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ESPN’s 2012 Monday Night Football Schedule

ESPN has an 17 game schedule and it’ll kick it off with an opening week doubleheader as it has since obtaining the MNF contract. And it’ll be an AFC doubleheader with the Cincinnati Bengals squaring off against the Baltimore Ravens and the San Diego Chargers battling the Oakland Raiders in the nightcap.

Then ESPN has Peyton Manning’s second consecutive primetime game for Week 2 as the Denver Broncos travel to the Georgia Dome to take on the Atlanta Falcons.

In Week 4, MNF will have the Dallas Cowboys traveling to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears. In Week 11, the Bears go against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.

In Week 16, ESPN’s game between Atlanta and Detroit will air on Saturday night, December 22 as Christmas falls on a Monday this year.

Monday Night Football has a tweaked broadcast lineup with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Lisa Salters for this season. Here’s the ESPN press release.

ESPN’s 2012 Monday Night Football Schedule

AFC Bengals-Ravens, Chargers-Raiders Division Matchups in Season-Opening Doubleheader on Sept. 10

MNF Highlights:

• Appearances by both Super Bowl teams – New York Giants at Washington (Dec. 3); and New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans (Dec. 10);
• Chicago Bears lead all NFL teams with three MNF appearances. Eight teams (49ers, Broncos, Chargers, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Lions and Texans) have two appearances each;
• Six of 17 MNF games involve divisional matchups.

The 43rd season of Monday Night Football will kick off on ESPN with a doubleheader Monday, September 10 –Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (7 p.m. ET) and San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (10:15 p.m. / 7:15 p.m. PT) -– and will continue with a total of 17 prime-time games. Following a season that delivered 14 of the 20 biggest cable household audiences of the year, ESPN’s MNF schedule will feature all 12 playoff teams from 2011, including both the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants and AFC champion New England Patriots.

Andy Dalton and the Bengals, who returned to the AFC playoffs last year, open the season against Ray Lewis and the division rival Ravens in Baltimore in the first game of ESPN’s nationally televised week 1 doubleheader.

The Ravens won the AFC North in 2011 and advanced to last year’s conference championship. In the second game, Philip Rivers and the Chargers play Carson Palmer and the Raiders in Oakland in a matchup of longtime AFC West foes.

Play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico, analyst Jon Gruden and recently named sideline reporter Lisa Salters will call the Bengals-Ravens opener, and the MNF games each week at 8:30 p.m. ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s 24-hour Spanish-language domestic sports network, will continue to offer a Spanish-language production of MNF games during the 2012 NFL season. Additional MNF“game around the game” content will be available throughout the day across ESPN’s multimedia platforms.

September: Peyton Manning Returns to MNF in Week 2

• Sept. 10: Season-opening doubleheader – Bengals at Ravens and Chargers at Raiders in a pair of AFC divisional matchups;
• Sept. 17: Peyton Manning and the new look Denver Broncos travel to Atlanta to play Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. The AFC West champions extend the NFL’s longest current streak of 21 consecutive seasons playing on MNF (1992-present);
• Sept. 24: NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers travel west to face former Packers back-up quarterback Matt Flynn and the Seattle Seahawks.

October: Bears-Cowboys NFC Showdown in ‘Big D’

• Oct. 1: NFC contenders collide in Texas as Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears tackle Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys;
• Oct. 8: Matt Schaub and the AFC South champion Houston Texans try to take a bite out of Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets in the Big Apple;
• Oct. 15: Elite quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers will be on display when the Broncos travel to San Diego to play the Chargers;
• Oct. 22: It’s an old fashioned NFC North grudge match when Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions go head-to-head with Cutler and the Bears in the Windy City, a rematch of one of MNF’s most exciting games in 2011;
• Oct. 29: In an NFC West duel in the desert, Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals host Alex Smith and the division champion San Francisco 49ers.

November: Vick and Eagles Look to Take Flight with Two MNF< Games

• Nov. 5: On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, MNF will be declared a winner when Drew Brees and the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints host Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles at the home of Super Bowl XLVII;
• Nov. 12: Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers play host to Jamaal Charles and the Kansas City Chiefs. As extra motivation, former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, now the Steelers offensive coordinator, will face his former team;
• Nov. 19: In the 34th MNF game played at Candlestick Park (most among all NFL stadiums), Frank Gore and the 49ers host Matt Forte and the Bears in a matchup of tradition-rich NFC franchises;
• Nov. 26: Thanksgiving weekend concludes with a feast of electrifying quarterbacks as 2011 NFL Rookie of the Year Cam Newton makes his MNF debut for the Carolina Panthers against Vick and the high-flying Eagles in Philadelphia.

December: Super Bowl Teams in Back-to-Back Weeks; Falcons-Lions Season-Finale in Motown:

• Dec. 3: Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and the world champion New York Giants face NFC East rival Washington Redskins in the Nation’s Capital. Washington won both games in 2011;
• Dec. 10: In a matchup of AFC playoff teams from last season, Schaub and the Texans battle Tom Brady and the AFC champion New England Patriots in Foxboro;
• Dec. 17: Sanchez and the Jets fly into Nashville to try to ground Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans;
• Dec. 22 (Sat.): Last season’s NFC Wild Card teams, Atlanta and Detroit, look to be in the playoff hunt again as Ryan and the Falcons face Matthew Stafford and the Lions in the MNF season finale in Motown. (Note: The game will be played on Saturday in prime time due to the Christmas holiday).

ESPN’s Monday Night Football
ESPN’s Monday Night Football is the most-watched series in cable television history. In six seasons on ESPN, MNF has registered seven of the top 10 all-time biggest household audiences in cable history. For the 2011 season, ESPN’s MNF delivered 14 of the 20 biggest household audiences (and 13 of the top 20 among viewers) for cable television in 2011, averaging a 9.7 rating (8.4 US rating) and 9,589,000 homes (13,252,000 viewers).

ESPN’s 2012 Monday Night Football Schedule

Preseason
Date	Time (ET)	Teams
Aug. 9	8 p.m.	Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers
Aug. 13	8 p.m.	Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders
Aug. 20	8 p.m.	Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
Aug. 23	8 p.m.	Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans
Regular Season
Sept. 10	7 p.m.	Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
	10:15 p.m.	San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders
Sept. 17	8:30 p.m.	Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons
Sept. 24	8:30 p.m.	Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Oct. 1	8:30 p.m.	Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys
Oct. 8	8:30 p.m.	Houston Texans at New York Jets
Oct. 15	8:30 p.m.	Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers
Oct. 22	8:30 p.m.	Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
Oct. 29	8:30 p.m.	San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Nov. 5	8:30 p.m.	Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints
Nov. 12	8:30 p.m.	Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Nov. 19	8:30 p.m.	Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers
Nov. 26	8:30 p.m.	Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles
Dec. 3	8:30 p.m.	New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Dec. 10	8:30 p.m.	Houston Texans at New England Patriots
Dec. 17	8:30 p.m.	New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
Dec. 22 (Sat.)	8:30 p.m.	Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions

We’ll have NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football schedule next.

NBC’s 2012 Sunday Night Football Schedule

The NFL regular season schedules are being released and we have the press releases from the networks. Two networks get expanded schedules this season. NBC Sports will air 19 regular season games getting the Thanksgiving Night game that had been on NFL Network.

We know that NBC will have the 2012 regular season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Football Giants on Wednesday, September 5. It also marks NBC getting the Cowboys and Giants to end last season and to begin the new season.

Then the following Sunday, NBC gets Peyton Manning’s debut with the Denver Broncos as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a rematch of their AFC Wild Card Playoff game.

The Thanksgiving Night game on November 22 will pit the AFC Champions New England Patriots taking on division rival New York Jets which could be a Tom Brady vs. Tim Tebow matchup.

And SNF gets to stay in the tri-state area as Green Bay takes on the Giants three days later.

Overall, this is a very strong schedule. Take a look at what NBC is saying below.

2012 “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

NBC to Air Thanksgiving Night Game for the First Time with Jets Hosting Patriots
Peyton Manning and Denver Broncos Host Pittsburgh Steelers in Opening SNF Game on September 9
NFL Season Begins on NBC with Wednesday NFL Kickoff Featuring Super Bowl Champion New York Giants Hosting Dallas Cowboys
NBC to Broadcast 19 Primetime Games in 2012, up from 18 in 2011 and 17 from 2006-2010

NEW YORK – April 17, 2012 – NBC will broadcast 19 primetime NFL games during the 2012 season, highlighted by: the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants hosting their division rivals the Dallas Cowboys on NFL Kickoff 2012; storied rivalries such as Steelers-Ravens, Eagles-Cowboys, and Giants-Eagles; two games featuring Peyton Manning with his new team the Denver Broncos – hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on the first Sunday Night Football game of the season, and the New Orleans Saints in Week 8; and NBC’s first Thanksgiving night game, featuring New England Patriots at the New York Jets.

MARK LAZARUS, CHAIRMAN, NBC SPORTS GROUP:
“The NFL is the most powerful content in the sports and entertainment universe, and we are once again poised for another exciting season of Sunday Night Football, the most-watched show on primetime television.”

Highlights of the 2012 Sunday Night Football schedule:

• 19 primetime games, including the opening Wednesday night game and a new Thanksgiving night game;
• Every 2011 playoff team makes an appearance on Sunday Night Football; 16 of NBC’s 18 scheduled games involve at least one playoff team from last season; 10 of 18 include two playoff teams (Week 17 game TBD);
• Three games each for Giants, Cowboys, Patriots, Steelers and Packers.
• The defending Super Bowl Champion Giants host their division rivals the Cowboys in the Wednesday night NFL Kickoff 2012 on September 5;
• The Jets host the Patriots on NBC’s first-ever Thanksgiving night game. NBC will broadcast a Thanksgiving night game each season through 2022 as part of the new NFL agreement;
• Peyton Manning, in his first game as a member of the Denver Broncos, as they host Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening Sunday Night Football game of the season on September 9;
• Three matchups among bitter NFC East rivals: Cowboys-Giants, Giants-Eagles, and Eagles-Cowboys;
• Three playoff rematches, including a rematch of the AFC Championship Game when the Ravens host the Patriots in Week 3;
• The first Sunday Night Football regular-season trip to Houston, as the Texans host the Packers in Week 6, and Cincinnati as the Bengals host the Steelers in Week 7;

NBC TO BROADCAST 19 NFL GAMES IN 2012: As part of the new agreement NBC signed with the NFL in December, 2011, NBC will now broadcast 19 regular-season games, including 17 regular season Sunday Night Football games, NFL Kickoff 2012, and the new Thanksgiving night game. NBC’s original Sunday Night Football agreement, which began in 2006, included 17 regular-season games. It was increased to 18 games in 2010.

SNF NO. 1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM ON TELEVISION: For the primetime television season (September 19-April 16), *Sunday Night Football ranks as the most-watched (persons 2+) and highest-rated show, and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54, as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, based on Nielsen live + same day data. Additionally, SNF is the No. 3 show among Women 18-34, and the No. 4 show among Women 18-49.

*NOTE: The primetime television season began on Monday, Sept. 19 2011, and does not include the first three NBC primetime games of the 2011 season (Thursday night NFL Kickoff Opener and first two SNF games).

The critically acclaimed Football Night in America, which precedes Sunday Night Football, each week at 7 p.m. ET, was seen by an average of 8.9 million in 2011, its best season ever.

2012 SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Wed. Sept. 5	NFL Kickoff	Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants
Sun. Sept. 9	Week 1	Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Sun. Sept. 16	Week 2	Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
Sun. Sept. 23	Week 3	New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
Sun. Sept. 30	Week 4	New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Sun. Oct. 7	Week 5	San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints
Sun. Oct. 14	Week 6	Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans
Sun. Oct. 21	Week 7	Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
Sun. Oct. 28	Week 8	New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos
Sun. Nov. 4	Week 9	Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons
Sun. Nov. 11	Week 10	Houston Texans at Chicago Bears
*Sun. Nov. 18	Week 11	Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
**Thurs. Nov. 22	Week 12	New England Patriots at New York Jets
*Sun. Nov. 25	Week 12	Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
*Sun. Dec. 2	Week 13	Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
*Sun. Dec. 9	Week 14	Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
*Sun. Dec. 16	Week 15	San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots
*Sun. Dec. 23	Week 16	San Diego Chargers at New York Jets
*Sun. Dec. 30	Week 17	TBA

*Flex Week
** Thanksgiving Night Game

And after the jump, NBC previews the big games on its schedule.

(continue reading…)

Some Tuesday Links

Been crazy with the schedules again, but I’m giving you some linkage today because you’re owed some. Let’s get busy.

Sports Business Daily notes the dueling NFL regular season schedule release shows on ESPN and NFL Network today.

Terry Lefton of Sports Business Journal says Comcast wants to replicate the success of its “Xfinity Live!” Philadelphia “mall of sports bars” in other cities.

Jason Fry of the ESPN Poynter Review Project a.k.a., the ESPN Ombudsman reviews the network’s ad-approval process.

Ed Sherman, formerly of the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business has launched his new sports media website and I’m quite impressed. A couple of links to his site which started this week.

First, Ed talks with the polarizing Skippy Bayless of ESPN.

With tonight’s NFL regular season schedule being unveiled, Ed wonders which network will get Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos debut?

Laura Donovan at the Jane Dough is not a fan of a sexist WFAN ad featuring Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton.

MediaRantz predicts which NFL team will get the most primetime games in 2012.

Congratulations to Patriot-News reporter Sara Ganim who at the age of 24 becomes one of the youngest to ever win a Pulitzer Prize. She wins for her coverage of the Jerry Sandusky-Penn State scandal and she continues to report on the story.

Ivey DeJesus at the Patriot-News has the story on Ganim’s well deserved award for her reporting.

And here are pictures in the Patriot-News newsroom the moment Sara was informed that she won the Pulitzer.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Coconut Water is here to stay or will it become a huge bust?

George Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter looks at the BBC and Eurosport putting a portion of their coverage of the London Olympics on the UK’s pay satellite service, BSkyB.

Marc Graser at Variety says Wrestlemania set a pay per view record for the WWE.

Lindsay Rubino at Broadcasting & Cable writes that the NBC Owned Stations group will sell national advertising for four Comcast SportsNet affiliates.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says NBC Sports Group is winning with the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Kristie Chong-Adler in ESPN’s Front Row blog looks at ESPN.com folding its Page 2 section into a new ESPN the Magazine-fronted portion of the website.

Glenn Davis at SportsGrid has the video of a new Michael Jordan-themed ESPN promo.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing breaks down one of the funniest and uncomfortable moments in sports television as YES’ Ian Eagle and Mike Fratello seemed to mix it up during last Saturday’s Celtics-Nets game.

However, Ian tells the New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman says while the videos have gone viral, it was all in fun between he and the Czar of the Telestrator.

Matt at AA still doesn’t buy the explanation that it was a bit.

Bob’s Blitz notes that WFAN’s ratings took a tumble for the second straight Arbitron ratings period, but ESPN Radio New York failed to take up the slack.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union notes that NBC saw higher ratings for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs thanks to airing one more game than last year.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with MLB Network’s Jim Kaat about the Nationals.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog introduces readers to new MASN Nationals reporter Kristina Akra.

Tony Grossi at ESPN Cleveland and WKNR Radio explains why the Browns flagship TV station had to move the team’s first preseason game to another station (scroll down).

Bonnie Miller Rubin of the Chicago Tribune looks back at being her newspaper’s first “gal” sports reporter in 1973 and how far women sportswriters have advanced since then.

Sports Media Watch notes that Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins will be back on NBC this summer to analyze Olympic basketball, a role he filled in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

To Steve Lepore at Puck The Media who notes that the NHL on NBC Sports Network continues to rack up the ratings.

And Dave Kohl of the Broadcast Booth explores the Sacramento market.

I’ll be out for bit, but be back after 7 p.m. ET for the NFL TV schedules. We’ll analyze them together.

NFL.com & NFL Network Announce 2012 Regular Season Schedule on Tuesday

Here’s something that was just announced by the National Football League. The entire 2012 regular season schedule will be made public at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NFL Network.

The show is called aptly, “The 2012 Schedule Release Show” and it will last three hours. Rich Eisen hosts and he’ll be joined by NFL Network analysts Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci to talk about some of the more interesting games on the schedule.

And we’ll get press releases galore from CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and NFL Network as well as the NFL. So keep your browsers at the ready for the entire NFL regular season to be released. I’ll have complete coverage here as well.

Here’s what NFL Network is saying.

2012 NFL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW AT 7:00 PM ET EXCLUSIVELY ON NFL.COM & NFL NETWORK

Record Three-Hour NFL Network Special Breaks Down 2012 NFL Schedule
NFL.com Unveils Complete Team-by-Team, Week-by-Week Schedules & Presents Movie Trailers Previewing Top Matchups

Who will quarterback Peyton Manning face in his Denver Broncos debut? When will the top picks in next week’s NFL Draft play in their first NFL games? Which teams will kick off NFL Network’s expanded 13-game Thursday Night Football schedule in Week 2?

These questions and many more will be answered when the 2012 NFL schedule is released in primetime, exclusively on NFL.com and NFL Network on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:00 PM ET. NFL Network will feature a record three-hour special 2012 Schedule Release Show with host Rich Eisen and analysts Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci. The schedule show will also feature special guests.

For fans who want to see their team’s entire schedule immediately, NFL.com is the place to go on Tuesday at 7:00 PM ET. NFL.com will be the first website with complete team-by-team and weekly schedules of all 256 regular-season games, listing opponents, sites and times on a new schedule page that integrates social media and video highlights. Additionally, NFL.com features movie-like trailers previewing the top games on the schedule.

Provided below is preview link of one of the movie-like trailers that will be available on NFL.com:
http://ftp2.nflfilmstv.com/filmsint/ftp-inet/Preview/000_broncos_vs_patriots_trailer_700k.mp4

During the three-hour 2012 Schedule Release Show, Eisen, Faulk, Irvin, Warner and Mariucci will break down the 2012 regular season schedule, pinpoint “Hot Spots” in the schedule identifying the top games each week, and provide their Super Bowl XLVII predictions. Additionally, the analysts will examine all 13 games that will be part of NFL Network’s expanded Thursday Night Football schedule, featuring Emmy nominated game analyst Mike Mayock, play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and sideline reporter Alex Flanagan.

Throughout the show, fans can interact with the analysts and voice their opinions on the 2012 NFL schedule by posing questions via Twitter (@nflnetwork) and Facebook (facebook.com/nflnetwork).

NFL.com’s Fantasy Editor Michael Fabiano provides an early scouting report on which players fantasy users should target in the draft and which ones have favorable schedules come playoff time.

For complete analysis of the 2012 schedule, NFL.com writers have it covered from every angle, providing Super Bowl predictions, the best primetime matchups and each team’s strength of schedule.

Similar to NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL Draft and NFL Scouting Combine, the 2012 Schedule Release Show is another opportunity for fans to connect with the NFL and see for the first time where, when, and what time their favorite teams will play next season, as well as to analyze and debate the NFL schedule.

More coming up.

Some Sunday Morning Media Thoughts

I haven’t done a sports media thoughts post in a while and there has been so much that has transpired since the last time I wrote one. As always, they’re in bullet form. Let’s do this.

• Just four days into the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and I like how the networks of NBC are handling the games. With CNBC, NHL Network and NBC Sports Network airing the games, fans can now choose which contest he or she wants to watch. My only pet peeves, there should be more updates on games on other networks. At least give us a drop down menu from the scoreboard bug to update us. Also, I wish NBC Sports Network and CNBC would not rely on simulcasts from CBC, TSN or Comcast SportsNet affiliates. Versus under the old Comcast ownership could get away with it, but not NBC. NHL Network can pull off the simulcasts because its talent is focused on the studio, but not on NBC Sports Network or CNBC. I know there are a lot of games in the first round, but at least try to produce what’s on your network instead of depending on others to do the work for you, especially for games played in the United States.

• To ESPN’s free agent crop and we know that former First Take co-host Dana Jacobsen has already left the Alleged Worldwide Leader. Michelle Beadle could be the next to go. Her representatives are now free to talk with other networks after her exclusive negotiating period with ESPN lapsed on Friday. I think she’s leaving, but exactly where is the $64,000 question. Based on her interview with The Big Lead, one could intelligently wager that one of her potential targets is a morning show like Today or Good Morning America. I honestly don’t think sports is in her long-term plans, although one never knows.

  As far as the other free agents Erin Andrews and Scott Van Pelt, I tend to think both will remain at ESPN. For Erin, her best chance to leave was two years ago. Her options are a bit more limited now. Scott Van Pelt enjoys doing radio and I think he’ll remain at ESPN as CBS’ radio options are not national and NBC doesn’t have radio resources.

• If Fox Sports gets its rumored cable sports network off the ground, it’ll be welcomed by your humble blogger. It would have plenty of inventory with Big 12 and Pac-12 college sports. In addition, if Fox expands its NASCAR inventory, it could place Sprint Cup races on the network. UFC events could go there as well. And there’s always the big wild card that’s up for bid this year, MLB and if the NFL decides to ever put a Thursday night package up for bid, Fox certainly has deep pockets to possibly make a go at ESPN. And there’s the Big East Conference whose rights are up this year as well.

  And in a related note, the announcement by Fox to give a majority of Saturday night primetime hours to sports is a smart move. Saturday nights are a dead night for the networks, although Fox did pretty well with Cops and America’s Most Wanted. Still, getting the coveted 18-49 demographic to watch MLB, NASCAR, UFC, college football and the MLB Postseason on a Saturday night is a very good move. Could this be a harbinger for Fox’s all-sports cable network? Perhaps. But if this does very well, I could see Fox potentially making this move permanent on Saturday nights. It only makes sense.

  And if Fox does really well, could other networks follow? ESPN already programs ABC during college football season. Would NBA games make a move to Saturday night? What about NBC placing the NHL during Saturday primetime to possibly market the game even further? Would CBS be interested in airing college basketball during the winter as a lead-in to “48 Hours”? In 2011, CBS aired North Carolina-Duke in primetime to great success. Would the Tiffany Network want to move games to primetime in advance of the NCAA Tournament? Fox’s move to sports in primetime is not only a Great Experiment, but also a potential for other networks to bring their inventories to a new timeslot.

• I may be one of the few who’s watching, but count me as one who enjoys viewing the NBC Sports Network’s CNBC Sports Biz: Game On! with Darren Rovell and Erin Sharoni. While Darren has alienated some with his Super Bowl party rant on Playboy Playmates and at Jaime Edmondson plus creating social media accounts for his newborn daughter and we can’t forget his Twitter feuds with Richard Deitsch, Richard Sandomir and Bomani Jones, I can look past them and enjoy his sport business show. Darren knows his stuff and has helped to make sports business a viable news beat. I’ve enjoyed the pace of Game On! and it’s obvious that Darren knows what he’s taking about. The show’s ratings could be better, but it appears NBC is committed to airing it through this year. And it’s hit its stride as the show has explored the price of tickets to the economics of the NFL and college sports.

That’s all. Enjoy your Easter Sunday.

ESPN Announces Its Cast of Characters For The 2012 NFL Draft

Not to be outdone by NFL Network’s coverage, ESPN will offer plenty of coverage of its own for the 2012 NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. As he has dating back 1981, Chris Berman will host the NFL Draft and he’ll be joined at the main desk at New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall by Mel Kiper, Jr. and Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden. Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will be at a separate desk at Radio City.

Then ESPN will have another set in Bristol, CT to preview the day’s picks and review what happened. Wendy Nix and Trey Wingo will be in Connecticut for the first two nights of the draft. Then Wingo will host the main set in New York on Saturday, April 28.

As for ESPN Radio, Mike Hill and Mark Schlereth will anchor the pick-by-pick coverage.

Here’s ESPN’s press release.

ESPN Announces Talent Lineup for 2012 NFL Draft

ESPN has announced its commentator lineup for the 2012 NFL Draft, its 33rd consecutive year of televising the event. The three-day telecast will air April 26-28 on ESPN and be available via WatchESPN with the first two nights in primetime.

Chris Berman (covering his 32nd NFL Draft) will host ESPN’s primetime coverage Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. He will be joined by analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. (working his 29th Draft) and Monday Night Football analyst and Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden on ESPN’s main set. Senior NFL Insider Chris Mortensen and NFL Insider Adam Schefter will report from an additional set at Radio City, while NFL32 host Suzy Kolber will conduct interviews on-site with draft prospects.

Former Indianapolis Colts President and Vice Chairman Bill Polian, a six-time NFL Executive of the Year, will be part of ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage for the first time. During the opening round, he will appear from Bristol alongside NFL Live host Trey Wingo. On Friday and Saturday, Polian will be on-set at Radio City. ESPN Scouts Inc. director of college scouting Todd McShay will have a similar schedule, shifting from the ESPN studios in Bristol to New York on Days 2 and 3.

ESPN’s NFL Draft telecast on Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) will feature Wingo hosting from Radio City with Trent Dilfer, Kiper, McShay, Mortensen, Polian and Schefter.  Kolber will co-host from Bristol with analysts Tedy Bruschi, Herm Edwards and Ron Jaworski.

ESPN’s comprehensive NFL Draft coverage will include SportsCenter Special: On the Clock shows, leading up to the NFL Draft telecasts all three days. Wingo will host the Thursday and Friday specials at 5 p.m. from Bristol with McShay and many of ESPN’s top studio analysts, including Cris Carter, Dilfer, Tom Jackson, Ron Jaworski, Keyshawn Johnson, Polian and Steve Young.

Sunday’s coverage includes a two-hour SportsCenter Special: Draft Wrap Up at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 with Wendi Nix, Bruschi, Edwards, Kiper and McShay. The program will re-air at 10 p.m. on ESPN2 and on Monday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

ESPN will dispatch reporters to team sites across the country, including: Josina Anderson (St. Louis Rams), Bob Holtzman (Cleveland Browns), Rachel Nichols (Miami Dolphins), Sal Paolantonio (New York Jets) and Ed Werder (Dallas Cowboys).

ESPN Radio
Mike Hill and three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth, co-hosts of ESPN Radio’s Hill & Schlereth, will anchor ESPN Radio’s 2012 NFL Draft coverage Thursday and Friday, April 26-27, from Radio City Music Hall with ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton. ESPN Radio’s coverage will start Thursday at 7 p.m. (Round 1) and Friday at 6 p.m. (Rounds 2-3). ESPN Radio will also present news and updates Saturday from Rounds 4-7.

ESPN’s NFL Draft Promotional Campaign
Set to the song Bright Lights, Bigger City by singer-songwriter Cee Lo Green, a spot titled NFL Draft, Big City debuted today as part of ESPN’s 2012 NFL Draft promotional campaign. The spot features a group of top NFL Draft prospects — quarterbacks Andrew Luck (Stanford) and Robert Griffin III (Baylor), running back Trent Richardson (Alabama), and wide receiver Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) — and will air on ESPN’s event and studio programming through Thursday, April 26.

ESPN NFL Draft TV schedule (Apr. 26-29):

Date	Time (ET)	Show	Network
Thurs., April 26	3-4 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: On the Clock	ESPN
	4-5 p.m.	NFL Live	ESPN
	5-7:30 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: On the Clock	ESPN
	7:30-8 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: Draft Countdown	ESPN
	8-11:30 p.m.	NFL Draft (Round 1)	ESPN
Fri., April 27	3-4 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: On the Clock	ESPN
	4-5 p.m.	NFL Live	ESPN
	5-7 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: On the Clock	ESPN
	7-11:30 p.m.	NFL Draft (Rounds 2-3)	ESPN
Sat., April 28	10 a.m.-12 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: On the Clock	ESPN
	12-8 p.m.	NFL Draft (Rounds 4-7)	ESPN*
Sun., April 29	5-7 p.m.	SportsCenter Special: Draft Wrap Up	ESPN2

 

* Note: some coverage could air on ESPN2 due to NBA playoffs

NFL Draft  – ESPN’s schedule in 2012:

ESPN – Thursday:
Radio City Music Hall in New York City –

• Main Set: Chris Berman, Jon Gruden and Mel Kiper, Jr.
• Second Set: Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter
• Reporter: Suzy Kolber

Bristol, Conn. –

• SportsCenter Special: On the Clock (3-4 p.m.): Wendi Nix, Tedy Bruschi, Herm Edwards, Todd McShay and Bill Polian
• NFL Live (4-5 p.m.): Nix, Bruschi, Edwards, McShay and Polian
• SportsCenter Special: On the Clock (5-7:30 p.m.): Trey Wingo, Cris Carter, Trent Dilfer, Tom Jackson, Ron Jaworski, Keyshawn Johnson, Todd McShay, Bill Polian and Steve Young
• SportsCenter Special: Draft Countdown (7:30-8 p.m.): show originates  from New York with crews from Bristol and Radio City

NFL Team Sites — Josina Anderson (St. Louis Rams), Bob Holtzman (Cleveland Browns), Rachel Nichols (Miami Dolphins), Sal Paolantonio (New York Jets) and Ed Werder (Dallas Cowboys).

ESPN – Friday:
Radio City Music Hall in New York City –

• Main Set: Berman, Gruden and Kiper; McShay will join the group in Round 3
• Second Set: Mortensen, Polian and Schefter

Bristol, Conn. –

• SportsCenter Special: On the Clock (3-4 p.m.): Nix, Bruschi and Edwards
• NFL Live (4-5 p.m.): Nix, Bruschi and Edwards
• SportsCenter Special: On the Clock (5-7 p.m.): Wingo, Carter, Dilfer, Jackson, Jaworski, Johnson and Young

ESPN – Saturday:
Radio City Music Hall in New York City –

• Main Set: Wingo, Dilfer, Kiper and McShay
• Second Set: Mortensen, Polian and Schefter

Bristol, Conn. –

• SportsCenter Special: On the Clock Presented by Castrol Edge (10 a.m.-12 p.m.) and NFL Draft: Kolber, Bruschi, Edwards and Jaworski

ESPN – Sunday:
Bristol, Conn. –

• SportsCenter Special: Draft Wrap Up (5-7 p.m.): Nix, Bruschi, Edwards, Kiper and McShay (The program will re-air at 10 p.m. on ESPN2 and on Monday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2)

That does it.

NFL Network With A Cast of Thousands For The 2012 NFL Draft

Starting Thursday, April 26 and lasting to Saturday, April 28, the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting or better known as the NFL Draft takes place. What began as a two day weekend affair now has become a three day primetime gala.

The first round takes place on Thursday, April 26, then Rounds Two and Three the following night and it all wraps up on Saturday.

The NFL Network will offer a whole slate of hosts, analysts, reporters and coaches to take part in the three day event.

We have the official press release with the large cast of characters you’ll see on NFL Network if you choose to avoid Chris Berman and ESPN on Thursday and Friday.

UNMATCHED TALENT ROSTER OF ANALYSTS, REPORTERS & COLLEGE COACHES CONVERGE FOR NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM’S 2012 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE

48 Hours of Live “Draft Week” Coverage from New York City Kicks Off Monday, April 23
NFL Network Draft Analyst Mike Mayock Debuts his First – and Only – Mock Draft Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00 PM ET — Features Interviews with Top Prospects Andrew Luck & Robert Griffin III
LSU’s Les Miles & Stanford’s David Shaw Join On-Air Broadcast Team from Radio City Thursday – Saturday
NFL.com Follows Top Prospects Matt Kalil & Justin Blackmon Throughout Their Draft Journey

For the seventh consecutive year – and third in primetime – NFL Network and NFL.com descend upon Radio City Music Hall in New York City for wall-to-wall coverage of the 77th annual NFL Draft Thursday, April 26 – Saturday, April 28. With an extensive roster of analysts, reporters and college head coaches, NFL Network and NFL.com’s live coverage kicks off with the first round Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, followed by Rounds 2-3 Friday at 7:00 PM ET and Rounds 4-7 Saturday at 12 Noon ET.

Live draft day coverage on Thursday and Friday begins at 11:00 AM ET with two-hour editions of Path to the Draft, followed by the 2012 NFL Draft Kickoff pre-draft show. Saturday’s live coverage kicks off at 10:00 AM ET.

NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock headlines the on-air talent roster which will provide 48 hours of live “Draft Week” coverage beginning Monday, April 23. Tabbed the “most authoritative draft analyst on television” by Sports Illustrated, Mayock introduces the NFL’s next generation of talent to a new audience with a keen eye and proven track record. Additionally, NFL Network’s stable of former players such as Michael Irvin, Marshall Faulk, and Kurt Warner, former front office executives Michael Lombardi and Charley Casserly, and former NFL head coaches Steve Mariucci and Brian Billick have the draft covered from every angle with expert analysis gained from several years of NFL experience.

Joining NFL Network’s on-air talent roster throughout the three-day showcase are LSU head coach Les Miles and Stanford head coach David Shaw. Miles and Shaw provide analysis of each of their former players during NFL Network’s pre-draft coverage on Thursday and Friday, and join the main set at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday to provide scouting reports on the players selected. If the Indianapolis Colts select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the top choice, Shaw would be the first college head coach to work the draft on television as his player is picked first overall.

Below is an overview of NFL Network and NFL.com’s all-encompassing coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft.

THE COVERAGE

NFL Network

• Mike Mayock Unveils Only Mock Draft of the Year in Primetime: NFL Network’s top draft expert Mike Mayock debuts his first – and only – mock draft of the year in a one-hour special, Mayock’s 2012 Mock Draft on Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network. On the eve of the 2012 NFL Draft from inside Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Mayock, alongside analyst Charles Davis, predicts how the first round of the draft will unfold and provides full analysis of each selection. Features interviews with top prospects Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.
• Forty-Eight Hours of Live “Draft Week Coverage”: NFL Network provides 48 hours of live “Draft Week” coverage Monday, April 23 – Sunday, April 29. First-round coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 26 at 8:00 PM ET. Rounds 2 and 3 begin Friday, April 27 at 7:00 PM ET, followed by Rounds 4-7 Saturday, April 28 at 12 Noon ET.
• Unmatched Talent Roster: With experts who are authorities on their positions and in their fields, NFL Network’s talent roster for the 2012 NFL Draft provides the respected and in-depth analysis fans crave. Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin breaks down the wide receivers, Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk examines how each running back will translate to the NFL level, and former NFL and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner lends his insight on the quarterbacks.
• Draft War Rooms Take Viewers Behind-the-Scenes: NFL Network offers behind-the-scenes video access into the Draft War Rooms of several NFL teams as team executives make their selections. Featured this season are the Indianapolis Colts, marking the third consecutive year NFL Network has been inside the draft room of the team with the first overall pick. Additional teams include the St. Louis Rams (6), Seattle Seahawks (12), Dallas Cowboys (14), Denver Broncos (25), Green Bay Packers (28) and San Francisco 49ers (30).
• NFL Network Hits the Field and the Film Room with Top Prospects: Before their names are called on draft day, NFL Network hits the field and goes inside the film room with some of the top prospects in this year’s draft. Former head coach Steve Mariucci travels to Texas A&M to meet with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin meets with Justin Blackmon at Oklahoma State and Hall of Fame safety Rod Woodson sits down with Alabama’s Mark Barron.

NFL.com

• Follow the 2012 NFL Draft Online with NFL.com  LIVE: On Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 PM ET and Friday, April 27 at 6:30 PM ET, NFL.com LIVE provides comprehensive coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft. Host Matt “Money” Smith and analyst Bucky Brooks analyze each team’s selections, while Michael Fabiano, Jason Smith and Adam Rank offer the fantasy implications of each pick from NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios. On Saturday, NFL.com LIVE will stream NFL Network’s coverage of Rounds 4-7 beginning at 12 Noon ET.
• Fan War Rooms Return: The popular Fan War Rooms  are back for the fourth year, offering an innovative way for fans to follow the draft, allowing them the opportunity to discuss a team’s strategy and immediately react once a player is selected.
• NFL.com’s Mock Draft: On Wednesday, April 25, NFL.com hosts its annual Mock Draft, hosted by “Commissioner” Mike Mayock. NFL Network’s Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Charles Davis, Brian Billick, Michael Lombardi and Melissa Stark are put on the spot as each makes their best selections for all 32 teams, with Mayock offering critiques and analysis throughout.
• Keep up with Matt Kalil & Justin Blackmon with ‘The Right Stuff’: Follow two of the top prospects in this year’s draft – USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon – throughout their pre-draft journey on NFL.com’s blog, The Right Stuff. NFL.com is with each prospect throughout their entire pre-draft journey, providing a behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest moments in their life.
• Interact with Fans, Analysts & Players Throughout the Draft: NFL.com’s Draft Chat offers fans a unique forum to interact with fellow fans, NFL Network analysts and players, as well as voice their opinions regarding each selection. NFL.com’s Elliot Harrison is on the scene at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, talking all-things draft with fans via Twitter and other social media forums.

THE TALENT

From Radio City Music Hall, New York City:

• Brian Billick
• Charles Davis
• Rich Eisen
• Marshall Faulk
• Jay Glazer
• Michael Irvin
• Jason La Canfora
• Michael Lombardi
• Steve Mariucci
• Mike Mayock
• LSU head coach Les Miles (guest analyst)
• Deion Sanders
• Stanford head coach David Shaw (guest analyst)
• Melissa Stark

From NFL Network/NFL.com Studios, Los Angeles:

• Brian Baldinger
• Bucky Brooks
• Paul Burmeister
• Charley Casserly
• Fran Charles
• Jamie Dukes
• Michael Fabiano
• Heath Evans
• Scott Hanson
• Kara Henderson
• UCLA head coach Jim Mora (guest analyst)
• Adam Rank
• Andrew Siciliano
• Jason Smith
• Matt “Money” Smith
• Tom Waddle
• Kurt Warner

Reporting from NFL Team Locations:

• Albert Breer (Indianapolis Colts)
• Jeff Darlington (Miami Dolphins)
• Kim Jones (New York Jets)
• Ian Rapoport (Dallas Cowboys)
• Steve Wyche (Washington Redskins)
• Ari Wolfe (Minnesota Vikings)
• Solomon Wilcots (Cleveland Browns)
• Brian Baldinger (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Michelle Beisner (Denver Broncos team party)
• Stacey Dales (New England Patriots team party)

NFL NETWORK’S 2012 NFL DRAFT PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

Monday, April 23
4:00 PM          Around the League Live
6:00 PM          Path to the Draft
7:00 PM          NFL Total Access
8:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Heisman Winners in the NFL – Debut
9:00 PM          Draft Journey 2012 – Debut
10:00 PM        Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL 2011 – Part 1 – Debut

Tuesday, April 24
12 Noon          Draft Journey 2012
1:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Football Factories
2:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Draft Steals
3:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Heisman Winners in the NFL
4:00 PM          Around the League Live
6:00 PM          Path to the Draft
7:00 PM          NFL Total Access
8:00 PM          2011: Year of the Rookie – Debut
9:00 PM          Dilemma of the #1 Pick – Debut
10:00 PM        Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL 2011 – Part 2 – Debut

Wednesday, April 25
12 Noon          Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL 2011 – Part 1
1:00 PM          Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL 2011 – Part 2
2:00 PM          2011: Year of the Rookie
3:00 PM          Dilemma of the #1 Pick
4:00 PM          Around the League Live
6:00 PM          Path to the Draft
7:00 PM          NFL Total Access
8:00 PM          Mayock’s 2012 Mock Draft – Debut
9:00 PM          No Huddle
10:00 PM        The Top 100: Players of 2012 Preview Show
10:30 PM        The Rich Eisen Podcast

Thursday, April 26
9:00 AM          Mayock’s 2012 Mock Draft
10:00 AM        Dilemma of the #1 Pick
11:00 AM        Path to the Draft – Live
1:00 PM          2012 NFL Draft Kickoff, Day 1 – Live
8:00 PM          2012 NFL Draft, Round 1 – Live
11:30 PM        NFL Total Access Post-Draft – Live

Friday, April 27
11:00 AM        Path to the Draft – Live
1:00 PM          2012 NFL Draft Kickoff, Day 2 – Live
7:00 PM          2012 NFL Draft, Rounds 2-3 – Live
11:30 PM        NFL Total Access Post-Draft – Live

Saturday, April 28
9:00 AM          The Top 100: Players of 2012 Preview Show
9:30 AM          Madden NFL ‘13
10:00 AM        2012 NFL Draft Kickoff, Day 3 – Live
12 Noon          2012 NFL Draft, Rounds 4-7 – Live
7:30 PM          NFL Total Access Post-Draft – Live
8:00 PM          The Top 100: Players of 2012 (#100-91) – Series Premiere
9:00 PM          The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions – Live
10:00 PM        NFL Total Access: 2012 Draft Recap – Live

Sunday, April 29
9:00 AM          The Top 100: Players of 2012 (#100-91)
10:00 AM        NFL’s Top 10 – Draft Steals
11:00 AM        NFL’s Top 10 – Draft Classes
12 Noon          NFL’s Top 10 – Draft Trades
1:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Draft Busts
2:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Undrafted Players
3:00 PM          NFL’s Top 10 – Heisman Winners in the NFL
4:00 PM          2011: Year of the Rookie
5:00 PM          The Top 100: Players of 2012 (#100-91)
6:00 PM          Path to the Draft – Draft Recap
7:00 PM          NFL Total Access: 2012 Draft Recap

And I’ll have ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage plans next.

NFL Network & NFL.com Announce New On-Air & Site Hires

NFL Media has announced the hiring of four reporters who will appear on NFL Network and/or write for NFL.com.

Kim Jones who was last of YES Network as a Yankees beat reporter and WFAN as a part-time host joins NFL Network as an on-air reporter. She will be the New York-based reporter for NFLN.

Aditi Kinkhabwala will be the Pittsburgh-based reporter for NFL Network. She was the New York Giants beat reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

Ian Rapoport becomes the Dallas-based correspondent. He was the Patriots beat reporter for the Boston Herald and covered the Alabama Crimson Tide for the Birmingham News.

All three will appear on various NFL Network programs including Total Access, GameDay Morning as well as NFL.com digital properties.

Gregg Rosenthal whose work has appeared most notably at Pro Football Talk and NBCSports.com joins NFL.com where he becomes a senior editor and will write stories as well appear on .com’s Around the League.

The official NFL press release.

NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM INK NEW REPORTING TALENT

Kimberly Jones from YES Network, Aditi Kinkhabwala from Wall Street Journal, Ian Rapoport from Boston Herald & Gregg Rosenthal from Pro Football Talk Join NFL Media Team

Veteran NFL journalists Kimberly Jones, Aditi Kinkhabwala, Ian Rapoport and Gregg Rosenthal have joined the NFL Media team adding to its deep roster of reporters, it was announced today.

Jones joins NFL Network as its New York-based correspondent after seven years with the YES Network. At YES, she was the Yankees clubhouse reporter, featured on pregame, postgame and “Batting Practice Today” shows. She was also a panelist on YES’ “This Week in Football” and contributed to YesNetwork.com. Jones also served as a host on WFAN-Radio in New York. Previously, Jones was a beat writer and an NFL columnist for the Newark Star-Ledger.

Kinkhabwala will relocate to Pittsburgh for her NFL Network role after spending the past two years on the New York Giants and the NFL beats for the Wall Street Journal. Previously, she covered Rutgers University sports at the Bergen (N.J.) Record for six years and wrote a weekly column for SI.com. Kinkhabwala began her writing career covering high school football for the San Antonio Express-News.

Rapoport, who comes to NFL Network after covering the Patriots for three seasons at the Boston Herald, has relocated to Dallas for his new position. Prior to his time in Boston, Rapoport spent three seasons as the Alabama Crimson Tide beat writer for the Birmingham News and two seasons covering Mississippi State for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger.

Jones, Kinkhabwala and Rapoport will appear across multiple NFL Network programs including NFL Total Access and NFL GameDay Morning. All will also contribute to NFL.com and other NFL digital media properties.

Rosenthal joins NFL.com as a senior editor after eight years covering the NFL for RotoWorld.com, Pro Football Talk.com, and NBC Sports.com. Rosenthal, who also appeared on NBC Sports Network last fall, will be featured on NFL.com’s Around the League.

That’s all.

Back For Some Linkage

Yesterday, I focused on several press releases before heading out for errands. Today, it’s back to the links.

Daniel Kaplan at Sports Business Journal writes that the NFL wants to set up local zones in Super Bowl host cities similar to what Indianapolis did with a village and zip line this year.

Mike Ozanian of Forbes explores the sale of the San Diego Padres and how it contrasts greatly from the Dodgers sale.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch explores NBC’s plans for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and I liked what I saw during the first night of coverage on Wednesday.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News feels NBC’s multiplatform coverage of the NHL postseason should increase ratings and open ad sale opportunities.

John Koblin at Deadspin looks at ESPN’s free agents and handicaps who stays and who goes.

George Winslow at Broadcasting & Cable notes that one company will provide multiscreen coverage of the Olympics to computers.

Ben Koo at Awful Announcing writes that HBO is interested in the Atlanta Falcons for the next season of Hard Knocks.

Toni Fitzgerald at Media Life explores how the NHL is expanding its brand by marketing a 21 foot tall replica of the Stanley Cup in New York’s Times Square.

Writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Michael Bradley says no media outlet is safe from the budget ax.

Karen Hogan at Sports Video Group looks at SNY’s studio renovations.

SVG’s Ken Kerschbaumer tells us how ESPN’s 3D production of The Masters^® has grown over the years.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Masters champion Bubba Watson is bound to be a marketing champion as well.

Ira Kantor at the Boston Herald writes that the Red Sox have chosen Comcast to provide computer networking services at their ballparks.

To Fishbowl NY and Jerry Barmash who says MSG Network saw excellent ratings for the New York Rangers this season.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union says MLB Network is looking to gain “exclusive content” for the channel.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says CBS Sports Network airs a special on the Army Spring Football game this weekend.

Laura Nachman says a legendary Philadelphia sportscaster passed away over the weekend.

John F. Morrison of the Philadelphia has the obituary for late sports talk show host Steve Fredericks.

At Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com says Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic plans to expand its Baltimore Ravens offseason coverage.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner has a couple of NHL on NBC analysts handicap the Capitals chances against the defending Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that embattled Miami sports radio host Sid Rosenberg has been fired after his latest brush with the law.

And Radio-Info says another embattled sports talk show host takes Rosenberg’s place on his former station.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says a new sports talk show will debut in the market on Monday.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says ESPN’s Skippy Bayless had to backtrack from claims about his high school basketball career on First Take this week.

Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star says new royals TV analyst Rex “The Wonder Dog” Hudler is hoping to win over fans in his new gig.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune writes that NHL fans will see more postseason games on TV than ever before.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at the Broadway play on Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times misses Dodgers voice Vin Scully as he’s had to miss broadcasts due to a cold.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a local sports talk show host who late last year acknowledged he has Parkinson’s Disease now finds himself without a job.

The Chronicle gets the host’s reaction to his firing.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the firing came as a surprise.

Sports Media Watch has some various ratings news and notes.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says NBC Sports Network’s NHL ratings are down from last year’s record ratings on Versus.

Martin Charles writes in the Sports PR blog says it’s important for athletes to get media training to understand how to properly handle reporters’ questions.

The Big Lead talks with multi-faceted Julie Alexandria.

And that’s going to do it for now.

List of Monday Night Football Commentators

This was compiled by the fine people at ESPN. Here’s the list of Monday Night Football announcing teams dating back to when the series began on ABC in 1970. Since ESPN took over production in 1998, there has been a lot of upheaval in the announcing teams and you’ll notice this especially since the series moved to ESPN in 2006.

Monday Night Football Commentators All-Time (1970-present)

Year	Commentators
1970	Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith
1971	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith
1972	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith
1973	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith
1974	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fred Williamson
1975	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Alex Karras
1976	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Alex Karras
1977	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith
1978	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith
1979	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fran Tarkenton
1980	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fran Tarkenton
1981	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fran Tarkenton
1982	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fran Tarkenton
1983	Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, O.J. Simpson
1984	Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, O.J. Simpson
1985	Frank Gifford, O.J. Simpson, Joe Namath
1986	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford
1987	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1988	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1989	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1990	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1991	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1992	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1993	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
1994	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
1995	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
1996	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann
1997	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, Lesley Visser
1998	Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esiason, Lesley Visser
1999	Al Michaels, Boomer Esiason, Lesley Visser
2000	Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, Dennis Miller, Melissa Stark, Eric Dickerson
2001	Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, Dennis Miller, Melissa Stark, Eric Dickerson
2002	Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark
2003	Al Michaels, John Madden, Lisa Guerrero
2004	Al Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya
2005	Al Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya, Sam Ryan *
2006	Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser, Joe Theismann, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya
2007	Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya
2008	Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya
2009	Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya
2010	Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya
2011	Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski **
2012	Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters

* Ryan filled in duringTafoya’s pregnancy/maternity leave
** Rotation of reporters (Kolber, Nichols, Nix, Paolantonio, Werder)

ABC – 1970-2005; ESPN – 2006-present

That’s it.

Lisa Salters Becomes Lone Monday Night Football Sideline Reporter

Just announced by ESPN today, Lisa Salters will become the new sideline reporter for Monday Night Football for the 2012 season.

She replaces the rotation of reporters last season that included the disastrous debut of John Sutcliffe during the Pittsburgh Steelers-San Francisco 49ers game that experienced a transformer explosion and subsequent blackout of Candlestick Park.

Before the rotation began, ESPN had utilized Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber on the sidelines only to reduce their roles in 2009.

Now Lisa will take over the sideline reporting duties. She had previously been assigned to college football for both ABC and ESPN. Plus, Lisa has been courtside for the NBA and various college basketball games.

In addition, Lisa has been a reporter for ABC News and has done work on ESPN’s news magazine, E:60.

We have the press release from ESPN.

Lisa Salters Named ESPN’s Monday Night Football Sideline Reporter

Lisa Salters, one of the lead reporters for ESPN on ABC’s NBA coverage, has been named the new sideline reporter for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Salters will join play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico and analyst Jon Gruden on the weekly MNF game telecasts and provide live stadium reports during ESPN’s Monday afternoon studio shows throughout the NFL season.

One of ESPN’s most versatile and accomplished reporters, Salters has covered the NBA, college football and more since joining ESPN in 2000 from ABC News. She is a featured correspondent on the ESPN news magazine, E:60, a role which earned her both a Gracie Award from the Association for Women in Radio and Television for best feature in 2009, and a Sports Emmy nomination for the story “Ray of Hope” in 2008. She also traveled to Haiti for a powerful story on the U17 national women’s soccer team just months after the country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010.

Salters’ journalistic assignments have brought her to a number of major global sports events around the world, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. She also covered sports-related stories for ESPN in and around U.S. Central Command in Qatar during the build-up to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and she traveled with SportsCenter in 2004 to Camp Arifjan, a U.S. Army base in Kuwait.

Before arriving at ESPN, Salters was a Los Angeles-based correspondent for ABC News (1995-2000), where she covered the O.J. Simpson civil and criminal trials among other major stories for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and ABC News outlets. earlier in her career, she worked at WBAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Baltimore, Md.

“Lisa’s experience covering the NBA and other major sports events, as well as her strength as an interviewer, make her ideally suited for the Monday Night Football sideline reporter role,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production.  “She will be a tremendous addition to our MNF team with Mike and Jon, and to our overall NFL presentation.”

“The opportunity to work with Mike, Jon and the entire Monday Night Football crew on ESPN’s signature property is both humbling and exciting,” said Salters. “I have always admired MNF reporters like Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya, and I am determined to continue the standard of excellence they have established in this role.”

Salters worked previously with both Tirico and Gruden, most recently on the 2012 Orange Bowl college football telecast.

A year ago, ESPN used a rotation of sideline reporters on its MNF games.

And I have one more post next.

Bringing Out Some Tuesday Linkage

Let’s do linkage again. Trying to get this done as I have several errands to run in the afternoon.

At Multichannel News, Mike Reynolds says Fox Sports is eying several sports properties which are coming up for grabs as potential programming for a cable channel which would challenge ESPN.

Mike talks with the President of New York regional sports network SNY about what he’s looking for in 2012.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today discusses the lower ratings for The Masters^®.

Lacey Rose at the Hollywood Reporter goes in-depth on Fox Sports taking over Saturday nights in 2012.

Tim Nudd of Adweek looks at New Era’s sequel to last year’s funny Yankees-Red Sox ads with a new batch for the Cubs-White Sox rivalry.

Mike Shields from Adweek explores how ESPN tries to get fans use its sites as “second screens” while they watch sports on other networks in real time.

David Goetzl at MediaPost notes that ESPN’s public relations blog has now added podcasts.

Also from MediaPost, Wayne Friedman talks about the NCAA Tournament being one of TV’s biggest social media activities.

Bill Cromwell at Media Life says while Bubba Watson brought excitement to The Masters^®, it didn’t translate in the ratings.

To Forbes where Trefis Team analyzes what a Fox Sports cable network would mean for parent company News Corp’s stock price.

Also from Forbes, Tom Van Riper looks at the commitment NBC Sports Group is assembling for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Fox Sports reports that NFL Network is unlikely to bring back Warren Sapp. He just recently filed for bankruptcy.

SportsbyBrooks notes that ESPN’s Skippy Bayless lied about his high school basketball career.

The Lost Ogle which looked into Bayless’ claims about his high school basketball career has an extensive post unearthing Daily Oklahoman stories and box scores. Great stuff.

Sports Video Group looks at one company that will stream the Olympics all over the world.

Evan Silva from Pro Football Talk says based on the success of Super Bowl XLVI, Indianapolis plans to make another run at hosting another Big Game.

Amy K. Nelson has the Miami Marlins statement suspending manager Ozzie Guillen for his comments in Time regarding Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell has Magic Johnson talking about the exorbitant sales price for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Darren notes that incoming NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III has signed an endorsement deal with Castrol?

Alex Weprin of TV Newser has a video tour of MLB Network’s New Jersey studios.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says MLB will unveil its version of the Red Zone Channel tonight on three satellite and cable providers.

Laura Nachman notes that a former Philadelphia Phillie joins a local sports radio station for the 2012 season.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg says a local sports radio host continues to fan the Crosby vs. Ovechkin flames.

Lisa De Moraes says “Cops” is the victim of Fox giving Saturday primetime to its sports division.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson says embattled sports radio host Sid Rosenberg has been suspended. Again.

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle notes that Time Warner Cable subscribers won’t have access to three Astros games on Fox Sports Net.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says Wednesday’s Reds game will be picked up by MLB Network.

Robert Feder at Time Out Chicago reports that a local sports radio host returned to work this week after being out due to health issues.

Sports Media Watch says Fox is reaching back to the old Baseball Network for “Baseball Night in America.”

At Awful Announcing, Ben Koo wishes there would be more synergy between NBC and the Comcast SportsNet regional networks.

To the Bleacher Report where Jim Williams asks which network offers the best MLB announcers?

That’s going to do it.

Fox Sports’ Saturday Primetime Schedule Through 12/08/2012

I’m away from my computer and not able to post the complete Fox Sports press release on its Saturday Primetime schedule. It starts this Saturday, April 14 with the NASCAR Sprint Cup event in Texas and goes all the way to December 8.

Fox Sports will fill 28 out of the 32 week span with 8 consecutive weeks of MLB to be titled “Baseball Night in America” (yes, a shot at NBC), four NASCAR races, four UFC events, the World Series and college football including the Big Ten Championship.

Here’s the Fox primetime schedule.

FOX SPORTS 2012 SATURDAY NIGHT PRIME TIME SCHEDULE

Jan. 28 — UFC
Feb. 18 — NASCAR (Bud Shootout)
April 14 — NASCAR (Texas)
April 28 — NASCAR (Richmond)
May 5 — UFC
May 12 — NASCAR (Darlington)
May 19 — Baseball Night in America
May 26 — Baseball Night in America
June 2 — Baseball Night in America
June 9 — Baseball Night in America
June 16 — Baseball Night in America
June 23 — Baseball Night in America
June 30 — Baseball Night in America
July 7 — Baseball Night in America
Aug. 4 — UFC
Sept. 1 — CFB
Sept. 8 — CFB
Sept. 15 — CFB
Sept. 22 — CFB
Sept. 29 — CFB
Oct. 6 — CFB
Oct. 13 — CFB
Oct. 20 — CFB
Oct. 27 — World Series
Nov. 3 — CFB
Nov. 10 — CFB
Nov. 17 — CFB
Nov. 24 — CFB
Dec. 1 — Big Ten Championship
Dec. 8 — UFC

ADDITIONAL 2012 FOX SPORTS PRIME TIME SCHEDULE

Fri. Jan. 6 — Cotton Bowl
Sun., Jan. 20 — NFC Champ Game
Mon., Feb. 27 — Daytona 500^
Sun., May 27– NASCAR (Charlotte)
Tue., July 10 — MLB All Star Game
Thur., Aug. 16 — NFL Preseason^^
Fri., Aug. 17– NFL Preseason^^
Sun., Oct. 14 — NLCS Game #1
Mon., Oct. 15 — NLCS Game #2
Thur., Oct. 1 — NLCS Game #4
Fri., Oct. 19 — NLCS Game #5*
Sun., Oct. 21 — NLCS Game #6**
Mon., Oct. 22 — NLCS Game #7*
Wed., Oct. 24 — WS Game #1
Thur., Oct. 25 — WS Game #2
Sun., Oct. 28 — WS Game #4
Mon., Oct. 29 — WS Game #5*
Wed., Oct. 31 — WS Game #6*
Thur., Nov. 1 — WS Game #7*
Fri., Nov. 30 — Pac 12 Championship

^ Rain Delayed Coverage
* If Necessary
** Scheduled for afternoon but moved to prime time if no ALCS Game #7 needs to be played

I’ll be back later with more.

Back To Linkage

Been so busy lately that it’s been effecting the blog. Sorry about that. This weekend was planned for me again, so I really couldn’t post too much around the personal events. It also meant I couldn’t watch any of The Masters^® or any baseball. The only things I could watch was The Amazing Race and Mad Men so you could tell what type of weekend it was.

One of these days, I’ll be able to have a normal weekend where I can post what I like.

Anyway, you don’t care about my life or problems, you want links and that’s what I’ll provide.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today looks at CBS’ coverage of The Masters^®.

Mike Foss of USA Today’s Game On has old fossil Fox’s Tim McCarver railing against social networking.

Writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times says journalists can lead the way to change Augusta National’s sexist policies.

Joe Posnanski writes his last column for Sports Illustrated.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with ESPN NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy who freely admits who he’s supporting in the Stan Van Gundy/Dwight Howard conflict that arose last week.

John Consoli from Broadcasting & Cable writes about Fox handing over a majority of its Saturday primetime hours this year to Fox Sports.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says Fox Sports will fill Saturday primetime with existing properties such as college football, MLB, NASCAR, NFL preseason and UFC.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal explains how Fox Sports came to program a majority of Saturday nights for the network.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News reports that Dish Network has picked up the Univision Sports channel.

Sam Thielman of Adweek says NBC will go all out to measure viewing habits on all platforms during the Summer Olympics.

Nat Ives of Advertising Age reports that the poorly promoted NFL Magazine will be shuttered after four issues.

Karen Hogan of Sports Video Group looks at TBS’ plans for Sunday Afternoon Baseball.

The Big Lead explores ESPN kicking out the Colonial Athletic Association from BracketBusters college basketball event after the conference signed a new contract with NBC Sports Group.

Timothy Burke at Deadspin has a screengrab of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball crew with $78 worth of the new Texas Rangers 2 foot long hot dogs.

Boston Sports Media Watch celebrates 10 years. It’s a great site and Bruce Allen has been very kind to me over the years.

To Phil Mushnick at the New York Post who enjoyed a Tiger-fee Masters.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette has the NHL Conference Quarterfinal schedule.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner looks at the Broadway play on Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

Bob Molinaro at the Virginian-Pilot feels ESPN is being petty by booting the CAA out from BracketBusters.

The Tampa Bay Times’ Tom Jones gives his two cents on the the weekend in sports television.

Jessica Lipscomb and Victoria Macchi of the Naples (FL) Daily News says the host of an Outdoor Channel/ESPN2 fishing show was killed in a plane crash last week.

Dan Caesar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tells us to get ready for a lot of hockey.

Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post says CBS got the job done at The Masters^®.

Kelly Lyell of The Coloradoan has Colorado State University disappointed about the end of the mtn.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune says it’s no surprise of the demise of the mtn.

Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes that the fall of the mtn. was just a matter of time.

Dan Hayes of the North County Times says the San Diego Padres ownership picture is becoming much clearer and that should lead for the formal approval of the team’s rights deal with Fox Sports.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the sports calendar for this week.

Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star puts a lid on two traditional Original Six NHL rivals who won’t be in the postseason.

Sports Media Watch discusses Fox Sports and the Olympic Trials in primetime plus the end of the mtn. in a news and notes post.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media mostly likes what he sees with NBC Sports Group’s scheduling for the NHL Conference Quarterfinals.

Joe Favorito talks about the latest NHL Playoff beard promotion, continuing activation for the Geico Gekko and promotion for the Family Circle Cup.

And we’re done now.

The 2012 Sunday Night Football Preseason Schedule

NBC will have two preseason games on Sunday Night Football and they’ll air in consecutive weeks, August 19 and August 26.

Due to its Olympic commitments, NBC will not air the annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game in Canton, OH and with the cancellation of last year’s game due to the lockout (remember the lockout?), it marks two years in a row that the game will not be on network television. NFL Network will air the game in NBC’s place.

As usual, the games on NBC will be called by Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya.

Here’s what NBC is saying about its preseason schedule.

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” PRESEASON SCHEDULE INCLUDES COLTS AT STEELERS AND PANTHERS AT JETS

NEW YORK – April 4, 2012 – The NFL today announced the national television schedule for the 2012 preseason, which includes two Sunday Night Football games on NBC. The SNF preseason kicks off on Sunday, August 19 when Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Indianapolis Colts, who own the first pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The other Sunday Night Football preseason tilt announced today has Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow and the New York Jets hosting Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, August 26. Coverage for both games begins at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Michele Tafoya – all nominated for 2012 Sports Emmy Awards – will call the games.

Sunday Night Football, which has won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Live Sports Series, ranks as the most-watched (persons 2+) and highest-rated primetime show, and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, based on Nielsen live + same day data. Additionally, SNF is the No. 3 show among Women 18-34 and the No. 4 show among Women 18-49.

And we’re done with the NFL preseason posts.

CBS Sports Unveils Its 2012 NFL Preseason Schedule

CBS gets in the NFL preseason with two games in as many days in August. The Tiffany Network will air both in primetime on Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25. CBS’ first game will be between the New York Football Giants and the Chicago Bears and I can safely predict that Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will call that game.

The other game, the Houston Texans and the recently penalized New Orleans Saints will probably be called by Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf.

Here’s CBS’ announcement on its NFL preseason schedule.

CBS SPORTS ANNOUNCES 2012 NFL PRESEASON GAMES

THE NFL ON CBS Preseason Schedule Kicks Off with Super Bowl Champion New York Giants Hosting Chicago Bears Live in Prime Time on Friday, August 24
Houston Texans Take On New Orleans Saints for THE NFL ON CBS’s Second Preseason Game Following Night on August 25 on CBS Television Network.

The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLVII, is scheduled to begin its 53^rd year broadcasting the NFL with two preseason games during the 2012 season.

The preseason schedule for THE NFL ON CBS begins on Friday, Aug. 24 (8:00 PM, ET) when the Super Bowl champion New York Giants hosts the Chicago Bears live in prime time on the CBS Television Network.

THE NFL ON CBS will conclude its two-game preseason schedule the following night as the AFC South champion Houston Texans take on the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints live in prime time on Saturday, Aug. 25 (8:00 PM, ET).

Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports, and serves as Executive Producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

And we’ll end the NFL preseason press releases with NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Fox Sports Announces Its 2012 NFL Preseason Schedule

Fox Sports will have three NFL preseason games in August and it will carry them in a span of ten days between August 16 through August 26. Two games will be in primetime and the other will be aired on Sunday afternoon, August 26 at 4 p.m. ET.

With the first two airing on consecutive days, expect Joe Buck and Troy Aikman call one and the other with Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa.

We have the Fox schedule below.

NFL ON FOX PRESEASON ACTION KICKS OFF AUG. 16 IN PRIME TIME

Coverage Highlighted by Six Playoff Teams Competing in Three Matchups

New York – The 2012 NFL on FOX season kicks off with three exciting preseason games featuring six playoff teams, including the 2011 NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers taking on Peyton Manning’s new team – the Denver Broncos.

Action gets underway with back-to-back prime time coverage starting Thursday, August 16 (8:00 PM ET).  Andy Dalton and A.J. Green look to build on their rookie success as the Cincinnati Bengals head to the Georgia Dome to take on Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the Atlanta Falcons. That game is followed up the next night with the reigning AFC North Champion Baltimore Ravens hosting Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh’s Detroit Lions on Friday, August 17 (8:00 PM ET).  FOX Sports’ preseason coverage wraps up on Sunday, August 26 (4:00 PM ET) with the new-look Denver Broncos hosting Alex Smith and the 49ers.

Following its coverage of the NFL’s prestigious NFC regular season schedule, FOX Sports presents exclusive live postseason coverage including an NFC Wild Card Game, the NFC Divisional Playoffs and the NFC Championship Game.

FOX SPORTS 2012 NFL PRESEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Thursday, August 16 – Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons, 8:00 PM ET

Friday, August 17 – Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens, 8:00 PM ET

Sunday, August 26 – San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos, 4:00 PM ET

That’s all. CBS’ schedule is next.

ESPN’s 2012 NFL Preseason Schedule

ESPN will air four preseason games in August, two on Thursdays and the other two on its natural Monday Night. As we know, Ron Jaworski will no longer be in the Monday Night Football booth. It’ll be a two man affair starting on August 9 when the Green Bay Packers take on the San Diego Super Chargers as Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will call the game.

All of ESPN’s games will take place at 8 p.m. ET.

Here’s ESPN’s press release.

Monday Night Football Preseason Schedule

ESPN will televise four NFL games as part of its 2012 Monday Night Football preseason schedule. Play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico and analyst Jon Gruden will call every game in anticipation of ESPN’s MNF regular-season opener on Monday, Sept. 10. All MNF preseason games will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

The season kicks off Thursday, August 9, when Aaron Rodgers and the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers travel to San Diego to face Philip Rivers and the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

The ESPN crew then heads up the California coast four days later to the Bay Area when Carson Palmer and the Oakland Raiders host Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, Aug. 13. The game will be a homecoming for Gruden, who served as head coach of the Raiders from 1998-2001.

On Monday, Aug. 20, Tom Brady and the AFC champion New England Patriots host Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

ESPN will conclude its preseason schedule when Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals face Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans at LP Field in Nashville on Thursday, August 23.

ESPN Deportes, ESPN’s 24-hour Spanish-language domestic sports network, will once again offer a Spanish-language production of MNF preseason and regular season games in 2012.

The 2012 ESPN MNF regular season schedule is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football 2012 NFL Preseason Schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Thursday, Aug. 9	8 p.m.	Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers
Monday, Aug. 13	8 p.m.	Dallas Cowboys at Oakland Raiders
Monday, Aug. 20	8 p.m.	Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots
Thursday, Aug. 23	8 p.m.	Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans

That’s all.

ESPN’s NFL Draft Schedule

Later this month, the National Football League will take center stage with its annual Draft. It has an official name, but we all know it as the NFL Draft.

ESPN will cover all three days from April 26-28 on the Mothership. Both Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27 will be in primetime and cover Rounds 1 through 3. And the rest will take place on Saturday, April 28.

Overall, ESPN will offer 16 hours of Draft coverage over the three days and plenty of programming leading up to the three days. And as we get closer to the event, we’ll get the personnel involved in hosting, reporting and analyzing.

Here’s the schedule which was part of an ESPN press release on the music that will be utilized for the Draft, but I don’t think you care about that.

ESPN 2012 NFL Draft telecast schedule (Apr. 26-28):

NFL Announces 2012 Preseason Schedule

Catching up on yesterday’s announcement that of the NFL preseason schedules. We’ll begin with the National Football League’s official announcement, then go to the network’s press releases of their preseason schedules.

For the national TV partners, ESPN will air 4 preseason games, Fox 3, CBS and NBC 2 each. NFL Network will air all preseason games, but most on tape delay.

As it did four years ago when NBC was in Olympics coverage, NFL Network will air the Hall of Fame game in Canton, OH. The same is true for this year.

It’s nice to have the preseason schedule because it means the release of the actual 2012 regular season schedules won’t be very far behind.

2012 PRESEASON SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED;
NATIONAL TV GAMES FEATURE 2011 PLAYOFF FIELD

The NFL’s slate of 12 nationally televised preseason games will feature the entire 2011 playoff field, one of the highlights of the 65-game 2012 NFL preseason schedule announced today.

The 2012 preseason will kick off on Sunday, August 5 (NFL Network, 8:00 PM ET) in Canton, Ohio when the Arizona Cardinals face the New Orleans Saints in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

The Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants will be showcased on national TV when the club faces the Chicago Bears on Friday, August 24 (CBS, 8:00 PM ET) at MetLife Stadium.

Following is the complete 2012 NFL preseason national TV schedule:

2012 NFL PRESEASON NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)

DATE	GAME	NETWORK (TIME)
Sunday, August 5	Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, OH: Arizona vs. New Orleans	NFLN (8:00 PM)
Preseason Week 1 (August 9-13)
Thursday, August 9	Green Bay at San Diego	ESPN (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 13	Dallas at Oakland	ESPN (8:00 PM)
Preseason Week 2 (August 16-20)
Thursday, August 16	Cincinnati at Atlanta	FOX (8:00 PM)
Friday, August 17	Detroit at Baltimore	FOX (8:00 PM)
Sunday, August 19	Indianapolis at Pittsburgh	NBC (8:00 PM)
Monday, August 20	Philadelphia at New England	ESPN (8:00 PM)
Preseason Week 3 (August 23-26)
Thursday, August 23	Arizona at Tennessee	ESPN (8:00 PM)
Friday, August 24	Chicago at NY Giants	CBS (8:00 PM)
Saturday, August 25	Houston at New Orleans	CBS (8:00 PM)
Sunday, August 26	San Francisco at Denver	FOX (4:00 PM)
Sunday, August 26	Carolina at NY Jets	NBC (8:00 PM)

2012 PRESEASON WEEK-BY-WEEK SCHEDULE

HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 5
Arizona vs. New Orleans (NFLN)

WEEK 1 – AUGUST 9-13
Green Bay at San Diego (ESPN, 8/9)
Dallas at Oakland (ESPN, 8/13)
Arizona at Kansas City
Baltimore at Atlanta
Cleveland at Detroit
Denver at Chicago
Houston at Carolina
Minnesota at San Francisco
New Orleans at New England
NY Giants at Jacksonville
NY Jets at Cincinnati
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
St. Louis at Indianapolis
Tampa Bay at Miami
Tennessee at Seattle
Washington at Buffalo

WEEK 2 – AUGUST 16-20
Cincinnati at Atlanta (FOX, 8/16)
Detroit at Baltimore (FOX, 8/17)
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh (NBC, 8/19)
Philadelphia at New England (ESPN, 8/20)
Buffalo at Minnesota
Cleveland at Green Bay
Dallas at San Diego
Jacksonville at New Orleans
Kansas City at St. Louis
Miami at Carolina
NY Giants at NY Jets
Oakland at Arizona
San Francisco at Houston
Seattle at Denver
Tennessee at Tampa Bay
Washington at Chicago

WEEK 3 – AUGUST 23-26
Arizona at Tennessee (ESPN, 8/23)
Chicago at NY Giants (CBS, 8/24)
Houston at New Orleans (CBS, 8/25)
San Francisco at Denver (FOX, 8/26)
Carolina at NY Jets (NBC, 8/26)
Atlanta at Miami
Detroit at Oakland
Green Bay at Cincinnati
Indianapolis at Washington
Jacksonville at Baltimore
New England at Tampa Bay
Philadelphia at Cleveland
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
San Diego at Minnesota
Seattle at Kansas City
St. Louis at Dallas

WEEK 4 – AUGUST 29-30
Atlanta at Jacksonville
Baltimore at St. Louis
Buffalo at Detroit
Carolina at Pittsburgh
Chicago at Cleveland
Cincinnati at Indianapolis
Denver at Arizona
Kansas City at Green Bay
Miami at Dallas
Minnesota at Houston
New England at NY Giants
New Orleans at Tennessee
NY Jets at Philadelphia
Oakland at Seattle
San Diego at San Francisco
Tampa Bay at Washington

That will do it.

Attempting A Friday Megalink Post

This week has been hellish for me and I apologize for not being able to post as much as I would like. I’ve been away from my computer for most of the day and by the time I get home, I’m tired and don’t want to update the blog.

Well, with me already done my errands for today, I’ll give you some linkage that has been seriously lacking this week.

Of course, there’s the Weekend Viewing Picks which you can peruse.

National

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says Jim Rome is hoping to make a splash as he prepares to launch his new daily show on CBS Sports Network.

Reid Cherner of USA Today’s Game On! blog says perpetually angry ESPN college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb is throwing his hat into the Kansas State coaching ring.

The Associated Press was on hand to witness Root Sports Northwest’s production of the Seattle Mariners-Oakland A’s regular season openers in Japan without actually traveling to the Far East.

Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim has more thoughts on the numerous conflicts of interest in tennis broadcasting.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has Fox Sports’ statement on its carriage dispute with Time Warner Cable over Fox Sports San Diego.

John profiles legendary sports television producer Don Ohlmeyer.

Around the Rings has the press release regarding the European Broadcasting Union obtaining the rights to the World Cups in 2018 and 2022.

ESPN Ombudsman Jason Fry of the Poynter Institute says college basketball analyst Bob Knight should not be allowed to live by his own rules when he’s on TV.

Scott Soshnick and Steven Church of Bloomberg Businessweek says the Los Angeles Dodgers sale was sparked by media rights.

Alex Ben Block of the Hollywood Reporter says former Sony Pictures head Peter Gruber who’s part of the new Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group could bring a new attitude towards marketing the team.

Jon Lafayette of Broadcasting & Cable has Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott calling rights fees for college football are undervalued.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says NESN National is being launched in Indianapolis.

Tim Nudd at Adweek says Chrysler is unveiling four new follow ups to its “Halftime in America” Super Bowl spots during various events this weekend including the NCAA Final Four and Mad Men.

Adweek’s Mike Shields writes ESPN.com is partaking in Facebook’s Open Graph, but with some restrictions.

Jason Del Ray at Advertising Age notes that CBS/Turner brought in its highest sales revenue ever for March Madness Live.

Ronnie Ramos at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says March Madness has been enhanced by social media and the digital experience.

The Brothers Yoder at Awful Announcing cast the upcoming Anchorman sequel using ESPN’ers. This is good.

Ben Koo at AA is not a huge fan of the overhead shots employed by CBS/Turner for the NCAA Tournament.

Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid says the Los Angeles Times feels there’s one person who could spoil the new ownership for the Dodgers.

Ahmed Yussuf at EPL Talk gives a first-hand account of following the English Premier League from Australia.

Sports Media Watch says last weekend’s rain-shortened NASCAR on Fox event did not do well in the ratings.

Joe Favorito asks if ‘The Hunger Games” could give archery a boost in time for this summer’s Olympics.

Jason McIntyre at The Big Lead reports that Joe Posnanski is leaving Sports Illustrated.

Ty Duffy at The Big Lead says the potential Fox cable sports network may not knock down ESPN, but could give it a run for its money.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks about two rival Hollywood agencies representing Tim Tebow simultaneously.

Bob’s Blitz says WFAN’s Craig Carton browbeat former Tiger Woods swing coach Hank Haney to the point where he hung up.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group says CBS returns to New Orleans where it began its Final Four journey 30 years ago.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says ESPN MLB analyst Curt Schilling is facing hypocrisy calls after he criticized his former Red Sox team this week.

Chad adds some thoughts on Schilling and on NESN’s Jenny Dell that didn’t make his column.

Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch writes in SB Nation that a Tiger Woods in contention is good for The Masters^® and its TV partners.

Bob Tedeschi of the New York Times reviews this year’s edition of the MLB At-Bat app.

Richard Sandomir from the Times examines the Dodgers sale.

Anthony Riemer of Newsday looks at Jeremy Lin’s lunch with the sacked ESPN.com editor who unwittingly made a racial slur last month.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels Fox Sports’ Jimmy Johnson should not be advocating violence. I don’t think he did, Phil, but continue to hate everything, ok?

Justin Terranova of the Post has five questions for former Tennessee and current Sirius XM analyst Bruce Pearl on the Final Four.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty has the ESPN MAC football schedule.

Pete has CBS excited about this year’s Final Four.

Jane Kwiatkowski of the Buffalo News says this is a tough time for the local TV sportscast.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call looks at a local PBS documentary on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Laura Nachman says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia is ready for Phillies baseball.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the Fox sitcom “Raising Hope” gave another of many Capitals references.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with MLB Network’s Mitch “Wildi Thing” Williams.

South

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle writes that the Houston Open should be helped by a lot of interesting storylines.

David says Jim Rome is getting ready for his CBS Sports Network closeup.

David writes that Texans running back Arian Foster is taking his show to the team’s radio flagship station.

In The Oklahoman, Mel Bracht has ESPN’s MLB analysts predicting the upcoming season.

Mel says there will be plenty of baseball available in the Oklahoma City market.

Mel reports a local radio station has flipped to being a full-time ESPN Radio affiliate.

Mel writes that a local radio sports director has been laid off thanks to Clear Channel.

Midwest

Elton Alexander of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer says New Orleans has provided CBS with plenty of Final Four excitement.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a local TV station plans to ride the Kentucky train for as long as possible.

John says a couple of long-time local radio veterans got the ax due to Clear Channel cost cutting.

John writes that a radio documentary on late Cincinnati Reds voice Waite Hoyt airs this weekend.

The Indianapolis Star says Butler coach Brad Stevens will be a guest analyst for CBS on the Final Four.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes the Brewers have extended their radio rights deal with their long-time flagship station.

Bob says a local sportscaster is back to work after a long illness.

Bob tells us that Marquette coach Buzz Williams will also be a guest analyst on CBS this weekend.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin writes that CBS loves New Orleans at Final Four time.

Dan Caesar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says 20 Cardinals games won’t be seen by AT&T U-Verse subscribers this season.

Dan writes that the defending champions Cardinals will be in the national spotlight quite a few times this season.

West

Jay Posner at the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that Fox Sports San Diego is not optimistic of getting a deal with two cable providers in time for Padres opening day.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star has ESPN’s MLB analysts praising Magic Johnson’s presence with the Dodgers.

Jim was surprised that Kentucky-Louisville wasn’t the nightcap for the Final Four.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says Lakers fans are enjoying having guest analysts on radio broadcasts this season.

Tom talks with Jim Rome about his CBS Sports Network show.

Tom has more on Rome in his blog.

Canada

The usually uninformed Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC Sports appears to be rudderless as it heads into a new NHL negotiation.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has the viewership numbers for Canadian sports television from last week.

And that will conclude the megalinks.

NFL Unveils New Logos

The NFL continues to evolve in the 21st Century. It changed its iconic shield back in 2008, reducing the number of stars in its original logo from 25 to 8.

And starting in April during the draft, the NFL will unveil all new logos for NFL Network, NFL.com, NFL Mobile, NFL Films and NFL RedZone. The NFL shield will be featured in all of the new logos and they will all have the same font. Under their old logos, NFL Network and NFL RedZone had a different variation of the NFL shield, having the familiar red lettering surrounded by a football.

The new logos will streamline the look across all NFL platforms. But I’d rather have the old NFL Films logo than the one that will be used after April 26.

We have the official announcement from the National Football League.

NFL SHIELD FEATURED IN NEW LOGOS FOR NFL NETWORK, NFL FILMS & NFL.COM

The NFL will unveil new logos on April 26 for all of its media properties, it was announced today by Steve Bornstein, Executive Vice President of NFL Media.

The new logo system for the league’s media properties – which includes NFL Network, NFL Films, NFL.com, NFL RedZone and NFL Mobile – prominently features the NFL shield, uniform typography and design and provides for a more streamlined look across all platforms.

The new logos will debut on Day 1 of the 2012 NFL Draft (April 26), which kicks off at 8:00 PM ET with live pick-by-pick coverage on NFL Network and NFL.com.

And that will do it.

NBC is Perfectly Giddy About Cowpokes at G-Men To Start 2012 NFL Season

As mentioned in the previous post, the defending Super Bowl Champs New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, September 5 to start the 2012 regular season. This means that Cowboys-Giants ended the 2011 regular season on NBC and Cowboys-Giants will kick off the 2012 regular season on NBC. And it marks the third straight Dallas-NYG game on the Peacock. If you remember, Sunday Night Football had both NFC East Division rivalry games in a span of one month between Weeks 14 and 17. Plus the Week 17 contest gave NBC some monster ratings.

NBC’s coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern with the pregame show co-produced with NFL Network and then the actual game as called by Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya an hour later.

We have the NBC Sports press release for you.

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS HOST DALLAS COWBOYS ON “NFL KICKOFF 2012,” WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 AT 8:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

Rematch of 2011 Regular Season Finale that was Most-Watched Primetime Game Ever on NBC and Most-Watched on Any Network in 15 Years
Sunday Night Football is Currently Ranked as the Most-Watched and Highest-Rated Show of the 2011-2012 Primetime Television Season

NEW YORK – March 27, 2012 – The Super Bowl champion New York Giants host NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys in NFL Kickoff 2012, the opening game of the 2012 NFL season, it was announced today by the NFL. NFL Kickoff 2012 will be played on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on NBC beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Sunday Night Football with the Giants defeating the Cowboys, 31-14, to capture the NFC East title. That game averaged 27.6 million viewers, the most ever for a Sunday Night Football game (Thursday openers included), and the most-watched regular-season primetime game on any network in 15 years (Packers-Cowboys, 31.5 million, Nov. 18, 1996 on ABC).

MOST WATCHED NFL REGULAR-SEASON PRIMETIME GAMES ON NBC:

1. 27.6 million, Cowboys-Giants, 1/1/12 (2011 SNF Week 17)
2. 27.5 million, Vikings-Saints, 9/9/10 (2010 Thursday Night Opener)
3. 27.2 million, Saints-Packers, 9/8/11 (2011 Thursday Night Opener)
4. 25.8 million, Cowboys-Jets, 9/11/11 (2011 SNF Week 1)
5. 25.73 million, Eagles-Cowboys, 12/12/10 (2010 SNF Week 14)
6. 25.68 million, Vikings-Packers, 10/24/10, (Favre Return to Lambeau II)
7. 25.3 million, Cowboys-Redskins, 9/12/10 (2010 SNF: Week 1)
8. 24.8 million, Giants-Cowboys, 9/20/09 (Dallas Cowboys Stadium Debut)
9. 24.5 million, Giants-Cowboys, 12/11/11 (2011 SNF Week 14)
10. 24.2 million, Packers-Patriots, 12/19/10 (2010 SNF Week 15)

For the primetime television season (September 19-March 25), *Sunday Night Football ranks as the most-watched (persons 2+) and highest-rated show, and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, based on Nielsen live + same day data. Additionally, SNF is the No. 3 show among Women 18-34 and the No. 4 show among Women 18-49.

*NOTE: The primetime television season began on Monday, Sept. 19 and does not include the first three NBC primetime games of the 2011 season (Thursday night NFL Kickoff Opener and first two SNF games).

That will do it.

NFL Announces Cowboys-Giants To Open 2012 Season

This just announced by the National Football League, the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Football Giants will open the season against their traditional NFC East Division rival, the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, September 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Earlier this year, the NFL moved the season opener back one day to accommodate President Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention the following night.

We have the announcement from the National Football League direct from the League meetings where this latest development was released.

It’s the second time the Giants will open the season at home following a Super Bowl, both wins coming against the New England Patriots and both wins celebrated across America from coast-to-coast.

This marks the third straight Giants-Cowboys matchup on NBC as Sunday Night Football aired both meetings last season including the regular season finale of 2011-12 which gave the NFC East Division crown to the G-Men.

GIANTS & COWBOYS KICK OFF SEASON ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys at New Meadowlands Stadium in the 2012 season-opening NFL Kickoff game on Wednesday, September 5 (NBC, 8:30 PM ET), the NFL announced today.

NBC will televise the game at 8:30 PM ET and NFL Kickoff 2012 at 7:30 PM ET.

Continuing a tradition that started in 2004, the previous year’s Super Bowl winner hosts the NFL Kickoff game to open the following season.

DATE	SITE	RESULT (HOME TEAM IN CAPS)	RECAP
Sept. 9, 2004	Gillette Stadium	NEW ENGLAND 27, Indianapolis 24	New England quarterback Tom Brady passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat the Colts.
Sept. 8, 2005	Gillette Stadium	NEW ENGLAND 30, Oakland 20	New England quarterback Tom Brady leads the offense by throwing for 306 yards and two touchdowns while running back Corey Dillon adds two scores for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Sept. 7, 2006	Heinz Field	PITTSBURGH 28, Miami 17	Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch passes for three touchdowns and running back Willie Parker adds 115 yards as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat Miami.
Sept. 6, 2007	RCA Dome	INDIANAPOLIS 41, New Orleans 10	The Super Bowl champion Colts rack up 452 yards of offense as quarterback Peyton Manning passes for 288 yards and three TDs.
Sept. 4, 2008	Giants Stadium	NY GIANTS 16, Washington 7	Quarterback Eli Manning scores a touchdown and the Giants’ defense allows just 209 total yards as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat division-rival Washington.
Sept. 10, 2009	Heinz Field	PITTSBURGH 13, Tennessee 10 (OT)	Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed kicks a 33-yard game-winning field goal in overtime as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat Tennessee.
Sept. 9, 2010	Louisiana Superdome	NEW ORLEANS 14, Minnesota 9	New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees throws for 237 yards and a touchdown to lead the Saints past the Vikings in a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game.
Sept. 8, 2011	Lambeau Field	GREEN BAY 42, New Orleans 34	Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns and the Packers’ defense makes a goal-line stand on the game’s final play as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat the Saints.

 

# # #

That’s it.

Quick Monday Linkage

Don’t have much time today. I’ll do a few links for you here while I can.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand has CBS/Turner’s Clark Kellogg saying he wouldn’t be surprised if Kentucky lost in the Final Four this weekend.

Mr. College Football, Tony Barnhart of CBS Sports, remembers his former colleague at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Furman Bisher.

Tim Wood at the Bleacher Report announces some new hirings. BR has been on a hiring binge lately.

ESPN2 aired the Jets/Tim Tebow press conference today with a twist. Can you believe showing Skippy Bayless on his laptop, live tweeting the event? Yes indeed. Very bad television.

Eric Goldschein of SportsGrid notes that a SiriusXM Radio host decided to use his satellite radio show to criticize the Miami Heat for the famous picture of the entire team wearing hoodies in support of Trayvon Martin.

Doug Farrar at Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner says Fox Sports is considering using suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton as an analyst this season.

To Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk who says don’t expect the NFL to give the public a partial 2012 regular season schedule release this week.

Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal catches up with CBS Sports Network/Dial Global Radio announcer Dave Ryan who’s calling the NCAA Women’s Tournament on radio this week.

Ken Kerschbaumer at Sports Video Group notes that Longhorn Network uses fiber optics rather than satellite trucks to transmit game action from University of Texas campus back to its broadcast facility.

Toni Fitzgerald at Media Life says a NCAA Tournament overrun helped CBS win the Sunday night primetime ratings.

Rich Thomaselli of Advertising Age says the NFL and Nike are hyping their new partnership which both companies say will revolutionize the league’s apparel.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Tiger Woods’ win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this weekend might have helped his popularity.

Yesterday, we learned that legendary boxing writer and historian Bert Sugar died at the age of 75. Sugar was one of the most popular figures covering the sweet science. But in addition to covering boxing, Sugar wrote about baseball and was good at it. When I hosted a one-hour radio sports show in Groton, CT, Bert gave me one of the best interviews I ever had. He was witty, funny, brilliant and put everything into its proper perspective. And he sent me a book that he had written about boxing. One of the nicest men in the sports media you’ll ever have the chance to meet. And unfortunately, he’s gone.

Tim Smith of the New York Daily News says Sugar had been suffering from lung cancer, but typical of Bert, he kept it quiet from most of his friends.

Dan Rafael of ESPN.com says Bert will be missed.

Michael Woods of ESPN New York has an appreciation of Sugar.

Bob Velin of USA Today also has an obituary for Sugar.

Gary Mihoces of USA Today says Sugar was definitely a colorful character.

Lem Satterfield of The Ring, the digital home of Ring Magazine where Sugar once worked, has reaction to his death.

Promoter Jackie Kallen in Boxing Insider bids farewell to her friend.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun has a couple of memories of Bert Sugar.

I’ll do some more linkage tonight.

Some Rare Saturday Links

It’s been a long time since I was able to provide Saturday linkage. Many times, it’s due to the fact I try to sleep in or my weekend was planned for me behind my back and I have to play chauffeur. Anyway, I’m able to provide some links and since I did not do the megalinks on Friday, I’ll give you this as a replacement, although the number of stories won’t equal Friday’s usual amount.

We begin with Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch who mentions that NFL Network came close to firing Warren Sapp after he tweeted that former New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey “snitched” about the team’s bounties to the NFL officials.

Can you believe Bob Costas turned 60 this week??!! Well, he did. MLB Network’s senior editorial director Elliot Kalb who has worked with Bob at NBC writes this tribute.

From the Poynter Institute, ESPN Ombudsman Jason Fry looks at why ESPN expunged a Mark Cuban gay joke from a Bill Simmons Grantland podcast.

George Winslow at Broadcasting & Cable says smartphones and tablets helped to drive a large percentage of traffic for March Madness Live online.

Mike Reynolds from Mulitchannel News writes that the NCAA Tournament saw a ratings decline from the year before for the first night of the Sweet 16 on Thursday.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel says a veteran cable TV programming exec has been promoted within the ranks of NBC Sports.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Dave Kindred mourns the passing of former Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Furman Bisher.

Eric Goldschein from SportsGrid has video of the Kazakhstan national anthem being played for a medalist of a shooting competition in Kuwait. Problem was that it was the version written for the movie “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” and not the real Kazakhstan national anthem. That’s funny.

Sports Video Group offers a review of the March Madness Live iPad app.

Busted Coverage says a Spokane, WA local sports anchor unwittingly decided to crack on Lesley Visser’s face.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the harsh punishments handed down by the NFL to the New Orleans Saints over Bountygate were likely tied to concussion lawsuits.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe speaks with CBS/Turner’s NCAA Tournament East Regional crew of Uncle Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery and Lesley Visser.

Chad has a few more things with Verne and Bill that didn’t make the column.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at MLB Network producing and staffing a pregame show for Fox Saturday Baseball.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says the local CBS affiliate has been taping its late newscast for nights it follows NCAA Tournament action.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record notes that the WFAN Mets Radio Network is not big at all.

Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com has the latest in Baltimore-DC sports media in Press Box.

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News talks with Texas A&M’s athletic director about entering the SEC and why the Longhorn Network led to the school’s departure from the Big 12.

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle notes that Texans radio voice Marc Vandermeer is leaving his radio talk show to focus squarely on the NFL team.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes about Fox and MLB Network collaborating on a pregame show.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks with Turner Sports reporter Craig Sager who loves his job and picking out loud clothes for every game.

John Maffei of the North County Times writes about San Diego’s sports radio shuffles.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News has a story on the Brothers Waltrip who are laughing it up at Fox.

Tom has more with Darrell and Michael Waltrip in his blog.

Sports Media Watch says ESPN is seeing a ratings surge for its studio shows thanks to a busy NFL offseason.

SMW says viewership is up for the NCAA Women’s Tournament on ESPN2.

Steve Lepore has a suggestion for ESPN on how to make the NCAA Hockey Tournament more TV friendly.

Joe Favorito looks at how NFL news broke this week.

Ryan Yoder at Awful Announcing notes that Around the Horn host Tony Reali apparently had an on-the-job injury this week.

I’m going to end the Saturday links there.

Some Long Overdue Linkage

Due to crazy personal schedules on Tuesday and Wednesday, I wasn’t able to update the site as much as I would like. I apologize to you as I’ve been trying to keep you apprised of the latest sports media news. A few housekeeping notes, first I did some Sports Media Thoughts earlier this morning and you read them here.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing was kind to ask me on his podcast and we recorded it on Wednesday while I was on the road so the phone quality isn’t great (damn you, AT&T 3G). You can listen to what Matt and I discussed at the Awful Announcing site.

And lastly, Keith Thibault and I recorded our latest Sports Media Weekly podcast this week and our guest is Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette and the subject is college hockey coverage.

Now to our links.

Michael Smith & John Ourand from Sports Business Journal look at the possibility of ESPN and Fox Sports teaming up once again, this time to control the media rights to the Big 12 Conference. The two companies combined for the Pac-12 last year in an attempt to keep NBC Sports out of college sports and it appears the two are back at work again on the Big 12 rights.

Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim makes a very good point on the perceived conflict of interests of ESPN’s tennis announcers and the players to which they’re connected, case in point, Mary Jo Fernandez seen sitting with Roger Federer’s wife during the BNP Paribas Open last week on ABC.

Andrew McCalvy at MLB.com writes that Milwaukee Brewers Hall of Fame voice Bob Uecker will be honored with a statue outside Miller Park. Congrats to Uke on a well deserved honor. We all remember his character, Harry Doyle from the “Major League” movies and his great quote, “Juuuuust a bit outside.” Classic.

Interesting study from the Media Behavior Institute which shows a great majority still watch the NCAA Tournament on TV, but online numbers comprise a large chunk.

Ben Grossman at Broadcasting & Cable reports that Major League Baseball is looking at placing postseason games on MLB Network to boost its subscriber numbers.

Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News writes that MLB Network will produce a pregame show for Fox Saturday Baseball.

Tom Comi of Channel Guide Magazine would like a halt to the Tim Tebow media circus.

Mike Miller at NBC’s College Basketball Talk notes that the NCAA Tournament ratings on CBS/Turner are just about even with last year.

Eric Goldschein of SportsGrid has video of ESPN’s Mike Tirico losing it during last night’s Lakers-Mavericks game.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Wheaties may be dying a very slow and painful death.

Ronnie Ramos in the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says coaches and players are learning the proper use of Twitter.

Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy notes that Rogers Sportsnet picked up on a popular internet meme and used it in an on-screen graphic.

To Fishbowl NY where Jerry Barmash talks with Kenny Albert.

Newsday’s Neil Best writes that NBC Sports Network set a ratings record for hockey in NYC.

Neil notes that ESPN has a new head man-in-charge.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that CBS/Turner will bring in two coaches as guest analysts for the NCAA Tournament.

Pete says ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball crew will be busy in the first week of the MLB season.

Keith Groller at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says Lehigh left an impression on CBS during the NCAA Tournament.

Matt Brooks of the Washington Post’s Early Lead has your viewing guide for tonight’s Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has links to some of the best columns from the late Furman Bisher.

Some of Bisher’s friends pay tribute to the man.

The AJC has a gallery of pictures showing Bisher throughout his career.

Mel Bracht of the Oklahoman looks at HBO Real Sports’ update on the 2001 plane crash that hit the Oklahoma State basketball program extremely hard.

Mel says local viewers chose Fox Sports Oklahoma over ESPN for two Oklahoma City Thunder games last week.

David Jablonski of the Dayton (OH) Daily News says a local man leads the millions of entries in ESPN’s Bracketology contest.

John Kiesewetter at the Cincinnati Enquirer is not a fan of NCAA Tournament scheduling.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that the radio analyst for Bucks games has been off the air since last month.

Bob says former Brewers voice Matt Vasgersian will host the MLB Network-produced MLB on Fox pregame show.

Tom Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times remembers pioneering sportswriter Lacy J. Banks who died Wednesday.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has video of Bob Costas pontificating on the Saints suspensions.

The Toronto Globe and Mail’s Bruce Dowbiggin writes about the media fighting over staged NHL fights.

The Toronto Sports Media blog explores the local newspapers imploring the Maple Leafs to apologize to their fans for missing the playoffs.

Sports Media Watching notes that ratings on NBA TV are up.

Media Rantz says ESPN got fooled by a fake Adam Schefter Twitter account during Tim Tebow coverage last night.

We have a picture of that fake Adam Schefter tweet. “Adarn Schefter”?

Ben Koo of Awful Announcing explores the Gus Johnson departure from CBS and how it may leave him without his signature event for a long time to come.

The Convoluted Mind of a Single Man site looks at the innovations John Madden brought to NFL broadcasting.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth says league-owned networks are making big strides in production and programming.

And that will finish our links for today.

NBC Sports Group Boasts About 33 Sports Emmy Award Nominations

Overall, the NBC Sports Group has the second highest amount of Sports Emmy Award nominations after ESPN’s 52. Combined with NBC Sports, Golf Channel, Versus (now NBC Sports Network) and NBCSports.com, the Group has a whole slew of nominations.

Some of the more notable nominations include Studio Host (Bob Costas & Dan Patrick), Play-by-Play (Al Michaels & Mike Emrick), Game Analyst (Cris Collinsworth), Game Analyst (Mike Mayock), Sports Reporter (Michele Tafoya & Pierre McGuire), Live Sports Special (NHL Stanley Cup Final on both NBC/Versus), Live Sports Series (Sunday Night Football), Playoff Coverage (NFL Wild Card Saturday) and Weekly Studio Show (Football Night in America).

So as you can see, the Group has been nominated in several major categories. We have the NBC Sports Group press release crowing about its nominations.

NBC SPORTS GROUP GARNERS 33 SPORTS EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Total Nominations for NBC Sports Group Up from Last Year
NBC Leads All Broadcast Networks with 23 Nominations
Sunday Night Football & Football Night in America Nominated for Outstanding Live Sports Series & Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly
NBC/VERSUS* Nominated for Outstanding Live Sports Special for 2011 Stanley Cup Final
On-Air Personalities Costas, Michaels, Emrick, Collinsworth, Mayock, Patrick, Tafoya & McGuire Nominated
Bob Costas’ Halftime Essays Nominated for Dick Schaap Writing Award

NEW YORK – March 20, 2012 – The NBC Sports Group received 33 total Sports Emmy Award nominations for 2011, the first year it produced programming as a single sports media company. The 33 nominations received by NBC Sports Group is the second-highest number of nominations for any sports media company or network. NBC led all broadcast networks with 23 nominations. The announcement was made today by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The winners will be announced by the Academy on Monday, April 30.

Highlights of NBC Sports Group’s nominations include:

• Once again, Sunday Night Football on NBC was nominated for Outstanding Live Sports Series.
• Football Night in America was nominated for the second consecutive year for Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly.
• NBC’s NFL Wild Card Saturday received its first nomination for Outstanding Playoff Coverage.
• For the first time as a joint production team, NBC/VERSUS* was rewarded with a nomination for Outstanding Live Sports Special for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
• Golf Channel was nominated for Outstanding Live Event Turnaround for Inside the PGA Tour.
• The newly created show, NFL Turning Point, which debuted on VERSUS* in the fall of 2010, received the nomination for Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology in its premiere season.
• NBCSports.com was again nominated for Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming for its live stream platform, Sunday Night Football Extra.
• Along with co-writer Aaron Cohen, Bob Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award winner, who is again nominated for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host, was nominated for the Dick Schaap Writing Award for his halftime essays on Sunday Night Football.
• Nominations in individual talent categories:

o Bob Costas (Studio Host)
o Al Michaels (Play-by-Play)
o Mike Emrick (Play-by-Play)
o Cris Collinsworth (Event Analyst)
o Mike Mayock (Event Analyst)
o Dan Patrick (Studio Host)
o Michele Tafoya (Reporter)
o Pierre McGuire (Reporter)

*VERSUS was rebranded NBC Sports Network on January 2, 2012.

“I am incredibly proud that the NBC Sports Group has earned an impressive 33 nominations for the work done in our first year together as a company,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “Aligning our assets to produce the highest-quality programming across our national broadcast, cable and digital platforms has clearly made a difference.”

All of the national platforms of NBC Sports Group — NBC Sports, VERSUS*, Golf Channel and NBCSports.com — received a nomination. Most notably, NBC, VERSUS* and NBCSports.com received 16 nominations related to NFL coverage, and NBC/VERSUS* received four nominations for its coverage of the NHL. Golf Channel earned two nominations and NBCSports.com was honored with one.

The complete list of NBC Sports Group nominations are as follows:

• Outstanding Live Sports Special: 2011 Stanley Cup Final (NBC/VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Live Sports Series: Sunday Night Football
• Outstanding Live Event Turnaround: 2011 Track & Field World Championships
• Outstanding Live Event Turnaround: 2011 Tour de France (VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Live Event Turnaround: The USA Pro Cycling Challenge (VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Live Event Turnaround: Inside the PGA Tour (Golf Channel)
• Outstanding Playoff Coverage: NFL Wild Card Saturday
• Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology: NFL Turning Point (VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology: World of Adventure Sports
• Outstanding Studio Show – Weekly: Football Night in America
• Outstanding Short Feature: Football Night in America – “The Greatest Gift”
• Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming: Sunday Night Football Extra (NBCSports.com)
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host: Bob Costas
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host: Dan Patrick
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play: Al Michaels
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Play-by-Play: Mike Emrick (NBC/VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Sports Event Analyst: Cris Collinsworth
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Sports Event Analyst: Mike Mayock
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Sports Reporter: Michele Tafoya
• Outstanding Sports Personality, Sports Reporter: Pierre McGuire (NBC/VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Technical Team Remote: US Open Championship (Golf Channel/NBC)
• Outstanding Camera Work: 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship
• Dick Schaap Writing Award: NBC Sunday Night Football – Bob Costas Essays
• Dick Schaap Writing Award: The Kentucky Derby
• Outstanding Graphic Design: Sunday Night Football
• Outstanding Production Design/Art Direction: Sunday Night Football
• George Wensel Technical Achievement Award: America’s Cup Highlight Show – Live Line (VERSUS*)
• Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement – Episodic:
  • NFL Kickoff
  • 2011 Stanley Cup Final – No Words

A complete list of nominees is available here.

*VERSUS was rebranded NBC Sports Network on January 2, 2012.

That’s all for this post. One more Sports Emmy-related post tonight.

Quick Sunday Linkage

While I have a moment, let’s provide some rare Sunday links.

The lovely Nicole Auerbach of USA Today notes that ESPN’s Bob Knight won’t mention Kentucky by name on the air. ESPN allows Knight to wear sweaters on the air instead of a suit and tie and now this. I don’t understand it.

The Associated Press reports that Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers voice Vin Scully is cutting back on his schedule even further this upcoming season.

The Biz of Baseball’s Maury Brown writes that the Dodgers have released their 2012 radio and TV schedule with the news about Scully buried deep in the press release.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Friday’s historic upsets in the NCAA Tournament gave CBS/Turner record ratings.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel notes that HBO has set the date for its next pay per view boxing event.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid wonders exactly what CBS/Turner’s Bill Raftery said during last night’s Iowa State-Kentucky game.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group writes that Ball State students are helping Turner Sports drive its social media engine for the NCAA Tournament.

Sox & Dawgs has the funny video of UConn’s Stefanie Dolson taking a knee to the groin, but what’s makes it funny is that ESPN2′s Rebecca Lobo is laughing when she sees the replay.

Phil Swann at TVPredictions says DirecTV aired last night’s launch of Fox Sports San Diego in HD.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick can’t stand ESPN’s Stephen A. “A is for Anti-Asian” Smith kissing up to certain New York Knicks players.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes the higher ratings for the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

Greg Connors of the Buffalo News says the Bills’ courting of Mario Williams stretched the Western New York media to all corners of the region.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with Sirius XM NFL Radio host Ross Tucker about the DC NFL Team.

Tom Jones from the Tampa Bay Times profiles NBC/Golf Channel’s on-course reporter Dottie Pepper.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says ratings for the first true day of the NCAA Tournament were up.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has writers analyzing the Brewers by each position.

Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Padres got their official launch on Fox Sports last night.

Jim Peltz of the Los Angeles Times writes about Vin Scully cutting back on his schedule this season.

Sports Media Watch notes the increased ratings for the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

SMW says the NBA drew strong numbers for ESPN/ABC.

And that will complete the links for today.

Doing Some Friday Megalinks Now

Let’s do some megalinks on this Friday. My apologies for the lack of posts yesterday. The site was swamped with people linking to my post on How to Avoid Paying the $3.99 Fee For March Madness Live and it was down for most of the day. We seem to be ok today, although the site was down for a short stretch in the morning. But we’re back up now and time for some megalinks on this Friday.

The Weekend Viewing Picks are up and running. Lots of sports as the winter NCAA Championships including the basketball tournaments are underway.

Let’s get to your links.

National

Michael Hiestand from USA Today praises CBS/Turner for bringing the NCAA head of men’s basketball officiating back to explain controversial calls.

Reid Cherner of USA Today’s Game On blog remembers a great NCAA Tournmament buzzer beater from 1981 as called by NBC’s Marv Albert.

Sports Business Daily notes the overnight ratings for Thursday’s games from the NCAA Tournament were down, but still considered a win for CBS/Turner.

Matt Carmichael from Advertising Age tells us which two schools were Googled the most during yesterday’s NCAA Tournament action.

Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid has the absolutely hilarious video of a WGN morning news anchor trying to amp up the volume at ESPN’s Dick Vitale while technical difficulties arise.

Karen Hogan from Sports Video Group writes that the National Invitation Tournament may be the NCAA Tournament’s ugly sister, but it still gets major treatment from ESPN.

To Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing who notes another Twitter feud involving CNBC’s Darren Rovell, this one with Bomani Jones.

Sports Media Watch says Thursday’s 2nd round NCAA Tournament games received slightly lower overnight ratings from the year before.

Dave Kohl of The Broadcast Booth wants to know why name calling in sports radio is a more punishable offense than inaccurate reporting.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy asks if the NHL’s new Stanley Cup ad campaign to replace the great “History Will Be Made” promos can be as successful.

Laura Northrup of the Consumerist wonders why NBA League Pass hasn’t adjusted to Daylight Savings Time?

All Access says ESPN Deportes Radio in Chicago has picked up the Spanish rights to the White Sox.

La Liga Talk has learned that Al Jazeera has obtained the US TV rights to Spain’s La Liga from Gol TV.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn talks with ESPN’s Dick Vitale.

At SB Nation Boston, Boston Sports Media Watch’s Bruce Allen says social networking may have created spoiled fans.

Tazina Vega from the New York Times says the NHL is hoping to lure viewers by airing all of its Stanley Cup Playoff games on various NBC Sports platforms.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels the CBS/Turner NCAA Tournament collaboration has become the Home Shopping Network. Whatever.

The Post’s Justin Terranova talks with CBS/Turner analyst Clark Kellogg.

Justin has 5 questions for MSG Network NBA analyst Kelly Tripucka.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that the Onion has skewered the DC NFL Team.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with a Turner Sports Interactive executive on how Twitter is incorporated into this year’s NCAA Tournament coverage.

South

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says NBC will air this fall’s Miami-Notre Dame football game in primetime.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle notes that CBS/Turner’s Charles Barkley criticized Baylor’s ugly neon yellow uniforms.

David has the CBS/Turner announcing assignments for Saturday’s NCAA Tournament action.

Mel Bracht from The Oklahoman notes that Cox Cable subscribers can access the NCAA March Madness Live app for free provided they authenticate.

John E. Hoover from the Tulsa World says the Big 12′s new TV deals will ensure the survival of the conference.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that Reds voice Marty Brennaman can be heard in a new UPS March Madness ad.

While Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel enjoys the NCAA Tounament, there are some things he can do without.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business announces he’ll no longer be writing his sports business and media blog for the publication.

Ed says he will be launching a new site on the sports media and I look forward to seeing it when it finally comes to fruition.

Brigid Sweeney of Crain’s Chicago Business notes that Bulls TV analyst Stacey King now has a new fashion line.

Paul Christian at the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says the national Junior College championships can be seen online.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the local CBS affiliate didn’t help matters by taking up a large portion of the screen during NCAA Tournament action for weather updates.

West

Bill Center at the San Diego Union-Tribune says maybe, maybe Fox Sports San Diego will launch on Saturday provided MLB approval comes that quickly.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star looks at the Erin Andrews network sweepstakes.

Jim says the NCAA Tournament has become predictable.

Jim has his weekend viewing picks.

Richard Horgan of Fishbowl LA says ESPN will not discipline its SoCal reporters for getting a big story wrong on the Dodgers ownership bid process.

We are going to end the links there. Not as many as in past weeks, but still a hefty amount. Enjoy your weekend.