After a tumultuous period, pen has been put to paper. Lesley Stahl is remaining with 60 Minutes.
What We Know: Stahl has signed a two-year extension to remain with 60 Minutes, according to a report from Status’ Oliver Darcy. She has been a 60 Minutes correspondent since 1991.
What’s At Stake: Stahl’s extension comes after she, Jon Wortheim, and Bill Whitaker announced they would remain with the show following the upheaval after the end of the most recent season. Currently, those three are the only correspondents on staff. Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Scott Pelley were all fired by the network. Anderson Cooper declined to renew his contract with the news magazine.
What Remains Unclear: If Whitaker and Wortheim signed similar contract extensions. No statements have been made about their contractual status. It is also unclear if Lesley Stahl views this as her final contract with the network. She turns 85 during the upcoming season of the show.
What It Means: Solidifying Lesley Stahl’s status with the show is a win for CBS News. There were legitimate concerns about whether or not she, Whitaker, and Wortheim would return. Her institutional knowledge of the show, the network, and colleagues is a benefit to Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton as they reshape the program.
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Changes are coming to Indianapolis’ sports radio leader, The Fan 93.5FM/107.5FM. Query & Company shifts to 10 a.m.–1 p.m., with The Rich Eisen Show sliding in immediately after from 1–3 p.m.
What We Know: The Fan is restructuring its weekday schedule. Query & Company, hosted by Jake Query, moves earlier to 10 a.m. The Rich Eisen Show fills the 1–3 p.m. slot beginning June 15. The move will eliminate ESPN Radio syndication from 10am-12pm. The daypart has been without a permanent host since Clinton Yates departed ESPN Radio is late March.
What They Said: Andrea Kahrer, Vice President and General Manager for Radio One Indiana: “As listener habits continue to evolve, it’s important that our lineup evolves with them. Moving Query & Company up in the day allows us to build on the momentum Jake has established. All while creating a stronger, more cohesive programming strategy across the entire day. The addition of Rich Eisen gives our audiences access to one of the more respected voices in sports, making the Fan’s weekday lineup stronger.”
Program Director David Wood: “We are thrilled to add Rich Eisen to The Fan lineup. Rich has built a national reputation for credibility, intelligence, and entertaining conversation. His ability to connect with sports fans while delivering thoughtful analysis makes him a perfect addition to our programming.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether or not considerations will be made at a later date to include the first hour of Rich Eisen’s program on the station.
What It Means: Without a permanent host named for over two months on ESPN Radio, the move makes sense for The Fan. Shift your syndication plan to a proven entity in Eisen, while expanding your morning programming to a local voice. Whether or not this becomes a trend among stations that used to carry Clinton & Friends is unknown. However, perhaps The Fan saw better opportunity for growth with expansion in mornings instead of catering to middays.
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FOX Sports is going all-in on YouTube for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The network launched a 24/7 live stream on its YouTube page. It runs from the opening match through the tournament’s final whistle.
What We Know: According to reporting by Sports Business Journal, the continuous digital feed will feature studio programming. In addition to match previews, condensed highlights, and watch parties. It will also include content from First Things First, and Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast. In addition, there will be cooking segments, and correspondent reports from contributors like Jameis Winston. Notably, the stream will air the first five minutes of every World Cup match with no authentication required. Also, the first five minutes of each second half.
What They Said: FOX Sports SVP/Digital Michael Bucklin (via SBJ): “For the group stage, once that five-minute preview ends, we have cameras in bars and FIFA fan zones across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, so we can kick to a live watch party. So you’re watching fans in all these fan zones and bars and all these other locations, public squares and whatnot, experiencing these games. And as you know from the past, some of these clips from these watch parties are what go viral. All of the English fans throwing their beers up in the air when Jude Bellingham scores. These are moments that you can essentially watch live while the game is on TV.”
FOX Sports SVP/Digital Michael Bucklin (via SBJ): “We will have a person working every second of every day for the entirety of the World Cup. A lot of it is this new technology that allows us to put it on the timeline and have it run all night.”
What Remains Unclear: FOX Sports plans to prioritize American-focused programming for the stream. However, how much global FIFA content ultimately makes the stream remains to be seen. YouTube’s surging international viewership could also attract audiences well beyond FOX’s core U.S. demographic.
What It Means: This is a real time example of providing a sense World Cup action for audience on the move around the globe. FOX Sports is treating YouTube as a legitimate broadcast extension, not just a highlights dump.
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Approaching The Summit is a series of special interviews created in partnership with Point to Point Marketing featuring speakers at the upcoming 2026 Barrett Media Audio Summit in New York City. Follow along with this series as prominent names surrounding the event June 30-July 2 share their insights and expectations for what’s to come in the big apple. The Summit takes place at the SVA Theatre on West 23rd Street. For tickets and hotel room reservations, click here or visit the Summit section at the top of the website.
Scott Shapiro is the senior vice president of FOX Sports Radio and Premiere Networks at iHeartMedia, and he has attended every iteration of the BSM Summit over the years. Shapiro previously worked at ESPN as a director of programming across several national shows and produced Mike & Mike in the Morning.
Shapiro has the distinction of speaking at every Barrett Media Sports Summit he’s attended. He will be speaking at the event later this month. He sat down with Barrett Media from his office in Los Angeles, CA.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
John Mamola: What are you looking forward to the most later this month at the Barrett Media Audio Summit?
Scott Shapiro: What I look forward to most every year is learning. I love sitting in that room and just hearing smart people talk about their craft. What works, but also the challenges—and hearing their passion.
I love this industry. I love that we all get to do this for a living. It’s incredible.
If I wasn’t working in this industry, I would be consuming it and be so interested in the mechanics of it. But it’s great to be working in it because it aligns with my passions.
When you’re in a room like this with the leaders of the industry I’m most passionate about and fortunate to work in, there’s so much you can learn. The way the summit has always been set up allows very smart people in the industry to let you dive into their heads in terms of what works and what their goals are. I could sit there all day and not even get up.
I’m a student of this game. It’s fascinating to learn from a lot of the brightest minds. On top of that, I love being able to connect with people whom oftentimes you only see once a year. It’s just a tremendous convention for us in this crazy game.
I absolutely love that it happens. That’s why I’m one of a handful of people who have been fortunate enough to attend every one of these. I remember very fondly that very first year in Chicago in a relatively small room compared to what it is now. It seemed like dozens of people at the time.
To see what it’s grown into now is outstanding. There’s a need in the industry for it to have become this. I credit the entire BSM team and Jason [Barrett] for growing it into what it is now. The results every year get bigger and bigger.
John Mamola: What type of value do you think the Barrett Media Audio Summit provides that some other conferences or events you attend throughout the year do not?
Scott Shapiro: It’s very targeted. That’s why this year is going to be so fascinating with three consecutive days focused on three different genres. I love that there’s an attempt to try new things and see if it can become even more focused and tailored to the audience at hand.
You go to other conferences, and they may talk about different genres or different sides of the business. It might be something that’s too broad or too specific. You may not necessarily be speaking the same language as others in different parts of the industry.
When I look at my role and the challenges and ideas that I face every day, if you were to check a box in terms of what my role is and what many roles in the industry are, then look at the content and the folks speaking at the summit, it directly aligns with all of those things.
To me, it’s so pivotal compared to others. It’s a workshop, a summit, and a convention that’s right in line with content providers, executives, and advertisers. It speaks our language in terms of what we do each and every day.
John Mamola: You’ve spoken on a number of panels throughout the years. When you’re approaching being on stage, what do you hope attendees take away each time you’re up there?
Scott Shapiro: Honestly, it’s transparency and perspective. Ideally, one of the crowning achievements of the summit is that it lifts up the industry for all. If we’re not all trying to grow this thing, it’s not going to exist.
It’s a celebration of what we do in sports media, but it’s also a melting pot of ideas to grow the industry and keep it vibrant and successful over time.
No matter what the topic is that I’m discussing, I just want to add my perspective. I want to add my color and give insight into some of the decisions and challenges that we face.
Honestly, if it’s going to make anybody else in the room smarter, give them ideas, or at least prompt them to think differently, that’s my goal.
John Mamola: We’re combining news, sports, and music for the first time this year. Is there a specific speaker or topic you’re looking forward to hearing discussed later this month?
Scott Shapiro: You guys keep one-upping yourselves. Pretty much every new batch of speakers that gets announced, I’m thinking to myself, “Wow, I want to see that.” It’s a tremendous roster. Thankfully, that’s something I’ve been saying for many years now.
There have been so many meaningful speakers throughout the years. I’ve got my popcorn ready for all of it.
Ideally, when I look at the topics that resonate most with me, it’s about all of the platforms speaking to each other and growing for the future. That’s the biggest thing.
Whether it’s video or social media, it’s about all of the platforms and how to create the best multi-platform, 360-degree approach to succeed five to ten years from now. To me, those are the biggest conversations about the future of this business and how we can keep putting points on the board.
John Mamola: You’re in a unique position overseeing a national brand with Fox Sports Radio. Now that we’re combining the summit with news, sports, and music, is your plan to dabble in those days as well?
Maybe pull some nuggets of information from other wings of the industry that you can apply to your role at Fox Sports Radio?
Scott Shapiro: Absolutely. The news day, even more specifically, because of the talk format. There are so many parallels to what makes a successful personality, no matter what type of talk it is. There are a lot of attributes and correlations that can work for sports talent.
Some of those news philosophies, frankly, why couldn’t they work for sports? You’ve got to be open-minded and willing to think outside your own box. I have not been fortunate enough to attend any of the news summits in the past.
So, I do think that’s a tremendous privilege—to be able to sit through that and come away with some takeaways.
John Mamola: What do you believe are the biggest opportunities and challenges the industry currently faces?
Scott Shapiro: There are two challenges, and they’re kind of on opposite sides of the aisle.
In a very cluttered marketplace, there are so many content providers across so many different platforms. How can you command the audience’s attention? How can you be top of mind when a big story happens in sports?
There are so many options competing for people’s time. How can you create the mindset that you have the content people aspire to listen to or watch? How do you get people’s attention? I love hearing ideas with that focus in mind.
On the other hand, it’s the advertising industry. Same thing. There are so many providers and places where people can park their advertising dollars.
It’s a tough time right now with the economy and the advertising market. Many budgets have been cut. How can you have the best content that audiences want to seek out and find? And how can you create sales-friendly and successful products that advertisers will feel comfortable investing in?
Whether they have unlimited budgets or limited budgets, why are they going to choose your company to invest their advertising dollars?
John Mamola: What would you say to somebody who is still on the fence about making that personal investment in themselves to attend? What’s the specific gain that people may not be thinking about when it comes to attending this event?
Scott Shapiro: It’s a tremendous opportunity to meet many successful leaders in the industry, both on the air and behind the scenes. It’s rare when you get all of those types of people in one room.
Frankly, I’m not sure you can replicate it at any other point during the year.
It’s a tremendous opportunity to meet people you otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to meet. Then, when you’re sitting in the room, there are just so many takeaways and lessons to be learned. I’ve gone every year for that reason.
Yes, I work for a company that supports and is deeply involved with the summit. However, I feel blessed to be there because of those relationships and the things I’m able to learn.
If you’re serious about this industry—whether you’re trying to enter it for the first time, get back into it, or network to grow within it—there are so many reasons why it’s important to be in a room like this.
Scott Shaprio (Canva | Barrett Media)
Purchase your tickets to the 2026 BSM Summit here, and for more information BarrettMedia.com
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Yahoo Sports MMA commentator Ariel Helwani isn’t buying the hype. The veteran MMA journalist pushed back hard on UFC President Dana White’s bold claim that UFC Freedom 250 will draw Super Bowl-like viewership numbers.
What We Know: UFC Freedom 250 takes place this Sunday night on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. The historic seven-fight card streams exclusively on Paramount+. The event is headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane meet in the co-main event for the interim heavyweight belt. White, speaking with TNT Sports UK, predicted the event would rival the Super Bowl’s massive audience — a benchmark that routinely exceeds 125 million viewers. Helwani disagreed on the latest edition of The Ariel Helwani Show.
What They Said:: Ariel Helwani countering Dana White’s prediction that UFC Freedom 250 will do “Super Bowl-like” numbers: “It’s an impossible number to get to, in my opinion. When you consider that the Super Bowl did 130 on average. It [UFC Freedom 205] does numbers across the world. I just think it’s gonna be impossible [to do Super Bowl like numbers].
Ariel Helwani says Dana White’s viewership prediction is part of the hype machine: “I get Dana’s [White] a promoter, and you have to hype your event. But wasn’t he just on camera this weekend saying, ‘Do I ever lie on camera?” Well, yes, we could probably use that drop from now until the end of time. He will embellish, lie, stretch all that and more.”
Ariel Helwani says UFC Freedom 250 hosted on a Sunday night will affect the global viewership number: “The main card will be airing in Ireland on a Monday at 1am. Who’s watching this on a Monday morning? It’s not Saturday night, so I think that’s going to affect the global number. It’s a work day. Now you want to talk US [viewership] number only. Well, 8pm to 1am is still going to be a tough sell for people who are working the next day.”
What Remains Unclear:: Whether White’s Super Bowl viewership prediction becomes reality.
What It Means:: Helwani’s skepticism is mired in facts. Meanwhile, White had to clarify Wednesday that his comments were meant to mean a global audience for the upcoming event. However, the Paramount+ subscriber base may not meet a global Super Bowl like audience. However, Freedom 250 is genuinely unprecedented in setting. Moreover, the event will likely set MMA viewership records — just nowhere near the NFL’s championship standard.
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Salem Media is expanding beyond broadcasting with a new representation venture. The company has launched Salem Creators Agency (SCA), signing Christian media personality Jason Jackson Jr. as its first client.
What We Know: Salem Media Group has long operated as a faith-focused media company. It’s built audiences through radio, podcasting, digital media, publishing, and content distribution. SCA extends that foundation by offering strategic representation and business development services. Moreover, the agency will pursue speaking opportunities, publishing projects, brand partnerships, and entertainment deals on behalf of its clients. In addtion, Jackson, who launched his platforms in 2023, has grown to more than one million social media followers through faith-centered content and storytelling.
What They Said: David Santrella, Chief Executive Officer of Salem Media: “For years, we’ve worked alongside some of the most influential voices in media. Many of them are looking for more than platform monetization. They want a partner who not only understands their audience and shares their values but also has the experience to help them continue building their brands. Launching SCA is a natural next step for us.”
Andrew Samalot, Managing Director of SCA: “As we’ve worked alongside creators over the last several years, we’ve seen firsthand that the most successful talent aren’t just building social media audiences. They’re building brands, businesses, and platforms that extend far beyond any single channel. Our role is to help them identify those opportunities, navigate them strategically, and surround them with representation they can trust as they continue growing their influence and impact.”
What Remains Unclear: Salem has not disclosed the agency’s full business model or fee structure. Additionally, no timeline has been shared for signing additional talent beyond Jackson.
What It Means: Like many broadcast companies, Salem Media is looking to expand it’s business footprint. Faith-based content is growing rapidly, yet specialized representation remains rare. Moreover, Salem is positioning SCA to fill that gap directly. For Jackson and future clients, this offers a strategic partner aligned with their values. For Salem, it signals a meaningful pivot deeper into creator economy territory.
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Futuri has launched TopLine Enterprise, a new revenue intelligence platform. It is aimed at helping media sales organizations automate key tasks and increase revenue. The company says it combines multiple sales functions into a single workflow powered by first-party data and market intelligence.
What We Know: TopLine Enterprise brings prospecting, proposal generation, account planning, outreach, and pipeline management into one platform. Futuri said the product was developed following beta testing with several large U.S. media sales organizations. According to the company, early adopters reported an average 11-times return on investment. They also shared 34% revenue growth within 90 days, a 2.1-times increase in pipeline size. Those companies reported significantly shorter deal cycles. The platform integrates CRM systems including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics. It also combines audience insights, market intelligence, and Futuri’s data signals to generate prospect recommendations, account plans, proposals, and assets.
What They Said:“Every media company in America is being asked to grow revenue. TopLine Enterprise gives media organizations a way to do it without hiring, depending on the ad market, or using inventory they don’t have. It’s the first revenue platform built to close the gap between the data media companies sit on and the deals they book.” –Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig
What Remains Unclear: Futuri did not disclose how many organizations participated in the beta program. The company also didn’t identify the specific media groups that reported the performance results cited during testing. Additionally, pricing details and implementation timelines were not included in the announcement.
What It Means: Media companies continue searching for ways to drive revenue growth without expanding headcount. As a result, platforms that automate sales research, planning, and reporting could become increasingly attractive. Futuri’s emphasis on human review, data isolation, and CRM integration also addresses common concerns surrounding AI-assisted sales tools. If the reported beta results hold at scale, TopLine Enterprise could strengthen Futuri’s position in the competitive media technology marketplace.
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HEY NOW Records is growing fast. The Kenny Chesney-backed indie label has named three executives to a newly formed Business & Commerce team.
What We Know:Danny Bess joins as SVP of Finance & Operations, bringing seven years as CFO at Warner Music Nashville and 25 years as VP of Finance at UMG Nashville. Rachel Brown comes aboard as Manager of Operations, with a background in project management and merchandising. Troy Scott has been named VP of Commerce & Consumer Products. Scott is arriving from UMG Nashville where he rose to Sr. Director of E-Commerce & Retail.
What They Said: “As the label expands its reach, it’s critical to have systems in place to support the work being done by the various teams,” saidKris Lamb, President & Co-Founder. “To be able to engage executive talent that includes Danny Bess and Rachel Brown on the business side, and Troy Scott for commerce and consumer products, we’re going to be able to move twice as fast, knowing our needs will be supported by a strong foundation.”
What Remains Unclear: The label hasn’t detailed how quickly these roles will scale. No artist roster beyond Chesney has been publicly announced atthis point.
What It MeansHEY NOW Records already made history. Kenny Chesney’s “Carry On” locked out the entire Country radio reporting panel in its first week. That is only the third time ever, and the first for an independent label. These hires suggest the label is now building the operational backbone to match that early momentum. Simply put, HEY NOW is playing a long game.
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FuboTV has secured a new distribution deal with NBCUniversal. The agreement ends a seven-month blackout of NBCU content on the streaming platform, arriving just ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
What We Know: Fubo customers can now stream Telemundo and Universo immediately. English-language NBCU networks — including the new NBC Sports Network, regional sports networks, and new FAST channels — are set to launch in the coming weeks. The deal covers multiple Fubo plan tiers, giving subscribers access to NBC, Bravo, and four NBC Sports RSNs serving the Bay Area, Boston, California, and Philadelphia markets. Telemundo is the exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster for the tournament within the United States. It is unclear if the World Cup was the impetus for the sides to come to an agreement.
What They Said: Todd Mathers, executive vice president, content strategy and acquisition, Fubo: “We’re thrilled to announce the return of NBCUniversal networks to Fubo. Given their robust portfolio of top-tier sports, entertainment and news. Our agreement with NBCUniversal underscores Fubo’s promise to bring consumers more programming, value and choice through multiple packaging options.”
What Remains Unclear: The exact terms and financial details of the deal are unknown. Also how long access to English-language NBCU networks will not be available is also unknown.
What It Means: This deal arrives at a critical moment. With the FIFA World Cup approaching, Telemundo holds Spanish-language broadcast rights. Making this agreement especially valuable for Fubo’s Latino subscriber base. Restoring NBCU content strengthens Fubo’s sports lineup and signals the platform’s push to remain competitive in a crowded streaming market.
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Scott Galloway has shared that CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss reached out to him about a role on 60 Minutes. The network has a different view of what transpired.
What We Know: There has been plenty of turnover among the staff on 60 Minutes. Four of the seven correspondents from last season have exited. The changes have led to discussions between Bari Weiss and others about roles on the program. Pivot podcast host Scott Galloway shared on a recent episode that he was approached about working on the program. However, CBS News states it was the other way around.
What They Said: “Bari called me and asked me if I’d be interested in having some sort of contributor role. I said I would think about it and there was a discussion. I am clearly not qualified to be one of their journalists. So on the phone, we zeroed in on the potential of me contributing an Andy Rooney-like segment … Bari specifically reached out to me about getting involved. I know I didn’t initiate this conversation.” -Scott Galloway
“We think Scott’s great. When he approached us with a pitch for an Andy Rooney-esque segment in December, we were happy to consider it.” -CBS News spokesperson to the New York Post
What Remains Unclear: How far the discussions got. Galloway claims that Weiss told him they needed to “talk money” the next time they saw one another. However, he later said there would be “no (expletive) way” he would join the show in its current state.
What It Means: Galloway is the second person to be bandied about as a potential “Andy Rooney role” on 60 Minutes. Previous reports linked Joe Rogan to a similar spot. That report, however, was denied by CBS News. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It feels logical to expect a revamped 60 Minutes to include a commentary segment to close the program each week when season 59 begins.
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