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The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024

Garrett Searight
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The CNN Presidential Debate with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash Leads Barrett Media’s Top 5 News Television Stories of 2024

As we’ve reached the end of an insanely interesting 2024 in the news television world, Barrett Media is looking back on TV’s top stories of the calendar year, led by the CNN Presidential Debate helmed by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

#5 – Eric Bolling Out, Rob Finnerty In as Newsmax adjusts primetime lineup

2024 was a year to remember for Newsmax. The company saw increased ratings in addition to its planned push to take the company public while welcoming investors to the fray. But on the air, the network saw changes in its primetime lineup as Eric Bolling exited the 8 PM ET timeslot in May after originally joining the network in 2021.

Bolling’s final show with the network coincided with the verdict that former President Donald Trump had been found guilty of 34 felony counts in New York. At the time of his monologue, he revealed he was “going off script” and that producers for the show did not know what he was about to say. He announced his departure from Newsmax the following day.

In his stead, the conservative cable outlet founded by Chris Ruddy tapped morning host Rob Finnerty to take over the primetime opening. Finnerty began his show in October, and has already seen a strong ratings pull. The primetime show — simply dubbed Finnerty — has bested CNN challengers in recent weeks.

#4 – Andrea Mitchell Announces She’ll Retire From MSNBC in 2025

Andrea Mitchell has had a legendary television news career dating back to her debut in 1978 with NBC News.

But Mitchell is preparing to scale back in 2025, and in October announced that she’ll end Andrea Mitchell Reports after hosting the daily program since 2008.

“I’ve asked NBC and MSNBC for the opportunity to continue covering those stories, but from a different vantage point, still with NBC News and at MSNBC, still as chief Washington and foreign affairs correspondent, just not on a schedule of a daily show,” Mitchell revealed. “From primaries, debates, elections, and inaugurals here at home, to breaking news around the globe, my goal will continue — as it has always been — to bring you, our viewers, the major newsmakers shaping our country and the world right here on MSNBC.”

Her program is expected to conclude after the inauguration of Donald Trump in January.

#3 – NBC News Hires, Fires Ronna McDaniel

NBC News made shockwaves both inside and outside its organization in March.

The former Republican National Committee chair was pushed out of her position with the party in February before joining the news organization.

NBC News announced McDaniel’s addition to its on-air lineup as a political analyst in the lead-up to the 2024 election. The move was announced on Friday, March 22nd, with the former political chair making her debut on the following Sunday’s episode of Meet the Press.

McDaniel had continually been a vocal proponent of the false claims made by former President Donald Trump that the 2020 election had been “stolen” and “rigged” against him. However, she reversed course during that initial appearance with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker.

That reversal was not enough to win favor with her NBC News colleagues. After strong internal pushback, it was revealed that McDaniel would not be appearing on any MSNBC programs, with Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough claiming he was not consulted about the addition of the former Republican chair but he would have “strongly objected” had he been asked.

By Tuesday, March 26th, NBC News had announced McDaniel would no longer be appearing on any of the network’s platforms, severing ties completely with her. NBC News Chairman Cesar Conde revealed it was his decision to drop McDaniel, who was also let go by her talent agency. The network had reportedly agreed to a contract that paid McDaniel $300,000.

#2 – Norah O’Donnell Announces She’ll Exit CBS Evening News

Network news anchor chairs are hard to come by. But in a move indicative of the shifting nature of the media sphere in 2024, CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell announced in July she would exit the nightly news program in early 2025.

O’Donnell’s exit comes after she signed a contract extension with CBS News to focus more on her role with 60 Minutes and to produce long-form interview specials for the news organization. Her departure also coincides with lagging ratings, as the program continually finishes well behind ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

“I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, connected to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle. It’s time to do something different,” O’Donnell wrote in an memo to staffers announce the move. “I see this as an opportunity. I want to thank Wendy McMahon as this new role will also allow me to extend the reach of the work we do to new audiences in new ways. Those interviews and reporting will be shared across the many platforms CBS offers – streaming, digital, primetime, Paramount+, and more. And in fact, we have a big interview coming up that I hope to share more details about very soon.”

CBS News has tabbed Margaret Brennan, John Dickerson, and Maurice DuBois to helm the nightly news program going forward. Additionally, the show will relocate to New York City after O’Donnell’s exit on Friday, January 24th.

#1 – CNN Presidential Debate — Moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash — Sets New Network Ratings High and Also Forces President Joe Biden Out of 2024 Race

The CNN Presidential Debate, moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, might not be the biggest news television story of 2024. It may go down in the history books as the biggest story of 2024, period.

The made-for-TV special pitted Republican challenger Donald Trump against President Joe Biden on Thursday, June 27th. Bash and Tapper were widely criticized — especially by conservatives — for being tabbed to moderate the debate. The pair faced many charges of political bias in the lead-up to the event. However, after the debate, they were widely praised for their questions and the decision by the network not to fact-check either candidate.

The debate was a disaster for Biden. The then 81-year-old looked frail, out of sorts, and failed to coherently answer several questions, with his opponent at one point saying “I don’t know what he just said there, and I don’t think he knows, either.”

Biden’s performance in the debate ultimately led to him exiting the race for the White House, with Vice President Kamala Harris taking over the ticket in a nearly unprecedented move.

For CNN, the event was the high point in a mostly forgettable 2024. According to Nielsen, 47.9 million viewers watched the debate between CNN, MSNBC, Newsmax, Fox News, ABC News, PBS, FOX, Scripps News, and Spectrum News. An additional 30 million viewers watched a simulcast on YouTube.

The event — which drew 9.5 million viewers — was the highest-rated event in CNN history.

The CNN Presidential Debate also marked an interesting shift in the media sphere. A decision was made to simulcast the broadcast across a plethora of networks. CNN partnered with several news organizations to simulcast the event across broadcast and cable television, citing a hope to bring the discussion between the two candidates to as wide an audience as possible. ABC News and CBS News responded similarly to their presidential and vice presidential debates in September and October, respectively.

Honorable Mention:

NewsNation first to call race for Trump

2024 was a foundational year for NewsNation, as the network completed its 24/7 news lineup with the addition of weekend news programming. The high-water mark for the network was it being the first television entity to make the call the former President Donald Trump (R) would make a return to the White House in the late evening hours of Tuesday, November 5th.

Tucker Carlson interview with Putin

Tucker Carlson saw his media empire grow in 2024 with big wins in the video and podcasting space. His biggest moment of 2024 was his high-profile February interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Carlson traveled to Russia to interview the dictator. Potentially most noteworthy, Carlson attempted to persuade Putin to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and allow the former cable news host to return to the United States with the journalist. While he was unsuccessful, Carlson received praise from both sides of the political aisle for the attempt. Ultimately, Gershkovich was released in August.

ABC News, George Stephanopoulos sued by Donald Trump

Donald Trump has proven to be a very litigious individual in his decades in the spotlight. That was on display in 2024 when he launched a lawsuit alleging defamation by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos after the This Week host alleged Trump had been found civilly liable for rape.

Stephanopoulos made the statement in a high-profile interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC). A rape survivor, Mace pledged her support for Trump in the 2024 election, which led Stephanopoulos to ask how she could do such a thing when the candidate was guilty of the crime committed against her.

The Trump camp ultimately sued both Stephanopoulos and ABC News for the quip. Ultimately, the organization settled the suit out of court for $15 million and attorneys fees. George Stephanopoulos was reportedly furious about the settlement, but that did not prohibit him from inking an extension to remain with the organization.

Mehdi Hasan exits MSNBC

In addition to Andrea Mitchell announcing she would depart MSNBC, another high-profile host left the network in 2024. Mehdi Hasan announced his exit and subsequent launch of digital startup Zeteo News in 2024.

A near-constant target of criticism from conservative media members, Hasan had seen his MSNBC program canceled at the end of 2023, before announcing his exit in January.

“Tonight is not just my final episode of The Mehdi Hassan Show, it’s my last day with MSNBC. Yes, I’ve decided to leave,” he announced on his final show. “To be clear I am so proud. So so proud of what we’ve achieved on this show on this network. And I can’t thank you enough for tuning in, for your support, and for your feedback. But as I say, ‘New year, new plans.’”

The Mehdi Hasan Show aired on Sundays at 8 PM ET. Additionally, he hosted a Peacock-exclusive program on Tuesdays.

CNN revamps morning show, replaces Phil Mattingly and Poppy Harlow, Harlow eventually exits

The Chris Licht era will not be fondly remembered at CNN. And its final remnants — a revamped morning window — went by the wayside in 2024 as CNN This Morning was canceled, moving Phil Mattingly and Poppy Harlow out of the timeslot.

Harlow had been a member of the show since its inception alongside Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins. However, with the changes made to the daypart, Harlow ultimately exited the network completely, with Mattingly being re-assigned inside the organization.

The morning window, which continues to struggle in the cable news morning ratings, is now helmed by Kasie Hunt.

Kim Godwin exits ABC News

In early May, ABC News President Kim Godwin announced her retirement from the network after three-year run leading the network.

The timing wasn’t coincidental, however, as Godwin was in the midst of a performance review as The Walt Disney Company had brought in executive Debra OConnell to oversee its news division, essentially demoting Godwin.

Godwin — who became the first Black woman to serve as a network news President when she took over the network’s top executive role in 2021 — had led the outlet to strong ratings with both Good Morning America and ABC World News Tonight with David Muir.

“It’s both a privilege and a debt to those who chipped away at the ceiling before me to lead a team whose brand is synonymous with trust, integrity, and a dogged determination to be the best in the business,” wrote Godwin. “I leave with my head held high and wish the entire team continued success.” 

Brian Williams makes TV return on Election night special with Amazon Prime Video

Brian Williams has been mostly absent from the television news limelight since he departed MSNBC in 2021. But that changed on Election Night as he hosted a program for Amazon Prime Video that marked the first foray into the political realm for the retail giant’s streaming platform.

For hours, Williams seamlessly navigated the election night coverage as if he hadn’t been away from television news for nearly three years.

Additionally, Amazon Prime Video showcased an interesting and elaborate graphics package that led many to question what the future may look like for the streaming platform in the news arena. It also led to questions about Williams and what could be on the horizon in 2025 and beyond.

Lou Dobbs, Charles Osgood die

Finally, news television lost a pair of longtime stalwarts in 2024.

In January, longtime CBS News host and commenter Charles Osgood died at the age of 91. Osgood hosted CBS News Sunday Morning for 22 years before retiring in 2016. He also hosted a daily radio commentary, The Osgood File, from 1971 until 2017.

Additionally, longtime business television host Lou Dobbs passed away in July at 78.

Dobbs was one of the premier hosts at CNN from 1980 until 1999, and again from 2001 to 2009. He later joined Fox Business network and hosted Lou Dobbs Tonight from 2011 to 2021. He also hosted radio shows for United Stations Radio Networks, iHeartRadio, and Red Apple Audio Networks before his passing.

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.

‘Nightcap with Unc & Ocho’ Featuring Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson is Instant Offense

Dave Greene
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‘Nightcap with Unc & Ocho’ Featuring Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson is Instant Offense

Shannon Sharpe is a busy man. The beauty of that, however, is that what Shannon Sharpe does now after his football playing days is talk, and Sharpe has plenty to say. In June of this year, after a year since he departed FS1 after working on Undisputed for 7 years, Sharpe signed with ESPN to make appearances on First Take with Stephen A. Smith, which he adds to his list of commitments such as his Club Shay Shay podcast and the podcast that spun off from that show and the one I eavesdropped in on this week, Nightcap, which he hosts with another former NFL’er Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson.

When the show was announced last September, it was described as, “The new nighttime sports talk destination with legends Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco Johnson. Hang out with Unc and Ocho as they give their unfiltered takes on the latest headlines from the NFL, NBA, and college football, and give their instant reactions to the biggest games moments after they end.

“Ocho and I have had many debates off-camera throughout the years,” Sharpe said in a release when the show was announced. “We’ve decided to bring those on camera with Nightcap. Looking forward to debating my good friend Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson.”

Johnson said, “When Unc called me about the idea of expanding Club Shay Shay I thought to myself, this is a no-brainer. We just go together like a McDonald’s No. 1 with Coke, no ice. Hits every time. I’m extremely excited to join Club Shay Shay & the Volume on this new venture.”

The YouTube page for the show currently has 1.6 million subscribers and a total of almost 500 million views, with several episodes garnering more than 500,000 views.

This past Saturday, the guys went live after a tripleheader of NFL action which saw the Chargers blow out the Patriots, a crazy overtime win for the Bengals over the Broncos to keep Cincinnati’s playoff hopes alive as well as a last-minute questionable interception to give the Rams a 13-9 win over the Cardinals.

As the episode began, ‘Unc’ was selling. A Draft Kings endorsement ad was followed by several mentions for things you could buy which Sharpe was connected to including alcohol, merchandise and event tickets for a live show with Johnson at the Super Bowl. He also gave a quick mention for the consumers of the podcast to vote for their show in the Best American Football and Best Sports Comedy podcast award categories.

Then it was on to reaction from the games that had just taken place. And that is where the show begins to separate from most other podcasts. This isn’t the day after or a recap of the weekend of games, this was immediate. This was hearing two former star players thoughts about things that just happened, while they’re relaxed and looking to have some fun while giving a lot of opinion and information over a couple of hours on a Saturday night.

They started with the last game first and one that had recently ended in a bit of controversy when Ahkello Witherspoon made a diving interception after a pass was deflected, in the end zone with 37 seconds left to play.

Johnson said he didn’t know what the referee saw when they made the call as he clearly thought the ground helped Witherspoon make the play, but even after it was reviewed, they still stayed with the call. You immediately see or hear how raw the show is, meaning there hasn’t been much time since the last game was played, so it is immediate, natural reactions. And, if you know anything about Sharpe and ‘Ocho’ you know they’re not known for holding back, they are going to say it like it is.

Graphic for the Nightcap with Unc and Ocho podcast with pictures of Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco

A lot of ex-players sometimes have trouble when it comes to critiquing players or saying things could be deemed controversial. Again, if you are looking for middle of the road, boring banter, you’ve come to the wrong place. As the discussion moves to the Rams wide receivers and comparing 23-year-old Puka Nacua and 31-year-old Cooper Kupp, Sharpe says about Nacua, “He’s a younger, more physical Cooper Kupp…He can do everything Cooper Kupp does, but he’s bigger and more physical…and he’s cheaper.”

Next, you really get the insider knowledge from not just two former players, but two guys who played more than a decade in the NFL. They talked about the physical beating a slot receiver like Cooker Kupp has taken throughout his career. They add in that Kupp not only takes punishment on many balls he catches, but also on several he does not catch. Add it up over his eight-year career and it is a lot of hits.

Sharpe leads the way through the conversation and often has the first and last word on a topic. Johnson, who played most of his career for the Cincinnati Bengals, was more hyped than usual for this show as his team had a big win in overtime against the Denver Broncos. Not only did they get the win, but their odds of making the playoffs increased into double-digits after it was less than a 5% chance just a few weeks ago.

Conversely, Sharpe spent a majority of his career playing for the Broncos, so naturally ‘Ocho’ was giving it to ‘Unc’ a little bit. Johnson said about the game, which could have given even a non-interested fan a heart attack, “Games like this don’t have to be so close,” he said. “The decision making, the play calling …c’mon what are we doing?” He would later add about one specific play, “We called a timeout to run a fullback dive?!”

Opinion, check. Insight, check. Facts, check. Hilarity, check.

Nightcap has it all and is a podcast that makes you feel like you are hanging out with the crew and just talking football, sometimes other sports or life as well. Fans can engage with the show as it airs on YouTube and so far this episode has been viewed nearly 250,000 times in less than 24 hours.

