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Mark Jackson Never Thought He’d Do the NBA Finals for 15 Years

BSM Staff
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Mark Jackson has been calling NBA Finals games on ABC with Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy for 15 years. As with many iconic booths, people inside and outside the industry might ask what is the key to being successful for that many years in the booth.

Jackson was a guest on The Dave Pasch Podcast last week and he told Pasch that what people see and hear when they call a game is similar to what you would see with them when they aren’t at the arena.

“What you see and what you hear during the course of a game is the same thing as you’d see and hear over the course of dinner with all of us. We get along incredibly well and they are family for life.”

Jackson mentioned that when he learned that he was going to call the NBA Finals with Breen and Van Gundy, he thought it was incredible and the three of them along with Lisa Salters have a great relationship.

“When I got the opportunity to call NBA Finals with Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, it was an incredible thing to learn knowing the history of the game, knowing the history of incredible booths not just in basketball but in sports in general. Never would I have imagined that we’d be doing it at this point and have so many under our belt, but It’s a credit to the greatness of those two guys, the friendship that we have on-and-off the court. I’m honored to be in a booth with those guys along with Lisa Salters. It’s an incredible grouping.”

So, what is the key to their success? Jackson says it’s because none of the three of them have an ego and they don’t care if one person gets more attention or gets to say more than the other.

“Even though I would say I credit us knowing each other beforehand has a lot to do with it, I would then crazy as it sounds say that it has nothing to do with it. What I mean by that is there are people that have been in booths and known each other longer than we’ve known each other and known each other as much as we know each other. But, the thing is we have no ego. I’ve seen booths get torn apart because of egos, because somebody said something or somebody doesn’t have enough time, or somebody gets jealous of the attention.

“We could care less about who gets the attention. We are there to call the game and cover it and do the best that we possibly can do. There is nothing that Jeff Van Gundy or Mike Breen can say to me that I would take offense to because I know those guys love me and they know I love them. It’s a unique situation, a unique booth where family trumps all.”

Amazon to Launch New Sports App In 2023

BSM Staff
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Amazon to Launch New Sports App In 2023

When sports fans think of Amazon, their minds most likely go to Thursday Night Football first. But that isn’t all the company has to offer. It has live game rights to MLB and WNBA games in the United States and is the exclusive TV home of Overtime Elite, a sort of junior professional basketball league.

The company is stepping up its game in the content department too. Earlier this year, Prime Video launched a series of studio shows. Next year, Amazon is going mobile with its sports coverage.

According to The Information, the company is set to launch a new mobile app in the new year. The app will be the new home to all of Amazon’s sports coverage. This could be a step towards the company charging a premium to watch live sports in the future.

Right now, the full extent of the plans for the app remain unknown. Amazon has not been shy about its intentions to acquire more sports content. It is widely believed that the company is pursuing deals with both the PAC 12 and the NBA.

Could written, video or podcast content be in the cards as well? Amazon owns both Twitch and Audible, two sites capable of creating those for the app.

John & Hugh Discover Trae Young’s Dad Blocked Them On Twitter

BSM Staff
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John & Hugh Discover Trae Young’s Dad Blocked Them On Twitter

When you are the flagship station of the Atlanta Hawks, it makes sense that your morning show would talk about the team. When things aren’t going well for the team, those conversations can sometimes be critical. Last week, John & Hugh discovered that the dad of Hawks’ star Trae Young apparently did not approve of some of the conversations about his son and the team.

Hugh Douglas revealed that he discovered he was blocked when he tried to see a tweet from Rayford Young detailing what a championship basketball team needs to be successful.

“When I go to the page, all I can see are the comments,” he said. “I can’t actually see the whole thing.”

Douglas said that he then tried to go to Young’s personal page and discovered he was blocked. He revealed that he had met Rayford Young once and they had a lighthearted conversation, so it cannot be a personal problem. Douglas also didn’t think it could be about something he said about Trae Young on the show or online.

“I wasn’t mad. I was more confused than anything because we talk basketball, but I don’t tweet basketball. I don’t tweet basketball like I do football or even baseball.”

John Fricke said that when he found out Douglas was blocked by the elder Young, he checked to see if the same was true for him. It turns out he was blocked as well. That was enough evidence for Fricke that this had to be about something specific. He just didn’t know what.

“I thought well, he’s blocked both of us,” Fricke said. “He must be listening to the show on the Audacy app and didn’t like what he heard, which is interesting. While we have been critical of Trae, we have never destroyed him.”

John & Hugh are far from the only ones that have discussed the Hawks’ struggles this season. Earlier this month, Bleacher Report published a column suggesting that Trae Young could be the next superstar in the NBA to demand a trade. The duo admit that it is something they discussed and expressed disappointment over, but still could not point to anything they had said or done that could be construed as a personal attack.

Greg Amsinger Inks Extension at MLB Network

BSM Staff
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MLB Network host Greg Amsinger has signed an extension to remain at the network, sources tell Barrett Sports Media. Amsinger told Randy Karraker and Carey Davis on The Opening Drive on 101ESPN in St. Louis that the deal is for four-years.

Amsinger originally joined MLB Network in 2009 after working at CBS College Sports (previously known as CSTV). At MLB Network, Amsinger has worked as the network’s lead studio host of MLB Tonight, which has won the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Daily Studio Show seven times during his tenure.

He also anchors the network’s coverage of the MLB Draft, MLB Draft Combine, Top 100 Prospects, All-Star Game, World Series, and BBWAA Awards Week.

Amsinger — by opting to sign an extension with MLB Network — declined the opportunity to discuss becoming the television play-by-play announcer of the St. Louis Cardinals. That role was vacated when Bally Sports Midwest, the club, and former announce Dan McLaughlin jointly agreed to his exit after he was charged with his third DUI.

“To be the play-by-play guy of the St. Louis Cardinals — when you’re a St. Louis guy — is a dream job,” Amsinger, a St. Louis native, told The Opening Drive. “It is one of the best jobs in the industry, but at this stage of my life and my career, what I’m doing now is just so special to me. It’s a dream job as well.”

Both Joe Buck and Bob Costas have turned down the opportunity, with Costas saying “Whoever they hire should be a very good baseball broadcaster who can give them 20, 30 years”. Amsinger is 43.

Midwest Communications Founder Duke Wright Dies

BNM Staff
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Midwest Communications Founder Duke Wright Dies

Duke Wright, the founder, President, and CEO of Midwest Communications has died.

Wright bought his first radio station in 1958 after purchasing WRIG-AM in Wausau, Wisconsin, before eventually expanding the organization to more than 80 stations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin .

“It was Duke’s vision to provide his communities with the best programming and the best technical facilities, led by the best broadcasters,” a statement on his death from the company said. “He believed in the importance of being ‘live and local’ and radio’s unique characteristic of providing companionship to listeners.”

A member of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Wright officially formed Midwest Communications in 1971 after purchasing a WROE in Appleton, Wisconsin and expanding from there. Currently, his children Mary Kay, Michael, and Jeffrey operate the organization in conjunction with Wright’s wife, Pegge.

A funeral service will be held in Green Bay on Thursday, December 29th.

Duke Wright was 83.

Jerry Recco: Mic’d Up Players, Coaches Future of Sports on TV

BSM Staff
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During tonight’s broadcast between St. John’s and Xavier, FS1 is experimenting with a new broadcasting concept, which WFAN update anchor Jerry Recco believes is the future of sports on TV.

FS1 will broadcast the Big East matchup and feature St. John’s coach Mike Anderson and Xavier coach Sean Miller on the screen at all times, with both coaches wearing microphones.

“The coaches will be on camera and mic’d up for the entire broadcast on a four or five second delay so that they can take the cursing out,” Recco said. “But the cameras are gonna take you with the coaches to the locker room, to the court, halftime locker room, inside the huddle.”

Recco then compared the college basketball broadcast to what FOX did during the 2022 MLB All-Star Game.

“If you go back to the All-Star Game this year, I thought what Major League Baseball did with having Alec Manoah mic’d up, and hearing how he worked through the at-bat, I thought was phenomenal. I really do believe at some point that’s gonna be the future of TV broadcasting in sports. At least in baseball, if you’re trying to attract more viewers…I love watching baseball, and I was fascinated by that.”

FS1 will broadcast the Xavier at St. John’s game with its unique presentation at 9:00 PM ET tonight.

GMA3 Sees Slight Drop After Anchors Suspended For Alleged Affair

BNM Staff
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ABC’s midday news program GMA3: What You Need to Know made the news itself in recent weeks, thanks to the off-screen relationship of lead anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes. Their story was first made known by The Daily Mail on Nov. 30. On Dec. 1, The New York Post did not hesitate to go the innuendo route when providing this story a headline. Even more salacious is that each anchor was married to other people at the time of their affair. Robach’s husband was former Melrose Place star Andrew Shue.

So did the controversy boost viewership for GMA3? According to recent figures, the answer is yes, slightly so.

The Thursday Dec. 1 edition delivered 1.81 million total viewers, based on data from Nielsen Media Research. This was a bit above what GMA3 has drawn in the days and weeks prior, as seen below:

Nov. 21-23, 2022: 1.615 million

Nov. 14-18, 2022: 1.580 million (Nov. 17: 1.497 million; Nov. 18: 1.544 million)

Nov. 7-11, 2022: 1.518 million

Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2022: 1.528 million

Oct. 24-28, 2022: 1.619 million

GMA3’s Friday Dec. 2 show drew an also above-average 1.71 million. To kick off that edition, Holmes made a subtle reference to all the tabloid fodder saying “It’s too bad it’s Friday. It’s been a great week… I just want this one to keep going and going and going.”

Shortly thereafter, ABC News suspended the two anchors. Gio Benitez and Stephanie Ramos filled in on Monday Dec 5, which then posted 1.68 million. For the week of Dec. 5-9, GMA3 averaged 1.65 million, relatively similar to the 1.68 million-average of its previous week (Nov. 28-Dec. 2 with Robach and Holmes).

The huge caveat to all these numbers is they are relatively steady from its year-ago levels. For the Monday thru Wednesday period of Thanksgiving week in 2021 (Nov. 22-24, 2021), GMA3 averaged 1.64 million viewers — a figure the program reached sans any controversy, of course. The surrounding weeks back then had hovered around the 1.50-1.55 million range per day (Nov. 15-19, 2021; Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2021 and Dec. 6-10, 2021).

Nonetheless, in this ongoing current trend of steep year-to-year declines in linear TV viewing, performing on-par can be deemed as a significant positive.

As of Dec. 28, Robach and Holmes still remained suspended from GMA3.

Meanwhile, the ratings news was also positive for GMA3 competitor NBC News Daily. While the midday program, recently installed following the departure of longtime soap opera Days of Our Lives, averaged 1.28 million viewers for Dec. 12-16 (trailing GMA3 in total audience), it also delivered 338,000 within the key 25-54 demographic — NBC News Daily’s highest-to-date weekly 25-54 performance, plus it topped ABC’s GMA3 in the demo for the first time.

Cable news averages for December 12-18, 2022:

Total Day (Dec. 12-18 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.334 million viewers; 169,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.700 million viewers; 75,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.442 million viewers; 83,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.131 million viewers; 40,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.124 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.122 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.112 million viewers; 28,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.093 million viewers; 8,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (Dec. 12-17 @ 8-11 p.m.; Dec. 18 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 1.978 million viewers; 236,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.098 million viewers; 101,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 0.476 million viewers; 99,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.160 million viewers; 53,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.160 million viewers; 50,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.133 million viewers; 27,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.123 million viewers; 9,000 adults 25-54
  • NewsNation: 0.077 million viewers; 11,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.073 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 1. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.331 million viewers

2. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.295 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.253 million viewers

4. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.048 million viewers

5. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.045 million viewers

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.984 million viewers

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.970 million viewers

8. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.949 million viewers

9. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 12/16/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.946 million viewers

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.938 million viewers

28. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 12/12/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.031 million viewers

166. The Lead With Jake Tapper (CNN, Wed. 12/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.804 million viewers

352. Kudlow (FBN, Wed. 12/14/2022 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.404 million viewers

408. Forensic Files “Time Will Tell” (HLN, late Sat. 12/17/2022 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.311 million viewers

424. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1206” (CNBC, Wed. 12/14/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.279 million viewers

452. Highway Thru Hell “(1009) Redline Warriors” (TWC, Sun. 12/18/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.244 million viewers

662. Newsnation: Rush Hour (NWSN, Mon. 12/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.162 million viewers

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

1. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.452 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.424 million adults 25-54

3. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.415 million adults 25-54

4. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.408 million adults 25-54

5. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.379 million adults 25-54

6. The Five (FOXNC, Wed. 12/14/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.373 million adults 25-54

7. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.339 million adults 25-54

8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 12/15/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54

9. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 12/13/2022 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.335 million adults 25-54

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 12/12/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.334 million adults 25-54

61. Erin Burnett Outfront (CNN, Tue. 12/13/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.183 million adults 25-54

64. Deadline: White House “Biden Signs Respect For Marriage Act 4-420” (MSNBC, Tue. 12/13/2022 4:00 PM, 120 min.) 0.179 million adults 25-54

164. Forensic Files “Time Will Tell” (HLN, late Sat. 12/17/2022 1:00 AM, 30 min.) 0.118 million adults 25-54

208. Shark Tank “Shark Tank 1206” (CNBC, Wed. 12/14/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.103 million adults 25-54

429. Heavy Rescue: 401 “(305) Only Getting Worse” (TWC, Sat. 12/17/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.056 million adults 25-54

576. Banfield (NWSN, Thu. 12/15/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.041 million adults 25-54

623. Varney & Company (FBN, Thu. 12/15/2022 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.037 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

Todd Herman Serving as Fill-in Host For Clay Travis, Buck Sexton

BNM Staff
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Former Rush Limbaugh guest host Todd Herman returned to the national airwaves Tuesday as a fill-in host for the nationally syndicated “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.” Like many prominent radio hosts at this time of year, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton are on vacation through the new year.

The former Seattle radio host bid farewell to his gig at 770 KTTH last year. He reached a distribution and sales agreement with Radio America in October. “The Todd Herman Show” is now a podcast where he shares his political and cultural thoughts.

Herman also served as a digital and political strategist. He was once in charge of the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) digital strategy. In 2010, Herman’s controversial tweet suggesting former President Barack Obama was a Muslim created a divide between himself and the RNC.

“Clay & Buck” have three shows to go in 2022. It is unclear if Herman will be guest hosting the remaining programs for Premiere Networks. The show is heard on more than 400 radio station affiliates nationwide. 

Howard Kurtz: Regulating TikTok Will Be Difficult 

BNM Staff
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There’s growing pressure on the Biden administration to ban TikTok in the U.S. following reports that the Chinese-owned company is spying on citizens and journalists.

Fox News host Howard Kurtz said former President Donald Trump tried to get TikTok banned on international security concerns. At least 14 states have banned the app on state-issued devices.

“Let’s face it, this business about barring TikTok from government devices is just kind of a fig leaf to make it seem like the government is doing something because any government official can go home and use it (TikTok) on their personal iPhone,” said Kurtz.

Kurtz stated that one of the reasons the app will be difficult to ban is because of its popularity.

“When it comes to this talk about maybe banning the app, it is going to be difficult to completely and totally ban it, I would exercise some caution,” Kurtz said. “The Biden administration is slow-walking a solution but there’s a split within the administration in which some people that work for the president think that it’s too valuable as a messaging vehicle to just bar it from our shores.”

Kurtz added that the danger in attempting to regulate TikTok is that you run the risk of violating First Amendment rights.

“Imagine if you tried to regulate Twitter,” he said. 

Advocating For Tua Tagovailoa Is The Media Role RGIII Was Born For

Demetri Ravanos
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I think I mention where I went to college a lot in these columns. I am a proud graduate of the University of Alabama. It should come as no surprise to you that I love Tua Tagovailoa. The Crimson Tide had good quarterbacks before him, but he was the first elite, modern quarterback we ever had. Football at Alabama was always great. He made it fun.

The 2022 NFL season has been hard to watch if you feel the way I do. At best, Tagovailoa’s health has been mismanaged. At worst, it has been neglected. When he entered concussion protocol for the second time this season after Miami’s Week 16 loss to Green Bay, someone needed to be loud. Robert Griffin III stepped up.

Griffin was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime type of talent. Washington used the second overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft on the Heisman Trophy winner and watched him run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year votes. Unfortunately, that rookie season was plagued with injuries and near misses. 

Plenty of former players have stepped up this week to advocate for Tagvailoa. I still believe the main idea of “the new media” that Draymond Green and other players claim to be a part of is to allow these guys to avoid ever facing criticism, but in a moment like this, there is undeniably a good side to advocacy-driven analysis. These guys know the consequences of head trauma and other injuries better than any fan or their broadcast colleagues ever could. They have an obligation to speak up when necessary. It is just so rare that we have someone as ideal as Griffin in this position.

It makes all the sense in the world that he would take on the responsibility of making sure the public is aware of the grim worst-case scenario for Tua Tagovailoa right now. While the trauma to his ACL and LCL weren’t the end of Griffin’s playing career, the team’s incompetence, and frankly, its disregard for the long-term implications of rushing that injury back, are to blame for him never becoming the quarterback he was supposed to be. 

Networks hire former players and coaches to use their experiences to explain their sport to laymen like us. Why is Tony Romo worth $17 million per year to CBS? Because he can tell a guy on his couch exactly what a quarterback missed before he threw the ball into double coverage. Why does FOX make concessions for Jimmy Johnson’s health and travel schedule? Because he can explain the decision-making process for a coach trying to maintain a championship standard. When it comes to the mismanagement of a potential franchise savior under center, ESPN has the right guy on its payroll.

That is good news for Tua Tagovailoa. It is great news for ESPN. Let’s not pretend like it isn’t also a good thing for Robert Griffin III. A guy can be in a unique position to do the right thing and still have it fall in line with his own agenda.

Remember that book he was planning to write? It was going to expose just how corrupt and nefarious Daniel Snyder and the people running the Washington Commanders are. For whatever reason, it got scrapped. We can all speculate why and certainly, people in Washington did.

Being the mouthpiece for the Save Tua movement puts Griffin in a position to keep his position on Snyder and company clear. I don’t blame him for it. He is doing nothing wrong. It is a happy coincidence that can sway public opinion in the appropriate direction.

I don’t have a problem admitting when I am wrong. I bought into Rob Parker’s “cornball brother” narrative about Robert Griffin III when he came into the NFL. He seemed like another athlete built by the Chick-Fil-A PR department. No thoughts, no real insight. Every question he was asked was met with an “I’m just happy to be here” and some quip about faith, family and football. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

His work on ESPN both on Monday Night Countdown and alongside Mark Jones on college football Saturdays has more than proven that Griffin is not Russell Wilson. He actually has something to say. The way he is speaking up for Tua Tagovailoa proves that he can do more than just entertain. He is a valuable voice right now in the football media.

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