Thursday, April 18, 2024

4/18 WAKE-UP CALL: High Stakes House Vote Coming This Weekend


House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would proceed with a high-stakes vote on stalled funding for overseas allies, defying conservative critics. Democrats were expected to support the vote, but many Republicans, angry about the additional aid for Ukraine and a lack of border provisions, planned to oppose the measure. Johnson’s plan—which could determine the fate of his political career after navigating months of GOP infighting—comprises one bill each for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan and a fourth bill containing many GOP priorities. Leaders posted the text of three of them, laying out a $95 billion aid package that largely matches one that passed the Democratic-controlled Senate earlier. One major change: $9.5 billion to Ukraine in forgivable loans, not grants—Donald Trump’s demand.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his forces can’t stop Russia from advancing unless the U.S. provides more military aid. A final vote is expected Saturday.

➤IRAN BRACES: Iran is bracing for a retaliatory Israeli attack on its territory or proxies. The West is urging Israel to respond to Iran’s weekend attack in a way that avoids escalating tensions. Tehran’s missile and drone assault on Saturday was retaliation for what it said was a fatal Israeli strike on a diplomatic building in Syria. Israel hasn’t claimed responsibility. Iran’s attack marked a strategic shift and a major gamble because it had long known that its conventional military was weaker than Israel’s and the U.S.’s. For much of the time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Tehran had few foreign friends to support an attack on a U.S. ally. Over the years, it has built strong diplomatic ties with U.S. rivals such as Russia and China, reconciled with neighbors and used illicit oil sales to strengthen its economy.

➤HEZBOLLAH LAUNCHES MISSILES: Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Wednesday it launched missiles and drones at a military facility in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed Hezbollah members, an incident that the Israeli military said left 14 soldiers wounded. The military said six of the soldiers were in serious condition. It said it "struck the sources of fire" after identifying several anti-tank missile and drone launches from Lebanon towards the Bedouin village of Arab al-Aramshe. The Israeli Ynet news site said the soldiers were in a community centre in the village. On Tuesday, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed three people, including a Hezbollah field commander, Lebanese security sources said. Israeli forces and Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah have been exchanging fire for over six months in parallel to the Gaza war, in the most serious hostilities since they fought a major war in 2006.

➤REPUBLICANS BLOCK REMOVAL OF ABORTION BAN:  Republicans in the Arizona state House blocked two attempts to repeal the state’s 160-year-old near total ban on abortion. Democrats had hoped that a few GOPers would help them force a vote to overturn the law, but only one did. The measure, one of the strictest abortion bans in the U.S., is expected to go into effect as early as the end of May. 

Arizona became ground zero in the abortion fight after the state Supreme Court reinstated the Civil War-era law earlier this month. The ruling has given some momentum to Democrats in a battleground state that could decide elections for the White House and both chambers of Congress. Previously, Arizona’s GOP-controlled legislature in 2022 passed a law permitting abortion through 15 weeks of pregnancy.

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Nielsen Reports Greater Shifts in Viewing Behavior


Nielsen has released The Gauge™ report for March 2024, which revealed that TV usage changes from February to March were very similar to those exhibited in the same interval last year, as seasonality—of both content and viewing behavior—has started to take effect. As such, the 3% drop in overall TV usage in March does not come as a surprise, but a closer look at shifts in viewing behavior over a longer period of time highlights greater changes across the broader media landscape.



While usage fell to some extent across each of the primary viewing categories this month, cable viewing from February to March drove a 0.7-point bump in share, resulting in 28.3% of TV for cable. The cable category was lifted in part by sports, which was up 43% in March, driven largely by college basketball viewership. Games in the women's NCAA tournament had a more meaningful impact on viewership compared with previous years, with the Round 2 matchup between Iowa and West Virginia ranking as the No. 7 cable telecast in March with 4.9 million viewers on ESPN. Also giving cable a boost this month was State of the Union coverage on cable news networks. The March 7 event drew 32.2 million viewers in total (14.1M on cable networks), and six of this month's top 10 cable telecasts were related to it. On a year-over-year basis, the cable category saw a 10% decline and has lost 2.8 share points.

The streaming category also exhibited minimal impact compared with last month, falling just 1% which resulted in a 38.5% share of TV (+0.8 pt.) in March. YouTube ended the month with another record, accounting for 9.7% of total TV usage in March (+0.4 pt.) — the largest share for a streaming service to date in The Gauge. Meanwhile, Netflix climbed to 8.1% of TV (+0.3 pt.), boosted by three of this month's top streaming originals: Love is Blind, The Gentleman, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, which combined for nearly 15 million viewing minutes in the March interval.

Streaming viewership was up 12% this month versus one year ago, and the category has added 4.4 share points (vs. 34.1% in March 2023).

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Report: Majority of Fans Listen To Sports Audio Content


Sports audio content has become increasingly popular among fans. According to a recent Sports Audio Report conducted by SiriusXM Media, GroupM, and Edison Research, here are some fascinating insights:

Engagement with Audio Content:

  • 89% of sports fans say they frequently or occasionally watch sports content.
  • 64% of sports fans say they frequently or occasionally listen to sports content.
  • Power of Audio for Sports Fans:
  • Audio offers sports fans unique perspectives on sports that aren’t covered in other media.

Sports audio listeners, especially those who listen to podcasts, are spending significantly more time than sports video viewers.

Listening Habits:

Sports fans spend an average of six hours and 26 minutes with audio content each day, which is over two hours more than the average American spends listening to audio.

Whether it’s tuning in to sports podcasts, satellite radio shows, or traditional radio broadcasts, audio provides a dynamic way for fans to stay connected with their favorite sports and leagues. So, whether you’re catching up on game highlights, analysis, or player interviews, sports audio content has you covered!

Open minds: Sports audio listeners, and especially sports podcast listeners, spend more on average per year on sports merchandise than sports video viewers, according to the report. They’re also more likely to say they enjoy hearing or seeing their favorite athletes in ads.

  • About two in three (67%) sports audio listeners said they trust the products and services used by the athletes they like.
  • A similar share (64%) said they trust the products and services used by sports announcers or commentators they like.

Gap in the market: About one-third (32%) of sports fans said they currently follow a women’s team or a woman athlete, a share that skews higher among Gen Z, millennial, Latino, Black, and Asian fans, according to the report. That’s “solid consumer interest” in women’s sports, Martin Blich, executive director of sports and live investment at GroupM US, said. There are also signs that number could be increasing, per the report, with 29% of fans saying they follow women’s sports or women athletes more now than they did five years ago, including 32% of men surveyed.

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Radio & Cars Continue to Ride Together


On the radio side, two of the themes running through many presentations and panels at the NAB Show  over the past several days have been in-car listening and listening among younger audio consumers.

It turns out, when we are talking about today’s 13-34 year olds, the two topics come together.

According to Share of Ear® from Edison Research, fully 53% of today’s 13-34 year olds are reached by at least some radio every single day – a stat that points to radio’s resilient reach. This can be surprising to those who believe young listeners exclusively use streaming services or only listen to digital audio. But location of listening is key when it comes to radio consumption among this group. The car is not only a good place to reach young radio listeners, for many it’s the ONLY place they listen. Among the 13-34s who listen to any radio, 56% of them will listen only in the car. Programmers should consider the fact that when their messages and music are heard by young radio listeners, it is often in an in-car environment.





Of course that means 44% of younger radio listeners report listening either someplace else, or both in the car and someplace else, which is also notable.

Advertisers looking for young people can find them listening to the radio in their cars, in impressive numbers.

Share of Ear also tells us when young Americans are most likely to be listening to radio in the car. Morning (6am - 10am) and late afternoon (3pm -7pm) drive times are important for engaging almost all audiences, but specifically Americans 13-34. Programmers should be mindful of all the content they place on-air during these times since this key demographic is most likely to be listening to radio in the car then. Further daypart and age information is available within the broader Share of Ear report.
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Paid Subscriptions Becoming Overwhelming, Radio Benefits


The phenomenon of subscription fatigue has become increasingly prevalent in our digital age. As consumers, we find ourselves inundated with a growing list of monthly fees for various services. Let’s explore why this is happening and how it impacts both companies and individuals.

The Rise of Subscriptions: During the pandemic, subscription-based services experienced a surge in popularity. Companies like Amazon Prime and Instacart saw a significant increase in subscribers as people stayed indoors. ReCharge, a subscription payment platform, reported a 90% surge in retail subscribers in 2020 compared to the previous year. Thousands of merchants added subscription options via their platform. Subscriptions provide companies with predictable recurring revenue and access to valuable customer data. They also act as a buffer against declining ad revenue.

Why the Shift to Subscriptions?: Companies are pivoting from relying solely on advertising revenue to generating income directly from users. Social media giants like Facebook are exploring alternative revenue streams due to diminishing ad revenue. Subscription models allow companies to tailor services, build loyalty, and offer flexibility. Consumers pay only for the features they want.



Challenges and Impact: Consumers experience subscription fatigue when faced with an overwhelming number of monthly fees. Companies must strike a balance between revenue generation and customer satisfaction. The global subscription billing services market is projected to double in size by 2026.

In this landscape, free radio stands out as an appealing alternative:

  • Cost-Free: Radio remains advertiser-funded, requiring no monthly fees.
  • Adaptability: Despite technological advancements, radio continues to thrive alongside streaming services and podcasts.

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TV Rating: Fox News Remains Tops In Cable TV


Nielsen live-plus-same-day data for the week of April 8 saw FNC average 2.094 million total viewers and 247,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. TV Newser reports the network was up in total viewers by +10% and +12% in the A25-54 demo, relative to the week prior (week beginning April 1).

In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.317 million total viewers and 167,000 A25-54 viewers. That’s a gain of +5% in total viewers and +10% in A25-54 from what Fox News averaged in those measurements the week prior. Among all basic cable networks, Fox News took first place in total primetime viewers but remained in 5th place in the primetime demo. In total day, the network held its No. 1 position in total viewers and rose two spots to take second place in the total day demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.158 million total viewers and 103,000 viewers from the A25-54 demo for the week. It was up by +8% in total viewers and +17% in the A25-54 demo from what the network averaged the week prior.  CNN averaged 632,000 total primetime viewers and 127,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week. The network saw massive gains from the previous week, up +28% in total viewers and +49% in the A25-54 demo. 

Fox once again had 12 out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led by The Five (2.930 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). The second hour of Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace was MSNBC’s most-watched program, coming in at No. 8 (1.526 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). MSNBC took the remaining two spots in the top 15, with the first hour of Deadline: White House at No. 11 (1.481 million viewers at 4 p.m. ET) and The Beat with Ari Melber at No. 13 (1.469 million viewers at 6 p.m. ET).

Gutfeld! Stayed at the top in the Adults 25-54 demo, averaging 304,000 A25-54 viewers at 10 p.m. ET. Fox News had 14 of the top 15 cable news shows in the demo overall, with MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber taking the final spot with 147,000 viewers at 6 p.m. ET.

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Fox News Digital Reaches Milestone Performance


FOX News Digital finished the first 1Q 2024 marking twelve consecutive quarters leading news brands with multiplatform minutes, while seeing double-digit year-over-year growth in the category, according to Comscore. 

Meanwhile, CNN saw a 10% decrease with multiplatform minutes year-over-year. FOX News Digital also led news brands with multiplatform views, marking seven consecutive quarters leading this metric and closing out the first quarter reaching 9.8 billion total multiplatform minutes, 4.9 billion multiplatform views, and an average of 111 million monthly total digital multiplatform unique visitors.* 
The FOX News Mobile app averaged 5.8 million unique visitors in the first quarter, leading CNN’s mobile app which saw 5.1 million unique visitors.*

In March, FOX News Digital was the top news brand with both multiplatform views and minutes, marking 37 consecutive months as the leader in multiplatform minutes.* 

During the month, FOX News Digital posted 3.4 billion multiplatform minutes, 1.6 billion multiplatform views and nearly 108 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors.*** 

FOX News Digital also led news brands with average views per visit in March, averaging 2.8 views per visit.

