Not too many releases tonight so this post won’t be as long as last night’s.
Let’s begin with the Big Ten Network which has now penetrated into New York City and Long Island thanks to its agreement with Cablevision.
Big Ten Network Joins Cablevision’s iO TV® Lineup
New York Metro Area Customers Gain Access To Network This Week
Chicago – The Big Ten Network announced today that its programming will become available in standard and high definition to Cablevision customers throughout the company’s New York metropolitan service area beginning today. Cablevision, the nation’s fifth-largest cable television operator serving 3.1 million customers, will offer the Big Ten Network in standard definition on channel 413 and high definition on channel 720, as part of Cablevision’s iO TV® Sports Pak.
“We’re thrilled that Cablevision will offer the Big Ten Network to their customers,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “There are thousands and thousands of Big Ten fans and alumni within Cablevision’s footprint, particularly in the New York metropolitan area, that will now receive unparalleled coverage of Big Ten sports.”
“Cablevision is pleased to add the Big Ten Network to the iO TV® Sports Pak in standard and high definition as we bring its comprehensive sports coverage to sports fans throughout the New York metro area,” said Gary Schanman, Cablevision senior vice president of video product management. “Offering the best in college, professional and extreme sports, the iO Sports Pak delivers more of the games and events fans want to see, at a tremendous value.”
The Big Ten Network will televise at least 35 football games this fall, the vast majority of which will be produced in high definition. During the week, the network will have live studio shows dedicated to Big Ten football including Big Ten Football: Breakdown (Tuesdays, 10 PM ET), Big Ten Football: Sites & Sounds (Wednesdays, 10 PM ET), Big Ten Football: Behind the Schemes (Thursdays, 10 PM ET) and Big Ten Football and Beyond (Fridays, 10 PM ET).
One more press release from BTN. It’s hired a new broadcast executive producer.
Hulsey Named Big Ten Network VP, Production/Executive Producer
Emmy-winning, 10-year Fox Sports veteran brings college, professional sports experience
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network has hired Mark Hulsey as its new Vice President, Production and Executive Producer. Hulsey comes to Chicago after serving as the Executive Producer at Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Indiana/Fox Sports Kansas City since 2000.
“We’re very fortunate to add someone of Mark Hulsey’s caliber to our team,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “With 20 years of managerial experience, including nearly 10 years at FSN Midwest, Mark is the right person to lead our production staff during this next phase of our growth.”
“The Big Ten Network has already made enormous strides during its first two years on the air and I look forward to contributing
to its future success,” Hulsey said. “Having grown up in the Midwest and spending all of my life here, I’m very familiar with the great traditions and rivalries in the Big Ten. I can’t wait to get started.”
Under Hulsey’s direction, FSN Midwest annually produces more than 450 live events for seven universities and professional sports teams in a six-state region, including Kansas State University, University of Missouri and University of Nebraska, Indiana Pacers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals. Additionally, he oversees all live event pre-game and post-game coverage, collegiate preview shows and 30-minute specials.
During Hulsey’s tenure, Fox Sports Midwest won multiple Emmy awards for best Live Event Special for coverage of the Cardinals and Blues.
Prior to joining Fox, Hulsey served as the VP, Broadcasting for four years with the Phoenix Coyotes. His career also included stints with the Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets. Hulsey is a graduate of the University of Kansas.
Hulsey begins July 13, and replaces Leon Schweir, who recently accepted a position at Versus.
The PGA Tour returns to CBS Sports this weekend and remains on the Tiffany Network through August.
GLOVER, GARCIA, PERRY, SINGH, KIM, CINK AND MAHAN SCHEDULED TO COMPETE IN “TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP” ON CBS SPORTS, JUNE 27-28
Stewart Cink returns to Connecticut looking for his third victory at the TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP against a strong field led by 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover*, Sergio Garcia, Kenny Perry, Vijay Singh, Anthony Kim, Zack Johnson and Hunter Mahan who won in 2007 between runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2008. CBS Sports covers all the action from the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., broadcasting the third and final rounds on Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 (3:00-6:00 PM, ET, both days), live on the CBS Television Network.
CBS Sports’ golf anchor Jim Nantz and Ian Baker-Finch provide commentary from the 18th hole tower. Peter Oosterhuis calls the action at the 17th hole and Gary McCord at the 16th hole. Peter Kostis and Bobby Clampett serve as on-course reporters.
