Industry News

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

The negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders over the debt ceiling; the legal battles facing former President Donald Trump; the 2024 presidential race and the entrance of Senator Tim Scott into the GOP primary; reports that a second IRS whistleblower has been removed from the Hunter Biden investigation; the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis versus the LGBTQ community; the three-state pact to reduce use of water from the Colorado River; and the NBA and NHL playoffs were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

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TALKERS News Notes

Audacy partners with nonprofit breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen for its four Milwaukee radio stations – including sports talk WSSP-AM “1250AM The Fan” – to become the official radio media sponsor of the organization’s Wisconsin division. The stations will unite to support Susan G. Komen with a “One in Eight” program spotlighting the fact that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. On the eighth, eighteenth, and twenty-eighth day of each month, the stations will host a segment promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. Audacy Madison and Milwaukee regional president Andrea Hansen says, “We’re proud to leverage our voice to inspire local community members to support the cause to end breast cancer in ways that unite Milwaukee and deliver much-needed funding. Susan G. Komen is the leader in breast cancer research and the fight to find a cure and we’re thrilled to team up with them to champion their mission.”

City College of New York-owned non-commercial station WHCR-FM is airing a new, weekly radio programim hosted by Barbara Askins, president & CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District. The title of the show is “125th Street & Beyond” and focuses on the organization’s mission. WHCR general manager Angela Harden comments, “It is also a show about the relationships the 125th St. BID is building with New York City agencies and with BIDs around the world. Perhaps no neighborhood in New York City is as storied as Harlem, long the capital of Black culture in the United States. It’s a name known around the world. And now 125th Street has its own show. I am honored to host the show and look forward to welcoming many voices that support the betterment of Harlem.”

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TALKERS News Notes

Salem Media Group announces that it will present virtually at the Singular Research Spring Select Webinar on May 24 at 4:45 ET. The presentation will be available on the investor relations portion of the company’s website prior to the company’s presentation.

Audacy Philadelphia celebrated Operation Legacy, a home rehabilitation project in partnership with Travis Manion Foundation, with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at local veteran Kris Giuranna’s home on May 19. The stations – including news/talk WPHT, all-news KYW, and sports talk WIP-FM – teamed up to provide United States Marine Corps veteran a home fit for a hero and honor his contributions to the country. Audacy Philly SVP and market manager David Yadgaroff says, “It is so rewarding to watch this project come to life. Audacy Philly, along with our partners Travis Manion Foundation, Window Nation, Impriano Roofing and Main Line Pro Painting, are thrilled to honor Kris and his service to our country by providing him with the needed renovations for his new home.”

The Newsmax syndicated radio program “The Rob Carson Show” adds new affiliate station news/talk WGMD-FM, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to its roster of affiliates. Resort Broadcasting also operates news/talk WUSX-FM, Seaford Delaware and simulcasts most of the programming on the two stations. Rob Carson’s show airs on WGMD’s 92.7 FM frequency.

Industry News

Top News/Talk Stories for Week of May 15-19

The surge of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. and the Biden administration’s immigration policies came together as the top story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the negotiations between the White House and congressional leaders over the debt ceiling, followed by special counsel John Durham’s scathing report on the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation at #3.  The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media this week. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.

Industry News

Newsmax Beats CNN in May 12 Prime Time Ratings

Newsmax reveals that, according to Nielsen ratings for Friday, May 12, Newsmax TV was the third-highest rated cable news channel in prime time, beating CNN in every hour of prime time. Newsmax notes that the 8:00 pm ET show “Eric Bolling The Balance” won the hour with 467,000 impressions, beating CNN’s “Andersonim Cooper 360” with 447,000. The new 9:00 pm ET show “Chris Plante The Right Squad” pulled an audience of 325,000 impressions, defeating CNN’s “Whole Story” with 293,000. And at 10:00 pm ET “Greg Kelly Reports” took first place with 278,000 viewers, compared to Chris Wallace giving CNN an audience of just 263,000. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “Newsmax has witnessed a consistent, positive trend for weeks and we are looking forward to enormous interest in the network as we draw closer to the GOP primaries and ’24 election.”

Industry News

Former Sacramento Sports Host Grant Napear Amends Wrongful Termination Suit

Yahoo! News reports that former Sacramento Kings TV play-by-play personality and KHTK, Sacramento sports talk host Grant Napear is amending his wrongful termination suit against Bonneville International and is citing religious beliefs for the statement he made that cost him his positions. A California federal judgeim dismissed Napear’s suit last month but gave him 21 days to file an amended suit. Napear was let go after former Kings center DeMarcus Cousins asked him his opinion of Black Lives Matter and he replied, “ALL LIVES MATTER … EVERY SINGLE ONE.” In the amended filing, Napear says that his response was “an expression of his sincerely held religious beliefs as a member of the Unitarian Church and his opinion with regards to the sanctity of all lives.” Napear adds that “he is a lifelong and devout member of the Unitarian Universalist Church and embraces the seven principles espoused by the church, including the ‘inherent worth and dignity of every person.’” Read the Yahoo! story here.

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Yesterday’s (5/16) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The U.S. economy, the debt ceiling negotiations, and concerns about a recession; special counsel John Durham’s highly critical report of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation; the wave of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border; the abortion pill issue goes before the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans; an IRS whistleblower says he and his team were removed from the Hunter Biden investigation on the DOJ’s orders; Tuesday’s senate hearing on Artificial Intelligence; Tuesday’s primary races in several cities; China threatens military action against Taiwan; and House Democrats move to expel George Santos from congress were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Benztown Enhances News/Talk Imaging Library

Benztown announces that it is enhancing Benztown Branding’s Ambush News/Talk Audio Imaging Library and is featuring the signature voice of JJ Surma. Benztown says, “The new Ambush library takes the imaging of spoken-word radio stations to the next level in quality, freshness, and resonance. Surma was recently namedim one the most successful voices in audio branding as a 2023 honoree of the Benztown 50 list of the top 50 voiceover professionals in the U.S. and Canada.” The Ambush audio imaging library is written and produced by imaging director Scott Phillips. Benztown VP, sales & operations Masa Patterson says, “JJ is world class, serving as the imaging voice for some of the best NT stations in America. Combining him with a production talent like Scott Phillips and retooling the content plan has Ambush positioned as a top-of-class resource for audio producers in the spoken word space.” Surma adds, “Scotty Phillips is an amazing writer and producer, and Ambush is a legendary resource that I leaned into many times in my years as a creative services director. The opportunity to bring my energy to such a respected and trusted audio library and company has me all fired up!” Listen to an audio composite of Benztown’s Ambush News/Talk audio imaging library here.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (5/15) Top News/Talk Media Stories

Special counsel John Durham’s highly critical report of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation; the negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House over the debt ceiling; migrants amassed at the U.S.-Mexico border and the Biden administration’s immigration policy; a teenage shooter in New Mexico kills three and wounds six; baseball bat attack on U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly’s staffers; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to testify before congress today (5/16) on artificial intelligence; Turkey’s presidential election goes to a runoff; the Russian-Ukraine war; and Martha Stewart among Sports Illustrated cover models were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

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TALKERS News Notes

Cumulus Media and LEARFIELD’s Providence Friars Sports Properties renew their multi-year agreement to broadcast Providence College athletics.  Cumulus Providenc VP and market manager Holly Paras says, “I am excited to expand our relationship with the Providence College Friars to include hockey play-by-play on ‘790 The Score.’ The addition of college hockey to Southern New England’s only source for local college sports talk is a perfect fit and enhances our strong partnership with the legendary Friar Men’s Basketball program on WPRO.”

