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Saga Communications Expands Gainesville Presence With WRUF AM/FM Agreement

Garrett Searight
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Saga Communications Expands Gainesville Presence With WRUF AM/FM Agreement

Saga Communications is partnering with the University of Florida on a new media initiative. The agreement will include WRUF and expand student opportunities.

What We Know: Saga Communications and the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications have entered a seven-year Joint Sales Agreement and strategic partnership. Beginning September 1, 2026, Saga will handle advertising sales for WRUF-AM and WRUF-FM while working with students, faculty, and media professionals. The partnership will focus on broadcast sales, digital media, audience development, sports media, content strategy, internships, and mentorship opportunities. Additionally, the agreement will allow students to gain experience alongside professionals from one of the country’s established broadcast companies.

What They Said: “This partnership reflects our commitment to preparing students for successful careers while strengthening the future of local media. By combining the University of Florida’s educational mission with Saga Communications’ industry leadership, we are creating new opportunities for students to learn alongside professionals, serve our community and help shape the future of broadcasting.” -University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Dean Hub Brown

“This collaboration reflects Saga’s commitment to investing in our present and future by working with outstanding local media properties as well as investing in our next generation of media professionals.” -Saga Communications CEO Chris Forgy

What Remains Unclear: The companies have not detailed specific sales initiatives, revenue expectations, or new programming plans connected to the partnership. However, the agreement will remain in place for seven years.

What It Means: The deal creates a closer connection between higher education and local broadcasting. For Saga Communications, the partnership expands its presence in a market anchored by a major university and athletic program. Meanwhile, the University of Florida gains another industry partner for its journalism students. The collaboration could provide more opportunities for future broadcasters to develop skills before entering the media industry.

FCC Votes to Repeal Broadcast TV Ownership Limits

Garrett Searight
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FCC Votes to Repeal Broadcast TV Ownership Limits

The FCC has removed a major barrier for broadcast ownership consolidation. The agency voted to eliminate the national TV ownership cap on Thursday.

What We Know: The FCC voted 2-1 to repeal the rule preventing broadcasters from owning stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. television households. The restriction had limited how large station groups could grow, but broadcasters argued the rule prevented them from competing with technology companies that have captured local advertising revenue. However, the decision could face a legal challenge. Critics have argued that only Congress has the authority to eliminate the ownership restriction. Meanwhile, the change arrives as companies continue pursuing larger broadcast footprints. Nexstar Media Group has been among the strongest supporters of removing the cap. The company recently received approval to merge with TEGNA, creating a combined operation with roughly 260 stations before legal challenges forced the companies to keep assets separate.

What They Said: “It is time to restore balance to the broadcast airwaves. Repealing the national cap will provide essential relief to local broadcasters by restoring a healthy counterbalance to the growing leverage of national programmers.” -FCC Chair Brendan Carr

“The large station groups positioned to grow even larger under this decision are not local broadcasters, they are national companies that own local stations and increasingly dictate what airs on them. Trading a squeeze from Big Tech for a squeeze from Big Media does nothing to protect the communities this cap was designed to serve.” -FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez

What Remains Unclear: The biggest question centers on whether opponents will successfully challenge the FCC’s authority to remove the cap. Additionally, local broadcasters will face scrutiny over whether consolidation improves programming or reduces newsroom resources.

What It Means: The FCC’s decision gives broadcast groups more flexibility to expand. Supporters believe larger companies can invest more in local journalism, while critics worry consolidation could weaken community-focused coverage.

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.

Jenny Tartikoff Named SiriusXM Senior Vice President Communications

David Hill
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Jenny Tartikoff Named SiriusXM Senior Vice President Communications

SiriusXM names Jenny Tartikoff Senior Vice President and Head of Communications effective August 10. She joins from Paramount Pictures, where she led global communications strategy.

What We Know Tartikoff brings more than 20 years of media and tech experience. She previously served as EVP, Global Communications at Paramount Pictures. Before that, she held roles at Spotify, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and Rubenstein Communications. Her career began at NBC News. She’ll report to President and Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein, overseeing all communications and public relations strategy.

What They Said Greenstein emphasized Tartikoff’s qualifications for the role. “Jenny is an accomplished communications leader with the judgment, range and industry experience to help SiriusXM tell a clear and compelling story,” he stated. Importantly, he highlighted her background across entertainment, streaming, podcasting, and advertising. These experiences, he said, position her to guide the company’s communications into its next strategic phase. For her part, Tartikoff emphasized her connection to the brand. “As a longtime listener, I’ve experienced firsthand the thoughtful curation SiriusXM creates,” she noted. She pledged to help shape and amplify the company’s story with purpose.

What Remains Unclear How quickly will she reshape SiriusXM’s public narrative? Furthermore, what specific initiatives will she prioritize first? Will her Spotify experience influence the company’s streaming strategy? The communications roadmap for 2026 and beyond remains undefined.

What It Means This hire signals SiriusXM’s commitment to competitive positioning. Meanwhile, Tartikoff’s extensive entertainment background strengthens the company’s storytelling capability. Her track record suggests aggressive brand advocacy ahead. Ultimately, this appointment underscores SiriusXM’s ambitions to dominate audio.

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.

Clay Travis Explains Motivation Behind $10 Million Offer to WNBA Team

Garrett Searight
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Clay Travis Explains Motivation Behind $10 Million Offer to WNBA Team

Clay Travis has challenged the WNBA champions with a $10 million offer. The offer centers on a debate over transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

What We Know: Clay Travis offered the Las Vegas Aces $10 million if they would play and beat a high school boys basketball team of his choosing. Travis made the comments while appearing on Sid and Friends in the Morning on 77 WABC. The challenge comes as the debate surrounding transgender women in women’s sports continues nationwide. Critics have argued Travis is mocking the WNBA and its players with the proposal. However, supporters of Travis’ comments say he is using satire to highlight what they believe is a flaw in the argument for allowing transgender women to compete in women’s athletics. They argue his point focuses on the physical differences between male and female athletes.

What They Said: “Look, I think sometimes you have to respond to idiots by taking the logic of their idiocy and pushing it even further. Humor, hyperbole, satire, they cut through in a way that me sitting down with a scientist and discussing overall muscle mass advantages for men, and oxygen capacity in the lungs, and all these things that are indisputably true. From a biological perspective, we all know men are bigger, stronger, faster than women. So I could sit and argue till I’m blue in the face on the factual aspect of this, or I could just put $10 million dollars out on the table.” -Clay Travis

What Remains Unclear: It remains unclear whether the Las Vegas Aces or any WNBA team will respond to Travis’ offer. No team has indicated interest in accepting the challenge.

What It Means: Travis’ comments continue a broader cultural debate about sports, fairness, and transgender participation in athletics. The controversy also reflects how media personalities are using entertainment and satire to shape conversations around sports policy.

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.

Suno Launches Watermarking Tech To Combat Music Fraud

David Hill
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Suno Launches Watermarking Tech To Combat Music Fraud

Suno is taking on AI music fraud head-on. The platform announced sweeping changes to combat misuse and strengthen industry trust.

What We Know Suno will roll out watermarking and fingerprinting technology in coming weeks. Additionally, the platform’s new downloads policy will restrict mass distribution on streaming platforms. Meanwhile, transparent community guidelines now explicitly ban uploading copyrighted material, reproducing existing songs, and using real voices without permission. The company has partnered with Audible Magic, Musixmatch, and ACRCloud to screen for unauthorized artist content.

What They Said CEO Mikey Shulman emphasized the company’s commitment, writing: “We will soon introduce a new downloads policy designed to limit the ability to mass distribute songs on streaming platforms, while preserving the professional, creative, and personal ways people use Suno.” Furthermore, Suno is rolling out new transparency tools that align with emerging industry standards. The company believes artists and platforms should decide what to disclose. Ultimately, Suno aims to build tools that give transparency options and simplify cross-industry collaboration.

What Remains Unclear How subscribers will respond remains unknown—remember the backlash to Udio’s overhaul? Additionally, the timing of fresh licensing agreements stays murky. Notably, only Warner Music has licensed Suno among major labels. Despite pending lawsuits, CEO Robert Kyncl maintains the transition to a licensed model remains on track for later this year.

What It Means These moves represent a significant pivot toward responsibility. Suno finally acknowledges it must make abuse harder. Furthermore, industry-wide authentication efforts are strengthening. Most importantly, the shift could reshape how AI music platforms operate going forward.

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.

Warner Bros. Discovery Reports 11% Revenue Decline During 2026’s 2nd Quarter

Garrett Searight
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0
Warner Bros. Discovery Reports 11% Revenue Decline During 2026’s 2nd Quarter

Warner Bros. Discovery reported mixed second-quarter results as it navigates a major corporate transition. The company continues preparing for its proposed combination with Paramount Skydance.

What We Know: Warner Bros. Discovery posted its second-quarter financial results while continuing efforts to complete its planned transaction with Paramount Skydance. The company saw revenue pressure from advertising declines, while distribution revenue remained steady during the period.

What the Numbers Show:

CategoryQ2 ResultsChange
Total Revenue$8.7 billion🔻 11%
Distribution$5 billion🔼 1%
Advertising$1.7 billion🔻 22%
Adjusted EBITDA$1.9 billion🔻 4%

What They Said: “(Warner Bros. Discovery) is performing at a very high level. We have every expectation that the transaction will close and that the company will be performing even better than the plan that we presented to (Paramount Skydance) when we did our deal.” -Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav

What It Means: Warner Bros. Discovery enters the next phase of its corporate strategy with confidence from leadership. However, the company still faces advertising challenges as traditional media companies adjust to changing consumer habits. Additionally, the expected Paramount Skydance deal remains the key focus for investors and the broader media industry.

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.

Stephen A. Smith: Michael Wilbon “Was Right” in Comments About Not Being a Journalist

John Mamola
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Stephen A. Smith: Michael Wilbon “Was Right” in Comments About Not Being a Journalist

Stephen A. Smith isn’t disputing Michael Wilbon’s “not a journalist” claim anymore. Instead, he’s redefining what it means.

What We Know: Smith addressed the Wilbon comments made yesterday to Awful Announcing on The Stephen A. Smith Show on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio. Rather than deny Wilbon’s point outright, Stephen A. Smith drew a line between daily duties and underlying identity. He cited his workload as evidence of his standing, pointing to 22 hours of live content weekly and over 900 hours a year. He also referenced his upcoming Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame induction as a defense against criticisms from those who didn’t serve as journalists.

What They Said: (All comments via The Stephen A. Smith Show – SiriusXM)

Stephen A. Smith says only journalists can say if he is or isn’t a journalist: “I wasn’t trying to imply that I’m a journalist. Meaning I’m in the locker room being accountable to the people I talk about every single story or every single angle that I take. I don’t have the time because I do 22 hours of live content per week, over 900 hours a year. I am universally recognized, if for nothing else, my hard work. But because I’m not a beat writer anymore in the locker room, folks want to say I’m not a journalist. You don’t get the right to say that. Michael Wilbon does because Michael Wilbon has done it.”

Stephen A. Smith says he’s still a journalist at heart: “Michael Wilbon’s right. I’m not a journalist anymore per se in terms of my daily responsibilities and duties. But I’m always a journalist at heart because what I was taught is what guides me through this terrain of news and beyond in the world of sports and beyond. The resume says so. The level of production says so and the achievements say so and then some.”

Stephen A. Smith says everything he does comes from a journalism background: “Responsibilities change, but the nature of who you are isn’t. I don’t just come on the air and blow out the mouth. I make phone calls and have resources. People educate me about what’s going on all the damn time. I’m just not in somebody’s face immediately upon talking about them because I don’t have the means to be able to do that. This is not I dream of genie back in the day. I can’t snap my damn fingers and be 3,000 miles away or even down a damn block. I gotta be in studio mic’d up. Different responsibilities. But the nature of what we do as pundits, as commentators, as radio host, etc. emanates in my case from years of journalism.”

Stephen A. Smith on Michael Wilbon the person: “Michael Wilbon is a dear friend. A great brother who ain’t never lie to y’all. The sway he talked is exactly what he tell me to my face. That’s why I love him so much. Same thing with Charles Barkley. These salacious headlines that serve to divide and conquer, it don’t work. Those are my brothers and I’m theirs.”

Stephen A. Smith stands by his achievements in journalism and media: “If you check the news, somebody’s about to be inducted into the broadcast hall of fame, which is the creme dela creme come September. His name is Stephen A. Smith. That didn’t happen because I talk s**t. It happened because I backed it up with my work.”

What Remains Unclear: Smith questioned the line of questioning that sparked Wilbon’s commentary. Whether or not this will evolve into more layers of conversation is unknown.

What It Means: Smith’s response reframes the debate instead of rejecting it outright. By separating duties from identity, he keeps his journalism credentials intact without contradicting Wilbon directly. Meanwhile, his Hall of Fame induction next month signals the industry has already rewarded his career, title debates aside. Ultimately, expect Smith to keep citing his resume whenever the “journalist” question resurfaces.

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.

Incoming MLS Commissioner Sees “Opportunities for Growth” With Media Rights Deals

John Mamola
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0
Incoming MLS Commissioner Sees “Opportunities for Growth” With Media Rights Deals

Larry Berg is set to become MLS’s third commissioner. He’s already framing media rights as one of his biggest growth opportunities.

What We Know: MLS and Apple signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal in 2022. The Season Pass paywall came down for the 2026 season, opening games to standard Apple TV subscribers. With the changes, the deal is now set to run through 2029. Apple agreed to waive its contractual right to opt-out after the 2027 season. Following the changes, unique viewers per match reportedly climbed to about 120,000, a nearly 50% year-over-year jump. Even so, NYCFC CEO Brad Sims recently called broadcast revenue the league’s “one gaping hole.” Berg spoke with Front Office Sports about what he sees for the future of the league’s media rights.

What They Said: Larry Berg (via Front Office Sports): “In my private equity business, if I buy or acquire a business that has a very popular revenue item that is low, that means a lot of upside. So just mathematically, we clearly have upside in media. We don’t have, in some cases, the same percentages as other sports leagues; that’s pretty obvious to us, but it also inspires us to correct that.”

Larry Berg: “I do think it’s [media rights] an opportunity for growth and something we certainly plan to improve over time.”

What Remains Unclear: It’s also unclear how Berg’s next deal will value distribution versus raw audience. Timing for formal negotiations remains unset too.

What It Means Berg is framing MLS’s below-market media revenue as opportunity rather than crisis. That’s just smart business. An approach that allows him room to negotiate privately better with the potential for a massive upside. With the league’s media rights deals out to compete with the NFL and MLB over the next couple of years, it will be interesting to see who is in the bidding for the MLS because of heightened costs of the other leagues.

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.

FOX Corp Lachlan Murdoch Puts Reworked Media Rights Deal With NFL On Hold Till After 2029-2030

John Mamola
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FOX Corp Lachlan Murdoch Puts Reworked Media Rights Deal With NFL On Hold Till After 2029-2030

FOX Sports is staying put. The NFL will have to wait for a new media rights deal according to Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch.

What We Know: Murdoch delivered the news Thursday on the company’s earnings call. He says Fox won’t amend its NFL media rights deal before the 2029-30 opt-out. Murdoch credited direct talks with the league for the decision. However, the NFL had been open to renegotiating all its broadcast deals early this offseason, seeking a bigger payday.

What They Said: Lachlan Murdoch: “We don’t see any changes to our contractual terms until the 2030 season. Our relationship with the NFL is an incredibly positive one. We engage with them all the time.”

What Remains Unclear: Murdoch shared little about why Fox settled on this timing. Meanwhile, whether NBC, ESPN, and Prime Video will follow suit is unclear. CBS faces a different situation, tied to a change-of-control clause from Skydance’s Paramount purchase. The full scope of Fox’s talks with the NFL is unknown.

What It Means: Fox’s move will stall the NFL’s push for early deals. From a business standpoint, what the NFL could be looking for in terms of price today may be very different than in 2029-2030. Waiting may or may not be the best strategy, but it allows Fox to prepare and build systems to continue their relations with the league. Other partners may now wait rather than pay more sooner as a result. If so, this also allows a window of opportunity for the NFL to engage more streaming platforms who have become interested in live sports events.

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.

FOX Corp. Reports 28.1% Revenue Increase During 2026’s 2nd Quarter

Garrett Searight
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0
FOX Corp. Reports 28.1% Revenue Increase During 2026’s 2nd Quarter

FOX Corp. delivered a strong second quarter as revenue growth accelerated across its portfolio. The company posted gains from advertising, distribution, and television operations.

What We Know: While the months of May, June, and July mark the second quarter of 2026, it makes up the fourth quarter of FOX’s fiscal year. FOX Corp. reported second-quarter financial results, highlighted by record revenue growth and improved profitability. The company saw strength across its core businesses, including cable programming, television, and digital operations. Additionally, FOX continued expanding its streaming strategy while benefiting from major programming events.

What the Numbers Show:

MetricResultChange
Total Revenue$4.2 billion↑ 28.1%
Distribution Revenue$2.0 billion↑ 4.8%
Advertising Revenue$1.9 billion↑ 77.7%
Cable Programming Revenue$1.7 billion↑ 9%
Television Revenue$2.5 billion↑ 45.4%
Adjusted EBITDA$1.2 billion↑ 27.3%

What They Said: “Fiscal 2026 was an exceptional year for FOX, capped by our broadcast of a remarkable FIFA Men’s World Cup. We
successfully launched our direct-to-consumer streaming service, FOX One, continued to keep America informed across a dynamic news cycle, enhanced Tubi’s position as a leading streaming service, and announced the acquisition of Roku, which will transform the scope and growth profile of our company. Financially, these milestones were underpinned by the delivery of record top-line revenue, which converted into record EBITDA. With strong momentum across our portfolio, we enter fiscal 2027 exceptionally well positioned to drive sustained growth and long-term shareholder value.” -FOX Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch

What It Means: FOX enters the next fiscal year with momentum across its business lines. Advertising growth provided a significant boost, while television revenue benefited from major events and programming strength. Meanwhile, the company’s streaming investments continue to shape its future strategy. As FOX expands FOX One and strengthens Tubi, executives believe the company has positioned itself for additional growth.

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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