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Alexi Lalas Is Mastering The Role FOX Sports Needed Him To Play

John Mamola
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Alexi Lalas Is Mastering The Role FOX Sports Needed Him To Play

Every good story needs a villain. Currently in sports, there are few better stories than the number we’re receiving about the World Cup. From the Scottish fan base invading cities across the United States, drinking all their beer and singing their songs, to the Norway fan base that has made rowing in public an art form. However, the most intriguing storyline from FOX Sports’ production of the FIFA World Cup is the love-hate relationship with commentator Alexi Lalas.

When I had the opportunity to chat with Lalas a month before the tournament, I already knew his reputation. Brash. Unapologetic. Opinionated. But underneath all of that is someone who understands the assignment. Television isn’t simply about being right. It’s about being entertaining.

Over the last two weeks, Lalas has done exactly that. Some viewers have questioned whether he’s even liked by the people sharing the desk with him. That’s by design.

The World Cup has long been Lalas’ stage. He’s played in one tournament and served as FOX’s lead World Cup analyst for the last eight. This year, however, the cast around him became stronger than ever. Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined the desk alongside longtime Premier League host Rebecca Lowe, giving FOX perhaps its deepest studio lineup ever.

For longtime soccer fans, the attraction is no longer Lalas on the broadcast. He’s now riding sidecar with two of the best to ever play the sport. Plus, instead of Rob Stone, Lowe adds another layer of familiarity and prestige to the broadcast.

That changed Lalas’ role.

Understanding Your Role

Four years ago, Lalas was the shining star among fellow American soccer stars Clint Dempsey, Carli Lloyd and Maurice Edu. Times have indeed changed, and I’m not just talking about the hydration breaks.

With the elevated roster around him, rather than trying to compete with them on credentials, Lalas leaned into the role only he could play. As the lone American representative on the studio team, he had to appeal to the average American viewer. This year, the tournament has flooded televisions across the United States with matches being played on home soil. If you’ve paid attention to the viewership figures, this will likely go down as the most-viewed FIFA World Cup in English-language television history.

With that pivot, he has leaned into what FOX has always done best: generate buzz. What helps is that the rest of the cast is playing along as well.

When Lalas is away from the studio to attend on-site coverage of the USMNT matches, Lowe points out his absence, only for Zlatan to tell America, “You’re welcome.”

When Lalas called France’s first-half performance against Senegal “arrogant,” Zlatan took the pass and fired back with, “It’s not arrogance. It’s confidence. Ignorant people will say it’s arrogant. Intelligent people will say it’s confidence.”

Column after column. Tweet after tweet. Sports talk radio segments filling the airwaves. All in the same breath saying Alexi Lalas is unwatchable. He’s trying to be Charles Barkley or Skip Bayless. Yet when he’s out on the road for USMNT matches, Lalas gets standing ovations. Viewership spikes. Social media engagement peaks. Media sites and podcasts get clicks and listens.

Isn’t that the whole point?

“I love the entertainment aspect of the job I’m in. I don’t care if you agree with me or not, just don’t change the channel,” said Lalas when I spoke with him two months ago about his approach to the World Cup broadcasts.

Are You Not Entertained?

Lalas is no dummy. He understands his soccer resume cannot compare to those of the people FOX Sports has surrounded him with. Instead, what Lalas has done is make the program more entertaining. The FIFA World Cup provides a global audience and the largest American audience in history to watch the tournament. An American audience wants to be entertained. If Lalas wasn’t present, what’s the entertainment value?

Yes, Lalas picked the United States to win the World Cup. He should, because he’s American. He celebrates the country’s 250th birthday and doesn’t care if he’s wrong. Hell, we should all have the passion to want our home country to win the FIFA World Cup on our own home soil.

When did the value of being correct ever outweigh the entertainment value of being a homer for the USA?

If Lalas wasn’t in the far-right chair, would we be talking about the programming surrounding the matches at all? As accomplished as the résumés of both Henry and Ibrahimovic are, they would be considerably less entertaining by themselves. There’s a reason FOX Sports keeps Terry Bradshaw. There’s a reason Jason Kelce continues to get work with ESPN.

Networks like FOX Sports understand that shoulder programming needs more than discussion. It needs personality and personalities who bring out the characters of others.

That’s the magic of Alexi Lalas.

Alexi Lalas isn’t the star because he’s the most decorated player on the set. He’s the star because he understands what television has always rewarded: creating entertaining moments people can’t wait to debate.

Every great studio show needs tension. It needs someone willing to say what others won’t, absorb the criticism and keep the conversation alive long after the final whistle. Henry brings credibility. Ibrahimovic brings knowledge of the current game. Rebecca Lowe brings polish. Lalas brings the spark that forces the rest of the cast to react.

That’s why people keep talking about him. Not because they agree with him, but because they can’t ignore him.

Every good story needs a villain.

Whether you believe Alexi Lalas deserves the role is beside the point. The audience keeps showing up, the conversation keeps growing and the broadcast is more entertaining because he’s in it.

In television, the villain isn’t always the bad guy. Sometimes, he’s the reason everyone keeps watching.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Secret Weapon Inside Every Successful Rock Radio Countdown

Keith Cunningham
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The Secret Weapon Inside Every Successful Rock Radio Countdown

Fourth of July weekend. How many “Top 250” radio countdowns will be airing? Vegas odds suggest way more than 250.

They’ll be great… but they’ll all be similar. The larger companies have “safe lists” for stunts like this. Mediabase is always an easy, reliable option. Some brands have their own research to shape can’t-miss hit lists. Consultants can also provide helpful frameworks.

It’s no surprise — everyone loves lists. People’s “Most Beautiful,” Maxim’s “Hot 100,” Billboard’s “Hot 100,” American Top 40, NFL Power Rankings. Entire websites exist just to rank things. In RockTernative, I’ve seen firsthand that countdowns can slay.

And here’s why:

  • Countdowns work because they’re predictable
  • Countdowns also work because they’re not predictable — they bring surprises

The Predictable

Programmers may grow tired of their own brand’s repetition, but they also understand the hits are the hits — and a “Top 250 Countdown” must be legit. That means the usual suspects.

The Surprises

Listeners may be tired of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” but countdowns add a different kind of stickiness. Even if P1 Jimmy can guess most of the songs, the context changes — especially inside the Top 20.

P1s like Jimmy don’t just tune in to hear the top songs; they also tune in to see if their predictions are right — for the #1 song, the Top 5, the top Muse record. It’s a personal contest, a guessing game… like picking ponies at the track.

And that leads to the third layer of magic.

The Arguments

Find me a countdown anywhere — of any kind — that doesn’t leave some listeners, viewers, or readers ranting, raging, or yelling “fraud” and demanding a recount.

Don’t sweat that type of engagement… it’s actually good news. If a countdown of your most predictable songs sparks a reaction, it means people care, and they were paying attention. However, if all that time and effort drifts quietly back into Power, Secondary, Power, Secondary with no fanfare or even a few complaints… maybe don’t do that anymore.

But considering all the competition for earbuds — radio countdowns could use a few extra Cherry Bombs and Sparklers to cut through the holiday noise. The goal is to deliver everything they’re capable of, including advertiser results.

This space is rarely ideaville, but heading into a holiday weekend, here are a few ideas that might help light up a Fourth of July Countdown if you’ve got one on deck.

Listener Top 10

Add an interactive component — let listeners predict your Top 10 in perfect order. Any listener who nails it becomes your new Music Director… or maybe they just score tickets. You can also add random predictions (choose #19, 67, or 91 correct and get schwag).

Artiststrology

Drop your five most important artists into a form. Listeners must then guess the top three songs from each artist, in countdown order. Any listener who gets it right wins the pink slip to your car… or maybe just passes to the water park.

The Not-250 Double Shots

In select spots — maybe twice per hour — break script and fire a double shot. The second song is a track from the same artist that didn’t make the Top 250 but still deserves a salute. For example:

  • #16 Nirvana “In Bloom” — Not-Top 250 Double Shot: “Dumb”

Ridiculous Rock Facts

Every 30 minutes, drop in a 10-second “Ridiculous Rock Fact” tied to the artist about to play — fast, fun, sticky.

  • “It’s another America 250 Ridiculous Rock Fact: Slash once asked a certain Barrett Media columnist where he could score blow in a Hollywood bathroom… (Going into #54, a GNR countdown song)

Recount Weekend

Once your countdown is finished — suddenly claim you were hacked. Cite clear fraud and voting irregularities. The station will then recount and do it all over again next weekend, the right way. Shake it up, keep the second layers (double shots, Ridiculous Facts), and point out the changes: “STP got hosed. ‘Plush’ wasn’t 16th, it was 9th…”

Countdowns work. That’s why they’re everywhere. The hits make them credible. The surprises make them unforgettable. And on America’s birthday weekend — especially with all this buildup — radio has a chance to remind everyone that nobody delivers shared moments, or fireworks, better.

Have a great 4th. Don’t lose any digits.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Algorithms Are Killing Honest Journalism on Radio and Podcasting

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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Algorithms Are Killing Honest Journalism on Radio and Podcasting

Local television should challenge viewers, according to former KWQC anchor Dustin Nolan, who made headlines for his tearful goodbye earlier this month. Or, if you follow FTVLive, the sentiment could be attributed to former Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen. Regardless of attribution, the importance of the sentiment shouldn’t stop at TV and instead expand to radio, podcasting, and social media.

For the last three years, you’ve indulged my airing of grievances as a monthly Festivus of sorts. But this is one of the most common and consistent themes we are all guilty of. Becoming a one-trick pony, operating on default — usually because many of us feel overworked — and acting like we are all happy, shiny people holding hands by allowing the algorithm nerds to show us exactly what we want, and none of what we don’t.

Most of the radio and TV world operates like a warm blanket, especially news/talk. We all know what to expect. Without turning a dial, we can predict that Greg Kelly will be annoyed at something New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said or did. Ali Velshi will be frustrated with the decisions of the Trump administration. And somehow we want our audiences to accept this as news — “and that’s the way it is.”

The Trust Problem

People are far smarter than this, which is why time and time again the polls show a huge mistrust in the news, increasing frustration with the media, and unfortunately the media turning a blind eye to the corruption happening on both sides of the political aisle.

So what if we did something different? Take time out of your opinion show to air your grievances with the party you are partisan to, or better yet, compliment the other side of the political aisle for doing something well — I mean, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Now don’t just do it because I say so; do it for the betterment of the country. Whenever there is a politically motivated shooting, politicians often ask us in the media to “tone down” the “violent rhetoric.” Complimenting the other side of the aisle is just one way we can do this. For those who are insulted by the idea or think it’s completely preposterous, think of it as a challenge.

We are failing to challenge our viewers’ thought processes because, oftentimes, we choose not to challenge our own. If you work at Newsmax, the left is always bad. If you work at MS NOW, the right is always bad. Vilifying Americans for their bad ideas — because both sides have them — will only cause more division. Then you become the problem instead of the solution.

The Case for Honest Media

Journalists who work for truth and not an agenda are fed up. They are leaving the industry or foregoing it altogether because they reserve the right to be challenged. Aliens were once taboo for us to cover. And now we can’t get enough of them because a few brave journalists are challenging the norms we are all accustomed to.

So you can be the warm blanket everyone turns to when they want to hear exactly how they are feeling. Or you can be bold, be different, and be honest. Oftentimes, honesty is hard to say and even harder to accept.

The “bad orange man” in the White House took a big liberal idea and turned it into his own thing: Trump Accounts. But God forbid anyone on the right admit it started out as a leftist idea. Or anyone on the left thank President Donald Trump for taking Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) “baby bonds” idea and putting it into action. No, you still find a way to manipulate the story to make the other political party the villain.

There is no winning this way. So I invite you all to challenge yourself every day. Or if that’s too much, at least once a week. Find the goodness in the other political party and be the change the American people are asking for. Challenging your political views and those of your viewers doesn’t mean losing your values. It means invoking critical thinking and not always providing the answers or opinions.

So find a way to challenge your viewers, and challenge yourself. Politics, after all, is just a giant circle. The far right is one statement away from being the extreme left. And the left is two steps away from being right.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Chris Krok Shares the Secrets Behind His Growing Fill-In Radio Career

Garrett Searight
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Chris Krok Shares the Secrets Behind His Growing Fill-In Radio Career

Chris Krok has become one of the hardest-working people in news/talk radio. Since leaving WBAP in Dallas in January 2025, the veteran host has quietly built one of the most in-demand fill-in careers in the genre.

He’s filling chairs at stations like KTRH in Houston, WIBC in Indianapolis, KFYI in Phoenix, WBT in Charlotte, and AM 560 The Answer in Chicago — and the list keeps growing. What started as a handful of favors between colleagues has evolved into a full-blown operation, complete with a custom-built home studio and a relationship network that stretches from San Antonio to Indianapolis.

None of it happened by accident. Krok invested early, hustled constantly, and built the kind of genuine friendships that keep program directors calling back.

The groundwork began while he was still at WBAP. Cumulus allowed him to fill in at non-competing stations, and he seized every opportunity. That initial wave of assignments set the stage for everything that followed.

Building a Studio Worth Talking About

Before Krok could fill in anywhere, he needed a place to broadcast from. He didn’t cut corners.

“It started about five years ago when I was at WBAP,” Krok said. “They were very gracious in letting me fill in around the country for stations that weren’t competing with the Cumulus talk station.”

The early setup was far from glamorous. Krok dropped roughly $7,000 on broadcast equipment and initially broadcast from his bedroom — an arrangement his wife tolerated, but barely. Eventually, the demand justified a real investment.

“We built a 400-square-foot addition onto our house specifically for a state-of-the-art studio,” said Krok. “It has sound-dampening drywall on every wall and the ceiling, sound insulation throughout, triple-pane windows, a solid wood door, professional lighting for video and podcasting, and a custom-built desk.”

The studio isn’t just a selling point — it’s a signal to stations that Krok takes the work seriously. Still, he’s quick to clarify what program directors actually care about.

“Stations will ask about my setup, and I’m happy to tell them I have a very professional studio,” Krok said. “But ultimately, they care most about the quality of the talent and the product you’re going to deliver. As long as your audio sounds great and your connection is reliable, that’s what matters.”

Word of Mouth Helps, But the Hustle Matters More

Krok’s reputation has spread organically, but he doesn’t leave his career to chance. He treats every fill-in opportunity like an audition and every producer relationship like a long-term investment.

“Word of mouth is important, and sometimes it helps get your foot in the door,” the former WBAP host shared. “But to me, hustling is even more important. You have to keep reaching out, offering your services, and making connections. Sometimes you’ll connect with someone and not hear from them for six months before they suddenly call and ask if you’re available.”

That patience has paid off. He now fills in for Premiere Networks on both The Jesse Kelly Show and Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno — two programs with completely different formats. Jesse Kelly’s show runs on strong opinion and storytelling without callers, while Your Morning Show invites listener participation throughout. Krok thrives in both environments, largely because he prepares differently for each one.

His approach to producer relationships is deliberate. Rather than showing up and taking over, Krok calls the producer a week in advance to learn how the show runs.

“I ask what they’re comfortable with. Whether they use sound bites. And how much production they want,” Krok said. “I don’t come in trying to change everything. I come in trying to make the show run smoothly. Just as importantly, I try to make them laugh off the air. If we’re having fun together behind the scenes, that chemistry carries over onto the air.”

He’s built genuine friendships with producers like Chris Little from The Jesse Kelly Show, and producers from Your Morning Show. He calls them “brothers.” That dynamic, he believes, is the real engine behind his growing list of stations.

Going Hyper-Local in Every Market

Perhaps the most impressive part of Krok’s fill-in game is how aggressively he localizes his content — even in cities he doesn’t live in.

“I am hyper-local,” the former WBAP host shared, “and I’ll say it again: I am hyper-local.”

That philosophy demands real preparation. When Krok filled in at WIBC in Indianapolis recently, he spent four days monitoring local news before his first show. He tracked a story about the murder of a 14-year-old boy in a downtown parking garage, followed the controversy surrounding Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears after the local Fraternal Order of Police issued a vote of no confidence in him, and dug into a proposal to hike vehicle registration fees to fund road repairs.

“I’d estimate that 70% to 80% of what I talked about that week was local,” Krok said. “That’s always my priority. Even if I don’t live in the city, I’m passionate about what’s happening there because that’s what the audience cares about.”

He spends at least four hours preparing for every show, even a two-hour program. Chicago requires two to three full days of research despite his having grown up there. Phoenix demands similar effort because of how much is happening politically and locally.

Ultimately, Krok believes preparation and relationships are inseparable. He visits station teams in person when he’s in their cities — not because he has to, but because he wants the connections to feel real.

“Those kinds of relationships don’t happen by accident,” said Krok. “They’re built over time through trust, respect, and genuinely enjoying working together.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Music Never Stops: Radio Remembers Clive Davis

Bethany Kent
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The Music Never Stops: Radio Remembers Clive Davis

Clive Davis passed away on June 22nd at the age of 94. For decades, he was involved in shaping the sound of American radio across multiple genres more than perhaps any single executive in the history of the business. His fingerprints are on records that defined formats, launched careers, and moved audiences across generations. When the news broke, I reached out to a handful of radio folks and asked them to share memories and what Davis meant to our industry.

First Thoughts That Came to Mind

I first asked what their immediate reactions were when they heard of Davis’s passing.

André Yancey, Brand Manager at 94.7 The Block in New York City, didn’t hesitate to talk about the music Clive Davis helped bring to life. “My brain moves fast, but the go-to was Whitney Houston’s ‘Saving All My Love for You,'” he said. “The legendary opening track from her debut album. From there I ran through his contributions to the American Songbook — Janis Joplin, Rod Stewart, and Barry Manilow all the way to TLC and Alicia Keys.”

Jim Ryan, radio consultant/GOAT, took a different first step. “I thought first of my dear friend Richard Palmese, who worked for Clive for many years,” he said. “My second thought was to call John Foxx at WCBS-FM and talk about honoring Clive on air. He was not only a fabric of the music industry but also the City of New York.” Ryan also shared his personal photos from Davis’s 90th birthday party, which you can see as the header for this column.

Skip Dillard, Format VP of Rhythmic AC and Throwbacks, went straight to Earth, Wind & Fire. With the group’s HBO documentary fresh in mind, he recalled that Davis signed them and gave them room to find their sound. “It feels like Clive both directly and indirectly gave us decades of artists,” Dillard said.

A Body of Work That Crossed Every Line

Clive Davis built his legacy across formats, and the executives who I spoke with made that clear. Erik Bradley, Brand Manager at Audacy, pointed to two artists from the LaFace partnership whose impact never faded. “Usher and Outkast — classic talents with classic smashes that still are relevant today,” he said.

Yancey drilled deeper into the J Records era. “Jamie Foxx, Mario, Monica, Alicia, Busta Rhymes, and Eric Sermon — we lean on Whitney, Alicia, and TLC,” he said. “But we also have to remember the amount of sampling that happens in Hip Hop, which contains nods to classics.”

He rattled off the connections: Rod Stewart’s “If You Think I’m Sexy” sampled by The Lox. Barry Manilow’s “I Write the Songs” referenced directly by Jermaine Dupri in “Money Ain’t a Thing.” “The music Davis championed crossed all socioeconomic, racial, and creedal lines,” Yancey said. “Just as music is supposed to.”

Dillard expanded the view further. Davis helped Aretha Franklin re-energize her career. He supported the LaFace Records collaboration that produced Toni Braxton. His distribution deal with Diddy built the foundation for Bad Boy Records and Biggie. “He was both directly and indirectly responsible for so much music across multiple formats,” Dillard said.

The Second Act Was His Specialty

Few skills defined Davis more than his ability to engineer a comeback. Ryan pointed to Rod Stewart. “Clive brought Rod Stewart’s career back to life with the Great American Songbook albums,” he said. “I was programming WLTW, and Rod did a show for us at MSG thanks to Clive.”

Yancey cited Santana’s Supernatural as the gold standard. “The particular single that remains a mainstay on our Throwback rotation is ‘Maria Maria,'” he said. “It’s proving to be timeless — and it functions as a dual throwback because DJ Khaled sampled it to construct ‘Wild Thoughts.'” Yancey added that the album accomplished what great music does: it crossed conventional audience boundaries.

Bradley went to Whitney. “I remember the ‘My Love Is Your Love’ era,” he said. “And after her passing, Kygo’s re-working of her ‘Higher Love’ vocals. That was a fun moment and a great memory.”

Dillard highlighted Luther Vandross’s “Dance with My Father” as a late-career breakthrough that rewrote the rules. “Luther always felt pop radio denied him love because he was boxed in at Urban,” he said. “But ‘Dance’ wound up breaking through due to its message, which Clive sought out in songs. AC and even pop radio joined the party.”

What Radio Can Learn From Clive Davis

The executives were direct about the lessons Clive Davis left behind for the industry.

Ryan put it plainly. “Clive was a detail freak. We’ve lost that in radio. I absolutely hate the ‘close counts’ mentality radio has gone to with the cost cuts.” He called for more attention to the small things — not as a business strategy, but as a tribute.

Yancey framed it as a balance between data and instinct. “Chase emotion as much as you chase data,” he said. “Some forms of magic present themselves subtly.” He pointed to “I Will Always Love You,” “Unbreak My Heart,” and “Mandy” as proof that the emotional core of a record outlasts every metric.

Dillard connected the philosophy directly to the craft of programming. “Always seek that special sound in everything we do — from imaging to writing, to content, to the flow of the music,” he said. “Clive wouldn’t greenlight anything he didn’t have full faith in.”

Final Thoughts

Ryan closed with a challenge. “Clive wanted chart-topping hits, but he also wanted careers,” he said. “The best thing we could do in radio is champion the careers of our talent. Grow that night jock into a spectacular morning host. Take that one-market morning host to syndication.”

Yancey echoed it with a broader call to purpose. “We often use the word ‘hit’ within the industry and lose sight of the gravity of what that actually means — the difference between a moment and a movement,” he said. “We can be vessels to understand, direct, and help heal our audience. Just like the music.”

Dillard noted that the Clive Davis Music Business School at NYU, the Grammy Museum, and the Living Legends Foundation will carry his legacy forward. He extended an invitation to Barrett Media readers to attend the Living Legends Foundation Annual Awards Gala in Atlanta on October 2nd, where tributes to Davis are planned. Information and tickets are available at LivingLegendsFoundation.com.

The music Clive Davis helped put into the world was never just content. It was connective tissue. Radio’s job now is to keep that connection alive.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Sonja Morrell Named Midday Host At 106.9 The Fox After Mike Arlo’s Passing

David Hill
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Sonja Morrell Named Midday Host At 106.9 The Fox After Mike Arlo’s Passing

Saga Communications Classic Rock WAFX 106.9 The Fox in Suffolk/Norfolk, VA has named Sonja Morrell as its new midday host. Morrell fills the role left by the late Mike Arlo, who recently passed away.

What We Know: Morrell currently serves as cluster Promotions Director and evening host at WAFX. Her history with the midday slot runs deep — she succeeded Arlo at Rock FM 99 WNOR in 1996 when he moved to WAFX. She remained at WNOR until joining WAFX herself in 2009. The transition keeps a familiar voice in a beloved daypart.

