washingtontimes--2020-09-02--NFL, TV partners navigating pandemic and future rights deals

In a year in which few things are normal , there will be some familiar things about NFL broadcasts this season .
Announcers will be in the stadiums , pregame shows will have their usual fill of banter and debate and the regular season will start on time .
But will it translate to an increase in ratings for a third straight year ?
Opinions are mixed , but Neal Pilson , the former president of CBS Sports who now runs his own sports television consulting company , thinks there will be growth because of many factors .
“ More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the game will be home watching which will add up in some markets plus there might not be as much group viewing , ” he said .
Pilson also points to the NFL starting its regular season on time as another positive factor while the NHL and NBA are trying to complete their postseasons months later than they would normally finish .
Onnie Bose , the NFL ’ s VP of Broadcasting , said they looked at how the other leagues approached things before coming up with their protocols .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is a tightly-shot sport , which can mitigate showing empty stadiums .
NFL Films will supply the crowd noise for games because of the lack of fans .
They have been gathering multi-channel surround audio recordings from every NFL stadium for use in their productions over the past four seasons .
The sounds will be fed to the broadcast by a league-hired operator who is following the game and using a button panel to control playback from custom-configured software .
Fan mosaic LED boards may also be used at some stadiums and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are approaching audio will be unique and something that will stand out .
It is something we take a lot of pride in , ” he said .
“ The audio from Seahawks games will be from games the last four seasons.
” The league was hoping that extending the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association would pave the way to begin discussions with the networks about extending their rights deals .
But then the coronavirus pandemic happened and that was put on the back burner .
The league and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but those talks could ramp up late in the season or early in the offseason , especially with the addition of a 17th regular-season game in the near future .
However , the league has already seen some extra money from the new CBA as NBC and CBS won the rights for two extra postseason games after the playoffs were expanded from 12 to 14 teams .
ESPN ’ s deal expires after 2021 while NBC , CBS and Fox are up after 2022 .
The league already makes more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The revenue could nearly double with an extra week of regular-season games and expanded playoffs .
Mark Reino , CEO of Merit Mile , a Boca Raton , Florida-based advertising , PR and sports marketing agency , also sees the NFL in a position of leverage .
“ As they come back they have the benefits of examining what worked and didn ’ t for other sports , and be in full assessment mode , ” he said .
“ They perhaps have all that insight , but also a perfect market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this .
Their visibility and awareness is going to benefit them in some type of financial capacity as it relates to collective bargaining with the networks .
Don ’ t doubt the NFL is going to use this as leverage.
” PRESEASON MAKEUPS : The league will allow stations that have preseason broadcast rights with teams to re-air regular-season games in their markets .
The move should allow some teams and stations to recoup some revenue lost from the lack of preseason games since that is where the greatest impact is felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on NFL Network or NFL Game Pass .
The league has allowed teams during the preseason to re-air historic games from the league ’ s archives .
TEST RUN : ABC will air its first “ Monday Night Football ” game since 2005 on Sept. 21 when the Raiders play their first game in Las Vegas against the New Orleans Saints .
Not only is it the 50th anniversary of the first MNF game , but it could signal a return of the franchise back to ABC by 2022 .
The biggest change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday nights returning to ABC and ESPN going for the Thursday night games .
Not only does the league want to be back on all four broadcast networks , but it would put Walt Disney Company back in the Super Bowl rotation by putting it on ABC .
“ The NFL is not prepared to put the Super Bowl on cable .
That would be deep trouble , ” Pilson said .
“ If ABC wants Monday nights , they can get it and shift some of the dollars if ESPN continues with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual , ESPN ’ s “ Monday Night Football ” leads the way as Steve Levy , Brian Griese and Louis Riddick take over .
… At CBS , Charles Davis joins Ian Eagle on the No .
2 crew after Davis spent 13 years with Fox .
Trent Green moves to the No .
3 crew with Kevin Harlan while Rich Gannon goes to the fourth team with Greg Gumbel .
… Fox will move Daryl “ Moose ” Johnston to the second team with Kevin Burkhardt .
Adam Amin and Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Jonathan Vilma and Greg Jennings are new analysts .
Kugler was brought on after Thom Brennaman wasn ’ t retained after using an anti-gay slur on air during a Cincinnati Reds broadcast last month .

In a year in which few things are normal, there will be some familiar things about NFL broadcasts this season.
Announcers will be in the stadiums, pregame shows will have their usual fill of banter and debate and the regular season will start on time.
But will it translate to an increase in ratings for a third straight year? Opinions are mixed, but Neal Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports who now runs his own sports television consulting company, thinks there will be growth because of many factors.
“More people are home, all those that go to the game will be home watching which will add up in some markets plus there might not be as much group viewing,” he said.
Pilson also points to the NFL starting its regular season on time as another positive factor while the NHL and NBA are trying to complete their postseasons months later than they would normally finish.
Onnie Bose, the NFL’s VP of Broadcasting, said they looked at how the other leagues approached things before coming up with their protocols. One of the advantages of football is that it is a tightly-shot sport, which can mitigate showing empty stadiums.
NFL Films will supply the crowd noise for games because of the lack of fans. They have been gathering multi-channel surround audio recordings from every NFL stadium for use in their productions over the past four seasons. The sounds will be fed to the broadcast by a league-hired operator who is following the game and using a button panel to control playback from custom-configured software.
Fan mosaic LED boards may also be used at some stadiums and bigger games.
“The way we are approaching audio will be unique and something that will stand out. It is something we take a lot of pride in,” he said. “The audio from Seahawks games will be from games the last four seasons.”
The league was hoping that extending the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association would pave the way to begin discussions with the networks about extending their rights deals. But then the coronavirus pandemic happened and that was put on the back burner.
The league and its network partners had preliminary discussions in June, but those talks could ramp up late in the season or early in the offseason, especially with the addition of a 17th regular-season game in the near future.
However, the league has already seen some extra money from the new CBA as NBC and CBS won the rights for two extra postseason games after the playoffs were expanded from 12 to 14 teams. ESPN’s deal expires after 2021 while NBC, CBS and Fox are up after 2022.
The league already makes more than $7.5 billion annually from its rights deals. The revenue could nearly double with an extra week of regular-season games and expanded playoffs.
Mark Reino, CEO of Merit Mile, a Boca Raton, Florida-based advertising, PR and sports marketing agency, also sees the NFL in a position of leverage.
“As they come back they have the benefits of examining what worked and didn’t for other sports, and be in full assessment mode,” he said. “They perhaps have all that insight, but also a perfect market timing in my opinion, of all of this. Their visibility and awareness is going to benefit them in some type of financial capacity as it relates to collective bargaining with the networks. Don’t doubt the NFL is going to use this as leverage.”
PRESEASON MAKEUPS: The league will allow stations that have preseason broadcast rights with teams to re-air regular-season games in their markets. The move should allow some teams and stations to recoup some revenue lost from the lack of preseason games since that is where the greatest impact is felt. Usually, replays are only available on NFL Network or NFL Game Pass. The league has allowed teams during the preseason to re-air historic games from the league’s archives.
TEST RUN: ABC will air its first “Monday Night Football” game since 2005 on Sept. 21 when the Raiders play their first game in Las Vegas against the New Orleans Saints. Not only is it the 50th anniversary of the first MNF game, but it could signal a return of the franchise back to ABC by 2022.
The biggest change in the upcoming rights deals could be Monday nights returning to ABC and ESPN going for the Thursday night games. Not only does the league want to be back on all four broadcast networks, but it would put Walt Disney Company back in the Super Bowl rotation by putting it on ABC.
“The NFL is not prepared to put the Super Bowl on cable. That would be deep trouble,” Pilson said. “If ABC wants Monday nights, they can get it and shift some of the dollars if ESPN continues with the NFL.”
ANNOUNCER SHUFFLES: As usual, ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” leads the way as Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick take over. … At CBS, Charles Davis joins Ian Eagle on the No. 2 crew after Davis spent 13 years with Fox. Trent Green moves to the No. 3 crew with Kevin Harlan while Rich Gannon goes to the fourth team with Greg Gumbel. … Fox will move Daryl “Moose” Johnston to the second team with Kevin Burkhardt. Adam Amin and Kevin Kugler have been hired as play-by-play announcers while Jonathan Vilma and Greg Jennings are new analysts. Kugler was brought on after Thom Brennaman wasn’t retained after using an anti-gay slur on air during a Cincinnati Reds broadcast last month.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-09-02--Colombia arrests 3 Venezuelans tied to anti-Maduro plot

MIAMI ( AP ) - Police in Colombia have arrested three Venezuelans who were part of a failed plot organized by a former U.S. Green Beret to sneak across the border and oust President Nicolás Maduro , The Associated Press has learned The three were arrested in simultaneous raids early Wednesday in the capital of Bogota , a person who was in contact with the men at the time of their arrest told AP .
The person , who insisted on anonymity to discuss the continuing investigation , said the three were picked up on charges of arms trafficking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two of the men , Maj. Juvenal Sequea and Capt .
Juven Sequea , are the older brothers of the confessed commander of the failed May 3 incursion , Capt .
Antonio Sequea , who is jailed in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas .
The third , Rayder Ruso , is a civilian who has long sought Maduro ’ s overthrow .
All three lived for months in rustic camps along Colombia ’ s Caribbean coast where Jordan Goudreau , an American war veteran , was helping organize a volunteer army for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the men deserted the ragtag effort , known as Operation Gideon , months before the beach assault was launched , viewing it as a suicide mission that lacked the necessary support from the U.S. What was dubbed the “ Bay of Piglets ” - after the failed 1961 invasion of Cuba by anti-communist exiles - ended in a propaganda victory for Maduro with the capture of dozens of would-be combatants , including two of Goudreau ’ s former special forces buddies , Luke Denman and Airan Berry , who quickly pleaded guilty and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Donald Trump OK ’ d my murder , I am not exaggerating , and they are trying to send a group of snipers or hire snipers in Venezuela to kill me , ” Maduro said Tuesday , recalling the bizarre attack .
The U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó was also linked to the plot when it was revealed that two of his aides in Miami signed last fall a 42-page contract with Goudreau ’ s Florida company , Silvercorp USA , to carry out regime change .
The aides said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas due to a mix of differences with Goudreau and a change in strategy .
They said no money changed hands except $ 50,000 to cover Goudreau ’ s initial expenses .
A full telling of the plot and what , if anything , U.S. officials knew in advance has been elusive despite questions from Democrats in Congress angry over the raid .
There were media reports that a fourth person , Yacsy Álvarez , who served as Goudreau ’ s translator and assistant in Colombia , had also been arrested Wednesday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unable to confirm whether she had been arrested .
In January , Álvarez flew with the three Americans from Miami to Colombia on a plane owned by her one-time boss , Franklin Durán , a wealthy businessman with a history of close ties to Maduro ’ s predecessor and mentor , the late Hugo Chávez .
Durán was arrested in May on charges connected to the plot , including treason , rebellion , conspiracy with a foreign government and arms trafficking and terrorism .
Álvarez was also an associate of Goudreau ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuelan army Gen. Cliver Alcalá , who like Álvarez had been living in Colombian city of Barranquilla after breaking with Maduro and fleeing his homeland in 2018 .
Alcalá surrendered to U.S. authorities in March on unrelated drug charges , just a few days after Colombian police seized a cache of assault rifles , tactical helmets and night vision goggles that he said belonged to the rebel cadre that he and Goudreau were readying to bring down Maduro .
It was not clear if U.S. officials played any role in Wednesday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been interviewing associates of Goudreau as part of their own investigation into whether he violated U.S. laws that require any U.S. company supplying weapons or military equipment , as well as military training and advice , to foreign persons to seek State Department approval .
Goudreau did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

MIAMI (AP) - Police in Colombia have arrested three Venezuelans who were part of a failed plot organized by a former U.S. Green Beret to sneak across the border and oust President Nicolás Maduro, The Associated Press has learned
The three were arrested in simultaneous raids by heavily-armed security forces early Wednesday in the capital of Bogota, a person in contact with the men at the time of their arrest told AP. The person, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the continuing investigation, said the three were picked up on charges of providing military training for illicit and “terrorist” activities, which carries a prison penalty of 20 to 30 years.
Two of the men, Maj. Juvenal Sequea and Capt. Juven Sequea, are the older brothers of the confessed commander of the failed May 3 incursion, Capt. Antonio Sequea, who is jailed in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. The third, Rayder Ruso, is a civilian who has long sought Maduro’s armed overthrow.
All three lived for months in rustic camps along Colombia’s Caribbean coast where Jordan Goudreau, an American war veteran, was helping organize a volunteer army for a rapid cross-border strike against Maduro.
But the men deserted the ragtag effort, known as Operation Gideon, prior to the beach assault - one of them month before - viewing it as a suicide mission that lacked the necessary support from the U.S.
What was dubbed the “Bay of Piglets” - after the failed 1961 invasion of Cuba by anti-communist exiles - ended in a propaganda victory for Maduro with the capture of dozens of would-be combatants, including two of Goudreau’s former special forces buddies, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who quickly pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
“Donald Trump OK’d my murder, I am not exaggerating, and they are trying to send a group of snipers or hire snipers in Venezuela to kill me,” Maduro said Tuesday, recalling the bizarre attack.
The U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó was also linked to the plot when it was revealed that two of his aides in Miami signed last fall a 42-page contract with Goudreau’s Florida company, Silvercorp USA, to carry out regime change. The aides said they backed out of the deal before Christmas due to a mix of differences with Goudreau and a change in strategy. They said no money changed hands except $50,000 to cover Goudreau’s initial expenses.
A full telling of the plot and what, if anything, U.S. officials knew in advance has been elusive despite questions from Democrats in Congress angry over the raid.
There were media reports that a fourth person, Yacsy Álvarez, who served as Goudreau’s translator and assistant in Colombia, had also been arrested Wednesday in Colombia for aiding the plot. AP was unable to confirm whether she had been arrested.
In January, Álvarez flew with the three Americans from Miami to Colombia on a plane owned by her one-time boss, Franklin Durán, a wealthy businessman with a history of close ties to Maduro’s predecessor and mentor, the late Hugo Chávez. Durán was arrested in May on charges connected to the plot, including treason, rebellion, conspiracy with a foreign government and arms trafficking and terrorism.
Álvarez was also an associate of Goudreau’s would-be partner in arms, retired Venezuelan army Gen. Cliver Alcalá, who like Álvarez had been living in Colombian city of Barranquilla after breaking with Maduro and fleeing his homeland in 2018.
Alcalá surrendered to U.S. authorities in March on unrelated drug charges, just a few days after Colombian police seized a cache of assault rifles, tactical helmets and night vision goggles that he said belonged to the rebel cadre that he and Goudreau were readying to bring down Maduro.
It was not clear if U.S. officials played any role in Wednesday’s arrests. But for months the FBI has been interviewing associates of Goudreau as part of their own investigation into whether he violated U.S. laws that require any U.S. company supplying weapons or military equipment, as well as military training and advice, to foreign persons to seek State Department approval.
Goudreau did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman


washingtontimes--2020-09-02--Approvals for new oil and gas wells up in California

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Despite pushing back against the Trump administration ’ s plan to expand oil extraction in California , the state has issued 190 % more new oil and gas drilling permits in the first six months of 2020 than were approved under Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s first six months in office , two advocacy groups said Wednesday .
The agency that oversees oil and gas drilling in California issued 2,691 permits to drill new wells or rework existing ones , according to an analysis of state data by Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after announcing a crackdown on fracking projects , the state issued 48 new permits for hydraulic fracturing .
The groups said the trend conflicts with California ’ s environmental mandate and Newsom ’ s campaign promise to reduce reliance on fossil fuels .
“ Governor Newsom ’ s permitting policies are the exact opposite of the managed decline he promised , ” said Kyle Ferrar , whose FracTracker Alliance maintains a website to keep track of the permits .
An email message requesting a comment from the state ’ s Geologic Energy Management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been returned .
Newsom fired the state ’ s top oil and gas regulator last July after the advocacy groups released data showing fracking permits dramatically increased .
He also ordered an investigation into reports that employees in the division own stock in the companies they regulate .
In November , the governor announced a moratorium on fracking projects pending review by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to determine if they meet regulatory standards .
Liza Tucker with Consumer Watchdog said she believes the fracking permits were issued because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expire in a year , and they don ’ t always lead to actual oil extraction , Tucker said , particularly as the coronavirus pandemic drives down oil prices and demand .
Nonetheless , the total number of new wells drilled in the first half of 2020 is still 9.2 % higher than the first half of 2019 , when Newsom had little oversight of permitting policies , the groups said .
Tucker said she suspects oil companies are applying for new permits to draw new investors in the middle of a financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granting permits to companies without guarantees they will cover the cost of sealing old wells that pose pollution risks .
“ We should be seeing fewer permits issued , ” she said .
“ That would be the natural result if we made oil companies pay for the true cost of doing business in California by putting up the money necessary to plug and clean up a well when they get a permit to drill one , as state law allows .
”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Despite pushing back against the Trump administration’s plan to expand oil extraction in California, the state has issued 190% more oil and gas drilling permits in the first six months of 2020 than were approved under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first six months in office, two advocacy groups said Wednesday.
The agency that oversees oil and gas drilling in California issued 2,691 permits to drill new wells or rework existing ones the first half of this year, according to an analysis of state data by Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance.
It also found that several months after announcing a crackdown on fracking projects, the state issued 48 new permits for hydraulic fracturing.
The groups, which maintains a website to keep track of the permits, said the trend conflicts with California’s environmental mandate and Newsom’s campaign promise to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, state officials counter the groups misinterpreted the data and asserted that the number of new drill permits were slightly up by 7 percent, from 1,475 in the first six months of 2019 to 1,579 in the same period this year.
“Under state law, if a company applies for a permit, we review and if it meets the criteria in our regulations, we issue a permit,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, oil and gas supervisor at the California Geologic Energy Management Division.
“We are a government agency, this is what we do. It’s not a subjective political decision. We have to follow the law,” he said.
He added that oil production in California was at its lowest level than anytime in the last four decades and that the number of permits issued for sealing old wells outpaced permits for new wells.
Ntuk was appointed the state’s top oil and gas regulator last October after the governor fired his predecessor, Ken Harris, over a report by the advocacy groups that said fracking permits dramatically increased. Newsom also ordered an investigation into reports that employees in the division own stock in the companies they regulate - something Ntuk said he couldn’t discuss because the probe is ongoing.
In November, the governor announced a moratorium on fracking projects pending review by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to determine if they meet regulatory standards.
Liza Tucker with Consumer Watchdog said she believes the fracking permits were issued because the regulatory standards are weak.
The permits expire in a year, and they don’t necessarily lead to actual oil extraction, Tucker said, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic drives down oil prices and demand.
Nonetheless, the total number of new wells drilled in the first half of 2020 is still 9.2% higher than the first half of 2019, when Newsom had little oversight of permitting policies, the groups said.
Ntuk countered that the 30 new wells drilled in the first half of 2020 is down 90 percent compared to the 302 wells completed in the first half of 2019.
Tucker said she suspects oil companies are applying for new permits to draw new investors in the middle of a financial crisis.
She said the state was granting permits to companies without guarantees they will cover the cost of sealing old wells that pose pollution risks.
“We should be seeing fewer permits issued,” she said. “That would be the natural result if we made oil companies pay for the true cost of doing business in California by putting up the money necessary to plug and clean up a well when they get a permit to drill one, as state law allows.”
Ntuk said the state enacted new regulations in April 2019 to push operators to properly maintain or plug idle wells.