Media Critic
Meanwhile, industry observers are buzzing about a potential merger between iHeartMedia and Sirius XM. As the largest radio station owner in the United States, iHeartMedia operates more than 860 stations across 160 markets, reaching approximately 250 million monthly listeners and serving as the country’s top podcast publisher according to Nielsen.
The radio and sports broadcasting community is mourning the loss of two respected veterans. Sportsnet analyst and former NHL goaltender John “Cheech” Garrett passed away unexpectedly at the age of 74. A familiar voice on Vancouver Canucks regional broadcasts for more than two decades, Garrett enjoyed a solid playing career after being drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 1971. He went on to suit up for the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Canucks before retiring at the start of the 1985-86 season.
In New York, longtime anchor Ernie Anastos has died at 82. With a remarkable 50-year career in the tristate market, Anastos anchored and hosted programming for ABC’s WABC, CBS’s WCBS, Fox’s WNYW, and WWOR.
On the personnel front, Audacy’s Country 107.9 KMLE in Chandler/Phoenix has welcomed back Gabe Mercer to the market. Mercer will join Niko Petrou for mornings. She had been co-hosting mornings at Audacy’s “100.7 The Wolf” KKWF in Seattle and handling afternoons on KMLE with Matt McAllister and ‘Captain Ron’ Koons until McAllister’s recent departure. Prior to her Seattle stint, Mercer held multiple roles at Audacy Phoenix, including Promotions Coordinator, Sales Assistant, and on-air positions in evenings and middays at KMLE.
Cumulus Media has announced the promotion of Art Webb to Program Director for its Conservative Talk stations 790 KABC in Los Angeles and 810 KSFO in San Francisco. Webb has been with the company since 2017, previously serving as Assistant Program Director and Executive Producer for KABC.
