Let’s do the megalinks on this Friday. And as usual, you can find your weekend viewing with the Weekend Viewing Picks.
Now we go the links.
National
We begin with a story that could get quite interesting. Fox is negotiating with Time Warner Cable to get a transmission fee, but the talks have gotten so contentious that Fox is threatening to pull all of its channels. Franklin Paul and Yinka Adegoke of Reuters have the story.
Reed Albergotti, Vanessa O’Connell and Russell Adams of the Wall Street Journal investigate how Tiger Woods gave Men’s Fitness an interview in 2007 in order to squelch a story about one of his affairs in sister publication, the National Enquirer.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes the absence of Tiger Woods from the PGA Tour will affect CBS the most.
Diego Vasquez from Media Life Magazine says Tiger is losing credibility with the public.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell asks if Tiger Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, would really make a good endorser.
Darren says a former Survivor winner is trying his hand at selling Russian hats with a sports twist.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Fox Soccer Channel got its highest ratings in a key demographic last week.
The Sports Media Watch says Ernie Johnson, Jr. will call his first NBA game since 2001.
Chris Byrne in the Eye on Sports Media gives you a primer on calling an NFL game in Spanish.
The Big Lead says when ESPN Los Angeles’ website launches on Monday, it will have assembled a pretty good lineup to challenge the Times and Daily News.
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says MLB Network has made quite the impression in its first year.
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette writes that NBC is looking forward to airing the NHL Winter Classic from Fenway Park on New Year’s Day.
Kristine Leahy of WEEI.com has today’s version of The Five.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says this isn’t a good week for those who don’t have NFL Network.
Richard says Russian Mikhail Prokhorov is one step closer to owning the New Jersey Nets.
In the New York Daily News, Bob Raissman writes that the Mets losing is hurting their ticket sales and SNY ads.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick says there could be a change coming at the YES Network.
Laura Nachman says Fox is sending a familiar trio for this Sunday’s 49ers-Eagles game.
Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com writes in Press Box that Orioles fans have to get used to watching the games without Buck Martinez next season.
Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner ranks the first set of bowl games on whether they’re worth viewing.
Jason Reid of the Washington Post talks with ESPN’s Ron Jaworski about his on-air partner, Jon Gruden.
South
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says former Dolphins running back Mercury Morris loves talking to the media when an undefeated NFL team goes deep into the season.
Sarah Talalay in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel explores a new cell phone ad starring Dwayne Wade and Charles Barkley.
And Sarah discusses a new line of personalized sports jersey photos.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes that the Cowboys continue to show confidence publicly.
Ray Buck in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram talks with NBA TV’s Kevin McHale about the Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki.
To the Houston Chronicle, David Barron says high school football championship games will be all over local TV this weekend.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman talks with ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla.
Mel also has his weekly media notebook.
Barry Tramel of the Oklahoman writes that he broke down and signed up for the NFL Network.
Midwest
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a former sports talk show host would like to return to the radio soon.
Josh Slagter in the Grand Rapids (MI) Press looks at the fights HBO will re-air next week.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says there will be plenty of NBA action to watch on Christmas Day.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.
Jim O’Donnell of the Chicago Sun-Times writes about HLN’s Sunday special featuring TNT’s Charles Barkley.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals Fox Sports Midwest team will return for next season.
Dan says despite not being able to show the Calgary-Blues game, Fox Sports Midwest scored in the ratings for the pregame Brent Hull retirement ceremony.
West
Scott D. Pierce in the Deseret (UT) News talks about the mtn. owning the rights to BYU home games.
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune has CBS’ Boomer Esiason being high on the Chargers.
In the North County Times, John Maffei says one community won’t be able to see tonight’s high school football championship game.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star writes that local Time Warner Cable customers won’t be able to watch Saturday’s Cowboys-Saints game on NFL Network.
Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times previews Sunday’s HLN special featuring three of Turner Sports’ analysts.
From the Los Angeles Daily News, Tom Hoffarth notes that Lakers radio voice Spero Dedes has been missing games of late.
Tom talks with former Utah Jazz announcer “Hot Rod” Hundley who’s filling in for Stu Lantz on Lakers TV broadcasts.
Tom has more with Hot Rod in his blog plus his usual extensive media notebook.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail says the diagnosis of one hockey player will send shockwaves about concussions to the media.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says Don Cherry will never admit that he promotes hockey violence.
William Houston in Truth & Rumours reports that the Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium will fall well short of its sales goal for the Vancouver games.
That’s going to do it for the megalinks.
Boston Sports Media Watch 