Home Blog Page 77

Why Barstool Sports Should Terrify Rock Radio Programmers

Keith Cunningham
-
0
Why Barstool Sports Should Terrify Rock Radio Programmers

Dave Portnoy is the new King of All Media. It’s no longer Howard Stern. I’m a lifelong Stern fan — he probably wouldn’t object to this piece. Times change, icons evolve, and the crown moves. Stern owned it for decades. Now, Portnoy has taken the larger-than-life personality engine and built his own content empire.

Love him or hate him, the Barstool Sports ecosystem is spreading everywhere. And while it’s billed as a sports brand, that’s like saying Nike is a shoe company.

Barstool is not new. The company was successful long before most radio people had heard of it. What started as free sports papers in Boston has become a full-blown content and talent factory. Breakout talent comes from every cubicle inside their New York and Chicago offices — driving billions of digital impressions. Massive partnerships with Netflix, Fox Sports, DraftKings, and more followed.

The Barstool Blueprint

RockTernative — and all of radio — should be studying Barstool the same way everyone once tried to decode and replicate Stern. Howard’s antics got headlines, but beyond that, the magic was authenticity, risk-taking, and relentless experimentation. Barstool is checking all of those boxes.

While Portnoy’s rise echoes Stern in the ’90s, the comparison isn’t entirely fair. Their paths, content, companies, and lives are very different. However, what is fair is recognizing that both built empires by unleashing talent rather than muzzling or managing them into predictability.

Why This Matters for RockTernative

Radio likes to say, “talent is our advantage, our secret sauce.” If that’s true, why does the industry keep firing talent left and right? Where’s the farm system? Where are the up-and-comers? Good luck finding live dayparts in smaller markets — places where major-market stars once came from. Where are tomorrow’s radio stars going to come from?

And why is talent being managed and coached like a playlist? Predictable. Safe. “Don’t say it that way, say it this way. Use fewer words, don’t ever stop a minute late, and definitely have an opinion — but not a strong one, or else someone might complain.”

Meanwhile, Barstool has practical business and content standards. But they’re not afraid to let talent be talent. That may bring some foul balls, but it’ll bring a lot more home runs. They greenlight new projects, let them run, and if there’s no path to ROI, they end it. Still, they aggressively push boundaries to see what sticks.

A Pantry Full of Secret Sauces

The results speak for themselves. Barstool Sports has walk-in-sized pantries full of secret sauces: Portnoy, Big Cat, Brianna Chickenfry, Hannah Montoya, Jersey Jerry, Stu, PFT Commenter, Jon Gruden, the Chiclets — and countless more. Most of them could anchor a morning show. Instead, they’re driving podcasts, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Netflix.

The Barstool pathway is simple: recruit, develop, let them run, promote.

Radio’s new pathway is equally simple: fire everyone possible, then overwork, underpay, and underappreciate everyone else.

Barstool has more per-capita stars than most radio, film, or TV companies. If I’m the CEO of a major broadcaster, I’m thinking about how to integrate Barstool’s spirit into my company. It’s not hard — it just takes courage and a return to the basic fundamentals radio used to own.

Barstool Brand Building Basics

  • Content First: No one is coming for the ads or what they can get just as well or better everywhere else.
  • Stars Are the Secret Sauce: There is no Barstool without their personalities. Radio mostly peddles predictable music — it needs to be in the “star-making” business again, with music as the bonus.
  • Try New Things: Not everything sticks — but nothing sticks if you don’t try.
  • Tentpole Events: Barstool runs pizza festivals, golf and gambling events, and even week-long lifestyle remotes. RockTernative used to build big events and broadcast live everywhere — today, many brands don’t even have street teams.
  • Specialty Shows: Portnoy approves verticals for niche interests that won’t go wide but can strengthen overall reach. Radio used to run Metal, Local, New, Punk, Acoustic, Deep Tracks, and even Dedication shows — not P1-centered, but passion drivers and incremental Cume growers. Those are mostly gone or buried so only vampires hear them.
  • Topical Campaigns: Barstool reacts to the world in real time — emergency press conferences, Spring Break Vegas, Summer House, “Tea by the Sea.” Living in the moment is something radio used to dominate.
  • Revenue Integration: Portnoy’s sales teams monetize through category exclusivity, content integration, live reads, and real testimonials — not long stop sets where messages go to die. DraftKings, Chevy, Mountain Dew — they see the value.

The Bottom Line

None of this is new. RockTernative invented half of it. Radio doesn’t need to reinvent its model — it just needs to remember what its model actually was. Give Dave Portnoy credit: he bet on talent, took risks, and wasn’t afraid to fail. That’s how he became the new King of All Media.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

What Audacy’s St. Louis Sale Price Suggests About the State of Selling Radio Assets

Garrett Searight
-
2
What Audacy’s St. Louis Sale Price Suggests About the State of Selling Radio Assets

Audacy St. Louis finally has a number attached to its sale. A new FCC filing confirms Hoffmann Media Group is paying $20 million for the entire six-station cluster anchored by KMOX.

The deal also includes 97.1 FM Talk, 96.3 R&B, Y98, 102.5 KEZK, and Hot 98.7. Split evenly, that works out to roughly $3.3 million per station.

