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CNN Sets Debut Date for Primetime Charles Barkley, Gayle King Show

BNM Staff
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Before the high-profile departure of CEO Chris Licht, CNN had planned a new weekly primetime offering featuring Gayle King and Charles Barkley. We now know when we’ll see King Charles for the first time.

The new one-hour show will hit the air on Wednesday, November 29th at 10 PM ET.

“‘King Charles’ is different than anything we have on CNN’s lineup,” says CNN Executive Vice President for Talent and Content Development Amy Entelis told Variety.

The new show helmed by the unlikely pair is being billed as unlike anything else on cable news.

“It’s not a newscast, but rather a talk show centered around the news stories and cultural moments that Gayle and Charles are most interested in,” Entelis continued.

The addition of King Charles to the CNN lineup will preempt the recently launched CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip for one night a week. However, the preemption of one night a week in primetime isn’t a new wrinkle in the cable news landscape.

On MSNBC, Rachel Maddow continues to host her primetime show on Mondays, while Alex Wagner handles the 9:00 PM ET window the rest of the week. Additionally, Jen Psaki hosts a once-weekly show on the same network at 8:00 PM ET on Mondays, while Chris Hayes hosts the timeslot on a Tuesday-Friday basis.

Previously, Barkley has joked that those close to the former NBA star have tried to persuade him against launching the show on CNN as the network struggles.

“Apparently, with this new talk show I’m jumping on the Titanic,” Barkley said with a smile in June during the official announcement the program was launching. “Everybody keeps saying ‘abort, abort, abort’.”

Charles Barkley also believes his candor — which he has become notorious for — is needed not only on CNN but in the news world as a whole.

“That’s what drives me crazy about people in our profession right now. You know (Gayle King) is going to be fair and honest, and you know I am going to do the same thing,” he said when asked about what attracted him to the potential partnership earlier this year.

KFI Plans 13th Annual PastaThon

BNM Staff
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KFI Plans 13th Annual PastaThon

Los Angeles news/talk station KFI AM-640 is set to host its 13th annual KFI PastaThon Tuesday, which benefits local charity Caterina’s Club.

The charity provides more than 25,000 meals weekly to children in Southern California. It also teaches teenagers the necessary skills to work in the hospitality and restaurant industries.

On Tuesday, the station will broadcast an all-day radiothon from the Anaheim White House, featuring morning hosts Bill Handel and Amy King, midday hosts Gary Hoffman and Shannon Farren, afternoon hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, and evening hosts Tim Conway Jr. and Mo Kelly will be on hand to collect money and pasta/sauce donations for the local charity.

In addition to the one-day radiothon, donations will also be accepted until December 3rd at Smart & Final warehouse locations in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Wendy’s locations in Southern California will also offer coupons to KFI AM-640 listeners who choose to make a donation to the KFI PastaThon.

Amazon’s Jay Marine: We Want NBA Rights

BSM Staff
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Amazon’s Jay Marine: We Want NBA Rights

Amazon Prime Video will present a matchup between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins this week on Friday, Nov. 24, marking the first “Black Friday Football” game in what is expected to become a tradition each year in the NFL. Last October, Amazon paid the NFL approximately $100 million for the exclusive rights to the matchup – adding to the nearly $1 billion per year the company pays for the rights to Thursday Night Football.

With the festivities set to commence on Friday, Amazon Prime Video is looking to expand the breadth of its live sports rights and recognizes the forthcoming opportunity to negotiate with the NBA. Jay Marine, Prime Video vice president and Amazon global head of sports, confirmed that the company has interest in the NBA. The company is interested in postseason action and may want to negotiate a deal that includes more than just domestic rights. 

While it may have interest, Amazon will not be able to negotiate with the Association until the conclusion of an exclusive 45-day negotiating window with The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Discovery, which is set to begin on March 9, 2024. Marine made the remarks on The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, the latest edition of which will be posted on Wednesday.

The formal public declaration of interest places Amazon within a crowded field of potential bidders, which also includes Apple, Google, and Netflix. Aside from the existing rightsholders, NBC could reportedly look at reacquiring the league and implement streaming rights on Peacock, which it recently attained with its extension of Notre Dame football rights through 2029.

“What fits is that it is one of the biggest leagues in the world and people care about it,” Marine said. “At the end of the day, do Prime members care about it? Is it important to their life? And as a result, can it be meaningful in terms of the value it adds to Prime members and the Prime program. And I think with the NBA, it is true on all of those fronts.”

Amazon Prime Video currently has more than 200 million global subscribers, granting it sizable reach compared to linear broadcast companies through over-the-air and cable television. In addition to Thursday night NFL games, it produces various documentaries and broadcasts select WNBA and New York Yankees games. The company had previously introduced a daily programming slate of sports studio shows, but that recently shuttered its operations at the end of October.

“[The] economics have to work for us and the leagues, of course,” Marine said. “We don’t have to have everything. So I think you’ve seen that in our approach. We don’t have to fill hours on a linear schedule, and so we can really be selective. And we don’t need everybody, everything, even in a given property.”

Jennifer Ferro Elected Chair of NPR Board of Directors

BNM Staff
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Jennifer Ferro Elected Chair of NPR Board of Directors

KCRW Los Angeles CEO Jennifer Ferro has been elected as Chair of the Board for the Board of Directors at NPR.

Ferro joined the board in 2018 and also serves on the board of Marfa Public Radio in Texas.

“I am honored to take on the role of Board Chair and to help guide this critical organization to meet and serve the American people along with over 200 community public media organizations,” Ferro said in a press release.

The NPR Board of Directors features 23 members, which includes 12 member directors, nine public directors, the NPR Foundation Chair, and the NPR President and CEO.

Under Ferro’s direction, KCRW recently capped off a $50 million capital campaign and relocated its studios.

“As CEO of KCRW, Jennifer Ferro has worked to transform the institution from Southern California’s flagship public radio station to a worldwide community that connects through the discovery of music, news, and culture both in person, online, and on the air,” a press release from NPR reads.

Brandon Boxer Departs Mornings at 610 WTVN, Mike Elliott to Take Over

BNM Staff
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Brandon Boxer Departs Mornings at 610 WTVN, Mike Elliott to Take Over

610 WTVN morning host Brandon Boxer has exited the station after three years of hosting the daypart.

Boxer will move to the classic hits station 93.3 The Bus as Program Director and morning host. He will continue hosting afternoons on sister station 92.3 WCOL.

Before moving to news/talk, Boxer was a nationally syndicated country afternoon host for iHeartMedia’s Premium Choice brand. In addition to his tenure in Columbus, he has previously worked at stations in Washington D.C., Minneapolis, and Syracuse.

“I’m 100% amped to continue waking up and taking our listeners home daily, plus advancing my programming career,” Brandon Boxer said. “My deepest gratitude to Kris Foley, Gene Ramono, Michael McCoy, & my iHeartMedia family for this opportunity.”

610 WTVN Program Director Mike Elliott will lead a new program in morning drive that replaces Boxer. Columbus’ Morning News will feature Elliott, Sports Director Matt McCoy, news reporter Scott Jennings, and traffic reporter Johnny Hill. The program will be produced by Michael Campana.

Elliott has been with 610 WTVN since 1999, starting as a producer before being elevated to Program Director.

“I’ve done everything on WTVN except host my own show, and now I get that chance,” said Elliott. “I’m grateful to be working with the most talented team in the business every morning to bring the news to the best audience out there!”

Jeremy Boreing: The Daily Wire Won’t Fire Candace Owens

BNM Staff
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Jeremy Boreing: The Daily Wire Won’t Fire Candace Owens

The Daily Wire has confirmed that Candace Owens, a key figure, will continue her association with the platform. Despite a recent public disagreement with executives Jeremy Boreing and Ben Shapiro, assurance has been given that there are no plans to terminate her.

Boreing, currently on a leave of absence for executive duties while overseeing the production of #thependragoncycle overseas, underscored their shared inability to dismiss Owens due to their non-executive roles.

Even with the authority, Boreing emphasized a common commitment not to control the speech of their hosts, even amid disagreements. Owens, compensated for her opinions, remains secure in her position unless she breaches the law or terms of her contract.

“In my current capacity, I cannot fire Candace Owens. That’s something Ben and I have in common since he is also not an executive in the company and cannot hire or fire people. But even if we could, we would not fire Candace because of another thing we have in common – a desire not to regulate the speech of our hosts, even when we disagree with them,” Boreing wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

“Candace is paid to give her opinion, not mine or Ben’s. Unless those opinions run afoul of the law or she violates the terms of her contract in some way, her job is secure and she is welcome at Daily Wire.”

The conflict arose when Shapiro, at an event where Owens wasn’t present, publicly labeled her as “absolutely disgraceful.” This was rooted in Shapiro’s discontent with Owens’ stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. While Shapiro staunchly supports Israel, Owens has opted for a middle ground, sparking strong reactions from Jewish Americans like Shapiro.

In response to Shapiro’s tweet encouraging her to resign, Owens deemed it unacceptable. She accused him of unprofessionalism and emotional instability, particularly objecting to his interpretation of scripture. Owens made it unequivocal that crossing a line with her beliefs was something she would not tolerate.

In response, Owens shared a Bible verse with the caption “You cannot serve both God and money” on X. Shapiro then pointed out that she had the option to stop receiving a paycheck from The Daily Wire at any time.

