This from NESN, a.k.a. The New England Sports Network, we have their coverage plans for the Boston Red Sox. Overall, NESN will carry 150 regular season games plus plenty of pregame and postgame programming. In addition, there will be weekly programming involved. Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy return to call the games in their 11th season together. Heidi Watney will be the on-field reporter to cover breaking stories and conduct interviews. Tom Caron is back as studio host and he’ll be joined by a host of analysts including Peter Gammons, Dennis Eckersley and Jim Rice. We have the particulars from NESN.
NESN ANNOUNCES 2011 RED SOX SEASON PLAN
Spring Training Game Ratings on NESN Up 108%
BOSTON, MA – Charging into the 2011 regular season with impressive spring training ratings, NESN will launch its 28th season of Red Sox coverage on Friday, April 1 from Arlington, Texas when the team will face the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers. NESN’s opening day coverage will begin at 3:00 PM with the premiere of the network’s new half-hour pre-game show Red Sox First Pitch. Red Sox GameDay LIVE will begin at 3:30 PM with live game coverage at 4pm.
Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy and Heidi Watney will lead NESN’s broadcast of 150 exclusive, high definition Red Sox games. The network’s 2011 Red Sox programming will offer unprecedented team access including micing of players, in-game interviews and post game appearances by Red Sox players. The game telecasts will introduce new robotic cameras in both dugouts at Fenway Park. The programming will also include an enhanced production package with new show openings, music and graphics.
“While the Red Sox were making plenty of exciting news this off-season, our NESN team has been creating new and enhanced production elements which will bring the ballpark experience directly to our fans,” said Joel Feld, NESN’s executive vice president of programming and executive producer. “We will have a lot of fun this year micing the players, using innovative camera angles and telling more in-depth stories about the players.”
NESN’s pre and post-game studio programming will be led by host Tom Caron. Caron will be joined by NESN’s lineup of analysts Dennis Eckersley, Peter Gammons and Jim Rice, all members of Baseball’s Hall of Fame. The network will again originate its home pre-game coverage from Yawkey Way, the most unique outdoor setting in baseball. This year many post-game shows will also be produced from NESN’s Yawkey Way stage and feature live appearances by Red Sox players, questions from fans, in-depth game analysis and clubhouse interviews.
NESN’s 2011 Red Sox Programs and Talent
Game Coverage
- Play-by-Play – Don Orsillo (11th year)
- Analyst – Jerry Remy (24th year)
- Reporter – Heidi Watney (4th year)
Pre-Game Coverage
- Red Sox First Pitch – half-hour show that airs one-hour before the start of every game
- Red Sox GameDay LIVE – half-hour before every game
- Red Sox Monster Monday – Half hour special, Starts 90 minutes before every Monday night game
- Friday Night Fenway – Half hour special, Starts 90 minutes before every Friday night home game
- Host – Tom Caron (8th year)
- Analysts – Dennis Eckersley (9th year), Jim Rice (9th year), Peter Gammons (2nd year)
Post-Game Coverage
- Extra Innings LIVE – half-hour show that airs immediately following the game
- Red Sox Final – a second half-hour of post-game coverage that airs immediately after Extra Innings LIVE
- Same talent team as pre-game shows
Weekly Programs
- The Ultimate Red Sox Show with Heidi Watney – Every Sunday at Noon featuring in-depth interviews with players and other team personnel. Season premiere: Sunday. April 10.
- Red Sox Report – Weekly look at the team’s off-the-field work
NESN is in its 28th season of covering the Red Sox dating back to 1984. Time Warner Cable and Bright House subscribers receiving NESN National will receive the pre and postgame shows, but not the actual games unless they subscribe to the MLB Extra Innings out-of-market pay per view package.
