In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis reports the Marlins will officially become the Miami Marlins tomorrow, but will continue to use the Web address Marlins.com, "making them the only major league team to not use their full name" for their team website. The domain name MiamiMarlins.com "belongs to someone else," and as far as the Marlins are concerned "he can keep it." MiamiMarlins.com "has been owned since 1997 by a Miami Beach boat salesman Guido Blanco," who has said that he "intended it as a site for charter fishing and boat sales." He said, "No one from the Marlins or Major League Baseball has ever contacted me" about purchasing the domain name. Marlins President David Samson said, "Certainly not going to pay a squatter, I can promise you that. If he wants to call and offer the website, we'd be happy to take it" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 11/10).
ON THE RISE: A record 32.1 million viewers watched NFL Network programming during the first nine weeks of the NFL season, eclipsing the '10 mark of 31.6 million. Also, the network's average weekday primetime viewership is 167,000, up 21% from last year to date. Viewership on Sundays, including the "NFL GameDay" pregame show, is up 17% to 250,000 average viewers. All of the net's Sunday programs are also on record viewership pace. The weekday news show "Around the League" is up 29%, and the weeknight show "NFL Total Access" is tracking for its best-ever season. The NFL’s digital media platforms (NFL.com and NFL Mobile) are also on record pace, posting a 64% jump in page views and a 37% uptick in unique users over last year at this time (NFL).
PRICE CUT: The WINNIPEG FREE PRESS reported MTS has “altered its game plan when it comes to watching the TSN Jets channel in community clubs.” MTS has “agreed to lower its rates following negative publicity” over its “charge of $900 per season for the Jets channel to non-profit clubs.” MTS has “lowered its rate to $399 for community clubs.” However, it is “still more than Shaw is charging clubs.” Shaw’s rate is “$60 monthly versus $80 by MTS.” TSN Jets is a regional channel that “broadcasts all team games that aren’t carried on the main TSN network or CBC.” Home subscribers are “charged $9.95 monthly by Shaw and MTS” (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 11/9).
TRYING TO HOOK 'EM: Beginning at 8:00am CT tomorrow, a “broadband simulcast of the Longhorn Network will be made available as part of All-Access Weekend presented by Grande Communications and Verizon FiOS.” Users will be able to “view LHN programming online through midnight Saturday, regardless of provider.” The “peek into LHN coincides with the tip-off of the men’s and women’s basketball season” (ESPNDALLAS.com, 11/9).
