Two years after taking his talents to BetRivers, Mike Francesa has reached an agreement to continue his podcast on the platform.
Thursday morning, BetRivers’ parent company, Rush Street Interactive, announced the renewal of a multi-year deal with Francesa. Per the announcement, the new contract will help fans get to see the former WFAN host with a “new daily show on YouTube on The Mike Francesa Podcast channel.”
“We are delighted to have Mike Francesa, the undisputed ‘King of New York’ radio, renew his partnership with our BetRivers family of Brand Ambassadors,” said Rush Street Interactive CEO Richard Schwartz. “Our BetRivers audience will now be able to see and hear Mike every weekday! Our customers tell us that his passion for sports, along with the stories Mike shares from when he worked with Jimmy the Greek, add a new level of fun to their betting experiences, further solidifying RSI’s dedication to providing top-tier sportsbook entertainment.”
“I’m thrilled to continue my partnership with BetRivers, which, in my opinion, offers the best online sportsbook in the industry,” Francesa added in the press release. “Joining forces with the RSI team enables me to connect with fans in exciting and easily accessible ways while providing my insight and instant reaction to the biggest games to audiences not only in New York but across BetRivers markets nationwide.”
It’s unclear whether the “new daily show on YouTube” is a new show or just a continuation of the podcast Francesa has been doing for the last two years. Every episode of The Mike Francesa Podcast has been available on YouTube, even though the show typically had no video offering. Most episodes on YouTube only feature a stock image of Francesa. Recently, however, Francesa’s podcast has been available on YouTube in video form more frequently. Six of the last ten episodes of The Mike Francesa Podcast featured video on YouTube.
In addition to increased video content, the press release also states that fans can see Francesa at “meet and greets” with BetRivers customers on the East Coast. It’s worth noting that fans shouldn’t expect to pay for autographs or photos at those appearances. Last year, the legendary sports radio host abruptly cancelled a scheduled appearance upon learning the venue planned on charging between $50 and $99 for autographs.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com