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How Emmanuel Acho Built Speakeasy’s Success By Embracing Digital Community and Leaving Network Television Behind

John Mamola
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How Emmanuel Acho Built Speakeasy’s Success By Embracing Digital Community and Leaving Network Television Behind

A lot can happen in 54 days. Markets rise and fall. Teams’ playoff hopes can be elevated or dreams shattered. For Emmanuel Acho, his release from FS1 last summer sparked a vision—the concept of a sports program that builds community and creates a safe space to fill a void he believed existed. In 54 days, Acho assembled the pieces and launched his independent creation, Speakeasy.

Now, nearly eight months into that vision, Acho is seeing better results than he imagined. While expectations often suggest things won’t go as planned, Speakeasy has proven otherwise.

“You launch a show seeing a void in the market. You capitalize on the void in the market. Then all of a sudden, we’re hitting goals ahead of schedule and we stopped setting goals from a numbers standpoint,” said Acho on the early success Speakeasy has seen in viewership on YouTube.

Speakeasy’s success stems from content consistency and the community it has built. Every evening, Sunday through Thursday, Acho and co-hosts LeSean McCoy, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Kieran Hickey-Semple deliver commentary on the day’s top issues in a late-night-style podcast atmosphere.

“We are creating a community of friends that come together to kick it every night. I’m not so egotistical that I think people are coming to watch me,” said Acho. “All I am is a catalyst for a safe space in a lonely world. For sports fans to come hang out and be heard.”

Growth And Expansion

The longform program centers on engagement—not just among the hosts, but also with the live audience. Acho describes the chat and super chats during each episode as the lifeblood that fuels the show’s energy. He says every element of the original vision has been refined over time.

First impressions were a major focus. Launching at the start of the NFL season, the show leaned into relationships Acho and his co-hosts had with current players. Each week, players joined Speakeasy for exclusive content that traditional networks couldn’t provide.

That access helped define the show’s early identity. However, branching beyond sports has also become a defining trait in the crowded live-content space.

“We’ve shown our dexterity. We’re not just a sports show with hard hitting analysis, but we’ll also meet you where you’re at,” explained Acho, admitting there was some initial hesitancy about expanding beyond strict sports content. “Some people would question a football player moving away from sports content. Those days are dead and gone. Are you an entertainer? I am an entertainer.”

Acho says the show isn’t afraid to cast a wide net, diving into pop culture and trending topics. His goal was to create a program that reflects the current era—one shaped by short attention spans and driven by authentic personalities who can deliver engaging conversations.

“If you want hardcore astute NBA analysis, there’s like ten other NBA shows for you. I’m not looking to expand like crazy,” said Acho in response to adding more sport-centric analysts. “If you drop a chat, we will chat back and you’ll feel like a part of the show. As opposed to being talked at, we aim to talk with… We have a family here and the vision long term is to be that late night show that ESPN swung and missed on.”

YouTube Vs Netflix

When Acho spoke with Barrett Media at Speakeasy’s launch last year, he said the goal was to build a model that networks would pursue through licensing deals, similar to ESPN’s agreements with Pat McAfee and Rich Eisen, or FOX Sports’ own partnerships.

Since launching on YouTube, however, Acho’s success has shifted his perspective.

“I love where I’m at with YouTube. The money you could make on YouTube is crazy if you’re pushing out content like us,” said Acho. “I would be hard pressed to go to a stream, but you still want to opportunity to go a streamer. At this point in time, they would have to make it worth our while. Something like Netflix could make sense. But I’m not as desperate as I was then.”

A potential deal with Netflix would require a different approach. The show would likely sit behind a paywall and could lose its live chat feature—something Acho values deeply.

An element Acho says he holds in high regard for the community Speakeasy serves.

“If you go behind a paywall, that’s not as important as making sure you can still talk to the chat. What makes our show unique is that we talk to the chat,” explained Acho. “I don’t care as much about the paywall as I do making sure we can still talk to the chat.”

Sports Media Drama

With success comes a spotlight. Like any locker room Acho experienced during his college and NFL career, conversations can spark drama. In sports media, that drama often drives attention—and Acho admits he engages with it more than he once did.

Since launching Speakeasy, Acho has drawn criticism from several sports media personalities, including Stephen A. Smith and Leonard Fournette. He says the reaction doesn’t surprise him and considers it part of the business.