Enterprise podcast hosting solution provider Podbean achieves SOC 2 Type II compliance in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants standards for SOC for Service Organizations, also known as SSAE 18. Podbean CEO David Xu says, “This certification ensures that the platform adheres to strict security and privacy standards, safeguarding your valuable content and data. By hosting your podcasts on such a platform, you demonstrate your commitment to maintaining the highest level of trust and confidence in your enterprise’s data management practices. Ultimately, this level of assurance allows you to focus on creating and distributing exceptional podcast content while enjoying peace of mind knowing that your enterprise’s digital assets are secure and compliant.”

The “Motley Fool Money” radio program hosted by Chris Hill adds new affiliate KAOI-AM/FM, Maui, Hawaii to its roster of affiliates.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

Salem Media Group Inc will report its first quarter 2023 financial results after the market closes on May 9. The company also plans to host a teleconference to discuss its results on May 9, 2023, at 5:00 pm ET.

CBS Radio is presenting a documentary program for broadcast over the Memorial Day weekend titled, “Who Killed George Polk?” that looks into the shocking murder of CBS news correspondent George Polk in 1947. The program is hosted by Steven Portnoy and executive produced by Craig Swagler. Seventy-five years ago this spring, Polk was executed and his body dumped into the Aegean Sea. Historians who have studied the case over the decades have suggested that the murder of the CBS newsman was actually a conspiracy that involved the US-backed Greek government. The theory of the case is that the CIA – aided by Polk’s fellow journalists — covered up the truth to protect American interests at the height of the Cold War. Redacted CIA documents — original copies of which cannot now be found — give rise to that suspicion.

WNYC Studios launches a new, 12-part season of “More Perfect,” the Supreme Court-focused podcast series that brings the highest court of the land down to earth. “More Perfect” debuted as the first spin-off of “Radiolab” in 2017.  In this new season, host Julia Longoria “revisits the human dramas at the Court that are driving change around core aspects of American life today — from our religious freedom to our artistic expression; from our reproductive choices to our voice in democracy.”

Industry News

WOR, New York News Director Joe Bartlett to Retire

Longtime WOR, New York news pro Joe Bartlett announces he will retire as a full-time member of the iHeartMedia news/talk station’s staff on May 31 after a 37-year career with the station. Bartlett – who’s been serving most recently as morning news anchor and news director for 710 WOR – says he planned to retire three years ago, but when the Covid-19 pandemic hit he decided to postpone it. In addition to his newsim anchoring and reporting work, Bartlett has also hosted talk shows on the station, including the long-running “WOR Saturday Morning Show.” He comments, “I loved my job and have been fortunate to have been part of this great station for all these years. I could have gone on much longer, but the time had come, where I just needed more free time. Sadly, this is not a job you can do only six months a year. I have been blessed to have had a caring radio ownership, extremely talented co-workers and a very loyal audience.” Bartlett and his wife have relocated to South Carolina where he looks forward to having more time for golf, seeing his grandchildren, and supporting the New York Giants. WOR program director Tom Cuddy says, “It’s rare in this business to encounter as versatile a radio personality as Joe: anchor, news director, and talk show host…not to mention an all-around nice guy. He will be missed not just by our listeners but by our staff.”

Industry News

NewsNation Announces Lee Harris’ New Role

Yesterday (5/1), TALKERS magazine reported that WINS, New York morning drive co-anchor Lee Harris is leaving his position with the Audacy all-news station at the end of this week to join Nexstar Media Group’s cable news and digital operation NewsNation. Today, Nexstar officially announces the news and expands on Harris’ new, New York-based role. NewsNation says he joins the network as director of integrated operations inim which he’ll be responsible for the development and distribution of NewsNation’s audio content. He’ll also assist in news writing and NewsNation specials. Nexstar president of networks Sean Compton states, “As we recently celebrated the milestone becoming 24-hour news network weekdays, we are continually looking for ways to grow the NewsNation brand across our linear and digital platforms. I am thrilled that Lee Harris is going to be leading these efforts as we further expand the network’s reach with viewers and listeners across the country.” Harris comments, “It took an incredible opportunity to convince me to leave 1010 WINS after nearly 30 years. But Sean Compton and [president of news programming] Michael Corn showed me that at NewsNation I will be helping to fundamentally change the way news is covered and presented in this country and this is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” Meet Lee Harris at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. 

