This week on #TheWormcast, FOX Sports studio host Rob Stone who's covered MLS since day one in 1996, joins me to discuss MLS' landmark signing of Lionel Messi for Inter Miami. How Messi is the catalyst for MLS 3.0 and how the league needs to capitalize on the world's most popular athlete to propel its status around the globe. Enjoy! This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
This week on #TheWormcast the intersection of AI into sports writing and content production has been transformative and disruptive. How did we get here and what is the future. To help unwind some these questions is my guest, Steve Wasick, the founder of infoSetience. His company uses AI to provide millions of automated articles for CBS Sports and other clients. This is a fascinating topic on so many levels and you'll appreciate Steve's knowledge of Generative AI. Enjoy! This podcast is hosted by...
This week MLB Network reporter Jon Paul Morosi joins me for episode 73 of The Wormcast. Jon Paul has great passion for baseball and we discuss positive effects of the new rules on the game and suprise teams. Jon Paul also refects on how his time at Harvard provided the tools to be a better sports reporter. Plus he shares his travel stories to Europe and his passion for Italian soccer. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 2:30 The positive effects of baseball rules changes: pitch clock, bigger bases, elimina...
This week, I'm back with #TheWormcast with Joey Zanaboni, radio play-by-play voice for MLS expansion franchise St. Louis City. The St. Louis native is one of the up and coming voices with a unique story and style of broadcasting which combines his love of literature and pop culture. Joey not only calls games he's a middle school literature teacher as well and we discuss how his passion for reading has made him a better broadcaster. You'll enjoy this conversation. Topics discussed: 1:30 StL City'...
This week on the Wormcast we get you ready for the 'Great American Race' the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 with FOX Sports NASCAR pit reporter Jamie Little. Jamie has spend over 20 years with distinction covering motorsports on national televison. She is the first female pit reporter to cover both the Indianpolis 500 and Daytona 500. Jamie is the first female to be the play-by-play host of a nationally televised motor sports series calling the ARCA Menards Series and will be rotating in the sa...
The Wormcast is back with sports media conusltant Pat Crakes. We discuss the business behind the media deals we'll see in 2023. First a review of Amazon's first season as the broadcaster for Thursday Night Football. Why Google spent $2 billion on NFL Sunday Ticket? Major League Baseball's strategy around the Bally's Sports regional networks. Also LIV makes a deal with The CW, NBA, NASCAR, the College Football Playoff and more. Pat brings clarity to the economics in the space, you'll be more know...
This week on The Wormcast we remember soccer journalist and my former colleague Grant Wahl who passed away on Dec 9th while covering the Argentina v Netherlands World Cup match in Qatar. This is a rebroadcast of my podcast with Grant from Thanksgiving week 2020, as he was debuting his new podcast series titled American Prodigy: The Freddy Adu Story . In 2003 Adu was a 13-year-old soccer prodigy and was considered America's best hope for their first global superstar, but it didn't work out that w...
This week, it's episode 68 of The Wormcast. I'm joined by FOX Sports' lead play-by-play voice John Strong and lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas as we discuss the epic MLS Cup match last Saturday and preview the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Their preparation, what we should expect from the coverage and a deep dive into the selection of the US roster. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 3:00 MLS Cup and the future of MLS coverage on television now the broadcast deal is over. 15:00 Preparation for covering 32 teams...
This week, on The Wormcast, it's episode 67. Kenny Albert is my guest, the only current national brodcaster who calls games all four major professional sports leagues. Kenny is the lead play-by-play voice for Turner's NHL coverage and we dicuss a host of NHL topics including fun Stanley Cup stories as the season opens this week. What's a NFL television production meeting like with Bill Belichick? Calling Knicks games with Walt "Clyde" Frazier along and Kenny let's us in on a new venture. Enjoy! ...
This week on episode 66 of The Wormcast we're talking football - oblong and round with NBC Sports host and the voice of Notre Dame football, Paul Burmeister. Topics discussed: 3:00 Calling USFL games this past spring 6:15 Notre Dame preview and a look ahead at the Ohio State game 16:00 New head coaches in CFB - who has the toughest job and who might be the most successful after 5 years. \opic 19:00 Week One big games 22:25 Who may end up #3 and #4 in the CFP playoff? 25:40 Conference realignment...
