Last Word On Sports Media Podcast

We are back wiith another edition of the show looking at sports media in the U.S. and beyond with the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast." Host T.J. Rives is ready to go with takes on the horrible officiating in the AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Chiefs and the Texans last Saturday and most importantly, why Troy Aikman and Joe Buck of ESPN should be commended for calling out the awfful calls. Plus, he has more on the games from last weekend that have now led to the Eagles hosting the Commanders and yet another Chiefs vs. Bills playoff rematch. Then, there's the talk of the passing of baseball broadcasting and "Major League" movie legend Bob Uecker at age 90 late last week. The amazing career arc of the hilarious "Ueck" took him to the Milwaukee Brewers broadcasts but also an ABC 80s sitcom ("Mr. Belvedere") and of course, as the fictious "Harry Doyle" calling the ficitional Indians run to the playoffs in the movies. Also, T.J. remembers the voice of the Navy Midshipmen football, Pete Medhurst, who also passed away earlier this week. Next,, he welcomes distinguished NFL national writer Jason Cole to go over the playoffs from last weekend, Buck and Aikman's work about the refs, is Tom Brady better on Fox headed to calling the Superbowl and what about Jason's participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting, too? It's all part of the "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's the newest edition of the show, as host T.J. Rives is back with sports media news, takes and a great friend/guest of his on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" T.J. welcomes "The Famous Jay" Betsill from DFWSportsOnline.com in Dalas-Ft.Worth to go over: The NFL Playoff weekend getting underway and the coverage on the different networks, as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, Saquon Barkley and the Eagles, Josh Allen of the Bills and Jayden Daniels of Commanders all excelled. Jay also was in attendance in Arlington, TX for last Friday night's College Football Playoff semi-final in the Cotton bowl as the Ohio State Buckeyes eliminated the Texas Lonhorns and will now face Notre Dame in the championship game next Monday night. Jay has insight on it all. The guys also talk the 25th anniversary of the Oliver Stone, Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx football movie "Any Given Sunday," with part of it being filmed in Dallas and Jay was an extra for the football scenes! Hear it all on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We are back with the full pod in the new year, as hosts T.J. Rives and Mike Gill return to wrap up the NFL regular season and look ahead to their postseason, the College Football Playoff resumes and more on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" The guys talk the Sunday that "fell flat" for the most part without a lot of drama in week 18 of the NFL. Yet, the Sunday night game on NBC with the Lions bettering the Vikings actually did soar in audience. They will explain more and look ahead to the networks and the announcers for this Wildcard weekend. The boys also turn to the CFP semi-finals between Notre Dame and Penn State and the Ohio State-Texas showdowns and how will they do in audience. And, Fox Sports has another ugly lawsuit with a former hairdresser/makeup artist suing and alledging multiple personalities and executives with sexual harrassment and workplace stress. What's reality here? It's all on the newest "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe to our feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

The first week of 2025 wraps up with host Mike Gill looking at some ratings and looking ahead to this weekend on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast Daily" for Friday. Mike talks the good ratings for the Fiesta Bowl win by Penn State over Boise State on ESPN in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. How did the bode for New Year's Day? However, the NHL "Winter Classic" hits new low with its New Year's Eve date, as fewer than one million watch league-worst Blackhawks lose to Blues. What can be done to help regain audience? Mike also takes a look at the NFL's final regular season weekend, too. It's all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

Happy New Year! We're back with the latest in sports media info and takes on our "daily" show that comes typically M-F in the mid-day. Host T.J. Rives returns with more on: The College Football Playoff quarterfinals have been playing out this week with Penn State beating Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night. Then, after the horrible terrorist truck attack in New Orleans in the early morning New Year's Day hours in New Orleans, the Sugar Bowl with Notre Dame and Georgia was postponed to Thursday. However, there was thrilling double OT win for Texas over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl that should have had booming ratings for ESPN/Disney in the last hour of coverage. But did the Ohio State blowout of Oregon in the Rose Bowl cost them some audience? Also, the NFL readies for it's regular season weekend finale' and T.J. goes over the key playoff implication matchups with the games on ESPN Saturday and then, CBS, FOX and NBC for Sunday. Hear it all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe to his feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's our final show of 2024, as we recap the sports media stories of 2024 with hosts T.J. Rives and Mike Gill being joined by Ken Fang of Awful Announcing to go over it all on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast." The guys discuss: The passing of CBS Sports legend Greg Gumbel to Cancer at age 78 on Friday. The panel talks about his amazing career with all of his highest level assignments and you'll also hear from Gumbel in his own words on covering "Selection Sunday" for CBS' NCAA Tournament reveal show and also replacing the legendary Brent Musberger on "The NFL Today" back in 1990, as well. The impact of Caitlin Clark's massive popularity for the women's NCAA season, her record breaking year and the tourney. And, then, just weeks later she joined the WNBA for her smashing rookie season. The NBA's new massive TV deals with NBC and Amazon despite lesser audience numbers. And, what about the surging of big time sports on streaming services and the growing power of Amazon Prime, Netflix and others in streaming sports? What about Tom Brady in the Fox NFL #1 booth and has he improved as the season has gone on? There is spirited debate about it. And, what NFL reporter deserves credit for arguably the biggest sports news scoop of the year in Golf? Yes, ESPN's Jeff Darlington was on scene exclusively in the early morning hours at the May PGA Championship in Louisville, as world #1 player Scottie Scheffler was arrested by Louisville police in a massive overreaction to him not following traffic instructions turning into the golf course. His reporting was fantastic and exclusive and the gusys discuss that too. It's all part of the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast" final show of 2024 and make sure for all of our content in the new year to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

It's the Friday edition of our "daily" as host T.J. Rives returns near the end of the year to go over the Christmas Day action in the NFL and NBA and how the audiences fared? Netflix had their first forray into live NFL games and had not technical problems this time with their Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans doubleheader. How well did both games do in audience? Massive. As in, 24 million+ for both. T.J. has more on what it means. The NBA also did well with all of their games airing on ESPN/ABC as simulcasts as well. That includes the largest number in some time for a primetime Christmas game with the Lakers edging the Warriors. It's all part of the "LWOS Media Daily" and be with us for all the content on this feed from Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

On the latest, Christmas Eve edition of the Podcast, host T.J. Rives returns off the weekend with long-form info and takes on the expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams and the historic first ever home games played last Friday and Saturday. Plus, he talks the NFL off the weekend, as well and all with a guest on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" T.J. is joined by Tyler Jones of the "Jones Report Pod" and also NFL host for Chat Sports' KC Chiefs and Seattle Seahawk channels on Youtube! They go over the television audience for the CFP games on ESPN/ABC both Friday and Saturday night, which was large, but the the two games leased out to TNT Sports, not so much. And, what about ESPN seeming to want all sides of the debate on the playoff expansion and whether it helps or hurts the product? Also, the NFL is still dominant, including on their Saturay games with the Chiefs and the Steeleers being featured in a double header. The guys go over that and make predictions on the first ever Netflix NFL broadcasts coming Wednesday afternoon. How good will the production be and how high will the audience go with Mahomes and the Steelers battling in the early game? Also, the NBA fifthruple header has now been swallowed up the NFL, at least the early matchups. Is it time for them to rethink doing 5 games that day? They go over it all, including, will Tyler be in full Christmas costume on Wednesday on Chat Sports??!? It's all part of the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on this feed for the latest in sports media news, opinion and takes!

It's a Monday edition of our "Daily" pod with sports media news, ratings and takes, as host T.J. Rives returns off the weekend. He was in Dallas for the Sunday Night Football game with his Buccaneers losing a heartbreaker to the Cowboys. T.J. covers off the weekend: Will the 4 larglely one-sided College Fotball Playoff Games hurt the TV numbers, as the playoff expanded with home games for the first time and all of them had leads by the home teams at one point or another of 21 points or more? Will the audience pick up with Ohio State making the Rose Bowl with Oregon and Notre Dame headed to the Sugar Bowl with Georgia? The NFL had strong, close games Saturday with the Chiefs improving to 14-1 by beating Houston on NBC and the Ravens upended the Steelrs on FOX to take command in the NFC North. T.J. wonders about the audience from Saturday and why we haven't heard numbers on either game, so far, Monday. And, the NFL has Netflix looming with televising the Christmas Day doubleheader of Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans. It's all part of the "LWOS Media Podcast" feed and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's the Friday edition of the "daily" on the podcast feed as host Mike Gill returns to go over several sports media subjects and has a special guest, as well. First he talks the Friday night College Football Playoff history making game as Notre Dame becomes the first team to ever host a CFP game. It also the first non-NBC Notre Dame home broadcast since Ron Franklin, Gary Danielson, and Neil Lomax (sideline) called a November 1990 game. Next, Mike has more on the Bucks-Thunder "NBA Cup Final" down big from last year's Pacers-Lakers final, still second-largest audience of season: Also, Netflix locks down media rights deal for the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2027 and 2031 1st time the rights to the event were sold separately from the men’s World Cup in the U.S. market Fox held women’s English-language rights since the 2015 World Cup. And, is Netflix ready for Christmas Day football? Temple University professor of media studies and production Geoffrey Baym recently discussed with Mike why it is difficult for streaming services to air live events, and what’s at stake in Netflix’s upcoming Christmas Day NFL broadcasts. Additionally, later in January what will happen when it becomes the home for WWE’s live flagship program Monday Night Raw? It's all on the "Last Word on Sports Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's the Thursday edition of the "daily" show on this feed, as hsot T.J. Rives returns to go over some sports media news, ratings info and more. He covers: The preliminary ratings for the NBA Cup finale' from Las Vegas on ABC are in and the Milwaukee Bucks winner take all victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder scored some good audience, relative to network prime time TV. T.J. explains more, including a comparison to 2024. Find out more on a former NBA scoring star who's in talks with NBC sports and Amazon to join their '25-'26 coverage as an analyst. And, we get ready for a massive weekend of football for the NFL and the College Football Playoff, as Thursday night football starts it off with the Chargers and the Broncos. Then, it's history Friday night in South Bend, IN, as Notre Dame hosts Indiana in the first ever home game for the CFP. T.J. has more on the history of that pending broadcast and the weekend of games. It's all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed for all of our content on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

It's the newest edition of the "daily" show as host Mike Gill returns with some sports media news, ratings and more. Mike goes over: Charles Barkley appearing Wendesday on the "Dan Patrick Show" and revealing that him going with "Inside the NBA" to ESPN isn't a formality. Rather, he's hearing from other NBA broadcasters for next year- NBC and Amazon about their possibilites. Also, the Army-Navy football game was a smash for CBS Saturday late afternoon. Just how big? And, the NFL is still booming with their Bills at Lions and Steelers at Eagles games both scoring massive audiences. Hear it all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe on this feed for all the content on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify,etc.!

It's the latest edition of our long-form pod, as host T.J. Rives and co-host Mike Gill return to go over the latest in sports media news. TV ratings and even, a social media spat involving the most prominent insider in the NFL and a now college hoop coach, who's also in the national media. We have it for you on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" The guys disucss: The NFL games of this past weekend and what they liked and did not. T.J. was in Los Angeles for the Buccaneers broadcast of their beatdown of the Chargers and he and Mike discuss the games and also go over in more detail the controversy about Larry Fitzgerald Sr. breaking the news that ESPN's Randy Moss is absent due to liver cancer surgery. What's right and what's wrong with it? Also, the College Football Playoff has expanded to 12 teams from four and will have quadruple header of games Friday night and Saturday to unfold. T.J. And Mike have the announce crews and also, two of the games are on TNT Sports, not ESPN/ABC. How will these games stack up on viewership against the NFL on Satruday, also? Finally, there is talk about the social media "dust up" with ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and Green Bay college hoop coach (and Fox Sports Radio mid-day host, still) Doug Gottlieb on Monday evening. What's it about and more importantly, shouldn't Gottlieb be worried more about his poor team, which has lost a bunch of games already in his first season? It's all part of the "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.! Also, SEE the show on Twitter/X from Tuesday on @MikeGillShow and @BucSidelineGuy and also on Youtube: @MikeGillShow channel !

It's the Monday edition of our "daily" dose of sports media news, takes and info, as host T.J. Rives returns to go over more with: His trip with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Los Angeles, as they blasted the Chargers 40-17 on Sunday. T.J. has more on whom he was around media-wise, etc. Also, there's some controversy over ESPN analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss' abscence from their coverage due to a cancer diagnois. A prominent media member in Minneapolis broake the story that it's liver cancer for Moss. Where's the line on public figures "sort of" announcing illness news but then, having it revealed? T.J. also has more on legendary ESPN college basketball announcer Dick Vitale's positive cancer update and the possibility of him returning on a limited basis to games later this year. It's all part of the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure you are following/subscribng to this feed for all the sports media content on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's the Friday edition of the "Daily" as host Mike Gill returns and readies for this weekend of aciton will be covered and stories in sports media, as well. Mike talks the "NBA Cup" in season tournament winding down to it's semi-finals and eventual championship game. Is there really any interest on a large scale in it or has it already outlived it's novelty in two seasons? The 90th awarding of the Heisman Trophy will be Saturday night in NYC and Mike has more on the coverage and the overwhelming favorite Travis Hunter of Colorado to take home the presigious award to the nation's top college football player. Also, it's a massive Sunday for the NFL as both CBS and FOX will have a late national doubleheader game. It's Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the Buffalo Bills - Detroit Lions showdown with Josh Allen aaginst Jared Goff in the "Motor City." Meanwhile, Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will call the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Philadelphia Eagles with Russell Wilson and Jalen Hurts leading their teams. Both games will likely draw large numbers, but they will also detract from each other, while playing at the same time. It's all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe to our feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's the Thursday edition of the 'Daily" on the feed and host T.J. Rives is back with the latest on: Bill Belichick coming back to coach after a one year break to do some NFL media and it's a colllege job with the North Carolina Tarheels. Is this truly about him finishing his career as a college coach or is this a "stop gap" to get a job and then, still be in the NFL in 2026 or 2027 to break Don Shula's NFL wins record? Time will tell. Also, it's a fascinating case of Belichick trying to "remake himself" as likable with the media this season to help his chances to get back into cooaching. Plus, will. he continue his multiple roles on ESPN and with "Inside the NFL" on CW or are those now abruptly over? T.J. has more thoughts on how a prominent media host got another college coach his job at the host's alma matter. And, what prominent NBA name fromt the 2000s is now going to be part of Amazon Prime's upcoming coverage next year? It's all on the newest "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe for all the coverage on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's our Wednesday edition of the "daily" as host Mike Gill returns with sports media upadtes, including ratings for prominent football and even, some announcer news, as well. Mike discusses: The Dallas Cowboys still score audience for ESPN/Disney and Monday Night Football despite being a bad team this season. Mike has more on what their audience did for the loss to the Bengals. Also, there's an update on legendary play by play man Al Michaels and it looks like he's not going off into retirement just yet. Mike has more on the College Football Championship Saturday ratings for the exciting Georgia-Texas OT finish in the SEC on ABC in the afternoon. And, how did the Big Ten title game for the first time ever do for CBS in primetime? Hear it all as part of the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe on this feed for the very latest in sports media news and takes on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.

It's another busy edition of the podcast as hosts T.J. Rives and Mike Gill return to go over the latest in sports media news, ratings and more. It's the newest "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" The guys discuss: More fallout from ESPN delaying the announcement of the Coflege Football Playoff's final bracket reveal and how Brett McMurphy of the Action Network (and former ESPN employee) broke the story that SMU had been included and Alabama was left out. The guys discuss and they also play a previous interview segment with McMurphy from our pod coverage, where he discusses how he utilizes sources and sifts through the attempts to lie or exaggerate to him. They also talk about ESPN getting criticism for not having any of their baseball people available on Monday morning after the Mets record free agent deal was signed with OF Juan Soto. And, Mike also discusses how he once broke a Philly MLB story that went national and how he doesn't want to ever do it, again. The guys go over the NFL ratings and also, how Thursday night football continues to excel for Amazon. They also discuss the amazing symmetry of the Cowboys blowing antoher game with a special teams blunder against the Bengals on a Monday night 2024, 31 years after the infamous "Leon Lett" Thanksgiving gaffe cost them a win against the Miami Dolphins. Mike also has more on the Eagles lockerroom having discontent and how injured player Brandon Graham got into hot water by talking about it on the radio/internet show, yet, the media is somehow being blamed. It's all part of the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We start off a new week with the latest in some brief sports media news and takes, as host T.J. Rives returns on the Monday edition of the "daily" of our podcasts. T.J. goes over the wild and exciting finishes of the college football championship games that included Georgia winning dramatically in OT (again) this time over Texas on ABC to get the SEC auto bid. That game will likely be the highest rated of the Saturday. This, despite the wild finishes for Oregon-Penn St in the Big Ten title game on CBS (for the first time) and Clemson-SMU, agains on ABC in primetime. Also, on Sunday morning, Action Network College Football insider Brett McMurphy (formerly of CBS Sports and of course, ESPN) revealed before the ESPN College Football Playoff reveal show that SMU had made the 12 team field, but Alabama had not. T.J. has more about McMurphy's tremendous abiltiy to break big college football news and how it's his job to do so. On Sunday, another huge slate of games in the NFL took place, incuding the Rams beating Buffalo in a high scoring, exciting game in the late Fox game from Los Angeles. But, the bigger broadcast news was that Tom Brady was fighting a bad voice for the game. T.J. has more about it. And, what reporter/outlet had the scoop first in Major League Baseball that prized outfielder free agent Juan Soto had agreed with the New York Mets Sunday night? We go over it all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe to our feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc. !

It's the Friday edition of the "daily" and host Mike Gill returns with the latest in sports media news and updates. That includes: Randy Moss taking a leave for health reasons from ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown show. ABC is touting the most audience for it's college football coverage.... then, again, they've been showing tripleheaders every week, when CBS and NBC most weeks had only one game. Big 10 title game for the first time on CBS Saturday night with Oregon and Penn State battling. Yankees and New York media personality Michael Kay is ending his 5 day a week radio show/TV simulcast after over 2 decades. And, what's the latest wtih Stephen A. Smith trying to negotiate a nine figure deal from Disney/ESPN? It's all on the "LWOS Media Daily" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!