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Spotify Denies Joe Rogan Contract Expires This Year

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Spotify Denies Joe Rogan Contract Expires This Year

A report from Semafor claims the relationship between Joe Rogan and Spotify has “frayed” since he joined the audio platform. Max Tani’s report goes as far as to claim Spotify could choose not to renew its contract with the podcast star later this year.

However, the platform is now denying that Rogan’s contract even expires this year.

The New York Post reached out to a Spotify spokesperson who “insisted” that Rogan’s contract does not end in 2023. That statement contradicts a 2020 report from The New York Times that claims Rogan signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Spotify that year.

The content of Rogan’s podcast has caused internal strife at Spotify. His stances on the trans community and the safety of vaccines have led to employees pushing back on executives about the deal. Courtney Holt — the executive who brought Rogan to the company — is no longer employed at Spotify, which is one of the issues Tani described in the “frayed” relationship.

Rogan has publicly stated that his comments on vaccines nearly led to the dissolution of his relationship with Spotify. However, Rogan has been adamant in the past that he will end the deal if he was to lose the creative control of the podcast.

“I will quit. If it gets to a point that I can’t do it anymore, where I have to do it in some sort of weird way where I walk on eggshells and mind my p’s and q’s, f–k that!” Rogan said during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience in 2022.

Should his relationship with Spotify come to an end, it is likely several other platforms would be interested in acquiring the rights to Rogan’s podcast. It is reported The Joe Rogan Experience averages 11 million listeners per episode.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek admitted that some of the company’s podcasting endeavors haven’t panned out, calling some ventures in 2022 “a mistake“. A deal between the platform and Barack and Michelle Obama ended in 2022 after a three-year contract wasn’t renewed.

Keith Olbermann: Charles Barkley Can’t Imagine What A CNN Workload Would Be

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Keith Olbermann: Charles Barkley Can’t Imagine What A CNN Workload Would Be

CNN has reportedly entered negotiations with Charles Barkley for a news program, and Keith Olbermann believes the Inside the NBA analyst isn’t the magic elixir to the network’s primetime problems.

During his Countdown with Keith Olbermann podcast, the former cable news host mentioned that most of the suggestions put forth by CNN CEO Chris Licht have been labeled as failures, and Barkley probably doesn’t realize the workload he would be agreeing to should he add a CNN show to his portfolio.

“Licht has a primetime problem. They’re all heading off a ratings cliff, but CNN is running fastest,” said Olbermann. “Licht picked up the leftovers from Bill Maher’s 11:00 PM show on HBO and put them on CNN at 11:30 (on) Friday nights and CNN’s ratings went down. Then he wanted to hire Gayle King, even though she’s on in the morning and mornings are not the same as the evenings.

“And now, per Puck News, Licht has decided on what ‘could be the boldest and potentially most disruptive programming move’, he is now in negotiations to bring Charles Barkley to CNN for a news-oriented primetime show. Listen, I am the last person to say ‘You can’t have a sports guy do a news show!’, but even if this were a good idea, Charles Barkley is already on TV a lot. I’ve known him 35 years, I can’t imagine he knows what the workload would be like, even if he is interested.

“And there’s no guarantee Turner Sports would say ‘Sure! Take him off our successful network so you can put him on your failing one!’ But sure, Chris Licht, everything else you’ve thought out so far has gone well, hasn’t it?”

Olbermann mentioned that Licht “created two holes” in the network’s lineup by moving Don Lemon to mornings, which has not seen a ratings uptick since the network launched CNN This Morning late last year.

Damon Bruce: Terry Bradshaw Has ‘Outstayed His Welcome’

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Terry Bradshaw caught some flack for his Super Bowl postgame interview with Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, telling him to “waddle over here” and to “enjoy the Hawaiian shirts and a cheeseburger” while concluding the interview. 95.7 The Game’s Damon Bruce believes it’s time for Bradshaw to step aside.

“I don’t wanna kick a guy while he’s down … Ray, it’s time for Terry Bradshaw to go,” Bruce said to co-host Ray Ratto. “It’s just straight up time for Terry Bradshaw to go. He is comprehensively bad at his job. It’s time to get him off the FOX set. He has outstayed his welcome. Thanks for the memories, (but) Bradshaw is officially generations removed from knowing the game. He’s bad at highlights. He’s bad at interviews. He doesn’t relay information, he’s no longer funny, and he can’t speak in soundbites. ‘So what do you do around here? I guess would be my question’. He’s awful…he’s embarrassing himself and the network that employs him.”

Bruce added he doesn’t enjoy tearing down anyone, but you “really have to have stepped in it for me to say take the microphone away”.

Ray Ratto believes Bradshaw has been “absolutely miscast” by FOX, saying he’s “terrible” at interviews and the network has “done him no favors”.

“If you can’t figure out that of the five guys on that set, that he’s the worst potential guy to ask questions of anybody, then the producer should be fired. The executive producer should be fired. If Bradshaw goes, it should be because FOX has always put him in lousy situations.”

NBC Planning ‘Aggressive’ Bid for NBA Rights

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NBC Planning ‘Aggressive’ Bid for NBA Rights

The NBA television rights deal doesn’t expire until the conclusion of the 2024-2025 season, but suitors are lining up to place their bids. NBC is now reportedly ready to enter the fray.

A report from CNBC.com states the network will be “aggressive” in its pursuit of the professional sports league.

NBC will pitch a package that includes some regular season games to air exclusively on Peacock, with playoff games airing on NBC’s broadcast network. However, the NBA is expected to counter most offers with the expectation that all games broadcast by a network will be simulcast on a streaming platform.

An NBA spokesperson told CNBC that no talks had taken place between the league and the network, adding that it has “a longtime relationship with Comcast/NBA as a previous NBA national TV rightsholder and through many of our teams’ partnerships with NBC Sports regional sports networks.”

The NBA and NBC have an established history. The league reached new heights during its partnership with NBC from 1990 through 2002. The NBA left the network after the 2001-2002 season, striking a deal that included games on both over-the-air television and cable with ABC/ESPN.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has claimed “we don’t have to have the NBA”, but TNT is expected to also place an aggressive bid to retain the rights. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently suggested the retention of NBA rights is of utmost priority for ABC/ESPN, while Amazon and Apple are also considered potential bidders for a new streaming package concocted by the league.

However, suggestions by experts claiming a 200% increase for NBA rights is on the table are likely inflated, the CNBC report counters.

Audacy To Cease Operation Of 2 Las Vegas AM Stations

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Audacy To Cease Operation Of 2 Las Vegas AM Stations

Audacy will cease operations of Conservative Talk 720 KDWN Las Vegas and Sports Betting “The Bet 1140” KXST North Las Vegas NV on March 1.

The company has sold the land that hosted the towers for both stations to a real estate developer for $40 million.

According to Radio Insight, the site, which was located in desert land near Nellis Air Force Base and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, has been rapidly developed with warehouse facilities, including several Amazon warehouses, with one complex sold for $271 million last summer.

The land sale was also the reason why Audacy traded 107.5 KXTE Pahrump/Las Vegas to Beasley Media for KDWN.

Phillies Sign New Deals With Tom McCarthy & Scott Franzke

BSM Staff
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Phillies Sign New Deals With Tom McCarthy & Scott Franzke

The future is set for the Philadelphia Phillies, at least when it comes to broadcasting. The team has signed new deals with TV play-by-play man Tom McCarthy and radio play-by-play man Scott Franzke this week.

“Stability is a great word for it,” Dave Buck, Phillies’ executive vice president, told The Athletic. “They will be up there a long time.”

While specifics are not available, The Athletic reports that both Tom McCarthy and Scott Franzke received multi-year deals.

