MLB President of Business & Media Bob Bowman said that the "key to success in the increasingly competitive digital technology market" is incorporating "variations of distribution and content strategy." Speaking to BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield on the firm's "Screening The Future" webcast series, Bowman said that while different distribution platforms "might be based on the same technology, user behavior, target market, the nature of content and company culture among MLBAM's customer vary." CABLEFAX DAILY cites the HBO Now model as an example, as that is "based on the net's popular original programming, might not work for other non-sports programmers" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 7/1).
WHO'S ON THIRD? In S.F., Al Saracevic noted former Giants 3B coach Tim Flannery is in the middle of a "new chapter" in his baseball career, serving as a part-time analyst for CSN Bay Area. Flannery is a "great talker," and Saracevic asked, "Who knows the Giants better than their former coach?" Flannery is "oftentimes hilarious and goofy -- and he's not afraid to share it." Flannery said, "This is what I want to do. I'm not doing it as a vehicle to make a couple bucks" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/28).
DIAMONDS & RINGS: ESPN has hired Marysol Castro to host “Premier Boxing Champions” and serve as a sideline reporter for the Little League World Series. The former news anchor on N.Y.-based WPIX-CW will make her debut July 11 during ESPN’s launch of its "PBC" series. Castro also has had stints on CBS’ “The Early Show” and ABC’s “GMA.” ESPN firmed up the rest of its "PBC" talent roster, choosing Todd Grisham and Bernardo Osuna to serve as reporters, with Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas calling the fights ringside. On ESPN Deportes, Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodriguez will call the fights, and Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will serve as co-hosts. Former referee Joe Cortez also will provide analysis (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
