Archive for May, 2011
May
31
Women’s College World Series To Air On ESPN’s Networks
The 2011 NCAA Women’s College World Series will be aired live on the networks of ESPN starting on Thursday. Pam Ward and Beth Mowins will share play-by-play duties. Michele Smith and Jessica Mendoza will provide the analysis. Holly Rowe will be the field reporter. We have the schedule of games plus what ESPNU is doing for the entire series.
NCAA Women’s College World Series Begins Thursday
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com will continue to combine for the most extensive coverage of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship with all 17 potential NCAA Women’s College World Series games Thursday, June 2 – Wednesday, June 8. Every game will be offered in high definition and be available on ESPN3.com, while ESPN Mobile will provide 13 contests. Game action begins from Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla., Thursday, June 3, at 1 p.m. with four games, all on ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile.
NCAA Women’s College World Series Highlights:
- Four Big 12 teams advanced – No. 11 Baylor, No. 5 Missouri, No. 9 Oklahoma and Oklahoma State – its first berth since 1998;
- Seven of the original 16 seeded teams will be vying for the national title in Oklahoma City including the top two seeds – No. 1 Arizona State and No. 2 Alabama;
- The networks will use two announce teams on the NCAA Women’s College World Series, each featuring U.S. Olympic Gold Medal winners as analysts. Beth Mowins will call play-by-play with analyst Jessica Mendoza, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist. Pam Ward will call play-by-play with analyst Michele Smith, a two-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (1996 & 2000). Holly Rowe will serve as the field reporter on every telecast;
- Beginning with the NCAA Women’s College World Series, the telecasts featured “K Zone 2.0” – the enhanced version of ESPN’s Sports Emmy Award-winning “K Zone”:
- In addition to identifying the speed and location of a pitch in replays, “K Zone 2.0” is also capable of tracking the path of the ball from the pitcher’s hand through the strike zone and numerically sequencing pitches thrown;
- ESPNU will the 2011 NCAA Women’s College World Series Press Conferences from Oklahoma City, Wednesday, June 1, at in two 30-minute shows at 2 & 4 p.m. Lowell Galindo, Charlotte Morgan and Amanda Scarborough will provide analysis from ESPNU’s studio in Charlotte, N.C.;
- ESPNU will also provide studio coverage Thursday, June 2 and Monday-Wednesday, June 6-8 surrounding the games;
- Writer Pat Borzi will be onsite in Oklahoma City for espnW, submitting daily stories and video pieces capturing the excitement, drama and the behind-the-scene stories of the WCWS:
- A preview of the NCAA Women’s College World Series, featuring the top five storylines entering the event;
- This NCAA Championship takes on added significance since softball is no longer an Olympic sport. espnW will speak to that and also give an update on where softball stands in its efforts to get back in the Olympics;
- ESPN International will show the NCAA Women’s College World Series Finals and had select early-round games in 170 countries and territories on ESPN Latin America, ESPN Europe, ESPN Pacific Rim, ESPN Australia, ESPN Africa, ESPN Middle East, ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Brazil.
NCAA Women’s College World Series Studio Programming
Date Time (ET) Commentators Networks Wed, June 1 2 p.m. 2011 NCAA WCWS Press ConferenceLowell Galindo, Charlotte Morgan & Amanda Scarborough ESPNU HD 4 p.m. 2011 NCAA WCWS Press ConferenceLowell Galindo, Charlotte Morgan & Amanda Scarborough ESPNU HD Thu, June 2 Noon WCWS ESPNU Pre-Game ShowLowell Galindo, Charlotte Morgan & Amanda Scarborough ESPNU HD 11:30 p.m. WCWS ESPNU Post-Game ShowLowell Galindo, Charlotte Morgan & Amanda Scarborough ESPNU HD Mon, June 6 10:30 p.m. WCWS ESPNU Post-Game Show ESPNU HD Tue, June 7* 7:30 p.m. WCWS ESPNU Pre-Game Show ESPNU HD 10:30 p.m. WCWS ESPNU Post-Game Show ESPNU HD Wed, June 8* 7:30 p.m. WCWS ESPNU Pre-Game Show ESPNU HD 10:30 p.m. WCWS ESPNU Post-Game Show ESPNU HD * – If necessary
NCAA Women’s College World Series
Date Time (ET) Game Commentators Networks Thu, June 2 1 p.m. Game 1 No. 7 California vs. No. 2 Alabama
Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile
3:30 p.m. Game 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 11 Baylor
Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile
7 p.m. Game 3 No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Arizona St.
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza &Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile 9:30 p.m. Game 4 No. 5 Missouri vs. No. 4 Florida
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza &Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile Fri, June 3 7 p.m. Game 5 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
Pam Ward, Michele Smith,Jessica Mendoza & Holly RoweESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile 9:30 p.m. Game 6 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza & Holly RoweESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile Sat, June 4 Noon Game 7 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly RoweESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile 2:30 p.m. Game 8 Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly RoweESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile 7 p.m. Game 9 Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile 9:30 p.m. Game 10 Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza &Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile Sun, June 5 1 p.m. Game 11 Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 9
Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly RoweESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile 3:30 p.m. Game 12 Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 10
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza & Holly RoweESPN HD / ESPN3.com / ESPN Mobile 7 p.m. Game 13* Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 9
Pam Ward, Michele Smith & Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com 9:30 p.m. Game 14* Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 10
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza &Holly RoweESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com Mon, June 6 8 p.m. Championship – Game 1 Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com Tue, June 7 8 p.m. Championship – Game 2 Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com /ESPN Mobile Wed, June 8 8 p.m. Championship – Game 3* Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Michele Smith & Holly Rowe ESPN2 HD / ESPN3.com * – If necessary
That’s all from here
May
31
NBA TV’s Kevin McHale Confirms He’s Going To Coach Houston
During tonight’s NBA TV pregame show, NBA TV analyst Kevin McHale confirmed to viewers that he has an agreement in principle to coach the Houston Rockets. In the last few days, McHale’s name surfaced to replace Rick Adelman. Indeed, McHale made the announcement tonight. We have some of the quotes McHale tonight on NBA TV.
NBA.COM CONFIRMS NBA TV/TNT ANALYST KEVIN McHALE AGREES IN PRINCIPLE TO BECOME HEAD COACH OF HOUSTON ROCKETS
NBA TV Addresses McHale Decision During NBA Finals Pregame Show
NBA.com has confirmed that Kevin McHale has agreed in principle to become the head coach of the Houston Rockets. NBA TV’s pregame show tonight at The Finals in Miami addressed the NBA.com report. McHale is an analyst for NBA TV/TNT.
“I really enjoyed spending the last two years with Turner Sports, bringing the best NBA coverage possible to the viewers at home,” said McHale. “Even though I’m moving back to the bench I’ll still watch my friends on NBA TV and TNT. Turner’s commitment to the NBA is part of the reason why the league is so special, and I look forward to seeing many of my former colleagues in the future.”
“Kevin’s experiences as a player, coach and general manager, coupled with his tremendous knowledge of the game and players, made him a terrific analyst for NBA TV and TNT,” said David Levy, President of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “Our audience will miss his diverse perspective and terrific sense of humor. We wish Kevin the best of luck in his new role as head coach of the Houston Rockets.”
“Kevin McHale is the best player I played against and I’ve really enjoyed working with him on TV this year,” said Charles Barkley on the NBA TV Pregame Show. “We wish him the best.”
That is all.
May
31
CBC Rides A Ratings Wave Heading Into Stanley Cup Final
CBC announces that the Western Conference Finals were the most watched watched third round postseason games on the network. Canada’s public television network had an average audience of just over 3 million viewers with the series clinching Game 5 garnering just over 4 million viewers, making it the highest-rated Conference Final Game since 1993. That’s very impressive. Let’s take a look at the press release from CBC.
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA RIDES RECORD RATINGS INTO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL
Vancouver-San Jose Series Is Most-Watched Conference Final Ever
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA continues its record setting 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with an average Round Three audience of 3.007 million — making it CBC’s highest-rated Conference Finals ever* — with viewership up 24% over last year’s series.
Game Five of the Vancouver-San Jose series was the highest rated game of Round Three with an average audience of 4.003 million**, making it the second highest rated Round Three game since 1993’s Game Seven between Toronto and Los Angeles which drew 4.269 million viewers.
* Based on metered television audience data only.
** Source: 2011 television audiences are BBM overnight, A2+ (PPM measurement).
That’s it from here.
May
31
Big Ten Network To Talk About Jim Tressel
BTN’s Big Ten Football Report will discuss the resignation of Jim Tressel from Ohio State University. It occurs at 7 p.m. Eastern. Dave Revsine, Howard Griffith, Rick Pizzo, Chris Martin and Gerry DiNardo will discuss what it means for Ohio State and the Big Ten in general. We have the announcement from BTN.
‘Big Ten Football Report’ to Discuss Tressel Resignation Tonight
CHICAGO – A special edition of Big Ten Football Report will debut tonight at 7 PM ET to discuss Jim Tressel’s resignation as head coach of the Ohio State football program. Dave Revsine, Rick Pizzo, Gerry DiNardo, Howard Griffith and Chris Martin will be in studio, and will be joined from Columbus by Glen Mason and reporter Dionne Miller.
Then, the network will show Ohio State’s 2010 Rose Bowl victory against Oregon, followed by a re-air of Big Ten Football Report.
OSU announced Monday that it accepted Tressel’s resignation and named co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, a Columbus native and former Buckeye, as interim head coach. Ohio State said it will launch a search for a permanent successor after the 2011 season.
That’s all for now.
May
31
Big Ten Network Rebrands As BTN; Unveils New Logo
Big Ten Network has decided shorten its name to three letters and unveil a new logo in the process. It will now be known as BTN and also show various new logo featuring each conference’s school colors. There’s also a generic logo to boot. So instead of seeing listings for “Big Ten Network” during in the Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks, you’ll see it listed as “BTN”. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure it out. Here’s the announcement from BTN.
Website migrates to BTN.com
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network today announced a re-branding of the network as BTN, and accompanying new logo and web domain of BTN.com.
Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the changes reflect the network’s evolution and direction. The logo also offers greater flexibility for multiple applications, including creating school-specific BTN logos using school colors (available for viewing at http://on.fb.me/BTN-logos).
“Fans, viewers, media and our colleagues have already naturally gravitated toward the BTN name in recent years. It makes sense to adopt it,” Silverman said. “These changes are a logical step in our evolution, and give us an umbrella under which we can launch other businesses across digital platforms during our next phase of growth and development.”
The first such new venture will be unveiled next month.
The new logo also is part of a complete redesign of the network’s graphics, animation and music packages that viewers will see for the first time during the network’s coverage of the Big Ten Football Media Days and Kickoff Luncheon in July. The new logo incorporates some of the design elements as the previous logo, particularly the star, and complements the Big Ten Conference’s new logo.
BTN programming will remain focused on the Big Ten Conference and national developments affecting its 12 universities. Available to more than 80 million homes across the country, the Big Ten Network is the only internationally distributed conference network.
While the network’s website is now www.BTN.com, the previous URL of www.BigTenNetwork.com will bounce visitors to the new domain.
BTN TIMELINE
June 21, 2006 – Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks announce a 20-year partnership to create and launch the Big Ten Network
December 5, 2006 –Hires Mark Silverman as president.
August 30, 2007 – Network goes on the air
September 1, 2007 – First live football games, including Michigan vs. Appalachian State
September 29, 2007 Becomes first new television network to reach the 30 million subscribers in first 30 days on the air
December 21, 2007 –First original series, The Journey: Minnesota Basketball debuts.
March 13-14, 2008 – Carries first Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament games from Indianapolis, including Minnesota’s miracle buzzer-beater victory vs. Indiana.
Summer 2008 – Availability increases to approximately 75 million homes across the United States and Canada.
October 26, 2008 –Adds Gus Johnson to men’s basketball talent roster.
April 8, 2009 – Earns its first-ever Sports Emmy nomination
September 3, 2009 – Streams first Big Ten football game for an international audience on www.BigTenTicket.com.
September 19, 2009 – Penn State students announce, produce and shoot the network’s first-ever Student U production.
March 3, 2010 – Announces that legendary sports broadcaster Keith Jackson will host Big Ten Icons, counting down the top student-athletes in Big Ten history
June 11, 2010 – Carries a press conference live from Lincoln, Neb., announcing Nebraska’s joining the Big Ten.
September 18, 2010 Big Ten Icons debuts, with Charles Woodson at No. 20.
March 10, 2011 –Big Ten Icons concludes, as Illinois’ Red Grange named the top Big Ten Icon
March 22, 2011 – Earns a second Sports Emmy nomination
May 16, 2011 – Network rebrands itself as BTN, unveils new logo and primary website at www.BTN.com.
That’s it.
May
31
Tennis Channel’s Announcement On New Sharing Agreement With ESPN2
Here’s what Tennis Channel is saying about its new four year agreement with ESPN2 to share both the Australian and French Opens. ESPN2 will enter into a new contract for the Australian Open in 2012. The following year, the new agreement for the Aussie Open will take effect. Tennis Channel will begin coverage for the first ten days of the tournament at 7 p.m. Eastern and run until 9 p.m. or the conclusion of the match it’s showing. ESPN2 will then take over at 9 p.m. and air the day session until 2 a.m. Then at 3:30 a.m., ESPN airs the night session.
The French Open is controlled by Tennis Channel. Under the new four year agreement beginning in 2012, ESPN2 will start each day’s coverage at 5 a.m. with Tennis Channel taking over at 10 a.m. until the conclusion of the day’s play.
So here’s what the nightly schedule would look like:
AUSTRALIAN OPEN (Starting in 2013)
Tennis Channel: 7 p.m. — 9 p.m.
ESPN2: 9 p.m. — 2 a.m.
ESPN2: 3:30 a.m. — conclusion
Tennis Channel: Australian Open Today, 8 a.m.
FRENCH OPEN (Starting in 2012)
ESPN2: 5 a.m. — 10 a.m.
Tennis Channel: 10 a.m. — conclusion
Tennis Channel: French Open Tonight, 6:30 p.m.
Let’s take a look at Tennis Channel’s press release now.
TENNIS CHANNEL AND ESPN EXTEND FRENCH OPEN, AUSTRALIAN OPEN PROGRAMMING ALLIANCE
Tennis Channel to Have Consistent, Nightly Prime-Time Coverage Beginning with 2013 Australian Open
PARIS, May 31, 2011 -Tennis Channel and ESPN have extended the French Open and Australian Open multimedia programming alliance they began in Roland Garros in 2007. Both networks will continue to offer matches virtually round the clock from both events, two of the sport’s four major “Grand Slam” tournaments, with complementary coverage and cross-promoted schedules. A noteworthy evolution, however, will see the networks tweak the French Open broadcast schedule, with ESPN moving to cover the early morning matches, and Tennis Channel’s window running contiguously from 10 a.m. ET, throughout the night and up to the next day’s play. Additionally, Tennis Channel offer 10 consecutive nights of prime-time match play during its Australian Open window, without any intermittent days off.
The four-year agreement begins with the 2012 French Open and 2013 Australian Open.
Tennis Channel will cover close to 60 hours of live French Open matches in Paris; an additional 30-plus same-day delay hours; and more than 140 hours of prime-time news, feature, interview, highlight, show French Open Tonight, hosted by Bill Macatee. Beginning with the 2013 Australian Open in Melbourne, however, the network’s 13 days of live coverage will now include 10 consecutive nights of prime-time matches, first Monday through Wednesday of the second week, without any intermittent days off. Also a first, Tennis Channel will be able to stay with men’s matches that run longer than its two-hour programming windows, which it was previously only able to do during women’s matches.
“Not only is there more championship-caliber tennis on television week-after-week than ever before, but consistent, daily schedules allow fans to follow and enjoy this sport in a way that was impossible even just a few years ago,” said Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO, Tennis Channel. “With this arrangement there will be no more guesswork during the Australian Open: just turn your TV on when you get home at 7 o’clock and we’ll be there live, night after night. Tennis fans are the big winners here, as has been the case ever since Tennis Channel and ESPN started working together”
Tennis Channel will again televise close to 30 hours of live matches at the Australian Open, and offer another 75 hours of daily show Australian Open Today.
Beginning next May, a typical televised day at the French Open will begin with ESPN2 from 5 a.m. ET to 10 a.m. ET, followed immediately by coverage on Tennis Channel for the remainder of play. French Open Tonight will appear on Tennis Channel in prime time for three-and-a-half hours and, as is the case now, re-air throughout the night, right up to the next morning’s play on ESPN2. Tennis Channel will also produce and distribute many additional hours of coverage via multi-match interactive telecasts.
ESPN2 will continue to show close to 50 live hours of play at the French Open and more than 120 live hours at the Australian Open, via its daily marathon late-night telecasts.
“Sports fans want to see the action live and that’s how we deliver tennis and all our sports,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. “Tennis fans are among the most dedicated – willing to stay up or get up to see live competition – and that’s what we will provide for years to come from Melbourne and Paris. In addition, we look forward to continuing our relationship with Tennis Channel to best serve tennis fans at both events.”
Both networks will continue to cross-promote each other’s schedules, and each will present live broadband action during both networks’ telecast windows at the tournaments.
The five-year-old Grand Slam alliance between Tennis Channel and ESPN is currently in effect again in Paris for the 2011 French Open. The joint-network coverage has provided viewers with more than 125 hours of live tennis in Paris and close to 150 live hours in Melbourne each year. More than sheer volume of coverage, Tennis Channel and ESPN work in tandem to give their tennis viewers the opportunity to stay on top of these respective events almost all day, every day for each two week competition.
It is a cross-promotional system so successful that the networks now have working relationships at the other most prominent events in the sport: the two other majors Wimbledon and the US Open; the “Fifth Slams” of Miami and Indian Wells, Calif.; and the Olympus US Open Series. As with the French Open and Australian Open, more combined television time is now devoted to these other events too.
So the continuing alliance between ESPN2 and Tennis Channel means plenty of live tennis for fans for the first and second Grand Slam tournaments of the year.
May
31
ESPN2 & Tennis Channel Announce New Multimedia Sharing Agreement for Aussie & French Opens
Just received this press release from ESPN. It’s been announced that ESPN2 and Tennis Channel will continue to share coverage of both the Australian and French Opens. For the French, this means that ESPN2 will begin its coverage at 5 a.m. It had been jumping in at noon, meaning most of the live coverage had been on Tennis Channel. Now ESPN’s coverage starting in 2012 will begin at 5 a.m. and run until 10 a.m. Tennis Channel will join at 10 a.m.
For the Australian Open, Tennis Channel will begin its coverage nightly at 7 p.m. Eastern. ESPN2 will then join in for late night coverage running throughout the overnight hours as Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of the US East Coast. This new arrangement will begin with the 2013 Australian Open.
And it’s a more consistent schedule for the Australian Open as some days ESPN2 would begin at 7 p.m. or Tennis Channel would. Now fans will be able to find the matches easier.
We have the press release from ESPN2. I expect to get one from Tennis Channel shortly.
ESPN’s New Multimedia Agreement for French Open Emphasizes Live Telecasts
Alliance with Tennis Channel Continues Virtual 24/7 Coverage of Australian and French Opens
ESPN and Tennis Channel have agreed to a new four-year, multimedia programming alliance for the Australian and French Opens. ESPN and TC will continue to air action from both Grand Slam events, but in a key change ESPN’s telecast windows of the French Open will now be virtually all live, generally starting at 5 a.m. ET for five hours. In addition, extensive schedules of action will continue on all ESPN platforms, including ESPN3.com, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Mobile TV, the WatchESPNApp, ESPN Interactive TV and ESPNNetworks.com under the new deal, which takes effect with the 2012 French Open and the 2013 Australian Open.
As under the current arrangement, ESPN will televise more than 50 hours from Paris, starting with the first day of the tournament, a Sunday, and concluding with the women’s semifinals live on the second Thursday of the event. ESPN’s Australian Open schedule – part of an agreement with Tennis Australia that runs through 2021 – will continue to total more than 120 hours with daily marathon late-night live telecasts, including the men’s and women’s semifinals and championships. Having televised the Australian Open – including the women’s and men’s semifinals and finals exclusively – since 1984, this is ESPN’s longest uninterrupted professional sports programming relationship. Also, ESPN3.com will present live action during both ESPN’s and TC’s telecast windows from both events.
“Sports fans want to see the action live and that’s how we deliver tennis and all our sports,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. “Tennis fans are among the most dedicated – willing to stay up or get up to see live competition – and that’s what we will provide for years to come from Melbourne and Paris. In addition, we look forward to continuing our relationship with Tennis Channel to best serve tennis fans at both events.”
At the French Open, Tennis Channel air 60 live hours, following ESPN at 10 a.m., plus studio programming with highlights in prime time. TC will televise up to 100 hours from Australia – approximately 30 hours of live play plus studio shows in prime time.
Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO, Tennis Channel, said, “Not only is there more championship-caliber tennis on television week-after-week than ever before, but consistent, daily schedules allow fans to follow and enjoy this sport in a way that was impossible even just a few years ago. With this arrangement there will be no more guesswork during the Australian Open: just turn your TV on when you get home at 7 o’clock and we’ll be there live, night after night. Tennis fans are the big winners here, as has been the case ever since Tennis Channel and ESPN started working together”
That does it for this post.
May
31
It’s True! MLB.com IS Allowing Embeddable Video!
In a piece of news that’s just short of the second coming of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, MLB.com has quietly allowed blogs and websites to embed their videos. Not all of their videos can be embedded, but some. Deadspin just found out about this in the last hour. I went to the Red Sox official website and decided to check it out for myself and I’m able to embed these videos for you.
And this one.
But they’re not allowing us to embed game recaps and highlights. I hope that comes in time. The fact that we can embed some videos is definitely a start.
May
31
NBC, Versus & Comcast SportsNet New England Combine for Stanley Cup Final Coverage
The NBC Sports Group which includes NBC Sports, Versus and the Comcast SportsNet affiliates all get to show their combined synergy on this Stanley Cup Final. Of course, NBC and Versus will air the games, NBC will show Games 1 & 2, then 5 through 7 if necessary. Versus gets Games 3 & 4. The crew of Mike “Doc” Emrick, Ed Olcyzk and Pierre McGuire will call the games on NBC/Versus. For Games 1 & 2, Liam McHugh will host NBC’s coverage and will be joined by McGuire and Mike Milbury during the intermissions. For Games 5-7, Dan Patrick will be host. On Versus, Bill Patrick will be game host and Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick will join him at the desk..
After each game, either McHugh or Bill Patrick will host Hockey Central and they’ll be joined by Keith Jones, Jeremy Roenick and Darren Pang. Versus will also air a Hockey Central pregame show hosted by Bill Patrick, Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
Here’s where Comcast SportsNet comes in. As Boston is in the Final, Comcast SportsNet New England will air pregame and postgame programming. I’ve already outlined the regional sports network’s coverage in a previous post.
We have the NBC Sports Group press release.
NBC SPORTS GROUP TO SURROUND NHL STANLEY CUP FINAL WITH COVERAGE ON NBC, VERSUS AND COMCAST SPORTSNET NEW ENGLAND
VERSUS to Air Hockey Central after Every Contest and Pregame Shows prior to Games 3-4; CSNNE to Provide Local Pre and Postgame Coverage after Every Game
NBC Sports Drops the Puck on the Series Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET with Game 1 between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins; All Games will Air in PrimetimeNEW YORK (May 31, 2011) – The NBC Sports Group will surround the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks and the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins with primetime coverage of every game on NBC and VERSUS as well as pre- and postgame coverage nationally on VERSUS and locally in Boston on Comcast SportsNet New England. NBC will broadcast Games 1-2, and, if necessary, Games 5-7, while VERSUS will present exclusive coverage of Games 3-4 of the series.
To wrap up each night of coverage during the best-of-seven series on NBC and VERSUS, there will be a Hockey Central postgame show on VERSUS with the latest highlights, news, analysis and player interviews, live on-location from either the TD Garden in Boston or Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The shows will be hosted by either Bill Patrick or Liam McHugh with Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick serving as analysts as well as Darren Pang working as the in-arena reporter. Additionally, before coverage of Games 3-4 on VERSUS there will be a Hockey Central pregame show 30 minutes prior to puck-drop with Bill Patrick as host alongside Keith Jones and Mike Milbury.
Emmy-award winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will anchor NBC and VERSUS’ game coverage with analyst Pierre McGuire stationed “inside-the-glass.” NBC’s studio show will feature host Liam McHugh and analyst Mike Milbury for Games 1-2 and Dan Patrick with Mike Milbury for Games 5-7, if necessary.
For viewers in and around Boston, Comcast SporstNet New England’s nightly coverage of the Bruins-Canucks series will begin every evening at 6 p.m. ET with SportsNet Central. Anchors/reporters Mike Giardi and Kevin Walsh along with CSNNE.com Bruins insider Joe Haggerty will provide extensive nightly reports. The Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont, 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Bob Beers and NBC Sports Group hockey analysts are expected to contribute to Comcast SportsNet’s nightly and game-night coverage.
NBC SPORTS AND VERSUS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SAM FLOOD ON THE STANLEY CUP FINAL: “We are really excited about this final and the NBC Sports Group working together between the two platforms to make this the biggest and best yet in the new world of the NHL. The combination of the game group and the studio group coming together on the road and sharing the platforms between VERSUS and NBC is very exciting. It’s allowed us to put everyone in the best position to be successful. It should be a great start tomorrow night in Vancouver.”
FLOOD ON THE NBC SPORTS GROUP COVERAGE PHILOSOPHY: “The NBC Sports Group philosophy is more about telling a story and showcasing the game. The technology takes care of itself. We’ll obviously have players with microphones, but we’re not going to get in the way of the game. We’re going to let the game be the star. Our job is to document that game and then make the viewing of that game more enjoyable for the fans.”
EDDIE OLCZYK ON THE STANLEY CUP FINAL: “You need stars and both these teams have them, but the interesting dynamic is that you need more than just top two line players. You need your role players that need to execute and I think this speaks to the success and why these teams made it here.”
OLCZYK ON BOSTON BRUINS ROAD TO THE FINAL: “They were able to beat Tampa Bay by out-defending them and found a way to play to their strengths.”
JEREMY ROENICK ON THE STANLEY CUP FINAL MATCHUP: “The two teams that are playing are very worthy of being here and have gotten here in different ways. I think Boston, with their true grit and their resiliency going to two Game 7’s, being down in a series and being able to battle back, and Vancouver maintaining a very consistent level of play, it couldn’t be a better fit for the National Hockey League having the two teams that are in the Stanley Cup Final.”
FLOOD ON GAME TALENT: “Doc Emrick, who won the Emmy as best play-by-play guy in all of sports, not just hockey; he won it over the NFL, NBA, MLB. Doc was recognized this year as the best – the gold standard — so it’s very exciting to have him as the captain of our team. Eddie Olczyk breaks the game down better than anyone in terms of showing why things are happening, and then Pierre McGuire being inside the glass for all seven games of the Final. He’s another huge advantage for us that he can have those unique insights from ice level.”
NBC SPORTS GROUP STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE (all times ET)
Wednesday, June 1
Game 1: Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSaturday, June 4
Game 2: Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBCMonday, June 6
Game 3: Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – VERSUSWednesday, June 8
Game 4: Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – VERSUSFriday, June 10
Game 5 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBCMonday, June 13
Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – NBCWednesday, June 15
Game 7 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBCDIGITAL: NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com have combined forces to create a single, robust destination for hockey fans during the NHL Stanley Cup Final. The NBC Sports Group consolidated NHL content from both the NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com’s hockey sections onto the rapidly-growing NBCSports.com site. One of the key content areas is ProHockeyTalk, one of NBCSports.com‘s popular “Sports Talk” platforms that also include ProFootballTalk, CollegeFootballTalk, HardBallTalk, ProBasketballTalk and ProGolfTalk.
Some of the features on NBCSports.com during the Stanley Cup Final include:
- Online-only videos featuring VERSUS and NBC Sports hockey commentators previewing upcoming games and wrapping-up all of the NHL action that day.
- “Star-Cam,” which follows marquee players in NBC games, and “Net-Cam,” which provides a unique perspective from behind the goalie.
- ProHockeyTalk, which recently had its most-trafficked month ever, will update the 2011 Stanley Cup Final news around the clock.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Fans can also keep up with the NHL Stanley Cup Final through a variety of NBC Sports and VERSUS social media platforms throughout the postseason. Content will include:
- Behind the Scenes: Through the joint “NHL on NBC and VERSUS” Facebook page and @NHLonNBC_VS on Twitter, fans receive exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews and video.
- Commentator Tweets: Various NBC and VERSUS commentators will provide Twitter content throughout the Final, including occasional in-game Tweets.
- Fan Questions: Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions to NBC and VERSUS commentators via Facebook and Twitter.
- Team Tabs: Fans who “Like” the joint NBC and VERSUS Facebook page will have the opportunity to play a variety of games and upload fan photos based around each of their favorite teams who made the playoffs. As teams advance in the playoffs, new and more difficult games will challenge fans.
- News: Fans can follow NBC and VERSUS Facebook and Twitter accounts to receive the most up to date scores, reports and stories from around the NHL and ProHockeyTalk.
That will do it.
May
31
Providing You With Tuesday Linkage
For some of you, it’s a back to work Tuesday after a three day weekend. Not for me as I was at the office until late on Memorial Day. But you don’t want to read my complaining, you want linkage so I’ll get it to right away.
Anthony Crupi from Adweek says expect LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Dirk Nowitzki to draw viewers to the NBA Finals starting tonight.
Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine writes about TNT’s record NBA ratings and the potential for a blockbuster NBA Finals for ABC.
Jeff Neff and E.J. Schultz of Advertising Age say NFL advertisers are getting nervous as the lockout is starting to effect grocery in-store displays.
Sports Illustrated editor Terry McDonell gives readers an introduction to investigative reporter George Dohrmann who wrote the expose on former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel.
Sergio Non of USA Today says UFC’s Dana White is looking to put more cards on over the air TV.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says soccer-centric Gol TV will air another edition of its signature reality show.
Carolyn Braff of Sports Video Group writes that Versus had to overcome massive mud puddles in order to bring the Tour of California to viewers.
Paul Meehan at ESPN Front Row says the network’s NBA Marketing team is spending a lot of late nights creating TV and radio promos for the Finals.
Over at Mocksession, a very interesting post on how Fox Sports Net and ABC deceived viewers in various ways.
Maggie Hendricks at Yahoo’s Cagewriter blog wishes the media would stop giving MMA fighter Quintin “Rampage” Jackson the time of day. It’s all over this video as Jackson pretends to motorboat reporter Karyn Bryant’s breasts.
The Big Lead goes into why Jackson is such a lightning rod with reporters.
MMA reporter Karyn Bryant who was the subject of Jackson’s attention last weekend tweets that she wasn’t offended.
I’ve now been told I have to run an errand. More later.
Some more links now.
Tripp Mickle and John Ourand from the Sports Business Journal report on the latest on the bidding for the US Olympic TV rights now that NBC’s Dick Ebersol is out of the picture.
Tripp teams with Terry Lefton on a story about sports marketers who plan to stay in Brazil after the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics are finished there.
And Kevin Sullivan of SBJ instructs athletes on how to tweet the right way.
Cam Martin of SportsNewser notes that ESPN/ABC NBA analyst Mark Jackson is a finalist for the Golden State Warriors coaching job.
Cam says the Sports Illustrated story on Jim Tressel caused a Twitter spat among sportswriters.
Brian Lowry of Fox Sports says the NBA’s TV partners should send thanks to LeBron James and the Miami Heat for increased ratings this season.
Gordon Cox of Variety notes that ESPN and the Tribeca Film Festival are teaming up to put three movies on Video on Demand.
Tony Barnhart of CBS Sports talks with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive about the BCS, college football TV contracts and his contract.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell cautions fans who think college football will change with Jim Tressel’s resignation.
Bill Gorman at zap2it’s TVbytheNumbers notes that Fox’s NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 zoomed past all network competition on Sunday.
Newsday’s Neil Best says former Yankees outfielder Paul O’Neill will now double his workload for YES.
Neil says NBC/Versus NHL host Liam McHugh appears to be on a fast track to stardom.
Stan Hochman of the Philadelphia Daily News looks at the ESPN book.
Former ESPN Radio host Mark Madden in the Beaver County Times feels the ESPN book doesn’t cover any new ground. How about bringing up your firing, Mark?
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has his take on DC NFL team owner Dan Snyder making the local media rounds last week.
Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner says ABC expects to garner good ratings with the NBA Finals.
Shannon J. Owens at the Orlando Sentinel wonders why Urban Meyer would leave ESPN for Ohio State, especially at this juncture.
Ben Thomas of the Mobile (AL) Press-Register says a local station is dropping ESPN Radio programming in favor of Sporting News Radio.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says national announcers have to deal with fans who feel they root against their teams.
Mel Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN/ABC’s NBA crew denies that it was rooting against Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals.
WLWT-TV in Cincinnati notes that NBC’s Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth has taken a job coaching high school football until the NFL lockout ends.
And at his website, Football Pros Live, Cris explains why he took the job.
The Big Lead says it appears that ESPN2 First Take buffoon Skip Bayless was forced to apologize to Chris Broussard after yelling at him on Monday.
EPL Talk says the UEFA Champions League Final drew a 1.8 overnight rating for Fox, a 64% increase from the year before.
EPL Talk notes that Fox dumbed down its Champions League pregame show.
Sports Media Watch notes that Charles Barkley will be back in Miami for the NBA Finals working the games for NBA TV.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media looks at how Boston and Vancouver have fared in the ratings throughout the NHL Postseason.
Barry Petchesky of Deadspin notes that MLB.com is actually allowing some videos to be embedded! Hallelujah!!!
And we’re going to end it there for today.
May
31
NHL Network & NHL.com All Over Stanley Cup Final
NHL Network has been in Stanley Cup Final mode for the last few days, but it will really ramp up coverage starting today with NHL Live and NHL on the Fly. Throughout the series, NHL on the Fly will have pregame and postgame editions from the game sites in Vancouver and Boston. Deb Placey will host and will be accompanied by Kevin Weekes and Marty Turco. On off days, NHL on the Fly will originate from the NHL Network studios in Toronto.
NHL Live will be seen live from its usual studios in New York. Bill Pidto and EJ Hradek will co-host the show. NHL.com will stream the show in addition to it be being seen live on NHL Network.
We have details of the coverage plans for the NHL’s official media providers.
NHL NETWORK AND NHL.COM ARE FRONT AND CENTER AT THE NHL’S PINNACLE EVENT — THE STANLEY CUP FINAL
Current and Former Players and Special Guests Join NHL On The Fly Daily CoverageNEW YORK (May 30, 2011) - The stage is set for the NHL®’s most exciting time of the year and NHL Network™ and NHL.com will have all angles covered throughout the 2011 Stanley Cup® Final between the Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks and Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins.
NHL Network – NHL On The Fly
For both U.S. and Canadian audiences, NHL Network will begin its Stanley Cup Final coverage on Tuesday, May 31, at 4 p.m. ET with four-hours of programming from Vancouver, NHL On The Fly™ at the Stanley Cup Final: Media Day. Live from the concourse of Rogers Arena, NHL Media Day will give fans a first taste of the playoff excitement as reporters talk with players, coaches and team management from the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. Together with players, special guests – including the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy — will also join the set for Media Day festivities.NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Pre-Game will be on the air each game day at 6 p.m. NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Post Game will hit the airwaves immediately following the conclusion of every game to bring viewers instant analysis, coverage of post-game news conferences and all the news and notes. Both pre- and post-game shows will broadcast live from fan plaza and concourse areas in Vancouver and Boston.
NHL Live™ host Deb Placey will anchor the on-site shows with an impressive line-up of guest analysts and show regulars who bring an on-site view of the NHL’s biggest event and up-to-the-minute analysis of game-day preparations. A pair of 11-season NHL goaltenders, Kevin Weekes and Marty Turco, will have all of the angles from the crease covered. Both Weekes and Turco have played deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and can speak from experience about all the pressures that come with playing on the NHL’s main stage. Newly-retired forward Doug Weight, long-time NHL On The Fly analyst Mike Johnson and Stanley Cup-winning coach Marc Crawford, who was drafted by the Canucks in 1980 and played and coached the team throughout his 13-year stay with the Club, also will provide their insight and predictions.
Throughout the series, NHL reporters Billy Jaffe, with the Bruins, and Bob Harwood, covering the Canucks, will interact with fans and players and check out the atmosphere surrounding the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
On all off days, NHL Network’s flagship show, NHL On The Fly: Stanley Cup Final Edition will broadcast an hour-long show beginning at 6 p.m. ET. On travel days, NHL On The Fly: Stanley Cup Final Edition will originate from the Network’s Toronto studio with hosts David Amber and Brian Duff and a panel of hockey experts. Show analysts include Kelly Chase, former NHL enforcer and current color commentator for St. Louis Blues games; Bob Errey, two-time Stanley Cup winner and TV analyst for the Pittsburgh Penguins; Brad May, a veteran of more than 1,000 NHL games over 22 seasons; and Craig Button, frequent NHL On The Fly guest and former NHL general manager.
NHL Live on NHL Network
NHL Network’s daily signature show, NHL Live™ will also broadcast Monday through Friday from 4 – 6 p.m. during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. The show, streamed live on NHL.com will broadcast from its Manhattan studio with NHL Insider EJ Hradek and Bill Pidto, host of NHL Overtime on Versus.NHL Live will have all the latest series information and reports from Vancouver and Boston. The interactive show, which incorporates fans voices from a social media and phone call perspective, takes viewers beyond the ice with access to players, coaches and management while preparing for upcoming matches.
All NHL Network programming will be carried in high definition to U.S. audiences. NHL Network is available in the U.S. and Canada by contacting digital cable, satellite, or telco providers. For more information or an updated program schedule, please log on to www.nhlnetwork.com.
