Media Notes

Versus Hands Out Flier About DirecTV Dispute At NHL Game

YAHOO SPORTS' Greg Wyshynski wrote the carriage dispute between DirecTV and Versus "lingers on, and one can't help but sense DirecTV winning a war of attrition." Versus prior to Saturday's Canucks-Avalanche game at Pepsi Center handed out a flier to fans informing them of upcoming Avalanche games on the net that DirecTV customers would not be able to see. Wyshynski wrote DirecTV has "suffered PR backlash from college football, MMA and hockey fans in the last several weeks," and it has been the "target of national ads and an open letter on NHL.com urging fans to take action." Wyshynski: "Now, Versus is sending drones to canvass arenas like the network's running for state delegate. DirecTV has acted unprofessionally and hypocritically in this dispute, but Versus is working PR channels extremely hard and not getting that much traction" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/5).

IN THE DARK: In London, Gary Jacob writes there was "growing anger among England supporters last night at being denied the chance to watch Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on television," as the game will be broadcast exclusively on the Internet. Sources said that ITV, "which has the rights to home England games, decided that live coverage was not commercially viable and that its bid for a highlights show was rejected." The BBC's "offers for live coverage and later highlights was turned down," and Sky Sports "declined to say whether it had made an offer." ESPN "also decided that the price was too high" (LONDON TIMES, 10/6).

RATINGS SUCCESS: In Minneapolis, Neal & Christensen report WFTC-MYT's broadcast of Sunday's Royals-Twins game, in which the Twins forced a one-game playoff for the AL Central title, earned a 16.2 local rating and 280,400 HHs in the Minneapolis market. The game was the highest-rated regular season game on the net "since the Twins returned to WFTC in 2005" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/6)....FSN Pittsburgh earned a 10.5 local rating and 120,500 HHs in the Pittsburgh market for its telecast of Friday's Rangers-Penguins game, marking the highest rating ever for a Penguins season opening game telecast on the RSN (Liberty Sports Group).

NOTES: Creative Artists Agency has signed ESPN’s Peter Gammons for representation in all areas. A team of CAA agents, led by Sports Co-Head Mike Levine, will represent Gammons (Liz Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal)....White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen "turned down several requests by the networks to come into the studio and do commentary" for the MLB Playoffs (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/6)....MLB Rangers play-by-play announcer Josh Lewin and his agent have "yet to sit down with the Rangers and talk new deal." Lewin's deal "ended with the end of the 2009 season" (DALLASNEWS.com, 10/5).