NBC Sports
May
04
NBC Sports Group All Over The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs This Weekend
From tonight through Sunday, NBC Sports Groupwill have coverage of the Games 4 in each of the Stanley Cup Conference Semifinal series.
Tonight, NBC Sports Network will be in Nashville for the Phoenix Coyotes-Predators matchup to determine if the series will be all square at two games after the final buzzer goes off. Game time is 7:30 p.m. ET.
Then tomorrow, NBC carries Game 4 of the New York Rangers-Washington Capitals series which again could be tied. The game begins at 12:30 p.m. ET. NBC is in a dangerous window because if the game goes to overtime like it on Wednesday, then it has the potential to get bumped to NBC Sports Network to make way for Kentucky Derby coverage at 4 p.m. We’ll see what happens if this occurs.
On Sunday, NBC and NBC Sports Network split two games with the St. Louis Blues in huge danger of getting swept by the Los Angeles Kings at 3 p.m. on NBC proper.
Then in primetime, NBC Sports Network takes Game 4 of Philadelphia at New Jersey.
Your announcing assignments plus other details are below.
FOUR GAME 4s THIS WEEKEND
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Days 24-26Phoenix @ Nashville, 7:30 p.m. ET Tonight – NBC Sports Network (Phoenix leads 2-1)
NEW YORK – May 4, 2012 – Days 24-26 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the Conference Semifinals with four Game 4s this weekend beginning tonight on NBC Sports Network. NBC will broadcast games Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Tonight’s coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live on NBC Sports Network.
TONIGHT
The Western Conference Semifinals continue tonight with the #4 Nashville Predators hosting the #3 Phoenix Coyotes at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (Coyotes lead series 2-1). Tonight’s schedule (all times ET):
7:30 p.m. #3 Phoenix Coyotes @ #4 Nashville Predtaors (Game 4) NBCSN John Forslund, Joe Micheletti TOMORROW
Saturday’s Eastern Conference Game 4 features the #7 Washington Capitals hosting the #1 New York Rangers at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Game 3 on Wednesday ended in a historic fashion with a New York Rangers goal in triple overtime to give the Rangers a 2-1 victory and a 2-1 series lead. Tomorrow’s schedule (all times ET):
12:30 p.m. #1 New York Rangers @ #7 Washington Capitals (Game 4) NBC Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire SUNDAY
Sunday’s games begin in the Western Conference with the #8 Los Angeles Kings hosting the #2 St. Louis Blues, who face elimination, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC (Kings lead series 3-0). Moving to the Eastern Conference, the #4 New Jersey Devils look to extend their 2-1 series lead with a home-ice advantage against the #5 Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Sunday’s schedule (all times ET):
3 p.m. #2 St. Louis Blues @ #8 Los Angeles Kings (Game 4) NBC Dave Strader, Brian Engblom 7:30 p.m. #5 Philadelphia Flyers @ #6 New Jersey Devils (Game 4) NBCSN Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time and the Conference Semifinals being carried exclusively on either NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find those channels in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers, will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and post-game coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run. CSN Philadelphia will be doing live pre- and post-game programs for all Flyers games in the second round and CSN Mid-Atlantic will have one-hour Capitals Postgame Live shows for all Capitals games in the second round. Both networks will also have extensive coverage online.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Thirty Four* CNBC Thirteen NBC Eight NHL Network Six * Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress
Done.
May
04
NBC Planning Extensive Coverage of the Run For the Roses
Tomorrow, NBC airs the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg in horse racing’s Triple Crown. If you’ve been reading this site regularly, you’ll know that this is the third press release NBC has sent regarding the Derby. On Saturday, NBC and NBC Sports Network will combine for 8½ hours of coverage beginning at 11 a.m. NBC comes on at 4 p.m. and NBC Sports Network wraps it up at 7 p.m.
Bob Costas and Tom Hammond co-host. I wish NBC would put Al Michaels on the Triple Crown since he’s a big horse racing fan and has served as a co-host with Jim McKay when ABC Sports had the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. We know Bob isn’t much of fan of the horses, but that’s besides the point.
Other NBC staffers include Mike Battaglia and Bob Neuemeier, Donna Brothers, Randy “I’m not the wide receiver” Moss, and Larry Collmus. Gary Stevens, Laffit Pincay III (the man has really deep pipes, I kid you not), Kenny Rice and Jay Privman.
Here’s the NBC preview.
NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS UNPRECEDENTED COVERAGE OF THE 138th KENTUCKY DERBY
Oldest Continuous Sporting Event in the United States Contested Annually on the First Saturday in May
Coverage from Churchill Downs Continues Today and All Week on NBC and NBC Sports Network
“A depth of talent unlike any I can remember. There are literally 8 or 10 horses that could win the race.” – NBC Sports Group’s Tom Hammond
“I think it’s going to be a chess match the first time through the stretch… I think it will be interesting.” – NBC Sports Group’s Gary Stevens
“To be a part of the greatest horse race, there is just an unbelievable feeling.” – NBC Sports Group’s Race Caller Larry Collmus on calling the Kentucky Derby
“The excitement and fun of the Kentucky Derby never gets old to me.” – NBC Sports Group’s Mike BattagliaNEW YORK – May 3, 2012 – It’s the first Saturday in May and that means it’s time for the Kentucky Derby. The NBC Sports Group broadcasts exclusive coverage of the 138th Derby this Saturday with coverage starting on NBC Sports Network at 11 a.m. ET and culminating with the Run for the Roses on NBC starting at 4 p.m. ET.
NBC Sports conducted a conference call this week with its broadcasting and production crew. Below are comments from the call with participants, Rob Hyland, Tom Hammond, Gary Stevens, Larry Collmus, Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier:
HYLAND ON THE BROADCAST: “I’m really excited about leading the team for this year’s Kentucky Derby. I did the first Derby on NBC back in 2001, and this is my first year as the leader of the talented production group. I’ve done a number of Super Bowls, a number of Olympics, but there is nothing like the Kentucky Derby. It’s a unique day in sports that really is a combination of a great event, a great atmosphere, a scene that is unlike any other in sports. We’re really excited to showcase a number of great stories in this year’s race.”
HYLAND ON DERBY STORIES: “There’s such a talented field that includes a number of great stories like the story of Phyllis Wyatt of Union Rags, and Bob Baffert who suffered a heart attack a month ago in Dubai and is back and searching for Derby win number four. We have just a number of great stories we are going to be telling throughout the telecast.”
HAMMOND ON THE RACE: “This is one of the events that you look when the schedule comes out to see what day it lands on and you make your plans around it. A lot of people say, ‘Oh it’s just 2 minutes,’ but there’s so much more that goes with it. Horse racing has more stories than any other sport, all compelling stories, all interesting. We hope to capture the flavor of what the Derby really is. The crowd keeps getting bigger that’s for sure.”
HAMMOND ON THE FIELD: “A depth of talent unlike any I can remember. There are literally eight or 10 horses that could win the race… This year has the opportunity to be one of the classic Derby’s because a depth of talent unlike any I can remember in the last 10 years. A very talented field, a good mix of horses…. All the ingredients are there for what could be a classic Kentucky Derby.”
STEVENS ON PREPARTIONS: “You start preparing long before. You start watching all the horses. Which horses are going to be able to ride a mile and a quarter? You start running different scenarios how the race may line up. You must be able to adjust. It is so unpredictable. There are horses that just set off the pace. The Derby is always a tactical race. You’ve got four of five different plans and you better be able to adapt and adapt quickly.”
STEVENS ON THE FIELD: “It’s going to be a chess match the first time through the stretch… It will be interesting. It’s not just going to be a horse’s race but a jockey’s race, very tactical. It is going to be gentleman’s race. It is an adrenaline rush…I’m in the second best place working.”
COLLMUS ON BEING AT THE DERBY: “When the horses were going around the turn, my legs were shaking uncontrollably, the nervous energy. When they hit the wire and that feeling of exhilaration… To be a part of the greatest horse race there is just an unbelievable feeling. The nerves are a little less than last year…the race just shapes up unbelievably with the amount of talent.”
BATTAGLIA ON THE EVENT: “This is my 41st straight Derby and I finally picked a winner (last year with Animal Kingdom). The excitement and fun of the Kentucky Derby never gets old to me. Just to be a part of this event, for one year, but for 41 years is absolutely phenomenal. I just feel so blessed to be with this group. You want to have the winner but when the horses are coming down the stretch it doesn’t matter who wins that race. You get a feeling of excitement for them and who you pick is just so far back in your mind that it’s just the Derby experience itself. I think you just have to be here and experience it.”
NEUMEIER ON BEING PART OF THE DERBY: “The beauty of sports is its unpredictability. When they open the gate and 20 horses come steaming down that side, all bets are off. It’s kind of controlled chaos. You have to be very lucky. Anything can happen and that is the mystery of the Kentucky Derby that appeals to me. It is a phenomenal event and I am pleased and proud to be a part of it.”
NEUMEIER ON PICKING THE WINNER: “It’s kind of controlled chaos. So to actually select one, you’ve got to be very lucky. And I tip my cap to Mike Battaglia, who last year tapped Animal Kingdom, and I didn’t have him in my list. I know in Derby’s we’ve covered with Mine That Bird and Giacamo, who were certainly not on my list, so anything can happen and that is the beauty and the mystery — that’s a good word — the mystery of the Kentucky Derby that appeals to me and any viewer out there.”
COMENTATORS: The NBC Sports Group coverage of the Kentucky Derby will feature co-hosts Bob Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winner, and veteran NBC Sports commentator Tom Hammond; three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; analyst Randy Moss; host Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman; race caller Larry Collmus. Also, TODAY’s Jenna Wolfe will contribute features and Catt Sadler of NBCUniversal’s E! will talk Kentucky Derby fashions and handle celebrity interviews.
Additionally, Hall-of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby-winner Jerry Bailey will join NBC Sports Network’s commentary team on Derby Day. Bailey, who also won twice in the Preakness and twice in the Belmont, won the Kentucky Derby in 1993 (Sea Hero) and 1996 (Grindstone).
The coverage on NBC will be produced by Rob Hyland, a veteran of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001, and directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBC Sports Network is produced by Billy Matthews and Rich O’Connor and directed by Patrick McManus. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network is Sam Flood, who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.
NBC SPORTS GROUP KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE (All Times ET): KENTUCKY DERBY Fri. May 4 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Derby Classics – Animal Kingdom NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Kentucky Oaks NBC Sports Network Sat. May 5 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kentucky Derby Saturday NBC Sports Network 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Kentucky Derby 138 NBC 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show NBC Sports Network KENTUCKY DERBY EXTRA
Taking a page from Sunday Night Football Extra and Super Bowl Extra, Kentucky Derby Extra is the online connection to coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Available at NBCSports.com with live streaming of the NBC broadcast of the Kentucky Derby, other features of Kentucky Derby Extra include:
- Four online-only camera angles that showcase the activity happening across Churchill Downs on Derby day;
- Online-only analysis by NBC and NBC Sports Network commentators;
- Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey will answer fans’ questions and offer analysis throughout the broadcast;
- Replays and footage from all the key Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races;
- A video simulation of how this year’s Kentucky Derby might play out.
SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY
DERBY ALL-ACCESS: NBC Sports will implement its All-Access social media strategy for Kentucky Derby week on both NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. A dedicated social media producer will be on-site for behind the scenes content including Breaking News, photos and video from Churchill Downs.
Twitter: Viewers and tweeters alike will be encouraged to join the conversation by using the hashtag #DERBYonNBC. Reminders will appear on screen throughout all of NBC’s Kentucky Derby week coverage.
- On-air integration of live tweets from celebrities, horse-racing experts and @NBCSN will be featured on screen throughout the broadcasts to keep viewers up to date with what’s happening and trending on Twitter;
- For the ultimate horse racing fan, @NBCSN will live tweet the Kentucky Derby Draw Show on Wednesday and provide interactive trivia and “Did You Know” tweets during the Derby Classics shows Wednesday through Friday.
Facebook: Fans will have the chance to join the Derby party at Churchill Downs, by submitting their photos of their Derby parties and Derby hats no matter where they are, to the NBC Sports Facebook page where a selection of the fan images will be shown on-air. (Submit photos at www.facebook.com/NBCSports)
- Everyone at home can pick their winner with the “Choose the Winning Horse” Facebook poll on www.facebook.com/NBCSports. The nation’s votes will be tallied and shown on-air during the Kentucky Derby broadcast.
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup, which was broadcast on NBC from 1984-2005. Last year marked the first time that all three Triple Crown races appeared on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001. This year, the NBC Sports Group will present 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network.
NBC Sports Group is also the home to Summer at Saratoga, Autumn at Keeneland, and, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series that provided live coverage of six major prep races for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
KENTUCKY DERBY: Last year the Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers; the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including the 2010 Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.
NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).
That’s all.
May
03
Rangers-Caps 3OT Game Scores for NBC Sports Network; Doubleheader on NBCSN Tonight
Last night’s thrilling triple overtime game between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals gave NBC Sports Network an average audience of 1.85 million people. It was the most-watched Conference Semifinal game on Versus/NBC Sports Network and was the most-watched NHL Conference Semifinal on cable dating back to a 2000 game on ESPN.
In the local markets, Game 3 of Rangers-Caps was the highest-rated cable program in both New York and Washington, DC. NYC had a 3.99 local rating, DC registered a 6.82 rating. Quite impressive.
And for tonight, NBC Sports Network gets a rare Conference Semifinal doubleheader with Game 3 of Philadelphia-New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET and then Game 3 of St. Louis-Los Angeles at 10 p.m.
Here’s the preview from NBC Sports Group.
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Day 23Philadelphia @ New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. ET – NBC Sports Network (Series tied 1-1)
St. Louis @ Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET – NBC Sports Network (Los Angeles leads series 2-0)Rangers-Capitals 3 OT Game 3 is Most-Watched Semifinal on Cable in 12 Years
Viewership for NHL Playoffs on NBC is Best for a Broadcast Network in 14 YearsNEW YORK – May 3, 2012 – Day 23 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the NHL Conference Semifinals with a Game 3 double-header tonight on the NBC Sports Network. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live.
TONIGHT
Tonight’s coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs starts in the Eastern Conference with #6 New Jersey Devils hosting #5 Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (series tied 1-1). Following at 10 p.m. ET also on NBC Sports Network, the #8 Los Angeles Kings look to extend their 2-0 series lead at home against #2 St. Louis Blues. Tonight’s schedule (all times ET):
7:30 p.m. #5 Philadelphia Flyers @ #6 New Jersey Devils(Game 3) NBCSN Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire 10 p.m. #2 St. Louis Blues @ #8 Los Angeles Kings (Game 3) NBCSN Dave Strader, Brian Engblom PRAISE FOR DOC
Last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinal Game 3 between the #1 New York Rangers and the #7 Washington Capitals ended in historic fashion with a Rangers goal in triple overtime to give New York a 2-1 victory and 2-1 series lead. Mike “Doc” Emrick, NBC Sports Network’s play-by-play voice, tirelessly called all the action for the game that began at 7:30 p.m. and continued until 12:14 a.m. this morning. His performance didn’t go unnoticed:
Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) of Sports Illustrated tweeted, “Worth saying as always: Mike Emrick is the best at what he does. As great in the third overtime as he was at the start.”
Richard Sandomir (@richsandomir) of the New York Times tweeted, “An astonishing performance by Doc Emrick. Nearly five hours into this 3 OT game he doesn’t sound ragged at all. What a job!”
VIEWERSHIP
Last night’s Rangers-Capitals game was watched by 1.85 million viewers, making it the most-watched Semifinal game ever on the NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) and the most-watched Semifinal on cable in 12 years, since May 1, 2000 (Col-Det; Game 3; ESPN).
Locally, the game did a 3.99 rating in New York, the highest local rating ever in the market for an NHL game on NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS). The 3.99 is up 93% vs. the Rangers 2008 Semifinal average on NBCSN (2.07). NBC Sports Network was the No. 1 rated cable network in New York from 7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. ET.
In Washington, D.C., the game did a 6.82, up 6% vs. the Capitals’ 2011 Semifinal average on NBC Sports Network (6.45). NBC Sports Network was the No. 1 rated network in Washington from 7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. ET.
Through six days, average viewership for the Semifinals on NBC Sports Network is 1,224,000, up 50% vs. the same time last year 816,000.
Through three weekends on NBC, the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs are averaging 2.5 million viewers (eight games), the best through the first three playoff weekends in 14 years (Fox, 2.6 million, 1998), and up 32% vs. last year (1.9 million; six games). In the coveted M18-49 demo, NBC is averaging a 1.4 rating, up 56% vs. last year’s 0.9.
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time and the Conference Semifinals being carried exclusively on either NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find those channels in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers, will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and post-game coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run. CSN Philadelphia will be doing live pre- and post-game programs for all Flyers games in the second round and CSN Mid-Atlantic will have one-hour Capitals Postgame Live shows for all Capitals games in the second round. Both networks will also have extensive coverage online.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Thirty Two* CNBC Thirteen NBC Eight NHL Network Six * Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress
And that is it.
May
02
NBC Officially in Kentucky Derby Mode
NBC Sports Network has already begun its coverage of Kentucky Derby Week today. It continues live coverage Thursday and Friday as well as airing the prep races on Saturday before giving way to NBC at 4 p.m. ET for the 138th running of the Run for the Roses live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY.
NBC is pulling out its “Big Event” strategy by pulling personalities from other NBC shows and NBCUniversal cable networks. For instance, the worst host in the history of television, Jenna Wolfe will be on hand for the Today show riding a horse on Saturday interviewing NBC’s Donna Brothers.
Darren Rovell will report live from Louisville for both CNBC and NBC Sports Network. And hosts from shows I’ve never heard of will also be on hand for celebrity interviews and to critique fashion.
Here’s NBC’s press release.
NBCUNIVERSAL SURROUNDS THE KENTUCKY DERBY
TODAY Show Segments Live from Churchill Downs Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Features and Segments from NBCUniversal Properties Including CNBC, Bravo, E!, Style, iVillage and Daily CandyNEW YORK – May 2, 2012 – The NBC Sports Group will present 14½ hours of Kentucky Derby coverage beginning today on NBC Sports Network, and culminating with the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 5 beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
Once again this year, a host of NBCUniversal properties will participate in promoting the food, fashion, celebrity and entertaining spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby.
Below is a summary of the NBCU properties that are supporting the Kentucky Derby:
TODAY SHOW: TODAY’s Jenna Wolfe will report live from Churchill Downs on Friday for TODAY, and continue Kentucky Derby coverage on Saturday’s Weekend TODAY when she interviews NBC’s on-horse reporter Donna Brothers (they will both be on horses for the interview). TODAY coverage from Churchill Downs continues on Sunday with an interview with the Derby-winning jockey and trainer. Wolfe will also be featured on NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage, where she will contribute features.
TODAY WITH HODA AND KATHIE LEE: For the third year in a row, TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb hosted a Kentucky Derby trip giveaway contest for the fan who created the most interesting Derby hat.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Bob Costas, NBC’s Kentucky Derby host, will conduct a live interview with Super Bowl MVP and this week’s Saturday Night Live host Eli Manning during Saturday’s coverage of the Derby. Manning will be live from Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center during his afternoon SNL rehearsal.
CNBC: CNBC’s sports-business reporter, Darren Rovell, will file reports live from Churchill Downs all day Friday. Rovell will also be a part of NBC Sports Network’s Kentucky Derby coverage.
Bravo: Cat Cora, co-host of Bravo’s new show, Around the World in 80 Plates, will be a participating chef in “Taste of the Derby,” and will appear on NBC Sports Network’s Kentucky Oaks coverage on Friday.
E!: E! News host Catt Sadler will interview celebrity guests at the Kentucky Derby for NBC’s coverage Friday and Saturday. Additionally, E! News is featuring Derby segments all week, including a hat-shopping segment with Catt and interviews with National Anthem performer Mary J. Blige and other celebrities in attendance.
Style: Jeannie Mai, host of How Do I Look, will be on-site at Churchill Downs breaking down the day’s fashion and Kentucky Derby style trends. This is the first time that NBC has included a fashion correspondent in on-air coverage of the Derby.
iVillage: iVillage, the essential digital brand for women which reaches over 30 million unique visitors per month, will celebrate this year’s Kentucky Derby by featuring a contest to win a new wardrobe and accessories from Vineyard Vines’ new Kentucky Derby collection.
DailyCandy: DailyCandy.com will feature Kentucky Derby editorial content on its homepage through a special editorial package titled “Derby Day 101.” The package will include over 40 articles about Derby parties, recipes, fashion, and everything a DailyCandy reader needs to know to get ready for the Kentucky Derby. In addition, DailyCandy’s Lilliana Vazquez will be a guest on TODAY with KLG and Hoda for a Kentucky Derby “Who Knew” segment.
Local Media & Comcast regional sports nets: NBC Kentucky Derby feature teasers were distributed to all 235 NBC affiliates and 11 Comcast Regional Sports Networks. Additionally, DailyCandy’s Lilliana Vazquez participated in a Satellite Media Tour about Kentucky Derby fashions and traditions, and a reporter from NBC NewsChannel will file live reports from Churchill Downs on Friday.
WEATHER CHANNEL: Throughout Kentucky Derby Week on NBCU, Weather Channel’s Wake Up with Al has been featuring the Louisville, Ky., forecast, and what weather viewers and attendees can expect at Churchill Downs throughout Derby weekend.
NBC SPORTS’ ‘BIG EVENT STRATEGY’ HELPS TO INCREASE VIEWERSHIP
The shared vision of Churchill Downs and NBC Sports’ successful ‘Big Event Strategy’ to assemble the broadest possible audience led to the 2011 Kentucky Derby drawing 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing this strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including the 2010 Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.
NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).
NBC SPORTS GROUP KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE (All Times ET): KENTUCKY DERBY Thur. May 3 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Derby Classics – Mine that Bird NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Live from Churchill Downs NBC Sports Network Fri. May 4 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Derby Classics – Animal Kingdom NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Kentucky Oaks NBC Sports Network Sat. May 5 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kentucky Derby Saturday NBC Sports Network 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Kentucky Derby 138 NBC 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show NBC Sports Network
That’s all for this post. One more coming up before I head for the evening.
May
02
Day 22 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on The NBC Sports Group
The Group has two games tonight dividing them among NBC Sports Network and CNBC.
At 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, it’ll be Game 3 of the New York Rangers at Washington with Mike Emrick, Ed Olcyzk and runner-up for the Montreal Canadiens GM job, Pierre McGuire.
Over on CNBC at 9 p.m., it’s Game 3 of the Phoenix-Nashville series with John Forslund and Joe Micheletti on the call.
Of course, NHL Live starts it all off at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
We have the NBC Sports Group press release which goes over all of the particulars for tonight. Check it all out below.
2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: DAY 22NEW YORK RANGERS @ WASHINGTON, 7:30 p.m. ET -– NBC SPORTS NETWORK (Series tied 1-1)
PHOENIX @ NASHVILLE, 9 p.m. ET — CNBC (Phoenix leads series 2-0)NEW YORK – May 2, 2012 – Day 22 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the Conference Semifinals with two Game 3s on NBC Sports Network and CNBC. NHL Live begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
TONIGHT
Tonight’s coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs starts in the Eastern Conference with the #7 Washington Capitals hosting the #1 New York Rangers at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (series tied 1-1). In the Western Conference at 9 p.m. ET on CNBC, the #3 Phoenix Coyotes look to extend their 2-0 series lead against the #4 Predators in Nashville. Tonight’s schedule (all times ET):
7:30 p.m. #1 New York Rangers @ #7 Washington Capitals (Game 3) NBCSN Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire 9 p.m. #3 Phoenix Coyotes @ #4 Nashville Predators (Game 3) CNBC John Forslund, Joe Micheletti CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time and the Conference Semifinals being carried exclusively on either NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find those channels in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers, will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and post-game coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run. CSN Philadelphia will be doing live pre- and post-game programs for all Flyers games in the second round and CSN Mid-Atlantic will have one-hour Capitals Postgame Live shows for all Capitals games in the second round. Both networks will also have extensive coverage online.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Thirty One* CNBC Twelve NBC Eight NHL Network Six * Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress
That is all. Two more posts before I head out for the evening.
May
01
Day 21 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Gives Us One Game Tonight
Tonight, we have Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils. This has the potential to go six or seven games. NBC Sports Network will have the game tonight at 7:30 ET. Kenny Albert and Pierre McGuire have the call.
Devils-Flyers Game 1 on NBC is Most-Watched NHL Conference Semifinal in 13 Years
2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: DAY 21NEW YORK – May 1, 2012 – Day 21 – Tonight the NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs with Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports Network. Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Pierre McGuire (Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call the game. Coverage begins tonight with NHL Live at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
Game 1 of the series, won by the Flyers on Sunday, 4-3, was viewed by 2.5 million people on NBC, making it the most-watched second-round game in 13 years, since two-game regional coverage averaged 2.6 million viewers on ABC (5/16/99). Through three days, viewership of the second round on NBC Sports Network is averaging 769,000 viewers, up 28% vs. the same period last year (599,000).
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers, will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and post-game coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run. CSN Philadelphia will be doing live pre- and post-game programs for all Flyers games in the second round and CSN Mid-Atlantic will have one-hour Capitals Postgame Live shows for all Capitals games in the second round. Both networks will also have extensive coverage online.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Thirty* CNBC Twelve NBC Eight NHL Network Six * Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress
That’s it for the afternoon session on the blog. Back later tonight.
May
01
NBC Sports Group Crows About Its 9 Sports Emmy Awards
The NBC Sports Group was the big winner at the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards in New York last night winning nine statues including some big awards like Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Host (Bob Costas, who else?), Outstanding Sports Personality – Event Analyst (Cris Collinsworth), Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Reporter (Michele Tafoya), Outstanding Live Sports Series (Sunday Night Football), Outstanding Playoff Coverage (NFL Wild Card Saturday) as well as the very last Emmy for Versus (now NBC Sports Network).
I’ll have some thoughts on the Emmys later, but for now, let’s provide the press releases from the networks in rapid fire form. The NBC Sports Group press release is first.
Sunday Night Football Wins Fourth Consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series
Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya HonoredNEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – The NBC Sports Group won nine Sports Emmy Awards, the most of any sports media company for the second straight year; Sunday Night Football won its fourth consecutive award for Outstanding Live Sports Series; and Bob Costas, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya were all honored in their respective categories at the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards, presented Monday night by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.
MARK LAZARUS, NBC SPORTS GROUP CHAIRMAN: “It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers. Last night’s results speak to the quality of the work we were able to produce as a team in the very first year of the NBC Sports Group. We want to extend our congratulations to all of tonight’s winners and nominees.”
Formed in January, 2011, the NBC Sports Group consists of NBC Sports, NBC Sports Network (rebranded from VERSUS in January 2012), Golf Channel, 11 Comcast Regional Sports Networks, and their respective digital assets.
NBC Sports’ NFL coverage was honored with a total of six Emmy Awards in the following categories:
- Outstanding Live Sports Series for Sunday Night Football;
- Outstanding Playoff Coverage for Wild Card Saturday;
- Outstanding Production Design/Art Direction for Sunday Night Football open with Faith Hill;
- Outstanding Sports Personality – Studio Host, Bob Costas;
- Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Event Analyst, Cris Collinsworth
- Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Reporter, Michele Tafoya.
Other wins for the NBC Sports Group included:
- Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement – Episodic for 2011 Stanley Cup Final on NBC;
- The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award for America’s Cup Highlight Show on VERSUS (now NBC Sports Network);
- Outstanding Camerawork for the 2011 Ironman World Championships on NBC.
For the fourth consecutive year, NBC Sports won Outstanding Live Sports Series for Sunday Night Football. NBC Sports has now won the award in five of the last six years, also winning in 2007 for its NASCAR coverage.
Bob Costas was awarded his 23rd career Emmy and fourth consecutive for Outstanding Sports Personality-Studio Host. Costas hosts Football Night in America, NBC Sports’ acclaimed NFL studio show. He won the Emmy in the same category last year for his work on Football Night and at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
Cris Collinsworth was awarded his fourth consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality-Sports Event Analyst. It was Collinsworth’s 13th career Emmy, which includes wins in 2007 and 2008 in the Studio Analyst category for work on Football Night in America.
Michele Tafoya, sideline reporter for Sunday Night Football, won the inaugural award in the category of Outstanding Sports Personality – Sports Reporter.
That is all.
May
01
NHL on NBC Sports Group Announcing Assignments Through Sunday, May 6
Thanks once again to the fine people at NBC Sports Group Public Relations for sending me the information. I know that The Group is in celebration mode after winning 9 Sports Emmy Awards last night and I’ll be posting the Emmy Award press releases from the networks later.
But first, this is the post regarding NHL on NBC Sports Group announcing assignments for today through Sunday. Yes, Mike Emrick, Eddie Olcyzk and Pierre McGuire are assigned to Rangers-Caps. McGuire pulls double duty on the Flyers-Devils series and he’ll call that with Kenny Albert. And John Forslund and Joe Micheletti stay on the Phoenix-Nashville series and Dave Strader and Brian Engblom are on Kings-Blues.
Here are the dates, times, announcing assignments and networks for the week.
Tuesday, May 1
Game 2: New Jersey at Philadelphia, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Kenny Albert/Pierre McGuire
Wednesday, May 2
Game 3: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Game 3: Phoenix at Nashville, CNBC, 9 p.m. — John Forslund/Joe Micheletti
Thursday, May 3
Game 3: Philadelphia at New Jersey, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Kenny Albert/Pierre McGuire
Game 3: St. Louis at Los Angeles, NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m. — Dave Strader/Brian Engblom/Brian Heyward
Friday, May 4
Game 4: Phoenix at Nashville, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — John Forslund/Joe Micheletti
Saturday, May 5
Game 4: New York Rangers at Washington, NBC, 12:30 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Sunday, May 6
Game 4: St. Louis at Los Angeles, NBC, 3 p.m. — Dave Strader/Brian Engblom/Brian Heyward
Game 4: Philadelphia at New Jersey, NBC Sports Network — Kenny Albert/Pierre McGuire
There are your assignments through the weekend.
May
01
Winners of the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards
Throughout the day, I will be posting various press releases from the networks touting their Sports Emmy Awards. Last night, I posted the winners as they were handed out. Now, we have the official press release from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences which holds the annual ceremonies.
These include the names who were involved in each category. Congratulations to all of the winners this year.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE 33rd ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS
Jack Whitaker Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
New York, NY – April 30, 2012 – The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) announced the winners of the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy® Awards at a special ceremony tonight at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Winners in 33 categories including Outstanding Live Sports Special, Live Series, Sports Documentary, Studio Show, Promotional Announcements, Play-by-Play Personality and Studio Analyst were honored.
The awards were presented by a distinguished group of sports figures and television personalities including Cris Collinsworth (sports analyst for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football”); Harold Reynolds (MLB Network studio analyst); Michele Tafoya (sideline reporter, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football”); Al Leiter (studio analyst, MLB Network); Mike Mayock (game analyst, NFL Network); Melissa Stark (reporter, NFL Network); Shaquille O’Neal (studio analyst, “Inside the NBA on TNT”); Joe Buck (sportscaster, FOX Sports); Curt Menefee (sportscaster and host, “FOX NFL Sunday”); Tracy Wolfson (sportscaster, CBS Sports); Gary Danielson (commentator, CBS Sports); Mary Carillo (correspondent, HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel”); Sage Steele (anchor, ESPN’s “SportsCenter”); Bob Papa (HBO Sports Broadcaster); Ernie Johnson (host of “Inside the NBA on TNT”); Chris McKendry (co-anchor, ESPN’s “SportsCenter”); and Steve Levy (journalist, ESPN’s “SportsCenter”).
One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Jack Whitaker, sports commentator and essayist, by Jim Nantz, play-by-play announcer of “The NFL on CBS,” NCAA college basketball and golf on CBS.
“We are honored to be presenting Jack Whitaker with our Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman, NATAS. “I had the pleasure of working with Jack for eighteen years at CBS, and Jack is a sports icon and a class act.”
In addition, NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell was honored with the Chairman’s Award representing the networks and their patriotic coverage of the historic 10 year anniversary of September 11th last year.
The Sports Emmy® Award recipients were chosen by a Blue Ribbon Panel of industry peers. The awards recognize outstanding achievement by individuals and programs broadcast throughout the 2011 calendar year.
A detailed listing of all awards is below as compiled by the independent accountancy firm of Lutz and Carr, LLP. A list of winners for the 33rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards is also available on the National Television Academy’s website at www.emmyonline.tv.
Awards by Network Group
NBC Sports Group (NBC, Versus, Golf Channel, nbcsports.com) 9
ESPN (ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC, ESPN 3D, espn.com) 6
Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, NBA TV, NBA.com, truTV) 5
FOX Sports Media Group (FOX, SPEED) 5
CBS (CBS, Showtime, CBSSports.com) 4
HBO Sports 3
MLB Network 3
NFL Network 2
PGA.com 1
Nominations by Network
NBC 8
FOX 4
TNT 4
ESPN 3
HBO Sports 3
MLB NETWORK 3
SHOWTIME 3
ESPN2 2
NFL NETWORK 2
CBSSPORTS.COM 1
ESPN 3D 1
NBA TV 1
PGA.COM 1
SPEED 1
VERSUS 1
And the list of award winners are after the jump.
Apr
30
2012 Sports Emmy Awards Live Blog
The Sports Emmy Awards are being handed out in New York tonight. Through various sources at the event, I’ll be able to update this post as awards are being doled to the various winners. And no, I’m not there, but I can provide the winners as soon as they become available.
For the full list of nominees, go here.
OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW — WEEKLY
Inside The NBA — TNT
OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT SOUND
MLB on Fox — Fox
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
America’s Cup Highlight Show — Versus
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN
Sunday Night Football — NBC
OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE
(tie)
“Together”-E:60 — ESPN
“Time Out of Mind”-Outside The Lines — ESPN
OUTSTANDING EDITING
24/7 Pacquaio/Marquez — HBO
OUTSTANDING PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT — EPISODIC
(tie)
2011 Stanley Cup Final — NBC
A Game of Honor — Showtime
OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — SPORTS REPORTER
Michele Tafoya — NBC
OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sport Science — ESPN
OUTSTANDING SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
A Game of Honor — Showtime
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO
MLB Tonight — MLB Network
OUTSTANDING PLAYOFF COVERAGE
NFL Wild Card Saturday — NBC
OUSTANDING CAMERA WORK
2011 Ironman Triathlon — NBC
OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL
Joplin: City of Hope — ESPN2
OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION DIRECTION/LYRICS
Men of Mettle-Ed Sabol’s Last Football Movie — NFL Network/NFL Films
OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT — INSTITUTIONAL
NBA on TNT: Shaq Get Ready — TNT
OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — STUDIO HOST
Bob Costas — NBC/MLB Network (of course)
OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
PGA Championship LIVE on PGA.com — PGA.com
OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE
NBA on TNT: Live Forever — TNT
OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND
Sound FX: All Access — NFL Network
OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — SPORT EVENT ANALYST
Cris Collinsworth — NBC
THE DICK SCHAAP WRITING AWARD
24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the Winter Classic — HBO
OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — STUDIO ANALYST
Charles Barkley — TNT
OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING
A Game of Honor — Showtime
OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES/ANTHOLOGY
The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants — Showtime/MLB Productions
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR SPORTS
Jack Whitaker — CBS/ABC Sports
OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW — DAILY
MLB Tonight — MLB Network
OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE
Outside The Lines: The Man in the Red Bandana — ESPN
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE
(tie)
MLB on Fox — Fox
Winter X Games 15 — ESPN 3D
OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SERIES
Sunday Night Football — NBC
OUTSTANDING SPORTS JOURNALISM
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The College Bowl Game Money Trail — HBO
OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND
Inside The Headsets — Speed
OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL
The World Series — Fox
OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — PLAY-BY-PLAY
Joe Buck — Fox
That concludes the Awards for tonight.
Apr
30
At Day 20 of The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Group
Two Games 2 in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight. NBC Sports Group will have them covered for you.
NBC Sports Network carries Game 2 of the Easyern Conference Semifinal series between Washington and the New York Rangers live from Madison Square Garden starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. Rick Peckham and Eddie Olcyzk have the call.
Then Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal between the surprising Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues will air on CNBC at 9 p.m. ET. Your announcers will be Dave Strader and Brian Engblom.
Here’s NBC Sports Group’s press release previewing tonight’s action for you below.
ALL GAMES NOW AIR EXCLUSIVELY ON NBC, NBC SPORTS NETWORK OR CNBCTwo Game 2′s Tonight:
Washington @ New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m. ET -– NBC Sports Network (Rangers lead series 1-0)
Los Angeles @ St. Louis, 9 p.m. ET –- CNBC(Kings leads series 1-0)NEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – Day 20 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the Conference Semifinals with two Game 2s tonight on NBC Sports Network and CNBC.
TONIGHT
Tonight’s coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins in the Eastern Conference with the #1 New York Rangers hosting the #7 Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (Rangers lead 1-0). In the Western Conference at 9 p.m. ET on CNBC, the #8 Los Angeles Kings look to extend their 1-0 series lead against the #2 Blues in St. Louis. NHL Live begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Today’s schedule (all times ET):
7:30 p.m. #7 Washington Capitals @ #1 New York Rangers (Game 2) NBCSN Rick Peckham, Eddie Olczyk 9 p.m. #8 LAK @ #2 STL (Game 2) CNBC Dave Strader, Brian Engblom COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers, will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and post-game coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run. CSN Philadelphia will be doing live pre- and post-game programs for all Flyers games in the second round and CSN Mid-Atlantic will have one-hour Capitals Postgame Live shows for all Capitals games in the second round. Both networks will also have extensive coverage online.
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, including exclusively beginning in the Conference Semifinal round, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Twenty Nine* CNBC Eleven NBC Eight NHL Network Six * Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress
And we’re done here.
Apr
30
NHL Stanley Cup Conference Semifinals Score For NBC
The NHL’s ratings continue to be red hot for NBC. Despite heavy competition from the NBA Playoffs on ABC, NBC still held its own on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. And with the NBA Playoffs opposite on ESPN and TNT in primetime both nights, NBC Sports Network fared well in the local markets.
With NBC carrying games from top markets of New York, Philadelphia and Washington this weekend for the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the network saw rating increases from the year before, a 1.5 overnight for Capitals-Rangers on Saturday which was even with 2011 and a 1.9 for Devils-Flyers, up from 1.6 last year.
So NBC is happy with the numbers as it heads to the first full week of Round 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL OVERNIGHTS ON NBC ARE BEST IN EIGHT YEARS
St. Louis, Nashville, Phoenix set NBC Sports Network records
NEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – NBC’s coverage of its first two Conference Semifinal games averaged a 1.7 overnight rating, the best for weekend coverage of the second round in eight years, and up six percent vs. last year’s coverage. Capitals-Rangers on Saturday and Devils-Flyers on Sunday produced the best overnight average for weekend coverage of the second round since two-game regional coverage on ABC (1.9) on May 1, 2004. In addition, a number of local markets set records or achieved milestones for Conference Semifinal coverage on both NBC and the NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS).
DEVILS-FLYERS
Yesterday’s coverage of Devils-Flyers on NBC generated a 1.9 overnight rating, up 19% compared to last year’s Red Wings-Sharks second-round game (1.6).
- Philadelphia received a 14.6 rating, up 121% vs. last year’s second-round Game 1 vs. Boston (6.6).
- New York received a 2.5 rating, up 92% vs. a Conference Quarterfinal Game 6 vs. Tampa Bay in 2007 (1.3), its most recent comparable Devils game on NBC.
- The 2.5 rating was also the best playoff delivery for a Devils game on NBC in New York in six years, since a Conference Quarterfinal game vs. the New York Rangers on April 22, 2006 (2.8).
CAPITALS-RANGERS
Saturday’s coverage of Capitals-Rangers on NBC received a 1.5 overnight rating, even with last year’s Bruins-Flyers game. The New York market went head-to-head for most of the game with the opening playoff contest of the New York Knicks, who faced the Miami Heat on ABC.
- The Capitals-Rangers game received a 3.5 rating in New York, up 17% vs. the last comparable Rangers game vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins on NBC on April 27, 2008 (3.0).
- In Washington, the game generated a 5.2 rating, down slightly from a 5.3 in 2009 for a second-round game against the Penguins.
LOCAL NBC SPORTS NETWORK COVERAGE
The NBC Sports Network aired two Conference Semifinal games over the weekend as well. It presented Game 1 of the Los Angeles Kings-St. Louis Blues game on Saturday night and Game 2 of the Nashville Predators-Phoenix Coyotes series last night.
- In St. Louis, Kings-Blues Game 1 received an 8.31 rating on NBC Sports Network, the highest local rating ever in the market for an NHL game on the channel. NBC Sports Network was the No.1 rated network in St. Louis from 7:30-10:15 p.m. ET.
- Los Angeles received a 0.86 rating. This is the first-ever Semifinal game for the Kings on NBC Sports Network.
- In Nashville and Phoenix, Predators-Coyotes Game 2 generated a 4.79 and a 3.84 rating, respectively, both the highest local ratings ever in those market for an NHL game on the NBC Sports Network, which was the No. 1 cable network in both markets from 8-11 p.m. ET.
NOTE: Final national ratings for both NBC and NBC Sports Network games will be available later this week.
CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
On the strength of a record 16 overtime games, 32 one-goal games, and a new television format that televised every first-round game nationally for the first time, the Conference Quarterfinals of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs delivered record-setting viewership. According to Fast National data released today by The Nielsen Company, the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals:
- Averaged 929,000 viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC, making them the most-watched first round on record (cable data not available prior to 1994);
- Averaged 744,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network, making them the most-watched in NBC Sports Network history (formerly VERSUS), up 16% from last year (642,000), and the highest on a cable channel in 11 years (ESPN, 745,000 in 2001);
- Averaged 2.57 million viewers on NBC for six broadcasts, up 39 percent compared to last year (1.85 million, four games), and making them the most-watched on a broadcast network in 14 years, since Fox averaged 2.76 million viewers in 1998 (two games);
- Reached 30.9 million total viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC (excluding last night’s two Game 7s), up 29% vs. last year (23.9 million).
More later.
Apr
30
NBC Sports Group All Over The Kentucky Derby
This Saturday is the first Saturday in May and that means it’s Kentucky Derby time. NBC will have extensive coverage of the Run for the Roses this week through NBC Sports Network and its main network.
Coverage begins on Wednesday with the Kentucky Derby draw which determines post positions for the horses in the race. Then Friday, NBC Sports Network airs the Kentucky Oaks and Saturday, NBC Sports Network and NBC will combine for a total of 8½ hours on raceday.
Bob Costas and Mr. Kentucky, Tom Hammond will co-host coverage. Gary Stevens, Mike Battaglia, Bob Neumeier, Randy Moss (horse racing’s and NFL Network’s Randy Moss, not the wide receiver), Laffit Pincay III, Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers, Jay Privman and Larry Collmus will all be part of the broadcasts. Weekend Today co-host Jenna Wolfe will be on hand to provide on-air miscues and inappropriate comments. And someone named Catt Sadler from E! will handle celebrity interviews and review the Kentucky Derby fashion.
Here’s the NBC Sports Group press release.
Coverage From Churchill Downs Begins Wednesday and Continues All Week on NBC and NBC Sports Network
Bob Costas and Tom Hammond Host Kentucky Derby Coverage
Kentucky Derby Extra Provides Live Streaming on NBCSports.com with Additional Camera Angles and Live Commentary
Gary Stevens and Randy Moss Both Like Union Rags
NBC Sports Group Presents 27½ Total Hours of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown Over Next 5 WeeksNEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – The NBC Sports Group will present 14½ hours of Kentucky Derby coverage beginning on Wednesday, May 2 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and culminating with the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 5 beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
The expanded Kentucky Derby coverage, which includes 8.5 hours on Derby Day on NBC and NBC Sports Network, will include:
- Live coverage of the Kentucky Derby Draw on NBC Sports Network, which will determine the post positions;
- 11½ total hours on NBC Sports Network, which was re-branded from VERSUS earlier this year;
- Three hours of “Derby Classics” (Barbaro, Mine That Bird, Animal Kingdom) to air on NBC Sports Network.
COMENTATORS: The NBC Sports Group coverage of the Kentucky Derby will feature co-hosts Bob Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winner, and veteran NBC Sports commentator Tom Hammond; three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; analyst Randy Moss; host Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman; race caller Larry Collmus. Also, TODAY’s Jenna Wolfe will contribute features and Catt Sadler of NBCUniversal’s E! will talk Kentucky Derby fashions and handle celebrity interviews.
Additionally, Hall-of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby-winner Jerry Bailey will join NBC Sports Network’s commentary team on Derby Day. Bailey, who also won twice in the Preakness and twice in the Belmont, won the Kentucky Derby in 1993 (Sea Hero) and 1996 (Grindstone).
The coverage on NBC will be produced by Rob Hyland, a veteran of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001, and directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBC Sports Network is produced by Billy Matthews and Rich O’Connor and directed by Patrick McManus. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network is Sam Flood, who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.
STEVENS’ DERBY TOP 5:
1. Union Rags
2. I’ll Have Another
3. Creative Cause
4. Bodemeister
5. GemologistMOSS’ DERBY TOP 5:
1. Union Rags
2. Creative Cause
3. Gemologist
4. Hansen
5. Bodemeister27½ HOURS OF TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE: The NBC Sports Group will present 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage this season from Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont, including “classics” from the Preakness and Belmont, live racing from all three tracks prior to the three Triple Crown races, and post-race coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont on NBC Sports Network. This marks the second straight year that all three Triple Crown races will air on NBC.
NBC SPORTS GROUP TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE (All Times ET): KENTUCKY DERBY Wed. May 2 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Derby Classics – Barbaro NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Kentucky Derby Draw NBC Sports Network Thur. May 3 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Derby Classics – Mine that Bird NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Live from Churchill Downs NBC Sports Network Fri. May 4 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Derby Classics – Animal Kingdom NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Kentucky Oaks NBC Sports Network Sat. May 5 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kentucky Derby Saturday NBC Sports Network 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Kentucky Derby 138 NBC 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show NBC Sports Network PREAKNESS STAKES Fri. May 18 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Preakness Classics NBC Sports Network 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Black Eyed Susan Stakes NBC Sports Network Sat. May 19 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Preakness Stakes Saturday NBC Sports Network 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Preakness Stakes NBC 6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Preakness Post-Race Show NBC Sports Network BELMONT STAKES Fri. June 8 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Belmont Classics NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Live from Belmont NBC Sports Network Sat. June 9 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Belmont Stakes Saturday NBC Sports Network 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Belmont Stakes NBC 7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Belmont Post-Race Show NBC Sports Network KENTUCKY DERBY EXTRA
Taking a page from Sunday Night Football Extra and Super Bowl Extra, Kentucky Derby Extra is the online connection to coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Available at NBCSports.com with live streaming of the NBC broadcast of the Kentucky Derby, other features of Kentucky Derby Extra include:
- Four online-only camera angles that showcase the activity happening across Churchill Downs on Derby day;
- Online-only analysis by NBC and NBC Sports Network commentators;
- Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey will answer fans’ questions and offer analysis throughout the broadcast;
- Replays and footage from all the key Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races;
- A video simulation of how this year’s Kentucky Derby might play out.
SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY
DERBY ALL-ACCESS: NBC Sports will implement its All-Access social media strategy for Kentucky Derby week on both NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. A dedicated social media producer will be on-site for behind the scenes content including Breaking News, photos and video from Churchill Downs.
Twitter: Viewers and tweeters alike will be encouraged to join the conversation by using the hashtag #DERBYonNBC. Reminders will appear on screen throughout all of NBC’s Kentucky Derby week coverage.
- On-air integration of live tweets from celebrities, horse-racing experts and @NBCSN will be featured on screen throughout the broadcasts to keep viewers up to date with what’s happening and trending on Twitter;
- For the ultimate horse racing fan, @NBCSN will live tweet the Kentucky Derby Draw Show on Wednesday and provide interactive trivia and “Did You Know” tweets during the Derby Classics shows Wednesday through Friday.
Facebook: Fans will have the chance to join the Derby party at Churchill Downs, by submitting their photos of their Derby parties and Derby hats no matter where they are, to the NBC Sports Facebook page where a selection of the fan images will be shown on-air. (Submit photos at www.facebook.com/NBCSports)
- Everyone at home can pick their winner with the “Choose the Winning Horse” Facebook poll on www.facebook.com/NBCSports. The nation’s votes will be tallied and shown on-air during the Kentucky Derby broadcast.
NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup, which was broadcast on NBC from 1984-2005. Last year marked the first time that all three Triple Crown races appeared on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001. This year, the NBC Sports Group will present 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network.
NBC Sports Group is also the home to Summer at Saratoga, Autumn at Keeneland, and, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series that provided live coverage of six major prep races for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.
KENTUCKY DERBY: Last year the Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers; the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including the 2010 Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.
NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).
PREAKNESS STAKES: Last year’s coverage of the Preakness Stakes on NBC drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of five percent over 2010 and the second most-watched Preakness in five years.
Since NBC began broadcasting the Preakness in 2001, every Preakness telecast on NBC over that period attracted more viewers than any Preakness telecast on ABC in the previous seven years. Viewership for the Preakness is up an average of 63% in the 11 years on NBC compared to the previous eight years on ABC.
BELMONT STAKES: Last year, NBC’s first broadcast of the Belmont Stakes since 2005 drew 6.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched Belmont in a non-Triple Crown year since NBC last broadcast the Belmont in 2005.
Since its involvement in the Triple Crown, NBC Sports has been honored with 11 Eclipse Awards for its thoroughbred racing coverage, Preakness (2002-03-05-06-08), Kentucky Derby (2007), Belmont (2004) and Breeder’s Cup (2001). Additionally, NBC Sports has won three Eclipse Awards in the features category: 2002 on War Emblem (Preakness broadcast), 2005 Afleet Alex (Kentucky Derby broadcast) and 2009 Mine That Bird (Preakness broadcast), and the 2005 and 2006 Preakness broadcasts were nominated for the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Special.
That is it.
Apr
30
NBC Sports Group Garners Highest Ratings Ever For NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Quarters
A few press releases I have to clear out of the inbox from last week. This comes from the NBC Sports Group regarding the Conference Quarterfinal round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
According to The Group, it averaged an audience of 929,000 thousand for the entire first round which is the highest average for the Conference Quarterfinals ever. For NBC Sports Network, the average audience was 744,00 which is the highest on cable in 11 years when ESPN had the contract.
A lot of this was helped by having all games available nationally for the first time and knowing where the games would be aired.
NBC also averaged an audience of over 2.5 million for its six games aired. So the NHL Playoffs certainly caught on in the first round.
We’re also seeing some decent numbers for NBC for the Conference Semifinals, but we’ll get to that when the time comes. Here’s The Group’s press release.
Games Across NBC, NBC Sports Network & CNBC Average 929,000 Viewers
NBC Averages 2.6 Million Viewers, Best on a Broadcast Network in 14 Years
NBC Sports Network Averages 744,000 Viewers, Best on Cable in 11 Years
Total Audience Up 29% vs. Last YearNEW YORK – April 27, 2012 – On the strength of a record 16 overtime games, 32 one-goal games, and a new television format that televised every first-round game nationally for the first time, the Conference Quarterfinals of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs delivered record-setting viewership. According to Fast National data released today by The Nielsen Company, the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals:
- Averaged 929,000 viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC, making them the most-watched first round on record (cable data not available prior to 1994);
- Averaged 744,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network, making them the most-watched in NBC Sports Network history (formerly VERSUS), up 16% from last year (642,000), and the highest on a cable channel in 11 years (ESPN, 745,000 in 2001);
- Averaged 2.57 million viewers on NBC for six broadcasts, up 39 percent compared to last year (1.85 million, four games), and making them the most-watched on a broadcast network in 14 years, since Fox averaged 2.76 million viewers in 1998 (two games);
- Reached 30.9 million total viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC (excluding last Thursday night’s two Game 7s), up 29% vs. last year (23.9 million).
In addition to the success of the Conference Quarterfinals as a whole, a number of single games also broke records or set milestones. Following are the top-performing games on each channel:
NBC: Capitals-Bruins Game 6 on Sunday, April 22, averaged 3.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Conference Quarterfinal game since the advent of Nielsen People Meters (1987).
NBC Sports Network: The 1.32 million viewers for Wednesday night’s Capitals-Bruins Game 7 made it the most-watched first-round game on cable in 12 years, since 1.51 million viewers watched San Jose-St. Louis Game 7 in 2000 (ESPN). It was also up 43 percent vs. last year’s comparable game (926,000; Was-Mon, Game 7) and was the most-watched first-round game in NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) history.
CNBC: Coverage of the Conference Quarterfinals on CNBC peaked with 621,000 viewers for Coyotes-Blackhawks Game 6 on Monday, April 23. There is no comparison to last year as this is the first year that all NHL playoff games are being televised nationally.
Game 7s: Last Thursday night’s two Game 7s delivered strong viewership for NBC Sports Network. The Senators-Rangers game, in which the Rangers won, 2-1, in regulation, went head-to-head with the NFL Draft on two networks and was watched by 984,000 viewers on the NBC Sports Network, up 6% vs. last year’s comparable game (926,000, Bos-Was, Game 7).
The Devils-Panthers contest that saw the Devils advance, 3-2, in double overtime, began on NHL Network and then was simulcast on NBC Sports Network once the Senators-Rangers game had concluded. Devils-Panthers averaged 867,000 viewers for the portions of the game that aired on NBC Sports Network with no joined-in-progress comparison to last year.
NBCSports.com: NHL Extra, which live streams games broadcast on NBC, is up 233% in visits, 208% in unique users, and 276% in live starts over last year. Visitors are also staying on the site 288% longer than last year. During the Conference Quarterfinals, ProHockeyTalk experienced record traffic with 445,000 unique viewers, 526,000 visits, and 1.5 million views.
More stuff is on the way.
Apr
29
Some Leftover Linkage
I need to clear my brower of links I was hoping to get to sometime over the last few days. Since I couldn’t do the Friday megalinks or any Saturday morning linkage, I’ll do some Sunday evening leftover links.
Consider this the Sunday entrée to the beginning of the workweek. I honestly don’t know what that means.
Here’s some linkage for you to chew on.
Brian Lowry of Fox Sports is not a fan of Shaquille O’Neal on TNT.
Mike Farrell of Multichannel News writes that Time Warner Cable is hoping to obtain more sports properties for its new Southern California regional sports network.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel says the first round of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs was the most watched on record.
Andrea Morabito of Broadcasting & Cable reports that no talent hack Ryan Seacrest will be haunting NBC Sports as well as NBC News in an all-new, all-encompassing contract with NBCUniversal.
Tim Baysinger at B&C says ESPN’s ratings for the First Round of the NFL Draft were up double digits from the year before.
Sam Laird at Mashable writes that social media is influencing sports in many ways.
To Sean Newell of Deadspin who looks at the strange Twitter meltdown of Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley who went all-sexist on female pilots and one of his co-workers.
Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report writes that former CBS and ABC Sports essayist Jack Whitaker is receiving a long overdue honor from the Sports Emmys on Monday.
Ryan Yoder from Awful Announcing reviews the good and the bad of ESPN’s First Round coverage of the NFL Draft.
Joe Lucia of AA does the same for NFL Network.
Back to Matt from AA, apparently Tim McCarver fancies himself an expert on climate change
From the Tampa Bay Times, Eric Deggans reviews ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center.
Jason Dachman from Sports Video Group has ESPN optimistic that its Los Angeles studios will put itself in a unique position to cover the Lakers and Clippers in the NBA Playoffs.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck can ever match Peyton Manning’s marketability.
Providence’s WJAR-TV and Cox Communications announce a new partnership that will simulcast the NBC affiliate’s local newscasts and also put Cox Sports RI’s programming on a new cable channel.
Amy Chozick and Nick Wingfield of the New York Times explore the growing world of TV mobile and tablet apps which include the soon-to-be released NBC Olympics iPad app.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times profiles actor Peter Scolari who plays three important roles in the Magic/Bird Broadway play.
Breaking a ban of linking to Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News who has an interesting story regarding Yankees voices John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman and whether they’ll be leaving if the team changes flagship radio stations after this season.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick has no hope for our society. Lighten up, Phil. Time to travel to Moldova or Johannesburg. Somewhere you don’t have to watch sports anymore.
Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says MSG Network’s ratings for Game 7 of the Ottawa Senators-New York Rangers series were the best since the 1994 Stanley Cup-clinching game on the network.
Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the 76ers are leaving long-time home WIP and switching to ESPN Radio Philadelphia.
Crossing Broad says the Sixers’ move came as a surprise.
Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner talks with Jim Rome and his new CBS home.
Laura Newberry of the Orlando Sentinel says Golf Channel has become a Central Florida mainstay.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that the Rockets are not only moving to a new TV home next season, but are currently looking for a new radio flagship station as well.
Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman transcribes Mike Tirico’s call of Kevin Durant’s winning shot for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.
The Cincinnati Enquirer says one local cable provider will pick up NFL Network, but it’s not Time Warner.
Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch says the Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley may be headed towards a suspension.
Danny Ecker at Crain’s Chicago Business says the Bulls generated their highest regular season TV ratings since the Michael Jordan years.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says scheduling of playoff games never has the fans in mind.
Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune says ESPN gave the Utah Jazz the benefit of the doubt in its series opener.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC got the job done in choosing its NHL Playoff series for the Conference Semifinal round.
Peter Adler from the Edmonton Journal says the Oilers’ documentary series Oil Change which runs on NHL Network should return for a third season
Howard M. Alperin of Midwest Sports Fans asks why CBSSports.com doesn’t include soccer coverage?
Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy has TSN’s top hockey bloopers of the 2011-12 season.
That’s a lot of leftover linkage. Glad I was able to clear this out before Monday.
Apr
28
NHL Speeds To Days 18 & 19 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Group
Let’s provide a couple of press releases for you today. This is from NBC Sports Group regarding the NHL Postseason action this weekend. NBC takes the Eastern Conference Semifinala today and tomorrow while NBC Sports Network focuses on the Western Conference Semifinals tonight and tomorrow.
Mike Emrick, Ed Olczyk and Pierre McGuire will focus on the old Patrick Division matchups, Washington at the New York Rangers today at 3 p.m. ET and New Jersey at Philadelphia at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
We have the other announcing assignments for the Western Conference Semifinals listed below as well.
Let’s check out together the press release below.
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Days 18-19Three Game 1s & Predators-Coyotes Game 2 Fill Out Weekend Coverage on NBC & NBC Sports Network
NEW YORK – April 28, 2012 -– Days 18-19 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the Conference Semifinals with four games – three Game 1s and one Game 2 — this weekend on NBC and the NBC Sports Network.
The Eastern Conference Semifinals begin with the #1 New York Rangers hosting the #7 Washington Capitals at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Moving to the Western Conference at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, the #8 Los Angeles Kings travel to St. Louis to take on the #2 Blues. NHL Live begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Today’s schedule (all times ET):
3 p.m.
#7 Washington Capitals @ #1 New York Rangers (Game 1)
NBC
Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
7:30 p.m.
#8 Los Angeles Kings @ #2 St. Louis Blues (Game 1)
NBCSN
Dave Strader, Brian Engblom
TOMORROW
Sunday’s games begin in the Eastern Conference with the #6 New Jersey Devils facing the #5 Flyers in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. In the Western Conference, the #3 Phoenix Coyotes host the #4 Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. NHL Live begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Tomorrow’s schedule (all times ET):
3 p.m.
#6 New Jesrey Devils @ #5 Philadelphia Flyers (Game 1)
NBC
Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
8 p.m.
#4 Nashville Predators @ #5 Phoenix Coyotes (Game 2)
NBCSN
John Forslund, Joe Michletti
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network
Twenty Seven *
CNBC
Eleven
NBC
Six
NHL Network
Six
* Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress
That’s it.
Apr
27
NBC Sports Group All Over The NHL Conference Semifinals
Now that we’ve completed the NBA Playoff schedules, let’s focus on the National Hockey League and its TV partners.
The Conference Semifinal round begins tonight and this is where NBC’s new TV contract really kicks in. In the past, local regional networks could still air playoff games with increased exclusive national coverage from Versus. Now, NBC Sports Group has claimed exclusivity for the Conference Semifinals meaning it will carry all games exclusively from here until the end of the Stanley Cup Final (don’t call them “Finals” otherwise Commissioner Gary Bettman will come to your house and destroy your furniture).
NBC Sports Group will utilize CNBC, NBC and NBC Sports Network. NHL Network may carry the start of games in case the game running on NBC Sports Network runs long. However, for the most part on weeknights, it’ll be between CNBC and NBC Sports Network.
For the start of the Conference Semifinal round, NBC Sports Network begins tonight with Game 1 of the Nashville-Phoenix series. NBC carries the two Eastern Conference Semifinal Games 1 on consecutive afternoons while NBC Sports Network focuses on the Western Conference.
We have the games plus the announcing assignments through the weekend.
All Games to Air Exclusively on NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC
Western Conference Semifinals Start Tonight with Nashville at Phoenix at 9 p.m. ET on NBC Sports NetworkNEW YORK – April 27, 2012 – Day 17 — The NBC Sports Group’s exclusive Conference Semifinal coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight in Phoenix with a Western Conference match-up between the #3 Coyotes and the #4 Nashville Predators at 9 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET with NHL Live.
The Eastern Conference Semifinals begin tomorrow on NBC when the #1 Rangers host the #7 Washington Capitals at 3 p.m. ET. Western Conference action continues tomorrow night in St. Louis when the #2 Blues host the #8 Los Angeles Kings at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. On Sunday, the #6 New Jersey Devils and #4 Philadelphia Flyers begin their series in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Sunday night, the Coyotes host the Predators again in Game 2 of their series at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call both games on NBC this weekend – Capitals at Rangers on Saturday; Devils at Flyers on Sunday. John Forslund (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call both Predators-Coyotes games (tonight and Sunday night). Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call Game 1 of Kings-Blues on Saturday night.
Beginning in the second round and continuing through the Stanley Cup Final, all remaining Stanley Cup Playoff games will air exclusively on NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC. Following is the current schedule for Conference Semifinal games. Scheduling for remaining second-round games is TBD (all times ET and subject to change):
Friday, April 27 9 p.m. Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes — Game 1 NBC Sports Network John Forslund, Joe Micheletti Saturday, April 28 3 p.m. Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers — Game 1 NBC Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues — Game 1 NBC Sports Network Dave Strader, Brian Engblom Sunday, April 29 3 p.m. New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers — Game 1 NBC Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire 8 p.m. Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes — Game 2 NBC Sports Network John Forslund, Joe Micheletti Monday, April 30 7:30 p.m. Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers — Game 2 NBC Sports Network 9 p.m. Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues — Game 2 CNBC Tuesday, May 1 7:30 p.m. New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers — Game 2 NBC Sports Network Wednesday, May 2 7:30 p.m. New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals — Game 3 NBC Sports Network 9 p.m. Phoenix Coyotes @ Nashville Predators — Game 3 CNBC Thursday, May 3 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils — Game 3 NBC Sports Network 10 p.m. St. Louis Blues @ Los Angeles Kings — Game 3 NBC Sports Network Friday, May 4 7:30 p.m. Phoenix Coyotes @ Nashville Predators — Game 4 NBC Sports Network Saturday, May 5 12:30 p.m. New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals — Game 4 NBC Sunday, May 6 3 p.m. St. Louis Blues @ Los Angeles Kings — Game 4 NBC 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils — Game 4 NBC Sports Network Monday, May 7 7:30 p.m. Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers — Game 5* NBC Sports Network 10 p.m. Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes — Game 5* NBC Sports Network ENGBLOM ON BLUES-KINGS: “Goaltending wins championships. This series will prove that again.”
ROENICK ON COYOTES-PREDATORS: “Battle of the two best goalies this year. These teams are eerily similar; teams that win through hard work and defense. This should be a tight series, but an exciting one.”
JONES ON FLYERS: “Good news for the Flyers is they have sat and waited on three other Game 7s in the remaining series. Rest is on the side of the Flyers plus an opportunity to get healthier on their blue line. Nicklas Grossmann has been practicing with the team since missing games against the Penguins in the first round and looks to be available in round two.”
JONES ON CAPITALS: “Great news for Capitals fans whose team knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Washington played a complete team game for all seven games in the first round. They are no longer Alexander Ovechkin’s team. It is Dale Hunter’s team now.”
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
PRE-GAME & POST-GAME COVERAGE
NHL Live, NBC Sports Network’s NHL pre-game show, will air every game night at 6:30 p.m. ET. NHL Post-Game will air a 30-minute program following the conclusion of game coverage every night of the playoffs.
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and postgame coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run.
NBCSPORTS.COM
NBCSports.com’s fast-growing ProHockeyTalk, which has experienced a 140% increase in unique visitors and a 289% in page views compared to last season, will anchor NBC Sports’ online and mobile coverage of the NHL Playoffs.
