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34th Annual Sports Emmy Awards Nominations Announced

Just received this from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the full press release of the nominations for the 34th Annual Sports Emmy Awards.

NBC Sports Group received the most nominations with 58 followed by ESPN with 43 and Turner in third with 27.

Bob Costas was nominated yet again for Outstanding Studio Host along with Dan Patrick, James Brown, Ernie Johnson and Rich Eisen.

There were only four nominees for Outstanding Play-by-play, Mike Breen, Mike Emrick, Al Michaels and Jim Nantz.

Cris Collinsworth received another nomination for Outstanding Event Analyst. He’s joined by Ato Boldon of NBC Olympics, Jon Gruden, Jim Kaat and Mike Mayock.

Studio Analyst was full with Charles Barkley of TNT, Tony Dungy of NBC’s Football Night in America, CBS’ Boomer Esiason, MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds, Bill Ripken also from MLB Network and Kurt Warner of NFL Network.

Let us take a look at the full list. We need a jump break in here as well. Let’s go. Lots of things to read through. Get ready to scroll.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR THE 34th ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS

Winners to be Honored During the May 7th Ceremony At Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center

New York, NY – March 20, 2013 – The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 34th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards.

More than 170 nominees were announced in 34 categories including Outstanding Live Sports Special, Live Series, Sports Documentary, Studio Show, Promotional Announcements, Play-by-Play Personality and Studio Analyst. The Awards will be given out at the prestigious Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center located in the Time Warner Center on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 in New York City.

“What a world we live in,” said Malachy Wienges, Chair, NATAS. “The Olympics, NASCAR, the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the World Series, The Stanley Cup, The NBA, the US Open, the Masters…it just goes on and on! This is another outstanding year for the sports community and for The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The entries received in this year’s Sports Emmy Awards illustrate the high-water mark of quality each of us gets to enjoy every time we turn on our favorite program. With so much talent vying for the prestigious Emmy Award and with many of the today’s leading sports broadcasters, personalities, and television professionals in attendance, it promises to be an exciting evening.”

The networks of NBC Sports Group (NBC, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel nbcolympics.com, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, nbcsports.com, & Telemundo) lead the nomination totals with 58, ESPN (ESPN, ESPN2, grantland.com, ABC, ESPN3D, ESPNU & ESPNews), garnered 43, and Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, NBA TV, NCAA.com & truTV) garnered 27. A complete list of all Networks and individual show nominations follows below.

A complete list of all nominees is attached and also available at www.emmyonline.tv/sports

34th Annual Sports Emmy Award Nominations by Network Group
Network or Network Group Nominations

NBC Sports Group (NBC, NBC Sports Network, Golf Channel, nbcolympics.com, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, nbcsports.com, Telemundo) — 58
ESPN (ESPN, ESPN 2, grantland.com, ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPNU, ESPNews) — 43
Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, NBA TV, truTV, NCAA.com) — 27
FOX Sports Media Group (FOX, SPEED, FOX Soccer Channel) — 17
HBO Sports — 17
NFL Network (NFL Network, NFL Media, NFL.com) — 16
CBS (CBS, Showtime, CBS Sports Network) — 15
MLB Network — 9
DIRECTV — 1
YouTube — 1

34th Annual Sports Emmy Award Nominations by Network

NETWORK — NOMINATIONS

NBC — 36
ESPN — 23
HBO Sports — 17
FOX — 13
NFL Network — 13
TNT — 13
CBS — 10
ESPN2 — 10
MLB Network — 9
NBC Sports Network — 9
TBS — 5
NBA TV — 4
Showtime — 4
truTV — 4
grantland.com — 3
NBCOlympics.com — 3
Speed — 3
ABC — 2
Bravo — 2
ESPN3D — 2
ESPNU — 2
Golf Channel — 2
MSNBC — 2
NFL Media — 2
Telemundo — 2
CBS Sports Network — 1
CNBC — 1
DIRECTV — 1
ESPNews — 1
FOX Soccer Channel — 1
nbcsports.com — 1
NCAA.com — 1
NFL.com — 1
YouTube — 1

BREAKDOWN OF MULTIPLE PROGRAM — SERIES NOMINATIONS

Program/Network/Nominations
Games of the XXX Olympiad (NBC/Bravo/CNBC/MSNBC/NBC SportsNetwork/NBCOlympics.com/Telemundo) — 14
NBA on TNT (TNT) — 6
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (TNT) — 6
E:60 (ESPN2) — 5
24/7 (HBO) — 4
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins (HBO) — 4
MLB on FOX (FOX) — 4
Outside the Lines (ESPN) — 4
Sunday Night Football (NBC) — 4
NASCAR on FOX (FOX) — 3
NFL Films Presents (NFL Network) — 3
30 for 30 (ESPN) — 2
A Football Life (NFL Network) — 2
College Gameday (ESPN) — 2
The Dream Team (NBA TV) — 2
Inside the NBA (NBA TV) — 2
Inside the NFL (Showtime) –2
MLB Network Division Series (MLB Network) — 2
MLB Tonight (MLB Network) — 2
Namath (HBO) — 2
NCAA March Madness (TBS) — 2
NFL on FOX (FOX) — 2
SportsCenter (ESPN) — 2
Sport Science (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNews) — 2
UEFA Euro 2012 (ESPN) — 2

The nominations are coming after a jump break.
(continue reading…)

Some Quick Sunday Morning Sports Media Thoughts

Saturday was certainly the interesting day in sports with two sports outside of the major four dominating headlines. Let’s go over them in bullet form.

• In what normally is the start of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series became the sports and also news story of the first part of Saturday when a crash at Drive4COPD at Daytona became more than just a race. As cars were speeding towards the checkered flag, Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski crashed. That caused Kyle Larson’s car to go airborne and hit a support fence. It also caused one of his tires to fly into the grandstand. At last check, 28 fans had been injured from the flying debris from the track.

  ESPN which was carrying the race elected to run past its signoff time and run into the North Carolina-North Carolina State college basketball game to cover the situation and get interviews with drivers and NASCAR President Mike Helton to find out what happened.

  ESPN’s crew did a solid job in gathering information, but the real spotlight shined on Speed for its coverage for two hours on its SpeedCenter program. Adam Alexander anchored the coverage and it covered all angles from the crash from the drivers to the fans who were injured in the stands updating news as it became available, airing the surreal NASCAR press conference and tapping the NASCAR on Fox crew to report the news. In this case, ESPN gets a B for its coverage of the crash and Speed gets the A+.

• After NASCAR, the focus shifted to Mixed Martial Arts and UFC’s pay per view event which had its first female fight headline the card. As usual, Mike Goldberg set up Joe Rogan as much as he could. Rogan tapped into his comedian inner self by suggesting people leave “flaming poop” at International Olympic Committee headquarters over the decision to remove wrestling from its roster after 2020. It certainly was a strange comment, but it was due to Dan Henderson wearing trunks with a Twitter hashtag seeking to keep wrestling in the Olympics past 2020.

  But that was not the main focus of the pay per view telecast, it was Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche as the main fight and it did not disappoint. While the fight lasted one round, it had a lot of action has Rousey had to overcome a chokehold and Rousey doing her patented armbar to win her 7th consecutive fight and retain the UFC’s Women’s Championship. Judging by the reaction on social media, there were a lot of buys for the fight and more than the usual attention on a UFC pay per view. Of course, Twitter reaction does not necessarily translate to ratings, but I’m thinking the interest into Rousey may have won UFC some fans on Saturday. And with Rousey’s win, expect her star to rise with interviews on mainstream programs like The View, Live with Kelly and Michael and Today’s 4th hour with Hoda and Kathie Lee.

• One story that quietly surfaced on Saturday was the potential NHL conference realignment worked out between the league and the NHL Players Association. You may remember the league tried realignment before the lockout, but it was rejected by the NHLPA. But this time, the league worked with the players and we have some interesting results.

  Detroit and Columbus would both go East. The Eastern half of the league would have two eight team “conferences”. Out West, there would be two seven team “conferences” and an interesting feature as unveiled by CBC’s Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada, there would be Wild Cards in the East to offset the higher playoff chances in the West. That could lead to some very interesting playoff potential and ratings for the NHL’s TV partners. If this is approved and Detroit heads back East, it brings back the old Toronto-Detroit Original Six rivalry into play and it also has five of the Original Six in the East. Chicago would remain in the West.

  There’s a lot of TV potential with this new realignment. NBC’s focus could remain totally in the East if Detroit moves out from the West. And Hockey Night in Canada wherever it lands could see more Detroit games for its 7 p.m. ET window.

  Certainly some interesting news coming out of the NHL on Saturday.

Ok, some thoughts for you on this Sunday. Back later today.

Some Various Monday Sports Media Thoughts

I haven’t done a thoughts post in ages. It’s fine time you’ve been provided one. Lets do this. As usual, they come in bullet form.

• How much is too much? When will the sports rights fee bubble burst? When will there be major blowback from a major cable or satellite provider against one of the major or regional sports networks? I have feeling that the providers are reaching the end of their proverbial ropes on constantly rising subscriber fees from sports programmers. They are a major reason why your pay TV bills are increasing. While sports fans feel the battles have become par for the course, a majority of the country doesn’t follow sports and wonder why they have to subsidize something they don’t watch.With Fox Sports’ purchases involving YES and Sports Time Ohio and creating two all-new sports networks along with Time Warner’s Los Angeles Lakers channel and potentially a Dodgers network, the price for subscriber is only going to go up. And with rights fees growing exponentially, the sports fan who might be living paycheck to paycheck may find him or herself priced out of watching sports on television.With many consumers cutting the cord on cable or satellite and finding alternate ways to watch TV, one wonders if networks and leagues will cut deals directly with YouTube or other online distributors to reach viewers.
• Looking forward to seeing the debut of “The Crossover” with Michelle Beadle and Dave Briggs on NBC Sports Network. While we saw a sneak preview after the Pro Bowl on Sunday night, it certainly looked like an exact clone of her old show, SportsNation. It was only five minutes. We’ll see if it’s any different when it finally airs. Michelle is so funny, that the show will probably work.
• There was a time when network’s only Super Bowl pregame programming came on Super Bowl Sunday. Now with CBS, NBC and soon, Fox developing their cable sports networks, they all need inventory. So CBS Sports Network has 50 hours of programming this week, NBC Sports Network has its share, NFL Network has 140. Because there’s interest in the game, the networks provide the programming. It works because people will watch and it’s the NFL. If the Super Bowl didn’t get the ratings, the networks would not do much, but again, how much is too much? Is there a limit to this too?
• Speaking of Fox, it appears their cable sports strategy is taking shape. Not only will Speed be converted to Fox Sports 1, John Ourand at Sports Business Journal reports that Fuel will be rebranded to Fox Sports 2 with Fox Soccer becoming FX2 and no longer in the sports business. So Fox will have two all-cable sports channels to handle college basketball, college football, MLB, MMA, NASCAR, soccer and other inventory the division will develop. And I would not be surprised to see a lot of Super Bowl programming on both Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2 in advance of Super Bowl XLIX in New York/New Jersey next year. And there won’t be any sports on FX once FS1 and 2 come to fruition.
• Quick movie recap: Les Miserables A, Django Unchained A+, Movie 43 C minus and Silver Linings Playbook with A+. SLP was much better than I thought it would be. Very impressed with Jennifer Lawrence’s performance and Bradley Cooper was very good.

That’s all.

The Big Dozen Sports Media Stories of 2012

Time for the look back at the Year in Sports Media in 2012. Lots of great stuff. The year has been very interesting and we have seen a lot of things.

Just doing a Top Ten is never enough for the Year in Review. It’s always an even dozen with some honorable mentions mixed in.

Let’s go over what were the Sports Media Stories of 2012.

12. Embrace Debate Leads To Rob Parker Suspension

One of the silliest stories in 2012 was ESPN’s commitment to debate programming. Two shows were revamped to accommodate more debate among ESPN personalities, First Take and Numbers Never Lie. Due to outrageous statements made on First Take, mostly by Skip Bayless, the show received lots of attention and increased ratings. But the pressure to stand out may have caught up with Rob Parker who questioned whether DC NFL Team quarterback Robert Griffin III’s authenticity.

It led to Parker’s suspension and allegedly more oversight over the shows. We’ll see if it leads to some more control and fewer outrageous statements.

11. Steve Sabol (1942-2012)

One of the pioneers in sports television passed away in 2012. Steve Sabol’s impact on the National Football League’s popularity through NFL Films cannot be measured. With his father Ed, the Sabols brought fans closer to the game by thinking outside the box. Games weren’t just regular contests, they became movies with Hollywood production values and full orchestrations. Instead of showing games from high in the stadium, NFL Films went to field level and made extreme closeups of the players. In addition, Ed and Steve introduced slow motion photography to sports.

In 2011, Ed Sabol was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It would behoove voters to induct Steve sometime soon to join his dad.

10. Big Media Taps Into New Media

2012 saw Turner Sports purchased the much-criticized and now-improving Bleacher Report, USA Today buying Big Lead Sports and NBC Sports aligned itself with Yahoo! Sports. This is more than getting pageviews and improving comScores, this is about expanding portfolios and attracting younger audiences. According to comScore, Yahoo! has been the most popular sports news site for several years outpacing ESPN.com. Bleacher Report may get criticized for its multiple and questionable slideshows, but its hiring of some respected editors and writers have increased the quality of the site to the point where Turner Sports purchased the site for beaucoup bucks. And I have to make this disclaimer, Fang’s Bites is an independently-owned blog that is affiliated with USA Today Media Group. We will see more purchases in 2013.

9. NASCAR Renews with Fox

Fox Sports was the first of NASCAR’s TV partners to renew its ties with the sport taking the first half of the Sprint Cup season. For an estimated pricetag of over $2.4 billion through 2022, Fox remains with NASCAR in a relationship that dates back to 2002. Fox is expected to put some of its races on its new all-sports channel, but we’ll get to that later. And expect live on-streaming in this new contract. However, NASCAR’s ratings are a question-mark, but bidding for the second half in 2013 is expected to bring even more money. It’s all going to be quite an interesting year for NASCAR.

8. NBC Steals English Premier League and Formula One From Fox

October turned out to be a good month for NBC Sports Group as far as acquisitions were concerned. It first obtained the rights to Formula 1 as Fox gave just a nominal bid. Then a couple of weeks later, it emerged as the frontrunner to the English Premier League and then won out over a concerted combined bid from ESPN/Fox. While NBC Sports Network won’t be known as a college sports destination or for MLB, perhaps it can become an international sports channel with the EPL, Formula 1 and Olympic Sports. NBC Sports Network will have some sports to watch year-round with the English Premier League, Formula 1, MLS and the NHL (when it finally returns).

7. NFL Network Picks Up Its Last Two Holdouts

Since 2010, NFL Network has been gaining momentum in picking up carriage agreements with the major cable providers. It finally was able to sign deals in 2012 with its last two remaining holdouts, first Cablevision in August and then the very last one, Time Warner Cable in September. Thanks to the increased audience, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football package had record ratings for its new 13 game schedule. It was a struggle for NFL Network to get all eight major cable and satellite providers on board, but after eight years, it finally got it done.

6. MLB New TV Contracts For A Lot of $$$

It started in August when ESPN renewed rights for its three nights of baseball games, a return to postseason and an increased amount of games for a total of $5.6 billion over eight years. Then in October, MLB announced deals with Fox and Turner for a combined $6.8 billion through 2021, providing them with TV Everywhere rights, postseason deals and a package of regular season games. For Fox, it allows the network to put games on its anticipated all-sports cable channel, but again, more on that later.

