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KJR Now On 93.3 FM In Seattle

BSM Staff
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KJR Now On 93.3 FM In Seattle

Seattle sports fans could hear about the Seahawks trading away Russell Wilson with FM clarity on Tuesday. iHeartMedia found room for KJR on the FM dial. A simulcast of the sports talk station can now be heard on 93.3 FM.

The 100,000 watt signal had been home to KUBE 93.3, a rhythmic CHR format, since 2018. The station had been stunting since February 18, teasing that a new format was coming on March 10.

KJR’s move to the FM dial fills a void in the Seattle market. Both KJR and 710 ESPN, which recently rebranded as Seattle Sports 710 earlier this week, were broadcasting on the AM band.

“By moving the legendary KJR brand to the FM band, we’re going to be able to grow the next generation of Seattle Sports fans,” Mark Glynn, Market President for iHeartMedia Seattle, said in a press release. “With the combination of Sports Radio 93.3 KJR FM, Sports Radio 950 KJR AM and the iHeartRadio app, we enhance our sports platform and become the #1 destination for sports and currently the only FM sports platform in Seattle.”

The KJR lineup remains the same. The station carries local programming everyday from 6 am to 6 pm and is the radio flagship of the Seattle Kraken.

Craig Carton: Jeff Passan ‘Views Himself As Untouchable’

BSM Staff
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Craig Carton and Jeff Passan have a history of biting back and forth at one another. It should come as no surprise then that on Monday, Carton laid into the ESPN reporter for admitting that he inserted himself into negotiations between Major League Baseball and the MLBPA.

Carton said that many fans regard Passan as one of, if not the best baseball insider working today. The WFAN afternoon host doesn’t think that is true necessarily. He called out Passan for not being objective in his coverage of the lockout.

“He’s anti-owner. So his coverage of the lockout is skewed towards the player, not skewed towards objectivity,” Carton said of Passan. “And for me to back that up, just go look at any of his tweets regarding the lockout and they are all pro-player and even accuses the owners of malfeasance in their handling of the labor dispute.”

The goal of the comments doesn’t seem to be defending MLB owners. Rather, Craig Carton seems to have more to say about Jeff Passan than about baseball. He described Passan as “egotistical and views himself as untouchable”.

He went on to lambast Passan for calling the owners’ offer to the players last week a “shit sandwich” and encouraging players not to sign it. It is an admission Passan made on the ESPN Daily podcast and has since apologized for.

“You may remember a week ago, they spent 12-15 hours late into the night on Monday night trying to get a deal done,” Carton said. “And Tuesday morning when [Passan] woke up and he saw the deal, and his words not mine, he called players, he called players’ agents, and he told them ‘you can’t possibly sign this bleep sandwich.'”

ESPN has since scrubbed the audio from the podcast.

Carton said that the comments prove that Jeff Passan is not capable of being objective.

“It turns out that he is nothing more than a shill for the players, that hates the commissioner and by proxy, all the owners.”

Were their consequences for Passan’s admission? While ESPN hasn’t commented publicly, Carton believes their are. He points to Passan’s lack of Twitter activity as evidence that he may have been suspended by ESPN.

Volodymyr Zelensky: Vladimir Putin Might Not Be Receiving Accurate Information

BNM Staff
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In an exclusive interview with ABC News that aired Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of living in an “informational bubble with no oxygen.”

The interview conducted by David Muir centered on Russian demands and what it might take to end the nearly two-week war in Ukraine.

“He is in this bubble. … You don’t know how realistic that information is that he’s getting,” Zelensky said.

President Zelenskyy has been hailed as a hero for his refusal to leave his country and for his theatrical press conference that has struck a defiant tone. Zelensky said he is not willing to discuss the three conditions that the Kremlin has laid out for a potential end to the war.

“This is another ultimatum, and we are not prepared for ultimatums,” said Zelenskyy, who wore an olive-green military-style outfit. “But we have possible resolutions for these three items, key items.”

Some experts say Russia and Ukraine are not necessarily far apart on the three key disputes.

Jen Townley Joins KRMG as its New Morning Co-host

BNM Staff
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Jen Townley Joins KRMG as its New Morning Co-host

Tulsa’s 102.3 KRMG introduced veteran television reporter Jen Townley as its new morning show co-host. Townley joins longtime host Dan Potter on the “KRMG Morning News with Dan Potter.” 

