In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel noted the Big 12 "knows what it's getting with ABC/ESPN," as it renews its TV contract, while NBC or Fox "would be new territory." But Tramel asked, "Would a contract guaranteeing a national telecast every week do more for an embattled league desperate to deliver the message that its stability is assured and that its best days are ahead?" Big 12 Interim Commissioner Chuck Neinas said, "Let me remind you that college football is still a regional sport. Unless you have a big SEC game, it's not going to rate that well. They have games on the SEC package that aren't going to knock your socks off" (OKLAHOMAN, 3/18).
SWITCHING STATIONS: San Diego's XEPRS-AM VP & GM Tex Meyer Monday said that Josh Rosenberg and Charod Williams have left KLSD-AM and will join the station "by the end of the month." In California, John Maffei noted Rosenberg and Williams' final show at KLSD-AM was Friday. The Broadcast Company of the Americas, the parent company for XEPRS, announced that Rosenberg and Williams will start at the station next Monday. Meyer said that Rosenberg and Williams will take over the 10:00am-2:00pm PT time slot "occupied by Lee 'Hacksaw' Hamilton, with Hamilton moving" to a 5:00-8:00pm slot as the station "tweaks its lineup" (NCTIMES.com, 3/19).
REPLACING A REPORTER: YES Network has named Meredith Marakovits its Yankees clubhouse reporter. Marakovits previously served as a 76ers sideline reporter for Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and an anchor and contributor for SportsNet N.Y. (YES Network). On Long Island, Anthony Castellano noted that Marakovits will replace Kim Jones, who announced her decision to "leave the network in January after seven years." (NEWSDAY.com, 3/20).
GAME OVER: EA this week "announced plans to shut down some of its older online titles, including EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp for Wii." PCMAG.com's Chloe Albanesius noted the "shutdowns will begin" on March 31 for three online games. On April 13, EA "will shutter" 11 more games, including EA Sports Active 2.0 for PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360; EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp for Wii; FIFA 10 for PlayStation Portable and Wii; and MMA for PS3 and Xbox 360 (PCMAG.com, 3/19).
