I’d like to wish Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish visitors. Best of the Holidays to you.
Let’s get to the links now.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes about the new NBA policy of requiring coaches to be miked and do in-game interviews. As Hiestand says, not many coaches are happy about it.
Neil Best of Newsday blogs that the Washington Redskins-New York Giants slated for primetime on December 16 will not likely be flexed out by the NFL. Best says WFAN’s Chris Carton also did some disgraceful discussion of the Sean Taylor story.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders why Green Bay QB Brett Favre doesn’t get more endorsements.
The Sports Media Watch looks at the weekend sports ratings. And Paulsen talks about the highest ratings ever for the NFL Network from last week’s Packers-Cowboys game.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that the NFL is continuing its disconnect with fans by shuffling big games to the NFL Network. Alan Kreda writes in his Playbook blog at Conde Nast Portfolio that Comcast saw some subscribers bought and then quickly canceled the digital sports tier last week. Dave Russell of the Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times writes that he’d like to support the NFL in its dispute with cable, but its greed gets in the way. Mark Alesia in today’s Indianapolis Star says the NFL Network’s coverage of the Insight Bowl which will feature Indiana vs. Oklahoma State may not be available locally .Kevin Wilson of the Portales (NM) News-Tribune says the NFL is doing the viewer a disservice with the NFL Network. The Washington Times’ Tim Lemke writes in his sports business blog that the NFL Network will debut a new feature that measures the speed of a QB’s release.
Sherry Slater of the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette says the Comcast-Big Ten Network feud has meant big business for the local sports bars. Bill Taylor of the Xenia (OH) Gazette writes an op-ed piece says the Big Ten Network’s demands of Comcast and other cable providers amount to highway robbery. An editorial in the Dubuque (IA) Telegraph-Herald says the dispute between BTN and Mediacom comes at an unfortunate time for Iowa basketball fans.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that ESPN won the cable primetime ratings for the week ending December 2.
Those are your links for now.
