New York Times NBA reporter Marc Stein may no longer have the television outlet that he once did with ESPN. But he’s created a new outlet for himself that allows him to share his reporting and insight with fans, and it might be something that catches on throughout the sports media industry.
As reported by Axios Sports’ Kendall Baker, Stein is partnering up with Locker Room to produce live audio content for users that’s more interactive and immediate. Social audio!
“Fans have been calling into radio shows forever, but this is a totally new genre,” Stein told Baker. “The host and the audience have never been able to hang out like this without being rushed. I see it as the old ESPN.com chats of yesteryear springing back to life in audio form.”
https://twitter.com/lockerroomapp/status/1370090635504533504
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The immediate comparison for Locker Room among current social apps is Clubhouse. Baker explained how the app works when it launched last fall:
- Upon launching the app, you’re shown a feed with all the live and upcoming conversations featuring the people, teams, channels and topics you follow.
- When you enter a room, the audio switches on and you can hear the people on the “stage” speaking. You can also see who else is in the audience.
- The room’s creator, plus any other “hosts,” control who speaks. Listeners “raise their hand” when they have something to say. If chosen, their profile icon appears on stage and their microphone turns on.
- There’s also a chat room where text-based discussion can happen in tandem with the audio-based conversation.
- To start your own room, you press “Go Live.” From there, you add a title and a channel/topic, choose whether you want to record the room for later use, then decide if you want your followers to be notified and invited.
Other reporters such as ESPN’s NFL insider Jeff Darlington have been early adopters of Locker Room, which allows a more casual conversation with fans rather than the more formal, time-controlled format of TV.
In Stein’s view, the important thing is to talk to fans when games are being played because that’s when the app has the most activity, in addition to creating a sense of immediacy. (Those who prefer to avoid the audio component can also participate through a chat room.)
Stein debuted this past Wednesday (March 10) and said that he plans to appear on Wednesdays and Fridays. (Maybe that’s a good idea to avoid Thursdays when TNT has a doubleheader and Inside the NBA.)
Will other sports reporters follow along? This could be an intriguing way to add some interest and interaction to upcoming regular-season Major League Baseball, for example.
[Axios]
About Ian Casselberry
Ian is a writer, editor, and podcaster. You can find his work at Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He's written for Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation.