NewsNation is set to host a Veterans Day special helmed by Leland Vittert and Bill O’Reilly on Tuesday evening.
America’s Greatest Warriors will be a one-hour program with Vittert sitting down with O’Reilly from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
The program will discuss the greatest military leaders in United States history, from President George Washington to General Douglas MacArthur, among others.
Also included in the special is a discussion between Leland Vittert and Colonel Bryan Gibby about the life and career of former Secretary of State General Colin Powell.
“Colin Powell’s journey, I think, is an exceptional one, comes from New York City at an ROTC program, goes to Vietnam, is not necessarily identified early as a fast mover,” Gibby said. “This is someone we’re going to watch. But at every position that he’s in, he does the very best that he can.”
Colonel Gibby went on to say of General Powell’s role in the Gulf War, “Powell, you know, he gets some criticism of being this political general. Well, yeah, we needed a political general at that level. What are we trying to do? What are we trying to achieve?”
The special program will air on NewsNation at 10 PM ET.
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President Donald Trump has stated he’s considering suing the BBC over an editing scandal. Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy says there’s a reason Trump has had the upper hand in other battles with media companies, but not have it in this case.
A documentary released by the BBC in 2024 edited portions of Trump’s speech on January 6th to make it appear as if Trump told his supporters to march down to the Capitol and “fight like hell.” Those edits, Trump alleges, were taken out of context and made to make him appear more responsible for the ensuing riots.
As a result, BBC News executives Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have resigned, with Trump threatening to bring a $1 billion lawsuit against the organization.
Similar lawsuits against American news outlets like ABC News and CBS News have ended in settlements, with payments made to Trump.
During an appearance on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy shared that he believes, for a multitude of reasons, that if the BBC wanted to fight the lawsuit from Trump, it would be successful.
“I’m very assured that if the BBC took the case to court, they would prevail,” Ruddy said. “They would prevail because the state of Florida has pretty strong libel laws that defend media companies and free speech.”
He added that Trump has had the leverage in similar situations against ABC News and CBS News, but shared there’s a reason those organizations chose not to battle back against the lawsuits brought against them.
“What’s happening is that a lot of media companies would prefer not to go through the media spectacle of all this,” he shared.
The Newsmax CEO continued by noting that Trump sees the settlements from ABC News and CBS News “as victories.”
“I’ve talked to him about the CBS and the ABC case, and he sees this as legitimizing his claims that there’s fake news, that the news is out to get him,” Ruddy concluded. “I think there’s a feeling that the media in America is quite weaponized.”
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Kay Adams has no regrets about stepping away from NFL Network’s Good Morning Football to launch her own show, Up & Adams, with FanDuel TV in 2022. Appearing on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Adams opened up about her decision to leave a show she helped make a morning staple for football fans across the country.
“I loved Good Morning Football and being on in every important facility is invaluable,” Adams said. “You walk in and you have this three hours—it replayed for three hours—so six hours you’re on in the most important places.”
Adams, who was part of Good Morning Football’s original lineup when it debuted in 2016, said she took great pride in the work she did there but reached a point where she felt the timing was right to move on.
“I felt so good about the work I did there,” she explained. “I knew that I didn’t want to stay, and had an offer to stay. But I was like, ‘Man, do I really want to do this for four more [years]? Is this the right time to leave?’ And I very much feel great about when I left.”
After leaving NFL Network in 2022, Adams partnered with FanDuel TV to create Up & Adams. A daily show mixing NFL conversation, player interviews, and sports culture in a more relaxed, personality-driven format. She said her confidence in the project stemmed from FanDuel’s track record of empowering creators. Giving them room to shape their own content.
“I had felt very good about sitting with FanDuel and what that could look like,” Adams said. “At that point, Pat [McAfee] was still with FanDuel. I loved what that looked like—the support FanDuel gave him and the creative freedom.”
Now entering her fourth year with the platform. Adams believes the move positioned her ahead of the industry’s evolution toward creator-led sports media. “I look at it and I’m seeing other people do that, and that’s where content creation can go,” she said. “I feel like I made the right move at the right time.”
Reflecting on her Good Morning Football years, Adams also credited the show for pioneering a more authentic, unpolished style of sports TV—one that has since become commonplace across digital and linear platforms.
