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NBC Super Bowl Advertising Inventory Almost Sold Out: Report

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NBC Super Bowl Advertising Inventory Almost Sold Out: Report

Media conglomerates hosted advertising professionals and prospective buyers at Upfront events across New York City last month, and it seems they are seeing significant return on investment. Brian Steinberg of Variety reported on Monday morning that indications point to advertisers having secured most of the inventory available for the upcoming Super Bowl LX broadcast on NBC. Earlier in the year, he had reported that NBCUniversal was looking for around $7 million for a 30-second advertisement during the championship game, something that would be on par with or slightly higher than what FOX initially looked for surrounding its broadcast last year.

Steinberg acknowledged that a buyer conveyed NBC informing advertisers earlier this month that immediate commitments to orders were necessary. If this was not going to be the case, the company would designate the advertisements to a list of waiting sponsors said to be growing. Steinberg added the perspective of another buyer, divulging that NBC had told some agencies it is “out of sale” for Super Bowl advertising berths. A media buyer suggested demand was at such a level that NBC may end up deciding to approach the league about allowing more commercial time for the event.

Comcast Corporation, the parent company of NBCUniversal, is entering the third season under its 10-year media rights deal with the National Football League reportedly worth $2 billion per annum. The Sunday Night Football broadcast property featuring play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico, analyst Cris Collinsworth and reporter Melissa Stark finished as the No. 1 show in prime time across all key metrics for a 14th consecutive year, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Games throughout the season averaged a total audience delivery of 21.6 million viewers, representative of its best viewership since 2015.

NBC Sports is preparing to broadcast its 20th season of Sunday Night Football in 2025 beginning with the kickoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4. In addition to NFL games, the sports division will also be airing Big Ten Conference football and National Basketball Association contests. The Super Bowl broadcast taking place on Sunday, Feb. 8 will coincide with presentations of NBA All-Star Weekend and the Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026. Sports properties will remain within the NBCUniversal portfolio despite the conglomerate creating Versant, a new spin company containing cable networks such as CNBC, USA Network and MSNBC.

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.

KFI-AM 640, KNX News Reporters Hit By Tear Gas During Los Angeles Protests

BNM Staff
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A series of protests took place in Los Angeles on Sunday as residents shared their displeasure with ICE raids in the area. The events were covered by news/talk stations like KFI-AM 640 and KNX News, with their reporters being subjected to tear gas from military personnel in the process.

The National Guard and the California National Guard were called in to quell some of the protests as crowds began to gather.

Ultimately, tear gas and pepper spray were used to disperse protesters in the area. At the time, news reporters were on the scene and were also subjected to the chemical compounds.

At KFI-AM 640, reporter Micahel Monks was on the air when the gas was deployed. He later lost signal with his equipment and was forced to continue his reporting by utilizing his cell phone as a conduit between the studio and the scene in the streets.

KFI weekend host Chris Merrill later recapped Monks’ reporting and how afraid he was as the scene unfolded.

“I have to be perfectly honest with you, I was scared,” said Merrill. “I didn’t think he got murdered or anything, but I was scared for the guy. You lose a signal, I’m not there, I can’t see it, I have no idea what’s happening. So I’m left trying to tap dance a little bit. It’s what we do on the radio. Fortunately, I get a text message from Michael that said — this is a consummate news man — ‘Get me back on the air. Get me back.’ We’re trying to get his technical stuff figured out.”

Elsewhere, at KNX News, reporter Pete Demetriou was on location when the pepper spray was deployed. He noted that the size of the crowd had grown rapidly and things “went south, real fast.”

“Clouds of choking pepper gas spray were moving north … We got caught with it,” said Demetriou. “Got a heck of a dose. That sort of cut off my broadcast. I apologize to the audience for that. When your throat gets marinated with that stuff, it sort of chokes out your ability to talk, let alone breathe.

“People were grabbing bottles of water that they either had or were in cases on the street and were pouring on their face to get the pepper gas out of there,” he continued. “You can still smell it in the air. It saturated everything, the trees, the sidewalks. My clothes are probably going to need a very good dry cleaning. I don’t think I’m going to go home and wash them in the washer.”

Things between protestors and military personnel eventually calmed, but not before cars had been destroyed and what was reported as at least $750,000 in damage had been done.

Reporters for both KFI-AM 640 and KNX News showcased photographs from the streets.

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.

Dave Portnoy: Barstool Sports Should “Definitely Not” Have a Union

BSM Staff
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Dave Portnoy: Barstool Sports Should “Definitely Not” Have a Union

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy recently sat down for an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition. While the discussion primarily focused on Barstool Sports and its talent’s role within the term “Barstool conservatism,” the conversation also touched on labor issues. Although Barstool holds home locations in New York City and Chicago, the topic of unions was raised by Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep.

In response, Portnoy recalled a 2019 incident in which he threatened to fire Barstool Sports employees who discussed forming unions. This move prompted New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to publicly comment on the matter. Nevertheless, Portnoy reiterated his stance during the NPR interview, stating that he still does not believe Barstool Sports employees should form a union.

“We definitely shouldn’t have a union. You know what our union is? Talent,” said Portnoy to NPR. “We pay great and if you’re great. I look at us like an athletic team. If you are a great player, and we sign you a two-year contract, at the end you’ll have the option. You can go get more money, because we can’t pay you. You stay with us, and we pay you. Talent for us, we’re in a talent business, so talent pays. We pay well. We do well. If you look at the history of our company, almost nobody leaves. We don’t fire everybody. So, we absolutely do not need to have a union.”

Although Portnoy has faced criticism for his comments on unions—which he has insisted were intended as jokes—he maintains that the Barstool model has consistently worked in favor of its talent.

“Look at the people have come and gone. Alex Cooper left Barstool and made 70 million from Spotify. McAfee got about 100 million at ESPN. Bussin’ with the Boys, the podcast just got 60 million from FanDuel. I don’t fire people,” said Portnoy. “I find it interesting. All the companies that killed us for that debacle, they all have unions and their people all have been laid off and gone out of business. We haven’t. We’re thriving and have been for 20 years and people love working Barstool.”

Furthermore, Barstool Sports recently expanded its operations, moving to its Chicago content factory in November 2023, while also retaining its New York City office. The company currently employs over 1,000 people and ranks as the top influencer on social media among the 18–34 demographic.

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. 

Music Radio Mourns Kickin Country 92.5’s TJ Phillips

BMM Staff
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Music Radio Mourns Kickin Country 92.5’s TJ Phillips

Music Radio is mourning the loss of Kickin Country 92.5 Charleston, SC morning show host TJ Phillips. Phillips died over the weekend at the age of 66.

Phillips had been a morning host in the area for more than 30 years.

Charleston Media Solutions’ Paul O’Malley announced the news, saying, “TJ Phillips was more than a morning DJ. He was an immensely talented broadcaster, but also a veteran who proudly served his country, a man who constantly tried to make the lives of others better, and a friend who will be greatly missed.”

The station’s Facebook post included, While the word ‘legend’ may be overused today, it does describe TJ Phillips. In addition to being inducted into the Lowcountry Music Hall of Fame for his support of the local music community, Phillips was voted Best Radio Personality by The Charleston City Paper and Mount Pleasant Magazine, Best Local Radio Show, and South Carolina Broadcasters Radio Show of the Year. Plus, he was a 16-time Addy Award winner in the area of Audio/Feature/Commercial production & Copywriting.

Phillips had been part of the “TJ & Jessica Morning Show since 2016.

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. 

KOA 850 Renames Studio After Retiring Kathy Walker

BNM Staff
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KOA 850 Renames Studio After Retiring Kathy Walker

Kathy Walker spent 35 years at KOA 850. As she departed for semi-retirement last week, Walker received a gift from the iHeartMedia Denver news/talk station.

KOA announced that it would rename its news studios in honor of Walker to commemorate her time with the station and the dedication she showed the market during her tenure.

“Thank you. I’m very grateful,” Walker said in a video published to social media by the brand.

Walker noted that her rough estimate shows she had written 35,000 stories for the station’s newscasts during her career.

In addition to naming the news studios in honor of Kathy Walker, the station gave its outgoing news director a suite at a Colorado Rockies game of her choosing, as well as airfare to travel to see a Rockies series in the city of her choice.

Walker is transitioning away from her full-time role as News Director to drop down to part-time after spending 35 years with the station. iHeartMedia has announced that Rob Dawson has been named as her replacement as News Director of the Rocky Mountain Region for its 24/7 News service.

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.

Bill Plaschke Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

BSM Staff
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Bill Plaschke Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Bill Plaschke, a longtime columnist for the Los Angeles Times, announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago after complaining of weakness in his right arm. The award-winning sportswriter has kept the diagnosis secret, but he explained that he has to take significant amounts of medication during Los Angeles Dodgers baseball games and also works out at a gym in Los Angeles. The disease has affected his ability to smile, his speech and mobility as well, but he has continued to persevere through the trials and tribulations.

Plaschke articulated that the irony through this situation is that he has spent his career writing about athletes who have overcome hardships. Furthermore, he admitted that it is not easy and now understands what the subjects within the feel-good stories understood regarding the truth behind his positive language. Amid his career writing for the newspaper, Plaschke has chronicled star athletes in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, some of whom include Kobe Bryant, Shohei Ohtani and LeBron James.

“Degenerative disease sucks beyond any inspirational adjective,” Plaschke said. “Incurable illness stinks beyond any hopeful headline. I’ve got Parkinson’s, and it hurts to even say it. I’m still mobile, still active, I don’t have the trademark tremors that distinguish the famously afflicted Michael J. Fox or the late Muhammad Ali but, damn it, I’ve got it.”

In addition to his work with the Los Angeles Times, Plaschke was also a panelist appearing on Around the Horn. The weekday sports debate program recently concluded a 23-year run on television, and he took part in its final episode alongside writers from across the United States. Yet he admitted that his bosses did not know about his condition and decided against revealing his diagnosis publicly.

In fact, he felt embarrassed and humiliated because of the disease causing implications of frailty and weakness, but he was inspired by his boxing classmates to divulge his situation. Exercise and movement help slow the progression of Parkinson’s, a disease that about 1 million people have in the United States, and he partakes in 75-minute sessions that he recognizes work to quiet the condition.

“I leave that gym sweaty and sore but uplifted with the reminder that I am blessed to still lead a wonderful active life filled with family and friends and work and travel and so, so much hope,” Plaschke wrote. “I have Parkinson’s. But, by God, it doesn’t have me.”

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.

ABC News Suspends Terry Moran After Social Media Post Directed at Donald Trump, Stephen Miller

BNM Staff
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ABC News Suspends Terry Moran After Social Media Post Directed at Donald Trump, Stephen Miller

A social media post about President Donald Trump and advisor Stephen Miller has landed ABC News correspondent Terry Moran in hot water. He’s now been suspended by the network.

On social media, Moran labeled Trump and Miller as “world-class” haters, stating that they’re both filled with hatred.

“The thing about Stephen Miller is not that he is the brains behind Trumpism,” Moran wrote. “Yes he is one of the people who conceptualized the impulses of the Trumpist movement and translates them into policy. But that’s not what’s interesting about Miller. It’s not brains. It’s bile. Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He’s a world-class hater. You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate. Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred is only a means to an end, and that end is his own glorification. That’s his spiritual nourishment.”

The post from Moran was published to the X social media platform just after midnight on Sunday. By 11 AM ET Sunday morning, ABC News had announced it had suspended Moran for the post.

“ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others,” a statement from the network reads. “The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.”

Moran had subsequently deleted the post before the suspension from ABC News was announced.

Terry Moran serves as the senior national correspondent for ABC News. He has been at ABC News since 1997. He served as the network’s Chief White House Correspondent from 1999 to 2005, before becoming the co-anchor of Nightline. After exiting the late-night news program in 2013, he became the network’s Chief Foreign correspondent, before assuming his current role in 2018.

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.

Warner Bros. Discovery Splits Into Two Wings Of The Company

BSM Staff
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Warner Bros. Discovery Splits Into Two Wings Of The Company

Warner Bros. Discovery announced Monday plans to split the media conglomerate into two separate entities, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The two portions of the company will separate the traditional television wing from the streaming and content production wing. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal reports that company CEO David Zaslav will remain in his current role with the streaming and content production portion, while Gunner Wiedenfels, the company’s CFO, will lead the traditional television wing.

