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The Echoes of Team USA Hockey Gold Should Wake up Sports Media From Its Slumber

John Lund
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The Echoes of Team USA Hockey Gold Should Wake up Sports Media From Its Slumber

On February 22, 2026 — exactly 46 years to the day after the Miracle on Ice. The United States men’s hockey team did something it hadn’t done since a group of college kids shocked the Soviet Union in Lake Placid: win Olympic gold.

A 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in Milan. Dentally challenged Jack Hughes firing a five-hole shot past Jordan Binnington 1:41 into overtime, missing teeth and all. NBC’s Kenny Albert delivering a call that is still bouncing off satellite dishes across the country: “Jack Hughes wins it, the golden goal for the United States.”

Now comes the debate that every sports media outlet in America will wrestle with for years: Can 2026 ever sit alongside 1980 in the American sports pantheon? More urgently — what does it mean for how this country covers, consumes and cares about hockey going forward?

Before the mythology machine fully cranks up, let’s acknowledge what the stats say.

Canada was dominant. They outshot the United States 42-28. They scored 28 goals in the tournament — nearly five per game. In the second period alone, they fired 19 shots on goal, the most by any team in a single period in Olympic gold medal game history.

If this were a boxing match, every judge at ringside had Canada winning on points going into the 12th round.

Yet they couldn’t beat Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 of 42 shots. He turned away a Connor McDavid breakaway and a Macklin Celebrini breakaway. He survived a 5-on-3 power play that should have broken the Americans completely.

In the third period, he reached back and denied Devon Toews on a shot that had no right to be stopped. Toews stared at an open net. Hellebuyck found the one inch of space the puck could reach and beat it there. That save alone will be looped on highlight reels for decades.

Oh, and Jack Hughes had already lost multiple teeth to a high stick before he went out and scored the overtime winner. Try finding that kind of toughness in most professional sports today. LeBron and Luka would still be arguing with officials.

The media should be screaming from every platform it has: Hockey, the last real sport.

Here’s the number that should be changing editorial calendars right now: 26 million. That’s how many Americans were watching when Hughes scored in a gold medal game that started at 8:15 Eastern in the morning.

On a Sunday. Before most of the country had finished its first cup of coffee. The live audience was 18.6 million on NBC and Peacock, making it the most-watched sporting event before 9 a.m. ET in United States history.

Not just for hockey. Not just for the Olympics. For all of American sports history.

For context, more Americans watched this hockey game before breakfast than typically tune into the NBA Finals in prime time. The sports media world has spent years handwringing about hockey’s place in the American sports conversation — too regional, too niche. Sunday morning answered that question definitively.

The audience is there. The appetite is real. The question now is whether the industry has the nerve to feed it.

ESPN and TNT Sports should be asking hard questions this week. Will they invest more in hockey coverage? Push more regular-season NHL games into prominent windows? Will they chase this moment the way ABC chased college basketball after 1979, when Magic and Bird made the sport must-see television overnight?

They should. The blueprint sits in the ratings data.

Then there’s the broader media culture question: Will this game create hockey fans? It should. Jack Hughes missing teeth and scoring in overtime is exactly the kind of image that converts casual viewers into believers.

The NBA has spent years marketing its stars while its product has become a nightly flop-a-thon, foul-shot competition and load-management showcase. Meanwhile, Hughes didn’t blink. Nobody asked whether his tooth situation required a “maintenance day.” He played. He scored. That contrast writes itself, and smart sports media should be writing it loudly.

In 1980, the United States beat the Soviet Union. The Soviets had beaten the NHL All-Stars in an exhibition shortly before the Olympics. They were considered unbeatable. The Americans were amateurs, mostly college players, facing a professional machine built by a state.

Al Michaels’ call — “Do you believe in miracles?” — wasn’t hyperbole. It was a sincere question, asked in real time, because few in that building believed what they were watching. America still had to beat Finland 4-2 to win gold, a game that felt almost anticlimactic by comparison. The miracle had already happened.

In 2026, the Americans were not amateurs. They were NHL stars competing against the best Canadian team in years, and it seemed gold was destined to return to the Great White North. Still, this was a rivalry. The United States has now won Olympic gold in hockey exactly three times in more than 100 years of the sport — 1960, 1980 and 2026. They were not plucky unknowns.

However, they were not expected to win, and Hellebuyck’s brilliance combined with Hughes’ golden goal created the kind of athletic drama that sports media lives for.

What 2026 has that 1980 doesn’t is Canada as the perfect foil — the country that invented the sport, treats it as a national birthright and hasn’t seen a Canadian franchise win the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. The maple leaf crowd has waited for an Olympics to heal that wound. Instead, it watched salt poured in by the Americans on the anniversary of Lake Placid, no less.

Kenny Albert’s call isn’t “Do you believe in miracles?” — nothing ever will be — but it doesn’t need to be. It only needs to be remembered, and now it will be.

The honest answer is that 1980 will always be the Miracle. Al Michaels still owns the greatest call in sports broadcasting history. 2026 is not trying to be 1980. It’s trying to stand on its own — and it has the raw material. Hellebuyck’s Toews save. Hughes’ bloody, toothless smile after the golden goal. A viewership record that rewrote the rulebook for morning sports television.

A Canada-USA rivalry that now has a new, burning chapter.

The media’s job now is to keep this moment alive. Cover the NHL with the urgency it deserves. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are coming up, competing with the NBA, and the action sells if the right networks fully embrace it.

At the same time, acknowledge basketball’s issues with tanking, fouling, stoppages and overall style. Once a hockey period starts, there are no bathroom breaks. The pace is relentless. NBA whistles create a symphony of uneven play, followed by a parade of players berating officials.

Plaster hockey players on the front of ESPN.com. Lead SportsCenter with pucks. Include hockey topics among the burning questions on morning sports talk shows, not just another recycled LeBron take. Tell this story every February 22. Make Jack Hughes what Magic Johnson became after 1979 — not just a great player, but a symbol of something larger.

The audience proved Sunday morning that it’s ready. The only question is whether the sports media industry is ready to meet it.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Rock Radio Hosts Need to Be Sure to Never Make a Trip to Lake Me

Keith Cunningham
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Rock Radio Hosts Need to Be Sure to Never Make a Trip to Lake Me

I unfollowed a childhood friend this week. No drama, no rock radio issues, but he just lives in Lake Me.

Do you know about Lake Me? It’s not a bad place but people drown there.

It traps talent, brands, and it can pull anyone under. It brings problems on the air, but online is the deep end.

Lake Me is where everything is about you:

  • Your wins
  • Your grind
  • Your brilliance
  • Your opinion on everything
  • Even your mundane

It’s ok to celebrate yourself. Post the selfie with Grohl, show off your grilled cheese masterpiece, and let us know if you save a baby from a burning building. Just make sure that seesaw comes down after your personal high and gives a ride up for others, because they’re expecting it.

Why are they expecting it? Social media is personal. It’s my personal page.

Yes, it is. But it’s also personal for scrollers and fans. If talent and brands don’t remember that — and only deliver exhausting laps in Lake Me — that’s when it gets dangerous.

Fair or not, most everything talent or brands do online is viewed as business in the eyes of others, especially clients and fans. That’s the difference between Lake Me and Lake Them.

Lake Me vs. Lake Them

Lake Me fills your personal tank, your self-worth, the achievements, stuff you really care about. While important, it’s best used in moderation. Lake Them is what builds an audience, creates bonds, and includes them.

Lake Me harmlessly says:

  • Long week of shows, meetings and appearances. No show tomorrow, I’m just chillin’ tonight with Jack Daniels and Netflix.

That’s fine. But who’s that for? It’s “look at me” with a status update no one asked for. Too much of that and you’ll have fewer followers than I do.

Lake Them says:

  • Finally the weekend. Jack Daniels and Netflix. Got any Night Agent drinking games? Takeout musts?

Both are touchpoints: whiskey, Netflix and chill. But the intent is different. Different relationships. The Lake Me post won’t get you kicked off social, but it was a humble brag about meetings and appearances and a one-way broadcast about YOU… or ME. Lake Them was a conversational invite into your evening. Subtle difference, but important.

Not everything needs to drive interaction but how we talk to the audience matters. Scrollers notice.

More examples:

  • Lake Me: Ratings came out today. The show was #1 AGAIN.
  • Lake Them: Ratings say #1 again. Probably a mistake, there should be a recount.
  • Lake Me: Sorry I haven’t posted in a few days. Big paydays are great but traveling for keynotes is brutal.
  • Lake Them: Been running around pretending I’m smart to pay the rent. What’d I miss, fill me in?

Now think about rock bands. Some treat every day like it’s their birthday. But those that stand out build careers on songs that make fans feel something — a collective experience, a shared identity, the fans are always on blast — that’s Lake Them.

But it all shifts when fans feel like they’re suddenly being lectured or talked at — the whole vibe changes. You feel it and see it: when artist preach, talk too loudly about themselves or slip into too much Lake Me, fans will drift down the lake to other boats.

It’s important to be you and let the world know when you’re killing it. Just don’t forget that intent is felt and it’s not always all about you. It’s also easy to spot the regulars quietly shouting, “Look at ME… I’m in Lake ME.”

  • “I” more than “you.”
  • Posts are like lectures or acceptance speeches.
  • Experts on everything.
  • Trying to force boring into being relevant.
  • Credit rarely shared.
  • Reciprocal interaction is sparse.
  • Humble brags in disguise

That’s chlorine poisoning.

For onliners, there’s no discernible difference between personal pages and brand pages, and the audience wants you in Lake Them.

If you’re a manager, have a chat about Lake Me with your team. And just for fun, review your FB or IG feeds and count all the “Lake Me” posts you see today. You won’t be able to unsee them.

Lake Me.

Go for a swim.

Just don’t become a VIP member.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Conan O’Brien Proved the Biggest Advantage Podcasts Have Over Every Other Medium

Garrett Searight
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Conan O’Brien Proved the Biggest Advantage Podcasts Have Over Every Other Medium

Conan O’Brien didn’t mince words when he talked about the freedom he’s found in podcasting. The longtime late-night host made it clear that the medium has given him something traditional broadcasting never quite could: room to breathe.

For those in spoken-word radio, his comments should resonate — and maybe sting a little.

Podcasting will always have a leg up in at least one critical area: hyperpersonalization. That edge isn’t going away. It isn’t dependent on quarterly ratings or transmitter reach. It’s baked into the DNA of the format.

O’Brien recently explained just how different his creative life feels now.

“I think I reach more people now, either through the podcast or doing the travel show. I have all this freedom to be me in different ways, in different formats,” he said during an appearance on The New Yorker Radio Hour. “There’s a lot of really beautiful opportunities, and I’ve been having a blast and getting to have types of interviews I never could have had in that old ‘you’re up in the attic’ format.”

That’s not just a celebrity enjoying a second act. In transparency’s sake, I’m a big Conan O’Brien fan. I think he’s a comedic genius. That’s why I believe his thoughts are a blueprint for why podcasting keeps pulling talent and audience alike.

Broadcast radio, especially in the spoken-word space, is built on mass appeal within a defined geography. Stations need to capture the largest possible share of a specific market. They’re tasked with serving a metro. They live and die by how many people in that area they can aggregate at once.

Podcasters don’t have that burden. They don’t have to win mornings in Dallas or afternoons in Phoenix. They don’t have to super-serve a 35+ demo in a single ZIP code. Instead, they can chase a niche audience scattered across the country, with reckless abandon, and build something sustainable around it.

That hyperpersonalized nature is an enduring advantage. A true-crime host can speak directly to diehards who want forensic detail. A political podcaster can zero in on whatever minutiae they deem important. A comedy show can lean into absurdity without worrying about offending half the cume of Peoria.

None of that means podcasters don’t want big numbers, obviously. They absolutely do. Scale matters for ad revenue and influence. But they’re not bound to casting the widest possible net in a specific city just to survive. They can thrive with depth instead of sheer breadth.

That freedom extends beyond content. It touches format and structure, too.

“I can talk to Robert Caro for an hour and a half, and then talk to Al Pacino, but then talk to Charlie XCX for an hour. I mean, this old format is going away, but they’re being replaced by a multitude of other ways to connect with people and be funny, and be satirical, and be probing, and let your talent run wild — that in some ways are more freeing,” O’Brien said. “And you can be master of your own destiny. You’re not working for, ultimately, a giant toothpaste company or whoever it is who owns your studio.”

That’s the ballgame. An hour and a half with Robert Caro doesn’t fit neatly into a terrestrial clock. Neither does a freewheeling deep dive with Al Pacino. Spoken-word radio lives inside spot blocks and hard outs. Podcasting lives inside conversations.

Which brings us to another structural advantage: lighter spot loads.

Anyone who listens to commercial news/talk radio knows the drill. Four-minute breaks. Six-minute breaks. Traffic, weather, legal ID. Then do it all over again. The economics of broadcasting demand it. Running an AM or FM radio station ain’t cheap.

Podcasts operate differently. Host-read ads feel more like endorsements than interruptions. Breaks are shorter and can be harder to decipher that they’re even a read at all. Sometimes they’re skipped entirely by subscribers. Even when they’re present, they’re often integrated into the tone of the show.

That doesn’t mean podcasting is ad-free. It’s not. However, the overall load is almost universally lighter. The listening experience feels less cluttered. For audiences conditioned to expect on-demand control, that matters.

Spoken-word radio can’t simply slash inventory to compete. The math doesn’t work. Public companies have margins to hit. Local operators have payroll to meet. Meanwhile, a podcaster with a lean team and national reach can build a profitable business with fewer interruptions and a more intimate feel.

Intimacy might be the real secret sauce. Podcasts live in earbuds. They’re consumed at the gym, on a walk, during a commute. Hosts often speak in a more conversational tone. The relationship feels one-to-one instead of one-to-many.

That’s where hyperpersonalization and lighter loads intersect. Listeners feel chosen rather than targeted. They subscribe. They download. It’s a different psychological contract.

Radio still owns immediacy. It still dominates during breaking news. It still has unmatched local reach when a storm hits or a city council implodes. None of that is going away.

Yet when it comes to carving out deeply specific communities and nurturing them with minimal friction, podcasting holds a permanent edge. Geography doesn’t limit it. Clocks don’t constrain it. Corporate structures don’t box it in the same way.

Conan O’Brien’s joy isn’t accidental. Instead, it’s the product of a medium designed for flexibility and comfort. Broadcasting will continue to evolve. Smart operators will borrow from the podcast playbook. But the hyperpersonalized core of podcasting — paired with fewer ads and more freedom — is an advantage that’s here to stay.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Are Americans Really Living on the Political Extremes?

Bob Lawrence
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Are Americans Really Living on the Political Extremes?

Scrolling through social media and watching news outlets these days would have you think that most Americans live on the hard left or the hard right. But do we – really?

I certainly don’t feel a need to be evenly yoked with everyone. I have no idea how my neighbors feel about any political issues. President Trump, ICE, liberal, conservative, and left or right never seem to come up in everyday conversation. I have never seen the everyday folks who share my street wake up each morning eager to fight ideological battles or defend their political identity.

I just see them doing what we all do. Focus on work, family, bills, health, and whether they have enough time and energy to get through the day.

While the loudest voices tend to dominate the conversation, I have never believed they represent the majority. Even when I traveled the globe on behalf of media companies in other countries. People were simply trying to navigate everyday life.

I’ve worked in radio for most of my life, including news/talk operations. I can say that outside of on-air content, no one internally discussed personal opinions. Nowadays, most HR departments require training on avoiding conflict in the workplace by not offering personal views.

Largely because a few insist on doing so.

When did the world change so drastically that we need to be reminded about common courtesy and manners? I am convinced that the majority of us live in a pretty wide, quiet “middle zone.” Not because we couldn’t care less, but because most of our real lives never fit into neat ideological boxes.

People can be passionate about one thing and less so about another. They can support one social issue while strongly disagreeing with another. We can agree or disagree with either or both parties and still care deeply about our nation and communities.

It’s those who create commonality who outweigh the extremes.

Make no mistake – I absolutely have political and religious convictions, and for several I am very passionate. However, I rarely, if ever, share them aloud. Virtue signaling and standing on moral high ground have apparently taken center stage, but constant conflict can be dangerous. It’s truly exhausting and unhealthy.

Studies show that constant stress has direct links to cancer. Life already offers an overabundance of pressure and obligations, and as we get older, added health concerns. It’s odd enough arguing online with strangers (who somehow are on my friends list), defending positions or dealing with tensions. Doing so never makes life better for anyone.

Many in our industry forget that offering opinions can hurt business and personal careers. Just this week, I saw a voiceover talent who depends on others for a living strongly voice personal opinions on social media.

Does he not realize that he risks offending many who have the potential to do business with him? Managers tell everyone the same thing for those reasons.

Please note that throughout this, I offer no personal opinions or partisanship. I only question whether the noise we see and hear lives firmly on the edges rather than in the mainstream middle.

Why define ourselves through a narrow political lens? We are all just parents, children, business owners, workers, family members, neighbors, caregivers, creators, believers, skeptics, and problem-solvers.

When issues hit close to home, like schools, roads, safety, and healthcare, shouldn’t the rest take a backseat? In my mind, practical outcomes for real lives matter most.

The rest is noise.

As members of the media, we all know that amplifying controversy shapes public perception. Let’s face it — what generates ratings and clicks? Voices of reason or extreme opinions? As a result, the political conversation we see every day bends toward conflict.

Perhaps the country is not as divided as it appears. Think about your daily life at work. Most of us quietly coexist, compromise, and collaborate without openly denouncing anyone. Not so much on social media.

My basic needs are simple. Stability, fairness, and the freedom to live my life with my wonderful wife. I am convinced that people want to raise their kids in good schools, earn a living without fear of losing it, and then go home and snuggle up inside their own little cocoon of safety.

There’s a theory of late that we aren’t talking enough. I suggest that maybe — just maybe — we should talk a little less and stop oversharing every little thought we have.

When I grew up, no one shared political opinions or told others who they voted for. You stepped into a booth, pulled the curtain, and made your selection. Before and after that moment, only you knew your thought process. Even my mom and dad didn’t tell each other who they voted for.

In my mind, this constant barrage of outrage only creates more skepticism about anything and everything, including trust in our industry. We all want solutions to everyday issues that affect our nation, cities, and communities. We hope we are smart enough to leave the loud noisemaking to those we elected to take it on.

For me, anything else is little more than political theater and, frankly, I have seen this show before and I’m really tired of it.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Why Scott Stanford Believes Relatability Helped 1010 WINS Morning Show to New Heights

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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Why Scott Stanford Believes Relatability Helped 1010 WINS Morning Show to New Heights

1010 WINS morning anchor Scott Stanford a master showman, and his morning drive show was just named the #2 Morning Drive show in a Major Market by Barrett Media.

“When you look at all the great talent and great stations, it really is cool to be number two. And we’re looking to do even better next year and get to number one, if it’s possible,” Stanford told Barrett Media.

Humbly, Stanford admitted how important the whole morning show team is, both on and off the air.

“[My co-anchor Susan Richard and I], we’re a great mix in the morning, and the whole morning team!” he said of the Audacy-owned outfit. “This is the greatest place I’ve ever worked. It’s a place where you are valued as talent. There’s no egos, from the folks who are on the air to the producers to the production assistants. Everybody has a great time getting the work done. There’s a lot of fun in between.”

Stanford, a seven-time Emmy winner, is one of the lucky ones. In his 25-plus years in media, he’s never had to leave his home market, New York. “I got all my training and my ‘out-of-town experience’ in Rockland and Westchester on small stations like WRKL and WFAS. Then one day, before I knew it, I ended up at WCBS 880.”

From there, Stanford jumped into the TV world. For 15 years, he worked at WWE, as well as different local outlets in the country’s #1 market, including NBC 4, Fox 5/My9, and PIX11.

He spent nearly six years at WPIX in several different roles. “[PIX11] had a lot of management changes here and there,” he reminisced. “So I went from doing news to being the sports guy to being the morning co-host with Sukanya Krishnan (Suki) on the PIX11 Morning News, and then back to being the sports guy. So in the six years I spent there, I pretty much did everything — including cleaning the bathrooms.”

Stanford and PIX parted ways in 2019, but his kinship with Suki is eternal, and in 2020, the pair launched The Suki and Scott Show. “Our first guest was Jerry Springer,” he recalled. “May he rest in peace. Love Jerry Springer. Jerry came on, did a little show with us. We started posting it on Facebook and, lo and behold, 2,000 shows later, we basically had almost every Hollywood celebrity and performer on the program.”

Today, the show is streamed on USA Today Streaming and QVC Plus. “Everybody always says they feel like they’re hanging out with their friends. They love our interviews when we interview these folks,” Stanford said. “We just started doing it as a hobby six years ago, and now it’s become a nice little business for us.”

In addition to his streaming show, Stanford returned to his radio roots in 2025, this time with WINS. “I started as a freelancer, just getting my feet wet there, learning the equipment,” he clarified. This is because, “At WINS, the anchors do it all. We run the board, all the sound that you hear. We throw to the weather, the traffic, and the reporters. We’re controlling everything you hear coming through the radio, including the commercials. So it takes a little time to get used to that stuff.”

Timing is everything in this business, so when the impeccable Lee Harris left, Ben Mevorach and Ivan Lee turned to Stanford. “Three years later, we’re still doing it. The ratings have almost tripled,” he said. “We’re the number one listened-to morning radio program in the country, as far as CUME audience goes, and it’s just been a fantastic run that just keeps getting better.”

The common thread Stanford brings to both his morning drive and The Suki and Scott Show is comedy and a little levity. “Most of the folks who write [to 1010 WINS] say they just love how we mix in the fun and the humor because, listen, most of the time all the news is bad news. Right. I mean, you’ve got to report the bad news.” Stanford added, “[But] in between the bad news, bad traffic, and now with the bad weather in the winter, people always say, ‘Hey, I love listening to you in the morning. I get all the information I need. You make me laugh.’”

“I make them laugh because I say things that they can relate to. I love to do some impressions. We sing a little bit, play some funny clips. It’s just a little buffet of everything. And my producers know that among the stories we have to cover every day, there are two or three fun things we can do, which are either New York-centric or from around the country and sometimes the world.”

For those looking to follow in his footsteps, Stanford suggests, “If you’re hosting a show, obviously you want to be relatable to your audience. I always tell young broadcasters, just don’t try to be somebody else — just be yourself. And when you’re being yourself, people on the other side of the mic will feel that and they’ll be able to relate to you.”

But don’t expect it to come overnight. There is a lot of time and practice involved in becoming a great anchor, no matter the subject material. “So when the time comes for that big audition and somebody gives you a shot, you’ll be ready to go. Just like when they gave me a shot to do 1010 WINS, I was ready to go.”

He added a good show is “all about creativity and fun.” This is because, “When it comes to news, the news is the news. It’s going to be whatever it is. But what you do with the other time that you have in that newscast is what makes people want to stick around because they can get their news from anywhere. It’s the people who are going to make you laugh and have fun that you’re going to come back to watch.”

Stanford did give youngsters fair warning. “The problem with this business is that your job is always dependent upon the next person who takes over as your boss. It’s such an objective and subjective business. You could be the best news anchor in the world, but the jobs above you come and go pretty often.”

Later opining, “It’s almost like it’s a revolving door a lot of times when it comes to management. The next person that comes in can be like, ‘You know what? Yeah, this guy’s good. I know our ratings are good, but I don’t really like him. You’re done.’ It’s such a crazy, subjective business.”

But for Stanford, this brings him to the beauty of working at New York’s #1 all-news radio station, 1010 WINS on 92.3 FM. “I’ve been at a lot of different places broadcasting-wise. This is the greatest place I’ve ever worked. I always tell people, getting up at 1:30 in the morning makes it worthwhile because you’re going to a place that you absolutely love being. And that’s the best thing I could say.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Netflix Backs Out Of Warner Bros. Discovery Bidding With Paramount Likely To Secure

BSM Staff
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Netflix Backs Out Of Warner Bros. Discovery Bidding With Paramount Likely To Secure

Netflix has officially stepped aside in the high-profile pursuit of Warner Bros., clearing a path for Paramount Skydance to move forward with what now appears to be the winning bid for the storied studio.

In a statement released Thursday, Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters confirmed the company will not increase its offer to match the latest proposal submitted by David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance.

While Netflix had previously positioned its bid as financially sound and strategically beneficial, leadership ultimately determined that raising the offer would no longer make economic sense for shareholders.

The executives emphasized that their proposal would have delivered long-term value and maintained a straightforward regulatory pathway. However, they reiterated that the acquisition was never considered essential to Netflix’s broader business strategy.

Instead, they described Warner Bros. as an attractive opportunity only at a price aligned with the company’s disciplined financial approach.

“At the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive,” Sarandos and Peters said. They also expressed appreciation for Warner Bros. Discovery leadership, including CEO David Zaslav and the company’s board, calling the negotiation process thorough and professional.

