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MS NOW Announces Lineup Revamp, Including Changes for Joe Scarborough, Stephanie Ruhle, Ali Velshi, and Alicia Menendez

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MS NOW Announces Lineup Revamp, Including Changes for Joe Scarborough, Stephanie Ruhle, Ali Velshi, and Alicia Menendez

MS NOW has announced a slate of sweeping lineup changes set to take place in June, with changes for Joe Scarborough, Stephanie Ruhle, Ali Velshi, Alicia Menendez, and more.

Morning Joe — featuring Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, and Willie Geist — will shift to three hours, airing from 6-9 AM ET. Jonathan Lemire will serve as a co-anchor in the 8 AM ET window.

Stephanie Ruhle is moving from the 11 PM ET window to the 9 AM ET timeslot to host a new show focused on the financial markets and politics. Ruhle’s show will replace one hour of the current timeslot occupied by Ana Cabrera Reports. Cabrera revealed on Wednesday morning that she will depart MS NOW later this year. The network has yet to announce what will replace Cabrera in the 11 AM ET window.

With the move of Ruhle, Ali Velshi will take over The 11th Hour at 11 PM ET. Velshi was recently named the network’s chief data analyst, replacing Steve Kornacki, who previously held the role. Ali Velshi has been at MS NOW since 2016.

Alicia Menendez has been tabbed to serve as the anchor of the Noon-2 PM ET window. She previously was a member of The Weeknight alongside Michael Steele and Symone Sanders Townsend. Luke Russert will step into the role vacated by Menendez’s move to the dayside lineup.

Additionally, Jacob Soboroff will join the weekend anchor lineup for MS NOW. He’ll helm a solo show on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM-1 PM ET. He’ll also remain the network’s senior national and political reporter.

Lastly, Chris Jansing, who previously served as a dayside anchor for the network, has been named its Chief Political Reporter in advance of the 2026 midterm elections.

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The Hill Sees More Than 33 Million Unique Visitors During February

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The Hill Sees More Than 33 Million Unique Visitors During February

The Hill has maintained its position as the top political news destination on desktop and mobile platforms for the fifth consecutive month, according to Comscore data for February 2026. It has also ranked in the top spot for eight of the last twelve months.

The outlet drew 33 million unique visitors in February, outpacing Politico by 30% and Axios by 51%. Total visits reached 84.2 million for the month, topping WSJ.com (80.2M), WashingtonPost.com (70.2M), Politico.com (55.1M), Axios.com (28.6M), Bloomberg.com (25.8M), and TheAtlantic.com (19.0M). That’s an 8% increase compared to February 2025.

Month-over-month, unique visitors climbed 13% from January 2026, and total minutes spent on the site rose 7%.

It’s worth noting that February included coverage of the State of the Union address, a partial government shutdown, and the start of the Iran War — all of which drove engagement. Average views per visitor grew 9% year-over-year.

Desktop and mobile video views for The Hill jumped 72% compared to January.

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CBS Evening News Falls Below 4 Million Nightly Viewers

BNM Staff
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CBS Evening News Falls Below 4 Million Nightly Viewers

The latest nightly newscast ratings have been released, and the news isn’t positive for CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil.

During the week of March 9th, ABC News’ World News Tonight with David Muir continued its reign atop the nightly newscast ratings. The program averaged an audience of 8.5 million viewers during the week, with just over 1 million coming from the key Adults 25-54 demographic.

NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas averaged 6.5 million viewers for the week, trailing just behind in the key demo with 946,000 viewers from that sector.

At CBS Evening News, however, viewership fell below 4 million viewers for the week. The newscast anchored by Tony Dokoupil averaged 3.8 million viewers during the week. That figure only includes the Monday through Thursday editions of the program, as the Friday episode of the show was retitled.

During Tony Dokoupil‘s tenure, which began in January, the network has seen ratings as high as an average of 4.6 million viewers. During Dokoupil’s debut week, the program averaged 4.2 million viewers.

Of the 3.8 million viewers CBS Evening News averaged last week, 468,000 came from the Adults 25-54 demographic.

The ratings decline for the newscast comes after at least 11 producers took voluntary buyouts offered by CBS News’ parent company — Paramount Skydance — in recent weeks.

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Ana Cabrera Announces Upcoming Exit From MS NOW

BNM Staff
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Ana Cabrera Announces Upcoming Exit From MS NOW

MS NOW anchor Ana Cabrera has announced that she plans to leave the cable news network later this year.

