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ESPN Announces MegaCast Plans for College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces MegaCast Plans for College Football Playoff Quarterfinals

ESPN is doubling down on choice and immersion as it prepares to present more than two dozen viewing and listening options for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, continuing its expansive MegaCast approach during the second year of the expanded CFP.

The four quarterfinal games air Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1. ESPN will serve as the home of the primary telecast for each matchup. Additional presentations will air across several ESPN platforms. They include ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN App. This gives fans multiple ways to experience each game.

A centerpiece of ESPN’s MegaCast strategy once again is Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show, which returns for a fourth consecutive season. McAfee will provide his signature free-flowing, conversational style while roaming the sidelines for two quarterfinals. On New Year’s Eve, Field Pass will cover the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between No. 10 Miami and No. 2 Ohio State on ESPN2. The following day, McAfee and crew will shift to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential, featuring top-seeded Indiana against No. 9 Alabama.

McAfee will be joined by his regular show contributors. They include AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit, and Tone Digs. A rotating group of ESPN analysts, personalities, and celebrity guests will also appear. They will participate throughout both games.

The Cotton Bowl will also feature a second Field Pass presentation, as ACC Network offers Field Pass with ACC Huddle. Taylor Tannebaum, Eric Mac Lain, Eddie Royal, Dave Clawson and Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key will provide commentary live from the sidelines at AT&T Stadium.

Beyond Field Pass, ESPN will offer several alternate viewing experiences through the ESPN App. These include SkyCast, which delivers an overhead angle from the SkyCam. They also include Command Center, a multi-screen presentation with multiple camera angles and real-time statistics. The Rose Bowl quarterfinal will also be available in 4K.

ESPN’s main telecast teams will rotate across the four games. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, and Kris Budden will call the Rose Bowl. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor, and Quint Kessenich will handle the Cotton Bowl. Joe Tessitore’s crew will work the Orange Bowl. Sean McDonough’s team will close the quarterfinal round at the Sugar Bowl.

Radio coverage will be carried nationally on more than 400 ESPN Radio affiliates and digital platforms, with team-specific hometown audio options available on select MegaCast presentations. Spanish-language broadcasts for all four games will air on ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App.

Studio programming will also be extensive. College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will originate from Pasadena on New Year’s Day. SEC Network and ACC Network will provide on-site coverage throughout the quarterfinal round. That coverage will include pregame, halftime, and postgame shows.

With its MegaCast offerings continuing to expand, ESPN is once again positioning the CFP as a fully customizable viewing experience — one designed to meet fans wherever and however they choose to watch.

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Joe Rogan: President Donald Trump’s Comments About Rob Reiner Death “Not Funny”

BNM Staff
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Joe Rogan: President Donald Trump’s Comments About Rob Reiner Death “Not Funny”

Podcaster Joe Rogan criticized former President Donald Trump for comments he made following the death of Hollywood director Rob Reiner. During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan said Trump’s remarks demonstrated a lack of empathy.

“The Rob Reiner thing is not funny, right? That’s like the same thing. It’s the same kind of thinking. And when you see it with no empathy, that’s when it’s hard to like [him],” Rogan said.

Comedian Shane Gillis, Rogan’s guest on the episode, added, “I wish he could apologize. I know he can’t and he won’t.”

Their remarks echo criticism from political figures and media personalities following Trump’s post, which came shortly after news of Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner’s deaths. Their son, Nick Reiner, was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Moments after Reiner’s passing was reported, Trump posted that the director had died “due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”

Reiner, a longtime Democratic donor, was a vocal opponent of Trump. In a September interview with MSNBC’s MS NOW, he warned, “Make no mistake. We have a year before this country becomes a full-on autocracy and democracy completely leaves us.”

Despite Reiner’s outspoken criticism of Trump, Rogan said the former president’s remarks were uncalled for. “It’s no different than people that were celebrating when Charlie Kirk got shot. It’s same kind of thing,” he said.

Rogan also compared the reaction to what might have happened if former President Barack Obama had made similar comments. “That would be crazy,” he said. “It just shows you how crazy it is the way Trump thinks and talks.”

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David Samson on Charles Barkley’s NFL Critique Over Christmas Games: “You Don’t Do That”

BSM Staff
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David Samson on Charles Barkley’s NFL Critique Over Christmas Games: “You Don’t Do That”

David Samson, host of Nothing Personal with David Samson, delivered a pointed response to Inside the NBA host Charles Barkley’s recent critique of the NFL’s Christmas Day schedule. Samson framed Barkley’s comments as outdated and misaligned with the realities of today’s sports landscape.

“Charles Barkley doesn’t like staying quiet,” Samson said, reflecting on Barkley’s claim that the NFL has become greedy by adding Christmas games. “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. Charles, welcome to 2025.”

Samson, a former MLB executive, noted that the culture of sports and demand for content with massive viewership is too much for the NFL to pass up. He offered guidance for Barkley on addressing the facts when discussing the NFL’s hold on the American public.

“As you [Barkley] head into 2026, please try to remember the one sentence that all of us in sports need to say over and over like it’s our mantra: the NFL is king. There’s not a damn thing we can do about it,” he said.

Samson argued that the NFL’s dominance is undeniable, in part because of fan behavior. He pointed to the risks players take on the field and the enduring audience appetite for football, even in the face of serious injuries.

“It doesn’t matter if players lose limbs, or almost lose their lives, or suffer concussions that affect them in their 40s and 50s. It doesn’t matter if there are more carts on the field… The NFL, Roger Goodell, they don’t care — and neither do we,” Samson said. “We keep watching, and watch our gladiators because that’s what the human race does. We root for it.”

Barkley’s critical comments came during the opening moments of ESPN’s NBA coverage on Christmas Day.
He took a pointed shot at the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. His critique focused on the NFL encroaching on what has long been one of the NBA’s signature days. 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.”

Beyond critiquing Barkley’s comments, Samson explored the media dynamics at play. He suggested that Barkley’s willingness to challenge the NFL publicly could create friction with league decision-makers.

“Charles Barkley did something I like to call pissing against the wind. There’s a very good lesson that little boys learn: you don’t do that,” Samson said.

He added that Barkley’s high-profile work with Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT Sports and ESPN requires careful navigation, given the NFL’s control over broadcast rights and platform options.

“You just don’t want to make enemies with Roger Goodell, especially when he has about 20 different choices and platforms to put his games on. ESPN needs the NFL more than we need oxygen,” Samson said.

Samson’s comments underscore the NFL’s unassailable position in sports media. While Barkley framed the Christmas schedule as an encroachment on the NBA’s marquee holiday, Samson emphasized that the league’s cultural and commercial clout leaves little room for pushback — and that media personalities, even outspoken ones, must acknowledge its dominance.

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1370 WGCL Flips to Sports as 98.7 the Zone, Bloomington

BSM Staff
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1370 WGCL Flips to Sports as 98.7 the Zone, Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana has a new full time sports talker in business as Sarkes Tarzian’s ST Radio has transformed Bloomington’s longtime radio outlet, 1370 WGCL into a full-time sports station branded as 98.7 The Zone. The switch marks a departure from the station’s previous hybrid format, which blended conservative talk with sports programming.

Now, 98.7 The Zone will devote its full schedule to sports content, aiming to capture the attention of local fans during one of Indiana University’s most prominent athletic seasons in years.

Program Director and morning host Kent Sterling will shift his show from the 7-9 a.m. slot to 9-11 a.m., while afternoon host Mike “Glass” Glasscott remains in his familiar 3-6 p.m. timeslot. The new lineup also introduces the regionally syndicated Indiana Sports Daily with Jim Coyle, airing from 1-3 p.m., giving local listeners in-depth coverage of IU athletics and other regional sports stories.

For other times of the day, 98.7 The Zone will broadcast content from the Westwood One Sports, providing a mix of national and regional sports programming designed to complement the station’s local focus. Westwood One Sports launched earlier today.

Despite the format overhaul, 98.7 The Zone emphasizes that local service elements will remain intact. Longtime newscaster Diane Daily and sports reporter Joe Smith will continue delivering news and sports updates, ensuring that listeners stay connected to Bloomington’s community and the latest local sports developments.

Listeners can now tune in to 98.7 The Zone via FM or AM, with additional access through online streaming platforms. The station promises a blend of live game coverage, talk shows, and sports news designed to meet the needs of both casual fans and die-hard followers.

