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If YouTube No Longer Has Measurement Standards, Why Should Broadcast Media?

Garrett Searight
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If YouTube No Longer Has Measurement Standards, Why Should Broadcast Media?

YouTube is changing what counts as a “view,” and the shift says a lot about where the media business is heading.

Starting Monday, August 24th, a view registers the instant a video starts playing. Duration doesn’t matter anymore, and neither does whether anyone actually sticks around. The company says the change helps creators compete more fairly across formats. It also gives them better numbers for presentations to “brand partners.” That’s a lot of words to say: “We want to look better to advertisers.”

Which is fine. Everybody wants to look better to advertisers. YouTube isn’t hiding that motive, and it deserves some credit for saying it plainly instead of dressing it up further. TikTok counts a view the moment a clip loads. Instagram does the same thing. Even Meta’s three-second threshold looks strict by comparison, and that’s saying something in this environment. Standards, it turns out, are optional once enough competitors decide to drop them.

Terrestrial radio and television don’t get that same luxury. Nielsen requires three minutes of listening or one full minute of watching before a broadcast earns credit toward a rating. Digital platforms just erased their bar entirely, while broadcasters still climb one that keeps getting steeper. This isn’t a fair fight, and it never really has been. Broadcast radio and television didn’t just bring a spoon to a knife fight here. It brought a feather duster to a bazooka battle.

A Credibility Problem Broadcasters Can’t Shake

Nielsen doesn’t want its ratings to look like malarkey. Advertisers spend real money based on those numbers, so accuracy has to matter more than optics. That integrity becomes a liability, though, the moment competitors decide standards don’t apply to them. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram don’t answer to the same referee. None of them defends its methodology in the rooms broadcasters do, either.

Meanwhile, brand partners see astronomical view counts and get excited. It doesn’t matter whether those figures reflect anything close to genuine engagement. Advertisers chase reach, and reach increasingly just means “technically loaded” rather than “actually watched.” As a result, broadcast media looks smaller by comparison, even in cases where its audience is more engaged, better measured, and simply more real.

It’s a strange kind of punishment, honestly. Broadcasters built their credibility over decades, and that credibility now works against them in pitch meetings. Meanwhile, digital platforms keep loosening their own definitions. Each loosening widens the gap between the two worlds a little further.

Where Broadcast Goes From Here

I don’t see an obvious fix here. Copying digital’s approach would require networks, groups, and syndicators to move together. That kind of coordination rarely happens in this industry, unfortunately. Everybody protects their own numbers, their own methodology, and whatever advantage they currently hold, even when cooperation would serve the whole industry better.

Still, something eventually has to give. If digital metrics keep inflating while broadcast metrics stay disciplined, the optics problem stops being cosmetic. It starts becoming existential instead. Advertisers will notice, sooner or later, when one number means everything and another means almost nothing. That recognition could actually work in broadcast’s favor. It only works, though, if the industry frames the comparison correctly and pushes back as a unified front rather than a scattered collection of competitors.

Until that reframing happens, broadcast is stuck fighting with a stricter rulebook against opponents who just rewrote theirs overnight. Nielsen’s discipline deserves real respect, and it should. It’s also, unfortunately, a competitive disadvantage in a market that keeps rewarding inflated numbers over honest ones. YouTube didn’t invent that dynamic. Its latest move certainly doesn’t help level the field, though, and broadcasters know it better than anyone. They’ll keep watching the gap grow, mostly because they don’t have another option right now.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Stop Mourning Radio. Start Reinventing Yourself Now

David Hill
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Stop Mourning Radio. Start Reinventing Yourself Now

There comes a point when something stops feeling temporary and simply becomes the way life is. Radio may have reached that point.

Four years ago, I walked away from a very cushy job as Program Director at 101 The Fox, one of Kansas City’s top stations. I had stability, a great position, and by most measures, exactly what a broadcaster is supposed to want. But I could see the writing on the wall. Technology was coming. Consolidation was accelerating. Even the management roles I knew were going to be targets. Rather than wait for the layoffs to find me, I made the decision to walk out the door. That first move didn’t turn out to be the right one. However, it sent me on a path of reinvention.

Now, five months into my chair at Barrett Media, I have already watched two massive rounds of job reductions ripple through the industry. Every time it happens, the reaction is the same. We talk about the people who lost jobs. And we question the decisions. We wonder what company will be next. We mourn talented broadcasters who gave years—sometimes decades—to this business. Then we ask the same question: When is this going to stop?

Perhaps that is the wrong question. This isn’t the beginning of radio’s layoffs, and it certainly isn’t the end. This is simply a point in time inside a much larger reinvention of what this business is becoming. Radio companies are operating with fewer people. Shows that once had multiple cast members are becoming smaller. Talent is being shared across markets. Voice tracking has become commonplace. Programming responsibilities have expanded. Technology is allowing one person to accomplish work that once required several. We can hate that reality. We can debate whether every decision is good for the product. Or, we can argue about how much localization has been sacrificed. But none of that changes what’s actually happening.

The New Operating Environment

This is the new operating environment. There are fewer seats in the boat. And that makes the most important question facing broadcasters today much more personal: What are you doing to make sure you deserve one of them?

For a long time, being good at one specific job could sustain a radio career. You were the morning host. Or, you were the music director. You were the program director. The promotions person. You were the producer. Those lines are disappearing quickly. The next generation of successful broadcasters may need to be several of those things at once. A personality needs to understand social media, video, and audience development. A programmer needs to understand data, digital content, and revenue. A producer may need to edit video, create social content, and understand how a show’s brand lives beyond terrestrial radio. Being competent is no longer enough. You need to be distinctive.

This isn’t just industry rhetoric. It’s the actual requirement now. You need to create something that cannot easily be duplicated. Another person sitting five hundred miles away cannot replicate it. Another piece of technology cannot replace it. Your value has to be rooted in things that are authentically you—your perspective, your connections, your ability to move an audience in ways that algorithms cannot predict or replicate. This might mean building a community on social media. It might mean developing a newsletter that offers insights competitors don’t have. It might mean understanding your local market so deeply that you become indispensable to your station’s revenue strategy.

That might sound harsh, particularly when friends and colleagues are losing jobs through no fault of their performance. There absolutely should be room to mourn that. These are real people with mortgages, families, and careers. They suddenly find themselves wondering whether they will ever work in radio again. Some won’t. That may be the hardest reality of all. But hardship doesn’t change the mathematics of the situation. The industry has fundamentally shifted, and hoping it shifts back is not a survival strategy.

The Path of Reinvention

But for those of us still here, staring continuously at the carnage isn’t a strategy. Reinvention is. I know because I’ve lived it. Walking away from 101 The Fox wasn’t easy. But it forced me to ask myself the hard questions. What else could I do? What did I actually know beyond programming?

That’s when I realized something important: radio was the language I spoke. It was the only thing I really understood. I had spent so many years programming, building formats, developing talent, and understanding audiences—that it was all so inherent in me. That made everything more difficult. Stepping away from radio meant stepping away from the one language I was fluent in. Do I want to eventually climb back into the programming chair full time? I’ll never know. It depends on what opportunities come. But I know the opportunities are much fewer as we move forward. Yet I know I still have value to contribute. So I’m here writing this article instead. I’m finding new ways to use what I know, even if the old paths are closing.

It wasn’t the first path or the second path that led me back to this chair at Barrett Media, but they definitely gave me a different understanding of the business. Being on the outside and then trying to walk back in changes your perspective. It teaches you things you can’t learn from behind the programming console. Now I’m here understanding not just what radio is, but what it’s becoming.

The Questions That Matter

So here are the questions that actually matter. What can you do that you couldn’t do two years ago? And what are you actively learning? What relationships are you building with your audience? How connected are you to your community? Can you create compelling content outside the traditional radio show? Do you have the skills to generate revenue? Can you understand the platforms competing for your listener’s attention rather than simply complaining that they exist? Most importantly, what makes you difficult to replace?

These aren’t academic exercises. They’re survival questions. If you can’t answer them with specific examples, you’re vulnerable. If your answer to “what makes you difficult to replace” is “I’ve been here for ten years,” that’s not enough anymore. The industry has already proven it doesn’t care about tenure. What matters is demonstrable value that can’t be easily outsourced or automated.

These questions aren’t particularly comfortable. Neither is the moment we’re living through. Radio’s revenues are under pressure while audiences have more entertainment choices than at any point in history. Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, podcasts, satellite radio, and countless other platforms are fighting for the same minutes that once belonged almost automatically to terrestrial radio. Each of these platforms is staffed with people whose only job is figuring out how to keep listeners engaged longer. They have data. They have resources. And they have intelligence. The industry’s response is going to continue to involve efficiency. Sometimes that efficiency will be smart. Sometimes it will damage the product. But wishing for the staffing structures of 1998 isn’t going to bring them back.

The people still fortunate enough to have seats in the boat need to stop spending all their time talking about how much larger the boat used to be. We need to figure out where it is going. Ultimately, what comes next will probably employ fewer people. It will demand more from the people who remain. It will require personalities, programmers, and creators to constantly evolve. That doesn’t have to mean the craft disappears. It means the craft has to change.

I’m not writing this as an outsider. And I’m not theorizing. I’m living this. And I’m betting that the reinvention I chose four years ago will continue to matter long after this current round of layoffs fades into the background. So perhaps the real question isn’t when the layoffs finally end.

Perhaps the question is much simpler: What are you becoming while they’re happening?

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Leader’s Checklist: What to Consider When Defining Great Leadership

Bob Lawrence
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The Leader’s Checklist: What to Consider When Defining Great Leadership

My earliest misstep as a first-time manager was, regrettably, thinking that being a leader meant everyone else was a follower. After being quickly humbled all those years ago, it didn’t take long to understand that the best leaders help build other great leaders.

There are various types of leaders, regardless of the industry. Newer managers tend to believe their own skills and constant direction will drive success and make them shine. Seasoned leaders take a humble path and listen more to others, so everyone shines. Choosing the road that results in the growth and success of everyone is consistently the style of leadership that makes managers shine.

Every organization wants great leaders. Yet too often, leadership is confused with authority, title, or seniority. If you’ve been in the workforce for any length of time, you already know that leadership has little to do with someone’s title and everything to do with the influence they earn.

The best leaders don’t simply manage people — they inspire and help teams accomplish more than anyone thought possible.

There’s a litany of traditional traits that we see in great leaders and managers. When hiring, we look for integrity, trustworthiness, accountability, emotional intelligence, humility, resilience, and a score of others. However, the best always possess qualities that aren’t always on someone’s list.

Do You….

• Make others feel valued?
• Remain calm while others panic?
• Admit mistakes quickly?
• Give credit away and accept responsibility?
• Try to hire people smarter than yourself?
• Focus on solutions over blame?
• Communicate honestly?
• Build culture over task management?
• Think years over quarters?
• Have high standards with compassion?
• Develop successors rather than create dependence?
• Welcome opposing viewpoints?

Ask people what they see in the best leaders, and “integrity and trust” top the list. Trust is foundational to every successful organization. It’s built not just through words but through actions. Leadership should build cultures that make employees feel secure and respected. If trust is lost, it’s twice as difficult to rebuild.

Humility

Here’s a quality that truly separates average from great. It may seem counterintuitive, but confidence and humility are not opposites. In fact, they complement each other. Strong leaders recognize they don’t have all the answers. They encourage input, conversation, and give credit to others.

It’s quite self-serving to surround yourself with people who always agree with you. Instead, focus on building teams that challenge assumptions and suggest fresh concepts and ideas.

Consistent Communication

Communicating consistently with clarity and transparency is a sign of exceptional leadership. Great leaders listen as much, if not more, than they speak. You must provide clear expectations, timely feedback, and honest conversations.

Even when discussions are uncomfortable. At times, communication becomes even more important because people will usually fill in any gaps with assumptions.

Courage

A hallmark of leadership involves courage. We all sometimes postpone difficult decisions, but that never makes them any easier. Whether it’s poor performance, investing in new opportunities, or navigating change.

Great leaders are decisive yet remain compassionate. Avoiding difficult conversations only creates a larger issue later.

Empathy

The most forgotten or overlooked leadership characteristic perhaps is empathy. Employees are not simply workers — they are people first. Like you, they balance careers, families, health issues, and personal challenges. They have rent or mortgages just like you. They deal with debt and pay bills just like you.

To be a great leader, you must genuinely care about your team to build loyalty, engagement, and low turnover. Empathy doesn’t mean you must lower your standards. It means you understand people well enough to help them succeed.

Learning

Lifelong learning is a goal for the best leaders. They recognize that industries change, technology evolves, and yesterday’s solutions may not solve tomorrow’s problems. They read, ask questions, seek mentors, and remain curious.

Their willingness to grow encourages everyone around them to do the same.

The Next Generation

Developing other leaders is likely the most important of all characteristics. The ultimate measure of success isn’t how indispensable we are but how many capable people we help prepare for the future. Coach instead of control. Empower instead of micromanage. Celebrate the accomplishments of others rather than spotlighting yourself.

Leadership is about serving others, earning trust, making difficult decisions, and creating an environment where people can do their best work. When you produce great leaders, you’ll not only achieve stronger financial results, but you’ll also build a culture that attracts more talent and inspires innovation. Your success and legacy are not defined by the success you achieved but by the success you enabled in others.

So, consider your own style of management and compare it to these “Five Cs of Exceptional Leadership.”

• Character: Integrity, honesty, humility, ethics, accountability
• Concept: Strategic thinking, innovation, adaptability, long-term focus
• Competence: Knowledge, judgment, decision-making, execution
• Communication: Listening, clarity, inspiration, transparency
• Connection: Trust, empathy, coaching, collaboration

One thing I have always tried to keep in mind is that people don’t leave bad jobs. They leave bad managers.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Tyler Connolly Weighs In on Theory of a Deadman’s New Music

Terrie Carr
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Tyler Connolly Weighs In on Theory of a Deadman’s New Music

I have known the guys in Theory of a Deadman for 24 years, and to me, they are one of the most underrated bands in the rock format.

Why? Because Theory tunes tell stories. There are fun stories like “Bad Girlfriend” and “Low Life,” and serious, relatable stories like “RX Medicate” and “History of Violence.” Theory frontman Tyler Connolly joins me for an episode of my Carr Stereo Podcast this week. We discuss his songs’ characters, the stories having an “arc,” and how lyrics still matter.

Over the years, I’ve had personal interactions with the band. I’ve put them on multiple radio shows, hosted studio hangs, and had them be part of my animal rescue endeavors. Additionally, they surprised me by raising close to $10,000 in one day for one of my New Jersey shelter partners. They called to tell me about it. We named the pups the Theory litter after the guys, and they got to meet them. Yeah, the guys are aces — good friends!

New Music and Tour Announcements

Their first EP ever (after 8 full-length albums) drops on September 4th on ONErpm. It’s called “Pt. 1 Funeral Songs.” Their current single “Winnebago” (Lay Low) is an earworm banger. It’s relatable to everyone getting a little older and not disappointed when plans get cancelled.

Currently, the band is out with the amazing Sevendust as part of the DEAD/SEVEN tour. If you have a ticket, consider yourself lucky!

*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*

Tyler Time: Full Interview

Terrie Carr: I’m thrilled to have Tyler Connolly on The Carr Stereo Podcast. Ty, will you be pissed if I cut away in the video version to some fun vintage photos of us?

Tyler Connolly: NO! Do it.

Terrie Carr: I’m always grateful to have you on, and even more grateful when we have new music. You have 8 full albums out, right? Eight? And 9 by next year because we’re getting “Pt. 1 Funeral Songs” on September 4th on ONErpm. You guys decided: “Hey, we’re going to do 6, and then 6 more.” You’re not the first, and I’ve spoken to those who want to release songs as inspirations come. People’s attention span blows these days. Everything is moving at a faster pace. You already have the next 6 songs ready to go, right?

Tyler Connolly: Yes, we just finished recording three more last week. We’re going out on tour now. Then we’ll go back in October and do the other 3. That will be the full album — two EPs, a full 12 songs. Later, we’ll put together a full LP and add even MORE songs in 2027! Another 3 or 5 songs. Just keep giving people music. People always say “You guys put out music every three years,” and I’m like “Yeah, not anymore!” It’s almost like music has become content!

Terrie Carr: OMG — everything is content now! We have “Barricade,” “Funeral Song,” “Winnebago,” “Lay Low,” “Monster Truck,” “Deep End,” and “Prenup.” I’m hoping “Prenup” is gonna be the third single!

Tyler Connolly: It’s exactly what you think it is. (laughs)

Tyler Connolly
D750

The Art of Storytelling Through Lyrics

Terrie Carr: This is a very interesting group of songs. What Theory always has in mind is the lyrical content, which is incredible. It’s whether it’s fun and quirky or has a heavier meaning. You guys have the feel to write songs that stick. They stay with us. You aren’t afraid to take a chance either. People have wanted you to make the same record, and you guys were like “Forget this — we’re not doing this.” We’re taking a twist this way, a turn that way. You’re a brave current-based rock band to do that. How did this record evolve?

Tyler Connolly: It’s a return to our old sound. We did a full off-ramp when we did our sixth album, “Wake Up Call.” What came out of that was our biggest song ever: “RX Medicate.” It was HUGE — like country, rap, or something. I don’t know, but it worked! Now we return to the old sound. There’s no other motive than that. That’s just how we feel. It’s the same as on our sixth record when we said “I want to do some more alternative music” and “I want to do something different.” Now we’re going back.

Terrie Carr: There’s some bangin’! “Barricade” is a banger, and we love when Theory bangs! “Winnebago” (Lay Low) is kind of a summer theme song for me! There are so many days when I’m like “I’m goin’ out!” and then I’m like “Forget it! I don’t think I’m going.” It’s an earworm too — a great, fun song.

Tyler Connolly: It’s so relatable. I went to my ex-wife’s house and was like “Do you want to write a song? I have this idea — it’s called ‘Drunk AF’.” And she’s like “What’s that?” And I’m like “When you get so messed up.” She’s like “Ew, no way.”

We’re getting older, right? I remembered last New Year’s Eve going out with friends. We had dinner at 8 p.m., and my friends said “We’re gonna call it a night.” We’re like “What?! It’s New Year’s Eve! This is the night!” They went home, and we were devastated. Eventually, I realized from that point on it was a blessing in disguise. That’s what “Winnebago” is about. When someone cancels your plans and you’re like “YES! Now I can just go home and go to bed!” It’s the ANTI BAR SONG — tired of going to bars, why you should have stayed home, why the hell you agreed to go out.

I think that’s the way we all feel now!

Creative Freedom and the Role of Fans

Terrie Carr: There are pluses and minuses of being part of the music machine. The plus is people give you money to do stuff. The downside is you can’t have creativity. People giving you money tell you “Hey, we’re giving you this,” so you tend to veer toward what someone else wants. You guys are now developing more freedom as a band, and that’s a GOOD thing!

Tyler Connolly: Oh, it’s great. The years of the A&R machine, I lost sleep from time to time. I remember me, Dave, and Howard Benson — our producer at the time — flew to New York so we could plead with our record company. We wanted to record 6 songs. We had to sit there while he listened, and our A&R guy was like “I don’t even like the title.” I’m like “Who cares about the title?” It was just nasty.

Now our A&R are our fans. They’ve always been our A&R people. They’re always the people who decide if they like a song. The best fan story is “Bad Girlfriend.” Not only did the label not want that song because they said “it’s cheesy,” and I agree — it is cheesy! We kind of forced them. They didn’t want it on the record. It was the fans. We would go out and play that song, and the fans would go nuts. We brought our president of the label to the show and said “Just watch the fans.” He watched and was like “Ok, ok — we will release it as a single.” Then it blew up! That was history — it was the fans.

Tyler is also producing horror movies, and we delve into that and more. Check out the video version for the full conversation.


TC and Tyler Watch 

Listen On Spotify To Tylers Carr Stereo Episode

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Damien Woody: My Job Was To Make Fans Better With ESPN

John Mamola
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Damien Woody: My Job Was To Make Fans Better With ESPN

Damien Woody is opening up about his time with ESPN. The former network NFL analyst detailed his on-air evolution during a new appearance on The Wingo Network.

What We Know: Woody spent 15 years at ESPN before his contract wasn’t renewed this month. He built his reputation across Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, and SportsCenter. Now, in a new interview, he’s explaining how he loosened up his approach on television. He also discussed some advice he’s received since departing the network.

What They Said: (All quotes via The Wingo Network):

Damien Woody on how he loosened up his approach to analysis on ESPN: “I remember a conversation I had with Seth Markman. Everyone would say, “Dude, are you like bipolar? Because on TV you’re so reserved. But then on Twitter you’re just throwing all types of bombs. We want the Twitter guy on TV.” You know this working with a lot of former athletes. You don’t want to mess up relationships, and you put your toe in the water. But at some point, I was like, you know what? Those organizations not paying my salary. Screw it. I’m just gonna throw my opinions out there and just let it go. That’s what I started doing, and then everything fell into place.”

Damien Woody on what his goal was working at ESPN: “I didn’t want to have a lot of fluff. I wanted to spit real knowledge, take people behind the curtains, let them know how the sausage is made so fans will become better fans. That was my whole deal. I wanted fans to become better fans, more knowledgeable fans. If I could do that, then my job is done.”

Damien Woody on some advice he’s received since leaving ESPN: “A lot of people have talked [to me] since people have heard the news. [They’re like] you don’t have to succumb to, ‘Yeah, we’re going to talk about the Cowboys every show.’ You have some freedom to do or say the things that you really want to say.”

What Remains Unclear: Woody didn’t name his next destination. Whether networks pursue him for that freer approach remains to be seen.

What It Means: Woody’s comments signal a shift toward a more candid, personality-driven approach while at ESPN. Now being freed from ESPN’s structure, he seems ready to bring his Twitter voice to the screen and other platforms. That shift, in turn, could shape which outlets court him next. Ultimately, Woody’s next chapter looks less manufactured than his ESPN run ever was.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

New Dan Bongino Radio Show Featuring Podcast ‘And Other Unique Content’

Garrett Searight
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New Dan Bongino Radio Show Featuring Podcast ‘And Other Unique Content’

Dan Bongino is returning to radio with a new syndicated show from Westwood One. However, questions remain about how much of the program will air live.

What We Know: Westwood One announced Monday that The Bongino Report PM with Dan Bongino and Shawn Farash will launch as a new syndicated afternoon program. Farash will host the first hour live from 3-4 PM ET, according to the company. Bongino will then host the 4-6 PM ET portion of the show. However, the company didn’t clarify whether Bongino’s two-hour block will air live. During the announcement on his show, Bongino suggested much of the syndicated program will feature content from his podcast. He also indicated the show will include some material created specifically for radio.

What They Said: “This show and other pieces of unique content will be back on the radio … The Dan Bongino podcast and some other content from me will be moving on to radio now.” -Dan Bongino

What Remains Unclear: Westwood One didn’t specify whether Bongino will broadcast live during the 4-6 PM ET window. After speaking with several sources, none confirmed or denied that Bongino will be live during his portion of the program. As a result, it’s unclear whether the network will air his podcast material during that period or package previously recorded content for the radio audience. The role of the additional radio-only material also remains undefined.

What It Means: Bongino’s return gives Westwood One another high-profile conservative voice for afternoon radio. Still, the structure could make the program different from a traditional live syndicated talk show. If Bongino primarily repurposes podcast content, affiliates could receive a hybrid program rather than a conventional live afternoon show. Meanwhile, Farash’s live 3-4 PM ET hour provides Westwood One with a clearly live component. The network will likely provide more details as the show’s launch approaches.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

I95 Savannah The Keg Fayetteville Change Hands

David Hill
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I95 Savannah The Keg Fayetteville Change Hands

Cumulus Media sells two FM stations to Radio Training Network. The deal marks their second transaction in three months.

What We Know Radio Training Network acquires I95 (95.5 WIXV) Savannah GA and 98.3 KKEG Bentonville/Fayetteville AR. RTN pays $2,050,000 for both stations. Meanwhile, this marks RTN’s second Cumulus transaction in months. The May deal netted three stations for $2.45 million.

What’s at Stake RTN secures a powerful Class C1 Savannah signal. This significantly upgrades their existing Class C3 HIS Radio presence. Additionally, Cumulus retains both brands’ intellectual property rights. Importantly, Cumulus maintains substantial inventory across both markets.

What Remains Unclear RTN hasn’t revealed specific programming or talent plans. Integration strategy with existing RTN properties awaits clarification. Furthermore, the company’s broader market growth timeline remains undefined. Finally, potential format adjustments or content shifts need confirmation.

