News & Notes: Comings and Goings (and Stuck in Limbo)

 

• In one of the bigger behind the scenes development in recent memory, ESPN producer Jamie Horowitz was rumored, then close and now blocked by Disney management to leave Bristol to run the Today show at NBC.  Per Deadspin, Horowitz, the mastermind behind 'embrace debate' culture on ESPN programming, was approached to take over the NBC morning staple.  After meeting Today show host Matt Lauer it appeared the mutual interest was cemented and ESPN President John Skipper was to give his blessing.  But Sports Media Journal's John Ourand tweeted, the deal was nixed and Horowitz was to honor the remaining years of his contract.  Per sources, Jason McIntyre at the Big Lead, added more the intrigue reporting that ABC News President Ben Sherwood pulled a power play and had the deal squashed.  Late last year, Sherwood attempted to soothe Horowitz with an offer for a future at Good Morning America, but it appears the offer to have total control of the Today Show was too much for Horowitz to pass on.  But his contract, two years remaining, will keep him at ESPN for now.


• In a Super Bowl feature today, New York Daily News' Bob Raissman is the first to report that Sunday may be the final assignment for Pam Oliver at FOX Sports.  The veteran sideline reporters has been at FOX since 1995 and has appeared in all 7 of the network's Super Bowl broadcast, 5 as SLR.  With Erin Andrews high profile arrival and sharing SLR duties for the NFL on FOX's big event's (like this years Super Bowl), there is buzz that Oliver will be pushed out of top sideline spot.  Whether she stays on with a likely demotion or moves on from FOX is anyone's guess. 


• After announcing he was leaving SB Nation, baseball statistician guru Rob Neyer may be heading over to FOX Sports. according to Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing. Neyer, who worked at ESPN for 15 years and developed a cult following in the new age of statistical analysis in baseball, left Bristol for SB Nation back in 2011.  Now it appear he is on the move to the ever expanding FOX empire.  Neyer is likely to be used on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports MLB properties, but will likely used as a writer for FOXSports.com.  No word on how this effects his contribution to MLB Network. 


• NESN reporter Jenny Dell will depart the Boston Red Sox broadcast for 2014.  The popular Red Sox field reporter will be reassigned within NESN, after it was reported she is living with current Red Sox thirdbaseman Will Middlebrooks.  The highly controversial conflict of interest came to a head with today's decision.  The Big Lead, reported earlier this month about the couple and speculated that she may bolt for FOX Sports One (another one?!?!?)