Home Blog Page 2161

Stoney & Jansen Baffled By NBA Finals TV Schedule

BSM Staff
-
0
Stoney & Jansen Baffled By NBA Finals TV Schedule

The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final continue with games taking place this weekend, and many basketball and hockey fans are expected to tune in to watch the action. The Denver Nuggets will try to take a 3-1 series lead on the Miami Heat, while the Vegas Golden Knights will look to rebound from an overtime loss to return home one win away from a championship. Aside from the pomp and circumstance, there is considerable intrigue pertaining to the action on both the court and the ice. The challenging part of the entire situation is knowing when the games are played due to the disjointed nature of the schedule.

Throughout the NBA Finals, games have taken place three days apart from one another, while the Stanley Cup Final has followed a similar pattern but both avoid playing games on Sundays. As a result, there were only two days between the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, but three for the remainder should it reach a deciding seventh game. Similarly in basketball, the first three games of the NBA Finals were played every other day, but the remainder of the series is scheduled with two days of rest. There is a chance the decision was made to accommodate travel schedules, as both series are aligned in a 2-2-1-1-1 pattern, meaning the first two games are played in one city; the next two are played in the other; and then they continue to alternate until a champion is crowned.

“I don’t know why the NBA’s not playing on Sunday,” 97.1 The Ticket morning co-host Mike Stoney said. “That big travel day – because you really need travel days nowadays with your private planes to fly from Miami to Denver.”

Show co-host Jon Jansen, who played 10 seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle with Washington and Detroit, expressed how some players may need to acclimate themselves to the altitude in Denver, Colo. The city is located 5,280 feet, or one mile, above sea level, making the air thinner and dryer and presenting some visitors with difficulty breathing. Jansen never felt the effects of altitude sickness, claiming that it was never a big deal for him, but obviously, everyone reacts to things differently.

“Basketball in particular and hockey because it’s constant running, especially at your position,” Stoney proposed. “You’re not running like madmen [in football] like they do in basketball where I think it affects you the most.”

The schedule also presents challenges for consumers around the United States living in different time zones. The NBA Finals do not begin until 8:30 p.m. EST, and the games often do not include until close to midnight. Especially on weeknights, asking East Coast fans to stay up late and then go to work early in the morning limits the amount of sleep they can receive. Meanwhile, those on the West Coast are just returning home from a standard eight-hour workday and may have other tasks to carry out.

“They’ve got to get up early on the [West] Coast,” Jansen said. “We’ve got to stay up late because Monday Night Football can’t start until 8:30. It goes both ways.”

There is no perfect time slot that will appease all consumers, but even so, ratings for this year’s NBA Finals have exceeded most expectations. Game 3 attracted an average audience of 11.2 million viewers and peaked at a figure of 12.4 million, down 2.5% from last year’s third game of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. Viewership for the first three games of the NBA Finals is averaging 11.6 million, representing a nearly 2% decline from last year’s numbers. ESPN reported its most-watched playoffs across its platforms in the last 11 years, with the total playoff viewership audience averaging approximately 6.1 million people.

Doris Burke: Recent, Current Players Bring Valuable Perspective to Broadcasts

BSM Staff
-
0

The “new media” movement in the National Basketball Association isn’t all that new, as both former and current players are launching their own production companies and programs to more effectively disseminate messaging to consumers. JJ Redick, who retired from the NBA in 2021, established The Old Man and the Three podcast through his company, ThreeFourTwo Productions. He also continues to appear across ESPN programming and as a studio and game analyst for the NBA on ESPN, offering his analytical and esoteric perspectives.

Having athletes recently removed or continuing to play provides fans with a complete point of view about how the game has evolved and is played today. Redick and co-host Tommy Alter welcomed ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke to the latest episode of the show, and started their conversation by acknowledging something she and other colleagues have done while on the air.

“There have been numerous occasions where you and Mike [Breen], specifically, have talked about The Old Man and the Three on the broadcast,” Redick said. “Without question, every single time that it happens, we all kind of freak out and we’re shooting each other texts on the group chat. It does mean a lot to us that you guys recognize sort of what we’re doing here – and I don’t know if it was you or Mike – but I know one time, one of you called it a ‘therapy session.’”

