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Radio Does Good When It Gives Back During Economic Uncertainty

Ron Harrell
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Radio Does Good When It Gives Back During Economic Uncertainty

Eggs. Can you believe the price of eggs is still a topic? Your next radio promotion should be Free Eggs for a Year! It’s like free movie tickets. The perceived value is higher than the actual value. 

When the price of eggs joins the headlines about government layoffs, and then the hot topic of how tariffs will affect everything from the cost of steel to the cost of mini liquor bottles, you begin to understand why the economists are waving their hands about stagnant consumer confidence and the frightening R word: Recession. You thought the R word was Radio.

What should radio do during these familiar times of economic uncertainty? Two words: Give back. Wait a second, Mr. Columnist. You’re saying, “Traditional spot advertising rates are down, digital revenue looks great in the percentage column, but it hasn’t replaced radio spots. Podcast revenue…well, okay, let’s just say ‘Podcasts!’”

During societal stress, radio can appeal to the audience’s need to feel like they are part of the solution. It doesn’t make sense, right? But it works. 

We’ve heard most of those trite, but true, sayings:

It feels good to give.

Generosity warms the heart.

Sharing with others is a true blessing.

Or, we could modernize and say,

Hooking someone up hits different.

Putting a smile out there? Feels legit.

Helping out? It’s like soul fuel.

Radio as an industry is very good at using valuable airtime for annual fundraisers to support charities like St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network, World Vision, or Compassion International, and hundreds of food banks across the U.S.

Some of the best storytelling and listener/DJ bonding moments are created during these events. Updated promos and imaging improve the emotional appeal of audio when we plan and pay attention to what comes out of the speakers.

As an industry, we walk away from these events feeling good about our commitment to serve the community with these FCC-gifted licenses. We should. 

Events like the Big Radio Radiothon raised more than $26,000 for Rock County Salvation Army and E.C.H.O. (Everyone Cooperating To Help Others) through the on-air efforts of owner-operator Big Radio and their South Central Wisconsin stations WCLO 1230AM, 105.9 The Hog (WWHG), WJVL 99.9 FM, Iron Country (WGEZ) and The Beat (WBEL). I’m sure the programming, promotions, sales, and engineering staff put a lot of emotional equity into planning and executing the annual event.

Speaking of emotional equity, how about Audacy Las Vegas’ 98.5 KLUC Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive? 

During the drive, Chet spends 12 days living on a 20-foot scaffold to raise awareness and encourage donations to benefit HELP of Southern Nevada. The community contributes new and unwrapped toys, bikes, and gift cards, which are distributed to pre-qualified families and over 100 nonprofit organizations in the area. In 2024, the event collected 42 Coca-Cola trucks full of toys, 7,674 bikes, and nearly $787,000 in cash and gift cards. 

Hey, Mr. Columnist. Haven’t you read about the downsizing in this industry and the shrinking staffs? Sure. So do what Cumulus sister stations in Dallas/Fort Worth have done. Bring your forces together to create a stronger event. New Country 96.3 and 99.5 The Wolf join forces and simulcast with both stations’ staff anchoring the two-day radiothon to raise $1.3 million last year for Cook Children’s Hospital.

Radio loves alliteration or anything that sounds good when said by the VO talent. Tons of Turkeys is fun to say and paints a mental picture for the listener. Saga’s 96.5 Live Free Country, WMML, Manchester, NH, collected 18 tons of turkeys in six hours last November for the New Hampshire Food Bank. Together We Can food drive is hosted by Alpha Media’s Amarillo cluster and benefits the High Plains Food Bank. They added a fun twist to the typical canned food collection and provided an option to give Turkeys or Twenties.

I could fill pages with great events like WMMR’s Camp Out For Hunger in Philadelphia, or the dozens of Stuff-a-Bus events hosted by iHeart stations, Beasley Media Group’s Community of Caring Initiative for all their radio stations, the unfortunately recurring hurricane relief efforts on the Cox Media Group station in Florida every year, or the longevity of some of these programs like the 36th Annual Radiothon to End Child Abuse at Hubbard Radio’s Minnesota markets of Brainerd, Bemidji, Alexandria and Wadena.

The news cycle will continue to promote the negative algorithm. It’s what works in the information overloaded age, even if everyone is getting along and thriving in their personal economy. 

Radio should look beyond the typical fundraisers and charity events. How are the headlines providing opportunity for your station to engage the audience emotionally with their need to give back? They don’t know they need it, but we can provide that emotional medicine by connecting locally to create support based on how the news affects a community or a service.

Food banks are essential during economic uncertainty. Job placement and training becomes a hot category during business downsizing and layoffs. Don’t let Indeed, LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter get all the credit.

Mental health—enough said. We know the growing need to recognize how our industry has internally ignored this category. I’m sure other industries are playing catch-up, too. Give the community a voice to accept this challenge, like KEXP Seattle does with their Music Heals program.

Schools. It’s a vortex of opportunity. Radio can organize and supply solutions if we see music, sports, tutoring, and lunch programs affected by defunding. Again, your audience will non-verbally love you for allowing them to give back through the radio station’s leadership.

After reading this column, eggs may be back to normal prices, and the stock market may be at an all-time high. Until then, be aware of how the news and social media affect your audience in ways they can’t explain. Provide the emotional conduit to give back to their community. They will reward your brand for this gift.

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 Interview: The John Curley Show on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM

Garrett Searight
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The Interview: The John Curley Show on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM

Last year, KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM afternoon host John Curley lost his partner — Shari Elliker — as part of cost-cutting measures. He now hosts The John Curley Show solo.

Navigating how to manage interviews as a member of a two-person show is significantly harder than doing them by yourself. Like every other aspect of a team program, there are so many more things that go into producing content with a partner that you just don’t experience when you’re piloting a program by your lonesome.

With that in mind, I wanted to take a look at Curley’s interview style now that he’s had some time to get a rhythm as a solo host. We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of Elliker’s exit, meaning John Curley has had plenty of time to get accustomed to handling these discussions solo.

I listened to an interview from Curley with King County councilmember Regan Dunn from last week. I always like these types of interviews because I really truly do go into it blind. And I don’t know what the top pressing issues are in Seattle and the surrounding area. So, I don’t have a preconceived notion of what the topics and subjects but should be, and really get to focus on the formatics of the interview.

The discussion with the councilmember began with a statement, not a question. Curley began by noting that the politician had a plan to return marijuana tax revenue to local law enforcement agencies. He ended his statement by saying “I didn’t know it was going anywhere else.”

And while I’m a known hater of failing to ask questions in an interview, I think it’s ok to start a conversation similarly to this one.

First of all, it goes into an issue that the politician wants to speak about. I don’t love that strategy, but I do recognize its effectiveness, especially in regard to how it is likely to open up the leader for better answers down the line. When you appear friendly off the jump of the conversation, you’re much more likely to get answers for your listeners later in the discussion.

The interview got disjointed by a bad connection from Dunn, who was appearing via video conference call rather than a phone line. In a multimedia world, having your interview subjects on video sure makes your digital efforts better. After establishing a connection, Curley did a good job of following up his original statement by asking a better question: “When did (the government) redirect (marijuana tax revenue away from local law enforcement) and who was involved in redirciting it?”

That’s a much better question because it sounds like a query that listeners would want to ask and would want the answers to. If there was a bait-and-switch with taxpayer funds, concerned citizens would likely ask that exact question and deserve that answer.

His next question was another great one local residents would want to know, asking where the tax revenue is currently directed and how much money was at stake. It’s a great chance to contextualize just how much money the area brings in marijuana tax revenue, and allows the listener the opportunity to weigh whether they think the way the money is currently dispersed is correct or not. Which likely leads to a topic down the line with engagement opportunities on the phone lines, text lines, social media, etc…about the listener’s thoughts. Bang up job here.

The answer, also, likely generates clips that can be played throughout the station on other shows or newscasts that informs those not listening in afternoon drive. It creates additional promotional opportunities to listeners in other dayparts for why they need to listen all the time.

The topic then shifted to the legislator’s stance about potential auditing a government agency in a DOGE-like fashion. I count this as another win, because the topic of government efficiency — whether you love it or hate it — is at or near the top of virtually every news/talk radio listener’s list right now. And being able to localize a national topic, with a local politician on the line, is a grade A work by John Curley.

Overall, the interview didn’t last significantly longer, with the focus mostly asking where the council sits on potential votes on issues Dunn supports or is against.

