An NBA All-Star Game is reportedly close to being finalized. Plus: more sports media news, including a leadership change at Turner Sports and an understudy calling the Super Bowl for ESPN Deportes.
NBA, NBPA, expected to finalize Atlanta All-Star Game
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are expected to finalize an agreement by next week to hold the league’s annual All-Star Game and skills competitions in Atlanta on March 7, ESPN.com reported Thursday. The Athletic was first to report that a deal was imminent. The league had already set aside March 5-10 as an “All-Star break” but previously did not plan to hold an actual game.
In other NBA scheduling news, the same ESPN.com report said the NBA plans to release the schedule for the second half of its regular season “in the next two to three weeks.” Thus far, the league has only announced its schedule through March 4. [ESPN.com 2.4, The Athletic 2.4]
Zucker leaving WarnerMedia
CNN president Jeff Zucker, who has overseen Turner Sports since AT&T acquired parent company Time Warner in 2019, said Thursday that he will leave the company now known as WarnerMedia once his contract expires at the end of this year. Zucker assumed oversight of Turner Sports after David Levy left Turner ahead of the AT&T acquisition. [Wall Street Journal 2.4]
ESPN Deportes pxp voice to miss Super Bowl
ESPN Deportes play-by-play voice Eduardo Varela will miss Sunday’s scheduled Super Bowl after testing positive for COVID-19, it was announced Wednesday. He will be replaced by Ciro Procuna. In semi-related news, Ian Eagle is the back-up announcer for CBS should Jim Nantz be unable to broadcast Sunday’s game, per The Ringer. [ESPN PR 2.4]
O’Toole laid off from TSN
Former Fox Sports host Dan O’Toole, who after leaving FS1 in 2017 returned to his previous role hosting SportsCentre on TSN, has been laid off by TSN parent Bell Media. O’Toole broke the news on his Twitter account. His long-time co-host Jay Onrait, with whom he worked on both TSN and FS1, is expected to remain with the company. [Toronto Star 2.4]
