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Why Ryan Clark Needs to Pivot Now More Than Ever

John Mamola
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Why Ryan Clark Needs to Pivot Now More Than Ever

Let me say the quiet part out loud. Social media and sports media drama is a disease. In the last few weeks, ESPN NFL commentator Ryan Clark has appeared in my personal timelines more than any of the professional sports teams I care for. Headlines, tweets, replies—all circulating around a whirlwind of several different storylines involving Ryan Clark, who has inserted himself into the controversies willingly.

To recap, in the last two weeks the former Pittsburgh Steelers great has criticized a former ESPN teammate because he married a white woman (not once, but twice) and allegedly doesn’t understand the challenges of Black women athletes. He also published an interview with Bill Belichick that fell flat on headlines because Clark revealed that he’s okay with selectively editing interviews to the guest’s liking. Then Clark, in an interview with Complex, said the biggest problem in sports media is “liars”—on the same day his Pivot co-host Channing Crowder apologized after going on WQAM in Miami and stating that Jordon Hudson “choreographed” the interview with Belichick on The Pivot.

If the last two weeks proved anything, Ryan Clark should consider a pivot away from sports media for a little while.

For the entirety of his playing career and post-playing career, Ryan Clark has always been a very focused and driven individual who has achieved more success than many will ever experience. He’s a graduate of LSU with a degree in mass communications, played 13 years in the NFL, and is a Super Bowl champion. Clark joined ESPN the day he retired from the NFL in 2015, launched The Pivot podcast in 2021, and won his first Sports Emmy in 2023.

He’s a modern-day American dream—from undrafted to one of the top sports media personalities in the country.

Follow Your Motto

Speaking specifically to Clark’s venture with Crowder and former NFL running back Fred Taylor, The Pivot podcast’s messaging statement is “accept, adjust, and move forward.”

If the past two weeks have proven anything for Clark, we’re still waiting for the “adjust and move forward” part of the equation.

For instance, when Ryan Clark said that Robert Griffin III couldn’t relate to the struggles of young Black women athletes because he’s not having those conversations in his home—due to both his marriages being with white women—the comment was labeled out of bounds. Without question, it was. Clark inserted race, took a personal shot that involved family, and didn’t blink an eye about it.

Griffin responded, saying Clark’s personal attack on him and his family over a sports opinion was cowardly, spineless, and weak.

The former Baylor quarterback was correct.

Griffin also said that Clark’s personal attack on him and his family over a sports opinion was a bad look for ESPN.

The former Baylor quarterback was correct again—this time about his former employer.

ESPN did nothing in terms of a statement or any discipline. Clark issued an apology to Griffin’s wife, his own family—but not to Griffin himself. This was a great moment for Clark to accept, adjust, and move forward. Accept? He did, with his nearly half-hour apology. Adjust? Hardly.

A Chat With Belichick Became A Hell-A-Mess

A week earlier, The Pivot released an exclusive sit-down that ran over an hour with University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick. The interview centered on Belichick’s new book, his career in the NFL, and his personal relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson. Their relationship has captivated the attention of the country for many reasons; this would have been a perfect opportunity for three former players to capture content that a typical interview might miss.

Hardly. The interview was flat and contained little to no news despite being the most viewed video on The Pivot’s YouTube page since Lando Norris stopped by the podcast.

The same day the Belichick interview was released, Channing Crowder gave a peek behind the curtain of the podcast taping, saying on his WQAM program alongside Marc Hochman that Jordon Hudson is “different,” she “lurks,” and she “choreographed the open” to the interview with The Pivot.

By the way, did anyone else notice that the third hour of the Hochman and Crowder show from the May 16 program is missing from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and WQAM’s own website?

Did Ryan Clark ask to have that hour removed? Did Bill Belichick or Jordon Hudson ask to have it removed?

Interestingly enough, Crowder apologized for his statements made on WQAM this past week to Belichick, saying he was sorry for any negativity his comments may have brought them. Why apologize? Just ask Ryan Clark, who spent the next couple of minutes saying that Crowder’s revelations on WQAM were not true—but also revealed that he spoke to Belichick and Hudson for 90 minutes before taping the episode alongside Crowder and Taylor, and he hasn’t released that discussion yet.

Confused? Do you see why social media is a disease?

Attempting To Make Sense Of A Mess

A simplified version of this story goes as follows: Ryan Clark met with Belichick and Hudson before the interview, going over specifics on how each would like to be framed. Clark revealed he taped an interview with both Belichick and Hudson—without Crowder or Taylor present. Following the release of the Belichick interview, Crowder said Hudson was lurking and choreographed the open. Audio from an hour of Crowder’s show, when he made those comments, is no longer available. Crowder apologized, and then Clark labeled his comments as lies.

Oh wait—there’s more.

