MeTV FM Returns to 92.1 in Coachella Valley. KMEE Thermal/Indio will flip formats Monday, August 3.
MeTV FM returns to the Coachella Valley airwaves Monday on 92.1 FM. The classic hits station rejoins the KGAY PSP media family after launching Sunny 106.5 FM last year.
What We Know KGAY PSP officially launches MeTV FM on August 3, 2026. The station operates on the 92.1 frequency in Thermal, California. The format spans five decades of music from the ’50s through ’80s. Additionally, the station’s 3,500-song library rotates 350+ different tracks daily with zero repeats.
What They Said “We heard repeatedly from MeTV FM fans they missed the music and memories,” Brad Fuhr, KGAY PSP’s owner and CEO, explained in a statement. Importantly, Fuhr highlighted a special feature called “Mid-Century Memorable.” These segments will spotlight timeless classics like Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and Bobby Darin’s “Beyond the Sea.” Consequently, the station positions itself as more than entertainment—it’s cultural nostalgia.
What Remains Unclear The company hasn’t announced on-air talent details yet. Furthermore, specific programming beyond weekend themes and birthday specials remain unknown. Additionally, KGAY PSP hasn’t disclosed ratings benchmarks or advertiser partnerships. Finally, the launch event specifics await future announcements.
What It Means MeTV FM’s return proves listener demand can reverse format changes in radio. Instead, many broadcasters stick with safe, proven formats rather than experimenting. Notably, KGAY PSP’s multi-station strategy lets one owner serve diverse audiences without risky pivots. Ultimately, this launch shows that consolidation works when operators understand their local markets.
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Spotify launches Running Mode today for premium iOS users in select markets. The feature personalizes running sessions around tempo, workout type, and music preference.
What We Know Spotify released Running Mode on iOS in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden today. Users select from 25 curated running presets and customize workout type, duration, and BPM. Additionally, the platform matches song beats to runner tempo. Audio cues also guide users through workouts in English.
What’s at Stake Fitness content represents a growing revenue opportunity for Spotify moving forward. Workout playlists have become the platform’s most popular Prompted Playlists use case to date. Moreover, personalized fitness experiences keep users engaged longer and boost retention. This launch positions Spotify directly against Apple Music and Amazon Music fitness offerings.
What Remains Unclear Will non-Premium users eventually access Running Mode? Furthermore, how does Spotify measure engagement and retention from this feature? Will international rollout accelerate beyond today’s limited markets? Does the feature integrate with third-party fitness apps and wearables?
What It Means Spotify continues transforming from music service into comprehensive lifestyle platform. The company now competes in fitness coaching alongside Peloton and Apple Fitness+. Running Mode exemplifies how AI-driven personalization creates stickier products and stronger loyalty. Ultimately, expect more features tying music to specific activities and moments.
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Tony Romo remains in limbo at CBS Sports. The network issued a public statement nearly a week after his OWI arrest in Wisconsin.
What We Know: Romo, CBS’s lead NFL color analyst since 2017, was arrested last week in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. He performed poorly on field sobriety tests, per multiple reports, and was booked and released. Romo’s court date is set for September 21. He’s also withdrawn from upcoming golf appearances while the situation plays out. CBS Sports released a statement on his employment Friday. CBS Sports says JJ Watt will join Jim Nantz in the top booth in Romo’s absence.
What They Said: CBS Sports statement on Tony Romo following arrest for OWI in Wisconsin: “Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice.”
What Remains Unclear: CBS hasn’t confirmed anything about Romo’s future employment with the network moving forward. Tony Romo has not commented since CBS’ statement.
What It Means: Romo’s $18 million salary and contract through 2030 give him real leverage, and CBS clearly knows it. Meanwhile, the network’s silence till now bought time without committing to a position. Still, pressure will likely build as September’s court date approaches. For now, Romo has lost his chair next to Jim Nantz — but the story isn’t finished.
CBS Sports announced that analyst Tony Romo is on leave from his role “until further notice.” pic.twitter.com/178PyVajsg
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Molly McGrath is reportedly heading to the NFL. The tenured college football reporter will make the change for the upcoming season, according to report confirmed by ESPN to Front Office Sports.
