SB Nation has hired ESPN.com baseball writer Amy K. Nelson, where she will write and contribute significantly to the blog network's forthcoming video channel on YouTube. Nelson, who has been at ESPN for seven years, will not be limited to baseball in her new role. "We view her as a tremendous storyteller who is going to contribute across the board for us," said Jim Bankoff, Chair & CEO of Vox Media Inc., parent of SB Nation. "Not only is she great at all these audience-facing platforms, she's going to help us think about things, our overall coverage and what we're delivering to our audience." SB Nation earlier this year signed fellow ESPN.com baseball writer Rob Neyer (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
WORTH THE INVESTMENT: Comcast Chair & CEO Brian Roberts yesterday said that Telemundo's "recent acquisition of U.S. Spanish-language rights to future soccer World Cups is expected to be a profitable investment for the company." Roberts said, "We will cover and cross-promote games and events across our various channels on broadcast and cable, as well as online, wireless and on-demand. This investment should be profitable for Telemundo, a real game changer for that business and an opportunity for our company." The deal is "said to be worth more than $60 million." Analysts have "said it will be difficult for Telemundo to make a profit on it, saying it will help get attention for other programming and boost advertising rates" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 11/2).
CHAMPIONSHIP REPLAY: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley noted a "four-disc DVD set of the Packers' championship run in the playoffs last season, 'NFL Green Bay Packers: Road to XLV,' is scheduled to be available in stores on Nov. 29 with the suggested retail price of $39.93." Vivendi Entertainment, the NFL and NFL Films have "produced and are distributing the DVD set." Each disc "is a game telecast of the four teams the Packers beat in the playoffs: Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and Pittsburgh" (JSONLINE.com, 11/2).
'ROUND THE CLOCK COVERAGE: Connecticut Public TV's "newest venture" is CPTV Sports, a "statewide, 24/7 channel that has the intention to cover high school, college and additional sporting events throughout the state." According to CPTV, the net is "scheduled to launch this month on Comcast and Cox cable systems." It will "broadcast events and games from more than 40 schools and organizers." The channel "plans to expand to additional cable and over-the-air carriage in early 2012" (HARTFORD COURANT, 11/3).
