Keeping Up With All The Industry Press Releases
The 2021 Formula 1 season started with some viewership records and superlatives on ESPN2
The post Fans Tune in for Formula 1 Season Opener – ESPN2 Earns Record Audience for Bahrain Grand Prix appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
ESPN launches its 2021 Major League Baseball season on Opening Day, Thursday, April 1, with a nationally televised quadrupleheader presented by DraftKings. ESPN’s national season-opening slate will showcase 11 national game telecasts and a total 18 MLB Clubs in action over four days.
The post Give Us Baseball: Commentator Assignments and Coverage Details for ESPN’s Season-Opening Schedule appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
ESPN and the NCAA announced the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship semifinals and final will be presented live on ESPN’s linear and digital networks through at least 2023.
The post ESPN Adds NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship to Expansive Slate of Championship Coverage appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
Dial 800-367-2403 to Participate
Lead Studio Team to Discuss & Analyze 2021 Masters
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 30, 2021 – NBC Sports’ lead golf studio team of Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Justin Leonard will preview the upcoming 2021 Masters on a media conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, March 31, at 5 p.m. ET. Media interested in participating should call: 800-367-2403; Passcode: 3370032.
GOLF Channel’s Live From the Masters, featuring Lerner, Chamblee, Leonard and a comprehensive team of hosts, analysts and reporters, will begin daily live coverage next Monday, April 5 at 2 p.m. ET.
— NBC Sports —
Free Documentary Chronicles the Life and Career of Olympic Wrestler Jordan Burroughs as part of Countdown to Tokyo Programming
NEW YORK, NY—March 29, 2021— Peacock Original documentary, My Pursuit: Life, Legacy & Jordan Burroughs tells the story of American freestyle wrestler Jordan Burroughs as he attempts to make his third Olympic team. Fans will be able to stream the documentary for free on Peacock April 1 as part of NBCUniversal’s Countdown to Tokyo programming on Peacock.
“As one of the most storied Olympic sports, wrestling has always held a prominent place in the Olympic Games, uniting fans from around the world,” said Rick Cordella, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Peacock. “Jordan Burrough’s is one of USA Wrestling’s brightest talents, and his iconic story is an exciting addition to Peacock for fans who are eager to watch the Tokyo Olympics this summer.”
Jordan Burroughs has lived the ups and downs of the Olympic experience, returning home a hero after winning gold in London and then dealing with deep personal disappointment following a loss in Rio four years later, setting the stage for attempt to make the team for Tokyo.
My Pursuit: Life, Legacy & Jordan Burroughs will examine these competitive moments, introduce viewers to the people who have made Burroughs the man he is today, and include interviews with the wrestler ahead of one of the most challenging Olympic Trials of his career. For assets, including a preview of the documentary, click here.
Burroughs is scheduled to compete to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics on April 3. NBC will present coverage of every match of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling across Peacock Premium, NBCSN, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. See more here.
Additional Peacock Originals available on demand include Lost Speedways, hosted by Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and In Deep with Ryan Lochte. Peacock offers daily sports programming on the NBC Sports channel which streams Peacock Original Brother from Another, as well as The Dan Patrick Show, PFT Live, and The Rich Eisen Show. Peacock Premium also currently features live sports content from Premier League, US Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Rugby, Supercross, Skiing, and Snowboarding. Highlights of Peacock’s previous live sports offerings include a Sunday NFL Wild Card playoff game, U.S. Open golf, U.S. Women’s Open golf, and upcoming events include Olympics and Paralympics coverage.
Peacock Premium is included at no additional cost for Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers and Cox Contour customers. Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices, including Android
, Android TV devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4, PlayStation 4 Pro, and PlayStation5; and VIZIO SmartCast TVs and LG Smart TVs.
