NBC Sports is doubling down on its commitment to horse racing, extending its exclusive U.S. media rights to Royal Ascot through 2028 as part of a new multi-year agreement with Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England. The deal ensures American audiences will continue to experience one of the sport’s most prestigious global events across NBC’s linear and digital platforms.
NBC Sports has televised the Royal Meeting since 2017, and the renewed partnership guarantees continued live coverage of all five days of racing each June. More than 20 hours of coverage will air across NBC and Peacock, with streaming available throughout the week and NBC simulcasting Saturday’s finale.
Beginning in 2026, the network plans to expand its presentation to spotlight Royal Ascot races designated as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Those races serve as “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, offering a direct connection between two of the sport’s marquee events.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Royal Ascot to showcase their incredible racing and pageantry each June, while connecting the event to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” said Gary Quinn, Vice President of Partnerships and General Manager of Owned Properties for NBC Sports. “The Breeders’ Cup is the focus of the sport as the season concludes each fall.”
Ascot Racecourse CEO Felicity Bernard praised the partnership’s success and its growing international reach. “Showcasing Royal Ascot around the world is so important for our brand, so we are thrilled to extend our successful partnership with NBC Sports,” Bernard said. “The team does an amazing job of bringing the stories to life and sharing the magic of the week with American viewers.”
The Breeders’ Cup also welcomed the expanded collaboration.
“Royal Ascot is one of the sport’s most storied stages, and we’re proud to expand our collaboration with such a globally revered event and our partners at NBC Sports,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “At its core, the Breeders’ Cup is about bringing the world together through a shared passion for Thoroughbred racing.”
Royal Ascot remains one of the world’s most prominent racing events, attracting elite horses from across the globe to compete for more than $13 million in prize money. The five-day meet features 35 races, including eight at the sport’s highest Group One level.
NBC Sports’ Royal Ascot coverage complements its growing horse racing portfolio, which also includes exclusive broadcast rights for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup World Championships, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series.
NBC Sports and Royal @Ascot, one of the world's most prestigious horse racing meets, partner on multi-year media rights extension
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.
Late Thursday evening, a report surfaced that Gayle King was set to exit CBS News as part of the company’s shuffles after widespread layoffs. But the network is now denying that report.
King has led the CBS Mornings show for more than a decade. She originally joined CBS News in 2011 before moving to the network’s morning show in January 2012.
Her exit has been tied to the news division’s reshuffling, as new owner Paramount Skydance and new Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss attempt to reshape that arm of the company.
The reports shared that CBS News had decided to move away from Gayle King and reshape the morning show that has continually lagged behind ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today.
However, in a statement, the network has denied that it has made any decisions about her or the show’s future.
“There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026,” a statement from the network read. “She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”
The reporting that King would exit comes after the network laid off Dana Jacobson and Michelle Miller, the hosts of the weekend morning show for CBS News. It also ended the streaming companion show for CBS Mornings as part of cost-cutting measures from Paramount Skydance in hopes of slashing $2 billion from the operating budget.
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.
Netflix is reportedly weighing a major acquisition that could reshape the streaming landscape. According Reuters and multiple sources familiar with the matter, the company has retained a financial advisor and gained access to financial information as it explores a potential bid for Warner Bros Discovery’s studio and streaming businesses.
According to the report, the streaming giant has tapped investment bank Moelis & Co — the same firm that advised Skydance Media in its successful pursuit of Paramount Global — to help assess the opportunity, two sources told Reuters. In addition, Netflix has been granted access to Warner Bros Discovery’s data room, providing the detailed financial information typically shared with prospective buyers.
Neither Warner Bros Discovery nor Moelis commented on the report by Reuters. Netflix also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Should a deal move forward, the acquisition would dramatically expand Netflix’s reach in film and television. Warner Bros Discovery controls a treasure trove of intellectual property, from the Harry Potter and DC Comics franchises to a prolific TV studio responsible for producing Netflix originals such as You, Maid, and Running Point.
Bringing those operations in-house would give Netflix ownership of both the content and production pipelines behind some of its most successful programming.
The deal would also potentially include HBO and the Max streaming platform, adding a slate of acclaimed dramas and expanding Netflix’s premium content library. However, it appears unlikely that the company would pursue Warner Bros Discovery’s traditional cable networks — including CNN, TNT, Food Network, and Animal Planet — given Netflix’s long-standing aversion to legacy television holdings.
“We’ve been very clear in the past that we have no interest in owning legacy media networks,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during the company’s third-quarter investor video last week. “There is no change there.”
The timing of Netflix’s interest comes as Warner Bros Discovery weighs significant strategic changes. The company confirmed last week that its board is evaluating multiple unsolicited offers, including one from Paramount and Skydance, while also considering whether to proceed with a previously announced plan to split its studio and television divisions.
Meanwhile, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh told investors Thursday that his company continues to assess “complementary” media assets, suggesting a broader wave of consolidation could be coming to the entertainment industry. Cavanagh also pushed back against skepticism about regulatory hurdles, saying “more things are viable than maybe some of the public commentary that’s out there.”
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.
In another high-stakes standoff between media giants, Disney has pulled its entire slate of channels — including ESPN, ABC, FX, and National Geographic — from YouTube TV after the companies failed to reach a new distribution deal before the deadline.
The dispute, which centers on carriage fees and contract terms, leaves millions of YouTube TV subscribers without access to some of the most-watched sports and entertainment programming. It also underscores the growing tension between traditional content owners and digital distributors as streaming economics continue to reshape the media landscape.
“Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a fair deal, and starting today, Disney programming will not be available on YouTube TV,” the company said in a social media statement.
In a blog post last week, YouTube TV accused Disney of proposing “costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices.” The service, owned by Google, said it had been negotiating for months to keep Disney’s networks available but was unwilling to accept what it described as “unfair” increases.
Disney, meanwhile, fired back in statements to The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. Saying Google “is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor.” The company did not immediately respond to further media requests for comment on Thursday.
Among the networks now dark on YouTube TV are ABC, ESPN, FX, Freeform, Disney Channel, National Geographic, and the ACC and SEC Networks. Spanish-language feeds including ESPN Deportes, Baby TV Español, and Nat Geo Mundo were also removed.
To offset the blackout, YouTube TV said it will offer subscribers a $20 credit if Disney channels remain unavailable “for an extended period of time.” Though it did not specify how long that period might last.
This marks the third time in two months YouTube TV has found itself at an impasse with a major media company. The service narrowly avoided blackouts in separate disputes with both Fox and NBCUniversal earlier this year. With each case ultimately ending in a last-minute deal.
Members, when we renew our contracts with network partners, we advocate for fair pricing to offer you the best TV experience. Our contract with Disney has reached its renewal date, and we'll not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s TV products.
Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a fair deal, and starting today, Disney programming will not be available on YouTube TV. This means you will no longer be able to watch channels like ABC and ESPN or access recordings from these networks in your Library.
We know how disruptive it is to lose channels you enjoy, and we’re committed to continuing to work with Disney to reach an agreement. If their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we'll offer our members a $20 credit. For updates, visit https://t.co/fn10CU7gfP.
If you're a YouTube TV customer, you may lose access to ESPN's networks, including CFB, NFL and NBA games on ESPN and ABC. Go to https://t.co/7Rt52TtDUR now so you don't miss out. pic.twitter.com/pedTniPUUE
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.
Connoisseur Media is doubling down on its commitment to live, local radio in suburban Chicago, reuniting several beloved personalities across its “Star” branded stations. Beginning Monday, November 3, 2025, listeners from Crystal Lake to Joliet will hear familiar voices return to their morning routines — and the company hopes the revamped lineup will deepen its community ties.
At Star 105.5 in Crystal Lake, longtime fans will once again Wake Up with Joe and Tina. Joe Cicero is returning to the show that helped define his career, rejoining co-host Tina Bree in morning drive. The duo built a loyal following over the years. Blending their mix of relatable banter, local storytelling, and a playlist that blends 1990s favorites with hits from today.
“After moving here almost 16 years ago to start mornings on Star 105.5, it was more than a radio show,” Cicero said. “This was a way to connect with so many people. Starting with Tina and others who’ve become some of my best friends. I’m looking forward to fun-filled mornings and making new friends.”
Bree echoed that enthusiasm, adding, “I’m beyond excited to be back in the mornings and to hear ‘Wake Up with Joe and Tina’ again! There’s a new vibe in the studio as we grow our connection with the community. Plus, we have a whole lot of laughter waiting to be shared!”
Down the dial at Star 96.7 in Joliet, another familiar Chicago voice is returning to the airwaves. Veteran personality Eddie Volkman is stepping back into the morning drive chair. Marking a homecoming for the broadcaster who spent years entertaining Windy City audiences.
“I’m thrilled to be back in morning drive where I spent so many years in my career,” Volkman said. “With the acquisition of our company by Connoisseur Media, you can feel the energy and enthusiasm everywhere in the station. We’re going to do radio the best way I know how — live, interactive, and local.”
Afternoons will feature the return of Hannah B. to PM drive on both Star 105.5 and Star 96.7. While Jillian Dugan takes on middays across both signals and adds on-air contributions alongside Volkman in the mornings. Evenings will showcase Erik Zachary, who is returning to his original night slot.
“This new lineup reflects everything Connoisseur stands for — live, local, and full of heart,” said Kathleen Cahill, Market Manager for Connoisseur Media Chicago.
Operations Manager Gordon Mays added, “Eddie V. is one of the most recognized and respected names in Chicagoland radio. Having him back where he belongs in mornings just feels right.”
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.
The Radio Hall of Fame held its annual induction ceremony on Thursday night. The Swissotel in Chicago, Illinois served as the location for this year’s event, where the radio industry’s best were recognized for their contributions. In attendance for the evening were Glenn Beck, Clay Travis, Katie Neal, John Jay & Rich, Fred, Jamie Horowitz, Dan Mason, and numerous executives, programmers, agents, and business professionals. Photos from the event will be posted on Friday on RadioHallofFame.com.
This year’s event will be re-broadcast as a special two-hour show on a ton of iHeartRadio stations and SiriusXM. It will air Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit the hall of fame’s website for further details.
Kraig Kitchin and Dennis Green set the scene before recognizing 8 radio legends who received induction. Honored with a special video were Richard Burden, Joanne Church, Jed The Fish, Irna Phillips, Steve Smith, Amos Brown, Don Wade, and Dale Somers.
Kim Komando then took the reins as host, welcoming everyone to the show. She shared a great story about the risk she took leaving behind a high paying job in tech in the 90’s for a $50 per week Saturday night show in Phoenix on KFYI. Komando made the point that radio is hard but when it’s in your blood, you don’t stop. Those who stick with it and become great at it, sometimes even reap the reward of being inducted into the radio hall of fame.
Julie Talbott
Following a video introduction from Buck Sexton and Clay Travis, Premiere Networks’ President Julie Talbott took the stage to start the ceremony. Julie kept it short and sweet, expressing her gratitude for being recognized, thanking her talent and team for the key roles they’ve played in helping her succeed. She shared how much she loves and believes in radio, and thanked her family and all in attendance for their support.
Tom ‘Mojo in the Morning’ Carballo
After a great video introduction from his son and Tampa radio host Joe Carballo, Mojo accepted his honor. He began by sharing how proud he was as a father of his kids. Tom then gave a shout out to his first audience in Illinois, Tod Kavanaugh, and Art Vuolo. He thanked Bob Pittman for bringing the fun back to radio, telling a great story of how Bob took him on a sales call to General Motors because the CEO was a regular listener to his show and it showed Tom that what he was doing mattered to iHeart.
The 2025 Radio Hall of Fame inductees and host, Kim Komando
Mojo then offered thanks to Randy Michaels, Brad Hardin, Tim Richards for their influence on his career. He explained how proud he is to be the longest running morning show in Detroit and work on a great radio station in Channel 955 with an awesome group. Tony Travatto was highlighted as well for his ability to be a mentor, friend, and incredible programmer.
Tom apologized to his sons for being open about them on the air but thanked them for not holding grudges and loving their dad. He recognized his brother in-law Scott for helping him through contractual situations, dedicating his induction to him. Mojo finished with an emotional story, sharing that his wife Chelsea was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a month after learning he was going into the radio hall of fame. He expressed how much his wife means to him, and told her, ‘you will win, and we will win as a family’.
Martha Quinn
iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman appeared on video, sharing what’s made Martha Quinn special throughout her career, detailing how she got her break at MTV. Martha then took the stage, and opened up by talking about her early relationship with Pittman.
Martha discussed her entry into radio, which started in high school and continued in college, before she earned a break with MTV. She thanked iHeart for their support, crediting Jon Zellner, Brad Hardin, and Tom Poleman for setting her up for success. Quinn shouted out her homebase crew in San Francisco, as well as her husband, providing insight on how involved he is in helping her craft the show.
The sparks of genius from the musicians Quinn has had the opportunity to showcase were next to receive acknowledgement including Alice Cooper. Martha explained that singing the hook ‘school’s out for summer’ at the top of your lungs just feels good, and is therapeutic. After recognizing Kraig Kitchin, Dennis Green and the Radio Hall of Fame for uniting the industry and recognizing her work, Martha closed by directing a final message to The Bungles, famous for the song ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’. Quinn remarked, ‘it looks like video didn’t kill the radio star.’
Alice Cooper
The Rock and Roll legend and host of ‘Alice’s Attic’ spoke next. Alice opened by thanking the audience for the kind ovation, joking that it’s especially impressive because everyone’s parents hated him. Cooper then shared how he fell in love with radio early on, but didn’t explore the idea of doing it until he met Dick Clark. During a conversation, Clark asked him ‘if you had a radio show, what would it be?’ He said, ‘let’s take it back to 1968 where DJ’s played what they wanted to play, and said what they wanted to say.’
Barrett Media’s Stephanie Eads with Alice Cooper
Cooper shared how he understood the importance of following a playlist but also needed to have the freedom to play things that mattered to him. He explained how doing shows remotely using Pro Tools made it possible for him to stay consistent. To this day, it’s one of the things he enjoys most, even after 20+ years.
Alice talked about radio’s importance in growing artists, and being the heartbeat of the music industry. He thanked Steve Smith, Andy Denmark, Eric Faison, and a number of people involved with making the show possible. Cooper pointed out how his relationships and experiences have helped guide his storytelling abilities, sharing that the bigger the music star, the nicer they were. As a result, he’s tried to remember that and lead his life the same way.
DeDe McGuire
DeDe started by sharing that she was 19 when her career started. She was a receptionist first before landing her first job at KIIZ in Killeen, Texas. McGuire said she knew the second she started behind the mic that she had a platform that could change people’s lives, and it did something to her and made her want to do more of it. She mentioned how it’s not always easy for women in radio, but she’s now going into the radio hall of fame so it can be done.
DeDe sees her job as talking to people every day and giving them something to think about. Sometimes that involves making them laugh, discussing important issues, and in some cases, providing hope. Growing up, McGuire said she and her brother would drive an hour to get coffee and donuts and listen to Tom Joyner, and it influenced her desire to pursue the path.
Waking up at 3am hasn’t always been easy, but McGuire understood her assignment and responsibility. She thanked Compass Media Networks and various others for their support, including Don Anthony for giving her a platform at Morning Show Bootcamp, which led to earning a syndication deal with Compass. DeDe then thanked her agent Steve Mandel, joking that he’s been with her longer than her husband.
In closing, DeDe singled out her mother and the way she raised her and her brothers to think outside the box. She then thanked her husband, the Radio Hall of Fame, and Thea Mitchem, before dedicating the award to her brothers and sisters.
Bob and Sheri
The longtime syndicated duo took the stage and opened up by sharing how they’ve built a connection with their audience, making them feel a part of the inside jokes. Among them is a long running bit around their manager Tony Garcia being cheap. Because their audience was so familiar with it, a group of listeners formed a Facebook group and crowdfunded their trip to the hall of fame, raising $12,000. They also bought the full page ad in the Radio Hall of Fame program, and arranged for special gifts to be delivered to them.
Sheri remarked that the room they’re in needs to be bigger because there are about a million people who have given them their careers. She shared that they don’t call their listeners an audience, they call them their community and family, and build relationships with them.
Kraig Kitchin and Dennis Green welcome all to the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Though they’ve worked together for a long time, Sheri pointed out that this is her first and only radio job since getting involved. She shared a story of how her first boss was removed from the building by armed security a few weeks after she started, and he used to refer to her as ‘little girl’. But little girls grow up to co-own the company that creates and delivers the programming said Sheri.
The duo then thanked their families for their love and support, and their team that has been with them for years. Sheri said they never dreamed of getting into the Hall of Fame because it’s something that just happens to you, and when it does, you’re simply grateful. Bob closed by reminding the room of how important great talent is to building great brands before Sheri thanked everyone for welcoming them into the Radio Hall of Fame.
Colin Cowherd
Following an introductory video from Bob Costas, Colin Cowherd took the stage. He opened his speech with a true story, sharing how he worked for a gentleman named Tom Baker in Portland, Oregon. Colin said Tom was cheap and liked to call himself frugal, and at that time, Cowherd was doing local TV and radio, making $36,000 per year to host afternoons, and the ratings were very good. He went to Baker at the end of his deal asking for a raise, and was told the station could only pay him $37,000 otherwise they’d have to turn the lights off because the station wasn’t profitable.
After hearing the response, Colin told Baker, ‘Tom, I have an offer for $75,000 across the street’. Baker paused and said, ‘$80,000, not a penny more or we’ll have to turn the lights off’. Cowherd shared that he learned how to negotiate in that meeting.
Colin then took the room through his early days of breaking in, working at Airborne Express, recognizing how back then the smart people were in newspaper, the handsome people were in TV, and those in radio had eaten lead paint. He explained how radio people tend to think it could all end tomorrow, and they can be cocky when they do well, and allow outside criticism to affect them too much. Years of therapy, having kids, and receiving strong support from his wife helped Colin get to a better place.
Cowherd then shared a story of how much he enjoyed Larry King and was excited to meet him during a visit to ESPN when he learned that Larry loved his show. When they came face to face for the first time, King remarked ‘you owe me $400…you told me last week to take Tennessee and the points, and UCLA beat them by two touchdowns.’ Colin joked ‘Larry liked gambling, marriages, and radio’.
After telling a story about Condoleezza Rice being a fan of ‘The Herd’ and appreciating how he contextualizes sports, Colin delivered one of the best lines of the night. He pointed out that everyone uses the line ‘content is king’ but the truth is, people don’t want content – they want company.
He shared that some will ask him if he gets nervous going on the air, and his answer is no, but that would change if his agent Michael Klein calls and tells him ‘nobody is interested’ or if Julie Talbott calls and says ‘we have one advertiser left, Goldbaum Medicaid’. Colin then wrapped up by recognizing his crew at The Volume and thanking everyone for their support.
Mike McVay
An awesome video from Stephen A. Smith ran, alerting the room of the role Mike McVay played in reviving Stephen A.’s career. Mike McVay then took the stage, acknowledging that he was blown away by some of what Smith shared in the opening video.
Jason Barrett and Mike McVay at the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame ceremony
Mike thanked everyone in the room for their acknowledgement of his career. He singled out his family and the roles they’ve played in building and maintaining McVay Media. Longtime friend and programmer extraordinaire Charlie Cook was shouted out next. Mike scored a few laughs in the room when he shared that he and Lon Helton share Charlie’s friendship and often argue over who will read his eulogy first when he passes. McVay said Charlie believes they will outlive him.
Next, Mike moved on to acknowledge Heather Cohen and Eric Weiss of The Weiss Agency, advisors of his for the past eighteen years who have become family to him. He also recognized the ‘Friends of Mike’ tables, two tables full of accomplished industry folks who share a strong friendship with the McVay Media President.
Mike explained that he never expected to get the call to the Radio Hall of Fame. A consultant wasn’t inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame until Fred Jacobs received the honor a few years ago.
After highlighting the attendance from some of the college students in the room, Mike cautioned them not to believe the naysayers when they hear them declaring that radio is dead. McVay reminded them that the noise usually comes from those who are no longer in radio. However, industry professionals know that there has never been more ways to connect with an audience than now, and the business is still very much attractive.
McVay joked that he played Alice Cooper’s song ’18’ when he was 18, and thanked Colin Cowherd for setting an example of what great storytelling sounds like. He then sang the praises of Julie Talbott and how she uses grace, focus, and strength along with her sweet southern accent to kick ass and show what great leadership looks like.
