It's news that is better than gold with the official announcement that Eli Gold has been cleared to return to his play-by-play role in the University of Alabama radio booth! Gold was on the sidelines last season (after 35 years) while receiving treatment for Stage 3 cancer. He is expected to be on the call for the Crimson Tide's opening game on September 2nd. Can't come soon enough.
With the college football season starting in a month, one media related development has been set to begin for next year (2024 season) that will be a significant change for long-time fans. The incredible TV partnerships that the Big 10 Conference has with CBS, Fox, and NBC will reach a new level. To reduce the fighting for the lead game each week, according to the Indy Star, starting in 2024 the networks will rotate selecting their primary game.
For this year, CBS finishes its contract with the SEC, allowing it to give a higher priority to the Big 10 games starting next year. NBC will be adding the Big 10 in addition to Notre Dame (ironic given the rumors years ago of ND joining the Conference). Part of the NBC deal is allowing the network to flex Big 10 games in to its prime time slot. Fox will be continuing its contract. Can't overlook the irony of all the years gone by when ABC had exclusive rights to the Big 10. Although a long way off, it will be interesting to see how the three networks showcasing the same product week after week does for their respective ratings.
Meanwhile, it's a very disappointing day for Fox and NBC, which have lost the rights to important NASCAR races, starting in 2025. The CW will become exclusive home to the entire NASCAR Infinity Series. With this addition, and an upcoming share of golf tournaments thanks to its having the LIV rights and the subsequent merger with the PGA, CW is growing a presence in sports coverage. They are also expected to add to their roster of college basketball, football, and other motor sports.
DENVER: After only nine months on the job, former Broncos first round pick Derek Wolfe has stepped down from his role as afternoon drive co-host on KKFN 104.3 The Fan. Wolfe claimed "schedule conflicts" but many think this was a result of a backlash from his recent photo of a mountain lion he boasted of killing while on a hunting trip. No replacement named as of press time.
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