For context, Urban One agreed in April to pay $22 million for just two Dallas stations, KKDA and KRNB, in a deal with Service Broadcasting Group. That’s about $11 million per station — more than three times what Hoffmann is paying per signal in St. Louis.

But that comparison needs a caveat that could be easily skipped.

Dallas is the number 5 radio market in the country. St. Louis sits at No. 24. That gap looks modest on a ranking sheet, but it isn’t modest in practice. The Dallas metro’s population is nearly three times the size of St. Louis. Comparing the sale prices of brands in those two markets isn’t exactly apples-to-apples. The numbers tell you less than they seem to.

A Better Benchmark

Finding a truly comparable sale takes some digging, and even then, the picture stays messy.

Radio One bought the Indianapolis cluster from Emmis just over four years ago for $25 million, a much closer market-size match to St. Louis. That deal alone suggests Hoffmann’s $20 million wasn’t wildly out of line for a market this size.

Other recent sales complicate the story further. Connoisseur Media bought Bonneville’s four Bay Area stations last year for just $10 million total. That number looks tiny until you learn Bonneville paid $141 million for those same four stations back in 2018.

Values in this industry can swing dramatically within a single ownership cycle, and San Francisco’s collapse shows just how far a cluster’s worth can fall.

St. Louis has its own history worth revisiting, too. Hubbard bought two Emmis stations in the market, KSHE 95 and 105.7 The Point, in 2018 for $45 million. Audacy bought the other two Emmis stations that same year, 97.1 FM Talk and what’s now 96.3 R&B, for $15 million.

Furthermore, Cox Media Group sold its Tulsa cluster last year to a local owner, in a deal incredibly similar to the Audacy/Hoffman situation. It featured a heritage news/talk brand — in this case, 102.3 KRMG — with some supplemental signals. The sale price to that local ownership group? $20 million.

Go back further, and KFNS 590 sold in 2004 for $11.5 million, a package that also included two other signals, 100.7 FM KFNS and 1190 KRFT-AM. None of these numbers move in a straight line, and that’s exactly the point.

Sale price depends heavily on timing, format, and who’s buying — not just market size or signal strength alone.

A Different Kind of Value

Money isn’t the only currency in a deal like this, and St. Louis proves it. Hoffmann Media Group isn’t a stranger to the market; the Hoffmann Family of Companies already controls Lee Enterprises, which owns the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and that print foothold changes the calculus here. Buying KMOX doesn’t just add radio revenue to the ledger — it adds instant credibility in a market where the family already has skin in the game.

There are only two ways to earn that kind of standing: build it over decades or buy it outright. KMOX has been St. Louis’s dominant news voice for a century, and it remains the flagship home of Cardinals baseball.

No amount of organic growth replicates that overnight. Hoffmann didn’t just purchase six transmitters. It purchased trust that took generations to accumulate. Now, it absolutely has to work to keep that trust. But it now has it. And that’s half the battle.

Turner’s Case for Local

Audacy CEO Kelli Turner has framed the sale as a deliberate choice rather than a distress signal. She told St. Louis employees the deal “While we were not actively looking to sell these stations, HF Companies presented an opportunity for the Company that ultimately made strong business sense for both parties.”

Those aren’t the words of an executive looking to clear inventory. Turner has also told staff that day-to-day operations, reporting structures, compensation, and benefits aren’t expected to change. Does she have any bearing over that? No, of course not. But she also didn’t say it out of pure boredom, either.

Also, it wasn’t that long ago that Audacy went through the process of shifting KMOX to a full-market FM signal on 104.1 FM. I would find it unlikely that they went through that process of rebranding a strong, heritage signal to simply offload it at the first opportunity.

Will the $20 million figure raise questions elsewhere? Almost certainly. Audacy still owns clusters in Memphis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo, and every one of those markets could easily see potential ownership groups studying the St. Louis number closely.

But I keep coming back to fit, though. A higher number doesn’t guarantee a better outcome for KMOX’s newsroom, its staff, or its listeners, and in St. Louis, I think the right buyer mattered more than the biggest check. I genuinely believe that a local operator was high on Audacy’s priority list for any interested party. It sounds a deal that worked for everyone. You’d be hard-pressed, from where I sit, to knock it from any one side.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

How Dan Patrick Turned a Canceled Interview Into Compelling Radio

Pete Mundo
-
0
How Dan Patrick Turned a Canceled Interview Into Compelling Radio

Dan Patrick took over the sports media news cycle last week when he publicly shared his story of WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert agreeing to join the show in a conversation with executive producer Todd Fritz, before eventually backing out of the interview.

Many have defended Patrick’s handling and used it as another way to beat up the WNBA leadership for another PR screw-up. Others have made the case that Patrick went too far. There’s always nuance to a story like this. For news/talk radio hosts, there are valuable lessons to be learned from it.

First, if your takeaway from Patrick’s moment is to rip your guest if they miss or back out of an appearance on your show, you’ve completely missed the point. Patrick used the moment and the play-by-play of how the situation unfolded to deftly explain how the interview went from “on” to “off” suddenly.

And there was a broader narrative he tied into this story about how this league, despite its growth in popularity, has often been its own worst enemy in public relations, media response, and general social awareness. They’ve largely flopped on all fronts in recent years, as the sport has grown in popularity, thanks largely to Caitlin Clark.

A Platform Earned Over Decades

The details Patrick shared, specifically about her backing out after the PR team told her to, offered a fascinating insight into the lack of leadership from a commissioner who is catching plenty of heat from multiple angles.

Then, there was Patrick defending his platform, which he has earned over a Hall-of-Fame career. “If you want to be treated as a serious league, this is what happens. These are tough questions, but this is a fair outlet for you. I will treat you with respect,” Patrick said.

And he’s right. He’s earned that reputation over several decades. Dan Patrick can make those statements.

If you’re relatively new to a market, still building your brand, and you decide you’re going to go after a local city councilman who blew off an interview, you might want to think twice. Can a rant on the subject be an entertaining few minutes of radio? Possibly. But it can backfire on you in a way that you will come to regret.

At this point in Dan Patrick’s career, there’s not much that can backfire on him. And this certainly wasn’t it.

Substance Over Spectacle

Combine this with Patrick’s conversational style, which was at no point flamboyant, over-the-top, or angry, but rather passionate, explanatory, and opinionated, and you have a great radio segment.

And even if you’re a veteran in your market, there has to be some greater value to the conversation beyond, “Can you believe I got blown off?” Patrick kept bringing it back to the league itself, and how this has impacted its present, and can impact its future. That brought it back to the fan.

Lastly, Dan did not come off as the WNBA’s enemy. He portrayed himself as someone rooting for the WNBA to succeed. And I believe that he is rooting for the league’s success. He came off like the disappointed father watching his teenager screw up once again and having to give them “the talk.” He was not the fire-breathing pee-wee rec coach treating a regular-season summer league game like it was the World Series.

In many ways, it was Dan Patrick at his best. But it was the nuance of his approach that made it a home run. This was not a “rip the guest who didn’t show” moment. It was the latest example of a commissioner trying to find her way, and who seems to be in over her head. And in this latest example, it was The Dan Patrick Show that was the story.

And the broadcast cutting to Engelbert shanking a sand wedge as Patrick is going on with his story was visual gold. But that credit has to go to the TV production team, not Patrick.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Shredd and Ragan’s Simple Formula for Buffalo Radio Success

Mike Stern
-
0
Shredd and Ragan’s Simple Formula for Buffalo Radio Success

It’s easy to overthink radio. It’s not like making widgets, where there is a quota, or accounting, where numbers have to balance. Even with the ratings as a measuring stick, success and survival in the industry can be subjective, which leads to a lot of overthinking. That’s why Tom Ragan’s straightforward take on what has made his show in Buffalo with partner Ted Shredd so successful for more than thirty years is so refreshing.

“We’ve always thought that if you do a funny, engaging morning show, regardless of the format, and included elements of the radio station so you sound like you fit in, you’re going to win.”

A Long History

Shredd and Ragan came together on Classic Rock WUFX, a little over a year before the station changed to Alternative as WEDG. They were the only air-staff members to survive the switch and would anchor the station for twenty-six years. Then they moved back to Classic Rock at sister station WGRF in 2021.

While they try to be format agnostic, the move back to Classic Rock did make things easier. “At The Edge we almost had to try and hide our age, as we were trying to appeal to a younger audience,” says Shredd. “We don’t focus on old stuff, but this lets us be ourselves and talk freely.”

For example, they mention the reality show Love Island, which has a huge, primarily younger, following. It’s not exactly their thing, but cluster Production Director Stella Bianco — a regular part of the show — is a fan. Her descriptions allow them to be authentic in their thoughts about the show. “Stella, who is a little younger, is watching the show obsessively,” explains Ragan. “She gives us updates, which gives us the chance to make fun of it.”

All About Buffalo

While their formula for success is simple, there are several important elements of the show. The most important of those is being very local. “The hope is that if you tune in, you’re hearing about whatever is going on in Buffalo that morning,” Ragan says.

The show is very engaged with Buffalo’s sports scene, which makes it especially exciting that WGRF will be the flagship station for Buffalo Bills broadcasts starting this fall. Ragan says, “with the broadcasts coming back to 97 Rock we’ve already had the General Manager on and were bringing on players and coaches.”

Their coverage isn’t always at the team level. Sometimes it’s about the fans. “The Sabres had a group of guys — known as The Blade Gang — rollerblading into arenas and screwing with the other team,” Ragan says. “We, of course, had those guys on the air because we try to reflect what’s going on here locally.”

Their local content isn’t limited to sports. They are heavily involved in several charitable efforts, including the Buffalo Children’s Hospital and Make-A-Wish chapters. They also produce a regular segment called The Niagara Falls Police Blotter, which Ragan explains is due to unique circumstances. “The crime’s a little strange there because they dumped a bunch of chemicals in the ground up in the falls.”

Don’t Forget About Canada

Another part of living in Buffalo is the fact that it’s a border town. The Peace Bridge connects the city directly to Fort Erie, Ontario. You can literally see into another country from Buffalo, which has a meaningful impact on local culture.

