The Sports Media Podcast

DirecTV’s top content executive Rob Thun joins the pod as co-host this week to discuss the problems regional sports networks are having today and talk about how the satellite operator plans to handle local sports rights in the future. Thun tells co-host John Ourand how some of the local broadcast deals some teams have made aren’t as good as they seem, and he calls on network groups to work more closely with DirecTV as they push out direct-to-consumer services. This is the first time in nearly 30 years that DirecTV is not carrying the NFL Sunday Ticket package, and Thun talks about why he made the decision to pass on it. The voice of baseball for Fox, Joe Davis, joins the pod as The Big Get and talks about how his preparation for the upcoming World Series differs from how he prepared for his first one last year. Davis gets into how the pitch clock affected how he called games this season; what it’s like to call games in Philadelphia; why so many young play-by-players are calling games nowadays; how he got started in the business; and the difference between a Texas chop and a Baltimore chop. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As rumors about ESPN’s streaming plans continue to swirl around, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand separate fact from fiction. They look at the types of companies that would be interested in taking an ownership stake in ESPN and discuss the timing for when ESPN takes its main network – the mothership – direct-to-consumer. Other topics have the hosts handicapping expected winners in the rights negotiations happening with the NBA, NASCAR and College Football Play. They discuss Marchand’s report of Pat McAfee paying guests and offer a review of the MLB playoffs so far. Marchand and Ourand offer a tribute to the retiring NHL analyst Barry Melrose. And they talk about Chris LaPlaca, ESPN’s long-time communications executive who announced his retirement this week. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Negotiations for the College Football Playoff’s media rights negotiations have starts, and pod hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand break down the media companies that will be involved and the likely winners once the CFP expands to add at least four more games. The hosts discuss the NFL’s request to have TV networks run ads for Taylor Swift’s upcoming movie and preview what to expect this week when Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs play on Thursday. As the NBA preps for a media rights negotiation, Marchand and Ourand look into what leagues can do to make their regular season games more valuable. This week’s episode sees the return of Karp’s Korner, as SBJ’s ratings guru Austin Karp breaks down MLB’s regular season ratings, provides an update on MLB’s post-season ratings and previews what to expect with MLB’s World Series ratings. Karp provides the reasons why national numbers are lagging local viewership trends in the sport. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last week, Sean McManus announced that he was stepping down as CBS Sports chairman next spring after a 27-year run. This week, McManus joins the podcast to talk about his career and the state of sports media. In a wide-ranging interview, McManus talks about his start in the business, working for legendary executives like Don Ohlmeyer, Geoff Mason and Mark McCormack. McManus takes listeners behind the curtain for the NFL deal he struck in 1998 that changed the fortunes of his network. McManus also discusses the current state of sports media, including the rise of digital streaming and Paramount+, CBS’ appetite for new sports rights deals and Tony Romo’s performance as the network’s top NFL game analyst. Pod hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss ESPN’s alternate “Toy Story” telecast that ran on ESPN+ alongside its exclusive Falcons-Jaguars game from London. They banter about the effect Taylor Swift and Deion Sanders have on NFL and college football TV ratings. Marchand talks about Mark Jackson’s broadcasting future, and Ourand offers an update on Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy saga. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred joins Andrew Marchand and John Ourand on this week's show for a half hour interview. During the sit down, Manfred goes deep into the future of local media, blackouts, Apple, Peacock, ESPN, fragmentation, Yankees TV, what the future of sports gambling will look like, how a different pitch clock was considered for October, the future of the Orioles in Baltimore and the A's in Oakland.Prior to the interview, Marchand and Ourand give their "Who's up and Who's down for the week" and delve deep into the legendary career of retiring CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus. Plus, there is Taylor Swift talk. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A bunch of breaking news this week dominate this week’s topics, from Bob Iger’s decision to simulcast most of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” games on ESPN and ESPN New York’s decision to relinquish its 98.7 FM signal next year to Warner Bros. Discovery plan to launch a live sports add-on tier via its Max streaming service and the XFL and USFL’s plan to merge spring football leagues. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand have reported on all these stories and dissect why they are happening and explain how these moves will alter the sports media landscape. Now that we’re through two weeks of the 2023 NFL season, Marchand and Ourand dive into the biggest sports media storylines that have emerged, including YouTubeTV’s debut with “NFL Sunday Ticket,” the potential for “NFL RedZone” to cut into YouTubeTV’s subscriber numbers and the massive audience Amazon Prime brought to its first “Thursday Night Football” game of the season. Marchand and Ourand also tackle the impact Colorado coach Deion Sanders already has had on the college football landscape. Other topics include rights negotiation updates for the NBA, NASCAR, UFC and WWE. And Ourand pays homage to a week’s worth of great Orioles calls by MASN’s Kevin Brown. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Just hours before the first “Monday Night Football” game of the season, Disney and Charter reached a deal to restore ABC and ESPN on Spectrum cable systems. Disney’s Justin Connolly was one of the key executives on that deal, and he joins the pod’s first “Inside the News” segment. Connolly discusses what last weekend was like as the two sides had round-the-clock discussions to close the deal. Other topics include why the deal works for ESPN, whether this deal provides a blueprint for other distributors, what implications this deal has on ESPN’s planned direct-to-consumer service and how this deal will affect ESPN’s aggressiveness in acquiring sports rights. Following the interview, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand offer their opinions on the deal and discuss the NFL’s first week of the 2023 regular season.ESPN analyst Marcus Spears joins as The Big Get and entertainingly outlines his progression from the NFL to ESPN. Spears talks about his new deal to stay at ESPN and the other opportunities that cropped up as he went through the negotiating process. Other topics include the media challenges involved with playing for bigger market teams; his influences in sports media; and an animated discussion of Paul Finebaum’s hairstyle. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All Disney networks, including ESPN, went dark on Charter’s Spectrum cable systems on Aug. 31, affecting close to15 million subscribers. Pod hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how ESPN and Charter got to this point and predict what should happen next. The outcome of this deal has tentacles well beyond just ESPN and Charter. It has big ramifications for the entire sports business. Just a couple of days before the start of the NFL’s regular season, Marchand and Ourand identify the NFL media story lines they will be following most closely this season. And they discuss Chris Fowler’s Instagram video explaining why he made several mistakes announcing a recent college football game. Fox Sports’ top NFL broadcast booth of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen join the pod as The Big Get this week. The duo tell stories from last season when they replaced Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as the top crew. And they talk about the specter of another season calling games with Tom Brady waiting in the wings to take over as Fox’s top NFL analyst for the 2024-25 season. Marchand brings out his Brady Meter for this conversation. Burkhardt and Olsen also discuss some of the biggest sports media stories, including the current state of college athletics.Topics1:16 Who's Up/Who's Down5:58 ESPN-Charter24:10 NFL Preview26:12 Fowler's Flubs29:05 The Big Get: Kevin Burkhardt & Greg Olsen Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Changes to the college football television landscape is the top topic on this week’s show, the hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discussing the new Big Ten deals that take effect this season on CBS, Fox and NBC. The co-hosts discuss everything from the analysts that will be used on these games to Peacock’s role in streaming games. The hosts then turn their attention to the free-agency frenzy that had Stephen A. Smith’s “First Take” show compete with Skip Bayless’ “Undisputed.” The TV networks’ ratings dispute with the NFL, Nielsen and Amazon is one of the biggest topics in sports media today, and Marchand and Ourand talk about why the TV networks are so publicly at odds over Nielsen’s plan to incorporate first-party data from Amazon into its “Thursday Night Football” ratings report. The hosts then turn their attention to Warner Bros. Discovery Sports’ plan to get out of the regional sports network business. As always, Marchand and Ourand offer their picks on Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week. This week, those picks include Patrick Crumb, Kevin Connors, Rob Manfred and Tony Romo. The hosts debut a new segment this week: the MandO Mailbag.1:46 Who’s Up/Who’s Down8:10 College Football Kickoff15:08 “First Take” v “Undisputed”21:01 Networks vs NFL vs Amazon on ratings27:05 WBD Sports leaves RSN business31:27 MandO Mailbag35:03 The Big Get: Mark Ingram II Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fantasy guru Matthew Berry joins the pod this week just a week after news broke that he raised $2 million for his Fantasy Life with an all-star roster of investors including everyone from Casey Wasserman and Tony Khan to Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. Berry discusses his move from ESPN to NBC and how he rode the rise of fantasy sports to create a career. A student of the sports media business, Berry opined on his thoughts of where the business is headed and how today’s sports media stars can amass audiences. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss the biggest sports media news of the day: ESPN’s decision to part ways with Lee Fitting, the executive behind the massive success of College GameDay. Fitting oversaw the production behind all college and pro football at the network. Marchand and Ourand discuss daytime studio changes at ESPN and Fox shows “First Take” and “Undisputed.” The two hosts also highlight reader feedback from their regular disagreement over Amazon’s and Apple’s interest in sports media.Time stamps1:28 Who’s Up/Who’s Down5:07 ESPN and Lee Fitting7:54 The Fox and ESPN talent battle14:56 Apple and Amazon23:00 The Big Get: Matthew Berry Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Less than two weeks after Arizona, Arizona State and Utah bolted the Pac-12 for the Big 12, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark joins the show to explain how it all went down. Yormark details the Big 12’s media rights deals for ESPN and Fox Sports and the rationale behind his decision to renew those deals early. Yormark outlines his vision when he started at the conference a year ago and how closely the events of the past few months aligned with his plans. He spoke about his relationships in the business, including a recent phone call with his Pac 12 counterpart George Kliavkoff. And he makes his case for college basketball to be valued more by networks. As this marks the 100th episode of the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss the top five sports media stories over the past 100 weeks, including changes at ESPN, the emergence of Amazon and Apple in the sports media business, the wild media success of the NFL, the pending media success of the NBA and the implosion of regional sports networks. Marchand and Ourand give their Who’s Up and Who’s Down over the past 100 episodes in sports media.TIME STAMPS1:48 Who’s Up/Who’s Down8:57 ESPN in transition15:11 Amazon v Apple22:50 NFL Media gains30:45 NBA Media future33:39 RSN implosion40:53 The Big Get: Brett Yormark Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Media implications from the Pac-12’s demise make up the biggest topic in this week’s Marchand & Ourand Sports Media podcast, with hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand talking about Pac-12 missteps over the past 12 months, why some university presidents did not like the Apple deal and the changing media marketplace when it comes to sports rights. Marchand and Ourand identify the three main culprits responsible for the Pac-12’s demise. Conversation turned to the College Football Playoff, which currently is negotiating a new rights deal, and NBA, which will start negotiating in earnest early next year. This leads to a discussion of the overall market and why television companies and streamers are driving harder bargains on sports rights than they have in the past. Marchand and Ourand also discuss the plight of Orioles announcer Kevin Brown, who has not called the team’s games in two weeks. The hosts outline reasons why the team decided to keep their top announcer on the bench for two weeks and offer their opinions on the escalating situation. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host Andrew Marchand broke all the news about ESPN’s new NBA booth next season, and on this week’s podcast, he explains why ESPN let go of Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. Host John Ourand broke news this week of NASCAR signing a rights deal with The CW, and on this week’s podcast, he breaks down what the deal means for both The CW and NASCAR. Other topics on this week’s pod include the frightening subscriber numbers sports channels are posting this year; the state of negotiations around the Pac-12’s media deal; an update on the MLS-Apple deal; and the status of ESPN Radio now that the company has outsourced the group’s operations and sales to Craig Karmazin’s Good Karma. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:In this week’s Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast, Mike Tirico joins the show one year before the start of the Summer Olympics in Paris. Tirico talks about his preparation for hosting those games with NBC and his role in covering geopolitical stories during the games. Tirico describes how he broke into the business, how he landed a job at ESPN and what made him move to NBC. Tirico also discusses the situation early in his NBC tenure when he wasn’t calling NFL games and how he kept from being frustrated. Marchand and Ourand open the podcast with a discussion around the company Disney is most likely to pick as a strategic partner on ESPN, from Comcast to sports leagues to venture capital to Big Tech to gambling. The two hosts then talk the story Ourand broke about the number of MLS Season Pass subscribers approaching 1 million. The conversation turns to parsing Apple’s sports ambitions further and a review of the Pac-12’s Media Day. As always, Marchand and Ourand give their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down in sports media for the week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, BoA Securities Analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich joins hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand to discuss ESPN’s future. Reif Ehrlich dissects Bob Iger’s CNBC interview from last week, when he spoke about looking for a strategic partner for ESPN. She talked about who the likely partners on ESPN would be, when ESPN would take its main channel direct-to-consumer and whether Disney is a stronger company without ESPN right now. Reif Ehrlich also analyzed where the multichannel universe is headed, the companies that are best situated for the changes in media and the decision facing the NBA, as that league takes its rights to market. Marchand and Ourand discuss broadcaster moves at ESPN (“MNF Countdown” and NBA games) and FS1 (“Undisputed”). They preview the FIFA Women’s World Cup, give MLS a report card as the league meets for its annual All-Star Game and review ESPN’s coverage from Wimbledon. As with every pod, Marchand and Ourand offer their picks of who in sports media had a good week, and who did not. For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVkDisclosures for Jessica Reif Ehrlich / BofA Securities on DISThe issuer is or was, within the last 12 months, an investment banking client of BofAS and/or one or more of its affiliates.BofAS or an affiliate expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from this issuer or an affiliate of the issuer within the next three months.BofAS or an affiliate has received compensation from the issuer for non-investment banking services or products within the past 12 months.The issuer is or was, within the last 12 months, a securities business client (non-investment banking) of BofAS and/or one or more of its affiliates.The issuer is or was, within the last 12 months, a non-securities business client of BofAS and/or one or more of its affiliates.BofAS or one of its affiliates has a significant financial interest in the fixed income instruments of the issuer. If this report was issued on or after the 15th day of the month, it reflects a significant financial interest on the last day of the previous month. Reports issued before the 15th day of the month reflect a significant financial interest at the end of the second month preceding the report.One or more analysts responsible for covering the securities in this report owns stock of the covered issuer. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Andrew Marchand returns from vacation to offer his perspective on ESPN’s layoffs, from which high-profile on-air departure is the most surprising to educated guesses on who will call NBA games given Jeff Van Gundy’s layoff. Marchand and John Ourand go on to discuss the New York Times’ decision to scrap its sports desk and move its existing sports reporters to the business section. As MLB enters the mid-way point of its season, Marchand and Ourand take a deep dive into the regional sports network crisis that teams, leagues and media companies are facing. The co-hosts discuss MLB’s local media strategy and Charter’s plan to deal with the high-cost channels on its Spectrum cable systems. The two also talk about personnel changes on Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff and opine on the newest Twitter threat: Threads.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, host of a daily four-hour show on SEC Network, joins this week’s pod as a co-host and discusses what it was like inside ESPN as last week’s on-air layoffs were announced, including well-known names like Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and Jalen Rose. Finebaum discusses what his day was like the Friday the layoffs were made and what morale is like among the ESPNers that remain. Ourand and Finebaum, one of the smartest minds in college sports, dive into how the Power Five conferences stand from a media standpoint. Topics include what to expect from the Pac-12’s next media deal, changes to the Big Ten’s media rights package due to take effect this fall, and how the Big 12 appears to be in a better situation than the ACC and Pac-12. Ourand and Finebaum dive into some of the struggles the ACC faces and consider the schools most likely to leave one conference for another. Ourand and Finebaum share their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week and offer a Call of the Week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The fourth and, presumably, last round of Disney’s layoffs is about to hit ESPN’s on-screen stars. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss what to expect and how cuts already have affected ESPN Radio. Marchand and Ourand move into a discussion of last week’s corporate reorg, which saw longtime executive Burke Magnus cement his position as second in command to Jimmy Pitaro. During their wide-ranging discussion, the hosts identify the executives who gained the most power inside ESPN.Other topics on this week’s podcast include a review of Derek Jeter’s debut on Fox Sports’ MLB pregame show; a review of ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage; and the NBA Draft night controversy involving The Athletic’s Shams Charania. SBJ’s media titan Austin Karp returns for a Karp’s Korner segment on MLB ratings. The pod has its regular Who’s Up/Who’s Down segment this week, as well as a Call of the Week honoring ESPN’s Neil Everett, who anchored his final “SportsCenter” last week after a 23-year run. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:With Derek Jeter making his debut on Fox’s MLB coverage this weekend, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how the Hall of Famer shortstop will fit in with the network’s other studio analysts David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez. Marchand and Ourand also address Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s comments about this pod and the XFL. Other topics include: J.J. Watts’ television prospects, Craig Carton’s move from radio to television and Adrian Wojnarowski’s decision not to tip picks on Twitter during this week’s NBA Draft. As always, Marchand and Ourand give offer picks for sports media types who are on the way up and ones on the way down. ESPN host Malika Andrews joins as The Big Get this week, talking about how her journey from editing the school newspaper at the University of Portland to ESPN. Andrews, who will host this week’s NBA Draft on ESPN, discussed her preparation for the night and touched on her career goals. Andrews also talks about her decision to talk about mental health struggles publicly and the feedback she’s received.https://nypost.com/2020/09/16/malika-andrews-fought-painful-demons-before-meteoric-espn-rise/For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:With the end of the NBA Finals, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand look into what’s next for the league, from the media free agents we’ll see on TV next year to the all-important rights deal that has generated huge interest. Marchand and Ourand also detail why viewers should expect the NBA Finals’ earlier start times to remain next season and review the NBA Finals from a media perspective. The hosts discuss why the next four weeks are so important to the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group and the RSNs they run. They look into Messi’s potential impact on MLS and AppleTV+, WWE’s media rights negotiations, changes at the top of NBC Sports, changes on the set of Big Noon Kickoff and an update on Pac-12 rights. As always, they pick the people who had good weeks and bad weeks in sports media. And this week’s episode includes the return of their popular Call of the Week feature.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Andrew Marchand is joined this week by guest host Colin Cowherd, who was in for John Ourand. Marchand and Cowherd reveal "Who's up" and "Who's down." The two go into the media implications of the LIV deal. Cowherd reveals the valuation of his company, The Volume, after just two years. Marchand and Cowherd discuss how ESPN tried to woo Cowherd back from FS1. He discussed how far he got with jobs with National Geographic and CNN when he was leaving ESPN eight years ago. The duo discussed the impending break-up of Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed. They delved into Pat McAfee's move to ESPN. Plus, Cowherd gives some sound advice on how to be happy in sports media. For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:As the NBA is about to start its Heat-Nuggets Finals series, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand look into the league’s media performance throughout the playoffs, comparing the game broadcasts and studio shows from both ESPN and TNT and preview the league’s rights deals, which will start to be negotiated next year. Marchand and Ourand also preview the Panthers-Golden Knights NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals, which will be carried entirely on cable for the first time ever. SBJ’s TV ratings expert Austin Karp returns with his regular Karp’s Korner segment to offer his viewership predictions in both sports. Marchand and Ourand dive into financial analyst Michael Nathanson’s new, more dire prediction about how far cable TV will fall, preview what will happen as Diamond continues to try and operate through bankruptcy and give a review of last week’s Sports Business Awards, where Fox Sports and Eric Shanks swept the media categories. As always, Marchand and Ourand offer their choices for Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week, featuring Charles Barkley, Peter Drury, Kevin Harlan and Crane Kenney.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: The NFL’s decision to add flex scheduling to Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” schedule is this week’s top topic, with hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discussing the move from the perspective of the fan, the league perspective and Amazon. The hosts then dive into ESPN issues from inside information around the company’s decision to hire Pat McAfee to updates on its latest round of layoffs to an in-depth discussion of its direct-to-consumer plans. Other topics on this week’s podcast include the problems around the Big Ten’s media deals that will start in three months; the problems around the Pac-12’s media deals that still seems a ways off; a preview of the NBA Finals series; and a review of CBS’s performance around the PGA Championship. As always, Marchand and Ourand start the podcast by picking the sports business types who had a good week and the ones who didn’t. This segment includes Roger Goodell, Britney Griner, Devin McCourty and Kevin Warren. For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, the NFL’s deal to sell one wildcard playoff game exclusively to the Peacock streaming service for $110 million is a main topic. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss what the deal means for the NFL and NBC. The two hosts also dive into the NFL’s schedule, Pat McAfee’s future and Matt Ryan’s move to join CBS. Plus, the pod brings back its Tom Brady Meter to determine the odds for whether the future Hall of Fame quarterback will join Fox’s broadcast booth by 2024. Other topics include a review of TV networks’ Upfront advertising presentations, an early review of the MLS-Apple deal just a couple of months into the season and LIV Golf’s Heidi moment on The CW over the weekend. As always, Marchand and Ourand offer their choices on who’s up and who’s down in sports media for the week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast: Pat McAfee appears to be on the cusp of leaving his $120 million FanDuel deal in favor of ESPN. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss why McAfee would make this move and what benefits ESPN would get from this deal. Marchand and Ourand also preview the NFL’s schedule release, which is slated for Thursday, and offer a preview of ESPN’s second NFL booth that will be calling five games this fall. This week’s pod also marks the return of the podcast’s “Brady Meter,” which gives the percentage chances that Tom Brady ever will appear in a Fox booth. Marchand talks about how last week’s “Brady Meter” debut made international news and led to the former quarterback commenting on it. Other topics on this week’s pod: ESPN’s decision to not take its NBA studio show to the Western Conference finals this year; the Pac-12’s seemingly endless media negotiations; and the likelihood that the WNBA will double its rights fee revenue.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: From new Super Bowl viewership numbers to NFL Draft news, the NFL is a hot topic for hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand this week. The two also discuss Amazon’s plans around a Black Friday game and Comcast’s decision to drop, then pick back up, NFL Network. Marchand and Ourand trot out the “Brady Meter” to gauge the odds that Tom Brady ever sits behind a microphone in Fox’s NFL booth. With the NBA and NHL playoffs in full swing, the two predict how each league will fare based on the teams that remain. They revisit ESPN’s layoffs, which hit ESPN Radio particularly hard. And then spend some time talking about the Phoenix Suns and Mercury new local media deals with Gray Television and Kiswe, NASCAR’s media rights negotiations and what to expect from this weekend’s Kentucky Derby.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: ESPN started a round of layoffs this week that included one employee of 43 years in PR executive Mike Soltys and another employee of 26 years in senior executive Russell Wolff. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how ESPN’s string of layoffs have affected the morale inside the company. They talk about the business decisions that led to this point, and what this means for the future of ESPN. Marchand and Ourand also discuss ESPN’s announcer signings (Marcus Spears and, potentially, Pat McAfee) and rights deals in light of the layoffs. Outside of ESPN, Marchand and Ourand outline the changes that should be expected at NBC in the wake of Comcast’s sudden move to let go of Jeff Shell after he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a coworker. The two hosts talk about what viewers should look for during the upcoming NFL Draft telecasts, and they walk through Adam Silver’s and Rob Manfred’s vision of how fan will be able to watch local sports over the next several years.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: In this week’s Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast: Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the future of the league’s local and national media rights. The hosts use clips from Silver’s interview at the CAA World Congress of Sports to discuss how the NBA plans to approach the RSN problems and its coming national media rights deal. Marchand and Ourand also discuss the NBA’s plans around its in-season tournament and how it will play in the upcoming national media rights negotiations. Elsewhere on the podcast, Marchand and Ourand discuss the upcoming ESPN layoffs and Marcus Spears new four-year, multi-million deal to stay at the network. The two also dive into the technical problems that affected Netflix and AppleTV+ over the weekend and the early returns on MLB’s rule changes. As always, the two offer their opinions about ‘Who’s Up’ and ‘Who’s Down’ in sports media this week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:YouTube TV just released prices for its “NFL Sunday Ticket” package, which is the opening topic on this week’s podcast. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss why the streaming company made its prices so high and what innovations consumers should expect. The two also dive into the Pac-12’s media rights negotiations, outlining the expected timetable to reach a deal and why The CW is not a likely destination for the college conference’s rights. Marchand and Ourand take a deep dive into CBS and ESPN’s coverage of The Masters, including a review of Jim Nantz’s performance as lead announcer and the networks’ mid-round interviews with golfers that were competing in the tournament, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas. Ourand provides and update on Warner Bros. Discovery’s regional sports network strategy, and Marchand previews the NBA’s playoff storylines.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:In the aftermath of the LSU and UConn college basketball championships, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand dive into the health of both sports as media properties. The two look at the storylines that helped the popularity of the NCAA Women’s College Basketball Tournament and discuss the social media controversy surrounding Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark - the two most popular players in the championship game. Marchand and Ourand bring up Jim Nantz’s final call as play-by-play announcer for the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament and review the tournament’s studio show. Other topics for the pod include a preview of this weekend’s Masters golf tournament and a review of Endeavor’s deal to buy WWE. As always the hosts provide their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week and go back to the women’s tournament for their Call of the Week..For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:WWE CEO Nick Khan joins the podcast days before Wrestlemania and talks about the tumultuous past 12 months when Vince McMahon left the company amid reports of sexual misconduct only to return after six months. Khan addresses the company’s plan to sell its media rights, Wrestlemania’s role in kicking off those talks, Pat McAfee’s role with the company and Roman Reigns Hollywood future. Khan also offers his outlook on the sports media business, including the market for streaming services. He outlines the situation faced by the Pac-12 and NBA as they prepare to go to market with their media rights. Khan also talks about PGA Tour’s strategy against LIV Golf and ESPN’s strategy when it comes to streaming. The most influential talent agent before he joined WWE, Khan discusses the salary structure for sports media’s biggest stars and his role in changing the on-air salary structure at ESPN. Marchand and Ourand preview MLB Season and NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and discuss Twitter’s future role in sports media. The co-hosts begin the pod as they always do – presenting their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down in sports media for the week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:As ESPN employees gird for another round of layoffs that’s about to hit the company, podcast hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand look into what to expect and decisions Disney executives have made to get to this point. Sticking with ESPN, the hosts also talk about Troy Aikman’s role in the changes in the “Monday Night Football” production truck, where Derek Mobley and Steve Ackels will replace Jimmy Platt and Phil Dean as director and producer. Other topics have Marchand and Ourand dissecting Pat McAfee’s choices as he decides where to take his career; predicting who will replace Ian Eagle on the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight telecasts; and offer a tribute to Greg Gumbel, who is stepping away from play-by-play duties on the NFL next year while remaining a studio host for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The future of the Pac-12 media rights are another topic Marchand and Ourand discuss on this week’s pod. SBJ’s Austin Karp joins the pod for another installment of Karp’s Korner where he discusses the TV viewership performance of the NCAA Tournament and LIV Golf. As always, the two offer their picks for who in sports media is up and who’s down for the week, and they roll out a Call of the Week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Jim Nantz’s final NCAA Tournament as lead announcer is the lead topic on this week’s podcast with Andrew Marchand and John Ourand also discuss Jay Wright’s first March Madness as a full-time announcer. Bob Iger said it was “inevitable” that ESPN would be offered as a direct-to-consumer service at some point, prompting Marchand and Ourand to continue their long-running debate on when that would be and how much it would cost. This is the week that Diamond Sports Group, which owns the Bally Sports regional sports networks, is expected to file for bankruptcy protection. The hosts talk about what that development means for fans. Other topics include changes inside ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” production truck and the trend of NFL hosts that publicize questionable information. Marchand and Ourand also answer questions from their mailbag on the pricing of the MLS Season Pass package and how to tell when announcers are past their prime.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:In the wake of ESPN’s executive reorg, pod hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand look into the future of ESPN, including a discussion of when ESPN will make its main channel available to cord cutters via streaming. The hosts also dissect MLB’s move to create a local media department and talk about what that means for the RSN business. ESPN’s NBA analyst Doris Burke joins this week as The Big Get and discusses how she got into the announcing business, her big break and the announcers she listened to growing up. Burke talks in depth about her reactions to the time when the rapper Drake wore a Doris Burke shirt courtside at an NBA game in 2016.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Diamond Sports, which operates 19 regional sports networks, is headed into bankruptcy. Warner Bros. Discovery told teams that it is weeks away from shutting down its three AT&T SportsNet RSNs for good. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how the failing financial fortunes at the regional sports networks will affect how fans watch the games. Marchand and Ourand also provide updates on the Pac-12 media rights situation and review Apple’s first weekend with MLS games. They also talk about the TV future of Charles Barkley and Frank Thomas. As always, the duo provide their picks for who in sports media is up – and who in sports media is down – for the week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pac-12’s on-again and off-again negotiations for its next round of media rights take center stage on this week’s podcast, as hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss which media companies are interested in doing a deal and which ones aren’t. Marchand reported that Apple has emerged as a potential landing spot for the Pac-12, leading the hosts to dissect Apple’s sports media strategy. Other topics on this week’s pod include the NBA’s All-Star Game performance, MLB rule changes and the first weekend of the XFL. Marchand and Ourand talk about the TV production innovations they like most from the XFL and the USFL, which starts its second season in April. This episode has a Mailbag segment where the hosts answer questions from email and Twitter. Marchand and Ourand offer a tribute to longtime MLB broadcast Tim McCarver, who died Feb. 16. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand review Fox’s Super Bowl production, analyzing everything from the Kevin Burkhardt-Greg Olsen booth to the network’s multi-hour pregame show. The two also look back on the biggest stories of the season that just completed, from Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” debut to YouTube’s “Sunday Ticket” deal. Tony Romo’s future in the CBS booth also gets the hosts’ focus.Marchand and Ourand also handicap the NBA’s and the Pac-12’s rights negotiations. They outline what RSN viewers should expect in the next 30 days as Diamond Sports Group careens toward bankruptcy. Fox Sports’ announcement that Derek Jeter will join its baseball crew also becomes a topic. The duo end the podcast with a tribute to Barry Sacks, who died this week. Sacks spent 33 years as a producer at ESPN before leaving in 2016. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NFL’s chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp joins the podcast just three days before the Super Bowl to discuss the league’s media strategy including its blockbuster Sunday Ticket deal with Google YouTube. Rolapp outlines how the deal came about and discusses how the Sunday Ticket package may change after spending nearly 30 years on DirecTV. Rolapp also answers questions about the NFL’s push to find a company to partner on the NFL’s media properties, including NFL Network, RedZone Channel and NFL.com. Rolapp discusses changes viewers will notice in the new television packages that kick-in next season, specifically flex scheduling for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” and, potentially, for Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football.” Marchand and Ourand ask Rolapp about his thoughts on the Pro Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, the future of NFL+ and the likelihood of having the league exercise an opt out in its broadcast deals seven years from now. Other questions hit on the diversity of NFL Media’s staff and the NFL’s position on gambling. As usual, Marchand and Ourand open the pod with their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week in sports media. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks joins the podcast on the eve of producing a Super Bowl to discuss some of the biggest sports media topics in the business with hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand. Shanks discusses his plans for the Super Bowl, from where he will sit to what the viewership will look like. Shanks answers questions about the free agent frenzy among broadcasters, from Troy Aikman and Joe Buck’s decision to leave Fox for ESPN to his decision to elevate Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen to the network’s top NFL booth. Shanks also discloses his role in hiring Tom Brady and what to expect when Brady joins the booth for the 2024 season. Shanks also tackles some of the biggest sports media topics, from Fox’s decision to not invest as much as other media companies on a standalone streaming service to its decision to get out of the regional sports network business. Shanks talks about potential rights deals with the College Football Playoff and Pac-12 conference, as well as Fox’s role in selling Big Ten rights to CBS and NBC. As usual, Marchand and Ourand open the pod with their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week in sports media. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand review the broadcast booths for CBS’s production of the AFC Championship game and Fox’s NFC Championship telecast. The two hosts also talk about what Diamond Sports Group’s pending bankruptcy means for professional sports teams and what YES Network’s expected streaming service will look like for the upcoming Yankees seasons. Marchand and Ourand also dive into media rights negotiations for both the Pac-12 and NASCAR. The podcast unveils a new segment this week with Karp’s Korner. SBJ’s Austin Karp joins to put the NFL’s huge championship game TV ratings in perspective. Karp also discusses the NHL’s ratings performance heading into its All-Star break – with ESPN and TNT showing a 22% drop in viewers compared to the previous year. Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:The NFL dominated television over the weekend during the Divisional Playoffs. It also dominated the first part of this week’s podcast as Andrew Marchand and John Ourand analyze how the different broadcast booths handled the games. The two also discuss Tom Brady’s options as the future Hall of Famer decides whether to play another season or venture into the broadcast booth. Other topics include the headlines being made by Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe; LIV Golf’s TV deal with The CW; and HBO Max’s first sports streaming efforts with the USWNT last week and the USMNT this week.Mentioned this week: Tom Brady, Chris Mason, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Mike Florio, Albert Breer, Joe Davis, Adam Amin, Jason Benetti, George Kliavkoff, Kathleen Finch, Rob Manfred, Adam Silver, Gary Bettman, Dana White, Anne White, Josh Allen, Phil Simms, Patrick Mahomes, Ian Eagle, Alex Rodriguez, Dalton Schultz, Charvarius Ward, Daryl Johnston, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Damar Hamlin, Cris Collinsworth, Drew Brees, Sean McVay, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Muhammad Ali, Gisele Bündchen, Jim Gray, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe, Acie Wyatt, Will Smith, Charles Barkley, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jamie Horowitz, Phil Mickelson, Luke Wileman, Colin Campbell, Snoop Dogg, ESPN Potato Chips, TB12, Say It Ain’t So ProductionsFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Pod hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand dissect all aspects of the NFL’s Wild Card weekend, from a sports media perspective. They look into whether social media complaints about Al Michaels’ and Tony Dungy’s performance are fair, and they look into how the top NFL broadcast teams on other networks fared: Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on NBC, Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen on Fox, Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on CBS, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on ESPN and Joe Davis and Daryl Johnston on Fox. Marchand and Ourand also review ManningCast’s playoff performance; predict whether Fox will have Tom Brady on air this postseason and look into the sports media fortunes of Sean McVay. The hosts identify the sports media executives that will be considered for the Big Ten Commissioner job being vacated by Kevin Warren; MLB’s plans around local media; and the likelihood of Netflix bidding on sports rights.Mentioned this week: Al Michaels, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Deion Sanders, Nick Khan, The Miz, Roman Reigns, Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Jason McCourty, Devin McCourty, Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt, John Angelos, Mike Elias, Dan Connolly, Darren Cahill, Rennae Stubbs, Pam Shriver, Chris Fowler, John McEnroe, Tony Dungy, Ian Eagle, Ross Matiscik, Logan Cooke, Riley Patterson, Cris Collinsworth, Kirk Herbstreit, Drew Brees, Mike Tirico, Pat Summerall, Ray Scott, John Madden, Vin Scully, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston, Cover-2, A-Gap, Phil Simms, Dan Campbell, Snoop Dogg, Sean McVay, Peter King, NYP Sports Plus, Kathryn Tappen, Kevin Warren, Burke Magnus, Mark Silverman, Jim Phillips, George Kliavkoff, Brett Yormark, Eric Shanks, Billy Chambers, Chris Ripley, Brandon Riegg, Gilbert Arenas, Tyler Huntley, Sam Hubbard, The Cincinnati Kid, Mark Andrews, Fred Gaudelli, Chris Mason, Acie Wyatt For more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:How did ESPN end up with a Cowboys playoff game? That’s one of many NFL playoff-related topics discussed by Andrew Marchand and John Ourand this week. Other topics include how CBS and Fox handled the final regular season NFL Sunday, Greg Gumbel’s week 18 performance, DirecTV’s negotiations for NFL Sunday Ticket’s commercial rights and a look back at 2022’s 100 most viewed shows on television – a list that is dominated by NFL games. Ourand is in Los Angeles and gives a report from the site of thethe CFP Championship game. College football topics include Pat McAfee’s alternate telecast around the championship game, an update on media rights to the planned CFP expansion and a preview of NBC’s planned “Blackbird” booth for the Big Ten that will feature Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge. Mentioned this episode: Tom Brady, Pat McAfee, Jamie Horowitz, Jake Horowitz, Jimmy Pitaro, Austin Karp, Cameron Maybin, Jon Greenberg, Tim McCarver, Tony Kubek, Ron Darling, Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, Justin Kutcher, Troy Vincent, Watergate, Damar Hamlin, Joe Buck, Don Van Natta, Tony Romo, Jim Nantz, Nyheim Hines, Scott Van Pelt, Uncle Sloppy Joe, Joe Simons, Al Michaels, Tony Dungy, Sean McVay, Jason Witten, Aaron Rodgers, Greg Gumbel, Deshaun Watson, David Njoku, Billy Wanger, Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons, Charles Barkley, Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge, Ian Eagle, Ryan Glasspiegel, Chris Mason, Acie WyattFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss ESPN’s coverage of the injury suffered by the Buffalo Bills’s Damar Hamlin during “Monday Night Football” and what the network could have done differently. Other topics include Google/YouTube’s $2+ billion deal for the NFL Sunday Ticket package and Amazon’s plans to launch a sports-focused app. This week’s show has regular podcast features like Who’s Up and Who’s Down and Call of the Week. Mentioned this week: Sean McDonough, Scott Van Pelt, Damar Hamlin, Jim McKay, Bob Costas, Bryant Gumbel, Bob Ley, Chris Fowler, Andy Jassy, Franco Harris, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Booger McFarland, Suzy Kolber, Adam Schefter, Don Van Natta Jr., Coley Harvey, Ben Baby, Ryan Clark, John Parry, Josh Allen, Tripp Mickle, Chris Mason, Anne Ourand, Mike Soltys, Donovan Edwards, Colston Loveland, Queen Frostine, Acie Wyatt, Ross NetheryFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:Andrew Marchand and John Ourand offer their sports media predictions for 2023. The hosts hit on everything from whether Tom Brady will actually be part of Fox’s top NFL announcer booth to the likelihood of DirecTV and Diamond Sports reaching an RSN deal. Other predictions involve the NBA, NWSL, LIV Golf, WWE and the College Football Playoff. Marchand and Ourand discuss ESPN’s gambling prospects and preview what’s ahead for Warner Bros Discovery Sports. Mentioned this week: Tom Brady, Johnny Miller, Chris Russo, Gisele Bündchen, Steve Young, Greg Olsen, Kevin Burkhardt, Brad Zager, Eric Shanks, Brian Rolapp, Sean McVay, Jimmy Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning, Tim McCarver, Al Michaels, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin, Kirk Herbstreit, David Preschlack, Rob Thun, Adam Silver, David Zaslav, Mark Lazarus, Lionel Messi, Nick Khan, Crystal Dunn, Chris Mason, Chris Legentil, Pete Bevacqua, Ryan Glasspiegel, Larry King, Jimmy Pitaro, Burke Magnus, Adam Schefter, Lenny Daniels, Luis Silberwasser, Rupert Murdoch, Acie WyattFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: Andrew Marchand and John Ourand choose the ten biggest stories they covered over the past 12 months. The duo starts with the free agent frenzy among NFL announcers last off-season and carries on to the upheaval in local sports TV marketplace. Other topics include Amazon and Apple’s sports strategy, Big Ten media rights deal, the rise of soccer on TV and executive moves at the top of the biggest companies in sports media. There’s also an in-depth conversation about whether the word ‘irregardless’ should ever be uttered on this pod again. Mentioned this week: Joe Buck, Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, Chris Russo, Tom Brady, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Al Michaels, Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Jim Nantz, Roger Goodell, Brian Rolapp, Hans Schroeder, Chris Fowler, irregardless, Chris Mason, Chris Ripley, Adam Silver, John Leo Ourand, Kirk Herbstreit, Dude Perfect, LeBron James, Abe Madkour, Mark Lazarus, ethos, Judge Acie Wyatt, Eric Shanks, Katie Nolan, Tripp Mickle, JJ Redick, Mike Krzyzewski, Coach K podcast producer, Jeff Zucker, David Zaslav, Dick Ebersol, Luis Silberwasser, Lenny Daniels, Bob Iger, Bob Chapek, Jimmy Pitaro, Dan Loeb, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Mark Silverman, Larry Jones, Lionel Messi, Rob Manfred, John Strong, Pep Guardiola, Michael Nathanson, Garrett Camp, Travis Kalanick, Merriam-Webster, Reggie Walker For more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports, Former basketball player and current ESPN star JJ Redick joins the podcast to discuss his media career. He talks about how and why he started his “Old Man and the Three” podcast and the growth of athlete-driven media. Redick talks about his time on ESPN’s “First Take” and some of the viral moments that it has produced. Redick talks about his time at Duke and how he dealt with obnoxious fans from John Ourand’s alma mater, Maryland. SBJ released its list of the Most Influential executives in sports business this week, which is the first topic on this week’s show. Hosts Andrew Marchand and Ourand also hit on the NFL’s Sunday Ticket discussions, Major Soccer’s deal with Fox, NFL Network’s decision to use Noah Eagle and Nate Burleson on Saturday’s Colts-Vikings game and NBC’s decision to use Maria Taylor on college football.Mentioned this week: Chris Russo, Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman, Erik Rydholm, Aaron Solomon, JA Adande, Kevin Blackistone, Frank Isola, Jackie MacMullan, Bob Ryan, Sarah Spain, Mina Kimes, John Strong, Joe Buck, Ryan Ruocco, Noah Eagle, Adam Amin, Jason Benetti, Joe Davis, Gus Johnson, Ian Darke, Jon Stainer, Austin Karp, Tim Buckman, Abe Madkour, Marie Donoghue, Jay Marine, Fred Gaudelli, Al Michaels, Adam Silver, Roger Goodell, Brian Rolapp, Eric Shanks, Chris Ripley, Jimmy Pitaro, Sean McManus, David Berson, Pete Bevacqua, Molly Solomon, Andrew Fegyveresi, Nate Burleson, Ian Eagle, Maria Taylor, Cassidy Hubbarth, Adrian Wojnarowski, Bill Simmons, Draymond Green, CJ McCollum, Patrick Beverly, Marcus Spears, Kendrick Perkins, Bob Cousy, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Skip Bayless, Mike Krzyzewski, Chris Collins, Steve Wojciechowski, Johnny Dawkins, Greg Paulus, John Anderson, Grant Wahl, David Beckham, Chris Mason, Acie WyattFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC SportsThe latest developments in the Pac-12’s media rights negotiations and MLS’ push to get a traditional TV network to carry its games next season are the top two podcasts on this week’s pod. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand also spend some time on whether Fox Sports’ production of the World Cup from Qatar is getting better and they parse some of NBC honcho Mark Lazarus’ comments from SBJ’s Media Innovators conference in New York City. As always, Marchand and Ourand identify who in sports media has had a good week and who has not. Instead of a Call of the Week this week, the hosts answer a reader’s question that was submitted via Twitter. Mentioned this week: Joe Buck, Troy Ailkman, Chris Russo, JJ Redick, Mike Krzyzewski, Gary Williams, MandO Mojitos, Sarah Langs, Lou Gehrig, Mike Biard, Adam Schefter, Deshaun Watson, Chris Ripley, David Preschlack, Freddie Mercury, Chris Mason, Rob Manfred, George Kliavkoff, Dennis Dodd, Michael Smith, Kevin Warren, Lionel Messi, John Strong, Stu Holden, Alexi Lalas, Grandma Marchand, Côte d’Azur, Marchand & Ourand Podcast des Médias Sportifs, Mark Lazarus, Ted Turner, Abe Madkour, Brian Roberts, Jason Kilar, Noah Garden, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Andrew Stolowitz, Steph Curry, Bradley Beal, Acie WyattFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand co-hosted this podcast at SBJ’s Media Innovators conference in New York City. The live audience attending the late afternoon taping were treated to “MandO Mojitos.” The live podcast has the same “Who’s Up/Who’s Down” segment that is a regular part of the Marchand & Ourand Sports Media podcast. For the live show, Marchand and Ourand document the strategies for all sports media companies, including CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, Amazon, Apple and Netflix. The duo also answer audience questions.Mentioned on the Bonus Live Pod: Jimmy Pitaro, Steve Bornstein, Gary Bettman, Marie Donoghue, Steve Phelps, Shaqille O’Neal, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Al Michaels, MandO Mojito, Ray Warren, Abe Madkour, Eric Shanks, Chris Ripley, Steve Rosenberg, Adam Silver, Rob Manfred, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Acie Wyatt, Adam Schefter, Bob Iger, Brian Rolapp, Walter White, Gale Boetticher, Joe Lemire, Jeff Passan, Michael Nathanson, Jen Sabatelle, Greg Hughes, Chris LaPlaca, Andrew Fegyveresi, Nate Smeltz, David Zaslav, Meghan Ourand, Mike Soltys, Ross Nethery, Taylor Swift, Michael Jordan, Mike Bass, Joe Girardi, Kirk Herbstreit, Chris Mason, Rick DiPietro, Dave Rothenberg, Stu Holden Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports, Andrew Marchand and John Ourand review Fox Sports’ performance during the first week of the World Cup from Qatar. The two also look at whether the tournament’s move to November and December has affected TV viewership yet. The two also discuss rumors that soccer superstar Lionel Messi may join MLS and debate whether that will help AppleTV+. Ourand discusses a story he broke on Monday about Lenny Daniels leaving Warner Bros. Discovery Sports after 27 years, and Marchand dives into a story he broke Monday on whether former Yankees Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly will join YES Network. Plus, the two give updates on the Big Ten and Pac-12. As always, The two give their regular Who’s Up and Who’s Down picks, answer a listener’s question and give their Call of the Week.Mentioned this week: Lionel Messi, Andrés Cantor, Mina Kimes, Erin Andrews, Johnnie-O, Bob Thompson, John O’Donnell, Chris O’Donnell, Roger Goodell, Dave Brown, Nick Dawson, Bill Self, Mike Woodson, Robert Kraft, Scott Hanson, Hans Schroeder, Heidi, Lamar Jackson, Jamison Hensley, Dick Ebersol, Roone Arledge, Harry Kane, Tom Brady, Urban Meyer, JP Dellacamera, Jacqui Oatley, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Taylor Swift, Lenny Daniels, Mark Lazarus, David Levy, Jeff Zucker, David Zaslav, Luis Silberwasser, Jon Diament, Craig Barry, Tara August, Nate Smeltz, Charles Barkley, Jimmy Pitaro, Andrew Fegyveresi, Mike Mulvihill, David Bourne, Dennis Dodd, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly, Michael Kay, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Judge, Adley Rutschman, MandO Mojito, Moe Khan, Greg Hughes, Greg Gumbel, Josh Jacobs, Anderson Cooper, Lily the springer spaniel, Acie Wyatt, Chris MasonFor more information on WSC Sports visit bit.ly/3OzggWO Sign up for SBJ 360, our free, daily newsletter. SBJ 360 delivers a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.