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CBS Draws 31.2 Million Viewers for Chiefs-Bills, Largest Non-Holiday Regular Season Game Since 2007

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The NFL is king when it comes to television viewership and right now the Kansas City Chiefs are the hottest team in the kingdom, even when they lose. Such was the case Sunday when CBS carried the latest matchup between the Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, who are led by two of the top quarterbacks in the game in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal was first to report this latest round, which went to Buffalo 30-21, drew an average audience of 31.2 million viewers.

That number makes the game the most-watched regular season game, not counting ones played on Thanksgiving or Christmas, since before Barack Obama was in office. The last non-holiday regular season game to draw that type of audience came in Week 9 of the season in 2007 in a game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.

The game, which saw the Chiefs lose for the first time this season, is the most-watched game of the 2024 season to date. Additionally, Bills-Chiefs is the 4th most-watched national window on record, dating back to 1988, and ranks among the 10 most-watched NFL games on record in any window (excludes Thanksgiving).

In addition to the massive number for the Chiefs-Bills, CBS also had the game between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in its regional window. The game was viewed by an average audience of 19.8 million. That number is the best the network has done in the regional network since 1992.

Gracies Leadership Awards Presented At New York Luncheon

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The Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) recognized the accomplishments of eight outstanding leaders at the Gracies Leadership Awards held on Tuesday, November 19, at Tribeca 360° in New York City.

This prestigious event celebrated these remarkable women for their impactful contributions to the media industry, highlighting their leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence in broadcasting, journalism, digital media, and more.

The luncheon celebrated various awards and included a notable fireside chat featuring Andrea Mitchell, who received the Gracies Icon Award.

As the Chief Washington Correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News and the host of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, Mitchell reflected on her remarkable journey in journalism.

In her discussion with Libby Leist, Executive Vice President of TODAY and Lifestyle, she emphasized the critical need to amplify women’s voices in the media, the significance of mentorship, and the enduring effects of courageous investigative storytelling, achieved through thorough research and factual accuracy.

Becky Brooks, President of AWM, emphasized the importance of fostering the next generation of women in media: “Today, we celebrate women who are making a powerful impact in executive suites and boardrooms. While we know there is still much work to be done, those of you in this room are paving the way for the next generation of women in media.”

AWM Board Chair and VP of Corporate Communications at ESPN, Katina Arnold, spoke about the significance of the largest fundraiser of the year for the AWM Foundation, the Gracie Awards, stating, “As we approach the milestone 50th anniversary of the Gracie Awards in 2025, we are reminded of the importance of honoring and uplifting women in media. The Gracies continue to celebrate outstanding achievements by, for, and about women, recognizing talent across all areas of media.”

Highlights from the honoree acceptances included:

· Sylvia Strobel, AWM Legacy Leadership Award recipient and President & CEO, Twin Cities PBS, began her remarks by saying, “This recognition is not just a personal honor, it represents a collective effort of countless women who’ve paved the way for us in this industry, many of whom are in this room.”

· Holly Tang, CFO, NBCUniversal Entertainment, expressed her gratitude for the award and explained why it meant so much to her by noting, “I am a product of a women supporting women philosophy… throughout my career, influential women have gone above and beyond in

supporting me, this is why I believe the Alliance for Women in Media’s mission is so important for all of us.”

· Jennifer Leimgruber, EVP Entertainment Programming, Premiere/iHeartMedia, noted, “If we all continue to use our positions to mentor and champion younger women within our organization the representation of women in the future will be changed forever.”

· Deborah Parenti, President & Publisher, Streamline Media (Radio Ink, RBR + TVBR) concluded her acceptance by emphasizing, “To everyone in this room, young and old, remember to find your passion and pursue it…as long as I have a voice, I’m going to use it. Use your voice and encourage others to do the same.”

· Jen Sargent, CEO, Wondery, proudly expressed, “I’m humbled to be among this year’s Gracie Leadership Awards honorees, especially given the amazing work of the Alliance for Women in Media…a powerful force for change, ensuring that women’s voices are heard, valued and celebrated across every platform… it’s an honor to be a part of that mission today.”

· Sylvia Bugg, Chief Programming Executive & GM, PBS, began her acceptance noting it was an honor to be recognized among another Sylvia, “media trailblazer, Sylvia Strobel.” She continued, “my parents would tell my sister and I growing up, would tell us, ‘you’re judged by the company you keep’ and that holds true here today… there’s beautiful company in this space.”

