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JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER AND BRANDIN COOKS HIGHLIGHT NFL PODCASTS THIS WEEK ACROSS NBC SPORTS

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Steelers Wide Receiver Smith-Schuster Joins Mike Florio for New Episode of PFT PM

Rams Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks & Former NFL Offensive Lineman Ryan O’Callaghan Join The Peter King Podcast

NASCAR on NBC Podcast Now Available on YouTube Every Monday Throughout Playoffs

Alex Corbisiero’s The Scrum Down Podcast Relaunches Around the World Cup; First Episode Previews 2019 Rugby World Cup

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 19, 2019 – With the NFL heading into Week 3 of the 2019 season, Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster joins Mike Florio on PFT PM and Rams WR Brandin Cooks joins The Peter King Podcast, highlighting several new NFL podcast episodes this week across NBC Sports. Cooks, who had three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown at Los Angeles’ 27-9 win over New Orleans last week, is expected to start for the Rams when they visit the Browns this weekend on NBC’s Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET).

In addition to Cooks, former NFL offensive lineman Ryan O’Callaghan also joins The Peter King Podcast, and Mike Tirico presents a new episode of The Mike Tirico Podcast featuring Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Mike Florio, as they recap Week 2 performances across the NFL. NBC Sports Regional Networks also continue to debut several NFL podcasts featuring exclusive interviews with top newsmakers.

In all, NBC Sports presents 20 new podcast episodes this week, including the kickoff of NASCAR on NBC’s special NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs podcast episodes, which will debut every Monday throughout the Playoffs on YouTube and break down each week’s Playoff race. In addition, rugby analyst Alex Corbisiero’s The Scrum Down podcast relaunches today, with a new episode dropping weekly discussing all things rugby as NBC Sports’ exclusive coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2019 begins tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN as Russia faces host-nation Japan.

New episodes for all podcasts will be available for download on all major podcast platforms including: NBCSports.com/podcasts, NBC Sports’ Scores app, Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and iHeart. Here is a sport-by-sport look at what’s on tap:

 

NFL

  • The Peter King Podcast: The Peter King Podcast is the ultimate destination for all things pro football. Led by one of the most influential storytellers in all of sports media, three-time NSMA Sportswriter of the Year Peter King delivers an access-driven experience that brings fans into the locker room, the press box, and the front office with the biggest influencers in professional football.
    • On this week’s episodes: On Monday, King opens his mini podcast with his thoughts on Week 2 of this football season, discussing officiating, the Patriots, Patrick Mahomes’ superman qualities, and Kirk Cousins’ struggles. On Wednesday, King chats with former NFL offensive lineman Ryan O’Callaghan about his book, My Life On The Line, in which he details the struggles he faced as a privately gay football player, dealing with homophobia, and more. In addition, King speaks with WR Brandin Cooks about other wide receivers he studies, and his good fortune of being coached by Sean Payton, Bill Belichick, and Sean McVay in just his first five years in the NFL.
    • When: Monday, September 16 and Wednesday, September 18

 

  • Chris Simms Unbuttoned: NBC Sports’ Chris Simms examines everything happening in the NFL and around the sports world. Joined by a rotation of NBC Sports hosts Ahmed Fareed, Paul Burmeister and Liam McHugh, Unbuttoned features in-depth Xs and Os analysis; one-on-one interviews with players, coaches, executives, and draft prospects; game recaps and previews; gambling segments; extensive player analysis leading into the NFL Draft; and much more.
    • On this week’s episodes: Simms and Burmeister recap a chaotic and eventful Week 2 that saw a pair of Super Bowl winning QBs go down, a Hall of Famer struggle with a new system, and an offensive mastermind crack the code. The two also deep dive into the Eagles-Falcons and the Vikings-Packers games. On Wednesday, Phil Simms joined the show to review all the Week 2 film. Additionally, on Thursday Simms goes inside the numbers powered by AWS+ and provides additional XO white board breakdowns.
    • When: Monday, September 16, Wednesday, September 18, & Thursday, September 19

 

  • The Mike Tirico Podcast: From the Olympics, to The Open, to the NFL, Mike Tirico has covered some of the biggest sporting events in history. Join him as he shares insights from the broadcast booth and talks with special guests about their careers, sports, and life
    • On this week’s episode: Tirico is joined by Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Florio to recap Week 2 of the NFL season. They talk injuries, replay reviews, and if the Cowboys have a weakness. In addition, they discuss whether the 0-2 teams can rebound, and who had the best win and the worst loss from last Sunday.
    • When: Sunday, September 15

 

  • PFT PM: Mike Florio has conversations with top names and newsmakers in the NFL, while updating his fans on breaking news and story lines that take place during the day and preparing listeners for what is coming next.
    • On this week’s episode: Florio is joined by Chris Simms to react to a chaotic Week 2. They debate when the Cowboys should pay Dak Prescott, how the Saints will look without Drew Brees, and if there is an 0-16 record in the Dolphins future. Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster also joins Florio to talk about Ben Roethlisberger’s injury, moving forward with Mason Rudolph, and the trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Lastly, Florio and Simms ponder whether it’s over for Cam Newton as a dominant quarterback, discuss Colin Kaepernick’s agent contacting QB-deficient teams, the Jets sticking with Luke Falk, and how the Steelers may be benching wide receiver Donte Moncrief.
    • When: Monday, September 16, Tuesday, September 17, Wednesday September 18, Thursday, September 19, and Friday, September 20

 

  • Rotoworld Football: From fantasy implications to NFL draft analysis to major events, the Rotoworld Football staff has the NFL landscape covered. Listen as Josh Norris, John Daigle, Ian Hartitz, Hayden Winks, andPatrick “RotoPat” Daugherty give their analysis and opinions on everything happening in the NFL.
    • On this week’s episode: Josh Norris begins the week by calling the Rotoworld experts for a synopsis of each of Sunday’s games, touching on practically every fantasy relevant player. Then, the group reacts to Drew Brees being out for more than a month, Prescott and Jackson putting up Mahomes-type numbers, and the big struggle for the Dolphins. Additionally, they discuss Josh Jacobs’ surprising role in Oakland, and potential waiver options this week.
    • When: Sunday, September 15, Tuesday, September 17, Thursday, September 19, and Friday, September 20

 

  • Redskins Talk: The Redskins Talk podcast is anchored by NBC Sports Washington’s Redskins Insider JP Finlay and members of the Redskins coverage team, including Mitch Tischler and Pete Hailey, along with special guests. The cast brings a fresh and engaging style to interviews with Redskins players, coaches and alumni, as well as experts from around the NFL.
    • On this week’s episode: This week’s podcast episodes begin with Finlay’s exclusive interview with Jay Gruden. Gruden shares how he plans to keep Washington together following their 0-2 start and opens up about his thoughts on the team’s conservative defensive game plan against Dallas as well as some pregame comments he made about Adrian Peterson’s running style. Then, the podcast features Finlay’s postgame chat with Peterson, who reflects on reaching yet another milestone, but also on the team’s disappointing start to the year.
    • When: Multiple times per week
  • Tom Curran’s Patriots Talk Podcast:  NBC Sports Boston Patriots Insiders Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry break down every game, plus talk about the issues on and off the field with the team.
    • On this week’s episode: On Tuesday’s episode, Curran starts off by discussing “What keeps Antonio Brown on this team?” Then, Matt Cassel joins Curran to talk about a variety of topics: Antonio Brown’s explosiveness, the Patriots’ offense, how to approach the Jets defense this week, and some Hall of Fame debates. Plus, Kyle Van Noy joins Curran to talk about his season debut in Miami, his newborn son, and the dominance of the Patriots’ defense.
    • When: Tuesday, September 17 & Thursday, September 19

 

  • 49ers Insider Podcast: 49ers Insider Matt Maiocco brings you comprehensive NFL coverage of all things San Francisco 49ers. Don’t miss weekly in-depth interviews all year long with players, coaches, front office personnel, alumni and fellow media members
    • On this week’s episode: Maiocco visits with Joe Staley, Arik Armstead, Ronald Blair, Fred Warner, Raheem Mostert, Dante Pettis, and Laura Britt to talk about the week in Youngstown, the blowout win over the Bengals, and returning home to take on the Steelers.
    • When: Tuesday, September 17

 

  • Eagle Eye: Rueben Frank and Dave Zangaro break down the key matchups, and discuss the key topics and issues surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles.
    • On this week’s latest episode: On the latest Eagle Eye podcast, Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro are joined by Ray Didinger to look at the loss of Tim Jernigan and other takeaways from the loss to the Falcons.
    • When: Monday, September 16

 

  • Under Center Podcast: Hosted by NBC Sports Chicago’s team of Bears/NFL experts, the Under Center Podcast features lively discussion on the hottest pro football topics of the day, along with exclusive interviews with Bears players, coaches, and local/national NFL media members. New episodes of the Under Center Podcast and can be found daily throughout the duration of Bears Training Camp at NBCSportsChicago.com/podcasts or via the new MyTeams by NBC Sports app.
    • On this week’s episode: Laurence Holmes, Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, and Olin Kreutz review the game against the Broncos. They also discuss the Bears’ offense, Eddy Pineiro, and if the Bears can be Super Bowl contenders with the way they’re playing. On Thursday, the group hosts a roundtable pod from Halas Hall with the Bears team on site, and on Saturday, they preview Week 3’s game against the Redskins.
    • When: Sunday, September 15, Thursday, September 19, and Saturday September 21

 

NASCAR

 

  • NASCAR on NBC Podcast: Host Nate Ryan interviews NASCAR stars and insiders each week. Ryan also discusses the latest NASCAR news, including a weekly recap of races, and looks ahead to what’s next in the sport.
    • On this week’s episode: Steve Letarte discusses the eventful Round 1 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, including whether Kyle Busch had a point about backmarkers and their worthiness, why Busch is making mistakes lately, what the Las Vegas victory says about the championship worthiness of Martin Truex Jr., and why Truex’s success might irritate Busch. Plus, Letarte talks about the significance of winning the opener, what happened when Chase Elliott slowed to help William Byron stay on the lead lap, and Joey Logano’s up and down day.
    • When: Tuesday, September 17

 

GOLF

 

  • The Rory & Carson Podcast: Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, and host of “The Voice” and “The Today Show” Carson Dalytake on topics from golf to grunge rock, TV to tunes, what’s on their playlists, and everything in between.
    • On this week’s episode:Rory McIlroy and Carson Daly discuss McIlroy’s presumed rivalry with fellow pro Brooks Koepka, why he purposely avoided conversation with the world’s top-ranked player at the TOUR Championship, and if he was jealous of Koepka’s appearance in the ESPN Magazine’s Body Issue.
    • When: Monday, September 16

 

RUGBY

 

  • The Scrum Down with Alex Corbisiero: Hosted by Alex Corbisiero, The Scrum Down features regular guest Jonathan Fisher and input from other current Premiership Rugby players. A conversation on all things Rugby related from a player’s point of view.
    • On this week’s episode: Dan Lyle, Brian Hightower, and Rupert Cox join Corbisiero to react to the Wales betting scandal, and to break down every pool of the World Cup. In addition, the guys look at how Team USA can define success in the tournament, and make their predictions for who will win it all.
    • When: Thursday, September 19

 

SOCCER

 

  • The 2 Robbies: Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle discuss and dissect the top Premier League storylines of every match. Together, the former Premier League players and current NBC Sports analysts provide fans with top-class punditry on the most exciting soccer league in the world.
    • On this week’s episode: Mustoe and Earle reflect on a Premier League weekend that may feature the biggest shock of the season: Norwich City showed no fear as they beat Man City at Carrow Road. Liverpool continued their perfect start, and the Chelsea youth movement builds momentum. They dissect Arsenal’s defending, and how it cost them a two-goal lead. Plus, the Robbies take a deep dive into the recent Professional Game Match Officials Board admission that VAR has made mistakes this season.
    • When: Sunday, September 15, and Thursday, September 19

 

  • Premier League on NBC: NBC Sports’ Premier League newest podcast features interviews with the biggest names in the PL, a collection of spirited in-studio debates with Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe, Kyle Martino, and Rebecca Lowe and features exclusive on site-interviews and access with Arlo White, Lee Dixon, Graeme Le Saux, and Rebecca Lowe.
    • On this week’s episode: The crew shares their thoughts on Liverpool’s continued perfect start, the Chelsea youth movement sinking Wolves, the shocking win for Norwich City against reigning Champions, Bournemouth’s comfortable win over Everton, a Watford comeback for Quique Sanchez Flores on his return to the league, David De Gea signing a new contract with Manchester United, and another passionate discussion about VAR mistakes in the new Boot Room segment.
    • When: Monday, September 16

 

BASEBALL

 

  • White Sox Talk: Hosted by NBC Sports Chicago’s trio of White Sox experts Chuck Garfien, Ryan McGuffey, and Chris Kamka, the White Sox Talk podcast provides fans with in-depth White Sox discussion on the hottest topics and latest breaking news all year long. In addition, fans can look forward to exclusive one-on-one interviews with White Sox players, coaches, front office execs, along with MLB media insiders from coast-to-coast.
    • On this week’s episode: Vinnie Duber joins Garfien and McGuffey to talk about all the things that they learned in 2019. With the biggest offseason in recent team history coming up, they also discuss whether they think the White Sox can be contenders in 2020.
    • When: Tuesday, September 17, and Thursday, September 19

 

  • Cubs Talk: Hosted by NBC Sports Chicago’s Luke Stuckmeyer, featuring Cubs digital reporter/producer Tony Andracki, and special appearances by David Kaplan and Kelly Crull, the Cubs Talk podcast provides die-hard Cubs fans with detailed discussion on the hottest topics and latest breaking Cubs news throughout the year. In addition, fans can look forward to exclusive one-on-one interviews with Cubs players, coaches, front office execs, along with MLB media insiders from coast-to-coast.
    • On this week’s episode: Anthony Rizzo talks about his injury, Theo Epstein reacts to his injury, and Stuckmeyer, Andracki, and Kaplan discuss how the Cubs will fill the void in the lineup. On Thursday, the podcast crew previews the series against the Cardinals, and on Sunday, they recap the series against St. Louis and look ahead to the final week of the season.
    • When: Sunday, September 15

 

  • Rotoworld Baseball: Rotoworld’s DJ Short, Drew Silva, and Matt Stroup, and more members of the Rotoworld crewdetail everything happening in fantasy baseball and what’s happening in MLB.
    • On this week’s episode: Matt Stroup and Chris Crawford discuss some prospects making noise late in the season and determine what it means for their fantasy outlook in the near and long-term future. They discuss Jesus Luzardo’s unfair arsenal, Gavin Lux’s potential conundrum next year, Kyle Lewis and Nico Hoerner’s increased power since arriving from Double-A, and an impressive power surge from Sean Murphy.
    • When: Tuesday, September 17

 

BASKETBALL

 

  • Rotoworld Fantasy Basketball: Matt Stroup and Mike Gallagher have you covered from every angle. Joined by Steve “Dr. A” Alexander, Ryan Knaus and the rest of the Rotoworld crew as they cover everything from the latest injuries, waiver wire pickups, DFS strategies and much more!
    • On this week’s episode: Stroup and Alexander look at five recent NBC headlines and their fantasy ramifications. They discuss whether load management will be a thing in Denver and Dallas, and why Zach LaVine may still have even more untapped fantasy potential. Plus, they tackle the latest in the saga of Markelle Fultz, and wrinkle for Summer League standout Tyler Herro.
    • When: Wednesday, September 18

 

  • Celtics Talk Podcast:The Celtics Talk podcast from NBC Sports Boston is hosted by Insiders Sherrod Blakely, Chris Forsberg, and Pre/Postgame host Kyle Draper. Guests include players, coaches, management and media members from around the NBA.
    • On this week’s episode:Celtics center Enes Kanter sits down with Draper and Forsberg to talk about his crazy offseason of 50 free basketball camps around the country, how Gordon Hayward looks in workouts, and about Celtics head coach, Brad Stevens. Plus, he discusses the upcoming season, and his NBA 2k rating. Then, Blakely joins Draper and Forsberg to discuss the impact that playing for Team USA had on the Celtics, as well as Jaylen Brown’s impressive performance during FIBA.
    • When: Tuesday, September 17

 

– NBC SPORTS –

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” BUS TRAVELS TO CLEVELAND FOR RAMS-BROWNS WEEK 3 MATCHUP

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STAMFORD, Conn. – September 19, 2019 – NBC Sports’ Sunday Night Football bus makes a trip to Cleveland this week ahead of Sunday night’s Rams-Browns game (coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC). This weekend’s game is the first time Cleveland will host an NBC SNF game since 2008.

The bus arrives this evening in Cleveland, Thursday, September 19. On Friday, September 20, the bus will visit WKYC from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET. Then, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET, the bus will be at Kirtland High School for its homecoming game against Cuyahoga Heights. On Saturday, September 21, the bus will stop at Public Square from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET for the Top Dawg Block Party in the Square. On game day, Sunday, September 22, the bus will park at Lindsey’s Lake House Flats for game day from 2 p.m. until kick-off at 8:20 p.m. ET.

The schedule for this week:

Date Time (ET) Location
Friday, Sep. 20 11 – 1 a.m. WKYC
Friday, Sep. 20 5:30 –8:30 p.m. Kirtland High School
Saturday, Sep. 21 12 – 4 p.m. Public Square
Sunday, Sep. 22 2 – 8 p.m. Lindsey’s Lake House Flats

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 Cleveland-area ahead of the Sunday Night Football game as the Los Angeles Rams take on the Cleveland Browns.

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
3 22-Sep Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland
4 29-Sep Dallas at New Orleans
5 6-Oct Indianapolis at Kansas City
6 13-Oct Pittsburgh at Los Angeles Chargers
7 20-Oct Philadelphia at Dallas
8 27-Oct Green Bay at Kansas City
9 3-Nov New England at Baltimore
10 10-Nov Minnesota at Dallas
11 17-Nov Chicago at Los Angeles Rams
12 24-Nov Seattle at Philadelphia
13 1-Dec Patriots at Texans
14 8-Dec Seattle at Los Angeles Rams
15 15-Dec Minnesota at Los Angeles Chargers
16 22-Dec Kansas City at Chicago
17 29-Dec TBD

 

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 SNFBus, 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–

 

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019 BEGINS TOMORROW WITH RUSSIA V. HOST-NATION JAPAN AT 6:30 AM ET ON NBCSN

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NBC Sports to Present Unprecedented 250+ Hours of Rugby World Cup 2019 Matches & Programming

26 Matches Televised Live on NBCSN, Including All Team USA Matches and Rugby World Cup 2019 Final

NBC Sports Gold’s Direct-to-Consumer “Rugby World Cup Pass” to Live Stream All 48 Tournament Games – 22 Exclusively – Available Now for $199

The Story of Rugby Documentary Premieres Across NBC Sports on Sunday, September 22

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 19, 2019 – The 2019 Rugby World Cup begins tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 20, when host-nation Japan faces Russia from Tokyo Stadium at 6:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN and NBC Sports Gold in the first Rugby World Cup ever to be hosted in Asia. Coverage begins at 6:00 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

Signifying the start of the tournament, NBC Sports Gold will present exclusive live coverage of the World Cup Opening Ceremony at 5:30 a.m. ET on Friday, ahead of the opening match.

NBC Sports’ Ahmed Fareed will host coverage of the opening match on NBCSN with studio analysts Alex Corbisiero, who played internationally for England, Brian Hightower, a former USA Rugby World Cup participant and USA Sevens captain, and Dan Lyle, former USA Rugby captain and Premiership Rugby player. Commentating the game from Japan will be Alastair Eykyn and co-commentator Martyn Williams, along with reporter Karl Tenana. Sky Sports’ Miles Harrison will also join the broadcast pre-match from Tokyo Stadium.

Click here to see quotes from Fareed, Corbisiero, Hightower, Lyle and Sky Sports’ Rupert Cox previewing the 2019 World Cup. Corbisiero’s The Scrumdown podcast relaunched today, with a new episode dropping weekly discussing all things rugby. In the first episode, Corbisiero previews the Rugby World Cup.

NBCSN will televise three matches throughout the tournament’s opening weekend:

    • Friday, September 20 at 6:30 a.m. ET: Japan v. Russia
    • Saturday, September 21 at 12:30 a.m. ET: Australia v. Fiji
    • Sunday, September 22 at 6:00 a.m. ET: England v. Tonga

 

In addition, NBC Sports Gold, which will livestream all 48 tournament matches – including 22 matches exclusively to the subscribers of the direct-to-consumer package – from Japan commercial-free and on-demand, will present four matches live exclusively this weekend:

    • Saturday, September 21 at 3:00 a.m. ET: France v. Argentina
    • Saturday, September 21 at 5:30 a.m. ET: New Zealand v. South Africa
    • Sunday, September 22 at 1:00 a.m. ET: Italy v. Namibia
    • Sunday, September 22 at 3:30 a.m. ET: Ireland v. Scotland

 

The Story of Rugby, a stunning six-part documentary exploring the cultural history and impact of rugby around the world – from its origins through to the present day – premieres across NBC Sports platforms beginning this weekend. The series, consisting of six one-hour episodes, premieres on NBCSN this Sunday, Sept. 22, with the first two episodes beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. Episodes three, four and five will air consecutively on Monday, Sept. 23, starting at noon ET. The sixth episode will premiere on Monday, Sept. 24, at midnight ET. All six episodes will be available commercial-free through the NBC Sports Gold Rugby World Cup Pass.

Over the course of the six-week tournament, NBC Sports will present more than 250 hours of Rugby World Cup 2019 matches, original programming and additional Rugby World Cup content, comprising the most comprehensive U.S. coverage of the Rugby World Cup ever.

Twenty-six of the tournament’s 48 matches will be shown live on NBCSN, and streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Some games will also be shown on delay on NBC.

The pool play round consists of 40 matches – divided amongst four pools consisting of five nations each – that run through Sunday, Oct. 13.

The quarterfinals will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, while the semifinals will be played on the following weekend of Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27.

The Rugby World Cup Final will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, from International Stadium Yokohama. Both semifinal matches and the World Cup Final will be available live on NBC Sports Gold and re-aired on NBC. NBCSN will also present live coverage of the 2019 Final.

NBC Sports Gold provides rugby fans with unprecedented access to Rugby World Cup 2019 with multiple direct-to-consumer live streaming passes, which include commercial-free coverage, live and on-demand, on desktop, mobile, tablet and connected TV devices.

