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Michael Cole is Ushering in a New Generation of WWE with ‘Monday Night Raw’ on Netflix

Derek Futterman
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Michael Cole is Ushering in a New Generation of WWE with ‘Monday Night Raw’ on Netflix

For the first time in its storied history, WWE has entered into a deal with Netflix to present Monday Night Raw exclusively on the streaming platform. Michael Cole, the longtime voice of World Wrestling Entertainment, recently was in Los Angeles to meet with Netflix executives. Cole came away impressed, and convinced that the company is 100% invested in their groundbreaking partnership.

The agreement, which is reportedly for 10 years and $5 billion, expands the global reach of the professional wrestling promotion and provides a new ability to connect with and retain its audience. Cole has been part of WWE broadcasts across different platforms for the past 28 years, but recognizes the importance of what’s about to transpire.

“I think what’s about to happen on Monday changes the game completely for everybody, not only for our company and our product, but I just think for broadcasting live television shows in general,” Cole said. “Netflix has had success with the Tyson fight and then did very well with the NFL games on Christmas Day, but we’re bringing a weekly live television show to them. Monday Night Raw, the longest-running episodic television show in history, and 52 weeks a year, live. It’s amazing to be able to team up with a company that globally leads the world in entertainment streaming.”

According to its latest quarterly earnings report, Netflix has approximately 282.7 million global paid subscribers. The platform recently presented a doubleheader of Christmas Day NFL games that attained an average minute audience of more than 30 million global viewers with improved overall performance. While Cole understands that some people are concerned about watching on Netflix, he feels that the issues the platform first encountered during the Tyson-Paul fight have been corrected. He’s confident that everything will run smoothly.

“I think this is going to be groundbreaking, it’s trailblazing,” Cole said. “I think there’s going to be bumps along the road, but I think we’re going to iron it out pretty quickly and we’re going to be ready to roll.”

There won’t be a preset run time for episodes of Monday Night Raw on Netflix, eliminating the need to hasten certain parts of the show. Over the last 19 years the show has aired on USA Network, there were constraints surrounding built-in commercial breaks that needed to run for a set duration.

“I think we’re going to have enough time to be able to develop our stories to the best of the ability,” Cole said. “There’s no rush to get through things. If we need a couple extra minutes in a certain match or segment, we’re going to be able to provide that for our audience, and they’re not going to feel like they missed out on something.”

Cole said the program could last for an hour or three hours, emphasizing that it depends on what is written into the show every week. On top of that, he is optimistic that WWE superstars will be able to branch out, conveying that Netflix probably has interest in talent to do things along the platform aside from Monday Night Raw. As viewers tune in for the premiere episode on Monday night, they can expect to see a lineup filled with champions and newcomers, some of whom include Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Liv Morgan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena.

“I think it’s going to be a huge opportunity for us, and it’s also a huge opportunity for the world who may not have sampled our product before or who may have watched back in the ‘80s and ‘90s when it was, ‘Your dad’s wrestling show,’ that we’re different now,” Cole said. “We’re sports entertainment, we’re episodic television. It’s a lot different than it was 30 years ago, so hopefully we bring in some lapsed viewers and people start to watch the product and gain a better appreciation for what we do.”

Paul Levesque, WWE’s Chief Content Officer has worked with Cole and those across the company to create an entertaining television product. Before Levesque took the reins, Cole communicated frequently with WWE’s longtime owner Vince McMahon. Cole believes that McMahon helped him grow as an announcer and taught him everything about the business, but he expressed that Levesque understands that WWE has an All-Star team working on the property.

“I rarely hear from him in my headset,” Cole said. “When I do hear from him, I know it’s very important and I need to get in the point that he’s having me make, but he lets me do my job. Knowing that you can be free and say certain things, and you can have fun and loosen up without having in the back of your mind that you might get yelled at in 5 or 10 minutes is really important for us. That has allowed us to grow.”

Lee Fitting, a former executive at ESPN who oversaw NFL and college sports broadcast properties, including College GameDay, joined WWE in January. Fitting was hired as the company’s head of media and production, implementing more aspects of sports coverage in its presentation through kickoff shows, camera angles and arrival footage. Cole added that Fitting has changed the perception around commentators, stating that WWE announcers would sometimes “get lost in the shuffle.” He understands, however, that it is the superstars who are stepping into the ring and risking their health and wellbeing.

