Brand Publishing Briefing: Penn-owned Barstool courts controversy, and the brand podcasting boom that isn’t

When Penn Entertainment bought Barstool Sports, it gained a large audience, a beloved media brand, and Barstool’s numerous personalities. It also got, per an analysis published last week, some controversy on the side. Penn is learning what it means to own a media brand, particularly one that employs people who often say things that might run afoul of state regulations. One example was afforded last week, when a tweet from Barstool Sportsbook showed Dan “Big Cat” Katz, a key personality at the company, hitting a table with a baseball bat. People on social media criticized Barstool for promoting violence, irresponsible messaging, and so on, going as far as to report it to the National Council of Problem Gaming.  Brands operating in highly regulated and potentially controvers