The COVID crisis has ended, and broadcasting corporations are eliminating vaccine mandates, including Cumulus Media, the owner of Westwood One, the syndication company responsible for distributing The Dan Bongino Show.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dan Bongino shared his worries about the mandates and mentioned that he had been trying to convince Cumulus to withdraw the restrictions. He viewed Cumulus’ decision to terminate the company mandates as a positive move, which may lead him to stay with the company.
Bongino had previously stated that he would be leaving Cumulus when his contract expired due to the company’s vaccine mandates and its consequent termination of employees who declined to receive the vaccine.
Bongino also reiterated his initial viewpoint that COVID vaccines were hastily imposed on the public and lacked efficacy in combating the spread of the virus.
“Contrary to what you may have heard from some big mouth talking heads in the media who’ve never done jack squat for a person in their lives other than themselves, this fight went on for a long time, as a lot of people in this room know,” he said. “When I talk about weeks and hours of my life dedicated to making sure this thing goes away, that is not an exaggeration.”
Bongino was reluctant to celebrate triumphs since no one emerged as a winner during the COVID pandemic. He highlighted that the mandates were supported by flawed science, emphasizing their greater alignment with politics rather than genuine scientific principles.
“It was a dumb decision, and that’s just the facts,” said Bongino. “I say dumb in that it was based on science we weren’t sure of that could’ve put people in a lot of jeopardy. This was not an extensively studied vaccine, and it was a huge mistake. This policy was instituted in a lot of places across the country. This (policy) alienated people and divided a lot of people.”
Bongino said that he received no support from anyone concerning his position on the COVID vaccine mandate.
“I was out there on my own,” he said. “I ain’t nobody’s superhero; some people have different fights that they have to fight; I don’t live in a black-and-white world; nobody does. When you reach positions of influence and power, you’re forced to make decisions that other people aren’t.”
Bongino disclosed that, despite his efforts to convince Cumulus to overturn its mandates, he experienced betrayal from two unnamed individuals within the business. He clarified that he was legally obligated by a three-year contract during that period and confronted the potential threat of a lawsuit from Cumulus Media because of his opposition to the company’s mandates.
“I bring this up because I just found out that the company has revoked the vaccine mandate,” said Bongino. “I would love to tell you that it’s some glorious, wonderful day, but it’s not. A lot of people got hurt by that (mandates). I told you I wouldn’t stay here while they had this mandate. This is a big show, an important show, that has given me immense joy. I grew up on Mark Levin, Hannity, and the greatest broadcaster ever, Rush Limbaugh. So, when we lost Rush way too soon, I was asked to take this spot; I was hesitant.”
Bongino stated that his top priority following the passing of Rush Limbaugh was to guide the country during the upcoming period. He further shared that his passion for his career has increased as he has progressed in it.
“I didn’t really expect this, and it puts me in a really weird spot… somewhere along the way, this little marriage between you [the listener] and me… started out rough and rocky, and it’s just become nothing but bliss for me, and I just really hate to leave it. There’s a lot to think about and no simple answers. This is a long fight; a lot of people got hurt, and I’m telling you, I don’t believe in victory laps. These mandates destroyed people’s lives. I am going to need some things as we go forward. I want you to know that my time with you has been absolute magic. They say talk radio is a dying medium. That’s total crap. That’s total garbage.
“Talk radio is going through a change, but it isn’t going anywhere,” he added. “The question is, am I going? The question I had conclusively answered.”
On Wednesday, a podcaster, Tim Pool, presented a complicated theory indicating that some of the leaked videos of Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, might have used deep fake technology to create fake recordings. The goal could have been to trick Media Matters.
During his YouTube show, Timcast IRL, Pool discussed a speculative theory regarding leaked videos obtained by Media Matters. The clip from the episode was shared on Twitter by The Post Millennial.
Pool expressed his belief: “In my opinion, it won’t take much time before it becomes apparent that those leaked videos featuring Tucker Carlson are, in fact, deep fakes, or at least one of them.”
“I believe that it’s just a matter of time before the leaked videos of Tucker Carlson are exposed as deep fakes, or possibly one of them,” Pool explained.
