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WBT Programming to Depart 1110 AM After Move to 107.9 FM

BNM Staff
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WBT Programming to Depart 1110 AM After Move to 107.9 FM

WBT is making the move to 107.9 FM on Thursday. But, it is also departing the 1110 AM signal in the process.

As part of its announcement on Monday, the station revealed that it would remove the familiar Charlotte news/talk programming from the AM signal in January after it relocates to the 107.9 FM signal.

“That history is something that is near and dear to all of us, myself included, Marsha (Landess, Radio One Vice President and General Manager) included, all of you and everyone here listening,” said Program Director Mike Schaefer. “That brand, WBT, will continue. We will be the stewards of that history at 107.9 FM. Not going away, not going to be forgotten and will be talked about for the next hundred years, which is why we are making this move.

“As it regards to WBT AM 1110, we will continue as a company Radio One and Urban One will continue to proudly own and operate AM 1110 WBT,” Schaefer continued. “There’s no question about that. Please stay tuned for announcements coming on what that programming will be.”

Currently, WBT is heard on the 99.3 FM signal. That dial position is equipped with 7,700 watts of power and is licensed to Chester, South Carolina, which is roughly 50 miles southwest of Charlotte. Its signal covers the southern and western suburbs of the city, but struggles to penetrate Charlotte proper.

The 107.9 FM signal — which currently hosts the Mix 107.9 brand — features 100,000 watts of power, and is licensed to Charlotte. It is the most powerful signal at the Radio One Charlotte cluster.

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Former ESPN Exec Nate Ravitz Tabbed to Lead theScore

BSM Staff
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Former ESPN Exec Nate Ravitz Tabbed to Lead theScore

Former ESPN executive Nate Ravitz has announced he’s joining theScore to head up the digital endeavor.

Ratvitz previously spent 17 years working at ESPN. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Digital Content and Audience Expansion. He also worked as an editor and Senior Director of ESPN Now, as well as in the Premium and Fantasy divisions during his nearly two decades with the brand.

In a post on social media, Ravitz shared his excitement for the new endeavor.

“I’ve long admired what theScore has been able to build and achieve in the incredibly competitive landscape of mobile sports apps,” said Ravitz. “I couldn’t be more honored to join the team and build on that great legacy … We’re playing to win. Let’s go!”

At theScore, he’ll lead the company’s Media, ad sales, and growth initiatives for PENN Interactive’s media business. The outlet has more than 12 million social media followers and 4 million monthly active users. It is now also natively integrated with theScore Bet, the mobile sports book located in 21 U.S. states.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Nearly 75% of Streaming TV Subscribers Cut a Platform in Past Year Due to Rising Costs, New Data Shows

BNM Staff
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Nearly 75% of Streaming TV Subscribers Cut a Platform in Past Year Due to Rising Costs, New Data Shows

Many Americans looking to reduce monthly cable or satellite bills are also cutting back on streaming TV services, according to research from All About Cookies.

The digital privacy education site found that 74% of consumers canceled a streaming service in the past year because of rising prices or switched to a cheaper or ad-supported option.

The survey reported that Americans subscribe to an average of 3.4 streaming services. 27% of respondents subscribe to five or more services. The average monthly cost for streaming subscriptions is $48.13.

Traditional TV services have continued to decline. Less than one-third of Americans (30%) currently use cable or satellite. When asked if they regretted cutting the cord, 5% of respondents said they did.

The survey also examined how people watch television. 90% of respondents subscribe to paid streaming services, up 14% from 2024. Free streaming services are used by 58% of respondents, an increase of 15% from last year. Cable or satellite usage dropped 16% from 2024, standing at 30%.

18% of Americans report using an antenna and free broadcasts, up 3% from last year. The share of people who do not watch TV remained unchanged at 2%.

Among paid streaming platforms, Netflix and Prime Video led the market. 69% of respondents subscribe to Netflix, while 66% subscribe to Prime Video. Apple TV accounted for 15% of subscriptions, and YouTube TV 12%, according to All About Cookies.

The survey included 1,000 U.S. adults surveyed last month through Prolific. All respondents were older than 18, U.S. citizens, and completed the survey anonymously.

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Curt Menefee Leaving Local TV Job to Focus on FOX NFL Sunday

BSM Staff
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Curt Menefee Leaving Local TV Job to Focus on FOX NFL Sunday

Curt Menefee has been pulling double duty since 2024, working a morning show at WNYW in New York, in addition to his time leading FOX NFL Sunday. That’s about to change, however.

