Sports talk seems to be taking a turn toward more talk about sports betting than just talk about sports.
To this end, Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN), which was acquired by DraftKings in 2021 and provides real-time sports betting content to listeners, is involved with recent format changes at radio stations in Nashville, Tennessee, and West Palm Beach, Florida.
94.9 The Fan recently become Nashville’s first radio station to offer real-time sports betting news and analysis. Launched by Cromwell Media, 94.9 airs syndicated sports betting programming from VSiN and The Sports Betting Network.
“We now offer a one-stop shop for all types of sports fans and sports bettors who want only the best local and national sports talk,” Cromwell Media’s vice president and market manager, Dennis Gwiazdon, said in a press release.
Besides having highly popular syndicated sports talk shows such as The Dan Patrick Show and The Herd With Colin Cowherd, The Fan’s lineup includes VSiN shows Follow the Money and Rush Hour. VSiN’s content airs on more than 140 radio stations in 31 states.
“With the great state of Tennessee having launched legalized sports betting in November 2020, we’re thrilled to be working with Cromwell Media’s 94.9 The Fan as the local choice to help educate and entertain Nashville’s growing base of passionate sports fans,” said Brian Musburger, founder and CEO of VSiN, in the same release.
iHeartMedia West Palm Beach Launches Sport Radio 1230 The Gambler – https://t.co/sQVQT00OS5 pic.twitter.com/t2lhIqAvRA
— Golden Casino News (@GoldenCasinoNws) June 13, 2022
VSiN is also involved in iHeartMedia West Palm Beach’s recent debut of Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler, which will likewise tilt toward talk of wagering on athletic events.
“We’re thrilled to bring this informative and entertaining brand of sports talk to local sports fans,” said Brian Mudd, Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler’s program director. “Sports betting as a 24/7 format, and specifically the expert analysis from VSiN and our very own Greek, is a perfect choice for The Gambler.”
Outside of airing live sporting events, Sports Radio 1230 The Fan airs 22 hours of live VSiN programming daily, and features one local show, The Greek Zone, live from South Florida.
“As VSiN continues to broaden its distribution footprint, we’re thrilled to be working with the innovative content providers at iHeartRadio’s new sports radio 1230 The Gambler to bring sports betting programming to West Palm Beach and its passionate sports fans,” Musburger said. “As regulated sports betting continues its expansion across the U.S., we’re proud to be The Gambler’s choice to help educate and entertain the incredibly passionate sports fans in this top 50 media market.”
Mead named VSiN General Manager
VSiN recently announced the addition of veteran sports media executive Len Mead as general manager. Mead joins VSiN from PointsBet, where he served as vice president of content and was in charge of sports-betting integrations across NBC Sports, Action Network, and other PointsBet brands.
“Len has excelled at creating original content and growing audience across all platforms throughout his career, and we’re thrilled to add his expertise to our leadership team,” Musburger said in a press release. “Not only does Len bring a wealth of media experience from his prior roles at ESPN, NBC Sports, NESN, and others, but he also brings sports betting industry knowledge from his time as head of content for PointsBet. We believe this combination will help VSiN deliver its premium sports betting content to even more bettors, on more platforms, in new ways.”
As GM, Mead is being asked to help improve VSiN’s efforts to be the leader in sports betting news and information, among other things.
“This is such an exciting time to join VSiN,” Mead said. “Brian Musburger and his team have built something special and established VSiN as a leader in credible, intelligent betting content. I’m looking forward to expanding our audience and serving bettors of all levels everywhere as they connect with sports.”
Manning teams with Caesars Entertainment
Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and Caesars Entertainment have established a multiyear strategic partnership to launch the Omaha Audio Network, which will be a full-service audio production company. The collaboration will focus on producing podcasts featuring individuals from a variety of sports backgrounds.
The Hall-of-Fame quarterback will serve as executive producer for a number of new digital series that will be made available on Caesars Entertainment, Caesars Sportsbook, and Omaha Productions social media channels. Mayne on the Street, featuring Kenny Mayne, and One More Round With Cooper Manning are among the series expected to be made available over the the social media channels.
“This is not a sponsorship; it’s a strategic partnership,” Caesars Digital chief marketing officer Sharon Otterman said in a press release. “We’ll collaborate with Peyton and Omaha to conceptualize, create and produce unique content in a way that only two leaders in the sports and entertainment space can. We look forward to the rollout of the Omaha Audio Network presented by Caesars Sportsbook putting together unforgettable event experiences and crafting engaging must-see content for our customers.”
DraftKings, Meadowlark Media Add Four Shows
DraftKings, in conjunction with Meadowlark Media, continues to expand its own presence in the sports talk arena, adding four new shows to its programming lineup: Too Many Men, Shutdown Fullcast, The Hooligans, and DNF (Did Not Finish).
Meadowlark Media, founded by former ESPN President John Skipper and national radio and podcast host Dan Le Batard, creates content for audio, video, and digital programming. DraftKings recently debuted more new shows, including The GoJo Show, co-hosted by Mike Golic Jr. and his former Notre Dame teammate, Brandon Newman.
“In just over a year, DraftKings has significantly grown its media portfolio,” Stacie McCollum, DraftKings VP of programming, said in a press release. “With Meadowlark as a content partner, we are well-positioned to continue to add more new shows to our growing lineup of original programming for fans interested in authentic voices and a modern take on the sports conversation.”