Following are the NBC Sports Gold Rugby World Cup 2019 options available for purchase:

    • “Rugby World Cup Pass”
      • Available for $199.99 for the entire tournament ($4.15 per game)
      • Includes all 48 matches live, commercial-free and on-demand
        • 22 exclusive matches to be shown only on NBC Sports Gold
      • Features exclusive original programming, daily pre- and post-day shows, extended match highlights and more
    • “Rugby World Cup Single Match Pass”
      • Available for $29.99 for one pool play match
    • “All-Access Premium Rugby Pass”
      • Available for $229.99
      • Includes all offerings from “Rugby Pass” and “Rugby World Cup Pass”
      • “Rugby Pass” consists of all matches from the Premiership Rugby League, Six Nations Championship, Heineken Champions Cup and knockout phase matches of the European Rugby Cup Challenge

 

Rugby World Cup 2019 offerings are available to U.S. commercial establishments through the NBC Sports Pub Pass – a new customizable direct-to-consumer platform developed specifically for the retail pub/restaurant market in the U.S. Through the Rugby World Cup Pub Pass, all 48 tournament matches will be available live, commercial-free and on-demand.

 

ABOUT NBC SPORTS GOLD

NBC Sports Gold is NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer live streaming product that provides sports fans with access to exclusive premium sports events and content, live and on-demand, at an affordable price. Launched in 2016 with a single cycling product, NBC Sports Gold currently offers 17 individual sports “passes” – twelve domestic (PGA TOUR LIVE, Premier League, Premier League Match Day, INDYCAR, Cycling, Track & Field, Premier Lacrosse League, Speed Skating, Rugby, Rugby World Cup, Supercross, and Snow, consisting of seven Olympic winter sports); two regional (Blazers and Philly); one combination (Supercross and Pro Motocross), two domestic and international (Figure Skating and Pro Motocross); and one international-only (Notre Dame Football). Find NBC Sports Gold in the NBC Sports app available on Apple iOS & tvOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast and NBCSportsGold.com, and also on Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex.

-2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP-

PREAKNESS STAKES WINNER WAR OF WILL HEADLINES PENNSYLVANIA DERBY LIVE THIS SATURDAY AT 5 P.M. ET ON NBC

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NEW YORK (Sept. 19, 2019) – The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-olds, led by Preakness Stakes winner War of Will, and the $1 million Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, led by the undefeated Guarana, headline the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series – Presented by America’s Best Racing” broadcast this Saturday, Sept. 21 live on NBC at 5 p.m. ET from Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa.

Saturday’s one-hour program from outside Philadelphia marks the eighth of 11 telecasts in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Win and You’re In Series – Presented by America’s Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 36th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Nov. 1-2 on NBC and NBCSN. Complete series TV schedule can be accessed here: http://www.breederscup.com/challenge-series

NBC Sports’ coverage of the two Grade 1 races will feature commentary and discussion led by: Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, Nick Luck, Britney Eurton, and Matt Bernier.

Gary Barber’s War of Will was a troubled and well-publicized eighth in the Kentucky Derby (moved up to seventh) then returned to win the Preakness for trainer Mark Casse. War of Will, who is 4-for-12 lifetime, also won the LeComte (G3) and Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds in New Orleans this winter, but has disappointed in his last two starts, running ninth in the Belmont in June and fifth in Saratoga’s Jim Dandy (G2) July 27.

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and Starlight Racing’s Improbable is the 8-5 favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles. Improbable was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after running second in Oaklawn Park’s Rebel (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) earlier this year, but was a trouble-free fifth for trainer Bob Baffert. The son of City Zip then followed that up with a sixth as the favorite in the Preakness before bypassing the Belmont and aiming for a late-summer and fall campaign. Improbable returned to win the Del Mar’s Shared Belief Stakes on Aug. 25, his first win of the year.

Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Money will step up in class following four lopsided grade 3 victories for trainer Bret Calhoun, most recently by six lengths in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer park Aug.3. The son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner, Goldencents, clearly rates as the now horse, as he’s won those four starts by a combined 20 ¼ lengths.

The “Win and You’re In” Cotillion, run at 1 1/16 miles, is shaping up as one of the best races in the 3-year-old filly ranks this year, and will give the winner an automatic berth into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Three Chimneys Farm’s Guarana is putting her undefeated record on the line for trainer Chad Brown. The daughter of 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Ghostzapper, favored at 9-5, has been a dynamo in her three starts, winning her debut at Keeneland in April by 14 ¾ lengths, Belmont Park’s Acorn (G1) in June by 6 lengths, and then went wire-to-wire in taking Saratoga’s Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 19.

Competition runs deep, however, with Joel Politi’s Serengeti Empress taking another shot at Guarana after she set a torrid pace and was a clear second in the Acorn. The daughter of Alteration won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs in May for trainer Tom Amoss and has been as impressive in defeat as she has in victory, most notably a super second-place finish in Saratoga’s Test (G1) Aug. 3. Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina, who won the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in April for trainer Simon Callaghan but was just fifth in the Kentucky Oaks and a distant third in the Test, brings some star power, as does DJ Stable’s Jaywalk, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita for trainer John Servis but is just 1-for-5 since.

About Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships. The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 championship races (13 Grade 1 events and one Grade 2 race) with purses and awards totaling more than $30 million, will be held on November 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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. The 2019 Kentucky Derby posted a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 16.5 million viewers across NBC and NBC Sports Digital platforms – up 10% from last year’s race (15.0 million) featuring eventual Triple Crown winner Justify and marking television’s largest Saturday audience since the NFL Divisional Playoffs (Jan. 12, 2019).

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NBC SPORTS & PREMIER LEAGUE VISIT SOUTHWEST FOR “PREMIER LEAGUE MORNINGS LIVE” FAN FESTIVAL, OCT. 26-27, IN AUSTIN, TX

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NBC Sports’ Studio Team of Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Earle, Kyle Martino & Robbie Mustoe to Present Premier League Mornings Live on Location

Full Weekend of Coverage Live from Scholz Garten, the Oldest Beer Garden in America

Two Day Fan Festival Highlights Nine Matches, Culminating with Liverpool v. Tottenham on Sun., Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC

SportsEngine Presents Sweepstakes to Win Trip to Austin for Premier League Mornings Live Experience

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 19, 2019 – NBC Sports and the Premier League celebrate the 2019-20 season by heading southwest for the first time with the next Premier League Mornings Live fan festival in Austin, Texas on October 26-27, 2019.  The two-day fan festival will take over Scholz Garten, the oldest beer garden in America, and features live action from nine games across five match windows, including two matches on NBC.

Premier League clubs are joining the action at the event, which will feature special guests, club mascots, soccer-themed fan events, contests and more. Fans interested in attending can sign up here.

NBC Sports’ Premier League Mornings studio team of host Rebecca Lowe and analysts Robbie Earle, Kyle Martino and Robbie Mustoe will broadcast live from the event on NBCSN beginning at 7 a.m. ET on Saturday, October 26, and 8 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 27. The group will be joined by several special guests throughout the day and will bring the celebration to viewers across the country.

With widespread fan excitement across the nation, NBC Sports will take cameras to additional cities around the country to showcase “live look-ins” of passionate Premier League viewing parties to join the celebration.”

In addition, SportsEngine Inc. and NBC Sports are partnering with the National Fitness Foundation to raise funds for youth soccer clubs across America and have launched a special sweepstake for two lucky fans to win an all-expenses paid trip to the fan festival in Austin. More information is available here.

The Austin fan festival marks the first Premier League Mornings Live supporter event that NBC Sports and the Premier League will present this season, following three successful installments (Boston, New York, and Washington D.C.) during the 2018-19 Premier League season. This year’s Austin event features a two-day format, which debuted last spring with the spirited fan festival in Boston, where more than 12,000 supporters celebrated at Cask n’ Flagon and outside of Fenway Park. NBC Sports introduced its innovative fan festival activation in Manhattan in November 2017.

