Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Episode 549 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and Annie Costabile, a women's sports reporter for Front Office Sports. In this podcast, Lewis discusses Netflix carrying MLB’s Opening Night game next year on March 25 opener at San Francisco; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wanted to return to the media rights negotiations very early; interest in the NFL international games; potential viewership for Ravens-Chiefs and Cowboys-Packers. Costabile discusses the WNBA season and why she considers it a success; what has it been like covering the league as far as player and coach access; the firing of Sandy Brondello, a two-time winning WNBA coach; Caitlin Clark’s injury and why we don’t know more; the Fever advancing to the semifinals without Clark; the WNBA CBA negotiations; where Unrivaled is at the moment, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 548 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Illustrated podcaster and writer Jimmy Traina. In this podcast, Traina and Deitsch discuss Tom Brady's dual roles as broadcaster and part-owner; the Yankees versus Blue Jays in the final week of the season; The NFL Today's Throwback show; Molly Qerim departing ESPN; Amazon’s and NBC's NBA coverage; the ACC GameDay Operations Center; ESPN's relationship with the WWE; the challenges of booking for a sports media podcast; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 547 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features an hourlong conversation with ESPN president of content Burke Magnus. In this podcast, Magnus discusses ESPN's foray into A.I; wanting Pat McAfee to stay with ESPN beyond his current contract, a five-year, $85 million-plus licensing agreement that McAfee signed with ESPN in the spring of 2023; why Tim Legler replaced Doris Burke on ESPN's top NBA booth; how ESPN will use Inside The NBA; why Molly Qerim is no longer on First Take; how ESPN views Stephen A. Smith's foray into political talk; how ESPN is approaching its upcoming Super Bowl broadcast; the hiring of digital influencer Katie Feeney; his company's relationship with the WWE; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Burke Magnus, the president of content for ESPN. The full interview will be available on Wednesday. In this clip, Magnus discusses how ESPN views Stephen A. Smith's foray into political talk and whether that impacts other front-facing ESPN employees. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Burke Magnus, the president of content for ESPN. The full interview will be available on Wednesday. In this clip, Magnus discusses how "Inside The NBA" will be used on ESPN as the iconic show has moved from Turner Sports to ESPN. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 546 of the Sports Media Podcast features Rich Podolsky, the author of “Madden & Summerall How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting.” In this podcast, Podolsky discussed the process of writing a book about John Madden and Pat Summerall; the beginning of Madden's broadcasting career and how he was mediocre at first on air; Madden working with Bob Costas when Costas was just 27; Madden getting the biggest break of his fledgling broadcasting career when he was paired with Summerall; how Vin Scully nearly became Madden's permanent partner; how Summerall's broadcasting career began; what the NFL Today was like in 1975, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Rich Podolsky, the author of “Madden & Summerall How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting.” The full interview will be available on Thursday. In this clip, Podolsky tells the story of how CBS had to decide between Vin Scully and Pat Summerall when it came to being John Madden’s broadcast partner. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 546 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the editor and founder of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast we discuss how sports viewership has been impacted by Nielsen’s use of Big Data and Panel measurement; whether you still make apples to apples comparisons with sport viewership; YouTube revising its viewership for Chiefs-Chargers; our experiences watching Red Zone; whether ads have impacted the RedZone experience; Scott Hanson as a host; the contracts of ESPN's Malika Andrews and Brian Windhorst; a discussion on whether anyone is indispensable in the sports media and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 545 of the Sports Media Podcast features Fox Sports NFL producer Richie Zyontz and Fox Sports NFL director Rich Russo. They are the lead production staffers on Fox’s top NFL team. Last February Zyontz produced his eighth Super Bowl as a lead producer while Russo’s directed his sixth as a lead director. In this podcast, the two discuss Fox’s Chiefs-Eagles broadcast, the 11th rematch of a Super Bowl matchup in the following season and just the fourth to occur within the first two weeks of that season; the significance of having a big game this early in the season; why Arrowhead is a great place to broadcast a game; Tom Brady’s second year in the booth; where Brady has improved and what he needs to improve on; working with someone as famous as Brady; the rules imposed on Brady as a broadcaster; the upcoming "Madden & Summerall--How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting” book and Zyontz’s role in it; why Fox has two sideline reporters for its top team in Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi; watching the Bills-Ravens incredible finish and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 544 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Neil Everett and Stan Verrett, the former ESPN hosts who were longtime partners on SportsCenter. In this podcast, Everett and Verrett discuss the launching of thir new show, beginning Sept. 9, airing live on Twitch; Verrett’s decision not to move to Bristol when ESPN ended the Los Angeles-based SportsCenter; the title of the show and when it will air; why they decided to start on Twitch; how they will measure success; whether they can make money with this project; potential guests, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Neil Everett and Stan Verrett, the former ESPN hosts who were longtime partners on SportsCenter. The full interview will be available on Tuesday. In this clip, Verrett explains what his new show and collaboration with Everett will feature. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 543 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features two guests for a sports media roundtable: Jon Lewis, editor and founder of Sports Media Watch and Austin Karp, sports media reporter for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast, the trio discuss the NFL Red Zone channel featuring commercials and the fallout from that decision; ESPN getting unfairly blamed for the NFL’s call; why the NFL and other sports media businesses will always try to monetize everything; college football’s massive opening week viewership; College GameDay vs. Big Noon Kickoff; Doris Burke being demoted and Tim Legler getting a promotion; Pablo Torre’s reporting on the Clippers allegedly circumventing the salary cap and how long the story will remain of mass interest; the impact of Caitlin Clark being out for the season; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 542 of the Sports Media Podcast features Bill Cowher, a studio analyst for The NFL Today on CBS. In this podcast, Cowher discusses being in his 19th year as an analyst for the CBS’s NFL studio show following a Hall of Fame career as a Pittsburgh Steelers coach; whether he feels he is getting better at his job each year; what the on-air cast changes for The NFL Today means for 2025; the NFL Today heading on the road to Lambeau Field for the Week 1 showdown between the Packers and Lions; The NFL Today celebrating its 50th birthday on Sept. 21; how he views Pittsburgh's acquisition of Aaron Rodgers; the AFC favorites including the Ravens, Bills, Chiefs and Bengals; Cowher's definition of leadership; how he identifies a leader; players from his coaching days who personified leadership; whether leaders are made or born; Steve Spagnuolo as a Hall of Famer and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with CBS NFL analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Cowher. The full interview will be available tomorrow. In this clip, Cowher discusses the steps he takes to improve as a broadcaster and the kind of feedback he appreciates in his current position. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 541 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Rob Hyland, the coordinating producer of Sunday Night Football and Drew Esocoff, the director of Sunday Night Football. NBC's NFL coverage begins on Sept 4 with the Cowboys at Eagles followed by the Bills-Ravens on Sept. 7. In this podcast, Hyland and Esocoff discuss what will be unique about Sunday Night Football this season; the opening games for NBC's NFL schedule; what Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are like in production meetings; why a Super Bowl year is always challenging for the host broadcaster; NBC's confluence of doing the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics and the NBA All Star Game all within the same month; the NFL's in-game coach and coordinator interviews and locker room footage prior to kickoff; whether the new first down measurement can be a value-add for viewers; the challenges of doing NFL games abroad; keeping memorabilia from assignments, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Rob Hyland, the coordinating producer of Sunday Night Football, and Drew Esocoff, the director of Sunday Night Football. In this clip, Hyland and Esocoff provide insight on what Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson are like in production meetings, and whether the new virtual measurement technology can get better for viewers during the season. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 540 of the Sports Media Podcast features Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal who recently became the lead media reporter for SBJ. Karp joined SBJ in 2006 and has held a number of positions at the publication. He is followed by Larry Keith, the author of a new autobiography, "Touch 'Em All: My Life And Career At $ports Illustrated." In this podcast, Karp discuss what the media reporting role entails at SBJ; why he moved into the role; how he sees the sports media beat; what he wants to focus on at SBJ; the legacy of John Ourand at SBJ; the challenges of navigating people who attend SBJ conferences while reporting on the same people; the sports business event space; the UFC-Paramount Global and Skydance Media deal and what it means for the industry; YouTube's challenges for its NFL game; the price for sports consumers and more. Keith discusses his career at Sports Illustrated, which included writing 19 cover stories from 1975-80 before serving as a senior editor and assistant managing editor and then SI’s Editorial Projects Director; what it was like writing for SI in an era when it had national cultural relevance; his interviews with Pete Rose and Reggie Jackson, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, covering the famed NCAA Championship when Magic beat Bird; the toughest subject he dealt with; working with all-time great writers and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 539 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Michael Nathanson, a Founding Partner & Senior Research Analyst at MoffetNathanson and Robert Fishman, a senior research analyst at Michael Nathanson. Their firm is a leading independent equity research publisher focusing on the most important companies across the Technology, Media and Telecom landscape. In this podcast, Fishman and Nathanson discuss ESPN acquiring NFL Network and other league-owned media assets in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN; why they believe the deal strengthens ESPN’s negotiating posture with distributors; whether the deal gives Disney a heads up on NFL rights in future negotiations; the NFL Network as an asset in carriage negotiations; YouTube's sports ambitions; the TKO Group and Paramount signing a seven-year, $7.7 billion rights agreement; how consumers should view Netflix when it comes to its sports acquisitions; FOX One and how it relates to sports; the Pay TV universe continuing to shrink, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Michael Nathanson and Robert Fishman of MoffettNathanson, one of the leading independent equity research publishers focusing on the most important companies across the Technology, Media and Telecom landscape. In this clip, Fishman and Nathanson address how pro leagues should think about business with YouTube. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 538 of the Sports Media Podcast features renowned ESPN soccer commentator Ian Darke, who is the lead broadcaster for ESPN's coverage of the 2025-26 LaLiga season. In this podcast, Darke discusses his current U.S. broadcast schedule; calling LaLiga games; what he can do freelance-wise in the UK; why Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is currently the face of global football; his thoughts on Wrexham's story; the England women's national team winning the Euros; whether FIFA World Cup 2026 will be transformative for soccer in the USA; how he sees the U.S. men's team right now; the World Cup expanding to a48-team tournament and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with play by play voice Ian Darke. The full interview will be available on Friday. In this clip, Darke discusses the emerging greatness of Barcelona teenage star Lamine Yamal and what it is like calling his games in person. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 537 of the Sports Media Podcast features David Law, Catherine Whitaker, and Matt Roberts, the co-hosts of the popular "The Tennis Podcast." The podcast was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best podcasts all time. In this podcast, we discuss the growth of The Tennis Podcast over the last five years; how influential the podcast is within the tennis community; being supported by enough patrons and advertising so they can do this full-time; the current state of tennis broadcasting; what we think of the upcoming mixed doubles competition at the 2025 U.S. Open; why Jannik Sinner an overwhelming favourite at the Open; the favourites for the women's title and why it is wide open between the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek aming others; the person who asks the best question at tennis media conferences and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 536 of the Sports Media Podcast features Fox Sports play by play announcer and Chicago Bulls broadcaster Adam Amin. In this podcast, Amin discussed attending the annual Fox NFL preseason seminar and what's it like interacting with all of Fox Sports' on-air talent; being assigned Cam Ward debut for Fox; his thoughts on Stacey Dales serving as a color analyst on preseason Bears games; his playoff baseball schedule; his hobby as a DJ in Chicago; young, South Asian broadcasters, especially of Indian or Pakistani descent, reaching out to him for advice and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with play by play voice Adam Amin. The full interview will be available on Friday. In this clip, Amin discusses attending the annual Fox NFL preseason seminar and what it is like interacting with all of Fox Sports' on-air NFL talent. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 535 of the Sports Media Podcast features Carson Kessler, an investigative reporter for The Athletic and a former investigative fellow at the New York Times. In this podcast, Kessler discusses her reporting on the escalating stalking problem in sports and how it particularly has escalated for prominent female athletes; The Athletic identifying at least 52 stalking cases involving athletes, male and female, since 2020; how this story came to Kessler; her reporting on UCLA women's basketball player Kiki Rice being stalked; whether colleges are in position to help athletes; how often this happens to male athletes and who stalks male athletes versus female athletes; why less than a third of stalking victims report their situations to police, according to a study published by the U.S. Department of Justice; what organizations help victims of stalking and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 534 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the editor and founder of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast, we discuss Disney/ESPN acquiring the NFL Network and substantial rights to RedZone, along with other content assets, in exchange for the NFL getting a 10 percent ownership stake in ESPN; how we