As Fox News continues preparations for the first 2024 Republican Presidential Debate, one question persists: Will Donald Trump show up? While there is no definitive answer, debate moderator Martha MacCallum shared in an interview with Deadline that she doesn’t mind criticism about her performance, as long as it is valid and warranted.
“Everybody has the right to say, ‘I don’t think that’s a fair question’ — anything along those lines. So as long as the criticism or the attack … is fair, I don’t have any problem with that,” Martha MacCallum said. “When it steps beyond that, then I think that is not a positive for anything about the process or the debate. So I have no problem about the work that we do. I feel very strongly about our reputation.”
She continued by noting the belief she holds in her colleagues.
“I have always has a great amount of confidence in our team. That has never wavered. I had confidence in our team in 2020, and I have it in our team today. This is not something that I lose too much sleep over.”
MacCallum’s co-moderator for the event, Bret Baier, has been the subject of attacks from former President Donald Trump after a sit-down interview earlier this summer. However, Baier says he is unaffected by the critiques.
“[Trump] chooses to do his attacks the way he does,” he said. “We choose to do our side — we have a news side and opinion side. The news side is going to do stories that he doesn’t like, but it’s the news. So you take it with a grain of salt, and you keep moving and if you build it, they will come. I think they will come.”
Sage Steele, the former ESPN sportscaster, appeared as a guest on Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show. During her appearance, Steele offered her initial remarks about her departure from ESPN. She also delved into her perspective on the “hypocrisy” she perceives within ESPN regarding the expression of opinions on present-day events and political matters. Steele talked about her choice to take a stand and shared additional insights.
Steele, who joined the network in 2007, was removed from ESPN broadcasts in 2021 after expressing discontent with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and briefly mentioning Barack Obama concerning her racial identity. Steele filed a lawsuit against the network, alleging that ESPN violated her First Amendment rights and Connecticut state law, which prohibits employers from penalizing employees for exercising their freedom of speech. Additionally, her legal team has accused ESPN of breaching Steele’s contract and intentionally causing her emotional distress.
“I did not want to apologize. I fought, and I fought, and I begged, and I screamed. I was told that I had to apologize if I wanted to keep my job. And I need my job…. I knew there was a line somewhere; I didn’t know what it was until it was crossed,” Steele told Megyn Kelly.
Steele says she hasn’t watched her comments on vaccine mandates in a while.
“Because obviously, there’s been so much ugliness that has come from that podcast as a whole. And those comments, my comments, and by the way, I own everything. Every single thing I said, I would say it again today, and I still believe it,” she said. “Did you see me look to the side at one point? I was, like, ‘Breathe deeply. Don’t say it.’ And because I have a right to my opinion because I complied. I complied. I got it. I got the booster in order to go to the Masters a couple of months later. Like, I did everything. But I’m allowed to have an opinion, I thought.”
“And I’ll say this too, that morning, I had been praying about it, and I asked God for a sign, like, Should I do this? Or should I take a chance and walk away? Will I have another job? Will I be able to keep a roof over the heads of my children? And I said, give me a sign. And I was in the shower, and I opened my eyes, and I looked out, and there’s this tile that, a marble tile that I had seen a million times for a million showers I’ve taken, and for some reason, when I opened my eyes at that moment, the marble was in the form of an angel,” she said.
“And I just said, Oh my, I asked for a sign. And to me, that sign was, You are going to be okay. I got you. And I have strong faith. And for me, at that moment, that’s what I needed. And I drove to the grocery store, and I got the shot, and I sprinted home, and I went on the podcast. And the rest is history,” Steele added.
ESPN is in its second year of a new Sunday Night Baseball commentary booth featuring Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez and David Cone, paired with the KayRod alternate broadcast. From the start of its partnership with Major League Baseball, the network has innovated the ways in which people can consume the game. New technology, innovative camera angles and mic’d up segments with players have accentuated the sport.
“There’s an equity in that brand built for Little League baseball that translates to the one we throw on a regional semifinal game from San Bernardino, Calif.,” Phil Orlins, vice president of production at ESPN, told Barrett Sports Media. “That six hundred thousand people watch that is a really good number for ESPN outside of prime-time major pro sports and stuff like that.”
Orlins remembers his first time in Williamsport, Penn. in 1984 and was an integral part in helping launch and grow the MLB Little League Classic, taking place this Sunday, Aug. 20. The Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies will visit Williamsport to interact with Little Leaguers and play a game of their own. The network is actively working with both teams and the league to find ways to showcase the players throughout the contest, one of which could be the Phillies starting pitching staff participating in the broadcast itself.