About Peacock
Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service. Peacock delivers a world-class slate of exclusive originals, on-demand libraries of hit TV shows, plus critically acclaimed films from the vaults of Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, and Hollywood’s biggest studios. In addition, Peacock taps into NBCUniversal’s unmatched ability to deliver a broad range of compelling topical content across news, sports, late-night, Spanish-language, and reality. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
Sunday Doubleheader – NHL Central Division Leading Tampa Bay Lightning Host Detroit Red Wings on NHL on NBC at Noon ET; Sunday Night Hockey Features Hurricanes vs. Stars at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Wednesday Night Doubleheader on NBCSN Begins with Wednesday Night Hockey Between Flyers-Sabres at 7:30 p.m. ET; NHL West Division Leading Vegas Golden Knights Host Los Angeles Kings in Nightcap at 10 p.m. ET
Hershey Bears Video Coach Emily Engel-Natzke — First Female Coach in Washington Capitals Organization — Speaks with Anson Carter Available Now on Season Two of Hockey Culture
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 29, 2021 – NBC Sports presents eight NHL matchups this week, headlined by tonight’s East Division rivalry between Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting Mathew Barzal and the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. In a battle between teams who have both won seven of their past 10 matchups and are separated by just two points (Islanders 48; Penguins 46), Crosby attempts to add to his five-game point streak, where he has registered 10 points.
Sunday features an NHL doubleheader, beginning with Steven Stamkos and the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning hosting Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings at Noon ET on this week’s edition of NHL on NBC. Later in the evening, Dougie Hamilton and the Carolina Hurricanes, winners of 11 of their last 14 contests, face Joe Pavelski and the Dallas Stars at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers play Taylor Hall and the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday Night Hockey at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Wednesday’s nightcap features Mark Stone and the NHL West Division leading Vegas Golden Knights hosting Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings at 10 p.m. ET.
Throughout the month of March, NBC Sports’ NHL coverage features 30 games over 30 nights.
HOW TO WATCH
| Date | Coverage | Commentators | Time (ET) | Network |
| Mon., March 29 | NHL Live | Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Ryan Callahan | 6:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| N.Y. Islanders vs. Pittsburgh^ | Brendan Burke, Dominic Moore | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NHL Overtime | Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Ryan Callahan | 9:45 p.m.* | NBCSN | |
| Tues., March 30 | NHL Live | Kathryn Tappen, Anson Carter, Ryan Callahan | 7 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Carolina vs. Chicago^ | John Walton, Pierre McGuire | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NHL Overtime | Kathryn Tappen, Anson Carter, Ryan Callahan | 10:15 p.m.* | NBCSN | |
| Wed., March 31 | NHL Live | Liam McHugh, Keith Jones, Patrick Sharp | 6:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Philadelphia vs. Buffalo^ | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Los Angeles vs. Vegas | Dave Goucher, Shane Hnidy | 10 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NHL Overtime | Liam McHugh, Keith Jones, Patrick Sharp | 12:30 a.m.* | NBCSN | |
| Thurs., April 1 | NHL Live | Kathryn Tappen, Patrick Sharp, Dominic Moore | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| Carolina vs. Chicago^ | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire | 8 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Minnesota vs. Vegas^ | John Walton, Dominic Moore | 10:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NHL Overtime | Kathryn Tappen, Patrick Sharp, Dominic Moore | 1 a.m. | NBCSN | |
| Sun., April 4 | Detroit vs. Tampa Bay | Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher | 12 p.m. | NBC |
| NHL Live | Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Dominic Moore | 6:30 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| Dallas vs. Carolina | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire | 7 p.m. | NBCSN | |
| NHL Overtime | Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Dominic Moore | 9:45 p.m.* | NBCSN |
*Immediately following game coverage
^Blacked out in local markets: Pittsburgh, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Las Vegas
HOCKEY CULTURE SEASON TWO
Hershey Bears video coach Emily Engel-Natzke, the first female coach in the Washington Capitals organization, joined NHL on NBC analyst Anson Carter for a conversation about her journey from playing hockey to working within the sport, the day-to-day tasks of a hockey video coach and her love for working in hockey coaching, on the latest episode of NBC Sports’ Hockey Culture.
