Home Blog Page 220

DMR/Interactive Promotes Tony Bannon to EVP of Strategy and Growth

BNM Staff
-
1
DMR/Interactive Promotes Tony Bannon to EVP of Strategy and Growth

DMR/Interactive has announced that Tony Bannon has been promoted to the role of Executive Vice President of Strategy and Growth.

Tony Bannon is no stranger to DMR/Interactive. He originally joined the company in December 2019. He served as the Vice President of Marketing Strategy before his elevation.

Before joining DMR/Interactive, Tony Bannon worked at Cumulus Media, Midwest Communications, Mid-West Family Broadcasting, and Saga Communications.

“Data tells you who’s listening. Audience intelligence tells you who matters and where to find more heavy users. DMR/Interactive has spent decades helping clients do exactly that. As our investments in AI-driven tools continue to expand, we’re able to deliver even greater impact,” said Bannon. “I’m honored to step into this role and looking forward to the road ahead.”

“Tony has been instrumental in helping us stay ahead of where the industry is going, while never losing sight of what matters most: delivering meaningful results for our clients,” said Andrew Curran, President and CEO of DMR/Interactive. “We love to promote from within. Tony brings strategic vision, deep industry knowledge and a genuine passion for innovation that make him the right leader for this next stage of growth.”

Bannon offically begins his dutes on Friday, May 1st.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Chris Hayes Launching AI-Focused Podcast for MS NOW

BNM Staff
-
0
Chris Hayes Launching AI-Focused Podcast for MS NOW

MS NOW has announced that a new podcast focused on AI and hosted by Chris Hayes is set to release next week.

The AI End Game: Power, Profit, and Progress is set to debut on Tuesday, May 5th.

As part of the weekly show, Chris Hayes will sit down with AI experts. The show plans to ask a wide array of questions related to the technology. It also aims to define what is and isn’t AI.

The list of those scheduled to appear on the program includes:

  • Derek Thompson (The Atlantic)
  • Ethan Mollick (University of Pennsylvania)
  • Alison Gopnik (Berkley AI Research Group)
  • Timnit Gebru (Black in AI)
  • David Chalmers (cognitive scientist)
  • Ed Zitron (Better Offline podcast)
  • Michael Pollan (The New York Times)

New episodes of the Chris Hayes-led show will debut on Tuesdays. A YouTube video series will also accompany the program. Subscribers to MS NOW Premium will receive ad-free listening, plus bonus content. A subscriber-exclusive program will also debut on Thursday, June 18th.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Prime Video Announces Multi-Year Agreement With Duke Men’s Basketball

BSM Staff
-
0
Prime Video Announces Multi-Year Agreement With Duke Men’s Basketball

Amazon Prime Video is entering college sports. Prime Video and Duke University announced a multiyear deal giving the streamer exclusive rights to three marquee Blue Devils men’s basketball games per season.

This is Prime Video’s first college sports partnership. It’s a big swing.

The showcase tips off November 25, 2026, in Las Vegas. Duke faces Connecticut in a rematch of their 2026 NCAA Tournament classic at T-Mobile Arena. Game two lands December 21 at Madison Square Garden, where Duke takes on NCAA champion Michigan.

The series wraps February 20, 2027, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit against Gonzaga. Prime Video produces all three games. Times and additional details come later.

Charlie Neiman, Head of Sports Partnerships at Prime Video, framed the deal plainly.

“Duke basketball games transcend the schedule, and the creation of this all-new offering gives fans more of what we all want, marquee matchups featuring the most successful programs in the nation.”

Duke AD Nina King sees it as a global play. “As Prime Video’s first college sports partner, this collaboration not only expands the global reach of Duke Men’s Basketball but also creates meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes in a way that reflects innovation and excellence.”

Duke’s ESPN relationship remains in place. This deal adds a new streaming window on top of it.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Cumulus Partners with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions for Local Market Data

BNM Staff
-
0
Cumulus Partners with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions for Local Market Data

Cumulus Media has announced it is partnering with The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions for local market data, helping to drive its sales process.

The Media Audit provides local market insight that will help direct Cumulus’ sales process. Meanwhile, TOMA.Solutions provides data on market research about which brands are at the top of the minds of local consumers.

“Today’s advertisers want more than audience delivery. They want insight, clarity, and a stronger connection between marketing decisions and business results,” said Cumulus Media President of Operations Dave Milner. “By integrating specialized resources like The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions into our broader research suite, our teams in these markets provide an even deeper level of local intelligence, helping our clients build more precise and effective campaigns.”

“Local advertisers are looking for partners who can bring insight to the table, not just inventory,” said The Media Audit CEO Phillip Beswick. “Cumulus is demonstrating that it understands the importance of combining media reach with local market intelligence. The Media Audit and TOMA.Solutions are built to help media companies and advertisers identify opportunity, sharpen strategy, and improve results.” 

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Audacy Adds Walker Jacobs, Gabriel Brotman To Board of Directors

BSM Staff
-
0
Audacy Adds Walker Jacobs, Gabriel Brotman To Board of Directors

Audacy is making moves in the boardroom. The company announced the appointment of Walker Jacobs and Gabriel Brotman to its Board of Directors.

Jacobs brings serious credentials. He currently serves as Global Chief Revenue Officer and President of DAZN USA, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform. Before DAZN, he was Chief Revenue Officer of Twitch Advertising and Managing Director of Sports at Amazon Ads. There, he helped scale Amazon’s sports ad business, including NFL Thursday Night Football. His résumé also includes COO of Fandom and EVP, Head of Turner Digital at Turner Broadcasting System.

Brotman recently joined Soros Fund Management’s media partnerships and investments group. He previously served as EVP and COO of Axel Springer SE’s North American business. That portfolio includes Politico, Business Insider, Morning Brew, and eMarketer. Earlier roles took him through corporate development at Politico across Washington, Brussels, and New York.

Audacy CEO Kelli Turner sees the additions as a clear step forward.

“The appointments of Walker and Gabe to the Audacy Board of Directors further advance our ability to capture all the opportunities we see across the fast-changing audio landscape,” she said. “Their expertise and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our platform, strengthen our partnerships, and drive long-term value for our audiences, advertisers and shareholders.”

Two experienced executives. One company navigating a rapidly shifting audio world. The moves signal that Audacy isn’t standing still.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

FOX Weather Exec Fired After Comments In Undercover Investigation

BNM Staff
-
0
FOX Weather Exec Fired After Comments In Undercover Investigation

An undercover investigation from James O’Keefe’s Citizen Journalism Foundation has led to the firing of a FOX Weather executive.

FOX Weather Vice President of Content Sales and Partnerships Jason Hermes was seen on a hidden camera stating that he could spend thousands at a strip club and be reimbursed by Fox News Media.

“You could take this (Fox corporate credit card), walk into a strip club, literally, and spend $4,000, go into your corporate manager and they would sign it and pay it off,” Hermes told the undercover investigator. “And we’d be like, ‘Well, that’s what the client wanted.'”

“It’s the best job, because I’m a celebrity around all of it, but no one knows me,” Hermes later added. “It’s like winning the lottery.”

After the video went viral on social media, garnering millions of views, Fox News responded to O’Keefe. It stated that Hermes has been fired and that it has found no instance of Hermes’ statements being corroborated.

“Jason Hermes has been terminated,” the statement reads. “The comments he made during a personal outing grossly misrepresented his position at FOX Weather and within the larger company.

“Expense reports are subject to a sophisticated review and auditing process, and his wildly bizarre claims were immediately investigated, which we are in the process of finishing,” the statement continues. “We have found no evidence whatsoever that they are true.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Fox Business Network Leads CNBC in Total Business Ratings During April

BNM Staff
-
0
Fox Business Network Leads CNBC in Total Business Ratings During April

Fox Business Network and CNBC have been locked in a tight ratings battle. That didn’t change in April, as Fox Business won the total ratings war, with CNBC earning in-demo victories.

During the month, Fox Business won the Business Day (Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-5 PM ET) ratings. It featured an average total audience of 254,000. CNBC averaged 229,000 total viewers.

In the key Adults 25-54 demographic, however, CNBC earned that win. It featured 58,000 viewers on average from that sector, compared to Fox Business’ 12,000.

It marked the 12th straight month that FBN earned the victory in the overall viewer category during the Business Day.

During Market Hours (Monday-Friday, 9 AM-4 PM ET), Fox Business earned 251,000 viewers. That bested CNBC’s audience of 237,000.

Similar to the Business Day ratings, CNBC also earned the in-demo win. It averaged 61,000 viewers from the Adults 25-54 demographic, while Fox Business averaged 11,000.

Varney & Co., airing from 9 AM-12 PM ET on FBN, was the network’s top show for the month. It featured an average audience of 313,000 viewers. Kudlow, which airs at 4 PM ET, averaged 292,000 total viewers.

Fast Money Halftime Report was the highest-rated program for CNBC. It averaged 277,000 total viewers.

Finally, in the total day ratings, Fox Business Network saw an average audience of 151,000 total viewers. That finished slightly above CNBC’s 140,000 viewers.

In the key demo, CNBC averaged 35,000 for that category. Fox Business, meanwhile, averaged 10,000 viewers in the sector.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

DAZN Acquires ViewLift in Major US Sports Streaming Move

BSM Staff
-
0
DAZN Acquires ViewLift in Major US Sports Streaming Move

DAZN Group is making a bold push into the US sports market. The global streaming giant announced its acquisition of ViewLift, a leading direct-to-consumer streaming solutions provider deeply rooted in American sports.

ViewLift serves 15 major US pro sports teams, five regional sports networks, and a roster of entertainment and news clients. The company also counts the NHL, LIV Golf, and FOX Sports Latin America among its partners.

Founded in 2008, ViewLift builds and operates streaming products for NBA, NHL, and MLB teams.

DAZN streams more than 140,000 live events annually across 200-plus markets. It operates NFL Game Pass and NHL.TV outside the United States.

The deal gives DAZN a significant foothold in a US regional sports market facing major disruption. Teams and leagues losing traditional cable distribution need new solutions. DAZN and ViewLift plan to deliver exactly that.

DAZN Group CEO Shay Segev called it a pivotal moment.

“ViewLift is a superb company — it’s a profitable sports technology business led by an experienced management team with deep relationships across the US sports ecosystem,” Segev said. “Together, we can play a pivotal role in the US sports market, supporting a growing roster of teams, leagues, and competitions with world-class technologies and experiences for their fans.”

ViewLift CEO Rick Allen welcomed the partnership.

“For major US pro sports teams, the combination will offer uniquely powerful future-proofing in a disrupted market,” Allen said.

ViewLift will operate as a standalone business unit within DAZN. Its leadership team stays in place. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

ESPN Executive Dave Roberts Retiring at the End of August

BSM Staff
-
0
ESPN Executive Dave Roberts Retiring at the End of August

David Roberts is calling it a career. The ESPN Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Sports News and Entertainment will retire at the end of August after 22 years with the network.

ESPN released a statement confirming a report by The Athletic on Wednesday.

“This has been both a real honor and a blessing to work for and with the most talented people in the industry,” Roberts said. “It has been simply an awesome 22 years.”

Roberts joined ESPN in 2004 as a coordinating producer. He leaves overseeing one of the biggest news operations in sports media. That includes SportsCenter, First Take, Get Up, PTI, NFL Live, ESPN Audio, and podcasting content, among many others.

His resume is hard to argue with. In 2024, he earned a spot in the NATAS Silver Circle honor society as part of the inaugural Sports Emmys class. The year before, he entered the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Hall of Fame.

Roberts also made history long before ESPN. He became the first African American news director in Ohio history at WDTN-TV in Dayton in 1987. He later broke the same barrier in Georgia.

During his ESPN tenure, SportsCenter hit record Q1 2026 viewership across multiple editions. First Take traveled to HBCU campuses for six straight years. He helped launch NBA Today and engineer Rich Eisen’s ESPN return. Roberts also elevated talent including Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Andrea Carter, and Christine Williamson.

ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus didn’t mince words. “David Roberts has had a long and extremely distinguished career in this industry,” Magnus said. “He will leave a lasting legacy at ESPN.”

ESPN has not confirmed who will be stepping into Roberts’ role post-retirement. The Athletic reported Wednesday that senior vice president Mike Foss is expected to take on expanded responsibilities

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Vox Media Adds Midge Purce, Red Flags Podcast to Sports Audio Portfolio

BSM Staff
-
0
Vox Media Adds Midge Purce, Red Flags Podcast to Sports Audio Portfolio

Vox Media keeps building its sports podcast roster. The company tapped Gotham FC and U.S. Women’s National Team star Midge Purce to host Confessions of an Elite Athlete.

Vox also signed a sales and distribution deal for The Red Flags Podcast, an F1-focused show.

Purce’s series sits at the intersection of sport, psychology, and culture. She’ll interview top athletes, executives, and performance experts. The show pulls back the curtain on what elite competition actually demands.

“The ultimate purpose of this show is to unveil the reality of sports — the conversations that are usually kept behind closed doors,” said Purce. “I want to create a space where athletes can be honest about what it actually takes to perform at an elite level.”

Purce is a Harvard graduate with a psychology degree. That background makes her a natural fit for the format. New episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays.

The debut features Sam Rapoport, a history-making NFL executive who discusses how football shaped her life as a young queer person from Ottawa.

This marks Vox’s second sports show launch this month. The company also announced Maria Sharapova will host Pretty Tough, a weekly interview series covering peak performance, wellness, and leadership.

Vox SVP/GM of Podcasts Ray Chao is excited about the partnership.

“Midge’s energy, drive, and curiosity are infectious,” said Chao. “We’re excited to partner with Midge to create a platform for elite athletes to have honest, unfiltered, and candid conversations that fans rarely get to see.”

Vox already hosts Not Just Football with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Purce’s show fits squarely in that mold.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

1...219220221...2,771Page 220 of 2,771