The NFL Network has arrived on the ESPN App. Unlimited plan subscribers get instant access.
What We Know: NFL Network content now streams directly on the ESPN App for Unlimited subscribers. The deal adds 19 preseason games, seven regular-season matchups and more than 1,500 hours of studio programming annually. Signature offerings include Good Morning Football, The Insiders and NFL GameDay. ESPN acquired oversight over the NFL Network from the league in part of a partnership where the NFL gained a 10% stake in the network. This move layers NFL Network’s existing content onto ESPN’s platform.
What Remains Unclear: The release doesn’t specify any pricing changes for Unlimited subscribers gaining this content.
What It Means: This addition strengthens ESPN’s app as a one-stop NFL destination ahead of the 2026 season. Combined with 29 total NFL matchups and ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast in February 2027, the network is consolidating its football footprint. For fans, it means fewer app switches during football season. For ESPN, it’s another step toward positioning the Unlimited tier as the essential subscription for NFL coverage.
More #NFL. All in one place.@nflnetwork comes to the ESPN App for Unlimited plan subscribers, ft.: 🏈Live games – 19 preseason, 7 reg. season (incl. 5 International Series) 🏈1,500+ hrs of studio programming 🏈Coverage of every tentpole moment & more
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.
Derek Fisher is pushing back on labels that sports radio talent place on athletes in conversation. The Lakers legend has a message for sports radio during a confrontational segment with fellow 97.1 The Fan host Bill Reiter on D-Fish & Decker.
What We Know: Fisher co-hosts D-Fish & Decker on 97.1 The Fan in Los Angeles alongside co-host Cody Decker. The program disagreed with afternoon host Bill Reiter labeling LeBron James a “mercenary” for choosing Philadelphia over his prior playing destinations in Miami and Cleveland. Fisher and Decker welcomed Reiter to the studio on Wednesday morning to have a conversation about his labeling of James and the reasoning behind it. During an over twenty minute confrontation, Fisher explained one of the reasons he decided to enter sports radio was to encourage not labeling athletes for anything. James spent eight seasons with the Lakers before leaving as a free agent. Fisher addressed the label directly on Wednesday’s show, and he made his stance clear early.
What They Said: Derek Fisher (via 97.1 The Fan’s D-Fish & Decker): “The show starts with me. Part of why I’m doing this is to try to help us get out of this idea that we have to label athletes anything. Why is he a mercenary? Why can’t he just be a guy that worked at a job for eight years, his contract at the job was up, and he’s choosing to go work somewhere else. So then, why do we have to start labeling him like it’s a negative thing? He hated the city, and he didn’t love the city. What about I just want to go work somewhere else, and that’s fine. I don’t get to determine how another adult man. I don’t have to label that anything.”
What Remains Unclear: The dynamic between both the morning and afternoon show using each other’s platforms for content is unknown.
What It Means: Fisher’s comments signal a difference in approach to how many sports talk radio hosts approach the craft. While every athlete isn’t labeled for their actions on and off the court, the practice doesn’t sit well with Fisher. Who is a former player in the NBA. Instead of moral judgments, he’s arguing for treating free agency like any other career change is a better explaination instead of sports radio talent being vessels for the fanbase’s emotional ties to players. That framing could shape how “Derek & Decker” covers future player decisions. Ultimately, it puts Fisher at odds with a colleague on his own station. At least, for this instance.
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.
SiriusXM is losing Chief Operating Officer Wayne Thorsen. The leadership change comes as the company reported second-quarter earnings.
What We Know: SiriusXM disclosed Thursday that Wayne Thorsen has decided to leave the company after serving less than two years in the role. The company offered no explanation beyond saying he had “decided to leave the company.” Thorsen joined SiriusXM in December 2024 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer after previously serving as chief business officer at ADT. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions at Google, SoFi, Microsoft and Viacom. During his tenure, he oversaw SiriusXM’s product and technology organizations while leading business development, corporate strategy, subscriber acquisition initiatives and other key commercial functions.
What They Said: “We appreciate Wayne’s many contributions to SiriusXM and thank him for his service. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.” – SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz
What Remains Unclear: SiriusXM hasn’t announced who will assume Thorsen’s responsibilities, if anyone. Likewise, the company hasn’t indicated whether it plans to appoint a new chief operating officer or redistribute those duties among existing executives. The company also didn’t provide additional details about what prompted Thorsen’s departure.
What It Means: Leadership transitions often raise questions about strategic priorities, especially when an executive was recruited to help drive operational transformation. However, SiriusXM appears focused on maintaining continuity as it advances its subscription strategy and technology investments. Until the company identifies a successor or outlines a revised leadership structure, observers will be watching closely to see how responsibilities shift across the executive team.
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.
Jarrett Payton is leaving WGN. The longtime sports anchor announced Thursday he’s stepping away after a decade at the station.
What We Know: Payton joined WGN-TV in 2015 and spent 10 years as sports anchor and GN Sports co-anchor. Payton is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton. Payton was also a key contributor to both 104.3 The Score and ESPN Chicago during his time in Chicago sports media. He announced the exit on social media, framing it as a family decision. Meanwhile, he credited several WGN and Nexstar leaders for shaping his career. However, he stopped short of naming his next move.
What They Said: Jarrett Payton (via X): “After 10 meaningful years at WGN, I’ve made the decision to step away from the station. This choice comes from the heart. I want to spend more time with my family. They are the most important part of my world.”
Jarrett Payton (via X): “Even as I step away, I’m still looking for ways to stay connected to the station I love. I do so with a heart full of gratitude, excitement, and hope. Here’s to more time with family, new beginnings, and whatever comes next.”
What Remains Unclear: Payton didn’t specify a last day on air, so the transition timeline stays open. Additionally, he hinted at staying “connected to the station,” without detailing how.
What It Means: Payton’s exit removes a decade-long fixture from Chicago sports coverage. Still, his emphasis on family over departure friction suggests an amicable split rather than a contentious exit. Meanwhile, WGN now faces a notable vacancy in its sports lineup. Ultimately, his next chapter — broadcasting or otherwise — will shape how this transition is remembered.
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.
NBC News is expanding its streaming lineup with a new daily program. Christine Romans will anchor the weekday show beginning August 3.
What We Know: NBC News will launch Current with Christine Romans on NBC News NOW Monday, August 3rd. The two-hour program will stream weekdays from 10 AM ET until noon ET. As markets open and major stories develop, Romans will guide viewers through breaking news, politics, global events, and the economy. Additionally, the show will feature regular coverage of finance, business, technology, artificial intelligence, and other major issues, drawing on Romans’ role as the network’s chief business correspondent. The program will also introduce 50 States in 50 Days, a recurring franchise that partners with NBC affiliates to highlight local responses to national challenges. Kerrie Wudyka will serve as executive producer.
What They Said: “This is a moment to tell stories only the way that NBC News can, with our vast resources and our bureaus around the world. We’ll explain what’s happening, why it matters, and how decisions made in the halls of power around the world and on Wall Street affect people at the kitchen table. That will be the framing for everything we do.” -Christine Romans
What Remains Unclear: NBC News hasn’t announced whether additional original franchises or contributors will join the program beyond its initial lineup.
What It Means: NBC News continues investing in live streaming as competition for digital news audiences intensifies. Meanwhile, placing an experienced business journalist in a prominent daytime slot signals the network sees growing demand for coverage that connects financial markets, politics, and everyday life. The addition also expands NBC News NOW’s live weekday schedule as the platform builds on seven consecutive record years of audience growth.
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.
Cam Newton says he can understand critics of Ryan Clark’s emotional display during an episode of The Pivot following being part of ESPN’s layoffs. The former NFL MVP is defending Ryan Clark’s emotional ESPN exit instead of joining in the criticism of it.
What We Know: Ryan Clark left ESPN last week amid company-wide layoffs. His departure drew scrutiny after he became visibly emotional during an appearance on his podcast The Pivot. Critics argued the reaction seemed excessive for what amounted to a business decision. Newton, however, says that framing misses the real story in his latest4th and 1 podcast.
Cam Newton says Ryan Clark became emotionally tied to being at ESPN: “I know that nothing is permanent from the teams, the organizations, the programs. This is a business. You can’t tie your emotions into business, and I think Ryan Clark naturally did that. Does that make him a bad person? Absolutely not. Do you want to critique him for crime? Absolutely not.”
Cam Newton on what he didn’t like about Ryan Clark’s explanation on The Pivot: “I feel like Ryan Clark was brought to his knees in front of the world and made an example numerous times at ESPN. And when he talks about these things, that’s what I didn’t like, because his truth is his truth. When he says certain things that I couldn’t too black. He couldn’t respond to disrespect as if to say. When I watched The Pivot, I love to tune in to see what they have to say about certain topics. They had to dial it back some because of the sensitivity, or because of the state that Ryan Clark was in. In essence saying, “I’m not able to be me.” I hated that.”
Cam Newton can’t be made at how Ryan Clark reacted on The Pivot: “When I look at the whole situation from inside the camp and outside the camp, we always ask men and ask people to be honest. Be vulnerable. Tell your truth. So I can’t tell Ryan don’t be [crying]. No. I ain’t getting mad at that. I’m getting mad at how they played with that man. That’s what I’m mad at because what he was talking about is what his experience was while at [ESPN].”
What Remains Unclear: Newton didn’t specify what The Pivot “dialed back” during the episode. Whether Clark will respond directly to Newton’s comments is unknown.
What It Means: Newton’s remarks reignite debate over vulnerability in sports media. They also expose tension between authenticity and corporate polish in the industry. While Newton said he understands how some can see Clark’s reaction as staged or phony, he also sees why Clark was emotional in the first place. Newton’s defense reframes Clark’s tears as honesty, not a liability. Whether or not you believe the emotions, the facts are ESPN has moved on from Clark and Newton for the foreseeable future.
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 News maintained its commanding lead in July’s cable news ratings. CNN posted modest gains while competitors delivered mixed monthly results.
What We Know: Fox News once again dominated cable news in July, with The Five finishing as the most-watched program on cable television by averaging 3.3 million viewers. Jesse Watters Primetime also cleared the 3 million viewer mark, reinforcing the network’s strength during weekday evenings. Although Fox News held steady in primetime compared to June, the rest of the industry produced a mixed performance. CNN improved its primetime audience month-over-month, while NewsNation declined from the prior month after posting gains earlier this year. In primetime, however, it saw a nearly 30% jump compared to July 2025. Meanwhile, total day viewing softened for most networks as summer viewing patterns continued.
What the Numbers Show:
Primetime Viewership (July 2026 vs. June 2026)
Network
July 2026
June 2026
% Change
Fox News
2.3M
2.3M
🟢 ▲ 3.0%
MS NOW
1.0M
1.0M
➖ 0.0%
CNN
658K
628K
🟢 ▲ 4.8%
Newsmax
202K
198K
🟢 ▲ 2.0%
NewsNation
141K
156K
🔴 ▼ 9.6%
Primetime Viewership (July 2026 vs. July 2025)
Network
July 2026
July 2025
% Change
Fox News
2.3M
2.4M
🔴 ▼ 3.2%
MS NOW
1.0M
865K
🟢 ▲ 15.6%
CNN
658K
500K
🟢 ▲ 31.6%
Newsmax
202K
228K
🔴 ▼ 11.4%
NewsNation
141K
108K
🟢 ▲ 30.6%
Total Day Viewership (July 2026 vs. June 2026)
Network
July 2026
June 2026
% Change
Fox News
1.5M
1.6M
🟢 ▲4%
MS NOW
633K
655K
🔴 ▼ 3.4%
CNN
463K
500K
🔴 ▼ 7.4%
Newsmax
126K
198K
🔴 ▼ 36.4%
NewsNation
68K
80K
🔴 ▼ 15.0%
Total Day Viewership (July 2026 vs. July 2025)
Network
July 2026
July 2025
% Change
Fox News
1.5M
1.5M
🔴 ▼ 1.0%
MS NOW
633K
535K
🟢 ▲ 18.3%
CNN
463K
373K
🟢 ▲ 24.1%
Newsmax
126K
150K
🔴 ▼ 16.0%
NewsNation
68K
57K
🟢 ▲ 19.3%
What Remains Unclear: It’s still too early to determine whether CNN’s primetime momentum will continue beyond the summer or if July represents a temporary bump driven by the news cycle. Likewise, NewsNation’s monthly decline may prove short-lived as networks prepare for heavier political coverage later this year. Total day viewing also tends to fluctuate during the summer, making longer-term trends more meaningful than a single month’s results.
What It Means:Fox News continues to set the pace across cable news, even without posting month-over-month growth in primetime. At the same time, CNN’s gains suggest the network is finding opportunities to grow during major news events. MS NOW remained comfortably in second place, while Newsmax and NewsNation continue competing for audience share outside the industry’s top three. With political coverage expected to intensify in the coming months, August and September ratings should offer a clearer picture of which networks are building sustainable momentum.
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.
LeBron James and ESPN are reportedly closing in on a documentary deal. The project would chronicle LeBron James’ time in Philadelphia in a style that resembles Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance.
What We Know: According to The Athletic, talks are advancing in securing a documentary agreement with James, 41, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers this month. This is expected to be his final NBA stop. ESPN reportedly plans to have a camera crew capture his time with the team. The series would also pull from rookie-year footage NBA crews have shot throughout his career, including unseen material.
What’s At Stake: ESPN has been documenting LeBron James career since broadcasting games while he played in high school. The amount of access that ESPN has had over two decades should provide a deep look into James’ career. Whether or not Omaha Productions will be involved as a partner of ESPN is unknown.
What Remains Unclear: Financial terms haven’t surfaced, nor has a timeline for when the documentary would be finished or air.
