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What Happened to Howard Stern?

Pete Mundo
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Do you ever hear any news from Howard Stern anymore? I know the media continues to get more fragmented by the day, there are more options and newsmakers than ever before, but still, Stern was once known as the “King of All Media.”

Yes, Stern has cut back on his schedule. And no one can blame him for that. He’s made hundreds of millions of dollars and can live his life however he sees fit. 

But what once made Howard Stern “must-listen” to radio was not the strippers; although that was entertaining, it was that you never knew exactly what he was going to say next or what was going to happen next. It was gripping. And it was, at its core, anti-establishment.

Today’s Howard Stern is everything he wasn’t when he made a name for himself nearly 40 years ago. 

Don’t believe me? Just Google “Howard Stern.”

Here are the headlines: 

Washington Examiner: Howard Stern loses it while talking about ‘completely unhinged’ Republicans

The Hill: Howard Stern on abortion: I miss Republicans who ‘didn’t want to invade your private life.’

Heck, this website wrote a similar piece on the same story.

If you want to go back a few months, Google “Howard Stern COVID,” and you’ll find gems like this: 

Sacramento Bee: Howard Stern says hospitals shouldn’t admit unvaccinated patients. ‘Go home and die.’

You get the point.

I’m not bothered by Howard Stern’s political beliefs. He’s entitled to them just like everyone else. But Howard Stern is a naughtier version of any no-name talking head on CNN bashing Republicans.

There’s nothing unique about it. There are no original thoughts. There’s undoubtedly nothing anti-establishment about it. The only time Howard Stern makes the news in 2022 is when he trashes Republicans because it makes media members feel good. Yes, the same mainstream media that Stern spent a career railing against. It’s funny how things come full circle. 

But this is why the likes of Joe Rogan, Dave Portnoy, and Bill Maher (to name a few) have run circles around Stern in terms of their media exposure and interest in today’s landscape. They garner more attention with growing audiences. 

Those three are harder to fit into ideological boxes, you can’t predict what they will say and what their opinions will be on various news topics and issues of the day, and they have far more depth than Stern.

Howard Stern has become everything he made a career out of not being in many ways. Predictable. Tired. Establishment. 

Maybe that’s bound to happen to a degree when one makes his kind of money. But if anyone was going to be able to buck the trend, I thought it might have been Stern. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The excellent news is talented folks are filling the gap.

Now, who wants to tell Stern the “King of All Media” moniker has to go? Maybe they can announce it on CNN or MSNBC. But, of course, he’ll likely be watching anyway.

Ted Sarandos to Staffers: Quit Netflix if You Find It Hard to Support Our Content

BNM Staff
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As streaming giant Netflix continues to hemorrhage subscribers, the company has reportedly told its employees to find a new job if they’re offended by some of the content that is being created.  

According to Variety, CEO Ted Sarandos sent an internal memo discussing the diversity of its products and suggested that some content may conflict with people’s personal beliefs. 

“Depending on your role, you may need to work on titles you perceive to be harmful,” the memo said. “If you’d find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you.”

According to the company’s first-quarter earnings report, Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers during the January-March period. Some employees staged a walkout when Dave Chapelle railed against transgenderism. At that time, the company vowed not to silence its artists. 

Sarandos reiterated that Netflix supports individualism and respects the principles and values of its subscribers. 

“While every title is different, we approach them based on the same set of principles: We support the artistic expression of the creators we choose to work with; we program for a diversity of audiences and tastes; and we let viewers decide what’s appropriate for them, versus having Netflix censor specific artists or voices,” the memo added.

Dave Portnoy Tells Business Insider CEO He Is ‘Piece Of S*** Coward’

BSM Staff
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Dave Portnoy is not going to move on from his hate of Business Insider. The Barstool founder joined a Twitter Spaces session on Thursday night where the public had a chance to talk to Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget.

The event was hosted by the New York Times. Blodget was part of a panel discussing issues facing the business community.

“So yeah, I saw that piece of shit Henry Blodget’s on there,” Portnoy said when his mic went live. “My first question’s why would a piece of shit who’s been banned by the SEC from talking about stocks be on there. My second question is hey Henry, you f***ing coward, you know everything you wrote about me was bullshit. Why don’t you ever sit down with me you f***ing piece of shit coward. That’s my question.”

Despite objections from the moderator, Dave Portnoy got out his entire question before his mic was muted. No answer came. The moderator apologized to Blodget and ended the event.

The accusations of Blodget being banned by the SEC from discussing financial advice are true. Portnoy was referncing fraud charges that Blodget settled in 2003 when he was a Wall Street analyst.

Business Insider has ran a salacious piece about Portnoy’s sex life in November. It included accusations of misconduct from three women that claimed consensual sexual encounters with Portnoy took a dark turn without their consent.

Dave Portnoy has maintained the story is not true. He has also threatened to sue Blodget, Business Insider and the story’s author Julia Black.