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TALKERS News Notes

The 2023 Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 29 with tickets going on sale on June 1. This year, in the Legacy category, longtime WWTN-FM, Nashville personality Phil Valentine will be inducted posthumously, alongside E.G. Blackman (WLAC-AM, Nashville), Dick Ellis (WETS, Johnson City), and Sam Phillips (WREC, Memphis; WHER, Memphis).

Audacy’s all-news KYW, Philadelphia is hosting “Breakfast with the Candidates,” a 90-minute special program featuring five of the Democratic candidates for the city’s mayor, on May 4 at 8:00 am. Moderated by KYW Newsradio morning drive anchor Ian Bush, the event will also feature KYW Newsradio community impact reporter Racquel Williams, City Hall bureau chief Pat Loeb, and education reporter Mike DeNardo in asking the candidates questions about gun violence, schools, housing, leadership and more. KYW news director Kevin McCorry says, “The city is at a crossroads and with only days to go before the primary, no clear frontrunner has emerged. Philadelphians mulling their choice have one final broadcast forum to listen to as the candidates try to separate themselves from the pack, and we’re proud to offer the city this vital resource.”

Industry News

TALKERS 2023 to Present Comprehensive Discussion about Sports Talk Radio

Eclipsed only by news/talk, radio stations and networks devoted exclusively to the discussion of sports comprise the largest and fastest-growing segment of spoken-word commercial broadcasting. TALKERS 2023, set for June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island, will explore some of sports talk radio’s key issues including the influence of legalized betting on its programming and revenue; the evolving demographic nature of its target audience; the balance of local and national elements in its mix; and what it takes to successfully host, program and market the format. Its speakers will include: introducer John Fredericks, owner/host of the John Fredericks Media Network; moderator John T. Mullen, general manager of WRHU-FM, Hofstra; and panelists (in alphabetical order) Grace Blazer, VP, national NTS brand coordinator, director of news and AM programming Florida region, iHeartMediaMark Chernoff, sports reporter, WWZY-FM, Long Branch, NJ “107.1 The Boss”/sports radio talent coach; and Spike Eskin, VP, programming, WFAN, New York and CBS Sports Radio.  There will be more than 60 distinguished industry speakers at TALKERS 2023, the 26th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important annual gathering.  See more about the agenda, registration, sponsorship and hotel information here.

Industry News

Sports Talk WCMC-FM, Raleigh Cancels “The OG with Ovies & Giglio”

Capitol Broadcasting abruptly drops “The OG with Ovies & Giglio” – starring Joe Ovies and Joe Giglio – from the program schedule on sports talk WCMC-FM, Raleigh “99.9 FM The Fan.” According to the News & Observer, Ovies tweeted after Wednesday’s program, “Today was the last edition of ‘The OG’ and the end ofim 13.5 years at The Fan. @giglio_OG and I did some really great stuff in just over 3 years of the show. Thanks for making us part of your routines.” The story quotes Capitol Broadcasting general manager Brian Grube saying a replacement show will have a single host format. The station added, “We’ve decided to move in a new direction in afternoons on ‘99.9 The Fan’ that focuses on the best way to deliver fast-moving, informative, engaging local sports content that leverages the full scope of CBC’s powerful radio, TV and digital platforms…. We’re truly grateful for Joe Ovies’ and Joe Giglio’s many contributions and wish them both the best moving forward.” Read the N&O story here.

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TALKERS News Notes

The Seattle Seahawks announced today a multi-year extension with Bonneville Seattle Media Group to continue with “Seattle Sports 710 AM” and “KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM” as the official flagship radio broadcast partners of the Seahawks. Bonneville Seattle SVP and market manager Cathy Cangiano says, “For nearly 50 years, the Seahawks and KIRO have shared a unique partnership and today we are honored and excited to once again extend our commitment to broadcast the Seahawks throughout the Pacific Northwest. Working together for so many years makes collaboration and innovation a natural part of what we do together. That spirit is present in the broadcast booth, in our respective front offices and especially in our community, where we seek to entertain and serve the 12s. Once again, we look forward to broadcasting the excitement of Seahawks football.”

Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts, in collaboration with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), announces the launch of a new eight-part series, “Silenced,” that re-examines the murders of radio broadcasters in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood in the early 1990s. The murders were never solved, leaving a wound in Little Haiti that is still open to this day. iHeartPodcasts president Will Pearson says, “We are proud to collaborate with Kaleidoscope on their impressive slate of scripted podcasts. Listeners everywhere have been drawn to these real-life stories of wild chocolate hunters, unsuspected astrologists and Russian cosmonauts, and we know ‘Silenced’ will do the same – hopefully leading to some answers as to who was behind these unsolved murders.”

Edison Research will present its annual “Moms and Media” study from The Research Moms in a webinar on Thursday, May 11 at 2:00 pm ET. Edison VP (and Research Mom) Melissa DeCesare will present the latest findings as well as emerging trends from the last few years. In addition to data from The Infinite Dial study from Edison Research, and sponsored by Amazon Music, Wondery, and ART19, this year’s research also incorporates results from a new, national online study.

NASCAR and SiriusXM announce a multi-year renewal of their broadcasting agreement. SiriusXM will continue to deliver 24/7 NASCAR content to its subscribers, including live broadcasts of every race, plus daily NASCAR talk and interviews with voices across the industry through its exclusive SiriusXM NASCAR Radio channel.

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Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy to Speak at TALKERS 2023

One of the talk media industry’s most impactful movers and shakers, Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media is scheduled to speak at TALKERS 2023 on Friday, June 2 at Hofstra University on Long Island. Ruddy will engage in one of the conference’s two “fireside chats” hosted by TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison. According to Harrison, “There isn’t a day that Chris Ruddy isn’t in or behind the media news. The growth of Newsmax on the television, radio, print and digital fronts has been nothing short of phenomenal. He is extraordinarily connected and his influence on this business as well as the national conversation is on a non-stop upward trajectory. Ruddy’s instincts and savvy about positioning, programming and navigating the infrastructure of modern media are as sharp as it gets. I’m delighted to have him as a guest in this setting and at this time. (Harrison will also conduct a fireside chat with another leading industry maverick, Jeff Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur Media). There will be more than 60 distinguished industry speakers at TALKERS 2023, the 26th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest running and most important annual gathering.  See more about the agenda, registration, sponsorship and hotel information here.

Industry News

TALKERS News Notes

iHeartMedia and P&G are again joining forces during Pride Month for the return of “Can’t Cancel Pride 2023 – The Future Starts Now,” an evening recognizing the LGBTQ+ community and celebrating organizations creating a more inclusive and equal world. The special event will feature performances from some of today’s hottest artists and appearances from influential voices in the LGBTQ+ community June 15 at the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles and remote locations across the country.

Award-winning public media journalist Tonya Mosley is been named co-host of “Fresh Air with Terry Gross,” the interview program produced by WHYY, Philadelphia and distributed by NPR. Terry Gross continues as executive producer and host. Mosley is a correspondent and former host of “Here & Now,” the midday radio show from NPR and WBUR, Boston, and the creator and host of the podcast “Truth Be Told.” She has been a regular contributing interviewer for Fresh Air since 2021.

Today, WNYC and Gothamist announced the new, thrice-daily podcast “NYC NOW.” The programs will present breaking news, top headlines, and in-depth coverage in three audio updates throughout the day. Each episode features WNYC and Gothamist reporters, editors, producers and hosts around New York City and across the region. “NYC NOW” is updated throughout the day in three, three-to-10 minute segments – morning headlines: WNYC newscasts available on-demand and on the go, midday news: expanded coverage of developing news stories, and evening roundup: a full collection of the day’s local news.