Cink will attempt to be the first player since Phil Mickelson in 2002 to successfully defend his Travelers Championship title this weekend in a standout field that includes Mahan, Glover, Garcia, Perry, Singh, Kim, Johnson, Ricky Barnes, Justin Leonard, David Toms, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Ben Curtis, Brian Gay, Chad Campbell, Scott Verplank, Aaron Baddeley, Steve Elkington, Tim Herron, J.J. Henry, Jesper Parnevik, Corey Pavin, Paul Goydos and Boo Weekley. *(Glover scheduled to compete as of 6/23/09)
CHIP SHOTS WITH PETER KOSTIS
(On Travelers Championship Field): Clearly there are many guys in the field that played well at Bethpage. But how much did that week take out of them? It was just a really difficult, frustrating week that tested your patience and it will be difficult to get your energy level back up to where it needs to be to compete at Hartford. But their golf games are clearly in good working order based on how they finished at Bethpage. Hunter Mahan could have easily won at Bethpage had his shot on 16 not hit the flagstick. We will never know because that was just a horrendously bad break.
(On Ricky Barnes): I don’t know how Ricky will respond after Bethpage. How is he going to react? Will he build on it or take a step back and say, ‘I have almost secured my card and I am doing well and I am ahead of schedule.’ Or is he exhausted to the point where he does not compete very well?
(On Lucas Glover): Now things have changed for Lucas. This will be his first opportunity to be announced on the first tee as U.S. Open Champion after he won his first major. He always put too much pressure on himself, trying to make things happen, rather than backing off and letting things happen. He needs to remember when he steps on the first tee at Hartford that he is still Lucas Glover, still a good old guy from South Carolina and he needs to play golf the same way. He can’t go out there and try to play like a U.S. Open Champion, whatever that is. If he starts thinking that he is a different person or a different player now because he has won a major, I think he is going to put too much pressure on himself and its going to be difficult for him…
(On Phil Mickelson): On one hand, five runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open means that you have played some tremendous golf. On the other hand, it means that you have failed to get the deal sealed five times. It depends on what perspective you want to take from it. I know he has to be bitterly disappointed this time because of the extenuating circumstances. He has got to sharpen up his play down the stretch. He has had it right there for the taking and just not done it a couple of times. He has either missed a put, had a poor chip or tee shot or whatever the case may be. He needs to keep himself more under control over the last few finishing holes.
Universal Sports will re-air some of the defining moments of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Communist China that originally aired on NBC.
Programs Give Fans Chance to Relive the Best Stories and Moments from 2008 Beijing Olympic GamesNighttime, Next Day Encore Presentations
LOS ANGELES-June 23, 2009-As a prelude to its robust coverage of the 2009 world championships in swimming, gymnastics and track and field, Universal Sports presents "Pieces of '08, Beijing Stories" featuring many of the inspiring and memorable stories from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The first show, "One World, One Dream," aired Monday, June 22, 2009, with an encore presentation today at 12 p.m. ET. "Pieces of '08" consists of 20 shows airing each weeknight at 7 p.m. through July 17, just prior to the start of the Swimming World Championships from Rome, Italy. Encore presentations will be every evening at 11 p.m. ET and the following day at 12 p.m. ET. Additional shows are scheduled to air throughout the summer.
"'Pieces of 08,' truly captures the magic of the Beijing Games-the competition, the emotions, the behind-the-scenes moments-and lets the viewer relive the Games in a completely new way" said Universal Sports' Executive Producer and Emmy-award winning producer David Michaels. "We pulled from all our resources and created what we feel is a series that will truly strike a chord with our audience and beyond."
Each show is hosted by Jimmy Roberts, NBC's Emmy Award-winning writer and reporter, and follows a different sport, event or athlete through the drama of last August. Including interviews from Beijing and some additional never-before-seen material, the programming relives the best competition events, stories and memorable moments captured by NBC in its coverage of the great Beijing Games of 2008.
"Pieces of '08" offers viewers a look-back at athletes' achievements as a preview to their performances on NBC Sports and Universal Sports at key World Championships in 2009, including the FINA Swimming World Championships (July 18-Aug. 2), the IAAF Track and Field World Championships from Berlin (Aug.15-23) and the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships from London (Oct.13-18).
"These World Championships highlight our continued commitment to year-round Olympic-related programming," said Claude Ruibal, CEO of Universal Sports. "Fans can relive the amazing moments from the Beijing Games, then watch their favorite athletes return to the podium this summer. It's an amazing television line-up for any fan of the Olympic Games."
Gary Zenkel, President of NBC Olympics added, "It's great to have a channel like Universal Sports where we can bring back these great performances from Beijing and highlight the athlete's journey. In addition to being the home of virtually every major Olympic-related sports competition going on outside the Games, Universal Sports will also be a place for the great storytelling that fans have come to associate with NBC's coverage of the Olympic Games."
"PIECES OF '08, BEIJING STORIES" ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, available in 45 million homes, began airing "Pieces of '08, Beijing Stories" on Monday with a three-hour review of the amazing Opening Ceremony entitled "One World, One Dream." The first 10 shows of the series begin at 7 p.m. ET each night, with re-airs at 11 p.m. ET and the next day at 12 p.m. ET:
June 22 - Beijing Games Opening Ceremony, 7 – 10 p.m.
"One World, One Dream"
June 23 - Men's Gymnastics Team Final, 7 – 9 p.m.
"Don't Count Us Out"
June 24 - Track & Field Sprint Events, 7 – 9 p.m.
"The Sprinters"
June 25 - Women's Gymnastics Team Final, 7 – 9 p.m.
"No Room for Error"
June 26 - Michael Phelps, 7 – 9 p.m.
"Aquaman"
June 29 - Women's Gymnastics All-Around Final 7 – 9 p.m.
"The One-Two Punch"
June 30 - Marathon Events, 7 – 9 p.m.
"Hot Streets of Beijing"
July 1 - Women's Swimming Events, 7 – 9 p.m.
"Girls Swim Fast Too"
July 2 - U.S. Men's Basketball Team, 7 – 9 p.m.
"The Redeem Team"
July 3 - Women's Gymnastics Event Finals, 7 – 9 p.m.
"Last Chance for Gold"
* schedule subject to change; visit UniversalSports.com for up-to-date TV schedules and availability of Universal Sports network.
And for those of you in Canada, get ready to see some hockey legends attempt to undertake figure skating. Imagine former rivals Tie Domi and Bob Probert skating to music. It’s about to happen.
THE LEGENDS AND THE LEGENDARY—MCDONALD, ANDERSON, DOMI, PROBERT, SIMPSON AND RICHER HIT THE ICE FOR CBC TELEVISION’S BATTLE OF THE BLADES
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean and four-time World Figure Skating Champion Kurt Browning to host national pairs competition
CBC Television announced today the first competitors to sign on to participate in CBC Television’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES. NHL Hall of Famer and fan favouri
te Lanny McDonald, NHL Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup-winner Glenn Anderson, legendary enforcers Tie Domi and Bob Probert, two-time Stanley Cup-winner and HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA analyst Craig Simpson, and two-time Stanley Cup-winner Stéphane Richer will go head-to-head in this fierce competition. These hockey heavyweights will be paired with some of Canada’s top female figure skaters in a competitive and thrilling pairs showdown beginning this October.“Whatever else you can say about Canadians, they know hockey and they know figure skating—and are passionate about both,” said Kirstine Layfield, CBC Television’s executive director of network programming. “We’re going to bring the two together in a way that’s never been seen before. It’s going to be great.”
CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s Ron MacLean and Canadian figure skating icon Kurt Browning host the seven-week BATTLE OF THE BLADES series. Browning’s storied international career and his infectious personality combined with MacLean’s deep-rooted knowledge and passion for hockey will provide viewers with the insight and intricacies of both sports and their unlikely combination.
All-Star forward Probert holds the Detroit Red Wings’ franchise record for career penalty minutes. Domi is one of the most popular players to ever don a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey and ranks third overall in penalty minutes in NHL history.
A gentleman both on and off the ice, McDonald’s contribution to his teams and community earned him both the Bill Masterson and King Clancy Memorial trophies. Simpson’s influence extends from playing to coaching and currently as an analyst on CBC’s HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. Simpson is the last Edmonton Oiler to score over 50 goals in one season. Richer is one of the all-time leaders in playoff overtime goals and is the last Montreal Canadien to score over 50 goals in a season. Anderson is considered one of the all-time great playoff performers with 214 playoff points, ranking him fourth overall in playoff history.
BATTLE OF THE BLADES is the brainchild of Kevin Albrecht, and development of Sandra Bezic. BATTLE OF THE BLADES executive producers are John Brunton, Barbara Bowlby and Kevin Albrecht. It is produced by Insight Productions in association with CBC Television.
Well, I do notice the name of the always lovely Sandra Bezic who’s done work on NBC during the Olympics. This might have a chance. Of course, we in the States won’t see it unless it hits YouTube.
