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CBS Was the Go-to Channel for Joe Biden Addressing Uvalde Mass Shooting

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Another week, another mass shooting in the United States. Since the start of the year through early June, there have been at least 240 of them in the nation. 

The most notable shooting occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex. on Tuesday, May 24, when an 18-year-old gunman murdered 19 children and two teachers with his automatic rifle. Just ten days earlier, a similarly-aged shooter killed ten people at a supermarket in a predominantly Black area in Buffalo, N.Y.

In his address on the evening of May 24, as a response to the Uvalde school massacre, President Biden called on the nation to pray for the victims and to “stand up to the gun lobby” in the wake of the day’s events. 

At 8:40 PM Eastern, Biden’s speech (approximately ten minutes in length) drew a combined 23.9 million tuned in across eleven outlets, including CNBC (218,000 viewers) and NewsNation (118,000). By virtue of its potent regularly-scheduled Tuesday night lineup, CBS was the most-watched outlet on all of television for Biden, with 5.23 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Fox News Channel was runner-up with 4.44 million; ABC (3.61 million) was third.

CBS, FNC, and ABC each delivered a 0.7 rating (equating to approximately 852,000 viewers within the age range) among the key 25-54 demographic, leading all outlets, although ABC’s larger 18-49 delivery over CBS (698,000 vs. 564,000) indicates ABC may have the slight edge in 25-54 as well.

The rest of the outlets in ranking order based on total viewers: NBC (2.48 million), CNN (2.27 million), Fox broadcast network (1.69 million), and MSNBC (1.61 million).

Univision (1.49 million) topped Telemundo (0.92 million) to be the top Spanish-language network to carry Biden.

Cable news averages for May 23-29, 2022:

Total Day (May 23-29 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.440 million viewers; 230,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.664 million viewers; 78,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.548 million viewers; 130,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.174 million viewers; 50,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.139 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.126 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.114 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.105 million viewers; 22,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (May 23-28 @ 8-11 p.m.; May 29 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 2.216 million viewers; 361,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.022 million viewers; 109,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.742 million viewers; 205,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.212 million viewers; 59,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.199 million viewers; 56,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.169 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.112 million viewers; 22,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.063 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.052 million viewers; 10,000 adults 25-54

Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top MSNBC and CNN programs with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.435 million viewers

2. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.778 million viewers

3. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.750 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 5/23/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.414 million viewers

5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 5/25/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.361 million viewers

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 5/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.303 million viewers

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 5/25/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.180 million viewers

8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.178 million viewers

9. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 5/26/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.137 million viewers

10. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.123 million viewers

24. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 5/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.267 million viewers

32. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 5/23/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.967 million viewers

378. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 5/23/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.393 million viewers

409. Sex & Murder “Deadly Breakfast Date” (HLN, late Sun. 5/29/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.315 million viewers

455. Shark Tank (CNBC, Sun. 5/29/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.274 million viewers

466. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 6185” (TBS, Sat. 5/28/2022 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.268 million viewers

504. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Tue. 5/24/2022 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.247 million viewers

679. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Tue. 5/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.179 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top CNN, MSNBC, and HLN programs with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.809 million adults 25-54

2. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 5/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.726 million adults 25-54

3. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.693 million adults 25-54

4. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.597 million adults 25-54

5. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Tue. 5/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.595 million adults 25-54

6. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.568 million adults 25-54

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 5/25/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.525 million adults 25-54

8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.517 million adults 25-54

9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 5/23/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.507 million adults 25-54

10. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 5/24/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.505 million adults 25-54

80. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell “Texas Elementary School Shooting” (MSNBC, Tue. 5/24/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.241 million adults 25-54

216. Forensic Files “Private Thoughts” (HLN, Tue. 5/24/2022 10:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.123 million adults 25-54

337. Shark Tank (CNBC, Fri. 5/27/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.089 million adults 25-54

372. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee “Episode 7214” (TBS, Thu. 5/26/2022 10:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.082 million adults 25-54

460. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Wed. 5/25/2022 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.061 million adults 25-54

626. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 5/25/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.042 million adults 25-54

725. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Fri. 5/27/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

Amazon Considering Charissa Thompson, Colleen Wolfe As Alternative To Kay Adams

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So just who is the favorite to land the studio host gig as Thursday Night Football moves to Amazon? The conventional wisdom has been that Kay Adams exiting Good Morning Football was a sign that she’d be named for the job sooner rather than later. Micheal McCarthy of Front Office Sports reports though that there are other names in the mix.

Sources have told McCarthy that Adams and Amazon do not have a deal yet. That has the streaming giant eyeing FOX’s Charissa Thompson and NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe as possible alternatives.

Adams isn’t out of the running for the job, but Amazon is considering other options in the event that she chooses to join another of her reported suitors.

Both Wolfe and Thompson are versatile media talents. They are both used in a variety of ways by their current network employers. Thompson also offers a large footprint in the digital space with her podcast Calm Down, which she does with Erin Andrews, and her Spotify Live show We’re Good Here.

Amazon declined McCarthy’s request for comment on the story.

Tucker Carlson: Raising Gas Prices is a “Clampdown on Domestic Energy”

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Fox News host Tucker Carlson thinks he knows why gas prices are so high. During a segment Friday, Carlson asserted that President Biden is strong-arming the European Union to stop buying oil from Russia as “payback” for Trump’s election in 2016.

According to a clip posted on The Wrap, Carlson also said Biden is intentionally raising gas prices as part of a “clampdown on domestic energy.”

“So, back in February, you may remember that Joe Biden pledged to destroy the Russian economy. ‘Let’s make them poor,’” Carlson said.

Carlson also criticized Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for pushing the administration’s equity and inclusion narrative. Carlson said commercial airline companies will take unprecedented measures over the next ten years.

“United has announced that 50% of its company’s pilots will be ‘women or people of color’ over the next decade,” Carlson commented. “Why should you care what the color of your pilot is? What does it have to do with anything?”

Bill Maher: The U.S. Education System Produces “Dumb” Americans

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HBO host Bill Maher said the U.S. education system produces “dumb” Americans; in a scathing monologue on Friday’s “The Real Time,” the host cited a video from Tik Tok’s Project Better. The content creator asks random people simple questions about geography and history.

In one clip, a woman who said she was studying to become a teacher failed to correctly answer which country Venice, Italy, was in.

“Before we tackle any of our daunting specific problems here in America, we have to figure out how a country can solve any problem if so many of its people are so intractably, astoundingly, mind-numbingly stupid,” said Maher.

Another group of people failed to adequately answer what country Queen Elizabeth was from and what’s the largest city in the world.

“Being a full-grown and thinking a human could walk on the sun, or that the biggest city in the world was Asia, this country simply has no education standards anymore.”

“I know it’s super important to stop the grooming of our kids or, I don’t know, to start it, and certainly critical race theory must be stricken from the curriculum or, who knows, maybe included in all of it. But you know, while we’re having those fights, could someone please notice that the kids don’t actually know anything?”

15 Years After His Last Game, Bob Wischusen Is Still a Hockey Guy

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As Bob Wischusen was working the 2021 PGA Championship for ESPN, there were rumors swirling that the network was in the mix to re-acquire NHL’s broadcast rights. Wischusen, who had been a fill-in play-by-play voice on radio for the New York Rangers years ago, wanted to be part of the coverage and decided to let his current employer know about it.

“Immediately,” said Wischusen.  “Even before it was official.”  

During some down time at the PGA, the veteran announcer decided to pay a visit to the on-site office of ESPN Vice-President and Executive Producer Mike McQuade. As it turns out, McQuade was going to be one of the main decision-makers for ESPN’s NHL coverage.  In addition to that, McQuade is a Rangers fan and remembers that Wischusen had called games before.

Wischusen decided to query McQuade about it and the discussion went very well.

“I went into his office in the trailer and I said, ‘I know we’re knee-deep in golf here,’” said Wischusen,  “’but I just want to let you know that if this turns out to be true, I’d like to be involved.’ And he was like ‘yeah, you’re involved…yeah I think it’s going to happen…you’re involved.’”

And it was as easy as that!

Once it became official that ESPN, along with Turner Sports, would take over the NHL television rights from NBC starting this season, Wischusen would be calling hockey games for the first time in about fifteen years. Hardcore hockey fans had to be wondering who he was and why ESPN stayed in-house for their play-by-play roster, but Wischusen has earned a lot of praise for his work, especially during the playoffs.

“People said a lot of nice things and that was great,” said Wischusen. “I guess if I was a lifelong hockey person, I might have felt the same way… who are these guys?”

If you are a hockey fan and you didn’t know that Bob Wischusen could call a hockey game, you certainly know that now.  Wischusen, the long-time radio voice of the New York Jets, has been nationally known for calling college football, arena football and college basketball games on ESPN for almost two decades. There weren’t too many people around the country that could have ever imagined that Wischusen would be on ESPN’s roster for hockey.  

But even though it had been about fifteen years since Wischusen last called a hockey game, ESPN made the wise choice to use him. 

“I knew what we did (ESPN using in-house announcers) was going to be under a microscope,” said Wischusen.  “That’s why I felt a little bit of added pressure to hold my end up.  No one remembered me as a hockey play-by-play guy so I was lucky that they had the faith in me to do it because they really were kind of going on blind faith.”

“It wasn’t like they had tapes to back and listen to.  I guess they just trusted after close to 20 years of being a play-by-play guy at ESPN, that when I really believed that I could do this again, that they had faith in me and let me do it.”

By the end of the season and a hectic playoff schedule, Wischusen rewarded his network for their confidence in him. The reaction from everyone around the sport, including the fans, has been overwhelmingly positive. During the season and the playoffs, Wischusen worked games for the linear ESPN channels as well as some exclusive national games that were streamed on ESPN+.

But when the season started, Wischusen knew he was going to need some time to shake off some of the rust.

“I was legitimately nervous before my first game or two,” said Wischusen.  “I know I got better as the year went on, no question. You don’t really know if you can do it again until you actually prove it yourself that you can.”

And prove it he did.

What made Wischusen’s performance all the more impressive is that a lot has changed since he last called NHL games.  The game is certainly a lot faster in 2022 than it was when Wischusen called Rangers games. There’s also more overall skill in the league now and that makes it extremely challenging for even the best hockey announcers to keep up with the action.

You have to be prepared because things can happen now at the blink of an eye.

“In the early 2000’s I’d have my line chart and if I was a little unsure of who might have been out there you had a moment to glance down at your line chart,” recalled Wischusen.  “Not now.  You start glancing at your notes, you are two or three passes behind.  The puck might be in the net while you’re not looking at the ice.”  

Hockey has always been one of Wischusen’s favorite sports. He was still able to call Rangers games when he was getting started at ESPN in a part-time role.  Once he was promoted to a full-time play-by-play voice at ESPN, Wischusen could no longer do NHL games because NBC had acquired the television rights just before he left MSG.

It would be some time before he would get the opportunity to do hockey again.

“The NHL rights and me going to ESPN were kind of like ships passing in the night,” said Wischusen.  “I remember at the time thinking… that stinks.  This is something that I really enjoy and probably could have been a part of.”

And now he is a part of it again. One of the great things about ESPN getting back into the NHL business is the return of the iconic theme music. When word started to get around that ESPN was going to get a piece of the NHL package, many hockey fans were wondering and hoping if ESPN would bring the music back. They did.

“That theme music is almost as identifiable as the Monday Night Football theme music,” said Wischusen.  “If you’re not a hockey fan, you know that music means hockey on ESPN going back to the days of Gary Thorne and Bill Clement and Tom Mees.  You know that everyone is going to be paying attention.”

Now that his hockey season has ended, Wischusen will shift his attention to the football season, but not before he enjoys some well-deserved rest and relaxation.  There’s also the matter of re-introducing himself to his family.  This last road trip he was on, between the hockey and PGA Championship, was quite lengthy.

“At this point, it’s re-setting my mind to have my children remember what I look like,” joked Wischusen. He is also reacclimating himself to not having to live out of a suitcase.  

“I did laundry and got a haircut on this road trip.  My hair was noticeably longer by the time the trip was over than when it began. I ran out of clothes. That’s an ESPN first for me.”  

