Barrett Blogs
Another 10 Talents You May Not Know, But Should!
One of the rewarding parts of being a sports radio strategist and consultant, is having the time to observe different brands, markets and individuals. Finding the next diamond in the rough or highlighting the work of a talent who makes an impact in their region yet may not earn national attention based on their geographic location is something I enjoy doing.
Last year I scoured the nation listening to numerous sports radio brands and profiled 15 on-air talents who I thought were worthy of some additional exposure. There are hundreds of stations and on-air hosts occupying air time each day who I could easily draw attention to, but the goal with this annual column is to identify a few personalities who you might not be familiar with and explain what they do well, and why they are worthy of your time.
One thing I’ve learned since leaving the day to day grind inside of a radio station is how subjective this business is. Program directors, corporate executives, and on-air hosts have very different beliefs in what qualifies as “good radio”, and what may be appealing to me, may not be as interesting to someone else. The one difference is that I have this online forum to present my views, whereas many conversations of this magnitude are often discussed privately inside the walls of each radio station.
When it comes to the sports format, audiences know who the heavy hitters are. That’s due either to reputation, press coverage, market size or national platforms. Many of these hosts, whether it’s Colin Cowherd, Jim Rome, Mike and Mike, or Mike Francesa, deserve the attention because they not only perform on major outlets, but they bring a unique style and tremendous skill to the airwaves, which is essential in delivering positive results for their employers.
As you familiarize yourself with some of the individuals I profiled, I remind you that this column isn’t designed to suggest that they are better or stronger performers than those they compete against. These selections also aren’t influenced by any broadcast company. It’s simply a subjective exercise in recognizing a few people who I feel bring different qualities to the airwaves each day, and use those skills to connect with their listeners. Some of them I have previous familiarity with, others I’ve grown to enjoy and appreciate after listening to them perform in recent weeks and months.
When you tune into a sports radio station, it’s usually because you want to be entertained, informed, and emotionally moved. Some shows build their presentation around strong opinions and uncomfortable positions. Others use self-deprecation and humor. The rest may rely on smart analysis, relatable storytelling or a unique attribute that can’t be duplicated by anyone else. In each case, authenticity, relatability, content selection and a willingness to share one’s life on the air comes into play. Those are common threads in the success of most sports talk shows.
In listening to the 10 on-air personalities I’ve highlighted in this column, they possess many of those qualities. I encourage you to give them a listen when time allows to see if they suit your listening tastes too. Most of them provide fifteen to twenty hours of on-air content each week, and their ability to be the sports fan’s companion and tug on their emotions each day are a big reason why they’re enjoying success.
Mike Babchik – SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio – He may not be the headline act on Mad Dog Sports Radio, but make no mistake about it, Mike Babchik is one of the most interesting and important personalities on the channel. He’s the train that’s gone off the track, lost it’s brakes, and you can’t help but watch to see where it ends up.
On a daily basis, you’ll discover that Babchik is a combination of funny, crazy, unafraid, and unfiltered. Everything in his life is fair game for the radio show. What I especially enjoy is how well the show connects to things that are topical and buzzworthy.
For example, the day after Draymond Green kicked Steven Adams in the groin during the Western Conference Finals, Babchik took a kick to the jewels on-air from update anchor Maria Marino. The morning after Laremy Tunsil and Ken Bone became the talk of the nation, the show was not only discussing it, but viral tweets were going out showing Babchik in a red sweater and the Tunsil gas mask.
During other shows, Babchik has been spanked by his personal trainer, shown off his underwhelming physique for attractive in-studio female guests, and shared the embarrassment of being crapped on by a bird. The best praise I can give the show is that it doesn’t matter if you listen in February, the dog days of summer, or on a Monday after the first NFL weekend, when the light goes on, Mike and his partner Evan Cohen are going to have fun and entertain you.
If you’re tuning into “The Morning Men” on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio, and expecting a hardcore sports conversation though, prepare to be disappointed. That’s not what they do. This is a morning show that blends sports, lifestyle, and real life events, while making their callers feel like they’re part of the family. They’ve even branded their hardcore fans as “FALS”, a term they adopted after Chris Russo uttered the word accidentally when attempting to refer to a caller as a pal.
One of Babchik’s other strong skills is the way he uses social media. He shares his most vulnerable moments with the audience and does a great job of being interactive, including retweeting their feedback. The show also films a number of funny short videos, most of them revolving around Babchik or something topical. For example, the day after David Ross homered for the Cubs in the World Series and celebrated by giving his teammates a cup bump, Babchik produced a quick video of what the post-show celebration would be like if the Morning Men adopted the same strategy.
In a nutshell, Mike Babchik is an entertainer. Nothing on-air or on social is off limits or too serious for him. But when he and Evan Cohen team up to host their show, the audience is going to be treated to a whole lot of laughter and disorganized chaos. That’s the secret sauce that makes “The Morning Men” a great listen and the type of show you want to start your day with. To hear the show click here.
Brad Thompson – 101 ESPN, St. Louis, MO – When athletes make the initial conversion to the broadcast business, they’re often utilized in a reactors role. They’re encouraged to share clubhouse stories, on the field experiences, and focus on the sport they’ve played. Many avoid venturing into discussions on other sports due to a lack of depth in those other areas.
In Brad’s case, he’s an exception. When you listen to him weekday afternoons on 101 ESPN, you hear a ton of energy, smart informed analysis, an ability to laugh and bust balls with his partner Randy Karraker, and it doesn’t matter if the conversation revolves around the St. Louis Cardinals (his former team) or the NFL, NHL or a mainstream national story. Regardless of the conversation, he’s invested in it. In many cases, he becomes an even better listen when the topic is not built around St. Louis baseball.
What impresses me even more is that Brad has also learned how to drive a show. Randy has been one of the market’s best drivers of a talk show for the past few decades. His clock management, interviewing, teasing, and topic setting are strong, and Brad has paid close attention because when Randy misses a day or takes a vacation, the show doesn’t miss a beat with Brad in the driver’s chair. That’s rare. In many cases, station’s have a glaring hole when a lead host is out and the number two guy has to move up to the number one position.
When I first heard Brad drive the show I thought it might impact his ability to provide analysis and opinion, the traits which he’s best known for. But to his credit, he’s learned how to use his positions to spark conversation and given his credibility as a former player, and his comfortability with sharing an opinion and providing evidence to support it, he’s become a destination listen for St. Louis sports fans during the afternoon commute home from work.
As of last check, the Fast Lane (101 ESPN’s afternoon show), was the highest rated spoken word program in the market. Listeners have responded favorably to Brad and Randy, and program director Chris “Hoss” Neupert has done an excellent job by surrounding them with a good cast, and giving them the freedom to explore new territory and challenge themselves as on-air personalities. To hear the show click here.
Steve “Sparky” Fifer – 105.7 The Fan, Milwaukee, WI – He’s been described as an igniter, and in observing “The Big Show” on 105.7 The Fan in Milwaukee, that description perfectly suits him. “Sparky” as listeners know him, is outspoken and firm in his beliefs, and his connection to the local market, combined with his energy, opinions, and willingness to tackle all subjects is what helps drive a lot of the conversation between himself, former Packer and Badger Gary Ellerson, and Ramie Makhlouf. Former Packer Leroy Butler also joins the mix a few times per week.
What I enjoy most about Steve’s presentation is his ability to deliver strong informed opinions. He doesn’t say things just to make the audience react. He thinks out his positions, explains them concisely and uses examples to validate his stances. Ellerson and Makhlouf aren’t afraid to challenge him, and their on-air show position of “keeping it 100” means that regardless of how they feel, they’re committed to being real, honest, and open to tackle any topic, regardless of its comfort level.
Most of the conversations on the show revolve around local or national subjects that are of importance to Milwaukee sports fans. While football dominates much of the fall discussion, Steve’s passion for the Milwaukee Bucks also is on display from time to time. As of last check, the ratings for Steve’s show were a full point higher year to year, and ahead of other spoken word stations in the market, including both sports stations and the powerful news talker WTMJ.
Collectively, The Big Show has a full sound. But what makes it work is the chemistry, comfortability and passionate discussions that take place between the group. In many instances, the spark that ignites the room comes from Steve, and when a host has an ability to cut through the clutter and penetrate the mind of a listener with strong provoking commentaries, that’s a quality you can’t teach. To get a feel for Sparky and his contributions to The Big Show on The Fan in Milwaukee, click here to listen.
Peter Rosenberg – 98.7 ESPN NY, New York, NY – When I first learned that Peter would be joining the Michael Kay Show on 98.7FM ESPN NY I applauded the station for taking a risk. I enjoyed listening to Michael Kay and Don LaGreca but recognized that a younger perspective with some bite and personality could add a new dimension to the program.
Not many on-air personalities with a track record of success on a hip-hop station make a successful transition to a sports talk show, especially one which includes a talent like Kay who was already established and well respected. It’s also difficult to develop chemistry when you’re joining a show that’s been in existence for over a decade, and offers a strong two-man nucleus.
To Rosenberg’s credit, he found his niche, and has become an attraction to the show. I compare it to a new character joining an already successful TV show (EX: Negan joining the Walking Dead). His success on the show is also a testament to Kay and LaGreca, who kept an open mind, welcomed his arrival, and worked hard to find a new energy for their program.
What I enjoy about Peter is that he’s a natural ball buster. His energy, snarkiness, cockiness, and comfortability with sharing his opinions, often generate good reactions out of Kay and LaGreca. If he flubs on the air, it gets addressed and often becomes funny. If he delivers a strong take, Kay and LaGreca pounce on it. He’s also not afraid to call them out either. As a trio they share different styles and views, but they present themselves as a family that you want to be part of.
One particular quality that helps Rosenberg stand out, especially with younger listeners, is that he’s relatable, funny, and sees the world through their eyes. His ENN (Evening Nightly News) segment has become a staple of the show, and because of his passion for professional wrestling (Rosenberg also hosts a popular podcast called “Cheap Heat”) it’s gotten the program to explore new territory that it may not have in year’s past. One specific example that jumps to mind is when Shane McMahon of the WWE appeared on the Kay show the day after he returned to Monday Night Raw after a seven year hiatus.
It’s no coincidence that since Rosenberg arrived on the show, the response among Men 18-34 has spiked significantly. The show has even beaten Mike Francesa head to head in that demographic, something that didn’t happen in the past. That’s a credit to all three hosts working together to find their collective voice, develop their timing, forming chemistry, and presenting a fun and informative program that’s different in approach from what New Yorkers are treated to elsewhere on the dial. To hear Peter’s contributions to the Michael Kay Show click here.
Chris Childers – SiriusXM College Sports Nation – When I think of the term “smile with your voice”, I can’t help but think of Chris. Although he can certainly have his moments on the air when he’s being analytical or offering a strong opinion, he also has a natural enthusiasm and genuine love for hosting a sports talk show. His charisma, energy, and joy for talking about sports topics is hard to ignore.
Paired daily with former college football head coach Rick Neuhiesel, Chris does a great job running point on SiriusXM College Sports Nation’s “The Full Ride”. He speaks from a fan’s point of view and understands and embraces his role on the show. He knows that he represents the voice of the fan when sharing opinions and talking to newsmakers from the world of college sports, but also has the responsibility of pulling out quality information, analysis and opinion from Coach Neuheisel, which is important given the experience he’s gained from years of leading multiple college sports programs.
Equally as impressive is Chris’ commitment to the craft of hosting. He tries to frame his topics and make them easy to play along with. He puts work into his teasing and interviewing, listens and follows up off of audio cuts and production, and dives into topics with a serious purpose but also recognizes when a moment has entertainment value and is willing to let it happen.
As an example, two weeks ago after the show bumped in with a song about the Bayou, which was being used to set up a discussion on whether or not Ed Orgeron deserved strong consideration to become the permanent head coach for LSU, Childers said that if Gumbo had a voice, it would sound like the guy singing the song. It was not only a fitting comment but it lightened the mood for a minute before the conversation turned serious about LSU’s future leadership.
Chris and Coach Neuheisel offer different life experience and perspectives, and their contrasting styles naturally make their conversations more interesting. If you haven’t had an opportunity to hear their show and enjoy listening to sports talk built around college sports, I recommend checking them out. You can hear a sample of their program by clicking here.
Jared Stillman – 102.5 The Game, Nashville, TN – When you draw the ire of many of the market’s local talents, it’s usually because you’ve tapped into something. In Jared Stillman’s case, he has a ton to say, and it isn’t often comfortable or popular, but it’s what makes him unique to Nashville sports listeners.
Every market has a villain, but not every talent is comfortable in that position. In listening from afar, Stillman seems at peace with his presentation and style, and it’s served him well, helping him make the transition from hosting middays solo on 102.5 The Game, to now teaming up with former Titans GM Floyd Reese in afternoon drive.
Some local folks who I’ve talked to have compared Stillman’s style to a Nashville version of Colin Cowherd. He uses analogies to shape some of his opinions. He welcomes conflict and doesn’t mind being the most unpopular man in the room. And despite being a homegrown talent, he speaks his mind and doesn’t drink the local Kool-Aid even if it might help him generate a few more fans.
As a broadcaster I can appreciate that skillset. Sports radio is a business that’s driven largely by strong opinion, supported evidence, and an ability to strike an emotional chord with an audience. Stillman checks many of those boxes. He may not be invited over to every local host and listener’s home for a Christmas party, but when the group gets together, it won’t be a surprise if the first words uttered are “can you believe what Stillman said today”. To hear Jared’s show click here.
Rich Ohrnberger – XTRA Sports 1360, San Diego, CA – Six years of NFL experience prepares most players to speak from an expert point of view on the sport they played professionally, but in Rich’s case there’s so much more to his daily performance. After being added to middays alongside radio veteran Mark Willard, the two men have not only formed immediate chemistry, but Ohrnberger’s natural personality has come to life. The show has been in existence for only 4+ months but it sounds like it’s been together for a lot longer.
On most days, you’re likely to be served a heavy dose of self-deprecation and laughter. The former Offensive Lineman and Willard strike the right balance in knowing when to extend the content and when to pull it back. I’ve listened to recent examples of Ohrnberger ad libbing his way into proclaiming himself as the “host with the most”, which then turned into a great back and forth good natured ribbing between the morning and midday shows. I’ve also heard Willard and Ohrnberger spontaneously roleplay as members of the Joey Bosa mob family, which was also great on-air content. That’s in addition to the serious conversations the two men have about the San Diego Chargers and other topical sports subjects which are also excellent.
Considering his playing experience, you’d expect Ohrnberger to speak intelligently and passionately on the NFL. He’s a good storyteller, who is open with his personal and professional life, and isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers with his opinions. But while all of those traits are part of his presentation, it’s his large personality and sense of humor that makes him a required daily listen.
At just thirty years old, Rich is relatively new to the sports radio world. He has a ton of upside and has already hit the ground running, but also has plenty of room to grow. What I noticed immediately is how comfortable he is on the air, regardless of the subject. He’s got great energy, an infectious attitude, and quick wit. Those are natural skills that most personalities need to be successful. I also like how he shapes and supports his positions and delivers them in a confident and precise manner. That tells me that he’s putting time into his preparation. But rather than take my word for it, click here and take a listen for yourself.
Drew Hoffar – KNBR 1050, San Francisco, CA – There are some voices you listen to that you instantly gravitate to or wish you could duplicate. For example, when sports radio fans hear Paul Turner on CBS Sports stations, his sound instantly grabs you. Well in Drew Hoffar’s case, he’s been blessed with a set of pipes that most personalities in their early thirties would kill for.
Although his voice jumps through the speakers, it’s the personality that goes with it that makes Hoffar a rising star in this format. He delivers his opinions with conviction and passion. He busts balls in a way that instantly gets your attention, and he utilizes descriptive and colorful vocabulary that sticks in the head of an audience (one of his old classic lines was “They’re going loco for Coco at Oco).
But while those are natural traits that he’s always possessed, it’s his maturation of growing into his the position as lead host of “The Audible” on KNBR 1050 that is making the biggest difference. His chemistry with on-air partners Kevin Frandsen (former MLB player) and Rudy Ortiz (Bay Area comedian) has been instant. I also hear a growing confidence in trusting his content decision making, and he’s searching for ways to get the group involved, rather than worrying about his own strengths and insecurities. That growth should not only give Hoffar reason to feel encouraged, but it should have folks at Cumulus San Francisco very optimistic about his future potential.
One area that I’ve especially been impressed with since Hoffar made the conversion from being a FT update anchor and PT host to the leader of KNBR 1050’s morning show is how he’s introduced lifestyle discussion into the daily plan. The show has the ability to debate and discuss sports topics, but it’s their ability to talk about movies, relationship issues, and real life experiences that makes them relatable to local listeners. To get familiar with Drew and his show The Audible, click here to listen.
Danny O’Neill – 710 ESPN, Seattle, WA – Running point on a three man show can be challenging but Danny makes it sound easy each day on the Seattle airwaves. He has a great sense of what’s relevant to the local audience, which is reflected in the show’s heavy focus on NFL and College Football conversation, and is an exceptional listener who’s focused on setting up his teammates and putting the group in position to succeed, rather than satisfying his own ego.
Another strength of Danny’s is his timing. He keeps the pace of the show moving and has a knack for knowing when to advance a conversation or stick with a subject that has deeper content potential. His positive and engaging demeanor is well received by his partners, and there’s a sense from listening that the boys in the room trust his decision making, and know that they’ll be consistently put in position to inform and entertain the audience.
If you tune into “Danny, Dave and Moore” on 710 ESPN Seattle, one thing that probably goes unnoticed by the audience, but is necessary for any good show to enjoy success, is solid execution of the show’s formatics, which Danny does well. He resets, teases, keeps the show’s benchmarks on track, and while those little things may not stand out as much as a brain jarring opinion, they often make a big difference on a talk show’s results.
If a Seattle sports radio listener driving home from work puts on Danny’s afternoon show, they’re likely to hear a good blend of laughs, information, opinion and locally focused content. That combination is a solid formula for success. To hear Danny, Dave and Moore, click here.
Lance Zierlein – SportsTalk 790, Houston, TX – I’ve long admired Lance’s work because he has an ability to make you think, react and laugh. Each day on his morning show “The Proper Gentlemen of Sports” where he works opposite Matt Thomas, Houston sports fans are treated to a blend of local sports topics, real life discussions, strong informed opinions, and spontaneous laughter.
From a content standpoint, the show places a strong emphasis on NFL conversation. Lance comes from a football family so it’s a sport he has natural interest in. He presents himself in an authoritative manner, and his preparation outside of the show and connections inside the game contribute to his ability to be seen as an informed source and opinion leader. One thing Lance is notorious for is watching a ton of football film. He shares his findings with his audience regularly, and the extra time he invests in studying players has earned him additional exposure on NFL.com and the NFL Network.
In addition to the serious side of his presentation, Lance is also gifted at creating characters. His Phillip Rivers, Stephen A. Smith and Jon Gruden, and original characters Bernie “The Wolf” Wolfson and SEC Guy Karol Kenton Kogslotter are laugh out loud funny. When introduced into a show, they’re impossible to turn off. He nails the cadence and personality of each person he imitates, yet brings a new dimension to each character which leaves you scratching your head and contemplating “is that really him”?
Although he’s been a mainstay on the Houston airwaves for the past two decades, Lance’s profile isn’t as familiar to industry folks outside of his market. However, it’s certainly not due to a lack of talent. He’s well rounded, opinionated, funny, and spontaneous, and those are the type of qualities most stations look for in a morning drive personality.
To hear his morning show on SportsTalk 790 click here. You can also watch a sample of one of his characters (SEC Guy) by clicking here.
OTHER HOSTS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
- Mike Taylor – The Ticket 760, San Antonio, TX
- Andrew Walker – 590 The Fan, Toronto, ON
- Brett Kane – 93.7 The Ticket, Lincoln, NE
- Mike Evans – 104.3 The Fan, Denver, CO
- Joe Raineri – 640 Sports, Miami, FL
- Andi Petrillo – TSN 1050, Toronto, ON
- Zach Gelb – 920 The Jersey, Trenton, NJ
- Beanie Wells – 97.1 The Fan, Columbus, OH
- Josh Cohen – ESPN 106.3, West Palm Beach, FL
- Nick Cattles – ESPN Radio 94.1, Virginia Beach, VA
Jason Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Sports Media. Prior to launching BSM he served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He has also produced national shows for ESPN Radio including GameNight and the Dan Patrick Show. You can find him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or reach him by email at [email protected].
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The New York Times Sports Saga is About Dollars and Cents, Not a Lack of Interest in Coverage and Reading
“You can take issue with the vision and how the situation was managed but an investment in The Athletic makes no sense if the Times doesn’t prioritize its importance.”
Call me asleep at the wheel, out of touch or an aging broadcaster who has it all wrong, but I firmly believe that people still like to read. I know the popular thing is to talk up video, audio, streaming, etc., and I love all of those options, but I don’t buy that people don’t have time or interest in reading.
For many, especially in the media business, it’s how you start and end your day. I’ve heard people pronounce last rites for print for well over a decade, only to see social platforms and media outlets thrive off the written word, newsletters rapidly rise, and text become the main form of communicating. Clearly, written content still matters.
It’s ironic that I’m telling you this in print as you read it on the BSM website. In fact, more than nine million visitors have stopped by this site over the past three years, reinforcing why I remain convinced people value learning and enjoying a mental distraction.
As much as I love audio and video, there’s something therapeutic about reading a story. There are thousands of shows flooding the daily content cycle, many discussing the same topics and issues. Some could say the same exists in print, but there are countless examples of in-depth storytelling and reporting that can’t be duplicated on radio, TV or even in a podcast.
Think for a second about the majority of sports information that people react to each day. It comes in written form. If you’re an NBA fan, you rely on tweets from Woj and Shams. If you crave the NFL, Schefty and Rapoport keep you informed. Even those seeking sports media news get it from Marchand, McCarthy, Ourand, and BSM. Whether it’s delivered in a tweet or an online article, the bottom line, you’re reading it.
Though I remain bullish on the power of print, I’m not naive to the fact that the business has been challenged. If the revenue or costs don’t produce positive results for a company, they are going to do whatever is necessary to strengthen their business.
Recently, the New York Times chose to throw in the towel on its local sports department, relying instead on The Athletic for its local sports coverage needs. It was a decision undoubtedly influenced by dollars and cents. As expected, many in the media took exception.
In a statement issued to the Times’s newsroom, the newspaper’s executive editor, and deputy managing editor emphasized that the changes would result in more direct focus on distinctive, high-impact news and enterprise journalism about how sports intersect with money, power, culture, politics and society at large. What they felt no longer needed attention was coverage of games, players, teams and leagues.
Interesting. This follows the Los Angeles Times recent decision to remove box scores, game stories, standings, and TV listings. These are things that sports fans have cared about and paid attention to for decades.
These two newspapers believe your interest in knowing the details of a game, and how your favorite team is performing compared to others, no longer matter. Either that’s the viewpoint or they’ve waved the white flag and determined people would rather go to ESPN, Yahoo and other online destination for that information. It’s easy to see why these decisions drew the ire of Adam Schein on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio and Jessica Benson on Grind City Media.
I don’t believe people who love sports don’t care about the things the Times is eliminating. Maybe interest in those items is lower when compared to news and in-depth storytelling but sports fans have always had interest in statistics, schedules, transactions, and standings. To suggest they don’t matter anymore is foolish.
You can debate if the newspaper’s vision for covering sports is right for the future or not but what made this situation worse is the way their executive team managed the situation with the sports staff.
It was reported that employees sent a letter to management the day prior, asking for clarity on the future of their department. Though the Times said in a letter to staff that no plans existed for layoffs, they ignored the fact that The Athletic had 20 staff members eliminated last month, and 20 more transferred to other roles. The transfer approach was also their solution for the sports department, hoping moving staffers to another department would help avoid the wrath and a bigger fight with their union.
But when news trickles in from the outside that plans are in the works to eliminate a department, and those skilled at covering sports are offered roles that remove them from what they enjoy doing, why would they stay? If someone took away your sports job and told you you’d continue being paid but now have to write obituaries, what would you do? Some will see this as creating a structure that encourages people to quit. That’s one way to eliminate costs without being on the hook for breaking a promise to not eliminate jobs.
Though I think the management team at the Times has royally screwed up their handling of this situation, let’s remove emotion for a second, and look at this from a business perspective.
The New York Times’s parent company started this process in January 2022 when it invested five hundred and fifty million dollars in The Athletic. Were they not supposed to prioritize the sports brand they purchased? Were they supposed to continue funding two operations with the same content focus even if it meant losing money?
One could argue that the newspaper could’ve moved its best sports writers to The Athletic, but to expect both to operate as is isn’t realistic. You can also criticize the decision to stick with The Athletic after the brand lost $7.8 million last quarter, $12.6 million in the second quarter last year, and $6.8 million in February and March of 2022 despite having 3.3 million subscribers. By the way, that information was shared by the New York Times in public filings.
Love it or hate it, when a company has resources tied up in two places for the same thing, you can rest assured they’re going to eliminate or reduce one of them. The changes don’t happen right away either, they usually come a year or two later.
This isn’t exclusive to the print industry. Look at what happened to the pro wrestling business when Vince McMahon acquired WCW from Turner. He didn’t run two companies long term. He kept who he wanted, dropped the others, and a lot of people in that business were left without work. It happens in radio too when a station eliminates local shows for national programming or companies take over a new market or entire organization. You may not love hearing executives talk about finding ‘synergies’ to operate more efficiently, but they’re not going to pay twice for something that requires one investment.
When cuts are made and a department is weakened, it’s hard to express enthusiasm. Why would one be optimistic about the Times’s ability to cover the world of sports when they have less of a presence, and are minimizing coverage of games, players, teams, and leagues? If you’re at the New York Daily News, New York Post or Newsday you’re using the moment to remind New Yorkers that you remain committed to local sports coverage with a locally focused staff.
It’s more than fair to question if this the Times is making a smart decision, but for anyone to suggest this confirms a lack of interest in reading and sports coverage is foolish. These decisions are always about one thing, and one thing only, money.
The bigger issue with print isn’t a lack of interest. It’s the cost to employ and retain a talented staff while grappling with the challenges of generating advertising and subscription revenue. Think the fact that the sports desk at the Times was unionized, and The Athletic was not might’ve mattered in this case? You’re nuts if you think it didn’t.
In May of this year, the New York Times missed estimates for quarterly revenue. That led to a 6% drop in their stock price at the time. The Times said they expected digital ad revenue to decline by low-to mid-single digits, which was confirmed when they revealed they were nearly 9% down in digital ad revenue for the first quarter, and off by 11 million dollars for total annual revenue.
As a publisher myself, I know how hard it is. We are fortunate to have some excellent, loyal advertising partners on this website but truth be told, we don’t have enough of them. More months than most we spend more than we take in to run our websites, and newsletters. Consulting remains our top source for revenue, leaving me to ask many times if modifying our content approach is needed or if we’d be wiser running a business without an online focus.
We put a ton of time and effort into educating the industry. I take great pride covering brands and people, telling their stories, trying to help folks learn about each other and the daily happenings across the media landscape. We pump out 30-40 stories each day between our two websites, promote them across social media, and deliver them to more than 10,000 inboxes via our BSM 8@8 and BNM Rundown. And that’s just the content side.
We also spend countless hours creating packages, pursuing new business, and taking meetings to demonstrate our reach and value in order to gain advertising support. We build conferences across the country, and risk a lot financially to do them, hoping to earn enough to cover the expenses and get many of the right industry people in the room. But even that can be difficult. For every partner we gain, there are many who don’t come on board. Most who do have seen the benefits, but I understand that a weakened economy makes decision makers nervous.
That said, if this site disappeared tomorrow, many would be upset. We’ve earned trust, respect, and appreciation for the work we do from a lot of important people. But in every business, if the support isn’t there, the publisher, brand or company has to choose what is and isn’t vital to operating. Folks may not like change, but it’s simply about the math. If the dollars and cents don’t add up, you’ve got to adjust or you risk being broke or out of business.
That’s what I believe this decision at the New York Times is about. You can take issue with their vision and the way they managed the situation but understand that an investment in The Athletic makes no sense if the Times isn’t prepared to prioritize its importance. You can question if they should’ve purchased The Athletic in the first place, but once that move was made, it was only a matter of time until something this drastic occurred.
But those who flocked to social media to suggest this is proof of people not being interested in reading are wrong. Each time I hear nonsense uttered about print being dead, I think of how often the same has been said about radio and television. I think about the film industry, which relies on written scripts, and in many cases, published books to create box office hits. I think of Canada pulling its advertising support from Facebook and Instagram over parent company Meta’s decision to restrict news content being available to Canadians. I think of our own growth at BSM and BNM, which is a result of people consuming our written content either online, on social media or in newsletters.
Interest in reading, learning, and mentally escaping from the world for a few is as strong as ever. We live on social media apps and our phones because we want to read what others say, and join the conversation. It all reinforces the notion that consuming written content matters, whether it’s on a website, on social media, in a text, in a newspaper, newsletter or magazine.
The only questions anyone should be asking is what must digital/print brands do to attract stronger advertising dollars, how much investment must a company make to deliver quality journalism and a large audience, and how much consolidation awaits the media world in the near and distant future? We can scream from the mountaintops all day about the decline of journalism and rip the New York Times for decimating its local sports department, but if the dough don’t show, someone or something is going to go.
Jason Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Sports Media. Prior to launching BSM he served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He has also produced national shows for ESPN Radio including GameNight and the Dan Patrick Show. You can find him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or reach him by email at [email protected].