Mike wrapped up by thanking his brother Jim, who’s no longer with us. It was Jim’s influence that made Mike want to get into radio. McVay told a story of how he and his brother would watch Cowboy Phil do his radio show in Greensburg, PA as they waited for the train. Phil would disappear at times when songs were playing, leaving Mike to wonder ‘where does he go when the music is playing?’. Jim responded, ‘they play cards, smoke and drink’. Mike decided then, he wanted to do the same.
He then wrapped up with a thank you to the Radio Hall of Fame before exiting the stage.
Additional Highlights
Longtime NPR host Scott Simon and Birmingham, Alabama radio host Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart also earned induction. Simon’s wit and Stewart’s inspirational words and emerging from his wheelchair made a strong connection with the room.
In addition, the Radio Hall of Fame ceremony included details about the new museum. To learn more, visit the HOF website, RadioHallofFame.com.
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.
It’s Halloween, so we’re taking a break from Ratings and Revenue and firing up a list of TheTop 10 Scariest Rock Bands, along with some participation trophies.
Lock the doors and send the kids to grandma’s, this isn’t an AC/DC list — this is stuff you can’t unsee.
Like any serious research study, methodology should be disclosed:
Not in any real order but ranked because everyone loves lists.
Bands with names that would get me fired — not considered.
Tiebreakers:
Would I want my daughters in floor seats at their concert? No.
Would I be comfortable wearing their shirt to back-to-school night? No.
Could the military use their music to scare bad guys? Yes.
Is their name alone — scary? Yes.
TheTop 10 Scariest Rock Bands2025
10.Kittie
The only band in the Top 10 with a questionable name. On the surface — you’d think beanie babies — a band our daughters might like. Nope. They sound like demons coming from under the bed. This all-female Canadian band’s growls will shake your soul.
9.White Zombie/Rob Zombie
They’re like Sydney Sweeney scary — not super gore or Satanic, but the kind of danger and fright that keeps you on your toes. “Thunder Kiss ’65,” “Dragula,” and “Living Dead Girl” are exactly what we want our special-ops guys blasting to remind real-world scary guys that if they FA they’ll FO.
8. Dying Fetus
As a parent, I’m not sure how you could tell your kids you’re in a band named Dying Fetus, but that’s not for me to worry about. Give them credit — their brand of Maryland death metal has stood the test of time and was even featured in South Park.
7. Napalm Death
Guiness World Records holders for shortest song, “You Suffer” (1.36 seconds). I wouldn’t wish death by napalm on my worst enemy, but it’s also not my band. Free tip: it’s fun to play the song and mess with people. “The boss is out, I’m going to finally play Napalm Death on the Radio, next!” At 1.3 seconds, blink and they’ll miss it.
6. Obituary
Early pioneers of Death Metal. They’re graveyard scary. The next time you’re strolling through a cemetery with your pitchfork and crosses, crank Obituary on the boombox — all the zombies will head for the hills.
5. Cradle of Filth
Makers of what Rolling Stone calls “the most controversial shirt in rock” — which led to sales bans and arrests in the UK and US. This is the type of vulgar, scary band that would make the Westboro Baptist Church levitate.
4. Slipknot
Originally conceived during late night sessions at an Iowa gas station — that’s horror making 101. Gas masks, jumpsuits, members initially going by numbers instead of names. They were one of the first to create jump scares, and they still bring legit fear. Wildly talented and brutally loud — Slipknot would sit atop this list on most other planets.
3. Behemoth
Entire countries have tried to ban them. At live shows, you’d swear they’re taking blood baths, literally. Now add burning crosses, cobra mic stands, masks and costumes that make Hollywood movie-makers jealous. Behemoth could scare Freddy Krueger into witness protection.
2. Cannibal Corpse
In some parts of the world, you must be 18 to buy their music. In other places they’re just banned. Yes, banned. If the PMRC were still active, Cannibal Corpse would be in their heavy rotation and slashing their way to the #1 slot.
1. Slayer
No band in the world would dare open for Slayer — the OGs of the OGs of scary. They were covered in blood and pentagrams way before those became hot items at Hot Topic. Their riffs and screams still haunt and even on their friendliest day, they’ll make any horror soundtrack scarier.
We could create a Top 100 list — there are so many more bands. So here are a few honorable mentions, and why they didn’t make the Top 10.
Gwar: They’re in the discussion of original scaries. They can still shock, but it’s become more of a theater show. They’re more Vegas Residency than scare the bejesus out of you.
Rammstein: They do bring it and while the spelling is slightly different, Ramstein is also an air force base — that’s a safe zone, not exactly a nightmare.
Gojira: Musically aggressive and loud, but dig deeper — they’re all about saving whales and the planet — and they played the Olympics. Not so scary.
Megadeth: Satan himself would probably haunt me if I didn’t include them. They’re loud, Mustaine’s voice can still scare kids, and they possess one of the greatest scary names of all-time, but they’re not Cannibal Corpse.
Photo Credit: Megadeth on Facebook
Lamb of God: They scare me and most would put them on the list — but lambs are cute, and God is good, so that keeps them out of the Top 10.
Cattle Decapitation: Despite their name, they’re literally vegans — and that means no Top 10. If they were meat eaters, maybe, but then Pig Destroyer, Goatsnake, Dutch Beaver and every other animal band would have to be included.
While this has been a light-hearted look at Rock’s Scariest bands, some of them are legit —straight-up, shake you to the core — Satan and sacrifice stuff. But it’s Halloween, let’s trick or treat — just light a candle first.
Now put on some King Diamond makeup and get some candy corn.
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.
There’s an audience for everything, right? That’s the first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw the news that former NFL quarterback Brett Favre launched a podcast. The 4th and Favrepodcast features the Pro Football Hall of Fame signal-caller discussing sports, his career, and everything in between.
Was there an audience asking for this? Does Brett Favre command a digital audience that’s salivating to hear his thoughts on Aaron Rodgers, the death of Nick Mangold, and Arch Manning’s struggles at the University of Texas?
There’s been a lot of chatter over the past couple of years about whether we’ve reached “peak athlete podcast” levels. With advertising dollars shifting to digital and social media, and athletes attempting to remain relevant to a younger audience, will we ever truly reach “peak athlete podcast” levels?
For every Pat McAfee and Shannon Sharpe, there’s a Brett Favre and a Dwight Howard. Bill Simmons toldThe Hollywood Reporter the most overrated trend in podcasting today is “the ex-player sports podcast boom.” Make no mistake about it, sports podcasts are a growing business in an industry has turned numerous everyday joes into sports media royalty.
Just Another Podcast Evolution
It’s where the scribes took what they gained from radio experience and crafted their own niche of insight and opinion. It’s where former sports talk radio hosts go when the traditional model is out-aging their audience. There’s a cool factor to sports podcasting that has no limitations or time constraints, and it offers a scale that reaches the world instead of just a local market.
It’s also a business where the more salacious you are, the more downloads you get. The audio version of clickbait—keeping the audience coming back for more with a new hot take or in-depth guest interview. It’s uncensored, unfiltered, and more often than not, uninteresting for a number of podcasts.
Podcasts used to be just recorded audio made for download. Today, podcasts still exist in audio form but become lost in the pack if that’s the only format. Podcasts now involve live streams or taped video, heavy editing, social media clips, teaser videos, and the occasional post-show recording. Podcasts have become a television operation, albeit with audio still at the heart of their success.
You can tell the story of success through downloads, engagements, views, click-throughs, time spent listening, time spent watching, likes, shares, and so much more. The ease of access has become absolute—making it easier than ever to simply start talking and hope someone is listening, watching, sharing, or liking.
Where current and former athletes come into the industry is that they bring what any podcaster wishes they had: a following of the masses before saying a word. Athletes bring instant attention, social buzz, and advertisers because of the star factor they carry from the field of play. This makes “peak athlete podcast” levels a concern for podcasters looking to cut through the noise and grow their own following today.
Follow the Signs
There are a number of top podcast charts to follow, from Spotify to Apple to YouTube.
Glancing over the top ten sports podcasts this morning on Apple’s charts, not one of the top ten is hosted by a current or former athlete. Spotify has three of its top ten sports podcasts hosted by current or former athletes. YouTube’s latest charts show nine sports podcasts in their top 100, with six of those nine hosted by current or former athletes.
You can see that on the visual side of the podcast industry, athletes are making more impact than in the audio space alone. Has anyone paid attention to where podcasts are growing and where more investment is being made? Video.
Netflix added a selection of Spotify video podcasts to its platform in early 2026 to keep up with YouTube’s massive growth and relevance in the podcast space. Let’s not even begin to talk about social media platforms now hosting live streams of podcasts and building their own networks for consumption.
Much like former athletes once took jobs away from qualified sports columnists on television and hosts on sports radio, here they come for podcasting.
That’s the bigger issue for the future of non-athlete-hosted podcasts—the athletes flooding the ecosystem. The Bill Simmons Podcast was founded in 2015. Pardon My Take? That was in 2016. The Dan Le Batard Show is eleven years old, and The Fantasy Footballers have been around even longer. These are some of the most successful podcasts in the sports category, but they were all launched when the field rarely had an athlete participating.
We live in a new day today.
Show Me The Money
Athletes are hopping into the space because they know that with their following, they can make money instantly by taking away opportunities from others. It doesn’t matter if it’s good content or not—the consumer already has a built-in relationship with the athlete.
Like blind sheep, many will follow, like, listen, and download without even thinking about whether it’s worth their time or whether they should take a chance to discover something else.
Unfortunately, it’s no longer about finding a niche in sports podcasting. It’s not about standing out among the rest. Saying something different just to say something different may not matter anymore. Be unique? Wish you luck.
The former athlete’s presence in sports podcasting has damaged the industry’s outlook for non-athletes looking to join the space. Of course, the first step is the most important, but breaking through a very crowded field that grows more saturated with each retirement is becoming nearly impossible.
So, will we ever reach “peak athlete podcast” levels? We’re not there yet, and the notion of it is awful for podcasting’s 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.
Welcome to the Sports Media Haunted House 2025—where networks vanish like restless spirits, announcers drift like phantoms, gambling fiends lurk, and boosters jingle NIL cash like Michael Myers rattling his keys in the dead of night.
The lights flicker ominously. The stream sputters. Somewhere, a chilling voice hisses, “This game is streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime… with alternate commentary on Netflix.”
Grab your flashlight, clutch your passwords, and step inside—if you dare!
The Streaming Swamp
Once, a humble remote control was your sanctuary—unless it disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Now, searching for a game feels like wading through the bog of lost logins, stumbling over a tangled web of apps, subscriptions, and cryptic rules.
Gone is the age of cord-cutting—now, it’s death by a thousand logins. Did I just renew that subscription, or was that only a nightmare?
Fans shuffle like the undead, endlessly hunting for highlights. The swamp is filled with streaming fiends, Jason Voorhees-like in their menace. Lurking behind subscription walls and declined credit cards at every sinister turn. Even with NBC, ESPN, and streaming portals, viewers must navigate a dark labyrinth just to witness that first dunk or buzzer-beater.
The Ratings Graveyard
In the Ratings Graveyard, tombstones recount the story: the 2025 World Series averaged 12.5 million U.S. viewers for Games 1–2—down 14% from 2024. NFL Monday Night Football still haunts the airwaves, raking in 17–20 million viewers, dominating audiences and proving that appointment viewing isn’t dead… yet.
October Glory: 11.4 million viewers tuned in for #WorldSeries Game 3 across FOX, FOX Deportes & FOX Sports streaming services. 👀⚾️📺 pic.twitter.com/fQGAY2noMR
Appointment viewing has perished. Long live the algorithm.
Announcer ghosts drift through the murky fog. Vin Scully, Pat Summerall, and Keith Jackson murmur from beyond. John Smoltz groans through a World Series inning like a mummy; Joe Davis sleepwalks through the graveyard. Al Michaels hangs on, now excelling at vexing Amazon and NFL executives week after week, buried in the abyss of Thursday nights—the last sentinel against the darkness, a flickering torch in the vast hall of announcers.
The Ghosts of the Pressbox
The eeriest chamber in the house?
ESPN’s echoing corridors, stripped of genuine reporters. When the NBA betting scandal broke last week in real time, Kendrick Perkins was, to put it kindly, no Bob Costas—or Bob Ley, for that matter. It would be naïve to believe the Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups stories are isolated incidents. The temptation for professional—and especially college—athletes to wander into the contradictory graveyard where “everyone can have the betting candy but you” is only beginning.
ESPN has become a studio haunted by fiery hot takes and shrieking panels, optimized for clicks over clarity. Opinions—not facts. Audiences wander these haunted halls, endlessly scrolling in search of reliable reporting that has vanished into thin air.
Where is the line between reality and rehearsal? Not long ago, ESPN was the place to go when sports and news collided, but now they’re unequipped and unreliable when serious sports coverage is required. They’ve traded their souls for followers and likes.
The press box still has seats… but they remain eerily vacant.
The Vampire Lounge (Gambling Edition)
Vampires preside over this chamber. Odds slither across the bottom of the screen, the crawl an ever-growing poison ivy—until it mysteriously vanished at the breaking of the Rozier/Billups story in real time on ESPN.
The contradiction is a crossroads, haunting the game’s integrity. Betting entanglements cast long, swirling shadows over every contest. Was it all a nightmare, and will fans awaken to sports they can trust again?
These vampires don’t fear hot studio spotlights—they broadcast brazenly from the FanDuel set, as second-half player props and real-time offerings flood the screen before the third quarter begins. The Rozier/Billups story chills the integrity of the game, but not enough to stem the lifeblood revenues or to keep their fangs from sinking into the profits.
The Buyout Catacombs & NIL Maze
Descend deeper: the Catacombs of College Football, where former big-time coaches’ coins jangle like rusty chains in the autumn winds. Brian Kelly, James Franklin, and others boast $40–50 million buyouts—parachutes stitched from solid gold.
The NIL maze rises from the ground. Boosters pour $30–40 million into 2025 rosters at Texas, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Alabama—matching the first NFL salary cap in 1994.
In the Catacombs of College Football, failure is the only thriving enterprise.
College basketball approaches with its own spectral aura: a starting five materializes, ghostly and well-paid by wealthy and success-starved boosters. Rental players are ready to vanish next season if the price isn’t met. NIL has become an unwelcome, unregulated spirit, haunting arenas and demanding tribute—or else.
Exit: Flickering Light & Faint Hope
Not every corridor in this house is cursed. NBA nostalgia still wields its magic:
5.61 million viewers tuned in the night the NBA “rose from the dead” on NBC, proving that communal moments aren’t all an illusion. The first week of the NBA season has been a solid ratings triumph, and Inside the NBA on ESPN hasn’t missed a beat. The NFL has delivered 44 of the top 45 highest-rated shows since the season began in September, with only Game 7 of the ALCS between the Mariners and Blue Jays breaking the streak. Proof that for every dreaded Almond Joy, there’s a heavenly Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
Halloween weekend looms. Keep your flashlight charged, your passwords memorized, and your wallet close. Because in sports media 2025—the scariest things aren’t lurking in the shadows… they’re hidden behind paywalls and lagging internet speeds.
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.
Radio is not an easy business to build a career in. It requires fortitude, adaptability, motivation, and a willingness to grow and change with the times. Looking back across his career, which just reached its 50-year anniversary, Doug Podell, known as the Doc of Rock, has shown all those traits and more.
“My first job in 1975 was at WABX in Detroit,” Podell says. “And now, here we are 50 years later, and I’ve really had almost no down time along the way.”
Across those five decades, Podell has worked at many of the biggest Rock and Classic Rock stations in the Midwest, been part of memorable format battles and legendary stunts, and, the entire time, one thing has been consistent across his career: his nickname, the Doc of Rock.
Podell explains the name was born at a crucial time early in his career. He had left WABX for full-time work at another legendary Detroit Rock station, WWWW, better known as W4. The station was programmed by Sky Daniels, another famous Rock radio host known for his time at WLUP in Chicago.
While the full-time opportunity was great, Podell knew he was having a hard time cutting through with the audience. What he didn’t know was that there were discussions behind the scenes about whether he was going to cut it at the station.
That’s when Daniels set out to help Podell find his identity. “He said to me, ‘Doug, we got to do something to spice you up,’” and asked Podell if he had a nickname. In college, some friends had called him the Doctor, and the rest is history. “The next Monday I’m coming in, and out front is a big sign that says, ‘The Good Doctor Doug Podell 10 to 2,’ and then I hear Sky say, ‘Coming up next will be the Good Doctor.’”
Creating that on-air persona was what Podell needed. “It gave me an opportunity to hide behind the name and open up my personality, and that’s when things started to take off.” Over the years, the way Podell has used the Doc of Rock persona has gone from very foreground to more subdued and back again.
“It developed into the Mad Doc of Rock because I really went overboard with it at some points, and then it was just the Doc of Rock, and now it’s just kind of the Doc.”
Regardless of which doctor is in the studio, Podell says it’s still how the listeners greet him.
Country… Gone
Since the day when the Doc of Rock was born, Podell has been involved in several seminal moments in Rock radio history. The first was when W4 shocked Detroit by changing from Rock to Country, which was memorialized in Howard Stern’s book and movie, Private Parts.
“I was on at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning and was greeted at the door by the General Manager with a cowboy hat,” Podell says. “They offered me the chance to stay on, and I thought, ‘Well, I do have to eat tomorrow,’ so I hung around for 30 days until I landed a job at KQRS in Minneapolis as Music Director, which was my first management position.”
Working together at W4, Podell became good friends with Stern. Down the road, that led him to Cleveland, where he programmed Classic Rock WNCX and launched Stern’s third syndicated market.
“That may be the biggest nuclear bomb ever dropped in radio,” Podell says. “We took out America’s Rock station, WMMS.”
Podell had already proven his ability to lead a station to battle in the eighties when he had programmed the original WLLZ and taken on Detroit’s biggest rock station, WRIF. Now in Cleveland, the battle was on again.
“Everybody told me we could never win, but we did.” That included holding a “funeral” for WMMS’ morning host when Stern’s ratings exploded. The broadcast was famously interrupted when one of WMMS’ engineers cut the line for the satellite feed. “I might have to write a book about those days,” says Podell. “I think there’s a book and a movie of what went down.”
Adapting to a New Generation
Today, due to many factors including consolidation, lack of resources, and changing music tastes, format battles like the ones Podell fought in are almost unheard of. But there are lessons from those days that Podell still swears by.
“You have to be more engaged with your airstaff. Whether they are in the market or not, you can’t just let them fend for themselves. You need to keep everybody focused, engaged, and on track with what the mission is.” He knows it’s hard, but thinks it’s something Program Directors today should strive for. “Despite all the meetings, the sales, and the promotions, always make time for your personalities. Don’t think of them as jocks; think of them as generals out there on the streets.”
And he adds that the lack of direct, overt competitors doesn’t mean there isn’t competition.
“The war isn’t necessarily on the street anymore, but I’ve still got to do more than the next afternoon guy across the street. You got to be smarter than them, faster than them, and get your information out quicker.” That hustle includes a healthy embrace of social media, something not every veteran radio personality is comfortable doing.
“I do more social media every day than I do content on the radio,” Podell explains. The hustle that has driven him throughout his career is still in high gear. “You can’t be complacent and do the same video every day. You’ve got to be creative and get outside your usual box.”
He jumped on social media early and thinks it’s been greatly beneficial. “It’s one of the reasons I’m still around. A lot of the people who didn’t embrace it aren’t.”
But extending his brand onto other platforms is something Podell understood the value of long before social media came about. Back in the late ‘seventies, before the debut of MTV, Podell hosted a weekly show called The Beat on cable TV in the Detroit area that played music in this new format called videos.
“To this day, people still recognize me from the TV show, which aired for seven years,” noted Podell.
While he might talk about the wars he fought as Program Director of WLLZ or WNCX, when you get right down to it, one of the accomplishments he is most proud of is the time Podell spent running WRIF, Detroit’s longest-standing Rock station.
“Never had any idea whatsoever I would ever work there. I’m humbled by it because it was always such a great station; it was where you wanted to be.” He continues, “I looked up to it, you know, and to then be asked to run it and be there for 18 years—that’s very gratifying.”
And while he says he could have walked away from his career after that and been satisfied, he didn’t. The Doc is still on the air today, administering Rock to his patients across the motor city.
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.
