After over three decades on the air, host Glen Macnow has announced that he will be retiring from SportsRadio 94WIP over the summer, hosting his final show on Saturday, July 13. Macnow revealed the news as he was hosting programming this Saturday alongside Mike Sielski, explaining his decision within a 6-minute soliloquy during which he also thanked a variety of people for helping make his career possible.
“For more than 31 years – 20 of them as a full-time host and the last 11 of them on weekends – I have had the pleasure of sitting in these studios sharing my thoughts on Philadelphia sports, celebrating and suffering with this marvelous fanbase,” Macnow said. “I worked with talented partners and producers, I have wrestled with bosses and always tried to be honest in my opinions. I’ve had the privilege of seeing amazing performances on the field, on the ice [and] on the court. I got to broadcast two championship parades – and to be honest, I thought there were going to be more of those, but I’ll take two – and now it’s time to put down the headset.”
In addition to hosting weekend programming, Macnow has been the host of the Philadelphia Eagles pregame show on the station for the last 17 years. The Boston University graduate began working as a full-time host at WIP in December 1993 after beginning his career as a journalist working for newspapers, including the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel and the Detroit Free Press. Macnow was hired by The Philadelphia Inquirer in November 1986, and he states that he got his job at the station because Cataldi vouched for him. Macnow is currently the second-longest tenured member of the station after Al Morganti, who agreed to a new role upon the retirement of Cataldi last spring.
“Special appreciation has to go to Angelo Cataldi,” Macnow said. “Angelo helped me land this job in the first place. Angelo was the backbone of this station for three decades, and I hope he is enjoying his retirement. I may have to get some tips from him; hell, I may have to hang around with him in retirement. That’ll be fun.”
Macnow was offered a new contract by SportsRadio 94WIP, but he ultimately made the decision to walk away from the station. During his tenure with the outlet, he hosted across various dayparts both on weekends and weekdays, including four years in afternoon drive with Anthony Gargano. Over the last several years, he has been hosting on weekends with Mike Sielski on Saturdays and Jody McDonald on Sundays. Weekend co-host Ray Didinger retired from the station in 2022, but he still makes occasional appearances on WIP and NBC Sports Philadelphia.
“Glen Macnow joined WIP when the sports talk format was still early days, and before there was an obvious business to be built,” Rod Lakin, brand manager of SportsRadio 94WIP, said to The Philadelphia Inquirer. “His addition was the next part of the critical path that helped WIP become one of the biggest sports brands in the country. In the view of a world where we’re looking for special and different, Glen is in a class of his own – exceptional author, host, and theatrical performer.”
“I’ve been so fortunate throughout my career,” Macnow expressed. “I literally get paid to talk about sports and TV, to write about movies and to drink beer. That is my job; that is my profession. I could not have written it up better as a 21-year-old.”
In whatever way the next chapter of his career unfolds, Macnow has gratitude for his colleagues and the listeners of SportsRadio 94WIP by making him a part of their days. Before his announcement, Macnow calculated that he has hosted approximately 6,5000 shows on WIP and spoke into the station’s microphones for more than 25,000 hours, a duration he believes is enough for anybody.
“I’m just going to wrap by saying – now I’m going to get choked up – it has been my privilege for 31-and-a-half years to spend this time with you,” Macnow said. “We all need to know when it’s time to leave the stage, and for me, that is going to be this July, so I love you and I thank you.”
Chicago has long been known as a strong radio city thanks to its surplus of spoken word outlets. Between WBBM, WGN, WLS, and AM 560 The Answer, listeners have no shortage of options, but for the winter book, there was a distinct leader according to the latest Nielsen numbers.
Starting in weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p CST), WBBM delivered an impressive 5.6 share to rank third among Persons 35-64. The Chicago news radio outlet was also tied for 9th with Persons 25-54 with a 3.5 share. it added a 0.1 share with its stream for a total line reporting of a 3.6 share in the 25-54 demographic. Meanwhile, WGN and WLS each recorded a 1.1 share with Persons 25-54. WGN enjoyed stronger results with Persons 35-64, earning a 2.3 share. WLS, on the other hand, produced a 1.0 share in the 35-64 demo.
For the full week (M-SU 6a-Mid), WBBM popped a 5.7 share to rank 4th among Persons 35-64. The station ranked 13th with a 3.3 share among Persons 25-54. Similarly, WGN saw a lower number with Persons 25-54, turning in a 1.0 share. They jumped to a 2.2 share with Persons -64. Conversely, WLS had a 0.8 share with Persons 25-54 and a 0.7 share with Persons 35-64.
Among the weekday dayparts, WBBM ranked third in mornings (6a-10a CST) among Persons 35-64 with a 6.1 share. That total line reporting grows to a 6.3 share when the station’s streaming figures are included. Among Persons 25-54, the station was tied for 12th with a 3.4 share. Its stream also featured a 0.3 share in that demographic. WGN, which features Bob Sirott in mornings, registered a 2.5 share in the P35-64 demo. The number was lower (0.7 share) among Persons 25-54.
WLS splits their morning slot between Steve Cochran (5:30a-9a CST) and the first hour of The Chris Plante Show (9a-10a CST). The morning slot was further back with a 0.6 share among Persons 35-64, and a 0.8 with Persons 25-54.
In middays (10a-3p CST), WBBM recorded a 5.1 to rank 5th with Persons 35-64. Among Persons 25-54, the station scored a 3.3 share to finish tied for 11th. WGN splits its midday slot between John Williams (10a-2p), while adding in the Wintrust Business Lunch from Noon-1p, and the first hour of Lisa Dent’s afternoon program. The combined programming turned in a 1.2 share with Persons 25-54, and a 2.1 share among Persons 35-64.
WLS middays features the final hour of Plante’s program, The Dan Bongino Show, and the first hour of The Ben Shapiro Show. The daypart delivered the largest share for the Cumulus-owned station, earning a 2.1 share (tie for 18th) with Persons 25-54 demo, and a 1.8 share (tie for 18th) with Persons 35-64.
Afternoon drive saw similar results. WBBM finished third with a 6.0 share among Persons 35-64. The share dipped to a 3.8 share with Persons 25-54, still good for 8th. WGN airs Lisa Dent’s show plus a series of financial programs in the 6p-7p hour. The station earned a 2.4 share with Persons 35-64, and a 1.3 share with Persons 25-54 during afternoons (3p-7p CST). WLS hosts a one-hour business news program to start the daypart, followed by a one-hour afternoon news block and The Mark Levin Show. The station recorded a 0.2 share in both the Persons 25-54 and 35-64 demographics.
Ratings information for AM 560 The Answer was not available.
Ratings reports and analysis are written by BNM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.
Mark Adams is heading east to take the reins at “Z100” in New York on May 1, which means iHeartMedia in San Francisco needs new Program Directors for “Wild 94.9” KYLD and Hot AC “Star 101.3” KIOI. After a lengthy search, the company has identified two men to lead them forward.
Dan Hunt has been hired to program “Wild 94.9” KYLD and “Star 101.3” KIOI. With prior experience programming CHR stations such as “Power 96.1” in Atlanta and “Wired 96.5” in Philadelphia, as well as involvement with iHeartMedia’s national CHR brand team, Hunt brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new roles.
The second move sees Travis Loughran promoted to Program Director at KIOI. With over a decade of experience as Assistant Program Director and Music Director at KYLD and KIOI, in addition to previously working at B95 in Fresno, KBMB in Sacramento, and WQHT in New York, Loughran has a deep understanding of programming and audience engagement across various markets and formats.
iHeartMedia San Francisco SVP/Programming Don Parker said of the moves, “I’m thrilled to welcome Dan Hunt to WiLD 94.9 and to reward Travis’ hard work and dedication to iHeartMedia/San Francisco with this well-deserved promotion to PD of Star 101.3. Both have a long track record of success at iHeartMedia, as well as previous programming positions prior to joining the company. I look forward to their leadership of these two iconic San Francisco brands.”
With Dan Hunt joining as PD of Wild 94.9, and Travis Loughran taking the helm at Star 101.3, iHeartMedia is aiming to continue its legacy of delivering compelling and innovative radio content to the San Francisco market. Both Hunt and Loughran bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to their respective roles, and their leadership will undoubtedly shape the future success of these iconic radio brands in the Bay Area.
Rob & Joss Taylor are bringing their wealth of experience and engaging dynamic to mornings at 94.9 Mix-FM in Tucson. Their transition from San Diego to Tucson marks a new chapter in their radio journey, and it’s clear they’re excited to connect with the community and bring their genuine, entertaining style to their new audience. With their background in both AC and Country formats, they’re well-equipped to cater to a diverse range of listeners.
The Taylor’s said in a press release, “We are so thrilled to be working with the team at Arizona Lotus. We have the opportunity to really connect with the Tucson community at a great radio station and with a company that believes in the things that make local radio great. HUGE thanks to Gary Berkowitz, Debbie Wagner and Larry Mac – you have made this step in our radio journey incredible.”
Their predecessor, Nikki West, has left the station due to relocation, leaving a vacancy in the morning slot alongside Mike Rapp. It’ll be interesting to see if Rapp continues solo or if a new co-host will join him. Either way, with Rob & Joss stepping in, listeners can expect a fresh perspective and lively start to their mornings on 94.9 Mix-FM.
Arizona Lotus General Manager Debbie Wagner added, “We are excited to welcome the engaging duo of Rob and Joss to 94.9 Mix FM mornings. Their show is genuine, entertaining and fun which we think the Tucson community will enjoy tuning in to at the start of their day.”
670 The Score started off the year with a stellar performance in the Chicago Winter ratings book. According to the latest Nielsen data, The Score ranked third for the quarter in weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p) courtesy of a 5.6 share. The station also gained 1.2 shares year-over-year and one tenth of a share from the fall book.
In mornings from 5:30a-10a CST, Mike Mulligan and David Haugh finished third with a 5.4 share. Mully and Haugh added 1.0 shares year-over-year but lost 0.8 shares from the fall ratings book. Dan Bernstein and Laurence Holmes turned in the highest performance for the quarter for The Score in middays, producing an impressive 6..0 share to rank third. Bernstein & Holmes lost one-tenth of a share from the fall book but gained 1.4 shares year-over-year.
Afternoon drive featuring Danny Parkins and Matt Spiegel accounted for a 5.5 share to rank fourth this quarter. Parkins and Spiegel improved their share by seven tenths from the fall and 1.3 shares year-over-year.
For the full week (M-Su, 6a-12a) 670 The Score placed sixth with a 4.6 share among Men 25-54. The Score was flat compared to last quarter, and up seven tenths of a point year-over-year.
Ratings data for Good Karma Brands-owned ESPN 1000 was not available this quarter. CEO Craig Karmazin confirmed earlier this year that the company ended its business relationship with Nielsen. This means numbers for GKB’s stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland and West Palm Beach will not be available.
670 The Score’s quarterly numbers include a combination of both over-the-air and streaming performances.
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.
Improvements to technology have been a part of the world as far back as I can remember. We saw LPs and 8 tracks replaced by cassettes, CDs, and MP3’s, newspapers/magazines shifted to websites, newsletters and social media, and black and white TV evolved to color, while cable was followed by satellite and streaming.
It’s happened on the dashboard inside your car too. For example, Tesla’s today offer a different look than what you saw in 2000-2020 vehicles. Those automobiles offered better displays than what was presented from 1950-1999. It’s why Xperi is aggressively promoting DTS Autostage. They want to improve the in-car data experience for operators, advertisers and auto dealers. I received an in-car education last week in Las Vegas. It was impressive. With nearly 7 million activated cars globally, and over 4 million operational in the US, the sample sizes are strong and growing. Eventually more in-car listening will be measured this way, not less.
The same transformation is happening with artificial intelligence. I know some folks hear those two words and get immediately nervous. It’s not perfect, and there are plenty of questions and concerns that need to be addressed. For starters, should it be regulated by the government? How will people know what is real and what isn’t? How do we prevent bad actors from using it for the wrong reasons?
Perry Simon made a great point in his column on BNM last week. He said ‘AI-driven operations will only be as good as the people programming, feeding, and operating the platforms.’ His assessment is that the problems facing the media industry are more about humans than about technology. That’s a fair statement. Many who are sounding the alarms though about artificial intelligence are doing so while carrying a cell phone in their pocket, posting on multiple social media accounts, relying on Google search, and telling Siri and Alexa what song to play next.
Your every word and action is monitored today whether you like it or not. The second you say something out loud, you open up Facebook and see an ad for it. You plug in a smart speaker and it hears every single thing said in your home. Siri does the same in your car. While you can be concerned, and question why we give away access to our lives, the reality is that we do, and it’s not going to change.
So the questions become, how do we live with it moving forward? And, how can we use the technology to our benefit while installing guardrails to prevent malpractice?
At the NAB Show last week, AI was the central theme of the conference. If a business existed and could add the two letters A and I to its booth, it did. Everyone sees what’s happening. There’s a rush to establish a dominant position in the space. In many ways it reminds me of the sports betting craze in 2018. Every group rushed in, wanting a slice of the pie. Little by little, some faded away, others sold and became part of larger groups, and the heavyweights stuck around. The difference with this, those who get it right could own the world and specific industries, not just the sports bettor in individual states.
Stephanie Eads and I met with groups who are investing in AI. Futuri, Veritone, Adthos, AWS, Benztown/ENCO/Compass, Microsoft were some who we visited and heard samples from. A few others we’ve arranged post-conference meetings with. I also attended sessions including Daniel Anstandig’s keynote with Ameca, an autonomously AI-powered humanoid robot.
The media industry is going to change a lot due to AI. Some will read this and assume that means robots will soon run the world. Others will be concerned about the possibility of jobs being lost. I spend no time worrying about robot takeovers but I do understand the concern over jobs being eliminated. I have them too. But that raises a different question. Is the job you’re doing essential?
I don’t recall the same level of panic when the internet arrived and editors and writers lost jobs. Nor do I recall outrage when Blockbuster employees, taxi drivers and Yellow Pages workers lost jobs due to the arrival of better options. It’s part of life. Businesses and individuals will always look to innovate and evolve.
I stopped by the ENCO booth to see a few industry friends from Benztown, and watched a great presentation for SPECai. It’s going to be a sales department’s best friend. Excellent spec spots created quickly with creative writing, produced music, and a talent’s voice.
