Audacy Unveils New Football Show “Inside the North”
Audacy is combining the talents of its sports talk hosts at stations in markets within the NFL’s NFC North division to launch “Inside the North,” a brand-new, weekly one-hour show focusing on the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota 
Vikings. The host of the program will be WSCR-FM, Chicago personality David Haugh and will feature a panel of NFL experts including former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, former Packers kicker Mason Crosby, former Lions (and Packers) offensive lineman T.J. Lang and former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. It will aur Sunday mornings on WSCR-FM; WXYT-FM, Detroit; WSSP-FM, Milwaukee; and WCCO-AM, Minneapolis. In addition to the Sunday morning broadcasts, video episodes will drop early on YouTube every Friday evening. Audacy sports format VP Mitch Rosen says, “The NFC North features some of the most passionate fanbases and intense rivalries in all of football. By combining David Haugh’s signature hosting with the firsthand perspective of four iconic division figures, ‘Inside the North’ delivers unmatched context and insider access to these markets every single week.”
analyst was just diagnosed less than two weeks ago. Detillier had prepared the following: “Last week, I was rushed to the hospital for stomach pain. After several CAT scans and tests, doctors broke the unbelievable news: I have metastatic pancreatic cancer. Stage 4. Incurable. While it’s an incredibly emotional time, I want to thank everyone – the listeners, the whole team at WWL radio and Audacy, New Orleans, and all those who put up with me over the years – from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to let me live my passion: The game of football. Hosting SportsTalk with Bobby J, Deuce, Hoss, Steve, and the whole crew – working for WWL has been the honor of a lifetime.” WWL brand manager Diane Newman comments, “Mike Detillier captured the heart of our community with his honesty, buoyant personality, and his rich and deep fact-loaded analysis. He became a reflection of this region’s pure passion for football better than just about anybody. Mike is dedicated and has a true love of the game at every level – high school, college, and NFL. And he’s navigated his role with the utmost respect and admiration for players and coaches, and you see that respect in return. His connection to them is as authentic as his accent. And, when we made that decision to put our two Cajuns together to host ‘SportsTalk,’ you could almost hear something click. When you turn the dial and put on Bobby Hebert & Mike Detillier – you’ve tuned into unbridled magic. “
13. It will feature artists, newsmakers and mental health professionals in honest and meaningful conversations about mental health, emotional well-being and the importance of speaking openly and listening without judgment. Audacy SVP of programming Dave Richards says, “Nearly a decade after we first launched ‘I’m Listening,’ the need for honest conversations about mental health has never been more important. Every year, we’re reminded of the power of simply creating space for people to listen, share their experiences, and know they’re not alone. We’re proud to bring this important program back to our audiences nationwide and continue using the reach and intimacy of audio to connect people with stories, resources and hope.”
Talk radio host Jeff Katz and Audacy get together on a new deal that keeps Katz on WRVA, Richmond where he’s been hosting the afternoon drive daypart for the past 13 years. Audacy notes that Katz has been recognized throughout the region for his charitable work. He has helped raise more than $1 million for Central Virginia charities and was appointed by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities.
In Las Vegas, talk host Steve Sanchez takes over the 9:00 am to 12:00 noon daypart on Kemp Broadcasting’s KMZQ “The Right Talk for Vegas.” Sanches was previously heard in the market on Audacy’s K-DAWN talk station heard on KMXB-HD3 and K268CS in the early evenings.
Bear Walter Payton, Payton brings extensive broadcasting experience alongside a background in business, public speaking, and philanthropy through the Jarrett Payton Foundation.” Payton says, “I’m truly excited and deeply honored to join the team at ‘The Score.’ I’m looking forward to working alongside everyone there and connecting with the loyal listeners who make this station what it is. This place has always felt like family to me. My dad graced these airwaves back in the ’90s, and the thought of being part of that same legacy means everything. Grateful beyond words for this opportunity. Let’s get to work.” The change comes after Audacy dismissed longtime morning host Mike Mulligan and midday co-host Marshall Harris. The midday show continues with incumbent personalities Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote hosting the “Rahimi & Grote Show.”
since 2008, originally with Brian Hanley and most recently with David Haugh. Harris became a full-time co-host of the midday show with Leila Rahimi in 2024. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that former WGN-TV sports anchor Jarrett Payton – the son of Bears legend Walter Payton – will be announced as the new morning drive co-host sometime today. It appears Rahimi and Mark Grote will continue as hosts of the midday show. Audacy has not publicly commented on the changes but it’s reasonable to assume that there was a fiscal component to the moves. 
