Connect with us
Jim Cutler Demos

Sports TV News

Heidi Watney Understands AppleTV+ Criticism

“I worked for a RSN. I did games with Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy for 4 years in Boston and I was always mad when we didn’t get to do a big marquee game.”

Ricky Keeler

Published

on

As AppleTV+ begins preparation for their broadcast of Yankees and Red Sox Friday, Heidi Watney is understand of some critiques of the streaming platform during a momentous occasion.

Watney along with Stephen Nelson, Hunter Pence, and Katie Nolan, will broadcast the game for AppleTV+ as Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge chases the franchise and American League home run record. Watney was a guest on The Dan Graca Show on ESPN New York Thursday night and she said she will be reporting on the early portion of the game from a unique spot in Yankee Stadium.

“We are going to be out there for the start of the game. The plan is for me to be out there with the Bleacher Creatures and do roll call, which was in the plans already before even this was going to happen,” said Watney.

As Watney said, this plan was already put in place before Judge had a chance on the record. However, she says the goal of these Apple TV+ broadcasts is to bring fans inside the ballpark, which could be special depending on whether or not a home run is hit on Friday.

“That’s the great part about these Apple broadcasts. They are young, fresh, hip, and we want to bring old fans and new fans into the stands, show them the experience of being at the ballpark and that’s a big part of my role. If Aaron wants to hit one in his first AB right to me, I’m going to be ready for it.”

Watney has experience working at a regional sports network (RSN) when she was at NESN (2008-2011), so she understands why fans would be upset that the local announcers might not get to call the historic moment. However, she says the Apple TV broadcast makes a point to highlight the local broadcasters who are with the team on a daily basis.

“I get you want to just be able to turn on your TV and go to your local station that you are used to going to.

“I worked for a RSN. I did games with Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy for 4 years in Boston and I was always mad when we didn’t get to do a big marquee game. ‘I do 150 games a year and you are going to take this good one?’ So, I get the other side of the coin. It’s an exciting thing for us and an exciting thing for baseball to get to hear other voices as well and get to hear a different take on the game.

“That’s one of the things I think we do well on our broadcast is to give credit to the folks who are calling 150 of the 162 games a year. I rely on a lot of those people. I texted Meredith Marakovits earlier this week. It’s all one big family. Baseball is one big happy family.”

As many have pointed out, it is free to make an Apple TV account to watch the game, but it won’t stop the criticism from many about streaming games in general. However, Watney pays no mind to the criticism that the broadcast receives.

“Especially this week with the history on the line, there’s a lot of people that are like I’m not going to be able to watch this? Yes, you are. But, like anything in life that’s worth doing anything, it might take a little extra work and when I say a little, I mean a little bit of extra work…Anything that’s new is going to be something that’s different for people. I don’t think streaming is all that new. I just don’t listen to that kind of criticism because you can get it for free.”

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Sports TV News

Final ‘Good Morning Football’ Episode from New York Studio Airs Before Hiatus, Move to LA

After today, ‘Good Morning Football’ will take a brief hiatus, then move to LA. But outside of host Jamie Erdahl, who else will join the show on the West Coast?

Avatar photo

Published

on

Good Morning Football

Today marks the last Good Morning Football episode to air from its New York studios on NFL Network. After today, the show will take a brief hiatus, then move across the country to Los Angeles. But which of the shows beloved cast members will move along with it?

We already know host Jamie Erdahl will be there once she gives birth to her child. The newest GMFB show member gave an emotional send-off to the show’s New York studios before announcing she was headed for maternity leave and would see everyone in LA.

Host Kyle Brandt delivered this message late last night, saying that viewers should tune in to he and his colleagues and that “he has a lot to say.”

Earlier this week, however, host Peter Schrager delivered his own goodbye message — one that may sound like a man who’s not ready to move his family across the country at a moment’s notice:

However, no hosts outside of Erdahl have given confirmation that they’re either staying or going.

The NFL’s move to take the show from New York to Los Angeles has been widely criticized by fans and media members alike. Bill Simmons wondered if the move wouldn’t spell just the end of GMFB but the NFL Network as a whole. It has some wondering if this is the end of football’s best show.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports TV News

ESPN Coverage of Men’s NIT Tournament Quarterfinals Up 33% vs. 2023

Viewership of the Men’s NIT Quarterfinals on ESPN were up 33 percent compared to last year and featured two games that averaged over one million viewers.

Avatar photo

Published

on

Even the NIT is riding the recent hot streak of live sports viewership numbers. According to data provided by ESPN, the 2024 NIT Quarterfinals are up 33 percent compared to last year’s tournament. Perhaps more surprisingly, two NIT quarterfinal games topped one million viewers.

The network’s Georgia/Ohio State matchup averaged 1.03 million viewers, while the Cincinnati/Indiana State contest averaged 1.02 million viewers. These two games were the most-watched NIT games since 2017 — including title games. Both Georgia and Ohio State have rabid fanbases, while many thought Indiana State was unjustly left out of the March Madness tournament, which could be a reason why viewers tuned in.

Much of the focus this season has been on the women’s game, thanks to Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks, led by Dawn Staley. ESPN just had its most-watched women’s college basketball season since 2008-09 because of the increased interest in the women’s game. The men’s game, however, hasn’t been heralded as much this season for whatever reason, mostly because numbers seem to be holding steady compared to previous years. However, if the NIT is posting viewership wins, that should bode well for the NCAA Tournament’s incoming viewership totals.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports TV News

Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

Avatar photo

Published

on

NFL Logo

The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Advertisement

Upcoming Events

Barrett Media Writers

Copyright © 2024 Barrett Media.