Was it a bit “buddy-buddy”? Absolutely. But it wasn’t a love-fest, either. John Curley did a great job of asking questions of a local politician that local listeners would be interested in hearing the answer to. And that’s a big key. If you can serve as someone who is a voice for the community, all it does is build credibility and affinity within your audience. That’s the name of the game, isn’t it?

John Curley handled this interview spectacularly. Sometimes, when you get in a position that you feel like an interview needs to span an entire segment, the questions can really be lacking because you’re more worried about getting to the finish line rather than what you’re accomplishing on the way to the finish line. Curley didn’t do that. Especially now that he finds himself as a solo host.

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 Nakashima Retires From Eagle 96.9 Sacramento

BMM Staff
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Tom Nakashima Retires From Eagle 96.9 Sacramento

Sacramento radio host Tom Nakashima is retiring after 50 years with Classic Rocker Eagle 96.9 KSEG Sacramento. He joined The Eagle in 1998.

According to the Eagle web profile, Nakashima began his run at the two-room K-108 studios in 1975. Jokingly adding that Nakashima is the only Sacramento broadcaster that worked for Marconi.

Nakashima has been holding down the 11 pm evening spot. He joined afternoon host Ken Anthony to talk about retirement.

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.

CNBC Sport to Launch Weekly Video Show, Branded Productions

BSM Staff
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CNBC Sport to Launch Weekly Video Show, Branded Productions

CNBC Sport is expanding its sports business brand into television with a new weekly sports business show and the launch of branded productions taking place over the coming weeks. The linear television program, which is titled CNBC Sport: On The Record, will feature interviews with sports business executives and industry newsmakers starting on Saturday, March 29. Interviews that are filmed for the company’s video podcast are going to be repurposed for this weekly series, which is also serving as the basis of the forthcoming show.

The company will also be releasing its first longform CNBC Sport-branded production that will feature Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry and focus on his off-court ventures. The crew followed Curry around for NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, Calif. and also conducted an extended interview that took place on a boat. In an interview with Alex Weprin of The Hollywood Reporter, CNBC Sport reporter Alex Sherman divulged that the idea for the CNBC Sport division as a whole came from CNBC president KC Sullivan.

“His pitch was, ‘Look, sports is like a very large investable asset now,’” Sherman recalled. “….But in addition to that, the people that are the owners of these teams are largely already on CNBC, and so we talk to them about the markets, or whatever their main business is, and then we shoehorn in a sports question or two when they’re up on air. We’ve shoehorned it in the past to some degree so his idea was like, ‘Look, this is already here. We should have a platform for all this where we really dive in, because there’s so much appetite for it, and there’s so much crossover with what we do.’”

In addition to these content enterprises, CNBC Sport is also going to hold its first branded live event in early April looking at the business of women’s basketball. Max Meyers, vice president and senior executive producer of strategic verticals and audience development, explained that there is an appeal to sports being appointment-style viewing that has concurrently inflated the value of franchises. CNBC recognized the interest in sports business and has been able to leverage its proficiency and expertise in building out this new area of focus.

“[Sports] has brought a torrent of money from all around the world, whether it be from sovereign wealth funds, whether it be from private equity funds, whether it be from other types of Wall Street type, traditional investment houses into this space,” Meyers said. “And as a result of that, there’s a lot of money going back and forth. CNBC tells the story of money better than any network or any news outlet in all of its forms, so it made sense that we did it.”

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.

Saga Names Randy Cable VP/General Manager in Keene NH

BMM Staff
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Saga Names Randy Cable VP/General Manager in Keene NH

Saga Communications has named Randy Cable Vice President/General Manager in Keene, NH. It marks a return to Saga for Cable after spending time as Regional Director of Sales for Beasley Media Group, Florida.

Other stops include Audacy Greenville, SC and Saga Asheville, SC where he served as Market Manager.

Saga Communications COO Wayne Leland said, “We believe there is an unprecedented opportunity to increase revenue in our local communities by being true advisors to the businesses we serve. Local businesses are spending far more on digital than they do on radio, yet most don’t have a local media advisor who truly understands how to connect those dollars to real consumer actions. Randy sees this opportunity the same way we do, and we’re excited to have him lead the way in Keene.”

Cable added, “I’m thrilled to be back at Saga at such an exciting time. The way local businesses buy advertising has changed and so has the way we sell it. Saga understands that success isn’t about selling a product, it’s about delivering real, measurable business outcomes. That’s exactly the kind of company I want to be part of, and exactly the kind of leadership I look forward to bringing to Keene.”

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.

Dan Bongino Bids Farewell to Westwood One and Podcast Before Joining FBI

BNM Staff
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Dan Bongino Bids Farewell to Westwood One and Podcast Before Joining FBI

Friday marked the final episode of The Dan Bongino Show as the Westwood One host departs the network to join the FBI as its new Deputy Director.

Bongino has spent the past decade hosting his popular podcast before being added to the Westwood One lineup in the 12-3 timeslot after the death of Rush Limbaugh.

During his final program, Dan Bongino fought back his emotions, sharing that his appreciation and gratitude to those who have helped him produce his podcast and subsequent radio show was overwhelming.

He concluded the final episode of his nationally syndicated radio show by sharing that he never expected his media endeavors to reach the heights they did.

“I used to fill in on Christmas morning at local radio stations, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be so cool to get on a local radio station one day?’,” said Bongino. “I never realized that one day, not only would we have a local radio station, but we’d have 375 of them. So I want to wish the best of luck to Vince (Coglianese) in the future and everybody else in the spot on talk radio. It’s still a wonderful business full of really hard-working people.

“My podcast audience has been with me for 10 years now. You guys started with me in the beginning. We had no idea what we were doing. We were just talking into a microphone thinking, ‘Gosh, I hope someone’s listening.’ And it became the number one live stream in the United States, all because of you guys. But I know you all understand why I made this decision to walk away. I know you get it. You don’t need me to explain to you the condition our country is in and why people — people better people than me — chose to serve the public.”

As he fought back tears, Bongino shared his final farewell to his audience.

“I’m going to leave you like I left my podcast audience today, with the only words I could think of this morning when I was putting together this show: I’ll see you on the other side,” he concluded. “Thank you.”

Earlier in the day, Dan Bongino shared on his podcast his admiration for the leadership at Westwood One, arguing that they couldn’t have been more helpful in his decision-making process and transition to the FBI.

“I want this on the record: Westwood One didn’t have to do this, folks. They didn’t,” said Bongino. “I’m not going to bore you with the details and be inappropriate, but I’m telling you right now, they couldn’t have been easier to work with. They were like, ‘You’re doing this for the country? We’re in.’ That was it. So anybody who tells you corporate America is a bunch of unkind, unfeeling (expletives)? You’re just wrong. You don’t live through what I live through.

“They couldn’t have handled this any nicer. Mary Berner, who’s the CEO of the parent company, got a lovely email from her as well,” Bongino continued. “We haven’t always agreed on everything, but I really appreciate you guys understanding,” Bongino said, as he fought back tears, “I really appreciate you all understanding why, why I had to do this.”

Bongino will be replaced in the Westwood One lineup by 105.9 WMAL host Vince Coglianese, who will begin hosting the show on Monday. Coglianese joined Bongino as part of his farewell podcast on Friday, while Westwood One CEO Collin Jones was an in-person attendee to Bongino’s final program.

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.

Nic Harcourt And Jet Raskin Expand Roles At 88.5 ‘The SoCal Sound’

BMM Staff
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Nic Harcourt And Jet Raskin Expand Roles At 88.5 ‘The SoCal Sound’

Adult Alternative 88.5 FM “The SoCal Sound” KCSN Los Angeles is expanding the roles of morning show hosts Nic Harcourt and Jet Raskin.

The duo currently hosts “More Music in the Morning with Nic Harcourt & Jet.” Beginning Monday (3/17), they will realign, with Jet going solo with “Jet into Work” from 6-7 a.m. and Harcourt joining from 7-10 a.m.  Harcourt then returns for the drive home with “Nik at Six” from 6-7 pm.

Marc “Mookie” Kaczor, SoCal Sound PD and afternoon host said, “Jet into Work is going to be a high-energy, uptempo hour to get us started with our day. Jet has proven to be a beloved broadcaster and is very well liked by SoCal Sound listeners and members. We’re excited to give Jet her own show.”

Adding, “We thought it’d be interesting to bookend the primetime, starting with Jet into Work early in the day and finishing with our star, Nic Harcourt. I think these changes are going to make The SoCal Sound even more appealing and exciting for our listeners.”

Jet said, “I’m looking forward to giving the audience an upbeat kick off to their mornings — like audio caffeine for your morning routine. As I embark on this new chapter, I’m excited to share this journey with our listeners & members.” 

Patrick Osburn station GM said of the new lineup, ““As the pandemic increasingly grows in our rearview mirror, the freeway traffic and commute times are growing. Obviously, that’s good for all audio platforms. We are talking to commuters, stay-at-home parents — who work just as hard, if not harder than most — as well as the work-at-home crowd.”

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.

Mike Breen: Double ‘Bang!’ Calls are More About the ‘Flow of the Game’

BSM Staff
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When New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges knocked down a game-winning three-point shot to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, ESPN and MSG Networks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen repeated his signature “Bang!” call a second time. Basketball fans who track Breen’s calls divulged that it was the ninth time in which he utilized the double “Bang!” sequence in a game, generating buzz and excitement across the internet. Breen first devised the exclamation while attending Fordham University and shouted it out from the stands as a fan, and he later equipped it on a game broadcast calling high school basketball games to avoid being completely drowned out in the gymnasium.

Breen explained these origins during an appearance on the Friday afternoon edition of The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York as he spoke about the Knicks and other matters pertaining to basketball. Kay, who attended college with Breen at Fordham University, asked what constitutes a call to receive a double “Bang!” call. In response, Breen explained that it is not something he really thinks about and is instead related to the flow of the game itself.

“For example, that was one of the most bizarre finishes to regulation and overtime that I’ve seen in a long time,” Breen said. “It’s like there’s a minute there [where] you think, Okay, Knicks have this all secure.’ Then, there’s the next two possessions later, like, ‘They’re going to lose this game,’ so it was the seesaw-rollercoaster style that made it like, ‘Wow, they actually pulled this out.’”

Breen remembered that the first time he delivered a double “Bang!” call during an NBA game broadcast was when Stephen Curry hit a three-point shot from nearly half court to propel the Golden State Warriors to victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Earlier in the game, Curry had turned his ankle and looked like he would be out, but he returned with the team facing a deficit and hit the shot. This explanation led Kay to ask whether or not Breen would ever consider a triple “Bang!” variation of the call.

“No, no,” Breen said. “I was on Jalen Brunson’s and Josh Hart’s Roommates podcast and they asked me the same thing, and I told them. I said, ‘Alright, if somebody hits a game-winning shot in a Finals game, maybe that will do it,’ but I don’t know, I think that’s a little much.”

Kay recognized that the double “Bang!” calls are not planned and wondered how Breen felt about people keeping track of his calls. Breen stated that he was “concerned for mankind” that people have documented these moments on the broadcasts, but he also expressed gratitude in that viewers have found enjoyment in such instances.

“It’s so humbling and flattering that people think that it’s fun and it’s exciting because that’s basically our job as play-by-play voices,” Breen said. “When you do a game, you want to enhance the enjoyment, you want to enhance the excitement and you want to do justice to something special that a player just did ,whether it’s on the court or on the field. So when people like that and get into it, it’s incredibly flattering.”

Aside from the game-winning shot by Bridges, the Wednesday night broadcast marked the final time former shooting guard Jamal Crawford was scheduled to appear on an MSG Networks Knicks game broadcast on the season. Crawford has signed on to join NBC Sports as a game analyst starting next season when the company commences an 11-year media rights deal with the NBA. In a message posted to his Instagram page, Crawford described collaborating with Breen as akin to a young actor working with Denzel Washington or Al Pacino and that he learned a lot through the experience.

“He’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, in addition to being he has potential to be great at this,” Breen said of Crawford earlier in the interview. “He was so much fun to work with, and his basketball knowledge and the fact that he just recently played makes him, for the viewer, I’ve received so much positive feedback, but he’s just so kind with his compliments, and I’m flattered by what he said, but he’s just so good at it. I have nothing to do with it.”

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.

Vince Coglianese: Taking Over for Dan Bongino ‘The Most Unusual Exchange You’ll Ever See in Media’

BNM Staff
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Vince Coglianese: Taking Over for Dan Bongino ‘The Most Unusual Exchange You’ll Ever See in Media’

As The Dan Bongino Show comes to an end, Vince Coglianese will take over the timeslot for Westwood One. And he admits it is an unusual transition.

During Bongino’s final podcast, Coglianese joined as an introduction to his new audience. He shared that he couldn’t ‘believe I’m here and I’m so over the moon about all of this.” He then noted how unique the situation is.

“I will say this is the most unusual exchange in media that you will ever see, I promise, for the rest of your life. This is a jealous industry. This is an industry where — there’s some people who help each other out — for the most part, when a guy gets a job, usually somebody else has to lose it. That’s usually how that works.”

He added that despite the “deeply unusual” transition, he has felt nothing but love from Bongino’s audience.

“Ever since it was announced, the reaction has been completely positive, and that’s a testament to you,” Vince Coglianese said to Dan Bongino. “You said, ‘This is my guy. I like this guy. He’s going to do a good job.’ And your audience, the Bongino Army, has responded so well. It’s been unbelievable how nice this is all been. So passionate. We’re gonna do great things man and the message I keep getting is, ‘You’ve got big shoes to fill.’ Like, I know,” he concluded with a laugh.

The VINCE Show begins on Monday, in the timeslot previously occupied by Dan Bongino in the 12-3 PM ET window. The Westwood One show will air on more than 250 stations on its debut.

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ESPN to Air Selection Sunday Coverage Across Multiple Platforms

BSM Staff
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ESPN to Air Selection Sunday Coverage Across Multiple Platforms

As the beginning of March Madness approaches, ESPN will be providing several hours of multiplatform coverage on Selection Sunday breaking down the matchups taking place across the bracket. The network will be the exclusive home of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament 68-team bracket reveal at 8 p.m. EST as part of a two-hour special hosted by Elle Duncan featuring analysts Andraya Carter, Rebecca Lobo and Carolyn Peck. ESPN reporter Holly Rowe and bracketologist Charlie Creme will also be making contributions to the show as well.

After the first hour of the special program, ESPN2 will begin presenting Women’s Bracketology where the aforementioned cast will engage in comprehensive analysis and interviews. One hour later, the network will present the Men’s Bracketology program hosted by Kevin Connors with analysts Tom Crean, Jimmy Dykes, Sean Franham and Josh Pastner.

Preceding the bracket reveals, there will be an edition of College Basketball Live on ESPN featuring host Rece Davis, analysts Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams, and insider Pete Thamel. The on-air team will return for two hours live from Bridgestone Arena Plaza in Nashville, Tenn. starting at 6 p.m. EST reacting live to the men’s bracket on SportsCenter and then taking part in a Bracketology show.

A one-hour digital version of the show will be live at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and the ESPN App. Sam Ravech will host the proceedings and be joined by Myron Medcalf, Dalen Cuff, Sean Franham and Joe Lunardi. On the next day at 6 p.m. EST, a digital edition of the women’s show will feature Taylor Tannebaum, Ari Chambers, Alexa Philippou and Charlie Creme. Coverage will continue on Monday as ESPN2 airs the Tournament Challenge Marathon at 9 p.m. EST.

ESPN Radio is going to air its first women’s selection show in network history revealing the bracket live at 8 p.m. EST with Q Myers and Victoria Arlen. Three hours earlier, the men’s selection show will take the airwaves featuring Myron Medcalf and Matt Jones behind the microphones. Once both brackets are officially divulged, Jeff Borzello and Charlie Creme will reveal their instant brackets on ESPN.com. Moreover, Medcalf and Philippou will discuss what fans need to know about the teams taking part in the tournament. Joe Lunardi and Michael Voepel will also provide their thoughts on the bracket and performance of the selection committees.

The SEC Network will air a special edition of SEC Now on Sunday at 9 p.m. EST from its Charlotte, N.C. studios featuring Pete Burns, Dari Nowkhah, Ron Slay and Steffi Sorensen. Furthermore, the ACC Network will air consecutive specials from the Bristol. Conn. studios surrounding the men’s and women’s brackets titled Nothing But Net. The men’s selection special will be hosted by Taylor Tannebaum and include Joel Berry II, Carlos Boozer and Luke Hancock, while Justin Walters will host the women’s special with Kelly Gramlich, Ivory Latta and Muffet McGraw.

In addition to the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, the 32-team National Invitation Tournament bracket will also be revealed on Sunday night. Coverage will commence at 5:30 p.m. EST on ESPNU with a preview show before the bracket is revealed thereafter. ESPN platforms will be televising games within this tournament and all games in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament starting next week.

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