BET has opted to discontinue 106 & Sports, ending the sports-driven extension of its iconic 106 & Park franchise after just one season.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the weekly talk show, which featured former NFL quarterback Cam Newton alongside sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss, completed an eight-episode run after premiering October 15, 2025, with production housed at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
Although the launch carried significant promotional weight and high-profile backing, network officials confirmed the series will not move forward with additional installments.
In comments shared with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BET said it does not plan to produce another season. However, the network noted that existing episodes will remain available. They will continue to stream across its digital and linear platforms. That approach allows the short-lived series to retain a presence within the company’s content library.
From its launch, 106 & Sports aimed to blend spirited sports debate with culturally relevant conversations. The show sought to connect with Black audiences. It positioned itself as a modern evolution of the original music countdown format. That earlier program once dominated after-school viewership
Rather than leaning into the live audience interaction and music-driven countdowns that defined 106 & Park, the sports version took a different approach. It adopted a pre-taped format built around panel discussions and interviews. The show also featured curated segments on timely issues. Topics ranged from coverage disparities in HBCU athletics to franchise relocation across major leagues. It also explored generational dynamics as athletes navigated branding and activism.
Production duties were handled by SpringHill Company, the content studio co-founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. Executive producers included James and Carter. The team also featured Jamal Henderson, Philip Byron, Courtney Whitaker, and Williams.
The involvement of SpringHill added marquee credibility and reinforced BET’s interest in pairing recognizable talent with culturally focused storytelling in the competitive sports media space.
Co-host Ashley Nicole Moss commented on the news via X expressing her enjoyment working on the project despite being sad it’s come to an end.
had the best time working on this show and i’m sad we won’t be continuing it 💔 for this NY girl, it was truly a dream come true to be part of this brand. i wish Cam well in all he does & i hope that everyone behind the scenes find new homes — they were truly the best! xo https://t.co/WTBQQLIuMm
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WFAN morning host Gregg Giannotti doesn’t believe in ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith winning any substantial in a potential presidential run, telling listeners on Boomer & Gio that the idea itself carries virtually no path to political reality and may say more about media leverage than electoral ambition.
Addressing Smith’s repeated references to possibly running for president of the United States, Giannotti acknowledged that modern politics has produced surprises but dismissed the notion that Smith could mount a viable campaign.
“I’m not naive to think that something insane could happen,” Giannotti said. “But I also think there’s zero chance that Stephen A. Smith could win enough of the vote to win a primary or anything to be able to put him in the race.”
Giannotti argued that capturing a major party nomination requires more than national name recognition, particularly in a primary system built on fundraising networks, grassroots organization and sustained political relationships. While Smith commands a massive platform through ESPN’s First Take and other properties, Giannotti suggested that visibility alone would not translate into primary votes.
“I think this is a bit of a bridge too far. Probably shows you how much power he has over there at ESPN,” said Giannotti. “Clearly, he does what he wants. He gets paid the most amount of money, and he chooses who he wants to work with, and things like that.”
Beyond electoral math, Giannotti questioned Smith’s motivation for continuing to entertain the possibility publicly.
“He says he’s not going to do it, but he keeps talking about doing it,” Giannotti said. “I think the reason why is he wants to see what the reaction is.” Giannotti added that Smith likely believes he occupies a political middle ground capable of appealing broadly to Americans, and that testing the waters publicly offers a way to gauge whether that belief resonates.
Smith has discussed the idea of running for office on multiple occasions, often framing the commentary as a response to frustration with the current political climate. However, he has stopped short of any formal declaration and continues to focus primarily on his media responsibilities.
In Giannotti’s view, the willingness to publicly float a presidential bid while remaining one of the network’s most prominent faces reflects significant internal influence.
“He feels like he’s got so much power and influence that he could possibly run for president,” Giannotti added. “It just shows you how much of a big wig he is over there at ESPN.”
Smith has not publicly stated his intents to run or not to run as of yet. Smith told CBS Sunday Morning he is taking 2026 to weigh his options for a potential run in 2027.
For Giannotti, though, the conversation remains rooted less in ballot access and more in brand positioning, with Smith’s presidential musings serving as a reminder of the outsized presence he holds in the modern sports media landscape.
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Shawn Tempesta is out at Beasley Media Group 96.3 KKLZ in Las Vegas just four months after stepping into the morning drive slot. His exit marks another shift in a market that has experienced significant on-air movement over the past year.
Tempesta confirmed his departure in a statement reflecting on his broader tenure with the company, highlighting a series of programming and digital accomplishments that extended well beyond a traditional morning host role and underscored the expanding expectations placed on modern radio personalities.
“Throughout the last three and a half years with the company, I helped launch 102.7 VGS and took it from 20th to 1st in mornings in less than a year, helped KKLZ successfully transition after the departure of the legendary Mike O’Brian, created thousands of social media videos, and designed and implemented digital video systems for several stations throughout the company – including 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston – that continue to generate tens of millions of views and bring in significant new-found revenue,” Tempesta said. “Here’s to what’s next!”
Tempesta joined KKLZ’s morning lineup in November following a frequency realignment that resulted in the elimination of the morning show he co-hosted with Aimee Thomas on 102.7 VGS. The duo originally launched their morning partnership in June 2022, building on Tempesta’s established presence in the Las Vegas market and his previous programming leadership experience.
Before returning to mornings, Tempesta spent a decade at Mix 94.1 KMXB, where he served as assistant program director and afternoon host. His career also included a prior stint at KMXB in the mid-2000s, giving him longstanding familiarity with the competitive dynamics of Southern Nevada radio.
In addition to his radio work, Tempesta maintained a visible presence on television as co-host of The Morning Blend on KTNV-TV from 2010 through 2022, further strengthening his brand across multiple platforms. He also tracked for Magic 106.7 in Boston beginning in 2020, remaining with the station until his departure from Audacy at the end of 2021.
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Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2025 for News/Talk Radio is presented by JJ Surma Voiceovers. Be sure to check out JJ’s work and learn how he can elevate your brand by clicking here.
Our news/talk radio series concludes with a look at the Top 20 Major Market Radio Stations of 2025. We wrap up this week with news television and news digital. Music radio takes center stage starting next week. For all of the results from this series, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletters, or follow us on X, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and/or Instagram. After the entire Top 20 series ends in March, I will record videos discussing the entire process for sports, news and music. Those videos will be posted on the Barrett Media YouTube page. Make sure you subscribe so you’re notified once the video goes live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the voting.
#2 – We ask our voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our executive panel consists of forty (40) program directors and corporate executives from radio’s top broadcasting companies. They include Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Cox Media Group, Townsquare Media, Hubbard Radio, Bonneville, Radio One, Nexstar Media, Zimmer Communications, Connoisseur Media, Salem Radio Network, Premiere Networks, Fox News Radio, and a number of independently owned and operated outlets. Our voting group is large because we want feedback from all areas of the country. We also try to make sure the results don’t favor any one company.
#4 – The criteria for our voters included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 –A total of 53 stations appeared on ballots submitted for voting consideration in the Major Market News/Talk Radio Stations category.
And the Winner Is…
Washington D.C.’s WTOP. The widely respected news brand in the nation’s capital follows 2024’s win with a repeat victory. Congratulations to Julia Ziegler, Joel Oxley and their entire team on the well deserved recognition.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market News/Talk Radio Stations of 2025.
Additional Notes:
WTOP landed a twenty seven (27) point win over runner up 1010 WINS. Washington D.C.’s dominant news brand also recorded a category best six (6) first-place votes.
Spots 21-25 belonged to WCCO, KTRH, WRKO, WBAP, and WFLA.
The closest battle was for 12th place. KTW narrowly defeated KOA by two (2) points.
Of the 53 shows to appear on submitted ballots, eight (8) received at least one 1st place vote.
BM Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:
Wednesday February 18 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market News Media Digital Shows of 2025.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries.Sign upfor our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2025 for News/Talk Radio is presented by JJ Surma Voiceovers. Be sure to check out JJ’s work and learn how he can elevate your brand by clicking here.
Our news/talk radio series concludes with a look at the Top 20 Mid Market Radio Stations of 2025. We wrap up our news media series this week with the top television/digital shows. Music radio then takes center stage February 23-March 4. For all of the results from this series, visit our website, subscribe to our newsletters, or follow us on X, Facebook,TikTok, LinkedIn, and/or Instagram. Once the entire Top 20 series ends in March, I will record videos discussing the entire process for sports, news and music. Those videos will be posted on the Barrett Media YouTube page. Make sure you subscribe so you’re notified once the video goes live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the voting.
#2 – We ask our voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our executive panel consists of forty (40) program directors and corporate executives from radio’s top broadcasting companies. They include Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Cox Media Group, Townsquare Media, Hubbard Radio, Bonneville, Radio One, Nexstar Media, Zimmer Communications, Connoisseur Media, Salem Radio Network, Premiere Networks, Fox News Radio, and a number of independently owned and operated outlets. Our voting group is large because we want feedback from all areas of the country. We also try to make sure the results don’t favor any one company.
#4 – The criteria for our voters included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 –A total of 82 stations appeared on ballots submitted for voting consideration in the Mid Market News/Talk Radio Stations category.
And the Winner Is…
700 WLW in Cincinnati. This is the station’s fourth year in a row earning the top honor. Congratulations to Scott Reinhart and the entire staff on the well earned recognition.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Mid Market News/Talk Radio Stations of 2025.
Additional Notes:
700 WLW wins the category for a fourth straight year. The Cincinnati news/talk powerhouse has never lost since the series started in 2022. WLW finished thirty eight (38) points in front of WWL in New Orleans to score the win. A category best four ((4) first-place votes came WLW’s way as well.
Spots 21-25 belonged to KLBJ, WDBO, WTMJ, WRVA, and WREC.
The closest contest was in 8th place. WTAM nipped WBT by one (1) point.
Of the 82 shows to appear on submitted ballots, nine (9) received at least one 1st place vote.
BM Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:
Wednesday February 18 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market News Media Digital Shows of 2025
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries.Sign upfor our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Thank you for checking out ‘The Industry According To’. This series runs each Tuesday, and features radio and record industry executives, managers, programmers, talent, artists, and professionals from all areas of the business world. To be considered as a future guest, email me at keithblackboxgroup@gmail.com.
Today we’re taking the elevator to the C-Suite with a highly decorated executive who most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and previously Regional President at Audacy, Susan Larkin.
Radio and media have been her focus since she graduated college, and she quickly rose through the ranks. Susan brings the perspective of someone who has worked at the highest level and is not only bullish on radio, but who understands the pressures of Wall Street while championing innovation and smart risk-taking.
So, let’s dive in.
The 30,000 Foot View
Keith: As part of major executive restructuring at Audacy, you’ve been out of the large scale, day-to-day leadership role. What do you see more clearly now that you may not have or couldn’t see when you were in the trenches grinding every day?
Susan: When you are in the trenches, in many cases, you are solving today’s fire or issue. When you step back you see patterns and you can also look at the business completely objectively. Radio’s core strengths of trust and daily habit remain intact. The structural issue is modernization of its distribution and consumption experience. And the need for even more speed towards advanced infrastructure and revenue models, along with talent strategies that match today’s consumer preferences.
Radio’s Perception Problem
Keith: You mentioned you’ve been having conversations with people outside the industry and noticed radio’s perception may be off. What are you hearing?
Susan: Outside the industry, there are some that think that radio is smaller and weaker than it is. Others just don’t understand its impact and importance in peoples’ lives. It’s often miscast as an ‘old school’ media. There may not be an awareness of the digital transformation that has occurred, its impact on communities and marketing and experiential opportunities it delivers. The narrative has not caught up with audio’s reality.
We need to put real energy into telling the story with data, together as an industry. The RAB and Katz Media Group have helped to bring industry leaders together to speak in one voice. There is so much great research that companies are investing in to provide the facts around radio’s efficacy. While the research is shared amongst the industry, advertisers and stakeholders, we need to be even more deliberate with speed and coverage to break through.
The Talent Pool
Keith: Where is the industry’s talent the strongest right now? Where is it on thin ice? On-air talent, leadership, sales, creativity, risk tolerance or somewhere else?
Susan: We have really strong talent throughout all elements of the business. The biggest issue is that the bench is not as strong as it should be. We are doing more with less. Where we are thin is bold creative risk taking and long-term talent development. We have become efficient operators.
However, innovation takes oxygen. When budgets compress, risk tolerance disappears. It’s understandable. We must use technology to automate low-priority tasks and create resources to solve for development. The hard truth is the only way to continue to innovate for profitable growth is to self fund, because the math doesn’t work otherwise. No one knows the businesses, cultures and economies that exist within our communities better than the teams both on the content and revenue side. If we can create the capacity and invest smartly in where those audiences are going and how to monetize effectively, we will see the returns.
Local vs. Scale
Keith: The corporate teams talk about scale. The boots on the ground talk about local connection. From your view, where does the industry get that balance right and wrong?
Susan: Scale gives us buying power, tech leverage and national opportunities across a variety of revenue streams. Local delivers relevance and loyalty. We get it right when scale enhances local execution and our teams work together. For advertisers, plans that deliver national coverage and consistency, coupled with local relevance always deliver better ROAS than other media. Reducing redundancy and making sure the teams are prioritizing and focusing on their most effective levers is really important.
Budget Realities
Keith: Market Managers and PDs often say budgets are tighter than ever — sometimes to the point where meaningful investment feels impossible. From your vantage point, how real is the budget crisis across radio right now? Are we really at the “sell the vans” stage of the business?
Susan: Budget pressure is real. Public company debt structures and private equity returns are not theoretical. They are math. While this isn’t every single company, it affects most. I wouldn’t characterize it as selling the vans (although in cases that may be a low priority asset). The industry has become lean. The bigger issue isn’t cost cutting, it’s capital allocation. Where we choose to invest matters the most: technology, data, distribution, or new monetization channels. That should be where the most time and energy is spent.
Focal Points
Keith: Being COO or Regional President means sometimes making decisions that strengthen the parent company but may hurt a cluster or individual brand. How did you and your teams approach those tradeoff decisions where there were clear ups and downs?
Susan: The question can’t be “who wins”. It has to be “What strengthens the entire organization”. Sometimes that meant consolidating resources, sometimes that meant protecting or enabling a local brand because its long-term equity outweighed short-term savings. I believe the key is transparency. If the team understands the why, and have an opportunity to contribute to decision-making with data-informed points then tough decisions earn respect even if not everyone agrees with them.
Downsizing
Keith: Downsizing decisions are some of the hardest in the business. Can you give us some visibility into how those decisions actually get made? Is it strictly financial targets or does it become more granular at the market level and line-by-line?
Susan: Downsizing decisions are financial first. They have to be. Targets are real. But the execution is much more granular than people assume. It can be market by market, business unit by business unit and role by role. The hardest part isn’t the spreadsheet. You must weigh risk and conduct sensitivity analysis. However, knowing that talented people are impacted by forces larger than their performance, those decisions stay with you.
What’s Radio’s Super Power?
Keith: The radio industry often leads with reach as its superpower. That’s an aggregate industry number though, not what a local advertiser gets. What do you lean on that will convince a local advertiser to invest in radio today?
Susan: Radio’s superpower isn’t just reach. It’s influence coupled with frequency. A local advertiser doesn’t need “the industry’s reach”. They need trusted voices that move behavior in a market. When radio integrates personality, community presence, digital marketing and experiential, ROI becomes visible.
Digital Without Buzzwords
Keith: “Digital transformation” has been the mantra for years. Now that you’ve had some distance from the day-to-day, what has radio genuinely gotten right and where has it gone after the broader idea without seeing much real value in return yet?
Susan: Radio has improved distribution, digital access for content and ad tech, digital marketing solutions and podcasting integration. We still have a lot of work to do. Industry solutions for more unified data systems, more automated workflows and scalable monetization infrastructure. Technology can’t sit adjacent to the business. It must be embedded in how the business operates as a culture shift and often, culture moves slower than tech. That’s a challenge all industries under massive transformation face.
