I just keep accumulating tabs on my browser of sports media stories and I realized if I keep doing this, my computer will slow down and I’ll have to start rebooting Firefox. It’s a memory whore as it is, but keeping as many as 15 tabs open is not a good idea, so let’s do some linkage for you.
We’ll start with the big story of the day thus far, John Ourand’s scoop in the Sports Business Daily that ESPN and the NFL have agreed in principle for an extension for Monday Night Football into the next decade and increasing the rights fee to almost $2 billion a year.
Over to Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk who goes inside the numbers of the deal and what it all means.
The Associated Press reports that ESPN and Fox are appealing to the International Olympics Committee to auction four Olympic games instead of the normal two, making 2014/2016 and 2018/2020 into one package.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that ESPN is about to launch a college basketball highlights and cut-in channel similar to what it did during the college football season.
Mike feels the NHL Winter Classic through all of the promotion and hype should have received better ratings.
R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel outlines ESPN’s plans for the Year of the Quarterback.
Mike Fleming of Deadline writes about a new film on Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow that ESPN is airing as part of its Year of the Quarterback initiative.
Fox Sports’ Brian Lowry feels boxing lends itself to the silver screen. With everything that’s been going on, that’s the best a sports media columnist can do?
A couple of things from Fanhouse’s Milton Kent. First, he notes that Ron Franklin’s firing shows that ESPN is not sweeping gender issues under the rug.
Milton writes that with the latest problems for Brett Favre, networks are no longer eager to hire him once his playing career is over.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek looks at NBC’s NFL ratings which turn out to the best for a network in 12 years.
Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says ESPN is jumping out to a cable ratings lead thanks to the BCS.
To Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy where he recaps the last episode of 24/7 Penguins/Capitals.
Martin Kaufmann at Golfweek looks at Golf Channel’s new graphics package for this year.
Ryan Ballengee of Pro Golf Talk also got to preview Golf Channel’s new graphics.
Lauren Kirchner of the Columbia Journalism Review says the New York Times is apologizing for altering a column after it was first posted online during the New York Jets-New England Patriots Monday Night Football game last month.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that ticket broker StubHub has pulled all BCS National Championship Game tickets.
The Boston Herald’s Steve Buckley informs the world that’s he gay. Buck has always been provocative and a very good writer. This is a very good column.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says based on the success of 24/7 Penguins/Capitals, HBO is now reaching out to other sports leagues for the next installment of its documentary series.
At the Albany Times Union, Pete Dougherty looks at the new rights deal between Fox Sports Media Group and Conference USA.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has some behind the scenes video of Alex Ovechkin’s SportsCenter promo.
Dan also has two number 8’s getting together last night, Cal Ripken and the aforementioned, Alex Ovechkin.
And Dan has a look at the end of 24/7 Penguins/Capitals.
I missed this from the New Year’s holiday. The WaPo’s Leonard Shapiro has his farewell column. I’ll miss linking to him.
Adam Kilgore of the Post says a favorite has emerged to replace Rob Dibble as Nationals analyst on MASN.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the NHL Winter Classic proves the popularity of the Capitals.
From the St. Petersburg Times, Tom Jones says Ron Franklin deserved to get fired.
Tom also enjoyed 24/7 Penguins/Capitals.
Shannon Owens from the Orlando Sentinel says Ron Franklin got his just desserts.
Iliana Limon of the Sentinel writes that Central Florida will get more TV exposure statewide thanks to Conference USA’s new deal with Fox Sports.
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the local CBS affiliate has canceled plans to air a Bengals playoff special originally scheduled for this Friday. When did it know it did not need to produce one?
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that the Rose Bowl’s ratings were down in Milwaukee due to the game being on ESPN as compared to ABC last year.
And Bob talks about ESPN’s Herman Edwards suggestions for the Green Bay Packers to contain Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.
In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman says Comcast SportsNet will showcase local sports radio talent next week.
The Los Angeles Times’ Diane Pucin also weighs in on the Ron Franklin firing.
The Backyard Hockey blog found that the Manchester (NH) Union Leader lifted passages from one of its posts and got the newspaper to admit what it did.
Steve Lepore of Puck The Media gives his thoughts on 24/7 Penguins/Capitals.
Jason Clinkscales of A Sports Scribe talks to a few people (including your humble blogger) about 24/7 and its effect on the NHL for Norman Einstein’s Sports & Rocket Science Monthly.
Sports Media Watch notes that two bowls drew very low overnight ratings.
SMW says the Sugar Bowl held up decently in the ratings from last year.
Emmett Jones from Sports Business Digest notices that Tiger Woods is not on the cover of his own video game.
Mike Vitiello of Awful Announcing says ESPN is apparently making a long-term commitment to ESPN 3D.
Dave Kohl at Major League Programs has his weekly update.
And that is where we’ll end it today. Lots of good stuff for you. If anything else breaks, I’ll be here to bring it to you.