KRMG is a Marconi award-winning station that is recognized for its commitment to breaking news and severe weather coverage. 

“We’re happy to be able to hire someone who is already a part of the Cox Media Group family; we already know Jen’s skill set is top-notch,” Levi May, KRMG Director of Branding & Programming told the station’s website. 

Townley had been serving as a news producer for KRMG’s sister station KOKI-TV. Her new partner, Dan Potter, called the hire a “perfect choice.” 

 “Her connections to newsmakers through her years of experience as a senior news producer coupled with her devotion to family life — not to mention her sense of humor — make JT the perfect choice to co-host the KRMG Morning News with me.”

“The KRMG Morning News with Dan Potter” is described as timely, topical, and informative. You can learn more about the show by clicking this link. 

Peter Doocy, Jen Psaki Spar Over Gas Prices

BNM Staff
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Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy is demanding answers from the Biden administration on the rising cost of gas. Doocy sparred with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki during a briefing Monday after blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for the sharp increases.

According to Triple-A, the national average price for gas has topped $4 a gallon for the first time since 2008.

“It sounds like you are blaming [Vladimir Putin] for the increase in gas prices recently.” Doocy said, “But weren’t gas prices going up anyway because of post-pandemic supply chain issues?”

Psaki has been asked several times about the role turning off the Keystone XL Pipeline has had on rising gas prices. Biden canceled the fossil fuel project on his first day in office.

“Let me give you the facts here, and I know that they can be inconvenient, but I think they’re important at this moment,” Psaki said. “To the contrary, we have been clear that in the short term, supply must keep up with the demand where we are and here and around the world where we make the shift to a secure, clean energy future.”

Doocy then asked Psaki, “why the White House is not doing everything it can to encourage immediate American energy independence.”

“We’re asking other countries to think about maybe pumping more oil,” Doocy asked. “Why not just do it here?”

Psaki said Americans need to be weaned off fossil fuels.

Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Spikes TV Viewership

BNM Staff
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominated the news headlines during the week of Feb. 21. All news telecasts spiked in the audience, both on the broadcast and cable platforms.

On Feb. 23, the Big-3 networks broke in to original programming during the 10 p.m. ET hour (5 a.m. In Ukraine) to first report on the invasion. NBC, thanks to its popular “Chicago P.D.” series, led the pack 5.54 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. ABC was next at 3.07 million, followed by CBS 2.08 million.

The Thursday, Feb. 24 and Sunday morning Feb. 27 editions of the broadcast networks’ signature news programs also rose with significance:

 • ABC’s “Good Morning America” (3.66 million, +12 percent from one week earlier on 2/17/22), “World News Tonight” (9.68 million, +6 percent) and “This Week” (3.39 million, +18 percent from one week earlier on 2/20/22)

 • NBC’s “Today” (3.35 million, +5 percent), “NBC Nightly News” (8.32 million, +15 percent) and “Meet the Press” (3.13 million, +23 percent)

 • CBS’ “CBS Mornings” (2.62 million, +11 percent), “CBS Evening News“ (5.80 million, +2 percent) and “Face the Nation” (3.17 million, +9 percent)

 • Fox’s “Fox News Sunday” (1.33 million, +23 percent)

Starting from late night on Feb. 23, the major cable news outlets have seen a big uptick with their coverage from Ukraine. Percentage-wise, CNN — which has languished in third place among cable news in total viewers for the past twelve months overall — was the largest beneficiary, jumping up 130 percent in total viewership and up 268 percent among adults 25-54, from the week prior (this week’s network averages listed below). That vaulted CNN to be cable’s No. 2 most-watched network, behind the leading Fox News. Both FNC and MSNBC also respectively rose at the same rate: 41 percent in total viewers and approximately 90 percent in adults 25-54.

The war also has had an immediate effect on the price of gasoline which has risen considerably. Business channel shows had also increased in ratings on Feb. 24. CNBC’s midday “Power Lunch”, which averaged 300,000 viewers for Feb. 22-25, drew 371,000 viewers from 2-3 p.m. ET. Fox Business Network’s morning program “Varney & Company”, which averaged 261,000 viewers for Feb. 21-25, drew 345,000 viewers from 9 a.m. to noon ET.

And, the Feb. 25 edition of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” posted its most-watched Friday night telecast since Oct. 1, 2021.

Cable news averages for February 21-27, 2022:

Total Day (February 21-27 @ 6 a.m.-5:59 a.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 2.186 million viewers; 453,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 1.113 million viewers; 331,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 0.935 million viewers; 132,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.219 million viewers; 74,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.181 million viewers; 31,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.146 million viewers; 38,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.123 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.107 million viewers; 13,000 adults 25-54

Prime Time (February 21-26 @ 8-11 p.m.; February 27 @ 7-11 p.m.)

  • Fox News Channel: 3.177 million viewers; 656,000 adults 25-54
  • CNN: 1.480 million viewers; 483,000 adults 25-54
  • MSNBC: 1.421 million viewers; 195,000 adults 25-54
  • Newsmax: 0.280 million viewers; 52,000 adults 25-54
  • HLN: 0.266 million viewers; 89,000 adults 25-54
  • CNBC: 0.193 million viewers; 69,000 adults 25-54
  • The Weather Channel: 0.148 million viewers; 27,000 adults 25-54
  • Fox Business Network: 0.044 million viewers; 7,000 adults 25-54

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

1. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 5.031 million viewers

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.692 million viewers

3. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 2/25/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.481 million viewers

4. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.266 million viewers

5. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 4.209 million viewers

6. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 2/25/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.994 million viewers

7. America Reports (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.863 million viewers

8. America Reports (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.844 million viewers

9. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.827 million viewers

10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Fri. 2/25/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 3.818 million viewers

50. CNN Newsroom “Biden Speaks-Russian Invasion Of Ukraine” (CNN, Thu. 2/24/2022 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.710 million viewers

70. Rachel Maddow Show “Russia Invades Ukraine” (MSNBC, Thu. 2/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.544 million viewers

 • Real Time With Bill Maher “591” (HBO, Fri. 2/25/2022 10:01 PM, 57 min.) 0.953 million viewers

 • Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 2/27/2022 11:15 PM, 40 min.) 0.480 million viewers

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

1. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.135 million adults 25-54

2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.100 million adults 25-54

3. Hannity (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.002 million adults 25-54

4. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.933 million adults 25-54

5. America Reports (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.921 million adults 25-54

6. America Reports (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 2:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.905 million adults 25-54

7. Special Report with Bret Baier (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 6:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.877 million adults 25-54

8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Fri. 2/25/2022 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.876 million adults 25-54

9. Tucker Carlson Tonight (FOXNC, Fri. 2/25/2022 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.870 million adults 25-54

10. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Thu. 2/24/2022 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.866 million adults 25-54

13. CNN Newsroom “Biden Speaks-Russian Invasion Of Ukraine” (CNN, Thu. 2/24/2022 1:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.807 million adults 25-54

150. Rachel Maddow Show “Russia Invades Ukraine” (MSNBC, Thu. 2/24/2022 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.420 million adults 25-54

 • Real Time With Bill Maher “591” (HBO, Fri. 2/25/2022 10:01 PM, 57 min.) 0.184 million adults 25-54

 • Last Week Tonight (HBO, Sun. 2/27/2022 11:15 PM, 40 min.) 0.156 million adults 25-54

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

Good Karma Brands Names Sam Pines, Vinny DiMarco Market Managers In LA & New York

BSM Staff
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Good Karma Brands Names Sam Pines, Vinny DiMarco Market Managers In LA & New York

Good Karma Brands recently acquired ESPN’s owned and operated stations in New York and Los Angeles. On Monday, the company revealed new leaders for each market.

Sam Pines will take over as market manager in Los Angeles. He is a partner in Good Karma Brands and the company’s Senior Vice President. Pines comes from Cleveland, where he has been since 2006. In that time, he has served as both sales manager and market manager.

On the east coast, Vinny DiMarco takes the reigns in New York City. He comes directly from ESPN where he oversaw multi-market, multi-platform sales across ESPN radio affiliates. DiMarco also lead the company’s efforts to grow revenue in emerging sectors including sports betting and crypto-currency.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have both Sam and Vinny in their respective roles,” Good Karma Brands Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Craig Karmazin, said in a press release. “Sam has distinguished himself as a leader both inside and outside the company, and will bring creativity and take a relationship-focused and marketing savvy approach to ESPN Los Angeles. Vinny’s background at ESPN New York and his relationships within New York City and throughout both Good Karma and ESPN make him a well-liked and respected leader who will keep teammates, advertising partners and our fans at the forefront of all that we do and achieve.”

Drew Deener Arrested On Domestic Violence Charge

BSM Staff
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On Saturday night, ESPN Louisville host and VP Drew Deener was arrested and charged with domestic violence.

Louisville Police responded to a report of domestic violence at a local restaurant called Roosters. Deener’s girlfriend was found on a bench at the scene. She told officers that Drew Deener had pushed her head into the side of a vehicle during a fight.

Deener was arrested at his home. He was charged with fourth-degree assault, which is a misdemeanor, and booked into Louisville Metro Corrections. He has since been released on bail and is set to be arraigned on Wednesday.

WDRB-TV reached out to Drew Deener and his attorney for comment. Neither responded.

The Deener Show airs on ESPN Louisville and on sister station 93.9 The Ville weekdays from 7-10 AM. Drew Deener was also instrumental in completing the deal that landed all University of Louisville sports on the station last month.

The 2022 BSM Summit Provided a Much Needed Slice of Normalcy

Jason Barrett
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The 2022 BSM Summit Provided a Much Needed Slice of Normalcy

It’s been a few days since the 2022 BSM Summit wrapped up in New York City. After spending months designing the show, selling the show, creating the sessions, lining up the speakers, etc. a seventy two hour break was absolutely needed. But as I sit here writing this note, I’m both energized and optimistic about where our industry is headed, and grateful for the support of so many who took the time to join us in the big apple for the show or watched it live online.

One of my favorite parts of the Summit is how it’s evolved in recent years. All of us operate now in a multiplatform world so I believe it’s vital to include perspectives from different layers of the industry. It’s why you find Meadowlark Media, The Volume, WWE, Blue Wire, DraftKings, FanDuel and Fanatics included alongside ESPN, FOX Sports Radio, WFAN, 98.5 The Sports Hub and various other local radio outlets and individuals who offer expert knowledge and services. The more we can learn from one another, the better the entire business becomes. If you want to get caught up on what you missed, check out the notes from Day 1 and Day 2.

As I’ve thought about last week, what’s stuck with me most is how the Summit represented a big step forward for so many people. Conferences haven’t returned to prior levels yet. There are some still operating virtually. Every state has different rules and risks, and I know this show being held in NYC created a few questions for some. But those who came were excited to make the trip, and the handshakes, hugs, and photos taken represented a slice of normalcy, which we all desperately needed. There are no guarantees in this world. We could go to a store, game, conference or school and end up sick. But life is better when it’s enjoyed with others. I’m thankful many felt the same way, and decided to be part of last week’s experience.

Putting up on my professional cap, I hope everyone who attended took something away from the show. We covered a lot of ground with a ton of highly qualified people. All you had to do was listen and take notes. I enjoyed my conversations with Jimmy Pitaro, John Skipper, Craig Carton, Fred Toucher & Mike Felger, The Diversity Panel, The Programmer’s Master Class, The Power Panel, and the opening programming panel on navigating the pandemic. I learned something from every single one of them. Pitaro and Skipper were especially gracious and comfortable addressing key issues. Their candor was greatly appreciated.

I was also moved by Rick Radzik’s speech, the reaction to the Champion’s Award, and Traug Keller’s ‘Best Seats in the House’ address to the room. If there was a personal highlight it was seeing Mike Francesa and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo reunited, and the look on everyone’s faces as they held court for nearly 30-minutes. I spent months trying to put it together, and wasn’t sure it was going to happen. Thankfully the Major League Baseball negotiations stalled, which made it possible to pull off the sports radio equivalent of the Catalina Wine Mixer (Step Brothers reference for those not familiar). Chris and Mike both wanted to be there, and were great to deal with. They spent extra time answering questions in the room, and taking photos with attendees. It’s easy to see why they’re the most popular tandem in local sports radio history.

In the coming days, you’ll see a ton of photos and videos begin to hit the BSM social media pages. We’ll also be uploading the sessions online so those who attended live and virtually can re-watch the show. If you didn’t attend or watch online, you’ll also be able to purchase an on-demand ticket to check out what you missed. Stay tuned for details.

