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TNT Sports Extend Jimmy Rollins, Jeff Francoeur With Multi-Year Deals

BSM Staff
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TNT Sports Extend Jimmy Rollins, Jeff Francoeur With Multi-Year Deals

TNT Sports is doubling down on familiar faces ahead of another Major League Baseball season, announcing multi-year contract extensions with studio analyst Jimmy Rollins and game analyst Jeff Francoeur as the network continues to shape its long-term baseball strategy around continuity, credibility and personality-driven coverage.

Rollins, who joined the company in 2016, remains a central figure on MLB studio coverage across TBS. The 2007 National League MVP and 2008 World Series champion brings more than name recognition to the desk. Pairing his experience as a three-time All-Star and Gold Glove shortstop with a conversational style that blends tactical breakdowns and clubhouse perspective in a way that resonates with both traditionalists and younger fans discovering the sport through postseason broadcasts.

Francoeur will continue in a prominent role as a game analyst on MLB Tuesday telecasts and throughout the postseason. A Georgia native drafted by the Atlanta Braves, he debuted in 2005 and quickly became one of the sport’s most recognizable young players. He earned the nickname “The Natural” after a breakout start landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated. After a 12-year major league career, he transitioned into broadcasting. He developed a reputation for energetic delivery and player-focused insight. His analysis emphasizes preparation, approach, and in-game adjustments.

Alongside Pedro Martinez and Curtis Granderson, Rollins has helped anchor TBS’ studio programming with a balance of analysis and chemistry, while hosts Lauren Shehadi and Adam Lefkoe steer discussions that often pivot from advanced metrics to player development and in-game strategy without losing accessibility.

Working alongside play-by-play voices Brian Anderson and Alex Faust, plus analyst Ron Darling, Francoeur has become a steady presence in the booth. He offers perspective shaped by experience as both a top prospect and a veteran. His career included roster battles, playoff races, and clubhouse dynamics. TNT Sports believes that authenticity translates on air, especially during high-leverage October moments. Those broadcasts draw expanded audiences and more casual viewers.

The network’s 2026 regular season coverage begins March 31 with an MLB Tuesday on TBS matchup featuring recent home run champions, as the Seattle Mariners host the New York Yankees in a prime-time showcase designed to launch another year of national broadcasts.

That early spotlight game underscores the broader strategy of pairing marquee talent on the field with established voices in the studio and booth.

When the calendar turns to October, TNT Sports will close its 53rd year of baseball coverage. The network will air exclusive telecasts of the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series. The broadcasts reinforce its long-standing relationship with the league. They also position Rollins and Francoeur as integral pieces of its postseason presentation for years to come.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows of 2025

Jason Barrett
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Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows of 2025

Welcome to day seven of Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2025 in Music Radio presented by Strategic Solutions Research. Strategic Solutions Research is celebrating its 20th year providing strategic research, music testing and personality content testing for clients in the US and in 22 countries. Please reach out and give a special thanks to Hal Rood and Kevin Cassidy for supporting the Top 20 series and the entire music radio industry.

Today, we turn our attention to the Top 20 AC/Hot AC radio shows. All results from this series are available on our website. The Nooner newsletter also has the information each day in your inbox at 12pm ET. We promote results across social media too. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram and X to stay updated.

The remaining schedule of releases is down below the images. Once this series ends, I will record videos discussing the entire process for music, sports and news. Those videos will be posted to the Barrett Media YouTube page. Make sure you subscribe so you’re notified once the video goes live.

Important Information

#1 – These results represent the collective feedback provided by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information. Voting is based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the final results. Think of it like an MVP race in sports – voters vote on last season’s performance.

#2 – Music radio is a massive space. Some shows appear on lists in multiple formats. Programmers run stations in different cities and formats. Changes occur under the radar and without stations updating key information. That makes it difficult when trying to issue proper credit to deserving programmers, hosts and/or brands. We try to get it perfect, but we’re human, and mistakes do happen. If you notice an error, please email Jason@BarrettMedia.com so we can fix it.

#3 – This series specifically focuses on United States terrestrial music radio shows and programmers. Shows and brand leaders with Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, SiriusXM, YouTube, podcasts and programming outside the United States are not included.

#4 – This series features 320 images of radio shows and program directors. There are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. We understand you may not like the way your left shoulder looks in a photo but such is life. Thanks in advance for understanding.

The Voting Process

A record One Hundred and Ninety Two (192) program directors, corporate executives, and format consultants were involved in this year’s voting. That beat last year’s mark of 173. Like always, there were a few who didn’t weigh in who I’d have loved to include but overall, the support was outstanding. THANK YOU!

Be advised that our voters represent the following companies: iHeartMedia, Audacy, Cumulus Media, Beasley Media, Cox Media Group, Townsquare Media, Hubbard Radio, Bonneville, Radio One, Connoisseur Media, SummitMedia, Saga Communications, MediaCo., Buck Owens Production Company, Pamal Broadcasting, Times-Shamrock Media, Stephens Media Group, Guaranty Media, Lotus Communications, Cromwell Media Group, Midwest Communications, One Putt Broadcasting, Griffin Media, plus numerous consultancies. We involve a large group to assure input is received from all areas of the country and to prevent the results from favoring any one company.

Though 192 voters are involved, the number of people voting on each format is lower. This is by design. We want experts from each format voting on what they know best. Depending on their role and expertise, some vote on all eight formats, others vote on as little as one. For this category, 51 programmers, consultants, and executives voted on the Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows and Program Directors.

Two hundred thirty nine (239) AC/Hot AC radio shows appeared on ballots submitted by our voters this year. We use a point system for this process with a 1st place votes equaling 20 points, and each selection between #2-#10 earning two points less. It’s not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.

And the Winner Is…

Karson & Kennedy of Mix 104.1 in Boston. This is the Boston duo’s second straight category victory in the Top 20 series. Congrats to Karson, Kennedy and the entire Mix 104.1 team on the well deserved recognition.

I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each AC/Hot AC radio voter who participated in the voting process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC radio shows of 2025.

Additional Notes:

  • Karson & Kennedy scored the category victory by seventeen (17) points over Ellen K. They tied with Ellen K and The KVJ Show for the most first place votes in the category with five (5).
  • Spots 21-25 went to Mercedes in the Morning, Kramer & Jess, John Tesh, Wendy Wilde and Miguel & Holly.
  • The tightest race featured Bret Mega edging Sean Copeland by one (1) point for 19th place.
  • Of the Two Hundred and Thirty Nine (239) radio shows to earn votes, twenty seven (27) notched at least one 1st place vote.

Barrett Media’s Music Radio – Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:

  • Wednesday March 4 = BM Top 20 CHR/Top 40 Radio Shows and Program Directors

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Program Directors of 2025

Jason Barrett
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0
Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Program Directors of 2025

Welcome to day seven of Barrett Media’s Top 20 of 2025 in Music Radio presented by Strategic Solutions Research. Strategic Solutions Research is celebrating its 20th year providing strategic research, music testing and personality content testing for clients in the US and in 22 countries. Please reach out and give a special thanks to Hal Rood and Kevin Cassidy for supporting the Top 20 series and the entire music radio industry.

Today, we turn our attention to the Top 20 program directors in AC/Hot AC radio. All results from this series are available on our website. The Nooner newsletter also has the information each day in your inbox at 12pm ET. We promote results across social media too. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram and X to stay updated.

The remaining schedule of releases is down below the images. Once this series ends, I will record videos discussing the entire process for music, sports and news. Those videos will be posted to the Barrett Media YouTube page. Make sure you subscribe so you’re notified once the video goes live.

Important Information

#1 – These results represent the collective feedback provided by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information. Voting is based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the final results. Think of it like an MVP race in sports – voters vote on last season’s performance.

