September 10, 2024

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Charles Barkley is perhaps the greatest sports studio analyst in history. With TNT Sports’ NBA future uncertain, ESPN and NBC executives expressed their interest to FOS in hiring Barkley. Then, the on-camera face of ESPN said it would be a “dream come true” to work with him.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]], Dennis Young [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

Charles Barkley Draws Interest of Execs—and Stephen A. Smith [[link removed]]

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Charles Barkley wasn’t at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit Tuesday, but the Basketball Hall of Famer and superstar TV analyst was at the center of everyone’s minds in the midtown Manhattan event.

Top executives from ESPN and NBC—two of the three companies set to pay the NBA $76 billion [[link removed]] for media rights over the next decade-plus—said during onstage interviews Tuesday morning they would be extremely interested in hiring Barkley [[link removed]] if he were ever available to sign away from TNT Sports, which is entering the final year of its NBA contract.

“That would be a perfect world,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, when asked whether his network would want to hire Barkley. “The entire industry is interested in Charles. He’s really that special.” NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus echoed Magnus. “If he were to be available, certainly we’d be talking to him,” he said.

The love for Barkley wasn’t contained to network executives. Superstar ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith said during a later interview session that working with Barkley would be a “dream come true.”

The Chuck Roller Coaster

Last month, Barkley and TNT Sports released a statement reaffirming his intentions to continue working for the company [[link removed]], despite his announcement in June he would retire after the upcoming NBA season.

In 2022, Barkley flirted with LIV Golf, [[link removed]] entertaining a potentially enormous contract offer to end his basketball broadcasting career to join the PGA Tour’s rival circuit. He ultimately re-signed with TNT Sports, agreeing to a 10-year, $210 million extension.

This year, Barkley has been critical of TNT Sports parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, particularly the leadership of CEO David Zaslav. “It just sucks right now,” Barkley said of the morale surrounding TNT Sports [[link removed]] this spring. He later criticized NBA owners for prioritizing “money over fans.” [[link removed]]

Barkley has said he can get out of his TNT Sports contract [[link removed]] if the company doesn’t have NBA rights. So, a potential free-agent bidding war is not out of the realm of possibility next year.

Stephen A. Smith: ESPN Contract Talks Stalled With Nine Months Left

Mason Burgin/Front Office Sports

ESPN’s biggest name is nine months away from free agency. Right now, he appears to have every intention of getting there.

Stephen A. Smith gave a narrow window into the state of his contract negotiations with ESPN in an onstage interview Tuesday.

At the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit in New York, reporter Michael McCarthy asked Smith for an update. “Not a word,” Smith said.

Then, he said many words.

“They’ve made an offer; I’ve countered,” Smith said. “And that’s where we’ve left it.”

McCarthy has previously reported that Smith could command a deal worth $100 million [[link removed]] total, or $20 million annually [[link removed]], which would make him the highest-paid talent at ESPN again. At $12 million a year, Smith was once ESPN’s top dog but has been eclipsed in pay by NFL personalities Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pat McAfee, who each make $15 million or more.

“I want to get paid,” Smith said. “When you’ve been No. 1 for 12 years, well, what the hell does that warrant?”

Smith laid out part of his case onstage Tuesday, saying that ratings juggernaut [[link removed]] First Take generates 10 times as much revenue as when he started hosting the show in 2012.

He said he had strong relationships with Disney CEO Bob Iger and ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro, and was “still getting to know” new ESPN content chief Burke Magnus, who spoke earlier at the summit [[link removed]].

Magnus and Pitaro have repeatedly said they want Smith to remain at the network.

“They have their vision, and I have mine,” Smith said. “If it’s aligned, we’ll work it out. And if it’s not, then decisions have to be made.”

Smith would lose all leverage in negotiations if he weren’t at least threatening to leave Bristol, and he did that Tuesday.

“If it comes to a decision where I have to move on, I prepared myself mentally and emotionally to be able to do that,” he said. “I don’t want it to come to that because I am very happy at ESPN doing what I do. … If somebody wants you bad enough, they show you.”

While the sides continue to iron out Smith’s pay, he confirmed McCarthy’s reporting that a more prominent role in NFL coverage [[link removed]] was something he had sought in contract discussions.

“It’s not always the money,” Smith said. “It’s how you’re treated. It’s the kind of latitude they give you; it’s the kind of support that they give you.”

Smith made no bones about it. “I’ve been blessed and fortunate to be No. 1,” he said. “Last time I checked, the No. 1 sports brand is the NFL. So why shouldn’t the No. 1 guy on the air be a part of the No. 1 product?”

Earlier in the day, Magnus was asked about Smith’s desire to be part of NFL coverage. The ESPN content head said that Smith eventually joining NFL flagship coverage was a “logical conclusion.”

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Meet the Women Taking Over the NFL

In the latest episode [[link removed]] of FOS Explains, multimedia reporter Derryl Barnes explores how women are transforming football from agents and coaches to influencers and flag football stars. This episode spotlights trailblazers like Kristin Juszczyk, whose viral custom game-day jackets—worn by Taylor Swift—led to a 2,000% spike in online searches for custom NFL jackets. Now Kristin has teamed up with Gatorade to celebrate women in football with an exclusive capsule collection [[link removed]].

We also dive into the stories of agent Nicole Lynn, coach Jennifer King, flag football star Diana Flores, and broadcaster Maria Taylor, all of whom are shaping the future of the game. These women aren’t just part of the NFL; they’re shaping its future.

Watch the full episode [[link removed]].

We Asked, You Answered

Galvin-Imagn Images

In Monday’s newsletter [[link removed]], we asked FOS readers whether they had thoughts on how Tom Brady did in his first game as an NFL analyst Sunday. Here’s one of the better responses:

“For me, the qualities of being a very good broadcaster are simple:

Good voice for the broadcast—Brady’s voice does sound good. He definitely had issues with pausing too often while conveying thoughts. Needs to get more comfortable.

Teach or point something out to me on plays/replays—I felt like Brady didn’t give the viewer nearly enough or gave very little unprompted insight on what the defense was doing or why a play on offense was successful. The best analysts serve the viewer well when they see things the casual fan doesn’t and can communicate those things to the viewer in a clear and concise manner.

Be enthusiastic—Brady needs to let his passion for the game resonate more and be less rehearsed in his points he’s trying to make. Needs to show some of his personality from the field when he played.

I chalk all of the above up to this being his first broadcast. There had to be some nerves and unease being new to the role. As he gets more comfortable, I’m sure he will improve.”

—Mark L. from Atlanta

EVENT

Join us Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET for Future of Sports: Ticketing [[link removed]], supported by 3D Digital Venue.

From new technology and utilizing consumer data to QR codes, NFC chips, and fingerprint scans, all of the changes will get their moment at our latest virtual summit featuring industry experts fluent in ticketing innovation.

Register now [[link removed]].

LOUD AND CLEAR Embracing Chaos

Statesman Journal

“Chaos is our friend because, ultimately, it can give more optionality than what we’re thinking about.”

—Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said on Canzano and Wilner: The Podcast [[link removed]] last week. OSU and Washington State were the two schools left dangling after Stanford and Cal left for the ACC, triggering the end of the Pac-12. While Barnes never mentioned the ACC by name, his statements seem to be pointed at the conference, which is in the middle of lawsuits from Clemson and Florida State [[link removed]].

The uncertainty could open the door for more conference realignment if the schools decide to move, and Oregon State could be the beneficiary. “The most opportunities we’ll have is if there’s a crack that’s opened and we’re positioned. And we will be,” Barnes said.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, Two Down

Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Under Armour ⬇ The sports apparel company cut its outlook for fiscal year 2025 due to an increase in restructuring costs. The cost increase is linked to the shutdown of a distribution facility in California. The company’s stock was down 8.7% as of market close Tuesday.

NASCAR ⬇ Two teams did not sign a new revenue deal [[link removed]] with the league, including Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team. After two years of haggling over the deal, 13 teams did sign NASCAR’s proposal, though the Associated Press reported several teams felt pressured to sign. While it’s unclear what 23XI and Front Row Motorsports will do here—litigation looks like an option—they are risking their participation for next year as their charters will expire in December if they do not sign the deal.

Harlan Capital ⬆ The private equity firm is investing $200 million in NIL (name, image, and likeness) rights via the investment platform Nilly. The platform, cofounded by former NBA veteran and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, differs from other NIL marketplaces as it pays athletes a licensing fee up front and then sources brand deals for them. Nilly will use Harlan’s investment to pay those initial fees to athletes, then the PE firm will take from the earnings from the brand deals.

TikTok ⬆ Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced a multiyear partnership with the popular social media app, including a patch on the Capitals’ white road jersey that will debut Sept. 24 against the Bruins. The partnership will also tie in programming elements with MS&E’s other franchises, including the NBA’s Wizards and WNBA’s Mystics.

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Fueling the Future of Football

Gatorade is joining forces with fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk for an exclusive capsule collection [[link removed]] that sits at the intersection of culture, sports, and fashion.

Dropping Sept. 12 on the Gatorade site [[link removed]], this limited-edition release showcases Kristin’s unique design approach, with elements that pay homage to flag football and the rising influence of women in the sport. The collaboration aims to fuel the future of football by celebrating the contributions of women on and off the field.

Be the first to shop the new limited-edition capsules, designed in collaboration with Kristin Juszczyk. The full collection [[link removed]] is coming Sept. 12.

Conversation Starters US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and Dobel Tequila are giving New Yorkers $10 off [[link removed]] a cocktail, fulfilling a promise she gave the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd that she would pay for drinks in exchange for support in the finals against American Jessica Pegula. The Texas-Michigan game Saturday on Fox was the most-watched college football game of the season [[link removed]] so far with an average of 9.35 million viewers. At the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit, Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor said he wants a “long-term relationship” with the WNBA [[link removed]]. Scripps is the parent company of Ion. Editors’ Picks How Caitlin Clark Made Scripps Sports Look Like Geniuses [[link removed]]by Dennis Young [[link removed]]Scripps went big on women’s sports as part of its roll-out strategy in 2023. NBC Calls Flailing Sports Streamer Venu an ‘Incomplete Service’ [[link removed]]by A.J. Perez [[link removed]]Venu Sports isn’t a good deal for consumers, says NBCUniversal Media Group’s chairman. Inside Roku’s Big Bet on Sports [[link removed]]by Margaret Fleming [[link removed]]The media company is making sports a priority. Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Podcast [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Dennis Young [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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