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MLB Network to continue airing “Intentional Talk”
MLB Network scraps its planned cancellation of the afternoon talk show “Intentional Talk” after a flood of fan and player support. The show, hosted by Kevin Millar, Ryan Dempster and Siera Santos, will continue beyond its fourth season, thanks to a reversal by Commissioner Rob Manfred, Deputy Commissioner Noah Garden and other executives. The hosts celebrated the decision on the would‑be final episode, citing overwhelming response at the 2026 World Series in Milwaukee. The series, a 16‑season staple since its 2011 debut, joins other MLB Network studio programs like “Hot Stove” and “MLB Tonight.”
WNBA Finals Game 7 among league’s most-watched games
Game 7 of the Dream‑Valkyries WNBA Finals becomes the league’s most‑watched playoff contest, averaging 3.28 million viewers on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock—surpassing the 1999 Game 3 record (3.25 M). The Golden State victory also tops cable viewership (2.58 M) and ranks fifth overall behind historic NBC and ABC broadcasts. Viewership jumped 53 % from the 2024 Game 5 (2.15 M), and the telecast beat all cable programming that day, outpacing college football and ESPN’s College Gameday. USA’s post‑game show drew 1 M viewers, the highest in two decades. The data reflects new Nielsen methodology that now includes out‑of‑home and co‑viewing metrics.
News: Fox Corporation, Versant, MLB and more
Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch says the company will pursue the next two FIFA World Cups "in a disciplined manner," weighing English and Spanish rights as FIFA prefers a bundled partner. Fox, the U.S. English-language rights holder since 2015, reported a 47% ad‑revenue boost from the 2026 tournament and $4.6 billion quarterly revenue. Meanwhile, Versant CEO Mark Lazarus forecasts modest "rationalization" of sports portfolios, stressing price discipline and hinting at limited interest in out‑of‑market NFL games after the recent Sunday Ticket ruling. MLB proposes a one‑year salary‑cap delay, and other updates cover NFL Sunday Ticket, DAZN, ESPN, and the Seattle Kraken.
On the Air: Will Aikman controversy blow back on Joe Buck?
Joe Buck’s long‑standing partnership with Troy Aikman may be ending after a heated dispute ahead of ESPN’s Bills‑Rams game. Reports from The Athletic and Front Office Sports reveal that Buck secured a six‑year, $18 million‑per‑year extension in spring 2022, while Aikman feels blindsided by the renewal and claims Buck kept the deal secret. Sources describe Aikman as a demanding figure and Buck as a self‑serving opportunist, reviving old criticisms of Buck’s legacy and nepotism. The fallout could reshape ESPN’s NFL broadcast team and reignite debates over Buck’s career and on‑air bias.
Monday Musings: The More Things Change
Marking Sports Media Watch’s 20‑year anniversary, the blog reflects on how the sports‑media landscape has shifted since 2006. That year the World Series drew a low 15.81 million viewers, the NBA faced claims of decline, college football debuted the BCS championship, and the NFL launched Thursday Night Football under Roger Goodell. Fast‑forward to 2026: the WNBA’s viewership has tripled since its 2006 finals, women’s college basketball hit record numbers with the 2024 title game, and UFC has become mainstream. Meanwhile, cable’s dominance has waned—Turner Sports now sits with CBS after multiple sales—highlighting the persistence of old trends amid new media realities.
Michael Wilbon taking leave of absence from “PTI” due to health issues
ESPN’s veteran co‑host Michael Wilbon announces an indefinite leave of absence from “Pardon the Interruption” (PTI) due to multiple health issues that have worsened over years, including diabetes complications and recent hospitalization. The 67‑year‑old, who celebrated PTI’s 25th anniversary just two weeks ago, described his condition as an “injured‑list trip” and hopes to return to sparring with Tony Kornheiser once recovered. Wilbon, a former Washington Post columnist and former NBA Finals host, previously survived a 2008 heart attack but says the current health concerns could keep him off the show for an unknown period.
Weekday matinee WNBA Finals Game 6 audience on par with primetime games
Despite a 12:30 PM ET weekday start, Game 6 of the WNBA Finals drew 1.5 million viewers—matching primetime numbers and outpacing Games 2 (1.33 M) and 5 (1.43 M) that aired opposite Monday Night Football. Including the 8 PM encore, the Valkyries‑Dream matchup averaged 1.7 million, making it the fifth‑largest cable Finals audience ever. Scheduling shifts, forced by arena conflicts, moved the game to a matinee, echoing similar weekday moves in MLB and NBA broadcasts. Game 7 will return to a Saturday night slot.
MLB Postseason viewership hurt by World Series, but still on the high side
The 2026 MLB postseason averaged 5.49 million viewers—a 13% dip from 2025 but still the highest‑rated postseason since 2019. A shorter World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, projected at 12 million viewers, dampened overall numbers, making it one of the least‑watched Fall Classics despite beating recent non‑Dodger series. Still, the Brewers’ “Gentleman’s sweep” drove record LCS ratings, with the four‑game NLCS averaging 7.53 million, the highest in a decade. Viewership fell sharply for teams from large markets, with only 13 games featuring L.A. or New York clubs.
