DraftKings Network and VSiN are preparing to deliver 70 hours of live content throughout Super Bowl week in Las Vegas, with the company making its second consecutive appearance at Radio Row. Leading up to the signature game, there will be several programs situated throughout the locale ahead of the first Super Bowl contest to be played in the city from Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
“We’re once again excited to be live from the site of the Super Bowl to deliver fans and DraftKings customers real-time insights and interviews with the biggest names across sports and entertainment,” Stacie McCollum, vice president of content at DraftKings, said in a statement. “The atmosphere is going to be electric in Las Vegas, and our talented portfolio of on-air personalities and sports betting experts will provide unprecedented access and original programming all week leading up to the big game.”
The day of programming begins with Follow the Money, the VSiN morning show featuring Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard. Emanating from the VSiN studio at Circa, the program will include insights and opinions on sports, betting and pop culture from 7 to 8 a.m. EST Monday through Friday. The show is also set to air a Sunday edition from 1 to 4 p.m. EST prior to kickoff of the Super Bowl.
DraftKings Network will then present The Sweat, which features Emerson Lotzia, Steve Buchanan and Julian Edlow, along with VSiN personality Josh Appelbaum. The program will contain fast-paced, entertaining analysis and synthesize fantasy sports and sports betting. This show will air from the VSiN and Boston-based studios from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Gill Alexander takes the air on A Numbers Game from 10 to 11 a.m. EST, hosting the show live from Radio Row on Thursday and Friday of next week. The program will also air on Monday through Wednesday in the same time slot. Akin to Follow the Money, this program will have a Sunday edition ahead of the Super Bowl from 4 to 6:30 p.m. EST.
Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker will host Ross Tucker Football from Radio Row, implementing guests and analysis within the show. The program will be broadcast on DraftKings Network throughout the week at 12 p.m. Preceding this show on Wednesday will be a special edition of Golic and Smetty from 11 a.m. to noon EST, featuring Mike Golic Sr. and Jessica Smetana.
Le Batard and Friends will also broadcast God Bless Football featuring Jon “Stugotz” Weiner, Billy Gil and other hosts from Radio Row Monday through Thursday. The show will air on DraftKings Network from 11 a.m. to noon EST on Tuesday and from 3 to 4 p.m. EST on Friday. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz itself is broadcasting live from Stadium Swim at Circa on Thursday and Friday. DraftKings Network will air the program all week from 8 to 11 p.m. EST.
The Lombardi Line, which features Michael Lombardi, Stormy Buonantony and Femi Abebefe, will be broadcasting live from Radio Row beginning on Monday and through the week. Viewers can watch the show from 1 to 3 p.m. EST on DraftKings Network, along with Saturday and Sunday editions from Circa spanning from 10 a.m. until noon EST.
Mike Golic Sr. and Mike Golic Jr. will discuss storylines in sports and culture, along with interviewing people involved in the NFL and sports media. Throughout the Las Vegas episodes of the GoJo and Golic show, the father-son duo will give their picks on upcoming action, discuss the Super Bowl championship and highlight local Las Vegas eateries. The program is set to air on DraftKings Network from 4 to 6 p.m. EST from Monday to Friday next week.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Brent Musburger will present his Countdown to Kickoff show from 12 to 1 p.m. EST. DraftKings Network and VSiN will provide 10 hours of pregame coverage before the Big Game, which begins at 6:30 p.m. EST. Viewers can tune in to DraftKings Network using FAST services such as Samsung TV Plus, The Roku Channel, Google TV and Xumo Play. Programming is also available to watch on DKNetwork.com, on YouTube and in audio form on various podcast outlets.
Former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi is returning to YES Network and will be an analyst for games during the upcoming baseball season. Girardi not only managed the Yankees but also played for them from 1996-99, winning three championships during his tenure.
Girardi has had a few different stints working wtih the YES Network. In 2004, after retiring as a player, YES Network was his first stop and he also spent time working for them in 2007. He has also worked for FOX, MLB Network and the Chicago Cubs Marquee Sports Network.
Girardi was the Yankees manager from 2008-2017, winning the World Series in 2009. He had previously spent one season as manager of the Florida Marlins. He did not manage in 2018 or 2019 and then spent a few seasons leading the Philadelphia Phillies.
He’s worked with us before & we are thrilled to call the four-time World Champion player/manager a teammate again. Welcome back to YES, Joe Girardi! pic.twitter.com/q4SUiHKMHc
Podcast advertising has seen a steady rise in recent years. That rise coincides with advertisers believing they are receiving strong returns on their investments.
A study from Acast reveals that 99% of direct-to-consumer podcast advertisers believe messages on the medium are effective. 46% claimed the spots were somewhat effective, while 52% of respondents said the ads were highly effective.
Those figures compare somewhat evenly with those of terrestrial radio. Respondents shared that 48% believed AM/FM advertisements were somewhat effective, while 47% called them highly effective.
“Podcasting is true word-of-mouth advertising and because of that at Acast, we consistently see the unique trust and depth of parasocial relationships that podcast listeners develop with the hosts that they love, which makes the value of podcast host endorsements unmatched,” said Greg Glenday, Chief Business Officer at Acast, according to Inside Radio.
“As DTC brands today are dealing with new challenges from bad actors on social channels eroding consumer trust, we’re seeing that podcasters provide an authentic and reliable safe harbor to market products to their audiences.”
Green Light with Chris Long, the podcast which stars the two-time Super Bowl champion, has partnered with Toyota for activation at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. The football-themed show with the 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner, will host shows from Toyota’s Tacoma Content Studio throughout the week.
Toyota will also support preferred charities of NFL players by teaming with the podcast to create a charity challenge that prompts NFL personalities and players to score in a trivia game throughout the week. This is Toyota’s first Super Bowl activation as the Official Automotive Partner of the NFL.
In an email to staff this afternoon, Good Karma Brands VP of Content Evan Cohen announced a promotion for Danny Zederman. Zederman, already the Director of Content for ESPN Chicago, will now take on the added duties of Director of Content for the company.
“We are excited to announce that Danny Zederman, in addition to his Director of Content duties for ESPN Chicago, will now serve as GKB Director of Content,” Cohen said in his email.
“Danny has shown an incredible passion for fans, teammates and partners and has proven to care for the content and content teammates in Chicago in a way that will now benefit the entire company. Danny and I will work together to assist each market with the growth of their content and content teammates.”
Zederman began as Director of Content for ESPN Chicago at the beginning of 2022. Prior to that he was serving as executive producer of the station’s morning show, Kap & J. Hood. He has been with ESPN Chicago since 2006.
Joe Rogan is set to renew his podcast deal with Spotify, keeping the popular Joe Rogan Experience on the platform, with a new twist to the deal.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Rogan has inked an extension with Spotify for the podcast, but the program will now be available on other rival platforms, including YouTube, as well. The Wall Street Journal adds the new deal is worth up to $250 million for the podcaster.
“Cool conversations are a kind of mental nourishment,” Rogan said in a Spotify blog post revealing the deal. He said listening to the conversations “encourages people to have similar conversations with their friends, and it just generally makes life more interesting.”
The deal is a continuation of a pact signed in 2020 that paid Rogan a reported $100 million
In Podtrac’s rankings, Rogan finished as the most listened-to podcast in the United States in the third quarter of 2023.
The new contract between the two parties brings to close speculation that the popular show could be on the move. In 2023, several reports emerged questioning the future between the show and digital audio platform. Both parties denied reports that the contract ended in 2023. However, late last year, Rogan attended an event for advertisers with the company, effectively squashing any speculation that he would move his popular program to another platform.
SiriusXM host and Radio Hall of Famer Joe Madison, affectionately known as “The Black Eagle”, died Thursday at the age of 74 after a battle with prostate cancer.
A radio pioneer, Madison was well respected by the news media industry not only for his abilities behind the microphone but also for his activism in advancing civil rights causes.
After the news of Madison’s death was unveiled, many prominent news media figures shared their admiration for the longtime radio host and remembered him fondly in messages to social media.
This was April 1, 2023. Joe Madison and I were at @bowiestateuniversity for the dedication of their performing arts center to @dionnewarwick. Joe was gonna. call an Uber and I told him that I would drop him off at home. We had our usually spirited conversation. It was full of 1/3 pic.twitter.com/3czDQfcqla
Doing a hit earlier with Roland Martin Unfiltered on the passing of my friend, Joe Madison bka The Black Eagle. He will surely be missed. pic.twitter.com/fHWqQ3ElFq
Some people talk about injustice, others do everything they can to fight it. Joe Madison did both. From the first day we worked together at WWRC — I was his board op — I’ve respected his passion for life. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing. pic.twitter.com/dn93xwCn7a
“Great broadcaster…he’s a legend and deservedly so for the amazing work that he’s done for decades,” 77 WABC and former Rush Limbaugh producer Bo Snerdley told Barrett News Media in a phone interview Friday. Snerdley, like Madison, was diagnosed with prostate cancer. “I’m really sorry to hear about Joe.”
In addition to the news media honoring Joe Madison, prominent politicians like Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Gary Peters (D-MI) shared tributes to the radio legend.
It was an honor to talk with VP Kamala Harris (@VP) about the legacy of Mr. Joe Madison. “He reminded us all that you got to fight for progress. You can’t be a passive observer.”
Whether it was a hunger strike for voting rights or his advocacy for anti-lynching legislation that I was proud to sign in 2022, Joe fought hard against injustice.
Jill’s and my thoughts are with his wife, Sherry, and entire family.
The movement has lost one of its most iconic voices.
Joe Madison was a force who used his platform to fight injustice & uplift our community. I always enjoyed our conversations.
I’m praying for his family, friends, and all who knew & listened to him. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/Z0GYBNq46q
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) February 2, 2024
My heart is broken tonight. Joe Madison, the Black Eagle, was a living legend who lifted millions with his voice and his vision. He lifted me as a mentor and friend, and someone who held me accountable as we should hold all of our elected officials.
He got his start in Detroit, but his impact — especially his work to promote voting rights legislation — will be felt across our nation for generations to come.
I have many fond memories of joining him on his show. My thoughts are with his family.
CBS Sports is preparing to broadcast Super Bowl LVIII next Sunday, Feb. 11 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., marking the first time the locale will host the championship matchup. The event will feature award-winning singer Usher performing in the Super Bowl Halftime Show, along with the festivities surrounding the final contest of the NFL season.
CBS will present its 22nd Super Bowl broadcast, the most among any network, and is coming off one of its strongest NFL on CBS seasons. CBS Sports recently attained the most-watched AFC Championship Game ever with an average of 55.473 million viewers, also marking the most-watched non-Super Bowl program on CBS since the 1994 Winter Olympics in prime time.
Paramount Global will leverage various properties from across its portfolio for the matchup, including CBS News, syndicated programming and Paramount+. The network is preparing to broadcast programming from the Bellagio Hotel throughout the week with the backdrop of their iconic fountains. CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ will be on-site as well, providing sports fans with wall-to-wall coverage ahead of the Super Bowl.
On the day of the game, the company will present the traditional broadcast on CBS Sports along with an alternate-style game on Nickelodeon, both of which will be streaming live on Paramount+. The advertising inventory for both games is sold out, according to CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus.
“From a business standpoint, it’s a good time to be at Paramount Global and CBS Sports,” McManus said, “and we couldn’t be more excited about the matchup also with the Super Bowl tradition and legacy that San Francisco has, and Kansas City with someone who really has become the face of the NFL – Patrick Mahomes. We’re pumped up [and] we’re excited.”
