Media Notes

ESPNU Will Not Share Coverage Of UConn Women's Big East Tournament Games

In Hartford, John Altavilla notes fans of the Univ. of Connecticut (UConn) women's basketball team without access to ESPNU will be unable to see the team "play in the quarterfinals or semifinals of the Big East tournament this weekend." Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell last year "intervened with ESPN to allow a shared telecast of the Big East semifinal between UConn and Pittsburgh." However, a source said that Rell's office, "after expressing interest in discussing the matter with ESPN again this year, was notified the rights would not be shared." The source: "The state was told (sharing the games) was a one-time deal." Altavilla notes ESPN is "negotiating with Comcast, the state's largest [cable] provider, to add ESPNU to its lineup" (HARTFORD COURANT, 3/4).

RECOVERING THE SATELLITES: DirecTV's exclusive $750M annual deal to broadcast NFL Sunday Ticket expires in '10, and President & CEO Chase Carey said that the company would like to maintain the exclusivity. Should DirecTV lose its current arrangement, Carey "doesn't believe it would go exclusive anywhere else, but instead become a non-exclusive offering" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 3/4). Carey also "emphasized that any renewal beyond 2010 will also depend on price” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/4).

NOTES: In Dallas, Barry Horn notes the Spike TV reality show hosted by Pro Football HOFer Michael Irvin, which will feature a competition for a spot in Cowboys training camp, will be called "4th and Long." Former NFLer Bill Bates and former coach Joe Avezzano have been cast as coaches on the show (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/4)....CSN Mid-Atlantic is scheduled to air 15 MLS DC United games this season. CSN’s Dave Johnson will do play-by-play for his 14th season while Thomas Rongen will return as analyst (CSN)....SI.com was named Entertainment & Sports Web site of the Year by the Magazine Publisher’s Association (MPA) during its annual digital conference. This is the third consecutive year SI.com has earned top honors from the MPA (SI).