The ESPN3D channel will go dark by the end of the year. In other news, ESPN and NBC have entered an exclusive negotiating window for U.S. Open TV rights, and Fox Sports 1 will launch a Saturday morning college football pregame to compete with “College Gameday.”
ESPN3D Calls it Quits
- Citing “limited viewer adoption,” ESPN announced Wednesday that it will discontinue the ESPN3D channel by the end of this year. In a statement, ESPN said that it will “be ready to provide the [3D] service to fans if or when 3D does take off.” ESPN3D had only been in existence for three years. (Sports Video Group)
ESPN, NBC, in Exclusive Window For U.S. Open Rights
- ESPN, NBC, and the United States Golf Association are nearly two weeks into an exclusive negotiating window for television rights to the U.S. Open. According to a Sports Business Journal report from earlier this month, neither network is expected to strike a deal during the negotiating window, meaning rights to the event will hit the open market. If and when that takes place, the networks could have to compete not only with each other, but with Fox Sports as well — which has reportedly expressed interest. (Sports Business Journal)
FS1 to Air Pregame Opposite “College Gameday”
- Fox Sports 1 will televise a two-hour edition of the “Fox College Saturday” pregame show each Saturday morning during the season. The pregame will air from 10 AM-12 PM ET, airing directly against ESPN’s “College Gameday” pregame. FS1 will also televise a weekly half-hour pregame before Thursday night games, while FOX will continue airing a half-hour edition before its Saturday night games. (Fox Sports)