#2 – Music radio is a massive space. Some shows appear on lists in multiple formats. Programmers run stations in different cities and formats. Changes occur under the radar and without stations updating key information. That makes it difficult when trying to issue proper credit to deserving programmers, hosts and/or brands. We try to get it perfect, but we’re human, and mistakes do happen. If you notice an error, please email Jason@BarrettMedia.com so we can fix it.

#3 – This series specifically focuses on United States terrestrial music radio shows and programmers. Shows and brand leaders with Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, SiriusXM, YouTube, podcasts and programming outside the United States are not included.

#4 – This series features 320 images of radio shows and program directors. There are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. We understand you may not like the way your left shoulder looks in a photo but such is life. Thanks in advance for understanding.

The Voting Process

A record One Hundred and Ninety Two (192) program directors, corporate executives, and format consultants were involved in this year’s voting. That beat last year’s mark of 173. Like always, there were a few who didn’t weigh in who I’d have loved to include but overall, the support was outstanding. THANK YOU!

Be advised that our voters represent the following companies: iHeartMedia, Audacy, Cumulus Media, Beasley Media, Cox Media Group, Townsquare Media, Hubbard Radio, Bonneville, Radio One, Connoisseur Media, SummitMedia, Saga Communications, MediaCo., Buck Owens Production Company, Pamal Broadcasting, Times-Shamrock Media, Stephens Media Group, Guaranty Media, Lotus Communications, Cromwell Media Group, Midwest Communications, One Putt Broadcasting, Griffin Media, plus numerous consultancies. We involve a large group to assure input is received from all areas of the country and to prevent the results from favoring any one company.

Though 192 voters are involved, the number of people voting on each format is lower. This is by design. We want experts from each format voting on what they know best. Depending on their role and expertise, some vote on all eight formats, others vote on as little as one. For this category, 51 programmers, consultants, and executives voted on the Top 20 AC/Hot AC Radio Shows and Program Directors.

One hundred forty nine (149) AC/Hot AC program directors appeared on ballots submitted by our voters this year. We use a point system for this process with a 1st place votes equaling 20 points, and each selection between #2-#10 earning two points less. It’s not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.

And the Winner Is…

John Peake of 104.3 MYFM and KOST 103.5 in Los Angeles. This is John’s first category victory in the Top 20 series. Congrats to John and his Los Angeles based teams on the well earned recognition.

I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each Country radio voter who participated in the voting process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 AC/Hot AC Program Directors of 2025.

Additional Notes:

  • John Peake won this category by eleven (11) points over Steve Salhany. Peake also recorded a category best nine (9) first place votes to claim the victory.
  • Spots 21-25 went to Tommy Chuck, Barbara Bridges, Rob Roberts, Tim Herbster and Don London.
  • The closest contest saw Paul Kelley nip Tony Travatto by one (1) point for 7th place.
  • Of the One Hundred Forty Nine (149) programmers to earn votes, twenty four (24) snagged at least one 1st place vote.

Barrett Media’s Music Radio – Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:

  • Wednesday March 4 = BM Top 20 CHR/Top 40 Radio Shows and Program Directors

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Versant Reports Nearly $7 Billion in 2025 Revenue During First-Ever Financial Results

BNM Staff
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0
Versant Reports Nearly $7 Billion in 2025 Revenue During First-Ever Financial Results

Versant has unveiled its first-ever financial results since spinning away from NBCUniversal late last year. The company reported high total revenue in its first disclosure.

In total, the company reported $6.69 billion in revenue for 2025. That was down 3.3% from 2024, when encompassing the same brands and revenues from NBCUniversal that shifted to Versant.

Of that total revenue, $4.1 billion was from distribution revenue. $1.6 billion came from advertising revenue on brands like CNBC, MS NOW, USA, Syfy, Oxygen, and E!, among others.

The adjusted EBITDA for Versant was $2.4 billion, down 14.5% compared to the prior year.

On the company’s earnings call, CEO Mark Lazarus was asked about how the company’s strategy was impacted by the potential sale of Warner Bros. Discovery.

