Sports Media News

Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases

Archives for June 2016

KEY QUOTES FROM THIS AFTERNOON’S NASCAR ON NBC MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL

By

“Ultimately, sports fans hook into stories and people, and there’s no better group of athletes than these NASCAR drivers.” – Sam Flood

“Now we have a year of practice under our belt, a year of experience under our belt and something to build on.” – Steve Letarte

3 Days Until Live NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing Returns with the Coke Zero 400 at Sat., 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 29, 2016 – NBC Sports Group’s lead NASCAR broadcast team of race announcer Rick Allen and analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte, pre- and post-race analysts Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett, and Executive Producer Sam Flood conducted a media conference call this afternoon to preview the 2016 launch of NASCAR on NBC. The conversation ranged from on-air team dynamics, to tonight’s #NASCARThrowback race on NBCSN. It was also announced on the call that Tony Stewart will join NASCAR on NBC’s pre-race show live Saturday, July 2nd 7 p.m. ET to discuss his triumphant victory last Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. Several notable quotes from today’s conversation can be found below. A full transcript is available here.

Flood on keeping NASCAR fresh and relevant: “Ultimately, sports fans hook into stories and people, and there’s no better group of athletes than these NASCAR drivers. You think about the beauty of it, every week the best go against the best. You wait for that special matchup in another sport where your two elite teams play each other. Well, every single Cup race has the elite guys face-to-face. So you don’t have to wait for that special matchup. It’s one of those unique sports that every weekend, every race, they’re head-to-head.”

Allen on competition throughout the first 20 races: “The story lines that we’ve got in front of us with eight different winners over the last eight races, Tony Stewart getting a win, it really sets it up nicely for us to take over and really take it from here all the way to Homestead, Miami, and see who the champion will be this year.”

Jarrett on Stewart’s recent victory: “We’re very excited. I feel quite certain that our race will end well before 2:41a.m. ET, we all hope so. And as they said, there are so many story lines. Our story lines just increased a thousand percent by Tony Stewart winning the race. Who is going to be that next one to step up? We’ve got a lot of young talent, and it’s going to be very interesting to watch their progression, and as we get closer to the cutoff for the Chase, who is going to still be trying to get that win, and who is close enough in points that they’re going to be driving in maybe a way that we haven’t seen in that situation and scenario.”

Letarte on year two of NASCAR on NBC: “There are some great producers at NBC that are not short of their constructive criticism, which I really enjoyed, because it allowed Jeff and myself and Rick to truly try to be better. So I think that’s what’s different. Now we have a year of practice under our belt, a year of experience under our belt and something to build on.”

In 2016, NBC Sports Group presents 20 Sprint Cup, 19 XFINITY and 37 touring series races in addition to coverage of NASCAR’s Awards Ceremonies and the annual NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

NASCARTalk on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on NASCAR drivers, teams and industry news. For all the latest NASCAR content socially, fans can follow @NASCARonNBC and @NASCARTalkNBC on twitter and like the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page.

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 —

 

GOLF CHANNEL TOURNAMENT AIRTIMES AND NOTES (JUNE 30-JULY 3): WGC-BRIDGESTONE INV., 100TH OPEN DE FRANCE, CAMBIA PORTLAND CLASSIC AND BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP

By

Golf Channel Tournament Airtimes and Notes: June 30-July 3

Strong International Field at WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

McIlroy, Westwood, McDowell and Willett Headline European Tour’s 100th Open de France With Four Qualifying Spots for The Open

Henderson Returns to Defend First LPGA Tour win at the Cambia Portland Classic

PGA TOUR returns to Nevada with the Barracuda Championship, Featuring a Modified Stableford Format and One Qualifying Spot for The Open

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 29, 2016) – The International Federation of PGA TOURS stages its next World Golf Championships event this week – the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational – in Akron, Ohio. 40 of the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking are competing in the no-cut field with 61 players, which feature 22 of 24 members of the 2015 U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams and 24 of 29 winners from the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season. The PGA TOUR also is staging the Barracuda Championship (formerly known as the Reno-Tahoe Open) this week in Reno, Nevada, featuring a modified stableford format. The Barracuda Championship is part of The Open Qualifying Series, where the low finisher who places within the top-5 and ties that is not otherwise exempt will receive an exemption to The Open at Royal Troon. The LPGA Tour returns to the Pacific Northwest for the Cambia Portland Classic, where Brooke Henderson captured her first LPGA career win in 2015. At the European Tour’s 100th French Open in Paris, France, Rory McIlroy headlines the field, where four places are available to The Open as part of The Open Qualifying Series. The leading four players not otherwise exempt who finish in the top-12 will earn an invitation to The Open at Royal Troon.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PGA TOURS

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
Dates: June 30 – July 3
Venue: Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         1:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)
Friday              1:30-6:30 p.m. (Live) / 11:30 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday          Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-4 a.m. (Replay)
Sunday            Noon-1:30 p.m. (Live) / 11 p.m.-4:30 a.m. (Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Field of 61: 40 of the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking are entered in the field this week, including 22 of 24 members of the 2015 U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams and 24 of 29 winners from the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season.
Lowry defends: Shane Lowry defeated Bubba Watson by two strokes to earn his first career PGA TOUR win in 2015.
Headlining the field: Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry, Davis Love III, Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play:   Terry Gannon
Analyst:           Nick Faldo
Tower:             Matt Gogel, Gary McCord
On Course:      Phil Blackmar
Interviews:      George Savaricas

European Tour

100th Open de France
Dates: June 30-July 3
Venue: Le Golf National (Albatros Course), Paris, France

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         4:30-7:30 a.m. (Live) / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Friday              6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Live)
Saturday          7:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)
Sunday            7:30 a.m.-Noon (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Open Qualifying Series Event: The leading four players not otherwise exempt for The Open who finish in the top-12 this week will earn spots to The Open at Royal Troon.
McIlroy, McDowell, Westwood, Willett Headline Field – World No. 4 Rory McIlroy headlines the 100th edition of the French Open, alongside Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett.
Wiesberger defends: Bernd Wiesberger defeated James Morrison by three strokes at 13-under par to earn his third career European Tour win.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Studio Host:    Scott Walker
Play by Play:   Warren Humphreys
Analysts:         Denis Hutchinson, Julian Tutt
On Course:      Jay Townsend

LPGA Tour
Cambia Portland Classic
Dates: June 30-July 3
Venue: Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Ore.

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         9-11 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Friday              9-11 p.m. (Tape Delay)
Saturday          4-7 p.m. (Live)
Sunday            4-7 p.m. (Live)

Broadcast Notes:
Henderson defends: Brooke Henderson returns to the site of her first career LPGA Tour win, when she finished at 21-under par and won by eight strokes in 2015 after Monday qualifying for the tournament.
Stackhouse to Make Professional Debut: Stanford All-American Mariah Stackhouse makes her professional debut this week at the Cambia Portland Classic.
“Caddie Knows Best” – Cheyenne Woods: LPGA Tour professional Cheyenne Woods and her caddie will be featured in “Caddie Knows Best” during Thursday’s tournament coverage, where Woods will try to match answers to questions posed to her caddie about her habits on Tour.
Headlining the field: Brooke Henderson, Stacy Lewis, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Yani Tseng, Karrie Webb and Cheyenne Woods.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team
Play by Play:   Tom Abbott
Analyst:           Judy Rankin
Tower:             John Cook
On Course:      Jerry Foltz, Karen Stupples

PGA TOUR

Barracuda Championship
Dates: June 30-July 3
Venue: Montreux Golf & Country Club, Reno, Nevada

Tournament Airtimes on Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         6:30-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6:30 a.m. (Friday Replay)
Friday              6:30-9 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-6 a.m. (Saturday Replay)
Saturday          7-10 p.m. (Live) / 4-6 a.m. (Sunday Replay)
Sunday            7-10 p.m. (Live) / 4:30-7 a.m. (Monday Replay)

Broadcast Notes:
Modified Stableford format: The Barracuda Championship features a modified stableford format. Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five points for an eagle, two points for a birdie, zero points for a par, losing one point for a bogey and losing three points for a double bogey or worse.
Open Qualifying Series event: Due to the cancellation of the Greenbrier Classic, this event is now a part of the Open Qualifying Series with one spot in The Open at Royal Troon going to the low finisher not otherwise exempt who finishes within the top-5 this week.
Major Champion Justin Leonard to Make Lead Analyst Debut: 1997 Open Champion Justin Leonard will serve as lead analyst for Golf Channel’s coverage this week, working alongside play-by-play host Rich Lerner.
Henry defends: J.J. Henry defeated Kyle Reifers with an eagle on the second playoff hole to earn his third career PGA TOUR win and his second win at this event.
Headlining the field: John Daly, Graham DeLaet, J.J. Henry, Trevor Immelman, Rocco Mediate, Geoff Ogilvy, Jon Rahm and Camilo Villegas.

Golf Channel Broadcast Team:
Play by Play:   Rich Lerner
Analyst:           Justin Leonard
Tower:             Curt Byrum
On Course:      Billy Ray Brown, Jim Gallagher Jr.

