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Audacy Debuts AI Contextual Advertising for Podcasts

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Audacy Debuts AI Contextual Advertising for Podcasts

Audacy has announced it is introducing dynamic AI and machine learning to bring contextual advertising solutions to help brands target podcast consumers.

The new program will use Audacy’s ability to accurately transcribe podcast episodes to contextualize targeted tags with IAB standards. With the new capability, Audacy will be able to insert podcast adds dynamically with more precision.

“The promise of Audacy’s cross-platform audio campaigns to deliver unprecedented reach coupled with powerful precision targeting becomes even more pronounced with the integration of contextual podcast advertising into our Ad Tech stack,” said Audacy Chief Revenue Officer Brian Benedik.

“Our clients are realizing better returns on their advertising investments and better outcomes for their business when they leverage our holistic audio strategies, which is why Audacy boasts one of the highest renewal rates in audio and digital media.” 

With the new features, Audacy’s advertising partners will be able to more strategically place ads within specific podcast episodes and deliver ads when listeners are most engaged.

Keith Olbermann: CNN Deciding to Air Day-Old Bill Maher Show Is Why They’re In Last Place

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CNN has announced plans to air Real Time with Bill Maher on Saturdays at 8 PM ET. Keith Olbermann wasn’t impressed by the move.

After the announcement came that Maher’s show, which originally debuts on Fridays on HBO, would receive an “encore” presentation on cable news, Olbermann took aim at his former cable news home during his Countdown podcast.

“The real motivation for doing this is actually a little bit more cynical than ‘Oh, I’m sure this will work. God something’s got to work,'” Olbermann said. “Even though all the CNN executives who tried Bill Maher last year are working elsewhere this year, the upper managers of that company…they know they are not going to draw flies with a day-old political insight and comedy show based on what Bill Maher read this week in the columns of Bari Weiss and Maureen Dowd and George Will.

“In other words, they’re not gonna get any ratings from a political insight comedy show without any comedy and without any insight. They’re doing it because they inexplicably just resigned Maher to a two-year contract extension and putting his rerun on at 8 PM on Saturday nights on CNN is called amortizing, even if it literally draws like 250 viewers,” posited Olbermann.

“The point is the costs at CNN for the 8 PM Saturday hour have just been reduced from like a million dollars, at least, to however much it costs to pay the guy who presses that one button that reads ‘play.’

Keith Olbermann then joked that the network could pick up another digital video show that recently launched.

“Maybe they could get this Don Lemon guy, with his new online interview series like that one with Elon Musk…Air them Don Lemon interviews on Saturday at 8 PM. Wait, there’s a flaw somewhere in that idea. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

Report: Bill Simmons Producing Boston Celtics Documentary for Max

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Report: Bill Simmons Producing Boston Celtics Documentary for Max

Entertainment insider Jeff Sneider, reported on his InSneider website that The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is behind a Boston Celtics documentary being produced for Max. At this time there are not very many specifics known about the project such as a potential release date or even what the focus of the documentary will be. Sneider’s report did say Celtics legends Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish are expected to be featured.

In mid-February, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck was a guest of The Greg Hill Show on WEEI and mentioned something was in the works. “…But in terms of the Celtics, I have some positive news there,” he said. “Nothing to officially report yet, but we’re in production on a multi-part, absolutely top quality, fantastic documentary series, along the lines of hopefully The Last Dance, and so on.”

Grousbeck also told Hill a film crew has been with the Celtics throughout this season. “…The film is being filmed and archives are being gone through…It’s really exciting. And they’re following the team this whole year, so, it’s like behind the scenes. So, we’ll see what happens, but win or lose, it’ll be out.”

This year’s Celtics team is on pace to be the top seed in the Eastern Conference and is one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship.

Bob Iger, Jimmy Pitaro Looking to Make Deals ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ for ESPN DTF Offering

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Bob Iger, Jimmy Pitaro Looking to Make Deals ‘Anytime, Anywhere’ for ESPN DTF Offering

According to one sports media insider, ESPN is open for business and looking for investors as it looks to go direct-to-consumer. The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported today that Disney CEO Bob Iger and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro are on the hunt for equity partners, and are targeting sports leagues and large digital players to make it work.

