77 WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg is not a fan of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. So, he might challenge him in the next election.
During his show on Wednesday morning, Rosenberg said that he has repeatedly been asked by major Republicans in the city to run for the top office.
“Two different tables at this restaurant last night asked me to run for mayor,” Rosenberg said. “It is very nice.”
When asked by the station’s News Director, Noam Laden, if he would run for the office, Sid Rosenberg didn’t shoot it down.
“I’m considering it,” he admitted. “I guess I should say it this way: I would not not run based on somebody else. In other words, if they said, ‘You can’t be (NYPD Commissioner Jessica) Tisch,’ I don’t care. I don’t care who I’d be running against. If I decide to run, I’ll run, and I’ll win. I won’t get 7%, I can promise you that. I won’t get 7%,” he reiterated. “But it’s not going to matter who else is running.”
The statement about receiving 7% of the vote is a shot at former 77 WABC host Curtis Sliwa, who earned 7% of the vote as the Republican candidate in last November’s election.
Sid Rosenberg concluded by stating that he would need approval from his wife to seek the office. “Which we know is not going to happen,” Laden added.
Should Rosenberg seek the office, he’ll become the latest in a long line of 77 WABC hosts running for mayor. In addition to Sliwa, station owner and afternoon host John Catsimatidis sought the Republican nomination for the office in 2013. He received 40% support while falling to Joe Lhota. Midday host Greg Kelly has also previously shared he was considering a run for the office.
The next mayoral election in New York City doesn’t take place until 2029.
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The ongoing feud between Stephen A. Smith and Matt Barnes has taken a more personal turn, as Barnes delivered a sharp and emotional response to Smith’s latest comments about him. Barnes, who has known Smith for more than two decades, framed his criticism through that history.
He said the version of Smith he first met early in his career differs greatly from the personality seen today.
“I’ve known you for over 20 years,” Barnes said. “And I know that the Stephen A. Smith I met in Philly…would’ve slapped the s**t out of this dude. … You was too cool, too down to earth, not with the bulls**t. But now you with a lot of s**t, and it’s more disheartening than anything.”
The latest chapter in their back-and-forth stems from Smith’s recent comments about LeBron James and Memphis, which sparked widespread reaction. Barnes pushed back forcefully, but he insisted his intent was not rooted in disrespect.
“I wasn’t trying to disrespect. I look up to you, but what you’ve been on is bulls**t. Plain and simple,” Barnes said. “When I say we, I’m talking about the former athletes that used to really confide and come holla at you. … Now we don’t even know you.”
Barnes also questioned what he sees as a shift in how Smith forms his opinions. He suggested that outside influences and recent media alignments have played a role in that evolution. In doing so, Barnes expressed concern that Smith’s current approach has changed how he is perceived by peers across sports and media.
“I just keep seeing…that the reason why you have such right-leaning opinions is because you get information from Bill O’Reilly’s information team,” Barnes said. “I don’t think you realize that there’s people that put you in that same category now. That’s what disappoints me, because I know you’re not that dude.”
Smith previously responded to Barnes defending his reporting and dismissing the criticism. He argued that covering James and other high-profile figures falls squarely within his responsibilities. Smith also challenged Barnes’ credibility that he provides on his own podcast.
Smith has long built his brand on strong opinions and debate. Meanwhile, Barnes has leaned into candid, player-driven discussions on All The Smoke. Still, Barnes made it clear that his frustration comes from a place of respect, not rivalry. He said he still views Smith as someone he once admired, which makes the perceived change more difficult to accept.
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Beasley Media Group has reported its 2025 fourth quarter and overall revenue, and the company saw an overall decline during the year.
For the total year, Beasley Media Group reported net revenue of $205.9 million. That marks a 14.3% year-over-year decrease. During the year’s fourth quarter, revenue decreased 21.1% compared to the same window in 2024. That number falls to 6.8% when political advertising is excluded.
Local revenue, including local digital packages, accounted for 72% of the company’s net revenue during the year. 13% of the company’s revenue came from new business.
Digital revenue accounted for 24% of the company’s net revenue during 2025, with the sector seeing a 5.9% increase compared to 2024.
Beasley Media Group saw an operating loss of $230 million during the fourth quarter. That was tied to an FCC license impairment charge.
For the year, the company’s Adjusted EBITDA was $10.5 million. At the conclusion of 2024, it was $25.8 million.
“2025 was a year of meaningful transformation for Beasley,” CEO Caroline Beasley said. “Against a persistently challenging advertising environment — marked by continued secular pressure on traditional audio and the ongoing contraction of agency-driven revenue channels — we made tangible progress reshaping this company for long-term value creation. Our digital business delivered record performance, with digital revenue representing approximately 24% of net revenue, up from roughly 19% of net revenue in 2024, and digital segment operating margins reached record levels as our continued shift toward owned-and-operated and programmatic products gained traction across our markets.”
“Operationally, we have fundamentally restructured the cost profile of this business,” continued Beasley. “Over the past 18 months, we have executed approximately $30 million in annualized cost reductions — permanent, structural changes that reflect a leaner and more focused organization built for today’s revenue environment.”
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ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter is not adding fuel to the conversation surrounding Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel. Instead, he is choosing perspective.
During an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic’s Kincade & Salciunas, Schefter addressed the photos showing Russini and Vrabel together at an Arizona resort. The images, which circulated widely online, prompted public statements from both individuals denying any wrongdoing and describing the interaction as innocent.
Schefter made it clear from the start that he was not directly involved in reporting the story.
“Not my story. Didn’t report it. Saw like everybody else did,” Schefter said. “I don’t know what’s right, don’t know what’s wrong. I feel bad for the families involved. It’s unfortunate.”
Rather than speculate, Schefter shifted the focus to the human element. He emphasized the personal impact situations like this can have, especially when families are involved.
“I know both individuals,” he added. “My first thought would be to the families of the people involved. I just wish everybody the best and hope everything works out.”
The comments reflect a noticeably restrained tone compared to the broader reaction across sports media. While others have debated optics and professional boundaries, Schefter avoided drawing conclusions about Russini’s work or Vrabel’s role.
That approach aligns with how Schefter says he has handled relationships throughout his career.
“Everybody goes about it differently,” Schefter said. “I’ve just tried to be a good person to people. I’ve tried to be fair, honest, informative, accurate and a man of my word.”
Schefter added that maintaining those standards has guided him for decades in a business built on access and trust.
“I’ve tried to be honorable,” he said. “That’s what I’ve tried to do over 36 years.”
The situation involving Russini, a senior NFL insider at The Athletic, and Vrabel continues to generate discussion about the balance between relationships and objectivity in league coverage. Both have pushed back on the narrative surrounding the photos, with Russini noting the presence of a larger group and Vrabel calling any implication otherwise “laughable.”
Meanwhile, Schefter’s response underscores a different angle. In a fast-moving media environment, he opted for caution, empathy and restraint.
For nearly two decades, the Indoor Football League (IFL) has delivered a spring football option for fans across the United States. Built from the ground up, the league continues to grow through stable ownership and a commitment to opportunity.
“We’re playing top level football in the spring. Our league has always been a platform to improve your life,” says IFL President Jared Widman.
Widman is in his first year leading the league after a brief stint as President and COO of the Arena Football League. With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience, he joined the IFL in November 2025 with a clear priority: expand the league’s visibility.
That effort quickly led to a major media breakthrough. The IFL partnered with Yahoo Sports and C15 Studio to stream 59 games nationally, a significant leap for a league that previously had limited distribution.
Widman says the results of the new partnership through the first month of the season have been phenomenal with first game viewership figures coming next week. With the added distribution plus a massive landmark multi-year, multi-million-dollar media rights agreement with Overtime for an additional 55 broadcasts, the key was building a talent roster to meet the moment.
“We didn’t go from crawling to walking. We went from crawling to sprinting,” says Widman. “We’ve brought in national talent to support these broadcasts as well. The support we have has been tremendous. It’s introducing so many new fans to the fast-paced action of our game.”
Widman says the first task was identifying a lead voice for the broadcasts, a role filled by CBS Sports’ Brent Stover. The two-decade broadcast veteran serves as the lead play-by-play voice for the IFL and as the league’s Director of Broadcasting.
The partnership with Yahoo Sports also helped shape the broadcast roster. Yahoo Sports announced that Yahoo Sports Daily hosts Jason Fitz and Caroline Fenton would team with Football 301 host Nate Tice for a select number of games airing on the platform.
“We brought in some big household names as well. Dave Ryan, Mark May, Anthony Herron and Danny Kanell to name just a few,” said Widman. “What we wanted to do no matter the game you’re watching. We wanted three national broadcasters. Professional announcers to give you the most polished look you can get… That was a big change we implemented this year.”
The IFL continues to lean into the appeal of arena football—a fast, high-scoring game played on a condensed field that keeps fans close to the action. Widman credits IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon for his steady leadership in growing the league to 14 markets since taking over in 2019. He also points to Tryon’s vision in finding new ways to expand distribution and bring the IFL product to more fans.
The league’s media strategy, however, has not come without challenges.
In November 2025, the IFL reached a deal with FanDuel Sports Network to air 60 games. Within months, instability surrounding Main Street Sports Group forced the league, along with several MLB, NHL, and NBA teams, to seek new distribution options.
“I can’t speak highly enough about the people at FanDuel Sports Network. Obviously, what’s going on there is not good for anybody right now. But they treated us wonderfully and we’re very upfront with us,” said Widman. “We were monitoring the situation closely. But we knew there was a chance that once the NBA and NHL regular seasons end, our games might not be there.”
Once the decision was made to exit the agreement with Main Street Sports, the IFL approached Yahoo Sports about expanding its package through the platform’s growing FAST services.
“We’re the first ever live sports on Yahoo Sports,” said Widman. “They do over one hundred million a month in web traffic, but now they have live sports. The end all be all for Yahoo Sports is not the Indoor Football League. This is setting them up for bigger things, just like it is for us.”
In the midst of March Madness, the @IndoorFL gets some shine on @YahooSports previewing the weekend ahead!
As sports leagues continue to explore new ways to reach audiences, the IFL is doing the same. Widman says the league is in discussions with the NFL on several fronts. Including the possibility of airing games on NFL Network, which is now operated by ESPN.
“We’re in conversations as we speak with the NFL Network to air a significant number of our games in season and beyond,” says Widman. “There are leagues that come and go. We’ve been here for two decades. We’re a sustained league and we would love to partner with the NFL… We want to be a feeder system and love that aspect. Right now, we are thrilled about what we’re doing.”
The season underway with two successful distribution agreements in place, rising attendance, and potential expansion on the horizon. The IFL is taking its next steps toward continued growth and broader exposure.
“Yahoo Sports and Overnight already have plans for expansion next year. With more teams comes more games, and we can’t be more thrilled about that,” says Widman. “We want to build this out and continued to expand our platform on the national stage.”
In a crowded football marketplace, the IFL is no longer just filling a seasonal gap. It is building a sustainable presence through accessibility, strategic partnerships, and steady growth.
For Widman, the goal is simple: keep pushing forward. The league has spent two decades proving it can survive. Now, it is focused on proving just how far it can go.
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Fred Toucher is adding fuel to an already heated sports media debate. During Wednesday’s edition of Toucher & Hardy on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Fred Toucher delivered pointed criticism of NFL insider Dianna Russini following the release of photos showing her with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.
The images, first published by Page Six, show Russini and Vrabel interacting casually, including moments of physical contact. Both have denied any wrongdoing. Vrabel called the interaction “completely innocent,” while Russini said the photos lacked context and involved a larger group not pictured.
Toucher, however, questioned the optics and professionalism of the situation.
“We were joking around about her interviewing Kevin O’Connell,” Toucher said. “She said, as a woman in sports, it’s also my job to make sure men are well fed. So my thing is if you’re that hyper vigilant about knowing as a woman reporter, then why would you get in a bikini and hug and cavort with a head coach of a league that you cover? Then I’ll just ask you this, if you were her husband, what would you say?”
He went further, suggesting the setting itself raised concerns.
“Why would you put yourself in the position of being in a bikini and being alone with the coach in the hot tub?” Toucher asked. “Wouldn’t that strike you as okay, this seems like kind of unprofessional?”
Toucher’s comments centered on the balance between access and credibility. NFL reporters often rely on close relationships with sources. Still, he argued that certain situations can blur professional lines.
“If you’re such a professional, buttoned-up source, this isn’t the way I believe that the New York Times handles interviews,” he said. “I don’t think when they’re covering JD Vance in Hungary or wherever the hell he just was trying to get some election. That one of the reporters from the New York Times sat in a hot tub with him.”
Russini, who works for The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times, has built a reputation as one of the league’s top insiders. Toucher acknowledged the demands of the job but maintained that perception plays a major role in how reporting is received. The longtime Boston radio host also suggested the situation could extend beyond professional criticism.
“All I know is, if I’m married to one of them and I wanted out, this is it,” he said.
While Russini and Vrabel have attempted to provide clarity, the conversation shows no signs of slowing. Toucher’s remarks add a sharper edge to the debate, focusing less on intent and more on appearance.
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YEA Media Group is expanding its podcast portfolio with the debut of Ana’s Group Chat, a new weekly show hosted by friends and Kidd Kraddick Morning Show personalities Ana Szabo and Alicia Becerra.
The show covers pop culture in the broadest sense — TV, film, music, books, and the trends dominating the cultural conversation — while leaning into the community-first format that helped build its following in the first place.
Szabo, who originated the concept as a segment on the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show before growing it into a Facebook Group, says the podcast is a natural evolution.
“I am thrilled to extend this inclusive community into the podcast space, allowing us to connect even more deeply and personally in a longer format,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming!”
Listener participation is built into the show’s DNA, with real-life stories from the audience helping shape episodes and reinforce the sense of community the brand has cultivated online.
Ana’s Group Chat drops every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other major podcast platforms.
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Paramount Skydance President Jeff Shell is departing the company today after weeks of speculation about his future with the organization.
The departure comes after Shell was accused of leaking confidential corporate information in a lawsuit by what was described as a “professional gambler.” R.J. Cipriani, a California-based gambler, alleges that Shell would leak market-moving corporate information.
Shell has denied any wrongdoing. He has launched a counterclaim for defamation and extortion against Cipriani. Paramount reportedly launched an external investigation after the allegations came to light.
Shell has been on the job for less than a year. He joined the company in August 2025.
His exit comes as Paramount Skydance is in the process of completing its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The company expects that deal to be approved by the third quarter of this year.
The departure marks the second time in three years that he has departed an executive role. In April 2023, he departed his role as CEO of NBCUniversal following an investigation into inappropriate conduct with a female CNBC reporter.
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Cumulus Media is working to keep its leadership team intact as it navigates Chapter 11, and the company has reached tentative agreements with CEO Mary Berner and CFO Francisco Lopez-Balboa to remain with the organization when it emerges from pre-packaged bankruptcy.
Under the agreement, both executives would remain in their roles through the bankruptcy process and at least through the end of the year, according to court documents filed as part of the reorganization.
The agreements tie both executives’ continued service to the company’s emergence from bankruptcy. If the court approves the restructuring plan, the deals take effect immediately — with Berner’s contract including automatic one-year renewals unless either side opts out.
Base salaries for both executives come in slightly lower than under their previous contracts. However, the agreements also call for a management incentive plan that allocates 10% of the reorganized company’s equity to executives and directors.
Berner’s base salary is set at $1.25 million annually, with a target bonus equal to 100% of her salary and a maximum payout of up to 200% depending on performance. Lopez-Balboa will earn $600,000 annually, with a 75% target bonus and a maximum payout of up to 150%.
The filing also outlines Cumulus‘ expected capital structure post-reorganization. The company plans to issue $50 million in new debt maturing in 2029, though terms remain subject to final negotiation. The board composition after emergence isn’t finalized either, but Cumulus tells the court it’ll have seven members selected by debt holders.
Cumulus filed its Chapter 11 plan last month. It targeted a timeline that could bring court confirmation as early as May — roughly 10 weeks after the March filing. The restructuring would eliminate about $592 million in debt and cut annual cash interest costs by nearly $49 million. Lenders have also committed up to $100 million to support operations through the process.
Bankruptcy Judge Alfredo Pérez has scheduled a combined April 15 hearing covering both the disclosure statement and plan confirmation. Objections to the place were due April 7. Documents show creditor support has reportedly grown to around 83% of secured lenders.
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WFAN morning host Boomer Esiason is questioning the professional fallout surrounding NFL reporter Dianna Russini after photos surfaced showing her with Mike Vrabel. During Wednesday’s edition of Boomer & Gio, Esiason focused on the broader implications for journalism rather than the optics alone.
He suggested the long-term concern centers on credibility within the industry.
“The salacious part of the story is not what’s really going to be putting her in difficult positions,” Esiason said. “It’s going to be the journalism part of the story.”
The photos, which circulated earlier this week, prompted statements from both Russini and Vrabel. Each maintained the interaction was innocent and lacked proper context. Russini added that the setting involved a larger group, while Vrabel dismissed any speculation outright.
Esiason acknowledged those responses but emphasized how perception can shape reality in NFL media circles. He pointed to how similar situations might be viewed if roles were reversed.
“We have now we have female coaches in the league,” he said. “Let’s say you saw Rich Cimini [ESPN New York Jets reporter] hugging her. What I’m saying is if we ever caught Rich hugging one of those wide receiver coaches who’s a woman, we’d all be saying, oh, there goes his journalistic integrity out the window.”
Esiason said that type of reaction highlights the core issue. He questioned whether Russini could face lingering doubt among peers and audiences, regardless of the full context.
“That’s really what this is all about,” he added. “Whether she can recover from that kind of feeling within the business. That’s the issue.”
Esiason did not accuse Russini of wrongdoing. In fact, he expressed concern about how the images may be interpreted professionally. He noted that interactions between reporters and sources are common across the league. However, he said the visual nature of the moment creates a different challenge.
“What I worry about for her is just that the general look of somebody who covers the league holding hands and hugging,” Esiason said. “People do hug hello all the time. Especially somebody like Dianna, who knows everybody in the league. I’m sure he’s [Vrabel] not the first person she’s hugged to say hello to…. But for her, professionally, it’s the conflict of interest part of it.”
Russini remains one of the NFL’s most prominent insiders and has built a reputation on breaking news and maintaining strong relationships across the league. Vrabel, meanwhile, is entering his first full offseason as head coach in New England after a successful debut season.
For now, both Russini and Vrabel have addressed the situation. Still, the discussion reflects how quickly questions of credibility can emerge in today’s media landscape.
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