Bloomington, Indiana has a new full time sports talker in business as Sarkes Tarzian’s ST Radio has transformed Bloomington’s longtime radio outlet, 1370 WGCL into a full-time sports station branded as 98.7 The Zone. The switch marks a departure from the station’s previous hybrid format, which blended conservative talk with sports programming.
Now, 98.7 The Zone will devote its full schedule to sports content, aiming to capture the attention of local fans during one of Indiana University’s most prominent athletic seasons in years.
Program Director and morning host Kent Sterling will shift his show from the 7-9 a.m. slot to 9-11 a.m., while afternoon host Mike “Glass” Glasscott remains in his familiar 3-6 p.m. timeslot. The new lineup also introduces the regionally syndicated Indiana Sports Daily with Jim Coyle, airing from 1-3 p.m., giving local listeners in-depth coverage of IU athletics and other regional sports stories.
For other times of the day, 98.7 The Zone will broadcast content from the Westwood One Sports, providing a mix of national and regional sports programming designed to complement the station’s local focus. Westwood One Sports launched earlier today.
Despite the format overhaul, 98.7 The Zone emphasizes that local service elements will remain intact. Longtime newscaster Diane Daily and sports reporter Joe Smith will continue delivering news and sports updates, ensuring that listeners stay connected to Bloomington’s community and the latest local sports developments.
Listeners can now tune in to 98.7 The Zone via FM or AM, with additional access through online streaming platforms. The station promises a blend of live game coverage, talk shows, and sports news designed to meet the needs of both casual fans and die-hard followers.
As IU continues its championship run, WWZN aims to position itself as Bloomington’s premier sports radio destination, delivering timely updates and local insights that reflect the city’s enthusiasm for college athletics.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
670 The Score is back with its popular Score Big For Your Business promotion, now entering its third year, giving local businesses a chance to win a commercial during the Super Bowl broadcast on the station, along with a suite of promotional prizes. The Chicago sports radio station has long been the exclusive audio home for the Super Bowl in the city, reaching a broad audience over the air and through streaming platforms.
Last year, 670 The Score reported its largest Super Bowl audience ever, and the station hopes to build on that momentum in 2026 with the return of the contest.
The grand prize package is extensive. It includes production services from imaging director Russ Mitera. There is a commercial schedule on 670 The Score during Super Bowl week. A 30-second spot will air during the Super Bowl broadcast itself. The package also includes extensive publicity, and a live broadcast either at the winning business location or in 670 The Score’s Performance Studio.
The contest proved wildly popular last year, drawing hundreds of entries from businesses across the Chicagoland area. Station management said they expect similar enthusiasm this year. This is especially true if the Chicago Bears continue performing strongly into the NFL playoffs.
Local businesses interested in entering the contest can do so beginning immediately by visiting 670thescore.com/contests.
Entries should include 1,500 words or fewer explaining how the prize would help the business brand, rebuild, or grow. The entry date for the contest closes on January 18.
Westwood One, the longtime radio syndication partner, once again is collaborating with 670 The Score to make the contest possible.
“The response last year was incredible, and we’re thrilled to offer this opportunity again,” said Mitch Rosen, Vice President, 670 The Score. “It’s a chance not just for a Super Bowl commercial, but for a major boost to any local business looking to expand its reach in the community.”
With the combination of high-profile exposure, production support, and interactive promotional opportunities, “Score Big For Your Business” continues to offer one of the most unique marketing platforms for Chicago-area companies.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Nielsen, the global audience measurement and analytics firm, and Roku, a leading TV streaming platform, announced an expansion of their long-term strategic partnership aimed at providing advertisers with a more complete view of streaming audiences.
The expanded agreement will integrate Roku’s data into Nielsen’s advanced campaign measurement and outcome solutions. Roku streaming now accounts for more than 21% of all TV viewing, giving advertisers an increasingly precise picture of audience behavior across both linear and streaming platforms.
Under the multi-year deal, Nielsen will continue incorporating Roku’s large-scale TV data into its Big Data + Panel measurement system. This system blends traditional panel data with streaming insights. The integration will enhance the accuracy of campaign performance metrics for advertisers. It applies to campaigns running on Roku and across the broader TV landscape.
Additionally, Roku will gain access to Nielsen’s Streaming Platform Ratings, which tracks audience engagement across both subscription and ad-supported services. Nielsen reports that roughly seven in 10 streaming hours are now ad-supported. This trend highlights by the continued growth of The Roku Channel, Roku’s free ad-supported app.
The channel has become the second-largest streaming app in terms of ad-supported TV time, underscoring the shift toward ad-driven viewing.
“With our leadership in streaming measurement and this data from Roku, we are providing the most accurate view of what audiences are watching across all of TV,” said Ameneh Atai, GM of Audience Measurement at Nielsen. “This partnership combines Nielsen’s expertise in streaming measurement with Roku’s category leadership to give marketers the granular insights they need to grow their brands and drive results.”
Sarah Harms, Roku’s vice president of marketing and measurement, emphasized the impact for advertisers.
“Our extended partnership with Nielsen will further our goal of a better TV advertising system focused on interoperability and performance. Together, we’re elevating streaming measurement to ensure advertisers and publishers have access to best-in-class insights,” she said.
The announcement highlights Nielsen’s ongoing innovations in audience measurement. Earlier this year, the company achieved accreditation for its Big Data + Panel measurement, following its November 2024 accreditation for first-party live streaming. Nielsen also expanded its out-of-home (OOH) measurement to cover 100% of the U.S. contiguous TV population.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
TikTok has overtaken its social media rivals as the leading platform for news among young Americans, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. The survey, released this week, found that 43% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 said they regularly get news from TikTok in 2025, surpassing YouTube and Facebook, both at 41%. Instagram followed closely at 40%, while X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit trailed at 21% and 18%, respectively.
Social media overall remains the dominant news source for this age group. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they often or sometimes rely on social media for news. Sixty percent rely on traditional news websites. Twenty-eight percent rely on email newsletters.
Despite skepticism around social media, roughly half of young adults expressed some or a lot of trust in news delivered through these platforms, a figure comparable to their trust in national news organizations.
TikTok’s rise as a news source has been swift. Just two years ago, only 32% of respondents identified the platform as a regular source of news. Experts note that news consumption on TikTok often extends beyond traditional outlets. Users frequently view videos from independent creators or other users providing on-the-ground coverage of events, ranging from protests to conflict zones.
This trend has fueled a growing cohort of independent news influencers. They are building sizable followings by reporting on current events in short, digestible video formats.
Professional news organizations are also adapting to the platform’s style. NPR’s Planet Money, for example, has focused videos around individual reporters and creators, leveraging personal storytelling to build trust with audiences. Gen Z users, according to reporting by Business Insider, are drawn to creators who deliver news in relatable and authentic ways, rather than through traditional broadcast formats.
Social media creators and podcasters are increasingly involved in news gathering, as well. In 2025, politicians and government agencies have leaned on these formats to reach younger audiences. Independent creators even applied for access to White House press briefings.
Major party conventions saw significant participation from these digital journalists.
TikTok has rolled out features to support news content. These include links to full articles within videos. The platform also offers a fact-checking tool called Footnotes.
The platform also works with independent fact-checkers in over 130 markets to verify content, according to its website.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
After more than 157 years in print, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will publish its final physical edition on December 31, 2025, marking a historic shift to an exclusively digital model beginning January 1. The move reflects the rapid evolution of media consumption and the newspaper’s effort to invest more heavily in digital journalism.
The AJC, long a staple of Atlanta and the Southeast, announced the transition in August, citing a surge in digital engagement that outpaced print readership. Publisher Andrew Morse said the shift allows the organization to redirect resources toward expanding reporting staff, producing podcasts, newsletters, and video content, and enhancing the website and mobile app experience.
“The digital audience has already surpassed print significantly,” Morse said in a statement via the AJC. “This move enables us to focus on delivering high-quality journalism where our readers are consuming it most.”
Founded as The Atlanta Constitution in 1868 and later merging with The Atlanta Journal (founded 1883) in 2001, the AJC has been part of Cox Enterprises since the mid-20th century. Over its long history, the newspaper grew into one of the region’s most influential publications, though circulation has declined from over 600,000 at its early-2000s peak.
At the time of the announcement, the AJC reported approximately 115,000 paid subscribers: 75,000 digital-only and roughly 40,000 still receiving print. The company aims to grow its digital subscriber base to 500,000, offering plans starting at $9.99 per month or $99 annually. Print subscribers were encouraged to transition to digital services, including an ePaper replica replicating the layout of the former print edition.
The shift has had workforce implications, with around 30 full- and part-time roles tied to print production and distribution eliminated. Despite the reductions, the AJC emphasized that local journalism will remain a priority, with ongoing reporting on metro Atlanta communities, state politics, and regional news.
Across the country, newspapers have increasingly embraced digital platforms in response to declining print circulation and the need to capture audiences and revenue online.
“This isn’t about stepping away from local journalism,” Morse said. “It’s about evolving to deliver it more effectively in a digital-first era.”
As the AJC enters its digital-only chapter, readers can access coverage through AJC.com, newsletters, podcasts, video features, and mobile apps.
In my ongoing series looking at the end of @AJC's Print Edition, I explore the history of Black representation – from the 1906 Race Massacre to the 2020 Uprisings. From Henry Grady to Leroy Chapman. From Harmon Perry to @itsuatlhttps://t.co/P5BCd936js
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Former NFL quarterback and current CBS Sports’ NFL Today analyst Matt Ryan is reportedly “seriously considering” a return to the Atlanta Falcons, not on the field but in the team’s front office, according to FOX Sports NFL reporter Jay Glazer.
Ryan, 40, retired in 2022 after a 15-year career. He has spent the past few seasons as an analyst for CBS. Ryan was the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent 14 seasons with the Falcons before finishing his career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Glazer reported Sunday that Falcons owner Arthur Blank has “had conversations” with Ryan about a “significant” role. Details of the potential position have not been disclosed. Sources close to Ryan indicate he is seriously weighing the opportunity.
A return to Atlanta would bring Ryan back to a franchise struggling to regain its footing. The Falcons are on track to end an eighth consecutive season without a playoff appearance. This marks the longest such drought in the NFC. They compete in the NFC South, widely regarded as one of the league’s weaker divisions.
Atlanta’s leadership remains largely the same: Terry Fontenot has served as general manager for the past five years, and head coach Raheem Morris is in his second season. The team is headed toward another sub-.500 finish, continuing a trend that has frustrated fans for nearly a decade.
Ryan’s tenure with the Falcons ended on a bit of a rocky note after the 2021 season. Ryan requested to be moved after the Falcons’ failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson in the 2022 offseason, getting traded to the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons and Ryan were able to make amends, though. After spending one season with the Colts, Ryan signed a one-day contract with the Falcons in April 2024 and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor later that year.
Ryan would join a list of high-profile quarterbacks who have moved into executive roles after retirement. John Elway has served as general manager of the Denver Broncos, while Dan Marino spent time in the Miami Dolphins front office, including as a special advisor to the team’s president and CEO.
Since their infamous Super Bowl LI loss to the New England Patriots nearly a decade ago, Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead. The Falcons have made the playoffs just once, in 2017. The team has not finished a season with a winning record since then. This highlights the organizational challenges Ryan would face if he accepts a front-office position
We check in with @JayGlazer on DK Metcalf filing a complaint last year against the same Lions fan that he had an altercation with.
Also, Matt Ryan is in talks to rejoin the Falcons in a high-profile front office position. pic.twitter.com/4IuUGqqhsz
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
San Francisco 49ers radio voice Greg Papa did not make his anticipated return to the booth Sunday night when the team hosted the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium, extending his absence as he continues to recover from leukemia treatment.
Papa, 62, has been in remission since being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July. While his prognosis remains encouraging, Papa acknowledged lingering side effects from chemotherapy in a recent interview. He cited what he described as “brain fog,” along with occasional dizziness and blurred vision. Those symptoms have made the timing of his return uncertain.
“I think I’ll be fine,” Papa said. “And if not, we tap me out.”
Those comments underscored the cautious approach both Papa and the organization have taken throughout the season. Earlier this month, 49ers director of broadcast partnerships Bob Sargent said on KNBR that the team had opened a “practice window” for Papa, similar to the NFL’s injured reserve designation, with the hope that he could return for the final two regular-season home games and potentially any postseason contests played at Levi’s Stadium. However, Sargent also made clear that the announcement did not guarantee Papa would be back behind the microphone.
Sunday’s game featured Big Ten Network play-by-play announcer Guy Haberman, who has capably filled in throughout the season. Haberman worked alongside longtime analyst Tim Ryan, maintaining continuity for listeners who have grown accustomed to the temporary pairing during Papa’s absence.
Fans hoped the nationally televised Sunday night matchup might mark Papa’s return. Instead, the decision reflects a broader emphasis on health over deadlines. Papa has been transparent about his recovery process. His focus remains on listening to his body rather than forcing a comeback.
Regardless of when — or if — Papa returns this season, his standing in Bay Area sports media is firmly established. He has been a fixture in the market since 1986. That year, he became the voice of the Golden State Warriors at just 24 years old. Over nearly four decades, Papa has called games for many iconic regional franchises. They include the Warriors, Raiders, Athletics, and now the 49ers.
Since joining the 49ers radio broadcast in 2019, Papa has further cemented his reputation as one of the industry’s most respected play-by-play voices.
Unfortunately, the much-anticipated return of Greg Papa to the 49ers radio broadcast booth will not happen tonight.
Papa: “I have decided it is not wise for me to do the game.”
Papa is continuing to build strength in his courageous battle with leukemia.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Neil Best is stepping away, closing the book on a sports media career that spanned nearly half a century and represented a level of continuity that has largely disappeared from American journalism.
The longtime Newsday sports media columnist announced his retirement Sunday, ending more than two decades on a beat he helped define. Best leaves behind one of the few remaining full-time sports media columnist roles at a major metropolitan newspaper, a position that survived industry-wide layoffs, shifting business models and fundamental changes in how sports content is produced and consumed.
During his tenure, Best covered the transition from print-first journalism to a digital, social-driven ecosystem. He chronicled the explosion of sports talk radio, the rise of national debate television, and the emergence of social media as both a reporting tool and a news-breaking platform.
Through it all, Best maintained a measured, reporting-first approach that distinguished his work in a landscape increasingly driven by opinion and immediacy.
In his farewell column, Best emphasized that the decision to step away was entirely his. A Newsday reader since August 1972, he wrote, “It’s OK! It was my decision! Time for someone else to have a turn.” That someone will be Anthony Rieber, who becomes just the fourth person to hold the sports media beat in 48 years. Stan Isaacs and Steve Zipay preceded Best, making it one of the most stable assignments in sports journalism despite the volatility elsewhere in the industry.
Best’s final column read like a greatest-hits tour of a career few writers get to experience.
“What has it been like writing about sports for a living for the better part of a half-century?” he asked, answering himself simply: “It’s been good!”
He recalled interviewing everyone from the San Diego Chicken and Phillie Phanatic “with his head off,” to Willie Mays, who famously admitted he hated fishing. Best wrote about conversations with Ice Cube on the Raiders, Adam Sandler on Mike Francesa, Jerry Seinfeld on WFAN and Billie Jean King and Dick Vitale, who greeted him with hugs.
His reporting took him from youth track meets in Barrow, Alaska, to high school gyms in the Bronx, and into the homes of figures such as Michael Strahan, Tiki Barber, Phil Simms and Francesa. He covered generations of athletes, noting interviews with Nat Holman, born in 1896, and Matthew Schaefer, born in 2007.
Best also reflected on the unique perspective of the job. “You’re an insider, but an outsider,” he wrote, recalling walks through the old Yankee Stadium tunnel past the Joe DiMaggio sign Derek Jeter tapped before games. “Yes, it was cool to follow Jeter down that path. Yes, I was wholly undeserving. But I always appreciated the privilege.”
In an era when sports media columnist positions have been eliminated or diluted, Best’s career stands as an exception. He spent nearly 50 years at one newspaper, covering a beat that barely exists anymore.
As he signed off, Best kept the moment characteristically understated.
“Anyway, that’s that,” he wrote. “Thanks for reading.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
We have reached the end of 2025 which was a very busy year in the world of sports television. The sports media landscape saw the usual personnel shifts, media rights agreements, and heated fodder for media beef. It also saw a number of major headlines that dominated audiences and grabbed the attention of sports media consumer.
Barrett Media is looking back on TV’s top stories of 2025, led by a network defining moment for ESPN, going direct-to-consumer.
#5 – Michael Jordan Returns to the NBA on NBC
NBC was looking to make a splash with the network’s return to NBA coverage. Many of the biggest memories of the Michael Jordan era were aired on NBC Sports, including all six title runs for the hall of famer.
When NBC held their upfronts, many speculated on if the network would lean into the nostalgia factor that welcomed in so many fans for decades. NBC didn’t disappoint. The lights dimmed, a projector screen lit up and Jordan provided a message that rang louder than any fax of his past did.
The speculation captured sports media around the country. Many asking what could viewers expect from Jordan being a “special contributor” to NBC Sports coverage of the NBA. Could Jordan serve as a guest analyst during games? How about some halftime analysis? Would Jordan be used as a commentator when major league storylines warranted his perspective?
Instead, fans have seen short clips from an extended interview with Mike Tirico. These aired during the network’s first few months of coverage. Hype matched? Some speculate as to if there’s been enough, or if there’s so much more to be expected.
No matter your viewpoint on the execution of Jordan into the NBC Sports formula, his presence alone draws immediate interest and viewership. Something NBC Sports hopes to continue into their stretch run, and early playoff coverage.
#4 – FS1 Turmoil and Show Cancellations Leads To Barstool Sports Partnership
2025 was filled with headlines surrounding talent and staff at FS1. The network started the year with a pair of sexual misconduct lawsuits which led to settlements and executive Charlie Dixon being removed. His name was listed in both suits. While the fallout of those lawsuits continued throughout 2025, the summer brought a number of cancellations leaving many questions about the future of FS1.
Fox moved away from in-house owned and produced programming in mornings with the cancellations of Breakfast Ball and The Facility. That left a gaping hole in their daytime programming lineup heading into football season. The network also cancelled Speak featuring Joy Taylor, who was also referenced in one of the lawsuits filed. Taylor allegedly told a former FS1 makeup artist to “get over it” in reference to an alleged incident of sexual battery. Taylor denied the claim and stated that her removal from FS1 was not tied to the lawsuit.
FS1’s answer to the cancellations was rooted in a new partnership with Barstool Sports. The network teamed up with the digital sports content giant to house and produce a two hour morning show for FS1. The program would repeat in airing immediately following the conclusion of the live show. The answer to cancelling Speak was extendingFirst Things First by an hour to a three-hour afternoon show. Danny Parkins was also added to the mix.
Despite a lot of buzz, the Barstool Sports partnership gained little ground in viewership. Some reports have shown viewership numbers to be lower than the previously aired Breakfast Ball. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy previously called the early viewership numbers for Wake Up Barstool “awful” and cited little cross promotion and planning as reasons for the low performance.
In the wake of the cancellations, only the Breakfast Ball crew retained involved with FOX Sports. Mark Schlereth continued his analyst work on FOX NFL and College Football games. Craig Carton launched a podcast through a distribution partnership with FOX and Red Seat Ventures. Parkins moved to a frequent role on First Things First at the start of the football season.
#3 – Stephen A. Smith Signs 5-Year Extension With ESPN
Stephen A. Smith is the most powerful voice in sports media today. His new contract with ESPN signed earlier this year confirms it. Despite much outcry in 2025 regarding his workload, influence, and use of solitaire during the NBA Finals; the man draws attention. It’s why ESPN signed Smith to the highest contract paid out to a commentator in network history. Reports indicate that Smith inked a 5-year deal worth $100 million dollars.
Since signing his deal, Smith has changed the game for his contemporaries. His dedication, loyalty, and hard work for his employer has earned him additional luxuries. That includes owning his own media company, and licensing his own content. He was even allowed to partner with SiriusXM to host two different shows on the network. His presence has even grown in political circles through content creation and appearances on cable news television. ESPN’s marquee personality has even been named a potential Democratic candidate for President in 2028.
Smith says he doesn’t intend to run but would consider it if he felt the country was in bad shape. President Trump said during a Town Hall call-in on NewsNation that he thinks Smith would do well if he ran.
Smith’s ability to draws attention through media beefs and athlete bickering is what any sports pundit would dream of. Stephen A. welcomes it, and uses it to drive him to heights rarely seen in the industry. He has earned trust and praise from ESPN management, reciprocating through a year of headlines, top ratings, and strong engagement. The topics he discusses consistently become a national narrative.
Stephen A. Smith could be considered sports media’s most valuable commodity. A talent that takes risks, remains loyal, and isn’t shy to receive critiques nor distribute back. His reported five-year, $100 million deal sets a new bar for talent across the industry. The game plan is rooted in the level of effort and drive required to reach it.
#2 – NBA, MLB, UFC, WWE Sports Media Rights Reshape Sports Television
2025 should be defined by the following phrase uttered by sports fans across the country.
“Where do I find the game, and how much will it cost me?”
The year of 2025 saw the NBA return to NBC Sports and ESPN, while saying hello to Prime Video. Major League Baseball went from a longstanding rights package on ESPN with several years to go. A “mutual opt-out” of that same deal. Now that deal spread across ESPN, Netflix, and NBC Sports. A baseball fan in 2026 can now watch MLB on ESPN, Netflix, NBC Sports, Peacock, TBS, FOX Sports, FS1, and Apple TV.
As TKO Holdings Group continues to grow their reach of the WWE and UFC, both were also involved in major media rights agreements as well. The WWE began their Monday Night Raw journey on Netflix as 2025 began, and also entered into their first full year with The CW Network. WWE also made the PLE flip from Peacock to ESPN and arranged a new PLE (premium live event) to kick off the partnership with Wrestlepalooza.
The UFC said goodbye to ESPN and found a seven-year, $7.7 billion dollar domestic rights deal with Paramount, and extended the deal into Latin America and Australia beginning next year. Not to mention TKO Holdings also secured a media rights deal for Zuffa Boxing, a joint venture with Saudi Arabia’s Sela, which will also launch with Paramount in 2026.
The NBA began their three separate 11-year rights deals with NBCUniversal, Prime Video, and The Walt Disney Company. Just for good measure, the NHL also reached a 12-year media rights deal worth $7.7 billion with Rogers Communications for broadcasts across Canada.
The NFL is also interested in beginning their new media rights deal discussions earlier than expected, and following a reported 10% acquisition in ESPN.
2025 was filled with rumor, reports, and execution of large media rights agreements where leagues are increasing reach through streaming platforms and shifting the focus away from traditional cable. While the consumer continues to play catch up, pay up, and consume in more ways than ever before.
#1 – ESPN Goes Direct-To-Consumer
For the first time ever, ESPN was fully in the palm of the consumer’s hand. Networks have battled cord-cutting for over a decade. Streaming platforms offered direct relationships and more extensive content, creating challenges for the traditional cable model. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro understood ESPN’s mission of serving sports fans anytime and anywhere, and took bold steps to modify its distribution strategy.
The launch of the ESPN direct-to-consumer was heralded by many. It offered everything and the kitchen sink. Every ESPN channel from the ACC Network to the SEC Network was included along with documentaries and access to over 47,000 live events. Control with ease through an enhanced ESPN app gave sports fans what they crave. It also allowed them a direct customer relationship with the largest brand in sports.
The app balanced AI and access with new features customizable to each user’s interests. For college football fans, the multi-view option was a big success. Easy access to ESPN Bet was also available. However, the betting side of the partnership changed as ESPN and Penn National cut ties. That led to ESPN and DraftKings moving into business together. The app also leaned into the vertical video trend with ESPN Verts. It offered consumer bundles as well with Fox One to make the switch more affordable and enticing for the year ahead.
The first inning under Pitaro was seen as a major success in a year of evolution. With reshaped partnerships across most sports leagues, a new partnership formed with the WWE, and assuming control of the NFL Network, ESPN enters 2026 with significant power. The company navigated a carriage dispute with YouTube TV, said goodbye to Lee Corso, and welcomed Inside the NBA from TNT. Around The Horn ended and Elle Duncan signed off, but new stars are emerging to keep the network top of mind in 2026 and beyond.
Many stories captured headlines, but ESPN’s decision to go direct-to-consumer easily topped the list as the most important sports television story of 2025.
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.
As we’ve reached the end of a very interesting 2025 in the news television world, Barrett Media is looking back on TV’s top stories of the calendar year, led by the change at the top of NBC Nightly News, with Tom Llamas replacing Lester Holt in the anchor chair of the newscast.
#5 – Will Cain Sets Cable News Debut Record for Fox News
One of the earliest cable news stories of 2025 was Fox News tabbing Will Cain to replace Neil Cavuto in its afternoon lineup after Cavuto departed the network after nearly 30 years at the end of 2024.
That decision almost immediately paid off for the network as it saw a cable news record on the debut of The Will Cain Show.
In his first program as a member of the weekday lineup at Fox News, The Will Cain Show featured an audience of 3.5 million total viewers, setting a cable news record for a debut program.
Additionally, the Tuesday show following the debut was the second-highest-rated Fox News broadcast in the 4 PM ET window since 2021. It was up 106% in total viewers and 128% in the coveted demographic compared to the 2024 average for the timeslot.
“I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to get such a warm welcome from the audience,” Cain told Barrett Media of his first-week ratings performance. “This show is going to grow exponentially over time in every way.”
For the duration of 2025, The Will Cain Show averaged 2.4 million viewers, making it the seventh most-watched show in all of cable news. Fox News featured the top 12 programs in the genre for the year.
#4 – Newsmax IPO Reaches More Than $250 Per Share
After announcing plans to take the company public in 2024, few could have expected Newsmax’s IPO to been the booming success it became.
On Monday, March 31st, Newsmax began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. After initially debuting at $10 per share, the price jumped to $16.50 in the hours following.
On Wednesday, the price had risen to just shy of $280 per share before closing the day at $233 per share, turning Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, who controlled more than 80% of the shares at the time, into an overnight billionaire.
“I’ve always said in my life that life is a pilgrimage,” said Ruddy in the days following the IPO. “We go from the beginning until the end, and then we go to God. But it’s the journey along the way and the people you meet on the pilgrimage that make it so interesting and exciting. And I think the people on our pilgrimage believe that we have a special mission, which is to give the American people, this special country, the information they need to make great decisions that will affect the world, shape the future, and improve our freedoms. Not just for us, but for people all over the world.
“It’s a momentous time for me personally, but also I think for all of you. And I hope for the country,” he concluded.
In the months following the Newsmax IPO, the stock price has mostly hovered between $9-$15 per share.
#3 – MSNBC Rebrands to MS NOW
Cable news networks rarely, if ever, rebrand. Which is why the change from MSNBC to MS NOW is such a big deal.
After being included in the Versant company spun away from NBCUniversal, MSNBC was forced to remove the familiar “Peacock” logo it had featured for nearly 30 years, and develop its own, unique identity.
“The peacock is synonymous with NBCUniversal, and it is a symbol they have decided to keep within the NBCU family,” Versant CEO Mark Lazarus shared in August as the new brand was announced. “This gives us the opportunity to chart our own path forward, create distinct brand identities, and establish an independent news organization following the spin.”
“During this time of transition, NBCUniversal decided that our brand requires a new, separate identity,” Kutler added in a memo. “This decision now allows us to set our own course and assert our independence as we continue to build our own modern newsgathering operation,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said in a memo to staffers about the change. “The future of our success is not tied to remaining within the NBC family and using the peacock as part of our identity.”
The company settled on the MS NOW branding, which is an acronym standing for “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World.”
Beginning on November 15th of this year, MSNBC officially transitioned to the MS NOW branding.
#2 –Instability, Constant Changes at CBS News Reigns Supreme in 2025
2025 is likely a year CBS Evening News would like to forget.
After longtime anchor Norah O’Donnell exited the show following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the show averaged more than 5 million viewers per night when John Dickerson and Maurie DuBois took over the anchor duties.
As the year went on, the show struggled to eclipse 3.5 million viewers on some editions, leading both Dickerson and DuBois to ultimately exit the organization at year’s end.
A new Executive Producer for the show was brought in in an effort to help the slumping ratings, as Kim Harvey replaced veteran 60 Minutes producer Guy Campanile, who had been tasked with leading the program.
After reportedly courting the likes of Anderson Cooper and Bret Baier as the next anchor of the venerable newscast, new CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss tabbed Tony Dokoupil as the next anchor of CBS Evening News.
“It’s a massively important show,” Dokoupil, who is leaving CBS Mornings to take over the reins of the nightly newscast, said of the opportunity. “It has a massively important history, it’s the oldest, boldest, most battle-scarred and proud show in television news.”
The network officially announced that Dokoupil will take the reins of the show on Monday, January 5th.
That was on top of President Donald Trump launching, and then ultimately settling a lawsuit against the network over its 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. That settlement preceded the purchase of Paramount by the Larry Ellison-owned Skydance Corporation.
As part of that purchase, Paramount Skydance later also acquired The Free Press, the digital outlet founded by Bari Weiss. She was installed as the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News. Her appointment followed the exit of leaders like 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens and CBS News President and CEO Wendy McMahon announced her departure in May.
#1 – Tom Llamas Replaces Lester Holton NBC Nightly News
Helming a nightly newscast in 2025 doesn’t hold the status it once did. But it’s still a very high-profile job. Especially when you’re viewed as “the most trusted man in news.” That’s why the decision of Lester Holt to ride off into the proverbial sunset from NBC Nightly News, and being replaced by Tom Llamas, is the year’s top TV News story.
In late February, Holt revealed he would be departing NBC Nightly News at some point in the summer. Holt took over the nightly newscast on a full-time basis in 2015. He had previously hosted the weekend version of the show for seven years before taking the reins of the weeknight broadcast.
“After 10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of Nightly News. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do,” Holt wrote in an email to staffers announcing his exit.
10 days after Lester Holt announced his plans to leave the anchor desk, NBC News named his replacement, and they didn’t have to look far. Tom Llamas rejoined NBC News in 2021 as a Senior National Correspondent. He had worked as the anchor of Top Story on the NBC News NOW streaming platform before being elevated to the main anchor chair of NBC Nightly News.
On Friday, May 30th, Lester Holt anchored NBC Nightly News for the final time. Tom Llamas began anchoring the program the following Monday, on June 2nd.
In the immediate aftermath of Holt’s exit, ratings losses were slight. By the end of the year, NBC Nightly News had closed the gap in the coveted Adults 25-54 demographic versus ABC News’ World News Tonight to the tightest margin it had been in six years.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
