Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Episode 596 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Austin Karp, the lead media writer for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast, we discuss Paramount Skydance acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery and what that means for sports; the deal bringing CBS Sports and Turner Sports under one roof; what it means for certain sports such as the NFL; what the gold medal games mean for the NHL and the PWHL; the NHL thinking if it had a better slot for the men's U.S.–Canada gold medal it would have hit 35 million; the Athletic hiring several former Washington Post journalists to expand its coverage; Unrivaled’s viewership dropping off; NBC planning a revamp of its NFL pregame show; 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 595 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features CBC Sports host Donnovan Bennett. In this podcast, we discuss our broad takeaways from the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics; how the Games looked on television; what this means for the L.A. Games in 2028; the politics of the moment and how that impacts Olympics heading forward; what the U.S. winning the men's gold medal hockey game means for the sport; what it means for the 2030 Olympic hockey tournament 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 594 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Jon Lewis, editor and founder of Sports Media Watch, and Austin Karp, the sports media writer for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast, we discuss our broad takeaways from the Olympics; the viewership of the Games; what this means for the L.A. Games in 2028; the WNBA and NWSL becoming a key element of ESPN’s Sunday night sports strategy this summer for nine weeks of Sunday night WNBA and NWSL games under the banner “Women’s Sports Sundays; the NBA All Star Game and the Daytona viewership number and how we feel about NASCAR’s viewership future, 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 593 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Max Gershberg and Jake Rogal, the co-directors of the new Netflix documentary, "Miracle: The Boys of ’80," which re-examines the 1980 United States men's hockey team that won a gold medal at the Lake Placid Games. In this podcast the filmmakers discuss why they thought they could do a unique documentary on a subject that had been previously covered many times; the process of getting the living players back to Lake Placid; the new footage that makes the documentary worth seeing; getting Herb Brooks' children to participate in the piece; filming in Lake Placid; getting Al Michaels for the film; how they will judge success 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 592 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and Ben Strauss, the longtime sports media writer and most recently of The Washington Post. In this podcast we discuss ESPN's all-year promotion for its upcoming Super Bowl in 2027; how the Disney cross-company collaboration will work; what kind of content across every platform throughout the year; how many alternate telecasts one can have a Super Bowl; the Super Bowl viewership; the NBA All Star Game as a media play; our thoughts on the Olympic coverage of NBC and its platforms; the end of The Washington Post and how Strauss feels about it; can another publication be a sports player in DC 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 591 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Kenan Kamwana Holley, an Emmy Award documentarian who directed "Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association," a four-part docu-series that will debut on Feb. 12 on Prime Video. In this podcast Holley discusses why the ABA was worth examining; how the project came to him, and the time from conception to completion; the revolutionary aspects of the league, from the 3-point shot to the All-Star Game slam dunk competition to player empowerment; how the ABA fit into the era of Vietnam protests, civil rights protests and women's liberation; procuring still images of ABA games and ABA footage; the genius of having a multicoloured basketball; the importance of Spencer Haywood and Rick Barry; his interviews with Julius Erving and discovering ABA footage showing Dr. J at the height of his prime; learning stories about Moses Malone; beginning his filmmaking career at NFL Films and working under the tutelage of sports documentarian, Steve Sabol 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

Here’s a First Look from our upcoming podcast with Kenan Kamwana Holley, an Emmy Award documentarian who directed "Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association," a four-part docu-series that will debut on Feb. 12 on Prime Video. The full podcast will be out later this week. In this preview clip, Holley discusses his interviews with Julius Erving and discovering ABA footage showing Dr. J at the height of his prime. 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 590 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Illustrated podcaster and media writer Jimmy Traina. In this episode, we discuss NBC’s coverage of the Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl; whether a blowout impacts how you process a game; why we find NBC’s pregame show unmemorable; the not-great viewership prospects for Seahawks-Patriots; Jimmy losing money on a bad beat; next year’s Super Bowl falling on Valentine’s Day and airing on ABC and ESPN; why Jimmy does not watch the Olympics; Seth Rollins as an NFL analyst; Maria Taylor as an interview subject; Jimmy’s Reddit fandom, 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 589 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and Boston Globe sports media writer Chad Finn. In this episode, we discuss The Washington Post owner and publisher laying off or reassigning all the reporters and editors in its sports section days before the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics; this year's interest in the Super Bowl; NBC's approach to the Super Bowl; what we think the game will draw; whether the Milan-Cortina Games can continue the Olympic momentum from Paris; ESPN plans for its 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 588 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Molly Solomon, the Executive Producer & President, NBC Olympics & Paralympics Production and Amy Rosenfeld, the Senior Vice President, Olympics and Paralympics Production for NBC Sports. In this podcast Solomon and Rosenfeld discuss if they fundamentally see the Olympics as a sporting event versus entertainment programming; what the week is like for them before the Milan-Cortina Olympics; why they learned from Paris about what works in primetime as a show; the importance of Lindsay Vonn's comeback; the excitement over NHL players returning to the Games; the success of Gold Zone coverage; how Mike Tirico will be impacted by the Super Bowl; how they will approach the politics of the moment as it relates to sports; which sports will pop for viewers; breaking the glass ceiling as far as broadcasting Olympics executives; the debut of Ski mountaineering; the additions of celebrities such as as Snoop and Stanley Tucci, 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 587 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Chris Cuthbert, the lead play-by-play voice for Sportsnet's coverage of the NHL. Cuthbert and Mike Johnson will call the men’s Olympic hockey tournament for CBC. In this podcast Cuthbert discusses his preparation for calling the Olympic hockey tournament; how he navigates the game schedule; why having the NHL players back makes this tournament much different than anything else; learning about the non-Canada and U.S. rosters; the navigation of calling the Olympic hockey tournament while significant issues exist politically between Canada and the United States; calling games in the afternoon local time; calling Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” for CTV from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games; the prospect of 20 million North American viewers watching a Canada-U.S. final; why he thinks someone other than Canada or the U.S. might win the tournament 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

Here’s a First Look from our upcoming podcast with Chris Cuthbert, the lead play-by-play voice for Sportsnet's coverage of the NHL and the CBC gamecaller for the men’s Olympic hockey tournament. The full podcast will be out on Feb. 4. In this preview clip, Cuthbert discusses the navigation of calling the Olympic hockey tournament while significant issues exist politically between Canada and the United States. 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 586 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Business Journal media writer Austin Karp and CBC Sports host Donnovan Bennett. In this podcast we discuss the reporting that the Washington Post may cut its sports section amid massive layoffs; the disbanding of The Washington Post; how there are no safe harbour jobs in sports journalism in 2026; the Super Bowl matchup and how it plays as a viewership game; Austin’s prediction that the Seahawks-Patriots will set a new viewership record; Caitlin Clark being hired by NBC’s NBA coverage; SBJ’s story on the NFL Monday Wild Card window 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 585 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Neil Best, who worked for Newsday for many decades covering sports media, the NFL and other topics. He retired from journalism in December. In this podcast, Best discusses what covering sports media was like for him over the last two decades; how he approached the job as a writer whose market was the No. 1 media market in the U.S.; the endless power of the NFL; why sports-talk radio was such an important topic for him; his time covering the Giants for time; working for the Anchorage (Alaska) Times; whether the streamers will ultimately get all the NFL content; why Newsday was one of the only places that staffed a full-time sports media columnist at a major newspaper; the future of this subject matter as far as a beat, 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 584 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and Boston Globe sports media writer Chad Finn. In this podcast we assess the NFL Championship Games from a media perspective; why the Broncos and Patriots might struggle with viewership; Tom. Brady's improvement as a broadcaster; how NBC would look at potential Super Bowl matchups; what NFL package the steamers might want; Bill Belichick as a full-time media person; why some broadcasters and reporters address NFL owners as Mr. 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 583 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Richie Zyontz, the lead producer for FOX's top NFL team featuring Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi, and Rich Russo, the lead director for that team. FOX will air the Rams at Seahawks at 6:30 PM ET on Sunday from Seattle. In this podcast, Zyontz and Russo discuss their schedule this week; why Lumum Field is so good for NFL production teams; how the FOX team sees Sean McVay and Mike Macdonald in production meetings; why Mike Tomlin is a good television prospect; how specifically Brady has improved as a broadcaster; their favourite moment of the year with Brady; if the broadcast has had to work around restrictions on Brady; whether Brady will stay for the duration of his broadcast contract; how the public does not see what Andrews and Rinaldi do behind the scenes 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

Here’s a first look from our upcoming podcast with Richie Zyontz, the lead producer for Fox's top NFL team featuring Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi, and Rich Russo, the lead director for that team. The full podcast will be out on Jan. 23 In this preview clip, Zyontz and Russo discuss from their perspective why Brady has improved as a broadcaster in Year 2. 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 582 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Matt Olson, a Sports Media Agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Olson represents Laura Rutledge, Elle Duncan, Dan Orlovsky, Pablo Torre, Jon Sciambi, Cassidy Hubbarth, Diana Russini, Bruce Feldman,and Adnan Virk among other clients. In this podcast, Olson discusses what he does for clients; how he creates relationships among the people who make hires; how an agent navigates different clients; what happens when client is competing against another for the same job; how he decides if he will take on a client; the best mediums for clients right now; podcasters and influencers versus traditional on-air talent; the range of salaries in the space right now; what he makes of talent leaks; how he sees Rutledge's career arc; the differences of negotiating at a place such as The Athletic versus Fox or ESPN; Tim Legler getting the No. 1 NBA job at ESPN; Virk's career arc; Elle Duncan landing at Netflix; Pat McAfee's career arc; whether Torre's setup can be duplicated, 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 581 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Terry Gannon, NBC's lead Olympic figure skating and gymnastics caller as well as a play-by-play announcer and host for the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour. Since October 2025, Gannon has also served as a play-by-play voice for the NBA on NBC and Peacock. In this podcast Gannon discusses how the Opening Ceremony assignment for Milan Cortina came about; calling Olympic figure skating with Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir since the 2014 Olympics and why its worked; why this might be the greatest U.S. figure skating team ever; what a play by play broadcaster should possess when calling figure skating; why Snoop Dogg has popped at the Olympics; working an NBA broadcasting schedule; playing against Michael Jordan in college; winning a basketball championship at N.C. State under Jim Valvano, 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 580 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and CBC Sports host Donnovan Bennett. In this podcast we go over all of the NFL Divisional games from a media perspective; whether the Bills-Broncos can overcome Saturday being a less-watched day than Sunday; the criticisms of Tony Romo; Tom Brady's improvement; if we think the college football national championship is a good viewership game; Al Michaels returning for another year; the press conference comments from Lynn Jones to Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen during a press conference; why that became a cause célèbre for some sports 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