This beats dancing news anchors or FOX 13 weather girls’ controversial lifestyle videos. Some actual knowledge being shared by local tv news man Bradley Warren (KNDU/KNDO Tricities-Yakima) regarding how Great Britain chooses and installs their Prime Minister. We need more of this — and less performative tik-tok level nonsense from our tv news folks.
NYT – A federal judge on Monday temporarily stopped Paramount from completing its $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery while she considers a lawsuit that argues the deal violates antitrust laws, a disruption to one of the biggest media deals in history. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order that was requested by 12 states that have sued to block the deal. The restraining order lasts 14 days.”This is a critical first win in our case to ensure this megamerger never sees the light of day,” California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, a Democrat who is leading the states’ lawsuit, said in a statement.
Axios – A Paramount spokesperson said in a statement, “We are confident the evidence will demonstrate that the State AGs’ antitrust arguments are without merit as their alleged markets and claims of anticompetitive effects are without any basis in modern market realities. This merger is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry,” they said.
Is the Paramount argument a sound one?
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) are seen as smaller/weaker players here. Combining them creates a stronger rival with scale for bigger budgets, more output, and better tech competition—potentially leading to more content, jobs, and choices overall. -justice.gov
After reviewing millions of documents, the Justice Department approved the ~$110-111 billion deal without conditions in June 2026. They found no likely harm in streaming, linear TV, or theatrical films, and said it could increase competition by building a robust alternative to bigger streamers. –arstechnica.com
Theatrical releases are a shrinking slice; streaming and direct-to-consumer dominate. Merging allows cost synergies (e.g., $6B+ claimed), more efficient production, and sustained investment amid industry disruption (post-pandemic, strikes, cord-cutting). They claim blocking it favors entrenched giants like Netflix. — thewrap.com
The Seattle Times reported: “Jodi Brothers, co-host of weekday show “Mornings with Jodi and Bender” on 95.7 The Jet, announced her breast cancer diagnosis Wednesday.”
Emperor Lee Smith – 1963-1966: KTKT/Tucson, 1967: KRIZ, Phoenix, 1967 KJRB, 1969 KJR. 1974-KISM/Bellingham, 1978/KYYX –The Emp died in Riverside CA on October 12, 2001 of cancer. The skin cancer was first detected in 1997, by August 2001 it had spread to other parts of the body. Joel Leroy Smith was 59 years old. [ Seattle P.I. ]
Search: LEE SMITH https://shorturl.at/h7cuq
Changes at KJR Sportsradio 93.3 – Morning show co-host Bucky Jacobson, out recently for medical reasons, has decided to vacate. He is uncertain of future plans, but is talking with management about possibilities of contributing to KJR in other ways.
ABC, NBC, CNN do not air Trump’s election-security speech live on primary channels. This is one way information is censored in communist countries. You can see where the USA is headed.
Brendan Carr’s FCC is set to begin dismantling media ownership restrictions, starting with the longstanding 39% national population cap on television station ownership.
On August 6, the agency will vote to replace this rigid limit with a flexible case-by-case review process. According to Carr’s office, the change will empower the FCC to approve transactions that serve the public interest while blocking those that do not. (!!!! According to which political agenda??)
The move aims to foster a more competitive media marketplace, strengthen localism, and encourage greater investment in reliable news and information sources. No revisions to radio ownership rules have been proposed yet. (This is the BS we spoke of.)
***Unleashing caps on ownership WILL NOT strengthen localism — just the opposite. Reliable news and info– oh geez!! Just STOP!
KTLA 5 reporter Rachel Menitoff was cool and collected during a live shot last evening. A flying cockroach ran circles across her chest (and who wouldn’t, really), yet she continued her report.
Howard Stern has enough money to support several families and trophy wives. He chose to give up on his core audience and switched to Hollywood gossip/interviews. Basically, kissing butt. His wife loves those Hollywood parties and spa days, among other treats those millions bring her. Howard stopped being funny or relevant many years ago.
Not many years ago, and I think it was covered on this blog, he made a great tribute to Bob Rivers, who we just lost. I thought it was good for Rivers to get the recognition, but a lot of commenters were offended by Howard’s remarks.
Howard Stern has laid off around a dozen staffers from his SiriusXM show, Page Six hears, because he’s preparing to drop to just one new show a week after Labor Day.
After months of speculation about his future on the air, the radio titan signed a new contract in December of last year that he said would give him more “flexibility.”
Politics Across The Pond
Brookbank • July 21, 2026
This beats dancing news anchors or FOX 13 weather girls’ controversial lifestyle videos. Some actual knowledge being shared by local tv news man Bradley Warren (KNDU/KNDO Tricities-Yakima) regarding how Great Britain chooses and installs their Prime Minister. We need more of this — and less performative tik-tok level nonsense from our tv news folks.
Paramount & Warner Bros.
Reader Submission • July 20, 2026
NYT – A federal judge on Monday temporarily stopped Paramount from completing its $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery while she considers a lawsuit that argues the deal violates antitrust laws, a disruption to one of the biggest media deals in history. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order that was requested by 12 states that have sued to block the deal. The restraining order lasts 14 days.”This is a critical first win in our case to ensure this megamerger never sees the light of day,” California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, a Democrat who is leading the states’ lawsuit, said in a statement.
Axios – A Paramount spokesperson said in a statement, “We are confident the evidence will demonstrate that the State AGs’ antitrust arguments are without merit as their alleged markets and claims of anticompetitive effects are without any basis in modern market realities. This merger is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry,” they said.
The Case For This Merger
Jason Remington • July 20, 2026
Is the Paramount argument a sound one?
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) are seen as smaller/weaker players here. Combining them creates a stronger rival with scale for bigger budgets, more output, and better tech competition—potentially leading to more content, jobs, and choices overall. -justice.gov
After reviewing millions of documents, the Justice Department approved the ~$110-111 billion deal without conditions in June 2026. They found no likely harm in streaming, linear TV, or theatrical films, and said it could increase competition by building a robust alternative to bigger streamers. –arstechnica.com
Theatrical releases are a shrinking slice; streaming and direct-to-consumer dominate. Merging allows cost synergies (e.g., $6B+ claimed), more efficient production, and sustained investment amid industry disruption (post-pandemic, strikes, cord-cutting). They claim blocking it favors entrenched giants like Netflix. — thewrap.com
Longtime Seattle radio host diagnosed with breast cancer
Jason Remington • July 20, 2026
The Seattle Times reported: “Jodi Brothers, co-host of weekday show “Mornings with Jodi and Bender” on 95.7 The Jet, announced her breast cancer diagnosis Wednesday.”
Jodi
Mike B Barer • July 20, 2026
Wishing Jodi a quick and full recovery.
Seattle Radio's Emperor
Jason Remington • July 19, 2026
Emperor Lee Smith – 1963-1966: KTKT/Tucson, 1967: KRIZ, Phoenix, 1967 KJRB, 1969 KJR. 1974-KISM/Bellingham, 1978/KYYX –The Emp died in Riverside CA on October 12, 2001 of cancer. The skin cancer was first detected in 1997, by August 2001 it had spread to other parts of the body. Joel Leroy Smith was 59 years old. [ Seattle P.I. ]
Search: LEE SMITH https://shorturl.at/h7cuq
Chuck & Buck Team Split
Brookbank • July 17, 2026
Changes at KJR Sportsradio 93.3 – Morning show co-host Bucky Jacobson, out recently for medical reasons, has decided to vacate. He is uncertain of future plans, but is talking with management about possibilities of contributing to KJR in other ways.
The Media Determines What You Should Be Told.
Reader Submission • July 16, 2026
ABC, NBC, CNN do not air Trump’s election-security speech live on primary channels. This is one way information is censored in communist countries. You can see where the USA is headed.
We need the full story
Duke Stern • July 18, 2026
Walter Cronkite to David Letterman, 2001 — One stipulation to this: IF THE MEDIA DOES NOT CENSOR OUR NEWS.
BULL SHIT! The Carr FCC is full of it.
Jason Remington • July 15, 2026
Brendan Carr’s FCC is set to begin dismantling media ownership restrictions, starting with the longstanding 39% national population cap on television station ownership.
On August 6, the agency will vote to replace this rigid limit with a flexible case-by-case review process. According to Carr’s office, the change will empower the FCC to approve transactions that serve the public interest while blocking those that do not. (!!!! According to which political agenda??)
The move aims to foster a more competitive media marketplace, strengthen localism, and encourage greater investment in reliable news and information sources. No revisions to radio ownership rules have been proposed yet. (This is the BS we spoke of.)
***Unleashing caps on ownership WILL NOT strengthen localism — just the opposite. Reliable news and info– oh geez!! Just STOP!
KTLA 5 Creature Feature
Jason Remington • July 15, 2026
KTLA 5 reporter Rachel Menitoff was cool and collected during a live shot last evening. A flying cockroach ran circles across her chest (and who wouldn’t, really), yet she continued her report.
Stern
Mike B Barer • July 15, 2026
So, Stern must be thinking retirement.
Hundreds of Millions Later...
Jason Remington • July 15, 2026
Howard Stern has enough money to support several families and trophy wives. He chose to give up on his core audience and switched to Hollywood gossip/interviews. Basically, kissing butt. His wife loves those Hollywood parties and spa days, among other treats those millions bring her. Howard stopped being funny or relevant many years ago.
Stern
Mike B Barer • July 16, 2026
Not many years ago, and I think it was covered on this blog, he made a great tribute to Bob Rivers, who we just lost. I thought it was good for Rivers to get the recognition, but a lot of commenters were offended by Howard’s remarks.
Stern Cuts Back To Once A Week
Jason Remington • July 14, 2026
Pagesix.com
Howard Stern has laid off around a dozen staffers from his SiriusXM show, Page Six hears, because he’s preparing to drop to just one new show a week after Labor Day.
After months of speculation about his future on the air, the radio titan signed a new contract in December of last year that he said would give him more “flexibility.”