McManus, who was an integral part of bringing the NFL back to CBS, is retiring from his role in April after leading the sports division of the company for 27 years. David Berson will be the new leader of CBS Sports, serving in the role of president and chief executive officer. McManus regards the team at CBS Sports as the best in the business, and he is looking forward to its broadcast of the Super Bowl.
“An unbelievably exciting, close game and a universally-accepted terrific production by CBS Sports. That’s all I’m asking for,” McManus said. “If we get those two things, I will consider my last Super Bowl as chairman of CBS Sports to be a resounding success.”
Play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz is hoping that he and the CBS Sports team can produce the best show with the highest rating ever in McManus’ final game. In broadcasting his ninth Super Bowl overall and seventh in the play-by-play role, he is looking forward to calling the game in front of a capacity crowd. During the last occurrence CBS Sports had the Super Bowl in 2021, capacity was limited because of health and safety restrictions related to the global pandemic. There will also be more opportunities to attend practices and speak with the players before the contest, something that was hampered for Super Bowl LV.
“The process is so much fun trying to get ready for one of these games,” Nantz said. “We didn’t have that in Tampa in 55, so in some ways, it’s been five years since we did a normal Super Bowl.”
Nantz understands the success CBS Sports has had in the regular season, and he aspires to help cap it all off with a massive flourish in the season’s final game. Broadcasting the game from Las Vegas, a city that did not have an NFL team until 2020 with the arrival of the Las Vegas Raiders, CBS Sports will focus on the storylines taking place on the field. At the same time, the network will also present scenes from throughout the city to convey the magnitude of the event itself.
“The flavor of Las Vegas and the fact that it’s a first – it is a big deal,” Nantz said. “I couldn’t believe when Vegas got the Super Bowl that it landed on our watch, and I’ve known now [for] whatever it’s been – I guess that it was four years – that this was coming: the biggest event in the history of Las Vegas. That says a lot, and that’s not hyperbole. For a city that’s done nothing but host massively important and showcase events, there’s nothing that could compare to this one.”
Nantz will be joined by color commentator and former quarterback Tony Romo, who is calling his third Super Bowl as a member of CBS Sports. Romo is in his sixth year with the company as part of a reported 10-year contract, and he is hoping to have an exciting contest to announce alongside his colleagues.
Romo himself, however, has been subject to criticism throughout the year, and the viability of the lead NFL on CBS broadcast booth has been put into question. Understanding that it is along the normal career arc, he is remaining focused on the task at hand and hears from viewers how much they love the broadcast.
“You’re going to have the negative aspects that come in from time to time, but those things are normal,” Romo said. “That’s what’s supposed to happen.”
Aside from the matchup and grandeur of Las Vegas, the potential presence of award-winning singer and songwriter Taylor Swift could also play into the broadcast depending on the flow of the game. Swift has been dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce since the summer and attended 12 Chiefs games throughout the regular season and postseason. Romo revealed that he has been referring to Swift as Kelce’s wife as a joke, explaining that something similar happened to him while he was playing. McManus averred his sentiment that the network has been able to balance displaying Swift on the broadcasts and is doing so in an organic manner.
“She’s part of the overall ambience of these NFL games, and she will be assuming she’s there at the Super Bowl also,” McManus said. “I’m sure there are people, especially a lot of younger fans, who wish we would show her a lot more, and maybe some of the older fans would like us to show her less, but I think we’ve done it in a way that has not been intrusive at all, and I give Mike [Arnold] and Harold [Bryant] and Jim [Rikhoff] for finding that sweet spot, which I think we’ve done really, really well.”
Sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson will be on the Super Bowl broadcast as well, extrapolating storylines and bringing consumers updates throughout the contest. She is excited to be back on the sidelines and conducting interviews with the winning team after the game. The last time Wolfson was on the sidelines for the game, she vividly remembers having to stand five to six feet away from then-Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady due to the rules in place.
