Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Latest Episodes:

Harvey Araton on how to write a sports book for children Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Episode 573 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features
Harvey Araton, who worked for 25 years as a columnist and enterprise reporter at the New York Times and is the author of a new novel for middle-grade readers, "The Goal of the Game.” In this podcast Araton discusses why he wanted to write a novel about a seventh grade soccer player; how you get into the voice of a seventh grader; the challenge of writing a book for kids; how to get such a book sold; how promoting a kids book is different than a book for adults; whether the general sports columnist is extinct; how he viewed the NYT disbanding the sports desk; why the Knicks have become a likeable franchise and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.

NBC Sports president Rick Cordella Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Episode 572 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Rick Cordella, the president of NBC Sports. In this podcast Cordella discusses his company’s remarkable upcoming set of events in February 2026, including the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, the Super Bowl and the NBA All-Star Game; what it means business-wise to have all of these properties in such a relative short period; what the events should mean for Peacock subs; the process of how Rebecca Lowe ended up with her studio assignment for Fox Sports during the World Cup; NBCU’s three year rights deal with MLB and what Sunday Night Baseball on NBC, Peacock and NBCSN should look like; why NBC wants to be in the MLB business; the NBA's strong viewership to start the season; the usage of Michael Jordan heading forward; his thoughts on Notre Dame not making the CFB playoffs and Notre Dame's response to that; NBC having the rights to Super Bowl 64 in 2030; Puck’s report that NBC plans to sell Amazon the rights to next year’s Big Ten Championship game, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.

The 125 Most Influential People In Sports Business Dec 13, 2025

Show notes

Episode 571 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Austin Karp, the sports media reporter for Sports Business Journal. In this podcast we discuss SBJ's "Influence 125" list, which looks at the most influential people in sports business over the last 25 years; how people were selected; how they determined which owners from each of the big sports should make the list; Bill Simmons being the only pure content creator on the list; how to think about powerful agents such as Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel; who might make such a list in 2040; the Big Ten Championship between Indiana and Ohio State averaging 18.3 million viewers; the regular season college football viewership numbers for each network that airs national games, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

First Look: NBC Sports president Rick Cordella on Michael Jordan’s involvement with NBC Sports — and where NBC Sports stands on Notre Dame missing out on the CFB playoffs Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Here’s a short look from our upcoming podcast with Rick Cordella, the president of NBC Sports. In the podcast Cordella goes deep on his company’s remarkable upcoming set of events including the Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game. In this preview clip, Cordella discusses Michael Jordan’s involvement as an NBA special contributor and how he feels about Notre Dame, a partner of NBC Sports, being left out of the college football playoffs. The full interview will be out Dec. 15. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.

ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Troy Aikman Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

Episode 570 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Troy Aikman, the lead analyst for ESPN's coverage of Monday Night Football. In this podcast, Aikman discusses where his enjoyment level for the job stands after three decades in the booth; how he accesses ESPN's culture versus Fox's; how he defines honesty in sports broadcasting — and particularly as it relates to officiating calls; why he won't be in the job at age 70; ESPN's upcoming Super Bowl on February 14, 2027; who he talks to for honest feedback on his work; his thoughts on Lane Kiffin and NIL; the Eagles-Chargers and the AFC's unpredictable year; why he'd love to meet Warren Buffett and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Netflix gets WBD — what's it mean for sports? — and ESPN and Fox Sports play games with college football press releases Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

Episode 569 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features a roundtable with Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal and Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch. In this podcast, we discuss Netflix to buy Warner Bros. in a $72 billion deal and what it means or might not mean for those sports properties; whether Netflix will go more all-in on sports; the future of TNT Sports as an entity; the interminable World Cup draw show; why we think Fox made a great move bringing in Rebecca Lowe and Thierry Henry, the battle between ESPN and Fox Sports PR departments as far as college football pregame viewership and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

First Look: Troy Aikman on honesty in NFL broadcasting Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Here's a short clip from our interview with ESPN's Troy Aikman. In this preview clip, Aikman discusses how he approaches being critical of NFL officials when the moment calls for it. The full interview will be out Dec. 8. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.

ESPN's Malika Andrews and Chiney Ogwumike Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Episode 568 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Malika Andrews, the host of ESPN's NBA Countdown, NBA Today, WNBA Countdown and the NBA Draft, and Chiney Ogwumike, an ESPN studio analyst and host for the NBA, WNBA and women’s college basketball. In this podcast, Andrews and Ogwumike discuss why they both signed long term with ESPN; how they describe navigating ESPN as young, on-air talents; their relationship on and off camera; how they see the NBA's new media rights holders outside of ESPN; Andrews return to the sideline reporting; Elle Duncan leaving for Netflix and how that impacts ESPN's women's basketball coverage; who the Dallas Wings should pick at No. 1 in the WNBA Draft; what they expect from their agents and whether young broadcasters should pursue a talent agent; navigating media coverage about yourself and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

First Look: ESPN's Malika Andrews and Chiney Ogwumike on the role of agents for sports broadcasters Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Here's a short clip from our interview with ESPN's ESPN's Malika Andrews and Chiney Ogwumike. In this preview clip, the two broadcasters talk about how they see their agents and how young people in the business should think about talent agents. The full interview will be out Dec. 4. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.

Teresa Resch, president of the Toronto Tempo, on building a WNBA franchise Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Episode 567 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Teresa Resch, the president of the Toronto Tempo, which makes its WNBA debut in 2026. In this podcast Resch discusses the process of hiring Sandy Brondello as the franchise's first head coach; how the interviews with Brondello were conducted; the challenges of building a WNBA franchise; the number of employees the Tempo will need; the practice facility situation; what games will look like at Coca-Cola Coliseum; the team's ticketing situation; where things stand on media deals; how to think about merch and a mascot; philosophically, building with young players versus veterans; whether Golden State's success impacts the Tempo's thinking; interviewing for the Blackhawks GM role in 2022; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

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