Salem Media has announced it has inked a contract extension with AM 560 The Answer morning host Dan Proft.
Dan Proft will continue to host morning drive at the Salem Media Chicago news/talk station after inking the multi-year extension that takes him through the end of 2027.
Proft has spent the past decade leading the daypart, after previously working at WLS-AM 890 in the Windy City.
“I’m excited to extend my run on Chicago’s Morning Answer, and I am honored to be trusted with such an important platform during these turbulent times,” said Dan Proft. “Nothing short of the future of the United States and Western civilization, by extension, is on the line, and I’m humbled to be able to lend my voice to the fight. I want to thank AM 560’s management, along with our loyal, intelligent listeners and our accomplished and thoughtful guests, for their ongoing support.”
“The combination of Dan Proft’s intellect and his exceptional interviewing skills is why he’s the best morning radio host in Chicago,” said Salem Chicago Regional Vice President and AM 560 The Answer General Manager John Gallagher. “His knowledge of the issues that affect the people of Illinois is unmatched. This contract extension solidifies the Chicago Morning Answer brand and the top conservative talk radio line-up in the nation.”
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After 22 years working alongside Jim Kerr in morning drive on Q104.3, Shelli Sonstein won’t return to the New York classic rock station.
On Thursday morning, Kerr announced that Sonstein has decided to step away from the show permanently after stepping away in September following the death of her daughter. Throughout the announcement, Kerr fought off tears as he spoke glowingly of his longtime partner.
“The day before yesterday, Shelli told me that she had decided to step away from our show, and from Q104.3,” said Kerr. “Now, I’ve spent the better part of 49 years in a small room like the one I’m in right now with Shelli. We have gone through some amazing experiences together, and we knew each other very well, but we also knew that you know us very well too. And Shelly, along with me, we’ve always really believed that you are friends, so please bear with me for just a little while, while we discuss early morning friendship.”
Kerr — who noted that he’s known his partner since 1977 — went on to speak passionately about Shelli Sonstein, noting her commitment to the show, the station, and the market as a whole during her illustrious career.
“It was a long run, it was an amazing run, and it was one for the books, filled with pages of things that make it all worthwhile,” Kerr concluded.
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WBAP midday host Casey Bartholomew has announced his departure from the Cumulus Media Dallas news/talk station.
Bartholomew joined the station in August 2022 after previously serving as the Program Director for KFRU-AM/FM in Columbia, Missouri. Previous stops include working at New Jersey 101.5, The Big 550 KTRS, 94.3 WSC, WDBO, and KFI, among others.
In a post on social media, Bartholomew shared that he was told on Wednesday that his program was ending.
“After almost 4 years, and raising the ratings over 300% in some areas, I was informed that I was leaving my job to pursue other opportunities,” Batholomew wrote. “I didn’t even know I was looking at other opportunities. I wanted to ask them what they were, but they got off the phone before I could. (Yes. They did it over the phone.”
The Casey Bartholomew Show aired from 9-11 AM. WBAP has not announced plans for the daypart following Bartholomew’s exit. Afternoon host James Parker handled the two-hour block after Barthlomew’s departure. Casey Bartholomew took over the timeslot that was previously occupied by Ernie Brown. He moved to the station’s morning show in 2022.
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NBC Sports play-by-play veteran Mike Tirico opened up about his series of Insights to Excellence segments with hall of fame basketball player Michael Jordan. He discussed viewer feedback, the interview approach, and the potential for future conversations.
The segments, which aired on NBC Sports’ return to coverage of the NBA, offered a rare look at Jordan’s perspective on the game, his business interests, and his enduring connection to basketball. Tirico described the interviews as a unique opportunity to explore Jordan’s mindset beyond the headlines and highlight his continued passion for the sport.
“My takeaway was how much he cares about the games. He still loves the game, and in some regards, doesn’t love some of the direction of the game. He wanted to talk about it. So it was a great forum,” Tirico said on The SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina.
He acknowledged that while the segments might not have answered every fan question, the value of hearing Jordan’s perspective firsthand was undeniable. “Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not. Was it better than not having Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was.”
On the possibility of additional interviews, Tirico admitted there are no additional interviews currently scheduled. However he remained optimistic for another opportunity if Jordan grants it.
“Nothing scheduled as of now that I know of, but it is a possibility. I hope there’s something else after it. Michael was awesome,” he said. He framed the segments as more than just routine interviews,. By emphasizing the trust Jordan placed in NBC Sports to discuss topics rarely explored in the media.
Tirico also outlined his approach to the conversation, noting the breadth of Jordan’s interests both on and off the court.
