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Archives for March 2021

Transcript: ESPN MLB Season Production Preview with Sr. Coordinating Producer Phil Orlins

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ESPN Sr. Coordinating Producer Phil Orlins appeared on a media conference call today to discuss ESPN’s production approach to start the 2021 MLB season. ESPN’s coverage begins Thursday, April 1, with 11 games in the first week including the exclusive Opening Night matchup between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at 7 p.m. ET. ESPN Sunday Night Baseball makes its season premiere Sunday, April 4 at special time of 8:30 p.m. with the Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels.

The post Transcript: ESPN MLB Season Production Preview with Sr. Coordinating Producer Phil Orlins appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS FRANCE V. SCOTLAND SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP RUGBY MATCH TODAY AT 4 P.M. ET LIVE ON PEACOCK

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World’s Oldest Rugby Championship Concludes Today as France Has Chance to Win Title with Bonus-Point Win by 21+ Points

With a France Loss or Draw, Wales Would Earn Their Second Six Nations Title in Past Three Years

Studio Hosts: Paul Burmeister, Alex Corbisiero

STAMFORD, Conn. & NEW YORK, NY – March 26, 2021 – NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship concludes today at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock with live coverage of the rescheduled France v. Scotland match as France look to clinch the Six Nations title. NBCSN will present coverage of the match later this evening at 12:30 a.m. ET.

France, who are seeking their first Six Nations title since 2010, would win the championship with a bonus-point win by a margin of 21 points or more. If France lose or draw with Scotland, Wales would earn their second Six Nations title in the last three years.

COMMENTATORS

    • Studio Hosts – Paul Burmeister and Alex Corbisiero, who played for England in the Six Nations Championship in 2011 and 2012 (England won the Six Nations title in 2011)

 

HOW TO WATCH – TODAY, MARCH 26

 

Date Match Time (ET) Network/Streaming
Fri., Mar. 26 France v. Scotland (LIVE) 4 p.m. Peacock Premium
Sat., Mar. 27 France v. Scotland 12:30 a.m. NBCSN**
*Same-day delay

 

2021 SIX NATIONS TABLE

Pos. Team P W D L PD Points
1 Wales 5 4 0 1 61 20
2 Ireland 5 3 0 2 48 15
3 France 4 3 0 1 41 15
4 Scotland 4 2 0 2 43 11
5 England 5 2 0 3 -9 10
6 Italy 5 0 0 5 -184 0

 

CHAMPIONSHIP FACTS

    • France topped Wales, 32-30, last week to stay in title contention, needing two tries in the final five minutes to earn a comeback victory.
    • France’s 10-year Six Nations title drought is the longest since France rejoined the tournament after World War II.
    • If Scotland beat France today, they could finish in third place, matching their best-ever finish in the Six Nations era (since 2000).
    • Wales would earn their 40th title in Six Nations history, breaking a tie with England for the most all-time. It would be their 28th outright title (trailing England by one).

 

NBC Sports’ Six Nations coverage is part of an extensive collection of rugby programming across NBC Sports platforms which spans the calendar year, including the Tokyo Olympics, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, the HSBC Sevens Series, and the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Rugby offerings are available to U.S. commercial establishments through the NBC Sports Pub Pass – a customizable direct-to-consumer platform developed specifically for the retail pub/restaurant market in the U.S. Through the Six Nations Championship, all tournament matches will be available live, commercial-free and on-demand.

Peacock 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 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.

Viewers can sign up for Peacock at peacocktv.com. 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 and PlayStation 4 Pro; and VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs and LG Smart TVs. Comcast’s eligible Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, as well as eligible Cox Contour customers, enjoy Peacock Premium included with their service at no additional cost.

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.

ESPN Cover Story: Juan Soto Debuts Today Across ESPN

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The latest ESPN Cover Story featuring Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto debuted today across the network’s digital and social platforms; it will debut on linear this Sunday. ESPN Cover Story is the sports fan’s monthly ticket to the biggest stories on the most captivating athletes – told with inside access, bold reporting and unforgettable visuals.

