Home Blog Page 1116

Eric Bischoff Sees Wrestling on the Cutting Edge of Technology and Entertainment

Dave Greene
-
0
Eric Bischoff Sees Wrestling on the Cutting Edge of Technology and Entertainment

Professional wrestling has experienced a few major booms throughout its history, including the one that is happening currently. The first two peaks date all the way back to the Gorgeous George days in the 1940’s and 50’s, followed by the Golden Era of wrestling with Hulk Hogan, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage and WrestleMania in the 80’s. Wrestling would experience its next major spike in interest in the mid-1990’s and the early 2000’s during the time period where Vince McMahon’s WWE had Monday Night Raw going up directly against WCW’s Monday Nitro created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff.

During this time, which became known as the Monday Night War, Bischoff was instrumental in creating the New World Order, or nWo, which featured Hulk Hogan turning from a baby face to a heel and joining Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman in a faction that would go on to dominate the airwaves and the merchandise stands.

Monday Nitro debuted in September 1995 and starting in June 1996, the show overtook Raw in the ratings for 83 straight weeks, hence the name of Bischoff’s weekly podcast he hosts with ‘The Podfather’ Conrad Thompson.

Today, wrestling is in a place few can even believe when it comes to popularity and the amount of television time and money that is involved both in the United States and otherwise. Last January it was announced Netflix entered into a 10-year, $5 billion agreement with the WWE for the rights to WWE Raw in addition to the deals the company has with the USA Network for Smackdown. Additionally, All Elite Wrestling signed a four-year contract towards the end of 2024 believed to be worth around $170 million per year.

When asked if he is surprised by where things are today with wrestling and the television contracts, Bischoff replied, “Profoundly. So much has happened within the business of the wrestling business over the past five years, that I don’t think it’s really settled in yet just how profound some of this evolution has become. We haven’t even caught up to technology yet as a society, as a culture. Technology is evolving quicker than our ability to adapt to it and fully understand it.

“So not only is technology just moving at the speed of light, but entertainment is also changing at the same time. So, the convergence of those two realities makes everything that’s happening seem even more amazing. One of the reasons I get a kick out of it is because wrestling has always reflected the culture, sometimes in comedic, parody type ways. But also, it’s such an evolution of where we are as a culture, because entertainment really does drive culture in more ways than people realize.”

Bischoff was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021 for his “innovation behind the scenes and his memorable performance in front of the camera.” In addition to his many years within wrestling, Bischoff ran a television production company and was also involved in video game production with Jason Hervey, best known as the actor who played Fred Savage’s brother on The Wonder Years.

Bischoff said wrestling not only has an advantage as a television product but also as a live event. “I think our culture is becoming, even though we’re more technologically connected, we’ve become socially so disconnected. And there are just not that many opportunities for us to do what we’re wired to do, which is commune, watch a concert together, go to a football game together, go to a soccer game together. And the more technologically connected we become, I think the more valuable live event experience has become, because it’s the only place you can get a real connection.”

Overall, Bischoff sees wrestling today just doing what it has always done, which is draw an audience for television. Working under Ted Turner, who Bischoff called, “the Elon Musk of his day,” he saw the SuperStation use professional wrestling to build an audience for other products.

“If you read about Ted’s approach to creating the SuperStation, professional wrestling comes up early in that conversation. Ted knew then what we’re seeing today, even with Netflix, is if you have a live event product that the people relate to, you can use that to build your audience. It was Ted’s own words. One of the pillars that he built the SuperStation on was professional wrestling, partly because it’s all he could afford, and also because he knew he could build an audience from it.

“If I can get them to come watch wrestling, then I can sell them Andy and Mayberry. If I can get them to watch wrestling, I can use that to promote an old movie. And it’s the same thing Netflix is doing. They’re using the loyalty of the wrestling audience, because it’s been demonstrated over decades in the television industry. It’s amazing, but I’ve seen this movie before.”

Bischoff pointed out that before cable television, pro wrestling would get higher ratings than just about any programming in most major markets. Then, it became a staple of cable programming, followed by becoming a major player in pay-per-view events.

He added, “When digital started exploding in the 90s, and websites, what’s still to this day one of the largest websites in the world? Professional wrestling. It’s always been on the cutting edge. It’s fascinating to me.”

Since April 2018, Bischoff and Thompson have documented Bischoff’s career in wrestling each week on 83 Weeks, one of the top podcasts in the wrestling space. Bischoff has made various appearances in wrestling over that time, but mostly has been on the outside looking in. He said he does miss the creative process and would just like to see the inner workings of it today.

“I would just love to be a fly on the wall and watch the creative process because I think it’s a much more disciplined, functional process. And you can tell by the stories, they’re tighter, the attention to detail, the little nuances in the way stories are being presented, down to a certain look at a certain time and the guy in the truck knows it’s coming, the talent knows it’s coming. Those little things make all of the difference in the world, and I love watching that.”

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.

Alt 94.9 San Diego’s Jeremy Pritchard Has Been a Student of Alternative Radio His Entire Life

Charese Fruge
-
0
Alt 94.9 San Diego’s Jeremy Pritchard Has Been a Student of Alternative Radio His Entire Life

Jeremy Pritchard, Alt 94.9 (KBZT) San Diego’s Brand Manager, Afternoon Host, and Audacy’s Alternative Librarian, puts his money where his mouth is. He’s a total “music geek.” And I mean that in the best way. He also uses big words…. some I had to look up, LOL. But there is no question he has been a student of the music and the format all his life.

“I was a total radio rat growing up, and as cringey as it is, I was the kid in high school who answered, ‘I’m going into radio’ in the yearbook when they asked what are you doing next,” explains Pritchard. “As quick as I could I got an internship at my local Los Angeles/Orange County radio station KIKF-FM.” 

“Craig Powers gave me a shot doing a warmup for his Disco Saturday nights as my first on-air shift, and after that, I found myself on a collision course with Mike Halloran and my foray into programming. That brought me to KFSD San Diego, and eventually, Garett Michaels brought me to KBZT in 2003. Taking advantage of starting my radio career while I was still in college, I worked my way from Part Time Weekends and Promotions Coordinator to Brand Manager.”

It’s rare to see someone’s career develop and continue its course in one city for so long, but if there is one thing I have learned, having lived and programmed there myself, there’s a reason people in the business do not leave San Diego. They will wait years while living there to find another gig on the radio so they don’t have to leave. That’s because San Diego is paradise, and the mentality is so laid back, while the city maintains a unique progressiveness.

KBZT has always been a great example of the personality of the city. “KBZT has always been about the freedom of experimentation,” says Pritchard. “When the station launched, we were raging against the corporate rock machine, but we were always flexible.” In 2007, the signal was turned over to KPBS after they lost the ability to transmit during the Witch Fires. The station has also been the broadcast home of the Padres.”

The one thing (besides potential earthquakes) San Diegans have to deal with are fires. “It really is scary; I remember the Cedar Fire in ’03 and the Witch Creek Fire in ‘07. Much like our neighbors to the North (Los Angeles) it was a terrible shock to the community. We partnered locally with the San Diego Food Bank to collect needed items to help those affected in LA. Locally, all Audacy SD stations are pooling resources to give the community up-to-date info for what’s been popping up in SD, like the recent Border Fire and Mission Valley Fire.”

The good news for those who get to know Pritchard, whether on air or off, is that what you see and hear is what you get. “I am very much the same person whether the mic is on or off. If you run into me at the grocery store, I am still a total nerd,” he insists. “I geek out on music, the same as I do being a dad or playing Dungeons and Dragons. I try to be a conduit of positivity and musical sherpa-tude. Anytime my San Diego family tunes in, I want them to get something they can use: some cool musical knowledge, the heads up on something going down in the city, or just a laugh on how my day-to-day little life struggles mirror their own.”

As for the Alternative format, Pritchard is excited about 2025. “I think this will be a great building year! A lot of the Alt Heritage acts released music in ’24, so now we get to see the next phase from some of the acts we invested in during COVID. Seeing where some of our new stars like Cannons go next is very cool.”

“I think fans of Alternative music are really leading the charge right now. They are showing us stars like Myles Smith, Djo, Good Neighbours and Lola Young. Some of my personal favorites include Myles Smith’s ‘Wait For You,’ Djo’s ‘Basic Being Basic,’ Cannons ‘Fire for You,’ and Gig Perez’s ‘Sailor Song.’

And Pritchard believes strongly there is plenty of new music out there to keep the format growing and thriving. “Hell yeah!” he exclaims. “Social media has made it easier than ever for artists to develop a fan base beyond their local open mic nights and gigs. The social egregore has become one of the best (and worst) A&R tools out there; it’s our job to weed out what works for us as a format.”

As for some of the best collabs in the format, Pritchard starts with “James Bay, Lumineers, Noah Kahan “Up All Night.” “This is about as close to a Crosby Stills Nash & Young as this generation has ever had,” he says. “IMO the only voice it’s missing is Nathaniel Rateliff. Another is Powfu & Beabadoobee ‘Death Bed.’ Say what you want; it’s a cool and timeless fusion of two musical arts that feels eternally Alternative. And Temple of The Dog ‘Hunger Strike.’ Anytime I think of voices working together, this is the first song that comes to mind. The blending of the voices of Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder is like watching two unicorns effortlessly bring joy to the world.”

“Collabs I’d like to see… Jack White and Mk.gee, Bon Iver and Jean Dawson, 070 Shake, and Tame Impala,” says Pritchard. “Honestly, I don’t know if any of these would have any commercial success, but with all the things I listen to, I’d get excited to hear what these six artists do together.”

And as for the latest change in Nielson’s five to three minutes of straight listening for credit in PPM, Pritchard LOVES it. “It gives us more of a chance to get credit in the way listeners use the medium. If I’ve done anything, it’s to give the station a thorough check-up under the hood and ask the questions: Do the clocks still work? Am I maximizing all my quarter hours with song placement and desired sound codes? and most importantly, Am I still taking advantage of stop set positions by straddling those quarter hours? We’ll see what happens.”

Much like the San Diego mentality, “Right now, for us, it’s a slow return to normalcy,” says Pritchard. “We lost a lot when COVID hit and now we’ve had to re-learn a lot of what we took for granted, while at the same time, acknowledging the changes that it made to the everyday lives of our listeners. 2025 is a year where we are looking forward to new discovery of listening patterns and being just as seen as we are heard in the community.”

Follow Jeremy Pritchard @RadioMang on Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, and Twitch.

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: ‘Lockjock’ Gary Lockwood 1989 KJR Seattle

Jeff Lynn
-
0
Aircheck: ‘Lockjock’ Gary Lockwood 1989 KJR Seattle

In 1989, California Airchecks video recorded “Lockjock” Gary Lockwood at KJR, Seattle.

One thing that made me laugh watching this was something that is now often made fun of and considered to sound very, very dated.

It’s 8:45 – 15 before 9. Hearing a talent on one of my stations do that and using the word degrees would typically result in a stern rebuke and an eye roll.

Enjoy “Lockjock”

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.

Brian Calvert Rose From Northwest Newsradio’s First Ever Hire to Program Director

Garrett Searight
-
0
Brian Calvert Rose From Northwest Newsradio’s First Ever Hire to Program Director

Last month, Brian Calvert was named as the new Program Director for Northwest Newsradio, the Lotus Seattle all-news brand. He stepped into the shoes vacated when former leader Frank Lenzi departed the outlet to join KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM as its new News Director.

The move marked an unexpected change in his long tenure with the station. Brian Calvert was the first hire at what was then KOMO in 2002 as the brand moved to an all-news presentation.

“They plucked me over from KIRO Radio and then I helped build the team out from there,” said Calvert of his early days with the station. “We built this giant news staff and went into operation in the fall of 2002. So I’ve been with the product ever since. I’ve served in various roles, I’ve been in management, been a talent before, and coming back into management is — I guess you would call it, for lack of a better term — it’s one of those full-circle moments for me.”

