Assorted sports media news, including overnight ratings for NFL preseason games on CBS, talk of a new television deal between CBS and the USTA, and the college football debut of Beth Mowins.
- Ratings Game: Saturday’s Cowboys/Texans NFL exhibition game drew a 4.5 overnight rating on CBS, up 41% from both Chargers/Falcons last year (3.2) and Steelers/Vikings in ’08 (3.2). The previous night, CBS drew a 4.0 overnight for Chargers/Saints, down 19% from last year’s Patriots/Washington game (4.9). (Sports Business Daily)
- Idle Note: Sports Business Journal reports that CBS “expects to renew” its deal to air U.S. Tennis Open “by the end of the year.” The network’s current contract ends after the 2011 tournament. The new deal could take potential rain delays into account, though it is “uncertain what form rain relief” would take. (Sports Business Journal)
- Big Name: Beth Mowins will make her debut as an ESPN college football play-by-play voice Saturday, working Cincinnati/Fresno State on ESPN2. Mowins will be paired with ESPN NFL analyst Trent Dilfer. The game will likely be a tune-up of sorts for Dilfer, who will call the second half of ESPN’s season opening Monday Night Football doubleheader. (Fang’s Bites)
