You might be wondering why I’m thanking Chris Pursell. He’s the Deputy Editor of TV Week and has just recently started a blog on the sports media. I’ve linked to him since he began his “Pressbox” blog and he has linked to this site in his latest entry defending the right of Tiki Barber to state his opinions on NBC regarding his former team. I thank him for the kind words and I welcome those of you who are visiting Fang’s Bites for the first time. I hope you enjoy your visit here. And if you notice my ever-growing links on the right, Chris’ blog has been added. He’s had good interviews with some of the sports TV industry’s heavy hitters. Once again, the kind words from him are much appreciated.
Ok, to the other links for today.
ESPN Ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber looks at the good, bad and the ugly in the network’s Michael Vick coverage.
Richard Sandomir in today’s New York Times reports that Harold Reynolds alleges that race played a role in his firing from ESPN.
In his Farther Off the Wall blog, the LA Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth has an extensive media notes entry which includes stuff on NBC’s Football Night in America, Monday Night Football and the lack of availability for the Versus channel which picks up the BYU-UCLA game later today.
The Sports Media Watch blog notes that Thursday’s NFL season opener on NBC was down slightly from last year, but still won the night. The site also gives its usual weekend ratings predictions.
Even though the NFL game between Indianapolis and New Orleans was down in the ratings compared to last year, it still gave NBC a big win in the key demographics.
Newsday’s Neil Best had a column in the can while he’s on vacay and his latest one is on Kenny Albert who’s about to enter his 14th NFL season on Fox. 14th?
The Grands Rapids Press says viewers are beginning to find more options to get the Big Ten Network. Bill Livingston of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Big Ten Network is forcing people to use their imaginations when it comes to games. What? Ron Greeson of the Daily Advocate (OH) says there’s no progress in talks between BTN and Time Warner Cable. John Jarvis of the Lancaster (OH) Eagle-Gazette writes that bars and restaurants with satellite dishes are benefiting from the BTN-Time Warner dispute. Jeff Richgels of the Capital Times (WI) writes that there’s still no progress with Charter Communications as well. And from the San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Garcia writes that BTN gained some more viewers thanks to its deal with Dish Network.
The Dallas Morning News’ Barry Horn looks at the increased amount of personnel in the NFL studio shows on CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a story on Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer premiering the Grumpy Old Coaches segment on Fox NFL Sunday.
David Scott of the Boston Sports Media Watch looked at a 5 p.m. Friday “special announcement” made on WEEI which turned out to be much ado about nothing. Nothing new on the Dennis & Callahan front by the way.
In his Four DVR’s, no waiting blog at the Houston Chronicle site, David Barron talks about one victim in the city’s sports radio morning show wars.
That’s it for now. Sunday links coming up early Sunday (of course!) and Videos of the Week further down the line. Once again, thanks to Chris Pursell of TV Week for the nice words.
