TALKERS News Notes
FOX News Media says that according to data from Nielsen Media Research, its “Democracy 24: FOX News Republican Primary Debate” was the most-watched telecast in all of linear television, digital and streaming on Wednesday (8/23), averaging 12.8 million viewers and 2.8 million viewers in the 25-54 demo. That, FOX says, tops more than 70% of all presidential primary debates in the last two cycles (2016 and 2020).
SiriusXM announces it opens the 2023 college football season offering 87 live games during the week (8/26-9/4). SiriusXM says this slate includes games from every team from the Associated Press Top 25 poll, including the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs vs UT Martin; #13 Notre Dame vs Navy in Dublin, Ireland; and #5 LSU vs #8 Florida State.
conducted by Gregory, who was on the island of Maui covering the wildfires, including the devastating fire in the historic town of Lahaina. The show explores the government’s response, the views of Maui islanders, and what happens next. iHeartMedia says, “Gregory became 
the center of controversy when, during a press conference, he pushed Hawaii Governor Josh Green for answers and access to the fire scenes. Local and national media covered the exchange and became the foundation for other reporters to push back, seeking transparency and accountability.” The radio special and podcast are produced by Gregory and Jacob Gonzalez for iHeartMedia Los Angeles and the iHeartRadio Podcast Network.
with station PD Terry Ford on the air. He told his audience, “It’s not a money thing. I just hit 50 this year. There are some things in my career I still want to do. They really wanted to keep me in Columbia and focused on that, and we just couldn’t get to where we needed to… This isn’t anybody’s fault. It’s just how radio and how business works sometimes.” Meanwhile, Cline says he’ll serve as executive producer and sub host for Chuck Oliver’s regional, college football-focused show and will continue the weekend hosting and fill-in work he’s been doing for Dickey Broadcasting’s WCNN, Atlanta “680 The Fan.” 
the Obama Administration – is also the host of the programs “As I See It” and “Take My Word for It” on sister news/talk WRVA-AM. Collin Gutman hosts “The Gutcheck” on WRNL. Audacy Richmond SVP and market manager Bennett Zier states, “We’re thrilled to introduce ‘The Postgame Gutcheck’ and give Commanders fans a dedicated space to dissect and digest each game this season. Hosted by the dynamic duo of Ambassador Howard Gutman and his son Collin, this show will be a must-listen for anyone seeking in-depth analysis, insider insights and a passionate breakdown of all things Commanders.”
over the position after news director Joe Bartlett retired from the station on May 31 after 37 years with the WOR. Mendte had most recently been news director and host at WJLP-TV, Middletown, New Jersey “Me-TV.” Mendte says, “WOR is iconic in radio history, and I’m honored to accept this position. Len Berman and Michael Riedel are smart, entertaining, and informative. It’s the morning show I listen to, and I’m elated to now be part of it.” WOR program director Tom Cuddy states, “I’ve been a fan of Larry’s for many years. So, when the opportunity popped up for him to work with Len and Michael, I was truly pumped up that we were able to bring in a talent of his caliber.”
podcasts, including “The Dumb Zone,” before they and Cumulus go into mediation over Cumulus’ charge that the two have violate their non-compete and other clauses in their contracts with the company. The court-ordered mediation was moved from yesterday (8/22) to next Tuesday (8/29).
Super Bowl will include the Lions, “There is nothing like an NFL run and nothing like knowing your team has a legitimate chance to get to the Super Bowl. I don’t know if they do, but I think it could be the start of a yearly thing. Them getting to the Super Bowl in my last year of doing the morning show, it would be unbelievable. I’d consider myself the lucky charm.” The 64-year-old Stone has been on Detroit sports radio since helping launch the format on WDFN-AM, Detroit in the early 1990s. Stone says he’ll stay with the station as a fill-in host for two more years.
audio solutions, audio sales, and industry AdTech. In his new role, Milano will lead one of Katz’s dedicated digital sales teams and drive Katz’s fast-growing programmatic audio offering, Audiology, the largest programmatic audio marketplace delivering precision data-driven audiences at scale. Milano says, “The timing of my return could not be any better. Digital audio has grown monumentally through industry innovation and programmatic execution becoming more commonplace. Under Scott Porretti’s leadership, Katz’s digital position is well-established and ready to expand. I’m excited to play a role in its current success and new growth.”
Securities and Exchange Commission. Urban One has disclosed that it has been unable to file the reports in a timely manner due to the change of its independent registered public accounting firm. The company was granted 180 days to come into compliance by Nasdaq or face delisting and Urban One says it anticipates it will be able to file the reports in question before the deadline of September 27, 2023.
Greenwich Country Club. The Sips & Tips includes a two-hour golf lesson from a pro followed by access to the invitation-only reception and dinner and costs $300. BFoA president Tim McCarthy comments, “With these events, we open doors for junior professionals that can lead to long and fulfilling careers in broadcasting. We also bring awareness about our charitable mission to tomorrow’s broadcast leaders, helping to ensure that the Foundation will continue to provide aid for those in our business who need it most.” 
10:00 am ET), “Lions Tailgate Show” with Rico Beard and Jim Costa (10:00 am – 12:00 noon), “Lions Pregame Show” with Dan Miller, Lomas Brown and TJ Lang (12:00 noon – 1:00 pm), Lions Radio Network postgame with Dan Miller, TJ Lang and Jim Costa (game end to 5:00 pm), “Lions Postgame Show” with Mike Stone and Jennifer Hammond (5:00 pm – 7:00 pm), and Pat Caputo (7:00 pm – 11:00 pm).
AudioPack has 20 pieces of audio available to download including SFX and musicbeds. It includes party ambiance, sunny musicbeds, Labor Day listener drops, glass clinking, beer-drinking, BBQ sizzlin’, pool splashing SFX. 
Westwood One’s “Dan Bongino Show” and the “Chris Plante Show,” plus Ben Shaprio and FNC’s Guy Benson. KTUC program director Herb Crowe states, “We’re thrilled to unveil ‘Freedom 1400,’ Tucson’s Conservative Talk Station. As we embark on this exciting journey, we’re committed to providing a platform for open dialogues, diverse viewpoints, and robust discussions that matter to our community. With our esteemed lineup of talk show hosts, we’re confident that ‘Freedom 1400’ will become an essential source of information and insight for our listeners.”
plans to sue the Republican National Committee over “their alleged attempt to keep him from participating in Thursday’s debate.” On the program, Elder explained the criteria he has met and why he should be allowed on the debate stage. The AP reports that the RNC qualifications require: polling “at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, between July 1 and Aug. 21, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.”
Long before AM radio was the band dominated by spoken-word programming, its early Top-40 stations were catering to the rabid demand for R&B and rock ‘n’ roll from America’s teenagers. Mark Wainwright – former WSYR, Syracuse morning talk host and a veteran radio performer – writes about a big hit record made on this date 59 years ago. He says, “Surprisingly, that iconic summertime feel-good song almost never made it to vinyl.” 
the next big earthquake, ironically, the station lost power numerous times causing continuous off-and-on power situations that impacted the station’s broadcasts. Zwerling says each time the power went out and the generator kicked on – something that happened numerous times – it put stress on the transmitter and the generator. Complicating matters was that the station’s infrastructure – as well as the phone company’s and PG&E’s — is dependent on the internet and that requires consistent power. This puts stations’ abilities to serve at a disadvantage.