Home Blog Page 1670

Sports Media Reacts to Awkward Caitlin Clark Press Conference Moment with Gregg Doyel

BSM Staff
-
0
Sports Media Reacts to Awkward Caitlin Clark Press Conference Moment with Gregg Doyel

By now almost everyone it seems has weighed in on an incredibly awkward situation at yesterday’s Indiana Fever press conference involving Caitlin Clark and Indianapolis Star reporter Gregg Doyel. Doyel’s strange exchange started with him making a heart gesture with his hands, something Clark flashes to her family after each game. “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine,” was Doyel’s reply.

Doyel has since apologized and wrote a column about it which said, in part, “I’m devastated to realize I’m part of the problem. I screwed up Wednesday during my first interaction with No.1 overall draft pick Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever…I was just doing what I do, talking to another athlete, another person, and didn’t see the line – didn’t even know there was a line in the vicinity – until I crossed it.”

Several in sports media gave their thoughts on the situation, on the air and through social media:

Josh Klingler and Bob Fescoe played the audio from the press conference on 610 Sports in Kansas City and when it ended, Klingler said, “What the hell was that?”

Fescoe responded, “That’s just creepy and if I’m Caitlin Clark, I’m like, ‘I don’t want this guy around.’ What was he doing to begin with?…Don’t get creepy…that’s just disgusting.”

In Boston, The Greg Hill Show on WEEI highlighted the incident in a segment called ‘How Creepy Is It?’

“He’s kind of a dink,” Hill said. “…If I were Caitlin Clark, I wouldn’t accept the apology.”

“He was lightweight flirting with her, he tried to make a joke and it didn’t land,” said co-host Jermaine Wiggins.

Mike Mulligan and David Haugh talked about the issue on their morning show on 670 The Score in Chicago. “It just fell so flat, and it was so borderline sexist, misogynistic, it was just the wrong tone,” Mulligan said. “It was completely unprofessional for an introductory news conference.”

Haugh replied, “Well it was unprofessional, but what was worse is because it was a 22-year-old female, it was inappropriate, and he should have known better…His apology was clumsy itself.”

105.3 The Fan in Dallas’ RJ Choppy said about Doyel, “He was an idiot…He tried and attempted humor…and it backfired. He’s not part of the problem, he is a problem, in general.”

Dana Loesch: News Networks Don’t Care About Debates, They Care About Ad Sales

BNM Staff
-
0
Dana Loesch: News Networks Don’t Care About Debates, They Care About Ad Sales

A joint letter by some of the largest television news networks has implored both President Biden and former President Trump to participate in debates in the leadup to the 2024 presidential election. Dana Loesch says the networks have ulterior motives with the letter.

In a letter signed by TV networks like ABC News, CBS News, C-SPAN, Fox News, NBC, NewsNation, and PBS, as well as other outlets like NOR, The Associated Press, USA Today, and Univision, the media coalition argues that debates — which both Biden and Trump have been hesitant to commit to participating in — are imperative for voters.

“If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high. Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation,” the letter read.

However, while speaking about the topic on The Dana Show Wednesday, Dana Loesch argued that the outlets have dollar signs on the mind.

“They’ve been trying to get these debates going. And I think all of the news networks are like ‘Oh, wow, we just realized that this could be a ratings bonanza,’ for them,” she said. “This is where you’re gonna see the media get ignorant. Because if you don’t give the media what it wants, they’re gonna get you. They want eyeballs because they need something to sell their ads on. They have ad time and they need people to buy it. It’s an election year. And if they’re not going to get this debate, then you’re going to — I would imagine you’re going to start seeing some negative coverage happen.”

Loesch continued by noting that — in her opinion — Democrat leaders may be hesitant to have Joe Biden participate in debates.

“Democrats are going to have to concede this and they’re going to have to at least have one debate,” she argued.

Broadcasters Foundation of America Honors Six with Leadership Awards

BNM Staff
-
0
Broadcasters Foundation of America Honors Six with Leadership Awards

The 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas has wrapped up, and the Broadcasters Foundation of America honored six industry veterans with their Leadership Award.

At the foundation’s annual breakfast at the NAB Show, it honored several leaders.

Erica Farber — who stepped down as CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau at the beginning of the month — was bestowed with the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award. The honor is named after Clear Channel founder Lowry Mays, who died in September 2022.

Six other individuals were honored with the Leadership Award. Those included:

  • Mike McVay, President of McVay Media
  • Kathleen Kirby, Partner at Wiley
  • Don Bouloukos, CBS and ABC Radio Executive
  • Frank Comerford, Chief Revenue Officer and President of Commercial Operations for NBCU Local
  • John Rouse, Executive Vice President ABC Affiliate Relations
  • Traug Keller, President of ABC Radio Networks and Senior Vice President of ESPN Radio

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Featured in New Netflix Series

BSM Staff
-
0

Netflix has announced a new series which will premier this summer called, ‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.’ In a release, Netflix said the series follows the 2023-24 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish — kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season.

