Fang's Bites

2012 Sports Emmy Awards Live Blog

The Sports Emmy Awards are being handed out in New York tonight. Through various sources at the event, I’ll be able to update this post as awards are being doled to the various winners. And no, I’m not there, but I can provide the winners as soon as they become available.

For the full list of nominees, go here.

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW — WEEKLY
Inside The NBA — TNT

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT SOUND
MLB on Fox — Fox

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
America’s Cup Highlight Show — Versus

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN
Sunday Night Football — NBC

OUTSTANDING SHORT FEATURE
(tie)
“Together”-E:60 — ESPN
“Time Out of Mind”-Outside The Lines — ESPN

OUTSTANDING EDITING
24/7 Pacquaio/Marquez — HBO

OUTSTANDING PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT — EPISODIC
(tie)
2011 Stanley Cup Final — NBC
A Game of Honor — Showtime

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — SPORTS REPORTER
Michele Tafoya — NBC

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC DESIGN
Sport Science — ESPN

OUTSTANDING SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
A Game of Honor — Showtime

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM STUDIO
MLB Tonight — MLB Network

OUTSTANDING PLAYOFF COVERAGE
NFL Wild Card Saturday — NBC

OUSTANDING CAMERA WORK
2011 Ironman Triathlon — NBC

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL
Joplin: City of Hope — ESPN2

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION DIRECTION/LYRICS
Men of Mettle-Ed Sabol’s Last Football Movie — NFL Network/NFL Films

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT — INSTITUTIONAL
NBA on TNT: Shaq Get Ready — TNT

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — STUDIO HOST
Bob Costas — NBC/MLB Network (of course)

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE
PGA Championship LIVE on PGA.com — PGA.com

OUTSTANDING OPEN/TEASE
NBA on TNT: Live Forever — TNT

OUTSTANDING POST PRODUCED AUDIO/SOUND
Sound FX: All Access — NFL Network

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — SPORT EVENT ANALYST
Cris Collinsworth — NBC

THE DICK SCHAAP WRITING AWARD
24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the Winter Classic — HBO

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — STUDIO ANALYST
Charles Barkley — TNT

OUTSTANDING NEW APPROACHES SPORTS PROGRAMMING
A Game of Honor — Showtime

OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES/ANTHOLOGY
The Franchise: A Season with the San Francisco Giants — Showtime/MLB Productions

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR SPORTS
Jack Whitaker — CBS/ABC Sports

OUTSTANDING STUDIO SHOW — DAILY
MLB Tonight — MLB Network

OUTSTANDING LONG FEATURE
Outside The Lines: The Man in the Red Bandana — ESPN

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL TEAM REMOTE
(tie)
MLB on Fox — Fox
Winter X Games 15 — ESPN 3D

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SERIES
Sunday Night Football — NBC

OUTSTANDING SPORTS JOURNALISM
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The College Bowl Game Money Trail — HBO

OUTSTANDING LIVE EVENT TURNAROUND
Inside The Headsets — Speed

OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL
The World Series — Fox

OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY — PLAY-BY-PLAY
Joe Buck — Fox

That concludes the Awards for tonight.

At Day 20 of The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Group

Two Games 2 in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight. NBC Sports Group will have them covered for you.

NBC Sports Network carries Game 2 of the Easyern Conference Semifinal series between Washington and the New York Rangers live from Madison Square Garden starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. Rick Peckham and Eddie Olcyzk have the call.

Then Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal between the surprising Los Angeles Kings and the St. Louis Blues will air on CNBC at 9 p.m. ET. Your announcers will be Dave Strader and Brian Engblom.

Here’s NBC Sports Group’s press release previewing tonight’s action for you below.

2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: DAY 20
ALL GAMES NOW AIR EXCLUSIVELY ON NBC, NBC SPORTS NETWORK OR CNBC

Two Game 2′s Tonight:
Washington @ New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m. ET -– NBC Sports Network (Rangers lead series 1-0)
Los Angeles @ St. Louis, 9 p.m. ET –- CNBC(Kings leads series 1-0)

NEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – Day 20 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the Conference Semifinals with two Game 2s tonight on NBC Sports Network and CNBC.

TONIGHT

Tonight’s coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins in the Eastern Conference with the #1 New York Rangers hosting the #7 Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (Rangers lead 1-0). In the Western Conference at 9 p.m. ET on CNBC, the #8 Los Angeles Kings look to extend their 1-0 series lead against the #2 Blues in St. Louis. NHL Live begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Today’s schedule (all times ET):

7:30 p.m.	#7 Washington Capitals @ #1 New York Rangers (Game 2)	NBCSN	Rick Peckham, Eddie Olczyk
9 p.m.	#8 LAK @ #2 STL (Game 2)	CNBC	Dave Strader, Brian Engblom

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers, will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and post-game coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run. CSN Philadelphia will be doing live pre- and post-game programs for all Flyers games in the second round and CSN Mid-Atlantic will have one-hour Capitals Postgame Live shows for all Capitals games in the second round. Both networks will also have extensive coverage online.

CHANNEL FINDER

With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, including exclusively beginning in the Conference Semifinal round, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.
Click here for the channel finder.

GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR

For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.

NBC Sports Network	Twenty Nine*
CNBC	Eleven
NBC	Eight
NHL Network	Six

* Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress

And we’re done here.

NFL Network Claims Viewership Record For NFL Draft

Just received from NFL Network, this blurb regarding its viewership for the NFL Draft. NFL Network says it achieved a record viewership for the three day event averaging 757,000 viewers. That’s up 34% from the previous year.

Fore more information, check out the blurb below. I don’t feel like writing 100 words or more on a blurb that’s about the same amount of wordage.

NFL NETWORK SETS RECORDS FOR ALL THREE DAYS OF 2012 NFL DRAFT

NFL Digital Media Properties Traffic Up 46%

NFL Network set records for ratings and viewership on all three days of the 2012 NFL Draft and posted a record three-day average of 757,000 viewers – up 34 percent from 2011, according to The Nielsen Company.

The network kicked off with a record 1.44 million viewers for its coverage of Thursday night’s first round – up 38 percent from last year. NFL Network viewership was up 46 percent on Day 2 and 31 percent on Day 3.

The NFL’s digital media platforms — including NFL.com, NFL Mobile and other NFL mobile products — set a record with its three-day draft coverage as unique visitors jumped 46 percent compared to last year (and 56 percent increase over 2010).

Ok, maybe the amount of words is more than 100, but you get the idea.

ESPN Averages Almost Three Million Viewers Per Day For NFL Draft

ESPN’s three day coverage of the NFL Draft brought the network an slight uptick from last year’s event. The three day Draft running from April 26 through 28 averaged a 2.0 Fast Nielsen rating with an average audience of 2.924 million people.

That’s up slightly from last year’s average of 1.9 and 2.918 million. Quite impressive.

Friday’s rating was a 2.1 household number with 2.679 million viewers which is up 12% from the previous year.

So ESPN’s numbers are going up which the NFL appreciates. We have the numbers for you.

Strong Ratings, Viewership for ESPN’s 2012 NFL Draft

ESPN’s three-day live telecast of the 2012 NFL Draft (April 26-28), averaged 2,924,000 viewers with a 2.0 US rating based on fast nationals, according to the Nielsen Company. The rating represents a slight increase from the same three days in 2011 (1.9 US rating), while viewership edged last year’s 2,918,000 average. Friday night’s four hours in prime time (rounds 2 and 3) averaged 2,679,000 viewers on ESPN with a 2.1 household coverage rating (1.9 US rating) based on fast nationals. The rating was up 19 percent while viewership gained 12 percent versus the same night last year (1.6 US rating with 2,386,000 viewers). Saturday’s day-long presentation (rounds 4-7) on ESPN/ESPN2 averaged 1,437,000 viewers with a 1.1 US rating based on fast nationals. ESPN’s prime time coverage of Round 1 on Thursday night was the network’s second most-viewed and second highest-rated draft. ESPN’s Round 1 ratings release.

The top 10 metered markets for the combined three days of ESPN coverage included: Cleveland (5.0 rating), Dayton, Ohio (4.3), Birmingham, Ala., (3.9), Milwaukee (3.6), Kansas City (3.6), New Orleans (3.4), Jacksonville, Fla., (3.3), Columbus, Ohio (3.3), Charlotte, N.C., (3.2) and Cincinnati (3.2).

During the three days of the draft, NFL content on ESPN’s digital platforms (ESPN.com, Mobile Web, ScoreCenter, and WatchESPN) generated an average minute audience of 78,000, a 10 percent increase from last year. The NFL section on ESPN.com specifically had an average minute audience of 25,000, a two percent gain from last year. Meanwhile, the NFL section on the mobile web had an average minute audience of 20,000, a 32 percent increase.

That’s it.

NHL Stanley Cup Conference Semifinals Score For NBC

The NHL’s ratings continue to be red hot for NBC. Despite heavy competition from the NBA Playoffs on ABC, NBC still held its own on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. And with the NBA Playoffs opposite on ESPN and TNT in primetime both nights, NBC Sports Network fared well in the local markets.

With NBC carrying games from top markets of New York, Philadelphia and Washington this weekend for the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the network saw rating increases from the year before, a 1.5 overnight for Capitals-Rangers on Saturday which was even with 2011 and a 1.9 for Devils-Flyers, up from 1.6 last year.

So NBC is happy with the numbers as it heads to the first full week of Round 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINAL OVERNIGHTS ON NBC ARE BEST IN EIGHT YEARS

St. Louis, Nashville, Phoenix set NBC Sports Network records

NEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – NBC’s coverage of its first two Conference Semifinal games averaged a 1.7 overnight rating, the best for weekend coverage of the second round in eight years, and up six percent vs. last year’s coverage. Capitals-Rangers on Saturday and Devils-Flyers on Sunday produced the best overnight average for weekend coverage of the second round since two-game regional coverage on ABC (1.9) on May 1, 2004. In addition, a number of local markets set records or achieved milestones for Conference Semifinal coverage on both NBC and the NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS).

DEVILS-FLYERS

Yesterday’s coverage of Devils-Flyers on NBC generated a 1.9 overnight rating, up 19% compared to last year’s Red Wings-Sharks second-round game (1.6).

• Philadelphia received a 14.6 rating, up 121% vs. last year’s second-round Game 1 vs. Boston (6.6).
• New York received a 2.5 rating, up 92% vs. a Conference Quarterfinal Game 6 vs. Tampa Bay in 2007 (1.3), its most recent comparable Devils game on NBC.
• The 2.5 rating was also the best playoff delivery for a Devils game on NBC in New York in six years, since a Conference Quarterfinal game vs. the New York Rangers on April 22, 2006 (2.8).

CAPITALS-RANGERS

Saturday’s coverage of Capitals-Rangers on NBC received a 1.5 overnight rating, even with last year’s Bruins-Flyers game. The New York market went head-to-head for most of the game with the opening playoff contest of the New York Knicks, who faced the Miami Heat on ABC.

• The Capitals-Rangers game received a 3.5 rating in New York, up 17% vs. the last comparable Rangers game vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins on NBC on April 27, 2008 (3.0).
• In Washington, the game generated a 5.2 rating, down slightly from a 5.3 in 2009 for a second-round game against the Penguins.

LOCAL NBC SPORTS NETWORK COVERAGE

The NBC Sports Network aired two Conference Semifinal games over the weekend as well. It presented Game 1 of the Los Angeles Kings-St. Louis Blues game on Saturday night and Game 2 of the Nashville Predators-Phoenix Coyotes series last night.

• In St. Louis, Kings-Blues Game 1 received an 8.31 rating on NBC Sports Network, the highest local rating ever in the market for an NHL game on the channel. NBC Sports Network was the No.1 rated network in St. Louis from 7:30-10:15 p.m. ET.
• Los Angeles received a 0.86 rating. This is the first-ever Semifinal game for the Kings on NBC Sports Network.
• In Nashville and Phoenix, Predators-Coyotes Game 2 generated a 4.79 and a 3.84 rating, respectively, both the highest local ratings ever in those market for an NHL game on the NBC Sports Network, which was the No. 1 cable network in both markets from 8-11 p.m. ET.

NOTE: Final national ratings for both NBC and NBC Sports Network games will be available later this week.

CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

On the strength of a record 16 overtime games, 32 one-goal games, and a new television format that televised every first-round game nationally for the first time, the Conference Quarterfinals of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs delivered record-setting viewership. According to Fast National data released today by The Nielsen Company, the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals:

• Averaged 929,000 viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC, making them the most-watched first round on record (cable data not available prior to 1994);
• Averaged 744,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network, making them the most-watched in NBC Sports Network history (formerly VERSUS), up 16% from last year (642,000), and the highest on a cable channel in 11 years (ESPN, 745,000 in 2001);
• Averaged 2.57 million viewers on NBC for six broadcasts, up 39 percent compared to last year (1.85 million, four games), and making them the most-watched on a broadcast network in 14 years, since Fox averaged 2.76 million viewers in 1998 (two games);
• Reached 30.9 million total viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC (excluding last night’s two Game 7s), up 29% vs. last year (23.9 million).

More later.

NBC Sports Group All Over The Kentucky Derby

This Saturday is the first Saturday in May and that means it’s Kentucky Derby time. NBC will have extensive coverage of the Run for the Roses this week through NBC Sports Network and its main network.

Coverage begins on Wednesday with the Kentucky Derby draw which determines post positions for the horses in the race. Then Friday, NBC Sports Network airs the Kentucky Oaks and Saturday, NBC Sports Network and NBC will combine for a total of 8½ hours on raceday.

Bob Costas and Mr. Kentucky, Tom Hammond will co-host coverage. Gary Stevens, Mike Battaglia, Bob Neumeier, Randy Moss (horse racing’s and NFL Network’s Randy Moss, not the wide receiver), Laffit Pincay III, Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers, Jay Privman and Larry Collmus will all be part of the broadcasts. Weekend Today co-host Jenna Wolfe will be on hand to provide on-air miscues and inappropriate comments. And someone named Catt Sadler from E! will handle celebrity interviews and review the Kentucky Derby fashion.

Here’s the NBC Sports Group press release.

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS 14½ HOURS OF KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE

Coverage From Churchill Downs Begins Wednesday and Continues All Week on NBC and NBC Sports Network
Bob Costas and Tom Hammond Host Kentucky Derby Coverage
Kentucky Derby Extra Provides Live Streaming on NBCSports.com with Additional Camera Angles and Live Commentary
Gary Stevens and Randy Moss Both Like Union Rags
NBC Sports Group Presents 27½ Total Hours of Horse Racing’s Triple Crown Over Next 5 Weeks

NEW YORK – April 30, 2012 – The NBC Sports Group will present 14½ hours of Kentucky Derby coverage beginning on Wednesday, May 2 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and culminating with the 138^th running of the Kentucky Derby on NBC, Saturday, May 5 beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

The expanded Kentucky Derby coverage, which includes 8.5 hours on Derby Day on NBC and NBC Sports Network, will include:

• Live coverage of the Kentucky Derby Draw on NBC Sports Network, which will determine the post positions;
• 11½ total hours on NBC Sports Network, which was re-branded from VERSUS earlier this year;
• Three hours of “Derby Classics” (Barbaro, Mine That Bird, Animal Kingdom) to air on NBC Sports Network.

COMENTATORS: The NBC Sports Group coverage of the Kentucky Derby will feature co-hosts Bob Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winner, and veteran NBC Sports commentator Tom Hammond; three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; analyst Randy Moss; host Laffit Pincay, III; reporters Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers and Jay Privman; race caller Larry Collmus. Also, TODAY’s Jenna Wolfe will contribute features and Catt Sadler of NBCUniversal’s E! will talk Kentucky Derby fashions and handle celebrity interviews.

Additionally, Hall-of Fame jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby-winner Jerry Bailey will join NBC Sports Network’s commentary team on Derby Day. Bailey, who also won twice in the Preakness and twice in the Belmont, won the Kentucky Derby in 1993 (Sea Hero) and 1996 (Grindstone).

The coverage on NBC will be produced by Rob Hyland, a veteran of the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001, and directed by Sunday Night Football and NBC Sports’ horse racing director, Drew Esocoff. The coverage on NBC Sports Network is produced by Billy Matthews and Rich O’Connor and directed by Patrick McManus. The executive producer of NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network is Sam Flood, who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.

STEVENS’ DERBY TOP 5:
1. Union Rags
2. I’ll Have Another
3. Creative Cause
4. Bodemeister
5. Gemologist

MOSS’ DERBY TOP 5:
1. Union Rags
2. Creative Cause
3. Gemologist
4. Hansen
5. Bodemeister

27½ HOURS OF TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE: The NBC Sports Group will present 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage this season from Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont, including “classics” from the Preakness and Belmont, live racing from all three tracks prior to the three Triple Crown races, and post-race coverage of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont on NBC Sports Network. This marks the second straight year that all three Triple Crown races will air on NBC.

NBC SPORTS GROUP TRIPLE CROWN COVERAGE (All Times ET):
KENTUCKY DERBY
Wed. May 2		4 p.m. – 5 p.m.		Derby Classics – Barbaro						NBC Sports Network
		5 p.m. – 6 p.m.		Kentucky Derby Draw						NBC Sports Network
Thur. May 3		4 p.m. – 5 p.m.		Derby Classics – Mine that Bird						NBC Sports Network
		5 p.m. – 6 p.m.		Live from Churchill Downs						NBC Sports Network
Fri. May 4		4 p.m. – 5 p.m.		Derby Classics – Animal Kingdom						NBC Sports Network
		5 p.m. – 6 p.m.		Kentucky Oaks						NBC Sports Network
Sat. May 5		11 a.m. – 4 p.m.		Kentucky Derby Saturday						NBC Sports Network
		4 p.m. – 7 p.m.		Kentucky Derby 138						NBC
		7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.		Kentucky Derby Post-Race Show						NBC Sports Network
PREAKNESS STAKES
Fri. May 18		3 p.m. – 4 p.m.				Preakness Classics		NBC Sports Network
		4 p.m. – 5 p.m.				Black Eyed Susan Stakes		NBC Sports Network
Sat. May 19		2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.				Preakness Stakes Saturday		NBC Sports Network
		4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.				Preakness Stakes		NBC
		6:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.				Preakness Post-Race Show		NBC Sports Network
BELMONT STAKES
Fri. June 8		4 p.m. – 5 p.m.			Belmont Classics		NBC Sports Network
		5 p.m. – 6 p.m.			Live from Belmont		NBC Sports Network
Sat. June 9		3 p.m. – 5 p.m.			Belmont Stakes Saturday		NBC Sports Network
		5 p.m. – 7 p.m.			Belmont Stakes		NBC
		7 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.			Belmont Post-Race Show		NBC Sports Network

KENTUCKY DERBY EXTRA

Taking a page from Sunday Night Football Extra and Super Bowl Extra, Kentucky Derby Extra is the online connection to coverage of the Kentucky Derby. Available at NBCSports.com with live streaming of the NBC broadcast of the Kentucky Derby, other features of Kentucky Derby Extra include:

• Four online-only camera angles that showcase the activity happening across Churchill Downs on Derby day;
• Online-only analysis by NBC and NBC Sports Network commentators;
• Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey will answer fans’ questions and offer analysis throughout the broadcast;
• Replays and footage from all the key Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races;
• A video simulation of how this year’s Kentucky Derby might play out.

SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY

DERBY ALL-ACCESS: NBC Sports will implement its All-Access social media strategy for Kentucky Derby week on both NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. A dedicated social media producer will be on-site for behind the scenes content including Breaking News, photos and video from Churchill Downs.

Twitter: Viewers and tweeters alike will be encouraged to join the conversation by using the hashtag #DERBYonNBC. Reminders will appear on screen throughout all of NBC’s Kentucky Derby week coverage.

• On-air integration of live tweets from celebrities, horse-racing experts and @NBCSN will be featured on screen throughout the broadcasts to keep viewers up to date with what’s happening and trending on Twitter;
• For the ultimate horse racing fan, @NBCSN will live tweet the Kentucky Derby Draw Show on Wednesday and provide interactive trivia and “Did You Know” tweets during the Derby Classics shows Wednesday through Friday.

Facebook: Fans will have the chance to join the Derby party at Churchill Downs, by submitting their photos of their Derby parties and Derby hats no matter where they are, to the NBC Sports Facebook page where a selection of the fan images will be shown on-air. (Submit photos at www.facebook.com/NBCSports)

• Everyone at home can pick their winner with the “Choose the Winning Horse” Facebook poll on www.facebook.com/NBCSports. The nation’s votes will be tallied and shown on-air during the Kentucky Derby broadcast.

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup, which was broadcast on NBC from 1984-2005. Last year marked the first time that all three Triple Crown races appeared on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001. This year, the NBC Sports Group will present 27½ hours of Triple Crown coverage across NBC and NBC Sports Network.

NBC Sports Group is also the home to Summer at Saratoga, Autumn at Keeneland, and, in collaboration with The Jockey Club, the Road to the Kentucky Derby series that provided live coverage of six major prep races for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

KENTUCKY DERBY: Last year the Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers; the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including the 2010 Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

PREAKNESS STAKES: Last year’s coverage of the Preakness Stakes on NBC drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of five percent over 2010 and the second most-watched Preakness in five years.

Since NBC began broadcasting the Preakness in 2001, every Preakness telecast on NBC over that period attracted more viewers than any Preakness telecast on ABC in the previous seven years. Viewership for the Preakness is up an average of 63% in the 11 years on NBC compared to the previous eight years on ABC.

BELMONT STAKES: Last year, NBC’s first broadcast of the Belmont Stakes since 2005 drew 6.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched Belmont in a non-Triple Crown year since NBC last broadcast the Belmont in 2005.

Since its involvement in the Triple Crown, NBC Sports has been honored with 11 Eclipse Awards for its thoroughbred racing coverage, Preakness (2002-03-05-06-08), Kentucky Derby (2007), Belmont (2004) and Breeder’s Cup (2001). Additionally, NBC Sports has won three Eclipse Awards in the features category: 2002 on War Emblem (Preakness broadcast), 2005 Afleet Alex (Kentucky Derby broadcast) and 2009 Mine That Bird (Preakness broadcast), and the 2005 and 2006 Preakness broadcasts were nominated for the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Special.

That is it.

TNT To Air All Four Parts of HBO’s 24/7 Mayweather/Cotto

Starting Tuesday, TNT will air all four parts of HBO’s boxing series, “24/7 Mayweather/Cotto” on consecutive nights. Recently, HBO has been using Time Warner corporate partner CNN to re-air the 24/7 series. Now it will use another Time Warner sister cable channel, TNT.

This will lead right into the HBO Pay Per View fight between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Miguel Cotto on Saturday, May 5.

The first installment of 24/7 Mayweather/Cotto airs Tuesday immediately following Inside the NBA and will do so on Wednesday and Thursday nights. The final episode airs Friday night at 11:45 ET/PT.

We have the details from TNT on the airing of 24/7 Mayweather/Cotto.

TNT Set to Broadcast HBO^® Reality Series 24/7 Mayweather/Cotto
Four-Part Series Replays Over Four Consecutive Nights on TNT, beginning May 1

HBO’s Emmy-Award^®-winning reality series ‘24/7’ is coming to TNT, which will air replays of the all-new four-part series 24/7 MAYWEATHER/COTTO on four consecutive nights, beginning Tuesday, May 1.

In the lead-up to the blockbuster HBO Pay-Per-View^® telecast on May 5 in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto battle for Cotto’s world super welterweight title, TNT will replay a different episode of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/COTTO from Tuesday, May 1, through Friday, May 4. Episodes one through three are set to air immediately following the post-game edition of the Emmy Award^®-winning studio program INSIDE THE NBA, which wraps up the evening’s NBA Playoff action.

24/7 MAYWEATHER/COTTO is the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Mayweather lives and trains in Las Vegas, while Puerto Rico’s Cotto is training in Orlando.

35-year-old Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) is a celebrated superstar making his sixth appearance on the 24/7 series. Cotto, 31, (37-2, 30 KOs) has reinvigorated his career by capturing the super welterweight title and successfully defending it twice in 2011. This is Cotto’s third appearance on 24/7.

Episode one of 24/7 will air on TNT on Tuesday, May 1, immediately after INSIDE THE NBA. Episodes two and three will air on subsequent nights on TNT following INSIDE THE NBA. The finale of 24/7 will air on TNT Friday, May 4, at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) less than 24 hours before the mega-fight in Las Vegas.

In the past four years, HBO’s 24/7 franchise has earned 14 Sports Emmys^® for production excellence. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the fast-moving, documentary-style production focuses on the training, commitment and sacrifices that prizefighters make in order to realize their dreams. The turnaround time is among the quickest in television as the series follows the fighters and their teams, both at camp and at home, while excitement and anxiety builds for the big fight.

That is all.

TNT Registers Its Most-Watched and Highest-Rated NBA Regular Season

For the 5th straight year, the NBA on TNT registered a viewership increase. And even with the lockout which angered fans, they came back to watch the NBA in droves.

According to TNT, its Thursday Night doubleheaders registered an average 1.7 household rating. That’s up from last year’s 1.6 average. And the average viewership saw 1.9 million viewers which again is up from the previous year.

TNT also had two of the most-watched NBA games on cable this season as well as the Top 6 viewed games on cable in the completed 2011-12 regular campaign.

And in key demographics, TNT scored as well. So all around, the NBA is quite healthy on cable television.

TNT Nets Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed NBA Regular Season

Network Garners Fifth Consecutive Season of Viewership Growth

The 2011-12 NBA regular season on TNT is the highest-rated and most-viewed in the network’s 28-year history with the league. The NBA on TNT averaged a 1.7 U.S. HH rating, up six percent vs. last year’s 1.6 rating; 1,907,000 household impressions, also an increase of six percent over an average of 1,797,000 last season; and 2,498,000 viewers, up four percent over an average of 2,397,000 last year. TNT generated its fifth straight year of growth among viewers and households.

TNT also televised the top six NBA regular-season games on cable this season and two of the top five most-watched NBA regular-season games in cable television history. TNT’s top five NBA regular-season telecasts:

• Boston at New York, Dec. 25 – 3.4 U.S. HH rating; 5,860,000 viewers
• New York at Miami, Feb. 23 – 3.2 U.S. HH rating; 5,092,000 viewers
• Boston at Miami, Dec. 27 – 2.9 U.S. HH rating; 4,548,000 viewers
• L.A. Lakers at Miami, Jan. 19 – 2.7 U.S. HH rating; 4,396,000 viewers
• Miami at Chicago, April 12 – 2.4 U.S. HH rating; 3,671,000 viewers

Additionally, the NBA on TNT generated double-digit increases among the core Men 18-34 (up 16 percent; 632,000 vs. 545,000) and Adult 18-34 demos (up 13 percent; 873,000 vs. 771,000).

