The WNBA players union has strong criticism for a veteran sports media personality; the Texas Rangers are considering creating their own RSN; Netflix is looking to the Eagles for its Christmas Day NFL broadcasting team; Dish and DIRECTV may be merging soon.
WNBA players union condemns USA Today’s Brennan
The WNBA players union released a statement on Friday accusing long-time USA Today journalist Christine Brennan of trying to provoke Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington by asking about an incident involving Caitlin Clark. The statement, which used phrases like “[w]e call B.S.,” “[y]ou are not fooling anyone,” and “[w]e see you,” criticized Brennan for her actions and called for a review of her credentials by USA Today.
USA Today has refuted the claims made by the union in its own response.
Brennan, who has been with USA Today since the inception of the WNBA, is currently writing a book about Clark and has been vocal on social media regarding the physicality experienced by the Fever rookie during the season.
Rangers considering their own RSN
After this season, the Texas Rangers are exploring the option of establishing their own regional sports network, as reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning-News and Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal. The team is weighing various options, including forming a Rangers-owned RSN, relinquishing rights to MLB, or renegotiating with the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group, operator of Bally Sports RSNs. The Rangers have already turned down an offer from Diamond Sports, according to Friend.
The potential Rangers-owned RSN would only broadcast live games and related programming, rather than being a 24-hour channel.
Texas is now one of the remaining three teams on the Diamond-owned Bally Sports Southwest network, following the departures of the Stars and Mavericks. (The Spurs and Thunder also air their games on the RSN.)
Netflix considering Ian and Noah Eagle for Christmas NFL coverage
Netflix is reportedly looking to enlist Ian and Noah Eagle as play-by-play announcers for its Christmas Day NFL doubleheader, as per Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post. The father-and-son duo would join Nate Burleson and Greg Olsen for the holiday games. Earlier attempts to hire the lead NFL on FOX team of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady were unsuccessful, according to Glasspiegel.
Additionally, Glasspiegel has noted that Netflix is considering former “Good Morning Football” host Kay Adams as the studio host for the games.
DIRECTV, Dish nearing merger
Reports suggest that DIRECTV is on the verge of acquiring Dish Network in a deal that could be finalized by Monday. The merger would include the Sling streaming service, bringing it under the same umbrella as DIRECTV STREAM.
While a previous merger attempt in the early 2000s faced regulatory issues, the decline of satellite TV may lead to fewer concerns about combining these two major providers.
