It seems like last week we rang in the New Year. Now, we’re one month into 2012. Didn’t take long.
Let’s do some linkage.
Starting with Michael Hiestand of USA Today, we learn that NBC has quite a bit in store for its six hour Super Bowl pregame show.
Also in USA Today, Michael Coppinger finds that new HBO Sports President Ken Hershman plans on cleaning up the network’s shaky boxing reputation.
And Reid Cherner at USA Today has a preview of the upcoming season of “Eastbound & Down” featuring Kenny Powers. I’ll admit, I don’t get the chi of “Eastbound & Down” and find it unwatchable, but the show has its fans.
John Ourand at Sports Business Daily says the NFL is issuing a tablet-only commemorative Super Bowl appl
At Bleacher Report, Dan Levy tells us that NFL Network’s Deion Sanders came out the winner at yesterday’s Super Bowl Media Day.
At Deadspin, Barry Petchesky has video of reporters leering at Televisa Deportes reporter Marisol Gonzalez during Media Day.
Barry also has a series of photos taken by perverts reporters as original Mexican bombshell Inês Sainz was traversing her way through Media Day.
The Olympic newsletter Around the Rings notes that the International Olympic Committee is in no hurry to negotiate a Canadian TV rights deal after the lone bid failed to come up to its standards.
Around the Rings also notes that broadcasters for the 2014 Winter Games including NBC are gathering in Sochi to discuss plans for that Olympiad.
To All Things D where Liz Gannes has new ESPN President John Skipper saying he wants people to see his content, just not for free.
And All Things D has the video highlights of Skipper’s comments.
Lisa Richwine of Reuters notes that Skipper is bullish on ESPN 3D. Oh great.
Lucas Shaw at The Wrap says John Skipper and ESPN are in love with Silicon Valley.
David Griner of Adweek has the Volkwagen Super Bowl ad that has been hyped for a couple of weeks. I like the teaser with the dogs barking better.
Katy Bachman at Adweek says the FCC is seeking public comment on the NFL’s antiquated TV blackout rules.
Best Buy won’t be using rock stars, but tech stars in its Super Bowl ad. Last year, Best Buy used Ozzy Osbourne and Justin Bieber in a very lame ad.
Natalie Zmuda of Advertising Age says Pepsi will emphasize music in its Super Bowl ads.
Louisa Ada Seltzer of Media Life Magazine previews tonight’s “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials” special on CBS.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wishes advertisers wouldn’t release their Super Bowl spots before they air in the Big Game.
Kristi Dosh of ESPN.com says Super Bowl advertising has gone beyond just buying time during the game.
Alex Sherman and Andy Fixmer of Bloomberg Businessweek write that NBC is using the Super Bowl to heavily promote “Smash” in what it hopes will save its primetime lineup.
The NBC’s Sunday Night Football Facebook page has a gallery of photos from yesterday’s media event in Indianapolis.
The Nielsen Wire blog looks at whether the New England Patriots or the New York Giants do better than the other in social media.
To SportsGrid and Tom Lorenzo who has video of TSN’s Ray Ferraro throwing out an “F” bomb not once, but twice during a broadcast last night.
Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group writes that ESPN was technically prepared to air the Australian Open epic men’s final.
James Careless of TV Technology looks at NBC’s online streaming of the Super Bowl.
Steve Donohue of Fierce Cable says Time Warner Cable seems to be doing just fine without MSG Network.
Lou Modestino of the Quincy (MA) Patriot-Ledger says Fox Sports was mostly responsible for moving the Daytona 500 forward one week.
Bill Pennington in the New York Times looks at fans getting to attend Super Bowl Media Day for the first time.
Richard Sandomir of the Times says a new media company wants to become the ESPN for kids. Already, the NFL, several sports stars and NBC Sports Network have signed up to partner with the company.
Good story by Jim Yardley of the Times Magazine exploring how some American NBA players are faring in Communist China and how the NBA made a huge miscalculation in trying to launch a league there.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union writes that Time Warner Cable will extend its free Sports Pass option to residential customers affected by the company’s dispute with MSG Network.
Pete says NFL Network will air the Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement for the Class of 2012 on Saturday.
Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News writes that a local TV reporter is back at work after being on suspension for prematurely tweeting that Joe Paterno had died.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner speaks with CBS Sports Network’s Tom Lemming about National Signing Day.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman notes a ratings record for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Fox Sports Oklahoma.
Matthew Tully of the Indianapolis Star says foreign journalists covering the Super Bowl are enjoying Indy as the host city.
The Star has a roundup of what journos are saying about Indianapolis.
Bob Kravitz of the Star filed a diary with his observations of Super Bowl Media Day.
Anthony Schoette of the Indianapolis Business Journal writes that the Super Bowl has helped to focus a spotlight on IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which has been hosting media events this week.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will be a guest analyst on NBC’s Super Bowl XLVI pregame.
Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business looks at Super Bowl Week in Indianapolis and wonders “what if” had the Bears built a domed facility.
Steve Eighinger of the Quincy (IL) Herald Whig is thankful for ESPN as it helped him to endure the Great Midwest Blizzard of 2011.
Roman Augustoviz of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes that CBS Sports Network has signed a TV deal with the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference known in local circles as “The National.”
Eli Segall of the San Jose Business Journal says the Sharks are scoring big for Comcast SportsNet California.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the man who broke the Sidney Crosby neck injury story stands by his scoop.
Sports Media Watch says the NFL Pro Bowl’s ratings were down from last year, but still outpace the other All-Star games.
SMW has some various ratings news and notes.
Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth says last week was pretty slow for any kind of sports news.
Joe Lucia of Awful Announcing notes that Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News crime writer Sarah Ganim has been given much deserved Pulitzer Prize consideration for her reporting on the Penn State story.
Barry Janoff at The Big Lead writes that Mean Joe Greene is redoing his iconic Coke Super Bowl ad from the 1970’s for Proctor & Gamble.
And we have more links that I ever thought I would find today. That’s good for you.
