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Fox News Shouldn’t Be the Standard For News/Talk Radio

Peter Thiele
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The most successful name in news television over the past 20 years has been Fox News. They have been so dominant that they sometimes have been the number one cable channel, period. 

Sometimes, Fox News even has beaten network TV. Many of your stations may carry Sean Hannity who has been a ninja for ratings success on TV and radio. With so much winning, why not mirror Fox News? I will explain why:

A good hour in primetime on Fox News has 3 million to 4 million viewers. Certainly, that is a lot of people. But, depending on the hour, Fox News has about 1% of the U.S. population watching, if you consider that all 330 million plus Americans are watching TV at a particular moment. 

If you can live on 1% of your community listening to your station, keep it up. Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN are not broadcasting to a wide audience. This is not to say that they are not successful. Fox News, before the Tucker Carlson exit, was the number one attraction on cable,  often beating network TV in big dayparts. 

With 450 channels, streaming platforms, YouTube, gaming, websites, and more, success is certainly at a lower bar than 4 TV networks and a small number of radio stations. Radio has quite an advantage.

As of this moment, most people in the car are likely listening to radio. Local news, traffic, and weather are key advantages to that captive audience stuck in their car. Those that are heading to work, taking the kids to school or activities, or running daily errands have a friend in you. 

The competition is between the different stations. Obviously, focusing on your target demo creates a window for success. Satellite radio takes away audience, but they do not have the local advantage. By the way, I am a SiriusXM subscriber. I know what they offer. Locally focused radio wins in many ways. 

The average cable news viewer is death for radio. The average age of a Fox News viewer is 60.  Advertising sales has always been based on reaching a large percentage of adults 25-54. For TV, it is adults 18-49. I love 60-year-olds. I am closer to 60 than I am to 40. But, let us talk about why we are here. It is to make money. While the older demographic has money, it is not the focus of the advertising industry. 

I have heard hosts and managers complain about the lack of interest in older demos by the business community. I get it and agree with you. Sadly, the reality is 25-54. Cable’s success is not based solely on advertising revenue. In Cable, 1% of the U.S. population is money in the bank. A 1 share at your radio station is a recipe for failure.

Fox News Radio’s presence is for one reason only: brand extension. I am not pointing at just Fox News. If you have a sports station in your building that carries ESPN Radio, the same thing occurs. It is brand extension for the network.  Listen to the top-of-the-hour Fox News Update or The Brian Kilmeade Show, it is a commercial for Fox News. It is brilliant promotion that radio has allowed. Don’t blame the playas, they are winning the game. 

Fox News is a terrific news product for a News/Talk station. I use it on my station. There is not a suitable alternative. But don’t be fooled. You are being used as a promotional tool for them.  Fox News top-of-the-hour news fits the bent of most conservative news talk stations. It is a perfect fit considering the alternatives that are available. But, realize, it is a commercial for the network.

Cable’s income is somewhat baked into the cake. Technically, when you pay your cable company or streaming service, the network gets a negotiated monthly fee per month.  Depending on the network, it could be as high as $10 dollars per month. So, even if you never watch a moment of a network on your TV service, they are making money off of you. 

Frequently, it has been brought up having the ability to negotiate which cable companies that we pay for. I love this idea. The sushi restaurant of TV other than you pay for everything plan.  There are a couple of reasons that you can’t get TV ala carte. Due to the consolidation of TV networks, the big owners can negotiate with your streaming or TV service to carry all or nothing. They have the power. 

Obviously, Congress could step in on this, but they have not. The average consumer watches 17 channels. Name how many you are watching. Think it through. I got to 12. You may get to 30.  There is only so much you can watch, read or listen to with the abundance of choices available. 

So, if I can leave you with one thing to ruminate over, let it be that radio is still uniquely positioned to reach a mass audience. Focusing on a thing with a small audience is death to your job. Fox News is an amazing brand. They do a bunch of things right. The success paradigm for Fox News or other cable news stations is different than for your radio station.  Keep that in mind as you choose topics and discussions for your station.

3HL Hosts Sign Multi-Year Extension with 104.5 The Zone

BSM Staff
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3HL Hosts Sign Multi-Year Extension with 104.5 The Zone

Sports talk fans in Nashville will be pleased to know that there are no changes in store for the afternoon drive show on 104.5 The Zone for the foreseeable future.

Cumulus Media announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with hosts Brent Dougherty, Dawn Davenport and Ron Slay, ensuring 3HL will continue on moving forward.

“Being able to push the 3HL path long term and do it with my teammates and friends in the best city with the best listeners in the country is such a blessing,” Dougherty said. “I’m pumped! Let’s roll!”

“It’s not very often you find the chemistry and culture that we are lucky enough to have right now at the Zone and on 3HL,” Davenport added.

Cumulus Nashville vice president and market manager Allison Warren and program director Paul Mason said in a joint statement that Wednesday’s announcement was cause for celebration.

“They have proven time and again to be a driving force behind 104.5 The Zone’s success, dominating the ratings and capturing the hearts of our listeners,” the statement said. “They have an undeniable chemistry—a lightning-in-a-bottle connection that brings our audience together.”

3HL airs Monday through Friday from 3-7 p.m. central. 104.5 The Zone is also the flagship station for the Tennessee Titans and Nashville S.C. of MLS. The station is also the Nashville home of the University of Tennessee athletics.

Tiki Barber: ‘Being an Opportunist Means Leaving Things That You Love’

BSM Staff
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A day after the news broke confirming WFAN’s new show lineup coming in July, Tiki Barber and Brandon Tierney took some time on their show Wednesday to offer their reactions.

Barber is set to succeed Craig Carton in afternoon drive, while Tierney will continue in middays alongside Sal Licata.

Barber on Tuesday reflected on spending the last several years working with Tierney. Wednesday, Tierney said he really appreciated all the kind things his partner had to say.

“It was really heartfelt,” Tierney said.

“BT I mean it. I’ve done a lot of stuff. You know this,” Barber responded. “I’ve told you all the things that I’ve gotten involved in, media and otherwise, business and all this stuff. I never once thought I was gonna be a long-term radio host. It just wasn’t on my radar.”

Tiki said after the experiment as a trio with Dana Jacobson, he was able to get more comfortable as a radio host and learn from Tierney.

“Once it became two, me and you, Tiki and Tierney, it started to be something that I could see myself really doing,” Barber said. “But I also didn’t know how to do it, because I had never done it before.”

Barber said he needed Brandon’s guidance. Without it, Tiki said he probably wouldn’t have elevated into this new role with Evan Roberts.

“Without you I wouldn’t have had the radio career. I would’ve been done,” he said. “If it would’ve been a partner who didn’t care about his partner, if I had a different guy who didn’t care about me, I wouldn’t have made it this long. And this opportunity wouldn’t be here in front of me. This is bittersweet, BT.”

Tiki added that he knew his partnership with Tierney wasn’t going to last forever, but the fact that their run together is ending

“I’m an opportunist. And I also know sometimes it’s hard being an opportunist because you end up leaving things that you love. And I’m gonna miss the show, BT, because I love you like a brother.”

Ice Cube: I Thought Sports Media Would Love The Big 3 but We’re Ignored

BSM Staff
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The Big 3 returns this weekend, and league co-founder Ice Cube is excited about the future. But the legendary rapper/actor/businessman knows it hasn’t come without challenges.

Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on Wednesday, Ice Cube said the COVID pandemic and navigating choppy financial waters in the first five years of The Big 3 made for some tough situations.

“We invented this like from scratch, but it’s so dope,” Ice said of what he and league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz have put together. “It’s been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my career, because it’s been so hard. But we’re getting over the hump which is great.”

The whole goal for Ice Cube wasn’t to create a rival league to the NBA akin to how LIV Golf launched to go to war with the PGA Tour. He said one of the biggest hurdles has been the fact that the league doesn’t get the media coverage he thinks it deserves.

“We knew this wasn’t gonna be an easy lift,” he said. “We thought we were gonna get a lot more love from the overall sports media community.”

“To really virtually ignore a league that’s this great, that’s this dope in the summer, when there’s nothing else as far as hoops…The Big 3 is where it’s at,” Ice Cube added.

The resistance from the NBA was really eye-opening for Ice Cube. He had hoped the league would’ve been more embracing, but that just hasn’t been the case.

“A lot of owners loved us. I just think it really comes down to Adam Silver,” Ice Cube said. “I just don’t think he really digs what we’re doing personally.”

Paul Allen: Fans Have More to Say About Vikings Right Now Than I Do

BSM Staff
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Minnesota Vikings radio play-by-play announcer Paul Allen loves talking Vikes football with fans in public, but at this point in the year there isn’t exactly a ton to discuss.

On his KFAN show on Wednesday, Allen talked about how in the lull between the end of mini-camp and the start to training camp vocal rest days are essential. But no matter where he goes or where he’s at, Allen said people will always want to pick his brain about the Vikings even when there’s nothing going on.

“I’ll get peppered with Vikings conversation, and that’s cool and I really, really enjoy it,” Allen said. “But there are just no epiphanies that are hitting your boy at this moment that are straight from the gridiron gospel.”

Paul acknowledged that the passion from fans for the team is admirable, especially considering the team was very good in the regular season last year and is expected to be playoff bound again in 2023. But he just found it interesting how some fans will talk to him thinking Allen isn’t already in the know.

“In fact, I’m having to defend challenges of people telling me exactly what is transpiring with this covenant and some of the bigger names that have departed,” he said.

Allen returns for his 21st season calling Vikings games in 2023. His calls have made him a star outside of Minnesota with even Jim Rome commenting that he doesn’t like seeing the team let Paul Allen down.

Mike Francesa: ‘Nothing Good’ Comes of Me Commenting on WFAN Lineup

BSM Staff
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Mike Francesa: ‘Nothing Good’ Comes of Me Commenting on WFAN Lineup

What does one the most legendary voices in WFAN history think about the recent lineup changes at the station? He will never tell you.

On his Wednesday podcast, Mike Francesa read an email from a listener that commented on the amount of turnover in the WFAN lineup since his retirement. In the email, the listener noted that he did not expect Francesa to respond.

“You were right,” the Sports Pope answered.

Craig Carton will leave WFAN at the end of next week to focus exclusively on his FS1 show. That move has triggered some serious deck shuffling. Tiki Barber will replace Carton in afternoon drive with Evan Roberts. Sal Licata will replace Tiki Barber in middays with Brandon Tierney. Chris McGonigal will replace Licata on the overnight show.

Francesca’s message is simple. He wishes WFAN much success.

“You know I will always be part of FAN,” he said. “FAN was my home for 35 years. You know, I have a great history there. I have wonderful memories about the place. I accomplished more than I could have ever dreamed of.”

He went on to say that “nothing good comes of” him commenting on WFAN’s moves. 

“If I say something good, people say, ‘Oh, he’s just saying that,’ and if I say something bad, it gets huge headlines. So, there’s no reason for me to say anything.”

Glenn Beck Under Fire For Saying ‘My N-Word’ During Ad Read

BNM Staff
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Conservative radio host Glenn Beck is under fire for his phrasing at the end of an ad read during The Glenn Beck Program earlier this week.

While promoting an advertisement for Goldline, Beck gave the phone number for the company before reiterating “866-Goldline, my n-word”. He then admitted “that didn’t really” work, before abruptly sending the show to a commercial break.

A Twitter user shared a video clip of the moment captioning it “Companies love it when you end an ad read like this”.

The clip has gone viral. It has garnered more than 60,000 views, with many respondents sharing their displeasure with Beck’s choice of words.

It is not the first time Beck has been criticized for his language. In 2009, several advertisers departed his Fox News program after he called President Barack Obama a racist. In 2016, he was suspended by SiriusXM after comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.

He has previously stated that he is aware that he has “made an awful lot of mistakes” in his career.

Beck has yet to comment publicly on the situation.

Stephen A. Smith: Chris Russo’s Career Doesn’t Say ‘Satisfaction’

BSM Staff
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Wednesday morning on First Take, Chris Russo bristled at the idea that Damian Lillard would want out of Portland if the Trail Blazers cannot compete for a title. He wondered why Lillard wouldn’t be content with his current situation and his status as one of the league’s true superstars.

It wasn’t something Stephen A. Smith was going to let go unchallenged. In fact, he wondered why Russo was not acknowledging how familiar Lillard’s situation is.

“I just want to remind the audience, you know, talk radio had this show that was a super show really,” Smith said. “Started in New York. I mean, it was in New York period. But I mean, its impact was so phenomenal. It spread nationwide. It really jumpstarts sports talk radio. I mean, it was Mike and the Mad Dog. Somebody left to go to their own channel. They could have stayed. They could have made money. The audience would have never faded. You’d still be number one in a lot of people’s eyes and a lot of people’s minds.”

Russo and Mike Francesa were partnered for 19 years on WFAN in New York. That ended in 2008 when Russo left the station to launch Mad Dog Sports Radio on SiriusXM. 

That gave Russo a national profile he didn’t have before. It was an opportunity that Smith pointed out led to other opportunities. First it was a show on MLB Network. That led to his weekly appearances on First Take, which Smith said are what most people want to talk to him about now.

“I’m traveling all over the country. I approach in the treets of Denver, Colorado, 5280 feet above sea level. People are walking up to me and say ‘Mad Dog! Is he going to be on today? Is he going to be on today?”

Stephen A. Smith knows that more people know know the name Chris “Mad Dog” Russo. He reminded Russo that that did not happen on accident. It required a plan to get there, so wondering what Damian Lillard wouldn’t be satisfied in Portland is silly.

“I don’t see anything that says satisfaction. ‘I’m just going to stay in this one situation and I’m going to be fine with that.’ I see mobility. I see progression. I see vertical movement. That’s what I see.”

When Smith relented, host Molly Qerim wanted Russo to respond. He took it back to the comments about his WFAN show. He had a simple answer for Smith.

“My contract was up,” Russo said.

Todd Schnitt Ending The Schnitt Show Next Month

BNM Staff
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After more than 20 years, Todd Schnitt has decided to end The Schnitt Show.

Friday, July 28th will mark the final edition of The Schnitt Show. He will turn his attention to The MJ Morning Show on Beasley Media Group’s WRBQ in Tampa.

“For over 20 years, I have been working two daily jobs,” said Todd Schnitt. “This is bittersweet as it has been a joy and privilege to host The Schnitt Show and I am forever grateful to our affiliates, sponsors, partners, and most importantly our listeners for supporting the show for so many years.”

After debuting on Miami’s WIOD in October 2001, The Schnitt Show grew to WFLA in January 2002 before launching in full national syndication with Compass Media Networks.

“How many people in the history of radio have hosted two-daily, drive time shows, targeting two completely different audiences, and doing it successfully for over two decades? The answer is virtually no one else,” said Peter Kosann, Founder/CEO of Compass Media Networks. “Kudos to Todd for his work ethic, creativity, ingenuity, and talent. It has been an honor to serve as Todd’s syndication partner all these years and we look forward to working with him on this next chapter.”

At the show’s peak, it was heard on more than 75 stations nationwide.

ESPN Radio Reportedly Drops Keyshawn, JWill and Max

BSM Staff
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More change is on the way at ESPN Radio. Andrew Marchand reports that the network is scrapping Keyshawn, JWill & Max as it prepares for layoffs across the company.

No word is available yet on the futures of Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson or Jay Williams. They are not out, but talent layoffs are expected to start as early as next week.

The move is not necessarily a surprise. Earlier this month, Williams revealed to Patrick Beverley that there are just three months left on his ESPN contract. 

A new national morning show is on the way for the network. Marchand reports that the hosts are expected to see significantly smaller paychecks for the role.

Many programmers of ESPN affiliates have openly wondered why the network would not make the Pat McAfee Show available as a radio simulcast when it joins the ESPN portfolio in the fall. Perhaps this creates an opening to move pieces around and make that a reality. However, no names have been floated as potential successors to Keyshawn, JWill and Max in morning drive.

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