In N.Y., Mike Puma cites a source as saying that SNY's Bob Ojeda "won’t be returning to the Mets’ pregame and postgame studio shows" this season. Ojeda was "seeking a raise in new contract negotiations." A source said that the gap was “'not substantial,' but the two sides failed to reach agreement." Ojeda "spent the last six seasons in the SNY studio." A source said that the split was "'amicable,' and Ojeda is expected to pursue other broadcasting opportunities." A source added that former MLBer Nelson Figueroa is the "lead candidate to replace Ojeda" (N.Y. POST, 1/30).
SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST: In Oklahoma City, Mel Bracht reported for the first time in years, all local broadcasts of MLB Rangers games "will air" on FS Southwest. The RSN is "expecting a renewed interest in the team this season under new manager Jeff Banister." Announcers Steve Busby and Tom Grieve will "return as the broadcast team." But FS Southwest GM Jon Heidtke said that Grieve plans to "take more days off this season" with former MLBer Mark McLemore "filling in" (NEWSOK.com, 1/29).
LOVE & BASKETBALL: In Virginia, David Teel profiles ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg, and writes he is "beach-chair comfortable in studio. The bright lights, barking producers and general mayhem of live television don't faze him." Few analyst talk hoops "more insightfully and naturally." Greenberg works about one game per week and "appears on myriad ESPN platforms." He is "more technical" than Fox Sports' Bill Raftery, and "lacks his shtick, but you can envision the excitable Greenberg having a 'send it in Jerome!' moment" (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 1/30).
CUTTING THE CORD: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Georg Szalai reported Time Warner Cable "lost 38,000 residential pay TV subscribers in the fourth quarter, compared with 85,000 in the year-ago period when the company was hit by a carriage dispute with CBS." TWC "touted its best fourth-quarter subscriber performance in at least seven years across all business lines" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/29).
