Speed and ARCA have announced an extension of the current broadcast rights agreement that calls for a minimum of 10 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards events to be televised on the net either live and/or on same-day delay next year. In addition, Racing Electronics (RE) has exercised an option to extend its contract with ARCA for three more years. The current five-year agreement lasts through the ’12 season, and the extension means that ARCA and RE will work together through at least the ’15 season. RE has been an official communications provider for ARCA since ’97 (ARCA).
NOT SO AMAZING GRACE: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes Fox MLB analyst Mark Grace is “another analyst who just tries too hard for his own good.” During Saturday's Phillies-Mets telecast, Grace "three times spoke the postulate, ‘Games aren’t played on paper, they’re played on grass and dirt.’” Grace “made it four when he said it after the game.” In addition, after Mets 3B Justin Turner “singled to right, Grace became another who seems to apply ‘a good piece of hitting’ only to opposite-field hits” (N.Y. POST, 7/18).
FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNER: In K.C., Terez Paylor noted MLS Sporting KC play-by-play announcer Callum Williams “has worked with seven different color men since the start of the season.” Sporting KC Exec VP/Operations Chris Wyche for a two-month stretch “found Williams’ partner on a game-by-game basis.” But Wyche in May was “impressed” by Sporting KC Stage Manager and camera operator Jake Yadrich’s screen test, and he “decided to put him on air" for the team’s June 22 game against the Union. Despite “a few hiccups here and there, Yadrich did well in the Philly game and got additional assignments" against the Timbers, Chivas USA and last Saturday’s game against the Dynamo. Wyche said that Yadrich “probably will be Williams’ partner the rest of the season” (K.C. STAR, 7/16).
TALKIN' FOOTBALL: Fox' Jimmy Johnson said the net's "Fox NFL Sunday" pregame show “will be broadcast regardless” of the status of the NFL lockout. Johnson said, “Even if there’s no football, we’ll have a TV show. We’re going to talk about the lockout and what they need to do to solve it” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/16).
