Patriots coach Bill Belichick's press conference about the team's under-inflated footballs was carried live this morning by not just the major sports networks, but also by most of the national news channels. MSNBC, Fox News, CNN and HLN joined ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network in carrying Belichick's nearly 12-minute address. That comes after all three network morning shows teased the story in their opening news collage. ABC’s “GMA” used the headline “Super Bowl Scandal” and led the broadcast with a taped report from ABC’s Ryan Smith, followed by a discussion with Pro Football HOFer Michael Strahan and ESPN's Jesse Palmer. “CBS This Morning” used the headline “Pressure Cooker” during the show's intro. It was the second report of the broadcast and included Boston-based WEEI-FM’s Christian Fauria in the taped segment. NBC’s “Today” teased the scandal with the headline “Clearing The Air?” and made it the third report of the broadcast. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio appeared in a taped segment, followed by a live discussion in studio with "SNF" analyst Hines Ward (THE DAILY).
NEWS OF THE WORLD: Last night's editions of the broadcast news shows all discussed Deflategate in reference to how it was beginning to overshadow Super Bowl XLIX. NBC's Brian Williams said there is a “growing scandal in the No. 1 sport in our nation and new developments in the investigation that threatens to tarnish the Super Bowl.” Williams said the story “has millions of people talking.” NBC’s Ron Mott: “The NFL is dealing with this growing controversy that is overshadowing the game itself” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 1/21). CBS’ Anna Werner this morning said the report is “casting a pall over the Patriots' latest Super Bowl appearance” (“CBS This Morning,” CBS, 1/22). ABC's Smith said, “It’s the latest NFL scandal and it’s dominating the airwaves. From the morning shows to talk radio, instead of talking about the Super Bowl, all eyes are on the ball” ("Nightline," ABC, 1/21).
PEOPLE ARE TALKING: In addition to the nightly news programs and morning shows, several other news shows ventured into the topic. MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning aired a report from NBC News, and the co-hosts discussed the issue with Ward appearing live in-studio. ABC’s “Nightline” aired a segment called “Deflate-Gate” last night, while PBS’ “NewsHour” ended their broadcast with a report on the scandal, complete with an interview with Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin via satellite (THE DAILY).
