Home Blog Page 2316

Rob Parker, Brian Long, Sean Thompson and Matt Fishman Join The BSM Summit Speaker Lineup

Jason Barrett
-
0
Rob Parker, Brian Long, Sean Thompson and Matt Fishman Join The BSM Summit Speaker Lineup

As we gear up for our 5th annual BSM Summit on March 21-22, 2023, I’m starting to get a better feel for how the final puzzle may look. When this process starts I have no idea how it’s going to turn out because so much depends on who says yes and no. Many who’ve attended over the years have complimented our lineups, and I appreciate it because I put a lot of time and effort into featuring a strong mix of professionals from different areas of the industry. Though I’m proud of the work we do and the schedule we deliver, there are so many things pursued leading up to the event that I can’t help but wonder ‘what if this or that had worked out?’

One thing that some folks don’t understand if they haven’t been to the show before is that this is not a talent conference. It’s a sports media business conference. That means we feature radio, TV and digital executives, programmers, researchers, sales professionals, and yes, talent. I believe on-air performers are vital to the industry’s success and I want the best of the best sharing their wisdom with everyone in the room, but we’re also not going to do two full days of on-air conversations. Being successful in sports media requires understanding the on-air side and the business side, and we do our best to offer a blend of both.

For today’s announcement, I’m excited to welcome a few sports media pros who have enjoyed success in different parts of the country, and in different areas of the business.

First, Rob Parker is someone who has made a name for himself as a radio host, writer, TV commentator, and teacher. He’s currently heard weeknights on FOX Sports Radio, teaches students at USC Annenberg, writes for Deadspin, and is helping MLBBro gain awareness and a bigger mainstream media presence covering Major League Baseball. He’s experienced, smart, and never short on opinion. I’m looking forward to having him join Mitch Rosen of 670 The Score/BetQL, and Scott Shapiro of FOX Sports Radio for a session titled “Aircheck On Campus“. They’ll take the stage together on Wednesday March 22nd from 2:10-2:45.

My next three speakers, all come from the sports radio programming department.

Matt Fishman is the Director of Content for ESPN 850 Cleveland. Fishman has been with the brand since January 2020 following stints at SiriusXM, 610 Sports in Kansas City, and 670 The Score in Chicago. He even wrote for BSM for a few years.

Sean Thompson is responsible for programming decisions at Arizona Sports and ESPN 620 AM. He joined the well respected Phoenix brand after more than a decade in Atlanta at 92.9 The Game. Sean has also worked in affiliate relations for Westwood One, and on the air and as a programmer in music radio for Good Karma Brands in Madison, WI.

Brian Long is the program director of both San Diego Sports 760 and KOGO 600 in San Diego. In addition to guiding two of the top talk brands in his market, he has also managed Seattle Sports 710, and served as the Assistant Program Director for ESPN LA 710.

Matt, Sean, and Brian will be part of one of our final sessions on day two of the Summit. The Last Call which yours truly is hosting, will explore unique revenue opportunities created by local brands, and examine a few new ideas and missed opportunities that brands and managers may want to take advantage of in the future.

As of today, the Summit has more than forty accomplished professionals taking the stage at the Founders Club at USC’s Galen Center on March 21-22, 2023. I’ve got a few others still to announce as well, including a few cool giveaways planned for the WWE’s Kickoff party.

If you haven’t bought a ticket and wish to be in the room, visit BSMSummit.com. The last day for ticket sales will be Monday March 13th. I’m hoping to release our final schedule of sessions on Tuesday March 14th. Hopefully I’ll see you in the city of angels.

Howard Simon Bids WGR Farewell

BSM Staff
-
0
Howard Simon Bids WGR Farewell

WGR morning host Howard Simon has officially ended his run on the Buffalo sports radio station.

Simon’s final show concluded this morning, with the longtime host being visited by several prominent Buffalo sports figures.

A host in the city for the last 33 years, Simon has partnered with co-host Jeremy White for the past 18 years on the station’s morning show. The pair joked that they had to think up things that made them angry to avoid getting overly emotional during the show’s final segment.

