Sports Media Beat

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement for a second time.  What does this mean for his sportscasting career?  This is among the topics we discuss in the latest episode of the Sports Media Beat.  Other topics covered: NFL ratings for conference title games NBA Saturday night ratings on ABC NHL All-Star weekend MLB dumped by You Tube TV Apple launches MLS service

The Miami Dolphins have a new radio home.  The team's games will kick off on a new platform in time for the 2023 season.  Meanwhile, an iconic Boston television station is dumping the local sports report, during a prime segment of its newscast.

Legendary men's college basketball announcer Billy Packer died on Jan. 26, 2023.  He was 82.  In this episode, I look back at Packer's career and how he and college basketball grew in popularity at the same time.  I also mention the moving of Chip Caray from the Atlanta Braves TV broadcast booth to the St. Louis Cardinals.  Billy Packer dies Chip Caray to Cardinals

The announcers are set for the NFL Conference Title games on Sunday, Jan. 29.  The games will be televised on FOX and CBS.  Also discussed in this episode: Ratings for the Cowboys-49ers; Bengals-Bills NFL Divisional playoff games Soccer a hit on U.S. television

The NFL Divisional playoff announcers have been revealed and on this episode I will run down the broadcasters, games and the networks carrying the games.  I also look at the ratings for last week's NFL WC playoff round, talk LIV golf and discuss the departure of Sweeny Murti from iconic radio station WFAN in New York.  

The NFL Wildcard Weekend is upon, among the most exciting weekends in sports.  Here are the broadcasters for the following games: Seattle at San Francisco LA Chargers at Jacksonville Miami at Buffalo NY Giants at Minnesota Baltimore at Cincinnati Dallas at Tampa Bay

Football is dominating the ratings on American television.  However, in the first week of 2023, college basketball is also making a move. As for 2022, sports led the way among the. most 100 viewed programs. We detail that and more in this episode of Sports Media Beat. 

The long time radio voice of the Boston Red Sox, Joe Castiglione, is stepping back on the number of games he will broadcast in 2023.  Other topics we explore in this latest episode: USFL and Fox reach a labor deal XFL ready to roll College football games on the big screen NBA in primetime a slam-dunk for ABC

College football ratings on television are a success, according to the latest numbers.  I give the rundown in this latest episode.  The NFL numbers are not too paltry either, and we take a look at that.  And if you are the New York Yankees' YES network,  Dec. 7 turns out to be a good day for you. We run it all down in Episode 48 of the Sports Media Beat.

Soccer ratings in the United States for the World Cup are through the roof.  Millions are tuning in on FOX to watch the matches, including USA vs. Iran and USA vs. England.  Not all is well with the numbers of those, watching sports on linear TV, however, as I detail in this latest episode.

The New England Patriots will battle the Buffalo Bills in a huge AFC East football game on Thursday night.  The event will be televised on Amazon Prime, leading me to speculate whether a record will be set for an Amazon Prime game. I also examine some other ratings numbers for televised NFL and college football games.

There seems to be conjecture the NFL will reduce the number of preseason games from four to two because of Covid-19.  If that happens, what will the television impact be?  Plus, it appears 79-year-old Marv Albert will not be calling games on Turner Sports, when the NBA resumes.  Dan Lovallo explores that and more in his latest podcast.

The effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt, even as Major League Baseball attempts to launch a truncated season.  On June 25, the NFL announced it was cancelling its annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, OH.  Dan Lovallo talks about that and more on the latest Sports Media Beat.

Major League Baseball's cheating scandal, which led to the dismal of three managers, has dominated the sports media landscape this week.  But other stories also made news, including high ratings for the college football national championship game between LSU and Clemson.  Plus the top 10 advertisers on NFL television coverage in 2019 are revealed.  In addition, sportscaster Dan Lovallo covers several other sports media topics. 

Despite what some may say is a deal between Major League Baseball and the players association, there is no agreement yet and that could mean no major league baseball on television for awhile in 2020, if at all.  As sports return in the USA, during Covid-19, those that are making it to TV are turning out to be a ratings hit, including the PGA Tour.  Dan Lovallo discusses all of this and more on the Sports Media Beat. 

It might not have been the NFL, but the MLB draft was a hit June 10 in the TV ratings.  In the return of the Sports Media Beat, I review the ratings and also comment on the unrest that has occurred in the United States.  Here is the link to the interview I did with the late, great Buck Leonard. Dan Lovallo interviews Buck Leonard

Covid-19 is impacting sports at all levels and in this podcast I touch on some of the effects. I also look at the latest ratings, the new PGA TV deal and more.

Is the future of NBC Sports radio hanging in the balance? And what about the Summer Olympic games in Tokyo. I talk about that, plus the latest XFL ratings and much, much more in this podcast. And don’t forget to visit https://sportsmediabeat.com where I link to all of the stories I talk about in the show notes.

CBS and football commentator Tony Romo have agreed to a massive new contract that could set a record and make Romo the highest paid sportscaster.  About to become a free agent, with his contract expiring over the weekend, Romo - the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback - and the network have reportedly agreed to a new multi-year deal worth $17M a year.  Also, You Tube TV has agreed to extend its carrying of Sinclair's regional sports networks, including YES, while negotiations on a new deal continue.  I have that and more in a special edition of the Sports Media Beat.

In this episode of the Sports Media Beat, I quote network executives on why the Dallas Cowboys remain "America's Team," even though they have not appeared in a Super Bowl since 1996.  Plus, You Tube TV is dropping 17 regional sports networks and YES.  I also discuss ratings and much more. 

The Oakland Athletics have ditched radio for its immediate market and present their baseball games on the TuneIn app, another sign of a media landscape in flux.  The change will begin with the coming 2020 baseball season and it has stirred a lot of comment.  Meanwhile, the final numbers for the Daytona 500 are in and I review the results.  I also talk NFL, XFL and more in the latest podcast.

NASCAR ratings for the Daytona 500 showed a tremendous increase in the overnight ratings, as did the NBA All-Star game on TNT.  Meanwhile, NBC is sending conflicting signals with its streaming service, although an email from the network states such is not the case.  I have all that and more on my latest Sports Media Beat podcast. 

In the debut weekend of the XFL, ratings for the games were very good.  That's the lead for my latest Sports Media Beat.  Plus, the Super Bowl audience may have been larger - much larger -than first reported.  In fact, there is a connection between the Super Bowl audience gauge and the YES Network, home of the New York Yankees.  It has to do on how ratings are calculated and it could lead to more ad revenue for the network.  I explain it all in the podcast.  

The XFL debuts this weekend and sportscaster Dan Lovallo talks about the games on the schedule in addition to some other interesting facets about the new league.  Super Bowl ratings were mixed, although slightly up on television overall.  Dan has the numbers.  Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is not happy with national broadcasters who also work for other clubs in the administrative end.  Lovallo will explain.  Plus much, much more on the Sports Media Beat.

Super Bowl LIV coverage is in high gear with ESPN planning a four-hour pregame show.  And that network isn't even carrying the game.  Plus, ESPN is increasing its social media platform in a big way.  Baseball plans to mic its umpires to explain video replay calls and much more on Dan Lovallo's latest edition of the Sports Media Beat.

CBS sportscaster Jim Nance is class personified.  In his latest podcast, sportscaster Dan Lovallo explains why.  Lovallo also looks at the latest ratings, including what Zion Williamson means for the NBA.   Plus Lovallo explains why network executives are beaming over the NFL and for that matter, even the 2019 World Series. 

Is Tony Romo about to become the highest paid sportscaster in history?  One website is reporting the CBS football analyst is about to sign a record deal with ESPN.  Plus 2019 television was dominated by the NFL.  And all hands are on deck for Monday night's college football national championship game between LSU and defending national champion Clemson.  Sportscaster Dan Lovallo covers all that and more on the latest Sports Media Beat. 

The NBA and Turner Sports have expanded their arrangement with Twitter.  It means more games and coverage will be made available on the social media platform.  Also, former CBS golf analyst Peter Kostis, dismissed by the network last year, sent out a couple of Tweets critical of the PGA.  Plus, the SEC seems closer to a deal with ESPN.  All that more sports media news and commentary with host Dan Lovallo. 

Will there be a shakeup in the Monday Night Football booth on ESPN?  NY Post sports media critic Andrew Marchand is speculating that change maybe afoot.  Plus, the changing face of the sports media.  Host Dan Lovallo talks about that and gives the latest ratings for football and soccer. 

The New England Patriots-Tennessee Titans NFL wild card playoff game on Saturday, January 4, produced huge prime time ratings for CBS.  In this edition of the Sports Media Beat, Dan Lovallo breaks down the ratings.  He also looks at numbers for the various college bowl games and talks about how Sports Illustrated writers have overwhelmingly voted to unionize. 

The College Football Playoffs scored big time for ESPN on Saturday, with Clemson-Ohio State and LSU-Oklahoma getting big ratings.  Meanwhile, the NFL, which makes $5.7B per year from its television rights fees, could be on the verge of a big payday.  All that and more is discussed by host Dan Lovallo in the latest Sports Media Beat. 

Legendary broadcaster Don Imus died on Dec. 27.  He was 79.  Imus, who began his radio career as a shock jock, then transitioned into a talk show host, arguably saved the all-sports talk radio format, as sportscaster Dan Lovallo explains in this podcast.  Dan also reviews the NBA ratings for Christmas Day and details why the Boston Red Sox may be more valuable than the New York Yankees.  Dan also talks about a court decision that could have a major impact on televised sports.

One entity is predicting gambling on sporting events in 2020 will be the dominant sports media story.  Meanwhile, on the ratings front, the Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles game and the New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills game were big ratings winners, as was MNF, but some NFL games took a hit, as did college basketball. 

Since 1996, CBS has carried the SEC, but after the 2023 season, the relationship between that network and the nation's premier college football conference will come to an end.  Plus, the NBA bounces back in its ratings, but a tough night for hockey on NBCSN.

NFL football ratings for week 15 were a mixed bag, but for the season ratings are still higher than previous seasons.  The PGA is working on a new TV deal that will brings in loads of money and iHeart extends its relationship with the Minnesota Vikings.

Former major league baseball broadcaster Ken Harrelson has been named the winner of the 2020 Ford C. Frick Award and will enter the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  However, another legendary broadcaster, Marv Albert, could be facing job issues after the end of this NBA season.  Dan Lovallo discusses that and more on the latest Sports Media Beat.

College football turns out to be a winner for CBS and FOX, the NFL continues to snag steady numbers and Major League Baseball is about to change its paradigm on how it delivers video content. 

Ratings for the NFL 2019 season continue to climb and conjecture is legalized sports betting is fueling the increase.  Meanwhile, regular season baseball ratings for individual ball clubs show the St. Louis Cardinals leading the way.  But you would be surprised to learn which club's ratings actually took a dip.  And ratings for MLS soccer are up. sportsmediabeat.com

After 46 seasons as the "Voice of the Cincinnati Reds," Marty Brennaman is calling it a career.  On Oct. 11, 2019, the website Ballpark Digest named Brennaman its 2019 MLB Broadcast of the Year.  Plus NFL ratings are up, while the XFL has entered the conversation.  Those are some of the topics discussed in the latest podcast. https://sportsmediabeat.com

More extensive ratings proved the overnights correct.  Sunday Night Football on NBC continues to set records.  However, numbers also show the Sunday afternoon on CBS did not garner the ratings spike that was first thought. As baseball's post season begins, MLB has got to be pleased with its initial foray into You Tube. Plus, will Facebook make a push for the NFL? All that and more on the latest Sports Media Beat.

The NFL continues to score big in its television ratings, says Dan Lovallo in the latest Sports Media Beat.  Sunday Night Football on NBC had its best ratings for a week four game in four years. The end of a television era came for the Chicago Cubs, while Yankees radio voice John Sterling continues to broadcast well into his 80s.

Hockey on the radio is not dead yet.  After watching one NHL club go to an app only radio broadcast, the thought was other NHL clubs would follow.  The New York Islanders stuck their toe in the water on the concept last season, but as Dan Lovallo points out in his latest Sports Media Beat podcast, the Islanders have found a new radio home. Also, Dan talks about the latest NFL ratings and ESPN's blueprint to remain relevant.

This is the premier of the Sports Media Beat and it explains what the podcast is all about.

CBS knows the importance of the NFL and it wants to hang on to the commodity.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is in trouble and golf aces the weekend ratings.

New York Yankees television voice Michael Kay is worried about his voice, following vocal cord surgery and Dan remembers sportscaster Jack Whitaker.  Those are some of the topics covered in the latest edition of Sports Media Beat.  Also discussed: -Marty Brennaman -Bob Cousy -Vin Scully -Billy Packer -NFL on FOX -Super Bowl on BBC

The "Voice of the Crimson Tide," Eli Gold will receive a prestigious honor come December and a longtime hockey commentator is calling it a career.  Those are some of the topics we discuss in the latest edition of the Sports Media Beat.

NBC is all in on the 2020 Olympics.  Expect 365 days of coverage, leading up to the actual Olympics.  TNT players only broadcast of NBA games is no longer a slam-dunk and NASCAR ratings are showing improvement.

The NHL Stanley Cup finals are proving to be a ratings hit on NBC. The Yankees-Red Sox are also a ratings winner but is the NBA getting a bad rap?

NFL Draft to get major TV coverage

The AAF suspends operations but does not close up shop.

Could it be the last weekend of the AAF?

Tony Romo wants the big dollars

The NCAA Men's basketball tournament is a slam dunk

NBC and CBS swap Super Bowls

NFL is a hot commodity