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Sports Illustrated Accused of Attributing AI-Generated Stories to Fake Human Authors

BSM Staff
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Sports Illustrated Accused of Attributing AI-Generated Stories to Fake Human Authors

As the prevalence of artificial intelligence continues to grow within the evolving media marketplace, there have been discussions regarding the ethics of the practice. A report from Futurism asserts that Sports Illustrated has been using the technology to publish articles written by the software, purchasing automatically generated profile photos from an online marketplace in order to give the author a human identity.

Within the report, it was averred that the publication routinely alters the AI personas on the website by changing the faux name and author photo, with there being no explanation towards the move. When Futurism reached out to The Arena Group – the publisher of Sports Illustrated – with questions about the practice, the AI personalities were hastily removed from the website.

Several industry professionals have commented on the matter through social media, expressing their dismay and concerns about the purported revelation. Outside of Sports Illustrated, Futurism discovered that many other publications have engaged in the practice, including CNET, Gizmodo and BuzzFeed. When the authors were changed on Sports Illustrated, there was no editorial note describing the rationale behind the decision. An anonymous source told Futurism that the content is “absolutely AI-generated no matter how much they say it’s not,” leading to dismay and interest in how the company will respond.

“Our staff works so hard to carry on Sports Illustrated’s tradition of great journalism,” senior writer Michael Rosenberg said in a post on X. “It’s so disappointing when people* in our own company undermine our work.”

After some time, the magazine eventually added a disclaimer that outlined the content being created by a third party and that Sports Illustrated editorial staff were not involved in its creation. There was no explicit mention, however, of the third party being AI technology, which is ostensibly being used across different publications throughout The Arena Group’s portfolio such as theStreet and Men’s Journal.

“Along with basic principles of honesty, trust, journalistic ethics, etc., I take seriously the weight of a Sports Illustrated byline,” magazine staff writer Emma Baccellieri said in a post on X. “It meant something to me long before I ever dreamed of working here. This report was horrifying to read.”

In a statement from a spokesperson for The Arena Group, the company disclosed that it is not accurate based on an initial investigation. These articles in question were product reviews supplied by AdVon Commerce, whose e-commerce articles ran on certain websites under the ownership of the company.

“We continually monitor our partners and were in the midst of a review when these allegations were raised,” the statement read. “AdVon has assured us that all of the articles in questions were written and edited by humans.”

AdVon’s writers, editors and researchers create and curate content while following a policy that utilizes counter-plagiarism and counter-AI software. The Arena Group has ended the partnership after discovering that the company had its writers use contrived identities to protect the privacy of the authors, actions it claims to “strongly condemn.” An internal investigation is continuing looking into the matter.

Joe Buck: Minneapolis Miracle ‘Easily the Most Exciting Singular Moment’ of Career

BSM Staff
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Joe Buck: Minneapolis Miracle ‘Easily the Most Exciting Singular Moment’ of Career

Joe Buck has what could be labeled as a sometimes contentious relationship with Minnesota Vikings fans. However, he believes a moment including the franchise is one of the finest moments of his storied career.

During an appearance on SKOR North’s Purple Daily, Buck told Phil Mackey and Judd Zulgad the “Minneapolis Miracle” — Stefon Diggs’ 2018 game-winning touchdown catch against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round — is one of the biggest moments of his broadcasting legacy.

“People ask me ‘What’s your favorite call of your career?’ They go, ‘What’s your favorite baseball call? What’s your favorite football (call)?’ That’s always my favorite football call. Because it’s a walk-off moment. You don’t really get that very often in football compared to baseball, obviously,” Buck said.

“If you do, it’s usually the kicker which, in that moment, I think the instinct for Diggs was unbelievable because he made that catch. And you’re thinking okay, ‘They got a shot of the game-winning field goal’. And he turns around, and nobody’s there. It was right down in front of us in this incredible, great stadium, with the best view we could possibly have. Your natural instinct is to go ‘Okay, get out of bounds’ and he spins around, nobody’s there. And he goes down the sideline, and they walk off with the win. I mean, it was easily the most exciting, singular moment that I’ve ever been a part of calling games for now 30 years on the network level.”

Joe Buck was asked about his relationship with Vikings fans. During a playoff game in 2004, Buck called Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss’ touchdown celebration a “disgusting act” as he pretended to moon Green Bay Packers fans. He claimed it was “unfortunate that we had that on our air live”.

The comments have been criticized for nearly two decades, with Buck admitting he went too far.

“I hear that back and it kind of gives me a little bit of a jolt because I’m like, ‘Man, I can’t believe that that’s what came out of my mouth’, but I have to live with that. And I’m not saying that I regret it, but it feels a little over the top.”

Joe Buck added that his wife — Michelle Beisner-Buck — preceded him at ESPN, and said Moss was the colleague that treated her the most, with Buck saying Moss “and I have become really good friends. And I don’t think Randy cares about it. So, you know, I guess I’ll just move on and hopefully everybody else can too.”

Alex Faust: I Don’t Know If I Want to Be the Voice of Just One Team Again

BSM Staff
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Alex Faust: I Don’t Know If I Want to Be the Voice of Just One Team Again

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Kings announced they were going to provide a radio/TV simulcast for fans, leaving TV voice Alex Faust without a role with the franchise. The move eventually elevated Faust’s profile, leading to a role with AppleTV’s Friday Night Baseball package.

As the 2023-2024 NHL season began, Alex Faust was named as a fill-in for the New York Rangers radio network. He said the new opportunity has allowed him to view his role from a different lens and question if he wants to be the voice of one team again.

“It’s actually a question I’ve asked myself because, in some ways what happened with the Kings, while it stung and it still stings a bit, it afforded me a luxury that you don’t get in this business very often, and that’s time,” Faust said while on the Sports Media Watch podcast. “It’s time away from full-time in a sport with a team to explore other opportunities. In this case, an opportunity to fill in a little bit with another team.

“But for now, I’m just enjoying the ride … being a national voice you get to parachute in, do the game, and go home and kind of wipe your hands clean of it. With a team, there’s an emotional component to it. There’s an emotional investment. Even though I wasn’t from Los Angeles, you get swept up when you’re working every single day, when you’re at the rink every day, when you’re building relationships with coaches and players,” continued Faust. “Never mind the crest on the front of the jersey, you are a part of that family, a part of that organization. You’re vested in their success. So it’s a very different feeling than being invested in the success of a network.”

Alex Faust was also asked about the fallout from his exit from the Los Angeles Kings, and he noted he was shocked by the move.

“I had every intent of making it a long-term proposition. I had put down roots there (and) bought a house there. And it’s a business at the end of the day, so it happens to pro athletes, it happens to white-collar workers, it happens to blue-collar workers. It is just a fact of life that sometimes businesses have to pivot when there are challenges thrown their way,” Faust said.

“I know what the realities are in the business right now, especially for regional sports networks. And, at the time, the Kings’ rights deal was up and I was just a casualty of that. They decided they wanted to go with a simulcast. This was before they inked a new rights agreement with Bally Sports.

“But, I guess, at the end of the day, I was the only one from the crew let go. Everybody else was brought back this season. It’s disappointing, and I still wonder if the economics were a little bit different or if circumstances were a little bit different, whether it would’ve just been status quo. But life moves on and you can’t spend time dwelling on the past, especially when it’s out of your control, and especially when the reasons aren’t ones that you necessarily love or agree with.”

Shannon Sharpe: Charles Barkley and Michael Strahan Showed Me I Can Do Media

BSM Staff
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Shannon Sharpe has built a successful sports media career after his Hall of Fame NFL career. He said seeing Charles Barkley and Michael Strahan work on television gave him the green light.

During his Nightcap podcast alongside another former NFL star, Chad Johnson, Shannon Sharpe said seeing other former athletes be themselves on television showed him he could do the same.

“When I saw Charles Barkley could be himself, could talk with the dialect that he had, was unapologetically not afraid to make fun of himself, I said, ‘I could do that.’ I’ve got just as good as sense of humor, I could tell stories, I can do that,” Shannon Sharpe said.

“I see Michael Strahan on Good Morning America, I see Stephen A. doing what he’s doing, I said, ‘I could do that’ … I just wanted someone to give me the opportunity,” Sharpe continued. “Be prepared when the opportunity presents itself.”

Sharpe turned working for The NFL Today into a role with Skip Bayless on FS1’s Undisputed. He now appears frequently on First Take in addition to his podcast with Johnson for The Volume.

Anthony Lima: 97.1 The Fan in Columbus Does ‘Homer Radio’

BSM Staff
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Anthony Lima: 97.1 The Fan in Columbus Does ‘Homer Radio’

Ohio State suffered its third consecutive defeat to Michigan on Saturday. 92.3 The Fan morning co-host Anthony Lima argues Buckeye fans in the Ohio capital have been told what they want to hear by 97.1 The Fan.

During The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima Monday, Lima turned his anger about the Buckeyes’ third consecutive loss to their chief rival into a rant about the “homer radio” provided by 97.1 The Fan to its Columbus audience.

“I was the only guy in the state of Ohio (saying Ryan Day wasn’t capable of beating Michigan),” Lima said. “Down in Columbus on 97-point homer or whatever they are, all they did every day with Beau (Bishop) and all those guys, every day was ‘We’re not gonna lose. We’re never gonna lose to Michigan. My god, Ryan Day picked up right where (Urban Meyer) left off. He’s just gonna take this to the next level.’ On the homer radio down there, that’s what they did, and you didn’t see it coming.”