Marchand says ESPN brass is simultaneously negotiating for its own direct-to-consumer offering as well as its joint venture with Fox and WarnerBros. Discovery. Its goal is to sell one or two minority stakes in the company, with Marchand reporting the NFL and NBA are top potential candidates, with MLB and the NHL next in line should the former pair not materialize as partners.

Earlier this year, ESPN and the NFL were in talks to form a “strategic partnership,” though nothing yet materialized from the report. Some, including former ESPN boss John Skipper, didn’t think a deal would ever materialize, though the Marchand report indicates it could still happen.

The same terms would apply — ESPN would control NFL Media, and with it, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NFL films, while the NFL would allow ESPN to use its programming for ESPN’s DTC offering. More NFL content could power ESPN DTC to new heights as sports fans continue to flock toward NFL football in spades.

ESPN and Roku are reportedly in talks to feature ESPN DTC on Roku’s homepage, further expanding the service’s reach to cord-cutters. Marchand also reports that ESPN has spoken to Apple and Amazon in the same realm.

Lastly, Marchand reports that ESPN hopes to be a broadcasting solution for MLB, NBA, and NHL teams and provide local sports as part of its DTC strategy. In the wake of the Diamond Sports bankruptcy, ESPN envisions replacing regional sports networks with its streaming offering to add even more value to consumers. Amazon’s investment into DSG may have thrown a wrench into the scope of that plan but ESPN could still offer local broadcasts of teams that are no longer associated with or never were associated with DSG.

Sid Rosenberg: Jesse Watters ‘The Next Great’ Fox News Primetime Host

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Sid Rosenberg: Jesse Watters ‘The Next Great’ Fox News Primetime Host

Jesse Watters has been hosting the 8 PM ET timeslot for Fox News for less than a year. But 77 WABC host Sid Rosenberg believes he’s as great as his predecessors.

While promoting his book Get It Together: Troubling Tales from the Liberal Fringe, which released Tuesday, Watters appeared on Sid and Friends in the Morning on 77 WABC.

Before their discussion, Rosenberg shared his opinion that Watters is already one of the top hosts in cable news and is in line with others who held his timeslot.

“I don’t believe anybody in all of cable news gets bigger ratings than Jesse Watters,” said Rosenberg. “He is taking that eight o’clock slot, which was once held by all-time greats like Bill O’Reilly and Tucker Carlson, and he’s the next great one.

“He gets the biggest ratings of any network all day, eight o’clock every night because he’s got great a show. He’s great. He has me on. That’s his best show, of course,” he joked. “The show is great no matter what he’s got on.”

Watters got his start with Fox News working with Rosenberg’s friend and colleague Bill O’Reilly. The 77 WABC host is a regular guest on the cable channel.

NFL Network Host Jamie Erdahl Staying With ‘Good Morning Football’ Amid Move to California

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NFL Network Host Jamie Erdahl Staying With ‘Good Morning Football’ Amid Move to California

The impending move of Good Morning Football across the country has resulted in one cast member sticking around — albeit after she gives birth, first. Host Jamie Erdahl posted an emotional video today via her X account, saying that she will indeed make the move from New York to Inglewood but that she’ll be delivering her child first:

“I’m really happy to say that I get to keep sitting in my chair, being the best point guard I can be when Good Morning Football returns in Los Angeles. This is a very hard time for many people affected by this decision to move this show, and all I can hope is that for the people making these decisions — our executives at the NFL, our coaches — to not make these decisions lightly and to do so with the best intention of keeping what people love about GMFB intact: the fact that it’s four people who love this game and this league sitting around that big beautiful table, and the dedicated team beyond the table giving you everything we have got at night and every morning. So I will see you in LA, but I’m going to go have a baby.”

Earlier this month, the NFL made the controversial decision to move the popular morning show from its New York City studios across the country to California. The new studios in Inglewood, CA serve as the home to NFL GameDay and NFL Total Access, and will now house GMFB too. While Erdahl will make the move, it’s presently unknown if the show’s other cast members, Jason McCourty, Kyle Brandt, and Peter Schrager, will join her. For a show that has seen success because of its chemistry, keeping the band together will be crucial for its continued success.

