Home Blog Page 92

When Sports Get Pricy, Political Influence Shouldn’t Be a Safety Net for Networks

John Mamola
-
0
When Sports Get Pricy, Political Influence Shouldn’t Be a Safety Net for Networks

I’ve never been a fan of the intersection of sports and politics. Every time partisanship entered the sports arena, I shunned the discussion. It didn’t matter which party, person, or issue was involved. Sports are meant to provide an escape from the realities of day-to-day life, where we share in the viewing experience and embrace the community sports provide.

However, as I’ve aged, that’s changed. It’s hard to go more than a day or two without some political angle making its way into the sports ecosphere. The latest example involves broadcast network owners currying favor with the political establishment to secure what they believe is best for business. FOX owner Rupert Murdoch meeting with President Donald Trump during a reported dinner in February is the latest example.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Murdoch met with Trump to raise concerns about the NFL’s rights deals with streaming companies. The report states that Murdoch argued the prospect of streamers (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) acquiring more games had the potential to “kill broadcast networks.”

Kill broadcast networks? Is that a little much? Keep in mind, this is the same man who owns FOX News, which has bathed in sensationalism for decades. Also, consider the source of the reporting. Murdoch owns The Wall Street Journal as well.

Taking that for what it’s worth, would losing the NFL to streaming companies truly kill broadcast networks?

Timing Is Everything

Using FOX Sports as an example, the company currently pays a reported $2.2 billion per season for NFL rights. Last September, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he was open to renegotiating the league’s television deals as soon as this year. The NFL season came and went, and by taking advantage of new measurement tactics through Nielsen Big Data + Panel, the league saw 10% growth in regular-season viewership.

Higher audiences give the NFL more leverage in pricing negotiations. It would with any league.

CNBC reported earlier this year that the NFL is seeking a 50% increase from CBS, now owned by Paramount Skydance. By the way, that’s a company that received approval for its purchase of CBS after making concessions to the current administration.

There’s politics again, but maybe that’s just business.

Then, months after discussions began with CBS, Goodell pushed back against claims that the league’s rights deals with streaming companies are “anti-consumer.” He told Vanity Fair that the majority of NFL games are still distributed through broadcast television and that streaming services are “incredibly widely distributed.”

“Netflix is not a small distribution. In fact, you can make an argument it’s bigger than some of the networks,” said Goodell.

Just days after that extensive Vanity Fair profile, news broke from the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal about a dinner with Trump regarding the NFL’s media rights with broadcasters.

In politics, timing is everything. You can read the tea leaves here. If one network executive can curry favor with the political establishment, why can’t another?

Oh, how I long for the days of just watching games again.

FOX Has Options

Now that the roadmap has been explained, does the Murdoch meeting with Trump say more about the NFL’s power or network television’s lack of creativity? When I worked in radio and we lost rights deals, we reinvested in programming and assets to attract the same audience or a larger one. When we wanted to retain rights, we examined the budget closely and reallocated resources to free up more money for franchise deals.

The NFL costs FOX $2.2 billion annually, easily its largest sports-rights expense. FOX doesn’t have the financial flexibility of streaming companies or even some broadcast competitors. Because of that, FOX CEO and executive chair Lachlan Murdoch said in February that the company could “rebalance” its sports portfolio.

“We have the ability to offset a portion of any kind of cost increases. Because we look at our sports portfolio as a whole. We would certainly consider balancing or rebalancing our portfolio as we move forward, when those opportunities become available. So we feel comfortable about the sports business.”

FOX currently has agreements with the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, FIFA, IndyCar, UFL, and the Big Ten Conference, among others. Could FOX survive without one or more of those properties to retain the gold standard of viewership the NFL delivers? Surely it could, That would also create opportunities for other networks and streaming platforms to enter the live sports business. See my recent discussion with CW Sports executives as an example.

The NFL is not keeping broadcast television alive by itself.

Yes, it remains the most-watched live programming available. But to suggest survival without it is impossible is laughable. NFL programming occupies roughly five months of the broadcast calendar year. It also overlaps with the NHL, NBA, college football and basketball, the MLB postseason, and numerous other live sporting events that networks still deliver to broadcast audiences.

If you want the most expensive car on the lot, and demand continues to rise, you’ll have to pay a higher premium. That’s smart business, not the death knell of the automobile industry for generations to come.

The Price of Doing Business

Like it or not, the NFL is in the driver’s seat. The league has every right to sell its product to whoever is willing to pay a reasonable price. As long as local markets maintain free access, which they have throughout this process on broadcast television, there should be no debate.

The reality is that this fight isn’t about preserving the sanctity of broadcast television. It’s about preserving leverage, control, and economics in a media landscape that no longer guarantees permanent dominance to any company. The NFL understands its value better than anyone else in sports, and it is operating accordingly.

If broadcasters want to remain major players in that future, the answer cannot simply be private dinners, political influence, or fear-based warnings about streaming destroying television. The answer has to be innovation, adaptation, and proof that they can still deliver value in a changing marketplace.

Because at some point, networks must stop acting like victims of disruption and start behaving like competitors within it. The audience has already evolved. The technology has evolved as well. Distribution models are changing in real time.

Network television can either evolve with it or spend the next decade blaming everyone else for why it didn’t.

And honestly, maybe that’s the most disappointing part of all this. Not that politics found its way into sports media once again, but that instead of competing for the future, some of the industry’s biggest power brokers seem more interested in lobbying against it.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Ron Keel: From 80’s Hair Metal to Music Mogul and Media Empire

Terrie Carr
-
0
Ron Keel: From 80’s Hair Metal to Music Mogul and Media Empire

Reinvention, rebranding, regrouping — no one embodies these words quite like rock legend Ron Keel. We hear them a lot these days. The changing landscape of the media business forces us to re-evaluate what we once knew. And how we once did things. We have been told “Change is good”, good perhaps, but not easy.

I’m always fascinated to have conversations with those who have a vision and can execute it. I’ve had some really interesting guests on my Carr Stereo Podcast since starting it in September of 2025. One of the most surprising and enterprising of the 50 episodes I’ve done is Ron Keel. Does the name sound familiar to 80’s rock fans?

Ron is the frontman for the band Keel, best known for their 80’s anthem “The Right To Rock.” They were one of the first hair bands played on MTV, and the network even used the band in their promotional trailers for years. Keel released seven albums.

Ron also took a stab at country music in the 90’s, which he still does successfully, and was christened “The Metal Cowboy.”

Inside Ron Keel’s RFK Media

What fascinated me most about Ron Keel was his 2022 pivot from singer to music mogul and his formation of RFK Media. It is a record label and multimedia company that not only releases his music and select reissues from his back catalog, but is also home to a slew of new bands, including Bad Marriage, Cold Sweat, Generation Landslide, and more.

RFK Media also hosts KRFK Radio, Ron’s personal station that delivers hair metal, new music, and syndicated music shows hosted by rock legends Dee Snider and Joe Elliott. RFK also released a movie in 2025 and a “Metal Cowboy” comic book. Lots to unpack. Why does Ron do it? Because he believes in it — the connection, the community, the creative process.

I loved stepping into “Keel World” for a chat with the Metal Cowboy. It was about rock, reinvention, and putting the fans first. And creating a home for bands to rock and be heard.

Ron Keel In His Own Words

*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*

Terrie Carr: Well, I talked to you just before we got going and I said you are like the king of reinvention. What aren’t you doing? You’ve got your own multimedia company, a podcast, a radio station, which I highly admire — that’s incredible. There are re-releases of your classic albums, and you’ve got comic books, your movie, your multi-vignette horror movie, and it’s super cool.

There’s just so much going on with you. I also want to touch on that picture behind you — “Ronnie Lee Keel” in your country days. It’s so funny because I remember that episode of VH1’s Where Are They Now? They kind of made fun of you! But think about it now. You were a visionary 30 years ago, thinking the rock world might move into another lane and that country was catching fire. You wanted to reinvent and be a part of it. Do you feel like you got the last laugh?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zFai8r8SYA

Ron Keel: Absolutely. My country career, my metal career, my rock career — all of those reinventions have been part of my personal and musical evolution. I’ve never subtracted anything. I just keep adding to my toolbox, my resume, and my body of work. I’m very proud of each phase and each era. To have been part of that 80’s Hollywood revolution with Keel and Steeler — two cornerstone hair bands of that era — was something special.

Going into the 90’s, I was wondering what to do next. The record deal was gone, No more beach house, no more sports cars. I had to sing, create, write songs, and entertain people. It was that simple. My urge to create and entertain is at the core of everything I do. In the early 90’s, the songs coming out of me were no longer about sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but about real life — emotions, heartbreak, chasing women, and drinking beer.

A lot of those common elements exist in 80’s metal too. So I embraced that art form and that format. I grew up in Georgia and moved to Nashville at 17, so country music was always close to me. And it wasn’t as simple as just putting on a hat. You don’t just put on a hat and suddenly you’re country. You don’t walk out into a rodeo arena full of 10,000 country fans and pretend. Because they’ll kick your ass, throw things at you, and you will not make it from the stage to the bus!

Terrie Carr: Your newest release, Keel World — I think there are so many facets of who you are as an artist. And none of this is a money grab for you. Just looking at your media company, RFK Media, I can tell these are labors of love. They sustain you not only as an artist, but as a human being and as a man.

“I work my ass off every day. I’ve done it for the last 50 years. And yeah, it’s a labor of love.”

Ron Keel: Well, I appreciate that — what a great compliment. And it is. But I think every job, and this is my job, involves making money. You go to work to get paid, right? I go to work and I work my ass off every day. I’ve done it for the last 50 years. And yeah, it’s a labor of love. I do it because I love it. I have a drive to create and entertain. But if it doesn’t make a profit, then it’s a hobby. Music has never been a hobby to me. It’s always been a way of life — my business, my job. It put my kids through college and paid the bills up to this present day.

I’m very thankful to have a life and career that has enabled me to pay the bills and use that revenue to fuel the creativity that drives me. And I think that’s a lesson for us all. When you feel something deeply and keep doing it, and someone tries to take it away from you, you’re going to say, “No — that’s not happening.” You’re going to find another way, and you’ll get just as much satisfaction, if not more, doing it at this phase in your life.

Want to learn more about Ron’s reinvention and RFK Media? They are always looking for talented artists for Ron’s record label. Check out my full chat with Ron Keel — Welcome to Keel World and RFK Media.

Keel — The Right To Rock

Full Carr Stereo Episodes — TerrieCarr.com

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Radio’s Missing Farm System: Why the Industry Stopped Developing Talent – and How to Fix It

Bethany Kent
-
0
Radio’s Missing Farm System: Why the Industry Stopped Developing Talent – and How to Fix It

For years, radio built talent from the ground up. Young personalities and future executives learned by doing. They learned by shadowing and observing. They worked overnights, weekends, and holidays.

Sometimes they made mistakes on smaller shifts. Most importantly, they had mentors who cared enough to coach them through those mistakes.

Radio once understood that process very well: Intern → Street Team → Overnight Shift → Weekends → Hit it big, kid!

Today, that farm system barely exists.

The Demand for Instant Stars

Instead, many stations want polished talent immediately. Companies expect finished products without investing in development. Everyone is juggling so many roles that finding time to mentor talent has become a genuine challenge. As a result, the pipeline continues to shrink.

Great talent rarely walks into a studio fully formed. Strong personalities need reps. They need feedback. They need airchecks. They also need room to fail before they succeed.

How the Pipeline Used to Work

Programmers used to scout younger talent aggressively. Overnight shifts served as training grounds. Weekend shows created opportunities for experimentation. Promotions departments often became launching pads for future on-air stars.

Ask almost any successful programmer or long-term on-air personality today, and they will have stories of driving station vehicles, setting up for remotes, and answering phones.

Now, many of those opportunities have disappeared.

What Killed the Farm System

Internship laws, while good in theory, did hurt the overall farm system. The pandemic made matters worse. Budget cuts changed staffing structures. Voice tracking reduced live shifts.

Additionally, social media raised pressure on talent to appear polished immediately. Fewer people now receive the chance to grow naturally on-air.

That creates a dangerous cycle. Fewer entry-level opportunities mean fewer future stars. Meanwhile, stations continue searching for personalities who can connect with audiences authentically — and that search grows harder every year.

The Industry Cannot Develop Talent Without Developmental Spaces

Baseball has the minor leagues. Many industries have paid internship programs for college students that pipeline young talent directly into entry-level roles. Television news still develops younger reporters in smaller markets.

Radio once operated similarly. Smaller shifts prepared talent for larger stages. Mid-sized markets prepared personalities for major cities. Strong programmers coached talent consistently along the way.

Today, many young personalities skip developmental steps entirely. Others leave the industry before getting meaningful opportunities.

Why Personality Still Matters More Than Ever

That loss extends beyond talent itself. Music radio thrives on personality. Listeners can find songs anywhere. Spotify delivers music instantly. TikTok drives discovery daily. Apple Music creates personalized playlists within seconds.

However, those platforms cannot replicate local connection. Great radio personalities create companionship. They create routine. They build emotional relationships with listeners over time. That kind of connection still matters deeply.

The Cost of Operating Without a Support System

Some of the strongest personalities in radio today benefited from mentors who challenged them early. Unfortunately, many younger personalities now operate without that support system. Some receive little feedback beyond ratings or social engagement metrics. Others juggle multiple responsibilities without guidance.

That approach hurts everyone involved. Programmers feel pressure to find standout personalities quickly. Younger talent struggles to understand how to improve meaningfully. Consequently, stations often settle for safe, interchangeable content.

Listeners notice the difference, especially younger ones. Last week I wrote about Gen Z listeners in Urban Radio wanting connectivity and authenticity, not perfection from talent.

What the Best Stations Are Still Doing Right

The stations that stand out today still invest in people. They create local content intentionally. They coach talent consistently. Moreover, they understand that personality development requires patience.

That patience matters more than ever. Music radio faces enormous competition. The industry cannot afford to sound generic. Strong personalities remain one of radio’s few true competitive advantages.

A Path Forward: Rebuilding the Mentorship Pipeline

Developing those personalities should become a priority again. Companies can create mentorship programs. These programs do not require massive budgets immediately, but they should not become a fifth job placed on someone’s plate without fair compensation.

It will require companies to commit time to outlining and executing a system that fairly compensates mentors and sets mentees up for long-term success.

Every great personality once sounded inexperienced. Every major talent once needed coaching. Nobody develops without opportunity.

Radio still has incredible young talent waiting to emerge. The industry simply needs to create pathways for growth again — because without a farm system, the future stars of music radio may never get the chance to become stars at all.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Newsmax Reports April Increases in Viewership, Revenue, and Digital Reach

Jason Barrett
-
0
Newsmax Reports April Increases in Viewership, Revenue, and Digital Reach

Newsmax says its audience growth continues accelerating across cable, streaming, digital and social media. The network points to expanded distribution and personality-driven programming as the catalysts for ratings momentum.

What We Know: Newsmax reported a 27% year-over-year audience increase in April, reaching 16.6 million viewers. The company also said Q1 2026 viewership climbed 29% versus Q4 2025. Additionally, over 7 million adults 35-64 tuned in during April. That demo remains critical for advertisers. Newsmax also surpassed 25 million social followers while expanding carriage through Hulu Live TV and other providers.

The company cited growth across several key programs below:

  • Wake Up America (+17%)
  • Finnerty (+11%)
  • Greg Kelly Reports (+9%)
  • Carl Higbie Frontline (+8%)
  • Rob Schmitt Tonight (+7%)

What They Said: “Our strategy is working. We are continuing to build audiences and engagement across every platform and for every audience. We have a tremendous foundation in the pay-TV ecosystem, and as ratings continue to grow, so do our cable affiliate revenues.” — Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax

What Remains Unclear: The company did not disclose raw audience averages for each individual show. Therefore, direct comparisons against Fox News, CNN, MS Now and NewsNation remain difficult. Newsmax emphasized percentage growth rather than total scale. Additionally, the network projects a 13% revenue increase for 2026. What that total number is and what it’s up against year-over-year isn’t clear.

What It Means: Newsmax continues evolving from a niche conservative outlet into a strong credible cable news competitor. With some larger competitors facing audience erosion, Newsmax continues to add viewers across multiple platforms. Moreover, its strategy appears clear: build around distribution expansion, strong conservative personalities and multiplatform engagement. However, Fox News still dwarfs Newsmax in overall audience scale and advertising power. Still, the network’s recent trajectory is becoming harder for the industry to dismiss.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

ESPN Extends Sports Digital, Social Winning Streak to 57 Months In March

John Mamola
-
0
ESPN Extends Sports Digital, Social Winning Streak to 57 Months In March

ESPN claimed the top spot in U.S. digital and social sports for March 2026 for a 57th straight month. The network reached 196.6 million unique fans, touching 70% of all U.S. adults.

What We Know: ESPN led every major digital category in March. Across ESPN Digital, YouTube, and social platforms, unique fan reach climbed 1% year-over-year. The network’s app drew 28.2 million unique users — more than the next eight non-ESPN apps combined. Meanwhile, social logged 566 million engagements, averaging over 18 million interactions daily. That marks 57 consecutive months atop the sports social rankings. Follower growth across social channels jumped 13% year-over-year, adding 71 million new followers.

What The Numbers Show: (via ESPN PR)

ESPN Social March 2026 (via ESPN Press)
ESPN Social March 2026 (via ESPN Press)

What Remains Unclear: Specific platform-by-platform breakdowns aren’t detailed in the data. It’s also worth noting ESPN.com hit 67 million unique visitors, up 3% YoY — but how that compares to app-based consumption trends remains an open question. Additionally, digital posted 92.1 million unique users and 5.8 billion total minutes, though month-over-month shifts for those figures weren’t provided.

What It Means: ESPN’s digital dominance continues to widen among it’s competitors. Reaching 89% of U.S. adults 18-44 signals the brand’s grip on the most coveted advertising demographic. Furthermore, 30 million completed Tournament Challenge brackets — a first-ever milestone — shows deep fan engagement beyond passive consumption. For competitors, the gap isn’t closing. It’s growing.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

KMJ Reviving Local History Series With Expanded Voices

Garrett Searight
-
0
KMJ Reviving Local History Series With Expanded Voices

Cumulus news/talk station KMJ has launched another local initiative that should be familiar to many Fresno-area listeners.

What We Know: KMJ is reviving a local vignette series about the biggest news stories and history makers in the Fresno area. Valley Legends: The Legacies Continue began airing earlier this week at 8:30 AM and 5:55 PM. The original series was researched by Cathy Rehart and narrated by former KMJ General Manager Al Smith. The series originated after Smith noticed an influx of those moving to the area and were unaware of the region’s history.

What They Said: “Sadly, both Al and Cathy have passed on, yet the station strongly felt that the best way to honor the contributions of Legends and Legacies would be to refresh the series — there are so many stories left to tell.” -KMJ

“Al and I both thought this would be about a 50-part series that might run for a year or two. And here we are 34 years later.” -John Broeske

What It Means: KMJ has long been committed to telling local stories and providing local content. This reinforces that commitment to the Fresno community. The series will connect local businesses and the legacy of many in the local sports and entertainment areas.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

YouTube Reportedly Could Be Without Any NFL Games This Season

John Mamola
-
0
YouTube Reportedly Could Be Without Any NFL Games This Season

Netflix is emerging as the NFL’s preferred streaming partner for a coveted five-game package. According to John Ourand of Puck, YouTube could walk away with nothing.

What We Know: YouTube had been in talks with the NFL to broadcast as many as five games in 2026. However, those negotiations have since stalled. Per Ourand’s report, Netflix could earn three of the five games instead. The remaining two are likely moving to a traditional network — ABC, CBS, FOX Sports, or NBC. Last season, YouTube’s lone NFL broadcast — the Chiefs-Chargers opener from Brazil — drew 19.7 million viewers globally after the platform revised an initially undercounted figure of 17.3 million due to a technical error.

What The Numbers Show: (NFL Regular Season Average Viewership 2025)

NetworkAverage NFL Regular Season ViewershipYear-Over-Year Change
CBS Sports21.252 million viewers+11%
FOX Sports19.633 million viewers+6%
NBC Sports (Sunday Night Football)23.5 million viewers+9%
ESPN (Monday Night Football)15.8 million viewers+9%
Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)15.33 million viewers+16%
Netflix (2 Games)27.5 million viewersN/A
YouTube (1 Game)18.5 million viewersN/A
NFL (Overall)18.7 million viewers+10%

What Remains Unclear: With the NFL schedule release coming next Thursday, it remains unknown whether YouTube will receive any games at all from this package. Additionally, which traditional network lands the remaining two games has not been confirmed. No official announcements from the NFL, YouTube, or Netflix have followed the Puck report.

What It Means: Everything comes down to who pays the most for the product. Netflix has been serious about their intentions into getting live sports on their platform for years. The NFL continues to take a look at what the platform has done with investments with MLB, the World Baseball Classic, and the WWE. In addition, Roger Goodell said in a Vanity Fair article about how Netflix is bigger than some network partners. It’s no accident that the league is looking to do more business with Netflix over YouTube, which already has the Sunday NFL Ticket package.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

ABC: FCC Isn’t Applying Equal Time Rule Fairly Between TV and Radio

Garrett Searight
-
0
ABC: FCC Isn’t Applying Equal Time Rule Fairly Between TV and Radio

ABC is launching its defense as the FCC begins its challenge to the owned and operated broadcast TV licenses.

What We Know: The FCC has called in a challenge to the broadcast licenses owned by Disney/ABC following comments made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. FCC chair Brendan Carr has argued that the network is not operating in the public interest. Those licenses weren’t up for renewal until 2028.

What They Said: “Some may dislike certain — or even most — of the viewpoints expressed on The View or similar shows. Such dislike, however, cannot justify using regulatory processes to restrict those views. The government does not get to decide ‘what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.’ Or which ‘ideas and beliefs [are] deserving of expression [and] consideration.’ The danger is that the government will simply decide which perspectives to regulate and which to leave undisturbed. In fact, while the Commission now questions The View’s decades-long exemption, it has not expressed any inclination to apply a similar interpretation of the equal opportunities rule to other broadcasters, including the many voices— conservative and liberal—on broadcast radio. -ABC lawyers in a filing to the FCC.

What Remains Unclear: The FCC hasn’t responded publicly to the insinuation that it is unequally applying the current rules.

What It Means: ABC is prepared to take on the FCC. By using the language it did, the network is making it clear it won’t cower in the face of pressure. The network is also attempting to showcase the precedent being set by the move from the FCC.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

iHeartMedia Names Michael Johnson Jr Sports/Talk Program Director New Haven, Hartford

John Mamola
-
0
iHeartMedia Names Michael Johnson Jr Sports/Talk Program Director New Haven, Hartford

iHeartMedia Hartford and New Haven has appointed Michael Johnson Jr. as Program Director for both markets. He assumes oversight of four sports and talk stations, effective immediately.

What We Know: Johnson takes the helm of Fox Sports 97.9, home of the UConn Sports Radio Network, NewsRadio 1410 (WPOP-AM), 960 WELI-AM, and Fox Sports 1300 (WAVZ-AM). He brings hands-on experience from Townsquare Media Albany, where he served as Brand Manager of WTMM 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio. Additionally, he called play-by-play for UAlbany football and men’s basketball. Johnson reports directly to Dylan Sprague, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Boston/Hartford.

What They Said: Michael Johnson Jr. “I am thrilled to begin this next chapter at iHeart. Sports fans are passionate and engaged. I am eager to grow all of the stations, deepen the connections with listeners and continue expanding our digital presence.”

Dylan Sprague, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Boston/Hartford “Michael’s energy, passion and leadership make him a strong fit to lead our Sports and Talk portfolio in Hartford and New Haven. These are powerful brands and we’re excited to build on their success under Michael’s leadership.”

What It Means: This appointment signals iHeartMedia’s commitment to strengthening its sports and talk footprint across two competitive Connecticut markets. Johnson’s blend of brand management and on-air experience positions him well. Consequently, both markets should expect a focused push toward deeper audience engagement across broadcast and digital platforms. It will also be interesting to see if Johnson will own a daypart on any of the four stations he will be overseeing.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

South Florida Public Media to End WFLM Legal Fight

David Hill
-
0
South Florida Public Media to End WFLM Legal Fight

South Florida Public Media Group and the Miami-Dade School Board have reached a settlement. Their dispute over the $6.45 million purchase of Hip Hop 104.7 The Flame WFLM in Palm Beach Shores is now, at last, on a path to resolution.

What we know: South Florida Public Media Group agreed last June to buy WFLM from JDD Radio. The school board sued South Florida Public Media Group in September, alleging breach of contract and misuse of funds. Then, in February, the MiamiFCC approved the acquisition — calling the dispute a private civil matter. Shortly after, both parties reached a settlement in principle at mediation.

What’s at stake: The deal restructures who holds the power. Upon closing, the WFLM license transfers to the school board for just $1. South Florida Public Media Group retains day-to-day management under a revised agreement. Crucially, all funds, donor lists, and revenues must be held in trust — exclusively for the stations’ benefit.

What remains unclear: The settlement still needs school board approval at its May 13 meeting. Leadership questions also linger. Former South Florida Public Media Group Chairman Richard Rampell resigned last month, telling the Miami Herald he refused to be part of what he called a “sellout.” Whether new leadership emerges — and who leads that transition — remains to be seen.

What it means: This settlement basically clarifies who’s really in charge in South Florida public radio. South Florida Public Media Group still runs the day-to-day operation. But the school board made it clear they still hold the oversight authority. For public media, it’s a reminder that governance matters just as much as programming. And around the industry, this deal will either become a model to follow or a warning sign of what can happen when those lines get blurry. elsewhere.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

1...919293...2,659Page 92 of 2,659