What It Means RTN accelerates faith-based radio expansion into secondary markets. Religious broadcasters increasingly target smaller communities for strategic growth. Additionally, Cumulus optimizes its portfolio through selective station divestitures. Finally, consolidation pressures continue reshaping the radio ownership landscape.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Dusty Dvoracek, Danny Kanell splitting apart after five years on SiriusXM College Sports Radio

John Mamola
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Dusty Dvoracek, Danny Kanell splitting apart after five years on SiriusXM College Sports Radio

SiriusXM’s signature college football morning show is signing off. Dusty and Danny in the Morning wraps its run this Friday, according to On3 insider Brett McMurphy. SiriusXM Radio has confirmed the shift for Dvoracek to afternoon drive with Barrett Media.

What We Know: Dusty Dvoracek and Danny Kanell have co-hosted the show for the past five years. It built a reputation as one of SiriusXM’s top college football programs. Dvoracek, a former Oklahoma standout, is reportedly shifting to SiriusXM’s afternoon lineup. The move gives him more flexibility to expand his role at ESPN. Kanell will remain in the morning timeslot with a co-host yet to be named.

What’s At Stake: The shift in daypart will help Dvoracek, who calls college football broadcasts on ESPN. According to McMurphy, his role with the network will be increasing this coming season.

What Remains Unclear: Kanell’s new morning co-host has not been named. McMurphy’s report didn’t specify Dvoracek’s exact afternoon timeslot either. It’s also unclear how this shift will affect EJ Manuel in afternoons.

What It Means: The end of Dusty and Danny closes a five-year chapter in college sports radio. However, neither host is truly leaving the network. Instead, SiriusXM is restructuring its college football audio lineup. Meanwhile, Dvoracek’s expanded ESPN role suggests a growing crossover between radio and television commitments in sports media.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dead At 93

John Mamola
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ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dead At 93

ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen has died. The network released a statement on his passing at the age of 93.

What We Know: Rasmussen conceived ESPN’s 24-hour sports network idea in August 1978, while stuck in traffic with his son Scott. The network launched September 7, 1979, in 1.4 million homes, opening with SportsCenter. Rasmussen served as ESPN’s first president, then chairman, before stepping back from an active role in October 1980. He died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease, which he publicly disclosed in 2019.

What They Said: ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro: “Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports. Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.”

Chris Berman: “Bill was our George Washington and a good friend. He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy. His glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy.”

What Remains Unclear: The release doesn’t specify funeral or memorial service details. It also doesn’t address how ESPN plans to formally honor Rasmussen’s legacy going forward.

What It Means: Rasmussen’s death closes a chapter in sports media history. His idea reshaped how fans consume sports. Moreover, growing ESPN from roughly 80 employees in Bristol, Connecticut, into a global operation with nearly 6,000 workers. Consequently, his influence extends well beyond ESPN, having helped define the modern sports-media landscape. Therefore, tributes are likely to continue rolling in from across the industry in the coming days. Moreover, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://www.apdaparkinson.org.

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Abby Phillip Signs Contract Extension With CNN

Garrett Searight
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Abby Phillip Signs Contract Extension With CNN

Abby Phillip has signed a contract extension with CNN as the network continues securing its primetime lineup. The deal keeps Phillip at CNN amid uncertainty surrounding its pending ownership change.

What We Know: Phillip has been with CNN since 2017, steadily rising through the ranks before landing in primetime. She now anchors NewsNight, the network’s 10 p.m. roundtable that routinely generates viral clips and social media discussion. Phillip’s new deal makes her the latest major CNN primetime personality to secure her future. The network has also extended other prominent hosts, including Anderson Cooper and Kaitlan Collins.

What’s At Stake: CNN has now inked its primetime hosts to long-term extensions ahead of any potential sale to Paramount Skydance. Previously, reports detailed concerns among network staffers about their futures as the ownership transition approached. The contracts give CNN’s biggest on-air names greater certainty while questions remain about how new ownership could reshape the network. Paramount Skydance has also acknowledged that a CNN sale remains among the strategic options under consideration.

What Remains Unclear: CNN hasn’t disclosed the length or financial terms of Phillip’s new agreement. A network spokesperson declined to comment, stating that CNN doesn’t comment on contracts. It also remains unclear whether Phillip’s deal includes protections tied to potential changes in CNN’s programming or leadership.

What It Means: Phillip’s extension represents another vote of confidence in one of CNN’s most recognizable primetime personalities. Moreover, keeping her in place gives CNN stability as NewsNight continues building an audience around its highly shareable political conversations.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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