· In accepting her honor by video, Sonia Coleman, ESVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, The Walt Disney Company, stated it is an immense honor to receive the Gracies Leadership Award and thanked AWM Board members Debra OConnell and Katina Arnold, who have recognized, supported and mentored women around the world.

Buck Sexton: CNN Has Asked Me to Appear After Leaving Network in Disgust in 2017

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Buck Sexton worked at CNN as a contributor from 2015 to 2017. He left that role in disgust but might be open to a return if things have truly changed.

On The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show on Tuesday, Sexton revealed that he has been asked to appear on the network again after previously denigrating its current state.

“They’re having more and more actual conservatives on CNN,” shared Sexton. “They have asked me to go on. I don’t know, should I go on? I’m thinking about it.”

Co-host Clay Travis said it would be good for both the Premiere Networks show and for Sexton’s upcoming book release if he were to go on CNN.

Sexton agreed. Travis then questioned if he would have to appear in studio in New York or if he could be a remote guest. Buck Sexton said he wasn’t sure, but wasn’t opposed to appearing in either fashion due to a potential shift in operation.

“I’ll respond to their very polite inquiries and say, ‘What are we really talking about here?’ Because if it’s good, that’s indicative of the major vibe shift that is underway, though … I was very open, especially during the COVID years, COVID era, about my disdain from the way that Jeff Zucker ran that entity. And I openly made fun of him and pointed out that the only reason Brian Stelter had a show was because he looked kind of like Jeff Zucker.

“I’m shocked. I used to trash CNN like there’s no tomorrow, and now if they want to be reasonable and they want to have a conversation, I’m reasonable. They weren’t being reasonable, so I was giving it to them on the rough side of things. But we’ll see. Maybe they’re going to have a change of heart, although I very much doubt it.”

Sexton didn’t elaborate on which CNN program had shared an interest in welcoming him as a guest. He recently appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher, where he repeatedly clashed with CNN late-evening host Laura Coates.

Rob White Joins CRISTA Media Seattle As General Manager

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Rob White has been appointed General Manager of CRISTA Media‘s religious teaching station, KCIS (630), and contemporary Christian stations KCMS Spirit 105.3 and KWPZ Praise 106.5, Seattle.

Prior to this role, White was General Manager at Olympia Broadcasters and served as General Sales Manager with Salem Media Group.

“We are blessed to welcome Rob White to the CRISTA Media family,” VP of Media Channah Hanberg said in a release. “Rob not only brings a wealth of expertise in media sales but also a heart for the Lord and a desire to serve our mission to connect people to God through uplifting content. His leadership will be invaluable as we seek to expand our impact, deepen community relationships, and reach more people with messages of hope and faith.”

White added, “I am truly honored to join CRISTA Media, an organization that shares my commitment to honoring God through excellence in media,” said White. “I look forward to working with this incredible team to grow our outreach, serve our listeners, and foster partnerships that reflect Christ’s love.”

News Radio Hosts React to Fox Business Host Sean Duffy Being Named Secretary of Transportation By Donald Trump

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Late Monday evening, Donald Trump announced he was appointing Fox Business host Sean Duffy to serve as the Secretary of Transportation in his second term.

After spending more than eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Duffy has hosted The Bottom Line on Fox News since January 2023.

On social media, Duffy — who is the husband of Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, and father of Evita Duffy-Alfonso — shared his excitement of the news.

“Thank you, Mr. President. I’m eager to help you usher in a new golden age of transportation,” he wrote, followed by the MAGA hashtag.

Sean Duffy wasn’t the only one to take to social media to react to the news. His daughter works on The Dan Bonigno Show and hosts her own podcast which is quickly rising up the charts.

She congratulated her father on his nomination.

Duffy-Alfonso wasn’t alone in sending well-wishes to the Fox Business host.

Benztown Launches Charitable Auction Benefiting Broadcasters Foundation Of America And Library of American Broadcasting Foundation

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Benztown has launched an online charitable auction to support the Broadcasters Foundation of America and the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation.

This auction features an array of unique VIP experiences and signed memorabilia from music and sports, making for exceptional holiday gifts that also benefit the Radio community.

The online auction is currently active and will run until Tuesday, December 3. Visit the auction website here for more details and to place bids.  

Auction items available to bid on now include:

  • A pair of New York Yankees VIP tickets and a meet-and-greet with New York Yankees announcer Micheal Kay and the play-by-play team.
  • A chance to sit in the YES booth for an inning, courtesy of Micheal Kay and YES
  • Signed New York Yankees memorabilia, courtesy of Brigandi Vintage Collectables.
  • Taylor Swift guitar, courtesy of Beasley Media Group.
  • Four tickets to a New York Yankees game with a meet-and-greet with the play-by-play team, courtesy of Audacy.
  • Two tickets to see the Dallas Cowboys in a luxury suite, courtesy of Compass Media Networks.
  • Autographed basketball from Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum courtesy of 98.5 the Sports Hub.
  • Autographed Luka Doncic Rookie Card courtesy of Benztown.
  • An MLB experience featuring two tickets, batting practice, and meeting the radio broadcasters of any one of these teams: Diamondbacks/Pirates/Rays/Angels/Marlins, courtesy Skyview Networks.
  • Acoustic guitar autographed by Country music artists, courtesy of Premiere Networks and iHeart Media. Signatures include: Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Chris Janson, Keith Urban, Maddie & Tae, Hunter Hayes, Cole Swindell, Big & Rich, Chase Rice, Nick Fradiani, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett, and Darius Ricker.
  • 5-night stay at the 1000-acre Innisbrook Golf Resort and Spa in Florida. Courtesy of Joe D’Angelo.
  • Two VIP tickets to see the Dallas Cowboys, courtesy of Compass Media Networks.
  • A pair of VIP Celtics tickets, courtesy of Beasley Media Group, plus an autographed basketball from Celtics star Jayson Tatum, courtesy of Beasley Media Group’s 98.5 The Sports Hub.
  • Behind the scenes at the ESPN New York Studios with the Michael Kay Show. Courtesy of Good Karma Brands.
  • Former NFL quarterback Joe Namath “Broadway Joe” Signed Football. Courtesy of Tim McCarthy.

Kentucky Stations In Ownership Swap Flip To Christmas

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Several frequencies have begun running stunts featuring Christmas music in anticipation of the upcoming station swap between Commonwealth Broadcasting and Seven Mountains Media.

Commonwealth has rebranded its radio stations as “Santa 102.3/95.7.” The affected stations include “US 95.7,” Glasgow, 103.7 WHHT-HD2 Cave City, 102.3 WLLI, Munfordville, and 98.5 Glasgow, KY.

Previously, WLLI was simulcasting Classic Country “Willie 94.1” WLYE-FM. This transition is part of a broader deal that integrates all these stations under Commonwealth’s management.

Hot AC 106.3 WOVO Bowling Green is set to transition from Commonwealth to Seven Mountains Media. The station has launched its all-Christmas format under the “North Pole Radio” branding. This marks the second consecutive year that WOVO has used this holiday theme.

ESPN Radio, Freddie Coleman to Broadcast Live from St. Bonaventure Prior to Game Against Alma Mater, ‘Woj’ to Join

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St. Bonaventure will host ESPN Radio’s Freddie Coleman this Wednesday as he broadcasts his show live from the Reilly Center from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Coleman will be joined remotely by his partner, Harry Douglas as the two host the Freddie and Harry show.

Coleman is a 1987 graduate of Mansfield and a member of the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The Bonnies are hosting Mansfield and not only will Coleman do his radio show, but he will also serve as color analyst for the game broadcast after his show on ESPN+.

Coleman said the idea came from ESPN VP, Audio & Digital Production, Justin Craig, who happens to be a graduate of St. Bonaventure. “[Justin] thought it’d be a really cool idea to have a chance to have me be a part of the broadcast,” Coleman told Barrett Media. “So when Justin suggests something, usually more often than not, it’s going to come true. So, I said, ‘whatever you can make happen, I’m definitely all in’ because I have not broadcast a game involving my university since I was at the university doing basketball games back in 1987, and it’s really a cool thing to have happen.”

Coleman will work the ESPN+ broadcast with longtime Bonnies television voice Brendan McDaniels. Coleman said he has seen many St. Bonaventure television broadcasts over the years and has a lot of respect for McDaniels although this will be their first chance to call a game together.

Asked some of his thoughts as he prepares for the big day, Coleman said, “One of the things I always tell people, and St. Bonaventure has a lot of it going on as well, is that there’s a family atmosphere [at Mansfield}. And when you’re a smaller school, like we are, a Division II school, you’re always going to rally around each other because you always feel that the odds are going to be against you, whether you’re playing against [similar Division II teams] or you’re jumping up in class when it comes to playing St. Bonaventure.

“And that’s the one thing I love about both of these schools, because one of our producers on Freddie and Harry is Devin Kane, and he’s a proud alum of St. Bonaventure. And the one thing he always has mentioned, or you hear it come through, is that family atmosphere that made things worthwhile, because that’s exactly the same way I felt about my time at Mansfield, and the friendships that’ll last me a lifetime being a graduate from 1987.”

During the broadcast a former ESPN colleague, Adrian Wojnarowski, who now serves as the General Manager of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team, is set to join the show. This will mark the first time ‘Woj’ has appeared on ESPN since he departed the network, unexpectedly in September.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him because when he decided to go back to his alma mater and leave ESPN, being a dean when it comes to what he does, better than probably anybody else in the history of being an NBA insider, maybe even sports insiders… to have a chance to sit down with him and catch up with him, because as great of an insider as he always will be, he’s an even better person. So, I really can’t wait to see him, to give him a big old hug and be happy for him, because I know that St. Bonaventure means so much to him.”

Coleman was a two-year starter for the Mansfield Mountaineer football program. In 1985, Coleman hauled in 12 catches for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The following year, Coleman led Mansfield with 41 catches for 644 yards and four touchdowns. He was named to 2nd Team All-PSAC East honors at wide receiver following the 1986 season.

ESPN Radio paired Coleman and ten-year NFL veteran Harry Douglas together starting in Sept. 2023. Asked about how the first year plus of the show has gone, Coleman said, “I don’t think we’ve reached the pinnacle of where I believe this show is going to go, because I think we’re just barely scratching the surface of how terrific that this show is going to be.”
 

NFL Considering Stricter Rules to Tom Brady After FOX Sports Interview with Patrick Mahomes

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The NFL is considering putting even more restrictions on FOX Sports NFL analyst Tom Brady after a recent interview with Patrick Mahomes.

Due to his partial ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders, he is heavily restricted from participating in pre-game production meetings and other avenues that could give him inside information on the other 31 teams in the league.

However, some owners believe those restrictions need to be increased after a FOX NFL Sunday interview between Tom Brady and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes last month. The interview was labeled as “personal” in nature, but questions still arose from some owners.

According to a report from Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer, the league is considering a variety of policies, including requiring interviews to be held out of team facilities and even as far as away from team hotels, requiring approval by the league and monitoring by the team, and limiting Brayd’s interaction with players to only interviews for the game broadcast, and to prohibit interactions with players before or after the discussion.

The issue was discussed at the league’s finance committee meeting, and could be looked at by the whole ownership ground next month should the committee wish to escalate the item.

Brady became an official owner of 10% of the Raiders last month after he and another investor spent $220 million to purchase a stake in the NFL franchise. He is also in his first season as the lead game analyst for FOX Sports.

Jamal Crawford Joins MSG Networks as New York Knicks Backup Analyst to Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier

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MSG Networks, the television home of the New York Knicks, announced today that former Knicks shooting guard and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winner Jamal Crawford will join the network as an analyst for select Knicks games throughout the rest of the season. Crawford’s first assignment in the new role will be Wednesday, Nov. 20th when the Knicks visit the Phoenix Suns.

Crawford will be filling in for Hall-of-Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier and will work his first game alongside Mike Breen. He is set to also call two other games on the current road trip the team is on. On Nov. 23 he will work with team radio announcer Tyler Murray in a game against the Utah Jazz. Breen will then return to the play-by-play chair with Crawford for his next game, Nov. 25 against the Denver Nuggets.

“I’m excited about it,” Crawford said in a release from the network. “Obviously, nobody is Walt ‘Clyde’ [Frazier], he is one-of-one. Whether it’s ‘movin’ and groovin’ or any one of his sayings – he is a treasure. I’m just happy to sub in for him and have some fun with it.”  

Crawford played for 20 years in the NBA. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 9th pick in the 2000 draft and was traded the same day to the Chicago Bulls. In addition to the Bulls and the Knicks, Crawford played for Golden State, Atlanta, Portland, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Phoenix, and Brooklyn. Crawford finished his career with 19,419 points and averaged 14.6 points per game. 

Crawford’s tenure with the New York Knicks ran from 2004 to 2008. He is the second player in NBA history to have scored 10,000+ career points off the bench and is second all-time in the NBA in career four-point plays.