Let’s give you some more links today.
First, Neil Best tells us that he was interviewed last week for another website and he also provides a link. Neil tells us that a New York TV sports anchor is going to work for ESPNews. And Neil says the lovely Kelly Ripa and her husband will be producing a documentary for ESPN. And here’s the press release on said documentary from ESPN.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Times also has a blog entry on the documentary.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale has announced that he’s going to miss most of the college basketball season after having throat surgery. Get well soon, Dick. He’s expected to be back in February. Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune writes about Vitale’s surgery.
Sherman adds that there are too many voices in the Monday Night Football production for ESPN.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that beating Michigan has become a double-edged sword for Division I-AA Champion (I refuse to write that silly crap that the NCAA has declared for whatever it’s called now) Appalachian State.
The Washington Post’s Leonard Shapiro writes a very strange article wondering if the Mitchell Report is just blowing smoke.
Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner goes over Baltimore’s best sports talk show hosts.
John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes in his Morning Buzz blog about a management change at Fox Sports Net Bay Area (soon to be rebranded as Comcast SportsNet).
There’s also a management change at Comcast SportsNet New England. The press release reads as follows:
BILL BRIDGEN NAMED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF COMCAST SPORTSNET NEW ENGLAND
PHILADELPHIA (December 18, 2007) – Comcast SportsNet President Jon Litner today named veteran sports media executive Bill Bridgen as executive vice president and general manager of Comcast SportsNet New England, where he will be responsible for all aspects of running the network. Bridgen will succeed David Woodman, who is departing to pursue other career opportunities, in January, 2008 and report to Litner.
For the past three years, Bridgen has been responsible for the distribution and development of Comcast’s owned or managed networks including E!, The Golf Channel, Versus, Style, Sprout, G4, AZN, The Mtn. – MountainWest Sports Network and regional sports networks serving Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore/Washington, Sacramento, Atlanta, New York, Portland, San Francisco and New England as executive vice president of distribution and network development for the Comcast Programming Group.
Prior to joining Comcast, Bridgen founded and served as president of HorseRacing TV, a cable/satellite sports network. He was also executive vice president of business operations at Headline Media Group, which operates the Canadian sports television network The Score, and was vice president of affiliate relations for Fox Sports Net/Fox Cable Networks. Prior to joining Fox, Mr. Bridgen was a partner at Keesal, Young & Logan, a Los Angeles-area securities law firm. Mr. Bridgen earned his law degree from Temple University and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management with a minor in Political Science from Gettysburg College.
Litner said, “Bill is a dynamic leader whose broad programming, affiliate distribution and operational experience will help us grow Comcast SportsNet New England by providing in-depth coverage of the Celtics as well as the other teams, events and sports moments that matter most to fans across New England, and build on the solid foundation established by David Woodman.”
Bridgen added, “Having lived in Boston for eight years, I know that New England has a rich tradition of sports at all levels and fans have deep passions for their teams. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue to grow and develop Comcast Sports Net New England into a destination network for New England sports fans.”
Bridgen, 43, lives with his wife and two children in Boston.
The Houston Chronicle’s David Barron writes in his blog that FSN Houston has made arrangements to air a local high school championship game on a local channel due to a scheduling conflict.
Tom Steinert-Threlkeld of Multichannel News says despite being named in the Mitchell Report, David Justice will return to YES Network as a Yankees studio analyst.
John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable writes that Senator John Kerry is ramping up the pressure on Comcast, Time Warner and the NFL Network to get the Patriots-Giants game to a wider audience.
That’s it for now. I could be back tonight with another update. Keep it here.
