Since I had to cut the Tuesday links short, I’m going to add some linkage this evening.
After I finished the links, the big story was the revelation from the Sports Media & Technology Conference in New York today that the combined CBS/Turner team for the 2011 NCAA Tournament will include TNT’s NBA announcers including Marv Albert, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.
Marv used to call college basketball on NBC including the NCAA Tournament until 1981 when it lost to the rights to CBS. He continued calling college hoops on NBC, most notably with the late Al McGuire until 1991 when the Peacock obtained the rights to the NBA.
The Associated Press was on hand and gave us this story on TNT’s NBA crews teaming with CBS’ familiar announcers for the tournament.
Sports Business Daily says CBS and Turner will combine for a whole new look for the Tournament.
Royce Young at CBSSports.com looks forward to seeing TNT’s announcers on the NCAA Tournament.
Noted writer Dan Shanoff writes a guest column for CNBC’s Darren Rovell on his reaction to seeing TNT’s announcers during the Big Dance.
In Press Coverage, Dan Levy doesn’t share the optimism of having Charles Barkley on the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA.com provides an interview with Tournament chair Gene Smith about the changes in this season’s Big Dance plus what we might see with the new CBS/Turner entity.
I’m sure we’ll have more reaction from other sports media writers on this story on Wednesday. Let’s move to other stories now.
Eric Deggans from the St. Petersburg Times writing at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center has some suggestions for CBS on its proposed sitcom based on ESPN Radio Hack Colon Cowherd.
The Big Lead speculates on how Cowherd got his sitcom deal.
Fox Sports’ Brian Lowry says the BCS makes for plenty of hot air among college football analysts.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks with one of Michael Vick’s creditors.
James Hibberd from the Hollywood Reporter notes that AMC is looking at doing a docudrama series on boxing based at trainer Freddie Roach’s gym.
John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable has News Corp. President Chase Carey warning Congress that a change in retransmission laws could have big ticket sports events moving from broadcast to cable TV.
Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News talks about the viewership for Monday Night Football.
To Mediaweek where Anthony Crupi notes that ESPN’s Monday Night Football held off AMC’s The Walking Dead for most watched program on cable.
Wayne Friedman over at Mediapost says football on NBC and Fox really killed in the ratings on Sunday.
Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel recaps Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross’ comments at the Sports Media & Technology conference including those regarding the NFL Network possibly gaining carriage on Time Warner Cable.
Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times says ESPN’s Jon Gruden will join Mike Tirico in calling the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Steve Moss from WKYT-TV in Lexington, KY notes that Jacksonville and Cincinnati are in danger of being blacked from NFL home games on Sunday.
John Kiesewetter at the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that the local CBS affiliate is blowing out the network primetime lineup on Saturday to pick up Bearcats football.
John says an N-bomb was dropped on a live local sports show.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic got on Wisconsin for running up the score on Indiana last Saturday.
Sports Media Watch talks with IndyCar’s CEO about the sport’s future and its relationship with Versus.
SMW says Sunday Night Football’s ratings were down from Week 10 last year.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that the premiere episode of NHL Overtime on Versus finished well below “The Daily Line” levels which is not good.
The MLS Talk blog has a good explanation on how ESPN’s ratings for MLS are down across the board this season.
Jason Clinkscales of A Sports Scribe speaks with Mia Jackson of the Sideline Pass site.
And that will do it for the night linkage.
