1831 Media Launches The Crown, a Modern Digital Media Network Celebrating Cincinnati Sports, Business, and Culture
Flagship shows First Word with James Rapien, The Working Lunch with Jack Crumley, The Nat Jones Show, Nat Tries That, The Pitino Show, and Rebound Rundown anchor June 1 debut across broadcast, podcast, YouTube, and social platforms
CINCINNATI, OH — 1831 Media today officially launches The Crown, a modern digital media network created to celebrate the people, teams, businesses, stories, and experiences that make Cincinnati one of the most dynamic cities in the Midwest.
Built for today’s audiences, The Crown will bring Cincinnati-focused programming to viewers and listeners across YouTube, social media, podcasts, broadcast television, and digital platforms. The network is designed to meet audiences wherever they are while shining a consistent spotlight on the energy, pride, ambition, and personality of the region.
The Crown debuts with a flagship lineup that spans sports, business, lifestyle, and culture:
- First Word with James Rapien — Cincinnati’s only sports morning show, bringing fans a daily mix of conversation, analysis, interviews, and perspective on the teams and stories driving the region.
- The Working Lunch with Jack Crumley — a midday show spotlighting Cincinnati’s local business community, featuring the leaders, entrepreneurs, companies, and ideas shaping the region’s growth.
- The Nat Jones Show — a lifestyle and culture show that celebrates Cincinnati through the lens of one of the city’s most beloved personalities, Natalie Jones.
- Nat Tries That — a YouTube and social-focused series following Natalie as she explores, experiences, and tries all things Cincinnati and Midwest, from restaurants and events to local favorites and hidden gems.
- The Pitino Show — a basketball-driven conversation with Xavier head coach Richard Pitino, featuring candid perspective, national guests, and an inside look at the people, stories, and personality surrounding college basketball.
- Rebound Rundown — dedicated coverage of Cincinnati-area college basketball programs, built for the fans who live and breathe the sport.
Programming will be distributed over the air on local television through RESN, across all major podcast platforms, and through livestreams and clips on YouTube and social media. The result is a Cincinnati media network built around modern delivery, authentic voices, and stories that bring people closer to the city.
In addition to its launch programming, The Crown will also develop original storytelling projects, including an upcoming docuseries covering the life and career of FC Cincinnati star Nick Hagglund. The series will offer a deeper look at Hagglund’s journey, his Cincinnati roots, his impact on and off the field, and the connection between one of the city’s most beloved athletes and the community he represents.
“Cincinnati has so much to be proud of right now,” said Anthony Breen, Founder & CEO of Synergistic, Founder & Chairman of 1831 Media. “From our sports teams and business community to our restaurants, neighborhoods, universities, creators, events, and civic momentum, this city has incredible stories happening every day. The Crown was built to help spotlight that energy in a modern way and celebrate the people and moments that make Cincinnati such a special place to live, work, build, and thrive.”
“What we’ve built with The Crown is a modern network—nimble, multi-platform, and obsessed with quality,” said D.J. Hodge, President of 1831 Media. “Every show on this network earned its place. We’re launching with momentum, and we’re just getting started.”
The Crown’s June 1 launch follows a soft rollout phase and positions the network for expanded programming announcements later in 2026, including additional original series, digital content, and community-driven storytelling projects.
About The Crown
The Crown is Cincinnati’s modern digital media network, launching June 1, 2026, on YouTube, RESN, podcast platforms, and across social channels. Home to First Word with James Rapien, The Working Lunch with Jack Crumley, The Nat Jones Show, Nat Tries That, Rebound Rundown with Paul Fritschner, and The Pitino Show with Richard Pitino, The Crown delivers smart, personality-driven content rooted in Cincinnati and built for the way audiences consume media today.
The Crown is the network branch of 1831 Media LLC, the same company that produced The Sean Miller Podcast, ALL IN: The Exclusive Story of the 2024-25 Xavier Musketeers, and Cincinnati’s Open.
Adam Baum, The Crown's Director of Operations, is a former sportswriter for The Cincinnati Enquirer and a former co-host of The Sean Miller Podcast. He was also the Coordinating Producer on the ALL IN docuseries and the Cincinnati's Open docuseries. He enjoys clementines, dogs, and a well-struck golf ball.
