I’ll provide some links now. I was surfing around to see if there was any word on where the BCS was going. Apparently, it’s ESPN’s to lose at this point.
Starting with USA Today’s Michael McCarthy, he says during last night’s 60 Minutes program, President-elect Barack Obama once again advocated for an 8 team college football playoff. Not a bad idea if you ask me.
John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal writes about the increasing amount of events going to cable and that could include the Bowl Championship Series. A very telling quote in the story comes from a senior ESPN executive who asked not to be identified.
“It is a nice old-fashioned notion that you need your championship on broadcast,” said a senior ESPN executive, who asked not to be identified due to contractual issues with various leagues,
I think that pretty much says it all. Can we expect ESPN, Turner or even Fox to put marquee events on their cable channels? I would say it’s inevitable at this point.
Now some more stories from the SBJ for you.
Steve Bilafer writes that the role of the wire services like the Associated Press will only get bigger as newspapers cut their sports staffs.
SBJ Research Director David Broughton says Taco Bell’s name recognition as an MLB sponsor increased, but other partners actually lost ground.
Don Muret reports that the New Orleans Saints are talking about extending their lease at the Superdome and looking into various renovations.
The SBJ also looks at the role of social networking in sports. Eric Fisher writes about the growth of social networking.
Here are the five people the SBJ feels you should know in social networking. Yes, Facebook and MySpace are there.
Steve Donohue says the TV networks are trying to find ways to interact with their viewers.
And Eric Fisher writes that websites are looking for new ways to offer fantasy sports.
Thanks to the fine people at the Sports Business Journal for opening their site every Monday.
To other sites now. Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that formerly recession-proof sports like the NFL and NASCAR are now feeling the pinch of the slowing economy.
Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel is guest blogging for CNBC’s Darren Rovell and she talks about the new breed of NASCAR owner.
Joe Favorito says the Baltimore Ravens took advantage of their trip to New York to look for new sponsorship opportunities.
Newsday’s Neil Best goes over the Steelers-Chargers game and says CBS’ Jim Nantz gave a cryptic shout out to gamblers. And Neil says the officials had trouble determining exactly what happened at the end of the game.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says Nantz knew exactly what was the meaning of an 11-10 final.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick is really grumpy today.
The excellent 700 Level Philadelphia sports blog has an interview with another former newspaper reporter who has gone online. This one is with former Inquirer Flyers beat writer Tim Panaccio who now writes for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s site.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has quotage from the network TV NFL pregame shows.
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times enjoyed watching College Gameday’s visit to Tallahassee on Saturday.
The Oklahoman says College Gameday is heading for Norman, OK this weekend.
Christopher Byrne’s Eye on Sports Media blog finds out what exactly Canadian hockey broadcasters are wearing on their lapels. I knew the answer, but I’m always glad to read about it. And Chris recommends some hockey websites for you to visit.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News has some observations of the Washington-Dallas Sunday Night Football game. And Barry also lobbies for a college football playoff.
Dusty Saunders at the Rocky Mountain News opines that ESPN is flexing its financial muscle.
John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News reviews Sunday’s NFL action on TV including the Rams-49ers game on Fox.
Steve Collins of the Bristol (CT) Press reports that ESPN is building a day care center that will house 240 (!!!!!) of its employees children.
That’s going to do it for now.
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