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Approaching The Summit: Mitch Rosen, 670 The Score & BetMGM Network

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Approaching The Summit: Mitch Rosen, 670 The Score & BetMGM Network

Approaching The Summit is a series of special interviews created in partnership with Point to Point Marketing featuring speakers at the upcoming 2025 BSM Summit in Chicago, IL. Follow along with this series as prominent names surrounding the event coming up on May 8-9 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) inside the Edlis Neeson Theater and share their insights and expectations for what’s to come in the Windy City. 

Mitch Rosen is the Vice President of Programming for 670 The Score in Chicago and the BetMGM Network. He joined Audacy in 2005 after beginning his career in radio in 1988 at WGN Radio. Rosen has been ranked at or near the top of the annual BSM Top 20 Program Directors rankings for a major market every year since Barrett Media began the rankings, and has kept 670 The Score as one of the highest performing sports radio brands in the country.  

Rosen has attended each of the annual BSM Summits and will be speaking at the event next month. He sat down with Barrett Media from his offices in Chicago, IL. 

*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.* 

BSM Staff: You’ve been to every BSM Summit since the beginning. What are you looking forward to most this year? 

Mitch Rosen: It’s going to be a great for the Summit to come back to one of the greatest cities in the world. The fact that Jason Barrett launched the summit here a number of years ago, I just think it’s great. 

The city will welcome the Summit, and I think people really look forward to coming to Chicago in May. Hopefully the weather is great, but I’m looking forward to a great summit. 

BSM Staff: As a frequent participant and speaker at previous Summit events, what’s the value of the BSM Summit in your opinion? 

Mitch Rosen: I think the value is a number of reasons. Number one it’s great for networking. People either in my position at my stage of my career or an eager college student interested in sports media. I think that’s what makes it special. It’s not just for ‘you have to have this requirement to attend.’  

It’s really open to anybody that is in the business. Someone that has been in the business. Someone that’s looking to get back in the business, or somebody that’s looking to break into the business. I think that’s what really makes it special. 

I think you go to conferences a lot and they’re so specified to ‘this is the requirements’ compared to this where it’s very wide open. Then it’s seeing old friends. I get to see people usually once a year and luckily, it’s in my hometown. It’s people in the business that you talk to or might be on zooms with, but it’s different than shaking somebody’s hand and participating in something with them, looking him in the eye asking how are you doing. I think that’s what makes it special. 

BSM Staff: You mentioned you were part of the first BSM Summit when it was housed in your building at Prudential Plaza in Chicago. How have you seen the Summit evolve over the years? 

Mitch Rosen: I think the high-level quality of the speakers and guests. The panels are great, where you’re with your peers talking about the industry. Some of the keynote speakers over the years featuring high-level executives from major media companies are truly vital to the success of the conference. 

I think that’s what makes it special, and I think that’s how it’s evolved over the years. 

Remembering back to Chicago, not in a negative way but I don’t remember who the standout speaker was. Then you fast-forward through the years and whether it’s Colin Cowherd, Jimmy Pitaro, or Chris Oliviero’s of the world; that it really the quality of guests and speakers, and to me is the key to the change in a great positive way. 

BSM Staff: Entering this year’s Summit, for you as a person that’s been in the industry for a long time, what do you think will be the biggest opportunities and/or challenges that the industry faces that you would like to see discussed at the Summit? 

Mitch Rosen: You always try to find what’s next? Technology, social media platforms, and that’s ever changing. That’s always intriguing to me. Also talent, producers, networking, and talking to people is key. 

I’m really looking forward to those items and hearing great speakers. I’ve seen some speakers that Jason Barrett has put out there through social who are interesting people, and that’s what I’m looking for. 

BSM Staff: You just mentioned some different subsets of the sports media business that will be represented at the Summit. Sports radio, sports television, social media, digital publishing, sales and management. How do you see these subsets of the Summit leading to conversations about how we can synergize our efforts more to work together cultivating better growth for all? 

Mitch Rosen: I really don’t believe it’s a sports media or sports radio conference anymore, I think that’s what it was when it started out. Now it is about content, content distribution, and all the different tentacles of content. Sales, promotion, content generation, content origination. 

To me if you really narrowed it down, what business are we in? We’re in the content distribution business, right? We create content over the air, and then how do we distribute it? We contribute it on our Audacy App with audio, distribute it via Twitch and YouTube. 

To me it’s about content distribution. Specifically, obviously in this case sports, but to me that’s really the key. 

BSM Staff: What’s the one item that you’re looking forward to the most that you hope is discussed in detail at the Summit next month? 

Mitch Rosen: I’m very bullish on sports media and sports content, specifically audio and how we distribute that. I’m curious in different ways. I think Phil Mackey in Minneapolis a couple years ago talked about how they launched a stream only station in Minneapolis. I brought back some ideas from that as an example. 

Innovation is key and then it’s all about distribution and things like that. Specifically, the sports format I think continues to grow. I’m all about local interaction and local content and I think that’s what our format does best. 

Purchase your tickets to the 2025 BSM Summit here, and for more information BSMSummit.com 

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. 

Indiana Fever Extend Agreement With Tegna for Added Over the Air Broadcasts

BSM Staff
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The WNBA’s Indiana Fever and WTHR, the TEGNA-owned NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, announced Thursday a multi-year extension of their local broadcast partnership, aiming to bring more WNBA basketball to fans across central Indiana.

Under the renewed agreement, WTHR and WALV, TEGNA’s MeTV affiliate, will air 18 Fever games locally this season. The increased coverage builds on last year’s success, when WTHR’s broadcasts drove a 63% jump in household ratings compared to nationally televised games. According to the stations, local broadcasts reached nearly two-thirds more households than the national games, expanding the team’s visibility beyond its core audience.

“With our team’s powerful roster of veteran talent and young stars, we’re positioned to have an unforgettable season, and we look forward to having more fans follow our journey,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines. “WTHR and TEGNA continue to be incredible partners, and together, we’re going to deliver more exciting, fast-paced Fever basketball to households in the Indianapolis region than ever before.”

The Fever’s strong momentum comes as the team prepares for a season in which 41 of its 44 games will be broadcast nationally—a franchise record and the highest number of national games ever for a single WNBA team.

The expanded local coverage complements this national visibility, reinforcing TEGNA’s commitment to delivering premium sports content to its viewers.

“We’re thrilled to continue growing our outstanding partnership with the Indiana Fever and the WNBA,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president of media operations at TEGNA. “As we expand our partnerships across sports leagues to offer fans unparalleled access to their favorite teams, we’re excited to collaborate with Pacers Sports & Entertainment to boost enthusiasm and viewership for the Indiana Fever.”

Michael Brouder, president and general manager of WTHR, echoed the enthusiasm, emphasizing the station’s local impact.

“As Indiana’s News Leader, WTHR is excited to work with the Indiana Fever to bring the hottest ticket in town to millions of fans across the region,” Brouder said. “We’re proud of our partnership, and the strength we have as a local broadcaster to amplify passion for our hometown team.”

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.

Local Media San Diego’s Joe Lindsay Joins Collective Heads

BMM Staff
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Local Media San Diego’s Joe Lindsay Joins Collective Heads

Local Media San Diego Director of Operations and Programming Joe Lindsay is joining Collective Heads. After several years of working behind the scenes, Lindsay will take a more formal role with the consultancy.

“Joe is an incredible media professional and one of the greatest minds in radio and marketing that I’ve had the good fortune of working with. We are beyond excited to officially welcome him to Collective Heads,” said Tim Richards, Ringleader at Collective Heads.

“It’s truly an honor to be part of such a talented team,” said Joe Lindsay. “We’ve had some amazing wins with our clients over the past few years, and I’m excited to continue building on that momentum. The work has been both meaningful and rewarding for everyone involved.”

Lindsay will continue in his role at Local Media, which includes overseeing Z90, 91X, and Magic 92.5.

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.

