Virginia Area Getting Its Own Sports Betting TV Show: By The Book

Written By Dann Stupp on April 5, 2021

By the Book, a new national sports betting show from Monumental Sports & Entertainment, has chosen Washington, DC and the DMV area as its home base.

Introducing the inaugural MSE sports-betting program, a groundbreaking initiative by a DC-based company that holds ownership of six esteemed professional franchises such as the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics. Additionally, the company boasts ownership of four top-notch venues, including the renowned Capital One Arena in DC, in collaboration with the esteemed William Hill sportsbook.

Officials have launched By the Book in response to the high demand for sports betting nationwide. The program is taking advantage of the recent legalization of sports betting in DC and Virginia, with plans to expand to Maryland in the near future.

DC sports fans will recognize three familiar voices on the show, which debuted last week.

By the Book time and schedule

By the Book airs:

  • On Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the hours between 5 and 7 p.m. are allocated for an activity.
  • On both Saturday and Sunday, the hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to noon.

The show will permanently move to Capital One Arena in the upcoming weeks. It will be situated in a cutting-edge broadcast studio, specifically built within the William Hill sportsbook retail space at the arena.

You can catch the action on MSE’s Monumental Sports Network, a direct-to-consumer platform known as an over-the-top (OTT) service.

You can catch the initial half-hour of “By the Book” on MSE Twitter through livestream. To access the complete two-hour episodes, head over to the MSE website or mobile app. Furthermore, you can find the entire show’s audio on all major podcast platforms.

Take a sneak peek at Monday’s show. By the Book goes the extra mile by providing video resources for every episode.

MSE officials anticipate releasing announcements regarding wider distribution agreements for the show in the near future.

By the Book’ hosts include DC sports notables

“By the Book” is hosted by Michael Jenkins, a seasoned DC broadcaster. Joining him as cohosts are:

  • Meghan McPeak is the play-by-play announcer for both the Washington Mystics and the Capital City Go-Go, which is the G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards.
  • Monica McNutt is a well-known host and analyst who has worked with various networks including MSN Networks, ESPN, ACC Network, and FS1.

Jenkins, who formerly hosted The Daily Line on NBC Sports, expressed his long-standing fascination with sports betting. He acknowledged that it took a considerable amount of time for it to become widely accepted and for the market to align with the growing interest. Witnessing this development finally occur is exhilarating for him. On a personal level, he aspires for his platform to become a go-to destination for sports bettors, offering innovative analysis and up-to-date information.

If I were asked about the show’s content, I would describe it as a combination of informative sports betting analysis and enjoyable entertainment.

Jenkins believes that viewers will pick up on the familiarity and affection between him and his cohosts on By the Book.

He expressed his delight in working with both Meghan and Monica, emphasizing that there is a remarkable amount of chemistry between them that is truly authentic. The genuine love they have for working together is evident, and being able to collaborate with people they admire greatly adds to the fantastic feeling of being involved in this show. He genuinely believes that both Meghan and Monica are exceptional individuals.

MSE’s early embrace of sports betting

Despite the challenges faced in the sports betting market of Washington, DC, William Hill has managed to excel through its MSE partnership in the nation’s capital.

GambetDC, the sports-betting product endorsed by the DC Lottery, holds a dominant position in the market. Nonetheless, in 2020, MSE achieved a groundbreaking agreement in the United States, forming a partnership between a sports enterprise and a sportsbook operator. Consequently, William Hill currently runs a brick-and-mortar sportsbook and a partially online platform within the premises of the Capital One Arena.

Despite the law’s limited impact, MSE and William Hill currently dominate 75% of the DC sports betting market.

“By the Book” is an expansion of MSE’s dedication to sports betting, according to Zach Leonsis, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

“Monumental Sports & Entertainment has always been a leading advocate for increased transparency, oversight, regulation, and legislation within the sports betting industry, with the aim of upholding the integrity of all sports. As a result, the market has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the number of fans engaging in legal betting. In response to this, we are excited to introduce ‘By the Book’, a platform that offers valuable insights and dynamic discussions tailored to both novice bettors and experienced gamers.”

Photo by Yuriy Chaban | Dreamstime.com
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Dann Stupp

Living in Lexington, Virginia, Dann Stupp is an experienced sports journalist with an extensive background in writing and editing for various renowned outlets such as The Athletic, USA Today, ESPN, and MLB.com.

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