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Jen Psaki: Fox News Will Continue White Nationalist Tropes After Tucker Carlson’s Exit

BNM Staff
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Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki eviscerated Fox News during her MSNBC program Sunday.

During Inside with Jen Psaki, the eponymous host took aim at the network for continuing strong rhetoric towards immigrants even after the departure of Tucker Carlson and said that’s the M.O. of the network.

“Was it because of highly offensive and crude messages discovered by the board of directors? Maybe. Like reportedly calling a female executive the C-word? You know, the one,” Psaki said after questioning the reason for Carlson’s ouster. “Was it due to the workplace harassment lawsuit filed by a former producer, or was it simply that Rupert Murdoch decided Carlson was more trouble than he was worth?

“For now, it’s not entirely clear. But what we do know is that, for years, Fox News seemed to have ample reasons — many of them — to oust Carlson and did nothing.”

Psaki then aired clips of Carlson calling immigrants “poor” and “dirty”, before showing his encapsulation that those participating in the January 6th Insurrection were actually plants from the FBI. She then aired a clip of Carlson saying President Joe Biden’s immigration policies were designed to “change the racial mix of the country”.

“Throughout it all, Fox backed Tucker…And for years they did. But if you think Tucker’s firing means Fox has seen the light? Don’t hold your breath. Don’t judge them on why they fired Carlson. Judge them for all the times they didn’t and judge them for what they’re still putting on the air this week. Since his exit on Monday, it’s been business as usual for their primetime lineup,” Psaki said before showcasing a clip featuring Laura Ingraham claiming the Biden administration values “illegal immigrant DREAMers over native-born Americans”.

“Fox News may have had a problem with Tucker himself, but his ideas, the conspiracies, the lies, his explicit white nationalist views were never the total problem for the network. They endorsed all of that and continue to do so. This is simply who they are,” concluded Psaki.

Attorneys for Pat McAfee Again File To Have Brett Favre Lawsuit Dismissed

BSM Staff
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Attorneys for Pat McAfee Again File To Have Brett Favre Lawsuit Dismissed

Will Brett Favre get his day in court? Pat McAfee and his lawyers don’t think things should get that far. They have filed a motion to have the Hall of Fame’s defamation lawsuit against McAfee dismissed.

McAfee is one of several people that Favre and his attorneys have accused of making libelous statements regarding his connection to a Mississippi welfare scandal. McAfee’s motion claims that having to defend himself against these accusations would “unduly burden” his right to free speech.

News broke last year that Favre and Mississippi politicians steered money meant to help the state’s poorest residents to a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

At that time, McAfee joked that McAfee was a member of the Sticky Bandits from the Home Alone films. He also said that Favre “tied the hands of poor people” and “took money right out of their pockets.”

McAfee’s attorneys argue that “No reasonable listener would have interpreted his comments as actual statements of fact about Favre.” They did add though that even if listeners did view what McAfee said as fact, those statements “would be substantially true.”

Tomi Lahren, Jason Whitlock, Erick Erickson, Dan Mandis, Tony Katz, Ken Charles and Jim Cutler to Speak at the 2023 BNM Summit

Jason Barrett
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Tomi Lahren, Jason Whitlock, Erick Erickson, Dan Mandis, Tony Katz, Ken Charles and Jim Cutler to Speak at the 2023 BNM Summit

In December, I announced plans to host our first BNM Summit at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on September 13-14. I didn’t share many details at that time because we were nine months out from the event taking place, and we had a sports summit at USC in Los Angeles coming up in March. Fortunately, the sports conference went well, and once it was over, it was time to start laying the groundwork for our first BNM Summit.

Since then, our Director of Strategic Partnerships Stephanie Eads has traveled to Nashville, the NAB in Las Vegas, and spent hours on the phone talking to potential partners. I’ve been busy as well talking to folks across the format about speaking at the show. In the weeks and months ahead, I’m sure my phone, email and direct messages will get an even more intense workout as speaker interest tends to rise rapidly after we make an announcement.

I knew when we decided to take this plunge that there’d be folks in the news/talk format wondering if we can pull it off. I recognize that my work in sports media is what I’m known for most. Though I’m proud of my sports radio programming career and what we’ve done with BSM, I wouldn’t run this event if I was not committed, interested, and confident in my ability to help news/talk media professionals. I also wouldn’t have launched and continue to invest in Barrett News Media if it wasn’t a long-term priority. You may know me more for sports media today, but I’m 49, and over the next decade, I’m on a mission to make sure the Barrett brands are well known across the news media and sports media industry.

If you’ve attended one of our sports conferences before, then you’re aware of what to expect at this show. If you haven’t had a chance to join us, let me explain what you’re in for.

Our Summit’s are created to bring together news/talk media professionals from all areas of the business to share knowledge, examine key issues, build and strengthen relationships, highlight and introduce brands and individuals, and explore ways to improve and increase business. We cover a wide range of issues on local and national programming, content creation, ratings strategy, revenue management, advertiser demand, social media, audience behavior, podcasting, opportunities in technology, diversity, money making events, and more. To learn more about the conference, visit and bookmark BNMSummit.com.

As cool as it is having a bunch of talented, successful people in the room, if we can’t deliver information to help people improve their brands and businesses, it doesn’t last. It’s why I obsess over everything we put on stage. I realize industry folks hate leaving the office, so if you’re making the commitment to spend two days with us in Nashville away from your normal surroundings, I want to make sure it’s worth it.

And that brings me to our first announcement for the upcoming 2023 BNM Summit.

I am very excited to reveal the first seven speakers for our show. It is an honor to welcome FOX News contributor and the host of Outkick’s Tomi Lahren is Fearless Tomi Lahren, Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Blaze TV’s Fearless Jason Whitlock, COX Media Group and Compass Media Networks syndicated talk radio host Erick Erickson, Super Talk 99.7 WTN morning host and PD Dan Mandis, WIBC morning man Tony Katz, 95.5 WSB Program Director Ken Charles, and nationally recognized voice talent Jim Cutler to the 2023 BNM Summit.

What I love about this group is that they each bring unique experiences to the Summit. If you’re looking to learn how to create engaging digital content, build a strong social media following, and deliver thought provoking opinions that create additional conversation, few do it better than Tomi and Jason. If you wish to learn what it takes to program news/talk brands on a local level and thrive without a big national presence, Dan Mandis and Ken Charles have answers for you. If you seek insight on owning a local market and riding that success into syndication, Erick Erickson and Tony Katz know how to do it. And when it comes to using imaging to enhance brands, nobody explains it better than Jim Cutler.

To avoid any confusion, the Summit is not open to the public, only to members of the media industry. We also don’t cater to one party over another. If you’re a CEO, GM, executive, media buyer, advertiser, PD, host, salesperson, digital leader, producer, researcher or ratings analyst, and you have information and knowledge to share to help folks in the room get smarter and grow their business, that’s what matters. The more we open our minds to different approaches, and take advantage of in person conversations, the better off we all are.

Media professionals looking to attend the BNM Summit will be pleased to learn that tickets to the two-day show are only $224.99. However, to celebrate our first show announcement, I’m discounting tickets for the entire month of May to $174.99. The price will increase on June 1st so please take advantage of the savings while it lasts by clicking here.

If you’re traveling to Nashville and trying to figure out where to stay, you’re in luck. There are multiple hotels near Vanderbilt University’s Student Life Center (the location of our event). To help keep costs down, BNM has teamed up with Homewood Suites by Hilton to offer a special nightly rate of just $179.99. The hotel is three tenths of a mile away from the conference, and if you don’t prefer walking, a shuttle is available to take you to and from the event. Other nearby options include the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, and Courtyard by Marriott.

I will have more speakers to announce in the near future, including a few who we’ve already secured for the show. I could have hit you with everything all at once today, but what’s the fun in that? I prefer building suspense through a series of announcements, so stay tuned. There will also be details in the near future about our After Party, and a few other items we’re working on so please keep an eye on the conference website.

Before I wrap this up, those looking to associate their company or brand with this event are encouraged to email Stephanie Eads for information on sponsorship opportunities. A full deck is available and she can share what is and isn’t available. Those looking to explore speaking opportunities can reach me here. Though I look at every request, please understand that I won’t be able to take care of everyone who asks to participate.

Come September, we plan to have a star studded lineup, top notch agenda, and a few hundred media professionals gathering in Nashville to explore ways to improve the business. I look forward to seeing you there, and appreciate all of you who are taking time to speak and attend.

Joe Pags Questions Motive of Abby Grossberg Lawsuit

BNM Staff
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Joe Pags Questions Motive of Abby Grossberg Lawsuit

Recent reports indicate that Abby Grossberg, who previously worked as a producer for Maria Bartiromo and then worked for Tucker Carlson, has raised concerns about the workplace environment. Grossberg has cited misogynistic behavior, bullying, and safety concerns. Prompted by her superiors at the network, Grossberg began secretly recording conversations in the office. However, last Friday, Joe Pags, a radio host with nationwide syndication, characterized the story as “strange” and raised doubts about Grossberg’s motives for speaking out.

“I can’t imagine the few occasions that she had to talk to Tucker [Carlson] on the phone; this is very interesting to me. I wonder what people think about this situation almost a week into it. The ratings on Fox News are horrible at eight o’clock now; what Tucker did the other night [on Twitter] has 20 or 30 million views now.”

As reported by The Spectator, Grossberg’s lawyers have stated that she regularly communicated with Carlson through email, text messaging, and phone calls until she left the company. They claim that the discriminatory environment was created by other employees who acted as Carlson’s “eyes” and “ears” due to his absence from the New York office.

“The other late-night hosts have one-third the viewership that Tucker had when he was on, and they are the ones out there criticizing him right now when he was dominating them in the ratings,” Pags said. “So, I’m not sure where we are with this. Other than that, Tucker, very clearly, is going to be part of the fray.”

According to Pags, if Carlson stays with Fox News and the network still owes him money, he may encounter a difficult situation.

Newsmax Making ‘All Out Push’ For Tucker Carlson

BNM Staff
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Newsmax Making ‘All Out Push’ For Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson is no longer with Fox News, and Newsmax is actively pursuing him to take on a more significant role than just being the face of their network.

Well-informed sources revealed to TMZ that Newsmax is making a full-court press to secure Carlson’s services. They’re even considering allowing him to program the entire channel instead of solely hosting his show, going to great lengths to entice him.

Offering his own primetime show along with the authority to influence the programming before and after it, would be a tempting proposition for Tucker Carlson. This is particularly significant as it could potentially lead to higher TV ratings.

It’s worth noting that Newsmax has yet to make a formal offer to Tucker, according to sources. Because of his existing contract with Fox News, he cannot engage in formal negotiations. Nevertheless, insiders report that network executives have expressed to Tucker’s associates their willingness to grant him significant influence in rebranding their channel.

Tucker has garnered the interest of several potential suitors, such as Newsmax and NewsNation. Although it has yet to be finalized which one, he’ll go with, insiders indicate that it may not be a traditional TV station. Nevertheless, his decision is anticipated to impact the conservative media landscape significantly.

The website reported Tucker is feeling positive after leaving Fox News. Instead of being upset about it, he is looking forward and hopes that Fox News will do the same.

KYW Hosting On-Air Breakfast With Mayoral Candidates

BNM Staff
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KYW Hosting On-Air Breakfast With Mayoral Candidates

KYW Newsradio (103.9 FM / 1060 AM) in Philadelphia has scheduled a 90-minute unique program called “Breakfast with the Candidates” on May 4 at 8:00 a.m. ET. The program will be moderated by KYW Newsradio morning drive anchor Ian Bush.