“We were really interested in breaking the fourth wall, which back then you didn’t really do,” she said. “Now it’s normalized in the content space. But we were just so down from the beginning to say, ‘Oh snap, my mic fell off,’ or, ‘We got tripped up on this wire.’ We loved and embraced those moments.”
Adams believes that willingness to be real on camera helped shape not only Good Morning Football’s enduring identity but also the tone of today’s sports media.
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Leighton Media has announced a series of programming changes following the departure of longtime programming executive JD Greene. The company has promoted veteran programmer Kris Valentine to Director of Country Programming, while consultant Mark St. John will expand his role across several Leighton markets.
Greene, who previously served as Leighton Media’s Vice President of Programming. Exited the company last week to become Operations Manager for Lotus Broadcasting in Las Vegas. His departure prompted a restructuring of the company’s programming leadership, with Valentine stepping into a broader role overseeing Leighton’s Country portfolio.
Valentine, who has served as Program Director of Wild Country 99 and News-Talk KNSI-AM in St. Cloud, Minnesota. As well as Music Director for Country KYCK in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Will now guide the company’s Country-formatted stations across multiple markets. In his new position, Valentine will oversee programming strategy, brand development, and talent coaching for Leighton’s Country properties.
“Kris Valentine will assume leadership responsibility for our Country stations,” said Leighton Media CEO Bob Leighton. “Kris will oversee programming, talent development, and brand strategy for these properties. Station managers and music directors at Country-formatted outlets should report directly to Kris on all format-specific initiatives.”
Valentine said he’s eager to build on the company’s existing foundation and continue driving growth for its Country brands.
“I’m incredibly excited to step into this new role and continue building on the amazing work already happening across our Country brands,” Valentine said. “We’ve got some of the most passionate teams and listeners in the business. I’m looking forward to collaborating closely with each station to keep our momentum strong and take our brands to the next level.”
In addition to Valentine’s promotion, Leighton Media has expanded the consulting role of Mark St. John. St. John will now provide broader strategic support across the company’s stations in Fergus Falls, Winona, Detroit Lakes, Grand Forks, Alexandria, and St. Cloud.
Leighton said the moves are designed to ensure stability and continued success during a period of transition.
“We appreciate everyone’s flexibility during this transition,” Leighton said. “Mark and Kris are both deeply committed to elevating our stations, and their expanded roles will strengthen our competitive edge.”
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Days after Stephen A. Smith’s former ESPN colleague Michelle Beadle said on her Beadle & Decker podcast that she was “praying for his downfall,” the First Take host responded to her criticisms over many years and attempted to directly address her most recent remarks — and he did not hold back.
Smith began by making it clear that there’s never been any real relationship between the two, saying his comments were “strictly directed” at Beadle.
“I have not said a word about [her] in over 11 years,” Smith said. “You would think there’s some beef that’s been going on for years. It’s all because of her. I’ve never said more than hello or goodbye to her… I don’t know this woman at all.”
The latest comments from Beadle were on the latest episode of Beadle and Decker. Where the pair reacted to news that Smith had been named an ambassador for Papaya Gaming’s World Solitaire Championship, a partnership announced just months after Smith went viral for being caught playing Solitaire during ESPN’s NBA Finals coverage.
“Honestly, I’m not a religious person, but I pray for the downfall,” said Beadle last week. “It’s gross, man, you gotta have principles in this thing.”
Yesterday, Smith pushed back on Beadle’s claims of his lack of care for his work, insisting that any tension stems solely from her actions, not his.
“Please understand, I don’t know her. I have no relationship with her,” he continued. “She says I don’t like her — how would you know? It has to be because of how you’re acting, Michelle Beadle… We’ve never had a conversation. We have no relationship.”
Beadle, a long time critic of Smith at ESPN. In June, after The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Stephen A. Smith would be taking over Beadle and Decker’s timeslot on SiriusXM radio. Beadle spoke with Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports earlier this year. Where she turned her ousting by SiriusXM into a personal beef with her successor in Smith. Although they were colleagues at ESPN together at several points throughout their careers. Beadle has admitted that her and Stephen A. Smith are not friends in the discussion with FOS.
“I will never share a set with that person ever, because I don’t respect him,” she said. “Life’s too short.”
Smith revisited Beadle’s decision not to share a desk with him during her tenure at ESPN, a move he suggested may have influenced how their careers diverged.
“You are on the record saying you refused to share a desk,” Smith said. “I remember when I had some breaking news when you were on Get Up and you refused to have it aired because of me. Is that professional? I’m still there — you’re not. Who do you think they favored?”
He then questioned Beadle’s current career standing, referencing her podcast’s limited reach compared to her previous roles at ESPN, NBCSN, among others.
“Why are you stuck with a podcast with 2,500 subscribers on Instagram? What happened to ESPN? What happened to NBC?” Smith asked. “I know why you’re gone. I know why you can’t go to other networks. And the sad part about it is it’s all because of that stink attitude. Evil.”
Smith also addressed his new SiriusXM program replacing Beadle & Decker on the satellite radio network, saying that he was unaware of that the timeslot belonged to the duo.
“Did you tell your audience what you did,” questioned Smith. “You went on the air not just talking about me, but talking s**t about Sirius XM. You had a contract that was still due for months for you to be on the air and they told you to get the hell off the air now. Because of how rude and disrespectful you are.”
Finally, Smith made it clear this will be the last time he comments on Beadle.
“She’s talking about ethics and work ethic — and she has none of it,” he said. “It’s never her. She is a waste of my space that I will never allow to happen again. Ain’t nobody scared to talk. I just got bigger and better things to do.”
Beadle has not yet publicly responded to Smith’s remarks.
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Salem Media Group has released its third-quarter financial results, and the company has reported a revenue decline during the period.
During the window, the company saw total net revenue of $51.3 million, a year-over-year decline of 13%. Broadcast revenue fell from $46 million to $40.7 million during July, August, and September.
The Digital Media sector for Salem Media Group also saw a decline, from $10.9 million during 2024’s third quarter to $10.6 million in 2025.
The company reported a net loss of $2.3 million during the quarter. That figure was $6.6 million in losses during the same quarter of 2024.
During the first nine months of the year, Salem Media Group has reported a total net loss of $27 million, up from $9.5 million in losses during the same period last year.
The company shared that it had $57.7 million in operating expenses during the period. Some of those costs included improvements related to the write-down of some of its broadcast licenses. That came after a $25.2 million impairment of its licenses in 11 markets in June.
Salem’s total assets were at $326.4 million to end the quarter. That’s down from the $423.1 million it reported at the same time in 2024.
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iHeartMedia has released its third-quarter financial results, and the company reported a decline in overall revenue during the period.
During the quarter, the company shared that its total revenue was down 1.1%. It added that, when political advertising is excluded, it saw an uptick of 2.8%.
Digital Audio Group revenue rose 14% from the same period last year, up to $342 million. Specifically, podcast revenue grew 22% to $140 million, while digital revenue not including podcasts was up 8% to $202 million.
The Multiplatform Group for iHeartMedia, which encompasses its broadcast radio stations, saw a 4.6% decline in overall revenue, down $28.3 million compared to the same period of 2024.
In total, the company reported an operating loss of $116 million during July, August, and September. That’s down from a $77 million income during 2024. The company took $209 million of non-cash impairment charges pertaining to its FCC license values during the quarter.
“We’re pleased with our third quarter performance, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $205 million, slightly above the midpoint of our guidance range, and our consolidated revenue was down 1.1% compared to prior year, at the high end of our guidance, and up 2.8% excluding political revenue,” said Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman. “And we continue to take important steps in the evolution of our company – last week we announced our new relationship with Amazon Ads, which will provide advertisers using Amazon DSP access to our vast audio portfolio, and just this morning we announced our new TikTok partnership, which will bring TikTok creators into iHeart’s ecosystem.
“We are committed to exploring new ways to unlock the value of our unparalleled assets, maximizing the unique position we occupy in the evolving media landscape, and creating innovative cross-platform opportunities to bring new products and services to our consumers and our advertising partners,” he concluded.
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This column doesn’t discuss video audience measurement by Nielsen — or anyone else for that matter — very often, but I read a Forbes article recently that got the brain cells working.
Nielsen has an excellent track record for fending off competitors. When I first started in the ratings business in the ’80s, a British company, AGB, was trying to move into the U.S. with a radical device called a “peoplemeter.” You may have heard of that technology before.
At the time, Nielsen was measuring national television viewing with a combination of set meters and TV diaries, using two panels to create estimates. The set meters yielded household numbers and overnights, but there were no demos. Demos were added later by integrating the separate diary panel.
AGB’s solution was to bring the peoplemeter to the U.S. so that the networks could have fast demo data and avoid the issues with the diary and separate panels. I’ll spare you all the details, but my impression was that the three-and-a-half networks (Fox had just started) wanted AGB to enter the U.S. marketplace, if for no other reason than to put downward pressure on Nielsen’s pricing.
While everyone said they were interested, only CBS was willing to write a check. Nielsen brought in a peoplemeter of their own, AGB lost a truckload of money, and left the U.S.
There is a thread that connects that story to today’s news. AGB was purchased in 1988 by Pergamon, which was owned by the late Robert Maxwell. His daughter, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently in a U.S. jail and is at the center of the Jeffrey Epstein saga. And oddly enough, the remnants of AGB, through any number of mergers and purchases, eventually became part of Nielsen.
More recently, comScore has taken on Nielsen. The company was one of the first to use “big data,” specifically return-path data from cable boxes, satellite dishes, and later on, smart TVs, which, when modeled, can create local and national audience estimates. Full disclosure: Bill Livek, comScore’s former CEO, was CEO of Birch/Scarborough when I worked there in the early ’90s. comScore has had some financial issues but continues to fight on.
More recently, VideoAmp has entered the picture. Per the story, VideoAmp started as a method for advertisers to determine how well their ads were working. Eventually, the company moved toward challenging Nielsen in the national marketplace.
While I don’t have experience with the national TV services, the article notes that VideoAmp’s billing system is different. With Nielsen, you’re going to pay a big wad of cash regardless of how much you use the service or how your numbers turned out. With VideoAmp, you apparently pay a far smaller upfront fee and then pay a percentage of transactions based on their estimates.
The article goes on to talk about the differences between VideoAmp and Nielsen and how VideoAmp has apparently shown larger audiences for some broadcast programs. As we know, bigger is better.
To prove that point, when I was a young operations manager at WSPA-FM in Greenville/Spartanburg in the early ’80s, I conducted a mail survey of other easy-listening stations around the country. While I can’t tell you the exact numbers, this was during the time when Birch was challenging Arbitron in the radio ratings market. I put in the following question (not word for word—my memory isn’t that good):
If Arbitron and Birch reported different results for your station, which one would you believe?
The choices were:
Arbitron
Birch
Whichever one had higher numbers for my station
Neither one of them
Guess which answer won a majority response? You’re right: whichever one had higher numbers for my station! Paraphrasing, bigger is righter!
My point is, if Nielsen faces stronger competition in the video space, this could affect the audio service as well. I’ve noted before that Nielsen is owned by private equity (again), and the goal is typically to squeeze every last dime out of a company and prepare it for a profitable sale some years down the road.
The national TV service is the “big kahuna” in audience measurement, both for dollars, assumed profitability, and prestige. I believe that radio brings in more dollars than local TV. This was stated at an all-employee meeting soon after Nielsen took over Arbitron, so I can’t guarantee the accuracy today, but with the current state of local TV, it wouldn’t surprise me.
If Nielsen loses some national TV clients or is forced to lower rates in the face of stiff competition from VideoAmp, comScore, or other companies, it may look for more revenue on the audio side. While I’m not privy to Nielsen Audio contracts, the Cumulus lawsuit stated Nielsen wanted a 36% rate increase on their new contract. I’ve heard that another major radio group was hit with a similar increase. Say what you want about inflation during Joe Biden’s time in office, but it wasn’t anywhere near that high!
I spent four Barrett Media columns in September sketching out a possible alternative for measuring audio. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a framework for incorporating big data in a less expensive system. Others may have different and perhaps better ways to skin this cat.
However it happens, Nielsen may soon be pushing the radio business closer to major change.
Let’s meet again next week.
