Bold predictions for the year 2007 in sports media:
- The NFL Playoffs draw record ratings on NBC, CBS and FOX. Dallas plays New York in the NFC Championship game, which scores a 32.7 rating on FOX.
- The BCS disappoints on FOX; after high ratings for the regular season, all four BCS bowl games are either up slightly or even from last year’s numbers.
- LeBron James and the Cavaliers play Dwyane Wade and the Heat in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals; the games draw record ratings for TNT. The Finals, between the Heat and the Phoenix Suns, shows slight improvement from 2006.
- Roger Federer plays Rafael Nadal in all four Grand Slam Finals; the combined television ratings for the four events equals a 4.5.
- The Major League Baseball playoffs score Monday Night Football like ratings for TBS.
- Golf’s popularity plummets with a move from ESPN to The Golf Channel.
- The NHL signs a new television deal with ESPN, taking less money than they get now from Versus. Consequently, Sidney Crosby actually appears on SportsCenter during the first half hour of the show.
- In a surprise move, the NBA signs a new six year deal with Turner Sports and NBC Universal. Games will air on TNT, USA Network and NBC.
- ESPN gives Cold Pizza and Quite Frankly the axe; Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith are then named the new hosts of Pardon the Interruption after Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon burn out from overexposure.
