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Archives for August 2021

ALL-WOMEN BROADCAST TEAM TO CALL NBC SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC ON GOLF CHANNEL OCTOBER 1-3

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Broadcast Team Features Cara Banks (Play-By-Play), Judy Rankin and Paige Mackenzie (Analysts), and Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill (On-Course Reporters)

First-Ever All-Women Golf Broadcast in U.S. Television History, Led by Producer Beth Hutter

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 30, 2021 – NBC Sports will utilize an all-women broadcast team to call the ShopRite LPGA Classic at the Bay Course at Seaview in Galloway, N.J., on October 1-3 on GOLF Channel, marking the first-ever all-women golf broadcast team in U.S. television history.

The commentary team will feature Cara Banks handling play-by-play duties, alongside analysts Judy Rankin and Paige Mackenzie and on-course reporters Karen Stupples and Kay Cockerill.

Tournament coverage will be produced by long-time NBC Sports and GOLF Channel producer Beth Hutter. Hutter has produced LPGA coverage for more than 15 years and recently made history as the first woman to produce the U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club and women’s golf coverage at the Tokyo Olympics.

“We’re thrilled to assemble this incredibly accomplished group of women for our broadcast of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on GOLF Channel,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer for NBC Olympics and GOLF Channel, and the first woman to serve in that role for a national sports network. “Our NBC Sports team features talented women at all levels – both on-camera and behind-the-scenes – who are essential to making our coverage a success on every platform, and we’re honored to celebrate their work as part of this broadcast.”

NBC Sports made history in March 2020 with the first all-women broadcast for an NHL game. Earlier this year, NBC Sports producer Rene Hatlelid became the first woman to produce the Indianapolis 500 – “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” – on NBC, and Lindsay Schanzer became the first woman to produce a Triple Crown race, leading NBC Sports’ productions of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes on NBC.

NBC Sports is producing more than 500 hours of women’s golf coverage in 2021, the most hours and events ever dedicated to the women’s game in a single year.

–NBC SPORTS–

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL CONFERENCE CALL THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1, AT 4 P.M. ET

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Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya, and Executive Producer Fred Gaudelli to Preview 2021 NFL Season

Dial 323-289-6576 to Participate

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 30, 2021 – The Sunday Night Football broadcast team of play-by-play voice Al Michaels, analyst Cris Collinsworth, and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya join executive producer Fred Gaudelli to preview the 2021 NFL season on a media conference call this Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. ET.

Dial 323-289-6576 to participate, passcode 9790372.

NBC Sports kicks off the 2021 NFL season next Thursday, Sept. 9, from Raymond James Stadium as Tom Brady and the Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Dallas Cowboys on NBC and Peacock. Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

Three days later on Sept. 12, it’s the debut of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, as fans will get their first look at the sights and sounds of the new and spectacular SoFi Stadium with a full crowd in attendance, as well as the Rams debut of quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams host Khalil Mack and Chicago Bears, who welcome two new quarterbacks in Andy Dalton and first-round draft pick Justin Fields.

 

NBC’S “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD 10 CONSECUTIVE YEARS: NBC’s Sunday Night Football finished the 2020-21 TV season as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 10th 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. Sunday Night Football also ranked as the No. 1 show in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic for the 11th consecutive TV season.

2021 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thurs. Sept. 9 NFL Kickoff Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sun. Sept. 12 Week 1 Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams
Sun. Sept. 19 Week 2 Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Sun. Sept. 26 Week 3 Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
Sun. Oct. 3 Week 4 Tampa Bay Bucs at New England Patriots
*Sun. Oct. 10 Week 5 Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
*Sun. Oct. 17 Week 6 Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
*Sun. Oct. 24 Week 7 Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers
*Sun. Oct. 31 Week 8 Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
*Sun. Nov. 7 Week 9 Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Rams
*Sun. Nov. 14 Week 10 Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders
*Sun. Nov. 21 Week 11 Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers
**Thurs. Nov. 25 Week 12 Buffalo Bills at New Orleans Saints
*Sun. Nov. 28 Week 12 Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
*Sun. Dec. 5 Week 13 San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
*Sun. Dec. 12 Week 14 Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
*Sun. Dec. 19 Week 15 New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*Sun. Dec. 26 Week 16 Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys
*Sun. Jan. 2 Week 17 Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

