Top Stories
Don't panic: NFL's Rolapp uses memo to reassure team executives that ratings are still strong
John Ourand, Sports Business Journal
NFL viewership may be down so far this season, but it's still doing better than just about anything else on television. That was the main takeaway from a four-page memo the league's chief media and business officer, Brian Rolapp, sent to all 32 teams on Sept. 25 - the Friday before Week 3.
'One Day At A Time' CBS Premiere Pushed By Week By Postponed Patriots-Chiefs NFL Game
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline Hollywood
The network premiere of Pop TV's One Day a Time, originally slated for tomorrow, Oct. 5, has been pushed by a week, to Monday, Oct. 12. The reason is the move of the New England Patriots game against the Kansas City Chiefs from Sunday, Oct. 4, to Monday, Oct. 5.
ESPN Wants Back in on NHL TV Rights After Hockey Hiatus
Michael McCarthy and A.J. Perez, Front Office Sports
ESPN is increasingly interested in bidding for the NHL's U.S. media rights when the league's deal with NBC expires following next season, according to sources. Under NBC's current $2 billion, 10-year deal for NHL U.S. broadcast and cable TV rights, the network pays $200 million a year.
ABC punted Marlins-Cubs to ESPN in the middle of the ninth for coverage of President Trump being taken to hospital
Andrew Bucholtz, Awful Announcing
ABC cut away following the top of the ninth inning for a special report on U.S. president Donald Trump being taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID-19 treatment. They threw the conclusion of the game over to ESPN.
Fox Sports will televise The Spring League football games this fall
Ian Casselberry, Awful Announcing
Fox has reached an agreement with The Spring League to televise games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights beginning Oct. 27. Composed of six teams, the league will play a 12-game schedule over one month with a championship game to be played the week of Nov. 23.
Ratings: Thursday Night Football, WNBA and more
Sports Media Watch
The latest edition of Thursday Night Football (Broncos-Jets) averaged a 3.2 rating and 5.41 million viewers on NFL Network, marking the least-watched primetime NFL game in four years - since a Saturday Jets-Dolphins game on NFL Network in 2016 (4.39M). The previous low was 5.43 million for Dolphins-Jaguars the previous week.
College Sports
Higher Learning: Altius Sports Partners has a plan for NIL space - and two major clients
Michael Smith and Ben Fischer, Sports Business Journal
During his three years at the NFLPA's for-profit arm, NFL Players Inc., Casey Schwab's job was to generate revenue off the players' marketing rights. It was only natural that the evolving name, image and likeness movement in college athletics would draw his attention.
Breakdown of the Pac-12 schedule: The TV selection process, 9 a.m. kickoffs, rivalry games and the Pac-12 Network shutout
Jon Wilner, The San Jose Mercury News
There is one 9 a.m. kickoff scheduled thus far: Arizona State at USC, on Nov. 7. That's right: The first game of the Pac-12 season - featuring two South contenders and the top returning quarterbacks in the conference (USC's Kedon Slovis and ASU's Jayden Daniels) - will start at 12 p.m. ET on the FOX broadcast network, as part of the Big Noon package.
Big crowd at Georgia-Auburn goes viral in COVID-19 era
Ted Holmlund, New York Post
The Georgia Bulldogs could come under fire from the Southeastern Conference for potential violation of COVID-19 rules. Many photos of cheering Georgia fans went viral during their big SEC battle against the rival Auburn Tigers on Saturday night at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., and many of the fans were packed together and not wearing masks.
SMU student section cleared out because of coronavirus protocol violations
Heather Dinich, ESPN
Campus police cleared out the entire SMU student section during the first half of Saturday's football game against Memphis because a large majority in the crowd wasn't following coronavirus protocols such as wearing masks or social distancing, a school spokesman confirmed to ESPN. SMU's stadium policy allows up to 1,000 students in its student section and on the lawn, and it requires face coverings when it's not possible to maintain 6 feet of separation between each person.
Inside Colorado's Unprecedented $1.625M+ Deal With Gambling Outlet
Ross Dellenger, Sports Illustrated
The University of Colorado will get at least $1.625 million as part of a five-year advertising agreement with the gambling company, as well as receiving a $30 referral fee for each new gambling customer it sends to PointsBet. That's according to a copy of the contract between PointsBet and Buffalo Sports Properties LLC, CU's private fundraising wing, which is listed as the primary provider in the deal.
--Morning Consult
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- Following the postponement of a Week 4 NFL game between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers to Week 7, the NFL is said to be considering the addition of an 18th week to the regular-season schedule to help accommodate any rescheduling of games later in the season caused by coronavirus. The league and the NFL Players Association are trying to pinpoint the origin of the outbreak involving the Titans, who could face discipline from the league if it is determined they failed to comply with health and safety protocols. (The Washington Post)
- The Kansas City Chiefs will host the New England Patriots tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET on CBS - pending the results of COVID-19 tests of both teams this morning - after Patriots quarterback Cam Newton and Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta'amu tested positive Saturday, forcing the NFL to postpone the game initially scheduled to be played yesterday afternoon. Sources said the Patriots will travel to Kansas City today in two planes in order to separate approximately 20 players who have been in close contact with Newton from the rest of the team. (ESPN)
- The National Hot Rod Association signed RV retailer Camping World Holdings Inc. as the new title sponsor for its top series just two weeks after filing a lawsuit against its previous entitlement partner, Coca Cola Co., for allegedly breaching their six-year deal promoting soda brand Mello Yello by failing to make a $2.86 million payment on May 15. Camping World was the title sponsor for NASCAR's Truck Series from 2009-2018 and will reclaim that position in 2021. (Autoweek)
Don't panic: NFL's Rolapp uses memo to reassure team executives that ratings are still strong
John Ourand, Sports Business Journal
NFL viewership may be down so far this season, but it's still doing better than just about anything else on television. That was the main takeaway from a four-page memo the league's chief media and business officer, Brian Rolapp, sent to all 32 teams on Sept. 25 - the Friday before Week 3.
'One Day At A Time' CBS Premiere Pushed By Week By Postponed Patriots-Chiefs NFL Game
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline Hollywood
The network premiere of Pop TV's One Day a Time, originally slated for tomorrow, Oct. 5, has been pushed by a week, to Monday, Oct. 12. The reason is the move of the New England Patriots game against the Kansas City Chiefs from Sunday, Oct. 4, to Monday, Oct. 5.
ESPN Wants Back in on NHL TV Rights After Hockey Hiatus
Michael McCarthy and A.J. Perez, Front Office Sports
ESPN is increasingly interested in bidding for the NHL's U.S. media rights when the league's deal with NBC expires following next season, according to sources. Under NBC's current $2 billion, 10-year deal for NHL U.S. broadcast and cable TV rights, the network pays $200 million a year.
ABC punted Marlins-Cubs to ESPN in the middle of the ninth for coverage of President Trump being taken to hospital
Andrew Bucholtz, Awful Announcing
ABC cut away following the top of the ninth inning for a special report on U.S. president Donald Trump being taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for COVID-19 treatment. They threw the conclusion of the game over to ESPN.
Fox Sports will televise The Spring League football games this fall
Ian Casselberry, Awful Announcing
Fox has reached an agreement with The Spring League to televise games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights beginning Oct. 27. Composed of six teams, the league will play a 12-game schedule over one month with a championship game to be played the week of Nov. 23.
Ratings: Thursday Night Football, WNBA and more
Sports Media Watch
The latest edition of Thursday Night Football (Broncos-Jets) averaged a 3.2 rating and 5.41 million viewers on NFL Network, marking the least-watched primetime NFL game in four years - since a Saturday Jets-Dolphins game on NFL Network in 2016 (4.39M). The previous low was 5.43 million for Dolphins-Jaguars the previous week.
College Sports
Higher Learning: Altius Sports Partners has a plan for NIL space - and two major clients
Michael Smith and Ben Fischer, Sports Business Journal
During his three years at the NFLPA's for-profit arm, NFL Players Inc., Casey Schwab's job was to generate revenue off the players' marketing rights. It was only natural that the evolving name, image and likeness movement in college athletics would draw his attention.
Breakdown of the Pac-12 schedule: The TV selection process, 9 a.m. kickoffs, rivalry games and the Pac-12 Network shutout
Jon Wilner, The San Jose Mercury News
There is one 9 a.m. kickoff scheduled thus far: Arizona State at USC, on Nov. 7. That's right: The first game of the Pac-12 season - featuring two South contenders and the top returning quarterbacks in the conference (USC's Kedon Slovis and ASU's Jayden Daniels) - will start at 12 p.m. ET on the FOX broadcast network, as part of the Big Noon package.
Big crowd at Georgia-Auburn goes viral in COVID-19 era
Ted Holmlund, New York Post
The Georgia Bulldogs could come under fire from the Southeastern Conference for potential violation of COVID-19 rules. Many photos of cheering Georgia fans went viral during their big SEC battle against the rival Auburn Tigers on Saturday night at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., and many of the fans were packed together and not wearing masks.
SMU student section cleared out because of coronavirus protocol violations
Heather Dinich, ESPN
Campus police cleared out the entire SMU student section during the first half of Saturday's football game against Memphis because a large majority in the crowd wasn't following coronavirus protocols such as wearing masks or social distancing, a school spokesman confirmed to ESPN. SMU's stadium policy allows up to 1,000 students in its student section and on the lawn, and it requires face coverings when it's not possible to maintain 6 feet of separation between each person.
Inside Colorado's Unprecedented $1.625M+ Deal With Gambling Outlet
Ross Dellenger, Sports Illustrated
The University of Colorado will get at least $1.625 million as part of a five-year advertising agreement with the gambling company, as well as receiving a $30 referral fee for each new gambling customer it sends to PointsBet. That's according to a copy of the contract between PointsBet and Buffalo Sports Properties LLC, CU's private fundraising wing, which is listed as the primary provider in the deal.
--Morning Consult
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