see the deal; the game inventory ESPN receives; what it means for ESPN's coverage of the NFL; the formal announcement of a launch date — Aug. 21 — for ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service; the rights agreement for ESPN DTC to become the exclusive U.S. domestic home of all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), including WrestleMania; the NFL extending ESPN’s rights to cover the NFL Draft through 2030 and expanding the Disney networks where the draft can air, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 533 of the Sports Media Podcast features Katie Bender Wynn, a narrative documentarian whose latest is "Taurasi," a three-part docu-series on basketball icon Diana Taurasi. It will premiere on Prime Video on August 7 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. In this podcast, Bender Wynn discusses why Taurasi is a subject worthy of documentary exploration; how the project came to her; why Taurasi wanted to do it; Taurasi's time in Russia playing for a former KGB spy; the current environment for documentaries on women athletes; the challenge of finding archival footage; Taurasi's relationship with her wife, Penny Taylor, and more.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 532 of the Sports Media Podcast features Michael McCann, a legal analyst and senior sports legal reporter for Sportico and the Director of the Sports and Entertainment Law Institute and Associate Dean for Intellectual Life at the University of New Hampshire. In this podcast, McCann discusses how to write about sports legal issues for a layperson audience; why the next five years will be a test of who's a great university president because of paying college athletes, fewer students enrolling (especially foreign students) and birthrates down; the NCAA scoring a win in court as a federal judge dismisses Terrelle Pryor's lawsuit over lost NIL opportunities; the most pressing things that exists right now in the nexus of law and sports; Donald Trump's executive power abilities for college athletics; a judge's ruling that Nevada wide receiver Cortez Braham Jr. can play what will be his seventh college football season; the NFLPA's issues; what he expect to happen with sports gambling scandals; whether a college athlete sign a contract with a sports network, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 531 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast, we discuss a gunman allegedly targeting the headquarters of the NFL when he burst into an office tower in Midtown Manhattan and killed four people, including a police office; CNBC's reporting of the NFL closing in on a deal to take a minority stake of up to 10% in ESPN; what an ESPN-NFL partnership means for the NFL Network and NFL RedZone; the importance of the NFL's YouTube game; ABC airing a non-Caitlin Clark and non-Angel Reese game that does 1.5 million viewers an more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 530a of the Sports Media Podcast features Colton Pouncy, the Detroit Lions reporter for The Athletic and the co-host of "Welcome to Detroit," a Lions podcast with Nick Baumgardner. In this podcast, Pouncy discussed his objectives for covering training camp; why Lions head coach Dan Campbell is such as great quote; where the Lions sit among NFC teams; what it would mean if Detroit ever won a Super Bowl; the media schedule for Lions media people; how much access an NFL beat reporter gets; advice for young people who want to cover the NFL and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with The Athletic's Lions reporter Colton Pouncy. The full interview will be available on Monday. In this clip, Pouncy discusses his interactions with Lions head coach Dan Campbell and why he might be the NFL's best coaching quote. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 530 of the Sports Media Podcast features John Pollock, a reporter and writer at POST Wrestling and the co-host of the Pollock and Thurston podcast. In this podcast we discuss the death of Hulk Hogan; Hogan's impact on the wrestling business and American sporting culture; Hogan's making the front of the April 29, 1985 issue of Sports Illustrated when the magazine was a publicity monster; why Hogan became the face and bulked-up body that led pro wrestling into America's mainstream culture; the direct line from Hogan to WWE Network's launch in February 2014 to Endeavor acquiring the WWE in a deal valuing WWE at $9.3 billion; Hogan's racism; getting booed during his Netflix appearance last January; how WWE will cover his death and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 529 of the Sports Media Podcast features Joe Buscaglia, who covers the Buffalo Bills for The Athletic and has covered the team since 2010. In this podcast, Buscaglia discusses his objectives for training camp; what an NFL training camp is like at a college; what an average day is like; how he decides what to write that day; how much access he gets; who he is competing against; how he rates the Bills Super Bowl chances and opportunities in the AFC; what the impact of Hard Knocks will be on the Bills and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with The Athletic's Bills reporter Joe Buscaglia. The full interview will be available on Thursday. In this clip, Buscaglia discusses the Bills prospects for 2025 and what it will take to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 528 of the Sports Media Podcast features Alex Sherman, a CNBC Media and Sports Reporter and the host of the CNBC Sport videocast. In this podcast, Sherman discusses MLB media rights strategy and his recent conversation MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred; where the MLB media rights situation is right now; what will happen with the Sunday night MLB rights; what would ESPN not having an MLB rights package mean for MLB; the genius of the pitch clock; where will the Home Run Derby go; local rights, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 527 of the Sports Media Podcast features Chad Finn of The Boston Globe, Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch and Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal. In this podcast, we discuss the MLB All Star game as a media property; what a good ASG viewership number would be for the sport; the potential last year of the Home Run Derby for ESPN; the WNBA All Star Game and whether it can top last year's 3.4 million viewers; whether Caitlin Clark missing games makes her playing in the All Star Game less or more of a draw; Amazon and NBC's NBA hires; the phenomenal "Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story'" documentary airing on on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 526 of the Sports Media Podcast features Brian Windhorst, a senior NBA writer for ESPN who regularly appears on multiple ESPN platforms and is the host of the Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast. In this podcast, Windhorst discusses how valuable attending Summer League is for an NBA reporter; why so much of NBA breaking news is broken by just a handful of reporters including Shams Charania, and Adrian Wojnarowski before him; agendas from sources; his reaction to LeBron James discussing him on ESPN; getting aggregated; his ESPN contract status; the prospects of the Toronto Raptors in 2025-26 and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Brian Windhorst, the longtime ESPN NBA senior writer and on-air analyst. The full interview will be available on Monday. In this clip, Windhorst discusses why so much of NBA breaking news is broken by just a handful of reporters including currently ESPN's Shams Charania, and Adrian Wojnarowski before him. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 525 of the Sports Media Podcast features Tara Slone, a Canadian-based sports broadcaster who currently works as a host for SiriusXM Canada as well as covering the San Jose Sharks for NBC Sports California. She previously worked on Sportsnet’s long-running “Hometown Hockey” In this podcast, Slone discusses the state of women’s professional sports in Canada; why pro sports have exploded in the country; the prospects of success for the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo; what kind of media coverage we anticipate the Tempo will get; the growth of the PWHL and the founding of The Northern Super League; why women’s college sports are not bigger in Canada; the job market for sports media professionals in Canada, and more.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 525 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is Mark Henry, the former WWE performer, U.S. Olympic weightlifter, and now one of the hosts on SiriusXM’s “Busted Open,” the daily wrestling show. In this podcast Henry discusses SiriusXM announcing last week the launch of its first ever 24/7 channel dedicated to the world of professional wrestling, Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7; why an audio channel covering pro wrestling 24 hours a day, seven days a week exists; how he navigates between discussing athletic scripted entertainment with the business of pro wrestling; why pro wrestling content has exploded; his son, Jacob Henry, a Oklahoma football player and wrestler who signed as a WWE NIL athlete; working in Canada, and more. Henry is followed by Sean Grande, the longtime voice for the Boston Celtics who will serve as the boxing play by play voice for Netflix’s all-women card on July 11 from Madison Square Garden. That card includes the third meeting between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Grande discusses how he got the Netflix assignment; how he approaches is boxing calls; working with Seniesa Estrada and Laila Ali on the commentary team; what Netflix has been like as an employer; what it might be like calling the Celtics this year and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 524 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests for a sports media roundtable: Jon Lewis, founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Austin Karp, assistant managing editor of Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss the biggest sports stories of the first half of 2025 and what we think will be the biggest stories of the second half of 2025 including the new NBA players, ESPN's DTC, and college football coverage; what would the men's and women's basketball tournament look like going to 76 teams; WNBA expansion, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 523 of the Sports Media Podcast features Kurt Badenhausen, a reporter who covers sports business for Sportico. In this podcast, Badenhausen explains the process of reporting out pro sports valuations; how the work changes based on the sport; Sportico releasing its second annual WNBA valuation report, which showed the average WNBA team is now valued at $269 million, a 180 percent increase compared to last year’s report; why the Golden State Valkyries are worth a $500 million valuation, a women’s sports franchise; the Cowboys atop the sports list with a value of $10.32 billion; the NFL valuations; how an NBA title helps increase the Thunder valuation; the future of sports business outlets, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 522 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jason