Fang's Bites

Carrie Underwood to Sing Sunday Night Football Theme

After Faith Hill announced that she would no longer sing “(I’ve Been) Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” NBC Sports went searching for a replacement. Sunday Night Football producer Fred Gaudelli says he only had one person in mind and that was Carrie Underwood. And it has come to fruition.

NBC has formally announced that Ms. Underwood will sing an updated version of the theme and Gaudelli says some NFL players will sing some lyrics as well.

Not that this matters, but apparently Carrie’s fans are quite happy over this.

We have the formal announcement from NBC Sports.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO PERFORM “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” OPENING THEME ON NBC

Grammy Award-Winning Artist Records “Sunday Night Football” Opening Theme “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night”

NEW YORK – May 7, 2013 – NBC selected six-time Grammy Award-winner and multi-platinum recording artist, Carrie Underwood, to perform “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” the opening theme for primetime television’s No. 1 program, Sunday Night Football on NBC. Country music superstar Underwood, the season-four winner of American Idol, makes her Sunday Night Football debut on Sunday, September 8 on NBC’s first SNF broadcast of the 2013 NFL season, a heated NFC East rivalry game when Dallas Cowboys host the New York Giants. The opening theme will continue each week kicking off Sunday Night Football every Sunday night throughout the NFL season on NBC.

“I am thrilled to be a part of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and am so honored they asked me,” said Underwood. “I have always loved football season, and it is so exciting to now become part of it every Sunday night!”

Since winning American Idol and releasing her debut album in 2005, Underwood has sold over 15 million albums, and placed 17 No. 1 singles on the charts.  Her recent album, Blown Away, made history by debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart, making Underwood only the second country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of their first four albums debut at No. 1.

“Carrie Underwood was our first and only choice to perform the Sunday Night Football opening,” said SNF producer Fred Gaudelli. “She’s one of America’s most popular entertainers and the perfect fit for our show.”

The now platinum-selling Blown Away album also debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, making Underwood only the second country artist in history to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1.  She is a six-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.

“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” is set to the original Joan Jett song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and marks Underwood’s first production with NBC Sports. From 2007-2012, the song was performed by music superstar Faith Hill and in 2006, the inaugural season of Sunday Night Football, Pink performed the open.

Underwood is currently headlining and selling out arenas across North America on her “Blown Away Tour.”  The tour, which launched last June, has played in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, and will perform a total of 112 dates by the time is wraps on May 23 in Abbotsford, BC, Canada.

Sunday Night Football, which averaged 21.8 million viewers in the 2012 season, is primetime television’s No. 1 program.

That does it for this post.

NHL on NBC’s Announcing Assignments for May 7, 2013

NBC has begun to publish its announcing assignments for its NHL games online so I’m going to do my best to post these every day. Tonight, there will be four playoff games and all will be seen on the networks of NBCUniversal. Both CNBC and NBC Sports Network will air doubleheaders.

All of these are Games 4. NBCSN has Pittsburgh-New York Islanders and Chicago-Minnesota. Both are 2-1 with the number 1 seeds, Pittsburgh and Chicago in front.

CNBC will carry Montreal-Ottawa, a simulcast with CBC. Bob Cole, Garry Galley and Cassie Campbell-Pascall will call the game. And the late game will be Vancouver at San Jose, a simulcast with Comcast SportsNet California.

Here’s the NHL on NBC roster for tonight.

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S “NHL PLAYOFF PASS” – MAY 7

Four Game 4s Tonight

NEW YORK – May 7, 2013 – “NHL Playoff Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box provides a quick daily overview of Stanley Cup Playoff coverage. It is published weekdays to preview the evening games. On Fridays, a weekend edition is posted.

Games are being presented on NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC (in primetime), and NHL Network. In addition, more Stanley Cup Playoff games are live streamed than ever before. For more information on NBC Sports Group’s overall NHL Playoff coverage, please click here.

THE PASS (All times ET)

Tonight	Coverage	Network	Talent
6:30 p.m.	NHL Live	NBCSN	Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury, Jeremy Roenick
7 p.m.	Pittsburgh (1) @ N.Y. Islanders (8)	NBCSN	Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti
7 p.m.	Montreal (2) @ Ottawa (7)	CNBC	Bob Cole, Garry Galley, Cassie Campbell-Pascall
9:30 p.m.	Chicago (1) @ Minnesota (8)	NBCSN	Rick Peckham, Brian Engblom
10 p.m.	Vancouver (3) @ San Jose (6)	CNBC	Randy Hahn, Drew Remenda, Brodie Brazil, Brett Hadican

TONIGHT, May 7

NHL Live, hosted by Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick, begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Russ Thaler and Mike Keenan will host CNBC’s studio coverage.

Playoff coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network with back-to-back Game 4s after overtimes in Game 3. The New York Islanders host the Pittsburgh Penguins as they look to tie the series (Pittsburgh leads 2-1). Kenny Albert will call play-by-play alongside analyst Joe Micheletti from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. NBC Sports Network’s coverage continues at 9:30 p.m. ET with the Minnesota Wild hosting the Chicago Blackhawks (Chicago leads 2-1).

CNBC’s coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET with the Montreal Canadiens at the Ottawa Senators from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario (Ottawa leads 2-1). At 10 p.m. ET on CNBC, the San Jose Sharks look to sweep the series as they host the Vancouver Canucks at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. (San Jose leads 3-0). CSN California’s Randy Hahn will serve as play-by-play announcer alongside analysts Drew Remenda, Brodie Brazil and Bret Hedican.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: TOMORROW, May 8

Tomorrow’s Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs game, originally scheduled to air on NHL Network, will now air on CNBC at 7 p.m. ET. The Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues game at 9 p.m. ET (puck drop approximately 9:15 p.m. ET), will likely begin on NHL Network and be joined-in-progress on CNBC at the conclusion of the Bruins-Maple Leafs game.

Wed., May 8
6:30 p.m.	NHL Live	NBCSN
7 p.m.	Boston (4) @ Toronto (5)	CNBC
7:30 p.m.	Washington (3) @ N.Y. Rangers (6)	NBCSN
9 p.m.	Los Angeles (5) @ St. Louis (4)	NHL Network/CNBC*
10 p.m.	Detroit (7) @ Anaheim (2)	NBCSN

*Joined-in-progress. Game will likely begin on NHL Network

There you have it.

NBC Crows About Kentucky Derby Viewership

NBC has to be pleased about the viewership for the Kentucky Derby. As Orb circled the Churchill Downs track to win the 139th edition of the Run for the Roses, an estimated 16.2 million people watched the race marking the third time in five years that the Kentucky Derby has reached over 16 million viewers. The number is 9% higher than last year and 12% from 2011.

Overall, the Derby hit a 9.7 rating with a 21 share and that’s up 8% from 2012. So you can surmise that NBC’s strategy to promote the race on its multiple platforms is very successful.

By the way, Louisville had the highest rating of all local markets with an astonishing 43.7 rating with a 69 share. That’s amazing number.

Here’s NBC’s press release.

16.2 MILLION WATCH KENTUCKY DERBY ON NBC

2^nd Most-Watched Kentucky Derby Since 1989
Viewership up 9% from Last Year; Up 12% from 2011
9.7 National Rating up 8% from Last Year; Up 14% from 2011
NBC Sports ‘Big Event Strategy’ Leads to More Than 16 Million Viewers for 3^rd Time in 5 years

NEW YORK – May 7, 2013 – NBC Sports’ coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby drew 16.2 million viewers, making it the second most-watched Kentucky Derby since 1989. The viewership for the race is up nine percent from last year’s Derby (14.8 million), and up 12 percent from the Derby in 2011 (14.5 million), according to official national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

Utilizing NBC Sports’ ‘Big Event Strategy,’ three of the last five Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 16 million viewers.

Saturday’s race (6:05-6:53 p.m. ET), won by Orb, is the second most-watched Kentucky Derby dating back to 1989 (18.5 million on ABC), only surpassed by the 2010 Derby won by Super Saver (16.5 million).

• The household rating of 9.7/21 is the best since 2010 (9.8/23), and tied 2009 as the second highest-rated Derby since 1992 (10.3/30 on ABC).
• The 9.7/21 rating is up eight percent from last year’s race (9.0/20) and up 14 percent from 2011 (8.5/19).
• The pre-race on NBC (5-6:05 p.m. ET) drew 9.1 million viewers, an increase of 12 percent from last year (8.1 million) and is the second-best pre-race viewership dating back to 1992.
• NBC Sports Network’s five-hour pre-race show (11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET) drew 500k viewers, up 19 percent from last year (421k).

MORE PEOPLE WATCH THE DERBY ON NBC: NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 13 races averages more than 2 million more viewers than the previous 12 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.3 million vs.12.0 million, up 19 percent). NBC’s average viewership of 14.3 million over the last 13 Kentucky Derby broadcasts is more than six million more than the last six years that ABC aired the Derby (1995-2000).

KENTUCKY DERBY CONTINUES TO BE A HIT WITH FEMALE VIEWERS: The Kentucky Derby once again proved to be very popular with female viewers. In fact, 52 percent of Derby viewers were women, making it the only annual sporting event that draws more female viewers than male viewers.

KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWERSHIP
2013	16.2 million	NBC	Orb
2012	14.8 million	NBC	I’ll Have Another
2011	14.5 million	NBC	Animal Kingdom
2010	16.5 million	NBC	Super Saver
2009	16.1 million	NBC	Mine That Bird
2008	14.2 million	NBC	Big Brown
2007	13.7 million	NBC	Street Sense
2006	12.9 million	NBC	Barbaro
2005	13.6 million	NBC	Giacomo
2004	14.6 million	NBC	Smarty Jones
2003	11.8 million	NBC	Funny Cide
2002	12.8 million	NBC	War Emblem
2001	13.5 million	NBC	Monarchos
2000	9.1 million	ABC	Fusaichi Pegasus
1999	9.9 million	ABC	Charismatic
1998	9.5 million	ABC	Real Quiet
1997	11.3 million	ABC	Silver Charm
1996	11.0 million	ABC	Grindestone
1995	9.3 million	ABC	Thunder Gulch
1994	12.1 million	ABC	Go For Gin
1993	11.5 million	ABC	Sea Hero
1992	13.7 million	ABC	Lil E Tee
1991	13.4 million	ABC	Strike The Gold
1990	15.6 million	ABC	Unbridled
1989	18.5 million	ABC	Sunday Silence

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2013 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1.	Louisville	43.7/69
2.	Ft. Myers	19.7/37
3.	Cincinnati	18.8/37
T4.	Knoxville	18.4/31
T4.	West Palm Beach	18.4/35
6.	Buffalo	15.9/33
7.	Oklahoma City	15.1/25
8.	Columbus	14.8/31
9.	Indianapolis	13.9/28
10.	Nashville	13.2/22
11.	Jacksonville	13.1/21
12.	Orlando	12.8/28
13.	Richmond	12.7/22
14.	Tampa-St. Pete	12.5/23
15.	Baltimore	12.4/26
T16.	Boston	12.2/28
T16.	Washington D.C.	12.2/27
18.	Dayton	11.7/24
19.	Minneapolis-St. Paul	11.6/28
T20.	Greensboro	11.5/23
T20.	New York	11.5/26

That’s all.

TBS Begins Airing The NCAA Final Four Next Year

This coming from the CBS/Turner Sports NCAA Tournament consortium. Starting next year, TBS will get a bigger role in March Madness. It will split the Regional Finals with CBS and for the next two years, air the National Semifinal games while CBS airs the National Championship Game. Then in 2016, TBS will both the Final Four and National Championship. CBS will get the events the following year and then the two networks will alternate carrying Final Four weekend until 2024 when the current TV contract ends.

Something like this had been expected. So 2013 marks the end of CBS’ 32 year run of airing the Final Four and National Championship exclusively. When Turner signed on as a partner in 2011, it said it wanted to air the Final Four, not just take the early rounds, so it will finally achieve that goal next season.

At least for 2014 and 2015, I would expect the announcing team of Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg and Steve Kerr to remain on the Final Four and National Championship with Turner making a tweak when it gets the weekend exclusively in 2016.

Here’s the press release.

CBS SPORTS AND TURNER SPORTS ANNOUNCE PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE FOR 2014 AND 2015 NCAA FINAL FOUR^® AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

TBS to Televise NCAA FINAL FOUR^® National Semi-Final Games and
CBS Sports to Broadcast National Championship Games
CBS and TBS to Split ‘Elite Eight’ Coverage Beginning Next Year
TBS to Televise 2016 FINAL FOUR and National Championship Game and
CBS to Broadcast 2017 FINAL FOUR and National Championship Game, Alternating Through 2024

CBS Sports and Turner Sports have announced the programming schedule for their exclusive joint television coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 2014 and 2015. In each of the two years, TBS will televise the NCAA Final Four national semi-finals and CBS will broadcast the NCAA National Championship game.

Additionally, beginning in 2014 through 2024, coverage of the Regional Semi-finals and Regional Finals games will be split by TBS and CBS. Earlier round coverage of the tournament will continue to be televised across four national television networks – CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV with the First Four® airing exclusively on truTV.

In 2010, Turner Sports and CBS Sports entered into a 14-year exclusive media rights partnership with the NCAA to present the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship from 2011-2024. As part of that agreement, CBS Sports and Turner Sports will alternate coverage of the Final Four national semi-final games and National Championship game between TBS and CBS. The rotation begins on TBS with the network televising the Final Four and National Championship in 2016 with CBS broadcasting the games in 2017.

“Since the inception of our partnership, I don’t think we could have envisioned such a seamless collaboration between our two companies both in front of and behind the cameras,” said David Levy, president of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “Coming off another incredible year of strong ratings and exciting games, the popularity of the NCAA Tournament and Final Four continues to resonate with fans across the country. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to televise the Final Four national semi-final games and two of the Elite Eight games on TBS beginning next year, and for the network to televise its first National Championship game in 2016.”

“From the beginning, our partnership with Turner Sports has exceeded every one of our expectations,” said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports. “Today’s news represents another win-win arrangement that continues to help us extend the reach of this marquee property by combining the resources of our two organizations. As we have done since 1982, CBS is pleased to showcase the National Championship game in 2014 and 2015.”

Turner Sports and CBS Sports recently concluded their third year of exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The 2013 tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV was the most-watched NCAA Tournament in 19 years, averaging 10.7 million total viewers, up 11% from last year’s 9.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

That’s all for now.

Tuesday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
Georgia Tech at Ohio State — Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 4: Policastor Bussentino-Serra San Bruno — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

English Premier League
Manchester City vs. West Bromwich Albion — ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.
Wigan Athletic vs. Swansea City — Fox Soccer, 2:30 p.m.

Golf
Live From The Players — Golf Channel, 9 a.m.
Live From The Players — Golf Channel, 7 p.m.

Hockey
2013 IIHF World Championships, Helsinki, Finland
Group Play
Russia vs. United States — NBC Sports Network, 1 p.m.

MLB
American League
Kansas City at Baltimore — Fox Sports Kansas City/MASN2, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Boston — Fox Sports North Plus/NESN, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland — Comcast SportsNet California Plus/STO, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Tampa Bay — Rogers Sportsnet/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Houston — Fox Sports West/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 8 p.m.

National League
Atlanta at Cincinnati — MLB Network/SportSouth/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Midwest/WGN America, 8 p.m.
Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers — Fox Sports Arizona/KCAL, 10 p.m.
Miami at San Diego — Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports San Diego, 10 p.m.
Philadelphia at San Francisco — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10:15 p.m.

Interleague
Chicago White Sox at New York Mets — Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus/SNY, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Washington — MLB Network/Fox Sports Detroit/MASN, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Pittsburgh — Root Sports Northwest, 7 p.m.
Texas at Milwaukee — Fox Sports Southwest/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
New York Yankees at Colorado — YES/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.

MLB Network Countdown: Top 50 Calls of All-Time — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 9:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinal
Game 2: Indiana at New York — TNT, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinal
Game 2: Memphis at Oklahoma City — TNT, 9:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Pacers/Knicks, Game 2 Postgame — NBA TV, 9:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Grizzlies/Thunder, Game 2 Postgame — NBA TV, midnight
Inside the NBA — TNT, midnight

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
NFL Films Presents: The Greatest Roundtable Ever — NFL Network, 8:30 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 4: Montreal at Ottawa — CBC/RDS/CNBC, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Pittsburgh at New York Islanders — NBC Sports Network/TSN/Root Sports Pittsburgh/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 4: Chicago at Minnesota — NBC Sports Network/CBC/RDS2/Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports North, 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: Vancouver at San Jose — TSN/RDS/CNBC/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, midnight

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 6 p.m.
E:60 — ESPN, 7 p.m.
30 for 30: You Don’t Know Bo — ESPN, 8 p.m.
The Real Rocky — ESPN2, 8 p.m.
30 for 30: One Night in Vegas — ESPN2, 9 p.m.
30 for 30: Elway to Marino — ESPNU, 9:30 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight

Tennis
ATP/WTA Tour
Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain
Men’s 2nd Round/Women’s Round of 16 — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m.

Entertainment
Splash (season finale) — ABC, 8 p.m.
NCIS — CBS, 8 p.m.
Hart of Dixie (season finale) — The CW, 8 p.m.
The Italian Job — AMC, 8 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: On Deck: Blood in the Morning — Discovery, 8 p.m.
New Girl: Winston’s Birthday — Fox, 9 p.m.
Roadtrip with G. Garvin: Atlanta — Cooking Channel, 9 p.m.
I Hate My Bath: Big Brown Bath — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Airport 24/7: Miami: Bomb Threat — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles — CBS, 9 p.m.
CONSTITUTION USA with Peter Sagal: A More Perfect Union (series premiere) — PBS, 9 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: The Crooke and The Tangler — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Nightmare Next Door: Drink with the Devil? — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Polygamy, USA: Meet the Polygamists — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Mean Girls — Showtime, 9:15 p.m.
The Mindy Project: Frat Party — Fox, 9:30 p.m.
I Hate My Yard: Ocean Oasis — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
House Hunters: Palm Springs, CA — HGTV, 10 p.m.
Who Gets the Last Laugh? — TBS, 10 p.m.
Amanda Knox: The Unanswered Questions — CNN, 10 p.m.
Dead of Night: The Manson Tunnel — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Warrior POV: Search & Destroy — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
Body of Proof: Dark City — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Inside Amy Schumer: Real Sext — Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Amsterdam — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
The Last Region — IFC, 10:45 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Mindy Kaling — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Flip or Flop: Keeping Up with the Joneses — HGTV, 11 p.m.
Nitro Circus Live — MTV, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
The Colbert Report: Douglas Rushkoff — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Flip or Flop?: A Flip with a View — HGTV, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m

Fox Taps TSN’s SportsCentre Team as Main Anchors for “Fox Sports Live”

The story first surfaced over the weekend and now it’s been made official by Fox Sports. TSN’s late night SportsCentre team of Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole will become the main anchors for Fox Sports 1′s nightly “Fox Sports Live” that will air at 11 p.m. ET.

Onrait and O’Toole have become so popular, Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper even tweeted his regrets about the men leaving TSN in July. Onrait and O’Toole along with their SportsCentre producer will form the team that will become the nightly signature program for Fox Sports 1 when it launches in August.

Let’s take a look at what Fox Sports is saying about this move.

JAY ONRAIT & DAN O’TOOLE TABBED AS PRIMARY FOX SPORTS LIVE HIGHLIGHT TEAM

Popular Canadian Duo Renowned for Fun, Irreverent Style on TSN

New York – Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole, who since 2005 have formed a popular, smart and irreverent anchor team for TSN’s SportsCentre, Canada’s most-watched sports news program, join FOX Sports as the primary highlight team for FOX SPORTS LIVE, FOX Sports 1’s flagship news, opinion and highlights program airing nightly at 11:00 PM ET.  The announcement was made today by FOX Sports’ Co-President and COO Eric Shanks and Executive Vice President, Studio Production, Scott Ackerson.  Onrait and O’Toole, along with Producer Tim, are the first FOX SPORTS LIVE personalities to be announced. The show premieres in conjunction with the network’s launch on Saturday, Aug.17.

“Nowhere in America today are there sports anchors with the style and rapport that Jay and Dan have,” said Shanks. “We respect their work and the tremendous relationship they’ve established over the years with Canadian sports fans. We’re excited to have had a chance to get to know them, and that they’ll have a major role in the launch of FOX Sports 1.”

“It’s obvious that Jay and Dan are a great tandem and really enjoy themselves when they’re on-air,” added Ackerson.  “FOX SPORTS LIVE is going to deviate from existing sports news formulas, and we expect Jay, Dan and Tim to use their unique brand of humor to make the show fun for fans to watch.”

Onrait and O’Toole have been co-hosts of the 1:00 AM ET weekday edition of SportsCentre, which repeats hourly until 1:00 PM ET, entertaining viewers with a brand of humor all their own while delivering a summary of the day’s sports news and events.

“We are thrilled to join FOX Sports 1 and can’t wait to start working with the rest of the team on FOX SPORTS LIVE,” said Onrait. “We like sports and we like to laugh, so that’s pretty much the show.  Dan and I are also looking forward to getting free tickets to a taping of American Idol.  That sealed it for us.”

 

“We are extremely excited to be joining FOX Sports 1,” added O’Toole.  “This is an enormous opportunity for us and we are so honored to have been asked to take part in this bold new venture by FOX.  Jay and I can’t wait to introduce ourselves to Americans across the country and look forward to being invited into their homes.  We will bring the maple syrup.”

Onrait, (pronounced: ON-right) a native of Athabasca, Alberta, Canada, Onrait first joined TSN in 1996 as an editorial assistant while attending Ryerson University.  Upon his graduation in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television Arts, he went on to become sports director at a Saskatoon television station, before spending two years as the host of the Big Breakfast on A-Channel.  Onrait joined NHL Network in 2001, serving as host of the network’s flagship show NHL on the Fly as well as Molson That’s Hockey 2. A year later, he re-joined TSN in his current role on SportsCentre.

Onrait’s work assignments over the years have included hosting SportsCentre with O’Toole live from Trafalgar Square during the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, co-hosting Olympic Morning on CTV with Beverly Thomson for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and coverage of the NHL Trade Deadline, NBA Finals, Vanier Cup and in-studio host of Toronto Raptors broadcasts on TSN.  In 2011, he was honored for his outstanding contributions to the world of sports with a Gemini Award for Best Sportscaster/Anchor.

In addition to hosting SportsCentre with Onrait from the 2012 Olympic Summer Games, O’Toole co-hosted the show with Cory Woron from the International Broadcast Centre for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Prior to joining TSN in 2002, O’Toole was part of Citytv’s launch in Vancouver, where he worked as an anchor and reporter.  In 1998, O’Toole moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta, where he worked as sports director for CJOK-FM and CKYX-FM radio stations for three years. While at the radio stations, O’Toole called play-by-play for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL.  In 2000, O’Toole worked at CTV Edmonton as the Fort McMurray news reporter in the evenings while continuing to work mornings as the radio sports director.

Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, O’Toole graduated from Algonquin College in 1996 with a diploma in broadcasting. While in college, O’Toole did play-by-play for the Ottawa 67s. O’Toole moved to Vancouver in 1997 to work as a traffic reporter for CJJR-FM and CFUN-AM radio stations, reporting from a four-seater plane.

That is all on this post.

Report: Carrie Underwood to Replace Faith Hill on Sunday Night Football

Paul M. Banks of Chicago Sports Media Watch and the Sports Bank appears to have broken the story of Carrie Underwood becoming the new singing voice of Sunday Night Football. Earlier this year, Faith Hill announced that the 2012-13 season would be her last to sing the Sunday Night Football theme of “I’ve Been Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.”

Now NBC has said there will be a “major announcement about a talent addition to Sunday Night Football” on Tuesday. And Ms. Underwood herself tweeted the following:

So let’s just say where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Reading the tea leaves, it appears that Carrie Underwood will be singing theme starting in September.

The First SEC Network Trailer

With the SEC Network now official and ready to premiere in August 2014, ESPN and the SEC has put together this preview trailer of what to expect when the network launches. It’s quite good.

It all comes to fruition in August 2014 on a participating cable and satellite provider.

Monday’s Viewing Picks

Beach Volleyball
Women’s Grand Slam Gold Medal — Universal Sports, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)

College Baseball
Maryland at Clemson — ESPNU, 7 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 3: Sorrento-Marina di Ascea — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

English Premier League
Sunderland vs. Stoke City — ESPN2, 2:55 p.m.

Golf
Live From The Players — Golf Channel, 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.
World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony — Golf Channel, 10 p.m.

MLB
American League
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City — Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus/Fox Sports Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Minnesota at Boston — Fox Sports North/NESNplus, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland — Comcast SportsNet California/STO, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Tampa Bay — Rogers Sportsnet/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.

National League
Atlanta at Cincinnati — ESPN/SportSouth/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.
Florida at San Diego — Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports San Diego, 10 p.m.
Philadelphia at San Francisco — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10:15 p.m.

Interleague
Texas at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Southwest/WCIU, 8 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Tuesday)

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Chicago at Miami — TNT, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Golden State at San Antonio — TNT, 9:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Bulls/Heat, Game 1 Postgame — NBA TV, 9:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Warriors/Spurs, Game 1 Postgame — NBA TV, midnight
Inside the NBA — TNT, midnight

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 3: Boston at Toronto — CBC/RDS/NHL Network (US)/NESN, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Washington at New York Rangers — NBC Sports Network/TSN2/RDS2/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/MSG Network, 7:30 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 4: Anaheim at Detroit — CNBC/TSN/RDSI/KDOC/Fox Sports Detroit, 8 p.m.
Game 4: St. Louis at Los Angeles — NBC Sports Network/CBC/RDS/Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 12:30 a.m. (Tuesday)

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is All Alone by Himself Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
UNITE — ESPN Classic, midnight
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight

Tennis
ATP Tour
Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain
1st Round — Tennis Channel, 7 a.m.

Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother — CBS, 8 p.m.
Kitchen Crashers: Functional Family Kitchen — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Oh Sit!: 7Lions — The CW, 8 p.m.
Antiques Roadshow: Rapid City — PBS, 8 p.m.
The Last Samurai — AMC, 8 p.m.
Pizza Cuz: Masters (series premiere) — Cooking Channel, 9 p.m.
Kitchen Crashers: Retro Kitchen with a Twist — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Brain Games: Power of Persuasion — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Burger Land: Houston, We Have A Burger — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Mary & Martha — HBO, 9 p.m.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel — HBO Signature, 9 p.m.
Sins & Secrets: Bible Belt Bloodshed — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Funniest Movies of Alll Time — TV Guide, 9 p.m.
Bath Crashers: Heavy Metal — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
Yard Crashers: Sunken Outdoor Living Room — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
House Hunters: Chicago — HGTV, 10 p.m.
Red, White and New: Flying, Biking & Big Digging — Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
Hawaii Five-0 — CBS, 10 p.m.
Bates Motel: A Boy and His Dog — A&E, 10 p.m.
James May’s Man Lab — BBC America, 10 p.m.
The Watch — Cinemax, 10 p.m.
Bullet Points: Operation Desert Storm — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
The Numbers Game: What Drives You Crazy? — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Scam City: Prague — Science, 10 p.m.
The Big C: Hereafter: You Can’t Take It With You — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Rectify: Plato’s Cave — Syfy, 10 p.m.
The Crow — The Movie Channel, 10 p.m.
Revolution — NBC, 10:01 p.m.
House Hunters International: Auckland, New Zealand — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — IFC, 10:45 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Christiane Amanpour — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
The Colbert Report: Robert Caro — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Inside Mad Men: Season 6, Episode 6, “For Immediate Release”

This was a rather explosive episode for the slow-moving Season 6. Don blows up Jaguar. That pisses off Joan. Megan finds a way back into Don’s pants (this is the nicest way I could put it). Roger uses an airline hostess to drum up new business for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. SCDP attempts to go public. Pete Campbell then blows the secret. And while celebrating, he sees his father-in-law in a house of ill repute and blows a big account. Literally. And then he blows his marriage and goes down swinging.

While all that is happening, all hell breaks lose. There’s an agency merger between SCPD and Cutler Gleason Chaough to get the Chevrolet account and Peggy is back working with Don. And I’m stunned. Easily the best episode of the season. For the first five episodes, the season was moving slowly, then in the last 30 minutes of tonight’s episode, BOOM! New agency.

Let’s go over the episode with Matthew Weiner, Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks, Kevin Rahm (first appearance from him in these videos! Nice!) and Elisabeth Moss discuss what happened in tonight’s episode.

Now to Costume Designer Janie Bryant who describes the outfit Megan wears when her mother comes to visit. Awesome.

And of course, the always cryptic promo for Episode 7.

Mad Men airs on AMC at 10 p.m. ET/PT every Sunday.

Kentucky Derby Ties for Highest Overnight Ratings in 21 Years

NBC Sports is crowing about the overnight ratings for the race portion of its coverage of the Kentucky Derby. In the hour of 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET, NBC received a 10.4 number with a 23 share. That’s the highest overnights for the Run for the Roses since 2010 and the best since a 10.9/29 in 1992 when the race was on ABC.

NBC breaks down the numbers for you below.

KENTUCKY DERBY OVERNIGHT RATING ON NBC TIES FOR BEST IN 21 YEARS

Race Portion up 16% and Pre-Race up 15% from 2012
Louisville Leads All Local Markets with a 43.7/69; up 38% from 2012

NEW YORK – May 5, 2013 – NBC Sports’ coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, won by Orb, drew a 10.4 overnight rating and a 23 share for the race portion (6-7 p.m. ET), up 16% from the 2012 Kentucky Derby, according to overnight data provided today by The Nielsen Company. The 10.4 overnight rating ties the 2010 race as the best for a Kentucky Derby in 21 years (10.9/29 in 1992).

Overnight Ratings Notes:

• The pre-race coverage on NBC (5-6 p.m. ET) drew a 6.2/15 overnight rating, up 15% from last year, tying 2010 as the best for the pre-race since 2007.
• Coverage from 4-4:30 p.m. ET received a 3.1/8, the best since NBC began 4 p.m. coverage in 2008;
• Coverage from 4:30-5 p.m. ET received a 4.1/10, also the best since NBC began coverage at 4:30 p.m. (in 2007).

NOTE: National ratings and viewership for the race portion will be available on Tuesday, May 7. National ratings for the early coverage will be available on Thursday, May 9.

KENTUCKY DERBY OVERNIGHTS (Race Portion)

	YEAR			OVERNIGHT	NETWORK	WINNING HORSE
	2013			10.4/23	NBC	Orb
	2012			9.0/20	NBC	I’ll Have Another
	2011			9.7/22	NBC	Animal Kingdom
	2010			10.4/23	NBC	Super Saver
	2009			10.2/22	NBC	Mine That Bird
	2008			9.5/21	NBC	Big Brown
	2007			9.8/21	NBC	Street Sense
	2006			8.9/20	NBC	Barbaro
	2005			10.0/23	NBC	Giacomo
	2004			10.1/22	NBC	Smarty Jones
	2003			8.9/20	NBC	Funny Cide
	2002			9.3/21	NBC	War Emblem
	2001			9.4/22	NBC	Monarchos
	2000			7.4/18	ABC	Fusaichi Pegasus
	1999			7.5/19	ABC	Charismatic
	1998			7.7/19	ABC	Real Quiet
	1997			8.8/20	ABC	Silver Charm
	1996			9.4/23	ABC	Grindstone
	1995			7.2/18	ABC	Thunder Gulch
	1994			8.2/21	ABC	Go For Gin
	1993			9.4/21	ABC	Sea Hero
	1992			10.9/29	ABC	Lil E Tee

Louisville topped all metered markets with a 43.7/69. For the race portion, 47 of the 56 Nielsen metered markets showed ratings gains from last year.

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2013 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1.	Louisville	43.7/69
2.	Ft. Myers	19.7/37
3.	Cincinnati	18.8/37
T4.	Knoxville	18.4/31
T4.	West Palm Beach	18.4/35
6.	Buffalo	15.9/33
7.	Oklahoma City	15.1/25
8.	Columbus	14.8/31
9.	Indianapolis	13.9/28
10.	Nashville	13.2/22

That is it for this post.

Sunday MLB on TBS Brings the Braves Back to Turner Sports

It’s only for one day, but the Atlanta Braves are back on TBS Sunday. They’ll host the New York Mets in the final game of their three game series. Brian Anderson will be on the call along with analysts John Smoltz and Tom Verducci.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Continues with a Match-Up of NL East Rivals:
New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves on May 5 at 1:30 p.m. ET

Probable Starters Feature New York’s Matt Harvey to Face Atlanta’s Tim Hudson 

“Sunday MLB on TBS” will continue May 5 with a match-up of NL East rivals when David Wright and the New York Mets visit Justin Upton and the Atlanta Braves at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Mets’ Matt Harvey (4-0) is scheduled to take the mound against Braves probable starting pitcher Tim Hudson (3-1), who won his 200^th career game in his last start. Brian Anderson will call the action from the TBS broadcast booth alongside analyst John Smoltz and reporter Tom Verducci.

TBS’ regular season MLB coverage will include a 26-game regular season schedule and the exclusive telecast of the 2013 MLB All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, June 30. In October, TBS will exclusively televise the American League and National League Wild Card games and will once again provide coverage of all four MLB Division Series and exclusive coverage of the National League Championship Series.

TBS has broadcast MLB for more than 30 years, televising the MLB Division Series and one League Championship Series since 2007, and was the home of the Atlanta Braves from 1977 to 2007.

“Sunday MLB on TBS” Schedule:

May 5
1:30 p.m. ET	New York Mets @ Atlanta Braves
	Brian Anderson (play-by-play), John Smoltz and Tom Verducci (analysts)

Upcoming Schedule:

May 12
1:30 p.m.	Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sox
	Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and John Smoltz (analyst)
May 19
1:30 p.m.	Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves
	Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Ron Darling and John Smoltz (analysts)

That’s all.

TSN’s Popular SportsCentre Anchor Team Headed for LALA Land

Broken Friday by Toronto Sports Media, and then confirmed by TSN, we find that coming in August, US viewers will get acquainted with the enormously popular SportsCentre team of Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole. According to TSN’s press release which is posted below, Onrait and O’Toole are headed “to Los Angeles for exciting new broadcast opportunities on U.S. television.”

Well, one sports network is located in Los Angeles and it’s not ESPN (although it does have a studio there) nor is it NBC. As it was confirmed by my colleagues at Awful Announcing, Onrait and O’Toole will be joining Fox, specifically Fox Sports 1 which is launching a full-fledged news gathering operation.

During their TSN tenure, the pair racked up quite an on-air reel and their exploits have become viral on YouTube. They’ll continue to anchor SportsCentre through June and then travel south to L.A. where they will launch FS1′s nightly sportscast, Fox Sports Live, airing at 11 p.m. ET.

We have the TSN press release.

Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole to Leave TSN as They Head to Los Angeles on New Adventure

Onrait and O’Toole continue to host SPORTSCENTRE Morning Loop on TSN until late June

TORONTO (May 3, 2013) – TSN today announced that the network’s popular sports anchor team of Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole are heading to Los Angeles for exciting new broadcast opportunities on U.S. television.

Onrait and O’Toole will continue hosting Canada’s most-watched sports news program, SPORTSCENTRE, until late June.

“It is with mixed emotions that all of us at TSN and Bell Media bid farewell to Jay and Dan. They have made remarkable contributions to TSN and have helped solidify SPORTSCENTRE as Canada’s clear choice for sports news,” said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. “I’ve been working with Jay and Dan since the beginning, and their success is a testament to the exceptional talent and original productions that have become a hallmark of Bell Media. I’m sure Jay and Dan will thrive on U.S. television and endear themselves to a whole new legion of fans.”

“As ambassadors of the TSN brand, Jay and Dan connect with viewers across the country and have distinguished themselves as two of the most popular broadcasters in Canada,” said Stewart Johnston, President, TSN. “They entertain us each morning with their inimitable brand of humour and have inspired a whole new generation of sports fans. While all of us at TSN – and their loyal fans across the country – will miss seeing them every morning, Jay and Dan are leaving for an opportunity of a lifetime and we couldn’t be happier for them.”

“Every single day I went into work at TSN, I knew I was going to have fun. It’s a unique and rare work environment that I never took for granted. I am forever indebted to TSN for letting me be a part of it for the past 10 years,” said Dan O’Toole. “Also, if it wasn’t for TSN, I would never have been paired with Jay. The fact that TSN took a chance and let us do our own thing every night on SPORTSCENTRE is something we will always be thankful for. Even as we embark on this new adventure, we will forever remain just a tall, lanky kid from Athabasca, Alberta, and a pig farmer from Peterborough, Ontario.”

“I started at TSN in 1996 as an editorial assistant on SPORTSDESK, writing highlights for Michael Landsberg and Jim Van Horne, and now I leave the network with a very heavy heart because it is the place I have called home for so many years,” said Jay Onrait. “I have made so many lifelong friendships at the network with people far more talented than I am. I will miss everything about TSN.

“The moment I was paired with Dan on SPORTSCENTRE, I knew we had the chance to do something Canadians would really love. For the last decade we have received more love from our viewers than we could have ever imagined – and for this, we are eternally grateful. I am also especially grateful to Mark Milliere, who was my first producer back in 1996 and ended up as my boss. He trusted Dan and I with the freedom to do SPORTSCENTRE our way. We never took that freedom for granted and we will always appreciate the opportunity to host what I still believe is the best sports show in the country.

“We may be heading south…but we remain forever CANADIAN!”

That’s all for this post.

TNT Opens its NBA Conference Semifinal Coverage with a Triple Doubleheader

Now that the NBA Conference Quarterfinals are over, we now move to the Conference Semifinal round. ABC opens things up with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. TNT, the NBA’s Network of Record, returns to the postseason on Monday with two games and will continue through Wednesday.

It all begins with Game 1 of the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat series followed by Game 1 of Golden State-San Antonio. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, TNT will air a pair of Games 2 on each night.

We have the full TNT schedule including the announcing assignments for each series. Check it all out below.

TNT Tips Off the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs with Exclusive Doubleheaders Beginning Monday, May 6

TNT’s coverage of the second round of the NBA Playoffs will tip off Monday, May 6, with an exclusive doubleheader — the Miami Heat hosting the Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors visiting the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 p.m. (both Game 1 of their respective best-of-seven series).

Marv Albert will call the Heat vs. Bulls game alongside analyst Steve Kerr and reporter Craig Sager, while Dick Stockton will provide commentary for the Warriors/Spurs matchup alongside analyst Chris Webber and reporter David Aldridge.

The NBA Playoffs will continue on TNT on Tuesday, May 7, with a doubleheader featuring the Indiana Pacers visiting the New York Knicks (Game 2) at 7 p.m. and the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Memphis Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m.

Kevin Harlan will call the Pacers/Knicks game alongside analyst Reggie Miller and reporter Rachel Nichols, with Matt Devlin providing play-by-play for Grizzlies/Thunder alongside analyst Mike Fratello and reporter Marty Snider.

TNT’s second round coverage on Wednesday, May 8, will include the Bulls visiting the Heat (Game 2) at 7 p.m., followed by the Warriors facing the Spurs (Game 2) at 9:30 p.m., with the same commentators from Monday’s Game 1 coverage handling the call.

Following each doubleheader, the Sports Emmy® Award-winning team of Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will recap the night’s action during the Inside the NBA post-game show.

TNT’s Upcoming NBA Playoff Schedule

DAY/DATE
TIME (ET)	EVENT
Monday, May 6
7 p.m.	Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat (Game 1)
	Marv Albert (play-by-play) and Steve Kerr (analyst) with Craig Sager (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs (Game 1)
	Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Chris Webber (analyst) with David Aldridge (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA
	Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith (analysts)
Tuesday, May 7
7 p.m.	Indiana Pacers @ New York Knicks (Game 2)
	Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Reggie Miller (analyst) with Rachel Nichols (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 2)
	Matt Devlin (play-by-play) and Mike Fratello (analyst) with Marty Snider (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA
	Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith
Wednesday, May 8
7 p.m.	Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat (Game 2)
	Marv Albert and Steve Kerr with Craig Sager
9:30 p.m.	Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs (Game 2)
	Dick Stockton and Chris Webber with David Aldridge
Post-game	Inside the NBA
	Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith

That is all.

The 139th Kentucky Derby Replay

In case you missed the Run for the Roses on Saturday, I have the entire race for you below.

Orb won despite starting the race in the back of the pack. Now we’ll see if he can become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown. Larry Collmus had a fantastic call including gems like “Normandy Invasion is storming home!” and the tremendous “OOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRBBBBBBB!!!!!” Larry needs to work that in on every Triple Crown race from now on.

Here’s the race as it aired on NBC Sports.

The Preakness Stakes, the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday, May 18 at the Pimlico Raceway outside Baltimore, MD. That will also air on NBC.

ABC to Air Two NBA Conference Semifinal Openers on Sunday

With four NBA Conference Quarterfinal Games 6 resulting in four series clinchers on Friday night, it ends up that there will be only one Game 7 to decide which team will take on Miami in one Eastern Conference Semifinal.

However, the other Eastern Conference Semifinal is set and that will pit the Indiana Pacers against the New York Knicks. And in one Western Conference Semifinal, the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Both of these series will commence on Sunday and ABC will carry them both starting at 1 p.m. ET. Grizzlies-Thunder taps off the NBA doubleheader with Pacers-Knicks in the nightcap.

Here’s the blurb from ESPN.

ABC to Broadcast Two NBA Conference Semifinals Games 1 Sunday

ABC will broadcast two NBA Conference Semifinals Games 1  on Sunday, May 5, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with the defending Western Conference Champion Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant hosting the Memphis Grizzlies and Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol. Mike Tirico will provide commentary with analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox. At 3:30 p.m., the New York Knicks led by Carmelo Anthony will host the Indiana Pacers and Paul George. Mike Breen will call the game with analyst Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke. ABC’s NBA Playoffs coverage will begin at 12:30 p.m. with NBA Countdown previewing the doubleheader.

That’s all.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, May 4

Arena Football
New Orleans VooDoo at Tampa Bay Storm — CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.

Australian Rules Football
Richmond Tigers vs. Geelong Cats — Fox Soccer Plus, 5:30 a.m.

Boxing
Floyd Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero — Pay per view, 9 p.m.

May Day Live: Countdown to Mayweather vs. Guerrero — Showtime, 8 p.m.
Mayweather vs. Guerrero Post Fight/Press Conference — CBS Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Sunday)

College Baseball
Florida at LSU — ESPN2, 1 p.m.
Missouri at Texas A&M — Fox College Sports Central, 3 p.m.
Kansas State at Texas — Longhorn Network, 3 p.m.
Cal at Oregon States– Pac-12 Network, 5 p.m.
Indiana at Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
Arkansas at Kentucky — Fox College Sports Atlantic, 7 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech — Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.
Long Beach State at Cal State-Fullerton — ESPNU, 11 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Men’s
America East Championship, Stony Brook, NY
Albany vs. Maryland-Baltimore County — ESPNU, 10 a.m.

Big East Championship, Philadelphia, PA
Syracuse vs. Villanova — ESPNU, noon

ECAC Championship, Geneva, NY
Denver vs. Ohio State — Fuel/Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Net, 4 p.m.

Women’s
Big East Championship, Washington, DC
Syracuse vs. Georgetown — CBS Sports Network, 1 p.m.

College Softball
Northwestern at Michigan — Big Ten Network, 1 p.m.
St. Mary’s at BYU — BYU TV, 1 p.m.
Norfolk State at Hampton — ESPNU, 2 p.m.
Oregon State at Oregon — Pac-12 Network, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Minnesota — Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s at BYU — BYU TV, 3:30 p.m.
Louisville at Notre Dame — ESPNU, 4 p.m.
Louisville at Notre Dame — ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Missouri — ESPN, 7:30 p.m.
Arizona State at Arizona — Pac-12 Network, 9 p.m.

College Volleyball
Men’s
NCAA Championship
BYU vs. Cal-Irvine — ESPNU, 9 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 1: Naples — beIN Sport, 9 a.m.

Four Days of Dunkirk
Day 4 — Universal Sports, 10 a.m.

English Championship
Hull City vs. Cardiff City — beIN Sport, 7:40 a.m.

English Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Southampton — ESPN, 9:55 a.m.
West Bromwich Albion vs. Wigan Athletic — Fox Soccer Plus, 9:53 a.m.
Norwich City vs. Aston Villa — Fox Soccer, 10 a.m.
Fulham vs. Reading — Fox Soccer Plus, noon (same day coverage)
Queens Park Rangers vs. Arsenal — Fox Soccer, noon
Swansea City vs. Manchester City — Fox Soccer, 2:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
West Ham United vs. Newcastle United — Fox Soccer, 4:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Golf
European PGA Tour
China Open, Tianjin, Communist China
Third Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day covcerage)

PGA Tour
Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte, NC
Third Round — Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

PGA Tour 2013: Seven Days — CBS, 2 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Kingsmill Championship, Williamsburg, VA
Third Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

Champions Tour
Insperity Championship, The Woodlands, TX
Second Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Hockey
2013 IIHF World Championships, Helsinki, Finland
Group Play
United States vs. Austria — NBC Sports Network, 5 a.m.

Horse Racing
139^th Kentucky Derby — NBC, 4 p.m.

Kentucky Derby Prep — NBC Sports Network, 11 a.m.
Kentucky Derby Post Show — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.

MLB
American League
Minnesota at Cleveland — Fox Sports North/STO, 1 p.m.
Oakland at New York Yankees — Comcast SportsNet California/YES, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Toronto — Root Sports Northwest/Rogers Sportsnet, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Anaheim Angels — Fox, 4 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City — WGN America/Fox Sports Kansas City, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Houston — Fox Sports Detroit/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 7 p.m.
Boston at Texas — NESN/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.

National League
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Ohio/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — Fox, 4 p.m.
Washington at Pittsburgh — Fox, 4 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia — Fox Sports Florida/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Atlanta — SNY/Fox Sports South, 7 p.m.
Arizona at San Diego — MLB Network/Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports San Diego, 8:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco — MLB Network/Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 9 p.m.

Interleague
Tampa Bay at Colorado — Sun Sports/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m.

MLB Player Poll — Fox, 3 p.m.
Fox Saturday Baseball Pregame Show — Fox, 3:30 p.m.
Franchise Finest-AL West — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 9:30 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, midnight

MLS
Columbus vs. New York — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia vs. Seattle — WPVI/KONG/Root Sports Northwest, 4 p.m.
San Jose vs. Montreal — Comcast SportsNet California/TVA Sports, 4 p.m.
Colorado vs. Toronto — Altitude/Sportsnet Ontario, 9 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver — KUCW/Sportsnet Pacific, 9 p.m.

NASCAR
Nationwide Series
Aaron’s 312, Talladega Speedway, Alabama
Race — ESPN, 3 p.m.

Sprint Cup Series
Aaron’s 499, Talladega Speedway, Alabama
Qualifying — Speed, noon

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 7: Chicago at Brooklyn — TNT, 8 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Bulls/Nets, Game 7 Postgame — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.
Inside the NBA — TNT, 10:30 p.m.

NFL
Draft Journey 2013 — NFL Network, 8 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2: New York Rangers at Washington — NBC/TSN/RDS, 12:30 p.m.
Game 2: Toronto at Boston — CBC/RDS/CNBC/NESN, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 3: Anaheim at Detroit — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS2/KDOC/Fox Sports Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: St. Louis at Los Angeles — NBC Sports Network/CBC/RDS/Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

NHL Tonight– NHL Network, 3 p.m.
Hockey Tonight– CBC, 6:30 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 12:30 a.m. (Sunday)

Sports Talk
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
ESPN Sports Saturday — ABC, 4 p.m.
Charismatic — ESPN Classic, 8 p.m.
Whirlaway — ESPN Classic, 9 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.

Tennis
WTA Tour
Portugal Open, Oeiras, Portugal
Final — Tennis Channel, noon (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
Portugal Open, Oeiras, Portugal
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
BMW Open, Munich, Germany
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Elbow Room — HGTV, 9 a.m.
Top 20 Video Countdown — VH1, 9 a.m.
Totally ’80s — VH1 Classic, 9 a.m.
Fix This Yard: Mike & Michelle: Barren Beach Side Paradise — A&E, 9:30 a.m.
Going Yard: Eclectic Dream Yard — HGTV, 9:30 a.m.
Sell This House: Extreme: Redondo Beach, CA — A&E, 10 a.m.
E! News — E!, 10 a.m.
Giada at Home: Mexican Fiesta — Food Network, 11:30 a.m.
Mary and Martha — HBO, 1 p.m.
Poltergeist — IFC, 1:15 p.m.
Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?: Forgive and Forget — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
Bet on Your Baby — ABC, 8 p.m.
Cops: Fight Night; Busted No. 3 (season finale) — Fox, 8 p.m.
Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror — BBC America, 8 p.m.
Jailhouse Rock — Encore, 8 p.m.
Boogie Nights — IFC, 8 p.m.
Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?: You Get What You Pay For — Investigation Discovery, 8:30 p.m.
Renovation Realities: The Storms Job — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
20/20 — ABC, 9 p.m.
Orphan Black: Variations Under Domestication — BBC America, 9 p.m.
My Ghost Story: Caught on Camera — Biography Channel, 9 p.m.
Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story — Hallmark Channel, 9 p.m.
Scorned: Love Kills: You’ve Got His Hate Mail — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen — Showtime, 9 p.m.
Sydney ER: Weekend SAhift — Discovery Fitness & Health, 10 p.m.
48 Hours: Over the Edge — CBS, 10 p.m.
The Nerdist — BBC America, 10 p.m.
My Haunted House: The Nursery & The Closet (series premiere) — Biography Channel, 10 p.m.
Savages — Cinemax, 10 p.m.
How Sex Changed the World: Sex Rebels — H2, 10 p.m.
Murder in Paradise: Hook, Line & Murder — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Outrageous Acts of Science: Natural Born Thrillers — Science, 10 p.m.
Trainspotting — ShoExtreme, 10 p.m.
Wild at Heart — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
The Big 4 Live From Sofia, Bulgaria — VH1 Classic, 10 p.m.
Sydney ER: A Strange Symptom — Discovery Fitness & Health, 10:30 p.m.
Dates From Hell: Slice of Love — Investigation Discovery, 10:30 p.m.
Ghostbusters — Encore, 11:05 p.m.
Saturday Night Live with host Zach Galifianakis and musical guests Of Monster and Men — NBC, 11:29 p.m.

Sunday, May 5

Australian Rules Football
West Coast Eagles vs. Western Bulldogs — Fox Soccer Plus, 2:30 a.m.

College Baseball
South Florida at Notre Dame — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.
Georgia at Tennessee — ESPNU, 1 p.m.
Kansas State at Texas — Longhorn Network, 2 p.m.
Alabama at Mississippi State — CBS Sports Network, 2:30 p.m.

College Football
Inside College Football: Spring Special — CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Ivy League Championship, Ithaca, NY
Yale vs. Princeton — ESPNU, 11 a.m.

NCAA Lacrosse Championship Selection Special — ESPNU, 9 p.m.

College Softball
Northwestern at Michigan — Big Ten Network, noon
Texas at Oklahoma State — ESPN, 1 p.m.
Nebraska at Penn State — Big Ten Network, 2:30 p.m.
LSU at Georgia — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Oregon State at Oregon — Pac-12 Network, 4 p.m.
Arizona State at Arizona — Pac-12 Network, 6 p.m.

Cycling
Four Days of Dunkirk
Day 5 — Universal Sports, 10 a.m.

Giro d’Italia
Stage 2: Ischia to Forio — beIN Sport, 11:30 a.m.

Tour of California Preview Show — NBC Sports Network, 5 p.m.

English Premier League
Liverpool vs. Everton — Fox Soccer, 8:30 a.m.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea — Fox Soccer, 10:30 a.m.

Goals on Sunday — Fox Soccer, 1 p.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
China Open, Tianjin, Communist China
Final Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day covcerage)

PGA Tour
Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte, NC
Final Round — Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Kingsmill Championship, Williamsburg, VA
Final Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

Champions Tour
Insperity Championship, The Woodlands, TX
Final Round — Golf Channel, 7 p.m. (same day coverage)

IndyCar
São Paulo Indy 300 — NBC Sports Network, 11 a.m.

MLB
American League
Minnesota at Cleveland — Fox Sports North/STO, 1 p.m.
Oakland at New York Yankees — Comcast SportsNet California/YES, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Toronto — Root Sports Northwest/Rogers Sportsnet, 1 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Boston at Texas — NESN/Fox Sports Southwest, 3 p.m.
Baltimore at Anaheim Angels — MASN2/Fox Sports West, 3:30 p.m.
Detroit at Houston — Fox Sports Detroit/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 4 p.m.

National League
New York Mets at Atlanta — TBS/SNY/Fox Sports South, 1:30 p.m.
Washington at Pittsburgh — MASN/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Ohio/WGN America, 2:20 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia — Fox Sports Florida/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m.
Arizona at San Diego — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports San Diego, 4 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco — ESPN, 8 p.m.

Interleague
Tampa Bay at Colorado — Sun Sports/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 4 p.m.

Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 12:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 7 p.m.
Plays of the Month: April 2013 — MLB Network, 10:30 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 11:30 p.m.

MLS
Sporting KC vs. Chivas USA — UniMás/KSMO, 5 p.m.
LA Galaxy vs. Houston — ESPN2, 11 p.m.

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series
Aaron’s 499, Talladega Speedway, Alabama
Race — Fox, noon

NASCAR RaceDay: Talladega — Speed, 10 a.m.
NASCAR Victory Lane: Talladega — Speed, 4:30 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Memphis at Oklahoma City — ABC, 1 p.m.

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Indiana at New York — ABC, 3:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Grizzlies/Thunder, Game 1 Postgame — NBA TV, 3:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Pacers/Knicks, Game 1 Postgame — NBA TV, 6 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 3: Pittsburgh at New York Islanders — NBC/TSN/RDS, noon
Game 3: Ottawa at Montreal — CBC/RDS/NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 3: Chicago at Minnesota– NBC/CBC/RDS, 3 p.m.
Game 3: Vancouver at San Jose — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

NHL on the Fly– NHL Network, 5:30 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 9:30 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 12:30 a.m. (Monday)

Scottish Premier League
Ross County vs. Celtic — Fox Soccer Plus, 6:55 a.m.

Sports Talk
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 9 a.m.
The Sports Reporters — ESPN, 9:30 a.m.
E:60 — ESPNU, 10 a.m.
SportsCentury: Secretariat — ESPN Classic, 6 p.m.
SportsCentury: Citation — ESPN Classic, 7 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.

Tennis
ATP Tour
BMW Open, Munich, Germany
Final — Tennis Channel, 2 p.m. (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
Portugal Open, Oeiras, Portugal
Final — Tennis Channel, 4 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Sophie’s Choice — Sho2, 8:25 a.m.
24 Hour Party People — Sundance Channel, 8:30 a.m.
CBS News Sunday Morning — CBS, 9 a.m.
Totally ’80s — VH1 Classic, 9 a.m.
The Real Robin Hood — H2, 10 a.m.
Sandwich King: Mexican Fiesta — Food Network, 11 a.m.
Ice Age: Continental Drift — HBO, 11 a.m.
60 Minutes — CBS, 7 p.m.
Mega Dens: Hallways and Doors No More — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Stalked: Someone’s Watching: Stalked.com — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
Trip Flip: Miami — Travel Channel, 8 p.m.
Once Upon a Time — ABC, 8 p.m.
The Amazing Race 22: The Beacon of Hope — CBS, 8 p.m.
Call the Midwife — PBS, 8 p.m.
Wicked Tuna: Hooked Up: Double Trouble — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Stalked: Someone’s Watching: Idol Worship — Investigation Discovery, 8:30 p.m.
A Bryk at a Time: Stuck in the Middle — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Nurse Jackie — Showtime, 9 p.m.
Masterpiece Classic: Mr. Selfridge: Part 6 — PBS, 9 p.m.
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Canada — CNN, 9 p.m.
Game of Thrones — HBO, 9 p.m.
You Live in What? — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Dateline on ID: The Night Lynsie Disappeared — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Wicked Tuna: Money on the Line — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Snapped: Exondia Salado — Oxygen, 9 p.m.
Extreme Factories: Ford Autos; Trek Bikes; Chris Craft Boats — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Veep — HBO, 10 p.m.
America’s Secret Slang: Coming to America — H2, 10 p.m.
Mad Men: For Immediate Release — AMC, 10 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: Time Bandit Reloaded — Discovery, 10 p.m.
Commander in Chief: Inside the Oval Office: George H.W. Bush: The Gulf War — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
Locked Up Abroad: The Real Argo — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
The Borgias — Showtime, 10 p.m.
The Last King of Scotland — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
Red Widow (season finale) — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – Encore, 11:30 p.m.
The Hangover Part II — HBO, 11:50 p.m.

Friday’s Viewing Picks

Australian Rules Football
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs. Port Adelaide Power — Fox Soccer Plus, midnight

Boxing
Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Weigh-In — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.

College Baseball
Arkansas at Kentucky — Fox College Sports Pacific, 6:30 p.m.
Alabama at Mississippi State — ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech — Fox College Sports Atlantic, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas State at Texas — Longhorn Network, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose State at New Mexico State — Fox College Sports Pacific, 9:30 p.m.
Stanford at Arizona State — ESPNU, 10 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Johns Hopkins at Army — CBS Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

College Softball
Michigan State at Wisconsin — Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
St. Mary’s at BYU — BYU TV, 7 p.m.
Oregon State at Oregon — Pac-12 Network, 7 p.m.
Arizona State at Arizona — Pac-12 Network, 9 p.m.

Cycling
Four Days of Dunkirk
Day 3 — Universal Sports, 10 a.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
China Open, Tianjin, Communist China
Second Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day covcerage)

LPGA Tour
Kingsmill Championship, Williamsburg, VA
Second Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.

PGA Tour
Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte, NC
Second Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

Champions Tour
Insperity Championship, The Woodlands, TX
First Round — Golf Channel, 7:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

19th Hole — Golf Channel, 2 a.m. (Saturday)

Horse Racing
Kentucky Oaks — NBC Sports Network, 5 p.m.
Kentucky Derby Handicappers Preview — TVG, 8 p.m.

MLB
American League
Minnesota at Cleveland — Fox Sports North/STO, 7 p.m.
Oakland at New York Yankees — Comcast SportsNet California/YES, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Toronto — Root Sports Northwest/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Boston at Texas — MLB Network/NESN/KTXA, 8 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Houston — Fox Sports Detroit/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 8 p.m.
Baltimore at Anaheim Angels — MASN2/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Ohio/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 2:20 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia — Fox Sports Florida/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Washington at Pittsburgh — MASN, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Atlanta — SNY/Fox Sports South, 7:30 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — MLB Network/Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Arizona at San Diego — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports San Diego, 10 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco — KCAL/KNTV, 10:15 p.m.

Interleague
Tampa Bay at Colorado — Sun Sports/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.

MLB Network Special: Franchise Finest-NL West — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Saturday)

NASCAR
Nationwide Series
Aaron’s 312, Talladega Speedway, Alabama
Qualifying — ESPN2, noon

Sprint Cup Series
Aaron’s 499, Talladega Speedway, Alabama
Practice — Speed, 2 p.m.
Final Practice — Speed, 3:30 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 6: New York at Boston — ESPN, 7 p.m.
Game 6: Indiana at Atlanta — ESPN2, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 6: Oklahoma City at Houston — ESPN, 9:30 p.m.
Game 6: Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis — ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Knicks/Celtics, Game 6 Postgame & Pacers/Hawks, Game 6 Postgame — NBA TV, 9:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Thunder/Rockets, Game 6 Postgame & Clippers/Grizzlies, Game 6 Postgame — NBA TV, midnight

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Path to the Draft — NFL Network, 6 p.m.
Top 10 Draft Day Moments — NFL Network, 8 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh — NBC Sports Network/TSN/MSG Plus/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Ottawa at Montreal — CBC/RDS/CNBC, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2: Minnesota at Chicago — NBC Sports Network/CBC/RDS2/Fox Sports North/Comast SportsNet Chicago, 9:30 p.m.
Game 2: San Jose at Vancouver — TSN/RDS/CNBC/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, midnight

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 2 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is a Miami Apologist Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
The Crossover — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
The Artie Lange Show — Audience Network (DirecTV), 10 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
UNITE — ESPNU, 1 a.m. (Saturday)

Tennis
WTA Tour
Portugal Open, Oeiras, Portugal
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
Portugal Open, Oeiras, Portugal
Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
BMW Open, Munich, Germany
Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Undercover Boss: Orkin — CBS, 8 p.m.
Nikita — The CW, 8 p.m.
Blood Relatives: Flesh and Blood — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
Kiss the Girls — MoreMax, 8 p.m.
Man Caves: Old Navy Cave — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Flea Market Flip: Love Letters or hate Mail? — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Dateline NBC — NBC, 9 p.m.
Touch — Fox, 9 p.m.
Great Performances: The Paul Taylor Dance Company in Paris — PBS, 9 p.m.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith — Cinemax, 9 p.m.
Blood Relatives: Let’s Stay Together — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Alien Earths: Revealed — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Da Vinci’s Demons: The Magician — Starz, 9 p.m.
Shark Tank — ABC, 9:01 p.m.
Mystery Diners: Party Monster — Food Network, 10 p.m.
Dates From Hell: I Murder — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Maron: Internet Troll (series premiere) — IFC, 10 p.m.
Best Week Ever — VH1, 10 p.m.
Anderson Cooper Special Report: Sex, Lies and Audiotape: The Jodi Arias Trial — CNN, 10 p.m.
America’s Book of Secrets: American Nazis — H2, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark: The Jodi Arias Trial — HLN, 10 p.m.
XIII: Gauntlet — Reelz Channel, 10 p.m.
The Dead Files: Possessed-Watervliet, Michigan — Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
20/20: True Confessions — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Rock Center with Brian Williams — NBC, 10:01 p.m.
House Hunters International: U.S. Virgin Islands — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Dates From Hell: Slice of Love — Investigation Discovery, 10:30 p.m.
The Jenny McCarthy Show — VH1, 10:30 p.m.
Zane’s the Jump Off: Red Flag — Cinemax, 11 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
VICE: Winners & Losers — HBO, 11 p.m.
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Colombia — CNN, 11 p.m.
The Moment: Notre Dame Football Coach — USA, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
The Half Hour: Dan Soder — Comedy Central, midnight
The Half Hour: Nikki Glaser — Comedy Central, 12:30 a.m. (Saturday)

CBS Sports Network Brings Beach Volleyball Into the Fold

After a couple of dormant years, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball tour is back and it’s back on CBS Sports Network. For years, the AVP Tour was on NBC as the Peacock used sport as a springboard for its Olympics coverage.

Well known Olympians like Kerri Walsh Jennings, Phil Dalhausser, Jen Kessy and April Ross will return to the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour as it makes multiple stops across the country.

CBS Sports Network will air the five tour stops starting on August 16 and lasting until October. CBSSN will air both the men’s and women’s championships from each city. Preliminary matches will be streamed on AVP.com.

We have details from the joint press release from CBS Sports Network and the AVP.

AVP PRO BEACH VOLLEYBALL SIGNS MULTI-MEDIA AGREEMENT WITH CBS SPORTS NETWORK AND CBS INTERACTIVE

The AVP to Showcase Pro Beach Volleyball’s Elite Men’s and Women’s Action Live on CBS Sports Network during the AVP’s Five-Tour Schedule 

Newport Beach, CA (May 1, 2013) – The AVP has reached a multi-media agreement with CBS Sports Network and CBS Interactive to showcase the 2013 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. CBS Sports Network will air live men’s and women’s Championship round action from each of the five Tour stops, while CBS Interactive will provide a live stream of the preliminary rounds from each event on AVP.com.

The tour kicks off on Friday, August 16 in Salt Lake City, Utah and culminates Sunday, October 20 in Huntington Beach, Calif., just down the street from the new home of the AVP. The Tour features the world’s best players including Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, Phil Dalhausser, Todd Rogers, Silver Medalists Jen Kessy and April Ross; and Olympians Sean Rosenthal, Jake Gibb and Nicole Branaugh – all of whom have been signed exclusively by the AVP.

“There are a couple of new stops on this year’s AVP schedule that will add to its long history as the pre-eminent domestic tour. I’m already back in training and both proud and excited to be competing in the upcoming AVP season,” says 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist and AVP athlete Kerri Walsh Jennings.

To add to this sentiment, Olympic Gold Medalist and AVP Tour player Todd Rogers said, “I’m really looking forward to playing on the tour this year. Even though the AVP is recognized around the world as the pinnacle of pro beach volleyball, the new ownership has ignited new interest in the league and the sport for 2013. ”

The agreement with CBS Sports Network marks AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour’s return to television for the first time since the summer of 2010.

The 2013 AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour will stop in five cities:

Salt Lake City, Utah – August 16 to August 18
Cincinnati, Ohio – August 31 to September 1
St. Petersburg, Fla. – September 14 to 15
Santa Barbara, Calif. – September 28 to 29
Huntington Beach, Calif. – October 19 to 20

“We are excited to launch 2013 with an incredible roster of athletes and a solid five-city tour schedule,” said Dick Carle, chairman of the AVP. “We have set ourselves up to provide a thrilling and competitive season, enhanced by our great new CBS Sports partners. Teaming with CBS Sports Network elevates beach volleyball and the AVP brand to another level. We know that the Network’s coverage will provide an incredible opportunity for fans to embrace beach volleyball as the sport of summer.”

“Beach volleyball is a high-energy sport that appeals to a wide audience, and we are thrilled to be the AVP’s exclusive television partner for the tour,” said Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network. “The AVP is a strong brand that has aligned with the world’s best volleyball players, and together with CBS Interactive, we’re excited to showcase competitive live beach volleyball action.”

And that does it.

ESPN/ESPN2 Combine for Four Games 6 on Friday

Thanks to six series in the NBA Playoffs extending to six games, there’s the potential for some of them heading to the full seven games. But before that happens, ESPN and ESPN2 have a rare harmonic convergence of airing four of the NBA Conference Quarterfinals series on Friday night. Both networks will have games at 7 p.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET.

ESPN will carry New York at Boston then Oklahoma City at Houston.

ESPN2 will air Indiana at Atlanta and Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis.

Below, we have the schedules and the announcing assignments for the four games. Paulsen at Sports Media Watch tweets that this is the first time there have been four Games 6 in one night since 2003 when TBS/TNT had four game telecasts between them.

Here’s the ESPN press release.

NBA Playoffs: ESPN, ESPN2 Combine to Televise Four Game 6?s Friday

ABC to Broadcast Two Games Sunday

The NBA Playoffs will continue on ESPN and ESPN2 this Friday, May 3, with four quarterfinal round Game 6 telecasts. ESPN will televise a doubleheader, beginning with the Boston Celtics hosting the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. ET, with Mike Breen, analyst Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Heather Cox providing commentary. At 9:30 p.m., the Oklahoma City Thunder will visit the Houston Rockets with Mike Tirico, analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Holly Rowe calling the action.

ESPN2 will televise a doubleheader simultaneously, beginning with the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. with Mark Jones, analyst Doris Burke and reporter Chris Broussard providing commentary. At 9:30 p.m. the Los Angeles Clippers will visit the Memphis Grizzlies with commentary from Dave Pasch and analyst Jon Barry.

Additionally, ABC will broadcast two games on Sunday, May 5, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.  The games will be a combination of quarterfinal Games 7 and/or semifinal Games 1. NBA Countdown will tip off Sunday’s coverage at 12:30 p.m. with Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons and Michael Wilbon previewing the doubleheader.

NBA Playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2 – Friday, May 3

Time (ET)	Game 6	Commentators	Network(s)
7 p.m.	New York Knicks at Boston Celtics	Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox	ESPN, WatchESPN
7 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks	Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Chris Broussard	ESPN2, WatchESPN
9:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets	Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Holly Rowe	ESPN, WatchESPN
9:30 p.m.	Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies	Dave Pasch, Jon Barry	ESPN2, WatchESPN

NBA Playoffs on ABC – Sunday, May 5

Time (ET)	Game	Commentators
12:30 p.m.	NBA Countdown	Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, Michael Wilbon
1 p.m.	TBD	TBD
3:30 p.m.	TBD	TBD

That’s all.

ESPN and the SEC Unveil the SEC Network

This from ESPN and the Southeastern Conference. The two entities have partnered to form the cable-based SEC Network which will begin operation in August 2014.

The new SEC Network will air more than 1,000 conference events including 45 football games, 100 men’s and 60 women’s college basketball games, 75 baseball, as well as softball and various Olympic sports like gymnastics, track & field and other events.

All 14 member schools will be showcased on the new network. At the outset, AT&T U-Verse has signed up to carry the SEC Network. Other cable and satellite carriage agreements will be announced later.

The SEC Network will be based out of the ESPN Regional Television offices in Charlotte, NC.

ESPN will operate the SEC Network for 20 years and as a result, the Alleged Worldwide Leader’s rights agreement with the SEC will extend to 2034. So ESPN will be associated with the SEC well into the 21st Century.

We have the press release below.

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN Announce new TV Network and Digital Platform

20-Year Agreement and Rights Extension through 2034; AT&T U-verse Will Distribute the Network at Launch

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network, which will launch in August 2014, it was announced today by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and ESPN President John Skipper. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.

The network will televise approximately 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include studio shows, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, signing day and pro days coverage. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively on the digital platform. The network and its digital extensions will connect with each SEC institution and create opportunities for each school to produce and develop content.

“The SEC Network will provide an unparalleled fan experience of top quality SEC content presented across the television network and its accompanying digital platforms,” stated Slive. “We will increase exposure of SEC athletics programs at all 14 member institutions, as we showcase the incredible student-athletes in our league. The agreement for a network streamlines and completes an overall media rights package that will continue the SEC’s leadership for the foreseeable future.”

Each weekend throughout the season, the new network will air multiple top-tier matchups from the strongest conference in college football. Since 2006, the SEC has claimed seven consecutive football national championships. In 2011-12, SEC teams won eight national championships: football (Alabama), men’s basketball (Kentucky), gymnastics (Alabama), men’s indoor track and field (Florida), women’s tennis (Florida), women’s golf (Alabama), men’s outdoor track and field (Florida), and softball (Alabama). Since 1990, the SEC has won 149 national team championships for an average of more than six per year.

Skipper said, “The SEC is unmatched in its success on the field and its popularity with fans nationwide. The new network’s top-quality SEC matchups across a range of sports will serve all sports enthusiasts including the most passionate, die-hard SEC fans. Also, it will serve the needs of our multichannel distributors and advertisers by providing extremely attractive programming options across all platforms.”

As part of the agreement, ESPN will now oversee the SEC’s official Corporate Sponsor Program. In addition, ESPN and the SEC also agreed to extend their existing media rights agreement through 2034. ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982. ESPN’s existing networks present more than 1,600 hours of SEC action each year. The new network will focus exclusively on the SEC and add another outlet to deliver sports fans more SEC content than ever.

AT&T U-verse^® has been secured as the network’s first national distributor. AT&T U-verse is the fastest growing TV provider in the U.S. and their subscribers will have access to an unprecedented amount of SEC content across all platforms. Subscribers receiving the live linear network via a multichannel subscription will also have access to the network on PCs, tablets, smartphones and select gaming devices like Xbox. Additional games and coverage will be available through an authenticated digital offering. Fans looking to learn more about how to get the SEC Network can visit GetSECNetwork.com for more information.

“We are pleased to be involved with the SEC and ESPN at the very beginning of this great alliance,” said Jeff Weber, President of Content and Advertising Sales, AT&T. “As the fastest growing and most advanced pay TV service, we want to bring our customers the highest value and most compelling product that we possibly can. Access to the SEC Network, across multiple platforms, will only increase the demand for U-verse.”

ESPN’s Justin Connolly, formerly senior vice president, ESPN affiliate sales and marketing, will oversee the network’s day-to-day operations. The network will originate from ESPN’s Charlotte, N.C., offices with additional staff located at the company’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters. Staff announcements and additional details will be made in the coming months.

There it is for you.

Thursday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
Florida at LSU — ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.

College Baseball Live — ESPNU, 6:30 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Big East Tournament, Philadelphia, PA
Semifinals
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse — ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.
Georgetown vs. Villanova — ESPNU, 10:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

ECAC Tournament, Geneva, NY
Semifinals
Denver vs. Fairfield — Fuel/Fox Sports Net, 5 p.m.
Loyola (MD) vs. Ohio State — Fuel/Fox Sports Net, 8 p.m.

College Softball
Texas Tech at Baylor — ESPN, 8 p.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
China Open, Tianjin, Communist China
First Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day coverage)

LPGA Tour
Kingsmill Championship, Williamsburg, VA
First Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.

PGA Tour
Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte, NC
First Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

19th Hole — Golf Channel, midnight

Horse Racing
Kentucky Derby Access — NBC Sports Network, 5 p.m.
Kentucky Oaks Handicappers Preview — TVG, 8 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC News-April 30 — Fuel, 7:30 p.m.
UFC Ultimate Insider: Fox 7 Fight Flashback — Fuel, 10:30 p.m.

MLB
American League
Tampa Bay at Kansas City — Sun Sports/Fox Sports Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Boston at Toronto — NESN/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Houston — Fox Sports Detroit/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 8 p.m.
Baltimore at Anaheim Angels — MASN2/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
San Diego at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports San Diego/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 2:20 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia — MLB Network/Fox Sports Florida/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta — MLB Network/MASN/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Milwaukee — Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.

MLB 2013: The Ultimate Home Field Advantage — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight: On-Deck Circle — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, midnight

MLS
Portland vs. New England — Univision Deportes/Root Sports Northwest/Comcast SportsNet New England, 10:30 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 6: Brooklyn at Chicago — TNT, 8 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 6: Denver at Golden State — TNT, 10:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Nets/Bulls, Game 6 Postgame — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Nuggets/Warriors, Game 6 Postgame — NBA TV, 1 a.m. (Friday)
Inside the NBA — TNT, 1 a.m. (Friday)

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Path to the Draft: 2013 NFL Draft Recap — NFL Network, 6 p.m.
The Top 100 Players of 2013: 90-81 — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
The Top 100 Players of 2013-Reactions — NFL Network, 9 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Ottawa at Montreal — CBC/RDS/CNBC, 7 p.m.
Game 1: Washington at New York Rangers — NBC Sports Network/TSN/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/MSG Network, 7:30 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2: Los Angeles at St. Louis — CNBC/CBC/RDS2/Fox Sports Midwest, 9:30 p.m.
Game 2: Detroit at Anaheim — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS/Fox Sports Detroit/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Friday)

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is a Man without a Plan Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
UNITE — ESPNU, 12:30 a.m. (Friday)

Tennis
ATP Tour
BMW Open, Munich, Germany
Round of 16 — Tennis Channel, 7 p.m., 9 p.m. & 11 p.m. (same day coverage)

UEFA Europa League
Semifinal, 2nd Leg
Chelsea vs. Basel — Fox Soccer, 3 p.m.
Benfica vs. Fenerbahçe — Fox Soccer Plus, 3 p.m.

UEFA Europa League Pregame — Fox Soccer/Fox Soccer Plus, 2:30 p.m.

EntertainnentThe Big Bang Theory — CBS, 8 p.m.
Zombies: A Living History — H2, 8 p.m.
Deadly Women: Bury the Boyfriend — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
The Last Days of Disco — Showcase, 8 p.m.
Fright Night — The Movie Channel, 8 p.m.
Deadliest Space Weather: Space Tornadoes — Weather Channel, 9 p.m.
Beauty and the Beast — The CW, 9 p.m.
The First 48: The Girl Who Knew Too Much; The Guardian — A&E, 9 p.m.
Rambo: First Blood Part II — MoreMax, 9 p.m.
Mysteries at the Museum: Most Scandalous — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Person of Interest — CBS, 9:01 p.m.
Brunch at Bobby’s: South of the Border — Cooking Channel, 9:30 p.m.
Anger Management: Charlie and Kate’s Dirty Pictures — FX, 9:30 p.m.
Yardcore: Ultimate Outdoor Lounge — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Karma’s a B-tch!: Scorned Furies (series premiere) — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Men at Work — TBS, 10 p.m.
The Killer Speaks: Twisted Love; Dena Riley — A&E, 10 p.m.
The Graham Norton Show — BBC America, 10 p.m.
Giving You the Business: Espresso Yourself — Food Network, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark: The Jodi Arias Trial — HLN, 10 p.m.
Three Days of the Condor — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
Goon — The Movie Channel, 10 p.m.
House Hunters International: Iceland — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Karma’s a B-tch!: Framed — Investigation Discovery, 10:30 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
Gigolos — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Safe House — HBO2, midnight
We Own the Night — Starz, midnight

NBCUniversal to use Various Properties to Promote the Kentucky Derby

Once again, NBCUniversal will utilize its “Big Event” strategy to promote Saturday’s Kentucky Derby on NBC.

The Today Show’s Al Roker will be live from Churchill Downs on Friday. Weekend Today meteorologist Dylan Dreyer will be there on Saturday reporting from the Derby.

Weather Channel will also originate from the Kentucky Derby on Friday and Saturday as will CNBC and E!

NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live will have segments either devoted to the Derby on their shows or will contribute skits to NBC’s coverage.

And there will be other NBCUniversal properties and platforms which will be involved in promoting the Run for the Roses. To say this is an important sports property for NBC is an understatement.

Here’s the press release.

NBCUNIVERSAL SURROUNDS THE KENTUCKY DERBY

TODAY Show Segments Live from Churchill Downs Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Weather Channel Live from Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday
CNBC Live from Churchill Downs on Friday
Features and Segments from NBCUniversal Properties Including Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Access Hollywood, Bravo, E!, Oxygen, iVillage, Weather Channel and DailyCandy

NEW YORK – May 1, 2013 – NBC Sports Group will present 14.5 hours of Kentucky Derby coverage beginning today, May 1, at 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network with Kentucky Derby Classics, and culminating with the 139^th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 4, beginning at 11 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and continuing at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage, which in 2012 was honored with an Eclipse Award in the Television-Live Programming category, includes 8.5 hours on Derby Day across NBC and NBC Sports Network.

Once again this year, a host of NBCUniversal properties will participate in NBC Sports’ ‘Big Event Strategy,’ focusing on the food, fashion, celebrity and entertainment spectacle that is the Kentucky Derby.

Below is a summary of the NBCU properties that are supporting the Kentucky Derby:

TODAY SHOW: TODAY’s Al Roker will report live from Churchill Downs on Friday and will interview NBC Sports analyst and Kentucky Derby jockey Gary Stevens about his return to racing from retirement. Roker will also interview NBC Sports horse racing reporter Kenny Rice, who will give his thoughts on this year’s Derby.

WEEKEND TODAY: Coverage continues on Saturday with Weekend TODAY as correspondent Dylan Dreyer reports live from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., with Kentucky Derby segments throughout the show. Dreyer will interview NBC’s on-horse reporter Donna Brothers. TODAY coverage from Churchill Downs continues on Sunday with an interview with the Derby-winning jockey and trainer.

TODAY WITH HODA AND KATHIE LEE: For the fourth year in a row, TODAY’s Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb hosted a Kentucky Derby trip giveaway contest for the fan that created the most interesting Derby hat. Also, Kathie Lee and Hoda’s “drink of choice” during Tuesday’s show was the mint julep, and Len Berman hosted a “Who Knew” Kentucky Derby segment on Wednesday.

WEATHER CHANNEL: Wake Up with Al is live from Churchill Downs on Friday morning with Roker and Stephanie Abrams, and guests including NBC’s Rice and Brothers. Abrams will also report live from the Derby on Friday for On the Radar and Morning Rush, as well as Weekend View on Saturday morning.

CNBC: CNBC’s sports-business reporter, Brian Schactman, will file reports live from Churchill Downs all day Friday. Schactman will also be a part of NBC Sports Network’s Kentucky Derby coverage.

E!: E! News will feature Kentucky Derby segments all week, covering parties, food and fashion of the Derby. E! News will also air an interview with Kentucky Derby jockey Rosie Napravnik, and E! Online will update photo galleries with pictures from the exclusive Barnstable Brown party, as well as from Oaks and Derby days.

LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON: Jimmy Fallon will entertain viewers with two Derby-related skits on his Friday night show:

• Puppy Predictor – A recurring skit that the show does on a regular basis featuring puppies to predict the outcome of an event;
• Fallon to do a Dateline-style interview with a horse about his chances of winning the Kentucky Derby.

Fallon also gave his Derby pick for a feature that will run during NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: This week’s host Zach Galifinakis and the cast of SNL will contribute content to NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast on Saturday.

OXYGEN: Coco Rocha, vsupermodel coach on Oxygen’s The Face, will talk Kentucky Derby fashions on Friday’s NBC Sports Network coverage and Saturday’s NBC Kentucky Derby coverage.

ACCESS HOLLYWOOD: Michelle Beadle will report live from Churchill Downs on Friday for AH Live, and will also be part of NBC Sports’ coverage, contributing features and celebrity interviews. In addition, throughout Derby Week, AH Live will cover celebrities in Louisville to attend the Derby and the exclusive Derby parties.

Bravo: Andy Cohen, host of Bravo, Watch What Happens Live, picked his Kentucky Derby horse for a feature that will air during NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast.

iVillage: iVillage, the essential digital brand for women which reaches more than 30 million unique visitors per month, will celebrate this year’s Kentucky Derby by featuring coverage all week of party planning, fashion, celebrity and style of the Derby.

DailyCandy: DailyCandy.com will feature a “Derby 101” editorial package that gives readers everything they need to know to prepare for Derby Day. Additionally, Scout, the DailyCandy mobile app, is running Derby-related challenges all week with prizes for the best Kentucky Derby fashions.

UNIVERSAL PICTURES: The Minions, from the soon to be released Universal Pictures movie Despicable Me 2, gave their Derby picks for a feature that will run during NBC’s Kentucky Derby broadcast.

UNIVERSAL PARKS: Universal Parks in Orlando and Hollywood have been running NBC Sports Kentucky Derby promotional spots on their Astrovision screens for the past three weeks, reminding park goers of NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage.

LXTV: 1^stLook, which spotlights the latest in exclusive restaurants, shopping, fashion, nightlife and entertainment, featured a 30-minute show about the Kentucky Derby, hosted by Ali Fedotowsky. 1stLook airs in NBC’s local markets.

NBC SPORTS’ ‘BIG EVENT STRATEGY’ HELPS TO INCREASE VIEWERSHIP

The shared vision of Churchill Downs and NBC Sports’ successful ‘Big Event Strategy’ to assemble the broadest possible audience led to the 2012 Kentucky Derby drawing 14.8 million viewers, the third most-watched Kentucky Derby in 23 years. Since implementing NBC Sports’ ‘Big Event Strategy,’ the last four Kentucky Derby races have all recorded at least 14.5 million viewers.

NBC Sports’ coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 12 years averages more than 2 million additional viewers than the previous 12 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.12.0 million, up 17 percent).

KENTUCKY DERBY
Date	Time	Event	Network
Wed., May 1	4 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Classics – Mine That Bird	NBCSN
	5 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Draw	NBCSN
Thurs., May 2	4 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Classics – Animal Kingdom	NBCSN
	5 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Access	NBCSN
Fri., May 3	4 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Classics – I’ll Have Another	NBCSN
	5 p.m.	Kentucky Oaks	NBCSN
Sat., May 4	11 a.m.	Kentucky Derby Saturday	NBCSN
	4 p.m.	Kentucky Derby	NBC
	7 p.m.	Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show	NBCSN

That does it.

NBC and Crumbs Team Up for the NHL Stanley Cupcakes

If there’s a way to get to a hockey fan’s heart, give him or her cupcakes. Specifically, make the cupcakes with the logo of the 16 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff teams and put them inside a box in the form of Lord Stanley’s Cup. And even more specifically, have Crumbs, the manufacturer of some of the richest cupcakes in the history of mankind to make them. And ladies and gentlemen, that is what we have as NBC Sports Group and Crumbs have teamed up to unveil, the Stanley Cupcakes.

Now, I’ve seen these cupcakes, but have yet to taste them. I’m sure just if Crumbs makes them, they’re going to be awfully good.

If you’re in New York, you might have seen the cupcakes making the rounds. The Dan Patrick Show just got their share today. And they’re available at “participating locations” across the country.

Here’s the NBC/Crumbs press release.

Crumbs Bake Shop Announces Partnership with NBC Sports Group and NHL for Stanley Cup Playoffs

Crumbs Bake Shop named Official Home of the Stanley Cup(cakes)

Courtesy Sports Video Group

NEW YORK — Crumbs Bake Shop, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMB) today announces its partnership with NBC Sports Group and the NHL to create a unique campaign to promote the start of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports.

As part of NBC Sports Group’s “Because It’s The Cup” marketing campaign, Crumbs has designed and created a limited edition of custom sets of “Stanley Cup(cakes) that will be delivered to local sports radio stations, to affiliate and RSN television networks, and to media and key business partners.

Additionally, Crumbs will be selling, in each of its 69 retail locations throughout the country, Stanley Cup(cakes) designed with either the Stanley Cup or team specific logos. In a collaborative effort, NBC Sports Network, the NHL and Crumbs Bake Shop will co-brand a mobile vehicle touring key playoff cities distributing the specialty “iced” cupcakes.

“We are excited to partner with Crumbs Bake Shop on this unique element of our “Because It’s The Cup” Stanley Cup Playoffs campaign with the NHL” said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Sports Group. “Working with Crumbs on this promotion is important to our overall efforts to connect with fans in fun and unique ways.”

Julian R. Geiger, President and CEO of Crumbs Bake Shop, said “We are thrilled to partner with NBC Sports Group and the NHL on this exciting opportunity. Priding ourselves on our creativity, exclusivity, and design expertise, this chance to innovate while celebrating the Stanley Cup Playoffs is as exciting as scoring a shorthanded goal for us.”

There you have it.

Wednesday’s Viewing Picks

Boxing
Mayweather vs. Guerrero Press Conference — CBS Sports Network, 4:30 p.m.
All Access: Mayweather vs. Guerrero, Episode 4 — Showtime, 10 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.

College Softball
Eastern Michigan at Michigan State — Big Ten Network, 5 p.m.

CONCACAF Champions League
Final
Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.

Golf
Top 10: 17th at TPC Sawgrass — Golf Channel, 7:30 p.m.
On the Range: Wells Fargo Championship — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.
Big Break Mexico: Preview — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.

Horse Racing
Kentucky Derby Draw — NBC Sports Network, 5 p.m.

MLB
American League
Minnesota at Detroit — Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 1 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Oakland — Fox Sports West/Comcast SportsNet California, 3:30 p.m.
Boston at Toronto — NESNplus/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Houston at New York Yankees — Comcast SportsNet Houston/YES, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — WCIU/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City — Sun Sports/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle — MASN2/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
New York Mets at Florida — SNY/Fox Sports Florida, 12:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee — Root Sports Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at St. Louis — Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Midwest, 1:45 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta — ESPN/MASN/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports San Diego/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona — Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
Colorado at Los Angeles Dodgers — Root Sports Rocky Mountain/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.

Interleague
Philadelphia at Cleveland — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/STO, 7 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Thursday)

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 5: Boston at New York — TNT, 7 p.m.
Game 5: Atlanta at Indiana — NBA TV, 8 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 5: Houston at Oklahoma City — TNT, 9:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Hawks/Pacers, Game 5 Postgame — NBA TV, 11 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Rockets/Thunder, Game 5 Postgame — NBA TV, midnight
Inside the NBA — TNT, midnight

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Path to the Draft — NFL Network, 6 p.m.
The Top 100 Players of 2013: 100-91 — NFL Network, 9 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Toronto at Boston — CBC/RDS/CNBC/NESN, 7 p.m.
Game 1: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS2/MSG Plus/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: San Jose at Vancouver — TSN/RDS/NBC Sports Network/Comcast SportsNet California, 10:30 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Thursday)

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is a Communist Spy Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
60 Minutes Sports — Showtime, 9 p.m.
Sportfolio — Bloomberg, 9:30 p.m.
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, midnight

Tennis
ATP Tour
BMW Open, Munich, Germany
3rd Round — Tennis Channel, 9 p.m. & 11 p.m. (same day coverage)

UEFA Champions League
Semifinal, 2nd Leg
Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich — FX, 2:30 p.m.

UEFA Champions League Pregame — FX, 2 p.m.

Entertainment
The Middle — ABC, 8 p.m.
Rescue My Renovation: The Case of the Cabinet Crook — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Survivor: Caramoan-Fans vs. Favorites: The Beginning of the End — CBS, 8 p.m.
Arrow — The CW, 8 p.m.
The Breakfast Club — AMC, 8 p.m.
The Silence of the Lambs — Cinemax, 8 p.m.
MythBusters: Blast from the Past — Discovery, 8 p.m.
Manhunt — HBO, 8 p.m.
Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda: Secret Life — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
Risky Business — IFC, 8 p.m.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys — Sundance Channel, 8 p.m.
NOVA: Australia’s First 4 Billion Years: Strange Creatures — PBS, 9 p.m.
MythBusters: JATO Rocket Car: Mission Accomplished? — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Motives & Murders: Murder at the Farmhouse — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Locked Up Abroad: Buried Alive — National Geographic Chanel, 9 p.m.
Bomb Girls: Party Line — Reelz Channel, 9 p.m.
Haunted Collector: Lakeside Terror; Pythian Secrets — Syfy, 9 p.m.
Desperate Landscapes: The Old Firehouse — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
I Was Murdered: My Bloody Valentine — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Fearless — CBS, 10 p.m.
Secrets of the Dead: Bugging Hitler’s Soldiers — PBS, 10 p.m.
Restaurant Stakeout: Giving Away the House — Food Network, 10 p.m.
The Americans: The Colonel (season finale) — FX, 10 p.m.
The Real World: Portland — MTV, 10 p.m.
Sixteen Candles — AMC, 10:16 p.m.
House Hunters International: Perth, Australia — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
I Was Murdered: Just My Type — Investigation Discovery, 10:30 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Kay Bailey Hutchinson — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
The Colbert Report: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.

NBC Sports Group Crows About 2013 NHL Regular Season Viewership

The NBC Sports Group is bullish about the NHL as the league enters the best postseason in sports. Regular season ratings ended with double digit increases for both NBC and NBC Sports Network. Viewership on NBCSN gave the Peacock the most viewed NHL regular season on cable dating back to the 1993-94 season on ESPN/ESPN2.

Viewership for 13 regular season games on NBC was up 15% from the previous season. That’s not counting the Winter Classic which was not played this season. For NBC Sports Network, viewership increased 18% from the season before.

NBCSN averaged 332,000 viewers for its regular season coverage. For its Wednesday Night Rivalry games, NBC Sports Network had an even higher viewership, almost 650,000 people. Two Wednesday night games gave NBCSN its highest viewership for an NHL regular season game and seven of its top eight. Expect the rivalry games to return next season.

Here’s the NBC Sports Group press release.

REGULAR-SEASON NHL VIEWERSHIP ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK IS BEST ON CABLE IN NEARLY TWO DECADES

Viewership on NBC Up 15%

NEW YORK – April 30, 2013 – More viewers watched the NHL regular season on NBC Sports Network this year than in any previous year since the channel began televising games in 2005-06. The 2013 NHL regular season on NBC Sports Network was also the most-watched season on cable in nearly two decades, and up 18 percent vs. last year.

Final NHL regular-season viewership on NBC won’t be available until Thursday, but this season, excluding the Winter Classic, is expected to be the most-watched on the network since 2005-06, when NBC Sports regained rights to broadcast NHL games. Through 13 games, regular-season viewership on NBC is up 15 percent this year, excluding the Winter Classic, which was not played this season.

“Despite unique programming challenges, NHL viewership grew this year and set numerous records and milestones across both NBC and NBC Sports Network, including a successful new franchise with Wednesday Night Rivalry,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Considering there was a shortened season, no Winter Classic and no All-Star programming, these results speak well of the NHL’s popularity and the strength of our partnership.”

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the 2013 NHL regular season averaged 392,000 viewers, up 18 percent from last year (332,000), and is the most-watched regular season on cable in 19 years (ESPN/ESPN2 1993/94 – 474,000).

• On the strength of the newly-created Wednesday Night Rivalry series, the 2013 season delivered the top two most-watched regular-season games in NBC Sports Network history, and seven of the top eight.

Game	Date	Avg. Viewers
Boston–N.Y. Rangers	January 23, 2013	956,000
Philadelphia-Pittsburgh	February, 20, 2013	901,000
Boston-Philadelphia	October 6, 2011	874,000
Buffalo-Boston	April 17, 2013	847,000
Chicago-Minnesota	January 30, 2013	827,000
Montreal-Boston	March 3, 2013	813,000
Montreal-Boston	March, 27, 2013	773,000
Boston-Montreal	February 6, 2013	771,000

• NBC Sports Network’s 14 Wednesday Night Rivalry telecasts averaged 646,000 viewers, up 46 percent from the 2011-12 exclusive time-period average for Wednesday night telecasts (443,000). Viewership was up 64 percent in the advertiser-coveted Adults 18-49 demographic.
• With 956,000 viewers, the inaugural Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup between Boston and the New York Rangers (Jan. 23) set the record for the most-watched NHL regular-season game in NBC Sports Network history. It was also the most-watched such game on cable in over a decade (ESPN, 1-23-02, San Jose-Detroit, 1.28 million).

NBC

• Through 13 games and excluding the Winter Classic, which was not played this season, viewership on NBC has averaged 1.5 million viewers, up 15 percent from 2011-12. When viewership figures are finalized on Thursday, this season is expected to be the most-watched on the network since 2005-06, when NBC regained rights to broadcast NHL games.
• The 2013 opening game telecast of the NHL regular season on NBC, featuring the Chicago Blackhawks-Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers (regionalized), averaged 2.8 million viewers, making it the most most-watched non-Winter Classic regular-season telecast on NBC since the network again began broadcasting the league in 2006, and the most-watched overall since three-game regional coverage on Fox in 1999 (4/18/99, 3.09 million).
• The NHL on NBC telecast on March 3, 2013, featuring the Chicago Blackhawks-Detroit Red Wings, delivered 1.9 million average viewers and was the most-watched regular-season single-game telecast since the network again began broadcasting the league in 2006, excluding Winter Classics.

That will do you.

NBC Sports Group is all over the Run for the Roses

Starting Wednesday, NBC Sports Group will begin coverage of Kentucky Derby Week leading to the actual Run for the Roses on Saturday. NBC Sports Network will carry the Kentucky Derby Draw on Wednesday as well as the Kentucky Oaks on Friday.

NBC will have the actual race after 6:30 p.m. ET and we’ll see which horse will be the leading candidate for the Triple Crown.

Tom Hammond and Bob Costas will lead the crew. The bald-headed Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey will be analysts. Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier will handicap and report from Churchill Downs. Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman will be trackside. Larry Collmus will call the race. Michelle Beadle will be on-site to provide features. And someone named Coco Rocha will conduct celebrity interviews and talk fashion.

Overall, there will be 14½ hours of Kentucky Derby coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network.

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Boston Bruins Set Ratings Record on NESN for 3rd Consecutive Year

The Boston Bruins have set another regular season ratings record on the New England Sports Network, a.k.a. NESN. For the 2013 regular season, the Bruins registered an average 6.3 household rating in Boston. That’s up 35% from the 2011-12 record of an average 4.7 rating. With the Bruins numbers, NESN ranks third among all National Hockey League local markets.

This marks the fourth consecutive year for ratings growth for the Bruins on NESN.

NESN SETS BRUINS RATINGS RECORD FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON

6.3 Average Household Rating Up 35% Over Record-Setting 2011-12 Season

April 29, 2013 – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, set a Bruins regular season ratings record during the 2013 season by garnering a 6.3 average household rating in the Boston DMA according to Nielsen. The 6.3 season rating is a 35% increase over the 2011/12 season, when NESN set the network’s previous record with a 4.7 HH rating. For the second year in a row, NESN’s Bruins ratings ranked third nationally among regional sports networks. Below is a chart that illustrates NESN’s year-over-year Bruins ratings growth over the past 4 seasons.

Season	HH Rating	% increase
2009-10	2.2	–
2010-11	3.1	41%
2011-12	4.7	52%
2012-13	6.3	35%

“Record Bruins ratings on NESN continue to serve as a testimonial as to the revival of hockey here in New England,” said Sean McGrail, NESN President and CEO. “The Bruins popularity continues to grow as they get ready to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

NESN’s Bruins ratings in 2013 set many other NESN records including:

• Best ever regular season game rating, a 9.4 HH rating on January 19 when the Bruins beat the New York Rangers 3-1 in the season opener
• 18 of the network’s top 25 regular season Bruins game ratings of all-time were achieved during the 2013 season
• NESN also set records in every major demographic category
  • Adults 25-54 (5.7, up 65%)
  • Men 25-54 (7.6, up 76%)
  • Women 25-54 (3.8, up 47%)

That is all.

A Look at Bruins and Blackhawks Stanley Cup Playoffs Coverage

With the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs starting tonight, let’s post a couple of hockey-related press releases in one post.

Tonight, the Western Conference Quarterfinal series between the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks commences with Game 1 at the United Center. Comcast SportsNet Chicago will be on the case with legendary voice Pat Foley behind the mic along with Eddie Olczyk. CSN Chicago will air three of the first four games and if necessary, Game 5. TV coverage for Games 6 and 7 will be determined at a later date.

We have coverage details below. All times listed in the CSN Chicago are Central.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ACTION RETURNS TO COMCAST SPORTSNET

First Round Coverage vs. Minnesota Wild Begins TONIGHT (Tue, Apr. 30) beginning at 5:00 PM; face-off at 7:00 PM featuring Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk with the game call!
Comcast SportsNet to Air Games 1, 2 & 4 in the Chicago Market (and Game 5 if nec.; Games 6-7 TBD);
CSNChicago.com to provide LIVE video stream of EVERY Blackhawks post-game press conference, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes video from team practices and post-game reports from Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers

Chicago, IL (April 29, 2013) – Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the NHL Western Conference #1-seed Chicago Blackhawks (36-7-5, 77 pts. during the regular season, earning them the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best overall record), is ready to bring fans the thrilling excitement of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs with exclusive first round Western Conference Playoffs action as the Blackhawks take on the #8-seed Minnesota Wild.  Comcast SportsNet will be the exclusive television home in the Chicago market to see Games 1 and 2 from the United Center, along with Game 4 in Minnesota and Game 5 (if necessary) from the UC. Details for Games 6 & 7 are TBD. Plus, every Comcast SportsNet Stanley Cup Playoff game telecast will also be presented in a high-definition (HD) format.

Comcast SportsNet’s Blackhawks Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage gets underway with Game 1 TONIGHT – Tuesday, April 30 at 5:00 PM with a special, live remote edition of SportsTalk Live presented by Smirnoff featuring host David Kaplan and his panel from the United Center. Following SportsNet Central at 6:00 PM, fans can look forward to a live United Center edition of Chevy Blackhawks Pre-Game Live featuring hosts Pat Boyle and Steve Konroyd at 6:30 PM.  Opening face-off is set for 7:00 PM featuring Comcast SportsNet’s announcing tandem of Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk with the expert play-by-play and analysis, plus – Comcast SportsNet’s Susannah Collins will provide in-stadium reports throughout the first round for all playoff games.  NOTE: Steve Konroyd will fill in as game analyst for Olczyk for Games 2 & 6 (if nec.) of the opening round series. Immediately following all playoff games –Blackhawks Post Game Live will feature live locker room interviews, detailed analysis, along with head coach Joel Quenneville’s post-game press conference and numerous player interviews. (Comcast SportsNet’s complete First Round coverage schedule is included in this release.)

Throughout the playoffs, viewers can also look forward to SportsNet Central: Playoff Central (scheduled nightly at 10:30 PM, times may vary due to airing of live events) for the most in-depth Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage, including game recaps, previews, up-to-the-minute team/player updates, interviews and numerous playoff highlights from around the league.

Also, throughout the playoffs, Comcast SportsNet’s comprehensive website, CSNChicago.com, will provide fans with even more exclusive Blackhawks/Stanley Cup Playoffs content including the following:

• CSNChicago.com will stream EVERY Blackhawks postgame press conference LIVE providing insider access to coach Joel Quenneville addressing the media as it happens.
• CSNChicago.com Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers will be on-site — for EVERY Blackhawks playoff game — filing stories and video for each game and team practices, plus Myers will provide up-to-the-second Tweets via @TramyersCSN throughout the series, as will CSNChicago.com Blackhawks reporter Nina Falcone (@NinaFalcone).
• “Blackhawks In-Game Live” — a seamless social and interactive second screen experience around Blackhawks playoff telecasts that extends the game from the TV screen to the tablet, mobile phone and PC. In Game Live combines state-of-the-art infographics and data visualization of real-time statistics and game info with rich social interactivity.

• “Blackhawks Pulse” — a one-stop social media hub that reveals the latest trending topics and player buzz from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Plus, “Blackhawks Pulse” aggregates all Blackhawks player tweets, along with fan tweets that utilize the hashtag #HawksTalk.

• Game highlights available on CSNChicago.com between period and following every game along with “Game Story,” a web-exclusive recap of each game.
• ‘Blackhawks Talk’ (@HawksTalkCSN) offers news, views and analysis from Myers, Blackhawks Pre/Post Game host Pat Boyle (@CSNBoyle), Susannah Collins (@susannahcollins),as well as other CSNChicago.com contributors.
• Additional Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage content sharing/cross-promotion via NBCSports.com & ProHockeyTalk.com.

Note the following first round schedule of games and additional coverage information on Comcast SportsNet:

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS vs. MINNESOTA WILD on COMCAST SPORTSNET

* Game 1: Tue, April 30, 7:00 PM – Blackhawks vs. Wild (United Center) in HD
(NOTES: Blackhawks/Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage on Comcast SportsNet begins at 5:00 PM w/a special live remote edition of SportsTalk Live hosted by David Kaplan, which will be followed by “SportsNet Central” at 6:00 PM; “Blackhawks Pre-Game Live” at 6:30 PM & ”Blackhawks Post Game Live” after the game; followed by “SportsNet Central” with even more comprehensive Blackhawks/Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage; game replay at 1:30 AM)

– IMPORTANT WHITE SOX NOTE:  The White Sox at Texas game (originally scheduled to air on Comcast SportsNet) will now move to CSN+ (or CLTV in the Chicago market); coverage begins at 6:30 PM.

* Game 2: Fri, May 3, 8:30 PM – Blackhawks vs. Wild (United Center) in HD
(NOTES: “SportsTalk Live at 5:30 PM; “SportsNet Central” at 6:30 PM; Special encore edition of “Inside Look with Joel Quenneville at 7:00 PM, ONE-HOUR expanded United Center edition of “Blackhawks Pre-Game Live” at 7:30 PM/”Blackhawks Post Game Live” after the game; “SportsNet Central” with full Blackhawks/Stanley Cup Playoffs recap following “Blackhawks Post Game Live;” game replay at 1:30 AM)

– IMPORTANT WHITE SOX NOTE:  The White Sox at Kansas City game (originally scheduled to air on Comcast SportsNet) will now move to CSN+ (or CLTV in the Chicago market); coverage begins at 6:30 PM.

* Game 3: Sun, May 5 at approx. 4:30 PM – ‘Blackhawks Post Game Live’ on Comcast SportsNet

* Game 4: Tue, May 7, 8:30 PM – Blackhawks at Wild (Xcel Energy Center) in HD
(PRECISE COVERAGE DETAILS FOR THIS DAY ARE TBD)

* Game 5:  Thu, May 9 (Time TBD) – Blackhawks vs. Wild (United Center) (if necessary) in HD

* Game 6: Thu, May 11 (Time/Network TBD) – Blackhawks at Wild (Xcel Energy Center) (if necessary) in HD

* Game 7:  Sun, May 12 (Time/Network TBD) – Blackhawks vs. Wild (United Center) (if necessary) in HD

ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL TIME

Now let’s move to the Boston Bruins after a jump break.

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Tuesday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
Prairie View A&M at Texas — Longhorn Network, 7 p.m.
New Mexico at Texas Tech — Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Golf
Inside the PGA Tour — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.
Golf Channel Academy: Bernhard Langer: Short Game — Golf Channel, 7 p.m.
Golf’s Greatest Rounds: 1996 The Players — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.

Minor League Baseball
Buffalo Bisons at Rochester Red Wings — MLB Network, 11:30 a.m.

MLB
American League
Boston at Toronto — NESN/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Houston at New York Yankees — Comcast SportsNet Houston/YES, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit — Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City — Sun Sports/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Oakland — Fox Sports West/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.
Baltimore at Seattle — MASN2/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
New York Mets at Miami — SNY/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta — MASN/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
San Diego at Chicago Cubs — MLB Network/Fox Sports San Diego/WCIU, 8 p.m.
Cincinnati at St Louis — MLB Network/Fox Sports Ohio/Fox Sports Midwest, 8:15 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona — Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
Colorado at Los Angeles Dodgers — Root Sports Rocky Mountain/KCAL, 10 p.m.

Interleague
Philadelphia at Cleveland — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/STO, 7 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2:30 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
MLB Tonight: On-Deck Circle — MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Baseball: Bryce Begins — ESPN, 9 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)

NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 5: Golden State at Denver — TNT, 8 p.m.
Game 5: Memphis at Los Angeles Clippers — TNT, 10:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Warriors/Nuggets, Game 5 Postgame — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Grizzlies/Clippers, Game 5 Postgame — NBA TV, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)
Inside the NBA — TNT, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
Path to the Draft — NFL Network, 6 p.m.
Audibles — ESPN, 8 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Los Angeles at St. Louis — CNBC/CBC/Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Fox Sports Midwest, 8 p.m.
Game 1: Minnesota at Chicago — NBC Sports Network/CBC/Fox Sports North/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Game 1: Detroit at Anaheim — NBC Sports Network/TSN/Fox Sports Detroit Plus/Fox Sports West, 10:30 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The ‘Lights — NBC Sports Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Dan Le Batard is a Lonely Man Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
E:60 — ESPN, 7 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight

Tennis
ATP Tour
BMW Open, Munich, Germany
Second Round — Tennis Channel, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. (same day coverage)

UEFA Champions League
Semifinal, Leg 2
Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund — Fox Soccer, 2:30 p.m.

UEFA Champions League Pregame — Fox Soccer, 2 p.m.

Entertainment
Eat St.: Music to Your Mouth — Cooking Channel, 8 p.m.
Splash — ABC, 8 p.m.
NCIS — CBS, 8 p.m.
Hart of Dixie — The CW, 8 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: On Deck: Dagger in the Back — Discovery, 8 p.m.
Dead of Night: Nightclub Nightmare — Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.
Oscar and Lucinda — Sundance Channel, 8 p.m.
Storm Riders: Massive Hail (season premiere) — Weather Channel, 8:30 p.m.
New Girl: Virgins — Fox, 9 p.m.
I Hate My Bath: Sweet Master Suite — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Airport 24/7: Miami: Fight or Flight (series premiere) — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Storm Riders: Twisters Snake Across the Sky — Weather Channel, 9 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles — CBS, 9 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: Blood in the Morning — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Nightmare Next Door: Country Killing — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Doomsday Preppers Bugged Out: I Don’t Do Small — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Weird or What?: Alien Encounters (series premiere) — Syfy, 9 p.m.
The Mindy Project: Triathlon — Fox, 9:30 p.m.
I Hate My Kitchen: Cottage Chic — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
Airport 24/7: Miami: Signs of Disaster — Travel Channel, 9:30 p.m.
Storm Riders: Tornadoes Hit Close to Home — Weather Channel, 9:30 p.m.
Who Gets the Last Laugh? — TBS, 10 p.m.
Frontline: Top Secret America-9/11 to the Boston Bombings — PBS, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark: The Jodi Arias Trial — HLN, 10 p.m.
Dead of Night: Char-Cold Killer — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Warrior POV: Fallujah (series premiere) — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
Doomsday Preppers Bugged Out: One Way Out — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Weird or What?: Life After Death — Syfy, 10 p.m.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones: VH1 Classic, 10 p.m.
Murder. Mystery. Amanda Knox Speaks — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
The Natural — Sundance Channel, 10:15 p.m.
Inside Amy Schumer: Bad Decisions (series premiere) — Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Muscat, Oman — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Robert Downey, Jr. — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Flip or Flop: Double Trouble Flip — HGTV, 11 p.m.
Nitro Circus Live: Vienna: Red Bull Wings and Things — MTV, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Ghostbusters — Encore, 11:20 p.m.
The Colbert Report: Evan Spielgel and Bobby Murphy — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Flip or Flop: The Bungalow Gamble — HGTV, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
War Horse — The Movie Channel, midnight
Colombiana — Starz, 12:15 a.m. (Wednesday)