FOX News remained the most engaged brand on social media in the competitive set in the first quarter with 70.3 million total social interactions, notching the 40th consecutive quarter FOX News has placed on top, according to Emplifi. FOX News drove 17.5 million interactions on Facebook, 46.4 million Instagram interactions and 6.4 million X interactions for the quarter. On YouTube, FOX News secured 569.2 million according to Shareablee.

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CNN Planning Transition To Digital Stream


Mark Thompson, the new head of CNN, has ambitious plans to steer the network toward a digital future. Facing an “existential” threat due to viewers’ shift away from traditional TV, Thompson aims to transform CNN’s landscape. Here are the key points:

Digital Transition: Thompson intends to transition CNN away from cable TV and onto a streaming platform akin to YouTube and TikTok. Viewers would access CNN content through a subscription model.

Cost-Cutting Measures: Thompson acknowledges the need for cost efficiency. He aims to explore ways to do more with less, emphasizing optimization and effectiveness.

Digital Subscription Possibility:  While no final decision has been made, Thompson considers a digital subscription as a serious possibility. The specifics of this subscription service are yet to be defined.

CNN+ and Its Fate: Thompson rules out replicating the ill-fated CNN+, which was shut down shortly after its launch. The focus is on a sustainable digital model.

Challenges Ahead: CNN faces competition from cable news giants like Fox News and MSNBC. Thompson’s experience at The New York Times Company informs his approach to digital distribution.

Thompson’s mission is clear: redefine CNN’s future by embracing the digital landscape and ensuring its relevance in an evolving media landscape.

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Google To 28 Protestors: 'You're Fired'


Google Wednesday took action by terminating 28 employees who were involved in a 10-hour sit-in protest at the company’s offices in New York and Sunnyvale, California. 

The employees were protesting Google’s business ties with the Israeli government, specifically its participation in a $1.2 billion contract called “Project Nimbus”. The contract involves providing cloud-computing and artificial intelligence services to the Israeli government and military.

The pro-Palestinian staffers, who wore traditional Arab headscarves during the protest, were arrested during the sit-in. 

Google’s Vice President of Global Security, Chris Rackow, stated that their behavior was unacceptable, extremely disruptive, and made co-workers feel threatened. 

The company emphasized that such behavior violates multiple policies, including the code of conduct, anti-harassment policies, and workplace standards. As a result, the terminated employees were affiliated with a group called “No Tech For Apartheid”, which has been critical of Google’s response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Google vice president of global security Chris Rackow said in a companywide memo. “They took over office spaces, defaced our property, and physically impeded the work of other Googlers,” Rackow wrote in the memo obtained by The Post. “Their behavior was unacceptable, extremely disruptive, and made co-workers feel threatened.” In New York, protesters had occupied the 10th floor of Google’s offices in the Chelsea section of Manhattan as part of a protest that also extended to the company’s offices in Seattle for what it called “No Tech for Genocide Day of Action.”

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RSN Diamond Begins Voting On Bankruptcy Restructuring


Regional sports broadcaster Diamond Sports Group received U.S. court approval on Wednesday to begin voting on its bankruptcy plan, allowing it to move ahead with a debt-slashing deal while negotiating longer-term agreements with cable companies and sports leagues.

Reuters reports Diamond, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group is pursuing a restructuring that would eliminate over $8 billion in debt and provide the company with additional funding from Amazon.as part of a streaming deal signed in January.

Diamond said in a statement that the court's approval is "another important step forward in our restructuring and we are working toward confirming our plan and emerging as a sustainable, go forward business."

Diamond is also negotiating longer-term deals with cable companies, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association, Diamond attorney Brian Hermann said at a bankruptcy court hearing in Houston.

Diamond recently signed a new long-term contract with the cable company Charter Communications and it hopes to build on that success by signing new deals with DirecTV and Comcast Hermann said. Contracts with those three companies provide more than 80% of Diamond's revenue, according to court documents.

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Barstool's Dave Portnoy Raise Money For Families of Fallen Officers

David Portnoy

Barstool sports founder Dave Portnoy is stepping up to support the family of another fallen officer, this time in upstate New York. 