Benetti, the television voice of the Detroit Tigers and a play by play announcer for Fox Sports. In this podcast, Benetti discusses what it's like calling the best team in baseball (so far); why the Tigers have been successful; how calling a winning team impacts how the viewer perceives a broadcast; Detroit as a sports city; the best stadium experiences for a visiting broadcaster; chatting with Jack White and J.K. Simmons about baseball; his upcoming Fox college football schedule and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 521 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, founder and editor of Sports Media Watch and Donnovan Bennett, host and podcaster for Sportsnet. In this podcast we discuss the NBA's Game 7 viewership (16.35 million viewers) and how it bailed out what would have been a catastrophic viewership story; Game 7 being the most-watched NBA Finals game in six years; the viewership issues for Thunder-Pacers; why people did not watch the series before Game 7; ESPN/ABC's negative-centric NBA Finals halftime show; how next year's new media deal featuring Amazon, NBC and ESPN/ABC will change coverage, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 520 of the Sports Media Podcast features Chantel Jennings, who covers women's college basketball and the WNBA and Ben Pickman, who covers the WNBA for The Athletic. Both are regulars on the "No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show," which is a twice-weekly podcast on all things women's basketball. In this podcast Jennings and Pickman discuss the pace at which interest in Caitlin Clark has been accelerated; why the interest has exploded; the Fever-Sun game becoming a national story; the media coverage of WNBA officiating; why the No Offseason podcast has found an audience; what they hear from players and coaches about being on podcasts, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 519 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast, Lewis and Deitsch discusses ESPN's NBA presentation; Lewis's piece on Stephen A Smith; how much big cities matter with viewership for the NBA and NHL; why the Stanley Cup Final has struggled to find an audience in the U.S.; a historical look at Game 7 viewership for the NBA Finals; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 518 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Wertheim, a longtime Sports Illustrated writer and editor, 60 Minutes correspondent, and Tennis Channel and Turner Sports tennis commentator. Wertheim is a producer on the upcoming HBO documentary "Surviving Ohio State" which delves into the Ohio State sex abuse scandal and the victims of Dr. Richard Strauss, employed by the university from 1978-1998. The documentary debuts June 17. In this podcast, Wertheim discusses how the Ohio State documentary came to be; what it's like to interview survivors of sexual assault; the question of male athletes being worth less than female athletes who are survivors of abuse; whether Ohio State has taken accountability and responsibility; Jim Jordan and this story; where the Alcaraz-Sinner final rates all-time; Turner Sports's coverage of the French Open; the future of Tennis Channel, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 517 of the Sports Media Podcast features Howard Megdal, a longtime women's basketball writer and the author of a new book. "Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar." He is followed by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli, the co-authors of "Ice Breakers: A Kids' Guide to Hockey and the Greatest Players Who Changed the Game." In this podcast Megdal discusses why he decided to write a book on Caitlin Clark through the prism of the growth of women's basketball; how Megdal views Clark's popularity; ESPN finally promoting the WNBA as it should; his thought on Clark's impact as a parallel to Michael Jordan in 1984; her awareness of his book; competing against another high-profile Clark book out at the same time; why Iowa has always been a hotbed for women's basketball; opportunities that exist today for people covering the WNBA; Clark's longterm ceiling, and more. The Caracciolis discuss the market for kids hockey books; how one writes for kids; how they decided who made the cut of the greatest NHLers; advice to get into sports public relations and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 516 of the Sports Media Podcast features Cheryl Reeve, the Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Lynx. Reeve's resume includes coaching the Lynx to four WNBA titles, winning two championships with the former Detroit Shock and coaching the 2024 U.S. women's Olympic team to a gold medal. In this podcast Reeve discusses how much she thinks about media coverage; how she looks at local coverage versus national media; why Lynx star Napheesa Collier did not have a higher profile prior to this year; the history of media coverage in the WNBA; what she would do if she was in charge of WNBA broadcasting; whether the league can be more transparent when it comes to fines for coaches/players; how much of a motivator last season is for her team; her comments last year after the Finals loss; what she learned about coaching Hall of Fame caliber players; her best leadership lessons and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Cheryl Reeve, the head coach and president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Lynx. The full interview will be available on Wednesday In this clip, Reeve discusses why Lynx star Napheesa Collier is finally getting the national attention she previously did not. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices