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ESPN Extends Betting Analyst Pamela Maldonado With Multi-Year Agreement

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ESPN Extends Betting Analyst Pamela Maldonado With Multi-Year Agreement

ESPN has signed sports betting analyst Pamela Maldonado to a new multi-year agreement, the network announced. Maldonado will contribute insights across multiple sports, including college football, NFL, golf, and tennis, primarily for ESPN.com’s betting editorial content.

Maldonado originally joined ESPN in August of 2024 on a non-exclusive basis, but this new agreement aligns her with the network exclusively.

“Pamela has elevated our sports betting coverage by using a combination of extensive sports knowledge, analytical research and entertainment,” said Andrew Feldman, Senior Deputy Editor at ESPN.com. “We’re glad to have her back as we continue to provide fans with the best-in-class sports betting coverage they seek from our analysts.”

Her ESPN role includes breaking down betting trends and offering data-driven predictions. She also analyzes odds to clarify potential outcomes. While rooted in analytics, Maldonado makes sports betting approachable for casual fans and still offers depth for experienced bettors.

Said Maldonado, “I’m grateful to keep building with ESPN. This is a place that values preparation and perspective, and that’s the work that drives me. I’m proud of what we’ve built so far and motivated to keep bringing clarity and real insights to the sports betting space.”

The extension comes as ESPN transitions its ESPN Bet offering to focus on content-related purposes. The network ended its sportsbook agreement with Penn Entertainment in November.

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Rob Parker Named Finalist for 2026 NSMA Hall of Fame Sportswriter Award

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Rob Parker Named Finalist for 2026 NSMA Hall of Fame Sportswriter Award

FOX Sports Radio personality Rob Parker has been named a finalist for the 2026 National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Hall of Fame in the Sportswriter (Living) category, marking another milestone in a career spanning more than three decades.

Parker, co-host of The Odd Couple with Rob Parker & Kelvin Washington, MLB Network analyst, and founder/editor of MLBbro.com, joins 39 other all-time greats nominated for the 2026 NSMA Hall of Fame. Finalists were determined through a month-long balloting process by NSMA members, recognizing distinguished careers in sports journalism.

“It’s an absolute honor to be considered with so many journalism heavyweights,” Parker said in a statement.

Winners of the NSMA Hall of Fame awards will be notified in the first week of January. The awards ceremony will take place June 28-29, 2026, during the NSMA’s 66th Awards Weekend & National Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The recognition is the latest in a string of honors for Parker, who was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Hall of Fame in 2023. His alma mater, Southern Connecticut State University, also recently dedicated the press box at Jess Dow Field in his honor.

Parker’s career began at age 22 when he became a full-time sportswriter at the New York Daily News. He quickly emerged as a trailblazer in the industry. Parker became the first African American sports columnist at both the Detroit Free Press in 1993 and Newsday in 1995. That same year, he made history as the first African American beat writer to cover the Cincinnati Reds for The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Over the years, Parker earned acclaim as an award-winning sports columnist in his nine years at The Detroit News. He also hosted the long-running radio show Sports Night with Parker and The Man and held on-air roles at WDIV Local 4 and WXYZ TV in 2016.

In 2018, Parker joined FOX Sports Radio to co-host The Odd Couple. The show quickly moved from Sunday to weekdays. He also hosts the Inside the (Rob) Parker Podcast, teaches as an adjunct professor at USC, and recently launched MLBbro.com, chronicling the journeys of Black and brown professional baseball players.

Parker is a New York native with a journalism degree from Southern Connecticut State University. He also earned a Master’s from Columbia University. Named NABJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2018, he continues a career marked by groundbreaking achievements, mentorship, and lasting influence in sports media.

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Local, Broadcast, Cable TV Advertising Forecasted to Fall 7%, New MoffettNatahanson Data Shows

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Local, Broadcast, Cable TV Advertising Forecasted to Fall 7%, New MoffettNatahanson Data Shows

New data from MoffettNathanson Research shows that linear TV advertising — comprising of local TV, broadcast networks, and cable networks — should expect declining advertising revenues.

