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“Big Smoothie” Out at Syracuse’s K-Rock

BMM Staff
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“Big Smoothie” Out at Syracuse’s K-Rock

After nearly 25 years on the air in Central New York, longtime Syracuse radio personality Big Smoothie is off the K-Rock lineup. The host — whose real name is Jamie Hantke — announced on social media that Thursday marked his final shift with the Galaxy Media-owned rock station.

In an emotional Instagram video, he told followers that he had been informed he was no longer employed at K-Rock, eight years after joining the brand.

“I was informed today that I am no longer employed at K-Rock and was let go,” Hantke said. “I want to be totally honest with you: I’m at peace right now. It’s a strange feeling.” He added that over the years, he had heard repeatedly that he “didn’t belong in” the industry or wasn’t “good enough” to keep doing radio, yet he continued to carve out a place anyway.

Hantke, 46, joined K-Rock as a part-time DJ in 2017 before moving into a full-time role in 2020. Before that, he spent two long stints at 95X, where he worked from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2009 to 2017.

His departure from 95X — a moment he thought might end his broadcast career — led Galaxy to give him what he describes as a second chance.

“I knew I still had more to give in this business,” he told syracuse.com. Although he admitted the exit was “not exactly how I wanted to go out,” he said he wasn’t reacting with the same frustration he might have felt in his 20s or 30s. With more experience, he said he understands the cyclical nature of the radio industry. Knowing this type of moment eventually comes for most.

Galaxy Media owner Ed Levine confirmed Hantke’s departure, saying he had “moved on” from the company. Levine added that Bender, a familiar voice from sister station TK99 (WTKW-FM), will take over the weekday 3-7 p.m. slot Hantke had held since early 2020.

Looking back, Hantke pointed to several highlights from his career, including a trip to the British Virgin Islands in 2005, numerous live events, and years spent interacting with fans at the New York State Fair. Whether there will be another chapter for “Big Smoothie” on the airwaves remains unclear, but the door isn’t completely closed.

“So listen, if you’ve joined this journey recently. If you’ve been on this journey since day one, I appreciate all of you,” he told followers. “Whether Big Smoothie is dead and gone, I don’t know. But always remember: Big Smoothie was only an extension of Jamie Hantke.”

For now, he said, he’s staying rooted in Syracuse. The city where he grew up, played football at Corcoran High School and Cayuga Community College, and built a career that lasted far longer than he once expected.

“I love this town,” he said. “Being a kid that grew up in the city, you don’t always get opportunities to make yourself into something.”

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102.3 KRMG Morning Show Host Dan Potter Departs

BNM Staff
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102.3 KRMG Morning Show Host Dan Potter Departs

Changes are taking place at 102.3 KRMG in Tulsa, as morning show host Dan Potter has exited the news/talk station.

Potter has spent the past 17 years working for the station, but told the Tulsa World that in a meeting with new owner Dr. Robert Zoellner, he was informed the station would not be renewing his contract.

“Our paths hadn’t crossed yet in his ownership,” said Potter. “Shook his hand, sat down. He said, ‘We’re not renewing your contract.’ They handed me a check, and security showed me out of the building.”

Dr. Robert Zoellner acquired 102.3 KRMG — along with K95.5, Mix 96.5, and 103.3 The Eagle in Tulsa — from Cox Media Group as part of a multimillion-dollar deal.

Of his 17 years with the station, Potter had spent the past 13 years working in morning drive.

Before joining 102.2 KRMG, Dan Potter worked for nearly 20 years at WBAP in Dallas, along with other stops in the Midwest.

The KRMG Morning News airs from 5-9 AM on the station. No firm plans have been released by the station on who will permanently replace Potter in the daypart.

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.

NFL Viewership Drives Audience Behavior In Latest Nielsen ‘The Gauge’ Findings

BSM Staff
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NFL Viewership Drives Audience Behavior In Latest Nielsen ‘The Gauge’ Findings

Television viewership maintained its fall momentum in October as the NFL again proved to be the most powerful force in media consumption, according to Nielsen’s latest edition of The Gauge.

The monthly snapshot showed pro football lifting both broadcast television and major streaming platforms, continuing a pattern that has defined the early part of the TV season.

Broadcast viewership rose 4.3% from September, giving the category its largest share of TV usage since November 2024. The NFL’s impact was especially evident on Sundays. Broadcast networks averaged a 27.3% share of total television on Sundays, up from 22.0% Monday through Saturday, marking the most significant day-part shift across any category.

Meanwhile, cable and streaming ticked up slightly during the week but dropped noticeably on Sundays when NFL games dominated the screen.

Nielsen The Gauge Oct 2025 (Courtesy: Nielsen)
Nielsen The Gauge Oct 2025 (Courtesy: Nielsen)

Streaming platforms also benefited from the league’s gravitational pull. Peacock posted a 19% jump in viewership to represent 1.6% of television for the month. Its share climbed to 2.0% on Sundays thanks to exclusive NFL coverage.

Paramount+ saw an 8% month-to-month boost and increased its Sunday share from 1.2% to 1.6%. Amazon’s Prime Video, fueled by Thursday Night Football, reached 6.4% of TV on game nights—three points higher than its monthly average.

Although broadcast sports viewing dipped 6.4% from September’s heavier schedule, the category still accounted for nearly one-third of all broadcast consumption.

NFL telecasts on CBS, FOX and NBC ranked as the top three programs of the month, each surpassing 20 million viewers on a live-plus-seven basis. The fall entertainment season added another lift, as broadcast dramas surged 28% in viewing. CBS titles such as Tracker, Matlock and NCIS, ABC’s High Potential and NBC’s Chicago Fire led the gains.

Streaming overall rose 2.4% in October, outpacing total TV usage and climbing to 45.7% of television time. While many streamers took hits during NFL windows, Netflix managed to grow on Sundays, rising to 8.2% of TV share for the day. The platform closed the month at 8.0% overall, driven largely by its hit true-crime series Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which topped all streaming titles with 5.4 billion minutes viewed.

Cable tracked closely with overall usage, rising 1.2% in watch-time but slipping to 22.2% of TV due to rounding.

Cable sports jumped nearly 50% from September and represented 14% of total category viewing. Feature films, buoyed by Halloween programming, rose 7%. Cable news retained its position as the top genre in the category, though it fell 3% from last month.

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Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott: There’s ‘Too Much Doomerism’ Surrounding Growth of AI

BNM Staff
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Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott: There’s ‘Too Much Doomerism’ Surrounding Growth of AI

The use of AI in media circles is on the rise, and there is usually consternation that comes with that. But Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott doesn’t believe the situation is as dire as some are led to believe.

During a speaking engagement at the University of South Carolina, Scott was asked by FOX & Friends co-host Lawrence Jones about the rise of AI. She told students at the College of Information and Communications that she believes the entire picture about artificial intelligence isn’t always shared.

“I actually believe there’s too much doomerism in the storytelling of AI,” said Scott. “I actually think AI tools are rapidly growing and anybody who’s young should be getting themselves educated about different AI tools in different industries and how they’re going to be using them.”

She continued by noting that she doesn’t expect jobs to be widely slashed as the abilities of artificial intelligence continue to increase. But she did say that those who are able — and eager — to adapt to changes are better equipped to succeed going forward.

“To me, AI is not a job eliminator,” Scott concluded. “You have to embrace change. It’s here, there are tools that are going to help you do your job more efficiently, more strategically.”

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MLB Reportedly Set To Announce Media Rights Deals With NBC, ESPN, Netflix

BSM Staff
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MLB Reportedly Set To Announce Media Rights Deals With NBC, ESPN, Netflix

Major League Baseball (MLB) is set to announce short-term national media rights deals with ESPN, NBC and Netflix. According to sources with the Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s national games and streaming arrangements are considered the centerpiece of the agreements.

Under the new deal, ESPN is expected to retain approximately 30 national games through the 2028 season, sources said. Alongside rights to the MLB.tv out-of-market package and local streaming for six clubs.

The Mariners join the growing roster of teams participating in the streaming arrangement, which already includes the Diamondbacks, Twins, Guardians, Padres and Rockies. Sources told SBJ that ESPN would also gain rights for any additional teams that join the initiative.

The MLB.tv package will be accessible via both ESPN and MLB platforms initially. While the local streaming rights for the six clubs will launch on MLB’s platform.

ESPN’s national schedule will feature a marquee Thursday night window following the All-Star break. In addition to other games yet to be fully announced. The annual Little League Classic will remain part of the network’s lineup.

On-air talent such as Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian are expected to remain with ESPN. The network will continue to produce Baseball Tonight, though an exact schedule is still under development.

ESPN Radio will continue airing Sunday Night Baseball, postseason games, All-Star events and additional programming under the new agreement. ESPN declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations to SBJ.

Meanwhile, NBC’s arrangement will strengthen its Sunday night sports lineup, complementing NBA and NFL programming. The network will also broadcast the Wild Card round, previously held by ESPN, while Peacock will assume the Sunday morning streaming package formerly carried by Roku.

NBC’s deal is set to kick off on March 26 with a primetime matchup between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. Which will include the Dodgers’ World Series banner-raising ceremony.

Netflix will enter the baseball media landscape with rights to the Home Run Derby and MLB season opener, sources said, marking a continued expansion of the streaming platform’s live sports offerings.

The negotiations follow ESPN’s decision to opt out of its previous seven-year, $550 million-per-year deal with MLB in February. That agreement, which began with the 2022 season, included 30 regular-season games, the Wild Card round and the Home Run Derby.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has expressed a desire to sell a comprehensive national streaming package after 2028. As MLB continues to diversify its national broadcast and streaming partnerships, fans can expect a hybrid mix of traditional television and digital-first experiences in the coming seasons.

UPDATE (5pm): MLB has officially announced their media rights deals with NBCUniversal, Netflix, and ESPN. View the full details by clicking the network.

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.

Joe Rogan, Charlie Kirk, Shawn Ryan, and The Daily Crack Apple Podcasts Top Charts of 2025

BNM Staff
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Joe Rogan, Charlie Kirk, Shawn Ryan, and The Daily Crack Apple Podcasts Top Charts of 2025

Apple Podcasts has unveiled its list of the Top Charts of 2025, and shows from Joe Rogan, Charlie Kirk, Shawn Ryan, and The Daily crack the top spots.

The company broke down the list of Top Shows, Top New Shows, Most Followed Shows, Most Shared Shows, and Top Channels as part of its rankings.

In the top shows categories, The Joe Rogan Experience was at the top of the list. It was followed by The Daily, The Mel Robbins Podcast, Crime Junkie, and Dateline NBC in the top five.

SmartLess, Call Her Daddy, This American Life, Huberman Lab, and The Ezra Klein Show rounded out the top ten, in order.

The Joe Rogan Experience and The Daily also showed up in the top episodes chart. Rogan’s conversation with Elon Musk was number four on the list, while The Daily‘s episode about Donald Trump being inaugurated was in fifth position.

The Daily was also the sixth most shared show of the year, according to Apple Podcasts, while it was also eighth on the most shared episodes ranking for its program on “The Secret Power of Siblings.” Shawn Ryan was also on the most shared episodes list in fourth position with his conversation with Gary Brecka.

Other rankings from Apple Podcasts included:

Top New Shows

  1. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
  2. Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
  3. Deadly Mirage
  4. Blink | Jake Haendel’s Story
  5. Murder in the Moonlight
  6. Devil in the Desert
  7. What Happened to Holly Bobo?
  8. Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska
  9. Unicorn Girl
  10. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace

Top Series

  1. The Telepathy Tapes
  2. The Binge Cases
  3. Deadly Mirage
  4. Blink | Jake Haendel’s Story
  5. Dateline Originals
  6. Murder in the Moonlight
  7. Serial
  8. THREE
  9. Devil in the Desert
  10. CounterClock

Most Shared Shows

  1. The Telepathy Tapes
  2. The Mel Robbins Podcast
  3. Sold a Story
  4. Blink | Jake Haendel’s Story
  5. The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
  6. The Daily
  7. Huberman Lab
  8. The Bible Recap
  9. Scamanda
  10. The Ezra Klein Show

Most Followed Shows

  1. The Mel Robbins Podcast
  2. The Joe Rogan Experience
  3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
  4. The Charlie Kirk Show
  5. Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
  6. The Telepathy Tapes
  7. The MeidasTouch Podcast
  8. The Shawn Ryan Show
  9. Call Her Daddy
  10. The Daily

Top Subscriber Shows

  1. The Daily
  2. Apple News+ Narrated
  3. The Ezra Klein Show
  4. Unicorn Girl
  5. Morbid
  6. Extrasensory
  7. Dateline NBC
  8. Scamtown
  9. Big Time
  10. The New York Times Narrated

Top Channels

  1. SiriusXM Podcasts
  2. Wondery
  3. iHeartPodcasts
  4. The New York Times
  5. audiochuck
  6. Dateline NBC
  7. Dear Media
  8. Cumulus Podcast Network
  9. Audacy
  10. Vox Media Podcast Network

Additionally, Apple Podcasts is scheduled to release its Show of the Year Award on Thursday, December 4th.

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.

93.3 WMMR Announces ‘Pierre Robert – A Show of Life’ Concert Event

BMM Staff
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93.3 WMMR Announces ‘Pierre Robert – A Show of Life’ Concert Event

Philadelphia rock station 93.3 WMMR is turning remembrance into celebration, announcing “Pierre Robert – A Show of Life,” a star-studded concert and fan gathering honoring the longtime host who died in October.

The event will take place Wednesday, December 17, at The Fillmore in Philadelphia and will bring together prominent rock artists, colleagues and generations of listeners who grew up with Robert’s familiar voice.

WMMR’s Preston & Steve revealed that the lineup will feature an ensemble of performers closely connected to the station’s musical fabric. Brent Smith and Zach Myers of Shinedown, Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of Halestorm, and Ed Roland of Collective Soul are among the national artists scheduled to appear.

Philadelphia staples The Hooters will also perform. Alongside David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket, featuring members of The A’s, Beru Revue and Tommy Conwell. The station billed the show as both a concert and a party. Reflecting Robert’s belief that music should unite people across backgrounds and generations.

For more than four decades, Robert was one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable radio personalities. Known for his warm delivery, expansive musical knowledge and unmistakable authenticity. Robert served as one of WMMR’s guiding voices and a bridge between classic and modern rock audiences.

His death left a significant void across the region’s media landscape. Prompting a flood of tributes from listeners, artists and industry peers. In announcing the concert, station leaders said they hoped to create an event that captures the spirit Robert carried on-air each day.

Portions of the concert’s proceeds will benefit MANNA, the Metropolitan Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance. A Philadelphia nonprofit that uses medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling to support people with serious illnesses.

As Philadelphia radio continues to evolve, “A Show of Life” represents an opportunity for listeners to gather in a space Robert helped shape culturally. For many, WMMR was synonymous with his voice, his curiosity and his relentless optimism. Though the station moves forward without him. The event signals an intention to keep his influence present through community, music and purpose.

For ticket information, CLICK HERE.

NFL 2025 International Games Rank as Most Watched in NFL Network History

BSM Staff
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NFL 2025 International Games Rank as Most Watched in NFL Network History

NFL Network’s investment in global game distribution delivered a major return this fall. The league announcing that its 2025 International Games averaged 6.2 million viewers across television and digital platforms. The figure marks the most-watched International Games season in the network’s history and represents a striking 32% jump from the 2024 slate.

The six-game package — spanning Dublin, three London matchups, Berlin and Madrid — continues to show the league’s momentum overseas. As interest in global markets expands, so does NFL Network’s ability to draw sizable domestic and international audiences for early-window kickoffs that were once considered niche programming.

This year’s average of 6.2 million viewers underscores that those days are long gone.

At the center of the strong performance was Sunday’s thriller in Madrid. Where the Miami Dolphins edged the Washington Commanders 16–13 in overtime at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The broadcast averaged 5.9 million viewers across TV and digital. Placing it among NFL Network’s top five most-watched international games on record. Moreover, the matchup surged in its final minutes, peaking at more than eight million viewers as Miami closed out the victory.

The league’s continued push into new international venues, paired with competitive matchups and the novelty of NFL football in iconic soccer stadiums, appears to be resonating with fans. Early-morning and international windows have challenged networks. However, sustained annual growth suggests the NFL has successfully conditioned audiences to treat global games as appointment viewing.

With six games topping last year’s average by nearly a third. The data indicates that fan familiarity with the international schedule is deepening.

As the league eyes additional host cities and expanded global reach. The 2025 results provide a clear signal: the appetite for NFL football overseas — and for U.S. viewers waking up to it — is growing faster than ever. For NFL Network, the takeaway is straightforward. International programming has transformed from experimental scheduling to one of the most reliable audience drivers of the fall calendar. 2025 stands as its strongest proof yet.

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ESPN, ABC College Football Viewership Sees Bounce Back Following YouTube TV Carriage Dispute Ending

BSM Staff
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ESPN, ABC College Football Viewership Sees Bounce Back Following YouTube TV Carriage Dispute Ending

ESPN and ABC closed Week 12 of the college football season with a ratings surge that continued what has become one of the strongest seasons on record for the networks. Behind a historic College GameDay performance and multiple top games clearing the 10 million-viewer mark, the weekend reinforced ESPN’s dominance at a pivotal stretch of the schedule.

College GameDay, broadcasting from Pittsburgh, delivered its most-watched Week 12 episode ever, averaging 2.6 million viewers from 9 a.m. to noon ET. The final hour climbed to 3.2 million viewers, outpacing competing programming by 182%, while the show peaked at 3.6 million.

Season-to-date, GameDay is pacing 24% ahead of last year and posted its second-highest female audience composition ever at 36%, signaling continued growth across multiple demographics.

The momentum extended into ESPN’s game coverage. Through 12 weeks, ESPN networks are averaging 2.1 million viewers per game, the strongest performance since 2011 and a 16% year-over-year increase. ABC, meanwhile, is averaging 6.9 million viewers per game, positioning the network for its most-watched college football season on record.

Week 12 also delivered a standout lineup of high-profile matchups. ABC aired the two most-watched games of the weekend, with Oklahoma–Alabama drawing 10.5 million viewers and Texas–Georgia posting 10.4 million viewers. The network recorded peak audiences of 14.1 million and 12.1 million, respectively.

It marked the third time since 1996 that a single network carried two games topping 10 million viewers in the same week.

ESPN contributed additional depth, with South Carolina–Texas A&M reaching 4.3 million viewers and peaking at 6.0 million, making it Week 12’s most-watched noon game and ESPN’s biggest Saturday audience since Week 3. ABC’s Notre Dame–Pitt broadcast drew 4.0 million viewers, ranking as the fourth most-watched game across all networks for the weekend.

In total, ABC has now aired seven games with 10+ million viewers this season, the most ever recorded in a single college football season.

The viewership numbers follow the end of The Walt Disney Company’s carriage dispute with YouTube TV which happened late Friday night.

With rivalry week and Championship Saturday still ahead, ESPN enters the final stretch of the season with ratings momentum. If current trends continue, the network is positioned to close 2024 with one of its most successful college football seasons in more than a decade.

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.

Todd Starnes to Host Free Radio Christmas Special

BNM Staff
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Todd Starnes to Host Free Radio Christmas Special

Todd Starnes has announced plans to host a three-hour Christmas special for radio stations, free of charge.

A Starnes Country Christmas will include live musical performances, special holiday-themed guests, and Christmas trivia with celebrity panelists, among other items.

Starnes is host of the nationally syndicated The Todd Starnes Show. He also owns The Mighty 990 KWAM in Memphis, where he hosts the station’s morning drive program.

Those interested in broadcasting the special program can reach Starnes via email by clicking here or by calling 917-331-9866.

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.

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