In Chattanooga, David Paschall noted the Florida-Tennessee football game is the only matchup CBS "has shown all 16 years" since they began broadcasting the SEC in '96, and it has "been televised in prime time on five occasions." However, this year's game is scheduled for Sept. 15, the same day defending national champion Alabama plays at Arkansas. Meanwhile, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said that after announcing the introductions of Univ. of Missouri and Texas A&M Univ. to the conference, the league would "seek to rework its television contracts with CBS and ESPN." But CBS Sports Exec VP/Programming Mike Aresco "declined to comment when asked where those negotiations stand" (CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS, 2/20).
APPLYING PRESSURE? In Philadelphia, Jonathan Tannenwald noted Fox reportedly has been "pushing FIFA to apply pressure on Major League Soccer to change to a winter-centric calendar." While it is not news that Fox and FIFA have been "advocating a winter schedule for MLS," it is news that the two entities have been "directly working together -- and with Fox pushing FIFA in particular" (PHILLY.com, 2/16).
RETURN TO THE BOOTH: In DC, Steven Goff noted John Harkes, who had been ESPN’s soccer color commentator, will "serve in the same capacity for Comcast SportsNet’s match coverage" of MLS DC United this season. Harkes, who was "let go by ESPN last fall, will replace Thomas Rongen." DC United is in the "process of finalizing its local TV package with CSN, with an announcement possible this week" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/20).
DYNAMIC DUO: In DC, Dan Steinberg noted the fact that Nationals announcers Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler have become DC's "most popular radio broadcast team ... is a testament to their chemistry, humor and grace, even during losses." Slowes said, "You get lucky a little bit with chemistry. It either works or it doesn’t. We prepare in similar ways, we think similarly about how we should approach play-by-play, and after a while we could pretty much finish each others’ sentences. It’s a little bit of luck when that happens." Slowes added that they have been "given the freedom to shape the broadcast as they like and have never been micromanaged" by Nationals execs (WASHINGTON POST, 2/18).
HOWDY, PARTNER: USA Today Sports Media Group has partnered with ticket search engine SeatGeek to feature ticketing links, pricing forecasts and deal alerts to more than 100 media properties in the USAT sports portfolio. For SeatGeek, the alliance extends a series of media partnerships that also includes Yahoo, Bleacher Report, and Yardbarker, among others (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
