Triton Digital has released its 2025 fourth-quarter U.S. Podcast ranker, and the data shows that listening for news podcasts remained strong in the quarter.
News podcasts were the second most-listened-to genre during October, November, and December. The genre accounted for 26.7% of all podcast listening for the quarter.
The top podcast category by reach during the timeframe was comedy at 40.9%. Rounding out the top three was Society & Culture at 23%.
“Podcasting has become appointment media in moments that matter, from sports seasons and cultural milestones to end-of-year reflection and planning,” said Triton Digital Senior Vice President of Measurement Products and Strategy Daryl Battaglia. “What we’ve seen from Q4 is not just seasonal listening – it’s sustained, intentional engagement tied to real-world behaviors. These insights give marketers a sharper lens into how and when podcast audiences are most receptive, and where smart investments can drive meaningful results in 2026.”
The Ramsey Show was one of the top movers in the fourth quarter rankings from Triton Digital. It saw a 36-position increase to finish the window at 25th overall in the Demos+ rankings. The Shawn Ryan Show also saw a strong increase, moving up 38 places to finish the quarter in 27th position.
“Each quarter, Triton Digital’s Ranker tells a clearer story about how podcast audiences are evolving – and why audio deserves a central role in modern media plans,” Battaglia added. “The data from Q4 2025 proves that podcasting isn’t just resilient; it’s influential, measurable, and increasingly essential for brands looking to connect with engaged audiences at scale.”
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Glen Kuiper is set to return to a major league broadcast booth nearly three years after his dismissal from the Oakland A’s, as the veteran play-by-play voice will handle radio duties for the San Francisco Giants during Tuesday’s exhibition matchup against Team USA at Scottsdale Stadium, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Kuiper, who spent more than 15 seasons as the television voice of the A’s before the organization fired him in May 2023 for uttering a racial slur during a pregame broadcast, will call the Giants’ spring exhibition on radio in what amounts to his most visible assignment since the incident that abruptly halted his tenure in Oakland.
The Chronicle reported that Kuiper could also serve as a fill-in option on regular-season Giants radio broadcasts, signaling that the club appears open to reintegrating the longtime broadcaster into its on-air rotation.
The incident that led to Kuiper’s dismissal unfolded during a pregame show when he referenced a visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and appeared to stumble over the word “Negro,” with the mispronunciation coming across on air as a racial slur.
Kuiper immediately expressed regret and later maintained that the comment was accidental, yet the A’s suspended him indefinitely the following day and ultimately terminated his contract roughly two weeks later.
In a statement released after his firing, Kuiper apologized and questioned whether a single mistake should outweigh two decades of work, writing that he would “always have a hard time understanding how one mistake in a 20-year broadcasting career is cause for termination,” while also expressing confidence that future opportunities would emerge.
Kuiper has remained active through digital projects and live events rather than traditional team broadcasts. Over the past year, he has hosted postgame shows at Oracle Park’s Gotham Club alongside his brother, longtime Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, and he has produced content through a YouTube-based platform titled “The Glen Kuiper Show,” where he has continued to analyze the Giants and Major League Baseball.
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Longtime Salem Radio Network White House correspondent Greg Clugston has announced he’s departing the organization for a new role outside the industry.
Clugston is set to join the faculty at Indiana Wesleyan University in its Division of Modern Language, Literature, and Communication. He’ll officially take the position on July 1st, 2026.
Greg Clugston is currently in his 30th year of covering the White House. At IWU, he’ll teach audio and broadcast courses. He’ll also serve as an advisor to the university’s student-led media initiatives.
“Returning to a university setting allows me to share my practical experience in Washington, D.C., with the next generation of media professionals,” Clugston said. “There’s a critical need to equip students with the skills and knowledge to effectively navigate today’s challenging and fast-moving media environment. I look forward to partnering with Indiana Wesleyan University in preparing students to be effective communicators and trustworthy professionals who pursue excellence through faith, honesty, and integrity.”
