The GLOBE & MAIL's Bruce Dowbiggin writes after Rory McIlroy injured his wrist during Thursday's first round of the PGA Tour Championship, TNT "wisely had its announcers clam up so we could hear the fascinating interplay" between McIlroy and PGA Tour physiotherapist Jeff Hendra (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/12). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes, "Fabulous, you-are-there/keep-quiet-and-listen coverage from TNT/CBS yesterday of Rory McIlroy being examined after injuring his wrist. Gary McCord later called it: 'A soap opera -- How the Wrist Turns'" (N.Y. POST, 8/12).
FOOTBALL FRIDAYS: DAILY VARIETY's Stuart Levine reported Versus is "set to launch two original shows in September to air on Fridays." The first will be an "hourlong NFL roundup show" featuring Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who will "offer analysis and assessment on an assortment of games, players and trends." The "still untitled show, set to run throughout the NFL season, will air from 6-7 p.m." That show will be followed by a 30-minute show featuring CNBC sports reporter Darren Rovell, who will "look at the off-the-field financial aspects of sports." Versus also is developing "a weeknight hourlong sports roundup show that will air at 6 p.m." and sources say that the cabler "will use its Comcast affiliates to provide information on teams in specific cities around the country" (VARIETY.com, 8/11).
FAIR MARKET VALUE: The FCC’s Media Bureau has denied Root Sports Pittsburgh’s “petition to review and reverse an arbitrator’s decision" that went in Armstrong Cable’s favor in their “long-running dispute over the fair market value” of the RSN. The bureau said, “Consistent with the arbitrator’s decision, the Armstrong final offer most closely approximates the fair market value of the programming carriage rights issue.” The dispute “went to arbitration pursuant to a condition established by the FCC in the Liberty Media order” (CABLEFAX DAILY, 8/12).
THE GOLDEN RULE: In Albany, Pete Dougherty responded to criticism surrounding ESPN’s decision to move the start of Wednesday’s U.S.-Mexico soccer match from ESPN2 to ESPNews because of a LLWS game under the header, “ESPN Getting Ripped Unfairly For Little League Overrun.” Dougherty: “You have a program in which viewers have invested two hours on ESPN2, and the network is supposed to yank it off for a soccer exhibition game? Get real. ... The golden rule in television is that you don’t cut away from live action until the competition is complete. ESPN wisely followed it and did give soccer fans an alternate outlet to watch the beginning of the snorefest” (TIMESUNION.com, 8/11).
BEST WISHES: Univ. of Iowa play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin “announced Wednesday that he is battling prostate cancer.” The 60-year-old Dolphin is heading into his 15th season calling Iowa football and men’s basketball games, and Hawkeye Sports Properties GM Chuck Schroeder said, “We have great confidence that he’ll be ready when we go on the air in a few short weeks” (KCRG.com, 8/10).