“People asked me what it was like 18 years ago to be paired with someone I didn’t know and we started together and it was great,” White said. “I always felt like having you — if you liked me — then that meant a lot to everybody else.

“There was a protection that you gave. ‘If Howard likes you, you must have some good in you’…all these people thanking you for how you affected their life, for me, are you the reason I have a house? You might be! It’s tough,” a tearful White continued. “At the end of this, you’re not dead, but I’m gonna feel like the Will Smith in the big empty room. My partner left. I’m happy for you, and I’m sad for me and sad for everybody else. You mean a lot to me.”

“He will never admit this, but I’ll tell you publicly, the last few years? He carried my ass on this show,” Simon said of White. “It was really hard for me to do this show the last couple of years…but you were there for me when I didn’t know what to say.”

Simon concluded the show by thanking the Buffalo sports community.

“My only dream for my life growing up was to be in broadcasting,” Simon said, fighting back tears. “It’s all I ever wanted to do and I didn’t think I’d be able to do it this long.”

The longtime Buffalo host then thanked listeners for their kindness over the last few weeks after he made his impending retirement known.

“I can’t even tell you what it’s meant to me. The tweets, the emails, everything that has happened … since we wrote the article that said I was leaving officially. The response that we have gotten, the tweets, the emails, I knew we had listeners. I see the ratings, I know people are listening. But the way you’ve expressed Jeremy and I, over the last 18 years, have meant to all of you, the impact we’ve had on your lives, has touched my heart. I didn’t think you could do that as a sports talk host, just some nut talking about sports and banging on a table. But everything you all have said to me, you cannot ever have any idea how much it meant that we’ve had that impact on your life. I’m so grateful that you’ve allowed us into your lives.”

In his closing statements, he shared appreciation for the show that the station put together for his final outing.

“It is beyond anything I ever could have imagined. I will never ever forget how much you did you for me and this show today. It is the greatest thing in the world. I love all of you. Thank you very much.”

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown declared Friday, March 3rd as Howard Simon Day in the city.

Bill O’Reilly: Fox News Revelations Won’t Change Viewer Opinions About Network

BNM Staff
-
0

After it was revealed Fox News hosts presented one opinion on the air during the 2020 Presidential Election, while privately admitting the claims for former President Trump and his legal team were false, many wondered if it would damage the network’s credibility. Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly doesn’t believe it will hurt at all.

O’Reilly asked his podcast audience if the information uncovered during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against the network would change the way they viewed the channel. 85% of respondents in his poll said no.

“Most of these voters — in the poll — are Fox News fans. They like the network. Even though the network has done things that you can arguably say are wrong, that doesn’t matter to them,” O’Reilly said. “Because they have nowhere else to go. It’s either Fox — you can’t turn to others, because others are slanting the news in a democrat, left direction.

“Here’s the most important part about this: Fox News’ talent is so much better than CNN or MSNBC. Just from a performance level. A lot of people say ‘I’m not gonna give that up. I enjoy watching various programs on Fox News, and just because they did this, I’m not gonna stop watching’. I’m not gonna say whether this is right or wrong.”

The former Fox News host added that Fox News has been vilified by those guilty of the same crime.

“The hypocritical, corrupt press is just killing Fox News, which they always have. This gives them another weapon,” O’Reilly said. “Nevermind that the corrupt, left-wing media ran with the Russian collusion story when they knew it was bogus. Same thing. You may argue that the election is a bigger story — I would not dispute that — but there’s plenty of hypocrisy.”

Bill Cunningham: Media Only Continued to Cover Ohio Train Disaster Due to NewsNation Reporter’s Arrest

BNM Staff
-
0

Reverberations are still being felt after Ohio Sheriff’s deputies arrested NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert during a press conference after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. 700 WLW host Bill Cunningham wonders if the arrest kept reporters in the area.

During a discussion on his radio show with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Cunningham pondered if the incident — which was captured by the network’s cameras — was cause for other networks like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC to remain in the Ohio village as the story was beginning to run its course.

