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March Madness Viewership Reaches Best Levels In 32 Years

BSM Staff
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March Madness Viewership Reaches Best Levels In 32 Years

The first weekend of March Madness was the most viewed weekend of the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament since 1993. The figures released Tuesday morning 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.

Furthermore, the tournament was broadcast across the networks of TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV, with the total average viewership for the first weekend being driven by Sunday’s highly anticipated matchups. Notably, the Kentucky-Illinois showdown and the Duke-Baylor clash each averaged 10.1 million viewers.

As a result, these two massive viewership numbers from Sunday’s second-round matchups represented a 13% increase from the same round last year.

Additionally, viewership for the tournament was off to a fast start as the round of 64 officially began on Thursday. CBS Sports and TNT Sports reported that the first day of tournament action became the highest-viewed NCAA Tournament opening day in the history of the annual event.

More specifically, last Thursday’s record-setting viewership averaged 9.1 million viewers across the same list of networks, marking a 6% rise from the same day of action last year. The primetime window was led by the highly competitive matchup between Arkansas and Kansas, which averaged 12.2 million viewers. Consequently, this made the game the most-watched first-round window in the history of the tournament.

Moreover, when factoring in the viewership for the First Four action that took place earlier last week, the average viewership stood at 8.8 million viewers, reflecting an 8% increase from 2024.

Last year’s NCAA tournament featured 67 games and generated more than $1 billion in sales. With demand now at an all-time high and proven viewership results, many industry experts anticipate that revenue will rise even further for the 2025 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 the men’s tournament. 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.

Looking ahead, tournament action for the Sweet Sixteen round is set to begin on Thursday.

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PBS Promotes Anchors Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz to PBS NewsHour Managing Editor Roles

BNM Staff
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PBS has announced the elevation of PBS NewsHour anchors Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz to the roles of Managing Editor for the long-running news show.

The duo have been anchoring the show since they succeeded Judy Woodruff in 2023. She previously held the Managing Editor title for the show when serving as its anchor.

“These new titles of co-managing editor reflect the way Amna and Geoff work with each other and the staff,” said Senior Executive Producer Sara Just. “Their editorial input is reflected in all aspects of our program. I am so grateful to partner with them both as we consider the daily challenges for journalism and our newsroom.”

The promotion for Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz comes as public media outlets — like PBS and NPR — have come under scrutiny by both the Trump administration and the FCC. New FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has not been shy in signaling his intent to cut government funding to public media amidst an investigation into whether or not mentions of corporate sponsorships are appropriate or violate regulations.

Currently, PBS NewsHour averages 1.9 million viewers nightly, but has seen an increase in digital video views in recent months due to efforts on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. According to a report from Variety, the network saw a 130% year-over-year increase in digital video views during the fourth quarter of last year.

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YES Network Could Go Dark on Comcast Cable Service

BSM Staff
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YES Network Could Go Dark on Comcast Cable Service

As the reigning American League champion New York Yankees prepare to open their regular-season schedule of games this week, fans in the New York metropolitan area could be left in the dark. The carriage agreement between YES Network and Comcast Corporation is slated to expire on Tuesday, which could result in consumers being unable to view Yankees baseball as the regional sports network presents games beginning Friday. The two entities previously had a dispute that lasted for parts of two years, leaving more than 900,000 households with no way to view Yankees baseball or other broadcasts on the network.

Unlike the last time both sides did not reach a deal, fans are now able to subscribe directly to the YES Network through the Gotham Sports App. YES Network and MSG Networks partnered to create the Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment joint venture that has created direct-to-consumer streaming functionalities for both New York-based regional sports networks. In addition to Yankees baseball, YES Network is also the television home of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.

“The extension of an agreement between Comcast Network and the YES Network is set to expire on Tuesday, and Yankees and Nets fans will be the hardest hit,” New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement.

“Fans should never be caught in the crossfire of a corporate dispute. Both broadcasting parties need to stay at the table and resolve this dispute without impacting fans. As your Governor, I am prepared to take further action if this is not resolved, as I’ve done in the past, by directing New York’s Department of Public Service to call public hearings on how consumers are being affected, securing refunds for disruptions and whatever else it takes to resolve broadcasting disruptions for all New Yorkers.”

An outage of YES Network on Comcast services would mark a second regional sports network being removed from a cable provider in the calendar year. MSG Networks and Altice USA were initially unable to extend their deal, resulting in a 52-day dispute before reaching a multiyear deal to restore service.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Tom Pestock to Join SiriusXM Busted Open Radio

BSM Staff
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Tom Pestock to Join SiriusXM Busted Open Radio

SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio channel has added former WWE superstar Tom Pestock as a host, just in time for WrestleMania season. Pestock, known for his character ‘Baron Corbin’ in World Wrestling Entertainment, joins SiriusXM after spending 12 years with WWE, performing in various roles ranging from commentary to an in-ring competitor.

Recently, Corbin spoke with INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet about his future in professional wrestling. He shared that while he plans to stay involved in the business, he is not entirely closing the door on a potential return.

“The door never closes with WWE, either,” said Pestock. “As far as AEW, their fans like AEW in the sense that it is its own entity and built from the ground up. I don’t want to be, if I went there, out of respect for that world, I wouldn’t want to be just another WWE guy that came in because they left WWE. I would rather go do New Japan for a year or more.”

As of this publication, SiriusXM has not yet officially announced what specific role or program Pestock will be hosting or contributing to.

Before his wrestling career, the Kansas-born 40-year-old was an offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts and also a quarterfinalist in the 2008 Golden Gloves boxing tournament. Following his time in football and boxing, Pestock signed with WWE in 2012 and was immediately placed in the company’s NXT developmental brand.

Over the course of his 12-year career with WWE, Pestock achieved several accolades. He won the WWE United States Championship, an NXT Tag Team Championship, a Money in the Bank opportunity, and was also crowned King of the Ring.

On the podcast, he reiterated that while he is not ruling out a return to wrestling, he is also open to exploring opportunities in the film industry. However, he emphasized that nothing compares to the energy of a live wrestling crowd.

“I like that instant gratification of a wrestling audience,” said Pestock on the INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet podcast. “You know in the moment what they’re feeling and how they’re feeling about it. Nothing beats that. It’s like being a rock star. It’s so cool and so fun. It’s what I love to do.”

Listeners can catch Busted Open Radio daily from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on SiriusXM channel 156. The show features host Dave La Greca, alongside several current and former wrestlers, including Bubba Ray Dudley, Mark Henry, and others.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Mason Stanfield Joins 98.5 KYGO in Denver

BMM Staff
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Mason Stanfield Joins 98.5 KYGO in Denver

Mason Stanfield has joined Country 98.5 KYGO Denver for weekends and fill-in. Stanfield was most recently Program Director and morning host at Cumulus Media’s Cat Country 95.1 KATC Colorado Springs.

Stanfield told Country Aircheck, “I’m excited to be even a small part of a station like KYGO. I’ve been listening to this station since I was a little kid!”

He posted on Facebook, “I’m excited about my first day at KYGO! You can listen in now! Thanks to Brian Michel and Shawn Patrick for letting me be a part of the best radio station in the country!!

Stanfield departed Cat Country 95.1 during the December Cumulus layoffs. (BMM 12/6/24) Other stops include Country 101.1 KRMD Shreveport.

He can be reached here and says he is still seeking a full-time opportunity.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Bill Simmons Takes Shot At ESPN During Appearance With Colin Cowherd

BSM Staff
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Bill Simmons Takes Shot At ESPN During Appearance With Colin Cowherd

It’s been nearly a decade since Bill Simmons worked for ESPN. Since leaving the network, Simmons has built his own publishing empire, forming The Ringer in 2016, which was later acquired by Spotify in 2020. Whenever a high-profile personality departs from ESPN, there is always chatter about how difficult the journey ahead might be and whether they will find success elsewhere.

On Monday afternoon, Simmons appeared as a guest on The Herd with Colin Cowherd to promote his HBO series Celtics City. During the conversation, he took a jab at those who doubted his and Cowherd’s ability to thrive after leaving ESPN.

“Look at this! Two guys that used to work for the Worldwide Leader still doing well,” exclaimed Simmons during the interview. “Funny how that happens, huh?”

Simmons, now 55, recently signed a contract extension with Spotify for a reported minimum of two years. Under this new deal, he will continue hosting The Bill Simmons Podcast while maintaining his role as Spotify’s head of talk strategy.

Meanwhile, Cowherd, 61, remains a prominent voice in sports media. After departing ESPN in 2015, he has continued to host his daily radio show, which is simulcast on FS1. Additionally, in 2021, he founded The Volume podcast network, which has since attracted major talent, including Nick Wright, Shannon Sharpe, and Draymond Green.

“Everyone says, ‘Oh, you can’t leave there!’” Simmons said, prompting laughter from Cowherd. “‘Oh no! Can’t leave the Worldwide Leader! Your whole life’s gonna fall apart!’ Guess what? We’re fine.”

Simmons’ comment was both a dig at ESPN and a response to skeptics who believed he and Cowherd would struggle post-ESPN. Cowherd’s laughter reinforced the idea that they have both done more than just land on their feet.

Simmons initially joined Spotify in 2020 when the streaming giant acquired The Ringer for approximately $250 million. At the time, CEO Daniel Ek was focused on expanding Spotify’s portfolio beyond music, aiming to build a stronger foothold in the podcasting industry.

By acquiring The Ringer, Spotify secured a well-established brand with a dedicated audience—one that Simmons had cultivated over many years, dating back to his ESPN days and the launch of The Ringer in 2016.

Beyond Simmons’ own podcast, Spotify has continued to invest heavily in exclusive content, securing major deals for The Joe Rogan Experience and Call Her Daddy.

Looking ahead, The Ringer is set to further expand its podcast lineup while integrating more video-based content into its programming. Meanwhile, Simmons reports directly to Roman Wadenmüller, who currently oversees Spotify Technology SA’s podcast division.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

The Hill Sees Large Traffic Increase During February

BNM Staff
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The Hill Sees Large Traffic Increase During February

The month after a presidential inauguration isn’t a likely one for expansive growth in the news media world. But The Hill saw a big uptick in traffic during February.

