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TNT’s Wide Open Coverage of Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, with truTV Simulcast, Delivers Highest-Rated & Most-Viewed Daytona 400 Since 2008

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TNT’s signature Wide Open coverage of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Powered by Coca-Cola, combined with the first-ever simulcast on truTV, generated a 3.8 U.S. household rating and 6,184,000 total viewers to become the highest-rated and most-viewed Daytona 400 since 2008 (3.8 U.S. HH rating and 6,390,000 total viewers), based on Nielsen Fast Nationals.

Saturday’s prime-time coverage (7:30-10:32 p.m. ET) is up 12 percent compared with last year’s 3.4 U.S. HH rating and three percent over the average of 6,029,000 total viewers in 2011. The race, won by Tony Stewart, generated the highest metered market ratings in Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville, S.C. (9.3 rating); Charlotte (9.2); Greensboro, N.C. (9.2); Indianapolis (8.6) and Birmingham, Ala. (7.4).

TNT’s coverage of the NASCAR Summer Series will conclude with the New Hampshire 301 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 15, at 1 p.m. with Countdown to Green pre-race coverage at noon.

(Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Live + Same Day data Fast Nationals. 2012 NASCAR Daytona 400 Simulcast on TNT + truTV gross audience compared to 2011 NASCAR Daytona 400 on TNT. Historical comparison for dates of the Daytona 400 on TNT.)

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Notes from TNT NASCAR Summer Series – Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway

Saturday, July 7, 2012

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CLIP OF THE DAY

(click on link below to watch)

 

No. 14 Tony Stewart comments on his win at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Powered by Coca-Cola

 

 

Countdown to Green
Adam Alexander (host), Larry McReynolds (analyst) and Kyle Petty (analyst)

McReynolds on racing at Daytona: “It’s amazing, we’re going to run 160 laps and 400 miles and probably we’re not going to know who’s going to win this thing until they come off turn four and come back to that checkered flag.”

Dallenbach on racing at Daytona: “If you’re in this race with one lap to go – no matter where you are – you really have a shot to win this race.”

(TNT’s Countdown the Green crew interviewed No.14 Tony Stewart)
Stewart on racing at Daytona and the importance of driver positioning at the start of the race (Stewart started in 42nd position]: “It really doesn’t matter [where you start].”

From this week’s “NASCAR Generations” discussion on memories of Daytona:

Bill Elliott on his fondest memory of Daytona: “I still say the most impressive thing that I have ever done – that impressed me – was running 210 [mph] at Daytona in that era [1980s].”

Kyle Petty on racing at Daytona: “When you would go to qualify [at Daytona], you weren’t sure you were gonna come back during that period of time…That was an amazing thing that day, when you busted that [Elliott’s 210 mph].”

Jimmie Johnson on what his mentality is like when he drives at Daytona: “It’s such a weird mind game to win a plate race in today’s era of racing because you can’t do it by yourself. You know the best car doesn’t win. It’s who’s willing to work with each other the most.”

Bill Elliott on Tony Stewart’s comment last year about racing at Daytona: “The most classic line I’ve ever heard was Tony [Stewart] last year. He said, ‘This is a high-speed chess game, and I ain’t even smart enough to play checkers.’”

Ned Jarrett on his fondest memory of Daytona – 1993 when he son Dale won the Daytona 500: “Well, that one probably tops them all. Even anything that I did on the racetrack or any experience that I had, let’s say, in racing…that 1993 Daytona 500 was it. Because it was the first time that anyone knew of that a dad was in the booth broadcasting and his son [was winning] a major event.”

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TNT NASCAR Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Powered by Coca-Cola
Adam Alexander (host), Wally Dallenbach (analyst), Kyle Petty (analyst), pit reporters Chris Neville, Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider, Matt Yocum

Dallenbach on the improvements made to the safety of today’s cars which enables drivers to concentrate for longer periods of time: “It’s not as physically demanding as it used to be.”

Petty on the accident on pit road halfway through the race and potential consequences for the pit crews: “There are a lot of brave guys on pit road.”

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TNT NASCAR Summer Series – Post-Race Remarks

(TNT’s Matt Yocum interviewed Coke Zero 400 winner No. 14 Tony Stewart)
Stewart on tonight’s win: “I don’t even remember what happened that last lap. Any time you win at Daytona it’s special.”

(TNT’s Marty Snider interviewed runner-up No. 17 Matt Kenseth)
Kenseth on his race finish at Daytona: “I thought we were in perfect position. I did the best I could. It’s just disappointing we came up short because these guys gave me an awesome car.”

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Notes From truTV’s Infiniti NCAA Hardcore Brackets – March 11, 2012

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2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship begins Tuesday, March 13, and Wednesday, March 14, with NCAA First Four™ on truTV presented by Northwestern Mutual

 

 

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Talent: Host Greg Gumble, Analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony and Seth Davis and Division I Men’s Basketball Committee Chairman Jeff Hathaway and Mike Bobinski, who will become committee chair for the 2012-13 season

 

Barkley on any surprises tied to the No. 1 selections: “No, I thought Carolina was a lock the whole time. I didn’t think Ohio State was a No. 1. I thought it was between (University of) Missouri and Michigan State.”

Barkley on his sleeper in the West region: “Memphis is my sleeper in this region. They are terrific across the board.”

Hathaway on the strength of Missouri’s schedule earning them a No. 2 seed:  “From the committee standpoint, that is a determining factor. We have tremendous respect for Missouri and what they did but the fact of the matter is that they didn’t stretch themselves very much on non-conference scheduling.”

Bobinski on Missouri’s seeding: “We talked about Missouri at great length, tremendous year, great team. We did not ever envision them as a No. 3 seed. They have clearly achieved at that level (of a No. 2 seed). At that point, strength of schedule becomes a distinguishing point.”

Bobinski on his criteria for selecting teams: “Road wins are a big thing for me. I like to see teams that are willing to challenge themselves away from home. Teams that would take a chance really make a difference.”

Bobinksi on what differentiated Iona from other teams: “At the end of the day, we felt Iona made a strong effort to schedule aggressively; they performed well against that schedule. In their league, they were a dominant team throughout, they were aggressive. In general, they were a very good team during the course of the year. I think they are going to hold up pretty well in the tournament.”

Hathaway on Seton Hall not being selected for this year’s tournament: “Seton Hall had a very solid year; they had a tough stretch at the end of the year. At the end of the day, they were a quality team but we knew some quality teams weren’t going to be a part of the 37.”

Bobinski on Western Kentucky being selected as No. 68: “When you talk about a team like Western Kentucky, we have a committee that takes a look at teams on that last seed line. We met Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning to make sure we had those teams [on the last seed line] as right as we possibly could. Getting the seed right is really a critical effort. We spend a lot of time and effort making sure to put those teams in the right place.”

Hathaway on selecting North Carolina State for the tournament: “They had some good wins, they beat Miami twice. They got better as the season went on and continued that into the (conference tournament).”

Hathaway on transitioning teams from the seed list to the brackets: “There is a lot to be said about the seed list. The first thing to keep in mind is that we operate off a true seed list. When we get to bracketing, particularly in the first four lines, there is movement in the seed list. We try to minimize it, but there are a wide range of bracket principles that affect how those teams go into the bracket.”

Hathaway on what teams seeded 17-33 could do to move up in the future: “You have to be more aggressive in the scheduling. A wide range of schools are reaching out and they schedule very aggressively. Keep in mind; coaches have to figure out what’s best for their program given the talent that they have and what they can face.”

Bobinski on how to schedule effectively: “There is a fine line between scheduling aggressively and scheduling over your head. You have to be smart and creative; finding your way into preseason events that you wouldn’t get on your campus. You will see a lot of schools have chosen that way to find quality games.”