The conversation is available now on Hockey Culture’s dedicated YouTube Channel and below are highlights:
Engel-Natzke on what she experienced growing up as a woman in the sport of hockey: “There might be some added pressure because you are the only girl or woman. More eyes are on you…there’s an underlying pressure to prove people wrong.”
Engel-Natzke on her love for her job: “If you remember how lucky and fortunate you are to love what you do, for me to watch hockey for a living, it’s a good reflection point and something to always keep in the back of your mind…I still don’t feel like I’m working.”
Engel-Natzke on video’s impact within hockey coaching and scouting: “The use of video has increased and I see it becoming more important as technology gets better. I think you’ll see that need and want for information…there’s definitely value in seeing things, rather than just hearing it from a coach.”
OUR LINE STARTS
NHL on NBC analysts Brian Boucher and Dominic Moore joined NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen to discuss Mika Zibanejad‘s recent offensive surge for the New York Rangers, and the current outlooks in the North Division and West Division, on the latest episode of NBC Sports’ NHL weekly podcast, Our Line Starts.
OFF THE ICE
On this season’s premiere episode of Off the Ice with Kathryn Tappen, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks joins to discuss his 1,000 NHL game milestone, relives his first NHL goal and details how becoming a dad has positively impacted him this season.
2020-21 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS
NBC Sports is scheduled to present roughly 100 games featuring all 31 teams on NBC and NBCSN during the 2020-21 NHL regular-season, including a record 16 regular-season games on the NBC broadcast network. Click here for more info.
–NBC SPORTS–
Multi-platform host and reporter Charly Arnolt will be joining ESPN on a full-time basis beginning in early April as part of a new, multi-year contract extension with the network.
The post Multi-Platform Host & Reporter Charly Arnolt Joins ESPN Full Time as Part of Multi-Year Contract Extension appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
As part of a commitment to amplify a variety of Black stories all year long, ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ have launched Black History Always on ESPN+ and Disney+, and Initiative 29 on Hulu. With a belief that recognizing Black history should not be contained to February, the three streamers will release new content on the 29th of each month throughout the year with pieces that are unique and authentic to each platform.
The post Celebrating Black History All Year Long: ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu Launch ‘Black History Always’ and ‘Initiative 29’ appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
On Saturday, April 3, at 2 p.m. ET, ABC will air 2021 McDonald’s All American Games Special to celebrate the elite boys and girls high school basketball players on the 2021 roster.
The post 2021 McDonald’s All American Games Special to Air on ABC on April 3, Celebrating This Year’s Honored Boys and Girls High School Basketball Players appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..
“I’d have to say that’s the direction we’re going.” – Urban Meyer to King on the Jaguars selecting Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick
“In the wake of 26 minutes that shook the NFL on Friday, it looks like the first three (maybe four) names out of Goodell’s mouth will be quarterbacks.” – King on how last week’s trades impact the 2021 NFL Draft
“If San Francisco picks Jones, the upshot will be stark. For a team to spend three first-round picks on Mac Jones will be the story to watch out of the 2021 draft.” – King on the 49ers after trading up to No. 3 in the NFL Draft
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 29, 2021 – Peter King speaks with Jacksonville head coach Urban Meyer about making the transition to the NFL and the Jaguars’ offseason, and discusses how last week’s trades impact the 2021 NFL Draft in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King also shares details on this week’s NFL league meetings, the move to a 17-game schedule, and speaks with recently retired sports broadcaster Dick Stockton.
Across NBC Sports, Peacock’s weekday block of NFL programming from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET, which provides extensive NFL coverage, includes PFT Live featuring Mike Florio and Chris Simms live at 7 a.m. ET, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another, with Michael Holley and Michael Smith, at 3 p.m. ET, and PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday-Friday. ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest offseason news, and the NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show and Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast discuss offseason storylines.
The following are highlights from this week’s edition of Football Morning in America:
URBAN MEYER
King on Urban Meyer and the Jaguars’ No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft: “Meyer’s been laser-focused on (Trevor) Lawrence since, as a FOX college football analyst, meeting him during college football playoff prep. Meyer’s extremely close to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, and has a pipeline to all things Lawrence, on and off the field. Fair to say he couldn’t be more comfortable with his first pick as an NFL head coach.”
Meyer to King on the Jaguars selecting Lawrence with the No. 1 pick: “I’d have to say that’s the direction we’re going. I’ll leave that up to the owner when we make that decision official. But I’m certainly not stepping out of line that that’s certainly the direction we’re headed.”
King on Meyer’s transition to the NFL: “Today is Meyer’s 75th day on the job. He hasn’t met his full team yet. That bugs him, as it would any coach trying to get to know his players. He’s adjusting to life in pro football, and he knew this was coming, but the rhythms of an NFL coach’s job are far different than what he got used to in 17 years as a college coach.”
Meyer on his time as an NFL head coach: “Not much has surprised me other than the fact you just don’t get to be around your players as much…I think a lot of people coach for a lot of reasons. Mine is relationship with players and it’s hard…I’ve been the head coach since January and we have not had a team meeting because we’re not allowed. So that’s the biggest adjustment.”
Meyer on leaving Florida and Ohio State due to health concerns: “Florida was stress-related. At Ohio State, I went seven years and I kind of knew down the road, I was getting near the end. Plus I found the right guy. Ohio State’s very personal to me. When I found the right coach in Ryan Day, and he almost left the year before to become a head coach, I went to our president and I went to our AD. I said I found the right guy…At Ohio State, I didn’t have stress-related issues. I had some health-related issues.”
Meyer on the Jaguars’ current state: “It’s almost like it lined up pretty – I don’t wanna say perfectly, because you have a lot of draft picks, 11 of them. You have salary cap [room], which we addressed a bunch of needs…But it just aligned. And then you have the number one pick in the draft. This will set the stage for the Jaguars’ future for several years, if we do it right. If we don’t…[pause] it’s not easy.”
King on Meyer’s team culture: “Culture will be big for Meyer. It’s a major mantra…He believes maintaining greatness when the world works against it is part of an ethos built in an organization before the first games is ever played.”
Meyer: “Culture survives. Culture survives injuries to players, transitions to players, transition of staff. Coach Belichick’s the best I’ve ever witnessed at it. There’s a Patriot way and a Patriot culture there. It’s not for everybody…My Utah days and Florida days, I like to think that’s what made us sustainable all the years.”
Meyer on what he learned visiting with the Patriots in the past: “I got to witness Tom Brady first-hand and it was the last day of a mini camp in June…And Tom Brady is treating it like it’s the Super Bowl. He goes down and he scores with two seconds left to win that scrimmage. Ran around the field like a child—that’s how competitive he is. I went back immediately to my quarterbacks and shared with them that I just watched the greatest of all time, and the way you’re supposed to practice, the way you’re supposed to provide energy to the rest of your team and the way you lead your team.”
2021 NFL DRAFT TRADES
King on last week’s draft pick trades involving the Dolphins, 49ers and Eagles: “One by one, the 2021 draft dominoes fall. One month from tonight, Roger Goodell will take the stage in downtown Cleveland to announce the first-round picks in the 86th NFL Draft. In the wake of 26 minutes that shook the NFL on Friday, it looks like the first three (maybe four) names out of Goodell’s mouth will be quarterbacks.”
King on the 49ers: “Jimmy Garoppolo will have a chance, it appears, to beat back a challenge from the quarterback San Francisco drafts a month from tonight. The Niners, as of today, do not plan to trade Garoppolo before the season. An offer to blow them away could get Garoppolo – Carolina? New England? – but otherwise, Garoppolo and the new man will be in camp for the Niners in August.”
King on Mac Jones and the 49ers: “It seems stunning to think Alabama’s Mac Jones could be the Niners’ choice – and ‘could be’ is the operative phrase because the Niners have not decided who to choose at three…If San Francisco picks Jones, the upshot will be stark. For a team to spend three first-round picks on Mac Jones will be the story to watch out of the 2021 draft.”
King on the Eagles: “The Eagles, suddenly, have quarterback-insurance for the 2022 draft. Philly has two picks (its own and Miami’s) in the first round of 2022, plus the likelihood that the pick from Indianapolis in the Carson Wentz trade will be a first. If Jalen Hurts isn’t The Man in 2021, Philly will have some ammo to move up to get one in 2022.”
King on the Eagles’ picks: “This year’s draft, with all the opt-outs and uncertainty after an abridged season and scouting restrictions, is a total crapshoot. Next year’s draft will be a return to normalcy, most likely, and a first-rounder next year should have higher value than a first-rounder this year. The possibility of having three first-round picks in the first potentially normal season and pre-draft season since 2019 could be franchise-changing for the Eagles.”
King on the Dolphins’ trade with the Eagles to move back up to No. 6: “Miami had to have wanted certainty that it could nab one of the four great pass-catchers in this draft – tight end Kyle Pitts or wideouts J’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith. That’s possible at 12. That’s certain at six.”
King on the Jets at No. 2: “The likeliest bet is New York sitting at two and taking Zach Wilson…Wilson’s done what he can to prove he’s worthy of going second overall, an amazing rise considering he was in a three-way battle for the starting job at Brigham Young a year ago.”
King on Ohio State QB Justin Fields: “It’d be mock-convenient to slide Justin Fields, the fifth passer in the queue, to the Panthers (at No. 8), but I’m not so sure. Fields has his Pro Day on Tuesday in Columbus. He better hit all the right notes. No idea who’s picking him a month from today.”
NEWS & NOTES
King on NFL’s league meetings this week: “The league is delaying the discussion of all Competition Committee matters, new rules and bylaws, till an unspecified date in April. I was told it’s basically because too many people glaze over once Zoom meetings last longer than two hours.”
King on Tuesday’s meeting: “Tuesday’s meeting will concentrate on detailing the new $113-billion media deals (still hard to fathom writing that figure) to owners, confirming the 17-game regular-season schedule, with details on where the league stands now with COVID and vaccinations.”
King on Wednesday’s meeting: “Wednesday’s meeting will concentrate on diversity (including the 2021 hiring cycle results for coaches and GMs), social responsibility, budgeting and finance, including Washington owner Daniel Snyder buying back the minority shares of his franchise. Also, international games…And there will be a session on legalized sports betting.”
King on the NFL adding a 17th game: “One thing about the 17-game schedule that hasn’t been decided, or at least made public, is which teams get the ninth home game this year. As I was told recently, it’s very likely that teams in one conference would have the 16 additional home games in 2021, with the other conference getting the full slate in 2022, just to be sure that any division doesn’t have an imbalance of home games to give one team a possible playoff advantage.”
King on NFL international games: “In 2021, it’s likely no more than two games get played internationally, both in England. Doubtful that the NFL could plan a well-attended game in Mexico City in 2021 because of COVID concerns. Jacksonville likely would host one of the London games.”
King on sports broadcaster Dick Stockton: “Dick Stockton retired Thursday. He is 78, has worked in the sports TV business for 55 years, and figured it’s about time to go to Europe with his wife Janie for long periods while he still has time. And maybe even in the fall, when the NFL is playing on the other side of the ocean.”
Stockton to King on his career: “I never worked a day in my life. My thoughts, even courtside for a Lakers-Celtics championship series, or a World Series, or NFL playoff game, have always been: There’s a guy out there. He just toiled 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, probably at a job he didn’t particularly love, and now he was going to relax with a beer and a pizza and watch a game on TV. Could I enhance the game, even a little? Could I make the game a little more enjoyable for him? If so, then I’ve done my job.”
Read the full FMIA column here and catch the weekly Peter King Podcast here.
The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:
A new “Football Morning in America” posts every Monday morning exclusively on NBCSports.com through the NFL season. It was announced in May 2019 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 PFT Live with Mike Florio; and continuing to contribute to Football Night in America, the most-watched studio show in sports.
—NBC SPORTS—