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Why Content Platforms Are Eyeing Crypto Gambling

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Why Content Platforms Are Eyeing Crypto Gambling

Crypto gambling has become one of the hottest trends, and it is not only traditional casino players who care about it. Content platforms and particularly those that target streaming, live engagement, and digital communities are beginning to take note. And it is not difficult to understand why.

The crypto gambling market increased by 500 percent between the year 2019 and 2024, reaching 250 million dollars. At the same rate, it is projected to increase to $400 million by 2028. That is not a slow burn- that is a signal.

At the same time, the number of crypto bets being placed keeps climbing. Just a couple of years ago, crypto made up about 20% of all online gambling. Now, it’s nearly 30%. What used to be a niche activity is quickly becoming mainstream.

So why are content platforms suddenly so interested? It’s not just about the money. It’s about how crypto gambling fits into a bigger story around entertainment, community, and the way younger audiences consume content.

The Appeal: Fast, Global, and Cheaper to Run

One of the biggest reasons crypto gambling is thriving is because it’s simply easier to run than traditional online casinos.

Lower Costs

With crypto, there are no banks involved. That means fewer transaction fees and no dealing with cross-border payment headaches. Operators can run leaner and offer bigger bonuses without eating into their profits.

Speed and Access

Crypto deposits and withdrawals are almost instant. That’s a huge draw for players who don’t want to wait days for a payout. Crypto is built for fast, borderless transactions, players can access games and receive payouts quickly, even in places where traditional banking options are limited. Here, you can see how a crypto-first casino structures its gameplay, from poker tables to slot machines, all powered by digital currency and built around faster, more flexible access.

Privacy

Not everyone wants to attach their identity to a gambling account. Crypto offers a level of discretion that’s hard to match with traditional payment methods.

Fairness You Can Check

Blockchain makes it possible for users to verify that a game isn’t rigged. This “provably fair” model is a big win for trust, and trust keeps people coming back.

More Personalized

Because of the data tied to crypto wallets and user behavior, platforms can tailor rewards, offers, and game suggestions to each player. It’s not just about playing—it’s about feeling like the experience is made for you.

All of that makes crypto gambling an attractive partner for content platforms looking for fast-moving, scalable models.

Who’s Playing and Why That Matters

The typical crypto gambler isn’t the same as the average casino visitor from 10 years ago. The majority fall between the ages of 25 and 44. They grew up with the internet, trust digital tools, and want more from their experiences than just a chance to win money.

They’re also:

  • Comfortable with risk
  • Used to fast, mobile-first apps
  • Interested in emerging tech
  • Attracted to platforms that offer something new

Crypto gambling also opens doors for players in parts of the world where traditional banks or financial systems don’t serve them well. Places like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Latin America have seen big user spikes.

And almost all of it happens on mobile.

Where Gambling Meets Entertainment

This is where things get interesting. Crypto gambling isn’t just growing because it’s convenient. It’s growing because it feels more like entertainment than old-school gambling.

Content platforms are watching this closely because the new version of online gambling looks a lot like what they’re already good at: building communities, hosting live events, and keeping users engaged.

Gamified Features That Keep Users Hooked

Platforms are adding game-like mechanics to keep people engaged:

  • Token-based rewards
  • Daily challenges and missions
  • Leaderboards
  • NFTs as prizes

It’s the same strategy that makes mobile games addictive, and it works just as well here. Gambling turns into something more social and goal-oriented. Players feel like they’re progressing, not just betting.

Built-In Communities

A lot of newer crypto casinos feel more like online hangouts than isolated gambling sites. Players can:

  • Chat with each other
  • Watch others play live
  • Compete in multiplayer tournaments
  • Share wins and strategies in real time

This kind of shared experience is exactly what younger players want. It also creates natural content—streams, clips, chat highlights—that keeps the platform buzzing.

All-in-One Messaging and Gaming

Some casinos have taken it a step further by operating entirely through messaging apps like Telegram. No separate app. No logging in through a browser. Just open a chat, play, and get your payout instantly.

It’s fast, easy, and fits perfectly into how people already use their phones.

