Media Notes
The GLOBE & MAIL's William Houston notes Canadian gay rights advocacy group Egale Canada last week "complained to the CBC about the use of the term 'pansification'" by "Hockey Night in Canada" commentators. CBC announcer Mike Milbury "coined the expression to describe how the NHL would be softened should the league heed calls to ban fighting," and CBC analyst Don Cherry "has also made reference to it." A CBC spokesperson yesterday said that CBC Sports Exec Dir Scott Moore feels commentators "are free to make their own decisions whether to use the expression" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/29).
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ESPN, MAC Extend Rights Deal Through
'16-17 Academic Year |
MAC DADDY: ESPN and the Mid-American Conference (MAC) have reached an eight-year deal to extend their current multi-platform media rights contract for football and men's and women's basketball through the '16-17 academic year. The deal includes televising a minimum of 11 football games, at least six men's or women's regular-season conference basketball games and the men's basketball tournament final on ESPN or ESPN2 (ESPN). In Cleveland, Elton Alexander notes the MAC "will continue to fully participate in ESPN's BracketBusters," while the agreement "calls for increased involvement of MAC basketball programs in ESPN's owned-and-operated regular-season tournaments" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/29).
COMING DOWN THE PIPE: In London, Dan Sabbagh reports 3-D television is the "next leap forward in home entertainment being lined up by BSkyB." BSkyB Dir of Strategic Product Development Gerry O'Sullivan said that a 3-D service "'could be launched any time in the next two years', depending on the results of trials and on ensuring there was enough content available." Viewers would have to wear a "pair of black plastic polarising sunglasses" to view the technology. Outside of a 3-D TV, "no equipment beyond a high-definition service is required" (LONDON TIMES, 1/29).
NOTES: SportsTime Ohio will televise 154 regular-season Indians games and seven Spring Training games during the '09 season. Fox will televise eight regular-season Indians games as part of its Saturday MLB package. WKYC-NBC will air 20 regular-season games "that are simulcast on SportsTime Ohio" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/29)....NHL Senior VP/Media Sales Larry Gelfand said that the league's "engagement through Twitter has paid dividends." Gelfand: "It's like they're brand ambassadors" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 1/29).
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