Media Notes
NFL Network President & CEO Steve Bornstein said when asked at the NFL Owners meetings if the net ever would accept placement on a premium sports tier, "We'd shut it down before we ever did that kind of deal. We're all about mass distribution and wide availability of our product, and there's no reason we want to make this an elitist product." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell added that there have been "no talks with the major cable operators lately." Goodell also noted he did not anticipate simulcasting another NFL Net game, as the league did with the Week 17 Patriots-Giants game last season (MIAMI HERALD, 4/4). Meanwhile in Houston, David Barron reports NFL Net's regular-season games "reportedly will start in week 10, two weeks earlier than last year's Thanksgiving night start" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/4).
NFL FILMS: In Miami, Barry Jackson reports USA Network, Versus and Spike have "expressed some interest in carrying a version of 'Inside the NFL,' which was dropped by HBO." However, the "multimillion dollar cost for NFL Films highlights discouraged at least one potential suitor" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/4).
THE MASTERS: In Orlando, Dave Darling reports with ESPN's Chris Berman being left off the net's coverage of The Masters, some "theorize the network was told early on by the green suits at Augusta to leave the clown prince of Bristol at home." However, ESPN Exec VP/Programming John Wildhack said the move was entirely the net's decision (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/4). Meanwhile, CBS plans to use new animation technology ... that will show the contours of fairways and greens" at Augusta National (Baltimore SUN, 4/4).
NOTES: Online sports community Yardbarker has closed a $6M round of financing, which was led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ). DFJ Managing Dir Josh Stein will now join Yardbarker's BOD. Yardbarker hosts blogs from athletes including Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, Warriors G Baron Davis and Trail Blazers C Greg Oden (Yardbarker)....The CBC will stream NHL playoff games in Mandarin, with Jason Wang providing the play-by-play (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/4)....Golf Channel has signed deals to include programming blocks on American Airlines, Asiana Airlines and Oceania Cruises (THE DAILY).
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