Sports Media Digest- July 24, 2012

http://sportsmediajournal.com/ ESPN Sees Highest Ratings for Open Championship- ESPN announced today that the ratings for this past weekend’s Open Championship were the highest since it began airing event. Sunday’s final round earned a 3.6 household coverage rating, up 38 percent over last year. Saturday’s telecast earned a 3.1 rating, up 48 percent from 2011. ESPN’s telecasts of the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday also saw double-digit increases. NBC Sports Network to Produce Morning Highlights Show- NBC Sports announced that the NBC Sports Network will be producing The ‘Lights, a new morning highlights show. The ‘Lights will be produced as a 20-minute sports report, and will not feature an on-camera anchor or set. The show will use a unique presentation of simultaneous video clips, graphics and voiceovers to deliver the scores and information. The ‘Lights will repeat every 20 minutes, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. ET, and will be updated as necessary. The program debuts August 13th. NFL.Com to Offer Fans Access to Coaches Video- NFL.com will be putting the coaches video of every game online through the NFL Game Pass and NFL Game Rewind products. Two exclusive camera angles, “All-22” and “High End Zone” views, will be available for every play in 2012, as well as every play from the archived 2011 season. The video will be accompanied with a telestrator function which will allow fans to analyze plays by drawing over a still frame with a touch of a finger and then sharing their commentary with friends. The league also announced that its full range of subscription products will be made available on the iPad and select Android tablets. Nantz to Receive National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation Award- CBS’ Jim Nantz will be the recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation Court of Honor Award at a ceremony in NEw York on September 17th. The Court of Honor Award is presented to an individual who has roots in college basketball, values those roots, and has gone on to distinguish himself in his profession, exhibiting the highest standards of leadership.