ESPN, NBC Both Record All-Time Lows For NFL Broadcasts

Giants-Falcons Lands ESPN Lowest Rating Ever For "MNF" Franchise

KIMMEL & BITS: After ESPN "MNF" Producer Jay Rothman told the N.Y. Times yesterday that Jimmy Kimmel would not be welcomed back to the “MNF” booth after his appearance during Giants-Falcons, Kimmel said, “I don’t know what I did exactly but apparently it was horrific.” More Kimmel: “Everyone (in the booth) was laughing whether you can hear it or not. If people were not laughing, I would not have continued with it.” Kimmel indicated he received a call from ESPN Exec VP/Content John Skipper “in an attempt to smooth things over.” Kimmel: “He was apologetic. The unfortunate thing for people who did not see the broadcast is now it looks like I exposed myself on national television.” Kimmel said, “Whether I’m technically banned or whether Jay Rothman has the right to make that decision, let’s put it this way: Jay Rothman is banned from my show.” ESPN said in a statement, “We have had a great relationship working with Jimmy and we will continue to work with him in the future” (Richard Deitsch, SI.com, 10/17). In San Jose, John Ryan wrote Kimmel's "MNF" appearance is “being discussed in terms of the shots at [Joe] Theismann, but to me it seems like it hit a lot closer to home for ESPN, specifically to [Tony] Kornheiser.” Kornheiser is “notoriously thin-skinned” and he “hasn’t much liked the suggestion that he ran Theismann out of the booth” (MERCEXTRA.com, 10/17).

NBC Has Trouble With Cable Cam During Sunday's Saints-Seahawks Game

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