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Disney, YouTube TV Reach Agreement to End Blackout

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Disney, YouTube TV Reach Agreement to End Blackout

In a major turnaround for streaming viewers, The Walt Disney Company and YouTube TV have reached a new multi-year carriage agreement, officially ending a nearly two-week blackout of Disney-owned channels on the platform.

The standoff, which began on October 30, had removed flagship networks like ESPN and ABC — along with channels such as FX, Freeform and National Geographic — from YouTube TV’s roughly 10 million subscribers. 

The dispute centered on distribution fees, with Disney insisting on higher rates for its content and YouTube TV pushing back over the potential cost burden for its customers.

Under the new deal, Disney’s full suite of networks will be restored on YouTube TV “within the next 24 hours,” according to the statement, and select services — including extended access to ESPN’s content — are slated to be included in the base plan through 2026. Both companies emphasized that the agreement reflects evolving viewer habits and commitments to flexibility and value. 

The restoration comes in time for a heavy weekend of college football programming and offers relief to the many sports fans who had been affected. Analysts note this blackout was one of the longest for a major U.S. network distributor dispute in recent years, underscoring the high stakes in the evolving streaming ecosystem.

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Connoisseur Media Sells Bakersfield Cluster to Frequency Broadcasting

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Connoisseur Media Sells Bakersfield Cluster to Frequency Broadcasting

Connoisseur Media has announced the sale of its three-station cluster in Bakersfield to Frequency Broadcasting, a local ownership group.

Included in the sale are Live 95.3, Groove 99.3, and Talk 1560/99.7.

Frequency Broadcasting is owned by Kaitlyn and Danny Hill.

“Bakersfield was a market that did not fit into the long-term plans we have for Connoisseur. We looked for a local operator that we felt could devote the time and energy that Bakersfield deserves. We are confident that we have found that in Frequency and the Hill family operation,” said Connoisseur Media founder and CEO Jeff Warshaw.

“We have been working with the folks at Connoisseur for a while before their merger closed in September,” said Kait Hill.

“We are excited to be acquiring these stations to serve the Bakersfield community, which is where we live and our hometown,” said Danny Hill.

Frequency Broadcasting also owns Outlaw Country 95.9 FM/1140 AM and Rewind 98.1FM/93.5 FM in the Bakersfield market.

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KNX News Anchor Vicky Moore Exits

BNM Staff
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KNX News Anchor Vicky Moore Exits

After nearly 22 years with KNX News, morning and midday news anchor Vicky Moore has departed the Audacy Los Angeles all-news station.

According to a memo from Market Manager/Senior Vice President Chris Ebbott, Vicky Moore “will be stepping away from the morning team.”

“Over more than two decades, she has been a trusted and familiar voice to listeners across Southern California,” Ebbott wrote. “She has helped our community navigate and make sense of everything from wildfires and pandemics to historic elections and championship seasons — and that’s just this past year.”

Most recently, Moore had been paired with Mike Simpson in morning drive from 6-10 AM. She also anchored the 10-11 AM hour solo. The two were originally paired together in 2022 after the retirement of Dick Helton.

Before joining KNX News, Moore worked as a reporter and anchor at crosstown KFI-AM 640 for 11 years. She also previously worked at KFBK in Sacramento.

“Someone told me that I should say something,” said Moore as she bid her farewell on Friday morning. “Not really my nature anyhow, so I wrote something. So here I go. I really love radio, because radio is about community. At a time when the phone in our pocket and in our hands right now creates distance between us, and the politics divide us, and the AI has this questioning what is real, the people here at K and X all around me are real, and they are people who live and work in this community.

“It has been my privilege to be part of this community and to tell you stories about things that matter, as well as the things that might just brighten your day,” Moore concluded. “We’ve had so much fun. It has been my absolute pleasure to meet some of you along the way.”

Margaret Carrero will step into the morning drive shoes vacated by the exit of Vicky Moore. Carrero has been with the station for 12 years, and has previously worked at KRAK in Sacramento and KMJ in Fresno.

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.

Allen Sliwa Joins AM 570 LA Sports as NBA Analyst

BSM Staff
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Allen Sliwa Joins AM 570 LA Sports as NBA Analyst

Former ESPN LA 710 host Allen Sliwa has joined AM 570 LA Sports as an NBA Analyst, the iHeartMedia Los Angeles sports station has announced.

Sliwa spent five years working on the Lakers’ radio broadcast team as a pregame, halftime, and postgame host. He also hosts Hoops Talk with Allen Sliwa on YouTube, which features more than 30,000 subscribers.

Sliwa spent 15 years working at ESPN LA 710 before exiting last September. At the time of his exit, he had been paired with Travis Rodgers.

“I’m incredibly excited to work with iHeartRadio and the talented AM 570 LA Sports team,” said Sliwa. “Hoops Talk has always been about connecting with Lakers fans in an authentic way, and this opportunity allows me to bring that same energy and perspective to a new platform.

“I’m honored to be part of such a respected sports lineup and grateful to iHeart for believing in what we’re building,” Sliwa concluded.

“Allen is one of the premier voices covering the Lakers,” said AM 570 LA Sports Program Director Brian Long. “With the excitement surrounding the team this season, his perspective and passion will be a great addition to our coverage and valuable voice for Lakers fans in Southern California and across the country.”

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Stephanie Ruhle: ‘Big Frustration’ That Republicans Only Want to ‘Perform for’ Trump on My MSNBC Show

BNM Staff
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Stephanie Ruhle: ‘Big Frustration’ That Republicans Only Want to ‘Perform for’ Trump on My MSNBC Show

Stephanie Ruhle is making no bones about it: she wants Republicans on her MSNBC show. But, there’s a stipulation she isn’t willing to budge on.

During an appearance on Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith, Ruhle shared that it’s a struggle to find members of the political party who want to operate in good faith.

““I will tell you, and it’s a big frustration for me — I would love to have more Republicans on my air, and I think, unfortunately, right now, this moment that we’re in, Republicans who will come on TV and be critical of this president for any reasons get annihilated if they’re critical of him — the White House kills them,” she said.

She said that there’s a subsection of prominent Republicans who will appear on the show, but for nefarious reasons.

“The group who will come on for the sole purpose of ‘owning the libs’ or performing for the president — I want to be clear, nobody is invited on my program who wants to ‘own’ anybody,” Ruhle said. “This ain’t the NBA. Nobody’s here to slam dunk anyone.”

The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle host added that she believes there’s a “fictional middle” that citizens claim to exist in when it comes to politics. But she says it’s deeper than that.

“The truth is just the truth. We’re going to cover the truth and then analyze it and someone can say, but you sound so left because you’re going after the president. We’re not going after the president. We’re covering the truth.”

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Yahoo Sports Inks Nate Tice to Contract Extension

BSM Staff
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Yahoo Sports Inks Nate Tice to Contract Extension

Yahoo Sports has announced it has signed NFL analyst Nate Tice to a contract extension.

Tice, the son of former NFL head coach Mike Tice, originally joined the outlet in 2024 after previously working as co-host of The Athletic Football Show alongside Robert Mays.

In a post on social media, Yahoo Sports shared the news of the extension, stating it was “thrilled” to announce the news.

“Nate will continue to break down the game like only he can, making fans smarter about the players and plays that shape the league,” a statement from the company says.

At Yahoo Sports, Nate Tice hosts Football 301, which is available on FAST services, the company’s website, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

“Nate’s voice has become a staple for fans who want more than just highlights – and we’re proud to keep building with him,” Yahoo Sports added.

Tice has seen his profile grow since joining Yahoo Sports with his notable breakdowns of NFL game film. Tice has more than 93,000 followers on X.

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.

Longtime Wichita State Shockers Radio Voice Mike Kennedy Announces Retirement

BSM Staff
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Longtime Wichita State Shockers Radio Voice Mike Kennedy Announces Retirement

After 46 years as the radio voice of the Wichita State Shockers, Mike Kennedy has announced he will retire at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 athletic season.

The 77-year-old began calling games for the university in 1980. In 2023, he reached a milestone of announcing 1,400 consecutive Wichita State Shockers men’s basketball games.

During his tenure, he’s called basketball, baseball, and football broadcasts for the university.

In a video published to social media, Mike Kennedy shared the reasoning behind his decision.

“When the current academic and athletic year comes to an end in the spring, I have made the decision to retire as the play-by-play voice of Wichita State athletics,” Kennedy shared. “This has not been an easy decision, as you can imagine. But after a great deal of thought and consideration, I know in my heart it’s the right time to take this step, and at the forefront of my decision is a desire to be able to spend more time with my family.

“I have been truly blessed to do something I love for a university I love for 46 years now,” Kennedy continued. “Over that time, there have been so many great moments and memories, but above all has been the opportunity to develop so many long standing relationships and friendships with coaches and administrators, student athletes, fellow broadcasters and you, the fans.”

“Mike Kennedy is synonymous with Wichita State and his connection to – and throughout – our journey is immeasurable,” Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal said. “His professionalism, authenticity, and unwavering commitment to excellence have elevated our broadcasts, uniquely connected Shocker Nation to our sports programs in authentic ways and strengthened the Shocker brand for nearly half a century. His legacy is profound, lasting, highly impactful and irreplaceable.”

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Westwood One to Replace Rich Valdes on ‘America at Night’ with McGraw Milhaven

BNM Staff
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Westwood One to Replace Rich Valdes on ‘America at Night’ with McGraw Milhaven

Westwood One is making a change on its nationally syndicated late evening show, America at Night. Rich Valdes is exiting, with McGraw Milhaven set to take over the program.

Valdes became the host of the 9 PM-12 AM ET in the aftermath of the death of longtime host Jim Bohannon. He helmed the program from the days following Bohannon’s death until the show was relaunched in 2023 with new branding, utilizing the America at Night name.

Valdes served as a producer for The Mark Levin Show and hosted a weekend show on 1210 WPHT, before stepping into the nationally syndicated role at Westwood One.

Milhaven comes to the program after spending the past 21 years as host at The Big 550 KTRS in St. Louis. He ascended to the role of Program Director for that station in June 2014. He will continue to host mornings on the station, in addition to his new role working the late evening show for Westwood One.

“I’m deeply grateful to Westwood One and Collin Jones for entrusting me with America at Night—a show that many consider one of the most cherished programs in radio. It’s both an incredible honor and a profound responsibility,” said Milhaven. “From listening to Larry King and Jim Bohannon in high school, too intimidated to call in, to now being named the host… this journey has exceeded anything I could have imagined. My nightly mission is simple: to seek out great stories from great storytellers—and to share a few of my own along the way.”

“McGraw Milhaven is a trusted voice with a remarkable ability to connect with listeners across the country,” said Westwood One President Collin Jones. “His deep understanding of the issues, combined with his engaging style and journalistic integrity, make him the ideal host to carry forward the legacy of America at Night. We’re thrilled to welcome McGraw to the Westwood One family and look forward to the energy and insight he’ll bring to the national conversation each night.”

McGraw Milhaven will begin hosting the nationally syndicated show on Monday, December 1st.

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Tucker Carlson: Ben Shapiro ‘Clearly Going Away as a Media Force’ After Daily Wire ‘Propped Up By Facebook’

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Tucker Carlson: Ben Shapiro ‘Clearly Going Away as a Media Force’ After Daily Wire ‘Propped Up By Facebook’

Tucker Carlson has been locked in a war of words with Ben Shapiro and Mark Levin in recent weeks. It continued in one of the latest episodes of his podcast.

During an episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, Carlson argued that political commentators and the American public as a whole should do all they can to avoid becoming like Mark Levin, due to their recent remarks about Israel and those who are in opposition of the country’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.

He took aim at Ben Shapiro, arguing that the success of the digital empire founded by the conservative commentator is artificial.

“People like Levin and Ben Shapiro — who at one point had this like media empire propped up by Facebook, The Daily Wire, with some good people on it, it’s fine — spent, I don’t know, a decade posing as someone who actually cared about your concerns as an American,” Carlson said.

“He did it imperfectly,” he continued. “There were flashes that he didn’t really care. And he’s like, ‘No, no, I’m a conservative. I’m a conservative. I’m not just interested in the fortunes of one tiny country in the Middle East with a population of 9 million. No, I have a lot of interest and I really care about this country. And I’m against the trans movement or whatever.”

Tucker Carlson continued his onslaught against Shapiro by stating that he believes the Daily Wire co-founder’s relevance is fading and likely won’t continue much longer, in his eyes.

“I hate to be mean to poor Ben Shapiro, who’s clearly going away as a media force,” Carlson added. He continued by noting that “He will not be a factor in five years. I can promise you that.”

Carlson added that Mark Levin was likely to suffer a similar fate, as well. “Let’s hope he gets better,” Carlson said of Levin, after calling him “unknown to most Americans” because he’s a “third-tier podcaster, TV host, radio host, or whatever.”

The comments from Carlson come after Levin said it was “ugly and embarrassing” to watch Carlson “going through a public midlife crisis of some kind.”

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ESPN 1320 Names Kyle Madson as Brand Manager

BSM Staff
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ESPN 1320 Names Kyle Madson as Brand Manager

ESPN 1320 has a new Brand Manager, as Kyle Madson has been named the new leader of the Audacy sports talk brand in Sacramento.

Madson is no stranger to the Sacramento sports radio listeners. He’s hosted The Insiders — heard in middays from 10 AM to Noon — since September 2023. He hosts that show alongside James Ham.

Furthermore, Kyle Madson previously worked as a producer at crosstown Sactown Sports, as well as at sister station 95.7 The Game.

“Kyle has shown strong leadership, deep sports knowledge, and a clear vision for the future of the station,” said Senior Vice President and Market Manager Aaron Miller. “Kyle is the perfect person to lead ESPN 1320 forward. Congratulations, Kyle.”

Previously, the station was overseen by 1080 The Fan program director Jeff Austin until his retirement earlier this year. Charlie Mallonee worked as the assistant brand manager of ESPN 1320 before exiting the company last week.

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