Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Episode 485 of the Sports Media Podcast features Ben Fischer, who covers the NFL and all other professional football news for Sports Business Journal; Sean Keeley, the Managing Editor for Awful Announcing, and Austin Karp, the managing editor/newsletters for SBJ. In this podcast were discuss why NFL free agency has become such a media event and where can it go heading forward; ESPN signing of Stephen A. Smith for five years 100 million; X versus Bluesky; goodbye for Around The Horn; viewership for March Madness and the Clark/McConaughey debate.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 484 of the Sports Media Podcast features Conrad Thompson, who has created an immensely successful set of wrestling podcasts including ones with Eric Bischoff, Bruce Prichard, John Layfield; Jeff Jarrett, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross. In this podcast, Thompson offers insight about the growth of his podcast network; the advantage of begin a first mover in the space; how his podcasts are monetized; the lucrative business of putting on a wrestling podcast convention; why Jim Cornette and Brian Last have been successful podcasters; why Paul Heyman and Tony Khan are the white whale gets to host a podcast; being friends with Cody Rhodes; why wrestling wants to avoid politics; the John Cena heel turn; the Netflix and WWE partnership and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 483 of the Sports Media Podcast features author and adventure writer Cassidy Randall, whose latest book is "Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All Women’s Ascent of Denali." In this podcast, Randall discusses her book that chronicles the first ever all-female ascent of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; the void in the canon of adventure/exploration stories featuring women; why she is drawn as a writer to women who achieve these remarkable adventure feats; what makes Denali so tough to climb; how you research a story that happened 55 years ago; the challenges of book promotion and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 482 of the Sports Media Podcast features a sports media roundtable with Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Ben Koo, the owner and editor of Awful Announcing.Int this podcast, Lewis, Koo and Deitsch discuss the place men’s and women’s college basketball currently occupies in the sports media landscape; the viewership for men’s college basketball in 2025; why the men's tournament provides good viewership no matter the teams; the state of women’s college basketball as it relates to viewership; why we are all bullish on the sport as a media play; what a realistic final featuring Paige Beckers and Juju Watkins could draw; how the Home Run Derby would play on Netflix; whether it matters where the NFL Draft airs; how media companies that air sports should approach playing the national anthems of the U.S.. and Canada; why the anthem talk will be monetized and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 481 of the Sports Media Podcast features Chris Cuthbert, the lead play by play voice for Sportsnet's coverage of the NHL. In this podcast Cuthbert discusses calling the amazing 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and U.S. for a Canada audience; comparing it to his call of Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” for CTV from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games; the 16 million+ North American viewers who watched the game; the nexus of geopolitics and hockey for this event and what it meant to Canadians; what he recalled about Connor McDavid's game winner; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 480 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Austin Karp, assistant managing editor of Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss ESPN's massive 9.3 million viewers for the 4 Nations Face-Off final; whether there will be a carryover to NHL viewership; ESPN's opt-out with MLB; where the Home Run Derby might air next; TGL and Unrivaled audiences, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 479 of the Sports Media Podcast features Sean McDonough, ESPN's lead play by play voice for hockey, and one of ESPN's top play-by-play commentator for ESPN college football and basketball games. In this podcast McDonough discussed calling the 4 Nations Face-Off final between the U.S. and Canada; why it was one of the greatest events he's ever been part of as a broadcaster; what the pregame and postgame was like for him; how he wanted to approach the nexus of geopolitics and sports; whether there will be an interest carryover to NHL games; expectations for the 2026 Winter Olympics; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 478 of the Sports Media Podcast features MLS Season Pass match and studio analyst Taylor Twellman. The broadcaster will call the inaugural Sunday Night Soccer matchup between the league’s newest franchise, San Diego FC, and reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on February 23 at 7 p.m. ET on Apple TV. In this podcast, Twellman discusses the third season of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV; where the partnership is from his perspective; the debut of Sunday Night Soccer; San Diego FC as the MLS’ 30th club; MLS Productions moving to WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Conn; what is reasonable to expect from Leo Messi at age 38; whether Miami FC are the favourites again; the form of the U.S. men national team; how Twellman expects the lead up for the World Cup to me, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 477 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jake Rogal, the director of Netflix's "Court of Gold" terrific docu-series on the 2024 Paris Olympic basketball tournament. The documentary is currently steaming on the service. In this documentary, Rogal discusses his six-part series on the 2024 Paris Olympic men's basketball tournament; the decision to follow four Olympic men’s basketball teams — USA, Canada, Serbia, and France; how the production got incredible access; remarkable footage such as Nikola Jokic at halftime of the game against the U.S. diagramming a play involving Steph Curry and Joel Embiid and LeBron James drinking beer with his coaches; remarkable interviews with Kevin Durant, Curry, Nicholas Batum, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Dillian Brooks among others and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 476 of the Sports Media Podcast features Indiana Fever coach and ESPN broadcaster Stephanie White. A longtime basketball analyst for ESPN and the Big Ten Network, she will call college games for ESPN throughout February and March. In this podcast, White discusses how broadcasting and coaching can complement each other, as well as the challenges two jobs present; being on the air for ESPN the day she was named Fever coach; how she got into broadcasting while working as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky; whether the Fever can be a title contender in 2025; coaching Caitlin Clark, Alyiah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, DeWanna Bonner, and Natasha Howard; how she wants her team to play this season; managing the extraordinary fame of Clark; what kind of jump Clark should make from her rookie year to Year Two; the need for the Fever to improve collectively as a defensive team; the prospects for free agents wanting to play for the Toronto Tempo franchise and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 475 of the Sports Media Podcast features TNT broadcaster Brian Anderson. The play by play voice will call the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET — simulcast across TNT, TBS and B/R Sports on Max. In this podcast, Anderson discusses calling this year’s NBA All-Star Game and all the format changes; how one calls a game such as this; WBD losing the NBA; why he decided to signed a multi-year contract renewal with TNT Sports last year; calling Brewers games; calling the French Open next year; the passing of broadcasting legend Bob Uecker and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 474 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, the founder and editor of Sports Media Watch, and Chad Finn, the sports media writer for The Boston Globe. In this podcast, we discuss the Super Bowl broadcast; the pregame show; how Tom Brady did as a first-time Super Bowl broadcaster; was Brady helped by the game not having a signature moment; the commercials; Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance; will it set a viewership record; what no Aaron Rodgers means for the Jets as a national team. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 473 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is broadcaster Kevin Harlan, the lead play by play caller for Westwood One’s Super Bowl coverage. He is followed by ESPN Vice President of Production Linda Schulz, the point person for the company’s NHL coverage. In this podcast Harlan discusses the Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl being his 15th consecutive Super Bowl for Westwood One Radio; what his weekend in New Orleans will be like; where the radio booth is located in the stadium; his call of a streaker during Super Bowl LV; where things stand with his contract negotiations with Amazon to do NBA games; his reaction to the Luka Donic-Anthony Davis trade, and more. Schulz discusses the 4 Nations Faceoff production; how ESPN looks at major hockey events; what makes best on best hockey an opportunity for the sport; the challenge of getting other ESPN entities to buy into the NHL; the longterm market for college hockey and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 472 of the Sports Media Podcast features Fox NFL producer Richie Zyontz and Fox NFL director Rich Russo. They are the lead production staffers on Fox’s top NFL team. This will be Zyontz’s eighth Super Bowl as a lead producer and Russo’s sixth as a lead director. In this podcast we discuss how pace dictates a broadcast; the Chiefs attempting a three-peat and what that means for the broadcast; Tom Brady’s first year; how and why they believe Brady has improved; why they believe Brady will fulfill his broadcasting contract; how Brady takes criticism; the role of Kevin Burkhardt in the broadcast; how they will approach Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 471 of the Sports Media Podcast features Jon Lewis, founder and editor of Sports Media Watch and Austin Karp, the managing editor of Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss Super Bowl viewership; why Deitsch and Karp think there will be a record; whether there is any Chiefs fatigue (there isn’t); how Tom Brady will do as a Super Bowl analyst; Greg Olsen being ticked at not doing the game; the ESPN-ACC relationship continuing for nine more years; Peacock adding no new paid subscribers in Q4 and remaining flat at 36 million subscribers; Reggie Miller joining NBC as its No. 1 NBA analyst; Hubie Brown; the passing of Dick Button and more.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 470 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features WWE Hall Of Famer Paul Heyman. The WWE’s Royal Rumble streams live in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock and Netflix internationally on Feb. 1. In this podcast Heyman discusses his parents, a Holocaust survivor and World II veteran; how he views the WWE’s move to Netflix and how talent processed the move; whether WWE programming on Netflix intentionally looks like a sports production; the creative process under chief content officer Paul Levesque; why WWE talent has not been considered for Emmy Awards; why Heyman could not do the job of WWE CEO Nick Khan; why political characters no longer exist in the WWE; whether the verbal skills he shows in front of a live crowd are transferable to those in business and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 469 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Andrew Marchand, a senior sports media writer at The Athletic. He is also the host of the Marchand Sports Media Podcast and you can find his work at AndrewMarchand.com. In this podcast we discuss how we saw the Lions-Commanders and Chiefs-Bills broadcasts; our evaluation of Tom Brady; why Marchand thought CBS failed at the end of the Chiefs-Bills game; the Super Bowl airing on Fox; ESPN’s front-facing staffers doing political shows; whether there are Jordan rules for Stephen A. Smith; why the city of New Orleans is worth exploring; listener reviews, and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 468 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features writers Joe Buscaglia, who covers the Buffalo Bills for The Athletic, and Nate Taylor, who covers the Kansas City Chiefs for The Athletic. In this podcast the two reporters detail what their day to day week will be like leading up to one of the biggest NFL games of the season; the access they get to Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other star players; what it’s been like for Nate to cover a team that has gone to the AFC Championship Game every year he has covered them; why this game is many ways is more about the Bills journey than the Chiefs; how they navigate many responsibilities on a Sunday; advice for younger writers; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 467 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Chad Finn, the Boston Globe sports media writer and Austin Karp, managing editor/newsletters for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss Tom Brady’s agent, Don Yee, telling SBJ that Brady is in for 10 years at Fox; the transparency issue of what Brady owes viewers when discussing coaches he has interviewed as a Raiders minority owner; the viewership for the divisional round games; the Bills-Chiefs mega-showdown; the college football playoffs; Kirk Herbstreit getting emotional; and more.You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The episode of the Sports Media features Sports Media Watch founder and editor Jon Lewis. We discuss the NFL Divisional playoff round and what viewership might be; the power of the Bills-Ravens; whether you’d want to be on Saturday night versus Sunday afternoon; what last week’s WildCard round had lower viewership; the Fox Sports/LIV partnership; the Super Bowl on Tubi; the debut of Unrivaled on TNT Sports, and the passing of Bob Uecker. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices