ESPN Radio is making its return to the Tampa Market. iHeartMedia’s WDAE dropped the network at the end of 2024. NIA Broadcasting and owner Neal Ardman has now made an arrangement with ESPN and has placed the programming on 1150 WTMP Egypt Lake and translators 92.9 W225CQ Tampa and 102.1 W271DL Egypt Lake/St. Petersburg FL. It had previously aired Rhythmic Oldies.
The station posted the flip on their Facebook page and said, “As of noon today we are the new home for ESPN RADIO in Tampa Bay.”
The station signed on the air in 1954 and aired programming for Tampa’s African-American community with a mix of R&B, urban gospel, talk and news.
After 57-years in that format, the station flipped to a Spanish Tropical music format.
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Nickelodeon’s NFL Slimetime will host a half-hour special highlighting some of the best African-American quarterbacks in NFL history. Hosted by typical Slimetime host Young Dylan, NFL Slimetime Presents Nickelodeon’s Game Changers will highlight modern and classic Black quarterbacks that revolutionized the game, like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham, and more.
Through exclusive interviews, archival footage, and behind-the-scenes moments, the show will celebrate the players who are now writing history and honor the trailblazers who have paved the way for future generations.
The Sports Emmy Award-nominated weekly NFL series, NFL Slimetime, will debut the final episode of its fourth season on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, and be available to stream the next day on Paramount+, with a recap of Super Bowl LIX–complete with Slimelights, post-game interviews on the field and the awarding of the Super Bowl LIX NVP.
Hosted by CBS analyst and former NFL standout Nate Burleson and Nick star Young Dylan (Dylan Gilmer, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan), NFL Slimetime features Nick-ified highlights, expert advice and special guest appearances for kids and families to enjoy together. During the off-season, NFL Slimetime will continue to invite football fans of all ages to experience the fun of the sport through original digital content.
NFL Slimetime Presents Nickelodeon’s Game Changers is produced by Nickelodeon in association with the NFL. Production for Nickelodeon is overseen by Ashley Kaplan, executive vice president of Nickelodeon unscripted & digital studio; Paul J Medford, vice president of unscripted – current series; Luke Wahl, vice president of unscripted creative; and Jana Blumenthal, vice president of production.
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This Valentine’s Day, K-Earth 101 KRTH Los Angeles is showing the love for first responders who battled with Los Angeles wildfires last month.
On February 14, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PT, listeners are invited to participate in the “Buy Breakfast for a Firefighter” initiative at HomeState, a Pasadena restaurant that withstood a recent fire.
This event aims to express gratitude to local first responders by treating them to breakfast. Morning show hosts Gary Bryan and Lisa Stanley will broadcast live from the location.
“We are deeply grateful for the brave first responders who tirelessly worked to combat the fires and safeguard our community,” said Jeff Federman, Regional President of Audacy Southern California. “This Valentine’s Day, we’re excited to unite with our fellow community members and HomeState to honor these heroes’ unwavering resilience and sacrifice.”
“We’re in the middle of so much of the impacted area near Altadena, right on the corner of Altadena and Pasadena where homes as close as two blocks from here were unfortunately lost in the fires,” said Andy Valdez, Director of Marketing, HomeState. “We’re so excited to open our doors to the community once again and show some love that they need right now. Nothing says love like tacos and warm hospitality.”
More information about “Buy Breakfast for a Firefighter” is available here.
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Howard Eskin is back with a new YouTube show and a high-profile first guest. The former WIP host released the first episode of The Howard Eskin Showto his YouTube page, where he spoke with former Philadelphia 76er and Inside the NBA host Charles Barkley. Eskin said in his opening monologue that the purpose of this show was to reconnect with his audience and talk sports.
“[The podcast] is a way to reconnect with you,” Eskin said. “Because there’s so many things to talk about, there’s so many things you want to talk to me about, and it’s such a great opportunity. I told you there’d be another chapter — there is another chapter.”
Following his brief monologue, Eskin jumped into the current state of Philadelphia sports, most notably the Philadelphia Eagles’ impending Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. He quickly got to Charles Barkley, who joined him live and responded to seeing the longtime Philadelphia sports voice as only he could.
“How’d you get a podcast?” Barkley exclaimed when given his first opportunity to speak. “They must be desperate.” Eskin laughed off the remark and said, “I bribed somebody, and desperation is good sometimes.” The faux animosity quickly turned into a measure of respect, with Barkley giving Eskin his flowers and being appreciative of their friendship.
“You were one of the few reporters who had the guts to say stuff on radio and TV, and actually come in the locker room,” Barkley said. “You’ve criticized me — sometimes I thought I deserved it, sometimes I thought you were full of s—…but you’ve been a great friend for a long time, your work ethic is ridiculous, you earn your keep. I have to give you your flowers for that.” The duo spent over an hour reminiscing, talking about the current state of the NBA, and more.
Eskin’s return comes after a “parting of ways” with WIP following an “unwanted sexual advance” made towards a female Aramark employee. He did not address the situation on the first episode of his show. Eskin announced he would try to do three shows per week, including his customary 8 am EST Saturday timeslot.
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After 17 years of hosting Andrea Mitchell Reports, the longtime MSNBC host signed off from her program for the final time on Friday afternoon.
On Friday afternoon, Mitchell helmed her last program, which included a visit with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, who shared her appreciation for the television trailblazer.
In her final program, Mitchell — who announced she would exit last year — shared that she’s excited to continue her work at NBC News as Chief Washington and Chief Foreign Policy Correspondent, where she began her career 47 years ago.
“This hour has always been driven by what I love most: deep reporting on politics and foreign policy,” said Mitchell. “As I announced last October, in these challenging times, I want to get back to my roots and learn more about your lives and tell your stories as we face tectonic changes in our nation and our world.”
Andrea Mitchell added that she delighted in helping so many different people begin their news media careers during her run at MSNBC.
“Above all, I’m proudest of the young journalists who appeared first on our program and are now among our top correspondents,” she said. “Especially the women, from print and broadcast, who are now regulars on all the networks but got their first breaks right here. And I’m grateful to my fellow correspondents at NBC News, this incredible team who brought their great reporting to this program day after day right here in Washington, from all over the world.
“Finally, television news is a team sport. I will be forever grateful to Phil Griffin and Yvette Miley who launched the show, and Rashida Jones for her constant support over many years … Journalism is an enormous privilege and a responsibility. It’s never been more important to do it. Well, that’s my vow as I continue on this journey.”
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Last year’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers ended with a thrilling overtime finish, delivering an estimated 123.7 million viewers on CBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, Univision and digital properties owned by CBS Sports and the NFL. Measurements for the game provided from Nielsen Media Research and Adobe Analytics tabbed the matchup as the highest average viewership for a Super Bowl in league history. The game also earned the distinction as the most-watched program ever recorded in U.S. television.
Super Bowl LIX featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will be televised this year on FOX, Telemundo and FOX Deportes, while also being available across NFL digital properties with unauthenticated access on digital devices. Moreover, the game will be simulcast in 4K resolution on Tubi, the free ad-supported streaming service owned by the Fox Corporation. The game also occurs shortly after Nielsen Media Research announced that its out-of-home measurement covers 100% of the U.S. contiguous television population, up from 66% in the previous year.
The broadcast booth this year features Kevin Burkardt alongside Tom Brady, who is making his Super Bowl broadcasting debut. In addition to the game, there will also be a halftime performance from award-winning rap artist Kendrick Lamar. This past week on Media Row, Barrett Media spoke with media executives and personalities to discuss the potential average viewership for the Big Game. While the exact predictions surrounding average viewership were optimistic, interviewees offered varying reasoning for their prognostications.
Stephen A. Smith – ESPN, Straight Shooter Media
“I think it’ll be relatively the same. People are complaining that there’s an absence of interest because you’ve got two predictable teams that are there. I don’t agree with that. I think the Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. I think it’s established itself as the preeminent event in North American sports, and I think that everybody will watch. And so I assume that that number will be the same. I also believe that what may contribute to the number is Kendrick Lamar and his halftime performance. I think that that’s going to have, albeit a slight impact, nevertheless a positive impact, on what ultimately the viewership will be.”
Prediction: Around 123-125 million viewers
Justin Craig – ESPN
“I hadn’t even given it consideration. It’s got to be bigger — it has to be — I mean, just naturally. The numbers just keep going up every single year; every single game the numbers keep growing, so I would assume it’s going up.”
Prediction: 131.2 million viewers
Dianna Russini – The Athletic
“Definitely higher this year. I think let’s just start with what we all know everyone is tuning for. They want to see Taylor again. I don’t think people are exhausted by it yet, but just the fact that history could be made with the Chiefs going for the three-peat, something that we’ve never seen before obviously with that star power. And just the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s such a big market and they are such a talented team. It just feels big, and maybe because it’s in New Orleans too.”
Prediction: 125 million viewers
Christopher ‘Mad Dog’ Russo – SiriusXM, ESPN
“Taylor Swift — that’s worn itself out a little bit. Last year, the game went to overtime, which adds a lot of viewers. You can’t expect that again. FOX you get a little less with the rating on FOX that you would on CBS or NBC. I would say a little less than 123.”
Prediction: 110-112 million viewers
Dan Patrick – FOX Sports Radio, Peacock
“I don’t make predictions on how many are watching, but it usually goes up every single year. I don’t know if it factors in with Chiefs fatigue or that we’ve seen this matchup two years ago, but it’s still the only game, and it feels like there’s more and more football fans, Taylor Swift fans will be watching the Super Bowl, so I would expect it to exceed what it was last year.”
Sam Farber – Yahoo Sports
“I’m going to guess higher, though I think there’s a little bit of fatigue. I think you see that in the secondary ticket price and some of these other underlying metrics where it’s two fanbases that have been there recently who have seen their team. But look, at the end of the day, you’ve got the Chiefs going for a three-peat, which has never been done before, and you have Pat Mahomes, the best player in the league. You also have the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce angle, and the Eagles obviously have a huge fanbase and a star-studded roster. I’m going to take the over on that.”
Prediction: 135 million viewers
Caroline Fenton – Yahoo Sports
“If I see it going anywhere, I would see it just going a smidge lower, and I think that’s kind of the trend that we’re seeing with all datapoints with the Super Bowl. The ticket prices this year are down 30% from what they were just a couple of weeks ago. Frankly, I think people are just tired of seeing the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, they’re tired of seeing the Eagles. It’s the same matchup that we saw two [years] ago. It’s still the Super Bowl — people are still going to watch — but I think people have just a little bit of Chiefs fatigue.”
Prediction: 120 million viewers
Richelle Markazene – Omaha Productions
“I’m going to go with my gut. I’m just going to say higher. You have the Taylor Swift effect again. I’m going to go higher.”
Prediction: 124 million viewers
Parker Hillis – SportsRadio 610
“I think it’s going to be higher. I know there’s been a lot of frustration from fans that we’re going to get to see a game we saw two years ago, but look, the game’s growing. We all know the game’s growing [with] more platforms than ever before. It would be virtually impossible for it to be lower in number than it was last year.”
Prediction: 135 million viewers
Mina Kimes – ESPN, Omaha Productions
“Given the matchup, I actually could see it going up because this is a pretty ideal matchup for the NFL from a viewership perspective.”
Prediction: Perhaps 125 million viewers
Don Martin – iHeartMedia, FOX Sports Radio
“It’ll definitely be higher. It’s going to be higher for a couple of reasons in my mind. (A) it’s a rematch. The last time they played was a stunning game, so you’re going to get that. The second piece of the puzzle is everybody talks about the Taylor thing last year. This three-peat thing that has never, ever happened will get everybody going, and remember Taylor’s still there, so you’re going to still get the female audience as well. The difference this year for me too is because we just came through an election cycle, every TV set will be on this Super Bowl, whether it’s the pregame, the halftime or the in-game. Look at everything else in the world of sports. Everything is setting records right now — this will too.”
Prediction: 126 million viewers
Katie Mox – CBS Sports
“I see it going a little bit lower. When you think about the franchises that were in the last Super Bowl, I am biased because I am a 49ers fan, but that is one of the premier franchises in the NFL. They’ve got not just fans in one place like I feel like Philadelphia is — they’ve got global fans. So I feel like it’s going to be under last year, and I work for CBS and I don’t want FOX to get more.”
Prediction: 121.9 million viewers
Q Myers – ESPN, Las Vegas Sports Network
“Chiefs-Eagles part two. I think you got to go a little higher.”
Prediction: 132 million viewers
Jane Slater – NFL Media
“Absolutely higher. You’ve got two incredible teams. I just got done talking to Vic Fangio, and he just talked about the excitement and the challenge of facing a guy like Patrick Mahomes, who this is a guy you can’t beat in one way, and so I think seeing Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, the future of the game, I think you’re going to see huge numbers, and Kendrick Lamar just winning a Grammy.”
“I think people are familiar with these two teams. These are the teams nobody really wanted, but we all knew the Chiefs were going to get here. They have that sort of separate fanbase because of the Swifties, and the Eagles are a team I think that’s really easy to root for, and they have a star in Saquon Barkley, who makes this team very different than they were two years ago.”
Prediction: 125.5 million viewers
Lucy Rohden – Meadowlark Media
“I kind of think it will stay the same. The Taylor Swift effect has already sort of taken its place — I don’t think that’s going to grow more than it’s already grown. I think the fact that it’s not entirely the Kelce bowl doesn’t help its case as much. I mean, a lot of people are going to watch the Super Bowl. Obviously I think it’s the two best teams, so I’m not disappointed with the matchup, but I’m kind of desperate for something new, and so I think everyone is sort of in the same boat where we’re like, ‘Okay, great. The Chiefs another year,’ so I think it’s going to lose a little bit of its pizazz and flair, but I don’t think that nobody’s going to watch. That’s my hot take. I think that people will watch the Super Bowl.”
Additional Predictions:
Beau Wegmann, 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge: 130 million viewers
Matt Moscona, 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge: 125.3 million viewers
Nyshon Zaragoza, ESPN Las Vegas: 141.3 million viewers
Jered Justus – ESPN Las Vegas: 137.9 million viewers
Michael Samtur – Infinity Sports Network: 121 million viewers
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“It was kind of a surprise to me. Given the market size and everything, I figured I’d be on there. I was like, wow, okay, I’ll take it. I was happy to see the morning show and Bob Stroud do so well. Because without those guys, I don’t exist.”
The Drive is made up of market veterans, with Sherman and Tingle leading the way in the morning drive.
“These guys do a very good job of keeping their finger on the pulse of the market, extremely local, very funny. And just are a great piece of the radio station. They are ready, willing, and able to do pretty much what’s ever asked of them. They’re very often the first people in the building and the last people to leave. They’re the hardest working show that you’re going to see. Really dedicated to their craft and to their quest for great ratings and making us number one.”
Photo: WDRV Website
Hastings joined the station three years ago, and I asked how he approached a station made up of market veterans, one that was already successful and didn’t need a rebuild.
“I would argue that it’s always a rebuilding project. Because with legacy radio stations and a Classic Rock format, you’re always challenged with the ability to keep the format and the brand relevant to an audience that advertisers seek.”
“It’s no secret that Classic Rock has those challenges. And so I really just looked at it from day one as how am I going to do that with this fantastic brand? While still being very respectful of the brand and very respectful of the brand’s place in the market and the brand’s place in the hearts of the upper demos.”
Hastings said that the station’s listeners have no problem making their voices known if he does something they don’t like.
“This is a radio station with very rabid P1s. They very much feel a stake of ownership in the brand. And I’m very lucky to have that. If you make any adjustments that ruffle their feathers, they are right there to let you know. And that’s a great thing. It also pressures a programmer to know when to make the right judgment calls to continue to develop the radio station so that it’s relevant in another year, three years, five years, or 10 years. It’s always a moving target.”
Part of keeping Classic Rock relevant is introducing and including 90s titles. Making them sonically fit can be tricky.
“That was one of the big things that I just embraced coming in here, having worked in all rock formats, alternative, mainstream, active and classic. Then, talking to the audience and figuring out what songs work and what songs work together.”
“Then, think through it carefully, surround it with the right imagery, and have the courage and strength to move forward with it. Because, especially with a legacy brand with a lot of upper-end P1s, they’ll let you know when they don’t like something. Like I said before, not all of them like it. But in this day and age, it’s foolish for a Classic Rock station that wants to exist in a meaningful way in the next decade to ignore 90s music.”
Classic Rock is still a format where regionality can come into play, with great midwestern bands like Styx, Cheap Trick, and REO Speedwagon holding a special place in the listener’s heart.
“Most of my programming career has been in the Midwest. And so I didn’t have to do a lot of homework coming in here. Plus, it’s just the market of Chicago. There are certain bands and certain acts that you can play the label from and people will love it.”
“It goes deeper for the Drive brand because we’ve got legacy air staff members who were here when the stuff was brand new. They can tell you what the turntable hits are and about the stuff that may have been top ten elsewhere but didn’t necessarily catch on here. Those aren’t things you can pick up necessarily in a research project. So, it’s very valuable.”
Regarding AI, Hastings says they are moving carefully.
“We’re being cautious and careful and taking steps probably slower than some would think we are. And yet, it’s so just pervasive in the world that to ignore it really doesn’t make sense. We find where we can apply it internally from an operational standpoint, and it saves us time but does not degrade the product in any way, shape, or form. We’re on board with that.”
I asked what he sees as the skill set needed to be a great Program Director.
“It’s almost cliche to say that the job has changed so much, but it really has. And you still have to have all of those basics. But you also have to really have a sense of wonder and a sense of curiosity to be able to look at things completely differently.”
“I’m working with some podcasters within our company. And I very much take the attitude that I can learn as much from them as they can learn from me. I take the attitude that I don’t know what I don’t know sometimes because I’m always learning.”
“I’m always growing. I’m always looking to the future and looking towards growth. I think that’s such a huge part of being a programmer right now. But I also don’t and have never believed that you can do those things while ignoring the basics. You still have to know where to play the hits. You still have to know how to build a clock.”
And for Hastings, knowing the personality of your staff plays a big part in it.
“Knowing your team and knowing your players and knowing that each person on your staff reacts differently and requires different care and handling. I think management of creative and driven people, knowing how to do that with a sometimes soft touch and sometimes hard touch. You have to develop that over the course of your career, especially when you’re first starting out, because usually in these situations, and I know this was the case for me, I didn’t become a programmer because I was a great manager. I became a programmer because, at age 24, I was the guy who was never late, showed up on time, and worked hard. So, a lot of the learning is on the fly.”
Not surprisingly, landing at The Drive is a dream come true for Hastings.
“I’ve had such a wonderful, amazing career. It’s really an honor to have wound up here. It’s a dream come true. It’s where I want to be. I’m doing what I want to do. I’m doing it for a wonderful company in Hubbard.”
“I cannot say enough good things about Hubbard Broadcasting, both on a corporate staff level and a local level. If I did not have them and a really wonderful team, most of whom were here when I walked into the building, then you’re not talking to me today because I’m not on this list.”
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Tom Brady will be calling Super Bowl LIX as he concludes his first season as the lead analyst for FOX Sports coverage of the NFL. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion during his career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signed a reported 10-year, $375 million with FOX to join the broadcasts and has been the subject of scrutiny and criticism throughout his rookie campaign behind the microphone. For the Super Bowl broadcast, which follows the year after CBS Sports attained an all-time viewership record for the contest, he will be joined by play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi. The team has had a busy week involving attending meetings, watching team practices and conducting interviews ahead of kickoff.
Andrews is also the founder of Wear by Erin Andrews, a sportswear collection that creates officially licensed gear for sports teams available for consumers to purchase. The line opened a pop-up store in New Orleans, which is where Sports Illustrated host Claudette Montana asked Andrews what it has been like to work with Brady. Prior to having Brady as her colleague, she had interviewed him in the past and considered him to be a good friend.
“I think one of the coolest things about being with him is that he’s the G.OA.T., right?,” Andrews said. “He knows everything that happens on the field, but this has been a big learning experience for him with our crew, and it’s cool to see it through his eyes, and it’s kind of crazy to sit there and we’re in production meetings, and he tells us stories and he tells it from his perspective, and all of us try to help him. And we’ll say, ‘You should say that on air. That’s a really good thing to say,’ and he’ll be like, ‘Thanks!,’ and you’re like, ‘I’m helping the G.O.A.T.’ It’s a cool pinch-me moment.”
Throughout the week, Andrews is trying to maintain her focus on preparing for the game while also recognizing the pomp and circumstance of the Super Bowl. There are many distractions taking place around New Orleans, events that risk deviating her standard process to ensure she is ready for the broadcast. Throughout the week, she has attended practices and also conducted a sit-down interview with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Anticipating the busy schedule, Andrews conveyed that she completed some of her preparation work last week.
“It’s sprinkled in,” Andrews said. “While the girls are putting my extensions in and my eyelashes on, I’m sitting there reading what Patrick Mahomes said at Media Day [on Monday], so it’s a lot. Once you get here, there’s a lot going on, but you have to remember the game is why we’re here, so you have to make sure you study.”
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NewsNation host Dan Abrams signed off from his nightly primetime program Thursday for the final time.
Dan Abrams Live had been a part of the NewsNation lineup since its move to cable news in 2021. In December, Abrams revealed he would step away from the show. The network has since announced that Leland Vittert will move into the timeslot previously occupied by Dan Abrams Live.
During the final episode, Abrams shared with viewers what his plans are and the reasoning behind his exit.
“As much as I love this show and the mission of this network, I just can’t continue to give this show the attention it needs and deserves with all of my other professional commitments,” admitted Abrams. “But I don’t want to get too nostalgic or sappy because this is definitely not goodbye. In fact, it’s not even goodbye from NewsNation. I’m working with them on a possible weekly show concept, but — regardless if that works out — I intend to still be a part of the NewsNation family.”
Abrams concluded by stating he’ll miss plenty of things about the nightly program.
“I will miss this show. I’ll miss chatting on-air with my old pal Chris Cuomo, who’s doing such a smart, interesting show every night … Most importantly, thanks to all of you for watching and engaging with us. Your comments and feedback always helped guide the direction of the show. Your desire for fair analysis helped motivate us — and even if you didn’t always agree, you knew that I wasn’t cheerleading for one side or the other and you knew we always wanted to hear the other side.”
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Stephen A. Smith, the featured commentator and executive producer of First Take on ESPN, has been in New Orleans at Super Bowl week appearing on the morning program while also hosting his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, through his company Straight Shooter Media. Yet earlier in the week, a poll demonstrated that some voters could have interest in Smith potentially pursuing a career in politics.
During a recent appearance on the live show edition of Nightcap from the Big Easy, co-host and Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe asked Smith what inspired him to branch out and begin talking about politics. Moreover, Sharpe conveyed a similar desire to begin having discussions about issues in the space down the road. Smith appeared on stage alongside Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Deion Sanders on Thursday night.
“I’ve been this way all my life,” Smith said. “I was neutralized to some degree by my employers – first The Philadelphia Inquirer, then CNN, then FOX Sports, then ESPN. They wanted us, the industry itself, and I’ve talked to you about this personally Shannon. I told you the beauty of athletes, the greatness of all three of y’all, the thing that you know but you can’t fully appreciate because you’ve never been constricted to that level is that y’all have a level of freedom and independence that less-talented individuals like myself that had to go through the maze of corporate America has to experience, and so it comes with restrictions.”
The discussion took place as Smith is in the midst of finalizing a new contract with ESPN, negotiations that have drawn interest and intrigue around the sports media business. Earlier in the week, Smith confirmed to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports that the two sides had agreed on the money but were still working out how to balance his contractual obligations with other independent ventures. In addition to his podcast, Smith has also explored non-scripted content and released an ESPN+ original series documenting the history of debate-style television. The company was previously known as Mr. SAS Productions, but it was renamed to Straight Shooter Media in early August, the same title as his best-selling memoir.
Smith acknowledged that navigating the corporate labyrinth has restrictions that do not allow employees to do everything they want. Yet he outlined that people did not realize that while he loves sports, he views watching a presidential debate akin to a Super Bowl championship game. Smith added that he considers his discussions to be premised in social commentary rather than politics, divulging that there are real-life issues he continues to hold that he experienced growing up in Hollis, Queens. Part of the inspiration to create a platform to engage in these discussions came from seeing the rise of Shay Shay Media with podcasts such as Nightcap and Club Shay Shay.
“I said, ‘Hold on – you’ve been holding me back, holding me back, holding me back, but these other fellas got their own platform,’” Smith recalled. “‘Well, I got my own now. I own and operate it 100% What’s the problem?,’ and they were like, ‘We can’t say anything,’ and so when I went there and did it, they were like, ‘Wait a minute now. You’re doing sports – that’s us – so we can’t stop you from doing it, but we’ll be damned if you’re going to just have a sports show, and this should be for us.’
“I said, ‘I don’t want a sports show,’ and when I told them pop culture and entertainment and politics, they were like, ‘Go ahead,’ because nobody thought that I would resonate because they didn’t know.”
Once Smith discerned that people began to realize his impact and passion for the genre, he articulated that he was coming and looked to resonate and make a difference in the community. In addition to his sports content, he has also appeared on programs alongside political hosts and pundits such as Chris Cuomo, Rachel Maddow and Sean Hannity among others. Smith also guest-starred on Real Time with Bill Maher and The View where he has exhibited his perspectives and insights surrounding a variety of issues.
“I’m like, ‘This ain’t new. This has always been me,’” Smith said. “If you think about the conversations we’ve had off the air – think about the things we’ve talked about, think about the things I’ve shared with all three of y’all at one point in time or another, and all of y’all have espoused words of wisdom on me and I’m always appreciative of that – but I’m an independent thinker and I’ve got my own mind. I use other people to edify me, to educate me, but when I know the issues, I ain’t scared of a damn thing. If I know my facts, I’m going to roar, and that’s what I’m doing.”
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