ADDING MULTIMEDIA MediaCo’s HOT 97 TV Launches Daily Live News Show for the First Time, Dropping January 2026!

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2025--

MediaCo Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: MDIA), today announced the launch of HOT 97 News, a daily live national TV show created at the intersection of journalism, hip-hop, conversation, and culture. HOT 97 is entering the news space for the first time with a bold new format in January 2026.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251223985439/en/

HOT 97, the legendary hip-hop brand born in New York City and synonymous with culture-shifting conversations, is expanding its voice beyond radio to redefine how news is delivered across America. The TV show will bring a raw, unedited blend of breaking, hip hop and music news, entertainment, and unfiltered discussion, engaging the audience with stories through the cultural lens that has defined the HOT 97 brand for decades. HOT 97 News is created for a modern audience who want context, conversation, and authenticity, not just headlines. Leading the new news format will be Lana Harris, Ronndell Smith, and Million Connally-Cooper, breaking down every topic, elevating community voices, and giving people the context they need to move smarter every day.

HOT 97 News will broadcast and stream nationally across all HOT 97 TV and digital streaming platforms beginning January 2026. In addition, HOT 97 TV is also expanding its local footprint with HOT 97 News - Atlanta, a daily one-hour live news show focused exclusively on the Atlanta metro area. The local edition will spotlight Atlanta-area news, music, entertainment, and community conversations, reflecting the pace, perspective, and voice of the city. HOT 97 News - Atlanta will air on WHOT-TV 66 in Atlanta and stream across major platforms, giving local audiences access both on television and digitally.

Meet the Voices of HOT 97 News and HOT 97 News - Atlanta!

Leading the conversation is Lana Harris, a metro Atlanta native with more than a decade of experience across broadcast, digital, and social media. A Lovejoy High School graduate and University of Georgia alum, Lana has worked as a reporter, correspondent, anchor, and digital creator at stations across the Southeast, including Atlanta News First, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, First Coast News in Jacksonville, and WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC. Most recently, she’s built a strong following through sharp news breakdowns, commentary, and lifestyle content across social media. Follow Lana on all platforms @lanajharris.

Joining Lana is Ronndell Smith, an Atlanta-based comedian, host, and creative entrepreneur whose voice is deeply rooted in the city’s culture. Raised on Atlanta’s Southside, Ronndell brings 15 years of stand-up experience, a background in television and film, and a unique perspective shaped by his work with popular social media news brand GAFollowers, and appearances on Chrisley Knows Best. His storytelling is real, unfiltered, and unmistakably Atlanta .Follow Ronndell on all platforms @ronndell_smith.

Million Connally-Cooper joins the team as the Producer, but this isn’t a typical behind-the-scenes role. He’s part of the conversation every day. An Atlanta-based media personality and interviewer on a lifelong mission to complete one million interviews, Million brings street-level dialogue, debate-driven segments, and cultural curiosity straight to your screen. His mantra says it all: “Keep it Amilli.” Follow Million on all platforms @mynamesmillion.

HOT97 News and HOT 97 News - Atlanta
Real news. Deeper discussion. HOT 97 energy.
Dropping January 2026.

About MediaCo Holding Inc.

MediaCo Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: MDIA) is a diverse-owned, multi-platform media company serving multicultural audiences across the U.S. Through a network of iconic brands—including Hot 97, WBLS, EstrellaTV, Estrella News, Que Buena Los Angeles and the Don Cheto Radio Network—MediaCo reaches over 20 million people monthly via television, radio, digital, and streaming platforms. The company’s innovative and culturally resonant content spans music, news, and entertainment across major local and national markets. More info at www.mediacoholding.com.

Million Connally-Cooper

Ronndell Smith

Lana Harris

Hot 97 TV New Daily Live Show

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers were less confident in the economy in December as Americans grow anxious about high prices and the impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 3.8 points to 89.1 in December from November’s upwardly revised reading of 92.9. That is close to 85.7 reading in April, when Trump rolled out his import taxes on U.S. trading partners.

A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market remained stable at 70.7, but still well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead. It was the 11th consecutive month that reading has come in under 80.

Consumers’ assessments of their current economic situation tumbled 9.5 points to 116.8.

Write-in responses to the survey showed that prices and inflation remained consumers’ biggest concern, along with tariffs.

Perceptions of the job market also declined this month.

The conference board’s survey reported that 26.7% of consumers said jobs were “plentiful,” down from 28.2% in November. Also, 20.8% of consumers said jobs were “hard to get,” up from 20.1% last month.

Last week, the government reported that the U.S. economy gained a healthy 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October. Notably, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% last month, the highest since 2021.

The country’s labor market has been stuck in a “low hire, low fire” state, economists say, as businesses stand pat due to uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs and the lingering effects of elevated interest rates. Since March, job creation has fallen to an average 35,000 a month, compared to 71,000 in the year ended in March. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said recently that he suspects those numbers will be revised even lower.

FILE - Shoppers wait in line to enter Macy's flagship store on Nov. 28, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)