Here are the links for this Monday.
John Ourand and Michael Smith of Sports Business Journal break news that CBS and Turner are planning a joint bid for the NCAA Tournament if the college sports governing body opts out of its current contract with CBS and expands the field to 96 teams.
John teams up with Terry Lefton on an article trying to explain why the NFL’s TV ratings are setting records while the trend on the networks is going in the opposite direction.
John writes that Fox is looking at brisk ad sales for NASCAR despite bad ratings last year.
Claire Atkinson of Broadcasting & Cable reports that CBS has sold out its ad inventory for the Super Bowl.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch has his media power rankings for January.
The Nielsen Ratings Wire blog says most of us will watch the Super Bowl at home.
Writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Jason Fry tells you how different writing for the web is different than writing for a publication.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo will hurt Andre Dawson’s marketability.
USA Today’s Mike McCarthy says the media coverage over Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney’s ankle is sure to grow during Super Bowl week.
Ken Belson and Richard Sandomir of the New York Times look at how companies are taking out insurance on athlete scandals.
Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News mourns the loss of former Eagle and CBS NFL analyst Tom Brookshier.
Here are the calling hours for Brookie if you’re in the Philly area.
Jim Williams in the Washington Examiner was impressed by President Obama’s commentary during Saturday’s Duke-Georgetown game on CBS.
Jaquetta White of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says the NFL is backing off its claims that it owns the trademark on the famous phrase “Who Dat”.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times looks at the weekend in televised sports.
The Dallas Morning News’ Barry Horn is amazed at the Pro Bowl’s ratings.
The Houston Chronicle’s David Barron wonders what The Who will play at halftime of Super Bowl XLIV, but I don’t think he received the memo that word has leaked out already, from PETE TOWNSHEND HIMSELF!!!!
John Kiesewetter in the Cincinnati Enquirer regrets that the late Joe Nuxhall didn’t make the Baseball Hall of Fame Broadcasting Wing.
Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business discusses the new Mike North-Dan Jiggets morning show which premiered on the local CBS station this morning.
Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post remembers the late Tom Brookshier.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has your sports calendar for this week.
Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail discusses the vindication of Alex Burrows on Hockey Night in Canada.
Chris Zelkovich in the Toronto Star did not like the Shakespearean tragic opening on Hockey Day in Canada.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media delves into a Sports Business Journal story regarding a new nightly news and entertainment show on Versus.
Steve has the overnight ratings for Sunday’s NHL on NBC Game of the Week.The Sports Media Watch has a look at the amazing Pro Bowl viewership.
SMW says despite the overnight start times for the women’s and men’s finals in the Australian Open, the ratings for both were up from last year.
SMW notes the lower ratings for the Farmers Insurance Open.
And the Sports Media Watch says CBS’ college basketball ratings did well over the weekend.
Chris Byrne in the Eye on Sports Media looks at CBS and the Pop Culture happenings during the 17 previous times it has aired the Super Bowl.
And we’re done with the links.
