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Endeavor Partners With TNA Wrestling to Launch Streaming Service

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Endeavor Partners With TNA Wrestling to Launch Streaming Service

TNA Wrestling has announced it has entered into a new deal with Endeavor to launch a streaming service.

While previously utilizing the Impact Wrestling brand, Anthem Sports & Entertainment has revived the TNA Wrestling brand as part of a relaunch ahead of the new streaming service which will debut on Friday, January 5th.

“This is truly an incredible opportunity for us as we forge into an exciting new chapter of the TNA legacy,” said TNA Wrestling President Scott D’Amore. “We are proud to partner with Endeavor Streaming on this initiative, and we look forward to continuing to provide our fans with the absolute best in new, classic and exclusive professional wrestling content, available to them anywhere, anytime, on their favorite devices, when TNA+ launches on January 5.”

“Wrestling fans are some of the most passionate in the world of sports and entertainment and TNA+ is the perfect ‘always-on’ personalized OTT service to help TNA build a deeper relationship with its global audience,” added Endeavor CCO Pete Bellamy. “We’re looking forward to working with TNA to deliver the best streaming experience for wrestling fans.”

Price points are $9.99 per month or $95.99 per year for subscribers. An additional tier is available for $219.99 per year which will include the four “tent-pole” pay-per-view events.

The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise in the wrestling world. Impact Wrestling previously held partnerships with the AEW and New Japan wrestling promotions. Meanwhile, Endeavor recently completed its merger of WWE and UFC in a more than $20 billion deal.

Channing Crowder: I Still Underestimate How Many People Listen to Radio

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Channing Crowder: I Still Underestimate How Many People Listen to Radio

Even though he’s been in the sports radio game for more than a decade, 560 WQAM’s Channing Crowder admits he still doesn’t appreciate just how many people listen to his show.

While hosting Hochman and Crowder at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino ahead of sports betting going live in Florida, co-host Marc Hochman shared a story that one of the employees at the casino told him he often deals with giant celebrities.

However, despite his dealings with major music and movie stars, the employee was excited to meet Hochman and Greg Cote of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.

That led Crowder to admit he often underinflates the size of his daily audience.

“It’s funny, because like, I underestimate, still –12-13 years into radio — how many people listen to radio,” Crowder said. “And it’s funny because we make fun of it like ‘Oh, AM radio’ and this, man, but here are people who when I went to the bathroom, and they’re walking up to me ‘Hey, love the show, man. You and Hochman are hilarious’.”

Crowder has hosted afternoons alongside Hochman on 560 WQAM since 2015 after previously hosting the early afternoon window on the Audacy station. In addition to his radio work, he hosts The Pivot podcast with Ryan Clark and Fred Taylor.

Kevin Burkhardt: Athletes Are Calling Me ‘Lil’ Baby Kay Kay’ After FOX Sports Commercial

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Kevin Burkhardt: Athletes Are Calling Me ‘Lil’ Baby Kay Kay’ After FOX Sports Commercial

Throughout its broadcasts during the National Football League season, FOX Sports has presented a variety of marketing spots meant to promote its NFL on FOX property. Featuring the lead broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt, analyst Greg Olsen, and reporters Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi, the commercials have captured the attention of football fans on gameday.

One of the spots features Olsen trying to impersonate FOX NFL Sunday studio analyst Terry Bradshaw by donning a bald cap with white hair and trying out one of his catchphrases in the broadcast booth.

As Kevin Burkhardt appeared on Seattle Sports 710 on Thursday morning’s program featuring Brock Huard and Mike Salk, he was asked about what the filming session for these commercials was like. Salk in particular could not recall a similar instance taking place where the NFL on FOX utilized talent to film these types of commercials. Burkhardt began to explain how the marketing department at FOX Sports came up with the idea and everything was shot over a 13-hour day.

“We had a crew that had done a lot of funny commercials; a director and producer that were great,” Kevin Burkhardt said. “They were just like, ‘Okay, let’s do it this way. Let’s try it this way. KB, can you do it like this?’ So I actually had fun – it was kind of like an opportunity to act for the first time in my life, and it was a blast.”

Salk has enjoyed the promotional endeavor, and he was wondering whether or not there will be more commercials to be unveiled throughout the rest of the year. While Burkhardt revealed that all of the recorded spots have already aired, he did reference a story about one of the earlier commercials. When the NFL on FOX crew was gifted jackets with nicknames on the back, Burkhardt’s read, “Lil’ Baby Kay Kay,” and it is now an epithet that he is being referred to by athletes.

“A month ago, we’re doing a Cowboys game and we get on a Zoom with Dak Prescott and he’s like, ‘Lil’ Baby Kay Kay, what up man?,’” Burkhardt said. “I swear, and I rolled [with it]. It’s kind of turned into a life of its own. I’m glad you guys enjoy it.”

“It’s good,” Salk replied. “You worked really hard to get to the very top of your profession; all the respect that comes with it and now the athletes are calling you Lil’ Baby Kay Kay, so I think it’s good for you. Nice job.”

“It’s amazing,” Burkhardt said. “If you can’t laugh at yourself, what are we doing, right Mike?”

Burkhardt, Olsen, Andrews, and Rinaldi will return to the air this Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks face the San Francisco 49ers on FOX at 4:05 PM ET. The game will feature a quarterback matchup between Geno Smith and Brock Purdy as both teams look to continue making a postseason push.

Matt Vasgersian: Shohei Ohtani Free Agency ‘Should Be Pumped Up’ By Media

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Shohei Ohtani is reportedly close to making a decision about where he will play next season after a free agency process that has been largely hidden from public view. Reports from earlier in the offseason indicated that if teams leak information about negotiations, it would be something to be held against them. This is something that has complicated manners for Matt Vasgersian and other broadcasters to effectively cover the sport, especially this week.

During the Winter Meetings earlier in the week, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that the team indeed met with Ohtani. In the process, it helped revived an event that was filled with minor transactions and uncertainty regarding the two-way superstar, considered by many baseball fans to be one of the most talented players to ever step foot onto the field.

MLB Network was among several broadcast networks on-site to cover the event, featuring signature programming such as Hot Stove and MLB Tonight. Matt Vasgersian, who has previously served as a TV play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels, appeared on AM 570 LA Sports on Thursday afternoon with Petros Papadakis and Matt “Money” Smith where he recalled how the event went.

Papadakis specifically asked Vasgersian whether or not he felt Ohtani was holding the broadcast coverage hostage because of the stoppage that his free agency has put on other sectors of the overall marketplace.

“What it did for me is it kind of furthered the need for at least more conversation about like [what] the NBA has [in] just [having] a signing period,” Vasgersian said. “Like, ‘Look, Major League Baseball teams, if you don’t get your business done by the end of business hours on the final day of the Winter Meetings, you either get hit with a tax or we’re going to freeze you out for two-and-a-half months.’ There has to be some urgency here for these clubs to get it done.”

While Ohtani was among the most intriguing topics at the Winter Meetings, the conversation with him between team executives and reporters was quite minimal. On numerous occasions, officials stopped short of mentioning him by name and instead spoke in vague terms about everything going on.

“The Ohtani thing should be pumped up,” Matt Vasgersian said. “I’m not saying Jim Gray-LeBron [James] ‘Decision’-style, but there’s got to be a little sizzle around the biggest international star in our sport – maybe any sport – and we’re allowing the agent to completely hamstring the process and dictate who and when we get conversations with him.”

Vasgersian is grateful for what Roberts did at the Winter Meetings, choosing to be honest about what was going on rather than concealing details about the negotiations. These comments proved valuable in Winter Meetings coverage, as it led to further discussion and conversation on broadcast networks and conjecture from print reporters about his whereabouts. The lack of a conversation, however, is something that some people feel is just the opposite of what baseball needs as it tries to appeal to a younger demographic.

“I felt your pain,” Smith said. “I felt the pain of baseball not being able to celebrate the most exciting player that it’s seen in 50 years.”

Dianna Russini: Joining The Athletic ‘Hardest Thing I’ve Done in My Life’

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Dianna Russini: Joining The Athletic ‘Hardest Thing I’ve Done in My Life’

If you are looking for the NFL reporter who has the most headline-worthy stories this week, look no further than Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Russini had the story about how the Carolina Panthers team culture resembles The Hunger Games written with Joseph Person and the one where Zach Wilson was reportedly reluctant to play for the New York Jets again as their quarterback written with Zack Rosenblatt and Jeff Howe.

Russini was a guest on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on Friday and she said that despite some of the backlash she might get from fans from the teams she reports on, she hopes the credibility she has built up with past stories will allow people to trust she is reporting the truth. 

