Fang's Bites

Some Olympic Media Links

I owe you some linkage and I gathered so many over the last few days that I’m slowing down by browser with so many tabs. I have to clear them so my browser can run properly.

So many things to go over. Let’s do this.

First at SportsGrid, Jordan Rabinowitz at SportsGrid notes that NBC actually spoiled itself by running a Today Show promo about Missy Franklin winning the gold medal in her 100 meter backstroke race just minutes before it aired!

Cork Gaines of the Business Insider has video of that Today promo. It’s in proper context too.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today live blogs Monday night’s NBC primetime telecast.

Michael explains NBC’s policy of holding the glamor Olympic events for primetime.

Will Oremus at Slate reviews the very strange story of NBC getting a UK reporter’s Twitter account suspended because he was critical of the network’s tape delay shenanigans and for tweeting a public e-mail address of a network producer.

Sam Masters of The Independent in the UK says that reporter is a colleague at his newspaper.

Ty Duffy of The Big Lead has NBC’s statement on the matter through Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch.

Sports Business Daily Global looks at the global Olympic TV ratings.

Sports Business Daily notes the three-day average rating for NBC for the first weekend of the 2012 Olympics.

John Ourand at SBD’s Olympic site says NBC is utilizing its Comcast SportsNet affiliates to help promote the Games.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has an interview with NBC Olympics rowing analyst Yasmin Farooq.

Matt writes that NBC’s tape delay policy continues to anger some viewers.

Steve Lepore of SB Nation says despite the tape delays, NBC has nothing to apologize for.

Jeff Jarvis at Buzz Machine is intrigued by the Twitter hashtag #nbcfail which has been popping up since the Olympics began.

ESPN’s Julie Foudy is saddened by US Women’s Soccer National Team goaltender Hope Solo’s Twitter attacks on former teammate Brandi Chastain who has been working for NBC during the Olympics.

John Clarke at Forbes SportsMoney says NBC reaped in the ratings for the Opening Ceremony last Friday, but took a beating on Twitter.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says while every Olympic event is being streamed online by NBC, not everyone can see them.

Richard says NBC may have thought putting events online would have eased complaints about tape delays, but they haven’t.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report looks at how newspapers are covering the 2012 Olympics with fewer resources at their disposal in the present day.

Ed says problems with online streaming at NBCOlympics.com should be expected.

By the way, I tried to watch the streaming of Missy Franklin in the 100 meter backstroke on Monday and this is how it looked on my iPad through the NBC Olympics Live Extra app. Actual image.

It should be much clearer than that, but I’m getting that type of quality especially when an event of high interest is on. NBC has to correct that.

Sports Media Watch says Olympic Daytime and Late Night are doing well for NBC.

SMW says the Olympics are off to a fast start on NBC.

A few links that aren’t Olympic-related.

The Big Lead reports that the Perpetually Angry Doug Gottlieb is expected to leave ESPN for CBS and a formal announcement will be made later this week.

SportsRantz got up early on Monday and took notes on the first hour of the premiere edition of NFL AM.

Dave Kohl at The Broadcast Booth says a new policy on making injuries public could hurt Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporters.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette can’t believe the latest in bad home run calls by Yankees radio voice John Sterling.

Sports Media Watch says it appears ESPN has snatched the rights to the new “Champions Bowl” that will pit teams from the SEC and Big 12.

And that’s is where we will end the linkage for now.

NFL AM Debuts Monday on NFL Network

NFL Network’s new morning show will get its full-fledged debut Monday morning at 6 a.m. ET.

After hearing about the set, hosts and format, the show finally premieres this week and just in time for training camp and the beginning of the 2012 preseason.

We have the NFL AM guest roster for its debut on Monday. Check it out.

NFL AM DEBUTS TOMORROW AT 6:00 AM ET ON NFL NETWORK!

Interviews with Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan & Panthers QB Cam Newton LIVE from Training Camp
Eric Davis’ Top 10 Training Camp Storylines

The wait is over – NFL Network’s NFL AM is here!

Beginning tomorrow at 6:00 AM ET, fans can start their day with the NFL like never before with a weekday four-hour morning show featuring seasoned and opinionated talent who will report and debate news, and examine the personalities that play the game.

Monday’s premiere edition features:

• Interview with New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan LIVE from training camp
• Interview with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton
• Eric Davis’ top 10 storylines heading into training camps
• Fantasy football roundtable

NFL AM’s talent roster features 13-year NFL veteran Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel, Brian Webber, Nicole Zaloumis and Steve Wyche. The show will be based at NFL Network’s Culver City, Calif. studios. No other sport is the sole focus of a show of this length each and every weekday morning.

That will do it.

Meet NFL AM Co-Host Nicole Zaloumis

NFL Network continues to crank out the press release in the days leading up to its new morning show, NFL AM which premieres Monday, July 30 at 6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT. It will be the only major network TV morning show to be produced on the West Coast as most of the morning shows are based in New York.

NFL AM will have Brian Webber and Nicole Zaloumis co-host with Steve Wyche, Eric Davis and Eric Davis as contributors.

In this latest NFL AM press release, we get to know co-host Nicole Zaloumis who has worked previously at Comcast SportsNet New England, Big Ten Network, Fox Sports Net and several other outlets. Take a look.

6 DAYS UNTIL NFL AM DEBUTS!

NFL Network’s ‘NFL AM’ Premieres Monday, July 30 at 6:00 AM ET
Meet Co-Host Nicole Zaloumis

Six days and counting until the premiere of NFL AM – a new, live weekday morning show on NFL Network!

Beginning Monday, July 30 at 6:00 AM ET, fans can start their day with the NFL like never before with a four-hour morning show featuring seasoned and opinionated talent who will report and debate news, and examine the personalities that play the game.

NFL AM co-host Nicole Zaloumis comes to an NFL Network with more than a decade of sports broadcasting experience, most recently at Comcast SportsNet New England since January 2011. Previously, Zaloumis worked for the Big Ten Network, where she co-hosted “The Friday Night Football Report” and “The Women’s Show,” and was a sideline reporter for football games. Earlier in her career, Zaloumis worked for Fox Sports Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the ABC affiliate in Phoenix and the NBC affiliate in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about Zaloumis with this brief Q&A:

When did you know that sports broadcasting was the career you wanted to pursue?
“I always knew I wanted to go into broadcasting. As a young girl growing up, I loved pretending I was a host, and that started at a very early age in grade school…As a high school senior, my boyfriend at the time played football for a neighboring school and I filmed all of his games. I was in a television broadcasting class and I wanted to help him get into school so I edited a whole highlight reel for him. It got him into the Air Force Academy…In college it was a no-brainer I always wanted to major in communications or media studies. After several internships – I think I had seven in college – I didn’t want to do news at all. I only wanted to do sports.”

What was a memorable moment you covered?
“I was in Medford, Oregon and covered Kyle Singler, who was a big-time player for Duke, when he was a freshman in high school…After his team lost the state championship game, all of the beat writers had gone into the locker room but I had to stay out because I was female. I went in later and Kyle was sitting in his locker crying, sobbing and I had to do this interview with him. I just remember thinking to myself this is the just the beginning for this kid, but at that moment in time for him it was the most important thing that had ever happened to him. To be able to follow him throughout the years and watch him grow, watch his successes and his failures with Duke and then beyond, it’s special to me to follow people like that.”

Most people don’t know I…
“…Have a completely different name than what it is on-camera. My legal first name is Sarah, but I go by middle name Nicole. I’ve gone by Nicole my whole life.”

The thing about waking up for a show that airs at 6:00 AM ET (3:00 AM PT) is…
“…It’s motivating because not a lot of people would do it. But when I drive to work, I crank the music, I’m pumped up and I’m ready to go. When we get in here, I read stories that I missed while I was sleeping and I get excited to see the show rundown. When we’re out on-set and they’re playing music and we have the full hair and the makeup and the lights on and we’re all talking and our personalities are shining, it’s great to be a part of something so new and fresh. It’s invigorating.”

What is your must-have technology?
“I really am a huge fan of music so I would say any type of music device; if it’s a cell phone that’s playing music, if it’s a radio, a CD player – doesn’t matter. I need to have something that is playing music.”

What is the best piece of advice that someone has given you?
“Best advice came from my husband, which came to him throughout his minor league baseball career from one of his coaches: there are those that are humble, and those that are about to be. That rings true in life and especially in sports. If you’re not humble, then there will be an experience that does it for you.”

NFL AM’s talent roster also features 13-year NFL veteran Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel, Brian Webber and Steve Wyche. The show will be based at NFL Network’s Culver City, Calif. studios. No other sport is the sole focus of a show of this length each and every weekday morning.

And yes, there’s more coming! You can’t contain me!

The Features You’ll See on NFL AM

Another press release from the NFL Network hyping “NFL AM”. This focuses on the regular features on the morning show that premieres on Monday, July 30 at 6 a.m. on NFL Network.

Check out what you’ll see.

8 DAYS UNTIL NFL AM DEBUTS!

NFL Network’s ‘NFL AM’ Premieres Monday, July 30 at 6:00 AM ET
Quick Facts about ‘NFL AM’

Eight days and counting until the premiere of NFL AM – a new, live weekday morning show on NFL Network!

Beginning Monday, July 30 at 6:00 AM ET, fans can start their day with the NFL like never before with a four-hour morning show featuring seasoned and opinionated talent who will report and debate news, and examine the personalities that play the game.

Here are some quick facts about NFL AM:

• NFL AM is the first national morning show produced on the West Coast
• When: Monday – Friday, 6:00 – 10:00 AM ET
• What: A four-hour weekday morning show that will cover a wide-range of NFL-related topics, including the cultural convergence of sports, entertainment and pop culture
• Who: Brian Webber, Nicole Zaloumis, Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel & Steve Wyche
• Why: “NFL AM will give fans a great reason to look forward to the morning. We know that our fans are looking for more football and we are excited to provide a personality-driven show which focuses on football and everything around it. There will be no better way to start their day.” – Mark Quenzel, NFL Network senior vice president of programming and production
• Beginning September 3, NFL AM will encore each weekday at 7:00 AM PT for West Coast fans

Here are some features to look for on NFL AM:

• Double Coverage: Analysts Mark Kriegel and Steve Wyche go head-to-head with daily timed debates on the hottest topics around the NFL

• Luck vs. RGIII: The next Bird vs. Magic?: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d82aae126/Luck-vs-RG3-The-next-Bird-vs-Magic
• Franchise tags: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d82aa0460/Should-Patriots-have-locked-up-Welker

• The _Underscore_: Analyst Eric Davis (a.k.a. The Underscore) underscores things that stand out to him throughout the NFL with host Brian Webber

• Rookies to watch in 2012: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d82a98f94/Rookies-to-watch-in-2012
• Most underrated wide receiver: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d82a8a09a/Most-underrated-WR

• Man 2 Man: Former Super Bowl-winning defensive back Eric Davis examines the two wide receivers who will pose the biggest problems for defensive backs each week

And that’s it for now.

“NFL AM” Set To Debut in 9 Days

Just received this press release from NFL Network in regards to the set we’ll see.

Once again, the cast will be Brian Webber and Nicole Zalmouis as co-hosts with Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel and Sam Steve Wyche as contributors. The show debuts on July 30 at 6 a.m. ET on NFL Network.

We have a pictures of the set too! Check it all out below.

9 DAYS UNTIL NFL AM DEBUTS!

NFL Network’s ‘NFL AM’ Premieres Monday, July 30 at 6:00 AM ET
Learn About the ‘NFL AM’ Set

Nine days and counting until the premiere of NFL AM – a new, live weekday morning show on NFL Network!

Beginning Monday, July 30 at 6:00 AM ET, fans can start their day with the NFL like never before with a four-hour morning show featuring seasoned and opinionated talent who will report and debate news, and examine the personalities that play the game.

The set for NFL AM has been created by Jack Morton Design PDG, led by the design team of Andre Durette, Matt Glaze and Michael Kramer.

“There is a huge amount of variety in the set because everything is wild, everything can move or rotate,” said Kramer, who has designed sets for ESPN and The Golf Channel.

The background of the main set is a cityscape with three-dimensional buildings, creating what Kramer describes as “the modern NFL city with futuristic architecture.” Monitors are incorporated into the buildings and will display highlight loops and video packages.

A side set incorporates a special locker room area with eight lockers equipped with game jerseys, cleats and other on-field garb. The back of each locker features a 65-inch plasma screen allowing the NFL AM crew to go live to reporters at eight different team locations.

Finally, the NFL AM set includes a 103-inch monitor, with a chalkboard and magnetic board on the flip side for Xs-and-Os discussion.

“We have a huge amount of variety and I think that’s been fun for everyone to explore the possibilities they have, how to shoot it in every kind of way,” Kramer added.

Working in conjunction with Jack Morton Design on the set is Mystic Scenic, Bruce Ferri Lighting Design and AV Design Services, LLC.

Provided below are photos of the NFL AM set:

The NFL AM crew (L-R Brian Webber, Nicole Zaloumis, Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel and Steve Wyche) are seated at the desk on the main set:

Ben Liebenberg/NFL

Eric Davis (left), Nicole Zaloumis and Mark Kriegel on set with the eight monitors:

Ben Liebenberg/NFL

To view a timelapse video of the NFL AM set construction, please visit:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d82a7b96e/NFL-AM-set-built-before-your-eyes

NFL AM’s talent roster features 13-year NFL veteran Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel from FOXSports.com, Brian Webber from FOX Sports Digital, Nicole Zaloumis from Comcast Sports Net-New England, and Steve Wyche from NFL Media. The show will be based at NFL Network’s Culver City, Calif. studios. No other sport is the sole focus of a show of this length each and every weekday morning.

That does it.