Time for some links today.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that DirecTV will show NFL Network games on its blimps in towns that don’t get the channel which is most of the country!
The Orbitcast satellite radio blog says ESPN is expanding its programming on Sirius which will include SportsCenter and other TV programming. And here’s the press release from ESPN.
Two things from the Sports Media Watch blog. First, we have the weekend ratings. And the other post regards the good ratings for the Heisman Trophy presentation on Saturday.
Neil Best of Newsday blogs about USA Today losing its NBA staff through layoffs and buyouts. Best also wonders why NFL analysts don’t go further into coaching decisions. Neil also has some insight into ESPN Ombudsman Le Ann Schreiber’s latest column. And he links to an interview with former ESPN NFL analyst Joe Theismann.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle blogs that Hall of Fame Houston Astros announcer Milo Hamilton recently underwent surgery. Barron reports that Bryant Gumbel will miss tomorrow’s NFL Network Broncos-Texans game.
Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post has a story on the NFL Network unveiling a feature on which QB has the quickest release. The Vail (CO) Daily has an editorial lamenting the local blackout of tomorrow’s Broncos-Texans game because the NFL Network isn’t available on most cable systems. And the El Paso Times has an editorial calling the NFL Network-cable battle one of greed.
Mark Alesia of the Indianapolis Star reports that the NFL Network is looking for a local station to syndicate the Insight Bowl which will pit Indiana against Oklahoma State. And Mike Baldwin of the Daily Oklahoman reports that the NFL Network is also looking for an Oklahoma City channel. Also Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that the NFL Network wants to find a Dallas TV station to air the Texas Bowl on December 28.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek says ESPN easily won the primetime cable ratings last week.
John Ryan from the San Jose Mercury News gets a clarification from Fox over comments made by J.C. Pearson on Sunday.
Frank Fitzpatrick of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a story on former ABC and CBS announcer Jack Whitaker being inducted into the Philadelphia Hall of Fame.
Carrie Watters of the Arizona Republic writes that Super Bowl XLII host Glendale is getting ready for its primetime and late night close up.
There you go for now.