NHL .com
On the web, NHL.com will have a team of reporters, writers and videographers on-site for every media availability, practice and game as well as everything in between. NHL.com’s 24/7 coverage will take fans into the heart of the action and hockey enthusiasts can follow Twitter posts, shot charts, the interactive Q & A’s and instant analysis after all games with EJ Hradek. Each game, NHL.com will also continue to monitor the NHL Situation Room with entries and detailed explanations from NHL Hockey Operations posted to the home page immediately following goal reviews.Special segments for the NHL’s daily digital newscast, The Blackberry All-Access Pregame Show, will also be produced each day with player and team management interviews, fan reports from the streets of the host city and special coverage from dueling guest bloggers.
NHL Network Schedule (May 30 – June 5) all times ET
Tuesday, May 31
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Media Day 4 – 7:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly: Media Day Recap 7 – 8:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Media Day (encore) 8 – 11:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly: Media Day Recap (encore) 11 p.m. – midnightWednesday, June 1
NHL Live 4 – 6:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Pre-Game – 8:00 p.m.
Game #1 – Boston at Vancouver (NBC, CBC, RDS) 8:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Post Game following gameThursday, June 2
NHL Live 4 – 6:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final 6 – 7:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final (encore) 7 – 8:00 p.m.
Encore Presentation: CBC: Boston at Vancouver, Game #1 (US only) 8:00 p.m.Friday, June 3
NHL Live 4 – 6:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final 6 – 7:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final (encore) 7 – 11:00 p.m.
Encore Presentation: CBC: Boston at Vancouver, Game #1 (US Only) 11:00 p.m.Saturday, June 4
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Pre-Game – 8:00 p.m.
Game #2 – Boston at Vancouver (NBC, CBC, RDS) 8:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final: Post Game following gameSunday, June 5
Encore Presentation: NBC: Boston at Vancouver, Game #2 (US only) 4:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final Edition 6 – 7:00 p.m.
NHL On The Fly at the Stanley Cup Final Edition (encore) 7 – 8:00 p.m.
That is all.
May
31
NHL Network, NHL.com & TSN To Carry Announcement
The prospective new owners of the Atlanta Trashers have called a news conference for noon ET to announce that the team will be moving to Winnipeg, the former home of the Phoenix Coyotes. NHL Network and NHL.com will carry the announcement across North America. TSN will have the newser in Canada.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be on hand for the press conference and will announce that True North will be the new owners of the team and MTS Centre will be the home. It’s not known what the team will be called, but I do like the old name of the Jets. We’ll see if the NHL allows this.
Again, the press conference announcing the Atlanta Thrashers move to Winnipeg will be carried live at noon Eastern time on NHL Network, NHL.com and TSN.
May
31
Primetime Viewing Picks
MLB
American League
Texas at Tampa Bay — Fox Sports Southwest/Sun Sports, 6:30 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Boston — WCIU/NESN, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Toronto — STO/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit — Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Kansas City — Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle — MASN2/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.
New York Yankees at Oakland — MLB Network/YES/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.
National League
Milwaukee at Cincinnati — Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/MASN, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at New York Mets — Root Sports Pittsburgh/SNY, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Atlanta — Cox 4/Peachtree TV, 7 p.m.
San Francisco at St. Louis — ESPN/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Fox Sports Midwest, 7 p.m.
Houston at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Houston/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Florida at Arizona — Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
Colorado at Los Angeles Dodgers — MLB Network/Root Sports Rocky Mountain/KCAL, 10 p.m.
The Rundown Live — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
MLB Tonight Live — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
NBA Finals
NBA Countdown — ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Game 1/Dallas at Miami — ABC, 9 p.m.
Tennis
French Open, Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 8 a.m./ESPN2, noon
French Open Tonight — Tennis Channel, 6:30 p.m.
Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night — ABC, 8 p.m.
America’s Got Talent (series premiere) — NBC, 8 p.m.
Great Performances: Carnegie Hall 120th Anniversary Concert — PBS, 8 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: Graduation Day — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Lee & Grant — History Channel, 9 p.m.
I (Almost) Got Away With It: Got to Get Revenge — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
May
30
Sports Illustrated’s Investigation Into Ohio State Football and Coach Jim Tressel
The story about wrongdoing in the Ohio State football and the subsequent coverup by coach Jim Tressel has been published on Sports Illustrated’s website. It’s a pretty amazing story and one that forced the coach to resign early on Monday. The ramifications will be quite damaging for the program as the NCAA is investigating Tressel.
George Dohrmann and David Epstein looked into the Ohio State program and found alleged NCAA violations dating back to 2002, Tressel’s 2nd year with the University. If true, this could lead to severe sanctions against the football program including loss of scholarships and no bowl appearances. We have some excerpts of the article plus a link to the story.
The Fall of Jim Tressel:
A Sports Illustrated Investigation Reveals the Full Extent to Which Jim Tressel Lost Control of the BuckeyesViolations stretch back to 2002; allegedly involving at least 28 football players; includes accusations that players traded memorabilia for marijuana.
Former Buckeye Robert Rose on trading memorabilia for tattoos: “It was just something I had to do….I was in a hard-spot….Other guys were doing it for the same reasons.”
Tressel potentially broke NCAA rules as an assistant under Earle Bruce – according to a fellow assistant at the timeNew York, NY (May 30, 2011) – A Sports Illustrated investigative report by senior writer George Dohrmann, with staff writer David Epstein, reveals a program rife with alleged NCAA rules violations. The new allegations include that the memorabilia-for-tattoos and cash violations stretch back to 2002, involve at least 28 players (22 more than had previously been reported) and accusations that Buckeyes traded memorabilia for marijuana. Former OSU defensive end Robert Rose spoke on the record about his dealings, and a source points to a much deeper relationship between Fine Line Ink and OSU players that involves tickets, cars and favors.
Last Friday, SI informed Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch of all the new allegations and asked that Tressel be made aware of them. Lynch said that the school would have some comment by the end of the day. No comment came, and on Saturday, Lynch told SI to contact Tressel’s attorney, Gene Marsh, for any response from the coach; Lynch also said he could not confirm that Tressel had been apprised of the new allegations. The implication was clear: Ohio State was distancing itself from Tressel, who resigned on Monday. (E-mails from SI to Tressel and to Marsh and multiple phone messages for Marsh went unanswered.)
Excerpts from The Fall of Jim Tressel include:
Former defensive end Robert Rose told SI: he made transactions at Fine Line Ink that were NCAA violations and said “at least 20” other players did as well. He says he has no regrets: “I knew how much money that the school was making. I always heard about how Ohio State had the biggest Nike budget. I was struggling, my mom was struggling.?.?.?. It was just something that I had to do. I was in a hard spot.?.?.?.[Other] guys were doing it for the same reasons. The university doesn’t really help. Technically we knew it was wrong, but a lot of those guys are from the inner city and we didn’t have much, and we had to go on the best we could. I couldn’t call home to ask my mom to help me out.”
Columbus, Ohio tattoo artist Dustin Halko worked out of Dudley’z Tattoos & Body Piercing in Columbus from the fall of 2002 until early 2004 and revealed to SI that he inked at least 10 Buckeyes in trades for memorabilia and estimates that at least 15 different players committed NCAA violations at Dudley’z in similar fashion to the six OSU Buckeyes found to have committed NCAA violations at Fine Line Ink. “What they brought in depended on the kind of tattoo they wanted,” says Halko. “If it was just something small, it might be a signed magazine or something like that. If it was a full sleeve, they might bring in a jersey.” (Tattoos range in price from less than $100 for simple designs to several thousand dollars for more elaborate ones like the full-sleeve inkings of some Buckeyes players.) Halko says those working in the shop preferred receiving items with multiple autographs. His most memorable acquisition was a scarlet-and-gray training jacket with between 10 and 15 signatures on it, including Tressel’s. Halko says he also traded tattoo work for a magazine bearing the coach’s autograph.
A former employee — “Ellis” (a pseudonym to protect his identity) — of Eddie Rife (owner of Fine Line Ink) provides a startling description into the scope of the relationship between Rife, OSU players and memorabilia and marijuana: “Eddie had storage units all over town,” he says, “and he also sold some stuff off to people.” (Through Stephen Palmer, his lawyer, Rife declined to comment on his involvement with Ohio State players.) Ellis estimates that Pryor alone brought in more than 20 items, including game-worn shoulder pads, multiple helmets, Nike cleats, jerseys, game pants and more. One day Ellis asked Pryor how he was able to take so much gear from the university’s equipment room. Ellis says the quarterback responded, “I get whatever I want.”
Also from the story: The Department of Justice alerted Ohio State to a transaction in which an unnamed player gave Rife a watch and four tickets to the Rose Bowl in exchange for a Chevy Tahoe. That player, Ellis says, was running back Jermil Martin: “Jermil came in to the shop and said, ‘Are we doing this deal on this truck?’ They went outside, and Eddie signed the title over and Jermil shook his hand and off he went.” Martin did not give Rife anything at that moment, Ellis says, but a short time later Rife said in a telephone call to Ellis that he was in Pasadena and that Martin had gotten him tickets. Martin was particularly close to Rife, Ellis says; about a year earlier Rife had given Martin a different car, a 2004 Jaguar sedan. (Repeated attempts to locate Martin, including calls, Internet searches and Facebook messages to past friends and coaches, were unsuccessful)
“Eddie tossed him the keys, and off Jermil drove,” Ellis says. (Through Palmer, his lawyer, Rife declined to comment.). Ellis showed SI pictures of players—Pryor, Thaddeus Gibson, Dan Herron and Solomon Thomas—being tattooed or showing off their artwork. Rife appears in one photo with a player. Ellis also produced a photo of 11 plastic bags filled with what appears to be marijuana; he says the photo was taken at Fine Line Ink. A letter the Department of Justice sent to Ohio State last December stated, “There is no allegation that any of these players were involved in or had knowledge of Mr. Rife’s drug trafficking activities.” Ellis says that is true but that he did witness four other Buckeyes trade memorabilia for weed. Three of those transactions involved a small amount of the drug, he says, but in one instance a player departed with what Ellis was told was a pound. (Rife’s lawyer denies that his client gave marijuana to any players.)
Ohio State declined to make any of its current players available to respond to SI.
From Tressel’s days as an OSU Assistant: While Tressel was an assistant under head coach Earle Bruce, one of his duties was to organize and run the Buckeyes’ summer camp. Most of the young players who attended it would never play college football, but a few were top prospects whom Ohio State was recruiting. At the end of camp attendees bought tickets to a raffle with prizes such as a pair of cleats and a jersey. According to a fellow assistant, Tressel rigged the raffle so that the elite prospects won. Says the former colleague, “In the morning he would read the Bible with another coach. Then, in the afternoon, he would go out and cheat kids who had probably saved up money from mowing lawns to buy those raffle tickets. That’s Jim Tressel.”
To read in full on SI.com click here
I’m sure there will be more coming out. This is probably the tip of the iceberg.
May
30
This Week on Golf Channel
I haven’t received a programming update from Golf Channel in quite some time. I now have what’s in store for the channel and you can take a look at it for yourself.
Coming up on Golf Channel…May 30-June 5
Famous Glass Break Challenge on Tonight’s Big Break Indian Wells
“Hope for the Warriors” Bobby Joseph and Nick Bradley Joins The Golf Fix>Original Series Premieres and Highlights
All Times EasternBig Break Indian Wells (New, Episode Three)
Hosts: Tom Abbott, Stephanie Sparks
Airtime: Monday, 9-10 p.m..
Contestants Eliminated: Piri Borja (Episode One)
Robert Floyd (Episode Two)The competitors will team up and test their skills in the most famous challenge on Big Break – the Glass Break Challenge. During the episode, a decision by one player will send shockwaves through his team that will permanently affect the competition. On Big Break Indian Wells, one competitor will be eliminated each week, with the champion taking home one of the biggest prizes in Big Break history – an exemption to the 2012 Zurich Classic of New Orleans and a minimum of $55,000 in cash.
What’s in the Bag: GolfBuddy (New)
Airtime: Tuesday, 6:30-7 p.m.What’s in the Bag will go inside the range finder industry to learn how GolfBuddy maps courses, develops products and makes the game easier for every type of player.
Top 10: Rivalries (New)
Host: Lauren Thompson
Airtime: Wednesday, 9-9:30 p.m.Host Lauren Thompson will count down the top-10 rivalries in golf, including Woods vs. Mickelson, Nicklaus vs. Watson and America vs. Europe in the Ryder Cup.
Inside the PGA TOUR
Airtime: Tuesday, 7:30-8 p.m.Inside the PGA TOUR will head to the Sunshine State to catch some rays with PGA TOUR winner Justin Rose and his wife, Kate, as they take their “Blessings in a Backpack” initiative to the next level by offering local Orlando students their first opportunity to visit the ocean. The show also will recap the Byron Nelson Championship and look ahead to the Memorial Tournament.
News and Talk Show Premieres and Highlights
(All Times Eastern)The Golf Fix (New)
Host: Michael Breed
Airtime: Monday, 7-8 p.m. ETWounded veterans Bobby Joseph and Nick Bradley, part of the “Hope For the Warriors” organization, will join host Michael Breed for tips and instruction. Breed also will look back to the key shots and moments from this weekend’s tournaments, look ahead to the Memorial Tournament and will answer viewer questions throughout the show.
Golf Central
Live Airings: Monday-Friday, 6-6:30 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 7-7:30 p.m.Golf Central Pre Game
Live Airings: Thursday-Friday, 2:30-3 p.m.
Saturday, noon-12:30 p.m.Golf Central and Golf Central Pre Game will deliver all of the news, highlights and analysis from golf’s professional tours, including the Memorial Tournament, Melwood Prince George’s County Open, Wales Open, Principal Charity Classic and the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Golf Central will sit down with PGA TOUR professional Matt Kuchar on Tuesday in a profile feature. Golf Central also will feature Morning Drive host Gary Williams caddying for Rory McIlroy Wednesday at the Memorial Tournament Pro-Am.
School of Golf (New)
Chapter 16: Setup and Alignment
Host: Martin Hall
Airtime: Tuesday, 7-7:30 p.m. ETHost Martin Hall will teach viewers how to lower scores with proper setup and alignment. Jack Nicklaus once said setting up correctly is the single most important maneuver in golf, and Hall will share drills used by the Golden Bear. Hall also will answer viewer questions throughout the show.
Grey Goose 19th Hole (New)
Host: Kraig Kann
Panelists: John Hawkins and Jeff Rude
Guest Panelist: Jerry Foltz
Contributor: Win McMurry
Airtime: Wednesday, 7:30-8 p.m.Golf Channel on-course reporter Jerry Foltz will join Kraig Kann, John Hawkins and Jeff Rude to debate the hot topics in golf. Win McMurry also will contribute during the show.
That’s all.
May
30
NBA Digital To Go All Out For The NBA Finals
As the NBA Finals begin on Tuesday, NBA Digital Properties of NBA.com, NBA TV and NBA Mobile are stepping up to provide their fans an all-access pass to the games. There will be all types of features, programming and even short films dedicated to the NBA Finals which can be accessed either via your TV, computer or mobile. The details are below.
NBA Digital to Provide Unrivaled Coverage of The Finals 2011 on NBA TV, NBA.com, and NBA Mobile
Kevin McHale, Chris Webber, Charles Barkley Kenny Smith, and Rick Kamla will be Onsite Leading NBA TV’s Comprehensive Coverage Featuring 40 Hours of Live Programming
NBA.com to offer “Mini-Movies” an All-Access look at The FinalsNBA Digital will deliver extensive content of The Finals 2011 across its portfolio of television, broadband and mobile platforms, featuring more than 40 hours of live coverage on NBA TV, the launch of NBA GameTime on Microsoft Windows Phone, and five-minute “Mini-Movies,” offering a comprehensive and all-access look after each game on NBA.com.
Host Rick Kamla will anchor NBA TV’s 12th season covering The Finals. He will be onsite with TNT’s studio analysts Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith for pre- and postgame coverage of Games 1 and 2. Kevin McHale and Chris Webber will join him for pre- and postgame coverage of Games 3, 4, 5*, 6* and 7* (*if necessary). Kamla and analysts Steve Smith, Brent Barry and Dennis Scott will handle press conferences and off-day news coverage onsite, while host Marc Fein will hold court from the network’s Atlanta studio. TNT’s David Aldridge will be reporting throughout the series. In addition, NBA TV, now in more than 55 million homes, will provide original programming including Sounds of The Finals.
NBA Game Time, the league’s signature digital application, will now be available on Windows Phone during The Finals. The free customized NBA application, available for download through the Windows Phone Marketplace, will provide fans with access to live scores, complete player statistics, standings, and video highlights from every game.
Along with Windows Phone, NBA Game Time is available on Apple TV, Google TV, LG NetCast™, Panasonic VIERA Connect™, Roku, Samsung Apps, and VIZIO Internet Apps™ (VIA), making it one of the most far-reaching sports applications.
“From one of the most talked about offseasons in NBA history straight through the Playoffs, this season has captured the fans’ attention on television, online and on mobile,” said Albert “Scooter” Vertino, vice president of content, NBA Digital. “NBA Digital prides itself on being the home for all things NBA and we plan to step up our game even more in The Finals with constant updates, breaking news and analysis on NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA Mobile, and our social outlets.”
From pregame to postgame, NBA TV and NBA.com’s coverage of The Finals also will include:
NBA TV
- Pregame Show: Live at the Finals: The network’s 60-minute pregame show will air live onsite throughout The Finals. The show will feature highlights, analysis, player interviews and live press conferences.
- NBA GameTime: Finals Edition: After each game, NBA TV will air its postgame show featuring game recaps, look-aheads and analysis.
- Playoff Playbacks: The network will produce Playoff Playbacks, which will be one- and two-hour versions of every playoff game for re-air on NBA TV.
- Sounds of The Finals: The original series will follow the storylines throughout The Finals. Airing Thursday, June 9, at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and Saturday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)*, the two 30-minute NBA Entertainment-produced shows will provide exclusive coverage of the games plus access on and off the court, delivering all the big shots, clutch performances and memorable moments from The Finals. (*tentatively)
- Off-Day Coverage: On non-game days, NBA TV will continue its comprehensive look into The Finals with coverage of team practices, press conferences, and Finals playbacks.
NBA.com
- Mini-Movies:NBA.com will provide a five-minute, all-access look at The Finals through the lenses of NBA Entertainment’s cameras, all available online after each game.
- Player of the Game: Beginning at halftime and through the conclusion of each game, users will have the ability to vote online or by text for the Player of the Game. Once the votes are tallied, the winner will be announced on-air and online.
- Finals Hub page: NBA.com will construct a hub page for The Finals, which will include extensive video highlights, box scores, series stats, commentary, analysis, and game stories from the site’s stable of award-winning writers.
- Live Streaming Video: The site will provide live streaming video from the Courtside Camera before every game in addition to live streaming video for every postgame news conference.
- NBA.com live chats: NBA.com’s roster of critically-acclaimed reporters will conduct live chats during every game.
- Playoff Pulse: The interactive application will allow users to track conversations, vote, and share content in real-time about NBA players and teams. In addition, Pulse will guide fans on popular trending topics to access more NBA postseason information including videos, photos, new stories, and blog posts.
NBA Mobile
- NBA GameTime: NBA Mobile will add another mobile platform to its already bustling portfolio with the launch of NBA GameTime for Windows Phone. The app will give fans one touch access to video highlights, scores, play-by-play, team stats, and schedules.
NBA Digital is the NBA’s extensive cross-platform portfolio of digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports. This robust offering includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.
And that concludes this post.
May
30
CBC Announces Coverage Plans for 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final
CBC couldn’t be more pleased to have Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Final and also getting the Boston Bruins which have a following in the country as well. This should do quite well for CBC considering that an average of four million people across Canada watched the Western Conference Final. This marks the third time Vancouver has made it to the Final and will be the first time the team will have won the Stanley Cup, if successful.
Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson call the game from the booth. Glenn Healey will be down below between the benches while Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman will report from ice level.
Of course, Ron MacLean will host and Don Cherry will provide his thoughts on Coach’s Corner during the first intermission of each game.
Here’s the press release from CBC Sports.
Vancouver vs. Boston: Canucks looking to end nation’s 17-year Cup drought
Record-breaking audiences, overtime thrillers and one Canadian team left standingThe Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins headline the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, and CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA will be there every step of the way providing Canadians with unparalleled coverage of this historic final series.
Storylines abound as the Canucks look to bring home their first Stanley Cup in the franchise’s 40-year history, while the Bruins look to raise a championship banner to the rafters for the first time since the glory days of Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito in 1972.
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA brings an all-star team of commentators, analysts and reporters to the legendary hockey broadcast beginning in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 1st with Hockey Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT, followed by live coverage of Game One.
Ron MacLean hosts CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA throughout the Final on location with the legendary Don Cherry. Play-by-play man Jim Hughson and analyst Craig Simpson will call the series, with Glenn Healy at ice-level between the benches. Scott Oake and Elliotte Friedman will give fans the perspective of both teams, providing in-depth reports on the Canucks and Bruins. In-studio, fans can look forward to insight and analysis from Kelly Hrudey and P.J. Stock, backed by the I-Desk with hosts Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison.
Following each game, Seeking Stanley airs on CBC in British Columbia with hosts Shane Foxman, Jody Vance and Karin Larsen.
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is also the leading on-line destination for fans during the Final, with streaming live and on-demand, video highlights, previews, analysis, blogs and “Tweet tracking” with Hockey Night pulse — all available at cbcsports.ca/hockey. Fans can also “check-in” while watching the game on CBC at entertainment site GetGlue.com, with the chance to earn special Ron MacLean and Don Cherry stickers for viewing during the Final.
Marek will continue to host Hockey Night in Canada Radio on SIRIUS providing comprehensive coverage of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Channel 157 airing Monday through Friday from 3 – 6 p.m. ET (encore presentation from 7-10 p.m. ET).
CBC’s exclusive Punjabi broadcasts continue through the series, live and on demand at CBCSports.ca. The Punjabi broadcasts will be available on Rogers – Channel 385, Shaw Cable – Channel 328, Shaw Direct – Classic 480, Advanced 429 and Telus – Channel 131. Viewers should contact their local service provider for more details. Harnarayan Singh will handle play-by-play duties while Amarinder Singh will provide analysis.
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: 2011 STANLEY CUP FINAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Series is best of seven. Schedule subject to change.VANCOUVER VS. BOSTON
G1 — Boston @ Vancouver, Wednesday, June 1 @ 8 p.m./5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK
G2 – Boston @ Vancouver, Saturday, June 4 @ 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK
G3 – Vancouver @ Boston, Monday, June 6 @ 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK
G4 – Vancouver @ Boston, Wednesday, June 8 @ 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK
G5** – Boston @ Vancouver, Friday, June 10 @ 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK
G6** – Vancouver @ Boston, Monday, June 13 @ 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK
G7** – Boston @ Vancouver, Wednesday, June 15 @ 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, FULL NETWORK**if necessary
And that will do it.
May
30
Versus Scores With Game 7 of NHL Eastern Conference Final
On Friday with a Game 7 and a very good game not decided until late, Versus scored the highest ratings for an NHL Conference Final in 9 years. That’s dating back to when ESPN had the NHL contract. As the Boston Bruins closed out Tampa Bay in a 1-0 thriller, Versus saw an average of 2.55 million viewers for the game. It peaked at 3.25 million in the final half hour. The only games that saw higher viewership for Versus are Stanley Cup Final games. So this did quite well for Versus. We have your press release from the NBC Sports Group.
NBC SPORTS GROUP SCORES VIEWERSHIP MILESTONES FOR NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Boston/Tampa Bay Game 7 on VERSUS is Most-Watched Conference Final Game on Cable in Nine Years
VERSUS’ Average Playoff Viewership is Best on Cable since 2002; NBC Sports’ Postseason Coverage Up Two Percent vs. 2010NEW YORK – May 30, 2011 – The NBC Sports group’s coverage of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs continues to achieve viewership increases across its national platforms.
VERSUS’ exclusive telecast of Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Final between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night averaged 2.55 million viewers, according to fast nationals provided by The Nielsen Company, making it the most-watched Conference Final game in network history and the sixth-most watched game in the network’s history overall (bested only by Stanley Cup Final games). The telecast, which peaked at 3.25 million viewers from 10-10:30 p.m. ET, was the most-watched third-round game on cable since Detroit and Colorado renewed their epic rivalry in Game 7 on May 31, 2002.
MOST WATCHED NHL TELECASTS IN VERSUS HISTORY (average viewers)
6/2/2010 — Chicago at Philadelphia (SCF Game 3) – 3,600,000
6/4/2009 — Detroit at Pittsburgh (SCF Game 4) – 3,448,000
6/4/2010 — Chicago at Philadelphia (SCF Game 4) – 3,126,000
6/2/2009 — Detroit at Pittsburgh (SCF Game 3) – 2,955,000
5/26/2008 — Pittsburgh at Detroit (SCF Game 2) – 2,608,000
5/27/2011 — Tampa Bay at Boston (ECF Game 7) – 2,550,000Overall, VERSUS averaged 854,000 viewers for its exclusive and non-exclusive games combined throughout the first three rounds of this year’s postseason, making it the most- watched Stanley Cup Playoffs on cable since 2002.
NBC’s coverage of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.93 million viewers per game, up two percent vs. 1.89 million last year. Highlights included NBC’s Conference Quarterfinal coverage, which was the most-watched network coverage for the NHL’s first round in seven years. The Quarterfinals included the Philadelphia Flyers’ Game 6 win over the Buffalo Sabres in overtime, which was watched by 2.57 million viewers, making it the most-watched NHL non-Conference Final game in 12 years.
One more hockey-related press release is coming up.
May
30
Some Memorial Day Links
While I’m at work, I’ll do some linkage for you.
Let’s also keep the troops who have lost their lives fighting to keep our freedom safe in all of the wars on behalf of democracy. And keep the troops in mind who are currently on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s hope our men and women will come home safe and sound soon.
Let’s do the links.
Marisa Guthrie of the Hollywood Reporter says Game 7 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final was the most watched third-round game in Versus’ history and the highest rated in 9 years.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Wheel of Fortune is teaming with Tennis Channel to do a “Tennis Week” on the game show.
Mike says with a new sports president in tow, Time Warner Cable is looking to step up its game.
Gregg Rosenthal at Pro Football Talk reflects on noted Sports Illustrated football writer Paul Zimmerman as he remains in poor health.
Damon Martin at Yahoo Sports says UFC is in the midst of negotiating a new TV contract. UFC has contracts with Spike and Versus.
Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid has the video of a meteorologist for the Fox TV station in the Twin Cities getting angry at sports fans who would rather watch the Champions League final over his update that broke into programming.
Dan notes that Skip Bayless was yelling again on ESPN2′s First Take.
Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal has this very good profile of NESN Red Sox voice Don Orsillo.
Claire Atkinson of the New York Post says with two top executives resigning in a week, NBC Sports executives are wondering when will the next shoe drop.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times reviews the weekend in sports television.
Shannon Owens of the Orlando Sentinel has ESPN’s Brent Musburger speculating that recent network college football analyst hire Urban Meyer may want to stay in TV rather than go back into coaching.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle remembers the late Texas Governor Bill Clements who had a big hand in the SMU payment scandal to college football players which was the subject of an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary last year.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman has the ESPN on ABC NBA announcing crew discussing the upcoming NBA Finals.
The big story today is the resignation of Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. It broke about 9 this morning on the East Coast. Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune writes that the timing of Tressel’s resignation is likely tied to a Sports Illustrated investigation that will be posted online today.
Herbie Teope of Kansas City Metro Sports gives us a personal remembrance of one of the people with whom he served.
Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post writes that the local NBC station is thrilled to be back on board with the Broncos.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at a new one man play based on the 1965 incident where San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Marichal attacked Los Angeles Dodgers catcher John Roseboro with a bat.
Tom also has your sports calendar for the week.
Vinay Menon from the Toronto Star profiles CBC’s Don Cherry.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the Stanley Cup Final should be a ratings hit in Canada.
Sports Media Watch notes that Game 6 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final did so well on Versus in Boston that it beat the American Idol finale on Fox.
New York Sports Space says MLB, and Bud Selig in particular, get an EPIC FAIL when it comes to social media.
Ok, that’s where I’ll end it.
May
30
Memorial Day Viewing Picks
College Baseball
2011 NCAA Division I Baseball Road to Omaha Selection Show – ESPN, 12:30 p.m.
College Lacrosse
NCAA Division I Men’s Championship, Baltimore, MD
Virginia vs. Maryland – ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
College Softball
Division II Championship, Salem, VA
Cal-San Diego vs. Alabama-Huntsville – CBS Sports Network, noon
Golf
PowerPlay Golf live from Newport, Wales — Golf Channel, noon
MLB
American League
Minnesota at Detroit — MLB Network/Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Kansas City — Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Kansas City, 4 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle — MASN2/Root Sports Northwest, 4 p.m.
New York Yankees at Oakland — YES/Comcast SportsNet California, 4 p.m.
Texas at Tampa Bay — Fox Sports Southwest/Sun Sports, 6:30 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Boston — MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Chicago/NESN, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Toronto – STO/Sportsnet One, 7 p.m.
National League
Philadelphia at Washington — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/MASN, 1 p.m.
San Diego at Atlanta — MLB Network/Cox 4/SportSouth, 1 p.m.
Houston at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Houston/WGN America, 2:20 p.m.
San Francisco at St. Louis — Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Fox Sports Midwest, 4:15 p.m.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati — MLB Network/Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at New York Mets — Root Sports Pittsburgh/SNY, 7 p.m.
Colorado at Los Angeles Dodgers — Root Sports Rocky Mountain/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 8 p.m.
Florida at Arizona — Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports Arizona, 8 p.m.
MLB Tonight Live — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight Live — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Tennis
French Open, Round of 16 — Tennis Channel, 5 a.m./ESPN2, noon
French Open Tonight — Tennis Channel, 6:30 p.m.
Entertainment
Arrested Development Marathon – IFC, 8 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Top Gear Marathon — BBC America, 8 a.m. — midnight
Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith — Spike, 3:30 p.m.
30 for 30: Jordan Rides the Bus — ESPN, 8 p.m.
30 for 30: The House of Steinbrenner — ESPN, 9 p.m.
Big Break Indian Wells — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
Gettysburg — History Channel, 9 p.m.
Breakout Kings — A&E, 10 p.m.
May
29
ESPN Radio To Unveil New Studios This Week
On Wednesday, ESPN Radio moves into new studios on the ESPN campus in Bristol. To mark the occasion, several ESPN owned-and-operated affiliates across the country are sending their shows to Bristol to broadcast live and to interview various ESPN personalities. And various ESPN affiliates not owned by the network have also made arrangements to air shows live from the new ESPN Radio studios.
Maybe a station in your town will be broadcasting live. Here’s the press release and broadcast schedule.
ESPN Radio to Officially Open New Studios June 1
O&Os & Affiliates Broadcast from “Audio Ave.” at Bristol, Ct. Headquarters
ESPN Radio is using the official opening of its new state-of-the-art studios as an opportunity to host its owned and operated stations and key affiliates June 1 in a special day-long event.
ESPN Radio’s O&Os from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Dallas will join 13 affiliates broadcasting throughout the day from “Audio Ave.” outside on the quad of ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
Highlighting afternoon activities, recognizing all that ESPN Radio has become, will be the ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the opening of new customized facilities featuring talk studios, dedicated control rooms and SportsCenter booths.
Those participating in and witnessing “Audio Ave” and the official opening of the network’s studio complex will see how ESPN Radio has grown from simply a terrestrial service to ESPN Audio, a content provider via many platforms.
Along with the hosts and producers broadcasting from “Audio Ave.” other June 1 participants will include network and affiliate management, account executives, program directors, clients, ESPN employees, and those involved with ESPN Audio’s promotions, marketing and sales.
“ESPN Radio consumers are no longer simply radio listeners,” says Mo Davenport, Senior Vice President & General Manager, ESPN Radio Network. “The June 1 festivities will celebrate our commitment to ensure that fans not only get their ESPN Radio content how they want it, but also when they want it, and where they want it.”
The June 1 events will also include a “Faces of Audio” luncheon focusing how radio – particularly the evolution of distributing content – has changed over the years. ESPN Radio hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic (Mike & Mike in the Morning 6-10 a.m. ET M-F), and Colin Cowherd (The Herd 10 a.m.-1 p.m.) will discuss their experiences with host Doug Gottlieb (The Doug Gottlieb Show 4-7 p.m.).
ESPN AFFILIATES ORIGINATING FROM “AUDIO AVE.” ON JUNE 1 all times ET
ESPN Radio O&O Stations
Chicago: Carmen, Jurko & Harry
3-7 p.m. — Carmen DeFalco, John Jurkovic, Harry TeinowitzDallas:The Ben and Skin Show
10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Ben Rogers, Jeff WadeDallas Deportes:Charla Deportiva; Zona ESPN
Noon-1 p.m. – Luis Perez; 1-3 p.m. – Renato Bermudez, Jose Francisco Rivera, Sebastian ChristensenLos Angeles:Max & Marcellus
1-5 p.m. — Marcellus Wiley, Max KellermanNew York: The Michael Kay Show
3-7 p.m. — Michael Kay, Don LaGrecaESPN Radio Affiliates
Atlanta: Chuck and Chernoff
Noon-2:30 p.m. — Chuck Oliver, Matt ChernoffCleveland: The Really Big Show
9 a.m.-1 p.m. — Tony Rizzo, Aaron GoldhammerHartford: The Drive
3-7 p.m. — Paul NanosHouston Deportes: Café’ ESPN
8-9 a.m. — Daniela Rodriguez, Gisberg BermudezKansas City:Between the Lines
3-7 p.m. — Kevin Keitzman, Todd LeaboMarquette (MI):The Sportspen
3-5 p.m. — Casey Ford, Tom MogushPhilladelphia: Mike Missanelli Show
2-6 p.m. — Mike MissanelliPittsburgh: Savran on Sports
10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Stan SavranPortland: Primetime with Isaac & Big Suke
6-10 p.m. — Jason ScukanecSt. Louis: Zach and the Coach
10-noon — Zach McCrite, Rick VenturiSalt Lake City: Bill & Spence Show
4-8 p.m. — Bill RileySeattle: Brock & Salk
Noon-3 p.m. — Mike Salk, Brock Huard
That’s it.
May
29
NBA Finals Begin Tuesday on ABC
The last games of the 2010-11 NBA season will be played on ABC as the Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat begin on Tuesday. And it marks the earliest the Finals will have begun since 1986 as the Conference Finals ended early. So we have the games starting on Tuesday, May 31. ABC will air its pregame at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time with the tipoffs after 9 p.m. East.
Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy call their 5th NBA Finals. Rhode Island’s own Doris Burke will work the sidelines. Stuart Scott will host the pregame show with Magic Johnson, Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon as the analysts. That studio show can certainly challenge TNT’s juggernaut from Inside the NBA couldn’t it? I hope you know I’m being sarcastic there. Anyway, we have the details of the coverage for ABC and how ESPN’s platforms will be involved.
Oh and the Finals will also be produced in 3-D which means about 25 people will be able to watch.
NBA Finals Begin Tuesday Exclusively on ABC
ESPN Radio Exclusive Game Broadcasts; Finals Available on ESPN 3D for First Time
The 2011 NBA Finals – the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki facing the Miami Heat and LeBron James – will tip off Tuesday, May 31, at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on ABC. Mike Breen will be the voice of The Finals on ABC, joined by analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke. This will be the fifth consecutive year the commentator team of Breen, Jackson and Van Gundy has called The Finals. ABC’s Buick Regal NBA Countdown pregame show will preview the action, with host Stuart Scott, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon, at 8:30 p.m.
ESPN Radio’s exclusive coverage of The Finals – the 16th year of The Finals on ESPN Radio – will be anchored by play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico, Hall of Famers Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown and reporter Ric Bucher. Marc Kestecher will serve as ESPN Radio studio host with analyst Will Perdue. Additionally, for the first time, The Finals will be presented in 3D on ESPN 3D. Mark Jones will provide play-by-play commentary with analysts Bruce Bowen (Games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7) and Tim Legler (Games 3 and 4).
ESPN’s multiplatform presentation of The Finals will include coverage across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN 3D, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPN International, ESPN.com., ESPNDeportes.com, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV, espnW, ESPN Classic and ESPN The Magazine.
On game nights, ABC’s primetime lineup will include:
- the NBA Countdown pregame show 30 minutes prior to every broadcast;
- Games 1 (May 31), 2 (June 2), 4 (June 7), 5 (June 9, if necessary) and 7 (June 14, if nec.) at 9 p.m.;
- Games 3 (June 5) and 6 (June 12, if nec.), both on Sundays, at 8 p.m.;
- a special 30-minute edition of The Jimmy Kimmel Show immediately before the NBA Countdown pregame show.
All ABC broadcasts will include the following production elements:
- the Emmy Award-winning “Hall of Fame” open;
- in-game interviews with coaches, along with each coach being “wired” for sound;
- pregame and halftime locker room access;
- 32 high definition video sources;
- “SkyCam” providing aerial views of the action;
- utilization of six Super Slo Mo cameras;
- “ESPN Axis” creating virtual replays, with video from live action processed via computers to create virtual freeze frames from multiple angles;
- Orad graphics technology allowing for 3D lines and arrows, hi-res snap zoom capabilities, player and pass tracking and an enhanced graphic interface;
- Spanish-language SAP commentary.
The Finals on ABC Schedule (Best of 7)
All Times ET
Date Time Game Networks Tue, May 31 9 p.m. Game 1: Dallas at Miami ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio Thu, June 2 9 p.m. Game 2: Dallas at Miami ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio Sun, June 5 8 p.m. Game 3: Miami at Dallas ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio Tue, June 7 9 p.m. Game 4: Miami at Dallas ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio Thu, June 9 9 p.m. Game 5: * Miami at Dallas ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio Sun, June 12 8 p.m. Game 6: * Dallas at Miami ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio Tue, June 14 9 p.m. Game 7: * Dallas at Miami ABC, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio * if necessary
Additional Finals content:
SportsCenter and Studio Programming
ESPN’s SportsCenter will provide news and information, analysis, and highlights throughout The Finals. Host Stuart Scott and analysts Magic Johnson, Jon Barry and Mike Wilbon will provide pre- and postgame segments, while Hannah Storm will host the 6 p.m. edition’s NBA segments. Bruce Bowen, Tim Legler, Hall of Famer Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose will provide analysis during The Finals.Additionally, ESPN’s NBA Tonight postgame shows, along with Pardon the Interruption, Around the Horn and ESPN2’s First Take, will include Finals content.
