In N.Y., John Koblin notes Pro Football HOFer Michael Strahan will "continue to serve as an analyst" on "Fox NFL Sunday" after it was announced yesterday that he was leaving "Live! With Kelly and Michael" for a spot on ABC's "GMA." Strahan has "served as a correspondent" on "GMA" for the last two years, and now will be tasked with "helping to stabilize" the show. The ABC program "still outpaces 'Today' by an average of 240,000 viewers, but the NBC show is winning for the season in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic that is important to advertisers" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/20).
WHAT IS NETWORK COVERAGE? NBCSN has bought the rights to show the Dan Patrick-hosted "Sports Jeopardy," starting with a two-week run in August following the network's Olympic coverage. As part of a multiyear deal that will be announced formally today, new episodes of the 30-minute game show will appear on Crackle first on Wednesday nights. The series will fill into a regular Wednesday night time slot on NBCSN starting this fall, following the network's weekly Wednesday night NHL game (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
CENTURY MARK: MULTICHANNEL NEWS' Kent Gibbons reported CenturyLink's Prism TV yesterday launched Prism Sports Plus, a "package of six full-time channels and five part-time services for $8.99 per month." New additions to the Prism TV lineup "via the tier are Fox-distributed YES Network and Fox Soccer Plus; ESPN's Bases Loaded (baseball), Buzzer Beater (basketball) and Goal Line (football) college-sports live look-in services; MLB Strike Zone, the pro-baseball look-in service; Anthem Media's Fight Network and Fantasy Sports Network; equestrian-focused Ride TV and international-focused One World Sports." NFL Red Zone "also is included" (MULTICHANNEL.com 4/19).
AGE OF EMPIRE? ADWEEK's Lynch & Ariens noted Fox has "already ruled out 'Empire' as the show that will follow" its broadcast of Super Bowl LI in February. Fox Television Group co-Chair & CEO Dana Walden said that because "Empire" takes a "lengthy midseason hiatus, it would disrupt the flow to bring it back for a single episode." Lynch & Ariens noted Fox "plans to announce its pick" for the post-Super Bowl show during next month's upfront (ADWEEK.com, 4/19).
