The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will chronicle the highs, lows, and defining moments of their 50-year history in a new 10-part docuseries set to debut exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on Thursday, December 11 — coinciding with the team’s Thursday Night Football matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Titled Raise The Flags: 50 Years of Buccaneers Football, the series was commissioned and produced by co-owner Ed Glazer. It was directed by eight-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Trent Cooper. Presented by Skydance Sports and Prime Video Sports, the docuseries offers a comprehensive, intimate look at the franchise’s evolution. It follows the team from an expansion squad struggling to find its footing to a two-time Super Bowl champion.
“Raise The Flags is a celebration of the people, the perseverance, and the passion that built this franchise over the past 50 seasons,” Glazer said in a statement. “We wanted to create an honest and comprehensive look at our journey. From the earliest challenges to the unforgettable championship moments. Also to honor everyone who has shaped the Buccaneers franchise into what it is today. This series celebrates that rich history in a way that has never been done before.”
The series traces the Buccaneers’ notorious 0-26 start and highlights their breakthrough 1979 season. It details pivotal moments, including the franchise’s sale to the Glazer family. It covers Jon Gruden’s acquisition, which led to the club’s first Super Bowl title. The series explores the drafting and development of iconic players, including John Lynch, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, and Mike Evans. It also follows the team’s journey to a second championship in Super Bowl LV after signing NFL legend Tom Brady.
Cooper and his team conducted more than 100 interviews with current and former players, coaches, executives, media personalities, and staff, pairing first-hand accounts with archival footage and historical recordings. The result is a detailed, character-driven exploration of the franchise’s defining moments and the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped its identity.
“I grew up in the Tampa Bay area and have loved the Buccaneers my entire life, but storytelling is my job, and this story has it all: grit, heartbreak, community, unforgettable characters, and more,” Cooper said. “The best part of this project for me has been going deep into the rise of this franchise and uncovering stories even lifelong fans never knew.”
Raise The Flags will stream nationwide on Prime Video beginning December 11. Viewers can access the series with a Prime membership on any compatible device. Fans nationwide can experience the Buccaneers’ five-decade journey.
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.
CBS News is set to host a town hall event with Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, just over three months following the death of her husband, Charlie Kirk.
On Saturday, December 13th at 8 PM ET, CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss will lead the one-hour event. The special will be broadcast on CBS, and will later stream on Paramount+ and the CBS News 24/7 streaming platform.
“Like so many people around the world, I will never forget the moment that Erika Kirk forgave her husband’s killer,” said Weiss. “I am eager to speak to her—and thrilled to be doing so in front of a group of Americans who I know will elevate the conversation.”
The network says the conversation will include Kirk “fielding questions from young evangelicals, prominent religious leaders, and figures across the political spectrum.”
A Town Hall with Erika Kirk will be recorded in New York in front of what the network is calling an “invited audience.” The conversation will be recorded on Wednesday, December 10th, before being broadcast on the 13th.
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.
Candace Owens has made several accusations about those close to Charlie Kirk — including those leading the Turning Point USA organization he founded, and his wife, Erika — in the days, weeks, and months following his death. The organization is responding to those accusations for the first time.
To open The Charlie Kirk Show on Wednesday afternoon, producer Blake Neff read a prepared statement addressing many of the comments made by Candace Owens in the time following Kirk’s September 10th assassination.
“There is always something new coming up, and none of it ever pans out, because from the start, there has been nothing there,” Neff said. “The attacks and allegations from Candace are either lies or they are innuendos thrown around with a total reckless disregard for the truth so that Candace can manipulate and string along an audience of people who don’t realize they are being played instead of being able to grieve properly after one of the most heinous murders in American history, a murder many of us had to witness. My friends have had to endure harassment from people who have gotten whipped up by what Candace is saying.
“In fact, I would say we have suffered more harassment from these people than we have from Antifa supporters who overtly celebrate Charlie’s murder. And just like a lot of those Antifa members, many of these people take this delight and how gross and unpleasant they can be,” continued Neff. “What our friends have had to endure is not funny and it’s not insignificant. It is evil. I have seen it for months.”
Neff continued by sharing the thought process for why Turning Point USA has continually ignored the statements made by Candace Owens.
For the past three months, we've received a flood of questions about Candace Owens and her claims attacking Charlie's closest friends. For three months, we preferred to remain silent, but the attacks have not stopped.
