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How ‘Inside College Football’ on CBS Sports Network Feeds the Hunger for Football

John Molori
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How ‘Inside College Football’ on CBS Sports Network Feeds the Hunger for Football

The college football season is upon us. For those of you hungry for the sport, I have a great pregame snack.

Inside College Football on CBS Sports Network.

I caught the program for its Big Ten preview show and was thoroughly entertained and informed. The opening of the show was electric and eclectic, with video and sound from last year’s top teams in the conference. The open ended with a video montage of last year‘s national champion, the Ohio State Buckeyes.

This edition of Inside College Football was hosted by Adam Zucker alongside Aaron Taylor, Rick Neuheisel, Brian Jones, and Randy Cross. Taylor, Jones, and Neuheisel opened the proceedings by offering predictions and projections for the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) field in 2025.

I like the personality mix here. Zucker is a tremendous host, while Taylor and Jones bring excitement and a players’ feel to the broadcast. Neuheisel has been a player, coach, and commentator at the highest levels of college football for decades. His experience brings a conservative, old-school feel to the show, while Cross, the ex-San Francisco 49’er, offers a championship pedigree and deep commentary.

Starting at the Top of the Mountain

Seated in a slick studio, Zucker noted that the Big Ten Conference is looking for a three-peat in national championships, with Ohio State and Michigan winning the last two, respectively. Neuheisel noted that there are only five returning quarterbacks in the conference, while Jones talked about how Minnesota’s defense has been one of the best in the country over the past few years.

Following the chit-chat, Zucker threw to a feature on Ohio State, which included comments from head coach Ryan Day, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and linebacker Sonny Styles.

From the feature, the production team cut right to a graphic of Big Ten teams that have won back-to-back national titles. This feat has not been accomplished since the 1965 and 1966 Michigan State Spartans. In fact, only three Big Ten schools have ever done it, with Minnesota doing it twice and Michigan in that elite group.

Neuheisel said that the Buckeyes are still basking in championship glory but need to turn the corner to 2025, while Taylor added that Ohio State is moving from the hunter to the hunted. Jones pointed out that the team has two new coordinators and some inexperience on the offensive and defensive lines.

Inside College Football moves from one topic to another like a swift linebacker stalking his prey from the backfield. The chatter does not dwell endlessly on one team or subject. Neuheisel talked about how the Oregon Ducks will be a team to be reckoned with, not only in the Big Ten but nationwide. The crew dissected Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who played well, although sparingly, last year as Dillon Gabriel’s backup.

The Secret Is in the Sauce

The graphics on Inside College Football are outstanding. While the panel talked about the Ducks, a graphic showed that Oregon was just the second team since 2000 to beat Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State in the same season. When the conversation turned to the Michigan Wolverines, another graphic showed that last year, Michigan had more losses (5) than in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons combined (40–3). Jones pulled no punches, saying that the 2024 Michigan passing game was “just horrid.”

Across the board, the panelists on Inside College Football are direct, confident, and unafraid to voice strong views. This makes for exciting and interesting television.

Midway through the show, the quintet was joined by numbers cruncher Mackenzie Brooks. She talked about some numerical probabilities for Big Ten teams to make the CFP. Brooks had Ohio State with the best chance, followed by Penn State, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame.

Brooks is terrific, bringing some unique insight to her calculations. She had Notre Dame with a 68.2% chance to make the CFP but noted that if the Irish lose to Miami in the opening week on August 31, that 68.2% drops to 35%—interesting stuff. The presence of Brooks on the broadcast brings something different to the table and gets us away from the football dudes just talking ball.

With betting and fantasy such a colossal part of football these days, it is timely television for sure.

Neuheisel had some interesting comments on the University of Indiana and their chances for 2025. Last year, the Hoosiers had a sparkling season (11–2 overall, 8–1 Big Ten), but Neuheisel seemed doubtful that they could repeat such a performance in 2025. He did note that the team has an overall confidence that comes from head coach Curt Cignetti. 

Moving to Illinois, a graphic showed that the team’s 10 wins last year tied a program record. Taylor said that the Illini have a tougher schedule this year but also bring depth, experience, and a culture that could lead them to success.

When the subject turned to Nebraska, a graphic showed that head coach Matt Rhule has a habit of making a big jump in record in his third season with a team. Rhule previously did this with Temple and Baylor. Over the past two seasons, Nebraska has been 12–13 under Rhule, so will they make a leap to double-digit wins in 2025? Jones answered by saying that the team has some holes to fill along the defensive line, but he does like their linebacking crew. Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola had 2,826 passing yards as a freshman last year, the most in program history for a first-year player.

