FOX Sports have announced they will simulcast WFAN's The Mike Francesca Show. Francesca, who's popular New York based show ended its 11 year run on the YES Network in February will be back in the air starting Monday, March 24th. The show will air on FOX Sports 1 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and conclude on FOX Sports 2 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Sports Pope of New York's former radio partner Chris Russo will also return to TV, as his Sirius XM High Heat will be air on MLB Network, starting opening day, March 31st at noon.
[Source: FOX Sports; Awful Announcing]
The long rumored changes in ESPN's College Football broadcast is coming to form as Brent Musburger is now the lead analyst for ESPN's SEC TV coverage this fall. The hall of fame legend will team with Jesse Palmer for the SEC Game of the Week (or technically, the second best game after CBS). The move appears to put in motion for either Chris Fowler or Rece Davis to be the new face of ESPN's College Football coverage with Kirk Herbstreit.
[Source: ESPN Media Zone; The Big Lead]
Rick Reilly has retired his ESPN.com column. The award winning, but controversial writer will end his run on the World Wide Leader's website on July 1st. Reilly will become a contributor to Monday Night Football, Sunday NFL Countdown and SportsCenter with human interest features and on air story telling. Reilly who signed an extension last May, has been dogged by accusations of mailing in his columns and blatantly self plagiarizing columns he has written in the past. Reilly will release a new book in May, a collection of his writings on ESPN.com.
[Source: ESPN Front Row, Deadspin]
- 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.
