NBA announces new media deals: NBC, Peacock in; WBD out

Deals worth $76 billion NBA returns to NBC for the first time in 21 years Amazon Prime gets streaming games for first time  Warner Bros. Discovery may take legal action against the league in an unprecedented move  [This article has been updated. See the bottom of this post for notations.] Roundball Rock is coming home.  After months…and months of speculation, […]

Marquee Sports hires McCarthy to run new network

Launch on track for February 2020 After hiring him as a consultant, the Chicago Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Tuesday the hiring of Michael McCarthy as the general manager of the new Marquee Sports Network, scheduled to launch next February. “We’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Mike and his proven ability to drive results over the past […]

Bulls continue to tank in ratings

News comes as NBA ratings also slide If NBC Sports Chicago hopes to continue getting around $4.40 per subscriber fee once the Cubs depart for their own regional sports network, Chicago’s NBA team might want to improve – and fast. Ratings released at the All-Star break for NBA teams show the Bulls sitting among the lower tier of NBA teams, […]

The Media Notepad: Michelle Beadle becomes full-time host of NBA Countdown

Also: Page Six clears 90 percent  of country First look at new Defenders; ABC 7 drops “First Alert” branding; Frank Mathie retires. In an unusual move late in the regular season, ESPN announced earlier this week the promotion of Michelle Beadle as NBA Countdown host, ESPN/ABC’s pre-game show. She’ll also host halftime segments in-between games. Beadle returned to ESPN a few years ago […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: Clueless Cumulus

(Editor’s Note: Strong language in this piece. Reader discretion is advised. – T.H.) As you know by now, Cumulus Media made a major executive shakeup this week by tossing longtime CEOs John and Lew Dickey out the door, and replacing them with former Reader Digest exec Mary Berner. The exits took place before the start of the National Association of […]

Tough season for Chicago sports fans get tougher

                Rose, Kane injuries could have local and national ratings impact Like in golf, Chicago sports fans would like a mulligan and start 2015 all over again. After a fall season of horrendous Bears football, Chicagoans spent the early part of 2015 turning their focus toward the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, who were […]

Viewers bail on Bulls

With no Derrick Rose, casual fans tune out With the Chicago Bulls currently a half-game behind the Indiana Pacers for first place in the Central Division in the Eastern Conference, you’d think ratings would go through the roof, right? In Chicago – where even a contending White Sox team couldn’t draw viewers or fans to U.S. Cellular Field last year […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: Four thoughts – one column

(Editor’s Note: The original version of this post stated that the Chicago White Sox had a nine-game LOSING streak when in fact, they had a nine-game WINNING streak. T Dog Media regrets the error and apologizes. This also makes yours truly qualified to work in the Los Angeles news media, where I can botch up names of Los Angeles Kings’ […]

The Grab Bag: Conan, “Archer” receive contract extensions

  – One up, one down: Archer just received a vote of confidence from FX as the cable net green-lighted the animated series for a fourth season for thirteen new episodes. Ratings for the show in the Thursday night time slot are up 32 percent in total viewers and 62 percent among adults 18-34. In addition, the show’s creators (Adam […]

Bears, Bulls pack ’em in on Christmas

Chicago sports fans had good reasons to cheer on Christmas Day as they received gifts from two of their teams – even though one of those gifts should be sent back. According to Nielsen ratings information obtained by Fang’s Bites and Sports Media Watch, Chicagoans and the rest of the country tuned in for the return of the NBA and […]

Playoff fever: Catch it!

Bulls’ and Blackhawks’ victories not just limited to the arena Forget Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, the top prime time star as far as Chicago is concerned is Derrick Rose. Comcast SportsNet dominated the ratings with an iron first Thursday night with a Quarterfinal doubleheader featuring both the Chicago Bulls and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, setting records […]

T Dog’s Four Pack : The Final Four Edition

What’s worked the last two weeks – and what didn’t – in the world of media with a basketball theme: Four slam dunks – March Madness. Ratings for the annual NCAA tourney have been pretty good, outperforming the rest of the competition on the boards with year-to-year increases. And tonight’s title game should do well with Michigan St. and North […]

Knicks, Rangers games return to WWOR

New York’s WWOR is borrowing a page from its old WOR days – by signing a deal to bring the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers back to the station – though for two games each. The Rangers games that are scheduled to be televised are at the home against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 25, and Dec. […]

Cablevision to go private

The Dolan family have decided to buy out Cablevision for a bid of $10.6 billion, which founded and currently controls the company. Earlier this week, Cablevision sold off its stakes in FSN New England and FSN Bay Area to Comcast. Cablevision owns the MSG Network and FSN New York as well as the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.