As expected, the 2020 MLB All-Star Game has been canceled. Also: ESPN has reached a contract extension with Bomani Jones; price hikes for a pair of streaming services; and more.
MLB All-Star Game canceled
Major League Baseball on Friday officially canceled this year’s MLB All-Star Game, which was scheduled to take place from Dodger Stadium on July 14. The cancellation of the All-Star Game was a foregone conclusion for a variety of reasons, including MLB’s desire to reduce travel during its planned 60-game regular season.
The All-Star Game had not been canceled since 1945, during World War II. It was played in 1994, when the final weeks of the regular season and the entire postseason were canceled due to a players’ strike.
With next year’s All-Star Game host already set (Atlanta), Dodger Stadium has been awarded the 2022 edition. [MLB.com 7.3]
ESPN reaches extension with Bomani Jones
ESPN announced this week that it has reached a multi-year contract extension with Bomani Jones, who will continue to host his daily podcast The Right Time and ramp up his presence on ESPN’s daily Highly Questionable talk show to three or four times a week. Jones, who co-hosted High Noon on ESPN until its cancellation earlier this year, will also contribute to ESPN’s other daily studio shows. [ESPN PR 7.1]
Streaming price hikes: YouTube TV and Fubo up to $65/month
Streaming services YouTube TV and Fubo announced this week that they will raise prices to $65 per month. YouTube TV had been $50 and Fubo’s cheapest package had been $55. Fubo will soon add the ESPN family of networks for the first time, but as part of its price hike will be dropping TNT, TBS, TruTV and the other WarnerMedia outlets.
In addition, the price of a monthly ESPN+ subscription is set to rise from $5 to $6, though an annual subscription will remain $50. [Awful Announcing 6.30 a, b, 7.1]
Plus: “Inside the NBA,” Eagles, French Open
TNT’s Inside the NBA will return with weekly shows Tuesdays and Thursdays starting next week. The show has aired only twice since the NBA suspended its season March 11. … ESPN will televise a 2018 concert by the band The Eagles on Sunday night, with Chris Berman providing an introduction. … Spectators will be allowed to attend the rescheduled French Open at 50-60 percent capacity, it was announced this week. The tournament, which typically takes place in May and June, is scheduled to begin September 27. [Turner Sports, ESPN PR 7.1, AP 7.2]
