The Pac-12 may well be the next sports property to test the waters at The CW. Plus: MLB is seeking to force Diamond Sports to pay the Twins and Guardians; and more sports media news from this week.
Pac-12 said to be in talks with CW as talks drag on
The Pac-12 has held conversations with Nexstar’s The CW about a potential media rights deal, The Athletic reported Thursday. The CW this year began airing live sports for the first time with its acquisition of LIV Golf. Created in 2006 as a merger of netlets The WB and UPN, The CW is primarily known for its low-rated young adult primetime programming.
Per the same report, the Pac-12 is now unlikely to reach a new media rights deal until later this spring or in early summer. (The Athletic 4.6)
MLB files motion to force Diamond Sports to pay Twins, Guardians
Major League Baseball this week filed an emergency motion in bankruptcy court seeking to compel Diamond Sports to pay late rights fees to the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians by next Thursday or terminate the company’s contracts with the teams. Diamond missed is April 1 payment to the Twins and Guardians and also has yet to pay the Diamondbacks after missing a payment shortly before filing for bankruptcy last month. (Star-Tribune 4.6, The Athletic 4.5)
Plus: Fox Sports moves, Brendan Burke, “Inside the NFL”
Fox Sports this week reached a contract extension with college football and basketball play-by-play voice Tim Brando and parted ways with MLB studio analyst Frank Thomas. … NBC Sports this week named Brendan Burke the new play-by-play voice for Peacock’s Major League Baseball coverage, replacing Jason Benetti. … The longtime NFL studio show “Inside the NFL” is leaving CBS. The show most recently aired on Paramount+ after a previous run on Showtime. Prior to moving into the CBS family, it was a staple of HBO for three decades. (SBJ 4.3, NYP 4.1, NBC Sports, Pro Football Talk 4.5)