The Premier League has an ongoing commitment to bringing unique experiences to its fans and working with NBC Sports on Premier League Mornings Live continues that direct outreach to passionate fans in different cities across the United States.

Premier League Interim Chief Executive, Richard Masters, said: “After a successful season of Premier League Mornings Live, we are delighted to be visiting Austin, Texas, for the first event of 2019-20. Last year we saw how passionate our American fans are, as we brought the Premier League experience to Washington D.C., New York and Boston. This season we are once again working with NBC Sports and bringing many of our clubs, partners and some famous faces to unique locations in different cities. Those attending in Austin can expect some great activations and I am sure there will be plenty of entertaining football for them to enjoy as we have some exciting fixtures taking place over the weekend.”

NBC Sports Chief Marketing Officer Jenny Storms added: “We are excited to once again partner with the Premier League on this two-day event. With a new city and time zone in Austin, we look forward to celebrating the sport with that passionate local fan base and showcasing the Texas culture across the country.”

The weekend’s Premier League coverage will kick off from Austin on Friday, October 25 with Premier League Live at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by the Southampton v. Leicester City match at 3 p.m. After the match, a new episode of THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW, hosted by popular soccer personalities Michael Davies and Roger Bennett will debut live at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Both Premier League Live and THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW will be live from Scholz Garten in Austin, providing TV viewers a sneak peek at the fan festival ahead of Saturday’s kick-off. (NOTE: Friday’s telecasts are not open to the public.)

Supporters will arrive early in full-force on Saturday, October 26, for the match between reigning Premier League champions Manchester City and newly promoted Aston Villa at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN. Coverage continues with a slate of three matches at 10 a.m. ET, with the day’s final fixture featuring Christian Pulisic and Chelsea as they visit Burnley at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Sunday’s coverage begins with Premier League Mornings Live at 8 a.m. ET, followed by Newcastle v. Wolves at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN. The second NBC match of the weekend kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET with Liverpool v. Tottenham. Also at 12:30 p.m. ET, Arsenal host Crystal Palace and Manchester United visit Norwich City on NBC Sports Gold.

Viewers across the country can share in the fun by checking in on social media using #MyPLMorning wherever they are watching. Select viewer photos will be featured on air throughout the weekend.

Following is the full Premier League schedule for Friday, October 25-Sunday, October 27 (all times ET, subject to change):

Date Time Match Platform
Fri., Oct. 25 2:30 p.m. Premier League Live NBCSN
Fri., Oct. 25 3 p.m. Southampton v. Leicester City NBCSN
Fri., Oct. 25 5 p.m. THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW NBCSN
Sat., Oct. 26 7 a.m. Premier League Mornings Live NBCSN
Sat., Oct. 26 7:30 a.m. Manchester City v. Aston Villa NBCSN
Sat., Oct. 26 10 a.m. Brighton & Hove Albion v. Everton NBCSN
Sat., Oct. 26 10 a.m. Watford v. Bournemouth NBC Sports Gold
Sat., Oct. 26 10 a.m. West Ham v. Sheffield United NBC Sports Gold
Sat., Oct. 26 12:30 p.m. Burnley v. Chelsea NBC
Sun., Oct. 27 8 a.m. Premier League Mornings Live NBCSN
Sun., Oct. 27 10 a.m. Newcastle United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers NBCSN
Sun., Oct. 27 12:30 p.m. Liverpool v. Tottenham Hotspur NBC
Sun., Oct. 27 12:30 p.m. Arsenal v. Crystal Palace NBC Sports Gold
Sun., Oct. 27 12:30 p.m. Norwich City v. Manchester United NBC Sports Gold

For further information, please visit NBCSports.com here.

About the Premier League

The Premier League produces some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities, and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds.  It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 860 million homes in 187 countries.

About NBC Sports Group

NBC Sports Group serves sports fans 24/7 with premier live events, insightful studio shows, and compelling original programming. The sports media company consists of NBC Sports, NBC Olympics, NBCSN, Golf Channel, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, NBC Sports Regional Networks, NBC Sports Radio and NBC Sports Digital, which includes NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com, GolfChannel.com, the digital assets of the NBC Sports Regional Networks, Rotoworld, the NBC Sports Talk franchise, multiple apps, and two transactional sports businesses, GolfNow and SportsEngine. NBC Sports Group possesses an unparalleled collection of television rights agreements, partnering with some of the most prestigious sports properties in the world: the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee, the NFL, NHL, NASCAR, INDYCAR, PGA TOUR, The R&A, PGA of America, Churchill Downs, Premier League, Tour de France, French Open, and many more.

 –NBC SPORTS–

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, NBC Olympics join together to host Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of the Year, on Nov. 19 at Universal Studios

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Star-studded celebration to include medal reallocation ceremonies for Team USA two-man and four-man bobsled teams from Sochi 2014 Games

Exclusive after-party hosted at Universal Studios Hollywood’s

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and NBC Olympics will co-host the 2019 Team USA Awards presented by Dow, Best of the Year, at Universal Studios on Tuesday, November 19, bringing together summer and winter Team USA athletes, sponsors, donors and guests to celebrate the past, present and future of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements. The event recognizes the most outstanding U.S. performances throughout the past year and will be broadcast on Dec. 22, 2019, from 2-3 p.m. ET on NBC. The Team USA Awards have shone a light on the inspiring performances of U.S. athletes for nearly 50 years and invite fans to join the conversation by voting for their favorites online.

Sure to be one of the most moving moments of the night, the Team USA two-man and four-man bobsled teams from the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 will receive their Olympic silver medals and be honored in special medal reallocation ceremonies. Attending will be athletes Chris Fogt (four-man), Steve Langton (two-man and four-man) and Curt Tomasevicz (four-man). Pilot Steven Holcomb (two-man and four-man), who passed away unexpectedly in May 2017, will be represented by his mother, Jean Schaefer, his father, Steve Holcomb Sr., and his sisters, Megan Holcomb and Stephanie Peterson.

“We are happy that we now can celebrate and be proud of the silver medal accomplishments, and we are looking forward to experiencing this special ceremony and tribute among our friends, families and fellow athletes at the Team USA Awards,” Fogt, Langton and Tomasevicz said in a joint statement. “As a team, it means a lot to have our efforts, sacrifice and hard work appropriately vindicated. That being said, this is a win not just for Team Holcomb but for all athletes who continue to do the right thing.”

The Team USA Awards, hosted by Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs, will honor the athletes and teams of the year. The list of finalists will be announced on Oct. 14, and online fan voting at TeamUSA.org/Awards will be open Oct. 14-28. The categories include:

  • Female Olympic and Paralympic Athletes of the Year
  • Male Olympic and Paralympic Athletes of the Year
  • Olympic and Paralympic Teams of the Year, presented by Dow

“The Team USA Awards are such an important and beloved event within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements, because they celebrate the inspiring journeys and incredible feats of our athletes year in and year out,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said. “This year’s event will take on an even deeper significance as we pay tribute to Chris, Steven, Curt and Steve, and honor their rightful place in history. We are thrilled to host this event alongside NBC Olympics and Dow, two great partners in celebrating the achievements of Team USA athletes.”

“As we head towards Tokyo 2020, the Team USA Awards allow us to pause and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the Team USA athletes from this past year,” said Jenny Storms, CMO and EVP, Content Strategy. “It’s always our great privilege to televise the awards, but this year we’re even more invested by working with our partners at Universal Studios to host them. It certainly promises to be a memorable evening, punctuated by the can’t-miss medal reallocation ceremonies.”

The ceremony will also recognize three additional awards, which are selected by internal USOPC committees:

  • Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award: Recognizes an individual(s) who has served as a powerful force for good in society, inspiring others by contributing to a better world, uniting people or leading a cause.
  • Coaches of the Year awards: Honors one Olympic and one Paralympic coach based on their achievements from the previous year.

Athletes and teams considered for 2019 Best of the Year were finalists for Best of the Month honors dating back to the fall of 2018 and coinciding with the sport calendar. A USOPC committee selects the top-five finalists in the individual categories and top three in the team categories to advance to the voting round. The online fan vote accounts for 50 percent of the final tally, while members of the Olympic and Paralympic family – including an esteemed panel of Olympic and Paralympic journalists – account for the other 50 percent.

The 2018 Best of the Games honored the most outstanding U.S. performances from the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Winners were Chloe Kim and Shaun White (snowboarding), Oksana Masters and Dan Cnossen (Para Nordic skiing), the women’s ice hockey team and the sled hockey team. The 2017 Best of the Year winners were Katie Ledecky (swimming), Kyle Snyder (wrestling), Tatyana McFadden and Mikey Brannigan (Para track and field), the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, and the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team.

At the 2019 Team USA Awards, guests will receive a red-carpet welcome at Universal Studios, which will be open to the media from 4:30-5:45 p.m. The Team USA Awards will take place from 6:00-7:15 p.m. at a sound stage on the Universal Studios production lot in Universal City, Calif.

The Team USA Awards will also include a private after-party hosted exclusively for guests of the event within “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Information on media credentials for those interested in attending and covering the event will be available in October.

2019 NTT INDYCAR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE DECIDED ON NBC THIS SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. ET AT WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA

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NBC Sports Presents Comprehensive Coverage of Practice, Qualifying, and Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Beginning Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden Battles Alexander Rossi, 2019 Indy 500 Champion Simon Pagenaud and Scott Dixon for NTT IndyCar Series Title

NBC Sports Delivers Viewership Gains in First Full Season as Exclusive Home of INDYCAR

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Continue from Richmond Raceway this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Six-Time WWE Champion and Richmond Native Mickie James to Participate in Toyota Joy Ride with Jeff Burton Prior to Saturday’s Cup Series Race

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 19, 2019 – The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Championship will be decided this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, as American driver Josef Newgarden battles for his second series title at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. Pre-race coverage of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey begins Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

NBC Sports will present comprehensive coverage of the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey weekend, beginning this Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET with Practice 1 on NBC Sports Gold.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of all INDYCAR coverage this week from Laguna Seca.

FIRESTONE GRAND PRIX OF MONTEREY FROM WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA – SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series Championship will be awarded for the eighth consecutive year on NBC Sports this Sunday, as the series returns to Laguna Seca for the first time in 15 years. Team Penske’s Newgarden can earn his second series title by finishing 4th or better, no matter what pursuers Alexander Rossi (-41), Simon Pagenaud (-42) and Scott Dixon (-85) do. However, only four current drivers – Dixon, Sebastien Bourdais, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Tony Kanaan – have past INDYCAR race experience at the 11-turn, 2.2-mile road course.

Coverage from Laguna Seca begins Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold with Practice 1, followed by Practice 2 at 5 p.m. ET. Saturday coverage includes Practice 3 on NBC Sports Gold at 1 p.m. ET and qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Pre-race coverage on Sunday will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, following Rugby World Cup coverage. Live race coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by post-race coverage at 5 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage on NBC will include features on Josef Newgarden and his second championship run, as well as a piece on what items he would keep with him on a deserted island.

NBC Sports’ lead INDYCAR play-by-play commentator Leigh Diffey will call this weekend’s Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey alongside two-time Laguna Seca Indy-car winner Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell, who competed in last weekend’s IMSA race at Laguna Seca and clinched the Indy Lights title there in 2001.

Marty Snider, Jon Beekhuis, Kevin Lee and Robin Miller will report from the pits. Lead NBCSports.com motorsports writer Nate Ryan will be on-site in Monterey, and Practice 2 coverage on NBC Sports gold will feature a ride around the track with Ryan and Beekhuis, a previous driving instructor at Laguna Seca.

Following is this weekend’s IndyCar coverage schedule across NBC Sports:

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Fri., Sept. 20 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Practice 1 NBC Sports Gold 1:30 p.m.
  Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Practice 2 NBC Sports Gold 5 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 21 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Practice 3 NBC Sports Gold 1 p.m.
  Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Qualifying NBCSN 4:30 p.m.
  Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Qualifying NBC Sports Gold 4:30 p.m.
  Indy Lights Grand Prix of Laguna Seca Race 1 NBC Sports Gold 6 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 22 Indy Lights Grand Prix of Laguna Seca Race 2 NBC Sports Gold 12:05 p.m.
  Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Pre-Race NBC 2:30 p.m.
  Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey NBC 3 p.m.
  Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Post-Race NBC 5 p.m.

*delayed coverage

NBC SPORTS DELIVERS VIEWERSHIP GAINS IN FIRST FULL SEASON AS EXCLUSIVE HOME OF INDYCAR

Heading into the season finale at Laguna Seca, NBC Sports is set to wrap up its first season as the exclusive home of INDYCAR with viewership gains across the board on NBC and NBCSN. The NTT IndyCar Series is average a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 1.128 million viewers across 15 races on NBC and NBCSN, up 9% from last year’s viewership on ABC and NBCSN. Gains are highlighted by this year’s inaugural Indy 500 on NBCN, which produced a TAD of 5.446 million viewers, up 11% vs. last year on ABC.

Excluding the Indy 500, races on NBC are averaging a TAD of 962,000 viewers, up 6% vs. ABC’s four non-Indy 500 races (906,000 viewers). The penultimate race of the season from Portland on NBC averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 1.078 million viewers, up 101% vs. last year’s race on NBCSN and up 19% vs. ABC’s four-race average in 2018 excluding the Indy 500.

2019 MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS CONTINUE FROM RICHMOND RACEWAY THIS SATURDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBC Sports surrounds the second race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 16 with more than 12 hours of trackside coverage this week from Richmond Raceway. NBC Sports’ race-day coverage begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with the first race of the Xfinity Series Playoffs, and culminates Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with NASCAR Cup Series Playoff racing.

Following his fifth victory of the 2019 season this past Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Martin Truex Jr., driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota, officially clinched a spot in the Round of 12. Of the remaining 15 Playoff drivers, Kevin Harvick (2,079 points) is in second, followed by Joey Logano (2,075 points) in third, Kyle Busch (2,063 points) in fourth, and Brad Keselowski (2,058 points) rounding out the top five.

Prior to the green flag of the race, six-time WWE champion, country music artist and Richmond native Mickie James will join Jeff Burton for a ride around Richmond Raceway as the latest celebrity to take part in the Toyota Joyride with Jeff on NBCSN. Vegas Golden Knights star Mark Stone participated in the program last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Click here to watch.

For more information and a full broadcast schedule, click here.

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS MORE THAN 12 HOURS OF MECUM AUCTIONS: LOUISVILLE COVERAGE THIS WEEK ON NBCSN

NBCSN’s coverage of the 2019 Mecum Auctions season rolls into Louisville, Ky., this weekend with more than 12 hours of coverage from the Kentucky Exposition Center beginning Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET. An eclectic array of 600 vehicles, from 1930s street rods to 1960s muscle cars, will hit the auction block in Louisville. But perhaps the most striking of the lot is the 1973 DeTomaso Pantera – a wedge-shaped Italian sports car that boasts American horsepower from Ford’s 351 cubic-inch Cleveland V-8 engine.

Scott Hoke will host NBCSN’s Mecum Auctions coverage on-site in Louisville alongside analysts John Kraman, Stephen Cox, Bill Stephens and Katie Osborne.