 

*Flex Week

** Thanksgiving Night Game


–NBC SPORTS–

PETER KING CONCLUDES TRAINING CAMP TOUR WITH VISIT TO BALTIMORE & REFLECTS ON HIS MONTH ON THE ROAD IN THIS WEEK’S “FMIA” COLUMN

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“It’s likely no contending team suffered a bigger injury in August than the Ravens did in losing Dobbins for the year.” – King on Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins’ season-ending injury

 “When I got to the huddle, I don’t think any of [the offensive players] knew what was going on.” – Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to King on his first NFL game

“Trading Watson, and trading for Watson, is not smart now, at all, unless the Texans accept a conditional trade based on the legal case Watson is going through. I doubt they would.” – King on a potential Deshaun Watson trade

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 30, 2021 – Peter King concludes his annual training camp tour with a visit to the Ravens and provides snapshots from all of this summer’s training camp visits in this week’s edition of Football Morning in America, available now exclusively on NBCSports.com. King speaks with Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh and running back J.K. Dobbins, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and more.

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

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to King on Baltimore’s coaching philosophy: “We try not to live in a world of gray. We live in a world of black and white when we teach. We tell players, This is what we want you to do. This is what we want it to look like. Crystal clear…What stems from that is a real clear vision in terms of what type of players you have, what the roles are. And you try to get the type of players that fit those roles. …You come here, you know you’re gonna work. It’s gonna be football-based. We get guys who embrace that.”

King on Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins’ injury: “Dobbins is gone for the year. It’s likely no contending team suffered a bigger injury in August than the Ravens did in losing Dobbins for the year, and it left GM Eric DeCosta perusing the running-back market… My guess: Baltimore will stand pat, because of its faith in (Gus) Edwards, and because (Ty’Son) Williams has opened eyes throughout camp.”

King: “Crucial players disappear. That’s life in the NFL. My story out of Baltimore was going to be how the Ravens always seem to figure it out. They’re never bad…Now it’s up to DeCosta and Harbaugh to be sure the Dobbins injury doesn’t derail their hopes for the season.”

King on the Ravens’ personnel strategy: “Most teams get apoplectic when big-money players reach free agency and it looks like they might leave. The Ravens almost welcome it…They know it’s part of a smart circle of life in the NFL.”

Harbaugh to King on veterans wanting to sign with Baltimore: “I always try to make sure guys understand, Hey, this is what you’re getting into. These are our standards. This is what we believe in. This is our world view. These guys tell us they know, they’ve talked to our guys and they know. That makes me feel good, that our guys are saying good things about our program.”

Dobbins (prior to his injury) to King on his pursuit of success in the NFL: “How much do I want it? Man, let me think. Let me think of some analogy here. I want that more than a person wants to breathe. I want to be that guy because that’s just who I am. I wanna be the best. Why not me?”

Dobbins to King on the type of player he wants to be: “I wanna be the guy that my teammates look to like, We wanna be on your shoulders. My offensive line is looking at me like, We want this guy to run behind us. I can feel it from them. I’ve been working hard for it. I think I’m ready for it if that opportunity comes.”

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS/HURRICANE IDA

King on the Saints’ evacuation: “The sudden relocation of about 160 football employees (players, coaches and staff) and more than 100 family members happened virtually overnight on Friday, once the severity of the hurricane became apparent. Owner Gayle Benson authorized the mobilization of two charter planes to fly the team people and families to Dallas an hour apart late Saturday afternoon. Some families with pets chose to make the drive to Dallas and meet the team there.”

King: “Tuesday is cut day around the NFL, with teams required to pare rosters from 80 to 53 by 3 p.m. CT. That will make it tough for GM Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton, who will likely have to make their cuts before practice at the hotel in Dallas.”