Podcast Advertising Revenue Grew More Than 25% in 2024, New IAB Data Shows

BNM Staff
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Podcast Advertising Revenue Grew More Than 25% in 2024, New IAB Data Shows

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released the podcast advertising revenue data for 2024 as part of its Internet Advertising Revenue Report, and it was a positive one for that industry.

During the year, podcast advertising revenue grew 26.4% in 2024, dwarfing the 5.5% growth it saw in 2023.

In total, podcast advertising hit $2.4 billion during the year.

“This rebound is driven by continued expansion of podcast networks, deeper brand integrations, and advancements in audience targeting,” the IAB shared. “Growth is also driven by podcast serving as an important platform for political advertisers to engage with voters ahead of the election.”

Despite the continued growth of the medium, the IAB — which worked in conjunction with PwC to complete the study — insists that the podcast format is still growing and expects it to continue to do so.

Digital audio revenue — which includes the podcast medium — grew 8.5% year-over-year. With the uptick, total advertising revenue for that sector topped $7.6 billion. Despite the increase, it did not match the growth seen in previous years. In 2022, digital audio revenue grew 20.9%, while it jumped 18.9% in 2023.  

“The U.S. digital ad industry showed remarkable strength in 2024,” said IAB CEO David Cohen. “Despite the volatility from geopolitical shifts, interest rate changes, and economic uncertainty, major events like the presidential election and Olympics provided meaningful tailwinds.”

When total audio — including music, radio, and digital audio — is combined, the industry saw a 2.8% increase in advertising revenue during 2024.

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.

‘The Jason Lee and Kluck Show’ Join The Rebranded 100.5 The Bear

BMM Staff
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‘The Jason Lee and Kluck Show’ Join The Rebranded 100.5 The Bear

Rock 100.5 Dothan, AL, has relaunched as 100.5 The Bear and is positioned as “’Bama’s Best Rock. ” The station also picks up the syndicated “The Jason Lee and Kluck Show” for mornings.

The station’s core artists include AC/DC, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, and Aerosmith. Station management referred to the switch as more than a rebrand and a station built for the real rock fan.

Speaking about the addition of “The Jason Lee and Kluck Show,” Woody Zimmerman, COO for Kensington Media, owners of The Bear, said, “When we decided to relaunch our rock station, Jason Lee & Kluck quickly became the obvious choice. They dominate the male audience in their markets, and Audio1 makes it very easy to automate the show. Jason Lee & Kluck are honest, unfiltered, and unapologetic. They are the morning radio fix your audience didn’t know they needed.”

See the station launch here.

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.

White House Labels CNN and MSNBC ‘Shameful’ for Failing to Air Speech From Mother of Murder Victim

BNM Staff
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White House Labels CNN and MSNBC ‘Shameful’ for Failing to Air Speech From Mother of Murder Victim

On Wednesday, Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin — who was raped and mureder by an illegal immigrant in 2023 — spike at the White House. Her comments were broadcast by Fox News and Newsmax, but CNN and MSNBC did not air the speech. That drew the ire of some inside the White House.

On MSNBC, the network aired coverage of a rally held by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). It also featured an interview with John Heilemann, the chief political columnist at Puck News.

CNN, meanwhile, featured a panel remarking on Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), and also showed a segment about the NBA during the timeframe of Morin’s speech.

“SHAMEFUL that (CNN) and (MSNBC) refuses to take Angel Mom Patty Morin as she recounts the terrible tragedy of how an illegal killed her sweet daughter, Rachel,” wrote White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.

Cheung was not the only member of the Trump White House to comment on the situation. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller piggybacked off of Cheung’s statements by calling the failure of CNN and MSNBC to broadcast the speech “reprehensible.”

Additionally, FCC Chair Brendan Carr argued that the situation was “news distortion.”

“When the truth comes out, they ignore it,” he shared on social media. “Comcast knows that federal law requires its licensed operations to serve the public interest. News distortion doesn’t cut it,” he added before arguing that the coverage by CNN and MSNBC of the situation surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador.

Carr stated that “Abrego Garcia came to America illegally from El Salvador, was validated as a member of the violent MS13 gang—a transnational criminal organization—and was denied bond by an immigration court for failure to show he would not pose a danger to others. Why does Comcast ignore these facts of obvious public interest?”

