May 17, 2012

CBS’s Cowher: Cincy, NE “earned that right” to “control fate” of others

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

December 30, 2009

THE NFL ON CBS: WEEK 17 (SUNDAY, JAN. 3)

AUDIBLES WITH LEAD “NFL ON CBS” GAME ANALYST PHIL SIMMS AND “NFL TODAY” STUDIO ANALYST BILL COWHER

The CBS Television Network, home of Super Bowl XLIV, continues its Golden Anniversary 50th year broadcasting the NFL with THE NFL ON CBS on Sunday, Jan. 3 (1:00-7:00 PM, ET) beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s one-hour studio show (12:00 NOON-1:00 PM, ET), live from THE NFL TODAY studio in New York City.

THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz, who this year is marking his 25th with CBS Sports, and Phil Simms call the action from the Baltimore Ravens-Oakland Raiders game live from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.  Lance Barrow is the coordinating producer and lead game producer and Mike Arnold is the lead game director.

Throughout the 2009 season, THE NFL ON CBS will broadcast all of its games each week in HDTV, the highest definition television format – 1080i lines of picture resolution – along with 5.1 digital audio.

Sean McManus is President, CBS News and Sports, and serves as executive producer of CBS Sports’ coverage of THE NFL ON CBS.  Harold Bryant is Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

* * * * *

PHIL SIMMS

(On Baltimore): Baltimore is as good as they were last year, and that’s the team that went to the AFC Championship game.  They could be 12-3 as easy as they are 8-7.  If you said to me the Ravens are going to the Super Bowl, I can’t say I’d be completely shocked if it happened.  They are a dangerous team with a unique style, especially on defense.   Of course, they have to win Sunday to get this thing going.  If you think back to all their games: against New England; against Indianapolis, when they had about ten chances to beat them; an incredible loss to Pittsburgh, it keeps going and going.  Of course they won some close ones too.  I don’t discount any of these players, or these wild card teams, when they go to the playoffs.

(On New York Giants): To say the Giants need an overhaul is just not the truth.  At the worst they need to be tweaked.  But they definitely do not need an overhaul.  They had injuries in key situations and spots this year that they did not overcome.  Listen, the team did lose a little bit of its edge and not making the playoffs, that’s one way to get it back    Any team that I’ve ever been around, played on, or covered, there is a group of five guys that kind of run the football team.  And they run it with their work habits, the way they act, and maybe most importantly, with their play on the field.  I don’t think at this time I can name five guys on the Giants who are those guys.  Now I could be wrong.  They might have five that are leading, but it’s not noticeable…I’m a pretty good fan and I couldn’t pick them out for you.

(On New York Jets): The Bengals and the Patriots will both rest players.  That is going to give the Jets a good opportunity to take advantage, which they did last week, and win.

BILL COWHER

(On some teams that need Playoff help): Houston, Denver and the Steelers have put themselves in a position where they need help.  Unfortunately, the teams that they need help from don’t have the same amount at stake as they do.  Consequently, their fate is in a team that really doesn’t have to win the game.  I’m talking about the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots.  They control the fate of a lot of people.  As I used to always tell my teams, they earned that right.  Just like the Indianapolis Colts earned the right to do whatever they needed to do to get themselves prepared for the playoffs.  As a football team that needs help, when it’s all said and done, if you don’t get in, you reflect back on some of the games that you let get away; a missed opportunity here and there where you could have controlled your own fate.

(On Week 17 being so meaningful): It’s wonderful for a Week 17 to have as many playoff-implication games as we have, particularly in the AFC, and even still now in the NFC with a bye week riding on the final results.  The NFL playoff system is as good as you’re going to have it.  I’ve always said about the National Football League, as opposed to the other professional Leagues, you can play your way into the playoffs.  In a lot of other Leagues you play your way out of the playoffs.  That very clearly indicates to me that the NFL has the right amount of teams in the playoffs – not too many, not too few.  Nothing is more evident than what we see in Week 17 with all the possible playoff implications that still exist.

* * * * *

Following are THE NFL ON CBS assignments for Week 17 (subject to change).

WEEK 17 – Jan. 3 – CBS DOUBLEHEADER

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

1:00 PM, ET starts:

●Pittsburgh @ Miami                Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf                   Mark Wolff/Bob Fishman

●Indianapolis @ Buffalo            Bill Macatee/Steve Beuerlein                 Ross Schneiderman/Jim Cornell

●New England @ Houston       Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots             Jim Rikhoff/Bryan Lilley

●Jacksonville @ Cleveland        Gus Johnson/Steve Tasker                    Victor Frank/Mark Grant

4:15 PM, ET starts:

●Kansas City @ Denver           Dick Enberg/Dan Fouts                        Bob Mansbach/Suzanne Smith

●Baltimore @ Oakland             Jim Nantz/Phil Simms                            Lance Barrow/Mike Arnold

●Tennessee @ Seattle               Ian Eagle/Rich Gannon                          Ken Mack/Andy Goldberg

* * * * *

Filed Under: CBS, NFL

College GameDay from Rose Bowl Features & Elements Jan. 1 at 9 a.m.

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

College GameDay at Rose Bowl Jan. 1: Urban Meyer on Coaching Status, Images of the Decade, Show Awards and Guest Picker Jake Olson
ESPN will air a special edition of College GameDay Built by The Home Depot from the Rose Bowl Friday, Jan. 1, at 9 a.m. ET. The two-hour program will be hosted by Chris Fowler with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. ABC and ESPN Radio will broadcast the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi featuring No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Oregon Friday, Jan. 1, at 4:30 p.m. College GameDay show elements include:
  • Interviews with several prominent coaches and players, including:
  • Urban Meyer discussing his decision to resign as head coach of Florida on Saturday and then announce he would instead take a leave of absence the following day;
  • Legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno talking with ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge on a variety of topics;
  • Lisa Salters talking with Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and Oregon coach Chip Kelly as they prepare for the Rose Bowl Game;
  • Tom Rinaldi interviewing Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who plays in his last college game with the Gators in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Friday, Jan. 1, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN Radio);
  • Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald talking with reporter Rob Stone prior to his game against Auburn in the Outback Bowl (Friday, Jan. 1, at 11 a.m. on ESPN).
  • Special features and elements:
  • Images of the Decade: a montage of video highlights showcasing a look at the moments that defined college football in the past 10 years;
  • College GameDay Awards: Fowler, Corso, Herbstreit and Howard handing out end of the season awards in various categories, including the best moment, unsung player, overachieving coach, underachieving team and “what was I thinking!”;
  • Tim Tebow as a Pro: Todd McShay talking to NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks to breakdown the challenges Florida quarterback Tim Tebow could face as he moves to the NFL;
  • Florida Mindset: Tom Rinaldi providing a live report from New Orleans on the mindset of the Florida Gators as they prepare for the Allstate Sugar Bowl showdown against Cincinnati;
  • Bobby Bowden: The best of Bowden’s interviews over his career as he prepares to take the field for his last game as head coach of Florida State in the Gator Bowl against West Virginia;
  • 50 years of the Blimp: Chris Connelly will look back at the historic moments captured by the Goodyear Blimp as it celebrates 50 years in the sky;
  • State of Florida Recruiting: ESPN recruiting expert Tom Lugenbill takes a look at the impact recent coaching news at Florida and Florida State is having on recruiting.
Guest picker
Twelve-year-old USC fan Jake Olson, who had his left eye removed when he was one to retinoblastoma and then had his right eye removed this year after learning the cancer had returned and treatment was unsuccessful, will serve as the guest picker. In November, Shelley Smith profiled Olson, who wanted to see one more USC game before he lost his eyesight and how what started out as tickets to a game turned into a relationship with the Trojan family that Olson says is helping him endure his battle.
In addition, the show will feature several discussion topics, including:
  • Urban Meyer and the Florida coaching status;
  • Texas Tech and the Mike Leach suspension;
  • A preview of the Citi BCS National Championship Game;
  • What’s next for Florida State and new head coach Jimbo Fisher;
  • If Penn State or LSU has the edge in the Capital One Bowl;
  • The matchup of the Ohio State defense vs. the Oregon offense;
  • A preview of the Boise State vs. TCU Tostitos Fiesta Bowl showdown.
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Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football

FOX’s Bowl Bash Kicks Off Jan. 1 with ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

FOX’s Bowl Bash Kicks Off Jan. 1 with ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL; Slate includes AT&T COTTON BOWL, TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL and FEDEX ORANGE BOWL

NFC East Title and No. 2 Seed on the Line in NFL on FOX Week 17

Doubleheader Action

FOX SPORTS BOWL BASH STARTS NEW YEARS DAY WITH ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL – FOX Sports kicks off its 2010 BCS campaign in prime time on New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1 (8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT) with the ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL live from the Louisiana Superdome where the Big East Champions and undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats face Tim Tebow and the defending National Champion Florida Gators.  NFL on FOX analyst Brian Billick makes his BCS debut calling the action alongside his partner on Sunday’s and BCS on FOX lead play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman with Chris Myers reporting from the sidelines. From Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 2, FOX Sports presents the AT&T COTTON BOWL CLASSIC (2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT). Legendary broadcaster Pat Summerall calls the clash between Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Ole Miss Rebels, alongside former Dallas Cowboys fullback and NFL on FOX analyst Daryl Johnston with Krista Voda reporting from the sidelines. BCS Bowl action continues on Monday, Jan. 4 (7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT) with a battle of two undefeated teams in the 2010 TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL when the Mountain West Champion TCU Horned Frogs take on the WAC Champion Boise State Broncos led by head coach Chris Petersen. Sam Rosen and former USC All-American Tim Ryan call the action live from the University of Phoenix Stadium, with Chris Myers reporting from the sidelines. Last, but certainly not least, FOX Sports heads to Miami on Tuesday, Jan. 5 (7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT) for the 2010 FEDEX ORANGE BOWL when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets face the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Veteran play-by-play man Dick Stockton and BCS on FOX analyst Charles Davis call the action live from Landshark Stadium. Laura Okmin and Chris Myers provide updates from the sidelines. Chris Rose hosts pre-and postgame coverage alongside National Championship-winning coach Jimmy Johnson and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George for the ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL, TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL and the FEDEX ORANGE BOWL.

2010 BCS & COTTON BOWL ON FOX SCHEDULE


BCS Studio

Host:  Chris Rose

Analysts:  Jimmy Johnson & Eddie George

Jan. 1 ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL 8:00 PM

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Florida Gators

Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick & Chris Myers

Jan. 2 AT&T COTTON BOWL CLASSIC 2:00 PM

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Ole Miss Rebels

Pat Summerall, Daryl Johnston & Krista Voda

Jan. 4 TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL 7:30 PM

TCU Horned Frogs vs. Boise State Broncos

Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan & Chris Myers

Jan. 5 FEDEX ORANGE BOWL 7:30 PM

Georgia Tech Yellow vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

Dick Stockton, Charles Davis & Laura Okmin/Chris Myers

CHARLES DAVIS: DIFFERENCE IN SUGAR BOWL COMES DOWN TO FLORIDA’S D – BCS on FOX analyst Charles Davis dissects this Friday’s Sugar Bowl between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Florida Gators:  “Cincinnati is an offensive driven team that replaced 10 starters on defense when the season began and played pretty well early.  But in the last month of the season, everything became a track meet with a mentality of ‘the offense better win it.’  They do such a great job maximizing matchups on offense and getting the ball in the hands of playmakers like Isaiah Pead, and wideouts Armon Binns and Mardy Gilyard.  For Florida, their defense is outstanding and that’s where I see the difference in this game.  Guys like Carlos Dunlap rushing the passer with Jermaine Cunningham off the edge; they’re going to be tough to stop.”

