As I continue to be in a holding pattern on whether this site will stay on its current server or have to make another move, I’ll keep doing what I do and that’s provide the best in sports media information to you. Let’s do your links while I can.
Starting with USA Today’s Michael Hiestand, he says despite some sloppy football, the NFL Conference Championship Games did lead to some good television.
Some stories from Sports Business Journal now.
Michael Smith and John Ourand report that Time Warner Cable is looking to get a stake in the new ESPN/Longhorn network.
John writes that Verizon’s 2008 deal to carry NFL Network may be hurting the channel’s chances of gaining access on three of cable’s biggest providers.
Daniel Kaplan says thanks to its marketing arm, the NFL Players Association has quietly built up a revenue war chest in case of a lockout later this year.
Now that we know who’s playing in the Super Bowl in two weeks, we now focus on coverage of The Big Game and the ads you’ll be seeing. Mediaweek provides a timeline on the evolution of Super Bowl ads from I through XLIV.
Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says CBS/Showtime has apparently acquired the rights to the anticipated Manny Pacquaio-“Sugar” Shane Mosley fight, surprising HBO.
David Cohen of WebNewser notes that ESPN and Microsoft’s Bing search engine are teaming up to produce online content and TV segments geared for the Super Bowl.
Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has the video of NFL GameDay’s prognostications where analysts sucked helium. Literally sucked helium.
At MediaPost, David Goetzl laments the disappearance of the local sports anchor.
Russell Adams of the Wall Street Journal notes that the New York Times is about to build a dreaded paywall to its site, leaving some areas free to all.
From the Daily Mail in the UK, there’s controversy surrounding English Premier League announcers Andy Gray (who’s done work on ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel here) and Richard Keys over some off-air sexist remarks regarding a female linesperson and a female EPL executive.
All Access says a Bay Area sports radio host is leaving his weekend show to focus solely on TV.
Jim Wolfe from the Greenwich (CT) Citizen says a Golf Channel host returns home this week.
At the New York Post, Phil Mushnick gets on Fox while praising CBS for their Conference Game coverage.
David Templeton of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says while Steelers fans were celebrating yesterday’s AFC Championship, they also took time to remember late radio announcer Myron Cope who died two years ago.
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times shares his thoughts on the weekend on TV.
Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel wonders if the ESPN/University of Texas deal is bad for college sports.
Pete Alfano of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that ESPN has begun building its Super Bowl set in town.
David Barron in the Houston Chronicle shares an e-mail he received from Dick Enberg in regards to the historic UCLA-Houston college basketball game.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Indians have announced their TV and radio plans for the 2011 season.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviews Fox’s efforts for the NFC Championship Game.
Bob says Packers-Bears received an astounding local overnight rating.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has the local NFC Championship ratings (scroll down) and says the Windy City lost a bunch of great opportunities with the Bears losing yesterday.
Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post feels Fox’s Troy Aikman got the job done during the NFC Championship.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the Southern California sports calendar for this week.
Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that the NHL TV partners are hypocritical when it comes to denouncing head shots.
Toronto Sports Media takes a look at the recent changes in local sports reporting.
John Daly from the Daly Planet has a NASCAR TV Bill of Rights for the sport’s TV partners.
From Puck The Media, Steve Lepore feels NBC should break up the silliness between Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury in between the periods of its NHL broadcasts.
Steve shows us how Chicago goalie Marty Turco mocked Pierre McGuire yesterday.
And Steve summarizes two weeks of comparing NHL Network’s NHL on the Fly to Versus’ NHL Overtime.
Bob’s Blitz has Ashley Madison’s Super Bowl spot that was allegedly rejected by Fox.
Deadspin (through CNBC’s Darren Rovell) notes an error by a Louisville TV station in regards to New York.
I think that’s where we’ll end it for today.
