Recent sports media news, including ESPN announcing its primetime Labor Day college football game, Versus sending its own crew to Sunday’s Heritage Classic outdoor game, and ratings for Friday’s NBA games on ESPN.
- Idle Note: This season’s primetime Labor Day college football game on ESPN will pit Miami against Maryland, one of six ACC football matchups ESPN announced on Monday. Some of ESPN’s largest college football audiences have come in the primetime Labor Day slot, including last year’s Boise State/Virginia Tech matchup (6.3, 9.888M), the net’s most-viewed regular season college football game ever. (ESPN press release)
- Big Names: NHL broadcasters Dave Strader, Andy Brickley and Brian Engblom will broadcast Sunday’s NHL Heritage Classic on Versus, Fang’s Bites reported Monday. According to Puck the Media, Versus was originally going to simulcast CBC’s coverage of the game. Strader called the 2009 NHL Winter Classic after Mike Emrick came down with laryngitis. (Fang’s Bites, Puck the Media)
- The Ratings Game: ESPN drew a 1.5 U.S. rating and 2.298 million viewers for Friday’s Lakers/Knicks game, which included bonus coverage of a concurrent Clippers/Cavaliers game. In the nightcap, Suns/Jazz drew a 1.1 and 1.579 million. (TV By the Numbers)
