In Boston, Chad Finn noted MLB is in the second year of its deal to stream Friday night games on Apple TV+, and it is “going to take a couple more years, it seems, before the majority of viewers get used to it.” Finn noted folks “were not happy” that the first game of Red Sox-Yankees would be carried on the streaming service. The exasperation that MLB has “divided up its product among different streamers and networks was understandably palpable.” Finn: “It is frustrating, and it becomes more frustrating when you realize it’s only going to get more splintered.” Finn noted fans “know why MLB did it.” Finn: “Stacks and stacks of cash” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/19).
IMAGE CONTROL: In Boston, Ben Volin wrote “remember that the Jets have full veto power, and nothing gets on ‘Hard Knocks’ by accident.” Last week’s episode showed a clip of coach Robert Saleh “chewing out the offensive line,” which came days after Saleh “took heat in the local media” for “not being critical enough of his team” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/19).
SAME AS LAST SEASON: In Indianapolis, Dustin Dopirak reported the Pacers move into the 2023-24 season with the “expectation” that they will still have Bally Sports “as broadcast partners when the campaign begins in October.” Pacers Sports and Entertainment VP for External Relations/Corporate Communications Danny Lopez said, “Nothing has changed on our end from where we were in January," when news broke that Diamond Sports Group would be seeking to file bankruptcy (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/18).
