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Jason Kelce Reportedly Joining ESPN ‘Monday Night Countdown’

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Throughout the offseason, there have been several reports surrounding former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and his future in sports media. Kelce retired from the National Football League in mid-March and reportedly met with several media companies and networks during Super Bowl Week in Las Vegas. He will now reportedly be joining ESPN as part of its Monday Night Countdown program. Kelce would join host Scott Van Pelt and analysts Marcus Spears and Ryan Clark on the studio program that precedes Monday Night Football games throughout the NFL season. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic was the first to report the news of Kelce joining the network and has also stated that Robert Griffin III is unlikely to return.

Over the last several years, Kelce has co-hosted the New Heights podcast with his brother, Travis, through Wave Sports + Entertainment. The show was honored with the award for Podcast of the Year at the 2024 iHeartPodcast Awards.

Additionally, Kelce has taken part in various collaborations with Amazon Prime Video, including a documentary series called Kelce and an appearance on Thursday Night Football both in the broadcast booth and with its studio show. When discussing his experience with the Prime Video team during the Eagles’ bye week, he described it as “mind-blowing” to see the Thursday Night Football production. Prime Video

Marchand added that NBC and CBS were also interested in adding Kelce for their NFL coverage, and he had previously reported that ESPN was working to add him to its network. Kelce reportedly took part in meetings during Super Bowl Week in Las Vegas, Nev. this past February and spoke to various companies including ESPN, FOX Sports, Prime Video and CBS Sports.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T Added to Weekend Lineup at 102.5 The Game in Nashville

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WWE Hall of Famer Booker T Added to Weekend Lineup at 102.5 The Game in Nashville

WWE legend Booker T, whose real name is Booker T. Huffman Jr., announced today that he and his partner, Brad Gilmore, will be hosting a one-hour weekend show on 102.5 The Game in Nashville. The pair hosts shows Tuesday through Friday on ESPN Houston and also airs a podcast.

The Hall of Fame will air in Nashville from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturdays beginning May 4.

“Exciting news! I’m thrilled to announce that The Hall of Fame radio show, which I host alongside Brad Gilmore, will be making its debut this Saturday in Nashville on 102.5 The Game at 8 a.m.,” Booker said. “We want to thank [station Director of Operations and Sports Program Director] Chase McCabe and The Game team for helping expand the reach of The Hall of Fame.”

In describing the show to the new audience, Booker T said, “Join us every Saturday as we bring the best of pro wrestling, combat sports, and entertainment to the fantastic folks of Nashville, Tennessee.”

Huffman, a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, is a color analyst for WWE’s NXT brand and also is the owner and founder of the Reality of Wrestling independent promotion.

Huffman and Gilmore hosted Heated Conversations on SportsRadio 610 in Houston from 2015 to 2019 before moving the show to ESPN 97.5.

Pat McAfee: ‘End of an Era’ on ‘The NFL Today’

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Pat McAfee: ‘End of an Era’ on ‘The NFL Today’

CBS Sports announced on Monday morning that it was revamping the cast of The NFL Today, adding former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan to the roster. Additionally, the sports division revealed that former NFL quarterbacks Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason would not be returning to the program. As a result, the cast of the venerated studio program next season looks to include host James Brown with analysts Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt, along with the aforementioned Ryan. In a discussion about the Atlanta Falcons strategy at the 2024 NFL Draft with ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, Pat McAfee discussed the outcome that took place at CBS Sports.

“Matt Ryan after he retired from the Colts, he would go on to kill Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms,” McAfee said on Monday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN. “Yeah, him and J.J. just took them off TV. I think that’s how it works is they did that, so hell of a run Boom; way to go [Phil].”

Simms worked as a member of The NFL Today beginning in 2017 after serving as the lead game analyst for CBS Sports for 13 seasons. Esiason had been the longest-tenured studio analyst on the show with 22 seasons under his belt, but he had expressed on Boomer & Gio Monday morning on WFAN that he felt as if Super Bowl LVIII was his “swan song.” On Monday morning, Audacy announced that he had inked a multi-year contract extension with the company to continue hosting the morning program on WFAN, which will have him surpass Don Imus as the longest-tenured morning show host in the history of the station.

“Honestly, those two guys are legends and they had an unbelievable run, and [I] have great respect for both those guys and Boomer’s a personal friend – I love that guy,” Schefter said. “Mad respect for the careers in TV that they’ve had, truly.”

“Boomer’s work ethic is one we’re all striving for, but those two guys – end of an era,” McAfee added. “End of an era, and we appreciate them; getting to spend Sunday mornings with them.”

The announcement of these departures comes two weeks after longtime division chairman Sean McManus retired from the company. David Berson currently leads CBS Sports as its president and chief executive officer coming off a record-setting Super Bowl that averaged 123.7 million viewers. CBS Sports is slated to broadcast Super Bowl LXII that will conclude the 2027 NFL season as part of its decade-long media rights contract with the league that began last season.

Could ‘The Freak’ Resurface in Dallas?

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Could ‘The Freak’ Resurface in Dallas?

An attorney who previously represented former Dallas sports talk radio hosts Dan McDowell and Jake Kemp says he had tried to engage iHeartMedia in talks to buy or lease 97.1 ‘The Freak’ before it shut down last week.

Attorney Philip Kingston, a former Dallas City Council representative, posted the following on his X account:

“I guess I’m allowed to talk about this now. I have been trying to engage [iHeartRadio] since October to sell The Freak or at least lease us the signal. I was working for a group of investors. I know the [General Council] but he, a lawyer, refused to return my calls.

“We had multiple Freak employees approach corporate about the idea, and on multiple occasions were promised an audience with these solons of radio. Never got a single meeting. For the last year, it has been obvious that the problem was that iHeart didn’t spend enough money to really launch the station. Now they spent a lot – I estimate at least $3.5 million – to get absolutely nothing, but they didn’t really commit. They needed at least one more big show to get to the ad sales they needed.

“I know [Mike] Rhyner is blaming poor management, and I know that their salespeople are used to national advertising that you can’t sell with a local talk format, but management was just not the problem. It was lack of investment. With a little more talent and another year, The Freak could have been a $10 million per year station…”

A post replied to Kingston’s asking if it is “still l possible for you to buy another frequency, retain all these guys, add the other show you are talking about and resurrect this thing quickly to build it into exactly what you are talking about?”

Kingston replied, “Lots of people talking about lots of things this week. I should probably shut up for a bit.”

Kingston represented McDowell and Kemp last year when they had a contract dispute with The Ticket owner Cumulus Media (and previous station owner Susquehanna Radio) over wanting to do a podcast outside of their sports talk radio hosting duties.

BSM will monitor the situation and keep you updated when more information becomes available about where the hosts from ‘The Freak’ may end up.

107.5 The Fan Lands Top-3 Finish in Mornings in Indianapolis Winter Ratings Book

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107.5 The Fan Lands Top-3 Finish in Mornings in Indianapolis Winter Ratings Book

The Indianapolis sports scene has been active during the winter months, first serving as host of the NBA All-Star Game in February to welcoming Caitlin Clark to the Indiana Fever earlier this month. For the three-month stretch between January and March, 107.5 The Fan remained in optimal positions within the Nielsen Indianapolis winter ratings book. Starting with weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p), the outlet finished tied for fourth with a 7.0 share among Men 25-54. That aligns with the station’s 2023 finish and rating position from last year’s winter ratings book.

Mornings with Kevin Bowen and Andy Sweeney attained an 8.4 share, third for the quarter. It was the duo’s first full winter book together. Bowen and Sweeney started broadcasting The Wake Up Call in late August. The 7a-10a program garnered an 8.5 share, third-place finish last year with Jake Query involved in the mix.

The Fan splits its midday programming between national and local shows, the first of which is the two-hour ESPN Radio program #Greeny. Anchored by Mike Greenberg, the show generated a 5.1 share in the winter book placing it in a sixth-place tie among Men 25-54. Year-over-year, the daypart is up one-tenth of a share and above the 11th-place ranking position it previously possessed.

The later midday show with the aforementioned Query achieved a 6.8 share, fifth-place finish in its first full winter ratings book from 12p-3p. That represented a 1.3-share improvement from the eighth-place finish the program had in the 2023 winter ratings book.

In afternoon drive, John Michael Vincent anchored The Ride w/ JMV and earned a 7.2 share for the quarter, good for fourth in the market. The result was a 1.0 share decline from last year, when the show ranked second overall.

For the full week (M-SU, 6a-12a), 107.5 The Fan collected a 5.6 share, placing it seventh among Men 25-54. The metric was four-tenths of a share lower than last year’s winter ratings period when it realized a 6.0 share, sixth-place finish.

Ratings reports and analysis are written by BSM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways sports media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.

Dan Rather Still ‘Focused on New Challenges’ at 92

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Dan Rather Still ‘Focused on New Challenges’ at 92

Dan Rather made his first return to CBS News in 18 years in a profile on CBS Sunday Mornings over the weekend. While that allowed him to be reflective of his career, it also presented him an opportunity to speak about the future, even at the age of 92.

After his appearance on the morning news program, Dan Rather wrote about the moment in his Substeak newsletter, Steady.

“My time at CBS was done 18 years ago. It is almost quaint to look back at the problems we had back then with our American democracy and with journalism. Compared to today, these were issues we could — and mostly did — work through,” wrote Rather.

“Now I am focused on our new challenges and even greater threats. I am focused on you, the Steady community, and on having a deeper dialogue and fresh perspective about our new realities.

“I am looking ahead, not back, at age 92. Thank you for doing the work with me moving forward.”

Additionally, Rather announced a self-titled documentary about his life and career in the news media industry will begin streaming on Netflix beginning on Wednesday, May 1st.

Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason Out, Matt Ryan In on CBS’ ‘The NFL Today’

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Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason Out, Matt Ryan In on CBS’ ‘The NFL Today’

CBS Sports revealed The NFL Today will have a new configuration this fall with the addition of four-time NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan to the show and the departure of veterans Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason. Ryan, who was a member of a three-person broadcast booth with play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon and analyst Tiki Barber during last season’s NFL on CBS slate of games, will officially be the newest member of the studio show this fall. This also represents the first personnel moves under David Berson, who became president and chief executive officer of CBS Sports upon the retirement of division chairman Sean McManus after three decades with the company.

Ryan will join the show following a record-setting Super Bowl LVIII broadcast from CBS Sports that averaged approximately 123.7 million viewers across platforms, the largest audience for a television program in United States history. A custom survey commissioned by the National Football League to Nielsen Media Research measured that the game reached an estimated 210 million viewers, representing nearly two-thirds of all Americans, with an average minute audience of about 143 million viewers.

“Matt had an outstanding first year at CBS Sports, excelling as both a studio and game analyst,” Berson said in a statement. “He is the consummate team player and a Hall of Fame person. We love the chemistry he has with the studio crew and we’re excited to see him entertain NFL fans and share his passion, insight and perspective alongside JB, Nate, Coach and JJ.”

Ryan played 15 seasons in the NFL as a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts where he earned top-10 distinctions in passing yards (62,972), touchdowns (381), completions (5,551) and attempts (8,464). The former No. 3 overall draft pick by the Falcons holds many offensive records for the franchise, such as touchdowns, completions and passer rating. Ryan played in Super Bowl LI and helped the team attain six playoff berths during his 14 seasons with the organization.

“I grew up watching The NFL Today so I’m honored to join this iconic show and hope to continue the high standard set by Phil, Boomer and others before me,” Ryan said in a statement. “I am thankful for this exciting new opportunity and can’t wait to get started with my new teammates.”