“We’re not out there putting our bodies on the line each and every week for our audience,” Cole said. “We’re not selling tickets. The superstars are doing that, but Lee has positioned us as commentators now to be thought of differently and in a different light than we ever have in the past because, obviously, we are an important part of the product.”

Cole has built a strong relationship with the fans by being a master storyteller, narrator and salesperson. He’s recently used more historical references on the broadcast, even acknowledging other wrestling companies, something that was previously prohibited. Contextualizing different wrestlers and tag teams and understanding that professional wrestling spans beyond WWE is something Cole has divulged to viewers. Despite professing that WWE is the biggest promotion in the industry, he also tries to make it clear that personnel usually do more beyond the company.

“It’s important to let people know that our guys don’t just operate in a bubble, that they’re doing a lot of other things outside of just wrestling in a WWE ring,” Cole said, “and it’s very important to explain that to people so they know, ‘Oh my God, these guys are everywhere.’”

Cole refers to the current time as the “Triple H era” and considers the team to be his family, sometimes seeing them more than his wife and children. At the same time, Cole also understands that WWE president Nick Khan has been key in leveraging growth and expanding the impact of the property.

“I knew Nick a long time before he started here, and then obviously since Nick has taken over, he’s been nothing but great to me,” Cole said. “He has an unbelievable vision for this company, and is unmatched when it comes to negotiating television rights and sponsorship deals.”

With Khan and Levesque leading WWE throughout the last several years, there have been a variety of new hires among executives and on-air talent. While working more closely with WWE NXT, Cole recommended that the company talk to Pat McAfee, a former punter for the Indianapolis Colts who, at the time, was working for Barstool Sports. Cole first met McAfee at an event, and he communicated his interest in the business and aspirations to be part of it. As he demonstrated his skillset, McAfee earned roles within WWE and was added to the commentary team for Friday Night Smackdown. McAfee will now make his return to work with Cole again on Monday Night Raw.

“I’ve never had the chemistry I’ve had with Pat McAfee. We just hit it off from Day 1 and we continue to do it today, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to have him back, and how excited he is to be back,” Cole said. “He has been dying for this day for four months, and he’s finally going to get it, and he’s so excited to be a part of it.”

Even though events that take place on the show are scripted beforehand, Cole understands the importance of eliciting spontaneity and genuine reactions. Rather than describing himself as a play-by-play announcer, he is a versatile on-air presence who fulfills various responsibilities pertaining to the presentation, sales and perception of WWE and its superstars. Before the show begins, he is at the arena ringside taking notes and speaking with talent to ask how he can enhance their storyline amid the action.

“It’s going to be my job to be able to explain to the new audience who our characters are without insulting our everyday fans,” Cole said. “That’s a juggling act, and you want to be able to explain to people, ‘Okay, who is Liv Morgan? Who is the women’s world champion? What is she all about?,’ without making it sound repetitious to the fans that have been watching each and every week, so that’s a juggling act that I really enjoy.”

Whereas Cole engages in meticulous preparation and is also responsible for sponsorship reads, McAfee comes to the venue and does not want to know anything. Rather than looking at the production run sheet, he will ask Cole if there are important things he needs to know and then simply watch the action and add his commentary.

With Cole and McAfee working together on WWE Raw, the SmackDown commentary team will now include Joe Tessitore with analysts Corey Graves and Wade Barrett. Tessitore called Raw for the last several months after joining WWE over the summer, and Cole is enthused to have added someone from outside of the wrestling universe. In the past, he felt the company was trying to find people to replicate him, but the approach has ostensibly changed under the new regime that will help create a dichotomy between both broadcast teams.

“Joe was a fan, a lifelong fan,” Cole said. “He had been at our events for many, many years before he came to work for our company. Joe is probably the best college football broadcaster on the planet right now. He’s also done combat sports, so he has that fight knowledge and fight background. Joe’s also done entertainment shows like Holey Moley, and he’s a veteran and established, plus he has a very distinct voice.”

Cole recently signed a new multi-year contract with WWE and is energized to continue documenting WWE events behind the microphone. He acknowledged that he’s not sure about the specific metrics that will be used to measure the success of WWE Raw broadcasts on Netflix, but as a commentator, he checks the X platform to see what superstars and fans are saying about certain things. Additionally, he measures the audience and tries to glean their enthusiasm for the lineup.

“I believe I’m at the top of my game, I don’t believe I’ve been any better and I just want to continue to be a part of all this, but at the end of the day, it’s fun,” Cole said. “I’ve got the easiest job in the world. I could be putting shingles on a roof [in] Texas, but I’m not. I’m walking into an arena every day, and I’m sitting behind a desk and I’m acting like a fool and I’m calling wrestling.”

WWE’s longtime voice doesn’t foresee himself retiring any time soon. He adds that he’d love to call a WWE event with NFL play-by-play announcers such as Mike Tirico, Al Michaels and/or Joe Buck. Cole previously worked with college football announcer Brad Nessler on a match on WWE SmackDown last year. For now though, he’s focused on bolstering the prominence and prestige of WWE and its brands to millions of people around the world.

“Even in the dark times when people are like, ‘How do you deal with people yelling at you in your headset?,’ it’s fun,” Cole said. “When that red light goes on at 8:00 Monday night on Netflix and I get to say, for the first time ever, ‘Welcome to Monday Night Raw live on Netflix!’ – I still get goosebumps doing it right now – it’s a part of making history within our small little world of professional wrestling. You never know when that next opportunity to make history is going to be.”

Consultant’s Corner: Kevin Robinson, Robinson | Media

Jeff Lynn
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Consultant’s Corner: Kevin Robinson, Robinson | Media

Kevin Robinson is an award-winning broadcaster, consultant, and coach. He specializes in strategic radio cluster alignment, building lean-forward tactics, and talent coaching – legacy and entry-level – personalities.

As a talent coach, Kevin is the only personality mentor who’s coached three different morning shows on three different brands in the same major market to the #1 position.

His work has been recognized by The World Wide Radio Summit, Radio & Records, and NAB’s Marconi, and he has coached CMA, ACM, and Marconi Award-winning talent.

Kevin is this week’s featured consultant.

Jeff Lynn: What is the current state of the radio industry?

Kevin Robinson: The answer is dependent on market size and company size. It’s widely known that Audacy, iHeart, and Cumulus have suffered various stages of bankruptcy.  Their music brands are largely jukeboxes with out-of-market, disconnected voices outside AM Drive. Those brands are in survival mode. There are local, digitally delivered content providers that are beating them daily. They are walking The Green Mile. Just last month, Salem Communications bailed on their music stations. “We survived bankruptcy” is not the best look for advertisers.

Locally owned medium to small-market brands of all formats are thriving. In smaller towns where the local newspaper has diminished circulation or has vanished altogether, broadcasters are making bank. In those smaller villages, you find community broadcasters with robust local news gathering, live local talent hosting events and high school sports coverage. We have a client who delivers a local 24/7 online news TV station based on radio content.

JL: How do we get the next generation interested in radio as an industry?

KR: Give them your radio station. 

Seriously, engage students in your community with time on your radio station. Start with the elementary students and middle school students. At a recent career day, student teams wrote, voiced, and produced their own commercials. They were engaged and fascinated.

Why not work with local schools to create a Radio Club?  Put interested emerging talent on early Sunday evenings. Nobody is at your radio station at that time. Local interest will follow.

JL: How do you coach radio managers on both the programming and sales sides to be effective in today’s environment?

KR: Let’s get back to face-to-face meetings.  In the era of Zoom, they’ve nearly disappeared.

When coaching, do it privately, face-to-face, and one-on-one. Group sessions can potentially turn toxic, as coaching needs to be personalized and custom. Not everyone is in the same growth stage.

The same goes for the sales training. Sellers, stop into your client’s location during the commercial flight of the advertising. Leave behind something to remember you by. If the only time you see the client is renewal time, you’re doing it wrong.

JL: What skillset do you see as most needed to be an effective manager?

KR: Employees crave transparency. I have clients that share Manager Meeting notes with the entire building. Employees need to know where the business is growing and where deficiencies lie. 

Transparency requires great listening skills. Be consistent with your employees in your communication, punctuality, and treatment of each team member.

JL: What should talent be doing to broaden their skills so they are ready in case they are RIFFed?

KR: First – hire a professional resume writer. Not one built from AI. As I stated in my November 12th column, a real-person resume builder will spend a few HOURS ‘interviewing’ – you. A great resume writer will be unconcerned with your previous resume or LinkedIn profile. Resume writers want to unearth blind-spot skills you’ve developed that you would never place on a resume.

Learn a new craft or skill. Recession-proof and nationwide, a good side career outside retail is substitute teaching. School substitute coordinators will guide you through the certificate process. You can take it anywhere, and you’ll work every school day if you desire. Holidays, nights, and weekends off – unlike radio!

JL: We have all seen brilliant programmers who lack people management skills. What steps can they take to become more effective talent managers?

KR: Correct! Many programmers DO lack the soft people skills and often hide behind a computer.

Hire a coach for your team – even for a short time – and learn from them. Coaches have different processes, personalities, and fee structures. Find one that has a roster that matches your team or cluster. You’ll learn by hearing an outside coach – coach YOUR team. 

JL: What tools do you use to break through to someone who doesn’t think they need coaching or is resistant and hangs on to, “That’s how we’ve always done it?”

KR: A story I share is the history of Smith-Corona. As I wrote in my September 3rd piece, Smith Corona was the clear leader in typewriter technology for over 100 years.  Peaking at 600,000 new machines annually in 1985, Smith Corona appeared unstoppable.

Times and conditions changed around them as Apple and Microsoft flooded the market with the Personal Computer, which included a typing program.

Smith-Corona’s answer – word processors instead of typewriters.

Although they led the Personal Word Processor market, they failed to anticipate the speed at which PCs came to market and the rapid decline in PC pricing. They had always made typing machines.

Today, Smith-Corona is a label-making company.

Challenge every aspect of your brand. Gather your team and perform a S.W.O.T.  Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats.

Do you need new jingles – or musical IDs at all? Is there an event you’ve done for years that’s providing diminishing fans and funds? Do you need to sell :60 second spots?

Question – everything.

JL: Without names, tell me the biggest coaching challenge you have faced and how you broke through or overcame it.

In my personal history, I’ve had the opportunity to work with personality giants. Talent that had seen multiple – and a few over a dozen – different programmers and coaches. I was just the next guy – to them – in the chair.

First thing to accomplish before starting coaching sessions – build trust. Without trust, the learning process will be met with an unwillingness to adapt to constructive feedback.

Most seasoned talent that have sessioned with me tell tales of abusive coaching styles, uneven periods of feedback and frequent calls to the studio hotline.  Don’t do that.

Build trust.

JL: What do you see as the first and most important step in starting a Podcast?

KR: Why. 

What motivates you to create a podcast? That’s the first of many questions you need to answer before you crack a mic. If you don’t have the WHY – nothing else matters.

Additional questions for future Podcasters are found in my December 10th missive – here.

JL: What was the best piece of career advice you ever received?

KR: Just Do It. 

If you’re an emerging broadcaster, find any way into the doors of a radio station, even if it’s a non-profit. Non-coms are starved for man hours. You will learn more from doing it and assimilation than from a seminar or broadcast school. 

My first job was overnights on an automation assist music format, where I was also charged with gathering trash in the building.

Just Do It.

Reach Kevin by email here.                  

Robinson | Media

KROB Radio Show

(317) 769-0583 O

(314) 882-2148 M

How News Media Should Handle Bosses That Interfere With The Editorial Process

Perry Michael Simon
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How News Media Should Handle Bosses That Interfere With The Editorial Process

A few thoughts about the increasingly numerous instances of news media organizations “bending the knee” to President-Elect Trump with donations and policy changes:

First, did you expect anything different from the billionaire media moguls, especially in light of how they all have other businesses that are dependent on federal grants or tax breaks? Yes, Jeff Bezos saved The Washington Post and Patrick Soon-Shiong rescued The Los Angeles Times, but they are neither news people nor hands-off businessmen. If Trump threatens them, they have a large financial interest in trying to curry favor with him. It was a matter of time until “I won’t interfere with editorial decisions” would become “do as I say,” whether explicit or assumed by management trying to head off trouble before it happens (which just creates more trouble).

Bezos, for one, had allowed criticism of Amazon in the Post, but being depicted offering bags of money to Trump in an editorial cartoon was too much truth for him, or his editors wanted to protect him from that. Soon-Shiong went further, suddenly insisting on injecting pro-Trump content (Scott Jennings? Seriously?) and AI-powered “balance” in the Times. In each case, the assumption is that the guy who writes the checks gets to dictate what goes in the paper.

And they do if there are no walls between the owner’s office, sales, and the newsroom. I’ve seen plenty of people on social media take the position that the cartoonist (Ann Telnaes, one of the very best) should have known that criticizing the boss would not be tolerated, but if the boss is in the news, how can you ignore that? Telnaes, for her part, makes her case in a Substack post explaining why the spiking of that cartoon was enough to quit the paper, even in an era where there are practically no editorial cartoonist jobs left.