“When you have been doing this a long time and become a credible person covering the league, you hope that because of all the past stories you’ve done, you’ve built this trust with the audience and with the fans. What I realized over the last few days is it’s not that they don’t believe the report is accurate. They know the report is accurate, the story is just unbelievable.”

During this week, Dianna Russini mentioned that she has heard from Jets fans when she drops her kids off at daycare and hasn’t heard many great things. At the same time, even though some try to discredit her reports, she is not trying to pile on people’s misfortunes, but instead report the facts. 

“Unfortunately, it’s just my job to uncover the story and uncover the news. When the number two pick doesn’t want to play or is hesitant or reluctant, whatever word the Jets are comfortable with the world knowing about at this point, that’s a story to me. I feel bad for Zach. I’m not this cold, mean witch that wants to piss on the Jets organization, but this is a story.”

“People just want to blame someone and I understand it,” Russini continued. “At the end of the day, if I was a fan and there were reporters covering a team and being able to share everything that’s happening and giving you the truth, I would appreciate it.”

“The best part about reporting the truth is you are actually indifferent about it. I’m working on two other stories now. I’ve moved past it because I stand by my reporting on it.”

Since joining The Athletic three months ago, Dianna Russini said it has been the hardest thing in her career, but she is enjoying the reward of the hard work that she is putting into her writing. 

“The Athletic has been tremendous. No one told me it would be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Writing is really challenging, but really rewarding as well. I’m really happy. I love what I’m doing now. It took me 40 years to be able to really feel that and say that and express it. It’s really been a great three months already at The Athletic.” 

Michael Kay: Jeff Passan ‘The Greatest Guest in the History of Sports Radio’

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Thursday was a joyous day for Michael Kay on several fronts. The New York Yankees completed a trade to bring one of the best young players in baseball — Juan Soto — to the club, which gave Kay content to talk about but also brightened his mood toward the 2024 season, as he serves as the team’s television voice.

While discussing the trade, The Michael Kay Show attempted to reach ESPN MLB reporter Jeff Passan for more details and for his opinion on the deal.

After getting through to Passan, Kay shared his admiration for the reporter.

“How fortunate we are to be able to get an ask out there and then have what many consider the greatest guest in the history of sports radio to appear on the show?,” said Kay. “How lucky we are for him. He can’t be luckier. You can’t be, and neither can our listeners. Because you know why? They get a chance now to listen to the great Jeff Passan.”

Then chastised Yankees fans who called into the 98.7 ESPN New York show who were worried about how much the team gave up to acquire Soto.

“You don’t know the Yankees fans that call into our show,” co-host Don La Greca joked.

Mitch Holthus Returning to Kansas City Chiefs Radio Broadcast on Sunday

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Kansas City Chiefs radio play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus was absent from a game for the first time in 30 years after being diagnosed with COVID-19 last week. However, he’ll return on Sunday.

Mitch Holthus is set to make his return to the booth for the 4:25 PM ET kickoff. Holthus joined Bob Fescoe and Josh Klingler on 610 Sports Radio for his weekly segment on Fescoe in the Morning, which began with Fescoe asking how he was feeling.

“Oh yeah, 1 gazillion times better,” Holthus replied. “A week ago at this time all heck was breaking loose, but yeah, we’re back in the saddle and ready to rock.”

Holthus has been on the call for two Chiefs Super Bowl championships. He took over the role from Kevin Harlan upon his departure to work with the NFL on FOX in 1994. The longtime radio voice is in his 30th year with the team, a milestone achievement with one organization that will put Holthus in rarified air in NFL broadcasting history.

Jon Jansen: Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal Know How to Make Great TV

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The NBA is on the verge of completing its first In-Season Tournament. ESPN and TNT staged on-site sets for studio-based programs NBA Countdown and Inside the NBA, respectively. The two shows interacted with one another before the game with special segments that incorporated a split-screen view of both presentations. Banter between Stephen A. Smith and Charles Barkley seemed to take center stage, with various moments circulating around social media.

On Friday morning, Stoney and Jansen with Heather on 97.1 The Ticket played audio of Barkley declaring that he would give Smith his “first ass whooping” if he came to the TNT set, which led Jon Jansen to share his admiration for Barkley.

“Charles and Shaq together are terrific,” co-host Jon Jansen said, “but every time you hear Charles, it’s just pure entertainment.”

Charles Barkley is an 11-time NBA All-Star and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and has been a fixture on Inside the NBA since joining the program in 2000. Over the years, he has frequently received plaudits for being a venerated and entertaining analyst and travels to venues with the rest of the crew for special episodes during the year. Barkley also recently started hosting a weekly CNN show, King Charles, alongside Gayle King where he discusses matters beyond sports, including politics and lifestyle.

During his time on the show, Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have had a congenial feud that has included several lighthearted moments. From races to the big board in the studio to pranks played on one another, the rapport between these former players has long been regarded as a hallmark of the program. O’Neal further displayed his personality by manning the SHAQ Cam for Bleacher Report, in which he walked around the venue and interacted with fans and celebrities, including Rich Paul, French Montana, and Julius Erving.

“The only problem with Shaq is ‘cause you can’t understand what he has to say sometimes because his voice is so low, but they did a thing last night where they gave him his own camera and he’s walking around the stands and talking to people and some celebrities,” co-host Mike Stone said. “It was hysterical. That’s the best sports programming there is besides the game; it’s not even close. Inside the NBA is just awesome.”

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, along with fellow analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith and host Ernie Johnson, make their return to the TNT airwaves on Tuesday for an NBA doubleheader.

Political Ad Spending to Reach $16B in 2024, Analysts Say

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Political Ad Spending to Reach $16B in 2024, Analysts Say

It is no secret that the 2024 election cycle is expected to be a contentious and hotly contested time period. With that expected climate, political advertising is likely to reach new heights next year.

According to a report from Axios, Group M projects political ad spending in 2024 will grow 32% to $16 billion. The organization includes if you add in direct mail spending, that figure will grow to $17.1 billion. Projections from Group M are significantly higher than others. For instance, AdImpact has shared it believes political advertising will only eclipse roughly $10 billion next year.

Previous analysis claims Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are slated to see the most advertising in that sector. Arizona was projected to receive $821 million in political advertising alone.

In other sectors, Group M claims digital advertising will likely finish 2023 up 5.8% in spending. When excluding election-related advertising, $889 billion will be spent in the calendar year on the digital front.

Retail advertisers account for the majority of growth, according to the organization, which points to brands like Amazon, Kroger, and Uber as some of the largest spenders in the space.

Alex Jones Tells Tucker Carlson: Brian Stelter, Oliver Darcy Got Me Banned From Twitter

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Tucker Carlson welcomed Alex Jones to his Tucker on X series Thursday, and the pair discussed how Jones believed he was systematically censored by certain platforms. However, he shared his belief that a pair of CNN media reporters were behind his downfall on Twitter.

Carlson asked Jones about his viral video in which he called former CNN media reporter Brian Stelter a “cowardly, degenerate sack of anti-human trash”, a “literal demon-spawn of hell” and a “smiling, leering devil”. The pair then recounted how the night before their interview together, they called Stelter and mocked him. Jones claimed he jokingly approached Stelter for a romantic relationship, with Carlson calling Stelter’s response passive-aggressive.

That topic led Jones to share why he is filled with such vitriol towards Stelter and his former colleague Oliver Darcy. He claims the pair constantly harassed him and his sponsors, leading to a constant search for backers.

“(Stelter) was going around with Oliver Darcy, and they would brag on Twitter. Literally hitting hundreds of my sponsors, and I say hundreds, I’d have like 20, they take them all,” Jones said. “I get 20 more? They take them off. This went on for years. So you get a sponsor, you get them, they’re doing great, he takes it away from you. And then he brags to him and Darcy. I was taken off Twitter, not for the Sandy Hook stuff that came later that they focused on. Look it up…They had the former head of Twitter and the lawyer on Joe Rogan about four years ago. And Joe said, ‘Why did you get rid of Alex Jones?’ Lawyer goes okay, let me get my my clipboard. She goes, ‘Here’s why: he was mean to Oliver Darcy.'”

Jones went on to say he once confronted Darcy at the U.S. Capitol over his actions.

“I get in his face. I don’t threaten him, but I say ‘You are an evil man. You’re unAmerican. Come after my free speech? Harassing my sponsors? Trying to get me off the internet?’ And the last place I was on, was Twitter. They held out, and so Jack Dorsey held out. And Jack Dorsey admitted, well, the last straw was I bullied Oliver Darcy.”

Darcy noted the interview with Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones took place in his Reliable Sources newsletter, mentioning that the pair had reserved “choice words” for him. He continued by saying the video wasn’t “worth linking to”, however.

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