

Sports Media Watch Podcast
Jon Lewis
Sports Media Watch founder Jon Lewis is joined each week by Armand Broady for a weekly discussion of the latest developments in the sports media industry, from ratings to rights deals to personnel moves. Go beyond the headlines with the in-depth analyses and historical context that are a hallmark of Sports Media Watch.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 4, 2025 • 57min
How Women's NCAA is holding up sans-Clark, Men's Final Four, MLB TV coverage and more
On the new edition of the Sports Media Watch Podcast, Jon Lewis and Armand Broady discuss how viewership for the NCAA women's basketball tournament has held up post-Caitlin Clark, ratings potential for the men's Final Four, flaws in MLB TV coverage and much more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 31, 2025 • 52min
Talking ratings and measurement with Bryan Goski of VideoAmp
Bryan Goski, Executive Vice President of Revenue at VideoAmp, dives into the evolving landscape of media measurement. He discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by big data, particularly in sports broadcasting. The conversation highlights the complexities of out-of-home viewership and the need for transparency in television ratings. Goski emphasizes the importance of innovative measurement technologies and clean room technology for secure data exchange, while also addressing the changing dynamics of live sports consumption in today's media environment.

Mar 28, 2025 • 48min
CBS announcer shakeup, March Madness ratings, Bob Costas thoughts and more
On the new edition of the Sports Media Watch podcast, Jon Lewis and Armand Broady dive deep into CBS's football announcer shakeup, breaking down Gary Danielson's retirement, JJ Watt's surprise promotion, and Charles Davis' future. Plus, a look at March Madness ratings on both the men's and women's side, and what to expect for Caitlin Clark's second WNBA season in the wake of the league's schedule release.Also, Jon and Armand offer their reflections on Bob Costas' appearance on the podcast from last week.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 21, 2025 • 1h 22min
Special guest Bob Costas on his career, journalism and much more
Famed broadcaster Bob Costas, who was the longtime face of NBC Sports and more recently has called Major League Baseball games for TBS and MLB Network, joined Jon Lewis and Armand Broady on the Sports Media Watch Podcast this week in a wide-ranging interview covering the final years of his career on TBS -- including the criticism he received for his work in last year’s postseason -- his relationship with NBC Sports and the golden years of his career.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 14, 2025 • 1h 17min
NBA ratings and guest Jorge Sedano
On the new edition of the Sports Media Watch Podcast, Jon Lewis and Armand Broady are joined by ESPN's Jorge Sedano for an extensive conversation about his time on ESPN's "Around the Horn," his foray into play-by-play, the state of the Lakers and the controversy surrounding NBA media coverage.Plus, Jon and Armand discuss the weekend NBA ratings and whether the NBA can ever get viewers as interested in Denver-OKC as they are in Lakers-Celtics.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mar 7, 2025 • 50min
End of "Around the Horn," Zaslav's NBA comments and the future of WBD, Jimmy Johnson's retirement
On the latest edition of the SMW podcast, Jon Lewis and Armand Broady discuss the end of the long-running ESPN show "Around the Horn" after 23 years on the air. The hosts analyze how the show has evolved over time, from its early days with a more confrontational tone under host Jay Mariotti, to the current more measured approach under Tony Reali. They explore how the show's diversification of panelists may have turned off some viewers, and how ESPN's desire for more "rage bait" and heated debates may have made the show less valuable to the network.The discussion then shifts to the sports media strategy of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav, who has been vocal about the company's approach to sports rights. The hosts are skeptical of Zaslav's claims that losing the NBA rights was a "great decision" for the company, and predict challenges ahead as WBD tries to fill programming gaps.Finally, the podcast touches on the retirement announcement of longtime Fox NFL analyst Jimmy Johnson, and speculates on how Fox may look to replace him on their pregame show.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 28, 2025 • 52min
MLB-ESPN split, Four Nations ratings recap, Richard Jefferson, Laura Rutledge and more
On the new SMW podcast, Jon Lewis and Armand Broady dissect the end of the MLB-ESPN partnership, examining the tone and implications of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's memo to owners. The discussion then shifts to the surprising success of the NHL's Four Nations Face-Off, which delivered viewership milestones for the league.The hosts also touch on the latest developments surrounding the NBA, including the Lakers and Warriors' resurgence and the decision to have Richard Jefferson join the lead NBA team on ESPN. Additionally, they analyze ESPN's contract extension with reporter Laura Rutledge and the new sports offerings on the Max streaming service, including the introduction of a higher-tier subscription for live sports content.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 20, 2025 • 46min
All-Star ratings, NBA's negative media, Daytona 500, Four Nations Face-Off and more
On the new edition of the Sports Media Watch podcast, Jon Lewis and Armand Broady discuss the ratings for the NBA All-Star Game and the broader negative media coverage of the league -- including the role its own media partners play in the complaints. Plus, Daytona 500 and Four Nations Face-Off ratings, plus will Netflix actually bid for Sunday afternoon NFL rights?Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 14, 2025 • 35min
Super Bowl ratings breakdown, Brady's performance, Luka's Laker debut and more
This episode of the Sports Media Watch Podcast dives into the record-breaking Super Bowl viewership numbers, analyzing the impact of methodology changes on the data. Hosts Jon Lewis and Armand Broady also break down Tom Brady's performance as a broadcaster and discuss the future of Fox's NFL coverage. Plus, insights on the NBA's Luka-LeBron pairing and the ongoing negotiations between MLB and ESPN. Don't miss this in-depth look at the latest sports media news and trends.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Feb 8, 2025 • 38min
Super Bowl preview: Brady, the ratings, halftime and the future
In this Super Bowl preview edition of the Sports Media Watch Podcast, hosts Jon Lewis and Armand Broady discuss Tom Brady's debut on the Big Game, the expected TV ratings and more, including the Kendrick Lamar halftime show and whether Fox Sports may be in its final years covering the Super Bowl.The hosts analyze Brady's broadcasting experience and the challenges he may face as the sole analyst for the big game. They also provide context around the evolving TV ratings landscape and Nielsen's measurement changes. Additionally, they discuss whether "Chiefs fatigue" could impact viewership for the matchup.You can subscribe to the Sports Media Watch Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms to catch this and future episodes.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy