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Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Golf
Big Break Atlantis: Reunion — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
Feherty: John Daly (season finale) — Golf Channel, 10 p.m.

MLB
American League
Anaheim Angels at Texas — ESPN/Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Southwest, 7 p.m.
Baltimore at New York Yankees — MASN/YES, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Boston — Fox Sports Detroit/NESN, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Minnesota — WCIU/Fox Sports North, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Oakland — Sun Sports/Comcast SportsNet California, 10 p.m.
Toronto at Seattle — Sportsnet One/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
Miami at Atlanta — Fox Sports Florida/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Cincinnati — Fox Sports San Diego/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Houston at Milwaukee — Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.
New York Mets at San Francisco — SNY/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10:15 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (same day coverage)

NFL
Inside Training Camp Live — NFL Network, 10 a.m.
Inside Training Camp Today — NFL Network, 8 p.m.

NHL
A Day That Changed the Game: May 10, 1970 — NHL Network, 8 p.m.

Olympics
NBCUniversal
Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium

Sports Talk
NFL AM (series premiere) — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show with guest host Mike Florio — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Fox Sports Net, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
The Scott Van Pelt Show — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines First Report — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Numbers Never Lie — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Senna — ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.
Elevate — ESPN2, 10:30 p.m.

Entertainment
The Godfather — AMC, 8 p.m.
A View to a Kill — Encore, 8 p.m.
Walk the Line — Fox Movie Channel, 8 p.m.
Top Gear — BBC America, 9 p.m.
Blood, Lies & Alibis: The Woodchipper Killer — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Border Wars: Rio Grande Reefer — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
The Closer — TNT, 9 p.m.
Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets: One Last Ride — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Locked Up Abroad: Chilean Prison Break — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
World’s Wildest Police Videos — Spike, 10 p.m.
Perception — TNT, 10 p.m.
House Hunters International: London — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Web Therapy: National Exposure — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, midnight

Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium Programming For Day 3 of 2012 Olympics

Now let’s move to the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium’s programming schedule for Monday. Lots of stuff on CTV, Sportsnet, TSN, RDS, V and others.

Day 3 Highlights: Monday, July 30 Canada Takes on Great Britain in Women’s Basketball; British Diving Phenom Tom Daley Set to Make a Splash; USA’s Ryan Lochte Goes for More Gold

DAY 3 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

• Rowing: Men’s Eights – Led by Beijing 2008 gold medallists Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes and coxswain Brian Price, Canada’s men’s eights team vies for a spot in the final after a disappointing qualifying heat performance (CTV, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Weightlifting: Women’s 58kg – Canada’s Annie Moniqui competes in a tight field, where wins can be separated by a single kilo, alongside 2011 World Champion Nastassia Novikava of Belarus and China’s Li Xueying and Deng Wei (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Diving: Men’s 10m Synchronized Platform – Britain holds its breath as phenom Tom Daley and partner Peter Waterfield trade twist and tucks against 2011 World Champions Qui Bo and Huo Liang of China and Patrick Hausding and Sascha Klein of Germany (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET

• Basketball: Women’s – Canada and Great Britain battle on the hard-court in this preliminary round match-up (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Beach Volleyball: Men’s – Great Britain and Brazil hit the sand in this preliminary round match-up (TSN, V, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Gymnastics – Artistic: Men’s – Superstar Kohei Uchumura looks to lead Japan to the top of the podium, taking on USA and veteran Jonathan Horton, Germany and two-time World all-around silver medallist Philipp Boy, and Great Britain’s Louis Smith and Daniel Purvis. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Swimming:o Men’s 200m Freestyle – 2011 World Champion Ryan Lochte* goes for his second gold medal against world record holder Paul Biedermann* of Germany and Beijing 2008 silver medallist Park Tae-Hwan* of Korea. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

 

• Men’s 200m Butterfly – David Sharpe* makes his Olympic debut as the first swimmer from Atlantic Canada to qualify for the Games since 1984; world record holder Michael Phelps* competes in his signature event against Takeshi Matsuda* of Japan and Wu Peng of China. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Women’s 100m Breaststroke – Canadians Jillian Tyler* and Tera Van Beilen* take on a field of veteran swimmers including Rebecca Soni* who finished second at Beijing 2008 in this event to defending Olympic champion Leisel of Australia. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME
Airing 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/CT/MT/PT

• CTV: Brian Williams hosts OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV with a rundown of Day 3 highlights and results, including looks at swimming, men’s gymnastics and women’s basketball: Canada vs. Great Britain. The show starts with a look at the men’s 10m synchronized platform competition, including a feature on British phenom Tom Daley and a Superbodies segment with Dr. Greg Wells. Rowing Prime Time Studio Analyst Marnie McBean gives a recap of Canada’s men’s eights, men’s pair, and men’s four results. Viewers can also watch the debut of Consortium features, including The Experts w here Toronto Blue Jays’ Brett Lawrie and J.P. Arencibia take on table tennis, and Difference Makers with Rick Hansen with swimmer Brent Hayden (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• TSN: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON TSN host Darren Dutchyshen takes sports fans through Day 3 highlights, including extended looks at beach volleyball, men’s boxing, and swimming competitions from earlier in the day. Dutchyshen also brings fans highlights from women’s weightlifting with a focus on Canada’s Annie Moniqui. (TSN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Sportsnet: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON SPORTSNET, hosted by Brad Fay, features extensive coverage from tennis, judo, women’s volleyball and fencing. Sportsnet also updates viewers on the Day 3 action from the pool and rowing. (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR RDS

• Host Chantal Machabée presents the highlights from the third day of London 2012 competition (RDS, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR V

• Host Jean Pagé examines the day’s daily highlights (V, RDSolympiques.ca)

All programming is subject to change; visit the Bell Viewers’ Guide on CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca and on the CTV Olympics London 2012 and RDS olympiques pour Londres 2012 Apps for up-to-the minute schedules and listings.

*Pending qualification

That’s it.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 3 of the 2012 Olympics

Let’s do the programming posts for the Olympics now. NBC has provided the Olympic programming schedule for Monday on the networks of NBCUniversal.

Lots of stuff to go over as once again, it’s a full day of events from Badminton to Basketball to Beach Volleyball to Equestrian to… to… you get the idea.

NBC Sports Network kicks everything off at 4 a.m. ET followed by Bravo’s tennis coverage at 7 a.m., MSNBC at 9 a.m., NBC comes in at 10 a.m. and CNBC starting at 6 p.m.

If you have the Basketball and Soccer Channels, you can see those respective sports without commercial interruption.

Everything will be available online at NBCOlympics.com or on the mobile/tablet apps.

Here’s the press release.

RYAN LOCHTE GOES FOR HIS 2ND GOLD OF LONDON OLYMPICS ON NBC TOMORROW NIGHT

Missy Franklin Swims 100 Meter Backstroke Final in Primetime on NBC Tomorrow
Michael Phelps Swims 200 Meter Butterfly Heat Tomorrow on NBC Daytime
Team USA Women’s Water Polo vs. Hungary on NBC
LIVE Team USA Women’s Basketball vs. Angola on NBC Sports Network
All Events Live Streamed on NBCOlympics.com and NBC Olympics Live Extra Mobile & Tablet App

LONDON – July 29, 2012 – Ryan Lochte looks to claim his 2nd gold medal of the London Olympics as he swims the 200-meter freestyle tomorrow night on NBC in primetime. Also in primetime, Missy Franklin, the 17-year-old phenom, makes her individual event gold medal final debut in the 100-meter breaststroke, and Matt Grevers looks to extend Team USA’s reign and win the fifth straight gold for the U.S. in the men’s 100-meter backstroke.

On NBC in daytime, Michael Phelps swims the 200-meter butterfly qualifying heat, and Team USA women’s water polo looks to continue their Olympic-medal streak as they play against Hungary LIVE at 2:40 p.m. ET/CT.

Also looking to win their fifth straight gold, Team USA’s women’s basketball takes on Angola LIVE tomorrow on NBC Sports Network at 5 p.m. ET. Team USA has medaled in each of the three Olympics since women’s water polo made its Olympic debut in 2000 but is looking to improve to gold.

All of the events mentioned above, and all other events will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, available on mobile devices and tablets. The vast majority of live stream content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra.

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com.

Listings subject to change (all times ET unless otherwise noted). Changes are italicized.

MONDAY, JULY 30 (Day 3)

NBC

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (9 a.m. CT/PT)
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gibb/Rosenthal (U.S.) vs. Fijalek/Prudel (Poland) (LIVE)
Women’s Volleyball – U.S. vs. Brazil (LIVE)
Women’s Water Polo – U.S. vs. Hungary (LIVE)
Rowing – Qualifying Heats
Canoeing – Women’s Whitewater K-1 Qualifying Heats

• Michael Phelps swims in the qualifying rounds of the 200 butterfly, an event he has won at the past two Games, including in Beijing when his goggles filled with water and he swam blind, relying on stroke count to get through the race. Plus, Phelps’ training partner Allison Schmitt and 17-year-old phenom Missy Franklin have their qualifying swims in the 200 freestyle, an event both in which both should contend for a medal.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the U.S. women’s volleyball team vs. Brazil. Led by Hugh McCutcheon, who coached the U.S. men to the Olympic title in 2008, the American women are favored to win their first Olympic gold.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the U.S. women’s water polo team vs. Hungary. The Americans have earned a medal at each of the three Olympics since women’s water polo made its Olympic debut in 2000, but have never won gold. They look to have their strongest team yet in London.
• Plus, LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of beach volleyball, always one of the most electric sports of the Games, from Horse Guards Parade in the heart of ceremonial London. Also, the third day of the rowing competition from prestigious Eton Dorney, and qualifying in whitewater canoeing.

8 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s 200M Freestyle
• Men’s 100M Backstroke
• Women’s 100M Backstroke
• Women’s 100M Breaststroke

Men’s Gymnastics – Team Gold Medal Final
Men’s Diving – Synchronized Platform Gold Medal Final
Women’s Beach Volleyball – May-Treanor/Walsh (U.S.) vs. Slukova/Kolocova (Czech Republic)

• In what should be one of the best races of the Games, reigning world champion Ryan Lochte takes on a stacked international field in the 200m freestyle. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Colorado phenom Missy Franklin appears in her first individual final, among the favorites in the 100m backstroke. In the 100m breaststroke, reigning world champion Rebecca Soni tackles the first leg of a breaststroke sweep no woman has accomplished in 16 years. And Matt Grevers aims to win the fifth straight U.S. gold in the 100m backstroke, following the retirement of Athens and Beijing champion Aaron Peirsol.
• In gymnastics, the U.S. men will contend for their third consecutive medal in the team competition. Their prospects look strong with a deep group led by an unlikely pair of newcomers: Bronx native John Orozco and Cuban-born Danell Leyva.
• Beijing veteran David Boudia and new partner Nick McCrory, a Duke pre-med student whose uncle won swimming silver for Great Britain in 1976, are bidding to win the first U.S. diving medal since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Great Britain’s teen idol Tom Daley and his partner Peter Waterfield are among the other contenders hoping to upset the Chinese.
• Beach volleyball, one of the Games’ hottest sports, comes to Horse Guards Parade in the heart of ceremonial London. Just down the road from the Queen’s home at Buckingham Palace, the Queens of the sand, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, are eyeing a golden three-peat after sweeping the competition in Athens and Beijing without dropping a set.

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Semifinals
Canoeing – Men’s Whitewater C-2 Qualifying Heats

• Coverage includes semifinal action from the pool at the Olympic Aquatics Centre, as top swimmers try to qualify for Tuesday’s finals.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

4 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Basketball – U.S. vs. Angola (LIVE)
Women’s Beach Volleyball – Zhang/Xue (China) vs. Kuhn/Zumkehr (Switzerland) (LIVE)
Women’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round

• Serbia vs. South Korea (LIVE)
• Italy vs. Japan (LIVE)

Equestrian – Eventing Cross Country (LIVE)
Boxing – Elimination Bouts
Men’s Shooting – 10M Air Rifle Gold Medal Final
Women’s Badminton – Wang (U.S.) vs. Wang (China.)
Women’s Archery – Leek (U.S.) vs. Palekha (Ukraine)(LIVE)
Table Tennis – Qualifying Round

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• · In women’s basketball, defending Olympic gold medalist Team USA takes on Angola. Led by former UConn stars Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore, the Americans are favored to win their fifth straight gold. Plus live coverage of beach volleyball and women’s volleyball.

BRAVO

7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tennis – Early Rounds (LIVE)

BRAVO HIGHLIGHTS

• The men’s and women’s singles and doubles tennis competitions continue with live coverage from the historic grass courts of Wimbledon.

MSNBC

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Women’s Water Polo – (LIVE)

• Spain vs. China (LIVE)
• Italy vs. Australia (LIVE)

Women’s Beach Volleyball – (LIVE)

• Larissa/Juliana (Brazil) vs. Holtwick/Semmler (Germany) (LIVE)
• D. Schwaiger/S.Schwaiger (Austria) vs. Cook/Hinchley (Australia) (LIVE)

Women’s Basketball – Russia vs. Brazil (LIVE)
Weightlifting – Women’s 58KG Gold Medal Final
Men’s Field Hockey – Great Britain vs. Argentina (LIVE)
Women’s Handball – Korea vs. Denmark
Men’s Badminton – Bach/Gunawan (U.S.) vs. Kawamae/Sato (Japan)

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• Another packed day of coverage, with live contests in women’s basketball and water polo and gold medal finals in weightlifting.

CNBC

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• Cincinnati native Rau’shee Warren becomes the first American boxer to compete in three Games when he steps into the ring in London.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL

4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
U.S. vs. Angola (LIVE)
Russia vs. Brazil (LIVE)
France vs. Australia (LIVE)
Croatia vs. China (LIVE)
Czech Republic vs. Turkey (LIVE)
Great Britain vs. Canada (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL

Best of Soccer Qualifying Round

TELEMUNDO

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Women’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Tennis – Early Rounds
Boxing – Elimination Bouts

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Gymnastics – Team Gold Medal Final
Men’s Diving –Synchronized Platform Gold Medal Final

3D

5 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Diving –Synchronized Springboard Gold Medal Final

That’s all.

Day 1 of 2012 Olympics Brings Big Numbers To NBC

Day 1 of the Games of the XXX Summer Olympics brings some amazing final ratings for the National Broadcasting Company.

Primetime saw a rating of 15.8 and a 29 share which is 14% higher than the opening night of the Communist China Olympics.

Average viewership was 28.7 million and that is the most watched opening night of the Summer Olympics in the history of American television.

Daytime numbers also saw increases from four years ago.

Let’s check out the numbers from NBC.

NBC’S FIRST NIGHT OF OLYMPIC COMPETITION IS MOST-WATCHED SUMMER OLYMPICS OPENING NIGHT ON RECORD

28.7 Million Average Viewers Tops First Night from Atlanta by More Than 2 Million Viewers; Nearly 5 Million More than Beijing; and Nearly 9 Million More than Athens, the Last European Olympics
NBC’s two-day primetime average of 35.6 million viewers is the best start to a Summer Olympics on record
15.8/29 National Rating for First Night of Competition is 14% Higher than Beijing and 34% Higher than Athens; Best for Any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics Ever
NBC’s Daytime and Late Night Rating and Viewership Enjoy Significant Gains

LONDON – July 29, 2012 – The first night of competition from the London Olympics (8:30-11:28 p.m. ET/PT) is the MOST-WATCHED for a Summer Games opening night on record, with 28.7 million average viewers, topping the first night of competition from the 1996 Atlanta Games by more than two million viewers (26.3 million). Last night’s viewership is nearly five million more than the first night of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (24.0 million), and nearly nine million more than the first night of the 2004 Athens Olympics (19.8 million), the last European Olympics.

NBC’s two-day primetime average of 35.6 million viewers is the best start to a Summer Olympics on record, more than two million more than Atlanta (33.3 million), and more than six million more viewers than Beijing (29.5 million).

Last night’s competition on NBC, which featured the first duel between Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps, earned a 15.8/29 national rating/share, the best for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics opening night in 36 years since Montreal Olympics. The rating is 14 percent higher than the first night of the Beijing Olympics (13.9/27), which featured live coverage of Phelps’ first of his eight gold medals.

Last night’s national rating of 15.8/29 is also 34 percent higher than the first night of competition in Athens in 2004 (11.8/23), the last European Olympics.

AVERAGE VIEWERS FOR 1st NIGHT OF COMPETITION (ALL SUMMER GAMES ON RECORD):

1. London – 2012: 28.7 Million NBC
2. Atlanta – 1996: 26.3 Million NBC
3. Beijing – 2008: 24.0 Million NBC
4. Seoul – 1988: 23.8 Million NBC
5. Barcelona – 1992: 21.6 Million NBC
6. Sydney – 2000: 21.0 Million NBC
7. Athens – 2004: 19.8 Million NBC

NBC’S DAYTIME AND LATE NIGHT VIEWERSHIP SOARS:

• The Noon-6 p.m. ET/PT window drew 14.9 million viewers and a household rating of 9.3/23, an increase of 20% and 19%, respectively vs. Beijing Games.
• The early-morning window (5-9:46 a.m. ET/PT) drew 5.1 million viewers and had a household rating of 3.6/16. There is no comparable coverage for this time period in previous Games.
• The late night program (12:30-1:18 a.m. ET/PT) drew 7.4 million viewers and a household rating of 4.9/15, an increase of 35% and 29%, respectively.

TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR LAST NIGHT:

1. Salt Lake City — 23.9/46
2. San Diego — 22.8/43
3. Kansas City — 22.4/42
4. Columbus — 21.5/39
5. Ft. Myers — 21.3/40
6. Milwaukee — 20.6/38
7. Denver — 20.5/44
8. Indianapolis — 20.4/39
9. Sacramento — 20.2/41
10. Nashville — 19.6/34
11. Oklahoma City — 19.2/32
12. St. Louis — 18.9/35
13. Richmond — 18.7/33
14. Portland — 18.5/41
T15. San Francisco — 18.4/40
T15. Boston — 18.4/36
T17. Norfolk — 18.3/30
T17. Albuquerque — 18.3/34
T17. Jacksonville — 18.3/31
20. Phoenix — 18.1/32

Great numbers for the first day of the Games. Let’s see how the numbers hold up as the 17 Days of Glory continue.

NFL AM Debuts Monday on NFL Network

NFL Network’s new morning show will get its full-fledged debut Monday morning at 6 a.m. ET.

After hearing about the set, hosts and format, the show finally premieres this week and just in time for training camp and the beginning of the 2012 preseason.

We have the NFL AM guest roster for its debut on Monday. Check it out.

NFL AM DEBUTS TOMORROW AT 6:00 AM ET ON NFL NETWORK!

Interviews with Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan & Panthers QB Cam Newton LIVE from Training Camp
Eric Davis’ Top 10 Training Camp Storylines

The wait is over – NFL Network’s NFL AM is here!

Beginning tomorrow at 6:00 AM ET, fans can start their day with the NFL like never before with a weekday four-hour morning show featuring seasoned and opinionated talent who will report and debate news, and examine the personalities that play the game.

Monday’s premiere edition features:

• Interview with New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan LIVE from training camp
• Interview with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton
• Eric Davis’ top 10 storylines heading into training camps
• Fantasy football roundtable

NFL AM’s talent roster features 13-year NFL veteran Eric Davis, Mark Kriegel, Brian Webber, Nicole Zaloumis and Steve Wyche. The show will be based at NFL Network’s Culver City, Calif. studios. No other sport is the sole focus of a show of this length each and every weekday morning.

That will do it.

NBC Sets New Standard for Olympic Day 1 Overnight Rating From Non-US Site

There were complaints on Twitter about the holding of glamor events like the men’s 400 Individual Medley in swimming for primetime, but people still watched. And yes, that event was online at NBCOlympics.com and on its mobile apps, but there were complaints of video lagging.

I was able to see it online without problems, but I’ll get into that another time.

NBC saw an overnight rating of 18.0 with a 33 share. That’s 8% higher than the first night of competition in Beijing which had a 16.6/30.

Again, Pacific time zone markets topped the local ratings. Salt Lake City was first as it was most nights during the Vancouver Games and San Diego was second.

We’ll have further information later today on the ratings, but here’s what we have from NBC.

• Last night, the first night of competition, NBC drew an 18.0 overnight rating and 33 share (8:30-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), the best overnight rating for the first night of competition for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics ever.
• 18.0 Overnight Rating and 33 Share is 8% Higher than Beijing, 22% Higher than Athens, the Last European Olympics.
• Last night, which featured Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte facing off head-to-head in the 400 IM (shown on delay in primetime and live on NBCOlympics.com), is 8% higher than the first night of competition for the opening Saturday night of the 2008 Beijing Olympics (16.6/30), when Michael Phelps won the first of his eight gold medals. The first Saturday night in Beijing was live to the Eastern and Central time zones in the U.S.
• Last night’s overnight is 22% higher than the first night of competition at the 2004 Athens Games (14.8/25), the last European Olympics.
• The 18.0/33 overnight is the second-highest for the first day of competition of ANY non-U.S. Olympics (Winter or Summer), only eclipsed by the first night of the tabloid-fueled Lillehammer Games (21.0/34) which featured the Opening Ceremony.

OVERNIGHTS FOR FIRST NIGHT OF COMPETITON (NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES):

1. London – 2012 — 18.0/33 NBC
2. Seoul – 1988 — 17.1/32 NBC
3. Beijing – 2008 — 16.6/30 NBC
4. Barcelona – 1992 — 16.5/32 NBC
5. Sydney – 2000 — 15.6/28 NBC
6. Athens – 2004 — 14.8/25 NBC

OVERNIGHTS FOR FIRST NIGHT OF COMPETITON (U.S. SUMMER GAMES):

1. Los Angeles – 1984 — 29.5/55 ABC
2. Atlanta – 1996 — 19.9/39 NBC

TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR FIRST NIGHT OF COMPETITION:

1. Salt Lake City – 23.9/46
2. San Diego — 22.8/43
3. Kansas City — 22.4/42
4. Columbus – 21.5/39
5. Ft. Myers — 21.3/40
6. Milwaukee – 20.6/38
7. Denver – 20.5/44
8. Indianapolis – 20.4/39
9. Sacramento – 20.2/41
10. Nashville – 19.6/34
11. Oklahoma City – 19.2/32
12. St. Louis – 18.9/35
13. Richmond – 18.7/33
14. Portland – 18.5/41
T15. San Francisco – 18.4/40
T15. Boston – 18.4/36
T17. Norfolk — 18.3/30
T17. Albuquerque – 18.3/34
T17. Jacksonville – 18.3/31
20. Phoenix — 18.1/32

More stuff later today.

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Consortium Programming for Day 2 of the 2012 Olympics

Canadians will have plenty of action to watch on Sunday. Clara Hughes is back in the Summer Olympics cycling for the first time since 2000. In women’s diving, the Maple Leaf has two medal chances.

Take a look at what the Olympic Broadcast Consortium has in store for Canadians on Sunday.

Day 2 Highlights: Sunday, July 29 – Clara Hughes Looks for Gold and Glory; Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel Aim for the Podium; Americans Phelps and Lochte Tag-Team in the Men’s 4×100

DAY 2 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

• Road Cycling: Women’s – Clara Hughes makes her return to Olympic cycling for the first time since Sydney 2000 in her attempt to become Canada’s single most decorated Olympian (CTV, TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Diving: Women’s – Reigning World Cup silver medallists Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel of Québec look to topple the competition and make it to the podium (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Basketball: Men’s – NBA’s Kobe Bryant and LeBron James lead Team USA on their quest for gold in their opening game against France (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca).
• Gymnastics – Artistic: Women’s – Team USA stars Jordyn Wieber and Gabby Douglas make their debut against a re-invigorated Russian squad and the powerhouse team from China (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

 

• Rowing: Heats –

• Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls – Canadian duo Patricia Obee and Lindsay Jennerich – the 2011 World silver medallists – go up against Australia, Great Britain, and Greece (CTV, TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls – Winnipeg’s Morgan Jarvis and Quebec’s Doug Vandor have the podium in sight after a strong showing at this year’s Lucerne World Cup (CTV, TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Women’s Eights – Canadian coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie is poised to set several records with a medal performance in this expected USA vs. Canada showdown (CTV, TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET

• Swimming:

• Women’s 400m Freestyle – 2011 World Junior Champion Brittany MacLean* of Canada goes stroke-for-stroke against world record holder Federica Pellegrini* of Italy and British medal hopeful Rebecca Adlington* (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay – Pending a medal earned in Day 1 competition, Michael Phelps* could tie the all-time Olympic medal record of 18 as Team USA looks to conquer Team Australia and its rising star James Magnussen* in this promising thriller (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME
Airing 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/CT/MT/PT

• CTV: Brian Williams hosts OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV with a complete rundown of Day 2 highlights and results. During a focus on rowing, Williams is joined in studio by Rowing Prime Time Studio Analyst Marnie McBean and Dr. Greg Wells, who tees up a Superbodies segment on Canada’s women’s eights team. The four-hour show also includes features on cyclist Clara Hughes, divers Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel, swimmers Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps, and Brittany Rogers in a Difference Makers with Rick Hansen segment (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• TSN: Host Darren Dutchyshen takes sports fans through Day 2 during OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON TSN, including extended looks at men’s boxing, beach volleyball and weightlifting. Dutchyshen also brings fans highlights from women’s road cycling with a focus on Clara Hughes. (TSN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Sportsnet: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON SPORTSNET, hosted by Brad Fay, features the U.S. men’s basketball team as they begin their highly-anticipated quest for gold against France. Sportsnet also goes Upclose with American swimmer Ryan Lochte – Michael Phelps’s biggest rival – while Canadian divers Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel look to hit the podium in the women’s synchronized three-metre springboard event. (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR RDS

• Host Chantal Machabée presents the highlights from the second day of London 2012 competition (RDS, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR V

• Host Jean Pagé examines the day’s daily highlights (V, RDSolympiques.ca)

All programming is subject to change; visit the Bell Viewers’ Guide on CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca and on the CTV Olympics London 2012 and RDS olympiques pour Londres 2012 Apps for up-to-the minute schedules and listings.

*Pending qualification earlier in the day

That is all.

2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony is Most Watched Summer Olympics Broadcast in Canada

Just as the London Olympics Opening Ceremony set a viewing record on NBC, a new standard was set in Canada. Airing live at 4 p.m. ET, an average of 6.4 million Canadians watched the Opening Ceremony on CTV. It’s the most-watched Summer Olympics broadcast and only trails the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in audience.

Another 3 million people watched the immediate primetime replay at 7:45 p.m. ET.

CTV says the audience peaked at 8.1 million viewers when the cauldron was lit. So overall, the Opening Ceremony was a hit in both Canada and the United States.

Here’s the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium press release.

LONDON 2012 OPENING CEREMONY is Most-Watched Summer Olympic Games Broadcast on Record in Canada with 6.4 Million Viewers

Nearly one in two Canadians watch 3.5-hour ceremony
Audience peaks at 8 million viewers as Olympic Cauldron is lit

London, England (July 28, 2012) – Live coverage of the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES OPENING CEREMONY Friday night by Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium has broken records as the most-watched Summer Olympic Games broadcast on record in Canada. On average, 6.4 million Canadians watched the late-afternoon, 3.5- hour-plus ceremony from 4-7:30 p.m. ET, making it the second most-watched Opening Ceremony in Canada behind Vancouver 2010 (13.5 million).

The audience eclipsed the previous Summer Olympic record-holder, the ATLANTA 1996 OPENING CEREMONY (4.3 million), by 49%, and delivered nearly four times the audience of BEIJING 2008 OPENING CEREMONY (1.6 million) and more than four times the audience of ATHENS 2004 OPENING CEREMONY (1.4 million). Last night’s prime time encore broadcast of the OPENING CEREMONY attracted 3 million viewers from 7:45 – 11 p.m. ET, while earlier in the day 1.6 million Canadians watched the Consortium’s OPENING CEREMONY PRE-SHOW from 2-4 p.m. ET.

Airing live across Consortium networks in six languages (English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Punjabi), an astonishing 16.6 million viewers, or nearly one in every two Canadians, tuned in to some part of the ceremony. Overall, 64% of Canadians watched some Olympic Games coverage on the Consortium’s channels yesterday. The television coverage peaked at 8.1 million viewers at 7:36 p.m. ET when the Olympic Cauldron was lit.

Meanwhile, 1.6 million Canadians watched CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LaFLAMME live from London, an increase of 36% compared to its summer average.

Directed by two-time Academy Award^®-winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), the Opening Ceremony took viewers on a whirlwind visual and musical ride through London’s rich history, from Shakespeare to the industrial revolution to present day. Appearances were made by Daniel Craig as the iconic character James Bond, alongside Queen Elizabeth II, soccer star David Beckham, beloved Harry Potter author J.K Rowling, Mr. Bean star Rowan Atkinson, and a stellar closing performance of “Hey Jude” by the legendary Paul McCartney.

Showing a possible change in trends of how people will consume London 2012, more than half the traffic (54%) to CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca yesterday was from a mobile device.

One more Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium press release after this.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 2 of the 2012 Olympics

Ok, here are the listings for Day 2 of the Games of the XXX Summer Olympiad in London. Once again, NBC starts early at 7 a.m. ET/PT. NBC Sports Network hits the air at 4 a.m. ET and Bravo and CNBC have their respective sports.

MICHAEL PHELPS CONTINUES HIS QUEST FOR MOST OLYMPIC CAREER MEDALS AS HE SWIMS THE 4X100 FREESTYLE RELAY ON NBC TOMORROW

Fab Five Begins Gymnastics Team Competition on NBC
Team USA Competes in Beach Volleyball and Water Polo on NBC
Dream Team LIVE on NBC Sports Network
All Events Live Streamed on NBCOlympics.com and NBC Olympics Live Extra Mobile & Tablet App

LONDON – July 28, 2012 – Michael Phelps competes in the 4×100 freestyle relay with another chance to medal, as he closes in on the record for most Olympic career medals tomorrow night in primetime on NBC. Phelps teammates in the event will include Jason Lezak, who famously closed out the French team for the gold in 2008 in Beijing; 400 individual medley gold medalist Ryan Lochte looks to extend his dominance in the 200 meter freestyle; and the Fab Five women’s gymnastics team, featuring Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber debuts in the team competition for Team USA.

NBC’s daytime will air coverage of Team USA men’s and women’s beach volleyball featuring Team USA’s Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, competing against Kentaro Asahi and Katsuhiro Shiratori of Japan, and Team USA’s Jen Kessy and April Ross vs. Ana Zonta and Maria Gallay of Argentina, from legendary Horse Guards Parade, in the heart of ceremonial London just down the road from the Queen’s home at Buckingham Palace. Also on NBC during the daytime, the U.S. men’s water polo team, led by Tony Azevedo, takes on Montenegro, as Team USA looks to improve on their surprise silver medal from Beijing.

NBC Sports Network will air live coverage of men’s basketball, as the Dream Team competes against France at 9:30 a.m. ET followed by Spain vs. China live at 11:30 a.m.

All of the events mentioned above, and all other events will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, available on mobile devices and tablets. The vast majority of live stream content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra.

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com.

Listings subject to change (all times ET unless otherwise noted). Changes are italicized

SUNDAY, JULY 29 (Day 2)

NBC

7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET/PT)
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Women’s Cycling – Road Race (LIVE)
Beach Volleyball – (LIVE)

• Men’s – Rogers/Dalhausser (U.S.) vs. Asahi/Shiratori (Japan) (LIVE)
• Women’s – Kessy/Ross (U.S.) vs. Zonta/Gallay (Argentina) (LIVE)

Men’s Volleyball – U.S. vs. Serbia (LIVE)
Men’s Water Polo – U.S. vs. Montenegro (LIVE)

• The women’s gymnastics competition begins with teams looking to position themselves for medal contention. With a tough international field, there’s little margin for error.
• Key qualifying competition in swimming includes the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay, which the United States won in dramatic fashion in 2008 with Jason Lezak’s heroic anchor leg to keep Michael Phelps’ quest for eight golds alive. Lezak and Phelps are again on the U.S. squad for this event. Plus, key qualifying swims from gold medal hopefuls Ryan Lochte, Missy Franklin and Rebecca Soni.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of cycling’s women’s road race, as the world’s best female cyclists race through the heart of London. American Evelyn Stevens, who only bought her first bike in 2008 and gave up a career on Wall Street, could contend for a medal.
• Plus, LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of beach volleyball, always one of the most electric sports of the Games, from Horse Guards Parade in the heart of ceremonial London. Americans Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser are the defending Olympic champions.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the U.S. men’s volleyball team’s first match against Serbia. The Americans won their first Olympic gold in 20 years in Beijing and have been surging recently as they look to repeat as Olympic champions.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the U.S. men’s water polo team’s first game against Montenegro. The U.S. men earned a surprise silver in Beijing, but are focused on gold in London, led by captain Tony Azevedo, the team sacrificed hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively by not playing professionally overseas this year to train together for the Olympics.

7 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s 100M Breaststroke
• Men’s 4 x 100M Freestyle Relay
• Women’s 100M Butterfly
• Women’s 400M Freestyle

Women’s Diving – Synchronized Springboard Gold Medal Final

• The first look at the reigning world champion U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team, led by reigning world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber, the 17-year-old from DeWitt, Michigan, and fast-rising 16-year-old wonder Gabby Douglas. They begin their pursuit of the team gold medal tonight – trying to become the first U.S. women to win team gymnastics gold since the “Magnificent Seven” won in Atlanta in 1996.
• Four years after Jason Lezak’s extraordinary anchor leg kept Michael Phelps on track for eight golds in Beijing, Phelps again swims for Team USA in the 4x100m freestyle relay in what figures to be another fierce contest with France and reigning world champion Australia. This should also be the night Phelps wins his 18th career medal to tie Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most all time. Also in the pool, former Cal star Dana Vollmer is favored for gold in her signature event, the 100m butterfly. Allison Schmitt, who took the year off from the University Georgia to train alongside Phelps under coach Bob Bowman, will contend in the 400m freestyle with home favorite and reigning Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain. Brendan Hansen and cancer survivor Eric Shanteau will try to knock off the greatest breaststroker in history, Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima, in the 100m breaststroke.
• In the first diving final, Kelci Bryant, who finished a heartbreaking fourth in Beijing, teams with new partner Abby Johnston, a pre-med student at Duke, in the women’s synchronized springboard competition. The U.S. hasn’t won a diving medal since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Bryant and Johnston, who have finished in the top four in every competition this season, will be looking to reverse the trend in the team’s first chance.

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m. (ET/PT)
Gymnastics – Women’s Team Competition
Canoeing – Whitewater Qualifying Heats

• The Canoe Slalom competition gets underway on a new course built specifically for the Games. Paddlers will need speed, control and precision on the daunting whitewater rapids.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball –

• U.S. vs. France (LIVE)
• Brazil vs. Australia (LIVE)
• Spain vs. China (LIVE)
• Argentina vs. Lithuania (LIVE)

Women’s Field Hockey –

• U.S. vs. Germany (LIVE)
• New Zealand vs. Australia (LIVE)

Beach Volleyball –

• Men’s – Alison/Emanuel (Brazil) vs. Doppler/Horst (Austria)
• Women’s – Cicolari/Menegatti (Italy) vs. Ukolova/Khomyakova (Russia)
• Women’s – Talita/Antonelli (Brazil) vs. Meppelink/Van Gestel (Netherlands) (LIVE)

Equestrian – Eventing Dressage
Women’s Archery – Team Gold Medal Final
Women’s Shooting – Skeet Gold Medal Final
Men’s Water Polo – Greece vs. Croatia (LIVE)
Women’s Field Hockey – New Zealand vs. Australia
Men’s Badminton – Bach/Gunawan (U.S.) vs. Koo/Tan (Malaysia)

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the star-studded U.S. men’s basketball team take to the floor for their first action of the London Games, against France. Also today, Spain, the reigning Olympic silver medalist led by Lakers star Pau Gasol, takes on China.

BRAVO

7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tennis – Early Rounds (LIVE)

BRAVO HIGHLIGHTS

• The men’s and women’s singles and doubles tennis competitions continue with live coverage from the historic grass courts of Wimbledon.

MSNBC

7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• Brazil vs. Belarus (LIVE)
• Senegal vs. Uruguay (LIVE)
• Great Britain vs. United Arab Emirates (LIVE)

Men’s Indoor Volleyball – Qualifying Round

• Russia vs. Germany (LIVE)
• Italy vs. Poland

Men’s Water Polo – Hungary vs. Serbia
Men’s Handball – Croatia vs. South Korea
Table Tennis – Qualifying Round
Badminton – Qualifying Round

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• Plenty of live action in men’s soccer, as the talented Brazilian squad takes on Belarus and host Great Britain meets United Arab Emirates.

CNBC
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• The second day of Olympic boxing coverage features two Americans with strong medal hopes in Errol Spence, Jr., a 22-year-old Dallas southpaw, and Jose Ramirez, the son of Mexican immigrants, who is a part-time student and former Starbucks barista.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball – Qualifying Round
U.S. vs. France (LIVE)
Brazil vs. Australia (LIVE)
Nigeria vs. Tunisia (LIVE)
Spain vs. China (LIVE)
Russia vs. Great Britain (LIVE)
Argentina vs. Lithuania (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL

7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Egypt vs. New Zealand (LIVE)
Brazil vs. Belarus (LIVE)
Senegal vs. Uruguay (LIVE)
Great Britain vs. United Arab Emirates (LIVE)
Mexico vs. Gabon
Japan vs. Morocco
South Korea vs. Switzerland
Spain vs. Honduras

TELEMUNDO

7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round

• Mexico vs. Gabon (LIVE)
• Spain vs. Honduras (LIVE)
• Senegal vs. Uruguay (LIVE)

Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Men’s Basketball – Qualifying Round
Boxing – Elimination Bouts
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Men’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Tennis – Early Rounds

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

3D

4 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Men’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

That’s all. Enjoy the games.

You Watched The 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Record Droves

You know the complaints about NBC holding the Opening Ceremony for primetime and not putting it online? Well, those complaints are going to continue falling on deaf ears. Last night, Americans made the London Opening Ceremony the most watched Summer Olympics gala ever. The numbers are staggering.

Almost 41 million people watched. 40.7 million, to be exact. That beats Atlanta in 1996 which was live at 39.8 million viewers.

The final rating was 21.0 with a 37 share. That beats the Communist China Opening Ceremony by 12%. And the 21.0 rating is the highest Friday night rating for NBC since the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony which was live and garnered a 25.2 rating. Those are stunning numbers.

So no matter my complaints or your complaints or your pets’ complaints, NBC is going to tape delay the Opening and Closing Ceremonies until you stop watching.

Here’s the press release.

NBC AIRS MOST-WATCHED SUMMER GAMES OPENING CEREMONY ON RECORD

40.7 Million Average Viewers Tops Atlanta Opening Ceremony; Nearly 6 Million More than Beijing; and 15 Million More than Athens, the Last European Olympics
21.0/37 National Rating 12% Higher than Beijing and 44% Higher than Athens; is Best for Any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics Ever
Highest-Rated Friday Night on Any Network in a Decade

LONDON – July 28, 2012 – In the more than 50 years of televised Olympics, NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics (8 p.m. – 12:02 a.m. ET/PT) is the MOST-WATCHED for a Summer Games on record with 40.7 million average viewers, topping the Atlanta Games (39.8 million). Last night’s viewership is nearly six million more than the 2008 Beijing Olympics (34.9 million) and 15 million more than the 2004 Athens Olympics (25.4 million), the last European Olympics.

NBC SPORTS GROUP CHAIRMAN MARK LAZARUS: “This audience number for the London Opening Ceremony is a great early sign that our strategy of driving people to watch NBC in primetime is working. We look forward to the next 16 nights of compelling Olympic competition.”

The Opening Ceremony on NBC earned a 21.0/37 national rating/share, the best for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics ever, and the second best for a non-U.S. Games (Summer or Winter) in 36 years – since Innsbruck in 1976 (23.2/37).

• Last night’s Opening Ceremony national rating of 21.0/37 is 12 percent higher than Beijing in 2008 (18.8/34) and 44 percent higher than Athens in 2004 (14.6/27).
• The 21.0 rating for last night was the highest-rated Friday night on any network since the Opening Ceremony of the Salt Lake City Games (25.2 on Feb. 8, 2002).

OPENING CEREMONY AVERAGE VIEWERS (ALL SUMMER GAMES ON RECORD):

1. London – 2012: 40.7 Million NBC
2. Atlanta – 1996: 39.8 Million NBC
3. Beijing – 2008: 34.9 Million NBC
4. Sydney – 2000: 27.3 Million NBC
5. Athens – 2004: 25.4 Million NBC
6. Seoul – 1988: 22.7 Million NBC
7. Barcelona – 1992: 21.6 Million NBC

NON-U.S. OPENING CEREMONY NATIONAL RATING (SUMMER GAMES)

1. London – 2012: 21.0/37 NBC
2. Beijing – 2008: 18.8/34 NBC
3. Rome – 1960: 18.1/36 CBS
4. Sydney – 2000: 16.2/29 NBC
5. Seoul – 1988: 15.2/29 NBC
6. Athens – 2004: 14.6/27 NBC
7. Barcelona – 1992: 13.8/29 NBC
8. Montreal – 1976: 11.1/39 ABC
9. Mexico City – 1968: 8.8/34 ABC
10. Munich – 1972: 6.5/28 ABC
11. Tokyo – 1964: 5.6/14 ABC

TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR OPENING CEREMONY:

1. San Diego — 27.8/49
T2. Washington D.C. — 26.8/48
T2. West Palm Beach — 26.8/48
4. Salt Lake City — 26.6/50
5. Denver — 26.4/51
6. Norfolk — 26.3/42
7. Sacramento — 25.4/47
T8. Kansas City — 25.0/44
T8. Richmond — 25.0/41
10. Columbus — 24.9/43
T11. Boston — 24.8/45
T11. Indianapolis — 24.8/45
13. Seattle — 24.4/48
14. Los Angeles — 24.2/44
15. Atlanta — 24.1/39
T16. Philadelphia — 24.0/40
T16. Jacksonville — 24.0/39
T18. Austin — 23.9/44
T18. Ft. Myers — 23.9/43
20. Portland — 23.8/48

Jim Bell served as executive producer of NBC’s Opening Ceremony coverage; Bucky Gunts, director; Molly Solomon and Joe Gesue producers.

I’m amazed. I thought the numbers would be down with the amount of people finding the Opening Ceremony through back door sites, but NBC got high numbers. Congratulations to the Peacock.

NBC Cleans Up With 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony

We can complain about tape delays, find pirated feeds, talk about it on Twitter, but when the ratings are all said and done, NBC can wave the ratings in our collective faces and say, “This is why the show was tape delayed!!”

Last night’s overnight ratings for the London Olympics Opening Ceremony was the highest non-US event. Ever. That’s right. It beat Beijing four years ago. It wasn’t even close.

NBC garnered a 23.0 rating with a 40 share. That beats the Opening Ceremony in Communist China by 7%.

The highest rated local market was San Diego which had to wait six hours after the ceremony began in London. In fact four of the ten top highest rated local markets were in the Mountain or Pacific time zones. So no matter what I or anyone says, NBC will continue the tape delay strategy for the Opening Ceremony.

Here’s the press release.

NBC HAS BEST OPENING CEREMONY OVERNIGHT RATING FOR NON-U.S. OLYMPICS EVER

23.0 Rating and 40 Share is 7% Higher than Beijing, 28% Higher than Athens and 24% Higher than Sydney
National ratings and viewership will be available later this afternoon

LONDON – July 28, 2012 – NBC’s coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony from Olympic Stadium in London registered the best overnight rating (Winter or Summer) for a non-U.S. Olympic Opening Ceremony ever. The Opening Ceremony on NBC earned a 23.0 overnight rating and a 40 share (8-Midnight. ET/PT), according to data released today by The Nielsen Company.

Compared to Opening Ceremony overnight ratings for non-U.S. Olympics, the 23.0/40 is seven percent higher than the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (21.5/37), 10 percent higher than the tabloid-fueled Lillehammer Games (21.0/34), and 15 percent higher than the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Vancouver Games (20.0/33).

NON-U.S. OPENING CEREMONY OVERNIGHT RATINGS:

1. London – 2012: 23.0/40 NBC
2. Beijing – 2008: 21.5/37 NBC
3. Lillehammer – 1994: 21.0/34 CBS
4. Vancouver – 2010: 20.0/33 NBC
5. Nagano – 1998: 18.6/30 CBS
6. Sydney – 2000: 18.5/32 NBC
7. Seoul – 1988: 18.3/33 NBC
8. Athens – 2004: 18.0/30 NBC
9. Sarajevo – 1984: 17.2/27 ABC
10. Calgary – 1988: 17.0/40 ABC
11. Barcelona – 1992: 16.5/32 NBC
12. Albertville – 1992: 16.0/26 CBS
13. Turin – 2006: 14.7/23 NBC

OPENING CEREMONY OVERNIGHT RATINGS FOR U.S. GAMES:

1. Los Angeles – 1984: 29.5/55 ABC
2. Salt Lake City – 2002: 27.9/43 NBC
3. Atlanta – 1996: 27.2/47 NBC

TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR OPENING CEREMONY:

1. San Diego — 27.8/49
T2. Washington D.C. — 26.8/48
T2. West Palm Beach — 26.8/48
4. Salt Lake City — 26.6/50
5. Denver — 26.4/51
6. Norfolk — 26.3/42
7. Sacramento — 25.4/47
T8. Kansas City — 25.0/44
T8. Richmond — 25.0/41
10. Columbus — 24.9/43
T11. Boston — 24.8/45
T11. Indianapolis — 24.8/45
13. Seattle — 24.4/48
14. Los Angeles — 24.2/44
15. Atlanta — 24.1/39
T16. Philadelphia — 24.0/40
T16. Jacksonville — 24.0/40
T18. Austin — 23.9/44
T18. Ft. Myers — 23.9/44
20. Portland — 23.8/48

Jim Bell served as executive producer of NBC’s Opening Ceremony coverage; Bucky Gunts, director; Molly Solomon and Joe Gesue producers

The final numbers for Friday’s Opening Ceremony will be out later today.

Some Thoughts on NBC’s Early Olympic Coverage

Let’s do some bullet point thoughts on NBCUniversal’s coverage of Days -2 through 0 of the 2012 Olympics. I’ll go backwards starting with coverage of the Opening Ceremony and then the live soccer coverage on Wednesday and Thursday.

• I can start with NBC’s tape delayed coverage of the Opening Ceremony which became a huge issue on social media Friday. And while there were some articles denouncing NBC’s decision (like at Mashable, NESN.com, and the Wall Street Journal) the network countered that putting the Opening Ceremony online was too complex and complicated for audiences to see online because of all of the elements. Well, that’s not putting trust in your audience. For all intents and purposes, NBC is saying the audience is stupid and needs Uncle NBC to explain everything. That’s not right at all.

  Anyway, it caused many people to go online and find an illegal pirated BBC feed to watch the Opening Ceremony where viewers were treated to commercial-free coverage. I won’t review BBC’s coverage as I did watch it through a friend’s Slingbox, but I will give a few words on NBC’s coverage on the Opening Ceremony.

  While NBC’s pictures of the Opening Ceremony were spectacular, director Bucky Gunts did a stellar job in choosing the right angles to show, the performances by Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera gave the event the feel of the second hour of the Today show. NBC Olympics Executive Producer Jim Bell who is also the Executive Producer of Today tapped Matt and Meredith for the Opening Ceremony to join Bob Costas. While Matt did a good job in 2008 in Beijing with Bob, he and Meredith talked way too much trying to explain Opening Ceremony Director Danny Boyle’s vision. Plus Meredith attempted to sing when the Rolling Stones were played.

  I understand NBC’s thinking on the Opening Ceremony, but it didn’t work, and the audience was not served well in this case. Timothy Burke of Deadspin actually found the number of words spoken on BBC and NBC and you can see that there was more talking on NBC.

  Now I happen to like Meredith, but unfortunately, she was miscast to co-host the Opening Ceremony and I give NBC a C minus for its handling of the Opening Ceremony. The Opening Ceremony itself gets an A.

• For the coverage of both women’s and men’s soccer on Wednesday and Thursday, the networks of NBCUniversal get higher grades. NBC used the world feed for the games that were split between MSNBC and NBC Sports Network.

  I’m quite impressed with Liam McHugh who has had a very busy four month stretch. In May and June, he hosted the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. For most of this month, Liam was all over France hosting the Tour de France, and here is he in London hosting the Olympics. He’s making it look easy, but keeping track of so many different sports is not easy. And to think two years ago, Liam was part of an ensemble show for Versus that was supposed to be a vehicle for Jenn Sterger. The Olympics are a far cry from The Daily Line days on Versus.

  Other talent who have done well in the early going are Kelly Tlghman on MSNBC, Michelle Beadle on NBCSN, play-by-play callers Arlo White, JP Dellacamera and Steve Cangialosi. I like analysts Brandi Chastain and Kyle Martino. Drea Avent’s interviews are quite strong.

• I used NBC’s Olympics Live Extra iPad app to watch the soccer on Wednesday and Thursday. On the first day, the app joined MSNBC’s simulcast 14 minutes late and it was the same for the Japan-Canada match. Hopefully, that will be fixed before the action begins for real on Saturday.If you watch the simulcasts on the mobile or tablet, they’re over a minute behind compared to TV. If you can handle that, then you should be fine. But overall, I like the quality of the pictures. I do wish that the app would stream NBC’s coverage in addition of the streams of Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and NBCSN, but perhaps that could be done for 2014.

Those are my thoughts on the coverage to date.

Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium Programming For Day 1 of the 2012 Olympics

Let’s take a look at what Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Consortium of CTV, TSN, Sportsnet, RDS and V will show on Day 1 of the 2012 Olympic Games. Kind of surreal that after all of the hype, the Games are finally here. CTV will have Rowing, Swimming, Wome’s Basketball and Women’s Soccer.

TSN will carry Men’s Road Cycling and show tennis at night. Sportsnet will take the Men’s Gymnastics Team competition.

Lots of live action and plenty of highlights shown in primetime on the networks that comprise the Canadian Olympic Broadcat Consortium. This will be the last year for this unique partnership as Sportsnet has announced it won’t be part of the 2014/2016 Games, and the home of the next set of Games is up in the air.

Here is the press release.

Day 1 Highlights: Saturday, July 28 – Canadian Cyclist Ryder Hesjedal Rides for Gold; American Swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte

DAY 1 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET

• Rowing: Men’s Eights, Men’s Pair – Canada’s men’s eights team, reigning Olympic champions, and the men’s pair team hit the water to secure their spots in the next round (CTV, OLN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Cycling Road: Men’s – Ryder Hesjedal, who became the first Canadian to ever win the prestigious Giro D’Italia earlier this year, chases gold along the streets of London (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Gymnastics: Men’s – Follow Japan’s three-time World all-around champion Kohei Uchimura as he demonstrates his jaw-dropping athleticism to the crowd (Sportsnet, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Women’s Basketball – Canada and Russia face off in this preliminary game in hopes of advancing to the next round and meeting their next competitor on the hard court (CTV, V CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Women’s Soccer – It’s Canada vs. Republic of South Africa on the pitch as each team goes after a win in this qualifying round group match (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET

• Swimming:
• Men’s 400m Individual Medley – Americans Michael Phelps* and Ryan Lochte* face off in their first of two showdowns (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Men’s 400m Freestyle – Canadian Ryan Cochrane* dives in head first for a chance to step onto the podium (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay – Team Canada’s Samantha Cheverton*, Heather MacLean*, Victoria Poon*, Julia Wilkinson* go for gold in the pool; American teenager Missy Franklin* competes in her first of seven possible medal events (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME
Airing 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. ET/CT/MT/PT

• CTV: Along with taking Canadians through the best of Day 1 events – including swimming, gymnastics, rowing, and cycling – OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV host Brian Williams is joined in studio by Rowing Prime Time Studio Analyst Marnie McBean and also gives viewers an in-depth look at cyclist Ryder Hesjedal. (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• TSN: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON TSN host Darren Dutchyshen kicks off four hours of highlights including a look at tennis superstars Roger Federer and Serena Williams, Canadian swimming sensation Ryan Cochrane, American swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, as well as beach volleyball, women’s weightlifting, men’s cycling and more (TSN2, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Sportsnet: Day 1 of OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON SPORTSNET coverage features a look at Canada’s women’s soccer team following its match against the Republic of South Africa. Sportsnet also heads to the pool as Michael Phelps’ chase for Olympic Games history begins, while Canada’s men’s eights hit the water for the first day of rowing heats. (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR RDS:

• Host Chantal Machabée reviews the top highlights from the first day of competition from London 2012 (RDS, RDSOlympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR V

• Host Jean Pagé examines the day’s highlights (V, RDSolympiques.ca)

All programming is subject to change; visit the Bell Viewers’ Guide on CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca for up-to-the minute schedules and listings.

*Pending qualification earlier in the day

There you have it.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 1 of the 2012 Olympics

Now that the Opening Ceremony is over, it’s time for Olympic action in earnest. The soccer action on Wednesday and Thursday was just an appetizer. Tomorrow, there’s boxing, gymnastics, swimming. tennis, and a whole plethora of sports. The networks of NBCUniversal will out in full force onb Saturday.

NBC Sports Network starts its coverage at 4 a.m. NBC will be on live in the Eastern half of the country at 5 a.m. ET. The Mountain and Pacific time zones will have to wait to see the Olympic action on NBC, but the cable portion on Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC and NBC Sports Network will be live all over the country on participating cable and satellite providers.

And NBCOlympics.com and the mobile and tablet apps will have all of the sports action live.

Here’s what you can expect on the networks on NBCUniversal on Saturday.

PHELPS-LOCHTE EXPECTED SHOWDOWN AIRS ON NBC IN PRIMETIME ON DAY 1 OF LONDON OLYMPICS

Team USA Competes in Men’s Beach Volleyball and Women’s Basketball on NBC
NBC Sports Network Airs Team USA vs. Columbia in Women’s Soccerb
LIVE Soccer and Beach Volleyball on NBC Sports Network and MSNBC
All Events Live Streamed on NBCOlympics.com and NBC Olympics Live Extra Mobile & Tablet App

LONDON – July 27, 2012 – Day 1 of the 2012 London Olympic Games begins tomorrow with an expected head-to-head showdown between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in primetime on NBC, as they contend for the gold in the men’s 400 meter individual medley. Phelps’ and Lochte’s qualifying heats will air on NBC live (ET/CT) beginning at 5 a.m.

NBC’s daytime will air coverage of women’s basketball, featuring Team USA facing Croatia at 11 a.m. ET/PT, and men’s beach volleyball, featuring Beijing’s gold medal duo Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal of Team USA matching up against Freedom Chiya and Grant Goldschmidt of South Africa from legendary Horse Guards Parade, in the heart of ceremonial London just down the road from the Queen’s home at Buckingham Palace.

NBC Sports Network airs live coverage of women’s soccer as Team USA faces Colombia at 11:30 a.m. ET from Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Live on MSNBC, Olympic host nation Great Britain takes on Camaroon at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, at 12:15 p.m. ET.

All of the events mentioned above and all other events will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, available on mobile devices and tablets. The vast majority of live stream content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com

Listings subject to change (all times ET unless otherwise noted). Changes are italicized.

Tomorrow’s coverage includes:

SATURDAY, JULY 28 (Day 1)

NBCb
5 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Qualifying Heats (LIVE)
Men’s Cycling – Road Race (LIVE)
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gibb/Rosenthal (U.S.) vs. Chiya/Goldschmidt (South Africa) (LIVE)
Women’s Volleyball – U.S. vs. South Korea (LIVE)
Women’s Basketball – U.S. vs. Croatia (LIVE)
Rowing – Qualifying Heats

• LIVE (ET/CT) Michael Phelps begins his drive to become the most decorated Olympian of all-time in an event he’s won at the past two Olympics: the 400m individual medley. This event also marks the first head-to-head showdown between Phelps and teammate Ryan Lochte, the reigning world champion who defeated Phelps at Trials. 17-year-old Colorado phenom Missy Franklin swims for her first Olympic medal as she leads Team USA in the 4x100m free relay. Plus world champion Elizabeth Beisel competes in the women’s 400m individual medley and Peter Vanderkaayleads the U.S. charge in men’s 400m freestyle.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of cycling’s men’s road race provides viewers with a spectacular introduction to London. The road race travels through the heart of central London, with a mix of majestic landmarks and the natural beauty of the Royal Parks included along the way. Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish is among the favorites, which should add even more energy to the massive crowd expected to line the streets of London. The Americans field a strong team as well, led by Taylor Phinney and Tyler Farrar.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the U.Sb. women’s volleyball team’s first match vs. South Korea. Led by Hugh McCutcheon, who coached the U.S. men to the Olympic title in 2008, the American women are favored to win their first Olympic gold.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the U.S. women’s basketball team’s first game. Led by former UConn stars Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore, the Americans arbe favored to win their fifth straight Olympic gold medal in London.
• Plus, LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of beach volleyball, always one of the most electric sports of the Games, from the heart of ceremonial London, at Horse Guards Parade, and the first day of the rowing competition, from prestigious Eton Dorney.

8 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s and Women’s 400M Individual Medley
• Men’s 400M Freestyle
• Women’s 4 x 100M Freestyle Relay

Men’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Women’s Beach Volleyball – May-Treanor/Walsh (U.S.) vs. Cook/Hinchley (Australia)

• Gymnastics begins with men’s team qualifying. The U.S. men are vying for their third consecutive medal in the team competition. Their prospects look strong with a deep group led by a dynamic pair of first-time Olympians: Bronx native John Orozco and Cuban-born Danell Leyva.
• bBeach volleyball, one of the Games’ hottest sports, comes to the heart of ceremonial London, at Horse Guards Parade. Just down the road from the Queen’s home at Buckingham Palace, the queens of the sand, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, are eyeing a golden three-peat after sweeping the competition in Athens and Beijing without dropping a set.

12:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Gymnastics – Men’s Team Competition
Women’s Weightlifting – 48KG Gold Medal Final

• · The first gold medal in weightlifting will be decided among the sport’s lightest athletes. Women weighing no more than 106 pounds will need to lift more than twice their body weight to reach the podium.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK
4 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – Qualifying Round (LIVE)

• U.S. vs. Colombia (LIVE)
• Brazil vs. New Zealand (LIVE)
• France vs. North Korea (LIVE)

Beach Volleyball –

• Women’s – Zhang/Xue (China) vs. Vasina/Vozakova (Russia) (LIVE)
• Women’s Volleyball – China vs. Serbia (LIVE)

Equestrian – Eventing Dressage
Women’s Handball – Norway vs. France
Women’s Shooting – 10M Air Rifle Gold Medal Final
Men’s Archery – Team Gold Medal Final
Women’s Fencing – Individual Foil (LIVE)
Women’s Badminton – Bae (South Korea) vs. Tee (Malaysia)
Men’s Table Tennis – Wang (U.S.) vs. Kim (North Korea)
Women’s Handball – Spain vs. South Korea

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• NBCSN’s daily feast of live Olympic action kicks off today with live coverage of the two-time reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s soccer team. The 16-hour show also includes the first gold medal to be awarded at the Games, in shooting’s women’s air rifle competition. Czech shooter Katerina Emmons, wife of American shooter Matt Emmons, will attempt to defend her gold medal.

BRAVO
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tennis – Early Rounds (LIVE)

BRAVO HIGHLIGHTS

• The men’s and women’s singles and doubles tennis competitions get underway with live coverage from the historic grass courts of Wimbledon.

MSNBC
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – Qualifying Round

• Japan vs. Sweden (LIVE)
• Canada vs. South Africa (LIVE)
• Great Britain vs. Cameroon (LIVE)

Men’s Beach Volleyball – Grotowski/Garcia-Thompson (Great Britain) vs. Binstock/Reader (Canada) (LIVE)
Women’s Handball – Denmark vs. Sweden
Women’s Fencing – Individual Foil Gold Medal Final
Men’s Badminton – Bach/Gunawan (U.S.) vs. Cung/Lee (South Korea)
Women’s Table Tennis –

• Zhang (U.S.) vs. Molnar (Croatia)
• Hsing (U.S.) vs. Silva (Mexico)

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• · MSNBC offers ten hours of team and racket sports, including live soccer and live beach volleyball from majestic Horse Guards Parade, in the heart of ceremonial London.

CNBC
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• · Often the proving grounds for many of the next great professional boxers, the Olympic boxing tournament opens with a full day of bouts between the world’s best.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball – Qualifying Round
U.S. vs. Croatia (LIVE)
China vs. Czech Republic (LIVE)
Canada vs. Russia (LIVE)
Turkey vs. Angola (LIVE)
Brazil vs. France (LIVE)
Australia vs. Great Britain (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
U.S. vs. Colombia (LIVE)
Japan vs. Sweden (LIVE)
New Zealand vs. Brazil (LIVE)
France vs. South Korea (LIVE)
Canada vs. South Africa
Great Britain vs. Cameroon

TELEMUNDO
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (ET/PT)

Opening Ceremony
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Women’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Boxing – Elimination Bouts

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Gymnastics – Team Competition

3D
5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Opening Ceremony

And I’ll have the Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium schedule for Day 1 coming up.

Fox Saturday Baseball Features Red Sox-Yankees; Joe Buck Returns

After taking two weeks off, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are back on Fox Saturday Baseball. Chris Myers got the assignment to be #1 guy while Joe was gone and didn’t do all that badly in his place.

With Red Sox-Yankees being the main game and being sent to 77% of the country, Joe and Tim are back on the case. And it means that Buck will have called 13 out of a 17 possible games and that us pretty good at this juncture of the season.

The other game this week will be Dodgers-Giants and that gets a mostly West Coast audience on Saturday. Here’s the regional breakdown for the two games on Fox Saturday Baseball this week.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

Red Sox Battle Yankees in the Bronx; Dodgers Take on Giants in San Fran
MLB on FOX Saturday at 3:30 PM ET

EAST COAST AND WEST COAST RIVALS FACE OFF – This weekend, MLB on FOX showcases Week 17 with two afternoon matchups on Saturday, July 28th (3:30 PM ET). Another chapter of the Boston-New York rivalry takes place as Derek Jeter and the Bronx Bombers host David Ortiz and the Red Sox. Joe Buck, along with recent Ford C. Frick Award recipient Tim McCarver and Ken Rosenthal call of the action from Yankee Stadium. In northern California, old NL West rivals meet as Melky Cabrera and the division-leading Giants welcome the second-place Dodgers and newly acquired Hanley Ramirez to the Bay Area.

Coverage begins with the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL PREGAME SHOW, originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. The show is hosted by MLB Network studio host Matt Vasgersian, who is joined by analysts Harold Reynolds and Kevin Millar.

For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX. Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports.

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees — Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 77% of USA
Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, San Antonio, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Jon Lester, LHP (5-8, 5.46 ERA) vs. TBA

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants — Kenny Albert & Eric Karros22, going to 22% of USA
AT&T Park – San Francisco, CA
MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Cincinnati, Dayton, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis
Probable Pitchers: TBA vs. Barry Zito, LHP (8-6, 3.75 ERA)

ROSENTHAL: HANLEY CAN BE A SUPERSTAR IN LA – Following the surprising acquisition of Hanley Ramirez via trade with the Marlins early Wednesday, MLB on FOX insider Ken Rosenthal sees a Manny Ramirez-like renaissance in Los Angeles for the power-hitting shortstop. “This could be Manny all over again, presumably without the pharmaceutical assistance,” Rosenthal writes. “Hanley has the Hollywood good looks, and when in the mood, he can pull off the charm. It’s difficult to imagine him hitting like Manny did in the final two months of 2008. However we’re talking about one of the game’s supreme talents, assuming that he finally gets his act together.”

For more from Rosenthal on the trade and what it can mean for the Dodgers and Ramirez click here:
http://on-msn.com/Q4NtUh

That will do it.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, July 28

Australian Rules Football
Carlton Blues vs. Richmond Tigers — Fox Soccer Plus, 5:30 a.m.

Boxing
Championship Boxing: Interim WBC World Welterweight Championship, Robert Guerrero vs. Selcuk Aydin undercard –Showtime Extreme, 8 p.m.
Championship Boxing: Interim WBC World Welterweight Championship, Robert Guerrero vs. Selcuk Aydin — Showtime, 10 p.m.

CFL
Hamilton at Saskatchewan — TSN/ESPN3, 6 p.m.
BC at Calgary — TSN/ESPN3, 9 p.m.

ESPN Sports Saturday
ABC, 4 p.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour: Lyoness Open, Final Round — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour: Canadian Open, 3rd Round — CBS, 3 p.m.
Senior Open Championship, 3rd Round — ESPN, noon
Web.com Tour: Children’s Hospital Invitational, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.

MLB
American League
Detroit at Toronto — Fox Sports Detroit/Sportsnet One, 1 p.m.
Boston at New York Yankees — Fox, 4 p.m.
Cleveland at Minnesota — MLB Network/STO/Fox Sports North, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore — Comcast SportsNet California/MASN, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Anaheim Angels — Sun Sports/Fox Sports West, 9 p.m.

National League
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Midwest/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 1 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco — Fox, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Houston — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Houston, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Miami — Fox Sports San Diego/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee — MASN2/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 7 p.m.
Cincinnati at Colorado — MLB Network/Fox Sports Ohio/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m.
New York Mets at Arizona — WPIX/Fox Sports Arizona, 8 p.m.

