Since I’m truly in baseball mode, let me give you two baseball-related press releases.
The first is from TBS and its plans for the American League Championship Series.
TBS Announces MLB ALCS Telecast Team and Schedule
Exclusive coverage gets underway on Friday, October 10
TBS announced today the telecast schedule for its exclusive American League Championship Series (ALCS) coverage presented by KIA Motors. The excitement gets underway on Friday, October 10 with the network’s pre-game show, TBS MLB On Deck presented by Sprint at 8 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson (host), Cal Ripken (analyst), Dennis Eckersley (analyst) and Harold Reynolds (analyst). The show will be followed by the AL East Division Champion Tampa Bay Rays hosting the AL Wild Card winner Boston Red Sox at 8:30 p.m. ET in Game #1 of the ALCS. Chip Caray (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter) will call the action throughout the ALCS. TBS will conclude the day’s action with the post-game show Inside MLB presented by Captain Morgan also featuring Johnson, Ripken, Eckersley and Reynolds.
Beginning with Game #3 of the ALCS, the pre- and post-game show will hit the road and the crew will move on-site to Fenway Park and Tropicana Field respectively. See schedule below for full coverage details.
In addition to its television coverage, TBS will expand its broadband content with TBS Hot Corner on MLB.com (www.mlb.com/tbshotcorner), the official website of Major League Baseball. This multimedia platform gives fans unprecedented live and on-demand access to the Postseason online, including live streams from a variety of unique on-field camera angles and live statistics to track playoff teams and players. TBS Hot Corner will also present live and on-demand segments, highlighted by live streams from exclusive pre-game shows and online companion coverage to the TBS broadcasts.
ALCS ON TBS SCHEDULE
DAY/DATE
TIME (ET) EVENT
Fri., October 10
8 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Ernie Johnson (host), Cal Ripken (analyst), Dennis Eckersley (analyst) and Harold Reynolds (analyst)
8:30 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #1
Announcers: Chip Caray (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
Sat., October 11
7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
8 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #2
Announcers: Caray (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Martinez (analyst) and Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
Mon., October 13
4 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
4:30 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox, Game #3
Announcers: Caray (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Martinez (analyst) and Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
Tue., October 14
7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
8 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox, Game #4
Announcers: Caray (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Martinez (analyst) and Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
Thu., October 16
7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
8 p.m. Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox, Game #5*
Announcers: Caray (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Martinez (analyst) and Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
Sat., October 18
4 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
4:30 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #6*
Announcers: Caray (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Martinez (analyst) and Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
Sun., October 19
7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On Deck
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
8 p.m. Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #7*
Announcers: Caray (play-by-play), Darling (analyst), Martinez (analyst) and Sager (reporter)
Post-game Inside MLB
Johnson (host), Ripken (analyst), Eckersley (analyst) and Reynolds (analyst)
* = If Necessary
And it’s never too early to think about the World Baseball Classic which the ESPN family of networks will carry starting in March. The first WBC actually drew decent ratings against March Madness in 2006 and with more familiarity in 2009 and more promotion from the Alleged Worldwide Leader, the network hopes for even better ratings the second time around.
ESPN to Offer Multimedia Coverage of 2009 World Baseball ClassicCoverage Across ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, ESPNEWS, ESPN International, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile Properties & MoreUp to 39 Games via ESPN International
ESPN will present multimedia coverage of the 2009 World Baseball Classic including coverage across ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN2, ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPNEWS, ESPNEWS HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile Properties and more.World Baseball Classic coverage highlights include:
- Up to 39 games via ESPN International distribution;
- ESPN and ESPN2 combining to televise 23 games in the U.S. beginning March 5, 2009;
- The semifinals – Saturday, March 21, and Sunday, March 22 – and final, Monday, March 23, from Dodger Stadium;
- All ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts simulcast via ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV;
- ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s Spanish-language network in the U.S., televising 23 games;
- 23 games (ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts) available in Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands; 23 games available on ESPN Deportes in Puerto Rico.
“ESPN looks forward to working with the World Baseball Classic to build on what we started in 2006,” said Len DeLuca, ESPN Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions. “We have more games for ESPN, a deeper multimedia offering, and wider international rights. We look forward to collaborating to make this the best global championship in March.”
“ESPN has the proven ability to convey the excitement and national pride that the World Baseball Classic generates among the players and fans,” said Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating Officer.
“‘Baseball Spoken Here’ is our motto, and so we’re delighted that once again we are partnering with ESPN to bring the world the games, and the thrills, of the second World Baseball Classic,” said Gene Orza, MLBPA Chief Operating Officer. “No one ‘speaks baseball’ better than ESPN.”Additional World Baseball Classic coverage will include:
- ESPN Radio broadcasting the semifinals and final, along with three additional games;
- Comprehensive highlights within SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight and ESPNEWS;
- Extensive ESPN.com content featuring highlights, news and information.
ESPN International will televise up to 39 games in Africa, Australia, Europe (via NASN, which will become ESPN America on Feb. 1), Latin America, the Middle East and New Zealand.
That’s it for now.
