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Ken Carman: Andrew Fillipponi ‘Didn’t Give Steelers Fans What They Wanted’ Monday 

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Ken Carman: Andrew Fillipponi ‘Didn’t Give Steelers Fans What They Wanted’ Monday 

92.3 The Fan host Ken Carman expected more out of Pittsburgh host Andrew Fillipponi on the first show following a Steelers loss to the 49ers to open the season.

On Carman and Lima’s Emerging Podcast Scene in Cleveland on Tuesday, Carman initially held back from saying what he wanted to say, because he didn’t want to cause an issue between him and Fillipponi. But eventually he laid it out there.

“He didn’t give me what I wanted. I don’t think he gave Steelers fans what they wanted yesterday in his open,” Carman said. “There, I said it, and now I feel better. I feel relieved.”

Carman quoted Poni who said Monday at the start of The PM Team with Poni & Mueller that he would “eat a great big bleep sandwich” on the air. It was an implication that he would address his confidence that the Steelers would come out on top against San Francisco.

Ken felt like there was never a delivery on the notion that he would fall on his own sword. Carman remembered melting down on the air in 2019 after guaranteeing the Cleveland Browns would beat the Denver Broncos in a battle between a couple two-win teams.

“I felt like a fool, and people wanted me to admit that I was a fool. And I gave them exactly what they wanted,” Carman said. “I was livid with myself, and I called myself right out there on the carpet. I did not get that from Poni yesterday.”

Ken felt like Andrew’s co-host Chris Mueller was protecting him. Poni teased he would own up, but that didn’t end up happening beyond blaming offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

“If you’re gonna make a big deal about what you’re gonna do on that show you better follow through,” Carman said. “And I didn’t think he followed through. I like Poni as a host, I respect him, but I didn’t think he followed through to the fans.”

Fox News Not the Only Cable Channel to Benefit From First Republican Presidential Debate

BNM Staff
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Fox News Not the Only Cable Channel to Benefit From First Republican Presidential Debate

It was not a surprise that the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season achieved blockbuster ratings. But the fact that this Aug. 23 event on Fox News still managed to do so without GOP frontrunner Donald Trump was impressive. According to Nielsen Media Research, it drew a combined 13 million viewers across Fox News Channel (FNC), Fox Business Network (FBN), Fox Nation and Fox News Digital — their digital properties drove an average minute audience of nearly 200,000 between 9-11 PM/ET, marking the platform’s highest day of minutes watched on the Fox News livestream this year.

The debate, held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and was co-moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, was the most-watched non-sports telecast on cable of 2023, to date. In addition, only the Denver Nuggets’ series-clinching victory over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals (13.08 million) topped the debate for the largest audience for a scheduled prime time event since the Academy Awards back in March.

Although it was far less than the 24 million who watched the first presidential debate on FNC in August 2015 (which first featured Donald Trump as a candidate), the Aug. 23 debate topped more than 70 percent of all presidential primary debates in the last two cycles (2016 and 2020), including FNC’s Iowa debate in January 2016 sans Trump (12.5 million).

While the debate was being held, Tucker Carlson’s 46-minute interview with Trump was posted on X/Twitter. Figures for views on the social media platform are vastly different from Nielsen’s tabulations. Their current main indicators are something called post views which track impressions and reach that each post attracts.

But the numbers of those who actually watched the video of the interview are unclear. Still, here is some impression data for it tracked throughout that night, as it has accrued the most total impressions for a Carlson episode on his X/Twitter account, to date.

Post: “Ep. 19  Debate Night with Donald J Trump”

Original post time: Wednesday, August 23, 2023 @ 8:55 PM ET

Aug. 23, 2023 at 9:00 p.m. ET

Post views: 10.8 million

Aug. 23, 2023 at 9:06 p.m. ET

Post views: 21.4 million

Aug. 23, 2023 at 9:39 p.m. ET

Post views: 73.8 million

Aug. 23, 2023 at 9:59 p.m. ET

Post views: 75.4 million

Aug. 23, 2023 at 10:22 p.m. ET

Post views: 77.9 million

The post nearly doubled in impressions in the overnight…

Aug. 24, 2023 at 5:27 a.m. ET

Post views: 140.0 million

As Trump was getting booked in Atlanta for his fourth indictment:

Aug. 24, 2023 at 3:54 p.m. ET

Post views: 233.0 million

Aug. 24, 2023 at 6:56 p.m. ET

Post views: 241.0 million

Aug. 24, 2023 at 7:42 p.m. ET

Post views: 242.0 million

Aug. 24, 2023 at 8:50 p.m. ET

Post views: 246.0 million

FNC was not the sole cable news outlet to see an uptick for this week, for on Aug. 24 was the day Trump got booked on charges in Fulton County in Georgia. Ten days prior, a grand jury in Georgia returned ten indictments in the probe into Trump’s efforts to overturn that state’s 2020 election results.

