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Andrew Whitworth: ‘You’ve Got to Be Really Confident’ During NFL Studio Role

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Andrew Whitworth went from being a Super Bowl winning offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 to being a part of the media in 2022 as one of the pregame analysts for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video. What was unique about the Amazon TNF experience this past season was the pregame and postgame shows were live at the stadium, which can have the potential to present some challenges.

Whitworth was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday and he said there were times on set where he could not hear a question that he was going to be asked.

“Being live in-person…you are going into the stadium, you are sitting there, the fans start roaring, the lights are going out, and you are trying to make a point. Just things you don’t think about while you are watching but when you are doing it, all of a sudden the lights drop, the energy goes up, you can’t hear anything. You think you hear questions sometimes you hope, but you try to decipher it.” 

Whitworth did mention that once they would go off-air, he would question if he got things right that he said on-air and while he has a vast amount of knowledge about the NFL from his playing experience, he wanted to make sure he used the right words in his analysis.

“You realize you’ve got to be on your stuff and really confident in who you are and what you have to say. You get done sometimes and you are like did I say the right names and the right things? I know I know what I am talking about, but did I say it correctly? You have to go back and watch it and go good, I did. You second guess yourself when you are in those moments live like that.”

When Eisen asked Whitworth what he was most surprised about in his first year in the media, Whitworth said that he enjoyed the relationships he got to make with the people behind-the-scenes and how valuable they are to the process of putting a great production together.

“I think just the behind-the-scenes. Everything that goes into it. Getting to see the production trucks and all the people that are involved. A lot of times I think when you are watching, you forget how many people there are behind-the-scenes that are doing great work. Getting to meet all of them and I guess you thought you would be on-air by yourself but there is this huge team that is all involved in that process.

“Those relationships and being on the road, that traveling circus type, everybody showing up on Wednesday getting after it for the game. I thought it was really cool. More camaraderie than I ever would have imagined.” 

ESPN Announces XFL Broadcast Crews

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ESPN Announces XFL Broadcast Crews

ESPN is preparing for the third iteration of the XFL, and today announced its broadcast crews for the upcoming spring football league.

“Each ESPN team brings extensive expertise and their backgrounds in college football make them incredibly informed about the players who will be stars at the pro level in the XFL,” said ESPN Vice President of Production Steve Ackels.

“This talented group of voices, combined with the many on-field production innovations we have planned for this season, will provide fans with unprecedented access to all facets of the XFL.”

The league and network jointly announced last week the schedule, as well as the networks games would air on. ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and FX will be the linear television home of the XFL, while each game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Team One
Play-by-play: Tom Hart
Analyst: Greg McElroy
Reporter: Katie George
Field Analyst: Cole Cubelic

Hart has served as the voice of SEC Saturday Night games on the SEC Network. Meanwhile McElroy could be auditioning to be ESPN’s number two college football analyst, according to a report this week. George works as the sideline reporter for ABC/ESPN college football broadcasts, and Cubelic is an analyst for the SEC Saturday Night games, in addition to teaming with McElroy for a sports radio show on WJOX in Birmingham.

Team Two
Play-by-play: Matt Barrie
Analyst: Joey Galloway
Reporter: Tiffany Blackmon
Field Analyst: Eric Mac Lain

Barrie is the co-anchor of the weekday Noon ET SportsCenter, and has worked as the play-by-play voice of ESPN’s college football broadcasts on Thursdays. Galloway has been with ESPN since 2011 as a college football studio and game analyst. Blackmon joined ESPN in 2021 and is a college football sideline reporter. Mac Lain played collegiately at Clemson and is a studio analyst for the ACC Network.

Team Three
Play-by-play: John Schriffen
Analyst: Tom Luginbill
Reporter: Stormy Buoantony
Field Analyst: Harry Douglas

Schriffen has announced college football, basketball, baseball, and softball since joining ESPN in 2020. Luginbill is a noted college football recruiting analyst and was a quarterback coach in the original XFL, winning the title in 2001. Buonantony is the co-host of VSiN Final Countdown and also works as a sideline reporter for ESPN’s college football broadcasts. Douglas recently launched a new ESPN Radio show, Fitz & Harry, and continues to host digital shows for ESPN after playing in the NFL for a decade.

Team Four
Play-by-play: Lowell Galindo
Analyst: Sam Acho
Reporter: Taylor McGregor
Field Analyst: Ian Fitzsimmons

Galindo serves as the lead anchor for the Longhorn Network, as well as play-by-play broadcasts for Texas football and basketball games. Acho played in the NFL for nearly a decade and joined ESPN as a contributor to studio shows in 2021. McGregor is a college football sideline reporter for ESPN, and the lead Cubs reporter for Marquee Sports Network. Fitszimmons hosts Freddie and Fitzsimmons on ESPN, and has worked the sidelines for college football coverage on ESPN Radio since joining the network in 2009.

Westwood One Relaunches Late Night Show As ‘Rich Valdes America At Night’

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Westwood One Relaunches Late Night Show As ‘Rich Valdes America At Night’

Rich Valdes stepped into the shoes filled by Jim Bohannon before his death late last year, and now Westwood One has rebranded its lateinight show to reflect Valdes leading the program.

Rich Valdes America at Night is the new title of the syndicated late-night show. Valdes began his show in October after Bohannon retired. The venerable news radio host died from esophageal cancer just over one month after his retirement.

In a statement, Westwood One says Valdes will interview politicians, influencers, enterainters, and ordinary Americans during the re-branded show. It will also produce a The Best of Rich Valdes America at Night to air on Saturdays from 9:00 PM-1:00 AM ET.

Valdes will also bring his This is America with Rich Valdes podcast to the Cumulus Podcast network .The show publishes each Friday.

Valdes served as a producer for The Mark Levin Show and hosted a weekend show on 1210 WPHT, before stepping into the nationally-syndicated role at Westwood One.

Dan Mandis Has ‘No Confidence’ He’ll Look Good During Video Simulcast

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Dan Mandis Has ‘No Confidence’ He’ll Look Good During Video Simulcast

Video simulcasts of radio shows — whether they exist on linear television or are streamed on various platforms — are nothing new. They can, however, be uncomfortable for those not used to being in front of a camera, and that is what SuperTalk 99.7 WTN host Dan Mandis is experiencing.

The station installed cameras and lighting in the studio, and the Nashville’s Morning News host mentioned he was struggling with the situation.

“I feel like my space has been invaded…they put a camera in here,” Mandis said. “It looks like an alien. It looks like the alien from War of the Worlds. It does! Actually, there are several cameras in here, for different positions around the room.”

Mandis then pointed out the lighting in the studio was drastically different.

“There’s three — I don’t know what you call these, beauty lights, or ring lights — in the room. I need at least five. You could put baseball stadium sized beauty lights or ring lights, and it’s not gonna help this,” Mandis joked.

“They’re going to have to do something about the shine — and I’m not kidding here, folks — the shine that comes off my forehead,” continued Mandis. “It feels awfully close, and I have no confidence that this is gonna look good.”

The WTN host concluded “I’m not a good looking individual”, adding that he was unsure of why viewers would “want to sit here and look at me do this”.

Michael Kay Wonders How ESPN Makes Money On Bowl Games

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There are many people who believe there are too many bowl games. 98.7 ESPN New York host Michael Kay isn’t necessarily in that camp, but he does believe ESPN is doing something right by the sheer amount of games being played and their ability to still make money despite limited crowds.

“There’s so many bowl games on,” Kay said. “ESPN does most of them, but when you tune in, I don’t know how many of them exist. There’s nobody in the stands. It’s almost as if they’re television entities.

“ESPN — I don’t know if you realize this — they’re pretty smart at what they do, so they must be making money at these bowls. But the actual physical presence of people at these games? There’s like hundreds of people, not tens of thousands.”

Kay’s comments came after believing the television audience for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game was likely altered by the Georgia blowout over TCU. The game’s viewership totals — which were released after Kay’s comments — was the lowest National Championship Game in history with 17.2 million viewers.

Co-host Don La Greca countered by saying the same phenomenon of small crowds happens in college basketball in early season tournaments in exotic locations, noting that if you’re a fan of a team who didn’t have a fantastic season, you’re not likely to travel to watch their bowl game.

Omaha Productions Launching Interview Podcast With Golden State Warriors GM

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Omaha Productions Launching Interview Podcast With Golden State Warriors GM

Omaha Productions is set to debut a new podcast series featuring Bob Myers, the General Manager of the Golden State Warriors.

Lead By Example is the latest podcast production from the upstart company, and will feature Warriors guard Steph Curry as the guest on the debut episode next Tuesday.

“I’ve been fortunate to have been around so many great leaders throughout my career seeing first hand the many ways they empower and inspire. Now I’m thrilled to be able to share conversations with some of the top leaders in their professions on my new podcast,” said Myers. “I’m excited to team up with my friends at ESPN and Omaha to share these inspirational journeys.”

According to a report from Deadline, the podcast will be sponsored by Caesars Sportsbook, and will also be available under the ESPN Podcasts umbrella.

Omaha Productions will produce video versions of the podcast for the ESPN YouTube channel in conjunction with the audio version of the podcast.

CNN Dry New Years Eve Special Leads Cable News Ratings

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CNN Dry New Years Eve Special Leads Cable News Ratings

When New Year’s Eve lands on a Saturday, the least-watched night of the week, year-to-year audience declines for celebration coverage are the overall norm. But one network’s full coverage of New Year’s festivities on Dec 31, 2022 bucked the downward trend according to its key demographic of adults 25-54: CNN.

While the total linear audience of its “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET remained relatively steady (drawing 2.08 million, a mere two percent off from Dec. 31, 2021; as an aside, its streaming simulcast posted 38,000 viewers which is CNN digital platform’s second-best NYE figure on record), it jumped up 8 percent in the key demo by delivering 806,000 within the 25-54 age range, according to Nielsen Media Research.

It ranked as cable’s top adults 25-54 performance of the week (ending Jan. 1) outside of ESPN’s football coverage (pro and college) and Paramount Network’s Yellowstone and its prequel series 1923.

CNN also boasted a younger median audience than most of their New Year’s competitors. Its median age of 51 years old bested the likes of CBS’s “New Year’s Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” (57 years), NBC’s “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” (52 years) and Fox News’ “All-American New Yesr’s 2023” (67 years) during the 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET time period.

In addition, of that same 90-minute slot as the East Coast rang in 2023, CNN averaged 3 million total viewers (including 1.2 million adults 25-54) — down from the previous year’s 3.3 million but twice as much as FNC (1.5 million) and nearly matching what CNN drew back on NYE 2016. During that final hour of 2022, comedian Kevin Hart appeared on satellite from Las Vegas to advise CNN to let its hosts drink on the night; with this being the first NYE in the Warner Bros. Discovery era, all its hosts broke from recent years’ pattern to follow the no-alcohol edict.

Although it was a “dry” telecast, it did feature accidental utterances of foul language from its celebrity guests, the aforementioned Kevin Hart and Broadway legend Patti LuPone.

From 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. ET, CNN’s New Year’s Eve with Don Lemon drew 1.25 million total viewers including 499,000 in the 25-54 age range. While it represented declines of 14 percent (in viewers) and 19 percent (in demo) from last year, it was still enough to eke past FNC (1.1 million) in total audience but easily top FNC (240,000 adults 25-54) in the key news demo. And, like last year, Lemon’s New Year’s special was cable news’ runner-up telecast for the week among adults 25-54. 

In the overnight on CNN, a rerun of New Year’s Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen from 2:05-3:30 a.m. drew 608,000 viewers (with 225,000 adults 25-54); year over year, down 19 percent (and 11 percent, respectively), although last year’s encore began airing 30 minutes earlier (at 1:30 a.m. ET).

On Fox News, their one-hour 2022 retrospective Who Can Forget at 8 p.m. drew 1.35 million viewers (down 17 percent from Dec. 31, 2021), followed by a one-hour countdown special (958,000 viewers; roughly half of what Greg Gutfield’s Dec 31, 2021 New Year’s special had drawn). All-American New Year 2023 from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. averaged 1.35 million total viewers and 234,000 adults 25-54 — down 27 percent and down 35 percent, respectively, from Dec. 31, 2021, but still way ahead of the sub-1 million total viewer mark from Dec. 31, 2020. (FNC’s live New Year’s Eve coverage was only established in recent years.)

Cable news averages for December 26, 2022-January 1, 2023:

Total Day (Dec. 26-Jan. 1 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.102 million viewers; 134,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.632 million viewers; 67,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.558 million viewers; 124,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.208 million viewers; 40,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.117 million viewers; 29,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.114 million viewers; 20,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.088 million viewers; 8,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.086 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Dec. 26-31 @ 8-11 p.m.; Jan. 1 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.341 million viewers; 136,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.831 million viewers; 79,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.688 million viewers; 183,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.303 million viewers; 59,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.188 million viewers; 61,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.147 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.101 million viewers; 5,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.090 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.056 million viewers; 8,000 adults 25-54

Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:

1. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 12/27/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.955 million viewers

2. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 12/30/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.641 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 12/28/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.627 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 12/26/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.504 million viewers

5. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 12/29/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.330 million viewers

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 12/27/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.244 million viewers

7. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Tue. 12/27/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.100 million viewers

8. Your World with Neil Cavuto (FOXNC, Fri. 12/30/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.084 million viewers

9. New Years Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (CNN, Sat. 12/31/2022 8:00 PM, 270 min.) 2.082 million viewers

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 12/26/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.067 million viewers

66. All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC, Wed. 12/28/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.274 million viewers

348. The West Wing (HLN, Sun. 1/1/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.387 million viewers

402. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 916” (CNBC, Tue. 12/27/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.314 million viewers

420. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 12/28/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.302 million viewers

459. Highway Thru Hell “Ice Storm” (TWC, Sat. 12/31/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.270 million viewers

601. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 12/26/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.189 million viewers

Top 10 cable news programs (and the top  programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:

1. New Years Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (CNN, Sat. 12/31/2022 8:00 PM, 270 min.) 0.806 million adults 25-54

2. New Years Eve Live (CNN, Sat. 12/31/2022 12:30 AM, 95 min.) 0.499 million adults 25-54

3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 12/27/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.315 million adults 25-54

4. All American New Year’s (FOXNC, Sat. 12/31/2022 12:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.314 million adults 25-54

5. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 12/30/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.301 million adults 25-54

6. Your World with Neil Cavuto (FOXNC, Fri. 12/30/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.296 million adults 25-54

7. Fox News Live (FOXNC, Mon. 12/26/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.270 million adults 25-54

8. All American New Year’s (FOXNC, Sat. 12/31/2022 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.267 million adults 25-54

9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 12/27/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.257 million adults 25-54

10. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 12/28/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.256 million adults 25-54

80. MSNBC Reports- Live (MSNBC, Fri. 12/30/2022 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.156 million adults 25-54

185. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 916” (CNBC, Tue. 12/27/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.113 million adults 25-54

258. The West Wing (HLN, Fri. 12/30/2022 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.087 million adults 25-54

417. Highway Thru Hell “Wreck. Recover. Repeat.” (TWC, Sat. 12/31/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.054 million adults 25-54

534. Cuomo “Idaho Murder Suspect” (NWSN, Fri. 12/30/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.040 million adults 25-54

589. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 12/28/2022 9:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.035 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

Parler Parent Company Lays Off Majority of Staff

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Parler Parent Company Lays Off Majority of Staff

Parlement Technologies, the parent company of social media platform Parler, has laid off the majority of its staff in recent weeks, according to a report from The Verge.

Parler billed itself as “censorship-free” when it launched 2018 as an alternative to more popular social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The launch of Parler coincided with then-President Donald Trump’s outspoken views on alleged discrimination against conservatives on more traditional social media sites. The app grew in popularity during the run up to the 2020 Presidential election, but saw a sharp decline when both Apple and Google removed the platform from their app stores after the January 6th insurrection.

Apple reinstated the app nearly four months later, but only after it committed to a different set of moderation policies. However, by the time Parler returned to the app store, the “censorship-free” social media market had become saturated by competitors like Rumble, and the Trump-owned Truth Social.

Parler was nearly purchased by controversial artist Kanye West in October of 2022. “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” West said at the time.

West’s purchase of the platform coincided with his removal from Instagram and Twitter for his continuing anti-Semitic posts. After praising Adolph Hitler during an appearance on Infowars with Alex Jones, Parlement Technologies terminated its deal with the rapper.

The company’s CEO is George Farmer, the husband of conservative commentator Candace Owens.

Tom Barnard Joining Hubbard Radio Minneapolis For Morning Podcast

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Tom Barnard recently hosted his final morning show on classic rock station KQRS in Minneapolis, but the Hall of Fame radio personality will now have a new digital show with Hubbard Radio.

The Tom Barnard Morning Show Podcast will stream live each weekday morning from 7:00-10:00 AM on a newly launched website, app, YouTube channel, and social media platforms. The audio of the podcast will then be available on-demand on major podcast services.

 “I still love this business and love my listeners and clients,” said Barnard. “The opportunity with Hubbard comes at the perfect time in my career, and I look forward to reaching new and old listeners through streaming and podcasting.”

The Marconi Award-winning talent will be featured alongside a new co-host and a producer, and will be joined by a cast of regular contributors on the new podcast.

 “This is an incredible opportunity for Hubbard Radio,” Hubbard Radio Vice President and Minnesota Region Manager Dan Seeman said. “Tom is a Twin Cities radio legend.  With this partnership, Tom’s legions of listeners and fans will be able to listen to this iconic personality on multiple digital channels, both live and on-demand.”

Barnard began his broadcasting career 50 years ago with a short stint at Hubbard’s 1500 KSTP, and he’s excited to join the company once more.

“I am absolutely honored to end my career right here where it started, with the Hubbard family and Hubbard Broadcasting.”

The new show is scheduled to launch on Monday, February 6th.

Camille Vasquez Hiring Angers NBC News Staffers

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Camille Vasquez made her debut as a legal analyst for NBC News Monday, and not everyone inside the network was happy about the addition.

According to a report from Semafor’s Max Tani, an unidentified journalist inside NBC News filed a written complaint about their concerns of hiring Vasquez.

The 38-year-old lawyer rose to prominence during the spring and summer of 2022 as she represented actor Johnny Depp in his defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard. Vasquez defended Depp against charges of domestic violence against Heard, ultimately winning the actor a $15 million decision before settling with Heard to only pay him $1 million in damages.

One of the issues brought forward by the angry party was the perception that NBC News was undermining its own reporters. During the trial, NBC News reporter Kat Tenbarge was the focus of anger from fans for her tweets about the trial. Tenbarge tweeted Johnny Depp “destroyed Amber Heard’s life and career, made her a global target, and forced her to relive her trauma in multiple courts”.

A Change.org petition was filed to fire Tenbarge from her position, but it failed to gain much traction.

“For her to end up in this branding, as an NBC News Analyst — it puts her in league with the journalists of this network, and that’s unfortunate,” one NBC News employee told Tani.

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