What We Know: McGrath will serve as sideline reporter for ESPN’s NFL Network game package. Additionally, she’ll be the top fill-in host on NFL Live when Laura Rutledge is unavailable. McGrath’s ESPN career began as a production assistant after she graduated from Boston College. She returned in 2016 as a sideline reporter and host for college football and basketball, most recently working alongside Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy.
What They Said: Molly McGrath (via Front Office Sports): “I’m thrilled to expand my role within ESPN’s NFL coverage and for the opportunity to showcase a broader range of skills, from sideline reporting to hosting in studio, while diving deeper into the sport at the highest level.”
What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear whether McGrath will retain any college football responsibilities going forward. Despite a lighter schedule with the NFL Network’s game package under ESPN.
What It Means: This move reflects ESPN’s broader NFL push following its acquisition of NFL Network earlier this year in exchange for a 10% ESPN stake. Consequently, McGrath’s promotion signals growing internal investment in that seven-game package. For McGrath, meanwhile, it marks a career milestone during a season already billed as the Year of the Super Bowl. ESPN has not identified who will replace McGrath as part of their college football coverage.
Exclusive: Molly McGrath is moving from ESPN’s college football coverage to the NFL side, the network confirmed to FOS.@sportsrapport reveals her next roles ⬇️
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John Kincade delivered his final on-air farewell Friday on 97.5 The Fanatic. The longtime host closed his six-year run at 97.5 The Fanatic with an emotional sign-off.
What We Know: Kincade wrapped his final show on 97.5 The Fanatic Friday morning. Andrew Salciunas now hosts alone from 6 to 10 a.m. with an expected co-host to be named at a later date. Kincade thanked listeners and colleagues throughout an emotional farewell. This fall, he returns to 680 The Fan in Atlanta, where he spent more than two decades before Philadelphia. Kincade is leaving his post at The Fanatic due to a personal reasons while also pursuing the next chapter of his career.
John Kincade thankful for the support of the Philadelphia sports radio listener: “To everybody that listens to this radio station, support it, love it. This thing’s about to take off like a freaking rocket ship…I appreciate the opportunity here these six years at 97.5 The Fanatic. I love every one of you that ever listened to this radio station. Don’t leave because it’s just about to explode. Be with it and don’t miss. And I say cheers to all of you. God bless you all.”
Beasley Media Philadelphia VP/Market Manager Paul Blake on John Kincade: “Congratulations and thank you. You’ve been an awesome mentor to everyone around here. You’ve really been a mainstay for the last six years. We can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”
Beasley Media Philadelphia VP/Market Manager Paul Blake on John Kincade: “I think I can speak for everyone here as well. You’ve been fantastic. I want to wish you well. Congratulations. But most importantly, I wish you a lot of health as you work towards your final contract towards your retirement. We’re gonna miss you here in Philadelphia.”
John Kincade thankful for the opportunity to return to Philadelphia: “The opportunity to come back to Philly that the Fanatic offered. To be able to be here, to reconnect with my very large extended family, my lifelong friends, my high school and my college friends. My family that I would see once or twice a year. To be able to be a part of their lives for every day was absolutely amazing.”
John Kincade thankful for being treated always as an equal: “Most of all, I’m most thankful for is that when I was ill, I asked for one thing. I begged management that I wanted to continue to work every day that I could work. I didn’t care about what it looked like, what I looked like, or whatever. It was that I wanted to work. I also begged everybody that I worked with at the time and everybody I worked with around this station. Just leave me alone and let me go about my business as normal.
“Everybody at this station supported me so strongly, and propped me up. But they will never understand how just treating me normally propped me up. How just not treating me like I was sick and I was an invalid. Just busting my balls every day, like critiquing my opinions every day. Treating me like normal, made me feel energized and alive.”
What Remains Unclear: Kincade’s exact role at 680 The Fan stays undefined. Blake referenced Kincade’s “final contract towards your retirement,” despite Kincade insisting he’s not retiring. The new co-host for Andrew Salciunas is expected to be announced shortly.
