Home Blog Page 1950

Brian Boyle Named Co-Host of ‘Up In The Blue Seats’ Rangers Podcast

BSM Staff
-
0

Ahead of puck drop for the 2023-24 National Hockey League Season, the Up In The Blue Seats podcast from the New York Post made a major announcement about its future. Co-hosts Jake Brown, Mollie Walker and Andrew Harts revealed that 15-year NHL veteran and former Bill Masterton Trophy winner Brian Boyle will be joining the program each week to lend his perspectives, insights and opinions to the program.

The former NHL center garnered 252 points throughout his career – 141 goals and 111 assists – and has experience playing for several Metropolitan division teams, including the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. Brown listed his accolades to begin this week’s edition of the show before he revealed the identity of the new co-host, who is also working with NHL Network as a studio analyst throughout the campaign.

“What former players bring to these sort of media outlets – I think that they have incredible insight [and] they see things and can talk about things in ways that you and I, the average people over here, will never be able to,” Walker said, who also appears on NHL Network as a contributor. “I’ve watched Brian Boyle throughout my childhood – when I first became a fan, he was on the Rangers. [It is a] very cool moment for me for sure, and [I am] very much so looking forward to welcoming Brian Boyle to the show.”

Walker previously hosted the program with Ron Duguay, a former MSG Networks studio analyst, 12-year NHL veteran and minor league hockey coach. Within the announcement, Brown divulged that Boyle will assist the show in booking guests, bringing on some of his former teammates from over the years. Throughout the show’s history – which started in December 2019 – it has welcomed Linda Cohn, Mike Keenan and Sam Rosen among others as guests. New York Post hockey reporter Larry Brooks, who is Walker’s colleague on the Rangers beat, also makes frequent appearances on the program.

“One of my favorite things was the Winter Classic in Philadelphia,” Harts said, “and I just remember the whole documentary going behind the scenes and what not, and I just remember him being a character. He was definitely an enforcer of the club; someone who, obviously, is not afraid of anybody on the ice.”

The podcast centers its discussion around the Rangers, with the title being an ode to the original layout of Madison Square Garden, the team’s home arena in the heart of New York City. Upon the complete transformation of “The World’s Most Famous Arena” in the mid 2010s, the blue seats made their illustrious return and currently span the 400 level of the arena.

New episodes are released by the New York Post each week, available on most major audio platforms and in video form on YouTube. The Rangers open the 2023-24 regular season against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. EST on MSG Networks.

Monumental Sports Network Launches DTC Offering

BSM Staff
-
0
Monumental Sports Network Launches DTC Offering

Monumental Sports Network has announced a new, direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscription service for fans looking in watching live game broadcasts and other programming. Users can sign up to receive access to view Washington Mystics and Washington Wizards basketball, Washington Capitals hockey and other professional sports, in addition to other membership networks. Cable television subscribers can simply log in to the service to access the same benefits and will not need to purchase an additional membership. Those without a pay TV subscription can choose a monthly or annual membership, priced at $19.99 and $199.99 per year, respectively, and can use the app through various digital platforms.

The first game broadcast on the platform takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 10 when the Wizards face Cairns Taipans, a National Basketball League team emanating from Australia, starting at 7 p.m. EST. While the Mystics are currently in the offseason, the Capitals begin the 2023-24 campaign on Monumental Sports Network with a battle against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.

“We are delighted to make our network more accessible to fans without a Pay TV subscription by launching direct-to-consumer memberships,” Zach Leonsis, president of media and new enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, said in a statement. “Distributing our programming in new and additional ways is critical to our strategy of building the best local media platform in sports.”

This new digital platform grants fans additional viewing capabilities, including multiple camera angles during home games, rewind functionality and personalization features. Moreover, fans will be able to watch shows both live and on demand, along with receiving score alerts, news updates and a network newsletter. Annual memberships allow for fans to stream games on multiple devices, receive discounts on team merchandise, apparel and game tickets, and gain presale access to regular season and playoff matchups. The first 10,000 subscribers will also receive a limited-edition bobblehead set featuring Elena Delle Donne, Kyle Kuzma and Alexander Ovechkin.

Monumental Sports Network worked on the enhancements with ViewLift, which provides distribution solutions through multiple avenues of dissemination for over-the-top (OTT) platforms. Subscribers can tune in to the action on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV, all of which will have Sportradar integrations, an invariable user interface and the ability to link Ticketmaster accounts for a more facile aggregate process.

“We are excited to have built the Monumental Sports Network apps to enable fans of the Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics to watch all the live action and VoD content on desktop, mobile, tablet, and both Apple TV and Fire TV –with more platforms to come,” Rick Allen, chief executive officer of ViewLift, said in a statement. “Sports fans in the D.C. region are some of the most technologically sophisticated anywhere, and these Monumental streaming services continue the company’s leadership in super-serving that fanbase. We’ve been Monumental’s streaming partner for eight years and are particularly proud of this latest version of the Monumental Sports Network.”

Monumental Sports Network joins a handful of other regional sports networks – such as MSG Networks and NESN – in launching a direct-to-consumer offering ahead of the start of the hockey and basketball seasons. The platform rebranded from NBC Sports Washington last month, completing a transition after ownership of the outlet was acquired by Monumental Sports & Entertainment last September.

Boomer & Gio Announce Live Holiday Theater Show

BSM Staff
-
0
Boomer & Gio Announce Live Holiday Theater Show

WFAN has announced that Boomer & Gio will host a live edition of their show at The Paramount in Huntington, NY on December 15th at 8 PM. Co-hosts Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti, along with Al Dukes, Jerry Recco, and Eddie Scozzare, will all be on hand for the event ahead of the holiday season.

The last time the morning program announced a live show in the New York metropolitan area, it sold out in minutes, and a similar scenario could occur this time around. The event featured a star-studded lineup of special guests, including New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas and former NFL quarterback Phil Simms.

WFAN’s presale for tickets begins on Thursday, October 12th at 8 a.m. and can be accessed by using the presale password “Achilles.” General tickets for the event go on sale on Friday, Oct. 13 at 8 a.m.

“It was a tremendous success, and honestly, it was one of the most favorite things that I’ve ever done in radio,” Giannotti said Tuesday morning on WFAN. “It was absolutely awesome, so it was so much a success that there was a clamoring for more.”

Giannotti shared that the show would be off the air and uncensored, only presented to the people in the room. Adam and the Metal Hawks, a local heavy metal band, will also make its return to the live show in Huntington.

Both general admission and VIP tickets will be available for purchase, the latter of which includes a meet-and-greet with the show cast, priority seating, and a commemorative item. A portion of the proceeds from Boomer & Gio Live will benefit the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which works to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. More information can be found at WFAN.com/live.

Delilah Honored with 2023 Gracies Icon Award

BNM Staff
-
0
Delilah Honored with 2023 Gracies Icon Award

Radio legend Delilah will be honored with the inaugural Gracies Icon Award from the Alliance for Women in Media at the 2023 Gracies Leadership Award.

“We are thrilled to present the first-ever Gracies Icon Award to Delilah,” said Becky Brooks, President of the Alliance for Women in Media. “Delilah’s remarkable career in broadcasting has been a source inspiration and empowerment for countless women in the industry. Her commitment to connecting with her audience through the airwaves is truly exceptional. Delilah embodies the spirit of the Gracie Awards, and we are honored to celebrate her achievements at this year’s event.”

In addition to being honored with the first-ever Icon Award, she was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016 and the NAB Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2017, making her the first woman in the 35-year history of the museum.

The Gracies Leadership Awards will be held on Monday, November 13th, at Tribeca 360 in New York City alongside previously announced honorees Rebekah Dopp, Rosalyn Durant, Suzanne Grimes, Rashida Jones, Susan Larkin, Lori Locke, and Kay Olin

Jack Armstrong: Why Does Scott Pelley Talk So Slow?

BNM Staff
-
0

60 Minutes ran a story Sunday about a prominent artificial intelligence expert sharing his concern for the growth of the technology. While both Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty agreed that the story was fascinating and important, the two were hung up on the presentation of the story.

The feature was reported on by CBS News’ Scott Pelley, and the pair took issue with the presenter’s speech patterns.

“Scott Pelley has a four-word-per-minute pace,” Armstrong joked to concluded Monday’s episode of Armstrong & Getty.

Later, Joe Getty asked “Did Scott Pelley sniff magic markers as a child?”, taking several moments to say the next word, mocking Pelley’s cadence.

“Is that why he talks so slow? He makes Hillary Clinton sound like an auctioneer,” Armstrong joked as Getty laughed out loud.

The duo did mention that they weren’t exactly comprehending the high-level technology, but shared they were concerned that the expect continually said “their” instead of “it” while discussing the sententiousness of AI.

ESPN Films Producing Shohei Ohtani Documentary

BSM Staff
-
0

Shohei Ohtani, superstar two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels, is being featured by ESPN in a new documentary about his journey to the major leagues. Highlighting his start in Japan, his yearning to master pitching and hitting, his success in Japan, and transition to Major League Baseball are all highlighted in the ESPN+ exclusive, which is produced in association with ESPN Films. The project will be released on Nov. 17 on the streaming platform, shortly after the conclusion of the World Series.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my journey in this documentary,” Ohtani said in a statement. “Hearing the stories shared by my childhood heroes has been truly inspiring. I hope this documentary stands as a testament to the importance of resilience, passion and self-belief in the pursuit of excellence.”

The project features in-depth interviews with Ohtani, his coaches, teammates, and mentors who have served as an influence on him throughout his career. Described as an “introspective look” at Ohtani’s career, it marks the second consecutive long-form endeavor with the two-way superstar in the last two years. FOX Sports premiered Searching for Shohei: An Interview Special after Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) last year, which was produced in tandem with Religion of Sports.

Over the course of the documentary, Ohtani divulges on his decision to play for the Angels ahead of his free agency. He will also describe how he derived his “dream board,” how he felt winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Japan and his process of overcoming injuries.

The ESPN Films endeavor hits the premium streaming platform after the World Series and its running time is unknown.

Pete Sheppard Departs ESPN Southwest Florida

BSM Staff
-
0
Pete Sheppard Departs ESPN Southwest Florida

ESPN Southwest Florida afternoon host Pete Sheppard has announced he has departed the Beasley Media Group station.

Sheppard was co-host of Shemon & Sheppard from 2-6 PM alongside Craig Shemon. He mentioned “philosophical differences” while announcing his exit.

“Just want to thank everyone at Beasley Media Group and especially Craig Shemon, along with all the great texters and listeners for a wonderful 6 1/2 years,” Sheppard wrote. “Some philosophical differences at the end but worry not, you will hear me again, I promise. Thanks for all your support.”

Sheppard joined the station in 2017 after working at WEEI from 1999-2010 in afternoon drive. He returned to WEEI in a fill-in capacity in 2016 before moving to Southwest Florida.

Dan Abrams: MSNBC Coverage of Hamas Attacks ‘Ridiculous’

BNM Staff
-
0

MSNBC has taken criticism for the tone of its coverage surrounding the recent terrorist attacks from Hamas in Israel, with NewsNation host Dan Abrams joining the group of critics.

During Dan Abrams Live Monday, the cable news host took issue with the encapsulation by MSNBC contributors and analysts that policies brought forth by Israel and the United States were partially to blame for the attacks.

“Right. It’s Israel’s fault. It’s the United States’ fault,” Abrams sarcastically said. “The policies that somehow justify or even explain the slaughter, rapes, and kidnapping of innocent civilians. And that ridiculous commentary set the tone for much of MSNBC’s coverage throughout the weekend, where many hosts seemed determined to say, ‘Well, what about the Palestinians?’”

Abrams then went on to specifically criticize the network’s Mehdi Hasan and Ali Velshi, who tried to turn attention to how Israel will react to the attacks, instead of focusing on what had already transpired.

He argued that while the hosts want “context” and “nuance” during reporting of the current events, neither host has been willing to offer the same while discussing American politics.

ESPN ‘Nearly Sold Out’ of NHL Inventory

BSM Staff
-
0
ESPN ‘Nearly Sold Out’ of NHL Inventory

As the puck drops on the 2023-2024 NHL season Tuesday, ESPN has reason for celebration.

ESPN has secured 26 presenting sponsors for the NHL season, claiming that the advertising inventory for the year is “nearly sold out”. That inventory not only includes linear television broadcasts but also the games that are exclusive to ESPN+.

The Walt Disney Company says in total it has secured 120 advertisers representing 65 categories that will air during NHL broadcasts.

According to a report from Media Post, the networks brought in $155 million in national TV advertising revenue last year. That figure represented a jump from the $111.5 million in revenue from the previous season.

The announcement that the network is nearly sold out of advertising inventory comes on the heels of additional NHL programming launched by ESPN. The network will host Frozen Frenzy, an NFL RedZone-style broadcast when all 32 of the league’s teams are in action on a given night. The program will be hosted by John Buccigross and will begin on linear television at 8:00 PM ET after starting the night on the network’s streaming service.

Zach Leonsis: Launching Monumental Sports Network ‘An Opportunity to Play Offense’

BSM Staff
-
0
Zach Leonsis: Launching Monumental Sports Network ‘An Opportunity to Play Offense’

Recently Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, flipped the switch on the regional sports network it took full control over last year officially rebranding NBC Sports Washington as Monumental Sports Network. To MSE president of media and new enterprises Zach Leonsis, buying out NBCUniversal’s remaining stake in the network ahead of the implosion of the RSN model earlier this year proved to be a smart move strategically.

“We viewed it as an opportunity to play offense,” Zach Leonsis told Front Office Sports. We were able to create a lot of efficiencies and consolidate our content programming efforts. But there’s no doubt that it was also a defensive measure, too.”

“I really felt like our network and many other RSNs became shells of themselves, just being placeholders for the live games,” he added. Even though live games are always going to be [the most popular] in terms of what drives ratings versus your original programming during the day, we can still give people a reason to tune into our network and give them permission to be a fan.”

There are 11 other NHL franchises currently still under agreements with Diamond Sports Group, which is still in bankruptcy proceedings. The NHL has been advising those 11 teams on formulating contingency plans should DSG cut ties with contracts as a part of its debt restructuring.

1...1,9491,9501,951...2,883Page 1,950 of 2,883