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Greg FM: Because Nobody Ever Requested “15 Songs In A Row”

Phil Becker
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Greg FM: Because Nobody Ever Requested “15 Songs In A Row”

Radio has spent the better part of the last fifteen years arguing about music. Meanwhile, for $11 a month, listeners already have access to every song ever recorded. They can build their own station, skip the songs they hate, and replay the ones they love. They also never have to sit through a sweeper reminding them they are listening to “the best variety for your workday, playing at least 15 songs in a row on the station that picks you up, makes you feel good, delivers a better mix, has more winners than anyone else, and is now streaming.”

Music is still the emotional engine of a radio station. But in 2026, getting the music right is a minimum requirement. Expecting applause for that is like asking your boss for a raise because you showed up to work sober.

Instead, the investment for broadcasters has to be talent. Ideally, talent that is not everywhere, all the time, available on every platform in the same form. Talent that creates a reason to come back and a reason to listen now.

Meet Greg FM

That is why Yea Network’s Greg FM caught my attention.

Greg FM is a new, syndicated, personality-first format built around Greg Beharrell. In fact, he serves as the personality, writer, producer, voice, and connective Kleenex of the entire format.

Jack, Bob, and the other imaginary guys radio executives invented in a boardroom full of dudes over the years. Greg, however, is an actual person.. A person your listeners, clients, PDs, and stations can actually connect with. Try that with Jack FM. He won’t respond. He’s too busy playing what he wants.

Affiliates can use the Greg FM imaging, voicework, writing, and production while maintaining local control of their own music. Alternatively, they can pair the format with a tested and focused music feed.

Actual Person, Not an Algorithm

In my listening, what stood out is that Greg FM is not just a playlist. It is not just a few subjectively funny ChatGPT liners sprinkled on top, either. It is a 24/7 entertainment architecture built around talent with wins in Los Angeles and 90-plus other markets. That talent has done Super Bowl commercials, sitcom and film writing, cartoon voiceovers, and delivered radio brands winning results.

Greg is independent. Indeed, he is not beholden to a company that stole its naming convention from Apple. He’s also not named after a cloud or a model line of a Honda minivan.

I find Greg Beharrell to be one of the most interesting radio personalities working in the United States and Canada. I also think he is often misunderstood by the legacy, AARP-card-carrying corner of broadcasting that still believes personalities have to “crush and roll” with “hey gang” energy left over from a 1997 R&R convention at the Beverly Hills Hotel

The Comedy Radio Doesn’t Know What to Do With

Greg is Steven Wright, Mitch Hedberg, Matt Rife, and Andy Kaufman blended together. He brings innocence, restraint, strange angles, and really sharp timing.

Greg FM is not trying to beat streaming by pretending radio can out-music Spotify. It is doing what streaming still does not do well: personality, oddity, and humanity. It offers a voice that reminds the listener that somebody is actually there.

Greg Picks Up the Phone

Because he is. Constantly. Like, call him right now. (888-760-1977) He’ll answer before your voice-tracked midday person from Pittsburgh responds to your email from last Thursday asking if they are available to do an endorsement for Comcast.

I asked Greg to sit down with me and talk about this refreshing 24/7 personality-driven format. Here is what he replied:

In fact, it goes on for 58 more pages.

But that’s the point. Greg FM is creative, unique, different, and what radio needs — that, and more winners, more often!

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.

Inside Manraze: How Def Leppard and Sex Pistols Members Formed a Trio

Terrie Carr
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Inside Manraze: How Def Leppard and Sex Pistols Members Formed a Trio

I love a good power trio, and I always have. What’s more fun than a supergroup? There is something special about three people making amazing noise, especially when two of them are already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Don’t know Manraze? The band has been around for over twenty years, just released a five-disc collection of their work, and counts members of two legendary bands among its ranks: Def Leppard and the Sex Pistols. Manraze is Phil Collen (guitar, Def Leppard, Girl), Paul Cook (drums, Sex Pistols), and Simon Laffy (bass, Girl).

Manraze has put out music over the years, and I first discovered the band on their second record, “PunkFunkRootsRock.” The group kept making music during downtime from their respective main bands, and now all of that work is finally out.

Lock, Stock & Barrel

They just released “Lock, Stock & Barrel,” a five-disc set featuring the band’s first two albums, a disc of unreleased rarities, a disc of live acoustic performances, and a full instrumental disc. It’s massive Manraze. The music is scrappy, with a punk polish, an R&B infusion, and rock rhythm — all the influences melding together with master musicians.

I recently caught up with Manraze guitarist and vocalist Phil Collen and drummer Paul “Cookie” Cook for a fun hang on my Carr Stereo Podcast. We discussed how the band formed, whether they’ll tour, and how the “London lifestyle” has influenced music and pop culture over the years.

How Manraze Came Together

*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*

Terrie Carr: Oh my gosh, my heart is so full. Being the rock fan that I am, I get to sit down with the one and only Phil Collen and, of course, Paul Cook from the Pistols — the guys behind the band Manraze. Wow!

Before we get into everything going on with Manraze, since you guys are doing a retrospective and every disc in this collection is a unique band experience, we’ll get into that. But first…

I have a vision of you guys meeting as young guys. If my vision is wrong, just “BS” me and go along for the ride. I’m picturing Phil in the band “Girl” and Paul in “The Pistols,” meeting as scrappy lads with a pub involved and maybe even a fight. Was it anything like that when you guys met, or no?

Paul “Cookie” Cook: No, well actually probably! it was. It probably was in a pub because we’d run into each other before we actually knew each other.

Phil Collen: Yeah, that was a pretty apt description of some of them pubs. Scrawny teenagers, you know, whatever they are, lorrying around and all of that stuff. Yeah, and other bands, lots of bands in the scene. There was just a great scene in London, And I think that’s where we would have probably run into each other in the first place.

Paul “Cookie” Cook: We crossed paths definitely along the way, but we were always kind of eyeing each other up with suspicion, you know, like we did in London. The cynical English: “Oh, he’s in that bloody heavy metal band” and “Yeah, and we’re the punks, you know. We’re not talking to them!” It was all a bit like that back in the day.

Phil Collen: Very territorial. Yeah!

Terrie Carr: You know, I got into you guys, Manraze, on the second record — that’s really when I discovered the band. I went back afterward and checked out the first one too. But my gosh, has it really been over twenty years since you formed?

Manrazr (Social Media)

Phil Collen: Yeah, it’s like 22 years, I think. Wow!

Paul Cook: We were really under the radar when we done this. You know, it was Phil’s idea, really. He wanted to do something outside of Leppard. And I think I’m right in saying that Phil and Simon (Laffy) on bass got the original idea together. They just thought it’d be great if we could get “Cookie” on drums, you know. And lo and behold, Phil bumped into me, literally. He was driving his car and nearly knocked me over in West London. And said, “Hey, I’ve got this idea for a band.” It’s true, a true story. “I’ve got this idea. Have a listen to this. Have a listen and see if you’re interested.” And that’s how it happened, basically. And when I listened to it I thought, “This is sounding interesting. Let’s get together and see where we go with it.” And like I said, it was really under the radar at the time. We put two albums out and nobody knew what was going on. And not that interested, to be that honest, but it’s good. It’s getting a new lease of life at the moment.

Finding the Manraze Sound

Terrie Carr: It’s interesting that you say that, because you say it was “interesting,” but people weren’t really interested. Interesting is an understatement, though, because there are so many flavors, textures, and feelings in this music. I am such a sucker for a power trio. You guys have a very unique feel with Manraze; there’s a little bit of a sprinkling of something for everyone in this band. So how did all of these flavors come together?