Streaming and Influencers: The New Casino Hosts

Streaming has changed everything. Now, gambling isn’t something you do alone, it’s something you can watch others do live. And in the crypto gambling world, that’s a huge part of the draw.

Some platforms are built around this idea, using Twitch-style layouts where influencers host live gambling sessions. These aren’t just any influencers either. High-profile names and celebrities are getting involved.

Some top streamers host roulette nights for millions of viewers

Others do crypto giveaways or host Q&A sessions mid-game

Viewers can chat, react in real time, and even join in on certain games

Instead of a casino floor, the “venue” is a livestream, and the vibe is more like a concert than a gambling site.

Some Platforms that are Taking the Initiative

The following are some of the remarkable indications of how crypto gambling is frontiering new boundaries:

  • MetaWin – Conducts blockchain competitions in which prizes are ETH and NFTs on a blockchain with proofs on the chain.
  • Playgram – Plays on Telegram exclusively. No KYC, thousands of games and payout in an instant in crypto.
  • Stake (with Drake) – Collaborated with the rapper to conduct huge-participant livestream occasions with roulettes and astronomical awards.
  • Luck.io – Gives high revenues of up to half a million dollars a month to high influencers to broadcast and market their games.

This is not simply a gimmick; it is an illustration of how gambling is being sold as a content.

Why Content Platforms are Hot

But what about the platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Kick, or even newer and more specialized websites?

More Money Making Options

Additional revenue sources are through branded events, influencer deals, NFTs, token sales, and microtransactions.

Larger Younger Viewers

Crypto gambling attracts audiences that traditional gambling is not always able to capture, particularly the younger, tech-savvy users who are more difficult to market using traditional ways.

Longer Engagement

There are so many gamified features, social features that cause users to visit and not to leave at all. They hang around, talk, observe and visit.

Conclusion

Crypto gambling fits all the requirements of platforms that attempt to move beyond static content. It is quick, entertaining, social and highly interactive.

And best of all, it is expanding.

WIBX 950 Program Director Megan Stone Exits

BNM Staff
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WIBX 950 Program Director Megan Stone Exits

After just over two years serving as the Brand Manager at WIBX 950, Megan Stone has departed the Townsquare Utica news/talk station.

Stone joined the station in June 2023 after previously working at ABC News Radio as an entertainment producer and content coordinator. She also worked on the station’s morning show in addition to her role as Brand Manager.

In a post to social media, Stone shared that her position was eliminated as one of several budget cuts enacted by Townsquare.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I announce I was among the latest round of layoffs at Townsquare Media,” she wrote. “Many of us in radio understand our industry is ever-changing, and, sometimes we are not included in those changes. Despite this outcome, I am proud of everything I accomplished during my time at WIBX, a nearly 100-year-old news radio station.

“My time as WIBX’s Brand Manager was an exciting challenge that taught me numerous lessons about myself and my capabilities. I will miss the Mohawk Valley – especially all the friendships I made during my time here.”

In addition to her time at WIBX 950 and ABC News Radio, Megan Stone previously worked at stations in Bridgeport and Norwalk, Connecticut, as well as Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

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.

FOX Sports Promotes Allison Williams to NFL Sidelines Replacing Laura Okmin

BSM Staff
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FOX Sports Promotes Allison Williams to NFL Sidelines Replacing Laura Okmin

FOX Sports is adding a familiar face to its NFL coverage this fall. According to a report from Front Office Sports, veteran broadcaster Allison Williams has been promoted to a full-time sideline reporter role for FOX’s NFL coverage. Williams, who joined the network in 2022 after departing ESPN, will now take on one of the most high-profile assignments in sports broadcasting.

The move marks a significant step forward for Williams, who is already a staple on FOX’s college football coverage alongside play-by-play voice Jason Benetti and analyst Brock Huard. While she’s worked select NFL games in the past, the new role places her in a consistent position throughout the 2024 season.

Williams’ elevation comes as FOX adjusts its NFL sideline roster. According to the report, she will work with play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler and analyst Daryl Johnston, replacing Laura Okmin, the third-longest-tenured sideline reporter in NFL history. Last month, Okmin announced she would be leaving the network after turning down a contract extension.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Okmin has been a fixture in FOX Sports’ coverage of the National Football League. Although she is stepping away from FOX Sports, her plan is to continue working in football, specifically by contributing to NFL postseason and Super Bowl coverage for Westwood One’s radio broadcasts.

She originally joined FOX Sports in 2002, serving as both a host and reporter for the network. In addition, she was a host for the company’s digital coverage of the 2012 and 2014 Olympic Games.

Williams began gaining national attention during her time at ESPN, where she covered college football and basketball across multiple platforms, including ABC and ESPN’s linear networks. However, in 2021, she left the company after choosing not to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. FOX welcomed Williams in 2022, and her work on the college football sidelines has been widely praised.

Williams’ ascension is another example of FOX investing in versatile and experienced talent as it looks to maintain its strong position in NFL broadcasting.

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.

ABC News to Launch New Daily News Show on Disney+

BNM Staff
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ABC News to Launch New Daily News Show on Disney+

ABC News has announced plans to launch a daily news program that will stream exclusively on Disney+.

What You Need to Know will debut on Monday, July 21st. New episodes will debut on the streaming platform at 6 AM ET each weekday. The program will be anchored by ABC News chief international correspondent James Longman and senior political correspondent Rachel Scott.

“We are proud to launch this innovative series with Rachel and James, who meet viewers where they are with essential news, context and analysis to help them better understand the world around us,” said ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic. “This new effort expands ABC News’ significant footprint on Disney+, allowing us to reach and connect with new and diverse audiences on the platform.”

The new program from ABC News joins other programming from the network made available on the Disney+ platform, including Good Morning America: First Look, Prime with Linsey Davis, and World News Tonight with David Muir, in addition to the ABC News Live streaming news channel.

“We are excited to embark on this journey with Disney+, a show that reimagines how you get your news,” said Longman and Scott in a joint statement. “What You Need to Know is built for the speed of the scrolling era, cutting through the noise by offering essential news in an easily digestible and accessible package wherever you are.”

Each new episode of What You Need to Know will be available on Disney+ for 24 hours.

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.

Go Country 105 Adds Backstage Country With Eliana Smith

BMM Staff
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Go Country 105 Adds Backstage Country With Eliana Smith

Go Country 105 KKGO Los Angeles has added “Backstage Country” hosted by Eliana Smith for nights. The show will air weekdays from 7 pm to midnight.

Saul Levine, President and General Manager, KKGO-FM, said: “Backstage Country will be a fantastic addition to our line-up!  Elaina Smith has great star power and fantastic rapport with today’s Country Mega stars.”

Dennis Green, Chief Operating Officer, Key Networks, commented: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring Country radio’s only show featuring the top Country artists as hosts every week to Los Angeles and Go Country. Add to that our co-host, the talented Elaina Smith, and it’s the perfect combination to bring listeners the music and stories they want to hear from Nashville every night.”

John Shomby, Executive Producer, “Backstage Country,” said, “The whole crew is super excited to have the show on such a great radio station as GO Country. L.A., here we come!”

 Kicking off “Backstage Country’s” premiere week in Los Angeles is guest host and Country’s LOCASH.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Stay updated by signing up for our newsletters to receive the latest information directly in your inbox

Greg Beharrell Joins 101.5 Big FM Bakersfield For PM Drive

BMM Staff
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Greg Beharrell Joins 101.5 Big FM Bakersfield For PM Drive

YEA Media Group’s “Greg Beharrell Show” has been added to afternoons at Adult Hits 101.5 Big FM Bakersfield. The show is based out of 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles.

Beharrell said, “I plan on growing the ratings to the roof, but not through the roof as structural damage doesn’t make economic sense.”

101.5 Big FM Program Director J. Reed added, “If you know Greg – an unavoidable circumstance for those of us in radio – then you know he’s thinking about the show 24/7, and working on the show 3/2.”

YEA Networks’ Scott Kerr handles affiliate sales. Reach him here.  

Photo KLOS Website

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Stay updated by signing up for our newsletters to receive the latest information directly in your inbox.

