Media Notes
In Buffalo, Alan Pergament noted changes to the Sabres' TV plans this season include analyst Rob Ray being "only at ice level providing analysis." Also, "The Shootout," the team's postgame show on MSG hosted by Kevin Sylvester, "will air only after home games." Following road games, Sylvester "will do a five-to-seven minute wrap-up with player interviews and highlights." The Sabres also hired Maria Genero "to work with [Sylvester] and Mike Robitaille on features that will air on Sabres TV via the team's Web site, Sabres.com, and on MSG during intermissions and in a weekly magazine show." Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn said that the changes "are part of a new television strategy that was formulated in response to the changing media world" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/13).
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Writer Questions ABC For Sending
Griese To Cover His Alma Mater |
BIASED VIEW? SPORTINGNEWS.com's Tom Ziller noted ABC analyst Bob Griese worked Saturday's Oregon-Purdue Game, during which Griese, a Purdue alum, was "leading the crowd through a cheer and waving his Purdue flag." Ziller: "ESPN broadcasts plenty of Saturday games. Send the alum somewhere else! Griese isn't like Erin Andrews or [Kirk] Herbstreit, who are part of ABC/ESPN's A-team. If the biggest game is in Florida or Ohio State, you have to send your best broadcasters there. Griese is much lower on the totem pole" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 9/14).
NOTES: In a Q&A with the BIRMINGHAM NEWS' Jon Solomon, Atlanta Constitution college football reporter Tony Barnhart said he has taken a "voluntary separation package" from the paper. Barnhart will be full-time at the paper until September 28, though he has signed on to continue his Mr. College Football blog and "some other things for the rest of the season" (AL.com, 9/11)....Rogers Sportsnet reporter Christine Simpson "rejected the network's contract offer and is close to signing with the NHL Network." Simpson has been with Rogers Sportsnet since '98 (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/15)....ESPN Brasil closed a deal with Copa do Brasil last Thursday giving it the rights to air the Brazilian soccer tournament for two seasons, '09 and 2010 (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal)...."Sports Soup," a new series which will air twice a week on Versus, will debut October 14 at 10:00pm ET. The show will be shot in L.A. and will be hosted by comedian Matt Iseman (DAILY VARIETY, 9/15).
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