Congratulations are in order at Audacy Boston. Greg Hill announced some big moves for WEEI Friday on the station’s morning show. The first is a promotion for Ken Laird. He is the station’s new brand manager. The other is the addition of Adam Jones, who will join Meghan Ottolini and Christian Arcand in afternoon drive.
“Nobody deserves that more than you,” Hill said to Laird. “Let me tell you that. It’s been a delight seeing you go from this program all the way to the tippety top here at WEEI.”
Laird began his radio career at WEEI in 2002. He returned to the station in 2015 to serve as the producer of the morning show. In 2022, he was upped to operations manager.
“Working at WEEI, an iconic and influential brand, has been an honor dating back to my start here in 2002,” Laird said in a press release. “To take on a Brand Manager role some twenty years later is both incredibly humbling and exciting. I can’t thank Mark Hannon and Mike Thomas enough for the guidance and opportunity they’ve given me. The sports radio ratings share in Boston is proof that the nation’s most passionate fans live here, and I’m ready for the challenge to work with this great staff to deliver the daily entertainment those fans crave.”
Jones comes to the station from crosstown rival 98.5 The Sports Hub. He has hosted the station’s night show since 2013 and has been heard on Boston sports radio since 2006.
“Joining the team at WEEI is a lifelong dream come true,” said Jones. “For 10 years, I have approached nights like afternoon drive. I can’t wait to get started with Meghan and Christian.”
“This is the 3rd run for Adam and I working together. He’s talented, opinionated, informed and funny. Miss a day and miss a lot. Afternoons on WEEI will be can’t miss entertainment,” added Mike Thomas, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Boston. “Ken has stepped up and really proven himself as a leader this past year, and I’m very happy to elevate him in this new role. I know the best is yet to come.”
The station’s new afternoon show will be called Jones & Mego and will be heard weekdays from 2p-6p ET.
“I love that combo,” Laird said of the new afternoon show. “That is the new, young entertainment destination for sports fans, entertainment seekers in Boston.”
With a new year comes renewed energy and optimism for the sports media business. Yours truly is looking forward to showcasing the best our business has to offer when we gather the industry in Los Angeles, CA at the 2023 BSM Summit at the Founders Club at the University of Southern California on March 21-22, 2023. Our conference is returning to the west coast for the first time since 2019. We’ve announced some super talented speakers. We’ve got additional things in the works and I plan to make additional announcements in the next few weeks.
People often ask me what the biggest challenge is putting this event together. My answer is always the same, it’s getting people to leave the comfort of their office and spend two days in a room together learning and discussing ways to grow the business. We have great sponsorship support and exceptional people on stage and are fortunate to have a lot of folks already set to attend. Our venue this year has extra space though, so I’m hoping a few more of you make time to join us. If you haven’t bought a ticket or reserved your hotel room, visit BSMSummit.com to make sure you’re all set.
If there’s one thing our industry could get better at it’s opening our minds to new ideas and information. There’s more than one path to success. Just because you’re in good shape today doesn’t mean you will be tomorrow. Building brands, growing audiences, increasing revenue, and examining new opportunities is an ongoing process. There are many shifts along the way. We may not solve every business challenge during our two-days together but you’ll leave the room more connected and informed than when you entered it.
Each year I’ll get two or three emails from folks sharing that they learned more about the industry in two-days at the Summit than they have in ___ years inside of their building. That’s truly gratifying and what I strive to achieve when I put this event together. I remember when conferences like this didn’t exist for format folks and I take the risk and invest the time and resources to create it because I love the sports media industry and believe I can help it thrive. I see great value in gathering professionals to share ideas, information, and meet others who can help them grow their business, and if we do our part, I’m confident some will want to work with us too. That’s how we benefit over the long haul.
But as much as I focus on serving the professional crowd, I also think we have a responsibility to educate young people who are interested, passionate, and taking steps to be a part of our business in the future. The BSM website is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each month and it’s become a valuable resource for folks who enjoy sports radio and television. I think it’s vital to use our platform, influence and two-day event to connect generations and I’m happy to announce that we will once again welcome college students at this year’s Summit.
Most of us who’ve been in this line of work for two or three decades learned the business without podcasts, YouTube, social media, the web or conferences delivering two full days of sessions that taught you more about the business than what’s available inside of a class room. We learned by doing, and hoping we were right. Then we copied others who had success. Some of that still exists, and that’s not a bad thing. But where our business goes in the future is going to be drastically different.
