The WNBA players union has harsh words for a sports media veteran; the Texas Rangers consider forming their own RSN; Netflix looks to the Eagles for its Christmas Day NFL booth; Dish and DIRECTV could soon merge.
WNBA players union rails against USA Today’s Brennan
The WNBA players union on Friday issued a statement accusing longtime USA Today reporter Christine Brennan of attempting to “bait” Connecticut Sun G DiJonai Carrington by asking if she intended to hit Caitlin Clark in the eye during a recent game.
The unusually combative statement — which included the phrases “[w]e call B.S.,” “[y]ou are not fooling anyone” and “[w]e see you” — said Brennan has “abused [her] privileges” and does not deserve to be credentialed, calling on USA Today to review its standards and explain why it assigns her to WNBA games. It further described her in personal terms as “unprofessional … indecent and downright insincere.”
USA Today flatly rejected the union’s claims in its own statement.
Brennan, who has worked for USA Today for as long as the WNBA has existed, is writing a book about Clark and has been vocal on social media in criticizing some of the physical play the Fever rookie experienced during the season.
Rangers could opt for own RSN
The Texas Rangers will explore the possibility of creating their own regional sports network after this season, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning-News and Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal. The possibility of a Rangers-owned RSN is one of several options that include ceding rights to Major League Baseball or reaching a new deal with the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group, operator of the Bally Sports RSNs. Per Friend, the Rangers have already rejected an offer from Diamond Sports.
The Rangers-owned RSN would not be a 24-hour channel, only going live for games and surrounding programming.
Texas is one of only three teams left on the Diamond-owned Bally Sports Southwest, following the departures of the Stars and Mavericks. (The Spurs and Thunder also air their games on the RSN.)
Netflix looking at Ian, Noah Eagle for Christmas NFL play-by-play
Netflix is eyeing Ian and Noah Eagle to serve as play-by-play voices for its Christmas Day NFL doubleheader, according to Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post. The father-and-son duo would work alongside Nate Burleson and Greg Olsen, respectively, on the Christmas games. The streamer had previously pursued the lead NFL on FOX team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady, but was rejected, per Glasspiegel.
Glasspiegel is also reporting that Netflix is looking at former “Good Morning Football” host Kay Adams to serve as studio host for the games.
DIRECTV, Dish, close to merger
DIRECTV is close to acquiring Dish Network in a deal that could be finalized as soon as Monday, per multiple reports. The deal would include the Sling streaming service, putting it under the same umbrella as DIRECTV STREAM.
A previous merger attempt in the early 2000s failed under regulatory scrutiny, but given the decline of satellite television, there may be less concern about combining the two major providers.
