Home Blog Page 2023

Keith Olbermann Accuses Laura Ingraham of Alcoholism After Her Criticism of Biden’s Health

BNM Staff
-
0

Earlier this week, the White House shared that President Joe Biden uses a CPAP machine to battle sleep apnea after mysterious marks were observed on his face. Fox News hosts were critical of Biden after the revelation, and Keith Olbermann responded Friday.

During his Countdown podcast, Olbermann alleged that Laura Ingraham has her own issues to deal with, and shouldn’t have been able to cast stones at the President.

“Laura Ingram suggested it’s ‘A scam. And it’s a way to say no, he’s not mentally impaired. He just needs to get a good night’s sleep’,” Olbermann said. “And I’m guessing, therefore, that her alcoholism — she once had 20 drinks in my presence, in one night, on a date — I guess that wasn’t a real thing either. Then that was just her covering up her mental impairment.”

He then took umbrage with the encapsulation from The Five, and said several of the hosts on that Fox News program also had issues they wouldn’t like addressed.

“‘The guy is clueless’, said Janine Pirro. She once held up her own press conference at which she announced she was running for senator from New York for a measured 32 seconds because she had lost page 10 of her speech. And she asked everybody in the room if they had seen page 10 of her speech.”

He then joked that The Five cast members — Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro, Dana Perrino, and Greg Gutfeld — all smash themselves over the head or drink alcohol to go to sleep at night, rather than use a CPAP machine.

Buzzer ‘Winding Down Operations’ Despite Promising Start

BSM Staff
-
0
Buzzer ‘Winding Down Operations’ Despite Promising Start

Buzzer, a mobile application centered around short-form live sports content initially as a direct-to-consumer platform, is “winding down” its operations due to fundraising developments and market conditions. The company recently transitioned into being a technology provider and partnered with the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association and PGA Tour on various projects.

Buzzer was initially founded by Bo Han with the mission to connect Gen Z sports fans with their favorite leagues and teams. The company’s official Twitter account released a statement announcing the decision and thanking its users over the last several years.

Han was critical in expanding Twitter’s presence in sports as the leader of live sports rights acquisitions for over seven years. In building the Buzzer brand, he wanted to appeal to younger generations of consumers and centered the programming interface on instant gratification. 

Whether it was through mobile notifications or instant highlights, the operation intended to reach different segments of the marketplace and raised $44 million in total investment. Prominent athletes involved in the funding of the platform included Michael Jordan, Wayne Kretzky, Kevin Durant and Patrick Mahomes. Buzzer’s app was officially shut down on May 19 to focus on “Powered by Buzzer.” That effort has abruptly concluded.

The company was looking to license technology related to sports notifications and had deals with the subscription service DAZN and sports betting company, FanDuel. Moreover, microtransactions were a key factor to its business model, a space that is still early in its development in terms of using it to access content.

Ultimately, the app wanted to give users the ability to tune into a game live through informing them of action via a push notification. While the concept has the potential to work down the road, Buzzer will not be moving any further into the space.

Shan & RJ: ESPN ‘Purging Everybody Else’ to Pay Biggest Stars

Demetri Ravanos
-
0
Shan & RJ: ESPN ‘Purging Everybody Else’ to Pay Biggest Stars

Shan & RJ was on the air Friday morning in Dallas as news of layoffs at ESPN was just beginning to break. Shan Shariff admitted that he was disappointed to see the first name to become public.

“I loved him,” the 105.3 The Fan morning man said when he learned Jeff Van Gundy was out. “When we talk about not watching a game because of a personality, I apply that to Van Gundy. I would watch a random NBA game with two teams I didn’t particularly care about if Van Gundy was on the call.”

At 61 years old, it is fair to think that Jeff Van Gundy’s media career may not be over. Shariff wonders if the former NBA coach would ever give radio a try.

“He’s interesting. He’ll be a fascinating sports talk host.”

RJ Choppy bemoaned what was happening at ESPN, saying that smaller names have to go to accommodate the bigger stars’ salaries.

“You’ve got to pay Pat McAfee and Stephen Smith and Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and Scott Van Pelt. You got to pay those guys. And that’s what they’re doing. They’re purging everybody else.”

Choppy added that he has always stood ESPN’s philosophy to be that content is what matters most. The talent is interchangeable. As far as he is concerned, it is clear that is the thinking at ESPN Radio.

Shariff said that there is evidence that if that is the company’s strategy, it is time to rethink.

“ESPN can make you a star, no doubt it. They can make you a star. But I mean, if it was about the content, then we would still know ESPN Radio’s lineup and personalities, and we don’t. They’re nonexistent.”

News broke earlier this month that ESPN Radio would be canceling its morning show Keyshawn, JWill and Max. On Friday, Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson were let go. Jay Williams’s contract is set to expire in the next three months.

Charles Barkley Takes Subtle Shot at Skip Bayless During The Match on TNT

BSM Staff
-
0

Charles Barkley never misses the chance to take a shot at Skip Bayless. The Hall of Famer has never hidden his disdain for the Undisputed host. Thursday night during coverage of The Match, without mentioning Bayless by name, Chuck got in another shot.

Travis Kelce was playing in the charity golf event with his quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In the middle of discussing where he ranked amidst the best tight ends ever, Barkley noted that you cannot leave Shannon Sharpe out of the conversation. He followed that up by saying, “I want one of those jobs where I can get fired, get a buyout for working with an idiot.”

Sharpe left Undisputed earlier this month after working out a deal with FS1 on a buyout. While Sharpe and Bayless had nice things to say about each other on their last day on camera together, tensions between them in the previous months were hard not to notice.

“What do you think, Ernie? You think I could get a buyout from working with Shaq?” Barkley joked.

Ernie Johnson asked where all of this was coming from.

“They gonna give people buyouts if you working with a damn idiot,” Barkley answered before assuring Johnson that he was not the idiot in question. “I want one of those too.”

While Barkley has been adamant for years that he despises Skip Bayless, Bayless has claimed he has no idea why the TNT star feels that way.

Bomani Jones: Sports Media ‘Doing the Best We Can’ For Content in Summer

BSM Staff
-
0
Bomani Jones: Sports Media ‘Doing the Best We Can’ For Content in Summer

The summer can be rough for people that talk about sports for a living. Bomani Jones says it is the simple explanation for why so many historical debates and all-time rankings are showing up on ESPN shows right now. 

His pal Domonique Foxworth found himself in the crosshairs of Twitter basketball historians this week for claiming that Larry Bird is not a good defender.

On a new episode of his ESPN podcast The Right Time, Jones noted that Foxworth’s point was not accurate, but the reason he had to participate in the argument in the first place is an industry-wide problem.

“Anybody out here saying that they annoyed by Damian Lillard don’t work in the content game, baby,” Jones said. “It’s that time of year where you’ll be begging for people to get arrested and they don’t do it as much as they used to.”

Any sports content creator is currently trying to navigate “Mt. Rushmore season.” Between the end of the NBA Finals and the start of NFL training camps, there is little radio and television shows can rely on to drive the conversation. That is why lists, rankings, and milking a single story for an hour of content is so popular right now.

“We scrapin’ the bowl, man,” Jones said. “They asking for so much out of us right now in this time. And part of it’s like, ‘Yo, if you ain’t go on vacation it’s ya own damn fault.’ I totally understand. That’s how they look at us in this moment, you know? But we are doing the best we can.”

Skyview Networks Ceasing Distribution of ABC Audio at End of Year

BNM Staff
-
0
Skyview Networks Ceasing Distribution of ABC Audio at End of Year

Skyview Networks has announced that it will be ending its relationship with ABC Audio next year.

ABC Audio has relied upon Skyview Networks for distribution and advertising sales since 2014. The partnership was then expanded in 2018 for more products in music and news/talk before growing to an arrangement with Local Radio Networks the following year.

“Skyview and ABC have decided to conclude their business relationship beginning in 2024,” a statement from Skyview read. “ABC Audio and Skyview Networks are committed to working together to ensure a smooth transition, and Skyview will continue meeting the needs of the industry and its full-scale multi-partner relationships.

“Skyview Networks will continue representing ABC Audio network sales while also providing distribution service through 2023. We wish ABC Audio continued success in the years ahead.”

The news of the split comes months after Skyview Networks was the subject of a cyberattack that affected the network’s ability to distribute audio for both CBS News Radio and ABC Audio.

Debbie Monterrey Celebrates 20th Anniversary at KMOX

BNM Staff
-
0
Debbie Monterrey Celebrates 20th Anniversary at KMOX

KMOX morning host Debbie Monterrey is celebrating a milestone Friday. The Total Information AM host has been with the St. Louis news/talk station for 20 years.

“Thank you so much for an amazing 20 years,” Audacy Senior Vice President Becky Domyan told Monterrey during an appearance Friday morning. “You are the voice of familiarity in St. Louis and we just really, really appreciate you.”

“It feels like yesterday and so, so long ago all at the same time,” joked Monterrey.

Monterrey joined KMOX after working as the Press Secretary for Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum when she received a call asking “How would you like to do morning radio in St. Louis?”

In addition to her work at KMOX, she has also worked at stations in Greenville, South Carolina, Madison, Wisconsin, and Columbus, Ohio.

She’s been the recipient of five Edward R. Murrow Awards, while also winning two Missouri Broadcasting Awards during her tenure. In 2022, she was named Media Person of the Year by the St. Louis Press Club.

Geraldo Rivera Bids Farewell to Fox News: ‘I Love Fox’

BNM Staff
-
0

After joining Fox News in 2001, Geraldo Rivera has departed the network.

During his final appearance on Fox News, Rivera told the Fox & Friends crew that he is grateful for his long run with the cable news outlet.

“I’m deeply touched, I’m honored, I love FOX, I love the people at FOX, I always will. I’ll never let anyone separate us, but I am beyond grateful for this,” Rivera said as the morning program honored his lengthy career. “This is so deeply affecting, I love you for it, thank you.”

As he departed, the entire Fox & Friends crew — sans Brian Kilmeade — wore fake mustaches to honor Rivera, who is widely known for his Imperial-style facial hair.

Rivera shared his disappointment that Affirmative Action was struck down by the Supreme Court Thursday, noting that he was a product of the policy at Columbia University in the late 1960s.

Rivera shared he would exit the network on Thursday after claiming he had been fired from the wildly popular The Five program. He had publicly clashed with co-host Greg Gutfeld after the departure of Tucker Carlson.

In a statement, the network told Barrett News Media, “We reached an amicable conclusion with Geraldo over the past few weeks and look forward to celebrating him on Fox & Friends Friday morning which will be his last appearance on the network.”

Rivera will turn 80 years old on Tuesday, July 4th.

Greg Kelly: Nicole Wallace ‘Flirtatious’ During Joe Biden Interview

BNM Staff
-
0
Greg Kelly: Nicole Wallace ‘Flirtatious’ During Joe Biden Interview

President Joe Biden appeared on MSNBC’s Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace Thursday, and Newsmax host Greg Kelly was not a fan.

To begin Greg Kelly Reports Thursday evening, the Newsmax host called Wallace’s demeanor during the interview “flirtatious”.

“‘He he he he, finish your thought Joe’. That’s Nicole Wallace, veteran of the George W. Bush White House, where her specialty I believe was in making powerful men feel even more powerful,” said Kelly.

“It’s all about power. This individual has condemned the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She is holding a funeral for the death of affirmative action and colleges. They don’t care about principle. It’s all about power…Other than that, great interview,” Kelly joked.

Kelly took issue with the interview as a whole, claiming that MSNBC — and by proxy, parent company Comcast — shielded the President from difficult conversations.

“He went on the fake news again. They protected him. But we can still see it. We can still see the dishonesty, the incompetence, the feebleness. Really bad. And a major corporation gave him this opportunity,” Kelly continued. “These are major multinational, huge conglomerates, and they just gave the president of the United States a pass on what’s happening here. This is like Twilight Zone territory.”

Newsmax Touts Growth in 2nd Quarter

BNM Staff
-
0
Newsmax Touts Growth in 2nd Quarter

It is no secret that Fox News has experienced a slip in the cable television news ratings. The data shows that Newsmax has been the primary beneficiary of the viewers leaving Fox News.

In Nielsen data distributed by Newsmax, the network touts a 71% increase in its total viewership, with an 88% uptick in the 35-64 demographic.

However, Newsmax’s largest gains have come in primetime. The network has seen its audience grow by 126% in the second quarter compared to the same time window in 2022. Viewership has risen 130% in the 35-64 age range.

The growth by Newsmax comes after Fox News severed ties with primetime host Tucker Carlson in late April.

“Millions of Americans are making the switch to Newsmax,” CEO Chris Ruddy said.

Newsmax and MSNBC have both grown in total day viewership, with MSNBC rising a total of 17%. FOX Business and MSNBC have both seen double-digit growth in primetime, with CNN adding 5% to its primetime audience in April, May, and June.

1...2,0222,0232,024...2,779Page 2,023 of 2,779