Daniel Jeremiah is starting over, but not from scratch. He’s bringing his Move the Sticks podcast to ESPN and Omaha Productions this week, according to a report by Front Office Sports.
What We Know: Jeremiah built his reputation over a decade at NFL Media and NFL Network. Now he’s teaming with ESPN and Omaha Productions for a new version of Move the Sticks. The show debuts Thursday and airs three times weekly through May. Unlike his previous iteration of the program, Jeremiah will host solo this time. He plans on welcoming coaches, GMs, and analysts as guests.
What They Said: Daniel Jeremiah (via Front Office Sports): “I’ve fallen in love with podcasting over the last decade. It has become one of my favorite parts of this job. I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Peyton and Eli at Omaha Productions. They’ve proven you can take football seriously and still have a blast doing it—that’s always been my goal with Move the Sticks. I’m passionate about roster building, player evaluation, and leadership. This show will dive into all three. I can’t wait to get started!”
What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear whether other Move the Sticks contributors will follow Jeremiah to Omaha Productions. Bucky Brooks’ next step remains unannounced since Jeremiah is moving to a solo podcast.
What It Means: This move signals ESPN’s growing football podcast footprint. Omaha Productions continues linking marquee names like Jeremiah with the network’s audio strategy. For fans, it means fresh access to draft analysis outside the NFL’s own ecosystem. This brand adds another popular title to the Omaha Productions oversight building on the years of brand equity they’ve already assembled.
Exclusive: Daniel Jeremiah is launching a new podcast with ESPN and Omaha Productions.
“Move the Sticks with Daniel Jeremiah” will encompass college football, the NFL, and the Draft.
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America in the Morning will end after 42 years on the air. Westwood One will replace the program with The Bongino Report AM this month.
What We Know: Westwood One will air the final edition of America in the Morning on Friday, September 18th. The show has been a staple of morning radio for 42 years. Jim Bohannon originally anchored the program before stepping away in 2015. John Trout then took over as the show’s host and has led it since. However, Westwood One will end the program as it prepares to launch The Bongino Report AM. Dan Bongino‘s new nationally syndicated morning show will debut Monday, September 21st.
What’s at Stake: The move marks the end of one of the longest-running programs in nationally syndicated radio. For Westwood One, the decision also creates a new opportunity to build its morning lineup around Bongino. The conservative commentator already has a substantial national audience through his radio and digital platforms. Meanwhile, America in the Morning has provided affiliates with a long-running news-oriented morning option.
What Remains Unclear: Westwood One hasn’t publicly detailed the future plans for Trout following the show’s cancellation. It’s also unclear how many affiliates will carry The Bongino Report AM when it launches. Additionally, the network hasn’t disclosed whether stations will receive the new program as a direct replacement for America in the Morning.
What It Means: The transition represents another significant change in the nationally syndicated radio landscape. After 42 years, America in the Morning will leave the air as Westwood One gives Bongino a larger presence in morning programming. Ultimately, the move signals the network’s willingness to prioritize a high-profile personality over an established news format.
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104.3 The Score host David Haugh paid tribune to his former co-host Mike Mulligan on Monday morning. Haugh was on a planned vacation the week following Mulligan’s departure from the Chicago radio station. On Monday, he used the very start of his new program alongside Jarrett Payton to reflect on the news.
What We Know: Mulligan departed The Score after an eight-year partnership with Haugh, and two decades overall. Jarrett Payton, who recently stepped down from WGN News, has stepped in as Haugh’s new co-host. The pairing officially launched Monday morning under the Haugh & Payton banner. Haugh spoke for the first time to his morning show audience regarding Mulligan’s exit on Monday.
David Haugh pays tribute to Mike Mulligan and the show they created over the past eight years: “Mike Mulligan is a Chicago sports media icon. Mike Mulligan has been a mainstay in this city, and in sports media. From the sports writers on TV through competing against him at the Chicago Sun-Times and working with him at the Tribune as a colleague. Then here for the last eight years as his partner. I was privileged to be his partner for eight years, and we had fun. I will take our show against any in town over that eight-year period.”
David Haugh thankful to Mike Mulligan: “We had a lot of fun. We were good at what we did, and I will always, forever be grateful to Mully, as fans know him affectionately. Always be grateful to Mully for his role in my growth, personally and professionally.”
David Haugh on change in sports media: “The one thing that is constant is change. The one thing you can’t control sometimes is how that change affects people that are close to you. Maybe it will be your own career, but nothing lasts forever. Very seldom do you get things that end the way that you envision them, or the way that you want in this business. Maybe in any business, but I think the media business, given what everything has transpired in the past couple decades, especially lately. But it’s as uncontrollable and unpredictable as ever.”
David Haugh accepts all reaction to the news that Mike Mulligan is no longer part of 104.3 The Score: “I understand and I accept everyone’s reaction to this. Everyone’s feeling about what happened, and your opinions, posts, tweets. Whatever it is. I get it. Again, it’s that passion that we count on to come here every day to sit here, and talk to the people. Talk to the fan base, talk to Chicago sports fans about your teams.”
