Welcome back from the break. Just before the holidays I looked at how the music being played at Classic Rock stations is slowly evolving. You can see that column here. This week, I’m peeking under the hood of the Classic Hits format for notable trends.
Thanks to Mediabase I was able to pull full year statistics for Classic Hits airplay in 2025. I decided to look at which artists received the most airplay at the format. I also pulled archived numbers for 2024 (previous year), 2020 (5 years earlier), 2015 (10 years earlier) and 2000 (25 years earlier) to look for changes. Here’s what stood out.
Similar But Different
Comparing the top ten most-played artists in 2025 to the previous year, it’s mostly the same ten artists but the order gets shuffled up a fair amount. As opposed to Classic Rock where there was little movement in the top ten, Classic Hits stations changed things up some in the past year.
Michael Jackson and Billy Joel held on to the first and second slots, respectively. After that Madonna jumped four placed to third, Bon Jovi jumped three places to sixth and Pat Benatar was the only new entry jumping from eleventh to eighth. She took Elton John’s spot as he fell five slots from sixth to eleventh while Fleetwood Mac also dropped from fifth to ninth.
Artist
2024 Rank
2025 Rank
MICHAEL JACKSON
1
1
BILLY JOEL
2
2
MADONNA
7
3
JOURNEY
4
4
QUEEN
3
5
BON JOVI
9
6
AEROSMITH
8
7
PAT BENATAR
11
8
FLEETWOOD MAC
5
9
PRINCE
10
10
ELTON JOHN
6
11
Here Come the Nineties
It’s subtle but if you squint at the data just right you can see a new decade slowly infiltrating the format. U2, which straddles the eighties and nineties, is up from forty-two to thirty-one. After sneaking in at number eighty-nine last year, Alanis Morrissette is now the fifty-sixth most played artist. Likewise, No Doubt climbed twenty-three spots to seventy-three. New additions to the list include Green Day at sixty-nine and the Goo Goo Dolls at seventy-five. Get ready because here comes a new generation of stars to contend with.
When the Eighties Took Over
Being much more versed in Classic Rock history than Classic Hits I was also intrigued to see the change that took place in the format between 2000 and 2015 when the eighties truly took over.
To put it into perspective, of the top one hundred most-played Classic Hits artists in 2025, only eight were in the top one hundred twenty five years ago. The Beatles, who were number one in 2000 are now thirty-second and the Beach Boys who were second now rank seventy-fourth. For a more graphic illustration, here is the top twenty artists from 2000 compared to 2025.
2000
2025
Rank
Artist
Rank
Artist
1
BEATLES
1
MICHAEL JACKSON
2
BEACH BOYS
2
BILLY JOEL
3
SUPREMES
3
MADONNA
4
ELVIS PRESLEY
4
JOURNEY
5
FOUR SEASONS
5
QUEEN
6
FOUR TOPS
6
BON JOVI
7
TEMPTATIONS
7
AEROSMITH
8
ROLLING STONES
8
PAT BENATAR
9
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER
9
FLEETWOOD MAC
10
JOHNNY RIVERS
10
PRINCE
11
RASCALS
11
ELTON JOHN
12
SIMON & GARFUNKEL
12
HALL & OATES
13
HERMAN’S HERMITS
13
JOHN C MELLENCAMP
14
NEIL DIAMOND
14
PHIL COLLINS
15
LOVIN’ SPOONFUL
15
BRYAN ADAMS
16
S ROBINSON/MIRACLES
16
EAGLES
17
STEVIE WONDER
17
CYNDI LAUPER
18
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
18
POLICE
19
MAMAS & PAPAS
19
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
20
ARETHA FRANKLIN
20
TEARS FOR FEARS
It’s hard to believe there was a time when the format was dominated by The Supremes, The Four Seasons and Elvis Presley. I wonder if there will ever be a time when we say the same thing about Journey, Madonna, and Bon Jovi?
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
We are heading into a New Year and I’m hoping it’s EXTRA LOUD! 2025 was an interesting one with AI invasions, radio reinventions, pivots for broadcast pros (myself included) and reflections on rock for those that make the format a part of their DNA (also me). The radio industry’s health and headwinds make it easy to get caught up in the static. But 2026 is approaching and it’s time to move forward.
When I launched my Carr Stereo Podcast, I made it a point of including brand new rock artists. I wanted to showcase artists who move me that weren’t dominating charts or on the radar of record labels. In this DIY world we live in, talented individuals who are inspired, understand studio creation, and know the importance of songs and are dynamic on stage, also deserve recognition.
New talent is here, and carving their own career paths. They are both inspiring and exciting. With an eye on the future, here are 5 of my favorite future stars. 3 have appeared on my podcast, and the other 2, I’ve got to get on in 2026!
The 5 to Follow
Vengent Strays: The definition of these four young California musicians is perfect: “Fueled by raw energy, cranked guitars, and unapologetic attitude. Vengent Strays delivers a sound that hits like a shot of adrenaline.” They sure do. Their new single “Passion On The Run” has an 80’s anthem appeal, mixed with killer musicianship.
I spoke with the band of 20 something’s on Carr Stereo. They told me about their journey from being California’s #1 80’s cover band to honing their craft, writing original music, and fusing great songs with the spirit and vibe that is rock and roll. Keep your eyes on them.
Red Voodoo: Led by young DIY master Dino Wild, they’re going places. As a teen, Wild messaged Frank Hannon from Tesla from his High School class to ask for advice. Sammy Hagar invited Dino to perform with him at Cabo, and Wild has even played with some of his 80’s heroes on tour. Red Voodoo’s EP (produced by Jameison Durr – Sammy Hagar, Don Felder, Nancy Wilson) is out and more music is coming from this exciting band. Dino is the definition of a rockstar.
The Band Feel: When I hear the phrase “Rock is Alive and Well” I think of “The Band Feel”. Hailing from St. Louis, fusing roots rock, groove and feel, they’ve already amassed millions of YouTube Views. These guys are heading out on the Creed Summer of 99 Cruise which is already sold out. We need a ‘The Band Feel” date in the NY/NJ area – SOON! I can’t stop listening to them.
Them Dirty Roses: “Bama” boys, playing good old stick to your ribs rock with a smoky southern flavor. I saw them last month in Asbury Park, NJ. When their set ended I needed more. They wowed a Tuesday night New Jersey crowd and I did what I usually do after a set if I l LOVE the band, I headed to their merch table and bought myself a shirt.
Bella Perron: Bella is honing her craft as the new generation of guitar instrumentalist (Heroes? Heroine?) following in the footsteps of her personal inspirations, Steve Vai, Randy Rhoads and Ace Fhehley. She is carrying on the tradition that “girls can do it too”. Bella is the next generation of women inspiring young girls to pick up a guitar and play like Orianthi, Sohie Loyd and Nita Strauss. Check out her singles “Mirrors”, “Enlighten” and “Empress In Overdrive’.
Bella studied at Berklee and picked up her first guitar at five. She is a former member of the band Plush, and current member of the country rock band “Midnight Cowgirls”. Watch out, here she comes!
Closing Comments
Check out my full interviews with Vengent Strays, Dino Wild from Red Voodoo and Bella Perron on my Carr Stereo Podcast, available online, on YouTube (Video version) and wherever you get your podcasts.
Happy New Year!
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
After a month of stunting with mostly Country-leaning Christmas music, ICA Broadcasting has flipped KAJE 107.3 back to a Country format, ending its two-year run as Regional Mexican 107.3 Que Buena.
The relaunch occurred at midnight Thursday, with the station adopting the Hot Country 107.3 branding already in use on co-owned KMRK-FM Odessa/Midland, known as Hot Country 96.1. ICA Broadcasting says the move is designed to unify its Country programming identity across multiple markets.