NFL ON FOX WEEK 17: SEEDING IN NFC PLAYOFFS ON THE LINE – All six spots are filled in the NFC, but the schedule and seeding picture is still cloudy as the NFL on FOX wraps up its 16th regular season with an eight-game doubleheader on Sunday, Jan 3.  Beginning with the 1:00 PM ET games, Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings look to secure the No. 2 seed and a first round bye when they host the Giants.  In Charlotte, the No. 1 seeded Saints play a playoff tune-up against their NFC South rival Panthers.  Falcons/Bucs, 49ers/Rams and Bears/Lions round out the early action. At 4:15 PM ET, the NFC East division title is on the line when Tony Romo and the Cowboys host Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.  Philadelphia can clinch the No. 2 seed with a victory and Dallas secures a home playoff game with a win.  In Arizona, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals can secure the No. 2 seed with a victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers coupled with Vikings and Eagles losses.  Also, the Chargers host the Redskins.

Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY.  Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee co-host the Emmy Award-winning program and are joined by analysts Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Jimmy Johnson.  The crew is joined by NFL Insider Jay Glazer who presents the latest league news and scoops in the FOX NFL SUNDAY studio and comedic prognosticator Frank Caliendo contributes his weekly “Frank’s Picks” segment.

For instant updates during the week and games from the entire NFL on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NFLONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports.

GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST/SIDELINE COV. TIME

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings                        Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston                         63%        1:00PM

& Tony Siragusa

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome – Minneapolis, MN

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers                  Thom Brennaman & Brian Billick                  14%       1:00PM

Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC

MARKETS INCLUDE: Austin, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Raleigh, San Antonio

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Bucs                             Dick Stockton, Charles Davis                           7%       1:00PM

& Laura Okmin

Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL

MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa

San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams                      Matt Vasgersian & Ross Tucker                       5%       1:00PM

Edward Jones Dome – St. Louis, MO

MARKETS INCLUDE: Sacramento, San Francisco

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions                                      Chris Myers & Trent Green                               5%       1:00PM

Ford Field – Detroit, MI

MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys                       Joe Buck, Troy Aikman                                    79%       4:15PM

& Pam Oliver

Dallas Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, TX

MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, West Palm Beach

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals                    Sam Rosen & Tim Ryan                                      9%       4:15PM

University of Phoenix Stadium – Glendale, AZ

MARKETS INCLUDE: Chicago, Milwaukee, Phoenix

Washington Redskins at San Diego Chargers           Ron Pitts, John Lynch                                          6%       4:15PM

Qualcomm Stadium – San Diego, CA                            & Nischelle Turner

MARKETS INCLUDE: Baltimore, Norfolk, Richmond, San Diego, Washington

LONG QUESTIONS WHO WILL RISE TO THE TOP OF THE NFC – Following the Vikings loss to the Bears on Monday night, the Saints backed into the No. 1 seed in the NFC but how the other five teams will rank comes down to Week 17. FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Howie Long looks at how the NFC playoff picture has been drastically changed in a few short weeks: “Four weeks ago, I thought there was only one team that had a shot of beating New Orleans in New Orleans, and that was Minnesota. Now, with both the Saints and Vikings struggling, you can make a case that Philadelphia and Dallas might be the best teams in the NFC. After watching the Packers beat the Seahawks Sunday, I came away totally impressed with Aaron Rodgers, who is looking every bit the part of a franchise quarterback. He’s everything that coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson thought he would be. But the best news for the Packers is they are getting their running game on track at the right time. Ryan Grant scored twice and missed 100 yards by only 3. He has become a force. It’s amazing how things have changed over the last few weeks.”

BILLICK ON CALDWELL’S DECISION: “WINNING A SUPER BOWL IS THE ONLY BAROMETER FOR COLTS” – “You can go around and around on both sides of whether Jim Caldwell’s decision to sit his starters was the right move,” said NFL on FOX analyst and Super Bowl-winning head coach Brian Billick. “If the Colts win the Super Bowl, it means absolutely nothing.  If they stumble anywhere along the way and don’t win it all, this game will be looked upon as the reason. For the Colts right now, that’s the only barometer.  At the very least this has caused a pause for a team that had a great deal of momentum and was feeling good about themselves.  I know they’re going with the company line and the players are signing off on it but in that locker room there’s some question about whether they should have rested their starters.  If nothing else it has created a distraction.”

MALARIA NO MORE ROUNDS OUT FOX SPORTS SUPPORTS’ YEARLY CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN – FOX Sports has selected Malaria No More as the official charity of the BCS on FOX games in this January 2010.  Malaria No More provides simple nets to save lives in Africa by protecting those in danger of malarial mosquitoes that bite at night.  FOX Sports taped a public service announcement to help raise awareness for the cause.  The PSA features American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, BCS analyst and FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Jimmy Johnson, BCS on FOX host Chris Rose and BCS on FOX analyst Charles Davis.  “FOX Sports Supports is a powerful partner, helping African families protect themselves from malaria,” said Scott Case, CEO of Malaria No More. “Offering up the tremendous platform of the Bowl Championship Series will help us reach a new audience, heighten awareness of malaria and get closer to our goal of ending malaria deaths in Africa.” Please visit www.MalariaNoMore.org for more information or www.foxsportssupports.com.

Filed Under: FOX, NCAA Football, NFL

ESPN’s Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed Season of Monday Night Football

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

ESPN’s Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed Season of Monday Night Football
Most-Watched Series on Cable and 15 Biggest Cable Household Audiences of 2009;
ESPN.com Averages 84.6 Million Page Views on Mon./Tues., Up 24% From 2008
Vikings-Bears MNF Finale Wins the Night, Nets 12.0 Rating and 17 Million Viewers
The 40th season of Monday Night Football was the highest-rated and most-viewed season since ESPN assumed sports television’s signature series in 2006 (four seasons). MNF was once again the most-watched series on cable television in 2009, set an all-time cable viewership record for the fourth straight year and drew the year’s 15 biggest cable household audiences (and top 14 among viewers). For the first time, ESPN’s MNF averaged higher than a 10 rating and 14 million viewers for the season.  Monday Night Football ranks No. 10 among all regularly scheduled television programs this season.
In four seasons on ESPN, Monday Night Football has registered eight of the top 10 all-time biggest household audiences in cable history, led by this year’s Packers-Vikings telecast October 5, which attracted cable’s largest audience ever in both households (15,136,000 homes) and viewers (21,839,000), as well as the highest rating (15.3) in ESPN’s 30-year history.
ESPN’s 17 Monday Night Football telecasts in 2009 averaged a 10.4 rating, representing an average of 10,315,000 households (14,382,000 viewers – P2+), increases of 17%, 19% and 20%, respectively, vs. 2008 (8.9; 8,679,000 and 11,962,000).
MNF ended on a particularly strong note with last night’s game – the Chicago Bears’ 36-30 dramatic upset in overtime over the Minnesota Vikings — delivering a 12.0 rating, representing an average of 11,899,000 households (17,006,000 viewers – P2+).  The game ranks as the fifth largest household audience of all-time (No. 6 among viewers). MNF led all the night’s programs (broadcast or cable) among households, viewers and all key male and adult demos, making ESPN the top network for the night in all categories. It was the sixth time MNF won the night for total viewers among all networks this season.
“The 40th season of Monday Night Football was an overwhelming success with competitive games, record-setting ratings and a resoundingly positive reaction from fans about our presentation,” said George Bodenheimer, president, ESPN and ABC Sports. “It is a credit to the hundreds of people who work on the show week after week to ensure that the NFL’s most storied television franchise continues to set the bar for sports on television while also ranking among the most-watched programs of the year.”
MNF on TV
MNF occupies eight of the top 10 spots on the list of cable’s biggest audiences ever among both households (excludes breaking news), and two games this season each averaged more than 21 million viewers – Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings game (Oct. 5) with an average of 21,839,000 total viewers (15,136,000 households, based on a 15.3 rating), and New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints (Nov. 30) with an average of 21,402,000 viewers (14,872,000 households, based on a 15.0 rating).
Other highlights for the 2009 NFL season:
  • ESPN’s MNF games account for the 15 biggest household audiences for any cable television program in 2009.
  • ESPN led all networks – cable or broadcast – in delivery of men 18-34 and men 18-49 every Monday in primetime this season; ESPN was also No. 1 in men 25-54 in 15 of 16 weeks and No. 1 among people 18-49 in 13 weeks.
  • Six times, ESPN won the night as the most-watched network among households and viewers – cable or broadcast – in primetime on Monday.
  • For the past 11 consecutive weeks, ESPN has led all cable networks in delivery of adult men on a total-day basis, as well as men 18-54.  ESPN has been #1 among M18+ and M18-54 for 14 of the past 15 weeks.
  • Monday Night Countdown, ESPN’s 90-minute weekly MNF pre-game show, finished with an average 2.4 rating and 2,345,000 households (3,006,000 viewers), representing increases of 20% and 19%, respectively. This ranks as Countdown’s highest-rated and most-viewed season ever.
  • ESPN Deportes’ Spanish-language coverage of Monday Night Football also delivered its highest-rated and most-viewed NFL season ever with an average 0.9 Hispanic rating, 45,000 Hispanic households, and 62,000 Hispanic viewers, increases of 80%, 150% and 107%, respectively, from 2008.
ESPN.com
For the season, NFL content on ESPN.com, including “Monday Night HQ,” accessed via computers and mobile devices sparked a 24% increase in traffic on Mondays (through Tuesdays at noon ET) with an average 84.6 million page views per week.  Additionally, ESPN.com streamed an average 2.8 million NFL related videos per week – an increase of 7% over 2008.
ESPN Monday Night Football Season Averages (2006-09)
Year    Rating   HHs (000s)      Viewers (000s)
2009 10.4    10.315          14.382
2008 8.9      8.679           11.962
2007 8.6      8.277           11.230
2006 9.9     9.109           12.325
Most-Viewed Monday Night Football Games on ESPN (2006 – Present)
Rank     Date             Teams                                            Viewers (000s)          HHs (000s)
1       10/05/2009      Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings      21,839                  15,136
2       11/30/2009      New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints  21,402                  14,872
3       09/15/2008      Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys              18,608                  12,953
4       12/03/2007      New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens            17,522                  12,529
5       12/28/2009      Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears         17,006                  11,899
6       10/23/2006      New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys           16,028                  11,807
7       11/09/2009      Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos               16,002                  11,358
8       09/28/2009      Carolina Panthers-Dallas Cowboys                15,705                  11,354
9       09/25/2006      Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints               14,999                  10,850
10      09/21/2009      Indianapolis Colts-Miami Dolphins                14,710                  10,849
Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Households):
Rank     Date             Teams                                            Network         HHs (000s)
1       10/05/2009      Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings      ESPN                    15,136
2       11/30/2009      New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints  ESPN                    14,872
3       09/15/2008      Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys              ESPN                    12,953
4       12/03/2007      New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens            ESPN                    12,529
5       12/28/2009      Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears         ESPN                    11,899
6       10/23/2006      New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys           ESPN                    11,807
7       11/09/2009      Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos               ESPN                     11,358
8       09/28/2009      Carolina Panthers-Dallas Cowboys                ESPN                     11,354
9       11/09/1993      Larry King (NAFTA Debate)                       CNN                     11,174
10      10/02/2008      Vice Presidential Debate – Palin vs. Biden      FOX NEWS                11,098
Top 10 Most-Viewed Programs in Cable Television History (Viewers):
Rank     Date             Teams                                            Network          Viewers (000s)
1       10/05/2009      Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings      ESPN                    21.839
2       11/30/2009      New England Patriots-New Orleans Saints  ESPN                     21,402
3       09/15/2008      Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys              ESPN                     18,608
4       12/03/2007      New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens            ESPN                    17,522
5       08/17/2007      High School Musical 2                            Disney Channel          17,241
6       12/28/2009      Minnesota Vikings-Chicago Bears         ESPN                     17,006
7       11/09/1993      Larry King – NAFTA Debate                        CNN                     16,837
8       12/25/1994      Detroit Lions-Miami Dolphins                     ESPN                    16,063
9       10/23/2006      New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys           ESPN                    16,028
10      11/09/2009      Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos               ESPN                    16,002
Note: excluding breaking news; live + same day
Bold indicates 2009 MNF games
MNF Team to Call 2010 NFL Pro Bowl
ESPN’s Monday Night Football team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will return to the booth to call the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida when the matchup of NFC vs. AFC stars kicks off Super Bowl week. The Pro Bowl will be televised Sunday, January 31, 2010 on ESPN and ESPN HD at 7:20 p.m. ET.
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Filed Under: ESPN, NFL, Ratings

The NBA on TNT Rings in the New Year with an Exclusive Doubleheader

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

MEDIA ADVISORY

The NBA on TNT Rings in the New Year with an Exclusive Doubleheader

Heat @ Spurs followed by 76ers @ Clippers

TNT counts down to 2010 during its TNT NBA Thursday on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, with an exclusive doubleheader beginning at 7 p.m. (ET).  The first game will feature Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs hosting Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.  Marv Albert (play-by-play) will call the game alongside Mike Fratello (analyst) with Craig Sager reporting.  In the second game of the night, Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers will visit Baron Davis and the Los Angeles Clippers at 9:30 p.m. (ET).  Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Reggie Miller (analyst) will be courtside with Cheryl Miller reporting.  The Emmy® award-winning studio show Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai with Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst) will recap the games.

This week, TNT will announce the nominees for its ‘TNT All-Decade NBA: Buzzer Beaters’ category.  Fans can visit NBA.com’s ‘TNT All-Decade NBA’ page (http://www.nba.com/alldecade/vote3/) to view clips of the previously announced nominees and cast a vote on who they think should win.  The ‘TNT All-Decade NBA’ includes the top performances, games and moments throughout the 2000’s and winners will be announced in a special one-hour show airing during TNT’s exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. (ET).

Exclusive content, analysis from TNT announcers and replays of Inside the NBA are available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com. The broadband channel gives fans the inside scoop on players, coaches and storylines taking place around the league seven days a week.   Check out the NBA on TNT pages on Twitter (http://twitter.com/NBAonTNT) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) to see the latest NBA on TNT schedule, news updates and special features from TNT announcers.

TNT NBA THURSDAY SCHEDULE:

DAY/DATE

TIME (ET)         EVENT

Thursday, Dec. 31

7 p.m.                      NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

7:15 p.m.                 Miami Heat @ San Antonio Spurs

Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)

9:30 p.m.                 Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Clippers

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)

Post-game             Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

NBA ON TNT UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Thursday,  Jan. 14

8 p.m.                      NBA Tip-Off presented by AutoTrader.com

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

8:15 p.m.                 Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Doug Collins (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)

10:30 p.m.               Cleveland Cavaliers @ Utah Jazz

Announcers: Marv Albert (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)

Post-game             Inside the NBA presented by Hyundai

Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

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Filed Under: NBA, TNT

NFL Games Top Two Shows Of The Week

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

NFL GAMES TOP TWO SHOWS OF THE WEEK

CBS National Game Featuring Broncos-Eagles & Jets-Colts

Week’s Most-Watched Show

ESPN & NFL Network Post Record Viewership in 2009

NFL Tops Ratings in All 30 Local Markets

NFL games accounted for the two most-watched television shows last week (Dec. 21 – 27).

The CBS doubleheader game (mostly Denver-Philadelphia and New York Jets-Indianapolis) was the most-watched show on TV last week with 28.3 million viewers. NBC’s Sunday night game (Dallas-Washington) ranked second with 19.0 million viewers.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football was the most-watched series on cable television in 2009, setting the cable viewership record for the fourth consecutive year with 14.4 million viewers.

NFL Network wrapped up its fourth season of Thursday Night Football with a record 5.5 million cable viewers tuning in on average – up 49 percent from last year.

NFL games topped the local ratings in all 30 NFL markets last week.

Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 21-27:

Week of 12/21-27 HH HH RTG
Market Game Date RTG SHR Rank
New Orleans Buccaneers at Saints 12/27/09 48.9 75 1
Pittsburgh Ravens at Steelers 12/27/09 43.0 73 1
Indianapolis Jets at Colts 12/27/09 39.2 61 1
Cincinnati Chiefs at Bengals 12/27/09 35.3 64 1
Milwaukee Seahawks at Packers 12/27/09 34.8 64 1
Dallas Cowboys at Redskins 12/27/09 34.4 55 1
Baltimore Ravens at Steelers 12/27/09 32.2 61 1
Philadelphia Broncos at Eagles 12/27/09 32.1 53 1
San Diego** Chargers at Titans 12/25/09 31.7 64 1
Denver Broncos at Eagles 12/27/09 30.4 58 1
Buffalo Bills at Falcons 12/27/09 28.9 51 1
Nashville** Chargers at Titans 12/25/09 28.8 47 1
Kansas City Chiefs at Bengals 12/27/09 28.1 54 1
Cleveland Raiders at Browns 12/27/09 27.6 55 1
Boston Jaguars at Patriots 12/27/09 27.4 57 1
Washington, DC Cowboys at Redskins 12/27/09 24.2 41 1
Phoenix Rams at Cardinals 12/27/09 21.7 44 1
Charlotte Panthers at Giants 12/27/09 19.0 36 1
Tampa Buccaneers at Saints 12/27/09 18.8 37 1
Miami Texans at Dolphins 12/27/09 18.2 42 1
Houston Texans at Dolphins 12/27/09 17.8 39 1
Jacksonville Jaguars at Patriots 12/27/09 17.5 32 1
Atlanta Bills at Falcons 12/27/09 17.2 36 1
New York Jets at Colts 12/27/09 15.8 30 1
Detroit Lions at 49ers 12/27/09 15.6 30 1
Chicago Jets at Colts 12/27/09 15.1 29 1
Minneapolis Broncos at Eagles 12/27/09 15.1 32 1
St. Louis Rams at Cardinals 12/27/09 14.6 26 1
San Fran-Oakland Lions at 49ers 12/27/09 13.3 38 1
Seattle Seahawks at Packers 12/27/09 12.6 33 1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

** Local affiliate & NFL Network combined

Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research

Filed Under: CBS, NFL, Ratings

Jets Can Clinch Playoff Berth With Win Against Bengals On “Sunday Night Football”

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

JETS CAN CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH WITH WIN AGAINST BENGALS ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”

“Whoever stops the run most effectively is going to win the game.” – Football Night’s Dungy

“These are really two defensively dominant football teams.” – SNF’s Collinsworth

NEW YORK – Dec. 30, 2009 - The host New York Jets can clinch an AFC Wild Card playoff berth with a win against the AFC North champion Cincinnati Bengals in the final game of the NFL’s regular season on “NBC Sunday Night Football.”

Coverage begins with “Football Night in America,” Sunday at 7 p.m. ET with Bob Costas hosting live from inside the stadium. Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Andrea Kremer (sideline reporter) call the action from Giants Stadium.

Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann will co-host “Football Night” from NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios joined by Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. Tiki Barber will report from Cowboys Stadium on the Cowboys-Eagles game.

COLLINSWORTH: “These are really two defensively dominant football teams.”

DUNGY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RUNNING GAME: “The game is going to hinge on run offense and run defense. Cedric Benson is having a great year. The Jets lead the league in rushing. Both teams will say they have to take away the run game and whoever stops the run most effectively is going to win the game.”

COLLINSWORTH ON THE BENGALS DEFENSE: “Mike Zimmer and the job he’s done in Cincinnati has been remarkable. You often think of Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco but that really has not been the “M.O.” of the Bengals this year. It’s defense, running the ball and winning close games.”

DUNGY ON THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TEAMS MAY MEET IN THE WILD CARD ROUND: “It’s a very interesting situation. I had one of those in 2001. We (Tampa Bay) were playing Philadelphia and we knew we were going to play them again the next week in the playoffs. So how much do you show?”

JETS VS. BENGALS: The Jets lead the all-time series, 14-7, including a 44-17 victory over the Bengals in the 1982 playoffs. New York has won six of the last seven overall in the series plus the last seven at home. The Bengals last victory at New York came in 1981 when the Jets played at Shea Stadium.

JETS-BENGALS IN PRIMETIME: Since NBC acquired the NFL’s premier primetime package in 2006, the Cincinnati Bengals have played only once and lost to Pittsburgh, 24-10, in 2007. The New York Jets are making their first-ever appearance on “NBC Sunday Night Football.”

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING: The NFL utilizes flexible scheduling in Weeks 11-17. In those weeks, the schedule will list the games tentatively scheduled for Sunday night on NBC Sports. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game will be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights. A flexible scheduling move will be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the move may be announced six days before the game. Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give surprise teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” DOMINATES SUNDAY NIGHT: With two weeks remaining in the NFL season, “Sunday Night Football” has won 14 of 15 Sunday nights, already passing its total of Sunday night wins from 2008. Last season, SNF won 13 of 16 Sunday nights after winning 11 of 16 in 2007 and nine of 16 in 2006. Sunday Night had a bye in Week 8 due to game four of the World Series.

“Sunday Night Football” is also experiencing its best start since NBC acquired the NFL’s premier primetime package in 2006 (SNF, 2006-Present, MNF, 1970-2005). Below is SNF viewership through 16 weeks:

2009:   19.6 million
2008:   16.7 million, up 17%
2007:   16.0 million, up 23%
2006:   17.7 million, up 11%

NBC & THE NFL: NBC’s long history with the NFL dates back 70 years to 1939 when NBC became the first network to televise an NFL game – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Brooklyn Dodgers from Ebbets Field to the approximately 1,000 sets then in New York. NBC first broadcast the NFL Championship Game in 1955.  In 1964, NBC signed a five-year contract to televise the AFL.  NBC was awarded the AFC package in 1970, an association that would continue through the 1997-98 season. NBC televised the first Super Bowl in 1967, the historic New York Jets’ upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969, and this past February broadcast Super Bowl XLIII, the most-watched program in television history.

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Filed Under: NBC, NFL

NBA TV to Feature Live Game Broadcasts of 2010 NBA D-League Showcase

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

NBA TV TO FEATURE LIVE GAME BROADCASTS OF 2010 NBA D-LEAGUE SHOWCASE

NBA TV, the league’s 24 hour network, will feature seven live game broadcasts of the 2010 NBA Development League Showcase which tips off on Monday, Jan. 4 and runs through Thursday, Jan. 7.

The live games on NBA TV will be the first high-definition (HD) sports broadcast utilizing a Newtek TriCaster™ HD portable live production system.  Cost-efficient, lightweight, and easy to operate, NewTek TriCaster is currently used by NBA D-League teams to deliver live video webcasts of every game throughout the season via NBA Futurecast on NBA.com/futurecast.

All NBA D-League Showcase games not featured on NBA TV will be available for fans to view for free on NBA.com/futurecast.

The sixth annual NBA D-League Showcase will take place at Boise’s Qwest Arena, home of the Idaho Stampede, in Boise, Idaho, and will include all 16 NBA D-League teams each playing 2 games.  The event provides exposure for NBA D-League players and coaches to general managers, player personnel executives, and scouts from each of the 30 NBA teams at one convenient location.

2010 NBA D-League Showcase Games on NBA TV

Monday, January 4, 2010

Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Albuquerque T-Birds                     1:00 p.m. EST
Los Angeles D-Fenders vs. Maine Red Claws                            3:45 p.m. EST

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Maine Red Claws vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce                                 1:00 p.m. EST

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Reno Bighorns vs. Erie BayHawks                                             1:00 p.m. EST
Bakersfield Jam vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers                            3:45 p.m. EST

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Albuquerque T-Birds vs. Tulsa 66ers                                          1:00 p.m. EST

Erie BayHawks vs. Los Angeles D-Fenders                               3:45 p.m. EST

NBA TV’s coverage of the NBA D-League Showcase will include interviews with NBA general managers and scouts.  Additionally, NBA.com’s Art Garcia will be at The Showcase providing fans with online access to breaking news, player profiles and other features stories.  Leading up to, and continuing throughout the event, NBA.com/dleague will offer extensive coverage including video highlights, game recaps, and photo galleries.

About NBA TV

NBA TV is the 24-hour digital network of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Launched in 1999, the network provides the most basketball coverage on television, offering more than 300 live games, signature studio shows, and Emmy® award-winning on-air talent, as well as original series and live events. The network is available in the U.S. through several of the nation’s top cable, satellite, and telco companies. NBA TV is part of NBA Digital, the NBA’s extensive cross-platform portfolio of digital assets jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports. This robust offering includes NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA LEAGUE PASS Broadband, NBA Mobile, NBADLEAGUE.com, and WNBA.com.