Of course, while the Bengals got the win, they still need help to get into the playoffs. Mainly, they need the Broncos to lose at home to the Chiefs in a game where the Chiefs will most likely rest their starters since they have already clinched the No. 1 seed. So, while ‘Ocho’ got his licks in for this week, Sharpe was setting him up to be let down next week.

“I don’t think the Broncos can beat the Chiefs ‘B team’,” Johnson said. Sharpe countered by pointing out how the Broncos seem to always do well against the Chiefs at home.

Sharpe and ‘Ochocinco’ go back and forth on the topic of the NFL MVP this year, making cases for both Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. Both hosts agreed that it just is what it is when it comes to the voters looking at team win-loss records and factoring them into their votes for MVP.

They also hit on Coach of the Year as they talked about the Los Angeles Chargers win and their coach Jim Harbaugh. Sharpe pointed out some of the moves made since Harbaugh took over and said, “This is what he does,” he does. “The Chargers, Stanford, the 49ers, Michigan. Normally this takes him at least a year, it didn’t even take him a year!”

‘Ochocinco’ talks about some specific things Harbaugh fixed, and Sharpe adds, “Just goes to show you how poorly coached they were…Coaching does matter, it does.”

As they go through the main sports topics, they will deviate to real-life talk which generally leads to the two cracking each other up. In this episode, Sharpe talked about the pain in his knees and said they hurt whenever he does anything, and as he described how his knees could feel bad during sex, Johnson was dying laughing. The conversation turned into the pains that come with getting older – something everyone listening can most likely relate to.

After the NFL talk, they moved to college football and their friend Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes losing to BYU, 36-14. Sharpe said flat out, “You gotta have a better effort than this. They were never in the game…It’s Coach Prime’s job to have this team prepared and ready to play better than what they showed…it’s really that simple.”

‘Ocho’ added, “It almost looked like they didn’t belong…it looked like they were the JV playing the varsity.”

Another college football topic was about Miami’s Cam Ward who set the DI career passing touchdown record and then didn’t come back to play in the second half of their bowl game. Sharpe said he thinks Ward shouldn’t have played at all and that stopping midway through is a bad look which NFL people will not like, implying it could have an impact on where he is drafted.

Before finishing with a ‘Q and Ayyy’ segment, the two talked briefly about some other topics such as DeShaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns restructuring his contract, Mike Brown getting fired by the Sacramento Kings and Eric Dickerson not wanting Saquan Barkley to break his single season rushing record. In between, there was a rather interesting discussion about how Johnson chose women he wanted to have children with.

The ‘Q and Ayyy’ rewarded the fans who had participated in the YouTube chat as the show was live. Questions covered a wide range of subjects with some related to topics within the show. Then there was a man nearing 30 who asked for advice on starting a career and family. The two hosts understood the family part but were super concerned about the gentleman wanting advice on starting a career at almost 30 years old.

The questions and the answers showed the wide range of interests of both the hosts and the consumers of Nightcap.

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.

John Ourand is Covering Sports Business in a New Way at ‘Puck’

Derek Futterman
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As John Ourand was exiting a party held by ESPN in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl XXXVI, he remembers Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young being ahead of him and approaching a crowd of fans waiting for the celebrities. Walking behind Ourand was Chris Berman, the longtime SportsCenter anchor who has worked at the company throughout its 45-year history. Ourand was nonplussed to discover that the patrons flocked towards Berman, indicative of a keen realization in the interest and intrigue surrounding the sports media business.

There is much curiosity and fascination surrounding rights deals, mergers and acquisitions, commentary assignments and other transactions in the space, facilitating the development and eminence of the reporting space. Ourand understands that media conglomerates operate in a high-stakes marketplace with fundamental changes to different facets of the business, but he also recognizes the appeal of character development and storytelling. Since joining Puck to build out its sports business vertical, he has sought to provide comprehensive, accurate modicums of reporting and analysis within private emails and podcast episodes.

“People feel that I’m writing right to them, and it invites people to respond to me, and in ways that writing for a magazine and having a byline or even a website and just sort of having a byline doesn’t quite work,” Ourand said. “All you have to do is hit ‘Reply,’ and our style of writing and our way of getting things out makes it very conversational, and that just seems to work really well for us.”

Ourand previously had an 18-year tenure at Sports Business Journal where he denoted possessing autonomy towards what he covered in constructing the overall beat. Yet over the last several years, he began to receive and read content from Puck, the startup company established and operated by veteran journalists spanning a junction of entertainment, politics, technology and finance.

“I got to talking with Jon Kelly, who runs it, and [he] has a vision for Puck and he has a vision for journalism, and I bought into that vision,” Ourand said. “It was very, very hard to leave SBJ, and it took way too long for me to finally sort of make the jump to get over to Puck, but it was really just the idea.”

Part of the appeal in joining Puck was derived through the premise of joining a team of skilled, driven reporters spanning multiple genres. On top of that, there is the ability to collaborate on certain projects and add more background surrounding various stories and developments. As Ourand approaches the completion of his first year with the outlet, he believes the job has exceeded his expectations and has enabled him to reach people outside of the sports business realm.

“There’s very much a startup ethos around Puck that’s intoxicating and really a lot of fun to be a part of,” Ourand said. “If you’ve been doing what I’ve been doing, you’re naturally competitive with pretty much everyone and everything…. It’s a friendly competition, of course, but if I put out something that consistently doesn’t meet the standards that they’ve already set, I start to feel a lot of angst.”

Ourand’s private email and podcast are billed under The Varsity, forums through which he communicates with subscribers and provides original reporting twice per week. Although there are some themes that have stretched over multiple weeks or months, he ensures that his reports are not stating the obvious or boring. Moreover, the engaging and riveting writing style within his biweekly dispatches allows his personality to shine through and deviates from traditional hard news journalism.

“The idea behind Puck is we want to give you a lot of really good information, but we also want to make you laugh at times too,” Ourand said. “We are very serious about it, but you can still laugh at a lot of things as well.”

Describing his job akin to playing a game of telephone where the initial message differs from the final transmission, Ourand is trying to discover the genuine truth of what is taking place. In routinely hearing news and rumors, he investigates what information is correct, what is false and what may be embellished. In addition, he works to foster connections with people at networks and leagues, so he is able to receive and subsequently verify intel.

“If you hear something, you have to be able to cross-reference the information,” Ourand said. “As somebody that covers this business for Puck, that’s essential to make sure that what I’m putting out is not only accurate, but it also has sort of like high-level analysis for why deals get done or how deals get done.”

There have been instances during Ourand’s career in which he has lost scoops because he was unsure if the information he obtained was accurate. In demonstrating restraint and authenticity in his reporting, he has developed a stellar track record and earned the trust of readers. Ourand is not running with any rumors or conjecture he may hear from one person; rather, he is getting multiple perspectives and can then accompany that with relevant context and analysis.

“It just involves talking to as many people as I can that are involved with the story and trying to get it out that way,” Ourand said. “One of the unique things about Puck is that I still prioritize breaking news, and I still love breaking news at Puck, but my private email comes out on Mondays and on Thursdays.”

As Puck is new in covering the sports business, adding an established, credible reporter in Ourand helps the publication in broadening its base of readers and delivering a heightened return on investment. Readers are also able to communicate directly with him by replying to the private email, and he will oftentimes highlight messages in his ‘From the Cheap Seats’ section that concludes the proverbial tip sheet.

“I get a lot of people hitting reply and commenting, and I get a good sense from that of what stories resonate and not,” Ourand explained, “but mainly, it’s about, ‘Hey, this is something that I see going on. This is something that interests me,’ and at some point, you have to trust your own judgment on that.”

Every private email within The Varsity includes ‘The Main Event,’ which is a longer story examining a pertinent issue, divulging new developments or condensed question and answer sessions from the accompanying podcast. One of the first sections in the newsletter is titled ‘The Starting Five’ and provides shorter modules reviewing what is occurring in the sports business. Rather than aiming to own a particular story, he aspires to keep subscribers caught up by essentially opening his notebook and illuminating what he has learned.

“I’ve been doing this for a pretty long time, and I have a pretty good sense of the type of news, the type of information and the analysis that people want to read and that will drive people to subscribe,” Ourand said. “I try to have a very thick skin, and so I listen. When people are bored by a certain story, I have the ability to pivot and go different ways.”

A frequent leitmotif during the inception of The Varsity was the Ch. 11 bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group as the subsidiary sought to enter a restructuring support agreement and emerge solvent. Ourand estimates that the lead story pertained to this situation in every other version early in the year, but he eventually rolled that back and made it one of his items in ‘The Starting Five’ instead.

“Cord cutting is happening,” Ourand said. “The subscriber numbers are declining pretty significantly. The big question that I don’t really have an answer to but I’m studying is, ‘What is zero? Will cable go down to zero? How far will it fall?’”

When Ourand was working with Sports Business Journal, he co-hosted an award-winning podcast with then-New York Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand. The collaboration between the two companies gained traction and received plaudits from various professionals in the business. Ourand remains friends with Marchand, who moved to The Athletic this past January, and makes one joke about him per newsletter.

“The one week that we kept that Marchand joke out, I had about probably 10 responses from people, which is, for an email like this, a lot, saying, ‘You’re not getting rid of that, are you?’” Ourand said. “I have people that email me, ‘Hey, you should do this one as a joke.’”

Two new episodes of The Varsity podcast come out per week, the Tuesday edition of which is Ourand working to recreate what he had with Marchand by inviting reporters to discuss topical media business issues. The other edition of the show, which is released every Sunday, features interviews with industry executives, commentators and agents.

“Those are good, thorough in-depth discussions just about the business and where the business is going,” Ourand said, “and so if you like that, you get a sense at who I’m talking to, and you get a sense of what is in The Varsity private email twice per week.”

As Ourand continues to build out the sports business vertical at Puck, he will be focused on following pivotal short- and long-term developments, one of which pertains to NFL media rights contracts. Ourand stated that the league will “almost certainly” opt out of most of its deals in 2029, leading to a new stage of negotiations amid a media environment that could look markedly different than the current composition. NFL games accounted for 93 of the 100 most-watched television programs last year, and the league continues to build relationships with streaming platforms such as Amazon’s Prime Video and Netflix.

“The question I have is, ‘Do you find more reach through a streamer like Netflix, or do you still find more reach on a network like FOX?,’” Ourand said. “Right now, I think it’s probably still FOX, but is it changing? How much will it change? How much will that rush to create more reach affect the NFL in its next media deal?’”

