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10 Questions with ... Mo Davenport
February 19, 2008
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NAME:Mo DavenportTITLE:Senior Vice President and General ManagerNETWORK:ESPN RadioMARKET:NationalCOMPANY:ESPNBORN:Warren, OhioRAISED:Michigan
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Western Michigan University; Account Executive, WQLR/Kalamazoo, 1979-81; ABC Sports, 1982-85; ESPN, 1985-present (Associate Producer, 1985-86; Producer, 1986-88; Coordinatine Producer, 1988-96; Senior Coordinating Producer, 1996-2006; VP, Remote Production, 2006-07; SVP/GM, ESPN Radip, 2007-present). Worked on launch of ESPN HD; two-time Emmy winner for work on animation and technology (on the "1st and 10" line); #95 on Sports Illustrated's 2003 list of most powerful minorities in sports; 1999 Outstanding TV Sports Executive, All-American Football Foundation.
1. You started in radio sales but then spent a long time producing ESPN TV event coverage. Now that you're back on the radio side, what do you see as radio's strengths -- what does ESPN Radio provide to the overall ESPN entity?
I have really transitioned from producing the content of games to producing Radio content. Radio encompasses many of the same elements as TV production: Planning, Storytelling, Theatre of the Mind. ESPN Audio provides yet another source/outlet for great coverage, stories and games for the overall ESPN brand.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
I am most passionate about running a division at ESPN as well as working to grow ESPN Audio to world class.
3. Sports radio, outside the largest markets, is predominantly the province of nationally syndicated programming. Do you think that sports in general has become less localized -- has national cable sports coverage diluted the local element, placing, say, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, or Dallas Cowboys fans everywhere and making nationally oriented sports talk more viable? As one of the leading figures in national sports radio, where do you see local sports radio going?
I think that if you are a fan of a Midwest team and then you move to the East coast, you will still love following that Midwest Team. Based on research our fan base continues to grow and there will always be a passion for "hometown" teams. There is a certain pride that comes with a hometown team that I don't think fans will ever lose. Local sports Radio will continue to grow.
4. Play futurist for a moment -- how important do you foresee newer technologies like podcasting and streaming being to ESPN Radio's business within the next, say, ten years? When do you think, if ever, that alternate delivery forms will be monetized to any great extent? What's the potential? And what does this mean for the local stations that air ESPN material?
The consumer really dictates where they want their content. Whether it is on their cell phones while they are on a train or on their computers while they are sitting at their desks. ESPN Audio intends to follow the same philosophy as ESPN whereby the goal is to deliver news and stories to our fans, anywhere, anyplace.
5. What makes a good sports radio show, to your ears?
Engaging content, personality driven, compelling guests, funny & entertaining, storytelling, unexpected content.
6. Of what are you most proud?
The fact that I am a family guy working for a terrific company.
7. Of all the events you worked on for ESPN and ABC over the years, what was the most memorable moment?
There are far too many for me to name them all. Like children, you want to make sure that you don't leave any out! To name just a few - Jack Nicklaus at the 2000 British Open and Lance Armstrong winning the Tour De France.
8. Who are your heroes?
My Mom
Muhammad Ali
Traug Keller9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________/
...reading the local paper and the New York Times.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Best : As you climb the career ladder always remember that the people you step on on your way up, may end up being the same people you work for on the way down.
Worst: "Be patient and things will happen for you." The truth is that you have to make things happen. You are in charge.
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