Just four days before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, New York City’s chief medical examiner announced Tuesday that her office had identified two more victims via DNA analysis. Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson said that Dorothy Morgan of Hempstead, N.Y., and an unnamed man whose identity was withheld at the request of his family were the latest confirmed victims from the World Trade Center attack that killed more than 2,700 of the nearly 3,000 people who died that day. Morgan worked as an insurance broker in the Trade Center. The two were the first victims identified since October 2019. About 40 percent of the Trade Center victims have still not had any remains identified.

 
➤IOWA TEACHER 'ON LEAVE' AFTER TELLING 7TH GRADERS HE'S BISEXUAL:  A seventh-grade teacher in Iowa was put on leave by the school district after he told his students that he's bisexual, leading to a walkout by more than 100 students at Winterset High School yesterday. According to a change.org petition, literacy teacher Lucas Kaufmann told students he's bisexual when they asked following a presentation he gave about himself to his class that featured the LGBT Pride flag. Nearly 1,500 people have signed the online petition. Winterset Community School District Superintendent Justin Gross confirmed Kaufmann was put on leave after concerns were raised after his presentation, according to USA Today. He wouldn't comment further, but the report said he acknowledged that state law bars employers from firing people based on sexual orientation and gender identification. USA Today also cited Iowa's largest teachers union as saying it supports teachers being open about their sexual orientation in the classroom.

➤STUDY SHOWS SMOKING CANNABIS COULD INCREASE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS:  As cannabis use increases due to legalization efforts and the conditions of the pandemic, research on its effects is developing as well. A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows adults under 45 who had smoked cannabis in the past 30 days were twice as likely to experience heart attacks or myocardial infarction compared to those who had not. The link is even stronger for those who had consumed cannabis more than four times in the past 30 days. Smoking isn’t the only method posing a risk, as co-author of the study, Dr. Karim Ladha, says this included “smoking, vaporization, and other methods such as edibles.” The study also shows that cannabis users are more likely to be men who drink heavily, smoke tobacco, and use e-vapes, but the authors say they “did adjust for these other risk factors.”

📱SMART PHONES MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR SENSES:  We do almost everything on our smart phones, but what are they doing to us? Susan Denham Wade, an author in the UK, says the outlook isn’t good. Denham Wade spent four years researching and writing a book about human sight throughout history, which she says is “humanity’s ruling sense.” The smart phone, she says, is the “pinnacle” of this. “We can now observe the world around us, communicate via text and social media, and ping pictures of our everyday activities to friends and family through a small screen, without ever leaving the house,” Denham Wade said. But this over-reliance on sight negatively affects the rest of our senses, as we aren’t utilizing the others as much. According to Denham Wade, the devices may also contribute to higher levels of stress, anxiety, loneliness, and depression. “They are the first thing we reach for in the morning, and the last thing we check at night,” she said.

🤖ROBOTS REPLACE HOST AND RUNNERS AT DALLAS RESTAURANT:  A restaurant by the name of La Duni found a state-of-the-art solution to being short-staffed, as three robots currently make the rounds at its Dallas location. Co-owner Taco Borga claims he bought the robots out of necessity when workers didn’t return post-pandemic. “They’re not taking anybody’s job, because no one is showing up. What they are doing is helping the ones who are really working,” he said. The three robots are named Alexcita, Panchita and Coqueta, and they have replaced one hostess and two food runners. They have “cartoon faces projected on screens, and they scoot around the room on wheels with bodies that feature tray shelves to carry food.” What’s more, they even compliment customers and sing “Happy Birthday.” All in all, the robots save Borga thousands of dollars each month.

Intriguing satellite presentation this morning with #Invest91L. Low-level circulation appears to be organizing a bit with some thunderstorms firing near the center. This might be the start of a run toward a tropical depression. We'll see what the day holds. pic.twitter.com/Pjyr2fGmiQ

— Grant Gilmore WTSP (@GrantWTSP) September 8, 2021

🎾MEDVEDEV, SABALENKA REACH SEMIS, BIG UPSET FOR FERNANDEZ: The second-seeded men and women, Daniil Medvedev and Aryna Sabalenka won their quarterfinal matches at the U.S. Open Tuesday to advance to the semifinals. Canada's 73rd-ranked Leylah Fernandez, who just turned 19 on Monday, also reached the semis by pulling off a big upset, beating Number 5 Elina Svitolina in their quarterfinal match 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5). In the day's other quarterfinal, another Canadian, 12th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, when Alcaraz bowed out during the second set because of a leg muscle problem.

⚾RAYS' CRUZ OLDEST AT 41 TO HIT 30 HOMERS IN A SEASON: Tamp Bay's Nelson Cruz hit two home runs in the Rays' 12-7 win over the Boston Red Sox last night, becoming at age 41 the oldest player in MLB history to hit 30 homers in a season. Cruz hit a two-run home run in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth, giving him his eighth season with 30 home runs. He passed David Ortiz and Darrell Evans, who were both 40 when they had 30 homers, Ortiz in 2016 and Evans in 1987.

🏀GONZAGA MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH FEW CITED FOR DUI: Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few was cited for driving under the influence Monday night, ESPN reported Tuesday, citing a police report it obtained. It said Few was pulled over after 8 p.m. near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, after getting a report that he was driving erratically and speeding. Police said his blood alcohol levels were .119 and .120, over the legal limit of .08. Few apologized in a statement last night for what he called a "lapse in judgment." Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford said in a statement, "While the facts of the situation are still being evaluated, we understand its severity and the legal process that will follow. . . . we respect Coach Few's right to privacy and will refrain from further comment at this time."

⚾JETER, WALKER, SIMMONS TO BE INDUCTED INTO COOPERSTOWN TODAY IN DELAYED CEREMONY: Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, and Ted Simimons will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame today, the class of 2020's ceremony finally being held after being delayed for over a year because of the pandemic. Also being inducted is the late Marvin Miller, who served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) from 1966 to 1982. Nobody was selected for the Hall from this year's writers' ballot.

➤TRUMP TO PROVIDE 'GAMECAST' OF SATURDAY BOXING EVENT: Former President Donald Trump will provide commentary during a "gamecast" on Triller of a boxing event this coming Saturday (September 11th) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, headlined by a bout between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort, Triller told ESPN yesterday. Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr., will give commentary for the entire four-fight telecast. Viewers can buy either the main telecast, called by Jim Lampley, or the gamecast.

SiriusXM Radio Launches Extensive Marketing Campaign

SiriusXM has announced its largest multi-media national ad campaign ever which brings to life the vibrancy and spontaneity of SiriusXM programming, featuring superstar artists, creators, and stars from the worlds of entertainment, music, and sports, many of whom have shows, channels and popups on the SXM App. The campaign – "The Home of SiriusXM'' created in collaboration with Translation, the independent creative agency - debuts on TV, digital, audio, social and out of home beginning this month.

The ads personify the variety and depth of content that SiriusXM offers listeners daily – all living under one roof -- and features six humorous spots showcasing a wide cast of famous talent and voices living in SiriusXM's House, from established icons to trending TikTok creators: "Gizmos" starring Kevin Hart and LL COOL J; "Yelling" featuring Dave Grohl and Kevin Hart; "Sunday" featuring LL COOL J, Bebe Rexha, Kehlani, Jeff Lewis, Helio Castroneves, Anitta and Normani; "Chores" featuring Normani, Diplo and SiriusXM's Sway Calloway; "Bathroom" featuring Bella Poarch and Brett Favre along with Diplo, Normani, and SiriusXM's Sway Calloway, Storme Warren and the Morning Mashup crew from SiriusXM Hits 1.

The campaign is centered around SiriusXM as the live destination that brings you into all of the entertainment you love. The TV spots focus on the everyday activities where listeners may find themselves listening to SiriusXM from the front seat of the car, cooking in the kitchen, doing chores around the house, working out, or at a gathering with friends. This engaged audience has easy access to compelling, entertaining hosts on SiriusXM channels and shows in spontaneous moments they won't find anywhere else. And they aren't just getting SiriusXM in the car. Listeners can bring SiriusXM with them anywhere on mobile phones, smart speakers, and other connected devices using the SXM App.

Listening on home devices is showcased prominently in every spot, and the availability of SiriusXM outside the car is particularly in focus in the "Gizmos" spot, as Kevin Hart, with the help of his housemates such as LL COOL J, discovers he can listen to his favorite channel (his very own Laugh Out Loud Radio) in a variety of ways.

"The Home of SiriusXM" is airing now on college football on ABC, and continues throughout the month running alongside such high-profile programs as NBC's The Voice and America's Got Talent. The spots will also be featured during NFL football broadcasts on CBS this fall, on iHeart and ESPN radio, cable networks including Discovery, Paramount, Bravo and BET and OTT channels such as Hulu, Roku, Viacom, Discovery+ and CBSi. A special holiday themed TV spot featuring a variety of musicians, stars and SiriusXM hosts–all living in "The Home of SiriusXM"– will break later in November.

"The Home of SiriusXM" campaign lets us shine a light on many of the talented people in our diverse roster of stars and personalities who create exclusive programming for SiriusXM and interact with each other in a way not found on other audio competitors," said Denise Karkos, Chief Marketing Officer of SiriusXM. "The campaign is built for the long run, and you will see more executions of it in the future with surprising pairings and appearances by our talent."

"The Home of SiriusXM" ad campaign was concepted by Translation, an independent creative agency built to help ambitious brands harness the power of culture to solve their biggest challenges.

"SiriusXM is the only place where every category of entertainment, and entertainer, is brought together on one platform that's completely alive, no matter where you stream. We brought this idea to life by bringing larger than life entertainers and personalities together to live under one roof. Our team was excited by the opportunity to reposition SiriusXM for a new generation of listeners by creating space for them to embrace SiriusXM in worthy moments beyond the car," said Jason Campbell, Executive Creative Director at Translation.

Digital spots will appear in outlets such as Vox, The Verge, SBNation, Vulture, and more.

An outdoor campaign will appear on billboards, subways, airports and commuter portals in New York City, Boston and San Francisco beginning September 13.

Joe Rogan Rips CNN: "They're Making Sh#t Up'

Joe Rogan went after Jim Acosta and CNN for claiming that Ivermectin, a controversial anti-parasite drug the podcaster used to treat Covid-19, is a “horse dewormer,” reports Mediaite.

“Well, well well, if it isn’t old ‘Horse Worm Rogan,'” guest Tom Segura cracked on Tuesday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, referring to the outrage Rogan sparked by taking Ivermectin despite warnings against the drug from public health officials.

Rogan appreciated Segura’s quip and responded by asking, “Bro, do I have to sue CNN?” over their coverage of his coronavirus treatment.

“They’re making shit up!” Rogan continued. “They keep saying I’m taking horse dewormer. I literally got it from a doctor. It’s an American company. They won the Nobel Prize in 2015 for use in human beings and CNN is saying I’m taking horse dewormer. They must know that’s a lie.”

The scientists who developed the drug did win the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2015, as the foundation concluded that the drug “revolutionized therapy for patients suffering from devastating parasitic diseases.”

Segura noted that a lot of outlets and people have labeled the drug as a horse dewormer, prompting Rogan to exclaim, “If the internet says it, who cares. But CNN is saying it. Jim Acosta!”

While Ivermectin is used to treat humans, versions of the drug are also used to deworm livestock, and the FDA has warned that they have “not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals,” adding that they have “received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for livestock.”

Tulsa Radio: The Blitz Adds FOX Sports Radio

Griffin Broadcasting’s new all-sports station KTSB The Blitz 1170 AM (formerly KFAG) has announced that FOX Sports Radio will join the lineup. FOX Sports Radio’s industry-leading programming will air from 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. on weeknights, and 24/7 on weekends.

Among the weekday additions from FOX Sports Radio are:

The Blitz 1170 AM’s Monday through Friday lineup:

• 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. Rick Couri
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Dan Hawk
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Al “Big Al “Jerkens
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Jeremie “Pop” Poplin
• 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Colby Daniels
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Barstool Sports
• 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker\
• 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon
• 1 a.m. – 5 a.m. The Ben Maller Sho
• 5 a.m. – 6 a.m. Outkick The Coverage

“We’re excited to launch a station with great local personalities combined with the excellent resources of FOX Sports Radio,” said Jeremie Poplin, The Blitz 1170 AM Program Director. “We could not have asked for a better partnership.”

Broadcasters Urged to Cancel Coverage of Beijing Olympics

Some of the world’s largest broadcasters including American network NBC are being asked by human rights groups to cancel plans to cover next year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Winter Games are scheduled to open on Feb. 4.

The Associated Press reports the request comes in an open letter from rights groups representing minorities in China, including Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kong residents and others.

The letter, obtained by the Associated Press, was sent Tuesday to NBC Universal chief executive officer Jeff Shell and other international broadcast executives. NBC is paying $7.75 billion for the rights to the next six Olympics and works closely as a partner with the Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee.

Those payments are estimated to account for up to 40% of the IOC’s total income. The letter says the broadcasters risk “being complicit” in the “worsening human rights abuses” in China.

The IOC has repeatedly said it is only a sports body and its president Thomas Bach has declined to address or condemn the treatment of Uyghurs or other minorities in China. The IOC is also facing calls for a boycott, pressure on some of its 15 top sponsors, and some athletes speaking of the difficult situation they face.

A vice president of one major IOC sponsor, Intel, has said he concurs with the assessment that genocide is taking place.

“All of your companies are at serious risk of being complicit in China’s plan to ‘sport wash’ the severe and worsening human rights abuses and embolden the actions of the Chinese authorities,” the open letter reads. “By broadcasting Beijing 2022 your companies will legitimize these abuses and promote what is being widely described as the ‘Genocide Games’.”

China’s foreign ministry has repeatedly criticized what it calls the “politicization of sports” and has said any Olympic boycott is “doomed to failure.” It has also denied committing genocide against the Uyghur people, describing the charges as the “lie of the century.”

PA Radio: St. Barnabas Broadcasting To Acquire WBVP, WMBA

St. Barnabas Broadcasting has signed an agreement to purchase Beaver County AM radio stations WBVP and WMBA, reports timesonlin.com.

William V. Day, president of the Richland Township-headquartered St. Barnabas Health System, entered into the joint agreement with Mark Peterson, president of Sound Ideas Media, and longtime owner of the Beaver Falls-based stations. 

Peterson will remain with the organization, and all WBVP/WMBA employees have been retained.  Sales terms were not disclosed. 

The contract to acquire the simulcast WBVP 99.3 FM / 1230 AM) and WMBA 1460 AM allows St. Barnabas Broadcasting to augment its current radio network. Last November, St. Barnabas Broadcasting acquired WJAS AM/FM in Pittsburgh.

WBVP and WMBA air and stream the identical news/talk radio shows, with daily local morning broadcasters Matt Drzik and Eddy Crow, and news reporter Frank Sparks.

Under St. Barnabas, WJAS 1320 AM  / 99.1 FM has looked to grow its talk radio format featuring conservative radio hosts such as, Bloomdaddy, Glenn Beck, Dan Bongino, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and Jimmy Failla. Earlier this year, WJAS briefly employed Pittsburgh controveresial talk host Wendy Bell.

St. Barnabas Broadcasting is a subsidiary of the St. Barnabas Health System, a nonprofit organization founded in 1900, with facilities in Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties.

NABOB Wants FCC To Keep Ownsership Rules Intact

The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) has filed Comments in the FCC’s 2018 Quadrennial Review of its broadcast ownership rules. In its Comments NABOB stated:

Any change in the local radio ownership rule to allow increased consolidation will have a significant negative impact on African Americans and other minority station owners and entrepreneurs. Any elimination or relaxation of the Subcaps rule would be particularly damaging for the AM radio industry as a whole, in addition to being damaging to African American AM station owners.

James Winston

NABOB pointed out that:  The ownership of broadcast radio and television stations has been in steady decline ever since: (1) Congress repealed the minority tax certificate policy in 1995, (2) the Supreme Court decided the Adarandcase in 1995, and (3) Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

NABOB continued:  The proponents of elimination or relaxation of the Subcaps rule have put forth justifications for these rule changes that are not supported by the facts. Advertisers are unlikely to shift dollars away from Facebook, Google and other internet companies to broadcast media. Advertisers recognize that the two media deliver audiences in very different ways. Advertisers seeking to buy radio can buy it now regardless of who owns the stations.

Jim Winston, President of NABOB said, “The reasons given for eliminating or radically relaxing the Commission’s local radio ownership rule are not adequate to justify increased consolidation of ownership in local radio markets. The AM radio industry would be greatly injured by the proposals that have been put forth. We are pleased to see iHeart Media and other companies rejecting these proposals.”

'Farm Aid' To Air On Circle Net and SisiusXM

Farm Aid has announced that its music, food and farm festival will be broadcast live on Circle Network, SiriusXM and FarmAid.org. The program will include music from the day and videos that tell the stories of New England farmers. Farm Aid 2021 is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25, at Xfinity Theatre in Harford, Connecticut.

"Connecticut has embraced Farm Aid again, and we are thrilled to return to live music, especially after such a difficult year. We're grateful for the opportunity to gather with people across the Northeast who value the power of music, appreciate delicious family farm food and — most of all — support family farmers," said Carolyn Mugar, executive director of Farm Aid. "We are excited to partner with Circle this year to bring the Farm Aid festival to television for those not able to join us in person."

Farm Aid 2021 will feature performances by Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds), and Margo Price, as well as Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, Bettye LaVette, Jamey Johnson, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Allison Russell, Particle Kid, Ian Mellencamp and Wisdom Indian Dancers.

Circle Network will begin livestreaming Farm Aid 2021 at 2 p.m. ET across Circle All Access platforms, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, with the live, on-air broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. ET. To find Circle in your area, visit www.circleallaccess.com/watch-circle. The Farm Aid 2021 webcast at www.farmaid.org will begin at 2 p.m. ET.

"Circle is proud to begin a strong partnership with Farm Aid in support of their invaluable efforts to benefit and uplift America's vital farming community," said Circle's SVP of Content Evan Haiman. "We are excited to have the opportunity to share this amazing musical event with our audience, bringing them the unforgettable performances that only Farm Aid can provide."

Beginning at 12 p.m. ET, SiriusXM subscribers will be able to listen to Farm Aid 2021 live on SiriusXM's Willie's Roadhouse (channel 59) and Dave Matthews Band Radio (channel 30) via SiriusXM radios and on the SXM App. The live coverage will also include backstage interviews with artists, stories from family farmers and more, hosted by SiriusXM's Dallas Wayne. All coverage will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the annual Farm Aid festival and the organization's year-round work since 1985 to strengthen family farm agriculture.

Australian Court: Media Responsible For Facebook Page Comments

Australia's highest court ruled Wednesday (September 9th) that media outlets are "publishers" of comments that are posted by other people on their official Facebook pages, which opens them up to legal action over defamatory comments. 

In the landmark ruling, the court rejected the arguments from some of Australia's largest media organizations that in order to be considered a publisher of the comments, they must be aware of the defamatory content and intend to convey it. 

But the court found instead that by facilitating and encouraging comments, the media companies had participated in their communication. Attorneys for Dylan Voller, an Australian man who wants to sue several media companies over the issue, said, "This is a historic step forward . . . in protecting individuals, especially those who are in a vulnerable position, from being the subject of unmitigated social media mob attacks." 

The companies Voller wants to sue posted content on their Facebook pages about news stories that referred to time he'd spent in a juvenile detention center. People then posted comments on those posts about him that Voller claims were defamatory.

Todd McShay Stepping Away From ESPN Duties

ESPN reporter Todd McShay announced Tuesday that he is stepping away from the network for an unspecified period to "focus on my health and my family," reports USAToday.

"Thank you ESPN for being so supportive and for all the well wishes," McShay wrote on Twitter. "I can’t wait to be back on the sidelines soon."

The announcement comes three days after McShay worked as a sideline reporter during ESPN's broadcast of a game between Alabama and Miami. One of his segments during the game prompted concern on social media, with viewers speculating that he did not look well.

ESPN said in a brief statement that McShay "has ESPN's full support as he steps away at this time to focus on his health and his family."

McShay, 44, has worked at the network since 2006 and is best known for his coverage of the NFL draft. He has also been a college football field analyst since 2014.