Yesterday’s (7/24) Top News/Talk Media Stories
The 2024 presidential race sparked by the Democratic Party’s stunning change at the top of the ticket continued to be the dominant issue on the nation’s talk-waves. It was again followed closely by the shakeup at the Secret Service and analysis in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the life of former president Donald Trump. The Israel-Hamas war rose to the upper spotlight surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress. These major topics prompted heavy discussion about the related issues of inflation, abortion, race relations and gun control. The Russia-Ukraine War remains a hot topic focusing on the aspect of whether or not the U.S. should be providing financial and weapons support to Ukraine according to TALKERS ongoing research.
As a result of purchasing the frequency of long-silent Montauk, NY’s WEER-FM (88.7), The WNET Group will extend coverage of its public radio news/talk outlet WLIW-FM. The addition of 88.7 will allow WLIW-FM’s signal to reach Southern Connecticut and Rhode Island. WLIW-FM VP/GM Diane Masciale notes, “WLIW-FM has taken another step forward in our coverage and commitment to our community. In the weeks ahead, we’re also looking to deliver a new app that will allow audiences to easily take WLIW-FM wherever life takes them.”
Musburger Media has bought back sports betting network VSiN for an undisclosed price from DraftKings; the latter acquired VSiN in March 2021. VSiN founders Brian Musburger and Bill Adee will again lead it with an eye on moving it forward. They were part of the team launching the multi-platform broadcast and content company in 2017. As Musburger explains, “A lot has changed in the sports betting industry over the past three-and-a-half years, but our original vision for VSiN still holds. We are committed to delivering the most credible, independent information and analysis sports bettors can find anywhere. We truly appreciate the work we’ve done with DraftKings and look forward to continuing to collaborate on future projects. Bill and I couldn’t be more excited about leading VSiN into the future and cementing our position as a trusted authority in sports betting.” DraftKings’ chief marketing officer Stephanie Sherman notes, “DraftKings continues to optimize its investments in content and media to align with the most critical areas and needs of our business strategy, objectives, and goals. We want to thank Brian, Bill, and the entire team at VSiN for a great relationship; we look forward to continuing to advertise on the network.” In addition to iconic sports broadcaster Brent Musburger, VSiN’s current talent roster includes knowledgeable sports betting experts. VSiN’s content is accessible through its 24/7 stream, as well as multiple channels including 300 terrestrial radio stations; a dedicated channel on iHeartRadio and Tune In; YouTube TV; NESN; Rogers’ Sportsnet; AT&T Pittsburgh; and Marquee Sports Network.
iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries have launched a new six-part true crime podcast that will dive into the 2020 disappearance of Lydia “Dia” Abrams of Idyllwild, CA. Throughout the series, journalist Lucy Sherriff will reveal the culmination of her four-year investigation into Dia’s disappearance, uncovering a tangled web of manipulation, power, estranged families and greed. “Where’s Dia?” will be available to listeners beginning today 7/23), with new episodes posting on Tuesdays. Listen now 
This past Saturday (7/20), Boston Red Sox radio play-by-play announcer Joe Castiglione, whose signature catchphrase is, “Can you believe it,?” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. “Joe Castig” received the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting excellence. During his acceptance speech, the 77-year-old Hamden, Connecticut native remarked, “Broadcasting baseball is my vocation. It’s the only thing I ever wanted to do, at least since I realized I wasn’t good enough to be a player. At my 50th college reunion, a classmate said to me, ‘You’re the one guy who did exactly what he said he wanted to do,’ and I’m still doing it. What a blessing.” Castiglione’s more than four decades doing Red Sox radio play-by-play marks the longest tenure of any Boston broadcaster on radio or television. In 2004, Castiglione published Broadcast Rites and Sites: I Saw It on the Radio with the Boston Red Sox. Prior to joining the Red Sox broadcasting team in 1983, Castiglione called Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) games (1979) and did some Milwaukee Brewers games two years later. 
Ford Frick was a driving force behind the creation of the Baseball Hall of Fame and helped foster the relationship between radio and baseball. The Hall of Fame has presented the award every year since 1978. To be considered for the award, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network or a combination of the two.
few weeks. Dobbs was part of the debut of CNN in 1980, serving as vice president and host of the “Moneyline” program. He joined FOX Business in 2011 and served there until exiting in 2021 after being named in the Smartmatic defamation suit. During his career, Dobbs also hosted a talk radio show syndicated by United Stations Radio Networks from 2008 through 2012. He also hosted the “Lou Dobbs Financial Report” syndicated by Salem Radio Network. The program “Lou Dobbs Tonight” won an Emmy in 2004, and Dobbs won a George Foster Peabody Award for his coverage of the 1987 stock market crash.
Now and Up First in the #1 and #2 spots, respectively, and NBCUniversal News Group’s Dateline NBC at #3. Movement of note for news/talk radio-related podcasts includes Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” rising one place to #6; iHeart Audience Network’s “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton” show moves three spots to #23; and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Shawn Ryan Show” advances 13 places to the #26 rank. 
since 2014 and a part of the Pittsburgh sports media landscape for nearly 25 years. He takes over for Bill Hillgrove, who retired after serving for 30 seasons. King is joined in the booth by color analyst Craig Wolfley. King says, “The Steelers hold a special place in this community and across the country. I am thankful to Art Rooney II, the Steelers and iHeartMedia for giving me this incredible opportunity to be a meaningful part of one of the greatest organizations in professional sports. I look forward to getting started, doing the job well and bringing the enthusiasm of the games to people around the world. I could not be more excited.”
intended it be a deregulatory exercise. NAB says, “The Local Television and Radio Rules retain and even tighten decades-old restrictions on which – and how many – television and radio stations broadcasters may own in a particular geographic market. The rules are premised on the notion that broadcasters could exert disproportionate influence by shaping news and entertainment options. But that idea is a relic from a bygone era – before the emergence of the Internet, smartphones, social media, and streaming. In reality, broadcasters today struggle to keep pace with rapidly proliferating audio and video platforms that are steadily taking audience share and advertising dollars. Instead of making it harder for broadcasters to compete, the Commission should have modernized its outdated rules because they are no longer justified. Given the significance of the Commission’s rules, the size of the regulatory record, and the number of parties involved, Petitioners respectfully submit that oral argument would be beneficial.”
director at Cumulus Media Dallas-Fort Worth. He tells TALKERS, “We immediately texted and sent push notifications on WBAP and KLIF and then went to FOX News Radio for wall-to-wall coverage. I then called in our WBAP morning hosts Ernie Brown and Carla Marion to talk with medical experts, police officials, and Secret Service experts in between the FOX coverage. After Ernie and Carla, WBAP PM drive host James Parker took over and fielded local listener reactions in between the FOX coverage. Phones and social media were flooded. Local WBAP host Chris Krok then did a special national broadcast on Westwood One’s “Red Eye Radio” 
and took local calls throughout the night.” At Red Apple Media’s WABC Radio in New York, company CEO John Catsimatidis interrupted the live “Cousin Brucie’s Saturday Night Rock & Roll Party” and brought talk host Curtis Sliwa in to go on air and work with the news team throughout the evening. Throughout the evening, WABC Radio air personalities including Dominic Carter, Rita Cosby, Greg Kelly, and more called in. Catsimatidis says, “I am immensely proud of our team who at a moment’s notice dropped whatever they were doing to bring our listeners up-to-the-minute information. Emotions are high across America. By delivering the facts, we bring a sense of calm to our listening community.” 
“Corey Inganamort was hosting the final hour of our live local Saturday afternoon when he noticed some activity on the studio TV. He immediately began describing what he was seeing. After several minutes, we made the call to go to our network partner, FOX News Radio, for coverage. We stayed with the network through the evening.” 