John Cruz will host the morning drive on the new Hot Country format, while cluster General Manager Kelly Morgan—who also handles mornings on sister Classic Rock station 104.5 The Eagle—will lead the afternoon shift.
KAJE had a long history in Country radio, previously known as My Country 107.3 and later 107.3 The Bull, before switching to Regional Mexican at the end of 2023.
The return to Country places KAJE in a competitive Corpus Christi market that includes iHeartMedia’s K99, Quality Broadcasting Corporation’s 97.5 KFTX, and Claro Communications’ Retro Country 105.9/103.3.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
President Donald J. Trump made an unexpected appearance on WABC’sSid & Friends in the Morning this morning, cold calling into the station to speak with Red Apple Media owner John Catsimatidis, who was filling in for Rosenberg.
The call focused on U.S. military strikes against Islamic State targets in Nigeria on Christmas Day, political criticism of his recent actions in Venezuela, and a personal message of gratitude to Catsimatidis. On Christmas Day, the United States, in cooperation with the Nigerian government, struck several targets. The U.S. claimed the terrorist group had been targeting Christians in the region. Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the strikes were part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States. This cooperation involves intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to target militant groups.
Trump defended the timing and precision of the strikes during his unexpected call on WABC Radio, calling them a “Christmas present” for U.S. interests.
“I told Nigeria, and I told the people around Nigeria that if you do it, you’re going to get hit. And I said yesterday, I said, hit him on Christmas Day. It’ll be a Christmas present. We hit ISIS, who have terrible the butchers. Then we really hit them hard in different locations, and they really got hit hard yesterday. So they got a very bad Christmas present,” Trump said.
The president also addressed criticism from Democratic lawmakers over a separate action involving U.S. strikes on boats off the coast of Venezuela. He suggested their objections were politically motivated rather than rooted in policy concerns.
“They’re only objecting because I’m the one doing it, or anybody else, even another Republican. Let’s say you take a weak Republican, they would say that’s all right. But because they have Trump derangement syndrome, they’re sick people. There’s something wrong with them. But every time I knock out a boat, we save 25,000 American lives. It’s very simple,” Trump said.
Throughout the conversation, Trump maintained a conversational and sometimes playful tone, even thanking Catsimatidis personally for his support.
“For the people listening, I called up just to thank John, he said some nice things about me. I ended up being on a radio show, and that’s ok,” Trump said, acknowledging the unusual circumstances of his radio appearance.
Catsimatidis, who was filling in for Rosenberg, welcomed the conversation and highlighted Trump’s accessibility during the call. The segment provided listeners a firsthand perspective on the president’s rationale behind recent military actions, as well as his reaction to partisan criticism.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Nick Kostos, host of You Better You Bet on the BetMGM Network, will bring his sports talk to the newly launched Westwood One Sports network starting Monday, marking a significant step in his career and a new direction for the program.
Speaking Wednesday on his BetMGM program, Kostos said he welcomed the opportunity to move into an early-morning timeslot, allowing him to focus on the show and balance his personal life.
“I like the idea that I get to get up early and focus on the show,” Kostos said. “I get paid well to talk about sports. Now, I get to get up, get to come to the office. Get to do my work. I do the show. I’m probably gonna have a bunch of other stuff I have to do after the show, which is cool. Then I get the piece out. Go to work out. Hang out with my daughter, hang out with my family, very cool. It’s a good thing, and I’m jacked for it.”
Monday, Westwood One Sports relaunches You Better You Bet with Kostos leading the program on the new network. In October, Audacy and Cumulus Media announced the merger of Infinity Sports Network and BetMGM Network as extension to the partnership between Audacy and Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, the sole distributor of both Audacy owned networks.
Under this new partnership, Westwood One will assume programming and distribution for the majority of the lineup of syndicated sports programming. Audacy will continue to produce popular BetMGM Network programs moving to the new network with BetMGM remaining a presenting partner and the exclusive sportsbook partner of those programs.