As I listened, I thought of how long it takes to complete this process inside a media operation. Currently, sellers write a script, send it to the production director, who then tracks down the talent and has them voice the spot before producing it and emailing it to the rep. The seller then reviews it and sends it to the client. That entire process, which takes hours to complete was done in less than ten minutes. By not having to waste time on the minutia, it gives sellers more time to create and sell. That benefits everyone.
I heard and saw similar things for on-air content. Daniel Anstandig played three clips during his keynote and asked the audience to guess if they were human or AI. All three were AI. Whether you wanted to admit it or not, they sounded great. I immediately thought of music stations that use voice tracking for nights and weekends, and DJ’s who fill time between songs and don’t establish themselves as personalities. If this technology can improve what’s on the air, while helping media groups reduce spending on less important parts to invest more in the key areas of their business, that just makes sense.
But it goes beyond that too. There are business opportunities that could exist that we’re not even thinking about right now.
What if WQAM in Miami, an English speaking sports station in a heavy Hispanic community, had an AI Spanish-Speaking version of its content on a second stream? Or if a sports station in Chicago used AI to license Mike Ditka and Harry Caray’s voices for commercials or specialized imaging/promos? Or if the entire library of Stuart Scott’s work at ESPN, Mike and the Mad Dog’s shows on WFAN or a sports franchise’s entire history could be bought and accessed in minutes. That could open up additional revenue opportunities while benefitting the user too.
How many radio station websites feature no written content or material delivered by outside sources? What if AI could deliver written stories to enhance your local offerings? Or maybe down the line, it helps with your social media content creation, promotion, and scheduling.
It can extend beyond content and sales too. How many businesses can benefit from improving employee training manuals and videos, payroll systems, powerpoint presentations, educating staff, analysis of metrics, etc.? Even some music will be created through AI. Before you write it off, watch this clip. It circulated on social media last week after OJ Simpson died. I don’t love the subject matter but you can’t say the tune isn’t catchy.
One thing I’m confident of is that personalities are going to matter despite the rise of AI. You can’t sell remotes, live events, gain access to inside information from trusted sources or deliver 10-15 hours of live, compelling and entertaining long-form daily content without real people. But to think that all content and talent featured on brands are valuable, and various aspects of our day-to-day jobs can’t be improved is foolish.
Case in point, if you’re creating images for a station’s social media accounts, AI can crank them out better and faster. Do you know which AI tools to use to elevate your brand’s creativity? Are you adding video editing, social media management, content creation or other skills to your toolbox to become more valued? If your only focus is graphic creation and AI can do it better, you’re not protecting your future. I remember TV anchors refusing to shoot their own video. Anchors who were more versatile and open-minded eventually replaced them.
If you’re an update anchor, a role which I said 8 years ago had lost value due to the internet, phone, and social media, what else are you contributing besides reports every twenty to thirty minutes? If I can promote upcoming games and sports stories in a report with AI, and seamlessly implement a ten second sponsor read, why is your role necessary? By the way, this applies to news, weather, stock and traffic reports too. Great anchors who offer value beyond reports (hosting, writing, video, etc.) will stay. One-tool players may be less fortunate.
I’m particularly curious to know if advertisers will support brands that rely on AI for content. Are agencies and local businesses going to invest significant dollars in a brand if a human isn’t on the air helping them move product? Before we start launching AI powered radio stations, we better know that answer. Creating quicker solutions with spec spots is one thing. Earning the public’s trust and helping local and national brands grow their businesses is another.
I also wonder how talent and voice actors might benefit from voice licensing. Will society get smarter or become less informed due to becoming reliant on machine learning? How will this change journalism and the public’s desire to know the truth?
One of the best things I heard Daniel Anstandig say was that people spend 90% of their time on process and 10% on creativity. I couldn’t agree more. Many brands produce forgettable promotions, events, and content, relying on the same stuff they’ve done before rather than creating new, memorable moments or experiences. AI has many pros and cons, but I do love that it allows us to save time and focus on the most important parts of our jobs. For some, that’s outstanding news. For those lacking creativity or the ability to produce impact in multiple ways, you may soon be exposed.
Arizona Sports: Until this year, no sports radio station had won a coveted Crystal Award at the NAB Show for community service. Bonneville’s Phoenix sports station changed that by receiving one of the ten awards distributed. VP/GM Ryan Hatch said on stage “I guess a sports radio station can win this award after all.” It was long overdue but very deserving. Arizona Sports and sister station KTAR News 92.3 teamed up with Phoenix Children’s Hospital for a Give-a-Thon week in 2023 to help raise $2.15 million for kids and families in need.
We are honored to be the first sports-format station ever recognized for our commitment to community service with the Crystal Award. https://t.co/iGtzUs85Lx
Nick Khan: WWE isn’t afraid to break away from tradition. That’s a good thing. Khan recently told SBJ that WrestleMania would no longer run opposite the Final Four. He also doesn’t want the event taking place in early April at an outdoor stadium on the East Coast. Having watched the show live in the cold in NJ and Philadelphia, as well as in Atlanta, San Francisco, and Orlando, it’s always more enjoyable in warmer cities. The content will be incredible regardless. So prioritizing the fan experience and running the event during a less competitive time for eyeballs just makes sense. Another smart decision by Khan and all involved with TKO/WWE.
John Sterling: His calls brought smiles to the faces of Yankees fans, and disgust to the faces of critics, but his style was unique and memorable, and his love for the team shined through. It’s what separated him from the rest. As a longtime Yankees fan, I and many others had the honor of hearing John’s work for thirty six years. No matter who steps in next, there will never be another like John Sterling. Thank You John for being you and making the moments matter.
There is a Soto Photo! A home run in the left field seats!
Curtis LeGeyt: The broadcasting industry is lucky to have LeGeyt leading the way. I’ve had a few small chats with Curtis in the past, and have always enjoyed them. He’s likeable, smart, and cares about the industry. That was easy for attendees to see when he spoke with Adrienne Bankert on stage at the NAB Show. LeGeyt offered insights on AI, the battle local broadcasters face competing for ad dollars with Google and Facebook, and shared his optimism for the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act passing in Washington D.C.. As a broadcast professional who cares about the future of the industry, it’s good to know we have LeGeyt on our side.
Mike Francesa/BetRivers: The two parties extended their partnership last week, and from the outside looking in, it appears to be benefitting both. Francesa still delivers content that gets picked up by outlets everywhere. That’s led to increased attention for BetRivers. Meanwhile, BetRivers has invested in Mike, giving him a second act after sports radio. That’s the sign of a good relationship. I’m glad to see both moving forward together and adding a daily YouTube show.
Gregg Doyel: The Indy Star sports writer has taken a beating for his awkward exchange with Caitlin Clark. Rightfully so. It was bizarre. What baffles me is how some sports writers ask the worst and most odd questions during press conferences. Rather than trying to be liked, how about pursuing information to benefit the reader? Just because you’re a good writer doesn’t mean you’re qualified to ask good questions. Some of these folks, Doyel included, need interview training. I’d also suggest not getting cute. It’ll help you avoid becoming the story.
Cringe warning: Reporter Gregg Doyel has an awkward interaction with Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/6odNYw8cTT
YES Network: On Saturday, the Yankees held a pre-game press conference for John Sterling to address the media. Rather than airing it on television, YES stuck with their normal pre-game show. When special moments happen, you have to adjust your format to serve your audience. YES didn’t. Sterling’s media conference should’ve been shown in its entirety on TV.
Listenership of Boston sports radio remained strong in the 2024 Winter Book. Beasley Media Group-owned 98.5 The Sports Hub finished first for the quarter in weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p) among Men 25-54, according to the latest Nielsen data.
The Sports Hub delivered a 15.6 share thanks to the strength of its morning, midday and afternoon shows. While the station ranked first in both rating and share, the figure was slightly down from last quarter when it recorded a 16.3 share, which also placed The Hub first.
The new morning drive duo of Fred Toucher and Rob “Hardy” Poole registered a 17.9 share in their first book working together. That placed them first overall. Compared to the fall ratings book, the morning show was up from a 17.1 last book. Year-over-year share was down though from a 25.6 share during the 2023 winter book.
Middays with Scott Zolak and Marc Bertrand remained strong with a 15.4 share for the quarter, which also ranked the program first. The rating doesn’t include viewership gleaned from its simulcast on local regional sports network NBC Sports Boston. Zolak and Bertrand were down from the fall book when they generated a 16.7 share. That was the same story year-over-year as the midday team delivered a 20.7 share in the 2023 winter book.
Afternoon drive with Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti remained the top performing show on The Hub for the quarter with a 19.8 share, first-overall finish. The show recorded the same share and ranking as it did during the winter book in 2023. Felger and Mazz are also simulcast on NBC Sports Boston, ratings for which are not factored into the Nielsen total. The afternoon show was slightly down from the fall book’s 20.1 share.
In evenings, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s combination of Joe Murray’s show and Bruins and Celtics games between the hours of 6pm-11pm ranked second with a 12.8 share.
Audacy-owned WEEI declined in weekday prime hours by eight-tenths of a share to accumulate a 3.6 share for the quarter. The 10th-place finish represented a three-spot decline compared to the fall ratings book, and a 10% decline year-over-year.
Greg Hill, Jermaine Wiggins and Courtney Cox produced the best numbers for the quarter for the station, securing an 8.6 share to finish second. The morning show was down 1.6 shares from the fall book when it also finished second; however, the share marks a big year-over-year improvement. As a whole, The Greg Hill Show moved up three spots from last winter when it was fifth with a 5.7 share.
Middays with Andy Gresh and Christian Fauria garnered a 3.5 share to rank eighth. Despite the 0.3 share decline compared to last quarter, the show was up from last winter’s 3.1 share.