Phil Collen: I think you just summed it up. I mean, it’s a bit of all of those things. And I think the great thing is that you don’t have to paint yourself into a corner. We don’t have to sound like The Pistols or Def Leppard or anything, really. We could just open it wide open. So it was really creative and it was really artistically refreshing and inspiring to be able to just do that. And being a 3-piece, honestly, it was magical the first time we played. We were like, well, it just had a sound. It just worked. And you could go off on a tangent. And no one was saying, “Well, perhaps we shouldn’t do that?” It was none of that. It was like, this all works. So I think that was it, really. It, I mean, we we didn’t even know what to call it. Well, I still don’t know what to call it, but it’s it is eclectic. It’s it’s got a thing, it’s diverse, it’s culturally and musically genre diverse.

Will Manraze Tour?

Terrie Carr: Phil, you’re days away from leaving for the Def Leppard tour, but we need a Manraze show in New York City! This is custom-made for New York. Can we make that happen? How do we do this?

Phil Collen: I agree. We’re actually talking about if we get the time doing a tour of London, like, you know, do three places, two little, three little places around London within a week or so because we’d all be there, you know, so it’s not much of a stress. But yeah, depending on if we can pull that off and all goes well there, who knows? New York would be amazing.

Terrie Carr: Cookie, can you get on this? I’m thinking if anybody can make it happen, it’s Cookie. Paul Cook has got the clout!

Paul Cook: Well, it all depends on schedules, obviously. Like Phil said, he’s out on the road again and we are as well with the Pistols featuring Frank Carter for the rest of this year. If we get a bit of feedback and a bit of love of what’s going on at the moment with Manraze, it’ll be worth doing it and it’d be nice to do it because I don’t think we got the kudos, when we originally released the first two albums. We put a lot of work into it. And if, like I said, we get a bit of feedback, who knows? Strange things happened in this crazy rock and roll world, don’t they?

Want to learn more about Manraze? Check out my interview with Phil and Cookie, plus the “Lock, Stock & Barrel” five-disc set and their new single, “I Surrender,” which also features vocalist Debbie Blackwell Cook (and actually sounds a lot like Pink Floyd!). And a huge thanks to these two legends for the time to chat and the fun I had talking Manraze!

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.

YouTube Music Surges Past Amazon Music in Global Subscriber Share

David Hill
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YouTube Music Surges Past Amazon Music in Global Subscriber Share

Five years of global streaming data just landed from MIDiA Research. The headline number is almost boring: Spotify’s market share hasn’t moved. The platform controlled 32.3% of global music subscribers in Q4 2020. It controls 31.4% today. In an industry that prizes disruption, that kind of stability is its own kind of news.

But the flat line at the top is hiding real movement underneath. For anyone watching the streaming market closely, the undercurrents matter more than the top-line number.

The Spotify Constant

Global music streaming subscribers nearly doubled over the five-year window, climbing from 472.2 million in Q4 2020 to 921.6 million in Q4 2025. Spotify simply grew at the same rate as the market itself. That’s not a small feat. Holding a near-third share while the pie doubles in size means Spotify added hundreds of millions of new subscribers without losing relative ground to a single rival. As a result, consistency has become Spotify’s real competitive advantage.

Apple and Amazon’s Slow Fade

The real story sits just below Spotify. Apple Music has bled share every single year, dropping from 18.4% in 2020 to 12.6% in 2025 — nearly a third of its position, gone. Amazon Music tells a similar tale, sliding from 12.3% to 8.5% over the same stretch. Neither platform collapsed. Instead, both simply got outpaced, quarter after quarter, by faster-growing rivals chasing the same listeners.

That’s the lesson worth sitting with: in subscription audio, standing still is losing. Apple and Amazon didn’t shrink in absolute terms. They just grew slower than the market around them, and the math punished them for it.

YouTube Music’s Quiet Takeover

If there’s a single chart line that should grab attention across the music industry, it’s YouTube Music’s. The platform has climbed steadily and then sharply over the past five years. Its biggest single-year jump came in just the last twelve months. It’s now closing in on Apple Music’s spot as the No. 2 player globally, and the trajectory suggests it will get there soon.

Why does this matter? Not because every platform is chasing the same prize in the same way. Each major player’s growth strategy looks different once you dig into how it’s actually positioned. YouTube Music has quietly built itself into a search and discovery engine for music, not just a streaming app. Therefore, its growth says less about catalog or curation, and more about how people now find new songs in the first place.

Different Platforms, Different Playbooks

Amazon Music tells a different story. For Amazon, music increasingly functions as a justification for Prime membership fees rather than a standalone product competing on its own merits. In other words, the value isn’t necessarily in Amazon Music itself, but in what it adds to the broader Amazon subscription. Apple Music’s strategy is harder to pin down. Unlike YouTube Music’s discovery angle or Amazon’s bundling logic, it’s not yet clear what singular advantage Apple Music is leaning on right now.

Tencent Music and NetEase, both built on dominant positions in China, continued posting gains, while Yandex grew steadily out of the Russian market. Together, these regional players now account for roughly a quarter of global subscribers, a reminder that “global” streaming competition is increasingly a patchwork of regional giants rather than one universal battlefield.

For labels, marketers, and platforms watching the subscriber numbers, the real takeaway isn’t just who’s gaining share. It’s recognizing that each platform is playing a different game entirely, whether that’s discovery, bundling, or something still being defined. The platforms growing fastest aren’t necessarily the ones with the best music experience. They’re the ones that have figured out what role music should play inside a larger strategy.

Spotify’s stability proves a strong, singular product can hold its ground indefinitely. However, the diverging paths of Apple, Amazon, and YouTube Music prove there’s more than one way to compete for subscribers. In streaming, the real fight may no longer be about who has the best app. It’s about who has figured out what music is actually for.

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.

Jim Rome Show Adds Video Distribution On YouTube Beginning June 22

John Mamola
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Jim Rome Show Adds Video Distribution On YouTube Beginning June 22

Jim Rome is bringing his show to YouTube. Starting Monday, June 22, The Jim Rome Show will stream live on the platform as well as several other options.

What We Know: Rome announced the YouTube expansion Tuesday during his radio program. The show already reaches audiences across multiple platforms, including terrestrial radio via Westwood One and satellite radio through SiriusXM. Additionally, the program airs as a video simulcast on X, distributed through the Rome channel and eight additional platforms. YouTube represents the latest addition to that growing distribution footprint. Rome originally signed an exclusivity agreement with X in January of 2024 for the video stream of his program.

What They Said: (All quotes via Jim Rome Show)

Jim Rome on The Jim Rome Show adding video distribution to YouTube: “The goal has always been, since this change started, to put the program in as many places as possible. To be ubiquitous and as accessible to as many people as possible. Because we know that you all consume the product in very different ways. This is why we’re still on terrestrial radio with Westwood One. Also, this is why we’re still on satellite radio with SiriusXM. This is why the radio show is a video simulcast that is aired on X and the Rome channel that has an additional eight platforms.”

Jim Rome announcing the show streaming on Monday June 22 on YouTube: “This should come as no surprise, as we’ve been building out this channel. We are really pleased with how it’s grown. We’re really pleased with your reaction to it. So, come Monday, the show will air live on YouTube.”

Jim Rome on what will make the YouTube viewing experience unique: “You are going to love watching the show on YouTube. Number one, it’s going to be the best and easiest way to watch the show on the internet. Number two, there are things we can do over there that we cannot do in other places. For one, live chat. It’s going to give you a completely new way to interact and engage with the show and with other clones.”

What Remains Unclear: If Rome no longer has exclusivity to the video stream on his program, could other video platforms be in play. Rome also didn’t detail anything regarding the exclusivity agreement with X signed in 2024.

What It Means: Rome is clearly prioritizing accessibility. By stacking distribution across radio, FAST channels, satellite, X, and now YouTube, he’s casting a wider net for audience engagement. Notably, YouTube’s live chat feature gives fans a new interactive layer unavailable on other platforms. This shift is in line with how many sports radio programs are moving to a multiplatform model. If viewership rises via the YouTube platform, it would be interesting to see if Netflix might be an option down the road.

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.

NBA Finals Average Viewership Finishes Highest Since 1998

John Mamola
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NBA Finals Average Viewership Finishes Highest Since 1998

Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals averaged 24.5 million viewers on ABC. That peak climbed to 33 million as New York closed out its championship victory.

What We Know: The 2026 NBA Finals averaged 20.6 million viewers across five games, setting an ABC and ESPN audience record. ABC and ESPN also scored the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998 (average 29 million). That figure doubled last year’s seven-game series — a 100 percent increase. Game 5 alone was the most-watched NBA Finals game since 1998. Every night, ABC led all of television in key male and adult demos.

What The Data Shows: (all data via ESPN PR)

Game #Average ViewershipPeak Viewership
116.93 million19.63 million
216.43 million19.42 million
323.8 million26.3 million
420.9 million23.2 million
524.5 million33 million

What Remains Unclear: No top market data was released with the final figures. In addition, no social or digital metrics were also released.

What It Means: This is a massive win for ABC and ESPN. Obviously having the top market in the country involved helps. However, the results are quite impressive. Along with a record setting Stanley Cup Final, the early summer has proved extremely positive to ESPN.

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.

OutKick Sees Massive Growth In Multiplatform Success For May

John Mamola
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OutKick Sees Massive Growth In Multiplatform Success For May

OutKick recorded explosive growth across key metrics in May 2026. The national multimedia sports platform posted 11.8 million desktop and mobile unique visitors, a 207% jump versus April.

What We Know: Total multiplatform views reached 56 million, up 176% month-over-month. Multiplatform minutes climbed to 61 million, a 26% increase. OutKick also ranked 18th out of more than 350 sports entities with 17.1 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors. That placed the platform ahead of DraftKings, AP News-Sports, Complex Sports, and The Ringer. The Fox News Digital integration also recently launched, expanding OutKick’s reach through the FoxNews.com homepage and app.

What They Said: Gary Schreier, OutKick’s senior vice president and managing editor: “OutKick’s growth has been driven by its willingness to cover stories that most sports outlets overlook and to feature voices offering unique perspectives on the issues shaping sports today. In May, that included leading the coverage around biological male AB Hernandez winning multiple events at the track and field championships and interviewing Martina Navratilova to discuss the transgender movement in sport.”

What Remains Unclear: The May data doesn’t break down which content categories or hosts drove the most traffic. It’s also unclear how much of the traffic lift stems from the Fox News Digital integration versus organic audience growth.

What It Means: OutKick continues to see growth in nearly every metric regarding multiplatform views, minutes, and unique visitors. However, OutKick shares the same challenges every brand has with social media. In comparison to last year’s May 2025 data on social and total video views, the brand is seeing some slight declines year over year. The Fox News Digital partnership absolutely gives the platform broader distribution and mainstream visibility despite the challenges on social and video views.

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.

Omaha Productions To Produce World Series Of Poker Return To ESPN

John Mamola
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Omaha Productions To Produce World Series Of Poker Return To ESPN

Omaha Productions is heading to the felt. Peyton Manning’s company will produce the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event and Final Table in Las Vegas for its return to ESPN.

What We Know: The WSOP returns to ESPN after last airing on the network in 2021. Last year, it aired on CBS Sports Network and PokerGo. Omaha will deploy more than 50 cameras across three feature tables. Coverage includes player profiles, commentary from Ali Nejad, Nick Schulman, Lon McEachern, and Norman Chad. Also, features giving viewers an inside look at amateur and professional gameplay.

What They Said: Ty Stewart, CEO of the World Series of Poker (via The Hollywood Reporter): “We’re thrilled to partner with Omaha Productions to lead our broadcast production as we return to ESPN. The WSOP Main Event and Final Table are the most exciting moments of the year for poker fans. Omaha understands how to tell stories to fans around live competition, which will elevate our broadcasts to new heights. We’re excited to have them bring this year’s event to viewers as WSOP returns to ESPN platforms.”

