It’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these. You deserve better from me and I apologize for the lack of posts. Life has gotten in the way. I’ve become a caregiver for my parents as they’ve gotten older. If you follow me on Twitter, I’ve mentioned what my dad has been going through. I don’t mention it here because you come here for sports media news.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been posting as much as I’d like, but I’m hoping with this notebook that I’ll be doing something for you daily that brings you back to visit.
The notebook will be a combination of linkage (yes, I’ll be doing as much linkage as possible again), some breaking news and some news you can use. The news you can use will be culled from various press releases I’ve received from the networks and haven’t had the time to post.
Hopefully this will work. I got the inspiration while walking my dog Sampson so make sure you give credit to my Goldendoodle when you see him.
Here goes
BREAKING NEWS
Last week, DirecTV and Disney came to a long-term agreement that keeps networks like ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney XD and ESPN’s Family of Networks on the satellite provider. It also brings Buzzer Beater, Goal Line, Longhorn Network and WatchESPN to the lineup.
In addition, DirecTV and Fox quietly came to an agreement before Christmas that allows subscribers to log into the Fox Now, FX Now and National Geographic apps. Notably missing is Fox Sports Go and while subscribers can see the linear Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 channels now on DirecTV’s Everywhere app, they can’t log into FS Go.
I asked a DirecTV spokesman when subscribers can expect to get access to WatchESPN and if Fox Sports Go will be part of the Fox agreement. There is some good news/bad news. The good news is that both Fox Sports Go and WatchESPN will be available to subscribers. The bad news is that it won’t be right away. The quote is “No specific date yet. Expect to launch both services (FSG and “Watch” programming) first half of next year. (2015)”
So basically, don’t expect them to be available in time for the NFL Playoffs or the College Football Playoffs. When they become available for DirecTV subscribers, I’ll let you know here at Fang’s Bites.
Now for linkage.
LINKAGE
In this section, I’ll provide at least 10 links and possibly more depending on the day. Here we go.
From Sports Illustrated, Richard Deitsch tells us about ESPN’s plans to bring back its Megacast from the BCS for the College Football Playoff. Expect some more channels.
Don’t get on Michelle Beadle’s bad side otherwise she’ll go all-Wu Tang on you. My Awful Announcing colleague Joe Lucia writes that Beadle used the Nuclear Option on a Twitter troll who went after writer Molly Knight.
Mike Farrell at Multichannel News says Time Warner Cable plans to tack on a sports fee starting in January.
Also from Multichannel, Sport Fishing TV which has been airing on NBCSN will be moving to Discovery’s Destination America channel after the New Year.
Jack Neff at Advertising Age says most of the Super Bowl XLVIII ads did not fare well in consumer recall and that does not bode well for advertisers for SB XLIX.
Paulsen at Sports Media Watch says Sunday Night Football’s Week 17 game between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh did not do as well as last year’s Philly-Dallas season-ending game.
The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir feels that fired New York Jets coach Rex Ryan would make a good studio TV analyst.
David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says the ego of NFL on CBS analyst Rich Gannon overshadowed a Ravens win that propelled the team to the playoffs.
Scott Allen at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that a MASN reporter is poo-pooing the possibility that Baltimore could host the MLB All-Star Game in 2016.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has his Top 10 list of the Southern California sports media stories of the year.
Timothy Burke at Deadspin says ESPN used a rather unusual camera angle during an interview at one of its Saturday bowl games.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Last week, I broke a story at Awful Announcing about NBCSN’s plans to air a “Road to the Winter Classic” marathon on New Year’s Eve. NBC made it official on Monday. NBCSN will air the first three episodes in the series on Wednesday night leading into the NHL Winter Classic in Washington, DC on New Year’s Day on NBC. The series has been airing on Epix in the United States and it will air the finale on January 6 at 10 p.m. ET.
CBS Sports Network will air a college basketball quadrupleheader this Saturday starting with an A-10 intraconference battle between George Washington and St. Joe’s at 2 p.m. ET. That will be followed an all-Big East game featuring Butler at St. John’s at 4 p.m. Then from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY at 6 p.m., CBSSN airs South Carolina vs. Iowa State. The nightcap will be Colorado State at New Mexico.
ESPN has named Rece Davis to be the main host for coverage of the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship. John Saunders will host the Sugar Bowl.
Coming later today, the 8th Annual Fang’s Bites NFL TV Awards. Look for it. Enjoy Your Tuesday.