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern

  • MSNBC (4-6 p.m. ET): 1.997 million viewers; 205,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox News Channel: 1.430 million viewers; 186,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 1.075 million viewers; 274,000 adults 25-54

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern

  • Fox News Channel: 2.981 million viewers; 321,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC (4-6 p.m. ET): 1.997 million viewers; 205,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 1.165 million viewers; 269,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.032 million viewers; 1,000 adults 25-54

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern

  • MSNBC: 2.136 million viewers; 252,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox News Channel: 2.005 million viewers; 247,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 1.314 million viewers; 319,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.051 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54

7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern (Trump arrest/mug shot)

  • ABC (7:39-8:00): 3.906 million viewers
  • CBS (7:33-7:51): 3.526 million viewers
  • MSNBC: 3.144 million viewers; 418,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox News Channel: 2.674 million viewers; 343,000 adults 25-54
  • NBC (7:30-8:00): 2.279 million viewers
  • CNN: 2.023 million viewers; 502,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.062 million viewers; 12,000 adults 25-54

8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern (Trump arrest/mug shot)

  • MSNBC: 3.355 million viewers; 477,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox News Channel: 3.098 million viewers; 393,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 2.153 million viewers; 544,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.088 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54

As an addendum to our ratings tracks from last week, here is an update on how each news outlet’s average viewerships have done for Trump coverage:

Fox News Channel prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)

  • August 24, 2023 (Trump’s 4th arraignment): 2.678 million viewers; 361,000 adults 25-54
  • August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 2.195 million viewers; 254,000 adults 25-54
  • August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 2.268 million viewers; 262,000 adults 25-54
  • August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 2.194 million viewers; 279,000 adults 25-54
  • June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 2.420 million viewers; 295,000 adults 25-54
  • June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 2.155 million viewers; 231,000 adults 25-54
  • April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 4.403 million viewers; 713,000 adults 25-54
  • March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 3.440 million viewers; 484,000 adults 25-54

MSNBC prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)

  • August 24, 2023 (Trump’s 4th arraignment): 2.824 million viewers; 410,000 adults 25-54
  • August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 3.089 million viewers; 415,000 adults 25-54
  • August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 1.831 million viewers; 233,000 adults 25-54
  • August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 2.631 million viewers; 350,000 adults 25-54
  • June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 2.407 million viewers; 273,000 adults 25-54
  • June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 2.485 million viewers; 342,000 adults 25-54
  • April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 2.666 million viewers; 348,000 adults 25-54
  • March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 2.588 million viewers; 331,000 adults 25-54

CNN prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)

  • August 24, 2023 (Trump’s 4th arraignment): 1.631 million viewers; 407,000 adults 25-54
  • August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 1.172 million viewers; 232,000 adults 25-54
  • August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 0.891 million viewers; 146,000 adults 25-54
  • August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 1.059 million viewers; 208,000 adults 25-54
  • June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 0.948 million viewers; 220,000 adults 25-54
  • June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 1.135 million viewers; 256,000 adults 25-54
  • April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 1.754 million viewers; 487,000 adults 25-54
  • March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 1.248 million viewers; 333,000 adults 25-54

NewsNation prime time averages (8-11 p.m.)

  • August 24, 2023 (Trump’s 4th arraignment): 0.074 million viewers; 15,000 adults 25-54
  • August 14, 2023 (Trump’s 4th indictment): 0.117 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
  • August 3, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd arraignment): 0.098 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
  • August 1, 2023 (Trump’s 3rd indictment): 0.091 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
  • June 13, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd arraignment): 0.122 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
  • June 8, 2023 (Trump’s 2nd indictment): 0.136 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
  • April 4, 2023 (Trump’s 1st arraignment): 0.170 million viewers; 30,000 adults 25-54
  • March 23, 2023 (Trump’s 1st indictment): 0.149 million viewers; 25,000 adults 25-54

In a reversal to the overall slight waning trend of coverage viewership from the early summer, MSNBC scored their largest figures in prime time on a Trump arraignment date. FNC and CNN each performed their respective best prime times since Trump’s first arraignment in April.

