Tribune Media and Charter Communications have "agreed to a new distribution deal, restoring the signals of nearly three dozen television stations" and ending a "nine-day blackout." Sources said that the "prospect of football fans missing the NFL playoffs helped spur the two companies to reach an accord." Tribune Media "owns about two dozen Fox affiliate stations" -- with several in NFL markets -- as well as a "handful of CBS affiliate stations" (L.A. TIMES, 1/11).

Hendrick Motorsports

New Hendrick Motorsports sponsor Ally and driver Jimmie Johnson unveiled the first paint scheme the company will use on the No. 48 Chevy -- a black matte base and unique purple and white accents in Ally colors. Ally this year replaces Lowe’s as the full-season sponsor of the No. 48 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The paint scheme was unveiled on ABC’s “GMA,” marking the second splashy media appearance the team has done; it originally revealed the partnership on NBCSN prior to last October’s Cup race in Martinsville. The design will debut at the Daytona 500 next month (Adam Stern, THE DAILY).

Johnson, appearing alongside the car outside the “GMA” studio, said today is a "super exciting morning." Johnson: "Ally is a wonderful partner and we’re really looking forward to the 2019 season” (“GMA,” ABC, 1/11).

Atlanta United President Darren Eales was named MLS’ executive of the year for the second straight year, receiving the honor at the league’s annual club and executive awards. The event, held last night in Chicago ahead of today’s MLS SuperDraft, saw Atlanta United take home seven total awards, tops in the league, including recognition for ticket sales team of the year, club retailer of the year and PR team of the year. LAFC won for corporate partnerships team of the year, and the team's Exec VP/Brand & Community Rich Orosco was named marketing executive of the year. Sporting K.C. VP/Corporate Partnerships Justin Compton was named corporate partnerships executive of the year.

See the full list of award winners.

The NHL last night completed a two-game trial of a new puck and player tracking system conducted during two Golden Knights games at T-Mobile Arena. The effort builds upon prior tests during last year’s All-Star Game and the '16 World Cup of Hockey, and was the NHL’s first regular-season test of the system in advance of a larger expected rollout in '19-20. The tracking system, achieved through chips embedded in pucks and players' shoulder pads, will generate a wide array of real-time measures such as skater speed and distance, accelerations, puck deflections and shift lengths. The trials were specifically timed for during this week’s CES in Las Vegas, and as a result attracted a large number of visiting technology execs, gaming companies and team personnel.

“This is going to spin off all sorts of data we’ve simply had never before in hockey,” said NHL Senior VP/Business Development & Global Partnerships David Lehanski, a key figure in the tracking project along with league CTO Peter DelGiacco. The data generated by the player tracking will be the underpinning of related NHL initiatives in sports betting content, augmented reality, social media development and other emerging technologies. Six technology companies are working with the league on the tracking demo and various applications of the data: Beyond Sports, Genius Sports, Swish Analytics, Trigger, Vizrt and WSC Sports.

Eric DeCosta today will take over as Ravens GM, a "long-expected promotion for Ozzie Newsome's heir apparent that marks a new era for the team's front office." DeCosta has been with the team since '96 and "worked under Newsome" as Assistant GM since '12. Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti last year announced that at the end of the '18 season, the "last year on Newsome’s five-year contract, Newsome would cede control of football operations to DeCosta." The team said Newsome “will remain with the Ravens in a significant role.” It is "unclear what that will entail." DeCosta has "long been among the league’s most coveted GM candidates" (BALTIMORE SUN, 1/11).

Rogers Sportsnet's telecast of Coyotes-Canucks last night encountered issues such as "flickering like a strobe, splicing in frames of basketball highlights, offering no sound and intermittently cutting to black." Some customers of Canadian cable TV provider Telus "reported that they were able to view the game," but the issue "would go unresolved all evening for many others." A "large portion of the viewers were unable to see the entire game, and others "reported similar issues" during the Panthers-Oilers game (Vancouver PROVINCE, 1/11).

Pitt has "decided to discontinue" its women's tennis program, so players and coaches "were told this upcoming spring season, which begins this week, will be their last." There are seven players on the team, "four of whom are seniors." In ACC matches, Pitt women’s tennis is 1-69 since "joining the conference five seasons ago." This comes after AD Heather Lyke in November announced the "addition of women's lacrosse." The move "effectively replacing women's tennis with lacrosse was the result of an 18-month evaluation of Pitt athletics by Lyke's administration" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/11).

The European Commission yesterday "opened an investigation" into Nike's tax deals with the Netherlands, a move that "could potentially force the U.S. company to pay back millions of euros" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/11).

Cirque du Soleil Chair Mitch Garber "will be a minority stakeholder" in both the NHL Seattle franchise and KeyArena, according to a source. Garber is also "one of the lead figures" trying to "revive the Expos" in Montreal (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/11).

The Nashville Sports Authority board finalized the sale of $225M in revenue bonds to pay for a new MLS stadium at the city's fairgrounds, "following through on action the Metro Council approved in September." The votes "cleared the way for the bonds to go on the market Feb. 5 and for Metro to begin collecting proceeds Feb. 15" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/11).

Lynx and T'wolves broadcaster Marney Gellner will "be the play-by-play announcer" on FS North for three of the 11 Twins Spring Training games the RSN will carry this season (STARTRIBUNE.com, 1/10). 

The Pro Football HOF has "received sensory inclusive certification" as of Saturday (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/11).

"That has to be taken into consideration, but, as I sit here today, I’m not going to say that’s going to box us into anything" -- Steelers President Art Rooney II, on whether WR Antonio Brown's salary cap ramifications will play into whatever decision the team makes on his future this offseason (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/11).

“They were on Shark Tank. (Mark) Cuban invested in them, so it can't be a bad thing" -- Golfer Jason Dufner, on his new deal with men's personal care brand Dude (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/10).

"The balls are really shit ... so I've got to factor that in for next week in Melbourne" -- Tennis player John Millman, on the new Dunlop balls being put in play in this month's Australian Open (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/11).

The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE writes under the header, "Rookie Of The Year: Gayle Benson Has Overseen One Of The Best Seasons In Saints History." Ten months into her first year as principal owner, Benson "finds herself three wins away from becoming the second woman owner to win the Super Bowl." Meanwhile, the TIMES-PICAYUNE in a separate piece analyzes how Benson's "managerial style has a notable personal touch."

Also: 

• S.F. CHRONICLE lands "exclusive" interview with ... Levi's Stadium.
• 49ers club seats at Levi's Stadium listed for eye-popping discount.
• How crowd noise really impacts NFL playoff road teams.

Sean McVay, two days ago: "I'm too young to have a coaching tree."

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) January 11, 2019

Question: Do you ever catch yourself saying San Diego Chargers?

Rob Gronkowski (big smile): “I would say ‘Who doesn’t?’ Half of my friends who talked to me said ‘You’re playing San Diego.’ I’m like ‘It’s L.A.’ I said it a few times too, but it’s the Chargers.” pic.twitter.com/fDwT6TkiJM

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 10, 2019

With the news that Andy Murray is retiring at the age of 31.... let us just appreciate every single second we have left with Roger Federer..who turns 38 in August

— trey wingo (@wingoz) January 11, 2019

Luka Doncic is 2nd in All-Star votes in the West behind only LeBron James.

During his rookie season, LeBron finished 7th in the East in voting and ultimately did not make the team.

Vince, Ben Wallace, Iverson, Jermaine O'Neal, T-Mac and Kidd got more votes than rookie LeBron.

— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) January 10, 2019

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Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “American Landmarks.”

“Eyewitness Jose Marti wrote, ‘Luckless Irishmen, Poles, Italians … run toward the wharves’ to see its dedication.”

NFL Network’s Michael Irvin appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last night and discussed the NFL playoffs. Host Jimmy Kimmel:, “I like that you just openly root for the Cowboys because that’s your team and you’re just being honest.” Irvin: “Think about this now in the business that I'm in, broadcasting and being an analyst, everybody used to be, ‘Well, you have to make sure that you remain unbiased.’ I'm like, ‘Stop, I won three Super Bowls with this team. This team paid me enough money to get out of the ghetto!’” Kimmel asked Irvin about speaking to several Cowboys players prior this weekend’s game against the Rams: “Do you tell these guys how much more fun you had than they are having now?” Irvin: “It's funny, I was doing an event about social media and they asked could I have done well in social media if it was back in the '90s. I said, 'Trust me, I got in a lot of trouble when it was news at 11:00. You know what kind of problems I would have with Twitter every second?'” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 1/10).

“What is the Statue of Liberty?”