-NBC Sports Group-

GOLF CHANNEL POSTS MOST-WATCHED SECOND QUARTER EVER

By

Most-Watched June Ever Helps Drive Second Quarter to Record Viewership

Golf Channel Digital Garners Sixth Straight Quarter of Year-over-Year Gains

ORLANDO, Fla. (June 29, 2016) – Golf Channel’s momentum in 2016 continues to build with the network’s most-watched second quarter in the 21-year history of the network. For posting year-over-year gains, this represents the fifth straight quarter and the 16th of past 22 quarters since Golf Channel joined the NBC Sports Group in 2011. Ultimately, Golf Channel drew more than 24 million unique viewers in second quarter (+3% vs. 2Q ’15; +9% vs. 1Q’16), and had 51 programs average more than a half million viewers (+31% vs. 2Q ’15), according to data released by The Nielsen Company.

“We take great pride in Golf Channel’s continued momentum, and it demonstrates that the investment in high-quality programming is recognized by more and more loyal viewers,” said Mike McCarley, president, golf, NBC Sports Group. “Our comprehensive coverage of our upcoming slate of marquee events will position Golf Channel to set yet another viewership record in third quarter and carry this momentum forward.”

Golf Channel’s & NBC Sports’ Unprecedented 12-Week Stretch

  • The Open, Golf Channel’s first coverage of a men’s major championship (July 14-17)
  • Golf’s return to the Olympics with full coverage of both the men’s and women’s competitions in Rio (August 5-21)
  • The conclusion of the PGA Tour’s season with the FedExCup Playoffs (August 25-Sept. 25)
  • 2016 Ryder Cup outside Minneapolis to cap this stretch (Sept. 30-Oct. 2)

 

Golf Channel Viewership: Most-Watched Second Quarter Ever

For 24-hour Total Day (6AM-6AM), 125,000 average viewers per minute were tuned in to Golf Channel during second quarter, a +1% increase vs. 2Q 2015. This growth was driven by the most-watched April and June ever, along with these year-over-year gains:

  • PGA TOUR: +5%
  • PGA TOUR Champions: +20%
  • European Tour: +8%
  • LPGA Tour: +6%
  • Millennials (P25-34): +29%
  • Prime viewership (8P-11P): +7%
  • Retained No. 1 ranking for quarter, delivering most-affluent audience in television in Total Day and Primetime

 

Golf Channel Digital: Video and Streaming Fueling Growth

  • Pacing to post its best quarter on record for minutes streamed, video starts and average monthly unique devices (Month and Quarter end officially on June 30)
  • This will be the 6th straight quarter of growth for live streaming
  • Total minutes streamed reached 53M; +19% from 2Q15, and +2% from 1Q16
  • Video starts reached 16M; +37% from 2Q15, and +56% vs. 1Q16
  • Average monthly uniques for 2Q are 6.0M; +3% vs 2Q15, and +38% vs. 1Q16

 

NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships:

  • Live Coverage of the Men’s Championship (218,000 average viewers) is +70% vs. 2015.
    • Live coverage of the Men’s Wednesday night final match delivered 325,000 viewers per minute (+139% year over year).
  • Live Coverage of the Women’s Championship (152,000 average viewers) is +12% compared to 2015.
    • Live coverage of the Women’s Wednesday night final match delivered 249,000 viewers per minute (+25% from last year).

 

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: Second Most-Viewed Women’s Golf Event since June 2014:

  • The 2016 KMPG Women’s PGA Championship aired across Golf Channel and NBC for the 2nd year and was seen by 6.1 million unique viewers. That’s the second largest audience for a women’s golf event since NBC/ESPN’s coverage of the US Women’s Open in 2014 (9.8 mm) and the first time since 2010 that any LPGA Tour major other than US Women’s Open was seen by more than 6 million viewers.

 

ABOUT GOLF CHANNEL

Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. Serving the most-affluent audience in all of television, Golf Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 and now part of NBC Sports Group – is available in more than 200 million homes in 84 countries and 11 languages around the world. Golf Channel features more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, including tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, The Open Championship, Olympics, and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel’s digital platforms, headed by GolfChannel.com, deliver unmatched coverage of the world of golf. Fans are able to enjoy 24/7 live streaming of Golf Channel content through Golf Live Extra and NBC Sports Live Extra and select programming is simulcast via SiriusXM’s PGA TOUR Radio. In addition, Golf Channel connects the world to golf through a wide array of digital and lifestyle services including Golf Channel Mobile, a comprehensive app covering golf’s latest headlines, scores and analysis; GolfNow, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform and golf course technology partner, which includes the GolfNow Mobile App, featuring on-course GPS tracking, in-round scoring and game tracking; GolfAdvisor.com, the world’s largest golf course ratings and review resource for golfers, by golfers; a North American network of Golf Channel Academy instructional facilities; and Golf Channel Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour.

– NBC Sports Group –

MICHAEL PHELPS & ALLYSON FELIX HEADLINE NBC SPORTS’ OLYMPIC TRIALS COVERAGE IN SWIMMING & TRACK AND FIELD THIS WEEK

By

Bob Costas Hosts Primetime Olympic Trials Coverage Friday – Sunday

NBC Olympics Begins 16.5 Hours of Track & Field Coverage this Friday, July 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC

Primetime Swimming Coverage Continues Tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN & 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC

Live Paralympic Track and Field Trials Coverage this Saturday on NBC & NBCSN

NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app to Provide Streaming Coverage

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 29, 2016 – NBC Olympics continues its extensive coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials with live coverage of the track and field and swimming competition over July Fourth weekend across NBC, NBCSN, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app.

Bob Costas, NBC’s primetime Olympics host, will host primetime coverage of the Olympic Trials this weekend (Friday, July 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, Saturday, July 2, at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and Sunday, July 3 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on NBC) from the site of the swimming competition in Omaha, Nebraska.

TRACK & FIELD TRIALS

NBC Olympics will provide 16.5 hours of U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials coverage, including seven primetime telecasts, from Hayward Field, in Eugene, Ore. Track and Field Trials coverage begins this Friday, July 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with the finals in men’s shot put and men’s 10,000m.

Weekend coverage continues this Saturday, July 2, live at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, with the finals in women’s 10,000m, women’s long jump, and women’s discus, as well as Paralympic Track and Field Trials coverage. A 90-minute show combining the swimming, track and field and Paralympic Track and Field Trials will air Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Olympic Track and Field Trials coverage culminates Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will livestream all the action, and present supplemental digital-only coverage (schedule below).

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix enters the Trials as the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m and will compete in both the 200m and 400m. She will be joined by four-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross competing in the 400m; reigning Olympic long jump gold medalist Brittney Reese; and 2015 World Championships bronze medalist Tori Bowie in the women’s 100m, who has the fastest time in the event of any U.S. woman this year. Vashti Cunningham, the 18-year-old daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, will compete in the high jump and looks to become the youngest U.S. Olympic track and field competitor since 1976.

Highlighting the men’s field are 2012 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Ashton Eaton, 2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin, who finished second in both the 100m and 200m at the 2015 World Championships, and 2012 Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Galen Rupp. Eaton looks to become the first American to win consecutive decathlon gold medals since Bob Mathias did so in 1948 and 1952. Rupp, who already punched his ticket to Rio by winning the Olympic Marathon Trials in February, looks to qualify for his second event in the 10,000m. In addition, 2008 Olympic 400m gold medalist LaShawn Merritt competes in the 200m and 400m, after winning silver in the 400m at the 2015 World Championships; 2015 World Championships gold medalist Joe Kovacs competes in the shot put; and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin competes in the long jump. Goodwin looks to make his second Olympic team, and owns the two best jumps in the world this year.

The top three finishers in each event will be named to the Olympic team provided that each has, by the end of their event at Trials, achieved the applicable qualifying standard.

Tom Hammond hosts coverage of the Olympic Track and Field Trials, joined by play-by-play voice Kenny Albert, analyst and four-time Olympic track and field medalist Ato Boldon, analysts Craig Masback and Tim Hutchings, and reporters Lewis Johnson and Todd Harris.

NBC Olympics’ coverage on Saturday, July 2, (2 p.m. ET on NBC and 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN) will include live Paralympic Track and Field Trials coverage for the first time ever. Coverage from Charlotte, N.C., will feature 11-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden in the women’s 1500m T53-54; two-time World gold medalist Jarryd Wallace in the men’s 100m T43-44; three-time Paralympic medalist Lex Gillette in the men’s T11 long jump; and 2015 World champion Michael Brannigan in the men’s T20 1500m.

Jason Knapp and Chris Waddell host coverage of the Paralympic Track and Field Trials.

Following is the schedule for NBC Sports’ Olympic Track & Field Trials coverage:

Date Time (ET) Coverage Network
Fri., July 1 7 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Fri., July 1 9 p.m. ET/PT Olympic Track & Field Trials NBC
Sat., July 2 12:45 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Sat., July 2 2 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBC
Sat., July 2 5 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials* NBCSN
Sun., July 3 1 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Sun., July 3 7 p.m. ET/PT Olympic Track & Field Trials* NBC
Mon., July 4 6:30 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Mon., July 4 7 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCSN
Thur., July 7 6:30 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Thur., July 7 8 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCSN
Fri., July 8 6 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCSN
Fri., July 8 8 p.m. ET/PT Olympic Track & Field Trials NBC
Sat., July 9 6:30 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Sat., July 9 8 p.m. ET/PT Olympic Track & Field Trials NBC
Sun., July 10 4:45 p.m. ET Olympic Track & Field Trials NBCOlympics.com & the NBC Sports app
Sun., July 10 7 p.m. ET/PT Olympic Track & Field Trials NBC

*show includes coverage of Olympic Swimming Trials from Omaha, Neb.

OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

NBC Olympics’ presentation of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials from CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb., continues tonight, Wednesday, June 29, at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with coverage switching over to NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Thursday’s action begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with the qualifying heats, and continues on NBC from 8 – 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Coverage culminates Sunday, July 3, with a two-hour show combining the swimming and track and field Trials at 7 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

Headlining the field are Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 Olympic medals, and 11-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin, who won four gold and five total medals in her Olympic debut in London, and nine-time world champion Katie Ledecky.

NBC Olympics’ swimming commentary team of Dan Hicks (play-by-play), three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines (analyst), and Michele Tafoya (reporter) call the action.

Click here for the full schedule of NBC Olympics’ swimming trials coverage.

NBC Olympics presents primetime coverage of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials during an unprecedented 20 of 23 nights across NBC and NBCSN. The full schedule of Trials events can be found here. It all leads up to the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this August on the networks of NBCUniversal.

U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS COVERAGE ON THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will stream the Olympic Trials coverage via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports app is powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

–RIO 2016–

FiveThirtyEight Unveils General Election Forecast

By

538 logo smallFiveThirtyEight is launching its biggest political project of the year: The 2016 General Election Forecast, based on Editor-in-Chief Nate Silver’s well-known model, which first gained national attention in 2008 when it correctly predicted the results of the presidential election in 49 of 50 states, along with all 35 U.S. Senate races.

REMINDER: NASCAR ON NBC MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TODAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET

By

Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett and Executive Producer Sam Flood Preview Coke Zero 400 and Discuss NBC’s Upcoming NASCAR Coverage

Dial 719-457-2697 to Participate

3 Days Until Live NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing Returns Sat., 7 p.m. ET on NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 29, 2016 – NBC Sports Group’s lead NASCAR broadcast team of race announcer Rick Allen and analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte, pre- and post-race analysts Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett, as well as Executive Producer Sam Flood, preview the 2016 launch of NASCAR on NBC over Independence Day weekend on a conference call today at 2:30 p.m. ET. Join them for a discussion about NBC Sports’ upcoming broadcast plans and storylines heading into Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 and the remainder of the 2016 season.

  • WHAT: 2016 NASCAR on NBC Media Conference Call
  • WHEN: Today, June 29th at 2:30 p.m. ET
  • NUMBER: 719-457-2697
  • Meeting ID: 7154619

 

NBC Sports Group’s racing coverage over Independence Day weekend kicks off Friday, July 1st with the Subway Firecracker 250 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and culminates Saturday July 2nd with the Coke Zero 400 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s upcoming NASCAR programing from Daytona International Speedway.

In 2016, NBC Sports Group presents 20 Sprint Cup, including the entire Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, 19 XFINITY and 37 touring series races. NASCAR America, NBCSN’s daily news and highlights show, airs weeknights at 6 p.m. ET. NASCARTalk on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on NASCAR drivers, teams and industry news. For all the latest NASCAR content socially, fans can follow @NASCARonNBC and @NASCARTalkNBC on twitter and like the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page.

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–

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP CONTINUES FORMULA ONE COVERAGE WITH AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX THIS SUNDAY AT 7:30 A.M. ET ON CNBC

By

NBCSN Airs Live Practice Friday at 8 a.m. ET; CNBC Presents Live Qualifying Saturday at 8 a.m. ET

Red Bull Global RallyCross – Marine Corps Air Station New River – Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – RedBud National – Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBC Sports Group Revs Up NASCAR Content as Live Racing Returns to the Peacock

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 29, 2016 – NBC Sports Group’s presentation of the 2016 Formula One Championship continues this week with live coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on CNBC.

In addition to this weekend’s F1 Austrian Grand Prix, coverage includes Red Bull Global RallyCross action from MCAS New River on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC, and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Red Bull National event on Saturday on NBCSN.


F1 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX – SUNDAY AT 7:30 A.M. ET ON CNBC

The Formula One season rolls on this weekend with live coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix on CNBC, as Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) looks for his third consecutive Austrian GP victory. Rosberg began the 2016 season with four consecutive wins, and earned his fifth victory at the European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan on June 13, besting Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel by nearly 17 seconds. Rosberg now leads the F1 driver standings with 141 points, followed by Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton (117 points) and Vettel (96 points).

Coverage begins Friday on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app at 4 a.m. ET with Practice 1, followed by NBCSN’s coverage of Practice 2 at 8 a.m. ET. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream coverage of Practice 3 on Saturday at 5 a.m. ET, prior to CNBC’s live coverage of qualifying at 8 a.m. ET. Live race coverage from Red Bull Ring begins Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on CNBC. NBCSN will air an encore presentation of the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday at noon ET.

NBC Sports Group’s lead F1 broadcast team of Leigh Diffey (play-by-play), veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, and analyst and former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team Steve Matchett will call the action. F1 insider Will Buxton will report on-site from Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria.


RED BULL GLOBAL RALLYCROSS – MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER – SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ON NBC

NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2016 Red Bull Global RallyCross series continues this weekend on NBC with a doubleheader from Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C. Tanner Foust (Volkswagen Andretti) earned his fourth race win of the season last week, at the second race of the Daytona doubleheader, and currently leads the driver championship standings with 265 points. Steve Arpin, who earned his first win of the season for Chip Ganassi Racing in the first race at Daytona, currently sits in second place (233 points).

Toby Moody handles the play-by-play for this weekend’s event alongside analyst Townsend Bell and reporter Kristen Kenney.

 

LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP – REDBUD NATIONAL – SATURDAY AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship continues with the RedBud National in Buchanan, Mich., this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Ken Roczen continues to dominate the 450 Class standings early in the 2016 campaign, following his third sweep of the season in the class in Tennessee last weekend. Cooper Webb earned his first win of the season in the 250 Class at last weekend’s event, but still trails Joey Savatgy who leads the points standings in the class.

Veteran play-by-play voice Jason Weigandt, analyst and two-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Grant Langston, and pit reporter Georgia Lindsay will call this weekend’s action.
NBC SPORTS GROUP REVS UP NASCAR CONTENT AS LIVE RACING RETURNS TO THE PEACOCK

NBC Sports Group launches its NASCAR racing season this week with over 45 hours of NASCAR programing, highlighted by Saturday’s presentation of the Coke Zero 400 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC. Following up a successful 2015 campaign that fueled NBCSN to viewership milestones, NBC Sports Group shifts into high gear, super serving fans with 19 hours of trackside coverage from Daytona International Speedway, and 13 hours of NASCAR news, highlights and interviews with NASCAR America. Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR coverage this weekend.

Following is this week’s motorsports coverage schedule on NBC and NBCSN:

Date Program Time (ET) Network
Thur., June 30 NASCAR Scan All 43 Noon NBCSN
  NASCAR Scan All 43 12:30 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR America 1 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR XFINITY Series Practice – Daytona 2 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – Daytona 3 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – Daytona 4 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – Daytona 5 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR America 6 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – Daytona (Encore) 8 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR XFINITY Series Practice – Daytona (Encore) 9 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Sonoma 11 p.m. NBCSN
Fri., July 1 F1 Austrian Grand Prix – Practice 1 4 a.m. NBCSports.com
  NASCAR America 7 a.m. NBCSN
  F1 Austrian Grand Prix – Practice 2 8 a.m. NBCSN
  Off The Grid 9:30 a.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR XFINITY Series Practice – Daytona (Encore) 10 a.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – Daytona (Encore) 11 a.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying – Daytona 2 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying – Daytona 4 p.m. NBCSN
  Countdown to Green 7 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 7:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., July 2 F1 Austrian Grand Prix – Practice 3 5 a.m. NBCSports.com
  F1 Austrian Grand Prix – Qualifying 8 a.m. CNBC
  Lucas Oil Pro Motocross RedBud – Practice 10 a.m. NBCSports.com
  F1 Austrian Grand Prix – Qualifying (Encore) Noon NBCSN
  Lucas Oil Pro Motocross RedBud – Moto 1s 1 p.m. MAVTV
  Lucas Oil Pro Motocross RedBud – Moto 2s 3 p.m. NBCSN
  Red Bull Global RallyCross – MCAS New River 5 p.m. NBC
  NASCAR America 6:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Countdown to Green 7 p.m. NBC
  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 8 p.m. NBC
  NASCAR Post-Race 11 p.m. NBCSN
  NASCAR Victory Lap 11:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., July 3 F1 Austrian Grand Prix 7:30 a.m. CNBC
  F1 Extra 10 a.m. CNBC
  F1 Austrian Grand Prix (Encore) Noon NBCSN
  F1 Extra (Encore) 2:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Red Bull Global RallyCross – MCAS New River 5 p.m. NBC

 

MOTORSPORTS ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will provide live streaming coverage of this weekend’s motorsports content via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.

NASCAR TALK: NASCAR TALK provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date NASCAR coverage, including Sprint Cup, XFINITY, and Camping World Truck Series. The site also promotes videos from NBCSN’s NASCAR AMERICA. Fans can follow @NASCARTalkNBC on Twitter.

MOTORSPORTSTALK: MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on Formula One, the Verizon IndyCar Series, and other open-wheel and off-road racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBCSN productions of IndyCar and F1, including contributions from on-air commentators.

SOCIAL: NBC Sports Group will continue to provide comprehensive motorsports social coverage across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. On Twitter, fans can follow @MotorsportsTalk for all-encompassing content across NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties. @NASCARonNBC and@NASCARTalkNBC share the latest NASCAR content, @F1onNBCSports provides the latest news in Formula One, and @IndyCaronNBCSN delivers up-to-the-minute information on the Verizon IndyCar Series.

In addition, the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page will provide users with videos, interactive content and much more. Fans should also “like” NBC Sports on Facebook for the most up-to-date news, videos and commentary about NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties.

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 –

 

**REMINDER** NBC SPORTS GROUP’S TOUR DE FRANCE MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TODAY AT 10 A.M. ET

By

Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen and Jens Voigt Discuss NBC Sports Group’s 250 Hours of Coverage

Dial 719-325-2491 to Participate

Daily Live Coverage of The Tour De France, Including all 21 Stages, Begins This Saturday, July 2, at 6 a.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 29, 2016 – NBC Sports Group’s Tour de France broadcast team of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the “voices of cycling,” and former professional cyclist and analyst Jens Voigt will preview the 103rd Tour de France on a conference call today at 10 a.m. ET.  Liggett, Sherwen, and Voigt will be joined by David Michaels, coordinating producer, Tour de France, NBC Sports Group, and Joel Felicio, coordinating producer, cycling, NBC Sports Group.

  • WHAT: 103rd Tour de France Media Conference Call
  • WHEN: Today at 10 a.m. ET
  • DIAL-IN:
    • S./Canada toll free: 888-455-2260
    • International toll: 719-325-2491
    • France toll free: 0 800 902 640
  • Meeting ID: 2745721

NBC Sports Group will present more than 250 hours of live, primetime, and encore coverage of the 103rd Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious and grueling cycling race, across NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports and NBC Sports Gold apps. Daily live coverage of the Tour de France, including all 21 stages, begins this Saturday, July 2, at 6 a.m. ET with the Tour de France Pre-Race Show, followed by Stage 1 at 6:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Click here for more information.

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–

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP REVS UP NASCAR CONTENT AS LIVE RACING RETURNS TO THE PEACOCK

By

More Than 45 Hours of NASCAR Coverage This Week Across NBC Sports Platforms

4 Days Until Live NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing Returns Sat., 7 p.m. ET on NBC

XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 – Fri., 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 28, 2016 – NBC Sports Group launches its NASCAR racing season this week with over 45 hours of NASCAR programing, highlighted by Saturday’s presentation of the Coke Zero 400 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC. Following up a successful 2015 campaign that fueled NBCSN to viewership milestones, NBC Sports Group shifts into high gear, super serving fans with 19 hours of trackside coverage from Daytona International Speedway, and 13 hours of NASCAR news, highlights and interviews with NASCAR America.

All of NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR coverage is available to stream on NBCSports.com and via the NBC Sports app. The NBC Sports app is powered by Playmaker Media, and is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

 

NBC SPORTS COKE ZERO 400 RACE COVERAGE FROM DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Rick Allen calls this weekend’s action alongside Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte and 21-time Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton. Krista Voda, Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett host NASCAR America from the “The Sunshine State” along with all pre- and post-race coverage. Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Kelli Stavast and Dave Burns report and conduct interviews from pit road, the garages and throughout the infield. NBCSports.com lead motorsports writer Nate Ryan handles breaking news and features reporter Rutledge Wood delivers the fan experience and stories surrounding Daytona’s mystique.

NBCSN’s Sprint Cup coverage from Daytona kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday with on-site NASCAR America coverage from Daytona International Speedway’s Fan Zone. Sprint Cup first practice begins at 3 p.m. ET, followed by final practice at 5 p.m. ET, both presented on NBCSN. Friday’s Sprint Cup coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN with qualifying from the superspeedway.

NBC Sports’ Saturday race day coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with NASCAR America live from the front stretch of the 2.5-mile track. Pre-race coverage shifts over to NBC at 7 p.m. ET with Countdown to Green and race coverage at 7:45 p.m. ET. After the checkered flag falls, trackside coverage wraps up on NBCSN with the post-race show at 11 p.m. ET and an on-site addition of Victory Lap at 11:30 p.m. ET.

 

NBCSN’S XFINITY SERIES SUBWAY FIRECRACKER 250 COVERAGE FROM DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

XFINITY series coverage from Florida begins Thursday with first practice at 2 p.m. ET followed by final practice at 4 p.m. ET. Race day kicks off Friday at 2 p.m. ET with qualifying, prior to pre-race Countdown to Green coverage at 7 p.m. ET. NBCSN’s first XFINITY race of 2016 begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the post-race show at 10 p.m. ET.

 

NASCAR RACING RETURNS TO NBC – MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TOMORROW AT 2:30 P.M. ET

 

NBC Sports Group’s lead NASCAR broadcast team of race announcer Rick Allen and analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte, pre- and post-race analysts Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett, as well as Executive Producer Sam Flood, preview the 2016 launch of NASCAR on NBC over Independence Day weekend on a conference call tomorrow, June 29 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Join them for a discussion about NBC Sports’ upcoming broadcast plans and storylines heading into Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 and the remainder of the 2016 season.  Dial 719-457-2697 to participate and enter meeting ID 7154619.

 

Click here for more information on tomorrow’s media conference call.

 

NBCSN PRESENTS #NASCARTHOWBACK TOMORROW AT 8 P.M. ET

 

NBCSN presents #NASCARThowback, the ultimate NASCAR viewing party tomorrow, June 29th at 8 p.m. ET. The first completely interactive on-air race, fans can tweet using #NASCARThrowback and potentially see their tweets, and those of their favorite drivers, featured on air. The tweets will be pulled into NBCSN’s broadcast live and featured alongside the race allowing viewers a glimpse into what drivers and other viewers were thinking as cars edged their way around the 2.5 mile tri-oval fifteen years ago.

Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s #NASCARThowback race.

 

BLAKE SHELTON PERFORMS NEW OPENING THEME FOR NBC SPORTS’ NASCAR COVERAGE

 

Country music superstar and coach of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning series The Voice, Blake Shelton, returns to perform NBC Sports Group’s 2016 NASCAR on NBC opening theme song. This year’s Open includes an all-new look and presentation, including updated lyrics for Shelton’s hit “Bringing Back the Sunshine.” An advanced look at the Open, prior to its debut on NBC Saturday night, is available on NASCAR on NBC’s Facebook page and NBC Sports Group’s YouTube page.

Click here for more information on Blake Shelton’s new NASCAR on NBC Open.

 

UPCOMING NASCAR PROGRAMMING

 

Date Program Time (ET) Network
Tue. June 28 NASCAR America 6:00 PM NBCSN
Wed. June 29 NASCAR America (Encore) 7:00 AM NBCSN
NASCAR America (Encore) 8:00 AM NBCSN
NASCAR America 6:00 PM NBCSN
#NASCARThrowback 8:00 PM NBCSN
#NASCARThrowback (Encore) 10:00 PM NBCSN
Thur. June 30 NASCAR America (Encore) 7:00 AM NBCSN
NASCAR America (Encore) 8:00 AM NBCSN
NASCAR America (Encore) 12:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR America 1:00 PM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Practice – Daytona 2:00 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Series Practice – Daytona 3:00 PM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Final Practice – Daytona 4:00 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – Daytona 5:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR America 6:00 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Series Practice – Daytona (Encore) 8:00 PM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Final Practice – Daytona (Encore) 9:00 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – Daytona (Encore) 10:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Sonoma* 11:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. July 1 Scan All Special 2:30 AM NBCSN
NASCAR America (Encore) 7:00 AM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Final Practice – Daytona (Encore) 12:00 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – Daytona (Encore) 1:00 PM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Qualifying – Daytona 2:00 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Series Qualifying – Daytona 4:00 PM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Countdown to Green Pre-Race Show 7:00 PM NBCSN
Subway Firecracker 250 7:30 PM NBCSN
XFINITY Series Post-Race Show 10:00 PM NBCSN
Building 43 (Encore) 10:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. July 1 Building 43 (Encore) 2:00 PM NBCSN
NASCAR America Saturday 6:30 PM NBCSN
Sprint Cup Countdown to Green Pre-Race Show 7:00 PM NBC
Sprint Cup Coke Zero 400 7:45 PM NBC
Sprint Cup Post Race Show 11:00 PM NBCSN
Victory Lap 11:30 PM NBCSN
Sun. July 2 NASCAR: The List Greatest Finishes 2:30 AM NBCSN
NASCAR 120 3:00 PM NBCSN

 

In 2016, NBC Sports Group presents 20 Sprint Cup, 19 XFINITY and 37 touring series races in addition to coverage of NASCAR’s Awards Ceremonies and the annual NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

NASCARTalk on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on NASCAR drivers, teams and industry news. For all the latest NASCAR content socially, fans can follow @NASCARonNBC and @NASCARTalkNBC on twitter and like the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page.

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 —