There are two issues here: capitulating to a hostile administration in advance, and interference with the editorial process. The former isn’t limited to the media; any company or investor who values their own wealth over everything else will try to curry favor with whoever is in power, no matter how odious.

The latter is troublesome, too: say you’re a talk radio host and your GM – not even your PD — walks into your office before a show and tells you not to talk about a particular topic, or insists you take a position that’s not in line with yours. I’d hope you’d be upset by that. And what if they “balanced” every segment you did with an AI-generated “opposing viewpoint” segment? That’s embarrassing, and it’s what The Los Angeles Times plans to do with its reporting. Working under those conditions will not be easy, and the paper will not be better for it.

I’ve been lucky. In almost 30 years of writing this column, I’ve never once had the site owner interfere with the content of a column. I don’t know how I’d react if they did. Then again, there’s a difference between dealing with advertisers and dealing with the White House, and the CEOs of radio companies that have generally been able to handle criticism without demanding my elimination, so there’s that.

It should also be noted that independent journalists are out there and online, providing much more context and detail than traditional media, but few are making a living doing it, and there aren’t too many that are universally regarded as fair and accurate by a majority of the public. At least they still have a voice, even if they’re on the store brand and Lean Cuisine diet.

But it’s more than a little concerning that news media companies and their CEOs are bending the knee at a time when journalism will be needed more than ever. Keeping the watchdogs on a short leash is good for billionaires but it isn’t good for America.

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.

How to Review Nielsen Ratings Diaries From Anywhere

Dr. Ed Cohen
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How to Review Nielsen Ratings Diaries From Anywhere

In the spring of 2023, Nielsen Audio announced that one of the traditions of the radio business — reviewing radio diaries — would be available to subscribers online. Make whatever jokes you like about Nielsen finally moving into the Internet Age, it’s still a step forward.

Since the announcement, I haven’t seen any trade press where someone tried using the system. I’ve reviewed far too many diaries over the years (my first review was on the 9th floor of the old Arbitron building in Laurel, MD…for those of you who know your Arbitron history, that was before the Pat Duggan era), so on behalf of the readers of this column, I looked at a few more using the virtual system. 

If you are a program director, operations manager, or a market manager in a diary market and you subscribe to Nielsen, you need to do a diary review at least once in your career. Yes, PD Advantage can show you how diarykeepers’ entries were credited post-editing, but nothing beats seeing the real thing. And now you don’t have to waste time and money schlepping to Columbia, Maryland, sitting in a small room with no windows, and staring at a monitor all day. Doing the review from the comfort of your office or home is a huge plus even if Nielsen will not buy lunch for virtual reviewers.

The software that handles diary reviews is ancient by software standards. The Electronic Diary System Retrieval (EDSR) was implemented in 1995 (before EDSR, you perused the actual diaries) and has been updated occasionally. Converting EDSR to an online version was trickier than you might expect and this being Nielsen, designing an entirely new system for something with no revenue attached was not an option.

If you have never used EDSR, it’s incredibly flexible. You can pull diaries and review them in just about any combination you wish. Core demo is women 32-48? No problem. Only want to see those who listened to a competitor and work 35+ hours per week? You got it. Reviewers can check out ascription situations, modeling (there’s a small bit), and internet listening.

Here’s a screenshot (Albuquerque was the market).

Another wonderful aspect of EDSR is the tally system. How did your stations do week by week? It’s there. How much satellite listening takes place in your market by demo? Yep. 

Ideally, you could access the data anytime. You can just imagine the bedroom conversations: “Honey, why aren’t you sleeping?” “I’m reviewing Nielsen diaries…I just can’t stop.” Call it ratings porn.

The reality is not exactly that. Much like visiting Columbia to do a review in person, you need to set up an appointment. Your Nielsen rep can handle it or get in touch with Karen Gavigan at Nielsen. I’ve worked with Karen and she’s incredibly knowledgeable about all the Nielsen edit rules. If there is anyone who knows exactly how every diary entry is treated once the diary arrives at Nielsen, she’s the one. Some years ago, I had her present an overview of the system to all the Cumulus diary market PDs and OMs and she did a great job.

When the day arrives for your virtual diary review, Karen will first send you a document explaining how to get online with the system along with an ID and password. While it takes more steps than you might like to get into the system, it worked for me on the first try. She’ll also get online with you via video to show you how EDSR works if you haven’t used it before. 

