Industry News

Talk Media Network Partners with LinkUp Communications for Broadcast Distribution

Talk Media Network announces its partnership with LinkUp Communications for satellite and internet distribution of programming to its more than 1,200 radio station affiliates. Talk Media Network CEO Joshim Leng says, “LinkUp Communications is the new gold standard for service and reliability in the broadcast industry. Their reputation for professionalism and the highest level of service made this the imperfect complement to Talk Media Network’s quality programming. We carefully reviewed our options and listened to our affiliates in choosing to remain on the XDS platform, while choosing the best distribution partner in LinkUp Communications. LinkUp’s client roster, track record, and commitment to the highest quality and customer service standards, made it the leading choice to work with Talk Media Network’s shows and affiliates.” LinkUp CEO Karen Johnson states, “LinkUp Communications is thrilled to assist Josh and his networks by allowing them to remain with the industry leading XDS suite of technologies. We’re happy to utilize our decades of experience to elevate Talk Media Network’s programs. LinkUp has provided technology solutions to enable broadcasters for over 20 years.”

Industry News

Alpha Media Cuts More Staff in Midwest Markets

Alpha Media has laid off more staffers, this time in the Mason City, Iowa and Austin, Minnesota markets, according to KAAL-TV, Rochester, Minnesota. It’s unclear exactly how many positions have been eliminated but they are affecting news/talk KAUS-AM and country KAUS-FM in Austin as well asim operations in Mankato, Albert Lea, and Luverne, Minnesota; Watertown and Brookings, South Dakota; and Fort Dodge, Grinnell, Newton and Mason City in Iowa. Northern Iowa Today reports that in Mason City, KGLO sports director Tim Fleming has been let go as has KGLO and KRIB news director Bob Fisher, who comments, “Alpha Media is going a different direction with their radio stations in their smaller markets. A majority of the programming staff, including myself, were terminated this morning as part of that plan. This is not only happening here but throughout the country with their smaller markets.” After making similar drastic cuts in a number of its Missouri markets, Alpha Media struck a deal with UK-based Podcast Radio and will debut “Podcast Radio Missouri” on two stations there in the coming weeks. Read TALKERS’ coverage of that news here.

Industry News

NewsNation Expands to 24/7 Operation

Nexstar Media announces that its NewsNation news channel will expand its news programming to 24-hours-per-day Monday through Sunday, beginning June 1. The network will launch the final portion of its live news lineup with the early-evening edition of “NewsNation Now” with Adrienne Bankert on Saturdays and Sundays from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET. The company says that this new block of newsim follows the recent launches of the weekend editions of “Morning in America with Hena Doba” from 7:00 am to 10:00 am ET, “NewsNation Live” from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm ET, “NewsNation Now with Anna Kooiman” from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET, and “The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt,” which debuted earlier this year. Networks division president Sean Compton states, “We are immensely proud to announce that NewsNation is now a 24/7 cable news network. This milestone marks the culmination of our efforts to continue expanding and growing the network since launching it in 2020. It reaffirms our commitment to delivering unbiased news coverage, a mission that resonates deeply with our viewers, fostering their trust in the brand, and strengthening their loyalty to NewsNation.” The network also announces the hiring of three veteran journalists, including the aforementioned Anna Kooiman, who joined in March as anchor of the weekend edition of “NewsNation Now”; senior correspondent Laura Ingle, who most recently served as a senior correspondent at FOX News Channel; and Alicia Nieves, who will be a New York-based correspondent after joining the network from the financial streaming service, Fintech TV.

Industry News

Edison: Comedy is Top Podcast Genre

Edison Research reports that according to its Edison Podcast Metrics for the first quarter of 2024,im Comedy is the top genre among weekly podcast listeners age 13+. Edison says 19 genres have been identified as having at least one percent reach among weekly podcast listeners aged 13 and older in Q1 2024. Edison defines a podcast’s genre using its primary genre in Apple Podcasts. Society & Culture (#2) moved ahead of News (#3) while True Crime followed at #4 and Sports came in at #5. See the complete chart here.

