Let’s provide the one last thing I need to do for the end of 2011/beginning of 2012. I’ll provide my sports media predictions for 2012. But first, I’ll check my predictions from last year.
Comcast takes over NBC and Starts to merge NBC Sports with Versus/Golf Channel and Comcast SportsNet affiliates
Correct, but this was pretty much a no-brainer.
Comcast’s Deep Pockets Will Help NBC Retain Rights For the Olympics
Another one that was correct. I felt Dick Ebersol would lead the NBC bid, but who could see him leaving the network just a couple of weeks before the NBCUniversal presentation to the International Olympic committee?
The NHL Rights Are Awarded To NBC/Versus, ESPN Decides to Pass
I’ll take half-credit since ESPN actually bid for the games. We now know that NBC/Versus kept the NHL for 10 years.
Vin Scully Announces 2011 Will Be His Last Year
Ok, I was off on this one. I thought for sure Vin would announce his retirement.
The NFL Lockout Happens, But No Games Are Lost
I’ll give myself full credit. Just one preseason game was lost, the Hall of Fame Game, but nothing after that.
The NBA Lockout Happens, and It Wipes Out The Entire Season
This was looking good in November, but when the players started missing their paychecks, they urged for an agreement. I’ll give myself half-credit for the lockout.
3-D TV Sales Continue To Slump, ESPN Decides to End ESPN 3D
I can’t take full credit. In fact, I’ll give myself a zero. While 3-D TV sales aren’t taking off like experts had hoped, ESPN has not pulled the plug on ESPN 3D, but has furthered its commitment to it. Not a fan of 3-D right now. Not in this economy.
MLS Totally Miscalculates Its Value and Pays The Price
Another one in which I was totally off. NBC came in and signed MLS to a handsome fee.
Basically, I was 4-4 on my predictions. Let’s move to 2012. Lots of good stuff coming up for bid this year.
NFL Awards First-Half Thursday Night Football Package to…
NBC Sports Network. Deciding to take games from CBS and Fox as stipulated in the new TV contract starting in 2014, the NFL will put together an 8 game package from Weeks 2-9 and after some spirited bidding between NBC and Turner, go with an existing partner, and award the rights to NBC for $450 million. Not only will it provide NBC Sports with a second announcing team for the NFL, it will also be able to increase viewership and distribution for NBC Sports Network. NFL Network will continue carrying games between Weeks 10 and 16.
Fox is Booted from Major League Baseball
Turner Sports will keep its Sunday afternoon MLB package and will expand its postseason games taking one half of the Wild Card playoffs and the entire Divisional Playoffs. Turner will also keep one League Championship Series.
This next part I’ll admit I stole it from John Ourand of Sports Business Journal. After losing out on the postseason in 2007, ESPN returns taking one half of the Championship Series making the LCS an entirely cable affair. ESPN will take the World Series and air it on ABC. ESPN will continue airing Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball. ABC will have a package of 10-15 Saturday games with no games in September due to college football commitments.
Fox will be ousted from MLB after signing baseball in 1996.
NASCAR Stays With Fox & ESPN, Boots Turner and Signs With NBC
Deciding that Fox does a great job with the first part of its schedule, NASCAR continues with Fox for the Daytona 500 going through Memorial Day. FX will pick up some races from Fox’s schedule. ESPN will continue to carry the Chase for the Sprint Cup. NBC decides to return to NASCAR and will purchase an eight race mid-summer schedule which includes the July 4th race at Daytona and in a surprise, the Brickyard 400 which will end its summer season. ESPN will decide to keep all of its Sprint Cup races on cable. ESPN will split the Nationwide schedule with Speed.
ESPN Keeps the BCS, But Adds a Plus One Game
The BCS is back up for bid this year, but ESPN not wanting to lose the college football championship throws beaucoup dollars to keep it. But it adds a stipulation to do a Plus One game so that after the four BCS bowls, we get a reseeded #1 and #2 and a National Championship game. All BCS games will be played by January 3 so the National Championship Game can be played no later than January 10.
NBC’s Live Olympics Are A Success, But They Still Lose Money
The last Olympics bid under the Dick Ebersol regime will be live on all NBC platforms. However, in primetime they will be delayed as the best highlights of the day’s events will be shown. Even with some good ratings and critical acclaim for showing events live online and through various TV platforms, NBC will still lose money on the Olympics.
Vin Scully Announces His Retirement
I’m going to continue to predict this until Vin actually retires. I want to be the first to predict this corectly. Maybe it won’t happen in 2012, but it has to happen eventually.
ESPN Loses A Heavy Hitter Host and a Long-Time SportsCenter Anchor
I’m going to say that ESPN loses a popular host of one of its daily shows to a rival network. And I’ll also say that a veteran SportsCenter anchor, possibly an original decides to retire. I’m not naming names, and I have no inside information. That’s why this is a predictions post.
A Famous Sideline Reporter Leaves Sports For Entertainment
No, not Erin Andrews. Someone else.
And that will conclude the predictions for 2012. Happy New Year.