Following is this week’s Mecum Auctions: Louisville coverage on NBCSN:

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Fri., Sept. 20 Mecum Auctions: Louisville NBCSN 12:30 p.m.
  Mecum Auctions: Louisville* NBCSN 10 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 21 Mecum Auctions: Louisville* NBCSN 1:30 p.m.
  Mecum Auctions: Louisville (encore) NBCSN 1 a.m.
  Mecum Auctions: Louisville (encore) NBCSN 2 a.m.
Sun., Sept. 22 Mecum Auctions: Louisville* NBCSN 8:30 p.m.
  Mecum Auctions: Louisville (encore) NBCSN 11 p.m.
  Mecum Auctions: Louisville (encore) NBCSN 1:30 a.m.

*delayed coverage

2019 NTT INDYCAR SERIES ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

–NBC SPORTS–

TWO DAYS OUT: NBC SPORTS’ RUGBY COMMENTATING TEAM PREVIEWS 2019 WORLD CUP

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Analysts Alex Corbisiero, Brian Hightower and Dan Lyle & Hosts Rupert Cox and Ahmed Fareed Share Thoughts Ahead of Friday’s Opening Match

“There are very few occasions in sports and in general that will rival the Rugby World Cup.” – Corbisiero

“This is the next opportunity to spread the gospel of this amazing, properly global sport in this country.” – Cox

 “It’s really interesting to see the dynamics that are going to unfold in these pools because of how competitive it’s going to be.” – Lyle

“Whatever drama unfolds, there’s always some sort of seminal moment in the World Cup.” – Hightower

Corbisiero’s The Scrumdown Podcast Relaunches Around the World Cup; First Episode Previews 2019 Rugby World Cup

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 18, 2019 – With the 2019 Rugby World Cup two days away, NBC Sports rugby analysts Alex Corbisiero, who played internationally for England, Brian Hightower, a former USA Rugby World Cup participant and USA Sevens captain, and Dan Lyle, former USA Rugby captain and Premiership Rugby player, along with host Ahmed Fareed and Sky Sports’ Rupert Cox, preview the tournament.

 

On what to look forward to at the 2019 World Cup in Japan:

Lyle: “I call this the five-five-and-five. You’ve got five teams who can absolutely win it. You’ve got five teams who have beaten those five, and then you’ve got five more below that that have beaten those five. So, it’s really interesting to see the dynamics that are going to unfold in these pools because of how competitive it’s going to be.”

Corbisiero: “The fact that it’s hosted outside of a top-tier nation in Japan, it’s almost neutral ground. Every time we usually have a World Cup, it’s a top nation that hosts it and is playing in front of a home base crowd. This time, none of the top teams are in that position. They’re all playing on neutral ground. I think it just adds an extra layer of spice that we haven’t seen before in a World Cup, and it makes it very exciting.”

Hightower: “Whatever drama unfolds, there’s always some sort of seminal moment in the World Cup…I think those are the moments that make a World Cup unique…There’s going to be some sort of drama that unfolds that changes whatever the popularly accepted narrative is about the winner or who’s going to be in the semifinals or who’s even going to be in the quarterfinals.”

Cox: “The exciting thing about second-tier teams is every game’s a final…Every time they take the field, it’s the biggest game of their time.”

 

On what it means to play in a World Cup:

Corbisiero: “It’s incredible. It’s such a moment on the biggest stage, the ceremonies, the grandeur that goes with it, the environment…There are very few occasions in sports and in general that will rival the Rugby World Cup.”

Corbisiero: “I think for the players, obviously you want to win it, but you want to create those memories that you look back on, and I think on this stage, it’s very easy to create special moments that you can look back on forever. I know I did.”

Hightower: “You have the pride and the accomplishment to be able to represent your country just once, and then you throw in the weight and the magnitude of this tournament, and it’s totally different. It’s stratospherically different.”

Fareed: “Whenever you tie country and pride to sports, it produces these intense, patriotic atmospheres. You have players that are playing not only for themselves, but for their teammates and their country. I think that always give you this special environment that is really very difficult to replicate on a year-to-year basis in sports.”

 

On growing the sport of rugby through the World Cup:

Cox: “This is the next opportunity to spread the gospel of this amazing, properly global sport in this country. And to be here trying to promote the sport, tell the stories that we were talking about that could unfold over the next weeks, it’s a real privilege to do it.”

Lyle: “That ability to unlock the American market, to inspire people that have never seen the game with the coverage that we have – these 26 linear games and all of the coverage that we have – we definitely have the opportunity.”

Hightower: “You take a novice and you let him watch the sport, it is instantly compelling, it is interesting, and there are very few people that will turn the channel because it’s got that much wow-factor. It’s the game that we love and for us, it’s awesome to see people growing into their own unique relationship with the sport.”

 

Corbisiero’s The Scrumdown podcast will relaunch around the World Cup, with a new episode dropping weekly discussing all things rugby. In the first episode, Corbisiero previews the Rugby World Cup.

Over the course of the six-week tournament, NBC Sports will present more than 250 hours of Rugby World Cup 2019 matches, original programming and additional Rugby World Cup content.

All 48 Rugby World Cup 2019 matches will be available live, commercial-free and on-demand on NBC Sports Gold through the “Rugby World Cup Pass” and “Rugby World Cup Single Match Pass” when the tournament begins in two days on Friday, September 20. Twenty-two matches will be presented live exclusively to the subscribers of the direct-to-consumer package.

In addition to NBC Sports Gold, twenty-six of the 48 matches will be shown live on NBCSN, and streamed via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Some games will also be shown on delay on NBC. For more information, click here.

NBC Sports Gold provides rugby fans with unprecedented access to Rugby World Cup 2019 with multiple direct-to-consumer live streaming passes, which include commercial-free coverage, live and on-demand, on desktop, mobile, tablet and connected TV devices.

 

ABOUT NBC SPORTS GOLD

NBC Sports Gold is NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer live streaming product that provides sports fans with access to exclusive premium sports events and content, live and on-demand, at an affordable price. Launched in 2016 with a single cycling product, NBC Sports Gold currently offers 17 individual sports “passes” – twelve domestic (PGA TOUR LIVE, Premier League, Premier League Match Day, INDYCAR, Cycling, Track & Field, Premier Lacrosse League, Speed Skating, Rugby, Rugby World Cup, Supercross, and Snow, consisting of seven Olympic winter sports); two regional (Blazers and Philly); one combination (Supercross and Pro Motocross), two domestic and international (Figure Skating and Pro Motocross); and one international-only (Notre Dame Football). Find NBC Sports Gold in the NBC Sports app available on Apple iOS & tvOS, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast and NBCSportsGold.com, and also on Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex.

 -2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP-

MATT RAMBO AND WHIPSNAKES MEET RYDER GARNSEY AND REDWOODS IN INAUGURAL PLL CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SATURDAY ON NBC

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Coverage Begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC; Post-Game Show to Follow at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Championship Weekend Coverage Begins Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET with Archers-Atlas on NBC Sports Gold; Winner Gets Next Year’s First Overall Draft Pick

Pick Your Way to Watch: NBC Sports Gold Offers Discounted Pass for This Weekend’s Games, as well as Individual Game Passes

NBC to Utilize Skycam System for Championship Coverage

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 18, 2019 – NBC Sports presents coverage of the Premier Lacrosse League’s inaugural Championship this Saturday, September 21, as Matt Rambo and Whipsnakes LC take on Ryder Garnsey and Redwoods LC at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa., at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Championship weekend coverage begins Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold’s “Premier Lacrosse League Pass” with the First Draft Pick Game, as Archers LC meets Atlas LC with next year’s first overall draft pick at stake.