So, while NFL minicamps are approaching and training camp is right around the corner, you’ll have to forgive Wischusen if he’s not focusing on that just yet. 

“I need to not have my brain think about names and numbers on jerseys for at least a little while,” said Wischusen.

Bob Wischusen’s schedule will be picking up again soon with NFL and college football as well as college basketball, but the 2022-23 NHL season will commence in October.  Now that he’s back doing hockey games, it’s something else that he will be excited about preparing for and now hockey fans will be excited to hear him call games next season.

A far cry from before this season when many of them were saying “who is Bob Wischusen?”.

Well, he’s a hockey guy.  

CEO Reflects on St. Louis Public Radio’s 50th Anniversary

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St. Louis Public Radio CEO Tina Pamintuan is reflecting on 50 years of service to the community and some of the changes that have strengthened the outlet’s resolve over the past several years.

In a piece published on KWMU’s website, Pamintuan said she wants to make sure that the public radio station is an inclusive entity that represents the community it serves.

“Every step of the way, you are either inviting people in or not inviting them in,” said Pamintuan. “And I think St. Louis Public Radio has done both in its history. It has invited people in, and it has not invited people in. And my intention during my tenure is to make sure that we are really reflecting the communities that we are representing.”

KWMU was predominantly a music station for the first 25 years of its existence. In 1996, it transitioned to a news/talk format, which coincided with the launch of “St. Louis on the Air,” hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer.

KWMU made its debut in St. Louis. They were broadcasting from Lucas Hall on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus in 1971.

Ten years ago, KWMU merged with the online publication St. Louis Beacon to provide better news coverage on multiple platforms.

“So, what I would like to see going forward is for us to not only claim the space but really engage with our community so that we know the issues that aren’t being addressed,” Pamintuan added.

Pete Weber Joins Howard and Jeremy to Celebrate 100 Years of WGR 550

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Buffalo’s WGR 550 turned 100 on May 22nd of this year. Throughout this occasion, the station has been marking the time with flashbacks and vignettes to commemorate such tremendous longevity.

Friday, Howard and Jeremy welcomed on a voice that echoed amongst that station’s corridors nearly four decades ago: Pete Weber. A brief refresher, Weber is currently the play-by-play voice of the Nashville Predators and has been since their opening season in 1998.

However, Weber’s history features stints as the voice of the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bisons (baseball), University of Buffalo and color commentator for the Buffalo Bills. He was also the former sports director at WGR.

Buffalo Radio By Martin Biniasz

Host Howard Simon asked Weber about what he remembered most when reflecting on his time with WGR. Instantly, Weber recalled a very memorable personality.

“Well, the dominant personality when I joined the station was a guy named Shane, Brother Shane (Gibson). And we can never forget him. He was something very, very special.”

Weber also remembered being a part of the station when the city’s major sports franchises were all coming to WGR at the same time.

“It was an exciting time in that it was bringing all the sports properties to 550 on the dial. It was presentations to bring the Bills over. That happened beginning with the 1990 season and we know what happened that season and the next three. To get the Sabres over after having started their National Hockey League lives on GR 55 and then coming over in 1990. It was a very, very exciting time.”

A trip down memory lane for Weber was filled with some of Buffalo’s most noteworthy radio names. “It was an exciting time. Had the chance to work with George Hamberger in the morning, had an awful lot of fun with him. And then when you think about the Jeff Morisons, the Barry Beutels, Greg Brown, I’m still in contact with all of them. That was a tremendous team.”

Howard brought up Artie Baby Boo-Boo (Art Wander) and Chuck “The Coach” Dickerson.

“Very interesting personalities indeed,” quipped Weber.

“And I challenge anybody to be able to play the piano as well as Art Wander could play the piano. You sit down in the hotel lobby and there is a grand piano. Who goes over there but Art Wander and starts to, you know, tickle the keys and all of a sudden producing some very nice music.”

Weber had one more former WGR force he wanted to acknowledge before hanging up.

John Otto

“I guess there was no greater curiosity as a personality than John Otto. That’s why a couple of my dearest memories are of John joining me in the Bison broadcast booth. And when I listened back to those recordings, I still convulse with laughter. He he was just amazing. He would come on the air, he goes, ‘oh, my, my, yes. Oh, they put the names up on the scoreboard. Our dear sports director had not impressed me with that beforehand.’

Attorney for Deshaun Watson Says Happy Endings Aren’t “Necessarily Illegal”

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Cleveland’s newest quarterback may be out of Texas, but his legal battles remain ongoing there. Rusty Hardin, the lead attorney for Deshaun Watson, joined with fellow attorney, and Hardin associate, Leah Graham to discuss their client’s case with Sports Radio 610’s Payne & Pendergast in Houston.

The NFL is still investigating the quarterback after allegations of sexual misconduct with massage therapists. He has been cleared criminally, but the league has yet to rule on potential punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The pair of lawyers joined the show for nearly forty-five minutes. It was Hardin’s final comments that seemed to lay out a bizarre defense for the former Houston Texan. Hardin would finish his segment, “I don’t know how many men are out there now that have had a massage that perhaps, occasionally there was a “happy ending”. Maybe there’s nobody in your listening audience that ever happened to.”

The latest comments by Watson’s attorney will do little to quell the anger that many feel about the player and most recently his massive, player-friendly contract.

The 80-year old attorney did want to clarify the alleged legality of what Watson was accused of. “I do want to point out: if it has happened, it’s not a crime, ok? Unless you are paying somebody extra or so to give you some type of sexual activity, it’s not a crime. And so at the end of the day, that’s another thing that would affect conduct. Doing something or saying something or being a way that makes you uncomfortable, is not a crime.”

There is clearly some frustration emanating from Watson’s legal team at the pace of the league’s internal investigation. “We’ve had two grand juries find that but nobody seems to want to listen.”

UPDATE

Hardin has responded to the reaction to his initial comments made on Payne & Pendergast today, saying in part: “On a Houston radio show interview today, I mentioned that a massage that has a “happy ending” is not illegal, meaning it is not illegal for someone to have consensual sex with a therapist after a massage unless the sex is for pay. Deshaun did not pay anyone for sex. I was using the term hypothetically and not describing Deshaun’s case.”

His full statement is below.

Chris Duel Show Ends On Ticket 760 in San Antonio

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Texas radio continues to shift. Chris Duel, host of The Chris Duel Show, will no longer be a part of Sports Ticket 760 in San Antonio. iHeartMedia made the move and dropped the local morning show completely. It aired on Sports Ticket 760 KTKR San Antonio and 1300 The Zone KVET Austin

Duel will move over to iHeart’s News/Talk 1200 WOAI San Antonio. There he will join Charlie Parker, Tim Merryman, and Charity McCurdy on San Antonio’s First News from 5-9am. Joining him in the move will be “soundscape stylist” Jeremy Kozak who was also a member of The Chris Duel Show.

Duel also hosts Spurs NetCenter and the post-game show Spurs React on WOAI following San Antonio Spurs games.

The move marks a homecoming to WOAI for Duel. He began his career at the station in 1997. He worked at 550 KTSA and ESPN 1250 KZDC from 2004 to 2012. Then he joined KTKR as afternoon host in 2015. Mike Taylor and he would swap dayparts in early 2020 moving to mornings on both stations.

KTKR and KVET no longer have a local morning show. The stations carry identical lineups featuring Fox Sports Radio programming. The two stations now carry 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe in the morning timeslot.

Brent Musburger Out As Voice of The Las Vegas Raiders

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Brent Musburger will not be calling Las Vegas Raiders games anymore. The broadcast legend confirmed that his time behind the mic for the Silver and Black has come to an end.

Details of why Musburger will no longer be involved are scarce at the moment. But Musburger said his goodbyes via Twitter with no explanation.

The Raiders hired Brent Musburger in 2018 after parting ways with Greg Papa, who has since become the play-by-play voice of the San Francisco 49ers. Musburger called the team’s final season in Oakland and has been the radio voice for the franchise ever since they arrived in Las Vegas.

No official announcement has been made by the Las Vegas Raiders. It is unknown if there is a favorite or even a list of potential candidates to replace Musburger.