Sports Media Beat

This is the final episode of the Sports Media Beat podcast. Host Dan Lovallo explains why the podcast is coming to an end and what is in store for the future. Links to Dan's other podcasts and websites:

The Baseball BeatThe Sportscaster Dan podcastBrad Field WeatherSportscaster Dan Newsletter

Melanie Newman made history on Aug. 4, becoming the first female to broadcast play-by-play for the Baltimore Orioles in their game against the Miami Marlins. Also, PGA ratings remain solid for CBS. All that and more is discussed in the latest SMB. Below are the show notes for the podcast:

PGA Tour on CBSWGC-St. Jude's Classic- Sun., Aug. 2- 2.1/3.2M- Up 31% in ratings and 39% in viewership- Tour on CBS has averaged 2.46M- 3rd round lead in on Golf Channel (.45/635,000 viewers)- 4th round lead in on GC on Sunday (.6/952,000)

Melanie Newman-Newman makes history-first woman in Orioles broadcast history to broadcast a regular season game-on the call for the O's-Marlins game, calling play-by-play-among women, currently broadcasting MLB games, she joins the Rockie's Jenny Cavnar, the Yankees Suzyn Waldman and ESPN's Jessica Mendoza-she is also the fourth woman to call play-by-play for an MLB game, joining Cavnar, Waldman and Gayle Gardner

Yankees-Red Sox- Ratings down- FOX, Sat., Aug. 1 (1.25/2.07M)-smallest Yanks-Red Sox audience since Sep. 2016, but it turned out to be 4th most watched MLB game this season, with the Yanks playing in three of those games- ESPN, Sun., Aug. 2 (1.2/1.91M)

Red Sox-Mets- Thu., July 30 on FOX- 1.2/1.88M

NASCAR race from New Hampshire- Sunday, Aug. 2/NBCSN- 1.4 rating/2.21 million- lowest rated edition of the race since 1998 and least watched since at least 2000- Brad Keselowski was the winner

NBA on ABC- Blazers-Celtics (1.1/1.66M) Sunday, Aug. 2

NHL on NBC- Sunday, Aug. 2- Flyers-Bruins (0.8/1.42M)- NHL on NBCSN- Blues-Avalanche, Sun., Aug. 2 (.4/684,000)

Formula 1 British Grand Prix on ESPN- Sun., Aug. 2 (.47/736,000)- Largest audience for race since it last aired on broadcast TV since 2012

WTT on CBS- Sun., Aug. 2 (.39/556,000 viewers)- Largest audience in league history

ABC, Saturday, Aug. 1- aired 1990 fight between Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson- .47/616,000

WNBA on ESPN- Sun., Aug. 2- NY Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury- .17/248,000

Monday Night Football- No formal announcement- several reports indicate the crew will be Steve Levy on PBP, and former NFL players Louis Riddick and Brian Griese on commentary- succeeding Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland- bigger piece of the pie for NFL football

ESPN stat cast

There are reports that the Pac-12 bought coverage for its conference in a deal with the Los Angeles Times. In almost a quid-pro-quo relationship, the flagging conference bought advertising from the newspaper in return for sports coverage. Has this opened a Pandora's Box?

Also, among the stories covered:

ESPN hires new voiceNotre Dame football joins ACCCBS adding drones and fly cams to PGA coverageDavis Love III leaves CBS golf coverage teamESPN planning record PGA Championship coverageNHL and Twitter sign deal

After a nearly four-month delay, Major League Baseball began its truncated 2020 season on July 23 and the sport played to record ratings. By the weekend, however, baseball's ratings had weakened.

Meanwhile, the Google News Initiative is prepared to challenge the subscription-based sports website, The Athletic. Working in conjunction with newspapers across the USA, Google is looking to breath life into the flagging newspaper industry, by whetting the appetite of sports enthusiasts with access to local sports coverage.

As the pandemic worsens, those who operate cameras at sporting events, such as baseball games, are worried about their jobs. A story in the New York Times details the concerns.

All that and much more discussed in the latest Sports Media Beat podcast.

When the major league baseball season launches its truncated 2020 season on July 23, fans will not be allowed in the stands, because of COVID-19. That is not stopping FOX Sports from being innovative, however. When the network carries the Yankees-Nationals game on Saturday, there will be virtual fans in the stands. FOX will also have broadcasters Joe Buck and John Smoltz in separate studios far away from where the game will be played.

Other topics discussed on this podcast:

It appears likely there will be no NFL preseasonRatings for Memorial Tournament solidBraves broadcaster Jeff Francoeur has COVID-19NASCAR ratings from Texas lukewarmTNT names NBA broadcastersSports contributes to network ratings decline

As they prepare to start a truncated season in the Covid-era, Major League Baseball will take its already high tech television production to the next level. MLB plans to become even more interactive in an effort to appeal to a younger demographic. Meanwhile, shaken to its core over allegations of sexual harassment by 15 former female employees, the Washington NFL franchise is beginning to make changes. The club has announced the hiring of Julie Donaldson to lead its new radio broadcast team.

Among the other stories discussed:

Baseball summer camp ratings solidBob Costas joins CNNMore MLB broadcasters opt outNASCAR ratings dip slightly

Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Tim McCarver will not broadcast baseball games in 2020. In this latest edition of the Sports Media Beat, host Dan Lovallo explains why McCarver will not be behind the microphone. Lovallo also discusses other sports-related media news, including what happened to the archives of the Mike and the Mad Dog Show on WFAN radio in New York.

Ratings for golf and NASCAR continue to rise and the WNBA is going to be televised on CBS. Lovallo has that story too.

Mike Golic is out on ESPN radio and radio takes a major ratings hit. In his latest podcast, host Dan Lovallo explains why radio ratings are down 40% in the Boston market and how it has impacted sports talk radio.

That said, the sports ratings war in Boston seems to have take a one-sided turn. Plus the numbers are in for NASCAR and Formula 1 racing and they are encouraging. But what of baseball? Will the games be played? All that, plus NBA media news and more are discussed in the podcast.

Conjecture seems to be growing that the NFL will reduce its preseason from four to two games because of Covid-19. Although no official announcement has been made at the time of this podcast, various stories seem to indicate the NFL could get a later summer start, because of the virus. Such a move would obviously effect the NFL's TV contracts with the major networks.

Meanwhile, the virus will impact 79-year-old legendary sportscaster Marv Albert. The long time play-by-play broadcaster of NBA games on Turner Sports is not expected to return to that role, when the NBA resumes its season later in July under the Orlando "bubble."

Dan Lovallo discusses that and more in his latest podcast.