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Pete Bevacqua Leaving NBC Sports

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Pete Bevacqua Leaving NBC Sports

NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua will be departing the company at the end of June to join the University of Notre Dame as its director of athletics. NBCUniversal Television and Streaming Chairman Mark Lazarus sent an internal memo to staff members Thursday morning announcing the move, and stated that Bevacqua’s direct reports will answer to him for the time being.

“We want to thank Pete for his many contributions to NBC Sports and NBCUniversal since he joined us in 2018,” Lazarus said in the memo. “….Please join me in congratulating Pete and wishing him great success.”

Bevacqua is a University of Notre Dame alumnus and receiving his dream job in being named the successor to Jack Swarbrick. He joined NBCUniversal in 2018 as the president of the NBC Sports Group, and was subsequently elevated to chairman in 2020. As the third person to hold the chairman position, he has overseen the network’s presentation of the Olympics, Sunday Night Football and the Golf Channel, along with additional assets. He and his team completed a new media rights agreement with the National Football League to ensure NBC would remain the home of Sunday Night Football – and helped usher in the new television broadcast booth of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth.

Bevacqua also assisted in reacquiring media rights for the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open golf championships, along with Premier League soccer. Furthermore, the company completed a seven-year media rights agreement with the Big Ten Conference, enhancing its college sports portfolio. Bevacqua also helped secure a partnership with PointsBet, making it the official sports betting partner of the company’s sports division.

“This is a dream come true,” Bevacqua said to Sports Illustrated. “With the exception of my family, nothing means more to me than Notre Dame. I don’t have a memory in my lifetime, quite literally, where Notre Dame wasn’t a part of it. At this stage of my life, I feel like everything I’ve done has prepared me for this.”

Bevacqua will begin working on the university’s campus on July 1 as a special assistant for athletics under Notre Dame president Rev. John Jenkins. Swarbick’s final day on the job has not yet been determined, but he and Bevacqua will work in tandem to ensure a smooth transition. Some media pundits may question Bevacqua’s decision, and he realizes the irregularity of the move; however, it represents the realization of a lifelong dream.

“I didn’t have a burning desire, necessarily, to be an athletic director,” Bevacqua stated. “I had a burning desire to be the athletic director at Notre Dame.”

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football games are exclusively broadcast on NBC, and could perhaps improve the school’s relationship with the entity. Its independent media rights deal with NBC concludes in 2025, and a previous report by Sports Business Journal suggested it could receive $60 million annually in its next deal, although the negotiating landscape has presumably changed since then. Bevacqua played for the school football team as a walk-on punter, and previously served as the CEO of the PGA of America. While in that role, he negotiated a 15-year media rights extension with NBC for various landmark events, including the PGA Professional Championship, Ryder Cup and Senior PGA Championship. He believes having firsthand knowledge about the dynamic state of the media industry could be advantageous to him as he positions the school for the future.

“Such a large part of college athletics now, and the success of any athletic program, is baked into the media landscape,” Bevacqua said. “Obviously, having a very direct knowledge of where the media landscape is in the U.S., the power of linear television and where that’s heading, the paradigm shift of the direct-to-consumer streaming environment—you kind of add up those elements and I feel like I have the background and the professional experiences to come into this at a good pace.”

1580 & 99.3 The Fanatic Adds ‘You Better You Bet’

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1580 & 99.3 The Fanatic Adds ‘You Better You Bet’

As the BetQL Network continues its burgeoning expansion across the country, its flagship program You Better You Bet will now be heard on 1580 and 99.3 The Fanatic, a sports betting station in Phoenix, Ariz. The radio show will be aired weekdays from 12 to 4 p.m. MST on weekdays, and is hosted by Nick Kostos and Ken Barkley. With the addition, the program is now available to consume on 48 stations in 44 markets nationwide, some of which include Chicago, Ill., Los Angeles, Calif. and New York, N.Y.

“We’re pumped to continue the growth and reach of You Better You Bet and introduce the show to Arizona’s sports betting station,” Mitch Rosen, vice president of Audacy’s BetQL Network, said in a statement. “We’re confident Phoenix sports fans and betting enthusiasts will quickly incorporate the show’s unique combination of insights and ‘Wagertainment’ into their daily listening habits.”

Rosen was promoted to vice president of BetQL Network after previously serving as its director of operations. He is responsible for overseeing BetQL brand manager Andrew Williams while leading the network’s talent, production and writing teams. Additionally, Rosen continues to work as the vice president and brand manager of 670 The Score while supporting the expansion of BetQL Network’s reach and partnerships.

BetMGM is the exclusive sportsbook partner of the BetQL Network and has category exclusivity on the network’s programming. The BetQL Network distributes nearly 100 hours of original content on a weekly basis across Audacy and BetQL digital platforms. This comes at a time when the global sports betting market continues to augment in value, with an expected total valuation of just over $182 billion by 2023, according to a report by Grand View Research.

Both online and in-person sports betting is legal in Arizona, but it has yet to become precedent across the entire country. The U.S. Supreme Court decision made in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2018) gave the states regulatory power over sports betting, a practice that had long been illicit outside of the state of Nevada.

“Sports betting in Arizona has become very popular since becoming legal in 2021,” Ron Cohen, president and general manager of CRC Broadcasting Company said in a statement. “The addition of You Better You Bet provides another compelling reason why Phoenix area sports fans choose KQFN The Fanatic for timely, valuable and entertaining sports programming. The addition of this show has further solidified The Fanatic as Arizona’s sports betting station!”

Lester Holt: No Need to Reinvent the Wheel Moderating Presidential Debates

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Lester Holt: No Need to Reinvent the Wheel Moderating Presidential Debates

As the prospective 2024 Republican presidential field continues to grow, media outlets have started preparations for how they will cover the nomination process. NBC News anchor Lester Holt says it’s easy to overcomplicate the process.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the NBC Nightly News anchor was asked about a report that the RNC was “impressed” by his pitch to moderate a debate featuring the prospective candidates. When asked how he would approach it, he argued the simpler the better.

“I probably wouldn’t reinvent the wheel. It’s a big crowd on that stage, and you really are wanting them to reveal themselves,” Holt said. “You have to let them kind of suss each other out and stake their game. But you know, those are always potential turning points in the direction of these elections.”

He was also asked about the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Holt said there used to be some downtime in the race. However, he believes that simply doesn’t exist any longer.

“We used to think of this as the bye year, but there is no time off. We are into it. I always think the challenge in covering any election is to try to get the candidates to reveal themselves. And that’s really the most important thing,” the NBC Nightly News anchor shared.

“No matter what anyone else is saying around them, there will be those moments along the campaign trail that they’re going to define themselves. We want to be there to capture those moments.”

Fred Toucher: Stephen A. Smith is in TV Prison

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson overshadowed part of the NBA Finals action Wednesday after it was announced that he and his girlfriend Ahkeema were expecting a baby girl. Yet a string of tweets from OnlyFans model Moriah Mills have shifted the discussion, suggesting they had seen one another at a point without Mills knowing about Williamson having another relationship. Basketball fans across social media bombarded Williamson after the revelation became public, and it was a topic of discussion on coverage of the league throughout the ensuing days. On the latest edition of the eponymously named The Stephen A. Smith Show, Stephen A. Smith spoke about Williamson and surmised that he had figured out why Williamson only played 29 games during this past season.

“I’ve been waiting for the leg to heal Zion,” Smith said. “….New Orleans has been waiting for a while. I mean, we’ve been waiting, man. No wonder you ain’t healthy; I’m talking about your legs. I’m just saying, man. What I’m concerned about is we need those legs spry, but you can’t get healthy. Your lower extremities were compromised.”

Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb of 98.5 The Sports Hub never thought that one of their morning show’s newest segments – titled “Stephen A. Smith is horny” – would take place more than once over a six-week span. Yet it has quickly become a hit, with show listeners messaging Shertenlieb on social media whenever they see a clip that could fit the comedic bit. Because of the situation regarding Williamson and Smith’s reaction to it, which was filled with caesura and vocal intonation, the segment made its third appearance in the past two weeks on Thursday morning.

“ESPN is committed to just basically featuring two people – Mike Greenberg and Stephen A. Smith,” Toucher said. “If there’s a third I forget it – oh yeah, they’re bringing in… Pat McAfee. So there’ll be three people that are doing all of it.”

Toucher has concluded that Smith has a live microphone in front of him at all times, with ESPN recognizing his appeal to its consumers. After all, Smith is a featured commentator on First Take, works on NBA Countdown, hosts an alternate game telecast for select NBA matchups and podcasts at least three times a week.

“He’s basically in a television prison all day,” Toucher said of Smith. “He’s not allowed out. He is a man after all – he’s not old. I’d imagine he’s around 50; that doesn’t mean he’s dead.”

Smith, 55, was mocked throughout the latest edition of the segment for his breaths and phrasing, filled with both hosts doing impressions of him. It even resulted in a production person creating a soundboard where the show quickly replayed soundbites from Smith’s statements on Williamson. Eventually, the show put it to the tune of “Mah Na Mah Na,” a song made famous by The Muppets, leading to unrestrained, mirthful laughter from those in the studio.

“Stephen A. Smith turns into Christopher Lloyd and Roger Rabbit when he’s horny,” Shertenlieb said, referring to Smith’s fluctuating vocal range.

“He’s in that TV prison horny as hell,” Toucher added.

