As noted in yesterday’s Closing Bell, Fox Sports is "protesting the Los Angeles Dodgers' request to hire Blackstone Group to market the team's media rights, setting up a potential battle with the broadcaster that, until recently, had been one of embattled owner Frank McCourt's biggest supporters." The Dodgers' primary TV partner, Fox Sports' Prime Ticket, said in court documents that Blackstone's "proposed marketing plan treads on the current agreement to broadcast Dodgers games through the 2013 season and violates a provision that gives Fox Sports exclusive negotiation rights through November 2012" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/2).
CHANGING TUNES: With Sporting News Radio being renamed Yahoo Sports Radio, Gow Broadcasting Chair David Gow said that the relationship with Yahoo "will include branding, content and promotional elements and is effective immediately across the network and its flagship station," KGOW-AM in Houston. In Houston, David Barron reports the radio net's website "will now be YahooSportsRadio.com, and its bumper music and imaging will be changed to reflect the new name." Gow said that the net "plans to add new shows in collaboration with Yahoo in the next 60 days to reflect the new partnership." He added that topics "could include weekend programs on fantasy sports, mixed martial arts, soccer and golf." Gow also said that Yahoo Sports Radio "will no longer feature a weekly program from" Fox Sports NFL analyst Troy Aikman (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/2).
CHECK OUT THE COMPETITION: In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote ESPN "finally has a genuine rival. Or it feels like it." NBC yesterday announced "its plans to move ahead with a bonafide cable TV sports product" by changing Versus' name to NBC Sports Network. Engel wrote Comcast was the "only network outside of Fox ... that could really create another viable TV sports" arena to compete with ESPN. Engel: "Don't be surprised if other sports leagues, namely the NBA wait to re-sign with ESPN to see if NBC wants some of their games as well" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 8/1).
ON THE WEB: The Univ. of Minnesota and CBSSports.com yesterday announced a partnership on an enhanced athletics website. The revamped GopherSports.com, launched yesterday, will use new technology to provide fans with an experience unique to UM. CBSSports.com has been working the past several months in preparing the site's new look for launch. Both premium and free video content will be available through the new Gopher All-Access at a monthly rate of $9.95 or a yearly rate of $79.95 (Univ. of Minnesota).
