Football carries the week, as Andrew Marchand and John Ourand go deep on NBC’s surprise decision to hire Melissa Stark as its “Sunday Night Football” sideline reporter; give an update on where Fox stands in terms of naming their top NFL talent; and reviews the USFL’s opening weekend. Marchand and Ourand discuss the Big Ten’s next media rights deal, compare Apple and Peacock’s strategies with MLB and check in with ESPN’s K-Rod booth.

Podcast shoutouts this week: Melissa Stark, Chris Ripley, Burke Magnus, David Berson, Jon Miller, Kathryn Tappen, Al Michaels, Mike Tirico, Drew Brees, Cris Collinsworth, Greg Olsen, Joe Buck, Kevin Burkhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Tony Romo, John Madden, Troy Aikman, Joe Davis, Mark Sanchez, Jon Vilma, Brad Zager, Eric Shanks, Ted Lasso, Katie Nolan, Alex Sherman, Tripp Mickle, Tim Cook, Steve Jobs, Fred Gaudelli, Kirk Herbstreit, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Kay, Chris Russo, John Sterling, Suzyn Waldman, Matt Vasgergian, Mike Breen, Chris Carrino, Ryan Ruocco, Richard Jefferson, Mike Greenberg, Stephen A. Smith, Scott Lauer, Scott Matthews

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Episode 29: NFL TV moves, USFL launch and Big Ten negotiations