YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab noted despite recent ratings issues, TV execs are "still falling over themselves to televise the NFL." First round overage this year will feature NFL Net, Fox, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes -- not to mention streaming for all of those outlets. One criticism of the NFL is "over-saturation, and they’re not doing themselves any favor in that regard with this draft plan." But since NFL Draft ratings last year "blew away ratings for NBA playoff games in the same time slots, it’s obvious many people can’t get enough of the draft" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/21).
FOX IN THE HENHOUSE: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal writes recently hired ESPN analyst John Fox apparently is "happy to take a paycheck from one of those media outfits he desperately tried to keep from reporting what their journalists see and hear." Rosenthal: "ESPN presumably has its pick of the litter. But is Fox really what its viewers want? Even if all of that stuff with the Bears was an act, isn’t there a better act out there?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/22). In N.Y., Mark Sanchez noted ESPN Radio's "The Dan Le Batard Show" yesterday "had some fun" with the Fox hire. Le Batard: "Can we make a promo for ESPN where it’s like big and loud and echoing and it’s like, ‘Bad. Coaches. Work. Here.' We’ve been making fun of John Fox for three years straight, and we can’t stop making fun of him now. So that’s awkward." Le Batard added, "ESPN has been at this for years. ... We turned Herm (Edwards) into a star and now he’s got another job" (NYPOST.com, 3/21).
WHO IS THIS FOR? In Richmond, Chris Wilbers wrote he wants the people in charge of Fox's NASCAR pre-race show to "precisely identify their target audience." Wilbers: "Are they hoping to grab the interest of longtime fans? Casual viewers? Because what I saw last Sunday before the race at Auto Club Speedway came off as scatterbrained and would be difficult to recommend to anyone. Why is Michael Waltrip having an awkward 30-second conversation with the hip hop trio Migos, particularly when there were drivers who are fans of the group right there?" (RICHMOND.com, 3/21).
