The Sports Media Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

On the pod this week, SBJ’s Austin Karp, Mollie Cahillane and Tom Friend do a deep dive into what’s next in the Diamond Sports saga. Karp and Cahillane also share who the winners are in the latest ESPN executive shakeup. Later in the show, two of football’s leading voices get us set for the upcoming seasons as NFL Network’s Scott Hanson and Fox Sports’ Brady Quinn stop by.

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp and Mollie Cahillane take a deep dive into what’s next for Venu Sports after a setback in court. Later in the show, NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach shares what she would change if she were college football czar. Clinton Yates, a D.C. native and host of the “ESPN Daily” podcast, also joins the show and dishes on the state of professional sports in the nation’s capital.

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp and basketball writer Tom Friend put a bow on NBA Finals viewership and look ahead at what’s next for league’s media rights deals. Later in the show, Karp catches up with some sports media newsmakers. The first interview is with Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas. The U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer talks about his role as lead studio analyst for the UEFA Euros and Copa America, as well as how MLS is at an inflection point for media coverage . Next, Joe Franzetta of Roku drops in to talk about his platform’s new MLB deal, efforts around the Olympics and Formula E and how the company is navigating the live sports rights landscape.

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand interview Amazon Sports VP of Global Sports Video, Marie Donoghue. Donoghue is the one who first hatched Amazon's plan to go after the rights for Thursday Night Football and she led how the streamer has approached its look in front and behind the cameras. In the pod, Donoghue reveals some news on an addition to TNF's pregame, talks about interest in the NBA, Big 12 and Pac 12. She also tells of what it was like to row in the Harlem River as part of Columbia's crew team in college. 

Plus, Marchand and Ourand have their usual segments of "Who's Up" and "Who's down," delve deep into Major League Baseball and Sinclair, while also providing a prognosis of the current state of the Pac 12 deal. And one sportscaster receives the coveted "Call of the Week" award. 

Andrew Marchand and John Ourand celebrate one year of the sports media podcast. They are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan, who details why he always wears a suit to the ballpark, navigating ESPN rivalries, the angst of being glued to his phone and his Elmo impersonation, among other topics. Marchand and Ourand have all the usual elements, picking “Who’s up” and “Who’s down,” plus they go deep on subjects, including what does the Sling-Disney deal foretell, what is the NBA up to with its reimagined app and Rachel Nichols’ comeback. They end with “Call of the Week,” which has a Manning slant. 

Mentioned this week: Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Chris Russo, Doug Perlman, Abe Madkour, Chris Shaw, Scott Van Pelt, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Bettman, Steve Phelps, Roger Goodell, Aaron Judge, Derek Volner, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Charlie Ergen, Chris Ripley, LeBron James, Fred Hickman, Nick Charles, George Michael, Rachel Nichols, Mark Hale, Adam Silver, Maria Taylor, John Blake, Rich Passan, Adrian Wojnarowski, Adam Shefter, Pete Thamel, John Branch, Joe Posnanski, Jason Whitlock, Wright Thompson, Liz Merrill, Adam Teicher, Blair Kirkhoff, Bob Dutton, Sam Mellinger, Kevin Kaduk, Candace Buckner, Mike Fannin, Dan Wetzel, Charles Robinson, Tim Brown, Kevin Iole, Greg Wyshynski, Buster Olney, Rob Manfred, Rachel Ullrich, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Joel Sherman, Adley Rutschman, Elmo, Sean Connery, Dan LeBatard, Manny Machado, George King, Tom Verducci, Bobby Wagner, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason, Pedro Martinez

 

Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols went for historic home runs exclusively on AppleTV+. The NFL put some of its most popular teams exclusive on Amazon. The NFL wants to sell its Sunday Ticket service exclusively to a streamer. Podcast hosts Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discuss what sports leagues’ moves to streaming services mean for the business. Other topics: Pac-12 and Big 12 media rights, the new NBA App, J.J. Redick’s media future and Peyton and Eli Manning’s role in the new NFL Pro Bowl weekend.

Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Chris Russo, Jeff Passan, Pedro Martinez, Adam Silver, George Kliavkoff, Brett Yormark, Jay Marine, Jeff Bezos, Marie Donoghue, Jared Stacy, Barry Bonds, Michael Kay, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Judge, Roger Maris, David Waldstein, Joel Sherman, Roger Clemens, Burke Magnus, Jimmy Pitaro, Adley Rutschman, Roger Goodell, Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Marv Albert, Chris Ripley, Albert Puljols, Letitia James, Bob Lawyer, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, WeCrashed, Tripp Mickle, James Nestor, Eddy Cue, Brian Rolapp, John Canzano, Jon Wilner, Pat McAfee, JJ Redick, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Wayne Randazzo, Richard Jefferson, Ryan Ruocco, Dave Pasch, Stephen A. Smith, Howie Rose, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason.

Sports media’s push to streaming dominates the first part of this week’s podcast, as Andrew Marchand and John Ourand take a deep dive into how Amazon fared during its first exclusive NFL game. Marchand and Ourand take a look at Amazon’s performance from the NBA’s perspective since that league’s media rights deals are up after the 2024-25 season. They bring up both the good and the bad with Amazon’s stream of the Chargers-Chiefs game.

Other streaming topics include the potential for AppleTV+ to carry a historic MLB game as Aaron Judge chases Roger Maris’ Yankees homerun record and discuss how a direct-to-consumer ESPN may look. College rights negotiations continue to be a big issue, as the Big 12 and Pac-12 have started looking into re-doing their deals. And they tell you why Dwyane Wade is leaving TNT’s NBA telecasts this season. As always, the show has its Who’s Up/Who’s Down and Call of the Week features.

