The past year has seen many ups and downs over the airwaves, in print and online. Laid out below are some of the most unforgettable storylines from an eventful year in sports media.
IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM...: Just days after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory closed the book on the '13 NFL season, CBS inks a deal for the league's new Thursday night broadcast package for '14. The net beats out ABC, Fox, NBC and Turner in the “TNF” sweepstakes with a bid believed to be north of $250M, and the pricey gamble pays off. CBS’ “TNF” simulcast ends up as the most-viewed, second highest-rated NFL primetime TV package through the first eight weeks of the season with an audience of 16.7 million and a combined 10.3 average rating.
BATTLING WITH DEM BUMS: The Dodgers finally launch their RSN 13 months after signing a 25-year, $8B deal, but approximately 70% of the market cannot get Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA due to distribution issues. The season commences several weeks later, but neither side caves. Six months and 94 Dodgers wins later, the issue remains unresolved, and L.A. fans outside of TWC’s domain are left with nothing more than hope and cautious optimism headed into ’15.
Also:
* NBC is forced into Plan B after Bob Costas gets an eye infection in Sochi.
* ESPN's last year with the World Cup sees big ratings and online records shattered.
* Paulina Gretzky on the Golf Digest cover draws the ire of LPGA players, commissioner.
* NBC pries Jamie Horowitz away from ESPN, but fires him before his official start date.
* ESPN comes under fire for showing -- and replaying -- Michael Sam's kiss on Draft night.
* U.S. Open, closed: NBC signs off on golf major; CBS ends 46 years with tennis slam.
* Erin Andrews gets high marks for her handling of Richard Sherman’s epic postgame rant.
* WWE partners with MLBAM for new WWE Network; subs for the OTT product soar ... at first.
