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Emmanuel Acho Forced to Evacuate Home Amid Los Angeles Wildfires

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Emmanuel Acho Forced to Evacuate Home Amid Los Angeles Wildfires

At least 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders as wildfires burn across Los Angeles County, destroying more than 2,000 structures and causing at least five deaths. Emmanuel Acho opened the Thursday edition of The Facility revealing that he had to evacuate his home on Wednesday night because of the fire in the Hollywood Hills area. Producers of the show have had to evacuate their houses as well, and some were working from home on Wednesday. Acho articulated that akin to a real football facility, real-world problems sometimes enter the environment rather than laughs and jokes.

“There have been fires, there has been devastation, there has been catastrophe, there has been calamity,” Acho said. “So please send your thoughts, send your prayers to any loved ones, any family and any strangers that you might even consider thinking about in the LA, the Hollywood Hills, the Palisades, Pasadena, Malibu, and all of those areas.”

Acho shared a video he took as he was driving home where he explained that Los Angeles was “literally on fire” and showed a view of the flames from afar. Before the program transitioned into discussion surrounding football, he re-emphasized that the show discusses sports and has fun but said that he wanted the show to recognize what is taking place in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Moreover, he acknowledged that moving on from the topic was not an easy transition to make but that he would nonetheless try to do so.

As firefighters try to contain five different fires in the region, the sports and entertainment world has been affected in a variety of ways. The Los Angeles Kings postponed their Wednesday night home game at Crypto.com Arena, the taping for late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! was postponed and the Critics Choice Awards ceremony was moved to later in the month. Moreover, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that his family evacuated their home. LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has also stepped away from the team to be with his family amid these cataclysmic outbreaks.

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.

Barstool’s Dave Portnoy Attacks Dan Le Batard for Jon Gruden Comments

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Barstool’s Dave Portnoy Attacks Dan Le Batard for Jon Gruden Comments

Never one to shy away from conflict, Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy is defending one of his own from another pirate ship captain for insinuating he shouldn’t get a new job. On the Thursday, Jan. 9 edition of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, host Dan Le Batard commented on the news that former Raiders head coach and new Barstool Sports employee Jon Gruden could return to the organization for a third time.

“Jon Gruden, his name being mentioned near anything should cause shame eternally for everyone involved with that league,” Le Batard said. “The idea that he can be recycled into something after what was done publicly…but that guy with those crimes going right to the top of the food chain again for the top of the jobs…because the way to do all this stuff is to just be on television, one of these football teams will think that’s enough.”

Portnoy took offense to the word “crimes” being used and took to X to retaliate.

Gruden resigned from the Raiders during his second stint as coach back in 2021 when private emails to former Washington Commanders executive Bruce Allen were leaked. In those emails, Gruden made many homophobic, racial, and misogynistic comments in casual conversation, including some directed at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. 

For now, it seems that both sides aren’t interested in continuing this conflict, but eyes will be on Le Batard’s Friday show to see if any words are aimed in Portnoy’s direction.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Mike Keith to Call Tennessee Volunteers Football and Men’s Basketball, Leaving Tennessee Titans

BSM Staff
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Mike Keith to Call Tennessee Volunteers Football and Men’s Basketball, Leaving Tennessee Titans

The University of Tennessee Vol Network has announced that radio play-by-play announcer Mike Keith is returning to his alma mater to serve as the new voice of Volunteers football and men’s basketball games. Keith moves to the college institution after spending 27 seasons in the radio booth for Tennessee Titans football, and in addition to calling the aforementioned live sports, he will also be involved in several new programming initiatives to be revealed later in the year. The move comes as longtime announcer Bob Kesling prepares to retire following the basketball season after calling Volunteers games for a quarter century.

“When we discussed potential candidates, one name topped our list without question: bringing Mike and his family back to Rocky Top,” Danny White, vice chancellor and director of athletics at the University of Tennessee, said in a statement. “He is a true icon in the broadcasting industry, and we are excited to harness Mike’s exceptional skill set to further elevate both the Vol Network and Tennessee Athletics in bold, innovative ways.”

Keith started his career in Knoxville, Tenn. where he called Volunteers baseball games and also hosted Sportstalk, a local afternoon sports talk show on WIVK/WNOX Radio. Moreover, he also worked in various roles with the Vol Network for 11 years and has won the Tennessee Sportscaster of the Year award 12 times. Keith is a member of five Halls of Fame, has garnered more than 20 awards from the Associated Press and won the Eward R. Murrow Award for nationwide excellence in reporting in 1997. Keith is synonymous for his call of “The Music City Miracle,” referencing a last-second touchdown that resulted in the Titans defeating the Buffalo Bills in a playoff game.

“While it is very hard to say goodbye to the Tennessee Titans, it is not hard to say ‘yes’ to a return to the University of Tennessee and the Vol Network,” Keith said in a statement. “Alicia Longworth laid out a very exciting plan for how I can assist the talented VFL Films content team. Steve Early has continued to make me feel a part of the Vol Network family since I left Knoxville in 1998—it was like I never left. Everyone associated in this process has been very professional, very impressive and very kind. 

“This continued a theme from a series of experiences that I have had over the last five years when dealing with anyone—athletics, University and Campus leadership, staff, faculty, students, etc.—-from the University of Tennessee. Everyone is just top-notch, and I mean EVERYONE. I am excited to join this entire team in hopes that I can add a solid contribution. It is great to be a Tennessee Volunteer, especially in 2025!”

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Former WTOP Reporter Derrick Ward Dies

BNM Staff
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Former WTOP Reporter Derrick Ward Dies

Former WTOP reporter Derrick Ward has died at the age of 62 following complications from a cardiac arrest, the reporter’s family has announced.

Ward worked at WTOP, and other radio outlets like WAMU and WPFW, before joining the list of general assignment reports for NBC Washington in 2006.

In a statement, Ward’s family said that he died on Tuesday.

“As a distinguished journalist, Derrick’s storytelling, prolific writing, warmth, and humor touched countless lives. Our children and our entire family will miss him dearly,” the statement read. “We ask for your thoughts and prayers during this time, and we extend our gratitude to everyone for the outpouring of love and support.”

WTOP President Joel Oxley released a statement following the announcement of Ward’s death.

“Derrick Ward was truly an outstanding journalist,” said Oxley. “His passion and dedication shown through every day. But what set him apart was what a great person he was. His warmth and caring were evident at every turn. Everybody liked Derrick. I saw why right away. He’ll be missed tremendously.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

‘WWE RAW’ Hits 4.9 Million Global Views for Netflix Debut

BSM Staff
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‘WWE RAW’ Hits 4.9 Million Global Views for Netflix Debut

WWE’s flagship program isn’t worried about moving off linear television, as the company reported WWE RAW reached 4.9 million global views during its Netflix debut on Monday night. The show averaged 2.6 million households in the United States, up 116 percent from its average 2024 audience of 1.2 million households while it still aired on USA Network.

The latest figure was higher than any RAW broadcast from the past five years. Note that these figures do not include viewing in 92 countries/territories where Netflix doesn’t yet distribute WWE, which includes France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea.

The event was also the highest-grossing WWE arena event of all time. It was a sold-out live show airing from Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, the new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. The company also boasted that #WWERaw trended at number one on X in the United States, Brazil, Australia, and the UK, where it stayed at the top spot for 14 hours straight. The show also occupied six of the top seven trending topics in the U.S.

Almost one year ago, WWE and Netflix agreed to a monumental 10-year, $5 billion deal that would move RAW off of linear television for the first time in its history to stream exclusively on the digital platform. As part of its new rights deals, SmackDown would move to USA Network, while NXT would move to The CW.

A report from Sports Business Journal divulged that WWE and Netflix are not using U.S.-based Nielsen data, citing differences in measurements. WWE and Netflix define “views” as the “total view hours for the program divided for the runtime.” Data from VideoAmp indicates that WWE RAW reached 2.76 million U.S. homes, higher than any broadcast of the property in the last five years.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

ESPN Announces MegaCast Plans for College Football Playoff Semifinals

BSM Staff
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ESPN Announces MegaCast Plans for College Football Playoff Semifinals

ESPN is bringing back its signature MegaCast presentation of games within the semifinal round of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The company will present various offerings during both matchups in the round, the first of which takes place on Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Capital One Orange Bowl. No. 7 Notre Dame will face No. 6 Penn State from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. with a spot in the National Championship Game on the line. Commentators for the main telecast airing on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. EST will feature play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, analyst Greg McElroy and reporters Molly McGrath and Katie George. The last semifinal iteration of the Capital One Orange Bowl in 2021, which took place in December 2021, averaged 17.2 million viewers on ESPN.

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will take place from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas as No. 8 Ohio State faces No. 5 Texas, the winner of which will compete against the previous day’s victor in the National Championship Game. Taking part in the main telecast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. EST is play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler, analyst Kirk Herbstreit and reporters Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge. The last semifinal edition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in 2021 averaged 16.6 million viewers on ESPN.

The primary telecasts for both games will utilize over 50 cameras in the stadiums situated to provide distinct vantage points for the audience. Cameras will be situated on the goal posts, goal lines and inside all eight end zone pylons. Additionally, three referees will have wearable MindFly BodyCams and wireless handheld cameras will be utilized for on-field celebration after scoring plays.

Viewers can also see up to four different perspectives at any time on the Command Center presentation on ESPNU or watch the game above the gridiron on ESPNEWS with the SkyCast. Consumers can utilize the ESPN App to view the aforementioned presentations, along with the All-22 accompanied by the ESPN Radio call of the games. Halftime marching band performances will also air on the ESPN App with the All-22 view.

Airing on ESPN2 during both games will be Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show, an alternate broadcast returning for its third consecutive season. The sports talk show cast will be on hand for the games, including Pat McAfee, A.J. Hawk, Darius Butler, Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit and Anthony DiGuilio. During the quarterfinal broadcast of the Rose Bowl Game, the presentation averaged 2.4 million viewers, the most-viewed alternate broadcast in ESPN history. McAfee’s program will air live from Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday ahead of the Capital One Orange Bowl.

A variety of radio commentary teams will be on the air for both games from national and local networks. Both games will air on ESPN Radio and include a roster of experienced commentators providing insights and analysis surrounding the action. The Capital One Orange Bowl will feature Dave Pasch, Roddy Jones, Kris Budden and Taylor McGregor on the broadcast. For the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the commentary team will consist of Marc Kestecher, Kelly Stouffer, Ian Fitzsimmons and Quint Kessenich. Spanish language calls of the action will be available through ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App for both matchups as well.

Fans will also be able to tune in for Hometown Radio broadcasts of the action with local commentary teams from all four competing schools synced to the Command Center presentation. Using the ESPN App during the Capital One Orange Bowl, consumers can listen to the Notre Dame Football Radio Network with Tony Simeone and Ryan Harris or the Penn State Sports Network with Steve Jones, Jack Ham and Brian Tripp.

The Ohio State Sports Network Powered by LEARFIELD will air on the ESPN App for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic with Paul Keels, Jim Lachey, Matt Andrews and Skip Mosic. The SEC Network will air the Longhorn Radio Network Powered by LEARFIELD with Craig Way, Roger Wallace and Will Matthews.

Special editions of College GameDay will air from both semifinal locations at 6 p.m. EST ahead of game action featuring the cast of Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban with contributions from Pete Thamel and ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin. Furthermore, the SEC Network will air studio programming from Texas as the Longhorns compete for the National Championship, including two on-site editions of The Paul Finebaum Show. Rutledge will host SEC Nation on Friday at 6 p.m. EST ahead of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and SEC Football Final will conclude the day’s on-site programming.

ESPN will also present various digital offerings on its platforms, such as Countdown to the CFP Semifinals with Christine Williamson, Harry Douglas and Harry Lyles Jr. live from Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. EST. Matt Simms, Sam Ravech and Skubie Mageza star on the postgame digital show, The Wrap-Up, concluding each round from the ESPN studios on Jan. 10. Moreover, Gary Striewski and Randy Scott will co-host the final episode of this season’s edition of The Kickoff on Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. EST.

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.

Jay Marine: Amazon’s Prime Video Thinking About NBA Deal ‘for the Long Run’

BSM Staff
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Jay Marine: Amazon’s Prime Video Thinking About NBA Deal ‘for the Long Run’

Amazon’s Prime Video is preparing to commence its 11-year media rights deal with the NBA for a reported $1.8 billion annually. The company will distribute 66 regular-season games on Prime Video each year, including various presentation windows, along with games in the Emirates NBA Cup, SoFi Play-In Tournament and a matchup on Black Friday. Prime Video will air six NBA Conference Final rounds throughout the 11-year deal while also holding global distribution rights and becoming the league’s strategic partner and third-party global destination of NBA League Pass.

Jay Marine, the global head of sports for Prime Video, is in the process of working with his colleagues to determine the look and feel for NBA games on the streaming platform. In a recent interview with Alex Sherman of CNBC, he divulged that the company is working hard on applying a model centered on the customer and that the team is currently in the innovation phase. When Marine discussed potentially landing NBA rights with league commissioner Adam Silver, he emphasized the success of Thursday Night Football, which attained record-high viewership this past regular season, along with the potential for audience expansion through its customers.

“With over 200 million Prime members globally, we can obviously reach that viewing audience, but importantly, if you take Thursday Night Football, our viewing audience is seven years younger than the viewing audience watching the NFL on linear,” Marine said. “So again, if you want to go to where the future is and you’re going to commit to a long-term partner, you want to know that that partner is going to be where customers are and that partner is ready to invest side by side to go innovate the viewing experience, and I know that was very important for Adam.”

Earlier in the week, Prime Video announced that its NBA studio show would consist of Taylor Rooks, Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin. Moreover, reporting from Andrew Marchand of The Athletic has divulged that Ian Eagle will be the lead play-by-play announcer for games on the platform and that the outlet has had discussions with Dwyane Wade about a potential role as well. Marine is excited for the new studio show and is viewing the deal in terms of being involved for the long run, but he is not concerned about viewership ratings being down throughout the early portions of the season.

“This is an 11-year deal, and I am honestly not even thinking about Year 1,” Marine said. “I’m thinking about what our broadcast and what our viewership’s going to be in Year 5, Year 7, Year 10 as we build a long-term franchise and become known with fans for the NBA on Prime, and if we do our job and do it right, I feel great about that future.”

Over the last several years, more streaming-first companies and technology brands have secured major sports rights and are doing business with leagues and entities around the world. Netflix recently set the streaming record for NFL games with its Christmas Day doubleheader presentation and also started its 10-year broadcasting deal with WWE for Raw. Apple TV+ continues to broadcast Friday night MLB games and MLS matchups in deals with the leagues, and YouTube TV remains the home of NFL Sunday Ticket.

Amazon has inked several rights contracts with various domains, including NASCAR, the NWSL and the New York Yankees, and it is also agreed to a deal to provide access to FanDuel-branded regional sports networks owned by Main Street Sports Group. There has been speculation surrounding the viability of legacy media companies as reagents in the business model have indicted altered consumption habits and innovation in technology. Marine recognizes these seminal transformations while also understanding the value of live sports.

“I think there is incredible companies who have been doing this very well for a long time, and I have so much respect for all of them and I’ve studied their broadcast, and they do a fantastic job,” Marine said. “Now, a lot of their businesses are going through a period of disruption and transition, and what that looks like on the other side, I don’t know. There’s been numerous stories about media and whether there will be consolidation, and there probably will be at some point in some areas, but I think what everybody has learned is sports brings unique value to any business model.”

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WWE, COSM to Team Up Broadcasting Premium Live Events in Shared Reality

BSM Staff
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WWE, COSM to Team Up Broadcasting Premium Live Events in Shared Reality

The latest WWE tag team promises to immerse fans in the action during the company’s most important premium live events. WWE and Cosm have agreed to a multi-year agreement that would deliver WWE premium live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble to Cosm’s experiential venues in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Fans can visit Cosm’s venues and get transported to front-row seats at WWE PLEs in shared reality, putting them alongside other WWE fans inside the action. The experience comes with state-of-the-art visual effects, allowing fans to feel the event’s atmosphere as if they were really there. Cosm also promises elevated food and beverage services for the events.

“Cosm is redefining the future of fan experience,” said Alex Varga, Co-Head of Revenue, WWE. “WWE Premium Live Events are larger than life, and with such an innovative partner in Cosm, we will collectively bring the energy of our biggest moments to an expanded WWE universe.” 

WWE’s PLEs add to Cosm’s list of immersive programming, which will expand thanks to partnerships with the NBA, UFC, NFL, ESPN, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, FOX Sports, Prime Video, CBS Sports, and more.

Tickets for Royal Rumble (Saturday, Feb. 1) and Elimination Chamber (Saturday, March 1) can be purchased in the Cosm app and on Cosm.com. 

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iHeartRadio’s ALTer EGO 25 Canceled Due To Los Angeles Wildfires

BMM Staff
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iHeartRadio’s ALTer EGO 25 Canceled Due To Los Angeles Wildfires

iHeartRadio’s ALTer EGO 25, scheduled for this weekend at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, has been canceled due to Los Angeles wildfires.

In a statement, iHeartRadio said, “Due to the devastating wildfires impacting the Los Angeles area, iHeartRadio ALTer EGO has been canceled. Our thoughts are with the Los Angeles community, our employees, partners, and listeners who have been affected by this tragedy, and we also want to recognize and thank all the first responders. Our broadcast radio stations will continue providing critical news and updates, making sure residents and communities have the vital information they need.”

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.

KMLE Country 1079 Phoenix To Launch New Morning Show

BMM Staff
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KMLE Country 1079 Phoenix To Launch New Morning Show

KMLE Country 1079, Phoenix, appears headed for a new morning show.

Cheyenne Davis has been running solo in the mornings since Gunner Jackson departed the station in late November last year. (BMM 11/25/24)

Mornings are now music-intensive and unhosted, and Davis is no longer on the website.

Imaging is airing that states, “next hump day, a new morning show starts for you.”

The morning show page on the station’s website is blank except for saying, “Start your day with a humpload of country music.  

Watch this space.

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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