Invariably, questions arise during a diary review. The system allows you to mark diaries and enter your questions or concerns. Typically, you save these up to review with Karen later in the day. With the virtual system, you’ll go through issues by phone or on video with Karen after your session, and any that can’t be answered initially will go for further review. Expect a letter a couple of weeks later that will contain explanations, some of which you’ll likely find disagreeable.

There’s good news and bad news about virtual diary reviews. The good news? The virtual system is free for the moment as Nielsen considers it to be in “trial mode”. The bad news is the company may start charging for it. Personally, I don’t believe diary reviews should have a price as this is part of the overall service. It’s fine to restrict reviews to subscribers, but for the price being paid, charging for a review seems like nickel and diming. 

When I was operations manager of WSPA-FM in Spartanburg, South Carolina many years ago, I used to fly in for reviews on a regular basis. One time, a research person from our rep firm (McGavren-Guild, remember them?) came along. After a long day of staring at diaries filled out by the fine people of upstate South Carolina, she simply couldn’t believe that our business rested on some of the crazy entries she had seen. I don’t remember her name, but I’ll bet she changed jobs and left the radio business soon after.

If you haven’t reviewed diaries before, it will be an eye-opener, and you’ll learn a great deal. Schedule your virtual review now and when the date is set, block everything else from your calendar. Focus on the review, print the tallies, take some screenshots, and learn. Note anything you aren’t clear on, save your questions for Karen, and when it’s over, stop by a bar for a cold one or two. You’ll need a drink, but you’ll be wiser for the experience.

Let’s meet again next week.

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.

Super Bowl LIX Showdown: Media Forecasts vs. Betting Odds

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Super Bowl LIX Showdown: Media Forecasts vs. Betting Odds

As Super Bowl LIX draws near, the Detroit Lions stand out as the favorites among sportsbooks, but they face stiff competition from the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, who are snapping at their heels. The excitement extends beyond the field, sparking a lively debate on the merits of sportsbook odds vs media predictions when evaluating which team will secure the NFL championship in New Orleans in 2025. With various teams vying for the title, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these predictions play out as the playoffs unfold.

Analyzing the Odds Landscape

The Lions currently top the betting charts with odds hovering around +250, making them a hot topic for bettors and analysts alike. The Chiefs, hoping for a historic three-peat, are also highly favored with odds at +650. Meanwhile, the 49ers are not far behind, positioned at +500, suggesting a tight race where any of the teams could walk away victorious.

Media Insights vs. Betting Trends

Media outlets are zooming in on key matchups and potential playoff implications, offering insights that sometimes contrast with the betting world’s algorithm-driven approach. Analysts focus on strategic elements like team dynamics, injury updates, and recent performance trends, which might not always align with betting odds.

Prop Bets and Fan Predictions

The betting landscape for Super Bowl LIX isn’t just about who will win. It includes a variety of prop bets and predictions that add layers of intrigue. From predicting the first touchdown scorer to forecasting the game’s total points, these bets attract both seasoned and casual bettors, providing a broader perspective on how the game might unfold. Additionally, prop bets can cover everything from the halftime show performances to the color of the Gatorade poured on the winning coach, ensuring that every aspect of the event contributes to the sportsbook-driven excitement. These playful yet potentially lucrative wagers allow fans to engage with the game on a different level, turning even the minutiae into opportunities for victory.

The Role of Sportsbooks

Sportsbooks offer more than just winner predictions; they analyze countless variables to set odds that reflect the probabilities of various game outcomes. This analytical approach, while rooted in data, often provides a different narrative compared to traditional media predictions, which can be influenced by recent games and expert opinions.

Sportsbooks integrate vast amounts of data, including historical trends, player performances, and even weather conditions, to provide a comprehensive odds-making system. This level of detail not only helps bettors make more informed decisions but also enriches the storytelling aspect of sports betting, transforming every game and its potential outcomes into a narrative woven with probabilities and predictions.

Super Bowl Odds: The Pulse of Betting

As Super Bowl LIX draws nearer, tracking the fluctuations in Superbowl odds offers a dynamic view of the betting landscape. These odds serve as the pulse of the betting world, reflecting the collective expectations and sentiments of gamblers worldwide. Each shift in the odds tells a story, influenced by player injuries, strategic changes, and public betting patterns. For example, a sudden shortening in the Lions’ odds might reflect a key player’s return from injury or a surge in bets placed by confident fans. Conversely, a lengthening of odds could signal concerns about team performance or key matchups. This ever-evolving narrative keeps the bettors deeply engaged, always trying to stay ahead of changes to maximize their potential returns.

Excitement Builds

As the countdown to Super Bowl LIX continues, the intriguing interplay between media predictions and sportsbook odds provides a rich tapestry for fans and analysts. With each providing unique insights—media through expert analysis and sportsbooks through real-time odds adjustments—the stage is set for an unpredictable showdown. Whether you find yourself scrutinizing game strategies or parsing through Superbowl odds, this Super Bowl promises to be a spectacle of both athletic and analytical prowess. As the narratives unfold, both media and betting markets will adapt, offering a continuous stream of insights right up to the final play.

Kenny Albert: ‘I Feel Like I Read the Equivalent of Five to 10 Books Every Week’

BSM Staff
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Kenny Albert: ‘I Feel Like I Read the Equivalent of Five to 10 Books Every Week’

Kenny Albert is in the midst of calling football, basketball and hockey games for a variety of local and national entities, keeping him busy as the winter months continue. Albert, who is the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL on TNT, was recently on site at Wrigley Field to call the Discover NHL Winter Classic and is also scheduled to call the Week 18 game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams for the NFL on FOX. In fact, Albert called his 500th NFL game earlier in the season amid the 20th season of FOX Sports broadcasting NFL games, two decades of the property that he has broadcast in every year. With the aforementioned assignments, along with local obligations with MSG Networks on television and radio, he safeguards against complacency by ensuring that he is prepared.

On the most recent edition of the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast with Tim Green, Albert explained that he was always reading the sports pages of the newspaper in his youth. Observing his father, Marv, and uncles Al and Steve, all of whom were announcers in the sports media business, he understood the fundamental nature of preparation and arriving set to call the action. In the past, Albert would receive 20 to 30 pages of articles on a ream of fax paper, along with VHS tapes featuring highlights of the upcoming teams. The process has changed with the evolution in technology and mass communication, but Albert still takes a traditional approach.

“I still read several newspapers a day, although now I’m doing it on the iPad, but it still looks like the actual newspaper,” Albert said. “You’re not just clicking on articles, so I’m old school in that respect. I’m reading, I’m keeping up with the various sports that I’m involved with. A couple of hours of reading every day for sure.”

When Albert is traveling on an airplane, he takes advantage of the time by reading and catching up on preparation work. The football season begins in September, and by the next month, the basketball and hockey seasons commence and run through May and June. TNT Sports will broadcast the Stanley Cup Final at the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL season, its second time presenting the game under the seven-year media rights deal with the league.

“I’m reading so much for work and the prep that I don’t have a lot of time to read books, but I feel like I read the equivalent of five to 10 books every week,” Albert said. “There’s a lot of reading. It’s fun. It’s not like I’m doing something I hate. I love my job, love the preparation. There’s a lot of work and travel involved in it, but there’s really nothing else I would rather be doing, and the reading and the preparation is a big part of it.”

Later in the podcast, Albert explained that he needs to remind himself when he is calling a New York Rangers hockey game on TNT Sports instead of calling it on ESPN New York 880, the team’s flagship radio home. Aside from the varying platforms of dissemination, Albert recognizes that he does not want to convey any sense of bias or subjectivity on the national broadcast. In reflecting on how he approaches the dichotomy between his roles, he referenced other announcers who have had similar portfolios, including Joe Buck, Mike “Doc” Emrick and Joe Davis.

“It’s a lot of fun going back and forth between television and radio,” Albert said. “There are big differences between those two mediums, so it’s fun to be able to do both.”

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.

Michaela Johnson Joins ‘Fun 107’ New Bedford, MA Morning Team

BMM Staff
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Michaela Johnson Joins ‘Fun 107’ New Bedford, MA Morning Team

Townsquare Media’s Top 40 “Fun 107” WFHN New Bedford, MA, has announced the appointment of Michaela Johnson as the new co-host of the morning show, “Fun 107 in the Morning.”

Johnson will join existing hosts Michael Rock and Chris ‘Gazelle’ Arsenault.

Johnson co-hosted “The Rhode Show” on WPRI-TV Providence from 2011 until its conclusion in 2022, having initially joined the program as the winner of its “Search For A Star” contest. In addition, she has served as the in-arena host for the NHL’s Boston Bruins since 2016.

Johnson has stepped in to fill the time slot left vacant by Maddie Levine, who has shifted her hours to 1-4 PM at the end of September to dedicate more attention to her role as a combat sports broadcaster.

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Laura Dickerson Joins Q99.7 Atlanta For Middays And Assistant Program Director

BMM Staff
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Laura Dickerson Joins Q99.7 Atlanta For Middays And Assistant Program Director

Laura Dickerson has been named Assistant Program Director and midday host at Cumulus Media’s Top 40, Q99.7 (WWWQ), Atlanta.

Dickerson moves from Houston, where she has served as Music Director and night host at 104.1 KRBE since March 2022, and will continue tracking nights.

She said, “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself in a new role, in a career I have loved for the last 15 years, AND I still get to work alongside my radio partner in crime and mentor, Leslie Whittle! Truly a dream come true!”

She first joined the Houston radio market in 2017 as the midday host for Radio One’s Top 40 “Radio Now 92.1” KROI. Rising to Music Director in 2019, she held that position until the station transitioned to a Gospel format in 2021.

Following the format change, she became a weekend host at KRBE. Dickerson began her career in her hometown, Boston, at Top 40 “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM and later spent four years at “Hot 97.5/103.9” KMVA/KZON in Phoenix.

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.

NBC Sports ‘Football Night in America’ Airing Live from Detroit in Week 18

BSM Staff
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NBC Sports ‘Football Night in America’ Airing Live from Detroit in Week 18

NBC Sports has announced that the Week 18 edition of its Football Night in America studio show will air live from Ford Field in Detroit, on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. EST on NBC and Peacock. Although the show has been on the road several times in the past, it will be the first time the entire studio team will be on site for a regular-season finale since the show’s first season in 2006. This show will air ahead of a historic Game 272 between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, marking the first time that two 14-win teams will square off with the NFC North title and home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs hanging in the balance.

The on-location edition of Football Night in America will be hosted by Maria Taylor and include former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms as analysts.

The team generally broadcasting from the game venue will also be live on the air, which includes Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison and co-host Jac Collinsworth. NFL insider Mike Florio and fantasy football commentator Matthew Berry will contribute to the shore as well. Matt Casey is the coordinating producer of Football Night in America, and the show is directed by Kaare Numme. The show will utilize indoor and outdoor sets on Sunday, according to a report from Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal.

The Sunday program will include a conversation with Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connel conducted by Dungy. NBC Sports also expects to air gameday interviews with Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and running back Jamhyr Gibbs, along with Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Once the pregame show concludes, the Sunday Night Football team of Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark and Terry McAulay will broadcast the action on NBC, Peacock and Universo.

Once the game concludes, the Peacock Sunday Night Football Final postgame show will be live exclusively on Peacock with Jac Collinsworth hosting alongside analysts Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy. The program will provide viewers with instant reactions, analysis and interviews following the prime time matchup. Sunday Night Football broadcast property ranked No. 1 in all key metrics across prime time television for a 13th consecutive year as NBC Sports garnered its most-watched year as an entity since 2016.

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770 KTTH Adds Will Cain to Evening Lineup After The Daily Wire Shows Depart Westwood One

BNM Staff
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770 KTTH Adds Will Cain to Evening Lineup After The Daily Wire Shows Depart Westwood One

770 KTTH has announced slight changes to its daily lineup after The Daily Wire shows left Westwood One at the end of 2024. Will Cain will now be heard on the Seattle news/talk station.

The Will Cain Show from Fox News Radio will be heard from 7-8 PM on the Bonneville International station.

“We’re excited to bring Will Cain to KTTH’s evening schedule,” said 770 KTTH Program Director Jason Antebi. “Will’s sharp insights, thoughtful perspectives, and engaging style will resonate deeply with our audience. This addition continues KTTH’s mission to deliver the best conservative talk programming in the nation.”

The station will also move The Mark Levin Show up one hour, now airing from 8-11 PM. Additionally, Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla (11 PM-2 AM) and Rich Valdes: America at Night (2-5 AM) will make slight moves inside the station’s lineup.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the great voices of KTTH in Seattle,” commented Cain. “I’ve long been a fan of Jason Rantz, and I’m looking forward to bringing our unique approach to Seattle’s listeners.”

Other shows in the station’s lineup, including Armstrong & Getty (6-9 AM), The Guy Benson Show (12-3 PM), and The Jason Rantz Show (3-7 PM) remain unchanged.

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