In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote the "real headline" following Bill Simmons' departure from ESPN's "NBA Countdown" should have been "Simmons loses power struggle to Sage Steele." With Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon "disposed of and Simmons' trusty wing man, Jalen Rose, at his side, it looked like clear sailing ahead, that Simmons would keep setting and controlling the tone of the show." Raissman: "Those who still think it was actually Simmons who wanted out, well, don’t stop believing" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/17).
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: ESPN on Friday announced that it has reached a multimedia sublicense agreement with Fox Sports Media Group to carry a select package of UEFA Champions League matches across ESPN media platforms through the '17-18 season. The agreement also includes exclusive Spanish-language rights to 72 matches for ESPN Deportes. The net will continue to be the exclusive Spanish-language TV home of the UEFA Europa League in the U.S. through the '17-18 season (ESPN).
LEADER OF THE PAC: In L.A., Meg James noted Time Warner Cable is "adding five additional Pac-12 television channels to its lineup available" to L.A.-area subscribers. The channels will be available through TWC's "Sports Pass specialty tier." The move "brings to seven the number of Pac-12 feeds available to subscribers in the area" (L.A. TIMES, 8/16).
DEAR MR. FANTASY: ESPN.com’s Eric Karabell said of USA Today and other media organizations getting involved in daily fantasy sports, “It’s still a relatively untapped market and like anything else, people see money, they see the opportunity to grow the market with advertising and whatever else. And obviously as we’ve seen, some of these companies are doing very well and some of the players are doing well enough that they can quit their jobs” (“OTL,” ESPN, 8/17).