Dallas, San Francisco, and Milwaukee. Former Audacy Buffalo general manager Tim Wenger posted his thoughts about Beach’s passing and wrote: “When I was asked about programming WBEN ‘back in the day’ and what I would do first, I quickly said I would go to Milwaukee and bring Sandy Beach back to Buffalo and talk radio, where he belongs. I got the job, I got Sandy, and I never looked back. Sandy quickly became an institution on WBEN and a co-worker so many cherished and loved off the microphone and respected for his unrivaled wit, intelligence, logic and even sometimes caustic sense of humor on the air. The most-asked question I get when I encounter WBEN listeners is, hands-down, ‘How is Sandy Beach?’ Susan and I had the privilege of continuing our close friendship with Sandy and I can assure you that his humor, personality and wit was with him until his brief illness took hold.”
he returned from a sold-out trip with listeners to Italy. Bauerle didn’t go into details about exiting the company’s Buffalo cluster where he’s been on the air – if you include his time at sister sports talker WGR – for the past 42 years but it stands to reason the decision by management was a financial one. It’s unclear what Audacy’s plans for the afternoon drive daypart are. As of today, Bauerle’s show is still listed on the station’s website. 
Joe LaCroix says, “Femi’s sports knowledge spans far beyond football, encompassing the entire Charm City sports scene. His fearless opinions and local sports knowledge will complement Ken’s fiery takes and Tim’s sharp insights. We can’t wait for our listeners to experience the next chapter of afternoons with ‘The Final Drive.’” Ayanbadejo’s radio experience began in 2012 with contributions to several programs, including “The Scott Garceau Show,” Ravens game-day radio with Gerry Sandusky, and, most recently, “The Bruce and Femi Show” on “105.7 The Fan.”
country, and they deserve both the content and distribution that matches their energy. Between our incredibly entertaining and informative lineup of local hosts and our exclusive partnership with the Texans, we are the ultimate destination for Houston sports fans. Launching ‘95.7 The Fan’ as our tenth FM sports station in the top 10 U.S. markets is a proud milestone and solidifies Audacy’s leadership in local sports audio. We can’t wait to bring this unbeatable coverage to even more fans so they can join the conversation and stay connected to the teams they love.”
and KCBS, San Francisco – will become available “later this year.” Audacy CEO and president Kelli Turner states, “Audacy’s sports brands are deeply connected to the cities, teams and fan communities they serve, and being able to extend our reach nationally through SiriusXM is a natural fit. We look forward to working together with 
SiriusXM to bring our outstanding talent and content to sports fans and news and talk listeners wherever they are, providing our audiences with more ways to stay connected to the conversations that matter most to them.” SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein adds, “We also recognize the unique role local personalities play in connecting fans with their teams every day. By adding Audacy’s extensive lineup of sports stations, we’re making those trusted hometown voices available to fans wherever they are across North America. Together, we’re delivering an even more complete audio experience – bringing live games, premier national sports talk, and hometown conversations together in one place.”
indicates that St. Louis-based Hoffman Media Group will pay Audacy $20 million for its six-station cluster that includes news/talk stations KMOX-AM/FM, KFTK-FM, and four music outlets. Hoffman Media Group is a subsidiary of Hoffman Family Companies and recently acquired the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Audacy’s sports talk WGR-AM, Buffalo serving as the flagship station. Now, the team announces that it has 23 stations signed up as affiliates, including Good Karma-operated WHSQ-AM, New York City (formerly WCBS-AM at 880 kHz) and WESP-FM, West Palm Beach “ESPN West Palm” – both stations operated by Good Karma. In the Buffalo market, games will be heard on Cumulus Media’s rock WGRF-FM.
