In N.Y., Andrew Marchand cites sources as saying that ABC is "kicking around the idea of going hard after CBS' or Fox' NFL Sunday packages." Fox' and CBS' current NFL packages "do not end until after" the '22 season." The idea of "Disney spending big for ABC doesn't fully align with the company's move toward over-the-top programming." However, Disney could "try to prop up ABC by using Sunday football to lure more male viewers, which it currently lacks." Digital players are "not looked at as legitimate threats for the Sunday regionalization packages" (N.Y. POST, 1/9).
GAMEDAY LIVES HERE: THE ATHLETIC's John Walters writes ESPN has "established a veritable monopoly on college football." The net's "ardor for the sport is not in question here, and truly, no one is more responsible for growing the sport." However, when one outlet handles 89.7% of the "bowl games, the potential for conflict of interest grows." So too does the "propensity for that network to not cover the sport so much as to showcase it" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/9).
RUGBY ROOTS: In Seattle, Andrew McIntosh reported Major League Rugby's Seattle Seawolves are "renewing and expanding their broadcast TV deal with Root Sports" for the '19 season. Seawolves co-Founder & President Shane Skinner said that AT&T-owned Root Sports Northwest will "broadcast 12 Seattle Seawolves rugby matches" this season. Skinner added that CBS Sports Network will "broadcast the Seawolves' remaining four matches" under its "Game of the Week banner" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/7).
