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ESPN To Stream ‘College GameDay’ for Free Through Pat McAfee’s X Account, ESPN App Due To Ongoing YouTube TV Carriage Dispute

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ESPN To Stream ‘College GameDay’ for Free Through Pat McAfee’s X Account, ESPN App Due To Ongoing YouTube TV Carriage Dispute

For the second consecutive week, College GameDay will stream live and for free on the ESPN app and X (formerly Twitter) as The Walt Disney Company continues its carriage dispute with YouTube TV.

Pat McAfee confirmed the move on Friday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show. Telling viewers that ESPN is again making the popular Saturday morning pregame show available to fans affected by the ongoing blackout.

“If you obviously are in the middle of this dispute that is taking place between ESPN and YouTube TV. If you have the X account at all, GameDay will be live on there for the second week in a row,” McAfee said.

The dispute between Disney and YouTube TV has left subscribers without access to ESPN and its affiliated networks for more than a week. Forcing the company to explore alternative distribution options for College GameDay. The decision to stream College GameDay on X marks a unique workaround that allows fans to stay connected to one of ESPN’s signature college football properties through the social media platform.

McAfee, who joined GameDay as a full-time analyst in 2022, said the partnership benefits not only fans but also X itself. As it continues to grow its footprint in live video content.

“This is kind of a trailblazer thing for X,” McAfee said. “Obviously, they’ve made deals. They’re getting in the content game with the NFL. They got deals with the WWE. They’re starting to try to get into the content game in a bigger way. They’re starting to be a hosting platform and trying their best. Remember, Elon Musk’s vision of X is a place for everything — not just words. We want pictures. We want to be in content creator world and want to do business.”

McAfee added that X’s ambitions align with Musk’s vision of transforming the platform into a “one-stop shop” for digital entertainment and commerce. He believes this partnership demonstrates that progress.

The current impasse between the two companies, which began on Oct. 31, has resulted in lost access for YouTube TV’s subscribers to ABC and ESPN’s slate of college football games. Plus one of the network’s crown jewels — last week’s “Monday Night Football” game. According to several reports, the two sides remain “far apart” from any incoming agreement or settlement.

This weekend’s ESPN college football schedule includes a Top 10 matchup between BYU and Texas Tech in the mid-afternoon. Along with a classic rivalry game between LSU and Alabama in primetime. Monday night’s NFL game is arguably the best matchup Monday Night Football has had all season. With the Philadelphia Eagles in Green Bay to play the Packers.

The Athletic obtained a letter sent to Disney employees on Friday laying out the company’s perspective on the network’s standoff with YouTube TV.

“Rather than compete on a level playing field, Google’s YouTube TV has approached these negotiations as if it were the only player in the game,” the memo that was obtained by The Athletic read. It was signed by three high-ranking Disney executives, Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

While praising the innovation for tomorrow’s broadcast of College GameDay. McAfee credited ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro for helping to ensure College GameDay remains accessible to fans during the dispute.

“Jimmy Pitaro needs a lot of credit for this. He loves College GameDay and what it brings to people,” McAfee said. “He understands that people can be upset about everything that’s going on business-wise. So Jimmy Pitaro [is] zigging and zagging to try to get College GameDay to fans and college football fans as much as they possibly can.”

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 Extends NBA Insider Brian Windhorst To Multi-Year Agreement

BSM Staff
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ESPN Extends NBA Insider Brian Windhorst To Multi-Year Agreement

ESPN has reached a new multi-year extension with Senior NBA Writer Brian Windhorst. Ensuring one of the network’s most prominent and well-sourced basketball voices will remain a key part of its NBA coverage for years to come.

Windhorst, who joined ESPN in 2010, will continue to deliver analysis and reporting across multiple ESPN platforms, including ESPN.com, television programming, and The Hoop Collective podcast, which he hosts. The network confirmed the new deal in a statement Thursday.

Known for his deep insight into league trends and front office maneuvering. Windhorst has become one of ESPN’s most respected NBA reporters. His blend of news reporting, storytelling, and on-air personality has made him a staple of the network’s basketball coverage. Especially during major news cycles surrounding player movement, free agency, and trade deadlines.

Windhorst covered the NBA from 2003-10 for the Akron Beacon Journal and Cleveland Plain Dealer. He first began covering LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers while at The Akron Beacon Journal and The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. Over his 14-year tenure with the network. He has evolved from team beat writer to national NBA insider. Often breaking major stories and providing nuanced analysis on league business, player relationships, and front office dynamics.

The Akron, Ohio, native graduated from Kent State University in 2000. He is the author of three NBA-related books.

Over the years, Windhorst has built a reputation for providing context and perspective beyond the scoreboard. Often connecting the dots on the league’s most significant developments. His appearances across ESPN’s news and information programming, including Get Up and First Take, have also made him a recognizable voice among casual fans and dedicated hoops followers alike.

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Ben Shapiro: I Offered to Do Podcast Episode With Tucker Carlson, But He Never Responded

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Ben Shapiro: I Offered to Do Podcast Episode With Tucker Carlson, But He Never Responded

Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson have been at odds in recent weeks. Shapiro told Megyn Kelly he isn’t the source of the problem.

Last week, Carlson welcomed Nick Fuentes to his podcast. The controversial political commentator is a self-described Christian Nationalist who has previously shared admiration for Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.

That podcast appearance led Shapiro to publicly lambast Carlson for having someone like Fuentes on his show, calling the host “an intellectual coward” and a “terrible friend.”

After Carlson joined Megyn Kelly for a live tour stop earlier this week, Shapiro made a similar appearance on Thursday evening. He confirmed what Tucker Carlson had said: that Carlson had reached out in the days following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the two attempted to find common ground.

Carlson argued that he and Shapiro had agreed to no longer attack one another, but Shapiro did not follow up with his end of the bargain.

During the stop with Kelly, Ben Shapiro claimed to read texts between him and Tucker Carlson, purporting to show that he had gone as far as to suggest the two host a joint podcast episode.

“I texted him, and the exchange was very nice. Here’s what the actual conversation went like after the call: I texted him and said, ‘Thanks so much for calling. It means the world. It truly does. Should we do a show together talking about the DSA threat, Democratic Socialist America threat, and orienting in the same direction? Happy to do whatever it takes to bring everyone back together for the fight that matters.’

“Tucker then wrote back, ‘Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I’m going to spend the next week or two thinking about how to be most effective. The country is clearly on the brink.’ I reached out repeatedly after that, but nothing happened,” said Shapiro. “I thought it was a good idea at the time, but I felt differently after I saw what he did with Nick Fuentes.”

Shapiro added that he spoke of his relationship with Tucker Carlson “with sadness” because he believes that the host “used to be a deeply important part” of the conservative moment. However, he argued that the influence of Carlson has been clouded by his association with Fuentes.

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670 The Score ‘Mully & Haugh’ Win Best Morning Show at Illinois Association of Broadcasters Gala

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670 The Score ‘Mully & Haugh’ Win Best Morning Show at Illinois Association of Broadcasters Gala

The Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score was awarded the best morning show award by the Illinois Broadcasters Association Thrusday evening. The longtime Chicago sports radio duo received the Silver Dome Award for the first time during the IBA’s annual ceremony honoring the state’s top television and radio stations.

For Mulligan and Haugh, the recognition was both unexpected and gratifying. The kind of moment that reminds even veteran broadcasters why they got into the business.

“Come on, man. I mean, how often does something like that happen?” Mulligan said Friday morning on 670 The Score. “You gotta love it. It’s so much fun. It was shocking. I was sitting there, next thing you know, we walk up there, and someone, as I was coming back, said, ‘Congratulations.’ And I said, I think there’s been a terrible mistake made in our favor.”

That self-deprecating humor is vintage Mulligan — one of Chicago’s most respected radio voices. He’s spent decades in the market, first as a journalist and now as one of its most listened-to morning hosts. His chemistry with Haugh, the former Chicago Tribune sports columnist, has been a cornerstone of 670 The Score’s weekday lineup since they paired up in 2018.

