Sports TV News
Sunday Night Baseball Ratings Up From 2019
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball is up 4 percent from 2019, while baseball on Fox has seen a dip in viewers since that time.
Published
3 years agoon
Major League Baseball has drawn critics on social media and around Buffalo Wild Wings bartops in recent years due to its perceived slow play, poor marketing, and lack of evolution. That has not stopped the league from maintaining its place as a massive moneymaker for ball clubs and media entities alike. One of the sport’s marquee showcases, ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, figures into that narrative as it is up 4 percent in viewers against 2019.
Per @Ourand_SBJ & @AustinKarp:
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) July 13, 2021
ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball is up 4% from 2019, averaging 1.56 million viewers.
Fox’s Sat. night regional games are down 13% from window in 2019 averaging 2.21M viewers. Up 32 percent from 2020.
Games on FS1 are down 11% from two years ago.
Richard Deitsch of The Athletic shared a tweet citing John Ourand and Austin Karp, each of Sports Business Journal, saying Sunday Night Baseball is averaging 1.56 million viewers per telecast. The broadcast led by Matt Vasgersian, Alex Rodriguez, and Buster Olney will also try their hand at an even bigger stage as SNB heads to ABC in August for Cubs-White Sox.
On the other side of the coin, Fox’s Saturday night regional games are down 13 percent from 2019, and games on FS1 are down 11 percent, per Ourand and Karp.
Michael Quirk is a news writer for Barrett Sports Media. Additionally, he is a co-host of the Spgahetti Junction Boys and a contributor to 5 Reasons Sports in Miami. His prior experiences include writing for 247Sports, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and The Key West Citizen. To connect, find him on Twitter @SJBMichael.
Sports TV News
Tegna, Indiana Fever Partner for Local TV Package
“This is an exhilarating moment for women’s sports. The WNBA and Fever are leading the charge with this groundbreaking local broadcast rights agreement.”
Published
12 hours agoon
April 22, 2024By
BSM Staff
The Indiana Fever and superstar Caitlin Clark will be seen on television a lot, both nationally and now locally as well. The Fever and Tegna announced a partnership earlier today to air 17 games between local NBC affiliate WTHR and MeTV affiliate WALV.
“So many new fans are tuning in to watch the world’s best basketball players compete in the WNBA, and the Fever have built a roster of incredible young talent that has caught the attention of basketball fans all over the globe,” Rick Fuson, CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said in a release. “Tegna and WTHR have been amazing local partners for years, and we are excited that more fans than ever before will get the chance to watch these amazing athletes play.”
The release also noted Tegna was working on expanded access outside of Indianapolis.
“This is an exhilarating moment for women’s sports. The WNBA and Fever are leading the charge with this groundbreaking local broadcast rights agreement,” Dave Lougee, President and CEO of Tegna, said in a release. “The remarkable journey of Caitlin Clark and her teammates has captured the hearts and minds of millions. We’re thrilled to deliver all the Fever action to every household in the Indianapolis region.”
The national TV package for WNBA games, which is aired on ABC, ESPN, Prime Video, CBS Sports Network, NBA TV and Ion will carry 36 of the Fever’s 40 games. The four games not being carried will be covered by the local package with Tegna. Several games will air on both a national and a local station.
Sports TV News
Ian Rapoport Staying at NFL Network
“We’re excited for Ian to continue to be a part of the NFL Network news-breaking team, providing fans the most trusted source of NFL news across the industry.”
Published
13 hours agoon
April 22, 2024By
BSM Staff
Despite layoffs and uncertainty surrounding the future of NFL Network, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports Ian Rapoport, the top insider for the network, will be staying put.
The 44-year-old Rapoport has covered the league since 2009 and has been with NFL Network for 12 years. He previously served as the Patriots beat reporter for the Boston Herald for three seasons. He also covered college football for the Birmingham News and Jackson Clarion-Ledger prior to that.
“We’re excited for Ian to continue to be a part of the NFL Network news-breaking team, providing fans the most trusted source of NFL news across the industry,” NFL Vice President of Communications, Alex Riethmiller told Marchand.
Earlier this month, NFL Network laid off Melissa Stark, Andrew Siciliano, James Palmer, and Will Selva. There has been speculation the NFL is working to sell part of the network to ESPN or another outlet to take over operations, but for now it is business as usual.
NEWS: NFL insider Ian Rapoport agrees to stay with the network, The Athletic has learned. https://t.co/S3FDOy2BRc
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 22, 2024
Sports TV News
Howie Schwab, Longtime ESPN Researcher and Feature of ‘Stump the Schwab’, Dies
Many former ESPN colleagues, and those in the sports media at large, paid homage to Schwab’s memory after the announcement of his passing.
Published
3 days agoon
April 20, 2024By
BSM Staff
Longtime ESPN researcher and feature of the mid-2000s ESPN game show Stump the Schwab Howie Schwab has died.
Schwab joined ESPN in 1987 after serving as the editor-in-chief of College & Pro Football News Weekly. He then worked as a producer for ESPN.com before joining ESPN’s studio production team, working on shows like Outside the Lines and SportsCenter.
In 2004, ESPN launched a sports trivia game show — Stump the Schwab — hosted by Stuart Scott, which pitted contestants against Schwab in a test of sports knowledge. The program ran for four seasons, featuring 80 episodes in total, before ending in 2006.