What It Means: John Kincade’s emotional farewell on 97.5 The Fanatic was complete class. Instead of a month-long rememberance tour, Kincade told Barrett Media he had hoped for the focus to remain as normal on content. It was, until the final segment when Kincade shared his emotional thank you’s with the listening audience. Salciunas now owns Philadelphia’s morning drive outright with a new co-host yet to be named. Meanwhile, Kincade’s return to Atlanta reunites him with a market that remembers his voice. His visible gratitude, therefore, suggests warm feelings on both sides. For Philadelphia listeners, though, Friday’s sendoff marked a genuinely rare on-air goodbye.
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ESPN’s new executive vice president and executive editor of sports news and entertainment, Mike Foss, reportedly addressed nearly 100 ESPN staffers in Bristol on Wednesday. The executive vice president used the gathering to reset the network’s on-air and social media philosophy.
What We Know: According to Puck’s John Ourand, ESPN’s “embrace debate” mantra that took hold years ago and led to smashing success is evolving. Notably, Wednesday’s meeting was a moment where Foss reportedly laid out his vision for embracing more authenticity. He reportedly wants on-air programming to manufacture less and “reveal” more. According to Ourand, the ESPN layoffs from last week were not addressed during the gathering. The meeting was more focused on providing data showing ESPN’s brand of “synthetic conflict” wasn’t resonating like it has. Foss also discussed his expectations for how talent should use social media. The new approach involves understanding programs are still live even after they air.
What’s They Said:Outgoing ESPN Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Sports News and Entertainment on Mike Foss (via Barrett Media): “Without question, his strengths will help continue to grow this operation. It’s going to be fun to watch him in action as he takes on this even bigger challenge. He knows what he’s doing. He’s more than prepared to do what he has to do to continue to evolve the product and the people who work on the product. He’s a winner, and I already know he will continue to win.”
What Remains Unclear: Still, several questions linger ahead of ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast next February. Also how studio programs and talent will pivot with the evolving vision of Foss.
What It Means: Ultimately, Foss’s pitch signals a shift from manufactured shouting toward personality-driven authenticity. With a new set of eyes overseeing the product, Foss is aiming to put his stamp on the network’s approach quickly. Consequently, ESPN appears to be betting this approach connects better with younger, platform-agnostic viewers. Still, Foss maintains that linear television remains the priority, even as short clips travel across social platforms. Therefore, ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage could become the first major test of this reframed strategy.
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Brendan Carr says the FCC should enforce existing media regulations. He also believes legacy media should correct its own course.
What We Know: FCC Chair Brendan Carr outlined what he believes the commission’s mission should be during a recent interview. He argued the agency’s responsibility isn’t to create new standards but to enforce the regulatory framework already in place. Carr also pointed to local broadcasting as an area where he believes existing rules deserve greater attention. Specifically, he suggested national programmers can overshadow local television stations instead of allowing them to better serve their communities. In a sit-down interview with Politico’s Dasha Burns, Carr responded to a question asking whether it’s his job to “reorient the editorial standards and decisions of the news media.”
What They Said: “Well, I think it’s something that the news media should want to do on its own. And at the same time, I think it is our job to enforce the rules that are on the books. So for instance, if the national programmers are just running over all the local TV stations, they’re not actually finding what the local community wants to hear. I think, fundamentally, the legacy media should want to do a course correction … I think they should want to, and I think our job is to enforce the regulatory framework. We haven’t done that over the last 20 years, and I don’t think it’s produced helpful results.” – FCC Chair Brendan Carr
What Remains Unclear: Carr didn’t identify specific enforcement actions the FCC could pursue under current rules. Likewise, he didn’t explain whether his comments could translate into new regulatory initiatives or simply more aggressive enforcement of longstanding policies.
What It Means: Carr’s remarks reinforce an approach centered on enforcement rather than expanding the FCC’s authority. At the same time, his comments signal continued scrutiny of broadcasters and station groups that hold FCC licenses. As debates over media regulation continue, broadcasters will likely watch closely to see whether Carr’s stated philosophy leads to tangible enforcement actions or remains a guiding principle for the commission.
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CNBC extended its audience advantage over Fox Business Network in July. The competition remained tight across every major daypart.
What We Know: CNBC finished ahead of Fox Business Network in Total Day, Business Day, and Market Hours viewership during July 2026. However, the margin between the two business news networks remained relatively narrow. CNBC also claimed six of the Top 10 business news programs for the month, while Fox Business Network landed five of the top nine shows, led by Kudlow and Varney & Company. Meanwhile, Fast Money Halftime Report ranked as July’s most-watched business news program with an average audience of 269,000 viewers.
What the Numbers Show:
Total Day Viewership
Network
July 2026
CNBC
114K
Fox Business Network
107K
Business Day (9:30 AM – 5:00 PM)
Network
July 2026
CNBC
222K
Fox Business Network
209K
Market Hours (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Network
July 2026
CNBC
229K
Fox Business Network
204K
What Remains Unclear: As these figures are just linear television viewing, the data doesn’t reveal how streaming consumption or digital platforms affected each network’s overall audience.
What It Means: CNBC’s July performance reinforces its leadership across the business news landscape, especially during trading hours when investors actively follow market coverage. Even so, Fox Business Network continues to demonstrate competitive strength with several highly rated signature programs. As earnings season, Federal Reserve decisions, and market volatility continue to shape viewer habits, both networks remain positioned to compete for an audience that values live financial news throughout the trading day.
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Karl Ravech lives on ESPN, at least temporarily. He returned to the booth Thursday, just over a week after being laid off to call the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals game on ESPN.
What We Know: Ravech spent 33 years at ESPN, becoming a fixture of its baseball coverage. Last week, the network let him go alongside NFL analyst Ryan Clark, anchor David Lloyd, contributor Cam Newton, analyst Stephania Bell, insider Tom Pelissero among many others. Those cuts stemmed from Disney’s broader layoffs tied to its NFL Network acquisition. Despite that, Ravech called Thursday’s Braves-Nationals game and is set to work the August 12 Yankees-Mariners game, plus Little League World Series coverage according to The Athletic.
What They Said: ESPN confirmed that Ravech will have additional assignments with the network this year via Awful Announcing.
What Remains Unclear: Whether these summer assignments fall under Ravech’s original contract is still unknown. ESPN hasn’t detailed exactly how many games he’ll call before the arrangement ends.
What It Means: It’s hard to fathom this on both ends for ESPN and Ravech. It’s simply not a good look for a network to cut an employee. Then to have have that employee appear on the network with no reason given. Moreover, Karl Ravech’s situation reflects how messy ESPN’s layoff rollout has become this cycle. It is a credit to Ravech to accept the work despite knowing his future with the network is likely done. For Ravech, it means one final stretch calling the sport that defined his 33 years. Going forward, though, his ESPN chapter appears to be closing for good.
The supposedly laid off Karl Ravech is in the booth calling Braves-Nationals for ESPN tonight 🤨 pic.twitter.com/HieiM61kgE
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Forbes unveiled its 2026 highest-paid podcasters list. Travis and Jason Kelce landed on the list at number seven with their New Heights podcast.
What We Know: The list ranks the top 20 highest-paid podcasters of 2026. New Heights, meanwhile, earned an estimated $35 million, according to Forbes. Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy followed close behind at $32 million. Additionally, Taylor Swift’s August 2025 appearance on New Heights set a Guinness World Record for concurrent podcast views on YouTube.
What They Said: Forbes explained its estimates track pretax earnings tied specifically to podcast work. However, the publication excluded shows broadcast live and later syndicated. It also excluded YouTube-only “internet creator” shows.
What Remains Unclear: Forbes didn’t specify how much of the Kelces’ $35 million came from Swift’s record-breaking episode. Additionally, the publication didn’t break down live event income versus platform fees. Many artists on the list, like Amy Poehler and the SmartLess trio, earn extra income elsewhere. Whether New Heights sees similar outside revenue wasn’t addressed.
What It Means: The Kelces’ ranking cements podcasting as a serious revenue stream for athletes, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Both Kelce brothers have turned their careers away from football into profitable enterprises. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s likely continued involvement continues fueling New Heights’ cultural relevance. As live events grow, expect the brothers’ earnings — and rank — to keep climbing. Especially when Travis Kelce decides he’s officially done with the NFL.
With streaming services entering the marketplace for shows, the lines between podcaster, TV host and internet creator have never been blurrier—and the paydays have never been bigger.
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