“We have our plan to go as an independent company, we have a strong set of assets, we’re very focused on our vertical markets,” Lazarus said. “The wider view was, it was interesting, because the assets from Warner Brothers were interesting to a couple of people in a couple of different ways, and we look at that as being reinforcing of the value of our company.”

During the call, Versan noted that 60% of its audience was centered around news and sports, something it hopes to put more emphasis on in the future.

“We think in many ways that process validates the quality of our brands and our portfolio and the strategy that we’re pursuing to kind of continue to drive those businesses which are supremely positioned within the pay TV ecosystem, and it also gives us the opportunity to extend them outside of it,” said CFO Anand Kini.

“We believe that there will be a rebalancing of sports portfolios, and that will leave opportunity for us who have a heritage in sports, who have strong sports properties and legacy to begin with, but we also have broad reach,” Lazarus added. “And with USA Network in particular, you know, it’s as broad a reach vehicle as any other cable television asset and or pay television asset, and we believe that there will be opportunity for us to get involved in properties that we might not have otherwise gotten involved.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Yahoo Sports Elevates Kendall Baker To Head of Newsletters

BSM Staff
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Yahoo Sports Elevates Kendall Baker To Head of Newsletters

Yahoo Sports has elevated Kendall Baker to Head of Newsletters, formalizing an expanded role for one of the most recognizable voices in sports email publishing and signaling a significant investment in growing its direct-to-consumer audience strategy.

Baker, who launched Yahoo Sports AM newsletter in 2023 after building previous newsletter brands at Axios and independently, signed a multi-year contract and will now oversee the growth and evolution of the company’s entire newsletter portfolio while continuing to serve as the primary author of its flagship morning product.

The move represents both a promotion and a strategic shift. Yahoo Sports aims to capitalize on sustained demand for curated email products. That demand persists as algorithm-driven distribution fragments attention across social platforms and mobile apps.

In his announcement, Baker framed the transition as the natural next step in a nine-year journey that began with a simple concept: delivering a SportsCenter-style experience directly to readers’ inboxes each morning in a concise, conversational format that blends news, analysis and personality.

What started with roughly 100 subscribers has since grown to nearly one million. Now Yahoo Sports AM, underscoring the durability of a format that prioritizes consistency, voice and habit-building over viral reach.

Under Baker’s leadership, Yahoo Sports plans to introduce new flagship newsletters, weekend editions, and pop-up products tied to major sporting events. The company also plans to expand internal resources and hire additional staff. Those hires will support editorial, production, and partnership initiatives.

In addition to launching original franchises featuring existing Yahoo Sports talent, the company plans to form strategic partnerships with outside publishers, journalists, and creators. Executives say the goal is to build a first-of-its-kind, interconnected newsletter network. They want it to extend beyond a single brand voice.

Baker will continue writing Yahoo Sports AM, a finalist for Best Newsletter at the 2025 Digiday Media Awards. Longtime collaborator Jeff Tracy will remain part of the operation as the team scales its ambitions.

For Yahoo Sports, the promotion signals confidence in Baker’s record of audience growth. It also reflects belief in newsletters as a core pillar of its long-term content strategy. That strategy prioritizes sustainable engagement models built on loyalty rather than fleeting clicks.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

FOX Sports Kicks off 100 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign

BSM Staff
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FOX Sports Kicks off 100 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign

With 100 days remaining before the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on Thursday, June 11, FOX Sports is using the milestone to signal that its buildup to the world’s most-watched sporting event has officially entered high gear.

The network, which serves as the English-language home of the tournament in the United States, marked the occasion Tuesday with a coordinated, company-wide rollout spanning television, digital, social and community initiatives designed to build national anticipation ahead of the 39-day competition across North America.

Eric Shanks, CEO and executive producer of FOX Sports, said the 100-day marker represents more than a countdown number, describing it as a visible checkpoint in what he called the most ambitious production effort in the company’s history.

“I’m incredibly proud of how everyone at FOX has come together to ring in 100 days to this iconic tournament as we prepare to deliver the most ambitious production in sports broadcast history,” said Shanks. “The coordination, dedication and planning taking place behind the scenes, here at home in the United States and in Mexico and Canada, reflect our commitment to creating the best presentation ever around the historic competition and we look forward to being America’s home where fans unite to watch and celebrate FIFA World Cup 2026 over 39 days this summer.”

As part of the celebration, FOX launched a promotional roadblock that ran across its broadcast network, cable properties and digital platforms, creating saturation-style visibility throughout the day.

Programming on FOX Sports channels carried a special on-screen World Cup graphic, while talent from the network’s soccer coverage appeared across multiple FOX properties, including FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd and First Things First, in addition to news and lifestyle programming, underscoring the company’s cross-platform synergy in the months leading up to the tournament.

FOX Soccer analysts Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden, Maurice Edu and Rob Stone made guest appearances to preview storylines and reinforce the network’s role as the central destination for coverage. U.S. Men’s National Team defender Chris Richards also joined FS1 programming, further blending current player insight with studio analysis as FOX works to widen its reach beyond traditional soccer audiences.

On the digital side, FOX Sports rolled out a pair of daily content series counting down to the opening match. A “100 Moments” campaign will revisit standout highlights in tournament history, while “100 Fun Facts” aims to spotlight lesser-known records and storylines to engage casual fans and longtime followers alike.

FOXSports.com is also publishing preview features examining teams and players expected to shape the 2026 field, reinforcing the network’s editorial commitment alongside its broadcast plans.

Beyond on-air and online efforts, FOX partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to host a youth soccer festival in Southern California, bringing together more than 100 participants for clinics and games alongside FOX broadcasters and former national team players. The event aligns with broader social impact initiatives tied to the Soccer Forward Foundation and Common Goal, as FOX integrates philanthropic outreach into its World Cup strategy.

The 2026 tournament will mark FOX Sports’ sixth presentation of the FIFA World Cup, following coverage of the men’s events in 2018 and 2022 and the women’s tournaments in 2015, 2019 and 2023. As the countdown continues, the network appears intent on ensuring that the road to kickoff becomes as visible — and as expansive — as the tournament itself.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

David Samson: Scott Boras Media Appearances Do Nothing for MLB Labor Discussions

BSM Staff
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David Samson: Scott Boras Media Appearances Do Nothing for MLB Labor Discussions

Former Miami Marlins president and longtime MLB executive David Samson took direct aim at super agent Scott Boras during Tuesday’s episode of his podcast, arguing that Boras’ recent media appearances serve one audience — and it is not baseball fans.

Speaking on Nothing Personal with David Samson, he criticized Boras for what he described as a calculated tour through high-profile sports platforms, including appearances on The Pat McAfee Show and baseball-focused digital outlets, suggesting that every interview operates as a recruiting pitch rather than an effort to inform the public about the sport’s economic landscape.

“He is going there purposefully. He is using the platform that is given to him to let it be known to players. He’s not speaking to you the fan. He doesn’t care about you. He’s not trying to educate you, and not interested in informing you about one thing regarding labor or regarding player salaries. He’s not interested in the fist bump from McAfee,” explained Samson. “He is interested in making sure that inside a locker room that his current players have the talking points to speak to other players in order to poach them.”

Samson framed Boras’ strategy as self-promotion disguised as broader commentary on the state of baseball. In his view, Boras’ media visibility functions less as public service and more as brand reinforcement, carefully crafted to strengthen his negotiating leverage and expand his client base.

Beyond questioning motive, Samson challenged Boras’ command of the financial subjects he frequently addresses. He argued that discussions about media rights revenue, salary caps, floors, and labor structure often lack grounding. He said they overlook how deals actually materialize behind closed doors. He suggested that Boras’ public declarations about systemic change rarely align with the realities executives confront during bargaining sessions.

“When Scott Boras starts to talk to you about media revenue, close your ears. He doesn’t know the first thing,” said Samson. “When Scott Boras wants to talk to you about salary caps and salary floors and labor. He doesn’t know the first thing about it, and what he’s saying makes no sense inside the room where deals happen.”

