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Archives for December 2015

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S PRESS PASS – WHAT TO WATCH – JANUARY 1-3, 2015

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(All times ET)

The “Press Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box is a quick overview of upcoming program information and highlights from the NBC Sports Group Communications team. For live streaming information on NBC Sports Live Extra, and Golf Channel Live Extra, click here.

Friday, January 1
1 p.m. on NBC – NHL Live – Winter Classic
1:30 p.m. on NBC – NHL Winter Classic – Montreal @ Boston

Saturday, January 2
7 a.m. on NBCSN –Premier League Live
7:45 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: West Ham v. Liverpool
10 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Arsenal v. Newcastle
10 a.m. on USA – Premier League: Manchester United v. Swansea City
12:30 p.m. on NBCSN – College Basketball: St. Joe’s @ Richmond
12:30 p.m. on NBC – Premier League: Watford v. Manchester City
2:30 p.m. on NBC – Premier League Goal Zone
2:30 p.m. on NBCSN – College Basketball: Dayton @ Duquesne
3 p.m. on NBC – Incredible Dog Challenge
4:30 p.m. on NBCSN – College Basketball: St. Louis @ Rhode Island
11 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Match of the Day

Sunday, January 3
7:30 a.m. on NBC – Premier League Live
8:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Crystal Palace v. Chelsea
11 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Everton v. Tottenham
1 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Goal Zone
2 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Match of the Day II
2:30 p.m. on NBC – National Pro Grid League
3 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Match of the Week
4:30 p.m. on NBC – Nitro Circus
5 p.m. on NBCSN – College Basketball: U Mass @ LaSalle
7 p.m. on NBCSN – College Basketball: Fordham @ George Washington
7 p.m. on NBC – Football Night In America
8:20 p.m. on NBC –Sunday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
12 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Match of the Week
12:30 a.m. on NBCSN – THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
NBC Sports’ coverage of Sunday Night Football features a NFC North critical division title showdown this week, when Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers host Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, Jan. 3, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Coverage begins with Football Night In America at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

Calling the action live from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., is Al Michaels (play-by-play) alongside Cris Collinsworth (analyst). Joining Michaels and Collinsworth is Michele Tafoya, who will report from the sidelines.

Bob Costas will host Football Night In America reporting live alongside Hines Ward from Houston at 7 p.m. ET on NBC. Joining Costas and Ward from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., is co-host Dan Patrick, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio and Peter King. Carolyn Manno will report from Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on the Chargers-Broncos game.

NHL
NBC Sports presents the NHL Winter Classic this Friday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC, when P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens battle Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins on New Year’s Day.

Play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analysts Eddie Olczyk, and Pierre McGuire will have the call of 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic from Gillette Stadium.

NHL Live host Liam McHugh will be on-site at Gillette Stadium alongside Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick to provide pre-game and post-game analysis, as well as commentary during intermissions.

PREMIER LEAGUE
NBC Sports Group continues its last month of Premier League action in 2015 with a full slate of action this weekend on the networks of NBCUniversal.

Coverage begins this Saturday, Jan. 2, on NBCSN at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Live, immediately followed by West Ham v. Liverpool at 7:45 a.m. ET. Live match coverage continues at 10 a.m. ET with Arsenal v. Newcastle on NBCSN, and Manchester United v. Swansea City on USA Network. Saturday’s coverage concludes on NBC with Watford v. Manchester City at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by Goal Zone at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Live coverage on Sunday, Dec. 6, begins on NBCSN at 7:30 a.m. ET with Premier League Live, immediately followed by Crystal Palace v. Chelsea at 8:30 a.m. ET. Coverage concludes on NBCSN with Everton v. Tottenham at 11 a.m. ET, followed with Goal Zone at 1 p.m. ET.

Rebecca Lowe hosts Premier League Live, joined by a combination of Kyle Martino, Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe.

THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW hosted by Michael Davies and Roger Bennett airs Mondays throughout the Premier League season. Downton Abbey actor Kevin Doyle will be this Monday night’s guest, at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT.

Below is a full list of match commentators for this weekend’s Premier League coverage:

Saturday, January 2
7:45 a.m. on NBCSN – West Ham v. Liverpool, commentated by Jim Proudfoot and Danny Mills
10 a.m. on NBCSN – Arsenal v. Newcastle, commentated by Gary Taphouse and Tony Gale
10 a.m. on USA Network – Manchester United v. Swansea City, commentated by Gary Weaver and Andy Hinchcliffe
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Leicester City v. Bournemouth, commentated by Joe Speight and David Prutton
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Norwich City v. Southampton, commentated by Tony Jones and Ray Houghton
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Sunderland v. Aston Villa, commentated by David Stowell and Garry Birtles
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – West Brom v. Stoke City, commentated by Jonathan Beck and Dean Sturridge
12:30 p.m. on NBC – Watford v. Manchester City, commentated by Arlo White and Lee Dixon

Sunday, January 3
8:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Crystal Palace v. Chelsea, commentated by Peter Drury and Andy Townsend
11 a.m. on NBCSN – Everton v. Tottenham, commentated by Arlo White and Graeme Le Saux

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NBC Sports Group presents a weekend full of A-10 men’s college basketball action.

Saturday’s triple-header action begins at 12:30 p.m. ET with St. Joe’s at Richmond. Live coverage continues at 2:30 p.m. ET with Dayton at Duquesne, followed by St. Louis at Rhode Island at 5 p.m. ET.

Coverage on Sunday, Jan. 3, begins at 5 p.m. ET with UMass at La Salle, immediately followed by Fordham at George Washington at 7 p.m. ET.

Calling St. Joe’s at Richmond is Mike Corey and Blaine Taylor; while Ryan Burr and John Adams call Dayton at Duguesne; and David Kaplan and Steve Schlanger call St. Louis at Rhode Island.

On Sunday, Rich Lerner and Dalen Cuff call UMass at La Salle; while Mike Corey and Ron Thompson call Fordham at George Washington.

“TOGETHER WE MAKE FOOTBALL” UNVEILS THE LAST OF FIVE FINALISTS TOMORROW MORNING ON TODAY

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Green Bay Packers Host Minnesota Vikings on NBC’s Sunday Night Football

STAMFORD, Conn. – December 31, 2015 – Tomorrow’s “Together We Make Football” segment on TODAY unveils the last of five campaign finalists and the story of how the game has inspired them.

Selected from more than 3,500 entries by a joint NFL and NBC panel, the five finalists’ stories were turned into short features by NFL Films, with a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl 50. The winning story will be announced live on TODAY next Friday, January 8, 2016.

Last Friday, Duke Sheow, a Seattle Seahawks fan who came to America from Vietnam in 1979, was revealed as the fourth finalist. Sheow bonded with the Hancock family, which sponsored him and his relatives when they arrived in Seattle. Sheow, who has since moved to Los Angeles, and the Hancocks are still in touch and often talk about their shared affinity for the Seahawks.

To view previous finalist’s stories, visit Togetherwemakefootball.com.

NBC’s Sunday Night Football, television’s No. 1 primetime show, continues this Sunday, Jan. 3, when the Green Bay Packers (10-5, NFC North) host the Minnesota Vikings (10-5, NFC North) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Coverage on NBC begins at 7 p.m. ET with Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

ABOUT “TOGETHER WE MAKE FOOTBALL”

The National Football League and NBC present weekly segments on TODAY for “Together We Make Football,” an invitation to anyone inspired by the game of football – whether as a player at any level, coach or a fan – to share their story for a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl 50.

The campaign unfolds weekly throughout the NFL season with segments airing every Friday on TODAY.

This is the latest iteration of the “Together We Make Football” campaign that launched in 2013. Over the past two years, thousands of fans shared their stories of what football means to them. A select few had their stories told on TODAY and some even won trips to Super Bowl.

Stories that air on TODAY also will be posted on Togetherwemakefootball.com throughout the season.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

 

 

Sunday NFL Countdown’s Regular Season Finale Highlights Week 17 NFL Content on ESPN

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Downloadable ESPN Images

Sunday NFL Countdown: Antonio Brown’s Olympian Fan; Images of the Season; #Countdown2sb50 Winner Revealed; and More

ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman, with analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson will preview NFL action on the final Sunday of the regular season on January 3 at 11 a.m. ET. Reporter/host Wendi Nix will host select segments, NFL insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will report the day’s headlines and news, with senior analyst Matthew Berry and special contributor Stephen A. Smith.

The two-hour program will include a reveal of the #Countdown2sb50 winner – an in-season, weekly social media contest where viewers responded to a hashtag on the @ESPNNFL Twitter handle as entries to win a grand prize of two tickets, flight and hotel to Super Bowl 50. Every Sunday, over the first 15 weeks of the season, a winning entry was announced. Each week’s winner is automatically eligible for the grand prize. On Sunday’s Countdown, the grand prize winner will be announced.

Preceding Sunday NFL Countdown, Trey Wingo, NFL Insiders Mortensen and Schefter and NFL Front Office Insider Louis Riddick, will host NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition at 10 a.m.

Reporter game assignments for week 17:

Features:

  • Antonio Brown and his Olympian Fan: In the first Steelers-Browns meeting of the season on Nov. 15, Steelers Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown capped a 56-yard reception by front-flipping into the end zone for a touchdown. In Houston, former American gymnast and 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist Mary Lou Retton was watching. A longtime Steelers fan who grew up in West Virginia, Retton was impressed. She judged Brown’s front-flip a “Perfect 10” and said so via Twitter the following morning. SportsCenter’s Jade McCarthy
  • Images of the Season: Countdown captures the key moments and indelible images that will define the 2015 NFL season.

NFL Sundays on ESPN Radio: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

ESPN Radio’s national coverage of Sunday afternoon NFL games continues Sunday, Dec. 27, at noon when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Cleveland Browns, led by quarterback Johnny Manziel. Marc Kestecher will call the game with analyst Bill Polian and reporter Ian Fitzsimmons.

NFL Matchup: Jets at Buffalo; Seattle at Arizona; Minnesota at Green Bay; and More

NFL Matchup host Sal Paolantonio and analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge preview the final weekend of NFL regular-season matchups via film-room X’s and O’s analysis Saturday, Jan. 2, at 7:30 a.m. on ESPN2 (re-air on ESPN, Sunday at 3 and 5:30 a.m.). Highlights:

  • Hoge Breakdown – Jets at Buffalo: Jets Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker have set an NFL record for the most games with a touchdown catch by a duo of wide receivers in a season. However, in the week 10 meeting, the Bills were able to slow the duo down en-route to a 22-17 victory. Hoge picks a play from that matchup featuring Decker to show how the Jets offense can win against the Bills defense.
  • Inside the Matchup – Seattle at Arizona: From their last meeting in Seattle, Jaworski explains how Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer fooled Seattle’s Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman with a pass to wide receiver Michael Floyd, Jr. in the end zone.
  • Anatomy of a Play and Matchup Extra – Minnesota at Green Bay: Using a play that ended in a 27-yard touchdown by wide receiver James Jones, Jaworski shows how Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers improvises to place his team in favorable matchups. To show the contrast, Hoge explains a play where Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stuck with his pre-snap read, though not the correct one, and made a great throw to tight end Kyle Rudolph for a touchdown against the Packers zero blitz.

ESPN.com and ESPN Insider

ESPN.com and ESPN Insider continue to provide ongoing coverage of the 2015 NFL season and upcoming NFL Playoffs. Among this week’s notable stories:

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In 2015, ESPN Repeats as Cable’s Best in Prime Time

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Again Leads Cable in Total Day for Key Male Demos
ESPN’s Total Day Average Audience is 25% Larger than all non-ESPN Sports Networks Combined

In 2015, ESPN repeated as the top cable network in prime time among households and viewers (P2+), an accomplishment first achieved in 2014.

ESPN also repeated previous yearly bests as cable’s best among all key men/adult demos. On a Total Day basis, ESPN ranked first among full-time cable nets with M18+, M18-34, M18-49, M25-54, plus P18-49, and P25-54.

In 2015, ESPN aired 18 of cable’s top 27 most-viewed shows in terms of household impressions (12 of the top 27 in P2+).

With an average total-day audience of 900,963 viewers, ESPN outdrew all non-ESPN sports networks by 25 percent (719,425).

All-Time Cable History
In cable history, with the three College Football Playoff games from last January atop the list, ESPN has televised 49 of the 54 most-viewed telecasts (excluding breaking news) of all time in terms of household impressions (45 of the top 55 in terms of P2+). All 49 are college football or Monday Night Football; three of the other five are presidential debates this year.

Multi-Media Reach
In September across TV, PC, Smartphone, Tablet, and Radio, ESPN media reached 203 million Persons 18+ (82.4% of U.S.) and 134 million P18+ in the average week, and 55 million P18+ in the average day. (Source: September 2015 comScore Project Blueprint)

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Bengals-Broncos Finale is ESPN’s Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed Monday Night Football Game in 2015

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MNF Photos via ESPN Images

MNF Helps ESPN Win the Night on 13 of 16 Mondays This Fall

This week’s ESPN Monday Night Football season finale – a Denver Broncos’ 20-17 overtime victory over the Cincinnati Bengals – delivered a 9.4 US rating and 15,806,000 viewers, based on Nielsen ratings, giving ESPN its highest-rated and most-viewed MNF telecast of the season. The game peaked from 11:30-11:45 p.m. ET with an 11.2 rating and 18,580,000 viewers.

ESPN led all networks (broadcast or cable) in viewers, households and all key male and adult demos, while MNF led all the night’s programs in those same categories.

In Cincinnati, the game delivered a 15.6 rating on ESPN and a 28.6 on WLWT-NBC, for a combined 44.2 rating in the market. In Denver, the game delivered a 17.7 rating on ESPN and a 24.3 on KTVD-IND, for a combined 42.0 rating in the market.

2015 MNF Season Highlights

ESPN’s presentation of the 46th season of MNF (17 telecasts in 16 weeks) in 2015 averaged an 8.1 US household rating, 9,392,000 households and 12,898,000 viewers (P2+), according to Nielsen.

  • ESPN won the night all 16 weeks of the 2015 MNF season among all key male demos and adults 18-34 and 18-49; ESPN won the night 14 weeks among households and 13 weeks among viewers.
  • ESPN’s MNF was the No. 1 telecast of the night all 16 weeks of the 2015 MNF season among key male demos and adults 18-34; 15 weeks among adults 18-49.
  • Top-10 metered markets for the MNF season: Las Vegas (14.0), New Orleans (13.0), Denver (12.3), San Diego (12.2), Norfolk, Va. (12.1), West Palm Beach (11.8), Richmond (11.5), Seattle (11.4), Dayton (11.2) and Phoenix (11.1).

The 2015 season is ESPN’s 10th year presenting Monday Night Football.

ESPN Deportes

This season, MNF games on ESPN Deportes averaged 0.3 Hispanic Household rating with 47,000 Hispanic Household impressions and 69,000 Hispanic viewers (P2+). The highest-rated game of the season was 49ers-Vikings on Sept. 14 (0.5 Hispanic Household rating with 72,000 Hispanic Household impressions and 107,000 Hispanic viewers, P2+).

Across both ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 12.5 million Hispanic viewers (P2+) tuned in to MNF this season. On ESPN Deportes alone, 2.8 million Hispanic viewers (P2+) tuned into MNF this season, according to Nielsen.

Note: It was announced earlier this week that ESPN Deportes will televise Super Bowl 50 in Spanish through an agreement with the NFL and CBS. Release.

ESPN Digital

Monday’s Bengals-Broncos game had an average minute audience on WatchESPN of 154,000, up 71 percent compared to Week 16 last season. The game drew 460,000 unique viewers and 35 million total live minutes viewed, up 63 percent and 77 percent, respectively, over last year.  ESPN Digital Media on Sunday had an average minute audience of 667,000, up 8 percent over Week 16 last season. Specifically, the ESPN Fantasy Football app accounted for 40 percent of ESPN’s total digital audience for the day, attracting 4.9 million unique visitors and an average minute audience of 268,000 – up 26 percent and 65 percent, respectively. Of Sunday’s total NFL audience on digital platforms, 80 percent came from mobile devices.

The 17 Monday Night Football games (over 16 Mondays) this season generated an average minute audience of 178,000 on WatchESPN, an increase of 68 percent compared to 2014. WatchESPN also recorded its top 15 (and 16 of the top 18) highest audiences ever for MNF this season, its largest being the Vikings-49ers opening night doubleheader game that attracted an additional 230,000 average minute impressions to the TV audience.  Additionally, nine of the top 10 best days ever for ESPN Digital were recorded on NFL Sundays during the 2015 season, including its best day ever on Sept. 13 that attracted an average minute audience of 1.27 million across platforms, eclipsing the previous high set on Sept. 7, 2014 by 24 percent.

NFL Playoff Game to Air on ESPN and ABC during Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 9-10)

ESPN’s Monday Night Football team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and reporter Lisa Salters will call a NFL playoff game during Wild Card weekend, Jan. 9-10 (teams/time TBD). The game will air on both ESPN and ABC for the first time, in addition to being streamed live on WatchESPN. The MNF crew will also call the NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Longhorn Legends Reunite for 10th Anniversary of National Championship Win

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Former head coach Mack Brown, Vince Young, David Thomas, Aaron Ross, Michael Huff and Kasey Studdard watch 2005 game together in televised “Longhorn Legends Living Room”

Longhorn Network celebrates the tenth anniversary of Texas football’s National Championship win through the eyes of key participants on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. CT, with Longhorn Legends Living Room. Former Texas head coach Mack Brown, Vince Young, David Thomas, Aaron Ross, Michael Huff and Kasey Studdard are reunited in the LHN studios to watch the Texas 41-38 victory over USC together for the first time.

Throughout the three-hour telecast, the legendary Longhorns share anecdotes, insights and behind-the-scenes recollections from the victory.

“The 2005 National Championship game is widely recognized as one of the best college football games in history,” said Stacie McCollum, ESPN senior director, programming.  “The Legends ‘Living Room’, which LHN created last year as an alternate bowl viewing experience, provides a unique opportunity for fans to relive the nostalgia of UT’s win over USC alongside the Legends that brought the Championship to the 40 Acres.”

Also in celebration of this memorable championship, LHN is hosting a fan sweepstakes on www.LHN.fanappz.com until Sunday, Jan. 3.  Fans can enter for a chance to win a treasure trove of Longhorn memorabilia, autographed by the Longhorn Legends participating in the Living Room viewing of the game. A winner will be announced in the second half of the telecast.

About Longhorn Network
ESPN has a 20-year agreement to own and operate a year-round, 24-hour network dedicated to Texas athletics in partnership with UT and IMG College.  Longhorn Network (LHN) offers a variety of content, highlighted by more than 175 exclusive events annually from 20 sports, original series and studio shows, historical programming and academic and cultural happenings. The network is also available to subscribers via WatchESPN on smartphones, tablets, computers, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

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NBC SPORTS GROUP RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR IN PRIMETIME WITH THE PGA TOUR’S BEST AT THE HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS AND SONY OPEN IN HAWAII ON GOLF CHANNEL

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Golf Central to Provide Wraparound News Coverage On-Site in Kapalua and Honolulu

Golf Channel Analyst Mark Rolfing to Return to TV at Hyundai Tournament of Champions Following Cancer Treatment

ORLANDO, Fla., (Dec. 30, 2015) – NBC Sports Group will kick off 2016 coverage of the PGA TOUR next week with the Hawaii Swing at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii the following week. Headlined by an elite field who qualified as a result of winning during the 2014-15 PGA TOUR season that includes World No.1 Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions will be held at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 7-10, with the majority of coverage airing in primetime on Golf Channel. The PGA TOUR moves to Honolulu the following week for the first full-field event in 2016, the Sony Open in Hawaii, taking place at Waialae Country Club, Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 14-17, also airing in primetime on Golf Channel.

WEEKEND LEAD-IN COVERAGE OF HYUNDAI TOC ON NBC: For the third consecutive year, weekend coverage of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions will air on NBC leading in to Golf Channel coverage. Live coverage on NBC is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 9 or Sunday, Jan. 10, with continuing coverage on Golf Channel. **NBC’s lead-in coverage is subject to change depending on the network’s coverage of that weekend’s NFL Wild Card game.**

GOLF CENTRAL ON THE ROAD AT HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS AND SONY OPEN IN HAWAII: Golf Central will complement tournament coverage of the Hawaii swing with live wraparound news coverage produced and broadcast on location from dedicated sets, including on-site for the first time at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Notah Begay, Ryan Burr, Mark Rolfing and Steve Burkowski will report on-site for Golf Central at both events, with Brandel Chamblee joining the team at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

ROLFING SET TO RETURN FOLLOWING CANCER TREATMENT: Longtime Golf Channel / NBC Sports analyst Mark Rolfing is set to return to the broadcast team at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. In August, Rolfing was diagnosed with a rare form of salivary gland cancer and took a leave of absence following the PGA Championship for surgery and treatment. Rolfing, who lives in Maui, will serve as an analyst for both live tournament coverage and for Golf Central’s on-site news coverage.

TOURNAMENT BROADCAST TEAMS: Rich Lerner and Peter Jacobsen will call the action from the broadcast booth at the Plantation Course in Kapalua for the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. They will be joined by tower analysts Frank Nobilo and Mark Rolfing; on-course reporters Jerry Foltz and Curt Byrum; and reporter/interviewer Steve Burkowski. Steve Sands will join Jacobsen in the booth as play-by-play host at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

PGA TOUR SEASON RESET TO AIR ON NBC: On Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC will air a half-hour special titled PGA TOUR Season Reset, recapping the first few events of the 2015-16 season and previewing the upcoming PGA TOUR schedule and storylines heading into the New Year. **Time is subject to change based on NBC’s weekend coverage of the NFL’s Wild Card game.**

COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL COVERAGE: GolfChannel.com will provide users with comprehensive online coverage of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii. GolfChannel.com editorial director Jay Coffin (Hyundai) and senior writer Rex Hoggard (Hyundai and Sony) will report from on-site.

HYUNDAI TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS AIRTIMES (all times ET):
Jan. 7               Thursday                     Round 1                      6-10 p.m.         Golf Channel
Jan. 8               Friday                          Round 2                      6-10 p.m.         Golf Channel
Jan. 9               Saturday                      Round 3                      TBD                  NBC**
Jan. 9               Saturday                      Round 3                      3-7 p.m.           Golf Channel**
Jan. 10             Sunday                        Final Round                TBD                  NBC**
Jan. 10             Sunday                        Final Round                5-7 p.m.           Golf Channel**

**NBC lead-in coverage and Golf Channel’s Saturday or Sunday coverage is subject to change based on NBC’s weekend coverage of the NFL’s Wild Card game.**

SONY OPEN IN HAWAII AIRTIMES (all times ET):
Jan. 14             Thursday                     Round 1                      7-10:30 p.m.     Golf Channel
Jan. 15             Friday                          Round 2                      7-10:30 p.m.     Golf Channel
Jan. 16             Saturday                      Round 3                     7-10:30 p.m.     Golf Channel
Jan. 17             Sunday                        Round 4                      6-10 p.m.           Golf Channel

-NBC Sports Group-

BYTES: NBC SPORTS DIGITAL LAUNCHES ON SNAPCHAT AHEAD OF 2016 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC®

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NBC SPORTS DIGITAL “BYTES”

Jeremy Roenick Takes over NBCSports Snapchat Account Tomorrow

 “A Day in the Life” of Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick on Instagram and Twitter Tomorrow; Twitter Chat With NHL Analyst Eddie Olczyk on Friday

December 30, 2015 – Vol. 79

NBC Sports Digital “Bytes” is a collection of highlights, information and metrics for NBC Sports Digital properties. Previous editions can be found on NBCSportsGroupPressbox.com.

NBC Sports Digital Launches on Snapchat Ahead of 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®

NBC Sports Digital launched its Snapchat account, NBCSports, today, to provide fans with exclusive, unprecedented access to Gillette Stadium as it transforms from a football field to a hockey rink for the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on Friday. The account will also take fans behind-the-scenes into NBC Sports production trucks and down onto the ice.

Tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 31, NBC Sports NHL analyst Jeremy Roenick will take over the account to show “a day in the life” as he visits the set and interacts with fans. The account will also show scenes from “Fan Fest” at the 2016 NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza, and the NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game presented by Molson Canadian. NBC Sports’ Snapchat account will show scenes from the NHL Winter Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins on Friday, showing views from “Fan Fest” as the excitement and atmosphere builds, from the stands, from the ice, and more.

NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive Winter Classic social media plan also includes:

  • A “day in the life” with Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick on Instagram and Twitter as he prepares for Friday’s NHL action;
  • A Twitter chat with Eddie Olczyk using the “AnswerCam” app to record and post his answers to fans’ questions this Friday morning, Jan. 1. Fans should use #AskEdzo for a chance to have their question answered by Olczyk;
  • #MyWinterClassic campaign, for which fans can submit their photos and videos of what hockey means to them. Select #MyWinterClassic submissions will be used on-air during the NHL Winter Classic

In addition, NBCSports.com’s Pro Hockey Talk will have the latest stats, news, and storylines ahead of the game, with Mike Halford and Jason Brough from PHT contributing a series of “Scenes from the Winter Classic” posts on-site beginning tomorrow.

NHL All-Access

For the first time, NBCSports.com is providing a destination for fans dedicated to behind-the-scenes and social media driven content from the NHL Winter Classic. NHL All-Access includes exclusive photos and videos of the NHL production team, key highlights, interviews with NHL players, and a social media aggregator with the latest Tweets from NHL on NBC crew, experts, teams and players. In addition, the page displays the latest trending NHL topics on Twitter.

Visit NHL All-Access at: http://www.nbcsports.com/nhlallaccess

NBC Sports presents an NHL Original Six matchup on New Year’s Day in one of the most iconic events in all of sports, when P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens battle Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins in the NHL Winter Classic from Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, on Jan. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. Click here for more information.

— NBC SPORTS DIGITAL —

NFC NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON NBC SPORTS’ “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” WHEN AARON RODGERS AND GREEN BAY PACKERS HOST ADRIAN PETERSON AND MINNESOTA VIKINGS

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Coverage Begins with Football Night In America at 7 p.m. ET on NBC

NBC Sports Live Extra to Live Stream Vikings-Packers

Thursday’s Episode of NFL Turning Point at 1:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN Highlights Jets Thrilling OT Win Over Patriots

Pro Football Talk Weekdays at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 30, 2015 – The NFC North title will be decided on NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football this Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, when Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (10-5, NFC North) host Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings (10-5, NFC North) at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Coverage begins with Football Night In America – the most-watched weekly studio show in sports – at 7 p.m. ET.

The Vikings and Packers enter Week 17 having already clinched postseason berths, but the critical division crown and No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs are at stake. Minnesota earned its ticket to the postseason with a decisive 49-17 win against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football last week, as Peterson rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay is looking to bounce back from a 38-8 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz., last week, as the Cardinals defense sacked Rodgers eight times and returned two of his fumbles for touchdowns.

Since the 2006 season, including playoff games, the Packers hold a 15-4-1 record against the Vikings, including a win in their NFC Wild Card playoff game in 2012. The Vikings have not won in Green Bay since the 2009 season.

With a victory on Sunday night, the Packers would win the NFC North title and the No. 3 seed. A loss would force the Packers on the road in the Wild Card round as the No. 5 seed to travel to face the Washington Redskins, who are locked into the No. 4 seed as NFC East champions.

The Vikings would also clinch the No. 3 seed with a win on Sunday night. If they lose, they would either finish with the No. 5 seed and face Washington in the Wild Card round, or drop to the No. 6 seed, and return to Lambeau Field for a rematch next week against the Packers.

Calling Vikings-Packers are seven-time Emmy Award-winner Al Michaels (play-by-play), in his record 30th season as the voice of the NFL’s premier primetime package; 16-time Emmy Award-winner Cris Collinsworth, who has won the Emmy for Outstanding Event Analyst in each of his six seasons in the Sunday Night Football booth; and two-time Emmy Award-winning sideline reporter Michele Tafoya.

NBC’s coverage of Sunday Night Football is led by Emmy Award-winning producer Fred Gaudelli and Emmy Award-winning director Drew Esocoff.

Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports, is hosted by 26-time Emmy Award-winner Bob Costas, who will report from Lambeau Field. Costas will be joined on site by Collinsworth, Tafoya, and two-time Super Bowl winner Hines Ward.

Dan Patrick co-hosts Football Night from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., joined by Super Bowl-winning head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl winner Rodney Harrison, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on NBCSN and NBCSports.com, and NFL Insider Peter King. Carolyn Manno will report from Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on the Chargers-Broncos game.


NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA

For the eighth consecutive season, NBC Sports will live stream the entire Sunday Night Football schedule. NBC Sports’ “TV Everywhere” live streaming product, NBC Sports Live Extra, will stream all SNF games to desktops, tablets and connected TVs. The full HD-quality video stream will come directly from NBC’s broadcast of SNF. (NOTE: NBC Sports Digital does not have NFL live streaming rights to mobile devices.)

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store and Apple TV.


SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL DIGITAL COVERAGE

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ALL-ACCESS: For the sixth straight season, and with a new look and feel, NBCSports.com is providing a destination for fans dedicated to behind-the-scenes and social media driven content of Sunday Night Football. SNF All-Access includes exclusive photos and videos of the Sunday Night Football production team, look-ins on SNF production meetings, Michele Tafoya’s “Ten With Tafoya” interviews with key NFL players, and conversations with SNF and FNIA talent.

Visit SNF All-Access at: http://snfallaccess.nbcsports.com/

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SOCIAL MEDIA: NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive social media coverage includes the Sunday Night Football Facebook page, providing exclusive behind-the-scenes SNF content and digital content from NBCSports.com, SNF All Access,  ProFootballTalk.com, and Rotoworld.com, @SNFonNBC, using tweets, photos, Vines and videos & real-time tweets from Michele Tafoya, and a look at SNF through the filters of Instagram.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BUS: NBC Sports Group’s all-new Sunday Night Football bus returns this season to travel the country visiting the Sunday Night Football host cities. The bus will arrive in each city two to three days prior to the game, making stops at local landmarks and events before heading to the game site. Once at the stadium, the Sunday Night Football bus brings fans from the field to the studio set, featuring football field decaling on the floor, a welcome reel with the SNF production team looking back on 10 years of SNF, and replica of the Football Night in America studio available for fan photos, complete with a GIF photo booth which takes a series of pictures and compiles them into a sharable GIF.  Fans can digitally follow the Sunday Night Football bus atNBCSports.com/FollowSNF.

“THE SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:” For the fourth consecutive season NBC Sports will present the “Player of the Game Sunday Night Football,” a custom made football from Wilson, which will travel with the SNF crew all season long. At the end of each SNF game, the ball will be signed by the player of the game. Photos, video and stories around the “Player of the Game Sunday Night Football,” and its travels will live on Facebook, Twitter, NBCSports.com/FollowSNF, and SNFAllAccess.com.

For more information on Sunday Night Football’s comprehensive digital coverage, click here.


JETS THRILLING OT WIN OVER PATRIOTS HEADLINES NEW EPISODE OF NFL TURNING POINT THURSDAY AT 1:30 A.M. ET ON NBCSN

This week’s all-new edition of NFL Turning Point, debuting Thursday at 1:30 a.m. ET / Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN, features the thrilling Week 16 overtime matchup between QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the New York Jets and QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The program examines Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s decision to kick off to the Jets after winning the overtime coin toss, and reviews how the Jets were able to win in overtime.

In addition, NFL Turning Point studies the Atlanta Falcons’ dramatic upset over the previously undefeated Carolina Panthers, and features in-game audio from Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford during Sunday’s win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Hosted by Football Night In America’s Dan Patrick, the 30-minute long NFL Turning Point, co-produced by NFL Films, airs weekly throughout the entire NFL season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.

Click here for more information on tonight’s episode.


PRO FOOTBALL TALK ON NBCSN WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 P.M. ET

Two-time Super Bowl champion and veteran Football Night In America studio analyst Rodney Harrison joins co-hosts Mike Florio and Paul Burmeister every weekday throughout the 2015 season on NBCSN’s Pro Football Talk.

Pro Football Talk airs weekdays at 6 p.m. ET. The 30-minute Pro Football Talk provides all-encompassing coverage of the NFL, including the most current news and analysis, thought-provoking debates, and interviews with a wide variety of NFL newsmakers.

Click here for more info on Pro Football Talk.


FANTASY FOOTBALL LIVE ON NBCSN TUESDAY – THURSDAY NIGHTS, 6:30 P.M. ET

Now in its third season on NBCSN, Fantasy Football Live combines the best fantasy football expertise from Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports, including unique metrics from Yahoo Sports’ leading fantasy football platform, and full integration with NBC Sports’ premier fantasy sports information site, Rotoworld.com.

The 30-minute, multi-platform fantasy football program airs Tuesdays through Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN during the NFL regular season. Fantasy Football Live is hosted by NBC Sports’ Dave Briggs, and features a roster of NBC Sports, Rotoworld and Yahoo Sports fantasy analysts, including NBCSN’s Kay Adams, NBC Sports NFL analysts Brian Westbrook, Jon Ritchie and Ross Tucker, and Yahoo Sports’ Brad Evans, Brandon Funston and Andy Behrens.

NBC SPORTS RADIO

NBC Sports Radio will surround the 2015 NFL season with daily coverage across more than 425 radio affiliates, highlighted by Safety Blitz with Rodney Harrison; featuring three-time All Pro and two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison; the Amani Toomer and Dan Schartzman Show; and Pro Football Talk Live, featuring NFL insider and Football Night In America commentator Mike Florio.

To listen to a live stream of NBC Sports Radio, or find your local affiliate, visit www.NBCSportsRadio.com.


NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS

NBC Sports Regional Networks, which serve top NFL markets such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, will surround the 2015 NFL season with in-depth news, analysis and original programming on the teams that matter most in more than 50 million U.S. cable and satellite households.

 

2015 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
*Sun. Jan. 3 Week 17 Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
     

 

*Flex Week

Follow “Sunday Night Football” on Twitter @SNFonNBC

Follow NBC SportsTalk on Twitter @NBCSportsTalk

Become a fan of “Sunday Night Football” on Facebook at: Facebook.com/SNFonNBC

Visit SNF All-Access at: http://snfallaccess.nbcsports.com/

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

MANCHESTER CITY & SERGIO AGUERO VISIT WATFORD THIS SAT., JAN. 2, AT 12:30 PM ET ON NBC & NBC UNIVERSO

By

Sunderland v. Liverpool Today at 2:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN

First-Place Arsenal v. Newcastle Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN & NBC UNIVERSO

Downton Abbey Actor Kevin Doyle Guests on THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW Monday night at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – December 30, 2015 – Third-place Manchester City and their leading scorer Sergio Aguero (7 goals) visit Watford this Saturday, Jan. 2, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC and NBC UNIVERSO, in the first weekend of Premier League action in 2016. Manchester City come off a 0-0 draw against second-place Leicester City, while Watford look to rebound following a 2-1 loss against fourth-place Tottenham. Watford had been unbeaten in their five prior matches. NBC Sports Group’s lead Premier League play-by-play announcer Arlo White calls the match, joined by analyst Lee Dixon at Vicarage Road.

Mid-week match coverage continues today, Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. ET with Premier League Live on NBCSN followed by Sunderland v. Liverpool at 2:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Weekend coverage begins this Saturday, Jan. 2, at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Live followed by West Ham v. Liverpool. Saturday at 10 a.m. ET, NBCSN hosts coverage of first-place Arsenal v. Newcastle, and USA Network hosts coverage of Manchester United v. Swansea City. Arsenal come off a 2-0 win over Bournemouth, which sent the Gunners to the top of the table. Manchester United will be looking to start the year off with a win as their position in the table has dropped to sixth place after three losses and three draws in their last six matches.

Coverage on Sunday, Jan. 3, begins at 7:30 a.m. ET with Premier League Live on NBCSN, followed by Crystal Palace v. Chelsea at 8:30 a.m. ET. Last season’s champions Chelsea come off a 0-0 draw against Manchester United, as they sit three points above the relegation zone.

Sunday coverage continues at 11 a.m. ET with Everton v. fourth-place Tottenham. The Spurs’ victory over Watford on Monday was sealed by a back-heel goal from Heung-Min Son. Despite two goals from Premier League joint-leading scorer Romelu Lukaku (15 goals, tied with Jamie Vardy), the Toffees fell 4-3 to Stoke City on Monday. White calls the match joined by analyst Graeme Le Saux at Goodison Park.

Rebecca Lowe hosts Premier League Live, joined by a combination of former Major League Soccer and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Kyle Martino, and a combination of former Jamaican National Team Player Robbie Earle and former Premier League footballer Robbie Mustoe.

Saturdays throughout the Premier League season, The 2 Robbies “Football” Show, hosted by Earle and Mustoe, airs at 5 p.m. ET on the terrestrial NBC Sports Radio Network as well as on NBCSportsRadio.com and the NBC Sports Radio mobile app. For more information, and to download the app, visit NBCSportsRadio.com.

THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW hosted by Michael Davies and Roger Bennett airs Mondays throughout the Premier League season. Downton Abbey actor Kevin Doyle will be this Monday night’s guest, at 12:30 a.m. ET/9:30 p.m. PT.

All Premier League games will be streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Below is the schedule for NBCUniversal’s soccer coverage this week (all times ET):

Date Time Match Network
Wed., Dec. 30 2 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Wed., Dec. 30 2:45 p.m. Sunderland v. Liverpool NBCSN
Wed., Dec. 30 4:45 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Sat., Jan. 2 7 a.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Sat., Jan. 2 7:45 a.m. West Ham v. Liverpool NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO
Sat., Jan. 2 10 a.m. Arsenal v. Newcastle NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO
Sat., Jan. 2 10 a.m. Manchester United v. Swansea City USA
Sat., Jan. 2 10 a.m. Leicester City v. Bournemouth Extra Time
Sat., Jan. 2 10 a.m. Norwich City v. Southampton Extra Time
Sat., Jan. 2 10 a.m. Sunderland v. Aston Villa Extra Time
Sat., Jan. 2 10 a.m. West Bromwich Albion v. Stoke City Extra Time
Sat., Jan. 2 12:30 p.m. Watford v. Manchester City NBC, NBC UNIVERSO
Sat., Jan. 2 2:30 p.m. Goal Zone NBC
Sat., Jan. 2 11 p.m. Match of the Day NBCSN
Sun., Jan. 3 7:30 a.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Sun., Jan. 3 8:30 a.m. Crystal Palace v. Chelsea NBCSN
Sun., Jan. 3 11 a.m. Everton v. Tottenham NBCSN, Telemundo
Sun., Jan. 3 1 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Sun., Jan. 3 2 p.m. Match of the Day II NBCSN
Sun., Jan. 3 Midnight Match of the Week NBCSN
Mon., Jan. 4 12:30 a.m. THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW NBCSN

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–