Industry News

Premiere Personalities Honored with Gracie Awards

im

Premiere Networks syndicated personalities Angela Yee, host of “Way Up with Angela Yee,” and Medha Gandhi, co-host of “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” were honored at the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation’s 49th Annual Gracie Awards on Tuesday (5/21) at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Pictured above are (from l-r): iHeartMedia’s Ellen K, who won a Gracie for the “Ellen K Weekend Show,” Yee, and Gandhi.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (5/22) Top News/Talk Media Stories

Former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in NYC and the hearing in Florida in Trump’s classified documents case; the presidential race; inflation and the U.S. economy; China launches military drills around Taiwan; the controversy over flags flown at Justice Samuel Alito’s homes; Marjorie Taylor Greene says DOJ and FBI planned Trump assassination; the U.S. migrant crisis; the Hunter Biden tax trial is set for September; the tornadoes and severe weather affecting the south and central U.S. and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls for July 4 election were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Industry News

House Committee to Hold Markup on AM Radio Legislation

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) are holding a markup of three bills – including the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act – tomorrow (5/23) at 10:00 am ET. The markup is the key formal step a committee takes for the bill to advance to the floor. NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt says, “With more than 310 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and Senate, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act demonstrates overwhelming support in Congress for the critical role of AM radio in America’s public safety infrastructure. The nation’s broadcasters are grateful for Congress’s continued commitment to AM radio as they work to ensure this bill is passed and enacted into law for the benefit of all consumers.”

< a href="https://freetalklive.com/">
Industry News

Outkick Reports Multiplatform Data for April

National multimedia sports platform OutKick finished April 2024 with 24 million total multiplatform views, 22 million total multiplatform minutes and over 5.3 million total multiplatform unique visitors, according to data from Comscore. Outkick was founded by Clay Travis, co-host of the Premiere Networks syndicatedim “Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.” Outkick SVP and managing editor Gary Schreier says, “OutKick continues to be authentic, unfiltered, and driven by common sense. We continue to feature topics that most sports sites refuse to cover. Our ability to stand out amongst the rest of the industry is reflected positively by the strength of our numbers every month.” The platform also recently expanded the “Tomi Lahren is Fearless” program from evenings three days per week to a daily show running live at 1:00 pm ET.

Industry News

Fisher House Offers Free Memorial Day Program

Fisher House Foundation is offering a Memorial Day Week edition of “The Fisher House Story” available free for download now. “The Fisher House Story” is a radio special provided in varying lengths for news/talk radio stations as well as a 30-minute public affairs show for all radio formats in the U.S. andim around the world. The 3-hour, 1-hour, 25-minute, and 30-minute radio specials are hosted by longtime Washington, DC radio personality Larry O’Connor and feature stories of our nation’s heroes, the families who serve by their side, and how Fisher House plays a role in their journey. The inspiring and patriotic radio show features an exclusive interview with Jessica Lynch who recounts her harrowing experience as a prisoner of war during the early days of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. Ms. Lynch reveals details of her treatment during her captivity, her rescue, the ensuing years of medical treatment and the special role Fisher House played (and continues to play) in her recovery. Fisher House Foundation provides a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. Fisher Houses provide temporary free lodging so families can be close to their loved ones during medical care because “A Family’s LOVE is Good Medicine.” IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to a production delay, some stations may have inadvertently downloaded last year’s holiday edition. Download the Memorial Day programs here.

Industry News

Voice Over Pros Gather in Burbank

im

Pictured above are the attendees at the May 18 “Creatives Mixer” hosted by KellyKellyKelly and sponsored by Benztown and Steve Stone Voiceovers held at Story Tavern in Burbank, California. Organizers say, “The event was attended by nearly 100 voiceover and imaging talent from across the U.S., Canada, and even some VO pros from across the pond! People were excited to see each other and chatted a lot about what’s new in the industry. A great time was had by all!”

Industry News

Veritonic Debuts Cross-Podcast Listener Measurement

Audio analytics and research firm Veritonic announces the enhancement of Cross-Podcast Listenership Measurement within its platform. Veritonic says its cross-podcast listenership measurement aggregates datasets from proprietary sources to track and analyze listener behavior across a vast array of podcastsim and platforms. This data enables users to understand where their unique audiences are listening, and where there is cross-listenership overlap. Veritonic CEO and co-founder Scott Simonelli adds, “By offering a holistic view of listenership patterns across the podcast ecosystem, we empower brands to make data-driven decisions that maximize the reach and impact of their audio advertising investments.”

Industry News

SiriusXM Presents Coverage of 108th Indy 500

SiriusXM is covering the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Subscribers will have access to the liveim call of the race from Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 26. Pre-race coverage begins at 11:00 am ET on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation and NBC Sports Audio. SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation will also air live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 Miller Lite Carb Day Practice session on Friday (5/24) at 11:00 am ET.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (5/21) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The Israel-Hamas war and Norway, Spain and Ireland’s announcement they will formally recognize a Palestinian state; the defense rests in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial; the presidential race; the U.S. economy; Russia reportedly launches a satellite-killing space weapon; the Justice Samuel Alito January 6 flag controversy; the controversial Trump bio-pic The Apprentice; South Carolina bans meds and procedures for gender transition for minors; and the deadly tornadoes that swept through Iowa were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.

Industry News

Alpha Media to Launch Podcast Radio in Missouri

Less than two weeks ago, Alpha Media made news after eliminating the entire on-air and programming staff at several of its stations in Farmington and Moberly, Missouri. Now we know what the company has in mind for at least two of those stations. Alpha Media is partnering with UK-based Podcast Radio to launch “Podcast Radio Missouri” on KREI-AM, Farmington on May 27 and KWIX-AM/FM, Moberly on June 17. The two companies say, “‘Podcast Radio Missouri’ will be featured across dayparts on the twoim stations, prominently acting as the morning show in both markets, offering a fresh and dynamic start to the day. This partnership marks a significant expansion of Podcast Radio’s format into the American radio landscape, promising to offer Missouri listeners a novel way to explore podcasting content through traditional radio. Listeners will hear top-quality podcast content from across North America and the world, while also giving airtime to local Missouri podcast content. Localized imaging and station IDs will feature across ‘Podcast Radio Missouri’ broadcast hours, which also include original interviews with podcasters. Gene ‘Bean’ Baxter acts as lead interviewer, delving deep into the methodology and personality of both local and national podcasts and their creators.” Alpha Media EVP of content Phil Becker says, “We’re excited to partner with Podcast Radio to bring this innovative format to our listeners in Missouri. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering fresh, engaging content that resonates with our communities. While we are launching on one station in two Missouri markets, our goal is to expand the format to our other two Missouri markets.”

Industry News

Report: Giuliani Creditors Subpoena WABC’s John Catsimatidis

According to a report from Bloomberg, Rudy Giuliani’s creditors are subpoenaing WABC, New York owner John Catsimatidis to get documents “detailing his relationship with Giuliani, Giuliani’sim compensation from WABC, and documents about the shows Giuliani hosted.” The creditors are represented by a committee in Giuliani’s bankruptcy case and until 10 days ago, Giuliani worked at WABC hosting an afternoon radio talk show. The report notes that the creditors are looking for information about Giuliani’s “‘termination or suspension’ and about any statements he made regarding the Georgia poll workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him after he accused them of rigging election results.” Giuliani challenged that verdict in court, but his recent efforts failed, and he remains on the hook for the $148 million judgement. Read the Bloomberg Law story here.

Industry News

Gorka to Report from Trump Trial on Mike Gallagher Show

im

Salem Radio Network personality Sebastian Gorka is in the New York City courtroom today (5/21) where the Donald Trump “hush money” trial is taking place. He’ll appear on SRN’s “Mike Gallagher Show” just before 12:00 noon to report on the day’s court session. Pictured above are (from l-r): Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX), Gorka, and Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-TX).

Industry News

FOX News Digital Tops Competitors in Multiplatform Views and Minutes

For the month of April 2024, according to data from Comscore, FOX News Digital maintained its leadim over news set competitors CNN.com and NYTimes.com in both multiplatform total views and multiplatform total minutes, as it has for 38 consecutive months. During the month of February 2024, FOX News Digital surpassed CNN.com in multiplatform unique visitors (comparable to radio’s cume) for the first time. However, in April 2024, CNN.com was again the leader in that metric by just under 1.4 million.

Industry News

Yesterday’s Top News/Talk Media Stories

The ICC seeks arrest of Israel and Hamas leaders; Iran’s future in the wake of the death of its president; the ongoing Donald Trump hush money trial; the presidential race; inflation, the record-high financial markets and the economy; controversy over the Trump bio-pic The Apprentice; Arizona serves Rudy Giuliani with indictment papers in the 2020 election case; hacking threats against U.S. water systems; and the Justice Samuel Alito upside-down flag controversy were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.