Samson also reduced Boras’ role in the sport to a single objective: extracting maximum value from aggressive ownership groups. He said those owners are willing to spend heavily in pursuit of championships. He described emotionally driven owners convincing themselves that one marquee acquisition means the difference between a parade and disappointment. He argued that Boras thrives in those moments by amplifying urgency and scarcity. Strip away that dynamic, Samson implied, and the agent’s broader influence diminishes considerably.

Perhaps most notably, Samson dismissed the notion that Boras’ public commentary drives meaningful labor reform between players and owners.

“The mistake that Scott Boras makes is that not only when he talks does he think that we are listening, but he thinks that it actually is the catalyst of change amongst players and owners,” said Samson. “What he doesn’t realize is that it’s the opposite. When he talks and his lips are moving and he is promoting a certain concept or system. It actually has an inverse correlation to the possibility of that happening.”

While Boras has long embraced the spotlight as part of his negotiating theater, Samson’s remarks reflect a persistent tension between front-office leadership and baseball’s most powerful agent, underscoring the complicated intersection of media, messaging and money that continues to shape Major League Baseball’s business landscape.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The Daily Caller Elevates Amber Duke, John Chambers, Carter DeWitt to New Leadership Positions

BNM Staff
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The Daily Caller Elevates Amber Duke, John Chambers, Carter DeWitt to New Leadership Positions

The Daily Caller has announced new executive appointments for Amber Duke, John Chambers, and Carter DeWitt.

The outlet has announced that Amber Duke will serve as Editor-in-Chief. She previously served as a Senior Editor of The Daily Caller.

“She is smart, relentless, tough and focused on what matters — pushing America’s leaders to respond to the concerns and questions of everyday Americans too often ignored in Washington,” co-founder and publisher Neil Patel said. “With Amber leading the newsroom, our mission is sharper than ever.”

“We’re not in D.C. to serve the entrenched interests of the ruling class,” Duke said in a post on social media. “We’re here to tell the truth and be a voice for forgotten America. I’m grateful for the chance to recommit to — and help advance — that mission as EIC.

“And I’m lucky to do it alongside a fantastic team that consistently breaks news and produces incisive commentary,” continued Duke. “We’re expanding video production and we’ve also launched State of the Day on Substack. Our potential is enormous, our future is bright, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of this next chapter.”

John Chambers has been elevated to Chief Content Officer. He previously served as the Director of Marketing for the outlet.

“John will lead a unified strategy across reporting, video, live events, newsletters, Substack, and new initiatives,” Patel said. “John has a sharp instinct for trends, platform growth, and elevating the people around him.”

Finally, Carter DeWitt, will serve as the President of the Daily Caller News Foundation. Previously, she worked as the Chief Development Officer of the foundation.

“During her time in development at DCNF, she brought immediate energy and a major uptick in funding,” said Patel. “There is no one more committed to the Foundation’s success, and I’m confident she’ll take it to another level.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Josh Pate: President Donald Trump Interview Didn’t Go The Way It Was Planned

BSM Staff
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Josh Pate: President Donald Trump Interview Didn’t Go The Way It Was Planned

College football analyst Josh Pate is offering new insight into how his recent sit-down with Donald Trump unfolded, revealing that the most substantive parts of the experience may have occurred after the cameras stopped rolling.

Speaking on the Macrodosing podcast, Pate detailed how he set clear expectations with White House communications staff before the interview ever took place, making it known that his platform centers on college football rather than partisan debate and that he had no interest in turning the conversation toward foreign policy flashpoints or economic strategy.

“I kind of told the White House communications folks,” Pate said. “I said, my show is not one where we’re going to get political. We’re not discussing strategy on Iran, we’re not talking the economy. There’s a lot going on in college football, if we want to go down that road. Yeah, I’m open to it. So they said, that’s all agreeable.”

That understanding shaped his preparation, as Pate built his rundown around NIL legislation, conference realignment and the broader impact federal decisions can have on college athletics. Topics that increasingly blur the line between sports governance and public policy while remaining rooted in his core audience’s interests.

However, the structure he envisioned changed dramatically once he arrived.

Pate said he initially believed he would have between 35 and 45 minutes with the former president, only to learn shortly before taping that the window had shrunk to roughly 10 to 12 minutes, forcing him to recalibrate his approach in real time while weighing the risk of asking layered questions that could consume most of the available time in a single response.

“I go in there thinking we’re about to get 40 minutes with him,” Pate said. “Then all of a sudden it becomes 10 minutes. 10-12 minutes. If you’ve ever watched the President talk, it can go really long winded. … If I know I’ve got 10 minutes here, do I run the risk of asking a really in depth question that he just goes eight minutes on an answer. You didn’t even have an interview at that point.”

Ultimately, Pate said the finished product did not align with the conversation he envisioned during preparation.

“We got like five questions in,” he said. “It didn’t really dive too deep. There wasn’t a ton of meat on the bone. … Suffice it to say it didn’t go the way that I thought it was going to go. Not necessarily anyone’s fault or anything like that. If I knew we were only going to get 10, as opposed to going in thinking 35-45 that’s a whole different ballgame.”

Even so, Pate described the off-camera moments as unexpectedly revealing, noting that while crews adjusted lighting and finalized camera angles, he and Trump engaged in a more relaxed exchange that felt less like a formal interview and more like a candid conversation between acquaintances.

“I think the conversation with him off camera was probably more substantive than the interview that we had on camera,” Pate said. “He was really open. … It’s just me and him at a lunch table, basically talking like it’s your buddy on a Tuesday afternoon.”

The appearance by President Trump sparked debate across sports media and social media platforms, where some fans questioned whether a college football-focused show should host a political figure. Pate addressed that criticism last month head-on, defending both the independence of his platform and the broader editorial direction of the program.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Boomer Esiason: Matt Ryan Didn’t Love Studio Work Of NFL on CBS Sports

BSM Staff
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0
Boomer Esiason: Matt Ryan Didn’t Love Studio Work Of NFL on CBS Sports

Boomer Esiason understands why some former players bristle at the structure of network broadcasting, but he isn’t buying the idea that NFL analysts are simply recycling the same lines year after year.

During Tuesday’s edition of Boomer & Gio on WFAN, Esiason addressed recent comments from former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, who suggested that longtime broadcasters have been “regurgitating” similar analysis for decades. Plummer, now co-hosting The Cold Tub, argued that the traditional format can become repetitive over the course of a full season.

Esiason pushed back by reframing the discussion around the nature of the sport itself.

“We are the same sport. Usually when you are covering the sport, you’re covering human interaction between coaches and players,” Esiason said. “Whether they’re good players, bad players, do stupid things on the field, do great things on the field. I don’t know what else you’re going to say but I do believe a fresh perspective is always nice.”

In other words, he contended that football’s core elements — decision-making, execution and relationships inside a locker room — do not fundamentally change, even as schemes and terminology evolve. As a result, certain themes will naturally resurface because they remain central to how games are won and lost.

At the same time, Esiason acknowledged that not every broadcasting role fits every former player, particularly when comparing studio work to calling games from the booth.

“I know CBS still has an open seat,” Esiason said. “The studio stuff can be a little bit boring, and especially if you don’t like traveling to New York or L.A. for it, or going to the games with the way that NBC does it. I think Matt Ryan found that out. Sure, I think he was good at it, but he didn’t love it. He had an opportunity to go back and work for the Falcons, and he took it.”

Ryan left his role as a CBS Sports analyst in January to return to the Atlanta Falcons in a newly created executive position named President of Football.

That distinction, Esiason suggested, matters. Studio shows require long hours under bright lights dissecting highlights and storylines in short segments, while booth analysts immerse themselves in one matchup, armed with a week’s worth of preparation and direct access to coaches and players.

Plummer has made clear that the repetitive cadence of network coverage no longer appeals to him, preferring broader conversations that extend beyond X’s and O’s. However, Esiason maintained that repetition does not automatically equal stagnation.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

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