Fang's Bites

Game 7 of Toronto-Boston Sets Ratings Record for Hockey Night in Canada

The result may not have been what CBC and Maple Leaf Nation wanted, but the viewership for Game 7 of the Toronto-Boston NHL Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinal on Monday set a record for Canada’s public broadcaster. More than 5.1 million Canadians watched the game which broke a record for an opening round playoff game and also a Toronto Maple Leafs broadcast.

The previous high was the previous night, Game 6 of the series which garnered 4.5 million viewers. During the seven game series, the viewership for CBC averaged 3.53 million people. Viewership peaked at 8.2 million people when the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

I’m awaiting the numbers from Boston and from NESN. Heard some preliminary numbers, but can’t report them yet.

Here’s the CBC press release.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA SETS AUDIENCE RECORD WITH TORONTO VS. BOSTON GAME 7 BROADCAST

An average audience of more than 5.1 million Canadians tuned in to the Eastern Conference Quarter-Final Game 7 between Maple Leafs and Bruins on Monday night
CBC’s coverage of the opening round averaged more than 2 million viewers per game overall

May 14, 2013 – A record number of Canadians tuned in to CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA Monday night to watch Game 7 of the thrilling Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Playoffs first round series on CBC. With more than 5.1 million viewers, the game shattered the previous records for both an opening round game and for any Toronto Maple Leafs playoff game broadcast on CBC-TV since metered measurement began.

“We’re thrilled at how Canadians have overwhelmingly embraced CBC’s coverage and joined the yearly tradition that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada,” said Julie Bristow, executive director, studio and unscripted programming, CBC. “These audience numbers are a reflection of the passion our country has for this great game and we’re excited to continue to fuel the excitement with two star-studded match-ups in the second round.”

The new record comes just one day after a new audience high was set by Sunday’s Game 6 of the Toronto/Boston series, with an average audience of 4.5 million viewers. The previous average audience record for an opening round game on CBC was 3.9 million for Game 6 of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators series on April 18, 2004. Monday night’s game also broke the record for a Maple Leafs playoff broadcast on CBC of 4.27 million viewers, which was set by Game 7 of the Toronto vs. Los Angeles Kings Conference Final series on May 29, 1993.

The Toronto/Boston series as a whole set a new record with an average audience of 3.53 million viewers across the seven games making it the most-watched opening round series ever on CBC, surpassing the Montreal Canadiens/Boston Bruins first round match-up in 2011 which averaged 2.85 million viewers over seven games.

In addition to the average audience, ratings data from the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement (BBM) show that last night’s game reached more than 12.9 million Canadians, or 40 per cent of the population. The audience for the game peaked at nearly 8.2 million viewers at 10:04 p.m. ET when Boston’s Patrice Bergeron scored the series-winning goal in overtime.

Monday night’s Toronto/Boston game was the most-watched game of a very strong opening round overall on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA that saw an average per-game audience of 2.03 million viewers, up 17 per cent over last season’s first round. The Ottawa Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens series averaged more than 2.04 million viewers per game, bringing the average audience for series involving Canadian teams to 2.9 million viewers – an increase of 33 per cent over last year’s Canadian team match-ups on CBC.

Online coverage of the first round at CBCSports.ca experienced audience increases in several areas including a 22 per cent increase in average daily unique visitors to the website and an 18 per cent jump in average daily page views, compared to last year’s opening round.

(Television audience numbers source: NMR Mark II 1993 & 2004, BBM Canada, PPM, Total Canada, Preliminary Overnights, Ind. 2+, 2013)

(Online audience number source: 2013 SiteCatalyst)

There you have it.

CBC to Carry Two NHL Stanley Cup Conference Semifinal Series

CBC’s hopes to ride a Toronto wave were dashed by the unbelievable Boston Bruins comeback, down 4-1 in the third period and then a furious finish that tied the game at 4, then ending in OT with Patrice Bergeron’s game winning goal. Canada’s Public Broadcaster does have a Canadian team, the Ottawa Senators taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby.

CBC’s other series will be an Original Six matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.

Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson, Glenn Healey and Scott Oake will cover the Sens-Pens series.

Bob Cole, Kelly Hrudey, Garry Galley and Cassie Campbell-Pascall will travel between Chicago and Detroit.

We have the CBC press releases.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA CONTINUES COVERAGE OF THE 2013 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS WITH CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS, BEGINNING TUESDAY NIGHT

CBC’s coverage of the second round includes Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh and Chicago vs. Detroit

May 13, 2013 – The 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA continue this week with exclusive Canadian coverage of the Conference Semifinal series featuring Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh and Chicago vs. Detroit, beginning Tuesday night. Opening round coverage on CBC garnered strong audience numbers across the four series both on TV and through online streams. With every CBC playoff game available live on CBC-TV and online at CBCSports.ca, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA has Canadians covered whenever and wherever they tune in.

The puck drops on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA for the second round as Craig Anderson and the Ottawa Senators head to Pittsburgh to take on Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in Game 1 of their series Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT). Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson (@hnicsimmer) call the action for this series with Glenn Healy providing analysis from between the benches and Scott Oake (@ScottOake) reporting.

CBC’s other match-up features Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Detroit Red Wings led by Henrik Zetterberg. The first game of this series gets underway from Chicago on Wednesday, May 15 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). Bob Cole is joined in the booth by Kelly Hrudey (@KellyHrudey) with analyst Garry Galley between the benches and Cassie Campbell-Pascall (@CassieCampbell) reporting. See attached for a complete first round broadcast schedule and distribution.

Ron MacLean and the HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA Studio 42 Team, P.J. Stock (@PJStockHNIC), Kevin Weekes (@kevinweekes), Elliotte Friedman (@friedgeHNIC) and Andi Petrillo (@andipHNIC), continue to keep viewers informed with news, insights and features throughout the games on CBC. Don Cherry (@CoachsCornerCBC) returns with Coach’s Corner, airing during the first intermission of each game of the Ottawa/Pittsburgh series. Hockey Tonight airs prior to every Senators vs. Penguins game, while the Post-Game Show is live online at CBCSports.ca following the conclusion of each CBC game night with host Andi Petrillo.

CBC’s Daryn Jones adds his unique brand of humour to the pre-game coverage throughout the second round as he joins the crowds on-site at the home team arenas to connect with fans cheering on their heroes before the teams take the ice. Exploring the tailgate atmosphere, Jones attempts to remain a neutral observer while meeting some of the most passionate fans from around the NHL. The first feature airs during Hockey Tonight ahead of Game 1 of the Chicago/Detroit series.

The engaging Hockey Night in Canada: 2^nd Screen connects users throughout the playoffs at CBCSports.ca/2ndscreen. Users continue to earn points for possible prizes through predictions, in-game trivia and online engagement. Viewers across the country can also connect with CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA online at CBCSports.ca/HockeyNightInCanada, through Twitter (@hockeynight) and Instagram using #HockeyNight, Facebook and Pinterest. Fans can also stay up-to-date with the Hockey Night in Canada app for iOS, Windows 8, Blackberry 10 and Android as well as via Xbox and Google Currents.

The Break Away Cam continues through the Conference Semifinals. This innovative online feature allows viewers to follow a single isolated camera on their computers or mobile devices each period. Fans can vote online at CBCSports.ca/Breakaway throughout the week picking what the focus of the camera will be – a superstar player, a passionate coach or a crazed fan. The camera will follow the top vote getter during special broadcasts throughout the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Hockey Night in Canada Radio on SiriusXM with host Rob Pizzo (@RobPizzo) remains the source of comprehensive analysis for the entire 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs from 3-5 p.m. ET every weekday on Sirius 207 and XM 92. Pizzo welcomes the biggest names in the game for in-depth discussion and insightful interviews on the latest storylines from the NHL.

The feature match-up for Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi with Harnarayan Singh (@IceSinghHNIC), Inderpreet Cumo (@InderpreetHNIC) and Bhola Chauhan (@BholaHNIC) is Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh. The Punjabi-language broadcasts, featuring one series per round throughout the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, are available live on select television channels and online at CBCSports.ca. A complete list of channels as well as on-demand video are available at CBCSports.ca/Punjabi.

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2013 NHL Stanley Cup Conference Semifinals Schedule

Ok, I’m still coming down from the Bruins comeback against Toronto. I thought it would a Round 1 exit for the B’s, but instead, they’ll take on the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. NBC Sports Network, NBC and CNBC will be airing the series in the US. TSN will air it across Canada.

As for the other Eastern Conference semi, Ottawa and Pittsburgh, NBC Sports Network will get the first five games with CBC and RDS airing the entire series in Canada.

Out West, CBC, NBCSN and NBC air the Chicago vs. Detroit Original Six series. And for the San Jose-Los Angeles all-California series, NBC Sports Network and TSN will carry the games.

And in the Conference Semifinals mean there will be no more local broadcasts in the United States. It’s all national on the networks of NBC from now through the Stanley Cup Final.

We’ll get the announcing assignments and press releases later. But for now, here’s the schedule coming to directly from the National Hockey League offices in New York.

2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 schedule

NEW YORK — The National Hockey League announced today Game 1 dates of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinal round for the three matchups that have been determined. Round 2 starts Tuesday, May 14, with a doubleheader. Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinal series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators will be played at 7:30 p.m. ET at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh and the Western Conference Semifinal between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks will start at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

Additionally, Game 1 in the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings will be Wednesday, May 15 at 8 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago.

All times listed are ET and subject to change.

2013 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES I	TIME (ET)	#1 Ottawa Senators vs. #7 Pitsburgh Penguins	Networks
TUESDAY, May 14, 2013	7:30 p.m.	OTTAWA at PITTSBURGH	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
FRIDAY, May 17, 2013	7:30 p.m.	OTTAWA at PITTSBURGH	NBCSN, CBC
SUNDAY, May 19, 2013	7:30 p.m.	PITTSBURGH at OTTAWA	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2013	7:30 p.m.	PITTSBURGH at OTTAWA	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*FRIDAY, May 24, 2013	7:30 P.M.	OTTAWA at PITTSBURGH	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*SUNDAY, May 26, 2013	TBD	PITTSBURGH at OTTAWA	CBC, RDS
*TUESDAY, May 28, 2013	TBD	OTTAWA at PITTSBURGH	CBC, RDS
SERIES J	TIME (ET)	#4 New York Rangers vs. #6 Boston Bruins	Networks
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY RANGERS at BOSTON	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013	3:00 p.m.	NY RANGERS at BOSTON	NBC, TSN, RDS
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013	7:30 p.m.	BOSTON at NY RANGERS	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013	7 p.m.	BOSTON at NY RANGERS	CNBC, TSN, RDS
*SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013	TBD	NY RANGERS at BOSTON	TSN, RDS
*MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013	TBD	BOSTON at NY RANGERS	TSN, RDS
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013	TBD	NY RANGERS at BOSTON	TSN, RDS
2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES K	TIME (ET)	#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #7 Detroit Red Wings	Networks
WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2013	8 p.m.	DETROIT at CHICAGO	NBCSN, CBC
SATURDAY, May 18, 2013	1 p.m.	DETROIT at CHICAGO	NBC, CBC
MONDAY, May 20, 2013	7:30 p.m.	CHICAGO at DETROIT	NBCSN, CBC
WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2013	8 p.m.	CHICAGO at DETROIT	NBCSN, CBC
*SATURDAY, May 25, 2013	TBD	DETROIT at CHICAGO	CBC
*MONDAY, May 27, 2013	TBD	CHICAGO at DETROIT	CBC
*WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2013	TBD	DETROIT at Chicago	CBC
SERIES L	TIME (ET)	#5 Los Angeles Kings vs. #6 San Jose Sharks	Networks
TUESDAY, May 14, 2013	10 p.m.	SAN JOSE at LOS ANGELES	NBCSN, TSN
THURSDAY, May 16, 2013	10 p.m.	SAN JOSE at LOS ANGELES	NBCSN, TSN
SATURDAY, May 18, 2013	9 p.m.	LOS ANGELES at SAN JOSE	NBCSN, TSN
TUESDAY, May 21, 2013	10 p.m.	LOS ANGELES at SAN JOSE	NBCSN, TSN
*THURSDAY, May 23, 2013	10:30 p.m.	SAN JOSE at LOS ANGELES	NBCSN, TSN
*SUNDAY, May 26, 2013	TBD	LOS ANGELES at SAN JOSE	TSN
*TUESDAY, May 28, 2013	TBD	SAN JOSE at LOS ANGELES	TSN

* if necessary
TBD — To Be Determined

Any updates, I’ll make them here

CBC Airs Three of the Four Canadian Teams in the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Canada’s Public Broadcaster CBC gets ready for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The network has made its choices for playoffs and naturally went with Toronto-Boston for one series. And it took the all-Canadian Montreal-Ottawa series as its second pick.

These two series will get the full Hockey Night in Canada treatment especially with Toronto being back in the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson, Glenn Healey and Scott Oake will call the series for CBC.

Montreal-Ottawa will be helmed by the great Bob Cole with Garry Galley and Cassie Campbell-Pascall reporting.

The other two series which will be on CBC will be Chicago-Minnesota to be called by Dean Brown and Greg Millen and St. Louis-Los Angeles which will be done by Mark Lee and Kelly Hrudey with David Amber rinkside.

Ron MacLane will host and he’ll be joined by Don Cherry, PJ Stock and a myriad of analysts. Fang’s Bites fave Andi Petrillo will host the Post-Game show online which can be seen in the US at CBC.ca.

Here’s the CBC press release.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA DROPS THE PUCK ON THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2013 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS, TUESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET (5 P.M. PT)

CBC’s first round series coverage includes Montreal vs. Ottawa, Boston vs. Toronto,
Chicago vs. Minnesota and St. Louis vs. Los Angeles
STANLEY CUP COUNTDOWN playoff preview show airs tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT)

April 29, 2013 – The 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Tuesday, April 30 and CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is the exclusive home of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators as they each begin their run to the Stanley Cup. Toronto takes on the Boston Bruins beginning Wednesday, May 1 while the Canadiens and Senators face-off on Thursday, May 2. In addition, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA has exclusive coverage of the marquee match-ups featuring the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Minnesota Wild as well as the St. Louis Blues squaring off against the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings. To get viewers ready for the playoffs, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: STANLEY CUP COUNTDOWN airs tonight (April 29) at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT). CBC has coverage of every round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, on TV and online at CBCSports.ca, and is the exclusive Canadian home of the Stanley Cup Final.

Ron MacLean and the Hockey Night in Canada team have viewers covered with news, insights and features throughout the playoffs. Hockey Tonight debuts Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) and airs every night throughout the first round of the playoffs. Don Cherry (@coachscornerCBC) makes his playoff debut with Coach’s Corner during the first intermission of Wednesday’s Boston vs. Toronto game. Andi Petrillo (@andipHNIC) hosts the Chevrolet Post-Game Show live online at CBCSports.ca with final thoughts on the night’s action.

The action gets underway tomorrow night with Minnesota @ Chicago and Los Angeles @ St. Louis at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). Viewers in Saskatchewan and to the east will see the Blackhawks vs. Wild game while viewers in Alberta and to the west will see the Blues vs. Kings. Both games are available live online for viewers across the country at CBCSports.ca.

The playoffs continue on Wednesday, May 1 with Toronto @ Boston at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA with the team of Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson (@hnicsimmer) joined by Glenn Healy between the benches and Scott Oake (@ScottOake) reporting. The Ottawa vs. Montreal series gets underway on Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) with Bob Cole and Garry Galley calling the action and Cassie Campbell-Pascall (@CassieCampbell) reporting.

The broadcast team for the Chicago vs. Minnesota series includes Dean Brown (@PxPOttawa) and Greg Millen (@gregmillen) in the booth while the St. Louis vs. Los Angeles series will be called by Mark Lee and Kelly Hrudey (@KellyHrudey) with David Amber (@DavidAmber) reporting. See attached for a complete first round broadcast schedule and distribution.

“As the only network in Canada where fans can see the Stanley Cup hoisted by the winning team, we strive to bring viewers new and innovative ways to connect to the game and to CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and this playoff season is no exception with our tremendous multi-platform offerings,” said Julie Bristow, executive director, studio and unscripted programming, CBC. “I’m extremely proud of the team that continues to create avenues for fans to get more involved with our broadcasts and ultimately closer to the game. We’ll have a few more surprises to share leading up to the Stanley Cup Final this year, so stay tuned.”

Before the teams hit the ice, MacLean hosts CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: STANLEY CUP COUNTDOWN tonight alongside P.J. Stock (@PJStockHNIC), Elliotte Friedman (@friedgeHNIC), Glenn Healy, Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) and Andi Petrillo in front of a live studio audience with a special musical performance by Canada’s own Down With Webster (@DOWNWITHWEBSTER). The CBC Hockey Night in Canada team provides in-depth previews and analysis of each first-round playoff match-up.

On Wednesday, May 1, leading into the Toronto @ Boston game, Hockey Tonight features a special live performance by City and Colour presented by SiriusXM. The entire performance is available online at CBCSports.ca starting at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT).

And after a jump break, the entire CBC schedule for the Conference Quarterfinals.

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2013 NHL Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals Schedules and Networks

Now that the National Hockey League regular season is over, it’s time to post the schedules for each series. In the first round, local regional sports networks can air playoff games. Only NBC games are exclusive in the United States, while in Canada, the playoffs are split between CBC and TSN.

Playoff games in the United States will be distributed nationally between NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC and NHL Network. The RSN’s have exclusivity in the local markets so the national broadcasts would be blacked out unless NBC gets the games.

The US networks have been selected through Games 1-4 of the quarterfinals. Games 5-7, if necessary, will be rescheduled as the series continue.

Here’s what we have thus far.

NHL announces Stanley Cup Playoffs Rd. 1 schedule

NEW YORK – The National Hockey League today announced the dates, times and national broadcast information for the 2013 Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinal round, which begins Tuesday, April 30th. Information on the U.S. broadcast networks for games later in the round will be released as it is determined.

All times listed are ET and subject to change.
* – if necessary

2013 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES A	TIME (ET)	#1 Pittsburgh vs. #8 NY Islanders	Networks
Wednesday, May 1, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	NBCSN, TSN
Friday, May 3, 2013	7 p.m.	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	NBCSN, TSN
Sunday, May 5, 2013	12 p.m.	Pittsburgh at NY Islanders	NBC, TSN
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	7 p.m.	Pittsburgh at NY Islanders	NBCSN, TSN
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	7 p.m.	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	TSN
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Pittsburgh at NY Islanders	TSN
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	NY Islanders at Pittsburgh	TSN
SERIES B	TIME (ET)	#2 Montreal vs. #7 Ottawa	Networks
Thursday, May 2, 2013	7 p.m.	Ottawa at Montreal	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Friday, May 3, 2013	7 p.m.	Ottawa at Montreal	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 5, 2013	7 p.m.	Montreal at Ottawa	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	7 p.m.	Montreal at Ottawa	CNBC, CBC, RDS
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	7 p.m.	Ottawa at Montreal	CBC, RDS
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Montreal at Ottawa	CBC, RDS
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Ottawa at Montreal	CBC, RDS
SERIES C	TIME (ET)	#3 Washington vs. #6 NY Rangers	Networks
Thursday, May 2, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	NBCSN, TSN
Saturday, May 4, 2013	12:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	NBC, TSN
Monday, May 6, 2013	7:30 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBCSN, TSN
Wednesday, May 8, 2013	7:30 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBCSN, TSN
*Friday, May 10, 2013	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	TSN
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Washington at NY Rangers	TSN
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	NY Rangers at Washington	TSN
SERIES D	TIME (ET)	#4 Boston vs. #5 Toronto	Networks
Wednesday, May 1, 2013	7 p.m.	Toronto at Boston	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 4, 2013	7 p.m.	Toronto at Boston	CNBC, CBC, RDS
Monday, May 6, 2013	7 p.m.	Boston at Toronto	NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, May 8, 2013	7 p.m.	Toronto at Boston	NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
*Friday, May 10, 2013	7 P.M.	Boston at Toronto	CBC, RDS
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Toronto at Boston	CBC, RDS
Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	Boston at Toronto	CBC, RDS
2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES E	TIME (ET)	#1 Chicago vs. #8 Minnesota	Networks
Tuesday, April 30, 2013	8 p.m.	Minnesota at Chicago	NBCSN, CBC
Friday, May 3, 2013	9:30 p.m.	Minnesota at Chicago	NBCSN, CBC
Sunday, May 5, 2013	3 p.m.	Chicago at Minnesota	NBC, CBC
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	9:30 p.m.	Chicago at Minnesota	NBCSN, CBC
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	TBD	Minnesota at Chicago	CBC
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Chicago at Minnesota	CBC
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Minnesota at Chicago	CBC
SERIES F	TIME (ET)	#2 Anaheim vs. #7 Detroit	Networks
Tuesday, April 30, 2013	10:30 p.m.	Detroit at Anaheim	NBCSN, TSN
Thursday, May 2, 2013	10 p.m.	Detroit at Anaheim	NBCSN, TSN
Saturday, May 4, 2013	7:30 p.m.	Anaheim at Detroit	NBCSN, TSN
Monday, May 6, 2013	8 p.m.	Anaheim at Detroit	CNBC, TSN
*Wednesday, May 8, 2013	10 p.m.	Detroit at Anaheim	TSN
*Friday, May 10, 2013	TBD	Anaheim at Detroit	TSN
*Sunday, May 12, 2013	TBD	Detroit at Anaheim	TSN
SERIES G	TIME (ET)	#3 Vancouver vs. #6 San Jose	Networks
Wednesday, May 1, 2013	10:30 p.m.	San Jose at Vancouver	NBCSN, TSN
Friday, May 3, 2013	10 p.m.	San Jose at Vancouver	CNBC, TSN
Sunday, May 5, 2013	10 p.m.	Vancouver at San Jose	NBCSN, TSN
Tuesday, May 7, 2013	10 p.m.	Vancouver at San Jose	CNBC, TSN
*Thursday, May 9, 2013	10 p.m.	San Jose at Vancouver	TSN
*Saturday, May 11, 2013	TBD	Vancouver at San Jose	TSN
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	San Jose at Vancouver	TSN
SERIES H	TIME (ET)	#4 St. Louis vs. #5 Los Angeles	Networks
Tuesday, April 30, 2013	8 p.m.	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CNBC, CBC
Thursday, May 2, 2013	9:30 p.m.	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CNBC, CBC
Saturday, May 4, 2013	10 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles	NBCSN, CBC
Monday, May 6, 2013	10 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles	NBCSN, CBC
*Wednesday, May 8, 2013	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CBC
*Friday, May 10, 2013	TBD	St. Louis at Los Angeles	CBC
*Monday, May 13, 2013	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CBC

I’ll update the times and networks for Games 5-7 as they become available. Keep this bookmarked.

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Tribute to Stompin’ Tom Connors

CBC paid tribute to Canadian treasure Stompin’ Tom Connors tonight just before Hockey Night in Canada. This week, Tom died at the age of 77 of natural causes. His “The Hockey Song” is beloved by fans everywhere. And the man truly loved Canada. Very nice open by CBC and well done. Perfect.

We’ll miss you, Tom. Rest in Peace.

The Top Five Innovations in Sports Television

I haven’t done a post like this in a very long time. Viewers take watching sports for granted. We watch the games in high definition or some cases, 3-D, get instant replays, we can rewind plays instantly on our DVR’s, know how far a team has to go in order to get a first down, see the score and time as soon as we tune into a contest, get taken to another game if the one we’re watching is a blowout and watch a profile of an athlete to get to know him and/or her better. All of these are standard fare in sports, but at one time, producers needed to think outside the box to make them realities.

Let’s review the five greatest innovations in sports television. You can agree or disagree.

5. “Up Close and Personal”

ABC Sports brought this to fruition for its Olympic coverage. Executive Producer Roone Arledge realized that viewers were not familiar with most of the athletes in the Olympics. To help to get to know them better, Arledge and his ABC Sports producers developed profiles of the athletes to make viewers care about them. They would show the men and women at home instead of training for the Olympics. There would be interviews in relaxed settings. Some would have voiceovers from ABC announcers while others had narration from the athletes themselves. No matter how they were voiced, the profiles served their purpose. Starting with the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, Arledge titled them “Up Close and Personal.” While English teachers across the country cringed, viewers responded. And the profiles were used by all networks especially when NBC took over the Olympics. While the profiles are rarely used by NBC now, they still bring viewers closer to athletes.

Here’s an example of one ABC Olympics profile from the 1988 Calgary Games. This is of US Men’s Figure Skating Champion Brian Boitano as narrated by Jim McKay. As a bonus, you get a little preview of the “Battle of the Brians” between Boitano and Canadian Brian Orser with McKay and analyst Dick Button.

4. Fox Box

When Fox Sports surprised the sports world and purchased the rights to the National Football League in 1993, snatching them away from long-time incumbent CBS, the network promised to bring a new attitude to the game. They promised to bring younger viewers to the game as the ratings actually skewed to older demographics. And one of the first features people saw when Fox aired its first NFL game was a scorebug in the upper left hand corner of the screen. It was welcomed by fans all over the country. Former Fox Sports El Jefe del Mundo David Hill had brought something similar to English Premier League coverage on Sky Sports in the UK and felt it would work in the NFL. Boy did it ever. Other networks followed. Hill mentioned the Fox Box in the unveiling of Fox Sports 1 in New York, joking that he wished it was called the “Hill Box” instead.

The Fox Box has evolved over the years looking like this in 1994. Looks primitive compared to today.

How about this from 1999?

And finally this from 2012.

It’s changed the way we’ve watched sports. Every network has had to develop some type of scorebug. If you look at any sporting event pre-1994, it looks strange not to have a Fox Box.

3. “Whiparound” Coverage

A key for NCAA Tournament coverage, it started either in 1980 on ESPN or in 1981 on NBC depending on which account you want to believe. With most people watching NBC back in the early 1980′s, the Peacock gets most of the credit for bouncing in between three buzzer beaters in the NCAA Tournament with host Bryant Gumbel navigating viewers from St. Joseph’s upsetting DePaul to Arkansas winning over Louisville on the only halfcourt buzzer beater in NCAA Tournament history and finally to Rolando Blackman’s jumper with no time left to steer Kansas State over Oregon State. That is when the Madness was added to March. Here’s the last two buckets of Arkansas-Louisville with Marv Albert on the call for NBC, host Bryant Gumbel is in the middle of the video.

ESPN perfected the format for the NCAA Tournament in the early rounds as it shared the event with CBS from 1982 through 1990. When CBS took over the entire tournament in 1991, it did its best to match ESPN’s whiparound.

ESPN also used the whiparound on its NHL coverage in the 1980′s into the 1990′s and currently uses it on its college football “Goal Line” and college basketball “Buzzer Beater” channels as well as on the NCAA Women’s Tournament. MLB Network also utilizes it on MLB Tonight, but nothing quite matches the whiparound on the NCAA Tournament.

2. 1st and 10 Line

It first debuted on an ESPN Sunday Night NFL Football game in 1998 and was quickly followed by its network TV debut weeks later on CBS on Thanksgiving Day. It was soon standard for every football game both college and pro. It’s mostly yellow, sometimes orange, but yellow has become the best color to stand out on a green field. Other lines are used for the line of scrimmage or to signify a kicker’s field goal range for a game winning score or for an onside kick. No matter the network, the 1st and 10 line has to be included in the game broadcast or it doesn’t feel right.

1. Instant Replay

Where would we be without instant replay? Not only do we want to see a replay on television, but for a controversial play on-site, we want to see it at the stadium. Replay began in 1955 on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada through a kinescope, but that was only a few minutes after the play was aired. Videotape replay or “instant” replay didn’t occur until 1963 when CBS Sports director Tony Verna invented a system to play back the shot that was just seen during the Army-Navy football game. It wasn’t in slow motion, but it was the first-ever replay of a touchdown in the history of sports television. And soon afterwards, the way we watch sports would change forever.

Replay is used to review calls in the NFL, home runs in Major League Baseball, three point shots in college basketball and the NBA and goals in the NHL. Without replay, games would be be seen and mostly forgotten. Games become memorable with replays. Now we can watch that great catch, that bone crushing tackle, that dramatic home run or that game-winning goal from several different angles. Imagine if Verna hadn’t called for the replay?

Honorable Mentions: Pregame shows, ESPN SportsCenter.

Those are my selections for the greatest innovations in Sports Television.

Some Wednesday Linkage

Let’s do some linkage while I have some time.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand notes NBC’s hiring of Tiger Woods pal Notah Begay to its golf team. He replaces Dottie Pepper who went to the PGA of America.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand profiles ESPN PR pioneer Rosa Gatti who is retiring from the network after working there since the early days.

John & Tripp Mickle write that NBC remains as a wild card in the NASCAR Sprint Cup talks.

Over to the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center where Manny Randhawa definitely had an agenda in an interview with Deadspin editor Tommy Craggs over the site’s Manti Te’o coverage. Craggs shoots down several of Randhawa’s loaded questions.

To the Bleacher Report where King Kaufman analyzes the Craggs interview. It should be noted that Randhawa did some writing for B/R, but not now.

Michael O’Connell of the Hollywood Reporter says thanks to the Super Bowl and the Grammys, CBS will win the February sweeps while NBC without the NFL has fallen harder than a 3 ton boulder.

In Multichannel News, Broadcasting & Cable’s Tim Baysinger writes about ESPN getting out of the UK and selling its channels to BT Group.

At The Sherman Report, Ed Sherman notes that Leigh Montville is still producing high quality columns.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell says NASCAR needs to find a way to keep the increased audience that watched the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

Sports Video Group tells us that the MLS’s FC Dallas has signed a TV rights deal with Time Warner Cable. Fox Sports Southwest previously held the rights.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says the Iron Pigs announcers will call some Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training games.

Eric Deggans from the Tampa Bay Times writes about the shaky debut of CBS Radio’s FM sports radio station.

John Kiesewetter from the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Reds Radio Network has switched games to air Aroldis Chapman’s Spring debut.

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch says it’s time to end the live postgame interviews.

Houston Mitchell of the Los Angeles Times says ESPN’s Brent Musburger autographed a Katherine Webb poster.

Mark Blaudschun of A Jersey Guy looks at ESPN and the Big East getting back together again.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog says the proposed NHL realignment is good for TV, but not necessarily good for some teams.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media wonders how Olympic hockey would look on CBC and NBC.

Sports Media Watch has some various ratings news.

And we’ll end it there for now.

A Monday Sports Media Notebook

Let’s get cracking on some fresh content on this Monday afternoon. Plenty of stuff to go over.

• Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch’s Monday column discusses Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed reporting on the Red Carpet at The Oscars and reviews Fox’s Daytona 500 coverage. 
• The man who started SportsGrid, ABC News legal analyst Dan Abrams, the site has been sold to RotoExperts.
• I’m getting a lot of reaction to my post on whether Fox can find the proper role for Erin Andrews.
• Randolph May at Multichannel News talks about a case over Comcast’s refusal to move Tennis Channel off a dreaded sports tier.
• To Sports Business Daily where Richard E. Lapchick laments the lack of hiring diversity in the sports media.
• Overseas, ESPN is getting out of the UK television business, selling its channels to BT Group which beat it out for the rights to the English Premier League. ESPN will continue to maintain its digital UK assets and also kill ESPN Classic in Europe and Africa in separate decisions.
• USA Today’s Michael Hiestand feels Fox got off to a fast start with the overnight ratings for the Daytona 500.
• Hiestand also looks at the other sports overnight ratings from the weekend.
• David Lieberman at Deadline says News Corp.’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer James Murdoch (son of Rupert) says even with Fox Sports creating new all-sports cable channels, the company plans to be pennywise and not pound foolish over rights fees.
• In the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman talks with Golf Channel’s David Feherty about the season premiere of his weekly interview show.
• Bruce Allen at Boston Sports Media Watch looks at a preposterous argument put the forth by WEEI’s Gerry Callahan regarding the Daytona 500 and Danica Patrick.
• Bill Carter at the New York Times notes how NBC has had a precipitous fall into the ratings basement after starting off so well when Sunday Night Football was on.
• Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels the Federal lawsuit against Lance Armstrong wreaks of hypocrisy.
• From Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog reports that MASN’s Kristina Akra who was the Nationals’ on-field reporter is leaving the network. No word on where she’s going or who’s going to replace her.
• Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner says David Feherty will reveal a different side of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus tonight.
• Tom Jones at the Tampa Bay Times says Fox didn’t do itself any favors during its Daytona 500 prerace coverage.
• The Houston Chronicle’s David Barron notes that a local sports anchor is leaving his station after more than 20 years of service.
• Dan Caesar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Cardinals fans will be able to see and listen to their team throughout Spring Training.
• Dusty Saunders in the Denver Post writes about a Rocky Mountain TV veteran who wants to return to his sports roots.
• Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the SoCal Sports Calendar for this week.
• Tom has the five things he learned from the weekend.
• Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail makes clear of his disdain for CBC’s Don Cherry.
• Paulsen of Sports Media Watch says opposite the Daytona 500, the NBA on ABC took a big ratings hit.
• To Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing who looks at what Joe Buck plans to do with the St. Louis Cardinals if he manages to get the team and Fox Sports Midwest to sign off on his idea.
• Michael Shamburger at The Big Lead says Katherine Webb is 1st Round talent.

Ok, I’m going to end the linkage/notebook there.

Some Quick Sunday Morning Sports Media Thoughts

Saturday was certainly the interesting day in sports with two sports outside of the major four dominating headlines. Let’s go over them in bullet form.

• In what normally is the start of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series became the sports and also news story of the first part of Saturday when a crash at Drive4COPD at Daytona became more than just a race. As cars were speeding towards the checkered flag, Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski crashed. That caused Kyle Larson’s car to go airborne and hit a support fence. It also caused one of his tires to fly into the grandstand. At last check, 28 fans had been injured from the flying debris from the track.

  ESPN which was carrying the race elected to run past its signoff time and run into the North Carolina-North Carolina State college basketball game to cover the situation and get interviews with drivers and NASCAR President Mike Helton to find out what happened.

  ESPN’s crew did a solid job in gathering information, but the real spotlight shined on Speed for its coverage for two hours on its SpeedCenter program. Adam Alexander anchored the coverage and it covered all angles from the crash from the drivers to the fans who were injured in the stands updating news as it became available, airing the surreal NASCAR press conference and tapping the NASCAR on Fox crew to report the news. In this case, ESPN gets a B for its coverage of the crash and Speed gets the A+.

• After NASCAR, the focus shifted to Mixed Martial Arts and UFC’s pay per view event which had its first female fight headline the card. As usual, Mike Goldberg set up Joe Rogan as much as he could. Rogan tapped into his comedian inner self by suggesting people leave “flaming poop” at International Olympic Committee headquarters over the decision to remove wrestling from its roster after 2020. It certainly was a strange comment, but it was due to Dan Henderson wearing trunks with a Twitter hashtag seeking to keep wrestling in the Olympics past 2020.

  But that was not the main focus of the pay per view telecast, it was Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche as the main fight and it did not disappoint. While the fight lasted one round, it had a lot of action has Rousey had to overcome a chokehold and Rousey doing her patented armbar to win her 7th consecutive fight and retain the UFC’s Women’s Championship. Judging by the reaction on social media, there were a lot of buys for the fight and more than the usual attention on a UFC pay per view. Of course, Twitter reaction does not necessarily translate to ratings, but I’m thinking the interest into Rousey may have won UFC some fans on Saturday. And with Rousey’s win, expect her star to rise with interviews on mainstream programs like The View, Live with Kelly and Michael and Today’s 4th hour with Hoda and Kathie Lee.

• One story that quietly surfaced on Saturday was the potential NHL conference realignment worked out between the league and the NHL Players Association. You may remember the league tried realignment before the lockout, but it was rejected by the NHLPA. But this time, the league worked with the players and we have some interesting results.

  Detroit and Columbus would both go East. The Eastern half of the league would have two eight team “conferences”. Out West, there would be two seven team “conferences” and an interesting feature as unveiled by CBC’s Elliotte Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada, there would be Wild Cards in the East to offset the higher playoff chances in the West. That could lead to some very interesting playoff potential and ratings for the NHL’s TV partners. If this is approved and Detroit heads back East, it brings back the old Toronto-Detroit Original Six rivalry into play and it also has five of the Original Six in the East. Chicago would remain in the West.

  There’s a lot of TV potential with this new realignment. NBC’s focus could remain totally in the East if Detroit moves out from the West. And Hockey Night in Canada wherever it lands could see more Detroit games for its 7 p.m. ET window.

  Certainly some interesting news coming out of the NHL on Saturday.

Ok, some thoughts for you on this Sunday. Back later today.

CBC Announces It’s Officially Back in the Olympics Business

During the 2012 Olympics, the International Olympics Committee awarded the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics to CBC after the Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium consisting of CTV, RDS, TSN and Sportsnet had aired the 2010 and 2012 Games, ending a long streak by CBC dating back to 1996.

CBC had yet to officially announce its plans for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi asides from a random promo during Hockey Night in Canada, but today, the network gave its one year kickoff to its coverage today.

CBC says it has formed its own consortium to air the Olympics in Canada. Sportsnet says it will carry some 200 hours from Sochi. TSN along with its French partner, RDS, says it will also air a portion of the Olympics.

Details of which network will air which sports will be worked out and we’ll also hear about talent for the Games as well. I’m sure Ron MacLean who was primetime host for Beijing will have a major role. Not sure if Brian Williams who worked CBC’s Olympics until 2006 will return to Canada’s public broadcaster to host, but we’ll see. You can rest assured that Hockey Night in Canada voice Jim Hughson will call hockey for CBC.

CBC has also launched its official Olympics website.

Here’s CBC’s press release.

SOCHI IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK AND THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPICS STARTS HERE: CBC/RADIO-CANADA IS CANADA’S OLYMPIC NETWORK

As Canada’s Official Olympic Broadcaster for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, CBC/Radio-Canada brings the Olympic Games home to Canadians like never before

Today marks the official one-year countdown to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, and CBC/Radio-Canada is thrilled to bring the Olympic Games home to Canadians. As Canada’s Official Broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada brings Canadians cross-platform coverage of the top news and stories in the year leading up to Sochi 2014, running from February 7 – 23, 2014. With exclusive license arrangements, TSN, RDS, and Sportsnet will also present coverage of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Stay tuned – more platform distribution announcements to come.

“We’re incredibly proud to be the official home of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games,” said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice-President, English Services, CBC. “As we count down to Sochi 2014, we are committed to sharing the inspirational stories of our athletes, while providing Canadians with a robust Olympic Games experience, across all platforms.”

Louis Lalande, Executive Vice-President, Radio-Canada, added: “The Olympic Games have been part of Radio-Canada’s DNA for over fifty years. It is with great anticipation that we prepare for Sochi 2014. We aim to offer viewers from coast to coast a distinct coverage that will allow them to live and breathe with our athletes on this most prestigious stage.”

CBC/Radio-Canada is the place to be as we count down to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. With coverage across all platforms – including TV, radio, online, and mobile – Canadians can connect with the biggest stories and the latest content whenever and wherever they want it. Through world-class storytelling and the best performance coverage available, CBC/Radio-Canada will introduce viewers to Canadian athletes poised to take on the world in 2014. Canadians can engage with CBC/Radio-Canada leading up to and throughout the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games online in English at CBC.ca/Olympics and in French at Radio-Canada.ca/Olympiques, as well as on Twitter in English at @cbcolympics (#cbcolympics), and in French at @RC_Sports (#RColympiques).

The countdown to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi was in full-swing this week on CBC, with extensive programming on all platforms. Throughout the week, viewers have enjoyed extensive coverage, with stories from Sochi and beyond, as well as a look at Canada’s Olympians as they prepare for the Games.

And here’s CBC’s Olympic promo. Sounds like its venerable Olympic theme will be back after a six year absence.

There you have it.

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada 2013 Schedule

Here’s the press release from CBC which celebrates the 60th season of North America’s longest running sports series on television, Hockey Night in Canada. On Saturday, January 19, CBC will have a season opening tripleheader which will include Ottawa at Winnipeg at 3 p.m. ET and then Toronto at Montreal at 7 p.m. which will be followed by Anaheim at Vancouver for the nightcap.

