As MSNBC prepares to separate from NBC News, it has one glaring problem: a lack of global news reporting at its disposal. That is no longer an issue after a deal has been struck with Britain’s Sky News.
The multi-year deal to bring foreign-based news to the cable network will begin on October 1st. That date is just five days ahead of when MSNBC will break away from NBC News as part of a planned split of Comcast’s cable properties into the Versant company.
Sky News, like NBC News and MSNBC, is owned by parent company Comcast.
“In this moment of consequential and historic news events happening around the world that are rapidly reshaping our collective future, we are honored to bring Sky News’ premium, on-the-ground reporting and roster of top journalists to the MSNBC community,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said of the partnership.
Sky News currently operates 11 international bureaus in locations like Beijing and Moscow, with more than 500 journalists on staff.
The addition of the Sky News content to MSNBC comes as the network announced that Ian Sherwood will serve as its new Director of International Newsgathering. Sherwood has spent the past decade in leadership roles in similar areas for NBC News.
MSNBC joins a growing list of U.S. networks utilizing partnerships with foreign news organizations. CBS News began a partnership with BBC News in 2017. Meanwhile, NBC News and Sky News had previously announced an international joint venture in 2020 that was ultimately scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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There are big changes ahead for the Connoisseur Media stations in San Antonio. Morgan Harrison and Dax Davis are each getting elevations.
With the upcoming retirement of Market Manager Lance Hawkins, Harrison has been selected as his successor. She has most recently served as the Director of Sales for the cluster. The company’s portfolio of stations includes KTSA 550, 94.1 San Antonio’s Sports Star, 102.7 JACK FM, Norteño 720AM/104.1 FM, WE 94.5, Tejano 95.7, and a full complement of digital offerings.
Meanwhile, current Integrated Sales and Sports Programming Manager Dax Davis is being promoted to Director of Sales.
“This is a big moment for our San Antonio team,” said Connoisseur Media CEO Jeff Warshaw. “That market is a vital part of our company, and Morgan and Dax have earned these roles through their hard work and passion for the business. We’re excited to see them lead the next chapter.”
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to step into the role of Market Manager,” said Harrison. “I’m grateful to Jeff Warshaw for believing in me to help share his incredible vision, and to Lance Hawkins for his guidance and trust in me to fill the big shoes he leaves behind as he heads into retirement. Radio has always been about the 3C’s that Connoisseur Media boldly represents in Clients, Community, and Colleagues, and I’m excited to build on a great mission with those at the forefront, along with my colleague, Dax Davis.”
“It’s an honor to serve our talented and dedicated team of marketing professionals here in San Antonio,” Davis added. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead alongside our incoming Market Manager, Morgan Harrison, and to work with the entire San Antonio team as we continue to build lasting client and community relationships while growing our revenue share.”
These new changes in the market will take effect on January 1st.
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FS1 host Danny Parkins says that one of the biggest lessons he has learned since branching into television is that not every topic works across every medium. Instead, the effectiveness of a conversation often depends on both the platform and the audience it serves.
Speaking on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Parkins noted the strategy that he instills in attempting to understand which types of topics work for different types of audiences,
“On television, where we are on in sports bars and airports and moms getting their kids ready for school, you’re trying to cater to everybody,” Parkins explained. “The podcast, I think by definition, is more niche.”
Parkins compared television’s mass appeal to a podcast’s more selective reach. He likened podcasting to premium cable, where audiences deliberately choose to opt in. That gives hosts more freedom to dive into specialized or nuanced conversations.
“If I am a listener of a podcast, and I am a subscriber, I want to know what you are interested in,” Parkins said. “If you are interested in LeBron and China. Why you are good at what you do is because you make me interested.”
He cited Colin Cowherd’s oft-used line — “I’m in the omelet business, not the egg business” — to re-enforce his point. Parkins argued that national television and radio demand more mass-appeal topics that grab casual fans. While podcasting allows for more personal or even polarizing subjects.
“I think it matters for time place, but mostly for this conversation platform. There are topics that are just better for different mediums,” Parkins admitted. “That’s a good radio topic, that’s a good podcast topic, that’s not a good TV topic.”
Parkins noted that he is still learning how to strike the right balance in television since joining FS1 last year. Having spent much of his career in radio, Parkins said the transition has made him more aware of tailoring topics not only to the news cycle but also to the medium’s demands.
“I am still learning and like figuring that piece out as a long time radio guy,” said Parkins. “There are topics that are just better for different mediums.”
Parkins’ comments highlight the ongoing challenge for hosts and producers working across multiple platforms. In today’s media landscape, success depends on understanding not just what stories are worth telling but also how best to tell them in each setting.
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pushed back on concerns that Tom Brady’s dual role as a broadcaster for FOX Sports and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders presents any conflict of interest. The concerns about a potential conflict of interest between his role as a broadcaster and minority team owner were raised by many last week. As Brady was spotted in the team’s coaching booth Monday night during the first quarter of Las Vegas’ 20-9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Brady retired after a 23-year career and debuted on FOX last season under a 10-year, $375 million contract originally agreed to in 2022. Limitations were placed on him due to his partial ownership of the Raiders. A deal approved by NFL owners in October of last year. This season, the league has eased some restrictions on his broadcast duties, allowing him to join production meetings remotely. These meetings, where broadcast crews confer with a game’s head coaches and key players, are now open to Brady. Though he is still barred from attending team practices.
The unprecedented arrangement has sparked debate about whether Brady’s access to production meetings and relationships across the league could create complications. Speaking to CNBC’s Alex Sherman, Goodell downplayed those concerns.
“Teams have the right to say whatever they want to. They don’t have to disclose any information if they think it’s a conflict of interest,” Goodell told CNBC. “Teams don’t need to say anything. Sometimes they don’t say anything to somebody who’s not [a minority owner]. We get a lot of former players that are in [broadcast meetings] that are close to their former teams. I think our teams are pretty smart about saying, ‘I’m not sharing something with him.’”
Goodell added that the league has safeguards in place to prevent any inappropriate overlap between Brady’s broadcast work and his ownership role.
“Where’s the conflict?” Goodell continued. “He’s not hanging around in the facilities. We don’t allow that.”
Goodell’s comments follow Brady writing a lengthy response to any notion of a conflict of interest that was published on his website Wednesday morning.
“When you live through uncertain and untrusting times like we are today. It is very easy to watch a person’s passions and profession intersect, and to believe you’re looking at some sort of dilemma. Because when you’re blinded by distrust, it’s hard to see anything other than self-interest,” wrote Brady. “People who are like that, particularly to a chronic, pathological degree, are telling on themselves. They’re showing you their worldview and how they operate. They’re admitting that they can only conceive of interests that are selfish; that they cannot imagine a person doing their job for reasons that are greater than themselves.”
Critics argue that even if no rules are broken, the perception of a conflict could create challenges for FOX or the league if Brady is assigned to a Raiders telecast.
Still, Goodell’s stance suggests the NFL will leave much of that responsibility to the network, the teams, and its talent.
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Roger Goodell is a smart businessman. He’s no slouch when it comes to finding ways to enrich the pockets of NFL owners, because that who he works for. Since taking over the helm in 2006, the NFL has grown in reach, value, and revenue. Franchise values are through the roof. Viewership is as high as ever before. He’s helped build the league from competing with MLB, NBA, and the NHL to competing with Google and Apple.
Speaking of Goodell’s words. He gave an interview to CNBC’s Alex Sherman yesterday in which he mentioned that the NFL “could” begin to renegotiate its media deals as soon as next year. Keyword there is “could.” There are several reasons why this shouldn’t happen. But most of all, why would Goodell even consider a move next year in the first place?
The NFL signed an 11-year, $111 billion media rights deal in 2021, solidifying the league’s action to be housed on Disney (ESPN), NBCUniversal (NBC Sports), CBS Sports, and FOX Sports. Each of those networks reportedly pays $9 billion each season until the 2033 expiration. Amazon was also part of the agreement for Thursday Night Football at a reported annual rate of $1 billion per season through the length of the agreement.
Since signing that deal, the league has also inked other rights agreements with YouTube and Netflix. A three-year agreement with Netflix was signed in 2024 at a reported $75 million per season for one day’s worth of games. YouTube serves as the home of the NFL Sunday Ticket since the 2023 season, with this year’s Chargers vs. Chiefs Week One regular season game as an extension of that agreement.
Pump The Brakes
With all the info out of the way. It’s important to note that with all these rights agreements, the league has an opt-out clause for all its media rights deals following the 2029–2030 season. Everyone except their deal with Disney (ESPN), which has an additional year tacked on.
The same company that owns ESPN is also seeking league approval for a 10% stake in the ownership of ESPN.
Do you see the red alarm bells going off yet? Can Roger Goodell, with his success in building the league, in good faith enter a rights negotiation with a partner for which they are still seeking approval for minority ownership?
That smells a little fishy for both sides. Would there be a sense that a hometown discount could be applied for the league’s newest potential acquisition? That wouldn’t look good for anyone.