“Michael still has so many business interests in the game with a piece of the Hornets, and obviously his involvement with brand Jordan,” Tirico said. “There’s a ton of topics you’d love to get to, of course. But Michael really wanted to talk about where he sees the game right now. We haven’t heard a lot of that. So it was interesting, it was fun, and it was good perspective.”
He expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to work with Jordan, highlighting the rarity of such candid dialogue. Jordan was a big piece of NBC Sports’ announcement back in May of last year when the network rolled out their coverage plans for their new rights agreement.
“Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something that he hasn’t done in a long time. Talk about where the game is right now, and there’s a few more to come that will still be Pitch Perfect for the moment,” Tirico teased. He added that the segments were designed to provide thoughtful insight rather than chase the latest headlines, noting that media often focuses on minutiae rather than broader context.
Since the segments aired, reactions from viewers and commentators have ranged from enthusiastic to cautiously curious, reflecting both the public’s reverence for Jordan and the uncommon format of the interviews. Tirico hopes the series encourages fans and aspiring professionals alike to reflect on principles of leadership, passion, and excellence.
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WFAN, the flagship sports radio station in New York, has officially ended its longstanding 20/20 score and news updates, a move Market Manager Chris Oliviero described as a necessary evolution in an era of changing technology and audience habits.
Speaking on The Main Event With Andrew Marchand podcast, Oliviero explained the reasoning why WFAN made the move was due to shifts in how audience consumed information.
“WFAN may be the last broadcast sports radio station still doing the typical updates,” explained Oliviero. “We recognized technology had changed. Information and scores could be readily available on other platforms, and people were coming to us for the opinions, etc. So we did stop doing them.”
The end of the 20/20 sports updates that had been a long standing utility for the station was another change that began with the return of Craig Carton to WFAN earlier this month. As the final days of WFAN’s 2025 calendar happened, many longtime update anchors on WFAN announced their upcoming departures from the station. Erica Herskowitz and Rich Ackerman were among several other names that announced their departures from their update anchor role.
The decision, Oliviero noted, allowed the station to reallocate resources in ways that better reflect modern audience expectations.
“We reinvested those dollars in off-air staff that’s driving our video, video producers, social producers. So to me, that’s what any smart business has to do. You have to start to shift your resources. So we thought it was better to do that,” he explained.
The station has been expanding its digital footprint, including video content and social media engagement, areas that now receive more attention thanks to the change.
While the move breaks from decades of tradition, Oliviero framed it as part of WFAN’s commitment to long-term relevance.
“WFAN is going to be 40 in 2027. That’s a long, solid, four-decade run of success,” he said. “You’re not going to have success over multiple decades if you just keep doing the same thing and you’re not confident enough to evolve.”
Oliviero also emphasized that embracing change is essential for any brand seeking longevity.
“If you want to freeze us in time and say, ‘We have to be the same brand that we were in ’87 and ’97 and ’07,’ guess what usually happens to brands like that? They go out of business, right? In any industry. You can talk Blockbuster, you could pick your favorite business analogy. We have to evolve,” he said.
WFAN’s shift away from hourly 20/20 updates reflects a broader trend in sports media, where stations are balancing traditional on-air formats with digital-first strategies to reach audiences on multiple platforms. By investing in video and social production, the station hopes to maintain its relevance among listeners who increasingly access scores and highlights online.
Why no more 20/20 updates? What's up with the overnights?
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Fox Weather has announced it has added meteorologist Melanie Black as an on-air host, based at the platform’s headquarters in New York City.
“We are very excited to welcome Melanie to our FOX Weather family,” said Fox Weather President Sharri Berg. “Her years of reporting experience in different climates across the country will prove to be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow our best-in-class weather news service.”
“I’m honored that FOX Weather entrusts me to report the important weather stories to viewers across the country each and every day,” Melanie Black added.
Black, who begins her duties today, has previously worked as a weekend morning meteorologist for the past three years at WDHD 7News in Boston. Other previous stops include working in Sacramento, Tucson, and Joplin.
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Former CNBC reporter Perry Russom is joining ABC News and ABC7 as a New York-based correspondent for the network.
Russom previously worked for ABC News as a Washington, D.C.-based reporter, where he covered major national and international stories.
He joined the network after previously working at CNBC. During his tenure with the business network, he covered a wide array of topics, including the humanitarian crisis at the Ukraine-Poland border, the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida.
In addition to his work for ABC News, Perry Russom will also serve as the morning co-anchor of the weekend editions of Eyewitness News on ABC7 in New York. He will anchor the program alongside Michelle Charlesworth.
Earlier stops in his career include time spent in Boston, Providence, and Binghamton. His first job in the news media was working as a desk assistant at KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia when he was only 18 years old.
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The 2026 election cycle is off to a hot start, as political advertising for mid-term campaigns and issues has already surpassed $1 billion, according to AdImpact.
The figure represents spending from broadcast television and radio, cable, digital, satellite, and connected TVs.
Issue-based spending has helped the figure grow, with more than $104 million spent on healthcare-related issues, while immigration advertising has reached more than $75 million. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has spent more than $74 million alone, according to AdImpact data.
Digital advertising has received the largest share of any medium thus far. It has earned 34% of all political advertising to this point. Connected TV has secured 22% of the political marketing, while cable is just behind at 21%. 19% of the election cycle spending has been earmarked for broadcast television, with terrestrial radio only receiving 3% of the overall spend.
When split by party affiliation, 32% of all political advertising placed has been for Republican-backed issues and candidates, while Democrats have spent 27%. 41% of the spending tracked by AdImpact has been placed by independent groups and advocates.
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FuboTV Inc. and Hoops HQ announced the premiere of The Hoops HQ Show with Seth Davis and Andy Katz, a new college basketball talk show airing on Fubo Sports Network, Fubo’s free ad-supported streaming TV channel.
The series will debut January 20 at noon ET. The program will feature a mix of breaking news, pre- and post-game analysis, betting tips, and insider commentary. Episodes will stream Tuesdays and Fridays, with full episodes also available on the Hoops HQ YouTube channel.
“I have known Andy Katz for more than 30 years. We have been friends and competitors, but now we are finally on the same team,” Davis says. “Andy and I couldn’t be more excited about joining forces for The Hoops HQ Show. We are going to bring our experience, our insight and most of all, our access, to deliver an insider’s perspective on college basketball.”
Hosted by veteran analysts Seth Davis and Andy Katz, the program aims to offer fans unparalleled access to the sport’s top figures. Guests will include current and former players, coaches, conference commissioners, media personalities, and even celebrity enthusiasts.
Davis, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Hoops HQ, has been a studio host for CBS Sports and Turner Sports’ March Madness coverage for more than two decades. He spent 22 years writing for Sports Illustrated and six years at The Athletic. During that time, he authored nine books, including multiple New York Times best sellers.
Katz, Hoops HQ’s senior correspondent, serves as lead analyst for the Big Ten Network and national correspondent for NCAA.com. He previously spent 18 years at ESPN and has covered every NCAA Final Four since 1992.
Fubo Studios head Pamela Duckworth said the network’s partnership with Hoops HQ is a natural extension of its growing sports portfolio.
“We have seen great success in launching and growing programming covering the dynamic world of basketball. Now it’s time to bring Hoops HQ into the fold at Fubo Sports Network,” Duckworth said. “Our fans are hungry to hear from authentic voices with deep expertise across their favorite sports. Seth Davis and Andy Katz are acclaimed long-time college ball legends. We are proud to partner in bringing their show to life.”
The Hoops HQ Show will be accessible on a wide range of platforms. These include Amazon Prime Video, LG Channels, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, The Roku Channel, VIZIO WatchFree+, Tubi, Plex, TCL Channels, TCL Live TV, and Tablo TV. Fubo Sports Network is included in DAZN’s subscription packages and Fubo’s own bundles. These bundles aggregate more than 400 live sports, news, and entertainment networks.
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97.9 The Box announced the return of DJ J-Que to its Morning Drive lineup, beginning Monday, January 26. J-Que will take the lead on the station’s award-winning show Good Morning H-Town, joining longtime co-host JMac and rising talent Young Jas.
The move marks J-Que’s first Morning Drive role since 2017, when he was part of The Madd Hatta Morning Show. Afterward, he teamed with Houston radio veteran G-Man on The Afternoon Sauce, cementing his reputation as a versatile on-air personality.
“J-Que is a true team player who makes everyone around him better,” said Yonni Rude in a statement, Program Director of 97.9 The Box. “His off-the-cuff humor combined with the personalities of JMac and Young Jas is like assembling the Avengers of morning radio—ready to save H-Town from the most stressful part of the day: the morning commute.”
Alongside his hosting duties, J-Que continues to serve as Assistant Program Director and Music Director for 97.9 The Box.
J-Que’s return is part of a larger strategy by KBXX to strengthen its morning programming, a time slot considered critical for building listener loyalty and driving ratings.
Beyond the microphone, J-Que has developed a notable presence as a tastemaker, influencer, and brand partner. His collaborations span high-profile companies. These partnerships highlight his reach not only within music and entertainment but also in marketing and brand engagement.
Listeners can tune in to Good Morning H-Town weekdays beginning January 26 to hear J-Que alongside JMac and Young Jas, as the trio navigates music, culture, and the daily chaos of morning commutes.
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