CP The Fanchise’s Sports Business Class was in session at Las Vegas Summer League. Learn more about the ins and outs of sports media from special KFTV guests.

The sports media world continues to evolve every day with the rise of technology, the emergence of new personalities and voices, and increased access to niche communities online. Knicks Fan TV itself was born from the influence of sports radio and passionate football (soccer) channels.

But make no mistake: the industry is competitive, and finding sustained success in authentic work takes commitment and consistency. Whether you want to start a podcast or beat report for your favorite team, there are no steps to skip in building something that lasts. 

CP The Fanchise joined ESPN’s Bobby Marks, The Ringer’s Howard Beck, The Dunker Spot’s Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr., and other seasoned veterans at Las Vegas Summer League to speak with students about the ins and outs of working in sports, important skills for the industry, networking, and keys to maximizing opportunity. 

If you’re interested in joining the industry or climbing the ladder in sports media, check out these past interviews with CP The Fanchise and other esteemed guests on KFTV, and listen to their stories of how they reached new milestones in their professions.

Independent Content Creation and Building a Brand

Hear from CP The Fanchise himself about how KFTV started and grew over time. 

“Consistency is the thing that I always heard with some of the great performers or the greats in anything that they’re doing. Whether you’re reading the books or you’re listening to them on podcasts, they always talk about keeping it consistent. I said I’m gonna give my all to this thing and just see where it goes, and I’m not gonna stop.”

CP also spoke recently with Ashton Khoorchand of Gen Z Hoops about creating a platform. And in 2022, he recounted the history of KFTV to The Daily Dot. 

Businessman, author, and YouTuber Gary Vaynerchuk (aka Gary Vee) joined KFTV to talk about content creation and share tips for building an audience online. 

“If I’m on LinkedIn and I see something titled ‘Deuce McBride’s Secret to Closing Out on Threes,’ I’m going to watch it because I’m a human being. Or if I see ‘How I Built This Knicks Podcast; Six Steps That Will Get You Growth on Podcasts,’ obviously if I’m on LinkedIn, I’m going to be interested. If you create compelling and relevant content, you’ll stand out and attract attention.”

MMA journalist and die-hard Knicks fan Ariel Helwani recently joined CP The Fanchise to assess the Knicks’ offseason. He also dropped some gems about building a recognizable brand and personality in sports.

“You kind of look around at what everyone else is doing and take a little inspiration from here and there, but you have to be unique. You have to take that inspiration and make it your own. A lot of people get caught up in copying what’s been done before, but the real magic happens when you blend your own ideas with what you’ve learned from others.”

For the authors and classic pen-to-pad writers out there, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Herring has made a few appearances on Knicks Fan TV to talk about ’90s Knicks basketball, as he covers in-depth in his book, “Blood in the Garden.” He spoke about the tedious process of research and writing such rich stories about a beloved era in New York sports.

“Writing this book was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. There were moments of intense focus and others where I felt completely stuck. But the journey has been incredibly rewarding. I found that taking breaks and coming back with a fresh perspective often helped me overcome writer’s block. It’s incredible how a change in scenery or a little time away from the manuscript can spark new ideas and solutions.”

Sports Broadcasting

As the voice of the Knicks and NBA, Mike Breen has been an example of consistently excellent storytelling his entire career. Here, he spoke about his journey to professional commentating, his inspirations, and his process.

“This is what I try and do every broadcast: I want the viewer to feel that I’m prepared, that I know what I’m talking about, I know the teams, I know the players. I want the viewer also to feel like I’m really into it, like, ‘Wow, this guy really loves what he’s doing, and he knows what he’s doing.’ That’s always been important to me. Preparation is the key to everything, and it helps you feel more confident and allows you to react better to the unexpected moments during a game.”

Gus Johnson‘s iconic calls make every moment feel larger. As a play-by-play announcer, his unique approach to basketball and football games has captivated generations of sports fans. On KFTV, he reflected on what has allowed him to stay true to himself in the booth.

“Once you learn the template, you have to create a template for yourself. Once I created the template, I could plug myself into different situations, and then once I became comfortable with the fundamentals, I could adapt and perform well in various scenarios. This approach helped me stay true to my style and maintain consistency regardless of the sport or the level of the game I was calling.”

Sports Commentary

Before ESPN’s Monica McNutt was schooling Stephen A. Smith on First Take, she was already one of Knicks fans’ most reliable sources of sports commentary, not to mention her work in women’s basketball analysis. Her mindset and poise have carried her to one milestone after another as a woman in sports television and radio. She spoke with CP about the motivations behind her achievements.

“I think I’m going after what feels impactful for me as opposed to goals on the list. We’re in a time now where if you have the tools and the wherewithal to do so in this climate, you can kind of chart your own path. I can’t call what the next five years will look like, but I am open and there are a lot of different hats that I enjoy in this space and I’m thankful for that.”

Another MSG Network favorite, Alan Hahn joined Knicks Fan TV to preview the 2023-24 season, a KFTV tradition. He also reflected on his media journey and the roadblocks he had to overcome to develop his skills and gain confidence.

“Listen to yourself. A lot of people, and I was like this too, say ‘I don’t like the sound of my own voice.’ I cringe when I hear myself when they run commercials I do. There’s probably a lot of people right now going, ‘Yeah, I cringe when I hear myself.’ But that’s what you have to do. You have to listen to yourself, and it’s all about reps. It is 10,000 hours, man. The more you do it, the smoother you get.”

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. Subscribe to the newsletter for KFTV content and events, shop discounts, and more at bit.ly/kftvmail. And in case you missed it, check out CP The Fanchise’s interview with longtime Knicks trainer Mike Saunders.

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