Pool explained that the leaked videos, which emerged shortly after Carlson’s departure from Fox News, might have been intentionally provided to Media Matters in order to deceive the website and provoke a substantial defamation lawsuit.
“Think about this, Media Matters will publish anything. And so, what someone could theoretically do is take 10 real videos, make one deep fake video, give them all to a leftist organization who will publish them all,” he said. “Then definitively prove the deep fake one by showing a video of them making it and say, ‘You’re fake news, and you make up stories.’ Then what happens — the subject of those deep fakes can file a massive defamation lawsuit for the publication of a deep fake with proof.”
Earlier this month, Fox sent a cease-and-desist letter to Media Matters, instructing the website to remove the leaked videos.
This week, Keith Olbermann disagreed with CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s statement about the impact of the Durham Report on the FBI.
Olbermann argued that Tapper’s claim of it being “devastating” was not accurate and only based on partisan “conclusions” without any charges.
Olbermann specifically mentioned Chris Licht, the CEO of CNN, who he referred to as the non-journalistic counterpart of the network. Licht has faced criticism for approving CNN’s recent town hall featuring former President Donald Trump, which sparked controversy in the media. Olbermann appeared to allude to the town hall as CNN’s “new scandal” while referencing Tapper’s remarks.
Olbermann, a former MSNBC host, expressed his strong opinion on Twitter, with a viral tweet garnering over 440,000 views, calling for Jake Tapper to step down. Olbermann’s tweet was in response to Tapper’s remarks on Monday, where he stated that the report by Special Counsel John Durham had a “devastating” impact on the FBI and somewhat exonerated Donald Trump.
“Jake Tapper needs to resign,” Olbermann declared.
CNN's new scandal:@jaketapper says the Durham Report is "devastating to the FBI"
It isn't. Not even close. No charges, just partisan "conclusions." And Tapper of the new non-journalistic Chris Licht CNN is propagandizing
The report, which was highly anticipated, revealed that the Department of Justice and FBI did not adhere to their duty of strictly upholding the law during the investigation into alleged Trump-Russia collusion.
Olbermann, formerly affiliated with MSNBC, reacted to Tapper’s remarks on Monday regarding the impact of Special Counsel John Durham’s report on the FBI and its potential exoneration of Donald Trump.
The report, which had been eagerly awaited, was published on Monday and revealed that the Department of Justice and FBI did not adhere to their obligation of strictly adhering to the law during the initiation of the investigation into alleged collusion between Trump and Russia. The accusations of collusion with the Kremlin persisted throughout Trump’s initial term in office, but Durham determined they were grounded on flawed evidence.
Tapper has provided extensive coverage of the Trump-Russia collusion controversy, focusing on the “confirmation” of the Steele dossier. However, he acknowledged that not all aspects of the report had been fully verified.
Dana Perino of Fox News delivered the commencement speech to the graduating students of Colorado State University-Pueblo, urging them to uphold their integrity and pursue their aspirations.
Perino, who currently serves as a co-anchor on America’s Newsroom and co-host of The Five, herself attended the institution when it was known as the University of Southern Colorado.
In 1994, she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the university. As an esteemed commencement speaker, Perino was also honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
During her address, she shared insights from her time working in the White House during the tenure of President George W. Bush, emphasizing to the students that they possess the ability to accomplish their dreams.
“You have to learn; how do you decide how you want to spend your day? How do you want to take care of yourself?” Perino elaborated. “How do you want to ensure that you are doing the best that you can for yourself, your families, and your communities?”
The former White House Press Secretary emphasized that integrity is the most important asset an individual could have, despite the costs it might have.
“[Integrity is] the most valuable asset. And you have the responsibility to protect it at all costs. And that might cost you some things along the way. It could cost you friendships,” she explained. “It might cost you a job. It might cost you something that you would never want to give up that you think.”
“Take your education, the fact that you’re American, your personal integrity, and go out there and show us what how you’re going to do it,” the “America’s Newsroom” co-host concluded. “I am honored to be here,” she added.
Remote News Service has announced it has added 13 new affiliates as part of an expansion.
Company President and lead anchor Lesley Lotto said more and more stations are in need of fill-in news service with quick turnarounds.
“We’ve always provided fill-in News Anchors for vacations, illness, sudden departures, etc.,” Lotto said. “Across the industry, there’s been an increase in fill-in requests, especially from stations that need someone on the air in 6 to 12 hours, which we are able to provide.”
The new affiliates include Alpha Media’s news/talk 550 KTSA in San Antonio, as well as Basin Mediactive’s five-station cluster in Klamath Falls, Oregon, which includes Newstalk 1150 KAGO. Additionally, the service will now be used at Forcht Broadcasting’s seven stations in Paintsville and Campbellsville, Kentucky.
Warner Bros. Discovery displayed its strong portfolio of brands at its annual Upfront event on Wednesday from The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Due to the continuing Writers Guild of America strike, however, the company chose to have none of its talent make in-person appearances at the event. Outside of the venue, members of the organization picketed in a show of expostulation as a result of the inability to reach a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
While some of its programming has undoubtedly been affected, the company is confident that it can continue to penetrate forward and bring audiences plenty of compelling and engaging content. Throughout the 90-minute presentation, the Max streaming service was at the forefront and a significant talking point for all of the company’s executives. It is the culmination of the merger between Warner Bros., Inc. and Discovery, Inc. last April, and a moment the company has been preparing for over the last year.
“Shared experiences and human connection fueled by can’t miss moments driving the cultural conversation. That’s what makes us different,” Jon Steinlauf, chief U.S. advertising sales officer at Warner Bros. Discovery, said. “We’re determined to capitalize on these differences, shake things up and take some big swings. That’s what it means to dream bold here.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive Officer David Zaslav was present at the event, but did not address the crowd and was instead merely acknowledged at its start. He and other attendees watched as Steinlauf shared how Max will augment the linear portfolio of the company, which boasts six of the top 10 cable networks including TNT, TBS, TLC, Discovery, Food Network, and HGTV.
On Sunday, May 9, the company earned a 59 audience share fueled by NBA and NHL playoff broadcasts. It has determined through research that its aggregate properties reach 90% of U.S. households monthly. Moreover, the company reaches 85% of adults age 25-54, and has 41 of the top 100 shows that drive online searches following an advertisement. The new WBD Stream digital video product suite will give advertisers the ability to integrate direct and programmatic marketplace campaigns throughout the company’s portfolio.
“WBD Stream represents a critical step forward in our journey to provide our advertising partners with simple, high-quality digital products that reach engaged and passionate audiences, wherever they choose to watch our content,” said Jim Kelly, Executive Vice President of Digital Ad Sales and Advanced Advertising for Warner Bros. Discovery in a statement. “This offering pairs well for partners advertising across our premium streaming services Max and discovery+ and extends advertisers’ incremental reach to connect with fervent fans who watch their favorite shows, series and sports, again and again.”
As it pertains to sports media, this type of innovation is significant because of the wide array of programming Warner Bros. Discovery plans to bring to consumers over the next calendar year. TNT is the exclusive home of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals and broadcast the first game of the series Wednesday night with an announcing team of Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce. The Emmy Award-winning studio program Inside the NBA will be on-site to cover the series, featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.
“Our secret sauce is our approach to production,” said Luis Silberwasser at his first Upfront as chairman and chief executive officer of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. “We harness chemistry both in front of and behind the camera, and our shows are unique because we have the time and the resources to focus on quality over quantity.”
During the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, O’Neal’s “Shaq Cam” videos presented on Bleacher Report went viral and generated substantial engagement. As a result, O’Neal is expanding his partnership with the brand to create more “Shaq Cam” experiences next year. Combined with an unparalleled selection of audio and video distinctly tailored to digital platforms, including interview-based series with athletes Von Miller and Mookie Betts, NFL draft shows and immersive chat rooms, it seeks to shape the future of both content and consumer interaction in sports media.
This year, viewership for the NBA Playoffs on TNT is at its highest mark in nine years, including the most-viewed NBA Conference Semifinals since 2012. In fact, its telecast of Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors averaged 7.5 million viewers, making it the No. 1 television program of the day.
