In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: The NFL’s decision to add flex scheduling to Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” schedule is this week’s top topic, with hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discussing the move from the perspective of the fan, the league perspective and Amazon. The hosts then dive into ESPN issues from inside information around the company’s decision to hire Pat McAfee to updates on its latest round of layoffs to an in-depth discussion of its direct-to-consumer plans. Other topics on this week’s podcast include the problems around the Big Ten’s media deals that will start in three months; the problems around the Pac-12’s media deals that still seems a ways off; a preview of the NBA Finals series; and a review of CBS’s performance around the PGA Championship. As always, Marchand and Ourand start the podcast by picking the sports business types who had a good week and the ones who didn’t. This segment includes Roger Goodell, Britney Griner, Devin McCourty and Kevin Warren. For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

 In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, the NFL’s deal to sell one wildcard playoff game exclusively to the Peacock streaming service for $110 million is a main topic. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss what the deal means for the NFL and NBC. The two hosts also dive into the NFL’s schedule, Pat McAfee’s future and Matt Ryan’s move to join CBS. Plus, the pod brings back its Tom Brady Meter to determine the odds for whether the future Hall of Fame quarterback will join Fox’s broadcast booth by 2024. Other topics include a review of TV networks’ Upfront advertising presentations, an early review of the MLS-Apple deal just a couple of months into the season and LIV Golf’s Heidi moment on The CW over the weekend. As always, Marchand and Ourand offer their choices on who’s up and who’s down in sports media for the week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast: Pat McAfee appears to be on the cusp of leaving his $120 million FanDuel deal in favor of ESPN. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss why McAfee would make this move and what benefits ESPN would get from this deal. Marchand and Ourand also preview the NFL’s schedule release, which is slated for Thursday, and offer a preview of ESPN’s second NFL booth that will be calling five games this fall. This week’s pod also marks the return of the podcast’s “Brady Meter,” which gives the percentage chances that Tom Brady ever will appear in a Fox booth. Marchand talks about how last week’s “Brady Meter” debut made international news and led to the former quarterback commenting on it. Other topics on this week’s pod: ESPN’s decision to not take its NBA studio show to the Western Conference finals this year; the Pac-12’s seemingly endless media negotiations; and the likelihood that the WNBA will double its rights fee revenue.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: From new Super Bowl viewership numbers to NFL Draft news, the NFL is a hot topic for hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand this week. The two also discuss Amazon’s plans around a Black Friday game and Comcast’s decision to drop, then pick back up, NFL Network. Marchand and Ourand trot out the “Brady Meter” to gauge the odds that Tom Brady ever sits behind a microphone in Fox’s NFL booth. With the NBA and NHL playoffs in full swing, the two predict how each league will fare based on the teams that remain. They revisit ESPN’s layoffs, which hit ESPN Radio particularly hard. And then spend some time talking about the Phoenix Suns and Mercury new local media deals with Gray Television and Kiswe, NASCAR’s media rights negotiations and what to expect from this weekend’s Kentucky Derby.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: ESPN started a round of layoffs this week that included one employee of 43 years in PR executive Mike Soltys and another employee of 26 years in senior executive Russell Wolff. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss how ESPN’s string of layoffs have affected the morale inside the company. They talk about the business decisions that led to this point, and what this means for the future of ESPN. Marchand and Ourand also discuss ESPN’s announcer signings (Marcus Spears and, potentially, Pat McAfee) and rights deals in light of the layoffs. Outside of ESPN, Marchand and Ourand outline the changes that should be expected at NBC in the wake of Comcast’s sudden move to let go of Jeff Shell after he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a coworker. The two hosts talk about what viewers should look for during the upcoming NFL Draft telecasts, and they walk through Adam Silver’s and Rob Manfred’s vision of how fan will be able to watch local sports over the next several years.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports: In this week’s Marchand & Ourand Sports Media Podcast: Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the future of the league’s local and national media rights. The hosts use clips from Silver’s interview at the CAA World Congress of Sports to discuss how the NBA plans to approach the RSN problems and its coming national media rights deal. Marchand and Ourand also discuss the NBA’s plans around its in-season tournament and how it will play in the upcoming national media rights negotiations. Elsewhere on the podcast, Marchand and Ourand discuss the upcoming ESPN layoffs and Marcus Spears new four-year, multi-million deal to stay at the network. The two also dive into the technical problems that affected Netflix and AppleTV+ over the weekend and the early returns on MLB’s rule changes. As always, the two offer their opinions about ‘Who’s Up’ and ‘Who’s Down’ in sports media this week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:YouTube TV just released prices for its “NFL Sunday Ticket” package, which is the opening topic on this week’s podcast. Hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss why the streaming company made its prices so high and what innovations consumers should expect. The two also dive into the Pac-12’s media rights negotiations, outlining the expected timetable to reach a deal and why The CW is not a likely destination for the college conference’s rights. Marchand and Ourand take a deep dive into CBS and ESPN’s coverage of The Masters, including a review of Jim Nantz’s performance as lead announcer and the networks’ mid-round interviews with golfers that were competing in the tournament, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas. Ourand provides and update on Warner Bros. Discovery’s regional sports network strategy, and Marchand previews the NBA’s playoff storylines.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:In the aftermath of the LSU and UConn college basketball championships, hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand dive into the health of both sports as media properties. The two look at the storylines that helped the popularity of the NCAA Women’s College Basketball Tournament and discuss the social media controversy surrounding Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark - the two most popular players in the championship game. Marchand and Ourand bring up Jim Nantz’s final call as play-by-play announcer for the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament and review the tournament’s studio show. Other topics for the pod include a preview of this weekend’s Masters golf tournament and a review of Endeavor’s deal to buy WWE. As always the hosts provide their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down for the week and go back to the women’s tournament for their Call of the Week..For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:WWE CEO Nick Khan joins the podcast days before Wrestlemania and talks about the tumultuous past 12 months when Vince McMahon left the company amid reports of sexual misconduct only to return after six months. Khan addresses the company’s plan to sell its media rights, Wrestlemania’s role in kicking off those talks, Pat McAfee’s role with the company and Roman Reigns Hollywood future. Khan also offers his outlook on the sports media business, including the market for streaming services. He outlines the situation faced by the Pac-12 and NBA as they prepare to go to market with their media rights. Khan also talks about PGA Tour’s strategy against LIV Golf and ESPN’s strategy when it comes to streaming. The most influential talent agent before he joined WWE, Khan discusses the salary structure for sports media’s biggest stars and his role in changing the on-air salary structure at ESPN. Marchand and Ourand preview MLB Season and NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and discuss Twitter’s future role in sports media. The co-hosts begin the pod as they always do – presenting their picks for Who’s Up and Who’s Down in sports media for the week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk

In this week’s Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast sponsored by WSC Sports:As ESPN employees gird for another round of layoffs that’s about to hit the company, podcast hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand look into what to expect and decisions Disney executives have made to get to this point. Sticking with ESPN, the hosts also talk about Troy Aikman’s role in the changes in the “Monday Night Football” production truck, where Derek Mobley and Steve Ackels will replace Jimmy Platt and Phil Dean as director and producer. Other topics have Marchand and Ourand dissecting Pat McAfee’s choices as he decides where to take his career; predicting who will replace Ian Eagle on the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight telecasts; and offer a tribute to Greg Gumbel, who is stepping away from play-by-play duties on the NFL next year while remaining a studio host for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The future of the Pac-12 media rights are another topic Marchand and Ourand discuss on this week’s pod. SBJ’s Austin Karp joins the pod for another installment of Karp’s Korner where he discusses the TV viewership performance of the NCAA Tournament and LIV Golf. As always, the two offer their picks for who in sports media is up and who’s down for the week, and they roll out a Call of the Week.For more information about WSC Sports http://bitly.ws/AUVk