Logan Paul Podcast ‘IMPAULSIVE’ Joins WWE, Fanatics Digital Lineup

BSM Staff
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Logan Paul Podcast ‘IMPAULSIVE’ Joins WWE, Fanatics Digital Lineup

WWE and Fanatics are adding a major piece to their growing digital content portfolio with the announcement that Logan Paul’s hit series IMPAULSIVE will now be part of their expanding media network.

The partnership brings one of the most successful digital shows on the internet under the WWE-Fanatics umbrella. Since its launch in November 2018, IMPAULSIVE has racked up nearly a billion views on YouTube and built a reputation for booking high-profile guests across sports, entertainment, and pop culture.

The show is co-hosted by Paul and longtime collaborator Mike Majlak, a USA Today best-selling author and social media personality with a combined following of more than 4.4 million across platforms. WWE Superstars Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns and Rhea Ripley have all appeared on the program, along with global icons such as Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, Machine Gun Kelly, and MrBeast.

Despite the new alliance, IMPAULSIVE will continue to be distributed through its own YouTube channel and audio platforms. However, the show will now benefit from enhanced promotional backing from both WWE and Fanatics.

This move marks another chapter in the deepening relationship between WWE and Fanatics. In March, WWE announced that Fanatics would take the lead in producing and distributing all WWE-branded digital shows. That initiative includes projects across merchandising, trading cards, memorabilia, and event-based retail activations.

With IMPAULSIVE now on board, WWE and Fanatics have built out a robust slate of original programming. The current lineup includes What’s Your Story? hosted by Stephanie McMahon, Six Feet Under with The Undertaker, What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes, and The Raw Recap Show, a post-event podcast featuring Megan Morant and Sam Roberts.

Logan Paul, who has become a crossover star in the ring and online, continues to blur the lines between influencer and athlete. With IMPAULSIVE now integrated into WWE’s content strategy, the brand is betting that Paul’s massive digital footprint will drive even more engagement across platforms.

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.

One-Year Later, Barrett Media is Still Learning What Music Radio Professionals Value Most

Jason Barrett
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One-Year Later, Barrett Media is Still Learning What Music Radio Professionals Value Most

364 days ago Barrett Media went through its biggest transformation to date. We stopped operating websites and newsletters separately for sports and news, added music radio coverage, hired music radio writers, and launched a new URL BarrettMedia.com. Following the exit of All Access, I saw a hole in the coverage space, and decided to leap in.

Overall, it’s been a positive journey. Like anything we do in business, I’m always evaluating what is and isn’t working, and how we can get better. Similar to launching a new brand, show, talent or in our case, coverage area, you’ve got to give it time to become known, trusted, loved, and supported. You start with a plan and staff, observe what your audience and advertising partners value, and adjust as needed.

I try to think long-term when making decisions. However, you can’t be so married to your original vision that you misread the signs when a different path is necessary.

When we launched in September 2015, covering sports media was easy for me. I worked in it for years in many parts of the country, so my relationships and knowledge was strong. Addressing critical issues was simple because I knew them inside and out. I prioritized sports radio and increased our attention on sports television, and now almost ten years into this, we’re fortunate to have support from both mediums.

But when we entered the news media space in 2020, it took time to earn trust. Many news/media pros felt like we were dabbling in news rather than diving head first into it. The critics at that time weren’t wrong. We wrote some good stories with some quality people, but too many were unfamiliar to news/talk professionals. That required making adjustments in 2021-2022. We made those tweaks, and improved readership. Sitting here now 5 years later, news has established its own identity, and I love that. If anything, we just need to keep making it stronger.

I’m going through the same discovery process right now with music radio. We’ve hired excellent writers with professional experience across multiple formats. The interest in our columns and features is solid, and at times, even excellent. We can be more consistent though tackling deeper issues like Mike Stern’s piece on the KLOS ratings or Keith Cunningham’s column on what it’d sound like if Dave Grohl wrote your liners. Both of these articles were exceptional. I’m also a fan of original projects such as 20 Brands in 20 Days. The more we can do that’s original, the better.

What’s been harder to figure out is what music radio professionals value reading most. I’ve asked a lot of programmers, consultants, and executives for feedback, and they’ve all taken time to share insight. We make tweaks to our content based on that input. Sometimes the things people say they want though, aren’t what they read. Therein lies the challenge. If only it was as easy as rolling out a Top 20 series every day.

People in music radio tend to care much more about jobs being lost and gained, and company layoffs. Those are topics we cover along with format flips, quarterly earnings, etc.. Bigger market stories produce interest, but smaller market issues tend to be a hit or miss. Our ratings section does well, and continues to grow, which is great, but unlike sports and news media, there’s not a ton of on-air reactions that work. The on-air content in music radio often revolves around artists and personal stories or issues that relate to the format’s audience. Those don’t always make for good media industry website content.

As a result, we’ve started creating original stories on artists. Jeff Lynn’s conversations with LOCASH and Ella Langley were good, and we hope to showcase more artists from multiple formats in the future. If nuggets from those conversations become useful to air talent, even better. Where folks access our content is also different. Sports and news pros read us more thru the inbox whereas music folks prefer social media especially Facebook.

Stephanie Eads and I have also attended CRS and NAB Las Vegas to build more relationships. We’ll be in Austin, Texas too for MSBC 37 next month. Growing relationships, business, partnerships, and delivering the content that professionals value most remains my top priority. That includes in person, on our website, through our newsletters, and across social media.

To continue building momentum, we’re re-introducing our music radio newsletter, The Pulse in August. We will send it out on Friday’s to catch music radio folks up on stuff they missed during the week. We’re also creating a few more original series, and welcoming executives and music radio professionals to The Barrett Bash in NYC in September. The more we can unite the industry and help educate, celebrate and challenge the business, the better. I’m also examining our current content structure to figure out what we need most and least in 2025-2026. I’d also like to find an additional salesperson at some point to help Stephanie Eads.

With a year under our belts as of tomorrow, I’d love to hear from folks at record labels and music radio stations to make our music/radio coverage stronger. What can we do better? How do we earn more of your time and attention? What is missing that you’d like to see us tackle? Which issues do you care deeply about besides employment and ratings?

This applies to sports and news media professionals too. Do we have a blind spot that needs a second look? Is there something we’ve tweaked that you’re not digging? Are there issues we’re not tackling that you’d like to see us investigate deeper? Are we doing enough to satisfy sports television and sports digital folks?

My email is always open – Jason@BarrettMedia.com. The more we know what you value and want to read, the easier it is to meet your expectations. It’s been a fun and challenging year, and I’m eager to see what year 2 provides. Thanks for taking the ride with us!

Last Week’s AI Column

Reaction to last week’s column on the AI tsunami getting ready to rock the media business produced a ton of reaction. Thanks to all who read it, shared it, and commented on it. This is a critical issue that the industry can’t sweep under the rug. Too often our business has been slow to react. This time, we have to be out in front. If you haven’t read the piece, click the link above to check it out.

2025 BNM Summit and Barrett Bash in NYC

We are 7 weeks away from the 2025 BNM Summit, and our 10-year anniversary party, The Barrett Bash. Both take place in New York City. The Summit runs all-day on Wednesday September 3rd, and a few hours in the morning on Thursday September 4th. The Barrett Bash happens on Thursday night September 4th from 5pm-8pm. All who buy tickets to the BNM Summit receive a free pass to the Bash. The Bash will feature a few hundred professionals across the sports, news, music and advertising industries.

Barrett News Media Summit

I’m announcing a few more additions to the Summit lineup later this week. Glenn Beck, Chris Ruddy, Mike Gallagher, Erick Erickson, Mark Simone, Sid Rosenberg, Ken Charles, Mary Sandberg-Boyle, Chris Berry and Drew Anderssen have previously been announced. My thanks to Ramsey Solutions for signing on again as an event partner. Companies interested in supporting the show can learn what’s available by contacting Stephanie Eads at Stephanie@BarrettMedia.com.

To book your hotel room, go here. We have teamed up with the Park Central in New York. It is just 5-blocks away from the venue. Tickets for the show are available here. Keep an eye out too for details soon on how to secure tickets in exchange for barter.

Quick Hits

  • Linda Yaccarino resigned as CEO of X (formerly Twitter) last week. Some reporters claim X’s advertising revenues were flat. They added that Elon Musk‘s behavior created business challenges that couldn’t be overcome. Unless you were in X’s inner circle, you don’t know what is or isn’t true. Many who took shots did so based on how they feel personally and politically about Musk. X is still a great platform with tons of value. I just wish their algorithm was kinder to publishers and media brands.
  • Speaking of Elon Musk, his AI model, Grok4 is getting rave reviews for its new features. I started dabbling with some of it on Sunday night. Everything I’ve read from experts indicates that Musk has hit a homerun. Hoping to do some more experimenting with it this week.
  • Congrats to Erick Erickson of Compass Media Networks and WSB Radio. The national news/talk radio host once again delivered his annual event The Gathering to a sellout crowd in Atlanta at the Fox theater. Erickson has shared he plans to take the show on the road in the future.
  • HBO dropped a trailer for the Billy Joel: And So It Goes and it looks awesome. The documentary airs on July 18th and 25th. I’m eagerly looking forward to watching it.
  • Loved seeing this post promoting The Dan Patrick Show vs. The Rich Eisen Show on Celebrity Family Feud with Steve Harvey. Excellent idea. Local talent, how can you play off the idea in your market on your show?
  • If you want to read a great piece on how to handle rejection, and use it as an opportunity to make a decision maker think twice, check out Barbara Corcoran‘s post on Facebook. She posted the letter she sent Mark Burnett when she learned she wasn’t chosen to be on Shark Tank. It’s a masterclass in displaying confidence and not letting a temporary setback deter you from your eventual goal.
  • I saw a post over the weekend from Brooke Taylor at Fox News which reminded me of how good social media can be when used properly. Reads Taylor’s post and you’ll be likely to root for her going forward. Nice job, Brooke.
  • Another female you’ll have a greater appreciation for after reading her words is Charlotte Flair. Ashley Flier (her real name) penned an outstanding article for The Player’s Tribune. It was open, honest, candid, and real. How soon until WWE fans are cheering for Flair in full force after reading this piece?
  • I spent way too much time this weekend reliving Mr. Met‘s fall at The Lumineers concert at Citi Field. The first angle was funny enough, but the close up below was even funnier. Sorry KFC, more slander is on the way!
  • Chris Long delivered an exceptional commentary responding to the NFL collusion story which Pablo Torre uncovered. If you didn’t get a chance to hear Long, check it out.
  • Amazon Prime Video released the documentary, Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd on July 8th. That’s on my must-watch list this week.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Stay updated by signing up for our newsletters to receive the latest information directly in your inbox.

WWE Is Squandering Opportunity With ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’ on NBC

John Mamola
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WWE Is Squandering Opportunity With ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event’ on NBC

This weekend was a fantastic weekend for fight fans. You had the third incarnation of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden. AEW held their annual All In event at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. You also had a big weekend for the WWE holding three live events with the Great American Bash, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and the second edition of the all-women’s premium live event Evolution in Atlanta.

Saturday night after a long two-day move of my home, I caught the WWE’s presentation of Saturday Night’s Main Event. The program is the company’s lone network television production and is modeled as a throwback to the show’s history on NBC television from 1985–1991. The turn-back-the-clock graphics and red, white, and blue ropes surrounding the squared circle bring out the nostalgia of the event as must-see television.

However, instead of leaving as a satisfied wrestling fan, I left confused, sad, and somewhat despondent. The WWE has become what it never intended to be—choosing business over fans.

The 40th edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event was a two-hour live event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. The match card was filled with top-name superstars. You even had an appearance by Jelly Roll, only to get into a shoving match with Logan Paul.

Raise your hand if you had country music superstar in a fight with social media influencer on national television on your bingo card!

Placing Business Over Potential Progress

The match card, while only three matches total, was primed to tell a solid story and build for an epic two-night SummerSlam coming in three weeks. Instead, what viewers were treated to was a massive number of ads, no real story-build, and a cut-off retirement of one of their biggest superstars in the history of the business.

Is this good for WWE business?