We have the press release followed by the Hockey Night in Canada schedule.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA RETURNS FOR ITS 60TH SEASON ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

The puck drops on the new season with Ottawa @ Winnipeg (3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT) followed by Toronto @ Montreal (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) and Anaheim @ Vancouver (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is ready to hit the ice for its 60^th season beginning Saturday, January 19 with 49 games on the schedule. CBC gives viewers the best seat in the house to catch the best games, marquee players and is the exclusive home of the Stanley Cup Final.

“Canadians have missed their game, and we’ve missed bringing it to them. We look forward to the return of the teams and the players, and CBC will be there as they drop the puck,” said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice President, English Services, CBC.

CBC hosts the biggest hockey night of the week where appointment viewing and fan engagement take center stage. This season’s schedule includes 10 Original Six pairings and rivalry games featuring Toronto/Montreal, Edmonton/Calgary, Ottawa/Toronto, and Montreal/Boston. Eighteen all-Canadian match-ups also highlight the schedule including three that anchor a full day of coverage on Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on February 9.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s season gets underway with Ottawa @ Winnipeg at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT). CBC will have simultaneous live coverage of select moments from the official Stanley Cup banner raising in Los Angeles between 3-3:30 p.m. ET (12-12:30pm PT). Coverage continues with a CBC-exclusive concert event live from Montreal as Scotiabank Hockey Tonight returns at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT), followed by Toronto @ Montreal at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). Wrapping up the night is Anaheim @ Vancouver at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).

Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi presented by Chevrolet returns every Saturday night with double-header action.

“We’re thrilled to be able to share the tradition of Hockey Night in Canada with the nation once again this year,” said Jeffrey Orridge, Executive Director, Sports Properties, CBC.

Hockey Day in Canada is back for its 13^th year. Ron Maclean and Don Cherry celebrate the Day from Peterborough, Ontario, when all seven Canadian teams will be in action. The Under the Lock Hockey Tournament on the Trent Canal and the OHL game between the Peterborough Petes game and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will provide the background for the day. Lloydminster, AB/SK will host the five-day celebration in 2014.

“This will be Hockey Night in Canada’s 60^th season and we can’t wait to celebrate with our viewers in interactive and engaging ways,” said Julie Bristow, Executive Director, Studio and Unscripted Programming, English Services, CBC.

Fans can connect with CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA online, through Twitter (#HockeyNight) and Facebook and with the Hockey Night in Canada app for iOS and Windows 8.

Further details of CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s programming elements and celebrations surrounding the 60^th season will be announced in the coming days.

After the break, I’ll have the schedule for you.

(continue reading…)

The NHL is Back. What Next?

Nobody won. Really, nobody. The fans lost because they were left hanging and lost a half-season including the Winter Classic at the Big House in Michigan. NBC Sports Network whose ratings fell into abyss with no NHL games from October through now has been “The Biggest Loser” through all this.

Regional sports networks across the country, dependent on NHL games for live programming, have been stuck trying to fill large holes with repeats of past sporting events or in some extreme cases, movies.

So now that the NHL is coming back as early as January 15 and no later than January 19, let’s go over the winners and losers from the NHL Lockout.

WINNERS

No one. Nobody won. Fans. Players. Owners. Sponsors. TV partners. The League. All lost.

LOSERS

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: The NHL has lost 10% of the games in his disastrous tenure due to lockout. No league has lost more games due to labor disputes during the time he’s been in office. And the NHL is the lone league of the major four leagues to have canceled an entire season.

NBC Sports Network: It didn’t have live NHL games for four months and its ratings suffered. With Michelle Beadle’s new show premiering this month and a new NFL documentary about to begin, the network needs that consistent live programming to promote them. The NHL will help in that process.

Regional Sports Networks: Local rightsholders such as NESN, Sun Sports, Comcast SportsNet and Fox Sports Net all depend on the NHL for as many as 80 live games per season. Without live games, they had to scramble for other programming. NESN kept airing the Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup run, but that only goes so far. The RSN’s are happy to see the NHL returning.

Sponsors: Based on the momentum the NHL had built over the last few years including a new long-term TV contract with NBC that began last season, sponsors had begun to drift to the league. As the lockout progressed, sponsors put pressure on the league to get back on the ice.

Local businesses and Employees:Restaurants, bars and shops that depend on hockey crowds for business at night lost four months to the lockout and that’s money that they’ll never get back. Buffalo, Nashville and other hockey-only markets are happy to see the NHL knowing that they’ll have 24-25 dates. But will the fans be back? And if you want to see how losing hockey can affect local businesses, here’s a flashback from WFSB’s Dennis House on how the Hartford Whalers’ departure affected Connecticut and one particular restaurant.

NHL Network: Bad job by the NHL Network for not even bringing back its studio shows to update fans on the lockout. As the news of the lockout was being settled, NHL Network remained in taped programming. They didn’t even simulcast TSN from Canada. Disservice to the fans. NFL Network and NBA TV both covered the ends of their lockouts in 2011, yet NHL Network can’t even provide lip service other than a crawl? C’mon, man! C’mon, NHL Network!

So where do we go from here? There are several things the NHL can do to get back in the fans’ good graces. One, make the Center Ice pay out-of-market package free for the entire season. Also, GameCenter which is the online version of Center Ice should be greatly discounted or made free for the season as well.

When the season opens, whether it’s on January 15 or January 19, NBC Sports Group should be given an opening night doubleheader which should include the banner raising ceremony for the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.

If the NHL opens on January 19 which falls on a Saturday, NBC should be given an afternoon doubleheader at noon and 3 p.m. ET while NBC Sports Network should be given games at night.

As far as the Canadian TV partners, expect CBC to given the Opening Night doubleheader no matter what day the NHL will open the season. TSN should get plenty of games for opening week as well.

And we’ll keep an eye on the ratings for any residual effects from the lockout. Both the NFL and NBA did not suffer any collateral damage from the lockout seeing record ratings. We’ll see if the NHL is warmly welcomed back or given the cold shoulder by fans.

To prepare you for the NHL, I’ll provide you this compilation of NESN’s Jack Edwards calling Boston Bruins action over the years.

And for Western New York, here’s the Best of Buffalo Sabres legendary voice Rick Jeanneret.

One more for good measure. TSN provides the Top Ten calls for legendary Pittsburgh Penguins voice Mike Lange. I wish we had “And you can scratch my back with a hacksaw!”

That is all.

Some Quick Wednesday Linkage

Let’s do some links now.

Austin Karp at Sports Business Daily says the MLB TV partners saw record low ratings this season.

Sports lllustrated’s Richard Deitsch reviews ESPN2′s first foray into pro hockey since losing the NHL in 2005.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today notes that Bob Costas is back calling postseason baseball for the first time since 2000.

Chris Strauss at USA Today says Monday Night Football on ESPN easily beat the MLB League Division Series on TBS.

Gary Mihoces of USA Today writes that former NFL’er, Monday Night Football analyst and actor Alex Karras has died.

Len Pasquarelli writing for SI.com has this remembrance of Karras.

At Yahoo’s Puck Daddy, Greg Wyshynski recaps ESPN2′s telecast of Tuesday’s KHL game.

The Sherman Report’s Ed Sherman talks with ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit about a resurgent Notre Dame program.

Ed says it appears that White Sox TV analyst Steve Stone won’t be splitting up with Ken Harrelson.

Tim Baysinger of Broadcasting & Cable notes that Andrea Kremer is joining NFL Network.

Diego Vasquez of Media Life Magazine looks at Philadelphia where there are a lot of radio and TV deals and where sports radio remains hot.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid has video of an awkward CNBC interview of New York Jets owner Woody Johnson in regards to …. Tim Tebow.

Michael Bradley from the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says the media has to appeal to fans to show compassion in the wake of Kansas City fans cheering the injury to Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel.

Ryan Hannable at Boston Sports Media Watch talks with NESN’s Jenny Dell about her first season as the regional sports network’s Red Sox on-field reporter.

Anthony Sulla-Heffinger, George King III and Mark Hale at the New York Post note that the Jets beat the Yankees head-to-head in the local ratings on Monday night.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times discusses WFAN’s move to the FM dial.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record also talks about WFAN going to FM.

Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette says a local sports radio station will air selected AHL games.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post says Nationals fans are angry about the early start time for today’s NLDS Game 3 against the Cardinals and the fact that it’s on MLB Network.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle gets Milo Hamilton’s reaction to the Astros letting go of its radio team.

David has some local and national ratings.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman has the ratings of various events over the weekend.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that Hall of Fame Reds voice Marty Brennaman will be throwing out the first pitch before today’s NLDS game against San Francisco.

Charles E. Ramirez, Ted Kulfan and Lynn Henning at the Detroit News remember long-time Red Wings public address announcer Budd Lynch who passed away this week.

Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune has new Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco talking about the league’s TV rights and possibly creating its own in-house network.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News notices the omissions for the Ford C. Frick Award for the Baseball Hall of Fame Broadcasters Wing.

Tom talks with Jennifer Allen, the daughter of the late Los Angeles Rams coach George Allen, who narrates tonight’s NFL Network “Fearsome Foursome: A Football Life” documenary.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says losing Hockey Night in Canada would create huge holes for CBC in more ways than one.

Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star says CBC is looking to fill NHL lockout holes with classic games as voted by viewers.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog says CBC is hurt the most as the NHL lockout goes further into the regular season.

The Classic Sports TV and Media site gives us a fascinating look at how ABC filled college football and MLB Postseason conflicts with its #1 announcer for both packages, Keith Jackson.

Joe Favorito has some suggestions on how MLB teams could make money during rain delays.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing looks at the Boston Globe’s crusty curmudgeon Dan Shaughnessy blaming the internet for just about everything wrong in the world.

Sports Media Watch notes that taped delayed English Premier League action on Fox beat a live MLS game on NBC.

And that’s going to do it.

Bringing Out Some Wednesday Links For You

Time for some linkage in this mid-week and last day of the 2012 MLB regular season. Lots of things to get to.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand analyzes the new MLB TV deals with Fox and Turner.

Nate Davis of USA Today’s Game On blog previews tonight’s NFL Network “A Football Life” documentary.

John Ourand and David Broughton of Sports Business Journal report on this season’s local MLB TV ratings.

Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter has a Fox Sports executive being very bullish on soccer.

Alex Ben Block of the Reporter goes over the MLB contracts with Fox and Turner.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable writes that the American Cable Association, which hates everything, is railing against the MLB TV deals.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News also delves into the new MLB deals.

Mike says Monday night’s Chicago Bears-Dallas Cowboys game garnered cable’s third biggest audience of the year.

Kristian Dyer at Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner blog notes that Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones has apologized for an unintentional insensitive tweet responding to the paralyzed Eric LeGrand.

Spiracle Media through Storify harnessed some tweets from athletes who watched the extremely fascinating 30 for 30 documentary, “Broke” on ESPN.

Ed Sherman from The Sherman Report anticipates Fox’s next move to create an all-sports cable channel.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group looks at PGA.com’s video coverage of the Ryder Cup.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell explores the NFL financial advisory program in hopes of preventing athletes from going broke.

NFL referee Ed Hochuli is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe explores the latest Arbitron ratings for the city’s sports radio stations.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the new MLB TV deals.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the Week 6 college football TV schedule.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that ESPN’s and former DC sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak celebrated the Nationals on SportsCenter.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes about the new MLB TV deals.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says last Saturday’s Texas-Oklahoma State game registered huge local ratings.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mark Dawidziak tells us that former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel will be joining a local TV station as a weekly contributor. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says a local sports anchor will not face charges stemming from a domestic violence case.

Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine profiles Trenni Kusnierek, now of Comcast SportsNet New England, on her battle with depression.

Robert Feder of TimeOut Chicago writes that the Bulls have renewed their Spanish radio rights (scroll down).

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch has a full story on the Bulls’ renewal.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says the new TV deals with Fox and Turner gives MLB plenty of stability into the next decade.

James Mirtle of the Toronto Globe and Mail notes that CBC’s Don Cherry is blasting the Maple Leafs for their treatment of one of their players.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Globe and Mail notes that the MLB Postseason will have teams from both small and big markets.

Cork Gaines at the Business Insider Sports Page has some memorable quotes from last night’s 30 for 30 “Broke” documentary.

John Daly at the Daly Planet explores the possibilities for the much discussed, but unconfirmed Fox Sports 1.

Joe Favorito says College Radio Day is a very good thing for aspiring broadcasters.

The legend of Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke is growing thanks to a new animated gif showing her warming up in the rain. This has nothing to do with sports media. Just me linking to Michelle Jenneke.

And that is all.

Some Wednesday Evening Linkage

I’ll provide a few links on this Wednesday afternoon.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today looks at CBS pushing its Sunday primetime lineup to 7:30 p.m. ET to accommodate the NFL.

Michael Kruse of Grantland has a very good story catching up with former ESPN Radio host Nanci Donnellan aka “The Fabulous Sports Babe”.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report has some thoughts on Notre Dame joining the ACC except for football and hockey.

Ed notes that Michelle Beadle might be headed to mornings on NBC Sports Network.

ESPN’s Kristi Dosh writes that despite losing Notre Dame, the Big East can still get a big TV rights eal.

Darren Rovell of ESPN says Notre Dame won’t becoming a full-time member of the ACC simply due to the fact that it likes its deal with NBC for football.

Georg Szalai from the Hollywood Reporter has CBS Head Honcho Leslie Moonves boasting about Super Bowl ads being sold for more than $4 million per 30 second spot.

Todd Spangler of Broadcasting & Cable writes that Google Fiber has added ESPN and several other Disney networks.

Tim Baysinger of B&C says Fox Sports has partnered with Oklahoma University to provide exclusive content on its Fox Sports Net channels.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek tells us NBC’s Sunday Night Football set another ratings record.

Jason Del Ray at Advertising Age says ESPN is launching an ad campaign for its pay Insider service.

Toni Fitzgerald from Media Life writes that thanks to the Olympics, NBC cruised to a summer ratings victory.

John Koblin of Deadspin has the great video of WFAN’s Mike Francesa falling asleep during his NFL Now show that was simulcast on YES last Sunday.

John also looks at the NFL going further into Sunday primetime.

Matt Yoder from Awful Announcing looks at Tim Brando’s Twitter war with Ohio State fans that stemmed from an interview during his radio show today.

Bill Carter of the New York Times discusses CBS adjusting its Sunday primetime schedule for the NFL.

Jerry Barmash from Fishbowl NY says the New York Giants season opener on NBC topped the ratings in the Big Apple.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call is one of the few who likes Bob Costas’ Sunday Night Football halftime commentaries.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has the local ratings for the DC Football Team’s season opener and RGIII’s pro debut.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle looks at the new Fox Sports-Oklahoma University rights deal.

David has a few notes in his blog including one on retiring Astros voice Milo Hamilton.

Mel Bracht at The Oklahoman says the NFL topped the local weekend ratings.

Berry Tremel of The Oklahoman looks at the new Fox Sports-OU relationship.

Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World has details of the Fox Sports-Oklahoma agreement.

Guerin Emig of the World has a Q&A about the new Sooner Sports TV programming arrangement.

Paul M. Banks from the Chicago Sports Media Watch says the White Sox set a 3 year ratings high for Comcast SportsNet on Tuesday.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune anticipates the 50,000th edition of ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says the next inductee to the Broadcasters Wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame could be going in as both a player and a broadcaster.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail says a documentary on soccer match fixing is a reason why Canada needs the CBC.

Sports Media Watch says Monday Night Football got off to a slow start.

SMW notes that the U.S. Open men’s final on Monday afternoon didn’t do as well as it could have.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth noticed an error in one of Fox Sports’  MLB promos.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says NBC Sports Network is increasing its college hockey schedule in case of an NHL lockout.

That’s going to do it for now.

Some Quick Monday Afternoon Linkage

Was out for a bit today so I’m behind in what I want to get done here. I’ll do some links for you to tie you over.

I’ll start with a couple of stories from Sports Business Daily which looks at some record overnight ratings for Fox and NBC for the first Sunday of the NFL regular season.

John Ourand at SBD notes that ESPN has officially scrapped the musical opens for Monday Night Football for good.

From NFL UK, Nicholas Pike writes that viewers can watch Monday Night Football through BBC’s red button or through its website.

Sam Laird at Mashable says NBC’s Michele Tafoya has been sending video tweets from the sidelines during the NFL Kickoff Game and on Sunday Night Football.

Michael O’Connell at the Hollywood Reporter says NBC is really crowing about its Sunday Night Football overnights.

Tim Baysinger of Broadcasting & Cable reports that NFL Network has hired a former DirecTV executive to join its NFL Total Access show.

Christopher Heine of Adweek says the New York Giants are on the forefront of social media.

Adweek’s Emma Bazilian discovers that CNN Situation Room host Wolf Blitzer loves watching ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Media Life Magazine reports that CBS has almost sold out its Super Bowl ad inventory.

Merrill Knox at TV Spy says Friend of Fang’s Bites Courtney Fallon has taken her talents to South Beach from Providence.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell writes that Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA becomes the latest NFL facility to offer free Wi-Fi to its fans.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report looks at what’s in store this season on ESPN’s Monday Night Fotoball.

Ed says the NFL can’t be pleased over the length of some of Sunday’s games due to replacement refs.

Rob Tobias from the ESPN Front Row PR blog talks to the man who composed the iconic SportsCenter theme.

Also from the Front Row blog, Allison Stoneberg writes about ESPN’s Monday Night Football production truck.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that NBC Sports Network will air World Team Tennis this weekend.

Pete says the Baseball Hall of Fame has narrowed the field for the Ford C. Frick broadcasters award.

Pete writes that the local CBS affiliate has opted not to show the US Open men’s final today. The same here in Providence. It’s been pushed to its co-owned Fox affiliate’s secondary digital channel. Ouch.

At the Baltimore Sun, David Zurawik talks with new Monday Night Football reporter Lisa Salters who got her start in TV news in the Charm City.

Rich Shopes of the Tampa Bay Times says the local blackout of the Buccaneers home opener is killing local sports bars.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says a nice day plus a blowout lowered the Texans’ TV ratings.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Reds’ radio ratings are truly amazing.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Fox’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman took note of the replacement referees during yesterday’s San Francisco-Green Bay game.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post talks with NBC’s Al Michaels.

The Arizona Republic’s Paola Boivin doesn’t have good news in the DirecTV-Pac 12 Networks talks.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has five things he learned over the weekend.

Tom has your sports calendar for the week.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail downplays CBC’s acquisition of the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Matt Sarzyniak of Matt’s College Sports has a couple of notes on the ESPN/Fox Big 12 deal.

NHL Releases The 2012-13 Regular Season National TV Schedules

This is like last year when the NBA released its national TV schedules in the midst of its lockout and nobody cared. Now, it’s the NHL’s turn to release this and until the lockout is settled between the league and its NHL Players Association, this means nothing.

After all the momentum the NHL built at the end of last season, there’s labor strife and Commissioner Gary Bettman seems to be in no hurry to end despite a nice fat TV contract with NBC and a TV negotiation upcoming in Canada that could further expand the league’s coffers.

Anyway, we have this press release from the National Hockey League talking about the number of games on NBC, NBC Sports Network, NHL Network, CBC, RDS and TSN.

NBC Sports Group will combine for over 100 regular season games including games on Sunday afternoons, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

CBC will carry 101 games including Hockey Night in Canada doubleheaders on Saturday nights.

TSN has Wednesday Night Hockey and will take 237 games on its combined TSN/TSN2 group.

RDS is the French language rightsholder for Canada and will carry all Montreal Canadiens games plus the Winter Classic and All-Star Weekend.

NHL Network will have 82 regular season games mostly from local feeds.

Take a look at what the NHL is saying. After that, I’ll post the press releases from the NHL’s TV partners in separate posts.

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE UNVEILS 2012-13 NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE

NEW YORK (August 30, 2012) – The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today the television schedules for national partners NBC, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TSN, TSN2, RDS and NHL Network-U.S. for the 2012-13 regular season.

In the U.S., NBC and NBC Sports Network enter the second season of the 10-year agreement with the NHL, the largest media rights deal in League history. It also is the eighth consecutive season both networks have served as a national television partner of the NHL in the U.S. In Canada, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada begins its 60th regular season of NHL® broadcasts. TSN, whose relationship with the NHL dates back to 1987, continues as the League’s national English-language cable partner. French-language telecast partner RDS has been televising NHL games since its inception in 1989 and enters its 10th consecutive season presenting every Montreal Canadiens game.

NBC Sports Group
Throughout the season, NBC Sports Group once again will offer hockey fans in the U.S. more than 100 games across NBC and NBC Sports Network. NBC Sports Network will air NHL games three consecutive nights each week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday nights will be exclusive, and in January, NBC Sports Network will add a second exclusive night on Sundays, giving NHL fans four straight nights of hockey action. The network will include a live pre-game (NHL Live™) and post-game (NHL Overtime™) show before and after every telecast. NBC Sports Network also will televise NHL All-Star Weekend live from Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 25-27, 2013. Coverage includes the NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft™, NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ and the NHL® All-Star Game.

For the second consecutive season, NHL on NBC broadcast coverage launches on Thanksgiving Friday, with the 2012 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown™ featuring the Boston Bruins playing host to the New York Rangers at 1:00 p.m. ET. NBC will follow up that broadcast with the 2013 NHL Winter Classic® on Tuesday, Jan. 1, at Michigan Stadium on the campus of the University of Michigan, before airing the weekly “Game of the Week” beginning Jan. 20. On Feb. 17, Hockey Day in America will be expanded to a triple-header, with two afternoon games on NBC followed by evening game on NBC Sports Network.

CBC
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada returns for its 60th season, marking a new milestone for one of the longest running and most iconic programs in Canadian television history. The 60th anniversary season is highlighted by 101 regular-season games, including a special Thursday, Nov. 1, match-up between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, just as it did in 1952 when Hockey Night in Canada first took to the TV airwaves. The 2013 NHL Winter Classic® and the 60th NHL All-Star Game also return exclusively to CBC this season. Hockey Night in Canada on CBC will continue to honor Canada’s pastime as Hockey Day in Canada celebrates its 13th annual broadcast from Lloydminster AB/SK, Canada’s only border town, on Feb. 9, 2013. All Canadian teams will be featured on the day-long broadcast, which commemorates and highlights local hockey heroes.

With CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada continued commitment to connect Canadians to the NHL and the sport of hockey no matter where they are on game night, all 101 regular-season games will be streamed online as well as available for iPad and iPhone users.

TSN
TSN platforms will broadcast 237 NHL regular-season games during the 2012-13 season, its most extensive broadcast package ever. TSN will broadcast 88 regular-season games nationally, including 74 games featuring Canadian teams. TSN2 will air 63 games. Highlighting TSN’s 2012-13 NHL regular-season broadcast schedule is the Hockey Hall of Fame Game, airing for the first time on TSN. Featuring New Jersey at Toronto on Friday, November 9, the Hockey Hall of Fame Game honors 2012 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Pavel Bure, Adam Oates, Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin. In addition, TSN has exclusive Canadian coverage of the NHL Draft, NHL Draft™ Lottery and the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration while retaining the English-language exclusivity of “Wednesday Night Hockey” during which there is no other national or local NHL telecasts.

RDS
RDS will once again have French-language coverage of all 82 regular-season Montreal Canadiens games. RDS and RDS INFO also will broadcast a package of games featuring other NHL teams, including the 2013 NHL Winter Classic® and full coverage of the NHL All-Star Weekend.

NHL Network-U.S.
NHL Network-U.S. will televise 78 live games for its American audience this season, focusing on Thursday nights and Saturdays, including 14 doubleheaders and three tripleheaders. Regular-season coverage on NHL Network-U.S. gets underway on Friday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET and features Nashville at Detroit. The Red Wings will begin their quest for a 22nd consecutive postseason berth against captain Shea Weber and the Predators, the very team that eliminated them from the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On Saturday evenings, NHL Network-U.S. will continue to incorporate the highly acclaimed CBC programming “Coaches Corner” and “Hotstove” into intermission content for American fans. Other highlights include eight appearances by the current Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and Zach Parise’s return to New Jersey when the Minnesota Wild take on the Devils on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

NHL Network’s signature show, NHL Tonight™ hosted by Kathryn Tappen and featuring a rotating cast of analysts, returns across North America, providing highlights and analysis of every NHL game on a nightly basis. In addition to NHL Tonight, the network also will feature live original programming each evening with  NHL Live™ and NHL On the Fly™. As always, NHL Network™ will continue to bring fans exclusive coverage from all of the NHL’s signature events throughout the season. Information on the dates and times of the NHL Network live-game schedule for Canadian viewers will be released in the near future.

2012-13 Regular Season
The NHL’s 2012-13 regular season is scheduled to commence on Thursday, Oct. 11, with a quartet of games. The following night – Friday, Oct. 12 – the Los Angeles Kings will raise the first Stanley Cup® Championship banner in franchise history in front of a national audience on NBC Sports Network.

Opening night will feature nationally televised double-headers in both the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S., NBC Sports Network will air the 2011 Stanley Cup® champion Boston Bruins visiting the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center as well as the St. Louis Blues taking on the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. In Canada, CBC and RDS will televise the Montreal Canadiens playing host to the Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre and the Calgary Flames battling the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Under the NHL scheduling matrix, each team plays six games against each team in its division (24 games), four games against the non-division teams within its conference (40 games) plus 18 non-conference games – including at least one game against each club in the other conference (15 games) and three other games against select teams.

The 2012-13 NHL regular season will conclude on Saturday, April 13, with 28 teams competing in what promises to be a thrilling 14-game fight to the finish.

NBC Sports Group’s schedule is coming up.

CBC Awarded Rights To 2014/2016 Olympics

In a move that was not expected for a while, the International Olympic Committee announced today that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has been awarded the rights to the 2014/2016 Olympics.

Earlier this year, the IOC rejected two joint bids from a combined CTV/CBC venture. After the last bid was turned down, CTV chose to drop out and CBC decided to enter a bid on its own. CBC had aired the Olympics consecutively from 1996 until 2008.

The Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium made up of several networks including CTV, Sportsnet and TSN won the rights to 2010/2012 which included the Vancouver Winter Games ending CBC’s streak.

With this winning bid, plus a mandate by the Canadian government to control costs at CBC, the country’s public broadcaster, one wonders how this might effect its hopes to retain the rights to the NHL and its long-running series, Hockey Night in Canada. We shall see.

Here’s the CBC release.

Olympic Games coming home to CBC/Radio-Canada

The International Olympic Committee today announced that CBC/Radio-Canada has been awarded the Canadian broadcast rights for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games. As part of the agreement, the two parties entered into a new partnership that is unique to Canadian Olympic broadcasts. Canadians will have full access to all the excitement of the Olympic Games wherever and however they choose to cheer on Canada’s best athletes.

In making the announcement from London, CBC/Radio-Canada President Hubert Lacroix said, “This is excellent news for Canadians across the country who will once again experience the Olympic tradition with their public broadcaster. We’ve promised Canadians signature events on all our platforms that create opportunities to connect with each other and the country. I can’t think of a greater opportunity to create those connections and generate pride than showcasing the Olympic Games and the performances of our own Canadian athletes.”

IOC President Jacques Rogge said, “Canada is a sports loving nation and Canadians are big fans of the Olympic Games. CBC/Radio-Canada has a wealth of experience in broadcasting sports and the Olympic Games and we are pleased that we will once again be joining forces with them in the future.”

For almost 60 years, and on 19 different occasions, CBC/Radio-Canada has broadcast the Olympic Games, more recently with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games.

More coming up when possible.

Videos of the Week — 2008 Olympics

As the 2012 Summer Olympics in London or officially known as Games of the XXX Olympiad get underway on Friday, let’s look back at how the 2008 Games in Communist China were covered by the English language rightsholders in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. I’ll provide videos of various opens, closes and how some of the events were called on NBC, CBC, BBC and 7 Network. In the cases of the CBC and 7 Network, 2008 marked the end of their Olympic roads. Unless CBC and 7 Network win the bids for the 2014/2016 Games, they’ll be shut out for another set of Olympics.

Let’s begin with NBC and its coverage of the Games of the XXVIX Olympiad in Beijing.

NBC

This is the opening to NBC’s coverage just as it was ready to show tape delayed coverage of the Opening Ceremony on August 8, 2008 (08/08/08). And we have a whole bunch of athletes which NBC showcased saying, “It’s not the triumph, it’s the struggle.” So dramatic. And you get the ending NBC’s Opening Ceremony coverage with a nice dedication to ABC’s Jim McKay who passed in 2008.

As the USA’s men’s basketball team took on Communist China, NBC surprised viewers by bringing back the “Roundball Rock” theme that had laid dormant since the network lost the rights to the NBA in 2002. It was nice to hear it again. Almost brought a tear to my eye. And note weekend host Jim Lampley who is no longer part of the Peacock’s coverage.

Here’s Tom Hammond’s call of Usain Bolt’s shattering the 100 meters World Record.

And we have NBC’s closing montage set to “Remember The Titans”.

CBC

This is CBC’s highlights of the entire 16 Days of Glory.

And to end CBC’s coverage of Beijing, it looks back at 40 years of Olympics coverage using Ali Slaight’s “Story of Your Life”.

CBC lost the contract to the 2010/2012 to the Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium led by CTV. The rights to 2014/2016 are up in the air.

7 Network

Here’s 7 Network in Australia and its open to its coverage of the Games in Communist China. A bit different to how it looks in the US. Matthew White is the host.

And here’s a 7 Network montage done to “Ready to Fly” by Amy Pearson. The song is about breaking up with a man, but whatever. 7 Network reworked it to fit its coverage.

BBC

This was released before the 2008 Games, the great animation used by BBC for the Olympics, based on the old Monkey TV series, this was done by Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn who also did work for the group Gorillaz.

Here’s a few minutes of BBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony. Just be patient after the weather forecast. Sue Barker hosts and throws it to Hazel Irvine, Huw Edwards and Carrie Gracie.

And this is a compilation of opens featuring Michael Johnson saying, “Previously at the Olympics”. I love these opens. The music is from “The Matrix Reloaded”.

This is a cool BBC review of Michael Phelps’ 8 gold medals in Communist China.

Finally, here’s BBC’s ending montage. I like this a lot. It’s done to Tom Baxter’s Miracle.

And that’s going to do it for the Videos of the Week. Enjoy the Olympics.

Breaking Out Some Wednesday Linkage

Time for some Wednesday links. Won’t be a full set as I’ll be monitoring NBC’s Olympic conference call.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio discusses Chris Berman heading to the Monday Night Football booth for two games.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing says national nightmare Berman in the booth is not what NFL fans want.

Doug Farrar of Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner says it isn’t Berman who we should be worried about.

Matt writes about ESPN replacing Craig James on Thursday Night college football.

Michael Smith in Sports Business Daily writes that the PGA has a new sponsor for its developmental tour.

Scott Foxborough at the Hollywood Reporter notes the huge increase for EURO 2012′s ratings on ESPN from the last event four years ago.

George Winslow of Broadcasting & Cable says MLB Network has upgraded its production control room for its signature MLB Tonight show.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says the Sportsman Channel is gaining ground for its HD network.

Patrick Hipes of Deadline notes the TV bidding for the new college football playoff system to begin with the 2014 season will be worth beaucoup bucks.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report talks with the former owner of WFAN and how it was a risk to start an all-sports radio station 25 years ago.

Ed says no matter what you think of him, Don Imus’ move to WFAN helped save the sports radio format and sent it flying to new heights.

Ed says ESPN’s public relations blog fired salvos on behalf of ESPN Radio at CBS and NBC.

Jason Dachman from Sports Video Group says Fox Sports Net has developed an MLB app for second screens.

In GoLocalProv, former WBZ-TV anchor Bob Lobel gives one of the greatest moments in his career when he brought Boston legends Bobby Orr, Larry Bird and Ted Williams together for one show. I watched that when it happened. It was a great show.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY talks with WFAN 20/20 Sports update man John Minko.

Jerry also talks with another WFAN original, Steve Somers who schmoozes S-P-O-R-T-S every night.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union writes about Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer being teamed for two Monday Night Football games.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg says Nationals’ ratings on MASN are way up from last season.

Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald reviews LeBron James’ appearance on Late Show with David Letterman last night.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic talks about the strange removal of Daron Sutton from Diamondbacks broadcasts.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com says the Diamondbacks have suspended Sutton for “insubordination” and won’t say anything more.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News notes that the Pac-12 won the most NCAA Championships this academic year.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail wonders if it’s soccer time to shine in Canada and the U.S.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog looks at CBC and CTV dropping their joint bid for the 2014/16 Olympics.

Sports Media Watch looks into the move to put Chris Berman into the Monday Night Football booth.

Ty Duffy at The Big Lead says bitter little hedgehog Danny Sheridan is buying Twitter followers.

Dave Kohl in The Broadcast Booth talks about multiple national sports radio networks.

And that’s going to do it today. Had to cut the links short because today will be quite busy. Leaving the afternoon free for the NBC Olympics announcements.

Your Tuesday Linkage

Let’s do some Tuesday links.

We’ll start with Matt Hayes of AOL Sporting News and he writes that the BCS is looking for a $5 billion TV deal over a decade for its new college football playoff.

In the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Michael Bradley says the new college football playoff still can be improved.

Eric Fisher and John Ourand of Sports Business Journal write that the Washington Nationals and MASN continue to be at odds over what the team’s TV rights are worth.

Maury Brown in Baseball Prospectus goes inside the Nats/MASN TV rights dispute.

Mark Buteau and Alex Duff of Bloomberg report that NBC has signed a long-term extension to lock in the Tour de France.

Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter says CBC and CTV are dropping their joint bidfor the 2014/2016 Olympic Games.

Charlie Warzel of Adweek says the PGA and Turner Sports are parting ways as the golf association will handle its digital rights in-house and no longer outsource it to Turner.

Tim Baysinger from Broadcasting & Cable writes that Ion will provide the WWE with a third night of programming.

In Multichannel News, Tim has an article about NFL Network’s NFL AM show.

Media Life Magazine notes that a Spanish language ad ran during ABC’s NBA Finals broadcasts.

Ty Duffy at The Big Lead says CBS’ Jim Nantz is now pimping his own wine label. Surprised it’s not called “Hello, Friends.”

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has the amazing video of Mike Tyson on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption giving a preview of his new one-man Broadway play.

Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy notes that the KHL has officially announced plans to play in the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn while trashing New York’s Madison Square Garden in the process.

The ESPN Front Row blog fires a shot at the new upstarts CBS Sports Radio and NBC Sports Radio Network on behalf of ESPN Radio.

Ben Lee at Digital Spy UK says Wimbledon’s primetime coverage on BBC2 drew over a million viewers.

Tara Pringle Jefferson at Loop 21 has six questions for ESPN’s Sage Steele.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says NBA Draft prospect Anthony Davis has trademarked his unibrow.

Darren wonders if US Olympic 100 meter sprinter Justin Gatlin can be marketable once again after sitting out a four year ban for steroids.

Sports Video Group notes that NESN has signedanother content sharing agreement with a third New England TV station, this time in Vermont.

All Access interviews a radio industry analyst who feels the new CBS Sports Radio will do well for the parent company.

Ian Bethune at Sox & Dawgs has the funny video of NESN’s Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy entertaining the viewers during a Red Sox rain delay last night.

Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston writes about the Red Sox being in no rush to replace their late public address announcer Carl Beane.

Claire Atkinson of the New York Post reports that a positive FCC ruling for Tennis Channel in its carriage dispute against Comcast could lead to more viewers for the network and make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Bob’s Blitz has WFAN’s schedule for Sunday when it celebrates 25 years as the Nation’s first sports radio station.

Kimberly A. Martin of Newsday notes that E! will air a special on New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow.

Neil Best of Newsday looks at ESPN’s start-to-finish coverage of Wimbledon.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has MLB Network’s live game schedule through the end of July.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call profiles a former local sports anchor who’s making his mark in Detroit.

Laura Nachman says a part-timer at Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia is now part of the regional sports network’s starting team.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that Washingtonian magazine readers aren’t enamored with the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times chastises readers who complained about weather alerts about Tropical Storm Debby that cut into sports action.

At the Miami Herald, Barry Jackson looks at anti-Heat media comments almost a week after the team won the NBA Championship.

Marc Weiszer of the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald writes that ESPN is producing a documentary on the 2008 SEC Tournament game between Alabama and Mississippi State that was interrupted by a tornado that ripped through Atlanta.

Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times Picayune reports that the Hornets will have the soon-to-be Fox Sports New Orleans to call their home. Fox Sports NO will replace Cox Sports which is getting out of the pro sports business.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says NFL Network will air clips of a Brett Favre interview all week long.

Danny Ecker of Crain’s Chicago Business says the local Comcast SportsNet affiliate will launch a new trivia game show.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has a clip of Frank Deford’s appearance on last night’s Colbert Report.

Simon Houpt and Steve Ladurantaye of the Toronto Globe and Mail look at CBC and CTV ending their joint bid for the 2014/16 Olympics after two prices were rejected.

Ann Dempsey from the Toronto Star also has a story on the CBC/CTV disbanding.

Bill Harris in the Toronto Sun says Olympic viewing in Canada after this year is up in the air.

Monika Warzecha of Toronto Life wonders if Canadians will be stuck watching NBC for the 2014/16 Olympics.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog notes TSN did well in showing the NHL Draft and EURO 2012.

Sports Media Watch has some various ratings news and notes.

Emmett Jones at Sports Business Digest says NBC and Shazam have teamed up to provide interactive coverage of the London Olympics.

And that’s going do it for our linkage.

Some Thursday Links

After an outage that ruined things from Sunday through Tuesday and being busy yesterday, my goal to have links every day this week has gone out the window. However, I can get a few links out to you today.

Let’s get to them.

Starting with Ed Sherman from the Sherman Report who talks with ESPN resident Prince of Darkness Vince Doria who not only hates Twitter, but is concerned that the social media site could bring “diminished standards.” No, hiring Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith brings “diminished standards.”

Ed feels ESPN’s hiring of Darren Rovell away from CNBC is a good move for all sides.

Christopher Botta and John Ourand from Sports Business Journal write that despite having ratings downturns for the NHL Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final, NBC and its sponsors are happy with the results.

Christopher notes that a budding Northwest US MLS rivalry is bringing excellent sponsor activation in the region.

At the Bleacher Report, Dan Levy asks ESPN to respond to the heavy viewer criticism brought forth to the network every time Chris Berman does the U.S. Open.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News says the ESPN Family is doing well with EURO 2012.

Peter Kafka at All Things Digital writes that the on-again/off-again Turner purchase of the Bleacher Report seems to be on again. I promise my friends over at Bleacher Report that I won’t publish the Tsunami screengrab like Deadspin does.

Speaking of Deadspin, John Koblin tells us that CNBC’s Darren Rovell, will be getting $500,000 from Disney to work at ESPN and ABC News.

The Big Lead notes that Jalen Rose will be heading to the basketball version of ESPN’s College Gameday.

Simon Dumenico of Advertising Age notes the high amount of Tweets devoted to Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Media Life Magazine notes NBC’s ratings for last weekend’s US Open.

Evan Weiner at Examiner.com says while Roger Clemens was acquitted by a jury of his peers, he still has to get by the Hall of Fame jury known as the Baseball Writers of America.

Lance Venta at Radio Insight reports that with CBS Radio starting a new sports network, ESPN Radio will lose two affiliates in Florida.

To espnW where Amanda Rykoff went to an event which honored women in sports business including Kim Williams, the Chief Operating Officer of NFL Network.

Matt Rudnitsky at SportsGrid says today is D-Day for many Sports Illustrated employees. Godspeed to them.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group looks at how TNT tries to expand the fan experience during its six NASCAR Sprint Cup productions.

Jerry Barmash of FishbowlNY talks with MSG Network’s Walt “Clyde” Frazier about his popularity among Knicks fans.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says SNY’s Gary Cohen will be taking two rare days off this week.

Ken says WFAN will be airing Team USA Olympic basketball games.

And Ken talks about the launch of CBS Sports Radio.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says the Philadelphia Phillies’ troubles have become fodder for the local talk shows.

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle notes that the city is about to get its 5th sports radio station thanks to the new CBS Sports Radio.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says Game 4 of the NBA Finals set another local ratings record.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Reds’ ratings are up and they’re being noticed by Fox Sports.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Brewers analyst Bill Schroeder will work Saturday’s game against the White Sox for a different audience.

Paul M. Banks of Chicago Sports Media Watch says Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper guest tweeted on the White Sox official account this week.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily has begun a list of the top sports media voices of the landmark Title IX that gave women the opportunity to play sports. His first honoree is sports broadcasting pioneer Donna de Varona. Next is Mary Carillo. She’s followed by Ann Ligouri. Pam Ward is next. Basketball Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale follows. Read about Jeannine Edwards. Then look at the bio of Christine Brennan. Then there’s Michele Tafoya. Then Jamie Little. Next is Suzy Kolber. And she’s followed by Sally Jenkins. Great stuff by Tom.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that the NHL doesn’t want Maple Leafs rightsholders Rogers and Bell to form a consortium to bid for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and they’ve been told to provide separate bids.

Michael Hill from Dolce Vita magazine profiles CTV Olympic host Brian Williams (not to be confused with NBC’s Brian Williams) about the many Games he has hosted over the years for either CBC or CTV.

Sports Media Watch speculates that NBC could be moving its NHL Game of the Week to Saturday afternoons for the 2012-13 season.

Tony Manfred at the Business Insider Sports Page has a slideshow on ESPN’s Erin Andrews who remains a free agent at this time.

Joe Favorito looks at the NBA possibly shutting the door on its players participating in the Olympics.

And that will do it for us today for the links.

NBC Sports Network & CBC Air 2012 NHL Awards

My apologies for the site being down for most of Monday and all of today. Unfortunately, it took all day to get this site working again. I thank you for your patience through this really frustrating day for the site.

Let’s post two press releases in one post.

On Wednesday, NBC Sports Network and CBC will air the 2012 NHL Awards live from Las Vegas. NBCSN airs it live at 7 p.m. ET while CBC airs it an hour later.

After last year’s disaster with extreme hack job Jay Mohr hosting, the NHL decides to bring in another horror show in Nickelback to perform two songs live.

In addition, viewers will be subject to Pierre McGuire presenting an award. I’m sure fans all over North America will be muting their TV’s as Pierre will wax poetic about frozen ponds, lost youth, junior hockey, college programs and lost teeth all before handing out whatever award he’s doling out.

There will be plenty of celebrities to hand out hardware and ESPN’s Erin Andrews makes her first appearance ever on the NBC Sports Network and CBC.

Here’s NBC Sports Network’s press release.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK TO AIR LIVE COVERAGE OF 2012 NHL AWARDS TOMORROW

Awards air at 7 p.m. ET from Las Vegas

NEW YORK — June 19, 2012 – The NBC Sports Group continues its coverage of the NHL with live coverage of the star-studded 2012 NHL Awards on NBC Sports Network at 7 p.m. ET this Wednesday live from the Wynn Las Vegas.

The 2012 NHL Awards celebrate the season’s best performances in categories including most valuable player (Hart Trophy), outstanding goaltender (Vezina Trophy), outstanding defenseman (Norris Trophy) and outstanding rookie (Calder Trophy). The winner of the EA Sports NHL 13 Cover Athlete will also be unveiled live. NBC Sports Group NHL analysts Pierre McGuire and Eddie Olczyk will be presenters.

American Music Award and Billboard Music Award winner Nickelback will headline the 2012 NHL Awards with two live performances on the Encore Theatre stage at the Wynn. NHL Award nominees, NHL legends and celebrities such as actors Eric Stonestreet (“Modern Family”), Ray Liotta (“All Things Fall Apart,” “Killing Them Softly,” Goodfellas”), Adam Pally (“Happy Endings”), and professional dancer and TV personality Cheryl Burke (“Dancing with the Stars”).

Burke, Liotta, Pally and Stonestreet join previously announced presenters actors Kevin Connolly (“Entourage”), Colin Hanks (“Dexter,” “The Good Guys”), Joshua Jackson (“Fringe”), Cory Monteith (“Glee”), Matthew Perry (“Go On,” “Friends”), Vince Vaughn (“The Watch,” “Wedding Crashers,” “The Break-Up”) and Michael Vartan (“Hawthorne,” “Alias”); Hockey Night in Canada’s Andi Petrillo and PJ Stock; NHL Network’s Barry Melrose and Kathryn Tappen; sports broadcaster Erin Andrews; and hockey legends Ted Lindsay and Mark Messier.

The broadcast also will feature special appearances by actors Will Arnett (“Up All Night,” “Arrested Development”) and Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”) and director/writer/actor Kevin Smith (“Red State,” “Clerks”).

One of these years, I’m going to attend the NHL Awards and hang with the beautiful people before being asked to leave the VIP Suites.

Anyway, here’s CBC’s press release. CBC’s PJ Stock and Andi Petrillo will be presenting awards as well.

CBC-TV ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NHL AWARDS ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 AT 8 P.M. ET

Celebrity presenters including Vince Vaughn, Joshua Jackson, Cory Monteith, Matthew Perry, Erin Andrews, P.J. Stock, Andi Petrillo and more to honour the game’s best players from the 2011-12 season

The NHL’s biggest stars head to Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 20 and CBC has exclusive coverage as the league hands out the hardware to the top performers from the regular season at the 2012 NHL Awards. Live coverage from the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas begins at 7 p.m. ET online at cbcsports.ca, and complete coverage of the two-hour event airs on CBC-TV across Canada beginning at 8 p.m. local (8:30 p.m. NT).

Hockey’s biggest names will be joined at the annual celebration by an impressive list of celebrities who will be acting as presenters throughout the evening, including actors Vince Vaughn, Kevin Connolly, Colin Hanks and Michael Vartan as well as sportscaster Erin Andrews. Homegrown celebrity presenters include actors Joshua Jackson, Cory Monteith and Matthew Perry as well as CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA analysts P.J. Stock (@PJStockHNIC) and Andi Petrillo (@andipHNIC).

“The NHL Awards is always a great event and it’s going to be a lot of fun to be part of the show, but I’m taking my duties as a presenter seriously,” said Petrillo. “The amount of effort and passion these players and coaches put in on a nightly basis all season long is unbelievable, so I’m honoured to be part of the ceremony that recognizes all of that hard work.”

Some of the prestigious awards to be handed out at the ceremony include: the Hart Memorial Trophy honouring the league’s most valuable player; the Vezina Trophy for the top goaltender; the James Norris Memorial Trophy recognizing the best defenseman; the Calder Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding rookie; and the Ted Lindsay Award for the most outstanding player as voted by the players.

Hall of Famers Ted Lindsay and Mark Messier will be on stage to present the awards named for them. Also making appearances at the NHL Awards are Toronto-born actor Will Arnett, comedian Tracy Morgan and director/writer/actor Kevin Smith. In addition, Canadian rock band Nickelback will take the stage for two live performances throughout the night.

That is it.

Various Tuesday Sports Media Thoughts

In the midst of a busy week, I can settle down for a bit to offer a few sports media thoughts for you. In bullet form, of course.

• I’ve been impressed with how NBC has produced the Stanley Cup Final. In the past, I would find a feed of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada’s production and stay with that to the conclusion. No more. NBC has shown over the past two years that it is truly in the hockey business to stay.

  Mike Emrick could call open heart surgery and make it thrilling. Ed Olczyk has been spot on with his analysis. The camerawork and replays have been stellar, especially showing Game 3′s first goal by the Los Angeles Kings, stuck underneath New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur’s pad.

  Liam McHugh has been solid as the studio host and Keith Jones has been good as analyst. I do wish Jeremy Roenick and Darren Pang would be given bigger roles while Mike Milbury and Pierre McGuire would be jettisoned off the broadcasts, but for the most part, NBC has been getting the job done whether it be over the air or on NBC Sports Network.

  I’d rather have NBC Sports Network start the Stanley Cup Final with Games 1 and 2 with NBC taking the rest of the series. Any Cup clinching game should be on network television. As it stands now, the Kings could clinch the Stanley Cup on NBCSN and access is still an issue for the network.

• Speaking of CBC, I had gotten in the habit three years ago of watching its online postgame show at its website, seeing Jeff Marek and Scott Morrison co-host from what it calls the “I-Desk!” short for “Information Desk”. Using the resources of the full network, CBC produced a 20-25 minute show complete with analysis, player interviews, postgame press conferences and highlights. Jeff and Scott were very good on the I-Desk and they became appointment viewing.

  Last year, during the Boston Bruins’ run to the Cup, I had gotten out of the habit of going to CBC.ca and watched NESN’s or Comcast SportsNet New England’s B’s coverage instead.

  Now flash forward to 2012 and I’m back to watching CBC.ca for the Hockey Night in Canada postgame show, now hosted by Andi Petrillo. Both Marek and Morrison jumped to Sportsnet after last season, but CBC picked up Petrillo from LeafsTV and really hasn’t missed a beat. While I do miss Jeff and Scott, Andi has been quite impressive as the host throwing to the game sites for analysis, then smoothly transitioning to highlights and the press conferences. I’m quite happy that CBC did not impose the dreaded territorial restriction on the postgame show allowing fans in the US to watch.

• Interesting development in the MLB media rights negotiations. Eric Fisher of Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily tweeted on Monday that the exclusive negotiating windows for all of MLB’s TV partners, ESPN, Fox and TBS have expired and now, the sport can open up the bidding to anyone. This now leaves the door ajar for NBC to get its foot back into baseball. I do expect TBS to remain in MLB, possibly taking one of ESPN’s primetime windows. However, don’t expect MLB to throw out ESPN unless NBC or Fox come up with the motherlode of cash to boot the Alleged Worlwide Leader out.

  This should be an interesting negotiation.

And that will conclude the thoughts post for today.

Bringing Out The Thursday Linkage

Here to provide some links for you today. Looks like I’ll be out on Friday so posting may be scarce, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.

In the meantime, I have some links for you now.

This week, CBSSports.com Deputy Managing Editor Craig Stanke passed away at the age of 56. He joined the site as a deputy editor when it was known as SportslineUSA.com. During his time, he helped to attract a number of writers and build CBSSports.com’s stable to a point where it challenges the best sports news websites. Stanke worked at a number of newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, the Palm Beach Post among others.

We have a number of links.

First, CBSSports.com’s Mark Swanson writes Stanke’s obituary.

Scott Miller, CBS Sports’ Senior Baseball Columnist mourns Stanke’s passing.

CBS Sports’ national columnist Gregg Doyel says Stanke continued to teach him even after his death.

Stanke’s good friend, T.J. Simers at the Los Angeles Times, the man who hired Stanke for his first job, says he can’t believe his friend is gone.

To other stories now.

Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com notes that no matter how much the Big 12 expands, the TV payout money will remain the same. And Dodd tells us that the league’s TV deal with ESPN and Fox will be announced any day now.

Brian Steinberg at Advertising Age reports that CBS is 50% sold for Super Bowl XLVII and could reach 80% soon.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says despite CBS/Showtime dropping Warren Sapp from Inside the NFL this season, NFL Network has signed the controversial snitch for another year.

Reid Cherner at USA Today writes that many feel last night’s NBA Draft Lottery on ESPN was fixed in New Orleans’ favor.

Patrick Burns of Deadspin notes that almost a quarter of all of SportsCenter’s editions last week was devoted to the Miami Heat.

Richard Deitsch from Sports Illustrated has his monthly Media Power List.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News says the 2012 NHL postseason has had the most viewers in ten years.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has the viewership of all of the completed 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs to date.

Steve tweets the overnight ratings for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final were down significantly from last year.

And Steve has a story on the overnights at Puck The Media.

Tim Nudd of Adweek reviews the NHL’s newest Stanley Cup spot. It’s a winner, but still doesn’t hold up to last year’s “No Words” promo.

Michael Bradley at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center writes that newspapers are dropping the printed word for digital content.

Eric Goldschein of SportsGrid has the video of Chicago White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson going nuts.

In the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman talks about Hawk’s homerism and his love of all things White Sox.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says talk about concussions may affect youth football participation.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk writes that the Miami Dolphins were the first pick of NFL Films for this year’s Hard Knocks and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union tells us that Sunday’s motorsports races finished in a ratings dead heat.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record writes that the Anaheim Angels Radio Network is now being nationally syndicated.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that a colleague, Tarik El-Bashir, is leaving the paper to join Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.

At the Miami Herald, David J. Neal says NFL Films won’t have a problem finding story lines for Hard Knocks with the Miami Dolphins.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman talks with ESPN softball analyst Michele Smith about the Women’s College World Series which starts today.

Daniel Dorfman at Chicago Side Sports talks with unabashed White Sox homer Hawk Harrelson.

Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that San Diego State stands to get more TV money when it enters the Big East than from the Mountain West.

The Toronto Star’s Cathal Kelly rips CBC’s online attempt at satire of last night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 1.

To the Canadian Sports Media Blog which notes that Sportsnet has signed a deal to remain the home of the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football package which even includes NBC’s Thanksgiving Night game.

Sports Media Watch notes that ESPN received a good overnight number for Game 2 of the Celtics-Heat NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

I Am A GM notes that 10 NBA players are crying conspiracy over last night’s Draft Lottery.

At Awful Announcing, the Brothers Yoder list their favorite NBA announcers.

And that’s going to do it.

Some Back To Work Tuesday Linkage

Back to work for many of you after the Memorial Day holiday. Because of my crazy schedule, I didn’t get to enjoy it, but you don’t care about that. Let’s do links.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that Cox Communications has dropped the New Orleans Hornets allowing Fox Sports to swoop up the rights.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News takes a look at the US TV coverage of the French Open.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter writes that UK’s Channel 4 plans extensive coverage of the 2012 London Paralympics which will be held two weeks after the Summer Olympics.

Tim Nudd of Adweek reviews the latest WatchESPN spot.

Alex Weprin of TVNewser reports that HBO’s Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel will co-host Live with Kelly next week.

Evan Weiner at Examiner.com explains how NBC’s huge rights fee effectively ended Qatar’s bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Ed Sherman from The Sherman Report interviews legendary sportswriter Frank Deford.

Ed writes that USA Today’s Sports section is changing its reporting strategy.

Media Rantz remembers the Marv Albert arrest 15 years later. Disclosure: I’m quoted in this very well-researched article.

Will Brinson at CBSSports.com writes that Showtime/NFL Films has quietly dumped Warren Sapp from “Inside the NFL”, however, he remains on NFL Network.

Evan Sporer of SportsGrid has the great video of a soldier home from Afghanistan surprising his daughters at Sunday’s Minnesota Twins game. It has nothing to do with sports media. I’m just a huge sucker for reunion videos.

Chadd Scott at ChuckOliver.net explores how TV money has led to the “Wal-Martization” of college football.

Joe Lucia at Awful Announcing notes that former ESPN college football crackpot Craig James is running below “Undecided” in the Texas U.S. Senate Republican primary. Always a good place to be when trying to run a successful campaign.

Bob’s Blitz says former Miami sports radio talker Sid Rosenberg has a new gig.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick actually heaps praise this morning. And he does it to Hall of Fame hockey voice Mike Emrick.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says Time Warner Cable will air some local high school lacrosse playoff games.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that the NBA Draft Lottery will air from New York’s Times Square for the first time ever.

Ken McMillan at the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record writes that apparently NFL Network will no longer air CFL games.

Ken adds that there’s no New York City radio home of the 2012 Olympics as of yet.

Ken provides the Compass Media college football schedule for the 2012 season.

And Ken has the Sports USA college football schedule as well.

Tom Jones from the Tampa Bay Times looks back at the weekend that was in sports television.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes that embattled South Florida sports radio talk show Sid Rosenberg is about to start a new gig.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says a local sports radio station is about to acquire a rival FM station.

Jerry Garcia from the San Antonio Express-News says TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal spent some time talking to a local TV station and defending his co-hort Charles Barkley.

Roy Bragg of the Express-News says the Chuckster was glad to meet the peeps in San Antonio on Monday.

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch has some linkage of his own to provide.

Scott D. Pierce at the Salt Lake Tribune talks with Utah Jazz TV voice Craig Bolerjack.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post looks at the mtn.: The Final Days.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News notes that a hockey primer from 1993 still holds true today.

Steve Ladurantaye from the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that Rogers and TSN are smelling blood and plan to bid for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada package.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Globe and Mail says Rogers Sportsnet has snatched IndyCar rights away from TSN.

The Canadian Sports Media blog looks at the silly PR hockey wars being conducted by Rogers Sportsnet and TSN.

Sports Media Watch gives us the overnight ratings for the Indianapolis 500 on ABC.

Steve Lepore at SB Nation’s Puck The Media predicts the ratings for this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

Joe Favorito says things are looking good at NBC Sports.

Jordan Golson at MacRumors talks with ESPN’s NASCAR pit reporter Dave Burns about using an iPad for his reports.

That’s going to do it for now.

CBC’s Hockey Day in Canada Heads To Alberta/Saskatchewan

CBC has announced that its iconic Hockey Day in Canada celebration will be held in the only town that borders two provinces, Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan. Over the years, Hockey Day in Canada has been hosted by several Canadian locations like Prince Edward Island this year and Toronto when the concept first started. It has mostly been hosted by smaller towns since CBC began this tradition.

And Lloydminster will be a bit more special as the 2012-13 season will be the 60th consecutive year that Hockey Night in Canada has been aired on Canada’s public broadcaster.

The Hockey Day concept has been cloned in the United States especially by Fox Sports North for its annual Hockey Day in Minnesota and of course, NBC has its own Hockey Day in America which for the last two years has been held a week after Hockey Day in Canada.

While you won’t get journalism on Hockey Day, I do eat up the stories by CBC celebrating Canada’s game. It’s a great day to watch the stories and fall in love with hockey all over again.

We have details from CBC on 2013′s edition of Hockey Day in Canada which will be held in February of next year and will be simulcast in the US on NHL Network.

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA ON CBC BRINGS ITS 13^TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION TO CANADA’S ONLY BORDER CITY, LLOYDMINSTER, AB/SK, IN FEBRUARY 2013

Canada’s annual celebration of hockey, HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA, will head west in February, 2013, to Lloydminster, AB/SK. Ron MacLean will host the live broadcast that culminates a week of community activities and events celebrating the game across Lloydminster.

“Hockey Day in Canada is one of our favourite events each year and we’re thrilled to be bringing our annual celebration of grassroots hockey to Lloydminster in 2013,” said Julie Bristow, CBC’s Executive Director of Studio and Unscripted Programming. “The 2013 season represents Hockey Night in Canada’s 60^th year and with an eager group of volunteers ready to get started, Lloydminster will be enthusiastic and welcoming hosts for this extra special event.”

Canada’s only border city, Lloydminster straddles the boundary between Alberta and Saskatchewan and is home to more than 30,000 residents. The community’s passionate hockey fans support teams on a variety of levels. The Jr. B Bandits are a perennial powerhouse in the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League, while the Junior A Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are community owned by 87 local investors and were featured on the 2012 Hockey Day in Canada broadcast. The Senior AAA Border Kings won the Allan Cup in 2001 and 2007 and hosted the Championship for the third time since 2000 this past spring at the Centennial Civic Centre.

“One of the best parts of Hockey Day in Canada every year is the chance we get to highlight local hockey heroes from coaches to homegrown NHLers to volunteers that keep the game growing in communities across the country,” said Trevor Pilling, Head of Programming, CBC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada. “The Lloydminster community has a rich hockey heritage and is a shining example of why the game continues to be such a great source of pride and passion for players and fans of all ages.”

The Lloydminster minor hockey program has produced dozens of NHL alumni as well as current NHL players Scott Hartnell, Andrew Ference, Braden Holtby, Colby Armstrong and Clarke MacArthur.

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA’S 13^th annual broadcast in February 2013 marks the continuation of an important Canadian hockey tradition. Winner of three Gemini Awards, it was recognized for Best Sports Program (2004) and Best Host in a Sports Program (Ron MacLean in 2004 and 2006). Previous host locations include Prince Edward Island (2012), Whitehorse, YT (2011), Stratford, Ont. (2010), Campbellton, N.B. (2009); Winkler, Man. (2008); Nelson, B.C. (2007); Stephenville, Nfld. (2006); Shaunavon, Sask. (2004); Iqualuit, Nunavut (2003); Windsor, N.S. (2002); Red Deer, Alta. (2001); and Toronto, Ont. (2000).

HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA will also be available live and on-demand at CBCSports.ca.

And we’ll have more throughout the day. Maybe even linkage if I can squeeze it in tonight.

Let’s Get To Some Linkage

Before the day is through, let’s do some linkage for you.

Steve Berkowitz from USA Today looks at the Pac-12′s TV contract which is the richest in college sports (for now).

Speaking of USA Today, Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report says the newspaper is restructuring its sports department and about a dozen staffers have been laid off. That includes Friend of Fang’s Bites Mike McCarthy and Game On! blogger Tom Weir. Very sad to see this. I met Mike a few years ago when we covered an event at ESPN. Good reporter and writer. I hope to be linking to him again soon.

Ed also writes about ESPN holding onto the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

ESPN Ombudsman Jason Fry of the Poynter Institute watches ESPN’s interviewing guru critique the questioning style of some of its reporters.

Marisa Guthrie at the Hollywood Reporter looks at NBCUniversal’s plans to offer some 5,500 hours of coverage on the Olympics.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable says Golf Channel will have live coverage of U.S. Open qualifying on June 4.

Tim Baysinger at B&C recaps last night’s Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily’s Sports Business Awards.

Rich Thomaselli from Advertising Age says the NHL’s social media and traditional ad campaigns have helped bring casual fans to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After being disrespected by its own local media last week, the Los Angeles Kings made this infographic giving a brief history on its logo, names of players and number of times the team has been in the postseason. This season, the Kings have stepped its social media campaign and website to provide fans with a very humorous, but also informative experience. Keep it up, Kings. You guys rock!

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times, writing in the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, notes the difficultly for women to find a proper role in sports television.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton’s past is preventing collectors from lining up at his doorstep.

Congratulations to Steve Lepore of Puck The Media who has become SB Nation’s NHL Media writer. Steve is a hard worker who has created a very good niche for himself. And his first column for SB Nation is about the ratings for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final clincher.

Steve also writes about the controversy over NHL on NBC charlatan Pierre McGuire’s withholding of information over an incident between the benches during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Jerry Barmash of Fishbowl NY says MSG Network will air two specials on the upcoming Belmont Stakes in which I’ll Have Another will go for horse racing’s Triple Crown.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says in addition, MSG Plus will air some horse races this summer.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union writes that ESPN has expanded its 3-D coverage of Wimbledon.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says Al Jazeera will be launching two soccer channels this summer.

Keith Groller at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call looks at ESPN on ABC’s plans for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says former ESPN’er Dave Feldman is leaving the local market to go home to his native Northern California.

Dan says former DC NFL Team running back and sports radio host John Riggins will be hosting an outdoors show next year.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner says a deadline is fast approaching in which the Nationals will find out how much MASN will be paying them for TV rights.

Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times says the Rays are paying tribute to Fox Sports MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal by wearing bow ties.

Tom Jones of the Times says MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams ripped Tropicana Field.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle looks at the proposed uses for the abandoned Astrodome.

John Kiesewetter in the Cincinnati Enquirer says Fox Sports is on the Reds’ bandwagon.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig is holding firm to his retirement date.

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch says the Big Ten Network has helped to expand the league and in part, raise Northwestern’s profile.

Gordon Monson of the Salt Lake Tribune says even though the Utah Jazz bought the sports radio station where he works, he’ll remain an independent voice.

Chris Jenkins from the San Diego Union-Tribune says Fox Sports San Diego’s Mark Sweeney is a natural fit as Padres analyst.

Tim Sullivan of the Union-Tribune says he enjoys listening to the Padres on the radio.

The Los Angeles Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth can’t believe he’s seeing a farmers dating service ad on NBC Sports Network.

Laura Stone of the Toronto Star writes that a new feature by CBC for the NHL Stanley Cup Final has some hardcore female sports fans hopping mad.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin looks at the Twitter police for college sports programs.

Sports Media Watch notes the increased ratings for the series-clinching game of the NHL Stanley Cup Western Conference Final on NBC Sports Network.

Joe Favorito examines the right way and the wrong way to attract Twitter followers.

Dave Kohl at The Broadcast Booth marvels at the LA media for getting the Kings logo and players wrong during local newscasts.

And I’ll end the linkage there for now. Enjoy the rest of your day.

NHL Conference Finals Schedules Set

Now that the Eastern Conference Final is set, the National Hockey League has released the full schedule for both the East and West series.

The Western Conference Final begins Sunday at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network, TSN and RDS as the Los Angeles Kings take on the Phoenix Coyotes. TSN will air Games 1-3, then CBC takes over starting with Game 4 through the rest of the series. NBC airs one game of this series next Sunday.

Then on Monday, the Eastern Conference Final drops the first puck at 8 p.m. as blood rivals New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers square off for a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The last time the Rangers and Devils faced each other in the ECF was in 1994 and the Rangers won that in a dramatic 7 game series and went on to beat Vancouver for its first Stanley Cup since 1940. And if I remember right, just like last year when the Bruins beat Vancouver, the city rioted. Some things never change.

Anyway, CBC and RDS will air all of the Eastern Conference Final. NBC Sports Network airs all but one game. NBC takes Game 3 next Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

We have the schedule from the National Hockey League.

2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
SERIES M	TIME (ET)	#1  VS. #6	NETWORKS
MONDAY, MAY 14, 2012	8 PM	NEW JERSEY AT NY RANGERS	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012	8 PM	NEW JERSEY AT NY RANGERS	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012	1 PM	NY RANGERS AT NEW JERSEY	NBC, CBC, RDS
MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012	8 PM	NY RANGERS AT NEW JERSEY	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012	8 PM	NEW JERSEY AT NY RANGERS	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012	8 PM	NY RANGERS AT NEW JERSEY	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2012	8 PM	NEW JERSEY AT NY RANGERS	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
SERIES N	TIME	#3  VS.  #8	NETWORKS
SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2012	8 PM	LOS ANGELES AT PHOENIX	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012	9 PM	LOS ANGELES AT PHOENIX	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012	9 PM	PHOENIX AT LOS ANGELES	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012	3 PM	PHOENIX AT LOS ANGELES	NBC, CBC, RDS
*TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012	9 PM	LOS ANGELES AT PHOENIX	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012	9 PM	PHOENIX AT LOS ANGELES	NBCSN, CBC, RDS
*SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012	8 PM	LOS ANGELES AT PHOENIX	TBD, CBC, RDS

That is all.