The post ESPN Cover Story: Juan Soto Debuts Today Across ESPN appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES 2021 MOTOGP SEASON TELECAST SCHEDULE

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All 19 Races to be Featured on NBC and NBCSN

Season Begins this Sunday with Coverage of the Grand Prix of Qatar at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Ryan Blaney — Last Week’s NASCAR Cup Series Winner at Atlanta — and Father, Dave Blaney, Join Dale Jr. Download – Tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 25, 2021 – NBC Sports has announced its television schedule for the 2021 MotoGP season on NBC and NBCSN, beginning with the Grand Prix of Qatar from Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar, this Sunday, March 28, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

All 19 races will be presented on NBCSN, and NBC will present premiere telecasts of four races:

  • Spanish Grand Prix from Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Sunday, May 2, at 1:30 p.m. ET;
  • Dutch Grand Prix from TT Circuit Assen on Sunday, June 27, at 12 p.m. ET;
  • Thailand Grand Prix from Chang International Circuit on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 12 p.m. ET;
  • Valencia Grand Prix from Circuit Ricardo Tormo on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2:30 p.m. ET.

The 2021 MotoGP season features a number of compelling storylines and star riders, headlined by seven-time champion Valentino Rossi aiming for his first victory in nearly four years, six-time champion Marc Marquez looking to make his return after being sidelined by an injury for almost a year, defending champion Joan Mir, and Fabio Quartararo, winner of three races in 2020.

2021 marks NBC Sports’ second season as the exclusive television home of MotoGP in the United States. All race coverage presented on NBC and NBCSN will stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

In addition to weekend telecasts on NBC and NBCSN, live and on-demand coverage of all races will be available to stream on MotoGP VideoPass, in addition to every session of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3. For more details, click here or visit MotoGP.TV.

Below is the schedule for MotoGP’s telecasts on NBC and NBCSN (subject to change):

Date Race Network Time (ET)
Sun., March 28 Grand Prix of Qatar NBCSN 11:30 p.m.
Sun., April 4 Grand Prix of Doha NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Sun., April 18 Portugal Grand Prix NBCSN 2:30 p.m.
Sun., May 2 Spanish Grand Prix NBC 1:30 p.m.
  Spanish Grand Prix NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sun., May 16 Grand Prix of France NBCSN 5:30 p.m.
Sun., May 30 Italian Grand Prix NBCSN 5 p.m.
Sun., June 6 Catalunya Grand Prix NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Sun., June 20 German Grand Prix NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sun., June 27 Dutch Grand Prix NBC 12 p.m.
  Dutch Grand Prix NBCSN 10 p.m.
Sun., July 11 Grand Prix of Finland NBCSN Midnight
Sun., August 15 Grand Prix of Austria NBCSN 4:30 p.m.
Sun., August 29 British Grand Prix NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Sun., September 12 Aragon Grand Prix NBCSN 2:30 p.m.
Sun., September 19 Misano Grand Prix NBCSN 6 p.m.
Sun., October 3 Grand Prix of Japan NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Sun., October 10 Thailand Grand Prix NBC 12 p.m.
  Thailand Grand Prix NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Sun., October 24 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix NBCSN 12:30 p.m.
Sun., October 31 Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Sun., November 14 Valencia Grand Prix NBC 2:30 p.m.
  Valencia Grand Prix NBCSN 6 p.m.

DALE JR. DOWNLOAD

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney, coming off his victory in Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and his father, former NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, are this week’s guests on the Dale Jr. Download episode that airs tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Produced on-site at Dirty Mo Media Studios in Mooresville, N.C., the Dale Jr. Download on NBCSN takes viewers couch-side for the taping of the motorsports icon’s weekly podcast, featuring unparalleled perspective, candid commentary, and insight that fans have come to expect from Dale Jr.

MotoGP is part of NBC Sports’ “Home of Motorsports” programming throughout 2021, spanning NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, Mecum Auctions, Monster Energy Supercross, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Progressive American Flat Track, Monster Jam, Dakar Rally, and more.

–NBC SPORTS–

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS NWHL ISOBEL CUP SEMIFINALS AND FINAL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY LIVE ON NBCSN

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Exclusive Coverage Live on NBCSN and Streams on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports App

Isobel Cup Final Airs Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Semifinal Coverage Begins Friday at 5 p.m. ET with Toronto Six vs. Boston Pride, Followed by Minnesota Whitecaps vs. Connecticut Whale

Kate Scott (play-by-play), AJ Mleczko (analyst), Caley Chelios (reporter), and Kathryn Tappen (host)

On Her Turf – NBC Sports’ Female Empowerment Brand – To Be Integrated Into Coverage on NBCSN and Across Social Platforms

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 25, 2021 – NBC Sports will present live coverage of the National Women’s Hockey League Isobel Cup Semifinals and Final this Friday and Saturday on NBCSN from Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Mass.

NBC Sports’ coverage begins Friday at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when the top-seeded Toronto Six face the Boston Pride, followed by the second semifinal matchup between the Minnesota Whitecaps and Connecticut Whale. The winners will face off in the Isobel Cup Final on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Kate Scott (play-by-play), AJ Mleczko (analyst) and Caley Chelios (reporter) will call the action. In addition to live coverage on NBCSN, live coverage will stream exclusively on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

The Isobel Cup Playoffs, previously scheduled in February, return after a short hiatus due to COVID-19 cases, and will be played with no fans in attendance at Warrior Ice Arena, which is home of the Boston Bruins training facility and home ice for the NWHL’s Boston Pride. There will be strict health protocols in place and daily COVID-19 testing for all players and staff.

As part of NBC Sports’ exclusive coverage, On Her Turf – NBC Sports’ Female Empowerment brand – will be integrated into Isobel Cup Semifinal and Final coverage on NBCSN as well as across content on NBC Sports’ social and digital channels leading up to and during the games.

About the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)

Established in 2015, the NWHL was the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players. The mission of the league is to fuel the continued growth of the sport and brand of pro women’s hockey. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six. Visit NWHL.zone and follow on Twitter and Facebook @NWHL and Instagram @NWHL.zone

About the Isobel Cup

The Isobel Cup is the championship trophy of the National Women’s Hockey League. It takes its name from Lord Frederick Arthur Stanley’s daughter, Isobel, who shared his love of the game and is known to be one of the first female hockey players in Canada. Isobel, along with her brothers, encouraged her father to purchase a silver cup to award to the best amateur hockey team in Canada. The Stanley Cup, as it was later named, became the championship trophy of the National Hockey League.

The front of the Isobel Cup reads: “The Lady Isobel Gathorne-Hardy Cup 1875-1963. This Cup shall be awarded annually to the greatest professional women’s hockey team in North America. All who pursue this Cup, pursue a dream; a dream born with Isobel, that shall never die. EST. 2016.”

–NBC SPORTS–

 

Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game to be Streamed Exclusively on Peacock

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NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame will host its 2021 Blue-Gold Game on Saturday, May 1, at Notre Dame Stadium. The scrimmage, which will mark the final spring practice for the Fighting Irish football’s spring practice schedule, will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET. The Blue-Gold Game will stream exclusively on Peacock and fans will be able to enjoy the game for free.

NBC Sports’ Paul Burmeister will be returning to the Notre Dame Stadium announcing booth as the play-by-play announcer for the game. He will be joined by NBC Sports analyst Corey Robinson ‘17, a former Notre Dame football student-athlete, and sideline reporter Caroline Pineda, a current Notre Dame student and Fighting Irish Media student employee.

Attendance for the Blue-Gold game will be consistent with campus ticketing policies during the 2020 campaign (limited to the local Notre Dame community – students, faculty, staff and families of participating student-athletes). Tailgating will continue to be prohibited.

More details regarding ticketing and parking will be provided to aforementioned parties in the near future.

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. For more information on Peacock, click here.

UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 Live from Las Vegas Saturday on ESPN+ PPV; Prelims on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

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UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 will stream exclusively on ESPN+ PPV this Saturday, March 27, at 10 p.m. ET from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.  The UFC 260 main card features two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (20-3), defending his title against No.1-ranked contender Francis Ngannou (15-3), in a rematch from their meeting at UFC 220 in 2018, a win by unanimous decision for Miocic.

The post UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2 Live from Las Vegas Saturday on ESPN+ PPV; Prelims on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

MLB on ESPN+: ESPN’s Spring Training Coverage Continues March 25-30 with Six Games And 11 Teams in Action

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ESPN’s 2021 MLB Spring Training coverage continues March 25-30 on ESPN+ with a six-game slate that features the Los Angeles Angels and Mike Trout in action twice. The Angels first host the San Diego Padres and Manny Machado on Saturday, March 27, at 3:10 p.m. ET, then visit the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Mookie Betts on Monday, March 29, at 10:10 p.m.

The post MLB on ESPN+: ESPN’s Spring Training Coverage Continues March 25-30 with Six Games And 11 Teams in Action appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

NBC SPORTS’ “ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY” COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH THE FLORIDA DERBY LIVE THIS SAT., MARCH 27 AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

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NBC Sports Presents the 147th Kentucky Derby on Sat., May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss Join Ahmed Fareed

Florida Derby Is Second of Four Consecutive Saturday Afternoons with Kentucky Derby Prep Races

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 25, 2021 – As the 147th Kentucky Derby approaches, NBCSN presents exclusive live coverage of the $1 million Florida Derby this Saturday, March 27 at 6 p.m. ET from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Florida Derby continues NBC Sports’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” coverage on four consecutive Saturday afternoons. NBC Sports will present the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Five weeks ahead of the May 1 running of the Kentucky Derby, the Grade 1 Florida Derby awards Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale for the top four finishers. 15 Florida Derby winners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, more than any other prep race. Spielberg (4-1), who is trained by Bob Baffert, is the favorite in the 11-horse field. With a win in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Baffert would earn his seventh career Derby victory, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most ever by a trainer. 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law placed first in last year’s Florida Derby.