It’s important to note that both SiriusXM and Spotify called out their strategy to take share from AM/FM radio in their latest quarterly earnings release. Why? Because radio delivers a consistent, high-value, targetable audience with real buying power. This is a coveted audience. To deliver against this mandate, SXM will be lowering subscription pricing and Spotify will be offering more personalization levers for listeners and creators.
Who or What Guides Executives
Keith: Beyond stock price and quarterly earnings, how do executives get better, smarter, more aggressive? How do they learn? Who or what pushes their thinking forward?
Susan: Great executives are not just driven by stock price or EBITDA delivery. They are driven by legacy and stewardship. The best ones surround themselves with people that will disagree intelligently. You don’t get better by being the smartest person in the room. You get better by being curious. I would say comfort is the enemy of evolution. Financial discipline coupled with a genuine passion for the business and a vision for where it goes to meet consumers and advertisers is the winning formula.
Today’s Newcomers
Keith: A 23 year-old wanting to enter the business comes into your office and asks for some mentoring. Which skills are most important for them to learn? Which direction are you pushing them towards (programming, sales, finance, podcasting, etc.)?
Susan: I love this and have had that experience many times. I tell them that you need to understand how the money flows and the mechanics of revenue. Everyone contributes in different ways. The most successful personalities are highly engaged in how much revenue they are generating and how it’s happening: engagement, ratings, influence, etc. Audience development also matters and of course digital fluency is table stakes. If you really want to have a long term successful career in this business, be curious, seek out mentors, have some patience and above all, never take yourself too seriously.
The One Thing
Keith: You step back into an executive role tomorrow and can change one structural thing about the radio industry. What is it?
Susan: I seem to get this question at least once a week. While each situation is unique, the common theme for most companies in our industry is to align incentives around long term value creation. That of course applies to macro capital allocation and investment, but it also means compensation plans need to match outcomes and long-term performance, not just quarterly delivery.
What’s Next?
Keith: What’s next for you? Entrepreneurship, re-joining the executive ranks, or something totally different?
Susan: I’m most energized by building and growth. That means building teams, modernizing infrastructure and revenue models with technology, and most importantly, creating environments where smart risk is encouraged. I want the opportunity to provide real value creation and impact, because that’s where meaningful work happens. Stay tuned!
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It was another loud and raucous weekend in Daytona Beach as “The Great American Race” kicked off the NASCAR season. It marked the passing of the torch from one Super Bowl to another, albeit in a completely different sport. Millions gathered around televisions from coast to coast to watch their favorite drivers fly around the 2½-mile oval at speeds one can only imagine. Bringing their stories to life for the viewing audience begins two hours before the checkered flag, as Chris Myers welcomed fans around the world for the 23rd Daytona 500 broadcast on FOX Sports.
Since 2001, Myers has been one of three original members of the FOX NASCAR broadcasting team. He has hosted the prerace, postrace, and weather delay coverage of the annual event on FOX for more than two decades. However, the initial phone call to join the broadcast team in 2000 wasn’t one Myers ever expected.
“I had interviewed some guys like Dale Earnhardt and done highlights on SportsCenter, but I never really covered NASCAR before,” explained Myers. “They told me that they wanted a broader view to the broadcast. They wanted to make it a bigger event, not just for the race fan.”
From that call came an opportunity to add another layer to an already impressive broadcasting resume for Myers. His early background in sports radio helped elevate him to ESPN as a reporter and anchor. When he joined FOX Sports in 1998, the opportunity to be part of the “Super Bowl of racing” wasn’t on his radar.
Growing Into The Sport
Myers grew up more of a “stick and ball” kid. His father worked for Chrysler and had been into cars his whole life. Therefore, leaning on the knowledge and passion his father and brother had for the sport became a natural way to educate himself as he prepared for the FOX Sports broadcast.
“The unique part of the Daytona 500 is it’s the opening of the season for NASCAR, but it’s also the most important race,” says Myers. “There is more preparation. Having covered the World Series and the Super Bowl before, the magnitude of those events helped me relax a bit heading into my first Daytona 500. Now that we’re doing our 23rd on FOX Sports, you’re relaxed but it’s still a broadcast that’s very important.”
The depth of coverage has only grown with time and evolving technology. Today, access to drivers through live radio and video from the track gives audiences a perspective few sports can match. Enhanced audio capabilities further elevate the experience. Real-time conversations with crew chiefs about strategy add another dimension. The result is one of FOX Sports’ most distinctive broadcasts of the year.
“Each year we try to do things a little better. So people can enjoy watching their drivers without too much getting in the way of the viewing experience,” said Myers. “On the pre and postrace show, I wanted to get more people into the tent, so it’s not just a bunch of left turns. Let’s talk more about the strategy, and get to know the drivers a little more… The drivers have always been very cooperative.”
Being Ready For Anything
Myers’ work schedule in the early part of the year is never dull. He recently wrapped up another season calling NFL games for the network, working his 400th overall NFL broadcast and ranking 22nd all time among broadcasters for most NFL games called.
Versatility has allowed Myers to reach that milestone. He has evolved from reporter to sideline presence, studio host to play-by-play announcer. Moreover, he remains a student of his craft and approaches every opportunity like the Super Bowl.
“If you can do a lot of things good enough, you’re going to stay employed for a long time. As a sports fan, I would be bored with just one sport if they weren’t playing,” says Myers of his multiple roles working different sports for FOX Sports. “It’s important no matter the event. I try to put all of myself into thinking about what the viewer wants to see. Because it’s important to them and the people involved with the event.”
