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March Madness Viewership Flat As All Top Seeds Advance To Final Four

BSM Staff
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March Madness Viewership Flat As All Top Seeds Advance To Final Four

March Madness is heading into the final stretch as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament has reached its Final Four, with all number one seeds winning their respective regions as they now embark on San Antonio this weekend. Meanwhile, the viewership figures have been released following this weekend’s Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight matchups, and overall, viewership remained on par with last year’s figures.

According to Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal, viewership for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is flat heading into the Final Four this weekend compared to last year’s figures. However, overall, the men’s tournament is up 3% compared to the same time period of the 2023 tournament.

Looking specifically at the Elite Eight round, overall viewership was down 10% from last year. Nevertheless, it was still up 4% from 2023, showing some fluctuations in audience engagement with the Easter holiday weekend earlier in the calendar in 2024.

Meanwhile, according to Jon Lewis with Sports Media Watch, the Sweet Sixteen matchups had a mixed night. For instance, Friday’s Auburn-Michigan matchup averaged 7.34 million viewers on CBS, which was up a fraction of a percent from last year’s Duke-Houston matchup in the same time slot, which averaged 7.33 million viewers. Notably, the Tigers’ win over the Wolverines was the most-watched game of the Round of Sixteen, as Michigan was coming off a second-round win over Texas A&M, which garnered an average of more than 10 million viewers.

Additionally, the earlier Sweet Sixteen games saw an average of 6.71 million viewers for Michigan State-Mississippi, marking a 4% increase from last year’s NC State-Marquette matchup. However, Tennessee-Kentucky’s game averaged 3.56 million viewers across TBS and truTV, reflecting a 7% decline from 2024.

As for the Elite Eight matchups, the regional finals averaged 9.0 million viewers across CBS, TBS, truTV. This is 10% down from last year’s slate of games, but up 4% from 2023.

This follows the first weekend of March Madness, which was the most viewed opening weekend of the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament since 1993. Notably, figures released last week showed that by combining the full viewership between TNT Sports and CBS Sports, the average audience reached 9.4 million viewers throughout the second round of the tournament.

The CBS-TNT Sports partnership originally began in 2010 when the two parties agreed to a 14-year, $10.8 billion deal to collaborate on coverage of March Madness. Then, in March 2016, both parties extended their agreement with an $8.8 billion deal, which runs through the conclusion of the 2032 men’s tournament.

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WTOP Launches Podcast Centered on Local Entrepreneurs

BNM Staff
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WTOP Launches Podcast Centered on Local Entrepreneurs

WTOP has announced the launch of a new podcast called Founding DC, which will focus on local entrepreneurs and successful business ventures in the nation’s capital.

The podcast will be hosted by Dan Simons, a local restauranteur and entrepreneur, who founded the Farmers Restaurant Group with seven current locations. The show will be recorded in front of a live studio honest and will feature conversations about the beginnings of local business, in addition to the accomplishments and challenges those business leaders have faced.

“As part of the community, WTOP News is a leader in engaging audiences across the region.” President of WTOP News, Joel Oxley. “With this endeavor we’re raising the profile of entrepreneurship in D.C. by connecting the local people and stories that make up the heart of D.C.’s thriving business community through content that is both interactive and multimedia.”

“Our mission with ‘Founding DC’ is to pay it forward by spotlighting the unique paths forged by local founders,” said Dan Simons, co-founder of Founding Farmers. “By sharing their stories, we hope to spark new ideas and connections, and ultimately celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship that makes our community thrive.”

The podcasts will be recorded at WTOP Studios in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The live, in-person audience will be made up of approximately 50 local business leaders and influencers during the podcast recordings.

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Peter Schrager Joins ESPN Under Multiyear Agreement

BSM Staff
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Peter Schrager Joins ESPN Under Multiyear Agreement

Peter Schrager has signed a multiyear agreement to join ESPN, bringing his insights and expertise to the network across its studio shows and platforms. Viewers will be able to watch Schrager across a variety of ESPN programming, including Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, NFL Live and SportsCenter during the year. Schrager will also make more regular appearances during the NFL season and also contribute to ESPN Radio and the ESPN podcast lineup while occasionally writing for the ESPN website. The company announced that he is slated to make his debut as part of on-site NFL Draft coverage later in the month from Green Bay, Wisc.

“Peter will have an instant impact at ESPN combining his charismatic style and deep knowledge of the NFL,” Burke Magnus, president of content at ESPN, said in a statement. “His versatility is an asset and will be on display across our shows and platforms as he becomes a signature voice of our NFL coverage. He is a tremendous addition to our roster.”

