The Play-By-Play

We take a mid-season look at how college football ratings are shaking out with Awful Announcing owner Ben Koo! Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryen Russillo is officially leaving The Ringer right as Bill Simmons and his company strike a big video deal with Netflix. Plus, the latest on Netflix's supposed pursuit of a live NFL package. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Ann...

On the latest episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner dissect the impact of Nielsen's new Big Data + Panel TV ratings measurement system. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn...

The Bill Belichick UNC football documentary set to air on Hulu has been CANCELED. And the NFL may not hold the Pro Bowl this year? Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Paul Finebaum appears to be sidelined by ESPN after announcing he would likely run for U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Fox's Mark Sanchez has been arrested and charged with felony battery after a late-night incident in Indianapolis over the weekend. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing...

Why is Shedeur Sanders still attracting so much coverage and who is the current frontrunner to replace Molly Qerim? Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss during a live episode of The Play-By-Play. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful A...

Troy Aikman did not hold back during a cruddy Monday Night Football game, and are the WNBA Finals heading to USA Network? Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Paul Finebaum says he may run for U.S. Senate in Alabama after seeing the national reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk last month. It is just the latest example of sports media merging with politics during the second Donald Trump administration. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Ann...

Is Amazon's 'Thursday Night Football' the best NFL broadcast in the business? Plus, Netflix and MLB reach a new deal and the latest on Zuffa Boxing. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Dave Portnoy and Tom Brady tussle over Saudi Arabian flag football, and Michael Wilbon calls Bruce Pearl 'divisive.' Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Pat McAfee officially takes the torch from Lee Corso on ESPN's "College GameDay," plus NFL media's war on the Tush Push, a new announcing duo thrives at CBS, and more! Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hoste...

Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss the challenges that WWE is facing with its ESPN debut, as well as the latest lackluster ratings for Barstool Sports' 'Wake Up Barstool' on FS1. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awf...

Molly Qerim abruptly exits "First Take," and Tom Brady's conflict of interest is more apparent than ever. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pablo Torre keeps the scoops coming with more new on Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers, plus sports media has egg on its face after Arch Manning and Caleb Williams both flame out on the football field. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on...

On a new episode of 'The Play By Play,' Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss the news that Paramount is eyeing a purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, Awful Announcing's list of the 25 most influential sports media personalities of the last 25 years and 'Wake Up Barstool's' lackluster ratings. Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful...

NBC's NFL studio needs a refresh, "PTI" gets an extension, and the Murdoch family figures out succession. It's the new-look Play-By-Play Podcast LIVE! Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Awful Announcing on BlueSky Awful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See a...

The first NFL game on YouTube was a missed opportunity, while Ryan Clark offered a distraction from the rest of Week 1 for NFL media by getting into it with new ESPN teammate Peter Schrager on-air. It's our Week 1 NFL media reaction stream on The Play-By-Play LIVE! Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on In...

Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss the news that NFL RedZone is adding commercials. And with the start of the 2025 season now here, they draft the top NFL media storylines for the upcoming campaign, including Tom Brady's second season and JJ Watt's debut. You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review! Download The Play-By-P...

"Wake Up Barstool" debuted on FS1 and Bill Belichick stumbled in his UNC opener. It's the new-look Play-By-Play Podcast LIVE! You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review! Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awful Announcing on X Awful Announcing on Facebook Awful Announcing on Instagram Awful Announcing on Threads Aw...

Dave Portnoy brought pro wrestling to Fox's 'Big Noon Kickoff' while ESPN pulled out all the stops to send Lee Corso into retirement on 'College GameDay.' It's our Week 1 CFB media reaction on the new-look Play-By-Play Podcast LIVE! You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review! Download The Play-By-Play: Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Awfu...

ESPN buys NFL Media, Netflix releases "WWE: Unreal," and "Pablo Torre Finds Out" heads to The Athletic. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at these stories, as Anthony Dabbundo from The Ringer stops by to chat on this week's episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:43: ESPN buys NFL Media -18:05: Anthony Dabbundo talks gambling, soccer, and The Ringer -52:58: Hot Mics...

Barstool Sports and Fox Sports are collaborating with Dave Portnoy going to "Big Noon Kickoff" and a daily morning Barstool show. WNBA players took the league to task by wearing "Pay us what you owe us" shirts at the All-Star Game. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at these stories, plus Kofie Yeboah stops by to chat on this week's episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamp...

Fox Sports cancels "Speak," "Breakfast Ball," and "The Facility," leaving a lot of open slots on FS1's schedule. Pat McAfee's polarizing appearance at the Home Run Derby brought a lot of reactions. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at the most undercovered sports media stories from the first half of the year. That, plus Shane Gillis hosting the ESPY's are on tap for this...

Christine Brennan released an unauthorized biography of Caitlin Clark. Brennan makes no secret she's a massive fan of the WNBA superstar but is her fandom helping the situation? We're halfway into 2025, and at the risk of becoming hypocrites, Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at the most overblown sports media stories from the first half of the year. That, plus reviews o...

LeBron James exercised his option to stay with the Lakers but is there more than meets the eye in LA? Bill Simmons and Kendrick Perkins got into it on social media. How did this fare on our beef meter? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Malik Beasley's gambling investigation, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -3:30: ESPN...