Last week, I spoke with a highly successful morning host in a major market. When we scheduled a time to talk, they said, “I get off the air at ten and have show prep until noon.”
That statement jumped out at me for several reasons. The person has been hosting morning shows successfully for years, both with their name on the marquee and as a cast member in shows whose names I’m sure you would recognize.
It starkly contrasted some of the talent I have known over the years who felt they could either “wing it” or, one of my favorites, “we use that first hour when no one is listening to prep the rest of the show.” Ever wonder why no one is listening to that hour?
The other is, “Well, we have our benchmarks and that fills most of the breaks.” Yes indeed, that “website of the day” break is definitely better than some great LOCAL content.
I have heard stations that proudly boasted live and local, but the content between the music was anything but. What is lacking is show prep and research. For example, the major market talent was putting in at least two hours a day immediately after that day’s show.
Chad Rufer, Group Director of Programming, Bonneville Sacramento, told me that prepping a show meant more than a prep service rip and read.
“Are you asking yourself (and your team members), what can we do to build a personal connection with our audience? How can we get them to relate to us and be entertained at the same time? Can we get them to say, “damn right me too?” said Rufer. “Can we get them to say, ‘I need to listen to this show every day because I feel like others will be talking about it.’ Building this relationship with the audience goes far beyond ripping show prep content from your favorite service when you arrive at the station 30 minutes before your show.”
Ruffer’s team is in contact with each other throughout the day.
“Our team here in Sacramento is communicating with one another all day through text messages, and in the early afternoon, each member sends an email with a few pages of potential content for the next day that includes life stories and other local content.”
“I’m included in that chain as well, and the four of us may send emails back and forth with various ideas and angles for the best content. It helps that each of us lives a different life and offers various perspectives. In addition, we meet as a group twice a week to talk about content and different ways we can deliver it to our audience in an entertaining way.”
Consultant John Lund, President of The Lund Media Group, sees show prep important enough to author a Show Prep Stylebook for his clients.
Lund shared some excerpts from the guide.
Tap listeners for information about your geographic area. Get them involved by asking what’s best about your area, like the best new restaurant or dog park. Local, relatable show prep is best.
“Test” your show prep. Poll the audience on various questions, and post the results.
Don’t rely solely on national show prep services. Be “Locally Relatable.”
Stress the daily “big event” – it’s usually local. This important topic is the big one on people’s minds and is discussed all day; develop it hourly.
Know your market; know your life group. Understand your audience to target your audience’s interests and needs better.
Talk about what listeners care about. A local event is coming soon. What everybody in town is talking about. Today’s big news story. What kind of day is it? What is your audience doing right now? The hottest new movie or TV streaming show. What a listener said to me recently.
Over-prepare. Use everything you can get your hands on and adapt it to your needs.
Save everything… Drops, ideas for bits, local news, and factoids. Keep notes on what’s in your stockpile. Everything is useful at some point down the road.
The business is shrinking. Many very good, syndicated shows are available that a station owner can plug into their market and set and forget.
The difference that you can make is being local. Being the expert on everything going on in your market.
It requires effort, planning, and teamwork. Most importantly, you must change your mindset. That major market talent didn’t achieve or maintain their position by entering the studio daily without being prepared with fresh content.
You need to create FOMO, the fear of missing out. The website of the day, celebrity birthdays, and horoscopes won’t achieve that.
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When Mike North received the call that he was going to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Barrett Media recognizing his contributions to the sports talk radio format, it provided him with a chance to reflect on his storied and distinctive career. From his days as a military police officer to operating hot dog stands in the Chicagoland area, he realizes that his climb through the broadcast ranks to become the first Chicago radio personality to ink a seven-figure contract was atypical and somewhat improbable. Through a series of calculated risks and an unwavering avidity for sports and discussing topics therein, North has cultivated an indelible legacy forever embedded in the annals of The Windy City.
As North prepares to accept the honor live from the BSM Summit on Friday afternoon, he contends that the award will, in reality, be split with his wife BeBe, who he first met at a grocery store in the Chicago area. North acknowledges that BeBe helped him gain a sense of direction after working for the Chicago Park District, serving in the U.S. Army and trying his hand at college but ultimately falling short of completing a degree. On top of that, he is grateful for all of his industry contemporaries and colleagues through the years, and he is viewing the recognition as somewhat of a clean slate.
“My wife taught me, ‘Don’t ever keep score. See where you’re at, see what everybody else is doing, and be happy for everybody,’ so that’s what I talk about,” North said. “I’m a different guy now, technically, structurally, knowledge wise, I’m a better talk show host now than I was back in the 90s and 2000s.”
North explained that upon discovering the news, his uncle Leo reached out and informed him that he was born for this. Amid his years in weekday dayparts at 670 The Score, he had the opportunity to connect with Chicago sports fans and other listeners contributing to the proliferation of this format as more stations opened across the country.
“We’re going to win because enough people think we’re going to lose, and that’s unacceptable,” said North. “Everybody at that station, regardless of how they felt about each other from show to show, pulled together, and we were and we are the greatest sports group of talk show hosts ever put together.”
Happy 71 years to the most beautiful lady inside and out .was the best looking girl in the parish .met her at Jewel and they said I had no shot. Straight A student and a high school dropout? No way . But she believed in me . The only 1 ❤️🇮🇹🍀🙏 @ESPNChicago #chicagopic.twitter.com/L6meGUpTAH
Although North did not possess formal broadcast training, he had built significant street credibility in the service business as a restaurant owner. North moved into the venture after completing time in the military that began through being drafted during the Vietnam War and ultimately working as a military policeman at the Fort Riley Campus. Conversations he would have with his customers touched on the local teams, and he also had a chance to serve various radio personalities since he was located near the WXRT studios.
“I think that anybody that’s going into sports radio that doesn’t understand it’s all about the customer and it’s all about retail should have a week where they work at a hot dog stand, a tire shop, something in the service industry dealing with customers,” noted North.
In addition to the enterprise, North was purchasing time on brokered radio for $200 per week and offset the cost through soliciting advertising and sponsorships. North created a show on WSBC centered around handicapping as it pertains to the National Football League, prognosticating that gambling would be a forthcoming development in the media business. Furthermore, he got his show listed in the Chicago Sun-Times, a placement that facilitated the sales process as well. As he continued to garner success in this realm, he detected a potential to be hired for a sports position in media.
At the recommendation of some employees of WXRT, station owner Danny Lee visited his restaurant for lunch during a workday. By mere coincidence, North happened to discern that Lee was in the process of starting a jazz station, leaving him somewhat nonplussed that no one would consider moving into the sports talk radio format. He then recommended Lee to change course while selling him a hot dog and fries. When he was finished and left, North chased Lee in the pouring rain and implored him once more to consider his premise.
Over the weekend, Lee purchased newspapers and observed how there were more advertisements in the sports section rather than entertainment. When he arrived at his office the next day, he informed the staff that he was going to be starting a sports talk station instead. In response, his employees thought that he was crazy, a sentiment that Lee admitted may be correct, but he went through with the idea nonetheless.
“I had the vision, but he had the guts, and he put $700,000 into that station while we had the existing building and the salesforce already,” explained North. “He made some hires and he made these music guys set an all-time record by having not just a 12-hour station [but] sports and taking over the city.”
The ‘Monsters in the Middays’ Are Born
Program director Ron Gleason initially assigned North to weekends, something in which he did not have much interest since he was making a living with the hot dog stand. When Bruce Wolf decided not to take a midday show job at the last minute, the station gave North a trial run with former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Dan Jiggetts. From the onset, he could immediately discern that they had tangible chemistry and conveyed honesty to the listening audience with contrasting hosting styles that successfully meshed.
North and Jiggetts established the show as Monsters in the Middays, and it rendered itself as one of the most popular radio programs in the marketplace. The duo never scripted a show or met with producers about topics ahead of time. On the contrary, North was at bars writing things down on cocktail napkins for the next day and has not missed a radio program in over three decades. Combined with his passion and natural talent for the medium, he and his colleagues had respect for Gleason and postulated that he made the right hires.
“During the day, it was an all-day listen – guys weren’t even getting out of their car because it was something different. It was something unique, it wasn’t the same,” North said. “It was rebellious, but it was the truth and it was against ownership, which you didn’t hear from the mainstream media even back in ‘92.”
North was not working in a corporate setting during the first four years, and he found it simple to receive approval for different remote endeavors and other broadcasts. There was a challenge when Lee left the station, but he and North remained close friends and spoke a few weeks before his passing. North remembered being told that there were concerns about him “sinking the ship” at the station and that people with agents who worked at the station wanted more money because of his presence. When the show ended after eight years, North started working with Doug Buffone on The Wise Guys and vouched for himself to earn a seven-figure contract.
North flew down to Washington, D.C. to meet with radio executive Dan Mason and recognized that he had some leverage in this situation with CBS Radio being unable to have Howard Stern or Jonathon Brandmeier on its talent roster. With the company losing two institutions in Chicago and New York, he emphasized to Mason that he would work for the same amount of money for the next two years and then desired to make $1.5 million annually. After leaning back in his chair and thinking about it, Mason voiced that it was doable and North flew home.
“It took me four hours just like it only took me 20 minutes to make that sell job, and it was a good move by him,” North said. “It was a great move by him, and it kept the station pretty solid for a long time, and it’s still a great station.”
Saying Goodbye to The Score
North had a highly publicized exit from 670 The Score in 2008, and it became more exacerbated when David Hernandez, the partner with whom he founded Spectrum Entertainment Group, was determined to be laundering money for his fraudulent medical staffing firm. North was cleared of any wrongdoing but took a hit from the situation and proceeded to host national shows on FOX Sports Radio and co-founded the Barroom Network. Overcoming obstacles has been a common theme throughout his career, and despite difficulties, he does not take anything for granted.
“When I was doing it, I wasn’t happy completely,” North said. “I was a sad sack and at times soulless because it was all about ratings and being a success and proving people wrong and having a chip on my shoulder when people told me I didn’t deserve what I had.”
North acknowledges that he wants to work in sports talk radio for as long as he considers himself mentally sound and has been paired with Carmen DeFalco for The Odds Couple, a weekly program where they discuss betting tips and give their opinions on the latest in sports. The duo has been working together for the last six years, and North contends that he is absolutely the right person for the job and a star in the business.
“It took me nine months to negotiate the deal because I wasn’t going to do it for little but I wasn’t going to do it for a lot,” North said. “We finally got it done and I’ve been there for six years, and without that show, Carmen DeFalco tells me, ‘You would have gotten this award anyway.’ I said, ‘Well, it didn’t hurt to be [here]’ with what that station used to call me when I was at the other station – I think I was the antichrist – but I know all those guys, I love them all at ESPN 1000, and I always respected them, and I’ve been having the time of my life.”
The State of the Sports Radio Industry
When North looks at the current state of sports talk radio, he is certain he would not have lasted as long if social media existed. In fact, he ascertains that he arrived at the right time with his colleagues and that they were able to create a strong and compelling end product. While he does not have any affiliation with 670 The Score outside of helping to start the station, he looks from afar and is proud to have been part of constructing and circulating the format locally and beyond.
“I feel good about it,” North said, “and sports radio needs a spokesman because when you have other media outlets questioning sports radio and you see those media outlets suffering more than sports radio, you just have to strike and say, ‘Who are you guys to question us?,’ because it’s one of the great mediums.”
North will be accepting the prestigious honor from the Museum of Contemporary Art amid an audience featuring experienced industry professionals from radio, television and digital outlets. Receiving messages of congratulations and affirmations that he deserves the honor has made him feel better about the situation, but he knows there are some people who are upset with the choice. In the end though, he seeks to convey his earnest appreciation and sincere gratitude while remaining bullish on the medium.
“Not everybody’s ever happy with the MVP voting – you know that as well as I do,” North said. “There’s always the naysayers, but you can’t worry about that. Making it to the pinnacle, I’m the first educated guy in radio where Dan McNeil said I picked it up in one year because I listened to radio from the time I was a child in Chicago. I learned how to speed read, and I was educated by radio and TV, not by school. I watched everything, and I listened to as much as I could, and I learned by that, and listening to my elders, which a lot of people don’t do anymore.”
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“Valentine in the Morning” began in 2007 on 104.3 MYFM in Los Angeles shortly after the station flipped from Rhythm AC to Hot AC. Valentine also spent over ten years at sister station KIIS-FM doing nights and afternoons.
When the show launched, it featured Sean Valentine and Irma Blanco. Over the years, people have moved on, and today the show’s producer is Brian Burton. The one constant on the show is Jillian Escoto (Ong). She started as a phone op at KIIS, stayed with the show, and waited for her moment. Now, she’s been the co-host since 2013.
The show characters consist of Jill, the smart, funny, and incredibly relatable (to the key demo) “Heart of the Show,” says Valentine. “Brian, our producer, has fantastic comedic timing and is a father of three. Jon (Comouche) brings a strong musical pulse while connecting with a younger generation. Laura (McMillan), our social media director from Australia, wowed iHeart LA from day one. And me? I’m a dad, a husband, a son, and an occasional storyteller.”
Photo Courtesy Valentine In The Morning
“We’re pretty active as a show in the community — charity events, volunteering, and advocacy: MS Society, Alzheimer’s Association, USO, American Cancer Society. From building homes in Mexico to unloading food trucks in LA, we try to show up where we’re needed and host many events in the community. LA offers endless ways to give back.”
“We’ve also had success with live events. Second Chance Prom is a favorite of ours. We do a big Girl Scout cookie buy, donate laptops to schools, make over teachers’ lounges, and end the year with a listener party at Knott’s Berry Farm. I’m also a big USO guy—I’ve done over 10 overseas tours to entertain the troops. I’d love to get iHeart behind me to do even more of those shows.”
What makes the show unique is the foundation it’s built on. “We’re live, local, real, and now!” insists Valentine. “We embrace the nowness of the moment. People tuning in are giving us their most valuable resource—time. In a city like LA, where people live in their cars, that time is everything. With so many choices available, we never take it for granted when people choose us. I always feel that the cars traveling up and down those freeways have a story to tell, and you really never know what others may be going through.”
“Honesty and truth have always been our anchor. Any long-running show knows that connection. Dave Ryan, Mojo, Ellen K, Kraddick, Elvis—they’ve all built careers on honest relationships with their audience. Listeners still talk to me about when we opened up about IVF 17 years ago. They remember the day we went for Leilani’s egg retrieval, and so many connect when I talk openly about my mom’s Alzheimer’s.”
“We all have so much more in common than we think. When you ask listeners to share their stories, you have to be willing to share yours. I love what Bobby Bones says: ‘We’re all just sitting around a little breakfast table with microphones.’ That’s exactly it. Inviting friends to stop by.”
Valentine admits that some of the show’s benchmarks are a little “Old School,” but they work. “Battle of the Sexes always performs well,” he says. “We also try to play a self-deprecating, made-up ‘dumb game’ three times a week. ‘First Sip’ offers a motivational moment over a cup of coffee, and Comouche’s Court is a favorite too.”
There is no shortage of natural disasters in Los Angeles: fires, mudslides, droughts, and earthquakes. I asked Valentine how they handle these situations on air.
“Tragedy is best met with honesty and calm,” he says. “I’ve lived through 9/11, school shootings, fires, earthquakes, and so much more. But it’s not just ‘me’ on the air and social, it’s ‘us.’ We’ve all had our go bags packed. We’ve watched the flames on the hills and seen friends and co-workers lose homes. Sixty families lost their homes at my son’s high school. So, yes, you go into service mode, but shared experience is what connects us. You show up for each other and give the empathy that we all have as human beings. Panic has no place on the mic, but support, resources, and real-time information do.”
“At its heart, radio is companionship. We’re a friend on the other side of the speaker—or the phone. That’s never lost on me. During the LA fires, I would fill in from 3 to 5 AM on KFI before heading upstairs to do our show.”
As for what’s missing in the industry, “Looking ahead, we all need to think about the future of this industry,” says Valentine. “Storytelling from all sides. Listening to new voices. Not change for its own sake, but for what it can add. We need to hear other voices in the room, be open to fresh ideas, AND yes, sometimes tap into decades of experience lol. (I know stuff!).”
“There’s a train coming—and we have to be on it. Understanding how younger generations engage with our platforms. I pay attention to how fast people scroll past a reel or flip the dial. That’s free research. But no matter the tech or medium, I hope storytelling and connections aren’t going anywhere.”
“One thing I’ve noticed among Gen Z—they celebrate each other,” adds Valentine. “I’ve seen my son repost a friend’s concert photo just to show love. No agenda. Just support. How many of us do that for other shows? Not enough. Menace here in LA is a great example of someone who lifts others up without hesitation.”
“If we keep showing up—on socials, on podcasts, on air, in digital—as real friends, this thing we love called radio will keep its heartbeat. Platforms may change, but companionship through audio is real. I don’t believe AI can replace that. (Though for the record, I did give my ChatGPT a name.)”
“And finally, iHeart loves research, and so do I. But some of the best research is just observation. Listener behavior. Social trends. The world around us. Study the data—but ask the right questions. It’s hard sometimes for big business to let us fail when there are so many $$$ riding on it…but that was important to me as a young talent-taking chances.”
“I grew up working at three radio stations at once—juggling cue cards for call letters. I would work for Tom Poleman at KC-101, run to 96 TIC FM, then off to Q-105. It was a lot. Many of our listeners juggle multiple jobs, too, yet finding balance matters. It also gives you stories to share. When it’s all said and done, I’m not going to say I wish I had more time with my Vox Pro.”
That being said, “Jill just got married and wants to start a family,” explains Valentine. “Jon moved in with his girlfriend. Laura’s engaged. Brian’s raising three kids who speak Spanish better than he does. And my wife and I have a 17-year-old son deep in college search mode. We still have so many moments to share with our listeners. One of the most common unaided responses we get: ‘We feel like we’re part of your family.’ That’s because… they are.”
Follow Valentine on Instagram @Go4Valentine and @ValentineInTheMorning.
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.
Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker sat down for an extended interview with President Donald Trump to commemorate the administration surpassing its first 100 days. It led to a ratings victory for the NBC News show.
During the week of Sunday, May 4th, NBC News swept both the total viewers and coveted Adults 25-54 demographic for the first time in 2025 in the Sunday political affairs sector.
In total, 2.8 million viewers watched as Welker interviewed Donald Trump about a variety of topics. Included in that total figure were 551,000 viewers from the key demographic.
The broadcast marked the highest audience for Meet the Press in 2025, eclipsing the previous high of 2.7 million viewers the week of Sunday, March 2nd.
While it was the highest figure for Kristen Welker and Meet the Press, its counterparts each dropped to the lowest totals of 2025.
CBS News’ Face the Nation — helmed by Margaret Brennan — saw an average audience of 2.5 million viewers, with 419,000 coming from the key demo. This Week with George Stephanopoulos was down to 2.3 million viewers, with 403,000 in the coveted demographic. Fox News Sunday — anchored by Shannon Bream — featured 945,000 total viewers. That program had an average audience of 202,000 from the key demo.
CNN Sees Primetime April Slide
CNN has been in the midst of a ratings struggle for quite a while. That was evidenced by its performance throughout the month of April, with the network seeing its ratings slide even further.
During March, CNN averaged 591,000 viewers in primetime. That figure was helped by the network’s coverage of the speech from President Donald Trump to a joint session of Congress, which could be viewed as a quasi-State of the Union address.
In April, however, the network dropped to an average of 506,000 total viewers for the month.
To begin the month, CNN saw an average of 572,000 and 584,000 total viewers in the first two weeks of April. Those numbers declined for the remainder of the month, though, dropping to 470,000 the week of April 14th, 449,000 during the week of April 21st, and 458,000 the week of April 28th.
The network’s decline wasn’t limited to the total viewership sector. In the key Adults 25-54 demographic, CNN began the month of April with an average of 114,000 viewers in the demo. That fell to 113,000 the following week, 84,000 the week of April 14th, 85,000 the week of April 21st, and 81,000 for the week of April 28th.
CBS Evening News Continues Downturn
The ratings for the CBS Evening News have continued to decline since the departure of anchor Norah O’Donnell.
O’Donnell anchored her final show on Thursday, January 24th. Beginning on Monday, January 27th, the show began being anchored by John Dickerson, Maurice DuBois, with appearances by Margaret Brennan. It also featured a revamped presentation that included a more news magazine-like approach with smaller story counts and a focus on long-form storytelling and analysis.
In the weeks preceding O’Donnell’s exit, the CBS Evening News averaged 5.1 million viewers. Since O’Donnell left the show, the program has continually slid.
In February, the show averaged 4.5 million viewers. The following month, it dropped to 4.1 million.
During April, the program fell even more. The nightly newscast finished the month with an average total audience of 3.8 million viewers. The network failed to reach an average of 4 million viewers in any week throughout the month, after continually finishing with between an average of 4.3 and 5.2 million viewers before the week following the address by President Donald Trump to a joint session of Congress.
That drop isn’t contained to the total viewership category, either. In the weeks leading up to O’Donnell’s departure, the nightly newscast averaged 726,000 viewers in the Adults 25-54 demographic. During the month, it averaged 521,000 viewers from the key demographic. Last week, CBS Evening News finished with 482,000 viewers in the key demo, setting a new low for 2025.
During April, ABC World News Tonight continued to lead the nightly newscast ratings with an average of 7.3 million viewers. NBC Nightly News — which is preparing to see Lester Holt depart the anchor chair later this month — averaged just under 6 million viewers throughout the month.
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What is the value of cross-promoting yourself and your radio show on other platforms? In a splintered media environment, it’s more important than ever.
But, Barstool Owner Dave Portnoy feels differently.
As reported by Barrett Media, during The Unamed Show on Wednesday, Barstool Sports podcast host Ryan Whitney was discussing his recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show when he questioned if the company’s founder was upset that he went on the program.
Whitney said it was the first time he had ever appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and said he knows Portnoy doesn’t like it, but he questioned why he couldn’t do it more frequently.
“I know that drives you crazy … but I can’t go on in the middle of the playoffs?” he asked.
“It’s ESPN,” said Portnoy. “I’ll guarantee you — I’m gonna say this: if we had a conversation offline and I told you why I get mad about it, you wouldn’t go on anymore. I can’t do it online. By the way, it’s not a McAfee thing. It’s ESPN. It’s not McAfee, it’s ESPN. So that’s what I’m telling you. At FOX Sports, none of their guys can go on ESPN. None. You can’t. We let it — and it’s not just you — but when we let it become a regular feature, than I’m like ‘Well why are we helping ESPN?'”
So who’s right? Understandably, Portnoy has beef and a complicated history with ESPN that has been well documented. And if there’s a business that can get away with not pursuing cross-promotion, it’s Barstool Sports. They’re one of the biggest brands in the sports industry, and that’s a huge testament to what Portnoy built.
But what about looking at this from another perspective? Portnoy is getting the last laugh by allowing his people to appear on ESPN, which can, in turn, drive people to the platform that he founded and now, once again, owns 100% of after buying it back from Penn Entertainment.
People will see his personalities appear on ESPN, like The Pat McAfee Show, who will then, potentially, go find the Barstool Sports show(s) that they may not have been aware of and drive listenership and revenue for Portnoy’s company.
How Can Local Radio Hosts Take Advantage?
This lesson can be applied to those employed in radio in 2025 or, frankly, any other medium. We all need cross-promotion. There are too many options for the consumer and not enough ears or eyeballs for all the content that currently exists. How can you cut through?
In an era when radio companies aren’t spending big money on billboards or, honestly, any other cross-promotional media opportunities, it is on the station and the talent to find those opportunities themselves.
That can be through contributing on local television, joining local podcasts, and, frankly, any platform that can help drive new audience to your show or podcast. Podcasts, local popular social media accounts, television, other radio shows, and more should all be on the table for talent to help drive new listeners to their platforms.
The other way is to force other local media to cover you because it’s your show or station that is breaking news. Not only is developing local connections to get ahead on stories valuable for your show, but it will automatically give you cross-promotional opportunities without your own media market.
Local TV stations, along with potentially even other radio stations, will have to credit you for a story, a sound bite from a newsmaker, if you’re first with an exclusive story relevant to your market. And in an era when it seems like local TV reporters move in and out of markets at a much faster pace than radio hosts these days, developing the right relationships around your city can deliver you this winning hand.
There’s too much noise out there to believe your show can’t benefit from earned media. Barstool Sports might be one of the few exceptions to that rule. But you’re not Dave Portnoy. So get hustling. You won’t regret it.
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President Donald Trump has announced he will appoint Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to the role of interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
In a statement published to his Truth Social account, Trump revealed the decision, sharing his admiration for the Fox News host.
“I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,” wrote Trump. “Jeanine was Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York, then went on to serve as County Judge, and District Attorney, where she was the first woman ever to be elected to those positions. During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime. Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutor’s Office was the first in the nation. She excelled in all ways.
In addition to her legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently co-host of The Five, one of the highest-rated shows on television,” continued Trump. “Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position and is considered one of the top District Attorneys in the history of the state of New York. She is in a class by herself.”
The news was announced by Fox News during Special Report with Bret Baier. He added that “she will be leaving Fox News to take this position. We obviously wish her well.”
Jeanine Pirro has been with Fox News since her show premiered in 2011. She has appeared as a regular contributor to a variety of programs — including the aforementioned weekend show she helmed for more than a decade — before being named a permanent co-host of The Five in 2022.
In a statement, Fox News wished Pirro well as she departs the network.
“Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure,” a network spokesperson said. “We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.”
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Could Warner Bros. Discovery be the latest media company to consider a spin-off? A report from CNBC posits that it’s likely in the cards in the coming weeks.
During Squawk on the Street on Thursday morning, David Faber posited that the company could likely see a spin-off similar to that of NBCUniversal and what was previously labeled “SpinCo” before being titled Versant earlier this week.
“Most likely — or almost definitely — it’s the linear cable networks, and then you have the studio coupled with Max,” said Faber. “How would you go about doing that? Remember, internally — and we reported on this previously — they’ve already done all of the reapportioning necessary. And I would note as well, in their earnings report, for the first time, they break out every segment in its own financials. That is usually a tell, right?”
Faber didn’t give concrete details on when a potential reveal could take place, but said that it could be longer than observers might think.
“We’ll see what we get in terms of a potential announcement from the split, what they actually look, what that actually looks like in terms of structure, and how they want to go about trying to accomplish it,” said Faber. “And then it will take quite some time to actually happen.”
Currently, Warner Bros. Discovery features a wide array of video products. It is the home of the Max streaming service, in addition to owning the DC Comics intellectual property with Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema also complementing its film assets.
Its cable television assets include brands like HBO, HGTV, CNN, Discovery, TBS, TNT, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, Headline News, and Cartoon Network, among dozens of others.
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Saga Communications reported its first-quarter 2025 financial results today, showing a modest year-over-year revenue decline and continued focus on cost controls amid a challenging ad environment.
For the quarter ended March 31, Saga posted net revenue of $24.2 million, down 4.3% from the same period in 2024. Station operating expenses declined 2.2% to $22.0 million, reflecting the company’s ongoing efforts to manage costs in a soft local advertising market.
Despite the revenue pressure, Saga narrowed its operating loss slightly to $2.3 million, compared to $2.4 million a year ago. Station operating income—a key internal metric used by many radio broadcasters—fell to $2.2 million, down from $2.8 million in Q1 2024. The company’s net loss remained unchanged at $1.6 million, or a diluted loss of $0.25 per share.
Capital expenditures for the quarter dropped to $700,000 from $1.1 million a year earlier, part of a more measured investment strategy. Saga Communications projects total capital spending for 2025 to land between $4.0 million and $4.5 million.
While first-quarter results reflect persistent headwinds across the industry, Saga signaled tentative optimism for the second quarter. The company said revenue pacing remains volatile but is showing gradual improvement: April was down by high single digits, May is pacing down by low single digits, and June is currently tracking flat year-over-year.
As of March 31, Saga held $27.0 million in cash and short-term investments, a figure that slightly increased to $27.2 million as of May 5.
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Townsquare Media released its financial results for the first quarter, with limited revenue declines compared to other radio groups announcing their financial results thus far.
The company reported a 1.0% year-over-year decline in net revenue, while net income fell by $3.1 million. However, Adjusted EBITDA improved by 3.5%, reflecting underlying operational efficiencies.
The company’s digital performance remained a key growth driver. Total digital net revenue rose 6.4%, supported by a 7.6% increase in digital advertising. Subscription-based Digital Marketing Solutions revenue grew 4.2%, contributing to a 16.2% year-over-year increase in overall digital segment profit. In contrast, broadcast advertising revenue declined 9.1% (or 8.3% excluding political advertising).
Townsquare also strengthened its capital structure by entering into a new five-year, $490 million Credit Agreement. This includes a $470 million senior secured term loan and a $20 million revolving credit facility. Proceeds were used to redeem the company’s $467.4 million in outstanding 2026 Senior Secured Notes.
“We are proud of our business model’s ability to deliver solid and consistent results, while also producing strong cash flow, even during uncertain times,” Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson. “Sometimes it takes a challenging macroeconomic environment to serve the purpose of highlighting how truly differentiated Townsquare is from others in local media.
“We have transformed and evolved; we began as a traditional broadcast company, and we are now a Digital First Local Media Company. Transformations don’t have to require a change of fundamental goals. In 2025, we have the same goal that we had when Townsquare was formed in 2010,” Wilson continued.
“In a rapidly changing landscape for consumers and local businesses, it has never been more important to embrace transformation and evolution. And that is exactly what the Townsquare Team is doing each and every day, and I could not be more proud and appreciative of the team.”
Looking ahead, Townsquare projects Q2 net revenue to range between $114 million and $116 million, with Adjusted EBITDA expected between $25 million and $26 million. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, maintaining its outlook for net revenue between $435 million and $455 million and Adjusted EBITDA between $90 million and $98 million.
Additionally, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on August 1, 2025, to shareholders of record as of July 18, 2025. Based on the most recent closing price, the dividend represents an annualized yield of approximately 12%.
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Audacy has announced the launch of the company’s first-ever women’s sports nationally broadcast radio show and podcast, She’s Got Next with Jordan Robinson.
The weekly, one-hour program will spotlight athletes and women’s sports leagues like the WNBA, PWHL, NWSL, and NCAA Division I sports.
“Women’s sports are experiencing a cultural surge — and fans are demanding more,” said Audacy Sports Format Vice President Chris Kinard. “She’s Got Next with Jordan Robinson is our answer to that demand, offering a dedicated space on our airwaves for in-depth conversations, compelling storytelling, and a celebration of women’s sports’ biggest headlines and brightest stars. Jordan brings deep credibility and an unwavering commitment to elevating women’s sports, and we couldn’t be more excited to get this ball rolling.”
The podcast is scheduled to debut on May 9th on 27 Audacy sports stations and will also be available on all major podcast platforms.
“I am thrilled to bring the stories of the best women athletes to the forefront,” said Jordan Robinson. “With She’s Got Next, listeners — superfans and new fans alike — will get a front-row seat to fun and exciting women’s sports coverage.”
Robinson’s previous work includes spending time working for the WNBA, Pac-12 Network, Women’s Sports Network, West Coast Conference, Big Ten Network, and FIBA. She worked in a variety of roles for those networks and conferences.
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