It’s no secret that female program directors are rare in the sports radio industry. Fortunately, ESPN LA 710 is more interested in changing history rather than repeating it.
General Manager Scott McCarthy informed his staff today that the station will turn to 17-year veteran Amanda Brown to lead the brand forward as its new Program Director. She takes over for Dan Zampillo who left the station in November to join Spotify.
Prior to earning her PD stripes, Brown spent the past four years as 710’s Assistant Program Director. During that time she spearheaded the station’s play-by-play programming and managed local team relationships.
Her career experience also includes serving as a producer of many notable and successful shows. In Los Angeles, Brown has worked with Mason and Ireland, and Max and Marcellus. In Bristol, CT at the ESPN Radio network, she produced Mike Tirico and Scott Van Pelt, and The Sports Bash with Erik Kuselias. She also spent three years earlier in her career in Dallas at ESPN 103.3 working with a variety of hosts and shows.
With Brown moving up to the PD position, 710 is promoting Greg Bergman to Assistant Program Director. Bergman will work closely with Brown on 710’s day to day programming matters. He’s spent 18 years in the business, beginning his journey into the format in 2002 with Fox Sports Radio. Since then, Bergman has gone on to work for Sporting News Radio, NBC Sports Radio, and Salem. He joined ESPN LA 710 in 2016 and has served as the lead producer for Mason & Ireland since, helping to make the show the #1 sports talk show in Southern California.
Rounding out 710’s internal promotions is the news of Adam Braunstein being elevated to Producer of Play-by-Play. Adam has been with the station since 2007, starting in the marketing/promotions department before making the leap into the programming circle two years later as a board operator. He’s since moved up the ladder, earning roles as a weekend producer, midday producer (Mark Willard & Mychael Thompson), and became the station’s first-ever local morning show producer working with Travis Rodgers and Kelvin Washington. Following stints on the station’s talk shows, Braunstein moved into play by play producing and has been heavily involved in 710’s presentation of the Lakers and Rams.
Due to the internal promotions, 710 will be looking for a new producer for Mason & Ireland’s show.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
Get rid of Will Cain