Altogether, Versus airs four games in the preseason starting tomorrow with the Toronto at Philadelphia game. To save costs, Versus will pick up the Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and Comcast SportsNet Chicago broadcasts for the four games will air this preseason. I hope that’s not a trend for the upcoming season and playoffs as Versus did that as a way to cut corners last season.
So Versus airs four games produced by the Comcast family, however, it will produce its own studio show for the intermissions. This means fans won’t get to hear the teams of Mike Emrick, Ed Olcyzk and Pierre McGuire or Dave Strader and Brian Engblom until the regular season begins.
Here’s the announcement.
HOCKEY IS BACK AS NBC SPORTS GROUP DROPS THE PUCK ON NHL PRESEASON
VERSUS To Air Four Preseason Games, Starting Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET
NEW YORK (September 20, 2011)— The NBC Sports Group drops the puck on the 2011-12 NHL season a little earlier this year by televising four preseason games on VERSUS, beginning tomorrow night at 7 p.m.ET. The network will nationally simulcast the games from Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to give hockey fans increased coverage just weeks before the season officially opens with a double-header on Thursday, October 6 on VERSUS.
VERSUS will present live intermission reports hosted by Liam McHugh along with NBC Sports Group NHL analysts Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Pierre McGuire alternating positions for nightly coverage.
VERSUS NHL preseason schedule (all times ET and subject to change):
Wednesday, September 21 — Toronto at Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Intermissions: McHugh, Milbury, McGuireMonday, September 26 — New York Rangers at Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Intermissions: McHugh, Jones, McGuireWednesday, September 28 — Detroit at Chicago 8:30 p.m.
Intermissions: McHugh, Jones, McGuireThursday, September 29 — New Jersey at Philadelphia 7 p.m.
Intermissions: McHugh, Milbury, McGuireThe NBC Sports Group’s 2011-12 NHL schedule is highlighted by 100 regular-season games across NBC and VERSUS, which will be re-branded the NBC Sports Network midway through the season on January 2; expanded exclusive cable coverage, including Wednesday and Sunday nights, and live 30-minute pre- and post-game shows for every game on VERSUS; the return of Hockey Day in America on NBC and NHL All-Star Weekend on VERSUS; the introduction of a Thanksgiving Friday NBC broadcast; and national distribution of all Stanley Cup Playoff games.
That’s all.