According to a news release, the program will feature five Democratic candidates for the city’s mayor: Rebecca Rhynhart, Cherelle Parker, Helen Gym, Allan Domb, and Jeff Brown. Its goal is to provide voters with essential information that can help them make informed decisions about who to elect as the next mayor of Philadelphia.

During the program, KYW Newsradio community impact reporter Racquel Williams, City Hall bureau chief Pat Loeb, and education reporter Mike DeNardo will join Bush in asking the candidates questions about crucial issues such as gun violence, schools, housing, and leadership.

The candidates will have one final chance to present their plans to the public, and listeners can tune in to KYW Newsradio or the Audacy app and website to hear their answers. The primary is only days away, and presents a vital opportunity for voters to make informed decisions.

Kevin McCorry, news director of KYW Newsradio, emphasized the importance of the program, stating, “We’re proud to offer the city this vital resource. The city is at a crossroads, and with only days to go before the primary, no clear frontrunner has emerged. Philadelphians mulling their choice have one final broadcast forum to listen as the candidates try to separate themselves from the pack.”

Kristina Koppeser, brand manager and director of digital at KYW Newsradio, added, “We’re thrilled to host this event that will provide crucial information to the people of Philadelphia as they decide who they’d like to represent as their next mayor.”

“Breakfast with the Candidates” presents an opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates, gain a better understanding of their plans, and make informed decisions as the city prepares to elect its next mayor.

The event can be heard on KYW Newsradio (103.9 FM and 1060 AM) in Philadelphia and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. The station can also be reached on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Lawrence Jones Will Temporarily Step Into Former Tucker Carlson Timeslot

BNM Staff
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As reported by Page Six in The New York Post, Lawrence Jones — the youngest Black anchor to host a solo program on cable news — is scheduled to host Tucker Carlson‘s former show temporarily. Jones, who currently hosts Lawrence Jones Cross Country on Saturday nights, is set to take over the 8 p.m. slot previously held by Carlson as the network implements a rotating roster of hosts.

Although Jones lives in Dallas, he spends Fridays and Saturdays in New York for his show. He works as a business journalist for Fox & Friends during the rest of the week.

Jones became a part of the network in December 2018 and was appointed as the host of the weekend primetime program Lawrence Jones Cross Country in January 2022.

According to a media insider, Fox News is currently trying out various anchors on a rotation basis for Tucker’s spot, with Brian Kilmeade from Fox & Friends hosting this week. However, selecting Jones to fill in for Tucker so soon after his departure is an important decision.

Jones attracts a viewership of 1 million and 108,000 in his time slot on Saturdays at 10 p.m. He has covered various news stories, including the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority communities across the country.

Jones revealed in an interview with The Dallas Morning News that Sean Hannity first offered him a correspondent role on Fox. Still, he declined because he is a libertarian and believed they would greatly disagree. Hannity encouraged Jones to try it and assured him just to be himself.

Jones added that his upbringing allowed him to report on a story in the south side of Chicago and then go to Iowa to do a dinner for Fox & Friends. Jones said, “I may have a godparent of every single race. And so, people often ask me: How can I report within any different crowd and understand their grievances and the things that matter to them the most?”

Sports Radio’s Winter Book Ratings Recap (Major Markets)

Demetri Ravanos
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Sports Radio’s Winter Book Ratings Recap (Major Markets)

The winter ratings book has come to a close. This is one of the most divisive books of the year. Some programmers put less value in this book than the other three. Others say all information is useful and important.

In an effort to keep industry professionals up to date on what transpired, Barrett Sports Media has created a single recap highlighting as many major markets as possible based on available information. If you have materials to share that aren’t listed here, please send an email to demetrithegreek@gmail.com. We will happily update the piece with new data.

For reference on book-to-book performance, click here to see the Major Market ratings round up for the fall.