Schrager has nearly two decades of experience working across football coverage on multiple platforms, including Good Morning Football on NFL Network and the FOX NFL Kickoff pregame show. In addition, he previously served as a contributor on Inside the NFL when the program was on Showtime. Following his graduation from Emory University, Schrager wrote for ESPN.com before joining FOX Sports in 2006.

“I’m incredibly excited for this amazing opportunity with ESPN,” Schrager said in a statement. “Beyond their fantastic year-round, wall-to-wall, coverage of the NFL, ESPN is personally special to me in that I grew up watching ‘SportsCenter’ three or four times every morning before school and swore by that “NFL Primetime” music with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson doing the highlights on Sunday nights. I can’t wait to be a part of it all and am thrilled to be joining this incredible team.”

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Audacy Announces Audacy Creator Lab For Podcasters

BMM Staff
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Audacy Announces Audacy Creator Lab For Podcasters

Audacy today announced the launch of the Audacy Creator Lab, an initiative designed to support podcast creators and deliver advertising opportunities at scale.

The Audacy Creator Lab aims to support creators across the spectrum, from small, independent artists to emerging shows, by providing monetization avenues. This support includes opportunities for host-read sponsorships as well as dynamically inserted pre-recorded advertisements.

“When paired with The Audacy Podcast Network and our owned and operated shows, the Audacy Creator Lab expands our podcast offerings to now include deeply engaged, niche communities and the next generation of creators,” said Chris Oliviero, Chief Business Officer, Audacy. “As additional advertising capabilities are introduced on the platform, it will open even more opportunities for both advertisers and creators.”

The Audacy Creator Lab will provide free hosting and monetization services for emerging podcasters. This initiative aims to connect creators with a wider range of advertisers, enabling them to allocate more resources toward their passions and the production of high-quality content.

Podcasters can apply for access and explore opportunities at creators.audacy.com.

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Suzy Colling Retiring From Lazer 103.3 Des Moines

BMM Staff
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Suzy Colling Retiring From Lazer 103.3 Des Moines

Suzy Colling is leaving Rocker Lazer 103.3 Des Moines after 22 years with the station. She announced the news on a Facebook reel with Lazer morning team Heather Lee and Mike Wickett.

Known on air as Suzi most recently, she had been hosting middays while serving as the station’s Production Director.

Speaking to The Des Moines Register, Colling said, ‘“I know that probably sounds cliché, but my favorite part of the job was meeting the people. I think Heather kind of stated it best when I announced the news on Friday on their show that I’ve grown with the listeners, and the listeners have grown with me. It will be very strange to turn on the radio and be a listener for the first time.”

Colling will now concentrate on her children’s second-hand clothing store.

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Rob Creighton Out At Townsquare Sedalia, MO

BMM Staff
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Rob Creighton Out At Townsquare Sedalia, MO

Rob Creighton is out as Director of Content and Mix 92.3 PM Driver in Sedalia, MO.

Creighton shared the news on Facebook, posting, “Some sad news to share this afternoon. My position as Director of Content for Townsquare Sedalia and afternoon host at Mix 92.3 has been eliminated.”

“The most rewarding part of the job has been the people I’ve met on the journey. The people who read my articles or on-air breaks made me laugh, smile, cry, or even leave frustrated. It’s also been the personal relationships in the community I’ve made and the interactions I’ve had with clients, fans, and friends with shared interests that mean the most to me.”

Creighton came to Sedalia from Townsquare Quad Cities, IA/IL, where he served as OM. Other stops include Lubbock, TX; Lafayette, IN; Lansing, MI; and Joliet, IL.

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Skip Bayless: LeBron James Ambushed Stephen A. Smith

BSM Staff
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Skip Bayless: LeBron James Ambushed Stephen A. Smith

Former First Take commentator Skip Bayless has come to the defense of his former teammate Stephen A. Smith in the most recent episode of The Skip Bayless Show on YouTube. Following a week of a public back-and-forth between Smith and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, the former FS1 host has finally broken his silence on the matter, ultimately taking Smith’s side in the whole situation.

Bayless began his comments by sharply criticizing James for the way he confronted Smith during the third quarter of a Lakers game last month.

“How weak was that, on LeBron’s part, to choose that time and that place to deliver that message?” said Bayless. “This was a flat-out ambush, a drive-by, a premeditated and calculated move by LeBron James to show up Stephen A. in front of the NBA world while giving Stephen A. no face-to-face time to respond.”

Furthermore, Bayless noted that he believed Smith would have been happy to have a conversation with James following the game. However, since that didn’t happen, Bayless stated that he doesn’t blame Smith for reacting the way he did.

“LeBron didn’t want any rebuttal,” Bayless argued. “This was just a delusional, irrationally, insanely proud pop, telling off Stephen A. Smith, knowing this debate was rigged. Frankly, that was pretty cowardly.”

Reactions from both Smith and James spread swiftly throughout last week, drawing responses from current and former ESPN employees as well as various media members. Meanwhile, Bayless chose to wait until Monday night to release his thoughts on the matter, explaining that while he does believe Smith “milked” the situation for all it’s worth, that’s simply part of the business they’re in.

Ultimately, while Bayless applauded how Smith handled the situation, he acknowledged that both James and Smith came out of the ordeal looking bad. However, given Bayless’s reputation as a harsh critic of James throughout his career, it was no surprise that he concluded LeBron came out looking even worse.

“LeBron looked way worse,” Bayless remarked. “Still think he’s the G.O.A.T.?”

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The Daily Wire Begins Round of Layoffs

BNM Staff
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The Daily Wire Begins Round of Layoffs

After announcing that co-founder Jeremy Boreing was stepping down from his role as co-CEO, The Daily Wire has enacted a round of layoffs.

The Nashville-based conservative digital outlet began the layoffs late last week. It is unclear how many employees or what percentage of the workforce is being affected by the cuts.

“As part of our ongoing plan to better align resources with business priorities and growth areas, The Daily Wire has made the decision to streamline and in some cases, reduce some of our workforce,” a company spokesperson said.

“This decision was based on business needs and operational efficiencies. We are deeply grateful to our impacted employees for their contributions and are providing them with severance and career transition support,” the outlet continued. “Our focus remains on delivering the highest-quality content and experiences to our subscribers while ensuring the long-term success of our business.”

In addition to Boreing’s departure, Vice President of Public Relations Alyssa Cordova also recently departed the company.

The news of layoffs comes after co-founder Ben Shapiro addressed the health of the organization during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show. Shapiro called any statements that The Daily Wire is struggling financially “bizarre” and labeled those rumors “bullshit.”

“As somebody who looks at the balance sheet, I can tell you that is certainly not the case,” he said. “We are healthy, we are growing, we’re thriving. We have extremely big moves that we are looking forward to making this year.”

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iHeartMedia Debuts ‘iHeartRadio Emerging ALT’

BMM Staff
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iHeartMedia Debuts ‘iHeartRadio Emerging ALT’

iHeartMedia is set to launch a new specialty show tonight across its Alternative station footprint.

“iHeartRadio Emerging ALT” will be hosted by Alex Mac and air on weeknights at 11 pm local time.

“Discovering new music is a critical component of the Alternative format, and we’re excited to spotlight independent artists, new artists, unsigned artists, and new songs that our audience should know. We remain committed to breaking new artists and have big plans for this show,” said Lisa Worden, SVP of Alternative and Rock for iHeartMedia and Program Director of iHeartMedia’s flagship Alternative station ALT 98.7, Los Angeles.

Mac is based at Alternative Rock DC 101 in Washington, DC. The show will feature stories about the artists and the inspiration behind the music, as well as interviews each night, introducing listeners to both established and emerging artists and bringing further awareness to great new talent and music.

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NFL Will Schedule Three Games on Christmas Day in 2025

BSM Staff
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NFL Will Schedule Three Games on Christmas Day in 2025

The success of the 2024 Christmas Day NFL Football broadcasts on Netflix will be relived in 2025, but this time with an additional game. According to John Ourand of Puck, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced plans for a tripleheader of NFL games this coming Christmas, featuring two games on Netflix and one on Amazon Prime. With the holiday falling on a Thursday in 2025, the league did not want to withhold a game from its broadcasting partner, Amazon.

In 2024, the slate of games on Netflix was shown in 218 countries and territories worldwide, with an estimated 26.5 million viewers in the United States. This impressive viewership made the two games the most-watched Christmas Day events ever on Netflix in the U.S.

Looking ahead, the full NFL schedule is set to be announced sometime in early to mid-May.

Last year’s matchups featured the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both games ranked in the global Top 10 on Netflix for the week in which they aired. According to Netflix, the Chiefs-Steelers game drew a global average minute audience of 30 million people, while the Ravens-Texans matchup attracted 31.3 million viewers on the same metric.

Notably, this will mark the second consecutive year in which the NFL directly competes with the NBA on Christmas Day. The National Basketball Association has historically been the dominant sports brand on the holiday, airing up to five games annually on network television since 2008. One of those games traditionally features the defending NBA champions.

Last year was also the first in a three-year partnership agreement between the NFL and Netflix to broadcast games exclusively on Christmas Day. According to Nielsen, Christmas was a record-breaking day for both Netflix and the NFL, with an unduplicated audience of nearly 65 million U.S. viewers. CBS Sports produced the games for the streaming giant, while NFL Media handled pregame, postgame, and halftime studio programming. Additionally, EverWonder Studio served as the executive producer of NFL Christmas Gameday.

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