After a week away due to circumstances beyond my control, I’m back on the Sports Media Weekly podcast with Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal.
There’s no Third Man In this week so Keith and I reviewed what has been a rather busy week in the sports media.
We first began by looking at the start of March Madness on the networks of CBS and Turner Sports. Both of us don’t expect anything different from the last two years on the air. I did advise listeners that the authentication process for the March Madness Live app has been streamlined from last year and easier to do.
Keith and I reviewed last week’s news that TBS could start airing the NCAA Men’s Final Four next year, a year earlier than planned.
We moved to the media rights deals signed by the New Big East and the Old Big East with Fox Sports and ESPN, respectively. Keith and I discussed how the Old Big East left a lot of money on the table with ESPN two years ago and got left holding the bag as several teams defected for the ACC, Big 10 and Big 12. The Old Big East signed a six year deal with ESPN. The New Big East featuring the Catholic 7 and Butler, Creighton and Xavier has signed a 12 year deal with Fox giving Fox Sports 1 over 100 basketball games starting in November.
And we touched upon ESPN signing the Mountain West Conference for six years.
Our final subject was the Sports Emmy Award Nominations which were released today.
Greg Gumbel of CBS Sports was the guest. He’s been hosting the NCAA Tournament on CBS since 1998. We talk about his experiences on the set when he hosted the entire tournament solo from 1998 until 2010 through now as he shares the hosting duties with Ernie Johnson.
Greg tells us what it’s like working with Charles Barkley and Kenny “The Jet” Smith and having their dynamic in the studio.
He also compares and contrasts hosting to play-by-play of four games in the first days of the Tournament which Greg has done in the early 1990’s for CBS.
Then we discussed his hosting of the Selection Show and his preparation for the program.
Greg gives some great stories of how fans have reacted to the tournament and to the selections.
And then we move to discussing the Rolling Stones’ greatest album as Greg is a huge Stones fan.
Overall, a fun interview with Greg. We’re going to have him on again. The man gives great answers. Thanks to CBS Sports public relations for their help in securing the interview.
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