“Evan Lambert was the reporter that was hogtied, he was chicken-winged by the Ohio Sheriff’s deputies,” Cunningham said. “Early on, Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) said it was a bad look. Do you think if Evan Lambert’s situation had not transpired that the media would have even spent the time it spent on East Palestine? Wasn’t Evan Lambert a part of that? That the media would want to cover it itself after that occurred?”

Cuomo said the media is “as self-possessed as any other industry”, so Lambert’s arrest certainly continued the coverage in the train derailment. He added the media is a “pack animal” and when one network sees a story it can cover, others will follow suit, as evidenced in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.

Cunningham was vocally outspoken over Lambert’s February arrest, saying that if the encounter hadn’t been recorded, it was likely Lambert would have spent several days in jail awaiting a trial.

“What happens in small-town Ohio, small counties is significantly different than what happens in Chicago, Philadelphia, (or) New York City,” Cunningham said at the time. “Because these prosecutors and these sheriffs run the place, and what they say goes. If NewsNation wasn’t on this thing, Evan would still be locked up and I don’t easily say the charges are going to be dismissed.”

Stephen A. Smith Tells Critics To ‘Relax’ On His Hockey Comments

BSM Staff
-
0

Stephen A. Smith raised a few eyebrows on Thursday’s edition of First Take with how he responded to Michael Kay’s assertion that the Rangers would be the next New York team to win a championship.

“Oh Lord,” Smith said rolling his eyes. That was followed by Molly Qerim saying that the Rangers do not count and Smith saying that conversations on the show were reserved for “football, basketball, baseball.”

That lead to headlines suggesting that Stephen A. Smith had admitted ESPN doesn’t care about hockey.

After the show, he took to social media to tell everyone that he has no problem with the Rangers, the NHL, or the sport of hockey in general.

“Will ya calm down?” he asked. “I was having a good time, having fun. Gary Bettman is my friend. OK? Relax, y’all. Relax.”

Smith mentioned on First Take that he and Bettman are close. He thought that would be enough for everyone to admit that he was doing a bit.

He added that as a New Yorker, it should be pretty clear why he is more focused on the other team that plays in Madison Square Garden.

“I understand the Rangers are all that. They’ve got a championship since 1994,” Stephen A. Smith said. “It’s them damn Knicks that ain’t won since 1973! I’m sure you can understand why I’m aching for the Knicks a little more than the Rangers.”

DirecTV: Newsmax is Censoring and Deplatforming Itself

BNM Staff
-
0
DirecTV: Newsmax is Censoring and Deplatforming Itself

The DirecTV vs Newsmax battle has raged for more than a month, and it doesn’t appear there will be a resolution anytime soon.

The satellite provider removed Newsmax from its channel offerings after a dispute over a carriage fee ended contract negotiations. In response, Congressional Republicans have threatened hearings on the matter, claiming to believe DirecTV is guilty of censoring conservative voices.

“The silencing of conservative speech at the request of government officials is a direct assault on free speech and a threat to democracy,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) wrote in a February letter to DirecTV, co-authored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)

In its response, DirecTV contends it had no intentions of censoring or deplatforming conservative positions, and the disagreement is simply over business.

“This current business negotiation impasse has nothing to do with ‘censoring’ or ‘deplatforming’ Newsmax because of its political content,” DirecTV said. “It is about two companies operating in a free market who are unable to agree on economic terms. Our position in the ongoing negotiations is not motivated in whole or in part by any consideration relating to the presumed political orientation of Newsmax.”

The letter pushes back against insinuations by Newsmax and its CEO — Chris Ruddy — who have continually argued the move was over the network’s conservative political position and not over business.

In its statements, Newsmax has claimed that DirecTV is home to 22 “liberal news channels”. Included in that list are ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, The Weather Channel, CNN, Newsnation, CNBC, and Bloomberg TV, among others, but has “de-platformed” conservative outlets like OAN and Newsmax.

DirecTV also claims Newsmax is currently available in every US television home, either through cable/satellite or streaming services. However, if the channel were to secure a carriage fee, it would restrict its reach to nearly 40% of US households, which the satellite provider feels is proof the outlet is limiting itself.

“We find it disingenuous of Newsmax to claim that it is being deplatformed by DirecTV when its own plan is to cease making its channel available to many more households than DirecTV has customers. If anyone is intentionally attempting to reduce the reach and viewership of Newsmax, it is Newsmax itself. Newsmax is entitled to change its business model if it wishes to and is able to; what we object to is its effort to use politics and the power of government to coerce an outcome it cannot achieve through free market interaction.”

Newsmax believes it hasn’t misrepresented its position or any of the information disseminated to Congressional Republicans, but remains encouraged a potential deal can be struck to return to the channel to DirecTV.

“While we strongly disagree with DirecTV’s characterizations about Newsmax, we are pleased that they are open to bringing Newsmax back on, and we hope both parties can come to a mutually agreeable solution to have that happen,” a Newsmax spokesperson told CNN’s Oliver Darcy.

After removing Newsmax from its channel offerings, DirecTV replaced it with another conservative video outlet, The First, which features prominent conservative voices like Bill O’Reilly, Dana Loesch, and Jesse Kelly, among others.

Chris Stirewalt: ‘It Feels Really Good to Be Vindicated’

BNM Staff
-
0

Former Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt is reveling in the recent controversy surrounding his former network and believes some of the information surfacing backs up his claims he was fired in 2020.

In his book Broken News: Why the Media Rage Machine Divides America and How to Fight Back, Stirewalt claims he was fired by Fox News for the network’s decision desk calling the state of Arizona for now-President Joe Biden before any other network.

Fox News has continually denied those claims. The network maintains he was laid off due to a restructuring inside the organization. “Chris Stirewalt’s endless attempts at regaining relevance know no bounds,” a network spokesperson told Barrett News Media as his book release approached.

During its defamation lawsuit against the cable news channel, Dominion Voting Systems has uncovered evidence that Fox News Chairman Rupert Murdoch suggested that CEO Suzanne Scott fire the network’s Washington Bureau Chief Bill Sammon after he signed off on the network calling Arizona for Biden.

Murdoch allegedly said the firing would “be a big message with Trump people”, as the channel attempted to smooth its relationship with the then-President’s team. Sammon ultimately exited the network — purportedly of his own accord — in January 2021.

“It feels really good to be vindicated in this way,” Stirewalt said on The Fifth Column podcast earlier this week.

“We knew that we were isolated inside the company at that time, but we did not know how isolated we were, and we didn’t know the pressure that was being applied internally against us…. I think what those filings reveal, and what I read about at Fox, are people making short-term decisions to try to maintain artificial sugar-high levels of viewership from an election season after the election was over, and not being willing to suffer the consequences of being a news organization.”

Stirewalt added he believes more cable news viewers should self-examine their relationships with media outlets and media personalities.

“If you do not like what is on Fox News, do not watch Fox News. If you do not like what is on MSNBC, do not watch MSNBC. Do whatever you want to do, consume whatever you want,” Stirewalt said. “But the amount of time that people spend obsessing over what strangers are talking about and doing is not healthy, and it keeps them from addressing normal basic things on their own side.”

When Did ‘Back the Blue’ Become Divisive?

Pete Mundo
-
0
When Did ‘Back the Blue’ Become Divisive?

There’s a misconception that News/Talk is divisive. It’s opinionated, of course. If you don’t have an opinion, you should find another job. But divisive? If having an opinion is divisive, then sports talk has to also be considered divisive, no? There’s no better example of this than the national conversation that has continued for nearly three years around law enforcement and the statement “Back the Blue”.

Supporting law enforcement at large in this country is not divisive. It’s American. Men and women who put their lives on the line every single day that they put on the uniform to keep our families safe are not the enemy. They are not inherently bad because they wear a badge. The opposite is true. They deserve our admiration and respect. 

