Former NBA Countdown host Michelle Beadle has watched what ESPN has done from afar, especially during its layoffs of behind-the-scenes and on-air talent. The network reportedly is shaking up its lead NBA commentary booth going into next season, a move that left play-by-play announcer Mike Breen “sad and stunned.”
Beadle recently spoke with Andrew Cohen of Front Office Sports to describe how its NBA studio coverage compares to TNT, which features Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny “The Jet” Smith on the Emmy Award-winning studio program, Inside the NBA.
“That position and that show has never been allowed to marinate and it’s sort of why you continue to see change,” Beadle said of NBA Countdown. “It’s unfortunate, and it’s why TNT dominates because they’re allowed to marinate for decades and the product gets better with year after year.”
Beadle hosted the show from 2016 to 2019 before Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols split the role and she was bought out by the network. NBA Countdown was again revamped prior to the 2021-22 season with Mike Greenberg as host and featuring analysts Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon and Jalen Rose. Rose was part of ESPN’s talent layoffs, and his position is expected to be replaced on the program – perhaps by Kendrick Perkins or J.J. Redick. She made the comments while announcing her new basketball podcast, Beadle Royale, on Amazon’s Wondery network, which was divulged to the public earlier today.
The ESPN layoffs, however, have dampened the mood surrounding some of its programming for select talent. Previous reports described an apprehensive environment at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol ahead of the moves, shifting company morale as the network looks for a strategic partner to purchase an equity stake in the brand. The “Worldwide Leader” is also in the process of preparing a direct-to-consumer product launch under the project name “Flagship.”
“It sucks when layoffs happen,” Beadle said. “It’s a tough conversation that people try to have. I know everyone thinks they understand why these things happen, but I don’t think anybody truly gets it.”
Since 2019, Taylor Lewan and Will Compton have hosted the Bussin’ With The Boyspodcast. Both athletes began doing the shows as NFL players, and the show has grown to being included as a part of Barstool Sports in 2020. Each man has undergone their own journey from hosting to where they love to get to show the audience both of their personalities.
Lewan and Compton were guests on The Pivot podcast with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder. Lewan mentioned that when he first began doing the podcast, he was worried people would not think he was taking football seriously. Now, he enjoys doing the podcast because of the way people get to see his personality shine through.
“When we first started this podcast, I just signed my contract with the Titans (my second contract). I was very worried about exposing myself too much to this. As you are able to zoom out more, when people come and watch our show or they watch this, they are going to see this is who Will and I are.
“I don’t ever get worried about people viewing me the wrong way anymore. I think at one point for sure when I was really in it with football, it was I hope people think I’m still focused on football and they know it’s the main thing, but I’m also doing this. For me, I think this is an even better space for people to see our personalities. I enjoy that people are noticing me more from a podcast standpoint than a football standpoint because people like me for my personality. What better compliment is that? I love it.”
While Lewan did worry about how doing the podcast would affect the Titans at first, it was a memorable guest that he had on one episode that somewhat alleviated the feeling.
“I worried about the team at first then Mike Vrabel came on and said he’d cut off his d**k for a Super Bowl and I thought at that point, we are solid,” Lewan explained. “Vrabel has very specific rules about you don’t talk about scheme; you don’t talk about injuries. In the back of your head when you are talking ball, you don’t want to step on toes. There probably was some negative that happened starting in 2018. The Titans stopped posting me as much because I think in their mind, [it was], ‘He has a social media presence in another place. We don’t need to publicize him at all here.'”
For Compton on his journey from going as an undrafted NFL player to a podcast host, he always tried to find a great balance while also demonstrating his authenticity.
“As we’ve gone on this journey and the whole process of it all, I think it’s always been important for me to figure out that balance because you’ve been around me in the locker room,” Compton said. ” I like to be very prepared; I like to also be very serious [and] I like to listen to a lot of things, but I also like to have a lot of fun. Knowing that my niche in the locker room was being like a locker room guy; being a camaraderie guy, I’ve always thought, ‘How can I essentially do the same thing in this world with podcasting?’ Any time we are going anywhere, it’s just trying to bring that authenticity to it.
“I try to have perspective and gratitude with it all time. It’s been a hell of a ride with the whole undrafted route. To be able to put my personality out there because you do battle a lot of insecurities. Year seven, when I was balancing both, there was a part of me that was afraid I was going to play myself out of the league by being too out there. I can be noisy even though all of that stuff can be taken out of context. I’m a bottom half of the roster type guy. Somebody else like Taylor, they can afford to say a lot more things.”
Even as the show gains more popularity, Compton thinks it’s very important for them to not be too serious, but they realize that what they say carries a lot of weight and responsibility.
“As we get bigger and you start to realize you influence a lot of people,” Compton said. “Once people started identifying me as a podcaster, you know you carry a little more weight and responsibility. That’s why it’s so important that I keep that fun and all that stuff going so people understand that I have all of that. I can lead with all of that stuff so that way I never trap myself or box myself in to feel like I’ve got to take myself too serious now because we do carry a lot more weight with all that influence. Ultimately, for myself, it’s important that I want to be the guy that doesn’t take himself too seriously.”
Keith Olbermann celebrated the first anniversary of his Countdown podcast with iHeartMedia and shared some metrics behind the venture’s success.
“I’ve always thought anniversaries were overdone things but they do provide excuses for assessment and calculation and milestones. And the month we started, I think we were shy of 600,000 downloads, which was still a pretty good start, but not really near the threshold for success in one of these podcasts, which is a million a month,” Olbermann said Tuesday.
“Well we hit that mark in January. Now with the addition of the YouTube option, which is itself getting between 125,000 and 150,000 plays a week. I mean, you guys listening to all or most of the show, even though the video on YouTube is just a cartoon of me. I know cartoon of me that phrase sometimes seems a little redundant. And it’s pretty remarkable all things considered,” Olbermann continued. “Well, anyway, between YouTube and all the podcast options for the month just past, we exceeded 2 million downloads and plays in one month.”
Olbermann mentioned that the 2 million downloads in the month of July was especially satisfying because he took time off and there were a limited number of new podcasts released.
According to Chartable.com, Countdown with Keith Olbermann is the 13th most-listened podcast in the American political genre.
NBC Sports has announced its college football commentary team set to cover the Big Ten Conference for the upcoming 2023 regular season, the first under a new seven-year media rights deal with CBS Sports and FOX Sports. Sunday Night Football play-by-play announcer and Olympics host Mike Tirico will be the voice of the first exclusive game on Peacock to begin the year in a matchup between East Carolina and Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST. He will be joined by analyst Chris Simms, returning for his seventh year with NBC and Football Night in America, along with sideline reporter Lewis Johnson.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which will play its final season under athletics director Jack Swarbrick, will retain the broadcast team of Jac Collinsworth, Jason Garrett and Zora Stephenson, which will also call select Big Ten Football games throughout the season. Former NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua is succeeding Swarbrick as athletics director in 2024, and will be immersed in the negotiations to renew the school’s media rights deal with his former employer. The school is said to desire tripling its media rights fee and possibly considering relinquishing its media independence and joining a Power Five conference should it fail to do so.
After DIRECTV lost the NFL Sunday Ticket rights package to Google, which is reportedly paying $2 billion annually, football fans began to wonder about the future of DIRECTV Red Zone host Andrew Siciliano. Although he is employed by NFL Network and continues to cover football, he had become a familiar voice and presence for fans around the country opting to watch his edition instead of the NFL Network-produced Red Zone with Scott Hanson. In addition to his role with NFL Network, Siciliano was the host of NBC Sports’ Gold Zone coverage at two Olympic games. Now, he will be serving as a play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports on select Big Ten Football games.
Siciliano is part of a group of commentators that will be used throughout the season on matchups, which also includes former NFL tight end Kyle Rudolph. The news of Rudolph joining the network’s Big Ten coverage was reported last month after he had been on the call for United States Football League (USFL) games in the spring. Joshua Perry, a former linebacker at the Ohio State University, also signed with NBC Sports after several years with Big Ten Network, and will be utilized as an analyst across Big Ten coverage. Other announcers peregrinating on assignments during the season include Paul Burmeister, Brendan Burke, Michael Robinson, Anthony Herron and Caroline Pineda.
As reported by multiple outlets on Tuesday, Nicole Auerbach will serve as the network’s lead college football insider and appear on the new studio program, B1G College Countdown. She will also be featured on other college football programming on NBC Sports platforms and discuss the latest on the conference. Additionally, she will continue her work with The Athletic covering college football and basketball, along with serving as a host for SiriusXM and studio analyst on the Big Ten Network.
The lead Big Ten Football booth by NBC Sports was previously announced and consists of Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen. NBC, CBS and FOX will rotate carrying the marquee game, according to CBS Executive Vice President of Programming Dan Weinberg CBS will air more Big Ten games next season after its media rights deal with the Southeastern Conference concludes.
Donald Trump is in the news again after being indicted on federal charges. 770 KTTH host Jason Rantz argued that while coverage of the indictment is warranted, CNN has been misguided in its criticism of the former President and his supporters.
Rantz noted that as he filled in on The Dan Bongino Show, CNN wasn’t covering the testimony of Devon Archer.
“CNN wasn’t covering it in any meaningful way on their website. They weren’t making it a big deal,” said Rantz. “And the reason why they’re not is they’re pushing a different narrative, which is that thanks to Trump’s legal woes, he’s using money from his PAC that is funded by small-dollar donations from his supporters in order to pay his legal fees. And they’re pointing this out because they want to chip away at some of the support that he has from his audience, his loyal base.
