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Phil’s Future Five: Why You Need to Be On Bella Kay, Ella Langley, and Luke Combs

Phil Becker
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Phil’s Future Five: Why You Need to Be On Bella Kay, Ella Langley, and Luke Combs

This week’s Phil’s Future Five includes a look at songs from Luke Combs, Ella Langley, and Bella Kay, among others.

Programmers love to say they “follow the audience,” but a number of them only do that when the audience and the impact week are holding hands.

The minute a record requires a little nerve, a little imagination, or – heaven forbid – stepping out (cue dun dun dah SFX), suddenly we need three meetings, two weeks of callout, and one corporate blessing from someone whose station still plays a song in power because it tested well in (checks notes) Q4 of 2024, with Q3 momentum, in the key demo of the key demo’s demo.

That is why Phil’s Future Five exists.

To help you quickly spot records outside the Top 30, regardless of format, that are positioned to break before everybody else acts like they discovered “fire.” Gen Z reference, not caveman reference, though in some of radio’s case, both feel weirdly accurate.

To the hundreds of programmers I’ve managed, I always say: Test three. Add two. Own one.

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CHR: Bella Kay – “iloveitiloveitiloveit”
Current Mediabase Position: #36

While the song is spelled like my keyboard got stuck, Bella had a strategy behind the track, her aesthetic, her rollout and asking the audience to make it the theme song for bad decisions.

There is also a major stat here that is much bigger than “nice streaming story, call me later.” She has the most-streamed 2026 release by any female artist on Spotify!

So yes, by all means, keep waiting if you want your station to be the theme song for bad decisions.

Why Move Now: See above
Risk Level: Low
Prediction: CHR Top 5

Early Believers: Cox, SiriusXM, Adams Radio Group, Steven’s Broadcasting

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Rhythmic: Don Toliver – “E85”
Current Mediabase Position: #30

If a song talks about being in a car – your number one listening location- and is produced by Travis Scott, has tempo for spring, and is doing well over 11 million streams this week, you don’t need a twelve-person task force to decide whether to play it, and you don’t t need to wait for Atlantic to call you and tell you they are switching singles.

In a format where absolute stiffs can chart when the machine drives it, this is one that actually deserves to be driven. Hit the gas, E85 pun intended.

Why Move Now: A better storyline than a lot of records already getting spins.
Risk Level: Medium
Prediction: Top 10

Early Believers: Audacy, Summit, Lotus, Reynolds

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Country: Ella Langley – “Be Her”
Current Mediabase Position: #30

Ella Langley feels like what happens when Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, and Jaclyn Smith all walk into a writer’s room. She has the look. And she has a point of view. She has the work ethic, and most importantly, she has the songs.

I saw her in person a few weeks ago, and she’s the real deal. An artist with both range and repeatability. “Be Her” keeps the momentum going, while “Dandelion” and “Loving Life Again” make it clear she is not some one record, one format fluke.

And her profile only got bigger this week after taking home iHeart’s Best New Country Artist honor. You know, that award show from the company with the lowercase i, uppercase H branding choice. Not to be confused with Apple, which basically turned the lowercase i into ip. iSee you, iHeart.

Why Move Now: She can work across multiple lanes without losing the room she came from.
Risk Level: Very low
Prediction: #1

Early Believers: Audacy, Connoisseur, Summit

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Country: Luke Combs – “Be By You”
Current Mediabase Position: #73

Maybe because I was a two-time presenter at CRS earlier this month, but yes, this week I am putting two country songs in Future Five.

Luke Combs is a great example of a nice guy not finishing last.

Arena headliner, podcast superstar guest, family man, balancing the road with being home for his three young boys; somewhere Taylor Sheridan is already writing.

Multiple stories have talked about how deliberately he is scheduling his 2026 run around family life, which only adds to me rooting for him even more.

Right now, Luke has two of the top 10 songs at Country radio, and “Be By You” is here waiting to go in your concert promo and hopefully your playlist.

Why Move Now: Broad format trust, and a public narrative that makes him feel connected.
Risk Level: Very low
Prediction: #1

Early Believers: Bonneville, Audacy, Cumulus

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Outside the Lines Pick of the Week

CHR / Hot AC: Sienna Spiro – “The Visitor”
Current Mediabase Position: #275

In the last three weeks, The Hollywood Reporter profiled her as a breakout artist, the Chicago Sun-Times called her “the next ‘it’ girl,” and her single “The Visitor” is the No. 1 trending song in the U.K.

Internationally, it is already making noise, No. 14 in Ireland, and No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

At just 20, Sienna’s early story has a little Adele vibe, the same kind of young but old soul arrival that gave us 19, 21, and 25; perfect Adele albums and Powerball numbers.

Why Move Now: Critical co-signs, chart proof, and an Olivia Dean-meets-Adele energy.
Risk Level: Medium
Prediction: Top 20
Early Believers: None

Phil’s Future Five is not just to identify records that will chart. It is to get back to judging songs for what they are, what they sound like, and putting the fan first.

Not what the email says, not what another market did, and not what feels safest in a meeting full of people trying not to be blamed.

I’ll see you in two weeks with five more (covers crystal ball).

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.

Whether It’s March Madness or the Radio Business, It’s Always About the Team

Jim Ryan
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Whether It’s March Madness or the Radio Business, It’s Always About the Team

Even if you’re not a basketball fan, you had to be aware of March Madness and the spectacular games from both the men’s and women’s teams going down to the Final Four. Braylon Mullins’ incredible 3-point shot to give the University of Connecticut the victory over Duke on Sunday was the exclamation point on the Elite Eight weekend of men’s games.

If you watched any of these March Madness contests, you had to admire the teamwork. Even in the post-game press conferences, there was no grandstanding — it was all about the team. Before Braylon Mullins made the winning basket, he passed the ball to another player. Alex Karaban, who had far more experience, passed it back to Mullins as he was open for the shot. And the kid is a freshman. He was not the leading shooter on the team, but someone who, at that moment, was in the best position to help the team. It was not uncommon throughout these games to hear a player talk about one more unselfish pass to a teammate who had a better shot.

The old saying “teamwork makes the dream work” was certainly true on the March Madness court this weekend. Hopefully, it is also true at your station. Just like building a great basketball team starts with recruiting the right players from high schools and the transfer portal, building a successful radio station begins with hiring people who fit your station’s culture.

When you hire great people who fit your culture, those people can advance in your organization, which also helps team building. There were two promotions this week that underscore that point. Debbie Kenyon joined the CBS team in Detroit 25 years ago and rose to become Market Manager. Her team building was rewarded with a promotion to Regional President of Audacy.

Trevor Marden was recruited from his position with Scott Shannon at CBS-FM and hired by iHeart in 2019. His work there led to the producer job at Jim Kerr’s morning show. This week, Trevor — the consummate team player — was promoted to co-host.

Both Debbie and Trevor always operated with the attitude of creating maximum success for their team. Debbie’s stations always outperformed her competitors. She was the biggest advocate of her star programmer Tim Roberts, and was the first to highlight his wins. Trevor stepped up during COVID and made sure the show went on every day for Jim Kerr. He did whatever was needed for the team. They were two outstanding promotions.

Every radio station I know of has a smaller staff than it did six years ago. Everyone needs to step up their game for the team. Over the years, I’ve collected a few items that work. Some are simply common sense, but here they are.

There is no place on the team for someone who says, “It’s not my job.” There’s no job in a radio station beneath any of us. Chances are, with economics being what they are, you’re not about to have an abundance of assistants any time soon.

We all make mistakes. If you have any part in one, take responsibility. Saying “I screwed up — that could have been done better” not only takes the pressure off your teammates, but ends the worst part of any problem: finding out who was at fault.

When you find an error from a member of the team, go directly to them instead of going to management or ignoring it — and do it in a non-threatening manner. A simple “hey, I happened to notice your facts were incorrect” on something like a social media post enables a quick fix.

