TALKERS News Notes
OutKick announces that FOX News contributor, New York Times best-selling author and former professional wrestler, Tyrus, a.k.a. George Murdoch, joins the platform to host the new show, “Maintaining with Tyrus.” The first episode launches on February 1 featuring a sit-down with talk TV host Piers Morgan, followed by interviews with Wolf of Wall Street inspiration Jordan Belfort, and “How America Works” host Mike Rowe.
ESPN is expanding the reach of its ESPN podcast offerings starting January 29 as ESPN2 will televise an ESPN video podcast every weekday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET. The premiering lineup will include: “First Draft,” “The Hoop Collective,” “The Lowe Post,” “The Mina Kimes Show” and “The Elle Duncan Show.” Mike Foss, ESPN SVP, production says, “This strategic content initiative provides our ESPN podcasts with a tremendous opportunity for continued growth and audience expansion, while simultaneously lending compelling content to our ESPN2 television lineup.”
New England Public Media promotes Elizabeth Román to managing editor – daily and digital news. NEPM says, “Although her title did not dramatically change, her responsibilities have evolved and Román will now be taking the lead on delivering daily news programming on the radio, NEPM website and social media channels.” Román says, “As a lifelong Springfield resident and Western Massachusetts native. I’m excited to continue working with our skilled news department to bring you even more stories that highlight the needs, concerns and successes of the people living and working in this community.”
Cumulus Media’s Westwood One is presenting play-by-play coverage of this weekend’s NFL Conference Championships presented by lead sponsor Intuit Turbo Tax. Doubleheader coverage begins with the pregame show at 2:00 pm ET on Sunday before the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens meet for the AFC Championship game and the Detroit Lions battle the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
NO ONE has done more to elevate the status and improve the working conditions of on-air talent as much as Howard Stern.
monumental five-volume Bible commentary, The Rational Bible, as well as three other books.” Salem adds that each hour of Prager’s show will contain six more minutes of talk than at present and that third-hour affiliates are being offered the opportunity to take an hour of the Charlie Kirk show, which airs at the same time as Prager’s program. Additionally, Prager will do a monthly virtual “hangout” with subscribers to his Pragertopia +. Salem SVP of spoken word Phil Boyce comments, “Dennis Prager is a true talk radio icon and has been for the last 42 years since he first began on the radio at KABC in Los Angeles hosting the original ‘Religion on the Line.’ Millions of listeners spend the day with Dennis, enjoying his wit, wisdom, and knowledge. He is one of the most viral talk hosts on the air today, and we wanted him to remain on the Salem Radio Network for years to come.”
The second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period covered December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM dips four-tenths to a 3.1 share (weekly, 6+ AHQ share) but remains ranked #9, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM loses three-tenths to finish with a 6.3 share good for the #4 rank. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO added two-tenths for a 3.1 share finish that lifts it to the #9 rank, while sister all-news WBZ-AM declines four-tenths to a 4.7 share but remains ranked #5. In Detroit, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WJR rises one-tenth to a 2.4 share and climbs to the #15 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WWJ is steady at a 4.3 share and remains ranked #9. 
Sundays from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon ET on more than 150 stations. Dr. Martin got his start in radio as a fill-in talk host on KFYI, Phoenix and for two decades he served as a full time iHeartMedia staffer. Radio America VP for affiliate marketing Steve Graham says, “We are excited to celebrate Dr. Bob’s anniversary in this highly competitive industry. The additional hour to Dr. Bob’s show will only enhance his presence. He has been a solid part of our lineup for decades. It’s exciting to continue and deepen our partnership with his program.”
During his CBS career, he appeared on every CBS News program including “CBS Morning News,” the “CBS Evening News with Dan Rather” and the “CBS Sunday Night News.” For almost 46 years he produced his nationally syndicated radio feature, “The Osgood File,” from which he signed off with his signature phrase, “I’ll see you on the radio.” As Osgood was preparing to retire from “CBS Morning News” in 2016, he was a guest on TALKERS magazine founder Michael Harrison’s podcast. 
One’s WFNI, Indianapolis “The Fan.” After leaving “The Fan,” Dakich began hosting a late morning program streamed on the Outkick Network. Cumulus Indianapolis VP and market manager Darlene Park says, “Indiana’s very own Dan Dakich returns to the airwaves as opinionated as ever and ready to break down all things sports on ‘Indy’s Sports Ticket 1430 AM’ every weekday from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. He is an Indiana sports legend, and we are so excited he is bringing his game to our team.” Dakich comments, “Couldn’t be more thrilled to join the fantastic team at ‘Indy’s Sports Ticket 1430 AM.’ The state of Indiana and I have had a lifetime love affair that extends way beyond sports and sharing that daily is going to, once again, be a blast! Can’t wait to get started as we build ‘Indy’s Sports Ticket 1430 AM’ into Indy’s go-to home for all things sports.”
a number of on-air and off-air events. The station is presenting a sold-out listener event at the House of Blues on Friday (1/26). The sports talk format was launched when Cardinal Communications bought then KAAM-AM from Bonneville International and changed the calls to KTCK-AM and debuted the sports talk format. Cardinal would sell to Susquehanna Communications which would be acquired by Cumulus Media in 2006. All the while, The Ticket would garner ratings and revenue as one of the nation’s more successful sports talk outlets.
He’s been co-hosting the weekend “Mark and Kichen Show” with Ben Kichen at WEEI. Dondero says, “Obviously I’ve learned a ton from him (Kichen), about the radio business, talking in general. And I’ll say this: Ben Kichen is a star and an underrated talent in this business, whether you’ve heard of him or not. And it has been an absolute joy and pleasure to work with him on the air for almost seven years.” 
radio pros Chris Merrill and Joe Huizenga. Bonneville Phoenix SVP and market manager Ryan Hatch says, “We are thrilled to add new shows that will keep our community informed and connected at such an important time. In addition to being one of the most dynamic and fastest growing cities in the country, Phoenix is also the epicenter of the 2024 election with Arizona being a key battleground state.” St. James served with KTAR-FM from 2010-2020. Merrill hosted a local show on the station from 2014-2017. Huizenga is currently the assistant program director and is a familiar voice as a fill-in host. Station PD Martha Maurer adds, “I am excited to welcome back Bruce and introduce Chris and Joe to our already impressive news and talk teams. This new lineup will bring exciting new energy and depth to our live and local coverage, both on-air and on our growing digital platforms.”
women’s basketball programs and the University of Toledo men’s and women’s basketball programs. WJR notes that Bellino spends his free time helping his family at their Monroe, Michigan grocery store, Danny’s Fine Foods, where he works as a fourth-generation butcher. WJR program director Ann Thomas says, “Anthony Bellino started his broadcasting career as an intern for the ‘Paul W. Smith Show’ in 2007. I could not be more pleased to welcome him back to the ‘Great Voice of the Great Lakes’ as a seasoned sports professional ready to bring our listeners timely and thoughtful insights on Detroit’s sports scene.” Bellino comments, “What an honor and a privilege it is to be joining the ‘Great Voice of the Great Lakes,’ 760 WJR. I can’t wait to contribute to the station’s legendary broadcasting history and make some new history of our own. The phone call from WJR was really a full-circle moment… I can’t wait to get started and to host ‘SportsWrap’ with my good friend Lomas Brown.”
audio service provides radio stations access to NewsNation content. The NewsNation Audio Network will offer an ongoing, daily service of audio clips featuring coverage from its reporters and breaking news stories from across the nation and around the globe. Radio newsrooms can sign up for access at NewsNationAudio.com. Audio can be downloaded at NewsNationAudio.com or can be delivered directly to newsroom systems including NewsBoss.”
Scott will lead a discussion with analysts, financial planning experts, real estate specialists, and college planners. He adds, “So many New Jersey residents fear they will never be able to afford to retire. This program will help New Jersey residents make smart decisions and ask the right questions as they plan for their future.” The station will broadcast online streamed live available for embedding at facebook.com/nj1015/live as well as via nj1015.com, the New Jersey 101.5 YouTube channel, or the New Jersey 101.5 app.
Broadcasters Foundation, whose sole mission is to provide aid to radio and television professionals in acute need. O’Brien first hosted the Golden Mic gala last year. She says, “The Broadcasters Foundation has an incredible impact on the people in our business who face serious illness or catastrophe and need help. I’m honored to lend my support as the host of their fundraising gala and to pay tribute to this year’s award recipients.” She currently hosts the nationally syndicated “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien” program produced by Hearst Television.
introduced to expand the opportunity to win, including “Spanish-Language Single Broadcast Radio Spot: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station or Group,” and “Use of Emerging Technology in Radio or Audio: Agency, Production Company, Advertiser, Radio Station or Group.” Additional categories include the use of innovation in broadcast radio, branded podcasts, multi-platform campaign with broadcast radio and short (:15) broadcast radio commercials. The Call for Entry deadline is April 8. Finalists for the show will be announced in early May and winners will be announced at the live Radio Mercury Awards on June 6, at SONY Hall in New York City. In addition, the 2024 Final Round Jury, led by chief judge Mitch Bennett, executive creative director, Baldwin&, is comprised of agency creative leaders from across the U.S. 
Let’s talk streaming because I don’t get what is happening. Maybe you do.
Avoid THE most-common mistake I hear in promos for talk stations’ weekend ask-the-expert shows: Opening with the Close.
Multimedia’s KNDK- AM/FM, Langdon and KXPO-AM/FM, Grafton, North Dakota add the program to their lineups. “The Joe Pags Show,” hosted by Joe Pagliarulo, is based at flagship WOAI, San Antonio where Pagliarulo and iHeartMedia recently signed an extension through 2026. The program is now heard on more than 170 markets across the country. Joe Pags comments, “I’m incredibly excited to welcome Tampa, Tucson and North Dakota listeners to the show to start off the 2024 presidential election year.”
Ticket radio station as a kid, and I knew within about 5 seconds it’s where I wanted to be. It was a magical place. The energy was off the charts. I was hooked. From intern, to overnight board op, to fill in producer to full time producer, to host… it didn’t matter what I did there, it just mattered that I WAS THERE. Well here we are, 30 years down the road, and I’m still here. And I still have a blast every single day, and it’s still such a magical place. I know I’m lucky. So I just signed a 5 year deal, ensuring I will begin and end my work life there. Love my team, love our show, and love that place. Cheers to you, good P1s, Let’s go.”
ticker symbol SALM. Salem Media Group previously traded on NASDAQ. Yahoo!Finance writes, “Trading on the OTCQX Market offers companies efficient, cost-effective access to the U.S. capital markets. Streamlined market requirements for OTCQX are designed to help companies lower the cost and complexity of being publicly traded, while providing transparent trading for their investors. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.”
compliance reports to the Bureau through the remainder of the current license terms of the two stations, and pay a Civil Penalty to the United States Treasury in the total amount of $500,000.” The violations in question center on a program that aired on Townsquare’s news/talk outlets KIDO-AM, Boise and KLIX-AM, Idaho Falls from October 2021 through March 2023 in which they “broadcast a one-hour episode of, and 30-second advertisements promoting, the Program. The format of each episode nominally resembled a news interview/public affairs program produced and presented by the Stations. In fact, however, all episodes of the Program were paid political presentations. Townsquare was paid to broadcast episodes of the Program and related advertisements initially by and on behalf of the Idaho Republican Party, and later by Tom Luna on behalf of a company doing business as Tom Luna and Associates. The hosts of each episode (Tom Luna and Victor Miller, chairman of the Ada County (Idaho) Republican Party) were solely responsible for producing the Program, including selecting guests and determining program content. Neither station provided any on-air Sponsorship ID announcements for the vast majority of the episodes or promotional advertisements that they aired revealing to listeners the true nature of the broadcasts and the identity of those who paid for them. In addition, multiple episodes of the Program contained appearances that constituted uses by legally qualified candidates for public office and communicated messages relating to political matters of national importance. Neither station uploaded records of any such candidate uses or messages to their respective online political files.”
become synonymous with insightful, spirited broadcasting. This contract is more than an agreement; it’s a promise of continued excellence and engagement with our beloved San Antonio community and the great state of Texas.” Pags’ program is nationally syndicated and is heard on more than 170 stations. He comments, “It has been an absolute honor to be on WOAI for 18 years now and I’m so thankful to continue talking with the great people of San Antonio and beyond for years to come! Growing with this community and with iHeart has been an incredible ride. Being on this station has given me the opportunity to reach the kind of national audiences I only dreamed would happen one day. I remain driven and motivated to produce the best show I can every day – and am thrilled it will continue from WOAI!”