TNT’s NBA Playoff coverage begins Saturday, April 28, with the Chicago Bulls hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at 1 p.m. ET. TNT, the home of the Western Conference Finals this season, will televise more than 40 NBA Playoff games.

That’s all.

NBC Sports Group Garners Highest Ratings Ever For NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Quarters

A few press releases I have to clear out of the inbox from last week. This comes from the NBC Sports Group regarding the Conference Quarterfinal round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

According to The Group, it averaged an audience of 929,000 thousand for the entire first round which is the highest average for the Conference Quarterfinals ever. For NBC Sports Network, the average audience was 744,00 which is the highest on cable in 11 years when ESPN had the contract.

A lot of this was helped by having all games available nationally for the first time and knowing where the games would be aired.

NBC also averaged an audience of over 2.5 million for its six games aired. So the NHL Playoffs certainly caught on in the first round.

We’re also seeing some decent numbers for NBC for the Conference Semifinals, but we’ll get to that when the time comes. Here’s The Group’s press release.

CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS ARE MOST-WATCHED ON RECORD

Games Across NBC, NBC Sports Network & CNBC Average 929,000 Viewers
NBC Averages 2.6 Million Viewers, Best on a Broadcast Network in 14 Years
NBC Sports Network Averages 744,000 Viewers, Best on Cable in 11 Years
Total Audience Up 29% vs. Last Year

NEW YORK – April 27, 2012 – On the strength of a record 16 overtime games, 32 one-goal games, and a new television format that televised every first-round game nationally for the first time, the Conference Quarterfinals of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs delivered record-setting viewership. According to Fast National data released today by The Nielsen Company, the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals:

• Averaged 929,000 viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC, making them the most-watched first round on record (cable data not available prior to 1994);
• Averaged 744,000 viewers on NBC Sports Network, making them the most-watched in NBC Sports Network history (formerly VERSUS), up 16% from last year (642,000), and the highest on a cable channel in 11 years (ESPN, 745,000 in 2001);
• Averaged 2.57 million viewers on NBC for six broadcasts, up 39 percent compared to last year (1.85 million, four games), and making them the most-watched on a broadcast network in 14 years, since Fox averaged 2.76 million viewers in 1998 (two games);
• Reached 30.9 million total viewers across NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC (excluding last Thursday night’s two Game 7s), up 29% vs. last year (23.9 million).

In addition to the success of the Conference Quarterfinals as a whole, a number of single games also broke records or set milestones. Following are the top-performing games on each channel:

NBC: Capitals-Bruins Game 6 on Sunday, April 22, averaged 3.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched Conference Quarterfinal game since the advent of Nielsen People Meters (1987).

NBC Sports Network: The 1.32 million viewers for Wednesday night’s Capitals-Bruins Game 7 made it the most-watched first-round game on cable in 12 years, since 1.51 million viewers watched San Jose-St. Louis Game 7 in 2000 (ESPN). It was also up 43 percent vs. last year’s comparable game (926,000; Was-Mon, Game 7) and was the most-watched first-round game in NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) history.

CNBC: Coverage of the Conference Quarterfinals on CNBC peaked with 621,000 viewers for Coyotes-Blackhawks Game 6 on Monday, April 23. There is no comparison to last year as this is the first year that all NHL playoff games are being televised nationally.

Game 7s: Last Thursday night’s two Game 7s delivered strong viewership for NBC Sports Network. The Senators-Rangers game, in which the Rangers won, 2-1, in regulation, went head-to-head with the NFL Draft on two networks and was watched by 984,000 viewers on the NBC Sports Network, up 6% vs. last year’s comparable game (926,000, Bos-Was, Game 7).

The Devils-Panthers contest that saw the Devils advance, 3-2, in double overtime, began on NHL Network and then was simulcast on NBC Sports Network once the Senators-Rangers game had concluded. Devils-Panthers averaged 867,000 viewers for the portions of the game that aired on NBC Sports Network with no joined-in-progress comparison to last year.

NBCSports.com: NHL Extra, which live streams games broadcast on NBC, is up 233% in visits, 208% in unique users, and 276% in live starts over last year. Visitors are also staying on the site 288% longer than last year. During the Conference Quarterfinals, ProHockeyTalk experienced record traffic with 445,000 unique viewers, 526,000 visits, and 1.5 million views.

More stuff is on the way.

ESPN Launches New Soccer Site

ESPN announces this morning it has launched a new soccer site called “ESPN FC” which now is devoted to the upcoming Euro 2012 tournament, the second biggest soccer tournament in the world after the World Cup. ESPN FC will eventually house all of ESPN’s soccer resources including Soccernet.

The site will include videos, all of its soccer information and be accessible for fans of the beautiful game all over the world. Not only will it have an online site, but it has been optimized for mobile and tablets as well.

We have the press release and the new logo for ESPN FC below.

ESPN, Inc. Launches New Multi-Platform Worldwide Soccer Brand, ESPNFC

ESPN, Inc. this week will introduce ESPNFC, a new multi-language and multi-country brand for soccer fans around the world across TV, radio, print, online, print and mobile. Just in time for the 2012 UEFA European Football ChampionshipTM, the new offering will bring together all of ESPN’s soccer properties and house them under one universally recognized name. Over time, ESPNFC will add global and regional contributors to ensure coverage of all news and developments 24/7, regardless of where they happen in the world. Online and on mobile, ESPNFC will have the ability to detect where a fan is accessing content, and deliver locally relevant content for that region and serve that content in the native language. ESPNFC will also provide unique, customizable digital opportunities for marketers who can work with ESPN to reach sports fans on both a global and regional scale using ESPN’s worldwide sales teams.

John Skipper, President, ESPN, Inc. and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks, said: “ESPN is solidifying its dedication to soccer year-round with the launch of ESPNFC. It represents one of ESPN’s most significant global commitments to the sport and leverages the core strength of what ESPN does well – serve sports fans. In short, ESPNFC is the definitive source for soccer coverage worldwide.”

Beginning this week, fans can experience a preview of ESPNFC with branded content online and on mobile platforms specific to the EURO 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine. Later this year online and on mobile – around the start of new soccer seasons around the world – ESPNFC will expand to encompass all major leagues and competitions worldwide. ESPNFC will also be integrated into ESPNdeportes.com, which serves the Spanish-speaking community in the US, and across soccer content on many of ESPN’s global TV, radio and print platforms. The company will also rename its signature global multi-platform soccer debate and discussion show to ESPNFC PressPass (from ESPNsoccernet PressPass), reflecting the new brand.

Throughout the EURO 2012, ESPNFC will provide comprehensive coverage of one of the leading international soccer competitions, including live TV coverage, on-demand video highlights, studio programming clips, news, analysis and commentary, real-time scores, stats and more. Its new global news-gathering operations will organize a worldwide network of ESPN writers and analysts covering the latest news and developments around the clock, including contributions from former England manager Glenn Hoddle plus tournament coverage with team previews of all 16 teams, stadium profiles and tactical insight supported by a EURO 2012 Blog Network of all countries competing.

Inside ESPNFC, fans can access Live MatchHQ, a re-imagined and enhanced version of GameCast which provides the live game experience for those who are not able to watch the game live. It also provides data-driven content from the live experience, including real-time scores and stats, highlights, message boards and more – all in one place. Additionally, ESPNFC will feature its comprehensive EURO 2012 Top 40 Player Rankings with contributions from ESPN soccer experts Ian Darke, Steve McManaman, Alexis Lalas, Taylor Twellman, Shaka Hislop, Gabriele Marcotti, John Brewin, Andy Brassell, Derek Rae, Tommy Smyth, Robbie Mustoe and others. During the tournament, PressPass will run seven days a week with companion segments and social media integrations.

EURO 2012 on ESPN Platforms

ESPN TV networks will combine to televise more than 200 hours of live coverage of the EURO 2012 with all 31 matches available in high definition, with additional coverage carried on ESPN3, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPN Mobile TV:

ESPN & ESPN2: Every ESPN and ESPN2 match will feature 15-minute pregame, halftime and a postgame shows. The opening match will feature a 30-minute pregame program, while the quarterfinal through final matches will each include 45 minutes of pregame content. A live, 30-minute UEFA EURO 2012 Report show will air in-between matches from June 8-15.

ESPN Deportes: The Spanish-language home of the EURO 2012 in the United States will provide the most-comprehensive coverage of the event with more than 6.5 live hours on days with two match windows, from June 9 – 15. Highlights from Fuera de Juego include a 30-minute pregame show beginning at 11:30 a.m.; a halftime program; a 30-minute program aired in-between matches; and a special one-hour postgame at 5 p.m. Daily coverage will be on ESPN Deportes SportsCenter at 6 p.m., Juego Cruzado at 7 p.m. and Cronometro at 7:30 p.m. On opening day, Friday, June 8, the pregame program will expand to one hour beginning at 11 a.m., and on Sunday, July 1, the title match will be preceded by a 90-minute pregame show. (Note: On days with single match windows, coverage will begin at 2 p.m. ET)

ESPN Digital Platforms: ESPN3, ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, will simulcast all 31 matches in Spanish and English. All matches will be available for replay on ESPN3 shortly after completion and archived through the end of the calendar year (Dec. 31, 2012). Fans will also be able to go to WatchESPN to catch all the ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 live match action online at WatchESPN.com or on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app. The service – available to video subscribers of Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV – gives fans the ability to watch ESPN’s live networks, no matter where they are. A total of 25 matches will also be made available live on ESPN Mobile TV.

ESPN On Demand: Every match will be made available in full the day it airs. Additionally, ESPN Deportes On Demand will make a highlight of every game available, in addition to full length matches from Spain and Portugal.

ESPN Caribbean: Will distribute the EURO 2012 as part of ESPN’s broad multimedia rights agreement with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the UEFA European Football Championships(tm) until 2017. The EURO 2012 will air on the ESPN Caribbean and ESPN2 Caribbean networks, and on ESPNPlay.com, the recently launched broadband player servicing the region. Coverage will include all 31 EURO 2012 matches. Additional coverage will include pre-match, halftime and post-match programming, news and highlights shows on match days, unlimited re-air rights across all networks and media platforms, magazine programs, and more.

ESPN The Magazine: Hitting newsstands on May 18, a EURO 2012 preview section will be included in the World Football issue featuring Wayne Rooney on the cover with story written by renowned soccer writer David Winner. The issue includes contributions from ESPN’s Leander Schaerlaeckens and Roger Bennett with scouting reports of the 16 teams, analysis of who will/won’t win, breakout players, stats and more. Other featured content will include:

• Josh Dean on the apparent suicide of former Welsh manager Gary Speed and what it reveals about the English game and nationalism in soccer;
• Bennett on one of the most dramatic moments in all of sports, the penalty-kick shootout, via graphics, heat charts and text blurbs;
• Brett Forrest on the proliferation of soccer match-fixing and betting scandals around the world and Luke Cyphers with a sidebar on corruption within FIFA;
• Wayne Drehs on former US coach Bob Bradley and his current role as coach of the Egyptian national team;
• Sebastian Garcia Q&A with Neymar, Brazil’s hottest prospect and future star of Europe, with additional coverage from Cyphers and Doug McIntyre on the state of the US men’s national team heading into friendly with Brazil;
• Jordan Brenner on what US sports can draw from the way international soccer works; and
• McIntyre breaking down where in the world Americans are playing abroad, as well as a feature on why the Seattle Sounders are America’s best-run soccer franchise.

ESPN Fantasy: Fans will also be able to engage with the EURO 2012 via two fantasy games launching specifically around the tournament. EURO 2012 Bracket Predictor allows fans to predict the teams that will advance out of each of the four groups, in addition to picking the winner of the seven knockout phase matches throughout the Finals in a bracket-style format. Additionally, EURO 2012 Manager challenges fans to select a roster of goalies, defenders, midfielders and forwards from the participating countries. Rosters can be changed a total of five times throughout the tournament, with points awarded according to the scoring system.

That’s all.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

Arena Football
Kansas City Command at Tampa Bay Storm — NFL Network, 8 p.m.

College Baseball
Virginia at Miami — ESPNU, 7 p.m.

English Premier League
Manchester City at Manchester United — ESPN, 2:30 p.m.

Golf
Feherty: Samuel L. Jackson — Golf Channel, 10 p.m.

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

National League
Arizona at Miami — Fox Sports Florida, 12:30 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia — Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta — Root Sports Pittsburgh/SportSouth, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Houston — SNY/Fox Sports Houston, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado — KCAL/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at San Diego — Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports San Diego, 10 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. (Tuesday)

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2: New York at Miami — TNT, 7 p.m. (Miami leads series, 1-0)
Game 2: Orlando at Indiana — NBA TV, 7:30 p.m. (Orlando leads series, 1-0)

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 2: Dallas at Oklahoma City — TNT, 9:30 p.m. (Oklahoma City leads series, 1-0)

Inside the NBA — TNT, midnight

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 2: Washington at New York Rangers — NBC Sports Network/CBC/RDS, 7:30 p.m. (New York leads series, 1-0)

Western Conference Semifinals
Game 2: Los Angeles at St. Louis — CNBC/TSN/RDSI, 9 p.m. (Los Angeles leads series, 1-0)

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Live Postgame — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network 10 p.m.

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, 1 p.m.
Numbers Never Lie — ESPN2, 2 p.m.
Outside the Lines First Report — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
NBC SportsTalk — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.

Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother — CBS, 8 p.m.
Bones — Fox, 8 p.m.
Battle of the Network Stars — ESPN Classic, 8 p.m.
Undercover Boss Abroad: GoodLife Fitness — TLC, 8 p.m.
Top Gear — BBC America, 8:30 p.m.
House — Fox, 9 p.m.
Hart of Dixie — The CW, 9 p.m.
The Pitch — AMC, 9 p.m.
Disappeared: Missing By Design (season finale) — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Undercover Boss Abroad: Sodexo — TLC, 9 p.m.
Hawaii Five-0 — CBS, 10 p.m.
Richard Hammond’s Crash Course — BBC America, 10 p.m.
Death Row: The Final 24 Hours — Discovery, 10 p.m.
Training for the Apocalypse — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
Undercover Boss Abroad: Viridor — TLC, 10 p.m.
House Hunters International: Welllington, New Zealand — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Meat Men: Steak on a Plane! — Food Network, 11 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Inside Mad Men, Season 5, Episode 7: “At the Codfish Ball”

I just finished watching this episode and I had to rewind several scenes on the DVR to make sure I saw and/or heard exactly what I had seen or heard. First, Roger Sterling needs his own show when Mad Men finishes its run. His lines tonight were the funniest I’ve heard in a long time. Second, what the hell was that with Roger Sterling at the end? And third, seeing five unhappy and stunned people in one of the closing scenes with Megan’s parents, Don, Megan and Sally Draper was a great touch. Oh yes, Glenn the Creepy Kid returned.

And the interesting sideplot of Peggy and Abe and the reaction to their announcement of living together was very good.

This has been quite the strong season for Mad Men. And yes, we’re now in the second half of the season if you can believe that.

In this video that goes inside the episode, Matt Weiner, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, Jon Hamm and Jessica Paré talk about one of the more interesting themes of the season.

And here’s what’s in store for next week.

No other videos for tonight. I’ll take what I can get.

The next Mad Men episode airs Sunday, May 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.

Some Leftover Linkage

I need to clear my brower of links I was hoping to get to sometime over the last few days. Since I couldn’t do the Friday megalinks or any Saturday morning linkage, I’ll do some Sunday evening leftover links.

Consider this the Sunday entrée to the beginning of the workweek. I honestly don’t know what that means.

Here’s some linkage for you to chew on.

Brian Lowry of Fox Sports is not a fan of Shaquille O’Neal on TNT.

Mike Farrell of Multichannel News writes that Time Warner Cable is hoping to obtain more sports properties for its new Southern California regional sports network.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel says the first round of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs was the most watched on record.

Andrea Morabito of Broadcasting & Cable reports that no talent hack Ryan Seacrest will be haunting NBC Sports as well as NBC News in an all-new, all-encompassing contract with NBCUniversal.

Tim Baysinger at B&C says ESPN’s ratings for the First Round of the NFL Draft were up double digits from the year before.

Sam Laird at Mashable writes that social media is influencing sports in many ways.

To Sean Newell of Deadspin who looks at the strange Twitter meltdown of Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley who went all-sexist on female pilots and one of his co-workers.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report writes that former CBS and ABC Sports essayist Jack Whitaker is receiving a long overdue honor from the Sports Emmys on Monday.

Ryan Yoder from Awful Announcing reviews the good and the bad of ESPN’s First Round coverage of the NFL Draft.

Joe Lucia of AA does the same for NFL Network.

Back to Matt from AA, apparently Tim McCarver fancies himself an expert on climate change

From the Tampa Bay Times, Eric Deggans reviews ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center.

Jason Dachman from Sports Video Group has ESPN optimistic that its Los Angeles studios will put itself in a unique position to cover the Lakers and Clippers in the NBA Playoffs.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck can ever match Peyton Manning’s marketability.

Providence’s WJAR-TV and Cox Communications announce a new partnership that will simulcast the NBC affiliate’s local newscasts and also put Cox Sports RI’s programming on a new cable channel.

Amy Chozick and Nick Wingfield of the New York Times explore the growing world of TV mobile and tablet apps which include the soon-to-be released NBC Olympics iPad app.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times profiles actor Peter Scolari who plays three important roles in the Magic/Bird Broadway play.

