Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Here's a short clip from our interview with Ken Belson, who writes about sports, power and money at the NFL and for The New York Times. He is the author of a new book, "Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the N.F.L. Into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut." In this preview clip of the full interview later this week, Belson discusses how the NFL owners look at sports gambling. 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 556 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Mike Vorkunov, a basketball writer at The Athletic who covers the intersection of business and basketball. He is also the host and founder of Business Decision, a new podcast and YouTube show that focuses on the intersection of sports, money and power. In this podcast we discuss the challenges of starting an independent podcast and YouTube show; the biggest challenge and biggest opportunities today for the NBA; the NBA's global interests; how the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers-Aspiration story will play out; the women's basketball space for business opportunities; the upcoming WNBA CBA negotiations; a primer on Project B, a prospective women's basketball league to rival the WNBA, 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 short clip from our upcoming interview with Mike Vorkunov, a basketball writer at The Athletic who covers the intersection of business and basketball. In this clip, we discuss how the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers-Aspiration story will play out. 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

In this podcast, longtime Canadian sports broadcasters Donnovan Bennett and Arash Madani join the Sports Media podcast following Toronto's Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series. In this podcast we discuss the remarkable season the Blue Jays have had; how Game 7 was won; where George Springer's seventh-inning home run ranks in franchise history; John Schneider's managerial decisions; how the pitching staff sets up for the Dodgers series; whether we would role the dice and start Trey Yesavage in Game One; how would we use Bo Bichette in the World Series; our predictions 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 555 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features a roundtable with 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 NBA's new media rights partners -- NBC, Prime Video, and ESPN; the big coverage things we will be watching for this week as the NBA debuts; our initial thoughts and hopes for NBC, Prime Video and ESPN's NBA coverage; what we think Inside The NBA will look and sound like on ESPN; why we are very high on NBC and Prime Video producing good broadcasts; ESPN's shift to Tim Legler being on the Finals broadcasts; our expectations for Michael Jordan's role with NBC; Bruce Pearl, Jalen Rose, Jamal Mashburn and Chris Webber being part of TNT Sports' college basketball coverage; F-1 moving from ESPN to Apple; the MLB postseason and potential World Series viewership, 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 554 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Jean-François Poisson and Marie-Christine Pouliot, the director and executive producer of "Who Killed the Montreal Expos?," a sports documentary debuting on Netflix on Oct. 21. As the title says, the 90-minute doc examines how the Montreal Expos ultimately departed Montreal. In this podcast Poisson and Pouliot discuss why they wanted to make a film about the Expos leaving Montreal; why the Expos still resonate in 2025; why the story has many villains; making a consciousness decision to do a very Quebec-centric film; procuring Pedro Martinez, Larry Walker and other Expos greats for the films; the impact of the 1994 strike on the Expos; how Expos fans feel about the Blue Jays 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 553 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Julia Alexander, a media correspondent for Puck and the founder and author of Posting Nexus, a subscriber-based pub which you can find on Substack. She is the former VP of Strategy at Parrot Analytics, where she advised clients on the tectonic shifts in tech, media, and telecom. In this podcast, Alexander discusses why she is so bullish on YouTube's future in sports; where live sports are going over the next five years; the short-term future of sports on broadcast programming and cable; EA Sports, given its 265 million users, as a future live distributor of sports; Netflix's global sports ambitions; how Prime Video has successful approached sports; burnout in the creator economy; TikTok, Threads, Twitter and the splintering of sports and social media; the NBA's Prime Video bet; whether you can beat the algorithms designed to only take from you, 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 short clip from our upcoming interview with Julia Alexander, the media correspondent for Puck and one of the foremost experts on media in the U.S. The full interview will be available on Thursday. In this clip, Alexander discusses how social media has splintered for sports discussion and how the idea of one social media site being the centralized place for sports is akin to Walter Cronkite returning as the solo voice of news. 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

In this podcast, longtime Canadian sports broadcaster Donnovan Bennett joins the Sports Media podcast following their four-game win over the Yankees in the ALDS. In this podcast we discuss why the team has captured the attention of Canada beyond sports fans; Vladmir Guerrero Jr. trolling the Yankees; broadcasters who admit their fandom; what the Toronto roster should be for the ALCS; Chris Bassitt vs. Max Scherzer, 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

In this podcast, longtime Canadian sports broadcasters Donnovan Bennett and Arash Madani join the Sports Media podcast to discuss the Blue Jays leading the Yankees 2-0 in the ALDS; the incredible performance by pitcher Trey Yesavage; Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s breakout postseason moment; the future of Bo Bichette; predictions 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 552 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Jared Stacy, the Vice President of Global Live Sports Production for Prime Video. Prime Video’s properties include the NFL, NASCAR, NBA and WNBA, and NWSL, among others. In this podcast, Stacy explains his role at Prime Video and what he looks at when he his hiring on-air talent; Prime Video's plans for its NBA coverage; inside the hirings of Blake Griffin, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki; setting Prime Video up for great play-by-play announcers with Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Michael Grady, and Eric Collins; Amazon's WNBA games in 2026; acquiring media rights for The Masters; whether Al Michaels will be back next year on Thursday Night Football; working in the production truck with Vin Scully’s during Scully's final season broadcasting; how Prime Video is using A.I. on its broadcasts 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 short clip from our upcoming interview with Jared Stacy, the Vice President of Global Live Sports Production for Prime Video. The full interview will be available on Tuesday. In this clip, Stacy discusses how Hall of Fame basketball players Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash ended up becoming part of Amazon's upcoming NBA coverage. 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 551 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Deirdre Lester, the CEO of Teton Ridge, a leading Western sports and entertainment brands. Teton Ridge owns The Cowboy Channel, a national 24 hour broadcast and digital outlet that airs over 600 annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned rodeos worldwide among other programming. In this podcast Lester defines the Western sports landscape and why she sees such potential there; how you expand rodeo to more people; The American Rodeo competition, which concludes at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas and airs on Fox; what the Cowboy Channel is and where you can see it; her previous jobs working for MLB Advance Media, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, and Barstool, among other places; how AI playing is shaping Western sports and entertainment, 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 550 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp. In this podcast, Lewis, Karp and I discuss MLB's increase in viewership nationally year over year; Karp's SBJ's report on which local MLB markets did well and which struggled; baseball's value as a consumer play for customers; what constitutes a celebrity in sports; ESPN's Paul Finebaum considering an Alabama senate run in 2026; college football in 2025; Snoop Dogg returning for NBC's Olympics coverage; the YouTube/NBCU dispute; the difference between the average age of an MLB viewer on TV now just one year older than a viewer of the NFL; Boston passing the Bay Area in U.S. media market rankings: ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” averaging 1.83 million viewers in its final year; Terry Gannon getting a plum Olympics assignment, 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 549 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and Annie Costabile, a women's sports reporter for Front Office Sports. In this podcast, Lewis discusses Netflix carrying MLB’s Opening Night game next year on March 25 opener at San Francisco; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wanted to return to the media rights negotiations very early; interest in the NFL international games; potential viewership for Ravens-Chiefs and Cowboys-Packers. Costabile discusses the WNBA season and why she considers it a success; what has it been like covering the league as far as player and coach access; the firing of Sandy Brondello, a two-time winning WNBA coach; Caitlin Clark’s injury and why we don’t know more; the Fever advancing to the semifinals without Clark; the WNBA CBA negotiations; where Unrivaled is at the moment, 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 548 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Illustrated podcaster and writer Jimmy Traina. In this podcast, Traina and Deitsch discuss Tom Brady's dual roles as broadcaster and part-owner; the Yankees versus Blue Jays in the final week of the season; The NFL Today's Throwback show; Molly Qerim departing ESPN; Amazon’s and NBC's NBA coverage; the ACC GameDay Operations Center; ESPN's relationship with the WWE; the challenges of booking for a sports media podcast; 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 547 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features an hourlong conversation with ESPN president of content Burke Magnus. In this podcast, Magnus discusses ESPN's foray into A.I; wanting Pat McAfee to stay with ESPN beyond his current contract, a five-year, $85 million-plus licensing agreement that McAfee signed with ESPN in the spring of 2023; why Tim Legler replaced Doris Burke on ESPN's top NBA booth; how ESPN will use Inside The NBA; why Molly Qerim is no longer on First Take; how ESPN views Stephen A. Smith's foray into political talk; how ESPN is approaching its upcoming Super Bowl broadcast; the hiring of digital influencer Katie Feeney; his company's relationship with the WWE; 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 short clip from our upcoming interview with Burke Magnus, the president of content for ESPN. The full interview will be available on Wednesday. In this clip, Magnus discusses how ESPN views Stephen A. Smith's foray into political talk and whether that impacts other front-facing ESPN employees. 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 short clip from our upcoming interview with Burke Magnus, the president of content for ESPN. The full interview will be available on Wednesday. In this clip, Magnus discusses how "Inside The NBA" will be used on ESPN as the iconic show has moved from Turner Sports to ESPN. 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 546 of the Sports Media Podcast features Rich Podolsky, the author of “Madden & Summerall How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting.” In this podcast, Podolsky discussed the process of writing a book about John Madden and Pat Summerall; the beginning of Madden's broadcasting career and how he was mediocre at first on air; Madden working with Bob Costas when Costas was just 27; Madden getting the biggest break of his fledgling broadcasting career when he was paired with Summerall; how Vin Scully nearly became Madden's permanent partner; how Summerall's broadcasting career began; what the NFL Today was like in 1975, 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