As the segment concluded, Toucher wondered if Smith would ever be allowed off of the ESPN airwaves for a day, as he seems to always be part of the network’s subconscious. Smith is reportedly paid $8 million annually by ESPN and is perceived as someone untouchable as The Walt Disney Company nears its conclusion of laying off 7,000 employees. Pat McAfee is set to join the network this fall in a multiyear, multi-million dollar agreement, and will host The Pat McAfee Show afternoons on ESPN’s linear channel and on various digital platforms.

“It’s without fail now – at least once a week, he gets horny,” Shertenlieb expressed.

Chris Plante: I Left CNN in Disgust

BNM Staff
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Chris Plante: I Left CNN in Disgust

Chris Plante recently launched a primetime panel show on Newsmax, and after spending 17 years at CNN, he shared his knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes as the network continues going through a tumultuous time.

During Chris Plante The Right Squad Wednesday, the panel discussed the departure of Chris Licht, when Plante felt it was important to note that “I actually worked for CNN for many years back in that era.”

He then clarified his duties at the network before sharing that he departed for what he viewed as a liberal bias.

“I was at the Pentagon covering the military and intelligence community most of the time, and I eventually left in disgust because I came to my senses,” Plante concluded.

Plante’s comments came after panelist Kelly Sadler said that the “rebellion in the newsroom” was what led to Licht’s downfall, claiming that reporters and hosts didn’t want to move from their left-leaning positions.

“They were happy in their left-leaning lane that got zero ratings, and they want to be there, and no matter what leadership does, unless they fire their anchors and their news reporters, there’s going to be no change whatsoever at CNN,” said Sadler. “They’re just gonna fall to the leftist mob.”

Salem Media Group Strikes Distribution Deal with EpochTV

BNM Staff
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Salem Media Group Strikes Distribution Deal with EpochTV

Salem Media Group has entered into a deal with EpochTV, the streaming division of The Epoch Times, to distribute a feature-length documentary produced by the digital company.

Leaving California: The Untold Story will be available for rental or purchase on the SalemNOW platform. The deal marks the first time EpochTV has distributed original content on a platform other than its own.

“It’s a privilege to partner with The Epoch Times to offer their incredible film, Leaving California, on SalemNOW,” said SalemNOW GM Robert Ellis.

The documentary looks at the “unprecedented mass exodus” happening in California and showcases the statements made by people who have left the state.

“SalemNOW’s rapid growth and success make them an ideal partner for us as we look to increase awareness about the critical issues we address in our film,” Leaving California host, writer, and producer Siyamak Khorrami said.

“These issues are impacting communities beyond California and we all need to be informed.”

USL, SiriusXM Renew Agreement

BSM Staff
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The United Soccer League (USL) and SiriusXM have inked a new agreement that extends its media rights deal through 2025. The deal ensures SiriusXM will be the audio home of USL Championship games, including the USL Championship Final, USL Super League inaugural Final, the USL League One Final and USL League Two Final. SiriusXM subscribers can listen to games on channel No. 157 and on the SiriusXM app.

“At the USL, we want to ensure that our games are available to our fans wherever they want to experience them,” Court Jeske, USL chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “SiriusXM has been a great partner the last three years and extending this relationship on the men’s side was an easy choice. We are also incredibly proud that they will offer coverage of the USL Super League, our new women’s professional league, with the inaugural season beginning in August of 2024.”

The SiriusXM FC channel has been the broadcast home of the USL Championship since 2020, and also airs a USL Game of the Week for consumers in the United States and Canada. Additional future coverage will include games from the 2024-2025 USL Super League season. Moreover, USL All-Access will resume with hosts Mike Watts and Devon Kerr, offering listeners new perspectives on the league, and a broad view of highlights and storylines.

“The USL has a terrific and dedicated fanbase across the country and we’re pleased to deliver those fans both the action on the pitch and a show dedicated to their league,” said Eric Spitz, SiriusXM vice president of sports programming, in a statement. “We’re excited to not only renew our agreement with the USL for multiple years, but also expand our coverage and be the exclusive audio home of the USL Championship Final, League One Final, League Two Final and the new USL Super League Final.” 

Watts has been the play-by-play announcer for the USL Championship since 2015, and he continues to work on Westwood One’s college football game of the week and serves as a backup public address announcer at Madison Square Garden. Furthermore, he called eight domestic and international finals in 2021, including the U.S. Men’s National Team victories in the Concacaf Nations League and Concacaf Gold Cup.

Kerr serves as an analyst for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and contributes to FOX Sports as well. He has been the lead analyst for the USL Championship since 2018, and works in a similar role for the NCAA Men’s College Cup on ESPN and Concacaf events. Aside from his work with Apple TV and FOX Sports, Kerr has appeared on platforms for ESPN, EA Sports, the NCAA and MLS.

