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Why Christine Romans Built Her NBC News NOW Show With the Kitchen Table in Mind

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NBC News NOW has a new dayside program, and Christine Romans is the driving force behind it. Her show, Current with Christine Romans, debuted on Monday, August 3rd.

Romans described the process of assembling her team.

“It’s really fun because we’ve hired a team — some people are brand new to NBC News, and others are from within the organization,” said Romans. “Everyone’s got a different strength and a different set of talents. It’s just been really fun to build a team, and the news flow is unrelenting, so every single day there’s so much to work with and so much to put into two hours of breaking news. It’s just been delightful.”

Romans also spoke about the unpredictability of live television.

“You have a rundown maybe an hour and a half before the show goes on, and you sit together and you’re like, okay, this is what we think the show is going to look like,” Romans said. “You’ve worked on it, you’ve fact-checked it, you’ve been painstaking about the verbs you’re using, and you’ve made it tight. And then something breaks — and that’s really fun. I love breaking news. I’ve anchored breaking news before, and that is one of my favorite things to do — when everything’s out the window and it’s just you in the control room, the 15 facts, and the one reporter in the field, just trying to make it all sing. I love doing that.”

A Show Built Around the Kitchen Table

Romans explained the editorial philosophy behind Current.

“I have a background in business news and the economy. But it’s not a business news show,” Romans said. “I have anchored breaking news and all kinds of news before. So I wanted to have a little bit more economy in a general news show than maybe you’re used to. But I want to do it in a way that is very kitchen table.

“I have a jargon jar that I keep on a little table next to the desk, and I tell everybody there’s going to be no jargon — no ‘earnings beat expectations’ or this or that about the economy,” she stated. “That’s jargon. That’s like the gate that keeps people from understanding what’s happening. I really want it to be a Main Street-focused show where we take the news of the day — the things that are happening in the halls of power, on Wall Street, and in Washington — and really tell the American family what it means at the kitchen table. That’s kind of our framing for everything.”

Romans pointed to one segment in particular as an example.

“I feel like our story selection has been very good today,” Romans said. “For example, we did an amazing piece, a segment with Gretchen Morgenson, who’s an award-winning financial journalist, about insiders and companies who are selling stock at almost record levels. What does that tell you when people inside the executive suite are selling their stocks so much? What does that mean for people like us who are just regular investors? I was really proud of that segment in particular.”

Finding the Right Moment at NBC News NOW

Romans reflected on her path to the network.

“I think the timing is amazing for me,” Romans said. “I was at another network for two decades, and I moved over here two-and-a-half years ago, and I have felt so welcome in the NBC family. Growing up, you have NBC families and CBS families and ABC families. I can remember being on my grandparents’ farm, watching the news while we were getting dinner ready — I just remember we were always an NBC family.

“So it feels like such a great next move for me to be here at a time when it’s so exciting — the changes that are happening, like the streaming side,” she continued. “NBC News NOW has been so successful, and we’re starting this new show with a blank slate, a blank page. A lot of times people who have cable — they maybe watch MSNBC or they watch Fox, but they want to watch NBC News for their other news content, maybe news content that’s right in the middle. So I love feeding that, and I love being a part of that right now.”

As part of the new show, Romans is introducing the 50 States in 50 Days series. She’ll dive into real topics and issues at the state-level to showcase the power of locality.

“Real change happens on the local level — it happens in towns, by mayors, by governors,” Romans said. “I just feel like it’s so empowering to tell those stories in each of those states, where people are figuring out how to fix a problem and they’re doing it. I think that gives hope to viewers who might feel overwhelmed by the news flow, or overwhelmed by the direction of the country, and they can remember that real change happens locally.”

With the launch of Current, Romans was asked how she’ll judge success for the program. She says that answer is a long-term play.

“Being on the air tomorrow is my gauge of success,” Romans said with a laugh. “I think if I step back and have the luxury of thinking longer-term, success for me will be if our viewers feel like they understand how it works — this interplay between Washington and Wall Street and their daily life — and learn something about how the news affects them. Good people have to always be informed — that’s so important in a healthy democracy. So I hope that people watch the show and feel like every day they’re part of a conversation about how this system that we live in works.”

The NBC News NOW platform — with the addition of Current with Christine Romans — has hours of live coverage throughout each day. It’s just another expansion of news content. And that’s something Romans is championing.

“I love that the medium has changed so much since I started,” she noted. “There are so many different ways to get news, in so many different forms, and it’s fun at a place like NBC News to be able to be a part of that in so many different ways — telling a story on so many different platforms.”

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.

Vertical Video Isn’t a Fad Anymore — It’s Where the Money and the Audience Are

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For years, the industry has treated vertical video like the awkward cousin at the family reunion. Many media executives nod politely toward TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels while keeping their real budgets and their real attention on longer-form horizontal content. It’s been dismissed as a distraction, a Gen Z fad, a place for dances and not much else. That posture is getting harder to defend by the week.

Just last week, I made the case that Facebook needs to be on every video creator’s radar because the ad dollars flowing through the platform are real and growing. This week, the case gets bigger. Vertical video isn’t a side hustle anymore. It’s becoming the main event, and the numbers back that up.

Don’t just take my word for it, though. Take Hernan Lopez’s word. He knows this space better than most people in media today.

The Man Behind the Numbers

Lopez isn’t some outside observer guessing at trends. He founded Wondery, built it into one of podcasting’s most successful studios, and sold it to Amazon in 2020. These days he runs Owl & Co and the Vertical Index, and he’s spending his time tracking exactly the kind of shift creators and publishers can’t afford to ignore. His comments here come from a conversation with Amplifi Media’s Steven Goldstein, one of the sharpest analysts working in podcasting and digital media today.

And when someone with that résumé starts talking about vertical video in terms of tens of billions of dollars, people should listen.

According to Lopez, the growth curve is steep and it’s not slowing down. “Excluding China, (vertical video) is on track to hit $150 billion in 2026, up from $106 billion,” he told Goldstein. Forget incremental growth. That’s a category exploding in real time.

Lopez was also careful to clarify where that money is actually coming from. “One thing to be clear about that figure: the vast majority of it is advertising on Meta and TikTok, not the buzzy corner everyone fixates on,” he said.

So while creators chase viral moments, the bigger story is happening in the ad infrastructure quietly humming underneath the platforms everyone already uses.

What’s most interesting, though, isn’t just the revenue. It’s what’s actually being built in the vertical format now. Vertical video has outgrown its early reputation, and the range of content proves it. “We’re already seeing vertical comedy, vertical news, vertical sports, vertical live shopping,” Lopez said. “The Emmy-nominated show Subway Takes is essentially a vertical podcast that happens to live on Instagram. There’s even scripted vertical comedy now, a show called Roomies, native to Instagram, that plays like an early creator version of Friends built for the vertical medium. Peacock is testing vertical NBA content. Whatnot, a live-shopping app worth $11 billion, launched vertical-native instead of retrofitting the old QVC model.”

Read that list again. An Emmy-nominated show. A scripted comedy drawing Friends comparisons. A major sports league testing content formats. An $11 billion company building vertical-first instead of adapting something old. This isn’t a niche corner of the internet anymore — it’s where legitimate, well-funded media businesses are placing their bets.

$150 billion in revenue this year is a massive jump from last year, and nobody needs a crystal ball to guess that number keeps climbing in 2027. Meanwhile, discovery has always been podcasting’s toughest hurdle, and short-form vertical content has quietly become one of the most effective tools for solving it. Shows that struggle to get found in a crowded podcast app can find new audiences through a fifteen-second clip that hits the right algorithm at the right moment.

So no, vertical video isn’t just for teenagers filming trends in their bedrooms anymore. It’s carrying comedy, sports, news, live shopping, and scripted entertainment, and it’s doing it at a scale that traditional media companies can’t dismiss any longer. Creators who keep treating it as an afterthought are leaving both money and audience on the table.

Vertical video deserves a spot at your content table. Make space for it, because it’s not waiting around for anyone’s permission.

Derek Papa on KNBR Cutting Greg Papa, Greg Silver: “I Do Not Support These Moves Whatsoever”

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Greg Papa and Greg Silver are no longer at KNBR in San Francisco following a station announcement earlier today. KNBR hosts Derek Papa and Adam Copeland addressed both departures Wednesday on Dirty Work hours after the news broke.

What We Know: Cumulus Media and KNBR laid off Greg Papa and Greg Silver from the station earlier today. Papa had been managing a cancer diagnosis and hadn’t returned to a full schedule in months. Silver had been co-hosting middays while also producing the show. Derek Papa, Greg’s son, and Adam Copeland broke down the moves live on the air just hours after the news broke.

What They Said: (All quotes via KNBR Dirty Work with Copes & D-Pop)

Derek Papa says there was no way to prepare for the news his father, Greg Papa, lost his job while battling cancer: “Nothing prepares you for talking about your father having cancer on the radio. Nothing prepares you for talking about him being let go. I owe a lot to my father. The reason I’m in this business is because of him. This past off season was hell. It’s been well documented. I didn’t know when he was coming back on the mic, and I wanted him to dictate that himself.”

Derek Papa doesn’t agree with the move to lay off his father from KNBR: “Today’s a day I can’t escape from because it’s the biggest thing probably in the Bay Area. The Giants game is irrelevant. This is the biggest topic, honestly. I know we work for Cumulus. I do not support these moves whatsoever, but it is what it is. I’ll let the company decide how they want to handle this thing with my father going forward.”

Derek Papa on Greg Silver being laid off: “He never complained. Obviously dealing with my dad’s situation, not knowing who your co-host is going to be. Also having to produce and host at the same time. It’s a bitch. Greg Silver handled it perfectly, so I’m sick for him. But I know that he’s going to land on his feet. He’s going to do a great job. So I’m thinking about him today.”

Adam Copeland on the layoffs of Greg Papa and Greg Silver at KNBR: “This is something that affects us personally. I’ve not been told anything about this by management other than what’s been reported. Except for who no longer is employed here. I don’t really know how to approach this. This isn’t the type of show any of us want to have to do or to talk about. But there is no dirtier work than having to do a show like this. I think you and I are equipped to handle it.”

Adam Copeland on the difficulties he’s having working for a station that consistently cutting talent: “I pour my heart into this thing. I love doing this job and love this show. I love creating content, being goofy, cracking jokes and seeing what works and what doesn’t. It’s really hard every day emotionally to put life aside and pour your heart, your mind, and your energy into one place unilaterally. Then to have days where you genuinely have to question whether or not your morals and your values align with the place that you’re pouring that energy into. Today’s one of those days for me, man. It makes it tough. I gotta tell you how it is. I don’t want to do shows like this, and it’s hard to keep coming in and having this happen. It just sucks, man. It sucks for everybody.”

What Remains Unclear: Whether Papa returns to broadcasting once healthy is still unknown. Silver’s next move also remains unclear. John Lund will be replacing both Silver and Papa beginning on Monday.

What It Means: For both Derek Papa and Adam Copeland, this hits personally, not just professionally. For Copeland, his comments raise harder questions about working somewhere that keeps continuing to cut talent. Both hosts pushed back publicly, an unusual move for employees of the company involved. However, the authentic approach to a story that transcends sports talk is one that listeners appreciate. The hope remains the Papa will find an avenue back to KNBR as he continues to navigate his health battle. Silver will surely land on his feet with his previous work providing a great skill set to provide for any network/brand.

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.

Worldwide News Network Launches Weekend Business Reports, WTOP First Affiliate

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Worldwide News Network is expanding its audio news portfolio. The network has launched weekend business reports with WTOP as its first affiliate.

What We Know: Worldwide News Network debuted WWNN Weekend Business Reports on Saturday, Aug. 1, with Hubbard Broadcasting’s WTOP in Washington, D.C. serving as the service’s first affiliate. The new feature delivers weekend coverage of the markets, economy, and companies driving growth. Rather than offering only market recaps, the reports also examine industries including automotive, technology, and entertainment while highlighting emerging trends and innovative businesses. Meanwhile, veteran journalists John Terrett and Jake Novak anchor and produce the reports. Terrett brings decades of experience with organizations including the BBC and CNBC, while Novak adds more than 25 years of broadcast experience covering global markets and geopolitical developments. The launch also marks another step in Worldwide News Network’s broader effort to expand its original programming lineup for radio affiliates across the U.S. and internationally.

What They Said: “Our listeners want and need insightful financial and business news they can trust, and they depend on us to deliver it every day of the week. As the industry has contracted over the last few years, it has left a void. It is exciting to work with a company like WWNN that understands the importance of providing quality reporting seven days of the week.” – WTOP Director of News and Programming Julia Ziegler

“WWNN is not simply filling the gap left by the demise of the CBS Radio Network. We’re building something stronger and more relevant for today’s audience. John and Jake bring extraordinary experience and credibility, and more importantly, they know how to make complicated financial and economic stories understandable, compelling, and actionable. That’s what makes these reports different.” – Worldwide News Network Senior Vice President of News & Programming Lee Harris

What Remains Unclear: WWNN hasn’t announced when additional affiliates will begin carrying the reports or how frequently new stations will join the network. The company also hasn’t detailed future expansion plans beyond the weekend business product.

What It Means: Weekend business reporting has become less common as network radio news operations have contracted. As a result, Worldwide News Network is positioning itself to serve stations seeking fresh financial coverage throughout the week. If additional affiliates sign on, the new service could strengthen WWNN’s presence while giving radio stations another syndicated option for business and economic news.

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Forever Media Sells Froggy 104.3 WOGI to Family Life

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Family Life Ministries continues expanding in Pennsylvania radio. The nonprofit broadcaster acquired country station Froggy 104.3 WOGI (104.3) Moon Township from Forever Media for $1 million.

What We Know. This marks the second acquisition between these parties in recent months. Family Life recently closed on “Pickle 92.1” WKPL Ellwood City, also purchased from Forever Media. “Froggy” WOGI operates with a country format targeting the greater Pittsburgh area. Forever Media retains the station’s simulcaster 94.9 WOGG Oliver and other regional properties including “99.3 The Pickle” WPKL Uniontown.

What’s at Stake. Pittsburgh’s country radio landscape now shifts with this transaction. WOGI joins two other country competitors in market—iHeartMedia’s “Big 104.7” WPGB-FM and Audacy’s “Y108” WDSY. Family Life’s nonprofit status brings a different ownership model to commercial radio competition. Meanwhile, Forever Media maintains its presence through other properties across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and surrounding states.

What Remains Unclear. Family Life hasn’t announced programming or operational changes for WOGI yet. The broadcaster’s strategic vision for this station—whether format, talent, or promotional direction—remains undefined. Additionally, Forever Media’s future plans for its remaining Pittsburgh-area stations haven’t been detailed.

What It Means. Nonprofit radio ownership continues fragmenting the commercial landscape in mid-sized markets. Family Life’s acquisition strategy suggests selective expansion in key markets rather than broad rollout. This transaction demonstrates how legacy broadcasters adapt by selling individual assets to survive. For Pittsburgh listeners, competitive dynamics among the three country stations may shift based on Family Life’s implementation.

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Magnum Media Buys 3 Wisconsin Stations

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Magnum Media is expanding its Wisconsin radio footprint. The company has agreed to acquire three radio stations in Sparta and Trempealeau.

What We Know: Magnum Communications, Inc., part of Magnum Media, has reached an agreement to acquire WCOW-FM in Sparta, WKLJ-AM in Sparta, W271CM, and WFBZ-FM in Trempealeau from Sparta-Tomah Broadcasting Co., Inc. The companies will file an application with the Federal Communications Commission to complete the transaction. Sparta-Tomah Broadcasting’s cluster represents the company’s remaining media holdings. Following the acquisition, Magnum Media will operate six full-power AM stations, 14 full-power FM stations, and 18 FM translators across Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota, and northern Illinois.

What They Said: “In June, when my Dad was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame, he spoke in the video about WCOW being the very first radio station he was ever in at age 4. His uncle, Len DeSomer, was an announcer at WCOW in 1967. On top of that, my Mom and Dad sat with Pink Rice at the first WBA dinner they attended in 1990.” – Magnum Media’s Reid Magnum

What Remains Unclear: Neither company has disclosed the purchase price or an expected closing date. In addition, Magnum Media hasn’t announced whether staffing, programming, or station branding will change after the FCC reviews and approves the transaction.

What It Means: The acquisition strengthens Magnum Media’s presence in western Wisconsin by adding heritage brands with established audiences and industry recognition. Furthermore, the deal preserves the stations under Wisconsin ownership while expanding Magnum Media’s reach across the Upper Midwest.

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Disney Absorbs TikTok Creators Into Streaming Strategy Push

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Disney and TikTok just launched a global content-sharing partnership. The deal brings fan-created videos directly to Disney+ through a new streaming experience.

What We Know Disney and TikTok announced their first-of-its-kind global collaboration on Wednesday. The partnership brings curated, fan-created TikTok content to Disney+ in a new section called “Verts.” Initially launching in the U.S., the platform will feature short-form videos showcasing characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars franchises. Furthermore, participating creators will grant access to assets from hundreds of films and series across Disney’s massive library.

What They Said According to Asad Ayaz, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer at Disney, “The best storytellers are fans first—that has always been true at Disney, and today, fans are celebrating our stories in entirely new ways.” Meanwhile, TikTok’s Global Head of Entertainment Dawn Yang reinforced the creator-first approach: “Their creativity extends the life of films and shows into conversations that fans discover and share.” Additionally, both companies will operate a joint Disney Creator Ambassador Program. This tiered initiative rewards creators with exclusive events, career development pathways, and increased visibility on the platform.

What Remains Unclear The timeline for international market expansion hasn’t been announced. Revenue-sharing details between Disney and TikTok remain undisclosed. Additionally, specific content moderation standards for the “Verts” section haven’t been disclosed. Notably, the deal’s impact on subscriber growth remains to be measured.

What It Means This partnership signals a major strategic shift—streaming platforms increasingly recognize fan-created content’s value in driving engagement. Data shows nearly half of surveyed viewers discovered movies and shows on TikTok, then watched them elsewhere. Therefore, Disney+ gains organic discoverability while TikTok creators access premium IP. Meanwhile, younger audiences expect participatory entertainment experiences. Ultimately, this collaboration transforms passive viewers into active storytellers across platforms.

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Throwback Nation Expands Daily to Three Connoisseur Media Stations

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Throwback Nation with Tony Lorino launches daily on three Connoisseur Media stations. The syndicated show now reaches Minnesota, Iowa, and Texas markets simultaneously.

What We Know: Classic hits and AC formats now carry Throwback Nation in evening slots across three distinct markets. River 105 (KRBI-FM) in Minnesota, Superhits 102.7 (KYTC) in Iowa, and 97.5 K-Lake (KLAK) in Texas join the network. Throwback Brands CEO Tony Lorino and Skyview Networks’ Andrew Kalb spearhead this expansion initiative. The partnership reinforces both organizations’ commitment to traditional radio’s growth trajectory.

What’s at Stake: These three markets represent meaningful opportunities for advertiser reach and engagement. Additionally, the stations gain fresh programming to energize evening audiences. Meanwhile, Throwback Nation continues building its national footprint and affiliate base. Consequently, Skyview Networks benefits from expanded revenue opportunities across multiple formats.

What Remains Unclear: The companies haven’t announced timelines for additional Connoisseur station additions. We don’t currently know whether more stations will follow this rollout. Furthermore, management hasn’t disclosed specific performance expectations for these new affiliates. Additionally, future syndication plans beyond Connoisseur remain unannounced at this stage.

What It Means: Connoisseur’s investment demonstrates genuine confidence in Throwback Nation’s audience appeal and sustainability. The move signals that compelling host-driven programming still drives affiliate interest today. Beyond this trend, traditional radio continues attracting quality syndicated content despite industry headwinds. Notably, classic hits and AC formats increasingly embrace personality-driven programming strategies.

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Cumulus Media Gives Up 560 AM Signal in San Francisco

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Cumulus Media has ended a century of broadcast history in the Bay Area. The company surrendered the 560 AM San Francisco license to the FCC.

What We Know: The decision officially closes the chapter on a signal that traced its roots to 1925. The station shifted frequencies several times before landing at 560 AM in 1929. It adopted the KSFO call letters in 1935 and carried them until 2024, when Cumulus Media moved the KSFO brand and programming to 810 AM. That happened after the end of both 810 KGO and 810 The Spread. The 560 signal then became KZAC and simulcasted the new KSFO briefly. However, it went silent in March 2025. Although Cumulus later told the FCC it was negotiating a sale, no transaction materialized before the company surrendered the license.

What’s at Stake: The move permanently ends one of Northern California’s longest-running radio licenses. Over nearly 100 years, the station evolved from middle-of-the-road programming to Adult Standards, Oldies, and eventually Talk. After KSFO and KGO came under common ownership, the station became synonymous with Conservative Talk for decades.

What Remains Unclear: Cumulus hasn’t publicly explained why negotiations to sell the station failed. It’s also unknown whether any prospective buyers expressed serious interest before the license was surrendered or whether economic conditions ultimately made a sale impractical.

What It Means: The surrender reflects the difficult economics facing many standalone AM signals. While the KSFO brand continues on 810 AM, the retirement of the historic 560 license underscores how operators increasingly prioritize stronger signals and sustainable business models over preserving legacy facilities.

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ABC News Staffers Vote to Unionize with Writers Guild of America East

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ABC News digital employees unanimously voted to unionize. The vote expands union representation across ABC News.

What We Know: Employees at ABC News’ digital division voted unanimously to join the Writers Guild of America East following an agreement with management on the recognition process. The approximately 50-member bargaining unit includes digital reporters, editors, video producers, and social media producers working across ABCNews.com and the network’s social platforms. The union election was counted on Friday, July 31. WGA East already represents unionized employees across the network’s television operations and said both sides held productive discussions leading to voluntary recognition. Digital employees also said they want a voice as the news industry continues evolving and noted they’ll join hundreds of ABC News broadcast colleagues and thousands of other Disney employees already represented by unions.

What They Said: “The WGAE has represented unionized workers at ABC News since the 1960s. We appreciate that management engaged in productive conversations for recognition, and we look forward to winning union protections for ABC News’ digital staff.” -WGAE President Tom Fontana

What Remains Unclear: Neither the company nor the union has outlined a timeline for negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement. It’s also unknown which workplace priorities will top the bargaining agenda beyond securing union protections. Additionally, ABC News hasn’t publicly detailed how the new bargaining unit could affect newsroom operations or future staffing decisions.

What It Means: The unanimous vote reflects continued labor organizing across digital media as employees seek a greater role in shaping workplace policies during a rapidly changing industry. Because WGA East already represents many ABC News television employees, the addition of digital staff creates broader union representation under one organization. The move also adds to the union’s growing footprint across broadcast, cable, streaming, radio, and digital news organizations.

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