I’ll give you some more links on this Monday afternoon.
From the Sports Media Watch, Tennis Week is reporting that ESPN has picked up the rights to the final leg of tennis’ Grand Slam, the US Open starting in 2009. Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that if true, ESPN would have the rights to all four legs of the Grand Slam.
Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated says TV viewers were the big winners of this year’s NFL Draft.
John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal writes in his media notes that despite original criticism, ESPN’s Monday Night Football schedule actually makes sense for the network. Also from Sports Business Journal, Terry Lefton and John Ourand write that the NFL is planning to offer a Friday-before-the Super Bowl Awards Show broadcast to the network televising the Big Game each year. Ourand also talks with outgoing CBS Sports Executive Producer and incoming MLB Network President and CEO Tony Petitti. And Bill King of the SBJ writes about ten years of following Sports Business. How about lowering the cost of a year’s subscription as part of a ten year anniversary celebration?
The Monroe (LA) News Star picks up a story from Glenn Guilbeau who feels the NFL and ESPN should move the Draft up to March.
Liz Mullen of the Baltimore Business Journal writes about Fox Sports hiring former Ravens coach Brian Billick as a game analyst.
The Schenectady Gazette’s Ken Schott also writes about Brian Billick moving to Fox as well as finding Billick’s appearances on Match Game PM. Ken also writes in his blog that the Albany River Rats have worked out their conflict with the Yankees for tomorrow night.
Wayne Friedman of MediaPost Publications writes in his blog that the NFL Network may need to call an audible to get carriage from the major cable providers.
The Sports Media Watch says some uncompetitive first round series are actually hurting the NBA in the ratings.
John Consoli of Mediaweek writes that TV ratings for MLB are off to a slow start this season.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that a local TV sports anchor will be leaving his station in the fall as his contract was not picked up.
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times, in his Two Cents blog, reviews what he saw on TV over the weekend.
A couple of satellite radio-related items for you. The Orbitcast blog writes that Danica Patrick will appear on a show hosted by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on XM Satellite Radio later this week. And the Sirius Backstage blog reports that Scott Ferrall has signed a multi year with Sirius Satellite Radio continuing his sports talk show on Howard 101.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says some new faces have helped to bring CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada into the 21st Century.
