Media Notes

Stats LLC has struck a multi-year partnership with the WPS that designates the Illinois-based outfit as the league’s official statistician and exclusive data distribution partner. Beyond standard statistical development and licensing efforts, Stats will also power a match tracker at womensprosoccer.com featuring event animations, pitch maps and in-game commentary, and a WPS fantasy game slated for launch next year (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).

STARS ON TV: Suns C Shaquille O’Neal said that he "plans on having his own radio and television shows" after he retires from the NBA, which is why he enrolled this week in Sportscaster U at Syracuse Univ. The program "runs in concert with the [NBPA's] for players interested in pursuing broadcasting," for which players pay $5,200, but because O'Neal "wanted his own private session, he had to fork over more than $15,000" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/20). Meanwhile, Bills WR Terrell Owens yesterday viewed "two condominiums on the Buffalo waterfront as filming continued" for his reality TV series, "The T.O. Show," which is set to premiere on VH1 on July 27 (AP, 5/19).

TELEMUNDO CABLE: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Steve McClellan reports Telemundo is “expanding its relationship with Mexican media company Televisa, confirming that it will launch a jointly owned and Telemundo-branded cable network in Mexico in August.” The network “will be a 50-50 joint venture but will be branded Telemundo Cable and feature content produced by Telemundo” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/19).

FATHER FIGURES: Golf Channel has launched a Father’s Day Dream Trip contest, presented by TaylorMade, that encourages consumers to submit a story in 100 words or less that recounts a life lesson learned from their fathers, father figures or golf mentors through the game of golf. Entries can be submitted through June 5 at GolfChannel.com/FathersDay, and on June 8 the entries will be narrowed to five finalists. Voting will take place online from June 8-15, and the winner will be announced during the net’s “Live From the U.S. Open” telecast on Father’s Day, June 21 (THE DAILY).