During the month, the outlet owned by Nexstar Media Group saw its total traffic grow by 17% compared to the previous month.

Additionally, the digital entity saw 33.4 million unique visitors during the month, according to metrics from Comscore. Those figures make The Hill the 14th most visited news site during February. The outlet saw the largest growth of U.S. political news sites during the month.

The Associated Press was the second-highest-growing website during the month, as it saw its unique visitor tally grow by 6%.

An uptick in unique visitors for The Hill comes on the heels of some editorial staff changes for the publication in recent months. Late last year, former Fox News executive Bill Sammon was named the Senior Vice President of Washington D.C. Editorial Content for both The Hill and NewsNation. Another former Fox News employee, Chris Stirewalt, was named the Political Editor of the outlet earlier this year.

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AWMF Reveals 50th Annual Gracie Award Winners

BMM Staff
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AWMF Reveals 50th Annual Gracie Award Winners

The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWMF) has revealed the prestigious 50th Annual Gracie Awards winners. The awards gala will take place on May 20 at the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Actress, comedian, and podcaster Fortune Feimster will host the ceremony.

The golden anniversary marks 50 years of celebrating the contributions of women in media.

The winners, including Cristin Milioti, Descendants: The Rise of Red, Dune: Prophecy, Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, Legacy Talk with Lena Waithe, Mayim Bialik, Kathy Bates, Angela Yee, Keke  Palmer, Rita Cosby, Jill Schlesinger, Kristin Klingshirn, Letty Peniche and more

A complete list of winners can be found here. 

“For 50 years, the Gracie Awards have honored the storytellers who push boundaries and redefine what’s possible,” said Becky Brooks, President of AWMF. “This is more than an awards show—it is a movement that has championed inclusion, representation, and truth in the media. The women we celebrate today are shaping the next 50 years, ensuring that our narratives are not just seen or heard but felt and remembered. And we are excited to have Fortune Feimster join us as the host for our Golden Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles, bringing her incredible wit and energy to this unforgettable celebration.”

Previous honorees include Ava DuVernay, Carol Burnett, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Marlo Thomas, Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman, Oprah Winfrey, Sandra Oh, Savannah Guthrie, Shonda Rhimes, and Taylor Swift.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

92 KQRS Minneapolis Is ‘Under Construction’

BMM Staff
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92 KQRS Minneapolis Is ‘Under Construction’

Cumulus’ Minneapolis Classic Rocker 92 KQRS is “under construction.” The station website and social media tell listeners to “Come back Thursday, April 3rd at 6 am to hear what we’ve been cooking up here at Minnesota’s 92 KQRS!”

The station website still lists all the hosts. The station cut Brian Zepp, its morning show co-host, earlier this month. (BMM 3/5)  

The station is running jockless with sweepers saying, “Pardon our dust, build a new KQ we must.” 

Before the start of the “construction,” the KQ lineup included Steve Groman and Ryder in the morning, Chris Nelson in middays, Lisa Miller in afternoons, and Shannon Knight in evenings.

The station has been in the Classic Rock format since 1986, after shifting from Album Rock under the direction of consultant Fred Jacobs.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Barstool Sports, Rumble Do Not Reach Extension On Streaming Agreement

BSM Staff
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Barstool Sports, Rumble Do Not Reach Extension On Streaming Agreement

The one-year relationship between Barstool Sports and the video streaming platform Rumble is over. During his Monday episode of Davey Day Trader, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy made the announcement that the wildly popular sports media digital company did not come to an extension with Rumble.

Last January, the two companies announced a partnership that would provide Rumble users with access to Barstool Sports content on the platform, including live streams. However, that agreement has now come to an end.

“We are not a part of Rumble anymore, by the way,” said Portnoy on Monday. “They didn’t re-up the contract.”

As of Tuesday morning, the Barstool Sports channel on Rumble, with a subscriber base of just under 61,000, still presented content for viewership. That said, a live stream that had been scheduled in recent days did not air. Despite this, there has been no official word from either Portnoy or Rumble regarding the exact date the partnership officially ended.

When the agreement was first signed in January of 2024, Barstool Sports agreed to market and promote the Rumble platform as their preferred video home. Additionally, the partnership included an advertising arrangement under which both companies would work together to bring brand advertisers to the Rumble platform.

As part of this advertising arrangement, Barstool Sports received access to the Rumble Cloud as its service provider for essential cloud services such as computing, storage, and networking, according to a release.

Furthermore, in December, Rumble announced it would exclusively host the uncensored fourth season of Surviving Barstool, featuring twenty-four Barstool employees competing for a $250,000 prize while confined to their office. While the brand’s YouTube page carried a censored version, Rumble streamed an unedited version of the content.

According to Portnoy’s brief comment on his daily stock market stream, he placed the decision on Rumble for not re-signing the agreement.

For now, Barstool Sports content remains available through YouTube and most other video streaming and social media platforms.

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