Myers admits he’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and he doesn’t attempt to fool the viewer by sounding fully knowledgeable on every subject. Instead, his strength lies in his curiosity and his goal of asking the right questions of the right people. He focuses on connecting with the audience and enhancing the broadcast for a more enjoyable experience.
The Art Of The Critique
His play-by-play work for FOX Sports centers on the National Football League for the network, and he has also called Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason games since 2005. A role he’s held consistently for nearly two decades. As a public figure, every voice of the game faces criticism. Myers is no stranger to it and regularly reviews his work to find ways to improve. In fact, he welcomes a sincere critique from the viewing audience.
However, in recent years he has noticed that online criticism of his work and that of his colleagues across networks has grown louder and more hateful.
“There’s more ways to express yourself than ever, and they often criticize people more than they complement,” explained Myers. “The game should be the thing; I don’t want to be the story when we’re calling a game… It’s a little more intense and over the top hatred at some times with what’s going on. You just block it out. No one likes to be criticized in just a hateful manner.”
Myers understands that every viewer’s expectations differ. Thus, the search for a perfect call in the biggest moments is nearly impossible. Still, he has his own approach depending on which side of the field is involved.
“I’ve learned you can’t script anything, because it doesn’t sound authentic,” said Myers. “If it’s a home team that has the big play, the crowd is going to go crazy. I don’t want to be talking over that, and neither should our analysts. When it’s a road team, the fewer words the better but you’re excited either way.”
While Chris Myers is nationally known for his work on FOX Sports, he has also served as the local voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason for more than two decades. He works alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronde Barber on the local broadcast. That partnership has strengthened his connection with Buccaneers fans.
Entering this season, the Buccaneers franchise is searching for a new home radio voice after Gene Deckerhoff stepped down from his post following 37 seasons. Although his duties with FOX Sports remain, the idea of doing something more permanent in Tampa Bay isn’t off his radar.
“Right now, I’m committed to FOX, and I think the Buccaneers understand that. I’ve been in contact with them. I knew this was coming up. Ronde and I have talked about doing something together later down the road. Depending on who’s on the job,” said Myers. “If it was a different time in my career and not working NFL games for FOX Sports, then I would certainly be interested in the role.”
It’s been two days since the Daytona 500 checkered flag was stored away for another year. Now the NASCAR regular season is off to the races. For Myers, the opportunities that continue to roll in while working for FOX Sports remain a blessing. He became the first person to host coverage of both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500, while also calling NFL play-by-play and handling baseball assignments in between.
Still, there’s one item Myers hopes to accomplish with FOX Sports before eventually enjoying retirement.
“I haven’t called an NFL playoff game. That would be nice to do on TV for FOX Sports,” said Myers. “Some things I’ve done kind of fell into place that weren’t on the bucket list to start, but now that they’re on there that’s special.”
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Long time coming. Those were the words I shared with my former colleagues at iHeartMedia’s WDAE in Tampa Bay last week when the news became official: WDAE will finally operate with a full FM signal for the first time in its history.
I was overjoyed. Since departing the station in November 2024 due to a reduction in force, I’ve watched from a distance. Seeing the continued growth — and now the long-awaited opportunity — feels both validating and overdue. Because it is.
In 2026, the two sports radio brands I call home — WDAE in Tampa Bay and The Score in Chicago — are going FM for the first time in meaningful fashion. Moving sports radio to FM isn’t groundbreaking. The timing, however, is. The takeaway is simple: It has never been more vital for sports talk brands to be heard on FM.
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Sports radio is no longer surviving on luck. It is a format built on passionate listeners and talent who craft compelling content. People connect with sports radio for one reason above all else: the content is the people.
That is something broadcast companies — especially those that preach locality while making strictly “business” decisions — often forget.
Sports radio has always been built on voices. It began with passionate fans turning America’s most popular reality show — sports — into daily conversation. Sports radio became the muse for billion-dollar sports debate television. It delivered what podcasting later tried to replicate: a megaphone of connection, with real-time participation.
Yet for years, corporate radio often treated sports radio as a risk.
Talent costs money. Music stations allow consolidation. One personality can voice-track multiple markets. Hit songs do the heavy lifting. The margins look cleaner on paper. Sports talk, on the other hand, requires investment. It demands strong personalities, live programming, and local engagement.
But here’s what the latest State of Sports Media data shows: 59% of sports audio listeners tune into AM/FM. Podcasts draw 36%. At the same time, advertisers continue to undervalue radio’s reach, even though it delivers larger audiences at lower cost.
Local sports radio remains a revenue engine when done correctly. That’s why sports radio now belongs at the forefront of a broadcast company’s business plan, not as an afterthought.
iHeartMedia’s decision to place WDAE on a full 95.7 FM signal reflects that realization.
Discussions about upgrading WDAE’s signal have circulated internally for years. When the station added a 95.3 FM simulcast in 2013, it was largely reactive — a response to a competitor entering the market on FM.
But 95.3 FM never compared to what 95.7 FM will provide. This is a substantial upgrade in signal strength and market coverage. It meaningfully improves the station’s long-term health, and for the better.
For more than a decade, however, the internal debate centered on one question: revenue.
Could WDAE generate enough revenue to justify replacing another station’s signal? Could it meet — and exceed — financial expectations? For years, leadership viewed that equation as more risk than reward. Despite strong ratings and digital growth, hesitation remained. Leadership lacked confidence that the local sales staff could sell through what was required to justify the move.
