TV coverage of the Ray Rice situation was heavy not only on sports outlets, but also on network TV primetime news shows. Last night's editions of ABC's "World News" and NBC's "Nightly News" both teased the Rice story in their opening segments. NBC led its broadcast with Rice, while ABC reported on him about eight minutes into its telecast. Both broadcasts aired the elevator video from TMZ. NBC also aired a taped report from Josh Elliott that included commentary from Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. ABC aired a taped report from Ryan Smith that included commentary from USA Today's Christine Brennan. NBC's Brian Williams said the NFL tonight is "dealing with a very big problem" and the new video is what "sparked fresh outrage today that the NFL could no longer ignore." Smith said of the Rice's release and subsequent suspension, "The question for many tonight: What took so long?" Brennan said the NFL actions are "partially PR because there was a video and the NFL had to do something today." CBS' "Evening News" did not air due to the net's coverage of the U.S. Open men's final.
TOP OF THE MORNING: This morning's editions of ABC's "GMA," "CBS This Morning" and NBC's "Today" all teased the Rice situation in their opening segments. CBS and NBC led their broadcasts with the news, while ABC had Rice as its second report. All three nets aired the elevator video. ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams and Pro Football HOFer Michael Strahan were live in-studio and offered analysis. Brennan said, "It's appalling that it took a video to wake the NFL up." Abrams said the NFL is using the video "to some degree as cover to take a harsher position and give him a tougher sentence." CBS featured a report from "The NFL Today" host James Brown that also included N.Y. Times columnist William Rhoden. Brown also spoke live with CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask live via satellite. Rhoden said if "we find out that Roger Goodell knew about this video and saw it, you really have to start thinking about impeachment because this is beyond unacceptable." Trask said the Ravens "did the right thing," but "many people will assert it was done belatedly." CBS' Norah O'Donnell added, "My sense is this story is not over." NBC's Elliott aired a report which included a comment from VP Joe Biden, with HBO's Bryant Gumbel speaking live in-studio. ESPN and FS1 have been airing the elevator video of Rice striking his
then fiancée across their various programs, while NFL Network did not
air the video at any time during this morning's edition of "NFL AM" or
yesterday afternoon during their Rice coverage. In the first five
minutes of the broadcast this morning and following brief highlights
from the "MNF" double-header games, NFL Network displayed a timeline of
events that occurred yesterday, from the early morning release of the
video by TMZ to the Ravens' early evening press conference. NFL Network
aired clips from Ravens coach John Harbaugh's press conference and
reactions from Ravens players, but no discussion or analysis of how the NFL
or Goodell has handled the situation (THE DAILY).
PRIMETIME FOCUS: The Rice situation was addressed briefly by ESPN's Mike Tirico mid-way through the first quarter of Giants-Lions "MNF" game to note that Harbaugh was speaking with the media currently on ESPN2. ESPN’s Jon Gruden said of domestic violence, “There's no place for it in football or society. It’s very disturbing." During halftime of the Giants-Lions, the network again aired the elevator video and ESPN's Adam Schefter said of Rice’s suspension, “I think the league made a statement today. Later on, they suspended him indefinitely. They sent a memo to teams across the league saying, ‘Before anybody would even consider signing Ray Rice again, that would have to be cleared under the direction of Commissioner Goodell’” ("MNF," ABC, 9/8).
NOT IGNORING THE STORY: CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus and NFL Network President & COO Brian Rolapp in a conference call yesterday said that the Rice story “would be covered Thursday night on both CBS and the NFL Network” (THE DAILY). McManus said that the net yesterday also “held a conference call” with pregame producers to “discuss the issue.” He said, “We will address it early in our pregame show and in the first segment at 7:30 p.m. I’m sure our guys will have strong opinions and we will give them enough time to express their opinions” (SI.com, 9/8).
FLEXING ITS MUSCLES: POLITICO’s Dylan Byers wrote it is “worth noting” how TMZ “has now become an influential player in the world of sport.” Byers: “You may not like its aesthetics or its methods, but TMZ has done both the NBA and the NFL a service” (POLITICO.com, 9/8).