What They Said: Director of Content Mike Beck offered a heartfelt endorsement of the move. “No one can replace Arlo, but Sonja is uniquely qualified to continue the tradition he built,” Beck said. “She has been Arlo’s backup for decades, and the listeners know her well. Arlo and Sonja were great friends and I’m sure he is giving two thumbs up for this move.”

What Remains Unclear: The station has not yet announced whether Morrell’s evening shift will be filled internally or through outside talent. Additionally, her Promotions Director duties and how those responsibilities will be managed going forward remain unaddressed. No formal start date for her midday role has been publicly confirmed.

What It Means: This one was a no-brainer. WAFX didn’t need to go outside — they already had the right person in the building. Morrell’s decades on both sides of the dial in this market mean listeners won’t skip a beat. She knew Arlo, she knew the audience, and the audience knows her. Nice move.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

CBS News Launching New Financial Podcast Hosted by Jill Schlesinger

Garrett Searight
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CBS News Launching New Financial Podcast Hosted by Jill Schlesinger

CBS News has tabbed Jill Schelsinger as host of a new podcast series. It’s set to launch later this month.

What We Know: Money Moves with Jill Schlesinger will debut on Tuesday, June 30th. The new podcast will release episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. According to CBS News, the show “breaks down complex financial topics in a clear, practical way.” Schelsinger is no stranger to CBS News. She’s served as a business analyst for the network. She has also hosted Jill on Money and the MoneyWatch podcasts in the past.

What They Said: “No jargon, no judgment, just actionable financial advice … Your life is changing. Your money changes. And your needs change. We want to be here for everybody who’s watching and listening to this show.” -Jill Schlesinger

What Remains Unclear: What motivated the network to launch a new podcast. It is also unknown if her other podcast ventures will end now that she’s hosting this specific show for the network.

What It Means: Under the direction of Bari Weiss, CBS News has wanted to increase its digital content offerings. This podcast allows the network to do just that. It is also a more practical podcast approach than another news or interview series that have been popular in so many organizations.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

ESPN Extends Dave Pasch With Multi-Year Deal, Added NFL Role, Departs Arizona Cardinals Radio

John Mamola
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ESPN Extends Dave Pasch With Multi-Year Deal, Added NFL Role, Departs Arizona Cardinals Radio

ESPN locked up one of its most recognizable voices. Dave Pasch has signed a new multi-year exclusive deal that expands his role beyond NBA and college sports.

What We Know: Pasch has been with ESPN since 2003, building a two-decade reputation across NBA, college basketball, and college football. His new agreement adds NFL coverage to that portfolio — a first on the national stage for the veteran broadcaster. In addition, he called ESPN Radio’s coverage of the New York Knicks’ run to the NBA Finals. Specific details about his NFL assignment will be announced in the coming weeks. As part of his exclusive agreement, Pasch steps down from his role as radio play-by-play voice of the Arizona Cardinals. He held that role for 24 seasons.

What They Said: Mike McQuade, Executive Vice President, Sports Production, ESPN: “Live sports demand voices that can carry the weight of the moment. Dave Pasch has been doing exactly that for more than two decades. His command of the biggest stages in NBA, college basketball and football speaks for itself. Expanding his role to include NFL is a natural next step for one of the most trusted voices in the business. We’re excited about what’s ahead for Dave and for fans,”

Dave Pasch: “As I move to an expanded and exclusive role with ESPN, I would like to thank Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus and Mike McQuade for this great opportunity. Having covered the NFL for two and a half decades for the Arizona Cardinals, I’m thrilled to now be involved with the NFL on the national stage, along with continuing to call college football, basketball and the NBA. I can’t wait to start the next chapter of my career,”

What Remains Unclear: ESPN has not yet revealed which NFL properties Pasch will cover or which broadcast partners he’ll work alongside. Also, who will be his replacement with the Arizona Cardinals is unknown.

What It Means: Pasch’s expansion reflects ESPN’s ongoing push to maximize its most versatile talent across multiple sports. Moreover, adding NFL duties makes him one of the network’s most broadly deployed play-by-play voices.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

FOX Sports Stu Holden Defends On-Air Dynamic Between Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alexi Lalas

John Mamola
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FOX Sports Stu Holden Defends On-Air Dynamic Between Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alexi Lalas

The chatter surrounding FOX Sports’ World Cup studio dynamic has grown louder. Analyst Stu Holden says it’s mostly noise.

What We Know: Holden addressed the on-air tension between Zlatan Ibrahimović and Alexi Lalas. He made his comments during an appearance on the Sports Media Podcast podcast. The pairing has drawn scrutiny from sports media observers. Some critics questioning Lalas’ performance and on-camera chemistry with the Swedish star. However, Holden suggests the behind-the-scenes reality differs sharply from the public narrative. He insists the dynamic is working — and that FOX insiders actually embrace it.

What They Said: (all quotes from The Sports Media Podcast)

FOX Sports Soccer Analyst Stu Holden on the dynamic between Zlatan Ibrahimović and Alexi Lalas: “It’s not that they don’t have good chemistry. It’s that people haven’t seen the way that they have interacted and become a pairing. In fact, what I’m hearing more from friends behind the scenes is that they love the type of tension and drama that has been created from that. It’s almost become something they look forward to tuning in and seeing.”

FOX Sports Soccer Analyst Stu Holden on the criticism of Alexi Lalas: “I think too much is being made of the Alexi thing. But probably secretly, I’ve even talked to Alexi about it, I’m sure he’s enjoying this. It’s a role in a character that that he plays. We’re just seeing it in a way with two people he’s never really had that interaction with.”

FOX Sports Soccer Analyst Stu Holden on how relevant Alexi Lalas is to the American soccer audience: “Alexi is still relevant in today’s sports media. For a guy that really came to fame in 1994, it’s something I have a great appreciation for as a broadcaster now for 12 or 13 years. I iamgine if I can still be relevant as the way that Alexi is, that I’ve done something right. That doesn’t just come down to a name. That comes down to the way he works, the way he makes his teammates better behind the scenes.”

What Remains Unclear: Whether the broader sports media criticism of Lalas will intensify as the World Cup progresses remains an open question.

What It Means: Lalas understands his role on the FOX Sports broadcast. In speaking with Barrett Media earlier this year, he understood the opportunity as an entertainer as much as an analyst. Holden’s defense signals that FOX Sports is comfortable with how its studio team is being received. Furthermore, framing the tension as compelling television — rather than a flaw — suggests the network may lean into it more as the tournament progresses. Lalas remains a polarizing but durable presence, and for now, FOX appears unbothered by outside noise.

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NewsNation Adds Cory Smith as DC-Based Correspondent

Garrett Searight
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NewsNation Adds Cory Smith as DC-Based Correspondent

NewsNation has added a new face to its Washington coverage team. Cory Smith will join the network as a Washington correspondent beginning June 30.

What We Know: Smith will be based in Washington, D.C., and report across NewsNation‘s daytime and primetime programming. He arrives after serving as co-host of DC News Now’s Sunrise on The Hill. During his career, Smith has interviewed prominent lawmakers, White House officials, and policy experts. He also led political coverage for several outlets and earned a National Edward R. Murrow Award along with six Regional Emmy Awards.

What’s at Stake: NewsNation continues to invest in political reporting ahead of a busy election cycle. As competition for viewers intensifies, experienced correspondents can help networks deliver deeper coverage from the nation’s capital. Smith’s background in investigative journalism and political analysis could strengthen the network’s reporting bench.

What Remains Unclear: The network hasn’t detailed specific assignments or beats Smith will cover other than that he’ll be based in Washington, D.C.

What It Means: NewsNation continues building its national news operation with experienced journalists from competitive television markets. Meanwhile, Smith brings a track record of political reporting, election coverage, and investigative work. His addition signals the network’s ongoing commitment to expanding its Washington-based reporting resources as political news remains a key driver of audience engagement.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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