Barrett Media
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
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Sports Radio
Kenny Albert: ‘I Feel Like I Read the Equivalent of Five to 10 Books Every Week’
"There’s a lot of work and travel involved in it, but there’s really nothing else I would rather be doing, and the reading and the preparation is a big part of it."
‘Babchik’s Morning After’ Moved to 6 a.m. EST Saturdays on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio
The show re-airs at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays as well.
Scott Jameson Named Brand Manager of 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore
Jameson will replace Chuck Sapienza, who mutually agreed to part ways with the company at the end of the year, an announcement which was made in late November.
Patrick McEnroe to Host New Tennis Show ‘Holding Court’ on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio
SiriusXM has announced it has added Patrick McEnroe to...
Scott Van Pelt: Having a Loyal Audience Creates Value
Over the last several decades at ESPN, Scott Van...
Sports Columns
Stuart Scott Died 10 Years Ago, Since Then He’s Been Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
From "Boo-Yah!" to "Hallah," to "He must be jelly cause jam don't shake like that," to "Can I get a witness from the congregation!?" Scott had a flare and a style that nobody had really had before him, and everyone wanted to attempt after him.
A Look Back on the Biggest Sports Media Stories of 2024
As the year comes to an end, let's look back on some of the stories we have covered this year before we flip the page to 2025.
The Best in Sports and News Media in 2024
"In September 2025 we'll celebrate 10 years in business. I never expected that when this journey began, and I'm damn proud that we've survived this long and continue to grow."
Sports Media Co-Rookies of the Year: Nick Saban and Bill Belichick
I thought it became pretty obvious from the get-go that Saban was a star in the making.
Here’s Hoping News Talk and Sports Talk Radio Had Their Holiday Wish Lists Fulfilled
What can talk radio do in 2025 and beyond that will help the sales teams not have to start conversations with potential clients by spending the first 20 minutes defending the industry and giving the reasons why it is not yet dead?
Sports Television
NBC Sports ‘Football Night in America’ Airing Live from Detroit in Week 18
This show will air ahead of a historic Game 272 between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
NHL Winter Classic Draws Under 1 Million Viewers on TNT, truTV
Last year’s NHL Winter Classic between the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken from T-Mobile Park averaged 1.1 million viewers, which represented the previous low point for the game.
Amazon’s Prime Video Registers its Most-Watched ‘Thursday Night Football’ Regular Season
Within its second consecutive year of double-digit growth, Prime Video also garnered best-ever audience figures in P18-34, P18-49 and P25-54 demographics.
Diamond Sports Group Officially Emerges from Ch. 11 Bankruptcy as ‘Main Street Sports Group’
"With a stronger balance sheet, key partnerships, supportive new owners, we are modernizing our business to thrive in a changing media landscape."
Allstate Sugar Bowl Postponed, Airing Thursday on ESPN at 4 p.m. EST
The quarterfinal matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia will air on ESPN with play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, analyst Greg McElroy and reporters Molly McGrath and Laura Rutledge.
News Radio
770 KTTH Adds Will Cain to Evening Lineup After The Daily Wire Shows Depart Westwood One
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the great voices of KTTH in Seattle."
Patriot Talk 920 AM Shuffles Lineup, Adds The Ramsey Show and Dana Loesch
“Their shows align perfectly with our mission to provide dynamic, engaging, and insightful content for our listeners.”
Len Berman: ‘I Don’t Want to Retire’ After 710 WOR Exit
"I’m sort of hoping something will drop out of the sky."
Audacy Shuttering WCBS 880 Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Radio Stories of 2024
2024 saw many ups -- like strong ratings during a wild election season -- and downs, including the end of a venerable news radio brand.
Townsquare Media Extends Coverage of News/Talk 890 KDXU
Townsquare Media has announced that News/Talk station 890 KDXU...
News Columns
Audacy Shuttering WCBS 880 Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Radio Stories of 2024
2024 saw many ups -- like strong ratings during a wild election season -- and downs, including the end of a venerable news radio brand.
The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024
The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.
The 3 Qualities Joe Rogan Used to Dethrone Howard Stern as the King of All Media
For decades, Howard Stern has been "The King of...
It’s the Talent, Stupid: Developing Influential Political Podcasts
The best radio and podcasts, the breakouts, are the ones where the talent – hosts and producers – are unique and entertaining, tuned into what the audience seeks while being themselves.
Non-Traditional Radio Revenue Will Be the Name of the Game in 2025
These ideas don’t grow on trees, but when you find one that works, you’ll be off to the races.
News Television
Ratings Roundup: CNN Tops All of Cable on New Year’s Eve, Cable News Channels Earn 3 of Top 4 Total Day Networks in 2024
CNN said that its streaming home on the Max platform saw its fourth-best day in history on New Year's Eve.
Former CNN, ABC News Anchor Aaron Brown Dies
Brown is widely remembered for his work at CNN during the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001.
The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024
The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.
Newsmax Scores Key Ratings Wins on Christmas Eve
Newsmax says its shows "went head-to-head with CNN and their special holiday programming winning each time in "P2" or total audience for all viewers."
NBC News Ends 2024 as #1 American News Network Across TV, Digital, and Streaming; Reached 137 Million Americans Per Month Across Platforms
NBC is slated to end 2024 as America’s number...
Music News
Michaela Johnson Joins ‘Fun 107’ New Bedford, MA Morning Team
Johnson will join existing hosts Michael Rock and Chris ‘Gazelle’ Arsenault.
Laura Dickerson Joins Q99.7 Atlanta For Middays And Assistant Program Director
Dickerson moves from Houston, where she has served as Music Director and night host at 104.1 KRBE since March 2022, and will continue tracking nights.
The Osmonds Founding Member Wayne Osmond Passes Away At 73
The Osmonds gained fame in the 1970s with hit songs including "One Bad Apple," "Yo-Yo," and "Down By the Lazy River."
Adult R&B ‘Magic 97.3’ Debuts In Bryan/College Station TX
The station will be anchored by “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” which is set to debut January 13.
Audacy AE Billy DiMaio Killed In New Orleans Terror Attack
Twenty-five-year-old DiMaio, a resident of Holmdel, NJ, joined Audacy in March 2023 as a Performance Sales Account Manager.
Music Columns
Audacy Shuttering WCBS 880 Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Radio Stories of 2024
2024 saw many ups -- like strong ratings during a wild election season -- and downs, including the end of a venerable news radio brand.
The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024
The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.
The 3 Qualities Joe Rogan Used to Dethrone Howard Stern as the King of All Media
For decades, Howard Stern has been "The King of...
It’s the Talent, Stupid: Developing Influential Political Podcasts
The best radio and podcasts, the breakouts, are the ones where the talent – hosts and producers – are unique and entertaining, tuned into what the audience seeks while being themselves.
Non-Traditional Radio Revenue Will Be the Name of the Game in 2025
These ideas don’t grow on trees, but when you find one that works, you’ll be off to the races.
Podcasting
YouTube ‘Investing Heavily’ to Support Audio, Podcast Content
“Google has lots of places where this content could live, and we’re talking with many of those teams, and we will look to integrate into all of those services as it makes sense.”
Brian Stelter to Exit ‘Inside the Hive’ Podcast with Vanity Fair
"Every week, I learned something new from the guests here at the table, and I hope you did as well."
SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz: Podcasting ‘Provides the Best Opportunity For Us to Monetize Through Advertising’
"We can look to pursue a slightly broader set of audiences, because we’re selling to advertisers across audiences and they want to make sure they have younger audiences as well.”
SiriusXM To Launch Women’s Empowerment Network Podcast Platform
At its inception, it will introduce two new podcasts, with additional original content expected to roll out in the following months.
CNN Launching New Tech-Focused Podcast Hosted by Clare Duffy
"It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information we are confronted with, and I hope to be an essential resource to help you and your loved ones make sense of it all.”
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
Sports Radio
Kenny Albert: ‘I Feel Like I Read the Equivalent of Five to 10 Books Every Week’
"There’s a lot of work and travel involved in it, but there’s really nothing else I would rather be doing, and the reading and the preparation is a big part of it."
‘Babchik’s Morning After’ Moved to 6 a.m. EST Saturdays on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio
The show re-airs at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays as well.
Scott Jameson Named Brand Manager of 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore
Jameson will replace Chuck Sapienza, who mutually agreed to part ways with the company at the end of the year, an announcement which was made in late November.
Patrick McEnroe to Host New Tennis Show ‘Holding Court’ on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio
SiriusXM has announced it has added Patrick McEnroe to...
Scott Van Pelt: Having a Loyal Audience Creates Value
Over the last several decades at ESPN, Scott Van...
Sports Columns
Stuart Scott Died 10 Years Ago, Since Then He’s Been Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
From "Boo-Yah!" to "Hallah," to "He must be jelly cause jam don't shake like that," to "Can I get a witness from the congregation!?" Scott had a flare and a style that nobody had really had before him, and everyone wanted to attempt after him.
A Look Back on the Biggest Sports Media Stories of 2024
As the year comes to an end, let's look back on some of the stories we have covered this year before we flip the page to 2025.
The Best in Sports and News Media in 2024
"In September 2025 we'll celebrate 10 years in business. I never expected that when this journey began, and I'm damn proud that we've survived this long and continue to grow."
Sports Media Co-Rookies of the Year: Nick Saban and Bill Belichick
I thought it became pretty obvious from the get-go that Saban was a star in the making.
Here’s Hoping News Talk and Sports Talk Radio Had Their Holiday Wish Lists Fulfilled
What can talk radio do in 2025 and beyond that will help the sales teams not have to start conversations with potential clients by spending the first 20 minutes defending the industry and giving the reasons why it is not yet dead?
Sports Television
NBC Sports ‘Football Night in America’ Airing Live from Detroit in Week 18
This show will air ahead of a historic Game 272 between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
NHL Winter Classic Draws Under 1 Million Viewers on TNT, truTV
Last year’s NHL Winter Classic between the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken from T-Mobile Park averaged 1.1 million viewers, which represented the previous low point for the game.
Amazon’s Prime Video Registers its Most-Watched ‘Thursday Night Football’ Regular Season
Within its second consecutive year of double-digit growth, Prime Video also garnered best-ever audience figures in P18-34, P18-49 and P25-54 demographics.
Diamond Sports Group Officially Emerges from Ch. 11 Bankruptcy as ‘Main Street Sports Group’
"With a stronger balance sheet, key partnerships, supportive new owners, we are modernizing our business to thrive in a changing media landscape."
Allstate Sugar Bowl Postponed, Airing Thursday on ESPN at 4 p.m. EST
The quarterfinal matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia will air on ESPN with play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, analyst Greg McElroy and reporters Molly McGrath and Laura Rutledge.
News Radio
770 KTTH Adds Will Cain to Evening Lineup After The Daily Wire Shows Depart Westwood One
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the great voices of KTTH in Seattle."
Patriot Talk 920 AM Shuffles Lineup, Adds The Ramsey Show and Dana Loesch
“Their shows align perfectly with our mission to provide dynamic, engaging, and insightful content for our listeners.”
Len Berman: ‘I Don’t Want to Retire’ After 710 WOR Exit
"I’m sort of hoping something will drop out of the sky."
Audacy Shuttering WCBS 880 Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Radio Stories of 2024
2024 saw many ups -- like strong ratings during a wild election season -- and downs, including the end of a venerable news radio brand.
Townsquare Media Extends Coverage of News/Talk 890 KDXU
Townsquare Media has announced that News/Talk station 890 KDXU...
News Columns
Audacy Shuttering WCBS 880 Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Radio Stories of 2024
2024 saw many ups -- like strong ratings during a wild election season -- and downs, including the end of a venerable news radio brand.
The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024
The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.
The 3 Qualities Joe Rogan Used to Dethrone Howard Stern as the King of All Media
For decades, Howard Stern has been "The King of...
It’s the Talent, Stupid: Developing Influential Political Podcasts
The best radio and podcasts, the breakouts, are the ones where the talent – hosts and producers – are unique and entertaining, tuned into what the audience seeks while being themselves.
Non-Traditional Radio Revenue Will Be the Name of the Game in 2025
These ideas don’t grow on trees, but when you find one that works, you’ll be off to the races.
News Television
Ratings Roundup: CNN Tops All of Cable on New Year’s Eve, Cable News Channels Earn 3 of Top 4 Total Day Networks in 2024
CNN said that its streaming home on the Max platform saw its fourth-best day in history on New Year's Eve.
Former CNN, ABC News Anchor Aaron Brown Dies
Brown is widely remembered for his work at CNN during the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001.
The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024
The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.
Newsmax Scores Key Ratings Wins on Christmas Eve
Newsmax says its shows "went head-to-head with CNN and their special holiday programming winning each time in "P2" or total audience for all viewers."
NBC News Ends 2024 as #1 American News Network Across TV, Digital, and Streaming; Reached 137 Million Americans Per Month Across Platforms
NBC is slated to end 2024 as America’s number...
Music News
Michaela Johnson Joins ‘Fun 107’ New Bedford, MA Morning Team
Johnson will join existing hosts Michael Rock and Chris ‘Gazelle’ Arsenault.
Laura Dickerson Joins Q99.7 Atlanta For Middays And Assistant Program Director
Dickerson moves from Houston, where she has served as Music Director and night host at 104.1 KRBE since March 2022, and will continue tracking nights.
The Osmonds Founding Member Wayne Osmond Passes Away At 73
The Osmonds gained fame in the 1970s with hit songs including "One Bad Apple," "Yo-Yo," and "Down By the Lazy River."
Adult R&B ‘Magic 97.3’ Debuts In Bryan/College Station TX
The station will be anchored by “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” which is set to debut January 13.
Audacy AE Billy DiMaio Killed In New Orleans Terror Attack
Twenty-five-year-old DiMaio, a resident of Holmdel, NJ, joined Audacy in March 2023 as a Performance Sales Account Manager.
Music Columns
Audacy Shuttering WCBS 880 Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Radio Stories of 2024
2024 saw many ups -- like strong ratings during a wild election season -- and downs, including the end of a venerable news radio brand.
The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024
The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.
The 3 Qualities Joe Rogan Used to Dethrone Howard Stern as the King of All Media
For decades, Howard Stern has been "The King of...
It’s the Talent, Stupid: Developing Influential Political Podcasts
The best radio and podcasts, the breakouts, are the ones where the talent – hosts and producers – are unique and entertaining, tuned into what the audience seeks while being themselves.
Non-Traditional Radio Revenue Will Be the Name of the Game in 2025
These ideas don’t grow on trees, but when you find one that works, you’ll be off to the races.
Podcasting
YouTube ‘Investing Heavily’ to Support Audio, Podcast Content
“Google has lots of places where this content could live, and we’re talking with many of those teams, and we will look to integrate into all of those services as it makes sense.”
Brian Stelter to Exit ‘Inside the Hive’ Podcast with Vanity Fair
"Every week, I learned something new from the guests here at the table, and I hope you did as well."
SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz: Podcasting ‘Provides the Best Opportunity For Us to Monetize Through Advertising’
"We can look to pursue a slightly broader set of audiences, because we’re selling to advertisers across audiences and they want to make sure they have younger audiences as well.”
SiriusXM To Launch Women’s Empowerment Network Podcast Platform
At its inception, it will introduce two new podcasts, with additional original content expected to roll out in the following months.
CNN Launching New Tech-Focused Podcast Hosted by Clare Duffy
"It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information we are confronted with, and I hope to be an essential resource to help you and your loved ones make sense of it all.”
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
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