Ian Rapoport is reportedly finalizing a multiyear deal with ESPN; the NCAA is said to be in “the final steps” of expanding the MCBB and WCBB tournaments to 76 teams; and ESPN executive David Roberts is reportedly expected to retire soon. Plus news on Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports, LIV Golf and Audacy.
Rapoport reportedly finalizing multiyear deal with ESPN
Longtime NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport is finalizing a multiyear deal with the league-branded channel’s new owner ESPN, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. Rapoport, whose contract is set to expire next month, would continue in his current role on NFL Network and add appearances “across ESPN platforms.” He would presumably become the first NFL Network talent to sign a new deal since ESPN officially took over its operations earlier this month.
Rapoport has been the lead insider for NFL Network since July 2013 and frequently breaks news about signings, trades and other transactions around the league. ESPN already employs Adam Schefter as its senior NFL insider. “I like the team part of this,” Rapoport said In an interview with Pat McAfee Wednesday, “You know I like working with Tom [Pelissero], I like working with Mike [Garafolo], I will enjoy working with Adam — because this is a hard world and it should be fun, and teamwork is fun. So however that happens, whatever way that gets laid out, I’m looking to have a lot of fun in the next many years.”
ESPN acquired NFL Network, the linear distribution rights to NFL RedZone and three new game windows as part of a series of agreements with the National Football League. In exchange, the NFL took a 10% equity stake in ESPN, slightly diluting the existing ownership stakes held by ABC Inc. and Hearst Corporation. Charlie Yook has oversight of NFL Network as VP/EP of content production, and he reports to ESPN EVP/sports production Mike McQuade.
ESPN assumed NFL Network talent contracts earlier this month and will be managing new contract negotiations going forward, per a report by Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. The league-branded network continued presenting the NFL Draft last week with broadcasters including Rapoport, Rich Eisen and Kurt Warner. ESPN president of content Burke Magnus said in an interview with Jimmy Traina on “SI Media” last November that the company would look to maintain the “voice” of NFL Network.
NCAA said to be in “final steps” of expanding basketball tournaments to 76 teams
The NCAA is moving toward an expansion of its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to 76 teams beginning next season, according to a report by Pete Thamel of ESPN. The NCAA held discussions last year about expanding the tournament but decided against doing so in time for the approaching season.
At the moment, the men’s tournament operates with 31 automatic bids and 37 at-large bids. The eight new spots would all be at-large bids, Thamel reported, with the “First Four” expanding to a 12-game slate at two sites.
NCAA men’s tournament broadcasters CBS and TNT Sports would not have to pay any extra rights fees for the additional games, according to a report by Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic. The networks, which have jointly broadcast the men’s tournament since 2011 and alternate Final Four coverage every year, are under contract through 2032. (TNT parent company Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to a merger transaction with Paramount expected to close in Q3 2026.)
ESPN has continued to broadcast the NCAA WCBB tournament and other NCAA championships under an eight-year media rights deal reportedly worth $115 million/year that runs through 2032. Any changes to the men’s and women’s tournaments need to be approved by different committees, along with “the Division I cabinet and the Division I board of governors,” per Thamel.
ESPN’s Roberts reportedly retiring soon
ESPN executive David Roberts is expected to retire soon, according to a report by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. Roberts, who was named an executive vice president and the executive editor of sports news and entertainment in August 2024, has been part of ESPN for more than two decades. ESPN declined comment to Sports Media Watch.
In his current role, Roberts oversees ESPN news coverage and studio programs in addition to digital programs, audio and podcasts. He assumed some of those responsibilities when ESPN restructured its content organization under Magnus. The reorganization granted Roberts oversight of the news and entertainment team, while Mike McQuade was named to lead the sports production team.
Mike Foss, who is the SVP/sports studio and entertainment for ESPN, “is anticipated to have an even larger portfolio,” per Marchand. Foss has worked at ESPN since 2017 and is one of Roberts’ direct reports. Several company VPs involved in studio programs were assigned as reporting to Foss as part of the previous restructuring, some of whom include Pete McConville, Julie McGlone and Justin Craig.
Prior to his current role with ESPN, Roberts had production oversight of the network’s NBA and WNBA coverage, along with the “NBA Countdown” and “NBA Today” studio programs. In addition, he formerly served as the general manager of ESPN New York, which included “The Michael Kay Show” and live game broadcast rights for the Knicks, Rangers and Jets. Roberts first joined ESPN as a coordinating producer in 2004.
Plus: Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports, LIV Golf, Audacy
- Fox Sports announced Wednesday that play-by-play announcer John Strong and analyst Stu Holden will again serve as its lead broadcast team for the FIFA men’s World Cup. The company is also bringing back the pairing of Ian Darke and Landon Donovan, who previously worked together on UEFA Euro 2024. Newcomers include play-by-play voices Ian Crocker, Mark Scott and Tyler Terens, analysts Lori Lindsey and Robert Green, reporters Alex Aljoe, Natalie Gedra and Katie Shananan, and rules analyst Danny Higginbotham.
- Jarrod Schwarz has been named the new general manager of Yahoo Sports and will oversee areas such as design, product and technology. Schwarz, who formerly served as COO of BetMGM, is joining the company starting this summer after Ryan Spoon was promoted to oversee Yahoo Media Group. “I’m looking forward to working with this talented team to deliver experiences that make us an indispensable part of every fan’s daily routine,” Schwarz said in a statement.
- LIV Golf co-founder Yasir Al-Rumayyan stepped down from his role as chairman of the board for LIV Golf on Wednesday, according to a report by Josh Carpenter of Sports Business Journal. The report comes after Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal reported that the league planned to inform players and staff by Thursday that it is losing funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund after the season. LIV Golf is in the midst of a multiyear media rights deal with Fox Sports and has eight tournaments remaining on the schedule this season.
- Audacy is planning to launch 97.1 The Fan in Los Angeles, Calif. on Monday, May 11, marking the first time the city will have an FM sports talk radio station. Brand manager Andrew Williams will have oversight of the outlet, which moves onto the frequency currently occupied by a simulcast of KNX News 1070. On the east coast, Rich Shertenlieb is joining Audacy’s WEEI in Boston, Mass. and will co-host a new show in afternoon drive alongside station operations manager Ken Laird and former NFL LB Ted Johnson. Shertenlieb formerly worked at 98.5 The Sports Hub in morning drive with Fred Toucher, but he left the show after 14 years in November 2023.
