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Stephen A. Smith Under Fire for Sports Knowledge Gaps
sports-media14 days ago

Stephen A. Smith Under Fire for Sports Knowledge Gaps

OutKick writer Bobby Burack argues that Stephen A. Smith shows thin command of sports across MLB, college basketball, NFL, and beyond, citing a drawn‑out UNC coaching suggestion for Kenny Smith, misstatements about players, and criticism from peers like Jeff Goodman and Josh Hart. The piece suggests ESPN pays him for star power rather than expertise and notes moments of disengagement (solitaire during the NBA Finals) as the busy spring sports calendar—NCAA Tournament, MLB, Masters, and the NFL Draft—approaches.

via OutKick|
#jason-whitlock#march-madness#mlb
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draws Modest TV Audience Despite Star Power
sports16 days ago

Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draws Modest TV Audience Despite Star Power

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic, headlined by Tom Brady and featuring a host of NFL players and celebrities, moved from Riyadh to Los Angeles and drew a modest linear TV audience of about 650,000 on average (peaking at 909,000) with a 2.8 million reach, facing competition from NCAA tournaments. While social media and streaming clips reportedly generated over 300 million views across platforms, the game failed to translate hype into strong TV interest. Brady even suggested tweaking the rules to resemble tackle football to boost engagement.

via Awful Announcing|
#fanatics#flag-football#sports
ESPN Buys NFL Network, Promising Synergy and a New MNF Schedule
sports-media2 months ago

ESPN Buys NFL Network, Promising Synergy and a New MNF Schedule

ESPN’s purchase of NFL Network has been approved, with plans to keep NFL Network as a separate brand while blending top talent from both networks to create new synergies; a major change will be removing Monday Night Football doubleheaders in favor of a single MNF game per week with a scheduled lineup on NFL Network. The digest also covers NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball debut, a Black History Month post omission controversy, Marshawn Lynch on Bill Maher’s podcast, Puka Nacua’s throwback social post, and a preview of this week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast with Bryan Curtis and Sal Licata.

via Sports Illustrated|
#cross-network-talent#espn#media-merger
NFL Network sold to ESPN as government clears deal; NFL takes 10% stake in ESPN
business2 months ago

NFL Network sold to ESPN as government clears deal; NFL takes 10% stake in ESPN

The NFL and ESPN have closed the sale of NFL Network and other NFL Media assets to ESPN after government approval, with ESPN set to operate NFL Network and gain rights to RedZone, while the NFL takes a 10% stake in ESPN. The deal includes merging the NFL.com fantasy project with ESPN.com and begins integration of NFL staff in the coming months, signaling a potential boost to ESPN’s upcoming TV packages and expanded NFL programming with a closing target of Aug. 1.

via New York Post|
#business#espn#merger
Brady Shines in the Booth, But Strategy Gap Lingers
sports-media2 months ago

Brady Shines in the Booth, But Strategy Gap Lingers

Tom Brady has shown marked improvement as Fox’s lead NFL analyst, delivering sharper on-air insights (like the shoulder plane) and showing comfort in his role. However, the piece argues he still lags in strategic discussion, citing two missed opportunities in the Rams–Seahawks game (go-for-two timing and late fourth-down/field-goal decisions) where a deeper strategic analysis—something a former analyst like Greg Olsen would likely provide—could have enhanced the broadcast. The article then rounds up related sports-media notes, including an SNL spoof of Buck and Aikman, various NFL graphics, Evan Washburn’s hatless-on-icy day accuracy, Charles Barkley’s ESPN return, and a SI Media interview with Scott Van Pelt.

via Sports Illustrated|
#analysis#broadcasting#nfl
CBS's Romo-Nantz Booth Quietly Survives Scrutiny With a Small Win
sports-media2 months ago

CBS's Romo-Nantz Booth Quietly Survives Scrutiny With a Small Win

CBS’s AFC Championship broadcast by Jim Nantz and Tony Romo was largely unremarkable—a modest improvement over their recent missteps—featuring moments of back-slapping rather than deep analysis and a confusing sequence on a pivotal fumble/grounding call with Gene Steratore. With Romo’s hefty contract looming and reports that CBS might promote Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt to the No. 1 booth, the network faces a strategic question as NBC and ABC/ESPN offer stronger future options. Sunday’s performance wasn’t great, but it wasn’t disastrous—a quiet win for CBS amid high scrutiny.

via The New York Times|
#cbs#jim-nantz#nfl-broadcasting
Buck Defends Michaels Amid TNF Criticism
sports-media2 months ago

Buck Defends Michaels Amid TNF Criticism

Joe Buck publicly defends Al Michaels against season-long criticism of his Thursday Night Football commentary, saying he’s a fan and that Michaels remains phenomenal. Michaels plans to return for the 2026 TNF season amid fan backlash over his energy, while Buck recalls his own past scrutiny and notes their strong friendship, arguing the criticism of Michaels isn’t fair or accurate.

via Awful Announcing|
#al-michaels#broadcasting#criticism
Tomlin’s Next Act: Fox Leads the Pack in a Possible TV Studio Move
sports2 months ago

Tomlin’s Next Act: Fox Leads the Pack in a Possible TV Studio Move

NFL coach Mike Tomlin could pivot to television and be a sought-after studio analyst. Fox is the frontrunner to hire him for its Fox NFL Sunday after Jimmy Johnson’s retirement, with ESPN, NBC, CBS and Amazon Prime Video also eyeing him. There are no immediate openings that would pay Romo/Aikman-level salaries, but Tomlin could still command multi-million offers and wait for the right coaching job or a TV career.

via The New York Times|
#fox-nfl-sunday#nfl#sports
Fanatics teams up with OBB to launch sports-focused media studio
business2 months ago

Fanatics teams up with OBB to launch sports-focused media studio

Fanatics and OBB Media are launching Fanatics Studios, a joint-venture media and entertainment studio to create, produce and distribute films, documentaries, live events and digital series centered on sports and culture, with projects for ESPN, WWE and MLB and a flagship slate tied to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; led by OBB’s Michael Ratner, the venture is expected to generate nine-figure revenue in its first year as part of Fanatics’ broader sports platform expansion.

via CNBC|
#business#fanatics#fanatics-studios
CBS Considers a Top-Booth Shakeup as Romo Struggles Open Door for Eagle and Watt
sports-media2 months ago

CBS Considers a Top-Booth Shakeup as Romo Struggles Open Door for Eagle and Watt

Romo’s shaky Wild Card showing sparks talk of a top-booth refresh at CBS, with Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt rising as preferred successors. The piece notes Romo’s contract and Nantz’s stature complicating a demotion, while outlining potential paths—demote Romo, pair Eagle with Nantz, or move Romo to studio—ahead of Super Bowl LXII.”

via Awful Announcing|
#cbs#ian-eagle#jim-nantz