Barrett Media
Brian Shactman is a weekly columnist for Barrett News Radio. In addition to writing for BNM, Brian can be heard weekday mornings in Hartford, CT on 1080 WTIC hosting the popular morning program ‘Brian & Company’. During his career, Brian has worked for ESPN, CNBC, MSNBC, and local TV channels in Connecticut and Massachusetts. You can find him on Twitter @bshactman.
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Sports Radio
Fanatics, ‘Pivot’ Podcast Parting Ways Just 8 Months After Multi-Year Agreement
The sponsorship deal between the Pivot Podcast and Fanatics...
Cameron Brink, Sydel Curry-Lee to Launch New Weekly Show with Wave Sports & Entertainment
"Cameron and Sydel have a unique ability to connect with people and let their authentic selves shine."
Charlotte Wilder Leaves Meadowlark Media
"Excited for what’s next, and I’ll see you on the internet."
Connor McKnight Joins White Sox Broadcasts on Chicago Sports Network, Leaving ESPN Chicago Per Report
Connor McKnight, who has hosted Chicago White Sox pre-...
Stephen A. Smith: I Believe I Will Re-Sign with ESPN
"I’m ready for everybody, and even my colleagues have always said when the lights come on, it’s something different that happens to me."
Sports Columns
Is Market Mobility Still a Thing in Sports Radio?
Market mobility, when it existed, was the sign of a company and boss that took an interest in what came out of their listeners’ speakers.
Broadcast Agents are Focused on Digital Opportunities, Why Aren’t More Radio Stations?
You have zero opportunity to succeed in the future. Your station is what people commonly refer to as 'Dead Man Walking'.
NBA GameTime on NBA TV is Hoops Heaven for Any Fan of ‘The Association’
The show is a thorough and complete package for NBA viewers meting out a perfectly prescribed dose of highlights, analysis, news, and previews.
Is Access Losing Its Value in Sports Media?
We’re in an age where access comes at the expense of actual content. The decision makers have decided that it trumps quality, and that sucks.
3 Real Concerns For The Radio Industry
"This format used to launch the biggest and best shows in the business. Now, how many 'hit' shows exist featuring talent under 35 years old?"
Sports Television
CBS Sports to Present Bills-Chiefs AFC Championship Game, Including On-Site Edition of ‘The NFL Today’
James Brown will host "The NFL Today" and be joined by analysts Nate Burleson, J.J. Watt, Bill Cowher and Matt Ryan live from Kansas City.
Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny “The Jet” Smith ‘On the Verge’ of Re-Signing with TNT Sports: Report
O'Neal's deal was confirmed by CNBC to be a five-year deal, while Smith's was only confirmed to be a “multiyear deal.”
ESPN Promotes Tim Corrigan, Amanda Gifford; Names Andy Tennant VP of Super Bowl Production
In addition to the alterations in sports production, ESPN has announced changes in its original content division under senior vice president Brian Lockhart.
CFP National Championship on ESPN Averages 22.1 Million Viewers for Ohio State Victory Over Notre Dame
The game was the most-viewed non-NFL sporting event over the past year and peaked with 26.1 million viewers during the 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. EST quarter-hour.
Mike Golic, Mike Golic Jr. to Leave DraftKings Network With End of In-House Produced Shows
Mike Golic and Mike Golic Jr. will be departing...
News Radio
Clay Travis & Buck Sexton to Launch New ‘Team 47’ Podcast Centered on Donald Trump Administration
The show is the latest program inside the duo's podcast network, which was launched in 2023.
Cumulus Media Promotes Pete Mundo to Vice President of News/Talk
"Pete is among our most dynamic leaders, in ANY format.
Westwood One Shifts America at Night with Rich Valdes to New Timeslot With 25 New Affiliates
"I’m super excited to be on all of these new stations in great cities, and welcome all of our new listeners to join our live late-night national town hall conversation..."
New Jersey 101.5 Morning Host Bill Spadea to Exit to Focus on State Governor’s Race
After Spadea's exit, the station's News Director -- Eric Scott -- will step into the timeslot on an interim basis.
Brian Long Named Program Director of KFI-AM 640, AM 570 LA Sports
The move marks a return to both iHeartMedia and Los Angeles for Long.
News Columns
How Will Donald Trump’s Second Term Impact CNN and MSNBC’s Ratings?
Ratings are down for MSNBC and CNN. Conventional wisdom says they won't just go down without a fight.
3 Ways News/Talk Radio Programmers Can Create Masterful Promos
Every news/talk station is a living, breathing, entity. You must demonstrate that fact every hour of each day.
The Lesson Radio Can Learn from the Latest CES Event in Las Vegas
Most of what you see and hear at CES isn’t at all what the future will be like, or it’s an overblown, overstated version of what’s coming next.
How News/Talk Radio Stations Can Localize Syndicated Hosts, And Why Those Hosts Should Want to Do the Same
While some of these hosts are serving hundreds of stations, others are only on dozens of stations, with plenty of room to grow in the years ahead.
Why News/Talk Radio — From the C-Suite to the Producer’s Booth — Should Lead the Push to Reverse TikTok Ban
If you like revenue, ratings, and relevance, TikTok is a tool, not a competitor, and not something to fear.
News Television
CNN Sets New Daily Lineup Featuring Changes for Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, Audie Cornish, and Kasie Hunt
The network's primetime lineup -- featuring Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Kaitlan Collins, and Abby Phillip -- remains unchanged.
CNN to Eliminate 6% of Workforce, Start New Streaming Service in Restructuring
CEO Mark Thompson said that CNN will "continue to have a strong presence on Max," despite the launch of its own service.
The Watch: The Will Cain Show on Fox News
Will Cain is stepping into a timeslot occupied by Neil Cavuto for almost 30 years. No pressure though, right?
Norah O’Donnell Final Broadcast with CBS Evening News Moves Up One Day
O'Donnell began hosting the nightly news program in July 2019.
Anna Coren Departs CNN to Join CBS News as Foreign Correspondent
Coren will cover the Asia-Pacific region for CBS News, with a focus on how the region pertains to the United States as President Donald Trump begins his second term.
Music News
Froggy 100.3/107.3 Milwaukee Fills Out On Air Lineup
Country Froggy 100.3/107.3 Milwaukee Program Director Gordon Mays checks in with news of a new on-air lineup.
Brett Andrews Confirms Departure From iHeartMedia Milwaukee and Madison
“The Brett Andrews Radio will no longer be heard on BIG FM Milwaukee, Z104 Madison, or KISS FM Chicago.”
Promo Meeting: Surprising and Delighting the Audience With Fun Ideas and Cool Prizes
I used to tell air talent that they should have an answer to this question at the end of their shift. “What did I do to delight and surprise the listener today?”
Shawn Knight Joins Hot 106.5 Jacksonville For Afternoons
Knight joins from AC Majic 107.7 Topeka where he co-hosted “The Majic Morning Show.”
Vox AM FM Names Christopher ‘Boomer’ Layfield Operations/Program Director
Layfield comes from Cumulus Media Indianapolis, where OM and PD were for Country 95.5 WFMS and AC 107.9 The Mix.
Music Columns
How Will Donald Trump’s Second Term Impact CNN and MSNBC’s Ratings?
Ratings are down for MSNBC and CNN. Conventional wisdom says they won't just go down without a fight.
3 Ways News/Talk Radio Programmers Can Create Masterful Promos
Every news/talk station is a living, breathing, entity. You must demonstrate that fact every hour of each day.
The Lesson Radio Can Learn from the Latest CES Event in Las Vegas
Most of what you see and hear at CES isn’t at all what the future will be like, or it’s an overblown, overstated version of what’s coming next.
How News/Talk Radio Stations Can Localize Syndicated Hosts, And Why Those Hosts Should Want to Do the Same
While some of these hosts are serving hundreds of stations, others are only on dozens of stations, with plenty of room to grow in the years ahead.
Why News/Talk Radio — From the C-Suite to the Producer’s Booth — Should Lead the Push to Reverse TikTok Ban
If you like revenue, ratings, and relevance, TikTok is a tool, not a competitor, and not something to fear.
Podcasting
Fox News Contributor Raymond Arroyo to Launch Show with iHeartPodcasts
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo has announced the launch...
‘Music Saved Me’ With Lynn Hoffman Joins iHeartPodcasts Network
The show features compelling stories of passion and resilience, showcasing musicians who have navigated their challenges.
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.”
Brian Shactman is a weekly columnist for Barrett News Radio. In addition to writing for BNM, Brian can be heard weekday mornings in Hartford, CT on 1080 WTIC hosting the popular morning program ‘Brian & Company’. During his career, Brian has worked for ESPN, CNBC, MSNBC, and local TV channels in Connecticut and Massachusetts. You can find him on Twitter @bshactman.
Sports Radio
Fanatics, ‘Pivot’ Podcast Parting Ways Just 8 Months After Multi-Year Agreement
The sponsorship deal between the Pivot Podcast and Fanatics...
Cameron Brink, Sydel Curry-Lee to Launch New Weekly Show with Wave Sports & Entertainment
"Cameron and Sydel have a unique ability to connect with people and let their authentic selves shine."
Charlotte Wilder Leaves Meadowlark Media
"Excited for what’s next, and I’ll see you on the internet."
Connor McKnight Joins White Sox Broadcasts on Chicago Sports Network, Leaving ESPN Chicago Per Report
Connor McKnight, who has hosted Chicago White Sox pre-...
Stephen A. Smith: I Believe I Will Re-Sign with ESPN
"I’m ready for everybody, and even my colleagues have always said when the lights come on, it’s something different that happens to me."
Sports Columns
Is Market Mobility Still a Thing in Sports Radio?
Market mobility, when it existed, was the sign of a company and boss that took an interest in what came out of their listeners’ speakers.
Broadcast Agents are Focused on Digital Opportunities, Why Aren’t More Radio Stations?
You have zero opportunity to succeed in the future. Your station is what people commonly refer to as 'Dead Man Walking'.
NBA GameTime on NBA TV is Hoops Heaven for Any Fan of ‘The Association’
The show is a thorough and complete package for NBA viewers meting out a perfectly prescribed dose of highlights, analysis, news, and previews.
Is Access Losing Its Value in Sports Media?
We’re in an age where access comes at the expense of actual content. The decision makers have decided that it trumps quality, and that sucks.
3 Real Concerns For The Radio Industry
"This format used to launch the biggest and best shows in the business. Now, how many 'hit' shows exist featuring talent under 35 years old?"
Sports Television
CBS Sports to Present Bills-Chiefs AFC Championship Game, Including On-Site Edition of ‘The NFL Today’
James Brown will host "The NFL Today" and be joined by analysts Nate Burleson, J.J. Watt, Bill Cowher and Matt Ryan live from Kansas City.
Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny “The Jet” Smith ‘On the Verge’ of Re-Signing with TNT Sports: Report
O'Neal's deal was confirmed by CNBC to be a five-year deal, while Smith's was only confirmed to be a “multiyear deal.”
ESPN Promotes Tim Corrigan, Amanda Gifford; Names Andy Tennant VP of Super Bowl Production
In addition to the alterations in sports production, ESPN has announced changes in its original content division under senior vice president Brian Lockhart.
CFP National Championship on ESPN Averages 22.1 Million Viewers for Ohio State Victory Over Notre Dame
The game was the most-viewed non-NFL sporting event over the past year and peaked with 26.1 million viewers during the 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. EST quarter-hour.
Mike Golic, Mike Golic Jr. to Leave DraftKings Network With End of In-House Produced Shows
Mike Golic and Mike Golic Jr. will be departing...
News Radio
Clay Travis & Buck Sexton to Launch New ‘Team 47’ Podcast Centered on Donald Trump Administration
The show is the latest program inside the duo's podcast network, which was launched in 2023.
Cumulus Media Promotes Pete Mundo to Vice President of News/Talk
"Pete is among our most dynamic leaders, in ANY format.
Westwood One Shifts America at Night with Rich Valdes to New Timeslot With 25 New Affiliates
"I’m super excited to be on all of these new stations in great cities, and welcome all of our new listeners to join our live late-night national town hall conversation..."
New Jersey 101.5 Morning Host Bill Spadea to Exit to Focus on State Governor’s Race
After Spadea's exit, the station's News Director -- Eric Scott -- will step into the timeslot on an interim basis.
Brian Long Named Program Director of KFI-AM 640, AM 570 LA Sports
The move marks a return to both iHeartMedia and Los Angeles for Long.
News Columns
How Will Donald Trump’s Second Term Impact CNN and MSNBC’s Ratings?
Ratings are down for MSNBC and CNN. Conventional wisdom says they won't just go down without a fight.
3 Ways News/Talk Radio Programmers Can Create Masterful Promos
Every news/talk station is a living, breathing, entity. You must demonstrate that fact every hour of each day.
The Lesson Radio Can Learn from the Latest CES Event in Las Vegas
Most of what you see and hear at CES isn’t at all what the future will be like, or it’s an overblown, overstated version of what’s coming next.
How News/Talk Radio Stations Can Localize Syndicated Hosts, And Why Those Hosts Should Want to Do the Same
While some of these hosts are serving hundreds of stations, others are only on dozens of stations, with plenty of room to grow in the years ahead.
Why News/Talk Radio — From the C-Suite to the Producer’s Booth — Should Lead the Push to Reverse TikTok Ban
If you like revenue, ratings, and relevance, TikTok is a tool, not a competitor, and not something to fear.
News Television
CNN Sets New Daily Lineup Featuring Changes for Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, Audie Cornish, and Kasie Hunt
The network's primetime lineup -- featuring Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Kaitlan Collins, and Abby Phillip -- remains unchanged.
CNN to Eliminate 6% of Workforce, Start New Streaming Service in Restructuring
CEO Mark Thompson said that CNN will "continue to have a strong presence on Max," despite the launch of its own service.
The Watch: The Will Cain Show on Fox News
Will Cain is stepping into a timeslot occupied by Neil Cavuto for almost 30 years. No pressure though, right?
Norah O’Donnell Final Broadcast with CBS Evening News Moves Up One Day
O'Donnell began hosting the nightly news program in July 2019.
Anna Coren Departs CNN to Join CBS News as Foreign Correspondent
Coren will cover the Asia-Pacific region for CBS News, with a focus on how the region pertains to the United States as President Donald Trump begins his second term.
Music News
Froggy 100.3/107.3 Milwaukee Fills Out On Air Lineup
Country Froggy 100.3/107.3 Milwaukee Program Director Gordon Mays checks in with news of a new on-air lineup.
Brett Andrews Confirms Departure From iHeartMedia Milwaukee and Madison
“The Brett Andrews Radio will no longer be heard on BIG FM Milwaukee, Z104 Madison, or KISS FM Chicago.”
Promo Meeting: Surprising and Delighting the Audience With Fun Ideas and Cool Prizes
I used to tell air talent that they should have an answer to this question at the end of their shift. “What did I do to delight and surprise the listener today?”
Shawn Knight Joins Hot 106.5 Jacksonville For Afternoons
Knight joins from AC Majic 107.7 Topeka where he co-hosted “The Majic Morning Show.”
Vox AM FM Names Christopher ‘Boomer’ Layfield Operations/Program Director
Layfield comes from Cumulus Media Indianapolis, where OM and PD were for Country 95.5 WFMS and AC 107.9 The Mix.
Music Columns
How Will Donald Trump’s Second Term Impact CNN and MSNBC’s Ratings?
Ratings are down for MSNBC and CNN. Conventional wisdom says they won't just go down without a fight.
3 Ways News/Talk Radio Programmers Can Create Masterful Promos
Every news/talk station is a living, breathing, entity. You must demonstrate that fact every hour of each day.
The Lesson Radio Can Learn from the Latest CES Event in Las Vegas
Most of what you see and hear at CES isn’t at all what the future will be like, or it’s an overblown, overstated version of what’s coming next.
How News/Talk Radio Stations Can Localize Syndicated Hosts, And Why Those Hosts Should Want to Do the Same
While some of these hosts are serving hundreds of stations, others are only on dozens of stations, with plenty of room to grow in the years ahead.
Why News/Talk Radio — From the C-Suite to the Producer’s Booth — Should Lead the Push to Reverse TikTok Ban
If you like revenue, ratings, and relevance, TikTok is a tool, not a competitor, and not something to fear.
Podcasting
Fox News Contributor Raymond Arroyo to Launch Show with iHeartPodcasts
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo has announced the launch...
‘Music Saved Me’ With Lynn Hoffman Joins iHeartPodcasts Network
The show features compelling stories of passion and resilience, showcasing musicians who have navigated their challenges.
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.”
Brian Shactman is a weekly columnist for Barrett News Radio. In addition to writing for BNM, Brian can be heard weekday mornings in Hartford, CT on 1080 WTIC hosting the popular morning program ‘Brian & Company’. During his career, Brian has worked for ESPN, CNBC, MSNBC, and local TV channels in Connecticut and Massachusetts. You can find him on Twitter @bshactman.
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