Despite now holding the reins of Northwest Newsradio, Brian Calvert joked he never thought he’d hold the title of Program Director for the brand.

“Management was never the goal. Hands down, it wasn’t,” he said. “I always considered myself a storyteller. I did a lot of reporting. I anchored the news, and I thought my skill set was in writing.”

He added that becoming the station’s news director in the mid-2000s changed his perspective on holding a management title.

“That was really an eye-opening experience for me because that helped me channel a new love. I always thought the ideal newsroom manager is not the boss, so to speak, but was in the actual trenches with everybody, sits down beside them, writes along besides them and writing stories just like everybody else at the radio station.”

Brian Calvert continues to serve as the morning host — alongside Manda Factor — at Northwest Newsradio. But he still relishes the opportunity to work inside the newsroom alongside his colleagues, covering the biggest stories that the Seattle audience craves.

“When I can, I love to step out into the newsroom and sit down at a computer beside everybody else … I can’t think of a better way to lead by example. And it’s being received. There’s a fresh air in the newsroom these days that we haven’t had in a long time. There’s a lot of people smiling in the newsroom. Everybody sees the direction we’re headed. They feel this momentum, and everybody is kind of seizing this moment for us.”

While morale is up at the Lotus Seattle all-news brand, Calvert is well aware there are both challenges and opportunities ahead for the station grow.

“Our biggest opportunity, easily, is growing the staff. Our station, like many others, had to go through layoffs over the last five years. Our newsroom is fairly small for a big market, all-news radio station,” Calvert admitted. “We’d love to see those numbers grow. We’re starting to see some trending in the ratings, success is growing that way. We’re starting to sell it better from a sales perspective. And I think that our intention is always to add more newsroom staffers.

“The goal is obviously to take back some of the classic newsgathering you’d expect. That’d being said, our weakest part right now is our staffing level. When you’re trying to build something like a newsroom at a time when everybody else is laying off staffers, that is a hard task, because, as everybody knows a newsroom payroll is higher than any other format in the industry. That’s a huge ask of ownership.

“But the great news around here, ownership sees this new vision of our radio station and embraces it,” Calvert concluded. “We have a billboard campaign that kicks off this week. 75 billboards around the Puget Sound area about this go up for the next 16 weeks, with our brand new logo, and new call to action statement … Just reminding people we’re here and we’re that utility station that you can dial into and you know what to expect and when to expect 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.

The Interview: James T. Harris on 550 KFYI

Garrett Searight
-
0
The Interview: James T. Harris on 550 KFYI

James T. Harris has built a large following on social media, and has helped 550 KFYI to be one of the top-rated in a crowded marketplace in the Phoenix area.

The iHeartMedia Phoenix host helms mornings from 6-10 AM with his Conservative Circus program while also seeing fill-in work for programs like The Jesse Kelly Show.

While perusing through the news/talk genre looking for an interview segment to dissect, I came across a recent conversation Harris had with Arizona State Rep. Matt Gress (R).

The topic of conversation was the failing financial status of many Arizona public schools. To someone living 1,822 miles away from the situation, it wasn’t exactly a topic that was at the forefront of my interest. Which is exactly why I chose this conversation.

To open up the interview, Harris noted that one school district had recently given another a loan of $25 million after the State Department of Education gave it an additional $6 million to continue operations.

He then asked the Arizona representative — who is on the state’s education committee — what he called an obvious question to begin the conversation. But that’s the first thing James T. Harris got wrong. It wasn’t an obvious question. It was a fantastic question, and a great way to open up an interview.

“If our public schools are struggling financially so much, how did one district have $25 million laying around to loan to another district?” was the first query of the lawmaker.

It isn’t an obvious question. Roughly 98% of the time, I will lambast someone who asks a question not in an effort to seek answers, but rather to attempt to make a point. There is nothing I hate more than the “I’m just asking questions” mindset that prevails so frequently in the news/talk genre. And while Harris is likely attempting to make a greater point by asking this question, it’s a fair one. And while the greater point is simply inferred, he allowed the lawmaker to answer from his perspective, which is a good one to have.

