It looks like TV stations in the Midwest are finding ample replacements for Big Ten football games. Instead of finding movies or other syndicated fare, ESPN Regional Television’s (ERT) signing of the Mid America Conference gives stations some games they can air in the Big Ten’s place. Kyle Nagel of the Dayton Daily News says one ABC affiliate has signed with ERT for seven games including Miami (OH). Kent State will also be featured in the package.
The Tennis Channel will have extensive coverage of the U.S. Open Series.
In our first set of links this morning, I linked to a story about CBS showing viewers what it will be like inside the production truck while the John Deere Classic will be ongoing. Here’s another story, this time from PGA Tour.com.
Bob Raissman in the New York Daily News criticizes MLB Commish Bud Selig for making himself part of the story in the Barry Bonds saga.
Steve Yingling of the Tahoe Daily Tribune writes about the contribution of the late Jim Karvellas who helped to put together the Celebrity Golf Championship that has been airing on NBC since 1990 and will again this weekend. NBC’s Al Michaels is participating in the tournament as well.
FSN Arizona has signed a contract with the Diamondbacks putting all of its games on cable starting next season.
Multichannel News looks at the ratings for baseball on the FSN’s across the country. They’re pretty good thanks to the resurgence of the Brewers and Mariners.
Dish Network has announced it’ll carry all Cincinnati Reds games in HDTV from FSN Ohio, beating DirecTV.
Jonathan Okanes of the Contra Costa Times speculates what the going away party for Dan Patrick at ESPN would be like.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a story on former Dallas Cowboys QB and Monday Night Football analyst Don Meredith getting into the Radio and TV wing of the NFL Hall of Fame next month.
ESPN Radio in LA has signed a contract extension with the University of Southern California for football and basketball games.
In the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin, Paul Christian discusses the NFL Hall of Fame game being picked up by the NFL Network among other things in his weekly Friday column.
George M. Thomas in the Akron Beacon Journal talks about local cable TV coverage for my beloved Cleveland Browns.
Now for some links from Canada for our readers from the north.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star has a story on a local radio show that is popular as it’s simulcast on Rogers Sportsnet.
Rogers Sportsnet and TSN will combine to cablecast the Canada/Russia U-20 Super Series later this summer. This would be similar to ESPN and FSN combining to cablecast MLB games.
Rob Brodie of the London Free Press wonders how the Canadian NHL TV partners will divide the games to televise this upcoming season.
Nicole Josin of the Prince Albert in a Can Daily Herald doesn’t understand the CFL blackout rules.