The panel then talked about Rutgers, a club that scored 28.9 points per game last year and won seven games. That points-per-game total is their best since 2008. Still, the overall outlook for the Scarlet Knights was dim due to a brutal 2025 schedule. This rat-a-tat-tat movement from team to team defines the wonderful pacing of Inside College Football.

Marking Your Calendars

In the Save the Date segment, the panel looked at key 2025 games, including the Week 1 matchup of Texas traveling to Ohio State on August 30. While the panel opined, viewers saw pulsating video of both teams stacked with superstars, led by Texas quarterback Arch Manning. Other games to watch included Michigan at Oklahoma on September 6 and Iowa at Iowa State on that same date. As the show wound down, the Burning Questions segment offered some important queries for the upcoming season.

Inside College Football is a show for both casual fans and crazy fanatics. I give a lot of credit to Zucker. Like a wishbone offense quarterback, he can tote the ball and dish out perfect pitches to his cohorts. If you love all of the passion, pride, and pageantry inherent in the collegiate game, this is the program for you.

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 Watch: Erin Burnett OutFront, CNN

Garrett Searight
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The Watch: Erin Burnett OutFront, CNN

Erin Burnett OutFront has been a part of the CNN lineup for more than a decade.

Almost a decade and a half, truthfully, as the show debuted in October 2011. And that experience shows up when you consume her program.

When you think about the 7 PM ET hour in cable news, you probably think of hosts who are either polarizing by design, or constantly at war with whoever the perceived enemy of the day happens to be. Fox News has leaned into the firebrand role at that time, and MSNBC has done the same, which makes Erin Burnett’s position on CNN all the more remarkable.

While competitors have cycled through personalities trying to capture ratings, Burnett has carved out a reputation built on steadiness rather than spectacle.

Her longevity in that slot is notable because CNN has experienced more turnover in recent years than just about any of its competitors. From network presidents to primetime anchors, stability has not been CNN’s defining trait. Yet Burnett remains, anchoring Erin Burnett OutFront for more than a decade without the need to reinvent herself as a partisan crusader or a performance-driven personality. In an era where executives are constantly looking for the next big star, Burnett has succeeded by not chasing trends.

I watched the Tuesday episode of the program to get a better feel for why Erin Burnett has had the staying power she’s had in the CNN lineup.

One of the things that stood out to me was the inclusion of time spent still covering the Jeffrey Epstein saga. A cynic might note that, of course CNN is still on that story: it might make President Trump look bad. But I think it is more likely that the network gives viewers what it wants.

Despite the story mostly vanishing from other cable networks or digital outlets, the Epstein story — and the potential release of the Epstein files — is still a major story to many viewers. She spoke to two men — federal prison consultant Sam Mangel, who has clients at the facility where Epstein’s counterpart, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently being held, and former National Enquirer editor Barry Levin on to discuss the latest developments.

She continually pressed the topic of Epstein, why it still matters, and why the network was still interested in covering the topic.

Throughout the conversation (and the entire episode, frankly), I found Erin Burnett to possess a skill that few people — let alone few people in cable news — have: the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. She was never snarky, she was never condescending. Did her face show her cards sometimes? Sure. But she treated each of her guests and each of the topics at hand with an appropriate amount of respect.

It’s not that Burnett doesn’t ask tough questions or hold guests accountable; it’s that she does so without making herself the center of the exchange. The viewer doesn’t tune in to watch her spar for the sake of sparring. Instead, Burnett has consistently prioritized clarity, measured analysis, and fact-driven reporting that holds up even when the day’s news cycle is chaotic. In a business where many hosts thrive on confrontation, her style offers a different kind of appeal—one rooted in substance rather than theatrics.

That difference has turned out to be an asset for CNN, especially given the network’s struggle to define itself in a crowded, hyper-partisan marketplace. While primetime competition is often loud, brash, and unmistakably slanted, Burnett’s delivery is more even-keeled. She doesn’t leave the impression she’s advocating for one side or the other, which is increasingly rare in that time slot. The fact that CNN has leaned on her for stability while other programs have been shuffled around the schedule says everything about the value she brings.

There’s also the matter of trust, which can be elusive in cable news. Viewers know what to expect from Burnett, and over time, that reliability has created a sense of credibility that cannot be manufactured overnight. Her staying power is as much about consistency as it is about talent. Other hosts might command attention with viral moments or fiery monologues, but when the dust settles, Burnett’s approach has proven more durable.

Erin Burnett’s tenure at 7 PM ET isn’t just about surviving. She doesn’t fit into the firebrand model that dominates primetime, and that might be exactly why she’s lasted so long. Sometimes, being the outlier is what gives you staying power.

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 One Word in the MSNBC/MS NOW Rebrand Could Be a Point of Contention For Viewers

Garrett Searight
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Why One Word in the MSNBC/MS NOW Rebrand Could Be a Point of Contention For Viewers

Cable news channel rebrandings are about as rare as Halley’s Comet. So when MSNBC announced earlier this week that it would be changing its name to MS NOW — an acronym standing for “My Source for News, Opinion, and the World” — reactions were swift. And almost universally negative.

Some of the criticisms were based on party lines, with conservative commenters lobbing insults about how President Donald Trump had “ended” MSNBC.

Others argued that the new logo appears to look like “PMS” due to the icon in the logo’s placement.

Syracuse University professor of broadcast journalism Les Rose — a former CBS News employee of more than 30 years — took a different issue with the rebrand from MSNBC to MS NOW.

“I thought this was the best example of AI being used when it really shouldn’t have been,” said Rose. “It actually sounds like a word cloud when you think about it. Instead of artificial intelligence, they should have used actual intelligence.”

Rose’s point of contention with the rebrand comes with one of the words used in the acronym for “NOW,” opinion.

“Every older person I see, and I’m probably one of them, says, ‘Can’t you just quit giving me your opinion?Please just give me the news.’ You can be sitting next to someone on a plane, and they figure out what you do for a living, and then you go, ‘Just give me the news.’ I think it harkens back to the (Walter) Cronkite era,” Rose said. “He was the most trusted man in America at the time, and just gave the news on CBS.

“Now, (MSNBC/MS NOW is) including the word opinion in the very name of their news organization. No. That just that’s not a good thing,” he continued. “That one boggles my mind … Why in hell would a journalist consider themselves an instant expert? It puts us one step closer to journalists being called influencers, which really drives me crazy.”

Rose added that Cronkite — who many still view as the gold standard of unbiased television journalists — “gave his opinion only once, and it helped end the Vietnam War.

“We don’t care about your opinion,” he concluded.

The name change for MSNBC came after NBCUniversal reportedly renegged on an agreement to allow the network to continue utilizing the “NBC” and “Peacock” logo in its branding. Rose noted that there have been other instances in history when a brand name has gone through trials and tribulations, but has held firm to the already established brand and was able to weather the storm.

“I did do some quick research on times when a company has huge problems that they went through it and they still didn’t rename their product,” said Rose. “Tylenol, for example, kept its name even after seven people perished. Market share plummeted from 35% to about 8%, according to a New York Times article. But yet, Tylenol, to this day, is still on the market.

“Subway had a spokesman for 15 years named Jared Fogel, and he turned out to be a sex offender, and it’s still called Subway. The brand is all you have. It’s like changing your personal name. You’d better have a really good reason for it.”

No firm timetable for when the brand switch will officially take place was given by the network. It only shared that the transition would take place “by the end of the year.”

In the meantime, due to contractual obligations, CNBC will remain with its current and longtime branding, and will not feature a shift similar to that of MSNBC. The peacock logo, however, will be removed from the CNBC logo.

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.

Peacock To Exclusively Stream WWE ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’

BSM Staff
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Peacock To Exclusively Stream WWE ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’

Peacock and WWE have announced a multi-year agreement to exclusively stream Saturday Night’s Main Event on the NBCUniversal-owned platform. The move marks the latest chapter in WWE’s evolving media strategy as the company continues to expand its premium live event offerings across streaming.

The iconic program, which first debuted in 1985 on NBC, will stream four times annually in primetime on Peacock. According to the companies, each event will feature WWE’s biggest stars, ongoing rivalries, and championship matches.

The partnership kicks off Nov. 1, with another highly anticipated edition set for Dec. 13. That event will feature John Cena competing in his retirement match, which is expected to draw significant interest from fans.

In a statement, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque expressed optimism about the renewed relationship with NBCUniversal. “We’re excited to bring Saturday Night’s Main Event exclusively to Peacock beginning this fall,” Levesque said. “NBCU have been terrific longtime partners, and we look forward to continuing to work with them for years to come.”

Rick Cordella, president of NBC Sports, echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the value of WWE programming within Peacock’s growing sports and entertainment portfolio. “Peacock has had a wonderful relationship with the WWE and we’re excited to see it continue far into the future,” Cordella said. “Saturday Night’s Main Event is some of the most premium content the WWE produces, including John Cena’s upcoming retirement match, and it will be all live and exclusive on Peacock.”

The agreement also extends other elements of WWE content on Peacock. The WWE Network library will remain available on the platform through the end of 2025, while NXT Premium Live Events will continue to stream until March 2026. Additionally, the SmackDown library will remain accessible on a 30-day delay, with USA Network maintaining live rights to the Friday night show.

This agreement follows the WWE announcing moving their premium live events from Peacock to the new ESPN direct-to-consumer platform beginning in September.

For WWE, the deal provides continuity with a trusted partner while giving Peacock exclusive programming that can drive subscriptions and engagement. The company has leaned heavily into streaming over the past several years, first migrating WWE Network content to Peacock in 2021. Since then, premium live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble have delivered strong streaming numbers, bolstering NBCU’s case for continuing to invest in WWE content.

Saturday Night’s Main Event holds a unique place in WWE’s history, having originally aired as a network television special that gave mainstream audiences a taste of professional wrestling during the 1980s boom. The series returned briefly in the 2000s before being revived in September 2024 with a special event from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New York—the same venue that hosted the inaugural edition nearly four decades earlier.

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.

WWE Premium Live Events Will Air on ESPN Earlier Than Announced

BSM Staff
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WWE Premium Live Events Will Air on ESPN Earlier Than Announced

ESPN and WWE have accelerated the timeline on their highly anticipated partnership, announcing that WWE Premium Live Events will begin streaming on ESPN platforms starting Sept. 20. The deal, originally expected to launch later this year, will now debut with the first-ever Wrestlepalooza at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The event will stream exclusively on ESPN’s soon-to-launch direct-to-consumer platform, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

The move represents a significant shift in both companies’ strategies. For ESPN, the addition of WWE programming is a key pillar in the rollout of its DTC service, set to officially launch tomorrow. For WWE, it marks the first time the company’s live events will have a permanent home outside of Peacock in the U.S.

“On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque in a statement. “The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”

ESPN will serve as the exclusive domestic home for all WWE Premium Live Events beginning in September. The events will be available to subscribers of ESPN’s “unlimited plan,” with select cards simulcast on linear networks. Marquee shows such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series are included in the agreement.

Wrestlepalooza will set the tone for the collaboration. Headliners include John Cena — wrestling in Indianapolis for the final time — along with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. The event also ties in with Indianapolis’ recent role as host of the 2025 Royal Rumble, which broke the event’s all-time attendance record.

Additional WWE Premium Live Events on the ESPN calendar this year include Crown Jewel on Oct. 11 and Survivor Series on Nov. 29. Each will be accessible to ESPN DTC subscribers, further embedding WWE into ESPN’s premium content strategy.

For ESPN, adding WWE to a lineup that already includes the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and college sports offers year-round tentpole events that drive subscriptions. For WWE, aligning with ESPN brings brand validation within the traditional sports media landscape while opening up additional promotional opportunities across ESPN’s digital and linear platforms.

The WWE currently has an agreement with Peacock for distribution of their premium live events. Peacock’s final show will be Clash in Paris on Aug. 31, and ESPN will take the baton starting with Wrestlepalooza on Sept. 20 in Indianapolis.

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.

Dan Le Batard Ponders if NFL Stake in ESPN Led to ESPN Scrapping Colin Kaepernick Documentary

BSM Staff
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Dan Le Batard Ponders if NFL Stake in ESPN Led to ESPN Scrapping Colin Kaepernick Documentary

Dan Le Batard is raising questions about how much independence ESPN can maintain with the NFL owning a 10 percent stake in the network. The former ESPN host suggested Wednesday on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz that the equity deal may already be shaping editorial decisions, pointing to ESPN’s decision to shelve a Spike Lee–directed Colin Kaepernick documentary.

Le Batard said the NFL’s financial involvement with ESPN marks a turning point in how the network will handle coverage of its most important partner.

“The idea that the NFL bought 10% of ESPN … That ownership changes content forever through the life of that contract,” Le Batard said. “The NFL will not be a silent partner with ESPN. They are now more in business with ESPN than they’ve ever been. They’re a stockholder, and what happens as soon as they get through the door? Oh, the documentary on Colin Kaepernick that Spike Lee was doing—yeah, we’re not doing that anymore.”

While Le Batard questioned the timing of both the NFL’s equity stake and the news regarding the shelving of the Kaepernick series. The series was slated to be a eight-part docuseries on ESPN but was canceled last week. ESPN cited “creative differences,” though the timing coincided with the NFL’s newly announced equity stake. Neither Lee nor Kaepernick has publicly commented, and Le Batard admitted he doesn’t know “what it would cost to buy that man’s silence.”

He also reflected on ESPN’s long-standing relationship with the league, calling the network a de facto promotional platform for football even before the equity agreement. “Basically ESPN before this was a marketing arm for the NFL with journalism coverage,” Le Batard said. “It’s not even the Monday night game that’s that valuable … It’s that all week long we can run all your footage. They’ll do it in the off season, and we can be an infomercial for football at all times. America will love it.”

Le Batard argued that while such arrangements grow the NFL’s brand, they come at a cost to journalistic integrity and storytelling. “We get an honest actual version of the Colin Kaepernick story told through Spike Lee’s eyes because I really would have liked to have seen that without it being bought,” he added.

Pushing further, he questioned whether investigative reporters like ESPN’s Don Van Natta will be free to continue hard-hitting reporting. “You believe Don Van Natta is still going to be able to do what he’s been doing over there?” Le Batard asked.

Ultimately, he framed the issue as a power play by NFL ownership. “These are not dumb people in Jerry Jones and Bob Kraft who got the power of this league,” Le Batard said. “And now the power of this league includes a 10% stake in something that makes the NFL Network and ESPN … not just business partnerships that the NFL owns 10% of.”

For Le Batard, the cancellation of the Kaepernick project is more than just a programming decision—it’s a warning sign of how editorial independence could erode when a league holds a direct stake in the network tasked with covering it.

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.

National Radio Day Celebrated By News/Talk Format

BNM Staff
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National Radio Day Celebrated By News/Talk Format

Wednesday marked National Radio Day in the United States, with dozens of radio professionals commemorating the day.

On social media, the term #NationalRadioDay was used plentily, with many in the industry showcasing the call letters under which they’ve worked during their tenure in the business.

National Radio Day has been celebrated since the 1990s, but began to gain more traction with the rise of social media in the early 2010s.

Below is a collection of social media posts made by news/talk radio industry professionals celebrating their careers and the medium.

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.

NAB to Honor Mike McVay with National Radio Award

BNM Staff
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NAB to Honor Mike McVay with National Radio Award

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has announced that McVay Media President Mike McVay has been honored with the 2025 NAB National Radio Award.

McVay will receive the award at the 2025 NAB Show New York during the Marconi Radio Awards. The Marconi Radio Award presentation will take place on October 21st at The Edison Ballroom on the eve of the NAB Show New York.

Before launching his own consulting firm, Mike McVay served as the Executive Vice President of Content and Programming for Cumulus Media and Westwood One. He has also worked in programming, management, and ownership roles in markets from Wheeling to Los Angeles, and many stops in between.

“NAB is thrilled to recognize Mike for his remarkable contributions to the radio industry over the past four decades,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “Mike’s deep expertise, creative vision and unwavering commitment to excellence have shaped countless careers, inspired new generations of broadcasters and driven innovation in every corner of the audio industry. His ability to nurture talent and create programming that resonates with audiences makes him a most deserving recipient of this year’s National Radio Award.”

In addition to being honored with the 2025 National Radio Award by the NAB, Mike McVay is also waiting for induction in the National Radio Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2025. He was also honored as a Giant of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation in 2024, as well as earning a Leadership Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America.

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.

Rip City Radio Extends Rights Agreement With Portland Trail Blazers

BSM Staff
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Rip City Radio Extends Rights Agreement With Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers and iHeartMedia’s Rip City Radio Portland have extended their multi-year partnership, keeping Rip City Radio 620 AM as the official broadcast home for Trail Blazers games across the Trail Blazers Audio Network. The announcement marks the station’s 13th season as the team’s flagship broadcaster.

Under the renewed agreement, fans will continue to hear Travis Demers calling all the on-court action as he enters his seventh full season as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer. Joining Demers is Trail Blazers alum and fan favorite Michael Holton, who will provide analysis throughout the season. Rip City Radio host Chad Doing will also return, leading pre- and post-game coverage with insight, analysis, and instant reaction following the final buzzer.

Kevin Kinghorn, the Trail Blazers’ chief marketing officer, praised the partnership for its longevity and reach. “Rip City Radio and iHeartMedia have been great partners for more than a decade, delivering the energy and passion of Trail Blazers basketball to fans across Oregon and Washington,” Kinghorn said. “As we start an exciting new chapter, this extension strengthens our ability to connect with fans through additional in-season content and year-round programming, delivering the moments that make Rip City fandom so unique.”

The radio lineup includes live broadcasts of Blazers Gameday, the pre-game show, and 5th Quarter, the post-game show hosted by Chris Burkhardt on Rip City Radio 620 AM. Beyond game-day coverage, iHeartMedia Portland will expand Blazers programming with new in-season shows designed to engage fans year-round.

One addition is the Trail Blazers Insider Report, a weekly one-hour show hosted by Sean Highkin airing live on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. with a replay on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Another program, The Blazers Wrap Up, premieres Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m., offering a recap of all the latest Trail Blazers news hosted by Brendan Slaughter.

Marshal Burgess, president of the Portland Region for iHeartMedia’s Multi-Platform Group, echoed the excitement. “Renewing our partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers is an incredible moment for all of us. The Blazers represent the spirit of Portland—resilient, passionate, and deeply connected to their fans,” Burgess said. “We’re proud to stand alongside an organization that continues to inspire and energize the community, and we look forward to creating even more memorable moments together in the seasons ahead.”

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 Chicago Shifts Lineup, Adds ‘The Rich Eisen Show’ Beginning September 2

BSM Staff
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ESPN Chicago Shifts Lineup, Adds ‘The Rich Eisen Show’ Beginning September 2

ESPN Chicago is undergoing a lineup change with the arrival of The Rich Eisen Show coming to ESPN Radio on September 2. The Good Karma Brands radio station is shuffling around its lineup to accommodate Eisen’s return to the ESPN brand.

The station announced that they will be moving Kap & J Hood from 7-10 a.m. to an hour earlier beginning at 6 a.m. and ending the show at 9 a.m. Moving from mid-days will be Carmen & Jurko who are moving from 12-3pm to 9am-12pm. The Rich Eisen Show will begin airing on ESPN Chicago beginning Tuesday September 2 from 12pm-2pm.

Following Eisen will be Bleck & Abdalla Uninterrupted from 2pm-3pm leading into Waddle & Silvy beginning at 3pm till 6:30pm.

Carmen DeFalco made the announcement beginning at the top of his program on Wednesday.

“Our lineup has never been stronger,” said Danny Zederman, director of content, ESPN Chicago. “Adding a powerhouse like Rich Eisen to our midday slot not only gives our fans one of the most respected voices in sports, but we’ve also expanded our local content with an uninterrupted hour of Bleck and Abdalla. This combination of national and local perspectives makes us the go-to station for sports fans in Chicago.” 

As part of the lineup shifts, the station will be moving its syndication carriage from 10am-12pm with Clinton & Friends to the hours occupied by Eisen beginning in less than two weeks.

With a mix of nationally recognized talent and beloved local voices, the updated lineup offers fans the perfect blend of sports news, opinion, entertainment, and insider access to Chicago’s teams.

It was announced in July that The Rich Eisen Show will take over ESPN Radio’s national noon-to-3 p.m. ET time slot beginning Tuesday September 2. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic was first to report Eisen will be taking over the timeslot currently occupied by Joe & Q hosted by Joe Fortenbaugh and Qiant “Q” Myers.

With the addition of Eisen to the ESPN Radio lineup, Fortenbaugh will shift his focus to television appearances and sports betting content, while Myers will remain with ESPN Radio in a new role as the weeknight host of GameTime, airing during the network’s late-night window.

Eisen’s radio program, which is currently distributed by Westwood One and also airing on SiriusXM, will stream live on Disney+ and ESPN+ beginning this fall as ESPN announced the launch of its first direct-to-consumer offering in May called ESPN. According to sources, Barrett Media is reporting that The Rich Eisen Show will continue to be distributed through Westwood One through the end of 2025 while the program airs on ESPN Radio.

The new weekday lineup, launching September 2, 2025: 

5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Unsportsmanlike 

6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Kap and J. Hood 

9:00 a.m. to Noon Carmen and Jurko 

Noon to 2:00 p.m. The Rich Eisen Show 

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Bleck and Abdalla Uninterrupted 

3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Waddle and Silvy  

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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