News Bites for Friday, September 25…
Nielsen’s quarterly pre-survey bulletin for fall 2026 notes that South Bend-Elkhart, IN is now a two-book average market, effective with the Fall ’26 survey period. Additionally, two Nebraska counties, Dundy and Morrill, have been removed from the Denver, CO and Cheyenne, WY DMAs, respectively. They’ve been added to Wichita-Hutchinson, KS and Denver, while two Montana counties, Hudson and Prairie, have been moved from the Glendive, MT DMA to Rapid City, SD.Nielsen has announced that its re-issue of ratings for three reports scheduled for today (Sept. 25) has been postponed. It plans to revise the Spring 2026/Fall 2025 survey data for the Hagerstown-Chambersburg-Waynesboro, MD-PA market; the Spring 2026 data for the Frederick, MD market; and the Spring 2026 Hagerstown-York Custom Survey Area Report (CSAR). This postponement is to implement a Total Line Reporting relationship for Manning Broadcasting’s classic hits “106.9 The Eagle” WWEG. In a notice to clients, Nielsen says it anticipates releasing the reissued data by the end of next week.
The Chicago Bulls say Audacy’s “The Score” WSCR-FM & AM (104.3/670) will remain the team’s flagship radio station. The station will broadcast three preseason games, as well as all home and away regular and postseason games and pre- and postgame programming. The broadcast team will include Chicagoland Sports Hall of Famer Chuck Swirsky on play-by-play, alongside three-time NBA champion and former Bull Bill Wennington providing analysis and Alyssa Bergamini hosting the station’s postgame show. On television, the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) will be Chicago’s television home, carrying all five preseason games and 80 regular season games.The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of FCC General Counsel Adam Candeub to serve as the head of the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice. The 12-10 vote was along party lines, after Candeub came under fire by Democrats for his role in investigating broadcasters. “We cannot let him bring the FCC’s playbook to antitrust enforcement,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said. Earlier speculation had Candeub taking an open seat at the Federal Commutations Commission. But President Trump has instead nominated Danielle Thumann Severs for that role. Severs is currently working at the FCC as a senior counsel to Chairman Brendan Carr.Benztown President Dave “Chachi” Denes has released two new episodes of his “Chachi Loves Everybody” podcast. This time he sits down with longtime Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, and David Donovan, who recently retired as President and Executive Director of the New York State Broadcasters Association. Waldman shares her journey from Broadway to becoming a trailblazing sports broadcaster, breaking barriers for women in the industry. She recounts stories from decades of calling Yankees games, highlighting how perseverance and authenticity helped her succeed in an evolving sports media landscape. Donovan talks about his extensive experience in broadcasting policy, from his early days at the FCC to the evolution of media regulation, the digital transition, and the importance of local broadcasting in a rapidly changing technological landscape.