Marchand Sports Media

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One of the largest productions jobs in all of media is overseeing ESPN’s college football coverage. From “College GameDay” to more than 1,000 games, ESPN Sr. Vice President Amanda Gifford leads the network’s presentations.
With a career that has spanned teaching third grade, producing Colin Cowherd’s radio show, a stint in ESPN’s Talent Office and TV production, Gifford explains what ESPN’s tries to accomplish and how she rose from an intern into a top executive with great insight about all the personalities she has managed.
It is a 35-minute “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.”
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

Pod Rundown
* What is the goal for how ESPN produces college football
* Her Penn State and radio background led her to where she is now
* Why she taught third grade before joining ESPN full-time
* College GameDay and not “screwing it up”
* How ESPN exec Mark Gross was instrumental in Lee Corso’s special sendoff from GameDay
* The way ESPN manages Kirk Herbstreit schedule with his Amazon Prime Video responsibilities
* What are Nick Saban and Pat McAfee like to work with
* The Kicking Contest with McAfee and Herbstreit having to pony up at times
* ESPN will do more than 1,000 college football games, including 45 on the first Saturday
* The UFL TV innovations that have spread to college football
* The idea from the UFL that Gifford would love to bring to college football is …
* The swearing issue at ESPN …
* Going from third grade to working at ESPN Radio
* How she started in radio at 16
* Why radio is a great foundation
* Why the big games are the easy games and …
* Why working on Colin Cowherd’s Show was so vital in learning preparation
* What moving from radio into management was like
* How Cowherd’s brain never shuts off
* What does the Talent Office at ESPN do
* She wanted to stay in the Talent Office, but a top executive called with a new role
* The apprehension with new roles, except for college football
* What’s her next goal for her career
* Does she still root for her alma mater Penn State
Related Podcasts: Colin Cowherd … Adrian Wojnarowski … Shams Charania … Mike Soltys … Chris LaPlaca … Mark Shapiro… Adam Schefter … Ramona Shelburne … Greg Hughes … Traug Keller… Howard Katz … Fred Gaudelli … Laura Rutledge … Pete Radovich, Jr. … Troy Benjamin … Phil Mushnick

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

By placing Pat McAfee front and center for its football coverage, ESPN is tying itself to the popular and polarizing figure in a Super Bowl year. Andrew Marchand & Jon Meterparel go deep on what it means for the network, its other big personalities and its future.
It is a 36-minute “Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media” podcast.
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

POD RUNDOWN …
* What is the biggest take-away from McAfee adding Monday Night Football Countdown, a potential a Monday Night alt-cast to go along with his daily show, College GameDay as part of his anticipated $60M-65M per year extension
* What to love about the ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, who passed away at 93 last week
* The young Fox Sports play-by-player on the rise
* Why Netflix’s low “Field of Dreams” ratings are bad news for MLB
* Is “Hard Knocks” on the Seahawks good or no …
* What is misunderstood about the ‘Stephen A. vs. McAfee: Who is bigger?’ conversation
* What McAfee is very good at
* ESPN is clearly saying it is OK with some of the poor choices that McAfee has made
* MNF Countdown is Scott Van Pelt’s show, but McAfee likes to lead
* Did ESPN have to put McAfee on MNF Countdown
* ESPN should be known for having the Super Bowl, not any distractions
* Jason Kelce is moving into the No. 2 ESPN NFL booth with Dave Pasch and Kurt Warner, what to think of this trio
* Karl Ravech gets his due as he says goodbye at ESPN
* ESPN is very good on the Little League World Series
* The real story in light of the Tom Pelissero Netflix/Ringer move
* Bill Simmons’ scours the ESPN waiver wire for a hat trick
* Being a human being, a reporter and the tragic Ed Oliver story
* Is Frank Isola a strong choice to succeed Tony Kornheiser on PTI with Michael Wilbon
* The ESPN, NBC, USA Network and the post-soccer World Cup bump
* Two years in, Meterparel vs. Ourand is the modern day Brady vs. Manning debate
* Cakes are Baking Game

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

The New York sportscasting legend Howie Rose will retire at end of the Mets’ season. He was rated No. 9 in our all-time MLB broadcasting ratings. From starting a Marv Albert Fan club in Queens to one of the greatest calls in broadcasting history (“Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” in 1994) to the connections with fans, Rose discusses it all.
It is a 40-minute, “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.”
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

The Pod Rundown
* Why trust, connection and relatability are the goals for a play-by-player
* How his dad introduced him to baseball in 1961 as a seven-year-old
* Why he was a Mets fan
* Moving from the Bronx to Bayside, Queens
* How listening is part of a DNA to become a great announcer
* How Rose got to WFAN
* Rose started a Marv Albert Fan Club as a kid
* How authenticity at WFAN was so important when he started
* How many members were in the Marv Albert Fan Club
* Did Rose want to do talk shows full-time
* His run-ins with Frank Cashen, Al Harazin and the Mets front office
* The pressure when Buddy Harrelson replaced Davey Johnson
* Rose was not made to be a soccer announcer
* Filling-in for Albert and the “singular thrill” of his career
* How he was good luck for the Rangers
* The Islanders TV gig came up and he was almost done with the Mets
* Breaking down the May 27th, 1994 double overtime “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” call that sent the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final
* Where was Marv for that game and why Howie got to to do it
* The history behind the call that dated back more than a quarter century ago
* The Rangers’ loss that Rose has never gotten over
* What changed everything about the Matteau call
* Why the broadcast perch was important for getting it right
* What is the relationship between baseball radio and fans
* Why radio is more satisfying than TV
* The Mike Piazza post-9/11 call and goosebumps
* Fran Healy defying the bosses
* The Johan Santana Mets’ “no hitter” and a surreal experience
* Saying the “Mets win the pennant” in 2015 considering when his fan experience began
* The call that Rose really liked with the Mets
* How Rose’s signature Mets call of “Put in the books” happened
* Rose should get the Frick Award from the Hall of Fame
* Debating Joe Buck vs. Vin Scully for No. 1 on all-time MLB play-by-play list
Related Podcasts: Kevin Burkhardt … Ian Eagle … Joe Buck … Michael Kay … Jim Nantz … … Jason Benetti … Ryan Ruocco … Boomer Esiason ... Chris Russo … Chris Oliviero … Steve Raab … Pete Macheska … Top 10 All-Time MLB play-by-players

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

From Mike Tomlin to Tony Romo to J.J. Watt, it’s been another fascinating offseason in the NFL TV game. We are handing out the grades as kickoff is around the corner: Who got an A? Who got a C? Report Cards!
It is a 39-minute Marchand & Meterparel: Everybody Loves Sports Media
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

POD RUNDOWN
* What was the biggest NFL TV signing of the offseason
* Why Charley Steiner is Marchand’s “What’s Up”
* Which Netflix series Meterparel really liked
* Michael Kay’s odd decision to beg for votes
* Kirk Herbstreit’s dog has an NIL
* The big question about Tomlin on TV
* What grade does NBC receive for its NFL offseason moves
* Meterparel channels his inner Adam Schefter
* Grading ESPN big moves, leading with Ryan Clark out, Jason McCourty in on MNF
* Dave Pasch and Bob Wischusen in for Chris Fowler ....
* The misperception about the new Troy Aikman and the old Tom Brady NFL TV rules
* CBS went with Ross Tucker as Ian Eagle’s partner, what were the possible options
* Matt Ryan leaves, Russell Wilson arrives for NFL Today. Upgrade or no?
* How to evaluate the Tony Romo situation
* Grading CBS’ NFL offseason
* Luke Kuechly has all the jobs, what he needs to do to be good
* What grade does Netflix receive
* Why Fox and Amazon go ungraded
* The complicated Pat McAfee and an album
* How did Netflix fare with “Field of Dreams”
* Who has improved on Netflix’s MLB coverage
* Meterparel used to be partners with the late Tommy John
* Everybody Loves Local: Boog Sciambi & the Chicago Cubs
* Papa Clicker Reviews: ESPN’s Sports Heaven & Sam Mills books
* Cakes Are Baking: Marchand arrives on a hot streak as he entered six for his last nine in guessing the birthdays (Play along)
Related Podcasts: Michael Kay & being a New York sportscasting legend … Mike Soltys on Sports Heaven
On Deck: Howie Rose by Thursday morning

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.com

With Tony Romo placed on indefinite leave by CBS Sports president David Berson, the idea that Romo never returns to the No. 1 booth gains steam.
Is CBS taking the right approach? What are the other factors potentially in play, including the four-years and $72M remaining on Romo’s contract and next season’s CBS Super Bowl?
In the 35-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand & Puck’s John Ourand go back-and-forth on Romo’s exile.
Plus, the dynamic state of the NFL TV pre-opt-out negotiations post Fox’s CEO Lachlan Murdoch’s saying not now to the league and where does Jimmy Pitaro’s ESPN stand these days following its recent layoffs.
For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com

Pod Rundown …
* How to rate CBS’ handling of the Tony Romo situation
* Answering if Romo will return to the CBS booth
* Outlining the potential path of a Romo’s exile
* The overarching issue for Romo’s return
* Marchand & Ourand disagree on the regression in the booth issue
* Why next year’s Super Bowl is a factor with Romo and Jim Nantz
* How Romo’s 10-year, $180M contract changed the industry
* Why Romo’s image then and now are such a business factor
* The contract mistake CBS made with Romo
* What is going to happen with the potential top musical chairs with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Greg Olsen all having their contracts up to go along with the Romo question
* The Travis Kelce, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford factors
* What Fox Sports has done with its NFL game analyst depth
* How will J.J. Watt do with Nantz
* Why Ourand thinks Ross Tucker will be very successful
* Ourand’s adjective about Murdoch’s public statement about the NFL negotiations
* Where Amazon Prime stands
* Where are the streamers with the NFL long-term
* Will there be a lot of change in the NFL platforms in the early 2030s
* Why the NFL should want YouTube in
* ESPN as a business is different than working there right now
* Why ESPN’s live sports portfolio is so incredible
* Debating ESPN’s journalism
* Ourand has plugs