For years, that was the standard lead-in for radio call-in contest executions. But if you’ve ever hosted a radio show, you know that for the majority of listeners, those words meant one thing: disappointment.
They signaled that if you weren’t the lucky caller, you weren’t getting the tickets, the gift card, or the cash prize. Worse yet, if you were just a fraction too late, you had to endure the winner’s excessive celebration being broadcast for everyone to hear. It was a clear reminder that you came up short.
I’ll admit, I used to run contests this way, too. I can’t pinpoint exactly when my perspective shifted, but at some point, I started to reconsider the way we executed these segments. I realized that in a (Metered) world where every listener counts, the traditional approach often leaves a bad taste.
It felt like we were rubbing it in, unintentionally turning our most loyal listeners – the P1s who deliver the lion’s share of our ratings – into collateral damage.
And let’s not forget the add-on questions that became routine over time: “Who are you taking with you?” “What are you wearing to the concert?” These felt like relics of the diary days.
Today, these tactics can feel a bit tone-deaf, especially when the majority of your audience has just been reminded that they didn’t win. It’s the radio equivalent of adding salt to the wound.
Now, don’t get me wrong – the branding power of a great giveaway can’t be overstated. Tickets to the hottest concerts, gas cards during a price spike, or even a chance at a few hundred dollars can still drive engagement and reinforce your station’s image.
Sales departments still rely on these promotions for added client mentions. However, execution is everything. If you’re not careful, the way you handle these moments can undercut the very value you’re trying to build.
For me, the shift was simple but impactful. After announcing a winner, I started to incorporate a straightforward, sincere message: “Thank you for listening.” That’s it. Not just a shoutout to the lucky caller, but a direct nod to everyone tuning in. And just as important, a reminder that their next chance to win is coming up soon.
This small gesture of appreciation can reinforce loyalty and encourage listeners to return for the next giveaway.
This concept isn’t new. I call it the “mint on the pillow” effect. It’s the small, thoughtful touch that can help a brand stand out. Think about your favorite hotel – the ones that leave a little something extra to show their appreciation for your business.
The mint on the pillow, while small, signals that they care about your experience. It’s a detail that can set them apart, even if all the core expectations – like clean rooms and friendly service – are already met.
In radio, this means taking an extra beat to personalize your contests and make your listeners feel valued. Yes, you still have to hit the sponsor mentions and remind people of the prize details, but don’t miss the chance to add that personal touch.
Make it part of your station’s DNA. In a crowded media landscape, these small acts of appreciation can set your brand apart.
So, the next time you’re running a contest, instead of that other dreaded question, “what’s your favorite station,” take a moment to thank your listeners, not just the ones who win, but the ones who tune in day after day, call after call. They’re the heartbeat of your station, and a little gratitude can go a long way.
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Over the last several months, longtime sports talk radio programmer Andy Roth has been making the adjustment to working in the Atlanta metropolitan area leading a trusted media brand for the local sports fanbase. As the director of programming for 680 The Fan, he is responsible for overseeing the on-air sound of the entity, maintaining partnerships with professional teams and positioning the outlet for sustained prosperity. Roth contends that his first six months have been amazing joining the team at Dickey Broadcasting Company.
Throughout his short tenure with the station, Roth has identified both strengths and deficiencies, implementing changes to foster a stronger and more cohesive on-air product. For example, he ensured talent remain inclusive with the fanbase in terms of topic selection, discussing local franchises and minimizing the amount of ineffective ideas and practices. Now that the Atlanta Braves’ season is well underway, Roth believes that the station is in a flow and that it continues to stride forward because of the culture and commitment from employees.
“Everybody here wants to make this place a success, and they’re not shy to tell me that,” Roth said. “The only way that you can make things better is when you learn through disagreement on what should be better. They’ve been really accommodating at some of the questions I’ve had to try to understand everything.”
