The AP noted "not everyone got the memo" that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 was postponed from Saturday night to yesterday morning. When TNT's race coverage began yesterday, most TV program guides still had a "Lord of the Rings" marathon listed. The Coke Zero 400 "preempted the third movie," and fans of the trilogy "were irate, taking to Twitter to complain about NASCAR and TNT" (AP, 7/6).
SOUTH RISING? Comcast Exec Dir of Corporate & Financial Communications John Demming said the cable provider continues "negotiating to carry" the SEC Network with just a month before ESPN launches the channel. Demming: "We hope to come to an agreement and are optimistic that we will do so." Suddenlink Senior Dir of Corporate Communications Gene Regan also said the cable carrier wants to make SEC Net "available to customers who are interested in it" (CHRON.com, 7/3).
HALL PASS: The AP noted Motor Racing Network lead NASCAR announcer Barney Hall called his "final event Sunday at Daytona International Speedway." Hall has been calling races for more than 50 years and will now "transition into a different role with MRN." Drivers and crew chiefs gave Hall a "standing ovation" after NASCAR President Mike Helton "noted his dedication to NASCAR" during Saturday night's pre-race driver meeting (AP, 7/5).
LATE SUBSTITUTION: In Seattle, Ashley Scoby writes, "I’ll temporarily be taking over the Sounders FC beat. I’m the summer sports intern here at The Seattle Times and will be covering the Sounders until The Times hires its next beat reporter to replace Joshua Mayers, who left the newspaper last week" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 7/3).
