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FOX To Air College Football Games on Friday Nights Following ‘WWE SmackDown’ Departure

BSM Staff
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FOX already has its post-SmackDown plans in place — more college football. The company announced that matchups from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Mountain West conferences would air in primetime on Friday nights.

This move was rumored months back but it’s now officially official. There’s no word yet on what exact games will be featured because the conferences have not had their annual game selection meetings yet, but we can expect to see top teams from each division involved, including debuting teams like USC and UCLA in the Big Ten.

FOX notes that the Friday night timeslot is what some would consider an “underutilized” time but the network has had success with unfamiliar timeslots. Last season’s “Big Noon Saturday” package, another underutilized timeslot, averaged 6.74 million viewers on FOX, an 8 percent increase over 2022.

The college football package will air alongside FOX’s other Friday night tent pole events in the fall, including WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown in September until the show moves to USA Network, and the MLB playoffs and World Series in October and early November.

“FOX is football, and our new Friday night package will make FOX the leader in America’s game throughout the weekend,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX president of insight and analytics, in a statement. “We’ve built our collegiate business by seizing opportunities in previously underutilized timeslots, first with “Big Noon Saturday” and now on Friday nights. Our goal this fall is to have the No. 1 college football game on both Fridays and Saturdays and the top NFL game on Sundays.”

Number of Female Radio Executives Increased in 2023 While PDs Dropped, New Study Shows

BNM Staff
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Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. has released the results of a recent study about the number of female radio leaders, and the figures show an uptick in executive positions held by women.

According to MIW, 22.17% — or 2,356 stations — had women holding the General Manager position in 2023. That figure represents a jump of two percent. In top 100 markets, the number is slightly higher, with nearly 24% of GMs being women.

When compared to that figure 20 years ago, it has seen a steady increase. In 2004, only 14.9% of GM roles were held by women.

The number of female sales managers remained relatively flat in 2023, with 34.37% (3,476 stations) of stations having a female sales leader. That number was 33.45% in 2022.

Finally, the amount of women in programming roles lags behind those of sales and general managers.  Women currently program 11.50% (1,173 stations), which MIW called flat compared to 2022. In top 100 markets, the figure actually drops to 10.1%, representing a drop of 3% compared to the previous year.

“Navigating today’s landscape poses unique challenges for both the industry at large and women in particular. Our commitment to fostering change remains unwavering. Through MIW’s array of mentoring initiatives, we not only recognize but also amplify the voices of women,” said MIW Board President Ruth Presslaff.

“We are beyond grateful to the companies and individuals who champion our mission. As we press forward, we eagerly anticipate seizing new opportunities to empower even more women in the year ahead.”

Jessica Mendoza Re-Signs with ESPN

BSM Staff
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A fixture of ESPN’s baseball coverage will stick around for a few more years. Jessica Mendoza, who covers both baseball and softball for the network, is back with ESPN. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed but the company posted a video of Mendoza announcing the move via its @ESPNPR X account:

Mendoza joined ESPN in 2007 and in 2015, became the first woman to serve as an analyst for nationally-televised MLB games. She has since become one of the leading voices in ESPN’s baseball coverage, broadcasting Major League Baseball and Little League World Series games. Unsurprisingly, she also calls softball games at every level for ESPN.

For the uninitiated, Mendoza had an illustrious softball career that resulted in a ton of hardware. She is a two-time Olympian and was a member of the U.S. Women’s National team from 2001-10. Her team won the Gold Medal during the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece, and the Silver Medal during the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.

She is both a three-time World Champion (2002, 2006, 2010) and World Cup Champion (2006, 2007, 2010), in addition to being a two-time Pan American Gold Medalist (2003, 2007). In 2006, she was named the USA Softball Athlete of the Year and was also recognized in 2008 as the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year. In 2019, Mendoza was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame.

Shannon Sharpe: I Made More From Katt Williams Interview Than Any Year I Played in NFL

BSM Staff
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Shannon Sharpe has been riding high since departing Undisputed and his highest of highs came when his Club Shay Shay interview with Katt Williams went super viral. Sharpe just got the check from views and downloads from that episode — and it’s more than he made at the end of any of his 14 NFL seasons.

“Put it like this here,” Sharpe told co-host Chad Johnson. “I made more money on Katt Williams alone than I made in any year I played in the NFL.” Sharpe posted an updated Katt Williams graphic to X earlier today that shows just how many downloads and views the episode is at now:

Sharpe has been ferociously defending his title as the “Sports Media Personality of the Year” with multiple projects across sports and entertainment. Outside of his Club Shay Shay podcast, which is more entertainment-focused but dabbles in sports, he hosts his daily podcast Nightcap alongside Chad Johnson or Gilbert Arenas, depending on the show’s focus for that day. Of course, Sharpe co-hosts First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith, which has seen record growth over the past few months thanks in part to the chemistry between Smith and Sharpe.

Dan Bernstein: Concerned New White Sox Announcer John Schriffen “Is Going to Get a Real Rough Ride”

BSM Staff
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Dan Bernstein: Concerned New White Sox Announcer John Schriffen “Is Going to Get a Real Rough Ride”

Dan Bernstein of 670 The Score in Chicago is not impressed with new Chicago White Sox TV announcer John Schriffen, but it’s still early. Schriffen is in his first season with the team after popular play-by-play man Jason Benetti chose to leave the White Sox to go to the Detroit Tigers.

“Full disclosure, Jason Benetti is a dear friend of mine,” said Bernstein. “And full disclosure, I am just sick about how things ended for him in Chicago.” Bernstein has expressed this sentiment before and talked about it with Benetti and his usual partner Laurence Holmes, who was off on this day.

A clip of a Spring Training home run call from Schriffen was played coming out of a commercial break and upon its conclusion, Bernstein commented, “It’s a long season, it’s a long major league career, just give yourself a little bit of runway, give yourself a place to go from here. It’s just a Spring Training game, that’s all it is, there’s gonna be a lot of home runs.”

Bernstein noted, just like players, it is Spring Training for everyone and that Schriffen may just be “working on stuff.” He added, “And I understand this is somebody getting a big league job for the first time.”

Bernstein explained to his audience that he doesn’t know Schriffen and really doesn’t know anything about him other than what is in his bio. “I wish him the best, and I mean that, and I hope he succeeds,” Bernstein said. “I have nothing against him, I am not rooting against him. I am a little bit concerned about what it’s going to be like to have that level of intensity for a Spring Training game…I am getting some flashbacks to Chip Caray, for not really recognizing that a Tuesday night in April is exciting and fun, but it’s not necessarily a night in October and shouldn’t be treated as such.

“… The good news is I dont know how compelled I am going to be to watch any White Sox baseball, truth be told…I dont want to make fun of him, I heard that call, I sent it in my group text with the ‘yikes face’ emoji, and thinking ‘oh boy man, it could be a long, rough year.’ My hope is that is a veteran truck and he has a veteran partner, I hope that he is figuring some things out and going to work his way into the season and work his way into what I hope is a long and fruitful broadcasting career. But, this is not a small market, this is not a medium sized market. As somebody who was a baseball broadcaster in small markets, that’s where you go to find your voice, that’s where you go to learn how you sound, listen to your tapes, to experiment in front of a less critical audience.”

Bernstein continued and talked about it not just being any market Schriffen has been thrown into. “As we know, this market is a highly ctitical audience…maybe only after New York when it comes to broadcasters,” Bernstain said. “I am concerned that he is going to get a real rough ride. I’ve got nothing against him, I am going to be truthful how I feel, I am not here to polish anybody’s apple and I am not going to tell you you are watching somethiing other than what you are watching or hearing something other than what you are hearing, because we make fun of everyone here…I hope the White Sox have not done a disservice for someone who is not quite ready for this platform, for this scrutiny, for that kind of pulpit.”

Bernstein said he wants to give it a little bit of time and then he will come back and talk to the audience more about this subject. “I think there is going to be a time and a place to reassess,” he said. “But, I want to be fair and give everybody a chance to work through Spring Training… I hear what you hear…I would feel awful if I jumped in and just started absolutely pounding this guy right now, I just don’t think it’s that time.”

Schriffen, 39, was a guest of Parkins & Spiegel on 670 The Score back in late January when his hiring was announced. When asked about his broadcasting style, Schriffen did not hesitate to say, “I’m going to bring the heat. I’m bringing the energy. As soon as there is a crazy play, you are going to hear it, you are going to feel it. Im a passionate person.”

Schriffen’s work for NBC Sports Chicago marks his first play-by-play duties for a team. He broadcast KBO games for ESPN during the pandemic and has done college basketball, college football, college baseball, the XFL, NBA preseason games, G-League and Summer League and Major League Baseball games for ESPN radio.

Monumental Sports Network, NWSL Club Washington Spirit Agree to Regional Broadcast Deal

BSM Staff
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Monumental Sports Network, NWSL Club Washington Spirit Agree to Regional Broadcast Deal

Monumental Sports Network is adding more DC-area sports to its airwaves with news that it will broadcast ten NWSL matches from the Washington Spirit. The first match available to fans on Monumental Sports Network will be the team’s season opener on Sunday, Mar. 17 as the Spirit take on Seattle Reign FC at 6 p.m. ET.

Following the season debut, the network’s slate will feature six home and four away matches during the upcoming season, including matchups against the San Diego Wave, the Orlando Pride, KC Currents, and two matches against the Chicago Red Stars and the Seattle Reign.

Monumental Sports Network NWSL Washington Spirit schedule
Courtesy: Monumental Sports Network

“We are ecstatic to feature Washington Spirit matches for the second consecutive year on our network,” said Friday Abernethy, general manager of Monumental Sports Network. “Between the Spirit and the Mystics, our network features live game broadcasts from two of the most prominent women’s sports franchises in the DMV region, and we are so proud to provide a platform to showcase these world-class athletes and invest in making their games available to local sports fans.”

Matches will be available to local fans both on linear TV and via streaming platforms. Spirit fans can watch the games through their Pay TV subscription, on monumentalsportsnetwork.com, or by downloading the Monumental streaming app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV and using an eligible TV Everywhere log-in.

Don’t have cable? Fans can purchase monthly or annual memberships at monumentalsportsnetwork.com or by downloading the Monumental Sports Network app. In addition to the slate of Spirit games, subscribers also receive in-market access to live games for the Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, amongst other live games, original programs, and tangible membership perks.

“We are pleased to evolve our partnership with Monumental Sports Network this season,” said Spirit CEO Kim Stone. “Airing our matches on Monumental will allow us to leverage their regional model to expand our reach and broaden our exposure throughout the area. This will give fans an additional opportunity to see some of the best athletes in the world.”

Keith Olbermann: There’s Deep Irony in Fox News’ Bill Hemmer Demanding Others Take ‘News’ Out Of Network Name

BNM Staff
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Keith Olbermann: There’s Deep Irony in Fox News’ Bill Hemmer Demanding Others Take ‘News’ Out Of Network Name

After both MSNBC and CNN cut away from Donald Trump’s Super Tuesday victory speech, Fox News host Bill Hemmer suggested the networks should take “news” out of their names. Keith Olbermann laughed at the suggestion.

“On primary night after primary night, our competition refuses to take the primary winner,” Hemmer said. “One of our competitors took four minutes, the other took 10 (minutes). If that’s what you’re gonna do, take news out of your name. We should all be listening to these ideas and thoughts. If Biden came out, (Fox News) would take him and be fair to his message.”

Olbermann began his criticism of the Fox News host by insulting his intelligence.

“Bill Hemmer thinks he is a newscaster…He’s a propaganda whore. And he’s also one of the five dumbest people I’ve met in 48 years in media,” said Olbermann on his Countdown podcast. “I mean at CNN, when we worked there at the same time, the makeup artist used to joke after he left the room that she was surprised every day that he remembered where the CNN studio was.”

He continued by noting his belief that Hemmer isn’t as fair and balanced as he’d like you to believe.

“The other day he decided to take a rare editorial stance — he usually takes about an hour’s worth of editorial stances every day — to blast MSNBC and CNN,” Olbermann said. “First of all, MSNBC does not have the word ‘news’ in its name. The ‘N’ stands for ‘National,’ if it stands for anything, and CNN, years ago, changed its name from Cable News Network to just CNN. So yeah, what does CNN stand for? CNN stands for nothing.

“Secondly, dude, ‘one of our competitors’? You’re a whorehouse for Trump and for fascism…Lastly… on February 23, and then February 29, Fox — at the direction of anchor and vice president Neil Cavuto — cut away from Trump’s Il Duce victory speeches. So, Billy, do you really mean this, if you really know what it means? Go tell Neil Cavuto to take the word ‘news’ out of Fox News. I mean, that would be an actual public service, Hemmer.”

Joe Rogan to Riley Gaines: ‘What You’ve Done is Very Courageous’

BNM Staff
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OutKick host Riley Gaines has seen a rise in stature in her crusade against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. Joe Rogan commended her for her work.

In an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan told the OutKick host that she should be very proud of her work in the space.

“Well, what you’ve done it’s very courageous because I know the kind of pressure that you must have experienced,” Rogan told the former collegiate swimmer. “I know the hate that’s come your way, and you handle it with class. And that is not a learned thing. I think that speaks to one of the things that I think is like one of the most important things that kids can ever get involved in, and that’s sports.”

“Honestly now, I love pressure. I love it,” said Gaines. “I love setting goals and achieving those goals, which sets me up perfectly for this position.”

Gaines has been an advocate for women’s sports, hosting her Gaines for Girls podcast with the conservative digital outlet founded by Clay Travis. She rose to national prominence after being bested in the 2022 NCAA National Championships by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

Chad Withrow: Pat McAfee-Stephen A. Smith Feud is a WWE Work

BSM Staff
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Chad Withrow: Pat McAfee-Stephen A. Smith Feud is a WWE Work

OutKick’s Hot Mic show with Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow, spent time this week talking about the ongoing feud between ESPN staffers Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith. According to the New York Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel, Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee had a private conversation that turned ugly over creative differences on an unnamed project that Stephen. A will produce through his production company, Mr. SAS Productions.

Allegedly, McAfee called Smith a “motherf*****r” at one point during the call. Glasspiegel said the argument caused Smith to ban McAfee from appearing on First Take, but that ban was since lifted once cooler heads prevailed. The Post reached out to both McAfee and Smith who said any animosity between the two has since been resolved.

Jonathan Hutton asked Withrow, “What is going on, where ESPN has this ‘we are not going to comment on it’ and all they’ve done, the two of them and McAfee especially, is comment and bringing up this whole saga back and forth again? They never addressed it internally, I truly believe they never really did anything about it, they just tried to ignore it and hope it just went away over the 24-hour news cycle and that the ‘we are not commenting on this’ would echo through McAfee especially, and now Stephen A. They didn’t punish McAfee for it so nothing is going to happen here, it will continue.”

Withrow replied, “Some good reporting from the New York Post, first off, to get the report out there. And then get, what comes down to, a complete rebuttal of the entire story from both Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith, other than not denying the fact that a heated phone conversation took place and that Pat McAfee called Stephen A Smith a “mother-effer” in that call. That was not addressed in the two statements back to the New York Post.”

Withrow added, “I think this is partly ESPN saying, ‘you guys are such big celebrities now with big voices, you’re big boys you handle it however you want, but dont let this grow to be something else, so go ahead and release your statements and talk to the New York Post and say whatever you want to about the story, but don’t let this get back to us this time the way Pat McAfee calling out Norby Williamson got back to em last time.’ What did Pat McAfee say about all of that? He didn’t apologize…It all seems like a mess…but the more it seems like a mess, the more I think some it is an orchestrated mess in that ESPN isn’t doing or saying anything to stop it. They are allowing it to continue.”

Hutton that brought a name into the conversation that has come up before with Pat McAfee. “You know what I initially thought, just because it is the New York Post, is that Norby Williamson leaked this to them as well.”

Regardless of where the information came from, Withrow believes this is all a positive for ESPN and they may have something to do with it. “It seems to me like this isn’t the worst news for ESPN,” he said. “And because of Pat McAfee’s wrestling background…I don’t think we are getting full-on worked… but I do believe that ESPN is at least remotely complicit in a work that is going on, in that they are not issuing statements, they are not demanding apologies from either one of them, they’re not suspending anybody. So, I take all of that info to say that ESPN does not care about this going on. This could be an ‘any publicity is good publicity’ type situation for ESPN.

Clay Travis: Joe Scarborough ‘May Be the Most Blatant Liar on the Planet’

BNM Staff
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Clay Travis: Joe Scarborough ‘May Be the Most Blatant Liar on the Planet’

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough raised eyebrows earlier this week with his strong comments about the mental capacity of President Joe Biden. OutKick founder Clay Travis could hardly stomach the comments.

“I’m about to tell you the truth. And eff you if you can’t handle the truth, this version of Biden intellectually, analytically, is the best Biden ever,” said Scarborough. “Not a close second and I’ve known him for years…If it weren’t the truth, I wouldn’t say it.”

After playing the clip on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Travis had harsh criticism for the Morning Joe host.

“Joe Scarborough may be the most blatant liar on the planet when it comes to Joe Biden’s mental acuity,” said Travis. “There’s not having a gag reflex and then there’s not having any self-respect, either. Joe Scarborough isn’t even a high-end hooker at this point. He’s a street-walking hooker with this thing.”

Buck Sexton agreed, mocking Scarborough for his sentiments, calling him a “full-MSNBC communist” after serving in Congress as a Republican.

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