Lima’s co-host, Ken Carman, laughed and covered his mouth in surprise during Lima’s rant.

“This is the man I wanted,” Carman joked after Lima concluded. “I’m glad I got him. I’m glad he pulled that out. He’s mad. You are unhinged.”

Matt Graham Joins Tennis Channel to Lead Upcoming DTC Launch

BSM Staff
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Matt Graham Joins Tennis Channel to Lead Upcoming DTC Launch

The Tennis Channel has announced that it is hiring Matt Graham to serve as its senior vice president of direct-to-consumer (DTC) and streaming business development, a newly created role in accordance with the company’s evolving means of consumption. In the new role, Graham will be leading the strategy to make Tennis Channel’s television network and content available to consumers through a new streaming platform that is set to be released next year. As part of the role, he will work closely with network president Ken Solomon, along with Bill Simon, who works as the executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the broadcast entity. 

Graham enters the role having previously worked as the general manager of streaming services Acorn TV and Sundance Now, both of which emanated from AMC Networks. For Acorn TV specifically, the streaming service won two Emmy Awards, expanded to more than 24 countries and increased its audience 20-fold, allowing it to become North America’s largest streaming platform specializing in premium British and international television. Additionally, Graham also worked at PBS Digital where founded and led PBS Digital Studios, helping the platform develop more than 30 original digital series. The platform has built an audience of more than 25 million subscribers and 2 billion views since its launch in 2012.

Before working in digital media, Graham worked in advertising as a commercial editor for Fortune 500 clients including Sprint, Chevron, Virgin and Electronic Arts. Afterwards, he and Gina LoCurcio proceeded to co-found Umlaut Films, a top editorial facility located in San Francisco, Calif. focusing its efforts on collaboration for commercial, film and integrated content.

“Matt’s decades of experience in the worlds of traditional and evolving media make him unique to guide Tennis Channel’s availability in every American [home] – and then who knows from there?,” Simon conveyed in a statement. “He’s created successful streaming platforms, programmed them to grow their subscriber base and expanded them into new marketplaces. For years fans have been asking us if there’s a way for them to just buy Tennis Channel, and Matt’s here to make that happen.”

Graham’s role will be based in the company’s Los Angeles, Calif.-area headquarters and focused on launching the new platform next year. Tennis Channel is owned by Sinclair, Inc., which is currently in the midst of bankruptcy hearings related to the Ch. 11 status of Diamond Sports Group, its subsidiary that is responsible for operating Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks around the United States.

Bill Spadea, New Jersey 101.5 Partner for New Podcast

BNM Staff
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Bill Spadea, New Jersey 101.5 Partner for New Podcast

Bill Spadea and New Jersey 101.5 have partnered for a new podcast centered on the Garden State.

New Jersey 101.5 presents Common Ground with Bill Spadea will feature live, on-location episodes from New Jersey towns, landmarks, and businesses.

“This partnership is the next step in the great success of our morning show, which has seen ratings skyrocket in recent years,” said Spadea. “We’re excited to be bringing multiple remote podcasts to our audience every month and look forward to seeing everyone on the trail!”

Bill Spadea currently hosts the station’s morning show. The station says the new partnership expands the relationship between New Jersey 101.5 and the state’s top-rated morning show.

“Bill is a valued member of our NJ 101.5 family and this partnership allows us to expand our relationship. Our sponsors and audience will have an opportunity to meet Bill in unique locations around the state as Bill discusses topics that matter.”

Bob Fescoe: Scott Hanson Doing NFL RedZone Outside During Evacuation ‘Would Have Been Spectacular’

BSM Staff
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On Sunday’s edition of NFL RedZone, longtime host Scott Hanson announced during the fourth quarter of the matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills that personnel inside of the studios needed to evacuate the premises. Outlining a scenario that never occurred during his broadcast career, Hanson explained that viewers could hear the alarm blaring over the top of his right shoulder and that the control room left the most competitive game on the screen. Before leaving the studios, he expressed that while they did not know the nature of the emergency, everyone was remaining calm and following protocols.

“So to be continued, hopefully, although this game is in the fourth quarter,” Hanson said. “I will come back and give you a live update if and when I am able to. Thank you for your understanding and your patience, and here is 3rd-and-13 for the Buffalo Bills.”

On Monday morning, 610 Sports Radio co-host Josh Klingler mentioned the emergency and how people who were watching RedZone were witnessing something brand new on the program. Fescoe, who was watching another game in the process, had the program on a different television on mute and had no idea it was happening. Yet he did look up several times and realized that the Eagles-Bills game had not moved from the screen, leading him to think about what could be going on.

“He’s a pro – Scott Hanson – he’s done this thing for a while,” Klingler said. “And so I guess the production facility in New York or New Jersey took over for a little bit.”

Fescoe was amazed at how Hanson’s statement on the air ended in repeating the down and distance within the game rather than leaving the studios immediately upon his explanation. The dedication to the craft he displayed reminded Klingler of when 610 Sports Radio broadcast from a stairwell in the midst of a tornado. Despite the ambiguous emergency, NFL RedZone remained on the air and presented viewers with a game that was in the critical stages, and those involved in the program were eventually able to re-enter the studios.

“We don’t know what’s going on here, but you’ve got to protect Scott Hanson at all costs, don’t you?,” Fescoe said. “He is, other than the football personnel people, the players and the coaches; he’s like one of the most famous NFL people right now that everybody knows.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t go, ‘Well, we’re going to keep one person in the studio in Scott Hanson, and the rest of them need to evacuate, but we’re going to keep this thing on the air,’” Klingler replied.

An on-air contributor for the program articulated that a viable backup plan for the program could have been to take Hanson’s phone and put it against the screen so he could continue to commentate to the audience. The production could then take a remote outside to switch between the games so fans would not miss the pivotal witching hour, which Hanson has long affirmed is where wins and losses are often decided. In order to see the games for himself, he could use NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube and YouTube TV, although Fescoe believes that Hanson would have cursed out the service for limiting the amount of games he can watch in multi-view mode.

“But people would watch that; that would be entertaining,” Fescoe said. “I think the one thing that we did learn through COVID is that the media doesn’t have to take themselves seriously when it comes to this production stuff. Throw a headset on a guy in a hotel room and call it a day. Hanson outside doing games off his phone would have been epic. It would have been spectacular.”

Bill Cunningham: I’m Surprised JFK Assassination Still Hot Topic on News Radio

BNM Staff
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Last Wednesday marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Despite all that time, the topic still elicits strong reactions, which surprises 700 WLW host Bill Cunningham.

During his syndicated Sunday Night with Bill Cunningham program, the longtime Cincinnati host shared the story of where he was on November 22nd, 1963, and how he found out about the President’s death.

He went on to share that he discussed the topic on his local radio show, and was shocked at the response.

“After 60 years, when I talk to younger folks, or I speak to colleges now and then, they were born in like 2000 or 2002. To them, the Kennedy assassination is like the Lincoln assassination. It’s something they don’t care about. So for the last time, on Tuesday, I told that story on my local home station — 700 WLW — we spoke about it, and the lines lit up.”

He continued by noting that he hosted a discussion with an author who has attempted to poke holes in the Warren Commission’s report on the assassination. While they did make mistakes, Cunningham said that topic branches off into another discussion which also draws reactions from his Cincinnati listeners.

Jim Nantz, Tony Romo Given Week Off After Thanksgiving Weekend Broadcasts

BSM Staff
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Jim Nantz, Tony Romo Given Week Off After Thanksgiving Weekend Broadcasts

This past week, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson were on the call for two games for the NFL on CBS, including the Thanksgiving showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders that averaged 41.438 million viewers, making it the most viewed NFL game on the season to date. The lead broadcast team also called a thrilling overtime finish on a pluvial Sunday afternoon from Lincoln Financial Field in a showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. This upcoming week, the lead broadcasting trio is not slated to call any games for CBS Sports, a respite ahead of the final stretch leading up to the network’s broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII.

The broadcast property unveiled its Week 13 schedule that has Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn on the call at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST for the Denver Broncos’ matchup against the Houston Texans. This game was originally slated to kick off at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST; however, the NFL used its flex scheduling ability to move the game into the earlier time slot.

Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins will serve as the broadcast team on the Arizona Cardinals’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers taking place at the same time. CBS continues its slate of Sunday action with Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan and A.J. Ross broadcasting the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans matchup at 1 p.m. as well. The time slot is rounded out with the Los Angeles Chargers’ tilt against the New England Patriots, which features Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala bringing fans all of the action.

The NFL on CBS ends its day of broadcasts from Raymond James Stadium for the Carolina Panthers’ matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST. Tom McCarthy will handle the play-by-play announcing duties for the game and will be joined by analysts James Lofton and Jay Feely, along with sideline reporter Tiffany Blackmon. This matchup was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST kickoff, but was moved to the later time slot as part of the move of Broncos-Texans to earlier in the day.

All games within the NFL on CBS property are available for streaming on Paramount+ and can be viewed using an NFL RedZone subscription through YouTube and YouTube TV, which started serving as the home of the out-of-market package of games this season as part of a seven-year deal. Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will be on the call for Super Bowl LVIII from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.

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