MULTICHANNEL NEWS this week in a cover story profiles Liberty Media Chair JOHN MALONE, whose company owns the Braves. Malone said, "The real threat to the cable industry is if somebody could come over the top without all the sports. ... Without paying for sports, can you deliver a quality service, random access, at a price point that could undermine cable? And to me, that would be a slam dunk if you could get the programming and not have to take the sports." When asked who is leading the way in potentially offering those services, Malone said, "I’d say Disney, News Corp., Comcast, the guys who actually own the sports programs. And they are basically saying, 'Well we won’t let you have the entertainment programming unless you take the sports stuff. What are we, stupid?' Right?" (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 10/22 issue).
COURT REPORT: The Indians "have settled a lawsuit with the widow of a Pennsylvania man who died nine days after being struck by an inflatable slide outside Progressive Field." DOUGLAS JOHNSON was attending an Indians game on June 12, 2010, when "the slide for a 'Kids Fun Day' fell on top of him." Johnson "broke three bones in his back and died nine days later after suffering a pulmonary embolism brought on by the fractures and inactivity" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/23).
HIT THE BOOKS: In K.C., Bob Dutton notes former MLBer FRANK WHITE tonight will hold a public reception at the K.C. Library to "discuss details" of his new book, "ONE MAN'S DREAM, MY TOWN, MY TEAM, MY TIME." However, it is White’s "depiction of his split from the Royals, which culminated in his ouster from the Fox Sports Kansas City broadcast crew following the 2011 season, that seems likely to draw the greatest public interest" (K.C. STAR, 10/23).
AWARDS & HONORS: Broadcasting & Cable named NBC Sports Group Chair MARK LAZARUS its TV Sports Executive Of The Year. He will be honored in the Dec. 3 edition of the publication (Broadcasting & Cable)….ESPN NFL analyst and former Bills GM BILL POLIAN on Sunday became the 28th honoree on the Ralph Wilson Stadium Wall of Fame during halftime of the Titans-Bills game (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/22).
CHARITY STRIPE: Pistons teammates RODNEY STUCKEY, GREG MONROE, BRANDON KNIGHT and JASON MAXIELL yesterday met with Detroit Fire Commissioner DON AUSTIN and later delivered meals to two engine companies (FREEP.com, 10/22)….Ravens players VONTA LEACH, RAY RICE, JOE FLACCO and MICHAEL OHER last night played in the Shoot for a Cure Celebrity Billiards Tournament at Arundel Mills in Baltimore, which benefited the American Breast Cancer Foundation (BALTIMORESUN.com, 10/19).
NAMES: Ravens WR TORREY SMITH proposed to his girlfriend CHANEL WILLIAMS at Baltimore’s anti-animal abuse organization Show Your Soft Side (BALTIMORESUN.com, 10/20)....An engagement dinner for Nationals 3B RYAN ZIMMERMAN and his fiancée HEATHER DOWNEN “was filmed for a recent episode” of “Life After Top Chef" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/19)….Runner’s World magazine Chief Running Officer BART YASSO today is profiled in the N.Y. Times’ Frequent Flier feature (N.Y. TIMES, 10/23)….Dodgers LF CARL CRAWFORD’s house in Wellesley, Mass., is on the market for $2.9M (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/23).
