The GUARDIAN’s Mark Sweney reported ITV1 “will screen England's opening and final matches in the pool stage of Euro 2012 football championship, against France and Ukraine respectively, with the BBC bagging England's first two knockout matches -- should they make it that far.” The BBC will also “show England's second group game, against Sweden, as part of a deal that will split coverage of the 31 matches at the tournament next June between the two broadcasters.” The division of games is “similar to the agreement reached for the World Cup in 2010 with ITV aiming to cash in on guaranteed audiences for England at the group stage rather than gambling on the team qualifying for the knockout stages” (GUARDIAN, 12/13).
TUNING IN: The Southern Conference “will broadcast Saturday afternoon basketball games on several Southeastern public TV systems this season.” The league announced “an eight-game schedule starting with Georgia Southern against Davidson on Jan. 7 and running each Saturday through the regular season.” In addition, the league's “semifinal games from its men's and women's basketball tournaments, plus the women's tournament finals will be shown.” The league “had a similar broadcast package during football season” (AP, 12/13).
TV LAND: In New Jersey, Pete Caldera notes former MLB manager Lou Piniella is “in discussions to work part time as a YES broadcaster during the 2012 season.” YES Network VP/Communications Eric Handler yesterday via e-mail wrote, "There has been some dialogue, but there is no deal in place" (Bergen RECORD, 12/14)....On Long Island, Neil Best reported Newsday’s Knicks beat writer Alan Hahn will be leaving the paper “at the end of next week to join MSG Network,” where he will do “pre and postgame studio work as well as writing for MSG.com and other stuff” (NEWSDAY.com, 12/12).