None of this means we blindly defend every cop who may do something that is an abuse of authority or illegal. There are 750,000 cops in the country. Yes, there are bad ones. But admitting some do not uphold the standard of law enforcement does not mean you take that case and apply it to the hundreds of thousands of cops who work some of the most dangerous streets in this country daily. 

Still to this day, if you say, or wave a “Back the Blue” flag, you are probably considered to be a conservative or a Republican. However, there is undoubtedly a large percentage of self-proclaimed Democrats who may have been sucked in by the “Defund the Police” movement in 2020 who have since realized they fell for a complete scam. Despite this, the base of the party is still, if we’re being polite, interested in playing footsie with the backers of the movement.

That’s where you come in.

Any chance a News/Talk station has the opportunity to show appreciation for law enforcement in their community: Take it. For all the unfair chatter that your content is nothing but divisive, this will be the best opportunity available to you to bring up a topic that will be endorsed by your biggest supporters and even many of your supposed “haters”.

With many of America’s biggest cities suffering through increased crime and near-record homicide rates in the last two to three years, stations in all of these markets would be wise to show support beyond just the on-air content.

Whether it’s on-location shows, fundraisers, job fairs, and more, the options are unlimited as we enter the third year of decreased morale and overworked staff in many of our police departments.

Plus, it’s likely many of the Rank and File will be listeners, given the fact that you may be one of the few voices in local media to support them in recent years. Also, you get great goodwill from your audience across the political spectrum.

This is a win for everyone involved. And the only ones being divisive are those who are crazed enough to still think law enforcement is the problem. Good riddance. 

Clay Travis: ‘As a Media Consumer, Be Skeptical of Everything’

BNM Staff
-
0

Clay Travis, the founder of Outkick, appeared on “Hannity,” Wednesday where he discussed his belief in media bias against former President Donald Trump. Travis claimed that the media purposefully reports inaccurate information about Trump without correcting their mistakes, citing their tendency to prioritize narrative over fact. 

“That’s why as a media consumer, you must be aggressive and skeptical of everything you hear. Be aggressive in how you consume your news; you need to be the captain of your ship,” Travis said.

Travis states this media bias will extend to any future GOP presidential nominees. He argued that the media’s negligent misrepresentations only seem to benefit Democrats, suggesting that their preference is not simply due to incompetence, urging consumer vigilance. 

Kellyanne Conway, a former cabinet official in the Trump administration, echoed Travis’s sentiments and added that the media lost credibility with the public during the George Floyd protests in 2020. Conway also speculated that the media’s jealousy of Fox News’s consistently high ratings might contribute to their bias against Republicans. She added that the prevalence of media bias in reporting is a concerning issue, and it is essential for individuals to evaluate the news stories they consume from various sources critically.

Drudge Report Denies Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott in Jeopardy

BNM Staff
-
0

According to a report from Matt Drudge, recent speculation surrounding Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott’s job security appears to be unfounded. Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, Drudge’s high-placed source has confirmed that Scott’s position is not in danger.

The speculation was rooted in a CNN media reporter’s column that suggested Scott could soon be pushed out of her role. However, this is not the first time such rumors have circulated, and in the past, Rupert Murdoch extended Scott’s contract and praised her performance.

Despite ongoing legal issues with Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News hosts’ admission of not believing the election denialism they have pushed on air, Scott’s position at the network seems secure. However, Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, at the Yale School of Management, told Oliver Darcy of CNN that the board of Fox Corp. should contemplate dismissing senior executives, such as Scott, to mitigate the possibility of shareholder legal action.

Fox is being sued by Dominion, which is seeking $1.6 billion in damages, for defamation.

In response to the lawsuit, Fox has argued in legal filings and public statements that it was simply covering Trump’s allegations about voter fraud like any news organization would. To build a stronger case, Fox accuses Dominion’s lawyers of “cherry-picking quotes” from its employees in this week’s filing.

1...2,3152,3162,317...2,863Page 2,316 of 2,863