Meredith Chair & CEO Steve Lacy said that there are two parties "vying to buy" Sports Illustrated but "declined to divulge their identities." Lacy: "One is a strategic buyer and one is what I would call a non-strategic buyer, who would use it to power other sporting events." In N.Y., Keith Kelly noted former NBAer Junior Bridgeman is reportedly the player who would "take over and run it as a traditional magazine with digital and TV play" (N.Y. POST, 2/6).
CHANGE OF SCENERY: In S.F., Susan Slusser notes longtime A’s pre- and postgame radio announcer Chris Townsend "has a new job, working directly for the team as a host and senior broadcast producer -- and Townsend and the A’s soon will have a new radio home." Sources said that the A’s are "close to completing a deal with a free streaming service and a local radio station that should be announced in the next week or two." The A’s are "likely to use Townsend and others to provide expanded coverage for their streaming broadcasts, in particular, with the potential for A’s-centered talk shows, interview segments and expanded pre- and postgame shows" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/7).
GOING, GOING, GONE: In Chicago, Mark Gonzales noted WGN-TV will televise the Cubs' regular-season opener on March 28, which will "likely be the 72nd and final season" the net will televise the team's games. NBC Sports Chicago will televise its first game of the season on March 30 when the Cubs take on the Rangers, with WLS-ABC televising the team’s home opener on April 8 against the Pirates. NBC Sports Chicago will televise 83 Cubs games, followed by 45 for WGN and 25 for WLS (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/6). Also in Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes under the header, "Cubs' Last Hurrah On WGN-TV Could Be A Tearjerker" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/7).
