L.A. Daily News sports media reporter Tom Hoffarth reported on Twitter that nationally syndicated radio host Tony Bruno "has been suspended this week" from his show by DirecTV, which owns it. Bruno last Friday in a tweet called Giants P Ramon Ramirez an "illegal alien" (THE DAILY). Bruno was "not on the air" Sunday night, but "nothing official about a suspension has been posted on Bruno's Facebook or Twitter pages" or the website for KNBR-AM, the Bay Area station that carries his show (RADIOINK.com, 8/8).
HERE WE GO AGAIN? MULTICHANNEL NEWS' Mike Reynolds reports Cablevision and Tennis Channel "may be getting ready to volley at the distribution net again." Cablevision has "sent out a postcard to its subscribers indicating that it has been working to extend its agreement" with the network. But the MSO added, "It is possible that Tennis Channel may no longer be available after Sept. 3." Two years ago, the parties were "engaged in a high-profile dispute that resulted in the operator's customers missing Tennis Channel's extensive coverage of the U.S. Open tennis championships." A Tennis Channel spokesperson said that the network's "original deal with NCTC expires on Sept. 3 and that it is currently talking to the cable co-op 'for digital basic carriage or basic, not for sports tiers'" (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 8/8 issue).
PEOPLE & PERSONALITIES: In West Palm Beach, Tom D'Angelo reported Florida Atlantic Univ. "has cut ties with play-by-play announcer Dave Lamont and promoted Ken LaVicka as the new voice of the football program." FAU AD Craig Angelos said that Lamont's duties with ESPN "were pulling him in too many directions" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 8/8)....The Daily Oklahoman has hired Travis Haney as the beat writer for Univ. of Oklahoma football. Haney had covered the Univ. of South Carolina football program and SEC athletics for the Charleston Post & Courier (NEWSOK.com, 8/8).
