Let’s give you the links for today. I forgot to blog last night, but there really wasn’t earth-shattering breaking news. But I’ll check the media publications to see if there’s anything worth linking to. Usually in the late updates, I’ll go to Multichannel, Broadcasting & Cable, TV Week and the like. I’ll do that today.
The NHL Playoff Schedule has been updated with the times for Saturday.
First, Newsday’s Neil Best says a gambling website is taking wagers on various NFL Network issues. And he says the length of Yankees-Red Sox games is testing his patience. Neil also lists the times of games for Yankees-Red Sox from 2006.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes Comcast is reaching out to NBC Sports veteran producer Michael Weisman to improve the quality of its shows on its various sports networks.
Let’s get some stuff from CNBC’s Darren Rovell who’s been busy blogging this week. First, Darren says Wachovia is the big loser on the PGA Tour as it was banking on Tiger Woods participating in its tournament, but it won’t happen as Tiger will undergo knee surgery and will miss it. Darren explains how you can get NBA season tickets next season for a bargain price of $43. And Darren finds out who will represent Memphis’ Derrick Rose for his NBA contract negotiations.
The Sports Media Watch says while NHL ratings are hardly making a dent nationally, hockey is burning up the ratings in local markets.
And as evidence, Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner says the Washington Capitals are a big hit on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic in both the DC and Baltimore markets.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says the early blowout of the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 of its series with Colorado brought the ratings down for FSN North.
Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that FSN Pittsburgh is trying to meet the demand for more games in HD.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the media quote of the day for Wednesday.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says ESPNU has a new vice president and GM. Reynolds writes in his blog that despite spending over $1 billion a year for Monday Night Football, ESPN did not get a great schedule of games this season.
This story came out on Monday, but I could not link to it as it was done by the John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal and it was formally announced last night on NESN. Well, the Boston Business Journal picks up John’s story about MSG Network teaming with NESN to televise the Little League Baseball New England and Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournaments.
As regional sports networks get more baseball games, we’re hearing more about cable providers not buying into the entire schedule. This has happened with the Seattle Mariners as FSN Northwest has 150 games, but cable companies in Alaska and Idaho have bought just 110 games. One Alaskan cable company has reached a deal with FSN Northwest for the full schedule of Mariners games according to the Anchorage Daily News. Kansas City Royals fans in Nebraska and Kansas are seeing a similar situation with Cox Communications balking at FSN’s price and now we’re hearing about St. Louis Cardinals fans being shortchanged of FSN Midwest’s entire 130 game schedule. Michelle Koetters of the Bloomington (IL) Pentagraph says Comcast has purchased only 110 games leaving fans blacked out of 20 games including tonight’s game against the Brewers. The Peoria (IL) Journal-Star lists the blackouts for the season.
Josh Hoke of the Myrtle Beach (SC) Sun News reports that Peachtree TV has reached an agreement with a local cable provider to put 42 Atlanta Braves games on local TV.
Chris Koseluk of the Hollywood Reporter marks 50 years of the Dodgers in Los Angeles including discussing announcer Vin Scully’s impact on the market and the players who have gone into acting with the team so close to Hollywood.
Awful Announcing has ESPN’s Joe Morgan offering nothing. Again.
Friend of Fang’s Bites, LC of the 38Cliches blog is happy to hear some announcing consistency in the Shaw’s WRKO/WEEI/Entercom Boston Red Sox Radio Network.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that a new viewership survey means good news for TSN and bad news for Rogers Sportsnet.
Debbie Arrington of the Sacramento Bee says the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs will be seen ten times on local television.
That’s all for now. Back later.
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