NEW PODCAST: SBJ's Austin Karp and @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social join the pod for a roundtable discussion on all of the NFL's WildCard games and how Prime Video landed a massive game. Plus, Jason Benetti and college football media talk. swap.fm/l/4apy5A6Fma...

NASCAR commissioner Phelps resigns, continuing offseason of tumult: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/nasc...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: @espn.com reportedly wants to keep the Monday night window for annual NFL Wild Card game; Tom Pelissero reports Matt Ryan would not continue working at CBS with potential Atlanta Falcons role; and more sports media news. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/espn...

NBCU eyeing Orioles' Kevin Brown, ex-Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw, for MLB coverage per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/nbc-...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Mark Silverman is "stepping away" from his role as Fox Sports president/COO "in the coming months." www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/mark...

NASCAR commissioner Phelps resigns, continuing offseason of tumult: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/nasc...

Noted on the DP Show today that this is the 32-year anniversary of the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding scandal. Good time to remind people that their Olympic figure skating head-to-head *outrated the Super Bowl* that year. Last TV show to beat the Super Bowl. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2024/02/show...

Fox Sports' Jason Benetti reportedly leading candidate for NBC's lead MLB role, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/jaso...

Peacock's latest NFL exclusive falls shy of ten million mark: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/peac...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Main Street Sports Group reportedly misses payments to "numerous undisclosed NBA teams"; Versant Media shares fall in Nasdaq debut; and more sports media news. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/main...

CFP quarterfinal viewership up, led by Rose Bowl: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/rose...

Thursday Night Football delivers its most-watched season yet, with or without Nielsen's new "Big Data" methodology (though probably not without out-of-home viewing): www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/thur...

NBC with the pregame priest footage. They're operating on another level.

Prime Video gets rare Packers-Bears playoff game, arguably the highest-profile of next week's Wild Card slate: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/prim...

Heads-up -- the Rose Bowl viewership figure Indiana was circulating today is not believed to be accurate.

For the fourth-straight year, the NFL's late afternoon Sunday window outdrew each of the league's Christmas Day games: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/nfl-...

Pop-Tarts Bowl hits high for non-playoff bowl game: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/pop-...

ICYMI, from last year -- Is retreating from New Year's Day the right move for the NHL Winter Classic? www.sportsmediawatch.com/2024/12/nhl-...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: A new report on the local media future of the @nationals.com as the MASN deal expires at the end of February; Cumulus Media receives a preliminary injunction against Nielsen; and more sports media news. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/wash...

On the latest edition of "On the Air," Armand Broady argues for Sean McDonough as ESPN's lead college football voice: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2026/01/on-t...

McDonough at one of the highest levels of his career in this game, at least to me. He's been consistently at the very top of his game, or near it, dating back to that Rantanen game in the NHL playoffs last May.

Reminder that this early New Year's Day window next year will likely be airing on TNT. TNT will have two of the four quarterfinals (and one of the two semis). www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/tnt-...

ICYMI: Thoughts on the major theme of sports media in 2025 -- an industry in transition. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/mond...

Spurs-Thunder, Cavs-Knicks, top NBA Christmas Day slate -- ahead of traditional draws: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nba-...

NFL Christmas audience dips in second-straight year exclusive to streaming, but league scores streaming-record audience of more than 27M for Lions-Vikings on Netflix: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nfl-...

Christmas night Broncos-Chiefs is unsurprisingly the most-watched "TNF" game since the series moved to Amazon Prime Video: www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...

Spurs-Thunder, Cavs-Knicks, top NBA Christmas Day slate -- ahead of traditional draws: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nba-...

The most-watched game of the NBA's five-game Christmas slate? Not Lakers, not Warriors, not Knicks -- but Spurs-Thunder: www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...

On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady examines the biggest sports media talent trend of 2025 -- the rise of the content creator: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/on-t...

On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady examines the biggest sports media talent trend of 2025 -- the rise of the content creator: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/on-t...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly plans to reject Paramount's takeover bid next week. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/wbd-...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Matt Ryan has reportedly "had conversations" about returning to the Atlanta Falcons in a "significant" front office role; USC football head coach Lincoln Riley calls out Notre Dame; and more sports media news. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/matt...

On the final "Monday musings" of the year, a look at the dominant theme of sports media in 2025 -- that of an industry in transition: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/mond...

On the final "Monday musings" of the year, a look at the dominant theme of sports media in 2025 -- that of an industry in transition: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/mond...

NEW PODCAST: @austinkarp.bsky.social and @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social join me for 2026 Sports Media Predictions including how we think the World Cup and Winter Olympics will play out for the public. swap.fm/l/4apy5A6Fma...

New SMW Podcast -- The themes and trends that defined 2025 in sports media -- Special guest Jayne Kennedy of "NFL Today" fame talks about her time on the groundbreaking studio show, the trust she earned from some of the most iconic athletes, and more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

New SMW Podcast -- The themes and trends that defined 2025 in sports media -- Special guest Jayne Kennedy of "NFL Today" fame talks about her time on the groundbreaking studio show, the trust she earned from some of the most iconic athletes, and more: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

New on @sportsmediawatch.bsky.social: Bill Simmons will launch his podcast on @netflix.com with a live episode; Comcast president Mike Cavanagh signs a new contract with the company; and more sports media news. www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/bill...

IIHF World Juniors begin today. Schedule below: www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules...

Why NFL and NBA should both see higher viewership than last Christmas, despite headwinds: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nfl-...

They've mentioned this game a few times today -- LeBron's first Christmas appearance, Cavs-Magic in 2003. On the call for ESPN were the late John Saunders and Bill Walton. (Doris Burke on the sidelines in one of her first NBA assignments for ESPN.)

Why NFL and NBA should both see higher viewership than last Christmas, despite headwinds: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nfl-...

A lot of focus on the absence of "Inside the NBA" this season, but worth noting that these Christmas games today are the first ESPN-produced NBA telecasts in nearly a full month. ESPN had not been on since the day before Thanksgiving.

Thrillers lift multiple networks in strong Week 16 of NFL season: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nfl-...

News: -- Judge again rules in favor of Dish-owned Sling in "passes" dispute -- NBA, FIBA, to begin recruiting teams for new European league -- USC issued "week zero" ultimatum to Notre Dame over top-12 playoff guarantee -- Plus: Pam Ward retires and more www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/slin...

News: -- Judge again rules in favor of Dish-owned Sling in "passes" dispute -- NBA, FIBA, to begin recruiting teams for new European league -- USC issued "week zero" ultimatum to Notre Dame over top-12 playoff guarantee -- Plus: Pam Ward retires and more www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/slin...

Netflix touts another massive boxing audience: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/netf...

A few more weekend ratings items below: NCAA women's volleyball tournament, CBS Sports Classic (men's hoops), Women's Champions Classic: www.sportsmediawatch.com/sports-ratin...

Thrillers lift multiple networks in strong Week 16 of NFL season: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nfl-...

NFL dominates CFP -- with Packers-Bears beating JMU-Oregon by nearly 400 percent. CFP fared so poorly opposite NFL that the full first round viewership average declined from last year, despite strong results for Alabama-Oklahoma and Miami-Texas A&M: www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/12/nfl-...