Filed Under: NBA, NBA TV

ESPN to Televise Third Annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game at Tropicana Field on Jan. 2

December 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

ESPN to Televise Third Annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game at Tropicana Field on Jan. 2

Platinum Recording Artist Young Jeezy to Perform Live at Halftime; Practice Covered on ESPNU Dec. 30 –31; Skills Challenge on ESPN2 Jan. 1

The third annual Under Armour All-America High School Football Game, organized by ESPN and Intersport, will be played on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. The annual all-star competition, featuring 89 of the top high school football seniors in the nation, will air on ESPN at 11 a.m. ET. The telecast will also be available in high definition on ESPN HD and on ESPN’s broadband sports network, ESPN360.com. Justin Kutcher (play-by-play announcer), Tom Luginbill (National Recruiting Director for ESPN Scouts, Inc.) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) will call the action from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

ESPN’s telecast will also include a special halftime performance by CTE/Def Jam and double-platinum recording artist Young Jeezy.

In addition, several players are expected to announce their college decisions during the game: No. 9 Darius White, WR (Dunbar HS, Ft. Worth, Texas); No. 12 Chris Dunkley, WR (Pahokee HS, Pahokee, Fla.); No. 42 John Fulton, CB (Manning HS, Manning, S.C.); No. 93 Kenny Shaw, WR (Dr. Phillips HS, Orlando, Fla.); and No. 120 Toney Hurd, Jr., CB (Thurgood Marshall HS, Missouri City, Texas).  White is considering Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Florida and LSU; Dunkley – Georgia, Florida and Alabama; Fulton – Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and LSU; Shaw – Florida State, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina; Hurd – Oregon, California, Auburn, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.

ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex will host the event’s practice sessions and the Burger King High School All-America Skills Challenge.  The three-hour daily practice sessions will be televised on ESPNU Dec. 30 – Dec. 31, from 3-6 p.m., as part of a special edition of ESPNU Recruiting Insider. Lowell Galindo will host alongside ESPN Scouts, Inc. experts Luginbill, Craig Haubert and Bill Conly, who will provide analysis. The Burger King High School All-America Skills Challenge will take place Thursday, Dec. 31 and will air on ESPN2 Jan. 1 at 9 p.m.  The Skills Challenge will consist of drill sequences by position for quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs, linebackers and offensive and defensive lineman.  Kutcher will handle play-by-play with analysis from Luginbill and sideline reports from Galindo.

Of the 89 players selected by ESPN Scouts, Inc. to participate in the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game, 60 are ranked in the ESPNU 150 player rankings. Team Blur (white jersey) will include St. Thomas Aquinas School (Miami, Fla.) cornerback No. 5 Lamarcus Joyner; Treasure Coast’s (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) No. 6 Jeff Luc, ILB; No. 7 Michael Dyer, RB of Little Rock Christian (Little Rocky, Ark.); Tulsa Central’s (Tulsa, Okla.) No. 18 Demarco Cobbs, ATH; Booker T. Washington’s (Atlanta, Ga.); No. 24 Antonio Goodwin, ATH; No. 49 Corey Miller, DE of James Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.); and Bishop Carroll’s (Wichita, Kan.) No. 64 Blake Bell, QB.  Team Nitro (black jersey) will feature No. 2 Jordan Hicks, OLB of Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio); No. 8 Jonathan Dowling, S of Southeast (Bradenton, Fla.); Dunbar Senior’s (Ft. Worth, Texas) No. 9 Darius White, WR; No. 11 Demar Dorsey, S of Boyd Anderson ( Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); John H. Guyer’s (Denton, Texas) No. 14 Taylor Bible, DT; No. 17 Mack Brown, RB of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Lithonia, Ga.); and No. 21 Storm Johnson, RB of Loganville HS (Loganville, Ga.). Florida leads with the most players (19), followed by Texas (15), Georgia (13), California (7) and Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama with four. There will be 26 states represented in the game. Complete rosters for Team Blur and Team Nitro.

Former NFL head coaches Ted Marchibroda and Sam Wyche will serve as the head coaches. Marchibroda will coach of Team Blur, while Wyche will coach Team Nitro. Both coaching staffs, selected by ESPN Scouts, Inc., will consist of former NFL coaches acting as offensive and defensive coordinators, with support from 19 high school coaches who have players participating in the game.

Tickets for the game are available for $10 through www.Ticketmaster.com.

About the Game

The Under Armour High School All-America Football Game, an annual all-star football competition spotlighting the nation’s top high school seniors, debuted on Jan. 5, 2008, at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Organized in conjunction with Intersport, a leading sports and entertainment media and marketing company with over 20 years experience, the event will be televised live to a national audience on ESPN from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.   Some notable alumni of the game include USC’s Matt Barkley, Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones.

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Filed Under: ESPN, High School Football

ESPNU Headlines ESPN’s 2010 College Lacrosse Schedule with Increased Game Coverage; New Lacrosse Doubleheader in April

December 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

ESPNU Headlines ESPN’s 2010 College Lacrosse Schedule with Increased Game Coverage; New Lacrosse Doubleheader in April

ESPNU will lead ESPN’s college lacrosse coverage with increased game coverage this season, including 40 men’s and women’s regular-season contests combined, in addition to one live ESPN2 and ESPN360.com game. The networks will televise 57 games overall, including 42 regular-season contests (up from 30) and 15 NCAA Tournament games across ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com. Coverage will begin on ESPNU on Friday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. ET, when No. 6 Johns Hopkins hosts Manhattan.

ESPNU highlights include the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic, which will showcase No. 1 Duke vs. No. 7 Maryland at 11 a.m. and No. 8 Princeton vs. No. 6 Johns Hopkins on Saturday, March 6, at 1:30 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The schedule will also feature the second annual Konica Minolta Big City Classic on Saturday, April 10, with No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 3 Virginia at 4 p.m. and No. 2 Syracuse vs. No. 8 Princeton at 6:30 p.m. from New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Included in this year’s schedule will be a new lacrosse doubleheader, the ESPNU Warrior Lacrosse Invitational, organized by ESPN Regional Television. The event will take place at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, April 24, and will showcase No. 18 Massachusetts vs. No. 13 Georgetown at 11 a.m., followed by No. 17 Denver vs. Fairfield at 1:30 p.m.

