Time to give you your links for today. I’m sure there will be plenty of stuff on the NFL contracting Saturday’s Patriots-Giants game to CBS and NBC. Let’s get to them now.
Darren Rovell of CNBC wonders who will win the ratings battle between CBS and NBC.
Gary Mihoces of USA Today writes about the move by the NFL to bring the game to the masses.
John Dempsey of Variety also has an overview of the simulcast.
John Consoli of Adweek reports on the preparations of CBS, NBC and the NFL Network for airing the Pats-Giants game.
Newsday’s Neil Best has an article about the simulcast including reaction from WWOR in New York which until yesterday, had the exclusive New York rights to air the game and now will have to share the ratings with the CBS and NBC affiliates. Neil also blogs about the story. From the New York Post, Justin Terranova and Rich Calder write that the decision had a trickle-down effect on several issues.
Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe talks about the simulcast from the Boston perspective as well as getting reaction from WCVB which has lost its exclusive rights in the market. Also from the Globe, Shira Springer writes that pressure from fans and legislators got the NFL to make this move. The Boston Herald’s Jay Fitzgerald and Jessica Heslam also discuss the simulcast.
Aaron Sanborn of the Laconia (NH) Citizen says upstate New Hampshire will now not be excluded from seeing the game. Eric Conrad of the Kennebec (ME) Journal is glad the NFL made this move. Andrew Neff of the Bangor (ME) Daily News says Maine residents went from not having the game to having plenty of outlets to watch.
Mark Maske of the Washington Post says the NFL avoided a potential backlash by bringing the game to a wider audience.
Randy Covitz writes in the Kansas City Star about the unprecedented simulcast.
Tom Jicha in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the NFL blinked.
Texas State Senator Kyle Janek writes in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that legislators should not get involved in the NFL Network vs. cable dispute.
Tim Cain of the Herald & Review (IL) compares the Big Ten Network dispute to the Hollywood Writers Strike.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says college bowls will take away TV ratings from the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman talks with college football analyst Pat Haden who liked the sport before the BCS. In his notebook, Bracht has stuff on Fox Sports using former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer during the Fiesta Bowl which pits the Sooners taking on West Virginia. And Bracht has his weekend viewing picks.
Jeff D’Alessio of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the five items ESPN’s Erin Andrews can’t do without on the road.
Brent Hunsberger of the Oregonian writes that the Portland Trail Blazers drew decent ratings locally on Christmas Day.
There you have it for now. Back with more later.
