Mike Francesa to host podcast and videos for Rush Street Interactive
Mike Francesa is shown is his home in Manhasset. March 13, 2014. Credit: Newsday/Chris Ware
Mike Francesa has signed the first media deal of his post-WFAN career, part of a broader partnership with Rush Street Interactive, a gaming company that runs the BetRivers and SugarHouse sports books.
Francesa will host a twice-weekly podcast, host digital videos and appear at select sporting events, the company said in making the announcement on Tuesday morning.
The podcasts are expected to run about an hour each starting next week and will feature former Mets manager Bobby Valentine during the baseball season, Barrett Sports Media reported Monday night.
While Francesa has not had a regularly scheduled program on WFAN since 2020, he was contractually tied to the station until the end of 2021. He told Newsday in December that he was considering several new media options once he became free to pursue them as of Jan. 1.
Brian Monzo, one of Francesa’s producers at WFAN, will work with him on the podcast.
"Joining the BetRivers team will allow me to share my passion for sports in a variety of new ways while at the same time providing valuable sports betting advice to fans in New York and in BetRivers and PlaySugarHouse markets throughout the country,” Francesa said in the news release.
Rush Street Interactive is one of eight active mobile sports betting operators in New York. The company began taking bets on Jan. 8, the first day it was legal to do so in New York. Through the week ending March 13, RSI has handled more than $89 million in bets, with a gross gaming revenue of just under $4 million.
Richard Schwartz, CEO of RSI, said, “We are thrilled to have MIke Francesa, the radio 'King of New York', join our BetRivers family of Brand Ambassadors. He is an icon in sports radio. We know our players will love his passionate personality and knowledge of sports, which will make their betting experience on our platforms that much greater."
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
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