Matchup of 1-8 Lions and Browns leads to blackout on TV in and around the Motor City

NFL’s Browns-Lions gets TV blackout in Motor City

No TV blackout for Browns, who team up with sponsors to buy tickets for Monday night game

Cleveland Browns avert local TV blackout

CLEVELAND — The Browns have averted their first TV blackout since 1995.

ESPN buys Olympic rights in South America for Vancouver, London Games

ESPN buys Olympic TV rights for South America

NBA launches TV companion to help TV viewers follow along on their computers

NBA TV companion gives web help to TV game viewers

Browns facing possible TV blackout for Monday night ESPN game vs. Ravens

NFL: Browns face possible Monday night TV blackout

Cleveland Browns facing possible TV blackout for Monday night NFL game vs. Baltimore Ravens

NFL’s Cleveland Browns facing TV blackout

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have not yet sold out next Monday night’s game against Baltimore and are facing their first TV blackout since 1995.

Business Highlights

Business Highlights

October sales offer relief to merchants

Area sports fans rejoice as The Onion teams with Comedy Central for TV pilot

No, really: Onion, Comedy Central team on TV pilot

DirecTV sees subscriber gain, though 3rd-quarter earnings flat as costs offset revenue jump

DirecTV shows subscriber gains, as rivals see loss

Goodbye, guys: 2 men eliminated from ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ 5 contestants remain

‘Dancing with the Stars’ celeb slate slimmed by 2

Brett Favre’s return to Green Bay results in second most-watched NFL telecast ever on Fox

Favre’s return to Green Bay draws big TV audience

Cablevision Systems 3rd-quarter profit jumps as it adds more voice customers

Cablevision Systems 3Q profit more than triples

TV camera is moved back slightly a day after A-Rod’s drive at World Series

TV camera moved back slightly at World Series

Boosted by NY Yankees, World Series television ratings jump to highest level since 2004

World Series TV ratings at highest level since ‘04

AP Interview: Rogge says US TV rights talks to begin after Vancouver due to improving economy

Rogge: US TV deal planned after Vancouver Games

Plenty of good seats still available: Lions game against Rams blacked out in local TV markets

Lions game against Rams blacked out on local TV

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall to fill in as guest host of sports TV show next week

Broncos’ Marshall to guest host show on Versus

Baseball helps Fox pull up close to CBS in ratings, but not quite

ALCS helps Fox in ratings, but CBS is still ahead

The sun hasn’t shone on a World Series game since 1984 as baseball goes prime time to draw TVs

World Series hasn’t been played in sun in 25 years

Defiant Diego Maradona offers no apology for profanity-filled tirade on live television

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Diego Maradona won’t apologize for a profanity-filled tirade on live TV that prompted a FIFA investigation and could result in a five-game suspension and nearly $20,000 fine for the Argentina coach.

Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin eliminated from ‘Dancing with the Stars’

LOS ANGELES — Natalie Coughlin won’t be going for the gold on “Dancing with the Stars.”

Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin sinks on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Another ‘Dancing with the Stars’ celebrity sinks

ESPN scheduled to air over 1,000 games on its multiple platforms

BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN will broadcast more than 1,000 college basketball games over its multiple platforms this season.

Golf Glance

Site: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Grayhawk Golf Club, Raptor Course (7,125 yards, par 70).

Magazine sales meeting in Washington state ends in beatings, arrests

TACOMA, Wash. — A meeting of magazine salesmen at a motel in Washington state ended with two in the hospital and six in jail.

Television ratings for division series up 11 percent from last year

ATLANTA — Television ratings for baseball’s division series were up from last season.

NFL commissioner says league is watching police investigation of Raiders coach Cable

BOSTON — Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable will be subject to NFL discipline if he is implicated by police in their investigation of an alleged assault on an assistant coach.

Television viewership for WNBA finals up 73 percent from 2008

NEW YORK — Television viewership was up for the WNBA playoffs this season.

Disgraced QB Michael Vick to be featured in 8-part series documenting his rise and fall

NEW YORK — Michael Vick will be giving the public an inside look at his life during an eight-part television series scheduled to debut on BET next year.

Michael Sheen kicks Blair, Frost habit for soccer tale ‘Damned United,’ ‘Twilight’ sequel

TORONTO — Michael Sheen never felt he was playing second fiddle as British leader Tony Blair or TV interviewer David Frost.

NASCAR, TV executives agree on earlier 2010 starting times to help improve ratings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR will attempt to halt its sinking television ratings through consistent, earlier start times that appeal to longtime race fans.

Acting chief of US Olympic committee leaving amid turmoil in wake of Chicago 2016 vote

Six months of shaky decisions and turmoil came to a head for the U.S. Olympic Committee on Wednesday when its acting CEO said she would step down, bringing more chaos to an organization that was humiliated when Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Games fell flat.

NASCAR, TV executives to discuss 2010 starting times

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR will move the bulk of its races to earlier start times next season in an effort to create more consistency and stop the slide in television ratings.

David Letterman’s apologies mean another big night in ratings for CBS late-night host

NEW YORK — While David Letterman would undoubtedly do without the personal turmoil, his blackmail scandal is great for business.

New media guru Sorrell urges Olympic sports to learn from YouTube, Pop Idol or lose fans

COPENHAGEN — The Olympic movement needs to learn from the likes of YouTube or risk losing young viewers for life, IOC members were told Monday.