“The consummate professional whose solid coverage will be sorely missed by our Washington Bureau and by our listeners nationwide,” said Salem Media Vice President of News & Talk Programming Tom Tradup.
Tradup added that Clugston was a member of the White House travel pool and often reported on the White House from Air Force One.
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Stephen A. Smith says he still believes LeBron James attempted to potentially hurt his career, but the veteran ESPN personality insists he has chosen growth over grudges as he reflects on a yearslong rift with one of the NBA’s most powerful figures.
During an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Smith addressed the tension directly, stopping short of detailing specific actions yet making clear he feels confident in his assessment. “I can’t talk about it,” Smith said. “I’ve never talked about it, and I won’t. Other than to say, I know that to be true, and that is unfortunate.”
Smith added that his belief was reinforced when James appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, a program that airs after First Take, and discussed him publicly. In Smith’s view, choosing that particular platform carried symbolic weight because it created a direct programming adjacency that amplified the criticism. He characterized the move as disrespectful and suggested it validated concerns he had previously kept private.
The friction between the two men intensified in March 2025, when James approached Smith courtside during a nationally televised Los Angeles Lakers game, a moment that quickly circulated online and fueled speculation about deeper animosity. At the time, Smith publicly downplayed the encounter, framing it as a father reacting defensively, yet he later acknowledged feeling blindsided by both the timing and the optics of the confrontation.
James, whose decorated career has spanned the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers, has long operated under intense media scrutiny, including pointed analysis from Smith on leadership, legacy and team performance. Smith conceded that his commentary may have affected James in ways other critics have not, potentially contributing to the superstar’s reaction.
“I might have affected him in ways that other people haven’t, and that might have provoked him to do whatever,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, I just know that I’m 58 years old, and I’m not interested in walking around bitter and with a grudge.”
Although Smith maintained that he has known about “several things in the past,” he emphasized that he has moved beyond dwelling on them.
“Like I said, I moved past it,” he explained, underscoring a desire to focus on his work rather than revisit perceived slights.
In recent months, Smith has made a conscious effort to keep his analysis centered on basketball performance and league storylines instead of personal friction, signaling that he wants to avoid escalating a dispute that already commands national attention. He also acknowledged James’ broader impact, noting the four-time champion’s contributions to the sport and the community.
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Nexstar Media Group has reported its 2025 fourth-quarter financial results, and the company saw a dip in overall revenue during the period.
During the period, Nexstar reported just under $1.3 billion in net revenue. That represented a 13.4% decrease compared to the same window in 2024. For the entirety of 2025, the company’s revenue fell 8.5% overall.
The company noted that the $199 million decline in the fourth quarter can largely be attributed to a significant drop in political advertising related to the presidential election in the prior year. Advertising revenue during the quarter rested at $549 million, down 27.6% year-over-year. While the company was off $209 million from 2024, it noted that political advertising dropped from $233 million in 2024 to $21 million in 2025. Non-political advertising, meanwhile, rose 4.5%.
“Nexstar delivered another quarter and year of solid financial results, while taking bold steps to better compete with big tech and big media by reinforcing our position as the nation’s leading local broadcasting company through our proposed acquisition of TEGNA Inc. In Q4 2025, we completed all outstanding 2025 renewals with our distribution partners and achieved better-than-expected growth in non-political advertising revenues,” said Nexstar Media Group chairman and CEO Perry Sook.
“In 2025, NewsNation achieved its strongest year ever for news programming viewership bolstered by our commitment to fact-based, unbiased reporting. Benefiting from our sports programming strategy, The CW exceeded financial expectations for the year and ended 2025 as the 10th most-watched and second fastest growing ad-supported network overall,” continued Sook.
The company earned $720 million in the fourth quarter from distribution revenues.
Its Adjusted EBITDA was $433 million, down from $628 million the prior year.
Included in the Nexstar Media Financial results was a statement from Sook stating that the company believes that it’s proposed merger with TEGNA will receive regulatory approval later this year.
“Our 2026 plan includes closing our acquisition of TEGNA, capitalizing on the political advertising opportunities presented by the mid-term elections, and continuing to optimize our business operations across the company, all of which we anticipate will contribute to shareholder value creation,” said Sook.
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Beasley Media Group is adding one of sports radio’s most recognizable national voices to its Tampa Bay lineup, announcing that The Herd with Colin Cowherd will debut Monday, March 2, 2026, on WJBR, Florida Alumni Radio 1010 AM.
The show will air in it’s weekday timeslot of Noon to 3 p.m. ET and additional distribution across 92.1 FM in Hillsborough County, 103.1 FM in Pinellas County and 104.7 HD2.
The move aligns the Beasley-owned Tampa cluster with FOX Sports Radio, which syndicates the program nationally. It gives the market a high-profile midday show built on opinion and personality. The format also leans into headline-driven storytelling. For a station targeting passionate local and alumni-focused fans, the addition signals intent. It reflects a strategy to blend national perspective with regional energy in a competitive media landscape.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd launched in September 2015 with FOX Sports Radio. Since then, it has grown into one of the most widely consumed sports talk brands in the country. The show’s expansion has been driven by long-form interviews and strong editorial commentary. It also maintains a steady presence across digital platforms.
Cowherd, who entered the Radio Hall of Fame in 2025, has cultivated a style that leans heavily on narrative framing and cross-sport comparisons, elements that frequently spark debate well beyond traditional radio audiences.
The program was recently removed from the 95.7 WDAE lineup as part of the stations move from 95.3FM to 95.7FM and a return to local programming in The Herd’s daypart.
According to network-provided metrics from multiple measurement partners, The Herd with Colin Cowherd has surpassed 800 million podcast downloads over several years. The show has also generated billions of video views across digital platforms. Those platforms include X, Facebook, and YouTube. The figures highlight how modern sports talk extends beyond terrestrial radio. Much of today’s conversation is driven by on-demand and social clips.
“We’re excited to bring The Herd to WJBR,” said Cowherd. “Tampa is one of the best sports cities in America – passionate fans, championship teams, and nonstop storylines. I’m looking forward to being part of the daily conversation and connecting with listeners across the market.”
Ron deCastro, vice president and market manager for Beasley Media Group Tampa, described the addition as a meaningful step in enhancing WJBR’s weekday lineup.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Colin Cowherd and The Herd to WJBR,” said deCastro. “Colin’s strong opinions, insightful interviews, and national perspective will provide our listeners with premium sports content every weekday afternoon. This addition further strengthens our lineup and underscores our commitment to delivering the very best in sports programming to Tampa Bay.”
Justin Chase, Beasley’s chief content officer, framed the move as both a programming upgrade and a broader strategic play. Emphasizing Cowherd’s ability to generate must-hear moments that travel seamlessly from broadcast to podcast to social feeds. Where audience engagement increasingly determines a show’s overall impact.
With The Herd now set to occupy the midday window, Beasley strengthens its sports platform in Tampa Bay at a time when audience habits continue to evolve, wagering that a multiplatform brand anchored by a polarizing and proven host can command attention across radio dials, mobile apps and social timelines alike.
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Fox News led all of television for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening.
In the 9-11 PM ET window, when the majority of Trump’s speech took place, more than 9.1 million viewers were tuned to Fox News, on average. The network also saw the largest audience for the Democratic response from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), with 4.7 million watching that speech.
ABC News was the next closest challenger, with 5.1 million viewers throughout the speech.
In the cable news space, Fox News far outpaced MS NOW, which averaged 2.4 million viewers, and CNN, which saw 2.2 million.
The race was closer in the broadcast television sector. While ABC saw 5.1 million viewers, NBC News averaged 3.6 million, and CBS News featured an average audience of 3.3 million. The FOX broadcast network averaged 2.1 million viewers throughout the window.
An additional 269,000 viewers watched the speech on Fox Business Network, according to Nielsen. Fox News Digital averaged 252,000 concurrent viewers in its vast array of viewing options for President Trump’s speech.
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The return of Major League Baseball is always a welcome rite of spring, but in the world of sports television, the real sign that better weather and sunny skies are imminent is MLB Network’s annual trek around Spring Training sites.
The 2026 version is entitled 30 Clubs, 30 Camps. With a host of different commentators and analysts, MLB Network provides a comprehensive preview of the upcoming season.
What better place to begin than in Glendale at Camelback Ranch, the spring training home of the two-time defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers? Through shrewd trades, targeted free agent signings, and disciplined player development, the Dodgers have built sustained dominance. They have come as close to a modern dynasty as any club since the late-1990s and early-2000s New York Yankees.
30 Clubs, 30 Camps: Dodgers offered an inside look at this diamond juggernaut. Greg Amsinger and Jake Peavy visited the Dodgers’ camp to check out the established stars and the next wave of LA talent.
Amsinger opened by saying that being with the Dodgers is like “déjà vu all over again.” He stressed that stars are speckled throughout the everyday lineup as well as the pitching staff. While Peavy echoed the dynasty moniker, Amsinger made the great point that last year’s World Series could easily have been won by the Toronto Blue Jays, creating a whole new storyline to kick off 2026.
Although the Los Angeles Dodgers are loaded with star power, Peavy and Amsinger emphasized the importance of roster depth. They noted the team relies on contributions from top to bottom. That reality showed in the World Series, when role players like Miguel Rojas delivered in key moments. Despite the praise for Los Angeles, Peavy identified four challengers. He pointed to the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres as threats to the Dodgers’ National League reign.
I loved the simplicity of 30 Clubs, 30 Camps: Dodgers. It was simply a two-shot of Amsinger and Peavy in the stands at Camelback Ranch, with the ballpark and blue skies behind them. No laser beams or heavy metal light shows were needed.
As always, MLB Network provided telling and informative graphics to go along with the commentary.
The first one on this program showed some of the players the Dodgers lost this offseason. On the flip side, however, they added two true superstars in closer Edwin Díaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker. In perfect TV symmetry, Tucker then joined Amsinger and Peavy for an interview. The former Astro and Cub talked about his free agent experience and the road that took him to Los Angeles on a four-year deal.
While Tucker spoke, viewers saw clips of him in action and at his opening LA press conference with Manager Dave Roberts and Executive VP and General Manager Brandon Gomes.
Amsinger asked a solid question about what Tucker learned as a young player in Houston alongside the likes of José Altuve, Alex Bregman, and George Springer. The B-roll on 30 Clubs, 30 Camps: Dodgers was outstanding. As the trio discussed the talent on the Dodgers’ roster, viewers saw quick glimpses of the players mentioned.
Kyle Tucker shares how he approached his first offseason as a free agent and his adjustment to Los Angeles 👀
Another educational graphic highlighted that Mookie Betts led the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved after shifting to shortstop last season. His transition underscored the versatility of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It also reflected a willingness among the club’s stars to adapt for the sake of winning. Peavy and Betts later discussed that mindset during their interview.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined Amsinger for the next interview segment. Speaking through an interpreter, he reflected on the 2025 World Series. He also discussed the large contingent of Japanese fans and media who follow him to ballparks. Yamamoto was candid about his personal goals. He acknowledged the Dodgers’ deep pitching staff. However, he said he hopes to be the one who wins this season’s Cy Young Award.
Peavy then introduced first baseman Freddie Freeman as a surefire Hall of Famer to open his interview. In discussing how he has stayed so productive for so long, Freeman told Peavy that both his diet and exercise routines have changed to help him take better care of his body. All of the interviews by Amsinger and Peavy were on point.
If opposing teams and front offices were watching 30 Clubs, 30 Camps: Dodgers, one graphic had to instill spine-shaking fear. This graphic showed that LA has five of the current Top 100 MLB.com prospects.
Armed with this data, Manager Dave Roberts, interviewed by both Amsinger and Peavy, stated, “I think the lazy thing that when people talk about the Dodgers is payroll, and they don’t give credit to scouting and player development.”
Amsinger agreed, calling the Dodgers “the organization that everyone admires in the sport” largely because of the plentiful farm system. Now in his 11th season in LA, Roberts handles the media beautifully.
Let’s be honest. The Los Angeles media is not as harsh, hurtful, and heavy as New York or Boston, but Roberts plays it as well as Joe Torre and Terry Francona did in those cities, respectively.
Dave Roberts owns a 944-576 record, a .621 winning percentage, three World Series titles, five National League pennants, and 10 consecutive playoff appearances in Los Angeles. When the conversation shifted to Shohei Ohtani, Roberts praised his focus. He said the reigning MVP is “fixated on winning a championship.” Roberts added that Ohtani will be firmly in the Cy Young conversation this season.
Roberts went on to say that the rest of his rotation, including Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Yamamoto, will also be in that conversation. I love that Roberts does not spout the usual safe and humble BS to the media. He is not arrogant but knows he has a good team and does not shy away from it.
“I'm more excited about this year than I was last year or the year prior… Guys are still hungry and that's scary for the rest of the league.” 😳
As a player for Boston, Roberts is known for one of the most memorable steals in MLB history. That was in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees. He understands the big moments and the little things and has obviously relayed this to his team.
Always getting the fans involved, 30 Clubs, 30 Camps: Dodgers offered a social media question asking what accomplishment Ohtani is most likely to achieve for the first time in 2026. The most popular answer was winning the World Series MVP, followed by hitting 60 home runs, winning a Cy Young Award, and winning a batting title.
Both hosts offered bold forecasts for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Amsinger predicted a record 118 regular-season wins. He also projected that Shohei Ohtani would capture both the MVP and Cy Young awards. Peavy took a different angle. He predicted Ohtani would hit 60 home runs and win World Series MVP honors. Peavy also said Mookie Betts would finish among the top three in MVP voting.
After all the praise, neither host picked the Dodgers to win the World Series, and both kept their picks to themselves for now.
The style and pace of 30 Clubs, 30 Camps: Dodgers was akin to spring training itself. Everything felt a little more relaxed and laid back, not as hyperactive as regular season highlights and commentary. It was the perfect long stretch and gentle warm-up to get the baseball muscles primed for the 2026 season.
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The FCC is now interested in how you watch sports on television. Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission opened a wide-ranging inquiry into the evolving sports media marketplace, requesting public comment on how games moving to streaming platforms are affecting consumers.
If FCC Chairman Brendan Carr would like to look at my personal bank account, I’d be happy to oblige. My monthly payments to Prime Video, ESPN Unlimited, Peacock, and Netflix prove that watching sports in 2026 is not only becoming more fragmented, but also more expensive. Oh, I almost forgot the added MLB.tv add-on I need to watch my local MLB team this year because Main Street Sports Group couldn’t pay its bills.
It’s sort of cute to see how the FCC tries to balance testing the First Amendment while fighting the good fight for the sports fan. However, what can the FCC even do to curb the path the sports viewing experience has already taken long ago?
When I read the inquiry posted Wednesday afternoon, I chuckled. I knew this was another attempt by a government body that cannot prevent leagues from selling their rights to streaming platforms. That’s why it was amusing to see a reference to the 1939 World’s Fair, when NBC broadcast a college baseball game between Princeton and Columbia at Baker Field in New York, used as historical context.
Just like anything else in government, it’s always looking backward to make sense of the present but rarely looking forward.
For decades, Americans enjoyed turning on their TV & quickly finding the game they wanted to see.
Yet watching your favorite team play isn’t as easy these day. Many games are still on broadcast, but an increasing number are on a range of different online platforms.
Here are the questions the FCC is asking in its inquiry.
Q: How have recent developments in the marketplace affected the ability of broadcasters to obtain media rights to sports programming?
A: Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube entering the live rights space have drastically changed how traditional broadcasters can afford rights. That’s why traditional broadcast networks like CBS (Paramount+), NBC (Peacock), FOX (FOX One), and ABC (ESPN DTC) have all built their own direct-to-consumer platforms to compete.
Q: How have changes in the marketplace affected viewers’ ability to watch nationally televised live sports, as well as their local team(s) on broadcast TV?
A: Not every sport is the same. Let’s focus on national NBA broadcasts. Before the season began, MarketWatch found fans who want to watch every NBA game online this season — regular season and playoffs — will need to spend roughly $939 across five streaming services. Cable subscribers can still access NBC, ABC, and ESPN, but they’ll miss exclusive matchups on Peacock and Amazon, which stream games weekly.
If you have a local team, you may need to purchase access to your local RSN to watch local broadcasts because not every RSN is carried on cable without an upcharge. Also, that model will change next season with the demise of Main Street Sports Group.
In other words, it’s tougher and more expensive. That’s just one example from one league. Let’s not even get into the added costs and fragmentation with MLB, NHL, and the NFL. Plus, if you’re a fan of F1, MLS, or NASCAR, there are additional hurdles to clear.
Q: What type of rights are included in agreements between leagues or conferences and national video programming distributors? (This is in reference to exclusivity, simulcasts, and replays.)
A: From a consumer standpoint, no one watches a replay of a live sporting event. Technology has already addressed the consumer’s need for information and outcomes in real time almost erasing a need for a replay.
Q: How prevalent are sports media rights deals between local TV broadcasters and local sports teams, and what are their terms and conditions?
A: With the decline of the RSN model, over-the-air agreements are becoming fewer as teams and leagues build and produce their own streaming platforms. See MLB this season.
Q: How have changes in the marketplace impacted costs to consumers?
A: Chairman Carr, give me a ring and I’ll let you peer into my checking account.
The bigger question regarding the inquiry is why? The FCC cannot prevent sports leagues from making money from distributors willing to pay for their product. Leagues benefit from fragmentation in sports media. The more platforms audiences gravitate toward, the bigger the checks they receive.
It’s been reported that YouTube will get a four-game NFL slate next season. Do you think the NFL will turn down money from Google because it could affect how fans access the game?
After the 2028 season, MLB is looking to cash in on its RSN mess with a more centralized distribution model. That could include a combination of traditional networks, streaming platforms, and possibly another route not yet invented, which would only further fragment the industry.
The NBA is locked into its deals for the next decade. Is the FCC under the current administration going to tell the NBA it needs to rework those agreements to better cater to consumers?
Do you truly think the FCC is going to tell Roger Goodell he has to pump the brakes on media rights discussions this summer?
Sports is a luxury commodity, and it’s moving toward what was once called pay-per-view. Watching sports is becoming a luxury item for consumers.
I used to love watching my teams on over-the-air television. Then cable arrived, and I had to start paying to watch my favorite teams. That was a change in habit. Then streaming platforms came along, leagues chased the dollar, and the fan became secondary. Fans have already adapted and continue to do so with each new media rights agreement. Another change in habit.
Does it cost more to watch sports? Of course it does. Are fans ever going to stop following their favorite teams? No. But attending games isn’t exactly cheaper than paying a flat fee to watch from your couch.
I respect the effort by the FCC. However, getting involved in the private business decisions of broadcasters is a fight it simply cannot win. Sports organizations and leagues have the absolute freedom to sell their rights to any platform for any price they choose.
So yes, Mr. Chairman, by all means hold the inquiry. Ask the questions. Open the comment window.
But understand this: the marketplace already voted. The contracts are signed. The checks have cleared. The leagues aren’t looking for guidance — they’re looking for the next bidder. The FCC can study the fragmentation of sports television all it wants. The fragmentation isn’t the problem.
It’s the business model. And that model isn’t broken. It’s working exactly as designed. Sports has evolved from a civic pastime to a premium subscription ecosystem. The only real question left isn’t what the FCC will do.