For that reason alone, the league should pump the brakes on any sort of rights renegotiations until that acquisition is approved. It favors the league and all its partners—and potential partners—to do so.
Then you have to ask the question: Why would Goodell say such a thing? Why would the commissioner put the nugget out there that the league is more than willing to talk to its partners as soon as next year if they so choose?
Goodell Playing the Long Game
Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. Roger Goodell is a great leader and representative for the NFL. Last year, according to Sports Business Journal, total NFL revenue cleared $23 billion. With league growth over 4% every year since Goodell took over.
The goal for Goodell in 2010 was to get the league to $25 billion by 2027. He’s already ahead of schedule, leading me to ask: Why next year, and not the year after?
If you’re in the NFL business, business is really good. With technology consistently evolving and new players entering the space, why rush?
Of course, television networks want a little more security with their media rights deals at today’s pricing. What network wouldn’t pay a little more for a little more time on their agreement in the nature of rights deals today?
Is that what Roger Goodell wants? Wouldn’t rushing negotiations next year potentially make the league and the owners he represents less revenue?
Sit and Wait Approach
NFL football is the most-watched content on television right now. Regular season game viewership shatters championship series of every other sport in North America. There’s nothing on television that can touch the NFL.
Waiting another year until the end of the 2026–2027 season would be the best option for Goodell. The approval of the ESPN acquisition would be completed. Waiting an additional year would allow networks to settle their plans for potential costs. While the NFL can see how trends in viewership develop with the NBA’s new agreements and MLB’s new agreements coming later this year. It would also give Goodell a full additional year to adapt to an 18-game schedule. With the players union approving more football to purchase by networks as part of their deals.
Also, Goodell could use the added year to continue his own contract talks. His current deal runs through March 2027. Why not add in more record viewership and record revenue with more games available for purchase before signing on the dotted line?
There are some reasons why the NFL and Roger Goodell might be open to renegotiating their media rights deals next year. However, there are more reasons for Goodell to wait an additional year. The benefits of waiting far outweigh the risks.
Goodell runs a league that has no plans for his successor, especially with Brian Rolapp’s departure earlier this year to become PGA Tour CEO. He leads a charge for more football, including more international games. With a rising salary cap, a labor deal with the NFLPA almost seems certain, as players are being paid more to play more games.
There is simply more benefit for Goodell, the NFL, the NFLPA, and the team owners to wait and see. Roger Goodell could be considered the single greatest businessman to ever run a professional sports league, holding a royal flush among his contemporaries.
Why rush when you’re holding all the cards.
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Everyone knows Aerosmith and Yungblud partnered on an upcoming EP. That’s not the story. Yungblud being the next big Rockstar isn’t the story, either (even though it’s true).
This is about collabs and a view of what’s possible. Collaborations are a dime a dozen in music and brand circles.
Ozzy + Post Malone
Dua Lipa + Elton John
Mr. Beast + the NFL
The Grammys & iHeart Music Festival are collab fiestas
Don’t confuse collabs with advertising. The morning show pimping Toyotas is an endorsement. Sydney Sweeny slipping into jeans is product placement. A true collab is when tribes collide — world’s overlap, they become bigger than the sum of their parts and the culture actually cares.
Joining forces can be a smart move. Did you see Avengers: Endgame?
But most are forgotten or end up being mocked — usually because they were square pegs forced into round holes. That’s sushi nachos territory!
But when done well, they can be a dream for marketers and brand managers. Equal parts chasing young and merging tribes — like LeBron to Luka, handing the torch of legacy from one generation to the next.
Some of those you’d expect to flop were big hits. Nike’s limited edition Chunky Dunky shoes — a shoe tribute to Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey. Most marketers would have shouted that down on the first Zoom. Shoes and ice cream? But it killed (and still does at conventions) because both tribes are loyal and all-in.
By contrast, Radio has trained us that each format has its lane and crossing over into the next will be disaster. But the listeners change lanes all day long.
RockTernative AM shows sharing cume with News/Talk.
Rockers drifting over to Hot AC during the workday.
Rock P1 sitting front and center at the Sabrina Carpenter show.
So what does this mean inside Rock central?
It means we can (and must) think differently (again).
This isn’t license to expand the music library 20 miles wider. Leave that to JACK, JILL, BOB and HANK. But think of ways to cross boundaries, surprise people, and merge tribes.
Music: Great RockTernative music transcends generations and tribes. It’s no secret Rock (and Radio) formats are aging but go to an AC/DC concert and you’ll see parents with kids on their shoulders. Visit any middle school and count the Nirvana and Pink Floyd shirts. Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga were stoked to jam with Metallica.
Sounds a little like Aerosmith + Yungblud.
Most programmers, understandably, aren’t thinking of bringing in the younger demos but it can be done, like a mini collab.
Instead of the typical soundcheck party, it’s a Kids Rock soundcheck party — little ones welcome (artists would love it).
Create merch in youth sizes with proceeds benefiting schools.
No one is suggesting becoming Nickelodeon. The idea is having a few side doors for others to walk in, when it makes sense. And this goes far beyond introducing Shinedown to teenagers.
Sales: Full blown tribe collabs are tricky, but smaller joint-efforts can work. Not a week goes by when Radio isn’t expected to create results for Client X. Doing so doesn’t mean doing the same old, same old.
Skip the painful motions of holiday mattress sales. Collab on the WXXX Sexy Time Mattress? Silly, traffic driving, extra revenue —better than your competitor’s snoozefest.
Grocery Stores buy every station in town. It’s all the same. Dominate the buy — build the WXXX Grill Box that they can put in carts during the Saturday afternoon appearance.
Sister Stations: We’ve all got ‘em — they’re grinding just like you, and they have tribes.
Do something on-air, on-site, or online with the other talent in your building. No one is quitting you because you had fun across the hall. Switch chairs for a few breaks on April’s Fool’s Day, joint fantasy leagues, genre-fused events or concerts.
Other Local Media: TV, Pint, Digital.
A monthly RockTernative insert in the local paper (if there is still one).
Concert reviews/clips on local TV.
Let a local influencer be a probationary regular on the morning show.
Shared digital content that drives new eyeballs to your brand.
None of these are radical. They’re simple collabs but Tribe Merging has fallen by the wayside and it’s time to bring it back.
Marketing budgets aren’t going up in 2026. How do you market without marketing? Merge some tribes. Aerosmith showed us how to do it in the ‘80s with Run D.M.C., and they just did it again with Yungblud.
Leslie Fram has spent her career at the intersection of music, media, and advocacy. Now, the veteran Programmer and executive has reconnected with the medium that first captured her imagination—radio.
“I am back doing a morning radio show at 99X in Atlanta,” Fram said. “The radio station relaunched in late 2022 due to the overwhelming success of ’90s Alternative and being one of the original alternative tastemakers.” The station relaunched The Morning X with Fram and original cast member Barnes in 2023. “It’s been fun to work with my former colleagues and friends and play the music that represented a large part of my career.”
It was a full-circle moment for a broadcaster whose passion began as a quiet kid in Fairhope, Alabama. “Growing up, I was a shy kid who listened to the radio as my form of entertainment,” she said. “I was always intrigued by the theatre-of-the-mind aspect of radio. I had a chance to start in High School through the Drama Department. Immediately I got the bug for both on-air and Programming. For 20 years I did a morning show and was a Program Director! Those hours really taught me discipline in how to prioritize my life.”
Fram’s first “paying” job was at WABF in her hometown, working weekends while in high school. “In college, I worked on-air at WABB (Top 40) in Mobile and eventually became the Program Director,” she recalled. “I moved to Atlanta in 1990 to do a Morning Show/Assistant PD with Rick Stacey at Power 99 (Top 40). We changed formats in 1992 with the explosion of Alternative. It was the best time to experience that cultural shift and be part of such a legendary radio station (and work for Susquehanna) for 17 Years (as Program Director and on-air)!”
In 2008 she headed to New York to program WRXP for Emmis Broadcasting and co-host mornings with Matt Pinfield. “Everyone needs to live and work in NYC once in their life!” she laughed. But when Emmis sold the station in 2011, she hit a crossroads. “Stay in radio or explore other passions? My lifelong mentor, Brian Philips encouraged me to widen my search. At the same time, he had an opening at CMT in Nashville. He offered me a chance to run the music department, and I said ‘Yes’ without even thinking about it.” It was a chance to work with Brian again (we worked together in Atlanta at 99X) AND be back in the South and work in a city I loved: Nashville!”
Fram has experienced many career milestones, but a few stand out. “I am so grateful and honored to be the first female recipient of the TJ Martell Award in recognition of performance in the music industry. In 2009, I was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame,” she says. She’s also candid about the hurdles.
“It can be challenging as a woman in a male-dominated field, especially when advocating for yourself. It’s important to lead with integrity and believe in the power of walking away from any situation that compromises your values.”
It’s hard to imagine that Fram had any time to think of anything other than her responsibilities at CMT back in the day, much less her other job in radio. “CMT was my full-time job!” she said. “But I think everyone should explore all of their passions. I found time to do it all, and more importantly, time to binge my favorite shows (!).”
“But SO MANY THINGS DID KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT!” she added. “Most of the time, it was detail-oriented tasks that I didn’t want to forget. I have many ‘To Do’ lists! My advice: when you wake up at 3am, do not check your email or social media!”
“Finding balance was always a work-in-progress for me. I do believe that I’ve gotten better after the pandemic. For some reason, we were all used to going out every night. Then when the world came to a screeching halt, we realized we didn’t have to! Now I pick the most important things for work and pleasure and really strive to find a balance. FOMO is a thing of the past!”
A big priority in radio right now is growing the audience. There is so much competition when it comes to music platform choices. “When working to bridge the generation gap and engage the younger audience, in terms of music, it’s important to understand the audience and follow the trends. Whether you are discovering artists on TikTok or streaming services, Gen Z and Millennials are driving a new way of consuming music,” she insisted.
Even with multiple high-profile roles over the years, Fram found time to give back in all aspects of the industry, including one of its most challenging. She created CMT’s Next Women of Country franchise in 2013, launched CMT’s Equal Play programming in 2020, helped form CMT Equal Access with mTheory, and co-founded “Change the Conversation” to support female creatives in country music. “We are still constantly looking for ways to expand on this support,” she said. She’s a pioneer in both Country and Alternative, having been one of the few Female executives in predominately male businesses and formats who actually moved the needle.
Now, alongside her on-air role at 99X and her ongoing work at CMT, Fram has launched her own consultancy, FEMco (Fram Entertainment & Music). Designed as a purpose-driven collective, FEMco offers artist development, talent booking and production, and B2B connections within the entertainment world. Its music-centric production arm, FEMco Presents, debuted its first franchise, FEMcountry, and plans to expand into FEMpop and FEMrock.
“FEMco will allow me to focus on the parts of the business that have always brought me the most joy,” she told Musicrow.com when she launched in April of this year. “Advising and mentoring artists, booking and producing talent, creating connections between businesses and creatives, and championing women and underrepresented groups in music,” Fram said.
Whether breaking artists on the radio, elevating female talent, or building her own company, Leslie Fram continues to be one of the industry’s most influential and purposeful leaders—still guided by the same passion she discovered as a teenager in Alabama.
This past weekend in the NFL, we saw a familiar storyline play out.
Several teams were forced to rely on backup quarterbacks after injuries sidelined their starters. For many of those teams — including the Cincinnati Bengals, who lost one of the most horrendous football games you’ll ever see after Joe Burrow was injured — the results weren’t pretty.
Their offenses stalled, game plans were scrapped, and what once looked like a competitive matchup turned into a lopsided loss. If that sounds like a lesson tailor-made for news/talk radio, it’s because it is.
Too often, stations build their identity around one marquee host or one dominant daypart. That’s not inherently wrong — it makes sense to highlight your biggest strength. But what happens if that host suddenly leaves for a competitor, takes a TV gig, needs extended time away, or the unthinkable happens?
Just like NFL teams without a reliable backup, you’re left scrambling. You can’t punt on programming for weeks or months until your starter returns.
The NFL has taught us that backup plans are only as good as the preparation behind them. A second-string quarterback who can step in and run the same system without massive adjustments keeps the team afloat. On the other hand, if the offense has to be completely restructured, everyone suffers. In news/talk radio, the same principle applies. Listeners don’t want a completely different tone, format, or level of engagement simply because the “star” is unavailable.
That’s why depth matters. A well-rounded roster isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. If you only pour resources into your morning show, you might get great ratings in that window. But what about middays, afternoons, or evenings? If the rest of your lineup feels like an afterthought, the station lacks balance. And if the morning host departs, the void is devastating. You’re not just missing one piece; you’re losing the piece holding the whole puzzle together.
This is where development comes into play. NFL teams know that the backup quarterback might not be a superstar, but he has to be competent. He has to have reps, experience, and a coaching staff willing to invest in his progress. Radio leaders need to adopt that same mindset. If you’ve got a part-time host or a fill-in who handles weekends, give them more on-air opportunities. Test them in different formats. Allow them to get comfortable with the audience so they’re not a complete unknown when the moment arrives.
Depth also helps protect against overreliance. Think about the Dallas Cowboys a few years ago when Dak Prescott went down. For weeks, fans braced for disaster. But Cooper Rush kept the team steady and even notched wins because the organization believed in having a plan. Now flip it—look at the teams that had to completely tear down their playbook because the backup wasn’t prepared. Those are the stations that lose momentum when their star host suddenly disappears.
There’s also a business angle. Advertisers want consistency. If a show disappears or drops significantly in quality, so does its investment. A strong bench keeps revenue stable, even when the unexpected happens. That stability matters as much as ratings.
Of course, building depth requires intention. It’s not glamorous to promote a fill-in host or spend time coaching up your overnight personality. But the dividends show up when you need them most. An NFL team never wants to see its backup quarterback on the field, yet the smart ones prepare as if it’s inevitable. Radio is no different. Hosts will leave. Life will happen. The only question is whether you’ve done enough to keep your game plan intact.
The lesson here is simple: don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Celebrate your star, but don’t neglect the rest of your lineup. Develop, coach, and nurture the next voice that might carry your station forward. Because at some point, just like in the NFL, the backup is going to be called on. When that happens, will your station fall apart—or will it prove that preparation is the real key to winning?
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’sFootball Night in America, the network’s prelude to its Sunday Night Football (SNF) telecast, features host Maria Taylor along with Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, former Cowboys head coach and quarterback Jason Garrett, ex-NFL QB Chris Simms, and renowned NFL insider Mike Florio. Host Jac Collinsworth contributes to the program on site and on the field.
Over the years, the show has gone through several changes in terms of on-air personnel, and the current crop brings a wide range of perspectives and angles to the broadcast.
Football Night in America airs at 7:00 p.m. EST after the late afternoon games on Sunday. While it is essentially the pregame show for Sunday Night Football, it also serves as a recap of that day’s games. The September 21 broadcast was as highlight-filled and analysis-packed as ever.
Emanating from New York, the show was heavy with Kansas City Chiefs and New York Giants coverage as those two teams were set to clash on SNF. Taylor opened the show solo on stage. She has developed into one of the best studio hosts in broadcasting. Her on-air presence is remarkable, and she does a great job of interacting with a variety of cohosts.
Delivering What You Missed
One of the best parts of Football Night in America is that it airs while not all of the games have been completed. Viewers get live updates on late scores and highlights—real immediacy with the ongoing football action.
Devin McCourty and Jason Garrett joined Taylor on set to recap a frenetic Sunday in the NFL with a bevy of blocked kicks, ugly turnovers, upsets, and last-second victories. It was one of the most intriguing early-season Sundays in recent memory. The trio went through a batch of different “Final Alerts” as several games wrapped up while they were on the air.
The beginning of Football Night in America was frenetic, to say the least. Ripping through quick highlights of the day’s action, the show provided a colorful palette of close contests, rivalry renewals, and wild wins. The conversational style between Taylor, Garrett, and McCourty worked well, as they mixed in opinions, setups, and reports. Taylor then did a stand-up walk over to a graphic showing what a huge defensive day it was in the NFL with four pick-sixes, two punt returns for touchdowns, one fumble return for a touchdown, two blocked field goals for touchdowns, and nine overall non-offensive touchdowns—the most in a single day since Week 12 of the 2020 season.
Cameras then quickly panned to Chris Simms discussing the opportunistic Steelers defense that capitalized on five New England turnovers to beat the Patriots. All the while, graphics showed final scores from the day and ongoing scores from Dallas vs. Chicago and Denver vs. the Chargers.
Taylor then tossed to Jac Collinsworth and Dungy, who were situated on a makeshift field surrounded by fans outside of MetLife Stadium. It made for an exciting backdrop, almost like a mini version of ESPN’s College GameDay.
A Team Effort
Keeping up the swift pace, Collinsworth then handed off to Mike Tirico inside the stadium, who was joined by Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin of NBC’s Today show. That’s nine different broadcasters talking football in the first eight minutes of the program—talk about variety.
Football Night in America is one of the few programs that regularly shows behind-the-scenes footage of the production crew, which is a welcome addition. The on-air personalities get much of the credit, but in television it’s all about words, pictures, and music. If the technicians and the talent aren’t in sync, nothing works.
The show cut to the end of the Broncos-Chargers game and a dramatic winning field goal for L.A. to move to 3-0 on the young season. The studio trio then ripped through highlights and showed postgame locker room footage.
Like many other pregame shows, Football Night in America features a “Football Night Fits” segment highlighting the wardrobe of players as they enter the stadium. Focusing on Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, this edition also featured a cute, animated segment called Mr. Malik’s Naberhood, a parody of the classic PBS program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
The segment was a little hokey but showed some creativity as a break from the usual host-and-analyst chatter.
Taylor continues to shine as one of the top four or five studio hosts in sports. Dungy remains underrated as a commentator. His understated style works, just as it did during his terrific run with the Colts. His knowledge of the game is unquestioned, and the respect he commands in both media and coaching is etched in stone. Dungy’s calm demeanor is a refreshing break from the louder style of many commentators.
Garrett is terrific on television. His diction is clear, his knowledge is broad, and he can speak to all three phases of the game. Devin McCourty is joining his brother Jason as one of the fastest-rising analysts in football. Collinsworth is an able host with an engaging style, while Simms is the program’s wild card. He attempts to be controversial and often plays devil’s advocate—fun to watch at times, a bit contrived at others, but always entertaining.
As the show wore on, Collinsworth and Dungy moved inside the stadium and spoke at length about Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his performance so far this year. The lower-third graphics not only showed scores and stats but also featured betting numbers from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Perspectives That Matter
Shifting away from the studio and field, this edition also included a strong interview by Garrett with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Garrett does not get enough credit for how seamlessly he has transitioned to television. He has done it as well as any other former coach or player and is very comfortable on camera.
Simms and McCourty added a nice repartee in recapping the Steelers-Patriots game. With Simms being a former quarterback and McCourty a former defensive back, their perspectives meshed well. More of this duo working together would be a welcome addition.
Throughout Football Night in America, Florio provided news, updates, and breaking stories to bring a journalistic edge. The show also continued with behind-the-scenes footage that gave viewers an all-access look at the production. Dungy filed a solid pregame interview with Nabers, followed by Simms, Taylor, McCourty, and Garrett ripping through more highlights and top plays from Sunday’s action, with animated graphics layered in.
Football Night in America remains the fastest-paced football program on television, with rapid-fire coverage of completed games, ongoing games, and the upcoming Sunday Night Football matchup. This past, present, and future approach sets it apart from any other football program on television today.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
The Toast to 10 series, presented by Premiere Networks, is a month-long look back at 10 years of Barrett Media. Throughout the month, you’ll hear from those who have shaped the company, managed and created content, read the site, and partnered with the brand between 2015 and 2025, sharing how they’ve seen it play a role in covering the media industry and educating, celebrating, and challenging the business.
Ten years ago, Barrett Media launched with a simple but ambitious goal: to cover the media industry with the same level of scrutiny, analysis, and passion that those industries devote to the teams and stories they broadcast.
A decade later, the brand has grown into one of the most respected voices in the media research world, offering insight that connects decision-makers, talent, and audiences in ways few outlets can replicate.
Executives, hosts, and programmers alike have come to rely on the site as a pulse check on where the industry is heading, whether that’s the challenges of digital transformation, the evolution of audience behavior, or the future of music, talk, and sports radio in a streaming-first world.
We spoke with several of the most prominent media research leaders and firms to gauge how they’ve benefited from coverage on Barrett Media, what they enjoy about the coverage, and how important it is for a publication to be in the media research lane.
Steve Newberry serves as the CEO of Quu. He said he learned of Barrett Media by happenstance while he was still working at the National Association of Broadcasters.
“I can’t remember the exact date, but I can remember the ‘how,'” he shared. ” I was still working at NAB, and I was having lunch with a colleague who referenced an article they had read that morning. They kept mentioning things like, ‘I read it in Barrett today’ and ‘the Barrett article said.’ I finally stopped them and asked, ‘Where do you read that?’ That was the first time I was really aware of the site and it became a part of my daily routine.”
Newberry said he and Quu have benefitted from the “business focus, the easy absorption, and the perspective Jason (Barrett) and his team bring to an industry they clearly love.”
He added that he believes a brand covering the business and research aspects of the media industry plays a paramount role in an ever-changing field.
“Legacy media is in a constant state of change, yet many times the forces of change are more external than internal,” Newberry said. “Most of us love the old business model of radio and TV – it is what we were drawn to. But that world is changing, and having a brand that covers the external and internal trends that are impacting us is vital.”
Fred Jacobs serves as the President of Jacobs Media, the group he founded in 1983. In 2018, Fred became the first consultant ever elected to the Radio Hall of Fame.
Jacobs joked that when he heard of Jason Barrett’s plans to start another industry trade publication, he “likely blurted out the question of whether the industry needed another trade.”
He admits he might have been shortsighted.
“In retrospect, Jason was thinking more expansively that me, and looking back on it, that was smart on his part,” Jacobs said.
He said there are two things he enjoys most about the brand, since it’s inception in September 2015.
“First, I enjoy two things – the broad coverage of ‘the media’ – and not just radio. These are turbulent times, and I credit Barrett Media with having ‘the stones’ to discuss all the pertinent issues, and not just the layups,” Jacobs said. “And I also enjoy the various columnists, many of whom I know and have worked with. I find it interesting to check out their writing styles, and what they prioritize to talk about. And I’ve gotten to know other columnists, and learning what they’re about. It’s a big group, but it requires boots on the ground to cover so many topics.
“And then there are your conferences,” he continued. “I’ve attended/presented at two of them, and they are quality events. Stephanie (Eads) is especially impressive. But everything about them is buttoned up and organized. As a speaker, this is appreciated (because they all don’t run smoothly).”
Jacobs concluded by noting that he views a brand discussing and highlighting the major challenges, wins, and advancements of the media industry as an important aspect of Barrett Media’s coverage.
“It is what powers the industry. As our zealous programmers had to learn at one point or another, painfully or otherwise, none of the content we create (formats, podcasts, apps, newsletters, etc.) or the brands we build mean squat if they aren’t being adequately monetized,” said Jacobs. “Whether you agree or disagree with how the industry is evolving (or ‘devolving’), understanding the business side is often the main story anyway.”
Warren Kurtzman is the President of Coleman Insights, a position he’s held since 2008. He previously served as the Vice President of the media research firm since joining in 1995.
He said he’s been familiar with the brand since the beginning.
“I first got to know Jason because we shared some clients that he was consulting, and we were doing research for,” said Kurtzman. “That goes back before Barrett Media, itself, I think, became a separate entity or its own entity. When Jason started doing the sports newsletters and then the news newsletters, and now, of course, covering all of radio and audio, I feel like I’ve known about it and been familiar with it really right from the beginning.”
Kurtzman says he’s been drawn to the brand by its strategy.
“I admire the approach that I feel you are trying to take with the business, which is building partnerships, both between you and companies like mine,” he shared. “And also between various companies that are part of the Barrett ecosystem, for lack of a better term. So I like the approach that you’re taking.”
He added that he appreciates the “tell-it-like-it-is” mantra of the brand’s tone, especially in today’s media sphere.
“Given the challenging times for radio, specifically, I think any entity that serves kind of as an advocacy and pro-radio role is a good thing and is badly needed,” he said. “And I think if you put all the collective intelligence of a lot of different companies together, we’ll stand a better chance of figuring out the best possible outcome for the industry in the long run.”
He said his relationship with Barrett Media has been a beneficial one to Coleman Insights, as well.
“I certainly have benefited from participating in some of Barrett’s events that bring people together,” he shared. “I spoke at the sports conference in LA a couple of years ago, and I thought that was valuable for my company, because what we do is much more widespread on the music side of the radio industry, and I think it opened some people’s eyes to the value of research in the sports area.
“I attended the 10th Anniversary in New York a couple of weeks ago, and that was just a great way to connect with some clients that we share and some people who I’d like to do business with. That networking with other people and businesses in the industry has probably been the most valuable thing for us.”
Amplifi Media founder Steven Goldstein says he’s followed the brand since Jason Barrett “told me he was going to launch a newsroom.”
Goldstein, who works as a professor at NYU in addition to his work with Amplifi Media, writes his own blog about “issues regarding on-demand audio and video.”
He’s served as an expert in several Barrett Media features over the years, as well as spoken at Barrett Media Summit events, too.
He said that he enjoys the “in-depth stories about radio and podcasting” shared by Barrett Media, which he labeled as the most impactful portion of the brand’s mission.
Glenda Bos, the founder of Crowd React Media and Managing Partner at Harker Bos Group, said that the original, sports-focused approach of Barrett Media is what initially drew her to the brand.
“We’ve worked with sports stations and ESPN, and followed the publications that covered that world,” said Bos. “Barrett Media felt like the first outlet that was truly dedicated to sports.”
She said the content reminds her of what Radio & Records used to be in its heyday, calling it “fresh and accessible.”
Bos, like others, believes that a publication covering the daily ins and outs of the media industry, especially one that will focus on emerging trends, technologies, and research, is imperative.
“Understanding the business side is essential. We need to know how management is thinking, where budgets are headed, and what priorities are shaping decisions. Barrett Media gives us that window,” she said, before adding, “And on a personal note, Stephanie has been such a treasure to work with. She’s always quick to help us with contacts or whatever we might need.”
Bos added that there are plenty of things other formats could learn from the news/talk and sports talk radio genres.
“Sports and news/talk have always been some of the most adaptable formats. They move seamlessly from issue to issue and topic to topic, which is why they’ve been able to thrive on social media and across new platforms,” she said. “There’s a lot that other formats can learn from them.”
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.
