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Reflecting on Where The Daily Wire, Westwood One Sit One Year After Relationship Ended

Garrett Searight
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Reflecting on Where The Daily Wire, Westwood One Sit One Year After Relationship Ended

It’s rare for me to go back and look at old columns I’ve written, or to try to answer questions I’ve posed in this space. But this one felt like it deserved a follow-up. When the Daily Wire and Westwood One ended their relationship a year ago, I wanted to see how both sides handled the fallout.

At the time, when I broke the story for Barrett Media that the shows would be leaving Westwood One, it felt like a major shift in the news/talk landscape. Westwood One wasn’t simply losing three shows. It was losing some of the core tentpoles in its conservative talk lineup.

And if we’re being honest, the company has seen its star power shrink even further in the year since. Dan Bongino’s exit only made that picture more bleak. Those are massive hits by any measure. This isn’t a knock on Guy Benson or Vince Coglianese. They host perfectly fine shows. They are reliable and professional. But there’s a difference between “solid” and “top of the food chain.” Bongino and Shapiro carry a level of weight and recognition that drives audience passion in a way few others can replicate.

But this wasn’t a one-sided stumble. The Daily Wire has had its own rough patches since parting ways with terrestrial radio. Co-founder and CEO Jeremy Boreing left the company. Rumors about a potential sale to FOX cropped up. Before that, there were rumblings about financial instability. And at various points this year, Shapiro, Knowles, and Walsh each found themselves in the middle of controversies that generated more heat.

It has been a messy twelve months for both sides of the breakup.

Still, something I wrote last November kept sticking with me: Does The Daily Wire need news/talk radio? Or is it the other way around?

12 months later, I think we have our answer.

In December of last year — the final full month Shapiro’s show aired in national syndication on Westwood One — The Ben Shapiro Show ranked 13th in Podtrac’s Top Podcasts by U.S. Unique Monthly Audience. Fast forward to October 2025, and the show sits at eighth. That is not the trajectory of a brand suffering from a lack of terrestrial presence. In fact, it suggests the opposite. The show lost zero momentum without hundreds of AM and FM affiliates. It may have even gained traction.

So here we are with what feels like a clear, if uncomfortable, conclusion. The Daily Wire has not experienced a dramatic drop in relevance since cutting ties with national radio. Yes, Tucker Carlson said recently that he believes the company will collapse within five years. Maybe he’s right, maybe he’s not.

But the numbers today don’t show a product that has shrunk because it left the airwaves. And I’ll admit, when I wrote that column last fall, I think I expected at least some loss of reach or brand strength once the radio megaphone went silent.

I was wrong.

Now the question becomes: What does this result say about the news/talk radio space?

If some of the most influential conservative media figures in the country can leave syndication and come out the other side not only intact but thriving, what does that imply about the leverage radio once had? What does it say about the value proposition that networks like Westwood One offer? And what does it mean that a digital brand — one that often courts controversy — still appears stronger outside the traditional radio ecosystem than inside it?

I’m afraid to dive into the true answer of those questions, because I’m not sure I’ll love the conclusions I reach.

Because if The Daily Wire doesn’t need news/talk radio to remain a powerhouse, but radio needed The Daily Wire, then the balance of power is shifting in ways the industry has been slow to acknowledge.

But one year later, it’s hard to avoid.

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.

Why Radio Programmers and Their Teams Need to Be Listener Obsessed at Live Events

Jim Ryan
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Why Radio Programmers and Their Teams Need to Be Listener Obsessed at Live Events

What are the chances in a market of 18 million people with about 4,400 Nielsen PPM meters that you could have one or meters at your radio event? Actually, the chances are good.  

During the years that I programmed WCBS-FM and WNEW I was fortunate enough to have Media Monitors. It allowed me to see the exact moment meters come and go to any station in the market. Throughout my time programming those stations, we did various concert events. I always played the radio station before the bands went on stage. I’d make a very careful note of the exact time we shut the station off and live stage announcements began. 

Then Sunday morning when the meter data was available on Media Monitors I’d look at that exact time we shut the station off and went live to the stage. As crazy as it sounds, more than half the time, I would see meter loss at that exact moment. They did not switch to another station, they simply stopped using radio. On one occasion, at a WNEW concert in a New York City venue, I saw the station lose 4 meters. I assumed a family of four was in attendance.

You may ask, how could this be? 

If a household agrees to carrying meters, move them for 8 hours a day (less for children) and dock them every night there has to be a reason. Some research tells us it’s the Nielsen incentive. Others say its people who want their opinions known. Then there are some who believe it’s because that family is a fan of radio.

Who would come to a radio station event? That’s easy, a fan of that specific station or radio in general. Yes, we have the power to move our P1’s to come to our events. There may very well be people at that event who affect audience measurement.

The lesson in this is that the entire staff of your station needs to be listener obsessed at every event you participate in. You need to go out of your way to make sure that audience expectations are exceeded. Whether it’s a concert with thousands or a talent appearance at a mobile phone store on a Saturday afternoon. In the era of budget cuts and less station visibility, it’s no less important to be out in your market to increase the bond with your audience. It’s not only the right thing to do in building your brand, but it could also pay off in positive rating gains. 

Every single listener you meet or speak with on the phone, should be treated like they are special. In the same way that a sales person would never hang up on an advertising client, talent or promotions should never be rude to a listener. While I’ll never deny the effectiveness of radio promotion, the best advertising may be word of mouth. Let your P1’s spread the word of how you went out of your way for them.

You don’t necessarily have to play your station live to get Nielsen credit. If your appearance is at a car dealer and you don’t want to play commercials of competing sponsors simply take an encoded broadcast from the past 24 hours and edit out the commercials. Play that through the speakers at the event. And if your station is TLR, take the audio of the encoded stream getting you even more credit.

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.

What Apple Podcasts’ Top Charts of 2025 Reveals About the Relevance of Sports On-Demand Content

John Mamola
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What Apple Podcasts’ Top Charts of 2025 Reveals About the Relevance of Sports On-Demand Content

Who doesn’t like a good list at the end of the year? One of the items I always look forward to is how networks curate their top ten (insert category here) lists near the end of the calendar year. Every content company does it from Apple to YouTube. A personal favorite is Spotify’s annual user-generated report. Showing what I listened to most over the past 365 days.

On Wednesday, Apple Podcasts released its Top Charts of 2025, listing the best of the best in podcasting. Apple said the comprehensive year-end charts—albeit released in mid-November—highlight shows and creators that captivated listeners worldwide.

While lists across platforms are open to debate. Apple is the gold standard. CNN Business calls Apple’s influence in podcasting “outsized.” Yet one aspect of the rankings stood out: no sports-focused podcasts made any of the top charts.

Consumers are always searching for content on their terms—on their schedule, on the platform they choose. Exclusivity rarely works in the podcast space. Creators chasing it are usually disappointed.

Live vs On-Demand Dichotomy

When it comes to live television, sports reign supreme. Last week, nine of the top ten U.S. shows across broadcast, cable, syndication, and live streaming were sports broadcasts. That’s not a trend; it’s a fact.

Yet that hunger of the masses for sports content doesn’t translate to the podcast space like it does in the traditional television model. It’s interesting, yet confusing.

Sports podcasts rank among the top five most popular genres of podcasts, with an estimated 186 million Americans who listen to them. Podcasts that have celebrity, are all-inclusive, and connect fans with personalities with content that relates to their fandom. A safe space with no time constraints where opinions are more formal and conversational.

Time Magazine released its ‘100 Best Podcasts of All Time’ list earlier this year, with six sports podcasts making the list. As Netflix aims to claim a slice of the podcast pie, it made a partnership with The Ringer, bringing nine of the brand’s best over to the video streaming platform in early 2026.

Sports podcasts drive audience, gaining more revenue with new stars being created every day.

But no sports on Apple’s Top Charts of 2025?

The Bill Simmons Podcast not as popular with podcast listeners as Dateline NBC?

Pardon My Take taking a back seat to Huberman Lab?

The Dan Le Batard Show playing second fiddle to This American Life?

Is sports content truly not as popular as we think it is for the on-demand audience? Not one sports-focused show was featured in the top ten for 2025. Every category including ‘Top New Show,’ ‘Top Shows,’ ‘Most Shared Shows,’ or ‘Most Shared Episodes.’

The lone survivor was Taylor Swift’s appearance on the New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce podcast, which ranked as the third-best episode of 2025, according to Apple’s rankings. We all know why that happened. Over 24 million views on YouTube alone since it’s debut three months ago, yet since then not a single video of New Heights cracked over a million views since. Most are averaging under 300,000 views.

A Need For Change?

It highlights an interesting paradox. Consumers love live sports and appointment viewing, but content about the games’ outcomes often falls short. Did I ever think a podcast discussing how our brain connects with other organs in our body would be more popular with the consumer than interviews with the biggest names in sports?

No. But it underscores a reality about how sports podcasts are packaged.

Sports podcasts often deliver nothing more unique than sports radio has for decades: results, commentary, and the occasional interview. This format, once revolutionary, has been adapted for on-demand consumption. Longform, commercial-free, easily downloadable. The model is now one of the fastest-growing revenue streams for traditional broadcasters, though many were late to the party.

When you look at the top ten shows, many of them involve information and learning. True crime, in-depth Hollywood interviews, or evergreen content dominate charts because consumers can enjoy it anytime, not just when it’s timely. Sports podcasts, in contrast, often discuss results, box scores, and timely interviews, leaving little evergreen appeal.

That common characteristic may be why sports podcasts do not crack the top ten in these rankings. It’s not a knock on the content that creators push out, but sports podcasts discuss results and tie in an interview or two. That’s not unique, or even close, to evergreen content.

Sports podcasts rarely tell narratives. They lean on current events and celebrity interviews, offering entertainment value that doesn’t match the mass on-demand appetite for evergreen content. Passion and niche audiences are not enough to break into Apple’s top charts consistently.

A Reality Check

What can sports podcast creators do then? Just accept the rankings for what they are? What’s the takeaway?

A smart creator is always on the search for how to improve the product. The challenges are there in an oversaturated marketplace, with very few podcasts able to break through to success. It’s a cheap model to talk to an audience as a form of entertainment, with no promise of any growth as algorithms continue to dominate our content search.

Sports podcasts aren’t flopping—far from it—but the Apple charts are a reality check. The audience for on-demand sports just isn’t as massive or consistent as it is for live games. People tune in for the action, but once it’s over, they move on.

Sports podcasts are left fighting for attention in a crowded space. With little evergreen appeal and even less viral traction. Passion will get you an audience, yes, but it won’t guarantee top-of-the-charts popularity.

Maybe that’s the lesson the industry has been ignoring: sports podcasting may not be the juggernaut we’ve been imagining—at least, not yet. For those willing to take risks and rethink the approach, the opportunity is still there.

The challenge is cracking the Apple.

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.

‘Fantasy Focus Football’ Delivers the Expert Analysis Fans Desire From ESPN

John Molori
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‘Fantasy Focus Football’ Delivers the Expert Analysis Fans Desire From ESPN

With fantasy football rambling toward the playoff season, there are a number of shows to choose from to get data and direction. One of those shows that really stands out is Fantasy Focus Football on ESPN. All-around football dude Field Yates is joined by a varied pack of fantasy football experts for a discussion on rankings, injuries, and game previews.

The participants also debate how the biggest NFL stories, on and off the field, impact fantasy football rosters. On this particular episode, Yates was joined by Daniel Dopp and Stephania Bell.

Dopp opened the show as the de facto host after a video barrage of numbers, graphs, and numerical equations filled the opening montage. This particular edition of Fantasy Focus Football featured three of the best fantasy commentators in the business right now.

A Roster That Plays to All Fields

Dopp is deep into fantasy numbers, on track and on point with his selections and thoughts. I really like his style. It’s relaxed and laid-back, but also enthusiastic and charming. He is charismatic and a superior addition to a number of ESPN fantasy programs.

Bell has emerged as the medical/injury expert on ESPN fantasy platforms. She is extremely knowledgeable, with insight on the types of injuries. How long a player might be out of service, and how each injury and player is incredibly different. She is to ESPN fantasy football injuries what Cynthia Frelund is to NFL Network numbers and trends.

And then there’s Yates.

The former NFL personnel staffer is not only a regular talking about fantasy football on ESPN, but has taken a lead role on NFL Live and other programs. He has taken his nerdy, numbers-crunching persona and brought it to another level.

The mix of Dopp, Bell, and Yates is a great one on Fantasy Focus Football. They are equal parts intellect, personality, and style. This particular program offered a recap of the Monday Night Football game between Dallas and the Raiders. Also Week 12 waiver wire options for fantasy football owners and GMs.

Analyisis Rooted in Detail

Yates’ first words were apologies to Raider fans for their team’s dismal performance vs. Dallas this past Monday. Bell emphasized that this has been a really tough week for NFL injuries. Stressing that this is what separates good teams from great teams. Meaning: Is a team relevant and stacked enough to withstand injuries and make a playoff run?

This trio really possesses a nice mélange, offering different skill sets and angles without talking over each other. The show is fun and upbeat without being overbearing.

As Dopp, Yates, and Bell analyzed the Monday Night Football game from a fantasy standpoint, lower-third graphics showed individual player stats from that game. Yates and Bell talked about the super performance by Dallas wide receiver George Pickens. Who had 11 targets, 9 receptions, 144 yards, and a touchdown for a total of 29.4 fantasy points.

Dallas’s performance spurred Yates to say that the team now has his attention. He said that their next game against the Eagles will be a lot tougher. But if they play defense the way they did in the MNF game, it could be interesting.

A subsequent graphic showed the in-house fantasy league for Fantasy Focus Football staffers. Showcasing each team’s performance from this past week. Dopp, Yates, and Bell had a lot of fun with this, with some barbs and good-natured ribbing.

Metrics That Matter

One of the best parts of Fantasy Focus Football is the advice they hand out regarding players who might be available on the waiver wire to help in the fantasy playoffs. Dopp selected San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who just returned from injury. He has Pearsall as a good playoff stash, rostered in 67% of leagues and averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game.

Dopp always has solid intel and statistics to go along with his assertions. He’s definitely one of my favorite fantasy football broadcasters on TV. He also stated that with Brock Purdy back at quarterback, Pearsall becomes an even more interesting add.

Yates went with the Vikings’ quarterback J.J. McCarthy as a playoff stash, while Bell gave some injury updates for the Steelers and picked Pittsburgh RB Kenneth Gainwell as her playoff stash selection. The trio also talked about Week 12 bye teams. The Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins, and Commanders — and how the remaining bye weeks will factor into fantasy football.

I like the priority pickup segment of the show, where Dopp talked about a couple of quarterbacks: Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett and Seattle’s Sam Darnold. He provided some really good insight on why to stick with Darnold despite his horrible game this past week against the Rams.

Dopp and Bell had a nice back-and-forth about the Packers’ running back situation with the injury to Josh Jacobs this past week. Dopp mentioned Green Bay running back Emanuel Wilson as a possible priority pickup if Jacobs cannot play. Some of the deeper fantasy targets discussed by Dopp, Yates, and Bell were running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. of the Commanders and Sean Tucker of the Bucs, who had a monster game this past week in a loss against the Bills.

The discussion of Tucker put Bell front and center to talk about the lingering injuries of Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving, who has been out since Week 4 with both foot and shoulder injuries.

Bell, the ultimate injury insider, spoke with people in the Tampa Bay organization, who told her that Irving is at practice every day, but just not able to play in the games. They do not have any definitive timetable for his return, she related. Bell also questioned how many carries Irving would get even if he did come back. It’s a question that fantasy owners have to ask themselves if he is activated and able to play in Week 12. Bell stressed that even with all of his rehab, rest, and time at practice, Irving is not being tackled, which, of course, will happen in a game.

Dopp mentioned Falcons’ WR Darnell Mooney as another deeper league target. A dubious Yates immediately retorted that he actually started Mooney on his own fantasy team back in Week 8. Mooney had 1 catch for 11 yards in that game against the Dolphins.

Bell chimed in, reminding everyone that Mooney hurt his shoulder on the first day of training camp. This exchange was a great example of the tremendous synergy between Dopp, Yates, and Bell.

Fantasy Focus Football is a wide-ranging and varied program, covering all of the aspects, variables, and fun minutia of fantasy football. As the show neared its end, the panelists revealed their playoff “trash picks” — players whom you should not trust as the fantasy playoffs approach.

Players mentioned were Chargers WR Quentin Johnson, Cleveland RB Quinshon Judkins, Eagles wideout A.J. Brown, and Kansas City RB Isiah Pacheco.

From picks to pans to percentages, Fantasy Focus Football gives you all of the stats, scoops, and storylines to make the right adds and drops that could bring your team to a coveted fantasy football championship.

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.

What Urban Radio Listeners Should Expect From The Format’s Best

Ken Johnson
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What Urban Radio Listeners Should Expect From The Format’s Best

Since my last stint at a station, I’ve been listening to radio — especially urban radio — simply as a listener. I found it easier than I thought not to critique anything — I just wanted to be entertained and informed. But I can say with complete honesty that I wasn’t consistently entertained or informed.

Once I started writing this article for Barrett Media, I had to put my programmer’s hat back on, albeit with a content creator’s eye. Listening last week, I heard some things that made me wonder what we should expect from radio—specifically, urban radio.

Back in the “olden days,” we used to talk about the three-song sweep. When you listened, you got a sense of the station’s essence. Those three songs—paired with the branding and imaging—gave you a clear idea of what the station represented.

During a recent listen to a couple of stations, one presented a sweep of Mariah the Scientist (still not sure what that’s all about), Ella Mai, and Mariah Carey. And before you ask — no, it was not a new Mariah Carey song. Not to be outdone, another urban station in the same market played Usher (a great song, by the way), Ne-Yo, followed by one minute and 30 seconds of dead air, and Babyface in its sweep.

Some may think this is no big deal; however, hearing three female artists and three male artists back to back was a big deal to me. For me, this signaled that someone was asleep at the keyboard or that it wasn’t a big deal to them.

When programming a station and editing a log, I was always mindful of that three-song sweep. I’m not saying I was some kind of super-PD and that every sweep was perfect. There were plenty of times — listening in my office or in my car — when I knew I could have made a better choice for a song or an imaging element. But “great” should never get in the way of “good,” and even as you always strive for excellence, no one is perfect.

All of this got me thinking about listeners and what they expect from a station. Now, I’m a research guy, so maybe I need a perceptual study or a focus group to answer that question. But there’s a prevailing thought that radio users are essentially the same ones who have always used radio—that radio is not attracting a high percentage of new users.

In line with this thinking, if the songs that are considered classics still on the radio are from the last 20 years, and if I limit my query to adult listeners, I should be good, right? At least, that’s the logic. And let’s be honest: there are plenty of people in this country who use far less information to form their opinions.

Since I was active in radio 20 years ago — and for some time after — I’m comfortable making an educated guess about what listeners want from their adult urban station. But what they expect and what they deserve are not necessarily the same thing. Listeners expect quality. They expect accurate information. They expect to be entertained and informed.

Once upon a time, how a station served its community was one of its defining measures. I remember every time we launched a new station, research showed exactly where the current urban options were falling short. Heritage brands were once so strong they could be deficient in certain areas and still withstand an attack from a new challenger.

Listening today, I’m not so sure that’s still the case.

If mediocrity becomes the standard, then the listeners—and the community—lose.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can email me at ken@kenjohnsonmedia.com.

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.

How The Daily Wire’s Isabel Brown Became One of Gen Z’s Most Influential Conservative Voices

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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How The Daily Wire’s Isabel Brown Became One of Gen Z’s Most Influential Conservative Voices

She’s social media’s favorite all-American girl, clapping back at the woke mind virus. But if you had asked The Daily Wire’s Isabel Brown the type of life she was planning years ago, it would not have been this.

“I never intended on working in this industry at all, which is so funny. I really fell into it by accident,” Brown recalled.

The Colorado State and Georgetown graduate was studying to become a doctor when her passion for objective truths ignited her tongue aflame like the disciples on Pentecost.

“I found myself in college sitting in classes like physiology and anatomy and organic chemistry, [and] we were being lectured by my professors a whole lot about their personal political opinions, and why the First Amendment is out of date, or why a southern border wall was really racist,” the podcast host retorted.

Fiercely against this distorted version of academia, Brown took matters into her own hands, trying to change this sentiment on campus. Then she went to her first Turning Point USA conference. “I felt compelled to go,” she enthusiastically reminisced. “I think that was very much the Holy Spirit nudging me in the right direction, and [brought] my sister with me on a plane to Dallas, Texas, in June of 2017.”

Brown affirmed this was the moment she “instantly fell in love with activism, with the conservative movement, with the vision that this guy Charlie Kirk, this kid in New Balance dad sneakers and ill-fitting jeans, had for our country, and wanted to get involved in whatever way I could.”

The pre-med student began Colorado State’s Turning Point USA chapter that fall, and her boots have been on the ground paving the way for conservative women ever since. “I just felt this deep sense of being pulled in this direction somehow, and I think a lot of that had to do with friends and mentors I made along the way.”

One of those friends was Charlie Kirk. She recalled him telling her, “You shouldn’t go to medical school. God clearly has something else planned for you, and you don’t want to work in a fluorescently lit hospital every day. You have a voice, and you need to use it.” Brown took Kirk’s advice to heart and, after graduating, started posting on social media.

While working for TPUSA, Brown met her husband, Brock. Brown said of her friend, “I owe my career, I owe my intellectual development, I owe a lot of my faith development, and certainly my family to him.”

In the wake of Kirk’s death, Brown is seeing “a renewed fire and passion in his memory and in his legacy from people who say, consequences be damned, this is more important now than ever to bring people to Christ, to speak the truth, to revive our country, and to inspire an entire generation.”

This includes Brown. Her hard work, plus bringing her whole authentic self to the small screen in your pocket, has brought her to more than 1.2 million followers on Instagram alone. Brown credits the success to how Gen Z communicates differently, in part due to mistrust in the media. “There’s been a lot of propaganda put before young people in particular over the past decade or so, and now what you’re seeing people really yearn for in the content that they’re consuming is genuine authenticity.”

Through the years, Brown’s followers have seen her go through many of life’s greatest changes. “I was married about a year and a half ago, and I had my daughter almost seven months ago.” She believes all of her success is nothing compared to “the joy and excitement and purpose that I have as a wife and as a mom.”

The Gen Z firebrand is elated to see “the conservative movement start to be rooted in the importance of family as a building block for our society,” because she believes “nothing has been a stronger foundation for flourishing societies than marriages and families that are strong, and oriented towards God and godly values.”

This past October, Brown began hosting her podcast on Daily Wire+, an accomplishment she never expected. “I got a random call from the new leadership team at The Daily Wire two days before I gave birth to my daughter in April,” Brown said exuberantly.

Paraphrasing the outlet, Brown said, “They said, ‘Hey, we have a whole new leadership suite over here, a new president of the company, new heads of content, new everything, and you’re the first person we’re calling, but we’re really interested to see if you would be interested in doing anything with The Daily Wire.’” Brown felt honored to have the open-ended conversation.

One reason Brown and other content creators like her stay independent is because it can feel like the media owns you. “The industry standard is very much baked in to own you. They own all of your channels, they own all of the content that you put out.”

It’s an industry standard the native Coloradan wanted nothing to do with. “In many ways, contracts at companies like this own your name, image, and likeness in perpetuity,” Brown said, calling the practice “very restrictive.”

However, The Daily Wire doesn’t operate like this. “For the first time ever, I was told, ‘Yeah, we’re not interested in owning your name, we’re not interested in owning any of your social media channels. We want you to do you, and to be you, and do more of what you’re doing. We just want to help amplify that on the back end, and give you the institutional support to do that, and we think that could be a great partnership.’”

It was a key part of the conversation Brown was happy to have. “I’ve never had that conversation in the near decade I’ve been working in the conservative movement before, and obviously I’m not the only person that Daily Wire is bringing into our community.” The outlet’s new leadership has brought an onslaught of new talent.

More importantly for Brown, joining The Daily Wire has given her more time for life’s most important moments. “This is such a blessing from God that I never saw coming, that I can pass off a lot of the more back-end institutional stuff, so I get to spend a lot more time with my daughter, which is a far more important job than I ever will have as a podcast host.” Joining forces with The Daily Wire has made Brown’s podcast one of the fastest-growing on YouTube ever.

Her hope for the future of her podcast is simple: “Revive genuine curiosity and the process of ideological discovery again. I tell everybody, by no means do you have to agree with everything I say. That’s actually really boring.”

Brown welcomes disagreements because “we have a chance to have a real conversation [or one] in comment sections on Instagram, or live chats on YouTube, or even speaking engagements on college campuses. I see a lot of really fruitful dialogue happening with young people right now that ultimately does boil down to that pursuit of truth together.”

Questioning the science, after all, is the final step in the scientific method, which Brown was missing all those years ago in her pre-med classes.

If you are looking to fight for what is good and true, Brown believes all you need is “10 seconds of courage.”

Pointing to her own personal example, Brown said, “You don’t need to have this massive platform in order to influence the world towards truth, you just have to be willing to do it, and that’s hard.”

“Starting [my career] as a literally nobody college student, the one lone person with a rickety folding table on a sea of 33,000 student college campus handing out buttons that said socialism sucks, I honestly probably made a bigger impact intimately in people’s lives to change their mind,” Brown affirmed.

She believes this is because “I was having real face-to-face conversations with them, I was challenging them with fun questions, and developing intimate, real relationships with those people that you just can’t replicate through a screen.”

You don’t have to be an influencer to change the world, but you can have a huge impact on your “spheres of influence,” be it the people you sit next to at church, in class, or around your Thanksgiving dinner table.

“So be courageous,” she said before profoundly adding, “Be willing to speak the truth, even when it’s scary, and your boldness in your intimate sphere of influence matters a whole lot more than a video I post on TikTok.”

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 Announces Three-Year Media Rights Agreement With Major League Baseball

BSM Staff
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Netflix Announces Three-Year Media Rights Agreement With Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday it is partnering with Netflix. The league is moving beyond documentaries to live game coverage under a three-year media rights agreement covering the 2026-2028 seasons.

Netflix has previously collaborated with MLB on Emmy Award-winning documentaries including The Turnaround and The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox, as well as the eight-part docuseries The Clubhouse. It now adds marquee live events to its more than 90 million U.S. and Canadian subscribers and over 300 million globally.

The streaming service will feature several high-profile games each season. Opening Night will begin with a single matchup preceding the traditional slate of Opening Day games. In 2026, the New York Yankees will face the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, March 25th.

Netflix will also become the new home of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby. The event, traditionally held the day before the All-Star Game. It will take place at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia in 2026.

Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, emphasized the platform’s commitment to expanding its sports footprint. “We are incredibly thankful for our partnership with Major League Baseball,” Bajaria said. “We started with critically-acclaimed documentaries, deepening the existing global passion for baseball. Now, we are seizing that moment by bringing massive cultural spectacles. From Opening Night to the Home Run Derby—directly to our members, reinforcing Netflix as the ultimate home for both the story and the sport.”

In addition, the streaming service will host an annual MLB special event game. Beginning with the MLB at Field of Dreams matchup on August 13, 2026, featuring the Twins against the Phillies in Dyersville, Iowa.

Further extending its global reach, Netflix will exclusively stream all 47 games of the 2026 World Baseball Classic live and on-demand in Japan. MLB Network’s production team and Netflix’s in-house team are teaming up to produce all live game broadcasts.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Jr. praised the agreement as a step forward in reaching fans worldwide. “These partnerships build on MLB’s growing momentum,” he said, noting the league’s recent surge in viewership and the global interest generated by generational stars and innovative rules.

By integrating live events alongside its acclaimed documentaries. Netflix is positioning itself as a unique platform for fans seeking both the narrative and action of baseball. The partnership marks a significant evolution in the streaming landscape for live sports.

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.

Scott Jennings After Inking Extension with CNN: I’m Not Interest in Going to Fox News, All Panelists Agreeing is Boring TV

BNM Staff
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Scott Jennings After Inking Extension with CNN: I’m Not Interest in Going to Fox News, All Panelists Agreeing is Boring TV

Scott Jennings has revealed he has signed an extension to remain with CNN, and has also shared he doesn’t find a move to a network like Fox News appealing.

In an interview with the Strongsville, Ohio GOP, Jennings was asked why he continues to appear on CNN and if he’d have any interest in joining a network like Fox News, which would better align with his political beliefs.

He said that doesn’t interest him.

“Well, I’m quite happy with CNN,” said Jennings. “In fact, I just re-signed with them … My contract was up, and they offered me a new contract, and I was happy to sign it. I’ll be honest with you, I think I was put on this earth to debate liberals. And CNN, right now, is where we’re doing it. I think that’s the highest and best use of my time in the media.

“I’ll be honest: I think sometimes TV is a little boring when it’s just six people sitting around agreeing with each other,” Jennings continued. “What we’re doing on CNN, especially at 10 o’clock, is having authentic debates. And I think when conservatives are allowed to authentically debate in that kind of an environment, it helps the movement.”

Scott Jennings has seen his profile grow in recent months due to his work on CNN. Most notably, he has sparred with other panelists in the 10 PM ET window during NewsNight with Abby Phillip, with his comments routinely going viral. He also recently launched a nationally syndicated news/talk radio show with Salem Radio Network.

In spite of constantly clashing with his CNN co-horts, Jennings spoke highly of the program and his colleagues.

“It’s the most unique show and I don’t think there’s anything like it on cable television,” Jennings added.

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 Announces Wide-Ranging MLB Media Rights Deal Beginning in 2026

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces Wide-Ranging MLB Media Rights Deal Beginning in 2026

ESPN and Major League Baseball are deepening one of the longest-running relationships in sports media. The two sides have struck a new rights agreement that hands the network exclusive control of MLB.TV and expands both national and local game coverage across ESPN platforms.

The companies announced the deal today, confirming it’ll run from 2026 through 2028.

The agreement positions ESPN as the exclusive rights holder to MLB.TV, the league’s out-of-market streaming service. Beginning in 2026, thousands of live and on-demand games available through MLB.TV will be accessible directly in the ESPN App. They will also remain available on MLB digital platforms. New MLB.TV subscribers will be able to purchase the service through ESPN’s redesigned app, placing baseball alongside more than 50,000 annual events from ESPN’s broader ecosystem.

