Fang's Bites

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.

I’m Pretty Good At This Prediction Thing Thus Far

Here are the Sports Media Predictions I made on New Year’s Day. I’m looking pretty good thus far.

Comcast takes over NBC and Starts to merge NBC Sports with Versus/Golf Channel and Comcast SportsNet affiliates Check

Comcast’s Deep Pockets Will Help NBC Retain Rights For the Olympics Check

The NHL Rights Are Awarded To NBC/Versus, ESPN Decides to Pass Check (But ESPN did not pass, but I give myself credit for this)

Vin Scully Announces 2011 Will Be His Last Year Incomplete

The NFL Lockout Happens, But No Games Are Lost Check (Just the Hall of Fame Game was lost)

The NBA Lockout Happens, and It Wipes Out The Entire Season Incomplete

3-D TV Sales Continue To Slump, ESPN Decides to End ESPN 3D Wrong

MLS Totally Miscalculates Its Value and Pays The Price  Wrong

So far, I have four right, two wrong and two still pending. That’s pretty good.

Some Sports Media Predictions

Usually I don’t do sports media predictions because everyone else does them and they usually come out better than what I would generate, but these have been on my mind for a couple of days so I’ll give you a few before wrapping up the blog for New Year’s.

Comcast takes over NBC and Starts to merge NBC Sports with Versus/Golf Channel and Comcast SportsNet affiliates
This is going to be one of the big stories of 2011, how Comcast’s ownership of NBC Universal will change entertainment and distribution of content. Versus will get stronger thanks to the leadership of NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol. Golf Channel’s coverage will be bolstered by having Johnny Miller on several PGA tournaments. In addition, NBC’s influence will be seen on Comcast’s regional sports networks as the network will provide some content to help fill programming holes. And this leads us to my next prediction.

Comcast’s Deep Pockets Will Help NBC Retain Rights For the Olympics
With Comcast in tow, NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol will do his very last power play before retiring after the 2016 Olympics by winning the rights not only for the 2014/2016 Olympics, but also the 2018/2020 Games. Then after the 2012 Olympics, Ebersol and International Olympics Committee President Jacques Rogge will announce that NBC will also win the rights to the 2022/2024 Olympics, leaving behind a lasting legacy. CBS/Turner and ESPN will complain, but the IOC has never worked in lockstep with normal bidding procedures.

The NHL Rights Are Awarded To NBC/Versus, ESPN Decides to Pass
Despite the NHL Players Association wanting to return to ESPN, the NHL decides to remain with the status quo and on the networks of Comcast/NBC Universal. In a first, NBC will pay a rights fee, but it will also be attached to revenue sharing where the network can still make money on the league. NBC will retain the Winter Classic. NHL Network will be allowed to pick up some postseason action for the first time. When asked to bid, ESPN decides it will not seek the rights, but will continue to distribute the NHL worldwide on ESPN International.

Vin Scully Announces 2011 Will Be His Last Year
Never wanting to be a distraction, Vin Scully announces at the end of the Dodgers’ next to last contest against Arizona on September 27, that the final game of the season will be his last. Scully then calls the following game as normal and as he signs off says, “Thanks for the ride.” Vin agrees to throw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium for the 2012 season opener and then will ride off into the sunset.

The NFL Lockout Happens, But No Games Are Lost
After the Super Bowl in February, the NFL will lock out the players, but the Draft and Schedule Announcement will occur as planned. Then right before the first preseason games are to be played, the NFL and NFL Players Association will craft an agreement. Part of the new agreement that will take effect in the 2012 season will be a new 18 game schedule with two byes built in extending the season into mid-January and a mid-February Super Bowl.

The NBA Lockout Happens, and It Wipes Out The Entire Season
Unlike the NFL which will realize not to mess with its Golden Goose, the NBA and its Players Association will hold several rancorous negotiations leading to an extended lockout. It will not only delay the start of the season, but wipe out the entire season, leaving fans with bad tastes. Several players will organize old school barnstorming tours across the country and into Europe, but because a couple of big name players will get seriously injured, the media will mock the tour and games planned for Communist China will get canceled. After the 2012 NBA Finals are canceled due to the lockout generating enormous fan anger, a new agreement will be crafted in the summer for the 2012-13 season.

