Latest news with #VanTalk
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Barstool's Big Cat thinks Fox partnership will have much different feel than ill-fated ESPN show
When Barstool Sports brings its brand of sports talk to Fox Sports, it will 'get to be Barstool,' Dan 'Big Cat' Katz said during Thursday's 'Barstool Yak' on Thursday. Katz was discussing the new partnership between Fox Sports and Barstool that was announced this week, combining the two household names in sports around the network's college football programming and a new FS1 studio show. The latter show, in particular, is the second go-around for Barstool when it comes to working with a network on a linear program, and its first since the ill-fated 'Van Talk' that lasted one episode in 2017 before it was canceled by ESPN. Advertisement Katz expects that the new deal and studio show will be a better opportunity than the ESPN partnership for 'Van Talk' ended up being because 'the world's changed.' '[FS1] realizes, whenever Barstool Van Talk got canceled, 2017, look, [Pat] McAfee's thriving,' he said. 'Shane Gillis just did the ESPYs last night. I think the world is changing, I think people understand entertainment is entertainment.' Advertisement NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney speaks with Barstool Sports Dan 'Big Cat' Katz on set of 'The Yak' at Barstool Sports Chicago on February 27, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images 'Van Talk' ended abruptly due in part to previous comments made by Katz and Barstool founder Dave Portnoy about then-ESPNer Sam Ponder, and former-ESPN president John Skipper later said that the network wasn't able to distance itself from the Barstool brand as much as it wanted. Katz feels the new Fox partnership will allow Barstool to remain true to what it does best. 'I think it's going to be a lot of our audience tuning in,' Katz said. 'And I think it's going to be a lot different than the ESPN deal we did back in 2017, where I think Fox is a very willing partner that reached out to us, you know what I mean? So it feels different in that they want us, not we're asking them, 'Please, please put us on at 1 in the morning.' Advertisement Dave Portnoy, wearing an Indiana Fever hat, poses for a photo while attending a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun on July 15, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Barstool and Fox Sports announced the deal Thursday, and it will include Portnoy becoming a regular contributor on 'Big Noon Kickoff. It will also feature appearances by a number of Barstool Sports personalities, including Katz. 'The Barstool College Football Show' will also be on location with 'Big Noon Kickoff' for select games during the season. The daily studio show will air for two hours Monday through Friday
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Fox Sports ‘trending' toward partnership with Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports
The Barstool Sports pirate ship looks like it might be docking at Fox Sports. The network is 'trending' in the direction of a partnership with Dave Portnoy and his media website, though no deal is done, a source confirmed to The Post. Fox Sports declined comment on the matter. Advertisement The move would come with a seat for Portnoy on 'Big Noon Kickoff,' the network's college football kick-off show on Saturdays. Dave Portnoy attends the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game in Boston on July 15, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Front Office Sports was the first to report the news. Advertisement The Michigan grad and unabashed fan would join the likes of former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram, Chris Fallica and host Rob Stone. It would also bring Barstool Sports content to FS1's airwaves, likely via licensing agreement, though it's unclear which properties would be included or if new ones would be created, according to FOS. This week, Fox Sports reportedly canceled three shows — 'Speak,' 'The Facility' and 'Breakfast Ball' — and parted ways with some of its talent, according to The Athletic. From left: Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Mark Ingram, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer on Fox's 'Big Noon Kickoff' show. Getty Images Advertisement In recent months, NFL insider Peter Schrager and ex-NFL QB Michael Vick moved on from the network, as well. The Post's source said that a 'multitude of people' would fill the roles left open by the canceled shows. Barstool Sports famously had a deal in place for a show on ESPN, though 'Van Talk' was canceled after one episode in 2017 due to backlash from the partnership. This puts the company back on cable, in direct competition with the Worldwide Leader and former Barstool personality and network centerpiece Pat McAfee — especially in the former punter's co-hosting gig on 'College GameDay,' ESPN's Saturday kickoff show.
