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Big Tech Allows for Talented People to Get Around Gatekeepers of Media

Pete Mundo
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Until recent memory, every professional in media wanted to be a part of an outlet that could help promote their content and abilities. 

This would make the outlet and talent money while leading to bigger and better things for all involved. Whether you wrote for a newspaper, hosted a radio show, worked on TV, that was the goal.

But as the media landscape continues to rapidly change, what if that platform you’re looking for is, well… you?

A new report came down from the New York Times this week that Joe Rogan’s deal with Spotify wasn’t the $100 million it was believed to be initially, but instead, it was a $200 million contract. 

The Times reported, “in May 2020, after an intense courtship, Spotify announced a licensing agreement to host Mr. Rogan’s show exclusively. Although reported then to be worth more than $100 million, the true value of the deal that was negotiated at the time, which covered three and a half years, was at least $200 million, with the possibility of more, according to two people familiar with the details of the transaction who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss it.”

That would put Rogan at about $57 million per year.

OutKick’s Bobby Burack then wisely pointed out that the money being dished out to digital media stars is far greater than what is being paid on TV.

Here was his tweet: 

We should note that you could add Burack’s boss, OutKick founder Clay Travis, to this list as well. 

What do we make of this?

Well, first off, the reality is that for every Dave Portnoy, Clay Travis, or Joe Rogan, there are thousands and thousands of people trying to build the next Barstool, OutKick, or Joe Rogan Experience. However, those three guys are extremely compelling and talented individuals who cultivated an audience and are worth every penny. They aren’t easily duplicated.

But, for those with the ability and drive to be “next,” the goal should no longer be to make it on ESPN, FOX News, or ABC.

The goal should be to develop an audience on a platform that you completely own and operate. That’s how one gets to the level of what Johnny Carson famously called it in a 1979 Rolling Stone interview, “F*** you money.” 

This also means one must have the talent to entertain and business acumen to build something, which is much easier said than done. But for those who are capable and have both skill sets, the possibilities are endless in the digital media age.

I’m not writing any of this to pump you up as the next Portnoy, Travis, or Rogan, but in a time when we hear about how legacy media is cutting jobs, decreasing pay, and becoming a harder industry to navigate, know, there is an alternative.

It won’t happen overnight, heck; it may never happen. But for all the criticism of Big Tech, it has allowed many talented people to work around, or without, the so-called “gatekeepers” of media, and it made them incredibly wealthy in the process.

And maybe you’re next.

Isn’t It Time For Another Ratings Innovation For Radio?

Demetri Ravanos
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Isn’t It Time For Another Ratings Innovation For Radio?

We saw a nice bounce-back for the Super Bowl this week. After viewership dipped to 91 million for Tampa Bay’s win over Kansas City last year, 2022 saw the game climb back over the 100 million mark. It is still a long way off from the record (114.4 million for the Patriots’ win over Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX), but it is a step in the right direction.

Nothing draws numbers like the Super Bowl. When it comes to television, live sports are the only reliable rating grabbers. That is why rights fees skyrocket every time a major property hits the open market.

The rest of television relies on what are called live-plus-seven ratings in order to tell their best possible story. Those ratings measure the number of people that watch a show in real time, plus the people that DVR it and watch it back within seven days of the original air date. Even then, stations don’t get a truly accurate measurement for a single number, but Nielsen has at least tried to account for television’s non-traditional audience.

Where the hell is radio’s live-plus-seven?

Covid-19 shifted our consumption patterns. It changed where, when, and how people listen. Ratings systems have always been flawed. Now they just don’t account for reality.

I don’t want to come off as another radio guy making excuses for the ratings drop that inevitably comes to many sports talk stations after the football season ends. Instead, I am asking Nielsen to be fair to the entire radio landscape.

PPM was an epiphany for ratings. No, it isn’t perfect, but it is undeniably better than diaries.

Here’s the thing though, PPM, the last great innovation in measuring radio audiences, was rolled out fifteen years ago. That is multiple lifetimes in terms of technology. Arbitron reinvented the wheel with PPM. It is time for Nielsen (which purchased Arbitron in 2013) to reinvent it again.