MLB Player Poll — Fox, 3 p.m.
Fox Saturday Pregame Show — Fox, 3:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 9:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, midnight

MLS
Toronto vs. Houston — Gol TV Canada/Fox Sports Houston, 4:30 p.m.
Montreal vs. New York — TVA/MSG Network, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas vs. LA Galaxy — NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m.
Kansas City vs. Columbus — KSMO/Fox Sports Ohio, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Seattle — Altitude/KONG, 9 p.m.
San Jose vs. Chicago — Comcast Sportsnet California/WMAQ 5.2, 10:30 p.m.
Portland vs. Chivas USA — Root Sports Northwest/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 11 p.m.

NASCAR
Nationwide Series
Indy 250 — ESPN, 4:30 p.m.

NFL
Inside Training Camp Live — NFL Network, 10 a.m.
Inside Training Camp Live Today — NFL Network, 8 p.m.

Olympics
NBC
5 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Men’s Cycling – Road Race (LIVE)
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Women’s Volleyball – U.S. vs. South Korea (LIVE)
Women’s Basketball – U.S. Game (LIVE)
Rowing – Qualifying Heats

8 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s and Women’s 400M Individual Medley
• Men’s 400M Freestyle
• Women’s 4 x 100M Freestyle Relay

Men’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Beach Volleyball – U.S. Qualifying Round

12:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Women’s Weightlifting – Gold Medal Final
Table Tennis – Qualifying Round

NBC SPORTS NETWORK
4 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – U.S. vs. Columbia (LIVE)
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Women’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Equestrian – Eventing Dressage
Women’s Fencing – Individual Foil Gold Medal Final
Shooting – Men and Women’s 10M Air Rifle Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Archery – Team Gold Medal Final
Women’s Handball – Qualifying Round

BRAVO
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tennis – Early Rounds (LIVE)

MSNBC
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Women’s Handball – Qualifying Round
Badminton – Qualifying Round
Table Tennis – Qualifying Round

CNBC
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball – Qualifying Round
Australia vs. Great Britain (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Japan vs. Sweden (LIVE)
New Zealand vs. Brazil (LIVE)
U.S. vs. Columbia (LIVE)
France vs. South Korea (LIVE)
Canada vs. South Africa
Great Britain vs. Cameroon

TELEMUNDO
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (ET/PT)
Opening Ceremony
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Women’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Boxing – Elimination Bouts

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Gymnastics – Team Competition

3D
5 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Opening Ceremony

Soccer
Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur at Baltimore — ESPN2, 1 p.m.

World Challenge
AC Milan vs. Chelsea — ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.
DC United vs. Paris-Saint Germain — Fox Soccer, 7:30 p.m.

Tennis
US Open Series
ATP Tour: Farmers Classic, Semifinals — ESPN2, 4 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Entertainment
Home Cooking Made Easy: Simple — Cooking Channel, 9:30 a.m.
Hideous Houses: Throw Out the Crap, Bring in the Cool! (series premiere) — A&E, 10 a.m.
Giada at Home: Weeknight Special — Food Network, 11:30 a.m.
The Perfect 3: Pizza — Cooking Channel, 2:30 p.m.
My Cat From Hell: Roscoe the Menace – Animal Planet, 8 p.m.
Live and Let Die — Encore, 8 p.m.
The Last of the Mohicans — IFC, 8 p.m.
Easy Chinese: The American Dish With a Chinese Twist — Cooking Channel, 8:30 p.m.
Bad Dog!: Doggy Divas and Cat Burglars– Animal Planet, 9 p.m.
The Nerdist: Comic Con — BBC America, 9 p.m.
Wicked Attraction: The Body Shifters – Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Green Lantern — More Max, 9 p.m.
The Nerdist: Tribute to Toys and Games — BBC America, 10 p.m.
Happily Never After: Set Sail for Murder – Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Undercover Boss: Abroad: Ritchies IGA — TLC, 10 p.m.
The Graham Norton Show: Season 11 Compilation – BBC America, 11 p.m.
Twenty Twelve: Inclusivity Day — BBC America, midnight
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, midnight
Twenty Twelve: Loose Ends — BBC America, 12:30 a.m. (Sunday)

Sunday, July 29

Formula 1
Grand Prix of Hungary — Speed, 7:30 a.m.

Golf
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters, Final Round — Golf Channel, 6 a.m.
PGA Tour: Canadian Open, Final Round — CBS, 3 p.m.
Senior Open Championship, Final Round — ESPN2, noon
Web.com Tour: Children’s Hospital Invitational, Final Round — Golf Channel, 7 p.m. (same day coverage)

Road to PGA Championship — CBS, 2 p.m.

MLB
American League
Detroit at Toronto — Fox Sports Detroit/Sportsnet One, 1 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore — Comcast SportsNet California/MASN, 1:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Minnesota — STO/Fox Sports North, 2 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Anaheim Angels — Sun Sports/Fox Sports West, 3:30 p.m.
Kansas City at Seattle — Fox Sports Kansas City/Root Sports Northwest, 4 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Boston at New York Yankees — ESPN, 8 p.m.

National League
San Diego at Miami — Fox Sports San Diego/Fox Sports Florida, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta — WPHL/Fox Sports South, 1:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Houston — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Houston, 2 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee — MASN2/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 2 p.m.
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Midwest/WGN America, 2:20 p.m.
Cincinnati at Colorado — Fox Sports Ohio/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 3 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco — KCAL/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 4 p.m.
New York Mets at Arizona — WPIX/Fox Sports Arizona, 4 p.m.

MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 7 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 8 p.m.
Plays of the Week — MLB Network, 9 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 10 p.m.

MLS
Philadelphia vs. New England — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series: Brickyard 400 — ESPN, 1 p.m.

Olympics
NBC
7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET/PT)
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Women’s Cycling – Road Race (LIVE)
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Men’s Volleyball – U.S. vs. Serbia (LIVE)
Men’s Water Polo – U.S. vs. Montenegro (LIVE)
Rowing – Qualifying Heats

7 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming Gold Medal Finals –

• Women’s 100M Butterfly
• Women’s 400M Freestyle
• Men’s 100M Breaststroke
• Men’s 4 x 100M Freestyle Relay

Women’s Diving – Springboard Synchronized Gold Medal Final

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m. (ET/PT)
Canoeing – Whitewater Qualifying Heats

NBC SPORTS NETWORK
4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball –

• U.S. vs. France (LIVE)
• Spain vs. China (LIVE)

Women’s Field Hockey – U.S. vs. Germany (LIVE)
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Men’s Handball – Qualifying Round
Equestrian – Eventing Dressage
Women’s Shooting – Skeet Gold Medal Final
Women’s Archery – Team Gold Medal Final

BRAVO
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tennis – Early Rounds (LIVE)

MSNBC
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round (LIVE)
Brazil vs. Belarus
Great Britain vs. United Arab Emirates
Weightlifting – Gold Medal Finals
Table Tennis – Qualifying Round
Badminton – Qualifying Round

CNBC
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Boxing – Elimination Bouts (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL
4 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Men’s Basketball – Qualifying Round
Brazil vs. Australia (LIVE)
U.S. vs. France (LIVE)
Spain vs. China (LIVE)
U.S. vs. France (re-air)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Egypt vs. New Zealand (LIVE)
Brazil vs. Belarus (LIVE)
Senegal vs. Uruguay (LIVE)
Great Britain vs. United Arab Emirates (LIVE)
Mexico vs. Gabon
Japan vs. Morocco
South Korea vs. Switzerland
Spain vs. Honduras

TELEMUNDO
7 a.m. – 7 p.m. (LIVE)
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round

• Mexico vs. Gabon
• Spain vs. Honduras
• Senegal vs. Uruguay

Swimming – Qualifying Heats
Men’s Basketball – Qualifying Round
Boxing – Elimination Bouts
Beach Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Men’s Volleyball – Qualifying Round
Tennis – Early Rounds

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Women’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

3D
4 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Men’s Gymnastics – Team Competition
Swimming – Gold Medal Finals

Sports Talk
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 9 a.m.
The Sports Reporters — ESPN, 9:30 a.m.
E:60 — ESPNU, 11 a.m.

Tennis
US Open Series
ATP Tour: Farmers Classic, Final — ESPN2, 4 p.m.

Entertainment
CBS News Sunday Morning — CBS, 9 a.m.
10 Dollar Dinners With Melissa D’Arabian: Back in Tuscon — Food Network, 10 a.m.
60 Minutes — CBS, 7 p.m.
Secret History of UFO’s — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Diamonds are Forever — Encore, 8 p.m.
Surviving D-Day — Military Channel, 8 p.m.
Big Brother 14 — CBS, 8:01 p.m.
True Blood — HBO, 9 p.m.
Ice Road Truckers — History Channel, 9 p.m.
Nightmare Next Door: Deadly Dealings — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Snapped: Nanette Johnson — Oxygen, 9 p.m.
Bar Rescue: Yo-ho-ho and a Bottle of Dumb (season premiere) — Spike, 9 p.m.
Weeds — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Breaking Bad — AMC, 10 p.m.
The Newsroom — HBO, 10 p.m.
Taboo: Nasty Jobs — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Bar Rescue: Tiki Curse — Spike, 10 p.m.
Small Town Security: Dr. Sandy and the Swear Jar — AMC, 11:04 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, midnight

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Arena Football
Utah Blaze at San Antonio Talons — NFL Network, 8 p.m.

Australian Rules Football
Geelong Cats vs. Adelaide Crows — Fox Soccer Plus, 11:30 p.m.

CFL
Toronto at Montreal — TSN/ESPN3, 7:30 p.m.

College Football
College Football Media Days — ESPNU, 9 a.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour: Lyoness Open, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 9:30 a.m.
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour: Canadian Open, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.
Senior Open Championship, 2nd Round — ESPN2, noon
Web.com Tour: Children’s Hospital Invitational, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.

MLB
American League
Boston at New York Yankees — MLB Network/NESN/YES, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Toronto — MLB Network/Fox Sports Detroit/Sportsnet One, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore — Comcast SportsNet California/MASN, 7 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Texas — WCIU/KTXA, 8 p.m.
Cleveland at Minnesota — STO/Fox Sports North, 8 p.m.
Kansas City at Seattle — Fox Sports Kansas City/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Anaheim Angels — Sun Sports/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

National League
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs — Fox Sports Midwest/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 2:20 p.m.
San Diego at Miami — Fox Sports San Diego/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Atlanta — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Peachtree TV/Fox Sports South, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Houston — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Houston, 8 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee — MASN2/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
Cincinnati at Colorado — Fox Sports Ohio/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.
New York Mets at Arizona — SNY/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco — Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 10:15 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Saturday)

NFL
Inside Training Camp Live — NFL Network, 10 a.m.

Olympics
Games of the XXX Summer Olympiad, London, England
Opening Ceremony — CTV, 4 p.m./NBC, 7:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Sports Talk
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Fox Sports Net, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
The Scott Van Pelt Show — ESPNews, 2 p.m.
Outside the Lines First Report — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Numbers Never Lie — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.

Tennis
US Open Series
ATP Tour: Farmers Classic, Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 5 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Entertainment
Deadliest Catch: Social Reload: The Bitter, Bloody End — Discovery, 8 p.m.
You Only Live Twice — Encore, 8 p.m.
The Italian Job — Showtime, 8 p.m.
You Live in What? — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Motives & Murders: On the Trail of a Hitman — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Foo Fighters: Live from Wembley — VH1 Classic, 9 p.m.
20/20 — ABC, 9:01 p.m.
Evil, I: The Skull Collector — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Comedy Bang! Bang!: Elizabeth Banks Wears a Red Dress — IFC, 10 p.m.
Homeland: Immigration in America: Enforcement — PBS, 10 p.m.
Gangsters: America’s Most Evil: The Ultimate Outlaw: Harry Taco Bowman — Biography, 10 p.m.
3 Days to Open With Bobby Flay: Secret Recipe for Disaster — Food Network, 10 p.m.
Bunk — IFC, 10:30 p.m.
Femme Fatales: One Man’s Death — Cinemax, 11 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, midnight

US Olympic Rights Fees Since 1960

This comes from NBC and its Olympics media guide for 2012. This is one interesting chart that the network made and it contains the rights fees for all of the Olympics televised in the United States dating back to 1960. CBS aired both set of Games, Winter and Summer in 1960. You can see for the Winter Olympics in Sqauw Valley, CA, CBS paid a mere $50,000 to air just 15 hours of coverage. And for the Rome Summer Olympics, CBS paid a bit more, just under $400,000. And back in 1960, CBS had to fly film from Rome and have Jim McKay narrate the action. Much different than today’s production of the London Games which we will be able to see most everything in real time.

And you can note the way the rights fees have grown to the point where NBC is paying over $1 billion for the London Olympics.

Up until 1998, the Winter and Summer Olympics were bid separately. Until 1992, the Winter and Summer Olympics were held in the same calendar year and then in 1994, they were separated.

NBC set the tone by bidding for the 2000 and 2002 Olympics, wanting both Summer and Winter Olympiads. The 2002 Salt Lake Olympics were the first Winter Games NBC broadcast dating back to 1972 in Sapporo, Japan. And then NBC made a daring proactive bid for the 2004, 2006 and 2008 Olympics without the International Olympic Committee obtaining envelopes from ESPN/ABC, Fox or CBS.

So you can see the history of the rights as they have increased over the years. In 2011, NBC obtained the Olympics from 2014 through 2020, four sets of Olympiads for a total of $4.38 billion.

Take a look at the rights fees for the Olympics dating back to 1960 and the networks that broadcast them.

U.S. COVERAGE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

There you have it on the breakdown. 2012 marks the seventh consecutive Olympiad that the networks of NBCUniversal are airing dating to 2000. Again, from NBC’s Olympics media guide, a quick breakdown of how NBC obtained the Olympics from 2000 through 2020.

• In August 1995, NBC paid $1.2 billion to acquire the exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights to both the 2000 Games in Sydney ($705 million) and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City ($545 million).

• In December 1995, NBC and the IOC constructed a record-breaking $2.3 billion agreement granting NBC the exclusive U.S. media rights to the 2004 Summer Olympics ($793 million), the 2006 Winter Games ($613 million) and the 2008 Summer Olympics ($894 million). It marked the first time that the same network has been awarded the rights to five consecutive Olympics.

• In June 2003, NBC paid $2 billion for the exclusive U.S. media rights to the 2010 Winter Games ($820 million) and the 2012 Summer Olympics ($1.181 billion).

• In June 2011, the IOC announced that it awarded the U.S. media rights to the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games to NBCUniversal for $4.38 billion. At the conclusion of the 2020 Summer Olympics, NBC will have broadcast 17 Olympic Games and 11 consecutive.

You can see how NBC has valued the Olympics and managed to keep them in the fold.

2012-13 NBA TV Regular Season Schedule

NBA TV will have 96 games. I’ve been editing press releases so they format nicely on the site. And it’s getting late for me so I’m just going to slap this up for you. However it looks is the way it was received in the Fang’s Bites inbox.

Here is the schedule.

NBA TV to Televise 96 Games During 2012-13 Regular Season Featuring Multiple Appearances by Heat, Thunder, Knicks, Lakers, Clippers, Celtics and Bulls

Network Opens with Oct. 31 Doubleheader Including Hornets in Anthony Davis’ Rookie Debut vs. Spurs at 8 p.m. ET & Trail Blazers vs. Lakers at 10:30 p.m.
Schedule Includes Rockets’ Jeremy Lin Returning to New York vs. Knicks Dec. 17

NBA TV today announced its 2012-13 NBA regular-season schedule will feature 96 live regular season games beginning with the New Orleans Hornets, in the highly-anticipated debut of rookie Anthony Davis, facing the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan on Wednesday, October 31, at 8 p.m. ET. The network’s Wednesday doubleheader will also include the Los Angeles Lakers, with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, hosting the Portland Trail Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge at 10:30 p.m. The 2012-13 regular season schedule was unveiled tonight exclusively on NBA TV.

NBA TV’s opening week schedule includes (full regular-season schedule listed below):

Date	Day	Time (ET)	Game
October 31	Wednesday	8 p.m.	San Antonio at New Orleans
		10:30 p.m.	Portland at L.A. Lakers
November 3	Saturday	7:30 p.m.	Denver at Miami
		10:30 p.m.	Golden State at L.A. Clippers

Additionally, NBA TV will feature the Houston Rockets’ Jeremy Lin’s only return to Madison Square Garden this season to face his former New York Knicks team Monday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

NBA TV will build on a record-setting 2011-12 season, the network’s most-viewed ever, with a 2012-13 regular-season schedule featuring 20 doubleheaders and up to nine appearances by the NBA champion Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Knicks, Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Boston Celtics, Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz; up to eight appearances by the Trail Blazers; and up to seven appearances by the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Hornets.

