Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

Archives for October 2009

Yardbarker & FOXSports.com Deepen Partnership

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FOXSPORTS.COM ON MSN & YARDBARKER

REACH SALES & CONTENT COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

FOXSports.com on MSN, the third most-visited sports Web site with approximately 14.5 million average monthly users and Yardbarker, the largest network of sports blogs on the web, have reached a multi-year sales and content agreement, it was announced today by Jeff Husvar, Senior Vice President & General Manager of FOXSports.com on MSN.

FOXSports.com on MSN is working with Yardbarker to collaborate on ad sales efforts and represent inventory across the Yardbarker Network and give Yardbarker the ability to leverage a large national sales team.

The new agreement also deepens the content partnership currently in-place between FOXSports.com on MSN and Yardbarker.  FOXSports.com on MSN now has access to the Yardbarker’s unique voices and its array of independent blog content, athlete blogs and a variety of content that complements FOXSports.com on MSN’s big event coverage.  The agreement also includes headline distribution across FOXSports.com on MSN and the Yardbarker Network, as well as editorial cooperation around event coverage.

“This agreement gives FOXSports.com on MSN access to Yardbarker’s unique content and younger demographic, which really helps us broaden our reach,” said Husvar.  “It also allows us to build a wider selection of sales packages to better meet the needs of and attract a wider variety of advertisers.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with FoxSports.com and MSN,” said Yardbarker CEO Peter Vlastelica. “The talented bloggers in the Yardbarker Network deserve a larger audience and better access to premium advertisers, and this partnership will bring them both. Sports media is shifting toward conversation and authenticity, and its’ a credit to FoxSports.com on MSN that they’ve identified this partnership as an opportunity to move their business in that direction.”

In addition to Yardbarker content integration across FOXSports.com on MSN, Yardbarker content will receive promotion across the MSN network from time to time, while FOXSports.com on MSN content and Microsoft’s Bing search engine will be integrated across the Yardbarker Network.

About Yardbarker

Yardbarker is the largest network of sports and athlete blogs on the web, reaching nine million men 18-34 every month through a unique model that combines the scalability of an advertising network with the original content and brand loyalty of a vertical media company. Yardbarker was born out of relationships between Yardbarker.com and the hundreds of independent sports publishers who “hung out” on the site to promote their content. What started as an informal affiliation of sites with like-minded audiences has evolved into a rapidly growing media company that serves advertisers, publishers and celebrities in completely unique ways. Yardbarker affiliate sites – which cover all categories of popular sports — are screened diligently for content quality and consistency, and each publisher agrees to editorial guidelines that ensure an advertisers’ high value campaign will be run in safe, “well-lit” environments. Yardbarker is based in San Francisco.

About FOXSports.com on MSN

FOXSports.com on MSN is a leading sports Website that delivers exclusive commentary and sports video, breaking news, real-time stats and fantasy games to more than 14 million unique visitors every month. FOXSports.com is the online extension of FOX Sports television coverage and is the exclusive provider of sports content for MSN.com in the US, located at http://msn.foxsports.com. FOXSports.com is an industry leader in the delivery of sports content to mobile devices.  Sports fans can access the latest scores, stats and news while on the go from FOXSports.com on MSN Mobile, simply by entering FOXSports.com on their Web-enabled mobile phones, or texting SPORTS to either 36977 or FOXSP.

Filed Under: FOX

ESPN’s Monday Night Football Wins the Night in Key Male and Adult Demos

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ESPN’s Monday Night Football Wins the Night in Key Male and Adult Demos

Last night, ESPN’s Monday Night Football game – the Philadelphia Eagles’ 27-17 road victory over the Washington Redskins – earned a 9.4 rating, representing an average of 9,258,000 households (12,766,000 viewers – P2+).  MNF led all the night’s programs (broadcast or cable) in all key male and people demos, and it is the seventh most-viewed program on cable television in 2009, surpassed only by other MNF telecasts.

For 2009, the eight MNF telecasts represent cable’s eight biggest audiences in terms of both household impressions and total viewers.  Through seven weeks (eight games) of the NFL season, ESPN’s MNF is averaging a 10.7 rating and 10,609,000 households (14,717,000 P2+), up 18%, 20% and 20%, respectively, from last season.

ESPN.COM

ESPN.com had 97.5 million page views to NFL content accessed via computers and mobile devices for Monday through Tuesday at noon — up 35% from the comparable time period last year.  Specifically, page views for the NFL section on computers and mobile were up 23% from last year.  Additionally, ESPN.com streamed 2.6 million NFL related videos — up 4% from last year.

NEXT WEEK ON MNF

Next week’s MNF matchup on ESPN Nov. 2 will be a showcase of two top NFC South quarterbacks when Matt Ryan leads the 4-2 Atlanta Falcons to New Orleans to face Drew Brees and the undefeated (6-0) Saints at 8:30 p.m. ET.  ESPN’s game around the game coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. with NFL Live and continues throughout the afternoon.

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Bob Costas Interviews with Jeter, Posada, Rivera, Sabathia, Rollins, Howard & Lee to Air on MLB Network

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BOB COSTAS INTERVIEWS WITH JETER, POSADA, RIVERA, SABATHIA, ROLLINS, HOWARD & LEE TO AIR ON MLB NETWORK

Interviews to Air During MLB Tonight: World Series Edition on Wednesday, October 28 & Thursday, October 29 Starting at 5:30 p.m. ET

Secaucus, N.J., October 28, 2009– MLB Network will air sit-down interviews with host Bob Costas and New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia as well as Philadelphia Phillies’ Cliff Lee, and Ryan Howard together with Jimmy Rollins during MLB Tonight: World Series Edition on Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29. The interviews, conducted on Tuesday, October 27, feature the players discussing recent postseasons, their thoughts on this year’s World Series match-up and how they keep calm during postseason games.

Costas’ interviews with Rollins and Howard, Lee, and Sabathia will air during today’s MLB Tonight: World Series Edition. The interview with Jeter, Posada and Rivera together will air during tomorrow’s MLB Tonight: World Series Edition.

MLB Tonight: World Series Edition will air live starting at 5:30 p.m. ET for two hours before each World Series game, including interviews, coverage of batting practice and previews of every matchup. On Sunday, November 1, MLB Tonight: World Series Edition will air at 6:00 p.m. ET. Following each game, MLB Tonight: World Series Edition will return for highlights and analysis.

On off-days during the World Series, MLB Network will air Path to the Championship live with Victor Rojas, Joe Magrane and Harold Reynolds recapping the previous games and previewing the upcoming matchups from Studio 3 in Secaucus, New Jersey. MLB Tonight: World Series Edition and Path to the Championship are presented by Motorola.

Falcons-Cowboys on FOX Most-Watched Sporting Event Since Super Bowl

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FALCONS-COWBOYS ON FOX

MOST-WATCHED SPORTING EVENT SINCE SUPER BOWL

NFL Games 15 Most-Watched Sporting Events since Super Bowl

NFL Games Top Ratings in 25 Markets

Last week’s FOX doubleheader game (mostly Falcons-Cowboys) is the most-watched sporting event since Super Bowl XLIII with 28.4 million viewers.

Falcons-Cowboys topped the week’s most-watched non-NFL sporting event (Angels-Yankees series-clinching ALCS Game 6) by 12.9 million viewers.

NFL games account for the 15 most-watched sporting events since Super Bowl XLIII.

Following are the most watched sporting events since Super Bowl XLIII followed by a look at major events in other sports:

Rank (since Super Bowl)/ Event Viewers
1. FOX Sunday National (mostly Falcons-Cowboys) 10/25 28.4 million
2. FOX Sunday National (mostly Redskins-Giants), 9/13 25.1 million
3. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Cowboys), 9/20 24.8 million
4. CBS Sunday National (mostly Titans-Patriots), 10/18 23.9 million
5. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Bears), 9/20 23.9 million
6. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Broncos), 10/4 22.0 million
7. ESPN Monday Night Football (Packers-Vikings), 10/5 21.8 million
8. NBC Sunday Night Football (Bears-Packers), 9/13 21.1 million
9. CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Broncos), 10/11 20.9 million
10. NBC Thursday Night Kickoff Game (Titans-Steelers), 9/10 20.9 million
11. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Falcons-Patriots & 49ers-Vikings), 9/27 19.3 million
12. NBC Sunday Night Football (Chargers-Steelers), 10/4 18.4 million
13. NBC Sunday Night Football (Bears-Falcons), 10/18 18.2 million
14. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Bengals), 9/27 18.2 million
15. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Giants-Saints), 10/18 17.8 million
Rank (since Super Bowl) / Other Major Sporting Events: Viewers
16. NCAA Basketball Championship (Mich. St.-UNC), 4/6 17.6 million
19. Kentucky Derby, 5/2 16.1 million
21. Daytona 500, 2/15 16.0 million
22. NBA Finals, Game 4 (Lakers-Magic), 6/11 16.0 million
25. MLB ALCS Game 6 (Angels-Yankees), 10/25 15.5 million
30. MLB All-Star Game, 7/14 14.6 million
32. Masters Final Round, 4/12 14.3 million

NFL games topped the local ratings in 25 NFL markets last week.  Through seven weeks, NFL games have been the highest-rated show locally a record 89 percent of the time (season record: 88 percent in 2008).

Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Oct. 19-25:

Week of 10/19-25

HH

HH

RTG
Market Game

Date

RTG

SHR

Rank
New Orleans Saints at Dolphins

10/25/09

49.3

70

1
Pittsburgh Vikings at Steelers

10/25/09

45.5

78

1
Denver * Broncos at Chargers

10/19/09

41.5

58

1
Cincinnati Bears at Bengals

10/25/09

39.0

61

1
Minneapolis Vikings at Steelers

10/25/09

36.1

69

1
Milwaukee Packers at Browns

10/25/09

34.0

65

1
Dallas Falcons at Cowboys

10/25/09

33.7

62

1
San Diego* Broncos at Chargers

10/25/09

33.4

50

1
Buffalo Bills at Panthers

10/25/09

29.7

51

1
Kansas City Chargers at Chiefs

10/25/09

28.1

51

1
Chicago Bears at Bengals

10/25/09

25.9

49

1
Indianapolis Colts at Rams

10/25/09

25.8

49

1
Phoenix Cardinals at Giants

10/25/09

25.6

40

1
Boston Patriots at Bucs

10/25/09

25.3

57

1
Atlanta Falcons at Cowboys

10/25/09

24.8

45

1
Charlotte Bills at Panthers

10/25/09

22.9

42

1
Cleveland Packers at Browns

10/25/09

22.5

47

1
Miami Saints at Dolphins

10/25/09

21.6

40

1
Washington, DC Falcons at Cowboys

10/25/09

18.9

39

1
Houston 49ers at Texans

10/25/09

17.2

38

1
St. Louis Colts at Rams

10/25/09

16.9

36

1
Tampa Saints at Dolphins

10/25/09

16.9

30

1
Baltimore Vikings at Steelers

10/25/09

14.4

31

1
San Fran-Oakland 49ers at Texans

10/25/09

13.7

40

1
Seattle Falcons at Cowboys

10/25/09

12.5

28

1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research

Falcons-Cowboys Powers NFL on FOX To Biggest Audience In 13 Years

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FALCONS-COWBOYS POWERS NFL ON FOX

TO BIGGEST AUDIENCE IN 13 YEARS

Powered by a three-game schedule featuring Falcons-Cowboys and a huge Vikings-Steelers lead-in, Sunday’s NFL on FOX national game (10/25) averaged a tremendous 16.8/32 (28.4 million viewers) and set many impressive benchmarks:

  • FOX’s most-watched NFL Sunday telecast since 11/10/96 (Cowboys-49ers, 29.7 million)
  • FOX’s highest-rated NFL regular season broadcast since 12/3/06 (Cowboys-Giants)
  • The highest-rated and most-watched Sunday NFL telecast on any network since 12/9/07 (Patriots-Steelers on CBS)
  • The highest-rated telecast on any network since the Academy Awards back in February (20.6/31, 36.3 mill)

Sunday’s national NFL game, along with THE OT post-game show (9.0/15 -15.1 mill), the ALCS pregame show (8.4/14 – 13.7 mill), and ALCS Game 6 (9.3/15 – 15.5 mill) powered FOX to a first place finish for the night (10.6/17 – 17.8 million viewers), and ranks as FOX’s highest-rated and most-watched Sunday since Super Bowl XLII (02/03/08). Among Adults 18-49, FOX’s 6.2 average rating was also the network’s best Sunday in 20 months.
Through three broadcasts, FOX’s national NFL game is averaging a 14.9/29 (25.2 million viewers), up +10% in rating and +15% in audience compared to the first three national games a year ago (13.6/27, 22.0 mill), +13% better than CBS’s national NFL game (13.2/26, 21.8 mill), +28% better than Sunday Night Football on NBC (11.6/19 , 19.1 mill), and currently ranks as the highest-rated and most-watched program in television across all key male and adult demos including M18-34 (11.6), M18-49 (13.3), M25-54 (15.3), and A18-49 (9.8).

— FOX SPORTS —

MLB Network to Debut “Studio 42 with Bob Costas: The Earthquake Series” and “Triumph & Tragedy: The 1984 San Diego Padres”

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MLB NETWORK TO DEBUT STUDIO 42 WITH BOB COSTAS: THE EARTHQUAKE WORLD SERIES

& MLB PRODUCTIONS’ TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY: THE 1984 SAN DIEGO PADRES

Programs Take an In-Depth Look at Important Moments and Characters in MLB Postseason History

Secaucus, N.J., October 27, 2009 – MLB Network will debut Studio 42 with Bob Costas: The Earthquake World Series and MLB Productions’ Triumph and Tragedy: The 1984 San Diego Padres on Friday, October 30. At 9:00 p.m. ET, Costas interviews current NBC sportscaster Al Michaels about Game Three of the 1989 World Series with the Oakland Athletics at San Francisco Giants that was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake on October 17, 1989. Michaels, who was calling the game for ABC Sports, famously interrupted an on-air highlight reel to tell the audience that an earthquake was happening. Power was lost in Candlestick Park and Game Three was postponed for ten days until October 27. In addition to Michaels, the piece includes interviews with Michaels’ former ABC Sports colleague Tim McCarver, who was in the broadcast booth with Michaels when the earthquake began, former Oakland manager Tony La Russa and former San Francisco first baseman Will Clark.

Highlights of the interview with Michaels include:

“I knew it was an earthquake within two or three seconds, maybe less. I remember hearing what sounded like bats being pounded on the floor of the upper deck, which was just above the booth. This was probably the eighth or ninth earthquake I had felt but the biggest one by far. People are always talking in California about “the big one.” I thought this might be “the big one”.

“I knew I was the only guy covering this earthquake live from San Francisco. There was a lot of misinformation floating around so I knew at that moment in time the only things I was going to talk about were the things I could actually see on television.”

“There wasn’t any real sense of tension or nervousness in the stadium because there was enough natural light. If this had taken place after dark and had the lights gone out, we would have had a whole other situation. There was also a little sense of security in that you had 50,000 people gathering so everyone was in the same boat. So right after it had taken place, you had people almost saying “Wow, isn’t that something. Here we are at the World Series and what a story we have to tell.”

MLB Productions’ “Triumph and Tragedy: The 1984 San Diego Padres” is the premiere episode of a new MLB Network series that looks at the ups and downs of some of the most notable players and teams in baseball history. Narrated by MLB Network studio host and former Padres television announcer Matt Vasgersian, the documentary looks at the National League champion 1984 Padres, whose lineup was filled with unique characters and storylines—a team that came together to win the first National League Pennant in Padres history, only to have its players go down very different roads in the future. The team featured three future Hall of Famers: right fielder Tony Gwynn, pitcher Goose Gossage and manager Dick Williams. The roster also included star players who faced personal struggles, including second baseman Alan Wiggins, who left baseball in 1987 and died from complications related to AIDS in 1991 at age 32; pitcher and Padres all-time wins leader Eric Show, who died of a drug overdose at age 37; and pitcher Dave Dravecky, who lost his pitching arm and shoulder to cancer and now serves as a motivational speaker. The episode includes stories and interviews – some being told for the first time on television – with Gwynn, Gossage, Williams, Dravecky, current Padres broadcasters Jerry Coleman and Ted Leitner, and former 1984 Padres second baseman Tim Flannery, third baseman Kurt Bevacqua, first baseman Steve Garvey, shortstop Garry Templeton, catcher Bruce Bochy and pitcher Craig Lefferts. Triumph and Tragedy: The 1984 San Diego Padres will air on October 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Highlights of the episode include:

“When I think about the things that happened during that time and after that time, there was triumph that was born of tragedy, and I think all of us on that club would agree.” – Dave Dravecky

“Great moments and sad moments. It’s never perfect and never works the way you want it. I guess the ‘84 Padres are a microcosm of what life is really all about.” – Jerry Coleman

To view a preview of Triumph & Tragedy: The 1984 San Diego Padres, please go to ftp://65.200.174.40/ and enter “media.access” as the user name and “DownLoad123” as the password.

MLB Network launched on January 1, 2009 as the largest debut in cable television history and is currently delivered to approximately 54 million cable and satellite homes. With live games, original programming, highlights, classic games, and coverage of baseball events, MLB Network is the ultimate television destination for baseball fans. For more information and to find MLB Network in your area, go to mlbnetwork.com.

Major League Baseball Productions is the Emmy® award-winning television and video production division of Major League Baseball and the official video archivists of the game. With unparalleled access to the Clubs and their players, Major League Baseball Productions produces original programming for growing audiences worldwide through its network specials, exclusive home videos, commercials and other specialty programming. For more information on Major League Baseball Productions, log on to www.MLBProductions.com.

World Series on FOX Press Call Highlights & Replay Info

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GOREN, BUCK, McCARVER & GUILLEN PREVIEW YANKEES/PHILLIES WORLD SERIES MATCH UP — MLB on FOX’s Emmy Award-winning broadcast team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver were joined by FOX Sports President Ed Goren and special pre and postgame guest analyst Ozzie Guillen on a conference call to answer questions and offer previews of this year’s World Series matchup.

Ozzie Guillen on expanding replay in baseball:  “I was pushing for the home run replays because it was something we needed. I think we have to trust the umpires. We cannot make this game a computer game. We have people out there that have jobs and no matter what the call is, we have to respect that. Sometimes that’s good for baseball. Sometimes that makes people talk about baseball. Fans disagree and the manager goes out and has an argument. That’s been a part of the game for so many years. Some people like it and some people don’t, but I don’t think we change anything right now because we made changes last year. I don’t think it is necessary every year to put in rules because of the umpires. Right now I think it’s too early put in more replay. I think it’s too soon right now.”

Joe Buck on calling his 12th World Series tying him with Vin Scully and Curt Gowdy for most by a play-by-play announcer: “I don’t say this to try and be funny but I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I happened to work for the same people since I started as a 24-year-old. I’m lucky and I don’t consider myself in that category with those two guys. Those two guys are the standard by which all others are measured. I’m certainly not in that category just because I’ve had some longevity. I’ve just been the lucky guy and longevity doesn’t equal greatness and in my mind greatness is the other two guys and certainly continues with Vin Scully to this day.  I’m not even in that same sentence.  I just feel fortunate to be able to call my 12th.”
image002

As he prepares to call his 20th World Series, Tim McCarver on the differences between calling a World Series game and playing in one:  “It’s a lot tougher to announce a World Series than it is to play in one. I think Ozzie will find that out. Playing in it you can do something about it. From a preparation standpoint, you have to plan for far greater things that can happen to 25 different players and a manager. Your reactions are different because you are reacting from the standpoint of professional broadcaster as opposed to reacting from a player’s standpoint.”

Ozzie Guillen on concern over his use of language: “I don’t really curse and say bad things when I’m not with my team. I’m going to talk about my team. I’m going to talk about baseball. Don’t worry, I’m not going to curse. I only curse when Chicago media is around me.”

Ed Goren on the national appeal of Yankees/Phillies World Series: “I love the Phillies storylines.  I hope it works out where it’s Pedro Martinez coming back to the Bronx and if there’s an athlete in baseball who I really love to see on the big stage and get more exposure it’s Ryan Howard.  He seems to be a great kid and a heck of a ball player.  I don’t think there will be a negative affect on our ratings with the two East Coast teams. In fact, during Turner’s NLCS coverage, there were actually more viewers in Philadelphia watching that series, even though it’s a smaller market, than were watching in Los Angeles. On top of everything else you have a team looking to win back-to-back World Series….We just came off of a great ALCS. If we get the caliber of games in the World Series that we got for the ALCS, we don’t have to worry about the ratings. We don’t have to worry about anything.”

Ozzie Guillen on Pedro Martinez’s season: “We tried Pedro a little bit at the White Sox to see what he had. Whenever you have the caliber of pitcher of Pedro, you’re always going to be in the game.  As long as he throws strikes and throws the ball where he wants to, he’s always going to have a chance.  I feel very, very excited about Pedro. I know he went through a lot of difficulties.  He went to the workouts to show people he can still pitch.  He pitched really well and a lot of people did not believe in him.  He went back to the Dominican Republic and continued to do the rehab assignments, continued to work hard and I think that gave him what he wanted.  He wanted the opportunity to be what he is right now and one thing it says is when you work hard, it will pay off.”

Joe Buck on criticism from fans that they are bias against one team or another: “We get excited when good plays happen and get critical when bad plays happen. It doesn’t matter which team we’re getting excited about and it doesn’t matter which team we are getting critical of. I think any fan that is living and dying with every pitch is an easily explained phenomenon. They want the voices they hear to think and act like they do. I think it’s only human nature. When they don’t hear that or they don’t hear their local announcers who do the games for them during the course of the summer and they’re hearing it from someone who has a different point of view, I think their radar goes up and it’s like, ‘clearly this guy is against my team.’ I can tell you, I don’t think like that.”

“The Saints don’t run because they have to, they run because they want to.” — Steve Mariucci on the New Orleans Saints — QUOTES FROM WEEK 7 EDITION OF ‘THE COACHES SHOW’ ON NFL NETWORK

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Quotable from Week 7 Edition of The Coaches Show on NFL Network

(Airs Mondays at 6:30 PM ET with replays at 8:30 and 10:00 PM ET)

Quick Quotes:

“They have weapons galore and they are balanced on offense and defense…The Saints don’t run because they have to, they run it because they want to.” – Steve Mariucci on the New Orleans Saints and they’re balanced offense

“They were down 21 points and they didn’t blink.” – Steve Mariucci on the New Orleans Saints

“Embrace the job of being the head coach. Get excited about it, get this group motivated on both sides of the ball and get them rolling.” – Mike Martz on Redskins head coach Jim Zorn and the Washington Redskins

“They’re a real tough football team, but in the fourth quarter, they’re bending an awful lot in each game we’ve seen them play.” – Mike Martz on the Pittsburgh Steelers

“He’s really taken over this football team. His personality is imprinted on both sides of the ball.” – Mike Martz on Bengals QB Carson Palmer

“This is why they’re going to contend for this division championship.” – Steve Mariucci on Martz’ thoughts regarding Bengals QB Carson Palmer

“The guys that can do this are the guys that stay in the league the longest.” – Steve Mariucci on the importance of running backs who are successful executors in pass protection schemes (see first video link below)

***        Additional exclusive video clips from Monday’s The Coaches Show and highlights from Week 7 are available on NFL.com.  These videos include:

–       Steve Mariucci and Mike Martz break down how a running back is crucial to pass protection

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-the-coaches/09000d5d813ba4ec/The-Coaches-RB-pass-protection

–       The coaches analyze the Cowboys big win against the Falcons

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-the-coaches/09000d5d813ba2fc/The-Coaches-Cowboys-big-win

–       Selected video clips from the entire season of The Head Coaches

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-the-coaches

–       And many more Week 7 game highlights and postgame video only on NFL.com.

6:30-7:00 & 8:30-9:00 PM ET Monday: The Head Coaches Show (HD)

Host: Charles Davis Analysts: Mike Martz and Steve Mariucci

The Head Coaches takes an inside look at the previous Sunday’s games, analyzing the big plays and tough decisions made by NFL head coaches on the sidelines in a 30-minute, roundtable program (Replays at 8:30 and 10:00 PM ET Mondays).

– NFL NETWORK –

NHL Unveils Official Facebook Page

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NHL UNVEILS OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE
New NHL Page Highlighted By Fun, Interactive Features

NEW YORK (October 27, 2009) ─ The National Hockey League (NHL) has unveiled the official NHL fan page on Facebook.  The NHL’s new presence on Facebook is part of the League’s broader initiative to make it convenient for fans to find and interact with NHL content, and have more control and flexibility over sharing NHL content with their friends.

The NHL designed its Facebook page to be fun, interactive and viral.  As a result, the NHL Facebook page features a wide range of virtual gifts such as team jerseys and “penalties”; NHL video; NHL polls; feeds to the best NHL content on Twitter, message boards and leading blogs; access to deals and discounts; links to NHL team Facebook pages and much more.

“The NHL’s goal is to make sure that fan passion is served on all platforms,” said Perry Cooper, NHL Senior Vice President, Digital Media and NHL Direct.  “We have recognized that social networks are a pervasive part of consumer life, and the development of the NHL’s Facebook page is an important part of our direct response to this trend.”

About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America.  Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 100 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, NASN, ASN and NHL Network) and radio (NHL Radio, Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada).  Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.

### (10/27/09)

Filed Under: NHL