Media Notes
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ESPN To Employ Edwards
As An “In-Race Reporter” |
ESPN Senior VP & Exec Producer Jed Drake during a conference call yesterday to discuss the net’s NASCAR coverage said driver Carl Edwards and his Busch Series team will serve as in-race reporters during the race broadcasts. Drake: “While we will not be talking to him and interrupting the race, his crew chief will act as a bit of a reporter to interface with Carl and bring us updates during the race.” When asked if ESPN will offer a split-screen advertising format during race telecasts, Drake said, “It has been discussed and at this point in time, the answer is no. But ... never say never” (ESPN).
ON-TRACK COMPETITION: Fox Sports TV Group Chair David Hill “complained this week about the lack of Nextel Cup racing in the third week of the season, listing it as one of many causes for NASCAR’s ratings decline” in ’06. Hill: “It’s a huge stumbling block. We’ve got this huge momentum going from Daytona, then Fontana, and then there’s a Busch race from Mexico and no Nextel Cup racing. NASCAR has got to look at how they schedule the races.” Meanwhile, Hill said that he is “thrilled” ESPN is returning to NASCAR. Hill: “The more exposure that this sport gets across the board the better it is for everyone involved” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/15).
PEOPLE & PERSONALITIES: The Angels added Jose Mota and Mark Gubicza as their second team of broadcasters for 50 games on FSN West and KCOP-MYT this season. Rex Hudler and Steve Physioc will return for the Angels other 100 telecasts (FSN)....Former NFLer Neil O’Donnell will not return to Nashville’s WTVF-CBS as an NFL analyst. The station offered O’Donnell a full-time position on the sports desk, but he declined (TENNESSEAN, 2/15)....NASCAR.com debuted a weekly column written by TNT NASCAR announcer Bill Weber, called “Wednesdays With Weber,” that will focus on human interest stories within NASCAR (TNT).
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