A Thursday Linkage Day

With today being the premiere of Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network tonight, there are quite a few stories on the battle between the National Football League and the big cable companies (Comcast, Time Warner, etc.). Let's give you some stories.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says this is Year 3 of the NFL Network vs. Big Cable with no end in sight.

Jim Williams from the DC Examiner writes about the debut of Bob Papa as the NFL Network's play-by-play voice tonight.

USA Today recaps NFL Commish Roger Goodell's chat with fans on NFL.com.

Matthew Futterman in the Wall Street Journal says Sprint cell phone subscribers can watch the NFL Network games.

Steve Lash of the Associated Press says Maryland's Attorney General moonlights as a Redskins analyst for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

Christopher Byrne's Eye on Sports Media blog has the entire 2008-09 Division I men's basketball TV schedule.

Maury Brown in the Biz of Baseball has some programming details of the new MLB Network.

The Sports Media Watch says NASCAR's ratings are holding steady this year. And the blog says Monday Night Football scored in the ratings on the day before the Election.

Vince Horiuchi of the Salt Lake Tribune writes that tonight's Utah-TCU game on CBS College Sports should be available to fans who want to watch.

Michael Starr of the New York Post says ESPN NFL analyst Keyshawn Johnson hosts a new reality show for A&E that premieres this weekend.

Jerry Brewer in the Seattle Times profiles FSN Northwest reporter/producer Jen Mueller who also doubles as a high school football official.

Tom Lang of the Lansing (MI) State Journal talks to a married couple who took part in the Golf Channel's Big Break X: Michigan reality show.

Jonathan Huntington of the Edmonton Sun talks to TSN CFL analyst Matt Dunigan.

The Canadian Press reports that TSN is seeing increased ratings this season for the CFL.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says new Raptors TV voice Matt Devlin is settling in.

That's it for now.