The men’s schedule will be highlighted by appearances from 19 of the top 25 teams ranked in the Inside Lacrosse’s Face-Off Yearbook Top 25. Also, defending NCAA Champion Syracuse, ranked No. 2, will make six appearances on air, along with No. 3 Virginia. No. 1 Duke will appear four times. ESPNU will also feature two women’s matchups: Towson at Johns Hopkins on Wednesday, March 10, at 4 p.m. and Ohio State at Johns Hopkins on Sunday, May 2, at noon.

For the fourth year in a row, the ESPN networks will televise the complete NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship. ESPNU will televise all eight First Round games and Quarterfinal contests May 15-23. ESPN2 will televise the National Semifinals on May 29 and ESPN will offer the National Championship game on May 31 from M&T Bank Stadium. ESPN360.com will simulcast the National Semifinals and Championship games.

2010 ESPNU College Lacrosse Regular-Season Schedule

Date Time (ET) Game
Fri, Feb 19 5 p.m. Manhattan at Johns Hopkins
Tue, Feb 23 5 p.m. Delaware at Johns Hopkins
Sat, Feb 27 Noon Hofstra at Princeton
2 p.m. *Maryland at Georgetown
Sun, Feb 28 Noon Siena at Johns Hopkins
Sat, Mar 6 11 a.m. Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic: Duke at Maryland
1:30 p.m. Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic: Princeton vs. Johns Hopkins
4 p.m. Syracuse at Virginia (ESPN360.com)
Sun, Mar 7 12:30 a.m. *^North Carolina at UMBC
Tue, Mar. 9 11:30 p.m. ^UMBC at Johns Hopkins
Wed, Mar. 10 4 p.m. Towson at Johns Hopkins (women)
7 p.m. North Carolina at Duke
Sat, Mar 13 11 a.m. *Towson at Maryland
2 p.m. Georgetown at Syracuse
Sat, Mar 20 2 p.m. *^Maryland at UMBC
8 p.m. Syracuse at Johns Hopkins
Sun, Mar 21 Noon *Virginia at Towson
Sat, Mar 27 Noon Johns Hopkins at Virginia (ESPN2)
Noon Duke at Georgetown
2 p.m. Maryland at North Carolina
Sun, Mar 28 2 a.m. *^Towson at Loyola (Md.)
Sat, Apr 3 Noon *North Carolina at Johns Hopkins
8 p.m. Virginia at Maryland
Sat, Apr 10 Noon *Navy at Maryland
2 p.m. Albany at Johns Hopkins
4 p.m. Konica Minolta Big City Classic: North Carolina at Virginia
6:30 p.m. Konica Minolta Big City Classic: Princeton at Syracuse
Sun, Apr 11 Noon Notre Dame at Georgetown
Sat, Apr 17 Noon *Georgetown at Loyola (Md.)
4 p.m. Smartlink Day of Rivals: Navy vs. Army
6:30 p.m. Smartlink Day of Rivals: Maryland vs. Johns Hopkins
8:30 p.m. Duke at Virginia
Sun, Apr 18 6 p.m. Syracuse at Rutgers
Sat, Apr 24 11 a.m. ESPNU Warrior Lacrosse Invitational: Massachusetts vs. Georgetown
1:30 p.m. ESPNU Warrior Lacrosse Invitational: Denver vs. Fairfield
Sun, Apr 25 5 p.m. *^Penn State at Towson
Wed, Apr 28 7 p.m. Towson at Johns Hopkins
Sat, May 1 Noon *Hartford at UMBC
5 p.m. Cornell at Princeton
7 p.m. Syracuse at Notre Dame
Sun, May 2 Noon Ohio State at Johns Hopkins (women)
Sat, May 8 Noon *Johns Hopkins at Loyola (Md.)

*Will co-exist on WMAR-TV (ABC affiliate in Baltimore)

^Tape delay

2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship Coverage on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sat, May 15 Noon NCAA First Round – Game 1 (TBD) ESPNU
2:30 p.m. NCAA First Round – Game 2 (TBD) ESPNU
5 p.m. NCAA First Round – Game 3 (TBD) ESPNU
7:30 p.m. NCAA First Round – Game 4 (TBD) ESPNU
Sun, May 16 Noon NCAA First Round – Game 5 (TBD) ESPNU
2:30 p.m. NCAA First Round – Game 6 (TBD) ESPNU
5 p.m. NCAA First Round – Game 7 (TBD) ESPNU
7:30 p.m. NCAA First Round – Game 8 (TBD) ESPNU
Sat, May 22 Noon Quarterfinal # 1 – Princeton, N.J. ESPNU
2:30 p.m. Quarterfinal #2 – Princeton, N.J. ESPNU
Sun, May 23 Noon Quarterfinal #3 – Stony Brook, N.Y. ESPNU
2:30 p.m. Quarterfinal #4 – Stony Brook, N.Y. ESPNU
Sat, May 29 4 p.m. Semifinal #1 – M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore) ESPN2
6:30 p.m. Semifinal #2 – M&T Bank Stadium ESPN2
Mon, May 31 3:30 p.m. NCAA National Championship – M&T Bank Stadium ESPN

ESPNU

ESPNU launched March 4, 2005. The 24-hour college sports television network televises more than 600 live events annually, including college football, college basketball and Olympic sports from more than 25 Division I conferences, as well as premier high school content. The network also has a wide-ranging, long-term agreement with the NCAA for enhanced coverage of 22 NCAA Championships.

ESPNU also offers comprehensive studio programming, including live simulcasts of ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and replays the best games of the week from ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNU HD and online at ESPNU.com. In addition, ESPNU Campus Connection, a multi-platform student-generated content initiative, was introduced in August 2007.

ESPNU is available in more than 65 million households and has long-term carriage agreements with nine of the top 10 providers – Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV (Channel 614), DISH Network (Channel 148), Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse.

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Filed Under: ESPN, Lacrosse
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