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Greg Gutfeld Scores Largest Audience in Program History During Fox News Interview with Bill Maher

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Greg Gutfeld Scores Largest Audience in Program History During Fox News Interview with Bill Maher

Comedian Bill Maher made just his second-ever appearance on Fox News Monday during an interview with Greg Gutfeld. It turned out to be a record-breaking arrival.

During Monday’s edition of Gutfeld! averaged 2.9 million viewers as the longtime comedian and news host conversed with the Fox News star about a bevy of topics. Included in that 2.9 million figure was 342,000 viewers in the coveted adults 25-54 demographic.

The discussion between the two topped both the late-night cable news ratings, as well as the late-night network shows hosted by Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon. The Fox News program, however, benefits from airing from 10-11 PM ET while the other shows do not start until 11 or 11:35 PM ET.

Since launching in 2021, Gutfeld! has continuously battled for the top spot in the late-night TV ratings, and has frequently bested the network competitors.

During a previous appearance on the Club Random podcast, Bill Maher congratulated Greg Gutfeld on his success, stating while he didn’t “have to love” the heights the Fox News host has reached, he does “have to respect” the success.

Charles Barkley: ‘I Would Listen’ Before Making Decisions About NBA Broadcast Future

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The NBA is reportedly formalizing deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon for its next television media rights contract that would take effect beginning in the 2025-26 season. If Warner Bros. Discovery is unable to match or decides not to engage in such discussions, the company would lose broadcasting rights to the NBA and terminate a 40-year relationship that dates back to the 1984-85 campaign. At the same time, this has caused many sports fans to ponder over the future of Inside the NBA, a multiple-time Emmy Award-winning studio show featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.

Barkley, who signed a 10-year contract extension along with his colleagues on the show, confirmed in a recent interview on ESPN Cleveland that he has an opt-out in his deal should TNT Sports lose broadcasting rights to the NBA. Smith and O’Neal reportedly hold a similar clause with the future of Inside the NBA and the NBA on TNT remaining unknown. Barkley appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio following the report from Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal on Wednesday morning and described the sentiment surrounding these negotiations.

“It sucks right now,” Barkley said. “For the people I work with, man, it just sucks right now. There’s nothing I can say because I worry about all the people I work with.”

Barkley explained that he enjoys golfing and/or fishing on a daily basis and does not look at losing the NBA as being fired. In fact, he hopes the Western Conference Finals quickly conclude so he can go back to playing golf every day over the next four months. The part that concerns him is the fact that he estimates 200 people could lose their jobs at the company should the relationship with the NBA come to a close. Although it remains unknown if anyone would sign with another network, the widespread perception is that all four members of the show would be coveted free agents.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Amazon, ESPN or if we lose it to NBC, so I’m not sure how to answer that question,” Barley said. “I just don’t know. Ernie [Johnson] would not go to another network – I’m damn sure about that. But I would listen; I would listen before I made any decisions.”

Chris LoPresti: Brendan Burke Ranks First in Yankees Radio Announcer Rotation

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Chris LoPresti: Brendan Burke Ranks First in Yankees Radio Announcer Rotation

As the New York Yankees continue the 2024 season, game broadcasts on WFAN are utilizing a rotation of play-by-play announcers. This came after the retirement of John Sterling in April following 36 years calling games for the organization. Within the rotation over the last few seasons when Sterling was unable to make a game are Justin Shackil, Rickie Ricardo, Brendan Burke and Emmanuel Berbari. A successor for the position has not yet been named, nor is it known when such a move could happen; however, there has been discussion pertaining to the broadcasts themselves on Boomer & Gio in morning drive on WFAN.

Last week, co-host Gregg Giannotti offered Berbari constructive criticism towards his home run call and stated that there was room for improvement. He ultimately wanted him to find a middle ground between his “Gone, goodbye” home run call and the signature call Sterling delivered for Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. After playing another clip of Berbari announcing a home run this week, Giannotti asked anchor Chris LoPresti to rank the four Yankees play-by-play announcers in the rotation.