“For a long time, our approach was to say nothing. We did that for several reasons,” Neff said. “First, we thought that her prevarications were so absurd that nobody would believe them. We shouldn’t have to answer questions about secret tunnels or Egyptian air force planes. That sort of thing is just it’s beneath contempt to respond to. The second reason we’ve said so little, though, is because there’s a good rule of thumb which Charlie followed: ‘Do not feed the trolls. Focus on the mission of reviving America, uplifting young people, and making heaven crowded. Don’t give air to people who want to tear you down and sew discord.’
“Lastly, we didn’t respond, because Charlie always viewed Candace as a friend, and we were holding out hope that she would return that friendship and stop what she was doing,” The Charlie Kirk Show producer added. “But a week from now, it’s going to be three months since Charlie’s murder, Candace has not changed her behavior. She has continued to spread falsehoods about Charlie’s friends, and she continues to concoct new ones about new people. She’s using these falsehoods to enrich herself … Our silence has never been — and it will never — be equal to complacency or approval. Still, we decided Charlie would not allow this to go on … Charlie would not allow someone to spread lies about the people closest to him with impunity, and he would feel ashamed if other people were stepping up to defend his friends, while he never did so himself.”
Neff then shared that the organization is offering Candace Owens the opportunity to appear on a live stream to “address in a clear and comprehensive way” as Turning Point USA plans to “walk through everything carefully and thoroughly” that Owens has asserted.
“If Candace is available, we would sincerely welcome her participation in that live stream at our studio here in Phoenix,” Neff concluded. “At this point, we believe the ball is back in her court. Our motivation for doing this is not out of any obligation to Candace. It is about honoring Charlie. We feel a deep responsibility to protect his legacy, his work and the truth.”
The livestream we announced on the show Wednesday has been set.
At 4 pm Eastern, 2 pm local time on Monday, December 15, a collection of Charlie's friends will respond to statements made by @RealCandaceO, to set the record straight once and for all prior to the opening of…
In response, Candace Owens has said the date and time presented by Turning Point USA does not work for her, as that’s when she hosts her daily podcast.
However, it appears as if she’s accepted the invitation.
“We will happily cancel the daily podcast and will join you guys virtually instead for the livestream on the 15th if that works on your end?” Owens said in a post on social media. “Let’s lock it in?”
Kind of weird how you didn’t e-mail or call me to ask about times or availability and chose to instead tweet this confirmation out at midnight.
Why am I learning about this on X?
December 15th does not work in-person and 2pm PT is also literal time I do my podcast LIVE… https://t.co/COHq61NkbA
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.
iHeartMedia Tampa Bay’s Mix 100.7 announced that the popular morning program, The Miguel & Holly Show, will return to the airwaves on Monday, January 5, 2026. The show will broadcast weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., marking the duo’s homecoming after several years away.
Miguel and Holly were among Tampa Bay’s leading radio personalities from 2015 to 2022, The duo then departed the market for a three-year stint in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their return to the local airwaves is being framed as a reunion with loyal listeners who helped make the show a staple of the market.
“Miguel and Holly bring an energy, authenticity and connection to this community that our listeners love,” said Tommy Chuck, Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Tampa Bay. “Welcoming them back feels like bringing old friends home. We’re excited for mornings filled with laughter, real conversation and a great variety of music.”
Miguel, known for his unfiltered personality and ability to make listeners feel included in the conversation, called the return a personal homecoming.
“Tampa Bay made me who I am, and returning with Holly truly feels like coming back home,” he said. “We’re excited to reconnect with our listeners every morning.”
Holly, a devoted mother, mental health advocate, and Gracie Award-winning broadcaster, praised the partnership she shares with Miguel.
“I’m thrilled to be back in Tampa Bay. The place my family calls home, and even more excited to be back in the studio with Miguel,” she said. “We’re ready to share more laughter, fun and meaningful moments with this amazing community.”
Together, the duo delivers a blend of pop culture, local happenings, and real-life stories with humor and honesty. Holly’s thoughtful approach complements Miguel’s high-energy style, creating a balance that has resonated with audiences for 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.
FOX Sports is adding one of international soccer’s most recognizable names to its coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The network announced that former French star and World Cup champion Thierry Henry will serve as one of its lead analysts for next year’s expanded tournament.
The move brings one of the sport’s most decorated strikers to the most-watched soccer event in the world. In a statement, FOX Sports President of Production & Operations and Executive Producer Brad Zager said Henry’s arrival reinforces the network’s ambition to elevate its coverage in a year when the World Cup will be bigger than ever.
“Thierry Henry’s name is synonymous with the best of the beautiful game,” Zager said. “As one of soccer’s elite, we are elated to add Thierry’s distinguished resume to our talent roster for the biggest World Cup ever.”
Henry will make his on-air debut for the network Friday, December 5, during FOX’s 3½-hour live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. It marks his first U.S. World Cup broadcast assignment and his first step into a central role for next summer.
For Henry, the opportunity adds another chapter to a storied career that already includes championships, coaching experience, and widely praised broadcast work in both the U.K. and U.S.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be part of the World Cup coverage for FOX Sports,” Henry said. “For me, the World Cup is the ultimate sporting event and to join the team and still have some involvement in the tournament fills me with a great deal of excitement. The draw in Washington tomorrow means we are close to the start. I can’t wait.”
The former Arsenal legend remains one of the most prolific forwards in global soccer history. Henry scored 51 goals in 123 appearances for France and set the club scoring record at Arsenal with 228 goals. His resume includes back-to-back European Golden Boots and three straight Domestic Golden Boots. He also won two English Player of the Year awards. He earned five French Player of the Year honors as well. All were groundbreaking achievements at the time.
Henry played in four World Cups for France, beginning with the country’s 1998 championship run on home soil. His club career spanned Europe with Arsenal, AS Monaco, FC Barcelona and Juventus. He moved to Major League Soccer in 2010 to join the New York Red Bulls, then retired in 2014. Henry later moved into coaching with AS Monaco and CF Montréal. He also worked with the Belgium National Team and France’s U21 and U23 squads.
FOX Sports has not yet announced its full 2026 broadcast lineup. The network is preparing for its largest World Cup production ever. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19. All 104 matches will air on FOX and FS1. Every game will also stream on FOX One and the FOX Sports App. The 69 matches scheduled for FOX represent the most ever carried on broadcast television.
The 2026 tournament will be the first hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — and will expand to 48 teams competing in 16 host cities. Eleven of those cities are in the United States, including Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and the Bay Area.
Magnifique! @FOXSports proudly announces legendary striker and @FIFAWorldCup champion Thierry Henry as the network’s newest analyst for next summer’s tournament.
Henry will make his FOX debut Friday on the Final Draw live starting at 11:30 AM ET.
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 ESPN host Bomani Jones believes the network that once prided itself on building stars internally has shifted into a new era — one where it no longer develops talent from within and increasingly relies on personalities who built their reputations elsewhere. During an appearance on The Main Event with Andrew Marchand, Jones said ESPN’s ability to manufacture its own breakout voices has all but disappeared.
Jones reflected on the ESPN he joined more than a decade ago and the philosophy that guided its talent pipeline at the time. According to him, the company trusted its brand strength enough to cycle through hosts without fear of losing viewers.
“They weren’t paying people a whole lot of money, because they felt like, we make stars,” Jones said. “You want more money, you go ahead, we’ll get somebody else. Think about what happened with Dan Patrick, which I guess is now probably like 15 years ago. We’ll go find another one of you. It’s not that big a deal. They can’t do that anymore.”
Jones said that shift is most evident in how ESPN now values — and retains — its highest-profile figures. He argued that the network no longer sees its top stars as replaceable, a significant departure from the mindset that defined the company for decades.
“The idea that Stephen A. Smith makes $20 million a year would have been ridiculous,” Jones said. “Not that long ago, they would have told him, or anybody else, ‘Oh, we’ll find another of you.’ No, they don’t think they can do that anymore.”
ESPN has since introduced a direct-to-consumer platform and continues to manage long-term rights deals with major leagues, including a potential acquisition of a 10% by the NFL. While that evolution continues, Jones believes the network has become more conservative creatively.
While ESPN once experimented with original programming, he said today’s strategy increasingly relies on importing established voices rather than building new ones.
“It’s all people who already have their own thing somewhere else,” Jones said. “They’re out of ideas. Or at the very least, nobody is in the business of coming up with new ideas.”
Furthermore, Jones argued that the evolution of digital media has changed how talent emerges. Many of today’s most notable personalities build their audiences independently, which makes ESPN less of a career launching pad and more of an amplifying platform for those who already arrive with followings.
He noted the partnerships the network has created in recent years with Pat McAfee, and Bussin’ with the Boys as examples.
Despite his criticism, Jones acknowledged that ESPN remains a dominant brand with significant reach. However, he said the network’s hesitancy to take creative risks has reshaped its identity and diminished its ability to cultivate the next wave of homegrown stars.
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.
Who doesn’t love a good comeback story? The old grizzled veterans looking to recapture the success of their youth in the same barn they once competed in. We see it in professional sports, sports entertainment, and sports radio. When it was announced that Craig Carton was returning to WFAN this January, it wasn’t shocking.
Just over two months ago, I examined the possibility of a return and whether it made sense. I knew Carton’s ties to WFAN and station management, as well as his long run of success with the brand. Once he became a free agent, a reunion felt inevitable. It was always more a matter of when than why.
However, Carton’s return fits a familiar pattern for major market sports radio brands. Instead of building toward the industry’s future, the “ol reliable” still seems to get the upper hand. Have major market stations simply given up on developing depth and nurturing the next generation?
I’ve spoken with enough sports radio talent around the country to know the industry is struggling to define what comes next. Who is the next rising star? The next Mike Francesa or Mike Valenti. Does their name have to be Mike in order to succeed?
Yes, I’ve had fun with that one talking to people around the country.
These are real questions I consider when I watch major market brands chase what once worked rather than adapt to the moment. This isn’t a knock on Carton or any of his contemporaries. Their resumes speak for themselves. But is this a long-term solution or a short-term correction? Is this about getting back in the green next year or remaining relevant in the next decade?
It’s not just New York City.
Carton is getting a third crack at the apple because management clearly doesn’t believe the current lineup is working. Enter Carton. Instant name recognition yesterday, credibility with the aging audience today. It’s a square peg in a square hole—for now.
Reports suggest Carton will be paired with WFAN overnight host Chris McMonigle when he returns in January. Is this the old guard elevating new blood? Possibly. It could be an intentional step forward.
We’ve seen this same formula happen in other major markets too.
We’ve seen this formula in other major markets as well. Mike Missanelli returned to 97.5 The Fanatic in 2024, only to be laid off in 2025. Dan McNeil returned to 670 The Score in Chicago after a falling-out with ESPN Chicago and multiple personal setbacks. Even Mike Francesa came out of retirement for another WFAN run—a comeback he later called “a mistake.”
Apparently it’s a mistake that others have not learned from.
It happens even on the national syndication front. Mike Greenberg returned to host a solo show for the network following a masterful run on Mike & Mike. Greeny lasted from 2020 until this past January. Rich Eisen made his return to ESPN Radio this fall. Clay Travis is toying with the idea of becoming a free agent. Would FOX Sports Radio come calling?
Regarding Carton’s return, his success at WFAN has earned him three shots at one of the biggest brands in the country. Would his persona work in a market like Chicago or Los Angeles? Yes, he can dominate one market on one radio station in New York City. However, national syndicators would more than likely look elsewhere because of that.
You can’t have New York speaking to affiliates in Alabama and Idaho.
Carton was the main fixture on a network looking for star power. He had FOX Sports paying him hand over fist, more than anything WFAN could offer. Not hating the fact he got the money, but where did it get FOX Sports? Carton’s star didn’t raise the network like they had hoped, albeit in a different medium with more room to grow. Plus, with proven sports radio talent surrounding him, his persona still didn’t stand out.
The difference is FOX Sports was thinking outside the box. Try something new, something not done before. Take one of the biggest sports radio talents from a major market and place that talent as the main face of the network’s morning programming.
In the words of Pepper Brooks, “that’s a bold strategy Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off.”
The gamble didn’t pay off, but at least FOX Sports tried.
Would major market sports radio brands take a similar chance? Would the top podcaster in a market get an opportunity to expand reach by signing on as the new morning, midday, or afternoon drive host of a sports radio brand in a major market?
Westwood One Sports announced its new morning show on Wednesday, set to debut on December 29. The hire wasn’t a large name that many long-time industry executives may be familiar with, but the hire is betting on the future and how the audience is shifting. A bold move was made making Drake Toll the morning voice of Westwood One Sports.
A young and aspiring voice for a new generation. Blending his experiences working with the Savannah Bananas and the Locked On Podcast Network to produce a multi-platform sports experience guiding the next generation of sports fans.
This is thinking differently. The hire is intrusive and an attempt to disrupt.
It’s not going back to the well with what worked in the past, because more than likely that’s not going to work in the very near future.
Carton returning to WFAN isn’t the problem. It’s a symptom. A sign that too many major market brands have grown addicted to the past, terrified that daring to develop new voices might cost them a rating or two.
Meanwhile, the next generation isn’t waiting around—they’re already building audiences on platforms these stations barely acknowledge. At some point, major market sports radio will have to stop digging up old playbooks and start drawing new ones.
If it doesn’t, the industry won’t just lose its edge. It’ll lose its future.
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.
What can news/talk radio hosts learn from Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson? Plenty, if you’re paying attention.
On Spotify — the platform that is either the largest or second-largest podcast service depending on who you ask — both Rogan and Carlson ranked in the top 10 podcasts globally and in the United States in the 2025 Spotify Wrapped.
Their dominance isn’t accidental. It’s the result of understanding a principle that too many hosts ignore: bigger isn’t always better.
Look at their recent guest lists. Carlson has welcomed the likes of John Rich and the son of Nikki Haley. Rogan’s lineup includes people who make you pause and ask, “Who?” more often than it makes you think it’s a who’s who. Not every guest is a home run.
Yet, their audiences don’t really dwindle when a lesser-known guest appears. That’s because the draw isn’t just the person on the other side of the microphone — it’s the host’s ability to turn any conversation into something compelling.
News/talk radio hosts should take note. A high-profile guest might grab an eye-catching headline, but it won’t automatically guarantee an engaged audience. What truly matters is the conversation. Being interesting, being entertaining, and providing genuine value to listeners will always outweigh the notoriety of your guest. Rogan and Carlson demonstrate this principle week after week. They guide discussions with curiosity, ask unexpected questions, and make room for moments that feel authentic rather than scripted.
Here’s the key: you don’t have to abandon your pursuit of heavy-hitter guests. Certainly, booking prominent figures can boost ratings and bring in attention. But if your interviews lack engagement, that spotlight fades fast. Hosts who can craft meaningful, captivating dialogue — regardless of the guest’s fame — will build a loyal following that sticks around long after the trending guest has left the airwaves.
One lesson from Rogan and Carlson is the power of preparation paired with adaptability. They know who their guests are, but they don’t stick to a rigid script. The conversation flows naturally, with moments of surprise, humor, and insight. That spontaneity is something too many hosts overlook. In radio, the illusion of immediacy can make the audience feel like they are part of the conversation. Even when the guest is unknown, the host’s energy and curiosity are enough to hold attention.
News/talk radio doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel, but it does need to remember its strengths. Interviews should educate, entertain, and provoke thought. That formula has propelled podcasts like Rogan’s and Carlson’s to global prominence. Hosts who focus solely on celebrity status, social media clout, or political leverage may find short-term gains, but they rarely cultivate lasting listener loyalty.
The broader lesson is simple: curiosity beats clout. Hosts who bring energy, insight, and a sense of discovery to every interview will resonate with audiences more than those who rely on names alone. Viewers and listeners will forgive a lesser-known guest if the conversation is stimulating. Conversely, a big-name guest won’t rescue an interview that is dull, scripted, or disengaged.
In 2026, news/talk radio leaders have an opportunity to take cues from Rogan and Carlson. Prioritize curiosity, authentic conversations, and make every discussion count. High-profile guests are valuable, but only when paired with hosts who know how to make them matter. Your listeners are not just looking for names — they’re looking for experiences, insights, and moments that make them feel part of something bigger.
Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson show that success is less about who sits in the chair across from you and more about how you fill the room with energy, curiosity, and engagement. That lesson should guide every news/talk radio host as the medium continues to evolve. If you can master that, your audience will follow — no matter who your guest happens to be.
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.
As other major networks keep their sole focus on what is happening in Washington D.C., NewsNation is taking a different approach. The nearly five-year-old outlet is taking your dinner table topics and putting them on your TV screen, including one inspired by a conversation with Ryan Seacrest.
Just before Thanksgiving, it aired a Killing Cancer special, exposing a breakthrough treatment that could save millions from dying of cancer.
Barrett Media spoke with Nexstar Networks President Sean Compton about how this special came to be and how the outlet will continue to push the story forward.
Krystina Alarcon Carroll: How did the Killing Cancer special come about? Did a producer come to you and say, “Hey, I have this idea,” or was this built from the ground up?
Sean Compton: I’ll give you a little bit of history for some context. Back in the late ’90s, I was in the radio business, and a young Ryan Seacrest — who was doing afternoons at Star 98.7 in Los Angeles — and I were talking a lot about his future. He called me one day — I was Vice President of Programming for Clear Channel — and asked if I could grant him permission to do American Idol, because it meant he’d have to take the show a couple of days a week.
I said, “Yeah, it’s okay.” A few months later, that show took off. Ryan’s ratings were climbing, and we said, “Look, we need a morning show for KISS.” We put him on mornings at KISS FM. When Casey Kasem switched to the Adult Contemporary Countdown, we gave Ryan American Top 40. So I had a long history with Ryan.
Nexstar Networks President Sean Compton’s phone call with Ryan Seacrest helped spark a NewsNation special focused on cancer research. (Photo: Nexstar Media Group)
Well, I hadn’t talked to him in several years, and he called me to tell me that his dad was suffering from cancer — and it was really bad. This was probably back in August or September. I said, “That’s terrible.” He said, “Yeah, I may hook him up with Dr. Soon.” I asked, “Who’s that?” and he explained who Dr. Soon was.
I said, “Well, I’ve actually seen him on NewsNation for other topics.” He said, “Yeah, he’s got this potential … We don’t want to use the word cure, because that’s a little bold, but he has a way to kind of kill cancer, and he thinks this could be the path to a cure.”
I lost three grandparents to cancer, and I lost my mother to cancer when I was a teenager. I said, “OK, well, I’m getting all over this [because] I know how it affects people.” We’ve all touched it, whether personally or through someone close to us. So I called Dr. Soon and said, “Look, I want to do some homework and have Chris Cuomo and his team look into this. But if you’re onto something, we should tell the world. Everyone should know about this.”
We then turned it over to Michael Corn and the producing team. And ta-da — there’s the special. We thought we would air it right before Thanksgiving. If you air it the night before, everyone’s on the road, but a couple of nights before Thanksgiving, people go home and talk about it.
So, yeah, a lot of important public information. We’re not here to promote it or encourage it. We’ve asked, “What’s the other side of this?” We’ve asked around. No doctors or anyone have said there are terrible side effects to what he’s encouraging.
In fact, there are no side effects. The patient stories are real. One patient in the special had been written off — he got into the program because the doctor said he would die. There’s nothing we could do. Now, several years in, they cannot find cancer in his body. You saw his throat in the video. If this is the beginning of an opportunity for many people — especially if caught early — it all started with a call from Ryan Seacrest just to let me know his dad was sick. We were catching up because we hadn’t talked in years.
KC: When it comes to specials like these, is this what NewsNation defines as success?
SC: NewsNation — thank you for writing about it fairly — it’s not all about politics. CNN, Fox, and MSNBC are 100 percent political. We don’t sit around our kitchen table at night in Indiana eating meat and potatoes worrying about Washington, D.C. We worry about our health, wealth, kids, and the economy — eating better, losing weight, exercising. Those are things that matter to a lot of people, but you won’t see these stories on CNN or MSNBC.
While we do have politics — Cuomo and Leland Vittert cover it nightly, we carry congressional hearings — we also cover other things: UFOs, UAPs, cancer research, potential cures. That’s what journalism is.
I was talking to someone who called us a conservative news network. Funny, because two days ago, the President of the United States called us liberal. Conservatives think we’re liberal; liberals think we’re conservative. That probably means we’re doing something right. Half the time you’ll love us, half the time you’ll hate us, because we just cover the facts. Stories like this matter and aren’t being exposed on other cable news networks.
KC: NewsNation is reaching its five-year mark. Are you expecting to grow more in this area of keeping Americans healthy?
SC: We’ll expand additional hours of live programming — not public yet, but you have the scoop. Early 2026, more live hours. For stories like this — UAPs, East Palestine, Ohio, and the aftermath of the train derailment — we go where others have left. Producers are dedicated — they won’t let these stories die. Cancer is a huge, unifying topic. It affects everyone, regardless of age, gender, or race.
KC: Other stations are constantly focused on politics and polarizing topics. Are you hoping more specials like this will attract people looking for a balanced media diet?
SC: Yes, 100%. A radio consultant asked me five years ago what demographic we were targeting. I said, “Heartbeats.” I mean everyone. News for all Americans. Age, gender, demographics — it doesn’t matter. Informing comes first. Entertaining comes second.
Bill O’Reilly has done specials on history or American heroes. Those are entertaining and informative. Specials like this cancer one — there’s nothing entertaining. It’s purely informative, aiming to reach the right people. Millions have seen this special online and on air; that was our goal.
We’ll continue asking questions, exploring positives and negatives, costs, and insurance coverage. Cancer doesn’t discriminate, so everyone should have access if this proves viable. Cuomo did a great job asking tough questions, and our producers verified facts with doctors. This needs to be known.
KC: Many in the industry measure success by awards. Is getting the story out more important than accolades?
SC: I don’t apply for Emmys. I want to reach people with honest truth. NewsNation is not about politics — it’s about reporting. As Lincoln said, “Let the people know the truth and the country will be safe.” We follow that ethos. Ratings will come, but we won’t sacrifice our mission. We’re news for grownups — no gotchas, no shouting matches, just fair questions.
KC: Advice for aspiring journalists trying to bring the country together through facts?
SC: Park your opinions at the door. Charles Kuralt traveled America showing everyday life — 20 years of it. Remember where you come from. The world revolves around more than New York, L.A., or Washington — it’s Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis. Never forget your roots. Too much elitism exists in this business.
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.
I first met Guy Zapoleon when he was running programming for Nationwide Communications and served as programmer for KHMX in Houston. Guy was the architect of the Hot AC format some 35 years ago. I met Guy to get his insights on the format as we were looking for something to attract an older audience than the Top 40 we were doing.
Guy is known as a musicologist. He writes an annual report on the state of hit music. Not surprising to those who follow hit music, he says we are still in the “doldrums” for the 6th straight year, but transitioning. You can read the details at GuyZapoleon.com.
There were only 18 consensus hits powered by 50% or more of the Top 40 stations for 2025 according to Guy. I asked a few programmers, why so few hits? The most prevalent response was “music sucks”.
Then I asked those who work for labels and promote the music. While wanting to remain nameless, they put the blame on radio. The over arching complaint was that radio relies on callout instead of streaming for hit verification. Some stations say they can’t get a fair read in callout until a song gets 600 spins on their station.
I went to the only source for accurate airplay information, Mediabase, and looked up America’s biggest Top 40 station, Z100. They are playing 3 songs that will cross that 600-spin barrier this week. Those songs are Zara Larsson’s “Crush” which they first played on 8/15, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears” which hit their air on 8/29 and “Ophelia” by Taylor Swift which was released and played on 10/3. “Ophelia” is their most played song and #1 on the chart at the moment. Taylor is, well, special.
But if radio doesn’t know if a song is a hit until four months of airplay, it’s easy to see why there were so few hits this year. I should note that 2 of the top 5 most played songs on Z100 by Alex Warren and Benson Boone were added to their playlist LAST winter. Talk about doldrums, it’s December.
Perhaps there is another reason that Top 40 needs as many spins as they do to confirm a hit.
The Hot AC companion format that is also pop based, exposes less current music than ever before. I looked at some of the biggest Hot AC’s in America. I discovered that WNEW in New York is 58% gold. KBIG in LA is 61%, and KDMX in Dallas is at 65%. Only WTMX keeps their gold percentage low at 39%, but due to a heavy recurrent rotation, still only 22% of their playlist is deemed current. Yes, slightly higher than the other stations who stand at 16%, 18% and 17% respectively. None of those stations are doing a lot to make a brand-new song familiar, but being the long tail to make a song a hit with those less passionate about music and be played at weddings in eternity.
These Hot AC gold percentages make sense when a programmer in that format says that there are few hits. When 60% of your playlist is made up of the greatest songs from the 90’s through 2023 it takes a lot to stand out. Would you rather hear the new Goo Goo Dolls song or “Iris”, one of the greatest songs ever recorded? How about when you’re in the mood for Ed Sheeran? I’m a huge fan of his, and I’d love to sing along with “Shape of You” rather than “Camera”.
Let’s go one step further into Mainstream AC. Programmers in this format strive to be relevant with currents, but they’re usually the worst testing songs on their station. I recently sorted a music test with a major market mainstream AC station. We rejected songs from the 80’s with better research scores than some of our best testing recurrents.
Clearly the bar has been raised for the music released today. Not many years ago, if you wanted to hear something from the past you had to wait until your local gold-based station played it. Your other choice was to go buy the album. Today, everyone has every song ever released to listen on demand.
When kids tell me that they would rather hear Led Zepplin than anything on today’s rock playlist I get it. So maybe the doldrums will be here to stay. We have an entirely new scale of comparison.
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.