NBA TV schedule highlights include (all times ET):

• Nov. 5 – the Nets’ first appearance on the network since moving to Barclays Center, hosting the Timberwolves and Kevin Love at 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 23 – the defending Western Conference champion Thunder and Kevin Durant visiting the Celtics and Kevin Garnett at 7:30 p.m.
• Nov. 28 – a doubleheader featuring several of the league’s premier point guards when the Celtics host the Nets at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Timberwolves visiting the Clippers at 10:30 p.m.
• Dec. 29 – the top two picks in the 2012 NBA Draft and former Kentucky teammates facing off when the Hornets and Davis visit the Bobcats and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at 7 p.m.
• Jan. 2 – the past two NBA champions meeting when the Heat host the Mavericks at 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 21 – a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game with the Knicks hosting the Nets at 3:30 p.m.
• Feb. 13 – a doubleheader featuring the Celtics and Rajon Rondo hosting the Bulls and Luol Deng at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Rockets and Lin visiting the Clippers and Chris Paul at 10:30 p.m.
• March 11 – a 2012 Western Conference Finals rematch, as the Spurs host the Thunder at 8:30 p.m.
• April 12 – the Heat and offseason acquisition Ray Allen facing his former team, the Celtics, at 7:30 p.m.

For the fifth consecutive year, NBA TV’s popular Fan Night will return on Tuesdays throughout the season beginning Nov. 6. NBA fans will once again have the opportunity to vote via www.nba.com/nbatv/fannight, NBA Mobile, the NBA Facebook page and Yahoo.com for the game they most want to see on NBA TV.

2012-13 NBA TV Regular Season Schedule
(All Times Eastern)

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Wed., October 31	8 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Hornets
	10:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers
Sat., November 3	7:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.	Golden State Warriors at L.A. Clippers
Sun., November 4	6 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves at Toronto Raptors
Mon., November 5	7:30 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets
Tues., November 6		Fan Night
Mon., November 12	7 p.m.	Utah Jazz at Toronto Raptors
Tues., November 13		Fan Night
Sun., November 18	6 p.m.	Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers
Mon., November 19	7:30 p.m.	Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks
Tues., November 20		Fan Night
Fri., November 23	7:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics
Sat., November 24	10 p.m.	Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
Mon., November 26	8 p.m.	Cleveland Cavaliers at Memphis Grizzlies
Tues., November 27		Fan Night
Wed., November 28	7:30 p.m.	Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves at L.A. Clippers
Fri., November 30	7:30 p.m.	Washington  Wizards  at New York Knicks
Sat., December 1	7:30 p.m.	Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.	Sacramento Kings at L.A. Clippers
Sun., December 2	9:30 p.m.	Orlando Magic at L.A. Lakers
Mon., December 3	8 p.m.	Milwaukee Bucks at New Orleans Hornets
Tues., December 4		Fan Night
Sat., December 8	7 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Charlotte Bobcats
	10 p.m.	Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers
Sun., December 9	7:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at New York Knicks
Mon., December 10	7 p.m.	Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers
Sat., December 15	9 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz
Mon., December 17	7:30 p.m.	Houston Rockets at New York Knicks
Tues., December 18		Fan Night
Fri., December 21	7:30 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks
Wed., December 26	9 p.m.	New York Knicks at Phoenix Suns
Fri., December 28	8:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks
Sat., December 29	7 p.m.	New Orleans Hornets at Charlotte Bobcats
	10:30 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors
Tues., January 1		Fan Night
Wed., January 2	7:30 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat
Tues., January 8		Fan Night
Sun., January 13	9 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers
Mon., January 14	8 p.m.	Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
Tues., January 15		Fan Night
Sat., January 19	8 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls
Mon., January 21	3:30 p.m.	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks
Tues., January 22		Fan Night Doubleheader
Wed., January 23	8 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets
Sat., January 26	7 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards
	9:30 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Utah Jazz
Mon., January 28	7:30 p.m.	Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets
Tues., January 29		Fan Night
Sat., February 2	8 p.m.	New Orleans Hornets at Minnesota Timberwolves
Sun., February 3	1 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Boston Celtics
Mon., February 4	8 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder
Tues., February 5		Fan Night
Sat., February 9	10 p.m.	Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
Mon., February 11	8 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls
Tues., February 12		Fan Night Doubleheader
Wed., February 13	7:30 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	Houston Rockets at L.A. Clippers
Tues., February 19		Fan Night
Sat., February 23	7 p.m.	Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic
Mon., February 25	9 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz
Tues., February 26		Fan Night
Sat., March 2	7 p.m.	Golden State Warriors at Philadelphia 76ers
	10 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves at Portland Trail Blazers
Mon., March 4	8 p.m.	Miami Heat at Minnesota Timberwolves
Tues., March 5		Fan Night
Sat., March 9	7:30 p.m.	Utah Jazz at New York Knicks
	10:30 p.m.	Milwaukee Bucks at Golden State Warriors
Sun., March 10	7 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves
Mon., March 11	8:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs
Tues., March 12		Fan Night
Fri., March 15	8 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets
Fri., March 15	10:30 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors
Sat., March 16	7:30 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers
	10 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz
Tues., March 19		Fan Night
Mon., March 25	7 p.m.	Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers
	10:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Golden State Warriors
Sat., March 30	10 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Phoenix Suns
Sun., March 31	7 p.m.	Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs
Mon., April 1	8 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies
	10:30 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at L.A. Clippers
Wed., April 3	9 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz
Sun., April 7	9 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers
Tues., April 9		Fan Night Doubleheader
Fri., April 12	7:30 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Miami Heat
	10 p.m.	Oklahoma City at Portland Trail Blazers
Sat., April 13	8 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies
Sun., April 14	6 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Hornets
	9:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at L.A. Lakers
Mon., April 15	8 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors

That is all. I’ll post more stuff on Friday.

2012-13 NBA on TNT Schedule

The NBA’s Network of Record, TNT is back for its 29th season of broadcasting games. It will carry 52 games including the season opening doubleheader on October 30. In addition, TNT will air a whole slew of Thursday night doubleheaders throughout the season.

Part of its contract includes a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day primetime doubleheader and the entire NBA All-Star Weekend which will be held this season in Houston.

And to end its season, TNT will carry the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

As usual, the critically acclaimed and award-winning Inside the NBA will air immediately following the last game of the evening doubleheaders.

We have the press release and the listing of the games below.

TNT’s 2012-13 NBA Regular Season Schedule to Feature Multiple Appearances by NBA Champion Heat, Thunder, Knicks, Lakers, Clippers, Celtics and Mavericks

NBA Season Tips Off October 30 Exclusively on TNT with Miami Hosting Boston; Dallas at L.A. Lakers

Turner Sports, marking its 29^th year of NBA coverage, today announced that TNT will televise 52 games during the 2012-13 NBA regular season including 10 appearances by the NBA champion Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder; nine appearances by the Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers; and eight appearances by the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks. TNT recorded its highest-rated and most-viewed NBA regular season ever last year and the network has generated five straight seasons of growth among viewers and households.

For the 11^th consecutive year, the NBA season will exclusively open on TNT with a doubleheader Tuesday, Oct. 30, featuring the Heat and Finals MVP LeBron James hosting the Celtics and Kevin Garnett at 8 p.m. ET. TNT’s coverage will include Miami’s championship ring ceremony during the one-hour TNT NBA Tip-Off ’12 pre-game show at 7 p.m. In the second game, the Lakers and offseason acquisition Steve Nash will host the Mavericks, the 2011 NBA champion led by Dirk Nowitzki, at 10:30 p.m.

TNT’s opening week coverage will also include a Thursday doubleheader, Nov. 1, with the home debut of the Brooklyn Nets, led by Deron Williams, against the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony at 7 p.m., followed by a Western Conference Finals rematch when the Thunder and Kevin Durant visit the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan at 9:30 p.m.  TNT will televise 20 Thursday night NBA doubleheaders this season.

Additional schedule highlights (full schedule listed below):

• Dec. 6 – an Eastern Conference rivalry game when the Heat host the Knicks at 8 p.m.
• Dec. 13 – the Lakers and Kobe Bryant meeting the Knicks at Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m.
• Dec. 20 – a 2011 NBA Finals rematch between the Heat and Mavericks at 9:30 p.m.
• Dec. 27 – a showdown of elite NBA point guards when the Celtics and Rajon Rondo visit the Clippers and Chris Paul at 10:30 p.m.
• Jan. 17 – a doubleheader beginning with the Clippers facing the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kevin Love at 8 p.m., a matchup which has recently generated close outcomes and standout individual performances, followed by the Heat visiting the Lakers at 10:30 p.m.
• Jan. 21 – a special Martin Luther King Day doubleheader including the Spurs visiting the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m., followed by the Chicago Bulls hosting the Lakers at 9:30 p.m.
• Feb. 7 – storied franchises meeting in a rivalry game when the Celtics host the Lakers at 8 p.m.
• Feb. 14 – a Valentine’s Day doubleheader beginning with a Finals rematch between the Heat and Thunder at 8 p.m., followed by a Los Angeles showdown between the Lakers and Clippers at 10:30 p.m.
• Feb. 21 – the Chicago Bulls and Luol Deng facing the Heat at 8 p.m.
• March 5 & 7 – consecutive appearances by the Thunder when they host the Lakers on March 5 at 9:30 p.m. then visit the Knicks on March 7 at 8 p.m.
• March 14 – an intra-state clash when the Mavericks visit the Spurs at 8 p.m.
• March 26 – an Eastern Conference rivalry game when the Celtics host the Knicks at 7 p.m.
• April 2 – a marquee doubleheader opening with the Heat hosting the Knicks at 8 p.m., followed by the Mavericks visiting the Lakers at 10:30 p.m.
• April 4 – in TNT’s second doubleheader of the week, the Bulls visiting the Nets at 7 p.m., followed by the Thunder hosting the Spurs at 9:30 p.m.
• April 11 – the Knicks and Bulls, both anticipated playoff contenders, meeting at 8 p.m.

Additionally, TNT will serve as the exclusive home of NBA All-Star 2013 including NBA All-Star Friday (Feb. 15), NBA All-Star Saturday (Feb. 16), and the 2013 NBA All-Star Game (Feb. 17) in Houston. TNT will also exclusively televise the NBA Eastern Conference Finals this season.

The NBA on TNT’s marquee roster of NBA announcers includes five-time NBA champion Steve Kerr, Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and Mike Fratello, one of the most successful head coaches in NBA history, as game analysts; play-by-play commentators Marv Albert, Dick Stockton and Kevin Harlan; and reporters David Aldridge and Craig Sager. TNT’s Sports Emmy Award-winning studio show includes host Ernie Johnson and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal and two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith.

TNT’s 2012-2013 NBA REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE(All Times Eastern)
Date	Day	Time (ET)		Game
Oct. 30	Tuesday	7 p.m.		TNT NBA Tip-Off ’12 (including Miami Heat Ring Ceremony)
		8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ L.A. Lakers
Nov. 1	Thursday	7 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets
		9:30 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs
Nov. 8	Thursday	8 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ Chicago Bulls
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Portland Trail Blazers
Nov. 15	Thursday	8 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ Brooklyn Nets
		10:30 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Denver Nuggets
Nov. 29	Thursday	8 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
Dec. 6	Thursday	8 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns
Dec. 13	Thursday	8 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ New York Knicks
		10:30 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Portland Trail Blazers
Dec. 20	Thursday	7 p.m.		Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
		9:30 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks
Dec. 27	Thursday	8 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder
		10:30 p.m.		Boston Celtics @ L.A. Clippers
Jan. 10	Thursday	8 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers
		10:30 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Portland Trail Blazers
Jan. 17	Thursday	8 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
		10:30 p.m.		Miami Heat @ L.A. Lakers
Jan. 21	Monday	7 p.m.		San Antonio Spurs @ Philadelphia 76ers
		9:30 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Chicago Bulls
Jan. 24	Thursday	8 p.m.		New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
Jan. 31	Thursday	8 p.m.		Memphis Grizzlies @ Oklahoma City Thunder
		10:30 p.m.		Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors
Feb. 7	Thursday	8 p.m.		L.A. Lakers @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.		Chicago Bulls @ Denver Nuggets
Feb. 14	Thursday	8 p.m.		Miami Heat @ Oklahoma City Thunder
		10:30 p.m.		L.A. Clippers @ L.A. Lakers
*********************************NBA ALL-STAR 2013*************************************************
Feb. 15	Friday		NBA Rising Stars
Feb. 16	Saturday		NBA All-Star Saturday
Feb. 17	Sunday		2013 NBA All-Star Game from Houston
*****************************************************************************************************
Feb. 21	Thursday	8 p.m.	Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
		10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs @ L.A. Clippers
Feb. 28	Thursday	8 p.m.	Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls
		10:30 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves @ L.A. Lakers
Mar. 5	Tuesday	7 p.m.	Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
		9:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Mar. 7	Thursday	8 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder @ New York Knicks
		10:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Mar. 14	Thursday	8 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs
		10:30 p.m.	New York Knicks @ Portland Trail Blazers
Mar. 26	Tuesday	7 p.m.	New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
		9:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks
Apr. 2	Tuesday	8 p.m.	New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
		10:30 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks @ L.A. Lakers
Apr. 4	Thursday	7 p.m.	Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets
		9:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Apr. 11	Thursday	8 p.m.	New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls
		10:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors
Apr. 16	Tuesday	8 p.m.	Indiana Pacers @ Boston Celtics
		10:30 p.m.	Portland Trail Blazers @ L.A. Clippers

And we’ll conclude with the NBA TV schedule.

The 2012-13 ABC/ESPN NBA Schedule

The National Basketball Association released the 2012-13 schedule on Thursday. And with the release comes the national TV schedules from ESPN/ABC, TNT and NBA TV. We’ll post all of the press releases from the partners tonight and that includes the one I’m about to show you from ESPN/ABC.

ESPN will air 75 games over the span of the entire season. ABC will air another 15, but in those games, they’ll be among just eight teams, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, the two Los Angeles teams (Clippers and Lakers), Miami, New York and Oklahoma City. The Lakers, Heat, Knicks and Thunder will get the most appearances on ABC, between 5 and 6 among them.

ABC and ESPN will combine for five games on Christmas Day starting at noon ET. ABC gets an afternoon doubleheader with ESPN airing two games at night.

Here’s the press release.

ABC & ESPN 2012-13 NBA Schedule

Blockbuster Christmas Day includes Thunder/Heat Finals Rematch, Two Games at L.A.’s Staples Center

ESPN’s multiplatform coverage of the 2012-13 NBA season will include 90 games, highlighted by 15 exclusive ABC broadcasts and 75 national ESPN telecasts. The 90-game schedule features flexible scheduling, allowing fans to see the most compelling matchups. All ESPN games will also be available on ESPN Mobile TV and WatchESPN. ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes will also have coverage throughout the season. In addition, NBA Countdown will generally preview ABC and ESPN games or doubleheaders 30 minutes prior to game time.

ABC & ESPN Combine for Five Christmas Day Games

ABC and ESPN will combine to present a five-game Christmas Day blockbuster schedule, headlined by an ABC doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat and LeBron James hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant in an NBA Finals rematch at 5:30 p.m. ET.  The doubleheader will begin with the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony visiting the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash at 3 p.m. in one of two ABC/ESPN games from the Staples Center on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day will tip off on ESPN when the Boston Celtics and Rajon Rondo visit the new-look Brooklyn Nets and Deron Williams – the first-ever Christmas Day game in Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center -  at 12 p.m. Additionally, ESPN will televise a prime-time doubleheader, starting with the Houston Rockets and Jeremy Lin visiting the Chicago Bulls and Joakim Noah at 8 p.m., followed by the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul hosting the Denver Nuggets and Ty Lawson – the second game of the day emanating from the Staples Center.