“We’re definitely talking about a combination of either the injured Rhys Hoskins or particularly a Phillies starting pitcher or pitchers making their way up to the broadcast booth,” Orlins said. “So that’s definitely on the table and we are optimistic that’ll happen.”
While the regular Sunday Night Baseball will take place on ESPN, the network will present an alternate KidsCast on ESPN2. NBC 4 New York anchor Bruce Beck holds a sportscasting camp each year and will have two campers – Zach Brody and Owen Heffron – on hand to deliver the action. Pepper Persley, a budding sideline reporter with a wide array of experience, will return for her second year working in the role for the KidsCast and will be on the bus with the Phillies from the airport.
ESPN has been committed to developing alternate broadcasts over the years, highlighted by Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, colloquially known as the ManningCast, which is making its return for a third season. While the future of the KayRod Cast is in flux because of Álex Rodríguez’s lucrative extension with FOX Sports that includes a provision of exclusivity, the network has a wide array of additional offerings in the space.
“I think because of the perspective they bring and the expectation that you bring with kids doing it, it allows you to make the whole story about the major leaguers seem more relatable to that audience,” Orlins said. “Ultimately, everybody is trying to find little ways to interact better with the next generation.”
As Jenny Taft walked the hallways during her first year at FOX Sports 1, she was stopped by a network executive and asked whether she knew anything about motorcycle racing. Surprised at the question, she was prepared and replied that Ricky Carmichael, an accomplished driver, was the greatest of all time. It was the extent of Taft’s motoracing knowledge, which derived from her brother having a poster of Carmichael when he was younger. Through that precipitous meeting, she was given her first field assignment with the network at a Supercross event – and she needed to prepare quickly.
The assignment ended up going well, with Taft estimating that typical motorcycle racing events could put reporters on the air 20 times per race because of the deluge of action that takes place. It ended up being an ideal pit stop where she refined her craft and developed a strong sense of versatility.
“I became a much better interviewer because there were so many interviews to conduct in a sport that I wasn’t comfortable with,” Taft said. “I’d like to think I earned the respect of the fanbase that, at first, was concerned about someone who did not have a moto background, and I absolutely loved it.”
Taft knew of the stakes associated with this performance and ended up succeeding with flying colors. After all, she had grown up in an athletic family – her mother competed in speed skating and her father captained the 1976 U.S. Olympic hockey team, leading to a six-year National Hockey League career. She understood what it meant to survive competing as an individual and on a team; in fact, Taft was named the top female lacrosse player in Minnesota and lettered in the sport, along with hockey and tennis.
“I was confident because of sports,” Taft said. “I played against boys my whole life – that gave me a lot of confidence – and I hope that [my daughter] sees me working in this capacity and that inspires her one day. I always knew my life would revolve around sports in some way because it just brings people together, and what’s better than that?”
As a student, Taft interned at a variety of media outlets including FOX Sports North, a regional sports network in Minneapolis. She had volunteered with the network while in high school, helping to operate a game at its state fair booth called, “Do you want to be a sportscaster?” Ironically enough, Taft was the person who so fervently wanted to achieve that goal – and she ultimately made it back to the network in college where she shadowed reporter and host Marney Gellner.
During baseball season, Taft was the in-stadium host for the Minnesota Twins and took on a similar role with the Wild. As her profile grew in the area, Taft appeared weekly on KFAN with Paul Allen to discuss local hockey. For Taft, the formative years were all about chances at gaining the necessary repetitions to improve her technique, and broadcasting to a captive audience at a sporting event is practice she recommends to aspiring broadcasters.
Courtesy: FOX Sports
Eventually, Taft was asked by FOX Sports North to fill in as a sideline reporter with the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, and everyone knew she would take full advantage of the opportunity. Simply by being around and recognizing that no broadcast property was too small to pass up, Taft became a dependable personality who exuded enthusiasm and professionalism on a daily basis. Network management began to take notice, leading to her being asked to join FOX Sports 1 upon its launch in August 2013 giving sports updates.
“I believe it’s really about being a good teammate,” Taft said. “I think that just working hard is going to help, and people want to work with good people. Get in the door; do your job; pay your dues and it’ll work out.”
By stepping out of the studio and appearing on broadcasts of motorcycle racing, Taft impressed executives and viewers of the network. Little did she know that it would lead to the assignment of a lifetime, emanating from a meeting with executive producer David Neal regarding the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
“He knew I was an athlete in college, and he was looking for a female to cover the women in 2015,” Taft remembered. “He said, ‘I saw you can tell stories. I liked how you did it, and I want a woman to be with this group,’ so it was pretty wild to think that covering motocross actually gave me so much exposure within the company.”
By the time the tournament came around, Taft was more comfortable with field reporting, especially considering she began reporting on college football in the year prior. In this role, she has ostensible free rein to roam the sidelines, outside of the bench, in order to view the game and gather information. When a player leaves the game with an injury, she can approach the trainer and ask what is going on to then relay it to the viewers. Moreover, she is able to make distinct observations that guide her in interviewing and contributing to the broadcast coverage.
“I always find that the best sideline reports are what’s happening in the moment,” Taft said. “I always want to have the background. I’d say 80% of the research I have or prep for a game is never used, and that’s just how it is. As a sideline reporter, you’re kind of used to that, but you have to be ready for the moment where you might need that information.”
Prior to the 2017 season, Taft was elevated to lead sideline reporter and joined the FOX’s Big Noon Saturday team of Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt. Over their seven years working together at Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 stadiums, they have fostered a familiarity with one another, producer Chuck McDonald and director Rich Dewey. The cohesion and longevity with the group excites Taft for the upcoming season, which includes the start of a new seven-year pact with the Big Ten.
“I’d like to think that our broadcast is very welcoming and we’re all just friends watching a game that we love and cheering on players and coaches,” Taft said. “Gus is having the time of his life and Joel is giving all the knowledge because he is the best of the best in terms of how much he’s taught me over the years. I would like to think that we’re just becoming a group that people want to listen to; that Big Noon is a broadcast that you look forward to watching and listening to no matter who’s playing.”
Being able to report on the Big Ten holds a special meaning for Taft, who grew up attending games at the University of Wisconsin, her parents’ alma mater. Growing up in Minnesota, she was frequently around fans of the Golden Gophers and watched the team play, but Camp Randall Stadium in particular was a special place to her. While she is excited as a fan to see the conference add Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA, she knows that the implications of these decisions could be felt in the years that ensue.
“I just think about the athletes and I just want to make sure they’re always protected and they’re going to be supported because those changes impact their four years,” Taft said. “When it comes to those conferences – and obviously those decisions are so far above my head – but I’m going to do my best to continue talking about the players and the schools that I love and telling their stories because that’s what this is ultimately all about.”
Leading up to a typical broadcast, Taft coordinates with university officials and team personnel to schedule interviews, preferably in-person, with the players leading up to the broadcast. Unlike the NFL, where players are obliged to speak with members of the media as part of the league’s policies, college football does not guarantee her access to anyone.
“You do the prep, but then you just have to play and let it play out,” Taft said. “I love that part of the energy of the moment, and those relationships that you’ve built along the way, hopefully they pay off so that you get some good interviews after the game.”
The atmosphere of college football games energizes Taft, but it is something she needs to contend with in order to elicit insightful and derivative answers from her interview subjects. The loud roar of the crowd, euphonious sound of the marching band and palpable buzz reverberating around the prodigious structure is quite the scene-setter. It is up to sideline reporters like Taft to cut through these hallowed overtones so they can do their jobs while recognizing that there are times to simply revel in the moment.
Taft has been involved in FOX Sports’ World Cup coverage from the beginning of its media rights agreement with FIFA in 2015. Over the five tournaments she has covered – three women’s; two men’s – she has traveled to many countries around the world and seen the evolution of superstars. The U.S. Women’s National Team in particular has been the focus of her coverage of late, including during the team’s tournament wins in 2015 and 2019. In 2023 though, the team was eliminated during the group stage after falling short in penalty kicks against Sweden. It was a stunning defeat for the group, marking the end of Megan Rapinoe’s professional career and leading to the resignation of head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
“I just have had such strong relationships and seen the growth and how hard they’ve worked, so I always thought they’d figure it out,” Taft said, “and that’s what made the case all the more devastating and seeing Julie Ertz in tears. Get this: I have never interviewed the U.S. Women’s National Team after a loss until that match.”
Having congenial, yet professional relationships with members of the team can cause some people to question Taft’s objectivity. As a reporter for FOX Sports, she has had priority in terms of asking questions and conducting interviews because the network is the rightsholder for U.S. Soccer. Even so, she makes it a point to ask the most pertinent and relevant questions that will best serve the audience.
“It kind of always comes back to the relationships for me, and that’s where you’ve got to ask the question,” Taft said. “It’s just how you ask it that I am very conscious of.”
"It's an honor to represent this team, and I'm excited for the future of these girls."
Taft, however, was working in a box – literally speaking. On the pitch itself, there was a box designated for Taft, with other reporters lining the section in their own boxes. Per FIFA rules and regulations, reporters are not allowed to leave the box during play, nor can they capture footage during select times.
The limitations render roaming the sidelines impossible, which can make gathering intel and updates especially difficult. Although reporters help each other out, it is ultimately all about having a foundation of connections and experience to help oneself. Moreover, akin to college football, players are not obligated to talk to the news media and address the proceedings.
“The U.S., after they lost, no one needed to stop,” Taft said. “Thankfully they all did, and I’d like to think it helps that we had good relationships going into it, but no one’s requiring them to do any of those interviews.”
Courtesy: FOX Sports
Most of Taft’s FOX Sports work comes on location, but there was a time when she was regularly in the studio to host the morning debate show, Undisputed. Taft worked alongside Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe for four years and anchored the program’s discussions, and is now watching the show change formats and Sharpe move on to competitor First Takefrom afar. While she enjoyed her time on the show, she loves possessing a front row seat at some of the world’s biggest sporting events and would miss the adrenaline if she were to be confined to the studio.
“I think there’s nothing like it in a lot of ways,” Taft said of field reporting. “I got to see [Lionel] Messi win a World Cup this year, and that’s insane.”
In order to continue being granted chances to report on college football, soccer and a variety of other sports, Taft ensures she continues having a strong belief in herself and maintains an upbeat attitude. Reflecting back on her career, she recognizes how far she has come, but is yearning for more opportunities to showcase her skills across the network’s properties.
“I would love to be staying in college football [and] becoming a reporter in the NFL as well,” Taft said. “If the opportunity presented itself, I think that’d be pretty special. I would love to be considered for more hosting roles. I kind of want to do it all.”
Charissa Thompson is someone Taft looks to for inspiration as her career continues to grow at FOX Sports. Thompson is the host of FOX NFL Kickoff and TNF Tonight, the latter of which airs on Amazon Prime Video leading up to its Thursday Night Football broadcasts. Taft does not limit herself in terms of what her future might hold and ultimately desires to continue becoming the most well-rounded sports media professional as she can.
“She’s so good at being so knowledgeable yet so approachable and makes everyone around her feel great,” Taft said of Thompson. “As a FOX colleague she’s incredible, but also as a friend.”
In hosting Undisputed and reporting at sporting events, Taft knows she is opening herself up to criticism. Over the years, she has learned to silence the critics and trust her inner circle for valuable, genuine feedback based on her on-air performance rather than other factors. She is not oblivious to what is going on in the outside world but has become better at putting her energy into the craft more so than its cavilers.
“You have to have a bit of a tough skin, and I know I’m only as good as my last broadcast,” Taft expressed. “There’s never a moment where you can skimp on the work or the research, and that’s male or female.”
Amazon ads define a marketing funnel as a critical piece of the marketing process that must be understood to connect and engage with customers along the path to purchasing. Radio can work at every stage of the marketing funnel, and we are as relevant as Amazon ads. From igniting a new idea to driving consumers to Google for research and ultimately converting them into the store or website or on the phone, radio works along the way.
The marketing funnel comprises three, or sometimes four, primary stages: awareness, consideration, and conversion. Others add loyalty to the mix. To me, how a client treats the customers we send them is out of our control and will determine whether a client is loyal, so I stick with three. Each stage is part of the customer’s journey, from initial awareness of a product or service to research and comparison, ending in a purchase, form fill, website visit, or trip into the store. A CONVERSION!
We must review this process with our clients and discover the uniqueness of THEIR customer’s journey. A local car buyer goes through a funnel much differently than a fast-food customer. It is a great way to get the client to open up and for you to discuss annual ad plans to work with consumers throughout the funnel process. It’s the perfect addition to the Consultant Sell.
1. LIGHT A FIRE (AWARENESS STAGE)
At the funnel top, the goal is to capture the attention of potential customers and create brand or store recognition. Radio is excellent here because we engage our listeners and can make memorable moments.
WHY RADIO WORKS:
Storytelling: Challenge your copywriters to use creative storytelling ads that make listeners laugh or feel happy, paint vivid pictures, and connect with listeners on a personal level.
