Recent sports media news, including NBC using The Golf Channel brand on its golf telecasts, Comedy Central adding a new sports program, and ESPN dropping the Lakers from its NBA schedule in favor of the Clippers.
- NBC Sports golf programming will be branded as The Golf Channel on NBC, the New York Times reported last week. The move is just the latest example of synergy between NBC and new parent company Comcast. (New York Times)
- Comedy Central is set to debut a new sports show starring comedian Norm MacDonald. The aptly-named Sports Show with Norm MacDonald, which the network suggests will evoke memories of MacDonald’s run on Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update, will premiere in April. The show joins Onion SportsDome as sports-themed programs to debut on Comedy Central this year. (Comedy Central)
- The apparent starpower of Clippers F Blake Griffin has resulted in the unthinkable — the Clippers bumping the Lakers from a national NBA telecast. ESPN has dropped the February 23 Lakers/Trail Blazers game in favor of Clippers/Hornets. The game will be the first national television appearance of the season for New Orleans. In a separate move, the network replaced the March 6 Hornets/Cavaliers game with Knicks/Hawks. (nba.com)
