Paramount Skydance to Negotiate With WBD Over Deal

Paramount Skydance has signaled its readiness to enter negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) during a limited seven-day window, but stopped short of committing to raise its $30-per-share hostile takeover bid.

The company issued a statement Tuesday describing WBD's board actions as "unusual" while affirming it is "prepared to engage in good faith and constructive discussions." This comes after WBD, with a waiver from Netflix (its preferred merger partner), opened the brief negotiating period ending February 23, 2026, to allow Paramount to address remaining "deficiencies" in its proposal and submit a potential "best and final" offer.

The move revives talks that had stalled, as WBD previously rejected Paramount's all-cash offer to acquire the entire company—valuing it at around $108 billion—in favor of Netflix's $83 billion deal focused on WBD's streaming and studio assets (including HBO Max and franchises like Harry Potter). 

Paramount has pursued a hostile tender offer directly to shareholders and plans to continue advancing it, along with a proxy fight by nominating directors for WBD's board.

FNC's Sean Hannity To Host New Podcast

Fox News host Sean Hannity is launching a twice-weekly podcast called “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” becoming the network’s biggest on-air personality to enter the growing podcast space.

The long-form interview podcast will debut March 3, 2026, and be available on YouTube, Spotify and other major platforms. Episodes will typically run about an hour, but Hannity plans to let conversations continue as long as they remain compelling, free from the time constraints and commercial breaks of television.“You just keep going,” Hannity said in an interview. “I love the freedom that offers.”

The format builds on his experience hosting extended interviews on Fox Nation, including conversations with Sylvester Stallone and Stephen A. Smith. Hannity said the no-time-limit structure allows for deeper, more intimate storytelling and ensures guests can’t dodge tough questions.

“I’m not going to stop for an hour and a half until you give me my answer,” he said. “And it doesn’t matter if we agree, disagree, but you gotta give an answer.”

“Everybody has a story,” he added. “And the beauty is, I don’t have to work hard to pull it out of them in a certain period of time.”

Talk Host Mark Levin To Launch New Vodcast

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One has announced the launch of a new digital video series from their legacy host, Mark Levin. Liberty’s Voice with Mark Levin will publish vodcast episodes three times per week – Monday through Wednesday – and will be available on both YouTube and Rumble in digital video format with future expansion on other platforms.

For the first time, Levin will offer audiences access to original digital video content via an ad-supported model, instead of a subscriber paywall. Liberty’s Voice with Mark Levin will present exclusive, in-depth commentary from one of America’s most influential constitutional scholars and political thinkers. 

Sharing his intellectual rigor, brilliant wit, and signature passion, Levin will draw on history, economics, law, and philosophy as he goes beyond the headlines to examine the ideas and principles that shaped the United States—and the forces challenging them today. 

Each episode will deliver substantive analysis of current events, grounded in the founding ideals of liberty, limited government, and individual sovereignty, while exposing the dangers of centralized power and historical amnesia.

Radio History: Feb 18

➦In 1920...Bill Cullen born (died from lung cancer July 7, 1990).

He was a radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades. His biggest claim to fame was as a game show host; over the course of his career, he hosted 23 shows, and earned the nickname "Dean of Game Show Hosts". Aside from his hosting duties, he appeared as a panelist/celebrity guest on many other game shows, including regular appearances on I've Got a Secret and To Tell the Truth.

Cullen's broadcasting career began in 1939 in Pittsburgh at WWSW radio, where he worked as a disc jockey and play-by-play announcer or color commentator for Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Hornets games. In 1943, Cullen left WWSW to briefly work at rival station KDKA before leaving Pittsburgh a year later to try his luck in New York. A week after arriving in New York, he was hired as a staff announcer at CBS.

His last regular radio job was as one of the hosts of NBC Radio's Monitor from 1971–73.

➦In 1922...WOC-AM, Davenport, Iowa, went on the air. WOC is widely known as the radio station where future U.S. President Ronald Reagan got his start re-creating Chicago Cubs baseball games.