Later, during an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s social media show, Owens addressed what she characterized as “a lot of misunderstanding about Ben’s involvement” when questioned about his role as her boss. She clarified, stating, “He’s not the CEO of The Daily Wire. He is not making day-to-day decisions at The Daily Wire.” Owens underscored her positive relationship with the co-CEOs at The Daily Wire, with a special mention of Caleb Robinson, the current acting CEO. 

She described him as a commendable individual who has diligently worked to attain his current position, highlighting shared values and common ground.

Mark Onwiler Named Program Director of 1620 The Zone in Omaha

BSM Staff
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Mark Onwiler Named Program Director of 1620 The Zone in Omaha

NRG Media in Omaha has tapped Mark Onwiler to be the next program director of 1620 The Zone, 1180 The Zone 2, and News Talk 1290 KOIL.

Onwiler announced late last week that he had been offered and accepted the role.

Mark Onwiler moves to Omaha after spending the last decade working for 93.7 The Ticket in Lincoln. He worked his way up from promotions and production manager to station manager, a position he held for two years.

He expressed his excitement at being able to work at a place that has produced some of the most notable names in Nebraska broadcasting.

“To be able to follow in those footsteps, continue that legacy, and help guide this beast of a staff into a new media landscape is an opportunity and responsibility that I’m not taking lightly or for granted,” he said.

Paul Azinger Out As NBC Sports Lead Golf Analyst

BSM Staff
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Paul Azinger Out As NBC Sports Lead Golf Analyst

NBC Sports will have a new lead analyst for PGA Tour broadcasts starting next year, as Paul Azinger will not be returning to the role.

Several media outlets over the weekend confirmed that the network would not be renewing Azinger’s contract. He had been with NBC since 2019.

“I have treasured working beside Dan Hicks and the other talented NBC broadcasters, as well as lead producer Tommy Roy and all those behind the scenes,” Azinger said in a statement. “They are a remarkable team, and I will miss them tremendously. My thanks to them and the countless others who have supported me and helped me along the way during my work in television. I have faith in what the future holds for me, for NBC, and for the great game of golf.”

Paul Azinger joined NBC after some success in the same position at FOX when the network had rights to the U.S. Open. He succeeded Johnny Miller, who retired in 2018 after almost three decades at NBC Sports.

“We want to thank Paul for his work with us over the last five years,” an NBC spokesperson said in a statement to Golf.com. “His insights, work ethic, and relationships in the golf industry are well known, and we appreciate what he brought to our team. We wish Paul the best in his future endeavors.”

There is no word on who will replace Azinger in the lead analyst’s chair next to Dan Hicks on the broadcast team. NBC’s 2024 PGA Tour coverage begins with the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the second weekend in February.

John Skipper: ESPN BET About Finding New Revenue Sources After Cable Collapse

BSM Staff
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ESPN BET launched last week, and former ESPN president John Skipper knows this is an opportunity for the worldwide leader to tap into a new source of income.

Skipper, the CEO of Meadowlark Media, David Samson, and Pablo Torre came together last week to record another episode of the sports business podcast Sporting Class, and the trio discussed the streaming era and the cord-cutting age. Among that broader topic included a discussion on the recent launch of the ESPN-branded sportsbook operated by Penn Entertainment.

John Skipper said given that ESPN over the last year or so has had to make a ton of cost-cutting moves, getting into the gambling space somehow was not an unexpected decision.

“I’m also not surprised to see ESPN do this in the face of the declining pay TV universe,” he said. “They have to look for ways to cut expenses, they have to look for other ways to make money, and they’re exploring here whether they can make money this way. Seems like good business to me, and we’ll see what happens.”

Samson said ESPN already made money before ESPN BET even went live, and that’s thanks to the deal the network cut with Penn.

“It’s like a sponsorship deal if you really want to get down to the definition of ESPN BET,” Samson said. “They’re not launching a fledgling gambling app today or yesterday or whatever day this week, they’re getting paid by Penn Gaming. That was the divorce with Barstool, and then it was the re-up with ESPN where ESPN has a revenue stream, a guaranteed revenue stream, from this.”

The discussion did spotlight the potential for ESPN as a news outlet to impact betting lines with reporting. The network recently instituted new policies for employees, insiders and other journalists in particular, ahead of the launch of ESPN BET. The goal of the policies is to prohibit and deter employees who may have inside information on a particular sport, team or player from profiting off that information.

Samson said the average bettor is like the average stock day trader, they’re not savvy or smart enough to really stand to benefit monetarily from listening to so-called betting experts in the media.

“You think the ordinary guy sitting in his underwear on Main Street has the same right to make money as people who do it for a living, who are market makers and movers?” he said. “If you think that, then you’re gonna have a problem with potential issues with ESPN BET where the market could be moved by someone who would have more information and profit on that versus the guy in his undies on Main Street.”

“I don’t personally believe it’s an unmanageable conflict for ESPN,” John Skipper responded.

“The idea that ESPN would engage in, ‘Oh let’s put out that somebody might be injured. We’ll benefit from the line on that through our association with Penn,’ it’s just ridiculous,” he later added.

WIP’s Hugh Douglas Wants to Be a Radio Guy Who Played in the NFL

Peter Schwartz
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A little over a year ago, former Eagles star Hugh Douglas was getting ready to make his return to Philadelphia to host the midday show with Joe Giglio on 94WIP. After eight years doing radio in Atlanta, Douglas is thrilled to be back “home” in Philly, even if he still hasn’t found a home in Philadelphia.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been one year,” said Douglas. “It’s like I just got here. I can’t believe it so much that I still haven’t found a place to stay yet. I’m not complaining because it’s great being back in Philadelphia. I think the show is going great.”

The pairing of Douglas and Giglio has worked out very well. They are similar in many ways in that they both want to do good radio every day, they want to be entertaining and they want to be thought-provoking. 

From an entertainment standpoint, Douglas learned that during his first stint at 94WIP from legendary host Angelo Cataldi.

“One of the things he would always say is that you have to be entertaining in this business,” said Douglas. “Nobody wants to talk about stats all of the time. Nobody wants to listen to boring radio. Joe gets that and he’s fun to work with.”

And the fans are enjoying the product.

What Douglas and Giglio have been able to do is create a community within their radio show where it’s an outlet for passionate fans and friends to talk about sports.

It’s like being around the water cooler at work or at a local establishment.

“I think people interact with us because I like to equate it to a barroom conversation,” said Douglas. “You’re sitting at a bar with a bunch of guys and they’re talking about sports.  Sometimes, Joe will have a take that I wholeheartedly won’t agree with but I respect his opinion, we’ll talk it out and we’ll talk about the different bullet points and the great part about it is we’ll have a caller come in and he’ll have a different perspective and the next caller comes in and he gives his perspective. It’s like a town hall community-type feel doing radio back here in Philadelphia.”

Douglas and Giglio created instead chemistry from the start of the show. While there’s not much time off the air to socialize, they take advantage of every opportunity to continue to strengthen their bond, not only as partners but also as friends.

Whether it’s a show remote, a road trip or a visit to a local establishment, Douglas and Giglio are finding as much time, away from the show, to hang out and interact with fans.

“We’ve been on trips,” said Douglas. “We went to Phillies Spring Training and we went to Atlanta when the Phillies played the Braves so we’ve had times when we got to hang out with each other. I have a video of me and Joe when we went to an Eagles bar. Joe was like a fish to water. He had a ball and it was like two bros hanging out having a couple of brews watching the game.”

There is one trip that Douglas is hoping to take with Giglio and that’s to Las Vegas to their show should the Eagles get to the Super Bowl. It would be a week of doing shows at Radio Row, but it would also present the opportunity for Douglas to check off two things on his to-do list.

One is to go see “The Sphere”, the new concert venue in Vegas that everyone is talking about.

The other would be to meet a legendary pop icon.

“I want to hang out with Britney Spears,” said Douglas. “I want to hang out with her. She knows all the cool spots to go in Vegas.”

Hugh Douglas doesn’t have a hookup to meet Spears, but he’s hoping that the singer, who is doing a residency in Las Vegas, is a reader of Barrett Sports Media.

“I’m assuming that if she reads this story, then maybe who knows,” said Douglas. “Maybe we get to the Super Bowl and maybe she’ll want to hang. Maybe she’s an Eagles fan. You never know.”

What we do know is that Douglas is beloved by the Eagles fans in Philadelphia and despite being away for so long, his return was met with a lot of excitement from the listeners. The reaction that he’s received in the last year was not something he was used to in Atlanta.

It’s almost like he never left.

“I’m definitely overwhelmed,” said Douglas. “Eagles fans are passionate people. Being in Atlanta for eight years, I never played for the Falcons so it’s a different vibe. I was Hugh Douglas the radio guy that just happened to play football somewhere else.”

For Hugh Douglas — who played six of his ten NFL seasons in Philadelphia and is in the Eagles Hall of Fame — there was a bit of anxiety for him upon his return.

He wasn’t completely expecting the love affair to still be there so it took some time to get used to it.

“It took me a while to adjust to all the adulation and all of the attention that I was getting from the fan base and from the listeners,” said Douglas. “It took a while for me to get used to that once again. To be honest, it still kind of blows my mind when I go to different places how people react because I haven’t played football in damn near 20 years.”

For Hugh Douglas, coming home to Philadelphia was a special opportunity of him and he has seized the moment. Now all he has to do is find a place to live and, if the Eagles get to the Super Bowl, get that meeting with Britney Spears.

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