I’m not foolish enough to believe the WWE is doing bad business. They are a cash-generating entertainment brand that spans the globe. They sell out nearly every venue they hold events in and continue to grow exponentially, reaching new fans every day through strategic partnerships and digital media.

However, what I saw on Saturday night was the WWE missing a massive opportunity with their stand-alone network television product. Saturday Night’s Main Event is the opportunity to reach a new audience by showcasing the top stars of your promotion while mixing in a strong dose of that nostalgic feel to help guide memories of the past.

The broadcast featured more ring entrances than action in the ring, commercial breaks following 3–4 moves that cut off any match momentum, and rushed action during segments to fit into limited time before the next break.

Saturday Night’s Main Event was a two-hour paid commercial—not for the WWE, but for every advertiser that paid a higher rate because the WWE had time on network television instead of cable or Netflix.

Negative Feedback Is Still Feedback

WWE President Nick Khan is a smart businessman and highly respected around the globe. He recently sat down with Stephanie McMahon on her new WWE podcast What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon (Presented By Fanatics). Khan told the story of how WWE approaches negative feedback on social media and how they program their product more for the universe than for those on social media.

“I’ve never once searched my name on X, on any social media platform, on Google,” said Khan. “If it says something positive, it has no relevancy to me. If it says something negative, it has no relevancy to me. I love hearing that Paul [Levesque] says that to you. I know he believes that. It’s something we encourage our creative team and writers: don’t program for that [social media]. Program for the universe, not for a small portion of the universe who wants to criticize you. That doesn’t matter. Move on, put on a good product. The money will be there, the fans will be there, the results will be there.”

While I agree that you shouldn’t program solely based on what social media says about you, to simply ignore negative feedback is a bigger issue. If you search the feedback on Saturday Night’s Main Event in its latest incarnation, instead of memorable moments, you see more critiques of commercial time than anything else.

Why isn’t the WWE listening?

The NFL has recently cut back on commercial time during its broadcasts. MLB has made changes to speed up the game for a better overall viewing experience. The NBA has cut down the number of timeouts to improve game flow.

All of these changes were made because of negative fan reaction—including on social media.

Why can’t the WWE do the same?

It’s not a bad thing to adjust and pivot. In fact, it’s beneficial. If the storyline can be changed because of fan backlash on social media, why not re-think your commercial time on network television to offer a better overall viewing experience?

The advertisement on Saturday Night’s Main Event should be the WWE. Instead viewers were treated to ads surrounding medications, life insurance, and the latest food and drink sensations.

If you ever needed a reason for change, this past weekend was it. As Bill Goldberg’s return drove your viewership for the broadcast, to not plan for enough time for his retirement speech is shameful. The WWE chose commercial time over a moment that could have been etched in time.

Or maybe I just remember when it was a true Main Event.

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Five Findings From The Weekend

  • Moving stinks when you get old. What’s worse is music radio playlists when you’re moving. If so-called “modern rock stations” don’t become more modern rock with what SiriusXM and listeners of streaming outlets are listening to, there will be no reason for rock and roll to call radio home.
  • A benefit to the new place where i live is I don’t have to pay for a streaming service to watch baseball again. My new home comes with cable television as part of the rent, and now I can watch the entire AL East at the click of a button and not have to shell out a fee per service just to enjoy some MLB action. If cable is dying, hopefully it’s a slow death because I’m really enjoying the ability to just sit and watch baseball again.
  • The feedback I received from my Friday column about radio ratings not mattering anymore I hope catches the eyes of those that can make decisions for change. As someone who lost their job in part due to the poor way ratings are measured (despite revenue gains), it’s a sad state of affairs where one singular person can turn the tides for an entire market when it comes to judging success. My hope with the column was not to hold those accountable or sound bitter in any sort. It was to show that there are better ways for stations to tell their story and still continue to drive revenue without the chance of that one person maybe not listening to your product.
  • I saw the St. Louis Blues announce that they will be simulcasting their television play-by-play on 101ESPN beginning next season. This is nothing new. I remember running the board for Chicago Blackhawks games on 670 The Score with the play-by-play coming off a 32-inch television and routed to the radio. It does however show that radio play-by-play is becoming less of a focus as consumption becomes more digital. Now the television play-by-play will be heard through the NHL.com stream, traditional radio, 101ESPN’s stream and also on FanDuel Sports Network. Free to listen, pay to see.
  • The MLB All-Star Break is this week which means for a lot of sports radio stations around the country, it’s summer vacation. With literally no sports outside of the mid-summer classic, its always been a go-to week to plan for a little down time. For stations around the country, this is also a perfect time to try out and give opportunity to your young and up-and-coming staffers who put in the hours they don’t get credit for. The ones who come in early, stay late, work from home, and yet only work under the 29 they’re getting paid for. Reward them this week, they deserve a crack to see if they can hang with the big boys. The opportunity goes father than you think.

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.

BOB-FM’s Howard Kroeger: ‘We Regulate Creativity’

Mike Stern
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BOB-FM’s Howard Kroeger: ‘We Regulate Creativity’

It was March of 2002 when Howard Kroeger and his team launched the first BOB-FM station in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since then, Kroeger, now the President and CEO of Kroeger Media Inc., has had his sleeves rolled up and been involved in the format daily. So, when I got a chance to talk with him about the state of Adult Hits, I jumped at the opportunity.

We wound up having a wide ranging discussion about the factors that led to the launch of BOB-FM, the state of the radio industry, what his next project is going to be (more on that later) but a lot of what we talked about focused on how he approaches imaging for BOB-FM which really is a major piece of any successful Adult or Classic Hits station.

In Kroeger’s experience, it’s also one of the biggest mistakes new Program Directors make when they take over a station. Quite often, the first thing they do is change the station’s voice. Then go crazy writing clever new copy for the radio station.

“But usually that ends about two months in,” says Kroeger. “Because they get tired of it and they can’t figure out how to keep it going.”

After doing this for 23 years, he says one of the secrets his team has learned is how to “regulate creativity,” putting their writing onto a schedule. It starts with knowing how much new material they need and writing beyond that point every month. So that only the best stuff winds up being used. Most of the new copy is written by the 10th of the month, which gives them a solid two-week window for production.

Asked what he focuses on writing about, Kroeger says successful imaging for BOB stations comes down to two main areas: setting up the music and keeping the station contemporary.

The first piece, setting up the music, is important because it’s what sets great radio stations apart from what Kroeger describes as “sterile” streams. He believes the streaming services have whetted people’s appetites for a lot of the music BOB plays, and radio needs to take that interest and build on it.

“The one thing streaming can’t do is tell the stories that go with the music.” So, for radio to survive, we’re going to have to be better at packaging the music than we’ve been before.”

The second piece, keeping the station contemporary, matters just as much, if not more, because “people hire us to give them a format that is entertaining and fun,” says Kroeger. “And there is an argument that we need more fun today than we ever needed before.”

Interestingly, with all the polarization in today’s world, I assumed Kroeger would suggest avoiding politics altogether, as many stations do. To his credit, he views the challenge of addressing the state of the world differently.

“You’ve got to acknowledge things because the minute you address the elephant in the room is when you can get along to business.”

Considering that stations like BOB attract people from both sides of the political spectrum, it’s important to be careful that you are not offending either group.

“We’re not picking sides,” Kroeger says. “Some people might argue that we should be, but that’s not what people hired us for.” Instead, Kroeger and his team focus on addressing what’s going on in a way that everyone, no matter what side of the political aisle you reside on, can relate to. Here are a few examples he shared:

Playing the best of the 80s, 90s, or whatever until the end of the world, which should be here any day now.

When things are going crazy, turn your knob to BOB

Distracting you from the collapse of society with the best of the 70s, 80s, and 90s

When the world seems just seconds away from a total collapse, it’s good to know you’re just seconds away from another great song on BOB FM

Playing the best of the 80s and 90s and whatever while waiting for AI to take over the world.

After 23 years of the BOB format, it’s likely Kroeger’s ability to tap into what listeners are thinking and feeling that sets his work apart.

It also plays a big role in his plans for a new product. If you want to know where he’s headed and what world he’s going to shake up next, come back next week.

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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