NEW YORK

WFAN

6a-10a (Boomer & Gio) – 12.0 (1st)

10a-2p (Tiki & Tierney) – 5.7 (4th)

2p-6:30p (Carton & Roberts) – 7.7 (3rd)

98.7 ESPN NEW YORK

6a-10a (DiPietro & Rothenberg) – 3.0 (12th)

10a-3p (ESPN Radio’s #Greeny and Bart & Hahn) – 2.5 (14th)

3p-6:30p (Michael Kay Show) – 2.9 (15th)*

* – Full ratings information for 98.7 ESPN New York was not available. The numbers for afternoon drive on the station reflect the time that The Michael Kay Show is on head-to-head against Carton & Roberts (3-6:30 pm).

CHICAGO

670 THE SCORE

5:30a-10a (Mully & Haugh) – 4.4 (5th)

10a-2p (Bernstein & Holmes) – 4.6 (6th)

2p-6p (Parkins & Spiegel) – 4.2 (6th)

M-F 6a-7p – 4.4 (4th)

ESPN 1000

5:30a-10a (90 minutes of ESPN Radio followed by Kap & JHood) – 2.9 (13th)

10a-2p (2 hours of ESPN Radio’s #Greeny, 2 hours of Carmen & Jurko) – 2.1 (17th)

2p-7p (3 hours of Waddle & Silvy and 1 hour of Bleck & Abdalla) – 2.7 (16th)

M-F 6a-7p – 2.5 (16th)

*670 The Score’s numbers reflect total line reporting. ESPN 1000 only provides numbers from its over-the-air signal.

SAN FRANCISCO

95.7 THE GAME

The Morning Roast (6a-9a) – 5.5 (4th)

Willard & Dibbs (9a-12p) – 5.2

Steiny & Guru (12p-3p) – 5.5 (1st)

Damon & Ratto (3p-6p) – 4.5 (6th)

M-F 6a-7p – 5.0 (4th)

M-Su 6a-Mid – 1.8 (19th)

The Game made lineup changes in early March, dropping Damon & Ratto. As a result, the station’s lineup went from four three-hour shows to three four-hour shows. Ratings are presented in 3 hour blocks to reflect original blocks and show ratings for all shows.

KNBR

6a-9a (Murph & Mac) – 2.3 (17th)

9a-12p (1 hour of Murph & Mac followed by 2 hours of Papa & Lund) – 2.9

12p-3p (2 hours of Papa & Lund and 1 hour of Tolbert & Copes) – 3.6 (9th)

3p-6p (Tolbert & Copes) – 2.8 (12th)

M-F 6a-7p – 2.8 (14th)

M-Su 6a-Mid – 2.5 (14th)

Information for individual KNBR shows was not available. 

HOUSTON

Sports Radio 610

6a-10a (Payne & Pendergast): 3.3 (15th)

10 AM-3 PM (4 hours of In The Loop, 1 hour of Stoerner & Hughley): 2.5 (15th)

3-7 PM (3 hours of Stoerner & Hughley, 1 hour of CBS Sports Radio): 3.4 (14th)

M-F 6A-7P: 3.0 (t-14th)

M-Su 6A-Mid: 2.5 (16th)

ESPN 97.5 & 92.5

6-10 AM (1 hour of ESPN Radio, 3 Hours of The Bench): 1.7 (t-21st)

10 AM-3 PM (2 hours of Paul Gallant, 3 hours of The Killer Bs): 1.1 (t-21st)

3-7 PM (The Wheelhouse): 0.9 (24th)

M-F 6A-7P: 1.2 (22nd)

M-Su 6A-Mid: 0.9 (24th)

SportsTalk 790

6a-10a (Sean Salisbury Show): 0.4 (t-26th)

10a-3p (2 hours of Next Up, 3 hours of Matt Thomas): 0.6 (t-25th)

3p-7p (3 Hours of The A Team, 1 hour of The Night Cap): 1.8 (21st)

M-F 6a-7p: 0.9 (t-24th)

M-Su 6a-Mid: 0.8 (t-25th)

WASHINGTON DC

106.7 The Fan

6a-10a (The Sports Junkies) – 7.3 (3rd)

10a-2p (BMitch & Finlay) – 10.6 (1st)

2-6:30 PM (Grant & Danny) – 10.9 (1st)

M-F 6a-7p – 9.4 (2nd)

M-Su 6a-Mid – 7.4 (2nd)

The Team 980

6a-10a (The Sports Junkies) – 1.2 (20th)

10a-3p (3 hours of The Kevin Sheehan Show, 2 hours of Chris Russell) – 1.1 (20th)

3p-7p (1 hour of Chris Russell, 3 hours of The Hoffman Show) – 0.9 (22nd)

M-F 6a-7p – 1.0 (20th)

M-Su 6a-Mid – 0.9 (22nd)

* – Both ESPN 630 The Sports Capitol & 1190 iHeart Sports DC had 0.0 shares in all day parts and for the full week as well.

ATLANTA

92.9 The Game

5a-9a (John and Hugh in the Morning): 4.2 (8th)

9a-11a (The Steakhouse): 5.0 (7th)

11a-2p (Middays with Andy and Randy): 6.2 (T-4th)

2p-7p (Dukes and Bell): 5.8 (T-3rd)

M-F 6a-7p: 5.5, 5th

Sa-Su 6a-6p: 4.0, T-8th

Ratings were not made available for 680 The Fan

PHILADELPHIA

94 WIP

6a-10a (Angelo Cataldi retired 2/17. Joe DeCamara & John Richie moved into mornings 2/20): 17.9 (1st)

10a-2p (DeCamara & Richie were in middays until moving to mornings and were replaced by Joe Giglio & Hugh Douglas): 15.2 (1st)

2p-6p (Marks & Reese): 17.5 (1st)

M-F 6a-7p: 17.0 (1st)

97.5 The Fanatic

6a-10a (John Kincade): 3.1 (10th)

10a-2p (Anthony Gargano): 3.9 (t-9th)

2p-6p (The Best Show Ever): 3.0 (t-11th)

M-F 6a-7p: 3.3 (t-10th)

*- 94 WIP’s numbers represent total line reporting. Numbers provided for The Fanatic only reflect the over the air signal.

BOSTON

98.5 The Sports Hub

6a-10a (Toucher & Rich): 25.6 (1st)

10a-2p (Zolak & Bertrand): 20.7 (1st)

2p-6p (Felger & Mazz): 19.8 (1st)

M-F 6a-7p: 19.4 (1st)

WEEI

6a-10a (The Greg Hill Show): 5.7 (5th)

10a-2p (Gresh & Fauria): 3.1 (7th)

2p-6p (Jones & Mego): 3.6 (t-8th)

M-F 6a-7p: 4.0 (t-8th)

DETROIT

97.1 The Ticket

6a-10a (Stoney & Jansen): 14.4 (2nd)

10a-3p (4 hours of Karsch & Anderson, 1 hour of the Valenti Show w/Rico): 17.6 (1st)

3p-7p (3 hours of the Valenti Show w/Rico, 1 hour of Wojo & Riger): 17.1 (1st)

M-F 6a-7p: 16.3 (1st)

M-S 6a-Mid: 13.6 (1st)

*- The Ticket’s numbers reflect total line reporting. The station was also #1 in middays, afternoons, primetime, and full week with adults 25-54.

SAN DIEGO

97.3 The Fan

6a-10a (Ben & Woods): 6.8 (4th)

10a-2p (The John Kentera Show): 3.1 (t-11th)

2p-6p (Gwynn & Chris): 3.9 (t-9th)

M-F 6a-7p: 4.5 (7th)

Ratings were not made available for San Diego Sports 760 or The Mightier 1090

DENVER

104.3 The Fan

6a-9a (Schlereth & Evans): 7.1 (3rd)

9a-11a (The Players’ Club): 5.3 (4th)

11a-2p (Stokley & Zach): 6.1 (2nd)

2p-6p (The Drive w/Derek Wolfe & DMac): 6.9 (3rd)

Ratings were not made available for Altitude Sports Radio

Is Sports Radio Giving Up on Mid Markets?

Demetri Ravanos
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Is Sports Radio Giving Up on Mid Markets?

Sports radio is at a crossroads. If you work in the format, you probably feel that no matter where you are. If you are outside of the major markets though, that feeling probably looms over you like never before after the events of last week.

You may not have liked the way Jason Barrett framed it, but we cannot sugarcoat what happened in Bristol. It was a bloodbath and the fact that so many leaders in the company’s audio space sent a very clear message about where ESPN Radio stands in the Walt Disney Company’s hierarchy.

Many of the people that lost their jobs were talented individuals that helped build ESPN’s audio products into what they are today. I am sure that their bosses just saw them as numbers on a spreadsheet, and to be fair, if you’re the one assigned the unpleasant task of human cost-cutting, that is how you have to operate. It can’t be overstated though that this “expense-over-value” approach fundamentally altered what the network is now and what it can be going forward.

Something else happened last week that probably hit me harder than it hit you. Capitol Broadcasting ripped the guts out of 99.9 The Fan when the company fired Joe Ovies and Joe Giglio.

Raleigh has become my hometown. Ovies is one of my closest friends. I admit I am biased, but I also know a lot of people in the industry that have heard the duo on air and agree that his creativity combined with how connected Giglio is to the power players in North Carolina sports made for a great on-air product. Their show, The OG, was forward-thinking and nothing else sounded like it. Even our governor wondered what the hell Capitol Broadcasting was thinking.

Just like ESPN Radio, what 99.9 The Fan is and what it can be going forward has changed. And with apologies to whoever fills that afternoon drive slot, it will not be for the better.

Why? Because Capitol Broadcasting is looking at this 26,000-watt station the same way Disney looks at ESPN Radio. Profit potential be damned. All that matters is how much it costs. Expense over value.

These events lead me to a question that has to be asked: is a day coming when the sports radio format won’t be viable anywhere outside of the biggest cities in the United States?

Raleigh is a great example. We have two sports stations. Both are owned by the same company and both rely heavily on national syndication to fill out their schedule. 99.9 The Fan carries Keyshawn, JWill & Max and #Greeny. Buzz Sports Radio has a brokered local morning show. After that, it is a mishmash of syndication.

Other markets do way more local programming. Look at 1010XL in Jacksonville and 92.9 ESPN in Memphis. But, none of them are ever going to be WFAN, going live and local at all hours of every day.

ESPN Radio is in a serious state of flux. CBS Sports Radio isn’t built for markets outside of the Northeast. FOX Sports Radio kind of feels like an obvious choice for midmarket stations that need content in the midday, but Dan Patrick isnt getting any younger and Colin Cowherd is doing a TV show more than a radio show.

How do you do attract advertisers in a place where the majority of your programming isn’t local and the local hosts either don’t have the support they need to make great content, or are blown out in favor of an inferior product simply because it is cheaper?

Fans live everywhere. It is disappointing that right now, the radio industry only seems to value the ones living in cities with teams in all four major professional sports leagues.

Raleigh doesn’t meet the traditional needs of an ideal sports radio market, and there are plenty of other markets just like us. We are divided over our college loyalties. The one local pro team has its share of diehard fans, but they do not represent the majority of the population. If the Carolina Hurricanes get swept in the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, most of us will wake up the next day and not even think about it.

It doesn’t mean we don’t want sports radio. We just don’t want Chris Russo or Angelo Cataldi. Those shows work in markets that have a team that unites the audience in misery. I’m not saying those are bad shows, I just want our industry to recognize they are not the only local shows of value.

Both mid markets and major markets are filled with examples of shows that thrive by recognizing their listeners are not a monolith. They approach sports as part of the larger popular culture. That can be how you have to do it when you don’t flow from the NFL season right into a local team’s chase for a spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament. To do it well, you need the support of a company willing to invest resources and sellers hitting the streets to tell your story and why it is one that fits the market.