Ahmed Fareed hosts Saturday’s coverage, alongside analysts Jerry Bailey, the Hall of Fame jockey who has won the Florida Derby three times, and Randy Moss.

NBCSN will also present highlights of Saturday’s “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” race, the Gulfstream Park Oaks, as well as 100-point Derby prep races the UAE Derby from Dubai and the Jeff Ruby Steaks from Turfway Park.

Coverage will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

Following is NBC Sports’ upcoming “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race schedule on NBCSN:

Race Date Time (ET)
Florida Derby Sat., March 27 6 p.m.
Wood Memorial, Blue Grass Stakes, Santa Anita Derby Sat., April 3 5:30 p.m.
Arkansas Derby Sat., April 10 7 p.m.

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–

AMANDA SERRANO VS. DANIELA BERMUDEZ CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT HEADLINES RING CITY USA BOXING TONIGHT AT 9 P.M. ET ON NBCSN, LIVE FROM PUERTO RICO

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Serrano (39-1-1, 29 KO) vs. Bermudez (29-3-3, 10 KO) Marks Ring City’s First Female Main Event

Abimael Ortiz (8-0-1, 4 KO) vs. Eduardo Baez (18-1-2, 6 KO)

Carlos Caraballo (13-0-0, 13 KO) vs. Leonardo Baez (18-3-0, 9 KO)

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 25, 2021 – NBC Sports’ presents Ring City USA boxing tonight with main and co-main event bouts live at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN, as Ring City USA concludes its three-event residency in Puerto Rico.

Tonight’s event from Plaza del Quinto Centenario in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, features a three-fight main card highlighted by Ring City USA’s first main event world championship fight as Amanda Serrano (39-1-1, 29 KO) defends her WBC and WBO featherweight world titles against current three-division titlist Daniela Bermudez (29-3-3, 10 KO). Serrano and Bermudez, two of the top pound-for-pound female fighters, headline tonight’s card as NBC Sports continues to celebrate Women’s History Month throughout March.

Also featured on the main card are identical twins who will take on rising undefeated prospects. Abimael Ortiz (8-0-1, 4 KO) will meet Eduardo Baez (18-1-2, 6 KO) in an eight-round super-bantamweight fight. Baez, who is undefeated in his past 10 bouts, returns to Ring City following an eight-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Narek Abgaryan on Dec. 17, 2020 at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. An eight-round, super-bantamweight tilt between Carlos Caraballo (13-0-0, 13 KO) of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Leonardo Baez (18-3-0, 9 KO) of Mexico, will round out the main card.

Ring City USA made its debut on Nov. 19 with inaugural matches on NBCSN, which featured O’Shaquie Foster’s KO victory against Miguel Roman. In October, NBC Sports Group and Ring City USA announced a partnership to televise a series of boxing matches on NBCSN through 2021.

The partnership consists of a series of two-hour match slates on Thursday evenings at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN throughout 2021.

NBC Sports has brought boxing to millions of viewers across the country beginning with the first-ever live televised fight in 1939, when Lou Nova defeated Max Baer at Yankee Stadium. Over the decades to follow, NBC Sports’ coverage of the sport showcased stars including Joe Louis, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, and Larry Holmes.

HOW TO WATCH – TONIGHT, THURSDAY, MARCH 25

Date Network Time (ET)
Thurs., March 25 NBCSN 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. (LIVE)
    • STREAMING: All coverage also streams on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

 

EVENT INFORMATION

    • Location: Plaza del Quinto Centenario, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
    • Featherweights: Amanda Serrano (39-1-1, 29 KO) vs. Daniela Bermudez (29-3-3, 10 KO); 10 rounds
    • Super-Bantamweights: Abimael Ortiz (8-0-1, 4 KOs) Eduardo Baez (18-1-2, 6 KO); Eight rounds
    • Super-Bantamweights: Carlos Caraballo (13-0-0, 13 KO) vs. Leonardo Baez (18-3-0, 9 KO); Eight rounds

 

-NBC SPORTS-