In L.A., Joe Flint notes YES Network will "soon need a new distribution deal with Time Warner Cable, the biggest pay-TV operator" in N.Y. On the TWC website, YES is "listed as a network whose contract is 'about to expire.'" Sources said that although the site "does not give a date ... the contract expires in January." SNL Kagan data shows that YES "averages a monthly per-subscriber subscription fee of $3.20." However, sources said that TWC's current fee is "less than $3 per subscriber per month because it has been so long since the negotiation of its last contract" (L.A. TIMES, 12/4).
MONDAY NIGHT MAYHEM: In New Orleans, Jimmy Smith noted the Pelicans' triple-OT win over the Bulls on Monday, which went up against the Saints-Seahawks "MNF" game, was "arguably the most compelling display by a New Orleans pro basketball team" since Pete Maravich scored 68 points against the Knicks in '77. So it is "a shame that Monday's game wasn't available through mainstream media in New Orleans." The game was unavailable on local TV and radio unless fans possessed NBA League Pass or "were lucky enough to channel surf over to NBA-TV to catch some of the overtime action." Since the team arrived in New Orleans in '02, the team's RSN has "almost always opted not to show games" that competed against LSU or the Saints (NOLA.com, 12/3).
BEAR DOWN: Chicago-based media reporter Robert Feder cites WGN-AM sources as saying that Todd Hollandsworth and Ron Coomer "appear to be the last men standing in the search for Pat Hughes' new partner in the Cubs radio booth." Sources said that both former MLBers are "at the top of the list to replace Keith Moreland as color analyst." Tribune Broadcasting execs "hope to fill the job" in time for the MLB Winter Meetings next week (ROBERTFEDER.com, 12/3).
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT: Minor League Baseball has developed a mobile app for next week's Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. The app, a first for the sport's annual offseason conclave, includes schedules, exhibitor information, buyer guides, speaker biographies, attendee lists, and other information. The Winter Meetings typically draws around 3,000 industry execs and job-seekers (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
