The Sports Media Podcast

Sports media’s push to streaming dominates the first part of this week’s podcast, as Andrew Marchand and John Ourand take a deep dive into how Amazon fared during its first exclusive NFL game. Marchand and Ourand take a look at Amazon’s performance from the NBA’s perspective since that league’s media rights deals are up after the 2024-25 season. They bring up both the good and the bad with Amazon’s stream of the Chargers-Chiefs game.Other streaming topics include the potential for AppleTV+ to carry a historic MLB game as Aaron Judge chases Roger Maris’ Yankees homerun record and discuss how a direct-to-consumer ESPN may look. College rights negotiations continue to be a big issue, as the Big 12 and Pac-12 have started looking into re-doing their deals. And they tell you why Dwyane Wade is leaving TNT’s NBA telecasts this season. As always, the show has its Who’s Up/Who’s Down and Call of the Week features.Mentions: Aaron Judge, Roger Maris, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Jimmy Pitaro, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Scott Van Pelt, Burke Magnus, Bob Chapek, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Ian Eagle, Eddy Cue, Dean Spanos, Justin Herbert, Jay Marine, Marie Donoghue, Jared Stacy, Fred Gaudelli, Kaylee Hartung, Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dude Perfect, Joe Flint, Jeff Bezos, Bart Simpson, Al Bundy, Roger Goodell, Chris Russo, Pat McAfee, Stephen Nelson, Hunter Pence, Katie Nolan, Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, John Canzano, Jon Wilner, George Kliavkoff, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Harlan, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jason McCourty, Michael Nathanson, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason

  Days before they will call the first regular season NFL game on Amazon Prime, Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit joined the pod this week to discuss their plan for calling games on the streaming service and how they’ve approached their partnership. The two also discuss the free agent frenzy that hit NFL announcers in the off season; Michaels talks about how he will decide when to hang up his announcer’s microphone; and Herbstreit offers his two cents on Big Ten expansion. Other topics: Michaels’ disdain for vegetables and Herbstreit’s travel schedule to Boone, N.C.  Marchand and Ourand also discuss ESPN’s future, what to expect from Amazon’s first game and a review of Week 1 on television. The two also make their weekly picks about Who’s Up, Who’s Down and Call of the Week.  Mentioned this week: Ian Eagle, Chris Russo, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Chris Finnegan, Pat McAfee, Brad Marchand, Jimmy Pitaro, Bob Chapek, Urban Meyer, Jac Collinsworth, Maria Taylor, Mike Tirico, Tim of Shelbyville, Tenn., Rick Mace, Jonathan Tannenwald, Brian Roberts, Charlie Ergen, Rob Thun, Brian Rolapp, Hans Schroeder, Michael Nathanson, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Robert Seidman, Marion Barry, Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Darren Rovell, Joel McHale, Shannon Sharpe, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Chris LaPlaca, Jay Marine, Marie Donoghue, Fred Gaudelli, Jared Stacy, Tripp Mickle, Jeff Bezos, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Justin Reid, Eric Reid, Cris Collinsworth, Marty Brennaman, Wayne Lucas, Mario Cristobal, Jimbo Fisher, Mack Brown, Michael Smith, Bob Kraft, Michele Tafoya, Jay Michaels, Lila Roginsky, Dr. Spock, Michael Kay, Ian Eagle, Jo Ann Ross, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason  

 Fox Sports’ top NFL announcing team of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen join the pod this week to discuss the upcoming season when they will call the Super Bowl for the first time. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand ask about the long off-season process to become Fox’s top NFL broadcasting team. Burkhardt and Olsen also address Tom Brady, who is scheduled to replace Olsen when he stops playing football. Other topics include their New Jersey roots, where Burkhardt called Olsen’s high-school games; Burkhardt’s “first pitch” at Citi Field; and Burkhardt’s role on WFAN 20 years ago. Marchand and Ourand also discuss the NFL’s upcoming season, from Amazon’s debut and the Manningcast to NBC’s Sunday Night Football’s expected performance. The two opine on what the expansion of the College Football Playoff means to ESPN, Fox and Amazon.Mentioned on the pod: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Jay Marine, Marie Donoghue, Jeff Bezos, Brett Yormark, Burke Magnus, Ray Davis, Sarah Krouse, Chris Fowler, Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Tony Romo, Jim Nantz, Peyton Manning, Fred Gaudelli, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Chris Olsen, Jr., Chris Olsen, Sr., Art Stapleton, Mike Trevino, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi, Rob Boras, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Charles Davis, Kenny Albert, Gregg Picker, Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Bill Webb, Chris Russo, Richard Cross, Leger Douzable, Andrew Fegyveresi, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason. 

