Home Blog Page 1879

Meet The Podcasters: Mina Kimes, ESPN

Demetri Ravanos
-
0
Meet The Podcasters: Mina Kimes, ESPN

As 2023 inches towards the finish line, so too does our Meet the Podcasters series. We have spoken with people that found success in the space after so many different journeys. Greg McElroy and Chris Jericho were championship-winning athletes. Mike Francesa and Adam the Bull dominated local radio. Bomani Jones made his name in the digital space. We end on a bonafide sports television superstar in Mina Kimes.

If you don’t believe that, just look at the deal she signed earlier this year. She gets to stay at ESPN and carve out time to work with Meadowlark Media. Those aren’t concessions given to someone their network thinks is easy to replace.

It can be tough to find time to chat as the holidays approach, so the conversation was short, but it covered a lot of ground. Why have analytics caught on with fans? Is it more fun to dissect success or to re-think failure? How do you watch a game when you have to not only understand what is happening, but figure out the best way to turn that explanation into analysis?

Obviously, I want to thank Mina and everyone else that made time to chat with me for this series. A big thank you goes to Point-to-Point Marketing as well for making these features possible. Last, but certainly not least, thanks to all of you that took the time to read even just one of these. I hope you learned a little something that you can take with you into 2024 to make your digital content more successful!

Demetri Ravanos: There is a big audience for what you do best and I sometimes wonder how much that surprises those of us that grew up in the media. Do you think the appetite for analytics and in-depth analysis is relatively new, or was the appetite always there without the right platform before the rise of digital media?

Mina Kimes: I think fans are smarter than ever now. Because football is such a big tent, you can find pockets of the audience with every level of knowledge and preference for analysis, but on the whole it really does seem to me that viewers and listeners are better informed than ever, which I’d attribute to the rise of fantasy football and the proliferation of websites and podcasts that talk about film, cap management, analytics, etc.

We see this trend playing out at NFL Live, where our nerdiest segments often capture a good deal of interest.

DR: What for you is more interesting – explaining why things aren’t as bleak as the performance may suggest (i.e., Bryce Young not having time or protection to really see what he is as a QB) or highlighting what makes the greats so great (Mahomes’ best throws, how Micah Parsons sheds blocks, etc.)?

MK: I love digging into great performances, but the first category is really compelling to me because it forces us to look beyond basic numbers and highlights (or lowlights!). That’s where I think the intersection of film and statistics is so useful – it allows us to dig deeper into tendencies and trends to explain why things are happening.

DR: When you are doing your weekend previews, what information do you prioritize? Is it storylines or is there a number or category that you try to make a staple of your analysis for everything?

MK: Once I’ve settled on which games I want to discuss, there are two things I try to zero in on: The strengths and weaknesses of each team, and how they match up.

I also make note of things I’ve observed recently (for example, if a team is leaning on a certain personnel group or formation) and then consider how it might impact the game.

DR: What about in setting those topics and discussions up? How do you watch and re-watch games, plays and moments to best understand what it is you are seeing and find the point you want to bring to the audience?

MK: When I’m watching the weekend’s games on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, I’m looking for interesting (good or bad!) plays, tendencies, and trends. For example, if I notice a QB is having success targeting a specific area of the field, I’ll make note of a few plays, grab the numbers later, and then, when I’m podcasting, consider how that might play out next week.

DR: One of the big differences between podcasts and legacy media is that people listening to podcasts are actively choosing you and the topic you are talking about. Does that change the way you can discuss a game or a player versus on TV?

MK: I’d say the biggest difference isn’t topic selection, but time. On TV we only have a segment or less to hit on a matchup, whereas on my podcast, I’m often talking about the same games and players, but I have 15 minutes instead of five (and I’m one of two people chatting instead of four or five).

I will add that the topic selection process at NFL Live is very collaborative, though. We know which games we need to focus on, but the way we approach discussion is driven by our interests and observations.

DR: I am always interested in the different views on this. Podcast listeners overwhelmingly say they like video now. Is that a preference you understand or does it not make sense to you?

MK: It makes sense! Because the production quality has improved so much (the kind folks at Omaha Productions have been working with me to improve the look of my show for YouTube), many podcasts really don’t look very different from sports television.

If you’re already a listener, why wouldn’t you want to watch as well, especially since you have a convenient viewing device in your hand all day? I do think there will always be people who just listen, though, because their free time for consumption is relegated to commuting (or in my case, walking a dog!).

To learn more about Point-To-Point Marketing’s Podcast and Broadcast Audience Development Marketing strategies, contact Tim Bronsil at tim@ptpmarketing.com or 513-702-5072.

Stephen A. Smith: You Can’t Just ‘Go Out There Running Your Mouth’ About Serious Topics

BSM Staff
-
0

Stephen A. Smith clapped back towards those who have been critical of the First Take panelist and podcast host for his silence on the ongoing Josh Giddey situation.

Giddey, a 21-year-old guard from Australia, is being investigated by the NBA after allegations on social media surfaced that he was having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl.

On The Stephen A. Smith Show on Monday, Smith was annoyed with people who just want him to skewer Giddey based on the limited information available.

“Y’all are getting on my last damn nerves. Could you try to be responsible? Could you try?” he asked. “That’s all I’m asking. What you want Stephen A. to say?”

Stephen A. Smith pointed out that there are a lot of unknowns with this case right now. All that people have to go off of currently are social media posts. He said throwing around accusations without proof or supporting facts is a good way to get slapped with a lawsuit.

“You know why Stephen A. hasn’t said anything? Because you could get sued, idiots!” he said. “You don’t just go out there running your damn mouth over something this serious.”

Smith concluded by saying until there’s more information available and signs that something wrong has taken place, he’s going to stay out of it. It’s hard to offer a reaction when you don’t know how deep the accusations run.

“If I had a clue, I would have spoken on it, but I don’t and it’s why I haven’t said anything,” he said. “My advice to you all is to shut the hell up and do the same.”

Pat McAfee: SI Scandal ‘Raises a Real Thought That This Is What the Future Could Look Like’

BSM Staff
-
0
Pat McAfee: SI Scandal ‘Raises a Real Thought That This Is What the Future Could Look Like’

Pat McAfee is fascinated by the ongoing saga with Sports Illustrated.

SI came under fire on Monday after a Futurism article came out claiming that the legacy sports media outlet published AI-generated content on its website and published the content under bylines of fake authors.

McAfee talked about the story initially on his show Monday. But on Tuesday, after reading the statement from The Arena Group, Pat McAfee said the story is both bizarre and a potential look ahead to what the media space could be like.

“To be completely candid, the reason why I enjoyed it so much is just because this raises a real thought that this is what the future could look like,” McAfee said. “We’re not saying this happened, but for the sake of it this is how we took the news that we learned yesterday. Let’s say that a company like Sports Illustrated was like, ‘You know what we have no money to start up a content creation website. Boom, we just need to get fake people to do this.’ Like I think that was what was so awesome yesterday in my mind.”

McAfee continued to ponder how wild it was to think that entire news outlets could potentially have content completely generated by AI.

“It is f–king insane to think that that’s gonna be the possibility of what the future looks like,” he said. “And we said it yesterday, but we need to enjoy these times, boys, because these things are taking our jobs. And they’re gonna be so much better than us. So much better.”

Pat McAfee added that with the way the media landscape is changing, it’s hard to tell if AI hasn’t already infiltrated the space. He gave one example of some sites and platforms offering readers the chance to read a condensed version of an article.

“Who’s picking the condensed version of what the article is, because I see some condensed articles on Twitter or X, and they’re taking some quotes that I don’t think are necessarily as accurate as the article that I’m reading,” McAfee said. “So who’s summarizing it? Who’s doing that, AI?”

Kristina Koppeser Knows the Importance of Pushing News Radio to the Digital World

BNM Staff
-
0
Kristina Koppeser Knows the Importance of Pushing News Radio to the Digital World

Professionals like Kristina Koppeser play a key role in leading traditional media outlets into the digital age in today’s rapidly changing media and journalism industry. With a unique background that includes working at Twitter, now known as X, Koppeser brings a fresh perspective to her job as Brand Manager at KYW Newsradio. 

Koppeser is passionate about the future of the journalism business, and she talked about KYW Newsradio’s Newstudies program, which has been running for over 60 years. The program allows local and regional high school students to gain hands-on experience at the station.

Kristina Koppeser stressed the importance of adapting to the multimedia landscape, recognizing that aspiring journalists need to have a versatile skill set in the age of social media and constant connectivity.

Having previously worked at a tech company, Koppeser understands the significance of branding in journalism. She emphasizes that journalists, like on-air personalities, must establish a solid online presence and recognize that audiences seek information across various platforms. This viewpoint aligns with her belief that being present on platforms like Instagram Reels and staying on top of breaking news is essential in today’s media landscape.

Reflecting on her journey as a young brand manager at a heritage station like KYW Newsradio, Kristina Koppeser acknowledges the challenge of learning the intricacies of radio after a background in tech, digital news, and television. However, she sees this as an opportunity to blend forward-thinking, pioneering knowledge with the institution’s wisdom, ensuring a holistic approach to managing the brand.

Koppeser’s leadership philosophy is based on trust and learning. She values trusting her team to excel in their roles while actively seeking knowledge in areas where she may be less experienced. Her openness to learning from the experienced team at KYW Newsradio reflects her commitment to continuous growth and improvement.

Regarding the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) in reporting or writing, Kristina Koppeser views AI as an intriguing efficiency tool. While acknowledging the need for caution and thorough vetting, she sees AI’s potential to save time in tasks like event coverage, provided it is used with proper parameters and awareness of its strengths and weaknesses.

The interview also discussed the dynamics of KYW Newsradio within Audacy’s larger corporate structure. Koppeser expressed her desire for the corporate office to recognize and appreciate the station’s excellence, emphasizing the benefit of being in the same city as Audacy’s corporate offices.

Ryan Hedrick: What is KYW Newsradio doing to attract young journalists to the industry?

Kristina Koppeser: I am very passionate about the future of the business and getting young minds interested in broadcast media. We are just wrapping up our Newstudies program. We’ve been doing this program for over 60 years, with local and regional high school students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in broadcast. They come into the station and use our recording equipment if they want to. They learn from our award-winning journalists who are instructors and volunteer their time to do this. These students write and record a piece for air that airs on KYW Newsradio throughout November and December.

RH: What excites you as a brand manager about the positive trends you see from young, aspiring journalists?

KK: I see many people interested in multimedia production, which is smart because it’s 2023, and everybody has a device that they look at hundreds of times a day. Young people are coming out of college knowing full well that you can’t just be one thing. You have to learn how to create a presence on whatever the app of the month is.

When you are trying to become a journalist in this multimedia landscape, they are conscious of your Instagram Reels and broadcast content and making sure that they are on top of breaking news.

I used to work at Twitter, now called X, and working at a platform, I see that branding is important for everyone, not just on-air personalities but journalists. People look to you for information, and they will get it wherever they can find you. Being in those spaces is important.

RH: What challenges have you faced as a young brand manager rising through the ranks of a heritage station like KYW Newsradio?

KK: I have only been here for two years, so one of the challenges was learning the space. I came up through tech, digital news, and then television, so I worked at Hearst Television for five years. Before this, one of the biggest challenges was learning radio because that was the one thing I had not had experience with on a professional level, but I also think that that’s a benefit.

Our Assistant Brand Manager, Tom Rickert, has been here for a long time and has all the institutional knowledge. I can think more about the big picture and toward the future and lean on him when I don’t know something or want to learn how the board works. I have learned a lot in the last two years, especially the last year since I was promoted. And I am learning the broadcast side, taking my forward-thinking, pioneering knowledge, and marrying those two things.

RH: As the Brand Manager at KYW Newsradio, what is the most important thing you’ve learned?

KK: To trust people to do the job that they know how to do well. That’s important. We have an amazing group here. They are so smart and dedicated. One of my biggest superpowers is knowing what I don’t know, so when I don’t know something, I want to learn it actively, seek it out, and understand. I have 60 people in the newsroom that I can go to and find an expert.

RH: As a radio station, are you open to using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for reporting or writing?

KK: AI is a really interesting efficiency tool. It can cut corners in a way. I have played around with it myself, both personally and professionally. One interesting thing about it is that it will do the searching for you, and of course, with anything unvetted, like AI, you have to be careful. You have to treat it like you would with any source, fact-check it, and do all of those things. It saves time is one of the biggest places I find useful.

If you’re looking at doing things like events coverage, you can ask it to spit out a list, and of course, you will have to check that list, but it’s doing some of that work for you. Whether or not I give it an OK, like anything else, I would put parameters on it and ensure everybody knew its strengths, weaknesses, and the best way to use it. The jury is still out. I would have to do more investigative work to ensure I am comfortable with it, but it could be a helpful tool.

RH: Do Audacy’s corporate offices in the same city as KYW Newsradio make executives pay closer attention to the radio station?

KK: I don’t know about that. I want our corporate office to have us on in the morning when they are driving into the office as I am. It is also a benefit. When I was at Hearst, we had 26 stations there, and if one were in New York I would have felt very lucky. I want to be recognized, and I want our station to be recognized for its excellence.

RH: Where do you look to for inspiration outside of your building? 

KK: I look to digital audiences. I look to friends and family. Because I come from a curation background, I am always thinking about whether this makes sense to everyone. At the end of the day, we as journalists, our job is to inform and educate, and I want to make sure we are doing that on any given day. I do look to people and I also look to other stations because I think of some of the work that other Audacy stations do. I lean on my colleagues. And I look to some of the other brand managers, like at WINS and KRLD. 

Is the NFL Really an Unchallengeable TV Product?

Garrett Searight
-
0
Is the NFL Really an Unchallengeable TV Product?

When the NFL placed Thursday Night Football on a streaming service, I wondered if anyone in sports television would really take the opportunity to challenge the league. So far, no one has, and likely will.

But that leaves me asking the question: is the NFL really that unchallengeable? Is it really this 1,000-pound gorilla that can’t be toppled?

In some aspects, yes, absolutely, 100%. But in others, no, I don’t think so.

For instance, any TV executive would be a fool to try to beat the league in the 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM ET timeslots on FOX and CBS. And really, you can’t hardly attack the league on Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football, either.

But Thursday Night Football? Earlier this month, our Ryan Brown argued that the NFL put a bad product on Thursday nights and usurped the evening away from the college ranks and ESPN. And he’s right to a certain degree. Once Thursday Night Football really got going, ESPN essentially abandoned the idea of putting marquee matchups against the package.

My pitch to ESPN, or even FOX (although both are unlikely to want to anger the strongest strategic partner in television), would be that Thursday Night Football is as vulnerable as its ever been. It makes nearly weekly headlines for its lackluster schedule, which in turn leads to headlines about the lack of enthusiasm legendary broadcaster Al Michaels has to broadcast the lackluster schedule.

Also, if you pull up X on a given Thursday evening, you’ll see your timeline flooded with complaints about the viewing experience being miserable, fans struggling through buffering and distorted pictures, and overall complaints about the product. Now, for the record, I don’t have those issues, I think everyone else just needs to get better internet, but that’s another column.

But if most opportunities to watch the NFL in primetime are regarded as miserable, is there really no way to beat the league in the ratings or has no one actually tried?

My contention is that if ESPN or FOX were to put up real, actual, truly marquee college football games on Thursdays in primetime, they would have a chance to do really well. And I think it’s something the Worldwide Leader should consider now that it holds the rights to the SEC. With the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, the league, and in turn ESPN, will have some of the biggest games in college football, and there are only so many Saturdays and only so many good timeslots to put those broadcasts.

Why not look through the schedule and say “Ok, LSU vs Texas A&M, we’re going to put you on Thursday night at 8:00 PM ET up against the 1-10 Carolina Panthers versus the 4-8 Chicago Bears“?

In true internet spitballing fashion, that question leads me to another one: who says no?

The NFL is the unquestioned king of live television. I’m not foolish enough to think otherwise. But the ratings from the league’s first-ever Black Friday game featuring the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets had to be, in my estimation, slightly underwhelming with 9.6 million viewers.

But, just because you’re dominant doesn’t mean you’re bulletproof, either. I think there’s a hole in the NFL’s armor. And I think the league knows it, too, but operates from such a position of strength it believes it can’t be toppled. All it takes is someone to have the gumption to attack it.

NASCAR President on Next TV Deal: We Will Have One, Maybe Two, New Partners

BSM Staff
-
0

NASCAR is celebrating all of its champions this week in Nashville, and while many anticipated the sport’s organizing body would have news about its new media rights deal, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

NASCAR president Steve Phelps in a Monday webinar alluded to the fact that details could be available before the end of the year. What is known is that FOX and NBC will continue to be the main two carriers of the Cup Series from 2025 onward.

What’s also known is that NASCAR has been shopping around a smaller package of races to tech giant Amazon and to Warner Bros. Discovery for the purpose of airing on TNT. Whether one or both of those companies signs on the dotted line remains to be seen, but Phelps hinted that it’s possible both could split a 10-race slate.

“We are going to have an additional partner and we may have two additional partners,” Phelps told NBC Sports. “That’s kind of where we’re trying to figure out in these last few weeks — what that’s going to look like, but we already know we’re going to have more partners.”

Adding a streaming partner would be new territory for NASCAR, but Phelps recognizes that it’s a resource available to try and tap into. Still, linear TV remains the main focus in terms of guaranteeing maximum visibility for events.

“No one has any idea what’s going to happen with streaming and what’s going to happen with cable. We do know that broadcast television is going to be around for the foreseeable future at 125 million homes. That’s not going to change,” Phelps said.

“What we do know is that the cable universe has declined,” he added. “So what does that look like in two years, five years, seven years? Don’t know, but we better make sure that we have distribution points that will allow us to be successful moving forward, to have as many eyeballs as we can, while not insignificant, also getting paid. The revenue is significant that comes from these media rights or from these media partners.”

The current TV rights deal with FOX and NBC is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season and worth an estimated $820 million a year. With the rising costs for teams to participate and be competitive in the sport, Phelps said the most logical way to help bring about some financial relief to teams is by generating more TV money.

NASCAR will already enter 2025 with at least one new TV partner, as earlier in the fall it was announced that The CW would become the exclusive TV home for the Xfinity Series. The Craftsman Truck Series airs exclusively on FS1.

Talk Radio Still Has the Power to Ignite Audiences

BNM Staff
-
0
Talk Radio Still Has the Power to Ignite Audiences

It’s been an interesting stretch in local journalism. Late last week, The Wall Street Journal published a piece about the dozens of newspapers across the country that exist but don’t even employ a single full-time reporter. That can’t be good. Some talk radio stations may have a similar setup, featuring a nationally syndicated lineup. That also isn’t good.

Let’s face it though, we all sort of felt that anyway, and having a newspaper with a few freelancers is better than no paper at all.

Then, here in Connecticut, Hearst Media, the state’s most powerful newsgroup, snatched up a handful of small-town papers, giving it more than two dozen publications, including eight daily newspapers.

Nationally, it has a network of print, digital, and broadcasting entities.

Oh, and as an aside, a recently defunct newspaper was brought back to life by a publishing company that doesn’t even have any newspapers in its largely magazine portfolio.

The message may not be entirely new, but it is clear: To make money in anything involving local media, you absolutely have to have scale, business efficiency, and production synergies. It’s pretty much binary these days; either go out of business or be part of some massive media group.

Lost in that whole matrix, of course, is a truly hyper-local focus, although to be honest, the Hearst endeavor is trying to flood the zone by aggregating all of its news brands into one central website, CTInsider.

At the same time, it actually feels like radio has succeeded in filling some of the void, especially over the last month or so.

One town had a massive pushback on a taxation issue. It absolutely dominated the radio airwaves, and the entire town leadership was voted out. Afterward, more than a few citizens thought the momentum began on the radio.

Right after the election, a new story came to the fore: Electric vehicles. The Governor here committed to following California and formalizing the effort to ban all sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.

It’s a big deal.

The cars are expensive. The infrastructure isn’t there. Appetite for the vehicles has stalled. And all of this would need to change in a short and expensive period of time.

Pressure was brought to bear. Legislators buckled before the vote. The Governor pulled the plug on the committee before what could have been an embarrassing vote that would have shown bi-partisan support for tabling the mandate.

Why am I telling you all this stuff that, perhaps, only people in Connecticut care about?

Good question.

Radio.

Talk radio may not be the sole reason the issue took a dramatic turn, but it certainly seemed to play a role. Hosts took up the issue, and it lit a fire under the audience. I know that several shows on my station talked about it nearly all day, every day. That clamor was heard loud and clear as a huge swath of the listening population seemed to truly reflect the larger population and didn’t seem to like a mandate that essentially would be codified by a committee of 14 state senators.

“There are certain issues that are visceral,” said Todd Feinberg, who hosts the afternoon drive show on my station, WTIC 1080. “We still have expectations that certain decisions should come from the people.”

The banning of new gas car sales in little more than a decade seemed to be one of those decisions.

As Feinberg sees it, the remaining written journalism doesn’t pack much of a punch – it’s devoid of opinion, but more importantly, to him, it’s all sort of generic. Radio can still have the nuts and bolts of that generic reporting, but it also has opinion, analysis, and passion.

“Radio fills a void, but we’re not doing reporting, and newspapers aren’t doing reporting, either,” Feinberg said. “Opinion is the only way to hear opposing ideas because media is so uniform in the stories it presents.

“Opinion is really powerful because you can have a conversation and explore ideas. At least the listener can hear an issue to get fleshed out.”

I can’t find a quantitative throughline that definitively proves radio directly influenced the dramatic political shift on this issue. But when an overwhelmingly popular Governor – Ned Lamont is in the top 10 for most popular Governors in the latest Morning Consult poll — loses some votes in his own party over a rather important issue, where else is the public getting the debate?

Not in the newspapers, that’s for sure.

Republican Primary Debate on NBC Sees Less Than 7 Million Viewers

BNM Staff
-
0
Republican Primary Debate on NBC Sees Less Than 7 Million Viewers

Despite a competitive night on television and despite the absence of its party’s frontrunner, a Republican presidential primary debate of the 2024 election cycle was still able to be the most-watched telecast of its prime time (the 8-11 p.m. window) based on live plus same-day data. The third GOP debate aired on NBC on Nov. 8 from 8-10 PM ET and drew 6.863 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

It squeaked by ABC’s CMA Awards (6.84 million) on the night, although the awards overtook the debate when delayed viewing is included; in live plus seven-day, “CMA” 7.84 million, debate on NBC 7.156 million.

It also picked up an additional 650,000 viewers (bringing the night’s tally to 7.51 million) when including the debate’s other available platforms NBC News Now, NBCNews.com, Peacock, Sky News, Universo, NoticiasTelemundo.com, and Noticias Telemundo’s social platforms.

Within the key 25-54 key demographic, the GOP debate posted 1.312 million; nearly evenly split among male (687,000) and female (625,000) viewers for NBC. (CMA Awards did top it in the demo with 1.669 million adults 25-54.)

Moderated by NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt, Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker and talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, the third GOP debate was held at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami. It featured five candidates: former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Unsurprisingly, the third Republican presidential debate lagged behind each of its two predecessors from Aug. 23 (13 million viewers, 2.82 million adults 25-54) and Sep. 27 (9.32 million viewers, 2 million adults 25-54).

NBC’s one-hour post-debate analysis at 10-11 PM ET delivered 3.195 million viewers. This represented a 46.5 percent retention from the debate which was slightly less than the 47 retained on Fox News (a special edition of Hannity following the debate posted 3.14 million viewers) back on Sep. 27. 

Back on Aug. 23; Fox News’ post-debate had drawn 4.39 million, out of the 11.06 million viewers; thus, then retaining 40 percent.

Once again, MSNBC and CNN offered their own post-debate coverages and each saw increases from its previous hour, as also had occurred in the recent past:

August 23, 2023

  • MSNBC 10-11 p.m.: 1.922 million viewers
  • MSNBC 11 p.m.-midnight: 2.720 million viewers (+41.5 percent)
  • CNN 10-11 p.m.: 0.736 million viewers
  • CNN 11 p.m.-midnight: 1.516 million viewers (+105.97 percent)

September 27, 2023

  • MSNBC 10-11 p.m.: 1.676 million viewers
  • MSNBC 11 p.m.-midnight: 2.203 million viewers (+31.4 percent)
  • CNN 10-11 p.m.: 0.529 million viewers
  • CNN 11 p.m.-midnight: 0.778 million viewers (+47.1 percent)

November 8, 2023

  • MSNBC 9-10 p.m.: 1.490 million viewers
  • MSNBC 10-11 p.m. 2.348 million viewers (+57.6 percent)
  • CNN 9-10 p.m.: 0.642 million viewers
  • CNN 10 p.m.-midnight: 0.853 million viewers (+32.9 percent)

On this Nov. 8 evening, so did Fox News Channel as the 10 p.m. “Gutfeld!” (1.971 million viewers, 317,000 adults 25-54) grew out of 9 p.m. “Hannity” (1.811 million viewers, 215,000 adults 25-54), although “Gutfeld!” rising in 25-54 from “Hannity” is a common occurrence.

As counter-programming to NBC’s debate, Newsmax televised a Donald Trump rally from the Miami Florida suburb of Hialeah. From 8:30-9:45 p.m. eastern, it posted 828,000 viewers and 87,000 within the key 25-54 demo; post-rally coverage from 9:45-11 p.m. drew 434,000 viewers and 49,000 adults 25-54.

One night earlier (Nov. 7), it was Election Night in the U.S. Among the key results were a ballot measure preserving abortion rights passing in the state of Ohio, Democrat Andy Beshear held onto his governorship In Arkansas, Democrats won a majority in the Virginia State Senate, former Biden White House aide Gabe Amo was elected as the first Black member of Congress representing the state of Rhode Island and Democrat Cherelle Parker was elected as Philadelphia’s first female mayor.

Due to election night coverage, CNN delivered a rare prime time win among adults 25-54 over its cable news competition with an average of 389,000 from 8-11 p.m. Fox News (335,000) was close behind with MSNBC (252,000) also potent; all three major cable news outlets drew well above its normal weeknight demo deliveries.

In total viewers in prime time on Nov. 7, usual cable leader Fox News (2.561 million) remained so, while MSNBC (2.042 million) and CNN (1.32 million) were each above-average.

Cable news averages for November 6-12, 2023:

Total Day (Nov. 6-12 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.262 million viewers; 148,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.904 million viewers; 97,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.532 million viewers; 114,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.153 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.144 million viewers; 42,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.117 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.114 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.074 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.072 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
  • Court TV: 0.046 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Nov. 6-11 @ 8-11 p.m.; Nov. 12 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.877 million viewers; 230,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.353 million viewers; 141,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.684 million viewers; 169,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.266 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.091 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54

Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:

1. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 11/7/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.048 million viewers

2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 11/6/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.046 million viewers

3. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/7/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.027 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 11/9/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.018 million viewers

5. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 11/8/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.782 million viewers

6. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 11/10/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.724 million viewers

7. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/6/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.657 million viewers

8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 11/9/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.632 million viewers

9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 11/7/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.499 million viewers

10. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 11/6/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.454 million viewers

101. Election Night In America (CNN, Tue. 11/7/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.380 million viewers

194. Trump Rally (NMX, Wed. 11/8/2023 8:30 PM, 75 min.) 0.828 million viewers

221. Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO, Fri. 11/10/2023 10:00 PM, 58 min.) 0.741 million viewers

311. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 11/12/2023 11:00 PM, 39 min.) 0.502 million viewers

402. The Daily Show “Nov 6, 23 – Sarah Silverman” (CMDY, Mon. 11/6/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.345 million viewers

411. Forensic Files (HLN, late Sat. 11/11/2023 1:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.327 million viewers

437. Varney & Company (FBN, Mon. 11/6/2023 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.294 million viewers

462. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Wed. 11/8/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million viewers

703. Cuomo (NWSN, Fri. 11/10/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.162 million viewers

741. Top 10 Amazing Moments “Spec68” (TWC, Sat. 11/11/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.144 million viewers

834. FBI Files (COURT TV, Sun. 11/12/2023 11:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.114 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top  programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:

1. Election Night In America (CNN, Tue. 11/7/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.419 million adults 25-54

2. Election Night In America (CNN, Tue. 11/7/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.406 million adults 25-54

3. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 11/7/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.366 million adults 25-54

4. Election Night In America (CNN, Tue. 11/7/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.342 million adults 25-54

5. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 11/7/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.327 million adults 25-54

6. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 11/9/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.324 million adults 25-54

7. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 11/8/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.317 million adults 25-54

8. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 11/7/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.313 million adults 25-54

9. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Thu. 11/9/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.310 million adults 25-54

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 11/6/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.306 million adults 25-54

11. Alex Wagner Tonight “Election Day 2023” (MSNBC, Tue. 11/7/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.290 million adults 25-54

126. Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 11/12/2023 11:00 PM, 39 min.) 0.153 million adults 25-54

160. The Daily Show “Nov 9, 23 – Sarah Silverman” (CMDY, Thu. 11/9/2023 11:00 PM, 30 min.) 0.135 million adults 25-54

179. Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO, Fri. 11/10/2023 10:00 PM, 58 min.) 0.129 million adults 25-54

219. Forensic Files (HLN, late Fri. 11/10/2023 3:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.110 million adults 25-54

322. Trump Rally (NMX, Wed. 11/8/2023 8:30 PM, 75 min.) 0.087 million adults 25-54

471. Fast Money (CNBC, Wed. 11/8/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.061 million adults 25-54

540. America’s Morning Headquarters (TWC, Wed. 11/8/2023 8:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.048 million adults 25-54

584. Cuomo (NWSN, Fri. 11/10/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.042 million adults 25-54

682. Murderous Affairs (COURT TV, late Sat. 11/11/2023 5:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.030 million adults 25-54

751. Mornings with Maria Bartiromo (FBN, Mon. 11/6/2023 7:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.023 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

Nashville Predators Radio Voice Pete Weber Calling 2,000th Game Tuesday

BSM Staff
-
0

Nashville Predators radio voice Pete Weber is set to hit a career milestone Tuesday, as he’ll call his 2,000th game for the NHL franchise.

Weber told The Tennessean that he has relished the opportunity to be the voice of a team since its inception. He claimed he applied for and was a finalist for the radio play-by-play job when the Carolina Panthers were conceived, before ultimately landing with the Predators.

“I always wanted to be there for the birth of a team,” said Weber. “I feel like I’ve been a pretty fair midwife here.”

Despite missing time late last season due to a rare brain condition, Weber said he has no plans of retiring anytime soon.

“I have not thought about it, other than when I thought about how (former Philadelphia Phillies announcer) Harry Kalas was carried dead out of the broadcast booth in Washington,” Pete Weber said. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s an interesting way to go. I don’t necessarily know that I want to do it like that. But it could happen. I’m not going to say no.”

Weber’s 2,000th game will come as the Nashville Predators play host to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 102.5 The Game is the flagship home of the Predators Radio Network.

Mad Dog: Gus Johnson ‘Bothered The Hell Out of Me’ Saturday

BSM Staff
-
0

FOX Sports college football voice Gus Johnson has made no bones about his affinity for Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. However, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has heard enough.

During his Mad Dog Unleashed program on SiriusXM, Russo shared that not only was Johnson obnoxious for the constant use of a nickname he bestowed up Harrison, but he was also misguided for calling Ohio State/Michigan the greatest rivalry in sports.

“Gus Johnson — the hype machine that he is — please, when you broadcast a ballgame, I don’t need to hear about Maserati Marv, number one. And number two, that’s not the greatest rivalry in sports history. Have you heard of the Yankees and the Red Sox? Giants and the Dodgers? How about Bears/Packers? Have you heard about that?

“For crying out loud, Michigan/Ohio State isn’t even better than North Carolina/Duke, who play twice a year. So let’s be careful with the hype machine. That bothered the hell out of me.”

When a caller pushed back on Russo’s opinion on the Michigan/Ohio State rivalry, he continued by saying “That rivalry’s not Yankees/Red Sox. To compare college football to the Yankees and the Red Sox is ludicrous.”

1...1,8781,8791,880...2,884Page 1,879 of 2,884