According to a memo to Warner Bros. Discovery staff obtained by the WSJ, Zaslav felt confident in the decision to split into two entities.

“By bringing together the Discovery and Turner networks, we have created a leader in live and unscripted television, with a truly global footprint operating at industry-leading margins,” wrote Zaslav. “We’ve transitioned our direct-to-consumer offering, as HBO Max is now one of the world’s few global and meaningfully profitable streaming services. And by fusing creative brilliance with operational excellence, we have made strong progress in returning our film and television studios to industry leadership.”

David Zaslav, who currently serves as the chief executive officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, will be leading the streaming and studio business, which will include the HBO Max streaming platform and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group. This branch of the business will also contain Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios and studio production facilities located in Burbank and Leavesden. With Zaslav at the helm, the company aspires to build on global momentum and accrue at least $3 billion in annual adjusted EBITDA.

Furthermore, the WSJ reports that the traditional television wing will be home to CNN, TNT, TBS, and Warner’s dozens of cable channels, as well as its international holdings. Temporarily, that wing will be called Global Networks and will hold as much as a 20% stake in the second streaming wing, which Warner is referring to as Streaming & Studios.

Gunnar Weidenfels, the chief financial officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, will be in charge of the global networks entity containing brands such as CNN, TNT Sports, Discovery and Bleacher Report. These assets accrue 1.1 billion unique views across 200 countries and territories, and the brand will continue to pursue opportunities for international growth and elevating content and sports and news. The sports portfolio itself is in a state of change with the recent acquisitions of Roland-Garros, Unrivaled Basketball and the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournament among other entities. TNT Sports recently completed its final live game broadcast of the National Basketball Association, although it will continue to produce episodes of Inside the NBA airing on ESPN platforms under a sublicensing agreement.

“This separation will invigorate each company by enabling them to leverage their strengths and specific financial profiles. This will also allow each company to pursue important investment opportunities and drive shareholder value,” Wiedenfels said in a statement. “At Global Networks, we will focus on further identifying innovative ways to work with distribution partners to create value for both linear and streaming viewers globally while maximizing our network assets and driving free cash flow.”

Moreover, it plans to use earnings from the streaming wing to pay off debt for the entire company.

“This evolution isn’t a departure from our strategy – to deploy MAX globally, optimize our global networks and return our studios to industry leadership – it’s about unlocking the full potential of two strong businesses,” said Zaslav via the memo to staff. “Each has a distinct focus, a clear mission, and the scale to success on its own terms. This next phase will create the conditions for both companies to grow with greater clarity, agility, and long-term strength.”

The announcement takes place just over three years after WarnerMedia and Discovery formally merged and occurs a few weeks after its credit rating was downgraded to BB+ status. The partition will occur by next year, with the company itself expecting to complete this tax-free transaction by the middle of 2026.

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.

The Best Shows on Amazon Prime this Year

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The Best Shows on Amazon Prime this Year

Amazon Prime Video continues to solidify its position as a major player in the streaming wars, and 2025 is proving to be a banner year for the platform. With a diverse slate of returning champions and exciting new debuts, there’s something to captivate every type of viewer. From gritty action thrillers to laugh-out-loud comedies and epic fantasies, let’s dive into some of the best shows gracing our screens on Amazon Prime this year.

Returning Favorites Making a Big Splash

Several beloved series are back with new seasons in 2025, much to the delight of their dedicated fan bases. The action-packed “Reacher,” starring Alan Ritchson as the formidable Jack Reacher, returned for its third season. This season sees Reacher going undercover to rescue an informant, promising more of the bone-crunching fights and sharp investigative work fans have come to expect.

The critically acclaimed animated superhero saga, “Invincible,” also made its return with a third season this year. Based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book series, the show continues to explore the complex life of Mark Grayson as he grapples with his immense powers and the legacy of his father. 

For those who enjoy a blend of humor and heart, the third season of “Harlem” premiered on January 23, 2025, continuing to follow the lives and friendships of four ambitious women in New York City. Additionally, the popular coming-of-age drama, “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” continues the story of love, heartbreak, and the magic of summer. Fans of Jeremy Clarkson’s agricultural adventures can also rejoice, as “Clarkson’s Farm” is back with its fourth season.