Start with small steps. A station’s total listening measurement should come in a single number. That should be standard. No one from that company can look you in the eye with a straight face and give you a good reason why WFAN’s terrestrial signal and WFAN’s stream have to be counted as two separate things.

Work on radio’s answer to live-plus-seven ratings. Shows should be given credit for the listeners that are consuming their content through podcast replays. Work with Blubrry, Apple, or other fruits to develop a formula that gets you to a number that tells that story.

These are big ideas, and it is easy to sit here on my couch and type them out. I have no financial stake in Nielsen. I don’t have to worry about the cost of developing a new rating system or overhauling the old one. Even if the company’s initial inclination is to complain about the cost, the fact of the matter is that Nielsen has to innovate when it comes to radio ratings or someone else will.

Just look at what is going on at NBC, which announced a partnership with iSpot. The network believes their partnership can offer advertisers a more realistic way to measure viewership than Nielsen can provide. NBC has lost so much confidence in Nielsen (and honestly, why shouldn’t it?) that it didn’t decide to test this new ratings system out on a new comedy or even on an established franchise like America’s Got Talent. Instead, the network decided it was going to unveil its new measurement system during the Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LVI.

That should speak volumes about what is at stake if Nielsen cannot get the market’s confidence back. That will never happen if the company chooses to stand still.

It may have felt like the world shut down with the Covid-19 pandemic, but really it didn’t. It just changed in a monumental way. If the world’s premier audience measurement companu can’t adapt to reflect the effects those changes have had on media consumption, than any number it produces is valueless.

Adam Schefter, Rick Radzik Named 2022 Champion’s & Mark Chernoff Award Winners

Jason Barrett
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Adam Schefter, Rick Radzik Named 2022 Champion’s & Mark Chernoff Award Winners

For most, two days at the BSM Summit represents an opportunity to gain ideas, new information, and develop a few industry connections. But when a member of the sports media business takes the stage to be honored in front of their peers, it becomes a special moment for all. The look on their faces and the sound of their voices, makes it clear just how much it matters to be recognized by those who live and breathe this industry. Those on hand to witness it also enjoy being part of that individual’s special moment.

When we last gathered for this conference in 2020, we introduced two new awards: The Mark Chernoff Award and The Champions Award. I’ll circle back to the Chernoff Award in a minute, but I want to explain the meaning behind The Champion’s award first.

I’m a big believer in recognizing people who make a significant difference for the industry and those involved in it. Sure, we battle for ratings, revenue, guests, access, and breaking stories, but that’s just the work. When you use your influence and platform to do good for others, that speaks volumes about who you are as a person. It also shows how much of a difference you can make if you focus on what’s right, not just what benefits you.

In 2020, Keith Murphy and Andy Fales of KXNO in Des Moines, Iowa won the inaugural Champion’s Award. Those two men saw six of their colleagues lose jobs, their station cut most local shows, and rather than remain grateful to still be employed, they took a stand. They chose not to go back on the air, reached out to their advertisers to explain what was happening, and that decision created a lot of reaction. Their GM Joel McCrea then went to work, and convinced corporate leadership to reinstate the six terminated employees, move KxNo on to the FM dial, and that doesn’t happen without Keith and Andy standing up, the audience speaking out, and local advertisers supporting them. Acts like that define exactly what a Champion in our industry is all about.

Well, this year’s recipient has taken the spirit of the award and elevated it to new heights. I am honored to announce ESPN’s Adam Schefter has been chosen as our 2022 winner of the Champion’s Award.

When ESPN Chicago reporter Jeff Dickerson passed away in December, many in the industry were saddened, stunned, and at a loss for words. Few knew what to do, but all wanted to help. Jeff’s death left his 11-year old son Parker without a father. As devastating as that was, it was made even worse due to Parker losing his mother just two years earlier. Anyone in possession of a heart and soul couldn’t help but feel for the young boy and Jeff’s family.

After the news came out, Jeff’s sister in-law launched a GoFund Me campaign with a goal set at 100K. Many did what they could to help, but the attention and support the Dickerson family received went to a different stratosphere once Adam Schefter got involved. After seeing the story, Schefter called upon everyone to help. Within days, owners, teams, coaches, executives, media members, and businesses began donating to the fund. The 100K mark was shattered quickly, and just a few days later, the total hit 1 million when Schefter placed a five thousand dollar donation to help the fund get over the finish line.

When I saw this unfolding, I was very moved. I couldn’t have felt more proud of the way our industry responded. Some in Schefter’s position might’ve hesitated to use their social media platform fearing it could cost them followers, create issues with their employer and the people they cover, or open door for others to push for similar support. But Schefter never let that stop him from doing what’s right. He promoted Dickerson’s story everywhere and anywhere. As I told Adam, his work in this business is second to none, but as tremendous as he may be as an NFL reporter, this is by far the best job he’s ever done.

Few could’ve united the entire sports and media world’s the way Adam did. Jeff’s image was displayed across the country on stadium screens and inside press boxes, and his story became part of local and national radio and television programming. As painful as it is to lose a son and father, for a few days, the Dickerson family had reason to smile and feel proud. Nobody played a bigger role in making that possible than Adam Schefter. It’s an honor to present him with this year’s Champion’s Award, and though he won’t be able to attend due to NFL Scouting Combine commitments, I’m excited to share his video message to the industry at the 2022 BSM Summit. At the conclusion of that video, BSM will make a one thousand dollar donation to the Parker Fund in Adam’s name as a way of saying thank you on behalf of the sports media industry. If you work in television or radio and are planning to attend the Summit live or virtually, I’d love to see you join me in making a contribution as well.

Our next award winner will join us in New York at the Summit. So too will Traug Keller, who we’ve previously revealed has been chosen as our 2022 recipient of the Jeff Smulyan Award.

When I thought about creating an award to recognize sports radio’s top programmer, I knew it had to be named after Mark Chernoff. No program director had a greater impact on the sports radio format over the past three decades than Mark. It took a little convincing because Mark isn’t one to seek the spotlight, but once we put it into motion, I could tell it meant a lot to him. It also meant a great deal to Mitch Rosen, our first recipient of the Mark Chernoff Award.

This time, the honor of being selected as the 2022 Mark Chernoff Award winner goes to 98.5 The Sports Hub program director Rick Radzik.

Rick has been a vital part of the Hub’s success since the brand launched in August 2009. His Boston radio resume is lengthy, but his move into the program director role didn’t happen until December 2019. As exciting as that was, in less than two months he was instantly tested as the pandemic hit, cancelled sports, and created uncertainty all across the industry. Despite those challenges, the Hub got stronger. Their talent and play by play relationships remained in tact, listeners flocked to the brand, ratings increased, and revenue soon followed.

Then in 2021, the brand reached an even higher level. That was made clear during the BSM Top 20 when the station swept every single major market category. The Hub finished first in every single ratings book, growing from a 13.8 share in the winter to a 20.7 in the fall. They also produced the most revenue among all sports stations for the entire year.

Running a brand successfully requires great talent, a top notch support staff, a strong sales department, a creative digital team, and outstanding leadership. The Hub certainly has those pieces in place, and with Rick at the helm, the station is ascending to record levels. It’s going to be an honor to welcome him to the Summit in two weeks, and have Mark Chernoff present him with the 2022 Mark Chernoff Award.

A reminder, tickets for the 2022 BSM Summit are on-sale until Friday February 25th. After that date, only virtual tickets will be available. We will not be selling tickets at the door, so if you work in the industry and are thinking about joining us, visit BSMSummit.com to secure your seat over the next nine days. I hope to see you there.

Remembering Rush Limbaugh One Year After His Death

BNM Staff
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Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of conservative talk icon Rush Limbaugh, who died following a brief battle with advanced-stage lung cancer.

In the days and months after his death, program directors and operations managers had to scramble to fill a void that was once unimaginable in his former daypart. 

Limbaugh is considered one of the most influential media figures in American history, playing a consequential role in conservative politics since “The Rush Limbaugh Show” began airing in 1988.

Barrett News Media sought perspective on Rush’s passing and its subsequent impact on the news/talk format from renowned programmer Tim Wenger and nationally syndicated talk show host Brian Kilmeade. 

Tim Wenger – News/Talk Format Captain, AudacyOperations Manager/Brand Manager 930 WBEN, WGR SportsRadio 550 and ESPN 1520. 

How has Rush’s passing impacted the world of news/talk radio?

His passing really kind of rattled the format and, to some degree, the industry. Over the course of the last year, since his passing, there’s almost been like a reorganization of the format. Internally, we sought places where we felt continuing with some sort of a syndicated political context type of programming would continue to win, and we identified those places, and then we also looked to stations where we thought some type of local content would excel. 

Do you think people are less interested in the format since he passed? 

I don’t want to trivialize this at all because Rush can’t be replaced. I talk to listeners all the time who are mourning, like a member of their family has passed, and there’s a void in their life because Rush was a beacon for them for three hours every weekday for decades. But people that are interested in the format are interested in the format. They want to talk; they want to hear people talk; they are interested in current events. 

I think there may be less interest in spirited political debate all the time. I think we are seeing this in many markets where we are going into more generalized talk content that addresses immediate needs in communities. So, I think there may be a shift in interest level that is broader in nature.

What do you think Rush would think of his replacements? (Clay, Buck, Bongino)

I don’t know what Rush would think; it’s almost not fair of me to do that. I will say that those are people that he trusted. Those were people that he attached to and used on the show. So, one would guess that he would endorse them, so to speak. 

When I say that Rush was an icon, he was just so confident. I certainly didn’t know Rush personally, but I encountered him at conferences and such. Rush just did things his way; he didn’t really worry about anybody; he just worried about his own brand and what he stood for. I think that he would hope that those guys are doing the same thing. What he would think of them, I am not quite sure. We as a company have decided to embrace Dana [Loesch] and have worked out an arrangement where we put her in multiple markets where we felt that a continuation of a syndicated show would be most beneficial to brands. 

Have WBEN’s ratings suffered because of Rush’s passing?

No, it’s interesting because we switched it out. We didn’t replace the daypart with a noon-3 show. We localized the station from 10a-2p and then 2p-6p. We put two local people in there, David Bellavia in the earlier slot and Tom Bauerle in the later slot. So, the 12-3 slot has two shows across it. We did see a very initial decrease within the first quarter of 2021, and then we saw a big spike in the beginning of the summer and then late summer a wobble, and then we came back strong in the fall. So, I am confident that the local content seems to be winning for us. 

Brian Kilmeade is the co-host of FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends and the host of The Brian Kilmeade Show (weekdays 9 am – 12 pm/ET) a nationally syndicated three-hour radio program on FOX News Audio.

How has Rush’s passing impacted the world of news/talk radio?

I think the first sentiment is sadness because he was bigger than life, the best talk host ever, and his humility and class even staring at death was all inspiring. In terms of what happened to radio, it was a mad scramble to fill the slot from 12–3 pm, uprooting many lineups, but the most part, it’s been Dan Bongino, Buck & Clay who are spoiling the bulk of the affiliates. For others like me, who do not have a major syndicated company leveraging Rush to carry their other talent, it has helped us gain affiliates.

Do you think people are less interested in the format since he passed?

I would not say less people care about the format since Rush passed; it is just that no one has the impact he had for conservatives. But like a sports team, when the star goes down, it gives someone else a chance to shine, and some are really taking advantage of it. Podcasts are increasing in popularity which leads me to believe we should be talking audio, not radio, because it’s not so wide a swath.

What do you think Rush would think of his replacements? (Clay, Buck, Bongino)

Rush was remarkably supportive, and think he would appreciate their unique voices and also appreciate the fact that they are not trying to be him. Rush approached every show like his first and last, and it came through every day. As great and rich as he was, he knew what it was like to struggle, so he never took a day for granted. I think he would appreciate the same with his replacements.

Widow of Rush Limbaugh to Speak With Fox News One Year After His Death

BNM Staff
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Fox News will go 1-on-1 with Rush Limbaugh’s widow, Kathryn, during “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning. The interview will air one year after the conservative talk icon passed away.

The network said Ms. Limbaugh will address her late husband’s dynamic career, their marriage, his cancer diagnosis, and his final days.

Ainsley Earhardt will conduct the interview with an extended version of the exclusive interview published on the network’s streaming service, FOX Nation.

