Sports Media Watch Podcast

On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner discuss the NFL's Super Wild Card Weekend, including the viewership success of the Peacock exclusive game. The crew then talks about the possible strategic partnership between ESPN and the NFL, questioning whether it makes sense for either side. Jon and Drew close out the show discussing the odd decision for NBC to tout its Peacock viewership numbers during halftime of Rams-Lions, and then preview the divisional round.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner dive into the controversy surrounding Pat McAfee, Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Kimmel, Norby Williamson, and Disney/ESPN. Then, the crew jumps into how NFL regular season viewership fared, the schedule for Super Wild Card Weekend, and ESPN reportedly bidding to extend its exclusive rights for the expanded College Football Playoff.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner run through the past two weeks in sports viewership starting with the College Football Playoffs and New Year's Six bowl games. Then, the crew discusses Amazon's 24% increase year-over-year for Thursday Night Football. Jon and Drew also cover how Peacock's NFL exclusive fared and what to think of the NFL-NBA competition on Christmas Day.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon and Drew are joined by industry veterans John Kosner and Ed Desser for a big picture look at sports media. John Kosner previously served as the NBA's VP of Broadcasting during the Dream Team era and most recently served as ESPN's Executive Vice President and General Manager, Digital and Print Media before beginning his consultancy firm Kosner Media. Ed Desser served as a senior executive in the NBA's Commissioner's Office and as President of NBA Television where he negotiated numerous media rights deals for the league and has run his consultancy Desser Sports Media since 2005. The crew covers the NBA's upcoming media rights negotiations, the state of linear television and the transition to digital, fragmentation in the industry, Disney's trial balloon for divesting ABC, and possible strategic partners at ESPN.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, ESPN's Hannah Storm joins the show to discuss her prolific career on television including her start at CNN Sports, calling the inaugural WNBA season, hosting an NBA Finals with Jordan's Bulls, her time at The Early Show, the challenges she has faced as a woman in sports media, and more. To start the show, Jon and Drew cover the news that Amazon may be interested in a strategic partnership with Diamond Sports that would put the Bally Sports RSNs on Amazon Prime. They also cover last week's NFL ratings and look ahead to the Christmas Day triple header and how the NBA can reclaim some of the Christmas real estate it has lost to football.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon and Drew welcome longtime Indiana Pacers play-by-play announcer Chris Denari to the show to talk about the In-Season Tournament, Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers, what it's like to become part of the fabric of a franchise, the Indiana Fever possibly getting Caitlin Clark, and living in a basketball-crazed state. Beforehand, Jon and Drew discuss the news that Al Michaels will not return to call a playoff game for NBC this year. Plus: ratings talk around the NBA In-Season Tournament, NFL Week 13, and the MLS Cup Final.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner discuss if ratings were what kept Florida State out of the College Football Playoff. Plus: the Philadelphia Eagles as the NFL's new ratings darling; a look ahead to the rest of the NFL season; and NASCAR's new media rights deal in context.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Bryan Curtis of The Ringer joins the show to discuss a potpourri of media topics, starting with the news that Sports Illustrated used fictitious, nonexistent authors to byline AI generated stories on their website. Then, Bryan weighs in on the unusual pile-on that happened in the wake of Charissa Thompson's situation last week, and why he doesn't care much for ratings and viewership discourse. Bryan and the crew close out the interview talking about the parallels between college football message boards and the current political landscape, and whether sports media will lean into politics as it did in 2020, or take a more neutral approach as the 2024 election nears. Prior to the interview, Jon and Drew get into a wonky ratings conversation regarding out-of-home viewing and the NFL's Thanksgiving Day games. To close the show, Jon and Drew take on a couple quick hitters: ESPN and TNT intermingling their NBA studio shows for the In-Season Tournament, and a seemingly annual tradition of the "Tiger Woods' return" press conference in the Bahamas.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon and Drew are joined by play-by-play announcer Alex Faust who currently calls NHL for TNT and MSG Network and also does college football for Fox. Faust discusses his career as a broadcaster that covers a wide range of sports, the circumstances leading to his departure from the Los Angeles Kings last season, and how starting his career in corporate America has helped him navigate the sports media industry. Jon and Drew start the show with a brief discussion about the record-setting night for ESPN's Monday Night Football. Following the interview with Faust, Jon and Drew dive into a lengthy conversation about the media's reaction to Charissa Thompson.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode, Jon Lewis and Drew Lerner are joined by ESPN play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch to talk about his career in broadcasting, what it's like to work with Bill Walton, his two decades as voice of the Arizona Cardinals, and calling a Luka Doncic buzzer beater from his basement. Jon and Drew also provide the normal ratings discussion -- how the NFL fared in a week with lackluster primetime matchups, potential flex candidates, NBA in-season tournament ratings, and rumors that Netflix might buy in-season tournament rights. The crew wraps the show discussing Dick Vitale deciding to delay his return to broadcasting as he recovers from vocal cord cancer.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy