Let’s do some linkage on this MLK Day, a holiday for some of you.
We’ll begin with a story from an unusual source, Newsweek/The Daily Beast. Nick Summers of Newsweek writes about how ESPN’s subscriber fees could force cable providers to place the network on pay tiers.
Michael Hiestand at USA Today reports that CBS wants Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow as a guest analyst for The NFL Today before Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Hiestand delves into the overnight ratings for NFL Divisional Playoffs Sunday.
Mike McCarthy at USA Today notes that several TV analysts and national radio hosts ripped the officiating in yesterday’s New York Giants-Green Bay Packers NFL Divisional Playoff Game.
Ben Grossman at Broadcasting & Cable says filmmaker Peter Berg who’s “On Freddie Roach” series premieres on HBO this week, wants to produce a similar series on Washington State head football coach Mike Leach.
Michael Malone from B&C tells us that Sunbeam-owned TV stations in Boston and Miami were pulled from DirecTV forcing viewers to scramble to find ways to watch yesterday’s NFL action and the Golden Globe Awards.
Alex Weprin at TVNewser says Current TV host Keith Olbermann went to visit MLB Network, which housed his former MSNBC offices and found some interesting mementos.
Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid has video of a Chicago Blackhawks fan professing his love for Comcast SportsNet reporter Sarah Kustok.
Brandon Costa from Sports Video Group looks at how the College of Charleston produces its own basketball telecasts for ESPN3 and local TV affiliates.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell doesn’t like how colleges and universities are restricting their student-athletes from using social media.
The Tennis Times has a video giving us an inside look at the Australian Open Media Day.
Dan Lamothe of the Springfield Republican’s Red Sox Monster blog notes that former NESN Red Sox reporter Heidi Watney returns to New England next month for a charity auction.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the Tim Tebow TV phenomenon.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is not a fan of Daryl “Moose” Johnston.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union notes that the Dial Global/Westwood One broadcasts of the NFL Conference Games will be heard locally.
Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says a local talk show host is heading to Motown.
David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun actually praises CBS’ production of the Houston-Baltimore game.
The Washington Post’s Sally Jenkins conducted the first interview with former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno since the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke.
Sally also answered readers questions on the interview and how she got Paterno to speak with her.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with ESPN tennis analyst Darren Cahill about the Australian Open.
The Tampa Bay Times’ Tom Jones reviews the weekend in sports television.
Also from the Times, Eric Deggans wonders why news anchors were doing promos for a local Monster Truck event.
One more from the Times, Laura Keeley says Florida State fans lined up to be part of ESPN’s College GameDay’s appearance on campus on Saturday.
At the Houston Chronicle, David Barron isn’t a fan of the two minute commercial CBS gave to Subway during The NFL Today postgame show yesterday.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman reports that ESPN has settled a wrongful termination lawsuit put forth by former play-by-play man Ron Franklin.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that the NFL insiders were reporting on possible Packers coaching news yesterday.
In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman looks at the 20th anniversary of sports talk radio in the Windy City with several local personalities.
To the Denver Post where Dusty Saunders talks with CBS’ Jim Nantz about the demise of the Broncos and Tim Tebow on Saturday.
Dawn C. Chmielewski of the Los Angeles Times looks at how ESPN is trying to push 3-D on the unwanting American people.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with ESPN Radio LA host Marcellus Wiley about his acute memory loss and also has his 20th annual bests and worsts in SoCal sports talk radio.
Tom has more with Marcellus in his blog.
Tom also has his SoCal sports calendar for the week.
Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail notes how slow motion has revolutionized sports television.
Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing is echoing what I’ve been saying the last couple of weeks, and that he’s becoming a fan of Joe Buck.
Sports Media Watch also looks at the ratings of the New York Football Giants and Green Bay Packers on Fox.
The Wiz of Odds looks into ESPN allegedly taking credit for a story originally reported by someone outside of the network. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.
Joe Favorito wonders what’s next for Tim Tebow both as a player and as a marketer.
And that will conclude our linkage for today.
