Let’s do some linkage. I couldn’t get to them yesterday as I was racing in between two offices and by the time I got home, I wasn’t in the mood to sift through media links. I’ll do some now and include some Friday stories.
First, USA Today’s Michael Hiestand looks at the old ABC’s Wide World of Sports getting some attention from ESPN next week.
Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal explores the battle over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ media rights between two big media giants.
Ronald Grover and Andy Fixmer of Bloomberg News says the Dodgers’ agreement with Fox for the team’s rights must be approved by MLB.
Stu Hackel of Sports Illustrated says the NHL deal with NBC Sports Group is a win-win for both parties and for fans.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says MSG Network is seeing high ratings for the New York Rangers.
Mike notes that Comcast SportsNet Chicago garnered record ratings for both the Bulls and Blackhawks on Thursday.
Mike says the soon-to-be renamed Versus will really be known as the Home of the NHL under the new NBC Sports Group contract with the league.
Mike reports that on Monday, an FCC Administrative Law Judge will hear the case of Tennis Channel’s carriage complaint against Comcast.
At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Dave Kindred remembers a Virginia sportswriter who gave it all for his paper and his love of Duke basketball.
Cam Martin at SportsNewser notes that the agent of former New York Football Giants running back Tiki Barber knew his media career was doomed from almost the beginning.
Dashiell Bennett at the Business Insider Sports Page has Josh Elliot’s emotional farewell to SportsCenter. Josh heads to become the news reader on Good Morning America.
Cork Gaines of the Business Insider explains why MLB won’t repeal its silly and archaic blackout rules.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell speaks with Ticketmaster’s CEO about bringing dynamic pricing into ticket sales.
Chad Finn from the Boston Globe speaks with Friend of Fang’s Bites Tina Cervasio of MSG Network and Chad also reviews the ratings of the two local sports radio stations.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union wonders if the NHL should have taken less money to get on ESPN.
At Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com takes a look at the Baltimore Orioles’ TV ratings as well as other Baltimore-DC sports media news.
Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner writes that there will be plenty of coverage for Rangers-Caps today.
Patrick Stevens of the Washington Times says Navy jumped at the chance to air its spring football game on CBS Sports Network today.
Dave Poe of the Parkersburg (WV) News and Sentinel notes that ESPN will pick up the annual “Coal Bowl” matchup.
Ken Tysiac of the Charlotte Observer says the college football game formerly known as the “Meineke Car Care Bowl” will get a new sponsor this year.
Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald says ESPN is streamlining its NFL Draft coverage next week.
Creg Stephenson of the Mississippi Press says local Atlanta Braves fans after being able to watch TBS for years, are now scrambling for ways to watch games.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman has some sports media news and notes.
Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says a local sports radio host is leaving the area for a new opportunity elsewhere.
John Kiesewetter from the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that former Reds shortstop and current ESPN analyst Barry Larkin could make his way into the team’s broadcast booth in the future.
John also talks with Barry who jumped ship from MLB Network to ESPN’s Baseball Tonight this season.
Rob Oller at the Columbus Dispatch says TV has changed the spring college football game into big business.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Bucks’ TV ratings fell this season.
Bob says giving Bill Parcells his own pre-NFL Draft show on ESPN could lead to some good television.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his winners and losers in sports media and business.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says despite having throat ailment, Joe Buck continues to call MLB games for Fox.
Jay Posner from the San Diego Union-Tribune says it appears likely that Cox Cable won’t be airing Padres games after this season.
John Maffei of the North County Times reports that Fox Sports Net appears to have won the Padres’ TV rights although nothing is official.
John says the NFL lockout has put the Draft into an bigger spotlight.
Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star is not a fan of the NFL Draft.
Jim talks about the NHL landing big money in its new TV contract.
Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times looks at Fox and Time Warner Cable fighting over the Dodgers’ media rights.
Diane Pucin of the Times goes into detail on Fox’s personal $30 million loan to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt that led MLB to take control of the team.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says ESPN’s Jon Gruden is showing himself to be a deft developer of young quarterbacks.
Tom goes over the week in sports media.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that those bidding for the US rights to the NHL took losing Phoenix into account.
At Puck The Media, Steve Lepore has the most watched NHL Playoff games on Versus through the first week of play.
And that’s going to do it for links today. I might be back with some press release posts throughout the day.