Ryan Clark was a guest on Complex the day of Crowder’s apology and said the biggest problem in sports media today is “liars.”

Sounds like we have a five-alarm fire on our hands here.

Taking A Step Back Can Be The Quickest Way Forward

With respect to Clark and everything he has accomplished in his post-football career, he needs to hit the brakes because he’s inserted himself into too many controversies for his own good. You can’t judge a man’s ignorance based on his wife’s skin color. You can’t say that the biggest problem in sports media is “liars” the same day you call your co-host’s comments about your content lies. You can’t also reveal the secret sauce—that you coordinated an interview with the subject beforehand—and still hold the trust of your audience as “authentic” or “real.”

Clark posted to social media on Wednesday: “Moving slimy in the name of clicks is not worth the integrity of our show.” What’s slimier than covering up truth, backtracking, forcing apologies, and then barking back at criticisms while masking facts?

For Ryan Clark, these past two weeks have severely damaged the credibility he has built over the past decade, and a pivot away during the summer would be a fantastic option to quiet the noise, reflect on the time, and refresh into the football season.

That is something I’d recommend he must accept, adjust, and move forward with.

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

Why Dan Shulman Stepped Away From ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ to Stay With the Toronto Blue Jays

Derek Futterman
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Why Dan Shulman Stepped Away From ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ to Stay With the Toronto Blue Jays

Dan Shulman remembers when he received a phone call from ESPN informing him that the company wanted him to be the voice of Sunday Night Baseball. Despite previous experience as a national baseball announcer at the network for 16 years, this jump led him to feel the most nervous he had ever been in his career. Shulman had limited fill in roles on broadcasts for longtime play-by-play announcer Jon Miller, and he also had people in his corner who encouraged him not to overdo things and stay genuine.

Shulman had watched the program for many years before beginning his work in the profession, during which he worked alongside analysts such as John Kruk, Jessica Mendoza and Aaron Boone. From the weekly grind of preparing and traveling to calling annual events, such as games from Fort Bragg, N.C. and Williamsport, Pa., he reflected on his seven-year tenure with gratitude despite having to navigate regular alterations to the broadcasts.

“It was a very, very special time for me professionally,” Shulman said. “I loved every minute of it…. I got to work with a lot of people I really enjoyed spending time with and getting to know and still call friends to this day, and it was cool. When I was watching Jon [Miller] and Joe [Morgan], Sunday Night Baseball was it, and to be on a show like that was both intimidating and exciting.”

ESPN and Major League Baseball recently agreed to a mutual opt-out of its existing seven-year media rights deal that will take effect at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The ongoing deal reportedly averaged $550 million per season, and while the network has been open to exploring ways to continue its partnership, the two sides have not announced a new contract at this time. As a result, ESPN is currently slated to cease its MLB broadcasts following the Wild Card Series, which would mark the first time since 1990 it did not carry league games. This is in stark contrast to when Shulman first arrived at ESPN in 1990 when he recalls the network broadcasting six baseball contests per week.

“Times change and nothing lasts forever. Relationships change and the business changes, and it’s just one of many things in the world of sports broadcasting that have changed over the years,” Shulman said. “It’s funny because it’s, I guess, been trending in this direction a little bit over the years, but it was still kind of a ‘Wow’ moment for me when I saw that headline and went, ‘Wow. Like, I can’t believe it’s possible that ESPN is not going to have Major League Baseball anymore.’”

The Play-by-Play Voice Representing Canada’s Baseball Team

Whereas the conversation surrounding the ostensibly ambiguous future of regional sports networks remains prominent, Shulman finds himself in a unique arrangement broadcasting north of the border. As the longtime television voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, the only MLB team located outside of the United States, the fanbase is spread across Canada and thus encompasses the largest home market in the league.

“Every game we do is national, and the Blue Jays have a tremendous number of fans in British Columbia, and they have a tremendous number of fans in Newfoundland and everywhere in-between, so I do think having that connection between fans and their local broadcasters or telecasts is extremely important,” Shulman said. “For better or worse, we’re like part of the family 162 times or close to it, and I do think it’s important and I hope it continues, both for personal selfish reasons and for fans.”

Shulman had previously worked in the role on TSN starting in 1995, arriving in the broadcast booth with one inning of baseball broadcasting experience. Yet he departed seven years later and began doing more work with ESPN. In the preceding years, Shulman had hosted weekend shows for ESPN Radio in the United States while working weekdays as a sports talk host on Sportsnet 590 The Fan in Toronto. Aside from broadcasting baseball, he also became situated behind the microphone for college basketball and select NBA games as well.

“I’m still a baseball-college basketball guy,” Shulman expressed. “The two sports fit together perfectly in the calendar, so back then, I was young enough that you have endless energy.”

Shulman made his return to Blue Jays broadcasts in the 2016 season calling games alongside Buck Martinez on Rogers Sportsnet, and he began to think about becoming more rooted in Toronto. As someone born and raised in the city, he wanted to be around for his family while also continuing to work in sports media, and he subsequently decided to step away from Sunday Night Baseball following the 2017 season.

“Doing Sunday Night Baseball in the summer and then doing college basketball in the winter, and I was still doing ESPN Radio all through October too,” Shulman said. “I was doing the playoffs and the World Series, so I was out of town probably 48 out of 52 weekends. Part of it was just to try to get to be home on weekends a little bit more just to be home. I’m doing more games than I’ve ever done, but I’m home more than I used to be.”

Unique Challenges Calling Baseball Across the Border

There are challenges associated with calling Blue Jays games, specifically regarding traveling with the team. Because of the 162-game schedule that takes the franchise everywhere from San Diego to Houston, there are instances where the team plane departs well after dusk and lands before dawn. In order to maintain his energy, Shulman will occasionally take naps during the day and values maintaining a healthy regimen.

“It’s about trying to do the things that we should all do no matter what,” Shulman explained, “but because I have some crazy hours, I really have to prioritize rest and eating and exercise and make sure I do the right things.”

Ahead of a typical Blue Jays broadcast, Shulman completes extensive preparation through research and conversations with players, coaches and other personnel. Following the team on a daily basis helps streamline the process, and he spends time before a new series gathering details and information related to the opponent.

Even though he views preparation as a fundamental part of the job, Shulman wants to bring a conversational style to the airwaves as well. Through 16 seasons working with Martinez, the duo has fostered strong rapport evident to the audience. Whenever Shulman is calling a Blue Jays game, he aims to render the broadcast similar to how it would sound if the viewer was speaking with them at a sports bar. Naturally blending elements of education and entertainment, he feels fortunate to be in the arrangement and also possess the ability to recognize what Martinez is thinking.

“He can finish my thoughts, I can finish his,” Shulman said. “Something can happen on the field and we’ll just look at each other and we’re both thinking the same thing, and I might nod at him or he might nod at me, like, ‘You want it? I can take it.”

Working in television, Shulman is cognizant of punctuating the moment and then letting his colleagues effectively tell the story through their own visual and aural compositions. Unlike other sports, signature moments can transpire at any time in baseball, he explained, and it is critical not to lose sight of what is taking place in real time.

“Give them what they need, but don’t give them more than they need,” Shulman articulated. “Baseball – you can’t script this stuff. It’s live TV, and that’s the challenge of it and that’s the adrenaline you get from it because you don’t know if it’s going to be a home run or a strikeout.”

Being a Mentor and a Father Simultaneously

When broadcaster Jim Hughson opted to give up his role calling Blue Jays games and focus on hockey instead prior to the 1994-95 season, Shulman auditioned for the job opening. Although he was not originally selected, he received a call in February 1995 asking if he was still interested and suddenly found himself on the air. Shulman considers landing the job to be the biggest break of his career, but in recent years, there has been another aspect of what makes the role special.

For the last four seasons, Shulman has worked in the Rogers Centre press box with his son, Ben, located nearby calling games on Sportsnet 590 The Fan. Ben first started broadcasting Blue Jays games on radio in 2022, and he was named the full-time radio voice last season after Sportsnet decided not to renew Ben Wagner’s contract. Shulman frequently communicates with his son about the team, and they also share their results from the popular Immaculate Grid game trying to fulfill various combinations of teams and statistics.

“If he’s talking to Bo Bichette, the last thing he wants is for dad to wander into the conversation, so one of the boundaries I placed on myself is if Ben’s talking to a player, I don’t go over,” Shulman said. “I give him all the space in the world, but it’s fun, just as a father and son.”

Shulman sometimes does not review his previous broadcasts and arrives home feeling good about his performance. There are other days, however, where he will watch several innings of the game back to analyze aspects of his delivery and how he tracked the game. He believes in self evaluation and safeguards against becoming complacent in his job. In the end though, he hopes people are satisfied with him calling Blue Jays games and remains motivated to keep arriving at the ballpark as the team competes for its first World Series championship in 32 years.

“It’s live and it’s unpredictable, and I don’t know who’s going to win, and I still get a bit of a jolt out of that, so eventually, that changes for all of us,” Shulman remarked. “I’m not going to work until I’m 80 years old or anything like that – I don’t see me being that person – but it’s still fun for me to do, it’s fun for me to share this with people in my life.”

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.

Tips To Make The Most Of Country Artist Radio Interviews

Jeff Lynn
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Tips To Make The Most Of Country Artist Radio Interviews

Other formats have long been envious of the access that Country radio has to artists. The big tent party that is Country music welcomes all, and the artists and label management teams tend to treat radio as family.

