In Las Vegas, Mark Anderson noted the Raiders are "scheduled to play 11 regular-season games on CBS next season, but whether all 11 are shown in Las Vegas is still to be determined." Vegas-based KLAS-CBS GM Lisa Howfield said that she "hoped to carry all the Raiders’ games scheduled to be on CBS, but the network decides which games are televised in which markets." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said there have been "no official changes to our television policy." Howfield said that CBS has been "accommodating when requests have been made to broadcast specific games" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/22).
THE ART OF THE DEAL: In DC, Matt Bonesteel wrote under the header, "ESPN Wanted Better 'Monday Night Football' Games. Did It Get Them?" ESPN's deal with the NFL has "been a disaster, comparatively." The amount ESPN "pays by itself isn't all that far from what the other three networks pay combined." In any case, ESPN "says it’s happy with its current NFL agreement." With "hours and hours of programming to fill ... the right to broadcast NFL highlights alone is perhaps worth the high cost" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/22).
STRONG START: In St. Paul, Mike Berardino wrote under the header, "Torii Hunter Makes Successful Broadcast Debut For Minnesota Twins." Hunter, who also serves as Twins Special Assistant to Baseball Operations, made his debut as a color analyst on FS North on Friday for Tigers-Twins. He came through "just fine." Hunter has a 12-game package as a TV analyst this season (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 4/23).