On Tuesday morning, Menefee announced he would not be returning to Good Day New York next year, ending his run with the FOX-owned local TV channel.

“January will be two years since I’ve been doing Good Day New York, but I’m not coming back in 2026,” Menefee said.

While he said he’s enjoyed his time working on the show, he admitted it has been a strain.

“It’s one of those things that has been a great time — you have been welcoming, the staff has been wonderful — but the back and forth has been a lot.”

Curt Menefee originally joined FOX Sports in 1997 as a sideline reporter. He was later elevated to the role of anchor of FOX NFL Sunday in 2007 after the departure of James Brown.

In addition to his job on the Sunday pregame show, Menefee has also worked as a play-by-play announcer for the network’s coverage of the NFL, USFL, and NFL Europe during his long tenure.

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The CW Will Be Profitable in 2026 Thanks to Sports Rights, Says Nexstar CFO

BSM Staff
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The CW Will Be Profitable in 2026 Thanks to Sports Rights, Says Nexstar CFO

The CW Network has become a player in the sports rights space, and that investment will help it become profitable in 2026, executives say.

In 2022, Nexstar Media Group took a majority ownership stake in the network, taking 75% ownership while CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery took on the remaining 12.5% stakes in the organization. At the time of the deal, executives projected that the network would be profitable in 2025.

During an appearance at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, Nexstar Media Group CFO Lee Ann Gliha was asked about the company’s profitability projections.

“We’re getting there,” Gliha said. “We started with a very, very negative business, and quarter after quarter, year after year, have been improving it.”

She noted that the network has more than halved its programming costs.

Since the investment by Nexstar Media Group into The CW, the network now owns rights in college football and basketball, NASCAR, WWE, and LIV Golf. Sports programming now accounts for 40% of all content seen on the network, Gliha noted.

“We feel very proud of what we’ve done so far,” Gliha said of the network, adding that “the profitability discussion only tells you part of the story.”

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WBBM Names Glenn Marshall Evening News Anchor/Reporter

BNM Staff
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WBBM Names Glenn Marshall Evening News Anchor/Reporter

WBBM Newsradio has announced the appointment of Glenn Marshall as its new evening news anchor and reporter.

Previously, Marshall has worked in local television at WICS-TV in Springfield, NBC Boston and NECN in Boston, as well as at CBS46 in Atlanta. He originally began his career at NBC Chicago, rising from intern to news associate.

In a statement, Marshall shared his excitement about joining the Audacy Chicago all-news brand.

“Chicago made me,” said Marshall. “I listened to WBBM Newsradio as a kid and dreamed of one day being part of the voices that inform this city. Now I get to continue telling the stories that matter to the neighborhoods I know and love,” said Marshall.

“I am proud to join the team and shine a light on the issues and victories that shape our communities every day. Thanks to Craig Schwalb, Kevin Cassidy, and everyone at Audacy for this opportunity,” Marshall concluded.

“Glenn’s combination of experience, authenticity and professionalism will immediately strengthen our afternoon reporting and bring a recognizable, trusted voice to our evening anchoring,” added WBBM Newsradio Brand Manager Craig Schwalb. “We’re excited to welcome Glenn and see the impact he will have on our newsroom and the Chicago audience.” 

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Bill Simmons: ESPN Completely Misunderstood What Made Max Kellerman Good

BSM Staff
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Bill Simmons: ESPN Completely Misunderstood What Made Max Kellerman Good

Max Kellerman is set to launch a new video podcast in conjunction with Rich Paul and Bill Simmons, which The Ringer founder is clearly excited about.

Kellerman has been largely silent in the two years following his exit from ESPN. But in the announcement of his new program, he took shots at his former First Take co-host, Stephen A. Smith, which led to the ESPN analyst responding on his podcast.

However, Simmons is backing up his new colleague.

In a statement to Vanity Fair, Bill Simmons heaped praise on Max Kellerman while throwing shade at ESPN.

“It’s so rare to find unique, thoughtful sports voices who can thrive as a solo act or with someone else,” Simmons said. “They completely misunderstood why he’s good, which is par for the course for ESPN, by the way.”

Bill Simmons has a long history of criticizing ESPN. He worked at the network for 14 years before his high-profile 2015 exit from the organization.

The first episode of Game Over, featuring Kellerman and Paul, debuted on Tuesday.

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Mark Schlereth to Skip Bayless: Your Football Opinions Have Proven to Be Ridiculous

BSM Staff
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Mark Schlereth to Skip Bayless: Your Football Opinions Have Proven to Be Ridiculous

Mark Schlereth spent 12 years playing in the NFL. His analysis carries a little bit more weight than most, and he’s putting that on display while sparring with Skip Bayless.

After Bayless called for the firing of Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski for pulling Shedeur Sanders off the field during a pivotal two-point conversion on Sunday, Schlereth poked holes in the argument.

Schlereth began his critique of Bayless’ stance by saying “with all due respect” and calling the commentator “my brother”, before pointing out why the former FS1 and ESPN analyst was incorrect.

He concluded by pointing out that Skip Bayless has had plenty of incorrect opinions over the course of his career. Mark Schlereth said he required any opinion from Bayless to be taken “with a grain of salt.”

“When it comes to your football opinion, this is the issue I have – you thought Johnny Manziel was gonna be a superstar. You are on record saying he was gonna change the league,” Schlereth said. “You thought Tim Tebow was gonna change the league. You thought he was the answer at quarterback. So, when it comes to your quarterbacking opinions and your football opinions, I’m out. No, thank you. Because they have proven over the course of time to be ridiculous.”

Mark Schlereth had extra insight into the Cleveland Browns’ decision-making in the game, due to his serving as the color analyst on the NFL on FOX broadcast.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Jay Weber to Depart Mornings on 1130 WISN for New Podcast

BNM Staff
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Jay Weber to Depart Mornings on 1130 WISN for New Podcast

Jay Weber has been with 1130 WISN for 35 years, hosting mornings for the past 18. That will end in 2026, however, as he’s moving to a new podcast format.

Weber will end his daily morning show at the end of the month. At a yet-to-be-determined date, only labeled as “Spring 2026” by the company, he’ll begin a twice-weekly iHeartPodcast.

Additionally, he’ll continue to serve as a contributor to WISN programming and initiatives.

“It has been an incredible honor to wake up Wisconsin for the past 35 years, and I’m grateful to every listener who has made this show part of their morning routine,” said Weber.  “I’m not retiring — just shifting formats — and I’m excited to continue the conversation in a new twice-weekly podcast.”

“Jay Weber has been one of the best talk show hosts in America for a long time,” said 1130 WISN Program Director Jerry Bott. “He’s built a bond of trust and credibility with his listeners, and after 35 years on the daily morning clock, transitioning to a twice-weekly podcast is much-deserved while still delivering for his loyal listeners.  We fully support Jay with his decision and are proud to help him continue his legacy on the iHeart podcast platform.”

Currently, Jay Weber hosts the highest-rated morning drive show in Wisconsin. The station did not announce who would replace Weber when he departs.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

KOLA 99.9 Afternoon Host Vic Slick Announces Retirement

BMM Staff
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KOLA 99.9 Afternoon Host Vic Slick Announces Retirement

KOLA 99.9 afternoon host Vic Slick is set to retire after 31 years with the Inland Empire classic hits station.

Slick joined KOLA in the early 1990s and has remained a consistent presence in afternoons, hosting from 2-7 PM.

His departure marks the end of a run that began when he first arrived at the station after years of listening to Inland Empire radio and pursuing a career that started as a childhood goal.

“Ever since I was 8, I’ve wanted to be on the radio,” said Slick. “Growing up in the Inland Empire, I listened to KMEN, KFXM, KRLA, and KHJ. My heroes growing up were Wolfman Jack, Casey Kasem, and the Real Don Steele. Working on the radio where I grew up? Totally a dream come true. And, combining my radio career with my love of classic car shows? Can’t get any better than that. The Inland Empire has been amazing to me, and I’m so thankful.”

Station leadership reflected on the career of Vic Slick and his tenure at KOLA.

“It has been an absolute pleasure and an honor to have worked side-by-side with Vic for the past thirty-one years,” said KOLA GM Jeff Parke. “He was already a legend when we hired him, and he has remained a legend the whole time he’s been with us at KOLA. It will be very hard to lose Vic, not just as a diligent, loyal broadcasting professional, but also a dear friend who I’ll miss every day. I wish Vic all the best in his retirement.”

“Vic has spent thirty-one incredible years doing what he does best, connecting with listeners in the Inland Empire,” KOLA 99.9 Program Director Gary Springfield said. “He is the best of all of what KOLA represents to the community. His impact is immeasurable, and his presence will be deeply missed by our team and our listeners.”

His final day on the air will be Friday, December 12th.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

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