Sports Online
ESPN+ Hits 1 Million Paid Subscribers
Published
4 years agoon
By
BSM Staff
ESPN announced today that its new over the top streaming service, ESPN+, now has 1 million paid subscribers. The milestone comes just over five months after its April launch.
The service, bolstered by lower level college football and a variety of international soccer leagues, is a smashing success according to Kevin Mayer. The chairman of the Walt Disney Company’s Direct to Consumer and International division said, “We’re thrilled so many sports fans have quickly come to love the service. The future is bright and we believe growth will continue as we add features, distribution partners and more exclusive content in the coming months.”
“Combining sports, technology and the ESPN brand is a very powerful combination, and we are just getting started. Very quickly, a wide range of sports fans have seen the value of ESPN+. With high quality programming and an outstanding user experience, ESPN and DTCI are expanding the ways Disney is serving sports fans,” ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said in a press release.
In addition to live sports, ESPN+ has been used as the launching pad for several new 30 for 30 projects. It is also the exclusive home of studio produced content like Always Late with Katie Nolan and Ariel and the Bad Guy with Ariel Helwani and Chael Sonnen.
It will be interesting to see what effect there is on subscriber numbers as we enter the NHL regular season. ESPN+ will carry 180 live games. The OTT service will also debut exclusive documentaries in the coming months focusing on the NBA and Duke basketball.
Sports Online
Media Reacts To Nick Saban’s Comments On Texas A&M, Jackson State
“Saban’s comments and the ensuing rebuttals will be used to fuel content on sports television and radio through the offseason and likely beyond.”
Published
6 hours agoon
May 19, 2022By
BSM Staff
Nick Saban had some choice words about recruiting in the NIL era on Wednesday night. The Alabama head coach didn’t just voice frustrations with the process. He called out three schools specifically for using Name, Image and Likeness payments to create an advantage for themselves in recruiting.
He said that Texas A&M, which signed the top-ranked recruiting class in 2022 according to a number of outlets “bought every player on their team.”
He said that Jackson State gave a player $1 million to come to the school. “It was in the paper,” he said. “They bragged about it! Nobody did anything about it.”
It is likely that he was talking about defensive back Travis Hunter, widely regarded as one of the five best players in the class of 2022. It should be noted that Jackson State Coach Deion Sanders has been adamant that Hunter did not receive a dime from the school or anyone else.
The comments created plenty of content on sports radio on Thursday.
The shot heard RAHND the WORLD from Nick Saban#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/dgD96n5G2q
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 19, 2022
"Nick Saban needs to apologize… He ripped a coach, he ripped a program. It's unprofessional and he frankly is held to a higher standard."@ColinCowherd defends Jimbo Fisher pic.twitter.com/oDRSz9QAwT
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 19, 2022
Jimbo Fischer, the head coach of Texas A&M took the story to a new level with a press conference of his own in which he cryptically encouraged people to “dig into” Saban’s career history.
The commentary in the sports media came in all kinds of forms. Plenty took to Twitter to express an opinion.
Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher are both from West Virginia, both won (a) national title(s) as head coaches, coach in the toughest division in the sport and Fisher became the first former Saban assistant to beat Saban.
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) May 19, 2022
This is Stone Cold vs. The Rock in the Attitude Era.
Nick Saban trying to make us believe that he believes Alabama has never paid a player is next level trolling. Almost have to respect it.
— Kayce Smith (@KayceSmith) May 19, 2022
Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher > Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 19, 2022
Coaches don’t like change. Nick Saban doesn’t like threats to his dominance. Every one of these comments from coaches is grounded in control freaks who have lost some of that and are trying to get it back as best they can. https://t.co/5xkdfokEzw
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) May 19, 2022
I love this new Nick Saban.
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) May 19, 2022
Others used the feud to create comedy.
Jimbo Fisher confronts Nick Saban pic.twitter.com/el4PQCa6TD
— Joey (@JoeyMulinaro) May 19, 2022
Its pretty funny the entire Saban Fisher dipsute is based on the fact that the only way to get a 18 year old to want to live in college station is to literaly pay him a million dollars
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) May 19, 2022
Finally, others did actual reporting. they made phone calls to get context and further the story.
Lane Kiffin to @TheAthletic about what was going thru his mind watching Jimbo light up Saban: “This can’t really be happening…is this real life?'
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) May 19, 2022
“I still haven’t moved from my seat. That should've been on Pay-Per-View." https://t.co/8TnXIij2jH
A&M AD Ross Bjork tells @SInow that Nick Saban’s comments violate SEC sportsmanship bylaws & he’s been in contact with Greg Sankey.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 19, 2022
Bjork calls the comments “a personal attack” & suggests Saban is “lashing out” because he’s threatened.
“This is personal”https://t.co/ShiVBp8Fzv
The coaches may be relatively quiet in public for a while. That doesn’t mean the stories and reactions are going away. Saban’s comments and the ensuing rebuttals will be used to fuel content on sports television and radio through the offseason and likely beyond.
Sports Online
Bleav Announces Partnership With SiriusXM
“The Bleav podcasts come with some serious star power. Each show features a former player paired with a host to discuss the latest news about their team. In adding Bleav, SiriusXM adds the likes of Eric Davis, Lorenzo Neal, Adam “Pac Man” Jones and others to its roster.”
Published
1 day agoon
May 18, 2022By
BSM Staff
A new partnership will see content from the Bleav Podcast Network come under the SiriusXM umbrella. All 32 of the network’s NFL team-specific podcasts will now be available on the SXM app. The satellite radio company will also have the ability to air Bleav content on its sports channels.
“SiriusXM is a leader in content. We’re very happy to be a part of their programming and continue to amplify the voice of our talent,” Bleav CEO Bron Heussenstamm said in a press release. “SiriusXM listeners will be able to regularly hear from athletes that played for their team, bringing fans insight and access that only a player can.”
The Bleav podcasts come with some serious star power. Each show features a former player paired with a host to discuss the latest news about their team. In adding Bleav, SiriusXM adds the likes of Eric Davis, Lorenzo Neal, Adam “Pac Man” Jones and others to its roster.
The deal will also lead to more content in the future. The companies expect to add to the Bleav content available on the SXM App, including shows focused on other professional and college sports.
“Bleav’s team-focused programming, hosted by many former stars from the league, give fans a unique and experienced perspective into their favorite players and franchises,” said Steve Cohen, SiriusXM’s SVP of Sports Programming and Podcasts. “Bleav’s network of shows deliver valuable insight for fans of every NFL team. They are a great addition to the selection of sports podcasts available on the SXM App and we look forward to adding other shows, focused on other sports, from the Bleav network to SiriusXM in the future.”
Sports Online
Dave Portnoy Offers Pat Beverley ‘Blank Check’ To Join Barstool
“Just say how many zeros and guarantee us once a week, you are hired.”

Published
2 days agoon
May 18, 2022
Minnesota Timberwolves player Pat Beverley turned heads with his comments about Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul after the Suns were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs.
Beverley told Mike Greenberg and Stephen A. Smith on Monday that he thinks Paul is a “traffic cone,” due to his poor defense and that on nights he knows he’s playing Paul he’ll have a nice steak dinner and wine the night before. He said he’s in bed by 8 p.m. and doesn’t want to hear from his mom or girlfriend if he’s playing Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
Pat’s comments got the attention of Barstool Sports president Dave Portnoy. Portnoy said Monday he liked Beverley so much that he would hire him to do a podcast for Barstool.
.@patbev21 has an open invite to join the pirate ship if he so chooses.@stoolpresidente @hen_ease @DoubleVodkaDon@BarstoolRundown presented by @SIRIUSXM pic.twitter.com/2DGVjkaYaQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 16, 2022
“If Pat Beverley is a Barstool fan and he’s watching this, he has a blank check. You name your price for a podcast, and we will hire you — no questions asked,” Portnoy said. “Just say how many zeros and guarantee us once a week, you are hired.”
Portnoy made the push to sign Beverley to a podcast deal as the company seeks to scale back the number of podcasts it produces. Barstool CEO Erika Nardini announced the decision to cut shows last week.
No word if Beverley has responded to Portnoy’s offer.
Jordan Bondurant
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett News Media. He also works for ABC8 News and Newsradio WRVA and 910 The Fan in Richmond, Virginia. His prior experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and iHeartradio Richmond. He can be reached by email at Jordan.E.Bondurant@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.