What It Means: If this concept was in the works ahead of time, you have to wonder how much ESPN worked with James during his free agency search. There’s been much speculation regarding how ESPN went about reporting James’ free agency. Especially accusations regarding withholding information because of how it could have affected teams, fanbases, etc. One could assume that this documentary was part of the negotiations with any NBA team since it’ll be a singular player with added media presence and access that teams must grant.
LeBron James and ESPN are closing in on an agreement for a behind-the-scenes documentary series that will be similar to Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance,” according to industry sources.
BTS just boycotted the 2027 Grammys. The K-pop supergroup won’t submit its track ARIRANG to the Recording Academy.
What We Know BTS announced the decision through a Korean-language social media statement. The group’s label, Hybe, clarified this isn’t a company-wide boycott. The 2027 Grammys introduced a new category: Best Asian Pop Music Performance. This category targets K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop artists with meaningful Asian-language content.
What’s at Stake K-pop has historically struggled for Grammy recognition. BTS performed at the awards three times (2020-22) yet received zero nominations in both 2024 and 2025. Critics in South Korea view the new category as segregation, not inclusion. The decision signals frustration with how the Recording Academy treats Asian acts.
What Remains Unclear BTS didn’t specify its exact reasons for the boycott. Industry observers debate whether the group speaks for all K-pop or just itself. Hybe left the door open for future Grammy participation. The label’s measured statement suggests potential reconciliation down the line.
What It Means This move demonstrates K-pop’s growing industry power and confidence. The boycott could pressure the Recording Academy to reconsider its entire category structure. Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together, and other acts might follow BTS’s lead. ARMY fans (BTS’s passionate fanbase) publicly celebrated the stance on social media.
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.
Linda Cohn thinks ESPN’s leaking information problem isn’t a mistake. She believes it’s the network’s choice as she sat down for an interview with former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast.
What We Know: Cohn retired from ESPN in June after more than three decades at the anchor desk. She and former SportsCenter colleague Neil Everett discussed the recent network’s layoffs on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast. The cuts hit over 150 staffers, including Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech and David Lloyd. Cohn argued ESPN’s PR team let Clark’s story eclipse everyone else affected, but also shared her concerns about the amount of leaked information ahead of the network’s execution of the layoffs.
Linda Cohn on ESPN not caring to be better about not leaking information about layoffs: “When you’d hear things, or you hear things through the grapevine that something is going to go down, my first gut instinct is always like, “It’s there must be a method to this madness that they do.” It’s intentional. It’s not an accident because it keeps happening. This is not a one and done situation. So I haven’t really given it much thought, other than you know it’s business as usual. You would think they would have learned how to prevent the leak. So if they hadn’t learned that, it tells me they don’t want to learn it, and that they were intentionally responsible for it.”
Linda Cohn believes the handling of Ryan Clark’s departure overshadowed everyone else cut: “The way they handled the Ryan Clark situation that got all the headlines. So a guy like Karl Ravech, who, by the way, I haven’t talked with in years. We used to be friends. It was an afterthought. He was there 33 years. He was the heartbeat of their baseball coverage, and it was an afterthought. It was like, oh, by the way, Karl Ravech is laid off. Oh, by the way, David Lloyd, a guy I worked with a lot on SportsCenter. It became an oh by the way, the other people and the 150 other people who are behind the scenes. That got me really pissed off.”
Neil Everett on hot take culture leading to overshadowing of others who departed ESPN: “That’s the hot take part of this. What’s happened? The guy with the hot takes on the hot take show becomes the hot take. Whereas David Lloyd, who just nicest guy in the building, talented beyond all belief. He just goes and does his job on SportsCenter, which used to be appointment viewing. Then when it’s time for him to go and Karl Ravech, who did SportsCenter and batting lead off on baseball. Well, baseball’s out, Karl’s out. There’s no hot take with those guys, but there’s a hot take with the football player.”
Neil Everett on the changing culture of ESPN: “What are we doing? Pat McAfee betting on you know where LeBron’s going to go because he’s got the info from Shams [Charania]. I mean it’s like come on. It’s a different game than the one we played. So, we’re not playing it anymore and good luck to those that are playing it. Don’t piss into the wind and tell me it’s raining.”
What Remains Unclear: Neither Cohn nor Everett offered proof that ESPN leaks staff news on purpose. The podcast didn’t address whether ESPN’s PR team has changed procedures since the layoffs occurred.
What It Means: Layoffs are never easy. Moreover, when employees are finding out about their departure before being told by the network. That’s a problem. Cohn’s comments push the leak criticisms last week even further, framing it as deliberate rather than careless. That reading, if accurate, suggests ESPN prioritizes headlines over consistent, respectful communication with staff. Together, their remarks showcase how talent hope to be treated when the end comes without any actions done by the employee to deserve it.
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.