WDAE surrendered a local daypart to syndication. The 95.7 frequency transitioned formats. New market leadership arrived. The internal philosophy began to shift.
Still, it’s fair to ask: Is this move proactive strategy or reactive positioning?
When WDAE added an FM translator years ago, it responded to competition. Now, major local sports partners — including the Tampa Bay Lightning and the University of South Florida — have secured FM homes. Did a new ownership group with the Tampa Bay Rays question why they would remain the only professional franchise in the market without a full-FM signal carrying their product? Did that factor into the decision?
Perhaps not. At the same time, removing local middays in late 2024 may have reduced sellable inventory at a moment when sports talk nationally is expanding revenue through digital platforms and influencer integration.
Once again, WDAE moving to 95.7 FM appears more like a response than a strategy.
However, the real test now begins. The 95.7 FM signal offers stronger coverage, and the lineup will add more local programming. That creates new opportunity, expanded reach, and stronger positioning that the station can leverage into broader partnerships and new revenue streams. There is no guarantee that an added FM signal will increase ratings, but station management must make 95.7 FM a clear focal point.
By comparison, 104.3 The Score never had an FM signal before earlier this month. Therefore, its move to FM felt sexier, more attractive, and bolder. WDAE has operated on FM for more than a decade. Now it must sell the excitement of the new 95.7 FM signal without the novelty of being on FM for the first time.
The move also signals a shift in sales leadership. Where previous leadership lacked confidence, new leadership appears to bring a different outlook and mindset. That should give every personality on WDAE hope that management will devote more attention to their brand and platform.
This decision also reinforces iHeartMedia Tampa Bay’s commitment to the Tampa Bay Rays’ new ownership group. It could open doors to new revenue and access opportunities tied to a stadium expected in the coming years.
At the same time, the move adds pressure on the talent. With the company placing a stronger signal behind their content, immediate results must follow. The station must produce more digital, podcasting, and video elements that tie directly to the expanded FM reach. Added local programming should generate more content opportunities and create a stronger lead-in to the station’s prime afternoon daypart.
While a larger FM signal may discourage a direct sports radio competitor, the broader competition has intensified. WDAE can no longer position itself as the lone sports outlet with a limited FM presence. Now it competes on equal technical footing with nearly every FM music and talk brand in the market.
Equal footing changes everything. For years, WDAE fought with one hand tied behind its back — a powerful brand, passionate talent, loyal listeners, but a signal that did not fully match its ambition. Now that excuse is gone. Now the playing field is level.
And that’s the point.
FM in 2026 isn’t about vanity. It’s about validation. Validation that sports radio remains essential, and local personalities matter. Validation that real-time, community-driven conversation still cuts through in a fragmented media landscape.
Companies that recognize sports radio as community — not just inventory — will thrive.
Those that treat it as filler programming will continue chasing sanitized, syndicated music formats that offer short-term efficiency but limited emotional connection. This moment represents more than a frequency change. It reflects belief. Belief in local voices and sales execution. Belief that sports fans deserve a full-strength megaphone in their own backyard.
Now the opportunity is here. No more “what if” or “maybe someday”. No more handcuffs.
Preparation has finally met opportunity. This time, it cannot be reaction. It must be a strategy to win, and I continue to cheer the team for every step.
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.
Tony Katz has never chased the idea that success in talk radio requires leaving town. As the morning host on 93 WIBC, Katz has instead built something rooted firmly in Indianapolis — and now the industry has taken notice.
Voters in Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2025 have ranked Tony Katz as the top mid-market morning show in the nation for the second consecutive year, a recognition that Katz couldn’t help but celebrate.
“It’s groovy. How could it not be?” Katz said when asked about the recognition. “For the team, for the station, for Urban One, it’s a pleasure that this comes from people in the business. It’s nice. I’m not going to lie — who doesn’t think it’s nice to get the accolade and hear, ‘Hey man, you’re recognized. We see that.’”
Katz emphasized that the honor extends beyond himself.
“It’s good, and I’m glad it was good for the team, for WIBC, and for Urban One. I appreciate that, a dozen years later — almost a dozen years now — still being there. I was glad to see WIBC represented so well in mornings and afternoons.”
That mindset — appreciative but forward-looking — mirrors how Katz has approached building the show over time. Longevity, he believes, matters not just for awards, but for trust.
“I think if you’re good to your audience, which is to say you trust your audience, they will accept even the unexpected,” Katz said. “You’ve trusted them with what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling, where you’re at, how you entertain, and even when you’re trying something different, there’s a belief they’ll honestly tell you where they’re at.”
Familiarity plays a role in that equation.
“Time helps with that,” Katz said. “Longevity also means there’s something working here, something clicking, and that’s what people recognize. I’ve become synonymous with Indianapolis, and I’ve been very clear that I’m not looking to leave. I’m looking to build my world out of Indy.”
That local-first philosophy runs counter to the traditional talk radio narrative, where major markets were long viewed as eventual stepping stones. However, with a nationally syndicated midday show — Tony Katz Today — the 93 WIBC is hoping to build a media empire from the Indiana capital.
“When I got here, after about six months of people understanding the kind of show I was doing, it was, ‘Hey man, great show — when are you leaving?’” Katz said. “I got asked that every day, every week. It was assumed Indianapolis was a stepping stone, and I never understood it.
“Was I going to have a better quality of life somewhere? Were there really going to be more riches? What was going to happen?” he continued. “I think people realize now there’s so much you can do in a place where you can really plant your flag. A lot has changed, especially with digital being part of it. Digital isn’t everything. It hasn’t replaced the morning show by any stretch, and I’ll debate that anywhere.”
