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Romo, CBS finalize split with undisclosed payout on $72M contract
5 days ago•Source: Awful Announcing
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2.375 min•6 days ago
Barstool exits Big Noon Kickoff as Fox cites format clashes and Big Ten pressure
Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports have been removed from Fox Sports' 'Big Noon Kickoff' pregame show after a one-year partnership. Portnoy confirmed the departure on X, blaming Ohio State and coach Ryan Day for pressuring the Big Ten and Fox. While the pregame segment ends, the broader Barstool-Fox deal remains intact, including the daily 'Wake Up Barstool' show on FS1.
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Foxworth Criticizes ESPN for Letting Saban Promote Controversial College Sports Bill Without Pushback
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NBC Launches 26-Foot Card Tower at 30 Rock for MLB Wild Card Debut
Awful Announcing•10 days ago
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CBS Poised to Cut Romo Ties After OWI Controversy
CBS is expected to part ways with Tony Romo after his July OWI arrest and a four-year, roughly $72 million contract, likely via a buyout rather than a full termination, as negotiations unfold and insiders peg a ~95% chance he won’t return to CBS.
Simmons’s AI sponsorship sparks backlash over writing’s future at The Ringer
An opinion piece argues that Bill Simmons’s sponsorship of ChatGPT on his podcast signals a departure from The Ringer’s emphasis on human writing, contrasts it with Grantland’s creative legacy, and notes AI’s broader threat to media, including staff layoffs and cultural changes at The Ringer; it questions Simmons’s leadership and whether this shift undermines the quality writing that defined his earlier work.
ESPN Drops BottomLine Ticker to Spotlight On-Field Action
ESPN is removing its BottomLine ticker from college football games across ABC and ESPN networks to create a cleaner presentation that keeps the focus on the action on the field, while still providing score alerts and essential on-screen updates to help viewers navigate schedule changes.
ESPN Keeps Distance as Pat McAfee Releases Polarizing Album With Colleague Support
ESPN says it had no involvement in Pat McAfee's album The Diary of a Polarizing Figure, despite praise from colleagues. The 14-song project, produced with Ernest and DeVille Records, uses McAfee’s diary-like lyrics to reflect on haters and his rise from Philadelphia to NFL punter to broadcasting star. Reactions ranged from praise by Kirk Herbstreit and Dan Orlovsky to skepticism from some outlets and fans, but ESPN remains focused on ongoing contract extension talks with McAfee (potentially around $60 million per year) and McAfee hints there could be more music to come.
NBA expands broadcast TV slate to a record 71 games in 2026-27
The NBA’s second year of its new media rights deal adds a record 71 regular-season broadcast windows (up from 62), placing it second to the NFL in broadcast coverage. NBC gains 11 windows (to 50) while ABC drops to 21; Peacock/NBCSN exclusive windows fall to 31. ESPN/ABC total remains 80, Prime Video 67. Overall, 71 of 228 national games will be on broadcast TV (about 31%), with NBC adding Opening Night tripleheaders and a Presidents Day doubleheader, and Sunday Night Basketball expanding to 16 games across nine dates. ABC will broadcast Christmas Day games plus a January 30 quadrupleheader, while there’s no NBA game on Super Bowl Sunday; ABC will host a rare Oscars Sunday doubleheader on March 14.
Damien Woody Exits ESPN After 15-Year Run Amid Network Shake-Up
Veteran NFL analyst Damien Woody is leaving ESPN after 15 years; he’ll stay on through the end of his contract, which expires later this month, as ESPN continues a broader round of layoffs. Woody said it has been an absolute joy and he plans to keep talking football in his next ventures.
CBS Signals Exit From the Romo Era After Arrest and Suspension
CBS is reportedly looking to end its Tony Romo deal and move on from the Romo brand in response to Romo’s OWI arrest and suspension, weighing the use of a morals clause and considering replacements (e.g., Ian Eagle) while acknowledging any rehire would be a long, complex process.
Romo’s CBS Paycheck Hits a Snag as DUI Arrest Reshapes Broadcast Future
CBS paused Tony Romo’s duties after his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, throwing a spotlight on his 10-year, $180 million deal and potentially making it the worst contract in sports media history. A traffic-stop video and witnesses have raised questions about his consistency and work ethic, fueling talks of a demotion or a return on a different crew if he can rebound on- and off-air. CBS has already shifted responsibilities to other broadcasters and will watch Romo’s recovery ahead of key moments like the September schedule and the 2028 Super Bowl, with a court date in Wisconsin on Sept. 21 and a long road to re-entry if he’s to reclaim his role.
Rebecca Lowe Steals the Spotlight as Zlatan Bows Out of Fox's World Cup TV Run
Fox’s World Cup finale is celebrated as Rebecca Lowe anchors a star‑studded studio with Zlatan Ibrahimović delivering a memorable farewell, turning early tensions into on‑air chemistry that helped Fox deliver a Super Bowl‑like broadcast across three countries, ending with a montage that underscored Lowe’s pivotal role.
Netflix’s Derby Debut Finds Its Swing in the Final Round
Netflix’s first MLB Home Run Derby broadcast had a rocky start with on-field promos, but improved as the night went on, buoyed by a solid booth and a dramatic finish in which Jordan Walker beat Kyle Schwarber. Netflix secured a three-season, $50 million-per-year rights deal for Opening Night, the Derby, and the Field of Dreams, raising questions about its ability to drive non-NFL sports viewership even as the broadcast delivered a memorable ending.