Kostos also described the honor of joining a network with such a storied history.
“I grew up like I’m sure a lot of people did—you listen to NFL games on the radio, college basketball Final Four, huge sporting events on the radio. It’s Westwood One. In my industry, in my field, that name, that brand carries a lot of weight and gravity and respect,” he said.
The host admitted he is allowing himself to fully embrace the excitement of being selected for the new network.
“I’m going to allow myself to be really happy about it. It’s ridiculously cool that these people that I respect, and you can question decisions that they’ve made, I’m not going to argue that. The fact that these people, many of whom are like legends in this field. Not that they’re perfect, neither am I, have seen something in me to identify me as someone worthy of and capable of and good enough to anchor a three-hour solo show Monday through Friday. I can’t put it into words what that means for me,” Kostos said.
Looking ahead to the debut of his Westwood One Sports show, Kostos expressed confidence in the program and its content.
“I think we’re going to come out of the gates on Monday, and the show is going to be awesome. It’s going to be great. I mean that. And if I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t say it. I certainly wouldn’t say it on the air. I’d probably say it off the air to the crew, like, ‘Hey, I think we’re in trouble here. We got to do something.’ I think it’s going to be great. The one thing that I can promise everybody is you, our audience, you are going to get my absolute best effort every single day,” he said.
Westwood One Sports weekday schedule is as follows:
6am – 9am: Drake C. Toll
9am – Noon: You Better You Bet with Nick Kostos
Noon – 3pm: Chris Bleck & Adam Abdalla
3pm – 6pm: The Jim Rome Show
6pm – 11pm: BetMGM Tonight with Brad Evans and Pat Boyle
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
MediaCo is expanding its iconic audio brand into television with the launch of HOT 97 News. A daily live national TV program set to debut in January 2026. The show aims to blend journalism, hip-hop, culture, and conversation in a format that mirrors trends in both radio and television content delivery.
According to MediaCo, the program will offer audiences “a raw, unedited blend of breaking hip-hop and music news, entertainment, and unfiltered discussion.” It will highlight stories through the cultural lens that has defined the HOT 97 brand for decades.
The program will be hosted by Lana Harris and Ronndell Smith, with Million Connally-Cooper serving as producer. HOT 97 News will be broadcast and streamed nationally across all HOT 97 TV and digital platforms. This allows fans access to the show on multiple devices.
The launch coincides with MediaCo’s broader rollout of HOT 97 TV programming on WHOT-66 in Atlanta. This will include a localized version, HOT 97 News — Atlanta, a one-hour daily live show focused on area entertainment and community headlines.
Harris, a metro Atlanta native, brings extensive on-air experience to the program. She has worked as a reporter, correspondent, anchor, and digital content creator. Her experience includes stations such as WANF-TV in Atlanta, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, WTLV-TV in Jacksonville, and WLTX-TV in Columbia, South Carolina. Most recently, Harris has focused on social media content delivery, blending traditional reporting skills with digital engagement strategies.
Smith, also based in Atlanta, is a comedian, host, and creative entrepreneur. He has collaborated with the social media news brand GAFollowers and appeared on the reality series “Chrisley Knows Best.” His presence on the program reflects MediaCo’s aim to merge entertainment with news coverage in a conversational, culturally attuned format.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
ESPN and Amazon Prime football analyst Kirk Herbstreit is one of the more respected voices in college football, but don’t expect him to take part in the heated, “clickbait-driven” debates that dominate much of sports media today.
The former Ohio State quarterback made it clear this week that he has no interest in such shows. He won’t participate in programs built around arguing for the sake of arguing. Herbstreit shared his thoughts on The Inner Circle Podcast, where he criticized the modern sports media landscape. Especially programs fueled by viral controversy and “loud” commentary.
“I think it started with Skip Bayless and Stephen A. because they kind of had a thing with them way back at ESPN. They would just kind of ‘let’s argue to argue,’” Herbstreit said. “It works for them. But I think other shows copied it and it just has become — I have to turn it off because it makes me get really frustrated as a sports fan and as somebody in the industry.”
Herbstreit, who has spent decades covering college football, went so far as to say he would leave television entirely before embracing that approach.
“I watch some of these shows on various networks, especially the NFL shows, and it drives me crazy where our industry has gone,” he said. “Politics are obviously this way, too, but it’s a lot of clickbait. It’s a lot of like really loud comments that will maybe go viral. ‘I might not believe in it, but it’s gonna go viral, and people are going to know who I am.’ Man, I will quit before I ever do that. Like, if that’s what it takes to make it, I would never do this.”
Despite his criticism of the broader sports media, Herbstreit praised the environment on College GameDay, ESPN’s flagship Saturday morning show. He said the program’s focus remains on the game itself, rather than personal drama or viral moments.
“On GameDay, we don’t do that,” he said. “Pat [McAfee’s] crazy and fun, but we make it about the players, we make it about the coaches, and we make it about the storylines. We really don’t make it about us. And the reason I’ll tell y’all that is if it ever changed, I would be so fast gone out of studio television. But I’m lucky. I kind of live on an island where we’re allowed to still talk ball and still just have fun talking about ball.”
Herbstreit’s comments reflect growing tension within sports media. Some analysts thrive on viral arguments and contentious debates. Others, like Herbstreit, remain committed to coverage grounded in expertise and the love of the game. For him, the choice is clear. If ESPN ever demands hot-take theatrics over substance, he said he won’t stick around to play along.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Charles Barkley wasted little time making headlines on Christmas Day, using the opening moments of ESPN’s NBA coverage to take a pointed shot at the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell for encroaching on what has long been one of the NBA’s signature days. Appearing on Inside the NBA, the Hall of Famer criticized the league’s decision to schedule regular-season games on Christmas. For decades, the holiday has been closely associated with the NBA.
“The NFL got greedy and started adding Christmas games,” Barkley said on the broadcast. “We used to have this day to ourselves, but Roger Goodell and them pigs at the NFL always want to hog every day of the week now. Christmas is an NBA day.”
The comments were consistent with Barkley’s long-standing criticism of the NFL’s expansion strategy. Earlier this year, he labeled the league “greedy pigs” ahead of the AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, which marked the first NFL playoff game streamed exclusively on Peacock.
This season marked the sixth consecutive year the NFL has scheduled games on Christmas Day. Historically, the league played on the holiday only when it coincided with a Sunday or Monday. Those days were already reserved for regular-season games.
. Thanksgiving, meanwhile, has traditionally been the NFL’s showcase holiday, while the NBA has not aired games on Thanksgiving since 2010.
NBA viewership on Christmas last year rose 87 percent compared to the previous year. Even so, the NFL continues to outperform the NBA on a per-game basis, including on Christmas Day. This reinforces why the league keeps pushing into nontraditional windows.
Barkley hasn’t backed off his criticism of the NBA either. He has also publicly challenged the NBA over what he views as growing greed within the league. Last summer, as the NBA finalized its new media rights deals with ESPN, Amazon, and NBC, Barkley criticized players and owners for failing to prioritize fans.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Netflix’s aggressive push into video podcasts now has a launch date. The streamer has announced that The Bill Simmons Podcast will premiere on Sunday, January 11, marking Netflix’s first major video podcast debut since the company outlined a broader shift toward the format earlier this year.
The show will stream live on Sundays at 11:30 p.m. ET, immediately following NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The scheduling aligns with a familiar rhythm for longtime listeners, as Simmons and frequent contributor Sal “Cousin Sal” Iacono often open the program by recapping the NFL’s marquee matchup of the week.
Following the live Sunday night broadcast, each episode will be available on demand on Netflix. Episodes will also be distributed on Spotify and other traditional podcast platforms. Notably, the show will not be distributed on YouTube.
Additional episodes beyond the live Sunday installment will be available on Netflix on demand. This reinforces the company’s intent to make the platform a destination for premium podcast video content.