Christmas Day

Time (ET)	Game	Network
12 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets	ESPN, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
2:30 p.m.	NBA Countdown	ABC
3 p.m.	New York Knicks at L.A. Lakers	ABC
5:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat	ABC
8 p.m.	Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls	ESPN, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
10:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at L.A. Clippers	ESPN, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN

ESPN’s NBA Schedule to Tip-Off with Star-Studded Doubleheader Nov. 2

ESPN’s coverage of the 2012-13 NBA season will tip off with a doubleheader Friday, Nov. 2, when the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat – led by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – visit the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony at 8 p.m. In the nightcap, the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant will “host” the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul at 10:30 p.m. Both games will be available across ESPN platforms with the NBA Countdown – one-hour edition – show previewing the action at 7 p.m.

ABC schedule highlights

• 15 exclusive broadcasts;
• Christmas Day blockbuster doubleheader: New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers at 3 p.m.; Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat at 5:30 p.m.;
• Multiple appearances by the NBA’s biggest superstars, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Carmelo Anthony;
• Six appearances by the Los Angeles Lakers, five appearances each by the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder;
• The first-ever regular season ABC appearances by the Los Angeles Clippers (four games);
• Eastern Conference Finals rematch – Miami Heat at Boston Celtics –  featuring Ray Allen’s return to Boston on Jan. 27;
• Kobe vs. LeBron: Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat Feb. 10;
• Six doubleheaders – Dec. 25, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, March 3, March 10, April 7;
• NBA Countdown pregame show 30 minutes prior to every ABC game or doubleheader.

2012-13 ABC NBA Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Tue, Dec. 25	3 p.m.	New York Knicks at L.A. Lakers
	5:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat
Sun, Jan. 27	1 p.m.	Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
	3:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at L.A. Lakers
Sun, Feb. 10	1 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at New York Knicks
	3:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Miami Heat
Sun, Feb. 24	1 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
Sun, March 3	1 p.m.	Miami Heat at New York Knicks
	3:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at L.A. Clippers
Sun, March 10	1 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Oklahoma City Thunder
	3:30 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at L.A. Lakers
Sun, March 17	3:30 p.m.	New York Knicks at L.A. Clippers
Sun, April 7	1 p.m.	New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder
	3:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers
Sun, April 14	1 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

ESPN schedule highlights

• 75 national telecasts;
• Three Christmas Day games, including Boston at Brooklyn at 12 p.m., plus a primetime doubleheader – Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls at 8 p.m. and Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles. Clippers at 10:30 p.m.;
• ESPN’s opening night Fri, Nov 2: Miami Heat at New York Knicks at 8 p.m.; Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m.;
• Multiple appearances by the NBA’s biggest superstars, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Carmelo Anthony;
• Six teams with 10 appearances (the maximum allowed): Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder;
• New-look Brooklyn Nets to appear nine times, including two games against the New York Knicks (Dec. 11, Dec. 19);
• Multiple appearances by the Boston Celtics (9), San Antonio Spurs (9) and Dallas Mavericks (7);
• Special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game – Indiana Pacers at Memphis Grizzlies – Mon. Jan. 21;
• Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Feb. 20, at 10:30 p.m.;
• Eastern Conference Finals rematch – Miami Heat at Boston Celtics – March 18 at 8 p.m.;
• 31 doubleheaders;
• NBA Countdown pregame show 30 minutes prior to most ESPN games or doubleheaders.

2012-13 ESPN NBA Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	Game
Fri, Nov. 2	8 p.m.	Miami Heat at New York Knicks
	10:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers
Wed, Nov. 7	8 p.m.	Philadelphia 76ers at New Orleans Hornets
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at L.A. Clippers
Fri, Nov. 9	10:30 p.m.	Utah Jazz at Denver Nuggets
Wed, Nov.14	8 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder
	10:30 p.m.	Miami Heat at L.A. Clippers
Fri, Nov.16	7 p.m.	Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
	9:30 p.m.	New York Knicks at Memphis Grizzlies
Wed, Nov.21	7:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Fri, Nov.30	10:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at L.A. Lakers
Wed, Dec. 5	8 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers
	10:30 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at L.A. Clippers
Fri, Dec. 7	7 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers
	9:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Tue, Dec. 11	7 p.m.	New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets
	9:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Chicago Bulls
Wed, Dec. 12	8 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
Fri, Dec. 14	8 p.m.	Golden State Warriors at Orlando Magic
	10:30 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets
Wed, Dec. 19	7 p.m.	Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks
	9:30 p.m.	Milwaukee Bucks at Memphis Grizzlies
Tue, Dec. 25	12 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
	8 p.m.	Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls
	10:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at L.A. Clippers
Fri, Jan. 4	8 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers
Wed, Jan. 9	8 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at San Antonio Spurs
	10:30 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at L.A. Clippers
Fri, Jan. 11	8 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks
	10:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at L.A. Lakers
Wed, Jan. 16	8 p.m.	New Orleans Hornets at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors
Fri, Jan. 18	7 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics
	9:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks
Mon, Jan. 21	1 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Memphis Grizzlies
Fri, Jan. 25	8 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks
Sun, Jan. 27	6:30 p.m.	Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks
Wed, Jan. 30	8 p.m.	Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets
	10:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Phoenix Suns
Fri, Feb. 1	7 p.m.	Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers
	9:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves
Wed, Feb. 6	9 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves
Fri, Feb. 8	8 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Utah Jazz
Sun, Feb. 10	8 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Brooklyn Nets
Wed, Feb. 20	8 p.m.	Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks
	10:30 p.m.	Boston Celtics at L.A. Lakers
Fri, Feb. 22	8 p.m.	Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors
Sun, Feb. 24	7 p.m.	Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
	9:30 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder
Wed, Feb. 27	8 p.m.	Detroit Pistons at Washington Wizards
	10:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers
Fri, March 1	8 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Brooklyn Nets
	10:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets
Sun, March 3	8 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers
Wed, March 6	9 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs
Fri, March 8	8 p.m.	Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat
	10:30 p.m.	Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
Wed, March 13	8 p.m.	Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder
	10:30 p.m.	New York Knicks at Denver Nuggets
Mon, March 18	8 p.m.	Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	New York Knicks at Utah Jazz
Wed, March 20	8 p.m.	Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks
Wed, March 27	8 p.m.	Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls
	10:30 p.m.	Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trail Blazers
Wed, April 3	7 p.m.	New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks
Fri, April 5	8 p.m.	Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers
	10:30 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at L.A. Lakers
Wed, April 10	8 p.m.	Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
	10:30 p.m.	San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets
Wed, April 17	8 p.m.	Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies
	10:30 p.m.	Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers

* ESPN’s NBA games are also available on ESPN Mobile TV and WatchESPN.

TNT’s schedule is next.

Highlights of NBCOlympics Conference Call

On Thursday, NBC held a media conference call with the Executive Producer of the 2012 Olympics and the Today Show, Jim Bell. This is the first Olympic games on NBC dating back to 1992 in Barcelona which won’t have Emperor Dick Ebersol at the helm.

Bell who started with NBC in Barcelona and has worked on every Olympics for the network ever since was tapped by NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus to lead this year’s effort.

Bell has been doing interviews leading up to the Games and on Wednesday, he spoke with reporters on how he expects this year’s Olympics to go. We have a partial transcript of his remarks.

NBC OLYMPICS CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JIM BELL

“One moment will be among the more astonishing and memorable in Opening Ceremony history, one that people will be talking about for years to come.” — Bell on Opening Ceremony
“Among the last great family-viewing television events on the planet.” – Bell on the Olympics
“We could not be more excited to finally get this going.” – Bell on start of the London Olympics

NEW YORK – July 26, 2012 – NBC Sports Group held a conference call today with NBC Olympics Executive Producer Jim Bell, to discuss NBCUniversal’s 17 days of coverage of the 2012 London Olympics. Primetime coverage on NBC begins with the Opening Ceremony, tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Highlights from Jim Bell follow:

ON GETTING PREPARED FOR THE OLYMPICS: “The teams have arrived and the NBCUniversal team is here in full force and we could not be more excited to finally get this going.”

“One of the great things about the Olympics as a company is the way you see all of the different groups work together, whether it’s the news division or it’s Access Hollywood, or the local affiliates or the website. It’s a very gratifying experience and I think everybody is working incredibly well together, this hybrid of innovation and tradition will take the Olympics forward.”

ON OPENING CEREMONY: “I am particularly thrilled about the Opening Ceremony. Having seen it and been a part of knowing about it for some time, I can tell you that it includes some amazing moments. One moment I think will be among the more astonishing and memorable in Opening Ceremony history, one that people will be talking about for years to come.”

ON THE OLYMPICS: “(The Olympics) is among the last great family-viewing television events on the planet.”

ON BOB COSTAS’ COMMENTS IN AN INTERVIEW EARLIER THIS MONTH ABOUT A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO COMMEMORATE THE 40^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGEDY AT THE MUNICH GAMES: “We’ve been talking about that, among many other things about the Opening Ceremony, and I think if there is anyone who knows how to handle himself in that situation, have the right approach and tone, it’s Bob and Matt (Lauer).”

“We are going to handle it appropriately and respectfully. Bob has always had a big role in our planning of the coverage, and it’s been a healthy collaborative process.”

ON SHOWING EVERY COUNTRY IN THE PARADE OF NATIONS: “In the Opening Ceremony, our job there is to document the proceedings and honor the athletes. There are 204 countries in the Parade of Nations, and they’re all going to be shown. We are going to get every single country on, which I can assure you, over the course of the time allotted, is not easy.”

ON ANY SURPRISES AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: “The biggest surprise has probably been just the size and scope of the coverage and the jump in programming tonnage from Atlanta, which I think was somewhere around 170- plus hours of total coverage on NBC to where we are today (5,535 hours).

ON NEW WAYS OF CONSUMING BIG EVENTS: “For all the talk about the second screen and the digital and the live stream – and all of those are hugely important advances are priorities for us – primetime is still, also, very important to us. And I don’t think that is going to change any time soon. What we have seen is incremental revenue on the digital side, which is great, but the broadcasting side is still really healthy. The appetite for big events on broadcast television still exists.”

ON DICK EBERSOL’S ROLE IN LONDON: “Dick is a consultant, and an advisor, and obviously somebody who has unprecedented amounts of Olympic knowledge and experience. He’s been a huge mentor to me and to virtually everybody here, and we are thrilled to have him here.”

NBCUniversal, presenting its 13^th Olympics, the most by any U.S. media company, will make an unprecedented 5,535 hours of the 2012 London Olympics coverage available across NBC, NBC Sports Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, Telemundo, NBCOlympics.com, two specialty channels, and the first-ever 3D platform, an unprecedented level that surpasses the coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by nearly 2,000 hours.

Executive Producer – Jim Bell
London marks Bell’s first Olympics as executive producer. Bell has worked on every Olympic Games NBC has broadcast since 1992, in either sports (1992, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004) or news (2006, 2008 and 2010). Bell also serves as executive producer of NBC News’ ‘Today.’

That’s all for this post. Next, we’ll focus on the NBA as the 2012-13 schedule was released tonight.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 0 of the 2012 Olympics; Opening Ceremony on Tape Delay

While we had a plethora of soccer games on Wednesday and Thursday, they weren’t the official start to the Olympics. Once the Opening Ceremony takes place and we hear the host country’s head of state say, “I hereby declare the Games of the (whatever number it is) Olympiad Open” then the Olympics have truly begun. And on Friday night, Queen Elizabeth will do the honors for the London Games.

NBC will air the Opening Ceremony on tape delay in all time zones, something that CTV in Canada will do as well, but only after airing the entire enchilada live across Canada starting at 4 p.m. ET. NBC will treat Americans like little children and we have to sit, nod and say, “Thank you, daddy” as the network airs the Opening Ceremony in primetime on tape at 7:30 p.m ET/PT on Friday.

Bob Costas will host. He’ll be joined by Today’s Matt Lauer and NBC News special correspondent Meredith Viera. Conducting interviews will be former NBC Nightly News anchorman Tom Brokaw and all-around hack Ryan Seacrest.

Acclaimed movie director Danny Boyle who has helmed two of my all-time favorite movies, Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire, is responsible for the Opening Cermony of 2012 Olympics.

We have details from NBC below.

BOB COSTAS TO HOST OPENING CEREMONY OF THE GAMES OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD ON NBC WITH MATT LAUER AND MEREDITH VIEIRA TOMORROW, 7:30 P.M. ET/PT ON NBC

Ryan Seacrest and Tom Brokaw to Contribute Interviews and Reports
Queen Elizabeth II to Officially Open Games; First Lady Michelle Obama to Lead Official U.S. Delegation; Sir Paul McCartney to Perform
London Olympics Opening Tease Voiced by British Actors Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt

LONDON – July 26, 2012 – NBC’s Olympic primetime host Bob Costas will host the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony from Olympic Stadium alongside co-hosts Matt Lauer, NBC’s ‘Today’ co-anchor, and NBC News Special Correspondent Meredith Vieira, tomorrow – at a special early start time 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. Costas and Lauer anchored the Opening Ceremony together at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Olympic primetime correspondent Ryan Seacrest and NBC News Special Correspondent Tom Brokaw will contribute interviews and reports.

NBC’s opening tease of the London Olympics, which highlights the big stories of the Games and London as the host city, will air during the Opening Ceremony. The tease is voiced by British actors Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and is produced by the NBC Olympics features unit.

The 2012 London Olympics will be Bob Costas’ 10^th for NBC and his ninth as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, South Korea, Costas earned acclaim for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin, Beijing and Vancouver. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network’s sports commentators, joined NBC in 1980.

The 2012 London Olympics will be Matt Lauer’s ninth Olympics for ‘Today’ and his third in a role on the primetime Opening Ceremony broadcast. Lauer has served as co-anchor of ‘Today’ since 1997; he joined the show in 1994 as news anchor.

While the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will not be streamed live, NBCOlympics.com will distribute some clips from the Opening Ceremony before the event airs in primetime. The clips will also be promoted across NBC Olympics’ social media partners, including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. As previously announced, every Olympic sporting event will be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com.

NBCUniversal, presenting its 13^th Olympics, the most by any U.S. media company, will make an unprecedented 5,535 hours of the 2012 London Olympics coverage available across NBC, NBC Sports Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, Telemundo, NBCOlympics.com, two specialty channels, and the first-ever 3D platform, an unprecedented level that surpasses the coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by nearly 2,000 hours.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE GAMES: The Games of the XXX Olympiad begin in grand and royal style as London, the first city to host the Olympics three times, welcomes the world, and Queen Elizabeth II officially opens the Games. Other members of the Royal Family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, are scheduled to attend.

NBC OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY FACTS

• Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney has announced that he will perform;
• First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the official U.S. delegation;
• British filmmaker Danny Boyle is the chief director of the Opening Ceremony. He is best known internationally for the film Slumdog Millionaire, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and earned Boyle the Oscar for Best Director, in 2008;
• A cast of more than 15,000 will take part in the spectacle.

Parade of Nations: The 2012 London Olympics will welcome more than 10,000 athletes from 204 countries, plus one group of athletes who will march under the Olympic flag as “Independent Olympic Athletes.” These are athletes whose countries don’t have National Olympic Committees (NOCs) – South Sudan, a new country with no NOC, and athletes from Netherlands Antilles, which no longer has its own NOC.

In the Parade of Nations, the teams will enter the Olympic Stadium in London in alphabetical order. According to Olympic tradition, Greece marches first and the host nation, Great Britain, enters last. Team USA will march 195^th. NBC’s broadcast of the Opening Ceremony will include every country’s delegation during the Parade of Nations.

Cameras: 92 total: NBC has 25 unilateral cameras (including a camera mounted on a blimp) and access to an additional 67 host broadcaster cameras.

Spotters: More than 20 spotters will be used by NBC to help identify athletes during the Parade of Nations.

OPENING CEREMONY CREDITS:

Executive Producer – Jim Bell
London marks Bell’s first Olympics as executive producer. Bell has worked on every Olympic Games NBC has broadcast since 1992, in either sports (1992, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004) or news (2006, 2008 and 2010). Bell also serves as executive producer of NBC News’ ‘Today.’

Director – Bucky Gunts
Gunts has directed every Opening Ceremony since Salt Lake City in 2002, and has been honored with four Primetime Emmy Awards for his work as director of the Opening Ceremony: Salt Lake City (2002), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and Vancouver (2010). He is the head of production of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the London Olympics.

Producers – Molly Solomon and Joe Gesue
Solomon, who is also the producer of NBC’ Olympic primetime show, is working her 9^th Olympics for NBC. She began her Olympics career for NBC in 1990 as one of two researchers for the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Gesue is working his 8^th Olympics for NBC. He began his NBC Olympics career as a researcher for the 1996 Atlanta Games, and also serves as the executive editor for NBCUniversal’s coverage of the London Olympics.

