ABC Looking For Indy 500 Ratings Uptick FS Midwest Not Changing MLB Telecasts Yankees, Mets Seeing Big TV Ratings Drops People & Personalities Final Nielsen Ratings Roddick Will Co-Host FS1 Flagship Program Media Notes Blackhawks' Local Audience Helping National Nets Finebaum Signs With ESPN, SEC Network Audience For NBA Conf. Semis Down
Upcoming Conferences and Events
SBD/August 3, 2011/Media
Media Notes
Published August 3, 2011
TRYING TO MAKE NICE: On Long Island, Neil Best reported the Jets have invited WFAN-AM to "do a show from their practice facility." Host Mike Francesa "will visit Aug. 11 after that day's Mets game, perhaps a step toward normalizing relations with the team." The Jets "have insisted all along they have no feud with Francesa despite his sharp, relentless criticism" of the organization and coach Rex Ryan. Francesa said of the invite, "I'm not sure; I'll take it at face value right now. I'll go out there with an open mind and a clean slate" (NEWSDAY.com, 8/2).
OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick reports former Browns and Jets coach Eric Mangini "has agreed to become an ESPN studio football analyst." ESPN is expected to announce the addition of Mangini "within the next few days" (N.Y. POST, 8/3). Meanwhile, former NFLer Hugh Douglas has joined ESPN as an NFL studio analyst, making his debut on Monday's edition of "NFL Live" (ESPN).
SPREADING ITS WINGS: In Indianapolis, Curt Cavin wrote having Versus "be all sports" when it is rebranded as NBC Sports Network "will be good" for IndyCar. Cavin is "not sure it can ever rival ESPN," but through "promotion by NBC, it can become a destination channel." Cavin: "It will be interesting to see what other sports properties land there. That will be one of the factors helping or hurting IndyCar" (INDYSTAR.com, 8/2).




