Noah Eagle, who will serve as the play-by-play voice for Nickelodeon’s alternate broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII, was the guest on this week’s Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast. Nickelodeon has done coverage of previous games, including wild-card games in 2020 and 2021, but this will be the first time it is covering a Super Bowl.
Deitsch asked Eagle about his biggest challenges as he preps for the game. “Finding the right balance of actually preparing as if I was calling the game and then preparing for all of the other stuff that comes with a Nickelodeon, or really any alternate broadcast,” Eagle said. “Any time you do any sort of alternate broadcast, and I’ve been fortunate to get a chance to do a couple of them now, it’s finding what the target audience is looking for.
“When you remember that the target audience here is younger kids who have maybe never watched football before, or really have only watched the Nickelodoen broadcasts the last couple of years as their introduction to the sport. You remember that those nitty gritty details aren’t quite as important. The preparation completely changes, I am not looking for stats as much, I am looking more for storyline stuff, I am looking more for fun background.”
Eagle said that while the broadcasters do not meet with the coaches, they do meet with some players. Rather than talking x’s and o’s with them, Eagle and broadcast partner Nate Burleson ask about their childhoods, their interests outside of football or what they watched as kids. “That stuff really resonates with the kids.,” Eagle said.
Eagle shared the story of interviewing for the position with Nickelodeon, which he did over zoom during COVID. He was asked if he watched Nickelodeon as a kid and Eagle said he began quoting characters and doing impressions. He did say, however, that since Nickelodeon is over 40 years old, he did catch up on new Nickelodeon programming and went back to the archives, as part of his preparation.
As for how he likes doing the alternate games, he said, “It’s been good, its been different, its a nice change of pace. I would say it would be difficult to do all the time as a broadcaster because it’s not what you’re trained to do, but it’s definitely a fun change up.”
Eagle said he believes these alternate broadcasts are currently in the plans for the future. “I do think the NFL is really excited about it and they have been from the start. They have been a great partner in all of this. I know Roger Goodell was talking a lot about the media landscape and where it’s going in the future…during his media availability…I think this does fall in to that, alternate broadcating…I know that they’re thinking about this stuff and I think we have a chance to go out and try to knock it out of the park and try to prove this deserves to be somethng that can stay long-term.”
Back in August when the NFL and Nickelodeon made the announcement about covering the game, Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president of media distribution said, “We’re thrilled to partner with CBS Sports and Nickelodeon to present the first alternate telecast of the Super Bowl. Our previous telecasts on Nickelodeon have been huge hits and created a new and different way to experience an NFL game. We’re excited to bring that creativity to Super Bowl LVIII and give our fans another way to enjoy one of the world’s most popular sporting events.”
Tucker Carlson has been the focus of the news media world as the build-up to his high-profile interview with Vladimir Putin circulated. Bill O’Reilly couldn’t help but compliment the former Fox News host for creating conversation around the interview.
While appearing on The Dom Giordano Program on 1210 WPHT, O’Reilly admitted that Carlson does a fantastic job of marketing his product.
“Tucker Carlson has a perfect right to interview Vladimir Putin. Tucker Carlson is the most brilliant marketer in the world today,” said O’Reilly. “He makes me look comatose. That’s how good he is.”
However, that doesn’t mean that the former cable news host agreed completely with Carlson’s conduct or decision to interview the controversial Russian dictator.
“Tucker Carlson is misguided in his support of Putin, but he’s entitled to be misguided. If you watch cable television or network television 90% of the pundits are misguided. So why the vilification? Putin is a war criminal. He’s a villain. He will never tell you the truth…you’re never going to get an honest answer. Ever. The only thing you can do as an interviewer is go in armed with facts and put the facts right in Putin’s face.”
Joe Rogan recently inked an extension to keep his popular podcast with Spotify. He’s now singing the company’s praises after the two sides agreed to increased distribution on additional platforms.
As part of his new deal, which will pay The Joe Rogan Experience host upwards of $250 million, the podcast will now be available on other platforms instead of just strictly appearing on the Spotify app.
After the show returned to Apple Podcasts for the first time since 2020, Rogan applauded the move by the company in a post to X.
The podcast is now officially back on (Apple Podcasts). We should be back on (YouTube) with full episodes in the coming weeks,” wrote Rogan. “Shoutout to (Spotify) for absolutely being the coolest and smartest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being in partnership with. I’m very excited the podcast will now have a much broader distribution.”
The podcast is now officially back on @apple We should be back on @youtube with full episodes in the coming weeks. Shoutout to @spotify for absolutely being the coolest and smartest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being in partnership with. I’m very excited the podcast… pic.twitter.com/lf9vpPtpLU
More than 2,000 of Rogan’s past episodes have been reuploaded to Apple Podcasts. However, 111 of his programs have been omitted due to controversial subject matter or guests.
