Sports Radio News

Doug Karsch: Pac-12 TV Trouble, ESPN Layoffs ‘Not Uncorrelated’

“The Worldwide Leader no longer has like an oil tanker full of excess cash to be out there bidding on conference broadcast rights.”

Published

9 months ago

August 4, 2023

Jordan Bondurant

Courtesy: The Detroit News

Speculation continues to swirl regarding the future of the Pac-12 as the conference continues to forge ahead without a TV rights package.

On 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit on Thursday, Karsch and Anderson host Doug Karsch said it was interesting how given ESPN’s cost-cutting measures, the Pac-12 has been the odd man out.

“The Worldwide Leader no longer has like an oil tanker full of excess cash to be out there bidding on conference broadcast rights,” Karsch said. “So suddenly a power five conference that doesn’t have a TV deal – one of the major players – is likely not bidding on that conference’s TV rights.”

Karsch went on to point out that he feels like there is a connection between the network shedding salaries and its unwillingness to secure Pac-12 rights.

“I don’t think they’re uncorrelated,” he said. “There’s no bidding war between ESPN and FOX for Pac-12 TV rights. In fact, FOX, CBS, NBC, they’re now all in with the Big Ten, ESPN is affiliated with the Southeastern Conference. And the two conferences that are left with terrible TV deals, the Pac-12 and the ACC, seem to be vulnerable.”

“The TV networks don’t want to pay more right now,” he added.

Rumblings abound now that Washington and Oregon are being eyed by the Big Ten should the Pac-12 go under. But the Big Ten would like its media partners to fork over more money in rights fees should the conference take on more member schools. Karsch said it’s a major roadblock in how everything plays out.

“If they don’t want to pay more, adding Washington and Oregon only takes the same pie and makes two more pieces,” he said. “If the TV networks don’t want to pay for them, and the evidence is kind of there that that’s the fact, because their TV rights are available now as part of the Pac-12 pact. So the Big Ten if they add them, it doesn’t make everybody’s slice of the pie bigger at least initially. It makes everybody’s slice of the pie smaller if the networks aren’t going to pay for them.”

Jordan Bondurant

Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett Sports Media. He’s a multimedia journalist and communicator who works at the Virginia State Corporation Commission in Richmond. Jordan also contributes occasional coverage of the Washington Capitals for the blog NoVa Caps. His prior media experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, WRIC-TV 8News and Audacy Richmond. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.

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Ken LaVicka and Zach Krantz Teaming Up for YouTube Show

The show will be a podcast and also available on YouTube and is set to begin on Monday May 20.

Published

60 mins ago

May 14, 2024

BSM Staff

Two sports radio veterans are teaming up for a new YouTube Show. Zach Krantz, who has been with WQAM since 2007 as an Executive Producer and host and now is a Digital Content Producer and Ken LaVicka, who recently ended his 17-year run on the air at ESPN 106.3 in West Palm are starting a show called By All Accounts.

The show will be a podcast and also available on YouTube and is set to begin on Monday May 20.

The new show X account posted a video announcement which said, “Be careful what you wish for. You guessed it. Another damn YouTube show/podcast. We scroll so you don’t have to. Sports. Social Media. Stupidity. Debuts Monday.”

Just over a month ago LaVicka’s show, LaVicka, Theo & Stone, came to an end as Good Karma Brands decided to restructure the station’s programming and while the show was over, LaVicka said he was not let go, rather Good Karma was going to help him find his next opportunity.

On his final show, he said, “…I will be exiting the station, but instead of being given a pink slip or being booted out the door, which is what always happens in this radio industry GKB, the parent company of ESPN West Palm is going to help me to my next opportunity. This for me is bittersweet because this is all I’ve really known professionally…I’ve spent 17 years here at ESPN 106.3 and today’s it, I’m done.”

i'm not the begging type, but @ZachKrantz & I are starting a little project monday. follow along, won't you? https://t.co/gvmkeLXJtP
— Ken LaVicka (@KLVsays) May 14, 2024

BSM Staff

Sports Radio News

97.1 The Fan in Columbus Adds ‘The Fan 3’ Featuring the BetQL Network and Jim Rome

“Fan listeners can now choose from 3 sports stations on the same 97.1 dial in Columbus.”

Published

3 hours ago

May 14, 2024

BSM Staff

Logos for 97.1 The Fan, The Jim Rome Show and the Bet QL Network

Sports radio listeners in Columbus, Ohio are going to have everything they need all in one place. 97.1 The Fan has added another HD channel which will air the BetQL Network as well as The Jim Rome Show.

97.1 The Fan is the dominant sports station in the market and is the flagship home of Ohio State Athletics, the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and MLS’s The Columbus Crew. 97.1 HD2 carries ESPN programming and now more sports will air on 97.1 HD3.

Station Manager Cody Welling posted on his LinkedIn account to announce the new addition.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of 97.1 The Fan 3!” Welling posted. “The BetQL Network, featuring Jim Rome. Fan listeners can now choose from 3 sports stations on the same 97.1 dial in Columbus. You can tune into local programming on 97.1 The Fan, National ESPN programming on 97.1 HD2 or 1460 AM, and sports talk with betting info at 97.1 HD3. Innovation for the modern vehicle dashboard by pressing 97.1, “2”, or “3”. This new feature gives our consumers access to all their favorite sports content in one place. No HD radio?—No problem. Stream live at one of our links or through our app.”

BSM Staff

Sports Radio News

FOX Sports Radio Host Doug Gottlieb to be the New Head Basketball Coach at UW-Green Bay

“I think I fit how college basketball is now more so than previously.”

Published

5 hours ago

May 14, 2024

BSM Staff

Doug Gottlieb Photo Courtesy: FOX Sports Radio

A report from Jeff Goodman, co-founder of The Field of 68, says FOX Sports Radio host and former Notre Dame and Oklahoma State point guard Doug Gottlieb will be named the next head men’s basketball coach at The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Gottlieb’s father, Bob, was a coach at UW-Milwaukee from 1975-1980.

*Updated* Gottlieb has confirmed he has been named the new head coach as he began his radio show today. “I can confirm this report,” he said. A”s of this very moment, actually as of this morning, I am the new head coach at Wisconsin-Green Bay. There is a side note, The Doug Gottlieb Show will continue on as we have come to an agreement that this is what we are going to do. But I am excited man. To the now 757 of you who have texted me and I haven’t yet gotten back to, I appreciate it. I told my kids this. This is the response to people who want to laugh at it. If no one is laughing at your dreams, you might not be dreaming big enough. So, I am honored, I am motivated, and I am ready, and I am the new head coach at Wisconsin-Green Bay and I ain’t going anywhere with this radio show.”

Gottlieb, 48, was considered a candidate for the Green Bay job last offseason when it went to Sundance Wicks who has now left after one season to take the same position with Wyoming. Gottlieb was also in the mix at Oklahoma State the last two times that job has come open.

“I think I fit how college basketball is now more so than previously,” Gottlieb said in March when his name came up as an option for the opening at Oklahoma State.

Gottlieb has openly talked about wanting to be a college head coach while also maintaining his national presence on radio. It looks like he will now get that opportunity despite having almost no coaching experience.

BSM Staff