In 2025, those sectors are experiencing a 7% decline compared to the previous year, the company shares. The news doesn’t get rosier in the future, with a 6% decrease projected in 2026, and an 8% drop forecasted for 2027.

However, ad-supported connected TV is expected to gain in the coming years, growing from a projected $16 billion in 2025 to $22 billion in 2027. That figure represents a 16% increase.

The company pointed to advantages held by Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon as reason for the moves.

“Without ad products that match the performance, targeting, and measurement advantages of the Big Tech Four, it’s hard to see CTV re-accelerating to prior lofty growth rates (with live sports going OTT remaining the key exception),” said MoffettNathanson co-founder and analyst Michael Nathanson.

“CTV is still growing, but the category is clearly decelerating, from outsized double-digit gains in recent years to a mid-teens trajectory going forward, as the easy lift from linear-to-CTV budget shifts fades and linear holds a floor thanks to sports and news,” he added.

In 2024, cable network advertising revenue was at $22.5 billion. That fell to $20.2 billion, according to MoffettNathanson. Broadcast networks saw a drop from $12.7 billion to $11.7 billion this year. Meanwhile, local TV advertising revenue fell from $21.6 billion last year to $16.9 in 2025, the projections show.

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ESPN’s Paul Finebaum Will Not Run For Open Senate Seat In Alabama

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ESPN’s Paul Finebaum Will Not Run For Open Senate Seat In Alabama

ESPN and SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum announced that he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama currently held by Tommy Tuberville, ending weeks of speculation about a potential political bid.

“I have been deeply moved by so many people in Alabama who have reached out encouraging me to run for the United States Senate,” Finebaum said in an exclusive statement to AL.com. “It has been a gratifying and rewarding experience. I am also appreciative of my bosses at ESPN for allowing me to explore this opportunity. But it’s time for me to devote my full attention to something everyone in Alabama can agree upon — our love of college football.”

Finebaum, 70, is a Birmingham native who rose to prominence as a columnist for the Birmingham Post-Herald and as the host of a popular radio call-in talk show. He recently moved back to Alabama from Charlotte, purchasing a $5.1 million home in Mountain Brook to re-establish residency in the state.

The decision to forgo a Senate run came after months of careful consideration. Finebaum confirmed in an interview with Clay Travis of Outkick that events, including the Charlie Kirk assassination, prompted him to reassess his priorities. Ultimately, he decided that a campaign for public office was not the right path at this stage in his life.

Finebaum had indicated he would make a final decision after the college football season. The qualifying deadline for the Alabama Republican primary is January 23, with the primary scheduled for May.

Finebaum remains under contract for roughly another year and a half and has continued to make regular appearances on Get Up, First Take, and SportsCenter.

In a Monday appearance on CNN with Kaitlan Collins, Finebaum downplayed political speculation. “It’s been difficult to concentrate on anything else lately but Lane Kiffin,” he said, referencing his continued focus on college football coverage.

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AM 1420 The Answer Midday Host Bob Frantz Exits

BNM Staff
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AM 1420 The Answer Midday Host Bob Frantz Exits

AM 1420 The Answer midday host Bob Frantz has announced he has departed the Salem Media Cleveland news/talk station as part of budget cuts.

Frantz had spent the past 11 years working at the station, after previously working as the evening host at crosstown 1100 WTAM.

His show — Always Right Radio with Bob Frantz — aired from 9 AM to Noon.

“Since I understand the nature of online chatter and the breakneck speed of the rumor mill, let me go ahead and confirm it: I hosted my last Cleveland show for WHK today,” Frantz wrote in a post on social media. “I was informed after the show that corporate budget cuts necessitated the use of syndicated programming. At least that’s what I was TOLD.

“The decision was not performance related, and in fact, the company has asked me to continue to guest-host their national programming, which I will do, including Tuesday morning at 6 AM,” Frantz continued. “As for the local show, however, it is now officially over. I intend to start a new live stream program, probably hosted on Rumble, in the very near future. It will be a daily 1-2 hour show, and will feature the same great guests and commentary that we have provided on WHK for the last 11 years.”

Frantz served as a fill-in host on The Chris Stigall Show, the nationally syndicated morning show on the Salem Radio Network.

Meanwhile, AM 1420 The Answer — which also features an FM simulcast on 102.9 — has replaced Frantz with the nationally syndicated Mike Gallagher Show in the daypart.

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MLS Playoffs Seeing Double Digit Viewership Growth Over 2024

BSM Staff
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MLS Playoffs Seeing Double Digit Viewership Growth Over 2024

Major League Soccer’s playoffs are drawing significantly more attention this year, averaging 711,000 global viewers per match across all platforms through last weekend’s conference finals, the league announced. That figure represents a 23% increase from the same stage in 2025.

The total includes global streaming on Apple TV. It also covers select linear broadcasts in the U.S. on Fox and in Canada on TSN and RDS. MLS did not release match-by-match viewership figures. However, Inter Miami’s deep run to the MLS Cup—following a first-round exit in 2024—has likely fueled heightened interest.

“Certainly, having Messi perform really well in the playoffs helps, but this is growth across every one of our matches, all of our rounds,” said MLS Executive Vice President of Media Seth Bacon to Sports Business Journal.

A key change this season has been accessibility. All playoff matches were made available for free on Apple TV, contrasting with last year when viewers needed either a paid Apple TV+ or MLS Season Pass subscription to watch most games. In addition, MLS secured several new distribution partnerships with Comcast, DirecTV, and T-Mobile, expanding the league’s reach.

MLS viewership metrics differ from traditional television measurements. Unlike the Nielsen average minute audience used for most sports telecasts, the league tracks total viewers per match. Nevertheless, Bacon said the 23% increase provides a meaningful indicator of the league’s growth, building on the 29% rise seen during the 2025 regular season.

The league now heads into the MLS Cup final between Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET. The title match will feature Messi going head-to-head with the Whitecaps’ newly acquired German star Thomas Müller.

The game will stream globally on Apple TV. Live U.S. coverage will air on FOX Sports, with Canadian broadcasts on TSN and RDS.

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ESPN To Broadcast First FBS College Football Game From South America Next Season

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ESPN To Broadcast First FBS College Football Game From South America Next Season

North Carolina State University and the University of Virginia will make history when they meet in the first-ever FBS college football game played in South America on ESPN. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) matchup is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Nilton Santos Stadium, also known as Engenhão, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The event, dubbed College Football Brasil, is powered by Athlete Advantage in partnership with Brasil Sports Business and backed by state and city authorities.

“To have NC State and Virginia open our conference schedule on an international stage in Rio de Janeiro speaks to the vision, innovation, and collaboration of our league,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said. “This is an extraordinary moment for the ACC and for college football. We appreciate College Football Brasil for this incredible opportunity to celebrate our student-athletes. Highlighting the global appeal of the ACC, our schools, and the sport of football.”

The game on ESPN marks a significant milestone in American college football’s global expansion. It brings together student-athletes, universities, fans, and communities across two continents.

Athlete Advantage CEO Crowley Sullivan emphasized the significance of the event, which will air live on ESPN. “Rio is the perfect setting for an event of this magnitude. Ggiven its unmatched passion for sport and ability to host world-class competition,” he said.

NC State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan called the opportunity “unforgettable.” “We’re excited about the chance to play in a world-renowned city like Rio de Janeiro and to bring American football to another continent,” he said. Virginia Athletic Director Carla Williams echoed that sentiment, noting the event allows the university to expand its international presence. “We’re honored to participate in such a historic event and thrilled that Brazil will be our host,” she said.

Rio de Janeiro was chosen for its world-class infrastructure. The city also has a history of hosting global sports events. These include the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, and Copa America.

The NFL has also recently signed a multi-year agreement to bring additional games to Brazil.

State and city officials praised the event as a chance to strengthen ties with the U.S. tourism market. They also highlighted Rio’s ability to host major international competitions. “Without a doubt, we will further increase Rio’s visibility in the U.S., reinforcing our commitment to positioning the state among the world’s top destinations,” said Rio de Janeiro State Secretary of Tourism Gustavo Tutuca.

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Candace Owens: I Have New Information That Confirms Charlie Kirk Was ‘Betrayed by the Leadership of Turning Point USA’

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Candace Owens: I Have New Information That Confirms Charlie Kirk Was ‘Betrayed by the Leadership of Turning Point USA’

Candace Owens has continually released information that she claims shows there was a conspiracy to assassinate Charlie Kirk. She now says she has new information that confirms her suspicions.

In a post on social media, Owens said that she has been given new details that “put the final pieces together for me.”

“I now can say with full confidence that I believe Charlie Kirk was betrayed by the leadership of Turning Point USA and some of the very people who eulogized him on stage,” Owens said.

She continued by stating that she plans to release the information she has uncovered.

“Yes, I will be naming names and providing evidence for my claims,” she continued. “And I am making a personal plea to every well-meaning person who donated to this Godforsaken organization to request a refund. You were lied to. And leadership knew.”

Owens did not expand on whether or not the “betrayal” of Kirk was related to his assassination, the business operations of Turning Point USA, or another facet.

The comments from Candace Owens come after she had previously released text messages — which were later confirmed by Turning Point USA — that showed Kirk’s “real feelings” about Israel, as well as saying that Owens is “bigger than Ben Shapiro” and that “pisses (Shapiro) off.”

Owens has continually asserted that there was a conspiracy to assassinate Charlie Kirk, questioning the official story of the events. Her conspiracy claims come as she has been involved in a lawsuit with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, after Owens has continually asserted that the French First Lady was born a male. She recently claimed she was informed that the Macrons had paid $1.5 million for someone to assassinate her.

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Fox News Elevates Aishah Hasnie to Anchor and White House Correspondent

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Fox News Elevates Aishah Hasnie to Anchor and White House Correspondent

Fox News has announced it is promoting Aishah Hasnie to anchor and White House correspondent. As part of her new role, she’ll launch a new weekend program on the network.

Beginning on Saturday, January 10th, Hasnie will helm a weekend show from 12-2 PM ET. She’ll begin her duties as a White House correspondent with Fox News this week.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to deliver critical information to our viewers across the country in the anchor chair and honored to join our prestigious White House correspondent team,” Hasnie said.

“Aishah’s knowledge of Washington makes her a perfect addition to our stellar White House team of correspondents, and we are confident she will excel in the anchor chair as well,” added Fox News President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace.

Aishah Hasnie has worked at Fox News since 2019. In her time, she has served as a New York-based correspondent, a Washington-based correspondent working the Congressional beat, as well as a senior national correspondent.

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ABC News Tabs Hanna Battah as Correspondent and Overnight Anchor

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ABC News Tabs Hanna Battah as Correspondent and Overnight Anchor

ABC News has announced it is hiring Hanna Battah as a correspondent and co-anchor of the network’s overnight news programming.

In her new role, Battah will work alongside Sophie Flay as co-anchor of World News Now and Good Morning America First Look.

Battah joins the network after previously spending more than seven years at KDFW-TV in Dallas. Other stops include spending time at KBAK-TV/KBFX-TV in Bakersfield and at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri.

During her career, she earned a Lone Star Emmy for her coverage of a vehicle intentionally crashing through her TV station’s facade during the morning newscast, and the resulting bomb threat investigation.

She served as co-anchor of The Ten for KDFW-TV, a largely unscripted show focused on live interviews.

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