Sports Media Digest- January 24, 2012

Here is a look at some of the sports media items making news today…

USA Today to Purchase Fanatasy Sports Ventures/Big Lead Sports- It was announced today that USA Today was acquiring Fantasy Sports Ventures (FSV) and Big Lead Sports. It is speculated that the move will help USA Today bolster its online sports presence. FSV was the fifth-largest sports property online by traffic last year, drawing an average of 18.4 million monthly unique visitors. Jason McIntyre, editor of The Big Lead, talks about how the acqusition will impact his site here.

Big Ten Network has Coverage of Paterno Memorial Service- The Big Ten Network today announced that it will provide live coverage of the public memorial service in honor of former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno. “A Memorial For Joe” will air beginning at 2 p.m. ET this Thursday and will re-air later that nioght at 10:oop.m. ET.

Latest HBO Sports Documentary Debuts Saturday Night- HBO’s presentation of Namath, a documentary on the legendary Jets quarterback, will premiere on HOB this Saturday at 9:00p.m. ET.

TNT Sets Thursday Twin Bill- TNT is getting set for this weeks, Thursday night BNA double header. The action begins at 8:00p.m. ET as Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and Craig Sager will have the call of the Celtics at the Magic. The nightcap tips-off at 10:30p.m. ET with the Grizzlies at the Clippers with Dick Stockton, Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller and Cheryl Miller calling the action.

NBC Sports Preps for NHL All-Star Weekend- The NBC Sports Group is devoting over 10 hours of coverage to the NHL All-Star Game which will be played this weekend in Ottawa. It all starts Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET with the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft on NBC Sports Network (NBCSP). NBCSP will air the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. Coverage of the 59th NHL All-Star Game will take place on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. ET on NBC, live from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

CBS Debuts its 2012 Coverage of the PGA Tour This Weekend- The first of CBS’s 23 golf telecasts for 2012 will be this weekend on coverage of the Famers Insurance Open from San Diego. Jim Nantz and Sir Nick Faldo will lead the coverage Saturday from 3:00p.m.-6:00p.m. ET and Sunday from 3:00p.m.- 6:30p.m. ET.

MLB Network Has Program on Top 50 Prospects- The MLB Network will unveil the MLB.com’s top 50 baseball propects for the 2012 season during a program tomorrow night at 10:00p.m. ET. Greg Amsinger will host the show and be joined by analyst John Hart and MLB.com senior writer Jonathan Mayo.

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