News & Notes: Brent Musburger; NFL Ratings

• The dominoes are starting to fall with the reported changes in ESPN's College Football coverage. Based on reports from a week ago, it appears ESPN are looking to reshuffle the deck with its coverage with Chris Fowler and/or Rece Davis getting promotions. Sports Illustrated media critic Richard Deitsch is reporting Brent Musburger will be pulled as the #1 voice of ESPN/ABC Saturday prime time coverage and moved to the lead voice of their new SEC Network.  The move will also remove the veteran broadcaster from the upcoming college playoff coverage.  Its reported that Musburger is not happy with the proposal, but negotiations into a new contract is still on going.
  
  Musburger's alleged loss, could be a huge gains for Fowler (who's contract is also up this year) and Davis, two longtime ESPN talent looking to increase their profiles at Bristol.  Fowler will likely move to the top spot with Kirk Herbstreit, on primetime games and two playoff games, including the National Championship game.  ESPN producers do not want Fowler to work double duty on College Game Day, and would likely move Davis from Thursday Night Football coverage to host Saturdays.  This could move Joe Tessitore to Thursdays with Jesse Palmer and David Pollack, and away from the SEC studio show, which hasn't premiered yet.  It is also reported Todd Blackledge may get the analyst assignment for the second playoff game before the National Championship.  Blackledge has worked with veteran Brad Nessler the last few years, but there is no indication that will be the team for the 2014-15 season.

• NFL Ratings:  From CBS Press Release, Coverage of the AFC Championship game (Denver defeated New England) earned an overnight rating of 29.5/52, the second highest for an AFC title game in 27 years.  They are reporting a 6% increase from last years late title game that saw Baltimore defeat New England (27.9/42).
  
  No press release yet, but the NFL on FOX VP of communications Dan Bell tweeted, the NFC Championship game (Seattle defeated San Francisco) earned a 31.0/46 overnight rating.  That is 19% increase from last year's San Francisco's victory over Atlanta (26.1/48) for the Halas Trophy.

•  An AP Source reports, the bid for the NFL Thursday package have been sent for the 2014 season. CBS, NBC and FOX have all sent thier proposals for a share of the Thursday games that will be simulcasted on NFL Network.  ESPN's bid is for games to air on ABC.  Turner Sports submitted their bid, but it appears they are a long shot.  The league is expected to make its decision in the coming months.