This week, it's episode 65 of The Wormcast. Joining me this week is one of the all-time great television sports journalists, Bob Ley, 40 years as a studio host at ESPN. A wide ranging discussion of sports media, general media consumption and a whole bunch of soccer thoughts stories one with a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Enjoy! Topics discussed: j Bob's perspective as a viewer than being involved day-to-day in live sports shows. The changing media landscape with it's "salad bar" of content. Does Bo...
This week on The Wormcast, Octagon's SVP of Media Rights William Mao joins me for episode 64 examining the fallout from the stunning departure of USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 to the Big 10 in 2024. What does it mean for media rights, broadcasters positioning in the college sports? What conferences will survive after the Big 10 and SEC finish adding teams and what will the future of the College Football Playoff look like? Enjoy this beefy show! Topics discussed: 2:00 How did USC and UCLA get to t...
This week The Wormcast takes a look back at the first half of 2022 in the sports media world with all of the big stories seeemingly every week there is something that is shaking up the landscape. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 2:00 NFL network announcer free agency 4:00 Apple's MLS agreement and why is Adam Silver smiling? 7:00 NFL Sunday Ticket and RSN's going direct-to-consumer 14:00 USC and UCLA moving to the Big 10 and how the college sports media landscape will react 24:00 F1 extends their deal w...
This week on The Wormcast we're back just in time for the UEFA Champions League Final and it's a battle of European giants Liverpool v Real Madrid who've combined for 19 European Cup championships. My guest to discuss the big match is Ian Joy of CBS Sports and analyst for NYCFC matches on the YES Network in New York. We tap into other big topics in the soccer space. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:30 Champions League Final preview 21:00 CBS Sports commitment to soccer coverage and promoting Serie A 3...
This week on The Wormcast it's episode 61 and my guest is Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Jason has been one of the top journalists covering the NFL for nearly 20 years in print, broadcast tv and radio. You see him on fall Sundays on The NFL Today as their NFL Insider. We take a look at one of the wildest NFL off-seasons we can remember with trades, guaranteed contracts and a myriad of off-field issues. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 2:00 The NFL as a year round sport even with just 5 months of action...
This week we're back with The Wormcast, episode 60, My guest this week is Adam Littlefield, Senior Producer of Live Content - Premier League at NBC Sports. We discuss NBC's plans taking their studio show over the pond to England for this weekend's boffo Manchester City v Liverpool clash. How Rebecca Lowe has ascended to a top studio host on US television and the philosophy on how NBC's crew handles the most challenging subjects? The Ted Lasso affect on the Premier League and much more. Enjoy! To...
This week, it's episode 59 of The Wormcast. Troy Aikman leaving FOX after 20+ season's for ESPN's Monday Night Football is a seismic shift in NFL broadcasting. This will be the first of many dominos that will fall not only for announcers but production teams as well. Clark Pierce, founder of Emerging Media Technologies join me to discuss the fall out. We also have some thoughts on the Olympics and Phil Mickelson after his comments on the PGA Tour and new Saudi-backed Super Golf League. Enjoy Top...
This week on The Wormcast, ever wanted to know how a network provides you the pictures and sound for the Super Bowl? My guest this week is FOX Sports' lead NFL director, Rich Russo. The multiple-EMMY Award winner, Rich has directed four Super Bowls for FOX and six others for NFL International feed. Rich brings you inside the production truck on how the FOX team prepares and executes the biggest one-day event in America every year. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 2:00 NFL broadcasts coming ouf the unusu...
This week, it's episode 57 of The Wormcast and my guest is William Mao, Octagon's VP of Global Media Rights Consulting. We chat on a wide variety of topics in the sports media landscape. William brings a unique perspective as we touch on subjects from the NFL, College Football Playoff to the Olympic Games on NBC, enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:45 William's responsibilites at Octagon and his path in the buisiness 7:50 Sinclair's lifeline for their D-to-C product 15:00 NFL ratings juggernaut 20:00 CFP...
This week we kickoff 2022 with the recently retired longtime tv play-by-play voice of the Philadelphia 76ers, Marc Zumoff. Fun conversation about his 76ers days, working in his hometown throughout his career, relationships with Allen Iverson, Larry Brown and Dave Zinkoff. Also Kate Scott succeeding him in the 76ers pxp seat. Paying it forward with his alma mater, tips for aspiring broadcasters, authoring a college text book and his work organizing the Maccabi Media Program for this summer's Worl...
This week, Episode 55 of The Wormcast, Clark Pierce, sports content technology whiz and Pat Crakes one of the most knowledgeable voices of the business of sports media deals join me to look back at sports media in 2021 and look forward to a busy 2022. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:40 Biggest takeaways and surprises of 2021 in sports media 10:50 95 of top 100 tv shows are sports and baseball is not among them 17:00 Amazon as they take over Thursday Night Football 24:00 Why would Amazon consider buyi...
This week, it's episode 54 of The Wormcast. My guest this week is Don Cornelli, you may not know his name but you've seen his work on the NFL Sundays, the Final Four and the Masters. Don is one of the best hand-held camera operators working today in sports television. He's been honored this week by the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famein their Class of 2020 inductees. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 2:30 advice to young folks who are interested in becoming a camera operator 4:40 Don's introduction to ca...
This week a Thanksgiving treat for nostalgia fans. In 1975 CBS's The NFL Today revolutionized sports broadcasting with their innovative pre-game show with an eclectic cast of characters. My guest this week on The Wormcast is author Rich Podolsky who wrote the book on the history of the show called "You Are Looking Live!". A fun read and some great stories from Rich on the cast and crew. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:30 The origins of The NFL Today 5:50 Phyllis George 7:45 Irv Cross 11:15 Brent Musb...
This week on The Wormcast it's episode 52 with lots of news in the sports media world. Joining me is Clark Pierce, my old FOX Sports colleague and current sports media consultant. We discuss the massive Premier League deal with NBC, Dish and SInclair finally make a distribution deal but without the RSNs involved. Drew Brees gets a plum assignment on Thanksgiving night, the Manningcast and a tip of the cap to Dick Vitale. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:15 Premier League stays with NBC 13:19 The fallo...
This week, it's episode 51 of The Wormcast. We check on all the latest newes around the sports media world with sports media consultant Clark Pierce. Topics discussed: 1:08 The Manning's signing an endorsement deal with Caesars' Sportsbook 8:10 FOX Sports bringing the Red Zone treatment to Big East hoops 15:30 Mark Cuban subsidizing streaming subscriptions for Mavs fans 21:30 ESPN+ subscriptions up and Sunday Ticket chatter 30:00 the latest twist on the Premier League rights bid This podcast is ...
This week, it's episode 50 of The Wormcast. Tom Read, VP of Strategy & Partnerships at Spalk joins the show. We talk about how Spalk has carved their position in the new world of sports production with their unique virtual commentary studio operation. They're provide multiple language commentary for Hockey Night in Canada, World Rugby and FIBA events through their technology. We also get into the NFT world, why it's exploded so fast in recent days, streaming the hope for tier 2 and tier 3 sp...
This week, it's episode 49 of The Wormcast. Lots of news in the sports media world this week and I discuss it with my guest Clark Pierce, founder of Emerging Sports Technology. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:40 Sinclair's tussle with MLB on local direct-to-consumer rights 15:45 Fanatics kicking the tires on RSNs? 19:00 FOX reportedly will grab the European Championship rights from ESPN 26:25 Premier League rights- formal bids due soon, who is likely to win the bidding? 40:20 PTI at 20 This podcast i...
This week it's episode 48 of the Wormcast. The NHL has new national television rights holders in ESPN and Turner Sports. To get you ready for the new NHL season and a full 82-game scheudule my guest is Kenny Albert the new lead play-by-play commentator for TNT. Kenny discusses getting the opportunity to call the Stanley Cup Final on television for the first time, the influence NBC had on the NHL and what we're going to see from Turner's coverage of the league. Later we'll talk about the NFL, wor...
This week on The Wormcast it's episode 47. I was curious how the younger generation is consuming sports content of their favorite teams. Why are they not watching as many live games as older viewers and what can broadcasters do to grab and keep their attention? My guests are two recent graduates of Emerson College in Boston, Jen Litchfield and Tim O'Sullivan. Both are working in the sports media and we discuss how they found their first opportunities during a pandemic. Then Clark Pierce joins me...
With all the news in the sports media world this week, I'm trying out a mini Wormcast version touching on a lot of topics with my ole colleague at FOX Sports, Clark Pierce the founder of Emerging Sports Technologies. Enjoy! Topics discussed: 1:30 Manning brothers gamecast on ESPN2's Monday Night Football 8:30 Strong ratings for NFL and College Football 12:30 Ryder Cup coverage on NBC 17:10 US National Teams tv rights & MLS/Liga MX expanding the Leagues Cup to a World Cup type format 22:25 '8...