John Kincade: ‘ESPN Commercials Made 76ers Loss Worse’

BSM Staff
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John Kincade: ‘ESPN Commercials Made 76ers Loss Worse’

It was the sign of an agonizing defeat when fans of the Philadelphia 76ers poured out of Wells Fargo Center in the fourth quarter last night, watching former Sixer Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat advance to the Eastern Conference Finals in a 99-90 loss. Fans at home felt frustration beyond just the loss according to John Kincade.

On Friday morning 97.5 The Fanatic morning man discussed some of the jaded messaging, including one new series of advertisements from the U.S. Army.

“The people were like, ‘Yeah, we’re buying a house,’” John Kincade, the host of the show, explained. “And they’re like, ‘You’re buying a house?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, [from] my time in the Army, we get zero percent financing right now on a house,’ and they go, ‘We get free bagels.’”

According to Kincade, the variety of military advertisements persisted throughout the game broadcast on ESPN. It drew an ironic contrast between the ethos of the U.S. Army and the 76ers play on the court.

“We got all these ads tonight for the U.S. Army while the Sixers are playing like the French Army,” Kincade said. “Because they honestly just surrendered.”

Indeed, there was criticism towards the 76ers play as a team, including the role of James Harden’s play on the court. Harden was unable to draw a foul during the entire matchup, an aspect of his game that helped him win the 2017-18 Most Valuable Player award, and only attempted two shots in the entire second half of the game. During the team’s struggles though, another soundtrack was in the minds of some watching from home.

“The Modelo [commercial] – oh my god,” said show co-host Jamie Lynch. “It was on every commercial break.”

At one point in the game, the 76ers were in a 20-point deficit to the Heat – leading to yet another commercial that catalyzed annoyance and instantiated the zeal of Philadelphia sports fans.

“I have YouTube TV, so my ads that I get are probably different than you,” explained show producer Pat Egan. “The one that I’m getting sick of is… a Kia commercial where a guy cleans up the beach for sea turtles. When your team is losing by 20, I ended up screaming ‘F the turtles.’”

Throughout the matchup, Egan was sending out what he called “hate tweets” towards the 76ers on social media, one of which demonstrated the lack of appeal playoff basketball has when watching your favorite team get eliminated on their home floor.

The show hosts continued to manifest their frustration throughout the show. Kincade even used ESPN’s Hubie Brown, a former head coach and former U.S. Army basketball team member, to explain his feelings.

“88-year-old Hubie Brown was already eligible for Social Security the last time this organization made the conference finals,” said Kincade. “Hubie Brown was 66! He was 66 – the last time they made a conference finals. By the way, Miami has now been to the conference finals eight times since.”

Jeremy Schaap: ‘It Would Have Been Strange To Host The Sports Reporters’

BSM Staff
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From 1988-2001, Dick Schaap hosted The Sports Reporters on ESPN and it became a weekly staple for those looking for debate on the biggest sports topics of the week. After Dick Schaap passed away in 2001, the network chose John Saunders. He held the job for 15 years until he suddenly passed away in 2016. 

Some always wondered if Dick’s son, Jeremy, would become the permanent host of The Sports Reporters. Jeremy did fill in as a host occassionally and he was a panelist a good portion of the time. However, he told Ariel Helwani on the latest episode of The Ariel Helwani Show that it would have been strange for him to take the spot of his dad.

 

“When my father died in 2001, I had just turned 32. I had only been on-air at ESPN for 5 years and I think it would have been strange. First of all, John Saunders was a great choice. He did a tremendous job until his very unfortunate and premature death in 2016 after having done the show for 15 years. John did it and it was his job.”

Once The Sports Reporters went off-the-air, the younger Schaap did take over the time slot. A weekly edition of E:60 that Jeremy Schaap did with Bob Ley debuted in the Sunday morning slot in 2016.

Schaap has been at ESPN for almost 30 years and he has never thought about going to another network because of all the things he has been able to do at the WorldWide Leader. 

“If I could have picked one place in the world with hindsight in 1993, this is where you are going to work for 30 years and hopefully beyond, knowing everything now and ESPN’s stature, I would have picked ESPN. I’m just very lucky they haven’t gotten around to figuring out that they are done with me. It’s been great.”

Mile High Sports Acquires Colorado Preps

BSM Staff
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Mile High Sports Acquires Colorado Preps

Mile High Sports has acquired the Colorado Preps brand, including ColoradoPreps.com and the company’s radio and podcast networks. The deal is effective immediately.

“I am proud of what we’ve accomplished through 19 years of the Colorado Preps Network and very excited about the future with Mile High Sports,” said Kevin Shaffer, owner and founder of Colorado Preps. “The MHS crew is poised to bring additional and expanded coverage to high school sports across the state and we’re honored to stay involved with the network and help its growth.”

He will remain on the staff and continue hosting and producing radio and digital shows.

“With the elimination of the Rocky Mountain News, and shrinking budgets across most news outlets, local high school sports coverage has often and unfortunately become the casualty,” said Mile High Sports Editor-in-Chief Doug Ottewill. “But there will always be kids playing sports and parents wanting to read about those kids playing sports. I think ColoradoPreps.com fills a need and a niche that will never go away, no matter what’s happening on the bigger sports landscape in Colorado.”

Mile High Sports adds Colorado Preps to a portfolio that includes a radio brand broadcasting on 98.1 FM and 107.5 FM HD-3 in Denver, a magazine, and MileHighSports.com.

KMOX’s Charlie Brennan Bids Farewell to His Audience

BNM Staff
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KMOX’s Charlie Brennan Bids Farewell to His Audience

KMOX legend Charlie Brennan bid an emotional farewell to his audience Thursday following a remarkable career that stretched more than three decades. 

In the final hour of his program, Brennan was greeted by several guests whom he had worked with over the course of his career. One of those guests was Fox News contributor Juan Williams. 

“I can’t believe you’re leaving; what a loss,” Williams said. “You have been such a presence. I am more of a national guy than a St. Louis person. I remember sitting in the studio with you and feeling so welcome. And the fact that you had read what I had written was so unusual.” 

Brennan not only touched the people he worked with on the air. According to the station’s website, in 2020, Brennan spearheaded a four-day campaign to raise money for Cardinal Children’s Hospital, a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. 

Dan Farrell, Senior Vice President of Sales of Marketing for the St. Louis Cardinals, praised Brennan for his tireless work in the community. 

“Thank you for all the times you got behind community efforts to make this a better place to live; you deserve all of the credit. Nobody does it like you,” Farrell said. 

KMOX hired Brennan in 1988 to work evenings and weekends. Two years later, he was appointed to the midday morning shift. 

CBS News Adds Four Journalists to Its Local News Innovation Lab

BNM Staff
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CBS News Adds Four Journalists to Its Local News Innovation Lab

CBS News will add four investigative journalists to its newly established local news innovation lab in Dallas, Texas. 

According to TVNewsCheck, the new hires will be tasked with next-generation storytelling, including data journalism, and test new products, workflows, and production models for the future.

The hires include Stephen Stock, national investigative correspondent; Nicole Vap, executive producer of content development; Chris Hacker, investigative data journalist; and Aparna Zalani, who has been named an investigative producer.

“We are excited to assemble a team with such passion, experience, and dedication to solutions-oriented reporting that effects change and drives impact,” said Adrienne Roark, president of CBS Stations, and Chad Cross, vice president of content development.

Roark said the quartet would be given the tool to dig deeper to bring light stories that haven’t been told.

“We are pleased to establish the foundation of our innovation lab by bringing on board these four investigators who possess track records of exceptional reporting that enlightens and improves local communities,” said Chad Cross, CBS Stations VP, Content Development.

“We look forward to having Stephen and Nicole draw on their many years of experience, and we are excited to promote from inside our stations Chris and Aparna as team members who will help us find new ways to unearth stories,” he added. 

Bill Simmons To Oversee Global Sports Strategy For Spotify

BSM Staff
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Bill Simmons will see his role at Spotify change a bit. He will still lead and create content for The Ringer, but he is adding more responsibilities. He will oversee the company’s global sports strategy.

The new role involves more than just content. Spotify has been very active in the sports space across the globe in recent months. In addition to acquiring brands like The Ringer and Locker Room, the company reached a deal with FC Barcelona in March. It will see the Spotify name go on the club’s jerseys and stadium.

Spotify will focus on more international sports content creation. Bill Simmons is expected to play a role in that effort.

For Spotify, the moves come at a time when the company is in need of some new leadership. The company has seen three top executives resign in the past month to pursue other opportunities.

Former Fox News Anchor Ed Henry Drops Lawsuits Against CNN, NPR

BNM Staff
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A former Fox News anchor who was fired for alleged sexual misconduct has dropped two lawsuits filed against media outlets in the wake of the events. 

Ed Henry was fired by Fox News nearly two years ago following an outside investigation of “willful sexual misconduct in the workplace.” According to NPR, which reported on the incident at the time, Henry was suspended on June 25, 2020, and fired on July 1, 2020. 

According to the Daily Beast, Henry turned around and filed a defamation lawsuit against NPR media reporter David Folkenflik, CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter, and anchor Alisyn Camerota, who he alleged had long-running grudges against Fox News. 

NPR reported that Henry “was given more prestigious roles by the network despite a colleague’s warning to top executives that doing so could damage Fox’s efforts at reforming its workplace culture.” 

In a statement to the Daily Beast, Folkenflik said lawsuits of this nature are “driven by a public relations strategy.” 

“I admire NPR’s unflagging commitment to providing its audiences with such coverage – and appreciative of the hard work people do behind the scenes to protect the space to do it,” he added. 

Henry still faces charges of rape and retaliation from former co-worker Jennifer Eckhart. 

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