ESPN also secured exclusive local in-market streaming rights for six clubs. Those teams include the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Their local broadcasts will be available to purchase and stream on MLB platforms beginning in 2026.

For ESPN Unlimited subscribers, the company will also roll out a “game of the day” slate. It will feature more than 150 out-of-market matchups per season.

In addition, the deal includes a new 30-game national package for ESPN’s linear networks and direct-to-consumer offerings. The schedule will lean heavily on weeknight broadcasts during the heart of the summer and continue ESPN’s exclusive presentation of the MLB Little League Classic. ESPN also picked up rights to Memorial Day baseball and second-half season openers.

“This fan-friendly agreement allows us to showcase the great sport of baseball on both a local and national level, while prioritizing our streaming future,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “MLB.TV is a coveted, must-have companion for passionate MLB fans all over the country.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the expanded presence on ESPN’s app reflects the changing habits of modern fans.

“This new agreement with ESPN marks a significant evolution in our more than 30-year relationship,” he said. “Bringing MLB.TV to ESPN’s new app while maintaining a presence on linear television reflects a balanced approach to the shifts taking place in the way that fans watch baseball.”

The deal also preserves a wide range of existing rights. ESPN Radio will remain the national audio home of the World Series, the full postseason, the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby and weekly national games. Baseball Tonight studio programming will also continue. So too will the network’s Spanish-language rights for its new linear package.

Internationally, ESPN will maintain distribution of daily regular-season games, the All-Star Game, playoff matchups and the World Series across multiple regions, including Latin America, the Caribbean, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, the Netherlands and China.

The agreement extends a partnership dating back to 1990. It reinforces ESPN’s position as one of baseball’s most significant media partners heading into a streaming-heavy future.

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.

NBC Sports Announces Multi-Year Media Rights Agreement With Major League Baseball

BSM Staff
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NBC Sports Announces Multi-Year Media Rights Agreement With Major League Baseball

MLB and NBCUniversal have announced a three-year media rights agreement. The deal brings a revamped package of exclusive regular season and Postseason coverage to NBC, the newly launched NBCSN, and Peacock starting in 2026.

The reunion between the league and network will launch with a marquee moment: the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers raising their banner ahead of a primetime Opening Day matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26, 2026. It will be the only primetime game on MLB’s first full day of action.

The agreement centers on a multi-platform slate that places Sunday nights at the heart of NBC Sports’ baseball strategy. NBC and Peacock will share a 25-game Sunday Night Baseball package each season. They’ll also add a new Labor Day primetime telecast and an exclusive Opening Day game.

Peacock will again host MLB Sunday Leadoff, which returns with 18 morning starts followed by a live whip-around show tracking every game across the league.

NBC Sports President Rick Cordella said the deal revives a legacy while building new tentpole moments for fans.

“We are excited to reignite NBC Sports’ storied Major League Baseball history through this comprehensive and innovative partnership that will honor the past and create new traditions,” Cordella said. “With the Sunday Night Baseball package, NBC and Peacock are now the year-round platforms for premier Sunday night sports programming.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also praised NBC’s production track record and its storytelling ambitions. Manfred noted that the partnership allows the league to extend its recent growth.

“NBC has demonstrated an outstanding combination of high production value and powerful athlete storytelling,” Manfred said. “We are looking forward to working together to continue the sport’s momentum.”

In addition to regular-season coverage, NBCUniversal will become the exclusive home of the entire Wild Card round. The package includes between eight and 12 Postseason games annually. That gives NBC a meaningful stake in MLB’s playoff structure for the first time in decades.

The network will also introduce several new offerings. Every game on July 5, 2026, will appear exclusively on Peacock and NBC as part of a special “Roadblock” day that spans morning to night. NBCSN and Peacock will carry MLB Draft coverage and the All-Star Futures Game in 2026. Peacock will stream daily out-of-market games and expanded highlights, documentaries, and short-form content.

Sky Sports, NBC’s sister network in the United Kingdom and Ireland, will receive international rights to most of the package.

For NBC, the move cements a year-round Sunday night strategy already anchored by Sunday Night Football and Sunday Night Basketball. For MLB, it reestablishes a partner with decades of history. NBC first televised the World Series and aired decade’s worth of Game of the Week broadcasts.

With Opening Day 2026 set to deliver the first showcase, NBC’s return to baseball begins with a spotlight it hasn’t had in nearly 25 years.

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.

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