A new morning sports program is coming to Cincinnati. First Word, hosted by James Rapien, Marisa Contipelli, and Jacob Tissot, debuts June 1 on The Crown Network, YouTube, RESN with on-demand audio made available wherever podcasts are.
What We Know: The Crown Network, a Cincinnati-based digital media company, is launching First Word. A four-hour weekday morning block running from 7–11 a.m. The show will also air on RESN (Rock Entertainment Sports Network) and stream on YouTube and podcast platforms. Notably, Cincinnati’s sports radio landscape has long been dominated by legacy outlets like ESPN 1530 and 700 WLW — neither of which has offered a dedicated, standalone morning sports show. First Word aims to fill that specific void. Rapien, a well-known voice in Cincinnati sports media, leads the program alongside Contipelli and Tissot as co-hosts.
What They Said: James Rapien on ‘First Word’: “Cincinnati sports fans are the best. Loyal, passionate, second to none. The city lives and breathes sports, and now it finally has a morning show to match.”
Marisa Contipelli on joining ‘First Word’: “I am so excited to finally share that I have joined The Crown Network. I’ll be contributing as a co-host on Cincinnati’s ONLY morning sports show, First Word with James Rapien, every weekday morning from 7-11am. I’ll also be producing features & interviews around the city & can’t wait to expand my coverage of our teams. I am extremely grateful for this incredible opportunity to change the morning sports media landscape! Make sure to check us out starting June 1st on YouTube & RESN.”
Jacob Tissot on joining ‘First Word’: “I am beyond excited to announce that I will be joining The Crown Network as a co-host on Cincinnati’s only morning sports show, First Word with James Rapien and Marisa Contipelli every weekday morning from 7-11. Check us out on YouTube, RESN, or wherever you listen to podcasts!”
What Remains Unclear: Several key questions remain unanswered heading into launch. Specifically, details around advertiser support, distribution scale on RESN, and long-term resources have not yet surfaced publicly. Additionally, how the show positions itself against traditional sports media options in the market will be worth watching. Whether First Word pursues traditional radio partnerships with legacy brands or leans fully into its digital-first identity remains an open question.
What It Means: The launch is just the latest example of digital companies attempting to intersect local markets with content living on non-traditional means. This launch matters beyond Cincinnati. It signals that independent digital sports media will continue to compete for morning audiences viewed as underserved. Furthermore, The Crown Network is making a direct statement: local sports fans deserve local morning programming built specifically for them. If the show builds momentum, it could pressure established brands to respond. It will also be interesting to see if The Crown Network expands outside of this flagship programming option for team specific pieces of content.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
