Blazers Fire Announcer Same Day Over Old Tweets
#TrailBlazers #SportsMediaThe Portland Trail Blazers hired and fired play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell the same day after racist and misogynistic social media posts from his teenage years resurfaced, prompting the team to cite zero tolerance and apologize to fans. read more
ESPN Co-Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93
#ESPN #SportsMediaBill Rasmussen, ESPN co-founder, died Tuesday at 93 from Parkinson's effects. His vision of a 24-hour sports network launched in 1979 revolutionized television. He was celebrated as a visionary innovator who built a lasting sports media empire. read more
ESPN Founder Bill Rasmussen Dies at 93
#ESPN #SportsMediaBill Rasmussen, ESPN founder and sports TV visionary, died at 93 from Parkinson's. His 1979 launch of the first 24-hour sports network revolutionized media, inspiring generations with entrepreneurial optimism. read more
Tomlin Joins NBC as Analyst After Steelers Exit
#NFLNews #SportsMediaMike Tomlin, former Steelers head coach, joins NBC's "Football Night in America" as a studio analyst. After 19 seasons and a Super Bowl win, he ends his historic sideline tenure to begin a broadcasting career. read more
NBA Viewership Soars Under New Media Deals
#NBAViewership #SportsMediaThe NBA's new media deals drove a major viewership surge, with 170 million U.S. viewers in Year 1, an 86% increase. This marks the league's best regular-season audience in 24 years, fueled by new broadcast partners. read more
NFL Reporter Russini Resigns Amid Photo Scandal
#SportsMedia #NFLNewsNFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic after photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel prompted an internal investigation. She denied wrongdoing, citing media speculation. Both individuals called the images innocent. The Athletic had initially supported her work. read more
MVP Launches Womens Boxing Platform with ESPN Deal
#WomensBoxing #SportsMediaMost Valuable Promotions launches MVPW, a new global platform for women's boxing, with a multiyear ESPN deal. The first three events in April and May feature title fights with stars like Caroline Dubois, Alycia Baumgardner, and Holly Holm. read more
Olympic Gaffes Spark Italian Broadcaster Strike
#SportsMedia #Olympics2026Italian journalists at RaiSport will strike after commentator Paolo Petrecca's blunders during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. He misidentified Mariah Carey, confused officials, and misstated the venue. He has been removed from future commentary duties. read more
Betting on Announcers Words Becomes Super Bowl Craze
#SuperBowlBetting #SportsMediaBetting on Super Bowl announcers' words is surging, with millions wagered on specific phrases. This new prediction market raises integrity concerns from the NFL, but interest continues to grow ahead of the big game. read more
ESPN Acquires NFL Network in Landmark Media Deal
#SportsMedia #NFLBusinessRegulators approved ESPN's acquisition of NFL Network, RedZone rights, and NFL Fantasy. The NFL gains a 10% ESPN stake. Integration begins soon, promising expanded NFL programming and combined fantasy platforms for viewers. read more
"FanDuel Sports Network: Blurring Lines Between Media and Gambling"
#sportsmedia #sportsbettingThe Diamond Sports Group rebranded its 16 regional sports networks as the FanDuel Sports Network, highlighting the intertwining of sports media and the gambling industry. The move reflects an industry trend where betting companies are morphing into broadcasters, sparking concerns about biased coverage. read more