A judge dismisses a Paramount motion to expedite its lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery; Elle Duncan will reportedly be the lead host for MLB Opening Night and Home Run Derby on Netflix; and Mike Tirico discusses his interview of Michael Jordan. Plus news on ESPN, Golf Channel, Kate Scott and Fubo Sports Network.
Paramount denied motion to expedite lawsuit against WBD
A judge Thursday dismissed the motion from Paramount to expedite its lawsuit compelling Warner Bros. Discovery to provide its shareholders with more information about its deal with Netflix, including the valuation of the planned Discovery Global spin company that would be left behind. Delaware Chancery Court Judge Morgan Zurn wrote in a ruling that Paramount did not show that it would “suffer irreparable harm” if the case was not expedited, according to a report by James Farris of Business Insider.
“Today’s lawsuit by Paramount Skydance was yet another unserious attempt to distract and the Judge saw right through it,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement provided to Sports Media Watch on Thursday. “We are pleased a Delaware Court agreed with our belief and rejected the notion that this lawsuit needed special treatment and may have other serious flaws.” In a court filing on Wednesday, WBD called the motion from Paramount “an exercise in urgency theatre—ringing a fire alarm in the absence of any flames or even smoke.” The company noted that Paramount was asking shareholders to act now even though the company could extend its hostile tender offer, which is currently slated to expire on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Paramount maintained the ruling was based on its standing rather than the merits of the claim. “WBD shareholders need the information on the WBD Board’s evaluation of the Global Networks stub equity and the “risk adjustments” performed on Paramount’s offer to make an informed decision,” a Paramount spokesperson said in a statement provided to Sports Media Watch on Thursday. “WBD shareholders should ask why their Board is working so hard to hide this information. Paramount continues to urge WBD to make these disclosures so that WBD shareholders can make an informed decision.”
Warner Bros. Discovery unanimously recommended stockholders reject Paramount’s hostile bid for the entirety of the media conglomerate. Earlier this week, Joe Flint and Jessica Toonkel of The Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix was preparing to render its cash-and-stock bid for the Warner Bros. streaming and studio assets all-cash. Although Netflix agreed to pay $27.75/share under its original cash-and-stock deal, its shares have dipped over the last month. Should Netflix’s 15-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) fall below $97.91, which would be “measured three trading days prior to closing,” shareholders of WBD would garner 0.0460 Netflix shares for every one WBD share.
Duncan reportedly hosting MLB Opening Night, Home Run Derby coverage on Netflix
New Netflix host Elle Duncan will serve as the streamer’s lead host for its upcoming MLB Opening Night game and Home Run Derby, her agent Matt Olson said on an upcoming episode of “The Sports Media Podcast” hosted by Richard Deitsch. Netflix, which is beginning a three-year media rights deal with Major League Baseball, has not officially announced the full broadcast lineup for its slate of games, which also includes “MLB at Field of Dreams” in August.
Duncan, who officially joined Netflix as an on-air host for live sports and event coverage last month after nearly a decade at ESPN, is also going to “have a prominent role” for FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage in 2027 and future NFL games on the platform, per Olson, whose comments were published by Sports Business Journal on Thursday.
Olson said that the offers Duncan fielded from Netflix and ESPN “were very competitive with each other,” but that Netflix offered a lighter schedule, flexibility for her to work elsewhere and a more prominent role. “So what does Netflix have? The ability for her to be the number one there,” Olson said. “Now, what was the push from the ESPN side? Well, this applies to every single person that works at ESPN outside of Joe [Buck] and Troy [Aikman]. You have to work 200 days a year. That is the nature of the beast.”
Duncan is also reportedly free to take on other roles outside of Netflix, and Olson said that she will have “another sports opportunity” that has yet to be announced. Netflix, however, is said to have “first position” for her usage. Duncan will debut on Netflix next Friday, Jan. 23 for the “Skyscraper Live” event as climber Alex Honnold tries to ascend Taipei 101.
Tirico unsure on additional Jordan interviews
In a recent appearance on the “SI Media Podcast” hosted by Jimmy Traina, NBC Sports play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico said that there is not another interview scheduled with six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan that he knows of, although he acknowledged that it remains possible.
“My takeaway was how much he cares about the games still,” Tirico said of Jordan. “He loves, loves the game, and in some regards, doesn’t love some of the direction of the game, and he wanted to talk about it, so it was a great forum. His longevity and connection with the ‘NBA on NBC’ made it possible. So was it what everyone wanted? Probably not. Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was. And if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You betcha.”
Tirico, who conducted the original interview with Jordan that has aired on the “Insights to Excellence” segment throughout the year, said that there are upcoming segments from the interview “that will still be pitch perfect for the moment.” He added that despite the pre-taped nature of the interview, it has the ability to set off conversation: “His voice still resonates, and the time that he uses that voice, if it’s with us, then I think it’s additive to what we do as a network.”
NBC has not aired a new edition of the series since early December when Jordan talked about the ‘love of the game’ clause in his contract. Jordan was named a special contributor to the “NBA on NBC” at the company’s Upfront event last May.
Plus: ESPN, Golf Channel, Kate Scott, Fubo Sports Network
- After a four-year absence from the airwaves, the ESPN “Coaches Film Room” presentation will return during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between No. 10 Miami and No. 1 Indiana. Zubin Mehenti will host the show on ESPNU from Bristol with former head coaches Steve Addazio, Dave Clawson, Gene Chizik and Mike Gundy, along with new ESPN CFB rules analyst Jerry McGinn.
- Versant-owned Golf Channel has reached a multiyear media rights extension with the DP World Tour that runs through 2030, it was announced Thursday. Golf Channel, which first started airing the DP World Tour in 1995, will cover all events on the tour, which begins its 2026 schedule with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic next week.
- CBS Sports commentator Kate Scott is joining the broadcast team for the first UFC event to stream on Paramount+ taking place this Saturday from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The remainder of the broadcast team for UFC 324 features play-by-play announcer Jon Anik, analysts Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan, along with reporter Megan Olivi, coach Din Thomas and in-Octagon voice Bruce Buffer.
- Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming television channel of FuboTV, will launch a college basketball show hosted by Seth Davis and Andy Katz beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Titled “The Hoops HQ Show,” the program will air new episodes on Tuesdays and Fridays.
