Media Notes

USA TODAY's Wieberg & Carey note Fox' "exclusive 30-day negotiating period" to retain the rights for the four non-Rose Bowl BSC games opened last week. BCS Coordinator John Swofford said that he "anticipates significant growth in rights fees, based on increases in conference agreements." Fox Sports President Ed Goren: "Except for the stock market, everything goes up, and the BCS is no different from any other rights deal" ( USA TODAY, 10/10 ). TOKYO HOTEL : UFC is returning to Japanese television under a new two-year deal with WOWOW, a satellite provider with about 2.5 million subs. UFC had a deal with WOWOW from '01 until May '07, when talks for an extension reportedly broke down over pricing. The network primarily airs Hollywood movies and re-runs of American sitcoms, as well as the tennis Grand Slams and some European soccer ( Jon Show, SportsBusiness Journal ). PRIME TIME : In Edmonton, Jonathan Huntington reported the CFL has moved the divisional semifinals, the opening round of the CFL playoffs, to Saturdays this fall, "breaking a longstanding tradition of having the games on Sundays." CFL Communications Manager Jamie Dykstra: "The playoff games have been scheduled on Saturdays because that was thought to have the potential to maximize television audiences." Huntington noted TSN "asked the CFL two years ago about the idea of moving the divisional semifinals and finals to Saturdays to increase ratings" ( EDMONTON SUN, 10/9 ). NOTES : The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Nando Di Fino wrote the NHL has "wrapped its arms around fantasy sports and given it a big bear hug." Di Fino: "The NHL takes a pleasantly contrarian position when it comes to fantasy games and use of statistics. It's this attitude that is just one of the reasons fantasy hockey deserves a shot from the average fantasy player" ( WSJ.com, 10/9 )....Chicago-based TeamWorks Media "has brokered a deal to partner with CBSSports.com, in which TeamWorks will share its college football poll for exclusive use on the web site." The poll "will be posted every Monday, as CBSSports.com's BlogPoll Top 25, along with the traditional AP and USA Today/Coaches Poll," and "nearly 100 college football bloggers will vote" in the poll ( CNBC.com, 10/6 ).