I’d like to see the difference makers in our format remembered for years to come, and practices that have stood the test of time remain valued down the line. Change is inevitable in every business and I’m excited about the road that lies ahead especially some of the technological advancements that are now available or will soon become a bigger part of our industry. I think we can embrace the future while enjoying the present and celebrating the past. The best way to do that is by bringing together everyone who is and is hoping to be a part of the sports media universe.
So here’s two things we’re doing to make sure future broadcasters have an opportunity to learn with us.
First, I want to send a HUGE thank you to Steve Kamer Voiceovers. Thanks to Steve’s generosity, TEN (10) college students will be given FREE tickets to attend the 2023 BSM Summit in March. Steve is a USC graduate (Class of 1985) and he bought the ten tickets to help young people learn about the industry, save money and make valuable connections. When I first received his order, I thought he hit the wrong button. I reached out to tell him a mistake was made and I needed to refund him. That’s when he told me what he wanted to do for students who were pursuing their broadcasting dreams just as we both did years ago. A very classy gesture on his part.
As it pertains to the contest, here’s how it’s going to work.
To win tickets to attend the Summit, students must submit a 2-minute video by email to JBarrett@sportsradiopd.com explaining why they’d like to be in attendance and what they hope to learn at the event. Included in your email should be a list of steps that you’ve taken or are pursuing to explore opportunities in the media industry. If you want to pass along a resume and audio or video clips too to showcase your work and experience, that’s fine as well. BSM will accept submissions until February 17th. The winners will be announced on Friday February 24th.
Helping me select the winners will be an exceptional panel of media executives. Each of these folks below will choose one person to attend our L.A. event. The final two will be picked by Steve Kamer and myself.
Scott Shapiro – Senior Vice President, FOX Sports Radio
Justin Craig – Senior Program Director, ESPN Radio
Jeff Sottolano – Executive Vice President, Programming, Audacy
Bruce Gilbert – Senior Vice President of Sports, Cumulus Media & Westwood One
Jacob Ullman – Senior Vice President, Production and Talent Development, FOX Sports
Greg Strassell – Senior Vice President, Programming, Hubbard Radio
Scott Sutherland – Executive Vice President, Bonneville International
To qualify for the BSM Summit College Contest, students must be enrolled in college in the state of California, pursuing a degree that involves course work either in radio, television, print or the digital business. Those attending local trade schools with a focus on broadcasting are also welcome to participate. You must be able to take care of your own transportation and/or lodging.
This is a contest I enjoy running. We’ve had great participation during our prior two shows in New York City but haven’t done it before on the west coast. I’m hoping it’s helpful to California students and look forward to hearing from many of them during the next month.
For students who live out of state and wish to attend or those enrolled at local universities who enter the contest but aren’t lucky enough to win one of the ten free tickets from Steve Kamer Voiceovers, we are introducing a special two-day college ticket for just $124.99. You must provide proof that you’re currently in school to take advantage of the offer. This ticket gives you access to all of our sessions inside the Founders Club. College tickets will be limited to forty (40) seats so take advantage of the opportunity before it expires.
The 2023 BSM Summit will feature award ceremonies with Emmis Communication CEO Jeff Smulyan and legendary WFAN program director Mark Chernoff, sessions with influential on-air talent such as Colin Cowherd, Jim Rome, Joy Taylor, and Mina Kimes, big picture business conversations with executives from groups such as Audacy, iHeart, Bonneville, Good Karma Brands, Barstool, The Volume, Omaha Productions and more. For details on tickets and hotel rooms visit BSMsummit.com.
I look forward to seeing you in March in Los Angeles!
Salem Media Group is growing its podcast division by bolstering measurement capabilities and technology. On Thursday, the company announced a deal to expand its partnership with California-based Triton Digital.
According to Podcast News Daily, Salem will have access to Triton’s Podcast Metrics Demos+. The service will provide enhanced metrics, including critical demographic, sociographic, media behavior, and purchase intent data. Since 2012, Salem has depended on Triton for its digital audio strategy.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Triton Digital, which has helped drive a significant increase in digital revenue while delivering our engaging content to our growing audience,” Salem CEO David Santrella said. “We’re looking forward to this next chapter together, gaining increased visibility and a more comprehensive understanding of the behaviors and demographics of our audiences.”
Triton said the data it extracts from users helps them customize their experience and maximize their on-demand options.
“We are proud to provide the technology solutions that enable Salem Media Group to improve the overall listening experience while maximizing inventory monetization and revenue,” said Triton Digital CEO John Rosso.
Salem also uses Triton’s Omny Studio podcast management platform.
“The fact that Salem Media Group has been a customer for over a decade is testament to our constant focus on delivering innovative solutions that advance streaming audio and podcast strategies while delivering unparalleled customer support,” Rosso added.
Blaze Media announced Thursday the addition of three new shows debuting in 2023. The network also announced the departure of Steven Crowder.
The “Louder with Crowder” host joined Blaze TV when the network merged with CRTV in 2018. CRTV was an online subscription network that Conservative Review owned. According to Axios, as of 2020, Blaze TV had approximately 450,000 paid subscribers.
In an email blast, the network announced the addition of Alex Stein, Auron MacIntyre, and Lauren Chen. Blaze Media also said Crowder’s content would no longer be found on the website, but that past shows could be found in the archives.
“Alex Stein is coming soon to BlazeTV and will take you on an unscripted roller coaster ride that mocks political correctness and takes on the liberal world order with courage and humor,” the email read. “Prime Time with Alex Stein” will leave you in stitches.
Stein, aka Prime Time 99, became a viral sensation antagonizing Antifa, ridiculing school boards, and questioning city councils about gender reassignment surgery.
MacIntyre is described as an original commentator with a thought-provoking perspective.
“You won’t find anywhere else,” Blaze said. “So, if you’re tired of the same old talking points and want to enjoy a show that’s clinically proven to raise your IQ, you’re going to love Auron MacIntyre.”
“Longtime fans of BlazeTV will be thrilled to learn that Lauren Chen is returning to the platform later this year,” the network said.
“Lauren Chen is known for her sharp analysis of politics and culture — and with both politics and culture going off the rails in recent years, her insights and commentary are needed now more than ever. We are thrilled to welcome Lauren back to BlazeTV, and we can’t wait to start sharing her wit and wisdom with you.”
The late Rush Limbaugh would have turned 72 Thursday. Limbaugh died after a short battle with lung cancer on Feb. 17, 2021. “The Rush Limbaugh Show” host was arguably the most influential talk radio personality ever. At its peak, the show was broadcasted on nearly 700 affiliates nationwide.
In the months following the radio host’s passing, hundreds of radio stations scrambled to fill the 12 pm to 3 pm afternoon slot held down by Limbaugh. Some broadcast companies promoted local talent while Premiere Networks elevated Clay Travis and Buck Sexton to serve as Limbaugh’s official successors; meanwhile, Cumulus Media hired Dan Bongino.
On Thursday, news/talk personalities paid homage to Limbaugh. Houston-based radio host Michael Berry played Limbaugh’s 2020 Christmas message during his show on NewsRadio 740 KTRH.
“It was 72 years ago today; the greatest of all time was born. The man who is the reason for talk radio today,” Berry said.
WBT Radio host Brett Winterble worked with Rush from 1995 until 2006. He was one of the Snerdleys, a pseudonym Limbaugh assigned to various call screeners over the years.
“During that same time, I got married. I had a couple of kids and my life totally changed,” Winterble said in a tweet to Barrett News Media. “My daughter was born in 2002 and Rush was kind enough to send his well wishes to her on that day. My son just so happened to be born on the same day that Rush Limbaugh celebrated his birthday and so forever and ever we will be linked to both Rush and our beloved son. Happy birthday Rush Limbaugh, radio’s all-time greatest.”
Travis and Sexton discussed Limbaugh’s legacy with Sexton saying that Limbaugh received some much-deserved recognition on his birthday.
“We are always thinking about Rush when we talk about these issues because we are sitting here in the house that Rush built,” said Sexton. “Many of the greats in talk radio today are thinking about Rush on his birthday.”
“Rush was legendary, and he obviously saw around the corner very often in the direction that we were all headed,” added Travis.
Earlier this week, we dove into the ratings stories from the top 20 markets around the country. Today, we take a look at the performance of sports radio brands in the mid markets.
The term “mid markets” defines everything below market 20, so there was obviously a lot of information to look at. We selected key markets and reported the information we received back. Thank you to all the stations that participated and shared their stories with us.