Industry News

Newsmax Inks Deal to Broadcast in Southeastern Europe

Newsmax Media, Inc announces that it is signing a deal with Telecom Serbia to broadcast Newsmax content to customers in Southeastern Europe. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy says, “Newsmax is excited about its partnership with Telecom Serbia, which has become an impressive player in numerous European markets.im Newsmax saw this agreement as both an opportunity to join with a respected leader in multimedia, Telecom Serbia, but also to strengthen America’s ties with the people of Serbia and the Balkans. The United States and Serbia were allies in both World Wars, share a common desire to overcome the destructive legacy of communism in East Europe, and both continue to support democratic societies. We believe that millions of Americans, Serbs and others will see us as an important source of information that they can trust.”

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TALKERS News Notes

Audacy announces it will report its 2023 first quarter financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, May 10. The company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 10:00 am ET that morning to review the results and recent progress against its strategic initiatives.

Hillsdale College announces the launch of the new podcast, “The Larry P. Arnn Show,” hosted by college president Larry Arnn who interviews distinguished guests to Hillsdale’s campus. It’s one of the school’s programs on its new integrated Hillsdale College Podcast Network that also features “The Radio Free Hillsdale Hour,” “The Hillsdale Dialogues,” and “The Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast.” The show’s first guest is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who visited Hillsdale’s campus on April 6.

PodcastOne launches the new podcast “Turtle Time with Ramona and Avery” starring reality television’s Ramona Singer and her daughter, Avery. PodcastOne president Kit Gray states, “We are thrilled to welcome Ramona and Avery to PodcastOne. Their mother-daughter relationship is enviable, and audiences will be wowed by their podcast. ‘Turtle Time’ is perfect for our platform, our audiences and our advertisers, all of whom have made it clear that this is the sort of content that they are looking for in podcasting.”

Audacy is gearing up for the 2023 NFL Draft with tomorrow evening’s “Audacy Draft Show” starring NFL Insiders Brian Baldinger and Jason LaCanfora, and produced by 2400Sports. Additionally, more than 12 of Audacy’s owned sports talk stations will have their own live and local draft shows, breaking down the first round for fans in several markets including Baltimore (WJZ-FM), Boston (WEEI-AM/FM), Buffalo (WGR-AM), Chicago (WSCR-AM), Cleveland (WKRK-FM), Dallas (KRLD-FM), Detroit (WXYT-AM), Houston (KILT-AM), Kansas City (KCSP-AM), New Orleans (WWL-AM/FM), Philadelphia (WIP-FM), Pittsburgh (KDKA-FM), and Washington DC (WTEM-AM), with many of those shows being available live in the Audacy app.

Industry News

Regarding Dominion, “Newsmax Acted Differently Than FOX”

This week’s settlement between Dominion Voting Systems and FOX News puts one chapter of post-2020 election litigation to bed, but Dominion (as well as competitor Smartmatic) has other defamation suits pending, including one against Newsmax. The news organization itself reports on the pending case and, in a piece by Marisa Herman, lays out the argument that there are stark differences between the FOX News case and its own. She cites a February 2, 2021 appearance by Mike Lindell on Newsmax TV during which anchor Bob Sellers vehemently challenges Lindell’s allegations of voter manipulation, to the point of walking off the set in frustration. The story also notes Newsmax’s defense as laid out in court filings. The company says, “It reported fairly and accurately on the public statements made by President Trump, his attorneys, and surrogates; It had a right to report on statements made by public figures, including the president; Newsmax reported on both television and online claims by multiple officials and experts that the election was not ‘stolen’ or ‘rigged.’; Newsmax reached out to Dominion, and Dominion did not accept offers to appear on the network; Newsmax published online at least a dozen articles sharing Dominion’s response to Trump campaign claims. Those headlines appeared on Newsmax TV; On Dec. 19, 2020, Newsmax published to its website a statement, ‘Facts About Dominion, Smartmatic You Should Know,’ which read, in part, ‘No evidence has been offered that Dominion or Smartmatic used software or reprogrammed software that manipulated votes in the 2020 election.’; Newsmax shared its statement over the course of months during segments related and unrelated to the 2020 election.” Finally, Newsmax adds, “It should be noted that FOX News has never made a statement, even after its settlement, as strong and specific as Newsmax’s statement of Dec. 19, 2021.”

