With audience expectations for tonight’s Cubs-Indians World Series Game 7 being sky high, SBD reached out to several sports media experts for predictions on viewership. For context, the best World Series Game 7 audience over the last 20 years is 39.1 million viewers for D-backs-Yankees in '01. Angels-Giants Game 7 in '02 drew 30.8 million viewers. More recently, Giants-Royals in '14 drew 23.5 million viewers. Fox Sports Exec VP/Research, League Operations & Strategy Mike Mulvihill earlier this week tweeted that World Series Game 7s over the last 20 years typically saw viewership levels 78% higher than averages for Games 1-6. With the Series at around 19.9 million viewers right now, that would be around 35.5 million viewers for tonight.

Expert opinion for tonight is all over the map. ESPN Senior VP/Global Research & Analytics Artie Bulgrin says the game will draw 40 million viewers, but Sports Media Advisors Founder Doug Perlman believes the audience will “approach, but fall short” of the '01 finale and “land somewhere around 37 million viewers.” Perlman: "The competitive dynamic of the game will impact the number." Blue Sky Media Founder Leslie Gittess sees tonight breaking World Series viewership records, and that does not count millennials following on social media. Gittess added, "People want to focus on something positive and energetic while taking a break from the political arena.” Consultant Chris Bevilacqua said, "With the historical significance of game, no NFL or other significant counter programming, relative calm before the election storm, active social media platforms and a competitive game, I would expect to see viewership in range of 35-40 million viewers."

Consultant Ed Desser believes that despite the Cubs' history and a comeback during this series adding to interest levels, a “crowded, ultra-competitive programming environment” will land the audience beneath bigger Game 7 audiences. Houlihan Lokey Managing Dir & Head of Sports Chris Russo predicted 32 million viewers for the game, while Wharton School of Business professor Ken Shropshire predicts 29.0 million viewers -- “assuming no presidential debates break out.” SportsDesk Media co-Founder & Managing Partner Eric Fernandez said with two storied franchises playing, tonight will mark the best World Series figure "over the past 20 years."

Fox "has sold all of its commercial inventory" for tonight's World Series Game 7. Sources said that 30-second spots went for more than $500,000, "significantly higher than in the first five games of the series." Fox Networks Group Exec VP/Advertising Sales Bruce Lefkowitz said, "We were literally selling spots during the game last night." Lefkowitz added that "advertiser demand for this World Series has been phenomenal." Networks "generally sell ads in playoffs based on a five-game series" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 11/2).

Met-Rx has purchased a 30-second pregame spot and an in-game spot during tonight's Game 7. The sports nutrition brand prior to the start of the playoffs signed Cubs SS Addison Russell as an endorser. As part of the partnership, Met-Rx created a 55-second online spot featuring Russell talking about the pressures of October baseball (Met-Rx).

With six days left in the presidential election, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are “buying ads tonight” during Fox’ Game 7 broadcast. Clinton will have “at least four ads,” while Trump “has three ads.” The details are “still being worked out, so we’ll see if all those ads get on the air.” With at least 30 million viewers expected to tune into the game, this marks the “last chance to be in front of that many viewers all at the same time.” Meanwhile, the NRA also plans to run a “pro-Trump” spot tonight (“CNN Newsroom,” 11/2).

The U.S. Department of Justice sued AT&T over DirecTV’s refusal to carry the Dodgers’ channel. The DOJ suit alleges that DirecTV colluded with cable companies Cox, Charter and AT&T to deny carriage to SportsNet LA. Essentially, the 57-page complaint accuses DirecTV Chief Content Officer Dan York of making sure that Cox, Charter and AT&T hold firm in not carrying the channel, which was being sold by Time Warner Cable. According to the complaint: “These unlawful exchanges were intended to reduce each rival’s fear that competitors would carry the Dodgers Channel, thereby providing DirecTV and its competitors artificially enhanced bargaining leverage to force TWC to accept their terms.”

AT&T released a statement saying that it was prepared to argue its case in court. “We respect the DOJ’s important role in protecting consumers, but in this case, which occurred before AT&T’s acquisition of DirecTV, we see the facts differently. The reason why no other major TV provider chose to carry this content was that no one wanted to force all of their customers to pay the inflated prices that Time Warner Cable was demanding for a channel devoted solely to LA Dodgers baseball. We make our carriage decisions independently, legally and only after thorough negotiations with the content owner. We look forward to presenting these facts in court.”

Read the full story.

The Red Sox today announced that they will increase ticket prices at Fenway Park by an average of 2.9% in '17. The increases "primarily affect seats closest to the field," but they also "include bleacher seats." These increases are the "largest since the 2014 season," when prices were raised by an average of 4.8% (MASSLIVE.com, 11/2). Tickets "will go up by at least $1 and in some cases by as much as $5 per game." Of the 26 ticketed sections at Fenway, "19 have price increases" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 11/2).

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany today revealed that the conference's new TV deals with ESPN and Fox "will include a package of six prime-time Friday games" starting in '17. The selected games "will be revealed this week," as early as this afternoon. Delany added that the league is "reluctant to ask schools with giant seating capacities to host Friday night games." Michigan is "flat-out saying no to Friday night games, both home and road." Delany said that there will be "three conference games and three non-league games in September and October" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/2).

MLS sponsors Coca-Cola and EA Sports are teaming up for a new promo that will run in 7-Eleven stores nationwide. Through December, more than 25 million Big Gulp cups will be distributed featuring four MLS players – NYC FC F David Villa, Galaxy F Gyasi Zardes, Orlando City MF Kaká and Timbers MF Darlington Nagbe – highlighting the partnership between MLS, the “FIFA 17” video game and Coca-Cola. Prizes also will be awarded as part of the promotion, including in-game “FIFA 17” content and a trip to EA Sports’ campus in Vancouver.

Wake Forest and the Charlotte Sports Foundation today announced that the school will play its regular-season football game against Notre Dame at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 26, 2020 (Wake Forest). The announcement means Bank of America Stadium is "now set to host a college football game every year" through '20. N.C. State and South Carolina will open the '17 season on Sept. 2 at BofA Stadium, followed by Tennessee-West Virginia on Sept. 1, 2018, then North Carolina-South Carolina on Labor Day weekend in '19. North Carolina and South Carolina also have "agreed to another matchup at the stadium" in '23 (PANTHERS.com, 11/2).

NFL Network has suspended analyst Brian Baldinger for "six months without pay for suggesting the Eagles put a 'bounty'" on Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/2).

Mobile device maker HTC and e-sports franchise Team Liquid today released a documentary about the team’s most recent season in Riot Games' League of Legends competition. The sponsor-branded, feature-length digital video is available for viewing on HTC’s e-sports YouTube channel and Twitch (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer).

Phoenix Int'l Raceway reached a deal making Beach Whiskey the official whiskey of the track (PIR).

EXOlifestyle has signed Falcons S Keanu Neal a brand ambassador. The firm will develop, manufacture and distribute Neal-branded wrist wraps, waist belts and knee sleeves (EXOlifestyle).

WWE's "205 Live," a one-hour, in-ring program, will premiere on Nov. 29 at 10:00pm ET on WWE Network. The weekly show will be called by Mauro Ranallo (WWE).

SI this week features Oregon F Chris Boucher on the national cover of its college basketball preview issue: "Duck Tale." ESPN the Magazine features rookie Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on the cover of its latest edition (THE DAILY).

           

"There’s a lot of animosity and disrespect for the other company and the way they do business. The companies hate each other" – DFS company Draft CEO Jeremy Levine, on the relationship between DraftKings and FanDuel amid reports that the two companies plan on merging (BOSTONHERALD.com, 11/2).

"Sports has an ability to attract, engage and retain fans of all demographics. People are looking for unique stories and characters outside of normal office places" – 20th Century Fox TV President of Creative Affairs Jonnie Davis, on why studios and networks are looking to sports as a subject for more scripted programming (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/11 issue).

The last thing MLB needs after this wave of good fortune is labor strife. The league knows this. The union knows this. Peace is paramount.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 2, 2016

Sources: Union has postponed agents’ meetings Nov. 11, 14, 15. CBA will not be completed by first date. Meetings can be rescheduled later.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 2, 2016

The city of ATL is giving the Hawks $142 million to upgrade Philips Arena. Know what $142 million could have bought in 2011? The Thrashers.

— Ben Wright (@BenWrightATL) November 2, 2016

One nugget from the Ted Leonsis visit to post hq today: he considered buying DC united about a decade ago, and wishes that he had

— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) November 2, 2016

Jeff Bewkes says Google and Facebook dominate digital ads, so letting AT&T buy Time Warner will provide competition.

— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) November 2, 2016

Fresh new #TOPPSNOW cards as we prepare for #Game7: https://t.co/y2UYjde4Si pic.twitter.com/WcZH9ZLawD

— MLB (@MLB) November 2, 2016

Ronda Rousey appears on "Ellen" to promote her return to UFC competition but also hints at an upcoming retirement. Shortly afterward, UFC President Dana White tells TMZ, "When she says she's done, she's done."

$25.4M – Amount Houston will receive to "defray the cost" of hosting Super Bowl LI from the state of Texas' "trust fund for helping out with major events." That number is "based on the amount it expects to collect in taxes from all out-of-state visitors" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/2).