“My family and I are so appreciative of everything the Phillies have done for us for the 21 years we have been part of the organization,” McCarthy added. “We are excited about this deal and the future of the Phillies. It’s a dream to be part of the fabric of this amazing city.”

There isn’t expected to be much change on television. McCarthy will again partner with John Kruk, Ruben Amaro Jr., and Ben Davis on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

What listeners hear on 94 WIP remains a little bit of a mystery. Scott Franzke’s long-time partner Larry Anderson scaled back last season. In 2023, he will work 60 games. While The Athletic reports that Kevin Stocker is the favorite to land the main analyst’s role, nothing is official.

Newsmax Boss: AT&T Doesn’t Want Us Reaching Liberals & Independents

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Newsmax Boss: AT&T Doesn’t Want Us Reaching Liberals & Independents

Deals between cable and satellite television providers and television networks can often be complex and involve negotiations over a variety of factors such as distribution rights, advertising revenue, and programming costs. 

Last month, DirecTV dropped Newsmax from its lineup after a dispute over carrier fees. Newsmax TV often features opinions and perspectives that align with the views of the Republican Party. It has been described as having a “pro-Donald Trump” bias and has been criticized for spreading misinformation. 

NewsMax TV is owned by Newsmax Media, which was founded by Christopher Ruddy. On Sunday, Ruddy joined WLW’s Bill Cunningham to discuss the controversy involving the removal of his network from millions of homes. 

“AT&T owns DirecTV, and they removed us from 13 million homes,” said Ruddy. “This is the second conservative channel they have removed in the past year. You may recall One America News Network (OAN) was removed and that all happened after Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats wrote a letter to AT&T and other cable companies saying why are you keeping OAN, NewsMax, and Fox News, we want them deplatformed for misinformation in the election.” 

The 2020 U.S. Presidential election was marked by a significant amount of misinformation and false information being spread, particularly through social media. This included false claims about voter fraud, manipulated images and videos, and misleading information about the voting process and results. The spread of misinformation was fueled by various factors, including partisan interests, foreign interference, and a proliferation of false news stories on social media platforms.

“It’s very similar to the story that we’re hearing about Twitter where the government worked with the FBI and Twitter to censor and trick conservatives and conservative organizations, it’s a frightening thing that’s taking place in America,” Ruddy said. “We’re fighting back and we’re urging other people to fight back.” 

Ruddy stated that the American public deserves to hear different opinions represented in the media. He said those opinions promote diversity of thought. He also said the media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and providing information to the public.

“We are the fourth highest-rated cable news channel,” he said. “Our Nielsen numbers also show that half of our audience is Democrat and independent voters. They don’t like that we’re reaching those folks. Hunter Biden’s laptop, they basically told us that it was Russian disinformation. It’s now confirmed it is his laptop. Newsmax was banned from all sorts of social media, we were not allowed to cover that story. This is a violation of basic Constitutional rights.”

Chris Stigall: News/Talk Listeners Need Distraction of Football

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The morning after a Super Bowl loss may feel like a difficult and emotional time for players, coaches, and fans. Navigating that story, through the lens of a news/talk program presents big challenges, especially if your audience isn’t tuning in to hear sports talk.  Chris Stigall found himself in a unique position on Monday, broadcasting in two markets where the winning and losing Super Bowl teams reside.

Stigall’s morning show in Philadelphia on 990 The Answer has become a staple for many listeners, and his midday show on Kansas City’s KCMO 103.7 FM has garnered him national attention and increased his media footprint and reach.

News/talk listeners are interested in current events, politics, and issues affecting society, whereas sports talk listeners are often more focused on the latest sports news, stats, and analysis. Additionally, some people who listen to news/talk radio may have a different opinion on the role of sports in society, which can affect their enjoyment of sports talk.

“People say to me ‘w’Why do you talk about football? Football is a big distraction,’” Stigall said. “Yes, football is a big distraction, and I am happy about it. It is my hobby, it’s something I have enjoyed with my family and friends for a long time, and it takes me away from the real world for a little bit.” 

Some conservatives have been critical of NFL players who protest during the national anthem, which they view as disrespectful to the country and its symbols. Additionally, there have been claims that the NFL and its media partners promote a left-leaning political agenda. 

“I spent some time in worship [before the big game], then I spent some time with my family watching the game and I got a little excited about something unrelated to politics and news.” 

Some of the more controversial topics that arose on news/talk stations Monday, a day after the Super Bowl, included Rihanna’s halftime performance and the singing of the Black National Anthem. 

Roseanne Barr: FOX Nation ‘Lit a Fire Back in Me’

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One of the original self-proclaimed victims of cancel culture is back in the limelight with a stand-up comedy special streaming on Fox Nation. Actress, writer, and television producer Roseanne Barr, who rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s with her eponymous television show, “Roseanne,” appeared on the “Brian Kilmeade Show” Monday to discuss how she views comedy in the wake of the events that got her cancelled several years ago. 

Barr was fired from her rebooted television show in 2018 after she made an alleged racist comment on Twitter. Specifically, she tweeted that former President Barack Obama’s advisor Valerie Jarrett, was the product of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Planet of the Apes. According to media reports, ABC, the network that was airing her show, announced her immediate termination. 

Her current special “Cancel This” was recorded in front of a live studio audience. It was Barr’s first live performance since the events of 2018 that led to her firing. 

“I’m getting a lot of offers [to perform stand-up] and I am kind of fired up to do it,” she told Kilmeade. “Once I got in front of the audience, it kind of lit a fire back in me. It was exciting to have people in the audience, egging me on, that’s my favorite thing. So, I am looking to do some dates.” 

In the aftermath of the 2018 controversy, Barr issued several apologies, but the damage had already been done. The reboot of her show was still on the air, just without her. It was rebranded The Conners.

She also discussed the difference between her and comedian Dave Chapelle. Chappelle has been criticized by some for his use of controversial topics in his comedy, including race, sexuality, and gender. Some have accused him of being insensitive and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

“He’s very lucky because the people that he does his jokes for and performs for always back him,” said Barr. “That’s the difference between him and me and other comics. He always has the backing of the people on Netflix. That makes him different from all the rest of us. He’s very privileged that he does get that.” 

Cancel culture has become a topic of much debate and discussion, with some viewing it as a form of accountability and a way to promote social justice, while others see it as a threat to free speech and the exchange of ideas. Critics argue that cancel culture stifles open discussion and creates a culture of fear, where people are afraid to express their opinions for fear of being “cancelled.”

The Afternoon Saloon To Reunite For ESPN 1000 25th Anniversary Show

BSM Staff
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Fans of ESPN 1000 in Chicago are in for a real treat next month, as the station celebrates its 25th birthday.

Dan McNeil, Harry Teinowitz and John Jurkovic, the trio that comprised the Afternoon Saloon, will be reuniting on March 24. Longtime listeners will have a chance to see and hear from the guys that were the centerpiece of ESPN 1000 in the 2000s.

“When you think about 25 years at ESPN 1000 you couldn’t celebrate anything without celebrating Mac, Jurko and Harry because they’re the foundation this great radio station was built upon,” the station’s director of content Danny Zederman told The Athletic.

After The Afternoon Saloon was canceled back in 2009, McNeil ended up having three different stints hosting on crosstown rival 670 The Score. He’s working in media still, hosting a weekly show in Indiana and working for BetRivers Casino.

Last year, Teinowitz wrote and starred in a one-man show about his struggles with addiction. He is not in the best of health currently, and The Athletic reported he’s currently in need of a liver transplant. He also had heart surgery recently.

Jurkovic has remained at ESPN 1000, hosting Carmen & Jurko alongside Carmen DeFalco weekdays from noon-2 central.

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