Following his mug shot, Trump appeared as a guest on a special 90-minute edition of Newsmax’s “Greg Kelly Reports.” The show drew 966,000 total viewers including approximately 85,000 within the key 25-54 demographic. Comparatively, within the first month of the post-Carlson era at FNC, “Greg Kelly Reports” averaged 336,000 viewers and 42,000 adults 25-54 (for weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023).

Cable news averages for August 21-27, 2023:

Total Day (Aug. 21-27 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.323 million viewers; 180,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.991 million viewers; 115,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.613 million viewers; 117,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.199 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.139 million viewers; 41,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.147 million viewers; 22,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.132 million viewers; 32,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.111 million viewers; 26,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.051 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Aug. 21-26 @ 8-11 p.m.; Aug. 27 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 2.812 million viewers; 438,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.595 million viewers; 184,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.830 million viewers; 179,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.367 million viewers; 33,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.078 million viewers; 11,000 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. Republican Presidential Debate (FOXNC, Wed. 8/23/2023 9:00 PM, 123 min.) 11.062 million viewers

2. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 8/23/2023 11:03 PM, 57 min.) 4.391 million viewers

3. Countdown To The Debate (FOXNC, Wed. 8/23/2023 8:30 PM, 30 min.) 3.729 million viewers

4. All In with Chris Hayes “Trump Arraignment Fulton County Prime Special” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.355 million viewers

5. The Reidout “Trump Arraignment Fulton County Prime Special” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/24/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.144 million viewers

6. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 8/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.098 million viewers

7. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 8/24/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.981 million viewers

8. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 8/21/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.807 million viewers

9. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 8/21/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.798 million viewers

10. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 8/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.760 million viewers

25. Anderson Cooper 360 “Trump Georgia Arrest” (CNN, Thu. 8/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.153 million viewers

51. Republican Presidential Debate (FBN, Wed. 8/23/2023 9:00 PM, 123 min.) 1.741 million viewers

170. Greg Kelly Reports (NMX, Thu. 8/24/2023 9:00 PM, 90 min.) 0.966 million viewers

439. Forensic Files (HLN, late Fri. 8/25/2023 2:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.290 million viewers

446. Weather Channel Live “Live Coverage: Tropical Threat” (TWC, Sun. 8/27/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.278 million viewers

461. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Wed. 8/23/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.263 million viewers

721. Cuomo (NWSN, Wed. 8/23/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.141 million viewers

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

1. Republican Presidential Debate (FOXNC, Wed. 8/23/2023 9:00 PM, 123 min.) 2.414 million adults 25-54

2. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 8/23/2023 11:03 PM, 57 min.) 0.886 million adults 25-54

3. Countdown To The Debate (FOXNC, Wed. 8/23/2023 8:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.620 million adults 25-54

4. Anderson Cooper 360 “Trump Georgia Arrest” (CNN, Thu. 8/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.544 million adults 25-54

5. Erin Burnett Outfront “Trump Georgia Arrest” (CNN, Thu. 8/24/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.502 million adults 25-54

6. All In with Chris Hayes “Trump Arraignment Fulton County Prime Special” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.477 million adults 25-54

7. The Reidout “Trump Arraignment Fulton County Prime Special” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/24/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.418 million adults 25-54

8. Alex Wagner Tonight “Trump Arraignment Fulton County” (MSNBC, Thu. 8/24/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.403 million adults 25-54

9. Republican Presidential Debate (FBN, Wed. 8/23/2023 9:00 PM, 123 min.) 0.401 million adults 25-54

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 8/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.393 million adults 25-54

212. Forensic Files (HLN, late Fri. 8/25/2023 2:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.121 million adults 25-54

318. Greg Kelly Reports (NMX, Thu. 8/24/2023 9:00 PM, 90 min.) 0.085 million adults 25-54

416. The Earth Unlocked “(204) Wetlands” (TWC, Sun. 8/27/2023 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.065 million adults 25-54

478. Closing Bell “Overtime” (CNBC, Thu. 8/24/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.056 million adults 25-54

717. Elizabeth Vargas Reports (NWSN, Fri. 8/25/2023 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.031 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

Mike Pereira Could Miss FOX NFL Season

BSM Staff
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Mike Pereira Could Miss FOX NFL Season

Fans of FOX’s NFL coverage probably noticed that rules analyst Mike Pereira was absent from the network’s Week 1 coverage. There’s a good reason for that.

Pereira has been a mainstay as a rules analyst since retiring from being the NFL’s Director of Officiating. The network has used him for college football as well as the NFL. He told KNBR that at one point, the network even considered using him as a rule analyst for Major League Baseball too.

He revealed over the weekend that a bad back and upcoming surgery is why he wasn’t on TV for Week 1. Pereira thinks he could be gone the entire 2023 season.

The hiring of Pereira as a rules analyst was considered groundbreaking at the time. FOX became the first network to have a dedicated rules analyst before CBS, NBC, ESPN and Amazon all hired analysts of their own.

Dave Meltzer: ‘There’s a Feeling FOX is Not Going to Go For’ Smackdown Renewal

BSM Staff
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Dave Meltzer: ‘There’s a Feeling FOX is Not Going to Go For’ Smackdown Renewal

Now that the WWE/Endeavor merger has been completed, the new focus for WWE becomes finalizing a new media rights deal.

While it appears that USA Network will continue to be the home of WWE’s flagship program Monday Night Raw and NXT, FOX doesn’t look like it will retain the rights to SmackDown on Friday nights.

Pro wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer said on his podcast Wrestling Observer Radio that the asking price for SmackDown is going to be too much for FOX.

“There’s a feeling that FOX is not going to go for the $300 [million], which is what WWE is trying to get out of Smackdown or more, and that Disney and Amazon are probably the two companies most in contention for it,” Meltzer said. “And if it’s Disney, (it could be) ABC or probably FX.”

If Disney ends up being the winner for SmackDown rights, Meltzer believes that the house of mouse could look to have SmackDown air on a different night as well.

“Perhaps there’s another night that ABC would want them or perhaps they want them to boost FOX, which they will boost greatly because it’s the number one show on a weekly basis when it comes to cable, on a year-round basis, 52 weeks a year,” Meltzer said. “It’s not always number one and obviously football is always going to beat it. But Smackdown will be a steady performer week in and week out.”

Bret Baier Signs Multi-Year Extension With FOX News

BNM Staff
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Fox News Media has announced that Bret Baier will continue to be the face of their news operation for the foreseeable future. According to Ad Week, Baier has signed a multi-year contract extension in which he will continue to serve as the network’s chief political anchor and the anchor and executive editor of Special Report. 

In addition to leading Special Report, Baier will continue co-anchoring the network’s election coverage and host The Bret Baier Podcast on Fox News Audio.

“I am honored to continue anchoring Special Report and alongside my dedicated team and co-anchoring our election coverage for many years to come,” Baier said in a statement.

Fox News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace announced Thursday that Bret Baier’s contract has been extended. Baier will continue to lead the network’s political coverage as they head into the 2024 election season and beyond. 

In June, Baier also conducted an exclusive sit-down interview with former President Donald Trump, earning positive reviews for his tough questioning.

Baier, who co-anchored the first GOP presidential primary debate of the 2024 election cycle in June with Martha MacCallum, said he was honored to continue anchoring Special Report alongside his team and co-anchoring election coverage for many years. The financial terms of Baier’s new contract were not disclosed. 

Anthony Gargano in Contract Dispute With 97.5 The Fanatic Over PHLY Sports Role

BSM Staff
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Anthony Gargano in Contract Dispute With 97.5 The Fanatic Over PHLY Sports Role

Anthony Gargano is in the middle of a standoff between Beasley Media Group and the recently launched PHLY Sports. Gargano was instrumental in recruiting talent to the new platform, but his level of involvement is up in the air at the moment.

“At the moment, we are trying to determine exactly what that involvement looks like as we navigate his contractual situation with the Beasley Media Group,” CEO of ALLCITY Network, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “What we can promise is that Anthony will be involved in many aspects of the network and at some point, fans will be able to watch him and listen to him on PHLY.”

Gargano was not on the air for 97.5 The Fanatic on Tuesday. His midday show was covered by Andrew Salciunas and Connor Thomas.

Spano added that Gargano has been part of PHLY Sports “from its inception, and the launch would not have been possible without him.”

PHLY Sports will be the fourth such site for ALLSPORTS. The company also has platforms focused on Denver, Phoenix and Chicago.

