The Colts' decision to part ways with QB Peyton Manning made all three network news shows last night. The final segment of NBC’s “Nightly News” featured a taped report on the team's press conference. CBS Sports’ James Brown appeared live via satellite on CBS’ "Evening News” to discuss where Manning may play next season, while ABC’s Josh Elliott appeared live in-studio on ABC’s “World News” to discuss Manning’s future. Today's edition of “CBS This Morning” aired a taped report on Manning approximately 15 minutes into the broadcast, with SI’s Peter King and CBS’ Bill Cowher live in-studio to discuss Manning’s future. ABC’s “GMA” and NBC’s “Today” this morning did not air reports on Manning (THE DAILY).
GETTING CLOSER: In California, John Maffei notes neither Time Warner Cable nor AT&T U-verse "has agreed to a deal with FS San Diego." TWC controls about 30% of the San Diego cable market. FS San Diego officials, however, "are confident that agreements will be reached before the start of the season." All that is "missing to launch" the new net "is an announcement." Maffei notes, "That, however, is coming. Sooner rather than later is the promise" (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 3/8).
UNDER THE BIG TOP: In Phoenix, Scott Bordow notes more than 150 media members showed up to the Rangers-Padres exhibition game yesterday to chart P Yu Darvish's "every pitch, including reporters from USA Today, ESPN.com, FoxSports.com and Yahoo Sports." ESPNews "cut into its regular broadcast to show Darvish face the first four hitters in the Padres' lineup, and ESPNDallas.com chatted live with readers during the outing." In Japan, Darvish's spring debut "was a national holiday." NHK World TV "fed its broadcast to two network channels along with a satellite channel and went live with Darvish's outing -- at 4:30 a.m. in Tokyo" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/8).
TV TIMEOUT: In Charlotte, Jim Utter notes rather than "look at trends over time, many media outlets and fans are scratching their heads after learning ratings from Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Phoenix were down from last season." When overnight ratings "showed a six percent decline over 2011, many were shocked." The Daytona 500 "was an aberration -- not just the jet dryer accident, but the fact the broadcast was shown in prime time for over six continuous hours." No regular race broadcast "gets that exposure on a regular basis." In the big scheme of things, a "single-digit ratings decline means very little all on its own." But far more "has been read into the results because of the race that preceded it -- not that race itself." Before the "alarm sounds any louder, let's wait to see if there is even a fire" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/8).
