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Sports Media Traveled a Long Road in 2017

Jason Barrett

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2017 offered no shortage of news on the sports media industry. It seemed like every month this year included a major development for sports television networks to navigate thru, and the sports radio format dealt with its own share of challenges and opportunities while anxiously awaiting the approval of the CBS-Entercom merger. Although it gave media folks plenty of material to digest and discuss, it also left questions about the future.

Nonetheless, here we are at the end of the 2017 calendar, and while some companies would love to put the past twelve months in their rear view mirror and forget they ever happened, we can’t spring forward to 2018 without first looking back at one of the more interesting and challenging years for the sports media business. If 2018 is anything like the one we just experienced, we’re all going to be in for an even bumpier ride. Be sure to buckle your seat belt.

Local Sports Radio News:

The number one story in radio circles for 2017 was the EntercomCBS Radio merger. What was seen as a positive move for the future of the radio industry was also one which required patience as the new company needed to clear a few hurdles to reach the finish line. In the end, Entercom wound up the undisputed leader in the sports radio format with top performing stations in the majority of major markets, over 40 play by play deals, and ownership of its own national sports network. Former San Diego Padres CEO Mike Dee was hired as the company’s President of Sports and CBS Radio executive Chris Oliviero joined the new group as its Executive VP of Programming. Lost in the completion of the merger were a few successful sports brands including 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston which went to Beasley Broadcasting, Sports Radio 1140 KHTK in Sacramento which was picked up by Bonneville and a smaller signal 1090 The Fan in Seattle which was placed under the operating control of iHeartmedia. Entercom also bolstered its digital efforts by acquiring DGital Media. As we move into 2018 the question becomes, how will the new Entercom capitalize on its position as one of radio’s most powerful companies?

One of the company’s most important stations, WFAN in New York, was dealt two massive blows in 2017. One of those situations was expected, the other came from out of left field. Mike Francesa kept his word and left the station on Friday December 15th, ending a 28-year run in afternoon drive. The Fan announced afternoon drive would be hosted in 2018 by the trio of Chris Carlin, Bart Scott and Maggie Gray. As expected, the station’s new direction was met with immediate criticism, which wasn’t a surprise since change is never popular, especially when it involves the exit of a host who had been on the air for three decades. Entering 2018, all eyes in New York will be on Carlin, Scott and Gray. Meanwhile for Francesa, he’s stated that he’s not done working. The former afternoon king has not yet announced his future plans but has hinted that his next move will likely be something different. Stay tuned.

Equally as challenging for WFAN was dealing with a jolt to its highly successful morning show, Boomer and Carton, which came to an end in September after Craig Carton was arrested for his alleged involvement in a ponzi scheme. Carton is fighting the charges and has since launched a podcast and been linked to a potential opportunity in the new year with Barstool Sports, but his former seat on The Fan’s morning show now belongs to former CBS Sports Radio morning man and Long Island native Gregg Giannotti. With Giannotti earning his shot opposite Boomer, it meant vacating his seat on CBS Sports Radio’s morning program. The network has since announced it will install Marc Malusis and former pro wrestler Taz in morning drive to start 2018.

For WFAN’s lead competitor ESPN NY 98.7 FM, 2017 also involved a few changes. The radio station increased its local programming in middays with the addition of Alan Hahn, Rick DiPietro and Chris Canty and Stephen A. Smith. However, a few months later a decision was made to move Hahn back to evenings and Dave Rothenberg back to middays. An even bigger positive for the station was the month of June which saw Michael Kay edge Mike Francesa 5.2 to 5.1 during their head to head hours M-F 3p-6:30p. It was the first time Kay had finished ahead of the sports radio ratings king for a full month since joining the station in 2002.

In addition to the arrest mentioned previously of Craig Carton, there were other sports radio personalities who found themselves the center of attention for the wrong reasons. 950 KJR in Seattle was forced to cut ties with morning man Mitch Levy after he was locked up during a prostitution sting. Levy is now working on rehabbing his life and image. KJR is still deciding their long-term plans in morning drive. Ethan Skolnick in Miami was taken away by police after assaulting his father. The situation resulted in Skolnick no longer being featured on the airwaves of 790 The Ticket. Ryen Russillo was also arrested, resulting in a suspension at ESPN Radio, after he was discovered highly intoxicated and naked in a stranger’s home in Wyoming.

Play by play deals were extended in multiple cities. The Dallas Mavericks agreed to terms to remain with ESPN 103.3 in Dallas, the Philadelphia Eagles inked a new 7-year deal with WIP, the Seattle Seahawks and Bonneville Seattle renewed their vows for a few more years, WDAE in Tampa secured a new agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 98.5 The Sports Hub extended its partnership with the New England PatriotsWQAM and the Miami Hurricanes advanced their relationship with a new contract, 940 WINZ committed further to the Miami MarlinsWFNZ locked up a new arrangement with the Charlotte Hornets, and Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and the Arizona Diamondbacks signed paperwork to continue their association. The Washington Capitals returned to 106.7 The Fan in DC, the Minnesota Twins followed suit by going back to WCCO, and the Detroit Pistons did the same by heading back to 97.1 The Ticket. In Kansas City, 810 WHB and 610 Sports switched allegiances with 810 becoming the new home for the Kansas Jayhawks and 610 teaming up with Kansas State. KGO in San Francisco struck a new deal with the University of California, San Diego State partnered with XTRA Sports 1360, the Los Angeles Chargers found a radio partner in AM 570 LA Sports, as did the Vegas Golden Knights at FOX Sports 1340.

Program Director changes took place in a few key markets. After being unexpectedly let go in Philadelphia, Matt Nahigian quickly resurfaced in San Francisco landing the PD gig at 95.7 The Game after the station dropped former PD Don Kollins. Nahigian’s spot at 97.5 The Fanatic was then filled by former NJ 101.5 PD Eric Johnson, who earlier in his career served as APD for WIP. Former DC programmer Chuck Sapienza took the reigns at 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore, Jeremiah Crowe was elevated to the top spot at KNBR in San Francisco, Jeff Rickard climbed the ranks to the top spot at 107.5/1070 The Fan in Indianapolis, Tony DiGiacomo was charged with leading WFNZ forward in Charlotte, John Mamola was given the keys to WDAE in Tampa, John Hadley was installed as PD at 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, Joey Jenkins earned PD stripes at ESPN Boise and Ben Darnell left North Carolina to become the top guy and Rob Dibble’s partner at ESPN 97.9 in Hartford. Just a few miles down the road, Justin Craig returned to Bristol to become a key part of the ESPN Radio network’s management team, turning his previous post as PD at 98.7 ESPN NY over to APD Ryan Hurley. John Cassio also entered network management joining SiriusXM‘s sports team in Washington DC.

There were a number of additions made on the air as well. After exiting 97.5 The Fanatic and sitting out for a few months, Jon Marks moved across town to host evenings on WIP. His year ended in afternoons with Ike Reese due to Chris Carlin departing for WFAN in New York. After losing Danny Parkins to 670 The Score in Chicago, 610 Sports filled his seat by adding Brad Fanning opposite Carrington Harrison. As Parkins joined The Score, Chris Rongey left the radio station to head home to St. Louis and become part of The Fast Lane with Randy Karraker and Brad Thompson at 101 ESPN. Arizona Sports 98.7 FM added FOX Sports 910 veteran and budget cut casualty Mike Jurecki to its midday program opposite former NFL defensive end Bertrand Berry, Gerry Valliancourt returned to the Queen City to host afternoons for ESPN Charlotte 730 The Game, Chad Doing headed back to Portland to join Travis Demers in afternoons on Rip City Radio 620, 104.9 The Horn strengthened its roster with the additions of Geoff Ketchum, Craig Way and Rod Babers, Robin Carlin left Denver to join Sean Salisbury‘s show in Houston which then added a TV simulcast on beIN Sports, Erik Ainge joined the midday mix on Sports Radio WNML in Knoxville, and ESPN Radio 94.1 in Norfolk brought in Jeff Pantridge to fill the void left by Nick Cattles who headed to Boston to join 98.5 The Sports HubZach Bye got his big break by leaving Albany, NY for Denver to work with Brandon Stokley in middays on 104.3 The Fan, TJ Carpenter moved from Kansas City to Denver to join Mile High Sports Radio which was eventually purchased along with its magazine, website and newsletter by a group led by former 104.3 The Fan PD and host Nate Lundy. Not to be forgotten, Kyle Bailey joined the weekday lineup at WFNZ in Charlotte, Mark Zinno bounced back from being let go by 92.9 The Game in Atlanta to host afternoons for 1230 The Fan 2, Andy Gresh moved to Providence to host on WPRO, Craig Shemon and Pete Sheppard landed in afternoons in Fort Myers on 99.3 ESPN, and a few major cities gained new sports stations including Vancouver with the arrival of Sportsnet 650, New Orleans with the launch of Sports Radio 1280, and Phoenix with the debut of 1580 The Fanatic.

Changes also resulted in the exit of a few familiar faces. After battling health issues, Terry Foster decided to shut it down and exit 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit where he had enjoyed a long-term successful partnership with Mike Valenti. Longtime Chicago sports radio hosts Terry Boers and Mike North both announced their retirement from sports radio, 680 The Fan in Atlanta parted ways with longtime morning host Chris Rude electing to feature a two-man team led by Chris Dimino and Nick CelliniRob Ellis and 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia cut ties paving the way for Jason Myrtetus to become Harry Mayes‘ new on-air partner. In San Francisco, JT The Brick was dropped from middays at 95.7 The Game (he still hosts his national show for FOX Sports Radio), and KNBR and morning update anchor Kate Scott terminated their working relationship. Additionally, Mitch Moss joined VSiN and co-host Mike Pritchard moved to 104.3 The Fan in Denver, leaving ESPN Las Vegas with a hole in its weekday lineup which it has since filled with local options. Dean Blundell was let go by Sportsnet 590 The Fan in Toronto, Sports Radio 1140 KHTK in Sacramento and PD Kevin Sherrets split up, and Sean O’Connell and ESPN 700 in Salt Lake City pursued different directions. Speaking of Salt Lake, 2017 also saw 1320 The Fan cease operations.

A couple of sports radio legends signed new deals which calmed the nerves of their employers. Angelo Cataldi agreed to terms to remain in mornings at WIP, Jim Rome struck a new deal with CBS Sports Radio, Greg Papa gave his commitment to 95.7 The Game, Chris Kroeger and WFNZ pledged their support to one another, and Bob McCown finalized an agreement to continue hosting at SportsNet 590 The Fan.

The hottest sports radio market in the nation remained Boston where WEEI and 98.5 The Sports Hub jockeyed for position as the market’s leading brand. Combined the two stations were responsible for nearly 25% of listening among Men 25-54. Each station recorded strong double digit shares and after previously spending a few years as the runner up, WEEI reversed its luck and took the lead in mornings thanks to a dominant year from Kirk and Callahan. WEEI also took the lead in middays with Ordway, Merloni and Fauria inching past Zolak and Bertrand. However if the streaming numbers get included the positions change. The Hub’s Felger and Massarotti stayed in front of WEEI’s Dale, Holley and Keefe in afternoons. Month after month the two Boston station’s have been engaged in an intense battle with each quarter hour potentially making the difference of who wins the next book. Truly a fascinating follow.

Continuing with the two Boston sports stations (WEEI and 98.5 The Sports Hub), each were nominated for the Marconi Award for Sports Radio Station of the Year. 101 ESPN in St. Louis and 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia also received consideration but the honor was ultimately given to Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket in Dallas who enjoyed a spectacular year in the ratings.

Other strong ratings stories were delivered this year by KFAN in Minneapolis, 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, 670 The Score and ESPN 1000 in Chicago, 104.3 The Fan in Denver, KNBR in San Francisco, 106.7 The Fan in Washington DC, 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit, 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, 1620 The Zone in Omaha and ESPN 92.9 in Memphis.

A reunion was created in Houston by Gow MediaLance Zierlein left SportsTalk 790, turning his previous timeslot over to Josh Innes. The talented host then spent a few months on the sidelines before returning to the airwaves at ESPN 97.5 with former partner John Granato in morning drive. Zierlein and Granato enjoyed success together previously at Sports Radio 610 and KGOW 1560. Also making the move to Gow Media was former 790 afternoon host Charlie Pallilo. The Houston sports radio veteran took over middays on Sports Map 94.1.

In Los Angeles, ESPN LA 710 evolved its afternoon show from Marcellus Wiley and Kelvin Washington to Marcellus, Kelvin and Eric Davis. That then was adjusted to Marcellus, Eric and Sean Farnham, except now Davis’ future is in question following sexual harassment allegations from his time at the NFL Network.

After spending the first half of the year away from the microphone following a 2016 exit in St. Louis, Dino Costa was given a second chance. The polarizing talk show host landed the afternoon gig at 102.9/750 The Game in Portland but that opportunity also vanished after Costa created a stir in the market by taking aim at Black Lives Matter supporters and women sports talk show hosts. The Game has since inserted CBS Sports Radio’s Bill Reiter in afternoons.

iHeartmedia in Denver made a bold move to turn Denver Sports 760 into an all-Broncos channel. The station was rebranded as Orange and Blue 760 in July. Among the personalities featured on the channel include Broncos play by play voice Dave Logan and former Broncos Steve Atwater, Ray Crockett, Tyler Polumbus and Matt McChesney.

Unfortunately 2017 didn’t end without the sports radio format losing a few good men. AM 1300 The Zone in Austin lost morning co-host Sean Adams unexpectedly in September, former Philadelphia Phillies catcher turned 97.5 The Fanatic contributor Darren Daulton passed away in August, and Cleveland sports radio host “The Big Sports Kahuna” Kendall Lewis died in April.

The National Sports Radio Circuit:

ESPN Radio brought to an end the marriage of Mike and Mike, leaving hurt feelings in the process. Mike Golic acknowledged being blindsided by the decision and confirmed that he considered retiring before being presented with the option of teaming up on a new show with Trey Wingo and his son Mike Golic Jr. For Mike Greenberg, the company’s plans to launch a new television show with Greeny as the centerpiece alongside Michelle Beadle and Jalen Rose were stalled. The new program is expected to debut live from New York City in April 2018.

The ending of Mike and Mike was not the only major change at ESPN Radio. The network announced Stephen A. Smith would join the weekday lineup in 2018, taking over the 1p-3p ET timeslot. Smith had already been hosting during those two hours on ESPN Radio’s New York and Los Angeles stations. By adding Smith, ESPN Radio committed to moving Ryen Russillo and Will Cain into afternoons except Russillo surprised the company by deciding to exit in order to pursue different opportunities on the West Coast. Although Russillo will be gone from network radio, he will continue producing a podcast for the company thru the summer of 2018. The decision to shift Russillo and Cain to PM drive was made possible due to the company shifting Bomani Jones away from his national radio show into the podcast space. The other two moves at ESPN Radio included Jason Fitz replacing Israel Gutierrez opposite Sarah Spain and Freddie Coleman and Ian Fitzsimmons being inserted into the 9p-1a ET position. Jalen and Jacoby followed Bomani’s path and are focusing more on creating digital content.

FOX Sports Radio added to its lineup by signing Doug Gottlieb away from CBS Sports Radio. Gottlieb was inserted into afternoons on FSR replacing Jay Mohr. To fill Gottlieb’s spot on CBS Sports Radio and the CBS Sports Network, the company turned to Tiki Barber and Brandon Tierney who were holding down the midday slot. Damon Amendolara vacated his evening show to replace Tiki and Tierney in middays, and Bill Reiter joined the network to take over Amendolara’s evening shift. CBS Sports Radio also confirmed plans for Jim Rome‘s radio program to gain a television simulcast in 2018 on the CBS Sports Network.

Clay Travis continued increasing his national profile in 2017. The national sports radio morning host for FOX Sports Radio and owner of Outkick The Coverage went on the attack against ESPN, calling out the network for declining ratings, subscription losses and questionable decision making over situations that involved personalities with Republican and Democratic views. Travis also broke the news of ESPN removing Asian play by play announcer Robert Lee from the Virginia-William and Mary broadcast because of concerns of his name offending viewers. Travis’ relentless pursuit of ESPN got under the skin of Bob Iger and John Skipper and resulted in national appearances on FOX News and CNN. During one of those visits, Travis told CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin he believes in two things, The First Amendment and Boobs, generating another firestorm of reaction. The exchange gained Travis tons of national attention but also a removal from CNN’s programs. Travis later claimed that FOX News also pulled him off of their shows to appease Iger, the Walt Disney Company‘s Chairman and CEO.

As much as Travis’ feud with ESPN helped advance his stature in sports media circles, one could make a case that his biggest impact was made when he led a social media revolt against the University of Tennessee after the school hired Greg Schiano as its new football coach. Travis wrote on his website and utilized Twitter to encourage fans to make their voices heard about Schiano being a bad hire for the school due to previously being linked to a child sex investigation from his time spent at Penn State. Travis even went to the extent of tweeting out Tennessee AD John Currie‘s cell phone number. The story picked up steam, resulting in Tennessee rescinding its offer to Schiano, removing Currie as AD, installing former football coach Phillip Fulmer as its new AD, and hiring Jeremy Pruitt to lead the Volunteers football program.

SiriusXM continued making moves to improve its programming offerings. The company announced plans to launch SEC Radio and Pac-12 Radio, struck a partnership with ESPN to rebrand College Sports Nation as ESPNU Radio, inked a six-year extension with NASCAR and came to terms with Barstool Sports to give the brand its own 24/7 channel starting in January 2018. A pretty good year for Scott Greenstein and Steve Cohen.

The year also included two of the most powerful multi-media rights and sponsorship holders in college sports play by play announcing their intentions to join forces. Learfield and IMG College revealed in September their plans to align. If approved by the DOJ it would make their joint worth more than 2.5 billion dollars. Assuming approval is granted, the companies will represent a total of 220 schools including 70% of Division I universities.

2017 will also be remembered as the year when broadcast outlets began increasing the amount of air time given to sports betting content. VSiN launched in Las Vegas on SiriusXM, spearheaded by Brian and Brent Musburger. Speaking of Brent, he was utilized as a sports betting expert on ESPN during the network’s March Madness coverage, something previously shied away from on sports television. FOX Sports Radio entered the space in a bigger way with the addition of RJ Bell. The Chernin Group launched The Action Network, luring away ESPN digital executive Chad Millman to run it, and Scott Van Pelt continued advancing the discussion on his midnight SportsCenter program on ESPN. With the Supreme Court weighing the possibility of legalizing sports gambling, if approved, it could provide a huge boost to TV ratings, audio content, and ad revenue.

A Crazy Year in Sports Television:

There’s no other way to put it, 2017 wasn’t kind to ESPN. For every win the company enjoyed, an avalanche of negative news soon followed, culminating with the unexpected resignation from company President John Skipper. Former ESPN President George Bodenheimer has since taken the reigns of the company on an interim basis as Bob Iger tries to determine who’s best suited to lead its efforts going forward into 2018 and beyond.

Perhaps the biggest move in sports television in 2017 was CBS‘ decision to hire Tony Romo as its lead NFL analyst, replacing Phil Simms alongside Jim Nantz. Simms was moved to a studio role on the NFL Today on CBS, part of a few changes to the show which included dropping Bart Scott in favor of Nate Burleson and losing Tony Gonzalez who preferred to work on the west coast for FOX Sports. Although Romo’s addition was met with initial doubt by media pundits, the former Cowboys QB has proven to be exceptional, possessing the ability to read and predict what may happen next.

The second move which created instant second guessing, was ESPN‘s decision to replace Chris Berman‘s spot on Sunday NFL Countdown with Samantha Ponder. Berman’s presence and personality has been missed this season, leaving questions about the network’s plans for next season. Countdown has had its moments but has lacked that must-watch feeling that previously existed on Sunday’s. That may not be as much on Ponder as it is a reflection of Berman’s large impact on the show.

Jay Cutler was expected to join FOX Sports as an analyst working with Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis, but once Ryan Tannehill went down with an injury in Miami, the former Bears QB cancelled his plans to move into the TV booth for one last shot with the Dolphins. Although Cutler didn’t make the jump to FOX, the NFL’s Senior VP of Officiating did. Dean Blandino signed on to become a second rules analyst for the network and his addition has been met by mostly positive reviews.

Among the many controversies to plague ESPN in 2017 included Jemele Hill publicly blasting the President of the United States Donald Trump, labeling him a white supremacist. The comments created a strong divide among media folks and a lot of unnecessary negative media attention for the worldwide leader in sports. The situation became even more magnified when the company chose not to punish Hill for her remarks, a stark difference compared to how the company handled other personalities with opposing views. Hill has since reiterated her position during a podcast conversation with former NFL running back Arian Foster. Despite the political firestorm over Hill’s tweet which included drawing a response from the White House, ESPN did take action against Hill for a separate incident. The SC6 host was suspended for encouraging fans on Twitter to boycott the NFL’s advertisers as a response to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declaring that any player on his team who protested the flag would not participate.

Not all was bad at ESPN though. The company vastly improved its NBA coverage by adding the best reporter in the business, Adrian Wojnarowski. The basketball bloodhound exited The Vertical along with former front office executive turned insider Bobby Marks. Also making the jump to ESPN was social media star and rising TV personality Katie Nolan who left FOX Sports 1 after being sent to the sidelines for most of the year without any clear explanation. Nolan now serves as a contributor on multiple network shows and is launching a podcast for ESPN in 2018.

Rex Ryan was another headline hire made at the network but reviews of his performance so far as an NFL analyst have been underwhelming. The former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills coach especially drew criticism for his performance on the Monday Night Football opener between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers. Fortunately for the outspoken coach his less than stellar performance was overshadowed by Sergio Dipp who stole the headlines when his first report from the sidelines was presented in awkward fashion, leading to an explosion of social media memes, GIFs and video clips, making him a top trending subject on Twitter.

Talent additions aside, ESPN continued displaying its brilliance with its 30 for 30 documentaries. Among the films to stand out in 2017 were Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies, John Calipari’s “One and Not Done”, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, The Tommy Morrison story and the 1-hour special on Mike & the Mad Dog. Anticipation is already high for the forthcoming 2018 film on Bill Parcells and Bill Bellichick.

ESPN demonstrated that it can have some fun too. The company dedicated Tuesday August 8th to rebranding ESPNU for 24-hours as ESPN The Ocho. The idea was inspired by the popular 2004 film “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” which featured Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor and Ben Stiller. Among the sports featured on The Ocho included American Disc Golf, Roller Derby, Ultimate Trampoline Dodgeball, Juggling, Table Tennis and Cornhole among others.

One issue which wasn’t a laughing matter and rose like a phoenix inside the media industry was sexual harassment. Allegations increased throughout the year, leading to a large number of high profile terminations. FOX News parted ways with Bill O’Reilly and Eric Bolling, FS1 cut ties with top executive Jamie Horowitz, NBC dropped Matt Lauer, CBS/PBS/Bloomberg cut Charlie Rose, Mark Halperin was ousted by MSNBCPete Rose was sent packing at FOX Sports, and the NFL Network, The Ringer and ESPN dealt with a lawsuit filed by former employee Jami Cantor which claimed that Marshall Faulk, Warren Sapp, Eric Davis, Donovan McNabb, Ike Taylor and Heath Evans all sexually harassed her at work. A second employee, Erin McParland, has since come forward and added Michael Irvin‘s name to the mix, offering additional details to Sports Illustrated. Many of the accused are off the air pending further investigation. Other allegations were made by Jenn Sterger and Adrienne Lawrence against ESPN, Lindsay McCormick towards the NFL Network, and Seattle Seahawks analyst Warren Moon was accused of the same by a California woman named Wendy Haskell.

Layoffs were another unpleasant story which affected organizations such as ESPN, FOX SportsSports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Buzz Feed, MTV and Vice Sports. Among the notable names to lose employment at ESPN due to budget cuts were Jayson Stark, Ed Werder, John Clayton, Ron Jaworski, Merril Hoge, Andy Katz, Marc Stein, Trent Dilfer, and Danny Kanell. Seth Davis and Lindsay Schnell were among the cuts at Sports Illustrated, and Stewart Mandel was among those who were eliminated at FOX Sports as the company shifted away from written content in favor of video.

Continuing on that topic, despite evidence showing an increased interest in video consumption and advertising, media outlets were taken to task for pursuing video strategies at the expense of the written word. FOX Sports in particular came under fire, especially when respected writers and reporters Ken Rosenthal and Bruce Feldman were left to post breaking news and columns on Facebook and Twitter. Feldman eventually landed a writing gig at Sports Illustrated and the adverse affect of choosing video over print became an opportunity for upstart The Athletic which began raiding newspapers and websites for their best journalists. The company launched divisions in San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Cleveland, Toronto and Montreal, building their business by relying on subscriptions from readers and promising no advertising or video, just exceptional journalism. Among the familiar names to join the group included Rosenthal, Seth Davis, Stewart MandelPeter Gammons, Tim Kawakami and Andrew Brandt. All industry eyes will be on the digital platform in 2018 to see if their strategy is sustainable.

Meanwhile at FS1, a new morning show was introduced in September, featuring Hall of Fame NFL wide receiver and former ESPN analyst Cris Carter, former sports radio host Nick Wright and former Today Show correspondent Jenna Wolfe. The program, First Things First, was created to make the network more competitive in morning drive and offer a live lead in to Skip and Shannon: Undisputed. FS1 also strengthened its roster by adding Ray Lewis, Tony Gonzalez, Mark Schlereth, Eric Davis, Michael Vick, Danny Kanell and Chris Broussard as contributors.

As those additions were made, two popular personalities moved on. 2017 saw Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole‘s run in the United States come to an end, as a new adventure began north of the border. The comedic sports television duo were cut loose by FOX Sports but quickly landed on their feet at TSN.

The year included some memorable contributions from FS1‘s Jason Whitlock. The Speak For Yourself personality offered a thought provoking commentary during an interview with Michael McCarthy of the Sporting News, explaining how the media landscape has drastically changed due to the industry taking its cues from San Francisco rather than New York. Whitlock also ruffled a few feathers by stating that LeBron James was too rich to experience real racism and for welcoming a Colin Kaepernick impersonator into the studio and mocking the free agent QB. One personality to take exception with Whitlock was nationally syndicated hip hop radio personality Charlamagne Tha God.

In a stunning move, the Walt Disney Company spent over 52 billion dollars to acquire a large number of key assets from 21st Century Fox, including the company’s 22 regional sports television networks. The purchase should increase ESPN‘s local opportunities and decrease FOX‘s regional distribution. 21st Century FOX did retain ownership of FS1 and FS2 but how future viewership and revenue potential will be affected as a result of the sale is a story which many will be keeping an eye on in 2018.

The narrative on the decline of sports television ratings continued with the NFL, NASCAR and College Football all experiencing a dip in overall viewership. The NFL was placed in an especially difficult position as player protests during the national anthem increased as owners expressed their frustrations publicly and privately. On the other hand, the NBA was one of few leagues to enjoy sizable gains. One change which has television network’s feeling optimistic about 2018 is a recent announcement from Nielsen to adjust its measurement and place a heavier focus on video streaming. The downside of increased sports video consumption on electronic devices is a stronger appetite from Facebook, Amazon and Twitter towards acquiring sports programming rights. That could become an economic problem in the future for sports television companies.

Women began to earn a larger presence on sports television in key roles in 2017. Beth Mowins,broke new ground becoming the first female to call a nationally broadcast regular season Monday Night Football game. Mowins more than proved she was ready for showtime. Kate Scott made history next by becoming the first woman to call a Pac-12 college football game on television. Doris Burke, Kara Lawson, Lindsay Whalen, and Sarah Kustok were all given bigger opportunities as analysts and play by play announcers, and Kerith Burke was added to Golden State Warriors television broadcasts replacing Rosalyn Gold-Onwude who landed a national opportunity on TNT and NBA TV. Although not perfect, progress was made.

The year also saw Britt McHenry redefine herself. The attractive sports sideline reporter was let go by ESPN during its April layoffs but began breathing fire as an opinionated political commentator, earning new fans and critics in the process.

Barstool Sports experienced its fair share of attention led by the news of landing a television show (Barstool Van Talk) on ESPN, only to have the network pull the plug on the program one week after its debut. Former President John Skipper said at the time that ESPN removed the show because he was not comfortable with the network being associated with Barstool, leading many in media circles to question how executives at ESPN could allow the program to reach the air in the first place without doing extensive research. The partnership gained stronger attention inside ESPN after ESPN host Samantha Ponder took to Twitter blasting Barstool for its content and previously taking personal shots at her.

Adding to the company’s headaches was a social media firestorm created by former FOX Sports College Football reporter Elika Sadeghi who took exception with Barstool‘s contractual language, which she said permitted the company to place her in an environment where she might be exposed to “nudity, sexual scenarios, racial epithets, suggestive gestures, profanity and references to stereotypes.” Upon learning of the critical remarks by Sadegi, Barstool president Dave Portnoy fired back claiming that the legal terms were similar to what SNL and Comedy Central ask of their employees and taking Sadeghi to task for trying to insert herself into a story to gain attention.

But all wasn’t negative for Barstool. The company dominated the iTunes charts once again thanks to the popularity of Pardon My Take hosted by Big Cat and PFT Commenter. Dave Portnoy‘s group added a number of talented personalities including Michael Rappaport, Pat McAfeeDallas Braden and Julie Stewart-Binks. The company has also confirmed it’s held talks with former WFAN host Craig Carton. Perhaps its most impressive feat has been the way the brand has further cemented its position as one of the best sports social media engagement outlets, especially with younger fans. Barstool also made business decisions to launch a 24/7 radio channel on SiriusXM in 2018, purchased the amateur boxing company Rough N Rowdy, and capped off the year by announcing the addition of female Chief Revenue Officer Deirdre Lester.

After losing his HBO television show in late 2016, Bill Simmons focused on the things he does best in 2017. Simmons continued producing his highly successful podcast, announced the launch of Ringer Films which is presently working on a documentary about former WWF wrestler Andre The Giant, and added former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as a content contributor. Simmons also utilized his relationship with Mike Francesa to bring the former WFAN host on to his podcast to make his popular football picks for the remainder of the 2017 NFL season. The Ringer website also continued producing exceptional written and audio content with Bryan Curtis contributing a number of great sports media pieces.

The TV and print industries also saw 2017 end minus a few outstanding members. Legendary sports broadcaster Dick Enberg passed away in December. Accomplished sportswriter Frank Deford was lost in May. Longtime New York Knicks analyst John Andariese died in March. Sportscaster Bob Wolff left us in June. Dallas Stars broadcaster Dave Strader died in October. Former NBA player and broadcaster Steve “Snapper” Jones passed on in November, and legendary WWE manager and color commentator Bobby “The Brain” Heenan joined the man upstairs in September.

And of course Sports Illustrated‘s Richard Deitsch continued to use Twitter to call out Skip Bayless‘ TV ratings on FS1. Whether you’ve been a fan or critic of the approach it’s been highly entertaining.

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Courtesy: Don Nguyen

I’ve been thinking about this column all week because it’s a topic I’m passionate about and curious to hear the responses to. For starters, let me pose a few questions to you. Does quality journalism still matter? Is it worth paying for? Do advertisers see enough return on their investments with print outlets through associations with influential writers, publications and branded content? Are consumers hungry to read the full details of a story or are they satisfied with the cliff notes version and absorbing messages that fit inside of 140-280 characters?

The world we’re in is saturated with content. Attention spans are rapidly shrinking. Social media is both to blame and bless for that. The positive is that we’re exposed to more content than ever before. This means more opportunity to reach people and grow businesses. The challenge of course is standing out.

People listen, read and watch less of one thing now, opting for variety during the time they have available. The issue with that is that it often leads to being less informed. I know many like to declare print being dead. I’m sorry I’m not one of them. Adults still enjoy reading. I see nearly three million people do it on this website alone and we’re small potatoes compared to mainstream brands. Clearly people like to learn.

I raise this topic because last week, Peter King announced his retirement although he left open the door for side projects. After forty plus years of writing the gold standard of NFL columns, King revealed he wanted to slow down and invest his time in other areas of life. Among his considerations for the future after taking a breather are teaching.

In a podcast interview with Richard Deitsch, King said “We may love this column but I doubt that it made enough money for NBC to pay what they were paying me. I don’t think words are very profitable anymore. It’s a sad thing but it’s what’s happened to our business.”

Later in the conversation, King discussed the difficulty he might face if speaking to students about whether or not to pursue working in the media industry. He acknowledged that the business is bad right now. However, he pointed out that if you can write and read, and be an intelligent thinking contributing member of society, there are a lot of jobs you can do beyond being a writer for a paper covering the NFL. You can teach English, work in PR or for a team or league website. But journalism is different now, and though it’s not impossible to do, having flexibility is important.

I agreed with most of King’s remarks and thought about the two different ways people might respond to them.

If you’re in agreement with Peter, you’ll point to the reduction in industry jobs, the changes in salaries, the lack of trust in media outlets, the economic uncertainty facing traditional operators, the shrinking ability to uncover truth, and the data that frequently supports video being hot, and print not so much.

Those who disagree will list the New York Times and The Athletic as examples of print brands that still matter. They’ll also mention the surge in newsletters, the arrival of new online outlets, and the daily communication between millions of people each day on social media, much of it revolving around conversations created or supported by text.

Where I sit is somewhere in between.

First, the notion that it’s harder now than before is one I’ll challenge. When I entered the business, I had to mail letters, send cassette tapes, and wait months for a response. There was no internet or opportunity to create a podcast, Substack, website or video to build an audience. I had to be selected by someone to have a chance to work. There were thousands like me who wanted a way in and were at the mercy of decision makers preferring my resume over someone else’s. I did exactly what King said on the podcast when he mentioned having to do other jobs to support yourself while pursing a dream.

Where I agree with King is when he mentioned words not being as profitable anymore. Are print reporters and columnists going to make what they once did? Probably not. There will always be exceptions just as there are in television and radio, but if you think you’re going to do one specific job and making a financial killing on it, prepare to be disappointed. Today, you better be able to wear different hats and create a lot of content in multiple places. Earning a lot for doing a little is a way of the past.

The one area where I’ll differ is when it comes to advertising. I believe there’s untapped value for brands in print. Recall with the written word remains strong. There’s also less advertising clutter in written stories than audio and video programming blocks. Advertisers may not seek out traditional print advertising anymore but branded content, newsletter associations, and social media placements remain valued.

What I admire greatly about King is that he evolved over the years. His written work on SI was must-read but that didn’t stop him from leaping into the online space and launching MMQB. The arrival of that microsite was done at the right point in time, and when SI began to change, King didn’t hang on, choosing to make the bold move and jump to NBC. Upon his arrival, he started contributing on television, podcasts, and expanding his profile on social media.

What you should take away from Peter is that you’ve got to constantly examine the business, and understand when it’s time to pivot, even if it means leaving your comfort zone. You also have to recognize that things are going to change and your job description will likely be one of them. If you stay married to what you once did, you’ll be in a tough spot. If you roll with the punches and embrace what’s new, you’ll survive and thrive.

You also have to understand that you’re going to be tied further to what you produce. Does your presence and performance grow advertising revenue? Are you speaking on behalf of brands and helping them move product? Do you grow subscriptions or readership to levels that make it easy for a company to invest significantly in you? Talent is subjective. Results aren’t. Those who create quality while boosting the bottom line will remain in demand.

Remember this in a few years when artificial intelligence becomes a bigger part of content creation and discovery. Those who adapt to it and work with it will be just fine. Those who reject it will be searching for new career paths. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. There’s better stability in other industries. But there’s nothing like creating content around the world of sports and media. It just requires adaptability and being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

BSM Summit Update:

In ten days we unite the sports media business in New York City for the 2024 BSM Summit. All of the sessions are now complete. I’m excited to add Natalie Marsh, General Manager of Lotus Communications in Las Vegas, Cody Welling, Station Manager of 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, and Stephanie Prince, Vice President and Market Manager of Good Karma Brands West Palm Beach to our schedule. The full agenda for both days is posted on BSMSummit.com.

In addition, I’m thrilled to share that we’ll have a few special appearances at the ESPN Radio After Party on Wednesday March 13th. Joining us on-site will be Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon of UnSportsmanLike, Freddie Coleman and Harry Douglas of Freddie & Harry, and Chris Carlin from Carlin vs. Joe.

Thumbs Up:

Chris Mortensen: Rarely does the sports media industry collectively agree on anything but you won’t find much disagreement on Chris Mortensen. He was a special talent and human being. I was fortunate to see it firsthand as a producer at ESPN Radio. I then enjoyed many interactions with Mort as a program director lining up calls on the radio stations I ran. It didn’t matter what job you did or where you worked, Chris treated you well. His work was hall of fame worthy but it was the manner in which he interacted with people that truly made him a legend. Rest in peace, Mort. I’m sure the next wave of conversations with John Clayton are going to be amazing.

Mike Felger: It would’ve been easy to pile on and publicly root for a competitor to fail and fold. Instead, Felger took the high road, acknowledging that he’s rooting for WEEI to come out of bankruptcy in good shape. That’s what smart business people. Mike is comfortable in his own skin. He has the highest rated show in Boston and having a competitor to compete against as well as a potential landing spot when contracts come up is never a bad thing. Besides, why would anyone want to see friends and respected professionals lose an opportunity to work or listeners given less choice for sports talk entertainment? Nice job, Mike.

iHeartmedia: The company’s fourth quarter results were down year-to-year but they were above prior projections. iHeart also gained 16.6% growth in podcasting revenues during Q4, and just got stronger by luring Stephen A. Smith’s podcast away from Audacy. A pretty good week for Bob Pittman and his lieutenants.

Sportico: Jason Clinkscales is an easy guy to root for. He’s written quality content for Awful Announcing, is a sharp guy who enjoys the industry, and after a year full of personal tragedies, he deserved a break. That came last week when Sportico hired him as a reporter and editor on their breaking news team. Well done Sportico. Looking forward to reading the first piece.

National Association of Broadcasters: Creating buzz for conferences isn’t easy but the NAB’s recent announcement of having Daniel Anstandig of Futuri Media present a first-of-its-kind presentation at its April show alongside Ameca, an autonomously AI-powered humanoid robot has certainly increased conversation and intrigue. I’ll be in attendance for the event and am curious like many. I’m just hoping Joe Rogan isn’t right when he suggested this week that robots will jump out of an aircraft carrier with machine guns and do damage.

Thumbs Down:

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment: This isn’t a shot at the company. It’s more about losing a talented media executive. Matt Hutchings, the company’s former COO and EVP was a key part of developing Altitude Sports. Under his watch, the Nuggets and Avalanche won titles, and the company cemented its position in the local sports radio space.

The dispute with Comcast over airing Nuggets and Avs games is well documented, and Hutchings will get some of the blame for the teams not being broadcast on local TV but I tend to believe decisions of that magnitude land at ownership’s doorstep. Regardless, KSE is weaker today than yesterday due to losing Hutchings.

New York Jets: I get it. 98.7 ESPN New York moving away from the FM dial provides a concern for the franchise, and in other cities, football does perform well on classic rock stations. I just see the fit with Q104.3 as an odd one. If Aaron Rodgers returns and the Jets finally take off the way their fans hoped they would last year, it’s going to feel strange hearing their games locally on a channel that has little content time dedicated to the team beyond game days.

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Erika Ayers and Spike Eskin Led Barstool Sports and WFAN to Success But Their Exits Raise Questions

“Rod and Spike understand the business. They know people are going to ask these questions.”

Jason Barrett

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There were two big management moves last week that have sports media folks talking. First was Erika Ayers Badan announcing her exit from Barstool Sports as the brand’s CEO. Second was the news of Spike Eskin returning to Sportsradio WIP and exiting his role as the VP of Programming for WFAN and CBS Sports Radio.

Let’s start with Erika. What she did for Barstool was spectacular. In 2016, I thought Barstool had a strong understanding of social media, unique talent and voices, podcasts that were cutting through, and a connection with younger fans that traditional outlets couldn’t deliver. They also produced events that drew a lot of public attention. But I didn’t view Barstool as a buttoned up business capable of generating hundreds of millions of dollars. Erika Nardini aka Erika Ayers Badan and Dave Portnoy deserve credit for making it one.

Erika told me at our 2020 BSM Summit that Barstool didn’t have a P&L sheet when she joined. She had to build systems, hire staff, grow the sales arm of Barstool, and help Dave Portnoy find investors. What followed were marketing deals with major brands, content partnerships with different media outlets, a massive investment from Penn National, and a changed perception of Barstool as a mainstream player. They were no longer just the cool, rebellious brand on social media and the internet that gave no f’s and generated attention. They became game changers in the sports content space.

So why leave?

If Barstool is now clear of restrictions and able to operate without investor influence, that should be enticing, right? In her farewell video Erika said that she felt she accomplished what she set out to do. I understand and appreciate that. But I can’t help but wonder if less structure and investor involvement made it less appealing to stay. She did join the brand after The Chernin Group got involved not before it.

I have no inside knowledge on this, and I’m not suggesting Barstool won’t continue growing and dominating. They likely will. It just raises questions about how the brand will manage sales, PR, critical internal and external issues, and battles with suitors when they try to lure away Barstool’s on-air and sales talent.

The business end of Barstool appears weaker today than it did a week ago. That’s more of a testament to what Erika did than a knock on anyone still there. To grow revenue the way she did the past 8 years speaks volumes about her skill as an executive. Wherever she lands next, it’s likely she’ll make a difference.

Will it be easier to do business with Barstool moving forward? Time will tell. I don’t expect they’ll make it easier for media outlets like ours to cover them. But if I’ve learned anything in eight years of following them it’s don’t ever bet against Dave Portnoy. Too often people have. Each time he’s proven them wrong. Portnoy has built a powerhouse brand, and grown the business by zigging when others zagged. But how Barstool moves forward without Erika will be of great interest to many in 2024.

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Spike Eskin will be leaving WFAN and his position as the VP of Programming for Audacy to return to WIP and co-host the afternoon show. On paper this is a great move for WIP. Spike understands Philadelphia and WIP’s audience, he lives and breathes Philly sports, and has a great rapport with the entire lineup. He’s maintained an on-air presence through his Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast, and I believe that moving into a host role alongside Ike Reese and Jack Fritz will be a seamless transition for all involved. Being in his mid to late 40’s, he’s also got plenty years ahead of him to cement his spot as an on-air talent. I expect Spike, Ike and Jack to do well together.

But to exit WFAN and the top programming role at Audacy in less than three years, raises a few questions. Why is this opportunity better for Spike than the programming role he just held? Was he happy at WFAN? Were folks happy with him at WFAN? Many have opinions about WFAN’s changes the past few years. Some love the fresher approach. Others don’t. That’s what makes sports radio in New York fun, people care.

As a follower of WFAN for over thirty years, it’s a different brand than the one I grew up on. That’s not a bad thing by the way. I’m almost 50. If Spike and Chris Oliviero programmed to please the Mike and the Mad Dog crowd that’d be a mistake. Attention spans are shorter, content options are larger, digital is more important and the days of a city flocking to the radio at 1pm to hear a host’s first words are gone. Judging from the ratings, revenue, and turnout for Boomer and Gio’s last live event, the station is doing well. They’ve got a lot of talent, a stronger digital game, and they’ll continue thriving. Spike deserves credit for the brand’s progress.

But why is a hosting role and less influence over a brand better for Eskin? Spike has been a part of WIP’s afternoon show before. Though leading the show vs. being the third mic is a different animal. He also programmed the station really well. In fact, Spike did such a good job at WIP that it landed him the top programming position in sports radio. Is there a personal part to this given that his father made afternoons in Philly must-listen for 25 years? Or is it about the personal relationship he has with Ike and Jack?

And how does this work from a financial standpoint? It’s likely that Spike was paid more to lead Audacy New York than Jon Marks was to host WIP’s afternoon show. If that’s the case, and nothing changes for Eskin, and WIP just adds payroll, does it affect what Chris Oliviero can spend on Audacy New York’s next brand leader? I can’t see that happening at all. Chris is going to make sure he has what he needs to land the right leader in New York.

Finances only come up because it’s known that Audacy is going through a bankruptcy process. Adding expenses right now seems unlikely. However, to add someone with Eskin’s skill and track record at a station where he previously shined is smart business, especially when you consider that he can win as a host and programmer if needed. That’s going to naturally lead to folks asking ‘will Spike eventually host PM drive and program WIP? If so, what does that mean for current PD Rod Lakin?’ ‘What happens when talent at WIP that Spike had a hand in hiring don’t like what Lakin suggests or if WIP’s ratings decline?’

Spike told Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie that’s not on his radar and the idea of joining the afternoon show was raised by PD Rod Lakin. Some of you may read that and be surprised that Lakin would suggest it. But Rod stepped into the role that Eskin previously held. I’m sure they’ve talked plenty the past few years. If their relationship is strong that should help. I don’t know it well enough to say if it is or isn’t. This move suggests Lakin’s more concerned with strengthening WIP than worrying about himself or industry chatter.

If anyone can navigate the situation and make it work, it’s Rod Lakin. He’s calm, cool, collected, smart and doesn’t get flustered by noise and pressure. I know this because we’ve known each other for over a decade, and I introduced him to folks years ago, which led to him landing the Philly role. If you read Derek Futterman’s piece on Angelo Cataldi last month, the Philly icon shared a small example of what makes Rod a great leader.

But Rod and Spike understand the business. They know people are going to ask these questions. The flurry of texts and emails I received about this last week was insane. I’m sure it was even louder on the local level. Many will suggest that Audacy will use this as an opportunity to eventually reduce expenses and stay strong by having Eskin handle two roles. Only those involved know the answers but one thing I know is that Rod Lakin knows how to program. If he’s not supported there, he’ll have plenty of interest elsewhere.

In a perfect world, Spike excels in afternoons, Rod leads WIP to greater success, and WFAN finds a great leader to move the brand forward. But until the smoke clears, noise will fill the air in the big apple and city of brotherly love.

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Thumbs Up:

Colin Dunlap, 93.7 The Fan: While on the air last week, Dunlap received a call from a 65-year old woman named Colette. She told the Pittsburgh host that she and her husband were disabled and after undergoing 28 surgeries, she was physically struggling to clear her walkway of snow. Hearing her story moved Dunlap to react. He then called on the audience to step up and help. Shortly thereafter, one of 93.7 The Fan’s listeners, a gentleman named Tom, phoned in, and made the drive over to help out a fellow listener. That’s the power of live radio at its best, all possible by Dunlap reading and reacting to the situation perfectly.

Clay Travis, Outkick: Whether you love him or hate him, Clay delivers strong opinions and commands your attention. A perfect example was his Friday night reaction video to the demise of Sports Illustrated. If you haven’t watched it, it’s worth checking out. It’s nearing one million views at the time of my writing this.

VSiN: The sports betting network based out of Las Vegas recently redesigned its website and the new look and feel of it is excellent. Clean throughout, easy to navigate, and rich of content. Nice work by Bill Adee all involved.

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Thumbs Down:

Sports Illustrated: Laying off the majority of its staff was bad enough, but to notify people by email or have them find out on social media shows a lack of class and a disgusting approach to running a business. All of those traits by the way are the exact opposite of what SI once stood for – RESPECT.

During SI’s glory days, the content was must read. But in recent years, the outlet landed in the hands of operators who valued clicks over quality. Many predicted and expected this once storied brand to crumble. Unfortunately, the naysayers were proven right.

To those affected, I’m sorry for the crummy news. Some will rebound and help other established brands. Some will launch their own platforms or exit the industry. Anyone looking to do future freelancing work is invited to email [email protected].

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BSM Summit Update:

I’m happy to share that Good Karma Brands president Steve Politziner, Edison Research co-founder and president Larry Rosin and ESPN Chicago program director Danny Zederman have been added to our lineup. We’ve also finalized two of our four awards recipients and are working on a third. I’m hoping to share those details soon along with a few other high profile additions to this year’s show. I’ll be heading to Las Vegas during Super Bowl week, which is when we reveal our BSM Top 20 of 2023, and after that I’m hoping to finalize our schedule so it can be released by the end of February.

I know everyone likes waiting until the last minute to buy tickets and reserve hotel rooms. If you want to avoid being left out though, the time to act is now. Everything you need is posted on BSMSummit.com. Our deadline for hotel room reservations is February 13th. We’ve also sent out free ticket contests by email to the advertising community and tri-state area colleges. We’ll have two more this week for executives and programmers. Be sure to check your spam folder just in case it doesn’t arrive in your inbox.

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2-Seconds to Vent:

Jimmy Pitaro, Eric Shanks, John Skipper, Nick Khan, Colin Cowherd, Paul Finebaum, Clay Travis, Craig Carton, Adam Schein, Michael Kay, and Fred Toucher all have something in common with many others across the industry. They’re accomplished professionals with plenty on their plate yet when contacted, they always respond. Most of the time, they do so quickly. That’s greatly appreciated.

If those tasked with running the largest media companies in America, and hosting shows with content, advertising, and audience commitments can find time to respond, why is it so hard for other professionals to do the same? If you don’t want to be featured on BSM, speak at a Summit, market with us or answer a question, just say ‘not interested‘. It takes two seconds. The best in the business understand the value of relationships and promotion. Unfortunately, many do not. I don’t use this platform to draw attention to these issues but sometimes I wonder, should I?

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Original Projects:

On BNM this week we’re doing five days of features on NPR professionals as part of ‘Public Radio Week‘. It’s not easy pulling it off but we’re trying some different stuff. Next week we launch ‘Where Are They Now‘ on BSM. Peter Schwartz will have the first feature next Tuesday. Coming up in February, we drop the BSM Top 20, Derek Futterman’s ‘Day Spent With‘ series which includes spending a day with professionals across different areas of the industry, and we’ll profile a number of black voices on BNM as part of the brand’s focus on Black History month. I hope you’ll check them out whenever time allows.

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Recommended Viewing:

If you’re looking for a movie to watch during the week, check out Blackberry if you haven’t already done so. The film is about the rise and fall of the Blackberry phone, and I thought it was excellent. It had a similar feel to the movie Jobs, and the series Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber. Worth your time if you’ve got two hours available to watch something different than live games or sports programming.

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If you have a question or comment you’d like addressed in a future column, please send it to [email protected]. That same email address can be used to pass along press releases, interview requests or news tips. Thanks for reading!

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Justin Craig, Chris Kinard, Mary Menna Added to 2024 BSM Summit Lineup

“What I’ve always enjoyed about the BSM Summit is that it showcases speakers from many different areas of the industry.”

Jason Barrett

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To kick off 2024, we’re announcing the additions of three more talented broadcasters to our 2024 BSM Summit. More on that shortly. The Summit takes place March 13-14 at the Ailey Theater in New York City. For tickets, hotel rooms, and additional details, visit BSMSummit.com. Those interested in sponsorship opportunities, contact Stephanie Eads. A number of items are already claimed but she can tell you what’s left. Reach her by email at [email protected] or by phone at 415-312-5553.

What I’ve always enjoyed about the Summit is that it showcases speakers from different areas of the industry. We’ve featured top talent, researchers, agents, digital leaders, podcasting experts, ratings analysts, tech builders, play by play voices, and of course, program directors and market managers. There’s many ways to succeed, and no better way to learn than to hear from folks who consistently win.

In the sports audio world, 98.5 The Sports Hub, 106.7 The Fan, and ESPN Radio are highly respected brands. The Hub and The Fan are dominant in Boston and Washington D.C.. ESPN Radio meanwhile maintains a strong position as one of the top national audio brands. All feature strong leaders, and we’re fortunate to have all of them represented in NYC.

It’s a pleasure to welcome Beasley Boston Market Manager Mary Menna to the Summit. This is her first appearance at the conference. Mary is responsible for managing The Hub’s business, currently the top revenue generating brand in all of sports radio. I’m excited to have her offer her insights on a panel with Chris Oliviero and Scott Sutherland. More details on the session, date/time closer to the show.

On the programming side, it’s great to welcome back Chris Kinard of 106.7 The Fan, and Justin Craig of ESPN Radio. Both will be involved in programming panels at the show.

CK has helped lead The Fan and Team 980 to consistent growth in the nation’s capital. He’s a forward thinking type of leader with a great feel for the current and future challenges facing the business. I’m looking forward to having him share a few lessons he’s learned with the rest of the room.

For my friend JC, he’s seen ESPN Radio evolve for the better part of two decades. Liked and respected by most, he’s valued and trusted to guide ESPN Radio’s day-to-day operations. Given the network’s change in focus, talent, and structure, he’ll have great insights to share on where national sports audio is moving.

Our speaker list now sits at twenty. It will grow much more over the next two months as we reveal other additions to the show. We’ll also be announcing our award winners, and a few other surprises. This is a fun and informative two-day event for sports media professionals. If you haven’t joined us before, I hope you’ll do so this time. Everything you need to know prior to the event will be available at BSMSummit.com.

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