Schaefer tells TALKERS, “Saturday evening, Brett Winterble and news director Mark Garrison were on the air within an hour of the incident, delivering the information as it unfolded. Shortly thereafter, additional members of the WBT team called in to contribute their thoughts and analysis, including Bo Thompson, Vince Coakley, Pete Kaliner, and Brett Jensen. Our coverage continued through 9:00 pm Saturday night. On Sunday we broke from regular programming and went live and local from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, with special continuing coverage 
from “Good Morning BT” hosts with Bo Thompson and Beth Troutman in the morning, Vince Coakley and Pete Kaliner in the midday, and Brett Winterble and news reporter Scott Hamilton in the afternoon.” At iHeartMedia’s KFI, Los Angeles, where it was just after 3:00 pm, Neil Saavedra was live on the air. Program director Robin Bertolucci says, “We immediately went wall-to-wall covering the story. KFI’s Neil Saavedra was on the air doing his regular Saturday show, ‘The Fork Report,’ when it occurred, and he immediately switched to in-depth news coverage of the assassination attempt. KFI news had the latest and we provided ongoing updates for all of our LA iHeart properties and put up the story on all social platforms. KFI’s Gary Hoffmann came in and took over at 5:00 and we covered it wall-to-wall till 8:00 pm.” Bill Brady owns KFNX-AM, Phoenix and
happened to be on the air hosting his Saturday show when news broke. He tells TALKERS, “I was on the air ‘live’ Saturday afternoon. I began the show by saying, ‘This is a very different show than I normally do. Today’s show deals with a very sensitive story. Our president was grazed by a bullet today in Butler County, Pennsylvania. A half an inch difference in the bullet’s path and this could have been an assassination. Others have been killed and wounded. There is much still to learn. Let’s try to make sense of 
this. It is not a day for politics.'” Salem Radio Network says, “Talk host Mike Gallagher raced to Salem studios in Tampa for a rare, two-hour live special broadcast covering this major breaking news story. Joining Gallagher were SRN’s Dr. Sebastian Gorka and Dennis Prager as well as Salem New York morning host Joe Piscopo and Salem Dallas morning host Mark Davis. Former SRN host (and one-time GOP Presidential contender) Larry Elder also joined the broadcast, which fielded calls from listeners in New York, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois and
many other states.” Obviously, the coverage of a news story of this magnitude spilled over into Sunday. WBEN, Buffalo brand manager Lisa Polizzi says, “We went almost all local on Sunday with David Bellavia in the morning, our ‘Hardline’ political show that included a former FBI agent, a former Buffalo police captain, and the Erie County GOP chair, as well as ‘Reese on the Radio’ taking local calls in the afternoon.”
Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds the audience share record for 18-34s in New York.
Next month, as the school year begins in so many places, the listeners that local retailers want as customers transition back to their “normal” routines. Their tempo changes and builds to a holiday season climax. And we – and our advertisers – want to be their soundtrack.
reporter James Flippin will capture the excitement from the convention floor with up-to-the-minute reports and on-the-spot interviews. WABC Radio host Jeanine Pirro will be attending the Convention and will stop by the WABC Radio Booth to share her views.” Company CEO John Catsimatidis adds, “This is an important time in America, and Americans want to know who will be the next president. As a trusted news and political source, it is our responsibility to provide WABC Radio listeners and our affiliated stations’ listeners vital information and insightful commentary live from the Republican National Convention.
iHeartMedia’s news/talk WFLF, Orlando, airing from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. iHeartMedia Orlando SVP of programming Ken Holiday states, “We are thrilled to welcome Jesse Kelly to WFLA Orlando! Starting Monday, July 15, Jesse will bring his unfiltered and unapologetic insights to our listeners. From history to politics to pizza, Jesse’s show has it all in a no-nonsense kind of way. Whether you’re a veteran like Jesse or just a good ol’ fashioned red-blooded American, the show has something for everyone.”
June 2024 PPM Data – Information for Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 survey period (May 23 – June 19) has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.
added to the program schedule at Nexstar Media’s WGN, Chicago beginning Monday (7/15). WGN Radio VP and general manager Mary Sandberg Boyle says, “‘The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano’ is engaging, creative, and lively – a trifecta not often found in late night radio shows.” 
His expertise, passion, and approach align perfectly with our mission to deliver exceptional audio content and services.” In his new role, Jones will oversee all aspects of USRN’s operations, including programming, services, affiliate relations, and affiliate sales. He will continue to work closely with the talented team at USRN and parent company Gemini XIII to develop innovative strategies that enhance the network’s offerings and drive value for its affiliates and partners.
June 2024 PPM Data – Information for Nielsen Audio’s June 2024 ratings period (May 23 – June 19) has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.