TSN has reached a 10-year multimedia rights extension with the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club that makes it the exclusive Wimbledon broadcaster in Canada. TSN beginning next year will broadcast the ladies' and men's singles finals for the first time in the net's history. TSN's rights also include matches on TSN.ca and TSN Mobile TV along with coverage on TSN Radio, as well as all French-language multimedia broadcast rights for RDS. TSN is now the exclusive Canadian broadcaster for all four Grand Slam tennis events (TSN).
FACTORING IT ALL IN: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Lesley Goldberg reported Fox "originally had two plans to integrate Simon Cowell's upcoming singing competition series 'The X Factor' during" Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game, including a "half-hour national preview and a three-minute movie trailer promo." However, since production is "still under way on the fall series, Fox will broadcast a three-minute world premiere promo." There will be an on-air promo "alerting viewers that they haven't missed the world premiere." But Fox Sports Media Group co-President & co-COO Eric Shanks said "that 'X Factor' is not going to take over the All-Star Game,' and that talent from the series ... won't be in Phoenix" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/6).
LET'S MAKE A DEAL: Medge Consulting and its partner Advisers Media Int'l have signed an agreement to represent the int'l media rights for the NHL in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The five-year contract begins next season. The agreement includes live HD broadcast rights for up to 480 games per season, including playoffs, the Stanley Cup Final and the Winter Classic, as well as highlights and NHL support programming (Medge Consulting).
STORMING THE KASTLE: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will have Joe Beninati and John Feinstein in the booth for coverage of Washington Kastles matches this season. Beninati handles play-by-play for the RSN's Washington Capitals games. Network anchor Russ Thaler will handle sideline reporting duties. Thaler is the PA announcer for the World TeamTennis team. Coverage starts tonight (John Ourand, THE DAILY).
PREFERRED READING LIST: Former media buyer Jack Hanrahan "has compiled a tally of titles by political-party appeal." Golf Digest and Golf Magazine were among the magazines that "focus on high-end leisure pursuits" that "attracted Republicans" (CRAINSNEWYORK.com, 7/1).