In addition to basketball, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports will broadcast the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in network history, concluding the second year of its seven-year media rights agreement with the NHL. Before that starts though, TNT will present the Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes with Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones and Jackie Redmond on the call. Studio coverage will be hosted by Liam McHugh, who will be joined by analysts Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, Wayne Gretzky and Henrik Lundqvist. Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper will serve as a guest analyst for Game 2 of the series. There will also be plenty of highlights disseminated across Bleacher Report’s Open Ice digital platform, reaching an expansive younger demographic.
“We maximize our sports rights across all the platforms to establish an emotional connection with fans, and we do it better than anyone else,” Silberwasser expressed, “through powerful storytelling, the most authentic talent and by embracing the intersection of sports and culture.”
Before turning the presentation over to a pre-recorded video from the cast of Inside the NBA, Silberwasser made mention of the network’s presentation of March Madness. Next year, TBS will be the home of the NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship Game, fostering more unforgettable and captivating play sports fans will not want to miss. Both Smith and Barkley said that they enjoy March Madness the most out of all events the network presents each year, evidenced by Barkley’s reaction when Villanova won the tournament in 2016.
“It’s special,” O’Neal said regarding how it feels to win a championship. “[It’s] special for your family, for your teammates [and] for the city. To finally get to the top of the apex is a great feeling.”
“It’s a culmination of your work, not from that moment, but from many moments,” Smith added. “It’s almost a reflective kind of feeling.”
Prior to the start of college basketball season though, TBS will present Major League Baseball postseason games, including the National League Division Series and National League Championship Series. Throughout the regular season, TBS presents 26 Tuesday night MLB games, including postseason rematches and battles between rivals. Its lead broadcast team features Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Lauren Shehadi, with in-studio contributions from Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Martínez and Curtis Granderson among others.
Just a few weeks before the MLB All-Star Game, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports will present its eighth iteration of Capital One’s The Match from Wynn Las Vegas, featuring Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs vs. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
There will be more information regarding the presentation of the event disclosed at a later date, but previous editions have made use of drone cameras, open microphones and comprehensive digital coverage. The Match is played and presented for a good cause, raising over $35 million for philanthropic organizations and donating over 27 million meals to Feeding America.
The Inside the NBA cast accentuated the importance of advertisers and their partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to ensure the brand can continue cultivating new content and engaging sports fans, blending tradition with innovation. Each part of the presentation promulgated the new and enhanced Max streaming service, set to launch next Tuesday, May 23.
“I asked Shaq one day and I said, ‘Hey man. You’ve got a lot of endorsements. How do you do it?,’” Smith said. “He said, ‘No Kenny, I have a lot of partnerships.’ He said, ‘When you look at it as a partnership, you’re going to give them ideas. You’re going to get feedback and then you’re going to create something great.’ I learned a piece of business from him, and I think as what we are, we are great partners.”
“No disrespect to Kenny – me and Shaq are in a position [where] we can pick and choose what we want to do,” added Barkley, offering a moment of levity to the packed crowd. “I’ve turned down some things. Both Shaq and myself are so lucky that we get a lot of endorsements, but it’s always going to be stuff I truly believe in.”
In addition to his role on Inside the NBA, Barkley will be teaming up with CBS News journalist Gayle King for a new weekly prime time show titled King Charles. In a prerecorded video, Barkley’s colleagues offered alternative names for the program, along with advice for King on how to best work with him. It will feature a new on-screen look with a revamped graphics package across CNN, one that network CEO Chris Licht referred to as a “long overdue makeover.”
“We’re all excited for the debut of King Charles later this year, and you can always expect the unexpected with those two,” Silberwasser said. “It is such a great example of harnessing the strength of the WBD portfolio to create compelling new content.”
What was arguably a presentation devoid of new programming and sports news had a big finish when All Elite Wrestling unveiled its third television show titled AEW: Collision. The two-hour, live program will air on Saturdays from 8 to 10 p.m. EST and premiere on Saturday, June 17, making it the first time a Turner network will feature Saturday night wrestling in over two decades.
“We’re doubling-down on wrestling with AEW: Collision, which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID and HLN, linear and streaming in a statement. “AEW’s roster of talent has expanded so quickly that we felt it needed another night to bring our audience the epic rivalries, unforgettable matches and stars they love to watch. Adding Collision to our programming mix on TNT will allow us to satisfy the massive demand we’ve felt from our hardcore fanbase and be the ultimate complement to AEW: Dynamite on TBS.”
Through its professional sports rights, digital brands and additional entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports aspires to continue pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to consume live sports. Just how it will be implemented in the Max streaming service remains to be seen, but it will ostensibly continue to operate with consumer affinity at the forefront centered around exhibiting some of the best athletes and talent sports media has to offer.
“How do we measure success?,” Silberwasser rhetorically asked. “By our ability to create value for our partners and, importantly, serve the sports fan. It’s as simple as that.”
Local shows should focus on local topics and ignore national topics, right? No, that is wrong.
It is all about Topic A: What are people talking about? It’s not that easy to figure that out, but here are some tips:
Reflecting Your Audience is Job #1.
Your listeners are very busy. They have limited time and really want to know what the biggest story of the day is. This is always a balancing act by the host.
When Newspapers were a thing, the front page above the fold was the big story of the day. With seemingly thousands of news sources, it is tough to center in on the biggest. Your audience wants to hear their concerns from you!
You must put yourself in the concerns of the listeners. I have heard hosts say that they only speak about what they are interested in discussing. Having passion for the topic is great, but reflection is it.
How do you know what those concerns are?
Let’s talk about their lives. Most ‘conservative’ news/talk station audiences are 70% men and 30% women. Serve your core. It is not just about politics. What are these people doing? What are their concerns beyond politics?
Let’s be honest about City Council Meetings.
There are a small number of people who are paying attention to these meetings. Unless there is a flash point issue like taxes, homeless encampments, crime, etc…most people just don’t care.
I have been in markets where there is a legit second news/talk station that upper management is all worried about. If that station is worried about the happenings at city hall, you win every time.
If you haven’t been to a city council meeting lately go three weeks in a row. The same group of complainers will be there. If you think that these people are symbolic of your community and most importantly your listeners, you are miscalculating.
Keeping it local, local, local means reflecting what your audience is actually interested in discussing. If you think that you can bring your audience around to being concerned about the issues that only you a few other people are interested in, I can guarantee you will not convince anyone.
The Genius of Rush Limbaugh was that he spoke for the concerns of millions of people. Quite a trick. Rush came up through music radio and knew that you had to play the hits.
State Legislative Issues
There is usually a lot to focus on when your state’s legislature is in session. Talk about the proposed legislation about what is proposed not by bill number. Most people have no idea that Bill 25 is up for a vote. People do know that the legislature wants to raise property taxes.
Don’t be a legislative insider, represent the people. You are not there to lionize or villainize anyone. You are there to get the information to the listeners.
As a general rule: I never ever talk about subcommittees or committee votes. No one cares except for lobbyists, legislators, and the few people who are hardcore followers. If you are speaking to only those people, you are ignoring most of your audience.
There are so many choices, your audience has no problem choosing something else to entertain them. If PPM has taught us anything, people flip stations more than anyone ever realized. With podcasts, satellite radio, personal playlists, and competing radio stations, you need to be focused on your audience.
Speaking of the elected officials, I always give them a win and I always ask a tough question that will make them squirm. By the way, I never have problems getting them back on. I never make the tough question personal. I just want elected officials to be honest and not give talking points.
National Stories are sometimes an easy temptation to discuss because of the vast information that you can find on them. Make these stories local.
For example, New York is banning natural gas hookups in new buildings. This will make it more expensive to repair or replace your natural gas furnace, water heater, or stove. Well, this national story has a huge impact on your community. Natural gas is more efficient and cheaper for your audience. It is a hell of a topic. It is something that impacts homes and businesses.
Making the national story local is the key. Most restaurants use natural gas for cooking. Our food will taste different. Propane may also be harder to find.
Lifestyle topics…Marriage, Family, and Money are always hits.
During the NFL season, talking about the local team is essential. The Kansas City Chiefs are huge in my area. Anything about the Chiefs is discussed nearly every day, even if it is only during our local sports.
My station is not an affiliate of the Kansas City Chiefs, yet we discuss them more than the actual affiliate of the team. The day after the game, I guarantee that nearly all the residents will be talking about the Kansas City Chiefs. It would be foolish to not be doing so as well.
