CNBC has announced that it is adding Ben Boulos to its growing roster of TV anchors.
Boulos joins the network after previously working as a morning business specialist for the BBC.
In his role at CNBC, he’ll continue to be based in London. He’ll joining the Squawk Box Europe lineup, already helmed by Karen Tso, Steve Sedgwick, and Julianna Tatelbaum. Tatelbaum, however, is going on maternity leave in February, when Boulos will join the program.
“I am delighted that Ben is joining the CNBC International team,” said Head of TV News for Europe, Middle East and Africa Leonie Kidd. “His specialist knowledge of global business and economics, combined with years of experience presenting to audiences across the UK and worldwide, will be an incredible asset.
“Ben’s ability to make complex financial stories clear and engaging is exactly what we need as we continue to grow our coverage and connect with new audiences,” Kidd concluded.
Boulos originally joined the BBC in 2022. He announced his departure earlier this month, with his final show taking place on January 11th.
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FOX Sports is preparing to turn the summer of 2026 into a month-long television event. The network announced a sweeping broadcast plan for the FIFA World Cup 2026 that significantly expands its footprint across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, positioning the tournament as one of the most ambitious programming undertakings in American sports media history.
From June 11 through July 19, FOX Sports will deliver 340 hours of first-run coverage, a sizable jump from its 2022 World Cup output. All 104 matches from the expanded tournament will air live across FOX and FS1, with 70 matches scheduled on the FOX broadcast network alone.
That total more than doubles FOX’s network match count from the previous men’s World Cup.
Every match will also be available via the FOX Sports App and FOX One, the company’s streaming platform, with 4K availability offered across FOX One and most major pay-TV providers. FOX Sports said 40 matches will air in primetime, a figure that represents more than one-third of the entire tournament and underscores the network’s intent to make the World Cup a nightly summer destination.
FOX Sports CEO and executive producer Eric Shanks framed the schedule as both a statement and an opportunity.
“FIFA is putting on the biggest World Cup in history, and FOX Sports is living up to that standard,” Shanks said in a statement. “Our broadcast schedule affirms FOX is truly going to be America’s home for the beautiful game over a span of 39 incredible days.”
On the field, coverage will be anchored by the U.S. Men’s National Team, which appears in its 12th World Cup. All three U.S. group-stage matches will air on FOX, beginning June 12 against Paraguay from Los Angeles. The Americans will also face Australia on June 19 in Seattle and conclude group play June 25 back in Los Angeles against the winner of UEFA Playoff C.
The broadcast network will carry every match from the Round of 16 onward, starting July 4 and continuing through the final on July 19 from the New York–New Jersey venue. FS1 will handle a significant portion of group-stage coverage, ensuring wall-to-wall availability throughout the opening weeks of the tournament.
Streaming will play a larger role than ever. Tubi, Fox Corporation’s ad-supported streaming service, will simulcast the opening ceremony and two opening matches in 4K at no cost, including the U.S. opener against Paraguay. The platform will also debut a dedicated FIFA World Cup FOX Hub in May 2026, featuring match coverage, original programming and a new docuseries, Destination World Cup 2026.
FOX Sports is also leaning into the tournament’s timing, which coincides with America’s 250th birthday. The network plans expanded July 4 coverage anchored by two Round of 16 matches and celebratory presentation elements.
The 2026 tournament will mark FOX Sports’ sixth World Cup presentation overall and its third men’s event. With expanded matches, deeper streaming integration and an aggressive broadcast strategy, FOX is signaling that the World Cup will be more than a sporting event — it will be the centerpiece of the summer television calendar.
This summer, the dream begins as @FOXSports unveils its historic @FIFAWorldCup 2026 broadcast schedule.
📺Record 70 matches on FOX, 34 on @FS1 🇺🇸 Every @USMNT Group Stage on FOX with expanded coverage ⚽️New details on @watchfoxone, @Tubi & more
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SirisuXM is adding The Clay Traivs & Buck Sexton Show to its expanding roster of news/talk radio programs available on the satellite radio service.
In a post on social media, Clay Travis shared the news, stating the program would begin airing on SiriusXM Triumph — heard on channel 123 — beginning on Monday, February 9th.
“Show has never been on satellite before,” Travis wrote. “Big expansion. We’re still rolling with our 555 stations in all 50 states. Set the dials now.”
Big news @clayandbuck will be coming to @SIRIUSXM channel 123 starting February 9th. Show has never been on satellite before, big expansion. 12 et, 9 am pt. We’re still rolling with our 555 stations in all fifty states. Set the dials now.
The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show will air live from its 12-3 PM ET timeslot on the station.
Most recently, the SiriusXM station has been airing classic episodes of Dr. Laura, before a live version of the show aired at 2 PM ET, with an encore presentation airing at 5 PM ET.
Other prominent hosts heard on the SiriusXM brand include Dave Ramsey, Glenn Beck, and Nancy Grace.
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Season 5 of the ManningCastis in the books and what a year it was for Omaha Productions’ signature show. ESPN’s alternative Monday Night Football presentation featuring Peyton and Eli Manning continued to solidify its place in sports media this past NFL season, pairing high-level football insight with an ever-expanding cultural footprint.
The Emmy Award-winning Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, produced by ESPN and Omaha Productions, crossed the 50-episode milestone while maintaining the conversational style that has separated it from traditional game broadcasts since its debut in 2021.
The Manning brothers once again leaned into what has defined the show’s appeal: unfiltered analysis, sibling banter, and the ability to blend football discourse with broader entertainment without sacrificing credibility. That formula has allowed the ManningCast to grow beyond a novelty concept and into a consistent, complementary product alongside ESPN’s main Monday Night Football telecast.
Throughout the season, all twelve episodes aired on ESPN2 and became available on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer platforms through the ESPN App, reinforcing the company’s multi-platform distribution strategy. The alternate feed continued to run during select weeks, while ESPN’s primary broadcast team of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge handled the traditional call during the season.
ESPN’s confidence in the franchise became clear in April 2024, when the network finalized a long-term, multi-platform media rights extension with Omaha Productions. As ESPN continues to reimagine how fans consume live sports, the ManningCast remains one of its most effective and influential experiments.
An Impressive Guest List
The Manningcast continued to attract the biggest names in sports during the 2025 NFL season. A diverse mix of athletes, entertainers, executives, and cultural figures appeared on the program. Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli featured current and former NFL stars Saquon Barkley, Randy Moss, Derek Carr, Daniel Jones, Jerry Rice, Odell Beckham Jr., Jared Goff, Davante Adams, Baker Mayfield, Jameis Winston, Marshawn Lynch, J.J. Watt, Jason Taylor, Jake Delhomme, and Ben Roethlisberger, offering viewers first-hand perspectives from across multiple eras of the league.
Beyond football, the ManningCast continued to blend pop culture and mainstream appeal with appearances too. George W. Bush, Bill Murray, Guy Fieri, Jeff Daniels, Michael Phelps, Luke Combs, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Glen Powell, Heidi Gardner, Danny DeVito, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Keaton, Lainey Wilson, Quinta Brunson, Shane Gillis, Bob Iger, Midge Purce, and Charles Barkley, reinforced the show’s identity as a destination that extends well beyond the game itself.
That wide-ranging slate underscored the show’s ability to bridge sports and pop culture while still keeping football at the center of the conversation. Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli has now earned Sports Emmy Awards in each of its four seasons, including multiple wins for Outstanding Live Series.
Peyton Manning has also received individual recognition, winning the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst twice, most recently in May 2025.
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The Museum of Broadcast Communications announces the nomination window for the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame, inviting industry professionals and listeners alike to help shape the next induction class for one of radio’s most prestigious honors.
Beginning Sunday, February 1, the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee will accept suggestions for potential inductees through Tuesday, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Submissions can be made online at radiohalloffame.com and will be reviewed as part of the Hall’s annual selection process.
Each year, the nomination phase marks the first step in determining potential Hall of Fame inductees. From the submissions, 24 individuals will be selected as official nominees. They will then be placed on the ballot for voting by industry personnel later in the year. That voting process will determine the final members of the 2026 Radio Hall of Fame induction class.
Dennis Green, co-chairman of the Radio Hall of Fame, emphasized the importance of public participation. He said it plays a key role in identifying candidates who have made a lasting impact on the medium. He noted that radio’s influence spans markets, formats, and generations, creating a deep pool of worthy contenders.
“We look forward to receiving suggestions from around the country of worthy broadcasters deserving to be nominated for Radio Hall of Fame induction,” Green says. “There are so many deserving candidates worthy of earning the radio industry’s highest honor as we begin the process of inducting this year’s Hall of Fame class in October.”
Kraig T. Kitchin, co-chairman of the Radio Hall of Fame, echoed those sentiments and stressed the value of broad participation. He said the nomination phase benefits from diverse perspectives. Feedback from industry insiders and listeners offers insight that might otherwise miss during internal discussions.
“We rely on industry and listener input and suggestions in this process,” Kitchin said. “Our 24-person Nominating Committee gains valuable additional insight and knowledge as a result of the suggestions coming from thousands of individuals each year.”
The 2026 Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Thursday, October 8, 2026. It will take place in Chicago at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel. The annual event brings together broadcasters, executives, and media leaders from across the country. It celebrates excellence, longevity, and innovation in radio.
The Radio Hall of Fame was founded in 1988 by the Emerson Radio Corporation. It has been operated by the Museum of Broadcast Communications since 1991. Since its inception, the Hall has honored individuals who helped shape radio as a cornerstone of American media
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Bill Simmons believes the most difficult roles in sports media are often the least understood. During a recent podcast appearance, he made it clear who he thinks does that job better than anyone else on television.
While appearing on The Dave Chang Show, Simmons offered high praise for Charissa Thompson, calling the longtime studio host the best in the business and explaining why the position requires a mindset that prioritizes the show over personal spotlight.
“Carissa Thompson’s the best studio host. I talked to her recently and I told her that,” said Simmons.
Simmons noted that elite studio hosts succeed by understanding how their role fits into the broader ecosystem of a broadcast. According to Simmons, the job is not about individual moments or personal recognition, but rather about creating the conditions for everyone else on set to succeed. When that happens, he argued, the host inevitably benefits as well.
“When they’re doing that job, they win when the show wins. They don’t win when they win,” explained Simmons. “The host that understand that they win because the people they’re sitting with that they’re winning. You’re gonna win anyway if everybody else is good. She gets that.”
Thompson currently serves as a lead studio host for FOX Sports’ NFL Kickoff programming and for Prime Video Thursday Night Football, roles that require balancing analysts, managing pacing, and maintaining clarity during high-pressure live broadcasts.
During the conversation, Simmons outlined what he believes is the clearest dividing line between effective hosts and ineffective ones.
“When a host does that [making the analyst look good], they’re going to be good. When a host is doing the turns to the camera with a lot of solos, it’s like about them as much. It’s not. The host wins if the show wins,” noted Simmons.
Simmons’ comments also reflect a broader truth about sports television, where studio hosting often goes unnoticed when done well and draws criticism only when it falters. In praising Thompson, Simmons highlighted how rare it is for hosts to fully embrace a role rooted in collaboration rather than self-promotion.
In an era where personality-driven media continues to expand, Simmons’ assessment underscores why Thompson remains a fixture on some of the sport’s biggest stages. By prioritizing the success of the show, she has quietly become the standard by which others in the role are judged.
Before the NFL season, both Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson signed new multi-year contract extensions with FOX Sports. The deals ensure that FOX retains two cornerstone personalities in its NFL coverage lineup—both of whom began their broadcasting careers with the company.
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FOX Sports Radio is once again going all-in on football’s biggest week. The national audio network announced plans for its 26th annual Super Week coverage, which will begin Monday, February 2, delivering wall-to-wall programming leading up to and following the Big Game in Santa Clara, California.
The expansive effort will feature interviews with NFL players, league insiders, and celebrity guests while offering listeners live reports from the heart of Super Bowl festivities. FOX Sports Radio, a division of Premiere Sports Network, will provide 24/7 coverage through more than 630 affiliated stations nationwide, along with streaming access via FOXSportsRadio.com and iHeartRadio.
A major centerpiece of the week will be The Dan Patrick Show, which will broadcast live from China Basin Park from February 2 through February 6. Airing weekday mornings, the program will anchor FOX Sports Radio’s on-location presence and serve as a hub for interviews with current players, Hall of Famers, and media personalities converging on Northern California.
Several additional shows will originate from the Moscone Center, the league’s primary media headquarters for Super Week. Stugotz and Company LIVE!, which recently joined the FOX Sports Radio lineup, will broadcast from the Media Center between February 2 and February 5. Two Pros and a Cup of Joe with LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, and Jonas Knox will follow with on-site shows from February 4 through February 6.
Afternoons and evenings will also feature a strong on-location presence, as Covino & Rich and The Odd Couple with Rob Parker & Kelvin Washington both deliver week-long broadcasts from the Moscone Center.
FOX Sports Radio will further spotlight diverse voices with a special edition of FOX Sports Saturday, one of sports radio’s few all-female-led programs. The show will produce a video version of its broadcast from February 4 through February 6, which will stream on the network’s YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, several flagship programs will continue live broadcasts from Los Angeles throughout the week, including The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon, and The Ben Maller Show, ensuring around-the-clock commentary and analysis.
Listeners can also expect an extensive lineup of guest appearances. Scheduled contributors include Steve Young, Bo Jackson, Andrew Luck, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Bijan Robinson, Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez, Brian Urlacher, and Emmitt Smith, among others.
With live remotes, marquee guests, and multiple formats spanning audio and video, FOX Sports Radio’s Super Week coverage once again aims to position the network at the center of the Super Bowl conversation.
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KS95 Program Director Mat Mitchell has exited the Hubbard Radio Minneapolis Hot AC station, with Chris Eagan set to handle the duties in the interim.
Mitchell originally joined the station as its program director in July 2020. He replaced Leighton Pack in the position, who retired from KS95 after 30 years, spending the final 19 years of his tenure serving in the Program Director role.
He joined the station after previously working at iHeartMedia Phoenix, where he has programmed 95.5 The Mountain, Mix 96.9, and 104.7 KISS-FM. He led those stations for seven years before departing for KS95.
Other stops in his career include time spent in Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Milwaukee, and Wichita.
In the 2024 Barrett Media Top 20 Hot AC Program Directors, Mitchell was voted to the 11th place on the list.
On an interim basis, Chris Eagan — who serves as the Vice President of Programming and Content for Hubbard Radio’s 101.9 The Mix and Throwback 100.3 in Chicago — will handle the programming dutes for KS95 until a permanent leader is found.
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Warner Bros. Discovery is expanding its social media footprint around the Olympic Games through a new partnership with Elon Musk’s X ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
According to a report by Deadline, the collaboration will place Warner Bros. Discovery’s sports and entertainment brands directly into X’s real-time Olympic conversation, with exclusive behind-the-scenes content, select highlights and event clips distributed across multiple X channels during the Games.
Branded handles for Eurosport, TNT Sports and HBO Max will serve as key distribution hubs throughout the competition.
Under the agreement, X will prioritize Warner Bros. Discovery’s Olympic-related content across its feeds, with localized versions tailored for audiences throughout Europe. Advertisers and brand partners will also gain access to in-game moments and premium event footage, allowing campaigns to align directly with live Olympic action and trending conversations.
The deal builds on momentum from a similar partnership during the Paris Olympics, when X reported massive engagement across its platform. According to the company, the Summer Games generated trillions of impressions, billions of sports-related posts and hundreds of billions of video views, highlighting the growing influence of social platforms in shaping how fans consume major global sporting events.
Executives from both companies framed the partnership as a strategic blend of premium sports rights and real-time digital engagement. Warner Bros. Discovery emphasized its position as the primary home of the Olympics across Europe, while X highlighted its role as a central hub for live sports discussion and cultural moments.
Scott Young, executive vice president at WBD Sports Europe, said the partnerships reinforce the company’s ability to reach fans wherever they consume content. He noted that combining premium, localized storytelling with global social platforms creates new opportunities for immersive fan engagement and brand integration during the Games.
X’s global head of content partnerships Mitchell Smith echoed that sentiment, pointing to the value advertisers gain by aligning with live Olympic moments. He said the collaboration places brands at the center of the Games’ most compelling narratives while fostering authentic connections with passionate sports fans.
The Winter Olympics will run from February 6 through February 22 in Milan.
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Charles Barkley did not mince words when discussing NBC Sports’ use of Michael Jordan during the network’s NBA coverage this season, calling the approach disappointing and damaging to NBC’s credibility.
Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio, the longtime Inside the NBA analyst voiced frustration with Jordan’s limited involvement. He said the heavily promoted role amounted to little more than a single interview stretched across months of programming
“I was excited to have Michael because Michael Jordan is the reason we all make this money from the NBA,” Barkley said. “We need Michael Jordan affiliated with the NBA. But now you see this thing coming out with NBC and you’re like, ‘Wait, you all did one interview five months ago and you’re all gonna sprinkle it throughout the season?’ Come on, man.”
Barkley has long believed the NBA benefits greatly from Jordan’s presence. He went further by calling the strategy misleading to viewers. He said fans were led to believe Jordan would play a meaningful role throughout the season.
He described the execution as disingenuous and said it fell far short of expectations created by NBC’s promotional buildup.
“That’s disingenuous by NBC,” Barkley added. “That’s crazy. I’m so disappointed at the way that worked out.”
Criticism of the Jordan segments even reached NBC Sports play-by-play voice Mike Tirico who opened up about his series of Insights to Excellence segments last week. He acknowledged that while the segments might not have answered every fan question, the value of hearing Jordan’s perspective firsthand was undeniable.
“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not. Was it better than not having Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was,” said Tirico via the SI Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina.
Barkley’s criticism highlights a broader issue facing sports media companies as they lean heavily on star power to attract audiences. With Jordan remaining one of the most influential figures in sports history, his association still carries enormous weight decades after his final NBA game. When networks advertise that level of involvement, industry observers often expect consistent, original content rather than recycled material.
According to Barkley, NBC had ample opportunity to deliver on that promise. He questioned why the network did not arrange regular sit-downs with Jordan, suggesting that even monthly interviews would have justified the hype surrounding his involvement.
“It’s a bad look for NBC, it’s just a bad look, plain and simple,” Barkley said. “They couldn’t fly to Michael like once a month and do a new interview? That makes NBC look really bad, plain and simple.”
“It’s just a bad look. Plain and simple”
Charles Barkley shares his thoughts with @TermineRadio & @JumpShot8 on NBC Sports' Michael Jordan content.
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