YouTube TV will keep most of the Sinclair-owned Fox RSNs, with some big market exceptions. Also: ESPN has hired Chipper Jones; Michelle Wie has been named a contributor to Golf Central; the Women’s College World Series will get broadcast network exposure.
YouTube TV to keep most Fox RSNs
YouTube TV has reached an agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group to carry 19 of the Fox-branded regional sports networks through the end of this year’s Major League Baseball season, but the deal does not include Fox Sports Prime Ticket, Fox Sports West, or the YES Network, each of which has been dropped from the service. The excluded RSNs serve the nation’s largest television markets, New York and Los Angeles.
The news comes less than a week after YouTube TV originally planned to drop all of the Fox RSNs entirely. It scrapped that move at the last minute to continue negotiations with Sinclair. [Variety 3.5]
ESPN hires Chipper Jones
ESPN announced Monday that it has hired former Braves 3B Chipper Jones as a Major League Baseball analyst. Jones will primarily serve as a game analyst, debuting on the Opening Day Giants-Dodgers game March 28. The New York Post was first to report ESPN’s interest in Jones, who served as a guest analyst on ESPN last season. [ESPN PR 3.2]
Wie joining Golf Central as contributor
Golfer Michelle Wie has joined Golf Channel’s Golf Central as a contributor, it was announced this week. Wie, who served as a guest analyst for Golf Channel during last year’s Solheim Cup, will make her debut at The Players Championship this month, before returning for the PGA Championship in May and Ryder Cup in September. [NBC Sports PR 3.4]
WCWS games to air on ABC
ABC will carry at least four games of the Women’s College World Series in May, marking the first time in recent memory that the event has aired on broadcast television. ABC is scheduled to air doubleheaders on May 30 and May 31.
The event is just the latest addition to ABC’s sports schedule. The network aired the FCS football championship in January and will carry the NCAA women’s gymnastics final next month. [ESPN PR]