WNBA Finals nears Game 5 high, but viewership takes hit from competition
Game 5 of the WNBA Finals drew 1.4 million viewers on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock, a solid figure but lower than the 2.15 million peak two years ago. It marks the highest Game 5 audience ever for a winner‑take‑all matchup, surpassing the previous record of 913,000 set in 2017. The broadcast faced fierce competition, airing opposite Monday Night Football (18.8 M viewers), the World Series (8.3 M) and an NBA regular‑season game, yet still outperformed the series’ second‑lowest rating (Game 2, 1.2 M). This was the first WNBA Finals game to clash with the World Series, and future schedules may avoid such overlap under a new CBA.
ESPN reportedly committed to “Inside the NBA” sans Johnson, Barkley
ESPN plans to keep TNT's "NBA Tip-Off" and "Inside the NBA" after this season, even if longtime hosts Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley depart. Johnson announced his exit, and Barkley has said he’ll leave if Johnson retires, ending the iconic trio’s run that began in 2000. ESPN's five‑year licensing deal, signed in November 2024, includes an exit clause for key host departures, though the shows’ production should remain unchanged under the new Warner Bros. Discovery‑Paramount ownership.
NFL Sunday Ticket verdict reinstated by Ninth Circuit panel
A Ninth Circuit panel has reinstated the district court’s antitrust verdict that the NFL overcharged for its “Sunday Ticket” service, sending the case back for a new damages trial. The original June 2024 jury award of $4.7 billion—potentially tripling to over $14 billion—was tossed after the lower court excluded expert testimony. The appellate judges ruled the exclusion was an abuse of discretion, ordering the liability verdict to stand while recalculating damages. The NFL, calling its distribution model “the most fan‑friendly,” says it will appeal, as the case — involving DirecTV, CBS, Fox and a $14 billion YouTube TV deal — continues to draw national attention.
ESPN ‘reluctant’ to resume talks with Aikman over cost-cutting, Buck rift
ESPN is stalling contract talks with Troy Aikman amid cost‑cutting and a sour partnership with co‑host Joe Buck, Sports Media Watch reports. Aikman demanded a $30 million‑a‑year deal—about a two‑thirds raise from his current $18 million salary—to match Buck’s recent 18% pay bump, but ESPN rejected the offer, citing a deep analyst market and the strained relationship. The network also faces another round of layoffs and is reluctant to invest in the embattled Monday Night Football booth, just weeks before its first Super Bowl broadcast in two decades.
On the Air: The qualities that make Ernie Johnson irreplaceable
The following article " On the Air: The qualities that make Ernie Johnson irreplaceable " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch . On the latest "On the Air," Armand Broady offers an appraisal of TNT's Ernie Johnson and why his shoes will be impossible to fill. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
NFL viewership growth is picking up pace
NFL viewership is accelerating, with regular‑season windows averaging 18.4 million viewers through Week 7 – a 4% rise over last year and the highest average since 2015. Week 7’s Sunday Night Football (Chiefs‑Seahawks) drew 26.29 million on NBC, the season’s biggest primetime audience and the fifth‑largest overall. The Chiefs have topped three networks so far, while the Seahawks’ win peaked at 29.0 million in a single quarter‑hour. FOX’s late doubleheader posted 24.67 million, Thursday Night Football 19.86 million on Prime Video, and Monday Night Football 18.8 million across ABC and ESPN. Even the International Series in Paris saw a rise to 7.70 million on NFL Network. These figures mark the strongest mid‑season ratings since the mid‑2010s.
World Series viewership bounces back in final games
World Series viewership rebounds after a dip in Game 3, with Game 4 drawing 13.48 million viewers on FOX and Fox Deportes—9% below last year’s peak but the third‑largest Game 4 since 2018. The Brewers‑Rays win marks the most‑watched non‑Dodgers World Series game since 2021, eclipsing the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks series. FOX projects Game 5 will hit 14.22 million, ranking third‑highest Game 5 audience since 2018 and the top non‑Dodgers Game rating since the 2019 Nationals‑Astros Game 7. Overall, the Series is slated to average 12 million viewers, the strongest fall classic numbers since 2019.
Aikman raises doubts about his future in broadcasting
After 25 years on ESPN’s lead NFL broadcast team, Troy Aikman says his future is "50‑50" as his contract expires at season’s end. At a Peter King book event, the former quarterback admitted uncertainty, citing recent friction with co‑analyst Joe Buck and a lack of renewal talks. With CBS opting for JJ Watt and other analyst spots limited, Aikman may explore radio, a Dallas Cowboys front‑office role, or Amazon’s Thursday Night Football. His comments suggest a possible exit from ESPN, making his next move a hot topic in sports media.
New roles, layoffs, as Skydance reorganizes combined CBS and TNT sports division
Skydance reshuffles its newly merged CBS and TNT Sports unit, appointing veteran TNT exec Craig Barry as EVP and chief content officer overseeing editorial, creative and live event production. CBS digital head Jeff Gerttula will lead digital and international strategy alongside Bleacher Report GM Bennett Spector, while TNT's Yang Adija joins Gerttula’s team. The reorg also triggers a wave of departures, including TNT communications chief Nate Smeltz, CFO Sophia Constantinides, SVP Raphael Poplock, HR SVP Donald Knight, TNT Ventures president Patrick Crumb, and CBS veteran Harold Bryant. Remaining leaders such as CBS EVP Dan Weinberg, marketing head Kelly Dunne, CFO Chris Carter, and EVP communications Jen Sabatelle stay on board.
ABC “Saturday Night Football” is top CFB window of week eight, season
ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” tops college football viewership through week 8, averaging 8.9 million viewers – a 9% rise over last season. The Mississippi‑Texas game drew 8.09 million (3.8 rating) and peaked at 9.2 million, while Texas A&M‑Alabama fell to 5.90 million. ABC also leads the mid‑afternoon slot with 6.8 million viewers, though down 17% year‑over‑year, and ranks second in the Noon ET window behind FOX’s “Big Noon Saturday,” which posted 7.015 million for Indiana‑Michigan. Only one other week‑8 broadcast, Tennessee‑South Carolina on ESPN, surpassed three million viewers.
World Series rout nears viewership low on competitive night
Game 3 of the Brewers‑Rays World Series set a new low for viewership, averaging 8.3 million on FOX and Fox Deportes—potentially the second‑least‑watched World Series game ever, just behind the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks matchup. The blowout 10‑0 lead for Milwaukee contributed to the dip, which was amplified by competition from a high‑profile NFL Cowboys‑Eagles game and the WNBA Finals. Earlier games drew 12.26 million and 10.85 million viewers, while Game 4 rebounded to an estimated 13.5 million, suggesting the slump may be an outlier in an otherwise solid series.
NBA Opening Week viewership hits high for second-straight year
NBA Opening Week sets a new viewership record, averaging 3.24 million viewers across NBCUniversal, ESPN and Amazon Prime Video—up 15% from last season and the highest average since 2012. NBC’s opening night triple‑header draws 5.1 million, with the Sixers‑Knicks game peaking at 7.71 million, the largest Opening Night audience ever (excluding the 2011‑12 lockout season). ESPN reaches 2.3 million, its best start since 2014, while Prime Video jumps 66% to 2.14 million. The surge reflects the NBA’s rare ability to boost both rights fees and audience reach in its new media deal.
Ernie Johnson leaving “Inside the NBA” at end of season
Ernie Johnson announces he will step back from hosting TNT/ESPN’s NBA studio shows, including “Inside the NBA,” at the end of this season, confirming rumors after Charles Barkley’s hints. Johnson says he isn’t retiring but will keep handling CBS and TNT’s NCAA men’s tournament coverage, now limited to the Final Four. He cites the demanding prep work and recent heart bypass surgery as reasons for the change, though he feels great. The move comes as TNT’s NBA rights shift to ESPN/ABC, and Barkley has hinted he’ll retire after Johnson, raising questions about the show’s future.
Earlier start impacts viewership, but WNBA Finals still hits Game 4 high
Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, moved to a 1 PM ET start, still set a series record with an average 1.895 million viewers on NBC (1.66 M linear, 232 K streaming). The Valkyries‑Dream matchup peaked at 2.49 million in the 3:30 PM quarter, a 32% rise over last year’s Game 4. It marks the highest Game 4 audience ever, surpassing the previous 1.67 M record from the Liberty‑Lynx 2024 series, and ranks eighth among all Finals games. Despite earlier timing and competition from college football, the Bay Area led with a 4.0 rating, followed by Atlanta (2.8). NBC’s overall Finals viewership climbs 20% year‑over‑year.
Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays
The following article " Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays " originally appeared on Sports Media Watch . Considering the matchup, viewership for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series held up about as well as Fox Sports could have possibly hoped. Visit Sports Media Watch for more sports media news and information.
News: ESPN, Chicago White Sox, Formula One and more
ESPN veteran producers Tim Corrigan and Mark Gross accept Disney’s voluntary early‑retirement package, exiting after nearly four decades; Corrigan will stay through this year’s NBA Finals and Gross through Super Bowl LXI. Several other Disney execs also take the offer as the company continues cost‑cutting. Chicago White Sox TV announcer John Schriffen departs after three seasons, with the team launching a national search for his replacement while analyst Steve Stone and reporter Brooke Fletcher remain. Meanwhile, Formula 1 CEO Derek Chang says the sport aims to extend its five‑year U.S. media partnership with Apple beyond the 2030 expiry. Additional notes cover the WNBA Finals, TNT Sports, David Moulton and SNY.
Thursday Night Football nears Prime-era high for Patriots-Bears
Thursday Night Football hit a new Prime Video peak in Week 7 as the Patriots defeated the Bears, drawing an average 19.86 million viewers and a 21.72 million peak during the 9 PM ET slot. The game ranks as the most-watched TNF episode since the Broncos‑Chiefs Christmas clash (21.06 M) and beats the prior Week 7 record of 17.12 M set by the Seahawks‑49ers in 2015. All six TNF broadcasts on Prime this season have set multi‑year highs, lifting the series average to 17.71 M—up 12% from last year and the best average through Week 7 on record.
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