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ESPN’s Ryan Clark “Disgusted” by White House Video Using His Likeness

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ESPN’s Ryan Clark “Disgusted” by White House Video Using His Likeness

ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark sharply criticized the The White House this week after a social media video tied to the United States’ posture toward Iran used footage of him from his playing days, prompting the former safety to call the presentation insensitive and misguided during a recent episode of the The Pivot Podcast.

Clark addressed the situation at length during the show. He said he first learned about the video after others alerted him to it. The montage included NFL highlights featuring him. It was used to promote the United States’ stance in the Middle East. Clark said the creative decision felt deeply inappropriate. He cited the gravity of war and the sacrifices made by service members and their families.

“I am disappointed that the video included me,” Clark notes on the podcast. “To have Tropic Thunder and football highlights on a video about war is one of the more insensitive things that I’ve ever seen.”

Clark spent more than a decade in the NFL and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII. He said the video’s tone trivialized the realities of armed conflict. Clark argued that war should never be framed like sports entertainment or cinematic satire.

“There are families here in our country whose loved ones have decided to give their lives to fight for our rights and our freedoms,” Clark said. “They don’t see war as a sport.”

Clark added that the decision to include athletes’ images without permission reflects a broader disconnect between leadership and the public voices affected by those choices.

“The White House post involving myself and other NFL players is absolutely disgusting and despicable,” Clark said. “I don’t care that they take it down. I don’t care how long it’s up, and don’t care that they didn’t ask me to do it. What I’ve learned about our leadership now is they don’t care about what we think.”

Throughout the discussion, Clark repeatedly returned to the idea that war carries consequences too serious to be packaged in the style of a sports highlight reel, particularly when American service members face life-and-death situations abroad.

“War doesn’t deserve a highlight film. For Tropic Thunder to be a part of it — war is not a comedy,” Clark says. “For our regime to be as unserious and unprofessional. Laughable and as illegitimate as our leadership is, right now is embarrassing.”

Clark is one of a few NFL players that have recently chastised the administration for their use of their likeness in social media videos surrounding the war in Iran.

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CRS Sets Lineup for Big Machine Records/Nashville Harbor Records & Enteraintment Lunch

BMM Staff
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CRS Sets Lineup for Big Machine Records/Nashville Harbor Records & Enteraintment Lunch

Country Radio Seminar (CRS) has announced the talent lineup for the Big Machine Records/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment Lunch.

On Friday, March 20th at Noon, the luncheon and showcase will feature many of the two labels’ standouts and rising stars.

Included in the lineup are The Band Perry, The Jack Wharff Band, Mackenzie Carpenter, Cole Goodwin, Caroline Jones, Shaylen, Greylan James, and introducing Naomi Carman.

“CRS remains one of the most important opportunities to showcase our amazing artists where they feel most at home — ON STAGE,” said Big Machine Records founder and chair Scott Borchetta. “As we enter our ‘NEXT 20,’ we will be giving you a robust look into our future — and yours. Start your engines.”

A potential “surprise or two” has been teased by the organization, noting Scott Borchetta‘s penchant for creating “buzz and unforgettable live performances that help shape the year ahead.”

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Sid Rosenberg: Why Has Fox News Never Asked Me to Be on ‘Outnumbered’?

BNM Staff
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Sid Rosenberg: Why Has Fox News Never Asked Me to Be on ‘Outnumbered’?

77 WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg has become a somewhat regular fixture on Fox News. But there’s one show he hasn’t been on, and he’s questioning why.

Outnumbered, hosted by Harris Faulkner, Kayleigh McEnany, Emily Compagno, and Ainsley Earhardt features “One Lucky Guy” to be a part of the panel each weekday at Noon ET.

However, Rosenberg has never been asked to appear on the show.

In a post on social media, Sid Rosenberg — who has made many appearances, especially on weekends with Brian Kilmeade’s show One Nation — questioned why that is.

“I love Fox News. Have a lot of great friends there, and they are far and away the best news source on TV,” Rosenberg said. Far and away!

“But could someone explain to me why I’ve never been invited to appear on Outnumbered?” he asked. “Who better on that couch than a relatively young, handsome, and beloved radio host that Donald Trump loves? Weird? No?”

Rosenberg has been the subject of criticism in recent weeks for his statements about New York mayor Zohran Mamdani. The 77 WABC host came under fire after calling the mayor a “Radical Islam cockroach” and a “Jihadist America-hating Mayor” while urging President Donald Trump to stop meeting with and speaking positively about the newly elected New York mayor. He later publicly apologized for those remarks.

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Urban One Sees 20% Revenue Decline During 2025

BNM Staff
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Urban One Sees 20% Revenue Decline During 2025

Urban One closed out 2025 with a fourth-quarter drop in revenue and a wider operating loss.

Net revenue for Q4 totaled $97.8 million, down 16.5% from $117.1 million in the same period a year ago. The operating loss grew to $54.0 million from just $1.9 million in Q4 2024. Net loss attributable to common stockholders came in at $54.4 million, or $12.24 per share, versus a loss of $35.7 million, or $7.81 per share, in the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA fell to $15.6 million from $26.9 million, while broadcast and digital operating income declined 38.3% to $23.8 million.

For the full year, Urban One generated $374.4 million in revenue, down from $449.7 million in 2024. The company pointed to a lack of political advertising as reason for the drop.

Full-year Adjusted EBITDA for Urban One came in at $56.7 million.

“As expected, we had a tough fourth quarter due to a combination of non-recurring political advertising, soft radio markets and declining audience delivery in our cable television business,” Liggins said.

He noted that finishing within guidance offered some measure of stability heading into 2026, even as the company navigates ongoing headwinds across its core businesses. He noted that radio advertising pacing for the first quarter of 2026 is down 5% year-over-year. Liggins added that Urban One expects political advertising for the upcoming midterm elections to help bolster those figures in the second half of the year, however.

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ESPN Delivers Most-Watched Men’s College Basketball Season in Over a Decade

BSM Staff
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ESPN Delivers Most-Watched Men’s College Basketball Season in Over a Decade

ESPN delivered its most-watched men’s college basketball regular season in more than a decade, continuing a broader trend of rising interest in the sport as premier matchups, rivalry games and signature programming fueled substantial audience growth across its television portfolio during the 2025-26 campaign.

Across ESPN platforms, viewership increased 25% compared to the previous season. It marked the network’s strongest regular-season performance since the 2014–15 college basketball season.

The results reflect a schedule built around high-profile matchups, established properties such as Big Monday and early-season events that consistently draw national attention.

Games carried on ESPN averaged 1.1 million viewers across 127 telecasts this season. That figure represents a 12% increase year over year. It is also the network’s most-watched regular-season slate since the 2018–19 season.

Meanwhile, ABC aired five men’s college basketball broadcasts that averaged 1.7 million viewers, delivering a 29% year-over-year jump and the broadcast network’s strongest performance in the sport since the 2006-07 season.

ESPN networks also commanded a substantial share of the sport’s overall television consumption. Across all nationally rated linear networks, ESPN platforms accounted for half of the total minutes viewed during live men’s college basketball games.

In total, audiences spent approximately 26 billion minutes watching games carried across ESPN’s networks.

Several of the season’s most prominent matchups aired on ESPN. The network carried five of the 10 most-watched games across all television outlets and accounted for 11 of the 20 largest audiences during the regular season. Six games on ESPN surpassed two million viewers, while 28 of the 45 games across all networks to draw more than 1.5 million viewers appeared on the network’s schedule.

The most-watched game on ESPN this season occurred February 21. Then-No. 1 Michigan faced then-No. 3 Duke at a neutral site. The matchup averaged 4.3 million viewers. That audience was ESPN’s largest regular-season men’s college basketball telecast in seven years. It also ranks as the seventh most-watched regular-season game in network history.

One of the network’s longest-running franchises delivered particularly strong results. Big Monday, which has served as a cornerstone of ESPN’s college basketball coverage since its debut in 1987, recorded the most-watched season in the history of the series.

The 12-game schedule averaged 1.6 million viewers, an increase of 78% compared to last season and a 59% gain compared to two seasons ago. The slate featured the nine most-watched Monday night men’s college basketball games on any network since the 2018-19 season. The most-watched game of the package came Feb. 23, when Houston faced Kansas in a matchup that averaged two million viewers.

Early-season showcase events also contributed to the strong overall numbers. The Champions Classic averaged 1.7 million viewers, a 5% increase year over year. The Jimmy V Classic drew 1.1 million viewers, a 36% increase compared to last season. The ACC/SEC Challenge improved 25% year-over-year, highlighted by Duke’s matchup with Florida that attracted 1.7 million viewers.

ESPN’s College GameDay also experienced audience growth during the regular season. The seven on-site shows increased viewership 12% year-over-year and produced the program’s most-watched season since 2019-20. The most-watched broadcast originated from Allen Fieldhouse ahead of the Jan. 31 matchup between BYU and Kansas.

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Casey Atkins Joins K95.3 As Midday Host

BMM Staff
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Casey Atkins Joins K95.3 As Midday Host

SummitMedia has expanded its Richmond leadership team by hiring Casey Atkins as Promotions Manager and midday on-air personality for K95.3 (WKHK), a move designed to strengthen the station’s community presence while adding another voice to its daily programming lineup.

Atkins will oversee the station’s promotional planning and execution while also hosting the midday shift, giving him both a strategic and on-air connection to the station’s audience.

The dual responsibility places him at the center of K95.3’s listener engagement strategy, where he will guide contests, events and marketing initiatives designed to deepen the station’s ties to Richmond and the surrounding Central Virginia region.

“I’m thrilled to join SummitMedia Richmond. This is an opportunity I’m incredibly excited to step into,” Atkins said in the company’s announcement. “The station has such a loyal and passionate audience. I’m looking forward to building standout promotions and deepening that bond with our listeners even more.”

Beyond managing promotions, Atkins will focus on cultivating partnerships with local businesses, organizations and community leaders, helping expand the station’s visibility while also delivering creative campaigns that resonate with listeners both on-air and through public events.

Atkins arrives in Richmond with experience across several radio markets and formats, having previously served as Operations Manager for Allegany Communications in Cumberland, Maryland. During that time, he oversaw programming strategy and operational planning while helping manage station brands in the region.

Earlier in his career, Atkins spent time at several stations throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, including WKML, stations within WVRC Media in Morgantown, and WQDR. Those experiences helped shape his approach to audience engagement, programming and promotional development while giving him exposure to multiple station cultures and market dynamics.

“Casey brings an exciting blend of creativity, energy and passion to middays and promotions at K95.3,” said Brand Manager Carletta Blake. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team and look forward to the impact he’ll make on the station.”

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Fox News Sees Highest Ratings of 2026 Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict

BNM Staff
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Fox News Sees Highest Ratings of 2026 Amid U.S.-Iran Conflict

Fox News had a strong week to begin the month of March. The network finished the week of March 2nd, delivering its highest-rated week of the year, topping both ABC and NBC in weekday and Monday-Sunday primetime viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel.

Breaking news coverage surrounding Iran drove audiences to the network. FNC averaged 3.6 million weekday primetime viewers, leading ABC’s 3.3 million and NBC’s 3.3 million, per Nielsen Big Data + Panel.

The Monday-Sunday primetime picture looked similar. Fox News averaged 3.1 million viewers, outpacing ABC (2.8 million) and NBC (2.9 million) in total viewers.

In Monday-Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM ET), the network delivered over 2 million viewers and 224,000 in the 25-54 demo. Primetime averaged over 3.1 million viewers and 362,000 in the 25-54 demo.

There’s also a milestone worth noting at the program level. The Will Cain Show posted its highest-rated week in the program’s history. It featured an average of just under 3 million viewers (2.976 million) during the week of March 2nd.

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Saga Communications Reports 5% Revenue Decline in 2025

BNM Staff
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Saga Communications Reports 5% Revenue Decline in 2025

Saga Communications has unveiled its 2025 financial results, and the company reported an overall revenue decline during the year.

During the entire year, Saga saw a 5.1% revenue decline, down to $107.1 million. Despite the overall revenue decline, the company saw a 19% increase in digital revenue. That sector rose to $16.9 million for the year.

Total operating expenses remained relatively flat for 2025 at $91.8 million. Part of that expense was tied to $2.2 million in a settlement with ASCAP and BMI over rate adjustments from 2022 through 2025. During the fourth quarter, Saga saw a $6.9 million loss tied to an impairment charge of $20.4 million. Without that charge — related to the evaluation of goodwill and FCC license values — the company would have reported $10.9 million in operating income for the quarter.

During the year, Saga saw an operating loss of $11 million, which contrasts with the operating income of $2.4 million in 2024.

In total, the company has $31.5 million in cash and short-term investments on hand, and projects capital expenditures of $4.5 million during 2026.

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MLB Network Adds Eric Hosmer As Analyst

BSM Staff
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MLB Network Adds Eric Hosmer As Analyst

Eric Hosmer is adding another chapter to his baseball career, this time in front of the camera. The former World Series champion and four-time Gold Glove first baseman will join MLB Network as an on-air analyst, bringing a recently retired player’s perspective to the network’s studio coverage heading into the 2026 season.

Hosmer, who stepped away from playing in January 2024 after a 13-year major league career, will make his season debut on March 25 when he appears on MLB Central and MLB Now. Both programs will air in the lead-up to Opening Night, providing analysis and discussion as the new season approaches.

For Hosmer, the opportunity offers a natural transition into a different role within the sport that defined his professional life for more than a decade.

“I’m excited to join the MLB Network family,” Hosmer said in the network’s announcement. “Baseball has been such a huge part of my life for a long time, and joining the Network gives me the opportunity to stay connected to it in a new way. I’m looking forward to breaking down the game and sharing a player’s perspective on what it takes to compete at the highest level.”

Network executives believe Hosmer’s experience and personality will translate well to television. According to MLB Network Senior Vice President of Production Marc Caiafa, Hosmer demonstrated an ability to analyze the modern game while connecting with viewers during previous appearances.

“Eric Hosmer’s playing career speaks for itself with his championship résumé, and he was always a fan favorite of ours, showing a deep understanding of the game in his interviews,” Caiafa said. “During his time with us as a guest analyst last season, he always added to the conversation — whether breaking down his approach at the plate or sharing insight into the personalities of today’s game.”

Hosmer already has some television experience. Following his retirement, he appeared as a guest analyst on MLB Network in 2025 and also contributed to the pregame and postgame coverage surrounding Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+. He is expected to continue that role during the upcoming season while also contributing to coverage on Royals.TV beginning in 2026.

The move into broadcasting keeps Hosmer closely tied to the sport after a decorated career that began when the Kansas City Royals selected him third overall in the 2008 MLB Draft. Hosmer quickly became one of the organization’s foundational players and helped lead the franchise’s mid-2010s resurgence, which culminated in the club capturing the 2015 World Series title.

During his time in Kansas City, Hosmer earned four Gold Glove Awards between 2013 and 2017 and also secured All-Star honors in 2016, a season that included winning All-Star Game MVP. After seven seasons with the Royals, he later spent five years with the San Diego Padres before shorter stints with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.

Across 1,689 career games, Hosmer compiled 1,753 hits, 198 home runs and 893 RBIs while establishing a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable defensive first basemen.

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Urban One Inks Rickey Smiley to Multi-Year Contract Extension

BMM Staff
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Urban One Inks Rickey Smiley to Multi-Year Contract Extension

Urban One has announced it has struck a deal with Rickey Smiley for him to continue his morning show.

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show is currently heard on 89 affiliates across the nation.

The contract extension for Smiley comes before the launch of his podcast series Rickey Smiley On The Spot. Debuting on March 24th, the new series will include 35-minute episodes with conversations featuring some of the biggest names in music and entertainment.

“I am so excited to continue my partnership with Urban One and Reach Media,” said Smiley. “I’m eternally grateful to Ms. Hughes, Alfred Liggins, Deon Levingston, and Colby Colb for believing in me all these years. I could not do any of this without the most amazing team of talented people I am blessed to work with every day, who keep it real, keep it fresh, and keep our fans informed and laughing every day. The future is bright with the best yet to come.”

“Rickey is a cornerstone of the Urban One brand, and we are thrilled to expand his footprint with a show that captures his natural comedic rhythm in such an intimate way,” said Urban One Audio Division Co-President Deon Levingston. “By expanding on Rickey’s popularity with our listeners and creating a new programming opportunity, we are providing a platform that not only uplifts Black voices but also creates a premium, culturally resonant environment for our listeners and brand partners alike.”

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