WWE and the X platform have signed a two-year deal for a new exclusive video series, WWE Speed. The concept will feature timed matches which are meant to be completed in five minutes or less. The announcement was made during the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff press conference in Las Vegas.
According to Fightful.com, Speed matches began filming last year during the December 15 SmackDown taping. The series will be filmed live to tape and is set to debut this spring. Fightful says the new show will feature WWE superstars from across its roster and that the content will not be repurposed from other programming. The series is set to air 52 weeks per year.
In a much-anticipated interview, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson ended his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin by asking if he would release Evan Gershkovich, the imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter.
Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 after being accused of serving as a spy against the Russian government. He has remained in prison since he was first apprehended.
While interviewing Putin, Carlson — who received widespread criticism for his decision to interview the leader — put the President on the spot by asking for Gershkovich’s release.
“I’m going to ask you one last question and that’s about someone who’s very famous in the United States, probably not here. Evan Gershkovich, who’s The Wall Street Journal reporter, he’s 32 and he’s been in prison for almost a year,” said Carlson. “This is a huge story in the United States. And I just want to ask you directly — without getting into the details of it or your version of what happened — if, as a sign of your decency, you will be willing to release him to us and we’ll bring him back to the United States.”
“We have done so many gestures of goodwill out of decency that I think we have run out of them,” Putin responded. “We have never seen anyone that reciprocated to us in a similar manner. However, in theory, we can say that we do not rule out that we can do that.”
The conversation then shifted to a discussion about what does and does not constitute a spy, with Putin arguing that Gershkovich was receiving classified information. Tucker Carlson argued it is clear the reporter isn’t a spy.
“What makes this different is the guy’s obviously not a spy,” Carlson said. “He’s a kid. And maybe he was breaking your law in some way, but he’s not a super spy and everyone knows that.”
Tucker Carlson concluded by saying “I hope you let him out, Mr. President.”
The fifth day of our annual BSM Top 20 series recognizes the Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2023. If you missed any of our local and national shows results, click here to get caught up.
As you review the selections, please remember that the results represent the collective opinions of fifty eight (58) industry executives. I’d like to thank Alex Reynolds and Stephanie Eads for helping with the Top 20 creative process. A special thank you to Steve Stone Voiceovers for being our exclusive sponsor of the Top 20 series. If you’re unfamiliar with Steve’s work, be sure to click here to listen.
Regarding the voting, here are the key things to be aware of.
– These results are based on 2023’s performance. 2024 changes have no effect on the voting. Some shows went through change in 2023. We promote them based on how they ended the year, not how they started it.
– Our executive panel consists of fifty eight (58) program directors and corporate executives from a number of top broadcasting companies including Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Hubbard, Good Karma Brands, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, SiriusXM, Spotify, and a number of independently owned and operated radio stations. We involve a large group in this process in order to include feedback from all parts of the country, as well as to prevent the results from heavily favoring one company.
– A total of 27 programmers were eligible for voting consideration in the Major Market Program Directors category. Major markets consist of cities in the top 20 markets.
– Voters are asked to consider a bunch of factors when making their selections. Among the criteria taken into account includes originality, multi-platform impact, ratings and revenue success, and more. Keep in mind that our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect science, but it’s the best system we’ve come up with to showcase how sports radio’s brain trust view the best in the format.
And that brings us to the rankings for this year’s Major Market Program Directors. The 2023 winner, and going out on top is Spike Eskin of WFAN. Eskin announced in early January he’ll be returning to Philadelphia to join Sports Radio WIP’s afternoon show. The WFAN PD has now won this category two years in a row, and three times total. BSM congratulates Spike and his team at WFAN on the well earned honor, and every other PD who gained a Top 20 spot.
Now, here are the full results of “BSM’s Top 20 Major Market Program Directors of 2023
Additional Notes:
Spike Eskin finished first with a twenty six (26) point victory over The Score’s Mitch Rosen. Eskin also earned the most first place votes, ten (10).
Spots 21-25 belonged to Len Weiner, Phil Mackey,Kyle Brown, Bryan Erickson and Rich Moore.
The closest contest saw Rick Radzik hold off Rod Lakin by four (4) points.
Of the 27 eligible programmers, ten (10) received at least one 1st place vote.
Here is the remaining schedule for the BSM Top 20 of 2023.
Monday February 12 = Top 20 Local Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2023
Welcome to the fifth day of our annual BSM Top 20 series. Today, we recognize the Top 20 Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2023. If you missed any of our local and national shows results, click here to get caught up.
As you review the selections, please remember that the results represent the collective opinions of fifty eight (58) industry executives. I’d like to thank Alex Reynolds and Stephanie Eads for helping with the Top 20 creative process. A special thank you to Steve Stone Voiceovers for being our exclusive sponsor of the Top 20 series. If you’re unfamiliar with Steve’s work, be sure to click here to listen.
Regarding the voting, here are the key things to be aware of.
– These results are based on 2023’s performance. Changes made in 2024 had no effect on the voting.
– Our executive panel consists of fifty eight (58) program directors and corporate executives from a number of top broadcasting companies including Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Hubbard, Good Karma Brands, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, SiriusXM, Spotify, and a number of independently owned and operated radio stations. We involve a large group in this process in order to include feedback from all parts of the country, as well as to prevent the results from heavily favoring one company.
– A total of 45 programmers were eligible for voting consideration in the Mid Market Program Directors category. Mid markets consist of cities in markets 21 and lower.
– Voters are asked to consider many factors when making their selections. Among the criteria taken into account includes originality, multi-platform impact, ratings and revenue success, and more. Keep in mind that our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect science. It is however the best system we’ve come up with to showcase the format’s best.
And that brings us to the rankings for this year’s Mid Market Program Directors. The 2023 winner is Andy Roth of 92.3 The Fan. For Roth, this is his fourth category win and first since 2021. We congratulate Andy and the 92.3 The Fan crew on earning the top prize, as well as every other PD who gained a spot on this year’s list.
Now, here are the full results of “BSM’s Top 20 Mid Market Program Directors of 2023
Additional Notes:
Andy Roth earned first place with a sixteen (16) point victory over WJOX’s Ryan Haney. Roth took the top honor despite finishing second in first place votes. Brad Carson finished first with five. Roth came in second with four.
Spots 21-25 belonged to Jimmy Clark, Matt Moscona,Terry Ford, Terry Foxx, and Paul Ihander.
The closest contests saw Ryan Haney and Tommy Mattern beat Brad Carson and Jeff Rickard by one (1) point.
Of the 45 eligible programmers, eleven (11) received at least one 1st place vote.
Here is the remaining schedule for the BSM Top 20 of 2023.
Monday February 12 = Top 20 Local Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2023
Our second installment of a ‘Day Spent With’ offers a peek inside the world of FOX Sports Radio. This particular project was done on location in Las Vegas during Super Bowl week. In addition to sitting with The Doug Gottlieb Show, The Odd Couple, and Covino & Rich on Media Row, Derek Futterman also observed the Dan Patrick Show live from Fontainebleau. My thanks to Don Martin, Scott Shapiro, and all of the on-air talent and behind the scenes staff who made time to chat with Derek to capture what goes into a day of programming on the national level.
Over the next seven weeks, we’re aiming to highlight a day in the life of a program director, market manager, social media manager, and media buyer. We will also spend time with a sports betting network and sports digital show. We have also left one slot open to see which of a few possibilities makes the most sense as we move deeper into the series. If you or your brand are interested in being part of the series, pitches can be sent by email to JBarrett@sportsradiopd.com.
With regards to FOX Sports Radio, the network is operating on a high level. But what goes into making that happen? How do they keep things seamless when operating from two Las Vegas locations and a studio in Los Angeles? Which small details make a big difference in helping a national brand stand out? Derek went searching for answers, and here’s what he found out.
When you step through the doors at NFL Media Row from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, there’s a wide variety of media outlets. Standing out among them is FOX Sports Radio. The nationally distributed outlet featuring a deep roster of talent, engineers, producers and additional personnel are on the scene to provide the most compelling and entertaining experience for its audience and radio partners leading up to the biggest game in sports.
The lightbulbs illuminating the FOX Sports Radio set, which was located across the room from the main entrance, originally glowed yellow. What might be glossed over by others isn’t ignored by Dave Weiss. The VP of Sports Marketing for iHeart Los Angeles makes a run to a nearby store to purchase over a hundred white light bulbs to help the network generate greater attention. With over 170 entities fusing radio, television and digital media all in one space, FOX Sports Radio knows its presentation and business strategy must stand out.
The idea for the set was sketched out on paper between Weiss and Don Martin, the executive vice president of programming for the sports division of iHeartMedia. FOX Sports Radio programming is syndicated on over 600 affiliated stations around the United States, rendering it one of the nation’s largest providers of audio content. Moreover, the national radio platform is ranked No. 4 overall out of 1200 digital streaming stations available for listeners on iHeart app.
“We are here to show everybody that we’re going to be wherever our audience is [and that] our content’s going to get to you,” Martin said. “We are massive content providers; that’s what we do.”
