In Boston, Chad Finn writes CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask is "at the top of the list of studio-analyst revelations" from the '14 season. She appears on "one of the lower-profile pregame shows," but certainly is "well-known among the NFL’s powerbrokers." She offers a "much different perspective than the ex-coaches and former players who tend to migrate to the studio." It was watching Trask "share her opinion on pure football matters Sunday that provided a reminder that she has been long overdue for praise." Finn: "Here’s hoping her smart and candid approach remains the same and her profile grows in the near future" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/30).
NEWTON'S LAW: In Charlotte, Erik Spanberg notes late-season "must-win games" for the Panthers “spiked TV interest in Charlotte.” Sunday’s 34-3 division-clinching season-finale against the Falcons was the “most-watched game” of the ’14 regular season in the local market, with 600,000 people watching on WBTV-CBS. WBTV also aired the Panthers’ Week 16 win over the Browns, “watched by 410,000 people.” The net “benefited from new NFL TV rules allowing both CBS, affiliated with AFC teams, and Fox (NFC) to have additional rights to games involving the other conference.” While WJZY-Fox "had the most Panthers' games" this season with 10, ESPN will televise the Cardinals-Panthers Wild Card game on Saturday (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/30).
COWBOY UP: The Cowboys' 44-17 win over the Redskins in Sunday’s 1:00pm ET window on KDFW-Fox earned a 30.9 local rating in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' 19-7 win over the Chargers on KTVT-CBS earned a 1.9 local rating in the same window (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/29).
