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LSU Athletics Announce Multi-Year Extension With Guaranty Media

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LSU Athletics Announce Multi-Year Extension With Guaranty Media

Louisiana State University (LSU) will continue to rely on a familiar broadcast partner to deliver its athletic programs to fans throughout the region after announcing a new multi-year extension with Guaranty Media, the long-time flagship partner of the LSU Sports Radio Network.

The renewed agreement keeps LSU Athletics programming and game broadcasts on several Baton Rouge-based stations operated by Guaranty Media, including 98.1 FM, 100.7 FM, Talk 107.3 FM, and 104.5 ESPN, while also reinforcing a relationship that has connected the university with listeners across Louisiana for decades.

School officials believe the extension ensures that Tiger fans will continue receiving comprehensive coverage of LSU sports through a network that already maintains deep roots within the local sports and media landscape. As a result, the partnership will continue delivering play-by-play coverage, analysis, and daily discussion programming centered on the university’s athletic programs.

Guaranty Media President and CEO Flynn Foster said LSU athletics remain the most prominent sports property in the Baton Rouge market, and he believes the company’s stations have built a reputation for providing unmatched coverage of the program.

“We are grateful to extend our partnership with LSU Sports Properties,” said Foster. “The biggest game in town is LSU Sports and no one covers a college athletic program the way Guaranty Media does.”

The extension arrives during a milestone year for Guaranty Corporation, the parent company of Guaranty Media, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in operation. Over the years, the company has built a broad lineup of sports talk programming and live event coverage that frequently centers on LSU athletics.

Listeners throughout the Baton Rouge area regularly hear LSU-focused conversation across daily programming that includes Off The Bench with Jacob Hester and Matt Flynn, Live at Lunch with Jimmy Ott and Charles Hanagriff, The Hunt Palmer Show, and After Further Review with Matt Moscona.

LSU administrators believe the continued partnership will help maintain consistent coverage of the university’s teams while also strengthening connections with the school’s statewide fan base.

Clay Harris, LSU’s Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer, said dependable access to broadcasts and coverage remains essential for a program supported by one of the nation’s most passionate college sports followings.

“Extending this partnership with Guaranty Media means our fans will continue to have consistent, reliable access to LSU Athletics in Baton Rouge and across the state,” Harris said. “Our unrivaled fan base deserves unmatched coverage of LSU teams, and Guaranty Media plays an important role in delivering that experience.”

Guaranty Media has served as a key component of LSU’s radio presence for more than a quarter century. Eagle 98.1 has operated as the flagship station for LSU Sports since 1998, carrying football, baseball, and men’s basketball broadcasts each season through the LSU Sports Radio Network.

Meanwhile, Talk 107.3 has handled radio coverage for LSU women’s basketball and softball, ensuring year-round exposure for several of the university’s most successful athletic programs.

Ben Price, general manager of LSU Sports Properties, said the partnership’s longevity reflects the commitment both organizations share toward connecting LSU fans with the teams they follow.

“Guaranty Media allows our incredible fan base to follow LSU Athletics all year long,” Price said. “Their commitment to LSU has been unwavering for decades, helping connect generations of Tiger fans and strengthen what makes this university special.”

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Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy: Tom Brady Has An Agenda Against the New England Patriots

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Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy: Tom Brady Has An Agenda Against the New England Patriots

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy took aim at NFL on FOX analyst Tom Brady on Monday, suggesting the former New England quarterback may harbor lingering resentment toward the New England Patriots.

During Monday’s episode of the Barstool program Wake Up Barstool, Portnoy argued that Brady’s recent comments and public posture have increasingly come across as dismissive of the organization where he built his Hall of Fame resume.

Over the weekend, a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pointed to the possibility that Brady might have prevented star edge rusher Maxx Crosby from ending up in New England. A person “involved” in the Crosby trade told Fowler that there was “No way Tom was sending Maxx to [Mike] Vrabel.”

“It’s starting to be a broken record here, where Tom Brady is slighting the New England Patriots,” Portnoy said. “When he was asked who the MVP should be, Drake Maye or Matthew Stafford, he said Stafford. It’s just one thing after another to the point that if you’re a Patriots fan, you can come to no other conclusion that he hates the New England Patriots.”

According to Portnoy, those moments have piled up enough to leave Patriots supporters questioning Brady’s loyalty to the franchise that won six Super Bowls with him under center. He said the pattern has become difficult for Patriots fans to ignore.

Brady, who spent 20 seasons in New England before finishing his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, remains widely associated with the Patriots’ dynasty under head coach Bill Belichick. However, his post-playing career has included multiple ventures away from Foxborough, including a high-profile broadcasting role with FOX Sports as the lead NFL analyst for its top game broadcast team.

Portnoy, a longtime Patriots supporter who frequently comments on the team across Barstool’s platforms, argued that the franchise has already given Brady ample appreciation for his accomplishments. In his view, Patriots fans should not feel obligated to maintain the same level of admiration if Brady continues to appear distant from the organization.

“We just put a statue up of the guy,” Portnoy said. “I say tear it down. Thank you for your Super Bowls — you’re just a guy. Go play your flag football game and go be in a million different ads. I don’t need you in my life anymore, and you don’t need us.”

Portnoy also offered a theory for what might be driving Brady’s perceived shift in tone toward the Patriots, though he acknowledged it remains speculation. He pointed to Brady’s business ventures and ownership interests as a possible source of frustration.

“He’s friends with Bob Kraft and played with Mike Vrabel,” Portnoy said. “So what is this hatred to the New England Patriots? The only thing I can think of is he wanted to buy into the Patriots. He wanted it basically for free just like he got with the Las Vegas Raiders. That didn’t happen, and he’s holding a grudge.”

Brady is currently a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, a move approved by NFL owners after a lengthy review process. Whether Portnoy’s theory holds any merit remains unclear, but his comments illustrate how even one of the franchise’s most celebrated figures can still spark debate among the Patriots’ passionate fan base.

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Former MSNBC President Rashida Jones Named CEO of Piers Morgan’s Media Company

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Former MSNBC President Rashida Jones Named CEO of Piers Morgan’s Media Company

As Piers Morgan continues to expand his media endeavors, he is adding leadership to his organization by selecting former MSNBC President Rashida Jones as his new CEO.

Jones served as the president of MSNBC from 2020 to 2025. She exited the organization as the cable channel was in the midst of being spun away from NBCUniversal, along with sister outlets like CNBC. Following her departure, the network was rebranded as MS NOW.

The appointment of Rashida Jones comes as Piers Morgan continues to see an influx of investors to his company. Earlier this year, investors injected $30 million into the company.

Amidst the announcement that Jones had been tabbed as CEO, it was also announced that Raine Ventures, Antenna Group, and the Reuben Brothers are now part of a capital agreement. Joe Ravitch, partner and co-founder of The Raine Group, will serve on the company’s board of directors.

Currently, Piers Morgan Uncensored is the flagship program of the entity. However, the organization hopes to grow into a “multi-genre and talent-driven digital network.” The company is currently licensing Morgan’s show to the UK’s Channel 5 to syndicate the program on terrestrial television.

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ESPN Signs Several Ex-Washington Post Sports Reporters

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ESPN Signs Several Ex-Washington Post Sports Reporters

ESPN continues to reshape its editorial lineup with the addition of several veteran journalists formerly employed by The Washington Post, capitalizing on a wave of layoffs that significantly altered one of the nation’s most recognizable sports departments.

Front Office Sports was first to report that ESPN hired former Post sportswriters Chuck Culpepper, Ben Strauss, Kent Babb, Robert Klemko, Tom Schad, and Kareem Copeland.

Each journalist became available after the newspaper eliminated a large portion of its sports staff during sweeping newsroom layoffs announced last month.

“Adding these six outstanding journalists and the reputation of The Washington Post will enhance an ESPN team that is already the best in the business,” said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN Chairman. “We are proud to advance our robust commitment to journalism, which is core to our mission of serving sports fans. Today’s news strengthens our position as the place to turn for the latest and most in-depth sports news, reporting and feature stories across every platform.”

Culpepper built a reputation as a national college sports writer known for deep narrative features and commentary tied to major events across the college football and basketball landscapes. Babb focused heavily on sports features, often profiling high-profile figures such as LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Strauss covered the sports media industry during his time at the Post, providing reporting and analysis on television networks, digital media trends and the business side of sports coverage. Copeland spent eight years with the newspaper covering several beats, including extensive reporting on women’s college basketball and Olympic-related sports.

The hires follow a major restructuring inside The Washington Post that led to the closure of the newspaper’s longtime standalone sports section. The cuts reportedly affected roughly half of the newsroom and included nearly all members of the paper’s approximately 45-person sports staff.

Overall, the layoffs impacted more than 300 journalists across the publication according to the New York Times.

For decades, The Washington Post maintained one of the most influential sports departments in American journalism, producing nationally recognized columnists, beat reporters and feature writers who helped shape coverage of professional and collegiate athletics. The recent changes dramatically altered that legacy and left many experienced reporters seeking new opportunities across the industry.

Once official, ESPN will join several media organizations have already moved to bring in former Post talent. Other organizations have responded to the shifting media landscape as well. The Baltimore Banner recently announced plans to expand its sports coverage into the Washington, D.C. market, aiming to fill the gap created by the Post’s reduced sports footprint.

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100.1 KZST Tabs Stacey K and Jonah to Replace Debbie Abrams in Morning Drive

BMM Staff
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100.1 KZST Tabs Stacey K and Jonah to Replace Debbie Abrams in Morning Drive

After the retirement of Debbie Abrams, 100.1 KZST in Santa Rosa has announced that ‘Stacey K’ Boyer and Jonah Griss-Bush are being paired for morning drive.

Abrams retired last week after 30 years at KZST. She spent 27 years in morning drive alongside Brent Farris.

With her departure, Stacey K and Jonah will be reunited for the daypart. They previously worked together at crosstown Hot 101.7 from 2011 to 2017. They also worked together at 92.3 WIL and 106.5 The Arch in St. Louis.

Griss-Bush later worked as the co-host and producer of Kelly Ford in the Morning at 94.7 WNSH in New York. Most recently, Boyer had been working as the midday host at 102.7 The Wolf in Northern California.

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ESPN Announces Multi-Year Extension With the Southern Conference

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces Multi-Year Extension With the Southern Conference

The Southern Conference and ESPN have agreed to a multi-year extension of their media rights partnership, a move that strengthens the conference’s national visibility while continuing a relationship that has connected the two organizations for more than two decades.

Conference officials announced the agreement Monday, confirming that the new deal will run through the 2031–32 academic year while expanding both television and streaming opportunities for SoCon athletic programs across ESPN’s portfolio of networks and digital platforms.

Beginning with the 2026–27 academic calendar, the arrangement will deliver a larger lineup of regular-season contests and championship events across ESPN’s traditional television outlets, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

At the same time, hundreds of additional matchups will continue to stream across ESPN’s digital ecosystem, reinforcing the company’s strategy of blending linear distribution with direct-to-consumer access.

The most visible change arrives within the conference’s basketball package, where the men’s tournament championship will receive multiple years of placement on ESPN’s flagship network. Semifinal matchups will rotate among ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, providing the league with expanded national exposure during championship week. In addition, the contract guarantees regular-season men’s basketball games on ESPN or ESPN2 for the first time, while the women’s tournament title game secures an annual broadcast window on ESPNU.

SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross said the extension reflects ESPN’s continued belief in the conference’s athletic programs and its student-athletes.

“This six-year extension with ESPN enhances national exposure opportunities for our member institutions while reinforcing the network’s confidence in Southern Conference athletics,” Cross said in a statement. “Our student-athletes will continue to appear on ESPN’s industry-leading digital and linear platforms, providing a national stage for the conference and our programs.”

Although the television component increases the conference’s national profile, the digital side of the agreement will account for the largest volume of content. ESPN platforms will carry at least 750 live SoCon events each year, a slate that includes all home football and basketball games alongside a wide range of Olympic sports competitions.

Fans will continue to find those events primarily on ESPN+, which remains the central streaming destination for conference matchups throughout the academic year. The platform will also deliver championship coverage across sports such as soccer, volleyball, track and field, wrestling, softball and baseball, while early rounds of both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will also appear digitally.

From ESPN’s perspective, executives view the agreement as another step in strengthening its long-standing college sports portfolio while continuing a partnership that began more than 20 years ago.

Mallory Kenny, ESPN Director of Programming & Acquisitions, said the company values the conference’s history and believes the renewed deal will continue delivering compelling college sports programming to fans nationwide.

“ESPN is pleased to extend our long-standing relationship with the Southern Conference,” Kenny said. “This agreement ensures the accomplishments of SoCon student-athletes and member institutions continue reaching audiences across our platforms.”

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CBS News Correspondent Scott MacFarlane Announces Exit

BNM Staff
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CBS News Correspondent Scott MacFarlane Announces Exit

CBS News Justice Correspondent Scott MacFarlane has announced that he will exit the network in the coming days.

In a post on social media, MacFarlane confirmed that he will be leaving the network “soon”, following his revelation to colleagues on the 9 AM editorial call.

“This is my decision, and I appreciate the bosses at CBS for understanding it,” MacFarlane said. “I will always value the opportunity I had to work alongside the talented and committed professionals here. I’m proud to have had the words ‘CBS correspondent’ next to my name – always will be.”

Scott MacFarlane originally joined CBS News in 2021. He has covered both Congress and the Justice Department during his tenure with the network.

He continued by sharing what he’d like to accomplish after leaving CBS News.

“For the next phase of my career, I look forward to some independence and finding new spaces to share my work in line with my personal goals,” he said.

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Bill O’Reilly Launching New Weekly Podcast With Fox-Owned Red Seat Ventures

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Bill O’Reilly Launching New Weekly Podcast With Fox-Owned Red Seat Ventures

Bill O’Reilly is set to debut a new weekly podcast with Fox-owned Red Seat Ventures, with eyes on interviewing the biggest names possible.

We’ll Do It Live! — a play on the infamous behind-the-scenes clip of O’Reilly hosting Inside Edition — will debut on Thursday, March 12th. The new show will release new episodes on YouTube, all major podcast platforms, O’Reilly’s website, and on The First TV.

Josh Hammer and Nicole Casey will serve as co-executive producers for the program. Hammer is the co-author of O’Reilly’s latest book, and Casey is also the executive producer of the No Spin News program, which is executed nightly by Bill O’Reilly.

A promotional message for the new endeavor shares that listeners of the podcast “will get new insights into powerful people making headlines across the globe: Actors, musicians, lawmakers, entrepreneurs, and more. With over 50 years of excellence in broadcasting, O’Reilly asks the questions on everyone’s mind – and demands answers. You’ve never seen O’Reilly like this before.”

Red Seat Ventures works with the likes of Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, Brett Cooper, Piers Morgan, Jesse Kelly, Dana Loesch, and Eric Bolling in a variety of avenues, including advertising sales and distribution.

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CRS 2026 Announces AI, Talent Development, Sales Training Workshop

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CRS 2026 Announces AI, Talent Development, Sales Training Workshop

The Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is expanding its slate of professional development sessions in 2026 with the return of Workshop Alley, a block of hands-on learning opportunities designed to help radio professionals sharpen their skills while adapting to new tools, technologies and revenue strategies shaping the industry.

Organizers say the initiative reflects the event’s broader mission of providing practical education that attendees can immediately apply to their work, particularly as the radio business continues navigating rapid technological change, evolving audience behavior and new expectations surrounding content creation and monetization.

Workshop Alley is scheduled for Friday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to noon and will feature three distinct learning tracks covering artificial intelligence, on-air performance and sales strategy. Each track will be led by experienced broadcasters, programmers and industry specialists who will focus on delivering actionable guidance rather than broad theory.

One of the featured tracks, titled “AI Classroom,” will explore the growing influence of artificial intelligence across content production, workflow management and creative development inside modern radio operations.

The sessions will begin with Alpha Media’s Phil Becker presenting a discussion centered on efficiency tools designed to streamline routine tasks and enhance productivity within programming departments. Audacy’s Nick Steele will follow with a session examining creative tools that can support content development, while Stan Marczewski of BBR Music Group and Stoney Creek Records will lead a conversation about effective prompt writing techniques for AI-driven platforms.

The final presentation in the AI track will feature Audacy’s Clay Walker introducing what organizers describe as “30 tech tools in 30 minutes,” a rapid overview intended to highlight emerging resources broadcasters may incorporate into their daily workflows.

A second track titled “360° Approach to Being a Jock” will focus on the evolving expectations surrounding on-air talent in today’s multiplatform audio environment. Sessions will include guidance on improving social media presence, negotiating talent contracts and developing effective imaging and promotional content.

Among the presenters scheduled to participate are Bo Matthews of Super Hi-Fi and Izzy Guti of Disruptive Soul, along with Neil Wilson, Jess Jennings and Cowboy Kyle. Additional discussions will explore techniques for creating authentic on-air breaks and strategies for maximizing the impact of music scheduling within station programming.

Sales professionals attending the seminar will also have an opportunity to participate in the “Sales: Acoustic” track, which will feature a session moderated by Audacy’s Sarah Frazier examining the lifecycle of advertising campaigns and the role every department plays in generating revenue.

CRS 2026 will take place March 18–20 in Nashville and will include several of the conference’s traditional cornerstone events, including the New Faces of Country Music show, CRS Honors, label luncheons and the Digital Music Summit.

Online registration for the seminar has closed, although organizers say attendees can still register on-site in Nashville for $799. Limited tickets remain available for the New Faces of Country Music show at $110, while students, industry groups and single-day attendees can also access discounted registration options.

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‘Kennedy Saves the World’ Celebrates 1,000th Fox News Podcast Episode

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‘Kennedy Saves the World’ Celebrates 1,000th Fox News Podcast Episode

There was cause for celebration last week as the Fox News Podcast Kennedy Saves the World celebrated its 1,000th episode.

Kennedy’s podcast began in 2023, and releases new episodes daily. She previously hosted a show on Fox Business Network from 2015 to 2023 before debuting the podcast.

As part of the celebration, she hosted a live soiree at Langan’s, which she described as her favorite bar in New York City.

In reflecting on the milestone, the Kennedy Saves the World host shared her appreciation for the time she’s spent leading the program.

“It was so much fun having this event at a bar that I love, Langan’s, celebrating with an incredible team who help put together one of the most satisfying projects I’ve ever been a part of,” Kennedy said. “The freedom this podcast team provides is phenomenal, and we have a blast going after guests, nailing down topics, and being nimble enough to react in the moment and shift gears when there’s a massive news day.

“Whether it’s politics, parenting or trying to figure out how much protein we should all be eating in a day, there are a million ways to save the world,” she continued. “After 1,000 episodes, I’m just getting started.”

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