Still, Katz acknowledged that technology has expanded the reach of local shows.
“Being able to build a larger-scale audience outside your initial DMA has made things easier and created more opportunities,” he said. “It’s more beneficial to sponsors and to your station. The technology helped answer the question of why you have to leave.”
For Tony Katz, the answer remains simple.
“When you live in a place as cool as Indy, there has to be a really great reason to go,” he said. “I haven’t found that reason.”
While success has followed, Katz rejects the idea that comfort should come with it.
“There’s the idea that familiarity breeds contempt, so if I say I got more comfortable, I think that’s dangerous,” he said. “Nobody should ever be perfectly comfortable. You have to constantly work at doing this well.”
Experience has changed how he handles pressure, but not how seriously he takes the craft.
“It’s radio, and anyone can be fired at any second, often for reasons that have nothing to do with talent,” Katz said. “I don’t worry about it every second of every hour of every day anymore. I work hard, I let the results speak for themselves, and I leave it there.”
That shift has brought perspective.
“There’s a little less pressure on myself every day — less fear that one wrong thing means it’s over,” Katz said. “More focus on staying locked in, working at a high level, trusting that even if today isn’t great, you come back tomorrow and make it great again.”
Despite being ranked number one nationally, Katz says the work is ongoing, particularly as he looks beyond Indianapolis.
“If you can have good results in mornings, you can have good results for stations everywhere,” Katz said. “I want to provide that.”
At the core of the show is balance — and knowing when not to be the focal point.
“At all times, it’s the mix — politics, culture, entertainment, comedy, humor, and knowing when to use each,” Katz said. “Sometimes the audience isn’t in a joking mood because of a story. You have to remember it’s not always about what interests you; it’s about what’s necessary to provide,” Katz continued. “That includes local pieces, traffic, and making sure people get what they need.
“You may get to put your name on the marquee, but there are times you’re not the story,” Tony Katz concluded. “The story is something else, and you’d better be tuned into that, giving the audience what they need at the time they need it. Sometimes that means not being the center of attention.”
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The path to entertainment, political, or sports talk radio often began behind a turntable. Most of today’s compelling, funny, conservative, and sports voices learned their craft as music jocks. They master rapid-fire timing, deep storytelling, and the art of building an audience and then keeping listeners.
The transition from reading music logs to putting a spin on pop culture has put many successful talkers on the map. Music formats require personality, a quick wit, and an instinct to read the audience. When music jocks pivot to talk, they bring a built-in rhythm and a keen instinct for content that connects. They also know the feel of when a break is finished.
Nearly every talker has a music presentation background. On the political side, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity started behind the mic in music formats. Even the dry banter of Mark Levin traces back to college radio before he set his sights on talk.
In sports talk, Dan Patrick, Colin Cowherd, and Jim Rome all experienced music radio before landing on the sports landscape. Tony Kornheiser was also familiar with a turntable long before P.T.I. became a hit.
Bob & Tom were Michigan music DJs before they stumbled their way into Q95 in Indianapolis and then into nationwide syndication. Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold were baby morning men in Petoskey, winging it with their irreverent sketches when they debuted in March 1983.
Which brings us to another unlikely pair of music talents who successfully transitioned into a talk powerhouse. Also in Indianapolis — Hammer & Nigel on Radio One’s 93 WIBC.
Jason “Hammer” Hammer and “Nigel” Laskowski helm afternoons on the political talk juggernaut. Their show, however, is far from just political talk. It resembles a frat house game room that brings debauchery to politics, juvenile jokes to pop culture, and their Hoosier-native lifestyles to local establishments.
Hammer and Nigel aren’t the typical staid news-talk hosts. They are walking and talking human resources violations who bring their listeners along for a wild afternoon ride. In their wake, Hammer and Nigel tow their talented producer, Allison Lemons, into their delinquent orbit as the de facto moral compass. Their bits have been picked up across the globe by comedy platforms and sports social accounts.
And Hammer and Nigel are wildly successful. They dominate their PM drive target in the ratings, and just last week they were voted the second Barrett Media Top 20 Mid-Market News/Talk Afternoon Show of 2025.
How did they arrive at this point? You guessed it — music radio.
A lifelong Hoosier, Jason Hammer bounced among local Central Indiana music stations for a few decades. He is a wedding DJ, hosts the occasional sportscast, and serves as a sports betting expert. Jason is also a marketing savant, having built events for longtime Indy CHR music station WZPL along with his current home, 93 WIBC.
Nigel Laskowski is also a Hoosier native. As a teen he worked in contemporary Christian radio and then at local Alternative 103.3 WOLT. Nigel did leave central Indiana for stints in Terre Haute and Austin before returning to Indianapolis.
Before their entry on 93 WIBC, Hammer & Nigel started a simple podcast. That effort eventually landed them in a non-prime slot on 93 WIBC, and later they replaced the legendary Greg Garrison in afternoon drive in 2017.
I caught up with Jason Hammer to talk about his transition into music radio and eventually the talk audio platform.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
Kevin Robinson – What was it that made you want to be in radio? When did it hit you that it could be more than a wish?
Jason Hammer – It wasn’t just radio, it was all things broadcasting. I grew up loving what David Letterman was doing. Nobody was having more fun nor doing what he was doing from a creative standpoint on television. Plus, being a kid in Indiana, Dave showed you can make it big from here in my hometown.