Whipsnakes LC advanced to the PLL’s first-ever Championship after defeating top-ranked Chaos LC in the first week of the postseason, 15-7. Rambo, Whips attackman and a Jim Brown Most Valuable Player award nominee, led the league in regular-season points with 42 and hopes to lead his team to its first Premier Lacrosse League title.

Redwoods LC also advanced to the Championship following a convincing 12-7 win over the No. 1-seeded Chaos last weekend. Redwoods attackman Ryder Garnsey had 24 points in the regular season and is up for the PLL’s inaugural Rookie of the Year award, along with fellow teammate Tim Troutner.

Whipsnakes and Redwoods faced off twice in the regular season, splitting wins. Redwoods LC gave Whipsnakes LC their first loss of the season back in Week 5, 14-11; but, the Whips beat Redwoods in their second meeting in Week 9, 17-4 – the widest margin of victory in a game this season.

Brendan Burke (play-by-play) and Ryan Boyle (PLL analyst) will call this weekend’s games from Red Bull Arena on NBC and NBC Sports Gold, with Chantel McCabe as a reporter. Matt Rambo of Whipsnakes LC as well as Redwoods LC’s Ryder Garnsey and Eddy Glazener will be mic’d up for under-the-helmet interviews Saturday on NBC. In addition to select players, each team’s head coach will be mic’d up for the duration of the Championship as well.

PICK YOUR WAY TO WATCH ON NBC SPORTS GOLD THIS WEEKEND

NBC Sports Gold’s “Premier Lacrosse League Pass” is available now for a Playoff Special Price of $9.99. Additionally, for the first time domestically, NBC Sports Gold has launched two single-game subscriptions – First Draft Pick Game and Championship – which are available for $5.99 each. For more information on “Premier Lacrosse League Pass”, click here.

Find NBC Sports Gold in the NBC Sports app. Available on Apple iOS & tvOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast and NBCSportsGold.com, and also on Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Flex. NBC Sports Gold is powered by Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Digital’s technology service which provides end-to-end support for companies in need of best-in-class live streaming and VOD solutions.

Following is this weekend’s PLL coverage across NBC Sports:

DATE TIME (ET) GAME PLATFORM
Sat., Sept. 21 11:30 a.m. Archers LC vs. Atlas LC NBC Sports Gold
2:30 p.m. Redwoods LC vs. Whipsnakes LC NBC*


*All television coverage simultaneously live streams via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

For the entire 2019 PLL schedule and more details on NBC Sports’ comprehensive coverage of the PLL’s inaugural season across NBC Sports platforms, click here.

For a look at the entire postseason bracket, click here.

***

ABOUT THE PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE:

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings the sport of lacrosse to a national stage for the first time through a tour-based model, complete with the best players the game has to offer. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group comprised of The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Chernin Group, and Blum Capital. The PLL season began this June, with six teams, embarking on a 14-week season that concludes with postseason and the PLL Championship. The PLL season will be distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit PremierLacrosseLeague.com, and follow on social media:

Instagram: @PLL
Twitter: @PremierLacrosse
Facebook: @PremierLacrosseLeague
YouTube: YouTube.com/PLL

For more details on the partnership between NBC Sports and the PLL announced in October, click here.

–PLL CHAMPIONSHIP–

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS, WRESTLING & ROAD CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS HIGHLIGHT OLYMPIC SPORTS PROGRAMMING THIS WEEK ACROSS NBC SPORTS

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Live TV Coverage of World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships Continues Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

Live Coverage of UWW World Wrestling Championships Continues Tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

TV Coverage of UCI World Cycling Championships Begins Sunday, Sept. 22, at 5:30 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

Additional Olympic Sports Programming This Week Includes: Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualification Tournament, Trampoline Gymnastics World Cup and Cyclo-Cross World Cup

All Olympic Sports Coverage Televised and Streamed Across NBC Sports Platforms is Presented by Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 18, 2019 – The World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, World Wrestling Championships and World Road Cycling Championships highlight extensive Olympic sports programming this week across NBC Sports.

The 2019 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, where nine Americans will compete (six in group competition and three individuals). 2016 Olympian and reigning U.S. all-around, hoop, clubs and ball champion Laura Zeng is expected to headline the Americans in the individual competition. The top 16 individual all-around finishers will earn Olympic quota spots for their nations. Three nations already qualified group quota places for the Tokyo Games (Russia, Italy and Bulgaria); the top five finishers at the 2019 World Championships (outside of the three qualified nations) will also earn quota spots for next summer’s Olympics.

Live TV coverage of the event continues tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Click here for a full schedule.

This year’s World Wrestling Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, includes 30 total weight classes (10 in each style – men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman); however, only 18 of these (six in each style) are Olympic weight classes. The top six finishers in each Olympic weight class will qualify one Olympic quota place for their nations. The U.S. men will be led by 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs (74kg) and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder (97kg). Burroughs aims for his sixth world or Olympic title, which would tie him for most ever with John Smith, who won two Olympic gold medals and four world titles between 1987 and 1992.

The tournament will conclude with the 97kg final, which will likely feature the third straight world finals appearance between rivals Snyder and Russia’s Abdulrashid Sadulayev, who have split results in the previous two world championships. Rio Olympic bronze medalist J’Den Cox (92kg) will seek his second straight world title, while four-time world champion Adeline Gray (76kg) is expected to lead the U.S. women.

Live coverage of the event continues tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. NBCSN presents additional coverage of the event at noon ET.

For more information and a full schedule, click here.

Additionally, the 92nd edition of the World Road Cycling Championships – the pinnacle event of the international road cycling calendar – will take place in Yorkshire, England. 2016 Olympic track cycling silver medalist Chloe Dygert (individual time trial and road race) is looking to compete in both track and road competitions at the Tokyo Olympics. She is expected to lead the Americans in Yorkshire. Two-time world champion Amber Neben (individual time trial) is expected to compete as well, along with Lawson Craddock (individual time trial and road race) and Neilson Powless (road race), both of whom participated in the 2019 Vuelta a Espana.

Live coverage of the World Road Cycling Championships from Yorkshire, England begins Sunday, September 22, at 8:10 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Gold, with TV coverage beginning later that day at 5:30 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

Click here for a full schedule.

All coverage on NBC and NBCSN will stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. All coverage on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will stream on OlympicChannel.com and the Olympic Channel app, in addition to NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Coverage of Olympic Sports on NBC Sports Group platforms is a presentation of Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

 Following are additional programming highlights this week across NBC Sports:

BEACH VOLLEYBALL OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT – HAIYANG, CHINA

OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA PRESENTS TV COVERAGE BEGINNING SATURDAY AT NOON ET

Haiyang, China, will host Olympic qualification tournaments for men’s and women’s beach volleyball this week. Tournament winners will earn quota places for their nations. No American teams will compete, as they are likely to earn their Olympic spots via FIVB Olympic points rankings next year.

Click here for a full schedule.

TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS WORLD CUP – KHABAROVSK, RUSSIA

OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA PRESENTS TV COVERAGE SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT ET

The Trampoline World Cup series continues with a stop in Khabarovsk, Russia. 2019 Pan American Games silver medalists Jeffrey Gluckstein and Nicole Ahsinger are expected to lead the Americans.

CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CUP – WATERLOO, WISCONSIN

LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA AND NBC SPORTS GOLD

The Cyclo-Cross World Cup season continues with the second straight American stop in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Cyclo-cross, a non-Olympic discipline, combines cycling, steeplechase and NASCAR all into one, with athletes racing around a circuit course with steep hills, difficult descents, mud, grass, sand and dirt. Americans Kaitie Keough and Katie Compton finished second and fifth, respectively, in last year’s World Cup Standings.

Live coverage begins Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports Gold with women’s elite. Coverage of men’s elite begins Sunday at 4 p.m. on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports Gold.

– NBC SPORTS –