Haugh echoed his co-host’s appreciation, calling the win a testament to the passion and consistency of Chicago radio professionals.

“That was very nice. It was an exceptional evening,” Haugh said. “Lot of great people we saw in the TV market here in Chicago that we have known for years. A lot of people doing great radio as well. And we were fortunate, and yeah, to win the best morning show.”

The Mully & Haugh Show has built its reputation around smart, conversational sports talk. A blend of insider access, journalistic perspective, and a distinctly Chicago sensibility. The hosts dissect the Bears’ latest moves, debate the Cubs’ direction. Plus analyze every development in local and national sports with credibility and humor.

The night was also a celebration for other’s within The Score and Audacy Chicago. Imaging director Russ Mitera and executive producer Chris Tannehill were awarded the Best Station Imaging award for their collaborative “Bears Season Hype Promo.” Chicago Cubs radio broadcaster Pat Hughes was inducted into the IAB Hall of Fame, while Audacy stations WBBM Newsradio was awarded the coveted Station of the Year award.

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Mark Sanchez Reportedly Out At FOX Sports

BSM Staff
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Mark Sanchez Reportedly Out At FOX Sports

Former NFL quarterback and FOX Sports analyst Mark Sanchez is reportedly no longer with the network following his recent arrest and ongoing legal battle stemming from an alleged assault in Indianapolis. TMZ Sports was first to report the news. FOX Sports has not publicly confirmed the news nor returned correspondence to Barrett Media.

Sanchez exit stems off the 38-year year old former NFL quarterback being involved in an incident last month involving an altercation where he was hospitalized and later arrested on suspicion of felony battery after police say he attacked a truck driver while intoxicated.

Authorities reported that Sanchez suffered multiple stab wounds during the altercation. The truck driver, who claimed self-defense, was not charged but has filed a lawsuit against both Sanchez and FOX Sports seeking unspecified damages.

According to police records, the incident occurred in early October. Sanchez was released from the hospital several days later and briefly booked into jail on October 12 before being freed on bond. Upon his release, Sanchez appeared before reporters with his arm in a sling. He expressed gratitude to medical personnel who treated him.

“I’m just focused on my recovery,” Sanchez said. “I just wanted to thank the first responders. I want to thank the surgeon — she saved my life. I’m recovering slowly.”

A preliminary hearing was held on October 22. Which Sanchez did not attend due to ongoing medical recovery, according to his defense attorney. His trial date is set for December 11. The court has allowed Sanchez to return home to California while awaiting trial.

Sanchez’s exit from FOX Sports ends a four-year tenure that saw him transition from the field to the studio. After an ten-year NFL career that included stints with the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys, Sanchez joined FOX in 2021 as a game analyst. He earned positive reviews for his on-air energy and insight.

Neither FOX Sports nor Sanchez has publicly commented on his departure from the network.

FOX Sports officially announced the hire of Drew Brees on Friday. Signaling Sanchez’ replacement in his former role with the network.

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Audacy Rock Format VP Vince Richards to Exit

BMM Staff
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Audacy Rock Format VP Vince Richards to Exit

After eight years at the company and the past four as Audacy Rock Format Vice President, Vince Richards is exiting the organization.

Richards will depart the company at the end of November, closing a chapter with the radio group.

“After eight personally and professionally rewarding years at Audacy, I’ll be moving on to my next opportunity,” Richards said in a memo to staffers.

“I am incredibly proud of the work I’ve accomplished with our teams here in Dallas and across the country, driving ratings and revenue while connecting with our listeners,” Richards added. “I look forward to continuing to build on the legacy I’ve created throughout my career in radio.”

During his tenure with Audacy, Richards worked in both Dallas and Sacramento, helping lead the company’s strategy in the format. Previous stops before working with the company include time at KSHE 95 in St. Louis, as well as in locations like Buffalo, New Orleans, Kansas City, and Houston, among others.

Vince Richards ascended to the role of Format Vice President in 2021 after the elevation of Dave Richards to Senior Vice President of Programming for the company.

Audacy has not announced who will step into the role vacated by Richards’ departure. He, also, has not shared any details on what the next steps are in his career.

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Erika Kirk Thanks Fox News, Suzanne Scott for Creation of Charlie Kirk Legacy Award at Patriot Awards

BNM Staff
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Erika Kirk Thanks Fox News, Suzanne Scott for Creation of Charlie Kirk Legacy Award at Patriot Awards

The FOX Nation Patriot Awards were held on Thursday evening, and the ceremony bestowed the inaugural Charlie Kirk Legacy Award to his widow, Erika Kirk.

Kirk, who was named Turning Point USA in the days following her husband’s assassination, was welcomed to the stage to accept the award named after her late husband by Fox News primetime host Jesse Watters, country music star Jason Aldean, and his wife.

As she began her acceptance speech, Erika Kirk thanked those who made the award possible.

“Thank you so much, (Fox News Media CEO) Suzanne (Scott),” Kirk shared. “Thank you so much to the FOX News family, and thank you so much to Jesse (Watters) and everyone that loved my husband so well.”

Charlie Kirk was killed by an assassin while speaking at Utah Valley University during a Turning Point USA event on September 10th.

After receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards, Erika Kirk continued her speech by challenging those in attendance and those watching to continue to live by the ideals that defined her late husband.

“I know this award is about legacy. It’s about my legacy, our children’s legacy, my husband’s legacy, but it’s also about your legacy,” Kirk said. “And I really want you to take a minute tonight to think about what that is. What are you leaving behind for your children? What are you standing for, for your family? Will you be proud of that when you get to heaven and stand before the Lord?

“Just think on that and pray on that, because I want to encourage you to know and understand something that Charlie knew and understood so deeply,” she continued. “He knew that evil wins when good people stay silent. And so for the rest of my life, I will make sure that I don’t stay silent. I will keep speaking the truth, no matter the cost.”

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Tucker Carlson Tells Megyn Kelly: I Agreed to Not Attack Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin After Charlie Kirk’s Death, They Didn’t Abide By It

BNM Staff
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Tucker Carlson Tells Megyn Kelly: I Agreed to Not Attack Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin After Charlie Kirk’s Death, They Didn’t Abide By It

Tucker Carlson has been the subject of criticism from many on the political right recently, including Mark Levin and Ben Shapiro. He told Megyn Kelly he attempted to bury the hatchet with those two after the death of Charlie Kirk.

While appearing with Kelly at a stop on her live stage tour, Carlson revealed that he had called both Shapiro and Levin in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, arguing that they should stop attacking one another.

“I called them two days after Charlie was killed — from my backyard, because I was really thinking about it and praying about it — and I was like, ‘We agree on a lot, like a lot, actually,'” Carlson shared. “We agree on a lot, so let’s not attack each other. They didn’t abide by those terms. But that’s fine, they were under no obligation.”

Carlson’s comments came after he stated Mark Levin was an “obvious lunatic”, with Kelly chiming in that she’s been labeled an anti-Semite by Levin in recent weeks.

When Megyn Kelly asked Tucker Carlson if he believed that he and Ben Shapiro could ultimately move past their differences, Carlson said he doesn’t believe the onus is on him.

“I’m not against Ben Shapiro,” he stated. “I don’t consider him the world’s greatest force for evil, I don’t feel that way at all. I don’t actually think about him ever. So I’m not attacking him. I saw him at Charlie’s memorial service backstage. Totally nice, and he looked a little uncomfortable, but I wasn’t uncomfortable … I don’t want to have a war with Ben Shapiro.

“Does he really think that me doing an interview in which I explained that anti-semitism is wrong to one of the lead purveyors of anti-semitism, that somehow makes me a Nazi? What is the argument here? I don’t even understand that argument here.”

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Mark Shapiro: Infiltration of Sports Betting Into ESPN Programming a “Total Turnoff”

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Mark Shapiro: Infiltration of Sports Betting Into ESPN Programming a “Total Turnoff”

TKO Group Holdings President Mark Shapiro, a former ESPN veteran, didn’t hide his satisfaction after hearing ESPN’s sports betting partnership with PENN Entertainment had officially come to an end.

PENN and ESPN announced early Thursday morning that they had mutually agreed to terminate their 10-year, $1.5 billion deal just two years after launching ESPN Bet. The breakup frees PENN from a $150 million annual advertising commitment to the network, while ESPN moves on to a new exclusive sponsorship and promotion deal with DraftKings.

For Shapiro — who began at ESPN as a production assistant before rising to executive vice president of programming and production — the news brought a sense of relief.

“I just hope this means we will not have to endure sports betting conversation infiltrating ESPN’s programming in the way it has, especially this football season,” Shapiro told Sports Business Journal. “It’s just bad programming. Of course, young sports fans are betting. But they are not tuning in from an appointment perspective to see non-stop conversation on every game with props and parlays and over-unders. It’s just not the case. In fact, it’s a total turnoff.”

The former ESPN executive singled out the network’s morning show Get Up, hosted by Mike Greenberg, as an example of how ESPN’s content strategy had drifted too far into wagering talk.

“[For Greenberg] to have to sit next to a sports betting expert and talk about props and betting non-stop just so they can truly accomplish what they’re really trying to do, which is push people to ESPN Bet, is abysmal,” Shapiro said. “I just hope this new DraftKings arrangement doesn’t call for this to continue.”

Meanwhile, PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden told analysts the companies chose to end the deal now rather than wait until next summer’s option window. He said it became evident ESPN Bet wasn’t on pace to meet performance targets, despite improvements across several areas.

“We could see through the first couple of months of football season that we weren’t on a trajectory to get to that level of market share,” Snowden said on a conference call. “Why string this along? Let’s get together and figure out the best path forward for both companies.”

Recent state data showed ESPN Bet held only a 3.2% market share across 14 states that report sportsbook-specific figures — tied for sixth with Bet365.

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Warner Bros. Discovery Reportedly Have Received Bids From Paramount, Comcast, Amazon, Netflix

BNM Staff
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Warner Bros. Discovery Reportedly Have Received Bids From Paramount, Comcast, Amazon, Netflix

Warner Bros. Discovery’s potential restructuring is gaining momentum, as CEO David Zaslav confirmed the company’s “exploration of a possible sale of some or all of its holdings is briskly moving ahead.” The remarks come amid ongoing reports that several major media players are eyeing the company’s assets.

According to multiple sources to the Wall Street Journal, Paramount has already made three formal bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, all of which have been turned down. Other potential suitors reportedly include Comcast, Amazon, and Netflix, signaling that interest in WBD’s wide-ranging portfolio remains high despite the company’s recent financial turbulence.

While speculation around a sale continues to swirl, company leadership appears to be leaning toward a different direction. WBD Chair Samuel DiPiazza Jr. said last month that the company believes a split — dividing its entertainment and news/sports holdings — is the best path forward for both the company and its shareholders.

Sources close to Zaslav echoed that sentiment to WSJ, noting he has expressed a preference for a split rather than an outright sale.

Financially, Warner Bros. Discovery remains in a challenging position. The company reported total revenue of $9 billion in its most recent quarter, down 6% from the same period last year. WBD also posted a net loss of $148 million, a reflection of ongoing struggles in linear television and what Zaslav described as “a flat performance in streaming.”

The company’s streaming division generated $2.6 billion in revenue, essentially unchanged from last year. However, ad revenue within streaming grew by 15%, suggesting progress in monetizing the platform’s growing global footprint.

Executives told investors they expect HBO Max distribution revenue to “reaccelerate” early next year, though near-term challenges remain.

Those headwinds include the absence of NBA games on Max following the expiration of the company’s current broadcast rights, as well as expenses tied to international rollouts. Meanwhile, linear networks — still WBD’s most significant cash generator — produced $3.9 billion in revenue, but that figure was down 22% from a year ago. Distribution revenue declined 8%, driven by continued cord-cutting, while advertising revenue fell 20% as ratings and viewership softened.

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