With Netflix stepping away, Paramount Skydance now stands in prime position to secure approval from the Warner Bros. Discovery board, which earlier Thursday labeled Paramount’s revised proposal a “superior” offer. That designation significantly reshaped the trajectory of negotiations and signaled where momentum had shifted.

Zaslav acknowledged Netflix’s participation in the process, praising the streaming giant and its leadership for their collaborative approach during discussions. At the same time, he expressed enthusiasm about the potential merger with Paramount Skydance, noting that the combined entity could create meaningful shareholder value and strengthen the company’s competitive position across film, television and streaming.

The deal represents another major turning point in an entertainment industry still recalibrating amid shifting economics, streaming consolidation and Wall Street pressure to prioritize profitability over scale alone. For Netflix, the decision reinforces a strategy centered on disciplined capital allocation rather than aggressive expansion through costly acquisitions.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr: ‘We’re Exploring the Relationship Between Sports and Broadcast’ Due to Local News Funding

BNM Staff
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FCC Chair Brendan Carr: ‘We’re Exploring the Relationship Between Sports and Broadcast’ Due to Local News Funding

On Wednesday, the FCC revealed it would launch an inquiry into sports television rights partners and the increased usage of streaming platforms to broadcast major events.

In a Public Notice, the bureau pointed to a longstanding tradition in which viewers could turn on a television and easily locate major sporting events without paying additional fees beyond a basic antenna or cable package, contrasting that experience with today’s environment, where fans often juggle multiple subscriptions to follow a single league or even one team across a full season.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr appeared on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show on Thursday afternoon, and explained why the commission is looking into the issue.

“In recent years, it’s gotten a lot more complicated,” said Carr. “People are having to sign up for bespoke streaming services. They can’t find the game they want to watch. They’re signing up for free trials of one platform just to get a playoff game, and then they have to remember to cancel it down the road. Many of them are paying more out of pocket. That’s a problem. It’s a real frustration.

“There’s a role for the FCC here, too, because when sports are broadcast over the air on television, that helps drive advertisers to local broadcasters, and that’s what ends up funding local news and local reporting,” continued Carr. “So we’re exploring this relationship between sports and broadcast … As more and more games start to go behind paywalls, it begins to tug at some of the underpinnings of that Sports Broadcasting Act. I think people are right to start asking whether we have the right regulatory framework in place right now.”

The FCC chairman continued by questioning if local television would be viable without NFL broadcasts, which will see its rights deals with over-the-air broadcasters CBS, FOX, and NBC be up for renewal in 2029.

“If too many of those games start to go behind a paywall, it’s a problem on many fronts. I think it’s a problem for local news and for broadcasters. I think it’s a problem for consumers who will continue to be frustrated by an inability to find the games,” Carr said. “And again, it starts to undermine some of the reasons why we have the Sports Broadcasting Act. Now look, there are some good things that come from this as well. There are more games available now, so there is some upside. But there’s also real consumer frustration. I hope the NFL ultimately finds the right balance where we still get these free over-the-air games that help grow the sport.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

FOX Sports introduces ‘Sports AI with Colin Cowherd’ On FOX Sports App

BSM Staff
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FOX Sports introduces ‘Sports AI with Colin Cowherd’ On FOX Sports App

FOX Sports has officially entered the generative AI space with the launch of Sports AI with Colin Cowherd, an interactive chat feature built to deliver real-time scores, news, statistics, predictions and analysis directly inside the FOX Sports app.

Introduced Thursday via The Herd w/Colin Cowherd, the product leans into the voice and tone of Colin Cowherd, whose confident, debate-ready style anchors the marketing push with the tagline: “You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers.”

The experience mirrors the cadence and big-picture framing that have defined Cowherd’s work across FOX Sports Radio and FS1, while layering in live data and machine learning capabilities.

According to FOX Sports, the platform is an AI Agent with access to FOX Sports’ extensive content library and real-time sports data. Whether you’re seeking game predictions, player comparisons, historical context, or breaking news, Sports AI delivers relevant, accurate, and timely responses tailored to your interests. Experience sports knowledge reimagined – where cutting-edge AI meets the passion of sports fandom.

Unlike static scoreboards or traditional recaps, Sports AI functions through conversation. It allows fans to explore specific questions in real time. A user might ask how a quarterback’s recent play affects his long-term value. Another might question whether a coaching change signals deeper organizational instability. The response would arrive in a narrative-driven tone similar to the style Colin Cowherd often delivers on air.

FOX Sports positions the tool as an extension of its on-air programming rather than a replacement for it. Offering audiences another touchpoint with a recognizable brand voice beyond television and radio windows.

By embedding the feature directly into the FOX Sports app, the company ensures accessibility for users who increasingly expect on-demand, personalized interactions instead of one-size-fits-all content feeds.

The move also reflects a larger industry trend as media companies seek to pair proprietary content libraries with AI infrastructure capable of scaling personality-driven experiences. FOX Sports aims to ground the chatbot’s responses in verified data while maintaining stylistic consistency rooted in Cowherd’s established viewpoints and rhetorical approach.

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Rob Kendall Launching Digital Show Following 93 WIBC Exit

BNM Staff
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Rob Kendall Launching Digital Show Following 93 WIBC Exit

Former 93 WIBC midday host Rob Kendall is launching a digital show following his exit from the Urban One Indianapolis news/talk station.

Kendall exited the show he hosted alongside Casey Daniels earlier this month after noting that he had been off the air following a contract dispute with the organization. He shared that he had been working without a contract since late October of 2025. Kendall & Casey earned seventh place in the 2025 Barrett Media Top 20 News/Talk Radio Mid-Market Midday Shows category.

The Rob Kendall Show is set to debut on Monday, March 2nd. The program will air live from 10 AM to Noon ET on both YouTube and his personal website.

In a promotional video published on YouTube, Kendall shared what the new show will entail.

“You guys know this: no one takes on the politicians like me,” Kendall said. “Nobody advocates for better government like me. And most importantly, nobody fights for you like me. And that’s what we’re gonna do every weekday.”

During his contract dispute and subsequent separation from 93 WIBC, Rob Kendall had been hosting a daily live video commentary from his home on Facebook Live.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Mike Francesa Still Remains in Touch With Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on a Range of Things

BSM Staff
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Mike Francesa Still Remains in Touch With Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on a Range of Things

Mike Francesa is opening up about the past — and making clear that while Mike and the Mad Dog is no longer on the air, his relationship with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo remains very much alive.

On the latest episode of The Mike Francesa Podcast, the former WFAN afternoon host reflected on whether he misses the groundbreaking show that helped define sports talk radio for two decades. Francesa admitted that there are moments when he looks back fondly on the run he shared with Russo, pointing to the longevity and intensity of a partnership that spanned 20 years in afternoon drive in New York.

“Yeah, I miss ‘Mike and The Mad Dog’ sometimes,” Francesa said. “It was fun. We had a lot of crazy days and had our fights. We had a lot of good times together. Remember we were together for 20 years. We weren’t together for a week, for two weeks. Some people do shows now for three or four years, and talk about how they have a legacy. Hey, we were together for 20 years.”

The duo launched their partnership at WFAN over three decades ago and quickly became a defining force in the format. Their mix of deep sports knowledge, combative exchanges and unmistakable chemistry turned afternoons into must-listen radio, influencing an entire generation of programmers and hosts. Although the show ended when Russo departed in 2008, its impact continues to be cited as a blueprint for successful sports talk duos.

Just as notable as Francesa’s nostalgia was his description of his current relationship with Russo, which runs counter to the long-held perception that the two have little contact.

“Dog and I do stay in touch,” Francesa said. “We try to get a golf game together now and again when we can. We stay in touch about life, stuff like the kids,” said Francesa.

According to Francesa, their conversations now center more on family, personal updates and occasional professional advice rather than daily sports arguments. He described a dynamic in which each might run an idea past the other, seek input or simply catch up, emphasizing that they “get along very well.”

“He might run something past me, I might run something past him. We might talk about something, a different thing. You might call about a certain thing. I’m thinking of doing this. What do you think about this? What do you think about that? We talk. We get along very well,” said Francesa.

For fans who followed every heated exchange on WFAN, the revelation offers perspective. On-air tension does not always lead to lasting personal conflict. Instead, Mike Francesa’s comments suggest something different. He described two longtime partners who remain in contact. Though their careers diverged, their communication has endured years after the split.

While Mike and the Mad Dog lives on as a touchstone in sports radio history, Francesa’s remarks suggest the story between its two principal voices did not end when the show did.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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