As the NFL season concludes in February, the show’s focus will shift. Simmons will be joined by longtime NBA analyst Zach Lowe for expanded basketball coverage. The partnership is familiar to fans of both personalities. It further anchors Netflix’s sports podcast offerings around recognizable media voices.
The Bill Simmons Podcast is produced by Spotify-owned The Ringer, which will play a central role in Netflix’s video podcast expansion. In addition to Simmons’ flagship show, The Ringer will supply a wide range of titles spanning sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime.
Sports-focused programs heading to Netflix include The Ringer Fantasy Football Show, The Zach Lowe Show, The McShay Show, Fairway Rollin’, The Mismatch, The Ringer F1 Show, The Ringer NFL Show, and The Ringer NBA Show. Culture and lifestyle offerings include The Rewatchables, The Big Picture, The Dave Chang Show, The Recipe Club, and Dissect. True-crime content will feature titles such as Conspiracy Theories and Serial Killers.
Netflix has also struck separate agreements with Barstool Sports and iHeartMedia as it accelerates its move into the space. Barstool will contribute popular shows including Pardon My Take, The Ryen Russillo Podcast, and Spittin’ Chiclets. Meanwhile, iHeartMedia will bring established franchises such as The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne tha God, My Favorite Murder, and Chelsea Handler’s Dear Chelsea to the platform.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
The work of a reporter is to craft the art of the story. Sports are filled with all sorts of different storylines, from matchups and injuries to business transactions. The role of the sports reporter is to guide fans through the day-to-day of their favorite leagues, players, and teams. Brian Windhorst’s journey covering the NBA began more than two decades ago as a beat reporter covering the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal.
The evening of May 22, 2003, proved to be a defining moment for Windhorst as he worked to secure the full-time beat reporter role with the newspaper. It was also a moment Cleveland sports fans will never forget, when the Cavaliers secured the right to the top overall selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. Waiting in the wings was Akron, Ohio’s own LeBron James, who was expected to be picked first overall.
“I knew that was a life changing moment for me,” explained Windhorst, who had originally met James when he was 14 years old. “I knew that I would get the job, and I knew in that moment that LeBron staying in Cleveland would be huge for me.”
The beginnings of a Hall of Fame career in the NBA marked the start of Windhorst’s rise. He was quickly establishing himself as a compelling storyteller. His focus quickly became the biggest story in the league, with a worldwide personality as his subject.
Lifted By LeBron James
For James’ first seven seasons in the NBA, the stories were told largely through the words of Windhorst. Grateful for the opportunity to cover James, Windhorst agrees that his own career path is directly tied to James’ rise in the league.
“Without a doubt, we are inextricably tied,” noted Windhorst. “I recently saw an interview with Maverick Carter (LeBron James’ Business Manager). He is one hundred percent right talking about how LeBron James raises all ships. It’s a cliche, but it has happened everywhere he’s been.”
As impactful as the NBA Draft Lottery was in 2003 for both James and Windhorst, a night in July of 2010 proved to be just as consequential. When James announced he would be leaving Cleveland to take his talents to Miami, another door opened for Windhorst, as ESPN was looking for someone to cover James’ journey in South Beach.
“The night of the decision, I didn’t have any job offers yet. I didn’t want him to leave, but I knew that once I got through all the work my life was going to change again,” explained Windhorst. “I put in the work and effort to work my way up, and caught the tailwind of LeBron and rose with the ocean and am incredibly grateful and beneficial that I was able to find him and tell his story.”
As James moved to Miami, Windhorst moved to Bristol. He joined ESPN in 2010, covering the NBA with James as the face of the league. Over the past 15 years, Windhorst has expanded his presence at the network through writing, appearances on ESPN programs, podcast hosting, and his role as a full-time analyst on NBA Countdown.
Staying With ESPN
Recently, Windhorst signed a new multi-year contract extension with ESPN as the network entered a new media rights deal with the league. Earlier this summer, before the season tipped off, Windhorst’s name surfaced as a potential target for other opportunities, with NBC Sports and Prime Video launching their own NBA media deals.
“I had other offers from other partners. It was a once in a lifetime situation because there hadn’t been a new television partner since 2002,” explained Windhorst. “The truth is I began trying to align my contracts to be up at the same time as the TV deals, two contracts (six years) prior.”
He acknowledged the real possibility that TNT Sports could have extended its media rights. At the same time, NBC Sports and Prime Video might not have entered the picture at all. Although he positioned himself for that uncertainty, Windhorst ultimately chose to remain with ESPN after months of discussions.
“ESPN is very comfortable for me. Regardless of what people may believe, I have been treated very well by them. Every single day of fifteen years? No, but generally I have been treated very well,” said Windhorst. “I’m happy to be in the role with NBA Countdown. Whether I’m on for ten weeks or ten years, I’m happy to play the role as much as I can to story tell.”
Another notable addition to ESPN’s NBA coverage this season is Inside the NBA, which moved from TNT Sports to the network. The award-winning program remains a must-see destination for NBA fans and serves as a strong lead-in for the new-look NBA Countdown.
“They are such unicorns. We just sit back and watch them roll, then we do our thing. It’s two totally different staffs,” said Windhorst, who called it a blessing that ESPN secured the rights to broadcast Inside the NBA.
Windhorst says both shows are relieved to no longer compete with one another and are enjoying being teammates. While Charles Barkley has publicly joked about potentially working more at ESPN, Windhorst believes the comments are part of the act and expects viewers to see more of the Hall of Famer on television this spring.
“His trope is he’ll complain about how hard ESPN works you. Mark my words, when we get to the spring, Charles will want to do more TV,” explained Windhorst. “He’ll deny it, and that’s fine. But I’m telling you, Charles loves sports television.”
Athlete Driven Media
There is nothing new about former athletes entering sports media, much like Barkley did more than two decades ago. However, with the ease of entry into media today, many current and former players now participate directly in league storytelling. From game reactions to personal disputes, player-driven media has grown to unimaginable levels. This growth has made covering the league much more complex.
Windhorst has always valued the art of storytelling, but believes that despite increased access, the overall quality often falls short.
“The players are not experts in storytelling, and you often get more of a sanitized view,” noted Windhorst. “Players should try to tell the better story, which is the full story. Not what’s manicured.”
One athlete Windhorst would welcome into sports media is the same player tied to his career from the beginning. LeBron James has not officially announced his retirement and is currently playing his 23rd NBA season. While James has never discussed a media role with Windhorst, the ESPN analyst believes he would thrive in that space.
“The thing about LeBron is he’s so incredibly savvy. His ability to witness and analyze things in real time, he’d be amazing as a color commentator,” explained Windhorst. “For years I’d be in the locker room with him and he was watching a game, and it’d be like Tony Romo. He would be an elite and supreme color commentator; it would be amazing because I’ve seen it.”
Windhorst admits it’s unlikely that James would consider stepping into an analyst role. This despite his feelings it would be a giant boost for the league.
As James begins to close out his NBA career, Windhorst has no plans to follow him into retirement. He views himself as a small part of a larger group. A group that has grown alongside one of basketball’s most legendary careers
Today, Windhorst’s profile continues to rise through NBA Countdown, his Hoops Collectivepodcast partnership with Omaha Productions, and his recent contract extension. Having watched the NBA evolve on and off the court, he has seen many changes. He believes the league’s media landscape could once again be on the verge of change.
“I’d like to believe that storytelling is coming back, because I’m already feeling it,” notes Windhorst. “I’d like to believe that storytelling will make a full comeback. But what I’m afraid to say is that from 2020-2025, access is less and local media is less. There may be individuals who are doing great storytelling, but there’s less of it in the aggregate. That’s what I’m afraid will be the case.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