As IU continues its championship run, WWZN aims to position itself as Bloomington’s premier sports radio destination, delivering timely updates and local insights that reflect the city’s enthusiasm for college athletics.

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670 The Score Launches Third Annual “Score Big For Your Business” Campaign

BSM Staff
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670 The Score Launches Third Annual “Score Big For Your Business” Campaign

670 The Score is back with its popular Score Big For Your Business promotion, now entering its third year, giving local businesses a chance to win a commercial during the Super Bowl broadcast on the station, along with a suite of promotional prizes. The Chicago sports radio station has long been the exclusive audio home for the Super Bowl in the city, reaching a broad audience over the air and through streaming platforms.

Last year, 670 The Score reported its largest Super Bowl audience ever, and the station hopes to build on that momentum in 2026 with the return of the contest.

The grand prize package is extensive. It includes production services from imaging director Russ Mitera.
There is a commercial schedule on 670 The Score during Super Bowl week. A 30-second spot will air during the Super Bowl broadcast itself. The package also includes extensive publicity, and a live broadcast either at the winning business location or in 670 The Score’s Performance Studio.

The contest proved wildly popular last year, drawing hundreds of entries from businesses across the Chicagoland area. Station management said they expect similar enthusiasm this year. This is especially true if the Chicago Bears continue performing strongly into the NFL playoffs.

Local businesses interested in entering the contest can do so beginning immediately by visiting 670thescore.com/contests.

Entries should include 1,500 words or fewer explaining how the prize would help the business brand, rebuild, or grow. The entry date for the contest closes on January 18.

Westwood One, the longtime radio syndication partner, once again is collaborating with 670 The Score to make the contest possible.

“The response last year was incredible, and we’re thrilled to offer this opportunity again,” said Mitch Rosen, Vice President, 670 The Score. “It’s a chance not just for a Super Bowl commercial, but for a major boost to any local business looking to expand its reach in the community.”

With the combination of high-profile exposure, production support, and interactive promotional opportunities, “Score Big For Your Business” continues to offer one of the most unique marketing platforms for Chicago-area companies.

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Nielsen Expands Measurement Partnership With Roku

BNM Staff
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Nielsen Expands Measurement Partnership With Roku

Nielsen, the global audience measurement and analytics firm, and Roku, a leading TV streaming platform, announced an expansion of their long-term strategic partnership aimed at providing advertisers with a more complete view of streaming audiences.

The expanded agreement will integrate Roku’s data into Nielsen’s advanced campaign measurement and outcome solutions. Roku streaming now accounts for more than 21% of all TV viewing, giving advertisers an increasingly precise picture of audience behavior across both linear and streaming platforms.

Under the multi-year deal, Nielsen will continue incorporating Roku’s large-scale TV data into its Big Data + Panel measurement system. This system blends traditional panel data with streaming insights. The integration will enhance the accuracy of campaign performance metrics for advertisers. It applies to campaigns running on Roku and across the broader TV landscape.

Additionally, Roku will gain access to Nielsen’s Streaming Platform Ratings, which tracks audience engagement across both subscription and ad-supported services. Nielsen reports that roughly seven in 10 streaming hours are now ad-supported. This trend highlights by the continued growth of The Roku Channel, Roku’s free ad-supported app.

The channel has become the second-largest streaming app in terms of ad-supported TV time, underscoring the shift toward ad-driven viewing.

“With our leadership in streaming measurement and this data from Roku, we are providing the most accurate view of what audiences are watching across all of TV,” said Ameneh Atai, GM of Audience Measurement at Nielsen. “This partnership combines Nielsen’s expertise in streaming measurement with Roku’s category leadership to give marketers the granular insights they need to grow their brands and drive results.”

Sarah Harms, Roku’s vice president of marketing and measurement, emphasized the impact for advertisers.

“Our extended partnership with Nielsen will further our goal of a better TV advertising system focused on interoperability and performance. Together, we’re elevating streaming measurement to ensure advertisers and publishers have access to best-in-class insights,” she said.

