| Network Name: | Sports Byline USA |
| Country: | United States |
| Network Type: | Radio network |
| Available: | International, through multi-media platforms and regional affiliates and satellite radio |
| Launch Date: | October 24, 1988 |
| Webcast: | Listen Live Listen Live (mp3) |
Sports Byline USA is an international sports radio network based in the United States. Sports Byline USA is also the name of the flagship program on the network. It was the first national sports talk show and was launched on October 24, 1988.[1] Sports Byline USA is located in San Francisco, California. Nationally, the network claims programming is heard on 200 satellite radio stations, was on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 122, and on CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks channel 2. The station is also available on several international stations and is the main sports programming of the American Forces Network which broadcasts on 500 radio stations in 177 countries. Sports Byline USA is no longer on Sirius XM 122 which is now CNBC, but its sister program, Sports Overnight America is on Sirius XM 203.[2]
Sports Byline programming, which is the main sports news provider for the American Forces Network[3] and also broadcasts on these platforms:
In 1988, when Willie Mays toured to promote his new book Say Hey: the Autobiography of Willie Mays,[10] [11] Mays was Ron Barr's first guest for the first hour of the first broadcast of Sports Byline USA[12]
Barr used his knowledge as a sports anchor for KIRO-TV in Seattle and former NBC affiliate KRON-TV in San Francisco.,[13] his connections as a sportscaster for the Washington Huskies, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Boston Celtics and the Stanford Cardinal[14] and his journalism background, reporting for the Washington Post, to build an affiliate satellite network of radio stations across the country that were part of the Sports Byline launch. He also connected with the American Forces Network, to provide their main sports programming content.
In 2020, there are over 35 talk show hosts on the 24/7 network, which still maintains its original concept: to [15] give sports fans across the nation[16] [17] the chance to call in and talk to their favorite athletes. The network's hosts take listener calls on major issues in the sports world.[18]
Sports Byline USA's staff includes Chairman/Host, Ron Barr, President Darren Peck[19] and its limited partnership group. Included in the group are 20-time Wimbledon Champion Billie Jean King, former NFL running back Darrin Nelson, super sports attorney Leigh Steinberg and other successful business professionals. Bill Walsh, the Hall of Fame and 3-time Super Bowl winning coach, was on the Sports Byline USA Partnership Advisory Board of Directors.
Sports Byline USA had signed on to be the radio distributor[20] of broadcasts of the All American Football League, with the games being produced by Touchdown Radio Productions. The AAFL suspended operations in March 2008, one month prior to its launch, and has yet to begin play as of 2011.
Barr's close relationship with the American Forces Network includes traveling to be with the American troops in Iraq[21] and Afghanistan, with live interviews of sports celebrities like Tom Brady, Warren Moon, Anthony Muñoz, Adonal Foyle and Bill Romanowski and coaches Phil Jackson, Marv Levy and Brian Billick to lift the spirits of American Forces deployed there.[22]
In January 2013, the U.S. Library of Congress acquired more than 4,000 recordings of interviews by Ron Barr broadcast between 1988 and 2003. The recordings are digitized[23] at the Library's Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia. The collection[24] includes a wide range of players, coaches, and more, including Bill Russell (baseball), John Wooden, George Steinbrenner[25] and Earl Lloyd the Alexandria, Virginia native who in 1950 became the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association. The collection includes a large archive of audio interviews with Negro league baseball players[26]
On April 23, 2020, the United States Postal Service designated Sports Byline as a Building Bridges Pier 39 Postal Station for the USPS Building Bridges Special Postal Cancellation Series. The Ceremony took place live on Sail Sport Talk with Karen Earle Lile and Rick Tittle as co-hosts and Winston Bumpus, receiving the first inking of the cancellation on behalf of the Lady Washington from Postmaster Abraham Cooper.[27]
Sail Sport Talk with Karen Lile is a Talk Show partnered with Sports Byline and placed inside Tittilating Sports[28] to engage mainstream sports fans with the international world of sailing.[29] It began April 4, 2019 and continues to the present.[30] [31] [32]
Tittlating Sports with Rick TittleRick Tittle made the switch to radio with Sports Byline USA in 1999, beginning as a producer and production director, before starting his Titillating Sports show in 2003. Rick’s humorous and thoughtful approach to sports talk lends itself to all sports,[33] as Rick lets the callers drive the topics of the day. Rick Tittle's show, which live broadcasts 3 hours, five days a week, also features partnerships with other hosts, such as A.I. Expert Neil Sahota[34]
Sports Byline represents a diversity of sports in its 24/7 programming.
| Program title | Hosts | |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Street Soccer | Nick Geber | |
| 5th Street Sports | Nick Geber, others | |
| A Little R and R | Howard Robinson and Larry Robertson[36] | |
| Beyond The Scoreboard | Rick Horrow | |
| College Sports Insiders | Pat Olson | |
| Complete Player Development | Nate Trosky and Trent Mongero | |
| The Jim Beaver Show | Jim Beaver | |
| Ferrall Coast to Coast | Scott Ferrall | |
| Fish Talk | John Henigin | |
| Fred Dryer | ||
| Gabriel Morency | ||
| Pedro Fernandez | ||
| Out and About | Ron Barr, Charlie Coane, and Ginny Prior | |
| Outdoor Guys Radio | Ken Taylor | |
| Race Chaser Radio | Tom Baker and Jacob Seelman | |
| Real Golf Radio | Brian Taylor and Bob Casper | |
| Ring Talk Radio | Pedro Fernandez | |
| Sail Sport Talk | Karen Earle Lile, Rick Tittle | |
| Speed Freeks | Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, & Bill Wood | |
| Sports Byline Sunday | Andy Dorf and Fred Wallin | |
| Sports Byline USA | Ron Barr | |
| Sports Econ 101 | Edward Brown | |
| Sports Overnight America | Jeff Rich and Jen Rich Marty Tirrell…Charlie Gibbons Saturday Nights Football 5th Quarter Takeover…. | |
| Tee to Green: The Golf Show | Jay Ritchie & Jerry Butenhoff | |
| Titillating Sports | Rick Tittle[37] | |
| Unpackin' It | Bryce Johnson | |
| Video Game Review | Rick Tittle | |
| World Soccer Talk Radio | Nate Abaurrea | |
| Wrestling Observer Live | Bryan Alvarez, Mike Sempervive |
On June 30, 2009, Sports Byline USA signed an advertising sales representation agreement with Focus 360 LLC. Focus 360's Chief Executive Officer, Phil Brown, said that the National Focus network and syndication division will sell Sports Byline USA to advertisers on a stand-alone basis as well as in conjunction with National Baseball Network, another major sports network represented by National Focus.