Burke replied by conveying how essential it is that basketball coverage contains voices from different areas of the game. Being able to divulge how active participants view the game offers consumers unparalleled thoughts and opinions.

“I hear this in Jeff Van Gundy’s coverage of an NBA Finals where once or twice a game, something Jeff says can only be heard from somebody inside the game who’s actually been in that moment,” Burke said. “The beauty of you and Dryamond, and what you bring to the table as media personalities now… [is that] you understand the daily grind and the experience of these players.”

There are many factors with subtle connections to the sport an athlete must consider on a yearly basis, including whether or not to make the sacrifice of traveling without family or put in the physical and mental preparation necessary to perform. Burke expressed to Redick that although players probably try to project a different persona than how they feel on the inside, discerning the core perception is invaluable.

“I would assume you had moments when there’s crises of competence for you as a basketball player,” Burke said. “Those are really special to the viewers who happen to tune in to our coverage or listen to your pod, and I just love that dynamic.”

Burke is currently broadcasting the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio alongside Marc Kestecher, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude and P.J. Carlesimo, and she is learning something new every time she takes the microphone. As Game 4 of the NBA Finals is set to tip off Friday night at 8:30 p.m. EST/5:30 p.m. PST, she knows to expect an intelligent, informed set of opinions and storytelling from her colleagues and does the best to bring it out individually as well.

“I’m sitting beside P.J. on these Finals games right now, and there’s just times in the middle of a broadcast; I’m hitting him [with], ‘Coach, would you lift Michael Porter Jr. from the starting lineup given that he’s struggling?,’” Burke said. “I love that perspective, so what you do is unique and it’s special.”

Sid Rosenberg: White Men Hosting TV News ‘is Over in America’

BNM Staff
-
0
Sid Rosenberg: White Men Hosting TV News ‘is Over in America’

To end Meet The Press Sunday, moderator Chuck Todd revealed he is departing the program after nearly a decade of piloting the show. 77 WABC host Sid Rosenberg believes Todd’s exit is part of a larger shift in American media.

During a conversation with Todd on Sid and Friends in the Morning Friday, Rosenberg said the days of a white male like Todd hosting a news program solo are over.

“Look, I don’t expect you to comment on this part, but I’m gonna say it because I’m number one for a reason,” Rosenberg said. “There was a long run — Tim Russert, David Gregory, Chuck Todd — that’s a lot of very smart, white men sitting behind the mic at Meet The Press. NBC and every station across this country is so caught up in diversity. That’s all they care about.

“Whenever you left — and as much as I liked Kristen, nice girl — the move to heart didn’t surprise me. It seems to me like the white male sitting behind the desk is over in America and I can’t stand that.”

Todd did not comment on Rosenberg’s stance.

New Episodes of Beyond Limits Coming to CBS Sports

BSM Staff
-
0
New Episodes of Beyond Limits Coming to CBS Sports

CBS Sports is set to premiere new episodes of its franchise Beyond Limits, which celebrates athletes who go beyond the implicit boundaries of sports and society. Three half-hour episodes will be hosted by CBS Sports reporter AJ Ross, and will also air on CBS’ linear channel and stream live on Paramount+.

The first episode of the season is titled “Who I Am,” and it will feature Byron Perkins, who is the first openly gay football player at a historically black college or university (HBCU). Perkins is a redshirt senior at Hampton University. The show will also discuss the relationship he has with his mother and how she has impacted him both as a person and an athlete.

Two more episodes will premiere throughout the season – one on making sports adaptable and accessible; and the other featuring athletes who have moved into executive roles. The latter show includes interviews with NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars; New Orleans Pelicans Vice President of Basketball Operations and Team Development, Swin Cash; and NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent.

The series, which first premiered in September 2021, is produced by the CBS Sports Race and Culture Unit, with senior producer Sarah M. Kazadi. Its first episode premieres on Sunday, June 11 at 1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m. PST, and should provide fans with unique storytelling and spotlight into the journeys of various key figures in sports and media alike.

Chuck Todd Lost Motivation To Host Meet The Press After Friend’s Death

BNM Staff
-
0

NBC News anchor Chuck Todd is speaking candidly for the first time since announcing he would depart Meet The Press later this year.

During an interview with 77 WABC host Sid Rosenberg, Todd said he has lost the motivation to continue moderating the political affairs program after some happenings in his personal life.

“It’s been a combination of things. They’re both personal. I lost my two closest friends in the last nine months. One to cancer. And then my best adult friend about six weeks ago, died of a complication in surgery and they’re both about my age. We have kids around the same age — and particularly one friend — he and his wife — it was just, they were right there,” Todd admitted. “Their last kid was a freshman in college. And they were just — you’ve got that next phase of your life that’s going to be a little more yours, and all of that and just taken away from all of them.

“You throw all that together and you say ‘It’s been a good run’. And I just didn’t have the motivation. The motivation got sucked out of me. 2024 is the first time I’ve not looked forward to a presidential election. Throw it all together, and it just felt like the right time to pause.”

Todd continued by saying he has no regrets about making the decision.

“Ever since I made the decision so great. It is like a weight off the shoulders. And I say that I love Meet the Press. I’ve loved what I’ve done, but I also feel a sense of accomplishment and I’m ready for a new challenge. And if you throw all that in together, you do something the same thing for nine years, and at some point it becomes work. No matter how much you love it.”

AM 560 The Answer Host Resigns After ‘Racist Rhetoric’ Rant From Colleague

BNM Staff
-
0

AM 560 The Answer weekend host Mark Vargas has departed the station after a verbal altercation with the station’s weekday afternoon host Shaun Thompson.

During the Black and Right program last weekend, Thompson called host Verlon Galloway a “moron with the taffy apple head” and repeatedly called him an “idiot”, “moron”, and “stupid”.

“As a minority, I was shocked to hear Shaun Thompson, host of The Shaun Thompson Show, call into Black and Right Radio this past Saturday evening and spew despicable and racist rhetoric aimed at co-host Verlon Galloway – referring to him as a ‘moron with the taffy apple head,” Vargas said. 

“I cannot in good conscience continue hosting my radio show, sharing a microphone and a studio with an individual that’s so full of anger – and can say such terrible things. Therefore, I resign, effective immediately.”

Thompson and Galloway have defended their interaction, saying that they are very good friends.

In a Facebook video, Thompson admitted “it wasn’t a good look for us”, adding that the argument between him and Galloway should have been reserved “for our conversations at the cigar shop”. He noted that it “didn’t belong on the radio”.

Galloway has argued that he didn’t view the conduct from Thompson as racist.

“I cannot in good conscience sit back and let the scarlet ‘R-word’ be weighted around your neck,” Galloway said. “I just want to tell the people to stop it. Two guys can buck on air without the white guy being called a racist.”

The two discussed their friendship in the video.

“I could punch you in the face, and you could punch me in the face, and if a grenade flew in, we’d jump on it,” Thompson said.

“Damn right,” Galloway agreed.

John Catsimatidis Offers to Buy CNN, Run Network For $1 Salary

BNM Staff
-
0
John Catsimatidis Offers to Buy CNN, Run Network For $1 Salary

77 WABC owner John Catsimatidis has overseen an impressive rebirth of the venerable New York news/talk station. Now, he’d like to have the opportunity to do the same with CNN.

During an appearance on Sid and Friends in the Morning, Catsimatidis shared his interest in owning the network.

“It’s up to the investment bankers to come up with the numbers,” Catsimatidis said of a potential sale price. “We could always bring partners in, but I want to run the place. We are capable of putting down a substantial amount of money.”

He then shared his interest in being the CEO of the cable network and said his salary wouldn’t be an issue.

“I’d go run the place tomorrow morning, and all I’d want is $1 per year and a piece of the upside,” Catsimatidis said, arguing he’d be able to double CNN’s profits.

Despite being let go as the network’s CEO earlier this week, Catsimatidis argued that Chris Licht “at least tried to do the right thing” in his strategy to move the network to a more centrist position in the political landscape.

The 77 WABC owner argued that CNN “deserves” to be #1 in the ratings and that Ted Turner “created a wonderful network” that has fallen on hard times.

Tucker Carlson Releases Second Twitter Video in Spite of Breach of Contract Claims

BNM Staff
-
0

Despite being told by Fox News that the launch of his video show on Twitter violated his contract, Tucker Carlson released the second installment of Tucker on Twitter Thursday.

After his 10-minute debut on Tuesday, his former employer reportedly sent him a letter informing him that any video content he creates is owned by Fox News and launching a new program on any competitor to Fox News would be considered a breach of contract.