Exciting New Originals to Watch

Amazon Prime isn’t just relying on established hits; 2025 has also seen the launch of several promising new original series. “House of David,” which premiered on February 27, 2025, delves into the biblical story of King David’s ascent to power, offering a dramatic look at his journey navigating love, loss, and violence.

New comedy, “Wear Whatever The F You Want,” also debuted in 2025. For viewers who enjoy thrilling narratives, “The Better Sister,” a thriller based on Alafair Burke’s novel about two estranged sisters, launched on May 29, 2025. Drama enthusiasts can check out “Motorheads,” which premiered on May 20, 2025, telling the story of outsiders who bond over their love for automobiles.

Expanding Your Viewing Horizons

With such a wealth of content, ensuring you have the best streaming experience is key. For users who travel or want to access different regional libraries, Cybernews, the cybersecurity experts, has a guide to the best VPN for Firestick to enhance your viewing possibilities, allowing you to keep up with your favorite Prime Video shows from almost anywhere.

Other notable releases in 2025 include the docuseries “Earnhardt,” exploring the life of the NASCAR legend, and the second season of the adult animated comedy “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.” The variety continues with shows like “Dish It Out” and “Nine Perfect Strangers” Season 2 also slated for this year.

Whether you’re in the mood for established hits or eager to discover your next binge-watch, Amazon Prime Video in 2025 offers a compelling lineup that caters to a wide array of tastes. From epic battles and intricate plots to heartfelt stories and laugh-out-loud moments, the platform is delivering a strong year of television.

Simple Steps for a More Private Online Life

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Simple Steps for a More Private Online Life

With data breaches and privacy concerns on the rise, many internet users are looking for ways to enhance their online privacy. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to better protect your personal information and activity online. Here are a few easy things you can do to start taking control of your privacy.

Use Encrypted Browsing

One of the easiest ways to boost your privacy is to use an encrypted browser. Browsers like Firefox and Chrome have a “private browsing” mode that prevents the browser from saving your history, cookies, site data and searches. This keeps your online activity hidden from other users of your devices. Enabling this feature is as simple as clicking a button. For even more protection, you can download the Tor browser which routes your traffic through encrypted relays for anonymous browsing.

Utilize a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a must for shielding your identity and securing connections. VPNs route your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel. This hides your IP address so your online actions can’t be traced back to you. It also prevents snooping on public Wi-Fi networks. VPNs are easy to set up on your devices and provide a simple way to browse more privately from any location. Look for VPN providers that offer robust encryption and a no-logging policy. VPNpro, a consumer-focused cybersecurity website, is the place to go if you are looking for a VPN to access PornHub or watch your favorite shows from abroad.

Manage Your Passwords

Using weak or duplicate passwords leaves you vulnerable to security breaches. To lock things down, use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to generate and store strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts. Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible for an added layer of protection. This will require you to enter a code from your phone or authentication app when logging in from a new device.

Adjust Privacy Settings

Take time to review the privacy settings on your social media profiles, mobile devices and web services. Turn off location tracking services and limit ad targeting in your settings. Be selective in sharing personal information publicly. You can tighten down privacy on most accounts with just a few tweaks to your preferences and profile.

Use DuckDuckGo

Switch your search engine to DuckDuckGo, which doesn’t track your searches or build user profiles. Unlike Google, DuckDuckGo does not store your search history or IP address. Using it prevents search engines from linking queries to your identity. DuckDuckGo also offers a browser extension that blocks hidden trackers on websites.

Think Before Oversharing

Be careful not to overshare personal details online that could compromise your privacy or be used against you later. Don’t post your full birthday, address or phone number publicly. Be wary of answering security questions honestly. Avoid revealing travel plans on public social media posts. Always think twice before sharing anything sensitive that isn’t meant for public consumption.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Any account that offers two-factor authentication should have it enabled for stronger log-in security. Two-factor requires you to enter a temporary code from your phone when accessing an account from a new device. This prevents criminals from breaking into your accounts even if they steal your password. 

Following basic privacy best practices like using a VPN, encrypted browsing and password managers can go a long way in securing your online presence. Be proactive in limiting the digital trail you leave through search histories, location tracking and public posts. With a few simple habits, you can greatly enhance your privacy and anonymous browsing.

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