We can give you a few links for tonight before signing off for the day.
First, Neil Best of Newsday may be on vacation, but that doesn’t stop him from blogging. First, he has some NFL news including the ratings from Sunday’s Pats-Colts game. And Neil went to an NFL Network luncheon where he talked with Bryant Gumbel who will go into his second year of play-by play for the channel.
Aaron Kuriloff and Larry DiTore of Bloomberg News report that the Patriots-Colts game on Sunday was the highest rated NFL regular season game since 1987. Greg Johnson of the Los Angeles Times has another version the story. John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable writes that based on the ratings from this week, NBC and the NFL have chosen the Patriots-Bills for Sunday Night Football in Week 11.
Ben Klayman of the Reuters news service has a story on the NFL team owners remaining committed to the NFL Network even though big cable is still resisting carrying the channel. The Sporting News’ Steve Greenberg talks with the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen.
Do you want some quotes from Sunday night’s Football Night in America show on NBC? Sure you do. Here they are.
Next, the Sports Media Watch reports that NASCAR ratings fell again this week, which is not encouraging for ESPN/ABC.
In his Medium Well blog, Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun reviews the weekend on TV. And Frager has a piece on his near-death experience. Pretty compelling.
The Shreveport (LA) Times reports that CBS will pick up the LSU-Mississippi game on November 17. The Lafayette (IN) Courier-Journal reports that the Purdue-Indiana game on that day will either be on ESPN or the Big Ten Network.
The Chicago Blackhawks have announced a package of 7 home games to be televised by Comcast SportsNet Chicago. The Chicago Daily Herald has the dates. Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune adds that it’s possible that an over the air TV partner may be signed for next season. Crain’s Chicago Business News says some more home games could be added down the line for this season. And here’s the official announcement by the Blackhawks.
ESPN wants you to know that Kenny Mayne takes over the “Outtakes” column in ESPN the Magazine and Kenny’s first interview will be with his predecessor, Dan Patrick.
I think that will do it. Back tomorrow.
