The Panthers’ Greg Olsen is headed back to the broadcast booth; WarnerMedia is willing to turn one of its existing networks into a new golf channel; ESPN is close to acquiring Bundesliga rights; Mina Kimes will work preseason games as an analyst.
Olsen to work Week 7 game on FOX
Carolina Panthers TE Greg Olsen will serve as an guest analyst for the Week 7 Cardinals-Giants NFL game on FOX, which coincides with the Panthers’ bye week, it was announced Tuesday. It will be the second game assignment for Olsen, who previously worked a game for FOX during the 2017 season.
Olsen has served as a guest analyst on multiple occasions during his playing career, for both FOX and ESPN. Most recently, he joined ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown on Super Bowl Sunday. Both networks have expressed interest in his services after he retires.
In other NFL on FOX news, former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak will work select games as a sideline reporter this season. Czarniak has worked a series of odd sports media jobs since leaving ESPN in 2017, including a stint hosting NASCAR Race Hub on FS1. [Fox Sports]
WarnerMedia open to launching new golf channel
Turner Sports parent company WarnerMedia would consider converting one of its existing cable networks into a new golf channel if it acquires PGA Tour rights, Sports Business Daily reported Monday. The channels in question would likely be HLN or TruTV — rather than TBS, TNT, CNN or Cartoon Network — according to the report. The move would satisfy the PGA Tour’s desire to control its own network; the Golf Channel is fully owned by Comcast.
Sports Business Daily previously reported that the PGA Tour expects to reach a new deal by the end of this year. Its current contracts with CBS, NBC and Golf Channel still have two years remaining. [SBD 7.29]
ESPN close to Bundesliga deal
ESPN is close to acquiring rights to the German Bundesliga, which would air exclusively on the ESPN Plus streaming service, the New York Post reported Wednesday. The deal, which is not official yet, would kick in with the 2020-21 season. Fox Sports is entering the fifth and final year of its deal with the league. [NYP 7.31]
Kimes to serve as Rams preseason analyst
ESPN writer Mina Kimes will serve as a game analyst for the Los Angeles Rams during the NFL preseason, the team announced this week, marking her first such assignment. Kimes replaces Fox Sports NFL reporter Peter Schrager on the games. Schrager is working Jets games this preseason. [NYP 7.31]
