How Joe Fortenbaugh Turned a Passion For Wagering Into an Expanding ESPN Career

Fortenbaugh said his goal was to network with the top handicappers and bookmakers in “Sin City” to gain a foothold in the sports betting industry. Over time, he developed relationships and an education that he still considers invaluable.

Evolving From Radio to TV

However, his passion for sports radio became his first step toward building a career in a blossoming sports media industry.

“I love radio. It’s my heart and soul,” notes Fortenbaugh. “The skillset that I gained from radio to transition to television was invaluable. Anyone who’s thinking about working in television should start a podcast and try crafting content for 45 straight minutes as reps.”

Before arriving at ESPN, Fortenbaugh was a fixture on Audacy’s 95.7 The Game in San Francisco for six years. That experience included three NBA championships for the Golden State Warriors. Which brought a spotlight to Fortenbaugh as the morning voice of the Warriors’ flagship radio station.

He believes his radio background made the transition to television easier. The reason why is it taught him how to condense content for time. However, Fortenbaugh says he wasn’t ready for how his growing network role would include hosting major studio shows like Get Up and First Take.

“The big transition was when they started to ask me to host shows. I had no experience with that on the TV side,” said Fortenbaugh. “At first there was all this terminology. I had no idea what I was doing or what to do to navigate hosting these shows. I felt like I was constantly keeping my head above water. Trying not to screw it up. Rather than being in a calm spot to let your personality shine and have fun.”

Fortenbaugh credits the consistent coaching he continues to receive from ESPN production staff and the hosts he fills in for on these programs.

“The key is to pay attention. I’ve learned more working here and watching these people apply their craft than anything I learned at Penn State or law school,” said Fortenbaugh. “The greatest gift I’ve had working for ESPN is that they’ve used me in so many different departments and shows. I’ve gotten to work with so many amazing people. All I can do is pay attention, and then figure out how to get better as a result.”

A Return to Radio?

During his tenure at ESPN, Fortenbaugh couldn’t leave his love of radio forever. Over a four-year period, he shared a timeslot on ESPN Radio with the likes of Amber Wilson, Chris Carlin, and Q Myers. However, when ESPN Radio announced the addition of The Rich Eisen Show to the weekday lineup, Fortenbaugh departed to focus more on his trajectory in television.

When asked if he could return to his love for radio, Fortenbaugh didn’t dismiss the idea.

“If there is an opportunity, absolutely. However the schedule fits. There are so many moving parts with ESPN. However I can best serve the company is where I want to be,” says Fortenbaugh. “If I really want to do radio but the company says they’d rather have me somewhere else, I’m going to get upset about that… I enjoy exploring the conversation.”

Betting on Balance

While ESPN and other networks navigate the balance of inserting sports betting content into programming, Fortenbaugh believes ESPN currently maintains a healthy approach. He says network producers and executives have made significant strides in understanding the space, but the goal for presentation isn’t to overwhelm audiences with metrics.

For Fortenbaugh, his method relies on a unique combination when preparing selections for air.

“A combination of metrics and psychology is what I use. Then ultimately, where are you finding a good price? Is there a price that you can exploit?” said Fortenbaugh. “We were trying to strike a balance early on, and I think we’ve done a good job of this. Don’t overcomplicate it for the audience. There’s a sharp, sophisticated audience that looks at what we do and feels it might be a little rudimentary. We’re not going after that audience. We’re trying to relate to new and casual bettors to put them in a position where they might find some plus bets.”

As part of that content strategy, authenticity also plays a major role. Every wager that Fortenbaugh suggests is one he backs with his own money. Additionally, he leans on production staff to help determine which games matter most to the audience, allowing him to tailor selections accordingly.

“We’ll find the balance where the best bets are getting out there. But if we’re focusing on a big game that means a lot to the audience, we’ll do that,” explained Fortenbaugh. “We’ll find a way to get some of my best bets in, but this is a television product we’re putting out. It’s about serving the customer as best we can.”

As Fortenbaugh’s profile continues to expand with added hosting opportunities and new experiences such as his weekend at Churchill Downs, he remains excited about what lies ahead. What began as a strategic move to build connections within the sports betting space has evolved into a defining role at ESPN, meeting the demands of a growing audience for wagering content.

In many ways, Fortenbaugh’s journey mirrors the very bets he encourages viewers to make. They are informed, calculated, and rooted in a willingness to embrace uncertainty.

From arriving in Las Vegas with nothing but ambition to stepping onto the grounds of Churchill Downs with a fresh perspective, Fortenbaugh’s career has been built on preparation meeting opportunity.

And in this business, that might be the smartest bet of all.

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John Mamola

John Mamola

John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.

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