On Long Island, Neil Best notes MSG Networks "twice this month has shown" an NHL Rangers game on MSG+ while the Islanders were playing on MSG, "reversing the usual procedure and the branding the network previously has used for the two channels." The Rangers will be on MSG+ "twice more this season, in late March," both opposite Islanders games on MSG. The juggling indicates it is "moving toward treating the channels more interchangeably, something that is expected to continue into next season." The two channels "are in about the same number of homes" (NEWSDAY, 2/27).
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes FIFA "must have calculated it was best to mollify Fox, not fight it," when moving the '22 World Cup to winter. A source said that Fox for the '26 World Cup will only "pay about 10 percent more than in its current contracts" for '18 and '22, which are worth a total of $425M. In Canada, CTV and TSN will pay about 4% more than the $40M they are scheduled to pay in '22, and will "pay an extra" 10% if the U.S. wins a bid to host the '26 tourney (N.Y. TIMES, 2/27).
KICK START: ESPN's MLS coverage during the '15 regular season will feature a new consistent “MLS Soccer Sunday” match window Sundays at 5:00pm ET. The schedule calls for 28 of 34 games at this time (primarily on ESPN2), marking the most consistent appointment viewing for the league since its debut season in '96 (ESPN). Meanwhile, ESPN FC's Graham Parker wrote MLS' deal with Sky Sports will "soon showcase MLS to the type of skeptical viewers ready to assess the young league's credentials" (ESPNFC.com, 2/26).
RED VENTURES: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes the Cardinals will have 23 Spring Training games air locally this season -- "11 on both radio and television, seven just on radio and five only on TV." As recently as '12, FS Midwest "televised just five" Spring Training games, and this year will air 15 for the second year in a row. FS Midwest Senior VP & GM Jack Donovan: "The games almost always rate No. 1 in their time slot among men and sometimes No. 1 among households" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/27).