The announcement highlights Nielsen’s ongoing innovations in audience measurement. Earlier this year, the company achieved accreditation for its Big Data + Panel measurement, following its November 2024 accreditation for first-party live streaming. Nielsen also expanded its out-of-home (OOH) measurement to cover 100% of the U.S. contiguous TV population.

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TikTok Now the Top Social Media App for News Among Young People: Survey

BNM Staff
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TikTok Now the Top Social Media App for News Among Young People: Survey

TikTok has overtaken its social media rivals as the leading platform for news among young Americans, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. The survey, released this week, found that 43% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 said they regularly get news from TikTok in 2025, surpassing YouTube and Facebook, both at 41%. Instagram followed closely at 40%, while X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit trailed at 21% and 18%, respectively.

Social media overall remains the dominant news source for this age group. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they often or sometimes rely on social media for news. Sixty percent rely on traditional news websites. Twenty-eight percent rely on email newsletters.

Despite skepticism around social media, roughly half of young adults expressed some or a lot of trust in news delivered through these platforms, a figure comparable to their trust in national news organizations.

TikTok’s rise as a news source has been swift. Just two years ago, only 32% of respondents identified the platform as a regular source of news. Experts note that news consumption on TikTok often extends beyond traditional outlets. Users frequently view videos from independent creators or other users providing on-the-ground coverage of events, ranging from protests to conflict zones.

This trend has fueled a growing cohort of independent news influencers. They are building sizable followings by reporting on current events in short, digestible video formats.

Professional news organizations are also adapting to the platform’s style. NPR’s Planet Money, for example, has focused videos around individual reporters and creators, leveraging personal storytelling to build trust with audiences. Gen Z users, according to reporting by Business Insider, are drawn to creators who deliver news in relatable and authentic ways, rather than through traditional broadcast formats.

Social media creators and podcasters are increasingly involved in news gathering, as well. In 2025, politicians and government agencies have leaned on these formats to reach younger audiences. Independent creators even applied for access to White House press briefings.

Major party conventions saw significant participation from these digital journalists.

TikTok has rolled out features to support news content. These include links to full articles within videos. The platform also offers a fact-checking tool called Footnotes.

The platform also works with independent fact-checkers in over 130 markets to verify content, according to its website.

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Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ending Print Version Of Newspaper

BNM Staff
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Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ending Print Version Of Newspaper

After more than 157 years in print, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution will publish its final physical edition on December 31, 2025, marking a historic shift to an exclusively digital model beginning January 1. The move reflects the rapid evolution of media consumption and the newspaper’s effort to invest more heavily in digital journalism.

The AJC, long a staple of Atlanta and the Southeast, announced the transition in August, citing a surge in digital engagement that outpaced print readership. Publisher Andrew Morse said the shift allows the organization to redirect resources toward expanding reporting staff, producing podcasts, newsletters, and video content, and enhancing the website and mobile app experience.

“The digital audience has already surpassed print significantly,” Morse said in a statement via the AJC. “This move enables us to focus on delivering high-quality journalism where our readers are consuming it most.”

Founded as The Atlanta Constitution in 1868 and later merging with The Atlanta Journal (founded 1883) in 2001, the AJC has been part of Cox Enterprises since the mid-20th century. Over its long history, the newspaper grew into one of the region’s most influential publications, though circulation has declined from over 600,000 at its early-2000s peak.

At the time of the announcement, the AJC reported approximately 115,000 paid subscribers: 75,000 digital-only and roughly 40,000 still receiving print. The company aims to grow its digital subscriber base to 500,000, offering plans starting at $9.99 per month or $99 annually. Print subscribers were encouraged to transition to digital services, including an ePaper replica replicating the layout of the former print edition.

The shift has had workforce implications, with around 30 full- and part-time roles tied to print production and distribution eliminated. Despite the reductions, the AJC emphasized that local journalism will remain a priority, with ongoing reporting on metro Atlanta communities, state politics, and regional news.

Across the country, newspapers have increasingly embraced digital platforms in response to declining print circulation and the need to capture audiences and revenue online.

“This isn’t about stepping away from local journalism,” Morse said. “It’s about evolving to deliver it more effectively in a digital-first era.”

As the AJC enters its digital-only chapter, readers can access coverage through AJC.com, newsletters, podcasts, video features, and mobile apps.

