ESPN on Thursday announced it will reduce the number of Knicks games on its upcoming schedule. The net dropped three upcoming appearances for the 5-34 Knicks -- against the Thunder on Jan. 28, the Nets on Feb. 6 and the Clippers on March 25 (ESPN). On Long Island, Neil Best notes ESPN "still has one Knicks game left on its schedule" -- Feb.1 against the Lakers. ABC also has one Knicks game on its schedule against the Cavaliers on Feb. 22 (NEWSDAY, 1/9). TNT has two Knicks games left on its schedule after airing a game against the Rockets last night -- Jan. 29 against the Pacers and March 12 against the Lakers (THE DAILY). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir notes there is "time to replace" the Lakers-Knicks game on ESPN with something that will "pass for a more compelling showcase." During TNT's "Inside the NBA" pregame show last night, host Ernie Johnson "promised that the Knicks would not be discussed." TNT's Charles Barkley shouted, "Thank God!" Barkley: “I’m not coming to work anymore if we show the Knicks or the Lakers for the rest of the season. I’m putting my foot down.” At halftime, there was "more disrespect" for the Knicks. TNT's Kenny Smith "jokingly refused to go to his giant video board because the Knicks had won just five games" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/9).
SECRET GARDEN: In N.Y., Bob Raissman reports Knicks Owner James Dolan is "rolling out 'MSG Go,' an app allowing fans to watch all Knicks games (NHL TV rules prohibit Rangers games from being streamed) on their smartphones, computers and tablets." But the release is the "essence of bad timing." Knicks F Carmelo Anthony will be the "focal point of this 'MSG Go' launch." In radio ads for the app, Anthony "says there can now be 'no excuses' not to watch" Knicks games. Raissman notes MSG "started banging the drums" for its app in December. If Knicks President Phil Jackson made Dolan "aware of his plan to dump salary and tank the season" last month, Dolan "didn’t let the other side of Knicks business, the media money-making side, stand in the way." With the release of the app, TV ratings on MSG Network are now "going to slide even further, guaranteeing companies that advertise on Knicks telecasts won’t exactly be getting a bang for their buck" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/9).
