CABLEFAX DAILY's Alex Silverman wrote viewers should expect NBC's Olympic Channel to "be in the mix" during the '18 PyeongChang Games. NBC President of Olympics & Business Gary Zenkel said that the Olympic Channel, which launches Saturday, will "join the stable of NBC nets airing content from South Korea, which could include live events and 'at the very least' will be complimentary to events distributed on other nets" (CABLEFAX.com, 7/13).
PLAYING TO SPACE: In DC, Steven Goff notes to find the U.S.-Nicaragua CONCACAF Gold Cup match on Saturday night, fans will "have to locate FXX." But what appears to be a "broadcast snub" is actually a "better setup than appearing on FS2 and almost as good as FS1." FXX is "available in about 80 million homes, FS1 around 85 million and FS2 approximately 50 million." The challenge for Fox is "making viewers aware of a soccer game on a non-traditional soccer -- and sports -- channel" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/14).
SPRING FLING: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe noted WIP-FM "appears to be the big winner" in the '17 spring ratings book (March 30-June 21). Among males 25-54, WIP "finished third overall in the market," well ahead of WPEN-FM, which "ended the period in 11th place." The biggest story to come out is the "surprising ratings decline" of WPEN's Mike Missanelli, the station's popular afternoon host (PHILLY.com, 7/13).
TAKING THEIR TALENTS TO SOUTH BEACH: In Miami, Michelle Kaufman noted ESPN execs are "sparing no expense for the network’s English and Spanish-language coverage" of the Real Madrid-FC Barcelona match on July 29. Plans include "weeklong content, 25 on-air commentators, SportsCenter from Bayfront Park, a one-hour pregame special, and live bilingual match telecasts on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, making it ESPN’s most comprehensive coverage ever of a single soccer match" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/12).