Ourand wonders if streamers will become involved with the UFC as its media rights deal with ESPN nears expiration next year, conveying that it could be “a good bellwether to check” regarding streamers becoming involved in sports. ESPN will also drive significant interest as he believes the company will “almost certainly” exercise an out in its MLB deal and launch its Flagship direct-to-consumer product. Ourand will also continue to scrutinize local media rights as MLB could aim to package them as part of national deals in the future. In the end though, he hopes to disseminate quality sports business content and contribute to Puck further augmenting its standing in the multimedia ecosystem.

“What makes a successful day is if I put out an email and I feel like I am breaking news, I’m providing analysis [and] I have things that people don’t know,” Ourand said. “It’s all an internal feel that’s difficult to ascribe. It has little to do with feedback or new subscribers or anything like that. I want my stuff to be read by decision makers, and I want them to learn something.”

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.

What Are Music Radio’s Biggest Wishes For 2025

Jeff Lynn
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What Are Music Radio’s Biggest Wishes For 2025

With 2025 looming, I ask some radio industry leaders about their biggest wishes for the coming year.

Scott Roddy, RVP Audacy Country West, and KSON San Diego PD

In 2025, I hope to see a renewed focus on local and selling how well we activate our audiences. I won’t start the new year with a “measurement” diatribe. Instead, I’ll praise how well GOOD brands activate their audiences and deliver for their advertisers.

When we generate great LOCAL content, I don’t believe any other medium connects as well as radio. This SHOULD make all GOOD brands ratings-proof. We should invest our time in raising the profile of our local talent: interact on the street in EVERY way possible regardless of body count, connect artists with fans, exploit local “white hat” moments, and provide experiences that can’t be bought. I KNOW good brands CAN put butts in seats, generate leads, move product, and make a difference in BOTH of our clients lives. (Listeners AND advertisers.) 

Mike McVay, President McVay Media Consulting

My wish for radio in the new year is a uniform realization that the medium is worth more than we’re presenting it as being worth. If an owner who was confident in the strength of their programming were brave enough to lower their commercial load … we’d see an increase in AQH. Radio has a reach that’s significantly bigger than the DSPs, but we degrade the listening experience by airing too many commercial messages. The vicious cycle is that this contamination drives down the AQH for the station, and that drives down rates. I understand that we are a “for profit” business, but I continue to believe that the erosion of audience is due to self-inflicted wounds.

If AQH is the defining metric in many markets for the value of commercial inventory, then why not focus on improving the product to increase the opportunity to increase sales because of audience growth?

Jimmy Brooks, PD 100.7 The Tiger Baton Rouge

My biggest hope for the radio industry in 2025 is that Country radio stations continue to embrace innovation and find new ways to connect with our P1s. 

At 100.7 The Tiger, we’re seeing great success with our increased digital presence. We’re shifting from being just DJs to becoming true content creators (influencers, if you will), engaging with our listeners on social platforms using Reels, Shorts, and Stories. This not only strengthens our relationships with our listeners and clients but also shows that the voices behind the mics have similar, if not the same, interests as they do. 

I believe that by using digital platforms and social media and continuing to build upon and maintain our strong relationships with record labels and our listeners, we will create a really badass 2025 promotionally! I am also super excited for the talent that we will see and hear next year. There are some really awesome artists that I cannot wait to play on the radio! 

Cheers to a fantastic 2025!

Chad Rufer, Group Director of Programming Bonneville Sacramento

If I had two wishes for 2025, my first wish would be that our industry would recognize the importance of local personalities who can connect with the community. These personalities not only provide entertainment for an audience on-air, but they also provide online and on-demand content that will elevate their brand and that of the station. Once that connection is made, watch the impact that they can have on the community. Their audience will have built trust with those personalities and will support them and what they stand for (community service/endorsements/etc.).

I also wish that our industry can come together to share the story about the impact that radio continues to have on communities and a very large audience. RADIO IS NOT DEAD, but we are allowing our competitors to market this message without fighting back. This is a task that cannot be accomplished without the support of EVERYONE.  While we can all remain competitive in our marketplace, we need to work together to praise the positive impact that radio and our personalities have each day. Remember, rising tides lift all boats.

David Moore, Brand, and Content/OM Hubbard Radio Phoenix

My biggest wish is for lots of revenue and minimal riffs. 

John Lund, Lund Media Group

What is the biggest wish for the radio industry in 2025?  I have three:

The radio business faces several key challenges and opportunities. One of the biggest needs is adapting to the evolving digital landscape. With the rise of streaming services, podcasts, and smart speakers, radio stations must innovate to stay relevant and retain their audience. And all stations need to sell digital aggressively.

Another significant need is increasing advertising revenue. Experts project the industry will experience a 14% increase in marketing budgets, driven by factors like the easing of interest rates and the return-to-office trend, which boosts commuting activity and radio listenership. However, competition from digital platforms remains fierce, and radio stations must find ways to attract and retain advertisers.

Additionally, embracing new technologies and AI is crucial. AI can help radio stations personalize content, improve audience engagement, and streamline operations.

The radio industry must be agile, innovative, and open to change to thrive in 2025.

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.

Todd Nixon Exits ‘Q104’ Kansas City Due To Budget Cuts

BMM Staff
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Todd Nixon Exits ‘Q104’ Kansas City Due To Budget Cuts

Todd Nixon is out as Program Director/morning host of Steel City Media’s Country “Q104” KBEQ-FM Kansas City.

Nixon became the program director and midday host at KBEQ in January 2017 and transitioned to the morning slot with Jenny Matthews in January 2023.

