In L.A., Mike Bresnahan reports ABC yesterday "dumped its planned coverage" of Thunder-Lakers on March 1, "replacing it" with Cavaliers-Rockets. The game "represented one of only two ABC games for the Lakers this season, already a steep drop-off from the past." While this is the first time this season the Lakers "were dropped from a national game," the team last season "had three national TV games dumped by TNT or ESPN" (L.A. TIMES, 1/14).
BALL FOUR: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports ESPN will televise four games April 6 "on baseball's traditional opening day, including the defending World Series champion" Giants and the D-Backs. The quadruple-header begins at 1:00pm ET with Blue Jays-Yankees, "perhaps marking Alex Rodriguez's first game after a season-long ban" in '14. That "would be followed by" Mets-Nationals, Indians-Astros and Giants-D-Backs (USA TODAY, 1/14).
STAYING ALIVE: In Boston, Eric Convey reported Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti "have re-upped to keep doing" the "Felger & Mazz Show" on WBZ-FM. Massarotti "also will write a twice-weekly column" for CBSBoston.com, and "he'll host the Baseball Reporters Show" during the MLB season (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/13).
THAT'LL DO: In Dallas, Lance Murray reported Babe Laufenberg "is leaving as sports anchor" of KTVT-CBS after 17 years, with today marking his final broadcast (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/13).
