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TV Executives Try To Make Sense Of How ESPN Landed Cowboys vs Tom Brady in Playoffs

BSM Staff
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Michael McCarthy is not sure how one of the most coveted games on the NFL’s Super Wild Card Weekend schedule landed on ESPN. He is using his column at Front Office Sports to make sense of the league putting the Dallas Cowboys’ visit to Tampa Bay ended up on Monday night.

McCarthy asked a series of unnamed TV executives to share their best theories. After all, last year, ESPN landed the Rams and Cardinals in the same spot. Certainly, the league’s most popular team versus its biggest celebrity will draw considerably more eyeballs.

One of the more interesting theories is that the NFL is using this as a “make good” to ESPN. The network essentially lost its last Monday Night Football game of the regular season following Damar Hamlin’s collapse on the field in Cincinnati. One rival TV executive suggests that the NFL is giving the network its top playoff audience to “make up” for that.

For the record, that game was the most watched in the history of Monday Night Football on ESPN, but the network did not tout the ratings or include them in its year end average.

Another executive suggested that ESPN is capable of delivering a different level of star power, one that this game warrants. Between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman calling Monday Night Football and Peyton and Eli Manning anchoring their alternate broadcast, the Disney networks could provide a big game feel that competitors could not.

Disney’s improving relationship with the NFL and the fact that the network pays one of the highest rates for its television package were also mentioned as potential factors. McCarthy himself theorizes that the game is the only one on the schedule capable of being a sort of grand finale to the weekend’s action.

“Even better, the prime-time blockbuster is the only NFL playoff game on the calendar Monday, after a doubleheader Saturday and a tripleheader on Sunday,” he writes. “That means the entire country (including the extended NFL family of players, coaches, and executives) will be tuning in.”

Boomer Esiason to Gregg Giannotti: ‘You’ve Been Lashing Out A Lot This Week’

BSM Staff
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Boomer Esiason to Gregg Giannotti: ‘You’ve Been Lashing Out A Lot This Week’

WFAN morning host Gregg Giannotti is a noted Minnesota Vikings fan, so it’s been a long week as his favorite team prepares to play against the New York Giants. Co-host Boomer Esiason said he wanted to see the Vikings get a win to lift the spirits of his partner.

For the duration of the week, Giannotti has been adamant the Vikings will lose to the Giants, and said part of his reasoning for that stance is he doesn’t want to deal with New York fans in the aftermath of a potential loss.

“I’m anticipating me coming in here saying ‘I told you so’, and all the Giants fans calling in saying ‘How’d that feel, huh? You purple loser. You purple sissy. Kirk Cousins. What do you think of Daniel Jones now?’ That’s what’s gonna happen,” Giannotti said.

“You’ve had a really tough week,” Esiason responded. “You’ve had an emotion week, a stressful week. You’ve had some sadness in your life with the loss of your bulldog earlier in the week on Saturday. I’m just rooting for you now.”

The former NFL quarterback then detailed how part of him wanted to see a Vikings victory as a way to cheer up Giannotti, before pointing out his colleague had been a bit hostile.

“You’ve been lashing out a lot this week,” Esiason continued.

“I’m not gonna disagree. There has been a lot of lashing out this week,” Giannotti admitted.

“You’ve been lashing out left and right this week,” said Esiason.

“I’ve been edgy,” replied Giannotti. “There’s no doubt about it. I’ve been volatile, quite frankly.”

Easiason then joked that he’s been walking around on eggshells.

Giannotti created headlines this week for “lashing out” at 98.7 ESPN New York host Michael Kay for threatening the job of a producer on another show, but then backpedalling, saying he was a “performance artist”. Giannotti called Kay’s actions “embarrassing” and “ridiculous”, characterizing them as an abuse of power.

At the end of the day’s show, Giannotti shouted that he had been bluffing the entire week, and that he believes the Vikings will beat the Giants, in a rant that included shouting about colleagues and Giants players.

Dan Le Batard: The Dolphins Colluding With Tom Brady Is NFL’s Most Underreported Story

BSM Staff
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Dan Le Batard: The Dolphins Colluding With Tom Brady Is NFL’s Most Underreported Story

Dan Le Batard was a guest Friday morning on The Dan Patrick Show. Le Batard was invited on to talk about the future of the Miami Dolphins.

As he discussed what the future holds for the team and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, he noted that it was hard not to think about Tom Brady’s retirement announcement from February.

“The most underreported, I thought, in America’s most popular sport last year was ‘Hey! Brady’s totally conspiring!’” Le Batard said.

It has been widely reported that Dolphins’ ownership met with Tom Brady and Sean Payton about working together in Miami. It seemed like a done deal until former head coach Brian Flores filed suit against the Dolphins, the NFL, and two other teams alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices.

To Dan Le Batard, it is pretty clear that the retirement announcement Brady released in February was initially intended to be about changing teams, not walking away from the sport.

“It’s amazing that this happened quietly. It’s amazing!” he told Dan Patrick. “Boston got legitimately mad at Tom for only thanking Tampa Bay without realizing it was because he wasn’t really retiring! The only thing that changed all of that, again, is a lawsuit where the coach leaves because he’s saying that the team is racist. That’s the only thing making that all go sideways.”

While Tom Brady never faced any repercussions for the scheme, the Miami Dolphins did. The team was stripped of its first round pick in April’s NFL Draft.

The Miami Dolphins have become a laughing stock in the national media according to Le Batard. He says that is deserved at this point.

“I don’t know what the relationship still is with Tom Brady and the other people around the Dolphins, but it is kinda perfect that they ended up losing a draft pick and not even getting Tom Brady, just for flirting with Tom Brady.”

Sunday NFL Countdown Has Most-Watched Season Since 2019

BSM Staff
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There’s cause for celebration at ESPN as the network announced several of its NFL properties — including Sunday NFL Countdown — saw ratings increases.

Sunday NFL Countdown — featuring host Sam Ponder with analysts Randy Moss, Matt Hasselbeck, Rex Ryan, and Tedy Bruschi — averaged 1.24 million viewers for the 2022 season, which is a 7% increase compared to 2021 viewership totals. Those numbers do not count the episodes that went head-to-head with NFL games held in Germany and the United Kingdom that were taking place in the same time window.

The ESPN pregame show wasn’t the only one of its NFL-centric shows to see viewership gains in 2022. NFL Live matched its best totals since 2016 with an average of 423,000 viewers per episode.

NFL Rewind and NFL Matchup both saw gains in 2022, as well. NFL Rewind saw an average of 373,000 viewers, while NFL Matchup grew to a weekly average of 267,000.

ESPN also noted NFL Primetime with Chris Berman and Booger McFarland was the most-watched studio show on ESPN+.

Stephen A. Smith To Shan & RJ: I’m Not Sure You’re Worthy of First Take Invitation

BSM Staff
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Stephen A. Smith To Shan & RJ: I’m Not Sure You’re Worthy of First Take Invitation

You don’t have to be a fan of the Dallas Cowboys to know how Stephen A. Smith feels about the team. The ESPN star has turned his low expectations for America’s team into a signature bit. That has made him public enemy number one for many sports fans in the Metroplex, but for 105.3 The Fan’s Shan & RJ, it makes Smith good content.

Smith joined the morning show on Friday. He told Shan Shariff & RJ Choppy that they had to know Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was lying when he told them that coach Mike McCarthy’s job was safe regardless of what happens in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. That led Choppy to propose a bet.

If McCarthy is indeed fired after a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Shariff, Choppy and former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin will take Stephen A. Smith out for the dinner of his choice when they are all together in Arizona for the Super Bowl.

“If Mike McCarthy loses and he’s not fired,” Choppy suggested, “I think it is only fair that Shan and I and Bobby get to come on First Take for a couple of minutes.”

“You know what? I gotta think about that,” Smith said before dropping the hammer. “I don’t know if y’all would be worthy to come on First Take. Now, if he wins and they get to the Super Bowl, now that’s a different animal.”

Even a Cowboys Super Bowl appearance is no guarantee for the show. Stephen A. Smith noted that while he is now a producer of First Take, he does not get to do whatever he wants on the show.

He also noted that if the Cowboys do end up winning the NFC, he would be obligated to eat a lot of crow in public.

“If they make it to the Super Bowl, I would have to humble myself for all of Dallas. I would have to try to capitulate to most requests that are being made. But let me just say this, I’m really not concerned about that at all.”

Longtime Seattle News Anchor Gregg Hersholt Retires

BNM Staff
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Longtime Seattle News Anchor Gregg Hersholt Retires

Friday, January 13th marks the final day of the radio career of Gregg Hersholt. The longtime Seattle news anchor is leaving his position at Northwest Newsradio.

“Thank you to those who have listened along the way and the many great people I have worked for. I feel truly blessed,” Hersholt said.

Hersholt has anchored the station’s morning show with Manda Factor, and he received high marks from Program Director Rick Van Cise.

“Gregg gave every story he covered the importance it deserved,” Van Cise said.

Hersholt has been a fixture in Seattle news radio, anchoring on KIRO for several years in addition to his work as News Director at KVI and KJR. In total, the Gonzaga graduate spent more than 30 years on Seattle airwaves.

With his departure, the station has announced reporter Brian Calvert will step into the shoes vacated by Hersholt.

“Brian’s engaging personality, news credibility and unique storytelling make him a great fit,” Van Cise added, noting Calvert will have “big shoes to fill” after the departure of Hersholt.

The retirement of Hersholt is the latest move in the anchor chair at the venerable Seattle news radio station. In September, the station named Kim Shepard as afternoon anchor.

Taylor Twellman: Move From ESPN to Apple ‘Has Rejuvenated My Life’

BSM Staff
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Taylor Twellman: Move From ESPN to Apple ‘Has Rejuvenated My Life’

Last week, longtime ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman announced he was departing the network. He has since been announced as one of the analysts for the MLS Season Pass package on Apple that will debut next month, and he says the change in scenery has done wonders for him.

“This has rejuvenated my life, my personality,” Twellman told Soccer America. “It’s given me given me something to be a part of. There’s nothing better. If I blindfolded you in 17, 18 stadiums in MLS and then took the blindfold off, you’d have absolutely no idea you were in Major League Soccer. You’d feel like you were in Germany, Spain, like some real environments in South America that are hard to replicate. And that’s hard to give up, which is why I’m sitting here.”

Twellman’s excitement for MLS Season Pass — which will launch on February 1st — was understandable for a lifelong soccer fanatic. After a storied MLS career, Twellman joined ESPN as its lead World Cup analyst before the rights to the event went to FOX Sports. He contributed to shows like Get Up and SportsCenter, but will now have the opportunity to work as an analyst on more soccer specific programs with Apple.

“Now there’s shoulder programming,” said Twellman. “So if you’re an MLS fan, guess what? Monday through Friday you want to have a conversation. You want to hear your team critiqued and criticized and analyzed. It sounds so simple, but if you really think about the 27 years, it hasn’t been there.”

BetQL Network Plans NFL Playoff Coverage

BSM Staff
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BetQL Network Plans NFL Playoff Coverage

With the NFL Playoffs approaching, BetQL Network has announced its plans to cover the NFL’s run up to the Super Bowl.

You Better You Bet hosts Nick Kostos and Ken Barkley will host BetQL’s Countdown to Kickoff before each day of NFL playoff action commences.

“So much betting content is focused on giving bettors picks the day of the game, with many important factors towards making a valuable bet not taken into account,” said You Better You Bet host Nick Kostos.

“But what we do differently is we start handicapping games on Mondays for the weekend to come, aiming to capture the best number and tracking line movement throughout the week. Ken and I look forward keeping our audience informed for the most critical point of the NFL season, while offering our unique Wagertainment angle to keep them entertained along the way.”

BetQL’s Countdown to Kickoff will be heard on the BetQL Network, along with the Audacy and BetQL apps, as well as Audacy sports stations like 670 The Score, WFAN, 94WIP, and more.

BetQL Network will also broadcast live from the newly opened BetMGM Sportsbook next to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, where Super Bowl LVII will be held. You Better You Bet, BetQL Daily, The Daily Tip, and BetMGM Tonight will all air from the sportsbook at some point during the NFL Playoffs.

MSNBC Altering Daily Lineup, Hallie Jackson Expands Role With NBC News NOW

BNM Staff
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MSNBC is altering its daily lineup after expanding anchor Hallie Jackson’s presence on the network’s streaming platform NBC News NOW.

Chris Jansing Reports will now expand to a two-hour show, airing from 1:00-3:00 PM ET. Katy Tur Reports shifts to a 3:00 PM ET airtime. Jose Diaz-Balart will host a one-hour show at 11:00 AM ET. Meanwhile, a “rotating lineup of hosts” will host the 10:00 AM timeslot until a permanent anchor is named, with Andrea Mitchell Reports remaining at Noon ET.

In a memo to MSNBC staff, MSNBC President Rashida Jones said the moves — which will take effect on Monday, February 13th — will “strengthen our lineup and better position the network for future success”.

The shakeup ends Jackson’s MSNBC show. The network launched Hallie Jackson Reports in September of 2021 after seeing the anchor host MSNBC Live at 10:00 AM ET since 2016.

Jackson had been working double-duty with MSNBC and NBC News NOW after launching Hallie Jackson NOW on the streamer in November of 2021.

“Over the last year, Hallie has developed a loyal audience with her fast-paced newscast that kicks off our live primetime block,” Executive Vice President of NBC News NOW Janelle Rodriguez told staffers in a memo obtained by Deadline. “This new development is a natural extension for Hallie as she expands her role more broadly at NBC News.” 

The changes to the MSNBC lineup are not related to the current downsizing experienced by the network. A report from CNN’s Oliver Darcy claims the network is removing 75 jobs in its news division, affecting both MSNBC and NBC News.

WSJS Towers Destroyed By Alleged Vandals

BNM Staff
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WSJS Towers Destroyed By Alleged Vandals

News/Talk/Sports station WSJS in Winston-Salem has seen two of its radio towers “destroyed by vandals” according to Truth Broadcasting owner Stu Epperson Jr.

“Today has been one of the toughest days of my broadcasting life… someone has destroyed several of our towers,” a Facebook post from Epperson read. “Criminal investigation is underway. FBI is involved since it’s a federal crime.”

The main signal of 600 AM and 101.5 FM — signals licensed to Winston-Salem — are down, while the station still broadcasts on 103.1 — licensed to Winston-Salem — and 104.9, which is licensed to High Point, North Carolina. The station also broadcasts on 93.7 from Greensboro, but the status of that signal is not immediately known.

In a tweet, afternoon host Josh Graham said “it might take one week, it might take two weeks” to get the two signals back on the air.

Truth Broadcasting purchased WSJS in December of 2021 before altering the station’s format to a mix of news and sports talk in the summer of 2022.

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