“It’ll be nice to finally have normalcy again for this Super Bowl,” Wolfson said, “and I’m sure all lights will be bright as soon as that game ends.”
Ahead of the Super Bowl broadcast, CBS Sports will present various studio-based programs from Las Vegas, including NFL Monday QB, Time to Schein, That Other Pregame Show and The NFL Today. Moreover, the network will air a one-hour original special – You Are Looking Live! The Show That Changed Sports Television Forever – detailing the story of The NFL Today.
“Obviously we have the game, but our coverage is far beyond that,” Berson said. “We have well over 115 hours throughout the week across our various sports platforms, including CBS Sports Network, our 24-hour cable home, and CBS Sports HQ, our FAST channel.”
CBS Sports will begin its Super Bowl coverage on Sunday, Feb. 11 with Nickelodeon NFL SlimeTime at 11:30 a.m. EST followed by NFL Films’ Road to the Super Bowl at noon. At 1 p.m., You Are Looking Live! takes the air before The NFL Today commences its coverage from 2 to 6 p.m. The program will include host James Brown, analysts Nate Burleson, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms and JJ Watt, and lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones. NFL on CBS game analysts Matt Ryan and Charles Davis will also be on the air for the program to provide their insights and expertise.
At 6 p.m. EST, the Super Bowl on CBS Kickoff Show will take the air before the game broadcast for Super Bowl LVIII commences at 6:30 p.m. EST, all of which is available to watch on CBS or stream on Paramount+. The Nickelodeon alternate broadcast will begin in concert with the primary Super Bowl LVIII broadcast, which can be viewed on its linear channel or streamed on Paramount+ as well.
A conspiracy theory claiming the Pentagon has rigged Super Bowl LVIII for the Kansas City Chiefs as part of a ploy to allow Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to endorse President Joe Biden has made the rounds in conservative media circles. Nationally syndicated radio host Dana Loesch doesn’t know if she’s in on the joke or not.
“Are people on the right seriously promoting this? Are they joking about it? Because if they’re seriously promoting this, they are the stupidest people on God’s green earth,” The Dana Show host said. “I don’t care who it is. I’m sure I know some of them. I don’t care. I’m on steroids. I’m sick. I hate everything. I don’t care. This is so dumb.”
Dana Loesch continued by noting it isn’t a secret Swift isn’t a Trump supporter, and questioned why prominent news media hosts would attempt to turn what is evident into a conspiracy theory.
“I just don’t get it. And that’s okay. Everybody’s got different differences of opinions and likes. That’s what makes this country great. But whether or not she’s a Pentagon asset, I don’t understand why. So they’re trying to say that they’re using Taylor Swift to get people to vote for Biden. Hey, newsflash, guys. She endorsed him in 2020,” Loesch said. “She made cookies that said Biden/Harris 2020 and posted it on social media.”
Criticism from Loesch coincides with criticism from Megyn Kelly about the topic. The SiriusXM host also questioned why the topic had been turned into a conspiracy theory.
Jake Asman announced on X he will be hosting on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio for the first time. Asman said the shift will be tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Asman hosts The Jake Asman Show on YouTube which has over 35,000 subscribers along with over 19 million views. A former associate producer at WFAN, Asman had been with ESPN 97.5 in Houston until last August, after two years with the station. He had previously hosted prior to that on the Sports Map Radio network.
In addition, Asman continues to host shows for ESPN New York 98.7 and the ESPN Radio network. He will be broadcasting live during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas.
I'm excited to share that I'll be hosting for the first time on @MadDogRadio tomorrow from 4 PM – 8 PM ET!
Tune in on @SIRIUSXM Channel 82 or the SiriusXM App! We have so many great topics to dive into plus your calls at 888-MADDOG6 (888-623-3646)
