In reviewing FSN's Midwest "Regional Sports Report,"
which debuted July 5, Dan Caesar of the ST. LOUIS POST-
DISPATCH wrote, "So far, so bad." Caesar: "The fare for the
Midwest version that is airing locally has been
disappointing. Technical glitches have reached epidemic
levels, enough alone to send viewers fleeing ... tapes don't
roll when they should ... anchors look at the wrong cameras
... audio feeds are missing ... there are outdated
graphics." But other "problems burrow far below that," as
the Rams have been referred to as the L.A. Rams and the
Cardinals have been called the Reds instead of the Redbirds.
Caesar: "With the anchors being based in Pittsburgh and
having no local ties, credibility is eroded with such
gaffes. ... There are too many basic errors for a show that
has a target audience of hard-core local sports fans."
FSN's Kevin Smith: "I'd say we're about a month away from
being where we want to be. ... The on-air technical glitches
will go away." But Caesar added that a "central goal of the
program, to carry material from a wide geographical area, is
a major structural flaw as it dilutes the show's impact in
each individual market it airs" (POST-DISPATCH, 7/22).
MORE ON OLBERMANN'S MOVE: In Richmond, Jerry Lindquist
notes Keith Olbermann leaving FSN's "National Sports Report"
to host "The Keith Olbermann Evening News" on Sundays.
Lindquist writes that 18 months after hiring Olbermann to
anchor its national news program, "Fox is admitting its
mistake. Olbermann proved a mule to SportsCenter's
Secretariat, and he's moving into a new stall. ...
Meanwhile, Fox would like us to believe this is a promotion
for Olbermann. ... The laughter you hear comes from Bristol,
Conn., home of ESPN" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 7/24).
