Time for more megalinks.
National
First, several media writers are amused by the war of words between CBS and ESPN over the most viewed broadband event ever. ESPN claimed 1.1 million people went online to watch the USA-Algeria World Cup match on Wednesday. CBS jumped in by saying, “Not so fast!” It sent out a press release saying the Duke-Butler game had more online views. And early Friday evening, ESPN sent out its reply sticking with its claim and saying CBS’ measurement of online views is rather limited. Stay tuned.
Mike Shields from Mediaweek has a story on the CBS/ESPN sparring.
The Sports Media Watch tells us that the final round of this year’s U.S. Open was up from last year, but down from 2007 and 2008.
The Nielsen Wire blog says the goal that put the United States in the Round of 16 of the World Cup generated plenty of online buzz and messages.
From earlier this week, John Strege of Golf Digest reviewed the U.S. Open and Chris Berman’s performance, calling him “a human vuvuzela.” (Scroll down)
The Big Lead was not impressed with ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage.
Yahoo’s Big League Stew blog has some baseball documentary suggestions for ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes about the CBS/ESPN battle over online views.
Kevin Oklobzija from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle takes us behind the scenes with Golf Channel as it’s in town for the LPGA Championship.
David Farenthold of the Washington Post says MASN will air a year-long public service campaign on cleaning up Chesapeake Bay.
South
Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald writes that veteran announcer Dick Stockton will call Dolphins exhibition games on TV this season.
David Barron in the Houston Chronicle says two local colleges get more TV exposure for football season.
Midwest
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says ESPN’s Outside the Lines will explore drug charges against a Green Bay Packers defensive end.
Phil Rosenthal from the Chicago Tribune has a link to the opening of the new MLB Network reality series on the White Sox.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has his winners and losers in sports business and media.
Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin talks about the ratings for USA-Algeria.
David Briggs from the Columbia Daily Tribune writes that the University of Missouri is pondering its own sports TV network.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the future of a long-time sports radio personality could be in doubt.
The Kansas City Star says ESPN will be in town on Saturday for live shots of fans watching the USA-Ghana World Cup match.
West
Scott D. Pierce from the Deseret (UT) News likes the British announcers on ESPN’s World Cup coverage.
To John Maffei of the North County Times who says Mark Neely who’s calling the San Diego Padres for a short stretch while Dick Enberg is at Wimbledon sounds like he hasn’t missed a beat.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says we’re watching the World Cup especially with the US involved.
Jim talks with TNT’s Kenny “The Jet” Smith.
Canada
Chris Zelkovich from the Toronto Star says ESPN has changed the way we changed sports.
Chris adds a Toronto sports radio station underwent a lot of changes this week.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail also writes about the station’s personnel upheaval.
Dave Fuller from the Toronto Sun talks with the station’s program director about the personnel changes.
And we’ll end it there. Back tomorrow with more linkage and press releases.
