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Say Thanks to the Biggest Turkeys in Rock and Alternative

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Every music genre has its share of turkeys. Misfires and meltdowns, those moments we’d like to do over… or celebrate.

Rockternative is the leader in Turkeys because the loud stuff wasn’t built on perfection; it was built on rebellion. And that brings chaos and trouble.

So, as families gather ’round the table for carbs and political arguments, let’s give thanks to some Turkeys that have made RockTernative so great and human.

The Appetizers

Let’s start with some early pioneers that put us in a tryptophan haze. So moments like Rage Against the Machine crashing Wall Street were just another day in Rock.

  • Jim Morrison goes full Monty in Miami and gets himself a personal FBI file.
  • Keith Moon (supposedly) drove a Rolls Royce into a hotel pool. Whether true or not, it’s one for the ages — I vote “true.”
  • “The Riot House” on Sunset was an all-you-can-eat Turkey buffet filled with hallway nudity, sex, drugs, fights, and 9-1-1 calls. Zeppelin, The Who, and even Sydney Sweeney’s favorite band (the Stones) were regulars.
  • Aerosmith hiding drugs in scarves, the fighting and womanizing, even their tour van being found abandoned in the woods — all reminders that the music we love isn’t just a genre; it’s a lifestyle.

A Holiday Cocktail

When neon and hair spray became part of Rock culture, some of the juiciest turkey moments of all time followed.

  • Nikki Sixx OD’d twice… died twice… and came back twice. That’s why it’s a rite of passage to blast “Kickstart My Heart” whenever you get the chance.
  • Axl Rose deserves his own chapter — starting riots, seemingly never sober, having live sex while recording, BBQing steaks on hotel balconies, or maybe just taking 15 years to finish Chinese Democracy.
  • Ozzy didn’t just bite the head off a bat on stage — he rehearsed it a year earlier by mouth-decapitating a dove at CBS Records.
  • Billy Squier’s “Rock Me Tonite” was like a YouTube deep-fried Turkey explosion video — and it blew his career to smithereens.
  • Tommy Lee and Pam Anderson literally started the celebrity sex-tape craze.
  • When KISS ditched the makeup, they learned it wasn’t just about the music — and then they had to cover their black eyes with more makeup.
  • Remember the PMRC — the “Karens” of the ’80s — thinking every rock star was Satan? They were a whole flock of Turkeys.

The Main Course

RockTernative then moved into a more serious and emotional stage. One might have thought the genre would go full vegan, but Turkey never left the menu.

  • Nirvana accidentally killed Hair Metal and half the industry in about five minutes.
  • Eddie Vedder forgot that intelligible lyrics are generally preferred.
  • Metallica turned on its fans and sued Napster but somehow managed to get even bigger.
  • Van Halen hired Gary Cherone — a classic Turkey move.
  • Woodstock ’99 taught us that having permits and providing water aren’t optional.
  • Putting a naked baby on the cover of an album? History (and some lawsuits) may judge it differently today, but it’s proof that even the dumbest cover can house a brilliant record.
  • The Oasis brothers played their version of “Family Feud” and turned it into legendary art and folklore.
  • The Red Hot Chili Peppers wore nothing but socks back in the day, which gave them “wardrobe malfunction” bragging rights way before Janet Jackson.
  • “Fartman” (aka Howard Stern) crashed into the MTV Awards — with ass out — giving the world and Metallica a moon before handing out a Moonman for Best Hard Rock/Metal Video.

A Little Dessert

And even the turn of the century couldn’t stop the turkeys — and they’ll keep coming.

  • Muse’s drone, the “dildrone,” malfunctioned and crashed into the crowd at a London show. Of course it did.
  • In the least punk-rock move ever, Green Day turned a concept album into a Broadway musical. It won two Tonys but deserves a full plate of Turkey.
  • Every year the Grammys should award itself Biggest Turkey for its definitions of what Rock and Alternative are.
  • At a concert in the country of Georgia, The Killers brought a Russian fan onstage with them to play drums. Turns out that’s like having Trump playing drums at a Biden show.
  • Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd was arrested at LaGuardia Airport after trying to board a flight with a switchblade.
  • Dave Grohl falls off stage in Sweden and breaks his leg — total Turkey move. But of course, he gets quick treatment and comes back to finish the show. That’s why he’s always invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
  • And the Turkey that will never be topped — Decca Records passed on The Beatles.

Making Holiday Memories

Before nap time, a personal favorite Turkey moment: it was a snowy Thanksgiving Day and the DJ put on the 18-minute version of “Alice’s Restaurant” (a station tradition) and stepped outside to get high — not realizing he’d left his keys inside. Locked out. No one else around. Dead air until the fire department let him in. May he rest in peace.

Until next year — say no to cranberry, yes to Rock.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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.

Why A Bet on 101 KXL Paid Off For New Program Director Grant McHill

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Grant McHill was named the new Program Director of 101 KXL in Portland last week. And the move had been more than a decade in the making.

McHill joined the station 10 years ago. During his time with the news/talk outlet, he’s worked as the News Director, in addition to joining the station’s morning show.

But the urge to lead the brand was always there.

“I’ve known this brand for more than 10 years,” said McHill. “I was in Eugene for about seven before that, and I grew up in Oregon, so, the name KXL is synonymous, I think, with good local radio news and programming … I know what the station means to Portland. I’m proud to be part of it, and can’t wait to see what we can do as a team to help it grow.”

McHill noted that for the past year and a half or so, he’s handled plenty of the programming duties for the station, in addition to serving as the News Director.

But it was an off-the-cuff question from Ross MacLeod, the Operations Manager of the Connoisseur Media Portland cluster, led to McHill officially taking the reins.

“Ross and I were just talking one day, and he kind of looked over and said, ‘Hey, do you wanna be PD?’ And I said, ‘Yeah. Yeah, I do,'” he said with a reminiscent laugh. “It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I’ve passed on other opportunities to leave and to PD at other stations, because I believe in KXL.”

The strong connection Grant McHill has with Portland and 101 KXL was too much to move on from, however.

“Portland and Oregon is home for me. It’s where my family’s at,” he shared. “So, it really was excitement. I also feel the burden of it, and I want to do the best I can do. It’s not lost on me the importance of the station, especially here in our cluster.”

And that familiarity with the market, the station, company, and personnel will help McHill hit the ground running.

“When the rest of my team found out, they all said, ‘Oh, so you’re just officially gonna keep doing what you’re doing.’ So it definitely is helpful. I’m familiar with the station. I know my team. I know how to work with Lars (Larson) and Markley, van Camp, and Robbins, who we’re so fortunate to have on our team as well.”

KXL is a bit of a different news/talk station than others in the genre. The station hosts two news-focused blocks of programming in morning and afternoon drive. Between those dayparts, both of the aforementioned shows — The Lars Larson Show and Markley, van Camp, and Robbins — are nationally syndicated through Compass Media Networks.

So both news and talk programming feature prominent roles on the Connoisseur Media Portland station.

And that won’t be changing under Grant McHill’s leadership.

“It really helps set the stage for the station to be successful all day, especially from five until seven at night … We all work together. It’s all a team. We definitely have our own rules. I firmly believe in news is news, and that’s the way it should be. And commentary and talk have a great place here in this market as well.”

“Robert Dove, our former general manager, said this really well: ‘KXL is the conscience of Portland,'” McHill later added. “What he meant by that was, from the news side of our station, we deliver the content, the news, that our residents and Oregonians need to hear. And I think that really is important for any market, especially here in Portland, where we have a lot going on at all times.

