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What Is ESPN Doing With Around the Horn’s Former Timeslot?

John Mamola
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What Is ESPN Doing With Around the Horn’s Former Timeslot?

Congratulations, America! We have officially reached the beginning of the NFL season. For the next five months, the country will be deeply engrossed in flashes of color and stories of the mighty. Football season is when radio stations and network television reel in the biggest audiences and find the largest revenues. Which is why it’s stunning to still ask the question: what is ESPN doing with the timeslot once owned by Around the Horn?

With all the signings, announcements, and partnerships that “The Worldwide Leader” has made in preparation for the start of the NFL season. There is still one piece oddly missing in all the headlines.

It leads one to wonder why Around the Horn’s timeslot hasn’t been filled as football returns for American sports fans.

Six months ago, when ESPN formally announced the conclusion of the Around the Horn program, the news was met with mixed reactions. Some saying the program lasted far too long, while others lamented the lost celebration of journalists the program provided the network.

Tony Reali was a celebrated ESPN personality for generations. Following the announcement of the show’s cancellation later in the year, his star grew even bigger.

What’s Taking So Long?

The show concluded its 23-year run on the network in May, reaching a larger-than-normal audience averaging just under 500,000. The program stayed true to its traditional format for its final run but featured many send-offs from the regular panelists and Reali himself.

That was May 23.

105 days later, still no replacement program has been named for the coveted 5 p.m. Eastern timeslot.

Why? Was there ever a plan to replace Around the Horn from the start, or were there assumptions made about the future of Pardon the Interruption, with a “wait-and-see” approach?

There are many conspiracy theories that have circulated on the interwebs over the past couple of months. But the end result remains: ESPN has had six months to conceptualize, form, prepare, and launch a replacement for Around the Horn—and hasn’t yet.

ESPN Senior Vice President of Sports Studio and Entertainment Mike Foss sat down for an interview with Boardroom last month. He was asked about the future of the timeslot. Foss said there was no current timetable for when a new show would debut, adding that the replacement had to reflect modern times.

“We want to make sure that whatever we choose is there for the long haul, for as long as Around the Horn was,” Foss said to Boardroom, “and that’s going to take time.”

Am I to believe that the largest sports entertainment network in the entire country hasn’t been able to find a replacement thirty-minute program in the last six months?

Is ESPN Too Busy?

There’s been a lot going on at ESPN: the launch of the new direct-to-consumer product, the new partnership with WWE, the NFL acquiring a 10% stake in the network, all the signings, re-signings, and partnerships that come along with preparing for football season, ongoing rights negotiations with UFC and MLB among others, and Rich Eisen returning to the team in Bristol.

No doubt about it. ESPN has had a busy six months since the announcement that Around the Horn is moving on.

However, for a flagship show like Around the Horn in a primetime weekday timeslot to go vacant for months and still have no answer as football season arrives is puzzling.

Then came news yesterday that Pardon the Interruption would be showcasing a “special” hourlong episode to welcome the start of the NFL season. Interesting timing—and a very simple way to make the announcement with a singular tweet from the PTI account.

Could this be a “dry run” for an hourlong Pardon the Interruption moving forward? An answer to the question of how ESPN replaces Around the Horn’s timeslot permanently?

If you believe a Washington Post report in May, PTI hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon turned down the offer from ESPN as it didn’t come with much of a raise in pay.

During an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show in July, Le Batard floated the idea that Wilbon’s deal with ESPN was up “next month.” That would mean, if true, Wilbon’s contract ended last month with the network. ESPN has not announced contract extensions for either Wilbon or Kornheiser.

Time to connect the dots.

Assuming Wilbon and Kornheiser’s contracts were coming up at the end of summer. Assuming ESPN approached the co-hosts about expanding PTI to an hour—which was reportedly denied. Assuming Le Batard was correct on the timing of Wilbon’s contract expiration. Both Kornheiser and Wilbon hosted an hourlong Pardon the Interruption yesterday afternoon.

Was the plan all along to wait out PTI and nothing else?

Questions Still Linger

I don’t believe that ESPN is the type of network to be so short-sighted in their planning. However, since PTI hosted an hourlong episode yesterday, is that the play? Is that the show to reflect modern times, as Foss stated to Boardroom? Is that the show for which “long haul” is expected?

There are still many questions to be answered by ESPN:

Why was Around the Horn cancelled if no plans to replace it were prepared? 

Why has it taken so long to find a replacement for a legacy program in a highly coveted and important weekday timeslot? 

If the plans are a program to fit modern times, does that mean another licensing deal with a content creator(s)? 

I remain fascinated by the timeline of events and the continued mystery that remains.

Or did I miss the memo?

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 NFL Pregame Show Is No Longer The Destination It Once Was

John Lund
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The NFL Pregame Show Is No Longer The Destination It Once Was

Week 1 in the NFL is finally here! The beer is cold, the wings are sauced, and the excuses to get out of weddings have already been rehearsed. Football is back.

