In San Jose, Jon Wilner spoke with Pac-12 Enterprises President Gary Stevenson about “the prospects for a Pac-12 Networks distribution deal -- with DirecTV and/or other carriers -- sometime between now and the start of football.” Stevenson said, "I'm confident we'll make a lot of progress in the next 60-90 days." Wilner noted he “didn't get the sense that he was necessarily referring to DirecTV.” But given how “close-to-the-vest Stevenson plays carriage negotiations for the past year, his expression of confidence qualifies as significant.” Wilner: “If the Pac12Nets are on the verge of a deal, my guess is that it's not with DTV. (Feels too early: If DTV is going to sign up, it won't be until mid-to-late August)" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 4/4).
ACROSS THE POND: In St. Paul, Ben Goessling noted the Vikings will have “a regular presence on British TV between now and September, as Sky Sports kicks off a biweekly show introducing fans” to the team. Sky Sports NFL broadcaster Neil Reynolds said that the program will “feature everything from profiles of Adrian Peterson and Leslie Frazier to footage of classic Vikings games” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 4/4).
FRESH PERSPECTIVE: In Charlotte, Jim Utter reports Motor Racing Network’s “NASCAR Live” has a new format that will “include discussion and opinions from NASCAR insiders on the issues of the day, and in-depth interviews with the top drivers.” Host Eli Gold said, “We did not have to reinvent the wheel. We just needed to freshen it up” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/5).
