March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Making airwaves: A list of New Year resolutions

In keeping with the spirit of New Year’s Day, here are some resolutions which ought to be made along with the people who ought to be making them:

Rupert Murdoch – The media magnate and man behind the network – the Fox Network, that is. His resolution should be to keep his checkbook open and spend whatever it takes to bring his network in line with the big three – CBS, ABC, and NBC.

He has already wounded CBS and elevated Fox in one move with the acquisition of the NFC broadcast rights. Now is not the time to skimp on production costs in order to recoup the big bucks it took to lure the NFC. If he can put out an equally good, or superior NFL TV product, he may turn the “Big Three” into the “Big Four.”

The Fox Network – The powers that be must grab some of CBS’ top-flight talent to broadcast its NFL games. Without John Madden, Pat Summerall, and the other talent associated with NFC broadcasts, this is a TV marriage that will wind up on Divorce Court.

CBS – The heads of this network had better resolve to spend whatever it takes to get some type of professional sports package and restore a measure of credibility with its viewers.

If CBS does get a major package (college basketball, college football, NBA), they’d better be prepared to promote the heck out of it. Hopefully, it learned its lesson with fan reaction to the limited coverage given Major League Baseball during the regular season.

Pro sport commissioners – It would be nice if their resolutions included pledges not to become even more greedy for the TV dollar and institute some type of pay-per-view system in the 90’s. Haven’t fans been paying through the nose long enough?

Don’t think the Fox Network’s big-money package has stopped pay-per-view experimentation in its tracks. It has only forestalled the NFL’s move in that direction.

The average fan is already being priced out of attending games in person. If they’re priced out of watching games on TV, many will simply find something else to watch. Perhaps, commissioners will use common sense and realize that fans will take a lot, but are rapidly approaching their limit.

College presidents – Why don’t these guys come down off their high horses and resolve to pledge support for a Division I college football playoff? Fans, players and most coaches want it, and the TV networks will be lining up for the chance just to bid for the rights to those games.

The old arguments about student-athletes missing too much class time just don’t fly anymore. Ever heard of the College World Series or NCAA Tournament? Think a few players miss a little class time during those events?

The NCAA – A resolution to draft a workable plan for a colleplayoff system. Four teams, eight teams, 16 teams? Who cares, so long as it’s fair and takes into account overall records and strength of schedules.

The bowl committees – The members of these things should resolve to be thankful for what they’ve had, realize the days of traditional bowls are over, and do whatever is necessary to be included in the playoff system.

Instead of whining about a playoff system soiling the tradition of the bowls, these people should look to the future and realize there might be even more money (TV rights fees) to be had if they were part of the playoff system.

Bobby Bowden and Tom Osborne – Is this Orange Bowl matchup like a Boston Red Sox-Chicago Cubs World Series or what? Somebody has to win!

If Nebraska loses, Osborne better resolve to recruit more speed and give more than token attention to his passing attack. A powerful running game may be enough to win the Big Eight, but it won’t get you past pro-style national powers like Florida State, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Miami.

If Florida State loses, Bowden should resolve to sign up no more than two or three Top 25 teams on his regular season schedule. Nebraska, BYU (remember 1984?), and West Virginia have proven that unblemished records can outweigh tough schedules.

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Speaking of bowl games, WZON Bangor (620 AM) will broadcast both the Notre Dame-Texas A&M Cotton Bowl clash at 4 p.m. Saturday and the Orange Bowl national championship matchup between Florida State and Nebraska at 8 p.m..


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