TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET editions of
CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight," FSN's "Primetime" (Fox Sports Net
South) and ESPN's "SportsCenter," which aired at about
12:08am due to Sunday Night Baseball, all led with the
Cardinals-Mets doubleheader. "Sports Tonight" followed with
Padres-Braves, and the program's first non-MLB story, at
8:39 into the broadcast, was Bobby Labonte's Pepsi 400
victory. "SportsCenter" also followed with Padres-Braves,
and its first non-MLB story, at 8:34 into the broadcast, was
also the Pepsi 400. "Primetime" followed with Rockies-Cubs,
and its first non-MLB story, at 10:43, was an update on the
health of Bengals S Kelvin Moore (THE DAILY).
ALL SHOOK UP: USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke writes that Dan
Patrick's new ESPN Radio weekday show "will lead to a
shakeup" in the "SportsCenter" lineup, with Patrick cutting
back to Thursday and Sunday appearances on the 11:00pm ET
"SportsCenter." Meanwhile, Patrick's partner, Kenny Mayne,
will alternate with Linda Cohn, Stuart Scott and Rich Eisen
between the 11:00pm ET and the 1:00am ET shows. Scott and
Eisen will "now appear more times at 11 p.m. than Mayne."
ESPN Dir of Communications Mike Soltys: "This isn't (a
demotion) for Kenny. ... A lot of it is cyclical. ... Kenny
will get more shows at 1 a.m., which is higher-rated because
of reruns the next morning" (USA TODAY, 8/23).
PROGRAMMING NEWS: In L.A., Larry Stewart reported that
Fox's Terry Bradshaw will host a midday, one-hour radio show
on L.A.'s KXTA (1150) AM, beginning today (L.A. TIMES,
8/20)....USA TODAY's Alexander & Valdmanis report that USA
Networks, Tribune Co. and CBS have joined NBC as companies
who are "interested in buying a stake in Paxson
Communications" (USA TODAY, 8/23)....ESPN/ESPN2 announced
plans to extend its college football coverage with the late-
night Residence Inn College GameNight, premiering on
September 4 at 12:00am ET. The 60-minute show will present
highlights and results from the day's games and will mirror
ESPN's "Sunday NFL Primetime" (ESPN)....CNN/SI's Nick
Charles, on the Prince Naseem Hamed bout scheduled for
October 22 against Cesar Soto: "TVKO is moving the card up
an hour to make sure Hamed's teeny-bopper following will be
awake to watch their Prince Charming" (CNN/SI, 8/21).
DRAWING A FOUL? In Boston, Howard Manly wrote that
"word is" Fox Sports Net New England (FSNE) is "trying to
dump" longtime Celtics announcer Bob Cousy from the team's
telecasts. Fox VP David Woodman: "All I would like to say
at this point is that we want Bob Cousy. We are still
talking with Bob Cousy." Manly: "To spend all that money
and not keep Cousy where he is best suited would be stupid"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 8/21). Also in Boston, Jim Baker: "[FSNE]
can stand by for flak if it doesn't find a meaningful role
for Bob Cousy" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/23).
MORE NOTES: FSN South's lawsuit seeking a halt to
Turner South's broadcasting of Braves, Hawks and Thrashers
games is set to begin this Friday in Fulton County Superior
Court. In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers wrote that the "outcome
of the suit is critical to the Thrashers," as the team's
only other TV package in their first year is with WUPA-UPN
for 15-20 games (ATL. CONSTITUTION, 8/21)....In Pittsburgh,
Steve Sampsell wrote that preseason Steelers coverage on
KDKA-CBS has been "perfectly frustrating." Sampsell:
"Sports fans deserve and expect more" (TRIB-REVIEW, 8/22).