With the addition of Ryan, the show will no longer feature former NFL quarterbacks Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason, ending their tenure with the outlet. Simms was the lead game analyst for almost two decades before he made the transition into the studio where he brought his style, opinions and levity to the studio program. Esiason had been a member of The NFL Today for 22 years as its longest-tenured analyst and brought his esoteric knowledge and quick-wittedness to the show.

Audacy announced that it had inked Esiason to a multi-year contract extension for him to continue co-hosting morning drive on WFAN, making him the longest-tenured host in the daypart in the history of the station. While discussing his future in sports media on Monday morning, Esiason framed his departure from CBS Sports as “more their decision than maybe mine” and thought of the Super Bowl LVIII coverage as his “swan song.”

“Phil and Boomer set the standard of excellence for NFL analysts,” Berson said in a statement. “We are so grateful for their immeasurable contributions to CBS Sports. We genuinely thank them for being incredible teammates and for their passion, dedication and commitment to elevating CBS Sports’ NFL coverage every season.”

Phil Simms took to X to post, “Great 26 year run with CBS Sports. Even though that part of my career is over I look forward to what is next…”

Boomer Esiason Signs Contract Extension with WFAN

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Boomer Esiason has signed a multi-year contract extension with Audacy that will keep him in morning drive on WFAN. Esiason, who joined the station in 2007, co-hosted alongside Craig Carton in 2017 and has been working with Gregg Giannotti in the daypart since 2018. With this new deal, Esiason will surpass 20 years as a morning drive host at WFAN, which will make him the longest-tenured host in the daypart in the history of the station, moving past Don Imus. The Boomer & Gio morning show is also aired on television nationwide through the CBS Sports Network.

“Boomer has become a true cornerstone in the long, storied history of WFAN,” Chris Oliviero, Audacy New York market president, said in a statement. “He was already the highest-rated morning show in the FAN record books, and now, with this new extension, he will add longest-running to his accolades. And most excitedly, we are certain the best is still yet to come as Boomer begins this new chapter in his career by making a long-term commitment to the FAN, along with a creative vision for elevating the brand together to new heights.”

In addition to his role at WFAN, Esiason anchors the “Audacy Sports Minute” heard across the company’s sports stations and Infinity Sports Network. Additionally, he is the co-host of Kick-Off with Boomer & Valenti, a nationally syndicated NFL preview show.

“For the last 17 years, it has been an honor to be the voice that New York sports fans wake up to,” Esiason said in a statement. “I could not be more excited to continue delivering four hours of entertaining conversation at the most vibrant and storied sports radio station in the country, working alongside the morning crew. I would like to thank Audacy, Chris Oliviero, and most importantly, our passionate listeners for the opportunity to continue on this incredible ride.”

Concurrent with his contract extension at Audacy, Esiason announced that he will not return to CBS Sports’ The NFL Today. Esiason had been a member of the studio show since 2002 where he most recently worked alongside host James Brown and analysts Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt. This past February, he was in Las Vegas, Nev. for Super Bowl LVIII where WFAN and CBS Sports Network presented the morning drive program and he also was part of Super Bowl LVIII coverage on CBS.

“More their decision than maybe mine, but I really thought that the Super Bowl was my swan song, and I thought the way that CBS handled especially us guys out there in Las Vegas – it was amazing,” Esiason said. “I had been there for 22 years. The guy who hired me back in 2001 was a guy by the name of Sean McManus who was the CBS Sports chairman. He shook my hand [and] he said, ‘I’d love for you to be a part of The NFL Today.’ I never thought in my wildest dreams that would’ve lasted for 22 years.”

Before Esiason began working in sports media, he was an NFL quarterback who played 14 seasons in the NFL, starting his career with the Cincinnati Bengals after he was selected with the 38th overall pick of the 1984 NFL Draft. Along with making the Pro Bowl four times and winning the 1988 AP Most Valuable Player distinction, Esiason was honored as the recipient of the 1995 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Following nine seasons with the Bengals, which included an appearance in Super Bowl XXII, he was traded to the New York Jets where he quickly gained ground on the team’s all-time passing yards list. After a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals, Esiason returned to Cincinnati to end his career and was inducted into the team’s “Ring of Honor” last season.

In 1993, Esiason founded the Boomer Esiason Foundation to help fight cystic fibrosis, providing financial assistance and cultivating awareness about the genetic disorder. During the week of May 4, the foundation will engage in its Breathe Week, which combines its Run to Breathe and Bike 2 Breathe events into a virtual experience. By completing an athletic achievement during the seven-day span and sharing it on social media, participants can help Team Boomer and the Boomer Esiason Foundation #FightCFAnywhere. All participants receive an official Breathe Week shirt with their registration, which can be for an individual or to join and/or start a team.

Paramount CEO Bob Bakish Exits Amid Push to Sell or Merge

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Paramount CEO Bob Bakish Exits Amid Push to Sell or Merge

Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish is stepping down from the company amid a push to either sell the company or merge with Skydance, according to reports.

Bakish’s exit coincides with the company’s quarterly earnings call Monday afternoon after the markets close. With his departure, it is not expected for Bakish to participate in the meeting with investors.

After joining the company in 1997, Bakish was elevated to CEO of the freshly merged ViacomCBS — which changed its name to Paramount Global in 2022 — in 2019 after previously being the CEO of Viacom. His appointment as CEO of the new venture was backed by controlling shareholder and executive chair Shari Redstone.

It is reported that his exit is in part due to unhappiness from Redstone about recent decisions Bakish supported, like not accepting offers to sell both Showtime and BET. Meanwhile, Bakish is reportedly not in favor of a potential sale/merger of the company with Skydance, which stands in opposition to Redstone’s wishes.

The company has seen a rocky few months. After eliminating the jobs of more than 800 employees in a round of reductions, merger talks between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery were halted in February after the stock price for both companies reached a 52-week low. Additionally, Bakish turned down a $30 billion offer from media mogul Byron Allen for the company, which was one of many rebuked in recent months.

105.7 The Fan Gains Three First Place Finishes in Baltimore Winter Ratings Book

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105.7 The Fan Gains Three First Place Finishes in Baltimore Winter Ratings Book

Audacy-owned 105.7 The Fan remained a force in the latest the Nielsen winter ratings book. The market’s dominant sports outlet finished 1st in weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p) with a 9.2 share. Among Persons 25-54 in weekday prime the station was tied for 4th with a 4.9 share. For the full week (M-Su, 6a-Mid) The Fan ranked 3rd with a 7.3 share with Men 25-54. With Persons 25-54, the brand was 9th with a 4.2 share.

Among the weekday shows, mornings with Ed Norris, Rob Long and Jeremy Conn earned third place with a 7.6 share with Men 25-54. That was down from an 8.8 share The Big Bad Morning Show generated in the fall. Year-over-year, the show lost 2.6 shares and one ranking position. Within the Persons 25-54 demographic, The Big Bad Morning Show finished eighth with a 4.2 share. Among Men 35-64, the show placed third with a 10.2 share.

Middays with Vinny Cerrato and Bob Haynie retained its top spot with an impressive 9.8 share. They were however down two shares year-to-year. The show registered another first place finish among Men 35-64 with a 12.7 share for the quarter. They also amassed a 5.4 share, fifth place result in the Persons 25-54 demographic.

Wrapping up in afternoon drive, Jason La Canfora, Ken Weinman and Tim Barbalce collected an 11.0 share, first-place outcome in the Men 25-54 demographic. The metric was down from the 12.2 share that earned the show the top spot last winter. Inside Access had a 10.6 share among Men 35-64, which placed it first in the Baltimore DMA. The show ranked fifth among Persons 25-54 with a 5.7 share.

Ratings reports and analysis are written by BSM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways sports media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.

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