Nielsen: TV Viewing Hits 12-Month High In January

TV viewing in the U.S. reached a 12-month high in January 2026, rising 3.7% from December, according to Nielsen's Gauge report. The surge was driven by strong sports programming, returning broadcast dramas, a 9% jump in cable viewership, and cold weather keeping people indoors.

Cable posted the largest monthly gain among platforms, climbing to 21.1% (or 21.2% in some reports) of total TV time. Sports viewing on cable surged 49% month-over-month, fueled by ESPN's coverage of the College Football Playoffs, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship, which drove an 82% increase in ESPN's viewing. Cable news rose 13%, boosted by an active news cycle, with Fox News up 17% and CNN up 29%. ESPN and Fox News each captured 2.2% of total TV usage, combining for 21% of cable viewing.

Broadcast viewing increased 4.2% to 21.5% of total TV time. NFL games dominated, claiming the top 15 broadcast telecasts and accounting for 30% of the category's viewership. Broadcast dramas jumped 24%, led by ABC's "High Potential" as the most-watched drama. Broadcast news gained 10%, headlined by ABC's "World News Tonight."

Streaming held a leading 47% share of TV viewing (slightly down from December's record 47.5%), with time spent up 2.7% month-over-month. YouTube led with 12.5% share. Netflix posted its strongest month yet at 8.8% share (up 1% from December) and topped streaming programs for the second straight month with "Stranger Things" amassing 15.4 billion viewing minutes.

Other streaming highlights:

WBD To Reopen Deal Talks With Paramount Skydance

Warner Bros. Discovery announced Tuesday it will reopen limited deal talks with Paramount Skydance, creating the potential for a renewed bidding contest with its preferred partner, Netflix.

Netflix has granted Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) a seven-day waiver, ending February 23, 2026, to engage with Paramount and seek its "best and final" offer, addressing remaining deficiencies in Paramount's proposal. WBD's board continues to unanimously recommend the Netflix merger and has scheduled a special shareholder vote on that deal for March 20.

Paramount, pursuing a hostile all-cash acquisition of the entire WBD company (including cable networks like CNN and TNT), recently sweetened its tender offer. A senior Paramount representative orally indicated willingness to raise the bid to $31 per WBD share from the current $30 if talks resume. 

Paramount has also committed to covering the $2.8 billion termination fee WBD would owe Netflix if the Netflix deal collapses, plus a "ticking fee" of 25 cents per share per quarter starting in January 2027 if its transaction delays.

Good Morning! Let's Check The Pulse for Tuesday, Feb 17

Radio Broadcasting

Regulatory and Ownership Discussions:  The FCC continues its periodic review of broadcast ownership rules, with recent Senate Commerce Committee hearings (early February) focusing on media ownership in the digital age. Testimony from NAB leaders and others debated potential relaxation of limits, including national TV caps (relevant to broader consolidation discussions) and local radio rules unchanged for decades amid streaming competition. No final actions occurred in mid-February, but the ongoing process could lead to changes allowing more flexibility for radio groups. Other FCC updates include minor operational tweaks, such as FRN update requirements and foreign ownership codifications.

Formats:  "Yacht Rock" has emerged as a breakout format trend in early 2026, blending classic soft rock with modern appeal on several stations. Yacht Rock refers to a retroactively named genre of smooth, polished soft rock from the late 1970s and early 1980s. It features glossy production, breezy vocals, sophisticated arrangements (often with jazz and disco influences), and laid-back grooves that evoke images of leisurely sailing on a yacht in sunny Southern California waters. The term originated from a satirical 2005 YouTube comedy series called Yacht Rock, which poked fun at the era's "smooth" music scene. Read More: HERE

Media Industry

Streaming and Digital Media Momentum:  Streaming platforms are accelerating growth, with forecasts showing robust ad revenue and sports rights investments. Roku projected strong 2026 platform revenue (~$4.89 billion, up 18%) driven by ad-supported streaming shifts and expectations to exceed 100 million streaming households. Streamers are poised to spend $14.2 billion on sports rights in 2026 (up from $13.2 billion in 2025), with Amazon Prime Video leading. Netflix and others emphasize ad-tier expansion, while global content spend rises modestly (streaming up ~6% to $101 billion). Broader trends include AI fatigue, journalist-led independent platforms (e.g., Substack), and trust concerns around undisclosed AI content.

Advertising and Broader Industry Trends:  U.S. ad markets show resilience, with political/midterm election spending and events like the World Cup providing tailwinds. Analysts highlight programmatic growth across TV/audio/commerce media, AI-driven personalization, and hybrid models. Pharma marketing discussions (e.g., around RFK Jr.'s HHS role and potential ad restrictions) reflect policy intersections with media. Entertainment faces labor talk preparations and consolidation speculation (e.g., Warner Bros. Discovery reassessing Paramount merger dynamics amid bids).

U-S News

• Trump Administration Foreign Policy Moves:  Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized strong U.S. support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during a visit to Budapest, calling Orbán's success vital to American interests ahead of Hungary's tight elections. Rubio highlighted close ties between Trump and Orbán.
• President Trump criticized a clean energy agreement between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the United Kingdom as "inappropriate," slamming direct dealings with a Democratic governor.
• Domestic Incidents and Crime: A deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice skating rink during a high school hockey game killed at least two people (reports vary on exact toll), described as targeted. Police responded to chaos with players and fans fleeing.
• In Georgia, an undocumented immigrant allegedly caused a fatal car crash while fleeing ICE agents, killing a public school teacher (Dr. Linda Davis). The incident has fueled immigration enforcement debates.
• Ongoing developments in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case, including family members cleared as suspects and new details from authorities.

Report: CNN's Anderson Cooper To Exit CBS' 60-Minutes

Anderson Cooper, one of television's most prominent journalists, is leaving CBS News's "60 Minutes" after nearly 20 years as a correspondent, citing a desire to prioritize time with his young children.

The 58-year-old anchor announced the departure on Monday, stating it will occur after the current season ends. "Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career," Cooper said. 

"For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me."

He will continue his full-time roles at CNN, including anchoring "Anderson Cooper 360," hosting "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper," and his podcast "All There Is with Anderson Cooper."

CBS News expressed appreciation for his contributions and left the door open for a potential return. 

"We’re grateful to him for dedicating so much of his life to this broadcast, and understand the importance of spending more time with family," the network said. "60 Minutes will be here if he ever wants to return."

Cooper's exit comes amid broader changes and reported turmoil at CBS News under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who began her role in October and is pushing for an overhaul to attract audiences across formats. Weiss has described the previous broadcast-focused strategy as unsustainable, stating in a recent staff town hall that clinging to it would leave the network "toast."

CBS Pulls Interview From Colbert Broadcast

The FCC's renewed enforcement of the Equal Time rule—prompted by Chairman Brendan Carr—led CBS to pull a planned interview with Texas State Rep. James Talarico (D), a Democratic Senate candidate, from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's broadcast.

Instead, LateNighter.com reports the full sit-down was posted to the show's YouTube channel, though Colbert was barred from sharing the link or a QR code on air.

During Monday night's episode, Colbert defied CBS lawyers' warnings not to discuss the matter and openly criticized the decision.

He explained that network lawyers directly instructed the show not to air Talarico, nor even mention the cancellation, citing the Equal Time rule. This FCC regulation requires broadcasters to offer equal opportunities to opposing candidates if one appears (outside bona fide news exemptions).Colbert mocked the rule as the FCC's "most time-honored" after the Super Bowl nipple ban and recapped Carr's January letter questioning exemptions for talk shows he claimed were "motivated by partisan purposes.

"In response, Colbert accused Carr—the Trump-appointed FCC chair—of partisan bias himself, quipping "FCC you" and calling the move an attempt to "Dutch oven" America's airwaves while silencing Trump critics.

Judge Sets Response Deadlines In Cumulus, Nielsen Lawsuit

A federal judge in New York has set a briefing schedule advancing the high-stakes legal clash between Cumulus Media and Nielsen, centering on Nielsen's counterclaims that Cumulus improperly shared its confidential radio ratings data with competitor Eastlan Ratings.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas has issued the scheduling order in the Southern District of New York, establishing deadlines for Cumulus to respond to Nielsen's February 2 counterclaims. 

Nielsen accuses Cumulus of breaching their 2023–2025 Services Agreement by disclosing proprietary ratings data to Eastlan in early 2025, and seeks damages, declaratory relief, and an injunction barring further sharing or use. Cumulus must file its response—including any motion to dismiss—by March 4. 

Apple Upgrade Podcasts To Take on YouTube and Spotify

Apple on Monday announced a major update to Apple Podcasts, introducing an integrated video podcast experience this spring that allows seamless switching between audio and video in the same feed, supports picture-in-picture, offline downloads, full-screen horizontal viewing, and dynamic video ad insertion for creators.

The enhancement uses Apple's HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol for adaptive playback and better in-app controls. It positions Apple Podcasts to better compete with video-heavy platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix, amid rising video podcast consumption—about 37% of people over age 12 watch them monthly, per Edison Research.

Creators gain new monetization options through dynamic video ads (including host-read spots) via participating hosting providers and ad networks. Apple will not charge creators or hosts for distribution but will take an impression-based fee from ad networks for HLS-delivered ads, starting later this year.Launch partners include Acast, Amazon-owned ART19, Triton’s Omny Studio, and SiriusXM.

“Twenty years ago, Apple helped take podcasting mainstream by adding podcasts to iTunes, and more than a decade ago, we introduced the dedicated Apple Podcasts app,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. 

Don Lemon Gains Subscribers, Followers

The arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon by federal authorities has dramatically benefit his and his independent media presence. 

In the nearly two weeks since his January 30, 2026, arrest, Lemon has gained more than 300,000 new followers on Instagram, added 140,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel, and seen his Substack newsletter surge by 73% to exceed 140,000 total subscribers—many of them paid members at $8/month in what he calls “Lemon Nation.”

The surge stems from widespread backlash against the Trump administration's prosecution, which many view as an attack on press freedom. Lemon, now an independent journalist, was charged with federal offenses—including conspiracy to interfere with religious rights and violating laws protecting access to houses of worship—after covering and livestreaming an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18. 

Former NPR Host Sues Google Over AI Voice

David Greene

Former NPR host David Greene is suing Google, alleging the company's AI tool NotebookLM illegally replicated his distinctive voice for its synthetic male podcast host without his permission or compensation.

The lawsuit, filed January 23, 2026, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, California, claims Google violated his right of publicity and other laws by mimicking his delivery, cadence, intonation, persona, and even filler words like "uh" in the Audio Overviews feature—which generates podcast-style discussions from uploaded documents.

Greene, who co-hosted NPR's Morning Edition for about a decade until 2022 and now hosts the podcast Left, Right & Center on SoCal's KCRW (an NPR member station), said he was "completely freaked out" after discovering the resemblance in fall 2024. Friends, family, former colleagues, and listeners flooded him with messages—emails and texts—asking if he had licensed his voice to Google, with one former coworker emailing to confirm because it "sounds very much like you."

He described the similarity as "uncanny" and emphasized that his voice, built over decades of acclaimed radio work, is central to his professional identity and brand. Greene stressed he is not an "anti-AI activist" but called the unauthorized use "very weird" and troubling, amounting to exploitation of his identity. He seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to halt further use of the voice.

Google has denied the allegations, calling them baseless. A company spokesperson stated the male voice in NotebookLM's Audio Overviews is based on a paid professional actor hired by Google, not derived from Greene or any unauthorized source.

The case highlights growing debates over AI voice synthesis, training data ethics, right of publicity, and whether stylistic mimicry (without direct sampling) constitutes infringement, amid similar high-profile suits involving AI and creators or celebrities. No lawsuit involves NPR itself.

South Bend Radio: Tommy Bickham Joins WNDV For Mornings

Sound Management CHR “U93” (WNDV-FM 92.9) in South Bend, Indiana, has named veteran Midwest radio personality Tommy Bickham as its new morning show host.

Bickham succeeds longtime morning host Tim Bayless, who is relocating to Florida after 11 years at the station. Bickham and Bayless are co-hosting together through Bayless' final show on February 25.

News Media Remains Active In Tucson

The media circus in Tucson surrounding the Nancy Guthrie case has been intense and chaotic, transforming a normally quiet, upscale Catalina Foothills neighborhood into a frenzy of national and international attention.

Picture this: satellite trucks, news vans, and camera crews lined up for blocks along the street leading to Nancy Guthrie's home, turning a peaceful desert suburb—known for its spaced-out houses, long driveways, gates, and cactus-filled landscapes—into something resembling a major crime scene spectacle. 

Reporters, producers, photographers, and even independent journalists or YouTubers camped out 24/7, live-streaming updates, conducting stand-ups, and jostling for the latest soundbites or glimpses of law enforcement activity. Some described it outright as a "literal circus," with equipment everywhere, people milling about, and occasional bizarre moments (like someone reportedly having a pizza delivered right to the front door of the property).

FL Radio: MARC Radio Purchases Lakeland Cluster

MARC Radio Group continues to significantly expand its presence in Florida by acquiring a cluster of radio stations in the Lakeland-Winter Haven market from Hall Communications.

The deal includes :

• Country formatted WPCV-FM (97.5 "97 Country") — a heritage station with strong coverage from near Tampa to Sanford, an award-winning morning show, and a loyal audience. MARC has stated it will retain the successful country format, with Chief Revenue Officer Scott Miller noting, "You don't mess with success."
• Adult Hits WONN (1230 "MAX") and its FM translators W296CS (107.1) and W240DB (95.9).
• Talk formatted WLKF-AM (1430) (note: the current FM translator at 96.7 is not included in the deal).

The transaction is expected to close in May, subject to approval by the FCC.  This acquisition comes just days after MARC announced another major purchase: five stations along Florida's I-95 corridor (including markets from the Space Coast to the Treasure Coast, such as Vero Beach-area outlets in AC, adult hits, country, and news/talk formats), further strengthening the privately owned company's statewide footprint.

MI Radio: FCC Calls Sovereign Communications For Fees Non-Payment

A Michigan radio broadcaster, Sovereign Communications, LLC, faces potential revocation of licenses for its seven stations after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an "Order to Pay or Show Cause".

The FCC's Media Bureau and Office of Managing Director initiated revocation proceedings due to $37,250.51 in unpaid regulatory fees, plus penalties, interest, and administrative costs, spanning fiscal years 2021 through 2024 (with some sources noting gaps like 2022 possibly partial or misstated in summaries, but the total balance is confirmed).Sovereign has 60 days from the order's release (until mid-April 2026) to either:Pay the full amount (or apply an existing $9,200+ overpayment credit toward it), or demonstrate why the fees are inapplicable, should be waived, deferred, or otherwise excused.

Failure to comply could result in the FCC revoking the licenses for all seven stations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.The affected stations include:

• 
  In Sault Ste. Marie: Rock 101 WSUE (101.3 FM), CHR “99.5 Yes FM” WYSS (99.5 FM), News Talk 1400 WKNW (1400 AM), and soft AC WSOO (1230 AM).
• In Newberry: Classic hits “Oldies 93” WNBY-FM (93.9 FM) and country WNBY (1450 AM).
• In Pickford: “Country 105” WMKD (105.5 FM).The largest portions of the debt tie to the FM stations, with over $9,500 owed for WSUE, and more than $7,000 each for WYSS and WMKD; smaller amounts apply to the AM facilities.