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Turner Sports and Executive Producers Grant Hill and Christian Laettner Debut DUKE 91 & 92: Back to Back on truTV – March 11, 2012 at 8 p.m. ET

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All-New Documentary Celebrating Duke’s Famed 1991 & 1992 NCAA Men’s Basketball

Championship Teams Set to Air on March 11 at 8:00pm ET

 

Former Duke All-Americans Grant Hill and Christian Laettner are teaming up with Turner Sports to offer viewers an inside look at one of the most-storied college basketball programs in the history of the game. The first-of-its-kind documentary for Turner Sports, DUKE 91 & 92: Back to Back will air on truTV on NCAA Selection Sunday, March 11, at 8:00 p.m. ET in advance of Turner Sports’ and CBS Sports’ coverage of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, which airs exclusively on TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV. A first look at footage from the film is now available at http://www.ncaa.com/duke9192.

An hour-long documentary, DUKE 91 & 92: Back to Back will revisit 1991 and 1992, when the Blue Devils became the first school to win back-to-back National Championships in nearly 20 years highlighting the team’s journey to back-to-back titles. Key moments featured in the film include the upset win over the undefeated UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in the 1991 Final Four®, Laettner’s buzzer-beating jump shot against Kentucky in the East Regional Final in 1992, the repeat national title win over the “Fab Five” of Michigan and the emotional and unforgettable 20-year reunion that took place where it all began – Cameron Indoor Stadium.

It offers viewers a unique perspective of those historic seasons by examining the key players, Hall of Fame coach and memorable moments from an era that helped set the stage for the school’s reign as college basketball’s most influential and successful program, on and off the court, of the last 20 years. Along with Hill and Laettner, DUKE 91 & 92: Back to Back includes interviews with former Duke Blue Devils Clay Buckley, Ron Burt, Marty Clark, Bobby Hurley, GregKoubek and ErikMeek, filmed when they returned to Durham, N.C. in September 2011 on the eve of the Duke Hall of Fame Induction of point guard Bobby Hurley, the Most Outstanding Player of the 1992 Final Four®, and Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Other celebrated figures from the world of college basketball are also featured in the documentary, including legendary Duke head coach “Coach K,” former Indiana head coach Bob Knight, CBS Sports analysts Billy Packer, Jim Nantz and Seth Davis, former Kentucky forward Jamal Mashburn, former LSU center Shaquille O’Neal,  former  UNLV star Stacey Augmon and many others.

DUKE 91 & 92: Back to Back is produced and directed by Amy Unell and Madeleine Sackler. An Emmy® Award-nominated and former TODAY Show producer, Unell recently teamed up with Grant Hill to produce the documentary, Starting at the Finish Line: The Coach Buehler Story. Sackler, director of the acclaimed documentary The Lottery, was on the shortlist for the 2011 Academy Awards for Best Feature Documentary.

 

 About truTV

truTV is television’s destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 92 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can’t normally experience. truTV’s original series include Hardcore Pawn, Full Throttle Saloon, Lizard Lick Towing, Storage Hunters, Impractical Jokers, Operation Repo, South Beach Tow, All Worked Up, Black Gold and World’s Dumbest… truTV is also the cable home of the popular series Wipeout. In addition, truTV is a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

 

About StoryTales Productions

StoryTales Productions (storytalesproductions.com) is a multimedia production company established by Emmy Nominated Producer Amy Unell that focuses on telling stories that inspire, motivate, and educate. Unell produced the feature documentary, Starting at the Finish Line: The Coach Buehler Story, along with Executive Producers Grant Hill and Ann Rubenstein Tisch. Unell is the author of the book, “Starting at the Finish Line”, to be published by Perigee/Penguin Group USA in Summer 2012. 

 

About Great Curve Films

Great Curve Films is a New York City based production company that produces short and long-form multimedia content. Founded by Madeleine Sackler, Great Curve Films produced and released The Lottery  (www.thelotteryfilm.com) and is currently in production on the feature documentaries Unstable Elements, with executive producer Sir Tom Stoppard, and DUKE 91 & 92: Back to Back.

 

About Turner Sports

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports programming, airing championship level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports’ television line-up includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes SI.com, NASCAR.COM, NCAA.com, PGATOUR.COM, GOLF.com and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

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truTV to Air Reese’s College All-Star Game During Final Four Weekend in Houston

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truTV to Air Reese’s College All-Star Game During Final Four Weekend in Houston

Arizona Head Coach Sean Miller will Join truTV’s Studio Coverage as Guest Analyst on Friday

truTV will air the 2011 Reese’s College All-Star Game on Friday, April 1 during the 2011 MEN’s FINAL FOUR Weekend in Houston.  The night will tip off with Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off at 5 p.m. (ET), featuring Arizona head coach Sean Miller who will join the studio coverage as a guest analyst alongside host Greg Gumbel and analysts Seth Davis and Steve Smith. The Reese’s College All-Star Game will air at 5:30 p.m. (ET), with Dave Ryan calling play-by-play, Greg Anthony providing analysis and Tracy Wolfson serving as the sideline reporter.  The network’s coverage will conclude with Inside March Madness presented by Buick, featuring Gumbel, Davis, Smith and Miller.

The game will feature two teams of the top collegiate senior student-athletes in the country, including Dwight Hardy (St. John’s), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), Kenneth Faried (Morehead State), Kalin Lucas (Michigan State), Tristan Thompson (North Texas), Gary Johnson (Texas), Brad Wanamaker (Pitt) and Gary McGhee (Pitt). The full rosters are below.

REESE’S COLLEGE ALL-STAR GAME SCHEDULE:

DAY/DATE
TIME (ET) EVENT
Fri., April 1
5 p.m. Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off
Greg Gumbel (host), Seth Davis (analyst), Steve Smith (analyst) and Sean Miller (guest analyst)
5:30 p.m. Reese’s College All-Star Game
Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Greg Anthony (analyst) with Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
Post-game Inside March Madness presented by Buick
Greg Gumbel (host), Seth Davis (analyst), Steve Smith (analyst) and Sean Miller (guest analyst)

WEST ALL-STARS ROSTER

Name                                                 Pos.         Ht.                 Wt         Hometown/College

Andrew Goudelock                         G              6-2                 210         Stone Mtn., Ga./College of Charleston

Tai Wesley                                       F               6-7                 240         Provo, Utah/Utah State

Kenneth Faried                                F/C           6-8                 228         Newark, N.J./Morehead State

Malcolm Thomas                            F               6-9                 220         San Diego, Calif./San Diego State

Kalin Lucas                                      G              6-1                 195         Detroit, Mich./Michigan State

Tristan Thompson                          G              6-5                 193         Angleton, Texas/North Texas

Alex Stepheson                               F               6-10               250         Los Angeles, Calif./USC

Mickey McConnell                         G              6-0                 190         Mesa, Ariz./St. Mary’s

Cameron Jones                                G              6-4                 185         Los Angeles, Calif./Northern Arizona

Gary Johnson                                  F               6-6                 238         Houston, Texas/Texas

Head Coach: Billy Tubbs    Assistant Coach: Steve McClain

EAST ALL-STARS ROSTER

Name                                                 Pos.         Ht.                 Wt         Hometown/College

Dwight Hardy                                  G              6-2                 196         Bronx, N.Y./St. John’s

Lavoy Allen                                     F               6-9                 225         Morrisville, Pa./Temple

Brad Wanamaker                             G              6-4                 210         Philadelphia, Pa./Pittsburgh

Chris Warren                                   G              5-10               168         Orlando, Fla./Mississippi

Austin Freeman                               G              6-3                 235         Mitchellville, Md./Georgetown

Mike Davis                                       F               6-9                 225         Alexandria, Va./Illinois

Gary McGhee                                   C              6-11               250         Anderson, Ind./Pittsburgh

Jacob Pullen                                     G              6-0                 200         Maywood, Ill./Kansas State

Vlad Moldoveanu                           F               6-9                 215         Bucharest, Romania/American

Jimmy Butler                                    F               6-7                 220         Tomball, Texas/Marquette

Head Coach: Bill Foster                 Assistant Coach: Jeff Jones

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Notes from the First Four on truTV – Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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Notes from the First Four on truTV – Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The 2011 Division I Men’s Basketball Championships continues with second-round coverage today, Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18 (12:00 NOON-12:00 AM, ET; both days), with all games available live in their entirety across four national television networks: TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV.

Texas San Antonio (70) vs. Alabama State University (61)

VCU (59) vs. University of Southern California (46)

Studio team: Host Matt Winer Seth Davis and Steve Smith with Indiana University head coach Tom Crean (analysts)

Davis on VCU’s chances to beat Georgetown in the next round of the tournament: “If (VCU) can bring that kind of effort on the defensive end in their next game against Georgetown, I think they’re going to have a pretty good chance to beat the Hoyas. They’ve (Georgetown) played bad basketball. They got embarrassed in the Big East conference tournament. I think they’re running low on confidence. This is a good example of a team (VCU) having an advantage; having played two days before, now they’ve got their rhythm, now they’ve got their confidence, they’re going to give Georgetown all they want.”

Crean on UTSA facing Ohio State and their ‘swag’: “Right now for UTSA they will go from the SWAC (Southwest Athletic Conference) to the ‘swag’ because there is no team in the country that has the swagger that Ohio State has and (forward) Jared Sullinger is the key point for them offensively.”


Smith on the Michigan State vs. UCLA second round match-up: “The x-factor for UCLA is (Forward) Tyler Honeycutt. If you look at him he has a chance; he is long defensively and he can get in the lane. The match up for me is (Center) Joshua Smith versus (Center) Derrick Nix. A lot of weight will be moved around in that game.”

Crean on the Utah State vs. Kansas State second round match-up: “I think the Utah State versus Kansas State game is going to match two of the better offenses when it comes to efficiency. They can score inside and they can score outside, they’re battle tested, and I think people underestimate how good Utah State is. They can beat teams in so many different ways and it will be one of the best games of the day.”

Davis on the Old Dominion vs. Butler second round match-up: “I think either one of these teams can give Pittsburgh a difficult time in the (third) round. I think Old Dominion is a veteran team with (Forward) Frank Cassel on the inside and (Guard) Kent Bazemore next to him. Butler is a team that has found its stride in the middle of January then lost some games but rededicated themselves to defense. Without Gordon Hayward they will not score points like they did last year but defensively they are very good.”

Davis on what Wofford needs to do to challenge BYU: “(Point guard) Cameron Rundles is a great point guard but he has to run the club for Wofford and at the same time your point guard is going to be in charge of getting the team back. He will have a big roll and can’t get worn down in the game. (Forward) Noah Dahlman is also going to have to score and get to the foul line. They have to slow the pace down and make BYU guard for a while on the half court and somehow find out how to get to the free throw line.”

Crean comparing Connecticut guard Kemba Walker and BYU guard Jimmer Fredette: “They (both) play incredibly well in tight spaces. They’ve both got range. They’re excellent three-point shooters. But they get inside of that contact with the spins, the step-throughs, the splitting the pick and roll defense. They are just unique in the sense that it’s like a running back coming through a hole and there’s not much of a hole there. They still find a way to get through it and I think that’s what makes those two special. Again, I don’t know either one of them personally, but it’s hard to think that there are many more guys in college basketball that are as competitive as them and bring such a spirit to their teammates.”


Crean on rebuilding the Indiana Hoosiers: “Next year at this time I hope that I am busy and you can do a live look-in somewhere we are. We’re thinking about recruiting some of the newborn kids sometime in April.”

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truTV Delivers Combined Audience of 2.6 Million Total Viewers and 1.7 U.S. HH Rating for First Two Games of NCAA ‘First Four’

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truTV TIPS OFF THE 2011 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

DELIVERING A COMBINED AUDIENCE OF 2.6 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND A 1.7 U.S. HH RATING

FOR FIRST TWO GAMES OF INAUGURAL ‘FIRST FOUR’

truTV tipped off the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship with a FIRST FOUR doubleheader airing in primetime. The network’s coverage delivered a combined audience of 2.6 million total viewers and a 1.7 U.S. HH rating for the first two games of the tournament, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals. Game #1 featured UNC Asheville vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (6:30 p.m. – 9:24 p.m. ET) and delivered a 0.8 U.S. HH rating and 1,200,000 total viewers, while Game #2 featured Clemson vs. UAB (9:45 p.m. – 12:02 a.m. ET) and delivered a 0.9 U.S. HH rating and 1,354,000 total viewers.

Last year’s opening round tournament game featuring Winthrop vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff delivered a 0.8 U.S. HH rating and 1,053,000 total viewers.

truTV’s coverage will continue tonight at 6 p.m. (ET) with the Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off, followed at 6:30 p.m. (ET) with the University of Texas at San Antonio vs. Alabama State, followed at 9 p.m. (ET) with the University of Southern California vs. Virginia Commonwealth University. Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst) will be on the call with Marty Snider reporting.  NCAA studio host Matt Winer will be joined by analysts Steve Smith, Seth Davis and Tom Crean for the pre-game show and will conclude the evening with Inside March Madness presented by Buick.

Source: Nielsen Media Research. Based on Live+SD.  2011 NCAA First Four on truTV based on Nielsen Fast National data (03/15/2011).  truTV network 6:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Live+SD / Live +7 Blend data time period average for 2011 year to-date (12-27-10 to 03-14-2011).  Final Live + SD data for 2010 Play-In Game on ESPN, Winthrop vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff (03/16/2010).

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Notes from the First Four on truTV – Tuesday, March 15, 2011

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Notes from the First Four on truTV – Tuesday, March 15, 2011

truTV’s coverage of the FIRST FOUR will continue tonight at 6 p.m. (ET) with a pre-game show featuring NCAA studio host Matt Winer joined by analysts Steve Smith and Seth Davis followed at 6:30 p.m. (ET) with the University of Texas at San Antonio vs. Alabama State and the University of Southern California vs. Virginia Commonwealth University at 9 p.m. (ET). Gus Johnson (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst) will call the game, with Marty Snider reporting. The evening will concludes with a postgame show.

UNC-Asheville vs. University of Arkansas-Little Rock

UAB vs. Clemson

Studio team: Greg Gumbel, Ernie Johnson, Greg Anthony, Charles Barkley, Seth Davis and Kenny Smith

Anthony on the unexpected return of Duke guard Kyrie Irving for the NCAA tournament: “(Duke head coach Mike) Krzyzewski has a bit of a pickle with this situation. We know (Kyle Irving) is a dynamic talent, we know without a doubt that he is the best talent on the team. But the fact is now you’re going to have to work him out. I think it’s more important that he plays this weekend because, let’s face it, in their first round match-up, they should be able to advance. (Playing in the first round) gives him the opportunity to work out the kinks and get a rhythm. This team has redefined itself over the course of the season and has become a number one seed without him as a result of their performance. Let’s face it, Nolan Smith has taken the helm of this basketball team and they’ve played, especially over the ACC tournament, as well as they’ve played all season long even with him. That’s going to be a difficult dynamic in trying to integrate him back into the rotation while not really disrupting the rhythm.”

Anthony on Purdue guard Kelsey Barlow being suspended from the team for the remainder of the season: “(Losing Kelsey Barlow) is like losing two players. He’s (Purdue’s) best perimeter defender, but he also plays three positions offensively at times. He handles the ball, he facilitates for them and he can also be a swing player. He’s not a great shooter, but again, this is a guy that is on the floor for 20 minutes a night for a very good basketball team. That’s a huge loss to not have him for the tournament.”

Barkley on the return of Duke guard Kyrie Irving: “It puts Coach Krzyzewski in an awkward situation. You have to bring him off the bench, that’s not even a question. You don’t know what you’re going to get. They’re on a roll (and) they’re the number one seed, but I wouldn’t play him more than ten minutes a game. He’s coming off the bench and I don’t think you can join the race in the middle.”

Davis on Clemson not having much time before their second round game: “The fact that (Clemson has) to play a noon (ET) game on Thursday, I think it’s wrong.  The NCAA is making the strong statement that these First Four games matter and we’re making a big deal out of them that they are part of the tournament.  To have them turn around within 48 hours…I just don’t think it’s fair.”

Anthony: “I disagree.  To me, it’s irrelevant.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime and this will be the highlight of a lot of these young student-athletes’ careers.  That’s just the way the rules are and if you have a real issue with it, you should play a little bit better during the regular season and then you won’t find yourself in this position.”

Smith on Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen: “I watched (BYU guard) Jimmer Fredette all year, I watched (Connecticut guard) Kemba Walker, but I think (Kansas State guard) Jacob Pullen is a guy who can do the same thing in an NCAA tournament. He could do it for the five games to get you over the hump. He’s an explosive scorer, but he can also take that contact in the lane. I do like him, I do like his chances. (Kansas State) is my Cinderella team and I have them going all the way to the Final Four.”

Barkley on the Arizona Wildcats: “(Arizona) is underrated. They got beat by Washington in the championship game. They’ve had a terrific season. They’ve got the player of the year in Derrick Williams. I think this team is going to get to the Elite Eight or Final Four.”

Barkley on BYU: “BYU plays one of the toughest schedules in the country. If they would have won their conference tournament, I think they would have been a legitimate number one seed. But losing (Brandon) Davies, and I want to wish him the best, really hurt this team. I still think they are going to win a couple games though.”

Smith on using criticism as motivation: “Every team has been motivated by what has been said in the newspaper or in the news. You put that up on the bulletin board. That is bulletin board material. To have that as extra motivation factor is great.”

Barkley on winners from the First Four carrying their momentum forward: “These teams feel a little bit insulted so they’ve got a chip on their shoulder.  That’s going to help them get ready for the next game.  Even though there’s a quick turnaround, an angry team has a good chance.”

Smith on if teams need to play with a chip on your shoulder in the NCAA Tournament: “I think you have to. You look for that motivation and that extra edge.  Your coach can give you a ‘Knute Rockne’ speech and you can be excited but when you hear things about yourself, your teammates and your team, that gives you that extra motivation and that extra adrenaline that you always look for.  It’s an exciting time, but you still need extra (motivation) especially when you’re a high seed.  When you’re a one (seed) playing a 16 (seed) or an eight (seed), sometimes you need that extra, ‘You know what? Wake up; this could be a real game for us.’”

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truTV Delivers Strong First Four Opening Night Numbers for First Four

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truTV’s exclusive live doubleheader coverage of the First Four of the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday, March 15 (6:30 PM ET – 12:00 AM ET) earned an average metered market household rating of 1.0. Game #1 featuring UNC Asheville vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (6:30 – 9:30 PM ET) delivered a .9 metered market household rating, with Game #2 featuring UAB @ Clemson (9:45 PM – 12:00 AM ET) averaging a 1.1 overnight metered market household rating.

truTV and NFL Productions Give Gridiron Fans Six More Weeks of Football

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TUNE-IN ALERT *** TUNE-IN ALERT *** TUNE-IN ALERT

truTV and NFL Productions Give Gridiron Fans Six More Weeks of Football

With the New Series NFL FULL CONTACT

NFL FULL CONTACT Premieres on truTV Monday, Feb. 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
WHAT:                          Six more weeks of football with truTV’s new series NFL FULL CONTACT.  The show provides unprecedented, exclusive access to what really goes on in professional football.  NFL FULL CONTACT will follow the action from draft day to the Super Bowl, showing football fans what happens beyond the playing field.

WHO:                             Behind-the-scenes positions featured in the premiere episode include: Frank Supovitz (The Boss), Bob Angelo (The Cameraman), Sammy Choi (The Entertainer) and Bob Hast (The Security Specialist)

WHEN:                          Premiere: Monday, Feb. 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

Subsequent episodes will air every Monday at 10 p.m. on truTV

truTV is television’s destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective.  Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households, the 18-year-old network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics.  truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can’t normally experience.  truTV’s primetime fan favorites include the original series Black Gold, Operation Repo, The Smoking Gun Presents… and Forensic Files.  During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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the NFL continues after the superbowl on truTV

By

truTV and NFL Films Go Behind the Scenes of Professional Football

In New Series NFL FULL CONTACT, Premiering Monday, Feb. 8

Series to Explore What It Takes to Create an NFL Season,

On and Off the Field, from Draft Day through Super Bowl

For football fans, the excitement of watching two teams give it their all in head-to-head competition is a weekly ritual. But what they see on the field is actually the result of countless hours of hard work and high stress.

This February, truTV and NFL Films will provide unprecedented, exclusive access to what really goes on behind the scenes of professional football in the new series NFL FULL CONTACT. The series, which premieres Monday, Feb. 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), will follow the action from draft day to the Super Bowl, showing football fans what happens beyond the playing field.

NFL FULL CONTACT will prove that the players and coaches on the field aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure. The show will pull the curtain back to show the people called upon to pull off the biggest live NFL events. From providing security to coordinating halftime performances, jobs are on the line, and every second counts. There are no second takes, and when mistakes are made, the whole world witnesses them. This series will show viewers the unpredictable challenges and conflicts that ensue in the high-stakes atmosphere that extends from the sidelines to the television truck to the locker room to the halftime show.

NFL FULL CONTACT’s opening episode will follow the NFL Kickoff game in Pittsburgh. The following are some of the behind-the-scenes positions featured in the premiere episode:

· Frank Supovitz (Boss) – He oversees all NFL events. And today he can see everything from his perch in a crow’s nest high above the concert. Frank Supovitz is armed with binoculars, a walkie talkie and an attention to detail that he admits “borders on obsessive-compulsive.” Yet he never appears high-strung. Frank is a soothing influence, neither raising his voice nor showing any frustration.

· Gary Natoli (Stage Manager) – Gary Natoli’s responsible for everything that happens onstage – and backstage. The man behind the curtain is part emcee, part problem-solver. He has to be as comfortable with a microphone in front of 80,000 people as he is one-on-one with A-list talent.

· Dan Parise (Concert Manager) – Despite the earring, the long hair and the cargo shorts, Dan Parise is anything but laid back. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Dan is excited by confrontation, but he’s even more thrilled by the headlining country music star’s throwing arm.

· Bardia Shah-Rais (TV Producer) – He’s tall, lanky and unassuming. He lets other people get what they want. Or at least that’s what he’d like everyone to think. While other people “puff their chests out” and raise their voices, Bardia Shah-Rais prefers “killing them with kindness.” He produces the pre- and post-game shows for NFL Network as collaborative efforts, though it takes some extra effort to deal with security guards who don’t recognize Hall of Famer Rod Woodson.

· Bob Angelo (Cameraman) – In 33 seasons as an NFL Films cameraman, Bob Angelo’s been shooed, pushed, cussed at and hit. The rules say he shouldn’t have to deal with this. Then again, Bob doesn’t mind putting himself on the line if it means getting the shot.

· Sean Oates (Security) – Sean Oates towers over the crowd. Easily at least a head taller than most of the audience, he looks almost menacing with his shaved head and icy stare. But when a child goes missing, he melts.

Subsequent episodes will follow the NFL draft, the opening game of the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, the third annual NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium in London and, finally, the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl, both held in South Florida this year.

FULL CONTACT is produced for truTV by NFL Films. Steve Sabol is executive producer of NFL Films, and Charles Coplin is NFL vice president of programming. For truTV, Robyn Hutt serves as executive in charge of production and Anthony Horn is supervising executive producer.

The most storied filmmaker in sports, NFL Films has been chronicling and telling the story of America’s favorite sport for more than four decades. NFL Films has received numerous accolades, including 97 Sports Emmys®. Its Road to the Super Bowl production is the longest running (40th anniversary this year) and most honored (28 Emmys) annual sports special on television.

truTV is television’s destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households, the 17-year-old network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can’t normally experience. truTV’s primetime fan favorites include the original series Black Gold, Operation Repo, The Smoking Gun Presents… and Forensic Files. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name IN SESSION.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.