If this industry is cutting corners and operating exclusively from a fear of cost as opposed to faith in advertisers wanting to attatch their messages to great content, then why should any of us keep fighting? The mid markets are going to be the frontline in a war that cannot be won.

Can National Sports Talk Radio Survive in a World Full of Podcasts?

Garrett Searight
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Can National Sports Talk Radio Survive in a World Full of Podcasts?

ESPN Radio suffered big internal losses last week as part of cost-cutting measures at The Walt Disney Company. In a fantastic look at the situation, Jason Barrett stated what needed to be said: Radio is no longer a priority for ESPN, and the entire situation could have been avoided.

Unfortunately for national sports radio brands, the outlook doesn’t appear much rosier.

For better or worse, we live in an on-demand, hyper-personalized world. Virtually every aspect of our lives has become completely customizable. That doesn’t bode well for broad national sports radio.

According to a recent estimation from podcast search engine Listen Notes, there were more than 50,000 podcasts launched in the first quarter of 2023. That number grew the podcasting space to 3 million active podcasts. If you’ve ever thought “Oh my gosh, everyone has a podcast”, you were right.

And that’s part of the problem for national sports radio brands. If the options for daily sports listening are “listen to national sports radio and hope they talk about the leagues, teams, and players I care about” or “find a podcast centered on the leagues, teams, and players I care about”, it’s an easy decision, and it’s never been easier to make that decision.

And yet, many of these national sports radio brands are cognizant of that issue plaguing their organizations, and the remedy is…what, exactly? Try to localize content as much as possible in individual shows?

Keyshawn, JWill, and Max talk about Chicago sports topics in the 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM hours. Why? Because that’s when they’re on in the Windy City. Damn near every day at 8:00 AM, the discussion was about the Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Yankees, or Mets, because that was when the show started in New York City before 98.7 ESPN New York shifted DiPietro & Rothenberg to a full-fledge morning show. So, I’m guessing you can see — if that was the result — just how well that experiment went.

ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, and CBS Sports Radio have their challenges, no question about it. Heck, their own hosts are creating separate podcasts to compete in the audio space.

ESPN Radio, while no longer having that flamethrower, signature, must-hear host, has invested heavily into the podcast space. Frankly, ESPN Radio hasn’t had a host like that since Colin Cowherd departed. Cowherd, by the way, has invested heavily in the podcasting arena with his ownership of The Volume. Not a bad investment for a guy who lampooned the podcasting business just a few short years ago.

Cowherd is still a national sports radio draw, because nearly as many listeners hate him as love him. However, one could argue Cowherd hosts a sports television show that happens to air on radio as much as he hosts a radio show that’s on TV. So Cowherd, the preeminent voice of the national sports radio scene, is more invested in podcasting than radio. Not exactly a great position for the industry to see itself.

In addition to Colin Cowherd, FOX Sports Radio has Dan Patrick…who started a podcast network.

CBS Sports Radio has Jim Rome but lacks much of the distribution and reach of FOX Sports Radio. And yet, Rome’s got a podcast with interviews from high-profile guests.

Unfortunately, the national sports radio host no longer carries the same cachet as the role once did. It used to be a chief driver of the national sports discussion. Now? That role isn’t held by a single individual or a select group nationally. It’s held as much on a market-by-market basis as it is on a national level.

And podcasting has a lot to do with that. You could argue that someone like Ryen Russillo has as much influence on the national level as host of his podcast on The Ringer as he did hosting afternoons at ESPN Radio.

And that isn’t a shot at ESPN Radio, Russillo, or anyone, as much as its an understanding and an appreciation of the times in which we live. It was the likely evolution of the medium. In a world where everything has become individualized, customizable, and on-demand, the downfall of national sports radio was inevitable. But that doesn’t mean it can’t fight back.

I don’t know what the exact answer is, but I do know that pretending as if you can still operate like its 2003 rather than 2023 isn’t the right path for the future of the industry.

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