Give recognition to someone who deserves it. There is nothing more powerful in a team meeting than shouting out an achievement by one of your co-workers. Maybe even buy them a coffee, a drink, or lunch to celebrate their victory.

When talking about accomplishments, always explain the successes with “we,” not “I.” It might have been your idea, or you may have done the majority of the work, but nobody will ever think less of you for sharing credit.

Share content with other shows that you think they may be interested in. Not everyone can read every publication or get the same social media feeds. When you see something unique, share it — even if you’re going to use it on your show.

If you watch the Final Four games this weekend, stay a couple of extra minutes for the post-game interviews. Odds are that the March Madness winners will always talk more about the team’s accomplishments than what they did individually. These kids have learned well from their coaches.

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.

No Politics, No Problem: How Tim Conway Jr. Built a Loyal LA Audience on KFI-AM 640

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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No Politics, No Problem: How Tim Conway Jr. Built a Loyal LA Audience on KFI-AM 640

Minimal sports and close to no politics. KFI AM-640’s Tim Conway Jr. has a better approach to getting the audience’s attention.

“We concentrate on local (expletives),” the evening host quipped. “And in Los Angeles, there’s never, ever, ever a shortage of that crew.”

Growing up, Conway loved hearing legendary radio casters Vin Scully and Bob Miller. “[They] are the two reasons I really wanted to do this,” he recalled. “But I wasn’t good enough or committed enough to do sports, because you have to read all the time.”

Conway added, “You have to know all the players, and I didn’t want that kind of commitment in life.”

Covering politics can also be a pretty big commitment. “We don’t really do much politics anymore because everybody’s so entrenched. Everybody’s in one camp or the other, and there’s no way you can convince them to get out.”

So, jeering at local nuisances stuck. Luckily for Conway, the City of Angels has no shortage of demons trying to dismantle it. “The high-speed chases, the people breaking into your car, people stealing, people robbing, the fires,” the evening host said. “We do some sports as well, but not a lot. It’s basically keeping an eye on — and focusing on — the people that make life miserable in LA.”

After ranking #5 on Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market News/Talk Afternoon Shows, Conway and the team at KFI decided to move his show back to his nightside home.

“The program director wanted more local politics, more national politics during the day, and I just didn’t want to do that,” Conway admitted. “I love the audience at night, 6 to 10 p.m. That’s where I started at KLSX and did it for 12 years, and then I was at KFI doing that for 10 or 11 years [before] they moved me to the afternoon.”

Another reason Conway is excited about his evening timeslot: “I think [this audience is] the funniest audience in the world. I really enjoy being back.” He added, “This audience is able to relax a little, take the edge off, and I just think that night owls — guys and women who are up at night — are under a little more pressure than morning people, and that pressure equates to comedy.”

The return of his evening timeslot might bring back one of his most beloved segments, “What the Hell Did Jesse Jackson Say?” For those not familiar with the segment, Conway elaborated, “We’d play Jesse Jackson clips, and then we’d give away prizes if you could identify what he said.”

He added, “We even had Jesse on one night, and I said, ‘Hey, Jesse, it’s Conway from LA. Can I play you a clip? Can you tell me what you’re saying?’ And I think he was a little confused, and he said, ‘Yeah, sure, go ahead.’ We played the clip, and I said, ‘What are you saying here?’ And he goes, ‘I have no idea.'”

When Jackson got sick, Conway determined it was not appropriate to continue the segment. Conway noted, “The day that I went back to evenings, 6 to 10 p.m., is the exact same day he died.” Listeners might see a return of the beloved segment.

But one of the most meaningful moments from his show came when he was on KFI working nightside, 10 to 15 years ago. “This kid, Jack Chavez, called us up, and I always say at the end of the conversation [with a kid], ‘You got 30 seconds here. Tell me why you have the best mom or dad in the world.'”

Chavez’s answer still gets Conway choked up to this day. “[This kid Jack Chavez] said, ‘Well, my dad and I used to listen to talk radio together, and then he passed away. Now my mom takes care of me, and she puts a roof over my head and feeds me.'”

Conway remarked, “To hear a kid at 10 years old say he thanks his mom for feeding him just killed me. I know I sound like an emotional wreck, but it wiped me out.”

Conway knew this Chavez was special and wanted to help out. So Conway, along with his audience, raised money for Chavez and his mom to go to Disney.

“We put together a GoFundMe, hoping to raise $5,000 and send him to Disney World. So we did that on a Tuesday.” Conway recalled, “By Thursday morning, we had raised over $75,000 for this kid.”

Chavez has been a recurring caller for Conway and the team. “He and his mom still call once a year to thank us. He’s gone through junior high and high school. He’s going off to college. And he’s just a really great, sweet kid. That’s like the number one call we’ve ever gotten.”

This is why Tim Conway Jr. believes he has “the best audience in the world. The KFI audience is the best audience in the world.”

He also noted that having a great audience is one of the key ingredients to a great show. “When you’re driving, nobody gets home by five o’clock in LA. Nobody gets home by six. Everybody’s in the car still,” Conway affirmed. “When you’re driving alone in your car, we’re the other passenger.”

For those looking to follow in Conway’s footsteps, he said, “I’ve been on the radio for almost 30 years, and I know less about it now than when I got in.”

“Things change so quickly with the internet,” Conway said. “The only real advice that I have is not just for radio — it’s for anything. Enthusiasm. You’ve got to be enthusiastic.”

He continued, “All the energy and all the money goes to all the actors and all the directors and the politicians and the athletes who are enthusiastic.” Conway asserted, “That’s my big lesson to everybody. Enthusiasm, enthusiasm, enthusiasm. As long as you have that, everything else is a piece of cake.”

He offered up another golden nugget of success. “The key to staying in radio for a very, very long period of time — I learned from Rick Dees on the second day I was on the radio. He said, ‘Hey, congratulations on the job. Can I give you a piece of advice?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Warm up to the salespeople and always treat them right. It’s the hardest job in radio, being a salesperson — calling up a company and saying, hey, will you spend some money on my show and gamble that it’s going to work?'”

Conway added, “So if I were going into radio, I would say to anybody: just be friends with all the salespeople and become friends with all of the advertisers — all the people who send money to the station — because you’re going to need them.”

“Radio used to be a ratings business — who’s up, who’s down, and you get paid accordingly. But now I’ve seen a shift in the last 30 years where the people who run the radio companies have just one question, and it’s how much money do you bring in?”

Conway further affirmed, “They don’t care what the rating is. They don’t care how many hours you’re on. They want to know how much money you bring into the station. And I’ve noticed that for the last 10 years or so, if you bring enough in, you get to hang out. But if you don’t, you’re gone.”

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.

Jamie Cutburth Joins iHeartMedia as Executive Vice President of Marketing

BMM Staff
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Jamie Cutburth Joins iHeartMedia as Executive Vice President of Marketing

iHeartMedia is making a significant investment in its marketing leadership. The company is adding industry veteran Jamie Cutburth as Executive Vice President of Marketing.

Cutburth arrives with an impressive résumé. He spent over a decade at NBCUniversal, most recently serving as EVP of Marketing and Brand Partnerships, where he drove B2B marketing and advertiser strategy across some of the most recognizable names in media — NBC, Bravo, E!, Peacock, NBC News, and Telemundo. During his tenure, he managed high-profile partnerships with flagship franchises such as Saturday Night Live and The Today Show, as well as major live events. Prior to NBCUniversal, he held leadership positions at A&E Networks, working across HISTORY and A&E.

In his new role, Cutburth will have a wide mandate. He’ll oversee iHeartMedia‘s full marketing strategy. That will include everything from positioning and go-to-market planning to sales enablement, cross-platform packaging, and large-scale brand storytelling initiatives designed to drive advertiser demand. He’ll report directly to Lisa Coffey.

Coffey highlighted Cutburth’s decades of experience building marketing platforms and partnerships at major media companies when discussing his addition. She noted that Cutburth’s approach aligns well with iHeartMedia’s ongoing focus on innovation and growth across its expansive portfolio.

In a company press release, Cutburth added, “My role sits at the intersection between brand, revenue, content and culture. I will ensure that iHeart shows up in the market with a clear story and a modern marketing engine. I am excited to bring my years of building successful partnerships and experiences to this team and to a company so clearly focused on innovation and growth.”

Cutburth’s hire signals that iHeartMedia isn’t standing still. With reach that touches broadcast radio, streaming, podcasting, live events, and digital, the company has a powerful story to tell advertisers. Landing someone with Cutburth’s background suggests they’re serious about telling it better than ever.

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Mike Golic Jr. Announces Departure From FanDuel Sports Network

BSM Staff
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Mike Golic Jr. Announces Departure From FanDuel Sports Network

Mike Golic Jr. is on the move again, announcing that his run with FanDuel Sports Network has come to an end.

The departure for Golic Jr. comes just under a year after joining the company to co-host the flagship afternoon program Golic & Golic on the network.

“So, today was my last day at FanDuel Sports Network,” tweeted Golic Jr. “Unfortunately things didn’t go the way we all planned, but that’s life.”

While FanDuel Sports Network has not officially released a statement on the future of Golic & Golic, Golic Jr. confirmed the Barrett Media the program is over.

“Thank you to everyone on our show staff who worked their asses off every day and made the last 10 months a ton of fun. On to the next one,” wrote Golic Jr.

The brief but candid message offers insight into a departure that comes sooner than expected. Golic Jr. is one of many upcoming layoffs for the FanDuel Sports Network as parent company Main Street Sports Group continues to wind down towards potential Chapter 7 and liquidation.

Sports Business Journal reported in late December that Main Street Sports began to miss payments to the St. Louis Cardinals and that it was pitching a last-ditch sale to the streaming and entertainment platform DAZN in order to save its business.

More missed payments followed and Main Street’s talks with DAZN are reportedly done. Nine MLB teams that exited their agreements with Main Street Sports while the network continues to carry broadcasts for NHL and NBA partners through the end of their current seasons.

Before joining FanDuel Sports Network, Golic Jr. held roles at ESPN and DraftKings, among others. For Golic Jr., the next step is unclear, but his track record suggests he will remain a visible presence. He has built a following that extends beyond any single platform, which gives him options in a crowded market place.

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SummitMedia VP Of Sales Joe Bell Recovering From Health Scare

BMM Staff
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SummitMedia VP Of Sales Joe Bell Recovering From Health Scare

SummitMedia veteran radio executive Joe Bell is recovering after a recent medical emergency, according to an update shared by his wife, Cathy Bell. In a Facebook post, Cathy Bell said her husband went into heart failure two weeks ago while visiting family in Kentucky.

She noted that doctors quickly intervened, and Bell underwent procedures to receive both a pacemaker and a new heart valve.

“We are very grateful that he happened to be in Kentucky when this occurred,” wrote Cathy Bell. “Considering he was only going to be here for three days. Having it happen close to our families and fabulous hospitals was a blessing.”

Despite the severity of the situation, Cathy Bell said her husband is expected to make a full recovery.

Bell currently serves as Senior Vice President of Sales for SummitMedia, based in Birmingham. He joined the company after a long tenure with Beasley Media Group, where he spent nearly 25 years in various leadership roles.

The update prompted an outpouring of support from friends and colleagues across the radio industry. Cathy Bell acknowledged those messages, thanking those who have reached out with prayers and encouragement during what she described as a challenging stretch.

Bell is expected to remain in Northern Kentucky till receiving full clearance to do so. After receiving medical clearance, the family plans to return to their home in Birmingham.

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.

Ted Cruz to Brendan Carr: Approval of Nexstar Media Group-TEGNA Deal ‘Raises Series Concerns’ About FCC

BNM Staff
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Ted Cruz to Brendan Carr: Approval of Nexstar Media Group-TEGNA Deal ‘Raises Series Concerns’ About FCC

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has penned a letter to FCC chair Brendan Carr about the Senator’s displeasure with the approval of the Nexstar Media Group/TEGNA deal.

In the letter sent to Carr on Monday, Sen. Cruz said the decision by the FCC to approve the deal is concerning.

“This decision raises serious concerns about the Commission’s use of delegated authority in matters involving significant legal, policy, and economic consequences,” Cruz wrote. “The transaction is unprecedented in scale … A transaction of this magnitude alone warranted consideration and a vote by the full Commission. Although you have indicated that a full Commission vote may still occur, the Commission has already approved the transaction on delegated authority, effectively determining the outcome. Under these circumstances, any subsequent vote risks being largely procedural rather than a genuine exercise of Commission responsibility.”

Ted Cruz continued by questioning the process Carr instituted to approve the merger between the companies.

“The size of the transaction and the scope of the waivers presented are precisely the type of novel and consequential issues that Commission precedent, as well as basic principles of administrative accountability to the American people, require to be decided by the full Commission,” wrote Cruz. “Equally troubling is the procedural consequence of this choice. Because bureau-level decisions are not final orders, parties must first seek Commission review before accessing the courts.

“In a transaction of this scale, where integration proceeds quickly and unwinding becomes impractical, delay in judicial review can insulate the decision from meaningful challenge,” continued Cruz. “That outcome is difficult to reconcile with the Commission’s obligation to ensure transparency and accountability in major actions.”

He concluded the letter with a series of questions he’d like Carr to respond to “no later than April 13, 2026.”

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Derek Hunter: Megyn Kelly Spends More Time Talking About Her Competition Than Real Issues

BNM Staff
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Derek Hunter: Megyn Kelly Spends More Time Talking About Her Competition Than Real Issues

Megyn Kelly has been locked in several feuds with other conservative pundits. 105.9 WMAL host Derek Hunter says it’s consumed the SiriusXM host.

In a column for TownHall.com, Derek Hunter argued that Rush Limbaugh used to operate with a mindset that the only show on the radio was his. He didn’t listen to others and rarely referenced other programs.

He believes Megyn Kelly doesn’t operate the same way.

“Megyn Kelly’s, as far as I can tell (in full disclosure, I have never watched one because she’s just not someone whose opinion I find interesting, entertaining or informed), from the clips her staff circulates on social media, spends so much time talking about her competitors that she’s morphed into The Corner from National Review,” said Hunter, refrencing an early internet chat between those working at the outlet that often turned into verbal sparring that required users to follow an entire feud to understand the intricate nature of the infighting.

He added that Kelly has shifted her views throughout her career to follow the way the wind was shifting. And he says that’s by design, not by accident.

“There will always be an audience for anything, so you don’t have to flip and come off as an opportunist, plus what you really believe is an easier story to remember,” said Hunter. “Most importantly, perhaps, you don’t have to be a complete A-hole in the process.

“She routinely brags about how many views she gets on YouTube compared to others, so maybe that’s what it’s all about. I don’t know. But I also don’t care. She didn’t matter to me when she was sane. She doesn’t really matter to me now that she’s in line for a fellowship at Media Matters. I’m just asking questions.”

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Pat McAfee Hints at Difficulties in Landing ESPN’s Troy Aikman as a Guest on His Program

BSM Staff
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Pat McAfee Hints at Difficulties in Landing ESPN’s Troy Aikman as a Guest on His Program

Pat McAfee isn’t losing sleep over it, but he is keeping score. During Wednesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show live from the NFL owners meetings, Pat McAfee was asked by NFL insider Peter Schrager who he was connecting with at an event the night prior.

When Schrager inquired if McAfee was able to have some time with ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Troy Aikman, McAfee revealed he did not. Yet, he used the opportunity to address Aikman’s presence from his program altogether. McAfee revealed that his show has made multiple attempts to book Aikman for a guest appearance. However, those efforts have yet to result in an appearance.

“Troy [Aikman] never comes on our show,” he said. “Then Rich Eisen’s first day on ESPN at noon, he’s on the show. Troy always tells us, ‘Can’t do it noon. Sorry, it’s impossible.’ First day Rich [Eisen] is on, Troy’s like, ‘Get me on that phone.’”

The comment drew laughs, but it also highlighted the contrast McAfee sees in Aikman’s availability. While his program has struggled to secure a booking, Aikman quickly joined Eisen’s show following its ESPN debut. Still, McAfee made it clear he is not taking the situation personally.

“I won’t take it as a personal heat,” McAfee said. “But I do not know, and we don’t know Troy like that.”

That distinction underscores the dynamic at play. While McAfee has built a reputation for landing high-profile guests, relationships often drive those appearances. In this case, he acknowledged that he and his team simply may not have the same level of familiarity with Aikman, even though both broadcast their content on ESPN.

Aikman, one of the most prominent voices in football broadcasting, has been a cornerstone of ESPN’s NFL coverage since joining the network. His role on Monday Night Football places him among the most visible analysts in the sport, making any potential appearance on McAfee’s show a notable crossover moment.

McAfee’s latest comments suggest the pursuit is ongoing, even if it comes with a bit of playful frustration.

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Fox, Sinclair Follows NAB Public Comment to FCC on Sports Rights Moving To Streaming Platforms

BSM Staff
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Fox, Sinclair Follows NAB Public Comment to FCC on Sports Rights Moving To Streaming Platforms

Broadcast groups are escalating their concerns over the future of live sports, as National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), FOX Corporation and Sinclair, Inc. have all urged over the past week federal regulators to reexamine policies tied to sports rights and distribution.

The filings, submitted to the Federal Communications Commission, reflect growing unease as more marquee games shift to subscription-based streaming platforms. Broadcasters argue that the trend is limiting access for fans while disrupting a long-standing model that helped build sports into mass-market attractions.https://barrettmedia.com/?s=fox

The NAB said the current system is no longer serving viewers as effectively as it once did. The group pointed to a breakdown in what it described as a “symbiotic relationship” between leagues and broadcasters. It added that streaming companies have struck deals that place games behind paywalls, reducing reach and altering how fans consume live events.

At the same time, the NAB argued that outdated federal ownership rules are making it harder for broadcasters to compete. The organization said caps on radio and television ownership restrict scale and limit the ability of local stations to bid on premium sports rights. It warned that losing those rights could weaken a key revenue stream that supports local journalism and public service programming.

FOX and Sinclair echoed many of those concerns in their own filings, according to Bloomberg. Both companies emphasized that free, over-the-air television still provides the widest access to live sports. They cautioned that a streaming-first approach could increase consumer costs and reduce availability in certain markets.

FOX also raised questions about the legal framework governing sports rights. The company pointed to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which grants antitrust protection to leagues when bundling team rights for broadcast deals. It argued that the exemption should not apply to subscription streaming services, where games are no longer freely accessible.

“Moving more sports behind paywalls would increase consumer costs, price some consumers out of watching, and keep others in the dark in areas where games featuring favorite teams would no longer be available,” Fox wrote according to Bloomberg.

Sinclair added that the migration of live sports could have ripple effects beyond entertainment. The company aligned with comments from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, suggesting that fewer high-profile games on broadcast television could hurt local news operations that rely on strong audience lead-ins.

Broadcasters also took aim at the role of major tech platforms. They described live sports as a potential driver used to pull consumers into broader digital ecosystems, often requiring subscriptions and personal data. In contrast, they stressed that broadcast television remains free and widely available.

The Federal Communications Commission announced in late February that its seeking public comment on how the shifting marketplace for sports rights and distribution is affecting consumers, particularly as marquee events move away from traditional over-the-air television and onto subscription-based digital services

In a Public Notice, the bureau pointed to a longstanding tradition in which viewers could turn on a television and easily locate major sporting events without paying additional fees beyond a basic antenna or cable package, contrasting that experience with today’s environment, where fans often juggle multiple subscriptions to follow a single league or even one team across a full season.

The proceeding set a March 27, 2026 deadline for initial comments, with reply comments due April 13.

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