Dan Gati, head of content at Omaha Productions: “As a company, we continue to look for opportunities that allow us to grow and tell compelling stories across sports and entertainment. Producing the World Series of Poker Main Event & Main Event Final Table gives us an exciting opportunity to expand our live event slate and bring our production approach to one of the most recognizable competitions in sports and entertainment.”

What Remains Unclear: The WSOP broadcast schedule is unknown. It’s also unclear which ESPN platforms will carry the event or how many episodes are planned. Omaha’s growing portfolio — including Monday Night Football’s Manning Cast on ESPN, Netflix’s Quarterback, Receiver, and Starting 5.

What It Means: This deal signals Omaha Productions’ expands on the company’s push into live event programming. In addition, the WSOP partnership follows its weekly League One Volleyball commitment and expands its ESPN relationship. For poker fans, the return to ESPN — with a proven storytelling outfit running production — is a significant upgrade.

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.

NewsNation Launches ‘Spirit of America’ Series for America 250

Garrett Searight
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NewsNation Launches ‘Spirit of America’ Series for America 250

As America 250 celebrations continue ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday, NewsNation is launching Spirit of America, a multi-platform reporting series highlighting communities and individuals across the country.

What We Know: The initiative debuts June 29 on Morning in America. It will air throughout the network’s daytime and primetime programming. Additional content will appear on NewsNation and The Hill’s digital platforms, while Nexstar’s local television station apps will also carry the series. Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin will travel through communities across the Midwest and Appalachia, focusing on stories that often receive little national attention. Coverage will spotlight themes including service, resilience, freedom, opportunity, and community. Featured stories include a veteran in Iowa assisting fellow servicemembers, a historic blacksmith shop in Maryland, a teenage civic leader in Florida, a Nevada Air Force veteran, volunteers carrying an American flag through all 50 states, and an Ohio farming family known for its sweet corn tradition.

What They Said: “America is a remarkable place, and its beauty can be found in every corner of the country – from iconic cities like Los Angeles and New York to the small towns and communities that connect us all. We are proud to take viewers on a new road trip that highlights what makes America truly unique.” -NewsNation President of News & Politics Cherie Grzech

What Remains Unclear: NewsNation has not disclosed how many installments will be included in the series. It is also unknown whether the project will continue beyond Independence Day.

What It Means: The launch gives NewsNation another opportunity to differentiate itself from larger cable news competitors. This series will emphasize feature storytelling and community-focused reporting. Furthermore, the project aligns with the broader America 250 effort taking shape across the media industry. The series also expands Brian Entin’s role as one of the network’s most recognizable correspondents. The road trip will conclude with Entin contributing to the network’s July 4 coverage.

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.

ESPN Announces Women’s Sports Sundays Schedule Including WNBA, NWSL Matches

John Mamola
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0
ESPN Announces Women’s Sports Sundays Schedule Including WNBA, NWSL Matches

ESPN has announced its full schedule of Women’s Sports Sundays broadcasts, featuring TJ Maxx as the title sponsor of the programming. With ESPN losing its Sunday Night Baseball package, the network pivoted to a landmark embracing of women’s sports in primetime windows.

What We Know: ESPN debuts Women’s Sports Sundays on June 21, replacing Sunday Night Baseball with a nine-week primetime franchise. The block runs across ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes through August 16. Twelve live events are scheduled, featuring WNBA and NWSL matchups with stars including Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Trinity Rodman.

What The Data Says: (ESPN Women’s Sports Sundays Schedule)

DateTime (ET)Game
Sun, June 217 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, June 218 p.m.New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks
Sun, June 286:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, June 287 p.m.New York Liberty vs. Golden State Valkyries
Sun, July 56:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, July 57 p.m.Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces
Sun, July 126:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, July 127 p.m.Chicago Sky vs. Dallas Wings
Sun, July 196:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, July 197 p.m.Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury
Sun, July 268 p.m.Women’s Sports Sundays Studio Show
Sun, July 269 p.m.Angel City FC vs. Racing Louisville FC (NWSL)
Sun, Aug. 26:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, Aug. 27 p.m.Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings
Sun, Aug. 29 p.m.Denver Summit vs. Boston Legacy (NWSL)
Sun, Aug. 96:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, Aug. 97 p.m.Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks
Sun, Aug. 99 p.m.Seattle Reign FC vs. Angel City FC (NWSL)
Sun, Aug. 164:30 p.m.WNBA Countdown
Sun, Aug. 165 p.m.Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream
Sun, Aug. 167 p.m.Portland Fire vs. Phoenix Mercury
Sun, Aug. 169 p.m.Angel City FC vs. Washington Spirit (NWSL)

What They Said: Danielle Brown, Senior Vice President, Sports and Streaming Brand Solutions, Disney Advertising: “The momentum behind women’s sports has created new opportunities for brands to engage with fans in meaningful and authentic ways. Women’s Sports Sundays is designed to showcase the very best of women’s sports in a dedicated primetime environment, and we’re thrilled to team up with TJ Maxx to help bring that vision to life. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to investing in women’s sports and creating experiences that resonate with audiences across ESPN and Disney’s platforms.”

Susie Piotrkowski, ESPN Vice President, Women’s Sports Programming & espnW: “Women’s sports continue to experience extraordinary growth. Women’s Sports Sundays reflects ESPN’s continued commitment to giving fans a dedicated destination for the biggest matchups, brightest stars and most compelling stories across women’s sports. We are bringing together elite competition across multiple leagues, world-class production and the reach of The Walt Disney Company, in a way no one other partner is able.”

What Remains Unclear: Specific commentator assignments and any additional coverage details haven’t been announced yet.

What It Means: ESPN is making a significant structural bet on women’s sports in primetime. It will be interesting to see if the viewership interest in women’s sports follows the audience to Sunday night’s on ESPN. ESPN was able to secure more WNBA product than NWSL product, despite the viewership success of the FIFA World Cup. Also, only two appearances by Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever is a little under what I felt ESPN could draw. However, the franchise isn’t a one-off event — it’s a branded, sponsored, multi-platform commitment. If ratings deliver, this summer could permanently reshape how ESPN programs its Sunday nights.

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.

Fox News Details Nationwide America 250 Programming

Garrett Searight
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0
Fox News Details Nationwide America 250 Programming

Fox News is launching an extensive multiplatform programming effort to mark America 250. Coverage begins June 24 and continues through July 5.

What We Know: Live broadcasts will originate from major locations, including Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, Philadelphia, Liberty State Park in New Jersey, Mount Rushmore, and the new Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota. Several Fox News programs will travel on location for the festivities. FOX & Friends, America’s Newsroom, The Five, Special Report with Bret Baier, Hannity, and The Will Cain Show are among the programs slated for special broadcasts. Additionally, the network will air a July 4 primetime special, America 250: Celebrating Freedom, featuring Bret Baier, Harris Faulkner, Sean Hannity, Brian Kilmeade, and Dana Perino.

What’s at Stake: The effort represents one of the largest coordinated programming initiatives in Fox News Media history. Beyond television, the company is deploying digital, streaming, podcast, weather, and radio assets to capture audience attention during a historic national milestone. FOX Nation will offer exclusive programming and promotional pricing, while Fox News Audio will launch a dedicated America 250 SiriusXM channel and continue Bill Hemmer’s 250 Most Impactful Moments in American History podcast series.

What Remains Unclear: Fox News hasn’t disclosed how much original programming related to the America 250 celebration will continue beyond the July 4 holiday period.

What It Means: The project underscores Fox News Media’s strategy of leveraging every platform under its umbrella during major national events. At the same time, the initiative gives the company a unique opportunity to showcase its personalities across television, radio, streaming, podcasts, and digital outlets. As America 250 celebrations unfold nationwide, Fox News appears positioned to make itself a central destination for coverage of the historic anniversary.

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