Dave showed you can do things a different way from what everyone else is doing and have success. I took that philosophy into my media career and realized in middle school that I had the ability to make people laugh and communicate in a way that others couldn’t.
My mind works and thinks in weird ways. That’s bad if you want to be a doctor. It’s great if you want to entertain and inform people as a radio host. I can’t do any Algebra, but dammit I know the full cast of Saved by Bell and the starting lineup of the 1986 Chicago Cubs.
Kevin Robinson – You spent time in music radio before moving into talk. Tell us about your early DJ days. Where did you start — where did you go — what did you do?
Jason Hammer – My middle and high school didn’t have a radio program, so I did TV there. I also had a fun local community channel TV show I did with my friends. That helped me gain confidence and learn how to put a show together.
Once I got to college at Ball State, I did TV but also radio. I learned there that for my sense of humor, skill set, and quick wit, radio offered the freedom to use my skill set better. Unless you had your own late-night television talk show, it was hard to do dude humor and have hot takes on a media platform in the era before YouTube and social media.
Once I started doing radio at Ball State, I loved it. I loved the freedom being a control freak, so I loved learning every aspect and becoming a one-man band so I could compete for jobs. Then make a career, and build a name for myself.
First paid gig was a small Christian station in Indy. From there I went to a New Hit Country station as a weekend and overnight DJ. From there, I landed a gig at pop station 99.5 WZPL in Indy where I was for nearly 10 years. I did everything from weekends to promotions to producing to nights.
Kevin Robinson – At what point did you start to feel that you could do talk and more than just short breaks at music stations?
Jason Hammer – After WZPL, I was out of radio and doing marketing at a casino when I started a podcast with my current radio partner Nigel Laskowski.
We were both out of radio at the time and wanted a creative outlet. We knew we were funny and talented enough to entertain an audience in long form. Our podcast became super popular, and it became our key to getting back in the business, but in the talk radio world.
Honestly, I was tired of being told that the audience wants less from the host. I wanted a throwback to that era of radio where you connect with your audience and build a relationship with them by being genuine, authentic, honest, and fearless.
Kevin Robinson – Tell us about starting the podcast before WIBC. What was the motivation — did you have coaching or did you just wing it?
Jason Hammer – Just wing it. Again, this was before everyone had one, so I used my marketing skills to promote ours. We had sponsors, and a limo pick up our guests. We were getting more website hits and downloads than a lot of major stations in Indy. Also, I used many of my old bosses and critics as motivation.
People who hired less talented people over me, bosses who never gave me a chance to do my thing. That was the motivation.
I was always successful and had great numbers and response, but certain bosses would not give me that break I needed. It’s sweet watching what I do now win national awards, sit on top of the afternoon drive ratings for eight years, and bring in millions of dollars in advertising while many of my old bosses and haters are nowhere near as successful.
Kevin Robinson – When WIBC gave you the opportunity to host your own show, what were your thoughts about the transition from podcasting? Did you have a large following to pull over to WIBC?
Jason Hammer – I wanted to do something totally different from the perception of news/talk radio.
I didn’t want to be a dime-store Rush Limbaugh. There are so many people who feel you have to fit that mold. Angry, fat guy with a cigar, wearing suspenders and talking about abortion all day, etc. I didn’t want to be that. I wanted to be me and be different.
I’ll do the news of the day and deliver the content in a way that makes people informed AND entertained. Greg Gutfeld of Fox News is the best example I can use. It took about eight months for us to win over the audience and help WIBC usher in a newer lineup. Our show was different. Lots of energy, sound clips, produced imaging, bits, and more.
From that point on, we have been atop the ratings books for men. I take big pride in the numbers of younger men. We have been able to deliver great results for the money demo of 25–54 as well as 6+ and 18+. The proof to back up everything I say is in our advertisers. Folks who advertise with us stay with us. They see results. It’s why we bring in so much money. They see the connection we make with the audience and they want to be a part of that.
Kevin Robinson – What would you say or advise to people who have been downsized from music radio or to people who want to dive into talk? What surprised you — if anything — when you got into full-time talk radio?
Jason Hammer – If you’re going to do it, you’ve gotta be authentic and you have to believe what you say. The audience is gonna know if you’re phony. Political radio especially. Politics are entertainment now. There are a lot of options, so you have to be prepared and present something people can’t get anywhere else.
If you’re coming from music radio, use the contacts you’ve had over the years and start networking. Start as a weekend host or a fill-in host and build that sizzle reel. Building a home studio isn’t the cheapest thing in the world, but it can pay for itself if you start becoming a fill-in host or doing talk radio from your home.
Kevin Robinson – Any other thoughts for those reading and considering a jump into the spoken-word platform?
Jason Hammer – Don’t let somebody tell you that you can’t make it. It sounds cheesy and cliché, but my whole career has been based off that. Tom Brady fueled his NFL career off that, and I think it worked out pretty well for him too.
You have to be willing to outwork everybody and provide something they can’t get anywhere else. You have to be authentic, but you can totally make your own path. I’m walking, living proof. The reward is your success compared to the people who tried to hold you back and who are either living miserable lives or picking up cigarette butts somewhere outside of a gas station.
We allowed ourselves to be drawn into this business because of the way we could connect. Early in our careers, we studied radio coverage patterns and stood in awe of the potential listeners we could reach.
What’s more powerful than a great oldie or a contemporary hit record? Your own voice. Radio careers evolve, platforms change, and technology reinvents the presentation. Yet the heart of broadcasting remains the same — the passion to connect and engage.
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.
