The Impact of NFL on CBS and Television Industry

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.