The follow up question to Gress’ answer was another one from the 550 KFYI host. “How did (the school in need of nearly $30 million) get so deep in debt? How come we didn’t know about this earlier?”

The only issue with that follow-up is the double-barrelled question. The first question is a fantastic follow-up to a lawmaker. In a situation where you can deduce that taxpayer funds have been misused, Harris tries to get answers for his listeners. But he coupled it with a question that’s much more likely to be answered first and focused on, by his subject.

That’s exactly what happened. Gress answered the second question first before finally coming around to answering the first. While both are worthy questions, the more important one — in my opinion — got the somewhat shorter end of the stick.

The good interview from James T. Harris continued with a one-sentence question.

“Do we need a DOGE here for Arizona school districts?”

Music to my ears! A one-sentence question is a great tool for the rhythm and flow of an interview, but also shows a keen awareness that, in this situation, the listener is much more interested in what the state lawmaker has to say than Harris. If you’re going to give up some of your airtime to someone else, you better make them the focal point of the stardom for how long they’re on, and Harris did that here.

After re-setting the interview, Harris continued by asking “Are there other school districts that are in the same situation and short on funds?”

Another fantastic question. Information seeking, not attention seeking. He’s not trying to make the stereotypical “Democrats bad!” talking point that you’d be likely to hear on most conservative radio shows. But, instead, James T. Harris is asking logical, well-thought-out, and important questions of someone tasked with providing the answers.

The conversation with the state representative lasted just over eight minutes. But it was a masterclass. Quick questions, questions that attempted to get answers for listeners, without any anger, prejudice, or any overt attempts at politicizing an issue that isn’t overtly political.

This was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best interview I’ve heard since we began this series late last year. James T. Harris provided answers for 550 KFYI listeners like virtually nothing else I’ve listened to since we began dissecting the art of interviewing. He didn’t attempt to ask any “gotcha” questions, he didn’t spend time opining about his thoughts on the topic. Harris asked pertinent questions, got ’em on, got ’em in, and got ’em out. A fantastic display, and one I think should be used as a teaching tool for up-and-coming talents.

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.

A Refresher on How to Cover Donald Trump for News/Talk Radio Stations

Peter Thiele
-
0
A Refresher on How to Cover Donald Trump for News/Talk Radio Stations

Saturday Night Live is right! Don’t be dominated by Trump. Donald Trump is a genius of dominating the news cycle. He is out front and there is no question that he is in charge. He’s especially popular with news/talk radio hosts. Following Biden’s low key and unavailability, we are being shocked by the speed and transparency of this administration compared to the previous administration.

Here are some thoughts on how to handle the Trump 2.0 Presidency…

Trump = Trolling

He knows how to manipulate the conversation. It is an amazing skill. I don’t care if you hate or love Donald Trump, he is dumping so much content quickly.

For total transparency: I am a Conservative and love most of Trump’s policies. I am focusing on news/talk radio’s covering of this presidency.

Remember that it is all about the listener. Your mindset should be “How does this apply to your listener?” Making it real and relatable to your audience must be your first concern. The vast number of items in the news cycle makes us consider what the main topic is. It is essential to be nimble, yet prepared, to discuss the biggest story without being subject to the latest utterance by the President.

If you are a news/talk radio show host, you have 2-4 hours of radio to prepare for every day. If you’re a Program Director, you must keep your brand focused on the things that matter to your listeners. Don’t allow your show or station to be rolled by President Trump. Most commercial news/talk stations appeal to right-leaning or conservative listeners. Don’t consider that the majority of listeners are wildly MAGA. I am saying this as a man who enthusiastically voted for Trump. There is a subset of the MAGA crowd who are very outspoken and not representative of the vast majority of your listeners. Don’t focus on the rabid few. Be locked in on the majority of your audience.

It Can’t Be All Donald Trump, All the Time

During the Biden Administration, reporters and the public had very limited access to President Biden. His appearances were very tightly managed. For the Washington-based media, the schedule was very predictable. Trump is not predictable. The President will be posting to social media at any moment of any day. Trump knows that there is a 24-hour news cycle. Trump wants you to be discussing him constantly. It is a brilliant strategy and Trump’s understanding of this is unparalleled.

But don’t be a sucker. There is so much more for you to be focused on. Looking at your listener’s profile. Is there more to your station that Donald Trump and Washington hijinks? There better be. What is going on with crime in your community? What’s going on with your listener’s kids?

What about traffic? We don’t talk about traffic nearly enough. I don’t care if you are in Los Angeles or Florence, Alabama. Your listeners are complaining about the traffic.

What the heck is going on with insurance rates? I have a clean driving record but had a fender bender in 2014. My insurance rates for my car have doubled in the last few years.

What is the economic growth plan for your community or state? Your wife asked you if that dress made her butt look big and it does. How do you answer that question? How much time is too much time to allow your kid to play video games? What is your favorite video game? Is your job asking you to do too much? These are all things going on in your listener’s lives. Don’t let Trump dominate your station.

Know Your Audience

We have shows to host and stations to manage. We must be smart at managing the avalanche of information to provide our audience with a Listener-Focused Experience. I like data. When is the last time that you dug into the census information for your community? Look at data points like the average household size, average age, income, and more. You will learn that approximately 2.4 people live in the average household in your area. We often focus on people with children, which is a minority. Talk about a topic!

The biggest thing should be our focus. Just because the national media is hanging on every word of President Trump, doesn’t mean that your listeners are doing the same.

I am not saying to ignore Donald Trump. Hey, we are looking for content and Trump is easy content. Watching the reactions that many in the mainstream media are having is fun! I am personally entertained by the wringing of the hands. But I just want you to win.

Every success by news/talk radio stations is something I personally celebrate. Just know that there is more to your mission than the happenings in The White House. There is more to life than politics. Getting into the inner workings of the political news cycle is a natural temptation for many hosts. It is a trap, though. The more granular on politics and political theater that you get on your show or station the less accessible it is to your listeners.

One of the reasons that I discourage close relationships with elected officials is that most hosts cannot help becoming addicted to the access. Donald Trump’s ability to dominate the news cycle is awesome to watch. Just because President Trump utters something, it may be best to ignore it. It’s always about a Listener-Focused Experience. What’s going on with the people in your audience?

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.

Howard Eskin Announces New Podcast

BSM Staff
-
0
Howard Eskin Announces New Podcast

Howard Eskin, who spent 38 years with SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia before mutually agreeing to part ways with the station in October, announced a new podcast which he says will launch this week. Eskin took to X and recorded a video for his fans and those who may not be fans.

“I’m back!” Eskin said as the video started. “I will share with you the way I’ve shared with the public for close to four decades on radio, close to four decades on television, and talk about my perspective. I know some of you like it, some of you don’t like it, some of you don’t like me, and some of you hate me, and some of you love me, but here’s the one thing I know. Hopefully I’ve gained your respect.

“This is me relating to the public. As Allen Iverson once said, ‘I’m going to keep it real for real’. That’s what I’ve always tried to do. I will start a podcast and share with you my thoughts. We will have guests at times. Anything that you want to hear me say, for you to let me know, whether it’s on social platforms, whether it’s through this platform, contact on Twitter at Howard Eskin.

“I will be me. Honesty, whether you like it or not, is really important. Hopefully everybody out there will be a part of it.”

Eskin helped launch WIP into the sports talk format in 1986 appearing as its first voice. He then moved over with the station to the 94.1 FM frequency in 2011. In recent years, he hosted a Saturday morning show for the outlet. He was also the sideline reporter for Philadelphia Eagles football broadcasts.

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.

Nik Carter Is The New Host Of Classic Rock Show ‘Off The Record’

BMM Staff
-
0
Nik Carter Is The New Host Of Classic Rock Show ‘Off The Record’

Nik Carter, new afternoon driver for rocker KLOS, Los Angeles (BMM 1/27), will also take over the Classic Rock show, “Off the Record.”

Carter replaces Uncle Joe Benson, who has hosted the show since 1998.

Carter said, “I’m beyond excited to bring my love of Classic Rock to ‘Off the Record.’ We’ve got a ton of amazing stories coming your way, and I can’t wait to share them with rock fans all over the country.”

Guest that have appeared on “Off The Record include The Rolling Stones, The Who, Tom Petty, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton.

KLOS will serve as the flagship station for the Compass Media distributed show.

The new show will debut on February 8.

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.

Roku Channel Announces New Women’s Sports Studio Show Hosted by Renee Montgomery, Sarah Tiana and Suzy Shuster

BSM Staff
-
0
Roku Channel Announces New Women’s Sports Studio Show Hosted by Renee Montgomery, Sarah Tiana and Suzy Shuster

Roku is jumping on the women’s sports train by announcing a new women’s sports-themed show. “Women’s Sports Now” will be hosted by former WNBA star and current co-owner of the Atlanta Dream Renee Montgomery, comedian Sarah Tiana, and veteran sports reporter Suzy Shuster, who will also executive produce the program. The show is a joint production between Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Rich Eisen Productions.

“I have an 11-year-old hooper who plays in three leagues, who wears a Caitlin Clark t-shirt every day of her life, and was Caitlin for Halloween, complete with a braid down to her waist with eyeballs in the back of her braid, because she said ‘Caitlin’s got eyeballs in the back of her head,” Shuster says. “And what I realized is there’s just no way for my daughter to see herself on television, except for rare opportunities pre- and post-WNBA games, NCAA games, some assorted programming. I wanted to create a show that she could see herself in.”

The show will examine the gamut of women’s sports, including professional and collegiate sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, and more. Roku is excited to join the foray and tap into an audience that it feels is “underserved.” 

“We want to reach an audience that is looking for the voice that the show is going to bring,” says Joe Franzetta, Roku’s head of sports. “We know it’s out there, and I think it rounds out our offering in many ways, in terms of the sports talk offering that we have. And we know sports talk does well on our platform. We think that this show is going to bring a unique perspective to that overall conversation.”

The show will pull from traditional studio shows with highlights and clips, combined with studio segments, guests, and banter between the hosts.

“If there’s a headline or a trending topic that’s happening in women’s sports, you can assume that we’re going to be covering it in some way, shape or form,” Montgomery says, adding that they wabnt to make the program as accessible as possible. “I think the the thing that this show is that’s most appealing about it is that it’ll be relatable to any level of sports fan, you don’t need to know a player’s name or stats or any of those details to come enjoy the show, because the show is going to be entertaining, it’s going to be fun.”

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.

Paramount Signs Multi-Year Deal with Nielsen

BNM Staff
-
0
Paramount Signs Multi-Year Deal with Nielsen

After a long standoff, Paramount Global has inked a new multi-year deal with Nielsen to resume audience, data, and analytics measurement for its television properties.

“We are thrilled to resume our partnership with Paramount, as their leaders continue to build one of the strongest brands in entertainment,” said Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao. “Our trusted data shows how Paramount’s content and advertising strategy is thriving across every platform, across all ages and demos. As Paramount continues its evolution into a next-generation media company, we’re proud to play a critical role and know this deal will be a win for everyone: Nielsen, Paramount, and all of our joint advertising partners.”

“Paramount and Nielsen are committed to addressing Television’s multiplatform future to the benefit of all of our stakeholders. Karthik and his team continue to meet the needs of our marketplace across all our platforms, and we are incredibly pleased to reinforce and reinvigorate our deal with our longtime partner,” added CBS President and CEO and Paramount Global Co-CEO George Cheeks. “Paramount Global’s ratings wins reported today are just one of many successes we look forward to with Nielsen as we build upon this new future together.”

The new deal comes as advertising upfronts are on the horizon. Paramount and Nielsen had been at an impasse for four months as the two sides aimed to strike a deal.

The television giant was in a position where it would be unable to cite Nielsen viewership totals for its major live events that aired on CBS, like the NFL Playoffs and Golden Globes, when it pitched advertisers.

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.

1...1,1151,1161,117...2,896Page 1,116 of 2,896