Good Karma Brands announces via X that it is entering into a deal 
with MSG Networks to simulcast the morning and afternoon drive shows on WEPN/WHSQ “ESPN New York” on the cable network. Good Karma says, “Beginning Sept. 8, ESPN New York’s morning show featuring Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg, as well as its afternoon show with Don La Greca, Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg, will both be simulcast by MSG Networks.”
C3 Entertainment’s Valorous TV enters into a strategic partnership with the nationally syndicated program “Armed American Radio” and its host Mark Walters. The two say that this partnership “brings together two growing media brands with a shared mission to champion freedom and liberty in America and Constitutional 
rights, including the Second Amendment, educate and inform Americans about firearms rights and legislation, and raise awareness of the issues impacting gun owners.” Further details regarding AAR content distribution and original programming will be announced as projects develop. Walters says, “I’m honored and thrilled to partner Armed American Radio and CCW Broadcast Media, LLC together with C3 Entertainment, Inc. These are historic times for our constitutional rights. We are excited to unite the important current events of the day together with history in an enlightening, entertaining, and educational format that will remind all Americans not only WHY we are the greatest nation the world has ever seen but HOW we got here and WHAT must be done going forward to preserve our uniquely American way of life!”
The Princeton Review (not affiliated with Princeton University) published its annual ranking of the nation’s top college radio 
stations and Hillsdale College’s WRFH, Hillsdale, Michigan came in at #5 and Hofstra University’s WRHU, Hempstead, New York was ranked #15. Both stations have historically been closely aligned with the talk radio industry. Both stations are led by professional broadcasters. WRHF’s general manager is Scot
Bertram and WRHU’s general manager is John T. Mullen, both longtime commercial broadcasting pros who moved into academia. It should also be noted that The Bold Gold Media Foundation – launched by Bold Gold Media owner Vince Benedetto – has been a benefactor of WRHF, Hillsdale for a number of years. See the complete list here.
Salem Media’s streaming platform SalemNOW is premiering a faith-based feature documentary titled, Can You Hear Me Now?, 
on September 10 (produced by Spero Pictures and directed by award-winning filmmaker Matthew Thayer) that explores the religious question: Does God still speak through prophets today? The film includes one of the final recorded interviews with Charlie Kirk that was filmed just weeks before his death. In the interview, Kirk reflects on the role of biblical prophecy and spiritual discernment. You can watch the official trailer at SalemNOW.com.
The 24th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon – held on August 17-18 – raised more than $7.1 million. Sports talk WEEI, Boston owner Audacy says, “With the generous support of the Jimmy Fund community and Red Sox Nation, the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon has now raised more than $87 million to strike out cancer since the first broadcast in 2002.
The most discussed stories yesterday (8/19) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Former KXNO, Des Moines sports talk hosts Sean Roberts and Lucas Strain are putting their online sports talk show – “Beyond the Bench” – on hold after receiving a cease-and-desist from iHeartMedia, ostensibly for violation of the non-compete in their 
contracts. The two were part of a round of layoffs at the station last month. The two posted to X: “‘Beyond the Bench’ will not be airing for the time being. We are currently being pursued in a legal matter by our past employer, and as a result, we need to step away temporarily while that situation is addressed. We sincerely appreciate everyone who has supported the show and hope to be back soon. In addition, we will provide updates as we are able and will let everyone know when we have more information. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.”
The new media platform being launched by Outkick founder and Premiere Networks personality Clay Travis is striking a deal with “The Next Round” for national distribution. Travis’ new venture – “Sport & State” – officially debuted today (8/19). “The Next Round” is a product of DBL Down Media led by former WJOX, Birmingham 
broadcasters Jim Dunaway, Ryan Brown and Lance Taylor and will officially join “Sport & State” on August 24. “The Next Round” president and general manager Bo O’Neal states, “‘The Next Round’ has proven that a great live sports show doesn’t have to be confined by a radio signal or a geographic market. What Jim, Ryan and Lance have built is pretty remarkable. They’ve created independent, personality-driven sports content with an audience that reaches well beyond Alabama. What Clay is building with Sport & State aligns perfectly with who we are and feels like the natural next step for us. We’re not changing what The Next Round is. We’re giving it a much bigger stage. It’s an incredible opportunity for the guys, our team, our advertising partners and everyone who has played a part in making ‘The Next Round’ successful.”
Dr. Daliah Joins WFEA, Manchester. The Talk Media Network syndicated program “The Dr. Daliah Wachs Show” is joining the weekend schedule at Saga Communications’ news/talk WFEA, Manchester, New Hampshire.
KUT Names Philpott Morning Edition Host. Public radio outlet KUT, Austin names journalist Ben Philpott the new local host of NPR’s “Morning Edition.” KUT says, “Ben has been with KUT News since the newsroom launched in 2002 and was its first political reporter, covering eight Texas legislative sessions and presidential campaigns before becoming managing editor. He succeeds Jennifer Stayton, who steps away from ‘Morning Edition’ after 22 years to lead KUT News’ reporting initiative on aging in Central Texas.”
WUSF Welcomes Ira Glass. Public radio station WUSF, Tampa is bringing “This American Life” creator and host Ira Glass to town for an in-person solo show at the Tampa Theatre on December 5.
WNYC Adds Council Speaker Segment. WNYC, New York’s “The Brian Lehrer Show” is adding a “Speak with the Speaker,” interview and call-in segment with New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin. Lehrer says, “We’re excited that Speaker Menin will be joining our show more regularly, offering New Yorkers insights into the work of the City Council. We’re dedicated to offering listeners an opportunity to both hear from their elected officials in their own words and ask their own questions about the issues that matter most.”
The most discussed stories yesterday (8/18) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
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Outkick – the sports and culture platform recently acquired by FOX News Digital – is bringing WFAN, New York afternoon drive host Craig Carton aboard to host a new show that will drop on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, beginning September 8. 
Outkick says this new show debut coincides with OutKick integrating as the official sports brand of FOX News Digital on August 24. FOX News Digital editorial executive vice president Tommy Firth says, “This is a pivotal moment for OutKick as the integration with FOX News Digital will expand its reach and influence throughout sports media. Craig Carton’s distinctive voice will resonate with our audience and seamlessly meets this moment for OutKick.” Carton says, “I’m beyond thrilled to be joining OutKick. I’ve always been a fan and appreciate their authenticity and willingness to speak their minds. It’s something I’ve done throughout my career and will do during this next chapter of hosting ‘The Craig Carton Show.’”
WJJF-FM, Montauk morning drive host Lee Elci is off the air at the Red Wolf Broadcasting news/talk station at the company reviews its options regarding Elci’s recently announced campaign for Connecticut’s 20th State Senate District seat. After announcing his 
campaign, Elci stated that he intends to not discuss campaign issues or his campaign during his program. But incumbent Senator Martha Marx’s campaign is demanding equal time under FCC rules. Marx tells CT Mirror that if Elci wants to stay on the air, then the station has to give her a four-hour show. The other issue is that if Elci stays on the air, it could be considered an in-kind campaign contribution by the station and that could violate Connecticut campaign laws. For his part, Elci tells CT Mirror the station’s lawyers are seeking clarification for elections enforcement officials. He adds, “Big picture is I wouldn’t want to put my station in jeopardy,” he said. See the CT Mirror story here.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, broadcasters and podcasters should avoid clichés like the plague. And redundancies, “Period, full stop.”
Consultant, longtime TALKERS columnist – and, yes, long, long-ago English teacher – Holland Cooke has been collecting verbal misdemeanors for decades. His new quick-read e-book Who Talks Like That??? skewers broadcast-ese, bloated wording, antique vocabulary, redundancies, mispronunciations and other ways we accidentally make listeners notice how we’re talking instead of what we’re saying.
“Because radio and podcasts are intimate media, and unforgiving,” Cooke urges, “sound human.” Especially now that every word is competing for attention with SO many audio competitors. FREE download to TALKERS readers: https://getonthenet.com/OOPS.pdf
The latest blog post from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group reveals data from MRI-Simmons, Edison’s Share of Ear study, and Nielsen that shows advertising on AM/FM radio elevates the media plan. Key takeaways from the post include: 1) 
Reach is the primary media driver of growth. Always aim to get more customers from all segments of the market. It’s the main way brands grow; 2) AM/FM radio is America’s number one mass reach media among persons 25-54 and, surprisingly, among 18-34s; 3) AM/FM radio generates significant incremental reach to social media platforms and YouTube; 4) Digital audio only reaches a third of Americans daily. Adding AM/FM radio causes reach to soar to 72% of the U.S.; and 5) AM/FM radio makes your TV better. The younger the demo, the greater the incremental reach. The addition of AM/FM radio lifts TV reach by +32% among 25-54s and +65% among 18-34s. See the full blog post here.
The most discussed stories yesterday (8/17) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
The TALKERS Heavy Hundred documents the most important talk-media personalities in America. It stands as a continuous historical record of the people who have shaped talk radio, podcasting and spoken-word media. This archive brings the rankings together in one place, year by year, exactly as each edition was published.
Current editionThe 2026 TALKERS Heavy Hundred – Ranks 1–25
Published annually by TALKERS magazine. Every edition from 2012 through 2026. Page breaks follow the ranking ranges as each edition was originally presented.
Ranks 1–10Ranks 11–20Ranks 21–35Ranks 36–50Ranks 51–65Ranks 66–80Ranks 81–95Ranks 96–100
The 2012 edition was published across eight pages. The final page also carries the Talkers 250 listing, which continues the roster beyond rank 100 with hosts 101 to 250 arranged in alphabetical order.
The Heavy Hundred of Sports Talk ranks the most important sports talk hosts in America. It is available for selected years.
This archive preserves the rankings as originally published. Where errors have been documented, corrections are recorded; where original materials survived, they have been restored to their published form. Rankings are not revised after publication.
Cumulus Media – which is still awaiting approval from the FCC as it works to exit Chapter 11 reorganization – reports its operating results for the second quarter of 2026 and reveals net revenue of $167.9 million, a decline of 9.7% from the same period in 2025. The company reports a net loss of $9.2 million, down from the 
$12.8 million net loss it reported for the same period in 2025. Breaking down the company’s revenue by segment, broadcast spot revenue was $81.5 million, down 10.6% from a year ago; network revenue was $21.4 million, a decline of 21.5% compared to 2025; and digital revenue was $38.7 million, basically flat compared to Q2 of 2025. Cumulus Media CEO Mary G. Berner comments, “We are pleased to report our second quarter earnings. With our plan of reorganization confirmed by the court and the FCC approval process well underway, we are positioned to emerge from Chapter 11 with a stronger balance sheet to capitalize on future market opportunities.”
iHeartMedia sports talker KVET, Austin “1300 The Zone” expands the morning drive show by and hour, to have “The Morning Kickoff” 
with Mike Hardge and Mark Henry air from 6:00 am to 9:00 am. Station program director Bryan Erickson says, “With the 2026 college football season just around the corner, this move gives Longhorn fans another hour of the in-depth analysis, big-name interviews and passionate discussion they’ve come to expect from Hardge and Henry.”
By Holland Cooke
Consultant
They’re low-hanging fruit. They “get” audio, and they crave the listeners radio can bring. We train station sales reps to ask, “If we don’t tell our listeners about your podcast, how will they know you’re doing one?” Incorporate sound bites from their podcasts into their spots.
Holland Cooke is a consultant working the intersection of broadcasting and the Internet. Follow HC on Twitter @HollandCooke and connect on LinkedIn
Nancy Mace Launches YouTube Show. Outgoing South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace launched her new YouTube talk show on Sunday (8/16). She describes her new show as a media destination in which “a bulldog leaves Washington to take the fight to the people.”
Leyden Joins AdLarge. AdLarge appoints Nicole Pezzola Leyden vice president, brand partnerships, in which she’ll “focus on developing strategic sponsorship opportunities and integrated marketing programs for advertisers.” Has served with organizations including TED, Scripps Networks, Discovery, and the NHL.
The Big Ten and Compass Renew. The Big Ten Network and Compass Media Networks agree to a multi-year extension for the exclusive national audio rights to the TIAA Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament and Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game along with the expansion of rights to include the exclusive rights to broadcast the Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The most discussed stories over the weekend (8/15-16) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS research:
Lee Elci is the morning host at Red Wolf Broadcasting’s news/talk WJJF-FM, Montauk, New York and he announces that he’s throwing his hat in the ring as a Republican candidate for the Connecticut State Senate in the 20th District. Numerous Connecticut media outlets are reporting the story, including LymeLine, and Elci tells the news site, “There’s a great quote from Theodore Roosevelt back in 1910 about being ‘a man in the arena,’ I think it’s time for me to get in the arena and try to do what’s right.” Elci is entering the race a bit late after the candidate endorsed by the Connecticut Republican Party in May – Ron LaBonte – says he’s no longer able to run for the office currently held by Democrat Martha Marx. The Connecticut State Legislature is a part-time body that meets for several months during the first half of the year. Elci says he could do both jobs if he wins the race. Elci tells LymeLine he will continue to do his show and will not talk about his campaign or issues involving towns in the district. See the LymeLine story here.
The story of noted radio news executive Lee Harris‘s surprising departure (8/12) from his role as senior vice president of news and programming at Red Apple Media’s WABC, New York and its Worldwide News Network (WWNN) has left a dust storm of conflicting details and speculation in its aftermath on radio message boards, social media and industry trades.
Harris joined Red Apple Media on May 4 as VP of news for WABC and the new Worldwide News Network, which launched May 23. Six weeks later, Red Apple promoted him to SVP of news and programming, expanding his authority across WABC, WWNN and Red Apple Audio Networks. On August 12 – roughly 100 days after his hiring – company CEO / owner John Catsimatidis announced Harris’s departure. Catsimatidis stated he had requested Harris’s resignation following a dispute involving a longtime employee returning from medical leave. Red Apple later attributed the separation to differences involving “leadership style.” Harris said he had decided to return to his longtime independent business developing broadcast technology products, but neither side identified a replacement nor fully explained in detail whether Harris resigned voluntarily or was dismissed.
Seasoned radio industry veterans know that it is a common practice for the actual details of such endings of employment to remain ambiguous. It is also known that strong-minded members of a company’s staff in both talent and management can be prone to butt heads within the minefield of corporate structure.
In this story, everything beyond that remains unproven. Early forum speculation suggested political or ideological incompatibility, but no reporting supports that theory; available off-record information specifically contradicts it. The returning employee’s identity also remains unconfirmed, as does the precise sequence of resignation and dismissal. The safest conclusion is that this was an internal management conflict subsequently framed by Red Apple as a personnel-related termination and by Harris as a voluntary career change.
The Radio Television Digital News Association is revealing the 
winners of the 2026 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners. They are grouped by regions and broken down by television and radio as well as by market size. RTDNA says national winners will be celebrated at the Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala on October 12 at Gotham Hall in New York City. See all the winners here.