Broadcasts started Wednesday night, but the next game airing on SiriusXM FC will be a matchup between the San Diego Loyal and Sacramento Republic at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. Games have been announced through July 3, and additional matchups will be announced at a later date.

Audacy Names Lee Davis SVP of Sports Monetization Overseeing New Sales Team

BSM Staff
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Audacy Names Lee Davis SVP of Sports Monetization Overseeing New Sales Team

Audacy is has a newly organized sports sales team. Lee Davis will be its leader. He has been named the company’s SVP of Sports Monetization.

The team will oversee “sales and execution, managing the entire client lifecycle” for Audacy’s sports properties. They will provide solutions for both on-air and digital platforms and work on both local and national properties.

“No medium delivers more value for sports than Audio. People are spending more time than ever with broadcast Radio, streaming and podcasts, and the demand for compelling sports content across these channels is growing exponentially,” Brian Benedik, Audacy’s Chief Revenue Officer, said in a press release. “Through our best-in-class sports audio portfolio, powered by over 150 flagship team partnerships, iconic local broadcast brands, award-winning podcasts and sports betting content, Audacy is uniquely positioned to capitalize on a new sales strategy in this arena.”

Lee Davis worked with WFAN from 1990 until 2005. He returned to Audacy in 2018 to over see the company’s Traffic, Weather, Information and News (TWIN) offering.

Tucker Carlson Accused of Breaching Fox News Contract After Twitter Debut

BNM Staff
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Tucker Carlson Accused of Breaching Fox News Contract After Twitter Debut

Fox News has accused former host Tucker Carlson of breaching his contract with the cable channel after debuting his Tucker on Twitter video show earlier this week.

A letter was sent by the organization to the ex-communicated host that shared his “services shall be completely exclusive to Fox” and that he is “prohibited” from making video content for any other network or online platform. The news of the letter was first reported by Sara Fischer of Axios.

Carlson published his first video — branded as Tucker on Twitter — on Tuesday night. In the more than 10-minute-long video, the former Fox News host railed against the mainstream media for their lack of interest in discerning where the billions of dollars the U.S. government has sent to Ukraine have been allocated.

After being unceremoniously fired in April, Carlson retained the services of attorney Bryan Freedman to negotiate an exit agreement from his Fox contract. The network has reportedly offered to pay him the remainer of his contract, an offer Carlson has denied.

When reached by Axios, Freedman said “Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds. Now they want to take Tucker Carlson’s right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events.”

77 WABC Wins 8 NYSBA Excellence in Broadcasting Awards

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77 WABC Wins 8 NYSBA Excellence in Broadcasting Awards

On Wednesday, 77 WABC Radio announced that it earned eight Excellence in Broadcasting Awards from the New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA).

Since acquiring the station, John Catsimatidis has introduced numerous enhancements and made significant investments in digital technology.

“I am proud of our talent and all station personnel that has worked hard to make 77WABC the station it once was,” Catsimatidis said. “Our talent and staff are leaders in their field; our on-air personalities include the biggest names in New York. We’re just getting started. There is always more to come from the iconic 77WABC.”

The New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA) recognized 77WABC with eight Excellence in Broadcasting awards in various categories:

  • Best Public Affairs Program – “Back the Blue”: An all-day tribute to the NYPD, highlighting their dedication.
  • Best Feature – “Cindy Adams Interviews Former Gov. Cuomo”: A high-quality interview conducted by Cindy Adams.
  • Top Morning Show – Sid & Friends in the Morning: Sid Rosenberg and his team delivered exceptional entertainment.
  • Best Live On Scene – “Columbus Day Parade”: Capturing the spirit of the parade with outstanding coverage.
  • Election Coverage – Rita Cosby, Dominic Carter, and Noam Laden contributed to this award-winning coverage.
  • Best Use of Digital – “Radio Pays Tribute to Fallen Firefighter Timothy Klein”: Showcasing the power of radio’s digital platforms in paying tribute.
  • Best Personality, Social Media – “Curtis Sliwa: Closing of Lenny’s Pizza”: Curtis Sliwa’s coverage of the closing of Lenny’s Pizza was recognized.
  • Top Podcast – “Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano & guest William Shatner”: This episode featuring William Shatner captivated listeners on the Other Side of Midnight.

Chad Lopez, Red Apple Media President, showed appreciation for the recognition given to the station. He highlighted the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the WABC Radio team, both on and off the air.

“Everyone at WABC Radio, both on-air and off, is passionate about what we’re doing and gives 100% every day. I am honored to work with John Catsimatidis and lead this team through his vision, restoring our heritage call letters to their iconic glory and bringing radio back to what it used to be and should be,” he said.

“John and Chad have made tremendous strides across all facets of radio, on-air, on-site, and online, plus video!” added Dave Donovan, Executive Director of NYSBA. We’re proud of all our member stations for making New York Radio the best in the country.”

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