In his second installment, Carlson did not reference the current contract dispute. The more than 12-minute long episode focused on “taboos” in American society, and why conservatives should “cling to them like their life depends on it”.

It has been reported that Fox News has offered to pay Carlson for the duration of his contract — which is believed to run through January of 2025 — to not produce any content. Carlson has rebuffed that offer, and obtained the services of attorney Bryan Freedman.

“Fox defends its very existence on freedom of speech grounds. Now they want to take Tucker Carlson’s right to speak freely away from him because he took to social media to share his thoughts on current events,” Freedman told Axios after being alerted to the notice from Fox News.

The Only Path Forward For News Radio is Strong Personalities

Pete Mundo
-
0

If radio wants to keep up, personality has to be the way. The format of choice is irrelevant, but personality has to be the biggest asset for the format and station.

It’s something I’ve written about before in this column, but when it gets reinforced by iHeart CEO Bob Pittman, it’s worth mentioning again.

In a great conversation with Talkers’ Michael Harrison, Pittman pointed out that “25% of iHeart’s stations do not play music”, and that more and more shows on the company’s music stations are “actually talk shows that play little or no music at all.”

Then came the best line of the conversation, when Pittman said, “Even on our music stations, you find us moving much more towards heavier personalities, because as we begin to say, If somebody just wanted music, they’ve got a lot of places to go. We’re probably not their best option, if they just want to dig through music. If they want somebody to keep them company, and hang out with them, and be their friend, and be an informed friend, and connect with them, there’s no better place. So we’re very committed to it.”

That’s it right there. 

Radio’s competitive advantage is being a friend (ideally local), while using personality-driven content to develop that relationship with the listener to then drive listening occasions. 

As has been discussed and addressed for years, music radio simply can’t compete with Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. if your goal is to listen to your music at the exact time that you want it.

Radio’s competitive advantage remains its people. And when it comes to personality, no format owns that right now more so than news/talk, where the strongest opinions and deepest connections often exist. That’s backed up by the Time Spent Listening for the format, which leads the way in many markets.

In many ways, news/talk is the best — and most exciting — place to be right now in the business, and none of that has to do with what is shaping up to be a fascinating 2024 election cycle. But rather because the industry’s biggest advantage to maintaining and growing its audience is its personalities, so if you’re already in the talk format, you’re ahead of the game. And then if you’re good, you’re a highly valuable asset. 

As Pittman also noted in his conversation with Harrison, “For the first time ever, the radio business is bigger than the TV business, in terms of audience from 18 to 49 [year olds].”

National coastal media won’t write about that, because too many of them aren’t everyday American consumers. However, the data doesn’t lie. Radio is beating TV in a key demo and the leaders in the industry know that personality-driven content is their key to future success. That’s a great combination for those of us working in the business.

Granted, as we all know, it’s not all roses and sunshine. These are still tough times with continuing competition in the ad space and a soft 2023 shaping up. 

However, the show must go on. 

And as radio strategically prepares itself for not just the rest of this year, but the next five to ten years, there are plenty of goals that need to be achieved, but if growing and developing personalities is at the top of the list, that’s a win for the industry and an even bigger win for the news/talk format.

ESPN Colleagues Pay Tribute to Neil Everett

BSM Staff
-
0
ESPN Colleagues Pay Tribute to Neil Everett

Neil Everett has become one of the faces of SportsCenter. After 23 years at ESPN, he announced that he is leaving the network.

Colleagues at the World Wide Leader took to Twitter to share their thoughts. It was universal praise from the people that knew and worked with Everett. Chief among them was his SportsCenter partner of fourteen years, Stan Verrett.

Everett has spent the last two years as part of the television studio crew covering the Portland Trail Blazers. He told Front Office Sports that he will be seeking to expand his role with the team.

If Root Sports Northwest requires references, there are plenty ESPN colleagues past and present that were immediately ready to vouch for Neil Everett.

Everett was not laid off. He turned down a new contract that would have forced him to take a pay cut.

The Walt Disney Company is in the middle of layoffs effecting every division. CEO Bob Iger has tasked his leaders with reducing costs by $5.5 billion and cutting 7000 jobs.

1...2,1602,1612,162...2,877Page 2,161 of 2,877