Thread: Sports Illustrated TV -- part 2?

Report: Magazine is considering pairing up with Comcast's OLN channel which is aiming for ESPN.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Sports Illustrated may get a second chance at life in television in a partnership with Comcast's Outdoor Life Network, according to a news report published Friday.

The New York Post reported Friday the sports magazine's parent company, Time Inc., has been having internal discussions about teaming up with the cable channel, which currently broadcasts the Tour de France, America's Cup and other minor sporting events. Time Inc. and CNN/Money are both owned by Time Warner.

No formal talks have begun between Sports Illustrated executives and Comcast, the paper reported.

Talk of a partnership comes at a time when the Outdoor Life Network, which recently won broadcasting rights to the National Hockey League, is currently undergoing a facelift in an effort to challenge industry giant ESPN.

Officials from both Time Inc. and Comcast declined to provide the paper with any comment.

If a partnership is successful, this will be Sports Illustrated's second attempt at establishing a television presence. In 1996, CNN and the magazine created CNN/SI, a 24-hour sports network, which was dissolved in 2002.

Comcast and Time Warner already have a working relationship as both are co-owners of a new network that will broadcast New York Mets games starting next season, the Post reported.

This is good we need an alternative to ESPN...

ESPN is the one major factor of our cost of programming ($3.2056 per sub). They will not allow a tier package or a la carte. they can be in the expanded basic providing you have 85% penetration.