Media Notes
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Versus Hasn't Been Able To Cover The
Amgen Tour of California As Planned |
In San Jose, Elliott Almond reports the Amgen Tour of California's "fix-winged aircraft carrying the communications and broadcast technology couldn't fly" for a third consecutive day yesterday, and as a result, Versus "hasn't been able to provide the expansive live coverage it had planned." AEG Sports President Andrew Messick, whose company owns and operates the tour, said, "It's frustrating to be on live television and have your plane grounded." Messick added that there "isn't another way to transmit the broadcast." Almond notes Versus "also went off the air with 15 miles to go Tuesday because it had a set deadline to switch to hockey" at 7:00pm ET. Tour organizers yesterday "moved the start back by 10 minutes and shortened the finish" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/18).
SWEET VALENTINE'S: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Carl Bialik wrote the 3D broadcast of the NBA All-Star Saturday night events "offered unique appeal for couples." Bialik: "They could laugh over the inevitable technical hiccups, cheer when technology soared along with the dunkers and talk over the slow spots in between events, which seemed acceptable because unusual camera angles made viewers feel like they were at an arena rather than a movie theater." The technology also had "its good and bad points, but looked terrific for the dunks" during the NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Contest (WSJ.com, 2/17).
TAKING A DIVE: In N.Y., Keith Kelly reports first-day sales of the SI Swimsuit Issue "were down by double digits." SI Group Editor Terry McDonell usually "can count on selling 1.1 million copies of the issues, which is on sale for six weeks" (N.Y. POST, 2/18). Meanwhile, CNBC.com's Darren Rovell reported SI has acknowledged that the tattoo on the small of IRL driver Danica Patrick's back "was taken out" of the pictures in the magazine's swimsuit issue. An SI spokesman "didn't comment as to why it made that editorial decision" (CNBC.com, 2/17).
NOTES: In Milwaukee, Don Walker wrote yesterday's announcement that Liberty Media Corp. will invest $530M in the form of loans, including $250M invested yesterday, for Sirius XM Radio is "good news if you're a fan of satellite radio." MLB is "happy, too, no doubt," as the league "has a long-term deal with Sirius XM" (JSONLINE.com, 2/17)....Also in Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley reported 151 of the Brewers' 162 regular-season games this season "will be carried on television." FS Wisconsin "will produce all 151 games and will carry 136 [of] them on its cable air," with the other 15 set for WLMW-Ind. Seven Brewers games also "are scheduled to be on national TV" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/17).
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