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Even as we celebrate Veterans Day, the holiday season is over. Christmas music is on – or nearly on – in every market. Programs and flights are built, planted and sold to prospective clients.
There are eight Tuesdays until The New Year. Historically, the first quarter is a slump as the calendar flips to a new year. Gold based radio formats like Adult Contemporary and Classic Hits/Rock view first quarter as a revenue black hole.
In fact, radio stations have a great opportunity to set the tone for a strong year starting in the first quarter. January, February and March can make or break annual momentum. Smart preparation now can pay off in increased ratings, revenue, and feel-good listener loyalty.
Over the summer, we encouraged you – in August – to plan for the balance of 2025. Now, your focus in the programming wing and with your sellers should turn to the first part of a successful 2026.
We offer a collection of ideas that spread programming goodwill and generate revenue in a quarter where inventory is plenty.
Food Drives
We’ve seen throughout the country how large 14% of our population rely on SNAP benefits. The cold truth is that people in need have that need year-round. Instead of a dedicated Food Drive, have your radio station partner with a local Food Pantry to have them be at EVERY one of your events – big and small – through the first quarter – collecting non-perishable items. Food Pantries have also have marketing dollars. That’s how they afford outdoor and direct mail. Investigate if they can get some of their budget in your building.
Food Drive 4 UR School
This campaign has been in force for decades and is a little-known secret weapon. It remains a valuable fundraiser for your local schools. Ford offers the participating schools up to $50 per test drive up to $6,000 per school. Have the Ford dealer run ads for the event and get a talent to host. Partner with a Ford auto mall and ANY local school, hold the event on a Saturday event at the school. Actual local description of the event is posted here.
A Soccer-Mom Blog
The heart of the AC format belongs to soccer moms. Find them in mom groups on Facebook. Identify one local, digitally connected mom in your market and have an auto dealer allow her (rather than talent) to drive a new (or pre-owned) car for a month. She blogs about it and gives her testimonial endorsements on the radio station. It has a “real” feel versus a talent who does it.
Best In Snow
Pet food and accessories is a $150 Billion Dollar annual business. When the snow starts to fall, have listeners submit pics of their pooches in the white stuff. Develop a listener committee of judges (or all listeners) to vote on best pics or have a ‘bracket’ challenge for the best on your web site. Sell to local vet or Subaru Dealer (Subaru is WAY into dogs). Also know that local Wal-Mart and Hyvee managers get a local budget allowance for market-specific promotions.
Anything Health
Hold a Health Fest coordinated by local hospital and hosted at a mall or local community college. If you have an annual Bridal Show, add a health section to the list of potential vendors. Make if free to attend and sell booths to chiropractors, GNC, blood banks or even a local drug store. Brides want to look their best on their special day. Now that GLP-1 Drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy) prices have been slashed, local pharmacies will want brides to be a destination for their weight-loss prescriptions.
Featured Teacher (Or Classroom)
The average money spent out-of-pocket for American teachers for their classroom is around $900 per year. You see their Amazon ‘wish lists’ posted next to their profile on social media. Teachers cold use assistance. With through local PTO’s to get into the schools. PTO’s are also excellent at organizing events! Have radio talent visit and present the grant. Record The Pledge of Allegiance in classroom for replay the next day or week. All sorts of possible sponsor categories for this goodwill campaign.
Free Ad Campaign
First quarter can be a VAST wasteland for radio inventory. Fill it up with $1,000 worth of free spots to local businesses who register for the campaign. Many local businesses can’t afford a robust schedule and haven’t used radio in their marketing. Employees lead a ‘spirit’ contest for how GREAT their employer is. Another angle would be to have businesses write in with THEIR best first quarter offer and make THAT the winning entry’s campaign.
Galentine’s Day
Galentine’s Day actually started on the sitcom Parks & Recreation in 2010. The celebration takes place the day before Valentine’s Day (February 13th – a Friday in 2026) Centering around female friendship. On the show, Leslie and her friends gather for brunch complete with waffles and whipped cream to exchange small gifts.. Host a Ladies Night Out on Friday February 13th at a high-end local restaurant. Take the group out – hosted by your morning show – for a Mani-Pedi first with a wine tasting. Perhaps a Male Dance Revue at the restaurant or after? Valentine’s Day 2026 is on a Saturday – FYI.