Shredd explains that many bands — like The Tragically Hip, The Tea Party, and The Headstones — have big followings in Buffalo, while they are virtually unknown in many parts of the United States.

“When the band Triumph decided to launch their reunion tour they came on our show first to make the announcement,” Shredd says. “It was cool to have that scoop before the rest of the country.”

The pair also helped raise money to build a tribute to the late Neil Peart, over the border in the city of St. Catharines, where the famous Rush drummer grew up. “We hosted a tribute concert and raised about $25,000 Canadian to help get it built,” Ragan says.

And while Shredd and Ragan believe in staying centrist politically, there have recently been some awkward moments. “With everything being so divided we try and strike a middle ground that we’re all Americans first,” Ragan says. “But at one point, there was this hatred of Canadians that didn’t make sense to us. We think of them as our brothers and sisters. We love Canada.”

The More Things Change

Political division isn’t the only change Shredd and Ragan have seen over the last thirty years. The growth of technology has also impacted the show in many ways, including a downturn in phone interaction.

“It’s wonderful when you get a bunch of texts, but it doesn’t duplicate the sound of a human voice telling you that story then interacting with us afterwards,” Ragan says. “We still do phone topics, and it works, but it’s nowhere near what it used to be.”

What hasn’t changed is how Shredd and Ragan use audio clips throughout the morning. That approach has led to certain bits of audio becoming enduring parts of the show. “Some of the news stories we play sound from have funny lines that we’ll keep in the computer,” Shredd explains. “Some of them go on forever.”

Turkey Legs and Timeless Bits

For example, there was a story about a woman who thought turkey legs were actually made of ham. “She kept saying it and we were making fun of it the whole time. But that line — turkey legs is ham — became a thing,” says Shredd. “And now people will call and try to prompt us to play it.”

In fact, that particular line is so well known that when the Bills’ public relations team released their schedule video for this year, the photo representation for the Thanksgiving game included a sign with the iconic phrase. “We thought it was hilarious because we’re like, damn, maybe we had an influence, who knows?” says Ragan.

Similarly, the show still leans heavily on benchmark features like Ohio, Texas, Florida, Missed Connections and The Want Ads. “A lot of times when you talk to people they say, ‘you guys had me laughing this morning’ but they can’t remember what was so funny,” Shredd says. “But they remember the benchmarks because they love them.”

While the benchmarks are assembled by longtime producer Jim Jacka — who the guys describe as indispensable — they require a steady stream of outrageous human stories to be effective. And while some shows feel that extensive political coverage has reduced the flow of available lifestyle stories, Shredd disagrees. “I think there’s more stupid people doing stupid things than ever because everyone wants to be a star. We thought everyone having a camera at all times would bring shame, but it hasn’t.”

And for Shredd and Ragan, that’s perfect, because they need that fuel to keep the train running. “It’s like a steam engine, you’re continually shoveling coal into,” says Ragan. “It’s constant. You wake up, you make people laugh, and that’s how you win. Humor always cuts through.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Three Items ESPN Should Consider With Their Oversight Of The NFL Network This Season

John Mamola
-
0
Three Items ESPN Should Consider With Their Oversight Of The NFL Network This Season

Don’t look now, but NFL training camps open today. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks officially kick off the summer camp season as the first team to open the door to the new NFL season. That means we’re just weeks away from live reports, remote broadcasts, and podcasts galore showcasing football in shorts and pads for the first time this summer.

However, the 2026 season brings a number of changes to the NFL media buffet. There will be no games for free on YouTube, more games on Netflix, and no more ESPN Monday Night Football doubleheaders. The biggest change this season will be ESPN’s oversight of NFL Network and how programming is executed under different leadership. Some changes will likely happen, while much may stay the same. But there are questions about what ESPN could do with the added oversight and distribution heading into the network’s first Super Bowl broadcast in February.

We’ve already seen some of those changes take place. ESPN kept NFL Network’s draft coverage relatively the same. The NFL schedule release, however, was different. NFL Network didn’t have unique schedule release coverage compared to ESPN, which went all in on the event.

There are still plenty of questions to ask. What will happen on Sunday mornings? Will NFL Gameday still exist to compete against Sunday NFL Countdown? Could there be a combination of talent from both networks to host the program? Or will everything stay the same?

There are also questions regarding weekday programming. With the salaries ESPN is taking on from NFL Network employees, programming changes seem inevitable. Could we see NFL Live become a simulcast and reduce costs by filling NFL Network’s afternoon programming slot? Good Morning Football has been a staple for football fans every morning on NFL Network. Could there be crossover with Get Up on NFL Mondays or Fridays?

The possibilities are nearly endless for what ESPN could do with NFL Network, its programming, staff, and distribution. With training camps opening today, here are three moves I’d make if I were ESPN as it begins its first season overseeing NFL Network.

Get The Message Out

First and foremost, don’t shy away from cross-promotion and the utilization of talent. Ian Rapoport shouldn’t remain exclusive to NFL Network while Adam Schefter stays siloed on ESPN programming. ESPN’s goal during the early part of training camp should be to make both audiences aware of its oversight of NFL Network and the opportunities that come with it.