Featuring writers Jason Brough & Mike Halford, ProHockeyTalk provides unique, informative and entertaining news, commentary and analysis– updated around the clock — on all the stories surrounding the NHL Playoffs. ProHockeyTalk is also an integral part of the popular NBC Sports Talk app. Other NBCSports.com features will include:
- The debut of PHT Extra, a multiple-times-a-week. online-only. video segment, featuring ProHockeyTalk’s Brough and Halford
- Online-only videos featuring NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network hockey commentators previewing upcoming playoff games and wrapping-up all of the NHL action that day
- Content provided by Comcast SportsNet NHL insiders
- An NHL Playoffs Channel Finder tool that will help fans locate the times and stations for every NHL playoff broadcast
- “Second screen” companion programming on NBCSports.com for games airing on NBC will include live, in-game video highlights; a live chat with ProHockeyTalk’s Brough & Halford; “Star Cams” featuring alternating, video coverage of the best players on each team, and a newly-introduced “Spotlight Cam,” a just-above-ice-level/center ice look at the action
SOCIAL MEDIA
In addition to broadcast, cable, regional and digital platforms, the NBC Sports Group will connect with NHL fans via numerous social media initiatives, including social integration, on-air integration and news:
- Social Integration:
- #StanleyCup Hash Tag: NHL Fans can join the conversation by using the #StanleyCup hash tag across every game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Milestone Mania: With the launch of the new Facebook Timeline, fans can explore and answer Stanley Cup Playoffs trivia questions
- NHL on NBC Sports Instagram: NHL fans can upload photos to Instagram and use #instahockey. The NHL on NBC Sports Instagram account “Because It’s the Cup” will feature the best fan photos
- Live Twitter Chats: Fans will have the opportunity to have live Twitter chats with NHL and NBC Sports personalities and commentators throughout the playoffs
- On-Air Integration:
- Playoff Polls: Fans can weigh in on a variety of NHL themed polls on Facebook and Twitter that commentators will discuss throughout the broadcasts
- #MVPonNBC – During pre-game, post-game and in-game coverage, fans can tweet who they think the #MVPonNBC is. Commentators will discuss the fan favorites and weigh in with their own opinions.
- News:
- Fans can engange with Twitter (@NHLonNBCSports) and Facebook (facebook.com/NHLonNBCSports) to receive the most up to date tune-in information, scores, reports and stories from around the NHL and ProHockeyTalk.
REMAINING STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF COVERAGE
CONFERENCE FINALS
NBC and the NBC Sports Network will team to provide exclusive coverage of the Conference Finals. NBC will broadcast a game each day on the weekend of May 19-20. The remaining games from both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be televised exclusively on the NBC Sports Network.STANLEY CUP FINAL
For the seventh consecutive year, NBC and the NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) will provide exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. NBC will broadcast Games 1-2 and Games 5-7 (if necessary), with NBC Sports Network televising Games 3-4.
- Last year’s Stanley Cup Final seven-game series, which featured the Boston Bruins defeating the Vancouver Canucks to claim their first championship since 1972, (Games 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 on NBC and Games 3, 4 on VERSUS) averaged 4.6 million viewers and a household rating of 2.7/5, surpassing the 2004 series (3.3 million, 2.2/4 on ABC/ESPN) as the most-watched combined network/cable Stanley Cup involving a Canadian team ever and up 39 percent from that series
- Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, which saw the Boston Bruins defeat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-0, was watched by 8.54 million people on NBC, making it the most-watched NHL game in 38 years, according to The Nielsen Company
That will do it. CBC’s press release is next.
Apr
27
NHL on NBC Sports Group Announcing Assignments Through Sunday, April 29
Thanks to the NBC Sports public relations department for sending the information as soon as it’s requested. Much appreciated.
So we have the announcing assignments for the NBC Sports Group for all of the NHL Conference Semifinal Series for the weekend. You’ll notice that Doc Emrick, Ed Olcyzk and Pierre McGuire pull double duty for NBC on both Eastern Conference series and they’re located down Route 95.
We have the assignments for you.
Friday, April 27
Game 1: Nashville at Phoenix, NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m. — John Forslund/Joe Micheletti
Saturday, April 28
Game 1: Washington at New York Rangers, NBC, 3 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Game 1: Los Angeles at St. Louis, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Dave Strader/Brian Engblom
Sunday, April 29
Game 1: New Jersey at Philadelphia, NBC, 3 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Game 2: Nashville at Phoenix, NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m. — John Forslund/Joe Micheletti
I don’t think we’ll see Doc, Edzo and Pierre pull double duty on the Eastern Conference throughout. I suspect we’ll see Rick Peckham and Daryl Reaugh on the New Jersey/Philly series next week.
As always, I’ll update the assignments when they become available.
Apr
27
NHL Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals Schedule
I admit this is a cut-and-paste job from NHL.com, but instead of me typing everything, why not lift their nicely-made graphic and put it here? I promise to type out the Conference Finals schedule.
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals Schedule
(ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN):
- * denotes if necessary
| 2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE Semifinals | |||
| series i | Time (ET) | #1  vs.  #7 |
Networks |
| Saturday, April 28, 2012 | 3:00 p.m. | Washington at NY Rangers | NBC, CBC |
| Monday, April 30, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington at NY Rangers | NBCSN, CBC |
| Wednesday, May 2, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | NY Rangers at Washington | NBCSN, CBC |
| Saturday, May 5, 2012 | 12:30 p.m. | NY Rangers at Washington | NBC, CBC |
| *Monday, May 7, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington at NY Rangers | NBCSN, CBC |
| *Wednesday, May 9, 2012 | TBD | NY Rangers at Washington | TBD, CBC |
| *Saturday, May 12, 2012 | TBD | Washington at NY Rangers | TBD, CBC |
| series j | Time | #5  vs.  #6 |
Networks |
| Sunday, April 29, 2012 | 3:00 p.m. | New Jersey at Philadelphia | NBC, CBC |
| Tuesday, May 1, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | New Jersey at Philadelphia | NBCSN, CBC |
| Thursday, May 3, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Philadelphia at New Jersey | NBCSN, CBC |
| Sunday, May 6, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Philadelphia at New Jersey | NBCSN, CBC |
| *Tuesday, May 8, 2012 | TBD | New Jersey at Philadelphia | NBCSN, CBC |
| *Thursday, May 10, 2012 | TBD | Philadelphia at New Jersey | TBD, CBC |
| *Saturday, May 12, 2012 | TBD | New Jersey at Philadelphia | TBD, CBC |
| 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS | |||
| series k |
Time | #2  vs.  #8 |
Networks |
| Saturday, April 28, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Los Angeles at St. Louis | NBCSN, TSN |
| Monday, April 30, 2012 | 9:00 p.m. | Los Angeles at St. Louis | CNBC, TSN |
| Thursday, May 3, 2012 | 10:00 p.m. | St. Louis at Los Angeles | NBCSN, TSN |
| Sunday, May 6, 2012 | 3:00 p.m. | St. Louis at Los Angeles | NBC, TSN |
| *Tuesday, May 8, 2012 | TBD | Los Angeles at St. Louis | CNBC, TSN |
| *Thursday, May 10, 2012 | TBD | St. Louis at Los Angeles | TBD, TSN |
| *Saturday, May 12, 2012 | TBD | Los Angeles at St. Louis | TBD, TSN |
| series l |
Time | #3  vs.  #4 |
Networks |
| Friday, April 27, 2012 | 9:00 p.m. | Nashville at Phoenix | NBCSN, TSN |
| Sunday, April 29, 2012 | 8:00 p.m. | Nashville at Phoenix | NBCSN, TSN |
| Wednesday, May 2, 2012 | 9:00 p.m. | Phoenix at Nashville | CNBC, TSN |
| Friday, May 4, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | Phoenix at Nashville | NBCSN, TSN |
| *Monday, May 7, 2012 | 10:00 p.m. | Nashville at Phoenix | NBCSN, TSN |
| *Wednesday, May 9, 2012 | TBD | Phoenix at Nashville | TBD, TSN |
| *Friday, May 11, 2012 | TBD | Nashville at Phoenix | TBD, TSN |
And when I receive announcing assignments, I’ll post them immediately.
Apr
26
Game 7 of Bruins-Capitals Does Very Well For NBC Sports Network
The NBC Sports Network received great numbers for Game 7 for Wednesday’s Washington Capitals-Boston Bruins series. Over 1.3 million people watched and that’s 43% higher than last year’s Game 7 between the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. This now becomes the most-watched NHL Conference Quarterfinal game on Versus/NBC Sports Network in its history.
It’s also the most-watched first round NHL Playoff game on cable dating back to 2000.
We have the NBC Sports press release on the ratings.
1.32 Million Viewers Up 43% vs. Last Year’s Comparable Contest & Best Conference Final Game in NBC Sports Network History
NBC Off to Best Broadcast-Network Start for NHL Playoffs in 14 YearsNEW YORK – April 26, 2012 – Last night’s Game 7 between the Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins was watched by 1.32 million viewers on the NBC Sports Network, making it the most-watched NHL Conference Quarterfinal game on cable in 12 years. In addition, NBC is off to the best broadcast-network start for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 14 years, averaging 2.6 million viewers through six games.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK
The 1.32 million viewers for last night’s game, in which the Capitals defeated the Bruins, 2-1, in overtime in Boston, was up 43 percent vs. last year’s comparable game (926,000; Was-Mon, Game 7), and is now the most-watched Conference Quarterfinal game since the NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) began televising NHL playoff games in 2006. It is the most-watched first-round game on cable in 12 years, since 1.51 million viewers watched San Jose-St. Louis Game 7 in 2000 (ESPN). Last night’s game produced a 0.89 rating and peaked at 1.13 during the 10 p.m. ET half hour.
Through the first 15 days of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NBC Sports Network is averaging 729,000 viewers per game, up 14 percent vs. last year (642,000).
NBC
Through the first two weekends of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, NBC is averaging 2.6 million viewers through six games, up 39 percent compared to last year (1.9 million, four games) and making it the best two-weekend delivery in 14 years, since Fox averaged 2.8 million viewers for its first two weekends in 1998 (two games).
Saturday’s Capitals-Bruins Game 5 was watched by 2.0 million viewers, making it the most-watched early-round Saturday game in eight years, since 2.2 million on April 17, 2004 on ABC. Sunday’s Penguins-Flyers Game 6, which aired in the early Noon-3 p.m. ET window, averaged 3.1 million viewers.
As was previously announced, Sunday’s Capitals-Bruins Game 6 averaged 3.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Conference Quarterfinal game since the advent of people meters in 1993.
That’s all.
Apr
26
Unveiling Some Thursday Links
Let’s get to some linkage. Four days in a row. Let’s keep up the momentum.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the NFL is considering suspending the Pro Bowl.
Stuart Kemp of the Hollywood Reporter writes that BBC’s staff to cover the London Olympics will outnumber the British athletic contingent to the Games.
Tim Baysinger at Broadcasting & Cable says NBC Sports Network has renewed NFL Turning Point for three more seasons.
Anthony Crupi of Adweek notes that Tide is now the Official Laundry Detergent of the NFL.
To E.J. Schultz of Advertising Age who writes that UFC sponsor Anheuser-Busch gave a warning over its fighters’ racist and homophobic comments.
Ed Sherman of the Sherman Report talks with ESPN analyst Bill Polian who will spending his first NFL Draft outside of a War Room.
Ed says NBC will be rooting hard for the New York Rangers tonight in its Game 7 against the Ottawa Senators.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says despite an ugly domestic dispute involving his estranged wife this week, Deion Sanders will appear on NFL Network’s Draft coverage.
Dan Daley at Sports Video Group says audio from the Olympics will be all-digital unlike in past years.
Karen Hogan of SVG goes inside ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage.
This pains me, but I’ll post this. Glenn Davis of SportsGrid has the audio of the Washington Capitals series-winning goal by Joel Ward to defeat the Boston Bruins in Game 7 last night. And there were some idiotic racist tweets following the game. Those Bruins fans do not represent me. Stupid fucks.
Timothy Burke at Deadspin has the YES video of two Texas Rangers fans oblivious to a crying kid while they pose with a ball they caught during last night’s game with the Yankees. Luckily, the kid got another ball, but that couple should know to give the ball to the kid. Man alive.
Ty Duffy at the Big Lead looks at Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee using the “bad journalism” claim to hide behind the problems that led to the downfall of former football coach Jim Tressel.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that Jeremy Lin’s uniform now outsells Kobe Bryant’s.
Speaking of Darren, he was the guest on the 100th edition of Sports Media Weekly and the podcast is a very good listen if I do say so myself.
Hispanic Business looks at the deal between Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Fox Deportes to put more boxing on the network.
Newsday’s Neil Best talks about ESPN Radio NY moving to the FM dial as early as next week.
Justin Terranova of the New York Post says ESPN confirms what the Post reported earlier this week.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says ESPN Radio takes over a legendary FM frequency.
Kieran Darcy of ESPN NY writes about the ESPN Radio move.
Jerry Barmash of Fishbowl NY also has a story on the ESPN Radio-to-FM flip.
Jerry looks at the ratings for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.
Richard Sandomir from the New York Times talks with ESPN NFL Draft analyst Bill Polian.
Richard writes that the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are a ratings hit thus far.
Broadway World notes that NBC’s Al Michaels was honored by Fordham University with an award named after his idol, Vin Scully.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union says a local sports anchor is leaving town next month.
Pete has the dates, but not times for the NHL Stanley Cup Western Conference Semifinals.
Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says NBC Sports Network will air the IIHF World Hockey Championships next month.
Over to Crossing Broad where it has audio of Phillies radio announcer Larry Anderson yelling at the team to appeal a play.
Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the last 24 hours have been great for local sports.
Dan writes that the ratings for Caps-Bruins, Game 7 were high, but not quite a record.
Dan has the newspaper front pages from DC and Boston regarding the Caps-Bruins series.
Dan has video of ESPN’s Neil Everett imitating the Caps radio call of the winning goal against the Bruins.
The Washington Examiner’s Jim Williams says it will be hard to choose either ESPN or NFL Network to watch for NFL Draft coverage.
Steven Campbell in the Tampa Tribune profiles SportsCenter anchor Sara Walsh who grew up in the local area.
Tim Griffin in the San Antonio Express-News says the NBA’s TV ratings couldn’t be any higher despite the lockout that almost wiped out the season.
David Briggs of the Toledo Blade has highlights of a talk that Fox Sports President Ed Goren gave at Bowling Green University.
In Chicagoland Radio and Media, we learn that Comcast SportsNet and WMAQ-TV will merge their sports staffs continuing what has already occurred between CSN Bay Area and KNTV in San Francisco.
At the new Chicago Sports Media Watch, Paul M. Banks talks with Ed Sherman.
The Reno (NV) Gazette Journal says the Perpetually Angry Doug Gottlieb of ESPN will be in town in July for an event.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says the NHL has announced the dates for the Los Angeles-St. Louis series.
Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail wonders how best to approach the media in a hockey-crazy country.
Sports Media Watch looks at the ramifications if the NFL ends the Pro Bowl.
SMW has some ratings news and notes.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes solid ratings for the Devils-Panthers series.
Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has video of Hawk Harrelson doing what he does best, being a homer on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
TVSpy has video of a young Jim Nantz working in Salt Lake in a hot tub with Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton among others. Hello!
And that’s going to do it for supersized set of links.
Apr
26
NBC Announces Olympic Hosts and Correspondents
Ok, we have the hosts and some of the correspondents for NBC’s Olympic coverage. The names listed are not surprises. They’re pretty close to what I predicted earlier this month. Now these are hosts for NBC, not for any of the cable networks. We’ll get that list later. And we’ll get the list of the announcers and analysts plus reporters
Bob Costas hosts primetime, his 9th in primetime dating back to 1992 and his 10th overall Olympiad since 1988.
Al Michaels and Dan Patrick will host daytime coverage from London. They’ll also host weekends.
Mary Carillo hosts late night as she has during the Communist China and Vancouver Olympics.
NBC will utilize American Idol no-talent hack Ryan Seacrest as a contributor in primetime. Also being used as a correspondent will be John McEnroe. Bela Karolyi will be back with Bob Costas to be a studio analyst for gymnastics. The Bela & Bob Show in 2008 was one of the highlights of the Communist China Games.
We have the press release from NBC.
NBC SPORTS GROUP ANNOUNCES HOSTS AND CORRESPONDENTS FOR LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES ON NBC
Bob Costas Returns for 10th Olympics, 9th as Primetime Host
Al Michaels & Dan Patrick to Host Daytime Show
Mary Carillo Again Anchors Late Night Show
Ryan Seacrest, John McEnroe, Bela Karolyi and Carillo to Serve As Olympic ContributorsNEW YORK – April 26, 2012 – Bob Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, returns as the primetime host for NBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympic Games, which begin Friday, July 27. For Costas, this marks his 10th Olympic broadcast assignment and his ninth as the primetime host (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sidney 2000, Salt Lake City, 2002, Athens 2004, Turin 2006, Communist China 2008, Vancouver 2010).
Al Michaels, who hosted daytime coverage at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, and Dan Patrick, making his Olympic hosting debut, will host NBC’s live weekday and weekend daytime coverage, and Mary Carillo will once again host the NBC late night show.
Additionally, top TV broadcaster Ryan Seacrest, tennis legend John McEnroe, famed gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, and Carillo, broadcasting her 11th Olympic Games, will serve as Olympic correspondents during primetime coverage on NBC.
NBC OLYMPIC HOSTS:
- The 2012 London Games will be Bob Costas’ 10th for NBC and his ninth as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, South Korea, Costas earned acclaim for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin, Beijing and Vancouver. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network’s sports commentators, joined NBC in 1980.
- Al Michaels, one of the most renowned commentators of all-time and whose legendary “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games 32 years ago stands as one of the most famous calls in sports history, will work his second straight Olympics for NBC, serving as host of NBC’s live weekend and weekday daytime coverage from London. Michaels was the daytime host at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010, his first Olympic broadcast assignment in 22 years, when he covered hockey and hosted the Closing Ceremony at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics for ABC.
- Dan Patrick will make his Olympic hosting debut joining Michaels as host of NBC’s live weekday and weekend daytime coverage from London. Patrick, host of Football Night in America and the Dan Patrick Show, served as an Olympic correspondent for NBC in Vancouver.
- Mary Carillo will host NBC’s late-night coverage for the third time, reprising her role from Beijing and Vancouver. Carillo will also serve as an Olympic correspondent and provide a look into life in the United Kingdom through a collection of features done in her own inimitable style, similar to her acclaimed work during the Beijing and Vancouver Games. London is Carillo’s 11th Olympic Games and eighth for NBC.
OLYMPIC CORRESPONDENTS:
- As previously announced on NBC News’ TODAY, top TV broadcaster Ryan Seacrest will make his Olympic broadcasting debut, serving as a contributor for NBC’s primetime coverage from London.
- Legendary tennis star and broadcaster John McEnroe will make his Olympic broadcasting debut in London. McEnroe, who has served as a tennis analyst for NBC since 1992, and dominated the tennis world in the 1980’s, winning three Wimbledon and four U.S. Open titles, will serve as an Olympic correspondent on NBC’s primetime coverage.
- Bela Karolyi, arguably the most successful coach in gymnastics history, is one of his sports’ most-recognized personalities. He has coached and trained world-renowned gymnasts for the Olympic Games from 1976-2004, and returns to NBC as an Olympic correspondent, the same role he filled during in Communist China.
Back with more soon.
Apr
25
NHL on NBC Sports Group Announcing Assignments For Thursday, April 26
I already wrote about the crazy programming schedule that NBC Sports Group will have for the two Games 7 on Thursday night. No need to rehash.
Here are the announcing assignments for NBC Sports Group for both Games 7 on Thursday.
Thursday, April 26
Game 7: Ottawa at New York Rangers, NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Game 7: New Jersey at Florida, NHL Network/NBC Sports Network (joined in progress), 8:30 p.m. — Dave Strader/Brian Engblom
So there are the assignments for the final day of the NHL Conference Quarterfinals. The Conference Semifinals begin on the networks of NBC this weekend.
Apr
25
The Wednesday Links
Let’s do some linkage today. Been doing pretty good in providing links this week and I don’t want to stop.
Starting with Michael Hiestand of USA Today, he talks with ESPN bloviator Chris Berman who compares himself to Ted Williams, then tries not to compare himself to Ted Williams, claims he doesn’t pay attention to criticism when he clearly does and then makes no sense about cameras. Yes, I’m showing my anti-Chris Berman bias.
Tom Weir of USA Today’s Game On writes that Jose Canseco’s Twitter account is back up and running. Oh joy.
At The Sherman Report, Ed Sherman looks at some classic anti-Mel Kiper rants from ESPN’s past coverage of the NFL Draft.
Sports Business Daily notes that Los Angeles Lakers nutjob Metta World Peace was a no-show on Conan O’Brien TBS program after his 7 game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City Thunder forward James Harden.
John Ourand of Sports Business Journal writes about Fox’s deal with Golden Boy Promotions that will put live fights on Fuel and Fox Deportes.
Michael Bradley at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says NHL ratings are up significantly for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which seemingly condones violence on the rink.
Tim Baysinger at Broadcasting & Cable notes that ABC’s ratings for the NBA are up 10% over last year despite the lockout that wiped out the first month of the season.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says the Stanley Cup Playoffs are good to the NBC Sports Network.
Multichannel News says Speed has renewed the rights to the 24 Hours of LeMans road race.
Tony Manfred of the Business Insider Sports Page has video of Chelsea’s goal that put them in the UEFA Champions League Final, but the best part was Gary Neville’s on-air orgasm for Sky Sports.
Jim Edwards of the Business Insider Sports Page looks into NBC’s reasons for an almost $1 million price tag for a 30 second ad for its Thanksgiving Night NFL game.
Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has Mike “Doc” Emrick in the latest edition of his podcast.
Matt has great video of some awkward banter between SportsCenter anchors Steve Weissman and Sage Steele. Poor Sage.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell tells us that Shake Shack could be in more MLB parks around the country.
Leah Michaels of GoLocal Providence says ESPN’s Chris Berman was at his alma mater to honor Brown University’s athletic director.
All Access has Fox Sports Radio’s coverage plans for the NFL Draft.
Steven Beardsley of Stars and Stripes says NFL Network will feature cutaways during the NFL Draft to a battalion of troops based in Germany.
Kevin Paul Dupont in the Boston Globe provides a brief history on the greatest tradition in sports, the hockey handshake at the end of every playoff series.
In the New York Post, Phil Mushnick reports that ESPN Radio is close to deal with the New York Yankees that would put the team on FM after ten years of being on WCBS-AM.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the ratings for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Newsday’s Neil Best says the ESPN and NFL Network made the right call in not spoiling draft picks before they’re announced.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union says we’re still waiting for the start times for the NHL Games 7 on Thursday.
Rick Bozich of the Louisville Courier-Journal says he listened to the radio on Saturday over waiting for Fox to switch to Philip Humber’s perfect game.
Glenn Guilbeau in the Monroe (LA) News Star has New Orleans Saints interim coach Joe Vitt blasting ESPN for its latest story on the team.
KBTX in College Station, TX says Fox Sports Southwest received record ratings for the Pudge Rodriguez retirement ceremony before Monday’s Yankees-Rangers game.
George M. Thomas in the Akron Beacon Journal tells us that the networks are all over the NFL Draft.
Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune says swimmer Missy Franklin has become of the face of NBC’s Olympic promotional campaign.
Robert Kurson at Chicagoside Sports explains why after 25 years, he no longer listens to sports radio.
Matt Solinsky of the Desert (CA) Sun writes that Time Warner Cable and Fox Sports San Diego continue carriage talks that would put Padres games back on the provider.
Jamie Sturgeon of the Financial Post has CBC vowing in an increasingly expensive world to keep Hockey Night in Canada.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media talks about NBC Sports Group’s ratings for the NHL Playoffs on Monday.
Sports Media Watch explores ABC’s second straight year for record NBA TV ratings.
Joe Favorito looks at how sports brands can tap into National Train Day next month.
And that will put a wrap on the links.
Apr
25
NHL on NBC Sports Group Announcing Assignments For April 25
We just have one game for tonight, Game 7 of the Boston Bruins-Washington Capitals NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series.
NBC Sports Network will pick it up at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 25
Game 7: Washington at Boston, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Pierre McGuire
Ed Olcyzk not working this game for the network. Not sure if he’ll join Doc and Pierre for one of the Games 7 on Thursday and yes, I do think Doc and Pierre will call one of the Games 7, most likely Ottawa at the New York Rangers with Dave Strader and Brian Engblom heading to South Florida to call Game 7 of the New Jersey-Florida series.
If there’s a way one game can start an hour after the other i.e., New Jersey-Florida starts at 7 while Ottawa-Rangers begins at 8, that would be ideal. Kind of tough if the NHL decides to schedule both at 7:30 p.m.
I’m waiting on the assignments for Thursday’s Games 7. Once I receive them, I’ll publish it immediately.
Apr
24
Day 14 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Group & A New Ratings Record
NBC Sports is crowing about the ratings for Game 6 of the Boston Bruins-Washington Capitals series which went to overtime. The Group’s strategy to put all games on its national platforms is apparently working. NBC saw an average viewership of 3.52 million people for the Bruins win over the Caps making it the most viewed NHL non-Stanley Cup Final playoff game in 15 years. The previous high had been an average audience of 3.61 million for an Eastern Conference Final game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on Fox in 1997.
NBC Sports says viewership on the NBC Sports Network through 12 days is up 17% compared to the games on Versus last year.
Tonight, NBC Sports Network airs just one game, Game 6 of the Florida at New Jersey series.
We have The Group’s press release.
2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS – DAY 14Playoff Coverage Continues Tonight with Florida-New Jersey Game 6 @ 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (Florida leads 3-2)
Coverage begins with NHL Live at 6:30 p.m. ET
Bruins-Capitals Game 6 on NBC is Most-Watched NHL Playoff Game in 15 Years
Total Viewership of NHL Playoffs on NBC, NBCSN & CNBC up 37%NEW YORK – April 24, 2012 – Day 14 – With the Western Conference first round completed, the Eastern Conference continues with a possible elimination game tonight on the NBC Sports Network as the NBC Sports Group presents Day 14 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live on NBC Sports Network.
TONIGHT
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network, the #3 Florida Panthers, leading the series 3-2, look to advance to the second round when they host the #6 New Jersey Devils. With a victory tonight, the Panthers will win their first playoff series since 1996. Tonight’s schedule (all times ET):
7:30 p.m. #3 Florida Panthers @ #6 New Jersey Devils (Game 6) NBCSN Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire VIEWERSHIP NOTES
BRUINS-CAPITALS GAME 6 ON NBC IS MOST-WATCHED NHL PLAYOFF GAME IN 15 YEARS: The Bruins at Capitals Game 6 last Sunday on NBC drew 3.52 million viewers, making it the most-watched NHL Playoff game (excluding Stanley Cup Final games) in 15 years, since May 25, 1997 (Rangers-Flyers Conference Final game, Fox, 3.61 million viewers).
- The 3.52 million for Bruins-Capitals is the most-watched early-round NHL Playoff game in Nielsen People Meter history (dating back to 1993).
- Boston (16.3 rating) and Washington, D.C. (8.6) both registered the best rating for an NHL playoff game, excluding Stanley Cup Final games, in their respective local markets in Nielsen People Meter history (dating back to 1993).
VIEWERSHIP ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK UP 17%: Through 12 days, and with one Game 6 and at least two Game 7s (possibly three) remaining, average viewership of the NHL Quarterfinals on NBC Sports Network is up 17% compared to the same days last year (691,000 vs. 591,000).
TOTAL VIEWERSHIP OF NHL PLAYOFFS UP 37%: *Nearly 23 million viewers (22.76 million) have watched the NHL Playoffs on NBC, NBCSN, and CNBC through Sun 4/22, up 37% from the same period last year (16.577 million).
*Please note that this data goes through Sunday, April 15 on NBC and Sunday, April 22 on NBCSN/CNBC
CHANNEL FINDER
With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.
NBC Sports Network Twenty two CNBC Eleven NBC Six NHL Network Five
That is it.
Apr
24
Dropping A Few Tuesday Links
Let’s provide a few links here. Don’t think I can do a full set, but I’ll try.
In Sports Business Journal, John Ourand says MLB and Sirius XM have come to terms on streaming audio of live baseball games and will eventually be able to provide both home and away feeds starting next month.
Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age reports NBC is seeking close to $1 million per 30-second spot for its first-ever Thanksgiving Night NFL game.
Mike McCarthy at USA Today notes that the NFL has signed Tide as its official laundry detergent.
Marlen Garcia at USA Today’s Campus Rivalry blog writes that ESPN is interested in hiring former Virginia Tech basketball coach Seth Greenberg as an analyst.
Bryan Armen Graham of Sports Illustrated talks with rapper Nas about ESPN using one of his songs for the NFL Draft and Jeremy Lin.
Ed Sherman says the latest ESPN promo featuring a man named Michael Jordan has gone viral.
Todd Spangler at Multichannel News reports that Microsoft is bringing both ESPN and CBS Interactive as advertisers to its Xbox 360 platform.
Tim Baysinger of Multichannel says Fox Sports Media Group will air fights from Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. Most of them will be on Fox Deportes.
Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk says the NFL has reminded teams not to leak their draft picks before Commish Roger Goodell makes the official announcement on ESPN and NFL Network.
Mike Florio of PFT says you won’t see Warren Sapp on NFL Network during the draft.
Florio looks at some potential ESPN-on-ESPN crime between reporter John Barr and analyst Bill Polian.
Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life writes that the NBA’s TV partners are on pace for another ratings record.
John Plunkett of the London (UK) Guardian looks at a new landmark radio deal with the English Premier League that an upstart British company could sublicense to the States.
MediaRantz says the NFL Network completely ignored the Mickey Loomis-New Orleans Saints eavesdropping story that was first reported by ESPN.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says notorious cheating website AshleyMadison.com will reportedly pay a woman $1 million for schtupping Tim Tebow.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the dying art of the newspaper sports cartoon.
Gary Myers of the New York Daily News says the Saints are vehemently denying ESPN’s reports that GM Mickey Loomis eavesdropped on gameday radio transmissions.
Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union has ESPN’s Big Ten Football primetime schedule.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes a local record rating for Sunday’s Game 6 of the Bruins-Capitals OT game.
The Dallas Morning News reports on a domestic dispute that turned ugly between NFL Network’s Deion Sanders and his estranged wife. Deion tweeted what happened as the drama unfolded.
Mel Bracht in The Oklahoman writes that Sunday’s Thunder-Lakers game on ABC set a local ratings record.
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that it appears that Time Warner Cable may not pick up Fox Sports San Diego at all shutting out Padres fans this season.
Steve Donohue of Fierce Cable reports on one TV industry giant telling a Senate committee that ESPN and other cable TV companies should not be allowed to sell their programming directly to viewers.
Joe Lucia at Awful Announcing notes that Captain Blowhard is bitterly whining once again about not getting a Grantland writer credentialed.
Ryan Yoder of AA says ESPN is swinging the axe over a critique questioning its relationship with the Poynter Review Project.
Matt Yoder of AA notes that Jose Canseco has apparently deleted his Twitter account. Good riddance, Steroids Boy.
Sports Media Watch says NASCAR on Fox saw a drop in its overnight ratings for the Kansas Sprint Cup race on Sunday.
SMW says the NBA’s TV partners do well when they carry the Miami Heat.
Beau Denison of Sports Page Magazine asks of boxing fans if they should be angry at HBO and Top Rank promoters for the way they handle the Sweet Science.
San Diego Padres fan blog Gaslamp Ball says if Time Warner Cable won’t pick up Fox Sports San Diego, then why should Friar fans keep the cable provider?
And we’re going to leave it there for today.
Apr
23
Day 13 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on the NBC Sports Group
Tonight, we have two games in the NHL, both involving Original Six teams, both of which are hoping to stave off elimination.
The New York Rangers are hoping to force a Game 7 against a surprising Ottawa Senators team which were thought to be pushovers against the #1 seed going into this series, but now the Sens are home and gearing to eliminate the Blue Shirts. And if that happens, it would mark the second upset of a #1 seed in this year’s playoffs after Vancouver, the President’s Trophy winner for winning the most points in the NHL season was upset by the Los Angeles Kings last night.
And the Chicago Blackhawks hope home cooking can extend their series against the Phoenix Coyotes tonight in an epic series that had had the first five games go to overtime.
NBC Sports Network takes Rangers-Ottawa at 7 p.m. ET while ‘Yotes-’Hawks are on CNBC at 9 p.m.
Here are the details from NBC Sports Group.
TWO ‘ORIGINAL SIX’ TEAMS ATTEMPT TO FORCE GAME 7s TONIGHTNY Rangers @ Ottawa, 7 p.m. ET -– NBC Sports Network (Ottawa leads 3-2)
Phoenix @ Chicago, 9 p.m. ET -– CNBC
(Phoenix leads 3-2)
Coverage begins nightly with NHL Live at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports NetworkNew York – April 23, 2012 – Day 13 – Two original six teams will attempt to force Game 7s in their respective series tonight as the NBC Sports Group presents Day 13 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Network and CNBC. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live on NBC Sports Network.
TONIGHT
Tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network in the Eastern Conference, the #8 Ottawa Senators, leading the series 3-2, look to become the second eighth-seeded team to advance to the second round when they host the #1 New York Rangers. The #8 Los Angeles Kings closed out the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks last night in five games in the Western Conference. Also in the West at 9 p.m. ET on CNBC, the #6 Chicago Blackhawks will try to avoid elimination by hosting the #3 Phoenix Coyotes, who lead the series 3-2. All five games in the series so far have gone to overtime. Tonight’s schedule (all times ET):
7 p.m. #1 New York Rangers @ #8 Ottawa Senators (Game 6) NBCSN John Forslund, Brian Hayward 9 p.m. #3 Phoenix Coyotes @ #6 Chicago Blackhawks (Game 6) CNBC Brian Engblom, Dave Strader COMCAST SPORTSNETS
Comcast SportsNet Chicago (Blackhawks) will continue to air first-round coverage in its local market tonight and will also surround the game with additional Stanley Cup Playoff-related coverage. Tonight’s CSN (all times ET):
NBC Sports Network Twenty One CNBC Ten NBC Six NHL Network Five
That’s all.
Apr
23
Grinding Out The Monday Linkage
Let’s go for some linkage now.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today says ESPN and NFL Network have agreed not to show prospects on the phone spoiling the suspense of the NFL Draft.
Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated goes behind-the-scenes with ESPN and NFL Network as they prepare for their NFL Draft coverage later this week.
Congrats to Jimmy Traina at SI for 10 years of Hot Clicks. The site has been very good to Fang’s Bites since first linking here in 2008.
Patrick Stiegman of ESPN.com writes a guest editorial in Sports Business Journal responding to another guest editorial from last month criticizing the network’s journalism ethics.
Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com says the Big Ten Conference will have a lot of say at the next BCS meetings thanks to its TV network.
In the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman talks with NBC Sports Network programming chief Jon Miller about the channel’s lowly ratings at its outset.
At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Ronnie Ramos gives praise to MLB’s social media efforts.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Time Warner Cable has added ESPN and several other sports networks to its mobile and tablet apps.
Sam Laird at Mashable says ESPN is launching a social campaign to determine where the next College GameDay promo will be shot.
Bill Cromwell of Media Life Magazine writes that the NHL’s TV ratings are red hot.
Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing says it appears that the Atlanta Falcons have turned down HBO to go on Hard Knocks this season.
At Pro Sports Communications, Martine Charles stresses that in a crisis, hiding from the media is the worst thing to do.
Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy wonders if parity in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs could hurt the TV ratings in the long run.
The Connecticut Post says ESPN SportsCenter anchor Sara Walsh will host a business breakfast meeting next month.
Tanzina Vega at the New York Times notes that Jeep has become a USA Basketball sponsor in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post labels Yankees radio voice John Sterling a fraud. Wow.
The New York Post points out that Tennis Channel’s Mayleen Ramey is the new host of SNY’s Beer Money quiz show.
Dr. Doom & Gloom at the New York Daily News says the growing feud between the Giants and Jets is the main reason why Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning was pulled from ESPN Radio NY which is the Jets flagship radio station.
Richard Huff at the Daily News speaks with MLB Network’s Sam Ryan.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union feels Fox’s coverage of Philip Humber’s perfect game on Saturday was flawed.
Greg Connors of the Buffalo News says be prepared for an online Olympic smorgasboard.
At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg notes that MASN’s Kristina Akra has been doused with Gatorade by the victorious Nationals again. This is three times by my count. In fact, here’s the video of Kristina getting doused with the bucket by Rick Ankiel and Chad Tracy. Good angle from behind the Nats dugout.
Guyism notes the first two Gatorade baths.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with ESPN NFL Draft analyst Bill Polian about former Baylor QB Robert Griffin III.
Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times looks back at the weekend in sports TV.
Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel says a local sports anchor who’s been taking heat for his reporting of the Magic’s Dwight Howard story this season responded to criticisms.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle links us to his appearance on NPR over the weekend.
Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune says a new BCS Championship system will be bandied about this week and get a lot of interest from the networks.
Dan Whitney of the Cherokee (IA) Chronicle Times says thanks to NBC’s blanket coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’s a fan of hockey again.
Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post notes the increasing coverage of the NFL Draft.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has your sports calendar for this week.
The Toronto Globe and Mail’s Bruce Dowbiggin says the ratings show that Blue Jays fans are being patient with the team.
Sports Media Watch says NBA TV will produce its own playoff telecasts which is a departure from the last few years.
SMW says Fox garnered good overnight numbers for its Saturday Baseball broadcast thanks to Philip Humber’s perfect game and the Yankees stunning comeback against the Red Sox.
And SMW says the NHL on NBC drew very good ratings over the weekend.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says a Western Conference Semifinal featuring Nashville and Phoenix may not be as disastrous as some observers think.
Joe Favorito has his weekly sports business roundup.
A.T. Faust III at AppAdvice says ESPN’s iPad website fails to take advantage of the tablet’s strengths.
Bike World News says Fox Sports Net will pick up the Tour of Utah cycling race again this year.
And that’s going to do us for today.
Apr
23
Announcing Assignments For NHL on NBC Sports Group Through Tuesday, April 24
Once again, thanks to the fine people at NBC Sports Group for sending the announcing assignments for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now that as the number of series in the Conference Quarterfinal round is dwindling, you’ll notice that more games are being covered by NBC Sports Group and the simulcasts with CBC, Comcast SportsNet affiliates and/or TSN are disappearing.
Here are the announcing assignments for tonight and Tuesday on the networks of NBC Sports Group.
Monday, April 23
Game 6: New York Rangers at Ottawa, NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m. — John Forslund/Brian Heyward
Game 6: Phoenix at Chicago, CNBC, 9 p.m. — Dave Strader/Brian Engblom
Tuesday, April 24
Game 6: Florida at New Jersey, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Kenny Albert/Pierre McGuire
So there are your assignments for NBC Sports Group. We’ll get the assignments for Wednesday as we could have as many as two Games 7. We know we’ll definitely have one, Washington at Boston and if Chicago can tie its series tonight, then it could be a rather epic night on Wednesday.
That’s it.
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