Afternoon drive with Adam Jones, Meghan Ottolini and Christian Arcand was down for the quarter with a 2.3 share, tied for 13th. The afternoon trio lost three tenths from the fall book when the show produced a 2.6 share, finishing tied for twelfth. Year-over-year, the program is down from a 3.6 share when it was tied for eighth. Evenings on WEEI, which included The Rich Keefe Show and other programming, was tied for 15th with a 1.8 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.
This week I wanted to listen in on some NFL Draft talk and since we all know what the Chicago Bears will do with the No. 1 pick, I went down a spot and headed to Washington, D.C. I figured, why not tune into a show that featured someone who played football at the highest level. So, I decided to eavesdrop in on the 106.7 The Fan midday show, BMitch & Finlay.
BMitch is Brian Mitchell, a former NFL running back who is considered amongst the best return specialists the game has ever seen. Mitchell holds the NFL records for most career kickoff return yards, most career punt return yards and most career total return yards. He was drafted by the then Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft and played there for 10 seasons before finishing with Philadelphia and the New York Giants. Mitchell felt such a part of the Washington franchise, he signed with them for a day so he could retire as a member of the team.
Finlay is JP Finlay, a television reporter in the sports department of NBC4 in Washington, D.C. who is their Commanders insider, having covered the team for over a decade. Finlay is a D.C native who also hosts the popular Beltway Football podcast.
The two started together in early 2021. Finlay still has the new show announcement pinned to the top of his X account.
On paper, they are a bit of an odd couple. One was born in the south, the other in the east. One is black, one is white. One is in his mid-50’s, the other his early 40’s. Yet the chemistry between the two is quite obvious when you listen in.
The commonality the two share seems to start with what binds a lot of the Washinton, D.C. community – football. Sure, there is plenty to talk about in D.C. sports outside of the Commanders, and the show hits on all of it, but football dominates as it should.
For a football fan in the DMV, with Finlay covering the Commanders beat and Mitchell having played the game for the home franchise, the show is a treasure trove of information and opinion. Tuning in recently I heard two guys who were fired up to be doing their show and excited to talk about the day’s topics, even as they struggled with computer issues in their studio, which Finlay, entertainingly, updated the audience on as the show went along. Who hasn’t dealt with the fun of a computer restart taking forever?
The topic of the day, less than a week out from the first day of the draft, was the Vegas odds on the Commanders No. 2 pick. Finlay points out they have changed drastically and that it seems it is due to LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels’ agent replying to a post critical of the Commanders for bringing in a group of four quarterbacks at the same time rather than one by one. The reply from Ron Butler, the agent, was a “thinking face” emoji.
“Things are going a little nutty in Commander land,” Finlay tells Mitchell. “Is it going nutty in Commander land or is it going nutty with the betting markets?” asks Mitchell.
“In Commander fan land it’s going nuts,” Finlay replied.
Just a couple of minutes into the show, you hear one of the differences in the hosts coming out, which is that Finlay is following all of the fan reaction on social media and Mitchell points out “I don’t fall into it, you live it, and most fans live in la-la land in and out of Twitter…and I don’t get caught up in it and I especially don’t get caught up when the gambling market changes things, because what they do…you don’t see Vegas not making big buildings, right? So, I’m not going to sit up here and let them sway every move I make.”
Mitchell often plays the voice of reason in the draft discussion. “As you have stated and I have stated…whoever they take, as long as they develop them, we’ll be happy, right,” he asks. “…So, if you have legitimate prospects, why the hell are people having hysteria and losing their mind?”
“I am just telling you, in the world, people’s blood pressure is through the roof,” Finlay says.
Mitchell says he thinks the media is part of the problem and that it is partially their job to educate the fans and alleviate some of the anxiety over things like a social post. “That emoji did that much? An emoji did that much? That’s strange to me, dude. That’s a world I don’t want to live in.”
As the show goes on you are entertained by a good mix of information, humor, storytelling and the feeling of hanging with the guys. I liked the way the show mixed in some guests, but it never felt like they were having guests on just to have them on, they related to the topics they were discussing. A gambling expert who talked about why the lines on the Commanders pick may have changed, an Elite 11 quarterback coach who had a lot of insight on the quarterbacks at the top of this year’s draft and Capitals player Beck Malenstyn right before the Caps start the playoffs.
They also did a segment called ‘Ask BMitch Anything,’ which brought several calls in. Some to ask football questions and others wanted to talk to him about something else he is passionate about which is boxing. It was clear D.C. sports fans love Brian Mitchell and although they get to hear him for four hours a day on the radio, they still get a big thrill out of calling up and getting to ask him questions. In this iteration, we learn what BMitch used to eat leading up to gamedays and also that a hit he took from Derrick Thomas in college was the hardest he was ever hit.
