In Raleigh, Luke DeCock poses the question, "Has the time come for an ACC Network, an actual channel dedicated to the conference?" The "easy answer is yes," as there has "never been a better time to start a sports network of any kind." But the conference "has taken a surprisingly equivocal tone about its television future." ACC Commissioner John Swofford said, "You really have to look at it strategically from a business standpoint to determine whether it makes the most sense long term, because it’s a long-term decision." He added, "We want to be diligent. And by we, I’m talking about us, the league, but also ESPN. You don’t take that step unless you feel pretty confident it will be a successful business venture for both entities" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/21).
BLEEP BUTTON? In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy wrote it is "fair to say" that WEEI-FM was "slow to react" when host Kirk Minihane called Fox Sports' Erin Andrews a "gutless (expletive)" on the air Wednesday morning. Folks at the station were "so clueless that they re-aired the segment a little later in the morning" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/20).
ISLAND IN THE SUN: In Honolulu, Ferd Lewis reported Oceanic Time Warner Cable will offer eight Univ. of Hawaii's football games "on pay-per-view this season." It is Oceanic's "largest menu" of UH games since '11 and will "come with a $400 'early bird' rate on Oahu." Packages purchased after the deadline "will cost $450 on Oahu and $270 on the neighbor islands" (HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER, 7/20).
FLAVOR OF THE WEEK: In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted YES Network’s “This Week in Football,” which has been on the RSN for 12 years, "won’t be returning this season." Economics "played a role." Fox, which owns a majority stake in YES, is "looking to trim budgets at all their regional sports networks, making 'TWIF' expendable" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/20).
