Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Episode 513 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features host and podcaster Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet (Canada), Sports Media Watch founder and editor Jon Lewis and Boston Globe sports media columnist Chad Finn. In this podcast, we discuss what kind of interest the Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals will have; what it means that last year's NBA Finals averaged 11.31 million viewers; why we have not seen an NBA Finals game get more 14 million in five years; the Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers-Panthers; why this series will pop in Canada; WBD doing the series as opposed to ABC/ESPN and what that means; the celebrations for Inside The NBA; will ESPN keep the show the same, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 512 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Kate Scott, who hosts UEFA Champions League Today studio coverage alongside analysts Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. CBS Sports will air UEFA Champions League Final coverage between PSG and Inter Milan in Munich on May 31 across the CBS Television Network, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network. In this podcast, Scott discusses Munich as a setting for the Champions League Final; what to expect from PSG and Inter Milan in the final; the broadcast prep for a Champions League Final day; the fame of Thierry Henry; why her show continues to grow in popularity; Netflix's upcoming Women's World Cup event; working on both boxing and soccer productions; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 511 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Mike Breen, the lead NBA game-caller for ESPN and ABC. Breen will be the play by play voice of the NBA Finals, which will be his 20th straight NBA Finals, the most any play-by-play voice has called consecutively. In this podcast, Breen discusses what is unique about calling games in Oklahoma City and Minneapolis; how surreal it would be to call the Knicks in the Finals given he is the long time play-by-play announcer for Knicks telecasts on MSG Networks; whether people outside of New York care about the Knicks;  calling Game 5 of the 1994 NBA Finals between the Knicks and Rockets as O.J. Simpson led Los Angeles police on a low-speed chase after a warrant for his arrest was issued in connection to the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman; adjusting to significant analyst turnover over the last few years; his interest in how NBC and Amazon will put on NBA games; being part of Hubie Brown's last broadcast; NBA viewership and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's a short clip from our upcoming interview with Mike Breen, the lead play by play caller ESPN/ABC's NBA coverage. The full interview will be available on Tuesday. In this clip, Breen discusses calling Game 5 of the 1994 NBA Finals between the Knicks and Rockets as O.J. Simpson led Los Angeles police on a low-speed chase after a warrant for his arrest was issued in connection to the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 510 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features James Andrew Miller, the best-selling author of many books including on CAA, ESPN, Saturday Night Live, and HBO. In this podcast, Miller discusses the end of Around The Horn after a 23 year run and nearly 5,000 episodes; why the show was successful for so long; the show's true success as an incubator of young sports TV talent; praise for Tony Reali for being ego free as an on-air talent; whether Horn deserves criticism for being part of a sports TV culture of quick sports takes and thereby devaluing larger sports discourse; why ESPN would end a show that still draws more than 300,000 annually; the future of Pardon The Interruption from Jim's perspective and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 509 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features host and podcaster Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet (Canada) and Sports Media Watch founder and editor Jon Lewis. In this podcast we discuss the NFL schedule overall; what network schedule looks best; the Monday Night Football doubleheader issue; have the Chiefs passed the Cowboys as the NFL's most popular viewership; why has schedule release day become so big; the WNBA's opening weekend; the depth of major stars from A'ja Wilson and beyond; nationalizing games with Caitlin Clark; Bennett's thought that the viewership comparison for Clark is Mike Tyson in his prime, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 508 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Hans Schroeder, the NFL's EVP for Media Distribution. In this podcast, Schroeder discusses whether the NFL front-loaded its schedule and how the league thinks about the first two weeks of the season; Fox's desire to have more AFC teams on its schedule this year; how the league parcels out the Chiefs and Cowboys knowing everyone wants them; the most request game; the NFL's Christmas Day schedule and how should fans of other sports view the NFL playing on days associated with other sports; the Chiefs-Cowboys on Thanksgiving afternoon and the viewership potential for that game; where things stand on who will air the 2026 NFL Draft; what would it mean media-wise for NFL players to compete in the Olympics; the NFL's global desires and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 507 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Annie Costabile, a women's sports reporter for Front Office Sports. In this podcast we discuss the WNBA's upcoming season; where the league is as far as media coverage; the importance of Caitlin Clark and the Fever to the product; the challenges of covering the league as a beat reporter; covering the WNBA as you would cover any other sport; why Costabile left the Chicago Sun-Times; the future of beat reporting at newspapers; expanding Front Office Sports's coverage of women's sports; the the impact of social media on women's sports, both positively and negatively; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 506 of the Sports Media Podcast features S.L. Price, the longtime Sports Illustrated writer who has a new book out: "The American Game: History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse." The book comes out May 20. In this podcast, Price discusses why he wrote the book; where the sport sits today in America; how the Duke rape case and the murder of Yeardley Love still resonates and reinforces the sport's elite “laxbro” image; the tie between Wall Street and finance and lacrosse; where the growth of women's lacrosse sit as far the overall growth of the sport; lacrosse sixes will be one of five new sports set to feature at the L.A. 2028 Olympic Games; lacrosse as part of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy identity; the Haudenosaunee Confederacy attempts to compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics under their own flag and where it stands with them with the IOC; why people spoke to him, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 505 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast we discuss ESPN unveiling its direct to consumer product; the impact of the move and potential pricing; NBA and NHL postseason viewership; NBC hiring of Carmelo Anthony as an NBA studio analyst; Comcast's sports division using an AI-generated version of the late Jim Fagan's voice for select title sequences, opens and game promos, and praise for Ahmed Fareed. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 504 of the Sports Media Podcast features NBC Sports hostAhmed Fareed, who served as the main host for the Kentucky Derby coverage after Mike Tirico had an allergic reaction. Fareed has hostedthe Olympics, Paralympic Games, Premier League, Big Ten Football and Basketball, and other sports for NBC. In this podcast, Fareed discusseshow he was informed that he had to replace Tirico; what a sports broadcaster has to do in an emergency situation such as the one he faced; the value of over-research; how his bosses reacted to his performance; his interest in NBC's NBA coverage; Tirico contacting him afterward and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 503 of the Sports Media Podcast features Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet (Canada). In this podcast we discuss whether LeBron James will return for his 23rd year; how seismic it would it be if LeBron left; what the league does in a post-LeBron era; the favourites for the NBA title; why F-1 managememt is so obsessed with cursing, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 502 of the Sports Media Podcast features Peter King, one of the iconic NFL writers and voices of his generation. He is currently writing a book about his 40 years of covering the NFL and changes in the league during his tenure. In this podcast, King discusses this year's NFL Draft and how he processed it; the uselessness of early Mock Drafts; how he saw Mel Kiper's commentary on Shedeur Sanders; whether the Draft is an entertainment product;UNC football coach Bill Belichick in his recent interview with “CBS Sunday Morning” to promote his new book and the disastrous fallout; why King calls the Belichick recent events as "embarrassing" and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 501 of the Sports Media Podcast features Donna Brothers, who serves as a reporter on NBC Sports' horse racing coverage, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Brothers will be part of NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage on NBC and Peacock this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET. This is NBC's 25th presentation of the Derby. In this podcast, Brothers discusses how she prepares for the Derby and what that prep consists of during Derby week; her race day routine; how she chooses the horse that she will ride to interview jockeys; how she sees the favourite of the race, Journalism, and why she would try to beat him if betting; interviewing victorious jockeys after their horses won the Triple Crown; whether she bets; who is behind her in the pipeline as a horse racing reporter on horseback and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 500 of the Sports Media Podcast features Cassidy Hubbarth, who worked at ESPN for more than a decade including prominently as a game reporter on NBA coverage and as an NBA host. She will move to Amazon Prime Video next year as that streamer's lead NBA sideline reporter. In this podcast we discuss ESPN's very public goodbye to her; why she succeeded at ESPN where others did not; why Amazon Prime Video was the right fit; how the Amazon job came to be; the excitement of starting a new job; the importance of having an agent at her level; working through a health scare; why Nikola Jokić is so good; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 499 of the Sports Media Podcast features Sports Media Watch founder and editor Jon Lewis. In this podcast, we discuss the reports of ESPN retaining the NFL Draft; the value of the NFL Draft as a property; Lee Corso announcing his retirement from College GameDay; NHL viewership dropping and what it means; TNT Sports not sending announcers to Winnipeg and Edmonton for early Stanley Cup playoff games; Robert Griffin III working college games on Fox Sports; Jay Bilas getting another primetime NBA slot on ABC; Shannon Sharpe's immediate future; Adam Silver's dream of nationalizing local media rights, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 498 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Charlie Yook, an NFL Network executive producer and the longtime point person for the network's NFL Draft coverage, and ESPN vice president of production Seth Markman, who oversees the Disney presentation of the NFL Draft on ESPN and ABC. In this podcast, Yook and Markman discuss how they look at the NFL Draft from a producer perspective; why the NFL Draft remains so relevant; the role of Green Bay in this year's production; what it means that every team has a pick heading in; the goal of their respective coverages; last year's first round draft averaging 12 million viewers; how they look at social media; why they don't want their staffers to tip picks and why it is easy for competitors to do so; why Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders is a tipping point for Round 1 and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 497 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features a roundtable discussion with Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet (Canada) and Austin Karp, the managing editor/newsletters for SBJ. In this podcast we discuss the NBA's regular season viewership numbers; ABC, ESPN and TNT averaged 1.53 million viewers, slightly below last season's four-year high; the NBA playoffs and our viewership expectations; the prospect of an Thunder-Cavs final; the Masters viewership of 12.9 million for the final round and what does it portend anything for golf; MLB's miss on Jackie Robinson and how it relates to Jackie Robinson Day; can WBD get your attention with its media rights sports portfolio. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 496 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Joon Lee, an independent sports journalist and content creator whose YouTube launch video was titled, "My ESPN Layoff Taught Me Why Sports Media is Broken." In this podcast Lee talks about why he sees big opportunity in sports content creation on YouTube; the current sports media information ecosystem; how to build content away from a legacy outlet; being let go by ESPN in July 2023 after four years there; how he moved forward after the ESPN layoff and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 495 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sabreena Merchant, a staff writer covering women's basketball at The Athletic and one of the hosts of "No Offseason," the Athletic Women's Basketball podcast. In this podcast we discuss ESPN televising the 2025 WNBA Draft; whether we think it's a good television production; Holly Rowe interviewing at the WNBA Draft; who we think goes after Bueckers in the Draft; how Bueckers projects in year one in the WNBA; why we both like Serena Sundell and Georgia Amore as roster selections; why Sabreena has UConn, South Carolina and Texas as her Top 3 for next year in college basketball and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 494 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch and Josh Carpenter, an assistant Managing Editor, Digital Operations Golf reporter for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss where The Masters sits today in American sporting culture; the declining viewership of the final round of the Masters; the possibility of the Masters ever airing on the streamer such as Netflix; the PGA vs. LIV in ratings; how Josh thought the TGL went; the viewership of the men's and women's tournaments; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 493 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Kenny Albert, the lead play by play voice for WBD's coverage of the NHL. In this podcast Albert describes calling Alex Ovechkin's 895th career NHL goal, which came against the New York Islanders on April 6 and eclipsed Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record; being cognizant that this will be a call that is replayed for years; the lead-up to the record-breaking goal; the atmosphere during the game; the importance of not talking after the goal was scored; whether he kept a souvenir from the game; his other memorable calls including Jose Bautista's epic bat flip for his go-ahead, three-run homer in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Division Series; the prospect of Austin Matthews taking on Ovechkin's record and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 492 of the Sports Media Podcast features Alex Bazzell, the president of Unrivaled Basketball. The 3x3 women's basketball league that aired on WBD's networks recently completed its inaugural season. In this podcast, Bazzell discussed the first year of the league and if they met internal aspirations for reach and visibility; averaging 221,000 viewers on TNT and TruTV and how Bazzell evaluated those numbers; the advantages and disadvantages of playing at a