Gargano is not the only Philadelphia sports radio personality involved. Former Fanatic hosts Devon Givens and Jaime Lynch have signed on. Givens will not be able to make his debut until November when a non-compete clause with The Fanatic expires. Former 94 WIP host Bill Matz will also be involved with PHLY Sports.

DraftKings, FanDuel Increasing Ad Spend on Radio & TV For Football Season

BSM Staff
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Concurrent with the start of the National Football League season is an acceleration in advertising and a quest to broaden overall market share. DraftKings led the way on both national radio and national television outlets, considerably increasing their reach on the former by 77%. The company aired a total of 23,592 spots from the week between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10, ranking No. 12 overall.

“This is the most important time of the year,” DraftKings Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins said on an August call with investors. The company had a high retention rate following last football season, attaining a 40% rise in average monthly unique players (2.1 million) and 33% in revenue from that figure ($137).

Competing outlet FanDuel aired a total of 6,954 radio spots and has marketed its product through its growing FanDuel TV platform, which features personalities such as Kay Adams and Lisa Kerney. The company also secured a deal with Google to give new and existing customers a $100 discount towards YouTube NFL Sunday Ticket with any bet of $5 until Sept. 18.

“The reality is [that] we will probably have one of, if not the most, competitive NFL seasons that the industry has ever seen,” Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel Chief Commercial Officer, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

FanDuel, which is owned by Flutter Entertainment, leads the way with 47% market share in its most recent quarterly earnings report with an adjusted EBITDA of nearly $100 million in the first half of the year. The company expects that figure to increase between $120 million and $240 million by the end of the year. Conversely, DraftKings garnered 35% market share in operating states, and its adjusted EBITDA equated to nearly $73 million last quarter with an overall projected loss between $190 million and $220 million on the year.

Jim Trotter Files Racial Discrimination Suit Against NFL, NFL Media

BSM Staff
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Jim Trotter has filed a racial discrimination suit against the NFL and NFL Media, where he was employed until earlier this year.

Trotter’s contract was not renewed. While the decision was made after Trotter made headlines for asking Commissioner Roger Goodell about the league’s lack of commitment to diversity in its newsroom at the Super Bowl, the league maintains that the two incidents are not linked. Trotter declined a three-month severance package from the league because it required him to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

According to a lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court, Trotter believes the two incidents are very much linked. He also claims that he was instructed by his bosses not to use comments from Cowboys owners Jerry Jones when covering the leaked emails from Jon Gruden showing the then-Raiders’ coach making racist comments.

“Mr. Trotter raised his concerns on numerous occasions about the NFL’s record on racial diversity and discrimination, but the NFL did nothing to legitimately investigate or address his concerns — even though offensive conduct was being committed by people at the very top of the N.F.L. hierarchy,” the complaint reads.

In 2020, Trotter, in an interview for NFL Media, asked Jones about the lack of Black faces in positions of power inside of NFL front offices.

“If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire,” Jones responded according to the lawsuit.

He also claims that Bills owner Tom Pegula responded “If the Black payers don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is,” when asked about racial justice protests. Pegula and the Buffalo Bills took to social media to deny the accusation.

Trotter claims he brought both incidents up to the league, but no action was ever taken.

Following his exit from NFL Media, Trotter signed on with The Athletic. 

“I hope this lawsuit leads to real change across the league and in the newsroom,” Trotter said in a statement posted on social media. “It is on the backs of a majority Black player population that owners have made billions and those players deserve to have someone who shares their cultural and life experiences at the table when decisions are being made about how they are being covered.”

Pat McAfee: ESPN Departure of Dianna Russini is ‘a Shame’

BSM Staff
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The Walt Disney Company endured layoffs of 7,000 employees across its divisions to slash $5.5 billion in operating costs earlier this year, which was followed with cuts of several prominent on-air talents at ESPN. From its lead NBA analysts in Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy; to its Monday Night Countdown host in Suzy Kolber, the company had to make several difficult decisions ahead of reporting its financial data for the first time this fall. ESPN is being viewed as its own core business segment as part of a reorganization of the company under Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger shortly after his return to the role.

NFL reporter Dianna Russini told NBC Sports journalist Peter King that she felt that ESPN did not want her, despite reportedly being offered a raise to remain with the company. She made the difficult decision to depart the “Worldwide Leader” when it became apparent to her that she would be unable to evolve in her role and grow. As a result, Russini inked a contract with The Athletic to serve as The New York Times Company-owned outlet’s senior NFL insider. In her new role, she is writing both short- and long-form articles covering the sport while contributing to audio and visual verticals within the content medium as well.

For Pat McAfee, it was a disappointing outcome that put a damper on the multi-year, multimillion dollar contract he had signed to bring his eponymous digital program, The Pat McAfee Show, to ESPN’s airwaves. McAfee had welcomed Russini onto the program throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she became a frequent contributor with insider information and shrewd perspectives on the game.

Russini previously worked in the New York marketplace as a reporter for WNBC-TV and has various connections within the New York Jets organization. As a result, she was able to report, in real time, what was going on with quarterback Aaron Rodgers after he left the game with an injury. After an MRI on Tuesday morning revealed a complete tear of his left Achilles tendon, the expectation is that Rodgers will be out for the season.

McAfee began his program with a despondent tone and wished Rodgers, who is a frequent guest on the program, the best in his recovery. He then mentioned the reporting prowess of Russini and how her departure from ESPN has harmed their show, calling it “a shame.”

“Literally we signed with ESPN, [and] one of the first days to access ESPN talent, we’re like, ‘Can we get Dianna Russini on, please?,’” McAfee said. “She comes on the show [and] I thought it was great.”

Based on McAfee’s comments, there is a chance that Russini would have been a part of the show’s football coverage had she still been employed by ESPN. While the program is allowed to have on guests who work for other media affiliates, the purview The Athletic has over where Russini lends her insights is not known.

“We were pumped to be teammates with her, and then all of a sudden, boom, [she] goes to The Athletic,” McAfee said. “Congrats to The Athletic on getting an absolute dawg in the insider game.”

Mike Stone: ‘Monday Night Football’ Was ‘Must-See TV’

BSM Staff
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Mike Stone: ‘Monday Night Football’ Was ‘Must-See TV’

As ESPN’s Monday Night Football took the air for its regular-season debut, excitement was abound as the time for speculation concluded with Aaron Rodgers debut as the quarterback for the New York Jets. The game took place in prime-time 22 years after the devastating September 11 attacks, and the team held a moment of silence and a special performance of the National Anthem to mark the somber occasion. During the team’s player introductions, the stadium had a viridescent hue with flashing lights and fireworks as Jets players ran out holding American flags and wearing hats emblazoned with the logos of New York City’s emergency response divisions.

When Rodgers emerged from the tunnel and ran onto the field, the crowd at MetLife Stadium cheered and eagerly anticipated his opening snap with the team’s young, dynamic offense. Four plays later, he was being helped off of the field by trainers and suffering a season-ending complete tear of his left Achilles tendon. The injury put a damper on what was an enthralling football game that ended in a dramatic Jets win, but still made for a captivating product for viewers all around the world.

“No matter what you think of Aaron Rodgers, it was kind of must-see TV,” Mike Stone said Tuesday on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit, Mich. “The place was fricking electric.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZn_Zcd8wZY&pp=ygUYYWFyb24gcm9kZ2VycyBqZXRzIGludHJv

Jon Jansen, who co-hosts the morning drive program with Stone, ruptured his left Achilles during the Detroit Lions’ preseason opener in 2004 and ended up missing the entire season. Having the perspective of someone who has endured such an injury before, he understands that it will be a protracted recovery once Rodgers undergoes the surgery. Jets fans around the country are heartbroken with the situation and the far-reaching effects this will have on the remainder of the season.

For national media networks who poured their resources into covering Rodgers and the Jets, there is a chance that some difficult decisions may need to be made down the stretch. The Jets are televised in prime time for five more games throughout the 2023 regular season and are now without their headline star in Rodgers. According to the National Football League’s flexible scheduling guidelines, only two of those games have the potential to be changed out – the Week 10 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football; and the Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. All other matchups throughout the regular season, outside of Week 18, are set in place as currently constructed.

“You just lose the story for the year,” producer Greg Hargrave said. “They’ve got all these prime-time games.”

The next time the Jets are scheduled to be in prime time will be on Sunday Night Football on October 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs from MetLife Stadium. The team was also the focus of the HBO Sports and NFL Films all-access series, Hard Knocks, and was being marketed around the acquisition of Rodgers. Many football fans were regaling the four-time most valuable player as a savior for “Gang Green” in its efforts to snap a 12-year playoff drought.

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