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Craig Way Launches New Show on 1300 The Zone

BSM Staff
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The voice of the Texas Longhorns is back hosting locally on Austin radio.

Craig Way began hosting The Craig Way Show on Am 1300 The Zone on Monday. This comes after the former rightsholder to Texas athletics – The Horn – dropped an FM frequency on 104.9 on August 1 and later parted ways with several local talent in a shift towards more syndicated programming.

The iHeart station announced the program would air 2-4 p.m. central Monday through Friday. The move to The Zone makes sense as in all the fallout with The Horn, iHeart Austin picked up the rights to Longhorn athletics once again.

“Every day from 2-4 p.m., he’ll be diving deep into UT sports, sharing insights only he can offer. It’s a new era for afternoon radio, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring this experience to our listeners,” said iHeartMedia Austin & San Antonio Senior Vice President of Programming Jason McCollim.

Craig will be very familiar to The Zone listeners. He said he’s excited to be back home.

“I was honored to be a part of the launch of AM 1300 The Zone as Austin’s first all-Sports station in October of 1998, and am thrilled to return as host of a daily show on The Zone once again at a station that I called home from 1997-2017,” Way said. “I am excited to once again be a part of the iHeart family.”

Troy Clardy Named New Voice of Stanford Football, Men’s Basketball

BSM Staff
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Stanford University begins its 2023 season on Friday night against Hawaii, and when the Cardinal kick off the new campaign, Troy Clardy will be calling all the action on the radio.

Clardy was announced Monday as the school’s new football and men’s basketball play-by-play voice. He had already been doing play-by-play for the school in other sports for the last five years.

Stanford football games air in the Bay Area on KNBR 1050 AM.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with Troy Clardy and look forward to hearing him bring unmatched passion and energy into this new role,” said Stanford athletics director Bernard Muir. “Troy has gained a wealth of experience through a variety of regional and national assignments while continually evolving his multi-dimensional skill set. Troy has always been a loyal ambassador for Stanford Athletics and is uniquely positioned to share the stories of our student-athletes and programs.”

In addition to his football play-by-play duties with the school, Clardy will continue to call college and NFL games for Compass Media Networks, as well as calling the action in multiple sports for the Pac-12 Network.

“As a Stanford graduate, this is more than an honor; it’s a dream come true,” said Clardy. “It has been such fun covering Stanford Athletics over the years from Rose Bowls to College Cups while connecting with Cardinal fans across the globe. To now be also trusted with the duties of telling the stories of these student-athletes and representing this University and athletic department in this role is truly special. We’re going to have fun. Can’t wait to talk to you from Stanford Stadium, Maples Pavilion and beyond!

Peter King: The Athletic Hired Dianna Russini ’to Be a Subscription Magnet’

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Peter King: The Athletic Hired Dianna Russini ’to Be a Subscription Magnet’

One of the big stories in sports media last week was Dianna Russini announcing she has joined The Athletic. Pro Football Talk’s Peter King felt like the New York Times-owned publication is making a big bet on Russini.

In his “Football Morning in America” column for NBC this week, King wrote that The Athletic making Russini one of the highest-paid journalists ever at the Times was pretty remarkable in comparison to some of the other talent on the news beats.

“To think Dianna Russini will almost certainly make more money than Maggie Haberman or David Brooks—Times legends—and, crazily, might earn more than them combined, is a sign of the strange sports journalism times we live in,” King wrote. “Stars who cover the NFL make crazy salaries compared to the money people make covering news that truly matters.”

But King pointed out that part of the goal with bringing Russini in from ESPN would be to generate more interest in The Athletic and drive up subscriptions at the start of the new season.

“The Athletic hired Russini to be different, to be a subscription magnet, to tell good stories, to be a difference-maker on the NFL beat, and to break some stories. (Not a lot, but some. You’re not beating Schefter, Rapoport, Glazer, Pelissero with any regularity in this business right now.)” King wrote. “The Athletic wants to be profitable soon, and the way to try to do that is to take chances. This is a chance.”

“With all the free content of NFL stuff flooding the web, will the Russini brand translate into current non-subscribers of The Athletic paying $71.99 a year to read this smart paysite?” King added. “It’s a big ask. Very big. But it’s a gamble The Athletic was willing to take for a rising media person ESPN wasn’t willing to pay like a major star.”

King mentioned that as Russini pointed out, she’s a TV free agent now. So eventually she will start getting NFL sideline or studio assignments. But she’s moving on to a more writing-heavy world, and he thinks she absolutely will shine.

“Russini’s in a business where information and stories are kings. She can do that,” King wrote. “She shouldn’t have to worry about being Faulkner, or Deford. She needs to get the information and put it out in a straight, declarative way. Stories rule.”

Mike Valenti: Sports Radio Combine Would be Better Than any Broadcasting School

BSM Staff
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97.1 The Ticket host Mike Valenti has an idea to get some fresh young talent into sports radio – a sports talk combine.

On The Valenti Show on Monday, Valenti told co-host Rico Beard having a competition to discover the next two great sports talk hosts was something he’s been thinking about for a while.

“I think it would be a great concept, and it would get somebody a gig every year,” Valenti said. “Cause lord knows there are not young people in this game.”

Beard, like some of the text responses coming in from listeners, initially thought Valenti’s idea was about trying to get people already at the station fired. But Valenti reiterated that it wasn’t about people in the building.

“I like this. This is legitimate, it brings in people,” Beard responded. “As I told you. we could even hire two.”

Beard suggested the winner getting to fill in during the week, second place would get on the air at midnight. Valenti said third place would be fired.

“I’m talking about going to colleges and getting the best and brightest and going, ‘You really want to do this? You think you can do this?'” he said. “Here’s what we’ll do for you. In six months time, I’m not gonna waste your time like your school did probably for four years. You’re gonna know right away whether you can do this or not. Because at the end of the summer, you’re either signing a contract or you’re dining on a professional bullet. You’re done.”

“I don’t need to waste ten years of your life,” Valenti added. “You know how many markets there are guys hanging on they’ve been doing it for 15 years and they haven’t gotten an air shift. Let me help you – you’re not getting one. They’re stringing you along like a dope dealer.”

Another texter said their son graduated with a broadcasting degree but never got a successful career going because they couldn’t get a foot in the door. They felt it would be a great opportunity.

“That’s the whole point, it’s about opportunity,” Valenti said. “Only people that are idiots are taking it the wrong way. I didn’t say anything about getting rid of anybody already established.

“You’re on a trial basis. You’re on a trial to see if you can do this or not,” he added. “From February through August, take six months of your life, figure it out. Your whole 20’s are designed for you to figure stuff out. You’re supposed to do five or six different things. And eventually you finally gain traction in your late 20’s or early 30’s and that’s when it’s go time. This would be more effective than anything most industries do.”

Mike Gallagher Details Difficulties in Covering Arrest of Donald Trump

BNM Staff
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Mike Gallagher Details Difficulties in Covering Arrest of Donald Trump

Salem Media Group sent radio host Mike Gallagher to Atlanta to cover the arrest and processing of former President Donald Trump as he faces a fourth indictment. To say it did not go smoothly may be an understatement.

During The Mike Gallagher Show last week, the syndicated host shared the story of his difficulties in getting to the correct location for the coverage of the event.

“Sometimes when you go fast, you miss some key details,” joked Gallagher. “He gives me the street address. Now I show up at the courthouse and it’s okay, it’s a row of TV trucks. I’m thinking ‘Good. I’m in the right place. I’ve got all these TV trucks’.”

Gallagher then shared that he walked two blocks away to meet with protesters. After a series of questions, he realized they were at the courthouse to protest an officer-involved shooting and not the arrest of former President Donald Trump.

He then called his producer, who informed him he was at the courthouse when he needed to be at the jail.

“‘Please tell me the jail is a block right next door’,” Gallagher hoped his producer would tell him. “Nope. It was 25 minutes away. Now, meanwhile, Tradup, Tom Tradup (Salem Radio Network Vice President) has texted me saying ‘You better get there. He’s landing. He’s at the airport. Trump’s on his way’.

“I’m running by now. They’ve closed the highways, because of the motorcade. I can’t get there because the roads are all closed for the motorcade because I’ve been hanging out with Black Lives Matter protesters thinking they’re Trump supporters.

“Let’s put it this way: Edward R. Murrow in the trenches covering the Battle of the Bulge, I ain’t,” Gallagher laughed. “I mean, me walking around in 100-degree weather. So, finally, I get to within about two miles of the jail. The Uber driver — who’s already annoyed about the traffic — drops me off two miles from the jail.”

After mentioning that the jail where Trump would be processed was “in the hood”, Gallagher noted he made it just in time to see the President.

“As it turns out, when I got there, what comes pulling out of the Fulton County Jail? The Trump motorcade. So I got video of the motorcade. I saw the whole procedure. I interviewed a bunch of people. White, Black, pro-Trump, anti-Trump, and it all turned out fine.”

107.5 The Game Expands to 3 Market Network in South Carolina

BSM Staff
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107.5 The Game Expands to 3 Market Network in South Carolina

More change is afoot at 107.5 The Game in Columbia, SC. Last week, the station said goodbye to Heath Cline after he and Cumulus could not come to terms on a new contract. This week’s news is much more positive.

The Game is now a state-wide network. The station will be heard in Florence and Myrtle Beach in addition to Columbia.

Cumulus moved its Hot AC station Q100.5 to 100.1 FM to make room for 100.5 The Game in Florence. In Myrtle Beach, 100.3 The Team has rebranded to 100.3 The Game.

Both stations will carry morning and midday shows from Columbia. In Florence, 100.5 The Game will carry the entire Columbia lineup, while Myrtle Beach sports fans will hear Paul Finebaum in afternoon drive.

The model is similar to one Cumulus follows in Alabama, where programming from JOX 94.5 in Birmingham is also heard in Montgomery and Huntsville.

Ian Rapoport Leaving Pat McAfee Show to Launch New Show on NFL+ & NFL Network

BSM Staff
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Ian Rapoport Leaving Pat McAfee Show to Launch New Show on NFL+ & NFL Network

It seems like Ian Rapoport’s time with the Pat McAfee Show is over. After all of the speculation about whether or not ESPN would allow the NFL Network insider to appear on the show once McAfee and crew move to network TV, it turns out that it is Rapoport that is making the change. 

He will be part of a new show on NFL+ and NFL Network called NFL Insiders. It will air live on NFL+ at noon. It will re-air at 1 pm on linear TV.

“We are genuinely pumped for you, though, because they’re not just handing out daily shows over there at NFL Network. That’s not something they do,” McAfee said. “You know what I mean? Good Morning Football gets rerun seven times I think through the day and then NFL Total Access is at night. I’ve actually like reached out to NFL Network, not this cycle but like two cycles ago…that conversation went pretty slowly so I think you should be incredibly proud of yourself, Rap. You’ve done great.”

McAfee then ribbed Rapoport a little bit for the narrative surrounding his move to ESPN. McAfee said he fought hard to make sure wherever he took the show would allow him to have Rapoport on instead of forcing another NFL reporter on in his place. The audience may not have understood that and also came after McAfee. Now, all of that is irrelevant.

“Our people were calling me a sell-out to protect you, who works for the NFL full-time and and we’re attacking me for, like, not being able to have it. It was actually a big piece of the negotiation is being able to have our people on and now you say ‘yeah, actually give me a show that’s noon to three. I’m heartbroken about it.”

There are no hard feelings though. McAfee made it clear that all he wants to do is celebrate Rapoport’s success.

“I am pumped for you. I think your show’s going to be amazing,” McAfee said. “I think we’re probably going to end up quoting it a bunch because of the amount of information it’s going to come out of it. It’s actually a pretty sound business move by the NFL Network folks to do it.”

Bill Handel: ‘I’d Rather Be Safe Than Sorry’ After Charges Tropical Storm Was Overhyped

BNM Staff
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Last week, Los Angeles dealt with its first forecasted hurricane — which was reduced to a tropical storm — in decades. After the storm was downgraded, many in the city of Angels argued it was overhyped by the media. KFI AM-640’s Bill Handel defended the media over the accusations.

During Monday’s show, Handel argued that it was important for forecasters and news media members to give accurate information.

“Hurricane Hillary: Overhyped? Maybe. Maybe,” Handel reiterated. “But I’d rather be safe than sorry. So as Hurricane Hillary barrels towards Southern California last week, the storm actually made international news. I mean, it was a big deal, mainly — not because of its power, because there we’ve had hurricanes that have come in at hurricane level five in Florida.

“And the system did turn out to be historic for Southern California. Officials did issue the region’s first-ever tropical storm watch later upgraded to a warning for broad swaths of the southland because it became the first storm of that strength to hit our region in decades, basically since 1939. And the system did turn out to be historic, dumping a record summer rainfall and tropical storm winds reaching speeds seen twice in the last century.”

Handel then noted how far technology has come, as virtually the only people impacted by a potential hurricane are those who refuse to heed warnings in advance.

“In 1900, the Galveston, Texas hurricane was unknown. People didn’t know it was coming. 8,000 people died in Galveston. Today we have the warnings and the only people that are in danger of dying are people that simply ignore the warnings,” concluded Handel.

NPR Ending Local Version of Consider This Podcast

BNM Staff
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NPR Ending Local Version of Consider This Podcast

Less than two years after its debut, NPR is ending its local editions of the Consider This podcast.

The podcast combined national stories from the All Things Considered program with local news stories from 12 stations in 10 markets.

However, an NPR spokesperson said the localization of the podcast “didn’t prove sustainable”.

After launching as the Coronavirus Daily podcast, the outlet developed the podcast with local stories from Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., in September 2020.

The network’s Vice President of Audio Platform Strategy, Joel Sucherman, said localizing the daily podcast was growing “more and more difficult”.

“The production really hinged on a couple of people doing a lot of manual work on the NPR side using ad technology … to do something that it was not really intended to do to begin with,” he told Current.org.

Consider This was ranked as the 29th most-listened to podcast by weekly average downloads in the latest rankings from Triton Digital. Eight of the top 30 podcasts in the category are produced by NPR.

Steak Shapiro: NFL Preseason is a Bad Product, I’m Done Talking About it

BSM Staff
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With the preseason over, the NFL should be kicking off its season immediately. That would certainly make sports talk radio sound a little bit fresher. 

Steak Shapiro blasted the NFL on Monday for the way the schedule is set up.

“It’s such a bad product, the way this thing gets rolled out,” he said on the Steakhouse on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta. “And they do set themselves up for criticism. We’ve got to wait another, what is it? Thirteen days?”

Atlanta Falcons fans are on the fence about their offense heading into the 2023 season. While there is excitement for the talent at the skill positions, many are not sold on quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Shapiro said he is not going to spend the next two weeks talking about whether or not Ridder is ready or if he got enough reps in the preseason.

“I’m not talking about the same thing anymore,” he said. “I’ve been talking about this for five months! I’m going to talk about where to go get a good fried fisherman’s platter before I’m going to talk about how is Desmond Ridder going to look with Bijan and Kyle Pitts and Drake London.”

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