Martin works alongside Scott Shapiro, senior vice president of sports at Premiere Networks and FOX Sports Radio. Although listeners are primarily privy to the talent, a team of network professionals are diligently preparing, booking guests, managing audio levels, clipping content for social media, and providing on-site feedback.
“We need to have compelling talent because our affiliates come to us and say, ‘We feel proud being aligned with you guys,’” Shapiro explained, “but it’s on the air; it’s behind the scenes – we’re real proud of the people we have.”
Afternoon host Doug Gottlieb is broadcasting from his 11th Super Bowl championship week, something he began doing during his time with ESPN and CBS Sports Radio. While he examines the upcoming game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Gottlieb opens his program by remarking about the value of broadcasting at Media Row. Before an announcement is made about FOX Sports, ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery agreeing in principle to launch a new direct-to-consumer streaming service, Gottlieb and update anchor Dan Beyer debate the value of cutting the cord.
As an experienced radio veteran, Gottlieb tries to keep the audience in mind when choosing topics. Knowing guest access increases during the special week of live shows, Gottlieb interviews 19 people in three days on his program. While all of those interviews will not air on the radio due to time constraints, Gottlieb and the FOX Sports Radio team determine a means of distribution, potentially through the one-hour podcast that comes after the show.
“I love the mental gymnastics of being able to go from one guest to the next and know enough about their history to ask them questions that can start to get them talking, and then maybe you can get them to a topic which I find interesting. That’s really what my concern is,” Gottlieb said. “The delivery of it – obviously with podcasting, it makes it way easier – and we can extend it even into the weekend; we can cut it up in segments.”
Doug GottliebDan BeyerThe Doug Gottlieb Show | 3 – 5 p.m. EST | FOX Sports Radio
With a deluge of media outlets and a maelstrom of content permeating the landscape in Las Vegas, understanding how fundamental adaptability is in the context of a broadcast is essential for success. Gottlieb was supposed to have an interview with former Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff at approximately 12:25 p.m. EST, but a preceding conversation he was participating in ran long. The podcast co-hosts ended up arriving a few minutes later, leading Gottlieb to have to make a decision about his show.
“In my mind I have to factor in, ‘Okay, I think he’s a great source of information. [He has] been a GM in this league; he’s worked with [Bill] Belichick,’” Gottlieb recalled thinking. “‘This year, there are two teams that are built very, very differently, so I have things that I want to get out of him, plus I have to get his plug, and his plug is with his co-host of his podcast.’”
A few hours earlier, the ability of FOX Sports Radio hosts to comprehend the situation and garner unparalleled conversation was evident at the Dan Patrick Show. Chris Simms came to the program for an interview, which Patrick began by asking his guest to respond with a question. While they were not playing a game of Jeopardy!, a longstanding broadcast quiz show, Patrick proffered the question without a rationale.
Known for his interviewing expertise and prowess, he listened to what Simms was thinking and let those perspectives guide the conversation rather than determining its overall flow. Even though Patrick and his staff prepare in advance for their interviews, there are moments when instinctive direction takes over to make conversations more valuable.
Dan PatrickThe ‘Danettes’Dan Patrick Show | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST | FOX Sports Radio
In this case, Patrick was broadcasting in front of a live audience at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a new hotel that opened last December. Scheduling the Dan Patrick Show during Super Bowl week worked out, providing space in the pool complex to construct a hybrid radio and television set to air away from their regular studio in Milford, CT.
Throughout the show, Patrick and the ‘Danettes,’ his team of producers, interact with the audience, cultivating a congenial, welcoming atmosphere. Following the opening ‘Morning Meeting’ segment, Patrick’s program starts with applause from an audience draped by the nighttime sky and falling raindrops.
Patrick then welcomed Albert Breer, senior reporter and lead content strategist for Monday Morning Quarterback. Other guests included the aforementioned Simms, ESPN Monday Night Football color commentator and former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman, and FOX Sports college football analyst and former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn.
“We’re surprisingly unrehearsed on this show,” executive producer Paul Pabst said. “I think sometimes ideas 15 seconds before are sometimes better than a week before. Sometimes you plan them out, but I handle the content, so I ran back to start preparing the next segment because Troy Aikman’s coming on and I want to get a couple of ideas on the screen for Dan to play off of.”
Dan Patrick interviewing Albert BreerPatrick O’ConnorPaul PabstMarvin Prince and Todd Fritz
While Patrick is interviewing a guest, Pabst will write ideas that appear on his screen or communicate through talkback functionality. Pabst affirms that Patrick does not need the assistance and can easily ace the interview assignment, but the varied perspectives help enhance the subject matter. The other ‘Danettes,’ which include Patrick “Seton” O’Connor, Marvin Prince and Todd Fritz, also work on various aspects of the show while being part of the conversation.
The program does not have a set in stone rundown, preferring instead to monitor the conversational pattern. In the case of a live show, the cast like to measure the audience reactions. Airing live from Las Vegas ahead of the Super Bowl, much of the content focus is on the league championship game, but there were also other points in which the show offered their perspectives and viewpoints.
Between the traditional blocks, which are aired on FOX Sports Radio and streamed live on Peacock, the show took part in activities proprietary to each medium. Radio listeners heard specific advertising reads, and streaming viewers saw live look-ins that included football-oriented games and brand activations.
“If you’re watching, I’m just complementing what you’re watching, whereas if it’s radio I have to create what you’re listening to,” Patrick said. “I just try to not get in the way of what we’re cooking on a grill because it’s there. No matter what I say, I can’t make it any better than what you see.”
After the show ended, Patrick and the ‘Danettes’ stayed on stage and conducted a meet-and-greet with every audience member. They had personal interactions, making the experience all the more meaningful and memorable to their fans. There was one long-time caller of the show they met in person for the first time, granting them time to reminisce and reflect on the past.
Patrick then went back to work, narrating live reads to use on the radio the next day so he would have more time to interact with the audience. Pabst recognized the importance of demonstrating gratitude when he attended an episode of The View in 1996 where Garth Brooks performed and then stayed for an hour to sign autographs and take pictures with everyone in the crowd.
“I tell our guys after every show that when we’re at the Super Bowl, everybody gets a picture — everybody. No matter how long the line is, we’re going to stay there until we all take pictures and just to talk to them,” Patrick said. “The fact that they’ll wait; they’re here for three hours; they waited in the rain; they came up and they’re only there for 60 seconds, but that’s pretty cool. We’re lucky to have loyal fans, and I tell these guys, ‘Never ever take it for granted. Never.’”
Later in the afternoon back at Media Row, Steve Covino and Rich Davis broadcast from the FOX Sports Radio set, reviewing their experience at Super Bowl Opening Night from Allegiant Stadium. Both co-hosts brought energy and a dynamic feel to the air, something that has been part of the show from their early days working together at SiriusXM.
“If you can’t bring it for those two hours, honestly go home,” Covino said. “That’s how I feel about it. I’m not always feeling great, but for those two hours you’ve got to suck it up and really bring your best.”
“I know I have a very small attention span,” Davis added. “In my mind I’m like, ‘Would I be bored by this?,’ and if I am, I move on quickly, so I feel like I’m a good gauge because I have a bad attention span, so I feel like I like to move quick [and with] high energy.”
The second hour involved Super Bowl trivia that implemented historic facts about the game into the show, granting a different way to display both personality and revelry. From there, the conversation honed in on the NBA Dunk Contest before transitioning to an update, during which Covino and Davis gave their reactions to sports news in real time.
Steve CovinoRich DavisCovino & Rich | 5 – 7 p.m. EST | FOX Sports Radio
“When you listen to FOX Sports Radio, you know that it thrives on personality and it’s really distinct,” Covino said. “It’s personality-driven, so to be part of what we call ‘The Premiere Sports Lineup in the Nation!’ and know that it’s the personality they’re looking for and they’re not trying to change what you do – they want you to be the best you – I think it’s awesome.”
Rob Parker continued the momentum from the FOX Sports Radio lineup, which starts early in morning drive with 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe, which also broadcast from Las Vegas this week. Parker works on The Odd Couple with his co-host Chris Broussard, who was on the air remotely due to his television obligations. Aside from a location for remote interviews to take place, FOX Sports 1 was not present at Media Row this year, which also included The Herd with Colin Cowherd simulcast on FOX Sports Radio.
“It takes a whole village to move a TV broadcast, and frankly we provide the guests for them right here on this set,” Shapiro said. “They have great guests all week, so they’re still going to feel the flavor of being in Vegas, but frankly the content of the show [is] paramount, and they feel with the production; with all the moving pieces of TV, they can achieve a great show from our LA studio.”
Although Parker acknowledged that the show is not as good when one of them is working remotely, the rapport between the co-hosts makes it seem like there is no difference. Leading up to the program, the hosts express their opinions and share ideas with executive producer Robert Guerra. The communication between Parker and Broussard is kept to a minimum in order to craft a genuine program.
Rob ParkerRobert GuerraThe Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker | 7 – 10 p.m. EST | FOX Sports Radio
“We want the show to be as organic and real rather than me and Chris hashing it out already,” Parker said, “so I think that the way we do it is great so that everything – our natural reactions – are all fresh and new.”
Hosting in the evening daypart, it is incumbent on the program to provide viewers with new content rather than repeating what was stated earlier in the show. As a result, the preparation process varies and contains an active effort to refrain from recapitulation to hold the interest and attention of the listener. One of the segments on Tuesday’s show involved Broussard discussing how Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes could have already passed Tom Brady without even being better than Joe Montana first. The third hour involved a conversation about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy going beyond his perceived role as a game manager.
“We’re always looking for fresh, new angles,” says Parker. “Things that happened the night before really don’t normally affect how we do our show because it’s old news by the time we get on at 7pm EST. We’ve got to give people something fresh; something to look forward to.”
Super Bowl Media Row finds itself in a state of transition as radio outlets no longer dominate the room. By an independent count, more than half of the broadcasting stations in the convention center were either television or digital brands. Don Martin surmises that Media Row will be intact in the next decade and will be better than ever because of consistent improvement. Whether the entity will still be known as FOX Sports Radio going forward, however, remains to be seen as the media ecosystem continues to modify with altered consumption habits and emerging technology.
“It’s going to probably outlive itself because what’s a radio?,” Martin said. “Now most of it’s on a phone; it’s a stream. It’s the one thing we call it until the whole industry decides to call it something else.”
“This week, the numbers are only growing for consumption of this sport,” Shapiro added. “There’s no event certainly in this country that can compete with it, and frankly given the growth; given the downsizing of many other things in the television medium, this still rises to the top.”
Regardless where the show takes place, the mission behind the content is always to appeal to the listener and create a personal connection. Evincing a sincere appreciation and humility towards consumers has drawn dedication towards hosts and network’s wide array of premium programming. The future composition of media may be somewhat ambiguous, but FOX Sports Radio remains ready to meet its audience where they are, inviting them to tune in.
Patrick is set to retire at the end of 2027, an announcement he made after signing a contract extension with iHeartMedia and NBC Sports, and is part of a lineup committed to its listeners. Tuesday’s edition of his show accrued a favorable review, although he considers himself to be hypercritical and always aiming to improve. Nonetheless, he is starting to see more of the program’s victories because he wants his colleagues to be proud of the end product.
“You’re trying to get a flow to the show and have some topics; good guests; interactions; laughs,” Patrick said. “The audience is into it, so you’re putting it into a blender and you’re going, ‘Alright, let’s see what we got.’ I think you would like the taste of this show for the lack of a better description. Coming out of the blender, it tastes alright.”
The Super Bowl is the single biggest game on the American sports calendar, but it certainly is not the only game being played this week. Sports programs across the media landscape are offering previews, prognostications, and patter on Super Bowl LVIII. This competition for scoops and hot takes might be even more competitive than the actual game between the 49ers and Chiefs.
Throughout the week leading up to the Super Bowl, NFL Network has been running a steady stream of related programming. The network’s Super Bowl Opening Night telecast was ably anchored in studio by Colleen Wolfe. She was joined at the desk by Maurice Jones Drew.
The pair talked about how the Chiefs’ defense has carried the team this year. Wolfe then threw to Allegiant Stadium and young Jeremiah Fennell, the 11 year-old wunderkind reporter who set Media Day and the Internet on fire. The unflappable Fennell filed a tremendous interview with Chiefs’ TE Travis Kelce. He didn’t flinch at all, asking the old pro numerous questions.
It was then back to Wolfe and Jones Drew. The latter raised his game discussing whether the 49ers could better defend Kelce than the Ravens did in the AFC Championship game. The attention shifted back to Allegiant where Mike Robinson had a nice interview with Chiefs’ running back Isiah Pacheco.
Both Jones Drew and Robinson have become mainstays on NFL Network. Robinson was a presence from jump street while Jones Drew has grown on me. Wolfe, as always, was excellent presiding over the program.
Similarly, the ladies took center stage on CBS Sports Network’s That Other Pregame Show. Aditi Kinkhabwala and AJ Ross did a nice job reporting from Vegas talking about the pressure to win on 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco defense. Kinkhabwala and Ross are top-notch reporters, really thorough at getting a story and relaying it to viewers.
Ross provided some in-depth statistics on the 49ers issues with runs outside the tackles. She also quoted numerous players showing that she did the work, talked to the teams, and got first-hand knowledge. Panelist Amy Trask added to the festivities with solid commentary on Christian McCaffrey’s outlook against the Chiefs’ stellar defensive front and Brock Purdy’s potential stats in the game.
Katie Mox, a burgeoning talent at CBS Sports Network, has been excellent all season providing odds making and betting insight. This week, she did a nice turn talking about over and under bets for the Super Bowl. Mox consistently lights up the screen with charisma and content.
Speaking of lighting up the screen, Inside the NFL on CW featured an eclectic array of commentators during the week, among them Chad Ochocinco, Ryan Clark, Jay Cutler, and Chris Long. Taking it a step further, the panel welcomed TNT hoops gabber Charles Barkley for a lengthy and laugh-filled interview.
The erstwhile ‘Round Mound of Rebound’ became the ‘Round Mound of Soundbites’ prattling on about coming to Vegas for the Super Bowl for the past 25 years, his betting acumen, and the upcoming big game.
Barkley said that he regrettably bet against Patrick Mahomes against the Bills and Ravens and, in a bold and cutting move, called FS1’s Skip Bayless a fool for saying that Bill Belichick is a glorified defensive coordinator.
Clark made the point that the Chiefs have become somewhat villainous because they have won so many times. Clark made the point that fans now root against them, astutely comparing them to what the Patriots experienced during their dynastic heyday. We are used to seeing Clark in an analysts’ role on ESPN, but he showed real hosting chops running the show on Inside the NFL.
Television debate has been omnipresent leading up to Super Bowl LVIII. The Herd with Colin Cowherd featured one of the best exchanges between Cowherd and sidekick Jason McIntyre. The duo talked about the Andy Reid retirement rumors leading to a discussion on other head coaches who walked away from good teams including Nick Saban, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher.
McIntyre said that he would put Andy Reid on the Mount Rushmore of all-time coaches. Cowherd lauded Reid for winning with multiple quarterbacks as opposed to Belichick who only won with Tom Brady. His point was a bit deceiving. Yes, Reid has won regular season and playoff games with multiple quarterbacks, but he has only won the Super Bowl with Mahomes.
It should also be noted that Belichick did win a playoff game in the 1994 postseason with Vinny Testaverde as his quarterback with the Browns. He also won 11 games in 2008 with Matt Cassel as his quarterback and went 3-1 in the first four games of 2016 with Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett as his quarterbacks while Brady was serving his ‘Deflategate’ suspension.
The quarterback talk continued on ESPN’s Get Up with a discussion of Patrick Mahomes’ growing legacy. The show’s research staff put together a telling graphic of professional athletes who have won three championships and two MVP awards in their first seven seasons.
It is one of the most impressive lists you’ll ever see with Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio and Guy Lafleur.
Host Mike Greenberg was blessed with a terrific panel comprised of Mike Tannenbaum, Jeff Saturday, and Marcus Spears. Spears has moved to the forefront at ESPN on a number of different programs. He brings passion, grit, heart and real talk. You must listen to him when he speaks because his words come from experience. Spears does not deal in clichés. His opinions are direct and powerful – dude is a star.
The panel also discussed what is at stake for Kyle Shanahan in this year’s Super Bowl. They made the point that since 2017 the Niners are 0-3 versus the Chiefs in the regular season and playoffs. With all of his genius plaudits, Shanahan has yet to win the Super Bowl and still lives with the Scarlet Letter of being Atlanta’s offensive coordinator in their epic collapse against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
Reputations and perspectives were also bandied about on First Take. The ESPN ratings giant jumped into Brock Purdy’s moniker as a game manager. Jeff Saturday said that the game manager title is not an insult and that Purdy put up similar stats to what Joe Burrow did in his second season in Cincinnati. “He is driving the bus, not being carried on the bus,” Saturday said of Purdy.
In a lively and glib retort, Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo stated, “Let’s take it easy Jeff. He’s not Joe Montana.” Russo reminded viewers that Purdy played terribly in the Niners’ playoff game vs. Green Bay and darn near blew the NFC title game vs. Detroit.
Stephen A. Smith gave Purdy props, saying that he’s a “damn good quarterback” – the best that Shanahan has had in San Francisco and as good as Matt Ryan was when Shanahan was in Atlanta.
On NFL Total Access, the NFL Network crew was led by host Kimmi Chex. I really like her style. I lamented the departure of MJ Acosta-Ruiz from the program with Mike Yam taking center stage, but Chex brings a really fun and upbeat tone. She is bright, and asks good questions, not only on Total Access, but in her stints on the NFL GameDay franchise.
The program featured Travis Kelce at Media Day talking openly about how important it is to him and Mahomes to win two straight Super Bowls. Chex then tossed to reporter James Palmer in Las Vegas who provided some information on the Chiefs’ lengthy practice sessions.
Yam joined Maurice Jones Drew and Bucky Brooks for some chit-chat about the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes and what the San Francisco defense is facing. The gist was that Mahomes not only executes the original play but can seamlessly change the play at any time. It was a fast paced program, and Chex was all over it as host.
Of course, no Super Bowl LVIII previews would be complete without some talk of Taylor Swift. The ubiquitous music megastar has dominated the airwaves over the last few weeks with her romance with Travis Kelce and attendance at Chiefs’ games.
On the CBS Mornings news program, Super Bowl talk centered around Swift. A telling graphic showed that, according to Apex Marketing Group, the Chiefs and the NFL have added over $331 million in equivalent brand value since Swift entered the picture.
Reporter Nancy Cordes filed a story about how Swift has created a whole new demographic of fans with football viewership among girls ages 12 to 17 up 53% this season. The Taylor Swift affect works both ways. Cordes reported that viewership of last weekend’s Grammy Awards on CBS rose 86% over last year in the Kansas City market.
From players to prop bets to pop stars, Super Bowl week brought out the best in television conversation. Now, let’s see if the actual game is as entertaining.
The biggest challenge news and talk radio programmers, producers, writers, and on-air people face daily is knowing how to follow a tried and true path to arrive at new destinations. These separate but symbiotic aspects of the radio craft are what we call format and content.
A format is a map containing fixed times and features. It may vary a bit between dayparts but it’s designed to create a unique and consistent sound, 24/7. Your format, as much as the show hosts you feature, makes your station stand apart from your competition while being comfortably familiar.
Content is the secret sauce that keeps your audience enthralled and coming back for more. You may be talking about the same topics as your competitors but the information and perspectives you choose plus the artistry of its presentation must be consistently compelling to win.
In news and talk radio, we are storytellers. That’s the highest art in human history.
Your radio format is a good, sturdy box. Your content must come from outside the box. That’s where creativity and talent live and flourish. I’m annoyed by our constant use of the word “talent” simply as a generic term for people who talk into microphones. Merriam-Webster defines talent as “1) a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude, 2)general intelligence or mental power: ability”.
Talent is special. It is a unique, artistic ability. It’s time radio remembered that.
Professional sports teams are dedicated to finding and developing the best athletic talent. They bid against each other for the greatest pitchers and quarterbacks. Every team has talent scouts, player development experts, and experienced coaches. Radio used to understand and embrace that approach. Used to. Now the radio game is focused not on performance but on budgeting, on plugging holes in the leaking dam.
Program directors are given hiring dollar limits that are embarrassing and insulting. Minimum wage to sit behind a hot microphone and board in Dallas? That’s a bottom-line fact in many markets. How are PDs supposed to hire and develop real talent? To make matters worse, program directors themselves are frequently burdened with two or three radio stations to manage. They barely have time to deal with format basics and no time at all to focus on content or talent.
Radio today is mired in mediocrity. We’ve largely forgotten how to inform and excite.
We know what brought us to this point. It wasn’t evolving technologies or social media, it was the giant radio corporations run by boards of directors working for investors. None of them knows or cares diddly-squat about radio, they only know about profit margins. (The joke’s on them, right? Check the scroll at the top of this page and see how broadcast stocks are trending.)
Look, I love American capitalism. I don’t hate corporate business structures I just think it’s a bad idea for the tail to wag the dog. Investors should ask questions. And, to successfully run any business you need to have people who understand it from the top down.
Caring about that business would help a lot.
I hate to raise a problem without suggesting a solution but I’m as lost here as anybody. I do believe, though, that success in any business starts with talent, however you define it.
Talent begins with raw ability that must be recognized, taught, nurtured, and encouraged to blossom. It has to be coached into experience by people who already have it. (BNM’s Perry Michael Simon recently wrote a nice piece about coaching talent. I strongly recommend it.)
I don’t want to sound like the stereotypical old man bitching about how much better things used to be in the past but seriously, I know some great people, young, enthusiastic, and gifted, who recently got their first radio jobs at big-name stations in major markets. Why, because they have an intuitive sense and a God-given gift that arrived in full bloom? No, of course not. They got those jobs because they showed promise and they’re anxious to work, even for a fraction of the salary experienced, proven performers would command.
You can’t blame these young folks for taking what’s offered but I do worry about their futures. They’re trying to learn a performance craft on the job by trial and error in top-five markets. Is there even anybody there to help them? Maybe not. PDs today are too busy and frankly, many of them don’t have enough experience of their own to confidently direct the programming of their stations. Overworked and underappreciated major market station programmers today rely on fuzzy corporate policies and ill-defined philosophies. There’s no risk involved. It’s safe.
And though it’s not my area of experienced expertise I strongly suspect the situation is the same in sales and general management offices. Why wouldn’t it be?
Radio is an art and craft. As surely as great movies depend on compelling stories, talented actors, and experienced directors, radio needs to remember that it needs them, too, desperately.