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.

Audacy Elevates Bob Mackay to Senior Vice President and Market Manager in Dallas

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Audacy Elevates Bob Mackay to Senior Vice President and Market Manager in Dallas

Audacy has announced the promotion of Bob Mackay to the role of Senior Vice President and Market Manager of the company’s cluster in Dallas.

Mackay is a familiar face to those working inside the Dallas cluster. He has served as the Vice President of Sales for Audacy Dallas since January 2024. Previously, he worked as the Market Manager for the company in Austin from 2020 to 2024. Other stops in his radio career include working in executive roles at Marsades Media, Radio One, Cox Media Group, Emmis Communications, and Clear Channel.

In the new role, Mackay replaces Brian Purdy, who will continue to serve as Regional President for the company with oversight of 16 markets.

“I am grateful for Brian Purdy’s mentorship over the past year, which has prepared me for this new role with Audacy Dallas-Fort Worth,” said Mackay. “I am thrilled to be working alongside the great team that has been assembled here over many years. It’s an honor to be tapped for this leadership position and to build on the great culture Brian has created.”

“Bob is the ideal leader to pioneer Audacy Dallas into its next chapter—his passion, vision and deep understanding of our business make him an incredible asset to our team, our audience and our advertisers,” said Purdy. “It’s been an incredible joy serving our Dallas team, community and customers over the past 20-plus years, and I’m excited to see all that’s ahead under Bob’s leadership.”

As Senior Vice President and Market Manager in Dallas, Bob Mackay will oversee 1080 KRLD, 98.7 The Spot, 100.3 Jack FM, ALT 103.7, 105.3 The Fan, La Grande 107.5, Pure Tejano Fierro HD2, Channel Q, and the Texas State Networks.

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 Analyst Lee Corso Announces His Final College Gameday Broadcast August 30

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ESPN Analyst Lee Corso Announces His Final College Gameday Broadcast August 30

ESPN analyst Lee Corso, the beloved broadcaster and former college football coach, will make his final headgear pick on College GameDay on Saturday, Aug. 30, during the opening weekend of the 2025 college football season. The show’s location for that broadcast will be announced later this spring. In addition, ESPN plans to honor Corso’s nearly 40-year career with special programming leading up to his farewell appearance. Specific details about the celebration are expected to be shared at a later date.

Corso, who turns 90 in August, has been a fixture on College GameDay since its debut in 1987. Although he became a full-time analyst in 1989, he contributed from the show’s start and remains the only original member still on air.

The tradition that defined his legacy—wearing a mascot head to predict the winner of the day’s biggest game—began in 1996 in Columbus, Ohio. That day, Corso picked Ohio State by donning Brutus Buckeye’s head. Since then, he has made 430 headgear picks, choosing the Buckeyes a record 45 times.

“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” Corso said. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”

Over the years, Corso has made headgear picks for 69 different teams and appeared on GameDay sets in more than 70 cities. He’s delivered countless unforgettable moments—from riding motorcycles with mascots to surprise appearances by celebrities—and is known for his catchphrase, “Not so fast, my friend!” and his signature No. 2 pencil.

“ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years,” Corso added. “They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days of College GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans… truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”

Before joining ESPN, Corso spent 28 years coaching at both the college and professional levels, including head coaching stints at Louisville, Indiana, Northern Illinois, and in the USFL.

“Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we’re all lucky to have been around to witness it,” said Kirk Herbstreit, who joined GameDay in 1996. “He has taught me so much throughout our time together, and he’s been like a second father to me. It has been my absolute honor to have the best seat in the house to watch Coach put on that mascot head each week.”

“Lee Corso has developed a special connection to generations of fans through his entertaining style and iconic headgear picks,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “Lee is one of the most influential and beloved figures in the history of college football, and our ESPN team will celebrate his legendary career during his final College GameDay appearance this August.”

“It has been among the greatest joys and privileges of my life to work with, laugh with, and learn from Lee Corso for more than 35 incredible years,” said former GameDay host Chris Fowler. “His courage and resilience have inspired millions. Through his groundbreaking work on College GameDay, Lee has been an indelible force in the growth of college football’s popularity. He’s a born entertainer and singular television talent. But at his heart he’ll always be a coach, with an abiding love and respect for the game and the people who play it.”

Corso’s farewell broadcast will air live from 9 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN and ESPNU. Further plans for the show and Corso’s final pick will be announced later.

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.

Fubo Signs Multiyear Distribution Agreement for Premier League in Canada

BSM Staff
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Fubo Signs Multiyear Distribution Agreement for Premier League in Canada

Fubo has signed a multiyear distribution agreement that will retain the live television streaming platform as the exclusive home of the Premier League in Canada. As part of the agreement, the company will be streaming all 380 Premier League matches and other shoulder programming surrounding the games.

This extends Fubo as the platform presenting Premier League games in Canada that began ahead of the 2022-23 season, and it also adds to its overall portfolio of soccer leagues consisting of Italian Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana matches. In addition to these soccer rights, Fubo also streams matches emanating from Ligue 1, the Canadian Men’s and Women’s national team, the Canadian Premier League and Copa Libertadores among others.

“The Premier League is considered the most prestigious soccer league globally and we are proud to remain the exclusive home of this elite competition in Canada,” Ben Grad, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and operations at Fubo, said in a statement. “Fubo was founded with the mission to stream premium soccer and a range of sports for consumers, and we’ve built a strong audience by carrying leagues that Canadians are passionate about. This renewed agreement underscores the value that Fubo’s sports-first audience and industry-leading platform bring to world-class content providers like the Premier League.”

Along with the exclusive soccer rights in Canada, Fubo also streams sports from leagues such as Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and the Indian Premier League across more than 100 live sports, news and entertainment networks. Subscribers are able to stream Fubo programming in Canada anywhere in the country utilizing a mobile device, connected television or web browser.

“We are delighted that Fubo has extended its partnership for another three years, recognising the Premier League as a key part of its programming,” Paul Molnar, chief media officer of the Premier League, said in a statement. “The Premier League has many passionate fans in Canada, and Fubo does an excellent job making the competition available to them. We look forward to working together over the coming seasons as we continue to showcase the excitement of the league to both new and existing fans.”

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

FOX Sports Continuing Settlement Discussions with Mediator Amid Lawsuit Filed by Noushin Faraji

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FOX Sports Continuing Settlement Discussions with Mediator Amid Lawsuit Filed by Noushin Faraji

Noushin Faraji, a former hairstylist who worked at the Los Angeles studios for FOX Sports, filed a 42-page lawsuit earlier in the year that named FS1 executive vice president of content Charlie Dixon, on-air host Joy Taylor and former commentator Skip Bayless.

Within the complaint, attorneys representing Faraji explained that she was looking for unspecified monetary damages and demanded a jury trial, also including a class-action provision and claiming that executives Mark Silverman and Eric Shanks could be named as defendants based on discovery. In a previous statement, FOX Sports expressed that it takes the allegations seriously and did not have a further comment amid the pending litigation.

According to a recent court filing obtained by Front Office Sports, attorneys for Faraji and FOX Sports mediated this matter on March 10. Although the two sides were unable to reach a resolution on that day, the court divulges that “they are continuing to engage in settlement discussions with the mediator.” In order to preserve resources, both parties believe that “it would be beneficial to hold off on the Initial Status Conference pending completing settlement negotiations.”

Within the document, the parties jointly stipulated to and requested the continuation of the initial status conference by at least 90 days. The court granted this stipulation and scheduled the conference to Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 9 a.m. EST.

Julie Stewart-Binks, a former host for FOX Sports, filed a separate lawsuit earlier this year alleging that Dixon sexually assaulted her during her time at FS1. A few days after news of the litigation became public through The Athletic, journalists Katie Strang and Andrew Marchand reported that Dixon had been placed on administrative leave. Within the story, Dixon did not respond to requests for comment and Fox declined to comment on his work status.

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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