WMAL’s Larry O’ Connor Interacts with Hillsdale Radio Curriculum
TALKERS Heavy Hundred radio star Larry O’Connor just wrapped up nearly two weeks of shows from the WRFH studios on the campus of Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. He hosted his “O’Connor & Company” morning program on Newstalk 105.9 WMAL in Washington, DC, as he served as Eugene C. Pulliam Distinguished Fellow in Journalism. Larry also produced his daily Townhall streaming show “LARRY” from the complex. While at Hillsdale, he taught a one-credit class for its journalism students, “Broadcasting and Podcasting,” and also delivered a public lecture entitled “The Media and the 2024 Election.” Video of that lecture can be found here. Scot Bertram, general manager, WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM tells TALKERS, “I was happy to play a small role in making this incredible show happen every day for listeners in our nation’s capital and around the country. It was a real pleasure to watch this well-oiled machine operate, led by Larry, executive producer Heather Hunter, and technical producer Michael Shelton. Our journalism students learned a lot from observing these shows and having the opportunity to talk with Larry and receive in-person advice.” Pictured above: Larry O’ Connor (l) and Scot Bertram (r) at Hillsdale. (Photo by Austin Thomason.)
Take advantage of the new media order. Initially, TiVo was a hit because you could pause live TV and go to the bathroom whenever you wanted. Bathroom breaks while watching live TV was a revelation. As you were going to the bathroom, your relationship with media was being re-wired in your brain. In a matter of months, you were able to watch what you wanted, whenever you wanted. DECADES of TV scheduling strategies became anachronistic. It’s November. Do you know when your favorite shows are airing on TV? No! No need you’ll watch them whenever you want!
WURD Radio Endorses Kamala Harris for President. For the first time in its 20+ year history, Philadelphia’s only Black-owned radio station, WURD Radio has endorsed a political candidate — Kamala Harris for President of the United States. Prompted in part by the decision from owners of the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post to overrule planned endorsements by their editorial boards, sources at the station tell TALKERS, this decision underscores the importance of independent media ownership. From the endorsement: “Our founder, Walter P. Lomax Jr., M.D., understood that the media has the power to shape perceptions, images, narratives and, most importantly in this election, to tell the truth. He understood that the media can demonize or humanize, destroy or exalt, diminish or elevate. Dr. Lomax knew that mainstream media often marginalizes, caricatures and maligns Black people. WURD is in a unique position to speak honestly and emphatically about what matters most to our community because we are independently owned.” To read the entire text of the endorsement, please 
SiriusXM Tips Off College Basketball Coverage with 74 Games on Opening Night, November 4. SiriusXM will deliver college basketball fans an extensive schedule of live games throughout the 2023-24 college basketball season, starting with a slate of 74 women’s and men’s matchups to choose from when the season tips off this Monday (11/4). The men’s schedule includes all 19 teams from the Associated Press Top 25 that are in action on Monday night, including the season’s first matchup of Top 25 ranked teams – #8 Baylor @ #6 Gonzaga (11:30 pm ET). The opening day schedule of women’s games on SiriusXM includes 12 teams from the Associated Press Top 25 and features a couple of Top 25 matchups – #20 Ole Miss @ #3 USC (noon ET) and #5 UCLA @ #17 Louisville (2:30 pm ET). Throughout the season SiriusXM listeners will get access to dozens of game broadcasts each week involving teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, Pac-12, Big East and more.
Newsmax Launches in France on Molotov. Newsmax TV, one of America’s most popular news channels, just launched on Molotov, one of France’s leading TV platforms, as U.S. voters go to the polls to pick their next president. The Newsmax channel went live on Molotov’s platform on October 24, 2024, expanding its global footprint with 19 million Molotov users in France and French-speaking territories. Molotov is one of France’s main TV services offering streaming television to internet users across the nation and its territories. Molotov subscribers can tune to Newsmax via the platform’s free tier.
Cumulus Media Inc. today (11/4) announced operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Mary G. Berner, president and CEO of Cumulus Media, said, “During the third quarter, we delivered revenue and EBITDA in-line with pacing commentary and analyst estimates. Given the market challenges, we maintained our focus on what we can control. Specifically, we continued investing to drive growth in our digital businesses, including in digital marketing services which increased revenue nearly 40% in the quarter; capitalizing on areas of improvement in national and political ad spending; maximizing operating cash flow; and improving operating leverage through ongoing expense reductions.” Berner continued, “Looking forward, the advertising environment remains uncertain. Nonetheless, Cumulus has a valuable set of assets with which to navigate that uncertainty including: profitable and fast-growing digital businesses; a vast national platform that can reach audiences whenever and wherever they choose to listen; extensive feet-on-the-street local sales capabilities which allow us to walk product through the door; premium programming with particular strength in sports and news/talk; an extensive untapped audio library; and a leadership team with a strong track record of expense management and disciplined stewardship of capital. As we continue to execute against our priorities, we see many paths for leveraging these assets to maximize the value they produce for our shareholders.”
This sixth installment in 
ave decided, with the full support of WISN-AM and its parent iHeartMedia, to transition my program to podcast only effective at the end of this year.
Media analyst, broadcaster, and trade journal publisher Michael Harrison appeared on the popular Jeff Katz afternoon drive show on WRVA, Richmond yesterday (10/29) to discuss comments he made earlier in TALKERS about the historic significance of former President Donald Trump‘s recent three-hour guest spot on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. To listen to the fascinating discussion, please 
As the Company continues its re-imagination, Borelli will lead Audacy’s audio research and insights practice, closely supporting its forward growth agenda and client enablement strategies. He will report to Paul Suchman, chief marketing officer, and work closely with Audacy’s leadership team across revenue, digital and programming. Suchman tells TALKERS, “Ray’s research experience across channels and media, coupled with his unique ability to turn data into powerful narratives, will make him an excellent addition to the team as we execute our forward strategy,” adding, “With tenure spanning some of the most influential media companies, his expertise in driving meaningful outcomes for clients will be a strong asset as Audacy continues to elevate our value to the advertising community.” “I am thrilled to be joining Audacy at such an exciting time for the audio industry,” said Borelli. “Audacy’s portfolio of brands and research platform is best in class, and I look forward to working closely with our team and advertising partners to help fuel exponential growth for the business.” Borelli previously served as VP of ad sales research at Warner Bros. Discovery, directing the go-to-market sales narrative for WBD’s portfolio. He also previously served as SVP for CNBC, leading the company’s research and scheduling teams and helping build the brand’s market-leading digital business. His research and leadership experience was also built on tenures at the National Basketball Association and FOX Sports.
Proving There’s More to Life in America this Week than Just Presidential Politics. Pictured above is Salem Radio Networks (SRN) East Coast affiliate relations manager Jim Bligh – a frequent “player” in NYC-based skits on “Saturday Night Live“ in addition to appearing in theatrical feature films – joined NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” on Tuesday 10/29). Fallon and Grammy-winning guest Olivia Rodrigo played “What’s Behind Me?”…a charade style game with Fallon describing action happening as her back was turned. Blight – far right – acted out a scene of Three Mobsters doing Yoga at a Barnes & Noble. See Bligh’s skit by 
Cumulus Media, which describes itself as a top “audio-first” media company, and TuneIn, self-proclaimed world’s leader in “live audio,” today (10/29) announced that they have renewed and expanded their existing content partnership. Under the terms of the deal, TuneIn will continue to make Cumulus Media’s local sports, news, talk and entertainment programming available to its 75 million monthly global listeners. The extended agreement also includes a new, non-exclusive sales and supply partnership to optimize digital audio advertising monetization for Cumulus’ diverse radio stations. Cumulus owns and operates 400 radio stations across 84 markets with an extensive collection of nationally syndicated sports, news, talk and entertainment programming.
At the Monday morning (10/28) TALKERS editorial meeting, Harrison said, “The hoopla over this podcast appearance and its enormous profile within election news coverage clearly indicates we have arrived at a point where the terms ‘mainstream,’ ‘legacy,’ ‘alternative,’ ‘grassroots,’ and the like have to be reevaluated in conveying impact and importance – both individually, and certainly collectively – in the marketplace of ideas and the industries that serve it.” Harrison added, “This is especially true of Rogan’s individual impact as indicated by 1) the deference he was paid by a former president and major party candidate in showing up three-hours late for a live rally attended by thousands in which he actually implied that this podcast interview was a priority and more important to ‘winning’ than arriving on time for the event; 2) the tsunami of news coverage this podcast generated; 3) the passive aggressive irreverence granted a somewhat oblivious Trump by Rogan both during and following the interview; and 4) the sheer enormity of Rogan’s raw numbers on Spotify and YouTube, unfettered by FCC regulation.”
“When iHeartMedia New York partnered with the New York Road Runners (NYRR) to produce this inaugural radio broadcast of the marathon, it was a no-brainer to put Len at the helm of the broadcast,” said Tom Cuddy, program director for 710 WOR. “His association with New York sports, during his more than 50-year television career, and his ‘second life’ as co-host of the WOR morning show since 2015, ensure that Len will make this a can’t-miss broadcast.” “I’m honored to be hosting WOR’s maiden voyage with the TCS New York City Marathon,” said Berman. “I’ve hosted TV coverage of the event many times and it’s consistently one of the best days of the year in the city. We look forward to conveying that same message to our listeners.”
“I have been blessed to call WGN Radio home for the past three decades,” Manfredini tells TALKERS. “But in the end, it’s all about our listeners. I’m excited to continue to help them better understand how their homes work, show them they can have fun, and, of course, remind them to never hold a nail for someone else.” The Chicagoland native will be celebrating his 30th anniversary on WGN Radio in 2025. Mr. Manfredini first appeared on the station as a guest on the Bob Collins Show in 1995 following a letter writing campaign to pitch a call-in home improvement show on WGN.
“We are delighted that Lou will be with us for his 30th year and beyond,” said WGN Radio VP/GM Mary Sandberg Boyle. “In the nearly 30 years since first appearing on WGN Radio, Lou’s presence across the media world has evolved considerably. Yet, what truly sets him apart is his natural gift of connecting to and interacting with our listeners in the special way that only radio does. Making those listener ‘connections’ has historically been – and will continue to be – the very fabric of WGN 720.” Manfredini can also be heard on weekday segments with John Williams (Mondays), Lisa Dent (Thursdays) and Bob Sirott (Fridays). 
It will be carried by LibertyNewsRadio.com or video stream at TheBigMigShow on Rumble. For additional information or press inquiries, please contact Sam Bushman at 801-756-9133 or LibertyRoundTable@gmail.com.
