Media Notes

USA TODAY's Gary Kicinski reports Fantasy Sports Ventures (FSV) will feature former CBS men's college basketball analyst Billy Packer and ESPN's Bob Knight on a "new website that will launch in mid-February." The site will be accessible through FSV's portal site, fantasyplayers.com, and will "offer a bracket game, plus analysis, blogs, interviews, video and other features from Packer and Knight" (USA TODAY, 12/12).

REGIONS BANK: In Seattle, Gary Washburn writes a "great percentage of the programming" currently on Comcast SportsNet Northwest is Portland-based, which will "go over in Seattle for only so long." There needs to be "more variety." Washburn: "How about a live TV feed with Mitch Levy's morning show on KJR? How about a live 30-minute sports news show that would discuss important matters." Still, CSN Northwest, which airs Trail Blazers games in the Seattle area, is "nothing but good for the Seattle sports fan," and, "hopefully, Comcast's presence will push FSN to increase its dedication" to the market (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 12/12).

BACK IN THE SADDLE: MEDIAPOST's David Goetzl reports Versus has agreed to terms with Australia-based Eurocam to carry the Tour Down Under, which begins January 20 and marks the "first race in Lance Armstrong's much-anticipated comeback." Versus has exclusive U.S. broadcast rights for the race "via a daily highlight show." Eurocam GM Frank Chidiac said that the deal is "expected to be completed within days, with only some paperwork yet to be signed" (MEDIAPOST.com, 12/12).

NOTES: NESN will "cease production of its original programming" of "The Globe 10.0" by the end of the year. The half-hour show, hosted by Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan and featuring other Globe writers, premiered in June '07 (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/12)....KCTV-CBS and the Chiefs have extended their rights deal for preseason game broadcasts (KANSASCITY.com, 12/9).