Media Notes: BBC Commentator Mark Lawrenson Axed As Match Of The Day Regular

BBC commentator Mark Lawrenson has been axed as Match of the Day regular in a "shake-up of the BBC's flagship football programme." The BBC admitted Lawrenson "would have a reduced role on the 4 million-rated programme" starting next season after announcing its plans to breathe new life into the format (London TELEGRAPH, 8/1). ... Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has been "immortalised in pixel form and is now a playable character" in phone app/video game Temple Run 2. Customers can buy the character for 69p ($1), with Bolt, decked out in his green and yellow kit, "also having abilities previously unavailable to the never-ending running game" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/1). ... A monthly half-hour magazine program covering all aspects of netball will be broadcast on South African TV channel SuperSport 4 in an initiative to "give netball more publicity." The series will "focus on development programmes and primary school netball, as well as the national team" (SAPA, 8/1).