5. CBS & NBC Announce New Sports Radio Networks

2012 brought two new national networks to the sports talk radio scene. Within two days of each other, NBC Sports Radio and CBS Sports Radio were announced by both companies and with respective partners Dial Global and Cumulus Radio. NBC Sports Radio has been airing limited weekend programming since September, however, CBS Sports Radio chose to wait until this month to begin full operation with a 24/7 lineup. Both have a long way to go to match the firepower and the reputation of ESPN Radio that has been on the scene since the early 1990′s, however, CBS has hired familiar names like Jim Rome, Doug Gottlieb, John Feinstein, Scott Ferrall and Dana Jacobson. NBC will wait until the NCAA Final Four to finalize its weekday lineup. No matter the case, ESPN Radio finds itself with some formidable competition to join Yahoo! Sports Radio and Fox Sports Radio for listeners.

4. ESPN Free Agency

We had some big names leave the ESPN nest, Erin Andrews, Steve Berthiaume, Michelle Beadle, Cindy Brunson, Doug Gottlieb, Dana Jacobson, Michael Yam to name a few, but many stayed including Scott Van Pelt. This seemed to be quite the year for free agency for ESPN. In some cases, the network chose not to renew and wave goodbye to those departing, others decided not to return for other opportunities while in others, ESPN went out of its way to make sure its desired talent stayed. For the first time, ESPN was transparent in making statements about its free agency signings or departures. In the past, it had issued terse statements when media inquiries were made.

3. Fox Spending Spree

As the year-end was approaching, Fox Sports through its parent, News Corp., went on a spending spree unlike any other in sports media. It not only set up an all-sports cable channel for operation in 2013 (again, more on this later), but it bought into the YES Network which will eventually lead into a majority share of the New York Yankees regional sports network and fully purchased Sports Time Ohio for the Cleveland MLB Team. In addition, Fox is reportedly close to signing a long-term deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers for its media rights. News Corp. had money to spend with the company splitting off its publishing holdings into a separate company and of course, the proverbial fiscal cliff where tax credits were about to change. Will we see more of Fox’s financial muscle in 2013? I think that’s a safe bet.

2. The Emergence of Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2

While NBC Sports Network was attempting to bid for major sports properties, Fox Sports was quietly forming its cable sports strategy for 2013 and beyond. We began hearing rumblings about Fox rebranding Speed into an all-sports channel that would be named “Fox Sports 1″ then at the end of the year, the company’s Fuel channel would also be rebranded as “Fox Sports 2″.

In its new contracts with MLB, NASCAR, the Pac-12, UFC and other sports properties it signed in 2012, Fox had a provision to put games and events on Fox Sports 1. As part of its new contract with Major League Baseball, Fox Sports can place 40 regular season games on cable as well as several postseason games. We should expect a number of NASCAR Sprint Cup races on FS1 and most likely see some UFC events as well.

The strategy is in place. Let’s see how it’s enacted in 2013 and beyond.

1. NBC’s Olympics Both Fail and Succeed

Up until the London Olympics begin in late July, NBCUniversal had been downplaying both ratings and financial expectations stating that it expected to lose money and the ratings for a tape delayed event would not be as good as in 2008 when events were carried live from Communist China. Somewhere along the way, something happened. NBC broke even financially on the Olympics and they became the most watched event in US television history. That was the successful part.

The failure was the tape delayed aspect when many viewers wanted to watch events live. The #NBCFAIL hashtag on Twitter quickly spread like wildfire during the first weekend of the Olympics. In addition, online streaming was sluggish and haggard. But even with the delays and streaming problems, Americans still watched in droves. When the games were said and done, NBCUniversal could pat itself on the back.

Honorable Mentions:

Struggles of new regional sports networks to gain carriage agreements.
NHL Does Well; But Shoots Itself in the Foot with the Lockout
Tim Tebow Overload
ESPN Continues Dominance in College Sports

What is Fox Sports 1? How Does It Affect You?

As we speed into the last quarter of 2012 and prepare for what’s ahead in 2013, there is one thing that is on the horizon for US sports fans and that is the expected appearance of a new all-sports cable channel. No, it’s not NBC Sports Network, although its trials and tribulations this fall will be the subject of a sports media thoughts post this week.

Sometime over the next two years, Fox Sports will announce that the sometimes all-motorsports, sometimes reality channel SPEED will be converted to an all-sports channel that will air MLB, Big 12 and Pac-12 sports, MMA, some NASCAR and anything else it can its hands on. You’re seeing a little bit of this through Fox’s increased sports programming on FX. Two Saturdays ago, FX had a college football doubleheader followed by a UFC on FX Fight Night.

Imagine that next year on the new SPEED which will in all likelihood be rebranded as Fox Sports 1. Why Fox Sports 1? Because it will be part of a company rebranding of Fox’s other sports channels, Fox Soccer and Fuel as Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 3, respectively. And there is precedence for this. Fox’s Australian channels are called Fox Sports 1, 2 and 3. Each channel serves to carry certain sports and big events like the Olympics or the Australian Open.

For American sports fans, expect the sports properties to line up as follows once the rebranding takes shape:

FOX SPORTS 1 (FORMERLY SPEED)

• College Basketball (Big 12 & Pac-12)
• College Football (Big 12 & Pac-12)
• English Premier League (Survival Sunday)
• Mixed Martial Arts (UFC)
• MLB
• NASCAR
• UEFA Champions League
• World Cup Soccer

FOX SPORTS 2/FOX SPORTS 2 PLUS (FORMERLY FOX SOCCER/FOX SOCCER PLUS)

• English Premier League
• Scottish Premier League
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League
• Australian Rules Football
• Rugby

FOX SPORTS 3 (FORMERLY FUEL)

• Extreme Sports
• Australian Rules Football
• Mixed Martial Arts (UFC)

Fox has already signed for 40 MLB games on Fox Sports 1, taking 14 games away from its over the air package and another 13 away from TBS to form the new slate of games on cable. In addition, the new cable channel will air some League Division Series games starting in 2014.

Fox is about to announce a renewal of its NASCAR rights and expect part of its current schedule of 13 races in the early portion of the Sprint Cup calendar to migrate to Fox Sports 1. If Fox keeps the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the races could be split among Fox Sports 1 and 3.

And if Fox manages to hold off Al Jazeera’s expected bid for the US rights to English Premier League games, perhaps Fox Sports 1 could gain a package of early Saturday or Sunday morning matches with the rest going to Fox Sports 2.

There are a lot of possibilities for the Fox Sports channels. It could also be in very good position to gain NBA games when the new set of packages go to bid in 2014. And let us not forget about a potential 8 game Thursday Night NFL package that could cover the first half of the regular beginning in 2014 that Fox would certainly be interested in.

It was thought that NBC was positioning itself to challenge ESPN’s supremacy, but with its acquiring of MLB, NASCAR and college sports plus the World Cup in 2015, Fox just might have leap frogged ahead of the Peacock as ESPN’s main opponent.

A Look at The New MLB TV Deals

I’m a bit late in writing on the impending MLB deals. But with a little perspective, I can provide you with a look at the new TV contracts, plus give you the winners and losers that provides MLB with increased rights fees from its three partners.

Last week, Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reported that Major League Baseball was about to renew its agreements with current rightsholders, Fox Sports and Turner Broadcasting with a few differences from their current deals. And last month, it was announced that ESPN had agreed on a new eight year deal that increases its commitment to baseball plus brings the Alleged Worldwide Leader back into the MLB Postseason.

Up until the media reports on the new Fox and Turner deals, there was speculation about Turner bringing in CBS as a partner and Fox possibly combining its regular season Saturday games with Turner’s package of postseason series. However, when everything was all said and done, Fox and Turner remained as partners with some slight changes to their packages. And while the new deals with Fox and Turner have yet to be confirmed, expect a formal announcement soon.

Let’s review what each network will offer the American people when the new contracts take effect in 2014.

First, MLB will see increased rights payments from ESPN, Fox and Turner totaling $1.55 billion per year starting in 2014, up from the current $755 million.

Second, MLB will have four national cable outlets for games which will be explained later.

Third, Fox will have an increased role in the MLB Postseason after giving back some games in the current contract.

Fourth, MLB Network will have increased playoff games as well.

Now, let’s break down what each network will offer under their new contracts.

• ESPN will offer 90 regular season games.
• ESPN keeps its present Sunday, Monday and Wednesday night windows.
• Brings back holiday games on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day.
• Reduced local blackouts.
• Coverage of Opening Day games.
• Retains rights to the All-Star Home Run Derby and other All-Star Weekend events.
• Gains rights to one Wild Card Playoff game.
• Retains radio and international rights.
• Increases digital rights.

• Retains rights to Saturday afternoon games.
• Increases amount of regular season games and will place them on rebranded Speed channel, to be reportedly named “Fox Sports 1″
• Retains rights to the annual All-Star Game.
• Gains rights to two League Division Series, some games to be sold to MLB Network, others will be aired on Fox Sports One.
• Retains rights to one League Championship Series and the World Series.

• Reduced amount of Sunday afternoon games from 26 to 13.
• No local blackouts of its Sunday broadcasts.
• Retains rights to one Wild Card Playoff game.
• Rights to two League Division Series, down from four in the current contract.
• Retains rights to one League Championship Series.
• Increased digital rights for the newly-acquired Bleacher Report.

• Continued broadcast of games on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and selected Saturday night games.
• Purchased rights from Fox to air League Division Series games.

While Major League Baseball will keep the status quo with its television partners, you can see that roles will change. ESPN is back in the postseason with one Wild Card game and increases its regular season inventory. Fox gets to use baseball to create an all-new cable sports network to compete with ESPN while increasing its inventory of Saturday games. TBS halves its Sunday games reducing to its lowest amount of games dating back to its days of airing the Atlanta Braves.

So our winners: ESPN and Fox. They get to increase their regular season inventory as well as their postseason inventory. Fox also has baseball for its new cable network.

Losers: Turner Sports. It has to pay more for less, both for regular season and postseason games. And NBC Sports which had been at the bargaining table hoping to get back into the baseball business and was depending on MLB to shore up NBC Sports Network. Now the Peacock has to look to NASCAR as a possible savior.

In conclusion, MLB will have a new outlet to air games in Fox Sports 1 plus keeping all of its media partners. Also, MLB will have a goal of four cable networks airing its games, ESPN, Fox’s entry, MLB Network and TBS. Fox will remain the only broadcast network. And MLB will get more money in its bank account.

Overall, this latest negotiation turned out to be very successful and provides plenty of stability through the 2021 season.

A Few Back To Work Tuesday Sports Media Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day Weekend. Let’s do a few sports media thoughts for you on this back to work Tuesday. They’re in bullet form as always.

• In this week’s Sports Business Journal, John Ourand reports that both Fox and CBS/Turner are looking to combine packages to force the other out of the MLB TV business. As you know, ESPN renewed its rights deal with MLB keeping Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball and getting one Wild Card Playoff Game.

  Now with one half of the MLB contract settled, it appears MLB is pitting Fox and Turner against each other. In the SBJ article which is currently behind the dreaded paywall, Ourand says Fox is proposing to take Turner’s playoff games which includes the Division Series and one League Championship Series and all of Turner’s regular season games. Fox would place the earlier playoffs plus most of its regular season inventory onto its current Speed channel which would be converted to all-sports and Ourand says it would called “Fox Sports 1″.

  For its part, Turner informed MLB that it would interested in not only keeping its current package, but also taking Fox’s package including the All-Star Game plus its half of the MLB Postseason. Turner would bring in CBS to air the All-Star Game, some LCS games and the World Series.

  It would be interesting if MLB decides to combine the two packages or just keep them separate. Plus it appears that ESPN won’t be receiving more than the one Wild Card Playoff unless MLB decides to throw the other bids out.

  And it also appears NBC is on the outside looking in for now.

  The MLB bidding is turning out to be quite intriguing. I would like to see NBC back in baseball, but it appears that MLB wants to keep at least two of its current partners.

• Last week’s announcement that Vin Scully was returning to call Los Angeles Dodgers games next season was welcomed on this end. The man is a national treasure and still is the best at calling baseball. Here’s hoping that he’ll at least one more World Series before he decides to retire.
• The NBC Sports Radio Network officially launches today with a nighttime lineup which includes Mr. Know It All, Erik Kuselias. While the dayparts from 7 p.m. — 5 a.m. ET have been filled and affiliates across the country have been signed up, the more important morning drive and midday slots have yet to be slotted. The big question is if NBC can bring in Dan Patrick for the 9 a.m. — noon slot.
• Nice to have college football back, although I’m not sure having Georgia Tech-Virginia Tech to end Week 1 on Labor Day was the best of ideas.
• Thanks to a horrid Red Sox season, I have not been more ready for the NFL than I am right now.
• I’ve enjoyed having CBS and CBS Sports Network combine coverage for the U.S. Open, although cutting off right at 6 p.m. on Sunday and giving way to Tennis Channel was a bit abrupt.

That’s going to do it for now.

A Trio of Sunday Sports Media Thoughts

Happy Mother’s Day.

It’s been quite the day in sports already. A few thoughts in bullet form.

• Fox promised us unprecedented coverage on the last day of the English Premier League season and it delivered. Using FX, Fox Sports Net, Fuel and Speed in addition to its Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus on online platforms, it provided full coverage of the final day of the EPL season as teams were scrambling for the Title, Champions and Europa League spots and avoiding relegation. With ESPN2 allowed to air the Manchester City-Queens Park Rangers match, Fox focused on the other 9 games of the day. Using FX as its main hub, there were real time updates on the Fox Box as well as cut-ins by Rob Stone showing scores from other games.

  If Fox retains the US rights for the English Premier League, I would love to see more of this coverage not only for what was dubbed “Survival Sunday” by Fox, but for the Opening Weekend of the season as well.

  I admit I wasn’t a fan of Rob Stone when he was at ESPN, but he’s grown on me as host of the Premier and Champions League on Fox Soccer. And the way Fox utilized its platforms today was excellent. One could argue they should have been doing this all along.

  If Fox is going to do this next year, then open up the pay platforms of Fox Soccer Plus, Foxsoccer.com and Fox Soccer2Go for the weekend. Those of us who don’t subscribe to those platforms were shutout today.

• One pet peeve I have about Fox is that it won’t allow online streaming of its sports properties. Whether it be MLB, NASCAR, college football or NFL, the network makes us watch its product on television. If we can’t be in front of a TV, then we’re pure out of luck. Some the online rights are locked with the league as with the case of MLB and the NFL, but ESPN, NBC and CBS have been diligent in getting online rights. Fox remains steadfast in not streaming its events. I hope that changes as the network goes forward with the NFL and any other sports properties it obtains from here on out.
• And Friday’s development that Michelle Beadle is leaving ESPN is not a surprise. While there has been no firm confirmation from neither ESPN, NBC where she’s reportedly heading nor from Michelle herself, she’s about good as gone.

  I told you in the past that sports is not what Michelle wants to do full-time. By keeping a hand in special events like the Olympics and the Super Bowl should be enough for her. And by co-hosting Access Hollywood, it gives NBCUniversal a versatile personality.

  She’ll do well for NBC.

That’s going to do it for now.

Fox Sports Announces Game Network Assignments For English Premier League Survival Sunday

With teams fighting to stave off relegation to the lower Football League, Sunday is going to be a very interesting day in the English Premier League. We already know that Blackburn and Wolverhampton are going to be out of the EPL next season. Queens Park Rangers and the Bolton Wanderers are fighting for that last spot to stay in.

In addition to relegation, there’s the final standings which determine which teams go to the UEFA Champions League for next season (top four places go) and which teams go to the UEFA Europa League (5th and 6th place teams). It’s all quite interesting and will be a day to behold.

With that said, Fox Sports Media Group is devoting nine of its platforms to nine of the ten games being played on this last day of the English Premier League season. FX, Fuel, Fox Sports Net, Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes, Speed as well as Fox Soccer2Go and Fox Soccer.com will be utilized in this unprecedented day of soccer coverage in the United States.

The only game not covered by Fox will be Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers and that will be aired on ESPN2. All games will begin at 10 a.m. ET with pregame coverage a half-hour earlier.

We have the entire game and network lineups for Sunday. This will be a big day.

FOX SPORTS MEDIA GROUP UNVEILS SURVIVAL SUNDAY GAME SCHEDULE

FSMG Presents Nine Live English Premier League Matches Simultaneously on Season’s Final Day

LOS ANGELES – Finally, the wait is over – Survival Sunday has arrived. For the first time in U.S. television history, nine live games from the most dramatic day in soccer are being carried on one family of outlets. On Sunday, May 13, the final day of action from the Barclays Premier League, FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) presents the best in international soccer, as England’s top teams compete for financial survival, hardware and European honors.

Led by FX, FOX’s fully-distributed cable powerhouse, FSMG networks SPEED, FSN, FUEL TV, FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes, along with digital platforms FOXSoccer.com and FOX Soccer 2Go, are carrying all nine matches live at 10:00 AM ET. Pre-match coverage begins at 9:30 AM ET on all networks with the exception of SPEED, with all outlets carrying post-match coverage of this hallmark event. FX anchors halftime coverage. Pre-match, halftime and post-match coverage (English) is hosted by Rob Stone, with analysis from Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Brian McBride. All FSMG outlets are showing the Barclays Premier League trophy presentation following the day’s events along with highlights from all 10 Survival Sunday games.

Today FSMG announced its full lineup for Survival Sunday, highlighted by Manchester United’s must-win match at Sunderland to keep its title hopes alive on FX and in Spanish on FOX Deportes. Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United are currently behind Manchester City and Manchester United in the race for highly lucrative UEFA Champions League positions. All three clubs fight for their place among the elite on Survival Sunday, with Arsenal traveling to West Bromwich Albion on FSN, Tottenham hosting Fulham and American superstar Clint Dempsey on FOX Soccer, and Newcastle battling Everton carried by FOXSoccer.com.

Chelsea faces recently-relegated Blackburn Rovers on SPEED ahead of their 2012 UEFA Champions League Final clash with Bayern Munich (May 19/FOX Sports). Liverpool looks to rebound from FA Cup disappointment at Swansea City on FUEL TV, while Bolton must win at Stoke City to stay alive in the Barclays Premier League (FOX Soccer Plus).

Teams live and die with each goal on Survival Sunday, and fans can follow all of the action at once via FOXSoccer.com/SurvivalSunday with real-time standings updates after every change. Twitter conversations surrounding all games will be streamlined on FOXSoccer.com/SurvivalSunday, allowing fans to follow the day’s events simultaneously (hashtag #SurvivalSunday). There will be live play-by-play for all 10 Survival Sunday matches with FOX Soccer MatchTrax, along with exclusive video highlights from every game throughout the day.

WHAT: Survival Sunday – the final day of England’s Barclays Premier League, where all 20 teams face off at the same time (9:30 AM ET). The bottom three teams are relegated from the BPL (clubs 18-20), while the top four sides ensure passage to the world’s most prestigious (and lucrative) club tournament – the UEFA Champions League. Teams finishing in fifth and sixth place can qualify for the 2012-2013 UEFA Europa League.

WHEN:  Sunday, May 13 – 9:30 AM ET (except SPEED, who will join at 10:00 AM ET).

Sunderland v Manchester United — FX & FOX Deportes
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United visits Sunderland needing a win to keep title hopes alive in the race against Manchester City.

Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers — SPEED
Chelsea’s midseason revival continues against recently doomed Blackburn. Rovers were relegated following Monday’s defeat to Wigan, and Chelsea needs to win in order to remain in the hunt for European qualification.

Swansea City v Liverpool — FUEL TV
Following FA Cup disappointment against Chelsea, English giant Liverpool and captain Steven Gerrard look to finish their season on a high note against upstart Swansea City.

West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal — FSN
In a vital match for Arsenal, the Gunners aim to secure their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League by winning at West Bromwich Albion.

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham — FOX Soccer
Chasing an all-important UEFA Champions League position, Tottenham hosts Fulham and American superstar Clint Dempsey at North London’s White Hart Lane.

Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers — FOX Soccer Plus
At one of the most intimidating venues in English soccer, Stoke City hosts a Bolton team desperately seeking to avoid relegation at the Britannia Stadium. Sitting in the relegation zone in eighteenth place, Bolton must win to avoid dropping into the English second division.

Everton v Newcastle United — FOXSoccer.com
In one of the most important clashes on Survival Sunday, Newcastle looks to secure its place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, while Everton needs to win for a shot at UEFA Europa League qualification.

Norwich City v Aston Villa — FOX Soccer 2GO
In its first season since gaining promotion to the Barclays Premier League, Norwich City has impressed and looks to go out on a high against Aston Villa at Carrow Road.

Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers — FOX Soccer 2GO
Safe from relegation after defeating Blackburn Rovers on Monday, a resurgent Wigan team celebrates its Barclays Premier League survival at home against last place Wolverhampton.

Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers — ESPN2/MatchTrax
Manchester City seeks to capture its first Barclays Premier League title against a Queens Park Rangers team fighting to avoid relegation.

That’s all.

MLB, Joe Buck Steer Fox Sports Media Group To Five Sports Emmy Awards

The Fox Sports Media Group was a multiple Sports Emmy Award-winner on Monday, bringing a total of five statues home to its headquarters in Southern California.

MLB on Fox took four Sports Emmy Awards including Outstanding Live Sports Special for the 2011 World Series. The man who called the Fall Classic for Fox, Joe Buck received the Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality – Play-by-Play. Rounding out the Fox Sports haul from the Sports Emmy Awards was a trophy for Speed’s work on the 27th NASCAR All-Star Race in the Live Event Turnaround category.

So Fox wins five Sports Emmy Awards and is happy with its loot from last night.

MLB ON FOX HITS GRAND SLAM AT SPORTS EMMYS

Joe Buck Wins Seventh Emmy Award for Outstanding Play-By-Play
World Series Wins Outstanding Live Sports Special
SPEED Honored for All-Star Race Coverage

New York, NY – It was a big night for Joe Buck and the FOX Sports Media Group at the 33^rd Annual Sports Emmys presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. MLB on FOX won four Emmys including Buck taking home the final award of the night, Outstanding Play-by-Play. Other big wins for MLB on FOX include Outstanding Live Sports Special for the 2011 World Series, Live Event Audio/Sound and Technical Team Remote. SPEED added a fifth Emmy to FSMG’s total, winning the Live Event Turnaround category for its coverage of NASCAR’s 27^th All-Star Race.

Buck, FOX Sports’ lead MLB and NFL announcer, is no stranger to the Emmy stage.  This is his seventh Sports Emmy for Outstanding Play-by-Play, including an impressive stretch of five straight wins from 2001-2005.

Another major award – Outstanding Live Sports Special – went to MLB on FOX for its coverage of the 2011 World Series. The dramatic, seven-game series featured the St. Louis Cardinals’ amazing comeback against the Texas Rangers. FOX Sports Media Group Vice Chairman Ed Goren and MLB on FOX coordinating producer Pete Macheska accepted the award. The awards for Live Event Audio/Sound and Technical Team Remote for MLB on FOX were accepted by Jerry Steinberg, SVP, Field Operations.

The four wins brings FOX Sports’ Emmy total to 89, including 26 for MLB on FOX.

David Hill, Ed Goren, Eric Shanks and John Entz are the executive producers of FOX Sports.

More Sports Emmy Award press releases are coming up.

2012 Sports Emmy Awards Live Blog

The Sports Emmy Awards are being handed out in New York tonight. Through various sources at the event, I’ll be able to update this post as awards are being doled to the various winners. And no, I’m not there, but I can provide the winners as soon as they become available.

For the full list of nominees, go here.

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW — WEEKLY
Inside The NBA — TNT

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT SOUND
MLB on Fox — Fox

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
America’s Cup Highlight Show — Versus

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN
Sunday Night Football — NBC

OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE
(tie)
“Together”-E:60 — ESPN
“Time Out of Mind”-Outside The Lines — ESPN

OUTSTANDING EDITING
24/7 Pacquaio/Marquez — HBO

OUTSTANDING PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT — EPISODIC
(tie)
2011 Stanley Cup Final — NBC
A Game of Honor — Showtime

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — SPORTS REPORTER
Michele Tafoya — NBC

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sport Science — ESPN

OUTSTANDING SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
A Game of Honor — Showtime

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO
MLB Tonight — MLB Network

OUTSTANDING PLAYOFF COVERAGE
NFL Wild Card Saturday — NBC

OUSTANDING CAMERA WORK
2011 Ironman Triathlon — NBC

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL
Joplin: City of Hope — ESPN2

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION DIRECTION/LYRICS
Men of Mettle-Ed Sabol’s Last Football Movie — NFL Network/NFL Films

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT — INSTITUTIONAL
NBA on TNT: Shaq Get Ready — TNT

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — STUDIO HOST
Bob Costas — NBC/MLB Network (of course)

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
PGA Championship LIVE on PGA.com — PGA.com

OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE
NBA on TNT: Live Forever — TNT

OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND
Sound FX: All Access — NFL Network

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — SPORT EVENT ANALYST
Cris Collinsworth — NBC

THE DICK SCHAAP WRITING AWARD
24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the Winter Classic — HBO

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — STUDIO ANALYST
Charles Barkley — TNT

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING
A Game of Honor — Showtime

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES/ANTHOLOGY
The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants — Showtime/MLB Productions

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR SPORTS
Jack Whitaker — CBS/ABC Sports

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW — DAILY
MLB Tonight — MLB Network

OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE
Outside The Lines: The Man in the Red Bandana — ESPN

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE
(tie)
MLB on Fox — Fox
Winter X Games 15 — ESPN 3D

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SERIES
Sunday Night Football — NBC

OUTSTANDING SPORTS JOURNALISM
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The College Bowl Game Money Trail — HBO

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND
Inside The Headsets — Speed

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL
The World Series — Fox

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — PLAY-BY-PLAY
Joe Buck — Fox

That concludes the Awards for tonight.

The Wednesday Links

Let’s do some linkage today. Been doing pretty good in providing links this week and I don’t want to stop.

Starting with Michael Hiestand of USA Today, he talks with ESPN bloviator Chris Berman who compares himself to Ted Williams, then tries not to compare himself to Ted Williams, claims he doesn’t pay attention to criticism when he clearly does and then makes no sense about cameras. Yes, I’m showing my anti-Chris Berman bias.

Tom Weir of USA Today’s Game On writes that Jose Canseco’s Twitter account is back up and running. Oh joy.

At The Sherman Report, Ed Sherman looks at some classic anti-Mel Kiper rants from ESPN’s past coverage of the NFL Draft.

Sports Business Daily notes that Los Angeles Lakers nutjob Metta World Peace was a no-show on Conan O’Brien TBS program after his 7 game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City Thunder forward James Harden.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal writes about Fox’s deal with Golden Boy Promotions that will put live fights on Fuel and Fox Deportes.

Michael Bradley at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says NHL ratings are up significantly for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which seemingly condones violence on the rink.

Tim Baysinger at Broadcasting & Cable notes that ABC’s ratings for the NBA are up 10% over last year despite the lockout that wiped out the first month of the season.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says the Stanley Cup Playoffs are good to the NBC Sports Network.

Multichannel News says Speed has renewed the rights to the 24 Hours of LeMans road race.

Tony Manfred of the Business Insider Sports Page has video of Chelsea’s goal that put them in the UEFA Champions League Final, but the best part was Gary Neville’s on-air orgasm for Sky Sports.

Jim Edwards of the Business Insider Sports Page looks into NBC’s reasons for an almost $1 million price tag for a 30 second ad for its Thanksgiving Night NFL game.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has Mike “Doc” Emrick in the latest edition of his podcast.

Matt has great video of some awkward banter between SportsCenter anchors Steve Weissman and Sage Steele. Poor Sage.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell tells us that Shake Shack could be in more MLB parks around the country.

Leah Michaels of GoLocal Providence says ESPN’s Chris Berman was at his alma mater to honor Brown University’s athletic director.

All Access has Fox Sports Radio’s coverage plans for the NFL Draft.

Steven Beardsley of Stars and Stripes says NFL Network will feature cutaways during the NFL Draft to a battalion of troops based in Germany.

Kevin Paul Dupont in the Boston Globe provides a brief history on the greatest tradition in sports, the hockey handshake at the end of every playoff series.

In the New York Post, Phil Mushnick reports that ESPN Radio is close to deal with the New York Yankees that would put the team on FM after ten years of being on WCBS-AM.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the ratings for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Newsday’s Neil Best says the ESPN and NFL Network made the right call in not spoiling draft picks before they’re announced.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union says we’re still waiting for the start times for the NHL Games 7 on Thursday.

Rick Bozich of the Louisville Courier-Journal says he listened to the radio on Saturday over waiting for Fox to switch to Philip Humber’s perfect game.

Glenn Guilbeau in the Monroe (LA) News Star has New Orleans Saints interim coach Joe Vitt blasting ESPN for its latest story on the team.

KBTX in College Station, TX says Fox Sports Southwest received record ratings for the Pudge Rodriguez retirement ceremony before Monday’s Yankees-Rangers game.

George M. Thomas in the Akron Beacon Journal tells us that the networks are all over the NFL Draft.

Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune says swimmer Missy Franklin has become of the face of NBC’s Olympic promotional campaign.

Robert Kurson at Chicagoside Sports explains why after 25 years, he no longer listens to sports radio.

Matt Solinsky of the Desert (CA) Sun writes that Time Warner Cable and Fox Sports San Diego continue carriage talks that would put Padres games back on the provider.

Jamie Sturgeon of the Financial Post has CBC vowing in an increasingly expensive world to keep Hockey Night in Canada.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media talks about NBC Sports Group’s ratings for the NHL Playoffs on Monday.

Sports Media Watch explores ABC’s second straight year for record NBA TV ratings.

Joe Favorito looks at how sports brands can tap into National Train Day next month.

And that will put a wrap on the links.

Fox Goes Crazy on English Premier League’s Survival Sunday, May 13

The English Premier League’s season is winding down and as teams fight to stay in the league in an attempt to stave off relegation to lower leagues (I love that concept and would wish MLB and the NHL could do such a thing with its minor leagues), Fox Sports Media Group will pull off an unprecedented multi-platform project.

On Sunday, May 13 as teams hope to gain enough points to remain in the EPL, Fox will utilize the networks in its cable sports empire as well as as online sites to air 9 games that day. ESPN2 will air one game as well.

The usual networks of Fox Soccer and Fox Soccer Plus will air games, but in addition, the networks of FX, Speed, Fuel, Fox Sports Net and Fox Deportes will have contests as well. Fox will also utilize FoxSoccer.com and FoxSoccer2Go as well.

For soccer fans and those who follow the EPL, it will be a day to remember and one to see if Fox attempts this with the first day of the league’s new season in August.

Here’s the Fox Sports press release.

MAY 13 IS SURVIVAL SUNDAY

FOX Sports Media Group Presents Nine Live English Premier League Matches Simultaneously on Season’s Final Day Unprecedented Media Event Maximizes FSMG’s Linear & Digital Assets

New York/Los Angeles – Every year, on the final day of England’s Premier League season, all 20 teams from the world’s top domestic soccer competition play each other in a frantic 10-match race for financial survival, hardware and European honors.  This year, on May 13, for the first time in American television history, nine of those matches are being carried live simultaneously by one family of outlets.

Led by FX, Fox’s fully-distributed cable powerhouse, FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) networks SPEED, FSN, FUEL TV, FOX Soccer, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes, along with digital platforms FOXSoccer.com and FOX Soccer 2Go, are carrying all nine matches live on Sunday, May 13 at 10:00 AM ET.  Pre-match coverage begins at 9:30 AM ET on all networks with the exception of SPEED, with all outlets carrying post-match coverage of this hallmark event. Known to soccer fans as “relegation Sunday” and dubbed Survival Sunday by Fox, this unprecedented programming strategy reaffirms FSMG’s unparalleled commitment to provide the world’s best international soccer competition.

“With so much at stake, there’s nothing like the tension of the Premier League’s final Sunday, and we hope to capture every minute we can using the considerable resources available to the FOX Sports Media Group, including SPEED and FUEL TV, unconventional outlets for soccer,” said FSMG’s Eric Shanks, Co-President and COO. “Our plan is to provide cut-ins and updates from matches as often as necessary, while never taking the viewer away from the game they’re watching.”

FOX Sports Media Group’s commitment to the English Premier League is underlined by airing over 300 matches per season, including 180 live matches across FOX Soccer and FOX Soccer Plus. FOX Sports also aired three encore matches on NFL Sundays last fall and two live matches last winter.  Highlights, commentary and analysis from England’s top division are at the center of FOX Soccer’s primary studio shows, Match Day and Goals on Sunday. Additionally, FOX Soccer carries round-by-round English Premier League preview and review shows, as well as a weekly magazine feature and Premier League Fan Zone.

FX, Fox’s flagship general entertainment basic cable network, carried two UEFA Champions League semifinal matches in 2011, and is doing the same this month. FSN, through its 20 owned-and-operated regional networks is the nation’s leading provider of local sports, producing over 5,000 live local events annually, but is no stranger to televising high-caliber soccer.  It has aired a national Premier League game-of-the-week since 1998 and has aired UEFA Champions League matches on both a live and delayed basis. FSN also aired a national MLS game-of-the-week last season, Manchester United’s U.S. Summer Tour in 2003 and 2004, WPS matches nationally, a variety of college matches and ancillary programming. Finally, SPEED, the nation’s first and only cable television network dedicated to automotive and motorcycle racing, performance and lifestyle, and FUEL TV, FSMG’s dynamic sports network for men, offers soccer as a programming stunt for the first time.

Survival Sunday has serious implications for the teams involved. The centerpiece of this event is the relegation battle. While there can only be one league champion, the remaining 19 clubs jockey for position to determine qualification for European tournament play and Premiership survival. Wins and losses on May 13 carry heavy consequences, and a single point can be the difference between prosperity and financial ruin.

At the end of Survival Sunday, those teams occupying the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth positions are eliminated from the world’s best soccer league and three teams from the second division are promoted to the English Premier League for the 2012-2013 season. Relegated clubs stand to lose upwards of $40 million.

The top four clubs in the English Premier League earn UEFA Champions League qualification, receiving a potential reward of $75 million and the right to play in the world’s most prestigious club tournament. Pending the results of other domestic competitions, the fifth, sixth and seventh places in the Premier League table also carry significance. The holders of those spots at the end of Survival Sunday qualify for the UEFA Europa League, a continent-wide knockout tournament with more than 40 years of history and tradition. Beginning this fall, 2012-2013 Europa League contests are being carried by FOX Soccer and FOX Soccer Plus.

Survival Sunday matchups are listed below. Specific networks and digital platforms will be determined at a later date. ESPN will select one match from the schedule. All games begin at 10:00 AM ET.

MAY 13 Matches                                                                Network

Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers                                                       TBA
Everton v Newcastle United                                                         TBA
Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers                                   TBA
Sunderland v Manchester United                                                 TBA
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham                                                      TBA
Norwich City v Aston Villa                                                            TBA
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal                                                TBA
Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers                          TBA
Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers                                                   TBA
Swansea City v Liverpool                                                            TBA

In addition to a full slate of matches on FOX Sports Media Group’s networks, fans can also view and follow real-time scorelines on FOXSoccer.com/SurvivalSunday, as well as FOX Soccer 2Go, FOX Soccer’s subscription-based digital platform available online and via mobile and tablet applications.

For more information regarding Survival Sunday, please visit www.FOXSoccer.com/SurvivalSunday, www.twitter.com/FOXSoccer and www.facebook.com/FOXSoccer.

What a way to follow Survival Sunday and Fox is pulling off quite the effort to show its commitment to soccer. I also think this could be a preview of how Fox could handle the World Cup in 2018 utilizing the actual Fox network, FX and Fox Soccer.

33rd Annual Sports Emmy Nominations Announced

We have the nominations, all 170 in 33 different categories, for the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards. They just came out today. There are some surprises like massive hockey charlatan Pierre McGuire nominated in the Sports Reporter category and for some really strange reason, Skippy Bayless of ESPN2′s First Take was nominated for Best Studio Analyst. What analysis does he do besides yelling and having massive manlove for Tim Tebow?

There are some of the usual suspects are nominated, Bob Costas for Best Studio Host, Al Michaels in Play-by-Play, Cris Collinsworth for both Studio and Game Analyst.

Some of the nominations I agree with include Mike Mayock for Best Game Analyst, College GameDay and Football Night in America as Best Studio Shows and all of the movies in the Sports Documentary category. Sports documentaries were strong this year and I have trouble picking one although Catching Hell, the ESPN Films effort on Steve Bartman and the Chicago Cubs might be the weakest of the bunch, but the doc was still very good.

Ok, get ready to scroll, the entire list is below. We do need a page break so the list of nominees will after the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences press releases.

THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR THE 33^RD ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS

Winners to be Honored During the April 30^th Ceremony At Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jack Whitaker to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

New York, NY – March 20, 2012 – The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 33^rd Annual Sports Emmy® Awards.

More than 170 nominees were announced in 33 categories including outstanding live sports special, live series, sports documentary, studio show, promotional announcements, play-by-play personality and studio analyst.  The Awards will be given out at the prestigious Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center located in the Time Warner Center on April 30^th, 2012 in New York City.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports will go to the Sports Commentator and Essayist, Jack Whitaker.

“This is an outstanding year for the sports community and for The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman, NATAS. “The entries received in this year’s Sports Emmys resulted in a record 175 nominees, illustrating the quality of these entries.  We are also honoring Jack Whitaker with our Lifetime Achievement Award.  I had the pleasure of working with Jack for eighteen years at CBS, and Jack is a sports icon and a class act.”

In addition to Jack Whitaker, many of the today’s leading sports broadcasters, personalities and television professionals will be in attendance as presenters at the event.

The networks of ESPN (ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC, ESPN 3D & espn.com) lead the nomination totals with 55, the NBC Sports Group (NBC, Versus, Golf Channel & nbcsports.com) garnered 32, CBS (CBS, Showtime, CBSSports.com) entries received 26 nominations, while Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, NBA TV, NBA.com & truTV) have 22.

A complete list of all nominees is attached below.

33^rd Annual Sports Emmy Award Nominations by Network Group

ESPN (ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC, ESPN 3D, espn.com) – 55
NBC Sports Group (NBC, Versus, Golf Channel, nbcsports.com) – 32
CBS (CBS, Showtime, CBSSports.com) – 26
Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, NBA TV, NBA.com, truTV) – 22
HBO Sports – 19
FOX Sports Media Group (FOX, SPEED) – 16
NFL Network – 12
MLB Network – 8
DIRECTV – 2
MLB Advanced Media (MLB.com, MLBAM) – 2
NFL.com – 2
NCAA.com – 1
PGA.com – 1

33^rd Annual Sports Emmy Award Nominations by Network

ESPN – 36
NBC – 22
HBO Sports – 19
CBS – 15
FOX – 15
TNT – 15
ESPN2 – 14
NFL NETWORK – 12
SHOWTIME – 10
MLB NETWORK – 8
VERSUS – 7  
TBS – 3
ABC – 2   
DIRECTV – 2
ESPN 3D – 2
GOLF CHANNEL – 2
NBA TV – 2
NFL.COM – 2
CBSSPORTS.COM – 1
ESPN.COM – 1
MLB.COM – 1
MLBAM – 1
NBA.COM – 1
NBCSPORTS.COM – 1
NCAA.COM – 1
PGA.COM – 1
SPEED – 1
truTV – 1

BREAKDOWN OF MULTIPLE PROGRAM/SERIES NOMINATIONS

Program/Nominations/Network

24/7: 8 -  HBO
E: 60: 7 – ESPN2
A Game of Honor: 5 – Showtime/CBSSports.com
MLB on FOX: 5 – FOX
NASCAR on FOX: 5 – FOX
NBA on TNT: 4 – TNT
NBC Sunday Night Football: 4 – NBC
FIFA Women’s World Cup: 3 – ESPN/ESPN2
Outside the Lines: 3 – ESPN
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: 3 – HBO
SportsCenter: 3 – ESPN
The Army/Navy Game: 3 – CBS
The Franchise: 3 – Showtime
Winter X Games 15: 3 – ESPN/ESPN3D
2011 Open Championship: 2 – ESPN
2011 Stanley Cup Final: 2 – NBC/Versus
ESPN Monday Night Football: 2 – ESPN
Football Night in America: 2 – NBC
Grand Slam Tennis on ESPN: 2 – ESPN2
Inside the NBA on TNT: 2 – TNT
Joplin: City of Hope: 2 – ESPN2
McEnroe/Borg: Fire & Ice: 2 – HBO
MLB Tonight: 2 – MLB Network
NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: 2 – CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV
NFL Films Presents: 2 – NFL Network
NFL GameDay Morning: 2 – NFL Network
NFL on FOX: 2 – FOX
Sports Science: 2 – ESPN/ESPN.com
Sunday NFL Countdown: 2 – ESPN
Unguarded: 2 – ESPN

And after the page break, all of the nominees for the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards which will be handed out April 30 in New York City.

(continue reading…)

Some Monday Linkage

I’ve been out for much of the day and my phone battery died while in transit so imagine feeling out of touch and lost like I did. But I’m back with you.

I’ll do a few links here and add a few more in another post later.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has his sports media predictions for 2012.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes Craig James has officially left ESPN to run for US Senate from Texas. I know college football fans are breathing a sigh of relief.

Michael says CBS drew big ratings for New England-Denver yesterday.

And Michael says Golf Channel will team analysts Nick Faldo and Johnny Miller together on the PGA Tour’s season opening tournament next month.

In his Monday Morning Quarterback, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King reports on how NBC renewed its Sunday Night Football deal with the NFL (scroll down).

At Mashable, Sam Laird reports on how the NFL plans to bring tablets to the sidelines.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News reports on how the NFL plans to expand the Thursday Night Football schedule as early as next season.

Mike writes that NFL Network is on pace to set a record ratings mark for Thursday Night Football.

Mike says Fox Sports has appointed an interim President for its Speed network.

At the Hollywood Reporter, Sofia M. Fernandez has the video of the Saturday Night Live Tim Tebow sketch.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks with NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus about the network’s new 9 year, $950 million per contract with the NFL.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe notes that Pats-Broncos drew a big rating both nationally and locally.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir profiles the new NBC Sports Chairman who had some big shoes to fill when Emperor Dick Ebersol left.

Over to the New York Post where Phil Mushnick shows his hatred for ESPN.

Newsday’s Neil Best isn’t surprised to see CBS pull a big number for Patriots-Broncos yesterday.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty writes that Time Warner Cable is pledging not to pull MSG off its cable systems during its carriage dispute with the channel.

Pete has your Week 16 NFL TV schedule for Saturday (don’t forget it’s Christmas Eve).

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun writes the Ravens have renewed their existing radio and TV deals.

David enjoyed listening to Cris Collinsworth’s analysis of an otherwise lackluster Ravens performance last night.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says TNT is ready to showcase new NBA studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal.

We’ll hold it there and do some more linkage later.

Providing Some Sunday Linkage

Let’s do some linkage on this Sunday morning. Some good stuff to get to.

TVbytheNumbers says World Series Game 3 easily won the primetime ratings last night over college football and repeats on NBC.

The Associated Press has an in-depth story on how Fox and Telemundo won the rights to the 2015-22 World Cups.

Marisa Guthrie and Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter report on NBCUniversal’s all-in bid for Telemundo for the rights to FIFA’s World Cups from 2015 through 2022.

R. Thomas Umstead from Multichannel News writes on the winning bids by Fox and Telemundo for the US media rights to the World Cup.

Todd Spangler of Multichannel says a Cox Cable employee in Arizona has pleaded guilty to inserting a brief clip of a porno movie during the Super Bowl in 2009.

Also from Multichannel, Mike Reynolds writes that Golf Channel is adding five international tournaments to close out 2011.

Oh here we go again. There’s another silly carriage dispute and it involves Fox again. Remember last year’s Cablevision/Fox dispute that left the network off cable systems in New York and Philadelphia? Well, this time Fox is having a dispute with DirecTV and among the channels that could be pulled: FX, Fox Soccer & Fox Soccer Plus, Speed, Fuel and 19 Fox Sports Net regional channels. That’s just great. We get the latest from Alex Weprin from TV Newser.

John Ourand from Sports Business Daily also looks at the Fox/DirecTV dispute.

Phil Swann of TV Predictions has a suggestion on how to prevent these disputes in the future.

Richard Pagliaro of Tennis Magazine writes that ESPN has obtained the online rights of several women’s tennis tournaments.

Glenn Davis from SportsGrid has the video of Michigan State’s amazing Hail Mary pass to win last night’s game against Wisconsin.

At the Sox & Dawgs blog, good friend Ian Bethune has the full page ad former Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein placed thanking Red Sox fans.

Jeré Longman of the New York Times looks at Fox and Telemundo winning the World Cup bids.

Newsday’s Neil Best looks back at the 25th anniversary of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series from NBC’s point of view.

The great Bob Glauber of Newsday has a story on several NFL teams showing concern about being miked up for games and having their signals heard not only on TV, but by opposing teams.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick has the preposterous theory that the World Series is watered down.

Paul Tharp of the Post says the lure of tax breaks led NBC Sports to move its headquarters to Connecticut.

Harvey Zucker of the Jersey Journal reviews ESPN’s documentary on boxer Chuck Wepner, affectionately known as “The Bayonne Bleeder” and one who knocked down Muhammed Ali.

Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post says the Nationals deserve a better TV deal.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with Navy’s associate athletic director about allowing Showtime to film a year-long documentary on its rivalry with Army.

Mike Mooneyham from the Charleston (SC) Post & Courier looks at E:60′s profile of WWE wrestler Scott Hall.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times notes that Florida State and Tampa Bay Bucs radio voice Gene Deckerhoff is pulling off a unique double dip this weekend.

David Knox of the Birmingham (AL) News talks with ESPN college football analyst Ed Cunningham who is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker.

Doug Demmons of the News says ESPN is pleased with its NASCAR Non-Stop Coverage.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN’s Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge got the job done during last night’s Texas Tech-Oklahoma game.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says CBS has relented and the market will get today’s Oakland-KC game and Carson Palmer’s Raiders debut.

John notes that Joe Morgan’s syndicated radio show has changed from a nightly program to weekends-only.

Kathleen Lavey from the Lansing (MI) State Journal writes about the crowd that showed up for ESPN’s College GameDay on the Michigan State campus yesterday.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks with ESPN College GameDay’s Lee Corso about how elaborate his headgear picks have become.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks with MLB Network host and Gateway City native Greg Amsinger.

Dan says Joe Buck’s voice rose to the occasion in last night’s World Series Game 3.

The Los Angeles Times’ Lisa Dillman says some soccer fans fear the Fox cross promotion for the World Cup.

Sports Media Watch says the SEC on CBS fell to near season-low ratings.

SMW says college football on ABC is way up this season.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says Versus is having an up-and-down start to the NHL season.

Joe Favorito says Dan Wheldon’s death should not halt IRL’s initiatives to be more transparent with the public.

And we’ll end it there for today. The Sunday NFL pregame quotage will be posted throughout the day.

Time For Monday Linkage

I’m at home today waiting for workers to finish doing some renovations at the office so I’ll take the opportunity to do some blogging. Wasn’t able to do the megalinks on Friday or do what I wanted to do over the weekend so while I have the chance, I’ll bring you linkage.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that while NBC is hoping for big ratings from the U.S. Open, evidence suggests otherwise.

Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal tweets the overnight ratings for the U.S. Open’s final round coverage on NBC were down significantly from last year.

At Sports Business Journal, Tripp Mickle and John Ourand report that Fox is looking to put some of its 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule on Speed in its next contract.

The Associated Press previews an HBO Real Sports story on Tiki Barber’s battle with depression after losing his NBC job and his marriage.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Wimbledon is back today with plenty of coverage for the tennis fan.

Marcus Vanderberg at SportsNewser notes that NBC had to apologize for omitting “Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance that aired at the beginning of its U.S. Open coverage on Sunday.

Cam Martin of SportsNewser says someone forgot to renew Grantland.com’s domain name yesterday.

Awful Announcing has the video of Joe Buck forgetting the score during Saturday’s Yankees-Cubs game.

The Big Lead has video of the Washington Wizards’ John Wall showing off his horrible baseball skills throwing out the first pitch at a Nationals game.

Ryan Ballengee at Pro Golf Talk says the Chicago Daily Herald messed up a headline on Rory McIlroy in this morning’s edition.

We know about the picture of the kissing couple at the Vancouver riots after the Bruins clinched the Stanley Cup last week. CBC News found them and we now know that it was not a sudden moment of passion.

Over to ESPN Front Row, Carrie Kreiswirth speaks with ESPN the Magazine editor Chad Millman about moving operations to Bristol, CT with the rest of ESPN.

Ken Kerschbaumer at Sports Video Group looks at ESPN’s operations at the U.S. Open at Congressional.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says tonight, MSG Network will air rare footage of a brutal hockey fight involving the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers from 1958.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick got sick of hearing how NBC kept harping on Rory McIlroy’s collapse at The Masters back in April.

Phil also trashes CBS Sports Network for hiring former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez blaming him for everything wrong with college football dating back to the 1960′s.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with NBC Sports’ Jimmy Roberts.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times writes about the incredible shrinking sports reports on TV newscasts.

Tom says NBC stirred up an unnecessary controversy over the Pledge of Allegiance during the U.S. Open yesterday.

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean writes that satellite radio subscribers will finally be able to hear the Titans radio feed of the team’s games. Thanks to Sports Business Digest for the link.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a couple of ESPN analysts’ takes on the Bucks draft plans.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business says BP is back to sponsoring the Cubs-White Sox series after dropping out last year due to the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune says the untimely death of local sportscaster Daryl Hawks left a huge void with his family on Father’s day.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post writes that ESPN’s Jay Bilas gets to show off his inner Mel Kiper, Jr. during the NBA Draft.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune has Dick Enberg announcing that this year will be his last Wimbledon ever.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times visits Dan Patrick and the Danettes at their Milford, CT studios.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has this week’s SoCal sports calendar.

Bruce Dowbiggin with the Toronto Globe and Mail explores the launch of a new Canadian sports magazine.

And I’m heading to the office now. I’ll do more links later.

2011 Sports Emmy Award Nominations Breakdown

Let’s look at the breakdown of nominations by network and then by series. We have the numbers for you.

32nd Annual Sports Emmy Award Nominations by Network

Network                                                                                     Nominations

ESPN                                                                                                             36

HBO                                                                                                               22

NBC                                                                                                               20

CBS                                                                                                                17

ABC                                                                                                               13

FOX                                                                                                               12

ESPN2                                                                                                            9

MLB Network                                                                                               7

TNT                                                                                                                 6

NFL Network                                                                                                4

Showtime                                                                                                     4

DIRECTV                                                                                                       2

NBCOlympics.com                                                                                     2

NBCSports.com                                                                                          2

NFL.com                                                                                                       2

Speed                                                                                                           2

TBS                                                                                                               2

Big Ten Network                                                                                        1

CBS Interactive                                                                                          1

Current TV                                                                                                   1

ESPN Deportes                                                                                          1

ESPN.com                                                                                                   1

ESPNU                                                                                                         1

Fuel                                                                                                              1

MLBAM                                                                                                        1

Travel Channel                                                                                          1

USA 1

Versus                                                                                                        1

BREAKDOWN OF MULTIPLE PROGRAM / SERIES NOMINATIONS

That’s all. I expect the networks to send their Emmy Award nominations press releases later today.

2011 Sports Emmy Award Nominations

The Sports Emmy Nominations are out. Just released by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The awards will be handed on May 2 at Lincoln Center in New York. Our list of nominees is below.

Best Play-by-play has the usual suspects, last year’s winner Jim Nantz, Al Michaels, Joe Buck, even Bob Costas, but it’s nice to see Verne Lundquist nominated. Jon Gruden is an addition to the Game Analyst category. And you’ll see the usual suspects in the Studio Analyst category.

Breakdown of nominations will follow in a separate post.

The Nominations

Outstanding LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL

2010 FIFA World Cup: Final Match – Spain vs Netherlands – ABC
2010 Tour de France – Versus
Golf on CBS: The MastersCBS
NBA Finals on ABC – ABC
The Breeders’ Cup World Championship: The 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic – ESPN
The Ryder Cup – NBC/USA

Outstanding LIVE SPORTS SERIES

ESPN College Football – ESPN
ESPN Monday Night Football – ESPN
NASCAR on FOX and SPEED – FOX/SPEED
NBC Sunday Night Football – NBC
NFL on FOX – FOX

Outstanding LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND

Inside the Headsets:The 26th All?Star Challenge – SPEED/NASCAR Media Group
Sound FX: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets – NFL Network/NFL Films
The 2010 World Series of Poker Final Table – ESPN
Tour de France on CBS – CBS
XXI Olympic Winter Games - NBC

Outstanding PLAYOFF COVERAGE

2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN
MLB Postseason on TBS – TBS
NBA Playoffs on TNT – TNT
NCAA Basketball on CBS: The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – CBS
NFL on FOX: NFC Championship Game – FOX

Outstanding EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL

24/7: Mayweather?Mosley – HBO
24/7: Penguins?Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic – HBO Bill Parcells: Reflections on a Life in Football – NFL Network/NFL Films
I Scored a Goal – ABC
Red Bull Young Jaws – Fuel/Red Bull Media House

Outstanding SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

June 17th, 1994 – ESPN
Lombardi – HBO
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals – HBO
Robben Island: A Greater Goal – ESPN2
The Two Escobars – ESPN Deportes

Outstanding EDITED SPORTS SERIES/Anthology

Big Ten Basketball 2010: The Journey – Big Ten Network
E:60 – ESPN2
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets -HBO/NFL Films
NCAA on CBS: Championships of the NCAA – CBS
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel – HBO

Outstanding STUDIO SHOW ? WEEKLY

College Gameday – ESPN
Football Night in America – NBC
Inside the NBA on TNT – TNT
MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas – MLB Network
NFL GameDay Morning – NFL Network

Outstanding STUDIO SHOW ? DAILY

Inside the NBA on TNT – TNT
MLB Postseason on TBS – TBS
MLB Tonight – MLB Network
Pardon the Interruption – ESPN/Rydholm Projects
SportsCenter – ESPN

Outstanding SPORTS JOURNALISM

E:60: Children of Bhopal – ESPN2
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel:Fallen Star – HBO
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The Missing Link – HBO
Vanguard: Soccer’s Lost Boys – Current TV

Outstanding SHORT FEATURE

E:60: A League of Her Own – ABC
Inside the NFL: The Drew Swank Story – Showtime
NFL on CBS: Honoring Flight 93 – CBS
NFL on CBS ? Super Bowl XLIV: Wynton Marsalis ? ’43 Years’ – CBS
Outside the Lines: Santa Anita: A Dark History – ESPN

Outstanding LONG FEATURE

E:60: Josiah’s Time – ESPN2
E:60: Survival 1 – ESPN2
E:60: Unbreakable – ESPN2
Outside the Lines:Asian Carp – ESPN
Outside the Lines: The Power of Dylan – ESPN
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: Leading Man – HBO

Outstanding OPEN / TEASE

2010 FIFA World Cup – ABC
2010 NBA Draft – ESPN
Lombardi – HBO
NBA Playoffs on TNT: Jamie vs Justin – TNT
XXI Olympic Winter Games:Discovery – NBC

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE

CBS NCAA March Madness On Demand IPhone App – CBS Interactive
MLB.com At Bat 2010 -MLBAM
NFL Sunday Ticket Experience on DIRECTV – DIRECTV
NFL.com Live: 2010 Scouting Combine – NFL.com
XXI Olympic Winter Games: Beyond the Broadcast – NBCOlympics.com

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING

24/7:Mayweather?Mosley Face Off with Max Kellerman – HBO
Sunday Night Football Extra – NBCSports.com
The Science of Sports – NBCSports.com

Outstanding NEW APPROACHES ? SPORTS PROGRAMMING ? SHORT FORMAT

Sport Science – ESPN.com
The NFL Season: A Biography – NFL.com/NFL Network
XXI Olympic Winter Games – NBCOlympics.com

Outstanding Sports Personality ? STUDIO HOST

Chris Berman – ESPN
James Brown – CBS/Showtime
Bob Costas – NBC/MLB Network
Ernie Johnson – TNT
Dan Patrick – NBC /DirecTV
Scott Van Pelt – ESPN

Outstanding Sports Personality ? PLAY?BY?PLAY

Joe Buck – FOX
Bob Costas – MLB Network
Mike Emrick – NBC
Verne Lundquist – CBS
Al Michaels – NBC
Jim Nantz – CBS

Outstanding Sports Personality ? STUDIO ANALYST

Charles Barkley – TNT
Kirk Herbstreit – ESPN
Tom Jackson – ESPN
Howie Long – FOX
Harold Reynolds – MLB Network

Outstanding Sports Personality ? SPORTS EVENT ANALYST

Cris Collinsworth – NBC
Jon Gruden – ESPN
Orel Hershiser – ESPN
Phil Simms – CBS
Jeff Van Gundy – ABC

Outstanding TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE

Golf on CBS – CBS
NASCAR on FOX – FOX
NFL on CBS ? Super Bowl XLIV – CBS
Winter X Games 14 – ESPN / ESPN2

Outstanding TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO

2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN/ABC
MLB Tonight – MLB Network
XXI Olympic Winter Games – NBC

Outstanding CAMERA WORK

2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN/ABC
24/7: Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona – HBO
First Ascent: Fly or Die – Travel Channel/Sender Films
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets – HBO/NFL Films
NFL Films Presents: Shots of the Year - NFL Network/NFL Films
XXI Olympic Winter Games: Discovery -NBC

Outstanding EDITING

2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee – ABC
24/7: Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona – HBO
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets – HBO/NFL Films
Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year – Showtime/NFL Films
June 17th, 1994 – ESPN

The Dick Schaap WRITING AWARD

2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN/ABC
24/7: Mayweather?Mosley – HBO
24/7: Penguins?Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic – HBO
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals – HBO
XXI Olympic Winter Games: Discovery – NBC

Outstanding MUSIC COMPOSITION / DIRECTION / LYRICS

2010 FIFA World Cup: Day One Tease – ESPN/ABC
2010 FIFA World Cup: U2 & Soweto Gospel Choir – ESPN/ESPN2/ABC
Lombardi – HBO
Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals – HBO
NFL on CBS ? Super Bowl XLIV: Run This Town – CBS
NFL on CBS ? Super Bowl XLIV: Wynton Marsalis ? ’43 Years’ – CBS

Outstanding Live Event AUDIO / SOUND

MLB on FOX – FOX
NASCAR on FOX – FOX
NFL on FOX – FOX

Outstanding Post Produced AUDIO / SOUND

24/7: Penguins?Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic – HBO
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets – HBO
Inside the NFL: Sounds of the Year – Showtime/NFL Films
NFL on CBS ? Super Bowl XLIV: Run This Town – CBS
XXI Olympic Winter Games: Remember the Titans – NBC

Outstanding GRAPHIC DESIGN

2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN
ESPNU College Football Whiparound – ESPNU
MLB Network Studio Graphics – MLB Network
NBC Sunday Night Football – NBC
Sport Science – ESPN/Base Productions
XXI Olympic Winter Games – NBC

Outstanding PRODUCTION DESIGN / ART DIRECTION

2010 FIFA World Cup – ESPN/ESPN2/ABC
2010 NBA Draft – ESPN
ESPN NFL Unmasked – ESPN
NFL on CBS ? Super Bowl XLIV: Run This Town – CBS

The George Wensel TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Ballpark Cam – MLB Network
Enhanced Visual Accompaniment – ESPN
ESPN3D – ESPN
US Open Tennis Championships: 3D at US Open Tennis Championships – CBS

Outstanding SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT? INSTITUTIONAL

Is It Monday Yet?: Monday Action, An Exit Away, Stone’s Throw – ESPN/Wieden & Kennedy
MLB All?Star Game: Sand – FOX/The Mill
NBC Sports Championship Season – NBC
NHL Winter Classic: Classic Rivalry; Classic Spectacle – NBC
XXI Olympic Winter Games: One Day; Dream It, Win it; One Dream – NBC

Outstanding SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT ? EPISODIC

ESPN Films ? 30 for 30 ‘What if I told You…?’: Winning Time, The Two Escobars, Pony Express – ESPN
NFL ‘It’s Good to Have a Ring’: Booth; Airport; Pool Party – FOX/SMuggler
The Open Championship: Perception – ESPN
XXI Olympic Winter Games: One Day; Olympic Showdown; Dancing Stars – NBC

And those are your nominations for the 32nd Annual Sports Emmy Awards. More stuff on this coming up throughout the day.

Attempting The Friday Night Megalinks

I’m going to try to finish off the megalinks tonight while watching the NCAA Tournament. This is not guaranteed to work, but I’ll do my best.

The Weekend Viewing Picks have everything you need for your TV planning.

Let’s get to your links.

National

USA Today’s Dueling Mikes return, Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy argue whether a player-less NFL Draft would make for good television.

Mike McCarthy notes the ratings for the first real day of NCAA Tournament action on the networks of CBS/Turner.

Mike says CBS broke into the NCAA Tournament to air the President Obama statement on Libya today.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch says CBS/Turner will likely change Charles Barkley’s role for next year’s NCAA Tournament.

The St. Petersburg Times’ Eric Deggans, writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, says the March Madness on Demand app is not without its glitches.

Marisa Guthrie of the Hollywood Reporter notes that Damon Wayans will play the lead character in a sitcom based on ESPN Radio hack Colon Cowherd.

Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable says CBS local affiliates are sad they can’t air schools from their local markets, but they understand the new TV landscape.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News notes the increase of visitors to the NCAA’s March Madness on Demand platforms this year.

Mike also looks at the increased ratings for the opening day of the NCAA Tournament, their highest in 20 years.

Alex Frutkin of Mediaweek says Speed has set its summer schedule in stone.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid notes that CBS/Turner NCAA Tournament sideline reporter Jaime Maggio has caught the eye of many viewers.

Dan has the great video of Gus Johnson’s call of the frantic ending of George Mason-Villanova. Great call from Gus.

Matthew DeGeorge of SportsGrid says a San Diego sports anchor almost got run over during a live shot in Arizona.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser talks with MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds.

Marcus says an MMA blog has been banned from an upcoming UFC event for leaking photos of a Playboy photo shoot of ring girl, Arianny Celeste.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that Gus Johnson has trademarked his own catchphrase.

Darren questions the annual story that the NCAA Tournament hurts work productivity.

Puck The Media’s Steve Lepore isn’t too happy about NBC’s NHL decisions.

Gossip Sports lists the Top 10 Gus Johnson moments in college basketball. These are totally great moments.

Jim Weber of Lost Letterman explains why despite Gus Johnson’s popularity, he won’t call the Final Four as long as Jim Nantz is at CBS Sports.

The Sports Media Watch says the MLS season opener did quite well for ESPN.

SMW says ESPN received record ratings for Championship Week.

And SMW notes that ESPN had a very good week for the NBA.

Ken Kerschbaumer from Sports Video Group says ESPN’s E:60 will produce 3-D features for the ESPN 3D audience which totals about 25.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn celebrates 30 seasons of Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn as TV voices of the Celtics.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks about a Brave New World for airing the NCAA Tournament.

Newsday’s Neil Best discusses how this year’s CBS control room was more relaxed for the NCAA Tournament as compared to past years.

Neil says a YES analyst is expected to return this season after a year’s absence.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is wary of athlete apologies.

The Post’s Justin Terranova has five questions for ESPN NBA analyst Jon Barry.

From Fishbowl NY, Jerry Barmash reports that long time WCBS-AM Sports Director Jared Max is leaving the station.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says a local radio has the NCAA Tournament covered.

Pete looks at the combined ratings for CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV on the first day of the NCAA Tournament.

Pete asks why not have a Red Zone Channel for the NCAA Tournament?

Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog looks at Donovan McNabb working as a college basketball analyst.

Cindy Boren of the Post’s Early Lead says NFL Films President Steve Sabol will undergo surgery for a brain tumor. Let’s hope all goes well.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner takes a look at the American LeMans racing series airing races live on ESPN3.com, then having its races air in condensed format later.

South

To the Miami Herald and Barry Jackson who looks at the local sports radio scene.

The St. Petersburg Times’ Tom Jones talks with CBS’ Ian Eagle who has to really do his homework for the four games he called Thursday for the NCAA Tournament.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle writes that the staggered tip times have helped the early ratings of the NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner.

David talks about how CBS/Turner handled the President Obama statement on Libya during its NCAA Tournament coverage.

Jenni Carlson of the Daily Oklahoman says the NCAA Tournament is tempting fans to stay home and watch the games instead of attending them in person.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter from the Cincinnati Enquirer instructs readers how to find NCAA Tournament games on Saturday.

Michael Zuidema from the Grand Rapids (MI) Press looks at some of the sports media oddities to arise from this year’s college basketball postseason.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel loves the way CBS/Turner is handling the NCAA Tournament.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business has his winners and losers.

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune says an ESPN Chicago host who was arrested on DUI charges has entered rehab.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch likes the CBS/Turner collaboration on the NCAA Tournament.

Dan says former Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace has bought a piece of two local sports radio stations.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune says CBS is big into BYU’s Jimmer Fredette.

And Scott says the Utah women will be seen on ESPN2 on Saturday.

John Maffei from the North County Times has San Diego Padres and San Diego State University basketball voice Ted Leitner amazed at the ride he’s been calling this season.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News talks with CBS/Turner’s Steve Kerr about working the NCAA Tournament.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail wonders if TSN can make a dent in the local sports radio scene.

The Canadian Sports Media blog critiques TSN’s first year of handling the NCAA Tournament.

And we are done with the megalinks.

Let’s Do Some Mid-Week Linkage

It’s Wednesday. It means we’re midway through the week which is a good thing. It also means time for the linkage. I hope to get this done before I have an appointment so let’s get cracking.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks about the NBA’s ratings increases on ESPN and TNT.

Mike McCarthy at USA Today’s Game On blog says Tony Kornheiser ripped New York Yankees co-chair Hank Steinbrenner on ESPN last night.

Staci D. Kramer at paidContent has the NHL denying a Bloomberg Businessweek report that it was talking with YouTube to stream live games.

Jon Lafayette at Broadcasting & Cable writes that ESPN is one of the highest valued cable networks in a new study.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says MSG Network will run a marathon of Carmelo Anthony games before his New York Knicks debut tonight.

Diego Vasquez from Media Life Magazine notes that the NBA is a red-hot ratings magnet.

Hey mon! Radio-Info says ESPN Radio has signed its first affiliate in the Caribbean.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the New York Knicks suddenly became hot again.

Darren has a transcript of his interview with New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

Friend of Fang’s Bites Lisa Horne profiles one of the cast members of the Speed reality show, “Car Warriors” which premieres tonight.

From across the Atlantic, Paul Kelso of the the London Telegraph says European soccer governing body, UEFA wants all 53 member governing bodies to sign over their broadcast rights so it can negotiate a new TV contract. Apparently, England is balking at this proposal.

Marc Berman at the New York Post says Carmelo Anthony will get his own VH-1 reality show now that he’s a New York Knick.

Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News speaks with Turner Sports president David Levy about TBS’, TNT’s and truTV’s role in the NCAA Tournament.

Jon Fine of the DC-based TBD.com went searching for the man behind the Washington City Paper column that has DC NFL Team owner Daniel Synder flexing his legal muscles.

Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union speaks with Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow about his new autobiography and being a commercial pitchman.

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel says Fox Sports Florida will be available to Comcast subscribers in sections Central Florida.

Gregory A. Hall of the Louisville Courier-Journal writes about NBC bringing back all three legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown to one network.

David McCollum at the Log Cabin (AK) Democrat says ESPN is playing musical chairs with an early date in the University of Central Arkansas’ football schedule.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the local ESPN Radio affiliate will have Super Bowl XL MVP Aaron Rodgers as a weekly guest during the NFL season.

The Milwaukee Business Journal also notes Rodgers’ weekly guest spot.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business notes that local Bears talk steered sports radio station WSCR to a morning drive ratings win over nationally-based Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio Chicago.

Matt Minkus at the Tucson Citizen talks with CBS college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg.

Paul Coro with the Arizona Republic says the NBA’s Phoenix Suns will air all of its games on cable starting next season.

Larry Bohannon of The Desert (CA) Sun looks at Golf Channel and NBC combining forces for the WGC-Match Play Championship.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that hockey maybe Canada’s game, but the NHL wants to make it the world’s.

Dave Stewart at The Guardian in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada talks with TSN’s three voices of curling.

Sports Media Watch says CBS received good ratings for the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open.

SMW has some various ratings news and notes.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says Versus will air a special Trade Deadline edition of Hockey Central on Monday.

Dave Kohl at Major League Programs feels better about NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman following his interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa.

And that’s going to be it for the links.

Cranking Out Some Sunday Links

Let’s do some Sunday links for you today. Good stuff to get to. Let’s get cranking.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News reports that DirecTV is rebranding FSN affiliates in Denver, Pittsburgh and Seattle.

Mike writes that NFL Network hit a season-low audience for Thursday Night Football, not reaching an average five million viewers for the first time in 2010.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has Charles Barkley’s comments on Brett Favre’s alleged sexting of Jenn Sterger.

The Waterbury (CT) Republican-American says ESPN filmed a local Christmas display for Sunday NFL Countdown.

Neil Best of Newsday talks with actor Christian Bale who co-stars with Mark Wahlberg in the excellent movie, “The Fighter”.

Bob Raissman with the New York Daily News claims Jets coach Rex Ryan will become a media target if his team doesn’t beat the Pittsburgh Steelers today.

Once again, Dr. Doom and Gloom at the New York Post says everything in sports television is bad and all telecasts should go back to the old black and white days.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Joe Theismann discusses his role in “The Blind Side”.

To the Washington Examiner where Jim Williams talks with media lightning rod from earlier this year, Ms. Inez Sainz.

The Toledo (OH) Blade talks with ESPN’s Mike Tirico.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Patriots are big favorites over the Packers according to one national NFL pundit.

Bob says the University of Wisconsin football team gets a big spread in ESPN the Magazine.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News wonders why Mark Cuban’s college football championship proposal is getting rejected.

Debbie Arrington of the Sacramento Bee writes that Sunday Night Football is the dominant NFL primetime package now. 

John Daly at the Daly Planet says contrary to reports, Speed won’t be known as the NASCAR Network.

Sports Media Watch has its Weekend Ratings Predictions.

That will do it for today. Watch for the Sunday NFL pregame quotage throughout the day.

Squeezing Out Some Tuesday Links

Well, I don’t have to rush back to another office today so I’ll provide some much desired linkage. We’ve already heard about Brett Favre this morning and I don’t want to suckered into another summer of “Will he or won’t he” again. Tired of the whole machinations and ESPN having Rachel Nichols stationed in Mississippi reporting every 15 minutes on SportsCenter. I saw the news break on Twitter. Just glad I wasn’t watching ESPN when the news broke.

Ok, to the links.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand crunches some of the TV ratings numbers from the weekend.

Brian Lowry in Fox Sports.com isn’t a fan of TV dictating game times.

Fox Sports Net Vice President of Public Relations Chris Bellitti breaks news on Twitter that Fox will not bid for the Texas Rangers.

Darren Everson of the Wall Street Journal notes that NFL training camps have become giant reality shows. 

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says DirecTV is about to do an all-out blitz for its NFL Sunday Ticket package.

Milton Kent of Fanhouse says be prepared to see Kurt Warner on Dancing with the Stars this season.

Clay Travis at Fanhouse talks with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and how he got the richest media rights deal in college sports. 

Trey Kirby of Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie blog says expect to see a lot of the Miami Heat on national TV.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says despite taking a hit to his image, Upper Deck still believes in LeBron James.

Darren wonders why the Miami Heat had to fire its entire season tickets sales staff. 

To the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center and Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times who writes that Shaquille O’Neal is giving us a lesson on how the sports media world has changed in the 21st Century.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call notes that Speed is the closest thing a NASCAR fan has to a 24/7 channel dedicated to the sport.

Bob Flounders of the Patriot-News (PA) profiles Michael Barkann of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia.

Bob has a little more with Barkann.

In Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV writes about the Baltimore Ravens and MASN splitting ways after a five year partnership.

Sam Sessa of the Baltimore Sun saw ESPN’s corporate letter announcing the closure of the ESPNZone restaurants. 

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner tells us to look for the Ravens to partner with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

In the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg says LaVar Arrington will join the Post to write a blog.

Hal Boedecker of the Orlando Sentinel says Bright House cable customers are used to disputes as ESPN is in danger of being pulled in September.

Jeff Shain of the Sentinel looks at Whit Watson joining the Golf Channel. 

And Hal says Erin Andrews begins her Good Morning America gig on Thursday.

Barry Shlachter of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that News Corp. will not bid for the Rangers.

Jennifer Floyd Engel in the Star-Telegram feels Mark Cuban is in for the Texas Rangers bidding for himself and not the fans.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will put all of its games, except for those picked exclusively by TNT or ABC, on Fox Sports Oklahoma.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer tells us that Brian Collins who gave us, “Boom Goes The Dynamite” is now looking for a new job.

Eric Hansen of the South Bend (IN) Tribune looks at Mike Mayock as the new TV analyst for Notre Dame football.

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune says the local Fox affiliate is surprised over losing a sports anchor.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business says the White Sox refute manager Ozzie Guillen’s claims about MLB’s treatment of Latin players.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times reports of the long term agreement between CBS and Comcast that carries coverage for CBS College Sports as well. 

John Consoli of The Wrap says ESPN is selling BASS, LLC. to a former Time Inc. executive. 

AJ Daulerio of Deadspin says it appears the new book on ESPN is going to be a blockbuster.

The Big Lead tells us about some rumblings at Yahoo! Sports. 

Steven Collins at Bristol Today notes that actor Mark Wahlberg put ESPN’s public relations at Defcon 4 after an interview with Moviefone.

Sports Media Watch says NASCAR’s ratings bounced back on Sunday.

SMW notes that the Miami Heat will have two big national games in December.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media teases a five part series on the future of the NHL on US TV.

Emmett Jones in Sports Business Digest praises DirecTV for making its SuperFan package available to all NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers instead of a select few.

SportsbyBrooks notes that ESPN writer Arash Markazi has had stories spiked before.

Bob’s Blitz has video of NESN’s Heidi Watney throwing out the first pitch for the Lowell Spinners during her Bobblehead night.

That will do it.

Quick Monday Linkage

I have to be at a jobsite this morning, but I’ll give you a few links before going out.

Mike McCarthy at USA Today says Tiger Woods took hits from golf analysts and reporters for dropping out of the Players Championship.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Jason Fry tells bloggers to look inside the numbers when it comes to web traffic.

John Ourand, Michael Smith and Terry Lefton from the Sports Business Journal says after losing FedEx as a sponsor, ESPN has obtained a new one for the Orange Bowl.

John writes that while MLB Network is getting critical praise, the channel’s ratings have not followed suit. 

Terry Lefton chronicles how Anheuser-Busch returned as the official beer sponsor of the NFL.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if rugby can become part of the American sports lexicon.

Darren talks with UFC President Dana White. 

Darren says teams that offer free tickets in exchange for bad play is sports marketing of the future.

Kent Gibbons of Multichannel News writes that Time Warner Cable will pick up Speed’s new broadband channel.

The great Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated has his Media Power Rankings for April.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir reviews Bill Madden’s book on Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

To Phil Mushnick of the New York Post who says the Mets’ baserunning blunders made no sense, but received no second guessing on TV.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says Curt Menafee will once again replace Nick Charles on Showtime Boxing.

Tim Lemke says a negative Boston Globe article may have led to a Scottish soccer team pulling out of a planned US summer tour.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says Tiger Woods is unsure that he would be able to defend the AT&T National crown this year.

Tom Jones in the St. Petersburg Times looks at how Sun Sports treated Sunday’s perfect game pitched by Oakland’s Dallas Braden against the Tampa Bay Rays.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin will be part of the MLB Network announcing team calling this Saturday’s Civil Rights Game in the Queen’s City.

Gene Myers of the Detroit Free Press conducted the final interview with Ernie Harwell last year and was published this week. Here’s part one. Part two is here. Part three will be posted on Tuesday.

In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman writes that Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz is not a fan of Versus.

Kansas City sports radio station WHB is reporting that the Big Ten is extending invitations to four schools including two Big 12 teams, Notre Dame and Rutgers.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post says Ernie Harwell made quite the impression on him.

Los Angeles Times TV critic Robert Lloyd reviews ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary, “Straight Outta L.A.”

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has this week’s sports calendar in SoCal.

Tom also reviews “Straight Outta L.A.”

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says hockey could learn a thing or two from soccer. 

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes that CBC’s Bob Cole has found the play-by-play magic once again.

William Houston in Truth & Rumours has some Canadian sports TV ratings news and notes.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Dan Patrick will host NBC’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals, something that Dan has been talking about on his radio show.

Steve also does a takedown of William Houston who has become a bitter little hedgehog since leaving the Toronto Globe and Mail.

The Sports Media Watch says ABC garnered strong ratings for the two NBA playoff games it carried this weekend.

SMW says Yankees-Red Sox failed to live up to its past ratings on Fox. Don’t forget that the game finished on FX due to rain delays and a NASCAR commitment.

SMW notes that Fox did do well with the Southern 500 on Saturday.

And SMW says a Tiger Woods-less Players Championship on Sunday led to a huge ratings drop for NBC.

Over at Boston Sports Media Watch, I post a couple of hockey notes including one regarding the ratings for the NHL on Versus in Boston.

EPL Talk has BBC Sport’s very good promo for the World Cup.

And now are done with all of the links for Monday.

Complete List of Winners At The 31st Annual Sports Emmy Awards

Last night, I gave you some of the winners of the 31st Annual Sports Emmy Awards which were handed out in New York. I garnered the info as best as I could. We now have the complete list of winners. A press release which was put on the Sports Emmy Awards website will be posted here shortly. The entire list of winners from Monday night’s festivities comes to you right after the break. This is a long list so I’m dong a jump.

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL

Super Bowl XLIII – NBC

Executive Producer
Dick Ebersol

Producer
Fred Gaudelli

Director
Drew Esocoff

Replay Producers
Robert Hyland, Mark Teitelman

Sideline Producer
Michele Froman

Senior Associate Director
Charlie Vanacore

Segment Producers
Rebecca Chatman, Israel DeHerrera, Ken Hirdt, Kaare Numme

Associate Producers
Charles Dammeyer, Drew Devine, Bryan Dumas, Wade Junco, Margaret Murphy, Vinny Rao, Craig Rothberg, Michael Rothman, Russell Sprole

Associate Directors
Brigette Boginis, Pierre Moossa

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SERIES

NBC Sunday Night Football – NBC

Executive Producer
Dick Ebersol

Producer
Fred Gaudelli

Director
Drew Esocoff

Replay Producer
Charlie Vanacore

Sideline Producer
Michele Froman

Associate Director
Pierre Moossa

Segment Producers
Ken Hirdt, Wade Junco, Kaare Numme

Associate Producers
Bryant Anderson, Erin Bollendorf, Charles Dammeyer, Andrew Macchio, Ryan Meyers, Margaret Murphy, Vinny Rao, Craig Rothberg

 

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND

Inside the Headsets/The 25th All Star Race – Speed/NASCAR Media Group

Executive Producers

Jay Abraham, Paul Brooks, Steve Craddock, Jeff Hillegass, Jim Jorden, Hunter Nickell, Frank Wilson

Producers

Quinn Collins, Nora Driscoll, Kevin Foley, Brian Goodwin, Sol Horner, Kevin Jackson, Rory Karpf, Wes Konick, Scott Leatherman, Brad Lockhart, Joel Maydak, Pete Nickell, Ben Reed, Wayne Riley, Shawn Truax

Director

Al Francesco

Associate Producers

Jeff Lotierzo, Chris Rohlfs, Katja Schwarz, Jamie Vancil, Glenn Vasko, Dawn Williams

Associate Directors

Pat Berger, Brent Buntyn, Harry Cogan, Dave Colozzi, Gina Gupton, David Harrison, Andre Ihle, Craig Johnson, Gary Johnson, Suzy Slater

 
OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL

24/7 Mayweather?Marquez – HBO Sports/Red Line Films

Executive Producers

Rick Bernstein, Ross Greenburg

Senior Producer

David Harmon

Coordinating Producer

Scott Boggins

Producers

Abtin Motia, Thomas Odelfelt

Operations Producer

Cris DiLegge

Field Producers
Jackson Nguyen, Gabriel Spitzer

Associate Producers

Brad Buckwalter, Aaron Cohen, Peter Cooley, Jeff Fisher, Danon Hinty, Jonathan Katz, Adam Marinelli, Dan Marks, Alastair McKewitt, John Tipton, Andres Vazquez

OUTSTANDING SPORTS DOCUMENTARY

Assault in the Ring – HBO Sports/ Live Star Entertainment/Wonder Sound

Executive Producers

Rick Bernstein, Eric Drath, Ross Greenburg, Barry Murphy

Executive in Charge of Production

Fredric Cambria

Supervising Producer

Joseph M.Lavine

Operations Producers

Kenneth Clausen, Holly Peterman

Associate Producers

Aaron Cohen, Tripp Dixon, James Fideler, Brian Hartough, Zachary Heinzerling, Bill McCullough, Brian Murphy, Abby Oakes

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES/ANTHOLOGY

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals/HBO Sports/NFL Films

Executive Producers

Rick Bernstein, Ross Greenburg, Howard Katz, Steve Sabol

Coordinating Producers

David Harmon, Patrick Kelleher, Ross Ketover

Producer

Ken Rodgers

Co-Producer

Keith Cossrow

Director

Steve Trout

Segment Producers

Charlie Askew, Chris Barlow, Dave Douglas, Garrett Fittizzi, Greg Frith, hannon Furman, Rob Gehring, Jay Jackson, Jeff Larsen, Steve Lucatuorto, Nicholas Mascolo, Eric Monaco, Gerry Reimel, Margaret Ruffing?Morris, Adam Ryan, Bob Smith, Greg Smith, Angela Torma, Mike Wimmer

Associate Producers

Pamela Alexo, Heidi Bahnck, Jim Barnett, Greg Bocchetti, Tom Brant, Kevin Bushman, Chris Corbellini, Matt Curran, Matt Dissinger, Deanna Forgione, Michelle Girardi, Mike Greenwood, Jared Hilbert, Nick Kehoe, John Marsh, Leo McCafferty, Tiffany Orbin, Erik Powers, Tim Rumpff, Jeremy Saidel, Jamil Smith, David Stiles, Justin Stoll, Chris Weaver, Alicia Zubikowski, Joe Zucco

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – WEEKLY
College GameDay – ESPN

Executive Producers
Steve Anderson, John Skipper, Norby Williamson

Executive Editor

John Walsh

Managing Editor

Mark Gross

Director of News

Vince Doria

Senior Coordinating Producers

Michael Fountain, Jay Levy, David Miller

Coordinating Producer

Lee Fitting

Senior Coordinating Director

Jay Francis

Senior Director

Scott Favalora

Director

Lorenzo Lamadrid

Senior Coordinating Producer, Features

Craig T. Lazarus

Coordinating Producers, Features

Valerie Gordon, Tom McCollum, Victor Vitarelli

Feature Producers

Nancy Devaney, Joseph Disney, Tom Engle, Kory Kozak, Michael Sciallo, Richard Thomas, Benjamin Webber 

Associate Producers

Rick Allison, Elisa Aniskoff, Ben Branch, Matthew Brooks, Jenn Brownsmith, Derek Chang, Lee Clark, Dick Dorner, Justin Endres, Chris Fallica, Gregory Fonseca, Chris Fulton, Joalin Goff, Chad Hanna, Kirk Henry, Timothy Horgan, Dirk Howard, Robert J. Labay, Seth Madway, Timothy McShay, Rick Mickler, Wendy Nickson, Carolyn Rauen, Tim Richard, Marc Rowley, Chuck Samataro, Shelley Saunders, Nicholas Sciallo, Claudia Slocum, Jeremiah Swartz, Reginald Walker, Lynne West, Mike Whittaker, Jonathan Whyley, Steve Widuch, Jonathan Williams

Associate Directors

Brian Albon, Kristy Higgins

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW – DAILY

Pardon the Interruption – ESPN

Executive Producers

Steve Anderson, David Brofsky, Tony Kornheiser, Erik Rydholm, John Skipper, Michael Wilbon, Norby Williamson

Executive Editor

John Walsh

Managing Editor

Mark Gross

Director of News

Vince Doria

Coordinating Producer

Matthew Kelliher

Directors

Mike Foss, Tom Howard

Associate Producers

Elizabeth Hardwick, Megan McHale, Michael Morrell, Frankie Nation, Matthew Ouano, Anthony Reali, Amy Shapiro

Associate Director

Bonnie Berko

OUTSTANDING SPORTS JOURNALISM
E:60/Wanted: Fugitive – ESPN2

Executive Producers
Andy Tennant, Bob Wallace

Director of News
Vince Doria

Coordinating Producers
Robert Abbott, Michael Baltierra, Robbyn Footlick

Feature Producer
Yaron Deskalo

Senior Producers
Ben Houser, Martin Khodabakhshian

Associate Producers
Pascal Charpentier, Timothy Horgan, Phil Iglesias, Dragana Jovanovic, Matt McCormick, Tim Spero, Hillary Wasch

Reporter
Jeremy Schaap

OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE

Inside the NFL/ Fighting for #62?The Nick Reardon Story – CBS/Showtime

Executive Producers
Harold Bryant, Sean McManus

Coordinating Producer
Pete Radovich, Jr.

Producer
Sarah Rinaldi

OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE
E:60/Catfish Hunters – ESPN2

Executive Producers
Andy Tennant, Bob Wallace

Director of News
Vince Doria

Senior Producers
Ben Hauser, Martin Khodabakhshian

Coordinating Producers
Robert Abbott, Michael Baltierra, Robbyn Footlick

Associate Producers
Barry Dycus, Aaron Johnson, Matt McCormick, Tom Moore, Ray Sullivan, Warren Wolcott

Reporter
Wright Thompson

AND

NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship/The Magic of J?Mac – CBS
 

Executive Producer
Harold Bryant

Senior Producer
Eric Mann

Coordinating Producer
Stephen Karasik

Producer
Pete Radovich, Jr.

Associate Producers
Ken Bolkcom, Dave Brodsky, Anthony Cortese, Jim Karabin, Stuart Millstein, Mark Young

OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE

College Football on CBS/Army?Navy Game – CBS

Executive Producer
Harold Bryant

Coordinating Producers
Stephen Karasik, Craig Silver

Producer
Pete Radovich, Jr.

Associate Producers
Derek Ambrosi, Shelby Campbell, David Finch, Jim Karabin, Jon Taggart

  

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE

CBS Mobile NCAA March Madness On Demand – CBS Mobile

Executive Producers
Randy Ahn, Harold Bryant Robert Gelick, Curtis Kadohama, Jeff Sellinger

Coordinating Producers
Robert Dekas, Stephen Karasik

Coordinating Director
Robert Fishman

Senior Producer
Eric Mann

Producers
Victor Frank, Ken Mack, Robert H. Mansbach, Steve Scheer, Ross Schneiderman, Craig Silver, Mark Wolff

Directors
Michael Arnold, James Cornell, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Grant, J. Bryan Lilley, Robert Matina, Suzanne Smith, Christopher Svendsen

Associate Producers
Chris Burns, Ryan Dougherty, Adam Holzman, Brian Jagoda, Todd Keryc, Bryan Kosowski, Jawn Morales, Steve Murphy, Kurtis Perdelwitz, Brian Seeling, George Wishart

Associate Directors
Alex Bertsche, Alanna Campbell, Cory Fishman, Andrew Freedman, James W. Johnson,
Julie Landa, Steve Mc Kee, Kimani Morales, John Paquet, Jason Ross, Jonathan Segal, William Thayer

 
OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING

Super Bowl MVP’s – ESPN.com

Executive Producers
Robert King, John Kosner, Patrick Stiegman

Producers
John Banks, Jeffri Chadiha, Sheldon Spencer

Feature Producer
Christina Houser

Associate Producers
Nisha Arleth, Peggy Coe, Sean Hintz, Alex Kimball, Steven Kudirka, Robert Labay, Nick Manning, Jason Potterton, Lara Sasaran, Juan Sichon, Aaron Talasnik, David Weiner

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING – SHORT FORMAT

Countdown to Vancouver – NBCOlympics.com

Executive Producers
Dick Ebersol, Perkins Miller, David Neal, Gary Zenkel

Senior Producer
Eric Hamilton

Coordinating Producers
Dave Gabel, Mark Levy, Jim Thompson

Producers
Israel DeHerrera, Phil Parrish

Associate Producers
Matthew Allen, Jamie Anton, Tom Davidson, Lena Glaser, Lee Ann Gschwind, Nikki Spetseris, Ryan Yeager

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO HOST
Bob Costas – NBC/MLB Network

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – PLAY-BY-PLAY
Jim Nantz – CBS

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – STUDIO ANALYST

Kirk Herbstreit – ESPN

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY – SPORTS EVENT ANALYST

Cris Collinsworth – NBC

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE

Red Bull Air Race World Series – FOX Sports Net/G.R.A.C.E Productions

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO

MLB Tonight – MLB Network

OUTSTANDING CAMERA WORK:

24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto – HBO Sports

Director of Photography
Thom Stukas

Camerapersons
Jeff Fisher, Alastair McKewitt, John Tipton

OUTSTANDING EDITING
24/7 Mayweather/Marquez – HBO Sports

Editors
Brad Buckwalter, Jonathan Katz, Dan Marks

THE DICK SCHAAP WRITING AWARD

24/7 Pacquiao/Hatton – HBO Sports

Writer
Aaron Cohen

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION/DIRECTION/LYRICS

Ted Williams – HBO Sports

Composer
Gary Lionelli

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT AUDIO/SOUND

NASCAR on FOX – FOX

Sound/Audio
Fred Aldous, Ben Altopp, Tim George Denmark, Barbara Hanford, Anthony Lomastro, Kevin McCloskey, Steve Onuska, Allen Slansky, Chip Weaver, Doug Wilson

OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – HBO Sports/ NFL Films

Sound/Audio
Vince Caputo, Paul Flinton, Kyle Hartigan, Mike Kennedy, Jerry Mahler, Rich Markowitz, Steve Moseley, Geoff Pawlikowski, Paul Pizzica, Mark Ricci, Scott Scharf

AND

Inside the NFL/Sounds of the Year – CBS/Showtime/NFL Films

Sound/Audio
Scott Carter, Kyle Hartigan, Jesse Legrazie, Jerry Mahler, Debbie Markowitz, Shane McMartin, Geoff Pawlikowski, Paul Pizzica, Mark Ricci, Scott Scharf, Ron Schreier

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN

MLB Tonight – MLB Network

Senior Graphic Designers
Chris Mallory

Graphic Designers
Alex Avdynshin, Jeff Boccia, C.J. Bottitta, Robert Brienza, Bob Brower, Dan Coldwell, David Corrado, Amanda Dunk, Michael Farris, Steve George, Santosh Isaac, Anthony Kounouklos, Premier Maldonado, David Mayzis, Jocelyne Meinert, Mike Moore, Jillian Nalasco, Oscar Navarro, Brian Perkins, Kaitlin Rose, Shannon Wong, Chung Wu

AND

SportsNation – ESPN2

Graphic Designers
Charlie Collin, Kyle Cooper, Mark DiGiovanna, Mark Groeschner, Dale Harney, Joe Hribar, Justin Linde, Scott Lodge, Chris Mantzaris, Paul Mitchell, Tim O’Shoughnessy, Rick Pavia, Alex Popkin, Danielle Robinson, Michael Ruddy, Renata Sedzimir, Heewon Sohn, Kristen Suermann, Michael Szykowny

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN/ART DIRECTION
MLB Tonight – MLB Network

Production Designers
John Entz, Jim Fenhagen, Bruce Ferri, Gary Fippinger, Bryan Higgison, Joe Lamberta,Chris Mallory, Tony Petitti, Tony Santomauro, Michael Sheehan, Susan Stone, Karen Whritner

THE GEORGE WENSEL TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

US Open Tennis/Flomotion - CBS

Innovators
Ken Aagaard, Julianna Barbieri, Arturo Brena, Harold Bryant, Julie Curtiss, Shaun Dail, Robert Fishman, Joel Hahn, Stephen Karasik, Julie Landa, Robert H.Mansbach, John Paquet, Jason Ross, Moshe Samet, Eyal Stessel

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT – INSTITUTIONAL

Football Season Never Ends/Run – NFL Network/Motion Theory

Executive Producers
Kevin Balluff, Steve Bornstein, Dena Kaplan

Creative Director
Greg Carson

Producers
Javier Jiminez, Jason Myers, Anne Pierce, Liz Ross, Jason Trautwein

Director
Matt Cullen

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT – EPISODIC

24/7 Jimmie Johnson Race to Daytona/Mystical Forces – HBO/Ultrabland

Producer

Justin Joseph

Director

David Roofthooft

Here is the breakdown of winners by network.

The 30th Annual Emmy Awards for Sports

SUMMARY OF WINNERS BY NETWORK

HBO Sports/HBO (9)

            24/7 Mayweather-Marquez ………………………………………………….  2

            Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals ..  2

            24/7 Pacquiao-Cotto …………………………………………………………….  1

            24/7 Pacquiao -Hatton …………………………………………………………  1

            24/7 Jimmie Johnson Race to Daytona ………………………………  1

            Assault in the Ring ……………………………………………………………….  1

            Ted Williams …………………………………………………………………………  1

CBS (4)

            College Football on CBS ……………………………………………………….  1

            NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship ……………………………….  1

            Jim Nantz  ……………………………………………………………………………..  1

            US Open Tennis …………………………………………………………………….  1

MLB Network (4)

            MLB Tonight ………………………………………………………………………….   3

            Bob Costas ……………………………………………………………………………  1

NBC  (4)

            Cris Collinsworth  …………………………………………………………………  1

            Bob Costas ……………………………………………………………………………  1

            NBC Sunday Night Football  ………………………………………………….  1

            Super Bowl XLIII  …………………………………………………………………..  1

ESPN  (3)

            College GameDay…………………………………………………………………. 1

            Kirk Herbstreit ……………………………………………………………………..  1

            Pardon the Interruption ………………………………………………………..  1

ESPN2  (3)

            E: 60 ………………………………………………………………………………………  2

            SportsNation …………………………………………………………………………  1

CBS/Showtime  (2)

            Inside the NFL ……………………………………………………………………….  2

CBS Mobile   (1)

            CBS Mobile NCAA March Madness on Demand………………….. 1

ESPN.com   (1)

            Super Bowl MVPs ………………………………………………………………..  1

FOX  (1)

            NASCAR on FOX ………………………………………………………………….   1

FOX  Sports Net (1)

            Red Bull Air Race World Championship …………………………….   1

NBCOlympics.com  (1)

            Countdown to Vancouver  ………………………………………………….  1

NFL Network  (1)

            Football Season Never Ends ………………………………………………  1

Speed  (1)

            Inside the Headsets …………………………………………………………….  1

Good stuff.

Snowy Wednesday Linkage

On this really snowy day in Southern Rhode Island, I’m at home, warm, toasty, trying to find a DirecTV channel that isn’t blocked by the snow. While parts up north hardly received any snow, we’re getting walloped here in southern Rhode Island. No fun.

I’ll do links while I can.

Eric Fisher of the Sports Business Journal reports that former Washington Times baseball reporter Mark Zuckerman got donations from readers so he could cover Nationals Spring Training.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes that NBC has mostly familiar faces covering the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable writes how ESPN is rebranding its ESPN360 web service.

Multichannel News looks at how Fox will take the UEFA Champions League final for itself instead of being aired on FX.

Anthony Crupi from Mediaweek says great college and pro football ratings helped ESPN to power parent Disney to a rise in revenues.

Boston.com (owned by the New York Times) reports that the Times is moving ahead with the sale of its 17.5% stake of the Boston Red Sox.

Why is this not a surprise? The New York Post says Tiger Woods “Mistress No. 1″ Rachel Uchitel has gotten a gig with Extra.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says the AHL’s Albany River Rats will be heard on the FM dial starting tonight.

From the Washington Examiner, Jim Williams tells us to get ready for plenty of Danica Patrick on your TV this week.

Dennis Finley from the Virginian-Pilot apologizes to readers for messing up Monday’s sports edition which had the wrong Super Bowl score not once, but twice!

Sarah Talalay from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wraps up the Super Bowl from the local perspective.

Mel Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman has NBA TV quotage from last night’s Oklahoma City-Portland game.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has a quick sports business and sports media roundup.

Ed talks with veteran Chicago Tribune Olympics reporter Philip Hersh about his 30 years of covering the Games.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has an Olympic viewing primer. 

Baxter Holmes from the Los Angeles Times writes that the Pac 10 Conference is considering expansion and launching a new cable TV network.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says showing Olympic athletes in swimsuits proves that sex sells in sports.

At Puck The Media, Steve Lepore notes that Versus is doing an all-out push for the NHL after the Olympic break.

Richard Ginn at Real Clear Sports says Speed had great ratings for Danica Patrick’s closed wheel debut.

That’s going to do it for us now.

Friday Megalinks

My apologies for not posting after my Thursday entry. I was called away to the home office which has only one dial-up internet connection and could not post to the blog. And then I was at the Reality Fan Forum last night helping to update the Big Brother Head of Household competition so blogging last night was quite difficult. But I’m here now and I’m giving you the Friday megalinks without delay.

As always, it’s the Weekend Viewing Picks.

This weekend is like the calm before the storm as next weekend, the Olympics in Communist China begin and the PGA Championship will be underway. This weekend, it’s quiet.

Now that the Trading Deadline is over, MLB settles in for the late summer pennant races. The NFL starts to kick off the 2008 season with the Hall of Fame Weekend including the induction ceremonies and the annual exhibition season start. The U.S. men’s basketball team has another pre-Olympic warm up and the LPGA is in the UK for the Women’s Open Championship.

Starting off with baseball, Fox Saturday baseball has regional coverage with the Yankees hosting the Angels, Milwaukee at Atlanta and the White Sox with Ken Griffey, Jr. taking on Kansas City at 3:55 p.m. The regional splits and announcing assignments are here. On Sunday, TBS has the Angels-Yankees at 1 p.m. WGN carries the Cubs hosting the Pirates at 2 p.m. ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball pits the Phillies against the Cardinals at 8 p.m.

The NFL’s Hall of Fame Weekend starts exhibition season. The induction ceremonies are on Saturday and both ESPN and NFL Network have live coverage of the Class of 2008 going into the Hall. ESPN’s coverage will be anchored by Trey Wingo and Tom Jackson. NFL Network will have Rich Eisen and Michael Irvin. ESPN’s and NFL Network’s coverage begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The following night, NBC has the annual Hall of Fame Game between the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts at 8 p.m. Al Michaels and John Madden begin the Super Bowl season for NBC Sports on Sunday night.

NASCAR is in the Poconos for the Pennsylvannia 500, Sunday. ESPN has the race starting at 2 p.m.

Formula 1′s Hungarian Grand Prix will be on Speed, Sunday morning at 7:30.

The Women’s Open Championship at the Sunningdale Country Club in Berkshire will be broadcast on ABC, Saturday on tape at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday on tape at 1.

The PGA Tour has two tournaments, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio. CBS has coverage over the weekend at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Then Golf Channel has the Legends Reno -Tahoe Open throughout the weekend at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday as well. Michelle Wie will try to make the cut and most likely will not.

Team USA gears up for the Olympic basketball tournament with a game against Russia in Shanghai. ESPN 2 has the game early Saturday morning at 3.

Both HBO and Showtime have boxing title bouts Saturday night. HBO’s Boxing After Dark has Zab Judah and Joshua Clottey fighting for the vacant IBF welterweight title. Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis will have the call. During the Boxing After Dark program, HBO will also show the replay of the July 26 welterweight fight between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito that Margarito won in an 11 round TKO. Boxing After Dark starts at 9:30 p.m.

Showtime Championship Boxing has Dimitri Kirilov defending his IBF Junior Bantamweight title against Vic Darchinyan. Showtime’s coverage begins at 9 p.m.

The U.S. Open Series continues with the finals of two tournaments. The ATP’s Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and the WTA’s Rogers Cup have their championships on Sunday and ESPN2 will have both matches starting at 3 p.m.

Let’s now head to your links.

National

USA Today’s Michael McCarthy writes about the possible destinations (MLB Network) for former NESN anchor Hazel Mae.

The Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders why the owners of Big Brown are running him at the Haskell Invitational this weekend.

East and Mid-Atlantic

David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch looks at Peter Gammons going ballistic on Manny Ramirez on ESPN890 radio yesterday.

Newsday’s Neil Best writes that YES’ and WFAN’s Kimberly Jones was considered for the Giants radio pre-game show host position.

In the New York Post, Phil Mushnick wishes ESPN would not adopt replay for the Little League World Series.

The Post’s Justin Terranova talks with TBS’ Buck Martinez about the Angels-Yankees series this weekend. And Justin has five questions for SNY’s Keith Hernandez.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the composite NFL exhibition TV schedule.

A few things from Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record. First, he writes that WFAN will air regular Olympic updates plus some programming and 1050 ESPN will also have nightly programming from Communist China as well. Ken says WFAN will pick up some Westwood One Sunday afternoon NFL games. And Ken writes that no New York area radio stations have yet to pick up Westwood One’s college football doubleheaders.

From the Baltimore Sun, Ray Frager reminds us that the Ravens have split their exhibition games between two TV stations this summer.

In the DC/Baltimore Examiner, Jim Williams updates Redskins fans on the options they have in listening to the games.

Midwest

George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal talks about ESPN and NFL Network battling for viewers for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies.

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) says a local sports anchor will be heading to Communist China to cover the Olympics.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune writes that former Bear Dan “Manster” Hampton will join sports radio station WSCR. Teddy also has his weekend viewing picks.

Ted Cox from the Chicago Daily Herald also has a story on Hampton joining WSCR.

Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star looks at a long time TV sports anchor who is celebrating five years on the radio.

South

The State’s Gerald Davis talks with a resident who has hooked up with SPEED as a production assistant.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says the sports radio battle between WQAM and the Ticket is heating up.

Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel talks about ESPN’s Trey Wingo hosting the NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies this weekend.

Jim Reeves of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that Dallas Cowboys radio Brad Sham will be seen in Oliver Stone’s movie about President George W. Bush.

Over to the Daily Oklahoman where Mel Bracht has a story on the Cowboys appearing on HBO’s Hard Knocks for the second time. Mel writes about the winner of the radio rights to Oklahoma City’s NBA franchise. Mel writes for the Olympics, Cox Communications will be bundling various channels for the Olympics. In his notebook, Mel talks about the Oklahoma Sooners. Here are Mel’s viewing picks.

Canada

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that former Canucks coach Marc Crawford is joining CBC as a game analyst.

Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star remembers former CFL wide receiver and long-time TV analyst Leif Pattersen.

The Canadian Press says CBC is setting the bar high for its last Olympics in at least six years.

West

In the Deseret (UT) Morning News, Scott D. Pierce writes about Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann reuniting for NBC’s Football Night in America.

Jay Posner in the San Diego Union-Tribune says NBC is serving up an Olympics feast. Jay has the weekend ratings for San Diego from last week.

John Maffei of the North County Times finds it strange that the new San Diego Fox affiliate won’t have a regularly scheduled sportscast.

Blogs

Deadspin talks with columnist Mike Nadel who criticized ESPN’s Erin Andrews for wearing a skimpy outfit while covering Wednesday’s Cubs-Brewers game.

The Chicago Sun-Times’ Inside the Cubs blog shows what Erin was wearing on Wednesday.

Awful Announcing shows us the Manny Ramirez SportsCenter ad that will never air again.

Christopher Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media blog says CBS Sports has hired a new Coordinating Producer.

That’s all.

Monday Night Linkage

I’ll give you some links here this evening.

First, Ombudsman Le Anne Schreiber praises ESPN for tackling race issues head on.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that the ratings for The Masters were down slightly on CBS Sunday.

Neil Best of Newsday says ratings for The Masters on ESPN set a record on Friday. Neil says if you think the CBS staff was referential towards Augusta National this past weekend, they have nothing on golf writers. And Neil tells us that Masters Champion Trevor Immelman will do the Top Ten List on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight.

The Sports Media Watch has some ratings news of note. First, it says the NHL Playoffs got off to a slow start on NBC this weekend. But it appears the NBA on ABC may have stemmed a downward ratings slide.

John Consoli of Mediaweek says the ratings for the NBA on TNT Thursday night doubleheaders increased by 13% over last year.

The Oklahoman’s Mel Bracht recaps the NBA season ending awards handed out by TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette listened to the debut of a new local sports talk show.

Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch says there were plenty of bad moments and poor taste on Boston sports talk radio in the past few days.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Versus has tabbed a new President from ESPN Star Sports in Singapore. Mike writes that DirecTV has signed a deal with FSN Northwest to show the full compliment of Seattle Mariners games this season.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes in his blog that ESPN Films is teaming up with Robert Redford to produce the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the baseball color barrier.

Maury Brown of the Biz of Sports websites (including the much linked to Biz of Baseball blog) has a very personal story about his son who is autistic. And Tim Lemke of the Washington Times is touched by the story as well.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has a Brian Billick alert.

Chris Pursell of TV Week writes in his Pressbox blog that the NFL Network and ESPN are finalizing their plans for the NFL Draft in New York later this month.

SPEED has hired some guy who won Last Comic Standing as the host of some show.

That’s it for tonight.

Some Friday Megalinks

Since I don’t have to be at the jobsite until later today and I do have some time, I’ll give you as many links as I can before I have to leave.

Starting with USA Today and Michael Hiestand, he writes about the end of HBO’s Inside the NFL. The Nation’s Newspaper lists the sports events on TV for the weekend.

And again, we’ll do the links from East to West.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe has the story of Comcast SportsNet finally doing all of the Celtics games in high definition. Up until now, CSN was only doing the home games in HD.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News wonders how new Yankees manager Joe Girardi will handle the media circus regarding the latest news in the Roger Clemens steroid story.

Phil Mushnick in today’s New York Post warns Giants fans to be ready for later start times next season. And Justin Terranova of the Post has five questions for new YES analyst David Cone.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the construction progress of the new Yankee Stadium.

Continuing on the stadium kick, Newsday’s Neil Best writes that the Giants’ Super Bowl win bodes well for their new stadium. And Neil talks with YES analyst David Cone about the steroids story. In his blog, Neil has a quick blurb about the end of Inside the NFL.

Ray Frager’s news and notes in the Baltimore Sun include praise for Maryland basketball analyst Chris Knoche and news about MASN’s HD plans for the Orioles and the Nationals.

Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner talks with ESPN’s Jay Bilas about the ACC’s chances in the NCAA Tournament.

South

Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald says Inside the NFL will definitely be missed.

The Orlando Sentinel’s Dave Darling talks about a new NASCAR-related show premiering next week on SPEED.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that the Astros are returning to KTXH-TV after a 10 year absence.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Ray Buck reports on the return of Dick Vitale to the TV airwaves.

Midwest

Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star says Frank White will be the third analyst for Royals games on FSN, working when main analyst Paul Splittorff is off.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley tells us that the Brewers will have the most televised games ever this season on FSN Wisconsin and WMLW.

Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune talks with FSN North’s Darby Hendrickson who’s in his first year as a hockey analyst for the Wild and college Gophers. And Judd has the schedule for tomorrow’s day-long Hockey Day in Minnesota telecast on FSN.

Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune says the Big Ten Network and Comcast are no closer to an agreement than last month when BTN President Mark Silverman said he was “optimistic”. Luis Arroyave of the Tribune writes that the MLS’ Chicago Fire will have increased TV exposure this season.

I’ll give the West Coast and Canadian links later.

The Wednesday Stuffage

Time for some links on this Wednesday.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes about the changes in the ESPN production of NASCAR for this upcoming season. The Daly Planet motorsports blog talks about the lovely Wendy Venturini returning to Speed this week.

Newsday’s Neil Best has Tiki Barber picking his former team to win the Super Bowl on his Sirius Satellite Radio show.

Christine McConville of the Boston Herald says the Patriots in the Super Bowl will bring a huge windfall for Fox and local station, Fox25. Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life magazine has a primer for the Super Bowl. Megan Manfull (I’ll let you make the joke there) of the Houston Chronicle writes about two Houston Texans players who will be in Super Bowl ads for the NFL.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at NBC/TSN NHL analyst Pierre McGuire who is usually located between the benches during games.

Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune reports that ESPN has suspended First Take co-host Dana Jacobsen for her behavior at the Mike & Mike Roast in Atlantic City earlier this month. Deadspin has more including an apology from Jacobsen on the matter. Apparently, the Catholic League got invovled after Dana made some disparaging remarks about Notre Dame where Mike Golic attended.

Ed Sherman also writes about WMVP’s afternoon drive show which is now the number one rated sports radio talk show in Chicago.

Tim Lemke of the Washington Times writes about ESPN2′s extended coverage of the Australian Open from Friday morning into Saturday afternoon.

Mike Lucas of the Capital (WI) Times says it’s not the same without Dick Vitale on a college basketball broadcast.

Dick Jerardi of the Philadelphia Daily News says the Bowl Championship Series just doesn’t compare to the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Macleans magazine from Canada talks with Deadspin’s Will Leitch about his new book.

Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press says the Golfweek noose cover was wrong, but the message it was trying to convey was correct. And Monarrez talks with a crisis expert on what’s the best course for Kelly Tilghman to take when she returns to the Golf Channel tomorrow.

That will do us for now. Check back later for more stuff.