Limbaugh died of lung cancer on Feb. 17, 2021. His last show was on Feb. 2. His syndication company, Premiere Networks, opted to air the show using multiple guest hosts with soundbites from past Rush shows up until Clay Travis and Buck Sexton officially replaced him.

Limbaugh was laid to rest during a small, intimate ceremony at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis on Feb. 24, 2021.

Chris Cuomo Denies Sexual Assault Allegation

BNM Staff
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Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is facing new allegations of assault levied by a former associate at ABC News.

According to The New York Times, Cuomo asked the unidentified woman to lunch and, when she arrived, made sexual advances towards her; when she refused, he allegedly assaulted her.

Cuomo denies the allegations through a spokesperson. He is also “doubling down on his claims that he was improperly fired by CNN.”

Instead, telling people that when the dust settles, he will be demanding an apology from his old network and his former boss Jeff Zucker.

The Times said Cuomo received a letter from the woman’s lawyer, Debra Katz, who reportedly calls his action an “abuse of power at CNN to attempt to silence my client.”

The report is the latest in a series of allegations against Cuomo, whose firing started a series of moves that culminated in the resignation of former CNN President Jeff Zucker and the network’s chief market officer, Allison Gollust.

Bill Walton’s 30 For 30 Should Be The First Of Many Broadcaster Films

Andy Masur
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Bill Walton’s 30 For 30 Should Be The First Of Many Broadcaster Films

ESPN’s 30 for 30 series has been a huge hit for the network over the years. I remember traveling for baseball and having multiple episodes loaded for viewing in flight. Depending on how long the trip was, I would have several episodes ready for viewing to pass the time and be entertained. 

I remember watching the first one that came out in 2009, King’s Ransom, the story of Wayne Gretzky’s trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. I was hooked. From there I’d download many of them. Some of my other favorites were, June 17, 1994, Jordan Rides the Bus, and Four Days in October. 

It has been reported that ESPN is working on a 30 for 30 on Bill Walton currently titled The Luckiest Guy in the World. It will focus on Walton’s life in basketball, from UCLA to the Portland Trail Blazers, and then on to the world of announcing. By my calculations, Walton would be the third (or fourth depending on how you count) broadcasting type to be featured. Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder was the focus of Episode 6, which showed his life as a Vegas bookmaker to his time on The NFL Today on CBS. Years later, WFAN’s iconic duo Mike and the Mad Dog got their own 30 for 30 as well.

There should be more announcers featured. There have been so many talented men and women broadcasters that it’s probably too difficult to narrow down the field and then produce the episodes. So, I have compiled a list of announcers/analysts that I’d like to see featured on an upcoming 30 for 30’s. Here we go! (In no ranking order)

Vin Scully, MLB.  ‘It’s Time for Dodgers Baseball’

Scully is well known as the best play-by-play announcer in Major League Baseball history. His storytelling ability was second to none. Many have tried to imitate, but nobody will ever duplicate Vin.  

FOCUS: The move from NY to LA and his early days working with Red Barber. Also, on his partnership with the late Don Drysdale and why Scully decided to work on his own rather than bring in a new partner. 

Pat Summerall and John Madden, NFL.‘Montana…Rice…Touchdown…Whap!…Boom…Doink’

These guys HAVE to be featured together. There’s no other way around it. The two were paired together in 1981 and their partnership lasted 22 seasons between CBS and Fox. They were the perfect duo. Summerall was a minimalist, and Madden, had a lot to say, ALWAYS. 

FOCUS: How this unlikely pairing became the most recognized and well-liked duos in the history of the NFL. What did it take to get this pairing off the ground and maintain that tremendous working relationship? 

Chick Hearn, NBA. ‘It’s A Slam Dunk’

Ask anyone living in Southern California and they’ll probably tell you that Hearn is the greatest to ever call an NBA game. He called almost 34-hundred consecutive Lakers games starting in 1965. That’s nearly 38 straight seasons. 

FOCUS: Hearn was as much a part of ‘Showtime’ as Magic and Kareem were. I’d love to know where he came up with ‘Slam Dunk’, ‘Air Ball’ and ‘No harm, no foul’. The phrases live on today in basketball lingo.