Frequency: Running at least 35-50x a week can build recall and recognition, hitting our audience by driving to and from work or doing yard work. Podcasts follow the listener to the gym and outside the home and car.
Targeting: Sports and News listeners are perfect for upscale and male-oriented products and services—jewelers, auto dealers, sports bars, etc.
EXAMPLE:
I used a tagline on every radio spot for a sports bar that reminded the listener that they could watch any game on the screens at the bar. The repetitive nature encouraged listeners to associate the concept with the bar, effectively creating interest and positioning the bar as experts in their field.
2. RESEARCH (CONSIDERATION STAGE)
In the consideration stage, potential customers actively seek more information, comparing options before deciding.
WHY RADIO WORKS:
Spread the Word: Radio ads share essential details, benefits, and USPs that inform potential customers.
Testimonials: Industry experts or satisfied customers can be featured in interviews or testimonials, enhancing credibility.
CTA: We can send listeners to visit websites, X or Facebook, getting deeper engagement.
EXAMPLE:
An investment counselor could air a radio ad highlighting a strategy to buy homes with no money down. The ad encourages listeners to visit the website for more detailed specifications, reviews, and all the disclaimers!
3. GETTING A CONVERSION (CONVERSION STAGE)
The final stage of the funnel is conversion, where the goal is to turn interested prospects into paying customers. Radio’s impact is famous for sealing the deal.
WHY RADIO WORKS:
Urgency and Exclusivity: Limited time offers, or exclusive discounts mentioned in ads create a sense of urgency and encourage immediate action.
Trust and Familiarity: Consistent ad schedules with your clients’ messaging will build trust and familiarity, making potential customers more likely to convert.
Direct Response Campaigns: Dedicated radio spots with strong CTA’s, such as “Call or text now!” or “Visit our store today,” drive immediate conversions.
EXAMPLE
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse has run campaigns offering free desserts just for mentioning the radio campaign. Car washes advertise a rainy-day free car wash guarantee. Endorsers routinely give discount codes to be used in form fills. Emphasize the limited-time nature of the offer, prompting listeners to do the CTA.
Radio seamlessly aligns with the three stages of the marketing funnel. From curiosity and interest to supporting research and driving conversions, radio’s unique strengths play on the customer journey through the funnel and set you up to sell long-term business. Sell the funnel.
After teasing he would be back before football season, it has been reported that Shannon Sharpe will indeed be joining the rotation of debaters on ESPN’s First Take.
The New York Postreported Thursday that Sharpe will sit opposite Stephen A. Smith on Mondays and Tuesdays for the upcoming football season.
Sharpe left his role opposite Skip Bayless on FS1’s Undisputed earlier this summer. Shannon had been Skip’s debate partner for seven years.
Both Sharpe and Smith had been public with comments about a desire to work together since Shannon Sharpe left FOX.
Neither ESPN nor Sharpe commented on the New York Post reporting.
For all the talk of a shrinking media landscape and censoring of right-leaning voices, two of the biggest media stories of the week disputed that very notion. These two stories also happen to mix sports and politics and signal the direction that the industry is indisputably trending.
First, there was the news from Tuesday that Sage Steele was leaving ESPN after 16 years with the network. In her post on X, Steele explained she wants to exercise her First Amendment rights “more freely.”
This comes after she filed a lawsuit against ESPN last year over allegations that her free speech rights were violated. Steele alleged the sports media outlet retaliated against her for comments she made in an appearance on the Uncut with Jay Cutler podcast.
She told Jay Cutler, a former NFL quarterback, that her company’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate was “sick,” and also commented that she finds former President Obama identifying as Black “fascinating” because he was raised by his white mother and grandmother.
Steele was removed from ESPN programming for a week over her comments. She has been one of the few sports media personalities willing to express her conservative beliefs on her personal social media platforms, or other platforms, away from ESPN.
However, as media fragmentation continues, options are becoming more plentiful in some cases, especially for high-quality talent. This means that personalities like Sage Steele will have options if she wants. That’s not to say her next platform will be as sizable as ESPN, but she will be able to find work if she so chooses.
And Steele’s personal news leads into one of the other top stories of the week: OutKick’s continued growth in the digital space. OutKick saw its highest year-over-year growth in July, with more than 6 million unique visitors coming to the conservative sports site. That figure is a 119% increase compared to the same time period in 2022. In total, the outlet saw 24 million multiplatform views.