This includes guest appearances, live reports from camps, breaking news, and sharing assets from programs and interviews across both networks. By the end of training camp, football fans should know they can watch either NFL Network or ESPN and see the same personalities who define the league’s premier coverage.

Messaging on television is just as important as it is on radio. The more synergy you show, the better the outcome when it comes to viewership for the season.

Embrace A Shared Viewing Experience

The second suggestion is to expand the concept of the shared viewing experience. When ESPN rolled out its direct-to-consumer product last year, the updated app included a number of new and innovative features. From the Verts tab showcasing short-form videos to SC For You providing personalized, AI-created SportsCenter-branded updates for your favorite teams.

The next step should be creating a shared viewing experience for Monday Night Football. ESPN already does a fine job with the ManningCast featuring Peyton and Eli Manning on ESPN2, giving fans another way to watch the game. There’s no reason ESPN can’t do something similar with NFL Network talent.

Imagine watching the Bears on Monday Night Football with Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt or Seth Rollins. Or having Peter Schrager join the team for a special Good Evening Football alt-cast. The goal isn’t simply to create another viewing option. It’s to include it on the ESPN App in a multiview presentation alongside the ManningCast.

Talk about a complete viewing experience for football fans and making Monday Night Football on the ESPN App an even bigger destination.

Get Creative With Creators

Lastly, the biggest suggestion anyone could make regarding NFL Network is to borrow from what ESPN has already started doing with content licensing deals. It’s great to watch a replay of a football game now and then, but how many content deals could be struck with proven football creators to expand distribution on a platform as large as NFL Network?

The Pat McAfee Show is a perfect example of how ESPN has capitalized on the concept. The Rich Eisen Show is another. If ESPN’s goal is to drive viewership to NFL Network and make the property more valuable, would a deal with Bussin’ With The Boys make sense? How about The Fantasy Footballers? Or working with podcast networks featuring some of the biggest names covering the NFL?

If content is king, ESPN can own the football content game. If it doesn’t want NFL Network to become a full-time simulcast of NFL Live, what creator-led content would be the best fit to drive more broadcast viewers and greater digital engagement?

No matter how ESPN approaches its oversight of NFL Network, one thing is clear: the network cannot remain untouched. There’s a reason ESPN wanted oversight in exchange for the equity stake it gave the league. There’s also a reason the NFL sought out a broadcast company like ESPN to oversee it.

Training camp has always been about evaluating talent, experimenting with ideas, and figuring out what gives you the best chance to win in the fall. ESPN should approach its first season overseeing NFL Network the same way.

This is an opportunity to rethink how football fans consume the league’s content, not simply preserve what already exists. Whether it’s blending talent, creating new viewing experiences, or investing in creator-led programming, the goal shouldn’t be change for the sake of change. It should be making NFL Network more valuable to fans and a stronger partner within ESPN’s growing football ecosystem.

With camps officially underway, the countdown to kickoff has begun. The question now isn’t whether ESPN will make changes. It’s whether it will be bold enough to make the right ones.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

The FIFA World Cup Experience Teaches Lessons American Sports Networks Can Learn From

John Lund
-
0
The FIFA World Cup Experience Teaches Lessons American Sports Networks Can Learn From

What can American sports television steal from the World Cup? The answer is: quite a bit. This wasn’t just a win for soccer. It was a masterclass in sports television.

FOX’s English-language coverage averaged more than five million viewers during the group stage. It nearly doubled its audience from the 2022 tournament. The United States’ Round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina drew roughly 24.4 million viewers before more than 33 million tuned in for the Americans’ loss to Belgium. Those aren’t niche numbers.

People weren’t watching because FOX invented a new camera angle or convinced Lionel Messi to wear a microphone. They watched because the event felt important. That’s Lesson No. 1: Trust the event.

Somewhere along the way, American sports television decided every second needed explaining. Every replay requires narration and controversial call needs a rules analyst. Every timeout needs another opinion or game requires someone updating your same-game parlay.

American broadcasts have become a group project. The play-by-play announcer tells you what happened. An analyst tells you why. The rules analyst tells you whether it counted and the betting analyst tells you your weekend is ruined. Somewhere in there, an insurance company sponsors the replay.

Action Tells The Story

The World Cup reminded broadcasters that sometimes the game is enough. Then there’s something American television fears more than bad ratings. Silence.

After a dramatic goal, soccer broadcasters stop talking. They let the crowd take over. The stadium becomes the soundtrack. Imagine that. There’s no race to be the first person speaking over the biggest moment.

Dead air isn’t dead. It’s atmosphere.

Baseball could use a little of that in October. After a walk-off home run, I don’t immediately need Statcast, launch angle, exit velocity, and a dissertation on whether the hitter shortened his swing with two strikes. Let me hear 45,000 people losing their minds. The numbers will still be there 10 seconds later.

Real Fans Matter

Another thing the World Cup got right? The fans. Not celebrities. Real fans.

The television cameras constantly searched for emotion instead of publicity. Nervous faces. Families. Kids wrapped in flags. Grown adults crying because their country just scored the biggest goal of their lifetime. Meanwhile, American broadcasts too often turn into an episode of Guess Who’s Sitting Courtside?

Nothing says “winner-take-all playoff game” quite like cutting to an actor promoting a streaming series that debuts next Thursday.

Show me the guy who emptied his savings account to bring his son to America for the games. Show me the grandmother wearing the same lucky jersey she’s owned since the Reagan administration. Those people are part of the broadcast.

Keep It Simple

Another lesson? Stop trying so hard to make everything cinematic.

Soccer’s wider camera angles let viewers see the sport unfold. You can watch space develop, defenders shift, and passing lanes open before the ball ever arrives. NBA broadcasts sometimes feel like the director won an Oscar for Best Close-Up. We’ve got drone shots. Spider cams. Slow-motion sneaker shots. Cameras so tight you can count the pores on a player’s forehead. It looks fantastic.

Too bad we missed the backdoor cut.

Technology should help viewers understand the game, not admire the technology.

The World Cup also reminded us that presentation matters. Every knockout match felt enormous because television treated it that way. The music. The entrances. The crowd. The anticipation. Nobody needs to convince viewers Spain versus Argentina matters. The broadcast simply gets out of the way and lets the occasion breathe.

It’s Never Going To Be Perfect

American sports cannot duplicate the World Cup’s do-or-die atmosphere every night. An NFL Sunday already feels like an event. The Super Bowl certainly doesn’t need help.

But baseball? Too many regular-season broadcasts feel like they are fulfilling a contractual obligation. Game 94 isn’t Game 7. But television doesn’t have to treat it like Game 94, either. Everything doesn’t need to be louder or faster. Everything certainly does not need another graphic flying across the screen.

There were things the World Cup didn’t do perfectly. Afternoon kickoff times weren’t ideal for North American viewers. FIFA’s expanded tournament occasionally felt like someone looked at a successful idea and said, “You know what this needs? Thirty-two more games.” Sports commissioners are remarkably consistent that way.

But the television product? American broadcast executives should have been taking notes. Not because soccer is somehow superior. Because great television is great television.

The World Cup reminded us that the biggest moments do not need to be manufactured. They need to be recognized.

That’s a lesson every producer, director, and announcer should remember before the NFL season begins. Sometimes the best television isn’t created in the production truck. It’s already happening on the field.

The smartest thing everyone can do is trust it.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

How Ryan Ermanni Built a Common Man Brand at WJR 760

Garrett Searight
-
0
How Ryan Ermanni Built a Common Man Brand at WJR 760

Ryan Ermanni just wrapped up his first full year hosting the 2-4 PM slot on WJR 760 in Detroit, and he’s still adjusting to the weight of the call letters he now represents. The longtime Fox 2 personality stepped into the afternoon chair with a mix of excitement and nerves, and a year later, he says that feeling hasn’t fully gone away.

“I still have to pinch myself when I walk into that studio every day and see those iconic WJR call letters,” Ermanni said. “Those call letters matter to me, and they matter to so many people.”

He pointed to the station’s history as a source of daily motivation rather than pressure that weighs him down. Legendary voices have occupied WJR’s airwaves for decades, and Ermanni feels a responsibility to carry that torch forward.

“I think it’s such a responsibility, specifically at that station, with the legends who have come before me and the legends who are still there, to give people the best show you possibly can on a daily basis,” Ermanni said. “I still wonder if I’m worthy of having that opportunity, and that part drives me every single day to give it my best.”

How the Opportunity Came Together

Ermanni’s path to WJR started with a missed phone call. Program Director Ann Thomas reached out, and at first, he didn’t believe the message was legitimate.

“I missed the call. She left a voicemail. I didn’t think it was real,” Ermanni said. “I thought she was putting me on or somebody was pranking me.”

Once he realized the offer was genuine, Ermanni knew he couldn’t turn it down. Beyond the prestige of the WJR name, the role gave him a chance to explore territory he hadn’t covered much throughout his career.

“It was more of an opportunity to do something I really hadn’t done yet: talk about news and politics in a way I never had before. I am so interested in that conversation,” Ermanni said. “I love it. It’s a hobby of mine to consume news and talk about it.”

His background in sports radio also played a role in preparing him for the shift. Ermanni spent time at Detroit Sports 105.1 and Woodward Sports Network before landing at WJR. He credits that experience with sharpening his conversational instincts.

“Having that radio background, where you just talk and have the ability to talk to people, I think is so important,” Ermanni said. “That certainly helped prepare me for this.”

Building a Show Around Common Ground

Ermanni has leaned heavily on his self-described “common man” persona since taking over the afternoon slot, and that identity shapes nearly every decision he makes on air. Listeners across the political spectrum, he says, should feel welcome to call in and share their perspective.

“I certainly wanted it to be a space where everybody is welcome — Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, independents,” Ermanni said. “I want everybody to feel like their voice matters.”

That philosophy extends to the team around him, too. The WJR afternoon host shared that he views the program as a collaborative effort built alongside producer Beth Ann Long, board op Danielle Mason, and Thomas.

Over the past year, Ermanni has also shifted the show’s format, moving away from a heavier reliance on interviews toward more open discussion segments. Callers now play a bigger role in shaping each episode, and he says that change has helped him gauge public sentiment more effectively.

“I’ve gone to talking about a topic, welcoming people’s thoughts on it, and taking calls to see where the pulse of the people is,” Ermanni said. “That medium of talk radio, I still think, really has a place — an important place — in any conversation happening today.”

Accuracy remains a priority for Ermanni even as opinions fly across the phone lines. He wants his show to be a place where facts come first, opinions come second.

“One of the parts of the show I truly love is getting the story right,” Ermanni said. “Let’s get that story right, and then we can have a conversation about it.”

Looking ahead, Ermanni hopes to expand WJR’s digital footprint significantly. The station recently began streaming on YouTube, and he sees that platform as a way to reach listeners who might otherwise miss live segments entirely.

“I would absolutely love to grow in the digital space,” Ermanni said. “I think it’s almost like free advertising.”

He cited a recent interview with gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox as an example of content that deserves a longer shelf life than a single broadcast window allows. Fans who tuned in late missed the conversation entirely, something Ermanni wants to prevent moving forward.

“I want them to be able to watch it or listen to it however they consume their media,” Ermanni said. “I want to be better at getting that interview out and letting people watch it at a time of their choosing.”

Beyond the format changes and digital ambitions, Ermanni hopes his show can model a more civil kind of political discourse. Recent congressional testimony involving threats against Supreme Court justices left him shaking his head, he says, and reinforced why he values respectful conversation on air.

“I want that mood to gain traction, where we can have a conversation with anybody, be ok, and go have a beer afterward,” Ermanni said.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

From iHeartMedia Layoff to New Beginnings: Inside Ms EKlass’s Next Move

Bethany Kent
-
0
From iHeartMedia Layoff to New Beginnings: Inside Ms EKlass’s Next Move

Erica “Ms EKlass” Coleman built her name over nearly two decades on the air. She has hosted mornings, middays, afternoons, and even overseas. She has worked local radio and national syndication. And this month, she joined a growing list of talent affected by iHeartMedia‘s latest round of layoffs.

Last week I spoke with Josh Martinez about where he’s at post layoff. My goal with speaking to both Martinez and EKlass is not to harp on layoffs, but to spotlight talent that have no business being on the beach and are both now available for hire. EKlass brings her own perspective to her newly found free agent status. One that is shaped by faith, entrepreneurship, and a career built on connection.

The Moment She Found Out

EKlass didn’t see it coming. She has been in radio since 2007 and on air since 2010. This was her first layoff.

“I had a moment where I allowed myself to be disappointed because radio isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am,” she said. Then her faith took over. She believes that “God doesn’t close a door without opening another one.”

Today, she says gratitude outweighs the shock. She’s thankful for her listeners, her opportunities, and what comes next.

“I don’t know exactly what that chapter looks like yet, but if my life has taught me anything, it’s that some of the biggest blessings start with an unexpected plot twist,” she said.

A Career Built on Adaptability

EKlass has worked across formats and markets. Her résumé includes stops at WWKX, WRBO, and Westwood One’s syndicated programming. She has hosted mornings, middays, afternoons, and weekends. She has worked local radio and international radio.

This transition feels different from the others, though. Her past moves were choices. This one wasn’t.

“But one thing my career has taught me is how to adapt,” she said. Nearly two decades of experience doesn’t disappear with one layoff. It “simply changes the direction of the journey.”

Entrepreneurship as a Safety Net

Long before this layoff, EKlass built something outside of radio. Her agency, once known as A Klassy Life, has evolved into Co Collective. The company handles web design and SEO work.

That business taught her something important: her value extends far beyond a microphone.

“I know branding, SEO, web design, copywriting, hosting, and content creation,” she said. Adding “radio gave me an amazing platform, but entrepreneurship reminded me that I create value wherever I go.”

She isn’t starting from scratch. She’s building on a foundation she already laid.

What Layoffs Signal About Radio’s Direction

EKlass sees an industry in flux. Audiences consume content differently than they used to. Companies are adjusting their financial models to match.

Her hope is that personality doesn’t get lost in that shift. Listeners don’t tune in for songs alone.

“They want someone who feels like a friend during their drive home,” she said. “For women especially, we’ve had to work incredibly hard to earn our seats at the table. My hope is that our value continues to be recognized beyond ratings and spreadsheets because authentic connection still matters.”

The Moments That Mattered Most

When I asked EKlass about her career highlights, she didn’t lead with a celebrity name — though she laughs and says that her interview with T.I. “still goes down in the books.” Instead, she points to the listeners.

She remembers the people who told her a comment on air helped them through a hard day. She remembers surprising teachers and highlighting nonprofits. She remembers motivational breaks that led someone to reach out and say they needed to hear it.

“I’ve always believed radio is about serving people first,” she said. If she brightened someone’s day, she did her job.

Picturing the Next Chapter

EKlass doesn’t have a fixed answer for what comes next. I pushed her to speak into existence her dream job. She said she wants “a place that values authenticity”, whether that’s radio, digital media, journalism, or something new entirely.

She hopes to join an organization that sees talent as more than a voice on air.

