Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

The NFL Wild Card Games from a Sports Media Perspective

Episode 579 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Media Watch editor and founder Jon Lewis and SBJ media reporter Austin Karp. In this podcast we go over all of the NFL Wild Card games from a media perspective; how Prime Video got such a great game with the Packers-Bears; why 30 millions viewers is the new floor for these games; ESPN landing Texans-Steelers; Tom Brady's role with the Raiders, Troy Aikman helping the Dolphins, and Matt Ryan potentially working with the Falcons and what that means for viewers; the inherent conflict that exists with the roles; Jason Benetti as a leading candidate for NBC's MLB upcoming package; how NBC should approach MLB hires; the college football playoff quarterfinals averaging 19.3 million viewers; whether we think Indiana, Oregon, Ole Miss and Miami are good television draws and more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why women's volleyball is a booming as a media property

Episode 578 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Courtney Thompson, an analyst for USA Network and a two-time U.S. Olympic volleyball player. Thompson will serve as the analyst for USA Network's League One Volleyball (LOVB) Game of the Week airing on Wednesdays nights from January through April. The first broadcast is Jan. 7 at 6:00 PM ET. In this podcast Thompson discusses how she approaches broadcasting volleyball; why her sport has seen growth over the last five years; why the league's six franchises -- Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Nebraska and Salt Lake City — were chosen and LOVB's plans to expand from six to nine teams beginning in 2027; the new money being invested in the sport; what makes for a good volleyball broadcast; balancing being an advocate with objectivity; the importance of the 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A. to help the product and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's it like to be a sports podcast producer?

Episode 577 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Patrick Antonetti, who has produced this podcast for many years. In this podcast, Antonetti discusses what his job is; how this podcast gets produced; the challenges and opportunities of doing a podcast that is interview-based; how to edit when a host has verbal tics; the different genres he has produced over the years; what makes a good guest for this podcast; why he loves SI's Jimmy Traina as a guest; his thoughts on his favourite team, the Mets, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sports Media Predictions for 2026

Episode 576 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Sports Business Journal media writer Austin Karp and Sports Media Watch founder and editor Jon Lewis. In this podcast, we offer our sports media predictions for 2026; why we think the World Cup will draw record numbers but not have a long-lasting impact on soccer in the United States; the short-term future of MLB on TV and streaming; viewership for the Milan-Cortina Olympics; what happens with Turner Sports properties; whether Pat McAfee's star and leverage grows or declines in 2026; if Netflix's sports podcast strategy be successful; does the WNBA season start on time; if Caitlin Clark can still be a viewership unicorn; the takeaway of the 2026 World Cup and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's it like to negotiate billion-dollar sports deals?

Episode 575 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Jon Miller, the President, Acquisitions & Partnership for NBC Sports. Miller previously served as President of Programming for NBC Sports and has been an executive at the company for multiple decades. In this podcast, Miller discusses what being the president of acquisitions and partnerships means for a major sports media content provider; why the bubble has yet to burst for Tier I sports rights; how he was responsible for bringing in Michael Jordan as a special contributor on NBC's NBA coverage; how long Jordan might do it; why cutting NBC's most recent deal with the IOC for $3 billion was worth it for Comcast NBCUniversal; the importance of Peacock for future Olympics; his  negotiations over the years with the Premier League; NBC's interest in a couple of Premier League games one day opening the season in the U.S.; if Miller is worried about the competition for the next round of Premier League rights; why he thinks women's volleyball has massive growth ahead and why rugby should be bigger in the U.S; advice for young people who want in the business and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices