Andy Dirks to Join Jason Benetti in Booth for Cardinals-Tigers on ‘Sunday Night Baseball’
NBC Sports announced that former Tigers outfielder Andy Dirks will join play‑by‑play veteran Jason Benetti in the booth for the Cardinals‑Tigers game on Sunday Night Baseball, April 6. Dirks will be paired with ex‑Cardinals pitcher Brad Thompson, continuing NBC’s rotating local‑analyst format. The model, pioneered during Peacock’s Sunday Leadoff series, swaps national color commentators for former players with direct team ties. The broadcast will air on NBCSN and stream on Peacock, extending the league’s reach across traditional TV and digital platforms.
Cris Collinsworth Retains PFF Media Arm in $100M+ Teamworks Acquisition
Teamworks has completed the acquisition of Pro Football Focus’s business‑to‑business data platform in a deal valued at more than $100 million. The B2B analytics unit will operate under Teamworks’ brand while the consumer‑facing media arm stays with former owner Cris Collinsworth. Collinsworth...
ESPN Files Motion to Intervene in Class Action Lawsuit over WWE PLEs
ESPN filed a motion to intervene in a Connecticut class‑action lawsuit against WWE over Premium Live Events (PLEs) that moved exclusively to ESPN’s direct‑to‑consumer platform in September 2025. The plaintiffs allege the companies violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act...
Netflix Reportedly Offered Make-Goods During MLB Broadcast After Falling Short in NFL Christmas Key Demos
Netflix’s NFL Christmas Day games attracted 27.5 million viewers for the Lions‑Vikings matchup and 19.9 million for the Cowboys‑Commanders, but the streamer fell about 18 % short of its promised 18‑54 demographic ratings. To honor advertiser contracts, Netflix provided make‑good spots during the...
Vancouver Reporter Says Canucks Revoked Press Credentials and Removed Him From Game Following Story About Ownership
Vancouver Canucks removed Daily Hive reporter Trevor Beggs from the arena and revoked his press credential after he published a story linking the Aquilini family’s vineyard to a U.S. federal indictment over alleged visa fraud. The article, which detailed Harvest...
Mike Vaccaro’s New Yankees Book About ‘the Craziness of the Steinbrenner Era’
Mike Vaccaro’s latest book, *The Bosses of the Bronx*, chronicles the tumultuous Steinbrenner era of the New York Yankees, from George’s 1973 purchase for $8.8 million to the franchise’s current $8.2 billion valuation. The author aims to introduce younger fans—those under 40—to...
Clayton Kershaw’s Next NBC Appearance Won’t Come Until August
Former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw made his NBC broadcasting debut on Opening Day, providing live pitcher analysis alongside Adam Ottavino. He announced his next on‑air appearance won’t occur until August, as he also assumes a fluid special‑assistant role...
USA Sports Continues WNBA Push with Hall of Fame Additions
USA Sports, the Versant sports division spun off from NBCUniversal, is expanding its inaugural WNBA coverage by adding former players Tamika Catchings and Chamique Holdsclaw, both Hall of Famers, to its broadcast team. The network has assembled a 16‑person crew,...
Netflix MLB Scorebug Draws Polarizing Reaction
Netflix launched its first Major League Baseball broadcast on Opening Night, featuring an hour‑long pre‑game show and a distinctive bottom‑right scorebug. The graphic combines three‑dimensional team logos, base‑path overlays, and pitch‑clock data, but its microscopic font has drawn sharp criticism...
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draws Underwhelming TV Audience
The NFL’s flag‑football push culminated in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, a star‑laden showcase that was abruptly moved from Riyadh to Los Angeles amid geopolitical tensions. Despite Tom Brady’s comeback hype and heavy promotion on Fox, the broadcast averaged only 650,000 viewers,...
Men’s College Lacrosse Game of the Year Finally Finds a Broadcasting Home
Notre Dame (6‑0) and Richmond (8‑0) entered their April 4 showdown as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 men’s lacrosse programs, a matchup that typically commands national TV attention. The Big Ten Network held venue rights but declined to carry the game...
Keith Hernandez Still Cashing Substantial ‘Seinfeld’ Residual Checks
Former Mets star Keith Hernandez still receives roughly $5,000 each year from his 1992 guest appearance on the sitcom Seinfeld. The cameo, in the episode “The Boyfriend,” has generated residual checks for more than three decades. Hernandez discussed the ongoing...
Former Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Reportedly Signs with Sports Media Agent Sandy Montag
Mike Tomlin, the former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, has signed with veteran sports‑media agent Sandy Montag, head of The Montag Group now operating under The Team. The partnership positions Tomlin for broadcast contracts as NFL networks and streaming services vie...
Twins Broadcaster Catches Everyone Off Guard with ‘Pants Down’ Question
During a Minnesota Twins spring‑training broadcast, former pitcher‑turned‑analyst Glen Perkins asked play‑by‑play announcer Cory Provus an odd question: “You ever seen Buck with his pants down?” referring to outfielder Byron Buxton. Provus paused, asked “like, in shorts?” before Perkins clarified...
Sarah Kustok Details Last-Minute NCAA Tournament Booth Shakeup
Sarah Kustok faced a sudden broadcast reshuffle during the NCAA Tournament first round when Brian Anderson was rested and Jason Benetti moved to television duties. The change left Kustok paired with Pat McCarthy for the afternoon and Sam Neidermann for...
NCAA’s March Madness Highlight Rules Force Local TV Stations to Get Creative
Local TV stations have been forced to improvise March Madness highlights because the NCAA limits broadcast clips to three minutes per day and only after all games conclude. Reporter Josh Ayen at WANE in Fort Wayne recreated Purdue highlights using...
Fox CBB Account Accused of Repeatedly Taking Content without Attribution
A Fox Sports college basketball Twitter account has been accused of repeatedly reposting analytics and graphics from independent creators without giving credit. The allegations, raised by the @cobrastats account and echoed by other analysts, cite six near‑identical posts shared hours...
Former WaPo Reporter Ben Strauss Says His New Team at ESPN Wants to Do More ‘Big Journalism Swing Stories’
Ben Strauss, a former Washington Post media reporter, has joined ESPN as an investigative journalist alongside several ex‑WaPo colleagues who were recently laid off. ESPN executives, including chair Jimmy Pitaro, say the network is eager to pursue "big journalism swing"...
TV and Streaming Viewing Picks for March 22, 2026: How to Watch Miami Open
Awful Announcing released a comprehensive TV and streaming guide for March 22, 2026, covering dozens of live sports across leagues such as the Bundesliga, MLS, NBA, NHL, and the Miami Open tennis tournament. The schedule highlights the Miami Open third‑round matches on...
AEW Owner Tony Khan Put in Bid to Purchase WWE
In 2023 WWE was sold to Endeavor for $9.3 billion, creating the TKO holding company that now combines WWE with UFC. During the sale process several parties submitted cash bids, including AE & E owner Tony Khan’s Base 10 vehicle, which offered $76.83 per...
Details About Kevin Harlan’s CBS, Prime Video Contracts Revealed
Veteran sportscaster Kevin Harlan balances three high‑profile gigs—CBS, Prime Video and Westwood One—by structuring staggered contracts that keep him employed continuously. CBS holds a contractual "first‑position" priority, meaning Harlan schedules its assignments before any others. His Prime Video NBA deal...
ESPN SVP Mike Foss Explains Why Network Doesn’t Produce General Sports Podcasts
ESPN senior vice president Mike Foss explained that the network deliberately avoids launching broad‑appeal sports podcasts, preferring to leverage its existing television talent and properties. Most ESPN podcasts are produced externally through Omaha Productions and focus on niche topics like...
NBC Reportedly Names Noah Eagle, Zora Stephenson, and Michael Grady as WNBA Announcers
NBC has confirmed Noah Eagle, Zora Stephenson, and Michael Grady as its primary play‑by‑play talent for the 2026 WNBA season. The league’s new collective bargaining agreement clears the way for broadcasters, including NBC, ESPN and Prime Video, to lock in...
Stephen A. Smith Changes His Tune on LeBron James
After years of public sparring, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith unexpectedly praised LeBron James on “First Take.” Smith, who previously accused James of double standards and even claimed the star tried to sabotage his career, called the Lakers’ forward “one of...
Weston McKennie to Star in Tubi Docuseries ‘Destination World Cup 2026’
Fox-owned streaming platform Tubi is expanding its World Cup coverage with a new original docuseries, "Destination World Cup 2026," featuring U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie, Spain's Marc Cucurella, and Wales' Harry Wilson. The six‑part series debuts on Tubi on April 30,...
Jason Goff Announces ‘The Full Go Podcast’ Is Ending After 600-Plus Episodes with The Ringer
Jason Goff announced that The Full Go Podcast, his four‑year, 600‑plus‑episode show on The Ringer, will conclude this month as he departs the network. He turned down an Audacy afternoon‑drive slot that required him to abandon the podcast, preferring to...
Top Men’s Lacrosse Game of the Year Currently Has No Broadcast Home
The No. 1 Notre Dame versus No. 2 Richmond men’s lacrosse semifinal on April 4 at Northwestern’s Martin Stadium has yet to secure a broadcast partner. Because the venue is owned by the Big Ten Network, which typically only airs Big Ten schools,...
Barstool’s Big Cat Wants Ken Rosenthal ‘Out’ of Fox Baseball Coverage: ‘He’s Just a Jerk’
Fox Sports featured veteran reporter Ken Rosenthal on its World Baseball Classic broadcasts, where he conducted high‑profile interviews with Team USA figures. Dan "Big Cat" Katz of Barstool Sports publicly called Rosenthal a "jerk" and demanded his removal from Fox’s...
Versant Exec Shoots Down Idea of Golf Channel Sale to PGA Tour
Versant, the NBCUniversal cable spinoff, confirmed it is not looking to sell Golf Channel, emphasizing an acquisition‑focused M&A strategy. The PGA Tour is planning a major schedule overhaul, trimming its calendar to 21‑26 premium events to create scarcity among top...
Howard Eskin, Angelo Cataldi Share Disappointment with Current State of Philadelphia’s 94 WIP
Veteran Philadelphia sports talk hosts Howard Eskin and Angelo Cataldi publicly voiced disappointment with 94 WIP’s current direction. Cataldi, who retired after 33 years, criticized the station’s softer, “nuanced” tone that he feels betrays the city’s hard‑nosed sports culture. Eskin,...
Over 60,000 Washington Post Readers Reportedly Canceled Their Subscriptions Following Mass Layoffs
The Washington Post, under Jeff Bezos, eliminated its sports, arts, books, metro and many international sections as part of a data‑driven cost‑cutting push. In the days after the cuts, roughly 60,000 digital subscribers canceled their memberships, a figure the paper...
The Sports Media Dreams of College Football All-22 Film
College football’s lack of All-22 film is sparking frustration among broadcasters and analysts. While the NFL has provided a silent, wide‑angle All‑22 view to Pro subscribers for over a decade, the collegiate game remains without a comparable product. Media personalities...
Spero Dedes Was ‘Overwhelmed’ Calling Kobe Bryant’s 81-Point Game
Spero Dedes, then a 26‑year‑old rookie, was the Los Angeles Lakers’ radio voice when Kobe Bryant scored his legendary 81 points in 2006. Dedes described feeling overwhelmed and scrambling for superlatives during the historic night, even pulling a pocket thesaurus....
Don La Greca Regrets Not Fighting for His Name on ‘The Michael Kay Show’: ‘I Should Have Threatened to Walk’
Don La Greca, co‑host of ESPN Radio's The Michael Kay Show for more than 20 years, never saw his name added to the program title despite his on‑air prominence. In a recent interview on BT Unleashed, he revealed that management...
Charles Barkley Producing a New Sports Comedy Podcast
Charles Barkley’s Round Mound Media is teaming with Justin Hartley’s ChangeUp Productions to launch a new sports‑comedy podcast, "So U Think U Can Sports?" The show, hosted by comedian Eliot Glazer, will feature interviews with players, coaches and owners, while...
Craig Carton Had to Be Separated From ‘Douchebag’ Phil Mushnick
Former WFAN host Craig Carton revealed on his show that he nearly punched New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick after seeing him at a June 2024 banquet honoring gambling‑addiction counselor Arnie Wexler. Carton, a recovering gambling addict, said Mushnick’s presence...
NFL Faces Tough Questions in Sunday Ticket Lawsuit Appeal Hearing
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held a 45‑minute oral argument on the NFL’s Sunday Ticket antitrust case, where three Democrat‑appointed judges grilled the league’s outside counsel. A 2024 jury had awarded restaurant owners and consumers $4.7 billion, but a Republican‑appointed...
Gary Bettman Endorses Mixed Approach for NHL Local Rights, No Plans to Centralize Like MLB, NBA
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league will not centralize local broadcast rights like MLB and the NBA, allowing each club to choose its own distribution model. Teams may stay on regional sports networks, move to direct‑to‑consumer streams such as...
Angels Reportedly Complete Deal to Launch Own TV Network
Los Angeles Angels have finalized a deal to launch their own television network by acquiring a stake in Main Street Sports Group, ending the previous FanDuel Sports Network West arrangement. The new network will use the same on‑air talent, be...
Tennis Channel Streaming Service Joins Amazon Prime Video Channels
Tennis Channel’s direct‑to‑consumer streaming service, launched in 2024, is now available through Amazon Prime Video Channels at $11.99 per month. The partnership expands the network’s reach beyond its own platform and follows similar moves by smaller streamers like Fox One....
MLS Team Execs Split on Whether Apple Deal Is Success or Failure
MLS entered its fourth year with Apple TV, now offering matches to all Apple TV subscribers after dropping the $99 Season Pass. Executives remain divided: some criticize the contract length, scheduling and content quality, while others praise the broader reach....
Chris Berman on NFL Owning 10% of ESPN: ‘I’d Be Shocked if It Was Any Dictation of that Way’
The NFL secured a ten‑percent equity stake in ESPN as part of a 2025 deal that gave the network control of the NFL Network, RedZone and fantasy assets. Regulators approved the transaction in roughly six months, accelerating integration ahead of...
ESPN, Horizon League Extend Partnership Entering Its Fourth Decade
ESPN and the Horizon League have signed a new multi‑year, multi‑platform media rights agreement, extending a partnership that began in 1988. The deal keeps men’s semifinals, championship, six regular‑season men’s games and the women’s championship on ESPN’s linear networks, while...
NASCAR’s ‘Full Speed’ Docuseries Moves to Prime Video with Daytona 500 Focus for Season 3
NASCAR’s Full Speed docuseries is moving from Netflix to Prime Video for its third season, debuting March 5 as an 85‑minute feature centered on the 2026 Daytona 500. The shift abandons the multi‑episode playoff format that drove 3.4 million Netflix views...
Fox Sports App Launches AI Version of Colin Cowherd
Fox Sports has introduced an AI-powered version of its flagship host Colin Cowherd within the Fox Sports mobile app. The digital persona, built from years of Cowherd’s broadcast audio, can answer user sports queries in his distinctive cadence and style....
Tony Dungy Reportedly ‘Out’ at NBC as Network Revamps ‘Football Night in America’
Tony Dungy is likely to exit NBC’s ‘Football Night in America’ after 17 years as the network prepares a major revamp of its NFL pre‑game show. The Athletic reports that NBC may drop Dungy’s regular analyst slot amid criticism of...
Netflix’s Untold Returns with 4 New Documentaries, Topics Include Lamar Odom and the Jail Blazers
Netflix announced the fifth volume of its Untold sports documentary series, debuting March 31 with four weekly films. The lineup includes a deep‑dive into Lamar Odom’s 2015 overdose, the ‘Jail Blazers’ era of Portland, the Magnus Carlsen‑Hans Niemann chess cheating...
Chris Eubanks Joins Tennis Channel as Commentator and Host
Chris Eubanks, a former world No. 29 tennis player, has signed a three‑year on‑air contract with the Tennis Channel. He will debut as a commentator and host at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on March 4. The deal...
ESPN Exec Announces End of Sue Bird-Diana Taurasi Altcast for Women’s Final Four
ESPN senior vice president Meg Aronowitz announced at the NCAA women’s Final Four preview that *The Bird & Taurasi Show* will end after six years on ESPN2. The alt‑cast, anchored by Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, drew 1.4 million viewers for the...