I also liked that while they had talked at the beginning of the show about some comments made by Commanders GM Adam Peters, they came back and played the audio of the press conference for listeners who weren’t able to hear it. Finlay being on site when the press conference originally happened helped add context to the audio they played.
BMitch & Finlay is what a midday show is supposed to be. The show moves quickly, and they keep it light. Finlay brings a ton of energy and says “dude” quite a bit. Mitchell is a wealth of football knowledge and isn’t going to let anything bother him too much.
Together, they are doing what sports radio shows should do. They inform, they opine, they entertain, they bring their producers into the conversation, they have fun with callers, they have good guests that add to the show, and they have credibility.
With the small exception of Finlay’s microphone popping on his b’s and p’s, it was quite the fun listen. Tuning in right around the NFL Draft, I came away with more knowledge than I had when the show started and laughed several times. I’d say that is a win.
As Finlay posted to his X account when the show was announced, “Gonna be a lot of fun.” He was right.
My big news is out – can’t wait for the new gig and to work with BMitch every day. Gonna be a lot of fun. Listen up. Pod/TV and writing all continue at NBC too. pic.twitter.com/Jtt6lDnQG3
In the last 18 months, veteran journalist Soledad O’Brien has won a Peabody Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and was inducted into the Broadcasting + Cable Hall of Fame. Most recently she was awarded the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation Insight Award at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Part two consists of conversations about the media’s role in informing the public, credibility, and any tips for those looking to follow in her footsteps.
Krystina Carroll: Has the media lost its direction in serving the public?
Soledad O’Brien: I think the media sometimes forgets the goal. I think when you focus on serving, it becomes very clear about how you should think about telling stories. Right? I mean, again, food fights are very dramatic, sometimes very chaotic, but they often don’t help people understand the issue. Which is why we avoid them.
So, yeah, I certainly think the media could do a better job in helping people understand issues. But at the same time, the media today is competing with social media for eyeballs, competing for drama, competing for the salacious headlines for clickbait. And so I think it’s a really challenging time in media.
KC: I want to pivot a little bit. So a lot of times today, people in news are making cameos in movies. Does it damage the credibility of those news reporters?
SB: That’s so funny, because, over the years I’ve worked for news organizations that said you can definitely do it. And then CNN had a policy that you absolutely could not do it. And then CNN reversed their policy and you could do it. I
honestly think the audiences very much understand that movies are fake, right? I have never seen anyone who’s like, ‘I went into this story about a superhero not realizing that it wasn’t real, and people can’t fly.’ I mean, I think it’s ridiculous. So news organizations always kind of go back and forth.
But I played the reporter part of myself and it’s always been a lot of fun. But I don’t think anybody really thought that I was interviewing Superman, right? Just no one was confused at all.
KC: Did you prepare for that role in a different way, or did you just treat it like another day at work?
SB: No, because it’s acting, I don’t know how to act. I’m terrible. So my range is literally me. I can play me. That’s it. Nothing more. So it’s a lot of fun and I just try to enjoy it. And it’s a very slow process, right? You do it 100 times over and over and over again. And as long as I’m playing myself, it’s totally fine.
If I have to step out of my comfort zone into something else then I’m not very good. But it’s always fun. I got to work with Ben Affleck. I got to work with lots of stars and it’s been amazing. Usually, I do it for one day, and then you’re done.
KC: What’s the advice you have for young people who are looking to follow in your footsteps?
SB: I think in lots of ways there are so many more platforms and so many more opportunities. When I started, the way to get on TV was to convince someone to videotape you using a TV camera. Now our phones are basically TV quality.
I often hear from young people and I’ll say to them ‘If you’re interested, start a podcast now.’ Even if only six people listen to it, you will have something to talk about when you’re being interviewed. It’s such a great opportunity to just figure things out and create things. So, I really feel for people who are very interested in figuring out what they want to become, that [starting a podcast is] something they can really do pretty easily because technology is really helping them.
KC: Who has influenced you the most in your life and in your career?
SB: Oh my gosh. I think in my life, probably my mom and dad. I think they were really good people and they’ve been very supportive. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, they’ve always been very much like ‘If you put your head down, you can do it. You can do anything.’ That’s always a wonderful place to come from. If you can figure it out, you can do it.
I think in my career, I was really lucky to have a lot of great mentors. Gene Blake at WBZ-TV was amazing. Bob Ezell, when I got to NBC News. There were people who just gave you a lot of advice, a lot of perspective, and a lot of insight. They were just really smart. You could ask some questions about the industry and steps you could take and things like that. It was really, really helpful.
Then, of course, when I got to CNN, Dick Parsons — who was running Time Warner, which was the parent company at CNN — he was amazing. Again, just given an opportunity. It’s really hard to succeed if you don’t have someone who’s sort of saying, ‘I’m going to take a bet on you. I’m going to give you an opportunity.’
So a lot of those folks who I name just kind of gave me opportunities and gave me chances to succeed.
KC: You said earlier the jobs you’ve had before have prepared you for what comes next. You have your own media production group. You’re running your own show. So what comes next for you?
SB: Oh, gosh. That’s a little bit like asking someone who just had a baby ‘So when are you having the next baby?’ We’ve been running the company. This is our 11th year, and it still feels like it’s new.
I really, really enjoy it, but it just never ends. It’s a lot of work. You just kind of wake up every morning and you start sprinting, basically. But I really love it.
So I don’t know. I know that I would love to get into more scripted projects. We don’t do a lot of scripted. We do, obviously, non-scripted, and a lot of docs. I think that would be a fun thing. And I was doing the stories that I get to do. I just want to keep doing more of those and travel more. I still love traveling and I love the work I get to do. And I like working.
We did a podcast with Rob Reiner this year called Who Killed JFK? It was very successful, and it was just a joy to work with a really great, amazing director, but also amazing human beings.
So the more I think you can work on projects with great people and learn something from them and have a wonderful experience like that, that’s pretty cool. I can definitely do that ’til the end of time.
There had to be a way to get the Kardashians into a Nielsen research column and it finally happened! If nothing else, this week’s column may garner a few extra clicks, but there is a reason behind the headline.
Last week, Mike McVay, one of the most decent human beings out there, sent me an email with an announcement from Rich Tunkel at Nielsen referring to an “Audio Diary Service Enhancement”.
When I started at Arbitron in 1999, we learned that just about any change in methodology should be referred to as an “enhancement”. In this case, the “enhancement” is that Nielsen will start reusing diary households that include 18-34-year-olds and showed “good compliance” which I assume means Nielsen received a usable diary from someone in that demo from that household and preferably, more than one.
I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “enhancement”, I’m more likely to think of a Kardashian than Nielsen. Kardashians and other celebrities get enhanced while Nielsen Audio, well, maybe we can call it a “change”.
As someone who has been around the diary service as a client, a provider, and even a competitor, I know something about how it works and how to improve the system (not “enhance” it).
I’ve not read the research behind this change and as we all know, the devil is in the details. Nielsen Audio is caught in a vice. Clients want better proportionality and likely don’t care very much about response rates. Meanwhile, the Media Rating Council, which audits and accredits the service, has traditionally cared more about response rates while still bringing up questions of proportionality. Other than throwing ridiculous amounts of money at the problem, there is no easy way to satisfy both goals.
If you push for higher response rates, people in my demo, also known as “old and not in any demo you give a damn about” are more likely to respond. That hurts proportionality as Nielsen already offers higher premiums to households that contain “hard to reach” demos, for example, 18-34, especially minorities. The radio industry won’t pay more for the service than it does today and Nielsen certainly won’t get it from agencies and advertisers.
This re-use of selected diary households can work and be defended as well. If I were having a discussion with the Nielsen Audio methodology side, here are some questions that would come to mind:
What is the process for selecting households?
What are the specific criteria for being selected? Is there a hierarchy, for example, number of 18-34s in the household, race/ethnic, etc.?
Assuming this was tested offline, which types of households were more likely to respond? Less likely? What was the “second time around” response rate?
What were the listening levels of the resampled persons versus a first time group? My guess is they are likely to spend more time with radio, based on a radio diary being more germane to someone who spends more time with radio. This may actually be a good thing for the industry.
What other alternatives were considered? For example, the population estimates include group housing, such as university dormitories, military bases, and prisons. What if Nielsen simply dropped those as they typically cannot sample these people and that hurts proportionality (for example, a chunk of 18-24s in Bowling Green live in dorms at Western Kentucky University). Eliminating group housing populations and proportionality, especially for 18-24, will improve markedly in some diary markets.
Will Nielsen do a “pass” on the initial sample to eliminate households that are chosen for “reselection”? If not, will these households have a “pre-weight” because they have an extra chance to be in the sample?
Now that Nielsen is owned by private equity, we must wonder how much of this is an “enhancement” to the diary methodology and how much is an “enhancement” to the bottom line. Nielsen Audio is also cutting the follow up incentive in diary markets. Further, more of the work is being off-shored per some entries in a Facebook group. If you thought Nielsen Audio couldn’t cut any more, I have a bridge you may be interested in purchasing.
Rich’s note (I’ve known Rich a long time and he’s another one of the good people out there) states that Nielsen plans to reach 10-15% sample reuse. Is that 10-15% of the 18-34 demo, which comprises about 26% of the total US 12+ population or is it 10-15% of the P12+? Also, will subscribers be able to split out the “reused” sample and compare it to the fresh sample in Tapscan or PD Advantage?
Lots of questions and if you’re a diary subscriber, you should be asking some of these questions to your Nielsen rep, who will likely not know the answers because that person is not a methodologist, and they probably haven’t been that well-informed about the change.
While it won’t get the interest of the Kardashians, it’s often more important for you to find out what’s happening on “Keeping Up With the Nielsens”.