So now we put a bow now on the 2022 BSM Summit, and look to take some of the tips and information we gained, and apply it to our brands to make them stronger. We’ll be moving the Summit out west in 2023. The four cities under consideration for next year are Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Folks can vote by logging on to BSMSummit.com.

Thanks for the continued support of our brand. We appreciate every single person who reads this site, and every attendee and industry partner who helped bring the 2022 BSM Summit to life to make it a smashing success!

Sports Radio Needs To Follow How Young People Follow Sports

Demetri Ravanos
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During his panel alongside Gordon Borrell at the BSM Summit, Steve Goldstein pointed out that news/talk radio’s median listener is 59-years-old. Like Major League Baseball, both are in trouble for the long run and refuse to acknowledge it.

Steve then asked if we knew what sports radio’s median age is for listeners. It’s not as bad. Sports is sitting at 49-years-old. Still, it is time to do a little problem-solving.

“You need to reinvent this stuff,” he said. “No question about it.”

I thought about that a lot throughout the two days of the Summit. As I listened to speakers share their thoughts and panelists answer questions about industry concerns, it dawned on me that “reinvention” could take a lot of forms. Realistically, if sports radio is going to successfully reinvent itself to attract younger listeners, there won’t be a single answer. It will happen as a result of taking steps to address multiple problems.

Today, I only want to focus on the on-air product.

Are we talking about the right things? For the most part, I think so. There is one change I think local radio could make that would have us talking about sports the way younger people consume them.

Why shouldn’t we take a stars-first approach with local sports talk? That’s how all the national platforms talk about the NBA, right? They aren’t talking about the Warriors, Lakers or Bucks. They are talking about Steph, LeBron and Giannis. Any mention or analysis of the teams starts with a mention of or thought about the names that are going to make you stop and pay attention.

My son is 10. He has never sat down and watched a full NBA game with me, but he loves Giannis and Luka. Seriously, he would call Giannis Antetokounmpo one of his favorite players, and it never dawned on him to sit down and watch a full Finals game with me last year.

Now, we aren’t marketing to 10-year-olds, but his isn’t the first generation to consume sports like that. More importantly, they aren’t going to hit 30 and suddenly change their consumption pattern. This is the way they are learning to experience and love sports. We have to acknowledge and serve that to remain viable.

Plenty of network leaders talked about this at the Summit. I believe it was Scott Shapiro of FOX Sports that said he told his hosts that he doesn’t want to hear the words “Packers offensive line” unless it is followed by a sentence including the words “Aaron Rodgers”.

Why wouldn’t that work at the local level?

I live in Raleigh, NC, home of the Carolina Hurricanes. It took us a long time to fully embrace NHL hockey. In fact, I would argue that the majority of the city still looks at the Canes as a bar rather than as a team.

There aren’t many stars here, but there are good players that have been here for a while. Wouldn’t it make sense for 99.9 The Fan to worry more about Sebastian Aho and less about defensive pairings?

It makes more sense than even talking about the standings. That just isn’t a factor for millennials. They experience sports in clips, not games, let alone winning and losing streaks.

An hour in sports talk radio usually includes somewhere around 40 minutes of talk time, right? That is a lot, so certainly there are places to go in-depth and explore different thoughts and observations, but this is a short attention span culture. This is a world with an immeasurable amount of entertainment options. No one under 35 is sticking with your entire two, three, or four-hour show. They probably aren’t sticking with your whole hour. So, if you want to keep things fresh for yourself, fine, but you are probably best served with multiple thoughts on the same A-block topic.

Sports radio doesn’t need to suddenly be competing for an audience with YouTube videos of kids opening toy boxes. This is about doing something that can open you up to a younger audience without alienating the middle-aged people that already come to you.

“Local celebrity” is a term that often gets thrown around with jest or scorn. I have a friend in a Dancing With the Stars competition in her market. She is a nighttime host on a sports talk station. The other competitors are lawyers and school principals. That is a real point-and-laugh kind of local celebrity classification where the “local” is written in bold, 25-point font and “celebrity” may be hard to read without glasses.

The star players on your hometown teams are a different kind of local celebrity. For them, especially for the very best players, “local” and “celebrity” are on equal footing. They are stars, but they also make the listeners feel real pride. Think about all of the times you have heard people complain that the local guy would be an MVP contender if the national media paid attention to your market! That is something to mine for content in a thousand different ways.

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