His programming experience includes WYZB in Fort Walton Beach, KRMD-FM in Shreveport, WCKT in Fort Myers, WCTQ in Sarasota, WTQR in Greensboro, and WNCB in Raleigh.

He announced the news on Facebook.

In 2023, Nixon transitioned into station ownership by establishing Sticks Media, which acquired 1410 KTNK/103.7 Lompoc, CA. The station has since been relaunched as Classic Country “Y’all 103.7.” He is also purchasing Classic Hits “93.5 Lake-FM” WLGR in Warrensburg/Glens Falls, NY. (BMM 11/15)

Reach him here.

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.

Sports Media Reacts to the Death of Greg Gumbel

BSM Staff
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Sports Media Reacts to the Death of Greg Gumbel

The sports world was saddened to learn of the passing of Greg Gumbel, the longtime sportscaster for CBS Sports, who died at the age of 78. Gumbel, who was an award-winning broadcaster for more than 50 years and worked with CBS Sports, NBC Sports, WFAN and a variety of other broadcasting outlets.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” Marcy and Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity.

“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.”

David Berson, the president & CEO of CBS Sports said, “The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television. He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague. A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four.”

Many in and around sports media expressed their thoughts on social media:

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Greg Gumbel Passes Away at the Age of 78

BSM Staff
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Greg Gumbel Passes Away at the Age of 78

Greg Gumbel, the longtime sportscaster for CBS Sports, has passed away at the age of 78, according to a Facebook post by Emmy Award-winning producer Dan Forer. Gumbel, who was an award-winning broadcaster for more than 50 years through work with CBS Sports, NBC Sports, WFAN and a variety of other broadcasting entities, graduated from Loras College and performed various charitable endeavors.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” Marcy and Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer. Greg approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace, and positivity.

“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten.

“Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”

Gumbel first joined CBS Sports in 1989 where he contributed to its coverage of the National Football League, including working as the host of The NFL Today. He took part in network coverage for the Super Bowl in 1992, 2013 and 2016, and he also worked as the prime time anchor for CBS Sports coverage of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games. After spending parts of five years with NBC Sports, he re-joined CBS Sports in 1998 to work as a host and play-by-play announcer for the NFL on CBS and college basketball.

“The CBS Sports family is devastated by the passing of Greg Gumbel. There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television,” David Berson, president and chief executive officer of CBS Sports, said in a statement. “He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague. A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time. He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March Madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four.

“Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow. It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community. We will miss Greg dearly, and send our deepest condolences to his wife Marcy, daughter Michelle, and his entire family.”

Gumbel signed an extension with CBS Sports in 2023 through which he continued working on college basketball and NCAA Tournament while stepping back from NFL play-by-play announcing. He was absent from coverage of March Madness due to “family health issues,” the network announced ahead of the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal. Adam Zucker hosted studio coverage with Clark Kellogg, Jay Wright and Seth Davis throughout the tournament.

“For close to 25 years, I enjoyed and was richly blessed by Greg’s friendship, goodness, humor, partnership, professionalism and wisdom. He was excellent in his work and exemplary in his caring and character,” Kellogg said in a statement. “Like all who knew and loved him, I too am saddened by his death, yet also so very grateful to have known him in my life. What a gift to be touched by such a good man and partner. My deepest condolences to the entire Gumbel family.”

Gumbel is one of four broadcasters to host and call the Super Bowl, along with Dick Enberg, Al Michaels and Jim Nantz. Throughout his time in the NFL on CBS broadcast booth, he worked with several commentators including Phil Simms, Adam Archuleta and AJ Ross.

“Greg Gumbel was broadcasting royalty,” Nantz said in a statement. “He was as selfless a broadcaster as anyone in the industry has ever known. Our careers intersected for nearly 35 years, and he was the consummate teammate and friend. There’s not a member of the CBS Sports family who doesn’t have a sweet or kind memory of Greg. I have so much love and respect for him, and I’m going to miss him dearly.”

“Everyone in sports television is heartbroken,” Lesley Visser, reporter and contributor at CBS Sports, said in a statement. “Greg was foundational to CBS, the straight-man with the light touch. He loved all the men and women of CBS; we were blessed with his rare humanity.”

Gumbel was hired as the first morning show host on WFAN when the station launched in the sports talk format on July 1, 1989. Before joining CBS Sports, he performed hosting and play-by-play roles for the Madison Square Garden Network for New York Knicks and New York Yankees broadcasts. Gumbel was also an anchor for SportsCenter at ESPN over his nine years with the network beginning in 1979. One of his earliest roles in the business was working at WMAQ-TV as a weekend sports anchor. Gumbel is the older brother of Bryant Gumbel, who was the host of Real Sports and anchored the Today show for 15 years.

“Greg was a role model and a pioneer,” Harold Bryant, executive producer and executive vice president of production at CBS Sports, said in a statement. “He broke barriers being one of the few Black broadcasters covering sports at the highest levels. He set a high bar for others to follow. His work was beyond reproach as he became one of the most respected broadcasters in the industry. Whether it was play-by-play, studio host, or interviewing elite athletes, Greg was as smooth and trustworthy as could be. Greg loved his family, loved The Rolling Stones, and loved CBS. He treated everybody with respect and gratitude. Greg – you will be missed.”

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Jack and Harrison Francesa Guest Host with Sal Licata on WFAN

BSM Staff
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Jack and Harrison Francesa Guest Host with Sal Licata on WFAN

Jack and Harrison Francesa, sons of former WFAN host Mike Francesa, guest hosted parts of the midday program on WFAN alongside former producer Sal Licata. A special family-friendly edition of The Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata Show featured an edition of three random questions, during which listeners learned more about Francesa’s children. Jack is a football player at Hamilton College, while Harrison is studying at Fairfield University with aspirations to work in sports media. Licata started the segment by asking them to reflect on their first memory of recognizing that they had a famous father.

Jack Francesa replied by stating that he was very young and remembered his mother always having his show playing on the radio in the house. Moreover, he used to sing the jingle and became obsessed with it, and he remembers coming to the studio seeing himself on television at the age of 5.

Later in the segment, Jack reminisced on coming in the studio with his father ahead of them attending a New York Knicks game and remembers being stopped on the street by someone who said his name rather than his father’s. Harrison shared that they had tickets for the New York Mets in 2015 and would park in the players’ lot and walk through a tunnel at Citi Field to access their seats.

“You’d walk out the tunnel, and you’d have people yelling at us from the 100 sections,” Harrison Francesa said. “They’d run to the gate where the tunnel was and they’d start yelling at him, and they’d be like, ‘Mike, Mike!’”

Licata knew Mike Francesa growing up, but he remembers going to the Subway Series game when Mets second baseman Luis Castillo dropped a pop-up that resulted in the Yankees winning the matchup. The first time he recognized Mike’s fame came as they left the stadium following the game and he was approached as if he was Taylor Swift.

“The amount of people that were mobbing your father and us as we were just walking to get to his car, it’s something that I’ll never forget,” Licata said. “It was incredible.”

The segment continued with Licata asking if either Jack or Harrison had ever won a sports argument against Mike Francesa. Harrison stated that he had not, but that the conversations generally result in them either getting shut down immediately or the discourse going back to the same things for 45 minutes and ending in a stalemate. “You never win,” Jack Francesa added. “You might be right, but you don’t win.” Jack elaborated by saying that he and his brother are just as bad, following a similar pattern of their father in having sports arguments with other people.

Licata’s final question pertained to the best sports experience Jack and Harrison have ever had with Mike Francesa. Jack explained that he had been at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta when Tom Brady secured his sixth championship with the New England Patriots. Even though it was the lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history, Jack remembers enjoying himself and being immersed in the atmosphere of the game.

“I’ve been to three Super Bowls, and just being at the Super Bowl with my dad, there’s just nothing better because the Super Bowl’s is just the Super Bowl,” Jack Francesa said. “There’s nothing [that] compares to it, and just being there with my dad, having him bless us with the opportunity to go and see it and the seats we have and seeing whoever we see there, meeting guys, it’s just awesome.”

Harrison Francesa added that he attended Super Bowl LIV in Miami, Fla. despite having a 103-degree fever and watched the Kansas City Chiefs come back to win the championship over the San Francisco 49ers. When the Chiefs achieved the feat, Harrison remembers his father, who was sitting six rows back, seeing him shoot out of his seat like a bullet and celebrating the overtime victory.

“Another thing about our dad that just goes to show how much he cares about us and puts us first,” Jack Francesa elucidated. “Me and Harrison, probably row four on the 50-yard line, and my dad was 20, 15 rows back with Julio.”

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Caitlin Fisher Named Assistant Program Director/PM Drive At WAPE Jacksonville

BMM Staff
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Caitlin Fisher Named Assistant Program Director/PM Drive At WAPE Jacksonville

Cox Media Group Top 40 95.1 WAPE in Jacksonville, FL, has appointed Caitlin Fisher as the new Assistant Program Director and afternoon host.

Fisher, a Jacksonville area native, joins WAPE after a successful tenure at Cox Country’s “K95.5” KWEN in Tulsa, where she spent the last three and a half years as a co-host on the “Cait & Bradley” morning show with Matt Bradley.

She will still be on KWEN, hosting middays and nights on Mix 96.5 KRAV.

Fisher will fill the position left vacant by Justin Cousart, who transitioned from APD/afternoon host to the Promotions and Activations Manager for Cox Jacksonville and evening host on WAPE in August.

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Newsmax Scores Key Ratings Wins on Christmas Eve

BNM Staff
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Newsmax is celebrating a recent ratings win over competitor CNN, defeating the network over four hours on Tuesday. Christmas Eve programming on Newsmax saw wins over CNN from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET according to a release from the company.

Newsmax says its shows “went head-to-head with CNN and their special holiday programming winning each time in “P2″ or total audience for all viewers.”

Tuesday’s Nielsen report showed Newsmax’s Chris Salcedo Show drew 321,000 viewers compared to CNN’s 296,000 viewers in the same hour. At 5 p.m. ET Carl Higbie FRONTLINE, which had Lidia Curanaj hosting, drew 324,000 viewers compared to CNN’s 251,000. The 6 p.m. ET hour saw Greta Van Susteren’s Christmas Special draw just about even with CNN followed by Rob Schmitt tonight with Bob Brooks hosting outdrawing CNN 297,000-205,000

Newsmax notes CNN is in nearly 10 million more homes than Newsmax. They also report that their primetime audience on Tuesday beat the combined ratings of Fox Business, CNBC, and NewsNation.

“Newsmax had a remarkable ratings year in 2024 and we’re excited about 2025,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said in a release.

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