The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jannarone & Schechner reported Discovery Communications "plans to pay several hundred million dollars for a minority stake" in sports network Eurosport, a unit of French media company TF1. Discovery will "form a strategic partnership with TF1 as a result of the investment." While a formal agreement has not been signed, Discovery and TF1 have "entered exclusive negotiations." An announcement "could come shortly" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/13).
FOREVER YOUNG: In Salt Lake City, Scott Pierce writes of BYU's exclusive TV rights deal with ESPN, "Is the worldwide leader in sports unhappy because the Cougars haven't delivered on the field?" Pierce: "Isn't ESPN disappointed with the Cougars' 6-4 record?" ESPN VP/Programming & Acquisitions Ilan Ben-Hanan said, "On the contrary, I've been thrilled with our relationship with them." He said of BYU's ratings on the net, "Just look at the numbers, the two Thursday games early in the season (vs. Washington State and vs. Boise State) both out-rated the Thursday average so far this year. They are absolutely pulling their weight. That's just a fact" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 11/14).
VIDEOGAME GAINS: Competitive video gaming property Major League Gaming said it has concluded its '12 Pro Circuit Championships schedule with an online streaming audience of 11.7 million unique viewers, up 334% from '11, and up 636% over a two-year span. MLG also surpassed 15 million hours of consumed live video for the second consecutive year. "This is a testament to the mainstream demand for competitive gaming and power of live streaming," said MLG CEO Sundance DiGiovanni. MLG's audience is 85% male and 60% between the ages of 18-34 (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
MOVING ON: Harrisburg Patriot-News reporter Sara Ganim, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, has "accepted a position as a correspondent with CNN." Ganim "started with CNN this week." Charles Thompson -- who has "covered the Capitol and Harrisburg for years -- will take over as lead reporter on the Penn State/Sandusky coverage" (PENNLIVE.com, 11/13).
