Media Archives - Front Office Sports

by Pat Evans

Overtime Expanding Esports Strategy From Team Ownership to Content

Oct 16, 2019

Overtime, the sports media network focused on grabbing Gen Z, is making a bigger play in esports. The company recently hired Chris Toussaint as head of esports, a position which will allow the 20-year-old seasoned esports professional to lead both the media position of Overtime as well as the company’s Fortnite team. Toussaint has spent the past seven years in the industry, including the past two with Magic Gaming building its NBA 2K organization. “If you look at how we’ve […]

Media Video

by Front Office Sports

Shot Callers: Marcus Spears, Show Host, ESPN

By Front Office Sports

Sep 25, 2019

After nearly a decade in the NFL, not to mention winning a national championship with the LSU Tigers, Marcus Spears has transitioned into a television career as an analyst on the ESPN family of networks. Currently, he hosts SEC Nation and Thinking Out Loud on the SEC Network. In today’s episode of Shot Callers, FOS Senior Writer Michael McCarthy chatted with Spears about his journey to the world of television and his promising future in the field. Edited highlights appear […]

Media

by Michael McCarthy

‘They Wanted Me Gone’: How Sports Teams Try to Control Beat Reporters

By Michael McCarthy

Aug 30, 2019

Even Major League Baseball says the Houston Astros were wrong when they denied Detroit Free Press reporter Anthony Fenech access to their clubhouse until pitcher Justin Verlander finished his postgame media session. But last week’s Fenech vs. Verlander dust-up was just the latest example of the ongoing push-pull between beat reporters trying to do their jobs – and pro sports teams/college programs trying to protect their players and control the media narrative. In June, New York Mets pitcher Jason Vargas […]

Clover Sonoma Turns To Female Sports Figures For New Campaign

By Front Office Sports

Aug 13, 2019

(BrandForward is a proud partner of Front Office Sports) True strength comes from within. That is the message Clover Sonoma wants to convey with the launch of their new “Strong Inside” campaign celebrating the inner strength of women. Clover Sonoma is a third-generation, family-owned and operated dairy based in Northern California. This week, the company introduced their new campaign featuring women who embody inner strength – championship-winning athletes Brandi Chastain, Alysia Montaño, Jennifer Azzi, and Emmy-winning sports journalist Amy Gutierrez […]

Media

by Ed Moran

First Half Viewership Spike Has WNBA Optimistic About 2019 And Beyond

By Ed Moran

Aug 2, 2019

For Christy Hedgpeth, her path to playing basketball began like many kids – via a television. As a child, she remembers watching a college basketball game and realizing that one day, she wanted to play on that stage. While Hedgpeth’s playing career is now in the past, her current role in women’s basketball is perhaps her most important one yet. As the WNBA’s chief operating officer, she is experiencing first-hand the league’s tremendous growth. As the league is now heading […]

Media

by Michael McCarthy

Steve Nash In Talks To Return To Turner’s UEFA Coverage

By Michael McCarthy

Aug 2, 2019

Will former NBA star Steve Nash continue his second career as a TV soccer analyst? We should find out soon, with the two-time MVP now in “active discussions” for a new contract with Turner Sports. The retired NBA point guard surprised many by joining Turner not a basketball analyst last year, but for soccer. But Nash’s deal with Turner to cover the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League was only for one season, said sources. Turner acquired the rights […]

Media

by Ian Thomas

Uninterrupted Plots European Growth Via Soccer

By Ian Thomas

Jul 24, 2019

Uninterrupted, which has found traction as an athlete empowerment brand showing another side of athletes from North American leagues, is looking towards athletes in Europe – and in soccer, specifically – for further growth. Earlier this month, the media company co-founded by LeBron James and business partner Maverick Carter signed a development agreement with David Beckham’s newly formed content house Studio 99. As part of that deal, the two companies will co-produce a documentary series on the launch of Inter […]

Media

by Front Office Sports

UK Hiring Spree for The Athletic Creating Massive Industry Changes

By Front Office Sports

Jul 19, 2019

*This piece first appeared in the Front Office Sports Newsletter. Subscribe today and get the news before anyone else. It was not too long ago that the New York Times ran an article with the headline of “Why The Athletic Wants to Pillage Newspapers”. Fresh off a new funding round and plans to hire at least 55 people in the UK according to Digiday, The Athletic has created what some are calling a “journalist transfer window.” Publications are having “crisis” meetings… According to BuzzFeed […]

Sponsorship

by Front Office Sports

ESPN to Launch Morning Podcast

By Front Office Sports

Jul 18, 2019

*This piece first appeared in the Front Office Sports Newsletter. Subscribe today and get the news before anyone else. As ESPN looks to grow its podcast presence, the company is turning to a new daily morning one starting in October. According to Ben Strauss of the Washington Post, the podcast is expected to include a mix of news coverage, trends in sports and feature stories done by ESPN’s team of reporters. Following a similar trend… In a recent episode of Shot Callers, Mike Greenberg […]