Media Notes

Writer Praises TNT's "Wide Open" Coverage Of Saturday's Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400

NASCAR SCENE's Art Weinstein wrote TNT's "Wide Open" coverage of Saturday's Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 "should be the model for all NASCAR race coverage, not just because fans get to see more of the action, with limited commercial interruptions, but because it would probably be more effective for advertisers as well." Weinstein noted "time and time again," he found himself "actually watching the commercials that ran in an inset box in the lower-right hand corner." Weinstein: "The commercials really stood out" (SCENEDAILY.com, 7/5).

ATTENTION DEFECIT: In New York, Ken Schott wrote, "While I’d like to see the NHL back on ESPN as a second cable home for the NHL, I have serious doubts that it would improve its coverage of the league, even if it had a share of the cable broadcast rights." Schott noted on Wednesday, the first day of NHL free agency, the 6:00pm ET of ESPN's "SportsCenter" did not report on free-agent signings until "shortly after 7 p.m." The report "lasted about a minute" (Schenectady DAILY GAZETTE, 7/4).

CAPITAL INVESTIGATION: The WASHINGTON EXAMINER's Jim Williams cited sources as indicating that the Capitals, Wizards and Nationals are all "looking at having conversations" with WJFK-FM "about what they may have to offer the local pro teams." While all the teams are not heading to the station, it is "clear that all three teams are looking for an outlet that could provide them the promotion and support they are looking for and perhaps are not getting from their present partners" (WASHINGTON EXAMINER, 7/4).

LOOK THE PART: In St. Petersburg, Tom Jones wrote TBS yesterday "did a solid job" with its "All-Star Selection Show." Jones: "But would it kill analyst David Wells to throw on a tie or, at least, a sport coat?" (TAMPABAY.com, 7/5).