FOX Sports Announces 2024 ‘MLB on FOX’ Lineup

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FOX Sports Announces 2024 ‘MLB on FOX’ Lineup

With the majority of Major League Baseball regular-season Opening Day games set to commence next week, FOX Sports has revealed its MLB on FOX broadcasting plans for the upcoming 2024 season, culminating in its presentation of the World Series. The network’s lead broadcast booth of play-by-play announcer Joe Davis, color commentator John Smoltz and reporter Ken Rosenthal is returning for the season. The lead booth will begin its season by broadcasting the New York Yankees and Houston Astros game from Minute Maid Park on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. EST on FOX.

Additional broadcasters set to contribute to MLB on FOX coverage this season include play-by-play announcers Adam Amin, Jason Benetti, Kevin Kugler and Kenny Albert, along with analysts Adam Wainwright, Tom Verducci, A.J. Pierzynski, Eric Karros and Dontrelle Willis. The network will also broadcast the MLB at Rickwood Field game on Thursday, June 20 and will announce its talent assignments at a later date.

The MLB on FOX studio team will return with host Kevin Burkhardt and analysts Álex Rodríguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter. Throughout the year, the program will travel to cover several marquee events, including hosting live from Yankee Stadium on Saturday, June 8. The show will provide coverage surrounding a multifaceted programming lineup on FOX, including the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies game in London, England, which is part of the league’s 2024 World Tour.

FOX will also serve as the home of the Belmont Stakes during the same day, which is taking place at Saratoga Race Course this year due to renovations at Belmont Park. The day will conclude with a prime-time game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, emanating from the Bronx and broadcasting on FOX.

Coverage of the league on FOX Deportes will continue with games featuring play-by-play announcer Adrian Garcia Marquez, analyst Edgar Gonzalez, announcer and reporter Carlos Alvarez and reporter and analyst Jaime Motta. The network has also added Rolando Nichols as part of its coverage, serving as a play-by-play announcer this season. In addition to live game broadcasts, the network will also present a daily sports highlight program, Total Sports 360, which features highlights, interviews and reports during the season.

FOX Sports will also continue to present content tailored for digital media platforms, creating and disseminating original content. Flippin’ Bats, a FOX Sports original digital franchise, will present new episodes multiple times per week available to view on FOX Sports digital platforms and other media platforms, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Hosted by Ben Verlander and Alex Curry, the show will seek to promulgate revelry within the game of baseball and feature interviews, analysis and weekly appearances by MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz. Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner will also be part of the network’s coverage through written content and analysis.

Viewers are able to stream FOX Sports programming live – which includes MLB games broadcast on FOX and FS1 – by using either the FOX Sports app or on FOXSports.com. Other platforms that enable streaming games includes Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV and Roku devices.

Scott Hanson Joins NBC ‘Gold Zone’ for Olympic Games Paris 2024

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Scott Hanson Joins NBC ‘Gold Zone’ for Olympic Games Paris 2024

NBC Sports has announced that it will present a whiparound show streaming on Peacock during its coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. There could be up to 40 events happening at the same time during the Olympic Games, and Gold Zone will look to provide viewers with live views of the best and most exciting moments.

This show will take consumers around the entire scope of the Olympic Games to witness thrilling finishes, pivotal races and other essential moments starting on July 27 and ending on Aug. 10. The program will contain various hosts staggered throughout the day, along with special guests who will provide their commentary and insights as athletes compete for their countries on the world stage.

“The Olympic Games are like no other sporting event with up to 40 competitions happening simultaneously,” Molly Solomon, executive producer and president, NBC Olympics Production, said in a statement. “Given that scale, Gold Zone is designed to be the viewer’s best friend, streaming the most important moments in real time.”

The show will stream live on Peacock daily beginning at 7 a.m. EST with host Scott Hanson, who has experience in this format as the host of NFL RedZone during the National Football League season since 2009. In addition to his RedZone responsibilities, Hanson also hosts on-location coverage of events for NFL Network, such as the Super Bowl and NFL Draft. This will mark the first time Hanson will work at the Olympic Games in his broadcast career.

Following Hanson as host during the day is Andrew Siciliano, current NFL Network host and former host on the Red Zone Channel on DIRECTV for 17 years with NFL Sunday Ticket. When the NFL reached an agreement with Google to bring NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube and YouTube TV, it meant that Siciliano’s edition of the whiparound program would come to an end. He signed off the show at the end of the 2022 season and recently delivered play-by-play on television and radio while hosting throughout the 2023 campaign. Siciliano has been a host of the Gold Zone coverage for NBC Sports on two Olympic Games, the most recent of which taking place in 2016 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The program will conclude with Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila working together as co-hosts akin to their roles on the NBC program America Ninja Warrior. This will mark Iseman’s third Olympics assignment with NBC Sports, while Gbajabiamila will be on the air for his second Olympics broadcast. Both hosts worked together on the morning show, Tokyo Live, in 2021 when the games were held in Tokyo, Japan.

Peacock, which is the streaming home of the 2024 Paris Olympics, will broadcast every sport and event for the first time in its history. The endeavor includes all 329 medal events and full-event replays, in addition to NBC programming, video clips, original programming and more. The OTT streaming service diminished its quarterly losses during Q4 2023 and amassed quarterly revenue that surpassed $1 billion for the first time, according to its most recent earnings report.

Furthermore, the platform was the exclusive home of an NFL Wild Card playoff game that ended up garnering an average minute audience (AMA) of approximately 23 million viewers, rendering it the most-streamed event in United States history, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. The program also accounted for 30% of U.S. web traffic, encompassing the day of most internet usage in the history of the country.

Sammy Sosa Does First Interview in Years with The Steve Cochran Show

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Sammy Sosa Does First Interview in Years with The Steve Cochran Show

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa sat down with Chicago radio personality Steve Cochran in a live broadcast Friday, March 15th, on WLS-AM 890. Chicago Cubs fans that tuned into “The Steve Cochran Show” Friday were treated to Sosa’s first interview with Chicago media in many years. Sosa covered topics from his earliest days in Major League Baseball to his unforgettable home runs.

WLS-AM 890 allowed local TV cameras into Cumulus Chicago studios to capture Sosa’s return to Chicago media. You can listen to the full interview by clicking here.

Sosa said he had not been back to Chicago since he played with the Texas Rangers in 2007. He said he has been in Florida with his kids but said he “I wanted to come back here this time, because right now I feel like I had to get back to the fans. They have been behind me for so many years and they welcomed me back yesterday.”

Sosa has not had a relationship with the Cubs since he was traded by the Cubs to the Baltimore Orioles in February, 2005.

“I mean, I missed to be back here, definitely. To see the people and normally, you know, spend time here, I think it will be great,” Sosa said. “I’m here, I’m available, and let’s see what happens. I think it’s going to happen, but in time.”

Mark Simone: ABC News, George Stephanopoulos Should Want to Settle Trump Lawsuit

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Mark Simone: ABC News, George Stephanopoulos Should Want to Settle Trump Lawsuit

Donald Trump has launched a defamation lawsuit against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. 710 WOR host Mark Simone believes it’s an easy win for the Trump campaign.

After a contentious interview with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Trump sued the outlet and anchor for his encapsulation that the former President was guilty of rape. Stephanopoulos repeatedly asked Mace — a rape survivor — how she could continue to support Trump after he was found liable for rape by a civil jury. The representative continually shared that she felt the anchor was attempting to “shame” her for her political beliefs, which Stephanopoulos denied.

On The Mark Simone Show Tuesday, the New York host argued it would be in the best interest of the outlet and anchor to settle the case, sharing his belief that it’s a slam dunk for Trump.

“This will not be good for George Stephanopoulos. A lawsuit like this? Stuff will come out,” said Simone. “If you’re ABC or Stephanopoulos, you’d want to make this go away really fast. The problem is, if you’re the insurance company and you see that malice will be easy to prove, you might want to settle this real fast.

“But ABC will not want to settle so fast. That makes him look kind of guilty. You could issue an apology. That’s a tough thing for a guy like Stephanopoulos to do. I don’t know if you’ll possibly issue an apology, if that’s even going to help. You could offer a retraction, all that sort of stuff. I don’t know. We’ll see. This is big news.”

Simone argued that Stephanopoulos “has a history of going after rape victims,” during his tenure working for the Bill Clinton campaign and administration.

“People forget he was involved in some pretty dirty business when he worked with the Clintons, fighting off those rape allegations,” Simone said, alleging that the ABC News anchor wouldn’t want some of the details of his work for the White House to come out today.

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