“And at the same time, it’s supposed to sort of promulgate this conspiracy theory that the only reason he’s running is to raise money for legal fees and to stay out of jail. But those talking points show how little people understand about Trump and his base. There is no doubt he’s got fiercely loyal supporters in the Republican base, which is obviously good for him. It’s not necessarily good for Republicans, but it’s good for him.”
Jason Rantz concluded that Trump’s most ardent supporters believe he has been subjected to a politicized Department of Justice, and are willing to help finance his legal defense.
Another small market station has gone sports talk. Ohana Media is dropping classic hits for ESPN Radio on 106.3 FM in Astoria, Oregon.
The station was previously branded 106.3 The Beach. With the format change, it becomes the only sports station primarily serving Astoria. Previously, the market had been served exclusively by stations in Portland.
ESPN 106.3 will feature the network’s full nationally syndicated lineup. It will also be the home of Oregon Ducks football in the market.
PBS weekly news panel show Washington Week has tabbed The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg as its latest host.
Goldberg will step into the chair vacated by Yamiche Alcindor who departed in February after deciding to focus on her role with NBC News.
“With this partnership, Washington Week will remain the premier destination for viewers in search of astute analysis of the most important political and policy issues facing our nation. We are especially pleased to welcome Jeffery Goldberg as moderator, bringing a wealth of experience and credibility to this important role,” said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, in a statement.
“At a time when our nation is in desperate need of thoughtful, respectful discussions that bridge political divides, we are very proud to continue to build on the legacy of Washington Week.”
After joining The Atlantic in 2007, Goldberg rose to the magazine’s 15th editor-in-chief in 2016. He helped lead the group to its first Pulitzer Prize win in 2022.
Goldberg was first linked to the position by Semafor earlier this week.
With Goldberg’s addition to the Washington Week staff, The Atlantic will now become a producer of the program in conjunction with PBS.
Goldberg will officially take over the program on Friday, August 11th.
Kansas State has a new home on radio. The Wildcats will now be heard on KFH in Wichita.
Sports Radio KFH and the school have come to terms on a multiyear broadcast agreement. The station will carry all Wildcat football and men’s basketball games as well as select women’s basketball games.
“We’re excited to announce this new partnership with Audacy Wichita,” Ben Boyle, General Manager, K-STATE Sports Properties, said in a press release. “The Wichita market is such an important one for the K-State fan base and these stations give us excellent reach and coverage in the area.”
Learfield, which owns K-STATE Sports Properties helped facilitate the deal between the two sides.
“We are delighted to partner with K-State athletics and become the home of the University’s football and basketball programs,” Becky Domyan, Audacy’s Senior Vice President and Market Manager in Wichita, added. “This partnership brings together a passion for sports and a commitment to delivering unparalleled coverage to Wildcat fans across the region. We look forward to capturing the electrifying moments and the shared spirit of K-STATE sports throughout the year.”
Amazon continues to grow its sports footprint across multiple platforms. The tech giant is adding new podcasts from Trey Wingo, Michelle Beadle and Shea Serrano to its Wondery brand.
Wingo will host Makin’ Waves, which will cover sports history. Beadle’s Beadle Royale will focus on the intersection of sports and pop culture. Serrano’s show will be about basketball. It does not have a name yet.
In 2020, Amazon purchased Wondery in a $300 million deal. The company already hosts podcasts from JJ Redick and Dan Le Batard’s Meadowlark Media.
“We want to create a sense that Wondery is a home for sports podcasts and sports content, and some of the best sports talent in the business,” Wondery’s chief content officer, Marshall Lewy, told Front Office Sports. “So I think that’s where coming out with this kind of Murderers’ Row of talent this fall, and this level of talent that we plan to continue, is really exciting to us. Success to us is that people start to think of us as a place for sports.”
“I think Amazon’s commitment to sports across the board is really important to us, but we’re also looking at it from the Wondery lens as well, of we want a sports slate” Lewy added. “Sports is the fastest-growing category in podcasting and we just see a real opportunity to lean into that area.”
The Horn in Austin lost a lot of talent last week as the station transitions to a new schedule that relies on more syndicated programming than before. That doesn’t mean all of those local voices are just gone. Brad Kellner has organized many of them for a new digital venture.
Texas Sports Unfiltered is a new channel on YouTube that will feature live video content covering the Texas Longhorns. Kellner will host two live shows everyday.
In the morning, he will be joined by Bucky Godbolt, who was let go last week after a decade on air at The Horn. At noon everyday, Kellner will host a show with Trey Elling, who now hosts a nightly show on ESPN 102.7 after exiting The Horn in August of 2022.
Other content will be produced by Adam “Wags” Wagner and Kevin Dunn. Their roles are not yet defined.
Brad Kellner is not leaving his radio job. He will create content for Texas Sports Unfiltered while continuing to co-host The Wheelhouse on ESPN 97.5 in Houston with Jake Asman.