King on potential Week 1 scenarios for the Saints-Packers game: “A couple of points to make on this: The NFL wouldn’t move the Sept. 12 game to Lambeau Field for competitive reasons, giving the Pack home-field advantage in such a significant game. And with prospective sites like Indianapolis, Detroit, Houston and Atlanta all unavailable because those teams are home on the 12th, the vacancy at AT&T Stadium in Texas that day might make it the best alternative sight. It’s too early to seriously consider Packers-Saints at Jerryworld in Week 1, but it’s certainly in the back of minds at the NFL this morning.”

TRAINING CAMP SNAPSHOTS

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to King on his first NFL game: “When I got to the huddle, I don’t think any of [the offensive players] knew what was going on. [Tight end] Hunter Henry, when he saw me out there, he gave me a look and almost said, ‘What are you doing out here?’ I just called the play and I said, ‘We’re gonna run the play. I’m gonna hand it off and we’re gonna get five yards.’ That’s kind of how it went down.”

Herbert to King on his first NFL throw: “I remember my first pass was to Keenen (Allen) and I sailed it over his head. I was so excited I threw it probably 10 feet above his head. He came back to the huddle and he said, ‘Okay, calm down now. You got it out of your system.’ We come back and ended up completing a protection little check release to Josh Kelley for about 40 or 50 yards. I flipped the protection [to the left] and that’s kind of when I was like, Calm down, figure it out. It’s football. Maybe we can do this thing.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to King on offseason roster changes: “It’s just part of it. We were last in the league last year in running the football, so there’s not a lot of room or places to fall. We don’t live in our fear; we live in our hopes and dreams and we’re excited about this group that we’re putting together and the way they’re working and the way that they’re coming together.”

King on the Texans potentially trading Deshaun Watson: “Trading Watson, and trading for Watson, is not smart now, at all, unless the Texans accept a conditional trade based on the legal case Watson is going through. I doubt they would.”

King on a potential Deshaun Watson trade: “I have no idea what the outcome of Watson’s legal morass is going to be. But the interested teams can’t know either…Would you trade three ones for a player if you were fairly sure he wouldn’t play for your team till 2023 – and that he might be tarnished significantly whenever he puts on the uniform?”

King on the 49ers’ quarterback situation: “I think now we can see Kyle Shanahan’s plan for the 49er quarterback brigade early. Looks like he’s going to do something everyone in the NFL says can’t work – regularly shuffle quarterbacks in and out of the game…Shanahan has to think that a defense will have some issues preparing for two quarterbacks.”

King on the Patriots trading running back Sony Michel: “Look at it this way: The Patriots probably would have made the Michel-for-[Shaun] Wade trade straight up, and now, in trading a fifth and a seventh to Baltimore for Wade, and acquiring a fourth and a sixth from the Rams for Michel, New England moves up maybe 30 slots with two future picks.”

King on Patriots quarterback Mac Jones: “I think whoever wins the Patriots QB job, Mac Jones has proven that New England picking him 15th last April was brilliant. Predictable, but brilliant.”

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

The following are additional highlights of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage:

    • PFT Live with NBC Sports’ Mike Florio and Chris Simms streams live on Peacock from 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET on weekdays, followed by The Dan Patrick Show at 9 a.m. ET, The Rich Eisen Show at Noon ET, Brother From Another at 3 p.m. ET, PFT PM at 5 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, Chris Simms Unbuttoned streams Tuesday-Friday.
    • ProFootballTalk.com continues to provide the latest news and updates.
    • NBC Sports EDGE’s A Good Football Show continues the NFL discussion and Bet The Edge Podcast provides daily betting insights.

 

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—

ACC Network Welcomes Virginia Tech Great Eddie Royal to Week Night Studio Line-Up

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Long-time NFL wide receiver and former Virginia Tech football standout Eddie Royal has signed a deal to join ACC Network as a college football studio and game analyst. Royal will appear weekly on ACCN’s flagship news and information show All ACC beginning Monday evening at 8 p.m. ET, alongside Jordan Cornette, Dalen Cuff and Kelsey Riggs.

The post ACC Network Welcomes Virginia Tech Great Eddie Royal to Week Night Studio Line-Up appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

ESPN+ Announces UNINTERRUPTED’s More Than An Athlete Season 2 Featuring Michael Strahan Will Debut on September 9

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ESPN+ announced season two of its series UNINTERRUPTED’s More Than An Athlete will focus on Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. The four-part season will deep dive into Strahan’s journey, beginning with his childhood in Germany and following him through his football career and evolution into a media personality and entrepreneur, highlighting his successes and failures along the way. The first episode of the season will be available to ESPN+ subscribers on September 9, with new episodes posting weekly through September 30.

The post ESPN+ Announces <em>UNINTERRUPTED’s More Than An Athlete</em> Season 2 Featuring Michael Strahan Will Debut on September 9 appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

Osaka, Medvedev Headline Opening Night at US Open

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Opening day at the US Open will be capped by twin doubleheaders on Primetime at the US Open presented by IBM on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 30.  On Arthur Ashe Stadium, No. 3 seed and defending champion Naomi Osaka faces Marie Bouzkova followed by No. 2 Danill Medvedev playing Richard Gasquet. 

The post Osaka, Medvedev Headline Opening Night at US Open appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..

TOKYO PARALYMPICS COVERAGE FEATURES LIVE COMPETITION AND FIRST-EVER PRIMETIME COVERAGE ON NBC THIS WEEKEND

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Live Coverage of Track & Field and Triathlon Continues Tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA; Features 17-Time Paralympic Medalist Tatyana McFadden and Team USA Flag Bearer Melissa Stockwell

First-Ever Paralympic Games Primetime Coverage on NBC – Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT

NBC to Present 90-Minute Paralympics Highlight Show Sunday at Noon ET

Telemundo Deportes’ Juegos Paralimpicos Tokyo 2020 por Telemundo Centered on Hispanic Athletes and Accomplishments by Women During the Games – Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT and Sunday at Noon ET on Telemundo

STAMFORD, Conn. – Aug. 27, 2021 – Live competition coverage of the Tokyo Paralympics presented by Toyota, as well as the first-ever primetime Paralympic coverage on NBC, continues across the networks of NBCUniversal this weekend. Live coverage of track & field and triathlon will be presented tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, featuring 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden competing in the women’s 5000m T54 and Team USA flag bearer Paralympic triathlete Melissa Stockwell competing in the women’s triathlon PTS2.

Carolyn Manno will serve as host of tonight’s coverage on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Last night, 2016 Paralympian Scout Bassett joined NBCUniversal’s Tokyo Paralympics commentary team as a track & field analyst. Bassett will work with Bill Spaulding (play-by-play), 13-time Paralympic medalist and Paralympic Hall of Fame member Chris Waddell (analyst), Patty Collins (triathlon analyst), and Lewis Johnson (reporter) during track & field coverage. The full commentary roster, who collectively have won 30 Paralympic medals, can be found here.

This Sunday marks the first-ever primetime presentation of the Paralympics on NBC, with the first of four hours of a docu-follow series showcasing the incredible stories and performances of athletes competing in Tokyo. Featured athletes include U.S. team flagbearers Melissa Stockwell (triathlon) and Chuck Aoki (wheelchair rugby) and star swimmer Jessica Long, who entered Tokyo with 23 career medals. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET/PT. Earlier on Sunday, a 90-minute Paralympics highlights show begins at noon ET on NBC.

Telemundo Deportes’ Juegos Paralimpicos Tokyo 2020 por Telemundo, a recap program centered on highlighting Hispanic athletes and accomplishments by women, will be presented Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT and Sunday at noon ET on Telemundo (will also be available on Telemundo digital platforms and Peacock as well as encores on Universo). The show will be hosted by Emmy Award nominee Ana Jurka and Emmy Award winner Miguel Gurwitz.

Team USA teams and athletes to watch this weekend include:

    • 23-time Paralympic medalist and the second-most decorated Paralympian in U.S. history Jessica Long will be competing in the women’s 200m individual medley SM8 tonight
    • 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden in the women’s 5000m T54 tonight and women’s 800m T54 Saturday
    • Tokyo Paralympics Team USA flag bearer and Paralympic triathlete Melissa Stockwell in the women’s triathlon PTS2 tonight, along with Hailey Danz and Allysa Seely. Seely (gold), Danz (silver), and Stockwell (bronze) swept the podium at the Rio Paralympics
    • Two-time Paralympic medalist Elizabeth Marks in the women’s 50m butterfly S6 Sunday
    • Two-time Paralympic medalist Mallory Weggemann in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB6 tonight and women’s 100m backstroke S7 Sunday
    • Three-time Paralympic gold medalist McKenzie Coan in the women’s 400m freestyle S7 Saturday and women’s 100m backstroke S7 Sunday
    • 2016 silver medalist Sophia Herzog in the women’s 100m breaststroke SM6 tonight
    • Five-time Paralympic medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB6 tonight
    • 2016 bronze medalist Robert Griswold in the men’s 200m individual medley SM8 tonight
    • The Team USA wheelchair rugby team, headlined by two-time Paralympic medalist Chuck Aoki, will play in the semifinals against 2016 gold medalists Australia Saturday live at 4:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN
    • 2016 gold medalist Steve Serio and the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team continue preliminary round play against Great Britain Saturday live at 4:15 am. ET on NBCSN
    • The U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team, who captured the gold medal in Rio in 2016, face China in a preliminary round matchup tonight at midnight ET on NBCSN

 

See below for Paralympics programming through Monday, Aug. 30 (subject to change):

Date Event(s) Time (ET) Network/Streaming
Friday, Aug. 27 Triathlon, Track & Field 5:30-9:30 p.m. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
Saturday, Aug. 28 Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby Midnight-3 a.m. NBCSN
  Swimming, Track & Field, Wheelchair Basketball, Goalball 3-9 a.m. NBCSN
  Lo Mejor de los Paralimpicos Tokyo 2020 por Telemundo 11 a.m.-Noon Telemundo
  Triathlon, Table Tennis, Rowing 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
Sunday, Aug. 29 Wheelchair Rugby Final, Swimming, Track & Field, Wheelchair Tennis, Rowing 1-8:30 a.m. NBCSN
  Wheelchair Rugby Final 5-7 a.m. NBCSN, Peacock
  Paralympics Highlights Show 12-1:30 p.m. NBC, Peacock
  Lo Mejor de los Paralimpicos Tokyo 2020 por Telemundo 2-3 p.m. Universo
  Paralympics Primetime Show 7-8 p.m. ET/PT NBC, Peacock
  Wheelchair Rugby Final (encore), Wheelchair Tennis, Table Tennis 9 p.m.-3 a.m. NBCSN
Monday, Aug. 30 Swimming, Track & Field, Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball 3-9 a.m. NBCSN
  Swimming, Track & Field, Wheelchair Basketball, Sitting Volleyball 3-9 p.m.* Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
  Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling, Sitting Volleyball 9 p.m.-3 a.m. NBCSN

*Encore

A comprehensive programming schedule can be found here. The most updated Paralympics listings are available here.

In its most ambitious effort ever, NBCUniversal will be presenting a record 1,200 hours of Tokyo Paralympic Games coverage. NBCU’s unprecedented coverage will include more than 200 hours of television coverage, the first-ever primetime hours on NBC, live coverage of the Closing Ceremony on NBCSN, and exclusive streaming coverage on NBC Sports digital platforms and Peacock. Click here for more details.

NBCU’s record programming hours for Tokyo is possible because of unparalleled corporate support. Toyota has again signed on as presenting sponsor of NBCUniversal’s Paralympic coverage and will be the exclusive auto advertiser across the linear and digital networks of NBCUniversal. Toyota branding will be included within NBCU’s extensive linear, digital and social media promotional campaigns. Nike, United Healthcare, Salesforce and Eli Lilly join Toyota as exclusive sponsors of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

A complete archive of Tokyo Paralympics press releases can be found here.

–TOKYO PARALYMPICS–

Major League Soccer Audience on ABC and ESPN Networks Up 50 Percent in 2021 Compared to 2020 Regular Season

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The 2021 Major League Soccer season on ABC and ESPN networks had delivered an average audience of 384,000 viewers (P2+) through 18 matches, a 50 percent increase compared to the 2020 regular-season average (257,000).

The post Major League Soccer Audience on ABC and ESPN Networks Up 50 Percent in 2021 Compared to 2020 Regular Season appeared first on ESPN Press Room U.S..