Ok, going to try to give you a full set of links today. Let’s get started.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch has his 2011 Media Awards. Very good list of people getting awards this year.
Michael Hiestand from USA Today writes that when all is said and done, the NFL’s TV ratings for this season will finish down compared to last season’s record highs.
The Nielsen Wire blog notes that the NFL almost had the entire Top 10 highest rated Single Telecast category to itself.
Sofia M. Fernandez of the Hollywood Reporter lists the 11 most triumphant, terrifying and bizarre moments in sports television.
Mike Reynolds at Broadcasting & Cable writes that four networks will air coverage of the NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game on New Year’s Eve.
Mike adds that TNT got cable’s fourth-largest audience ever for an NBA regular season game with its airing of Celtics-Knicks on Christmas Day.
At Multichannel News, Mike says TNT also received good numbers for its Tuesday night NBA doubleheader.
Mike looks at NBC Sports Network’s first original programming project that airs just a half-hour after its launch on January 2.
SportsbyBrooks reports that even if college football analyst Craig James hadn’t run for U.S. Senate, ESPN would have likely dropped him in 2012.
Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid says Shaquille O’Neal had his first real funny moment on TNT Tuesday night.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says an Ohio car dealer hopes to make some buzz if the Cleveland Browns not just beat, but shut out the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.
Jamison Hedley of ESPN.com reports that the Cincinnati Bengals have avoided their 7th blackout of the season.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union writes about ESPN pulling First Take co-host Dana Jacobsen off the show and assigning her to other duties.
Sara Ganim of the Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News says the attorney for embattled former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is shopping his client and his wife for a potential interview on a natioal network.
Neal Zoren of the Delaware County Times talks with Philadelphia Flyers TV analyst Rich Tocchet who will have two duties at the NHL Winter Classic.
Tom Jones of the now-Tampa Bay (no longer the St. Petersburg) Times gives his year in review in local and national sports media.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that one of its writers has won an Eclipse Award for Writing about horse racing.
Jerry Garcia at the San Antonio Express-News says the Spurs topped the local TV ratings on Monday.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his winners and losers for 2011 in sports business and media.
Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune talks with CBS’ Verne Lundquist about Utah’s appearance in the Sun Bowl and other matters.
Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail has his top televised images of 2011.
Sports Media Watch has a look at the Top 20 Sports Media stories of the year, starting with #20-16, #15-11 and #10-6.
Awful Announcing looks at the Don Cherry Piano Desk.
Barry Petchesky of Deadspin remembers writing a fan letter to ESPN and getting something in return.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media lists his People of the Year in Hockey Broadcasting for 2011.
The Big Lead notes that ESPN research finds that women don’t like the network’s debate shows. I can’t find any men who like them either.
And we’re done.
