Last year, myTalk 107.1 hosts Lori Barghini and Julia Cobbs retired from the Twin Cities talk radio station.
That retirement didn’t last long, however, as the duo have reunited for a new podcast that debuted on Wednesday.
Lori & Julia Still Loud! is putting the sisters-in-law back together for a new show with the Gamut Podcast Network, owned by Hubbard Radio, which also owns their former home myTalk 107.1.
The new podcast promises to deliver “hot takes, humor, and honesty.”
“They defined ‘talk radio for women’ in the Twin Cities and will bring their totally unique, authentic, and often downright hilarious perspective of pop news and culture and human relationships,” Hubbard Radio CEO Ginny Hubbard shared.
Barghini and Cobbs spent 22 years together in the Twin Cities before announcing their retirement last June.
New episodes of the podcast are slated to release each Wednesday and Friday. They will be made available on all major podcast platforms.
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ESPN once again flexed its dominance across digital and social platforms in August, reaching a staggering 201.5 million unique fans, according to the latest data from Comscore. The network’s total digital reach equated to 71.7% of all U.S. adults—more than 7 out of every 10—cementing ESPN as the top-performing sports media brand across digital for the month.
The total audience figure includes fans reached through ESPN Digital, YouTube, and social platforms. The continued surge in digital traffic marks another milestone in the network’s push to expand beyond traditional television and into the ever-evolving world of mobile and social content consumption.
In the mobile space, the ESPN app attracted 25.3 million unique fans in August, outpacing its closest competitor by more than sevenfold. ESPN Fantasy also performed strongly with 10.4 million unique fans, earning the No. 1 spot among all fantasy sports apps and showing an 11% year-over-year increase.
Social engagement was another major highlight, with ESPN Social notching 483 million fan interactions across platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. That figure averages out to 15.6 million engagements per day, extending ESPN’s streak to 50 consecutive months as the top sports brand in social media interactions.
The continued strength in digital and social performance is a testament to ESPN’s evolving content strategy, which emphasizes real-time engagement, mobile-first experiences, and multi-platform storytelling.
As the network rolls into the current NFL season with NBA and NHL around the corner as well as the MLB postseason. Its robust digital footprint puts it in a strong position to dominate fan engagement across every screen. Whether through breaking news, fantasy tools, or viral content, ESPN’s numbers show it remains the go-to source for sports fans in the digital era.
ESPN Digital & Social – once again No. 1 across the board in the U.S. for Aug. '25
✅ESPN App: 25.3M unique fans – more than next 7 non-ESPN apps combined ✅ESPN Social: No. 1 among sports properties for 50th straight month, over 15.6M engagements/day
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TNT Sports has signed a multi-year extension with 2015 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Pedro Martinez. A studio analyst for the network’s baseball coverage since 2012.
Martinez is a cornerstone of TNT Sports’ MLB Tuesday studio programming. He joins former players Jimmy Rollins and Curtis Granderson for pregame and postgame coverage throughout the season. Together, they draw from more than 50 years of combined major league experience. Providing viewers with a blend of analysis, commentary, and behind-the-scenes insight.
“Pedro’s love for the game is contagious. We look forward to showcasing his unmatched insights and one-of-a-kind personality within our baseball coverage for years to come,” said Nate Smeltz, senior vice president of Global Communications and Talent Relations at TNT Sports.
Martinez, a native of the Dominican Republic and one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. He echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the value of teamwork in broadcasting.
“Just like baseball, being an analyst is all about teamwork,” Martinez said. “I am grateful to TNT Sports and my fellow analysts for being great teammates and for sharing my values. Showing up, working hard, and respecting the game. It has been an incredible journey so far. I am excited to continue to be a part of this amazing team as we continue on this exciting journey.”
One of Martinez’s standout contributions is his weekly segment, “Who’s Your Daddy?” which offers his personal take on the week’s most valuable player. The feature has become a signature element of the show, highlighting Martinez’s blend of expertise and personality.
During his 18-year playing career, Martinez compiled a 219-100 record with 3,194 strikeouts while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies. The right-handed pitcher was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and helped lead the 2004 Red Sox to a World Series championship.
TNT Sports’ 2025 MLB postseason coverage is set to begin Saturday, October 4, with exclusive broadcasts of the National League Division Series and National League Championship Series across TBS, truTV, and HBO Max. Martinez and his fellow analysts will play a central role in the network’s coverage, offering commentary, analysis, and expert perspectives on the games and players that define the postseason.
Get ready for more ding-dong Johnsons! TNT Sports reaches a multi-year extension with Pedro Martinez. ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/0JagS78EBh
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iHeartMedia announced that Colleen Valkoun has been named Vice President of Sales for its Milwaukee market, effective immediately. In her new role, Valkoun will oversee the Milwaukee sales team, working to deliver marketing solutions across iHeartMedia’s broadcast, digital, and live event platforms.
She will report directly to Dan Lenz, Market President for iHeartMedia Milwaukee. Lenz was elevated from the role of SVP of sales to Market President earlier this year following the retirement of Jeff Tyler.
“Colleen is a proven leader with a track record of success in this market,” Lenz said. “Her expertise, energy, and passion for Milwaukee and the business community make her the perfect fit for this role. We’re thrilled to have her back at iHeartMedia Milwaukee.”
Valkoun rejoins iHeartMedia’s Northwest and Central Division from the Milwaukee Radio Alliance. Where she most recently served as President and General Manager. She also held several leadership positions during her previous tenure with iHeartMedia Milwaukee. This includes national sales roles, vice president of sales positions, and general manager/president titles.
“Coming back to iHeartMedia Milwaukee feels like a full-circle moment in my career,” Valkoun said. “I am excited to reunite with such a talented team and to help drive growth and innovation for our partners and our brands.”
Valkoun began her career at Saga Communications in Milwaukee and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her experience spans multiple aspects of radio and digital media sales, positioning her to lead iHeartMedia’s efforts in connecting advertisers with audiences across traditional and digital platforms.
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The Daily Wire has announced additions to its original reporting team, with Jennie Taer and Amber Jo Cooper joining the company.
Taer joins the digital outlet after previously working for the New York Post. At the publication, she covered immigration and national security. During her time on that beat, she broke several stories, including footage of more than 300 immigrants attempting to enter the United States illegally in 2024. She also spent time working at The Daily Caller.
“I’ve always been a fan of Jennie’s reporting,” Daily Wire editor-in-chief Brent Scher said. “From the southern border to foreign wars and everything in between, she’s always chasing a story with the goal of giving readers a front-row seat to the most pressing fight of the day.”
Additionally, Amber Jo Cooper joins the unit and will be the outlet’s first-ever Washington D.C.-based Congressional correspondent.
Cooper previously worked as a senior reporter for Florida’s Voice. She also spent time in local television, working at FOX21 in Colorado Springs.
“Amber Jo is a consummate journalist,” Daily Wire DC Bureau Chief Tim Rice said. “For years, she’s exposed corruption and held lawmakers accountable at state houses and town meetings. We look forward to her doing the same here in the halls of Congress.”
“From Luke Rosiak’s exposés on government waste to Kassy Akiva’s relentless coverage of the war in Gaza, we’re not just covering the news, we’re driving it,” Scher added. “That’s always been the goal, and we hope to do it everywhere we place a reporter.”
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FanDuel Sports Network is adding another piece to its growing live programming slate with the debut of FanDuel Sports Network Countdown Live. A weeknight pregame show hosted by Stan Verrett. The one-hour program premieres Monday, October 27 at 5:30 p.m. ET, giving the network a national platform to connect its local roots with a broader audience.
The show, produced by Main Street Sports Group, is designed to serve as a bridge between the network’s on-site reporters and national coverage. Viewers will get a mix of live look-ins. Including warmups, fantasy updates, betting odds, breaking news, and analysis across the NBA, NHL, and eventually MLB and other major sports. The goal, according to network executives, is to position Countdown Live as a fast-paced complement to live games. While leaning into FanDuel’s connection to markets across the country.
“The launch of Countdown Live marks another important milestone as we continue to invest in original content and expand the scope of live programming across FanDuel Sports Network,” Norby Williamson, president of programming and production at Main Street Sports Group, said in a statement. “What makes this show different is how it taps into the teams and markets we’re closest to. Giving fans everywhere a real inside look at the night’s action. Stan brings tremendous experience and credibility. We couldn’t be more excited to have him lead this new chapter for the network.”
For Verrett, best known for his two decades anchoring ESPN’s SportsCenter. The show represents a chance to return to a format where local energy drives national conversation.
“I’ve long admired the way local fans live and breathe their teams. I’m thrilled to join FanDuel Sports Network to help bring that passion to life every night,” Verrett said. “What drew me here was the chance to do meaningful work that connects with fans on both a national and local level. Sports are about community. I’m looking forward to being part of the team that brings that energy to viewers every day.”
Countdown Live will run year-round, launching this fall with nightly NBA and NHL coverage before expanding to additional sports. It will also serve as a centerpiece in FanDuel Sports Network’s weekday schedule. Which includes VSiN By the Books at 7 a.m., Golic & Golic at 3:30 p.m., and regional pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. Live game windows start at 7 p.m. ET.
The new program underscores FanDuel’s broader push to establish itself as a daily destination for sports fans, not just bettors. While wagering insights remain part of the network’s DNA. Executives are betting on shows like Countdown Live to deepen engagement through storytelling, access, and community-driven coverage.
Countdown Live will be available on FanDuel Sports Network, its mobile app, and Prime Video, with more distribution platforms expected to follow.
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ESPN and the Big South Conference are keeping their partnership intact for the rest of the decade. The sides have agreed to a six-year extension that will carry their media rights agreement through the 2030-31 academic year. The extension means the relationship, which began in 1991, will be in place when the conference and network celebrate 40 years together.
According to a report in Sports Business Journal, the bulk of Big South competition will remain on ESPN+. Which has been the primary home for the league since 2018. The Big South was among the earliest college conferences to fully embrace the direct-to-consumer platform. Establishing itself as a steady contributor to ESPN’s streaming growth.
The new agreement also allows the league to maintain rights to as many as 50 linear events annually in its regional footprint. While those games simultaneously stream on ESPN+.
The arrangement keeps the men’s basketball championship game on either ESPN or ESPN2. While the women’s title matchup will continue airing on ESPNU. Additionally, six regular-season games each year will appear on ESPNU. These include a minimum of four men’s basketball contests, and at least two more games will be carried by either ESPNU or ESPNews.
The rights package spans multiple sports across the conference, including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball and softball. The scope of coverage reflects ESPN’s commitment to providing a broad inventory of live games while giving the Big South steady visibility across digital and linear outlets.
Although financial terms were not disclosed. The deal reinforces ESPN’s strategy of retaining long-standing relationships with mid-major conferences while prioritizing ESPN+ as a distribution hub. For the Big South, the renewal provides national reach while also giving flexibility to serve fans in its regional markets through locally televised games.
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NBCUniversal and YouTube TV have agreed to a short-term extension, keeping NBCU’s portfolio of channels on the platform as the two sides continue negotiating a new carriage agreement.
According to several reports, the deal avoids a blackout that was set to begin after their previous contract expired at midnight ET on Tuesday. There has been no word on how long the short-term arrangement will last.
In a statement provided to Deadline, YouTube TV said, “We’ve reached a short-term extension to avoid disruption to our service while we work toward a new agreement with NBCUniversal. We appreciate our subscribers’ patience while we negotiate on their behalf.”
The temporary truce comes at a moment of heightened pressure for YouTube TV. Earlier in the day on Tuesday, TelevisaUnivision networks, including Univision, went dark on the service after that company’s contract expired.
At the same time, Disney and ESPN are also approaching a renewal deadline with YouTube TV in just a few weeks.
The YouTube TV service surpassed 10 million subscribers earlier this year. Making it the No. 4 pay-TV operator in the U.S., trailing only Charter, Comcast and DirecTV. Unlike those legacy giants, however, YouTube TV is growing while the top three are steadily shrinking.
Google’s presence looms over negotiations. The platform is backed by a parent company with a market cap of roughly $3 trillion. Media executives have long argued that makes YouTube TV less willing to compromise on rates. The service has not hesitated to increase prices either. Raising its monthly subscription fee by $18 over the past two years.
NBCUniversal had spent the past week warning viewers of a potential blackout. They began running on-screen crawls and blasting out messages across social platforms. The company accused YouTube TV of once again playing hardball in carriage talks. That perception is not without merit. Over the past year, YouTube TV has nearly walked away from deals with Paramount and Fox, only to reach agreements after negotiations spilled into the public eye.
One sticking point in the NBCU dispute involves YouTube TV’s push to “ingest” NBC’s streaming programming into its platform rather than simply offering access to Peacock as a separate add-on.
For now, subscribers won’t lose access to NBCUniversal programming. But with Univision already off the platform and ESPN’s renewal deadline looming, YouTube TV’s aggressive approach to negotiations is likely to remain a flashpoint in the pay-TV business as the industry continues to shift.
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The NFL’s latest international showcase delivered another ratings win for the league. Pittsburgh’s 24-21 victory over Minnesota on Sunday at Dublin’s Croke Park averaged 7.9 million viewers across TV and digital platforms, according to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics.
The total ranks as the second-most-watched NFL Network International Game on record, trailing only last year’s Dolphins-Chiefs matchup from Frankfurt, Germany.
The 7.9 million figure also represented a significant jump compared to recent overseas broadcasts. Viewership was up 68 percent against NFL Network’s 2024 International Games average. Beyond the full-game total, the audience peaked at more than nine million viewers between 12:30 p.m. ET and the final whistle, a strong window considering NFL competition from other markets and sports.
For the league, the performance underscores the continuing appeal of international contests. While London and Frankfurt have become staples on the calendar, Dublin’s debut drew curiosity both for the unique venue and the fan response in Ireland.
The game marked the first NFL regular season appearance at Croke Park, a stadium traditionally associated with Gaelic football and hurling.
The NFL has made international growth a centerpiece of its long-term media strategy. Rights holders view the games as an opportunity to expand reach in European markets while also delivering premium live content for domestic audiences at non-traditional kickoff times.
Attention now shifts to London, where three consecutive games are scheduled beginning this Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Minnesota will be back on the international stage against Cleveland, with kickoff set for 9:30 a.m. ET. The broadcast will air exclusively on NFL Network and stream via NFL+, continuing the league’s push to drive sign-ups for its direct-to-consumer product.
🇮🇪 Dublin Game Viewership 🇮🇪
*Vikings-Steelers avg. 7.9 million viewers (TV+Digital) — 2nd most-watched @nflnetwork International Game ever
*Up +68% vs. NFL Network's 2024 International Games avg.
*Vikings-Steelers avg. over 9 million viewers from 12:30p ET until end of game… pic.twitter.com/GkShnCUDUH
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For those asking “Why Bad Bunny?” no, he’s not the guy behind the collared shirts at Nordstrom. That’s Psycho Bunny. No, the NFL didn’t pull a random name out of a sombrero. They booked the single most globally dominant artist of the streaming era (not a typo, those come later in the article).
If you don’t know him, that says more about you than it does him.
Outpacing Legends
Let’s start with the numerous. Bad Bunny has been Spotify’s most-streamed artist in the world three years straight. Not Drake, Taylor or The Weeknd. Finito, it was Benito.
In 2022 alone, his songs were streamed 18.5 billion times. For context, Rihanna’s halftime show, the most-watched in TV history, pulled in 121 million viewers.
His tours? They gross over 400 million dollars a year, making him the biggest touring act on Earth. You know Earth, right? That place where people speak more than English.
So when someone asks, “why him?” the better question is “who else?” (I mean, there is one answer that comes swiftly to mind, but besides her…).
The “Who’s Bad Bunny?” Crowd
To the skeptics: you might have missed the last seven years while nodding off to the same yacht-rock playlist (long live American treasure Michael McDonald). But dismissing him as “some reggaeton guy” is like dismissing Beyoncé as “a good singer.” That’s willful ignorance disguised as taste.
This is the artist who:
Hit his trademark “Bunny Destroyer” in WWE. Not just a walk-on cameo, he actually wrestled.
Hosted Saturday Night Live. Delivered sketches, jokes, and live music with the charisma of someone who actually gets irony.
Popped up in Hollywood. From Narcos to sharing the screen with Brad Pitt in Bullet Train, and recently playing a delightful role in Caught Stealing (when he appeared on screen, my theater marked out).
Partnered with brands you actually want to buy: Adidas, Apple Music (conveniently the presenting sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show), Crocs, Gucci, Cheetos, Burger King.
Bad Bunny performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA. Photo Credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Super Bowl isn’t going to make Bad Bunny mainstream. He’s already here. So if you still think Bad Bunny isn’t Super Bowl-ready, congratulations: you’ve officially turned into your uncle who swore MTV was the downfall of America when Yo! MTV Raps debuted (shout-out to Audacy’s Ed Lover).
Halftime Heavyweights
Let’s compare rounds::
Kendrick Lamar (2024): Pulitzer Prize, generational voice, winner of the beef battle, but his fan base isn’t as global.
Rihanna (2023): Iconic, billionaire mogul. But her halftime was more brand flex and baby bump reveal.
The Weeknd (2021): One of my all-time favorite artists, but Bad Bunny out-streamed him 18.5B to 8B in the same year. I’m not Abel to even comprehend that amount of streams.
Bad Bunny isn’t fitting into the mold. He’s remolding the mold; which, by the way, sounds like a Menards slogan. The irony? Half the folks grumbling “this halftime ain’t for us” are the same ones buying grout at Menards (does anyone else find the word “grout” as funny as I do? I should write that down).
Already Mainstream
He moves effortlessly between worlds: from Puerto Rico’s reggaeton clubs to Hollywood sets to Madison Avenue to WrestleMania. If that doesn’t scream “ready for 100 million viewers,” nothing does.
And credit where it’s due: a handful of English speaking U.S. stations ‘hopped’ on his music early (bunny pun intended): KRRL and KIIS in LA, KPEZ in Austin, KKFR in Phoenix, KIBT in Colorado Springs, KSEQ in Fresno, XHTZ in San Diego. But the bigger story is how many didn’t. Radio let DSPs get all the bunny ears while they clung to “Espresso” like a flotation device.
Why It Matters
The halftime show isn’t just about songs. It’s about symbolism, who gets the 12 minutes on America’s most-watched broadcast to say, “This is us.” (which always makes me cry. Milo Ventimiglia, you have a gift and a hell of a dad stache #TeamJess).
Handing that mic to Bad Bunny says:
Spanish isn’t a barrier anymore. It’s the soundtrack of American life.
Latino fans matter. Along with women, they’re one of the fastest-growing slices of the NFL’s pie.
Gen Z matters. A generation that values authenticity, inclusivity, and artists.
Sure, contrarians will moan. DJ Vlad is already tweeting his disapproval like the NFL booked his ex. But that misses the bigger point: Benito reminds us that the U.S. doesn’t own culture, it participates in it.
The Big Picture
When Bad Bunny hits that field, it’ll mark a first: the most-streamed artist on the planet performing on the biggest stage in the world and doing it in his native language.
The only questions left are who wins the game? What commercial steals the night? And (most importantly?) will radio finally give Bunny the spins he deserves? If not, radio will once again be crawling Despacito toward relevance. (And no, that’s not a Bad Bunny track, that was Luis Fonsi. But let’s be honest, most of mainstream America still thinks it was Justin Bieber).
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