FS1 host Danny Parkins says that one of the biggest lessons he has learned since branching into television is that not every topic works across every medium. Instead, the effectiveness of a conversation often depends on both the platform and the audience it serves.
Speaking on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Parkins noted the strategy that he instills in attempting to understand which types of topics work for different types of audiences,
“On television, where we are on in sports bars and airports and moms getting their kids ready for school, you’re trying to cater to everybody,” Parkins explained. “The podcast, I think by definition, is more niche.”
Parkins compared television’s mass appeal to a podcast’s more selective reach. He likened podcasting to premium cable, where audiences deliberately choose to opt in. That gives hosts more freedom to dive into specialized or nuanced conversations.
“If I am a listener of a podcast, and I am a subscriber, I want to know what you are interested in,” Parkins said. “If you are interested in LeBron and China. Why you are good at what you do is because you make me interested.”
He cited Colin Cowherd’s oft-used line — “I’m in the omelet business, not the egg business” — to re-enforce his point. Parkins argued that national television and radio demand more mass-appeal topics that grab casual fans. While podcasting allows for more personal or even polarizing subjects.
“I think it matters for time place, but mostly for this conversation platform. There are topics that are just better for different mediums,” Parkins admitted. “That’s a good radio topic, that’s a good podcast topic, that’s not a good TV topic.”
Parkins noted that he is still learning how to strike the right balance in television since joining FS1 last year. Having spent much of his career in radio, Parkins said the transition has made him more aware of tailoring topics not only to the news cycle but also to the medium’s demands.
“I am still learning and like figuring that piece out as a long time radio guy,” said Parkins. “There are topics that are just better for different mediums.”
Parkins’ comments highlight the ongoing challenge for hosts and producers working across multiple platforms. In today’s media landscape, success depends on understanding not just what stories are worth telling but also how best to tell them in each setting.
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