Portnoy is rallying his followers to donate to the family of Onondaga Sheriff’s Office Lt. Michael Hoosock, who was one of two officers gunned down in the line of duty on Sunday.

Portnoy, who has a history of using his platform to raise money and support causes close to his heart, announced on X that Barstool is selling a T-shirt wherein all of the proceeds will go directly to the Hoosock's. 

The other officer killed was Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen. 

Both officers were killed during a shootout in Syracuse with a man who had an AR-15. The shootout began after the suspect, 33-year-old Christopher Murphy, fled from a traffic stop. Murphy opened fire at the police once they arrived at his home, the Syracuse Police Department said during a press conference. 

"Another tragic story of 2 upstate NY police officers killed in line of duty. Lt. Michael Hoosock of Onondaga Sheriff’s Office leaves behind a wife and 3 kids," Portnoy wrote. "All proceeds will go directly to family." 

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Boston Bruins' Voice Jack Edwards Ready to Retire


 Jack Edwards, the Bruins’ long-time play-by-play announcer for NESN, announced his retirement on Tuesday prior to the B’s final regular season game.

“I grew up a Bruins fan, and who had more fun than us over the last two decades?” said Edwards in a statement. “In collaboration with Bruins and NESN leadership, I recently decided that the time has come for me to finish my shift as the voice of the Boston Bruins. I am no longer able to attain the standards I set for myself, to honor the fans, the players, the Bruins organization and NESN with the best they all deserve.

Jack Edwards
“I retire from broadcasting not with a heavy heart, but gratefulness for a 19-year-long joyride. I owe my career, my own pursuit of happiness, to the love and support of my family. I thank every member of the Bruins and NESN for your loyalty, helping me to achieve and live out a lifetime goal, high above the ice.”

The Boston Herald reports Edwards will continue calling games for the reminder of the 2023-24 season through NHL playoffs. The Bruins and NESN will conduct a nationwide search for the next play-by-play voice to join Color Commentator Andy Brickley for the 2024-25 season.

Earlier this season, play-by-play announcer Alex Faust filled in for a few games.

Edwards recently opened up in the Globe about problems with his speech that had developed, the source of which is still a mystery to him and his doctors.

“I join the Bruins organization, NESN and hockey fans everywhere in congratulating Jack on an incredible career,” said Charlie Jacobs, CEO and Alternate Governor of the Boston Bruins. “Jack’s voice has been the soundtrack for generations of Bruins fans that have experienced so many incredible moments. His presence has been felt around the globe and he will forever be a part of the Bruins legacy.”

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R.I.P.: Brian 'Slacker' Adams, Longtime Kansas City DJ


A voice that was known across Kansas City's airwaves for more than 30 years has been silenced Officials at KCFX 101 The Fox announced Wednesday morning that much-loved radio DJ Brian "Slacker" Adams has died after a battle against cancer.

"Slacker had two great passions, his family, and his time on the air in Kansas City," the radio station said in a post on Facebook. "For over 33 years, the last 16 at 101 The Fox, Slacker loved to entertain his radio audience."

Adams previously announced he was battling AML, or acute myeloid leukemia, a blood and bone marrow cancer. He announced with a "heavy heart" at the end of February that he'd made the decision to retire in conjunction with his family and his doctors.

"I'm still in a battle with cancer," he said in the announcement. "And in order to do my best, I'm going to have to dedicate myself at some point to that mission."

Adams said in that broadcast that the decision to retire was a struggle, adding that it would be his "fervent wish" to stay on the radio forever, but that his body wouldn't allow it.

Wednesday morning's post from 101 the Fox went on to say that Adams championed Veterans with Cars 4 Heroes and many other charities, and that "He pointed out the little absurdities we all deal with, making us laugh at him and ourselves."

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Radio History: April 18


➦In 1925...Robert Francis Hastings born (Died from pancreatic cancer at age 89 – June 30, 2014). He  was a radio, film, and television character actor. He also provided voices for animated cartoons. He was best known for his portrayal of annoying suck-up Lt. Elroy Carpenter, on McHale's Navy.

Bob Hastings
Hastings started in radio on "Coast-to-Coast on a Bus" (NBC). Hastings served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps. After serving in World War II as a navigator on B-29s, he played the role of Archie Andrews in a series based on the Archie comic book series on NBC Radio from 1945-53. Archie Andrews was sponsored by Swift & Company food products.

Hastings moved to television in 1949.  He is best known for portraying the aide to Captain Binghamton (Joe Flynn), the yes-man Lieutenant Elroy Carpenter on ABC's McHale's Navy, humorously called "Carpy" and "Little Leadbottom" by McHale and his men.

After McHale's Navy, Hastings was a regular on the Universal Studios lot, where Universal paid actors during downtime to be on the grounds and talk to tourists. According to an interview, he got along so well with the people that he became one of the few regulars on the tour.

➦In 1939…Gene Autry recorded his signature song "Back in the Saddle Again" for the first time in Los Angeles for Columbia Records.   It was co-written by Autry with Ray Whitley and first released in 1939. The song was associated with Autry throughout his career and was used as the name of Autry's autobiography in 1976. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. In addition to being used as the theme for Autry's radio program, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch,"Back in the Saddle Again" was also used for The Gene Autry Show on television as well as for personal appearances.

It was included in the Autry movie "Roving Tumbleweeds," then became the theme song for his "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch" radio series which aired on CBS from 1940 to 1956.

This is the original pilot episode that debuted on KNX Radio in Los Angeles as a private preview for the Doublemint Gum.

➦In 1944...Arthur W. Ferguson born (Died  – February 19, 2016).  Better known as Charlie Tuna, he began working at age 16 at his hometown's radio station, KGFW. Then, he went to work at KLEO in Wichita, Kansas for a year with the air name "Billy O'Day". He then worked for KOMA Radio in Oklahoma City in 1966, where he took over the "Charlie Tuna" pseudonym from Chuck Riley, who had used it for one show the week prior to Tuna's arrival. Tuna then moved on to WMEX in Boston for the first 9 months of 1967.

Charlie Tuna

In late 1967, KHJ in Los Angeles offered Tuna the 9 to noon slot, where he debuted on Thanksgiving Day 1967. On February 9, 1971, he had just commenced his morning show at 6:00 a.m. when the San Fernando earthquake occurred.

In early 1972 he did mornings at KCBQ in San Diego (during the original presentation of "The Last Contest") and later that year became one of the original DJs at KROQ AM, a new Top 40 station (formerly Country KBBQ). In 1973 be moved to KKDJ as program director and morning personality. He presided over its 1975 call-letter change to KIIS, and broadcast the first show at KIIS-FM as it began its AM/FM simulcast. He also worked at KTNQ, KHTZ (later KBZT), KRLA, KODJ (later KCBS-FM), KMPC, KIKF, and KLAC.

He worked at KBIG 104.3, where he hosted a long-running morning show Charlie Tuna in the Morning which aired from 5 to 10 am. His last full-time morning show aired on September 17, 2007, when the station flipped to a non-rhythmic-based adult contemporary format, as 104.3 My FM. He returned to radio February 9, 2008 when he became the weekend personality on Los Angeles oldies station K-Earth 101. CBS on August 27, 2015 began down sizing their stations in Los Angeles, at which point Charlie moved on to expand his syndicated radio business.

Tuna served as announcer for Casey Kasem on his 1980s television program America's Top 10, and occasionally filled in for Kasem on his radio programs American Top 20 and American Top 10. He co-hosted Your Good Time Oldies Magazine from 1992 to 1995, and he produced and hosted 52 weekly episodes of Back to the 70s, which were rerun at radio stations across the country until 2008.

Tuna had a year-long run in 2009 of a 5-hour classic hits daily and weekend show, syndicated through United Stations Radio Network in New York. He joined Black Card Radio in Los Angeles in 2010 as host of a 5-hour weekend show Charlie Tuna - The 70's, which is distributed nationally and internationally, and later added a 5-hour daily and weekend show for all radio formats. He moved his radio station voice imaging business to Black Card Radio later that year. In 2011 he introduced the syndicated "Charlie Tuna's Hollywood Minute", 4 to 5 top entertainment stories each day. Tuna reunited with United Stations Radio Network in New York in 2013 to do the ad sales for his Black Card Radio shows.

Tuna broadcast approximately 6,000 radio shows from 1971 through 1996 on the American Forces Radio Network.

➦In 1960...The 3M Company purchased the bankrupt Mutual Broadcasting System for $1.24M. MBS had 443 affiliates, easily the most of any network at the time.  In July 1966, 3M sold the network to a privately held company, Mutual Industries, Inc., headed by John P. Fraim.  Upon Mutual Industries's acquisition of Mutual, it was renamed to "Mutual Broadcasting Corporation". See below...

➦In 1999...Last broadcast of the Mutual Broadcasting System.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Critical NPR Editor Resigns


Uri Berliner, a veteran NPR editor who recently exposed the organization’s liberal bias, has taken a decisive step by resigning from his position. His departure comes after serving a five-day suspension without pay for blowing the whistle on the lack of viewpoint diversity within NPR. 

Let’s delve into the details:

Background: Berliner’s scathing critique of NPR was published in the Free Press. He highlighted the absence of viewpoint diversity at the organization. His essay sparked controversy and intensified scrutiny of NPR’s journalistic integrity.

CEO Katherine Maher’s Role: Berliner believes that Katherine Maher, NPR’s embattled CEO, lacks the perspective necessary for the job. Maher’s past social media posts, which surfaced after Berliner’s essay, reveal her far-left political views. Critics argue that these views contribute to the perceived liberal bias within NPR.

Resignation Statement: In a fiery statement, Berliner expressed his inability to work in a newsroom where he is disparaged. He cited Maher’s divisive views as confirmation of the very problems he highlighted in his essay. Berliner’s departure underscores the ongoing clash between journalistic integrity, political perspectives, and leadership at NPR. As the dust settles, NPR faces critical questions about its commitment to unbiased reporting and the impact of internal dissent on its reputation.

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FNC's Jesse Watters Rips New NPR CEO


Fox News host Jesse Watters calls out NPR CEO Katherine Maher after longtime editor Uri Berliner was suspended Tuesday without pay after exposing the extent his employer's alleged liberal bias on "Jesse Watters Primetime." 

Katherine Maher, the current CEO of NPR, has been at the center of recent controversies. Let’s delve into the details:

Uri Berliner’s Critique: Uri Berliner, a suspended NPR editor, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the network’s left-leaning bias. In an essay, Berliner asserted that NPR has “lost America’s trust” due to its reporting with a left-wing bias. He specifically criticized CEO Katherine Maher for her past social media posts. Maher’s previous tweets include calling Donald Trump “racist” in 2018 and criticizing Hillary Clinton’s language use. Berliner believes that NPR needs a leader who unifies and understands the broader perspective of what America stands for. He considers Maher’s views to be the opposite of what the embattled radio outlet requires.

Maher Shows Bias
NPR’s Response: NPR suspended Berliner for five days without pay after his essay sparked controversy. The suspension was based on Berliner’s failure to secure approval for outside work, a requirement for NPR journalists. Maher herself faced criticism for her liberal bias following her response to Berliner’s essay. She defended NPR’s journalism but was accused of being “profoundly disrespectful, hurtful, and demeaning” by Berliner. Despite the tensions, Berliner remains committed to NPR, advocating for great journalism devoid of opinions.

Katherine Maher’s Background: Maher was appointed as NPR’s President/CEO in March 2024. Prior to this role, she served as the CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation. She also held the position of CEO at the technology conference Web Summit. Additionally, Maher is a Foreign Affairs Policy Board member for the United States Department of State3. In this ongoing saga, the clash between journalistic integrity, political perspectives, and leadership remains a topic of intense scrutiny.

And today, the NY Times reports Berliner was suspended by the network for five days, starting Friday, for violating the network’s policy against doing work outside the organization without first getting permission.

Berliner acknowledged his suspension in an interview with NPR on Monday, providing one of the network’s reporters with a copy of the written rebuke. In presenting the warning, NPR said Mr. Berliner had failed to clear his work for outside outlets, adding that he would be fired if he violated the policy again.

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