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ESPN And MLB Renew Sunday-Night Baseball Deal

J

Joseph_Gallant

Guest
ESPN and Major League Baseball have renewed the former's deal for Sunday and Wednesday night games. It's an eight-year agreement that calls for 70 regular-season games a year as well as up to ten preseason games each year.

The new deal will also include some Monday-night games as well. It's my guess that after acquiring Monday-night NFL football games, ESPN wants to make Monday nights a major showcase for pro sports. Look for ESPN to fill the gap from the end of the NFL regular-season and the start of baseball season with Monday-night NBA games.

This is a link to a Broadcasting & Cable.com article (Registration may be required) on the new agreement. This is a Major League Baseball press release announcing the deal.

A couple of thoughts:

First, ESPN probably had to pay a lot more for this deal than they would have if this extension had been agreed to in June or July. OLN probably had a lot of interest and probably made a strong bid.

Secondly, I'm a bit surprised that ESPN did not capture the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and perhaps prime-time and midweek League Championship Series games as well.

On the other hand, the package that includes the All-Star Game, the LCS, and the World Series has yet to be awarded. I could actually see ESPN getting rights to the All-Star Game, all the first-round playoff games, the two LCS series, and the World Series. In turn, ESPN would sell-off weekend-afternoon first-round playoff games, weekend-afternoon LCS games, and the World Series to a broadcast-TV network to avoid a firestorm in Washington.

Although ABC is under the same ownership as ESPN, I doubt they'd want a package of weekend-afternoon playoff and LCS games (it would interfere with the network's coverage of college football on three Saturdays each October) and the World Series (which would pre-empt "Desperate Housewives" at least once, possibly twice, during the November sweeps----I am of the opinion that under the next MLB TV deal, the World Series will be pushed back into the November sweeps).

The ESPN/MLB extension starts with the beginning of the 2006 season.
 
> ESPN and Major League Baseball have renewed the former's
> deal for Sunday and Wednesday night games. It's an
> eight-year agreement that calls for 70 regular-season games
> a year as well as up to ten preseason games each year.
>
> The new deal will also include some Monday-night games as
> well. It's my guess that after acquiring Monday-night NFL
> football games, ESPN wants to make Monday nights a major
> showcase for pro sports. Look for ESPN to fill the gap from
> the end of the NFL regular-season and the start of baseball
> season with Monday-night NBA games.
>

Interesting that they really want to make Monday nights that showcase for pro sports, but ESPN will have Monday Night Football from now on or will the games still be carried on ABC? I know ABC owns ESPN.


> This is a link to a Broadcasting & Cable.com article
> (Registration may be required) on the new agreement. This is
> a Major League Baseball press release announcing the deal.
>
> A couple of thoughts:
>
> First, ESPN probably had to pay a lot more for this deal
> than they would have if this extension had been agreed to in
> June or July. OLN probably had a lot of interest and
> probably made a strong bid.
>
> Secondly, I'm a bit surprised that ESPN did not capture the
> Major League Baseball All-Star Game and perhaps prime-time
> and midweek League Championship Series games as well.

Who did?

>
> On the other hand, the package that includes the All-Star
> Game, the LCS, and the World Series has yet to be awarded. I
> could actually see ESPN getting rights to the All-Star Game,
> all the first-round playoff games, the two LCS series, and
> the World Series. In turn, ESPN would sell-off
> weekend-afternoon first-round playoff games,
> weekend-afternoon LCS games, and the World Series to a
> broadcast-TV network to avoid a firestorm in Washington.
>
> Although ABC is under the same ownership as ESPN, I doubt
> they'd want a package of weekend-afternoon playoff and LCS
> games (it would interfere with the network's coverage of
> college football on three Saturdays each October) and the
> World Series (which would pre-empt "Desperate Housewives" at
> least once, possibly twice, during the November sweeps----I
> am of the opinion that under the next MLB TV deal, the World
> Series will be pushed back into the November sweeps).

Fox won't be carrying the WS next year?
>
> The ESPN/MLB extension starts with the beginning of the 2006
> season.
>
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The Place for the Latest Happenings in Radio
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</P>
 
Radiolover 78 asked me some questions:

> Interesting that they really want to make Monday nights that
> showcase for pro sports, but ESPN will have Monday Night
> Football from now on or will the games still be carried on
> ABC? I know ABC owns ESPN.

Monday-night NFL games will move to ESPN in September of 2006. The Sunday-night games will be leaving ESPN after this season; they'll be seen on NBC starting in 2006.

I also commented that:

> Secondly, I'm a bit surprised that ESPN did not capture
> the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and perhaps prime-time
> and midweek League Championship Series games as well.

Radiolover78 asked me:

> Who did?

The postseason TV deal(s) has(have) yet to be determined.

I was also asked:

> Fox won't be carrying the WS next year?

I think Fox's contract with Major League Baseball ends either after this season or maybe after the 2006 season. I'm not sure which year the current contract ends.

Hope this info clears things up.
 
> ESPN and Major League Baseball have renewed the former's
> deal for Sunday and Wednesday night games. It's an
> eight-year agreement that calls for 70 regular-season games
> a year as well as up to ten preseason games each year.
>
> The new deal will also include some Monday-night games as
> well. It's my guess that after acquiring Monday-night NFL
> football games, ESPN wants to make Monday nights a major
> showcase for pro sports. Look for ESPN to fill the gap from
> the end of the NFL regular-season and the start of baseball
> season with Monday-night NBA games.
>
> This is a link to a Broadcasting & Cable.com article
> (Registration may be required) on the new agreement. This is
> a Major League Baseball press release announcing the deal.
>
> A couple of thoughts:
>
> First, ESPN probably had to pay a lot more for this deal
> than they would have if this extension had been agreed to in
> June or July. OLN probably had a lot of interest and
> probably made a strong bid.
>
> Secondly, I'm a bit surprised that ESPN did not capture the
> Major League Baseball All-Star Game and perhaps prime-time
> and midweek League Championship Series games as well.
>
> On the other hand, the package that includes the All-Star
> Game, the LCS, and the World Series has yet to be awarded. I
> could actually see ESPN getting rights to the All-Star Game,
> all the first-round playoff games, the two LCS series, and
> the World Series. In turn, ESPN would sell-off
> weekend-afternoon first-round playoff games,
> weekend-afternoon LCS games, and the World Series to a
> broadcast-TV network to avoid a firestorm in Washington.
>
> Although ABC is under the same ownership as ESPN, I doubt
> they'd want a package of weekend-afternoon playoff and LCS
> games (it would interfere with the network's coverage of
> college football on three Saturdays each October) and the
> World Series (which would pre-empt "Desperate Housewives" at
> least once, possibly twice, during the November sweeps----I
> am of the opinion that under the next MLB TV deal, the World
> Series will be pushed back into the November sweeps).
>
> The ESPN/MLB extension starts with the beginning of the 2006
> season.
>

MLB wouldn't be foolish enough to go with OLN. Saying with ESPN is a smart idea and a good one. ESPN baseball coverage is outstanding with get play by play guys. It is also a channel that more people get around the U.S.

Now I have a question to ask, who will get the Saturday deal ALCS & NLCS plus World Series that FOX Sports now has? Could we see NBC Sports maybe going after this deal, I say thats a good chance as they just got the NFL back. Or maybe CBS or ABC might want to go after the deal. Now FOX could get another deal again which might happen.
 
The FOX deal with MLB expires at the end of 2006, and it includes the Saturday afternoon package, the All-Star Game, both LCS series, and the World Series.

Also of note: ESPN's other contract with MLB also expires at the end of 2006. That's the deal Disney inherited in its purchase of FOX Family, and it covers a couple of games a week plus some of the Divisional Playoff round. (Does anyone care to guess the chances of this package going to another carrier such as OLN or the proposed Baseball Channel?) So at least for 2006, still expect to see a lot of MLB on ESPN... more than the 70-or-so-game package announced today.

This new deal also includes an exclusive Sunday night season opener (which ESPN has featured since 1994), full coverage of Opening Day, and the events surrounding the All-Star Game (Home Run Derby, Futures Game, etc). However, the full slate of games on holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day) are not part of this package.
 
I've been told that Fox Sports has been given a blank check by Rupert to retain their three major sports properties and will do whatever necessary to make it happen.

> ESPN and Major League Baseball have renewed the former's
> deal for Sunday and Wednesday night games. It's an
> eight-year agreement that calls for 70 regular-season games
> a year as well as up to ten preseason games each year.
>
> The new deal will also include some Monday-night games as
> well. It's my guess that after acquiring Monday-night NFL
> football games, ESPN wants to make Monday nights a major
> showcase for pro sports. Look for ESPN to fill the gap from
> the end of the NFL regular-season and the start of baseball
> season with Monday-night NBA games.
>
> This is a link to a Broadcasting & Cable.com article
> (Registration may be required) on the new agreement. This is
> a Major League Baseball press release announcing the deal.
>
> A couple of thoughts:
>
> First, ESPN probably had to pay a lot more for this deal
> than they would have if this extension had been agreed to in
> June or July. OLN probably had a lot of interest and
> probably made a strong bid.
>
> Secondly, I'm a bit surprised that ESPN did not capture the
> Major League Baseball All-Star Game and perhaps prime-time
> and midweek League Championship Series games as well.
>
> On the other hand, the package that includes the All-Star
> Game, the LCS, and the World Series has yet to be awarded. I
> could actually see ESPN getting rights to the All-Star Game,
> all the first-round playoff games, the two LCS series, and
> the World Series. In turn, ESPN would sell-off
> weekend-afternoon first-round playoff games,
> weekend-afternoon LCS games, and the World Series to a
> broadcast-TV network to avoid a firestorm in Washington.
>
> Although ABC is under the same ownership as ESPN, I doubt
> they'd want a package of weekend-afternoon playoff and LCS
> games (it would interfere with the network's coverage of
> college football on three Saturdays each October) and the
> World Series (which would pre-empt "Desperate Housewives" at
> least once, possibly twice, during the November sweeps----I
> am of the opinion that under the next MLB TV deal, the World
> Series will be pushed back into the November sweeps).
>
> The ESPN/MLB extension starts with the beginning of the 2006
> season.
>
 
> The FOX deal with MLB expires at the end of 2006, and it
> includes the Saturday afternoon package, the All-Star Game,
> both LCS series, and the World Series.
>
> Also of note: ESPN's other contract with MLB also expires
> at the end of 2006. That's the deal Disney inherited in its
> purchase of FOX Family, and it covers a couple of games a
> week plus some of the Divisional Playoff round. (Does
> anyone care to guess the chances of this package going to
> another carrier such as OLN or the proposed Baseball
> Channel?) So at least for 2006, still expect to see a lot
> of MLB on ESPN... more than the 70-or-so-game package
> announced today.
>
> This new deal also includes an exclusive Sunday night season
> opener (which ESPN has featured since 1994), full coverage
> of Opening Day, and the events surrounding the All-Star Game
> (Home Run Derby, Futures Game, etc). However, the full
> slate of games on holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day,
> and Labor Day) are not part of this package.
>

Are the full slate of games on holidays part of the "Fox Family" package, then? Interesting.

Hopefully someone outbids Rupert and puts a merciful end to Fox's reign of terror over the World Series.
 
> Are the full slate of games on holidays part of the "Fox
> Family" package, then? Interesting.

I'll miss ESPN's holiday slate of games. Is ES' still going to show games on Closing Day that affect the pennant, er, playoff race(s)?

> Hopefully someone outbids Rupert and puts a merciful end to
> Fox's reign of terror over the World Series.
>
Somehow, in my mind, baseball on Fox has always been like the White Sox on WGN... does not compute.

ixnay
 
> Hopefully someone outbids Rupert and puts a merciful end to
> Fox's reign of terror over the World Series.

I hope so.
And whoever picks it up should not pick up McCarver and Buck, the two worst announcers in the history of baseball.<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks
<a href=http://chuck.spotteddogs.org/tv/>Spotted Dog TV Talk - for all your non-news TV Talk</a></P>
 
> Hopefully someone outbids Rupert and puts a merciful end to
> Fox's reign of terror over the World Series.
>

I hope that someone else can take over doing the World Series. Fox's coverage is boring. Has NBC or ABC ever done MLB baseball?<P ID="signature">______________
The Place for the Latest Happenings in Radio
www.freewebs.com/radiostuffandnews
</P>
 
> > Hopefully someone outbids Rupert and puts a merciful end
> to
> > Fox's reign of terror over the World Series.
> >
>
> I hope that someone else can take over doing the World
> Series. Fox's coverage is boring. Has NBC or ABC ever done
> MLB baseball?
>

NBC has had the World Series before and I believe both LCS's. The last time that was in 1996. And ABC not sure but I believe CBS did way back in the 70s or 80s. But maybe like I said in the other post NBC could get baseball postseason or steal the Saturday package away from FOX. Now that would really piss off FOX if NBC did that.
 
> > > . Has NBC or ABC ever done
>
> > MLB baseball?
> >
>
> NBC has had the World Series before and I believe both
> LCS's. The last time that was in 1996. And ABC not sure but
> I believe CBS did way back in the 70s or 80s. >

How old are you guys? I'm in my early 30s, but I remember ABC's 'Monday Night Baseball' with Al Michaels, long before he joined 'Monday Night Football'.

NBC pioneered TV coverage of baseball. Their New York affilaite did the first-ever experimental telecast of a major league game (Reds at Brooklyn Dodgers) in 1939, and they covered the World Series for the first time in '47, eventually doing 39 Fall Classics in all.
All three networks did baseball in the '50s and '60s,with CBS doing the first 'Game of the Week' in 1953, NBC adding one in '57, and ABC covering games sporadically in the mid-50s, and again in 1965. CBS owned the New York Yankees in the mid '60s and early '70s (pre-Steinbrenner), and did a 'Yankee game of the Week'(home games only) in '65 and '66.
Then from 1967-75, baseball aired exclusively on NBC.They were the first network to do Monday night games, occasionally at first, then weekly from '72 to '75.
The 'Monday Night Baseball' series on ABC began in '76, continuing through '89(Games aired on Thursdays that year.)
NBC continued Saturday games, and laternating coverage of All-Star Gamesa nd postseason with ABC through '89. CBS took over from 1990-93, then after the ill-fated joint venture involving basebaall. NBC and ABC(called 'The Baseball Network') in '94-'95, Fox has been the game's over-the-air network home since '96. NBC had coverage of some first-round playoff games, as well as alternating All-Star and World Series coverage, from 1996-2000. Everything has been on on Fox since 2001.
 
> CBS took over from 1990-93

And I think that is when Tim McCarver was inflicted on the national viewing public. Can anyone confirm?<P ID="signature">______________
WCBS = We're Crazy Buffoons and Schmucks
<a href=http://chuck.spotteddogs.org/tv/>Spotted Dog TV Talk - for all your non-news TV Talk</a></P>
 
> > CBS took over from 1990-93
>
> And I think that is when Tim McCarver was inflicted on the
> national viewing public. Can anyone confirm?
>

McCarver did games on ABC in the 80s as well (IIRC, he and, off all people, Keith Jackson were the "B" game team, with Al Michaels and Jim Palmer on the main game).
 
> And whoever picks it up should not pick up McCarver and
> Buck, the two worst announcers in the history of baseball.
>

Jack Buck must spin in his grave everytime his son makes an ass of himself on Fox.
 
> > > CBS took over from 1990-93
> >
> > And I think that is when Tim McCarver was inflicted on the
>
> > national viewing public. Can anyone confirm?
> >
>
> McCarver did games on ABC in the 80s as well (IIRC, he and,
> off all people, Keith Jackson were the "B" game team, with
> Al Michaels and Jim Palmer on the main game).

Later on in the 80's they used Michaels, Palmer and McCarver as a trio, which actually worked well...with three people vying for airtime, McCarver didn't have as much room to babble as he has for the past 15 years.

Unfortunately, CBS brought him along as part of their two-man "A" team with Jack Buck, then canned Buck after one year in favor of the bland Sean McDonough, and the rest is history.
 
> All three networks did baseball in the '50s and '60s,with
> CBS doing the first 'Game of the Week' in 1953, NBC adding
> one in '57, and ABC covering games sporadically in the
> mid-50s, and again in 1965. CBS owned the New York Yankees
> in the mid '60s and early '70s (pre-Steinbrenner), and did a
> 'Yankee game of the Week'(home games only) in '65 and '66.

IIRC the CBS games featured Dizzy Dean on pbp.

I'd would have liked to hear Diz but I would have to a) be older than the 44 years I am now and b) have grown up in a non-MLB market because IIRC CBS blacked out the games in the MLB markets whether the local team was on CBS or not.

ixnay
 
> > And whoever picks it up should not pick up McCarver and
> > Buck, the two worst announcers in the history of baseball.
>
> >
>
> Jack Buck must spin in his grave everytime his son makes an
> ass of himself on Fox.
>
YES!!!!

Costas and Uecker were the best announcing team I've ever seen when they did a stint on the Baseball Network for NBC. Given the high number of collective movie appearances, every game they called seemed more like a good movie than the rambling snooze-fest that Fox Baseball has devolved into since McCarver and Buck started butchering it.
 
> Costas and Uecker were the best announcing team I've ever
> seen when they did a stint on the Baseball Network for NBC.
> Given the high number of collective movie appearances, every
> game they called seemed more like a good movie than the
> rambling snooze-fest that Fox Baseball has devolved into
> since McCarver and Buck started butchering it.


I watched Uecker on Mr. Belvedere, but what acting has Costas done? And has Yook been in any flicks?

ixnay
 
In defense of Jack Buck(Was Re: ESPN And MLB Renew Sunday-Night Baseball Deal

> > > And whoever picks it up should not pick up McCarver and
> > > Buck, the two worst announcers in the history of
> baseball.
> >
> > >
> >
> > Jack Buck must spin in his grave everytime his son makes
> an
> > ass of himself on Fox.
> >
> YES!!!!
>
> Costas and Uecker were the best announcing team I've ever
> seen when they did a stint on the Baseball Network for NBC.
> Given the high number of collective movie appearances, every
> game they called seemed more like a good movie than the
> rambling snooze-fest that Fox Baseball has devolved into
> since McCarver and Buck started butchering it.
>

I really don't think Joe Buck is that bad of an announcer. Perhaps people are unfairly comparing him to his father. They had somewhat different styles. I would put Buck in Costas' class, with a somewhat 'younger' take on the game (perhaps Buck overdoes pop-culture references where Costas only used them sparingly, but being 'media savvy' is a Fox prerequisite, I think...and besides, Al Michaels does far more of this on 'MNF' than he ever did in his baseball days).
I think a lot of the criticism of Buck is undeserved, and is purely based on his being associated with that jackass McCarver. HE is the real problem with Fox's baseball coverage, so I guess Buck just has to suffer for being in the same booth.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by ViewStu on 09/16/05 05:34 PM.</FONT></P>
 
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