Media Notes

Sunday’s Rockets-Magic game “will mark the first time in years that Houston fans won’t be able to see a live Rockets game on local TV.” The 1:00pm CT game falls within ABC’s exclusive national doubleheader window. FSN Houston will air the game on tape delay at 5:00pm and 11:00pm (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/23).

SPORTS CENTER: In a point/counterpoint on the proposed Sirius/XM merger, USA TODAY states, “It makes little sense that sports fans must decide between every single pro football game and no baseball games, or vice versa. ... That's one reason the [deal] may be the rare merger that is good for consumers.” In the counterpoint, Carmel Group Senior Media Analyst Jimmy Schaeffler writes, “XM and Sirius have no one to blame but themselves for their alleged financial worries. Now they seek a government bailout for their shockingly bad business decisions” (USA TODAY, 2/23).

WHAT TO WATCH: Under a new deal with Major League Eating (MLE), Spike TV will air the first of four events on March 17 at 7:00pm ET. The “St. Patrick’s Day Showdown” will feature contestants eating corned beef and cabbage, beef tongue and green doughnuts. Spike GM Kevin Kay: “If you see a guy eating a beef tongue, you are going to stop and watch.” Spike will air UFC programming as a lead-in (CABLEFAX DAILY, 2/23)....“Sportsbabes,” an online video roundtable of five “sports-obsessed” women, debuted February 14. The show features MTV’s Lauren Bergfeld, former Speed Channel reporter Vicki Johnson, model and actress Keriann Kada, and MarieSam Sanchez and Marisol Salguero of the L.A. Times sports desk (SI, 2/26 issue).