David Haugh believes listeners can be thankful and excited at the same time: “We can appreciate how great the past was. The past eight years, tremendous experience. We can appreciate that, but we also can be excited about the future. Because we’ve got to be excited about the future, because there’s a lot to be excited about.”
David Haugh on having mixed feelings about starting a new show with Mike Mulligan’s departure: “I am here, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I have mixed feelings. Because you do like and appreciate what we accomplished and what that was. But I’m also excited about what will be.”
What Remains Unclear: Mulligan’s next career move has not been announced. Haugh acknowledged the unpredictability of the industry broadly, saying change remains constant. Meanwhile, listener reaction continues across social media.
What It Means: Haugh’s comments suggest a very personal reaction to the news of Mulligan’s departure. By publicly thanking Mulligan while introducing Payton, he’s attempting to honor the show’s history and build trust for its future. Consequently, the framing signals The Score wants continuity driving the narrative. Still, how audiences respond to Payton over time will ultimately determine the new show’s staying power.
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Branden Lee has left KXNA 104.9 The X in Springdale/Fayetteville, Arkansas. The longtime host of “The AMX” concluded his quarter-century tenure at the station.
What We Know Lee invested 25 years at Rox Radio Group’s alternative station. He served as production director and hosted “3B Radio” afternoons alongside Chris Bobbitt and Bailey Mendenhall. Additionally, KXNA appears to be shifting its programming direction. Lee shared his departure through a personal statement rather than an official press release.
What They Said Lee took to Facebook to share his perspective, stating: “After 25 years on the air at KXNA 104.9 The X, my time with the station has come to an end. Quarter of a century is a significant chapter of a life.” He then expressed gratitude to listeners, artists, and his team. Notably, he declared: “Zero intention of stepping away from the mic.”
What Remains Unclear Nobody has specified the exact reasons behind the format or programming change. Furthermore, KXNA has not issued an official statement about its future direction. We don’t know whether Lee pursued another opportunity or faced a forced transition. Similarly, the station has not revealed its next steps for on-air talent.
What It Means Lee’s departure signals potential upheaval in Northwest Arkansas radio. Long-tenured on-air personalities carry significant community equity with listeners. Consequently, his commitment to remaining active suggests the market will see him again soon. Stay tuned…
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David Roberts never needed the spotlight. That’s exactly what made him effective. The ESPN Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Sports News and Entertainment confirmed in April that he was retiring at the end of August. Today, marks the end of the professional journey of a lifetime for Roberts.
David’s career started in Detroit in 1978 as a reporter at Black-owned TV station WGPR. Stops followed across the Southeast and Midwest before joining ESPN in 2004. Those seeking deeper insight on the early part of Roberts’ career should read this article.
This piece, though, focuses on his time at ESPN. It includes feedback from those who’ve worked closest with him, and my own perspective based on a decade of interactions.
Extending the Olive Branch
I launched Barrett Media in 2015, and have spoken many times to David. He’s measured, intelligent, curious, and direct. The bass in his voice and the fact that he’s 70 and looks 55 might be more impressive than his five-decade run. He is also an avid reader of our work, so he clearly has good taste.
When you first talk to him, he presents himself as all business, rarely seeking credit for himself, preferring to promote his people and employer. Whether a decision was popular or not, he was accessible, and gave a detailed answer. That’s all I’ve ever asked for when dealing with executives at a brand as big as ESPN.
Early on, I didn’t know what to expect with David. I knew many people at ESPN, but our paths hadn’t crossed beyond one interaction during an ESPN affiliate day in Bristol, CT, when I programmed 101 ESPN in St. Louis. A professional relationship had to be built from scratch.
With Barrett Media covering the industry closely, he had little reason to discuss business with me, but he did. We didn’t talk often, maybe a few times per year, but when we did, it was productive. What I appreciated most is that he’d reach out when there wasn’t a story to discuss. If the only time you hear from people is when they’re complaining, asking for a favor or pitching a story, you become less excited to talk. It’s also hard to have nuanced conversations about key issues if both sides don’t know or understand each other.
Commitment to Diversity
Sports media’s report card with diversity has been especially important to Roberts. In an interview in 2017, he said, “It used to make me sick to my stomach to watch local news operations and network news operations. You’d look around and see the lack of diversity. Then they would wonder why the complaints would flow in about the lack of balance in the programming and news content that they produce.”
David wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. He pushed ESPN to lead from the front. Few companies have shown a greater commitment to presenting a diverse roster than ESPN. It’s undeniable that many in front of and behind the camera are in positions today because of his influence.
In a video shared at an NABJ reception this year, Senior Studio Operator Shadeed Sharpe labeled Roberts a trailblazer, thanking him for making sure people who looked like him had a seat at the table. VP of Production James Dunn put it even more directly: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Dave Roberts.”
When I spoke to Roberts on Friday, he told me why improving diversity was so important to him.
“It was about leveling the playing field and reflecting the communities ESPN served,” said Roberts. “Look at the representation of athletes across the NFL, NBA, College Football, and others. They are made up of people from all walks of life. It’s important for ESPN to present a product that represents everyone. Diversity has proven to be good business.”
My first real conversation with David occurred in 2015. I was writing about sports radio’s diversity issues, and he was guarded during our discussion. Not many were tackling that issue, let alone a middle-aged white guy. But that first article made a difference. David saw that I cared about the issue and was starting an important conversation. I’d write a second column on it in 2017, and tackled it three separate times at the Barrett Media Summit. David even spoke on a panel in 2022 alongside Pablo Torre and Debbie Brown.
Stephen A. Smith saw the balancing act up close over two decades working under Roberts.
“Diversity was incredibly important to him, but not at the expense of success,” Smith said. “He was definitely interested in giving people from different backgrounds a chance, and making sure diversity issues were addressed, but if it wasn’t successful, he’d go in a different direction. He was about winning, first.”
Smith also pointed to the pressure that Roberts endured that others didn’t face or understand.
“The vast majority of his time, he was the only Black person in the room — the only Black executive in the room. There was a tremendous level of pressure on him to be the guy that addressed those needs but he still had to win to stay relevant. He viewed me as his number one soldier, and I took it with pride and wore it as a badge of honor. I tried to help him be the best that he could be because I knew he had done the same for me. Very few people could handle the responsibility, but he did for years.”
Connecting With Talent
David’s partnership with Stephen A. Smith is one of the most significant talent relationships in sports media history. Stephen A. is arguably the biggest star in the business. Roberts understood his value early on, pushing Smith to return to ESPN in 2011 after he was let go in 2009 — offering him a role on radio that paid less than what he deserved. Roberts’ candor and belief in Smith convinced him to say yes and trust the process.
“He was somebody that was a very strong supporter and champion of mine. He resurrected my career,” Smith said. “I trusted him. He believed in me tirelessly. He put me front and center with everything. I’ve never had an executive believe in me as much as he did. It catapulted me to new heights because it compelled the bosses to feel the same, and it all started with him.”
Photo Credit: David Roberts, NABJ Reception Video
Smith didn’t shy away from what made Roberts a demanding boss, either.
“He was tyrannical about winning. He worked day and night. There was never a time when he wasn’t available. There was never a time where you could safely assume you weren’t going to get a call from him. He wanted to win. He’s definitely an acquired taste. If you’re lazy or looking to cut corners, he’s not for you. If you’re looking to work 9 to 5 and then just go home, he’s not for you. That’s not who he is. This man was going to work, work, work, and do whatever it took to win.”
Roberts’ respect and appreciation for Smith is mutual.
“Stephen A. is a winner. He settles for nothing less. He works hard and he works smart. First Take has been a big success with Stephen A. as the show’s biggest star. It has been an honor to work with him.”
Roberts also believed strongly in Mike Greenberg. In numerous conversations, he praised Greeny’s consistency, professionalism, work ethic, and ability to get the most out of a show, helping to build GetUp! into the morning franchise it is today.
I asked Greenberg about Roberts’ influence. He told me, “Dave is one of the most effective executives I have ever worked with. He knows what makes good TV and is relentless in his pursuit of it. He’s also a kindhearted man, who genuinely wants the best for everyone and asks for nothing in return. I’m going to miss him a lot.”
Roberts’ touch extended to ESPN Radio too. Freddie Coleman spent years working for him.
“Dave was as fearless as they came when it involved finding and taking chances on talent,” said Coleman. “He understood what the audience wanted. Finding the right messengers to deliver it is a skill that not too many people possess in our business. Dave had it. If something wasn’t working, he wasn’t afraid to move on and try something/someone else. I appreciate everything he did for me.”
In that same NABJ video, Monica McNutt and Chiney Ogwumike praised Roberts’ leadership, fierce commitment to different voices, and his demanding of a higher standard of excellence. Treavor Scales added, “Being authentic was important to Dave, and he empowered me to do that.”
But not every talent loved Roberts, who was behind the cancellations of “SC6”, “High Noon”, and “Around the Horn”, among others. He also played a key role in ESPN parting with Jemele Hill, Michael Smith, Bomani Jones, Clinton Yates, “The Dan Le Batard Show,” Sarah Spain, Max Kellerman, and Keith Olbermann.
Three personalities told me off the record that David’s lack of patience and occasional kneejerk decision-making created tension, though all three praised him for going to bat for them even when they wondered where they stood with him. If Roberts believed in your talent and ability to command an audience, he found ways to utilize you, regardless of past experiences.
The Management Perspective
Roberts also earned the respect of many executives — none more than ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
“David Roberts spent nearly 50 years shaping editorial coverage in this business — 25 in local news and more than 20 at ESPN,” said Pitaro. “Over that time, he has been recognized for his work on a wide range of programs and content, helping to drive audience engagement. David has also made a mark identifying talent, on air and off, and has guided numerous show launches, expansions, and redesigns. The company is grateful for his contributions within the industry over the years and recognizes the impact that David has had on the many that he championed.”
Pitaro’s predecessor, John Skipper, the former ESPN President and co-Chairman of Disney Networks, elevated him to Senior Coordinating Producer in 2007, VP/GM of ESPN New York 98.7 FM in 2009, and VP of the ESPN Audio network in 2013.