ESPNEWS
ESPNEWS will provide live pre- and postgame news conferences, along with daily news and information.ESPN.com
Coverage will include:
- NBA Finals Daily Dime – a daily multimedia notebook capturing The Finals games and scene;
- NBA Finals Daily Dime Live – in-game chat with ESPN reporters, analysts, bloggers and experts;
- NBA Finals Daily Digital Video – comments from ESPN reporters on Finals news and trends;
- NBA Finals Series Page – special section dedicated to Finals content;
- Greatest Playoff Series Rankings – ESPN.com’s John Hollinger ranks the greatest playoff series since the merger;
- Championship Rings – NBA legends share their championship ring stories;
- Moment in Time – revisiting the moment (Kendrick Perkins’ injury) which turned last year’s Finals;
- NBA Legends Chat – some of the biggest names in the game answer fan questions;
- ESPNRadio.com – live stream of every Finals game;
- ESPN3.com – replays of every Finals game.
ESPNDallas.com and the Heat Index will also provide comprehensive coverage throughout The Finals.
ESPN Radio’s 16th Season of The Finals
The NBA on ESPN Radio’s 16th season of exclusive, live, national play-by-play broadcast of the NBA’s post-season will culminate with The Finals.ESPN Deportes
Alvaro Martin and Carlos Morales will provide NBA Finals updates on ESPN’s Spanish-language edition of SportsCenter (aired in the U.S. and Latin America). In addition, ESPN Deportes Radio, the only 24/7 Spanish-language radio network in the country, will feature pre/post-game special reports. ESPNDeportes.com will provide comprehensive coverage with previews, qualifying, photo galleries, videos and special ESPiaNdo la NBA webisodes with analysis by Martin and Morales.ESPN International
ESPN International will broadcast The Finals via ESPN UK (United Kingdom), ESS (Asia), TSN (Canada), ESPN Pac-Rim (Australia and New Zealand), ESPN Atlantic (sub-Saharan Africa), ESPN Caribbean, ESPN Latin Brazil, ESPN DOS, ESPN Latin South and available in HD throughout Latin America, Brazil and Australia.ESPN Mobile Properties
ESPN Mobile will offer up-to-the-second coverage of the entire 2011 NBA Finals, providing fans with play-by-play GameCasts along with full highlights on the Mobile Web and ScoreCenter app. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with ESPN NBA experts during games with live chats and blogs. Opt-in ESPN text alerts will notify fans across carriers of game start times, scores and notable performances throughout The Finals.ESPN3.com
ESPN3.com will offer replays of each Finals game, available at 2:30 a.m. each night through 12 p.m. the following afternoon.espnW
Sarah Spain and additional contributors will provide espnW’s take on The Finals, including an informative glossary of basketball terms. espnW will also feature predictions and perspective from WNBA players.ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic’s NBA Finals marathon will include content leading up to Game 1 on Tuesday, May 31:
- 1 a.m. – SportsCentury: Bill Russell
- 2 a.m. – SportsCentury: Larry Bird
- 3 a.m. – SportsCentury: Magic Johnson
- 4 a.m. – Homecoming: Magic Johnson
- 5 a.m. – SportsCentury: Karl Malone
- 7 a.m. – SportsCentury: Bill Russell
- 8 a.m. – Jim Rome Classics: Dennis Rodman
- 8:30 a.m. – Jim Rome Classics: Karl Malone
- 9 a.m. — Up Close Special: Kobe Bryant & Chris Webber
- 10 a.m. – 1970 NBA Finals, Game 7: Los Angeles vs. New York – Walt Frazier leads the Knicks to a 113-99 victory; Willis Reed makes the dramatic halftime return
- 12 p.m. – 1996 NBA Finals, Game 6: Seattle vs. Chicago – Michael Jordan collapses in the locker room after winning the title on Father’s Day, the first championship since his Father passed away
- 2 p.m. – 2006 NBA Finals, Game 3: Dallas vs. Miami – Dwyane Wade scores 42 points as the Heat rally from 13 down in the fourth quarter to win 98-96
- 4 p.m. – 2006 NBA Finals, Game 5: Dallas vs. Miami – Heat nudge the Mavs 101-100 behind a stellar performance by Dwyane Wade, who finished with 43 points
- 6 p.m. – 2006 NBA Finals, Game 6: Miami vs. Dallas – Miami wins 95-92 behind Dywane Wade’s 43 points
That’s all.
May
29
Bringing Out the Sunday Links
I’ll provide some Sunday links for you.
You want to see a wild ending? Dan Wheldon wins the Indianapolis 500 after rookie J.R. Hildebrand crashed into the wall at the final turn. Amazing stuff. Thanks to Bubbaprog/Mocksession for the video.
Dan Hart at Bloomberg notes that David Einhorn is on track to take a majority stake in the New York Mets
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that MSG Network will present a mixture of sports and entertainment programming this summer.
Muhammed Rahman at SportsGrid has one video of the Fox UEFA Champions League Final pregame show dumbing down soccer, insulting everyone who watched it.
Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says that ESPN Radio DC is now delaying the publishing of its podcasts of its live show by 24 hours. That’s always good to publish old news.
Marcus says yet another team has turned down HBO to appear on Hard Knocks.
The Sporting News says a new ESPN poll shows that LeBron James’ popularity dropped after “The Decision”.
But David C. Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Delaware notes in the Huffington Post that the results might be skewed.
In his baseball notes column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that TBS is making a run at NESN Red Sox voice Don Orsillo (scroll to the bottom).
Cafardo adds on Twitter that TBS would attempt to make Orsillo a full-timer. In addition to Red Sox baseball, Orsillo calls Big East basketball on ESPN Regional television and the Beanpot Tournament for NESN. He has called the MLB League Division Series for TBS since 2007.
Maureen Mullen at Comcast SportsNet New England writes that ESPN has allowed NESN to air tonight’s Red Sox-Tigers game after originally saying no.
Eric R. Danton of the Hartford Courant has a feature on ESPN looking for the right music to use on SportsCenter and its many studio shows.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post decides to set his target on SNY’s Keith Hernandez. Whatever, Phil.
Mark Snyder at the Detroit Free Press notes that Big Ten Network is looking to rebrand and change its logo.
The Detroit Free Press tweets that the Fox Sports Detroit will pick up tonight’s Tigers game vs. the Red Sox.
Neal Rubin of the Detroit News catches up with former ESPN’er Karie Ross who has come back into prominence thanks to the ESPN book.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has his take on the ESPN book.
Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune goes over the ESPN tome.
Neal Justin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reviews the ESPN tome, “Those Guys Have All The Fun…”
Dusty Saunders of the Denver News looks at the growth of sports talk radio in the Mile High City.
Dusty also profiles long-time Denver sports talk show host Irv Brown.
Sports Media Watch says last night’s third in three straight primetime broadcasts for Fox gave its MLB package the highest ratings in three years.
Jason Garnatz at Iowa Tube Talk feels ESPN caved into Red Sox pressure to air tonight’s Red Sox-Tigers makeup game.
Awful Announcing has the video from Bubbaprog/Mocksession of Hawk Harrelson’s typical homer call from yesterday’s Chicago White Sox-Toronto Blue Jays game.
The Big Lead recounts an interesting conversation between Dan LeBatard and ESPN.com’s Ric Bucher regarding Derrick Rose’s performance in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Steve Michaels of Sox & Dawgs looks at the potential TBS offer to NESN’s Don Orsillo.
And that’s going to do it. This Sunday, especially from 3 – 4:20 p.m. turned out to be a busy sequence for sports media news.
May
29
BREAKING NEWS: NESN WILL Air Tonight’s Red Sox-Detroit Game
Just announced on NESN, ESPN has relented and will allow the New England Sports Network to air tonight’s makeup game between the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. Negotiations between NESN and ESPN apparently took place throughout the day and at about 3:35 p.m., an announcement was made during the regularly scheduled afternoon game. Originally, ESPN was not going to waive its exclusivity for Sunday Night Baseball, but talks went on and finally, the Worldwide Leader decided to allow NESN to air the game locally.
I just received word that Fox Sports Detroit will also air the game in Michigan.
No word on whether NESN/Fox Sports Detroit had to pay extortion money a fee to ESPN.
It will not be put on MLB Extra Innings or MLB.TV in the United States.
UPDATE: 6:55 p.m.: According to NESN’s Heidi Watney, MLB.TV will carry the game in the United States.
May
29
Indy 500 Airs on Sirius XM
If you’re out and about today and want your Indy 500 fix plus you’re a Sirius XM subscriber, then you’re in luck as the race will be aired on the satellite radio provider today. Here are the details.
Indianapolis 500 to Air Live on SiriusXM
On the 100th Anniversary of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” listeners nationwide get live race broadcast plus extensive pre- and post-race coverage
NEW YORK – May 26, 2011 – Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI), the Official Satellite Radio Partner of INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the IZOD IndyCar® Series and Firestone Indy Lights, announced today that it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the world-renowned Indianapolis 500 with comprehensive coverage of the race and the events leading up to it.
SiriusXM listeners will have access to the live call of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” from Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday, May 29, on channel 94 on XM and channel 212 on Sirius Premier (formerly known as “The Best of XM”). Motorsports fans will hear pre-race programming, including expert commentary and analysis, interviews with drivers and live coverage of driver introductions. When the green flag drops at 12:00 pm ET, SiriusXM listeners will hear the race live in its entirety, followed by a post-race recap and interviews.
SiriusXM’s motor racing coverage on Sunday, May 29, will also include the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race from Charlotte Motor Speedway, 6:00 pm ET on channel 90 on Sirius and XM Premier (formerly known at “The Best of Sirius”), as well as the Formula One™ Grand Prix of Monaco, 8:00 am ET on channel 94 on Sirius and channel 208 on XM.
For more information, please visit http://www.siriusxm.com.
That’s it.
May
29
Detroit Tigers Radio Network
Here is the Detroit Tigers Radio Network with stations spread throughout Michigan and Ohio.
| Station | City | Frequency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WXYT FM | DETROIT | 97.1 FM | |
| WXYT AM | DETROIT | 1270 AM | |
| WLKI | ANGOLA, IN | 100.3 FM | |
| WTKA | ANN ARBOR | 1050 AM | |
| WMTR | ARCHBOLD, OH | 96.1 FM | |
| WBCK | BATTLE CREEK | 930 AM | |
| WDEE | BIG RAPIDS/REED CITY | 97.3 FM | |
| WKAD | CADILLAC/HARRIETTA | 93.7 FM | |
| WMKT | CHARLEVOIX | 1270 AM | |
| WLJZ | CHEBOYGAN/MACKINAW CITY | 94.5 FM | |
| WTRX | FLINT | 1330 AM | |
| WBBL | GRAND RAPIDS | 107.3 FM | |
| WCSR | HILLSDALE | 1340 AM | |
| WCCY | HOUGHTON | 1400 AM | |
| WHTC | HOLLAND | 1450 AM | |
| WIBM | JACKSON | 1450 AM | |
| WKZO | KALAMAZOO | 590 AM | |
| WVFN | LANSING | 730 AM | |
| WDMJ | MARQUETTE | 1320 AM | |
| WAVC | MIO | 93.9 FM | |
| WLCS | MUSKEGON | 98.3 FM | |
| WNBY | NEWBERRY | 1450 AM | |
| WPHM | PORT HURON | 1380 AM | |
| WTGV | SANDUSKY | 97.7 FM | |
| WSOO | SAULT STE. MARIE | 1230 AM | |
| WSGW | SAGINAW | 790 AM | |
| WBET | STURGIS | 1230 AM | |
| WSJM | ST. JOE/BENTON HARBOR | 1400 AM | |
| WLQR | TOLEDO, OH | 1470 AM | |
| WCCW | TRAVERSE CITY | 1310 AM | |
There you have it.
May
29
Red Sox Radio Network Stations
Since my post last night on the Red Sox-Detroit makeup game being blacked out due to ESPN restrictions (and no, I’m not explaining it again, I was up late responding to e-mailers), people have asked how they can find the games. Well, there’s this contraption called the radio. You might have heard of it. There are two bands, AM and FM and since 1926, the Red Sox have broadcast their games on the radio.
So as a public service, I will post the Red Sox Radio Network. In the next post, I will post the Tigers Radio Network. In addition, you can hear the games on MLB.com and through the MLB At Bat mobile app.
Massachusetts
WEEI 850AM Boston
WCRN 830AM Worcester
WVEI 1440AM Worcester
WSAR 1480 AM Fall River
WBEC 1420 AM Pittsfield
WHMP 1400AM Northampton
WHMQ 1240AM Greenfield
WNAW 1230AM North Adams
WVEI 105.5FM Springfield
WBSM 1420AM New Bedford
WPKZ 1280AM Fitchburg
WMRC 1490AM Milford
WXTK 95.1FM West Yarmouth
WBOQ 104.9FM Beverly
WEII 96.3FM Cape Cod
Rhode Island
WEEI 103.7FM Providence
New Hampshire
WEMJ 1490AM Laconia
WFTN 1240AM Franklin
WPNH 1300AM Plymouth
WQSO 96.7FM Rochester
WTSL 1400AM Hanover
WKBK 1290AM Keene
WASR 1420AM Wolfeboro
WTPL 107.7FM Hillsboro
WKNE 103.7FM Keene
WGAM 1250AM Manchester
WGHM 900AM Nashua
WCNL 1010AM Newport
WNTK 99.7FM New London
WCFR 1480AM New London
Maine
WLOB 1310AM Portland
WZON 620AM Bangor
WCME 96.7FM Camden
WRKD 1450AM Rockland
WJJB 96.3FM Gray
WPEI 95.9FM Saco
WGEI 95.5FM Topsham
WDEA 1370AM Ellsworth
WHOU 100.1FM Houlton
WKTJ 99.3FM Farmington
WIGY 97.5FM Madison
WTBM 100.7FM Norway
WDME 103.1FM Dover/Foxcroft
WQDY 92.7FM Calais
WFAU 1280AM Augusta
WSYY 1240AM Millinocket
WALZ 95.3FM Machias
WEGP 1390AM Presque Isle
Connecticut
WQUN 1220AM New Haven
WTIC 1080AM Hartford
WILI 1400AM Willimantic
WINY 1350AM Putnam
WGCH 1490AM Greenwich
Vermont
WMXR 93.9FM Woodstock
WJOY 1230AM Burlington
WKVT 1490AM Brattleboro
WRSA 1420AM St. Albans
WFAD 1490AM Middlebury
WSTJ 1340AM St. Johnsbury
WSYB 1380AM Rutland
WIKE 1490AM Newport
WBTN 1370AM Bennington
WTSJ 1320AM Randolph
New York
WTLA 1200AM/97.7FM Syracuse
WSGO 1440AM/100.1FM Oswego
WIZR 930AM Johnstown
Colorado
KVRH 1340AM Salida
Florida
WWCN 770AM Ft. Myers
Seaview 960 AM Palm Beach Garden
The Tigers network is next.
May
29
ESPN Airs National Spelling Bee
In another case of ESPN taking another event from ABC, the Alleged Worldwide Leader will air the semifinals and finals of the National Spelling Bee. ESPN3.com will have coverage of the preliminary rounds including a channel without graphics so viewers can test their knowledge and spell along with the fourth graders. The finals were on ABC until last year. SportsCenter’s Sage Steele will host. Rob Stone will be the reporter.
Here are your D-E-T-A-I-L-S of the N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E.
ESPN and ESPN3.com to Present 2011 National Spelling Bee Finals
ESPN will present live coverage of the 2011 National Spelling Bee Finals from Washington, D.C., beginning with the preliminary rounds Wednesday, June 1, at 8 a.m. ET, on ESPN3.com, through the semifinals and finals Thursday, June 2, on ESPN and ESPN3.com. Every speller on the stage will be featured on an ESPN network. This is ESPN’s 18th straight year of televising the Spelling Bee Finals.
SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele returns for the second straight year as host of the Spelling Bee Finals on ESPN. Paul A. Loeffler, a former Bee finalist who represented the Merced (Calif.) Sun-Star in the 1990 National Spelling Bee finals and made it up to the top 13 spellers, returns as the word analyst. Rob Stone, who has worked a variety of ESPN events such as the FIFA World Cup, college sports, bowling and Major League Soccer, will serve as reporter. Steele, Loeffler and Stone will provide television commentary for the Spelling Bee Finals Thursday at 10 a.m., during the semifinal rounds, and the finals at 8:30 p.m.
The preliminary rounds will be featured exclusively on ESPN3.com, ESPN’s sports broadband network available in 70 million homes, on Wednesday, June 1. Throughout the entire competition, ESPN3.com will carry a second “play along” version, featuring the option to view its coverage without graphics for fans at home to test their knowledge against the champion spellers.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE FINALS
The National Spelling Bee, the nation’s largest and longest running educational promotion, is administered on a not-for-profit basis by the E.W. Scripps Company and 270 local sponsors. The majority of local spelling bee sponsors are daily and weekly newspapers. The purpose of the National Spelling Bee is to help students improve spelling, increase vocabularies, learn concepts and develop correct English usage that will help them all of their lives.
The 2011 Spelling Bee Finals will feature 275 champion spellers, ranging in age from 8 to 15. Spellers participating in the national competition qualify by winning locally sponsored spelling bees in their home communities representing the 50 U.S. states, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe; and the Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
For more information and real-time results for all segments of competition are provided via the Internet at the Bee’s official website, www.spellingbee.com.
Inside the 2011 National Spelling Bee numbers . . .
- 1 – eight-year-old in the Finals, youngest in the competition: Ethan Cullen Ruggeri, Fredericksburg, Va.
- 2 – 2010 championship finalists – Laura Newcombe of Toronto, Ontario, and Joanna Ye, Harrisburg, Pa. – are among the 275 finalists this year
- 3 – four-year repeaters: Rahul Malayappan, Danbury, Conn.; Nicholas B. Rushlow, Pickerington, Ohio; and Julianna M. Canabal-Rodríguez, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 6 – fourth graders in the finals
- 7 – finalists who have twins10 – finalists who attend charter schools
- 16 – finalists who attend parochial schools
- 17 – three-year repeaters
- 51 – two-year repeaters
- 138 – boys in the finals (137 girls)
- 179 – finalists who attend public schools
- 230 – finalists coached by parents and family members
There you have it.
May
28
No Local TV For Red Sox-Tigers Makeup Game
The Boston Red Sox-Detroit Tigers game scheduled for tonight was rained out. With this being the only time the Red Sox will play in Motown this season, the Tigers scheduled the makeup game for Sunday night at 7:05 p.m. to make it a day-night separate admission doubleheader as there is an afternoon game at 1:05 p.m. That afternoon game will be aired on TBS, NESN and Fox Sports Detroit.
However, with the nightcap falling in ESPN’s exclusive window for Sunday Night Baseball (5 p.m. — midnight), there will be no local TV. So the only broadcasts of the game will be on radio, led by WEEI in Boston and WXYT in Detroit.
Red Sox fans are angry because they’re used to seeing every game as NESN airs 150 contests with ESPN and Fox picking up the rest.
Usually the Red Sox avoid being blacked out and I have to contact NESN for the last time this occurred.
On Twitter, my timeline is filled with Red Sox fans angry at ESPN, but they paid millions for the exclusivity.
In addition, Detroit could have scheduled a traditional doubleheader, but the Tigers want the concessions and the ticket revenue.
It’s one night, Red Sox and Tigers fans will survive. The sun will come up on Monday and the earth will not fall off its orbital axis because one game is not televised.
Some fans have called for ESPN to relax its rules, but the network wants fans to watch Cincinnati-Atlanta tomorrow night and I can’t blame the network.
I’ve been critical of ESPN, but I can’t kill it for rules that have been in place since 1991.
I’m at a sports bar blogging. Time for me to go back to drinking my beer.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
May
28
TNT Ends NBA Season With Most Watched Postseason In Cable Television History
That’s not hyperbole, that’s the truth and the numbers don’t lie. Back in the 1980′s when the NBA was trying to gain traction with the America people, it ran a promo saying, “NBA Action is Fantastic“. Well, people certainly love their NBA action and if there’s a lockout, there are going to be some pissed off Americans.
Based on this postseason, people flocked to their TV’s to watch the NBA Playoffs on TNT. They had the most watched NBA postseason in cable TV history averaging a 3.5 rating and 5.5 million viewers. But the numbers were very impressive for the Eastern Conference Finals which averaged a 6.3 rating and 10.4 million viewers. That certainly is fantastic.
Your press release from Turner Sports.
2011 NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT WERE MOST WATCHED IN CABLE TELEVISION HISTORY; TNT AVERAGED 5.5 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND A 3.5 U.S. HH RATING
GAME #5 OF THE NBA’S EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS DELIVERED 10.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND A 6.3 OVERALL U.S. HH RATING
BULLS-HEAT SERIES AVERAGED A CONFERENCE FINAL CABLE RECORD 10.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND A 6.2 U.S. HH RATINGTNT’s coverage of the 2011 NBA Playoffs is one for the record books. The network’s 40-game coverage of the NBA Playoffs set ratings and viewership records for cable television and soared over TNT’s coverage last year, averaging a 3.5 U.S. HH Rating (+25%), 5,534,000 Total Viewers (+29%) and 3,999,000 Households (+26%).
The network’s six weeks of Playoffs coverage culminated on Thursday with TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals Game #5 featuring the Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls. TNT’s final game of the 2011 NBA Playoffs delivered 10.4 million total viewers and a 6.3 U.S. HH rating.
Overall, TNT’s 2011 NBA Playoffs coverage also delivered strong double-digit year-over-year growth across all key demos including:
- A18-34 +37% (1,803,000 vs. 1,312,000)
- A18-49 +33% (3,165,000 vs. 2,371,000)
- A25-54 +29% (2,868,000 vs. 2,224,000)
- M18-34+36% (1,245,000 vs. 916,000)
- M18-49+35% (2,222,000 vs. 1,648,000)
- M25-54+30% (1,995,000 vs. 1,530,000)
Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live +Same Day data. 4/17/11-5/26/11 vs 4/18/10-5/29/10.
With the NBA Playoffs performing at record levels, TNT topped the ad-supported cable rankings as the #1 network in primetime throughout its six weeks of coverage (4/17-5/24). Additionally, TNT won the night in key adult demos for both broadcast and cable 15 of 22 nights for M18-34, 10 times in M18-49, five times in P18-34, six times for M25-54 and twice for P18-49.
Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live +Same Day data. 4/17/11-5/24/11.NBA Digital, co-managed by Turner Sports and the NBA, has seen similar record-breaking traffic to-date for its online and mobile coverage. NBA.com has delivered 1.5 billion page views and a 545 million video streams, up 40% and 134%, respectively. While NBA Mobile downloads for the NBA GameTime are up 75% compared to last year.
NBA.com:
- 1.5 billion page views were viewed, an increase of 40% from last year’s coverage.
- 545 million videoswere viewed, an increase of 134% from 2010.
- 8 million average daily uniques, an increase of 78% from 2010.
Source: Omniture, NBA Internal Data
NBA Mobile:
- Since the start of the playoffs, NBA mobile apps have received more than 681,000 downloads an increase of 75% YOY. (Sources: Apple, Google, RIM)
“This was one of the most thrilling seasons in NBA history, leading to record-breaking ratings and enormous success for TNT,” said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “From the tip-off of our 52-game regular season to All-Star Weekend to TNT’s coverage of 40 Playoff games, this NBA season was about setting new records and creating winning nights of television. Through a multiplatform strategy, we also achieved more than great ratings. We used all of our television, broadband and mobile assets to connect everywhere our audiences watch the NBA, building the largest possible viewership across all platforms.”
The five-game Heat-Bulls series, won by Miami, was the most-watched Conference Finals in cable television history, averaging 6.2 U.S. HH Rating(+29% year-over-year), 10,413,000 Total Viewers (+33%) and 7,190,000 Households (+30%).
- The Heat-Bulls series featured three of the top four most-watched games in cable television history, led by Game #1, delivering 11.1 million total viewers, with a 6.2 U.S. HH rating.
- Game #3 was the second most-watched NBA game in cable television history with nearly 10.9 million total viewers and 6.4 U.S. HH rating.
- Game #5 was the fourth most-watched NBA game in cable television history with 10.4 million total viewers, and with a 6.3 U.S. HH rating.
Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live +Same Day data. 5/15/11-5/26/11.
TNT’s postseason success follows the network’s record-setting regular season which averaged a 1.6 U.S. household rating (+45% vs. 1.1 for last year’s corresponding coverage); 2,453,000 total viewers (+42% vs. 1,723,000); and 1,826,000 households (+39% vs. 1,315,000). In addition, this season’s audience is +30% larger than Turner’s second-best regular-season audience from 1995-96 (1,885,000). Also, TNT aired three of the top five all-time most watched NBA regular-season games in cable television history this season and scored significant growth in all key demos:
- A18-34 +49% (810,000 vs. 544,000)
- A18-49 +47% (1,378,000 vs. 937,000)
- A25-54 +42% (1,221,000 vs. 857,000)
- M18-34 +43% (567,000 vs. 396,000)
- M18-49 +45% (970,000 vs. 667,000)
- M25-54 +40% (855,000 vs. 609,000)
Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live +Same Day data. 10/26/10-4/12/11.
There you have it.
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