“I think, the backbone to our station mornings and also afternoons is to keep our listeners informed and to know that they can trust us to give them information that they need to know in a fair and in a complete way. I think we serve the news as the conscience of the station. And then, we have Lars and Markley, van Camp, and Robbins, who entertain listeners as well. I think we hit everything from all sides. I think there’s definitely a need for news, and for listeners — especially on their way to and from work or in the office — we provide that to them. And I think we do it well.”

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Why the Thanksgiving Table is the Perfect Metaphor For What News/Talk Radio Should Be

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Imagine being invited to a Thanksgiving dinner for the very first time. You show up expecting a feast—a smorgasbord of flavors, smells, and conversation.

But when you sit down, the only dish on the table is green bean casserole. And let’s be honest, you don’t even particularly like green bean casserole.

Would you rush back next year if the invitation came again? Probably not. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a celebration of abundance, variety, and choice. It’s about filling your plate with the things you love and maybe even trying something new.

Talk radio, at its best, should be no different. Too many stations serve only one thing — politics, politics, and more politics. Sure, conservative politics can be the turkey centerpiece. It can anchor the show. But a plate with nothing but turkey day after day quickly becomes monotonous. Listeners crave variety. They want sides. They want dessert. I promise you, they want to leave feeling full, satisfied, and eager to come back next year.

Think of your audience as the guests at that Thanksgiving table. Some are coming for the politics, some are coming for sports, some for items about parenting and family life, and some for pop culture.

And just like Thanksgiving dinner, your show should be designed to let them pick and choose what they want to savor. The mashed potatoes of a show could be a well-told sports story. The mac and cheese could be a quirky cultural segment that gets people talking. Cranberry sauce might be a trending social commentary. And yes — even though pumpkin pie is an abomination and tastes like cinnamon-flavored baby food — there should always be pumpkin pie — something sweet, fun, or light to balance the heavier fare.

A station that only serves green bean casserole is leaving money, listenership, and loyalty on the table. The audience has options. They can flip to podcasts, YouTube channels, streaming services, or satellite radio. If your content doesn’t fill the plate with variety, they’ll leave mid-course, grabbing a quick bite elsewhere. Your job is to create a feast they can’t resist.

This doesn’t mean diluting your brand, or trying to re-think the wheel. The turkey can remain the centerpiece, but the sides should complement it. A political talk station can sprinkle in local human-interest stories, sports talk, lifestyle segments, and cultural commentary. It can debate the big issues, sure, but also share the small, funny, and heartwarming moments that make people feel connected to your community. A buffet-style approach doesn’t weaken your station — it strengthens it by showing you understand your listeners are more than one-dimensional.

Even better, variety gives you flexibility. Politics might dominate the news cycle one week, but the next week might be lighter. Elections come and go. Legislatures feel like they’re on recess as often as they’re in session. Sports season changes. Movies release. Trends evolve. Having a variety of topics allows your station to stay relevant no matter what is happening in the world.

It’s the difference between a green bean casserole that everyone tolerates and a Thanksgiving table that people circle back to year after year.

So, when you’re planning your programming, picture the Thanksgiving table. Ask yourself: are you offering a single dish, or a feast? Are your listeners leaving satisfied, or heading somewhere else for a real meal? Talk radio should be the ultimate Thanksgiving buffet — a mix of hearty main courses, savory sides, and sweet desserts that keep people coming back for more.

Treat your listeners to that feast. Serve variety. Make them feel like they’re at the table. Do it well, and they’ll show up hungry for more.

Because no one wants to stop at McDonald’s on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner.

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.

102.3 WBAB Brings Back Thanksgiving Tradition With “Alice’s Restaurant” Broadcast

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102.3 WBAB, Long Island’s Only Classic Rock, is keeping a cherished holiday tradition alive this Thanksgiving. The station will air the annual broadcast of Arlo Guthrie’s iconic 18-minute-and-34-second “Alice’s Restaurant.” The special airs on Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m. and again at noon. Listeners can enjoy a full serving of music, storytelling, and holiday spirit.

Hosted by WBAB’s Rocky, the broadcast has become a staple for generations of Long Islanders, who gather with family around the radio to enjoy Guthrie’s signature tale of humor, social commentary, and Thanksgiving misadventures. For many, it marks the official kickoff to the holiday.

“For decades, Long Islanders have made WBAB part of their Thanksgiving tradition, and ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ remains one of the most anticipated broadcasts of the year,” said Chris Lloyd, Director of Operations, Branding and Programming for CMG Long Island. “We love being part of our listeners’ holiday celebrations, and we’re excited to bring this classic back once again.”

Listeners can tune in on 102.3 WBAB, 95.3 on the East End, or through the 102.3 WBAB app. Thousands of households across the region are expected to join the broadcast, making it a shared experience that spans generations.

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Tanner Chambers Out At K99 In Colorado

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Tanner Chambers is leaving mornings at Townsquare Media Country K99 in Windsor/Fort Collins after two and a half years.

Chambers joined K99’s morning lineup in July 2023, bringing a mix of country music expertise and on-air energy to the station’s flagship morning program. His tenure at “K99” followed previous stints in both morning and afternoon radio across the country.

“Life in Colorado has been amazing. Kami Miller and I packed our life up and didn’t really know what to expect, but we fell in love with Northern Colorado, the people, amazing co-workers and life in the Centennial State,” wrote Chambers on Facebook. “I’ve been fortunate in my career to live in a few amazing places and I feel incredibly grateful to have called Colorado home for a short time.”

Before arriving in Colorado, Chambers spent four years hosting mornings at Country Froggy 92.9 and afternoons at Hot 101.7 in Santa Rosa, California. He also built experience behind the scenes as a producer and writer for the syndicated programs The Hit List with Fitz and Fitz in the Morning at 100.7 The Wolf in Seattle.

During his time at K99, Chambers was joined on-air by co-host Kerri Mac, who came aboard in May. Together, they helped shape the station’s morning programming with a combination of music, local flavor, and listener engagement.

Townsquare Media has confirmed that it is actively searching for a new morning host at K99. The company has not yet announced whether the station will introduce a permanent replacement immediately or implement an interim programming schedule while the search continues.

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Candace Owens: ‘Our Show Will Be Off Air This Week’ After Claims French President Ordered Hit on Her

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Candace Owens has alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron had ordered a hitman to assassinate her in the midst of a lawsuit against her. She is now taking her show off the air in response.

In a post to social media, Owens said “Our show will be off the air this week,” before sharing an update about her current situation.

“As an update, both the White House and our counterterrorism agencies have confirmed receipt of what I reported publicly: Emmanuel Macron attempted to organize my assassination, per a source close to the first couple.”

She added that she also believes that the Macrons also “were involved in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, but they did not act alone.”

“For all of you who doubted my claims, you can now look to the President of the United States and our intelligence communities to issue a statement to confirm whether I am telling the truth,” Owens said.

Her comments come after she purported that Macron has earmarked $1.5 million for an assassin to kill her.

Candace Owens is currently being sued by the Macrons after she continually asserted that Brigitte Macron — the wife of the French President — is actually a man. The complaint, filed in July, came after an eight-part series produced by Candace Owens continually claimed that Brigitte Macron was born a man, then later stole the identity of another woman, before undergoing a transition surgery to become a woman.

“These claims are demonstrably false, and Owens knew they were false when she published them,” the lawsuit says. “Yet, she published them anyway. And the reason is clear: it is not the pursuit of truth, but the pursuit of fame.”

In a statement, the Macrons said they grew determined to launch the defamation lawsuit after Owens continued to share the comments after several requests by lawyers for the couple asked for retractions to be made.

“Ms. Owens’ campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety,” the attorneys said. “We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused. It is our earnest hope that this lawsuit will set the record straight and end this campaign of defamation once and for all.”

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FOX One Surpasses More Than 2 Million Subscribers, New Data Shows

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FOX One debuted to much fanfare earlier this year. That decision appears to have paid off for the company, as the streaming platform has seen millions of subscribers in its infancy.

According to figures from research firm Antenna, the streaming platform that launched in August has 2.3 million subscribers as of October 30th.

Estimates from the company show that while FOX One is offered as part of a bundle with both ESPN’s “Unlimited” service and with sister streaming platform FOX Nation, 99% of initial subscribers signed up for the service as a standalone subscription.

57% of FOX One subscribers have come through its relationship with Amazon, Antenna says. 27% of subscriptions have been added through direct sign-ups.

During the most recent earnings call, FOX Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch gave kudos to Amazon. He said the platform had provided “tremendous and brilliant support” for the service.

ESPN’s new “Unlimited” tier, which launched on the same August 21st date that FOX One did, has 3 million subscribers, Antenna estimates show.

Antenna says it sources its data from permission-based, consumer opt-in transaction records from digital purchase receipts, as well as credit, debit, and banking data.

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Joe Buck To Anchor Good Morning America, Call Monday Night Football on Same Day

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Joe Buck plays double duty on Monday, December 1, as the ESPN play-by-play icon transitions from the morning news desk to the prime-time football booth.

Buck will join Good Morning America co-anchor George Stephanopoulos and the ABC team for a guest anchor stint at 7 a.m. ET, before traveling to Foxboro, Massachusetts, to call Monday Night Football’s matchup between the New York Giants and New England Patriots alongside Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN2, and NFL+.

The schedule marks a rare crossover in Buck’s career, blending sports broadcasting with mainstream morning television.

ESPN President of Content Burke Magnus praised Buck’s versatility, noting that his presence has “elevated our Monday Night Football presentation” and that his impact “goes well beyond the broadcast booth.” Magnus added, “We continue to find new ways to leverage his talent across the company.”

For Buck, the return to Good Morning America offers a reminder of the unique intersections between sports and television.

“The GMA team welcoming me back is easily the biggest surprise of the day,” he said. “Experiencing that routine just a few times a year reminds me why sports will always be my main job. I appreciate GMA letting me be a small part of the show again. A salute to our Monday Night Football team, the real stars of our production, holding down the fort in Foxboro.”

Buck has previously managed similar dual assignments. In 2012, he called the Giants–San Francisco 49ers game. Later that day, he covered Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. The series featured the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. He did all of this for Fox Sports in a single day.

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Cris Collinsworth Attempted To Talk Tom Brady Out of Booth Work Over Studio Work for FOX Sports

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NBC Sports NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth offered insight into his guidance for former players transitioning to sports media, revealing that both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning sought his advice on navigating broadcast careers.

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Collinsworth explained why he consistently urges retired athletes to start in the studio before attempting the more demanding role of a game analyst in the booth.

“Go to the studio. Honestly, It’s the same thing I told Peyton Manning, same thing. I told all of them,” Collinsworth said about his advice to Tom Brady before he joined FOX Sports. “The studio is something that… You’ve got like five or six different hits during the course of the show. You know what you’re going to talk about going into it. You can research it easily. It’s not that big a deal. Now, you do have to know a little something about all the teams, but that’s not too bad. When you go to the game, you are starting from scratch every single week.”

Collinsworth emphasized that the jump from player to analyst is far more complex than many assume, particularly when it comes to booth work.

“You’re used to getting ready for one side of the ball, your offense against their defense. Now you have six sides of the ball that you got to get ready fork,” he said. “Tom, God bless him, that’s what he said. I love the work and the grind. I missed the grind and want to do that.”

While both Brady and Manning were eager to transition to broadcasting, Collinsworth noted their approaches differed.

“Peyton, he’s the genius of all geniuses. Somehow, he went from he was going to call games to sitting in his basement with his brother, screwing around and getting Emmy awards. I have no idea. He’s the smartest human being I ever met. Brady wanted it. He wanted it,” Collinsworth said.

Collinsworth described his routine of advising former players against rushing into booth assignments. When asked directly by Patrick if he attempted to talk Brady out of being on the road versus work in studio, Collinsworth was quick in recalling his advice.

“Yes, every one of them that have called me… I go, ‘Look, just bear with me. I’m going to try and talk you out of what you’re talking about here.’ I give them all the same spiel every single one of them, because I don’t want them coming back to me going, ‘Oh man, my life was ruined. I was living on the road and might as well be a baseball player. I’m never home.’ I didn’t want to hear that,” he said.

Collinsworth just wrapped up calling his 500 career broadcast this past weekend as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams on NBC Sports. While he is taking the network’s Thursday call of the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals off on Thanksgiving, his advice underscores the challenge that many retired athletes face when shifting to broadcasting.

Studio work allows former players to leverage their expertise in a controlled environment, while booth work demands a level of preparation and adaptability that can be overwhelming without experience.

For Collinsworth, guiding high-profile players like Brady and Manning is part of helping ensure they enjoy long, successful media careers without the pitfalls of being unprepared.

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.

Elle Duncan Reportedly Leaving ESPN For Netflix

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ESPN and longtime anchor Elle Duncan are officially parting ways as she prepares to join Netflix, according to new reporting from The Athletic. The decision finalizes what had remained a slim possibility that Duncan would stay at ESPN in her prominent roles across women’s basketball coverage. Duncan is expected to join the streaming company and be the leading face of the streamer’s growing slate of live sports programming.

The Athletic first reported Monday that Duncan was poised to make the jump to Netflix. At the time, sources still indicated there was a narrow path for her to remain with ESPN. However, that window has now closed according to Andrew Marchand.

Duncan has anchored ESPN’s 6pm ET edition of SportsCenter for the past five years. She has emerged as one of the network’s most prominent and versatile voices. In addition to her nightly anchor duties, she’s become a central figure in ESPN’s women’s basketball coverage.

Duncan leads studio shows for the WNBA—including the Finals—and hosts the women’s basketball edition of College GameDay. She also recently expanded her presence on the network’s digital platforms with the launch of Vibe Check.

Monday’s reporting by The Athletic also noted that Netflix previously targeted ESPN’s Malika Andrews for a similar role. Andrews though agreed to a multiyear extension with ESPN in September.

Netflix has spent the past several years strategically adding to its sports rights inventory. The streamer now holds rights to the next two FIFA Women’s World Cups, MLB’s Opening Night, and the Home Run Derby. It also controls Christmas Day NFL games and select marquee events, including the Jake Paul–Mike Tyson fight. Until now, Netflix has relied on borrowing talent from partner networks for its coverage. That strategy has become harder to execute as competitors hesitate to assist a rising rival.

Duncan’s hiring signals that Netflix is no longer content with a piecemeal approach. Bringing onboard a seasoned, recognizable sports anchor suggests the company is building an early foundation for a permanent sports division. That division could stand alongside traditional networks as the battle for live sports audiences intensifies.

For Duncan, the move represents a significant financial shift. According to the report, her Netflix contract includes a sizable raise from her ESPN salary and a considerably lighter workload. Industry executives expect Netflix to continue adding rights packages in the months ahead, positioning the company as a more consistent player in the sports media marketplace.

Additionally, Duncan’s role at Netflix may extend beyond sports. She is expected to have opportunities to work on non-sports content. That fits Netflix’s strategy of elevating recognizable broadcast personalities across multiple verticals.

Her agreement is not entirely exclusive, either. Duncan will be permitted to appear on other networks or platforms, provided Netflix receives the first opportunity to resolve any scheduling conflicts. That flexibility could keep her visible across the broader sports media ecosystem while still serving as one of Netflix’s primary sports hosts.

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.