Media Notes
MULTICHANNEL NEWS' Ted Hearn reported FCC Chair Kevin Martin Thursday indicated that he "won't attempt to adopt rules that could help the NFL Network prevail in its carriage dispute with Comcast." Martin: "I had proposed that the (FCC) change some of its rules for any kind of complaints about carriage that ... (ended up being filed). But the (FCC) did not change those rules in the past, so (the NFL complaint) will be filed under the old processes and the commission will follow them like any other complaint." Martin last fall "advocated rules that would send carriage disputes between a cable operator and a programmer to compulsory arbitration" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 5/8).
BRIDGING THE GAP: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Leo Cendrowicz reports the European Parliament Thursday "voted for broadcast money from sports media rights to be spread equally between big and small" soccer clubs. The vote comes after "concerns about the widening gulf between rich and poor clubs in sporting leagues," and fears that clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid could "scoop all the broadcast money for themselves." The Parliament also "rejected efforts by sports organizations to restrict media coverage by effectively copyrighting their events" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/9).
ESPN NOTES: ESPN360.com has reached a deal with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour to broadcast more than 150 hours or 70 matches of live tennis coverage in '08. Coverage began Thursday and will conclude with the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in November. Matches will be available for on-demand replay for at least 48 hours after completion. Meanwhile, ESPN360.com and InFront AMS have reached a two-year deal making ESPN360.com the exclusive U.S. home for Euroleague Basketball. The broadband net will air more than 40 games in each of the next two seasons. Additionally, ESPN.com will feature video highlights of the Euroleague (THE DAILY).
PEOPLE & PERSONALITIES: Rockets CEO Tad Brown Thursday said that Rockets Dir of Broadcasting Joel Blank is "collecting audition tapes from candidates" to succeed longtime radio announcers Gene Peterson and Jim Foley, who are retiring. Brown said that he "hopes to make a decision ... by the end of July" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/9)....ESPN Manager of Media Relations Dave Nagle said reports WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman is joining the net are not true, as the sides "do not have a signed deal.” Coachman has previously worked for CSTV and MSG (SLAM.CANOE.com, 5/6)....Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast has hired former U.S. national women's basketball team member Teresa Edwards as analyst for the net’s WNBA Atlanta Dream telecasts (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/8).
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