“I always enjoyed working with Dave,” shared Skipper. “He was a man with a big smile, voice, and mind made for radio. Dave had a wonderful collaborative spirit, good heart, and a robust work ethic. Just remembering him warms my soul.”
Another decision-maker with a front-row seat to Roberts’ career is ESPN President of Content, Burke Magnus. When news of Roberts’ retirement became public, Magnus said, “David Roberts has had a long and extremely distinguished career in this industry. We’ve been fortunate to have him as part of the ESPN team for more than two decades. His leadership has made a tremendous difference and he will leave a lasting legacy at ESPN. We wish him all the best in retirement.”
Amanda Gifford, ESPN’s SVP of Production and the head of college football event and studio productions, added, “I learned so much from David. He taught me that sometimes the best decision isn’t the easiest. He also made me think about who we have on the air, what people we have in meetings, and how we’re making sure we’re reflecting our audience, both on the air and behind the scenes.”
A few off-the-record decision-makers felt Roberts’ intensity and frequent changes made it difficult to connect with him and trust his vision. Two did say though that aside from not seeing eye to eye at times, he made the company better.
An Open Mind and Ear
Roberts helped identify and elevate key talent such as Elle Duncan, Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Christine Williamson. He also pushed for Will Cain on First Take, giving him a daily show on ESPN Radio. Cain, who now hosts a daily show for Fox News shared what set Roberts apart.
“Media is full of fragile egos and Dave is a bull in a China shop. He’s not afraid to tell talent or executives exactly what he thinks of a personality or a show. But Dave also has an eye for that spark in a person, a relationship between on-air talent, or in an opinion that works on TV. I think he saw that in me and I appreciate him championing me on First Take and ESPN Radio. Dave was tough but I don’t think you can argue much with the calls he made on shows that did and didn’t work on ESPN. He had vision and balls, and that makes him rare in any business.”
As important as new voices were, Roberts also valued proven stars like Rich Eisen, Michael Wilbon, Brian Windhorst, and Shannon Sharpe. He also appreciated and respected Kevin Negandhi and Nicole Briscoe’s work.
Roberts was also curious, happy to switch roles and become the interviewer rather than the interviewee. Last October, I praised ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown after watching a strong two hours. Most people will reach out with “thanks for the kind words” or “this is why you’re the best.” David wanted to know specifically what I liked from the show and why. When I cited the rundown, segment lengths, production use, Greeny’s lead-ins, and specific insights shared by the analysts, he appreciated the detail. He knew I watched the product professionally, and wasn’t just blowing smoke.
Conversely, in 2023, I called out ESPN Radio. David and others up top may not have loved my commentary, but they knew some of the criticism was fair. I said then, and still believe, that ESPN Radio shuffled its lineup too much and made a mistake replacing Jim and Dawn Cutler. Lineup stability matters in radio, and the Cutlers gave the network its signature sound and identity — which is why many local ESPN Radio stations still utilize them today.
Regardless, David never took my difference of opinion personally. He knew my willingness to challenge ESPN’s decisions came from a respectful place. I value the brand and many who work there but I believe in calling balls and strikes. I knew that he was making decisions he felt were in ESPN’s best interests, even when I disagreed. People who operate that way have my respect.
The Long and Winding Road
When news broke that Roberts was retiring in August, I knew this piece had to drop on his final day. I told David on Friday that I appreciated his professionalism over the past decade. I asked him what the past few months have been like, knowing he was inching closer to the finish line. He said, “I’ve enjoyed it because it’s allowed me time for reflection. I’ve had a chance to meet with people and provide mentorship to many who are in roles that I put them in. I am fortunate to have worked for this company, and am proud of what we accomplished.”
Roberts started as a reporter before taking assignment editor and executive producer roles across multiple states. He became news director at WDTN-TV in Dayton, Ohio — the first African American news director in the state’s history — and did it again in Atlanta in 1996. Roberts broke barriers without making the barrier-breaking his identity.
At ESPN, that same approach defined his tenure. He oversaw SportsCenter, First Take, Get Up, PTI, NFL Live, ESPN Audio, and podcasting, and spent time in radio managing ESPN New York 1050. His career highlights include the launch of NBA Today in October 2021, six consecutive years of First Take live shows at HBCU campuses, and Rich Eisen’s return to ESPN. The studio numbers he leaves behind are remarkable: in Q1 2026, the 6 p.m. SportsCenter, SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, the Saturday morning SportsCenter, and the 2 p.m. SportsCenter all recorded their highest first-quarter viewership ever.
The Next Chapter
Roberts’ immediate focus is on helping his family — his mother is older and needs regular care. With a residence in both Connecticut and Georgia, he’ll now have time to connect with his siblings and enjoy the world of sports stress-free.
Looking ahead, Roberts believes ESPN is positioned to remain strong. He points to the performance of the network’s studio shows and the wealth of talent across the company to reinforce his opinion. He is sold on Jimmy Pitaro too. During our conversation, Roberts cited Pitaro’s leadership and ability to work with Disney executives on retaining live-events partnerships as reasons he trusts ESPN will retain its lead as the best in the sports content business moving forward.
As he signs off, Roberts appreciates that many will miss him, and understands that some won’t. Talented executives who spend decades leading and making decisions under the nation’s spotlight are going to generate mixed feelings. But you don’t earn giant influence at a company like ESPN without skill, confidence, commitment, and a fearless mentality. Whether you loved his style and decisions or not, Roberts won, and he won a lot.
David Roberts changed the game for the better over twenty-two years with ESPN. He exits overseeing one of the biggest news operations in sports media. Nearly 50 years after first stepping into a newsroom, he’s leaving with a legacy most media executives would envy. Congratulations, David, on a job well done.
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A 72-year-old shock jock cuts to one day a week. Suddenly, everyone’s panicking. Here’s the thing: Howard Stern doesn’t need to prove anything anymore. The headlines went catastrophic fast. Howard 101 is leaving SiriusXM. Reduced hours. The Stern universe shrinking. One show a week. It all spelled the same narrative: the King of All Media is fading.
However, there’s a piece nobody’s talking about yet. Over the weekend came the real story. Stern reportedly inked a deal with HBO Max. One three-hour live show on Mondays. Edited highlights for streaming weekly. That’s not retirement. It’s editing. That’s a 72-year-old guy deciding which parts of his job he still wants.
The Context Everybody Missed
Here’s what we expected to happen: a final battle. One last controversy. Some executive finally drawing the line Howard couldn’t cross. Stern storms out. Lawyers get involved. Microphones fly. He leaves radio the way he spent decades in it—fighting somebody.
Instead, he beat that ending. He won.
That’s the part getting lost in the noise. Howard spent his entire career battling management, the FCC, corporate radio—anybody who tried to tell Howard Stern what he couldn’t say. Eventually, he bailed on terrestrial radio entirely. Satellite meant no FCC. No restrictions. No people telling him “no.” The revolution worked. He got his freedom.
And here’s the irony: the freedom he fought decades to capture eliminated the fight itself.
The Bigger Lesson
Radio has this strange expectation. The great ones should keep grinding until somebody forces them to stop. We romanticize the morning shift at 3:30 a.m. for 30 years. Program directors checking ratings on vacation. People miss birthdays, anniversaries, family events because radio never shuts off.
Howard was the ultimate slave to the art. Perhaps he finally doesn’t want to be anymore.
Good. He’s earned that.
What Comes Next
The final Howard Stern lesson might not be about radio at all. It’s knowing when you’ve won. And then knowing you’re allowed to change the rules. There doesn’t need to be a dramatic firing. There doesn’t need to be another war. And there doesn’t need to be one final middle finger aimed at the establishment.
He already conquered the establishment. Now he gets to work Mondays.
At 72 years old, after everything he’s accomplished, I’m struggling to figure out why anybody thinks that’s a problem. So let’s cut the guy a break. He’s not a quitter. He’s not betraying anybody. And he’s definitely not surprising us.
The King of All Media isn’t losing his crown. He just figured out he doesn’t have to wear it every day.
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Curtis Sliwa isn’t interested in turning his 710 WOR morning show into another all-Trump, all-the-time program, and he makes that clear every single day behind the microphone in New York. While 77 WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg has built a growing national profile over the past decade as one of Donald Trump’s most outspoken defenders, Sliwa insists his approach couldn’t be more different.
“What we provide in the morning on WOR is a balanced point of view,” said Sliwa. “Larry (Mendte), the news guy, that’s been his tradition. And he’s also a big Trumper. I’m more of the commentator, and as everybody knows, I’m not a Trumper. I’m a free agent. I like to listen to all different opinions.”
His refusal to fixate on the president extends well beyond politics, too.
“We’re not just totally prisoners of Trump talk, which I refuse to do,” Sliwa said. “I made that very clear in coming back: I was not going to become an echo chamber for Donald Trump. It’s proven to be very successful for us. Very successful. We’re the only ones in the marketplace talking about AI and the data filing centers, which is a hot issue. The Flock cameras, a hot issue. The social networking problems of Meta and the others, a hot issue.”
Sizing Up the Competition
Sliwa doesn’t shy away from contrasting his approach with Rosenberg’s, either. He argues that most talk hosts simply echo whatever aired on Fox News Channel the night before, and he sees that repetition as an opportunity rather than a threat.
“It’s just common sense, since everybody else basically imitates one another and repeats what they heard on the Fox News Channel the night before,” Sliwa said. “You don’t even have to counterprogram. That’s why so many people have decided to come over to us. My legacy is with WABC, where for 35 years, most of which I was there, the acronym became ‘Always Broadcasting Curtis.'”
According to Sliwa, Rosenberg’s fixation on a narrow set of topics has become entirely predictable.
“If you listen to the competition, Sid in the morning, he’s predictable,” the 710 WOR morning host shared. “It’s Israel first, that’s what he focuses on the most. Then naturally he goes into the conflict between Jews and Muslims. That’s not our priority, that’s not our audience’s priority. And then he goes into being the shock jock, saying Mamdani is a terrorist. There’s only so much of that you can do, even that got him banned from the Fox News Channel.”
Sliwa credits co-host Larry with balancing out the newscast before the commentary begins, and he says listener calls keep the show honest.
“Larry sets the story up, he gives you all the elements you need without an opinion, which is so important,” Sliwa said. “Then we come in with the commentary, and I think that’s what people appreciate. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we don’t. And then we get talkbacks, which are really calls that people have called in. Our competition, Sid, never takes calls.”
The Pulse of the Subway
Beyond the studio, Sliwa points to his subway routine as the real reason his show stays grounded in everyday concerns instead of Trump-centric talking points. He rides the trains for hours nearly every day, treating every car as an impromptu focus group.
“I have the pulse of average, everyday people,” Sliwa said. “The subway is the great equalizer. Once the doors close and I’m on there hours each day and each night, I basically have a focus group, and there’s no escape. You’ll get guys screaming at you, then, because I’m a Republican, I have to go over and correct them.”
Those conversations, he says, consistently point back to kitchen-table issues rather than partisan warfare.
“You find out what the real issues are to them, as opposed to what the news often focuses on,” the 710 WOR morning host shared. “It comes down constantly to affordability, cost of living, this war in Iran that nobody can understand. The cost of groceries, the cost of gas, the cost of electricity, what are we doing in Iran?”
That pulse of the people, paired with Larry’s suburban perspective, is what Sliwa believes separates 710 WOR’s morning show from the competition.
“Larry is more the suburban voice because he lives in the suburbs, so he gives you more of the suburban feel,” Sliwa said. “You get a nice mix that way. And again, because we often don’t agree, you hear all different points of view. And then you come to your own conclusion.”
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It had been four years since Andrew Perloffleft home with The Dan Patrick Show. In December 2021, Perloff, known to the radio audience as “McLovin,” bid adieu after joining the program in 2007. Following his departure, Perloff would test the waters away from the foundation he built with the Dan Patrick program in Milford, Connecticut.
Over the last four years, Perloff served alongside Maggie Gray at the Infinity Sports Network until late last year, when the network announced it would merge with the BetMGM Network to form Westwood One Sports. Perloff departed in search of his next steps, knowing his natural place still resided at home.
“There’s going to be a narrative that Dan Patrick saved my career. I want to make one thing clear. That is absolutely true,” says Perloff. “Shame? The exact opposite is what I feel. Dan’s the idiot who put me on the air in the first place… It goes beyond a job, but it meant a lot personally to be welcomed back home.”
A Fresh Start In Familiar Territory
Beginning today, Perloff rejoins The Dan Patrick Show team, but in a new capacity. He will serve as a co-host of a new weekday program that follows the sports Emmy-nominated radio program. Alongside Dan Patrick Show producer Paul Pabst, Perloff will host Not So Fast. The show plans to serve as an extension of the Patrick program while also building itself as a standalone show separate from its radio counterpart.
“When I left The Dan Patrick Show, Paul and I would still talk all the time. I stayed tight with everyone here, so coming back did feel like coming back home,” explained Perloff.
Pabst, who has been part of The Dan Patrick Show since its inception, says the chemistry the two built over the years provides an established model for a new project. The two previously hosted a radio show and podcast titled The Leisuremen for NBC Sports Radio, making the transition to Not So Fast a smooth one.
“Andrew isn’t a guy we lost touch with for four years. In fact, it’s quite the opposite,” said Pabst. “When we would go to the Super Bowl, for example, if Andrew was there too, we would always find time to hang out. The relationship never ended between us and the rest of The Dan Patrick Show.”
Not So Fast Concept
The concept for the program was born from an internal conversation between representatives of Peacock and The Dan Patrick Show. Pabst explained that during a March conference call, Peacock executives noted they wished they had a fourth hour of The Dan Patrick Show because of the success it has earned on the streaming platform.
“It happened out of nowhere without a plan. I said on this Zoom meeting we were on, ‘What if we came up with something else for the next hour?’ I wish I had a better story for how it came up,” joked Pabst. “When I drove home, I knew Andrew was available. As a producer, my wheels started turning. Wouldn’t it be great to get Andrew back and do a show? I went in the next day and talked with Dan [Patrick] and Eric Jones [director of operations, Dan Patrick Show], and we decided to go for it.”
From there, the wheels went into motion to bring Perloff back as he continued navigating his next steps following his departure from the Infinity Sports Network.
“There were a lot of podcast offers, but everyone wanted a rev share. Some of them went down the road. But when this came up, I put some legit concrete plans to the side,” said Perloff, who noted he didn’t see an immediate future on over-the-air radio following his departure from Maggie & Perloff. “There’s a lot of people I would love to work with, but doing something with Paul would have been great… This was in the works for a long time, so a big chunk of the last eight months was developing this show.”
Locking in Perloff for the project wasn’t immediate and took time. Pabst continued to keep Perloff informed of the process and any updates while Perloff received offers from other projects and outlets.
“We had a lot of momentum, but you never know till it’s locked. I was on the phone with Andrew nightly telling him we’re working on it. He had more than a few people reach out to him. If I would have lost the guy again, I would have been really bummed,” says Pabst.
Being Different With Familiar Elements
Not So Fast isn’t going to be housed far from The Dan Patrick Show studio. In fact, the studio built for the new program was previously a green room within the same facility. Pabst and Perloff plan to broadcast from the facility in Connecticut the entire time.
Their muse for the show will be influenced by ESPN programs such as Pardon the Interruption and SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt. The concept is simple: Two longtime friends who genuinely have chemistry with one another debate sports topics while having fun in the process. One advantage of sharing a building with The Dan Patrick Show is having the entire facility available for content, from the basketball court to the coffee machine. Perloff calls the facility a “Disneyland for sports.”
The show doesn’t plan to be fully independent from the Patrick radio program. Both Pabst and Perloff plan to use clips from the show and have guest appearances with Dan if a topic strikes and makes the rundown.
“The show will have the DNA of The Dan Patrick Show. It’s truly a handoff from his show to our show. Little differences in the format and the tone. But this is a television show shot for television,” notes Pabst.
Dan Patrick’s Second Act
Not So Fast is a Dan Patrick Show production. In fact, the logo even includes the words “Dan Patrick presents” at the forefront. That branding is intentional and important. With Patrick’s looming retirement coming up in February 2028, the goal is to continue building projects outside the daily radio program leading up to that date.
“Dan likes being busy. Whatever he’s going to do in a year and a half, he’s going to do. But he would be building this show even if he wasn’t retiring. He likes to try new things,” explained Pabst. “There’s going to be more coming. Dan owns this building, and he’s going to max it out.”
Perloff noted the facility in Connecticut was much busier and buzzing than when he left in 2021. But his return to co-host Not So Fast with Pabst isn’t intended as a demo for what could come next in the radio program’s daypart.
“That is not on my mind at all,” said Perloff. “We want to make Not So Fast a standalone show that is independent of The Dan Patrick Show. This is just me. Whatever is going to happen with Dan from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., we’re really focused on NBC Sports Now and Peacock at noon. It really hasn’t crossed my mind at all.”
Pabst agreed, noting it would be a bad idea to build a new program while hoping for a “parlay” of sorts with the eventual end of The Dan Patrick Show. However, he also noted that plenty of possibilities remain moving forward.
“I will say this. Dan has always said if he’s having fun, healthy, and all is well with my family, why would I quit? That’s what he’s said to me since 2002. So, all of us have said, ‘Let’s make it hard for Dan to retire,’” said Pabst. “Everything and anything is in play. When you have a talent like Dan Patrick, no one wants him to ride into the sunset. I know I don’t.”
With February 2028 still approaching, both hope that if it is Patrick’s final week of programs, he has the opportunity to soak it all in. Perloff expects that week to be emotional. Even noting that the walls of the program itself insulate the amount of impact it has on the outside world.
Pabst compared Patrick’s legacy in sports radio to David Letterman’s legacy in late night. Saying the best compliment the show still receives is that it keeps listeners not just entertained, but laughing along the way. With that mindset, the hope is Not So Fast will provide the same comfort and entertainment for its viewing audience beginning today.
For Perloff, the return to Milford is about much more than a new television show. It is a return to the place where his career took shape, surrounded by the people who helped make him “McLovin” in the first place.
For Pabst, it is an opportunity to build something new without abandoning the DNA that made The Dan Patrick Show successful for so long. And for Patrick, it is another piece of a larger vision. One that extends beyond the daily three-hour program that has defined his career.
There is still plenty of time before February 2028 arrives. Maybe Patrick will retire. Maybe he won’t. It’s possibly the next chapter of the building he owns will look nothing like what anyone expects today.
But whatever comes next, Pabst and Perloff aren’t waiting for the final Dan Patrick Show to figure it out. They’re building what comes next now, taking the time to establish Not So Fast. All while carrying forward the DNA that brought them together in the first place.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
On Friday, I watched 65,000 fans pack Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. for the Savannah Bananas. My old Wired 96.5/WRDW colleague Mark “Shark” Ediss invited me to attend the game. Mark has worked with the Bananas since 2016 and in a full-time touring role DJ since 2023. What I saw was part circus, part radio festival, and part New England sports fans reunion. I couldn’t help but sit there and think about how radio should be taking notes.
They Made It Local, Not Just a Tour Stop
The Bananas could have run the same show anywhere. Instead, it felt like they built the night around New England. Patriots legend Willie McGinest got a hero’s welcome. The Patriots cheerleaders performed multiple times including a fully incorporated routine with the Man-Nanas aka the Savannah Bananas “Dad Bod Cheer Squad.” Every local touch told the crowd this show belonged to them, not just to the Bananas.
Radio does this well when we try. Even a well-produced syndicated morning show can still nod to the market it’s airing in. Local references turn passive listeners into invested ones. The Bananas proved that scale and specificity can coexist. A stadium show can still feel like the hometown team took the field.
They Never Let a Second Go to Waste
There was zero downtime, and I mean zero. From 2pm-10pm it was non-stop action. Between innings, actually even during innings, something was always happening. A large, personality-driven cast filled every gap with a bit, a dance, or a moment.
Compare that to a format clock with awkward pauses of dead air or repetitive liners. Listeners tune out the second they sense a lull. The Bananas treated every gap as an opportunity. Radio should treat every break the same way. Fill it with personality, not filler.
They Built in Real Emotional Stakes
The “Bananas Foster” salute honored a local foster family, and the stadium felt it. Moments for military members, first responders, and teachers followed. None of it felt like a sponsor read. It felt like genuine community recognition.
Then came the surprise: Keith Urban took the field mid-show. Both teams filmed their own TikTok backup dances while he performed. Nobody saw it coming, and that unpredictability made the whole crowd lean in.
Radio can build that same anticipation. A surprise guest, an unannounced giveaway, or a spontaneous on-air moment creates buzz that scheduled content can’t match. Predictability is comfortable, but surprise is what people talk about the next morning.
The game started at 7 p.m., but the fan zone opened at 2 p.m. Players signed autographs and posed for photos for hours before first pitch. A marching band led both teams through the pregame crowd for high fives. After the final out, cast members were back outside signing more autographs.
For an event with 65,000 people, it felt intimate the entire time. Fans didn’t just watch the Bananas; they interacted with them, again and again. That’s the touch-point strategy radio should study closely.
Listeners want more than a voice on the air. They want appearances, social interaction, and real access to the people behind the mic. Stations that show up at every possible touch point, not just during a scheduled remote, build the kind of loyalty the Bananas earned in one night.
The Savannah Bananas didn’t reinvent baseball. They reinvented the experience around it. Local relevance, constant energy, genuine emotion, and true accessibility turned a game into a movement. Oh, and there was some baseball, too.
Radio has all the same tools. We have local knowledge, live personalities, and direct access to our communities. Friday night at Gillette Stadium showed how far those tools can go when a team actually uses all of them.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
A lot of what passes for media measurement discussion has recently focused on YouTube’s announcement of a change to the definition of a “view” on the service. As of last Monday (8/24), if a video starts, it’s a “view.” Apparently, this matches the definition of the metric for almost every platform.
If you want to understand how YouTube measures its definitions of impressions, views, engaged views, and qualified views, watch two videos (on YouTube, of course) that last a bit over three minutes combined — enough time to get a quarter hour of credit in PPM, but not in the diary service.
How YouTube Defines Views, Impressions, and Engagement
YouTube now says that if a video starts, it’s been viewed.
However, YouTube has also introduced something called “engaged views.”
If you want to be truly confused by all this, watch this video from Rene Ritchie. He describes himself as an “OG Creator now working at YouTube.”
Here’s the link, which might keep you engaged for just over two minutes.
Some definitions from YouTube, quoting from Rene’s video:
A “view” means that you watched the first frame. According to Google Gemini, a YouTube frame lasts between 16.7 and 41.7 milliseconds. And you thought a three-minute minimum for PPM credit was short.
An “engaged view” is defined as watching past the initial frame. In other words, somewhere between about 33.4 and 83.4 milliseconds (one frame times two). You can count as “engaged” in around 1/20th of a second. Rene says you need engaged views to earn money as a creator.
An “impression” is credited “if you see a thumbnail recommended on the home page or suggested on the watch page and you don’t interact with it in any way,” but it’s not counted as a “view.”
“If you see a thumbnail recommended on the home page or suggested on the watch page and you hover over it and it starts to autoplay, that is now counted as a ‘view’ from the very first frame,” he goes on to say. “And if you let it keep playing for some amount of seconds after that first frame, it’s an engaged view. Same for a Short in the Shorts feed. The moment it starts to play, it’s a view.”
Rene goes on to debunk the belief that it took 30 seconds for YouTube to register an “engaged view.” He said, “It’s simply not the case. YouTube doesn’t specify how many seconds because it can vary across surfaces. And YouTube also doesn’t want anyone focusing on gaming the metric.”
He goes on to mention the YouTube Partner Program, which is based on “qualified views,” explained in this video he made.
Qualified views for long-form video come from “public long-form videos or archived live streams.” He mentioned that Shorts views must be “engaged views,” as defined earlier. He said “engaged” means the video was “watched long enough for YouTube analytics to count it as an engaged view.” Again, “qualified views” must be public.
What This Means for Advertisers and Media Buyers
While there has been a fair amount of questioning and some condemnation about this change, I’m going to go with caveat emptor, or “buyer beware.” We’ve seen consistent reductions over the years in what constitutes viewing, listening, or reading. Meanwhile, we hear words like “engagement” and “attention,” along with all sorts of other ways to measure whether an individual absorbs a commercial message and whether they do anything as a result — assuming, of course, that the viewer, listener, or reader is a human and not a bot.
Perhaps your synapses fire faster than mine, but it generally takes me more than 1/20th of a second to become engaged with any form of media. And can you imagine if Nielsen had ever said something to radio people like, “We can’t tell you how much time it takes to qualify for a quarter hour, because someone might game the system”? We’d either laugh them out of the room or begin throwing rotten fruit and vegetables, assuming anyone brought some to a Nielsen meeting.
I don’t know what media planners and buyers think about all this, but when impressions are counted because a video thumbnail showed up on your page, or when engaged views can take as little as 1/20th of a second, I hope they’re asking questions. But were they asking these questions of Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube Shorts before this announcement? Can agency people look their clients in the eye and say, “Yes, this is a good place to advertise because you’re getting lots of engaged views”? What are we missing here?
Let’s meet again next week.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