ESPN’s new Monday Night Football announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman join the pod to talk about how and why they moved from Fox to ESPN during the offseason. Aikman details his talks with Amazon and ESPN and discusses how much Tony Romo’s CBS salary played into his decision to leave. Buck talks about his reasons for leaving Fox and why he’s decided to give up the baseball booth. A UCLA alum, Aikman also addresses his school’s move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. Marchand and Ourand also discuss Amazon’s exclusive NFL preseason game, the stunning strength of NFL TV ratings, the future of Sinclair’s RSNs, Apple’s Friday night MLB telecasts, ESPN’s ACC contract and Pat McAfee’s exit from SiriusXM. Mentioned in the podcast this week: Tony Romo, Chris Russo, Pete Bevacqua, Chris Ripley, Katie Nolan, Hannah Keyser, Melanie Newman, Chris Young, Hunter Pence, Stephen Nelson, Fred Gaudelli, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Charissa Thompson, Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Stacy, Marie Donoghue, Bob Kraft, Rupert Murdoch, Kevin Burkhardt, Alana Russo, Michael Nathanson, Burke Magnus, Jeb Bush, Tim Green, Thom Brennaman, Kenny Albert, Anthony Muñoz, Phil Dean, David Hill, Jimmy Pitaro, Eric Shanks, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Joe Davis, Jack Buck, Vin Scully, Richie Zyontz, Tony Kornheiser, Chris Kerber, Beverly Sills, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Tom Brady, Rick Sutcliffe, Brent Musburger, Wally Matthews, Derek Jeter, Robert Heymann, Pat McAfee, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Charles Barkley, Stephen A. Smith, Jason Benetti, Casey Thompson, Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, Tim Brando, Gus Johnson, Greg Olsen 

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand spend much of the pod peppering ESPN’s Burke Magnus, this week’s Big Get, with questions about the college sports landscape. Magnus discussed what happened during Big Ten media rights negotiations and how ESPN views upcoming Pac-12 and Big 12 negotiations. Magnus also discusses how ESPN plans to schedule SEC and ACC games next year and talks about the future of SEC Network and ACC Network. Pod topics include Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s latest venture, Amazon’s failure to get Big Ten or UEFA rights and CNN’s decision to move away from media reporting. Marchand and Ourand also talk about whether Disney plans to spin off ESPN, Ted Leonsis’ purchase of NBC Sports Washington, broadcasters’ support of women’s sports, Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” debut and the Little League Classic.Mentioned on this week’s pod: Chris Russo, Eric Shanks, Mark Silverman, Larry Jones, Andrew Fegyveresi, Brad Zager, Tom Brady, The Masked Singer, Urban Meyer, Mike McCarley, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Dick Ebersol, John Collins, Jeff Bezos, Brian Stelter, Chris Licht, John Malone, Oliver Darcy, Sean McManus, Ted Lasso, Daniel Loeb, Bob Chapek, Michael Nathanson, Bob Iger, Ted Leonsis, Zach Leonsis, Randy Levine, Kirk Herbstreit, Al Michaels, Kaylee Hartung, Fred Gaudelli, Mark Gross, Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, Adley Rutschman, Karl Ravech, Mo’ne Davis, Meghan Ourand, Bill Simmons, David Lennon, Dave Anderson, Steve Anderson, George Bodenheimer, Dick Vitale, Burke Magnus IV, Kevin Warren, Michael Smith, John Swofford, John Wildhack, Mike Aresco, Jack Swarbrick, Jimmy Pitaro, Paul Rabil, Mike Rabil, Keyshawn Johnson, Aaron Judge, Mike Francesa 

The year is 2025. Who will be the biggest players – and biggest losers – in sports media? One of the country’s top analysts, MoffettNathanson’s Michael Nathanson, joins Andrew Marchand and John Ourand to talk about the changes they expect to see in the business over the next three years.Topics include the coming battle for NBA rights and why they are so important to Warner Bros. Discovery; the case against streaming; and what will happen to sports teams' local media rights. Nathanson talks about the strength of the cable bundle and what networks could do to hurt it. And the trio gives their analysis on the differing sports strategies of Amazon versus Apple, who could buy Fox and when will ESPN offer its main channel direct-to-consumer.Mentioned on this week’s podcast: Adam Silver, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Pat McAfee, Stephen A. Smith, Charles Barkley, Eric Shanks, Aaron Judge, John Sterling, Suzyn Waldman, Chris Ripley, Walter White, John Skipper, David Zaslav, Tripp Mickle, Chris Mason, David Levy, Acie Wyatt

Hours before taping this pod, John Ourand broke the news that ESPN would not be carrying Big Ten football in 2023; Fox, CBS and NBC would share those rights. Andrew Marchand broke the news that CBS and NBC each would pay $350 million per year for their packages. On this pod, the two discussed everything you need to know about the deals, including what it means for the networks, what it means for Big Tech and what it means for college conferences. NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” host Jason McCourty joins as The Big Get and talks about how he got his broadcasting break at the NFL Broadcasting Bootcamp and where he wants to take his on-air career. McCourty, who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, also gives his best Tom Brady and Bill Belichick stories.Mentioned this week: Brett Yormark, Jeff Bezos, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kelly Sheffield, Larry Jones, Mark Silverman, George Kliavkoff, Michael Nathanson, John Skipper, Chris Mason, Pat McAfee, Peyton Manning, Daryl Johnston, Joe Davis, Tom Brady, Greg Olsen, Mark Sanchez, Ray Rice, Brian Leonard, Greg Schiano, Devin McCourty, Melissa McCourty, Michelle Powell, Drew Brees, LeBron James, Stephon Gilmore, J.C Jackson, Gisele Bündchen, Bill Belichick, Brian Belichick, Steve Belichick, John Glennon, Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt, Peter Schrager, Rich Rodriguez, Pat White, Steve Slaton, Noel Devine, Darius Reynaud, Nick Faldo, Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, Acie Wyatt

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss why TNT's Charles Barkley said no to LIV. They examine the issues surrounding Comcast and Peacock. They go deeper into how the Champions League rights deal looks as if it may come down to the incumbent CBS/Paramount+ vs. Amazon. They also talk about how if they were TV and streaming programmers they would be doubling down on women's sports because the viewers are there. Those earning mentions include Chris Russo, Mike Francesa, Bill Morrow, Brian Roberts, Greg Norman, John Sterling and Aaron Judge. Editor's note: This week's podcast was recorded before the passing of Vin Scully.

Charles Barkley’s dalliance with the LIV Golf tour and the NFL’s launch of its NFL+ streaming service are two of the big topics discussed by Andrew Marchand and John Ourand this week. The two also talk about the NFL’s Sunday Ticket negotiations, the NFL announcers that bring the most intrigue and MLB’s mid-season report card. Legendary sports media producer and executive David Hill is this week’s Big Get. He talks about LIV Golf’s productions and why Formula 1 has become popular in the U.S. Hill also discusses his 22 year career at Fox Sports where he earned a reputation as one of the business’ most innovative producers, overseeing production of Super Bowls, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals and BCS Championships. Mentioned on this week’s pod: Charles Barkley, Donald Trump, Rod Studd, Mark Silverman, Larry Jones, Jason Benetti, Karl Ravech, Boog Sciambi, Joe Davis, Joe Buck, Adam Amin, Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, Nick Khan, Bruce Springsteen, Dan Patrick, Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, Mark Cuban, Michael Wilbon, Bryant Gumbel, Greg Gumbel, Ahmad Rashad, Joe Biden, Jim Dolan, Greg Norman, Roger Goodell, Brian Rolapp, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kevin Burkharst, Greg Olsen, Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Tom Brady, Bob Costas, Jim Kaat, Will Staeger, James Watson, David Feherty, John Madden, Arlo White, Chase Carey, Ross Brawn, Bernie Ecclestone, James Gay-Reese, Stefano Domenicali, Tim McCarver, Murray Walker, Richie Benaud, Sean McDonough, Will McDonough, Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw, Rudy Martzke, Stan Honey, Paul Tagliabue, Eric Shanks, Barry Hearn, Annie Hill, Sydney McLaughlin, Leigh Diffey, Lindsey Adler, Aroldis Chapman, Anthony Santander

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how Apple or Amazon can create a new distribution model for the NFL with the Sunday Ticket deal, which could be global. The two discuss what is next for the Big Ten and its TV rights, ESPN+'s monthly pay hike and what it means, David Feherthy's move to LIV Golf, the issues with the Derek Jeter doc and Tom Brady. And they end the show with the: "How many followers on Twitter does this person have?" game.Others mentioned include Charles Barkley, Gary McCord, Brian Rolaap, Chris Berman, Chris Burke, Kyle Peterson, Karl Ravech, Kiley McDaniel, Mark Evans. Casey Close, Doug Gottleib.