USA TODAY's A.J. Perez notes while streaming "makes up less than 5% of the audience for NFL games," the number of people streaming games has "seen a roughly 25% gain over the same time period last season." Adobe, who is the "leading provider of the authentication service used by broadcasters," partnered with The Diffusion Group to "study the trends in sports streaming." The survey polled 2,000 U.S. consumers in July on their "viewing habits to stream sports on any screen ... as well as on their television via streaming devices." The survey found the NFL is the "most streamed sport from Week 1 in September through February’s Super Bowl" (USA TODAY, 10/19).
A NEW ERA: In Cleveland, Joe Noga writes TNT's broadcast coverage of Celtics F Gordon Hayward's injury on Tuesday night "demonstrated just how far sports broadcasts have evolved for the better." Sports broadcasts have a "long and checkered history of showing fans all of the gory details of some of the worst injuries." Tuesday was "emotional, rather than gratuitous." Respectful, "rather than inflammatory." Turner Sports Senior VP/Programming Albert Vertino credited TNT's game crew, including producer Jeff Randolph and director Lonnie Dale, for "handling Tuesday's situation with professionalism and compassion" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/19).
CHANGING SCENERY: FANRAG SPORTS' Sam Robinson noted Spectrum SportsNet Lakers analyst Antawn Jamison has "accepted a position as a pro scout" for the Lakers. Jamison will be based in Charlotte and will "continue to be a presence" on SportsNet providing Lakers coverage (FANRAGSPORTS.com, 10/18).