station streaming, nearly 3x the next closest format; 2) One in four Americans now identifies as a “News Fanatic,” checking the news five or more times a day and actively seeking deeper context – not just headlines; 3) News/talk listeners are more loyal than sports fans. Fifty-four percent are primary listeners who spend most of their listening time with news/talk, compared with 41% for sports; 4) Trust remains news/talk’s biggest advantage. Local news radio is trusted by 84% of listeners – higher than broadcast TV, national news radio, or social media; 5) The audience has significant buying power. Median household income is approximately $95,000, with listeners over-indexing for net worth above $2 million; and 6) The advertising works. Among ad-exposed consumers, news/talk campaigns drive 56% awareness, 47% consideration, and 49% purchase/conversion, while Audacy campaigns generate an average 24% lift in website traffic, with some categories seeing increases as high as 67%. 
hour-long morning program with Josh Albrecht. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the program will also air across Audacy’s Wisconsin Sports Radio Network in markets including Greeb Bay-Appleton, Wausau, Madison, and Duluth-Superior. Czaban previously hosted a morning program on iHeartMedia’s then-sports WRNW-FM “97.3 The Game” that iHeartMedia flipped to AC last fall. 
to KSDK-TV, St. Louis, Hoffman Media Group recently took majority ownership of Lee Enterprises, which owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. David Hoffman said in a statement to 
largest print and digital news organizations in the United States. With our planned acquisitions, combined with our existing portfolio of 154 newspapers and our expansion into radio, we expect to become the second-largest media company in the United States by year-end.” Audacy president and CEO Kelli Turner reportedly issued a memo to staff revealing the deal (in which the terms were not disclosed) and stated that Audacy will continue to own and operate the stations until the deal closes and that listeners, advertisers, partners and employees should expect “business as usual” during the approval process. 
producer and air personality Kenny Kott died from medical complications on Saturday (6/26). Kott was a member of “The Valenti Show with Rico.” Mike Valenti addressed Kott’s passing on Monday’s program, saying that Kott had a medical event in early June that left him hospitalized for the last few weeks and it took a turn for the worse. Valenti says, “Genuinely, I struggle to find the words for this. He’s a part of our dysfunctional family. That’s what this is.”
helping patients with blood cancers or disorders find matching blood stem cell donors. WCCO brand manager Brad Lane comments, “The auction experiences created excitement. Our fans created impact. In an era of infinite content and fractured attention, this event wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was a reminder that radio still matters. It still creates community, inspires generosity, and has the power to turn listeners into neighbors united behind a common cause. We’re honored to help bring people together in support of NMDP’s mission.”
perspective, and multi-platform success that aligns perfectly with our vision for the new ‘97.1 The Fan.’” Audacy notes that Koh is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and sports personality with experience at FOX 11, NBC 4, NFL Network, DIRECTV Sports, and the Clippers Radio Network, as well as national work at Amazon Prime Sports, FuboTV, and EA’s official Madden broadcasts. Beyond the microphone, he is an entrepreneur and educator, co-owning a football analytics website and serving as an adjunct journalism professor.
Buffalo Broadcasters Association reports that the company offered Wenger a different position within the company but he’s electing to pursue new opportunities. Wenger has spent much of his career in Buffalo, beginning in the newsroom at WBEN-AM in 1986. He rose through the programming ranks and eventually into management in his current market manager role. Wenger’s wife, Susan Rose, serves with WBEN-AM as morning news anchor and reporter and she will remain in her position. 
and he comments on company’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the rededication to sports programming, “Relieving that financial pressure has been liberating. We’ve got everybody swimming in the same direction. Linear broadcast, streaming digital and on-demand podcasts… they don’t compete with each other. They all sing together, like a maestro with a band.” The Fan produced an NFL Draft watch party on YouTube featuring the station’s hosts and with the success of that decided to do halftime and postgame shows on YouTube during the Knicks’ Finals series. Audacy says those livestreams are part of the reason it brings in one-third of its revenue from digital sources.