BALTIMORE
105.7 THE FAN
6 – 10 AM (Big Bad Morning Show) – 12.1 (1st)
10 AM – 2 PM (Vinny & Haynie) – 11.9 (2nd)
2 – 6 PM (Inside Access) – 10.1 (1st)
M-F 6A-7P – 11.4 (1st)
M-Su 6A-MID – 10.8 (1st)
PORTLAND
1080 THE FAN
6 – 9 AM (Dirt & Sprague) – 3.8 (10th)
9 AM – 12 PM (The Herd) – 2.7 (12th)
12 – 3 PM (Danny & Dusty) – 3.1 (10th)
3 – 7 PM (Isaac & Suke) – 4.0 (9th)
M-F 6A-7P – 3.6 (10th)
M-Su 6A-MID – 3.1 (10th)
PITTSBURGH
93.7 THE FAN
6-10 AM (The Fan Morning Show) – 8.9 (4th)
10 AM – 2 PM (Cook & Joe) – 12.5 (2nd)
2 – 6 PM (The PM Team) – 11.6 (3rd)
M-F 6A-7P – 10.9 (2nd)
M-Su 6A-MID – 9.5 (3rd)
MILWAUKEE
97.3 THE GAME
6 – 10 AM (Steve Czaban 6-9, Nine to Noon 9-10) – 4.4 (t-8th)
10 AM – 3 PM (Nine to Noon 10 – 12, Mike Heller 12-3) – 1.9 (16th)
If you’re a News/Talk program director, you run two radio stations. Didn’t you know that? Oh. Well, you do.
I’m not just referring to our over-the-air broadcast but also what comes through our streaming platforms. Alexa, Google Home, apps, computers, etc., are all streaming platforms of our radio stations, which for most of us, are airing different commercial inventory than what is coming through the radio.
I understand none of us are unnecessarily looking to add to our plate, but our streaming platforms are the way we are getting more people to use our product. So neglecting, or forgetting about it, is a bad business decision, especially in the talk space.
Across all clusters, talk radio is far more likely to have high streaming use when it comes to total listening hours. Listeners are more loyal to our personalities and often can’t get the AM dial in their office buildings during the day, or even if they can, they don’t want to hear our voices through static, so they pull up the stream.
It’s never been easier to listen to talk radio stations, thanks to our station apps and websites (although welcoming some sites to the 21st century would be a good idea). So, given the challenges many of us face on the AM band, why not push our audience to the stream and make sure the stream sounds just as good as the over-the-air product?
The tricky part in putting together a quality stream sound is trying to balance what ads are programmatic, which ones are sold locally, where is the unfilled inventory and what is filling that gap?
And unlike your over-the-air product, where you can go into a studio, see what’s coming up, and move inventory around, that technology is not available in most cases. So yes, it’s a guessing game.
But as the talk climate continues to change, the best thing we can do to build our brand and trust with the next generation of talk radio listeners is to find them and engage them where they are, which may not always be next to a physical radio. That will be on a stream. How do I know that? Because if they have a smartphone, they have (access to) the stream.
Of course, the over-the-air product remains the massive revenue generator for our stations, as in most cases, the streaming revenue is not close to comparable. But then, if we look years down the road, that will likely start to change.
To what degree? That’s unknown. But double-digit growth on an annual basis should not be out of the question when it comes to stream listening. It should be a very achievable goal, especially in our format. So our listeners who are P1’s, love the station and want to consume as much of the content as they can, can be on the AirPods in the gym, desk at work, or in their home office and listen to our radio stations.
Heck, with Alexa and Google Home, they don’t even have to turn a dial! They just speak. So if they’re there, let’s keep them there.
There are simply too many media options today to lose our listeners due to sloppy streaming quality that makes us sound like a college radio station. Instead, listeners, who find us there should be rewarded with a listening experience that is just as high-quality as what they would get on the AM or FM band.
And if we play our cards right, it will be better, serving the industry incredibly well through a new generation of listeners.
Creating and navigating a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet takes practice, especially when writing unique formulas and code. When understood and employed correctly though, the possibilities can seem as if they are innumerable, providing a benefit to the user. For Ariel Epstein, she and her friend created a spreadsheet to make accurate sports bets pertaining to strikeout propositions; that is, bets related to one aspect of the game rather than the complete outcome.
Together, they worked to list every pitcher across Major League Baseball, their game-by-game statistics and other information to a point where they were making accurate bets at a rate of over six in every 10. Through her expertise with strikeout props, she earned her distinct nickname: “Prop Queen.”
It also helped that Epstein was enamored with baseball from a young age, vividly remembering the moment former New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada grounded out to end Game 6 of the 2003 World Series to deliver a championship to the Florida Marlins. Although Epstein grew up as a recreational gymnast, she knew she would never be athletic enough to pursue it professionally and therefore yearned to find a way to stay involved with sports.
“My grandpa showed me the Yankees’ announcers, and I just thought it was the coolest job ever that they got to go to games and get paid to do it and talk about it,” Epstein said. “I always loved to talk [and] I love sports [so] it was just a match made in heaven.”
Epstein began playing fantasy baseball at the age of nine years old with friends and family members – and thanks to her passion and knowledge of the sport, she would often win the league handily and leave her competition in the dust. Once she aspired to work in sports media, Epstein looked to gain experience in any way possible – starting with a high school internship at The Journal News in her home of Rockland County, N.Y. From there, she kept following various professional sports and looked to begin her career at Syracuse University; however, she was initially rejected from the school and instead matriculated at Penn State University.
After two years largely working in radio and covering athletic events around campus, Epstein transferred to Syracuse University to gain more experience working in television and became a member of what she calls the “Newhouse Mafia.” Entering the school as a junior meant that she would have to work extra hard and accept opportunities to expand her skillset, a lesson bestowed on her by sportscaster and Syracuse University alumnus Ian Eagle.
“There was a point where they asked him to do boxing for the first time,” Epstein recalled Eagle telling the students. “He never knew boxing but he called Kenny Albert, I think he said, and he did a lot of research and he tried really hard to just learn it because he didn’t want to say ‘No’ to anything. That really stuck with me through all of my career to keep saying ‘Yes’ so you could get your face and your name out there.”
During her time at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Epstein was fortunate enough to meet people who pointed her in the right direction and helped her build a portfolio. As a member of WAER-FM, Z89 Radio and CitrusTV, she worked at an accelerated pace and earned an opportunity to cover the Final Four in Houston, Texas as a senior.
In the summer preceding her senior year though, she landed an internship with the New York Yankees’ video production department where she learned how to shoot, edit and produce video, making her more versatile while boosting her confidence.
A lifelong Yankees fan, Epstein joined the franchise early in her career. (Photo provided by Epstein)
“I got some of those jitters out by interviewing people like Derek Jeter and Álex Rodríguez,” Epstein said. “That kind of felt [like] if I was able to do that, I was able to do anything and interview anybody.”
Out of college, Epstein began writing with SB Nation in an entry level role in order to further establish herself in sports media. She continued to refine her craft and work with more aplomb as time went on, asking players and coaches questions before and after games and, by circumstance, learning how to navigate venues such as Madison Square Garden.
“The hardest part about graduating, to me, was feeling like I belonged,” Epstein said. “It was really hard for me as not only someone who [was then] only 21 years old, but I also look about 10 years younger than I really am. People always think I’m still in high school – but I graduated college. I really wanted to feel like I fit in and belonged so it really helped by doing every little job to get extra confidence in the professional world.”
A few months later, Epstein made the move from working in New York to New Bern, N.C. to join WCTI-TV as a weekend sports anchor and reporter, along with working as a sports radio host on 252 ESPN Radio. While covering sports on the ABC/FOX local television news affiliate, she sought to uncover local angles to national stories and bring a perspective one could not find on larger national networks.
“My boss Brian North – he told me at WCTI, ‘You’re not a national station. You are a local station,’” Epstein recalled. “‘People are tuning in to us to hear the local angle. Do not tie it in to what happened in the 49ers game despite it being potentially the biggest game.’”
Starting in a smaller market also allowed Epstein to continue to adapt and, if necessary, learn lessons through failure. One day during her first few months at the station, she was essentially her own crew in producing a high school football playoffs show – outside of seven photographers she delegated to shoot local games. Epstein was working as a cameraperson, producer, editor, writer and anchor for the program.
Additionally, she compiled highlights to play over the air and was often unaware of the accompanying game score. In balancing all of these responsibilities, her countenance was one of visible distress and completing the broadcast seemed like an insurmountable task.
“It was the biggest meltdown I’ve probably ever had,” Epstein expressed. “I had to compose myself on air and then when I got off camera, I just broke down crying because it really just was horrible…It really just taught me that if you mess up, you’ve got to just push through, learn from your mistakes and then move on.”
Although Epstein remained in local news for the next few years, she did not want to remain locked in a contract and decided to move on once her deal expired in 2019. Unemployed, she returned home to New York where she was freelancing for various entities, including for the Rockland Boulders (Minor League Baseball team), SNY, and the U.S. Open Tennis tournament. One day she was scrolling through Twitter and noticed a company called SportsGrid appear on her feed – the start of her foray into sports betting..
The company was fairly new having recently transitioned from focusing on fantasy sports to sports betting and according to Epstein, had a website that looked like a place to go to buy something illegal. Nonetheless, she knew the company was legitimate because of a friend who knew one of its employees and recognized the growing impact of sports betting after reading the moneyline off of a graphic in an audition for a role at CBS Sports HQ.
The U.S. Supreme Court had recently struck a decision overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2018), effectively giving the states regulatory power over sports betting. Because of this and the augmentation of related content, Epstein recognized that there may be an opportunity to work with the company, especially once she saw it only had men on their platform. Motivated to create an opportunity and enter the niche sector of the sports content marketplace, she messaged the CEO on LinkedIn expressing her interest to audition for a role.
“The fantasy market by then was oversaturated with talent; people were doing fantasy all over the neworks so there wasn’t really room for me to do that,” Epstein said. “I was doing fantasy my entire life…. [and] I knew that betting was going to kind of be like that and that’s why I jumped in.”
Once she joined SportsGrid, she worked as a betting analyst on Pro Football Today, a show that would air during the football season on MSG Network. Additionally, she hosted FanDuel’s Inside the Lines segment surrounding pregame coverage of New York Knicks basketball and would also provide sports betting updates on ESPN New York 98.7’s flagship afternoon program: The Michael Kay Show.
Essentially, SportsGrid was a content outlet for sportsbooks to promote their services and try to attract new users; in fact, she hosted a multiplatform three-hour weekday morning show called The Morning After in which she discussed the sports news of the day and tied it into betting.
Ariel Epstein, known as the “Prop Queen”, has seen her profile grow in recent months. (Photo Provided by Epstein)
“I think the biggest thing with betting [is] interaction; it was the biggest thing I learned when I was on social media [is] how much people interacted with the betting content and that was so much fun,” Epstein said. “….As opposed to just throwing out random questions, we prefaced it with odds and I think that helped people to understand what good or bad odds; short or long odds, etc. meant for anything.”
Starting out in the industry communicating to a niche audience, Epstein had to find a way to gain ethos and the trust of her audience. Therefore, she always delineates the logic behind certain picks she makes, providing an explanation for those who are trying to make an informed decision.
One time, she received a direct message from someone on Twitter thanking her for doing it, as it helped him comprehend a pick and ultimately resulted in his winning the bet. His pick, it should be noted, differed from what Epstein had proposed to her followers; even so, it was her cogent analysis that compelled the Twitter user to change one aspect of the prop that led to his win.
“People can’t give you crap if you give them information that backs up your pick,” she said. “I’ve always tried and prided myself on that [and] as a female, make sure everybody respects the pick I give out because it comes with great detail and analysis.”
When she was with SportsGrid, Epstein was once again working in multiple roles – albeit remotely as a result of the pandemic. These included researching betting information using overnight data, accumulating what she believed would be winning picks, recording the content and then editing it for distribution in a timely manner. While she worked long days, it was her persistence and passion for the craft that helped her become a reliable and trustworthy source of information.
Two years after she started at SportsGrid, Epstein began working with Yahoo! Sports where she was creating video content for its sportsbook. Now working with a company that had thrived in the fantasy space, she sought to foster a connection between it and sports betting as a means of cross-promotion.
For example, she would use her foresight to determine which players would do well in fantasy sports for the day, and then mention a related prop to bet on, such as betting the over on their total rebounds. Conversely, if she felt a player would not perform well or if a fantasy user was set to face that player, she would advise them to take the under on props such as total points.
“Those would be the kinds of correlations I would make across the Yahoo! platforms and I always just joke that [the] prop market is the gateway drug into betting because people are so familiar with fantasy [sports],” Epstein said. “I think it was great for having a platform that you could just take the average sports lover and bring them into a market that could also help entertain them while watching the game.”
In 2021 – the year in which she began her first year with Yahoo!, the sports betting market had a valuation of $76.75 billion with an annual compound growth rate of 10.2%, according to a market analysis report by Grand View Research.
Moreover, a survey conducted by Morning Consult found that there was an 80% increase in the number of people betting on sports, a figure likely accentuated thanks to the practice becoming legal in 11 additional states. It was also during this year when Epstein began contributing to Turner Sports’ coverage of the National Basketball Association on both TNT and NBA-TV.
The NBA’s current media rights deal began in the 2016-17 season and is set to expire following the completion of the 2024-25 campaign. Over that time, sports media has gone through immense changes in the way games are distributed and consumed, including technological innovations in streaming and direct-to-consumer platforms on which to watch games. Similarly, sports betting advertisements and related content have permeated through much of the broadcasts both regionally and nationally, leading to new revenue streams.
Even though the exact revenue increase is unknown, a 2018 estimate by the American Gaming Association expressed the league could bring in at least $600 million per year through the legalization of sports betting.
“They’ve just done a lot, whether it’s in-game promotions; whether it’s live betting opportunities [and] making sure there’s a million different player prop options a day,” Epstein said. “They are probably the league that is daily high in demand. [It is] a very intriguing market; I’m pretty sure it’s second or third to the NFL and college football.”
Epstein continues to reiterate to sports networks that the discussion around sports betting does not need to solely relate on what bets to make for a given matchup. Instead, she implores conversational discussion; that is, betting analysts fusing their esoteric knowledge with analysts focused on the sport itself to create compelling and engaging content.
For example, a betting show could analyze how Carlos Correa signing with the Minnesota Twins altered the San Francisco Giants’ and New York Mets’ chances at winning the World Series after those two teams reportedly had agreed to contracts with him but subsequently backed out because of concerns with his physical.
Ariel Epstein joined MLB Network in 2022 to co-host Pregame Spread. (Photo provided by Epstein)
It is part of the reason why she joined MLB Network this past year to host Pregame Spread with Matt Vasgersian. The network had been on her radar from the time she was in Syracuse University when she met with some executives about a production assistant role she had no interest in just to make herself known. Then for the next five years, Epstein made it a point to keep in touch with these executives twice per year, allowing her to stand out if an on-air opportunity ever arose.
Ironically enough, Vasgersian (colloquially known as “Matty V”) was listening to Epstein on the way into work one day and realized that she would be a great fit to join the network to provide sports betting content. When Vasgersian approached network executives with the idea, he was unaware that they were already working on bringing Epstein aboard for the same purpose. Once the deal was closed over lunch with Vasgersian and the executives, they got to work creating the new studio show conceived by adaptations in the way sports were and continued to be consumed.
“When Matty V came to them with my name, they already knew who I was from my emails so I barely even had much of an audition process,” Epstein said. “They kind of already knew that I was going to be Matty’s co-host for the show.”
Although her primary role with the network is on Pregame Spread, she has also contributed across its programming as a senior betting analyst and hopes to be able to innovate in terms of betting and live game coverage. She affirms that even though sports betting will likely remain a secondary conduit of information, it can grow akin to alternate broadcasts to appeal to a different category of fans.
“A majority of the numbers are still going to come in on the main broadcast,” Epstein said. “I think the next step is getting a betting analyst into the broadcast booth. It’s something I’ve definitely talked about with people[;] …getting us out of the pre/postgame show and into the broadcast booth to give the live betting analysis.”
Today, many sports books are creating their own content without the use of external entities, fundamentally shifting the media ecosystem. As a result,PointsBet sportsbook reached out to Epstein to see if she would be interested in joining their team and appearing on programming taking place from brand new studios in downtown Manhattan. In essence, the sportsbook was looking to revamp the way in which they were doing things across the board, organically building new sources of content. She recently began working with them and has enjoyed her experience thus far.
“It’s just been such a pleasure [over] the last couple of weeks to really be part of something that’s growing and also knowing that everybody who’s in the building is coming from very established backgrounds,” she said. “[It] is a great core of people [who] are putting together really high-quality content – and everybody’s educated on what they’re talking about and [are] super entertaining.”
In her new role, Epstein appears on both The Straight Line football show with Ryan Leaf and Count It, a basketball show hosted by Kazeem Famuyide. Furthermore, she is creating content for the sportsbook on social media and its newsletter. With many states moving to legalize sports betting, Epstein and her colleagues at PointsBet are focusing on the regionalization of the practice, looking to reach consumers across the country. The sportsbook has a partnership with NBC through which it provides odds and advertising for local affiliates, along with on the Peacock streaming service.
Ariel Epstein recently struck a deal to join PointsBet as a regular contributor and sports betting analyst. (Photo provided by Epstein)
“I think it really helps to give people the names that they know in the states that they live in,” Epstein said. “If you make it relatable to what people know best, then they’ll say, ‘Oh okay, that kind of makes sense,’ and they’ll jump in with you or they’ll go focus in on that game or they’ll watch that bet-stream because it’s their team.”
Providing specialized sports content through the lens of betting has also become a focus of various radio stations as of late. Audacy and the BetQL Network, for example, have launched various radio stations in the “wagertainment” format including in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. Similarly, sports betting network VSiN has content partnerships with iHeartMedia and Gow Media’s SportsMap Radio among others to broaden the reach of sports betting as a whole, as recently outlined by Barrett Sports Media’s Demetri Ravanos.
“I think it’s important to have these places where you can go to get your betting information because I don’t want to turn on a random network and hope that I get a betting show,” Epstein said. “I could be on my drive home; I could just be sitting at home – I want a place that I can go to see and hear what people are betting on and know when I turn on that station, that’s what I’m getting.”
The implementation of sports betting into sports media is an ongoing process with changes happening at a rapid pace. The multi-tiered approach to reaching consumers and transforming it into concurring and recurring engagement is what continues to be improved on – while also ensuring users bet responsibly.
Epstein looks to be a part of that, whether that be talking about the game at hand or sharing and explaining her latest prop, her preferred mode of betting over same-game parlays. After all, she is the “Prop Queen” and her work and expertise has helped sports media usher in a new part of coverage that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
“I would say my goal in this business is to continue to help show that sports betting is fun, but teaching people how to do it in a smart way and that it continues to be fun because you don’t go bankrupt,” she said. “I’ve always just loved the game. I love sports betting because I get to focus on the game.”
Inside Radio recently ran a headline that read “Restaurants May Be Tougher Sell for Radio“. Sports bars, steakhouses, and fast food are the “bread and butter” of the sports radio format, so this got my attention.
Some of my best radio clients have been local independent restaurants. They are fun to work with, I usually enjoyed going there, and they listened to the station.
The National Restaurant Association surveyed three thousand operators last November and got a mixed bag back. Half of the restauranteurs said they expect profits to be down in 2023, and sixty-three percent said they don’t have enough employees to meet customer demand. And then there is the fact that their food and labor costs are increasing, and their menu prices will reflect that. Maybe we should focus on the 50 percent of restaurants that expect to make more profit in 2023 and are aggressively hiring to do it. And let us revisit one of our best value propositions for any restaurant: our on-air talent, the local “influencer.”
Now is a great time to ensure every on-air person has an endorsement for a restaurant. Your talent is just like anybody else. They like to try new places and have their favorites. Have a conversation with all of them to identify any opportunities. Stay on top of renewals, and for the talent who has an ongoing campaign, inform them of the market conditions and set a meeting with the restaurant to discuss how they will or will not change in 2023.
If your client is going to raise prices, hire new staff, and wants to make more money, you need to be in the middle of that! If they are worried about a profit decline, they are losing labor help and raising prices. You need to know that even more! Watch the collection reports monitoring how the cash flow is doing. Proactively refresh the copy and help your talent avoid price and item commercials. An occasional price special is excellent if the value is high.
Teach the talent focus on how they FEEL going to the restaurant, what they look forward to tasting and who they will have to join them. Have them paint a picture of the entire value that the restaurant brings to the table. How easy the app is to order ahead, the perfect to-go packaging, the local feel the place maintains, the portion sizes, always having the right game on, and so on. Work it!
Help on-air talent understand that nobody has a special night at a steak house because they are hungry. They do it to create a memory and share that experience with someone else! Sell holes, not drills!
Greg Kelly has seen his prominence grow in recent years. The former Marine now hosts a radio show on 77WABC as well as the highest-rated show on Newsmax TV, and is releasing a book called “Justice For All“. Kelly is also contemplating a run for Mayor of New York.
During an appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show to discuss his book, he was asked about how he got his start as a journalist. Kelly explained that he had always been interested in current affairs, even while growing up the son of a police officer in New York.
After serving in the Marine Corps for nine years, he was always cognizant of needing a next step in his life. He joked he wasn’t equipped to hold public officials accountable at 21 or 22-years-old, but after serving in the military he “got a foundation” before becoming a journalist. Ultimately, it was a push from his brother that led him into his current career.
“It just clicked, and I thought ‘Wow. That’s something I could get actually get excited about’, so I sent resumes all over the country. Got hired by a very small station in upstate New York. I was a little bit older than most of my colleagues. I was 31 at the time,” Kelly said. “But they had everything I need to master the craft. Or at least get a start. From there, I went to New York 1 to Fox News.
“When I was at Fox, I was embedded during the Iraq war. A lot happened to me ideologically over the years, Charlie. I wasn’t who I am now. I got here because life happened to me, I got to see things, I had to feel things, I had to make some mistakes — quite frankly — to get to where I am now…but I’m glad everything happened the way it did, to bring me to this point and we’ll see what happens next.”
