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Shan & RJ: ESPN Sounds Desperate With Victor Wembanyama Hype

BSM Staff
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Some years, the NBA Draft Lottery can be skipped or dismissed by casual fans. This year is not one of those. The team that won the lottery would get the right to draft Victor Wembanyama, a highly coveted big man from France. San Antonio eventually heard its name called for the top pick, but ESPN didn’t come off great in the lead up to that moment according to Shan Shariff.

The Dallas morning man said Wednesday on 105.3 The Fan that the network came off looking desperate in the way it hyped up what Wembenyama is expected to be in the NBA. He pointed out that NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski said that Wembanyama “could be the greatest prospect in the history of team sports” multiple times on the broadcast.

“We’re watching the draft on y’all’s network,” he said after playing a clip of Woj. “Mike Greenberg kind of did the same stuff. Like, is ESPN that desperate to make up the money they’re throwing at McAfee to hype this to this degree?”

Shariff asked if Wembanyama was as great of a prospect as LeBron James. His partner RJ Choppy said no and then pointed out that the hype was even more absurd given that James and the Los Angeles Lakers were playing on the network just ten minutes later.

He added that ESPN is a network built on sports and should know its history. There are plenty of other people in the category they were putting Victor Wembenyama on Tuesday night.

“Shaq would like a word too. Magic and Larry have something to say on this. Bryce Harper wants your input. John Elway and Peyton Manning also would like to say, ‘Hey! Hello! Over here.’ You can make a play without sounding like an idiot.”

Shan Shariff tried to put the hype in some context. It could be a necessity. Wembanyama is very good, but a lot of American NBA fans may not know it.

“I don’t think that you can be the most hyped here if you are playing in France. You know what I mean? Like, if you were playing high school All-American games or college here, then the hype be even louder because we’re all watching your games nonstop.” 

For the Spurs and Wembanyama, all they can do now is wait. Sure, teams may reach out and see what the team would want to trade the pick, but it seems unlikely a deal will be made. That means we could be in for radio silence until draft day, which is June 22.

AEW Collision Coming to TNT on June 17

BSM Staff
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AEW Collision Coming to TNT on June 17

After months of speculation, it’s official! AEW is getting a third TV show. WarnerBros. Discovery announced at its upfront event on Wednesday that Collision is coming to TNT in June.

Plenty has been written about rival WWE’s media rights following the acquisition of the professional wrestling giant by Endeavor, but it was well-known that Tony Khan had something in the works. Fightful first reported in March that AEW talent was told to be prepared for a third weekly television product.

According to Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer for WBD’s U.S. Networks Group, Collision will air for two hours each week. The show’s debut is set for June 17. AEW confirmed in a press release that new episodes will air every Saturday.

Tony Khan, AEW’s GM, CEO and Head of Creative, paid tribute to TBS and TNT’s history with professional wrestling and the WCW, saying that he is proud to bring live Saturday night matches back to the history Turner brands.

“The debut of Collision is significant across a number of sectors, including television, wrestling, entertainment and sports, and reinforces AEW as the bold property we envisioned when we launched in 2019,” he added.

AEW programming has reached more than 23 million viewers so far this year on TBS and TNT. Collision joins the company’s television footprint, which includes AEW: Dynamite on Wednesdays, AEW: Rampage on Fridays and AEW: All Access.

Chris Licht: ‘CNN’s Role in Society Has Never Been More Crucial Than Now’

BNM Staff
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Warner Bros. Discovery held its upfront for prospective advertisers Wednesday morning, and CNN CEO Chris Licht touted the news network’s place in society as being as entrenched as ever.

“When the world needs the truth, they can trust us to deliver it. We have doubled down on our commitment to you, the audience, by strengthening the role of journalism in daily life,” said Licht. “CNN is unlike any other news organization in the world. We have greater resources, reach, and original reporting than anyone else. Thousands of journalists in 36 bureaus around the globe supercharge our news-gathering operation to provide reliable news and information. We’ve prioritized reporting over punditry to separate the news from the noise.”

Licht’s comments come after the network has fielded extensive criticism for its decision to host former President Donald Trump at a New Hampshire town hall event last week. However, Licht has fiercely defended the decision and added that CNN is needed now as much as it ever has been.

“CNN’s role in society has never been more important and more crucial than it is right now. We are in critical times, and no one can cover those times like CNN can — on every platform as it happens. Obviously, all eyes will be on CNN for the upcoming 2024 election…The world relies on those three red letters in times of need and in times of celebration.”

Licht’s comments on CNN’s place in the media landscape came after he announced that Kaitlan Collins — who moderated the event with Trump last week — would be shifting from her current role as a co-anchor of CNN This Morning to helm the network’s primetime 9:00 PM ET timeslot previously occupied by Chris Cuomo. The new program featuring Collins will debut in June.

Tim Kiely, Influential Producer of Inside the NBA, to Retire

BSM Staff
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Tim Kiely, Influential Producer of Inside the NBA, to Retire

The man credited with turning Inside the NBA into the most influential pregame show on television is calling it a career. Tim Kiely has announced that he is retiring from TNT and WBD Sports.

Keily had been at the network for nearly thirty years. He took over Inside the NBA in 1995 and made the hires that turned the show into what it is today. Kenny Smith came on board in 1998 on what Kiely described once as “a kind of temporary tryout”. Charles Barkley joined in 2000. Shaquille O’Neal came to the show in 2011.

He had risen to VP of Production during his time with TNT and TBS. He also was on the receiving end of 17 Emmy Awards.

Perhaps the greatest tribute the network ever gave to Kiely was admitting that his show was the standard it wanted for all what were then-Turner Sports pregame shows. A four-part documentary about the show’s influence was a nice touch too.

In an interview with NextTV in 2014, Keily said that the secret to the show’s success is the lack of a teleprompter. It forces the talent to be spontaneous and interact with each other. It also means the show cannot be afraid to point out and make fun of its own mistakes.

“I want them to talk to each other,” Kiely said in that interview. “Once you look at cameras, you lose the conversation.”

Kaitlan Collins Named New CNN Primetime Host

BNM Staff
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Kaitlan Collins Named New CNN Primetime Host

After much speculation, CNN has officially named Kaitlan Collins the new host of the network’s 9:00 PM ET program. The news was announced as part of Warner Bros. Discovery upfront event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden Wednesday morning.

“I’m very happy to let you know that Kaitlan Collins will be announced as the anchor of our 9pm hour during today’s Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront presentation,” CNN CEO Chris Licht wrote in a memo to employees Wednesday morning.

The timeslot has been vacant since the network fired Chris Cuomo in December 2021 after it was revealed he attempted to aid his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, after he was accused of sexual misconduct by staffers.

Collins has seen her profile grow in recent months. After being tabbed to host CNN This Morning alongside Poppy Harlow and the now-departed Don Lemon, Collins was the subject of rumors of behind-the-scenes tension with Lemon. The tension reportedly boiled over during a November episode where Lemon screamed at the 31-year-old for repeatedly talking over him during the day’s show. CNN claimed the report was “overblown” by the relationship between the anchors deteriorated before Lemon’s unceremonious firing in April.

Moderating the network’s New Hampshire town hall event with former President Donald Trump also saw Collins’ star grow. Reactions to her performance were mostly mixed along party lines, with conservatives angry at her line of questioning and near-constant fact-checking of the 45th president, while messages of support and understanding came in from more liberal media members after recognizing the difficult position she was in.

A report from Puck News hours before the New Hampshire town hall claimed that Collins had been offered a new contract by CNN CEO Chris Licht to host the primetime program. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has said “this is a new CNN” after the network meandered from its traditional down-the-middle news coverage during the Trump presidency. Under Zaslav’s and Licht’s direction, the network aims to return to its strictly newsgathering and reporting roots, with Collins’ new program aiming to cement that position.

The new program anchored by Collins will begin in June. No timetable has been set on naming a replacement for the network’s morning show.

Chris Hayes: Elon Musk Interview With CNBC ‘Painful’

BNM Staff
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Twitter owner Elon Musk appeared in a nearly hourlong interview with David Faber of CNBC Tuesday, covering a wide range of topics. MSNBC primetime host Chris Hayes came away less than impressed.

During the interview, Musk discussed his vision for Twitter, claiming he aims to turn the platform into a “cybernetic collective mind for humanity”.

“Alright. Slow down there, buddy,” Hayes joked after playing the clip. “It’s a microblogging site. I like it a lot, but like…let’s just…ok?”

The All In host then turned his attention to the business side of the social media platform, arguing that things do not look rosy.

“He bought it for a whopping $44 billion,” continued Hayes. “It’s a private company now, so we don’t know what its business internals look like, but by all accounts, advertisers have absolutely fled. His new subscriber service — it doesn’t look like it’s doing very well. People think the company is worth way less than what he bought it for.”

Hayes also mentioned Musk’s recent comments about billionaire George Soros, claiming he “hates humanity”. The language used by Musk has been called “dangerous” by the Anti-Defamation League while being accused of stoking anti-Semitism by others. Musk defended his comments, which Hayes took issue with.

“Tonight, Musk defended his comments in an extensive, painful interview on CNBC,” Hayes concluded.

Blue Wire Inks Ad Sales Deal With RotoGrinders and Action Network

BSM Staff
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Blue Wire Inks Ad Sales Deal With RotoGrinders and Action Network

Blue Wire goes where the money is in the world of podcasting. The company is no stranger to ad sales partnerships and it has a new one under its belt now after striking a deal with RotoGrinders and Action Network.

RotoGrinders and Action Network are both part of Better Collective. The deal will make Blue Wire’s sales team the official representatives of the podcasts. Blue Wire will be tasked with pursuing advertising and sponsorship opportunities outside the betting space. Blue Wire will also work with Bettor Collective on sports betting partner integrations.

“We each immediately understood the value proposition of working together—leveraging Better Collective’s content prowess and loyal audience, along with our team’s podcasting expertise and partnerships,” Maggie Clifton, SVP of Business Development at Blue Wire, said. “Better Collective has built an impressive business, and we look forward to working closer with them.”

Better Collective has enlisted a well-established partner for the ad sales endeavor. This new deal adds 15 new shows to the sales Blue Wire portfolio along with the 300 shows that are already part of its own network and shows included in a previous deal struck with Fubo.

This is far from the first deal Blue Wire has done in the sports gambling space. The network previously inked a deal with the Sports Gambling Podcast Network. It also has a studio at the Wynn Las Vegas property.

Bob Butler Retires From KCBS After 42 Years

BNM Staff
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Bob Butler Retires From KCBS After 42 Years

After 42 years at the Audacy-owned San Francisco news station KCBS, Bob Butler has retired.

“I’ve been here more than half my life. Even though I know it’s been coming, it’s emotional,” Butler said. “I’m going to miss the people.”

Butler joined KCBS Radio in 1981 when he was 28 years old after serving in the Navy and working as a Bell Telephone 411 directory assistant. He previously worked at KBLX in Berkeley and KDIA Radio in Oakland before moving to KCBS Radio.

He was active in the SAG-AFTRA Union that represents broadcasters, later going on to become National Broadcast Vice President in 2019. He is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. He became Regional Director in 2007 before being promoted to Vice President of Broadcast in 2009. He was elected as the NAJB’s 20th President in 2013.

During an appearance on the station’s Ask An Expert program, Butler shared that one of his first days working in the field was the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, where he bumped into a high-profile figure during an emotional moment.

“I go out in the Marina District and I’m watching people walking with all they can carry in a shopping cart,” said Butler. “That was their life that was in that shopping cart and it was really traumatic. I sat there at lunch in Marina Middle School and all of a sudden I started crying. I just got overwhelmed with the tragedy and someone started rubbing me on my shoulders and I looked around and it was Nancy Pelosi.”

New York Stock Exchange Suspends Sale of Audacy Shares, Considers Delisting

BSM Staff
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New York Stock Exchange Suspends Sale of Audacy Shares, Considers Delisting

Shares of Audacy were trading for nine cents per share on Tuesday. That was a drop of 13% in the sales price. It caused the New York Stock Exchange to take action.

Trading of the company’s stock has been suspended per its request. The New York Stock Exchange has the right to delist any company traded on its floor when share prices fall to “abnormally low levels.” That is what is happening right now.

Audacy issued a press release on Tuesday to say it would appeal this decision. The company will have ten days to file a written appeal. If that is successful, traders can resume making deals involving shares of Audacy. If it is not, the company has said it will seek to move to a different exchange.

“While we are disappointed by the NYSE’s decision, we are hopeful we will find our way back to the exchange later this year as we execute our action plans which include a reverse stock split to satisfy NYSE rules, the continued execution of our liability management plans and working with our financial advisors to refinance our debt,” CEO David Field said. “Further, as macroeconomic conditions stabilize, we believe we will benefit from a general market recovery and will be able to capitalize on our investments in strategic transformation that position Audacy well for the future.”

Audacy has been in hot water with the New York Stock Exchange since last year. The NYSE requires every listed company to have a closing price no lower than $1 over thirty days of trading. That has not been true for Audacy since last July.

The moves necessary to get Audacy back in compliance with NYSE rules require shareholder approval. Next week, a shareholder vote will be taken on a reverse stock split. It would reduce the number of available Audacy shares and raise the price of each individual share.

Earlier this month, Inside Radio reported that Audacy is expected to begin negotiations with lenders “aiming for both relief from existing loan covenants and for an extension of its November 2024 term loan maturity.” If that is unsuccessful, it is expected that a major financial restructuring would be the company’s next move.

Elon Musk: We Care Enough About the Truth to Give Up Twitter Ad Dollars

BNM Staff
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On Tuesday, Twitter CEO Elon Musk suggested the possibility of advertising the platform during an exclusive interview with CNBC’s David Faber. Musk disclosed that shareholders have shown enthusiasm in promoting the brand, which caught him off guard, given Twitter’s historical aversion to investing in advertising.

The interview was conducted after Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in Austin, Texas.

“I was surprised by the level of enthusiasm for advertising,” Musk said. “I have some general thoughts about advertising. If advertising is informative and entertaining, it can start approaching content. I think sometimes advertising is not informative and sometimes a bit misleading. We’ve sometimes lost some advertisers because Community Notes applies to advertisers too.”

Community Notes are designed to enhance the accuracy of information shared on Twitter by enabling users to provide additional context to potentially misleading tweets. Users can contribute their notes to any tweet, and if multiple contributors from diverse perspectives rate a note as helpful, it will be displayed publicly alongside the tweet.

After acquiring Twitter for an astonishing $44 billion last year, Elon Musk implemented various changes, such as relaxing content moderation policies, reviving inflammatory accounts, and expressing his views on politics and global issues. These changes led to a significant departure of well-known brands from the platform.

“We care enough about the truth that we are willing to give up advertiser dollars in order to have the most accurate information,” Musk said. “I’m not sure what the most effective this [for advertising] is, but I know they should be informed about a product, have some artistic element to it, and be something you won’t regret watching after it’s done.”

During the conversation, Musk addressed the issue of free speech on Twitter and the intricate equilibrium he upholds between sharing his opinions and evaluating how his tweets might affect advertisers’ attitudes. However, Musk’s decision to reinstate former President Donald Trump’s account following accusations of incitement to riot during a speech near the U.S. Capitol in 2021 was met with criticism.

Musk claimed that numerous conspiracy theories have been proven accurate, stating, “So many conspiracy theories have turned out to be true.” When asked to provide an example by Faber, Musk cited the Hunter Biden laptop story as the most recent instance where Twitter and Facebook allegedly suppressed information during the 2020 election.

“That was a pretty big deal,” Musk said. “Twitter and others engaged in an act of suppression that was relevant to the public. That’s a terrible thing that happened.”

On Monday, Musk tweeted an accusation that George Soros harbors hostility towards humanity shortly after Soros revealed that he sold a small portion of his Tesla holdings. During the interview, Faber questioned Musk about his tendency to tweet controversial statements that could cause him to lose favor with his advertisers.

“That’s my opinion; it’s freedom of speech. I’m allowed to say what I want, and I don’t want to make this a George Soros interview. I’m reminded of a scene in The Princess Bride where he confronts the person who killed his father, and he says, ‘Offer me money, offer me power, I don’t care.'”

“I’ll say what I want to say, and if the consequence of that is losing money — so be it,” he added.

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