Sports TV News

Jim Trotter Files Racial Discrimination Suit Against NFL, NFL Media

“I hope this lawsuit leads to real change across the league and in the newsroom.”

Published

3 weeks ago

September 12, 2023

BSM Staff

Courtesy: NFL Network

Jim Trotter has filed a racial discrimination suit against the NFL and NFL Media, where he was employed until earlier this year.

Trotter’s contract was not renewed. While the decision was made after Trotter made headlines for asking Commissioner Roger Goodell about the league’s lack of commitment to diversity in its newsroom at the Super Bowl, the league maintains that the two incidents are not linked. Trotter declined a three-month severance package from the league because it required him to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

According to a lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court, Trotter believes the two incidents are very much linked. He also claims that he was instructed by his bosses not to use comments from Cowboys owners Jerry Jones when covering the leaked emails from Jon Gruden showing the then-Raiders’ coach making racist comments.

“Mr. Trotter raised his concerns on numerous occasions about the NFL’s record on racial diversity and discrimination, but the NFL did nothing to legitimately investigate or address his concerns — even though offensive conduct was being committed by people at the very top of the N.F.L. hierarchy,” the complaint reads.

In 2020, Trotter, in an interview for NFL Media, asked Jones about the lack of Black faces in positions of power inside of NFL front offices.

“If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire,” Jones responded according to the lawsuit.

He also claims that Bills owner Tom Pegula responded “If the Black payers don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is,” when asked about racial justice protests. Pegula and the Buffalo Bills took to social media to deny the accusation.

Trotter claims he brought both incidents up to the league, but no action was ever taken.

Following his exit from NFL Media, Trotter signed on with The Athletic.

“I hope this lawsuit leads to real change across the league and in the newsroom,” Trotter said in a statement posted on social media. “It is on the backs of a majority Black player population that owners have made billions and those players deserve to have someone who shares their cultural and life experiences at the table when decisions are being made about how they are being covered.”

BSM Staff

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Sports TV News

Chiefs/Jets Sunday Night Football Most-Watched Sunday Broadcast Since Super Bowl

NBC also reported a massive increase in the female and teenage demographic.

Published

11 mins ago

October 3, 2023

Jordan Bondurant

Courtesy: NBC Sports

The Taylor Swift effect had a huge impact on ratings of Sunday Night Football, as the Chiefs/Jets thriller on NBC was the most-watched Sunday show since Super Bowl LVII in February.

The broadcast averaged 27 million viewers, up 22% year over year. Viewership peaked at an estimated 29.4 million between 9:30-9:45 p.m. NBC Sports accounts for the two most-watched NFL games so far this season.

The Swift effect was evident in viewership in teen girls aged 12-17, women 18-24, and 35+. Viewership in those demographics was up 53%, 24%, and 34% respectively compared to the season-to-date average of the first three weeks of SNF. The broadcast featured a Taylor Swift-themed open, which has been viewed eight million times.

The game also drew in the largest streaming audience ever for a Sunday regular season game. The average minute audience across Peacock, NBC Sports, and NFL digital platforms was 1.85 million viewers.

It’s unclear whether Swift will be in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon as the Chiefs take on the Vikings. But if she is, the marquee late window game on CBS with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will stand to also see a viewership bump.

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.

Sports TV News

FOX Sports Adds Adam Wainwright to ALDS Crew

The 42-year-old just completed his 18th season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Published

24 mins ago

October 3, 2023

Jordan Bondurant

(Photo: MLB)

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright isn’t riding off into the sunset after calling it a career on Sunday. Instead, he’s joining FOX Sports.

In an appearance on Foul Territory with AJ Pierzynski on Monday, Wainwright casually let slip that he would be joining Pierzynski on an upcoming broadcast. After realizing that they were clear to talk about it, Wainwright announced that he would be a part of FOX’s ALDS broadcast team.

Specifically, Wainwright will join Pierzynski and Adam Amin as the crew covering the series between the defending World Series champion Houston Astros and the winner of the Blue Jays/Twins wild card series.

“Congratulations, welcome to the broadcasting world, and congratulations you get to work with me…again,” Pierzynski said, alluding to the brief stint the two had calling postseason baseball in 2020 with FOX Sports.

“That’s really all I wanted as a retirement gift was to spend more time with you AJ,” Wainwright joked. “That was what I wanted.”

Wainwright felt like he, AJ and Amin will have a great time calling those games together based on their previous experience.

“I’m looking forward to it though,” Wainwright said. “I have fun watching baseball games. I felt like you and I were a good team a couple of years ago so we need to run that back.”

Jordan Bondurant

Sports TV News

Space City Home Network to Debut in Houston Tuesday

The rebranded regional sports network has been acquired by the Houston Astros and the Houston Rockets from Warner Bros. Discovery.

Published

11 hours ago

October 2, 2023

BSM Staff

Courtesy: Space City Home Network

Space City Home Network, previously known as AT&T SportsNet Southwest, will debut in Houston Tuesday.

The rebranded regional sports network has been acquired by the Houston Astros and the Houston Rockets from Warner Bros. Discovery, with the two professional sports teams joining forces to form their own cable outlet. Both the Rockets and Astros have long held an interest in acquiring the network. A report from March of this year claimed the two franchises were working alongside WBD to gain control of the cable channel.

“The change will be a seamless transition for fans as they will be able to continue to access Rockets and Astros games on the same channels they currently utilize,” the Astros said in a statement. “The network will be owned by the Rockets and Astros going forward and will operate as a joint venture of the two organizations.”

“We’ve had a strong relationship with the talent and staff at AT&T SportsNet in broadcasting Rockets games over the years and are excited to have that live on as Space City Home Network,” said Rockets President of Business Operations Gretchen Sheirr. “We’ve worked alongside the Astros and network personnel to ensure this will be a smooth changeover for our fans and look forward to the positive impact this collaboration and local ownership will have on our broadcast.”

The first live game broadcast will take place on Wednesday, October 10th, as the Rockets will open their preseason schedule against the Indiana Pacers. The Houston Astros will make their debut on the network in 2024.

Space City Home Network launches just days before the Astros begin their quest to win back-to-back World Series championships. The Astros will face the winner of the Minnesota Twins/Toronto Blue Jays series in the American League Divisional Series later this month.

BSM Staff