Sam Panayotovich returns to Chicago, joins Fox 32 sports
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Cassie Carlson (L) welcomes Sam Panayotovich to the Fox 32 team. Photo: Courtesy of Sam Panayotovich
Chicago sports reporter Sam Panayotovich is returning home, joining Fox 32's revamped sports department after four years covering Boston sports for NESN.
Why it matters: Panayotovich's hire emphasizes Fox 32's goal of having a stronger digital presence in Chicago sports coverage.
The big picture: In 2020, Panayotovich, a Mt. Carmel graduate, left WGN Radio for a gig at NESN, where he covered Boston sports and developed his on-camera television experience.
- He was also a sports betting analyst at Fox Sports.
What they're saying: "I was always the radio guy that went on TV as a guest, but working at NESN really helped me gain an understanding of how the sausage gets made," Panayotovich tells Axios.
- He's now returned to Chicago as a reporter and sports anchor across Fox 32's broadcast and streaming platforms. He began on June 8.
Zoom in: Panayotovich joins newly hired lead sports anchor Cassie Carlson as Fox 32 rebuilds its sports department. Carlson replaced longtime sports director Lou Canellis, who left for NBC 5 earlier this year.
- The Fox 32 sports team will continue its coverage of the Bears next season, including Bears pregame and postgame coverage, along with standalone football shows for broadcast and streaming.
State of play: Panayotovich will appear on Fox 32 newscasts but says he's especially excited about building the station's digital sports coverage.
- "The Fox Chicago YouTube has half a million subscribers, and we're trying to hit people on the phone," he tells Axios. "Our boss really believes in multiple media, and we're doing a lot of really cool stuff digitally."
Case in point: One of Panayotovich's first story pitches was the annual Papa Hops 16-inch softball tournament, now in its 12th year and drawing thousands of fans to parks across Mt. Greenwood, Beverly and the Southwest Side.
- He'll stream live from the tournament on July 10.
The bottom line: As local TV stations look beyond traditional sportscasts, Fox 32 is betting on digital-first coverage and bringing home a Chicago sports voice to help.
- "It's all that I ever wanted. To be here, talking sports," Panayotovich adds.