Cabrera joined MS NOW in December 2022 after nearly a decade at CNN. At CNN, she began her tenure as a Denver-based correspondent before ultimately rising to the role of CNN NewsCentral anchor.

Since joining MS NOW, Cabrera has helmed Ana Cabrera Reports. That show has aired in the 10 AM ET window since April 2023. Her show later expanded from one hour to two, replacing the program previously anchored by Jose Diaz-Balart when Versant — the now parent company of MS NOW — split from NBCUniversal last year.

In a post on social media, Ana Cabrera detailed the reasoning behind her upcoming departure.

“I decided to make change, and I am leaving MS NOW. Throughout my career, I’ve always thought the best opportunities to do this work and have the greatest impact — while staying true to myself and my mission as a journalist — has always been to educate, inform, and shine light. Hold people in power accountable, people on all sides of the political aisle, and non-politicians as well … That’s what I’ve always done and what I will continue to do now. Understand, I am truly grateful for my time at MS NOW, for my wonderful colleagues, my amazing team that works so hard every day, and for you, the viewers, who put your trust in me to serve you through this most meaningful work.”

Cabrera concluded by noting that she will still be at MS NOW “for a few more months” before she exits. She also added that she looks “forward to sharing more about what’s next for me soon.”

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Doug Gottlieb: ESPN’s Jay Bilas Has a “Negative Tone” About College Basketball

BSM Staff
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Doug Gottlieb: ESPN’s Jay Bilas Has a “Negative Tone” About College Basketball

Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball head coach Doug Gottlieb is taking issue with the tone he believes ESPN analyst Jay Bilas has adopted in recent years, arguing that one of the sport’s most recognizable voices has become overly critical of the game he covers.

Speaking on Fearless with Jason Whitlock, Gottlieb questioned why Bilas continues in his role if his outlook on college basketball has shifted so sharply, while also acknowledging that the longtime analyst has shown some improvement in his approach this season.

“He’s grown critical of the college game,” Gottlieb said. “Jay, if you don’t love this thing, why are you doing this? I think he’s been better this year, and I do think that he’s a brilliant guy. But he’s just taken sort of a negative tone about our sport.”

Gottlieb expanded on that critique by pointing to what he views as a contradiction between Bilas’ advocacy and his commentary. Particularly as it relates to player movement and the modern structure of the sport. He argued that Bilas has long supported increased player freedom. This includes transfer flexibility and a diminished NCAA role, yet remains dissatisfied with the current landscape that reflects many of those ideals.

“He doesn’t like the system that he helped create,” Gottlieb said. “He wants college basketball anarchy.”

From there, Gottlieb shifts focus to Bilas’ background, arguing his prominence closely aligns to his playing career at Duke. He said the same system Bilas critiques helped launch his broadcasting career and financial success.

“He believes that schools should be allowed to do whatever they want to do. That the NCAA is bad and the system is bad,” Gottlieb says. “When at any point can we all admit that the entire rise of Jay Bilas, his entire professional broadcasting life, is based upon one thing. He played at Duke. The system that he says is rigged against players has made him a multimillionaire.”

Gottlieb also broadened his comments to include other ESPN personalities, asserting that several high-profile analysts share ties to Duke and frequently highlight the program in their coverage. He specifically referenced Bilas, Jay Williams and Dick Vitale as examples of what he described as a recurring connection between the network and the school.

“Everybody who works at ESPN has some sort of attachment with Duke,” Gottlieb said. “How many times have we heard [Dick] Vitale talk about how great Duke is?… Everything Jay Bilas accomplished has been based upon the fact that he played for Duke. That’s how he got a job. That’s his fallback.”

While Gottlieb’s remarks reflect his personal perspective, they arrive at a time when debates around the direction of college basketball have become increasingly public. Coaches, analysts and stakeholders now offer sharply differing views on how the sport should evolve.

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Dan “Big Cat” Katz Walks Back Some Of His Comments About FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal

BSM Staff
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Dan “Big Cat” Katz Walks Back Some Of His Comments About FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal

Dan “Big Cat” Katz is walking back part of his viral critique of FOX Sports MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, although not entirely abandoning the opinion that sparked widespread conversation earlier this week.

During Wednesday’s episode of Pardon My Take, the Barstool Sports personality addressed the blunt comments he delivered following the World Baseball Classic, offering context for the tone while also drawing a clear line on what he does and does not regret. Katz acknowledged that his remarks, which quickly circulated across sports media circles, may have gone further than intended in the moment. Especially given the circumstances under which they were made late at night after a long stretch of coverage.

“I went a little hard at Ken Rosenthal,” Katz said. “Looking back, I was a little harsh. It was kind of a stream of consciousness thing, and I don’t really know him. He could stay in baseball.”

Although Katz softened his stance regarding Rosenthal’s place in the sport, he stopped short of issuing a full apology. Instead choosing to clarify that his initial frustration was rooted more in reaction than sustained criticism. The adjustment came after hearing from multiple individuals within the industry, including people whose perspectives he said he values and trusts, who vouched for Rosenthal’s character and professionalism.

“Two guys I trust reached out and said he’s a good guy,” Katz explained. “People I respect. I’m still going to think he’s a jerk, but he can stay in baseball. Congrats to Ken Rosenthal — he’s officially staying in baseball.”

The partial reversal/apology marks a notable shift from Katz’s earlier comments, which included a pointed suggestion that Rosenthal should not remain involved in the sport. Albeit likely tongue-in-cheek, those remarks drew attention not only because of their tone, but also because they referenced a prior on-field incident involving Rosenthal that had already generated public scrutiny.

Katz also addressed the reaction to his comments across baseball and media circles. He said several people reached out to defend Rosenthal afterward. Katz joked that he helped rally support. The outreach appeared to influence him to slightly recalibrate his message.

“I don’t want to take credit, but a lot of people came to your defense,” Katz said. “I’m not apologizing for the ‘jerk’ part. I’m just apologizing for saying he has to leave baseball.”

Despite the attention surrounding the situation, Katz indicated that neither Rosenthal nor anyone from FOX Sports contacted him directly about the remarks. He also acknowledged that Rosenthal would be justified in taking issue with the criticism, given how directly it was delivered.

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FOX Sports Adds Zlatan Ibrahimović To FIFA World Cup 2026 Coverage

BSM Staff
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FOX Sports Adds Zlatan Ibrahimović To FIFA World Cup 2026 Coverage

FOX Sports continues to build out its on-air roster for the biggest event in global soccer, and this latest addition brings both star power and unmistakable personality to its coverage plans for 2026.

The network announced the former international standout Zlatan Ibrahimović will join its broadcast team for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking his debut as a studio analyst for a major U.S. media company.

FOX Sports President and Executive Producer Brad Zager revealed the move during the World Baseball Classic Final pregame show. He used the high-profile stage to introduce one of the sport’s most recognizable figures to an American television audience in a new role.

Ibrahimović, one of the most prolific scorers of his generation, will begin his role when the tournament opens June 11 across North America. His presence adds a distinctive voice to FOX’s coverage. It brings confidence, experience, and an unfiltered perspective. Those traits have defined his playing career and public persona for more than two decades.

“Zlatan bringing his signature confidence, perspective and one-of-a-kind personality to our coverage is a huge win for fans and FOX Sports is thrilled to welcome him as the newest addition to our FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast team,” Zager said in a statement. “We can’t wait to have him with us throughout the tournament, delivering insights like only Zlatan can, for what promises to be must-see television in his first time as a FIFA World Cup analyst.”

Throughout a professional career that spanned from 1999 to 2023, Ibrahimović established himself as a global star while playing for several of Europe’s most prominent clubs, including AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

He later brought that star power to the United States in 2018, joining the LA Galaxy and delivering immediate results with 52 goals in just 56 regular season matches, a stretch that reinforced his reputation as an elite finisher even late in his career.

On the international stage, Ibrahimović represented Sweden more than 100 times and remains the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer with 62 goals. His resume includes appearances in two FIFA World Cup tournaments and four UEFA European Championships, along with a record 12 Swedish Player of the Year honors, underscoring both his longevity and sustained excellence.

FOX Sports has not yet finalized its full broadcast lineup for the tournament, but additional talent announcements are expected in the months leading up to kickoff. The network is positioning its coverage around both established broadcasters and globally recognized former players, aiming to appeal to casual viewers and dedicated soccer fans alike as interest in the sport continues to grow across the United States.

The 2026 tournament will run from June 11 through July 19, with FOX airing 70 matches and FS1 carrying 34, while every game will also stream on the FOX Sports App and FOX One. As the first World Cup hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — the expanded 48-team field will compete in 104 matches across 16 host cities, making it the largest edition of the event to date and a defining moment for soccer’s footprint in North America.

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The Kadie Daye Show Launches Into National Syndication with SuiteRadio

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The Kadie Daye Show Launches Into National Syndication with SuiteRadio

SuiteRadio has announced the addition of The Kadie Daye Show to its growing list of nationally syndicated shows.

Previously, Kadie Daye has worked in the CHR, AC, and Country formats, most notably with the Clay & Company morning show at 106.5 WYRK in Buffalo.

The Kadie Daye Show will be made available in the Country, CHR, and Hot AC formats for up to five hours per day beginning on Monday, March 30th, according to SuiteRadio.

“Kadie is one of those bright young talents whose natural enthusiasm and ability to connect across generations with great content makes her unique and compelling,” said SuiteRadio consultant and McVay Media President Mike McVay. “She fits multiple formats and presents a show that is must listen. She is very good.”

“Kadie was one of the most talked about talents at the 2025 Country Radio Seminar,” added SuiteRadio Managing Partner Rowdy Yates. “I knew that day we wanted her. Initial response has been overwhelmingly positive, and I cannot wait for the official launch on March 30th.”

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All The Smoke Announces New Baseball Podcast Featuring Rotating Cast

BSM Staff
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All The Smoke Announces New Baseball Podcast Featuring Rotating Cast

As athlete-driven media brands continue to scale across platforms and sports, All The Smoke productions is expanding its footprint with a calculated move into baseball, signaling both confidence in its storytelling model and belief in an underserved audience within the sport.

All The Smoke, the basketball-focused podcast and production company co-founded by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, announced the launch of ATS Baseball via Front Office Sports on Wednesday. This marks its first formal step into covering Major League Baseball and its surrounding culture.

The new vertical will be anchored by a flagship podcast titled ATS Dugout. The show will produce more than 20 episodes during the upcoming baseball season. Barnes will serve as a recurring host. He will be joined by a rotating group of former MLB All-Stars, including Nick Swisher and Chris Young.

“Over the years, we’ve featured several greats of the game on All The Smoke and the response from our community has been overwhelming,” said Barnes, CEO of ATSP. “I grew up playing baseball and have always had a deep love and respect for it. I’m excited to build this vertical, explore the rich stories and amazing characters that have largely gone unheard and continue growing our brand.”

The format mirrors the conversational, player-first approach that helped build All The Smoke into a prominent voice within basketball media. Although the initiative does not represent an official partnership with Major League Baseball, the league has played an indirect role in its development through CC Sabathia, who serves as a league ambassador and helped connect the company with potential collaborators.

Company leadership cited audience behavior as the primary driver behind the expansion. COO Brian Dailey said episodes featuring baseball guests produced unusually strong engagement. Appearances by former stars like Gary Sheffield showed clear demand. Viewers responded to baseball content presented through a more personal and unfiltered lens.

“Baseball is surging—it’s experiencing a real renaissance right now,” said ATSP COO Brian Dailey. “We’re seeing younger fans come into the game while longtime fans are rediscovering what makes it special. We’re excited to bring our distinct style of storytelling to baseball, connecting with audiences in a way that feels fresh, authentic, and engaging across platforms.”

That insight aligns with a broader industry conversation about baseball’s ability to market its personalities. Digital platforms now reward authenticity and direct access. ATS Baseball aims to address that gap. It gives former players a space to share stories once limited to clubhouses and private conversations.

Barnes, who played baseball through high school before ultimately focusing on basketball, emphasized that the expansion also carries a personal component, rooted in revisiting the athletes and moments that shaped his early fandom.

With additional verticals already in development following a recent move into combat sports, All The Smoke productions continues to position itself as a multi-sport content engine, leveraging athlete credibility and audience trust to expand beyond its basketball roots while tapping into storytelling opportunities across the broader sports landscape.

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Radio America Announces Launch of New Dedicated Helios Media Podcast Network

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Radio America Announces Launch of New Dedicated Helios Media Podcast Network

Radio America has announced it is launching a new dedicated podcast network called Helios Media.

Radio America President and CEO Mike Paradiso will lead the new endeavor alongside the radio syndication company. The new division hopes to provide creators “with the infrastructure, reach, and support needed to thrive, grow and monetize their content in the competitive podcast landscape.”

“Helios Media is the natural progression of what Radio America has been building for decades — trusted content, powerful reach, and authentic voices that resonate with millions of Americans,” said Paradiso. “With Helios Media, we’re giving creators the tools, the platform, and the audience to stand out in the competitive landscape of podcasting and digital media.” 

Radio America is home to programs like The Dana Show, hosted by Dana Loesch, and The Chad Benson Show.

The addition of a dedicated podcast network comes on the heels of new data showing that podcast listening and online audio consumption reached new highs.

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