“A lot of people don’t realize what it takes to have done what I’ve done. They assume either I was given it, or it was luck,” said Acho. “I’m not surprised by it, but it comes with the territory. I kind of like it. I care to be respected by people I respect. Outside of that, I’m not really in competition with too many people.”

At 35, Acho says his résumé already includes accomplishments many never achieve. A two-time Emmy winner and New York Times bestselling author, he sees his only competition as himself.

“I’m trying to get a Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony. I’m running my own race,” said Acho.

Still, the data tells a clear story. Audience interest spikes around sports media disputes. While Acho doesn’t feel compelled to respond to every criticism, he acknowledges the benefits.

“When you do respond, drama rates. Our highest rating conversations are drama, Sheduer Sanders, and anything Philadelphia Eagles,” revealed Acho. “Now I talk more drama than I ever used to. I dignify it a little bit because in large, drama rates. If I’m having a conversation with or about Cam Newton that will get over additional views on YouTube, I’ll do it.”

Remaining Independent

Speakeasy’s success has also removed any desire for Acho to return to traditional sports television. Following his FS1 exit, he says he no longer wants to answer to anyone but himself.

“I am not going to be controlled by the man again. I’m not about to be fired again. Also, just because you’re in a position doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. What network executive would have been able to ideate Speakeasy? Then line up talent, build out the studios, and choose the timeslot for Speakeasy. I did that in 54 days,” explained Acho.

Instead, Acho continues exploring new ways to connect with and grow his audience. He believes Speakeasy’s success reflects a shift away from the traditional sports media model.

“Network people still think the audience is dumb. They’re not. Even if they are dumb, they don’t think they’re dumb,” said Acho. “Because they don’t think they’re dumb, that means they don’t want to be taught. They feel like they already know, but want to be made to feel. That’s what I had to learn… I’m not going to teach you. Instead, I’m going to get you mad or make you happy, and just make you feel.”

In just 54 days, Emmanuel Acho built Speakeasy as an answer to what he believed sports media was missing. Eight months later, its growth reinforces something bigger—that connection, not just content, drives the modern audience.

Acho is no longer chasing the old model. Instead, he’s betting on one where creators own the platform, the conversation, and the relationship with their audience. If Speakeasy continues on its current trajectory, it won’t just be a success story—it may become the blueprint.

Because in a landscape crowded with voices trying to be heard, Acho has found power in something simpler: making sure his audience feels like they already are.

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.

What Nielsen PPM Data Tells Us About Content, Contests, and the Mistakes Most Shows Still Make

Jim Ryan
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What Nielsen PPM Data Tells Us About Content, Contests, and the Mistakes Most Shows Still Make

What if I told you that your 7:30 AM contest was only heard by 10% of your weekly morning drive cume? That’s probably not exactly true — it’s likely even less — but that’s what the Nielsen numbers would indicate when I dug into PPM metrics when I was programming radio day to day.

I looked at the morning total daypart weekly cume of stations versus the average quarter-hour persons between 7:30 and 7:45 AM and found the number to be about 10%. Some stations were lower, some slightly higher. Some days — when I broke it down by day in Nielsen — were hideously lower, some higher.

Go ahead, look for yourself at your station or show: weekly cume versus your biggest quarter hour of morning drive.

The old saying for radio advertising is “frequency sells.” When an advertiser buys six commercials a week, there is little chance of results. Up that to 60 spots and you’ve got a successful advertising campaign. Radio really drives results when it’s bought correctly. I’ve found that some folks in programming, and many air personalities, didn’t get that memo.

Great content should never be treated as one and done. If just a small portion of your weekly Nielsen cume hears it the first time, reuse it. Always remember that people generally listen at the same time every day. Also, keep in mind that, according to Nielsen, listening occasions are 8 to 12 minutes at a time, depending on the station.

When you’ve got something amazing, make sure you use it enough so your audience can hear it. And put it on social media or a podcast so non-daypart listeners can hear it too. If it is a scripted bit with actors followed by listener calls, air the scripted part again, but take different listener calls. That freshens the bit up for the few avid listeners — and there are very few — who never turn your show off.

Story arcs are more valuable than ever. News and sports radio live for the developing story. Music radio personalities must take a page from their book. The simplest things that happen to cast members can be turned into a show-long story or a 3-to-4-day storyline to keep listeners captivated for the week.

Don’t be the radio show where someone comes in on Monday and says, “I had a life-changing moment over the weekend.” No matter what it was — buying a car, getting engaged, deciding to take up yoga — live it on the radio and let the listeners be a part of it. And don’t forget to set up the storyline each day for those who missed it. A gentle reminder: if you’re not living your life on the radio, you may need to rethink your career choice.

Never do weak content. With audience turnover and time spent listening being what it is, there’s never a reason to just do something to fill a break. We’re at a point where only the very biggest shows can afford to waste a break. Even the big shows that waste too many breaks will lose audience.

Benchmarks must be daily. Every day at the same time. Some shows would rather do a different benchmark every day — there is no way that can work. I even worry about daily benchmarks done just once a day being effective. Karson and Kennedy, the biggest morning music show in Boston, play Can’t Beat Kennedy four times each morning. Now that’s a benchmark. And make sure you find ways to tease those benchmarks throughout the day to get the tune-in you need for success.

Contests are great for Nielsen PPM. While only a tiny percentage of your overall audience will play a contest, that percentage increases exponentially with meter holders. However, it is not the majority of listeners, which is why contests should be created for the non-contest player. Trivia-based games, guess the song, and secret sound contests are all great play-along formats. People who watch Jeopardy on TV are not winning anything, but they enjoy playing along and being the best on their sofa. National cash contests with keywords have mixed results depending on the market.

The key is to keep them non-intrusive so you don’t chase away those who don’t care. One more word on contests. They can be clutter. So don’t load your station or show up with too many. The casual listener is easily confused. They are listening for content, not contests. That’s why God invented your website.

Think about how many times you’ve asked someone if they heard a specific piece of content on your show or station. And how disappointed you were when they said no. Radio can be so effective. But you have to know how to use it.

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.

830 WCCO’s Brad Lane Is Back After Heart Attack — and More Passionate Than Ever About Radio’s Future

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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830 WCCO’s Brad Lane Is Back After Heart Attack — and More Passionate Than Ever About Radio’s Future

He’s getting better every day and is eternally grateful for the love and support. WCCO Brand Manager Brad Lane spoke with Barrett Media a few short weeks after his brush with death.

“I’ve heard from people I don’t even know in the industry who saw something, probably in Barrett or at least through the grapevine,” Lane said. “I’m doing pretty good, all things considered. I’m a pretty fit guy: mid-50s, no history of anything to alarm me or to give a warning sign. So, this was jarring to go through. But I’m feeling pretty good.”

Lane is back to work for a few hours each day and working from home, but he did declare this heart attack “teaches you a valuable lesson in terms of taking even better care of yourself than you think you are, and that includes resting when you need to. So I’m taking it easy, and I have no choice but to ramp up slowly.”

While all his colleagues are joyful at his return, the team is also looking out for Lane’s well-being. The love he is receiving during his recovery is a reflection of the love and joy he’s given to people since joining the industry in 1988.

“I got into this business because I loved performing and entertaining. I knew what I wanted to do by the time I was five years old. Now, I didn’t know what shape it would take exactly, but I knew I wanted to be in radio.”

Lane has worked in various roles at several stations across the country, but he affirmed, “Titles are kind of meaningless to a certain extent. They basically are only something that gets you in the door or gives you a little bit of credibility to start a conversation, but then after that, it’s what kind of creativity do you have? What kind of credibility do you have? How do you deal with human beings?”

He later added, “I just love the interaction that I have with my host, with our fans and whatnot, and so I would say the creativity part is what really drove me to get not only into the business but to stay in it. It’s the part that will never leave me.”

With Brad Lane, there is no shortage of creativity, which includes how new technology can and should enter the media. “We have to use Artificial Intelligence. We have no choice. It’s just a question of how.”

Lane emphatically declared, “Will AI ever replace the personalities that are on the air? As emphatically as I can say it, hell no. That’s the beauty of what we do. You’ve got human beings who are flawed, who tell stories and are screw-ups on the air but can become must-listen radio. We have to utilize AI in a way that makes us better.”

This includes tinkering with teases and image production for social media. “AI is not the instrument behind all of the creativity. It just gives you more options with which to do that.” He said, “I think we have to be smart about how we use it and not lose the human touch and the human element — and those touch points of what we’re thinking and why we’re using it.”

Lane added, “AI is only as strong as the person that’s asking it the question or getting it to do the things that you want it to do.”

As for social media, Lane has flipped his thinking and strategy on it. “I used to think that we could put things on social media that would tease and then drive traffic to our platforms, to the radio station.”

Today, his social media strategy is simple: “I’ve taken the tack more — let’s do things on those particular platforms that engage and entertain fans where they are, rather than asking them to do something that they wouldn’t normally do anyway, which is come to our radio station.”

It’s all a part of the ever-evolving art, which is good branding. “Does WCCO have a certain brand in this market and to the industry at large?” Lane rhetorically asked and answered, “Yes, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay static. It can’t stay static. We have to remain relevant, and we have to continue progressing, evolving, and changing with the times.”

“While I appreciate the fact that many of these legacy platforms like WCCO certainly have a pedigree that we’ve utilized for 101 years now, if we’re not evolving, that makes my job even more challenging to continue.” Lane added, “One of my old bosses challenged his teams with two words: surprise and delight. We like to do that every day with our shows. We have to touch an emotion, and that’s when you build a connection with fans who listen.”

That connection extends far beyond the radio waves. Lane said, “I will tell you this just in closing — I heard from somebody I’ve never met at SiriusXM Radio. He sent me a note a few days after my heart attack. He said, ‘Hello, Brad, before you start scratching your head, saying ‘Where do I know this guy from?’ — we’ve never met. But I read the story about you in a magazine this morning, and it touched me.'”

Lane paraphrased the email, saying, “He goes on to give me such wonderful kudos. You’re the guy who survived, you’re an inspiration, and all that. I’ve never met him, probably never will. And yet my story touched him, and his taking the time to write to me touched me. So it’s that kind of thing that buoys my spirit.”

“Everybody who has reached out — it has been so touching,” Lane concluded. “I am just eternally grateful for all of the kind messages. It really buoyed my soul and made me think that what we do does matter.”

Brad Lane landed at number 15 on Barrett Media’s Top Major Market News/Talk Radio Program Directors. It is clear why. His innovation, creativity, and passion are evident in conversation.

But he admits, “To a certain extent, any regard or accolades that I get is a reflection of what this station does.”

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.

How President Donald Trump Plays the Media Game From Punching Bag to Pal

Lauren Ashburn
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How President Donald Trump Plays the Media Game From Punching Bag to Pal

ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl is a presidential punching bag, depending on the day and even the hour. Donald Trump loves him, hates him, and loves him again.

And it’s par for the course for anyone — except MAGA-friendly organizations — covering the White House. But Karl has long discovered it’s just a cat-and-mouse game the president plays.

And it really doesn’t matter.

Trump has long been the master of mixed messaging. That’s never been more starkly evident than during the Iran war. But why does he do it? Why slam the battered members of the “enemy of the state” — especially women — and then, publicly or privately, kid around with them?

While no one is qualified to assess the inner workings of Trump’s mind, it’s clear a lot of his attacks are simply to vent; he likes to keep everyone off balance. He enjoys when reporters appear on his side or are neutral, but he can’t help lashing out when he gets legitimate questions he doesn’t like.

During a recent interview, Karl — ABC News‘ chief Washington correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” — tells a story where Trump attacked him during a press conference.

“There was an incident in the Oval Office a few weeks ago… I was asking about free speech… he really went after me,” Karl told Mediaite. When the press conference ended, Karl said Trump called him over and said, “We’re okay, we’re good.” He later said when the cameras were off, “Thank you, Jonathan. Thank you, Jon.”

Karl wrote “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America” in October, and it became an instant New York Times bestseller — even though it was only on the list for a week. The book chronicled the president’s 2024 campaign and his return to power in the White House, documenting one of the most divisive campaigns in modern history.

In a seemingly random attack, Trump posted on Truth Social a few days ago: “Third rate news anchor Jonathan Karl of ABC Fake News… wrote another book about me where his stories and reporting ‘bear no relationship to the truth.’ A waste of time — fictitious quotes. Don’t buy the book!”

In another press conference, Trump said ABC is a very unfair network and eviscerated Karl for asking whether free speech also applies to his critics. “Frankly, you’re a terrible reporter. You know it and so do I.”

Karl is not alone. When Bob Woodward, after 19 taped interviews with Trump, made the discussions public, Trump sued him for $50 million, even though he had consented to the interviews for Woodward’s book. A federal judge dismissed the suit against Woodward and Simon & Schuster last year.

In fact, when Woodward’s book “Rage” was published in 2020, it was Karl who asked Trump: “Why did you lie to the American people, and why should we trust what you have to say now?” Trump barked, “That’s a terrible question, and the phraseology. I didn’t lie.”

Among other things, Woodward had written that Trump minimized the effects of COVID so as not to cause panic — even though he thought the epidemic was far worse than he had acknowledged.

Donald Trump has a long history of constantly attacking female TV reporters. During the White House Easter Egg Roll two days ago, he unloaded on PBS White House correspondent Liz Landers as a “rotten reporter” after she questioned his claims of 2020 election fraud.

He called a female correspondent “Miss Piggy” for asking about the Epstein files. He went after CNN’s Kaitlan Collins as “nasty” and “stupid.” And he called CBS’s Nancy Cordes “stupid” and ABC’s Rachel Scott “obnoxious.” And he ripped CNN contributor Maggie Haberman — who has covered Trump for decades as a New York Times reporter — after she questioned the president for seeming to cheer for higher oil prices.

Trump’s slap-in-the-face response to Haberman, whose 2022 biography is called “Confidence Man,” was to call her “Maggot Haberman, just another sleazebag writer for The Failing New York Times, insists on writing false stories about me… I’m thinking of adding Maggot, and some of her ‘associates,’ into my Florida-based lawsuit against the Times.”

But he cooperates with her when he thinks it’s necessary. Haberman and Jonathan Swan are releasing a new book called “Regime Change,” for which Trump granted an hour-long interview in the Oval Office.

Fortunately, when I interviewed him in the White House during his first term, he didn’t attack. He acknowledged my questions and bobbed and weaved, quickly pivoting to another topic without giving me a clear answer.

Some people not in the media, or obsequious reporters, laugh it off by saying, as Ronald Reagan famously did, “There he goes again.” Or they just chuckle at his hubris. Most female reporters — myself included — find the insults thrown at women for doing their job abhorrent, overly personalized, and seemingly misogynistic.

But if he didn’t give reporters attention, would they have the name recognition to sign cable contracts and write books about him? Sales of Donald Trump-related books, by the way, have cooled significantly. Some still sell, but there are fewer breakouts than before.

For context, Trump attacked the media 100 times during the two months before the 2024 election, according to Reporters Without Borders. The group did not count social media posts.

To be fair, Trump is hardly the only president who has chastised reporters. And there are plenty of reporters with a liberal bent who are openly hostile toward the president. But with Trump, it’s no-holds-barred and consistently nasty — and that’s, sadly, the state of affairs when he doesn’t like journalists pressuring him for answers. We have grown so accustomed to his anti-media rhetoric that it barely makes news.

It’s not just women, obviously, as underscored by the case of Karl. Despite their ups and downs, Trump still takes his calls and grants him interviews.

All reporters respond differently. But Karl, who has been covering the president for years, prides himself on having a thick skin.

“For the most part, Trump doesn’t really mean it… Who cares if he insults me… I’m just doing the job.”

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.

Nashville Predators Partner With Scripps Sports for Local TV Agreement After Leaving Main Street Sports Group

BSM Staff
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Nashville Predators Partner With Scripps Sports for Local TV Agreement After Leaving Main Street Sports Group

The Nashville Predators are set to shift their local television strategy. The team has agreed to a multiyear deal with Scripps Sports that will bring games back to over-the-air viewers beginning next season. Under the agreement, the team’s games will air on WNPX-TV, which will carry more than 70 preseason, regular-season and early-round playoff matchups each year that are not selected for national broadcasts.

According to a report by Sports Business Journal, the station will also undergo a rebrand. The new name will be “The Spot — Nashville 28,” aligning with similar efforts in other NHL markets.

The Predators become the latest franchise to partner with Scripps. They join the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights in moving away from the traditional regional sports network model.

Main Street Sports Group, which operates FanDuel-branded RSNs, is expected to cease operations following the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nashville had aired games on its regional network in various forms since entering the league in 1998. Scripps executives view Nashville as an ideal market for their free-to-air model.

The company owns multiple stations in the region. These include WTVF NewsChannel 5, which will support broadcasts through cross-promotion and expanded visibility. In addition to linear broadcasts, both sides plan to introduce a direct-to-consumer streaming option.

The strategy mirrors recent successes in other NHL markets. Teams that transitioned to over-the-air distribution have reported gains in audience size. Driven in part by increased household access and wider regional reach.

Predators CEO Sean Henry expects similar results. He noted the team could reach as much as 95% of households in the Nashville designated market area under the new structure. The organization also plans to expand availability across its broader territory, which includes several neighboring states.

Scripps is expected to work with additional broadcast partners to extend coverage beyond Tennessee.

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 Adds Astronaut Butch Wilmore as Contributor

BNM Staff
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Fox News Adds Astronaut Butch Wilmore as Contributor

Fox News has added astronaut Butch Wilmore as a contributor, where he’ll provide space-related analysis for the network.

The 63-year-old served as a NASA astronaut beginning in 2000. He worked three spaceflights during his tenure, totalling 464 days off of Earth and 32 hours outside the spacecraft.

Last year, Wilmore was a member of the crew stranded in space for months after originally embarking on what was meant to be an eight-day trip.

Wilmore made his first appearance as a Fox News contributor on Tuesday morning on America’s Newsroom. Anchor Bill Hemmer said, “Welcome to the team. Welcome to the family. It’s great to have you.”

The addition of Butch Wilmore as a Fox News contributor comes as the Artemis II mission is in the midst of its 10-day mission, crewed by four astronauts around the moon. It is the first crewed mission beyond low Earth Orbit since Apollo 17 in Dcember 1972. The spacecraft is expected to return to the Pacific Ocean just after 8 PM ET on Friday, April 11th.

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.

John Catsimatidis: We’re Expanding 77 WABC to News, Talk, and Music Brands Like the BBC

BNM Staff
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John Catsimatidis: We’re Expanding 77 WABC to News, Talk, and Music Brands Like the BBC

77 WABC and Red Apple Media have seen expansions in recent months. Owner John Catsimatidis says another expansion could be on the way.

During an appearance on Sid and Friends in the Morning on the New York news/talk station, Catsimatidis said that the station is planning to move into the music realm.

“We’re going to go worldwide,” said Catsimatidis. “I talked to the powers that be in Washington. We’re going to challenge the BBC. We are going to be a news station, in addition to what we are at WABC. And we’re also going to be a music station. But it’s going to be on three different (stations). The BBC has BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, right? We’re going to have WABC one, WABC two, WABC three, and we’re going to do all of the above.”

After Rosenberg noted that the station’s FM simulcast on 107.1 on Long Island is the top Nielsen-rated station, Catsimatidis said the station’s mission remains the same no matter the format.

“If you want the truth, WABC is the place for the truth,” Catsimatidis concluded. “If you want a bunch of crap, then do whatever you want.”

John Catsimatidis said that the company is “busy synchronizing” the strategy to ensure that “nothing in between takes off” before the plans are officially put in 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.

Stephen A. Smith, Suzanne Scott, Wolf Blitzer Members of 34th Annual Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame

BNM Staff
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Stephen A. Smith, Suzanne Scott, Wolf Blitzer Members of 34th Annual Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame

The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame is slated to honor 14 honorees as part of its 34th annual class. Stephen A. Smith, Suzanne Scott, and Wolf Blitzer headline the class.

The Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City will host the gala honoring the new class on Tuesday, September 29th.”

Stephen A. Smith is the featured commentator and Executive Producer of ESPN’s First Take. He also contributes to a wide plethora of content for the network across a variety of programs and sports. Additionally, he serves as a contributor to NewsNation.

Suzanne Scott has served as the CEO of Fox News and Fox Business Network since 2018. She has been with the organization for nearly 30 years.

Wolf Blitzer has long served as the anchor of The Situation Room on CNN. He originally joined the network in 1990. Most recently, Pamela Brown has joined him as co-anchor on his long-running program.

“The class of 2026 feels particularly noteworthy,” Charlie Weiss, chairman of the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, said. “The combination of dynamic industry leaders, pioneering innovators and unparalleled, groundbreaking creatives is nothing short of breathtaking. We stand in awe of their collective achievements, and we are thrilled to be able to celebrate and honor them.”

