The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Sarah Krouse cited sources as saying that Verizon's Oath group is "exploring subscriptions to HuffPost news and Yahoo Sports content, among other ideas." Oath earlier this month said that Yahoo Finance would "start such a service" in early '19. Sources said that execs "decided that while Oath would still sell and serve ads, they should focus more on getting existing users of properties like Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Sports to visit more frequently, stay longer and pay for some content" (WSJ.com, 12/2).
STEPPING AWAY: Tennis Channel’s Justin Gimelstob is being "sidelined in the wake of a recent arrest on felony battery charges and an expose in The Telegraph listing a string of alleged assaults by the former tennis pro over the past three years." Tennis Channel in a statement said Gimelstob asked for a "leave of absence while he works through this issue." Gimelstob was "arrested on Nov. 21 for allegedly attacking his former friend, venture capitalist Randall Kaplan, on Halloween" (DEADLINE.com, 11/30).
SAFE BET: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's deal with MGM Resorts Int'l will "change the way games are broadcast." Raissman: "Would we be surprised if baseball gambling analysts are added to broadcast booths or studios? There’s gold in them thar hills." The TV outlets airing baseball have the "time to do in-game spots to encourage betting on games" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/2).