This unparalleled access comes with many perks, including backstage meet-and-greets, flyaway trips, and, often, especially with new artists, the “radio tour.”

In the unlikely event that you are not aware, the “radio tour” involves the artist visiting radio stations, where they typically play two or three songs, meet the staff and sometimes listeners, and head into the studio for an interview.

Most people agree that Howard Stern is the best interviewer in the business. He has a way of getting things out of his guests that few others do.

You don’t have to be Stern to be a good interviewer, but you do have to put some effort into it.

One of my biggest pet peeves that could send my blood pressure through the stratosphere was hearing someone ask, “So, how’s the tour going so far?” For heaven’s sake, could you possibly be any more uninteresting?

The good interviewers I’ve worked with are the ones who put in time before the artist arrives at the station. They are familiar with the person’s background and look for an interesting hook. Something that goes beyond the surface.

Before we dig deeper into some interviewing thoughts and techniques, let’s address one of the biggest issues I see in artist interviews and with television reporters as well.

LISTEN!

Some people have their list of questions, and come hell or high water, they are not going to divert from that list. I often use this as an outlandish, yet not too far-fetched, example of something I’ve experienced when coaching an artist turned radio personality.

They entered the interview with a list of questions. And let’s say you are through the first two or three when the interviewee says, “Can we just stop for a second. I can no longer live a lie. I have decided to use your show to come out today and let the world know I’m gay.”

Unfortunately, the interviewer responded with, “Oh, that’s nice. What was it like working with —– in the writer’s room?”

They weren’t listening and only thinking about the next question on the list—a huge missed opportunity, and leaving a pretty big dragon left standing in the room.

While this is an extreme example, it happens all the time.

When preparing for an interview, consider things other than the music that people might find interesting. Suppose we have the opportunity to sit down with Jelly Roll.

Let’s put together some questions.

  • You’ve said that you were baptized and arrested in the same year. You had a tough ten-year period following. How do you feel now, seeing where you are and looking back to where you started?
  • When you are home, what is an evening like for you and Bunnie?
  • Tell me about the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio.
  • What did Sylvester Stallone say to you when you showed up on the set of “Tulsa King?”
  • Let me toss some names out, and give me one sentence on what comes to mind:
  • Ernest
  • Snoop Dogg
  • Struggle Jennings
  • Eric Church
  • Sam Hunt
  • Alyssa DeFord
  • Adrian Michaels
  • In December 2022, you returned home to Nashville and played a sold-out Bridgestone Arena. In an especially poignant moment, you stood in the middle of the stage with tears rolling down your face. What was going through your mind at that moment?
  • What does your daughter think of Dad?
  • Tell me about Whitsitt Chapel, not the album, the church you grew up in.
  • What would you say today to the 14-year-old Jason DeFord?

By no means an inclusive list, but you get the idea. All was pulled together with just a little research and knowledge of the artist.

That effort and time will make your content infinitely more compelling. It also has the added benefit for you in that artists remember those types of interviews, and it creates a bond. A memorable experience that will cut through in a sea of cross-country “radio tours.”

To this day, there is an artist in Nashville who, when I see him, will turn to whoever else is around and say, “This guy asked me a question that no one else had ever asked me.” And will then proceed to recall the entire interview.

That was 10 years ago.

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. 

‘Sparks & Lux’ Are Creating A Kansas City Clubhouse

Charese Fruge
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‘Sparks & Lux’ Are Creating A Kansas City Clubhouse

Sparks & Lux have been on the air together at Cumulus Media’s 101 The Fox in Kansas City for a year now. The two first met when Lux was hired to work with Sparks after a long, complicated search for the perfect partner.

Sparks originally started off doing afternoons on The Fox but was moved to Mornings when the original host, Slacker (Brian Adams), got sick, and passed away from complications from AML. “They moved me into mornings because I had prior morning experience,” explains Sparks. “After a year or so of searching for the perfect morning partner, we landed Lux! She’s incredibly quick, talented, and fun to work with. Couldn’t be happier co-hosting a morning show with her.”

Outside of their commitment to the new Morning show, Lux is passionate about soccer, having played all her life. She’s the Public Address Announcer/In-Game Host for the MLS Next Pro Team St. Louis City SC 2, she’s announced for The St. Louis Ambush, University of Missouri, and the Big 12 Conference Championships. She recently made history as the first female Public Address Announcer for NWSL’s team while picking up Match Day Correspondent duties for the Kansas City Comets Soccer team.

Sparks is a self-proclaimed finance and personal development nerd. “I’m big into the FI (financial independence) movement,” he says. “So, I invest in real estate, businesses, stocks, and crypto. Basically, I read boring books about how to make my future self-happier and try to buy anything that throws off cash flow.”