Howie Schwab was part of widespread layoffs at ESPN in 2013. He then worked on Sports Jeopardy! alongside Dan Patrick as a writer beginning in 2014, and also briefly spent time at FOX Sports after his departure from ESPN.
Many former ESPN colleagues, and those in the sports media at large, paid homage to Schwab’s memory after the announcement of his passing.
ESPN remembers longtime researcher & producer Howie Schwab, who passed away at the age of 63 pic.twitter.com/5ZVfcWhgZ2
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 20, 2024
OMG -just rec’d word that my buddy for several decades who helped me so much in my career @howieschwab passed this morning . Just received the news from his loving wife Suzie . May he RIP! 🙏🙏🙏
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 20, 2024
So sad to learn of the passing of my loyal dedicated buddy @howieschwab – he was recently at my home . Had various health issues but was feeling good when he visited .May he please RIP pic.twitter.com/mbkiZ9h5cg
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 20, 2024
So sad to hear of Howie Schwab’s passing this morning. I talked to him twice this past week & knew he was struggling physically. As kind a soul as you will ever meet. And, a ESPN Hall of Famer. RIP “Stump The Schwab” pic.twitter.com/Fyl2nOLDm0
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 20, 2024
RIP to a legend @howieschwab. We can all agree Stump the Schwab was an all-time show. When he jumped into bracket forecasts for Fox and I was in the early days of hosting Shootaround trying to find guests, Howie always said yes and was giving of his time. A great and kind person. pic.twitter.com/Xco6TQf3ZE
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 20, 2024
Good morning everyone. It is with tremendous sadness that I need to relay the news that Howie Schwab has died. He was a beloved friend and recently what a big part of our @DrivingTheLine family. We are absolutely gutted this morning as we spoke on Thursday and in true Howie… pic.twitter.com/CnvCA6qU8t
— The Coach (@Thecoachrules) April 20, 2024
RIP to the man with all the sports knowledge @howieschwab. He was kind to me for years and became a big OVW fun, writing me often after watching shows online.
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 20, 2024
Prayers to him and his family https://t.co/Q2i58il3ZI
RIP Howie…A Bristol original…and just a great guy. Absolutely legendary that he became a TV star as well! https://t.co/j3klAFSyuq
— Burke Magnus (@burkemagnus) April 20, 2024
One of my absolute favorites at ESPN. Greatest stat brain ever and hell of a human. https://t.co/fYwGkFG5t8
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 20, 2024
RIP Howie Schwab. https://t.co/3bozCx55N9
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 20, 2024
Howie was such a wonderful guy. Very caring. And was the secret sauce at ESPN for many years. RIP
— Mike Soltys (@MichaelJSoltys) April 20, 2024
RIP Howie Schwab (@howieschwab)
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) April 20, 2024
A good man.
Stump The Schwab was brilliant TV and equal parts comedy and mind-blowing.
Beano introduced me to Howie as they were fast and longtime friends and Howie couldn’t have been a more kind soul. RIP.
Damn. Howie was pure ESPN. What a time it was in Bristol when everyone was a fanatic sports follower–the real heart and soul of the place. The newsroom had such a palpable energy and Howie was a light all us bugs were drawn to. Lived and loved the job. A producer once asked… https://t.co/0mkzyfqCeP
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) April 20, 2024
There is a chorus of grief today from those of us who work, or worked, at ESPN
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) April 20, 2024
Howie Schwab was an unlikely on-air cult figure but long before then he was one of those who truly built the place: diligent, professional, and more importantly endlessly friendly and supportive to… pic.twitter.com/xCtkvGJ7aH
He was one of the true believers in ESPN and its place in the sporting world, someone who defined the institutional knowledge at a place.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) April 20, 2024
He was then part of an awful layoff in 2013. It was a sober reminder of how many are just line on a balance sheet.
I wish his family peace… https://t.co/KyE9EwQoxP
So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of our old friend @howieschwab. He was a passionate, thorough, dedicated pro and a true sweetheart of a guy. And no one ever knew more about sports. RIP Howie, thanks for all the laughter and insight.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 20, 2024
Devastated to learn that Howie Schwab has passed away. Howie was the real spirit of ESPN. No one in Bristol loved sports—or cared about sports—more than Howie. He made the place much smarter, and better. I am grateful that Howie gave me a chance in the summer of 1994, when he was…
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) April 20, 2024
My second day at ESPN, fall of 2003, I met Howie Schwab. I was walking into building 4 and a fairly frumpy man stopped me “Doug Gottlieb, 943 assists 7th all time- played at Notre Dame and Oklahoma State, lost to Duke in ‘98, Auburn in ‘99 & Florida in ‘00… great passer who…
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) April 20, 2024
My ❤️ is heavy just learning about my friend Howie Schwab's passing. We always kept in contact and one of the best people you could ever meet!!! RIP Howie and your spirit is in SO many of us.
— FreddiE ColemaN (@ColemanESPN) April 20, 2024
I’m my 2+ decades at ESPN Howie Schwab was on of the best teammates I ever had, was incredibly smart and great at his job, but was a better person, treated all with respect, a great friend. RIP Howie, you will be missed!!!
— Mike Golic (@golic) April 21, 2024
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