The complete list of honorees includes:

  • Wolf Blitzer – Co-anchor of CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown”
  • Val Boreland – Versant’s president of entertainment
  • Andy Cohen – Host and executive producer at Bravo, NBCUniversal and Embassy Row
  • Joseph M. Cohen – Co-founder of USA Network, president of The Switch Sports Group and Chairman & CEO of West Ridge Associates
  • Luis Fernández – Chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises (Chairman’s Award)
  • Rita Ferro – The Walt Disney Company, president of global advertising
  • Bobby Flay – chef, restaurateur, producer and media personality at Food Network
  • Robert & Michelle King – Creators/showrunners/executive Producers at CBS Studios & King Size Productions
  • Jon Litner – YES Network, president and CEO
  • Jim Packer – Lionsgate, president of worldwide television distribution
  • Suzanne Scott – CEO of Fox News Media
  • Stephen A. Smith – Featured commentator/executive producer of “First Take” at ESPN
  • William Wang – Founder and CEO of VIZIO (Technology Leadership Award)
  • “Star Trek” – Franchise of the Year Award

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.

Eagle 98.1 Brings The Woody Show to Morning Drive in Baton Rouge

BMM Staff
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Eagle 98.1 Brings The Woody Show to Morning Drive in Baton Rouge

Eagle 98.1 is rolling out changes to its on-air lineup while maintaining local programming and community ties in the Baton Rouge market.

Mornings now feature The Woody Show from 6 AM to 10 AM weekdays. Local traffic, news, and weather will continue during that window as well, including reports from the Louisiana Radio Network and weather updates from WBRZ.

Middays remain anchored by Scotty Mac’s Rock at Work from 10 AM to 2 PM. A 50-year radio veteran, Scotty Mac also serves as Production Director across Guaranty Media’s four stations.

Afternoons stay in the hands of Michelle Southern, who hosts Southern Rock weekdays from 2 PM to 7 PM Evenings bring a new addition — Mark Adams hosts Backstage Pass Monday through Friday from 7 PM to 10 PM. A 23-year Navy veteran, Adams has been a part of the Eagle 98.1 team behind the scenes before transitioning to his on-air role.

Sunday nights add another new element, as rock icon Alice Cooper brings Alice’s Attic to the station from 7 p.m. to midnight. On weekends, Chris Marler hosts Full Volume from 2 PM to 7 PM Saturday and Sunday, while Alondra Villarreal continues Coffee and Flannel — her all-90s show — Sunday mornings from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Southern, who serves as Guaranty Media‘s Radio Operations Manager and Program Director of Eagle 98.1, framed the changes around the station’s local identity.

“Every decision we make for Eagle 98.1 starts right here in Baton Rouge,” she said. “We are recognized across the industry because this station moves the needle for our clients, our artists, and our community. We deliver real results that help businesses grow, and we do it with one of the most engaged audiences anywhere.”

Southern added, “This station has real roots here. We know our listeners. We show up. And we’re going to keep building something Louisiana can be proud of.”

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Tim Brando Signs Extension With FOX Sports

BSM Staff
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Tim Brando Signs Extension With FOX Sports

Tim Brando isn’t slowing down anytime soon. According to an interview with Front Office Sports, the veteran broadcaster has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with FOX Sports.

The extension ensures Brando’s continued presence on college football and basketball coverage for the network. The move keeps one of the industry’s most recognizable voices in a familiar role as Fox continues to lean on experienced talent.

“It’s great news for me,” he said in an interview with FOS. “They didn’t have to move this quickly. My deal wasn’t up until August, but they reached out right away. I’m extremely grateful.”

That early commitment reflects the value FOX Sports places on Brando’s consistency and versatility. By the end of this new agreement, he will have spent roughly 15 years with the network. It’s a milestone that underscores both his staying power and his adaptability in a rapidly shifting media landscape.

Brando joined FOX Sports in 2014 after a long run at CBS Sports, bringing decades of experience across multiple sports. His resume stretches even further back, including a notable role as one of the original hosts of College GameDay in its early days.

Today, his primary focus remains on college athletics. He continues to call marquee college football and basketball games, while also stepping into NFL coverage when needed. That flexibility has long been a hallmark of Brando’s career. Early on, he worked across multiple sports and leagues, building a foundation that still serves him today.

“If somebody can’t make it, they bring the old left-hander out of the bullpen” he said.

More than four decades into broadcasting, Brando still speaks with enthusiasm about the work. He points to the relationships he’s built and the connection with audiences as key reasons he remains energized.

“I love the audience. I love the games,” he said. “And I love the relationships with the people involved.”

FOX Sports has not commented on the reports.

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