Media Notes
In Boston, Chad Finn wonders if ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips will have "any credibility remaining once he returns to the ESPN airwaves" following his leave of absence after confessing to an affair with an ESPN production assistant. ESPN is "notorious for its frat-house star culture," and The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre said, "If ESPN wanted to put a stop to this sort of stuff, especially knowing the history of someone like Phillips, who had a similar situation with the Mets, they’d put clauses in people’s contracts telling them if this sort of thing happens, you’re gone" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/23). In Albany, Pete Dougherty writes Phillips' affair "shouldn't affect his ESPN work, but it does damage his credibility." Since this "isn't his first transgression, Phillips probably should find another line of work" (Albany TIMES UNION, 10/23). Brooke Hundley, who Phillips had the affair with, is alos "on leave from her job" (N.Y. POST, 10/23). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Chuck Bennett notes "on the heels" of the Phillips situation, two other ESPN execs -- Senior Marketing VP Kate Lacey and VP/Programming David Berson -- are in a relationship. Lacey: "I'm in an ongoing and known relationship with a peer" (N.Y. POST, 10/23).
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Big Ten Network Will Stream Men's Basketball
Games Online For $2.99 Each This Season |
GOOD THINGS IN LIFE AREN'T FREE: In Minneapolis, Myron Medcalf reports the Big Ten Network will stream men's basketball games on its Web site for the third consecutive season, but "unlike last year, it won't be free." Fans can "watch the games for $2.99 each" this season, which entitles viewers to "unlimited viewing of an individual game through the end of the season." Some of the streamed games, "which will be produced by students, will air tape-delayed on the Big Ten Network" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/23).
PICK UP THE PACE: The MOTLEY FOOL's Adrian Rush noted the NHL has "mostly stayed out" of the ongoing DirecTV-Versus carriage dispute, "other than placing an ad on nhl.com asking fans to email DirecTV." It is an "odd stance for a league that's struggling to build a U.S. audience," and the NHL "hardly needs another black eye right now" (FOOL.com, 10/21).
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