BROADCASTING & CABLE's Ben Grossman reported Fox Sports Chair David Hill, who has "spent much of his time in Washington, D.C. recently overseeing News Corp’s interest in the domestic National Geographic Channels, will return to focus on Fox Sports." Sources indicated that the move was urged by News Corp President, COO & Deputy Chair Chase Carey, since Hill and the National Geographic execs "were never a great fit." Still, Grossman noted Hill "was hardly completely pulled off of sports, as he led the delegation in Switzerland for News Corp’s recent Olympic bid" (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 8/4). Hill will "stay on the board of National Geographic Channels U.S." (LATIMES.com, 8/4).
ROLL THE TAPE: NFL Films Senior Coordinating Producer Ross Ketover and Supervising Producer Keith Cossrow wrote a letter to the editor in Friday's PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS in response to Paul Domowich's article last week about the organization, asserting the "state of NFL Films is far stronger than Mr. Domowitch reported." NFL Films "recently won five sports Emmy Awards for its work" in '10, the organization's "biggest Emmy haul in 15 years." Over the last three years, NFL Films "has produced major specials, documentaries and series for HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, as well as NFL Network." Ketover and Cossrow added, "The relationship between NFL Films and NFL Network is complex. One is a production company, the other a TV network -- two very different entities. We all understand that, and we work together every day for the same team. And to the credit of Steve Bornstein and Howard Katz, we also continue to work independently of each other" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/5).
OUT OF ORDER: DirecTV on Thursday said that Comcast's lawsuit accusing the satellite provider of "false advertising is itself a flight of fancy." DirecTV Senior VP/PR Darris Gringeri in an e-mail said, "We believe Comcast's complaint is completely without merit and plan to defend ourselves vigorously." AD AGE's Rich Thomaselli noted Comcast filed suit on Wednesday, "charging that DirecTV is falsely advertising its exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket package ... as 'free.'" Comcast alleges that DirecTV "does not disclose that the 'free' NFL Sunday Ticket package requires a two-year commitment." The NFL is "staying out of the fray" (ADAGE.com, 8/4).
STOCKING UP THE CUPBOARD: In Newark, Jenny Vrentas cites a source as saying that after Jets OT Damien Woody announces his retirement from the NFL on Friday, he "will join ESPN as an analyst" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/5). The move will be the latest acquisition of on-air NFL talent for ESPN. Former Browns and Jets coach Eric Mangini was formally announced as part of ESPN's team Thursday, while former NFLer Hugh Douglas made his on-air debut Monday (THE DAILY).