There are still some instances where Roth feels he does not know what he is doing, but he is grateful for the support of his colleagues through the process. There are some people who have been with the company for more than 15 years, and joining an entity with veterans of the market has rendered the transition easier. Furthermore, company president David Dickey has kept people motivated to think outside of the box and express their genuine thoughts surrounding operations of the venture.
“It’s so great to be with a community that understands its own DNA,” Roth said. “The places I’ve been with, you kind of had to re-work the culture or re-work the DNA a little bit or even make it. In here, that’s all established. The key thing is making the best out of people not only that we have, but also taking the rest of the staff, whether it’s part-timers or promotions people or digital staff, and making everybody try to work on the same page.”
Roth recently attended the BSM Summit where he took part in a panel with program directors for major and mid-major marketplaces. Reflecting on the event, he felt reinvigorated in hearing different perspectives on the current state of media. Roth also realized that there are different points of reevaluation and can attest to how hard everyone is working to make their stations a success. Part of that comes through understanding the fan and how to resonate in the current moment, referencing how consumers desire things to exist everywhere.
“The way that people want sports information, they want it now, and they want it from their phone, they want it from their computer or they want it from the radio, and you have to be there at the exact time for the sports fan,” Roth said. “If you’re not there for them, they will find it somewhere else.”
Previously, Roth enjoyed a 13-year run with Audacy where he served as brand manager of 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, Ohio. Coming to terms with leaving the city and joining Dickey Broadcasting Company was difficult, especially since his children grew up in the locale. On top of that, Roth worked hard to craft the outlet into a perennial winner and forged invaluable professional relationships with his colleagues, and he considers them family and has gratitude for their congratulatory messages upon his departure.
“Instead of programming to one specific fanbase, Cleveland, you’re trying to make sure that you cover definitely all of the stuff that’s happening with college football and pro football, but right now, it’s Braves season,” Roth said. “In Cleveland, you’d talk about the Browns and you talk about probably they’re doing a lot of Cavs right now. Here, we’re definitely talking about the Braves but also have a look ready to go on the NFL schedule and also what’s going to happen with college football.”
Recently, the Atlanta Braves agreed to a 12-year broadcast right extension with 680 The Fan that keeps the team on the station through the end of the 2037 season. In addition to the Braves, the station is also the flagship home of Georgia Tech football and basketball and the official sports talk partner of the Georgia Bulldogs. Despite his short time at the station thus far, Roth has already seen palpable early returns on these investments.
“The more fun game for the year was Georgia-Georgia Tech, which went to seven overtimes, and only two stations could make that one go, and trust me, we saw numbers that night that showed that people were wrapped to that and then came back for the next day,” Roth said. “That’s the advantage that we have. We have great play-by-play partners – every sports radio station will say that – but it’s up to the sports radio station to make them part of their DNA.”
Navigating Change in the Dirty South
Over the last several months, the station has made programming changes including moving former Georgia quarterback Buck Belue to a two-hour weeknight show. Belue has cemented himself to be widely popular among Atlanta sports fans, some of whom expressed their dismay towards Belue shifting away from his late-morning timeslot on weekdays.
“I think this is going to be really good for not only during the season so that we get some of Buck when the Braves are on, but it also sets us up for the football season as well,” Roth said. “It’ll allow Buck to really be heard on everything Atlanta and college football.”
The morning show trio of Brian Finneran, Brandon Leak and John Michaels have worked together in the daypart for parts of the last four years as The Locker Room. These personalities shine on their own, but when combined together, it has created compelling and engaging conversation about college and professional football, along with other everyday topics. Roth has provided specific feedback for the show as the director of programming, emphasizing that there were some segments that needed to move faster. Yet he knows that the trio can entertain the audience and represent the station in the area.
“We also send them out to charity golf tournaments or to morning breakfast places so that they can be part of the community as well,” Roth said. “They also kicked off our radiothon that we had in February, and they work their ass off. Not like anybody else at our station doesn’t, but those guys hustle like no other morning show I’ve seen.”
Thanks to Matt Ryan and Matt Kuchar for stopping by The Locker Room this morning from @eastlakegc for the Camp Twin Lakes golf tournament #Mattpic.twitter.com/xxrdy2mu0b
Nick Cellini and Chris Dimino have resonated with the midday audience dating back to their time on 790 The Zone. Since working together on 680 The Fan, the duo has appealed to the local listeners through expansive and insightful conversations. Roth knows that the group works to safeguard the program against becoming hackneyed or trite in its remarks as the years persist, and he trusts them in effectuating such on a daily basis.
“There’s definitely some times where they know they’ve strayed off topic,” Roth said. “They like the feedback. They want to know what I think of the program – and there have been times where I even think, ‘Hey, did I say it too negatively that time?,’ and so far they haven’t hit me, and that’s a good sign.”
Chuck Oliver and Matt Chernoff round out the weekday prime lineup and provide what Roth feels is a distinctive program to the Atlanta airwaves. The program equips segments with which the audience is familiar and participates, something that is wholly unscripted despite sounding like it was written beforehand. Characterized by a unique style and an ability to make prompt references related to the locale, he will sometimes ask the duo to explain what they mean to him in reviewing the show.
“When people have been watching and learning about the sports scene down here, they know better what’s coming up next or what we should be covering, and I’ve been lucky that they’ve told me some of my answers to some of their questions have been totally backwards,” Roth said. “I’ve had to re-work some of the things, whether it’s the imaging or clock stuff, to better suit what’s gone on down here, and it has not been smooth sometimes, but I like that.”
Barrett Sports Media's Top 20 Mid Market Program Directors of 2023 presented by @stonevoiceovers [1-10]
Building out the digital platforms surrounding 680 The Fan has been an area of focus for Roth as director of programming, recognizing that there are some people who prefer highlights of games and may not be interested in tuning in for the full broadcast. In order to effectuate this system to run as smoothly as possible, he understands the need for synergy among various departments. Making sure that the digital products match with what is being broadcast over the airwaves is crucial, but he is heeding the advice of his contemporaries by observing the ecosystem.
“I am part of these guys now. I had different ideas coming in, and now we’re starting to really flow during the Braves season,” said Roth. “Everybody talks about it out loud and makes sure that we don’t have any misses, and we did have some misses. Some of them were my fault, but that’s how you get better. You make mistakes, you realize them and you move forward.”
As the industry moves forward, Roth recognizes the importance of talent retention as radio personalities have found themselves moving to television. Harkening back to remarks made by Laurence Holmes of 670 The Score at the BSM Summit, he can feel the multifaceted responsibilities of talent, such as preparing for shows and utilizing social media. Moreover, Roth knows that he is responsible for finding new people and facilitating their success through monitoring internal performance and providing the necessary platform.
“There’s such a big support system to let everybody do their job and make sure that they do it well,” Roth said. “Understand their challenges so that if there was a problem, that you know how to help them better the next time. You’re not there to be the talk show host on the air, you’re not there to help answer a phone call. You’re there to guide everybody to make sure that they’re the best they can be.”
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Everyone seems a bit skittish these days. No one is quite sure of what’s going to happen with the economy. Some predict a recession, others disagree completely.
Questions about the tariffs have been hanging overhead like dark clouds. Is it warranted? No one really predicts the future very well, but we can universally agree that marketing and advertising have a positive impact on businesses.
While we are all familiar with the term “ROI” (which enables any business to measure the return on their investment), what about “COI”? How many business managers, owners, and entrepreneurs understand or consider the “Cost of Inactivity” or, as I prefer, “The Cost of Ignoring?”
This can be devastating for businesses, regardless of size or industry. We have all run into clients who want to pause or delay their marketing/advertising efforts during periods of uncertainty like these. But the danger, of course, is diminished brand visibility, reduced market share, less transactional business, and a slower recovery resulting from a loss of momentum. Staying silent can be far more expensive than staying engaged.
Creating brand awareness is not something one simply achieves; it requires ongoing, consistent effort. Your client’s customers and consumers are bombarded with thousands of messages daily, and when a brand goes silent, it rapidly slips from “top-of-mind.”
Inactivity and ignoring marketing allow competitors to fill the space they have worked so hard to occupy. This strengthens the competition, while their own brand fades over time, leading to reduced brand recognition, lower engagement, and weakened loyalty.
COI means missing opportunities that can help drive growth. Market trends often shift rapidly, and brands that fail to consistently reach out to their audience lose the opportunity to capitalize on those interests and desires.
For example, seasonal promotions, viral trends, and real-time events are often time-sensitive. When our clients maintain active marketing and advertising, they’re able to pivot quickly, take advantage of opportunities, and work on stronger consumer connections. Those who delay or fail to pay attention are often forced to play catch-up or miss strong opportunities.
Marketing is more than promotion. It’s a real and virtual dialogue with your customers. Inactivity telegraphs disinterest, which can lead to stagnant or disintegrating relationships.
Without this consistent process, customers can feel neglected or forgotten, causing them to look elsewhere. Keeping a customer base is significantly more effective than spending more on CAC (Customer Acquisition Costs).
Loyalty, however, depends on that continuous engagement. In the age of personalized content, silence can mistakenly be viewed as irrelevance.
When a business pauses its advertising efforts, competitors gain a very real advantage by increasing their share of voice. Read every book by Al Ries and Jack Trout, and you will learn that loudest voice wins. Advertising helps achieve that loud voice.
This applies to traditional and digital advertising, including social media, which relies on ongoing investments for viable visibility. Algorithms favor active advertisers, which means even short-term inactivity can impact placement, reach, and performance.
By the time marketing resumes, regaining lost ground often requires significant reinvestment, resulting in higher costs for lower returns. That impacts CAC greatly!
Perhaps the most tangible cost of marketing inactivity is the impact on revenue. Every salesperson learned a long time ago that consistent lead generation is essential. Without brand presence, sales pipelines and funnels dry up. Even loyal customers may drift away if they are not reminded of the value.
We all know that cutting budgets can be a quick way to conserve cash, but it can lead to more serious downturns and lost revenue, which in the end will exceed the initial savings. Studies consistently show that brands continuing advertising during downturns recover faster and perform better long-term.
Rapid change and constant competition dictate how we navigate through good and bad times. It’s clear that marketing inactivity is not a neutral choice; it’s a very costly one.
Businesses that maintain a consistent, strategic presence are far better equipped to adapt, grow, and thrive; those who fall silent risk being left behind. Staying visible isn’t just about making noise; it’s about creating and generating consistent impact.
The true cost of inactivity is paid not today, but in future opportunities, relationships, and revenue.
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Chris Plante has been hosting his primetime show on Newsmax — Chris Plante The Right Squad — for two years now. So it felt like the perfect time to check in and see how the show looks two years in.
I watched last Thursday evening’s show to get a feel for how the program looks and feels, and was struck by a couple of different items.
First, the show looks like nothing else on Newsmax.
The program is a panel show, which has become quite the rage in the cable news sphere with the success of Fox News’ The Five. But that isn’t the thing that really separates Chris Plante The Right Squad from other shows on the network.
At times, the program will feature the show’s rundown on the right rail of the screen, giving viewers a glimpse of what’s to come.
I’ve always been a proponent of this strategy, whether it’s a cable news show or a sports program. I think those who dislike it take the same stance that TV executives before the 1990s took with constantly showing the scoreboard during NFL broadcasts. Those executives and producers feared that if fans knew the score — and saw it wasn’t close — and how much time was left in the game, viewers wouldn’t stick around.
I don’t know if you’ve kept with the ratings trends of NFL games, but I don’t think viewership has been affected by giving folks information that they’re interested in.
To me, it’s a somewhat foolproof strategy. Because if I’m not interested in the current topic — and the Newsmax show goes through them rather quickly — I can see what’s coming up and stick around. And if I’m already tuned into Chris Plante The Right Squad, the chances that something I’ll be interested in coming up in the next few moments are pretty likely, right?
I’ve mentioned before that I’m not really a fan of the panel show format. I don’t think it really allows for anyone to shine, and that’s sort of the goal, no? I also think it puts the host — who the cable networks are putting all of their promotion efforts behind — behind the eight-ball slightly by making them into the conductor rather than the star.
But in my viewing of Chris Plante The Right Squad, I thought Plante did as fine of a job as anyone I’ve seen in that role. He was able to set up those on the panel to give their opinions on a topic, while keeping the show moving, and simultaneously dishing out his thoughts on a given subject, all while trying to involve everyone on the show.
I don’t think that’s an easy thing to master. So to see it done rather flawlessly was impressive. Plante’s an obviously skilled talent, but being put in the position to serve as both the host and a panelist is befitting of him.
The downsides of the show, from my vantage point, were twofold. I’m certainly jumping to conclusions on this, but I assume that the panel changes, albeit slightly, from program to program. For instance, on Thursday’s show, WMAL morning host Larry O’Connor — one of Plante’s colleagues on the Cumulus Media radio station — was a panelist. Joining O’Connor and Plante were Matthew Foldi of The Daily Caller, contributor Jessie Jane Duff, and another contributor, Jason Nichols.
I would recommend that the show hammer home the lower thirds of those who aren’t as regular of a contributor on the show, to reinforce who the panelists are and why the audience should lend credence to their credentials.
When there are five folks at the desk, and some of them can be interchangeable or less frequent of a figure, I don’t think you can go wrong by highlighting who they are. All it does is build familiarity with the audience further down the line, which is always a good thing.
The final point I’d like to bring up is insanely nitpicky, but it’s a pet peeve of mine and one that I think simply can’t go unnoticed.
Look at the screenshot below. What stands out to you?
Duff is on her phone. Sending a text message. Maybe that’s jumping to conclusions, and there was some sort of emergency or something really important that needed attention right that very moment. But, nonetheless, she was typing something on her phone during the discussion.
Now, one could argue that the producers shouldn’t have shared a shot that featured the entire panel when one of the panelists was sending a text message. But what message does this send to the audience? If Duff isn’t engaged in the conversation — when she’s literally at the table — why should the audience?
The criticism isn’t solely directed at Duff, but it is something that drives me up a wall when I see it. More frequently, it’s seen on sports television shows when “insiders” need to show off how hard they work and how plugged in there are, so they take a phone call or send a message while on air.
For almost the entire duration of the topic, Duff didn’t speak or engage with the conversation. And when you’re on your phone while on TV, on a show where everyone is expected to contribute and participate to make the show work, it’s — in my view — a really bad look.
But that obviously isn’t an every-show problem. But it is worth mentioning, in my opinion. I think in many people’s eyes, Newsmax has been — and potentially always will be — fighting a battle against legitimacy. Some will take the chance to denigrate the network at any turn. I just think that’s a self-inflicted wound that you wouldn’t see on other networks.
Overall, I came away impressed by the show. As I mentioned earlier, I thought Chris Plante did a phenomenal job serving as both the host and as an opinionist by serving as a panelist himself. That deserves a pat on the back. I can see why the show has become a favorite of Newsmax viewers.
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There’s been a trend recently in the news/talk radio world: hosts leaving their positions to either run for elected office or to assume a government position.
While it’s been more prevalent on the cable news side of the news media — with the Trump administration poaching several members of the Fox News crew — there have been several news/talk radio hosts who have made the jump.
Perhaps most famously, Dan Bongino exited his show with Westwood One to join the administration as Deputy Director of the FBI. But he wasn’t alone.
Dr. Sebastian Gorka left the Salem Radio Network to join the Trump administration. WRVA morning host John Reid left his post to run for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. New Jersey 101.5 morning host Bill Spadea also left his show to run for governor of the Garden State. Meanwhile, three hosts at 77 WABC in New York — Frank Morano, Curtis Sliwa, and Anthony Weiner — are either off the air or have been replaced entirely due to their runs for office in the city.
I’m sure there are others that I’m forgetting.
But to be truthful, I think that might be too many news/talk radio hosts aspiring to be politicians.
In a perfect world, wouldn’t news/talk radio hosts be so provocative and entertaining that they would have essentially disqualified themselves from office for being mildly interesting? That they’ve said things, taken stances on topics, and made enough enemies in the establishment that joining those people in Washington or any given statehouse in the country would be almost an impossibility?
Politics are inherently boring. We can make them interesting from time to time, but so often it’s the people who are the interesting aspects of covering politics — not the subject matter — that is interesting. So I can understand the allure of wanting to shift to public office.
One of the largest criticisms I’ve had of the news/talk radio space is that so many hosts spend so much time talking about intricate political topics in their markets with an “If I was the (governor, senator, representative, etc…), here’s what I would do.” Well, anyone can serve as a backseat driver in local or national politics. Literally anyone. But it takes some gumption and ambition to run for office, and I always felt like too many hosts were — frankly — to chicken to put themselves out there like that.
So, I’m glad to see that I’m wrong and that many aren’t afraid to step out on that limb, success be damned.
On the flip side, though, I don’t know that I want to listen to a host who is afraid to truly speak their mind because they might have political aspirations in the back of that same mind, and don’t want to make enemies with either their preferred political party, potential future colleagues, or risk not getting the endorsement of Donald Trump because they had the audacity to have an opinion that didn’t fall in line with what everyone else thought they should have believed.
Furthermore, I don’t know that I want to see the government filled with news/talk radio hosts who are more interested in being in front of the camera, seeing press written about them, and working on getting as much attention and notoriety for themselves instead of doing the things they were elected to do: running the city, county, state, or federal government. We need significantly less of that in government today, not more.
I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a news/talk radio host — and you should take this as a compliment, not an insult — and thought “My god. I someday hope this person becomes an important legislator!” Because I don’t want to listen to potential legislators! I want to listen to entertainers!
While I don’t want to see news/talk radio be a pipeline for government positions, I do think the opposite — the politics to radio pipeline — is a much better way for the industry to operate. Many have some ethical concerns with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) hosting a podcast with iHeartMedia — especially with the way he’s paid for that program — but I think it should be embraced more than it is shunned.
It’s a way for a politician to speak directly and candidly about a variety of topics. And having that access to the unadulterated thoughts of a high-ranking member of the American government, to me, is a good thing.
But it still needs to be entertaining. And that might be where my issue with the news/talk radio to public office pipeline is the strongest. Radio hosts who are afraid to truly speak their minds are only looking out for themselves, and that’s an undeniably bad thing when you’re in a position that you need to produce for a program, a station, a cluster, a company, and even further, an industry.
The industry is hurt if those inside studios have to walk on eggshells because their stance might affect their political future. But I’d argue there shouldn’t even be a political future on the radar. Be entertaining. Be thought-provoking. Call out what needs to be called out and praise what needs to be praised. But if I’m asking the question “Should news/talk radio be a pipeline to a political career?”, my answer is a resounding no. Absolutely not.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes revealed that the previously announced six-episode docuseries about the team from ESPN, Disney+ and Skydance Sports will be titled The Kingdom. Mahomes, who is a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time AP Most Valuable Player, introduced the show for a first look in front of the audience live from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The show, which is produced by Words + Pictures in association with Skydance Sports, NFL Films, 2PM Productions and Foolish Club Studios, is expected to make its premiere on ESPN and Disney+ later in the year.
The project will grant fans a look at the legacy of the organization through its more than six decades of history, including a distinctive chronicle of the 2024 campaign. Kristen Lappas, who has directed several sports docuseries in the past, has taken on the same role for this product. Furthermore, much of the team involved in The Last Dance are taking part in the production for this project as well, including executive producers Connor Schell, Jason Hehir, Libby Geist and Aaron Cohen, along with showrunner Matt Maxson.
“Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs gave ESPN unfiltered access to our lives – on and off the field,” Mahomes said. “The result is an incredible six-episode series called The Kingdom that showcases the true heart of our great city, the team, and what it takes to be a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. We dive into the history and legacy of the franchise, from the early days in Texas all the way to our third-straight Super Bowl appearance. It was an honor to be a part of this incredible project, and I can’t wait for all of you to see it.”
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ESPN and Disney+ have revealed the development of Vibe Check, a new all-female led sports studio program that will make its premiere exclusively on Disney+ in late June. The show will become the second exclusive content venture from ESPN on Disney+, which joins SC+ that premiered in early March. Elle Duncan, Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter revealed the show during a segment on stage from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, N.Y. on Tuesday afternoon.
New episodes of Vibe Check will be streaming three times per week and contain coverage of every sport featuring analysis, access to moments, opinions and laughters. The audience will gain perspectives from female talent, featuring the most prominent voices on the network to provide insights and expertise to the streaming platform.
“We are incredibly excited to launch this new show, which will provide a powerful platform for the brilliant women at ESPN,” Burke Magnus, president of content at ESPN, said in a statement. “The voices that will be leading this program have long been shaping the sports landscape, and now they’ll have this additional platform to bring their unique insights to the forefront in an even more impactful way for Disney+ subscribers.”
ESPN is launching a direct-to-consumer service in early fall that will grant users the option to purchase its networks without a traditional television bundle subscription and access enhanced features within its app. Subscribers to the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ bundle will have access to view the program and all content across the three platforms. Moreover, ESPN+ subscribers will automatically become subscribers to the “ESPN Select” plan when the direct-to-consumer product launches.
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The date has been announced for “The 59th Annual CMA Awards,” set for Wednesday, November 19, at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.
The eligibility period for this year’s CMA Awards is July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Prospective members are reminded to submit their applications by Sunday, June 1, to ensure they qualify for full voting eligibility this year.
Voting for the nomination ballot will commence on Monday, July 7.
“The 59th Annual CMA Awards” will air live on ABC at 7 pm (CT) on November 19 and be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
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MSNBC has announced the addition of former Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) as a new political analyst for the cable news network.
Tester served as a Senator from Montana for 18 years before falling in his bid for re-election last November.
He was announced as a new political analyst on Monday as he made his first appearance on MSNBC. He joined Deadline: White House — hosted by Nicolle Wallace — on Monday afternoon.
The 68-year-old former Senator previously served as a state senator in the Treasure State for eight years before being elected to the United States Senate in 2007. During his time in Washington D.C., he served on the Seante Committee on Appropriations; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committeee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Indiana Affairs; and was the chair of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
It was a rather quiet announcement from MSNBC. Other than a post to X announcing Tester as a new analyst for the network, it hasn’t shared any further details on what his contributions will entail going forward. Neither Wallace nor fellow panelist Alex Wagner revealed that Jon Tester had joined the network in any capacity during his debut on the network.
It isn’t the first media endeavor for the former Senator since losing his re-election bid. He launched a weekly podcast called Grounded alongside Maritsa Georgiou.
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The 101.9 The Mix, Chicago staff joined listeners for its annual Chicago River Day. Joining forces with Friends of the Chicago River, the group helped to restore local wildlife habitats and keep the river clean ahead of summer.
Led by the 101.9 The Mix morning team of Chris Petlak, Nikki, and Whip, the team invited listeners to LaBagh Woods. There, they worked to remove litter and invasive plant species, supporting vital restoration efforts along the banks of the Chicago River.
Chris Eagan, MIX/Throwback 100.3 Vice President of Brand and Content, said, “We’re proud to be part of this meaningful initiative, where the strength of local radio — along with our incredible team and passionate listeners — comes together to create real impact in our community.”
Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, said, “Chicago River Day is one of the most effective community service days of the year, and our partnership with The Mix significantly enhanced our reach and impact. With support from The Mix, we expanded litter cleanup and restoration efforts to 92 sites along the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system and engaged more than 2,700 volunteers, making this the biggest Chicago River Day ever since we established it 33 years ago.”
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