In West Palm Beach, Jason Lieser noted ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer, "who has been rumored to be headed to Ohio State, will not broadcast a game for ESPN this weekend." Meyer "usually works with Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman." Those two are "doing Ohio State's game against Michigan, which might have been a factor in ESPN keeping Meyer in Bristol" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 11/21). In Michigan, Kyle Meinke notes one explanation "is it simply would be too awkward at best and a conflict of interest at worst, for Meyer to work the game" (ANNARBOR.com, 11/22).
WELCOME BACK: ESPN led off “SportsCenter” Monday night immediately following the Chiefs-Patriots "MNF" game not with highlights from the NFL game but by going straight to Pittsburgh, where analyst Barry Melrose briefly highlighted Penguins C Sidney Crosby’s return to action after being sidelined for more than 10 months (THE DAILY). Buffalo News' Mike Harrington wrote on his Twitter feed, "I just fell off my chair. ESPN is leading SportsCenter with Crosby. Didn't think they could spell NHL if I spotted them a letter.” Meanwhile, the Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont wrote, "My guess if Sid was a Yank: US coverage ystrdy would not have changed; CAN coverage cut by 1/3 or 1/2. Unless he played for CAN-NHL team.”
KINGS OF N.Y.: In N.Y., Christian Red notes the Yankees have "consistently hogged the New York media headlines, according to data released by HighBeam Research." According to HighBeam, the Yankees since '08 have "been at the top of the list for area sports teams that get the most media coverage" with 30% of media mentions. The Mets are in "second place this year with a 19% share." The Mets were also "second to the Yankees in 2010 and 2009." With their "improbable Super Bowl run in 2008, the Giants were second (25%) to the Yankees (26%) in media mentions that year." The Giants and Jets are "tied for third place this year (15%)" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/22).
BROTHERLY LOVE: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Eric Fisher reports Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia has "signed a multiyear online content and sales partnership with Calkins Media, publisher of the major suburban Philadelphia newspapers." The pact involves CSNPhilly.com "providing news coverage of the area’s professional sports teams for phillyburbs.com." Phillyburbs.com in turn will "lead high school sports coverage for CSNPhilly.com and help develop a high school sports show set to debut this winter on the Comcast Network." Financial terms were "not disclosed, but the two companies will participate in a revenue-sharing agreement based on advertising for the co-branded content areas" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/21 issue).