Mentions: Aaron Judge, Roger Maris, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Jimmy Pitaro, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Scott Van Pelt, Burke Magnus, Bob Chapek, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Ian Eagle, Eddy Cue, Dean Spanos, Justin Herbert, Jay Marine, Marie Donoghue, Jared Stacy, Fred Gaudelli, Kaylee Hartung, Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dude Perfect, Joe Flint, Jeff Bezos, Bart Simpson, Al Bundy, Roger Goodell, Chris Russo, Pat McAfee, Stephen Nelson, Hunter Pence, Katie Nolan, Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, John Canzano, Jon Wilner, George Kliavkoff, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Harlan, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jason McCourty, Michael Nathanson, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason

  

Days before they will call the first regular season NFL game on Amazon Prime, Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit joined the pod this week to discuss their plan for calling games on the streaming service and how they’ve approached their partnership. The two also discuss the free agent frenzy that hit NFL announcers in the off season; Michaels talks about how he will decide when to hang up his announcer’s microphone; and Herbstreit offers his two cents on Big Ten expansion. Other topics: Michaels’ disdain for vegetables and Herbstreit’s travel schedule to Boone, N.C. 

 

Marchand and Ourand also discuss ESPN’s future, what to expect from Amazon’s first game and a review of Week 1 on television. The two also make their weekly picks about Who’s Up, Who’s Down and Call of the Week. 

 

Mentioned this week: Ian Eagle, Chris Russo, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Chris Finnegan, Pat McAfee, Brad Marchand, Jimmy Pitaro, Bob Chapek, Urban Meyer, Jac Collinsworth, Maria Taylor, Mike Tirico, Tim of Shelbyville, Tenn., Rick Mace, Jonathan Tannenwald, Brian Roberts, Charlie Ergen, Rob Thun, Brian Rolapp, Hans Schroeder, Michael Nathanson, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Robert Seidman, Marion Barry, Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Darren Rovell, Joel McHale, Shannon Sharpe, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Chris LaPlaca, Jay Marine, Marie Donoghue, Fred Gaudelli, Jared Stacy, Tripp Mickle, Jeff Bezos, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Justin Reid, Eric Reid, Cris Collinsworth, Marty Brennaman, Wayne Lucas, Mario Cristobal, Jimbo Fisher, Mack Brown, Michael Smith, Bob Kraft, Michele Tafoya, Jay Michaels, Lila Roginsky, Dr. Spock, Michael Kay, Ian Eagle, Jo Ann Ross, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason  

 

Fox Sports’ top NFL announcing team of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen join the pod this week to discuss the upcoming season when they will call the Super Bowl for the first time. Andrew Marchand and John Ourand ask about the long off-season process to become Fox’s top NFL broadcasting team. Burkhardt and Olsen also address Tom Brady, who is scheduled to replace Olsen when he stops playing football. Other topics include their New Jersey roots, where Burkhardt called Olsen’s high-school games; Burkhardt’s “first pitch” at Citi Field; and Burkhardt’s role on WFAN 20 years ago.

 

Marchand and Ourand also discuss the NFL’s upcoming season, from Amazon’s debut and the Manningcast to NBC’s Sunday Night Football’s expected performance. The two opine on what the expansion of the College Football Playoff means to ESPN, Fox and Amazon.

Mentioned on the pod: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Jay Marine, Marie Donoghue, Jeff Bezos, Brett Yormark, Burke Magnus, Ray Davis, Sarah Krouse, Chris Fowler, Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Tony Romo, Jim Nantz, Peyton Manning, Fred Gaudelli, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Chris Olsen, Jr., Chris Olsen, Sr., Art Stapleton, Mike Trevino, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi, Rob Boras, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Charles Davis, Kenny Albert, Gregg Picker, Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Bill Webb, Chris Russo, Richard Cross, Leger Douzable, Andrew Fegyveresi, Acie Wyatt, Chris Mason.

 

ESPN’s new Monday Night Football announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman join the pod to talk about how and why they moved from Fox to ESPN during the offseason. Aikman details his talks with Amazon and ESPN and discusses how much Tony Romo’s CBS salary played into his decision to leave. Buck talks about his reasons for leaving Fox and why he’s decided to give up the baseball booth. A UCLA alum, Aikman also addresses his school’s move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten.

 

Marchand and Ourand also discuss Amazon’s exclusive NFL preseason game, the stunning strength of NFL TV ratings, the future of Sinclair’s RSNs, Apple’s Friday night MLB telecasts, ESPN’s ACC contract and Pat McAfee’s exit from SiriusXM.

 

Mentioned in the podcast this week: Tony Romo, Chris Russo, Pete Bevacqua, Chris Ripley, Katie Nolan, Hannah Keyser, Melanie Newman, Chris Young, Hunter Pence, Stephen Nelson, Fred Gaudelli, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Charissa Thompson, Richard Sherman, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Stacy, Marie Donoghue, Bob Kraft, Rupert Murdoch, Kevin Burkhardt, Alana Russo, Michael Nathanson, Burke Magnus, Jeb Bush, Tim Green, Thom Brennaman, Kenny Albert, Anthony Muñoz, Phil Dean, David Hill, Jimmy Pitaro, Eric Shanks, Michelle Beisner-Buck, Joe Davis, Jack Buck, Vin Scully, Richie Zyontz, Tony Kornheiser, Chris Kerber, Beverly Sills, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Tom Brady, Rick Sutcliffe, Brent Musburger, Wally Matthews, Derek Jeter, Robert Heymann, Pat McAfee, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Charles Barkley, Stephen A. Smith, Jason Benetti, Casey Thompson, Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, Tim Brando, Gus Johnson, Greg Olsen