Layoffs hit NFL Network as the league-owned channel continues to cut costs. Plus: Fox Sports announces the launch of a new postseason college basketball tournament to compete with the NIT; Diamond Sports inks a carriage agreement with Charter Communications; and more.
NFL Network lays off talent
NFL Network will reportedly let go of four on-air personalities as the league-owned channel continues a run of cost-cutting. Melissa Stark, Andrew Siciliano, James Palmer, and Will Selva will all be laid off according to a report in The Athletic on Thursday. Starks, Palmer, and Selva have confirmed the news in subsequent social media posts Thursday morning. Siciliano was a longtime staple of NFL Network, contributing coverage to the shows NFL Now and TNF First Look. Palmer had been with NFL Network for nearly a decade, while Stark assisted the network with marquee event coverage on top of her sideline reporter role for NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Last month, it was announced that the popular show Good Morning Football will be moving from its leased New York City studio to Los Angeles, where the league owns its own studios, presumably to save money. The layoffs also come in the midst of reports about a possible sale of NFL Media, the league arm that houses NFL Network and other media endeavors. In January, it was reported that the league was interested in an equity deal with ESPN in exchange for NFL Media. (The Athletic, 4.4)
Fox Sports announces postseason college basketball tournament
Fox Sports will host a postseason college basketball tournament starting next year, the network announced Wednesday. The tournament, dubbed the “College Basketball Crown,” will feature teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East that were not selected for the NCAA Tournament. The three aforementioned conferences all have television agreements with Fox Sports, and will receive two automatic bids each. The rest of the 16-team field will feature at-large participants. Games will air on FOX and FS1.
The tournament will take place in Las Vegas and be played the week between the Elite Eight and Final Four of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Inevitably, the existence of the “College Basketball Crown” threatens the viability of the NCAA-operated and ESPN-broadcasted NIT, which has traditionally housed the “best of the rest” for teams not selected to the NCAA Tournament.
The “College Basketball Crown” could face challenges filling its field, similar to how the NIT saw 17 schools opt-out of the tournament preemptively this year. With the event occurring well after the coaching carousel and transfer portal kick into high gear, the timing of the games will not be ideal for potential participants. (Fox Sports, 4.3)
Diamond Sports and Charter reach carriage agreement
Diamond Sports Group has reached a multiyear carriage agreement with Charter Communications, the second-largest pay-TV distributor in the United States, the company announced Wednesday. According to the release, Diamond-operated RSNs will continue to be offered on the Spectrum TV Select Plus tier. Notably, customers who do not have access to a Diamond RSN as part of their service can purchase a direct-to-consumer product for teams which Diamond holds streaming rights.
As was determined in bankruptcy court earlier this year, Diamond will drop the Bally Sports branding for its RSNs following the current MLB season. Per Sportico, a judge may sign off on Diamond’s reorganization plan as soon as April 17th during a scheduled court hearing. (Diamond Sports, 4.3) (Sportico, 4.3)
Plus: Boston, A’s, TNT Sports, WTA
— WNBA All-Star Aliyah Boston will join ESPN for its coverage of the women’s Final Four, the network announced Wednesday. Boston, a former star at South Carolina, spent the season covering Big Ten women’s basketball in-studio for Peacock. She will join Elle Duncan, Carolyn Peck, Andraya Carter, and Chiney Ogwumike on the desk. (ESPN, 4.3)
— The Oakland A’s will reportedly play in Sacramento on an interim basis before the franchise moves to Las Vegas, it was announced Thursday. The move would see the team play in the stadium now occupied by the Scaramento RiverCats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. If all goes to plan, the A’s will move to Las Vegas upon completion of a new stadium in 2028. (ESPN, 4.4)
— TNT Sports is set to debut an animated alternate telecast for an Avalanche-Golden Knights game on April 14th, the company announced Wednesday. The broadcast will aim for a younger audience by featuring familiar characters like Bugs Bunny, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Steve Mears and Colby Armstrong will call the game that will air on TruTV and stream on the Max B/R Sports Add-On. ESPN aired an animated Big City Greens themed broadcast for the second year in a row last month. (TNT Sports, 4.3)
— The WTA announced Thursday that the tour would hold its finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2024 to 2026. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) has taken interest in the sport of late, reportedly eyeing to host a Masters tournament by 2026. (WTA, 4.4)