Keith Jackson, ABC, Football, Baseball. ‘Whoa Nellie’

The voice, the unmistakable voice of Keith Jackson will always be remembered. Mainly as a college football announcer for ABC, he became the gold standard. With his ‘Whoa Nellie’ and ‘Fum-BLE!’ He’s also credited with naming Michigan Stadium, ‘The Big House’. 

FOCUS: The early days of college football on television, this one could even show the evolving nature of the game through Jackson’s eyes. He saw some of the greatest college football players ever and some of the greatest teams ever. 

Brent Musburger, CBS, ABC, studio, play-by-play. ‘You Are Looking Live’

From hosting ‘The NFL Today’, to becoming a broadcast play-by-play voice of football and basketball on CBS/ABC/ESPN, Musburger has been a fixture in the industry for many years. 

FOCUS: Where did ‘you are looking live’ come from? It could also focus on the evolution of the NFL studio show. The CBS show had a gambling angle way back when. The early indications that viewers wanted to know this aspect of the game. 

Doc Emrick, NBC, NHL play-by-play. ‘Waffle boarded, pitchforked, ladled, SCORRRREE!’

The wordsmith of hockey and voice of many a hockey memory. Emrick is a member of the US Hockey Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. His style is unmatched, with the vocabulary of an English professor, with no descriptions commonly the same. 

FOCUS: That vocabulary, how, where, why? This would also be a good time to find out about Emrick the man. He has always had a love for animals and frequently would rather discuss this passion rather than hockey. 

Howard Cosell, ABC Commentator, Monday Night Football. ‘I’m Just Telling It Like It Is’

How do you describe Cosell? In his own words in a New York Times piece, ‘I’ve been called arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. And, of course, I am.’ He had a style all of his own. He was famous for his interactions with Muhammad Ali, watching them interact was incredible. 

FOCUS: How would the style of Howard Cosell work in today’s world of sports? Could he have been, ‘himself’ in the current culture? If that wouldn’t work, I’d love to have an account of how Cosell broke the news of the death of John Lennon on Monday Night Football. 

Jim Nantz, CBS, Studio, Play-by-play, PGA, NFL, NCAA. ‘Hello Friends’ 

What else could the title be? His face/voice have become the signature of CBS Sports. Nantz is the lead voice of PGA, NFL and College Basketball coverage on the network. In 2007, he called Super Bowl XLI and joined a group, with Dick Enberg, Curt Gowdy and Kevin Harlan as the only play-by-play announcers to call both a Super Bowl and NCAA Championship game. 

FOCUS: I’d like to know more about Nantz and his association with the PGA Tour and more specifically ‘The Masters’. It would be cool to relive some of the greatest finishes and tournaments in his time. The Tiger Woods’ wins in 1997 (#1), and 2019 (#5) could fill 30 minutes easily. 

Al Michaels, ABC, NBC, play-by-play, NFL, MLB. ‘It’s No Miracle’

Michaels is such a pro he can do any sport. He proved that during the 1980 Winter Olympics when Michaels called one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports. The Miracle on Ice team will always be tied to him. But Michaels has done so much more, like baseball, basketball and of course now football, including last week’s Super Bowl. 

FOCUS: He’s already been featured in ‘The Day the Series Stopped’ the story of the 1989 World Series being interrupted by an earthquake. I’d like to see more of his work with the Cincinnati Reds from 1971-74; and then his early days with UCLA starting in 1974. 

Kevin Harlan, CBS, Westwood One, play-by-play, NFL, NCAA. ‘With No Regard For Human Life’

Harlan is the rare breed that knows the ins and outs of calling a game and have the ability to insert some humor into the broadcast. The thing that is great about Harlan is one never gets in the way of the other. His enthusiastic calls resonate and don’t go over the top.

FOCUS: I could watch an entire night of his epic calls of people running on the field, a cat looking to score a touchdown, or Harlan calling two games at once. He’s so good and I still love one of his catchphrases ‘With No Regard for Human Life’, hence the title of his story. 

Dick Vitale, ESPN,College Basketball. ‘Awesome With A Capital A’

There probably isn’t anyone who has done more to spread the joy of college basketball than Vitale. It’s hard to imagine telling the story of NCAA basketball without him in it. At present Dickie V is in a battle with cancer. I know he’s been going through some rough times of late but he continues to inspire many, Tweeting about his experiences. All the best to you! 

FOCUS: I would love to watch the story of Dick Vitale the coach. Mainly his work at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he went 79-29 and took a Titans team to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1977. 

Marv Albert NBC, Turner Sports, NFL, NHL, NCAA, NBA. ‘Yes! And It Counts’

There really isn’t much that Albert hasn’t done. He’s been a party to some of the greatest moments in sports, locally in New York and nationally for NBC. Versatile, enthusiastic and sarcastic, Albert was truly one of a kind. 

FOCUS: I’d like to know more about what it was like calling New York Rangers games starting in 1965. He was on the radio call for the Rangers Stanley Cup-clinching victory in 1994. I’m sure there are some stories to tell in there. “Kick save and a beauty”

Jack Buck CBS, ABC, St. Louis Cardinals, MLB, NFL. ‘He’s A Winner!’

The unmistakable voice of Buck assured you that it was going to be a big game no matter the consequence. The longtime voice of the St. Louis Cardinals also lent his talents on the national baseball scene. From his ‘Go crazy folks, go crazy!’ to ‘I don’t believe what I just saw’ he captured the moment as only he could. 

FOCUS: One of my first jobs in radio was to ‘run the board’ for Monday Night Football games. The announcing team of Buck and Hank Stram were so good and so smooth together. I’d like to hear more about that tandem as they ‘matriculated’ down the road of CBS Radio’s coverage of MNF. 

Gus Johnson, Fox, BTN, CBS, College Football, Basketball, NFL. ‘Hurt My Feelings!’

Johnson’s high-energy style has resulted in a polarized response from sports fans. Catchphrases are his thing along with the upbeat style. ‘Rise and fire…count it’, ‘Cold-blooded’ and ‘Here comes the pain’ are among many he uses. He rose to prominence in the mid 2000’s after getting a shot to call NCAA March Madness games on CBS.

FOCUS: He’s been everywhere. Would be interesting to follow Johnson’s career on its many stops, then focus in on his NCAA Basketball work. Maybe also follow him through a session of doing the voicework for the Madden NFL video games. 

Leslie Visser, CBS, ABC, NFL, MLB, NCAA, Tennis, Olympics ‘There’s Nothing She Couldn’t Do’

Lesley Visser was a trailblazer. Visser spent a decade as a reporter with The Boston Globe before making the jump to television work, where she’s the only broadcaster, male or female, to work the Final Four, NBA Finals, World Series, Triple Crown, Monday Night Football, Olympics, Super Bowl, U.S. Open and World Figure Skating Championships. 

FOCUS: You could go any number of ways here, just spanning her career achievements would be riveting enough. The struggles she went through to pave the way for future generations of female broadcasters would also be interesting to see. 

Others in the mix: Joe Buck, Mike Tirico, Bob Costas, Harry Caray, Dick Enberg, Curt Gowdy, Jim McKay, Jack Brickhouse, Bill Raftery, Beth Mowins, Doris Burke, Hannah Storm, Frank Gifford, and Don Meredith.

There you go ESPN, I’ve done the hard part, now it’s time to get moving on these!

Danny Freisinger Named Director Of Sports At Audacy

BSM Staff
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Danny Freisinger is moving on from 95.7 The Game and ESPN 1320. He has been named the new Director of Sports at Audacy. His role will have him working on content both for the company and its 2400Sports podcast studio.

He will be charged with helping grow the brand with initiatives on the local and national levels. That will mean developing new on-demand content and growing the footprint of what already exists. Freisinger will report to Vice President and Executive Producer of 2400Sports, Lena Glaser, and Audacy’s VP of Sports Matt Volk.

Danny Freisinger is a Bay Area native, that has been around in the local sports radio scene. Prior to joining The Game, he worked for KNBR. He was named brand manager of ESPN 1320 in San Francisco in 2020 and has also helped work on initiatives for BetQL.

“I look forward to Danny starting his new role, and working collaboratively with everyone to achieve great success for Audacy,” Volk said in a press release.

Allison Gollust Resigns From Chief Marketing Officer Role

BNM Staff
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A couple of weeks ago, former CNN President Jeff Zucker resigned from his position with the network after revealing a consensual relationship with fellow executive Allison Gollust. 

There were some questions about why only Zucker was resigning and why Gollust didn’t join him. However, two weeks since the news broke, Gollust has resigned from her chief marketing officer position. 

WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar released a memo in which “the investigation found violations of Company policies, including CNN’s News Standards and Practices, by Jeff Zucker, Allison Gollust, and Chris Cuomo.”

“Based on interviews of more than 40 individuals and a review of over 100,000 texts and emails, the investigation found violations of company policies, including CNN’s news standards and practices,” the memo stated.

“I realize this news is troubling, disappointing, and frankly painful to read. These are valid feelings that many of you have. We have the highest standards of journalistic integrity, and those rules must apply to everyone equally.”

Gollust didn’t remain quiet as she released her statement accusing the network of trying to change the narrative of the situation. Furthermore, she states that executives at WarnerMedia had “assured” her she could notify staffers of her leaving on Tuesday night. 

“Unfortunately, they jumped the gun, breaking their promise,” she wrote. “I am sorry you had to learn this from someone other than me.” 

“WarnerMedia’s statement tonight is an attempt to retaliate against me and change the media narrative in the wake of their disastrous handling of the last two weeks.”

2022 BSM Summit Adds 6 More Speakers

Jason Barrett
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2022 BSM Summit Adds 6 More Speakers

We are two weeks away from putting on a long overdue sports media conference for industry professionals. If you haven’t bought your ticket to attend in person, hurry up and do so before it’s too late. The theater is filling up, and we will stop selling live tickets to the show on Friday February 25th. To make sure you have a seat, visit BSMSummit.com.

For those looking for details on the various sessions planned for our 2022 show, head on over to the Summit website. Everything has been updated except one session which we’ll announce in the coming days, and our two award winners for this year’s Champion’s Award and Mark Chernoff Award. Those award winners will be revealed tomorrow.

What I’m thrilled to share with you today are the additions of six new speakers to our 2022 Summit schedule. Each of these folks have built successful careers, and I’m glad they were able to make time to share their knowledge with our in-person and online attendees.

I’ll start by welcoming ESPN SVP of Studio Production, ESPN Audio, and the NBA, David Roberts to the Summit. David will be part of an important panel I’ll be hosting on the importance of workplace diversity, and finding diverse leaders and influencers. Joining him on stage will be Good Karma Brands Vice President Debbie Brown, and ESPN host Pablo Torre.

Staying inside the ESPN family, I’m pleased to have 98.7 ESPN New York program director Ryan Hurley joining us for a session titled ‘The Big 12’. Ryan will present three ideas to help stations drive ratings and/or revenue, as will Sports Radio WIP’s Rod Lakin, Sports Radio WHB’s Sandy Cohen, and 104.3 The Fan’s Raj Sharan.

Next up is Bonneville’s Executive Vice President, Scott Sutherland. The longtime leader of Bonneville Phoenix, now charged with overseeing all markets for the company, will lead the ‘Inside The Corner Office’ conversation with market managers Chris Oliviero, Mike Thomas, and Joe Bell.

The fourth addition to the Summit stage is someone who’s spoken at our show before, and is right in the middle of the sports betting talent frenzy sweeping the nation. We’re excited to welcome back FanDuel’s Chief Marketing Officer Mike Raffensperger. Mike will join our ‘Betting On Sports Media’ session involving DraftKing Chief Media Officer Brian Angiolet, and Fanatics Chief Commercial Officer Ari Borod, hosted by ESPN’s Joe Fortenbaugh.

Last but certainly not least, we’re looking forward to presenting our very first Agents panel. To help us bring it to life we’ve called upon Kevin Belbey of CAA Sports, and Heather Cohen of The Weiss Agency. This will be an interesting conversation with a ton of value for for both talent and industry decision makers.

That’s the latest on the Summit. We’ll share the news tomorrow of our two award winners, and hope to reveal soon a few guests who are scheduled for the ESPN After Party following the first day of sessions. Once again, if you haven’t bought a ticket and have been thinking of attending either in person or online, do so asap by visiting BSMSummit.com. Now back to planning!

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