NBC/Amazon executive producer Fred Gaudelli joins “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.” Marchand and Gaudelli discuss how NBC was able to swipe Mike Tirico from ESPN as the successors to Al Michaels on Sunday Night Football and Bob Costas on the Olympics and how that changed the top NFL broadcast landscape.

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

Gaudelli explained how he rose at ESPN, which included innovating by putting MPH on screen for the first time, he said, in baseball history at the College World Series. How he invented the bottom line scroll on the NFL Draft. Mel Kiper Jr. and the the draft board. The creation and implementation of the first down line graphic. Plus, what is next with AI, Artificial Intelligence, not Michaels, on telecasts.

Gaudelli also tells great stories about John Madden, Michaels, Kiper and Dick Vitale.

To subscribe for the full 48 minute podcast, go to AndrewMarchand.com and with one click you can link to your pod player for all our content.

Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media Rundown 

WHAT’S UP

Andrew Marchand: Howie Rose

Jon Meterparel: Rece Davis 

WHAT’S DOWN

Marchand: Rob Manfred

Meterparel: Al Michaels & Kirk Herbstreit

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

THE QUESTIONS

* Diamond Sports looks as if it will not be broadcasting most of its MLB teams next year. What does it mean? What should MLB do? Why is it so significant? Why it could lead to internal MLB fights?

* How Shohei Ohtani’s special TV baseball playoff moment was produced to perfection. Should local announcers call MLB playoff games? 

* What should be done about the NFLPA statement not wanting reporters in the locker room?

* What do we make of the WNBA playoff ratings? With and without Caitlin Clark?

*  The future of Sports Media presented by WSC Sports: 

What is the under-reported media story that will influence the future of how we watch? The globalization of major sports and the impact on sports media.

* You make the call: What specifically made Howie Rose’s call so great?

THURSDAY’S GUEST

The Main Event with Andrew Marchand on Thursday is with Fred Gaudelli. You can find it on this same feed. To hear this entire 37-minute episode, access our full archive and entire future episodes become a full-time subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

Free subscribers will receive the first 13 minutes of the podcast. To upgrade for the full nearly 40-minute, as well as access to our archive and future podcasts, upgrade to a paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

Darren Rovell is the guest on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.” Rovell became a sports media star at 22, convincing ESPN to cover sports business full-time. A theater major at Northwestern, he still believes he could be on Broadway. He explains how his background performing helped him when he sat next to Kenny Mayne on SportsCenter for his first television hit at 22.

After building his profile with two runs at ESPN between a stop at CNBC, he pivoted again to sports gambling just before he grew to the heights it is at now. He has now moved to sports collectibles where he has started where has started cllct.com.

Rovell goes into how he was one of the first on Twitter, how he has someone monitoring the platform now known as X 24/7 so he can still have a life and what is next for sports media. He has been paying this unknown person for a decade. He also expands on his multi-million memorabilia collection he owns and what his young company is now doing. And he discusses the benefits of being really good at something niche.

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media Rundown 

WHAT’S UP

Andrew Marchand: SiriusXM Sunday Drive

Jon Meterparel: Jason Benetti

WHAT’S DOWN

Marchand: WNBA Players Association

Meterparel: John Smoltz

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

THE QUESTIONS

* How Jeff Passan could make the move from MLB insider to NBA insider and replace Woj? Shams Charania is the other leading candidate, but The Athletic wants to keep him. What happened with Zach Lowe? Chris Haynes also in free agency merry-go-round.

* How could Netflix ask for Tom Brady to call its Christmas Day game? What is going on with the streamer? Should networks let announcers work for Netflix? Ian Eagle, Noah Eagle, Greg Olsen and Nate Burleson in play.

* How do we rank the MLB playoff game-callers? Joe Davis to Brian Anderson to Karl Ravech to Bob Costas to Boog Sciambi. Plus, Joe Buck’s legacy.

* What do we think of Friday night college football? What is the next window TV should think about?

* The future of Sports Media presented by WSC Sports: What does the WNBA need to do from a media perspective to go to the next level? Who is right in the Christine Brennan-WNBAPA kerfuffle?

* You make the call: Benetti on Tigers when they moved one game from clinching playoff spot. How does it rate?

YOUR QUESTIONS

Is it the sports media who unimaginatively continually ask the thought provoking question, “Can you take us through this play?” Scott Fisher on X.

THURSDAY’S GUEST

The Main Event with Andrew Marchand on Thursday is with Darren Rovell. You can find it on this same feed. Thanks for listening and subscribing at AndrewMarchand.com. 

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

ESPN Sr. Writer and NBA insider Ramona Shelburne is on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.” Shelburne thought someone might have been hacked when she saw on X that Adrian Wojnarowski retired. She described how she and Woj worked on a James Harden blockbuster trade story together, but she was having back surgery, which left Woj worrying if the doctor may leak it. She also explained how she developed a strong relationship with Kobe Bryant and how Bryant challenged her to beat Woj. And she documents her tremendous series on Donald Sterling that is now on FX. And we go into the future of insiders at ESPN.

To subscribe for access to the full 45-minute podcast, go to AndrewMarchand.com

Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media Rundown 

WHAT’S UP

Andrew Marchand: Cris Collinsworth 

Jon Meterparel: Kevin Burkhardt

WHAT’S DOWN

Marchand: Greg Olsen

Meterparel: Bill Belichick

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

THE QUESTIONS

* What happens to the insider game after Adrian Wojnarowski’s surprise retirement?

Does ESPN replace Woj? Do they go closer by committee? Shams? Do reporters want the job? Adam Schefter’s comments.

* What do you think of Cris Collinsworth closing in on a contract extension with NBC?

NBC’s succession plan worked with Mike Tirico and Al Michaels/Bob Costas, but Collinsworth survived Drew Brees.

* What did we think of Tom Brady in Week 3?

Brady struggled big time with cliches.

Does he have the instincts?

* What are we hearing on the ESPN NBA No. 1 team front?

The latest and some new names.

* The future of Sports Media presented by WSC Sports: 

What was the biggest takeaway from The Main Event interview with MoffettNathanson’s Michael Nathanson and Robert Fishman?

ESPN’s plan should work for DTC, while MLB has a real streaming issue for its big market clubs.

* What do we make of the Caitlin Clark WNBA regular season ratings? She’s the one.

* You make the call: New segment, what do we think of this Connor Onion call on Fox Sports of Colorado’s win over Baylor?

YOUR QUESTIONS

* Could you see Woj doing any kind of content? Using his NBA connections to bring folks to St Bonnie’s campus? Jessie Karungu, subscriber ​​

THURSDAY’S GUEST

The Main Event with Andrew Marchand on Thursday is with ESPN senior writer Ramona Shelburne. You can find it on this same feed. Thanks for listening and subscribing.

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

On The Main Event, Andrew Marchand is joined by two of the top analysts in the business, MoffettNathanson’s Michael Nathanson and Robert Fishman. The trio discussed ESPN/Disney’s future dire…

MARCHAND & METERPAREL: Everybody Loves Sports Media Rundown

WHAT’S UP

Andrew Marchand: Tom Brady 

Jon Meterparel: Kenny Albert

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

WHAT’S DOWN

Marchand: Jesse Palmer

Meterparel: Terry Bradshaw

THE QUE…

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com.

On The Main Event with Andrew Marchand, Andrew talks with Booger McFarland. McFarland, 46, explains the funny story of how he went from Anthony to Booger and why his attempt to switch back failed at LSU. He goes behind-the-scenes at ESPN about how the Monday Night Football happened, the Booger Mobile and whatever happened to the most famous crane in NFL TV history.

He also talked about the influence of Mike Greenberg, his relationship with the legendary Chris Berman and his doughnut disses of Dan “Big Cat” Katz on X.

Marchand Sports Media is a listener-supported platform. Next week’s Everybody Loves Sports Media will be only for paid subscribers. Sign-up for free or paid at AndrewMarchand.com

WHAT’S UP

Andrew Marchand: Greg Olsen

Jon Meterparel: Mike Tirico

WHAT’S DOWN

Marchand: Scott Hanson

Meterparel: WFAN Executives

THE QUESTIONS

*  What did we think of Tom Brady’s debut?

*  How can Brady become better?

*  What else did we think about Week 1 in the NFL?

NFL greed on Friday night with Peacock game … Jeff Darlington should have the “Cops” song play when he comes on-air. … Matt Ryan debut on CBS’ NFL Today, while James Brown pays tribute to Boomer Esiason & Phil Simms. …Sunday Ticket worth it?

*  College GameDay vs. Big Noon Kickoff: It is turning into a great college football rivalry?

Both shows are good. Colt McCoy struggles on Saturday night national TV debut.

* The future of Media presented by WSC Sports: What happens with ESPN’s equity play as it goes direct to consumer?

NFL and NBA talks are stalled for now, but digital players could still team with ESPN.

*  Is it the right move by Audacy New York president Chris Oliviero to bring back John Sterling for the playoffs to call Yankee games on WFAN?

YOUR QUESTIONS

* Who is likely to call the Netflix games? Neil Schoolnik from X. 

Peter Schrager is an interesting option.

THURSDAY’S GUEST

The Main Event with Andrew Marchand on Thursday is with ESPN’s Booger McFarland. You can find it on this same feed. Thanks for listening and subscribing at AndrewMarchand.com.