Both Sparks and Lux agree that their current show is about Community. “We integrate the listener into everything we do,” insists Sparks. “We think it’s the only thing that matters in 2025 and beyond. People, especially as AI becomes more prevalent, are going to want to feel like they belong somewhere and be a part of something with other humans.”

“This is the kind of clubhouse we want to create. We love to do live events with people, play a ton of phoners, give the regulars nicknames, include them in the promos on the station, etc. Essentially, we’re just the mouthpiece for the tribe,” said Sparks.

“The vibe of our show is high,” adds Lux. “We talk about everything and nothing all at once. We are just the two Millennials who were raised on Classic Rock and want to have some fun with you on your way to work/school/etc.”

Thanks to being ‘Live and Local,’ our show is also very Kansas City-driven. Personally, I just want to relate. I want people to feel connected to me. The farther down the technology rabbit hole society goes, the more I think we are craving connection, and really good local radio does that,” said Lux.

The show’s passion project is a dog adoption segment called “Dog Gone Good Wednesday,” promoting dog adoptions, and according to the team, it’s definitely working. They are making the connection.

“Usually, in my experience, it takes about a year for a morning show to find it’s footing in a city,” says Sparks, “But Lux and I clicked right away. We both share the same vision and goals of what we want to ‘give to’ and ‘get out of” the community and the listening audience. From the jump, we’ve both been flexible enough to try new things and fail in public. The cool thing is that we both approach it with self-deprecation and authenticity, so that usually makes it better than if it worked the first time.”

“In order to connect, you must share your life experience on the radio, and that can lead to major challenges,” admits Lux. “It can lead to parasocial relationships that can sometimes become unhealthy. I have been cyberbullied, sexually harassed, and stalked. I’m always thankful to my bosses for taking every threat seriously.”

“I’ve also learned to find a healthier balance and not to let this job become my identity,” adds Lux. “That can be a real challenge in any career, but ours especially. Early in my career, I was ‘Lux from The Point’ and I couldn’t imagine my life without radio. If I got fired, who would I be without the station? Before leaving radio in 2022 for a while, I had prepped myself for life outside of the spotlight on the mic with that in mind. It was still a mental trip after disconnecting from the ‘mother ship.’ But now, upon my return, I have a much healthier balance and have learned I don’t need to share it all.”

Both Sparks and Lux agree that with a new morning show on a station that’s been around for a while, it’s important to work together with the rest of the team to make sure you are part of the station as a whole.

“We just did a station event that involved the entire station. Doug, who’s on in the afternoons, and Chuck, who is on at night, were just as involved as we were,” says Sparks. “That helps solidify the team as a whole in both the eyes of the listeners and us as well. Plus, we’ll use Doug’s music skills to have him record parody intros for contests we do in the morning and plug his show when we play them.”

“We’re also recording a song for the City of Belton, MO, with Doug to become, by Mayoral Decree, the official song for the City of Belton. Be sure to watch for us to perform it at a city council meeting where they live stream it on YouTube, LOL.”

As for what’s missing from the industry, Sparks says it all comes down to “Authenticity! Freedom to experiment. Creativity. Complete integration with video for social media and YouTube. Social media and YouTube are where the fish are. I don’t know about you, but I want to fish where the fish are.”

‘Radio has become a bland, formulaic mess run by a stopwatch. If it’s 14 seconds, it’s bad, but if it’s 13 seconds, it’s a good kind of mentality. That’s not how people typically listen or engage with things. Is it engaging? Is it fun? Does it make you feel something? These are more important questions to be answered. Podcasts lowered the barrier to entry for the broadcasting space. You’re now competing for attention from so many things.” 

Graphic 101 The Fox Website

Sparks says we can fix this. “Radio has credibility, people still trust radio. If you can use that to connect to an audience and give the audience something they can’t get anywhere else, then you’ll win.

“Leverage the built-in audience to create a community that people want to connect with. Make them laugh and feel excited to be a part of it. That’s the human experience that is quickly being more and more fragmented through podcasts and social media, and disappearing altogether due to AI. Radio still has the ability to grab a lot of attention in one swoop. Use it to leverage the audience to engage with you, build trust, and build a community.”

“Another one of the biggest problems we face as an industry today is we lack the resources in many places to do ‘Digital’ well,” says Lux. “I know we talk a lot about ‘Digital’ being the future, but what is ‘Digital? It’s videos and sponsored pre-rolls, its social media, its banner ads, and so much more. In order to do it well, in my opinion, we need dedicated digital departments. We need videographers/editors, we need social media managers and digital marketing/sales specialists.”

“Overall, we want to build a show that people want to wear on their sleeves and are proud of. If we can do that, then we’ve won,” insists Sparks. “Also, we want to be profitable. If a show makes the station money, then it’s harder to fire you lol!”

“I want us to build a large community of listeners here in KC,” adds Lux. “Long term, I want to create a legacy for being a connector. In radio, we connect people to their favorite music, fun and exciting events, useful products and services, and, when needed, emergency information and assistance. But mostly, we provide and are here for the human connection!”

Follow Sparks & Lux Instagram, @sparksradio, and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sparksradio, and Lux @luxstlou on all socials.

Graphic 101 The Fox Website

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 ‘Around the Horn’ Series Finale Averages 482,000 Viewers: Report

BSM Staff
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ESPN ‘Around the Horn’ Series Finale Averages 482,000 Viewers: Report

The series finale of Around the Horn on ESPN averaged 482,000 viewers last Friday, according to data reported by Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal. Featuring host Tony Reali, the episode included a variety of panelists who appeared on the program throughout its 23-year history, including Bill Plaschke, J.A. Adande, Bob Ryan and all-time wins leader Woody Paige.

After a brief debate about who was the greatest athlete of all time the show covered, the panel delivered their final Face Time segments. Later in the program, Reali explained how the scoring system worked and delivered his farewell by placing the infamous ‘Mute’ button on the floor illuminated by a spotlight.

Karp reported that Pardon the Interruption with Tony Kornhesier and Michael Wilbon outdrew the finale of Around the Horn, eliciting an average of 649,000 viewers on the day. Ben Strauss of The Washington Post reported that the network approached Kornhesier and Wilbon about expanding Pardon the Interruption to an hour, but no deal was ultimately reached.

The hosts also previously asked Reali to return to the show upon learning of the cancellation of Around the Horn, he divulged in an interview with Barrett Media. Reali appeared on Pardon the Interruption for 13 years, becoming synonymous with the “Stat Boy” character 

Reali opened the program with a segment resembling a scene from the movie “Goodfellas” where he expressed his gratitude for producers and directors on the program, some of whom include Aaron Solomon, Miriam Lejay and Caroline Willett. The introduction included an appearance from New York Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant, Reali’s wife and children and Meadowlark Media personalities Dan Le Batard and Pablo Torre.

The program also included an audience watching the final taping of the program live in the studio from the ESPN Seaport District Studios.

ESPN garnered its most-watched quarter in eight years from the period between December 30, 2024 and March 30, 2025. The average minute audience across the network was 868,000 viewers, according to data from Nielsen Media Research, which is up 22% compared to the previous year. ESPN recently revealed the name and pricing of its direct-to-consumer platform that will grant users access to purchase the linear networks without a traditional cable television subscription. At the moment, it remains unknown what show will fill the 5 p.m. EST timeslot, which is currently occupied by a half-hour edition of SportsCenter featuring Matt Barrie and Christine Williamson.

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.

Kimberley A. Martin Signs Multiyear Deal to Remain with ESPN

BSM Staff
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Kimberley A. Martin Signs Multiyear Deal to Remain with ESPN

Kimberley A. Martin has reached a new multiyear deal to remain with ESPN, multiple sources confirmed to Barrett Media on Thursday afternoon. Martin, who has been a member of the company since 2020, is going to continue making weekly appearances on Sunday NFL Countdown and other studio programming such as Get Up, First Take and NFL Live.

Throughout the NFL season, Martin traveled across the country to chronicle developments and stories surrounding regular-season and postseason contests. Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal was the first to report the news of Martin’s new contract with ESPN.

Amid the regular season, Sunday NFL Countdown utilized several NFL reporters from different game venues, some of whom include Jeff Darlington, Sal Paolantonio, Lindsey Thiry and Dan Graziano. The show averaged 1.2 million viewers per episode this past season, which marked its 40th on the air, representing an increase from its finishes during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Martin also made contributions to NFL Live where she delivered insights and expertise surrounding the league, taking part in the program that won a Sports Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences last week.

Before working with ESPN, Martin worked for Yahoo Sports as a senior NFL writer and columnist and hosted the all-female weekly football show Cover 3. Martin also worked with The Washington Post as a Washington beat writer and was also a columnist for The Buffalo News in 2017.

After her graduation with a Master’s degree in magazine, newspaper and online journalism from Syracuse University, Martin worked as a sports reporter at Newsday for about a decade and later focused her coverage on the New York Jets as a beat reporter. Outside of football, Martin has covered a variety of other sports such as Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association.

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.

Nexstar Media Group Lands 52 Total Edward R. Murrow Awards In Television

BNM Staff
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Nexstar Media Group Lands 52 Total Edward R. Murrow Awards In Television

Nexstar Media Group totaled 28 of its owned and operated television stations have earned a total number of 52 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), recognizing outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism.

Among the top honorees, WKRG-TV (CBS) in Mobile, Alabama, and KGET-TV (NBC/CW) in Bakersfield, California who were both recognized for “Overall Excellence.”

Notably, KGET-TV received awards in six additional categories, including “Breaking News Coverage,” “Excellence in Writing,” “Feature Reporting,” “Newscast,” “Sports Reporting,” and “Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

In North Carolina, WJZY-TV/Queen City News (FOX) in Charlotte earned six regional Murrows. Its awards included honors for “Excellence in Video,” “Feature Reporting,” “Hard News,” “Investigative Reporting,” “Newscast,” and “Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

Meanwhile, KXAN-TV (NBC) in Austin, Texas stood out with five awards across categories such as “Digital,” “Excellence in Innovation,” “Excellence in Video,” “News Series,” and “Podcast.”

In South Dakota, KELOLAND (CBS) in Sioux Falls was recognized with three regional awards, including “News Documentary,” “Sports Reporting,” and “Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

Additionally, five Nexstar stations received two regional Murrows each. They include WRIC-TV (ABC) in Richmond, Virginia, WTEN-TV (ABC) in Albany, New York, WROC-TV (CBS) in Rochester, New York, KWKT-TV (FOX) in Waco/Temple/Bryan, Texas, and WSYR-TV (ABC) in Syracuse, New York.

Furthermore, 16 Nexstar stations each earned a single regional Murrow Award.

These stations are located in major and mid-sized markets across the country, including WGN-TV (CW) in Chicago, Illinois, WFLA-TV (NBC) in Tampa, Florida, KDVR-TV (FOX) in Denver, Colorado, and KTVI-TV (FOX) in St. Louis, Missouri. Other winners include WXIN-TV (FOX) in Indianapolis, Indiana; WTNH-TV (ABC) in Hartford/New Haven, Connecticut; KLAS-TV (CBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada; WIAT-TV (CBS) in Birmingham, Alabama; WREG-TV (CBS) in Memphis, Tennessee; KRQE-TV (CBS/FOX) in Albuquerque, New Mexico; WPRI-TV (CBS) in Providence, Rhode Island; WIVB-TV (CBS) in Buffalo, New York; KSNW-TV (NBC) in Wichita, Kansas; KXRM-TV (FOX/CW) in Colorado Springs, Colorado; KETK-TV (NBC) in Tyler/Longview, Texas; and WWLP-TV (NBC/CW) in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in broadcast journalism, honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism produced by radio, television, and digital news organizations across the country. For full lists of this year’s winners, click here.

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WTOP Earns Five Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

BNM Staff
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WTOP Earns Five Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

WTOP earned five Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards this week from the Radio Television Digital News Association, a recognition of the station’s continued excellence in journalism across multiple platforms. The awards were announced via a release from the RTDNA on Wednesday for Region 12 which comprises Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The WTOP newsroom received the award for Breaking News for its comprehensive coverage of the Key Bridge collapse, a story that demanded immediate and accurate reporting under pressure. In addition, the station’s digital team was honored in the Digital category for its work on WTOP.com, showcasing the strength of WTOP’s online presence.

Individual honors also highlighted the newsroom’s depth of talent. Reporter Matt Kaufax took home two awards: one in the Excellence in Sound category for his “Capital Goose Control” story, and another in Feature Reporting for his engaging piece, “Mullet Madness.” Reporter Mike Murillo was recognized in the News Series category for “Long Road Off the Streets,” a moving series detailing one D.C. woman’s years-long journey to overcome homelessness.

“Each day, our team is dedicated to bringing the most up-to-date news to the D.C. area and serving the people in our communities,” said Julia Ziegler, Director of News and Programming at WTOP. “Being honored with five regional Murrow awards is an incredible recognition of that commitment.”

Other notable regional awards were given to WBAL News Radio for best newscast and best news documentary surrounding Baltimore’s Summer Youth engagement strategy. The radio station also took home the overall excellence award for the region. Baltimore Public Media, WAMU 88.5FM, and WYPR also took home individual awards for the region.

Established in 1971, the Edward R. Murrow Awards pay tribute to the legendary journalist and his contributions to the field. Presented annually by RTDNA, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements in journalism at both the regional and national levels.

With this latest recognition, WTOP now moves on to the national round of the competition, where it will compete against other regional winners from across the country.

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Pablo Torre: Media Companies are ‘Tech Companies in Which the Math is Kind of Obvious’

BSM Staff
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Pablo Torre: Media Companies are ‘Tech Companies in Which the Math is Kind of Obvious’

Over the last decade, there have been a variety of seminal changes taking place across the sports media industry amid changes in consumer proclivities and evolutions in technology. Pablo Torre has been involved in several of these alterations, including the cessation of ESPN: The Magazine and recent conclusion of Around the Horn after 23 seasons on the airwaves. Alex Smith, co-host of The Glue Guys podcast and former NFL quarterback, was curious to hear how the business is shifting from the perspective of Torre, who works as a journalist, sportswriter and podcaster with his venture through Meadowlark Media.

