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Urban One Acquiring Dallas Stations KKDA, KRNB, Sell Off KZMJ

BMM Staff
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Urban One Acquiring Dallas Stations KKDA, KRNB, Sell Off KZMJ

Urban One is growing in Dallas. The company has agreed to acquire Service Broadcasting Group, LLC, adding radio stations KKDA and KRNB to its portfolio.

As part of the deal, Urban One will sell station KZMJ to Fuzion Dallas, LLC.

Both transactions require FCC approval before closing.

The move strengthens Urban One’s presence in one of the country’s fastest-growing radio markets. It also signals a clear consolidation play for the company.

CEO Alfred C. Liggins, III didn’t mince words about the strategy.

“This transaction is accretive and advances our consolidation strategy by scaling our presence in high-growth regions where our target audience is most concentrated,” he said. “We are elevating our ability to serve our audience and our advertising partners with unmatched scale and local expertise.”

The acquisition gives local advertisers a bigger, more connected platform to reach Dallas audiences. Urban One says listeners will receive same community-driven programming the Radio One brand is known for — now across more frequencies.

Regional VP Doug Abernathy emphasized the importance of the people behind the product.

“By aligning our best-in-class team with these new platforms, we are securing the future of local radio in Dallas and ensuring we remain the primary source for news, entertainment, and connection for the communities we serve.”

The companies have not set a closing date.

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93 WIBC Strikes Partnership with FOX59, Including New Morning Programming

BNM Staff
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93 WIBC Strikes Partnership with FOX59, Including New Morning Programming

93 WIBC has announced it has inked a new content partnership with FOX59 in Indianapolis, which includes new programming for the radio station.

FOX59 will replace WISH-TV as the content partner for 93 WIBC. As part of the new deal, FOX59 and 93 WIBC will share content with one another and provide cross-platform promotion.

FOX59 will provide regular weather updates throughout the radio station’s programming. It will also share live news updates in afternoon drive on select days.

Furthermore, FOX59’s weekday morning news will air in the 5 AM hour on the Indianapolis news/talk station. That hour had previously been occupied by the Daybreak show from WISH-TV.

“This builds on an existing relationship,” said VP/GM for Urban One/Radio One Indianapolis Andrea Kahrer. “As FOX affiliates and frequent partners in the community, combining FOX59’s news and weather with WIBC’s coverage allows us to better serve Central Indiana audiences.”

“This partnership is about meeting people where they are,” said FOX59 VP/GM Dominic Mancuso. “Central Indiana audiences move between television, radio, streaming, digital and social throughout the day. By working with WIBC, we can extend the reach of our local journalism and make sure people have access to trusted news and weather when it matters.”

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Russell Wilson Reportedly In Talks To Join CBS Sports

BSM Staff
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Russell Wilson Reportedly In Talks To Join CBS Sports

Russell Wilson’s playing days appear to be over. The 10-time pro bowl quarterback is reportedly in serious discussions to join CBS’s The NFL Today, according to a report by The Athletic.

The two sides have engaged in lengthy conversations. Wilson, 37, did recently visit with the New York Jets about a backup role behind Geno Smith.

But television looks like the next chapter.

The move fills the seat vacated by Matt Ryan. Ryan left CBS to become president of football for the Atlanta Falcons. Wilson would join a crew that includes host James Brown and analysts Nate Burleson and Bill Cowher.

Wilson was a third-round pick in 2012 by Seattle and led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls. He won one — a blowout of the Denver Broncos after the 2013 season. The following year, a late goal-line interception ended Seattle’s bid to repeat against the New England Patriots.

His career never recovered after a 2022 trade to Denver. Two disappointing seasons followed. Stints in Pittsburgh and New York went nowhere.

Still, Wilson ranks fifth all-time in career passer rating among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts.

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NFL Network Removed From Comcast As Carriage Dispute Continues

BSM Staff
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NFL Network Removed From Comcast As Carriage Dispute Continues

NFL Network and RedZone are dark on Xfinity. Comcast pulled both channels late Thursday after its distribution agreement expired, according to a report by Cord Cutters.

The timing is complicated. ESPN finalized its acquisition of NFL Network, RedZone, and NFL Fantasy in February. The league received a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN as part of the deal.

Now Disney/ESPN controls the negotiating table — not the league.

Comcast acknowledged the dispute plainly.

“Our contract to carry NFL Network and NFL Red Zone has expired, and we’re in discussions with the new owner, Disney/ESPN, about our future carriage of the network,” said Comcast in a statement to Cord Cutters.

Disney pushed back publicly. “We proposed keeping these channels available while we continued good-faith negotiations, but unfortunately, Comcast declined and took them down.”

Disney says it remains committed to a resolution.

Comcast and NFL Network clashed in 2009 over basic-tier carriage. A shorter dispute surfaced in May 2023. League Commissioner Roger Goodell stepped in personally that time, and a deal was struck within 24 hours.

The blackout hits during a sensitive window. OTAs, minicamps, and draft analysis dominate the offseason calendar. Shows like Good Morning Football and NFL Total Access are now unavailable to Xfinity subscribers.

ESPN is also managing NFL Network carriage talks with YouTube TV, Spectrum, and other distributors.

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.

104.3 The Score Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary of 2016 Chicago Cubs’ World Series

BSM Staff
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104.3 The Score Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary of 2016 Chicago Cubs’ World Series

Ten years ago, the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year drought. Now, 104.3 The Score wants fans to relive every moment.

The Audacy station and Cubs flagship will re-air 16 of the team’s most memorable 2016 games. Broadcasts begin today. Each game airs on select weeknights at 6:00 p.m. CT — only when the Cubs aren’t playing.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Hughes will record exclusive new intros for each game. Matt Spiegel, co-host of The Spiegel and Holmes Show, will also voice specific production elements throughout the series.

The slate kicks off today with Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter against the Reds. It runs through August 28 with the iconic World Series Game 7. Everything in between — the NLDS, the NLCS, the World Series — is on the schedule.

The Cubs are a ratings engine for 104.3 The Score. Leaning into the tenth anniversary of the title gives the stattion a built-in audience and a reason to tune in on off-nights with no live play by play.

The full broadcast schedule runs from May through August, covering 16 games including the Division Clincher, three NLCS matchups, and three World Series games — ending with Game 7 where the Cubs defeated the Cleveland Guardians.

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NBC Sports’ NBA Playoff Viewership Doubling Comparable Figures Year Over Year

BSM Staff
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NBC Sports’ NBA Playoff Viewership Doubling Comparable Figures Year Over Year

NBC Sports is back with the NBA Playoffs for the first time in 24 years — and the numbers are turning heads.

Through 13 games on NBC and Peacock, the network is averaging 4.9 million viewers. That’s up 58% over comparable coverage last year and the best performance for this window since 1996.

Week two only added fuel to the fire.

Games from April 25–28 averaged 4.9 million viewers across seven contests. Stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Jalen Brunson are delivering must-watch moments — and audiences are showing up.

Sunday, April 26 was the weekend’s crown jewel.

Celtics-76ers Game 4 drew 6.3 million viewers — the most-watched game of the 2026 playoffs so far and the biggest First Round Game 4 in primetime ever. Then Lakers-Rockets Game 4 peaked at 7.2 million — the highest single-game peak of the playoffs — averaging 6.2 million, up a staggering 128% year-over-year.

Monday delivered another milestone. Pistons-Magic Game 4 averaged 5.4 million viewers, up 155% versus last season. It became the most-watched Round 1 Game 4 on a weekday ever.

Saturday’s Knicks-Hawks Game 4 averaged 5.3 million — up 58% — and peaked at 5.8 million.

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Curtis Media Group Expanding in North Carolina With Wilmington Acquisition

BNM Staff
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Curtis Media Group Expanding in North Carolina With Wilmington Acquisition

Curtis Media Group is growing its North Carolina footprint. The company has agreed to purchase five radio stations and two translators from Capitol Broadcasting Company in the Wilmington market. The reported sale price is $1.75 million.

The acquisition adds significant format diversity to Curtis Media’s portfolio. Modern Rock 98.7 serves the Jacksonville area. Z107.5 delivers Top 40 to Southport listeners. Meanwhile, Jammin 99.9 brings Rhythmic Oldies to Boiling Spring Lakes. Sunny 103.7 covers the Wrightsville Beach market with Adult Contemporary programming. Additionally, 95.9 The Breeze serves Wilmington with Soft AC content.

The deal also includes an ESPN sports radio affiliate. ESPN 630 AM and its 101.7 FM translator serve the Wilmington market, rounding out a well-balanced group of stations across multiple formats and communities.

Kalil & Co., Inc. is serving as the exclusive broker for the transaction.

The purchase keeps Curtis Media firmly rooted in its home state. Furthermore, it positions the company as a dominant multi-format operator across one of North Carolina’s key coastal markets. Wilmington represents a growing media market with a diverse listener base spanning urban, suburban, and coastal communities.

Capitol Broadcasting Company built a strong cluster of stations in the region. However, the sale signals a strategic shift in the company’s portfolio priorities. Curtis Media Group steps in as a buyer with deep North Carolina experience and a track record of managing multi-format clusters effectively.

The deal remains pending regulatory approval.

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UEFA Media Rights Reportedly Earn 40% Increase to Over 5 Billion

BSM Staff
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UEFA Media Rights Reportedly Earn 40% Increase to Over 5 Billion

UEFA just scored big off the pitch. According to reporting by Bloomberg, the governing body of European football locked in a 40% increase on broadcasting rights for its men’s tournaments — including the Champions League — across 19 territories for the 2027–2031 cycle.

The deal spans Europe and the Americas, excluding the United States.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed publicly. But sources tell Bloomberg this deal and others in the pipeline will push UEFA’s annual broadcast and commercial rights revenue past 5 billion.

Walt Disney Co. and Paramount Skydance Corp. both entered the bidding, which in turn drove pricing up. Both wanted more sports content. Their presence created competition — and competition creates value.

European football’s U.S. audience keeps growing. The Champions League sits at the center of that surge. Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich draw eyeballs globally.

The tournament also expanded its format in 2024/25, adding a qualifying stage and more games.

Canal+ and DAZN landed preferred bidder status. The packages also cover the UEFA Europa League and Conference League. Relevent Football Partners managed the rights deal, designing packages to attract both traditional broadcasters and streaming platforms.

This builds on UEFA’s momentum from 2024, when rights in top markets — UK, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain — climbed roughly 20%.

The U.S. packages renew in 2030 with the FIFA World Cup headed to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, surely to draw more interest.

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790 KFYO Host Chad Hasty Dies

BNM Staff
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790 KFYO Host Chad Hasty Dies

Chad Hasty, the longtime host at 790 KFYO in Lubbock, has died unexpectedly at the age of 43.

Hasty had been with the station since 2006. From 2008 to 2021, he helmed mornings at the Townsquare Media news/talk outlet.

He later moved the show to the 5-7 PM window. It was then syndicated to news/talk stations in Abilene, Amarillo, Temple, and Wichita Falls.

“We are stunned and heartbroken by the sudden passing of our beloved KFYO family member, Chad Hasty. Chad was not only a brilliant on-air host, but an even better friend. Our deepest condolences go out to Jennifer and his baby girl, Ava. It’s hard to imagine not seeing his welcoming presence roaming the halls of Townsquare Media Lubbock.”

On Thursday, 790 KFYO aired a special tribute broadcast to the longtime host.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) shared his condolences to both 790 KFYO and to Chad Hasty’s family following the news.

“Chad Hasty was one of the finest broadcasters Texas has ever produced,” Abbott shared on social media. “My and Cecilia’s prayers are with his family as they mourn his sudden passing. Every day, Chad showed up to the microphone with conviction, informing Texans on the critical policy and political fights happening in the Legislature and our state. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the countless listeners who welcomed him in their cars, homes, and offices. Chad will be deeply missed. May he Rest in Peace.

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60 Minutes’ Sharyn Alfonsi: CBS News Executives Care Only About What’s Good For Business

BNM Staff
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60 Minutes’ Sharyn Alfonsi: CBS News Executives Care Only About What’s Good For Business

60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi was the reporter at the center of the CECOT controversy late last year. She is now sharing her side of the story.

Alfonsi received the Ridenhour Prize for Courage from the National Press Club on Thursday evening. During her speech, she spoke about the situation where CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss reportedly cancelled the story’s debut.

“Some executives are asking not, ‘Is the story true?’ but, ‘Is it good for business?’” she said, while not naming any names.

She also said that she wouldn’t linger on the situation, but that it was important to discuss the topic.

“It wasn’t an isolated editorial argument,” said Alfonsi. “In my view, it was the result of a more aggressive contagion: the spread of corporate meddling and editorial fear. It’s hard to watch.”

Alfonis alluded to her future in the speech. She reportedly is not signed for the 59th season of the program coming up later this year.

“My hope recently has been that I still have a job. And every morning I wake up to another headline that says I’ve been fired,” she admitted. “If I am fired, it will not be the first time.”

Sharyn Alfonsi was joined in receiving the award by former 60 Minutes Executive Producer Bill Owens. He left the position in April 2025, citing differences with Paramount executives over editorial control of the show. Alfonsi heaped praise on her former colleague and further alluded to her potential exit from 60 Minutes.

“I always said I’d follow Bill over a cliff,” she said. “And apparently I did.”

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