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CBS Sports’ Matt Ryan in Talks With Atlanta Falcons for Front Office Role

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CBS Sports’ Matt Ryan in Talks With Atlanta Falcons for Front Office Role

Former NFL quarterback and current CBS Sports’ NFL Today analyst Matt Ryan is reportedly “seriously considering” a return to the Atlanta Falcons, not on the field but in the team’s front office, according to FOX Sports NFL reporter Jay Glazer.

Ryan, 40, retired in 2022 after a 15-year career. He has spent the past few seasons as an analyst for CBS. Ryan was the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent 14 seasons with the Falcons before finishing his career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Glazer reported Sunday that Falcons owner Arthur Blank has “had conversations” with Ryan about a “significant” role. Details of the potential position have not been disclosed. Sources close to Ryan indicate he is seriously weighing the opportunity.

A return to Atlanta would bring Ryan back to a franchise struggling to regain its footing. The Falcons are on track to end an eighth consecutive season without a playoff appearance. This marks the longest such drought in the NFC. They compete in the NFC South, widely regarded as one of the league’s weaker divisions.

Atlanta’s leadership remains largely the same: Terry Fontenot has served as general manager for the past five years, and head coach Raheem Morris is in his second season. The team is headed toward another sub-.500 finish, continuing a trend that has frustrated fans for nearly a decade.

Ryan’s tenure with the Falcons ended on a bit of a rocky note after the 2021 season. Ryan requested to be moved after the Falcons’ failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson in the 2022 offseason, getting traded to the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons and Ryan were able to make amends, though. After spending one season with the Colts, Ryan signed a one-day contract with the Falcons in April 2024 and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor later that year.

Ryan would join a list of high-profile quarterbacks who have moved into executive roles after retirement. John Elway has served as general manager of the Denver Broncos, while Dan Marino spent time in the Miami Dolphins front office, including as a special advisor to the team’s president and CEO.

Since their infamous Super Bowl LI loss to the New England Patriots nearly a decade ago, Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead. The Falcons have made the playoffs just once, in 2017. The team has not finished a season with a winning record since then. This highlights the organizational challenges Ryan would face if he accepts a front-office position

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Greg Papa Delays Return to San Francisco 49ers Radio Booth

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Greg Papa Delays Return to San Francisco 49ers Radio Booth

San Francisco 49ers radio voice Greg Papa did not make his anticipated return to the booth Sunday night when the team hosted the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium, extending his absence as he continues to recover from leukemia treatment.

Papa, 62, has been in remission since being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July. While his prognosis remains encouraging, Papa acknowledged lingering side effects from chemotherapy in a recent interview. He cited what he described as “brain fog,” along with occasional dizziness and blurred vision.
Those symptoms have made the timing of his return uncertain.

“I think I’ll be fine,” Papa said. “And if not, we tap me out.”

Those comments underscored the cautious approach both Papa and the organization have taken throughout the season. Earlier this month, 49ers director of broadcast partnerships Bob Sargent said on KNBR that the team had opened a “practice window” for Papa, similar to the NFL’s injured reserve designation, with the hope that he could return for the final two regular-season home games and potentially any postseason contests played at Levi’s Stadium. However, Sargent also made clear that the announcement did not guarantee Papa would be back behind the microphone.

Sunday’s game featured Big Ten Network play-by-play announcer Guy Haberman, who has capably filled in throughout the season. Haberman worked alongside longtime analyst Tim Ryan, maintaining continuity for listeners who have grown accustomed to the temporary pairing during Papa’s absence.

Fans hoped the nationally televised Sunday night matchup might mark Papa’s return. Instead, the decision reflects a broader emphasis on health over deadlines. Papa has been transparent about his recovery process.
His focus remains on listening to his body rather than forcing a comeback.

Regardless of when — or if — Papa returns this season, his standing in Bay Area sports media is firmly established. He has been a fixture in the market since 1986. That year, he became the voice of the Golden State Warriors at just 24 years old. Over nearly four decades, Papa has called games for many iconic regional franchises. They include the Warriors, Raiders, Athletics, and now the 49ers.

Since joining the 49ers radio broadcast in 2019, Papa has further cemented his reputation as one of the industry’s most respected play-by-play voices.

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