Industry News

Dan Bongino’s FOX News Show Ends

As reported by the AP, FOX News and talk media personality Dan Bongino have parted ways. Bongino’s relationship with FOX News goes back almost 10 years. The former cop and Secret Service agent has been a commentator on FOX and has hosted the Saturday night show “Unfiltered” since 2021, as well as the “Canceled in the USA” program on FOX Nation. Bongino said on his radio show and podcast that they just couldn’t agree on a new deal. “It’s not some big conspiracy. There’s no acrimony. This wasn’t like some WWE brawl that happened. We just couldn’t come to terms on an extension.” The report indicates Bongino may even make guest appearances on FOX in the future. Read the full story here.

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Triton Digital Publishes March U.S. Podcast Report

Triton Digital releases data from its March 2023 U.S. Podcast Report that ranks podcasts published in the U.S. based on weekly average downloads for publishers that opt-in for measurement. NPR’s “NPR News Now” remains in the #1 position, with audiochuck’s “Crime Junkie” rising two places to the #2 spot, and Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Ben Shapiro Show” gaining three spots to take the #3 position. Some of the other radio company-related podcasts of note in the March report include Cumulus Podcast Network’s “The Dan Bongino Show” steady at #7, Salem Podcast Network’s “The Charlie Kirk Show” down four spots at #19. See the complete ranker here.

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TALKERS News Notes

Beasley Media Group chief technology officer Mike Cooney received the 2023 NAB Radio Engineering Achievement Award on stage during the “We Are Broadcasters” session on Tuesday, April 18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Established in 1959, the Radio and Television Engineering Achievement Awards are given to individuals who are nominated by their peers for significant contributions to advancing broadcast engineering.

iHeartMedia, Inc will issue financial results for the first quarter of 2023 on Tuesday, May 2. The company will conduct a conference call at 8:30 am ET, following the release of its earnings announcement to discuss its financial results and business outlook. A live audio webcast of the call will be available on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia’s website.

Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc will report its 2023 first quarter financial results before the market opens on Wednesday, April 26. The company will host a conference call and webcast at 11:00 am ET that morning to review the results.

Industry News

Yesterday’s (4/17) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The House Judiciary Committee’s field hearing in New York City to address crime attributed to Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution policies; after a one-day delay, the Dominion vs FOX News defamation trial begins today in Delaware; the FBI arrests two men charged with operating an “undeclared police station” in New York’s Chinatown and conspiring with the Chinese government to silence dissidents in the U.S.; the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl by 84-year-old Andrew Lester in Kansas City and the protests that stemmed from it; 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis is killed by un upstate New York man after the car she was riding in turned into his driveway; House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s plan to tie raising the debt ceiling to tax cuts; Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ ongoing battle with Disney over the company’s control of the special tax district; and WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich makes an appearance in a Russian court after being arrested and charged with espionage were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

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Top News/Talk Media Stories Over the Weekend

The House Judiciary Committee to hold a field hearing in New York in connection with Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of former President Donald Trump; the beginning of the Dominion Voting vs FOX News trial is continued to Tuesday suggesting a possible settlement; the deadly shootings in Biloxi, Kansas City, Louisville and Dadeville, Alabama; the aftermath of the leaked classified Pentagon documents; large groups of youths cause chaos and overwhelm police during three consecutive Teen Takeover nights in Chicago; Anheuser-Busch launches patriotic ad campaign after Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light protests; G-7 diplomats are critical of Chinese, Russian, and North Korean aggression; and scrutiny of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ financial reports were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

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TALKERS News Notes

Good Karma Brands’ Milwaukee radio stations are launching video stream capabilities. News/talk WTMJ, sports talk WKTI-FM “ESPN Milwaukee,” and talk WGKB-AM/W269DL “101.7 The Truth” will feature video streaming and repurposed video of each brands’ prime dayparts. They will be available on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans debut “Sanctum Unmasked,” an eight-part podcast series that explores the secretive sex empire known as SNCTM. The series takes a nuanced, fun and comedic look into money, power and sex, set in the backdrop of Hollywood. It’s hosted by American writer, television host and producer Karley Sciortino, who is the founder of Slutever, a website that focuses on sex and sexuality.

