Front Office Sports Today

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2023 Year in Review: Scandals and Controversies Dec 28, 2023

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This year, the sports world was rife with controversy — from Dan Snyder's troubled era of the Washington Commanders coming to an end, to Brett Favre's welfare scandal in Mississippi, to P.J. Fleck's questionable behavior in Minnesota. The person responsible for breaking each of these stories, FOS' senior reporter A.J. Perez, joins us to break down what it was like reporting on the biggest controversies of 2023.

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2023 Year in Review: College Athletics Dec 27, 2023

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NIL. Conference realignment. The transfer portal.

The world of college sports is ever-changing, and this has never been more apparent than in 2023. On the latest episode of FOS Today, we are taking a look back at all of the biggest stories to come out of the collegiate landscape — including the shifting NIL landscape, the rise of women's athletics, and the fall of the Pac-12. To help us out, we spoke with our resident college athletics expert, Reporter Amanda Christovich.

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2023 Year in Review: Media Dec 26, 2023

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With the year coming to an end, we decided to use this week to take a look back at all the biggest stories of the year from Front Office Sports. To start off our 2023 review, we brought on Senior Writer Michael McCarthy to discuss the most important narratives in sports media — including the fall of regional sports networks, streaming giants entering the sports landscape, and the upcoming battle for the NBA's media rights.

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Potential Major Media Merger Could Rock Sports World Dec 22, 2023

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Warner Bros. Discovery is in talks with Paramount about a merger. A combined entity could bring together NFL and NBA rights, and unite the companies that collaborate around March Madness. However, WBD could pivot to Comcast, and any deal would attract ample regulator scrutiny.

Plus, we look at FC Barcelona taking desperate measures to address its dire finances, the top female athlete earners, and Florida State potentially ramping up its efforts to leave the ACC.

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MLS, U.S. Soccer Battle Over Top Teams Dec 21, 2023

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Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer are in a dispute regarding whether MLS teams will participate in the U.S. Open Cup. The fight pits the largest entities in American soccer against each other as the sport continues to surge in popularity.

Plus, Erik Allebest, CEO of Chess.com joins to discuss Endeavor’s investment in the company, their plans to make chess a spectacle with mainstream appeal and how Chess.com is addressing lingering concerns over cheating.

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The NFL’s Holiday Takeover Dec 20, 2023

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The NFL has seven national broadcasts this week, with all of its major media partners involved. That includes three games on Christmas, typically the NBA’s territory. Front Office Sports newsletter co-author Eric Fisher joins the show to discuss the league’s ever more ambitious media plans.

Plus, U.S. Ski & Snowboard president and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt discusses the state of winter sports in the U.S., the Winter Olympics, the growing revenue of her organization, and how snow sports are responding to a changing climate.

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Amazon Makes Play For Local Sports Broadcasts Dec 19, 2023

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Amazon is in talks with Diamond Sports Group on a deal that could lead to the tech and retail giant becoming a broadcaster of local MLB, NBA, and NHL games. The reported talks come on the heels of a MLB and Diamond reaching a framework agreement on broadcasts for the 2024 season. The uncertainty around local media revenues has led to some MLB teams taking a tentative approach to spending this offseason.

Plus, Front Office Sports reporter Amanda Christovich calls in from Los Angeles, where a trial is underway that could lead to college football and basketball athletes becoming employees, with all the associated rights and benefits.

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MLB Nears Media Clarity … For Now Dec 18, 2023

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MLB is approaching a deal with regional sports network owner Diamond Sports Group that would provide certainty on costs and plans teams that have contracts with Diamond. However, that clarity will only last a year, as 2025 and beyond remain an open question regarding baseball’s media future. We also look at two woeful NFL teams and the latest voice calling for wholesale change in college sports.

Plus, we hear from Bay FC CEO Brady Stewart on launching an expansion team with huge expectations. Bay FC will play its inaugural NWSL season next year. It enters with the reported largest sponsorship deal in league history, as the NWSL looks to capitalize on the momentum from its groundbreaking media rights deal.

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Wizards, Caps Heading To Virginia? Dec 15, 2023

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The Washington Wizards and Capitals, both owned by Ted Leonsis’ Monumental Sports and Entertainment, have a framework in place for a deal to move to Virginia, but many questions and hurdles remain. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., is still working to retain both teams as it tries to lure back the Commanders. We also look at stunning details that have emerged about Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB’s latest attempt to stoke interest in its prospects.

Plus, we hear from Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan on what it takes to put on bowl games like the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the Pop Tarts Bowl, including the story behind the latter’s edible mascot.

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How Transfers and NIL Are Reshaping College Football Dec 14, 2023

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ESPN's Matt Miller joins Front Office Sports Today to break down his thoughts on the College Football Playoff Controversy, how NIL and the transfer portal have reshaped college football, and the biggest narratives of this NFL season.

We also dive into the NFL's plans to play a 2024 regular-season game in São Paulo, Brazil, and the Super Bowl heading back to Los Angeles for the second time in five years in 2027.

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