“I’ve got to go Brendan Burke first,” LoPresti replied. “I’ll be honest – I have a lot of respect for Rickie [Ricardo]; he’s been doing it a long time. I haven’t heard enough of him because I don’t generally listen to the Spanish broadcast obviously and he hasn’t done that many games regularly on the Fan.”

Giannotti then asked LoPresti if he was taking Ricardo out of consideration for the list, to which he replied that it was not the case. Conversely, LoPresti felt that he was not able to provide an informed opinion on the matter, but followed up by articulating that Ricardo could rank at the top of the list if it was based on the energy they bring to the broadcast. Co-host Boomer Esiason explained that LoPresti had just said he didn’t listen to him, leading Giannotti to ask again how he would rank the rest of them.

“I’ll go [Justin] Shackil, Rickie [Ricardo], Emmanuel [Berbari],” LoPresti said, “and I love Emmanuel…. Again, he’s relatively new to doing the Yankee broadcasts – obviously he has minor league experience. For me to critique anyone – the last play-by-play I did was women’s hockey at Quinnipiac like 15 to 18 – no, got to be almost 20 years ago now – so what do I know?”

Giannotti and Esiason both emphasized that LoPresti is a consumer of the broadcasts and a baseball fan, hence why he is offering his opinion on the matter. LoPresti previously worked with Shackil at SiriusXM and has known him longer than Berbari; however, he has worked with Berbari more in recent years.

Sid Rosenberg: 77 WABC Was ‘Down to Our Last Breath’ Before John Catsimatidis Bought Station

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Sid Rosenberg: 77 WABC Was ‘Down to Our Last Breath’ Before John Catsimatidis Bought Station

77 WABC has seen an impressive resurgence under the ownership of John Catsimatidis. Morning host Sid Rosenberg believes the station wouldn’t still exist if not for the billionaire.

While discussing the station’s owner being honored by Manhattan College on Wednesday, Rosenberg lauded Catsimatidis for the work he’s done with the station, insinuating 77 WABC was on its deathbed before he took over the outlet.

“The truth is … we were dying here. We were dying and you and Margo came in,” said Sid Rosenberg. “We had Chad (Lopez_. Chad has always had great ideas, but we couldn’t implement any of them (with Cumulus). You also had a great vision along with Chad.

“You took a station that was once so illustrious, and we were down to our last breath. They were about to pull the plug, and you and Margo came in, and you’ve made it great. So I appreciate that. But without you and Margo I’m not on the air today. Not even close.”

John Catsimatidis credited the folks working for the station for its meteoric rise back to the upper echelons of the New York radio ratings.

“Nielsen people tell us that we’re the number one AM station in the country. Not New York, the country,” Catsimatidis said. “Not too many people could say that. I want to congratulate you and the entire WABC team by helping achieve that.”

Alpha Media Continues Layoffs as Tim Fleming, Bob Fisher Exit 1300 KGLO in Iowa

BNM Staff
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Alpha Media Continues Layoffs as Tim Fleming, Bob Fisher Exit 1300 KGLO in Iowa

After making cuts earlier this month, Alpha Media has continued its ongoing layoffs by removing Tim Fleming and Bob Fisher from 1300 KGLO in Mason City, Iowa, according to RadioInsight.

Tim Fleming has been with the station for 47 years, serving as morning show host and sports director for the news/talk station. He also previously worked as the operations manager of the outlet.

Fisher previously served as the News Director of not only 1300 KGLO but sister station 1490 KRIB. In 2023 alone, Fisher won three awards from the Iowa Broadcast News Association’s small market radio division.

“Alpha Media is going a different direction with their radio stations in their smaller markets. A majority of the programming staff, including myself, were terminated this morning as part of that plan,” Fisher wrote in a post on social media.

“This is not only happening here, but throughout the country with their smaller markets.”

JC Corcoran Celebrating 40 Years in St. Louis

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JC Corcoran Celebrating 40 Years in St. Louis

Longtime St. Louis radio and television personality JC Corcoran is celebrating his 40th anniversary of working in the city by looking back at some of his favorite interviews and bits from his long tenure.

Some of his more memorable segments airing include broadcasts from Moscow and the Abbey Road Studios in London. During his “40 Years in 40 Days” lookback, he’ll also replay interviews he held with the likes of Harrison Ford, Bill Murray, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts, among others.

“Even in the old analog days back in the 80s I always archived our best bits and interviews,” Corcoran said. “I’m glad I did because it’s really been fun digging up segments with people like Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and David Letterman back when we were all just kids!”

During his time in the Gateway City, Corcoran has worked at KMOX, KSHE, KSD, and KHITS. He also spent time working in his hometown of Chicago working part-time at WGN and WLS.

In addition to his time in St. Louis radio and TV, JC Corcoran has written two books and also had his 1998 Opening Day baseball show included in the archives at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

Aaron Taylor Joining ‘College Football Today’ on CBS

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Aaron Taylor Joining ‘College Football Today’ on CBS

As CBS Sports continues its media rights deal with the Big Ten Conference and airs college football games throughout the 2024 season, it is making an addition to its signature studio program. Aaron Taylor, former NFL offensive lineman and two-time All-American at the University of Notre Dame, is joining College Football Today for pregame, halftime and postgame coverage on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Taylor, who has been a member of CBS Sports’ college football coverage since 2008 as the lead analyst on CBS Sports Network and broadcasting select games on CBS, will join host Adam Zucker and analysts Brian Jones and Rick Neuheisel in the fall. The network will also expand its postgame studio show this fall and remain on the air until 7:30 p.m. EST.

“BJ, Rick, Adam and I have so much respect for the sport and for the platform we’re given to break down all the exciting twists and turns that college football offers,” Taylor said in a statement. “It gives us the freedom to not take ourselves too seriously and have some fun at each other’s expense. I can’t wait to sit with those guys on Saturdays and be the one person at the desk who isn’t battling a receding hairline.”

CBS Sports will broadcast a marquee Big Ten Conference matchup every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST, ending the season with coverage of the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, Dec. 7. The company will air the matchup between Notre Dame and Purdue on Saturday, Sept. 14 followed by USC at Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 21. Taylor will join the coverage on College Football Today as a studio analyst to provide his insights and expertise regarding the action.

“Aaron’s extensive football IQ has been integral to our coverage for many years, and we look forward to him joining Adam, BJ and Rick on Saturdays given their deep chemistry cemented over the years on Inside College Football,” Harold Bryant, executive producer and executive vice president, production, at CBS Sports, said in a statement. “And as we extend our post-game coverage, Aaron’s personality and analysis will be a welcome addition with more runway to recap the most pivotal games and moments from earlier in the day.”

As Jones joins College Football Today, it will mark the 10th consecutive season working in studio together for Zucker, Jones and Neuheisel. CBS will broadcast college football on Saturdays and its slate of NFL on CBS matchups in the fall, which also includes the addition of Matt Ryan on The NFL Today. Ryan will be joined by host James Brown, who was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on Tuesday night at the 45th Annual Sports Emmy Awards, along with analysts J.J. Watt, Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher.

Carol Burnett Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award at 49th Annual Gracie Awards

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Television legend Carol Burnett was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation at the 49th annual Gracie Awards.

The theme for this year’s award ceremony was centered on “Feminine Strength, both Large and Small,” and the trailblazing Burnett was bestowed with the honor. She was presented with the award by her castmate of TV series Palm Royale, Kristen Wiig.

“I was unfortunately — believe it or not — too young to have met the legendary Gracie Allen, who is the inspiration for these awards, but I think we might have had a lot in common and her iconic work as an artist paved the way for all the women who came after her, including me,” Burnett said while accepting the honor.

“Personally, it is surreal for me to be here, to even know you… because you have been such an inspiration,” Wiig told the television legend while presenting the award.

The 2024 Gracie Awards were hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley and were held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Report: NBA Formalizing Deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Amazon

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Report: NBA Formalizing Deals with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Amazon

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been involved in media rights negotiations for national television broadcasts for the 2025-26 season and beyond with a resolution reportedly on the precipice. The league is reportedly finalizing contracts with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon that would approximately triple its existing rights fee, along with terminating the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. This could reportedly result in legal action from Warner Bros. Discovery about the breadth of its matching rights clause, which the league will reportedly take to the company to see if it can match NBCUniversal’s deal in “total value.” Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal was first to report the news of these contracts being finalized.

Within the report, sources indicated that The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC) would end up paying $2.8 billion per year for the “A” package of games, up by $200 million from previous reports. This package would reportedly include the NBA Finals, a conference final and weekly primetime games, along with rights to the WNBA and international rights likely to be shared. Disney has been a broadcast home for the NBA since the 2002-03 season after the network briefly televised games from 1982 to 1984.

The network has a new lead broadcast booth this season consisting of play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, analysts Doris Burke and JJ Redick, and sideline reporter Lisa Salters. The company averaged 1.7 million viewers throughout the 2023-24 regular season, which also included simulcasts and alternate broadcasts.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal was first reported to be bidding $2.5 billion to attain rights for the league for the first time since the 2001-02 season. The “B” package is now believed to be worth $2.6 billion per year and would reportedly include a conference final, conference semifinals and two prime time windows per week. Moreover, there would reportedly likely be a Basketball Night in America on Sunday nights after the conclusion of the NFL season.

Amazon will reportedly pay between $1.8 billion and $2 billion for rights to the NBA, marking the first time the league is inking a partnership with a streaming platform. The package would reportedly include the Emirates In-Season Tournament and the So-Fi Play-In Tournament, along with first-round playoff games, the WNBA and international rights.

Final changes are believed to be taking place in the coming days or the week with deals then having to be ratified by respective boards. Sources believe that Warner Bros. Discovery would need to pay more than $2.6 billion to match NBCUniversal’s bid; however, the specifics of the package are structured in a way that would make it “virtually impossible” to match.

The league is reportedly preparing its lawyers in the event of an inquisition or lawsuit, believing that a match does not come in monetary value, but rather with advertising revenue and broadcast windows among other things. Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly did not reach a framework for a deal during the 90-day exclusive negotiating window, whereas The Walt Disney Company reportedly did, although nothing was said to be finalized during that time.

NewsNation to Complete 24/7 News Lineup on June 1

BNM Staff
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NewsNation has slowly but surely been building out its lineup to feature news on a 24/7 basis. On Saturday, June 1st, that goal will be realized.

The network is expanding its weekend programming to include NewsNation Now with Adrienne Bankert on Saturdays and Sundays from 4-7 PM ET. That expansion coincides with recent launches of weekend shows like Morning in America with Hena Doba (7-10 AM ET), NewsNation Live (10 AM-1 PM ET), NewsNation Now with Anna Kooiman (1-4 PM ET), and The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt, which all debuted earlier this year.

“We are immensely proud to announce that NewsNation is now a 24/7 cable news network,” said Nexstar Networks Division President Sean Compton. “This milestone marks the culmination of our efforts to continue expanding and growing the network since launching it in 2020. It reaffirms our commitment to delivering unbiased news coverage, a mission that resonates deeply with our viewers, fostering their trust in the brand, and strengthening their loyalty to NewsNation.”

In addition to its expanded programming, NewsNation also announced the hiring of three new anchors and correspondents.

Kooiman joined NewsNation in March, hosting NewsNation Now on Saturdays and Sundays. Former Fox News correspondent Laura Ingle has joined the network as senior correspondent. She worked at Fox from 2005-2023. Also, Alicia Nieves will serve as a New York-based correspondent for the upstart network.

The network’s weekend lineup now includes:

Saturdays
7-10 AM ET– Morning in America with Hena Doba
10-1 PM ET – NewsNation Live
1-4 PM ET – NewsNation Now with Anna Kooiman
4-7 PM ET – NewsNation Now with Adrienne Bankert 
7-10 PM ET – NewsNation Prime with Natasha Zouves

Sundays
7-10 AM ET– Morning in America with Hena Doba
10-11 AM ET – The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt
11-1 PM ET – NewsNation Live
1-4 PM ET – NewsNation Now with Anna Kooiman
4-7 PM ET – NewsNation Now with Adrienne Bankert 
7-10 PM ET – NewsNation Prime with Natasha Zouves

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