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Archives for December 2019

NBC’S “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” CONCLUDES SEASON ON PACE TO BE TV’S #1 PRIMETIME SHOW FOR UNPRECEDENTED 9TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR; 2019 SEASON AVERAGES 20.5 MILLION VIEWERS, BEST IN FOUR YEARS

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Last Night’s 49ers-Seahawks Thriller is Most-Watched NBC SNF Game Ever Between West Coast Teams, Averaging 23.3 Million Viewers

NBC SNF Dominates Primetime Competition in Average Viewership and HH Rating & Delivers 8 of 10 Most-Watched Primetime Telecasts on Any Network Since September

SNF Wins among Adults 18-49 for 12th Consecutive Fall Season

Decade Dominance: NBC’s Sunday Night Football Delivered 104 Regular-Season Broadcasts With at Least 20 Million TV Viewers – Tops in Primetime

NBC’s Football Night in America is Sports’ #1 Weekly Studio Show for 14th Consecutive Year

NBC Sports Digital Sets SNF Streaming Record For Average Minute Audience, Up 44% from 2018

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 30, 2019 – With last night’s thrilling 49ers-Seahawks matchup, NBC concluded its 14th season of Sunday Night Football, posting its highest average viewership since the series’ record 2015 season, and once again pacing to finish as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen.

Most Consecutive Years, #1 Ranked Show in Primetime, Since 1950

9 years in a row – Sunday Night Football (2011-12 through 2019-20; on pace)

6 years in a row – American Idol (2005-06 through 2010-11)

5 years in a row – The Cosby Show (1985-86 through 1989-90)…tied Cheers in ‘89-90

5 years in a row – All in the Family (1971-72 through 1975-76)

4 years in a row – Gunsmoke (1957-58 through 1960-61)

NBC Sunday Night Football posted a Total Audience Delivery average of 20.5 million viewers in 2019 – up 5% from last year (19.6 million) and a 12% increase over 2017 (18.4 million), according to fast national live plus same day data released by Nielsen, and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

The exciting San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks ‘NFC West Championship’ game last night, which concluded with a defensive stop inches short of the goal line, averaged 23.3 million viewers across all platforms, ranking as NBC SNF’s most-watched game ever among West Coast teams. In addition, TV-only viewership on NBC for night’s game peaked at 25.7 million viewers for the thrilling conclusion from 11:15-11:28 p.m. ET.

“Last night’s season finale featured the down-to-the wire drama that we love about the NFL. With exciting games featuring compelling new stars emerging at quarterback, coupled with veterans at the position who rank among the best in history, we’ve had a terrific season with viewership increases across the board,” said Pete Bevacqua, President, NBC Sports Group. “We’re looking forward to the playoffs, with the Wilson-Wentz matchup in the wild card, and a divisional game featuring the NFC #1 seed San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo.”

  • FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA IS MOST-WATCHED STUDIO SHOW FOR 14TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

NBC’s Football Night in America studio show averaged 7.3 million viewers from 7:30-8:15 p.m. ET this season – up 2% from last year (7.1 million). FNIA continues its reign as sports’ most-watched weekly studio show for the 14th consecutive year (since the show’s 2006 debut season). In addition, the 8-8:23 p.m. ET portion of Football Night in America (including pre-kick coverage), averaged 12.2 million viewers (through Week 16), and a 3.5 rating among Adults 18-49, which would respectively rank No. 3 and No. 4 among regularly-scheduled primetime shows in the demographic.

  • SNF EASILY DELIVERS DECADE’S MOST PRIMETIME BROADCASTS WITH 20+ MILLION VIEWERS

Last night’s San Francisco-Seattle matchup on NBC’s Sunday Night Football was the final NFL game of the Decade of the 2010s. With an average TV-only viewership of 22.8 million, 49ers-Seahawks marks the 104th NBC SNF regular-season game of the decade to average at least 20 million viewers – easily topping all other primetime shows.

Following are regularly-scheduled primetime series this decade with the most telecasts averaging at least 20 million viewers:

Program # of Shows with 20+ Million Viewers, Since Jan. 1, 2010
NBC Sunday Night Football 104
American Idol* 69
Dancing with the Stars* 25
NCIS 25
Thursday Night Football** 5

(Source: Nielsen Live + Same Day Viewing, 1/1/10-12/29/19)

*multiple nights each week; **multiple networks

  • SNF POSTS HUGE VIEWERSHIP & RATINGS ADVANTAGES OVER PRIMETIME’S #2 SHOW

NBC Sunday Night Football averaged 20.0 million TV viewers in 2019, which topped the #2 primetime show by 34%. SNF also beat the top scripted series (NCIS) by 75% in the fall, up from last year’s 52% advantage.

Top Fall 2019 Primetime Programs, Viewership (TV only)

Program Avg. Viewers SNF Advantage
Sunday Night Football 20.0 million —
Thursday Night Football* 14.9 million 34%
Monday Night Football 12.1 million 65%
NCIS 11.4 million 75%
60 Minutes 10.1 million 99%

(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019; regularly-scheduled programs; excludes pre- and post-shows); *11 FOX/NFLN telecasts

SNF averaged an 11.3/22 household rating in posting a 28% advantage over primetime’s #2 show. SNF also easily topped the highest-rated scripted series (NCIS), with a 59% margin (up from a 43% edge last year).

Top Fall 2019 Primetime Programs, U.S. HH Rating (TV only)

Program U.S. HH Rating SNF Advantage
Sunday Night Football 11.3 —
Thursday Night Football* 8.8 28%
Monday Night Football 7.2 57%
NCIS 7.1 59%
60 Minutes 6.2 82%

(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019; regularly-scheduled programs; excludes pre- and post-shows); *11 FOX/NFLN telecasts

  • DEMO DOMINANCE — SNF WINS ADULT 18-49 DEMO FOR 12TH CONSECUTIVE FALL SEASON

SNF averaged a 6.1 rating in the Adult 18-49 demographic, ranking as primetime television’s #1 show in the advertiser-coveted demo for the 12th consecutive fall TV season.

Top Fall 2019 Primetime Programs, Adult 18-49 Rating (TV only)

Program Adult 18-49 Rating SNF Advantage
Sunday Night Football 6.1 —
Thursday Night Football* 4.5 36%
Monday Night Football 3.9 56%
The Masked Singer 2.1 190%
This is Us 1.5 307%

(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019; regularly-scheduled programs; excludes pre- and post-shows); *11 FOX/NFLN telecasts

Additional highlights from the 2019 NBC Sunday Night Football season:

  • The Total Audience Delivery (TAD) for the 2019 Sunday Night Football season on NBC and NBC Sports Digital was 5 million viewers – up 5% from last year (19.6 million). For SNF, NBC Sports Group’s Total Audience Delivery measures broader consumption by calculating average minute viewing across broadcast and digital.
  • 10 NBC Sunday Night Football games this season averaged 20+ million TV viewers – topping the seven such SNF games last year. Only two other primetime telecasts averaged 20 million viewers this past fall (chart below).
  • In each of its 14 seasons (2006-19), Sunday Night Football has averaged at least a 10.0 U.S. household rating (11.3 this season) and a 5.0 rating in the key Adult 18-49 demographic (6.1 this season). Among other primetime shows, only American Idol and Grey’s Anatomy have posted a 10.0 HH rating and a 5.0 demo rating more than twice in that 13-year stretch, and neither has done so since 2011. (Nielsen Live + Same Day Data, 9/5/19-12/29/19; Excludes Pre- and Post-Game Shows)

NBC SNF GAMES PRODUCE 8 OF 10 MOST-WATCHED PRIMETIME SHOWS THIS FALL

NBC Sunday Night Football accounted for eight of the top 10, and 16 of the 20 most-watched primetime telecasts between Sept. 5, 2019 and Dec. 29, 2019.

Following are the programs topping 20 million primetime viewers this fall (TV only):

Program Telecasts with 20 Million Viewers
NBC Sunday Night Football 10
FOX World Series 1
ESPN CFP Semifinal 1

Most-Watched Primetime Shows This Fall (Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019), TV only

Show, Date Avg. Viewers
NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Saints), 9/29 24.2 million
FOX World Series (Nationals-Astros, Game 7), 10/30 23.2 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (Vikings-Cowboys), 11/10 23.1 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (49ers-Seahawks), 12/29 22.8 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Patriots), 9/8 22.3 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (Packers-Bears), 9/5 22.2 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 11/3 22.2 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Texans), 12/1 21.6 million
NBC Sunday Night Football (Eagles-Cowboys), 10/20 21.6 million
ESPN CFP Semifinal (Ohio State-Clemson), 12/28 21.2 million*

Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Data, 9/5/19-12/29/19; Excludes Pre- and Post-Shows

*Viewership across four television networks

SNF AVERAGE (P2+) VIEWERSHIP RANK AMONG PRIMETIME SHOWS:

Fall TV Season                                   Full TV Season

2019 No. 1 Show 1st (through 12/29/19)
2018 No. 1 Show 1st
2017 No. 1 Show 1st
2016 No. 1 Show 1st
2015 No. 1 Show 1st
2014 No. 1 Show 1st
2013 No. 1 Show 1st
2012 No. 1 Show 1st
2011 No. 1 Show 1st
2010 No. 1 Show 3rd 
2009 No. 2 Show 4th
2008 No. 5 Show 8th
2007 No. 7 Show 8th
2006 No. 7 Show 9th

 Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day Viewing

SNF SETS STREAMING RECORD: NBC Sports Digital hit another viewership milestone for Sunday Night Football in 2019, with a record Average Minute Audience of 459,000 viewers across NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, and NFL Digital platforms – up 44% from the prior record (318,000) set last year.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOP 20 METERED MARKETS – 2019 SEASON:

For the second consecutive year, and fifth time (2010, 2011 and 2013) in 10 seasons, New Orleans was the top-rated SNF market. Milwaukee was the top-rated SNF market in 2017 and 2012, while Denver ranked #1 for three consecutive seasons from 2014-16 (*asterisked markets through Week 16; final data available tomorrow).

 

1. New Orleans* 24.7/34
2. Kansas City 20.5/33
3. Milwaukee 19.8/32
4. Albuquerque* 18.1/29
5. Pittsburgh 17.9/28
6. Buffalo* 17.4/27
7. Seattle 16.8/32
8. Dallas 16.3/28
9. Minneapolis 16.1/30
T10. Richmond* 15.6/25
T10. Providence 15.6/27
12. Denver 15.4/28
T13. Philadelphia 14.9/25
T13. Las Vegas 14.9/26
T13. Austin 14.9/28
T16. San Diego 14.8/29
T16. Norfolk 14.8/26
18. Indianapolis 14.4/24
19. Chicago 14.0/25
20. San Antonio 13.9/24
   

NBC will televise an NFC Wild Card game this Sunday, Jan. 5, as the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) host the Seattle Seahawks (11-5), with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET with a special Football Night in America. The following weekend on NBC, Jimmy Garoppolo and the NFC #1 seed San Francisco 49ers (13-3) host the opening game of the NFL Divisional Playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 11, with coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET with a special expanded FNIA.

–SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL–

ESPN to Present the 2019 Professional Fighters League Championship LIVE on New Year’s Eve

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ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will present the 2019 Professional Fighters League (PFL) Championship tomorrow New Year’s Eve LIVE from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The event will showcase six, $1 million prize title fights, culminating with the first-ever women’s lightweight championship bout featuring 2X Olympic Judo gold medalist and rising MMA star Kayla Harrison. To earn her first title belt and remain undefeated (6-0), she’ll need to defeat the only woman to take her three rounds, Larissa Pacheco.

The post ESPN to Present the 2019 Professional Fighters League Championship LIVE on New Year’s Eve appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS FIRST FOOTBALL OF THE NEW YEAR AS CHELSEA VISIT BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION THIS WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1 AT 7:30 A.M. ET ON NBCSN

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New Year’s Day Premier League Coverage Features NBCSN Quadrupleheader, Culminating with Arsenal v. Fifth-Place Manchester United at 3 p.m. ET

First-place Liverpool Host Sheffield United Thursday, Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBC Sports Gold Presents Exclusive Live Coverage of Five New Year’s Day Matches; Available Now for $64.99

THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW Welcomes Former Manchester United Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar on January 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 30, 2019 – NBC Sports concludes its Premier League “Festive Fixtures” coverage this week, highlighted by a New Year’s Day quadruple header. Coverage begins this Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Premier League Mornings, followed by live match action at 7:30 a.m. ET as fourth-place Chelsea, who scored two late goals in a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Arsenal, visit Brighton & Hove Albion.

Wednesday’s NBCSN matches continue at 10 a.m. ET with Harry Kane and Tottenham visiting Southampton. Then at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo, third-place Manchester City host Everton, who are unbeaten in their last five league matches. Clive Tyldesley and former Manchester City and Everton defender Andy Hinchcliffe call the match on NBCSN.

Capping the January 1 matches, Arsenal host Manchester United at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo. Arlo White and Lee Dixon call the match from Emirates Stadium.

NBC Sports Gold presents exclusive live coverage of five matches on Jan. 1 – Burnley v. Aston Villa (7:30 a.m. ET); Newcastle v. Leicester City and Watford v. Wolverhampton Wanderers (10 a.m. ET); and Norwich City v. Crystal Palace and West Ham v. Bournemouth (12:30 p.m. ET).

Weekday matches conclude on Thursday, Jan. 2, as league-leaders Liverpool, who are unbeaten in 19 league matches this season, host Sheffield United at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Universo. Coverage begins on NBCSN at 2 p.m. ET with Premier League Live.

Rebecca Lowe hosts Goal Zone, Premier League Mornings, and Premier League Live, joined by former USMNT player Kyle Martino, and former Premier League footballer Robbie Mustoe.

THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW, hosted by soccer personalities Michael Davies and Roger Bennett, welcomes former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar on January 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

PREMIER LEAGUE PICK ‘EM

NBC Sports’ Premier League Pick ‘Em returns this season from the free-to-play NBC Sports Predictor games app. The app, developed with Boom Fantasy, is available in the App Store and Google Play Store, and gives eligible fans the chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes over the next year. Each match week, Premier League Pick ‘Em will feature at least $2,500 in weekly prizes, with a $50,000 grand prize for a “perfect week” – picking the correct scores of all five Premier League matches in that// match week’s competition (information on scoring, prizing, and Official Rules here).

Matches in Play for Premier League Pick ‘Em this Week:

Match Week 21

Date Time (ET) Match
Wed., Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. – NBCSN, Universo Manchester City v. Everton
Wed., Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. – NBC Sports Gold Norwich City v. Crystal Palace
Wed., Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. – NBC Sports Gold West Ham v. Bournemouth
Wed., Jan. 1 3 p.m. – NBCSN, Universo Arsenal v. Manchester United
Thurs., Jan. 2 3 p.m. – NBCSN, Universo Liverpool v. Sheffield United

Premier League games on NBC and NBCSN will be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs. Coverage will be streamed via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value 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, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports Digital’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product – has launched its upgraded “Premier League Pass” for the 2019-20 season. For the first time, “Premier League Pass” will also include full-event replay for all 380 matches on demand*, new Sky Sports content, and more than 1,400 hours of the most robust offering of Premier League shoulder programming ever available in the U.S. Fans can purchase the enhanced “Premier League Pass,” priced at $64.99, today by visiting NBCSportsGold.com. Also available for purchase on NBCSportsGold.com is the new “MatchDay Pass” for $39.99, which features 140 live matches.

Following is the match schedule for Match Week 21, as NBC Sports concludes its Premier League “Festive Fixtures” coverage (all times ET, subject to change):

Date Time (ET) Match Network
Wed., Jan. 1 7 a.m. Premier League Mornings NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 7:30 a.m. Brighton & Hove Albion v. Chelsea NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 7:30 a.m. Burnley &v. Aston Villa NBC Sports Gold
Wed., Jan. 1 9:30 a.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 10 a.m. Southampton v. Tottenham NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 10 a.m. Newcastle v. Leicester City NBC Sports Gold
Wed., Jan. 1 10 a.m. Watford v. Wolverhampton Wanderers NBC Sports Gold
Wed., Jan. 1 12 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. Norwich City v. Crystal Palace NBC Sports Gold
Wed., Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. West Ham v. Bournemouth NBC Sports Gold
Wed., Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. Manchester City v. Everton NBCSN, Universo
Wed., Jan. 1 2:30 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 3 p.m. Arsenal v. Manchester United NBCSN, Universo
Wed., Jan. 1 5 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN
Wed., Jan. 1 6:30 p.m. THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW NBCSN
Thur., Jan. 2 2 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Thur., Jan. 2 3 p.m. Liverpool v. Sheffield United NBCSN, Universo
Thur., Jan. 2 5 p.m. Goal Zone NBCSN

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS 2020 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC® FEATURING STARS & PREDATORS AT COTTON BOWL ON NEW YEAR’S DAY AT 1 P.M. ET ON NBC

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Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire and Brian Boucher Call the Action

Mike Tirico Hosts On-Site with Kathryn Tappen, Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Patrick Sharp; Tirico to Interview Members of 1999 Stanley Cup Champion Stars

“Playing in the Winter Classic is an experience and an honor. It’s more than just a regular-season game.” – Patrick Sharp

NBC Sports Partners with Dude Perfect on Hockey Trick Shot Video From Cotton Bowl Featuring Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn

NHL Doubleheaders on NBCSN; Devils-Isles and Blues-Avs on Thursday Night, Followed by Red Wings-Blackhawks and Predators-Ducks on Sunday

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 30, 2019 – NBC Sports presents the 12th installment of the NHL’s signature regular-season game on New Year’s Day, as Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars face off against Roman Josi and the Nashville Predators in the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Jan. 1, 2020, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

Seven-time Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk, and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analysts Pierre McGuire and Brian Boucher will have the call from the Cotton Bowl.

Mike Tirico will host the network’s on-site Winter Classic pre-game coverage alongside the NHL Live studio team of host Kathryn Tappen, and analysts Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Patrick Sharp.

Since its inception in 2008, the NHL Winter Classic telecasts on NBC represent the most-watched single NHL game telecasts on record.

Patrick Sharp played in two Winter Classics as a member of the Blackhawks (2009 and 2015) and Brian Boucher was a member of the Flyers and served as the backup goaltender for the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. Following are comments from Sharp and Boucher on the significance of the Winter Classic:

Boucher: “Aside from the Stanley Cup Final, the Winter Classic was my most anticipated game and one of my top memories as a player. There is truly nothing like playing the game outdoors – the Winter Classic brought back so many great memories from my childhood playing on outdoor rinks and ponds in Rhode Island. Knowing your team is slated to play in the Winter Classic makes the lead-up to the game almost as good as the game itself.”

Sharp: “Playing in the Winter Classic is an experience and an honor. It’s more than just a regular-season game. You have to earn the right as an organization to play in the Winter Classic. It was a big deal as a player and for the Blackhawks. Looking back, the 2009 Winter Classic put our young team on the big stage and it prepared us for bigger playoff matchups down the road. That game felt like the beginning of good things to come in Chicago.”

Following are highlights from NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2020 NHL Winter Classic:

Mike Tirico to interview members of 1999 Stanley Cup Champion Stars team: Tirico will interview members of 1999 Stanley Cup Champion Stars team on-site during intermission of coverage on NBC. The Cup marks the only championship for the franchise.

Tim Layden feature on Cotton Bowl: NBC Sports journalist Tim Layden takes viewers through the history of the Cotton Bowl, highlighting the notable sporting and cultural events that have taken place in the confines of the illustrious stadium.   

Dude Perfect hockey trick shot video: NBC Sports has partnered with trick shot extraordinaire group Dude Perfect ahead of this year’s Winter Classic. Today at 6 p.m. ET, Dude Perfect will release a hockey trick shot video on their YouTube channel which features Stars players Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. 

Dan + Shay: Grammy Award-winning duo Dan + Shay will headline the entertainment for the 2020 NHL Winter Classic, with their performance airing live on NBC during the first intermission.

The Predators (18-14-6, 42 pts) enter the Winter Classic looking bounce back from a pair of losses to Pittsburgh in a home-and-home series last weekend. Captain Roman Josi leads the team with 39 points (14g/25a) and is on a career-high seven-game point streak.

Dallas (22-14-4, 48 pts) are coming off a pair of wins against Colorado and Arizona over the weekend. The Stars are led offensively by Seguin (11g/21a) and the goaltending tandem of Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin has combined to allow the fewest goals in the Western Conference (99).

Below is NBC Sports’ NHL coverage this week:

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Wed., January 1 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic – Nashville vs. Dallas NBC 1 p.m.
Thurs., January 2 NHL Live NBCSN 6 p.m.
  New Jersey at New York Islanders NBCSN 7 p.m.
  St. Louis at Colorado NBCSN 9:30 p.m.
  NHL Overtime NBCSN 12 a.m.*
Fri., January 3 No. 15 Notre Dame vs. No.  19 Western Michigan NBCSN 7 p.m.
Sun., January 5 NHL Live NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
  Detroit at Chicago^ NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
  Nashville at Anaheim NBCSN 10 p.m.
  NHL Overtime NBCSN 12:30 a.m.*

*Immediately following game coverage
^subject to local blackouts

 THURSDAY – DEVILS-ISLANDERS AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Islanders (24-10-3, 51 pts) host the Devils (13-19-6, 32 pts) on Thursday in a matchup of Metropolitan Division and area rivals. The Isles enter the week following a 3-1 come-from-behind victory in Minnesota on Sunday, while the Devils notched a 4-3 overtime win against Ottawa on Sunday.

Brendan Burke will handle play-by-play duties alongside analyst AJ Mleczko and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY.

THURSDAY – BLUES-AVALANCHE AT 9:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Avalanche (23-12-4, 50 pts) host the Blues (26-8-6, 58 pts) in a matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference. The Blues beat the Jets on Sunday, 4-1, to extend their winning streak to eight games. The Avalanche face the Jets on Tuesday and are led by Nathan MacKinnon, who will be a Central Division captain for the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game and is fifth in the league in points (56).

Play-by-play commentator John Forslund and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Brian Boucher will call the action from Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

SUNDAY – RED WINGS-BLACKHAWKS AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Blackhawks (17-17-6, 40 pts) enter the week following wins against the Islanders and Blue Jackets over the weekend. Detroit (9-28-3, 21 pts) enter the week following a 2-1 loss to the Lightning in Tampa.

Chris Cuthbert will handle play-by-play duties alongside Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire at United Center in Chicago, Ill.

SUNDAY – PREDATORS-DUCKS AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

This marks the first of two meetings in the month of January between the Predators and Ducks (16-18-5, 37 pts). Anaheim enters the week following a 2-1 overtime loss to the Flyers and are paced offensively by Jakob Silfverberg (13g/13a).

Play-by-play commentator Alex Faust and analyst Brian Hayward will call the action from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

FRIDAY – COLLEGE HOCKEY – NO.  15 NOTRE DAME VS. NO. 19 WESTERN MICHIGAN AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

In a battle of two ranked teams, the No. 15 Fighting Irish (9-7-2) will look to continue their strong play at home this season where they have 7 victories. Senior forward Mike O’Leary leads the team with 17 points. The No. 19 Western Michigan Broncos (7-7-2) will return from the semester break hoping to end their current three-game losing streak.

Tony Simeone (play-by-play) and Anson Carter (analyst) will call Friday night’s game from Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind.

OUR LINE STARTS – NBC SPORTS’ NEW WEEKLY NHL PODCAST – AVAILABLE NOW

NBC Sports’ new weekly NHL podcast – Our Line Starts – has launched and is available now on all podcast platforms. New episodes of Our Line Starts will be released each Wednesday and will highlight the top stories of each week, including behind-the-scenes content and interviews conducted by NBC Sports’ NHL commentators.

Our Line Starts joins NBC Sports’ growing roster of podcasts spanning the NFL, Premier League, NASCAR, and much more. Click here for more information.

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC & NBCSN

NBC Sports is scheduled to present 110 games during the 2019-20 NHL regular season. All games will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app to authenticated users via TV Everywhere. Click here for more info.

STREAMING COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of the 2019-20 NHL season via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value 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, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

–NBC SPORTS–

ARIZONA CARDINALS ROOKIE QB KYLER MURRAY SPEAKS WITH PETER KING IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN; PLUS MORE FROM TIRICO, DUNGY, HARRISON, FLORIO & SIMMS EXCLUSIVELY ACROSS NBC SPORTS

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“I think this is the game of the weekend.” – King on Seattle-Philadelphia Wild Card Playoff game this Sunday on NBC

 “Next year, I really believe we’ll come back with a vengeance and have a better year, and win.”– Kyler Murray on the Cardinals

“I was shocked. I can’t remember the Patriots losing a meaningful home game in December that they had to have.”– Tony Dungy on the Patriots loss to Miami on The Mike Tirico Podcast

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 30, 2019 – Peter King speaks with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray about his rookie season in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also recaps the final week of the regular season, including the sensational 49ers-Seahawks game, and looks ahead to the Wild Card playoffs.

Additionally, across NBC Sports, on The Mike Tirico Podcast, Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Mike Florio recap Week 17, while Florio and Chris Simms break down all of the action across the NFL on PFT Live and Chris Simms Unbuttoned.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:

WILD CARD PREVIEW

King on Buffalo at Houston: “The Texans have hope that J.J. Watt could return from a torn pectoral to buttress a defensive front that’s had trouble stopping big-armed quarterbacks like Buffalo’s Josh Allen—Houston’s given up 33 touchdown passes—and stopping running games of all sorts … The key to the game might be Buffalo wideout John Brown, who’s become a legitimate deep threat for Josh Allen and will certainly challenge the beatable Houston secondary.”

King on Tennessee at New England: “The stats don’t love New England here. The (Tom) Brady/ (Bill) Belichick Patriots have made the Super Bowl nine times, and each time they made it as a 1 or 2 seed in the AFC. In the three years they haven’t had a bye, they’ve lost prior to the Super Bowl. Look at their path here: Tennessee with rushing champ Derrick Henry and resurgent quarterback Ryan Tannehill first, then a potential hellscape of a run to the Super Bowl, potentially at Kansas City and at Baltimore in the span of eight days.”

King on Minnesota at New Orleans: “I just can’t see the Vikings knocking off the Saints. Drew Brees is his classic self in recent weeks, leading the Saints to 36.2 points a game in the last seven weeks, with 22 touchdowns and just one pick. I don’t trust (Kirk) Cousins to get in a shootout with Brees—who would?—and I don’t see the Viking secondary being able to slow the New Orleans attack.”

King on Seattle at Philadelphia: “This game likely will come down to which supporting cast can help a hot quarterback more. The Eagles are likely to put more pressure on (Russell) Wilson than the Seahawks on Carson Wentz, who has come alive with the weight of a franchise on his shoulders. I think this is the game of the weekend, and the NFL wisely put it in the window that usually garners the highest ratings.”

WEEK 17

King on 49ers-Seahawks SNF thriller: “The 49ers deserved this victory. Right now, even though they got the benefit of some weirdness down the stretch, they’re better overall on both lines … As crazy as (the final 24 seconds of play) all was, I think the best team won.”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank to King about retaining head coach Dan Quinn: “The words consistency and continuity are important (and) I think staying the course often makes sense … If you look at the history of the NFL, the organizations that have stayed their course, even through some tough times, are the smart ones.”

King on Browns: “The Browns find themselves in depths entering another new year, and this year hurts more than others. This year, Cleveland was supposed to be good again. Being the same old Browns just makes the pain more acute.”

King on Patriots: “I think it’s become clear that though this might not be the end of the great Patriots run, it’s certainly the end of something in New England. We just won’t know what that is for a while, till we see if Josh McDaniels or Tom Brady, or both, leave the organization.”

KYLER MURRAY

Murray on head coach Kliff Kingsbury: “There’s been a lot of leeway with Coach Kingsbury. Gave me a lot of freedom … The offense had a lot of similarities to what I was used to, which is why I kind of felt so comfortable at the beginning. Right away I felt I came to the right place.”

Murray on the pressure of living up to the number one pick in the 2019 NFL Draft: “Honestly . . . I don’t even think there was . . . I don’t want to say pressure . . . Obviously, being young in the league you’re going to have ups and downs, but it was never because of pressure. I’m just kind of living the dream, you know?”

Murray on Larry Fitzgerald: “Best I can say is Larry, he doesn’t make it feel like he’s Larry Fitzgerald. Honestly, he kind of blends in. He’s one of the guys … But he’s really taught us how to be pros.”

Murray on his future in the NFL: “This year was just, sort of, laying the foundation. We just didn’t win enough, obviously. Next year, I really believe we’ll come back with a vengeance and have a better year, and win.”

KING’S WEEK 17 AWARDS

Offensive Players of the Week: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco; Derrick Henry, Tennessee; Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami; & Elandon Roberts, New England.

King on Henry: “The newly minted NFL rushing champion of the NFL’s 100th season keyed the playoff-enabling victory for Tennessee against rival Houston.”

Defensive Players of the Week: Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco, & Shaq Barrett, Tampa Bay.

King on Greenlaw: “The rookie from Arkansas made the play of his life when his team needed it the most. On fourth and goal with 12 seconds left, Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister caught the ball at the 1-yard line and turned to find the end zone. The 2019 fifth-round pick buried Hollister, who fell an inch shy of the goal line. Greenlaw finished the game with 13 tackles, and his last gave the 49ers the NFC’s top seed.”

Read the rest of the FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.

The following are highlights from this week’s edition of The Mike Tirico Podcast:

THE MIKE TIRICO PODCAST

Tony Dungy on the Patriots loss to Miami: “I was shocked, I can’t remember the Patriots losing a meaningful home game in December that they had to have.”

Rodney Harrison on the Chiefs: “They’re playing with a lot of confidence, playing complementary football. You know they have a great offense and put points up on the board, but now the defense with Tyrann Mathieu and Chris Jones and those guys, they’re playing well.”

Mike Florio on the Bills: “I think the Bills are a team that has been steady all year long. I almost feel like the Bills are a team that has yet to figure out how good they are. All they need is that one win where they can convince themselves we are one of the best teams in this conference and that can open up the floodgates.”

The following are clips from last night’s edition of Football Night in America:

  • Simms draws up Dolphins’ game-winning TD vs. Pats: Chris Simms draws up the Dolphins’ game-winning touchdown pass against the Patriots in Week 17.
  • Thanks Mom: George Kittle: 49ers tight end George Kittle shares a special message with his mom and thanks her for her continued support throughout the years.
  • Liam McHugh with Walter Jones: Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Jones joins Liam McHugh on Football Night in America to talk about how he found out that he was named to the NFL 100 team, how he would slow down 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, and what he remembers from the “Beast Quake” game.
  • Week 17 Recap: The Football Night in America crew recap the final week of the regular season and look ahead to the Wild Card playoffs.

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage heading into Wild Card weekend:

  • Mike Florio and Chris Simms, with guest Peter King, discuss all things NFL on PFT Live, including handing out their Week 17 superlatives, sharing updated power rankings, and making their Wild Card game picks.
  • On Chris Simms Unbuttoned, Simms deep dives into film of two games from Week 17 decided by the fans.

A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May that King signed an exclusive agreement with NBC Sports Group that included writing a weekly Monday morning NFL column for NBCSports.com; making regular appearances on NBCSN’s and NBC Sports Radio’s PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.

–NBC SPORTS–

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA – WEEK 17 NOTES & QUOTES

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“Watch out New England. You were this close to having a bye, but now you have to deal with Derrick Henry and that smash-mouth running game. It’s not going to be fun.” – Tony Dungy

“I wouldn’t be afraid to go to Green Bay. I would prefer to go to Green Bay as opposed to New Orleans and having to play Drew Brees and all those weapons down there.” – Rodney Harrison

“The Chiefs are the one that I really look at right now and go ‘watch out’ because they are winning games without (Patrick) Mahomes throwing for 300 yards.” – Chris Simms

“Cincinnati is on the clock for four months. As we know, they’re going to be the number one pick. And Joe Burrow, after last night, welcome back to Ohio!” – Mike Tirico

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 29, 2019 – Mike Tirico hosted the Week 17 edition of Football Night in America tonight from NBC Sports’ International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., in advance of the Sunday Night Football matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, the final regular-season game of the year, the decade, and the NFL’s 100th season. Tirico was joined on the set by analysts Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, and Chris Simms, as well as NFL Insider Mike Florio.

Liam McHugh co-hosted Football Night in America from an outdoor set outside CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. He was joined by SNF analyst Cris Collinsworth, with Al Michaels and Michele Tafoya also reporting from inside the stadium. McHugh interviewed 49ers general manager John Lynch, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Seahawks great Walter Jones, who was named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team at tackle, and former Seahawks LB Brian Bosworth, who raised the 12 Flag.

FNIA also included highlights, analysis, and news from around the league.

Following are highlights from Football Night in America on NBC:

ON 49ERS

Michaels on QB Jimmy Garoppolo: “Tonight, it’s the biggest night of his career. At least until next week or the week after.”

Collinsworth on TE George Kittle: “George ‘The Animal’ Kittle, as we like to call him.”

Collinsworth on 49ers’ toughness: “This game is going to be different. So many times the 49ers come up here (to Seattle) and they get beat up. I don’t see this version of the 49ers, with the way they can run the football, getting beat up in this game. This will be much more of a slugfest.”

Lynch to McHugh on head coach Kyle Shanahan: “I think he’s got it all. That’s why I left broadcasting to come do this. I wanted to work with someone special. I think I found that in Kyle. He’s just impressed me incredibly the way he leads our team, and then obviously (his) mind. That’s something I knew he had. I didn’t know about the leadership until we got together, and he’s been fantastic.”

ON SEAHAWKS

Collinsworth on how the Seahawks will use newly-signed RB Marshawn Lynch: “I think they’re going to cut him loose. I really do. I have no reason to believe based on what we saw in practice the other day that it was going to be anything other than give him the football. They’re going to give him a chance to do everything in his power to be the Beast Mode again…Can he stay healthy, can he be a factor, does he even know the plays? I don’t know (laughter). But we know we’re going to get a piece of it tonight.”

Simms on QB Russell Wilson’s impact tonight: “No Duane Brown at left tackle, injuries at the running back position, and their defense isn’t the same. Russell Wilson will have to carry the Seahawks tonight, if they want to win this game.”

Jones to McHugh on being named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team: “I got a call from (NFL Commissioner) Roger Goodell. I missed the first phone call, so I was wondering if I got in trouble with the NFL (laugh). But when I got the call, I was totally shocked. To be part of something like that you have to be humbled…to get recognized, it’s been a total blessing.”

ON BILLS-TEXANS WILD CARD GAME

Simms: “That’s dangerous for Houston because Buffalo can run the ball, they’ve got a great defense, and they’ve got a quarterback who can make plays. So I think that’s prime for an upset. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but it’s an interesting matchup.”

ON TITANS-PATRIOTS WILD CARD GAME

Dungy: “Watch out New England. You were this close to having a bye, but now you have to deal with Derrick Henry and that smash-mouth running game. It’s not going to be fun.”

Harrison: “If I’m Tennessee, I’m going into New England with a lot of confidence because I know I can run the ball, I have some big physical wide receivers, and a very solid defense.”

ON RAVENS

Simms: “Don’t forget about this defense. We talk about Lamar Jackson, but this Ravens defense is for real.”

Harrison: “It really doesn’t matter who runs the ball. Great offensive line. They’re physical. They wear you down.”

ON STEELERS

Dungy on Ravens fumble-recovery TD: “This has been the story of the Steelers season — too many turnovers at critical times.”

ON CHIEFS

Dungy: “For once it wasn’t Patrick Mahomes, it was the running game.”

Simms on AFC Playoff picture: “I think it’s a two-horse race, and that’s no disrespect to the Patriots. I think it’s the Ravens and the Chiefs. And the Chiefs are the one that I really look at right now and go ‘watch out’ because they are winning games without (Patrick) Mahomes throwing for 300 yards. Their defense has come alive, able to run the ball, and special teams — that’s playoff football.”

Dungy on Chiefs: “That defense has played a lot better. I said a month-and-a-half ago I didn’t trust that defense, but every week, a little bit more and more.”

ON PATRIOTS

Tirico, Dungy, Harrison and Simms examined the Patriots strategy at the end of the first half when they uncharacteristically ran the ball instead of passing.

Harrison on head coach Bill Belichick’s strategy at the end of the first half: “He is about situational football and clock management…It just tells me that he does not trust his offense.”

Dungy: “You know Tom Brady. Tom would be screaming, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go. This (video of Brady on throwing on the sidelines) tells me something has to be wrong.”

Harrison: “Something’s wrong with Brady.”

Simms: “Definitely.”

Harrison on Patriots: “I think that was a devastating loss (today) because they have a veteran team, Tom Brady’s elbow has been bothering him, you have a lot of guys beat up, and you need that rest. Unfortunately, they’re not able to get that rest now.”

ON TITANS

Simms on QB Ryan Tannehill touchdown pass to A.J. Brown: “What else is new? This might be the hottest combo in football right now.”

Dungy: “Fantastic chemistry between these two guys right now.”

Harrison on Derrick Henry: “Who wants to tackle this guy? The Patriots number one priority next week is stopping Henry.”

ON PACKERS

Simms on QB Aaron Rodgers: “I don’t know if it was the best or the worst thing I saw (today) because in the first half, it was horrible. But in the second half, he came out throwing rockets all over the field and really saved the Packers, and now they have a first-round bye.”

Tirico on Rodgers overcoming a poor first half: “It was like a cape comes off and Rodgers does his thing.”

Dungy on RB Aaron Jones: “He has been the man to make big plays for them all year.”

Simms: “Essential for them to get a first-round bye. I don’t think they’re as good as the 49ers or Saints, but now you have a first-round bye. You get to play one game at home. I think their chances of going to the Super Bowl, and just winning one road game on the way to get there, greatly increase with this victory today.”

Harrison: “I wouldn’t be afraid to go to Green Bay. I would prefer to go to Green Bay as opposed to New Orleans and having to play Drew Brees and all those weapons down there. I look at (Aaron) Rodgers, he’s been good, not great. They don’t have a lot of weapons on offense.”

ON SAINTS

Dungy on Saints: “Midway through the season, I thought they were the best team in football. They had a little lull there, but they have Alvin Kamara back, we’ve seen Jared Cook make big plays, and that defense has started to play well. Look out for New Orleans.”

ON EAGLES

Dungy: “I have to tip my hat to Doug Pederson and what he did with these young guys. As you said Rodney, these guys gave them energy, and came in and played like they were the stars.”

Simms on QB Carson Wentz: “I think he proved to people down the stretch that he is the franchise quarterback for the future.”

Tirico: “What Doug Pederson did the past month is Coach of the Year type-, incredible stuff.”

ON COWBOYS

Florio on possible Cowboys coaching vacancy: “Jason Garrett’s contract has now expired. No more games for him. Jerry Jones declined to comment on Garrett’s future after the game ended today. Couple of names to watch, there’s a thought the Cowboys may go after a college coach. Keep an eye on a guy like Dan Campbell, an assistant coach in New Orleans who played in Dallas. Or, Gary Kubiak, Vikings assistant head coach, who has done a great job this year, if health allows him to return full-time to coaching, he could be a candidate. And then there’s Mike Zimmer, head coach in Minnesota. His contract goes through 2020. He was a defensive coordinator in Dallas; a guy that they could plug-and-play right away.”

ON DOLPHINS

Harrison on the offense: “They came out and attacked Stephon Gilmore. I was really surprised about that. DeVante Parker was outstanding. Ryan Fitzpatrick was outstanding today.”

ON BUCCANEERS

Dungy on QB Jameis Winston’s touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman near the end of the first half: “This is what you love about Jameis. His good plays are phenomenal. This is a play that very few quarterbacks can make.”

Dungy on Winston’s future: “The Bucs should want Jameis. He is a young quarterback, threw a lot of interceptions, yes, but Peyton Manning threw 100 interceptions his first five years. (He) cut that down to 54 in his second five years. I think Jameis can do the same.”

Harrison on Winston: “I completely disagree. You have five years to watch him play. As a quarterback, your most important responsibility is taking care of the football. He does not do that. 30 interceptions, you can’t win football games like that.”

ON CHARGERS

Florio on QB Philip Rivers and head coach Anthony Lynn: “He spoke after the game like a guy who knows it may very well be over for him in L.A…I’m told Anthony Lynn is indeed safe. He’ll be back for next year.”

ON GIANTS

Simms on RB Saquon Barkley: “Look at those legs, the greatest pair of legs in all of football. He’s the closest thing we’ve seen to Barry Sanders since Sanders retired.”

ON BROWNS

Florio: “Another guy to keep an eye on is general manager John Dorsey. I’m told he’s not completely safe, so we’re watching two jobs now in Cleveland as a disappointing season comes to an end.”

ON BENGALS

Tirico on Bengals: “Cincinnati is on the clock for four months. As we know, they’re going to be the number one pick. And Joe Burrow, after last night, welcome back to Ohio!”

Simms on RB Joe Mixon: “(He) had an incredible year. Over 1,100 yards rushing. One of the best running backs in football.”

–FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA–

Ohio State vs. Clemson Draws 21.2 Million Viewers, Most-Watched Non-New Year’s Day College Football Playoff Semifinal and Up 9% Year-Over-Year

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Ohio State vs. Clemson Draws 21.2 Million Viewers, Most-Watched Non-New Year’s Day College Football Playoff Semifinal and Up 9% Year-Over-Year

The post Ohio State vs. Clemson Draws 21.2 Million Viewers, Most-Watched Non-New Year’s Day College Football Playoff Semifinal and Up 9% Year-Over-Year appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC TO AIR ‘ALL-AMERICAN DREAM’ SPECIAL ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, AT 5 P.M. ET

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The All-American Dream Shares the Story of the All-American Bowl, the Most-Prestigious High School All Star Event in the Country

NBC to Present 2020 All-American Bowl on Saturday, January 4, 2020 Live from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

STAMFORD, Conn. – December 27, 2019 –The All-American Dream, a special which shares the story of how a high school all-star game has become the most watched high school sporting event for 20 consecutive years, will premiere on NBC this Saturday, Dec. 28 at 5 p.m. ET.

Following the release of the All-American Dream, NBC Sports will release a new YouTube series that shares the stories of five 2020 All-American Bowl athletes from across the country. The series follows them within their communities, showing how the the stars of tomorrow are making a difference on and off the field. Following is the complete list:

  • Eastside Catholic High School RB Sam Adams II
  • Damascus High School DL Bryan Bresee
  • Greater Atlanta Christian School OL Myles Hinton
  • Princeton High School OL Paris Johnson Jr.
  • St. John Bosco High School QB DJ Uiagalelei

The All-American Bowl will welcome 100 of the best high school athletes in the nation to their state-of-the-art adidas players’ lounge during All-American Bowl week, starting Dec. 30. The lounge features the latest athletic recovery innovations and technology, along with newest videogame consoles and games, allowing the student-athletes to relax, recover and compete virtually with each other off the field throughout the week.

The 2020 All-American Bowl Road to the Dome tour, which began on October 11th, and concluded on December  16th traveled to all 100 high school All-Americans to present the student-athletes with honorary adidas All-American jerseys within their own communities.

Only 100 football players receive the honor of wearing the All-American Bowl jersey each year. Each player selected to participate will culminate their high school careers during the annual East vs. West matchup. NBC will present live coverage of the 2020 All-American Bowl at 1:00 PM ET from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

About the All-American Bowl

As an NBC Sports-owned property, the All-American Bowl is part of a marquee lineup of elite events that includes the Olympics, the NHL, the Premier League, and the number one primetime show since 2011: Sunday Night Football. The All-American Bowl is annually the most-watched, most-talked about, and most-prestigious high school all-star event with more than 4,500,000 unique television viewers and over 25,000 in attendance. The history and tradition of the All-American Bowl is unparalleled: 410 draft picks; 57 Super Bowl champions; 144 Pro Bowl selections; 16 Heisman finalists including, but not limited to: Odell Beckham Jr., Andrew Luck, Tim Tebow, Adrian Peterson, Joe Thomas, and Trevor Lawrence. For more information, visit NBCSports.com/AllAmericanBowl, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@AABonNBC).

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” BUS TRAVELS TO SEATTLE FOR 49ERS-SEAHAWKS FOR NFC WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

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STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 27, 2019 – NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football bus makes a trip to Seattle this week ahead of Sunday night’s 49ers-Seahawks game, which will crown a NFC West champion, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBC. If San Francisco wins, the 49ers earn homefield throughout the NFC playoffs as the No. 1 seed while a Seattle win coupled with Green Bay and/or New Orleans losses would earn the Seahawks a first-round bye or homefield throughout the playoffs. The loser of Sunday night’s game will be the No. 5 seed and play on the road on Wild Card weekend.

The bus arrives this afternoon, Friday, December 27, in the Seattle area and will visit Enchant @ T-Mobile Park from 4 – 9 p.m. PT. Tomorrow, Saturday, December 28, the bus will stop at Seattle Center Winterfest from 12 – 7 p.m. PT.  On game day, Sunday, December 29, the bus will be parked at CenturyLink Field from 1:30 p.m. until shortly following kick off at 5:30 p.m. PT.

The schedule for this week:

Date Time (PT) Location
Friday, Dec. 27 4 – 9 p.m. Enchant @ T-Mobile Park
Saturday, Dec. 28 12 – 7 p.m. Seattle Center Winterfest
Sunday, Dec. 29 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. CenturyLink Field

The SNF bus continues to travel the country, making stops in the host cities of Sunday Night Football games, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look into the action of SNF broadcasts.

New features on board this season include the ability for fans to record content they can share directly to their social platforms, and new experiences include augmented reality mirrors in the locker room and a green screen booth to replicate the iconic player intros in the SNF broadcast.

In addition, fan favorites returning to the bus include the official Player of the Game Ball signed at the end of every SNF matchup, a replica Football Night in America desk, and a brand new On Her Turf photo experience celebrating the power of every football fan. The bus continues its journey this week making stops in the Pittsburgh-area ahead of the Sunday Night Football game as the Buffalo Bills take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ABOUT THE SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BUS

Since week 1, the bus has travelled to each SNF host city. In addition, the SNF Bus will also visit markets along the route without an SNF game on the schedule to give more fans a chance to join in on the experience. The bus will arrive in each host 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 will give fans the opportunity to interact with America’s most-watched primetime television show with exclusive activities and experiences.

The 2019 bus features football field decaling on the floor, and a replica of the Football Night in America studio where fans can grab a mic, and act as “special correspondents” for photos. From the augmented reality mirrors in the locker room and the @OnHerTurf display, to green screen booth to replicate the intros from the SNF broadcast, fans have numerous opportunities to interact and share memories from the bus directly to social media.

The full list of cities the SNF bus will be visiting throughout the season:

Week Date Matchup
17 29-Dec San Francisco at Seattle

THE SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BUS BY THE NUMBERS

  • The SNF bus will travel almost 20,000 miles across the country during the season.
  • The bus will make stops in 12 unique locations, making stops in the host cities of all Sunday night games.
  • It would take 50 footballs to make up the length of the SNF bus, and 46,000 footballs to equal the weight of the bus.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Sunday Night Football bus also incorporates social media inside and out, with SNF’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts (@SNF on NBC) along with the #SNF hashtag displayed on the exterior.

A dedicated producer will collect photos and create videos of the bus’s travels and the cast of characters it encounters along the way. Life on the road with the Sunday Night Football bus is featured on the Sunday Night Football Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and NBC Sports on Snapchat.

–NBC SPORTS–