The seven-episode series, directed by Emmy Award-winning director Greg Whiteley, will give viewers unfiltered access into the iconic team and franchise that is the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Led by longtime director Kelli Finglass, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders open their doors to document the personal stories behind the uniforms – revealing the drive, hustle, and drama among the cheerleaders and coaches.

Each episode is expected to last 45 minutes.

“The kind of access and creative freedom we need to make the kind of work we want to make is not easy to come by—especially when dealing with a brand as large as the Dallas Cowboys,” said Greg Whiteley, director and executive producer. “To their infinite credit, the Cowboys offered unfettered access for the year we filmed the DCC and left us alone. The result is an authentic portrait of one of the most storied and beloved institutions we have in American pop culture.”

“We’re thrilled to see the results of a season spent with Greg Whiteley and a remarkable crew following every step of the way. The storytelling through this open access will captivate viewers episode after episode and Netflix’s global stage is the perfect platform to showcase it,” said Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President/Chief Brand Officer and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders President. “We went into this understanding that the opportunity to transparently share the journey of our season, and the emotions, challenges and joy experienced along the way, is exactly what our fans and viewers would want. It’s also part of the reason that, for decades, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have earned their place as being ‘often imitated, but never equaled’.”

Gregg Giannotti: If Brendan Burke Wants to Replace John Sterling, “You Got It”

BSM Staff
-
0

Fresh off months of speculating who might be the new programming boss at WFAN, a new search is underway, this time the replacement is needed for John Sterling, who retired this week as the New York Yankees play-by-play voice. While the person would work for the radio station, the team will have plenty to say about who gets the job. Gregg Giannotti and Boomer Esiason talked about some candidates during Boomer & Gio today on WFAN, including national broadcasters such as Brendan Burke and Ryan Ruocco.

In speaking about what has been written recently in the New York Post and The Athletic, Giannotti said, “…There’s four candidates that they have listed for John Sterling’s replacement. And we know that Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari are two that are doing games right now and they are going to fill in for the rest of the year.

“They also mentioned…Brendan Burke the TV voice of the Islanders, who also does national hockey games for TNT, and they also have Ryan Ruocco on there who fills in on YES from time to time and also works for ESPN doing NBA games. Now, those last two guys are interesting because they would step right in, it would be bigger names, they are seasoned and they are really good.”

Giannotti discussed talking with Brendan Burke and said, “And I know that that was his dream because I had spoken to him about how he grew up at Yankees stadium because his father was a Yankees beat reporter and he used to work in the booth when he was a kid and he dreamt of doing that. But he has now gotten to a place on national TV in hockey and has a fulltime TV job, would he leave that or at least do both?…If I’m the person who is hiring these people and Breandan Burke tells me he wants to do this, then you got it, because he’s as good as anyone in the business right now.”

Ruocco also has a similar situation in that the 37-year-old has risen to be ESPN’s No. 2 NBA announcer in addition to his work in college basketball and with the Brooklyn Nets.

Boomer Esiason mentions there are other factors in all of this including finances and analyst Suzyn Waldman. “The thing that has already been proven is that Justin and Emmanuel both can work with Suzyn if she wants to remain. They are probably the cheaper options for the company…I don’t want to take anything away from those guys. I am sure their seat is burning wondering what’s going on. I would just say to both of them, they have an enormous opportunity here, to really show everybody, including the Yankess…and the question is who do they want in the radio booth? They might like Justin, they might like Emmanuel, because they work well with Suzyn, if Suzyn wants to stay.”

Giannotti says he thinks Shackil, 36, will have the upper hand and wondered how far he might be willing to go to get the fulltime job. “So basically, you’ve got Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari doing the rest of the season, they’re going to be in there, Justin’s going to get more games. This opportunity there for him is humongous because he’s doing the games… Does he really go for it, to the point where maybe he goes outside of his comfort zone to try and get more attention, or does he just stay sort of the pretty standard flat-lining guy that he’s been?”

Esiason gave his advice to both of the younger broadcasters (Berbari is 24) saying, “Here’s my advice. My advice is to be yourself. Less is more…They’re fine, they are both fine, they sound similar a little bit, because they’re younger.”

Kate Delaney Named Host of ‘Amazing Americans’, Nightly ‘America Tonight’ Added to KSL Newsradio Lineup

BNM Staff
-
0
Kate Delaney Named Host of ‘Amazing Americans’, Nightly ‘America Tonight’ Added to KSL Newsradio Lineup

It’s been an exciting few weeks for Kate Delaney, culminating in her hosting a new show while her current program — America Tonight — has been added to the lineup at KSL Newsradio in Salt Lake City.

“I’m thrilled that America Tonight can now be heard on KSL in Salt Lake City. It’s a powerful station with a rich history of serving its listeners,” Delaney said.

“KSL is excited for overnight news programming with a combination of solid information and a big personality to be a trusted companion to our listeners,” KSL Newsradio Program Director Kevin LaRue added. “Welcome to Kate, her team, and Talk Media Network!”

Additionally, Delaney — who recently served as a keynote speaker at the NAB Leadership Foundation’s “Focus on Leadership” speaker series at the NAB Show — has been named the host of Talk Media Network’s weekly Amazing Americans program which was previously helmed by founder Jerry Schemmel.

“I look forward to continuing to share compelling and captivating and inspirational stories of human achievement on Amazing Americans. Something my predecessor, Jerry Schemmel, was exceptional at, in hosting the program,” Delaney shared. “Radio listeners are hungry for authentic, true-life stories, to leave them feeling inspired.”

“Jerry created a program that was bigger than himself, it’s a part of his radio legacy, and every week we’ll continue to share powerful stories that are a shining example of the positive content radio can and should be sharing in our communities,” said Talk Media Network CEO Josh Leng. “Kate Delaney is a pro’s pro. She’s made her own luck, through hard work and great communication. Talk Media Network is proud to be expanding her audience.”

CNN CEO Mark Thompson: We Have ‘Plenty of Things to Fix’

BNM Staff
-
0
CNN CEO Mark Thompson: We Have ‘Plenty of Things to Fix’

To say Mark Thompson’s time at CNN has been anything but eventful would be an understatement. He has presided over several interesting moments and endeavors and admits there are still things to work on.

In a conversation with the Financial Times, Thompson said “There are plenty of things we have to fix at CNN,” as the network sits in third place behind competitors Fox News and MSNBC.

Mark Thompson was tabbed by Warner Bros. Discovery to lead the network forward after resurrecting The New York Times with a digital focus, something he hopes to implement at CNN.

“The idea that there might be digital subscription is a serious possibility,” Thompson said of CNN’s potential future, adding “I think it’s quite likely that we’ll end up there.”

While many view the success of Fox News, MSNBC, and even the up-start Newsmax as challengers for CNN, Mark Thompson pointed to a different challenge as the biggest threat to the survival and success of the network.

“Do we want to get more competitive in cable TV and by strengthening our schedules? Yes, we do,” he said. “But the rate at which people have been and probably will continue to cut the cord and not look at cable TV at all is a far, far greater strategic threat than the finer points of competition between individual cable channels.”

Diamond Sports Group Approved to Hold Creditor Vote on Reorganization

BSM Staff
-
0
Diamond Sports Group Approved to Hold Creditor Vote on Reorganization

Diamond Sports Group has been within bankruptcy proceedings for over a year as it looks to restructure its debt, but received news on Wednesday that could potentially point in a positive direction. Judge Christopher M. Lopez has approved a disclosure statement that will help guide Diamond out of the bankruptcy, which includes $450 million of debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, $350 million of which will pay its first-lien debt holders. The plan Diamond outlined within its DIP approval was that the remainder of the funding would be transferred to the company’s balance sheet concurrent with broadcasts of National Basketball Association, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball games.

The Sinclair subsidiary, which was created upon the acquisition of the then-FOX Sports-branded regional sports networks as part of a $10.6 billion deal with The Walt Disney Company so it could complete its acquisition of 21st Century Fox, currently serves as the broadcast home for 38 professional sports teams. Junior creditors are expected to assume operations of the subsidiary should it be able to successfully emerge from bankruptcy and enact its restructuring support agreement (RSA).

“Approval of the disclosure statement is another important step forward in our restructuring and we are working toward confirming our plan and emerging as a sustainable, go-forward business,” a Diamond Sports Group spokesperson said in a statement. “We are focused on reaching long-term agreements with our partners to enable us to continue serving fans across the U.S. and delivering meaningful value to distributors, teams and leagues.”

A hearing to determine the confirmation of the plan will take place on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 am. CST, and objections to which must be filed by Wednesday, May 22 at 4 p.m. CST. Lopez will also take the results of a forthcoming creditor vote regarding the plan into account in his decision. The company recently reached a multi-year distribution deal with Charter that would come to fruition if it is able to emerge from bankruptcy. Diamond has yet to come to agreements with Comcast or DIRECTV on new deals, creating ambiguity surrounding revenue that comes from retransmission and advertising fees. John Ourand of Puck News reports that Diamond is closer to reaching a deal with DIRECTV than Comcast.

The NBA will reportedly not consider a long-term renewal with Diamond until its national media rights deals are in place, according to Anthony Crupi of Sportico. The expiration of its exclusive negotiating window with The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery closes on Monday, April 22, which will then allow other interested parties to bid for media rights associated with the league.

Earlier in the week, the NBA and NHL communicated concerns about the ongoing process because of the ambiguity it has engendered for planning its broadcast scheme after the year. Ahead of the hearing on Wednesday, Lopez had approved an extension that delayed the deadline to solicit acceptance of the company’s reorganization plan through and including Thursday, Nov. 14.

As part of the restructuring, Amazon will invest a reported $100 million in Diamond Sports Group that will have Prime Video become the primary streaming partner of the regional sports networks. Diamond owns digital rights to the NBA and NHL teams it carries; however, it does not have all of those rights for teams in MLB. Nine months after the restructuring plan is complete, Amazon will reportedly have the option to invest an additional $50 million into Diamond Sports Group.

Diamond claims that approximately 81% of its revenue is attributable to its deals with national multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) Charter, Comcast and DIRECTV. Furthermore, it stated that its subscribers have dropped by 35% from 2019 until the petition date in late-February of this year.

The company has been broadcasting Major League Baseball games as scheduled throughout the year following a season in which it terminated agreements with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. Recent court filings revealed that Diamond Sports Group and the San Diego Padres agreed to a settlement worth approximately $79 million. It remains unknown if Diamond discussed and/or reached a deal with the Diamondbacks or if the organization is in active litigation with the regional sports network operator.

Mike Francesa, BetRivers Renew Agreement, Introduce Daily YouTube Show

BSM Staff
-
0
Mike Francesa, BetRivers Renew Agreement, Introduce Daily YouTube Show

For the last two years, Mike Francesa has been working with BetRivers as a brand ambassador and host of his eponymous podcast, The Mike Francesa Podcast, which is available across podcasting distribution platforms. Rush Street Interactive has announced that it has reached a renewal of its exclusive, multi-year agreement with Francesa, extending their partnership and continuing the show.

The renewed partnership will ensure that Francesa continues serving exclusively to BetRivers in providing both network and social media content. Additionally, he will now host a daily program on The Mike Francesa Podcast YouTube channel where he will give his opinions, insights and analysis on news and react to games. Francesa is also going to be producing digital videos that will be featured on the BetRivers platform meant to enhance the sports betting experience for consumers around the country. Part of the role will also have him meet and greet BetRivers customers through personal appearances in east coast markets.

“I’m thrilled to continue my partnership with BetRivers, which in my opinion offers the best online sportsbook in the industry,” Francesa said in a statement. “Joining forces with the RSI team enables me to connect with fans in exciting and easily accessible ways, while providing my insight and instant reaction to the biggest games to audiences not only in New York but across BetRivers markets nationwide.”

Francesa, who was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018, previously served as a co-host of Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN before hosting solo on the station. During his time on the air, he garnered multiple Marconi Award wins as major market personality of the year and frequently finished at the top of the New York ratings books. Before his work on WFAN, he was an analyst at CBS Sports for its coverage of football and college basketball. Since joining BetRivers, Francesa has hosted his podcast two times a week and also created digital videos across BetRivers platforms.

“We are delighted to have Mike Francesa, the undisputed ‘King of New York’ radio, renew his partnership with our BetRivers family of Brand Ambassadors,” Richard Schwartz, chief executive officer of Rush Street Interactive, said in a statement. “Our BetRivers audience will now be able to see and hear Mike every weekday! Our customers tell us that his passion for sports, along with the stories Mike shares from when he worked with Jimmy the Greek, add a new level of fun to their betting experiences, further solidifying RSI’s dedication to providing top tier sportsbook entertainment.”

Woody Paige Inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

BSM Staff
-
0
Woody Paige Inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame

Longtime sports columnist and ESPN Around the Horn panelist Woody Paige was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame last night. Paige graduated from the University of Tennessee and wrote for the Knoxville Journal, The Commerical Appeal in Memphis and then the Rocky Mountain News in Denver. In 1981 he started at The Denver Post and stayed until 2016. He is still writing two columns per week for The Gazette.

In 2002, Paige became one of the original panelists on ESPN’s Around the Horn and he has appeared on the show almost 3,000 of the over 4,000 shows recorded. To date, he is the only panelist with more than 600 wins.

Paige was inducted along with four others, including longtime NFL player and Hall of Famer Tony Boselli who starred at Fairview High in Boulder. When the announcement was made back in October, Paige said, “They must have run out of qualified people after the first four honorable and most worthy inductees were chosen for the 2024 class of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.”

Paige has written nine books and estimates he has written about nearly 10,000 sporting events.

1...1,6691,6701,671...2,889Page 1,670 of 2,889