Media Notes
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DirecTV Supplements PGA Championship
Broadcasts With Four New Interactive Channels |
CABLEFAX DAILY's Heiges & Arenstein report DirecTV has four new interactive HD channels that are "supplementing the PGA Championship broadcasts of TNT and CBS." Such "cool interactive elements" may have helped DirecTV "report a stellar churn rate" for the second straight quarter. According to DirecTV data, "more than one-third of DirecTV's interactive-capable subs used related apps during this year's French [Open], while 30% used them during the US Open." Also, the average daily viewing time for Wimbledon was "nearly 68% higher for interactive app users." Last year, DirecTV "aired more than [5,000] hours of live interactive sports content, with nearly 2 [million] homes using 1 or more apps" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 8/8).
ON THE UPSWING: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes TNT Thursday "did an odd and wonderful thing. Within moments of going on the air from the PGA Championship, host Ernie Johnson threw it to live golf." TNT "didn't spend its first 20 minutes trying to convince viewers who had tuned in to watch that majors should be watched. Unprecedented!" Johnson was "magnificent yesterday, barely beating tears while memorializing Braves' TBS Superstation voice Skip Caray" (N.Y. POST, 8/8).
BIG TEN NET: In Akron, George Thomas reports a deal between the Big Ten Network (BTN) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) "remains far from a reality." BTN VP/Communications Elizabeth Conlisk said, "We're a little concerned that the pace of negotiations with Time Warner may not allow us to reach an agreement in time" for the start of the college football season. TWC Northeast Ohio VP/Public Affairs Bill Jasso said that both sides are "still talking, but no deal has been reached yet" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/8). Meanwhile, Comcast of Southwest Florida announced that it has reached an agreement to carry the BTN. Comcast customers will find the BTN in the sports & entertainment tier (NAPLES NEWS, 8/7).
NOTES: Media reports Thursday indicated that the auction for Italy's Serie A soccer broadcast rights "has failed to attract a single bidder." Multiple media outlets reported that there were "no takers for the rights to broadcast the 2008-09 season at the minimum bid of [US$111M] per year" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/8)....In Seattle, Jim Moore reports in a move that "makes no sense," FSN Northwest has decided not to renew reporter Cara Capuano's contract. Thursday night was Capuano's last game at Safeco Field as part of the Mariners' broadcasting team, and she "isn't sure of her future plans" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 8/8)....Naoko Funayama this season will serve as a reporter/host for NESN's Bruins coverage. Funayama was a freelance reporter for the Red Sox for the past two seasons (NESN).
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