If you’re over 35, you probably remember how the day used to start. You flipped on the TV at nine in the morning—hey, I’m from the West Coast—and the pregame shows felt like your marching band to the main event. Chris Berman was booming nicknames, Terry Bradshaw was rambling, James Brown was steady at the desk. By kickoff, you felt like you’d already been through something. Features, interviews, predictions, injuries—you needed a pregame show to catch up and be prepared for the slate of games ahead.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the NFL Sunday routine has changed completely. Pregame shows are still there—FOX’s NFL Sunday, ESPN’s Countdown, CBS’s NFL Today—but let’s be honest, they’re background noise now. You might leave them on while making coffee or preparing that first Bloody Mary of the day, but they are not setting the table the way they once did.

The NFL Fan Has Changed

The ratings prove it.

FOX NFL Sunday still leads the genre, averaging 4.4 million viewers last season. Sounds impressive until you remember the game that follows pulls in 20 to 26 million. Four out of five fans don’t bother with the warm-up.

ESPN’s Countdown peaked at 1.3 million in 2023, then slipped to around 1.1 million in 2024. NFL Network’s GameDay Morning hovers around 400,000 to 500,000.

CBS doesn’t even bother reporting pregame ratings anymore. Brent Musburger, Irv Cross, Jimmy The Greek, and Phyllis George started the pregame craze in the 1970s on The NFL Today.

Meanwhile, streaming is devouring everything in its cable-chomping path. Nielsen reported this spring that streaming now accounts for nearly 45 percent of all TV usage in the U.S., passing cable and broadcast combined for the first time ever. In 2019, it was under 25 percent.

That’s not a shift; that’s a jailbreak.

Amazon’s Thursday Night Football averaged 13.2 million viewers last season, up 11 percent from the year before. NBC’s Sunday Night Football delivered an average digital audience of 2.2 million, a 38% jump. Peacock’s exclusive Wild Card game in January 2024 drew 21.5 million on the app and nearly 23 million overall. And Netflix’s Christmas debut? 24 million people found it, no problem.

Are you one of those dwindling NFL viewers still screaming at the TV because you can’t find the game the old-fashioned way? Roger Goodell has too many dollars stuffed in his ears to hear you.

The Modern Way To Watch Football

So what does a real NFL Sunday look like now?

It doesn’t start with the desk—it starts the moment RedZone goes live. Scott Hanson is pulling the strings like a football wizard, flipping from touchdowns to fumbles to missed field goals with the kind of chaos that makes the old studio chatter feel like a black-and-white newsreel.

This year, though, even RedZone isn’t immune. ESPN, which now runs the channel, is adding commercials, as Hanson admitted on The Pat McAfee Show earlier this week. It’s a reminder that in 2025, nothing stays pure forever—not even seven hours of uninterrupted football mayhem.

Bills still have to be paid; you think Micah Parsons’ new contract is going to pay itself?

From there, the day rolls along. By the late window, you’re locked into the national game of the week, but your phone won’t stop buzzing with highlights of what you’re missing. By nightfall, you’re firing up Peacock, the new ESPN or FOX streaming services, or Amazon, with fantasy scores and live bets riding shotgun on the second screen.

Pregame shows? Maybe you’ll see a clip on TikTok if Gronk goes viral or Bradshaw has a senior moment.

And the cultural shift is even bigger. If you want analysis, you don’t wait for Howie Long—who retired from the NFL 32 years ago—to explain who wants it more. You hit TikTok for a 60-second film breakdown, scroll X for a gambling angle, or watch Pat McAfee yell with his buddies on YouTube.

Podcasts like Bussin’ With The Boys are where NFL fans flip for analysis from players who recently played the game or are still playing. That content is instant, portable, and interactive.

Networks Need Programming

The network shows are scheduled, slow, and built on a formula that hasn’t really changed since Musburger first belted out “You are looking live” on The NFL Today in 1977.

The networks, of course, won’t admit this. FOX isn’t pushing Bradshaw out the door. ESPN needs Countdown to fill time before kickoff. CBS likes the illusion of a full-day broadcast. And as long as the ad dollars trickle in, the shows will limp along. But everyone knows where the real juice is.

That’s the divide heading into Week 1: Sundays used to be built around the pregame. Now they’re built around the kickoff. Fans are telling us exactly what they care about: the games, the highlights, the streams, the fantasy updates. Because the NFL is a soap opera each week and fans are bombarded with information on their devices from all angles all the time, they don’t need Sundays to catch up—they just want the games and the consistent personalities each day to interpret the ever-spinning football news cycle.

The NFL can keep pretending the warm-up still matters, but the audience has already moved on.

So this Sunday, you’ll probably skip the desk. You’ll start with Hanson on RedZone, flip to the national game in the afternoon, scroll your phone all day, hit NBC at night, and go late-night with whatever streamer the league has sold a slice of your soul to. Pregame shows had a hell of a run, but in 2025 they’re just stale chips and store-bought salsa sitting on the table.

The meal doesn’t really start until the games do—and Week 1 is finally here. Dig in.

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.

How Yahoo Sports Became a Sports Content Hub Under The Vision Of Ryan Spoon

John Mamola
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How Yahoo Sports Became a Sports Content Hub Under The Vision Of Ryan Spoon

The demand for sports content across the globe continues to grow to a larger scale by the second. An endless 24/7 news cycle produces headlines that grab the attention of the masses. Digital brands continue to evolve in how to deliver unique and customized content to the individual user. The goal is simple: be better and more customizable to the singular user so they don’t go anywhere else. Yahoo Sports has recently made several moves to better serve that consumer. They deliver content across mobile, web, YouTube, and FAST channels under the mission of its president, Ryan Spoon.

“You spend the year in preparation to put your best foot forward come September. We’re not just doing that on the content side, but also on the product and experiential side,” said Spoon. “This doesn’t happen in four weeks. It’s the buildup of one to two years of work.”

Spoon joined Yahoo in June 2023 as the new president of the Yahoo Sports brand. In his role, he was tasked with leading the growth and innovation of Yahoo Sports. He aimed to position it for a new generation of sports fans. In 2025 alone, Yahoo Sports has made headlines by investing in content creators under the Yahoo Sports umbrella.

“Content is the engine that makes everything move. The product’s job is to surround, showcase, and personalize how to deliver that content,” noted Spoon. “At the end of the day, the content is what drives the usage. It’s the heartbeat of it.”

Building The Roster

Just in the last month, Yahoo Sports began a campaign of 28 Days of Fantasy to celebrate the 28th year of delivering Yahoo Fantasy Football. With the rollout of new features over that time, the company also announced several moves regarding its dive into the content space.

The company announced investments in college sports coverage. They signed partnerships with Josh Pate’s College Football Show and brought Steven Godfrey and Andy Staples to the brand. Yahoo Sports also extended a contract with Ross Dellenger. Additionally, they launched a new live morning show called Yahoo Sports Daily featuring Jason Fitz and Caroline Fenton.

Yahoo wasn’t done in August. The company then announced the signing of former NFL Network host Andrew Siciliano to host Inside Coverage for the 2025 NFL season. Additionally, they hired Dan Wolken as the brand’s college sports columnist. Spoon said these additions all serve a single goal.

“We don’t think about competitors or other sites. The muse is creating and delivering smart sports content,” said Spoon. “Smart to us is the barometer of the quality part.”

Spoon noted that Yahoo Sports has the luxury of several options to cater to different audiences. The investments made over the past several months have led to more opportunities for creating unique content under the Yahoo brand. Spoon also credits the excellent work of Yahoo Sports partners. This partnership assists in reaching different verticals and expanding the scale of Yahoo’s audience.

“We’ve tried to go vertical by vertical and say if our north star is smart sports coverage to make you a smart sports fan, we have to be the best in the world at that,” said Spoon. “We don’t ever feel like we must control all our own and everything. It’s how do we build the best experience for the fan? How do we do it in a smart way? I have a firm belief that there is a role for us to play there. A great wide net of partners too. Those combined create a unique experience—whatever you are closest to, we could craft something as deep as it is wide.”

A Quality Newsletter

A key indicator of Yahoo Sports’ success is its daily newsletter—a morning blend of headlines, columns, fun facts, and what to watch for in a digestible design. Spoon calls the Yahoo Sports newsletter the “hallmark” of smart sports coverage. He credits the brand’s reputation with fans for its success.

“The mission is not to drive clicks or put ads. The mission is to start with why should this newsletter be opened and read by fans,” said Spoon. “If you do a good enough job there, you earn the right to do the other things like partner integration, driving traffic, etc. But it has to answer that first part. The first part is: tell me what I need to know in sports from last night and tell me what I need to know today.”

Spoon adds the creation of the new Yahoo Sports Daily morning show featuring Fitz and Fenton was treated as an extension of the daily morning newsletter. Both properties are positioned as guides for the user across the Yahoo Sports network to start their day. With the empowerment of a search engine behind it, Spoon notes the biggest advantage is in the company’s focus.

“There are a lot of advantages of being at Yahoo just in terms of the scale, habit, and the brand. The biggest advantage is our culture, people, and the ability to move fast,” said Spoon. “We do not wait to look for what we should be talking about on a show or putting in a newsletter based on a trend or insight we see elsewhere. We do it on the sports calendar and what the fan dictates.”

The Yahoo staff is always evaluating content and data to determine where content should be placed. They aim to be more proactive than reactive. Spoon says the ability to move fast, be creative, and be great partners is what separates Yahoo Sports most when news happens.

Launching Yahoo Sports Network

Possibly the biggest move Spoon’s team at Yahoo Sports has made was the announcement of creating a Yahoo Sports Network. This network is a free ad-supported streaming TV channel. The channel is an all-access pass containing more than 60 hours of original programming per week.

As the company’s video business has continued to grow rapidly, the Yahoo Sports Network FAST channel will focus on the biggest stories told by the most trusted voices in sports. It delivers 24/7 expert commentary and analysis from Yahoo Sports and its partners.

“This is honest to the mission of you as a sports fan: where do you like to consume? Is it mobile, desktop, TV device? Guess what, we must be everywhere,” explained Spoon. “We’re able to do that today in a way we weren’t a year ago, certainly not two years ago. We have a library now, we have compelling talent now. Vertical by vertical, we now have several partnerships. We have enough content, and we’re just getting started to build out a robust, high-quality experience.”

Spoon says that since the announcement of the Yahoo Sports Network FAST channel, he’s been taken aback by the feedback. He said there have been a number of what he termed “excellent, exciting, and in some cases wow” types of conversations. These comments came from other potential creators or partners.

“There’s no doubt that more will come. I’m very excited about building from 60 [hours of content] to whatever the next number is,” said Spoon.

Since Spoon entered the doors at Yahoo Sports, the brand has gone from one video show focused on fantasy to a network showcasing content for all verticals launching their own FAST channel. As football season has officially arrived in the United States, Yahoo Sports—under Spoon’s leadership—has positioned itself as a prime-time player for sports content for all fans in all places.

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.

BNM Summit Highlights Power of Local Radio in a Changing Media Landscape

Pete Mundo
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BNM Summit Highlights Power of Local Radio in a Changing Media Landscape

As I sit down to type out this column after a rousing two days at the BNM Summit, the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm across the industry remain strong.

While there are headwinds facing every form of media in 2025, the last two days have been an important reminder that some of the brightest minds tasked with navigating these unpredictable waters were in midtown Manhattan. From high-level talent to quality producers and program directors, to sales executives and more, it was an impressive lineup of industry professionals to learn from.

While there was a wealth of great information and content to consume, the successful formula remained the value of local programming winning the day on talk radio. 77 WABC has seen a resurgence in New York City, while talk shows and all-news shows focused on the local community remain incredibly powerful avenues for ratings and revenue.

In an era when local television news broadcasts are largely consumed by the 65+ demographic, and local newspapers continue to dwindle, there remains an enormous opportunity for local news/talk radio to take advantage.

This is not to downplay the value and importance of network programming, which remains a vital and valuable component for hundreds of radio stations across the country, but it plays a different role. It provides you with top-tier national talent to analyze important national issues and topics, blending seamlessly into the fabric of a radio station during specific dayparts. This provides an opportunity for local stations to brand around these major personalities and leverage them in unique ways that add great value to a radio station’s over-the-air product, and, of growing importance, its social media product.

But when local is paired correctly with national, it can be a huge winner for any news/talk station. The value in attending an event like the BNM Summit is for local stations to put faces and personalities to those they work with at their networks and provide valuable station feedback. This allows them to learn about new opportunities and explore ways that the networks and their personalities can better assist local stations. Those relationships built may not drive immediate and obvious ratings and revenues, but they will over time.

So while I’m sure there will be more to come from many across this website in the post-BNM Summit analysis, my only piece of advice would be to try your best to attend in 2026. Twist your general manager’s arm (figuratively, of course) to find the resources to make this work. Those resources spent will pay for themselves as we navigate the choppy waters of media in 2025 and beyond. 

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 YouTube and Podcast Conversations Reign Supereme in Today’s Landscape

Garrett Searight
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Why YouTube and Podcast Conversations Reign Supereme in Today’s Landscape

Scroll through YouTube, and you’ll quickly notice that some of the most popular uploads aren’t elaborate productions with high budgets, scripted drama, or flashy special effects.

Instead, it’s two or three people sitting at a table or on a couch, talking for an hour or two about real life, real struggles, and real experiences. That kind of content shouldn’t be dominating the charts in 2025, yet here we are.

Just look at the latest YouTube Podcast Charts. Almost the entirety of the top 15 is taken up by shows featuring a host having a conversation or an interview with a guest, or a variety of guests.

Conversation podcasts and long-form YouTube shows are thriving in ways traditional broadcasters and media executives didn’t anticipate, and it’s not by accident.

The reason is simple, even if the cultural landscape is not: authenticity is the most valuable commodity in today’s media environment. In an age when Instagram feeds are carefully curated highlight reels, TikTok is littered with filters and effects, and artificial intelligence is capable of creating photorealistic deepfakes, audiences are searching for something that feels genuine. They don’t want another 15-second video of someone pretending their life is perfect. They want substance, depth, and sincerity — all things that conversation podcasts have built their foundation on.

Think about it. For decades, mass media has been about distilling a message down into the smallest possible bite. TV news producers shaved reports down to 90 seconds. Talk radio hosts squeezed in teases before the next eight-minute block of commercials. Social media platforms told us that attention spans were shrinking, so shorter was always better. And yet, podcasts and conversational YouTube shows flipped that logic on its head. Millions of listeners willingly sit through two hours of conversation because they’re craving connection, not a condensed highlight.

It’s not that audiences have lost the ability to pay attention. They’ve lost patience for fake, shallow content. An hour-long discussion with a comedian, an athlete, or a political figure isn’t about hitting soundbites. It’s about showing personality, vulnerability, and authenticity in a way that no 30-second video ever could. That depth, ironically, feels revolutionary in a digital world dominated by brevity.

When you strip away the set dressing, audiences are reminded that human connection doesn’t require glitz and glamour. Joe Rogan didn’t build one of the most influential platforms in media history because of studio design or flashy production. He sat across from people and had conversations that felt unscripted and unfiltered. The same formula fuels podcasts like SmartLess or Club Shay Shay on YouTube — personality-driven, authentic interactions that feel more like eavesdropping on a conversation than consuming a manufactured piece of content.

Compare that to what people see on their phones every day. Social media has turned into a never-ending reel of people showing off their vacations, their new cars, or their filtered selfies. Everyone knows it isn’t real. Everyone knows it’s designed to make the creator look better than they actually are. That realization creates fatigue. People want the opposite of that — which is why two people talking honestly about their lives, careers, or failures has become must-consume content.

Traditional media executives often underestimate the emotional connection that comes from long-form conversation. They worry that attention spans can’t sustain such programming. They worry about monetization. They worry that audiences won’t stick around for episodes that sometimes stretch beyond two hours. The data, however, proves them wrong. Engagement is higher, loyalty is stronger, and the trust between audience and host is unlike anything most broadcasters have seen before.

Part of it is because podcasts and conversation-based shows don’t pretend to be perfect. An awkward pause isn’t edited out. A guest stumbling through a story isn’t cut for time. The imperfections actually make the product more compelling. In a world filled with curated content, imperfection is authenticity — and authenticity is everything.

Another part is the intimacy of the medium. Listening to two people talk for hours creates a bond that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Viewers and listeners feel like they know the host personally. They become invested in their lives, their opinions, and even their quirks. That intimacy drives loyalty, and loyalty drives growth.

So while fake content is multiplying across the internet, genuine conversation is becoming rarer — and more valuable. Podcasts and YouTube shows built on conversation are thriving because they’re giving audiences what they’re starved for: something real.

The lesson here isn’t just for independent creators. Traditional media companies should be taking notes. Stop worrying about trimming every segment to fit the clock. Stop polishing every show until it shines so much that it no longer feels human. In 2025, the most powerful tool in media isn’t special effects or slick graphics. It’s authenticity.

Audiences know when they’re being sold a filtered version of reality, and they’re tuning out. They also know when they’re hearing an honest conversation, and they’re leaning in.

That’s why conversation podcasts and YouTube shows aren’t just a trend. They’re a correction to a digital landscape that’s grown too fake, too shallow, and too polished. Authenticity sells — and for the foreseeable future, it’s going to remain one of the most valuable currencies in all of media.

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.

Jason Goff Out as Bulls Host at Chicago Sports Network

BSM Staff
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Jason Goff Out as Bulls Host at Chicago Sports Network

Chicago Bulls pregame host Jason Goff is out as Chicago Sports Network as he announced his exit via social media. Goff, who has served in the role for the past six seasons, made the announcement explaining his appreciation for his time in the role.

“Want ya’ll to hear it from me. I’ve had a great six seasons doing Bulls pre/post,” wrote Goff on X. “Made some lifelong friends. Truly appreciate getting a chance to do something I never saw coming.”

Wednesday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that CHSN laid off several staffers including Chicago Bears reporter Alex Shapiro who also announced his departure from the network via social media. CHSN declined comment on the personnel moves to the Sun-Times.

The report stated that the layoffs included those who worked on the editorial and digital side for the network. Staff that produced digital content for CHSN website, podcasts and other social media channels.

Goff hosts The Full Go podcast, a Chicago-centric show on The Ringer’s podcast network. He previously was a host and producer for 670 The Score.

Goff previewed discussing the exact details of his departure in a coming episode of his podcast.

“I’ll breakdown the full experience when I get back on The Full Go,” wrote Goff. “Love to all. We had a great time.”

Chicago Sports Network launched on October 1 of last year after NBC Sports Chicago ceased operations following the Bulls, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Blackhawks found a new broadcast home in CHSN in partnership with Standard Media Group.

CHSN was not able to strike a deal with Comcast cable, the largest pay-television provider in the Chicago market, till June 6 when the channel joined the network. Chicago Sports Network supported an over-the-air signal since it’s launch but dropped the signal when the arrangement with Comcast happened.

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.

Mike Heller Out At 97.3 The Game Milwaukee

BSM Staff
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Mike Heller Out At 97.3 The Game Milwaukee

Longtime sports radio host Mike Heller has departed iHeartMedia sports radio station 97.3 The Game in Milwaukee. Heller confirmed the news to Barrett Media on Thursday.

In a statement to Barrett Media, Heller explained how he was informed of the decision by the station and his appreciation for his supporters.

“I’ve been in sports-talk radio for 25 years, most of that for one company,” said Heller to Barrett Media. “On Tuesday, they told me they were ending our relationship. It’s a tough thing to be told, but I’ve been blessed to do what I do for a long time and with many great people. I’ll get back up again. I’m not done. I’ve got more to do.”

Heller hosted middays at the radio flagship of the Green Bay Packers. The radio station website has scrubbed Heller and his program from the website. Veteran broadcaster Tim Allen is listed in Heller’s timeslot on the station website.

The veteran host posted a video on his X account with the following message.

“Got a little more free time right now than I expected,” said Heller. “For the foreseeable future there’s going to be a lot more golf in my daily life. I’ll explain more as time goes on.”

According to post by Wisconsin Badgers radio voice Matt Lepay, Heller will remain in his role with the Badgers radio network serving as the pre-game host for the network.

Heller’s program was simulcast on iHeartMedia’s Madison station 1070 The Game, but that information has also been scrubbed from the website. Heller’s final program was Tuesday.

97.3 The Game morning host Steve Czaban shared his thoughts on Heller’s departure via social media.

“The vagaries and cruelty of this life we’ve chosen in radio, never gets easier. Losing Mike Heller at The Game is especially tough because nobody was more professional, more deeply knowledgeable about sports, and as good of a guy to spar with than Mike,” wrote Czaban.

97.3 The Game nor iHeartMedia has not returned correspondence from Barrett Media for comment.

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.

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Open to League Opportunities Similar to NFL Deal With Network

BSM Staff
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ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro Open to League Opportunities Similar to NFL Deal With Network

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro described the network’s recent acquisition of NFL Network as a “unique deal at a unique moment in time” during a Bank of America investor conference Thursday, signaling that similar partnerships with other sports leagues could be on the horizon.

“I would say to have it would have to make business sense,” Pitaro said when asked if ESPN might replicate the deal. “We’re always interested in ways to advance the business and, just as importantly, ways to serve the sports fan. So if someone comes to us and presents a compelling opportunity, we’re of course going to listen.”

Under the agreement, ESPN will take operational control of NFL Network, its linear RedZone channel, and NFL Fantasy, while the league will retain a 10% stake. Disney owns 80% of ESPN, with Hearst holding the remaining 20%.

The NFL will continue to operate NFL Films, NFL+, NFL.com, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST channel, and the official sites for all 32 clubs. The league will also maintain ownership and distribution rights for NFL RedZone digitally.

Pitaro emphasized the trust built between the NFL and ESPN. “I don’t want to speak for the NFL, but I believe that they have seen what we can do on the studio side. I think they have a lot of trust and faith in us in terms of continuing to operate NFL Network consistent to how it’s been operated in the past. So there’s a ton of excitement there,” he said.

Once the deal receives regulatory approval likely sometime next year, NFL Network will be included in ESPN’s direct-to-consumer app. ESPN could also plan to expand the RedZone brand across other sports and leagues. Additionally, the network will license three more NFL games per season to air on NFL Network and adjust its scheduling to shift four games, including overlapping windows, to the channel, which will continue to present seven games annually.

The agreement also extends ESPN’s license for the NFL Draft. Starting in 2026, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN’s DTC platforms will stream Draft coverage across ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes, supplemented by alternate presentations and a new daily show on ESPN2.

ESPN and ABC will produce telecasts for the first three rounds of the draft, with ESPN continuing coverage for rounds four through seven, including simulcasts on ABC. Football shows such as College GameDay and NFL Live will remain on-site, and ESPN Radio will continue live broadcasts.

Pitaro indicated that ESPN is open to other league opportunities. The NFL could renegotiate media rights beginning in 2029 with an eye toward international expansion. “From our perspective, we’re always interested in growing our business. So if they were to put together an international package, we would, of course, be interested in having the conversation,” he said.

ESPN has also had “healthy” discussions with Major League Baseball about future packages after recently opting out of its current deal. On the UFC’s $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount, Pitaro noted that ESPN operates with discipline and acknowledges it “can’t have everything.” He stressed that the company’s singular focus on sports sets it apart from big tech competitors.

“If you’re a league and you sit down with big tech, you have to ask yourself, how committed are they to sports … whereas when we sit down with ESPN, this is what they do. They breathe this 24/7,” he said. “We’re united in that this is the best set of rights that we have ever had at ESPN. That said, we’re never satisfied.”

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Lee Corso, Greg Gumbel, Pam Oliver Named to Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class of 2025

BSM Staff
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Lee Corso, Greg Gumbel, Pam Oliver Named to Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Lee Corso, Greg Gumbel, and Pam Oliver are among ten trailblazers whose careers have shaped the television sports industry across generations. Thursday, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2025 who will be inducted during the annual ceremony at the New York Hilton Hotel on December 16.

Hall of Fame chairman Ken Aagaard said the 19th class reflects the wide scope of excellence required to elevate the industry, from on-air personalities to technical innovators and executives who reshaped the business.

“Every sports broadcast on TV is a collective effort, with excellence required from the entire production team as well as the executives that drive the business and the leagues,” Aagaard said. “Once again our voting pool of more than 130 industry leaders has delivered a first-rate class, and the evening of Dec. 16 promises to be special.”

The 2025 class includes legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel, ESPN mainstay Lee Corso, pioneering ESPN technical director Marc Herklotz, Fox Sports reporter Pam Oliver, Turner Sports executive David Levy, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Sony engineering leader Hiroshi Kiriyama, longtime producer Curt Gowdy Jr., sports media innovator Glenn Adamo, and ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen.

Each inductee left a distinctive mark on how fans consume sports. Gumbel became one of the most respected studio and play-by-play voices in television, calling NFL, NBA, and Olympic events while serving as a fixture on CBS’s March Madness coverage for more than two decades.

Corso, who retired this past weekend after nearly 40 years with ESPN, helped make College GameDay an institution through his charisma and signature headgear picks.

Oliver’s reporting career made her one of the most recognizable sideline voices in NFL coverage. She broke barriers as one of the longest-tenured sideline reporters on network television while also covering the NBA and college sports. Levy, meanwhile, spent three decades at Turner, steering media rights deals with the NBA, MLB, NCAA Tournament, and PGA Tour. His leadership also pushed Turner Sports into digital expansion through Bleacher Report and multi-platform agreements.

Innovation was a common theme in this year’s class. Herklotz set technical standards at ESPN for more than 30 years, including the creation of the network’s replay wipe in the 1990s. Kiriyama, Sony’s recently retired CTO, guided development of industry-defining broadcast cameras, including 4K and 8K technology, and oversaw groundbreaking cinema and production systems.

Adamo brought vision to both league and network roles. His fingerprints are on everything from NHL Productions to the creation of NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and Thursday Night Football. Rasmussen, meanwhile, stands as one of sports television’s greatest visionaries. As ESPN’s founder, his creation of SportsCenter and ability to secure advertisers set the foundation for cable sports.

Gowdy Jr. spent nearly three decades with ABC Sports before leading SNY, where he oversaw acclaimed Mets coverage and helped build one of the top regional sports networks in the country. His career featured innovation in production, from wireless microphones on jockeys to landmark Olympic broadcasts.

Jones, best known as the Cowboys’ owner, also shaped how the NFL partnered with television networks. His role in the landmark 1993 deal that brought Fox into the NFL mix helped redefine sports media economics and expanded the league’s reach to new audiences.

Together, the Class of 2025 illustrates the broad spectrum of roles that power sports television. From front-facing broadcasters to engineers, producers, executives, and team owners, their collective work transformed how fans experience games and events.

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.

Connecticut Broadcasters Association Announces Seven Inductees for CBA Hall of Fame 2025 Class

BNM Staff
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Connecticut Broadcasters Association Announces Seven Inductees for CBA Hall of Fame 2025 Class

The Connecticut Broadcasters Association (CBA) has unveiled the 2025 class of its Hall of Fame, a group of seven veteran radio and television figures who have left a lasting impact on the state’s broadcasting landscape. The honorees will be recognized during the CBA’s annual Hall of Fame and station awards event, known as The CBAs, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.

This year’s inductees include longtime WYBC operations director and host Juan Castillo, veteran television executive Klarn DePalma, WTIC-AM morning fixture Ray Dunaway, meteorologist Joe Furey, WEBE’s Danny Lyons, WTNH anchor Ann Nyberg, and WFSB anchor Kara Sundlun.

Kristin Okesson, chair of the Connecticut Broadcasters Association and senior vice president/market manager for Connoisseur Media, said the ceremony not only honors the past but also highlights the present and future of broadcasting in the state.

“The Hall of Fame shines a light on those who have devoted the majority, if not all, of their careers to Connecticut broadcasting, making a lasting difference for our industry and our communities,” Okesson said. “The CBAs honor the broadcasters who are shaping the future through their work every day — and awards aside, this night is about coming together to celebrate the hard work and dedication of everyone in our industry.”

Castillo, who has been with WYBC in New Haven since 1989, built his career on community engagement while balancing a background in corrections work. DePalma, a University of Connecticut graduate, spent more than 30 years at WFSB and later rose to senior vice president at Nexstar Media Group.

Dunaway, who retired in 2021 after nearly three decades as WTIC-AM’s morning host, became a trusted voice for listeners across Greater Hartford during major local and national news events. Meanwhile, Furey has spent 40 years in weather forecasting on both radio and television, most recently serving as co-chief meteorologist at WTNH and WCTX.

Lyons, who has anchored afternoons at WEBE for nearly four decades, has also been a philanthropic force, raising millions of dollars for charitable organizations across the state. Nyberg, WTNH’s longest-serving anchor, is widely recognized for her “NYBERG” program and for founding Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Toy Closet initiative. Sundlun, who joined WFSB in 2000, has become a prominent anchor and digital host, balancing daily broadcasts with her “Kara’s Cures” podcast.

The Oct. 7 event will combine Hall of Fame inductions with the annual CBA station awards, offering broadcasters an opportunity to connect while celebrating excellence in reporting, personalities, and programming. Tickets are available through the association’s website at ctba.org.

With this latest Hall of Fame class, the CBA continues to spotlight those who have defined Connecticut broadcasting while recognizing the next wave of talent shaping its future.

Also in the same evening, the CBAs will be announced to one recipient from these finalists in each of the following categories.

Best Engineer

Justin Williamson, WTNH-TV

Best Use of Digital Media

CT Public Social Media

Real Time Rescue, WELI

Law Enforcement Recruitment, WFSB

Best Non-Commercial Station (Radio)

WACC, Asnuntuck Community College

WAPJ

WWUH, University of Hartford

Best Meteorologist

Ryan Hanrahan, WVIT-TV

Mike Slifer, WFSB-TV

Matt Scott, WTIC-TV

Best News Reporter (Radio)

John Silva, WTIC-AM

Sujata Srinivasan, WNPR

Ebong Udoma, WSHU

Best Reporter (TV)

Brittany Taylor, WTNH-TV

Jamel Johnson, WTIC-TV

Len Bestoff, WVIT-TV

Best Local Show (TV)

Pride is Everywhere, WTIC-TV

Capitol Report, WTNH-TV

Great Day at 9, WFSB-TV

Best Talk Show (Radio)

The Rob Dibble Show, WUCS

Spotlight CT, WTIC -AM

Disrupted, WNPR

Best Community Initiative

ST Jude Radiothon, WWYZ-FM

Canines for CT Vets, 1080 WTIC-AM

Closer To Free Ride, WVIT-TV

Best Feature News Story (TV)

Bird of Hope, WTNH-TV, Adam Francis

Atomic Veteran, WFSB-TV, Stephanie Simoni

Great Kids: Bristol Football, WFSB-TV, Caitlin Nuclo

Best Morning Show (Radio)

Anna & Raven, WEZN-FM

Chaz & AJ, WPLR-FM

Christine and Salt WTIC-FM

Best Anchor (TV)

Dennis House, WTNH-TV

Nicole Nalepa, WFSB-TV

Symphonie Privett, WTIC-TV

Best Air Personality (Radio)

Kevin Begley, WEZN

Gina J, WTIC-FM

Lorie Mack, WNPR

Best Photojournalist (TV)

Nick Doscher, WVIT-TV

John Mongeau, WVIT-TV

Jose Gomez, WVIT-TV

Best Newscast Team (TV)

Evening Team, WFSB-TV

Morning Team, WTNH-TV

Evening Team, WTNH -TV

Best Investigative Story (TV)

Protection or Punishment: Jahrell’s Story, WTNH-TV

Ambulance Response Times, Sam Smink, WFSB-TV

Hidden In Plain Site: Crystal’s Story, WTNH-TV

Best Breaking News Coverage (TV)

Guests Evacuated After Fire, WTIC-TV

Heartbreaking and Unimaginable, WTIC-TV

Pet Goats Killed in Bear Attack, WTIC-TV

Best Local Sports

The Path of Paige Bueckers, WVIT-TV

Golf Fans Yell Random Words, WFSB-TV

Half Court Winning Shot, WTIC-TV

Best Promotion (Radio)

WZMX 93.7 “Hot Wheel”

KISS 95.7 “Snow Dive”

WNPR “Coming Up on Colin McEnroe”

Best College Programming (Radio)

WWUH

WACC LP

Station of the Year (Radio)

WNPR

WTIC-FM

WWYZ-FM

Station of the Year (TV)

WFSB-TV

WTNH-TV

WVIT –TV

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.

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