Second Run Sing-Along
Wicked: For Good hits the theatres this month – Friday November 21st. Goes without saying but it’s going to be huge across all demographics. By the time first quarter is here, the film will be in second-run theatres and on-line. Host a Saturday morning sing-along to include a costume contest. Partner with a local Food Bank with your Food Drive at a local cinema on a Saturday morning where the price of admission is a bag of non – perishable food. Another film for a sing-along is Moana 2. As outlined above, a food drive not associated with a holiday stands out, helps those in need and creates good will for your brands.
When we brainstorm ideation with clients, the notes also chart special days in certain months. If your studio doesn’t have a Chase’s Calendar of Event, put it on your Christmas List. Here’s a sample from January (give the list to your talent, too!)
College Football Championship – 19th(Almost as big as The Super Bowl – on a Monday)
National Use Your Gift Card Day – 21st
National Peanut Butter Day – 24th
National Thomas Crapper Day – 27th
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day – 30th
Also, put the following list on your seller’s cubical post-holidays. These targets almost always have an annual marketing budget and are bullet-proof when it comes to a soft economy:
Recession Proof Leads
Municipalities
Police – Fire
Universities
Funeral Homes
Farm Supply
Recruitment Companies
Dentists
National Insurance/Investment companies
Trucking/Delivery Companies – Recruitment
Liquor Stores
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet. On a broadcaster’s calendar, however, the holiday rush is in the rear-view mirror. Now comes the stretch that tests everyone’s fortitude. Historically, first quarter can feel like a revenue valley especially for gold-based formats like Adult Contemporary and Classic Hits/Rock. But that doesn’t have to be the case.
New Year success belongs to brands that plan for it now.
*Special thanks to client stations for ideation and the creative minds behind the promotional efforts of Kensington Digital Media, Midwest Communications, Federated Media, Midwest Family of Companies, Saga Communications and CPR Promotions Paige Nienaber (among others).
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.
Success in independent media and the greater creator economy is never a guarantee. Much like any career path, you need dedication to an idea. Support from others, and a little luck along the way. Marcellus Wiley achieved success on the football field. Playing ten years in the NFL after being drafted in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft.
Growing up in Compton, California, he excelled in academics as much as he did on the football field. He graduated as his high school’s valedictorian but understands his journey was not possible without some help along the way.
“I was a fork-in-the-road kid. Things could have gone wrong, or they could have gone right. I was blessed for them to go right,” said Wiley. “I’m grateful, and am blessed… I certainly was part of a community that allowed me to make my dreams a reality.”
Wiley has spent the last two decades building his organization, Project Transition. He provides support for people similar to himself as a child stuck at a fork in the road. While building his foundation, the former NFL All-Pro also entered the sports media landscape as a league analyst.
He began at ESPN, working on both the television and radio sides of the industry. He co-hosted ESPN Radio programs with Michelle Beadle, Max Kellerman, Kelvin Washington, and Travis Rodgers. Wiley also replaced Colin Cowherd as co-host of SportsNation on ESPN television.
From Network to Independent
After more than a decade with ESPN, Wiley moved to FOX Sports in 2018 to co-host alongside Jason Whitlock on Speak For Yourself. After a few lineup changes on FS1, Wiley departed the network in 2022 and began his independent media journey. Not knowing exactly what to expect, he quickly noticed major differences between the independent scene and network television.
“When you’re doing independent media, you’ve got to go up the hill with your backpack full because the content creation—you’re going from soup to nuts,” said Wiley. “Network means exactly what it is. There are a lot of people working within that net. All I had to do was be dressed. But in the independent space, you need to be a CEO, businessman, creator, and fan. It’s all things.”
Wiley approached the challenge like he had with every one in his life: study, prepare, and find avenues of content that others simply cannot provide.
“My commentary every day since 2007, when Seth Markman was our [ESPN] coordinating producer. He told me I’m doing a great job but I’m not long for the job,” explained Wiley. “I thought that was a backhanded compliment. What he was really saying was he knew I wasn’t there for third and goal. I was there to tell stories about people, sociology, and to dive into the person more than just results and statistics.”
Success Lies in Truth
What was identified in his days working on NFL Live at ESPN has now become Wiley’s trademark approach. Finding ways to swerve away from typical conversation. Understanding that criticism is the cost of praise, Wiley focuses only on what he’s passionate about in an attempt to spark real discussion.
“I don’t let data direct me [with content] because I start with my interest. What is going to excite me? What am I passionate about, and which content grabbed me? I start there and I support it with what they are not saying about it,” explained Wiley. “The truth. Simple as that… There’s nothing more fascinating and more infinite in terms of possibilities with conversations than the truth.”
Since 2002, Wiley has built his own media company that features two podcasts. The short-form Hydration Situation, which features his commentary on sports and media topics, and the long-form On The Rocks, which gathers close personal friends for candid conversations on a range of subjects.
With his background in professional sports and sports media, Wiley produces most of his content around the sports media landscape. He believes that as a former athlete, those in the media should also be held to a certain standard and face criticism when it’s deserved. Just like athletes and other public figures.
“I judge based on the act, not the actor,” noted Wiley. “No one was sitting there saying I’m telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about athletes, sports, and sports media personalities. I just thought if you’re going to criticize the game and the players. Let’s also criticize those who are talking about the game and the players.”
Sports Media Sells
Wiley says he’s seen a shift in sports media where broadcasters have become stars on par with—or even bigger than—the athletes they cover, often because incentives encourage that behavior.
“Incentives shape behavior. Skip Bayless got paid because Colin Cowherd got paid because Stephen A. Smith got paid. The people who got paid were more sensational than not,” explained Wiley. “That’s more compromising to the industry than the partnerships [with the leagues]. It’s hard to stand out from the pack. The reason why guys lean into unmerited criticism and put hot sauce on everything is because they don’t believe in their product.”
The lane that Wiley crafted for his content has led to a growing platform and the success that comes with it. He noted that the ultimate goal for any creator is to provide enough of an example to license the content to a network or another platform. Wiley revealed that he’s currently in talks to license out his content as he continues to grow and credits the attraction of his work to its truth.
“A lot of people have come my way because of the uniqueness of the lane, but also because of the growth,” said Wiley. “There are a lot of people who have left traditional media and haven’t had the success that I’ve had. I don’t have a machine with me, so I think some of the machines are sitting there saying he’s done all of this by himself, and he’s surpassed most of those who do have machines. Imagine if we gave him a little battery in his back.”
Future Of FS1
Wiley’s experience with network television has made his commentary stand out among the rest, particularly his recent takes regarding his former employer at FOX Sports.
When the network decided to eliminate three shows earlier this summer from its daytime lineup, Wiley believed the abruptness of the moves was tied to a pending lawsuit filed by a former FS1 hair stylist, which named several FS1 talents and executive Charlie Dixon as defendants.
“We’re all smart enough to know what they had to do was clean house because of the lawsuit and all the implications from it,” said Wiley. “When you lose Charlie Dixon, you lose a lot of navigation and momentum. Then you have to blow things up, and a lot of people were caught in the collateral damage.”
Less than a week after FS1 canceled Breakfast Ball, The Facility, and Speak, the network announced a partnership with Barstool Sports, eventually replacing its morning programming lineup with Wake Up Barstool.
While early returns on viewership have not been received well by many—including Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy—Wiley believes the concept may never work for FS1 and is not a long-term play.
“This is not going to go smoothly. The reason I know it’s not working is because Barstool Sports is a whole different entity than what FOX Sports wanted as a product,” said Wiley. “It’s almost like they’re squeezing it in a funnel and saying fit… I don’t think they [Barstool Sports] wanted that time slot. Beyond that, it’s not coming with the energy because it’s probably not the deal they desired.”
For Wiley, the move from bright studio lights to building his own lane wasn’t about control—it was about purpose. He’s proven that truth still has an audience, and that authenticity can outlast any algorithm.
Whether he’s breaking down a play, a headline, or a headline-maker, Wiley’s compass hasn’t changed. He’s still that kid from Compton, choosing the right direction at the fork in the road. His story underscores a new reality in sports media: credibility, creativity, and conviction are the true currencies of success when the machine no longer powers your voice.
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