Discussing inflation is particularly good. Groceries, utilities, gas prices. The topics are endless.
Marriage. Talk about how you are forced to go to the shoe store with the wife and how emasculating it is to hold her purse. Every man has had to do this. I carry the purse like a football.
If there is one thing to take away from this article is this: Your listeners are very selfish. If they don’t care about what you are discussing, they are gone.
I will give you a tip. Get a pad of paper and find a restaurant at lunchtime. Sit near a table with multiple people that fit your station’s audience profile. Then listen. Write down what they are talking about. You will learn so much about their concerns.
Former 92.9 The Game morning host Hugh Douglas is enjoying his new opportunity at 94 WIP in Philadelphia. The former Eagle caught up with Carl Dukes and Mike Bell on Wednesday and said all is well.
“Everything is cool, man,” Douglas said. “I love Philadelphia – it ain’t Atlanta. It’s definitely not Atlanta cause you know it’s sundress season down there. Up here it’s more like Lululemon season if you get where I’m coming from.”
Hugh added that he did miss being down in Georgia with Dukes and Bell and everyone at Audacy Atlanta. Having spent eight years hosting The Game’s morning show alongside John Fricke, he said that it took a little while to get accustomed to saying hello to Philly.
“I’m so used to saying ‘Good morning, Atlanta,’ I said it on the air up here in Philadelphia so they gave me some heat about that,” he said.
Bell mentioned how passionate Atlanta sports fans are about their teams, and asked Douglas about what it’s been like living among folks who are just as fanatical, but more outspoken. Douglas said with the recent end to the Sixers season, the city is once again left licking its wounds with nothing to show for it.
“We have the therapy couch going on for Joel Embiid and this Philadelphia 76ers team. It’s bad. They want to fire everybody, they want to trade everybody, and it’s just all bad up here right now.”
A bill making its way through Congress will ensure that all new vehicles, electric or otherwise, are outfitted with AM radio receivers and made available without an additional payment, fee or surcharge.
As electric vehicles have become more mainstream, automakers like Tesla and Ford have decided to eliminate AM receivers from the new ones rolling off the assembly lines.
“For decades, free AM broadcast radio has been an essential tool in emergencies, a crucial part of our diverse media ecosystem, and an irreplaceable source for news, weather, sports, and entertainment for tens of millions of listeners,” Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) said. He is one of several senators from both sides of the aisle to sponsor the legislation. “Carmakers shouldn’t tune out AM radio in new vehicles or put it behind a costly digital paywall.”
If passed, the bill would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue the rule on maintaining and providing AM receivers in vehicles without an added expense. Additionally, as part of the law, vehicles without AM radio that are already on the market would be mandated to have a warning label informing buyers of what’s missing included with the vehicle information sticker on the window.
“The importance of AM radio during large-scale emergencies cannot be underestimated, and it has, without a doubt and without interruption, saved lives and kept our communities informed,” Sen. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said. “When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your AM radio.”
Republican support of the bill includes Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Reps. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas.
Peyton Manning and Omaha Productions have officially announced a partnership with Peter Chernin’s The North Road to invest in new content studios and opportunities in the entertainment space.
Beginning with the Netflix docuseries The King of Collectibles that debuted in April, North Road’s Words + Pictures and Omaha Productions are working on an Amazon Prime documentary about Rich Strike trainer Eric Reed. Rich Strike won last year’s Kentucky Derby and was the biggest longshot to win in over a century.
Omaha and Words + Pictures have also worked together previously to produce The ESPY Awards, the Places franchise, Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli and NFL Honors.
“Through Peyton’s relationship with Connor Schell and our team at Words + Pictures, we have been fortunate to collaborate with Peyton and Omaha on several recent projects and have witnessed first-hand the authenticity with which Omaha mixes humor, heart, and intelligence into all its stories,” Chernin said. “This partnership formalizes and strengthens that relationship and will support Omaha’s growth into new business categories. Peyton is committed to excellence, and we look forward to starting this new chapter together.”
“Peter has demonstrated throughout his career that he shares our passion for telling stories that unify and uplift,” Manning added. “We have had early success on the projects we’ve already worked on with Words + Pictures, and this new partnership, beginning with The King of Collectibles, will allow us to do even more together.”