Industry News

Dan Dakich Renews with Outkick

Sports talk personality Dan Dakich signs a multi-year contract to continue as the host of the daily “Don’t @ Me!” show for Outkick. Dakich, who previously hosted a show on Urban One’s sports talk WFNI-AM, Indianapolis “The Fan,” has been hosting the 9:00 am to 11:00 am show on OutKick.com and its social media platforms since 2021. Outkick founder Clay Travis says, “Dan has been instrumental in the success of OutKick and I’m thrilled to have him on board. Every day his high energy, humor, and bold opinions drive fans to the platform and create awareness of the great content produced by OutKick.” Dakich comments, “I’ve had so much fun hosting my show with OutKick and am excited to keep it rolling. The team is tremendous and allows me to not only speak my mind but shed light on the most compelling sports news of the day. I can’t thank OutKick enough for giving me this platform.”

Industry News

Yesterday’s (4/12) Top News/Talk Media Stories

The intelligence leak that made public classified Pentagon documents regarding Ukraine, Russia and U.S. allies; the court rulings affecting the abortion pill mifepristone; Fed economists predict a “mild recession” for the U.S. later this year; Tennessee state rep Justin Pearson is returned to the legislature after being ousted for taking part in a gun control demonstration; the aftermath of the deadly Louisville shooting and the topic of gun control; the Russia-Ukraine war and the video that purports to show a Russian soldier beheading a Ukrainian soldier; the legal matters facing former President Donald Trump; U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein leaves committee to recuperate from shingles as some fellow Democrats request her resignation due to her absence; and jury selection to begin in Dominion Voting vs FOX News case were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Industry News

Geoff Moyer Named Co-Director of Sales at Alpha Media Portland

Alpha Media names Geoff Moyer co-director of sales for the Portland cluster that includes news/talk KXL-FM, talk KUFO-AM, and sports talk KXTG-AM “The Game” plus four music brands. He now works alongside co-director Cressy Walton and she comments, “Geoff has been a significant asset to the management team at Alpha Media since he came on board in November of 2016. I look forward to our strong, continued partnership and am pleased to see his hard work recognized.” Alpha Portland SVP and market manager Lisa Decker adds, “It’s always special to promote from within and to honor hard work and growth. Geoff will join Cressy Walton as the co-director of sales. Cressy has been with Alpha Media since the beginning and has been the director of sales since 2019. The co-director of sales role will help to align our organization with our clients and our staff’s needs. I am proud of both of them and their accomplishments. They are the Dream Team.”

Industry News

Hubbard Promotes Wolinsky to Publisher of Federal News Network

Hubbard Broadcasting Washington D.C. announces Jeffrey Wolinsky is rising from director of Federal sales to publisher at the company’s Federal News Network. Hubbard says Federal News Network is “an industry leading trusted news and marketing platform that focuses on the issues and topics affecting the federal government and federal government contracting community.” Joel Oxley is vice president and general manager at WTOP News and Federal News Network. He says, “Each time I have brought new opportunities to Jeffrey he has used his creativity and collaborative approach to create success for our audience, our advertisers and our team. His expertise specifically in identifying trends our organization can leverage to better deliver on our mission will take a higher profile. Leading to even greater overall success. Jeffrey’s vision for the future will align directly with our goal of being the go-to source of federal news for employees and contractors and bringing new products and opportunities to market.” Wolinsky has served at Hubbard DC for the past 20 years.