3-D TV Sales Continue To Slump, ESPN Decides to End ESPN 3D
With the continued slow sales of 3-D TV, ESPN pulls the plug on ESPN 3D, citing the lack of viewership and lack of support from cable and satellite providers. ESPN announces it will show several 3-D events in movie theaters that will have some moderate success. Overall, the networks realizing the expense and lack of support for 3-D, will focus on improving the quality of HD video and surround sound audio for NFL games.

MLS Totally Miscalculates Its Value and Pays The Price
Major League Soccer has been asking for an inexplicable $20 million/year rights fee from Fox Soccer Channel, almost three times the value that’s being offered and almost 7 times what FSC was paying for a contract that expired in 2010. With Fox Soccer Channel getting better ratings airing English Premier League games, FSC will pass on MLS. The league will find it hard to get anyone to pay its asking price. Desperate to find a TV partner, MLS will be forced to buy time on Versus to get a package of 10 games on the air.

And we’ll see how I do with the predictions at this time next year.

2009 Sports Media Predictions

I figure it’s time make some sports media predictions for 2009.

The NHL Returns to ESPN – This has been speculated for so long that whenever a writer or blogger has discussed this topic, I have either turned the page or hit “back” on my browser. But I feel that NHL Czar Gary Bettman will finally listen to the NHL Players Association and put the league back on ESPN. He’ll agree to put games on ESPN2, urge NHL2nite to return and place Games 1 & 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals back on the mothership. To appease Versus, Bettman will give the network exclusive rights to one NHL Conference Championship series. ESPN and NBC will share the other series.

MLB Network Will Announce a Second Night of Live Baseball Games – As it currently stands, MLB Network will carry 26 Thursday night games, but after seeing ratings success in 2009, it will announce that it will add a second night of games, either on Tuesday or Saturday for the 2010 season. ESPN will grit its teeth and say nothing.

Ad rates will drop for Super Bowl XLIV on CBS – Due to the tough economy in 2009 and difficulties in selling ads, CBS will actually offer time on Super Bowl XLIV at a discounted rate, below the $3 million that NBC was selling for SBXLIII.

NFL.com will offer NFL Network games online for free - To expand the audience for Thursday and Saturday night games, NFL.com will stream them for free. It will become the second primetime NFL package to go online. Because Big Cable will again refuse to pick up the NFL Network, there will be no complaints from the pay providers.

Tennis Network offers all of its Grand Slam Tournaments online – Just as it did for the French Open, Tennis Network will provide online streaming for all of its Grand Slam coverage, not just from the outer courts as it currently does for the French Open, but Tennis Network will stream its on-air coverage on its website.

The 2016 Olympics are awarded to…. – Chicago. In October, the International Olympic Committee will honor the appearance of President Barack Obama at the 2016 selection by awarding the 2016 Summer Games to the Windy City. In turn, the IOC will open the bidding for the US TV rights and receive a record amount.

CBS and CBS College Sports Win the ACC Football rights – Coming off a weak season, ESPN will let its exclusive negotiating window lapse and this allows CBS to come in to snatch the ACC TV rights away from ESPN. The ACC will not get the money it was looking for. To appease the SEC, CBS will show ACC games in a 12 p.m. ET window, giving the network an afternoon college football doubleheader. CBS College Sports will show primetime games and Raycom will return to syndicate late afternoon games.

The NFL Splits Radio Rights – Westwood One citing cash flow problems will bow out of the bidding for the NFL radio rights ending a 21 year relationship with the league. ESPN Radio will buy the rights to Monday Night Football and the NFL postseason including the Super Bowl. The Content Factory wanting to add live sports to the Dan Patrick Show will purchase the rights to Sunday afternoon games, Sunday night, Thursday and Saturday night games and the Pro Bowl.

One More Sports League Will Announce Suspension of Play – It won’t be one of the Big Four, but another niche sports league will cease operation in 2009 due to the bad economy. It could be the WNBA, it could be World Team Tennis.

Citi Will Remove Its Name from Citi Field After the 2009 Season – Citigroup will remove its sponsorship of the new Mets stadium after the 2009 season following its failed request for another bailout. Congress will get wise to the wishes of its constituents and get tough with the financial institutions. As a result, Citigroup will cut back on sponsorships including Citi Field.

A Major Sports Radio Station Will Switch Formats – Due to the tough economy, CBS Radio will make major cutbacks following the loss of the NFL from sister company, Westwood One. Without the inventory, one major sports radio station in a major market will be forced to fire its entire staff and switch formats to a syndicated news/talk station.

That will do it for my predictions. On December 31, I’ll review them to see how I did.