ESPN is bringing back Doug Glanville; Danica Patrick is joining NBC’s Indy 500 coverage; ESPN has reached a long-term extension with the AAC; Disney will begin accepting binding bids for the RSNs it acquired from Fox.
Two years after being laid off, Glanville returning to ESPN
ESPN is rehiring Major League Baseball analyst Doug Glanville in a part-time role, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Glanville, who was included in ESPN’s massive talent layoffs in May 2017, will appear on ESPN studio shows to cover breaking baseball news. In his previous ESPN role, he served as a game and studio analyst. [NYP 3.20]
Danica returning to Indy 500 as TV analyst
Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will serve as a guest studio analyst on NBC Sports’ coverage of the Indianapolis 500, it was announced Wednesday. Patrick will work alongside host Mike Tirico. [NBC Sports PR 3.20]
ESPN, AAC, reach 12-year rights extension
ESPN and the American Athletic Conference have reached a 12-year media rights deal worth $83.3 million/year, Sports Business Daily reported Tuesday. The rights fee is a four-fold increase over the $20 million/year the conference currently receives. The new deal, which has not been officially announced, will go into effect in the 2020-21 academic year.
ESPN will continue to hold rights to the majority of AAC games, with select basketball games and some Navy home games airing on CBS Sports. A number of basketball and football games will now air on the ESPN Plus subscription service. [SBD 3.19]
Disney to begin accepting binding bids for RSNs
Disney will begin accepting binding bids for the regional sports networks it acquired from Fox sometime over the next month, Sports Business Daily reported Thursday. With its $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox assets having closed on Wednesday, Disney has until June 18 to sell the RSNs under the terms of an agreement with the U.S. justice department.
As for the bidders, SBD reports that Major League Baseball and Sinclair Broadcasting could partner on a bid. [SBD 3.20]
