Last Word On Sports Media Podcast

It's a HUGE culminating week for the NCAA Men's and Women's Tournaments, as the respective Final Fours will take place in San Antonio, TX and Tampa, FL this weekend. And, we're ready to discuss lots about it on the newest "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast." Host T.J. Rives returns with takes on this past weekend's coverage and of course, some updates on the ratings. First what about the "Cooper Flagg Effect" for Duke helping the CBS/Turner audience numbers? And, just how big will the Saturday night semi in San Antonio with Houston be? T.J. has some thoughts. He also discusses the women's ratings and the expected dramatic dropoff from the humungous audience last year for Iowa's Caitlin Clark and her games. It's still a solid product on TV for ESPN/ABC, but there's now confrmation for good that Clark meant 4 and 5 times more audience for her games last year. There's more analysis on this. Then, T.J. talks the start of the MLB season and the coverage on ESPN, the tributes to the late Milwaukee Brewers great broadcaster Bob Uecker and the disastrous first A's game in Sacramento that saw technical problems plague the night for their first game in their temporary home against the Cubs. Next, a fascinating discussion on the announcers in this year's tourneys and leading to the all-time broadcasters to work a men's Final Four and a look ahead to whom are calling the Final Fours this weekend at the two sites. We do this with Phil de Montmolin, who's a great historian of it all and use to co-host the Announcer Schedules Pod with Mike Gill on this feed. T.J. and Phil reminisce on some great Final Four broadcasting nostalgia of their own, too. Catch it all on the "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Tons of "March Madness" NCAA Tourney conversation, news and even, a reporter controversy lead this week's show. And, we also look ahead to the MLB season getting underway this weekend, too on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast." Host T.J. Rives is back with co-host Mike Gill to give their insight and takes on the sports media stories, information and subjects. That includes the start up of the 2025 Men's Tourney and the lack of "Cinderellas" making into this weekend? Also, it's a surprise that CBS' #1 team of Ian Eagle, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery NOT covering Duke and Cooper Flagg in Newark, NJ. Mike has an idea on expanding the tournament in a big way that inclludes the little guy, massively. It's fascinating and not that far fetched and would mean a lot more televised games and therefore, $$$. Then, the guys also talk the UConn ouster by Florida on Sunday and how a local Charlotte reporter's video of Huskies coach Danny Hurley yelling in the tunnel of the arena and blaming the referees for his team's defeat has caused controversy. T.J. has strong takes and Mike chimes in, as well. And, the guys talk the opening of hte MLB 2025 regular season, which will include the return of Joe Buck calling MLB games for the first time in three years. And, is it really going to be the end of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball after 35 years? It's all part of the "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We are ready for the mayhem and the madness, as the 2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament gets underway in full on Thursday and Friday and a special guest joins host T.J. Rives to talk about it on this edition of the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" Tim Brando of Fox Sports, but formerly CBS and ESPN is aboard and has tons fo stories about his involvement with calling the tourney on CBS and the colleagues he's worked with like Billy Packer and the late Greg Gumbel. Lots of stories and insight from Timmy B! Plus, we have more on the ratings from this past weekend of the conference tourney title games Saturday and Sunday and the CBS Selection Show reveal, as well. And, T.J. says a few words about the late, award winning writer of the Washington Post sports section and tremendous author of many sports books, John Feinstein, who died unexpectedly last week. It's all on this edition of the "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

On our newest edition of the show, co-hosts T.J. Rives and Mike Gill are back to go over the sports media top stories, personalities and more, as it's the "LWOS Media Podcast." The guys go over: NFL Free Agency Coverage on ESPN and NFL Network, but with a twist as,Twitter/X being down at times Monday and Tuesdat hampers NFL Insiders being able to instantly break stories. College Basketball Champ Week Leads To "Selection Sunday" this weekend. The guys go over it all, including the CBS/Turner announcing pairings for the tournament. They also talk the new massive contract that ESPN's Steven A. Smith got late last week and the ramifications of it not only for him, but also future broadcasters, too. How frustrated is MLS with there TV deal on Apple+ with the start to their season looming and what can they do about it? And, there's also brief tak on golf's "Players Championship" on NBC this weekend and Formula 1 Racing's 75th Season Starts This Weekend in Australia and it's their final year on ESPN . It's all part of the LWOS Media pod and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

A legendary studio NFL host says it's tio retire, NBC previews their NBA coverage with Mike Tirico and more is all part of the latest "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!' Co-hosts T.J. Rives and Mike Gill are back aboard to go over the latest in sports media news, ratings and newsmakers. They talk the long rumored retirement of Fox Sports NFL studio analyst and former Super bowl winning coach Jimmy Johnson at 81 years old. It was apparently time, but it was odd that Johnson didn't go ahead and do it as part of Fox's Super bowl coverage in New Orleans last month. What was really going on with that? Next, the guys go over NBC's Mike Tirico doing regional NBA play by play for games this week on two NBC regional sports channels. What was the motiviation behind this? Mike saw the Monday night game he did for the Philadelphia 76ers game and he'll be working another game in Boston later this week. There's more on Indy Car racing debuting on Fox Sports for the first time this weekend and they will eventually broadcast the Indy 500 in late May. And, how did the NHL's latest "Stadium Series" game with Detroit at Columbus end up doing in audience for ESPN? Catch all of the topics and more on "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subcribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

We are heading to the end of February but there's no shortage of news and info in the world of sports media and our guys, T.J. Rives and Mike Gill as they return for the newest "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" The guys cover the upcoing end at the end of this MLB season of ESPN's relationship with baseball after 36 years. Why did it get to this point? What will MLB do for a Sunday Night Baseball broadast in the future and more. Then, they turn to the success of the "4 Nations" NHL and countries hockey tourney that concluded last Thursday night with a massive (by hockey standards) 9 million plus watching the USA vs. Canada finale'. Was this a case of this event coming together organically and if not, can the NHL sustain it? There are takes. Also, T.J. and Mike pay tribute to former NY and national sportscasting staple, Al Trautwig, who died from cancer earlier this week. Trautwig was mostly known for his work on MSG cable with pre and post game anchoring of the NY Rangers, Knicks and Yankees broadcasts. He also was part of broadcasted as part of 16 different Summer and Winter Olympics for NBC and ABC. He will be missed, especially by NY fans. Hear it all on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Off the Eagles win in Super Bowl XIL in New Orleans, our co-host Mike Gill is back aboard on the show to go over his experiences with T.J. Rives. That and can the NBA All-Star Game be saved? Does anyone still care? We cover it all on the "LWOS Media Podcast." T.J. and Mike cover Mike's vacation to Thailand, of all places, DURING the NFL playoffs. Say What? Yes. Hear more. Also, Mike followed up by being in NOLA and share some experiences. The guys also talk the NBA issues and failing ratings and how Hockey stumbled onto excitement with the " 4 Nations" round robin series instead of their All Star Game. The championship game is Thursday night in a grudge rematch with the U.S. and Canada in Boston. They also talk about ESPN's Joe Buck returning to the MLB booth briefly for the Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day game with the New York Yankess. This after Buck was Fox's lead p x p guy on baseball for over 25 years. And the show pays a tribute to a Nebraska broadcaster dying of cancer and honors late night sports radio host Amy Lawrence on her retirement after 13 years of overnights for CBS/Infinity Sports Radio Network. It's all part of the LWOS Media Podcast, and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

Off the Eagles crushing win over the Chiefs for Superbowl XIL last Sunday in New Orleans, host T.J. Rives returns with his insight and analysis on the coverage of the game and he brings on a national media colleague who was there in "the Big Easy" firsthand to talk about it. It's part of the "LWOS Media Podcast!" First, T.J. gives some thoughts on the massively rated Fox Sports broadcast of the Eagles romp and the ratings showed that despite the blowout, it was, yet again, the most massively rated TV program of the year by a huge number. Also, how did much scrutinized former seven time Super bowl champ Tom Brady do in the Fox booth with Kevin Burkhardt? Then, hear T.J. with Fox Sports Radio's Jonas Knox, who is the host of the nationally heard "2 Pros and a cup of Jo" weekday moring show with former NFL stars Lavar Arrington and Brady Quinn. Jonas and his guys were at "radio row" in New Orleans and he relates stories on the coverage last week and also, the food in that famous town. Plus, T.J. and Jonas reminisce about working together in the early 2010's on FSR on Saturday nights with some great stories about it all. Finally, T.J. goes over some broadcasting personalities coming and going like Dick Vitale, Hubie Brown, Jimmy Johnson and Dan Orlovsky and revists the debate of whether the massive women's college basketball audience would or wouldn't hold once Caitlin Clark departed for the WNBA. It's all part of the latest "LWOS Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreake/Spotify, etc.!!

It's finally Super bowl week and we're ready to talk a lot about it and all the interesting names who called many of the games, plus, other sports media news, etc. on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" Host T.J. Rives returns with his takes on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs going for "3 peat" historyin the "Big Game" Sunday in NOLA against the Eagles. And, it will have Kevin Burkhardt calling the game with the winningest Super bowl QB ever, Tom Brady, on Fox Sports. T.J. also welcomes Phil de Montmollin from the "Announcer Schedules Podcast" and Twitter/X feed to reminisce about the legendary Super bowl broadasters like Pat Summerall and John Madden, along with the likes of Al Michaels, Dick Enberg, the team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman + Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, too. There's also news on the return of 85 year old Dick Vitale to ESPN's college hoop coverage after a second battle with cancer. He will debut calling, whoelse, Duke playing Clemson this weekend. And, longtime NBA TV analyst and former coach Hubie Brown gets set to sign off at 91 years old and over 45 years as an NBA broadcaster with one final game to call on ABC Sunday between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Get it all on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast" and make sure to follow/subscribe on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

It's the newest edition of our weekly look at all in the sports media landscape, as host T.J. Rives returns with news, TV numbers, takes and a guest on the "Last Word on Sports Media Podcast!" T.J. begins by going over the tremendous TV audience that Fox (early) and then, CBS gained for the NFC and the AFC title games Sunday in Philadelphia and Kansas City. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are back in the Superbowl and obviously, so too are Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. It's a rematch from two seasons ago in the biggest game. He also has the latest on Reggie Miller of Turner and CBS being lured to the new NBA coverage on NBC as the likely main analyst to be paired with Mike Tirico. This will take affect in the '25-26 seaons and beyond. Next, T.J. welcomes his colleague, Brian Dancel of "Big12 Radio on Tunein" for some two part analysis. First, on the thrilling finishes Saturday night in college basketball for Houston's 2OT upset of Kansas on ESPN and then, as a follow up, the half court miracle shot by Arizona's Caleb Love against Iowa St. sent the crowd into a frenzy and the game into OT. And, it scored again for ESPN in audience. Brian has insight on ESPN's Fran Fraschilla being on the call with Jon Sciami for BOTH games Saturay and Monday night. And, also, what about the famed Dallas Cowboys hiring Brian Schottenheimer as their next head coach and the obvious angle that owner/GM Jerry Jones still wants to be the center piece of all the media attention for his team? It's all part of the LWOS Media Podcast and make sure to follow/subscribe to this feed on Apple/Spreaker/Spotify, etc.!

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.!