It’s how much more fans are willing to pay before they finally change the channel.
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There is a lot of pressure to get to the top of your industry. Even more pressure ramps up once you achieve it and try to keep it. That’s why consistency is so key to lasting success in sports radio. It requires building rapport with your team, your station, and your audience through connection and a shared passion for sports. Gregg Giannotti has experienced the full lifecycle of the WFAN consumer, serving in every capacity available: listener, intern, producer, anchor, and now host of the highly successful Boomer & Gio show that has guided New York City sports fans every morning since 2018.
“It’s always great when your peers are the ones who recognize you. The people who have been in the business for a long time. That’s why this list means a lot to the show and me,” said Giannotti.
They finished 72 points ahead of their second-place competition and earned a category-best 15 first-place votes from 36 program directors and executives around the country. The criteria included overall impact, ratings, originality, and industry buzz. It marked a high achievement for a show that has built a national following with a local feel.
Strength Through WFAN Changes
Boomer & Gio have been a steadfast constant on a radio station that has experienced its fair share of change over the past eight years. Despite that change, Giannotti still enjoys the grind of morning drive, a daypart with plenty of benefits that also comes with massive responsibility.
“We’ve been there as pillars of the radio station. The opportunity to have first crack at talking about the games the day before is great. I absolutely love it,” noted Giannotti. “You’re looking at all the people in the cars as you’re driving in. Those are the people that are going to be listening to you to get their day started. I love setting the tone, and couldn’t think about doing anything else in another shift.”
Giannotti joined Esiason in January 2018 after Craig Carton’s exit from the program. Carton announced his resignation from the radio station following his arrest on federal securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges.
The sudden shock left Esiason with questions about the show’s future and the station’s direction. After several months of Esiason hosting solo, Giannotti was selected to join the program following successful stints hosting mornings on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh and CBS Sports Radio with Brian Jones.
Giannotti admitted the pairing initially felt unsettling, knowing he would have to develop trust among a staff already established with the program.
“I was stepping into their thing after ten years and had to be the point guard. Then the audience who is expecting a certain thing, I have to try and keep them,” said Giannotti. “That part of it was critical for me. I sort of laid back because I trusted Boomer and management, knowing I had to gain their trust. If I just worked my way in and made sure everyone knows their favorite morning show is still going to be great with a change at point guard, that’s the way I wanted to go.”
Instead of trying to take over the daypart, Giannotti relied on his producing background to ease the transition. He interned at WFAN at the start of his career, where his producing acumen and work ethic led to more opportunities to grow within the station.
Those early days at the top New York City sports talk station set the foundation for his eventual role co-hosting morning drive.
“Being behind the scenes, learning how to work with a host. There were so many things that I ended up figuring out that I didn’t understand behind the glass, that when I got behind the microphone I got,” explained Giannotti. “Having those experiences from behind the glass, I learned far quicker [how to host] than I would have without that experience of producing.”
Limitations And Coverage
Boomer & Gio are not just a local morning show for New York City sports fans. The program also airs as the flagship morning show on CBS Sports Network. The opportunity allows the program to reach a nationwide audience, including many native New York sports fans who have relocated across the country.
While the platform presents a massive opportunity, it also comes with drawbacks. Because the video is distributed through CBS Sports Network, the show cannot stream on platforms such as YouTube like other WFAN programming. Additionally, CBS Sports Network must approve clips from the program since it owns the video portions of the show.
“If you know our show and listen, there might be 25% of the program that is traditional sports talk. But if you just consume our show through the clips on social media or YouTube, generally you would think all we do is talk sports,” explained Giannotti. “That’s not the show. I do get a little frustrated by that.”
Giannotti admitted that while the show may miss out on potential streaming audiences on video platforms, he still appreciates the partnership with the network.
“We don’t ever cater to a national audience, and CBS Sports Network doesn’t want us to,” says Giannotti. “They told us to do our show and they’ll broadcast that show. They’ve never told us that they wanted anything different than what we were going to do.”
Sports radio is, by nature, a competitive industry. For every game it covers where there is a winner and a loser, the same can be said for rival stations in the nation’s top market. After Good Karma Brands decided to stop subscribing to traditional Nielsen ratings, the ratings wars that once defined sports radio faded.
Giannotti admits he misses the ratings battles between WFAN and its direct competition, but not because of the tension.
“It’s not about missing the anxiety you get if things aren’t going the way you want them to go. What I miss is the coverage of the radio station, because now we don’t get as much coverage as we used to,” said Giannotti. “I just like that the radio station and the business as a whole was being covered like a sports team in the city.”
Carton’s Return To WFAN
WFAN has made a number of headlines over the past six months, not for ratings gains or losses but for another seismic lineup shift as Craig Carton returned for a second time in the past six years. With Carton’s return, the station paired him with Chris McMonigle while shifting Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber to middays.
Giannotti said that when rumors began to spread about another Carton return late last summer, management offered no assurances about Carton reuniting with Esiason. Giannotti had signed a multi-year contract extension in 2025 and felt secure in his role on the morning show.
However, when Carton returned to WFAN in 2020, the situation felt different.
“The first time [Carton returned], I was curious and nervous how it would go. Craig said it himself. He thought the band would get back together, and maybe I would go to a different daypart. That first time I was nervous,” explained Giannotti. “This time, it never was a single thought. We had success and Boomer didn’t want anything different.”
Industry Concerns
Now in his eighth year co-hosting alongside Esiason, Giannotti appreciates the focus and direction that shaped his career. From interning to becoming a leading voice on arguably the nation’s most recognized sports radio brand, his path reflects steady growth.
He admits that journey is less likely in today’s sports radio ecosystem. Although he does not doubt radio’s future, he questions how the next generation will view its appeal amid limited opportunity.
“It’s more unlikely now. It just is. I don’t even know what sports talk radio is going to be in 15 years,” says Giannotti. “If you’re projecting all these years ahead. Leaving your home market to go to another and come back to host mornings in your home market. It just doesn’t feel like an available path any longer.”
Giannotti says he cannot imagine reaching this point any other way or working with different teammates. He believes the show continues to demonstrate why many around the country rank it among the nation’s best. Esiason toldBarrett Media he intends to continue hosting until he is “at least 68 years old.” Despite that projection, Giannotti says Esiason remains as focused as ever and has never broached the idea of stepping away.
That perspective continues to drive Giannotti. He no longer feels defined solely by his accomplishments. Instead, he leans into the blessings the job provides for him, his family, and the audience.
“This job is part of a greater thing. One of the things that Craig [Carton] said when he left the first time was that he regretted that the show wasn’t enough for him. He was chasing feelings about things elsewhere,” explained Giannotti. “That struck me. I want the show to be enough for me. So I’m really focused on the foundational things in my life which includes the job. If I started slipping or not caring as much, the amount of people that affects outside of me. That’s the motivation when the alarm goes off.”
That perspective comes from having seen every angle of the building.
Giannotti has been the kid listening in his car, the intern running errands, the producer behind the glass, and now the voice setting the agenda in the country’s biggest sports media market. He understands its fragility because he has lived the climb. In an era where platforms change, metrics fluctuate, and career paths feel less certain than ever, that understanding may be his greatest asset.
At WFAN, the morning show is not just another shift. It sets the tone and drives culture. Through scandal, competition, lineup shakeups, and evolving distribution models, Boomer & Gio has remained steady — not by accident, but by intention. Preparation. Trust. Patience. An understanding of when to push and when to facilitate.
Giannotti once eased into the chair to protect something that already existed. Now, eight years in, he helps protect something bigger — the idea that sports radio, at its best, still relies on chemistry, consistency, and connection.
Do the work. Value the people. Make the show enough.
For Gregg Giannotti, that is not just a philosophy. It is the reason the alarm clock still rings — and why, when it does, he is ready.
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