In L.A., Mark Medina noted Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss "conceded that she doesn't have" Time Warner Cable SportsNet, which launched on Monday. Buss said, "Certainly we hope we'll be able to reach every single person living in Los Angeles and Southern California." Medina wrote Buss "sounded mindful of the potential short-term repercussions over the new network." Still, she "hopes Laker fans understand the positive benefits the channel arrangement will bring the organization." If not for the Lakers' cable deal with Time Warner, the deals with C Dwight Howard and G Steve Nash "might not have happened" (LATIMES.com, 10/3).
NET GAINS: Al Jazeera's U.S.-based network beIN Sport Managing Dir Yousef Al Obaidly on Tuesday said that the network "expects to add a fourth big distributor soon." Al Obaidly: "There is an operator that will be signing beIN Sport soon." However, Al Obaidly "would not name the distributor, saying the negotiations were confidential" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 10/3).
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: CBS Sports Radio Network's Doug Gottlieb yesterday said of his previous position as an ESPN Radio host, "I was told specifically, ‘You can’t talk enough [Jets QB Tim] Tebow.’ So I would jokingly throw it into a segment.” Gottlieb said he “wants Tebow to play" in next week's Texans-Jets game on ESPN's "MNF." Syndicated radio host Dan Patrick replied, “And so does ESPN.” Patrick asked, “Is ESPN creating news or are they covering news?” Gottlieb: “Both” (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 10/3).