As OutKick invests more in its video/digital platforms, the growth potential for all conservative-leaning platforms including the aforementioned Daily Wire, TheBlaze, and others means there will be opportunities for not just news broadcasters, but sports broadcasters as well. OutKick has a heavy sports presence, The Daily Wire has leaned more into sports, hiring former ESPNer Allison Williams, who left the network after her refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine, while TheBlaze has brought on Jason Whitlock.
The fact that conservative-minded sports fans don’t even want to go to behemoths like ESPN anymore for their sports coverage is a sign of the times in a 50/50 country, but the opening for conservative outlets to penetrate the sports landscape is also possible because of ESPN’s missteps.
ESPN has to shoulder plenty of the blame for willingly, and/or allowing, its top personalities to dive head first into the pool of liberal hot takes, while in notable cases it stifled those handfuls of employees with differing points of view. If history tells the story properly, ESPN won’t have anyone to blame but itself.
Regardless, smart media minds and outlets have taken advantage of the situation. None are going to be competing with ESPN any time soon, but they don’t have to. They’re providing high-quality content for millions of viewers and seeing incredible year-over-year growth.
So while Sage Steele was this week, someone else notable will be next. And they’ll have opportunities as well. That’s the American way, anyway.
Michael Kay and Peter Rosenberg’s had a heated exchange over the struggles of the New York Yankees on Wednesday that made the rounds in sports media.
Rosenberg accused Kay, the TV play-by-play voice of the Yankees, of making excuses for the team being in last place in the AL East and being swept by an Atlanta Braves team this week that sports the best record in baseball.
At one point, Kay shouted at Rosenberg that he sounded like a fan.
On Thursday’s edition of The Michael Kay Show, Rosenberg explained that Kay has always shied away from going scorched earth on the Yankees. And he gets why listeners wish Kay would be harder on the team, especially now that their postseason prospects continue to diminish. But Kay’s hands are a bit tied.
“Michael’s in a very tough spot, and I think the listeners really take it for granted,” Rosenberg said. “And I understand why. Who relates to being the announcer of the New York Yankees? I get it, I don’t even relate to it. But because I’m close with him, I’m able to see why these positions are really hard.”
Peter added that he knows Kay isn’t happy with how things are playing out for the Yankees, but he felt like fans have an unfair expectation of Kay.
“Either that, Don, or Michael does it to himself because he naturally ends up in this explanation role,” he said.
Co-host Don La Greca chimed in saying offering an explanation over giving his true thoughts and feelings on the matter are not what people want.
“They’re educated. They know,” La Greca said. “They just want opinions. So don’t explain to me what the Yankees are doing.”
“We want to know what you think. And if you think everything is fine and dandy then own that. If you think that people should be fired own that,” Don added.
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns held joint training camp practices earlier this week ahead of their Thursday night preseason game in Philadelphia, and it was a perfect opportunity for 92.3 The Fan host Nick Wilson to pick the brain of legendary Eagles play-by-play man Merrill Reese.
Reese joined Afternoon Drive on The Fan on Thursday, and Wilson couldn’t contain his excitement about getting to talk to a Philadelphia broadcasting legend.
“There are very few times you will ever hear me flat-out mark out and get excited for like a play-by-play guy,” Wilson said. “There’s one or two guys in town who have that effect on me.”
Reese has spent more than five decades behind the microphone calling Eagles games. He’s seen legends come and go and experienced all the highs and lows of the Eagles, including their Super Bowl victory and defeats.
Wilson said there’s just something different about Reese in his eyes.
“But Merrill Reese to me – there’s a Vin Scully thing to him,” he said. “He’s just a sweetheart.”
The future of Barstool Sports in broadcasting Korn Ferry Tour events is bright following the success of the digital media outlet’s debut coverage of a tour event this summer.
Barstool partnered with the Korn Ferry Tour to broadcast all four rounds of the NV5 Invitational. Coverage was available exclusively on Barstool’s digital platform Barstool.tv.
Tour president Alex Baldwin told Sports Business Journal that tour social channels experienced exponential growth, with a significant spike in website traffic as well thanks to Barstool’s coverage. Additionally, 82% of the audience that watched the Barstool coverage was of a much younger demographics than those that typically tune in.
“Traditionally, our media metrics are a lot older than that, so if we can combine this young audience with our other core viewers, that provides partnership opportunities and real value for everyone,” Baldwin said. “This broadcast allowed us to be very versatile with a sport that still maintains the competition, but we were able to do it through talent and player engagement that was fun.”
