Veteran broadcaster Dan Patrick joined Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take from Lake Tahoe and provided some added clarity on his upcoming retirement in radio — and some honest thoughts about how the radio industry has changed. Patrick, 69, reiterated that his current contract with FOX Sports Radio will be his last and that he expects to fully retire in about two and a half years. But he pushed back on the idea of a “retirement tour.”
“I said this would be the last contract I was going to sign,” Patrick explained to hosts Big Cat and PFT Commenter. “I didn’t mean for it to be a four-year retirement tour. I won’t be working [after that]. I’ll be strictly Sandler movies.”
The conversation also touched on the evolution of traditional radio metrics, in particular the radio ratings system and it’s importance in the industry today. Patrick, who’s spent decades in terrestrial radio, admitted ratings now feel outdated.
“I never really looked at YouTube like McAfee does. But those numbers — that’s really all that matters now,” Patrick said. “I’ve been with terrestrial radio all my life, and you keep thinking of those ratings. Now, nobody cares about that. They care about social media, what went viral, and the number of people watching clips.
Patrick went on to explain that as long as he’s been in traditional radio, he still has little to no understanding of the ratings game. He also voiced frustration with how decisions are made at the affiliate level.
“You could be told you’re killing it in a market, then suddenly they go local,” explained Patrick. “I don’t like being beholden to that, because you have a lot of people who are in radio who are your bosses who probably haven’t done radio. I think it’s unfair sometimes they project to what you should be doing, or why aren’t you doing or why haven’t you asked. When you’re in the chair they’re live bullets, it’s just different.”
Patrick went on to explain that following his final program he still will be involved in broadcasting with his Dan Patrick School of Broadcasting on the Full Sail University campus in Orlando, and will be involved in some other projects as well. Patrick said he’s looking forward to life outside the studio in retirement, including moving to Italy and learning Italian, spending time with grandkids, and fishing at his home in Maine.
“I’ve been working 5-6-7 days a week for almost 35 years. It’s time,” said Patrick. “There was a period I really struggled. I was going through health issues. I leaned on my producer Paulie more than I ever had before. I couldn’t remember names during the show — Albert Pujols, Tom Izzo — and I panicked,” Patrick said. “It made me realize I don’t want to be that guy.”
While his countdown clock is ticking, Patrick remains focused on preparing his team — the Danettes — for their next steps. “I rely on them more than I ever have, on and off the air,” Patrick said. “I want them ready for whatever comes after this.”
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