NBC’s Award-Winning Opening Ceremony Coverage: NBC won a Peabody Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards for its coverage of the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for the Opening Cermony of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. The Peabody organization called the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony broadcast, “an exponential magnification of what was once known in television as a ‘spectacular.’” This marked the first Peabody Award ever won by NBC Sports, and the first for an Olympics in 33 years. Previously, the 1972 Summer Games and the 1976 Summer and Winter Games had been honored (ABC).

There you have it.

CBS Sports Network To Air UFL Games

This isn’t totally earth-shattering, but for a network that needs some inventory, this will be a big help. CBS Sports Network has signed a deal with the United Football League to air 18 games over the 8 week season from mid-September through late November.

The contract also includes the UFL Championship Game.

Here’s the press release.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK SIGNS DEAL WITH UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE

CBS Sports Network and the United Football League announced an agreement today that will bring the four-year-old league’s games to a national television audience.

CBS Sports Network will televise two games per week every Wednesday and Friday live throughout the UFL’s eight-week season, culminating with the Championship game in late November.  Coverage kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 19 and Friday, Sept. 21. CBS Sports Network, the cable home of CBS Sports, is available to more than 99 million households across the country.

“We’re very happy to partner with CBS Sports Network in bringing the UFL’s games to football-hungry fans everywhere,” said Bill Mayer, the UFL’s acting Chairman. “CBS Sports has always been identified with excellence in its presentation of football, and the UFL promises to extend that reputation by putting a great product on the field.”

“We’re pleased to partner with the UFL and bring more live football to CBS Sports Network,” said Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network. “Fans have an appetite for football at all levels and we’re excited to showcase the UFL.”

The UFL began in 2009. The Las Vegas Locomotives won the first two championships and the William Hambrecht Trophy, named for the UFL founder and Locomotives owner, but were denied a third title last Oct. 21, 2011, when they fell to the Virginia Destroyers. Marty Schottenheimer coaches the Destroyers; Jim Fassel, who took the New York Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, is president, general manager and coach of the Locomotives.

Well-known players who have worn the UFL uniform include quarterbacks Jeff Garcia, Josh McCown, J.P. Losman and Daunte Culpepper, running backs Ahman Green and Dominic Rhodes, kickers Matt Bryant, Steven Hauschka and Graham Gano and kick returner Clifton Smith.

That’s all for now.

Rachel Nichols To Be The Sideline Reporter For Late Monday Night Football Game in Week 1

Just received from ESPN. E:60 reporter and New York-based correspondent Rachel Nichols has been tapped to be the sideline reporter for the late Monday Night Football game on September 10 between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders at 10:15 p.m. ET.

This completes the broadcast team. Previously announced were Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer as the play-by-play man and analyst respectively. Nichols was part of the sideline reporter rotation last year that included Suzy Kolber, Ed Werder and others.

Here’s the ESPN announcement.

Reporter Rachel Nichols to Cover Chargers-Raiders Monday Night Football Doubleheader Game on Sept. 10

New York-based bureau reporter and E:60 correspondent Rachel Nichols will serve as the sideline reporter for ESPN’s season-opening Monday Night Football doubleheader game between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders on Sept. 10. She will work with the previously announced commentator team of Chris Berman and analyst Trent Dilfer. The game is scheduled to kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET, following the Cincinnati Bengals-Baltimore Ravens game (7 p.m.), which will feature the commentator team of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and reporter Lisa Salters.

Nichols is a regular contributor to ESPN’s NFL coverage. She is responsible for weekly features throughout the season for SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown and other programs. She also files regular reports from team sites and stadiums on NFL Sundays.

In this Front & Center podcast, Nichols discusses the MNF assignment, her upcoming E:60 story on Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, expectations for covering the Super Bowl champion New York Giants training camp and more.

That is all.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Football
College Football Media Days — ESPNU, 10 a.m.
Big Ten Media Day 2012 — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour: Lyoness Open, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 9:30 a.m.
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters, 1st Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
PGA Tour: Canadian Open, 1st Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.
Web.com Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational, 1st Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.
Senior Open Championship, 1st Round — ESPN2, noon

Mixed Martial Arts
MMA Uncensored Live — Spike, 11 p.m.
MMA Live — ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.

MLB
American League
Oakland at Toronto — Rogers Sportsnet, 12:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore — MLB Network/Sun Sports/MASN, 12:30 p.m.
Detroit at Cleveland — Fox Sports Detroit/STO, 7 p.m.
Kansas City at Seattle — Fox Sports Kansas City/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis — MLB Network/Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Fox Sports Midwest, 1:45 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Houston — MLB Network/Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Houston, 8 p.m.
Washington at Milwaukee — MLB Network/MASN/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
New York Mets at Arizona — SNY/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 4:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Friday)

NFL
Inside Training Camp Live — NFL Network, 10 a.m.
Inside Training Camp Today — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
Namath — HBO2, 11 p.m.

Olympics
NBC SPORTS NETWORK
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Honduras vs. Morocco (LIVE)
Mexico vs. South Korea (LIVE)
United Arab Emirates vs. Uruguay (LIVE)
Great Britain vs. Senegal (LIVE)
Belarus vs. New Zealand

MSNBC
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Spain vs. Japan (LIVE)
Gabon vs. Switzerland (LIVE)
Brazil vs. Egypt (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Honduras vs. Morocco (LIVE)
Mexico vs. South Korea (LIVE)
United Arab Emirates vs. Uruguay (LIVE)
Great Britain vs. Senegal (LIVE)
Spain vs. Japan
Gabon vs. Switzerland
Egypt vs. Brazil
Belarus vs. New Zealand

TELEMUNDO
6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (LIVE)
Men’s Soccer – Qualifying Round
Mexico vs. South Korea (LIVE)
Honduras vs. Morocco (LIVE)
Brazil vs. Egypt (LIVE)
United Arab Emirates vs. Uruguay (LIVE)

Midnight – 1 a.m. (ET/PT)
Soccer Highlights Show

Sports Talk
The Dan Patrick Show with guest host Bonnie Bernstein –Audience Network (DirecTV)/Fox Sports Net, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 10 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/DanPatrick.com, noon
The Scott Van Pelt Show — ESPNews, 2 p.m.
Outside the Lines First Report — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Numbers Never Lie — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.

Tennis
US Open Series
ATP Tour: Farmers Classic, Round of 16 — Tennis Channel, 5 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Entertainment
Wipeout — ABC, 8 p.m.
For Your Eyes Only — Encore, 8 p.m.
Open Water — IFC, 8 p.m.
Big Brother 14 — CBS, 9 p.m.
Behind Mansion Walls: Born to Win — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Anger Management — FX, 9:30 p.m.
Wilfred — FX, 10 p.m.
Rock Center with Brian Williams — NBC, 10 p.m.
Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class — Bravo, 10 p.m.
Chef Wanted With Anne Burrell: Boston Hotspot — Food Network, 10 p.m.
Evil Twins: A Tale of Two Sisters (series premiere) — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
The Real L Word — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Louie — FX, 10:30 p.m.
Polymory: Married & Dating: Poly Lovers — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Big Brother After Dark — Sho2, 1 a.m. (Friday)

ESPN Announces 2013 Big 12 Big Monday College Basketball Schedule

ESPN has unveiled the Big 12 portion of the Big Monday college basketball schedule. As usual, the Big 12 will be the nightcap of the Big East/Big 12 doubleheader. Overall, there will be 9 Big 12 games including a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 21. Baylor, Kansas, Texas and new Big 12 conference member West Virginia will appear three times each. Kansas State is next with two appearances.

Let’s take a look at what’s in store for the Big 12 on Big Monday on ESPN.

ESPN Men’s College Basketball Big Monday Big 12 Schedule for 2013 Season

ESPN and the Big 12 Conference have announced ESPN’s Big Monday Big 12 men’s college basketball schedule for the 2013 season. The popular weekly series – doubleheaders with the BIG EAST Conference — will air every Monday during conference play at 9 p.m. from January 14 to March 4 with the nation’s top teams in action.

For the third straight year, the schedule will include two telecasts on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 21: Oklahoma State at Baylor at 5:30 p.m. ET and Texas at Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m.

Big Monday Big 12 schedule highlights:

• Newest conference member West Virginia will play three Big Monday games, including at home in consecutive weeks against Kansas (January 28) and Texas (February 4). They will also play at Kansas State on February 18.
• West Virginia’s game against Kansas will mark the first meeting between the schools while Texas has won two of its three matchups against the Mountaineers.
• West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins will return to Kansas State, where he coached the 2006-07 season, on February 18.
• National runner up Kansas will play four Big Monday games. In addition to West Virginia and Baylor, Kansas will host in-state rival Kansas State on February 11 and travel to Iowa State on February 25.
• Iowa State, which will host its first Big Monday game since January 9, 2006, defeated Kansas 72-64 in Ames last season.
• The Big Monday schedule will conclude with Baylor at Texas on March 4. Texas holds a 27-9 record against Baylor in conference games despite losing five of the past six against the Bears.

Overall, ESPN outlets will offer more than 100 Big 12 Conference games during the 2012-13 season. A full conference schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

ESPN’s 2013 Big Monday Big 12 Men’s Basketball Schedule
Note: All games Televised on ESPN

Date	Time (ET)	Game
January 14	9 p.m.	Baylor at Kansas
January 21	5:30 p.m.	Oklahoma State at Baylor
	9:30 p.m.	Texas at Oklahoma
January 28	9 p.m.	Kansas at West Virginia
February 4	9 p.m.	Texas at West Virginia
February 11	9 p.m.	Kansas State at Kansas
February 18	9 p.m.	West Virginia at Kansas State
February 25	9 p.m.	Kansas at Iowa State
March 4	9 p.m.	Baylor at Texas

And we’re done until tomorrow.

Fox Sports Ohio To Launch A Weekly Show With Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer

This coming from the regional sports network Fox Sports Ohio. It has signed Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer for a new weekly show. It’ll premiere on Saturday, September 1 at 9:30 a.m.

It will be taped at Ohio Stadium on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus. It will air on Buckeye game days and run for 13 weeks.

Check it out.

Game Time with Urban Meyer

Premieres Saturday Sept. 1 at 9am on FOX Sports Ohio
FOXSportsOhio.com to host live in-game chats & cover Buckeyes all season long

COLUMBUS, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio is excited to feature Ohio State football this season with Game Time with Urban Meyer. Game Time with Urban Meyer is a weekly 60-minute show with Ohio State Buckeyes Head Football Coach Urban Meyer shot LIVE from Ohio Stadium on the Ohio State University campus. It will air every OSU Saturday game day from 9am – 10am beginning Saturday, September 1.

This program will give viewers an inside look at the university’s football program, game strategy, and key game match-ups prior to each Ohio State Football game. Game Time with Urban Meyer will run for 13 weeks through Saturday, November 24^th.

When the OSU football programs are not on FOX Sports Ohio, Buckeye fans can get the latest news and stats, vote on polls and watch videos on FOXSportsOhio.com. The website will be following the Buckeyes through training camp, with reports and video coverage as well as weekly features by Jeff Seemann and Zac Jackson. Seemann will host live online chats for every Ohio State football game this season.

And there will be one more post before I shut the site down for the night. You can still access the posts. I’ll be taking the rest of the night off.

Big Ten Network Unveils Its On-Air Talent For Football

This is from the Big Ten Network or BTN for short. We have the roster for the game announcers and studio teams.

As usual, Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith will be your studio team for pregame, halftime and postgame shows.

There will be three main team utilized throughout the season:

Eric Collins/Derek Rackley
Kevin Kugler/Chris Martin
Matt Devlin/Glenn Mason

Other play-by-play voices include returnee Wayne Larivee, voice of the Green Bay Packers, Brian Anderson, TV voice of the Milwaukee Brewers and MLB on TBS, and Josh Lewin, a radio voice of the New York Mets and main announcer for the San Diego Chargers.

Here’s the BTN press release.

BTN Announces On-Air Talent Roster for 2012 Football Season

Network adds some names familiar to B1G fans

CHICAGO – BTN today revealed its game broadcast teams and studio talent for the 2012 football season. The network’s football schedule will feature more than 40 games, extensive pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage on Saturdays and football-themed studio shows every weeknight.

For the sixth straight year, Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith will anchor the network’s game-day studio coverage on Big Ten Football Saturday, and will contribute to additional studio shows during the week.

BTN’s broadcast teams for football telecasts include Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Derek Rackley (analyst); Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) and Chris Martin (analyst) and Matt Devlin (play-by-play) and Glen Mason (analyst).

Additional play-by-play voices for football are returning talent Wayne Larrivee and Brian Anderson, currently the television voice of the Milwaukee Brewers who also does college basketball broadcasts for BTN and CBS and MLB games for TBS. Northwestern graduate Josh Lewin, play-by-play announcer of the New York Mets on WFAN and current radio voice of the San Diego Chargers, also joins the BTN group of announcers.

In addition to Anderson and Lewin, new voices include Antwaan Randle El (studio analyst and sideline), Tom Waddle (studio analyst), Chuck Long (studio and game analyst,) and J Leman (game analyst and sideline). Former Indiana quarterback Randle El retired from the NFL just this month after spending 10 years in the league. Waddle is a former Chicago Bears wide receiver and current Chicago radio co-host. He also will co-host The Next Level, BTN’s weekly show featuring the NFL play of former Big Ten stars and the professional potential of current Big Ten student-athletes. Long is a former Iowa quarterback and member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Leman is a former Illinois linebacker.

Additional new faces on BTN include Evan Fitzgerald, Northwestern graduate and current sports anchor at CBS 58 in Milwaukee; Damon Benning, former Nebraska running back; and Justin Conzemius, former Minnesota defensive back.

Another post is coming up.

Two League-Owned Network Press Releases

I’m putting two press releases together like I used to. The only thing they have in common is the fact that they’re from league-owned networks. The first is from NBA TV regarding the 2012-13 schedule. It will be unveiled Thursday night at 7 ET in one-hour special.

NBA TV to Exclusively Unveil 2012-13 NBA Schedule July 26 at 7 p.m. ET

Show to Highlight NBA Tip-Off ’12, Christmas Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Matchups

NBA TV’s NBA 2012-13 Schedule Release Special will exclusively announce the 2012-13 NBA regular season schedule on Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. ET. The one-hour show will highlight the season’s most-anticipated games including those scheduled for NBA Tip-Off ’12 (the opening week of the season), Christmas Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The show will offer immediate reaction to those matchups and many other marquee games and top storylines for the upcoming season.

And this next statement is from MLB Network regarding its Trading Deadline coverage which begins Sunday, July 29 and lasts through July 31, the final day to make trades.

MLB NETWORK LIVE TRADE DEADLINE COVERAGE INCLUDES 20 HOURS FROM JULY 29-31

Bowa, Gammons, Hart, Heyman, Magrane, Millar, Reynolds, Rosenthal & Verducci Among Stable of Trade Deadline Analysts & Insiders
Social Media Chatter to Be Displayed On-Screen & Throughout MLB Network’s Studio 3

Secaucus, N.J., July 25, 2012 – MLB Network will air 20 hours of live coverage dedicated to the latest trade news and rumors starting this Sunday, July 29 through the non-waiver trade deadline on Tuesday, July 31, including a six-hour live MLB Tonight: Trade Deadline Special starting at 11:00am ET on July 31. MLB Network’s MLB Tonight: Trade Deadline Special.

“Path to the Trade Deadline” editions of MLB Tonight, The Rundown and Intentional Talk will feature reports and analysis from MLB Network analysts including Larry Bowa, Peter Gammons (@pgammo), John Hart, Joe Magrane, Kevin Millar (@KMillar15), Harold Reynolds, Chris Rose (@ChrisRose), Lauren Shehadi (@LaurenShehadi), Matt Yallof (@MattYallofMLB) and MLB Network insiders Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS), Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) and Tom Verducci. Gammons, Heyman and Rosenthal will each have live cameras positioned in their offices at MLB Network throughout the day, while MLB.com senior writer Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayoB3) and MLB Network’s stable of local correspondents will be available via Cisco Ballpark Cam with up-to-the-minute live trade reports and reactions from throughout Major League Baseball.

Throughout the live coverage, MLB Network will recap the biggest trades from July 31, 2011 in a trade deadline-in-review segment, including a look back at the Atlanta Braves trading for Michael Bourn and the St. Louis Cardinals acquiring Rafael Furcal.

In addition to using touchscreen technology at its dedicated social media area inside Studio 3, MLB Network will produce an on-screen social media ticker on July 31 that will display the latest news from MLB Network’s insiders and reporters throughout the league and tweets including the hashtag “#tradedeadline.”

That’s it.