“Someone who can write, host, create, build brands, lead conversations, and genuinely connect with audiences,” she said, describing what she wants to bring to a team.

Balancing Family, Ambition, and an Unexpected Pause

EKlass has spoken openly before about juggling radio, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. Last year, she added “newlywed” to that list.

She laughed off the idea of balance entirely. “Some days I’ve nailed it, and other days I’ve been eating dinner in the car on the way to an event wonder what day of the week it was.”

This season taught her something different, though. Balance isn’t something you stumble into. It’s “something you intentionally create.”

“My family has been incredible through all of this,” she said. Being a wife and mom remains her greatest role. This pause gave her time with them she might not have taken otherwise.

Advice for Others Facing Layoffs

EKlass has a direct message for radio personalities going through something similar, especially those earlier in their careers.

“Don’t let a layoff define your worth,” she said. A job ending doesn’t mean a purpose has ended too.

She encourages people to update their resumes, reach out to their networks, and learn new skills. Grieving the loss is fine. Staying there isn’t.

She has connected with others affected by recent layoffs and found comfort in one piece of advice: don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions. Hope, not disappointment, should write the next chapter.

A Pitch to Programmers

If a PD is reading this, EKlass has a message ready. “I care. I care about the audience, themcommunity, my teammates, and representing the station well.”

“I’m coachable, dependable, creative, and I genuinely love this industry,” she said. She still feels a spark every time the mic turns on, decades in.

Lifting Up Others in Radio

In an effort to pay it forward, I’ve been asking my feature interviewees recently to spotlight other talent in radio the feel are doing great work. EKlass told me the question “is stressful because I know I’m going to leave somebody out. But a few who immediately come to mind are Trey White, Dani D, KeKe, Keisha Nicole, AshMac, and Big Sue.” Each one, she says, connects with audiences in their own authentic way.

“This business is full of incredibly gifted people, and I love seeing good people win,” she said.

For EKlass, that mindset may be the clearest signal of where she’s headed next — wherever that turns out to be.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

Tony B Bennett Returns to B101.5 in Fredericksburg

David Hill
-
0
Tony B Bennett Returns to B101.5 in Fredericksburg

Centennial Broadcasting has named Tony B Bennett afternoon host at Hot AC WBQB B101.5 in Fredericksburg, VA. Bennett previously worked at the station in 2005 and 2006.

What We Know: Bennett fills the afternoon slot vacated by Trapper Young, who held the position for 29 years before moving to mornings at sister station Classic Hits WGRQ 95.9 The Goat earlier this month. Bennett’s background is extensive. He spent a decade in Los Angeles at KIIS-FM, KPWR, Groove Radio, KDAY, and KCAQ Oxnard. He then returned to Fredericksburg, programming and hosting mornings at Alpha Media CHR WVBX 99.3 The Vibe from 2006 to 2017.

What They Said: Bennett expressed his enthusiasm directly. “I’m hyped to get back on the airwaves in Fredericksburg on the legendary B101.5,” he said. “50,000 watts from the Nation’s Capital to the State Capitol — I’m up for the challenge to entertain our massive audience for The Drive Home.” Operations Manager Chuck “Archer” Miller added, “Tony has made his home here in Fredericksburg for over 21 years. He knows our audience, the area, and the gravity of taking over a shift held by only one other person for 29 years.”

What Remains Unclear: No official start date has been announced for Bennett’s afternoon show. Additionally, it’s unknown whether Centennial plans any broader changes to B101.5’s daypart lineup following the dual personnel moves.

What It Means: This hire signals stability for Centennial’s Fredericksburg cluster. Bennett’s deep local roots and major market experience make him a credible successor to a 29-year tenure. Moreover, his familiarity with the audience should ease the transition considerably.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

ESPN Sees Highest First Half Viewership Across Networks In Over A Decade

John Mamola
-
0
ESPN Sees Highest First Half Viewership Across Networks In Over A Decade

ESPN just delivered its strongest first-half viewership in over ten years. Fans logged 288 billion minutes across ESPN and ESPN on ABC during Nielsen’s first-half 2026 window.

What We Know: According to a release, total viewership climbed 13% year-over-year, marking the best first-half mark since 2012. ESPN on ABC posted its best first half since 2006, reaching 78 billion minutes, up 16%. Meanwhile, the networks’s average minute audience hit 800K, up 12% and its best since 2016. Primetime also surged to 2.1 million average viewers, up from 1.9 million a year earlier.

What Remains Unclear: The release didn’t specify which sports or telecasts drove the gains. It’s also unclear how much streaming or ESPN Unlimited subscribers contributed to the 288 billion minutes.

What It Means: The results extend ESPN’s viewership momentum from a record-setting end of 2025 into 2026. With 19% of all sports minutes watched, the network edged past NBC’s 18% to lead every individual network. Combined with a 32% share across ESPN’s full portfolio, the first-half numbers suggest accelerating strength heading into the second half of the year. Mind you, the numbers are also influenced somewhat by the change is measurement with Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Even so, the results are still evidence that ESPN continues to be the world wide leader in sports.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

1...767778...2,757Page 77 of 2,757