The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Paul Bond notes it is "a bit counterintuitive given the negative publicity," but "possibly no outlet has benefited more" from the Deflategate scandal than NFL Network. At 5:40pm ET on May 11, the NFL suspended Patriots QB Tom Brady, and NFL Network "broke into regular programming with the news." For the next two days, the coverage "was all Brady, all the time, with analysts and former teammates weighing in." During the first couple of days after the suspension, NFL Network saw a 37% spike in U.S. household ratings "compared with the same days a year earlier" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/29 issue).
CUTTING CORDS: VARIETY's Janko Roettgers noted Dish Network's Sling TV on Thursday "officially launched on Google’s Android TV devices" and added ESPN Deportes "to its lineup of channels." The Spanish-language sportscaster "is now available as part of what Sling calls the Deportes Extra add-on pack -- a small bundle of Spanish-language sports channels that also includes Univision Deportes and beIN Sports en Español." The sports package "costs $5 a month, but requires consumers to also subscribe to Sling’s $20 a month base package" (VARIETY.com, 5/21).
MOVING FROM MUSIC: Spotify will expand its "ambitions in entertainment by offering video programming and podcasts, a strategy meant to tap into fast-growing areas of digital media." News and clips "from outlets such as ABC, BBC, ESPN" and NBC will be included. ESPN "will provide snippets of the documentary series '30 for 30.'" Spotify co-Founder & CEO Daniel Ek said that the discussions with media companies "began about two years ago, and then heated up recently" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/21).
TRYING SOMETHING NEW: In Detroit, Tony Paul noted FS Detroit on Wednesday “tried something new” during the Brewers-Tigers telecast, as it twice had game announcers Mario Impemba and Rod Allen chat with Craig Monroe “back in the studio.” Paul: “Not sure I liked the segments, since at least once, Monroe was in mid-analysis on a topic when a Tiger got a lead-off hit. It had an awkward feel, like the ... game was taking a back seat.” Monroe during the second attempt also “rambled when Impemba and Allen were trying to end the segment” (DETROITNEWS.com, 5/21).