Torre discussed similarities between the sports media and technology businesses, articulating that media companies are no longer run by the media people. In essence, he equated these entities to “tech companies in which the math is kind of obvious,” but he emphasized how the audience responds in different ways to tested, formulaic paradigms. While he is not looking to fight the ostensible current, nor did he want to bore everyone with a proverbial dissertation on the industry, he outlined how algorithms have advanced and adapted amid the ecosystem.

“When I say tech, I really mean platforms like YouTube where data and their algorithm is really good,” Torre explained. “What does that mean? It means that it’s really good at sorting stuff, it’s really good at surfacing stuff. It’s not perfect, but it’s a very efficient sorting mechanism that is distributing audience in such a way, and I don’t fight that. Authenticity though seems to be something that somehow amid all of this multivariate, algorithmic stuff is surfacing as something that people still respond to.”

Torre drew a comparison between authenticity and honesty and explained that those on live television are becoming more incentivized to convey the former more regularly. Ravi Gupta, the founder and chief executive officer of The Branch, agreed with Torre’s point that everything is technology and also conveyed how niches are bigger than people think. Working in an incentive structure, as Torre described, he mentioned how the idea of people not knowing what they want is sometimes lost since algorithms are trying to reverse engineer the process to discover the core of such feelings.

“The question of ‘surprise,’ ‘surprise’ as a concept, there is something ineffably human about, ‘I think this other person would enjoy this even if they have given no data-driven indicator that they would,’” Torre said. “That, to me, is part of the secret sauce of human curation, which isn’t the same as, ‘I’m putting all my chips exactly where the computer says I should.’”

As the host of Pablo Torre Finds Out, Torre and his colleagues explore a consortium of topics and produce episodes with varying iterations. For example, some of his recent shows have focused on reporting surrounding the situation between University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick and his relationship with Jordon Hudson. Yet there was also an analysis surrounding cameos on Atlanta and an interview with Tony Reali about the ending of Around the Horn.

Gupta finds it important that Torre is prolific and underscored how successful founders are misinterpreted as being perfectly curated when, in reality, he feels they do a lot, receive feedback and make the necessary adjustments. Torre echoed the sentiment as applicable in content and referred to sports as, perhaps, “the lone monoculture we may have left” with fragmentation abound. Because of this, he views some emerging niches as being wholly self-sustaining and pondered over potentially aspiring to have a bespoke brand fueled by passion supported by an audience.

“My real media hot take is we’re all OnlyFans,” Torre said. “Can we all be supported by an audience that wants to give us money because we show a little bit of our ankle? ‘You guys like this? Would you pay for that?’ In the apocalypse, we’re all OnlyFans. We’re not there yet, but I think about that part because it’s not a matter of, ‘I’m an A-list Hollywood star.’ It’s, ‘I’m a person who gets to do what I love because enough people love what I love,’ and that’s exciting in a weird way.”

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.

Stan Van Gundy Confirms Joining Amazon Prime Video NBA Coverage

BSM Staff
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Stan Van Gundy Confirms Joining Amazon Prime Video NBA Coverage

Amazon’s Prime Video is preparing to commence its first season of broadcasting the National Basketball Association under a new 11-year media rights deal reportedly worth $1.93 billion per year. The company will be televising weekly regular-season games, the NBA SoFi Play-In Tournament, Emirates NBA Cup, and an exclusive Black Friday game, among other events. Earlier this month, the company was reported to have secured Dwyane Wade, Candace Parker, and Stan Van Gundy.

Meanwhile, Van Gundy was a guest on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz and was asked whether a move to Amazon was happening following his work with TNT Sports.

“We’re headed out of the NBA business at the end of this series. And so, you know, I had to find somewhere else to go,” said Van Gundy. “There’s not very many things that I know anything about. If you’re not doing NBA games I’m not of a lot of value. I had to, it was out of necessity I had to find somewhere else to go. I was very lucky that Amazon is willing to give me another opportunity.”

At 65 years old, Van Gundy brings significant coaching experience. Notably, he served as a head coach in the NBA for thirteen seasons. His career includes tenures in Miami, Orlando, Detroit, and New Orleans. Additionally, he has served as a president of basketball operations and is the older brother of former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

Since 2019, Van Gundy has been serving in a dual role with TNT Sports. Specifically, he has been calling games from the analyst position for both the network’s NBA coverage and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Furthermore, The New York Times reported last month that Van Gundy would be slated to work alongside Ian Eagle on Prime Video’s telecasts as part of the top play-by-play team on the network.

As of now, Amazon has not released full plans for their basketball coverage.

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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