Lots of things to get to today. I hope to get everything in during one long linkfest, but if I can’t, I’ll try to do it in multiple parts.
We begin with USA Today’s Mike McCarthy who says despite the ratings being down for the Rose and Fiesta Bowls as ESPN takes over the games from ABC and Fox, respectively, the viewership was actually right at the same level from last year, which suits ESPN just fine.
Mike talks with ESPN’s Jeannine Edwards who clarifies the story that SportsbyBrooks had this weekend over her confrontation with Ron Franklin before last week’s Chick-Fil-A Bowl. If you don’t know, Franklin apparently called Edwards “asshole” after first sarcastically calling her “Sweet Baby.” Franklin was then removed from his next assignment, the Fiesta Bowl on ESPN Radio which he would have worked with Edwards. And this isn’t the first time Franklin has had an incident with a female sideline reporter, getting demoted after the 2005 following an on-air incident with Holly Rowe.
James O’Brien at Pro Hockey Talk says the NHL Winter Classic is the most watched NHL regular season game since 1975!
Sports Business Daily wraps up the media reaction to the Winter Classic.
At Sports Business Journal, Terry Lefton and John Ourand speak with several sports industry executives about what they foresee for sports in 2011.
Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy looks at NBC’s high flying cameras utilized at the Winter Classic.
Bob’s Blitz has the video of ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Hannah Storm celebrating the firing of Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini during SportsCenter this morning. It has to be seen to be believed.
Kimberly Nordyke of the Hollywood Reporter notes that the Rose Bowl ratings being down from last year being on ESPN as compared to ABC, but the game still set a cable viewing record.
Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable says a West Palm Beach, FL sports radio station which has been producing a nightly sportscast for the local NBC affiliate, now adds the local Fox TV station to its portfolio.
R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News writes that the WWE is bringing back its “Tough Enough” reality series to USA Network.
Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing gets a coup and interviews Screamin’ Gus Johnson.
The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir says the Rose and Fiesta Bowl’s ratings may have been down from last year when they were on broadcast TV, but they set records for ESPN on cable.
Newsday’s Neil Best has some random thoughts regarding the sports weekend on TV.
Being interrupted. Check this space for more links later in the day.
UPDATE, 4:45 p.m.: Time for some more linkage now.
USA Today’s Mike McCarthy has ESPN’s Ron Franklin apologizing for his actions regarding Jeannine Edwards from last week.
ABC News is reporting that two former New York Jets message therapists will be filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Brett Favre.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh has plenty of leverage for his next job.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Golf Channel is looking for higher ratings in 2011.
Nick Bromberg of Yahoo’s From the Marbles blog notes that ratings all but five NASCAR Sprint Cup races fell in 2010.
Wayne Friedman of MediaPost notes that while TV manufacturers are rushing out 3-D TV’s on the market, consumers aren’t rushing out to buy them.
The Schenectady Gazette’s Ken Schott was not impressed with the debut of a new talk show earlier today.
Ken says the move of the NHL Winter Classic to primetime due to rain turned out to be a good one for NBC.
Evan Weiner from the New Jersey Newsroom says the four major sports leagues face some very interesting times in 2011.
Laura Nachman says the Philadelphia NBC affiliate has a new news reporter who can do sports.
Dan Stefano of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the Penguins are sad to see HBO’s cameras go.
Karen Price of the Tribune-Review writes that the NHL Winter Classic is a true ratings hit.
Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Steel City’s new ESPN Radio affiliate started broadcasting today.
David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says CBS aired too many promos during the Bengals-Ravens game on Sunday.
Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog goes inside DC’s ratings for the NHL Winter Classic.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner also talks about the NHL Winter Classic’s ratings.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has a look at a busy weekend in TV sports.
Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News has the Metroplex’s rating for the Rose Bowl.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes about former local sports anchor Chris Wragge who is now hosting CBS’ The Early Show.
Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Packers pulled a big rating on Sunday.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business is predicting labor strife in 2011.
LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says Fox Sports North takes a three part inside look at the area’s sports teams.
Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post says ESPN has made Monday Night Football into a cable ratings giant.
John Henderson of the Post writes that the BCS has ruined the tradition of watching bowl games on New Year’s Day and I’ll agree with this. No juice for college football anymore.
Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune notes that the Utah Jazz’s TV ratings are way up this season.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the peace between Canadian media giants Rogers Communications and Bell Globalmedia is going to be tested this year.
Sports Media Watch says Fox Sports finished the NFL regular season on an up note.
SMW notes that NBC had its best overnight ratings for an NFL season finale.
But Paulsen tells us that CBS’ ratings for its final NFL doubleheader of the season finished down from last season.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media reports that Versus will pick up the NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft later this month.
And that’s where we’ll end it for today.
