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SBD/July 6, 2012/Media
Media Notes
Published July 6, 2012
In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes with NBA player movements "on the boil, ESPN's eagerness to take credit where none is due became laughably transparent" this week. On Tuesday, G Deron Williams "tweeted that he has re-signed with the Nets." Within minutes, "those who cover the NBA were reporting that news, crediting Williams as the unimpeachable source." But more than 10 minutes after Williams' tweet, ESPN's Chris Broussard "tweeted the news as a scoop, suggesting that he and ESPN were out in front of the story, that 'sources' tell him that Williams will stick with the Nets." Also Tuesday, Broussard "did similar with the breaking news -- broken by the Phoenix Suns -- that Eric Gordon, last season a Hornets guard, had agreed to sign" with the Suns (N.Y. POST, 7/6).
POLE POSITION: In London, Charles Sale noted the BBC will "give precedence to the Wimbledon men's singles final on Sunday, irrespective of semi-finalist Any Murray taking part, when coverage clashes with the British Grand Prix." BBC officials "intend to move the Grand Prix from BBC1 to BBC2 just before the start of the Silverstone race" at 1:00pm local time. This will "allow for all the build-up and the tennis showcase action on the main channel." There is some execs upset that F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone "has scheduled the Grand Prix for the climax of Wimbledon but BBC are now very much the junior TV rights partners since Sky's arrival in motor racing this year" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/5).
BLAME GAME: In San Diego, Matthew Hall wrote it is "absolutely ludicrous that I can't turn on my TV whenever the Padres play ... and watch a game." A ton of "criticism has been lobbed at Fox Sports San Diego, Time Warner Cable, AT&T U-Verse and Dish for the impasses that have kept about 40 percent of San Diego County residents from watching the Padres from home this year." There are "more people to blame than television execs, of course," and Padres fans "should be up in arms." They should be "writing letters to the newspaper, flooding the team and TV companies with emails and phone calls, protesting outside Petco Park with pitchforks," but "they aren't" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/5).
SPECIAL GUEST: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley noted former golfer Annika Sorenstam will "make her debut on NBC-TV, joining host Dan Hicks and analyst Dottie Pepper for a portion of the weekend coverage of the U.S. Women's Open Championship." Sorenstam will "visit with Hicks and Pepper for a time during coverage of the third and fourth rounds." She also will "contribute to Golf Channel's news shows throughout the week" (JSONLINE.com, 7/3).
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POLE POSITION: In London, Charles Sale noted the BBC will "give precedence to the Wimbledon men's singles final on Sunday, irrespective of semi-finalist Any Murray taking part, when coverage clashes with the British Grand Prix." BBC officials "intend to move the Grand Prix from BBC1 to BBC2 just before the start of the Silverstone race" at 1:00pm local time. This will "allow for all the build-up and the tennis showcase action on the main channel." There is some execs upset that F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone "has scheduled the Grand Prix for the climax of Wimbledon but BBC are now very much the junior TV rights partners since Sky's arrival in motor racing this year" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/5).
BLAME GAME: In San Diego, Matthew Hall wrote it is "absolutely ludicrous that I can't turn on my TV whenever the Padres play ... and watch a game." A ton of "criticism has been lobbed at Fox Sports San Diego, Time Warner Cable, AT&T U-Verse and Dish for the impasses that have kept about 40 percent of San Diego County residents from watching the Padres from home this year." There are "more people to blame than television execs, of course," and Padres fans "should be up in arms." They should be "writing letters to the newspaper, flooding the team and TV companies with emails and phone calls, protesting outside Petco Park with pitchforks," but "they aren't" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/5).
SPECIAL GUEST: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley noted former golfer Annika Sorenstam will "make her debut on NBC-TV, joining host Dan Hicks and analyst Dottie Pepper for a portion of the weekend coverage of the U.S. Women's Open Championship." Sorenstam will "visit with Hicks and Pepper for a time during coverage of the third and fourth rounds." She also will "contribute to Golf Channel's news shows throughout the week" (JSONLINE.com, 7/3).
