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Despite Show’s Success, Buck Sexton Remains Grounded on the Mission of Premiere Networks’ ‘Clay & Buck’

Garrett Searight
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Despite Show’s Success, Buck Sexton Remains Grounded on the Mission of Premiere Networks’ ‘Clay & Buck’

Replacing a legend is never an easy feat. After the 2021 death of Rush Limbaugh, Premiere Networks tapped Clay Travis and Buck Sexton to take over the seat previously occupied by the radio legend.

As the program approaches its four-year anniversary, The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show has grown to be one of, if not thee, preeminent news/talk radio shows in today’s landscape. Just recently, the program picked up additional stations to move it over 550 affiliates, marking a 27% increase from when it first launched.

While those inside the radio industry and the news/talk format might view the role that Clay Travis and Buck Sexton hold as one of high value for Premiere Networks and parent company iHeartMedia, Sexton told Barrett Media he ultimately views the show’s listeners as the most important relationship the duo holds.

“In many ways, our boss is the audience,” said Sexton. “We are in the business of building the largest possible audience so that our fantastic sponsors who partner with the show have exposure to the biggest possible market of patriots and great Americans for their products. So what really matters first and foremost to us is that we have people listening who feel really engaged.

“Being over 500 radio stations, is that a milestone? Is that a very rare marker? To be truly over 500 stations? Yes, that’s a nice marker. We know we have millions of people listening to Clay & Buck. We really don’t get into the horse race aspect of it. There’s a lot of great conservative content creators (and) radio hosts out there now. We’re happy to see their success. We have people on the show who I think a lot of people would consider to be competitors in the space. We don’t really care, we have this little niche audience of a little more than half the country that we can convince to listen to our show by doing a great show. There are plenty of ears and eyes to go around so we take a view of the conservative marketplace is one of abundance, not one of scarcity.”

In a competitive marketplace, especially in the 12-3 PM ET timeslot, the Premiere Networks show has to do everything it can to ensure that stations find value in the program. Buck Sexton said he values the relationships with local stations and local program directors as much as they value the show.

“We view ourselves as an absolutely full-service radio show,” said Sexton. “Every platform, but also every aspect of the business. I’ve taken clients myself, personally, out on the shooting range, and put them through Firearms 101 at a tactical range. I’ve done countless dinners, coffees, live events and all kinds of stuff for stations and station management, and audiences. If it is advancing the business and the audience growth of Clay & Buck, we are in.

“We travel all over the country. Actually, sometimes, we’ll pick our vacation in places where we know we have a friendly station that we can go in and do the show from. And then we get a chance to spend time with station management, we get to be in that area. We connect with that local audience. I’ve done this in Salt Lake City; Savannah, Georgia; Fort Wayne, Indiana, I mean go down the list. I’ve been all over the country at all these different stations as part of getting to know them, getting to experience their community, and see people live in the flesh at events. It’s been fantastic.”

The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show is unique in many aspects. It features two hosts who were previously doing solo shows before being put together to take the Premiere Networks timeslot previously held by Limbaugh.

But another facet is perhaps more unique than any other show: the two hosts broadcast the program from separate studios. The duo rarely are together to host the program, and Sexton shared that it didn’t take all that long to feel comfortable hosting a show that way.

“I think that the one thing we had to get to know early on was that you gotta understand when someone else wants to take the ball and run with it,” he shared. “It’s a little bit like a sport because you gotta leave your partner space to monologue. Some segments, I’ll come in and I’ll just toss out either the topic or a very straightforward question and I know that Clay is gonna just take it and he’s gonna run with it for three, four, five minutes straight. The same thing happens with me. Clay knows there are some topics I get super passionate about, so understanding that and then knowing when to sort of step back and let your partner go with it and not feel like we have to both be talking all the time. That, I think is is one of the sweet spots of the show. That just took a little bit of getting used to each other.”

Sexton added that another aspect of the show that he believes has contributed to its success is it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

“We do try to mix in the news of the day and a lot of serious stuff with a fair amount of just fun stuff, fun conversations, fun topics. We like to laugh and we like to make fun of each other. So I think one of the ways that we have been able to grow the audience that we inherited, and just build upon the show, especially with the younger demographic, for us is that we’re having a good time and we don’t take each other to seriously. The ‘saving the country’ stuff is serious, but we don’t take ourselves or each other too seriously. I think that really comes across in the content.”

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.

Aircheck: Kidd Kraddick, 97.1 The Eagle, Dallas (1989)

Jeff Lynn
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David Peter Cradick, better known as Kidd Kraddick, began his radio career in Tampa. His career stops included Fresno, Miami, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles.

He landed in Dallas in 1984 for the night shift on 97.1 The Eagle. He moved to mornings but was let go when the station changed formats.

From there, he moved to 106.1 KISS-FM in Dallas. The “Kidd Kraddick Morning Show” was syndicated to 70 markets along with the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Kraddick was known for his charity work and founded Kidd’s Kids. He passed away in July 2013 at 53 while attending an annual fundraising fundraiser in Louisiana. His name lives on through the show that still bears his name—now hosted by J-Si, Kellie, Big Al, and Part-Time Justin.

Kraddick was posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016.

This aircheck goes back to mornings at 97.1 The Eagle, where a young Kraddick was honing his morning show chops.

Enjoy Kidd Kraddick from California Aircheck.

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.

Rock 99.9 Seattle’s ‘The Men’s Room’ Goes Where The Wind Blows

Charese Fruge
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Rock 99.9 Seattle’s ‘The Men’s Room’ Goes Where The Wind Blows

Steve Hill, The Men’s Room, Rock 99.9 KISW

The Men’s Room is the afternoon show on Rock 99.9 KISW in Seattle. Long story short, the show started in 2003 at a CBS station in Baltimore. About a year later, they got a call from (then) Entercom Seattle about the opportunity to do mornings at KISW. Somehow, they ended up in the afternoon, and as they say, “The rest is history!” That was twenty years ago. “We find that to be both profoundly insane and very rewarding,” says host Steve Hill.

The show has four members: Hill, Miles Montgomery, Ted Smith, and Producer Mike Hawk. “No one has a ‘role’ per se, as no one is ‘playing a part,’ but we all have very distinct personalities… which is true of anyone,” explains Hill.

“We happen to have the luxury of getting along and that’s what makes this whole thing work. I think that anyone listening probably relates to one of us more than the others and appreciates our point of view on whatever topic might come up. We all had very different upbringings and that informs our opinions of any topic. But everyone is pretty damn funny. The comment we always hear is that we sound like four dudes having stupid debates at a bar. That’s a fair comparison.”

“The major difference in our show is that it’s about the listeners and not our egos. It’s more about hearing what the community has to say than what WE have to say. I think the show stands out because it’s a ‘judgment-free’ forum, and we’re always looking for a laugh without doing any of that hokie ‘radio stunt’ stuff. It’s all about talk. We’ve found that being genuine (for better or worse) resonates with people. We have no ‘target demo’. Anyone who chooses to listen is cool to us.”

Hill says it’s hard to pinpoint their role in the Seattle Community. “After 20 years, we’re just part of the community fabric. There are a few local charities we work with, but overall, it’s just about being available and present at all times. Primarily, we try to bring everyone to the party… all ages, all races, all everything… and it’s worked!”

He insists. “People from six to seventy-eight listen. They listen as families, friends, co-workers… it’s pretty mind-blowing. We’ve ALWAYS maintained that a ‘target demo’ is one of the most idiotic and failure-inducing pursuits in radio. Our approach has always been ‘be entertaining.’ Period. The rest will take care of itself, and you can do that one thing.”

Hill says they used to do ‘big events’ as a show, but now they focus on a bunch of smaller events to make sure they physically show up in as many different communities as possible. “We call it the ‘Men’s Room World Tour’. That’s been the last couple of years for us, and it’s been a success.”

“Our biggest passion project is our involvement with the Fisher House. It’s an amazing charity that provides much-needed relief to the families of wounded service members. It’s very humbling to work with these folks.”

As far as prep goes for the show, it’s a pretty easy strategy. “We have a template for the show for each day of the week and we just fill it in,” says Hill. “The rule is, once we have the parts in place, don’t talk about it until we’re on the air. Keeps the conversations fresh and real. That said, we get here four hours before the show to begin our prep. Preparation is everything!”

I asked Hill if anything had ever happened on the show that had turned it upside down; for legal purposes, he was very vague. “There have been a few of those moments over the last two decades, but nothing compares to a visit from Zakk Wylde years ago. I won’t share the details… and probably shouldn’t, but suffice to say, it was f**king crazy! But Zakk proved to be the ultimate definition of a rock star in the end. It was epic and terrifying all at once. Oh, and a visit from porn star Sunset Thomas. Got in a lot of trouble for that episode but would do it again in a heartbeat!”

I didn’t get the typical answers when asked about the show’s biggest accomplishments over the years. “Our biggest is being relevant on the same station for 20 years. That doesn’t happen much in radio,” he says. “Otherwise, we have two show-branded beers on the market currently and have had a beer for the last 15 years. It’s not a gimmicky thing; it’s a beer in regular rotation, and it sells VERY well. Black Raven Brewing is our partner on that, and they’ve blessed us with several INCREDIBLY good beers. Credit goes to Black Raven. Our name is on the beer, but the product is theirs.”

As for what’s ahead for the show, “I know the company (Audacy) is preparing to put us on YouTube for anyone interested in watching us live,” says Hill. “That has provided us some creative opportunities that I’m excited about… but won’t share just yet. Otherwise, who knows? We just go where the wind blows us.”Follow The Men’s Room on X @mensroomlive and Instagram @mensroomlive.

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.

Do Radio Executives Mirror the Demographics of Radio Listeners?

Dr. Ed Cohen
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Do Radio Executives Mirror the Demographics of Radio Listeners?

I read too much stuff, oops, I mean “content”, which can at times cause brain overload. However, occasional pieces catch my eye and bring up questions or thoughts that can be applied to the radio business. 

Perhaps you read Evan Shapiro’s Media War and Peace Substack. I only see the free version, but his column of March 9 on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) had an interesting finding.

We’re not going to discuss DEI here, but rather his take on the disconnect between the top people in media and their audiences.

Here’s the interesting part: Evan’s own survey of what he calls “the media elite’s” education and where they went to school compared to the general public (he does some excellent graphics):

His data on the “media elite” comes from his 2022 study of 300 media execs at the SVP level or higher at Alphabet, Amazon, Comcast, Discovery, EA, ESPN, Facebook, Fox Corp., Hearst, Hulu, iHeart, Lionsgate, Microsoft, NBCU, Netflix, Paramount, Roku, Snapchat, Sony, Spotify, Twitter, Disney, Warner Media, and YouTube.  Note only two audio companies, iHeart and Spotify. The general public results are from the Pew Research Center.

Evan pointed out that US media executives are 56 times more likely to have attended an Ivy League school than the average American television viewer (note: I think that’s an underestimate…28% versus 0.2% is a multiple of 140!). At the end of last year, I wrote a column suggesting that you not overestimate the intellectual capabilities of your audiences based on a multi-country study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Evan’s point was that media execs are out of touch with their audiences.

“If you want to know how the American Media Industrial Complex wound up such a shit show, the statistics above tell a very compelling story,” he wrote. “The most powerful people in Big Media all come from the same clubs. The people running these companies have no idea what real people want, because their offices have become bubbles. In Media and Tech, exposure to ‘real people’ is exclusively limited to focus groups in Tampa.”

Evan’s column triggered a search to check the educational backgrounds of commercial radio’s top executives, and the Ivy League plays just a minor role. Here’s what I found:

Bob Pittman, iHeart: a year at Millsaps College but no degree. Despite not finishing college, Bob has done very well for himself.

Kelli Turner, freshly-minted Audacy CEO: Bachelor’s in business administration and J.D. from the University of Michigan. As a two-time Michigan State alum, I’m required to inform you that U-M is a fourth-rate school. Her predecessor, long-time Audacy CEO David Field, earned his undergrad degree from Amherst College and an MBA from Wharton, which is the business school at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school.

Mary Berner, Cumulus: Bachelors from the College of Holy Cross

Bill Wilson, Townsquare: Undergrad from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and an MBA from Rutgers, also known as the State College of New Jersey.

Alfred Liggins, Urban One: Alfred holds an MBA from Wharton, so one for the Ivy League. It’s not clear that he ever finished an undergrad degree, but he attended UCLA and the University of the District of Columbia.

Caroline Beasley, Beasley: Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina

Ginny Morris, Hubbard: It’s not clear that she finished college, but she attended different colleges in Minnesota.  FYI: the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota shows the company’s support for higher education.

Daniel York, Cox Broadcasting: He has a bachelor’s and master’s from Michigan State. I haven’t met him, but now he’s right up there in my estimation!

Tanya Vea, Bonneville Communications: Two B.A.s from the University of Utah (double major).

I couldn’t find any publicly available educational background on Chris Forgy, CEO of Saga, but my guess is he didn’t attend Harvard, Yale, or any other Ivy or we’d know about it.

That’s one Ivy League school among this crew of CEOs and that’s for an MBA, which typically lasts just two years. 

Now let’s drop down to the local folks. It’s been my experience that most of the people working at the station level, regardless of what they do, have either undergrad degrees from state (public) schools, didn’t finish, or even start college. Some attended community colleges. In other words, radio people — both those at the top and those who work at the cluster level — are not of the “media elite” but look more like the Pew pie chart.

On this one variable, radio folks should understand their audiences better than the people leading some of the major companies in other parts of media. Of course, radio people are closer to the public, too, living in the same communities. Even at the top, many of the leaders worked their way up and lived in smaller markets along the way.

Full disclosure: as noted, I have a B.A. and Ph.D. from Michigan State and an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina. And I worked over five years in Spartanburg, South Carolina (WSPA-FM), not exactly one of America’s coastal enclaves, especially in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when I was there.

All this raises the question that if we understand our audiences better than other media, at least based on our backgrounds, why doesn’t radio do better? What will it take?

Let’s meet again next week.

Locked On Podcast Network, Amazon Add ‘Bracket Breakdown’ For NCAA Tournament

BSM Staff
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Locked On Podcast Network, Amazon Add ‘Bracket Breakdown’ For NCAA Tournament

March Madness season is upon us, and Tegna’s Locked On Podcast Network is gearing up for all the excitement and action that the annual basketball tournament is set to bring. The company announced that they are teaming up with Amazon Fire TV Channels to offer college basketball fans an innovative and comprehensive approach to both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament coverage.

As a result of this exciting partnership, fans will now be able to stream Fire TV Channels Bracket Breakdown, a brand-new video series designed to provide in-depth coverage of the tournament from start to finish. More specifically, this series will feature a full roster of talented analysts, including notable players, respected basketball journalists, and local experts from the Locked On Podcast Network.

Furthermore, accessing Bracket Breakdown will be incredibly simple. Fans can watch it on Fire TV, Fire tablets, and Echo Show devices. Even better, they can jump right into the latest analysis and insights simply by asking their Alexa devices to “Watch Bracket Breakdown.” This seamless accessibility ensures that fans never miss a moment of the action.

According to Locked On president David Locke, this collaboration will deliver unmatched tournament coverage. “Locked On is uniquely positioned to produce coverage for today’s basketball fans, delivering a fresh perspective on the tournament for the millions of customers on Amazon Fire TV Channels,” Locke said. “In addition to our successful Locked On College Sports FAST TV channel and on-demand shows for virtually every team, no other sports outlet is able to pair the best national analysts with local experts who cover these teams year-round like we can.”

Beyond that, Bracket Breakdown will showcase an impressive lineup of former and current NBA, WNBA, and collegiate players, along with several national and local team experts from the podcast network. In particular, fans can expect to see well-known names such as Gordon Hayward, former Butler Bulldogs national champion; Monique Billings of the Golden State Valkyries; Jordan Robinson of The Women’s Hoops Show podcast; Howard Megdal of Locked On Women’s Basketball; Kylen Mills of the Big Ten Network; Tenitra Batiste of ESPN; Issac Schade of Locked On Tar Heels and Locked On College Basketball podcasts; and Andy Patton of Locked On Zags and Locked On College Basketball podcasts.

Most importantly, Bracket Breakdown coverage is already underway and will continue through the National Championship game on April 6. Best of all, fans can watch it on Amazon Fire TV Channels with no downloads or fees, making it easier than ever to stay informed and engaged with every thrilling moment of the tournament.

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.

ESPN Chicago Names Jeff Meller New White Sox Radio Pregame, Postgame Host

BSM Staff
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ESPN Chicago Names Jeff Meller New White Sox Radio Pregame, Postgame Host

ESPN Chicago has named Jeff Meller as the new host of pregame and postgame coverage on the Chicago White Sox radio network. Good Karma Brands director of content Danny Zederman made the announcement on Monday via a press release.  

Meller is currently a producer and host on ESPN Chicago and has been with the station since 2003. Meller joins the White Sox radio team of play-by-play announcer Len Kasper and analyst Darrin Jackson on ESPN Chicago. This is the fourth season of radio broadcasts of White Sox baseball on ESPN Chicago since signing an agreement that began with the 2021 season. 

The White Sox previously were heard on ESPN Chicago from 1999 to 2005 — the year they won their last World Series Championship. 

“We are excited to add Jeff to the ESPN Chicago White Sox broadcast crew,” stated Zederman via a release. “We know fans of the Sox will appreciate his knowledge and will connect with him as a lifelong fan of the club. Meller has been a member of the ESPN Chicago team for 20 years! He has great passion for the Sox and all Chicago sports. This is a ‘dream job’ for him and we know he will add great value to our broadcasts.” 

As part of his duties with the White Sox radio network, Meller will also serve as the host of White Sox Weekly, a two-hour show produced in season while a one-hour off season edition airs weekly throughout the winter.  

Each Chicago White Sox radio pregame and postgame broadcast will be 30 minutes immediately beginning or after the play-by-play action.  

Meller replaces Connor McKnight who left the Chicago White Sox radio network this past January for an opportunity with the team’s television coverage on CHSN, a regional sports network owned by team owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the Wirtz Corportation. The network launched following the conclusion of the broadcast rights agreements the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox had with NBC Sports Chicago. 

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.

BFOA Names Three Broadcast Executives To Board Of Directors

BMM Staff
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BFOA Names Three Broadcast Executives To Board Of Directors

The Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) has named three prominent broadcast executives to its board of directors.

The new members include Kristin Cantrell, owner/CEO of Seven Mountains Media and CapCity Communications; Kate Riley, President/CEO of America’s Public Television Stations; and former Greater Media Chairman/CEO Peter H. Smyth.

Scott Herman, Chair of the Broadcasters Foundation, said, “We are delighted that broadcast executives of this caliber will serve on our Board. Their advocacy for our charitable mission is exemplary. Their input and ideas will help us continue to reach out to broadcasters across America to help those in our business who are in critical need.”

The BFOA Board of Directors consists of industry professionals from diverse sectors of the broadcasting industry. They are united in their commitment to the foundation’s mission of supporting members of the broadcast community facing challenging situations.

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.

Joe Weachter Announces Retirement from SportsRadio 94WIP After 38 Years with Station

BSM Staff
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Joe Weachter Announces Retirement from SportsRadio 94WIP After 38 Years with Station

Joe Weachter, the producer of the morning show at SportsRadio 94WIP, has announced his retirement after 38 years working with the station. Weachter, who is the longest-tenured employee at the station, will work his final show on the station this Thursday alongside morning program hosts Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie. Weachter has been working on the morning show for 35 years, the first 33 of which were with Angelo Cataldi, Rhea Hughes and Al Morganti, and his retirement was a topic of discussion during the Monday iteration of the program.

“Obviously, bittersweet because we hate not having Joe here beyond this week, but we’re happy for him for the rest of whatever is up ahead for Joe,” DeCamara said. “….We got nothing but love for Joe, admiration for him and appreciation. Thursday, we’ll celebrate Joe in a lot bigger fashion, but certainly wanted to let you know the news.”

Weachter has been working with DeCamara and Ritchie over the last two years as the duo took over the morning timeslot following the retirement of Cataldi. Dave Uram, a reporter for KYW and former morning show producer and contributor at SportsRadio 94WIP, posted a message on X divulging the retirement and outlined how meaningful Weachter has been to the formation and development of the sports talk radio station. Uram had the chance to work with Weachter beginning as an intern in 2009, and he explained that one cannot write the history of the station without including him in it.

“Joe was at WIP before it became all sports,” Uram wrote. “He was instrumental in guiding Angelo from an upbringing in newspapers to being a morning radio host. Joe and Angelo were on the same page with show topics, big picture ideas, soundbites, bits and much more. If Angelo wanted a soundbite, Weachter knew exactly what needed to be done without Angelo having to explain.”

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.

FOX Sports Announces Programming Lineup for 30th Season of MLB Coverage

BSM Staff
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FOX Sports Announces Programming Lineup for 30th Season of MLB Coverage

FOX Sports is celebrating its 30th season of Major League Baseball coverage, with the 2025 season about to officially kick off this week. The action begins as the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series in Tokyo, Japan. On Monday, the network announced its coverage plans for the upcoming season, following the most-watched World Series on FOX since 2017.

Longtime television voice of the Dodgers, Joe Davis, will enter his fourth season on the network alongside Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz. Together, they will continue as FOX’s top play-by-play duo, calling the biggest regular-season and playoff games. Joining them, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will provide field reporting, further enhancing the broadcasts.

As the Tokyo Series gets underway on Tuesday, Jason Benetti will handle play-by-play duties for game one between the Dodgers and Cubs. Then, for game two, Adam Amin will step in for the call. Both broadcasts will feature former MLB catcher A.J. Pierzynski as the analyst, offering insights throughout the series.

Additionally, coverage of game one will begin on FOX at 6:00 a.m. EST, while game two will shift to FS1, also airing at 6:00 a.m. EST.

Throughout the regular season, FOX Sports will feature a rotation of announcers on its national broadcasts, including Kevin Kugler, Jeff Levering, and Don Orsillo. Likewise, a rotating cast of analysts, such as Eric Karros, Dontrelle Willis, and Adam Wainwright, will also contribute to game coverage.

On the studio side, FOX MLB’s lead desk will once again feature Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, alongside World Series champion Alex Rodriguez. Leading the studio coverage, FOX’s top NFL play-by-play voice, Kevin Burkhardt, will serve as the primary host for MLB on FOX, covering major events like the 95th MLB All-Star Game and the first-ever Speedway Classic.

Furthermore, Burkhardt will rotate hosting duties with Chris Myers and Mike Hill, who will also lead pregame and postgame coverage throughout the season.

Finally, FOX Sports MLB Opening Weekend coverage begins on Saturday, March 29, with an exciting doubleheader. First, the Minnesota Twins will take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Then, regional action will feature either the Atlanta Braves facing the San Diego Padres or the New York Mets battling the Houston Astros.

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.

MLB Network to Expand ‘MLB Tonight’ as Part of Lineup Changes

BSM Staff
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MLB Network to Expand ‘MLB Tonight’ as Part of Lineup Changes

MLB Network is making changes to its weekday programming lineup commensurate with the start of the 2025 season, expanding MLB Tonight by one hour to account for more live coverage of West Coast games. The program, which would begin at 5 p.m. EST each day, is said to be titled MLB Tonight: National Pregame Show with host Greg Amsinger and analysts Dan Plesac and Harold Reynolds.

The studio team had previously been on the air later in the night for editions of the award-winning studio program, but that slot will now be filled by hosts Adnan Virk and Matt Vasgersian. MLB Network confirmed the news to Barrett Media on Monday afternoon.

“We continue to be the place where fans get their pre-game fill and chatter before they watch their team in action,” Marc Caiafa, senior vice president of production at MLB Network, said in a statement. “Expanding our signature show with the very best analysis further demonstrates MLB Network’s importance and value to the daily coverage of this great game, and baseball fans everywhere.”

Concurrent with the expansion of the studio program, MLB Network will be moving Intentional Talk back one hour to begin at 4 p.m. EST. The weekday talk show, which has featured Kevin Millar, Ryan Dempster and Siera Santos as hosts for the last two seasons, will continue to be part of the daily weekday programming lineup. The Off Base studio program will reportedly be transitioning to once per week as part of this move, although it is adding a video podcast that will air on Sundays at 11 a.m. EST featuring Lauren Gardner and Xavier Scruggs.

MLB Network also announced the continuation of the MLB Network Podcast that will air new episodes on the linear channel Sundays at 11:30 a.m. EST. Both of these podcast ventures will also be available on digital platforms as well. No other changes to the network programming have been revealed, which includes popular daily shows such as MLB Central, MLB Now and Quick Pitch.

MLB Network will launch the new lineup on Wednesday, March 26 as the entity prepares to move to new headquarters in Elmwood Park, N.J. beginning in the 2028 baseball season. These new broadcast enterprises follow the cancellation of High Heat after an 11-year run and the reported extension of voluntary early retirement plans to eligible employees in an attempt to “right-size the organization.”

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