centralized location in Miami; Paige Bueckers having equity in the league and what she has said about plans to play for Unrivaled; the prospect of getting great college players down the road including Flau'jae Johnson; how realistic it is for Caitlin Clark to play in the league one day; the relationship with the WNBA; his wife, the WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier, and her view of the league; having brand name investors such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Geno Auriemma and JuJu Watkins, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 491 of the Sports Media Podcast features a roundtable discussion with Donnovan Bennett of Sportsnet (Canada), Chad Finn of The Boston Globe and Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast we discuss how networks will cover upcoming international events such as the Olympics, the World Cup and soccer matchups given the changing United States relationship with former allies; J.J. Watt joining Ian Eagle on CBS's No. 2 NFL team; Charles Davis taking over for Gary Danielson in 2026 and Danielson's announcement to retire from college football broadcasting; ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball final year; LeBron James' interview with Pat McAfee; Stephen A Smith's response to that interview; ESPN no longer pretending the E is not their most important letter; Smith legacy's and the legacy of attention getting in sports and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 490 of the Sports Media Podcast features Lisa Bluder, the former University of Iowa women's basketball team coach and one of the most accomplished basketball coaches of her generation. Bluder led Iowa to the national title game in 2023 and 2024 and won 528 games at the school. In this podcast, we discuss how she approached the massive amount of media attention Caitlin Clark received at Iowa; how Bluder and her staff thought about interactions with both the national and local media; the number of media requests for Clark; how she advised players when it came to social media; her thoughts on Clark being on the 2028 U.S. Olympic Basketball team; Bluder's work this month as an analyst for the Big Ten Network's coverage of the women's basketball tournament coverage and why she hopes to continue with Big Ten Network; the injury to USC star JuJu Watkins; people wanting Clark to be what they want when it comes to how she answers questions; the women's basketball final between Iowa and South Carolina in 2024 averaging 18.9 million viewers; the game Iowa basketball played at Kinnick Stadium; what's next for women's basketball; her husband, David Bluder, work as a novelist. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 489 of the Sports Media Podcast features Brian Lawlor, the President of Scripps Sports. As the owners of ION and TV stations around the U.S., Scripps airs both the WNBA and NWSL, as well as a number of local teams including the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. In this podcast, Lawlor discuses ION's foray into the WNBA and NWSL; ION's WNBA Friday night doubleheaders strategy; the impact of Caitlin Clark being on ION eight times this year; the Las Vegas Aces deal with Scripps Sports; ION recording an average audience of 145,000 viewers across 50 NWSL matches last year; the importance of studio programming around live games; his optimism at continuing with the WNBA heading forward; ION's Saturday night NWSL double-header; how he looks at ESPN and others when it comes to women's sports; having the rights to the Big Sky Conference and the great Montana-Montana State showdown; Netflix's foray into live sports and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 488 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests — Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe and Ryan Ruocco of ESPN. They are the lead broadcasters for the Women's Final Four as well as the WNBA Finals. In this podcast the trio discusses calling the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament; reflecting back one year later on the title game between South Carolina and Iowa being watched by 18.9 million viewers; what will be unique about this year's women's tournament; the growth of interest in women's basketball at ESPN; why their are a legitimate half-dozen teams that can win a title this year; a lightning round of questions featuring whether Caitlin Clark be on the 2028 U.S. Olympic team; whether JuJu Watkins be on the 2028 U.S. Olympic team; whether Paige Bueckers will be on the 2028 Olympic team; whether Clark will win a WNBA MVP in the next three years; whether the Indiana Fever will win a title in the next three years; who they would build a team around between  JuJu Watkins or Caitlin Clark, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 487 of the Sports Media Podcast features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis. In this podcast we go deep into the women's and men's basketball tournaments; why we are seeing more women's basketball content than ever before; why viewership will be down for the women's Final Four and title game but what will be interesting is the early rounds; the addition of Jalen Rose on the men's tournament; the title game potential for viewership; Cooper Flagg as a television draw; the prospect of expansion on viewership; ESPN hires a new director for Monday Night Football and the media coverage around it, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 486 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jane McManus, the author of “The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports.” In this podcast, McManus discusses her new book on how the economics and surges in viewership contradict the myths about disinterest in women's sports; why she wrote her book; how she sees the new-age athlete such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Trinity Rodman as far as economic power; why the WNBA has not yet made money; the speed at which we will see women's sports specific-content and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 485 of the Sports Media Podcast features Ben Fischer, who covers the NFL and all other professional football news for Sports Business Journal; Sean Keeley, the Managing Editor for Awful Announcing, and Austin Karp, the managing editor/newsletters for SBJ. In this podcast were discuss why NFL free agency has become such a media event and where can it go heading forward; ESPN signing of Stephen A. Smith for five years 100 million; X versus Bluesky; goodbye for Around The Horn; viewership for March Madness and the Clark/McConaughey debate.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 484 of the Sports Media Podcast features Conrad Thompson, who has created an immensely successful set of wrestling podcasts including ones with Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard, John Layfield; Jeff Jarrett, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross. In this podcast, Thompson offers insight about the growth of his podcast network; the advantage of begin a first mover in the space; how his podcasts are monetized; the lucrative business of putting on a wrestling podcast convention; why Jim Cornette and Brian Last have been successful podcasters; why Paul Heyman and Tony Khan are the white whale gets to host a podcast; being friends with Cody Rhodes; why wrestling wants to avoid politics; the John Cena heel turn; the Netflix and WWE partnership and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 483 of the Sports Media Podcast features author and adventure writer Cassidy Randall, whose latest book is "Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All Women's Ascent of Denali." In this podcast, Randall discusses her book that chronicles the first ever all-female ascent of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; the void in the canon of adventure/exploration stories featuring women; why she is drawn as a writer to women who achieve these remarkable adventure feats; what makes Denali so tough to climb; how you research a story that happened 55 years ago; the challenges of book promotion and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 482 of the Sports Media Podcast features a sports media roundtable with Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Ben Koo, the owner and editor of Awful Announcing.Int this podcast, Lewis, Koo and Deitsch discuss the place men's and women's college basketball currently occupies in the sports media landscape; the viewership for men's college basketball in 2025; why the men's tournament provides good viewership no matter the teams; the state of women's college basketball as it relates to viewership; why we are all bullish on the sport as a media play; what a realistic final featuring Paige Beckers and Juju Watkins could draw; how the Home Run Derby would play on Netflix; whether it matters where the NFL Draft airs; how media companies that air sports should approach playing the national anthems of the U.S.. and Canada; why the anthem talk will be monetized and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 481 of the Sports Media Podcast features Chris Cuthbert, the lead play by play voice for Sportsnet's coverage of the NHL. In this podcast Cuthbert discusses calling the amazing 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and U.S. for a Canada audience; comparing it to his call of Sidney Crosby's “golden goal” for CTV from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games; the 16 million+ North American viewers who watched the game; the nexus of geopolitics and hockey for this event and what it meant to Canadians; what he recalled about Connor McDavid's game winner; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 480 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Austin Karp, assistant managing editor of Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss ESPN's massive 9.3 million viewers for the 4 Nations Face-Off final; whether there will be a carryover to NHL viewership; ESPN's opt-out with MLB; where the Home Run Derby might air next; TGL and Unrivaled audiences, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 479 of the Sports Media Podcast features Sean McDonough, ESPN's lead play by play voice for hockey, and one of ESPN's top play-by-play commentator for ESPN college football and basketball games. In this podcast McDonough discussed calling the 4 Nations Face-Off final between the U.S. and Canada; why it was one of the greatest events he's ever been part of as a broadcaster; what the pregame and postgame was like for him; how he wanted to approach the nexus of geopolitics and sports; whether there will be an interest carryover to NHL games; expectations for the 2026 Winter Olympics; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 478 of the Sports Media Podcast features MLS Season Pass match and studio analyst Taylor Twellman. The broadcaster will call the inaugural Sunday Night Soccer matchup between the league's newest franchise, San Diego FC, and reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on February 23 at 7 p.m. ET on Apple TV. In this podcast, Twellman discusses the third season of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV; where the partnership is from his perspective; the debut of Sunday Night Soccer; San Diego FC as the MLS' 30th club; MLS Productions moving to WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Conn; what is reasonable to expect from Leo Messi at age 38; whether Miami FC are the favourites again; the form of the U.S. men national team; how Twellman expects the lead up for the World Cup to me, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 477 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jake Rogal, the director of Netflix's "Court of Gold" terrific docu-series on the 2024 Paris Olympic basketball tournament. The documentary is currently steaming on the service. In this documentary, Rogal discusses his six-part series on the 2024 Paris Olympic men's basketball tournament; the decision to follow four Olympic men's basketball teams — USA, Canada, Serbia, and France; how the production got incredible access; remarkable footage such as Nikola Jokic at halftime of the game against the U.S. diagramming a play involving Steph Curry and Joel Embiid and LeBron James drinking beer with his coaches; remarkable interviews with Kevin Durant, Curry, Nicholas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Dillian Brooks among others and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 476 of the Sports Media Podcast features Indiana Fever coach and ESPN broadcaster Stephanie White. A longtime basketball analyst for ESPN and the Big Ten Network, she will call college games for ESPN throughout February and March. In this podcast, White discusses how broadcasting and coaching can complement each other, as well as the challenges two jobs present; being on the air for ESPN the day she was named Fever coach; how she got into broadcasting while working as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky; whether the Fever can be a title contender in 2025; coaching Caitlin Clark, Alyiah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, and Natasha Howard; how she wants her team to play this season; managing the extraordinary fame of Clark; what kind of jump Clark should make from her rookie year to Year Two; the need for the Fever to improve collectively as a defensive team; the prospects for free agents wanting to play for the Toronto Tempo franchise and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 475 of the Sports Media Podcast features TNT broadcaster Brian Anderson. The play by play voice will call the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET — simulcast across TNT, TBS and B/R Sports on Max. In this podcast, Anderson discusses calling this year's NBA All-Star Game and all the format changes; how one calls a game such as this; WBD losing the NBA; why he decided to  signed a multi-year contract renewal with TNT Sports last year; calling Brewers games; calling the French Open next year; the passing of broadcasting legend Bob Uecker and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 474 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Chad Finn, the sports media writer for The Boston Globe. In this podcast, we discuss the Super Bowl broadcast; the pregame show; how Tom Brady did as a first-time Super Bowl broadcaster; was Brady helped by the game not having a signature moment; the commercials; Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance; will it set a viewership record; what no Aaron Rodgers means for the Jets as a national team. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 473 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is broadcaster Kevin Harlan, the lead play by play caller for Westwood One's Super Bowl coverage. He is followed by ESPN Vice President of Production Linda Schulz, the point person for the company's NHL coverage. In this podcast Harlan discusses the Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl being his 15th consecutive Super Bowl for Westwood One Radio; what his weekend in New Orleans will be like; where the radio booth is located in the stadium; his call of a streaker during Super Bowl LV; where things stand with his contract negotiations with Amazon to do NBA games; his reaction to the Luka Donic-Anthony Davis trade, and more. Schulz discusses the 4 Nations Faceoff production; how ESPN looks at major hockey events; what makes best on best hockey an opportunity for the sport; the challenge of getting other ESPN entities to buy into the NHL; the longterm market for college hockey and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 472 of the Sports Media Podcast features Fox NFL producer Richie Zyontz and Fox NFL director Rich Russo. They are the lead production staffers on Fox's top NFL team. This will be Zyontz's eighth Super Bowl as a lead producer and Russo's sixth as a lead director. In this podcast we discuss how pace dictates a broadcast; the Chiefs attempting a three-peat and what that means for the broadcast; Tom Brady's first year; how and why they believe Brady has improved; why they believe Brady will fulfill his broadcasting contract; how Brady takes criticism; the role of Kevin Burkhardt in the broadcast; how they will approach Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl and more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 471 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, founder and editor of Sports Media Watch and Austin Karp, the managing editor of Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss Super Bowl viewership; why Deitsch and Karp think there will be a record; whether there is any Chiefs fatigue (there isn't); how Tom Brady will do as a Super Bowl analyst; Greg Olsen being ticked at not doing the game; the ESPN-ACC relationship continuing for nine more years; Peacock adding no new paid subscribers in Q4 and remaining flat at 36 million subscribers; Reggie Miller joining NBC as its No. 1 NBA analyst; Hubie Brown; the passing of Dick Button and more.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 470 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features WWE Hall Of Famer Paul Heyman. The WWE's Royal Rumble streams live in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock and Netflix internationally on Feb. 1. In this podcast Heyman discusses his parents, a Holocaust survivor and World II veteran; how he views the WWE's move to Netflix and how talent processed the move; whether WWE programming on Netflix intentionally looks like a sports production; the creative process under chief content officer Paul Levesque; why WWE talent has not been considered for Emmy Awards; why Heyman could not do the job of WWE CEO Nick Khan; why political characters no longer exist in the WWE; whether the verbal skills he shows in front of a live crowd are transferable to those in business and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 469 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Andrew Marchand, a senior sports media writer at The Athletic. He is also the host of the Marchand Sports Media Podcast and you can find his work at AndrewMarchand.com. In this podcast we discuss how we saw the Lions-Commanders and Chiefs-Bills broadcasts; our evaluation of Tom Brady; why Marchand thought CBS failed at the end of the Chiefs-Bills game; the Super Bowl airing on Fox; ESPN's front-facing staffers doing political shows; whether there are Jordan rules for Stephen A. Smith; why the city of New Orleans is worth exploring; listener reviews, and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 468 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features writers Joe Buscaglia, who covers the Buffalo Bills for The Athletic, and Nate Taylor, who covers the Kansas City Chiefs for The Athletic.  In this podcast the two reporters detail what their day to day week will be like leading up to one of the biggest NFL games of the season; the access they get to Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other star players; what it's been like for Nate to cover a team that has gone to the AFC Championship Game every year he has covered them; why this game is many ways is more about the Bills journey than the Chiefs; how they navigate many responsibilities on a Sunday; advice for younger writers; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 467 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Chad Finn, the Boston Globe sports media writer and Austin Karp, managing editor/newsletters for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss Tom Brady's agent, Don Yee, telling SBJ that Brady is in for 10 years at Fox; the transparency issue of what Brady owes viewers when discussing coaches he has interviewed as a Raiders minority owner; the viewership for the divisional round games; the Bills-Chiefs mega-showdown; the college football playoffs; Kirk Herbstreit getting emotional; and more.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The episode of the Sports Media features Sports Media Watch founder and editor Jon Lewis. We discuss the NFL Divisional playoff round and what viewership might be; the power of the Bills-Ravens; whether you'd want to be on Saturday night versus Sunday afternoon; what last week's WildCard round had lower viewership; the Fox Sports/LIV partnership; the Super Bowl on Tubi; the debut of Unrivaled on TNT Sports, and the passing of Bob Uecker. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 466 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Bill Bonnell, an executive producer for ESPN and the lead college football producer at the company. Bonnell will produce the College Football Playoff National Championship Game next Monday from Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In this podcast, Bonnell discusses what having a 12-team playoff has meant for ESPN; his schedule this week; how Notre Dame's history will play on the broadcast; the access given by Ohio State and Notre Dame; the  philosophy of crowd shots for a college football game; ESPN facing criticism for not airing the pregame national anthem at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame; viewership prospects and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 465 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Alex Sherman, a CNBC reporter, the author of the CNBC Sport newsletter, and the host of CNBC Sport Videocast. In this podcast, Sherman discusses why Venu Sports failed to launch in the end; Disney combining its Hulu+ Live TV service with Fubo; what it means for Fox and WBD; UFC wanting $1B for its media rights; Sherman's interview with Jay Marine, the Head of PrimeVideo Sports; Amazon and Netflix's sports intentions and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices