Levy thinks his first "MNF" call could turn out to be the most-viewed program he has worked in his careerESPN IMAGES
On Long Island, Neil Best notes ESPN's Steve Levy will be "calling play-by-play" for Broncos-Raiders, the second game of the net's "MNF" Week 1 doubleheader. It marks Levy's first "MNF" call, and he "believes this will be the most-viewed program he has worked in his career." He will "work with analysts Brian Griese and Louis Riddick and sideline reporter Dianna Russini." Levy the past two years has "called Broncos preseason games" with Griese. The announcers also "worked a practice game involving the Raiders and visited Raiders camp" (NEWSDAY, 9/5).
ON THE DOCKET: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps noted the Browns' preseason TV and radio rights deals "will be resolved" soon, as the team is "entering the final year of its deals" with WEWS-ABC, Entercom and Good Karma Brands. The Browns' "unique radio deal, which created a game-day triplecast and a bunch of additional programming" on WKRK-FM and ESPN Radio 850 Cleveland, is "set to expire after this, its seventh season." The incumbents are "believed to be the favorites to retain the rights, though iHeart could make another run at the Browns" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 9/4).
EARNING ITS PLACE: The AP's Joe Reedy writes there were "many skeptics" when "Fox NFL Sunday" was launched as a one-hour pregame show, but the broadcast "went on to break new ground." The Sunday pregame show, which was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting HOF earlier this year and will return for its 26th season this weekend, was "as much about entertainment as it was about getting fans up to speed on the latest news leading up to kickoff." It also "hasn't been afraid to leave the comfortable surroundings of its Hollywood studio with yearly trips to military bases, aircraft carriers and service academies" (AP, 9/5).
