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The Play-By-Play

Awful Announcing
ESPN
NBA
NFL
Caitlin Clark
Stephen A. Smith
John Cena
Lebron James
CBS Sports
J.J. Watt
Pat Mcafee
Peter Schrager
Masters Tournament
WNBA
TNT
NBA Finals
Doris Burke
Donald Trump
Jordon Hudson
Bill Belichick
Rory Mcilroy

The Play-By-Play is a sports media news talk show brought to you by Awful Announcing. Join AA writers Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod each week as they bring you the latest news and insight from the ever-changing sports media world, including all of the happenings at ESPN, Fox, NBC, CBS, Turner, Amazon and beyond. Subscribe to The Play By Play on Apple, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found.

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PublishesDailyEpisodes132Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for The Play-By-Play

Latest Episodes

MLB had a strong opening week on the field and on TV with big debuts on Netflix and NBC as well as the introduction of the ABS challenge system.

We discuss every angle of Opening Day in our Review of the Week.

-1:00: MLB on Netflix review

-20:44: ... more

The WNBA and its players agreed on a landmark six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement last week after months of difficult talks.

Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports broke the news of a verbal agreement while reporting from the Langham hotel in N... more

Nate Burleson, Bruce Pearl and Renee Montgomery made big first impressions on CBS and TNT March Madness coverage, while new gimmicks featuring Oz the Mentalist, "Old Ball" and more left NCAA tournament viewers baffled.

We break down all changes, as ... more

Old sports radio hosts at WFAN, WIP and beyond are on a crusade to prove the medium is dying. Are they right?

Brandon Contes at Awful Announcing joins to discuss whether radio has been replaced, and what the future might hold.

Download The Play-By-... more

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Recent Guests

Ken Rosenthal
MLB insider, journalist
The Athletic
Episode: Bruce Pearl has CBB fans FUMING as Jay Wright's replacement on CBS
Dan Katz
Big Cat, Barstool Sports personality
Barstool Sports
Episode: Bruce Pearl has CBB fans FUMING as Jay Wright's replacement on CBS
Drew Lerner
Analyst invited to share thoughts on the WBC and related topics
Unspecified in transcript
Episode: World Baseball Classic is EXACTLY what baseball needed
Joon Lee
Independent sports reporter and YouTuber
Episode: Bam Backlash, KD Fatigue, WBC Hype & MORE w/ Joon Lee
Emmanuel Morgan
Sports and culture reporter for The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: YouTubers and streamers are TAKING OVER sports media
Danny Funt
Author of Everybody Loses, The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling
Episode: How sports media stars paved the way for the sports betting EXPLOSION
Pablo Torre
Sports Media Person of the Year for 2025
ESPN
Episode: Pardon My Take moves to NETFLIX | The 2025 Awfulies
Anthony Dabbundo
Covers sports gambling at The Ringer
The Ringer
Episode: Breaking down ESPN-NFL Media deal, The Ringer’s Anthony Dabbundo joins us
Kofie Yeboah
Formerly of Secret Base and a prominent sports content creator
Episode: Barstool and FS1 together, WNBA CBA negotiations, Kofie Yeboah stops by

Hosts

Brendon Kleen
Host and co-founder of The Play By Play, staff writer at Awful Announcing
Ben Axelrod
Senior editor for Awful Announcing, co-host of The Play-By-Play

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 19 ratings
  • Excellent Content, just a few minor gripes

    First, these guys do a great job following the pulse of the sports media landscape. I like the short-form episodes that are multiple times per week. The evergreen Announcer Drafts and other list-type shows are excellent. My only gripe, are the audio issues with this podcast. I constantly have to increase or decrease my volume because none of the hosts have the same audio levels. Also, the ad insertions are maddening. The hosts will be talking and suddenly get cut off by an ad insertions. Additio... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JasonD1976
    United States25 days ago
  • Excellent Content, just a few minor gripes

    First, these guys do a great job following the pulse of the sports media landscape. I like the short-form episodes that are multiple times per week. The evergreen Announcer Drafts and other list-type shows are excellent. My only gripe, are the audio issues with this podcast. I constantly have to increase or decrease my volume because none of the hosts have the same audio levels. Also, the ad insertions are maddening. The hosts will be talking and suddenly get cut off by an ad insertions. Overall... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    JasonD1976
    United States4 months ago
  • NBA

    About 30 minutes of talk on the NBA lagging ratings and nary 1 minute and it was dismissed about the actual gameplay on the court

    lol

    You are defending not examining

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    J triple J
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best sports pod

    Love this sports podcast! Always updates me on the important topics & players.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    K.sardine
    United Statesa year ago
  • My new favorite sports media podcast

    This is my new favorite sports media pod. These guys are well prepared, the show is organized well, and overall very entertaining! Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sean Straus
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticize audio issues and interruptions from advertisements during episodes.
Listeners appreciate the insightful and organized discussions about current events in sports media.
The podcast is praised for its engaging hosts who provide a refreshing take on sports topics.

Top Sports Podcasts

Pardon My Take
Pardon My TakeBarstool Sports
DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST
DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCASTN3on & Mystic Zach
The Dan Patrick Show
The Dan Patrick ShowiHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Collector Nation
Collector NationCollector Nation
Spittin Chiclets
Spittin ChicletsBarstool Sports
The Ryen Russillo Show
The Ryen Russillo ShowBarstool Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

YouTubers and streamers are TAKING OVER sports media
Q: Could game apps like EA Sports become the first real home for full creator-led games?
Yes, games with built-in creator ecosystems offer a plausible path to scale creator-led experiences, starting with smaller soccer or niche titles and potentially expanding to bigger leagues as the model proves sustainable.
YouTubers and streamers are TAKING OVER sports media
Q: How do creators balance entertainment with traditional sports broadcasting?
Top creators want to maintain their broader entertainment brands while contributing to sports broadcasts, suggesting partnerships need to allow flexibility for cross-promotional activities without forcing a sole focus on sports in every appearance.
YouTubers and streamers are TAKING OVER sports media
Q: What was the most interesting finding from Emmanuel's reporting on leagues embracing creators?
That leagues are actively inviting creators to major events and integrating them into the broadcast ecosystem, signaling a shift in how fans engage with live sports and the marketing opportunities that creators bring to the table.
Loving Dan Hurley, Shohei Ohtani 'Face of MLB,' Gen Z and sports
Q: How do Gen Alpha interact with sports compared to Gen Z?
Gen Alpha, while young, still show a significant interest in playing sports according to their parents, indicating a continuation of sports culture.
Loving Dan Hurley, Shohei Ohtani 'Face of MLB,' Gen Z and sports
Q: What does the latest data say about Gen Z's sports consumption habits?
Gen Z prefers to watch sports in short highlight formats on social media, suggesting a shift away from traditional viewing?

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Play-By-Play

What is The Play-By-Play about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the ever-evolving landscape of sports media, the discussed content provides insightful updates and analysis on major news stories from various broadcasting networks including ESPN, Fox, NBC, CBS, and Turner, among others. Episodes tackle current events, critical personnel changes, and the ethical implications of emerging trends in sports, such as the intertwining of wagering and sports journalism. The hosts emphasize a blend of humor and knowledge, making complex topics in sports media engaging and accessible for listeners who are passionate about both sports and media dynamics.

Listeners can expect to hear sharp commentary on notable personalities in sports media, in-depth discussions about industry trends like sports betting,... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Play-By-Play?

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How many listeners does The Play-By-Play get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Play-By-Play, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Play-By-Play, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Play-By-Play have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Play-By-Play has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Play-By-Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Play-By-Play:

1. Sports Media with Richard Deitsch
2. The Varsity
3. The Sports Media Podcast
4. SI Media With Jimmy Traina
5. The McShay Show

How many episodes of The Play-By-Play are there?

The Play-By-Play launched 2 years ago and published 132 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Play-By-Play?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Play-By-Play?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Play-By-Play from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Play-By-Play?

Recent guests on The Play-By-Play include:

1. Ken Rosenthal
2. Dan Katz
3. Drew Lerner
4. Joon Lee
5. Emmanuel Morgan
6. Danny Funt
7. Pablo Torre
8. Anthony Dabbundo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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