Breaking a ban of linking to Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News who has an interesting story regarding Yankees voices John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman and whether they’ll be leaving if the team changes flagship radio stations after this season.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick has no hope for our society. Lighten up, Phil. Time to travel to Moldova or Johannesburg. Somewhere you don’t have to watch sports anymore.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says MSG Network’s ratings for Game 7 of the Ottawa Senators-New York Rangers series were the best since the 1994 Stanley Cup-clinching game on the network.

Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the 76ers are leaving long-time home WIP and switching to ESPN Radio Philadelphia.

Crossing Broad says the Sixers’ move came as a surprise.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner talks with Jim Rome and his new CBS home.

Laura Newberry of the Orlando Sentinel says Golf Channel has become a Central Florida mainstay.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that the Rockets are not only moving to a new TV home next season, but are currently looking for a new radio flagship station as well.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman transcribes Mike Tirico’s call of Kevin Durant’s winning shot for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

The Cincinnati Enquirer says one local cable provider will pick up NFL Network, but it’s not Time Warner.

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch says the Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley may be headed towards a suspension.

Danny Ecker at Crain’s Chicago Business says the Bulls generated their highest regular season TV ratings since the Michael Jordan years.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says scheduling of playoff games never has the fans in mind.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune says ESPN gave the Utah Jazz the benefit of the doubt in its series opener.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC got the job done in choosing its NHL Playoff series for the Conference Semifinal round.

Peter Adler from the Edmonton Journal says the Oilers’ documentary series Oil Change which runs on NHL Network should return for a third season

Howard M. Alperin of Midwest Sports Fans asks why CBSSports.com doesn’t include soccer coverage?

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy has TSN’s top hockey bloopers of the 2011-12 season.

That’s a lot of leftover linkage. Glad I was able to clear this out before Monday.

NFL Draft Was Watched By You and Many More

A couple of press releases pertaining to the NFL Draft. The First Round of the Draft scored very well on ESPN and NFL Network getting a combined 5.28 rating which the National Football League says is the highest ever for the event. The average was 8.1 million, 6.67 for ESPN. And the NFL says the total viewership overall was 25.3 million people which is quite impressive.

First, a press release from the NFL.

2012 NFL DRAFT ROUND 1 HIGHEST-RATED EVER; MORE THAN 25 MILLION WATCH FIRST ROUND

NFL Network & NFL Digital Properties Set Records

First-round coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft drew a combined total viewership of 25.3 million viewers on ESPN and NFL Network, according to The Nielsen Company.

The networks posted a record combined average rating of 5.28 – an 18 percent increase over last year’s first round (4.46 average rating).

The combined two-network average of 8.1 million viewers is up 16 percent from last year (7.0 million) and ranks as the second-most-watched first round ever (8.3 million in 2010).

NFL Network’s first-round coverage drew a record average of 1.4 million viewers – a 40 percent jump over last year’s previous record (1.0 million viewers).

The NFL’s digital media platforms — including NFL.com, NFL Mobile and other NFL mobile products — set a record with its first-round draft coverage as unique visitors jumped 53 percent compared to last year (and 41 percent increase over 2010).

And here’s ESPN’s press release for good measure.

ESPN’s Second Highest-Rated and Second Most-Viewed NFL Draft
Rating Up 16 Percent vs. 2011

ESPN’s live telecast of the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, averaged 6,661,000 viewers with a 5.1 household coverage rating based on fast nationals, according to the Nielsen Company.

The rating was an increase of 16 percent from last year’s first round, which earned a 3.8 rating. Viewership was up 11 percent over last year’s 6,003,000 average. In addition, last night’s opening round ranks as the second highest-rated and second most-viewed NFL Draft telecast on record, behind only the 2010 first round (5.3 rating and 7,290,000 viewers). ESPN has televised the NFL Draft annually since 1980 and the event has received ratings since 1983.

Thursday night’s ESPN telecast peaked at a 5.8 rating between 8:30 and 9 p.m. ET. The top five metered markets included: Cleveland (10.7 rating), Birmingham, Ala., (10.5), Dayton, Ohio (8.3), Columbus, Ohio (7.3) and Buffalo, N.Y. (7.3).

NFL content across ESPN digital platforms generated an average minute audience of 84,000 Thursday, up 11 percent compared to the same day last year. The NFL section on ESPN.com specifically had an average minute audience of 24,000, up nine percent. Meanwhile, the NFL section on the mobile Web had an average minute audience of 21,000, up 50 percent.

There you have it.

NHL Speeds To Days 18 & 19 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC Sports Group

Let’s provide a couple of press releases for you today. This is from NBC Sports Group regarding the NHL Postseason action this weekend. NBC takes the Eastern Conference Semifinala today and tomorrow while NBC Sports Network focuses on the Western Conference Semifinals tonight and tomorrow.

Mike Emrick, Ed Olczyk and Pierre McGuire will focus on the old Patrick Division matchups, Washington at the New York Rangers today at 3 p.m. ET and New Jersey at Philadelphia at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

We have the other announcing assignments for the Western Conference Semifinals listed below as well.

Let’s check out together the press release below.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS UNDERWAY
2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Days 18-19

Three Game 1s & Predators-Coyotes Game 2 Fill Out Weekend Coverage on NBC & NBC Sports Network

NEW YORK – April 28, 2012 -– Days 18-19 – The NBC Sports Group continues its exclusive coverage of the Conference Semifinals with four games – three Game 1s and one Game 2 — this weekend on NBC and the NBC Sports Network.

The Eastern Conference Semifinals begin with the #1 New York Rangers hosting the #7 Washington Capitals at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Moving to the Western Conference at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, the #8 Los Angeles Kings travel to St. Louis to take on the #2 Blues. NHL Live begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Today’s schedule (all times ET):

3 p.m.	#7 Washington Capitals @ #1 New York Rangers (Game 1)	NBC	Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
7:30 p.m.	#8 Los Angeles Kings @ #2 St. Louis Blues (Game 1)	NBCSN	Dave Strader, Brian Engblom

TOMORROW

Sunday’s games begin in the Eastern Conference with the #6 New Jersey Devils facing the #5 Flyers in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. In the Western Conference, the #3 Phoenix Coyotes host the #4 Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. NHL Live begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Tomorrow’s schedule (all times ET):

3 p.m.	#6 New Jesrey Devils @ #5 Philadelphia Flyers (Game 1)	NBC	Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
8 p.m.	#4 Nashville Predators @ #5 Phoenix Coyotes (Game 2)	NBCSN	John Forslund, Joe Michletti

CHANNEL FINDER

With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC or NHL Network in their area by simply entering a zip code.

Click here for the channel finder.

GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR

For the first time in the 95-year history of the NHL, every Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised nationally. The NBC Sports Group will provide unprecedented access to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in April, May and June, televising as many as 105 playoff games and possibly more than 262.5 hours of programming. Games will be presented on NBC, the NBC Sports Network, the NHL Network, and NBCUniversal’s business channel CNBC in primetime.

NBC Sports Network	Twenty Seven *
CNBC	Eleven
NBC	Six
NHL Network	Six

* Includes Devils-Panthers Conference Quarterfinal Game 7 that was joined in progress

That’s it.

MLB Network Changes Plans; Will Air Bryce Harper’s MLB Debut on Saturday

MLB Network had originally planned to air regional coverage between the Chicago Cubs-Philadelphia Phillies or the Arizona Diamondbacks-Miami Marlins. But with Bryce Harper being called up late today by the Washington Nationals, the heralded prospect will make his long-awaited Major League debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB Network will shift plans and air the game starting at 9 p.m. And the Nationals will have its heralded pitcher Steven Strasberg on the mound against the Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley.

MLB Tonight leads into the game. The Dodgers feed from Fox Sports Prime Ticket in Los Angeles will most likely be aired and that will have the legendary Vin Scully on the call.

Here’s the press release from MLB Network.

MLB NETWORK TO TELEVISE BRYCE HARPER’S MLB DEBUT TOMORROW

Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers to Air Live at 9:00 p.m. ET
Stephen Strasburg Scheduled to Start for the Nationals Against the Dodgers’ Pitcher Chad Billingsley

Secaucus, N.J., April 27, 2012 – MLB Network today announced that it will televise the Major League debut of Washington Nationals prospect and 2010 #1 MLB Draft pick Bryce Harper tomorrow, Saturday, April 28, as the NL East-leading Nationals visit the NL West first-place Los Angeles Dodgers at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Fellow former #1 MLB Draft pick Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start for the Nationals against Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley. Harper was called up today by the Nationals after third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was put on the 15-day disabled list.

MLB Tonight will air live from 5:00-9:00 p.m. ET to preview the Nationals at Dodgers and provide analysis, highlights and updates from the rest of the day’s MLB schedule. Quick Pitch, MLB Network’s daily highlights show of record, will immediately follow the game. MLB Network’s telecast of the game will be blacked out in the Nationals’ and Dodgers’ home television territories.

That’s all for this post.

Sunday MLB on TBS Covers Detroit-NY Yankees

If it’s another Sunday, then TBS must be airing a Yankees, Phillies or Red Sox game. This Sunday, Sunday MLB on TBS will be in the Bronx to air the Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees. This will be the second game of the series that gets national attention and MLB Network airs tonight’s game.

Brian Anderson calls his first game of the season for TBS and he’ll be joined by analysts Ron Darling and John Smoltz at the new Yankee Stadium.

We have the particulars plus upcoming games and announcing assignments for the MLB on TBS this Sunday afternoon nationwide except in Detroit and New York.

Tigers @ Yankees Showcased on “Sunday MLB on TBS” at 1 p.m. ET

“Sunday MLB on TBS” continues on April 29 with an American League match-up featuring Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees hosting Prince Fielder and the Detroit Tigers at 1 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium. CC Sabathia is scheduled to start for the Yankees against Tigers probable starter Max Scherzer in a rematch of last season’s ALDS. Calling the action will be Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst).

TBS is the exclusive home of the 2012 MLB All-Star Selection Show airing Sunday, July 1. In October, the network will once again provide exclusive coverage of all four MLB Division Series (DS) and the American League Championship Series (ALCS). The network will announce future games on its schedule coinciding with its selection windows. The games included in the TBS MLB package will not be televised in the team’s home television territory.

TBS has broadcast MLB games for more than 30 years, serving as the exclusive home of the MLB Division Series (DS) and one League Championship Series (LCS) since 2007 and home of Atlanta Braves coverage from 1977 to 2007.

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS SCHEDULE:

Sunday, April 29
1 p.m. (ET)	Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees
	Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst)

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

Sunday, May 6
2 p.m. (ET)	New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals
	Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Dennis Eckersley (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst)
Sunday, May 13
2 p.m. (ET)	Atlanta Braves @ St. Louis Cardinals
	Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst) and John Smoltz (analyst)

And our TBS play-by-play announcer tally to date:

SUNDAY MLB ON TBS GAMES CALLED BY PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCERS

That is all.

MLB on Fox Has Three Games on Saturday

Fox goes early and will cover three games this week. And yes, Joe Buck is back to complete a full month of games. Hallelujah! It means he’ll have worked four out of four possible games for Fox.

So the games are as follows, Milwaukee at St. Louis going to most of the country, Anaheim Angels taking on Cleveland and the Kansas City Royals getting a rare Fox appearance and probably last for a while facing Minnesota.

It’s a rare week where you don’t have either the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies or Los Angeles Dodgers involved, although we do have Anaheim.

We have the full schedule with the regional splits and announcing assignments for this week.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

MLB ON FOX RETURNS FOR DAY BASEBALL – It’s the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME OF THE WEEK under afternoon skies on Saturday, April 28 (12:30 PM ET) as Yadier Molina and the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals host 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers. In Cleveland, the Indians return to the GOW stage, welcoming Albert Pujols and the Angels. Also, the Royals travel to Minneapolis to take on Joe Mauer and the Twins.

Coverage begins with the FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL PREGAME SHOW, a full 30-minute program, originating live from MLB Network’s state-of-the-art Studio 3 in Secaucus, NJ. It’s hosted by longtime FOX Sports and MLB Network broadcaster Matt Vasgersian, who is joined by analysts Harold Reynolds and Eric Byrnes.

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.

Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver & Ken Rosenthal, going to 72% of USA
Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO
MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, Denver, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Greenville, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington, West Palm Beach
Probable Pitchers: Yovani Gallardo, RHP (1-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Kyle Lohse, RHP (3-0, 0.99 ERA)

Anaheim Angels at Cleveland Indians, Thom Brennaman & Eric Karros, going to 23% of USA
Progressive Field – Cleveland, OH
MARKETS INCLUDE:  Albuquerque, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle
Probable Pitchers:  Dan Haren, RHP (0-1, 4.07 ERA) vs. Jeanmar Gomez, RHP (1-0, 1.93 ERA)

Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins, Steve Physioc & Mitch Williams, going to 4% of USA
Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
MARKETS INCLUDE:  Kansas City, Minneapolis
Probable Pitchers:  Bruce Chen, LHP (0-2, 2.52 ERA) vs. Jason Marquis, RHP (1-0, 7.15 ERA)

There you have it.

TSN Airs NHL Western Conference Semifinals

TSN continues its coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals by airing the two Western Conference Semifinals, Phoenix Coyotes-Nashville Predators and the Los Angeles Kings-St. Louis Blues series.

For TSN, Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro will call the Los Angeles-St. Louis series while veteran Chris Cuthbert and Darren Pang will be on Nashville-Phoenix.

TSN’s coverage begins tonight with a recap of the Conference Quarterfinal action at 7:30 p.m., then it’s onto Game 1 of Nashville-Phoenix tonight. Puck drops at 9 p.m. ET. TSN’s pregame coverage airs a half-hour earlier.

We have TSN’s press release on its coverage plans of the NHL Stanley Cup Western Conference Semifinals. Check it out.

NHL Playoffs on TSN Features Complete Coverage of Western Conference Semifinal Series: Phoenix vs. Nashville and St. Louis vs. Los Angeles

– TSN’s Second Round coverage begins tonight with Shane Doan and the Coyotes taking on NHL Awards nominees Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber of the Predators at 8:30 p.m. ET –
– TSN recaps the opening round with its 60-minute FIRST ROUND RECAP SHOW airing tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET leading into Game 1 of the Phoenix-Nashville series –
Toronto, ON (April 27, 2012) – As the journey to the Stanley Cup continues, TSN tonight confirmed its broadcast schedule for the Second Round of the 2012 STANLEY CUP^® PLAYOFFS.

TSN has complete live coverage of both Western Conference Semifinal series – Phoenix-Nashville and St. Louis-Los Angeles – featuring Vezina Trophy-nominated goaltenders Jonathan Quick of the Kings and Pekka Rinne of the Predators, Nashville’s Norris Trophy-nominated defenceman Shea Weber, Coyotes captain Shane Doan, and Blues goalie Brian Elliott.

Games are available live nationally on TSN and TSN Mobile TV.

TSN’s coverage of the 2012 STANLEY CUP^® PLAYOFFS continues tonight (Friday, April 27) with Game 1: Nashville @ Phoenix at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Action in the Blues-Kings series kicks off on Saturday, April 28 with Game 1: Los Angeles @ St. Louis at 7 p.m. ET (see complete broadcast schedule below).

TSN also takes a look back at the opening round of the NHL post-season with its 60-minute FIRST ROUND RECAP SHOW tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, leading in to live game coverage of the Phoenix-Nashville series. The highlight show focuses on all of the biggest moments from each First Round series, with close attention paid to the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators’ series, and the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia series.

TSN’s live coverage of the 2012 STANLEY CUP^® PLAYOFFS runs through the end of the Third Round.

The network’s extensive coverage of the NHL post-season features play-by-play announcers Gord Miller and Chris Cuthbert and game analysts Ray Ferraro and Darren Pang.

NHL ON TSN host James Duthie is in the TSN studio for pre-game shows and intermissions, alongside Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger, analysts Aaron Ward and Marc Crawford, and guest analyst and former NHL head coach Paul Maurice.

Throughout the NHL Playoffs, fans are well-served with comprehensive post-season coverage across all of TSN’s properties and platforms, including TSN.ca and TSN Radio, plus the TSN Mobile app for BlackBerry and the TSN app for iPad and iPhone. Bell Media sports radio station Team 1410 in Vancouver has live game coverage during the Second Round, while Ottawa’s Team 1200 and Vancouver’s Team 1040 also features extensive playoff coverage.

TSN’s broadcast schedule for the Second Round of the 2012 STANLEY CUP^® PLAYOFFS is as follows:

Phoenix vs. Nashville
• Game 1: Nashville @ Phoenix – Friday, April 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TSN
• Game 2: Nashville @ Phoenix – Sunday, April 29 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN
• Game 3: Phoenix @ Nashville – Wednesday, May 2 at 9 p.m. ET on TSN
• Game 4: Phoenix @ Nashville – Friday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN
• *Game 5: Nashville @ Phoenix – Monday, May 7 at 10 p.m. ET on TSN
• *Game 6: Phoenix @ Nashville – Wednesday, May 9 at TBD on TSN
• *Game 7: Nashville @ Phoenix – Friday, May 11 at TBD on TSN

St. Louis vs. Los Angeles
• Game 1: Los Angeles @ St. Louis – Saturday, April 28 at 7 p.m. ET on TSN
• Game 2: Los Angeles @ St. Louis – Monday, April 30 at 9 p.m. ET on TSN
• Game 3: St. Louis @ Los Angeles – Thursday, May 3 at 10 p.m. ET on TSN
• Game 4: St. Louis @ Los Angeles – Sunday, May 6 at 3 p.m. ET on TSN
• *Game 5: Los Angeles @ St. Louis – Tuesday, May 8 at TBD p.m. ET on TSN
• *Game 6: St. Louis @ Los Angeles – Thursday, May 10 at TBD on TSN
• *Game 7: Los Angeles @ St. Louis – Saturday, May 12 at TBD on TSN

*If necessary

That’s it.

CBC Covers The NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals

This makes sense when you have two TV partners, split up the playoffs by region, East and West. If you don’t have a Canadian team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, have one network cover the East while the other takes the West. That is exactly what is happening with CBC and TSN in Canada. CBC will air the Eastern Conference Semifinals, New York Rangers-Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils-Philadelphia Flyers.

Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson, Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman cover Rangers-Caps while Bob Cole, Gary Galley and Scott Oake handle Devils-Flyers.

We have CBC’s coverage plans and keep scrolling for a bonus CBC press release that arrived in the Fang’s Bites inbox as I was writing this post.

THE 2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS CONTINUE ON CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA WITH NEW YORK VS. WASHINGTON AND PHILADELPHIA VS. NEW JERSEY

Conference Semifinal action begins Saturday, April 28

Conference Semifinal action gets underway on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA with exclusive coverage of the New York Rangers/Washington Capitals series beginning April 28 and the Philadelphia Flyers/New Jersey Devils series which begins on April 29. Both series are available on CBC-TV and streaming online at CBCSports.ca.

The puck drops on the New York/Washington series at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 28 as Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals travel to Manhattan to take on Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. Play-by-play for this series will be handled by Jim Hughson alongside analyst Craig Simpson with Glenn Healy providing additional analysis from between the benches and Elliotte Friedman reporting from rinkside.

The second Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup between Philadelphia and New Jersey hits the ice on Sunday, April 29 at 3 p.m. ET as Claude Giroux and the Flyers play host to Martin Brodeur and the Devils. The broadcast team for this series includes Bob Cole calling the play-by-play from the booth with analyst Garry Galley and Scott Oake reporting from rinkside.

“With all of the excitement, suspense and stunning upsets that filled the opening round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada can’t wait to share more with hockey fans across the country,” said Julie Bristow, CBC’s Executive Director of Studio and Unscripted Programming. “NHL playoff hockey has become appointment viewing for everyone from intense fans to casual viewers and we will continue to provide them all with the world class, innovative coverage and analysis they expect from us.”

Each night during Round Two, Ron MacLean hosts CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA’s coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs along with Kelly Hrudey and P.J. Stock, providing insight and analysis for all of the Conference Semifinal games. Don Cherry and Coach’s Corner returns in the first intermission while the second intermission features the Hot Stove and Andi Petrillo at the I-Desk.

Viewers on the go can download the Hockey Night in Canada mobile app providing instant access to news, analysis and game highlights. The ultimate “second screen” experience, Hockey Night Playoff Pulse, captures the heartbeat of a nation through in-game polls, pools and near-live access to the best three minutes from every game.

Hockey Night in Canada Radio on SiriusXM hosted Gord Stellick continues Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. ET on channel 157. Show podcasts are also available for download from the iTunes Store.

Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi continues with Harnarayan Singh handling play-by-play duties for Round Two with coverage of the New York/Washington series. The Punjabi broadcasts will be available on Rogers Cable channel 799, Shaw Digital TV channel 328, Shaw Direct classic channel 480 and advanced channel 429, TELUS Optik TV channel 131 and on Bell TV and FIBE TV channel 232 and will also be streamed live and on-demand on CBCSports.ca.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: 2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
ROUND TWO – CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS BROADCAST SCHEDULE
All series best of seven.  Schedule subject to change.

NEW YORK RANGERS (#1) VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (#7)

Game 1 — Washington @ New York, Saturday, April 28 @ 3 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 2 — Washington @ New York, Monday, April 30 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 3 — New York @ Washington, Wednesday, May 2 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 4 — New York @ Washington, Saturday, May 5 @ 12:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 5* — Washington @ New York, Monday, May 7 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 6* — New York @ Washington, Wednesday, May 9 @ TBD, FULL NETWORK
Game 7* — Washington @ New York, Saturday, May 12 @ TBD, TBD

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (#5) VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (#6)

Game 1 — New Jersey @ Philadelphia, Sunday, April 29 @ 3 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 2 — New Jersey @ Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 1 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 3 — Philadelphia @ New Jersey, Thursday, May 3 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 4 — Philadelphia @ New Jersey, Sunday, May 6 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 5* — New Jersey @ Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 8 @ 7:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK
Game 6* — Philadelphia @ New Jersey, Thursday, May 10 @ TBD, FULL NETWORK
Game 7* — New Jersey @ Philadelphia, Saturday, May 12 @ TBD, TBD

*If necessary

And after a jump break, a CBC press release on Hockey Night in Canada’s ratings.

(continue reading…)

NBC Sports Group All Over The NHL Conference Semifinals

Now that we’ve completed the NBA Playoff schedules, let’s focus on the National Hockey League and its TV partners.

The Conference Semifinal round begins tonight and this is where NBC’s new TV contract really kicks in. In the past, local regional networks could still air playoff games with increased exclusive national coverage from Versus. Now, NBC Sports Group has claimed exclusivity for the Conference Semifinals meaning it will carry all games exclusively from here until the end of the Stanley Cup Final (don’t call them “Finals” otherwise Commissioner Gary Bettman will come to your house and destroy your furniture).

NBC Sports Group will utilize CNBC, NBC and NBC Sports Network. NHL Network may carry the start of games in case the game running on NBC Sports Network runs long. However, for the most part on weeknights, it’ll be between CNBC and NBC Sports Network.

For the start of the Conference Semifinal round, NBC Sports Network begins tonight with Game 1 of the Nashville-Phoenix series. NBC carries the two Eastern Conference Semifinal Games 1 on consecutive afternoons while NBC Sports Network focuses on the Western Conference.

We have the games plus the announcing assignments through the weekend.

NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR EXCLUSIVE SECOND-ROUND COVERAGE OF 2012 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

All Games to Air Exclusively on NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC
Western Conference Semifinals Start Tonight with Nashville at Phoenix at 9 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

NEW YORK – April 27, 2012 – Day 17 — The NBC Sports Group’s exclusive Conference Semifinal coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight in Phoenix with a Western Conference match-up between the #3 Coyotes and the #4 Nashville Predators at 9 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET with NHL Live.

The Eastern Conference Semifinals begin tomorrow on NBC when the #1 Rangers host the #7 Washington Capitals at 3 p.m. ET. Western Conference action continues tomorrow night in St. Louis when the #2 Blues host the #8 Los Angeles Kings at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. On Sunday, the #6 New Jersey Devils and #4 Philadelphia Flyers begin their series in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Sunday night, the Coyotes host the Predators again in Game 2 of their series at 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call both games on NBC this weekend – Capitals at Rangers on Saturday; Devils at Flyers on Sunday. John Forslund (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call both Predators-Coyotes games (tonight and Sunday night). Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-glass’ analyst) will call Game 1 of Kings-Blues on Saturday night.

Beginning in the second round and continuing through the Stanley Cup Final, all remaining Stanley Cup Playoff games will air exclusively on NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC. Following is the current schedule for Conference Semifinal games. Scheduling for remaining second-round games is TBD (all times ET and subject to change):

Friday, April 27
9 p.m.	Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes — Game 1	NBC Sports Network	John Forslund, Joe Micheletti
Saturday, April 28
3 p.m.	Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers — Game 1	NBC	Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
7:30 p.m.	Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues — Game 1	NBC Sports Network	Dave Strader, Brian Engblom
Sunday, April 29
3 p.m.	New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers — Game 1	NBC	Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
8 p.m.	Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes — Game 2	NBC Sports Network	John Forslund, Joe Micheletti
Monday, April 30
7:30 p.m.	Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers — Game 2	NBC Sports Network
9 p.m.	Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues — Game 2	CNBC
Tuesday, May 1
7:30 p.m.	New Jersey Devils @ Philadelphia Flyers — Game 2	NBC Sports Network
Wednesday, May 2
7:30 p.m.	New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals — Game 3	NBC Sports Network
9 p.m.	Phoenix Coyotes @ Nashville Predators — Game 3	CNBC
Thursday, May 3
7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils — Game 3	NBC Sports Network
10 p.m.	St. Louis Blues @ Los Angeles Kings — Game 3	NBC Sports Network
Friday, May 4
7:30 p.m.	Phoenix Coyotes @ Nashville Predators — Game 4	NBC Sports Network
Saturday, May 5
12:30 p.m.	New York Rangers @ Washington Capitals — Game 4	NBC
Sunday, May 6
3 p.m.	St. Louis Blues @ Los Angeles Kings — Game 4	NBC
7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils — Game 4	NBC Sports Network
Monday, May 7
7:30 p.m.	Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers — Game 5*	NBC Sports Network
10 p.m.	Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes — Game 5*	NBC Sports Network

ENGBLOM ON BLUES-KINGS: “Goaltending wins championships. This series will prove that again.”

ROENICK ON COYOTES-PREDATORS: “Battle of the two best goalies this year. These teams are eerily similar; teams that win through hard work and defense. This should be a tight series, but an exciting one.”

JONES ON FLYERS: “Good news for the Flyers is they have sat and waited on three other Game 7s in the remaining series. Rest is on the side of the Flyers plus an opportunity to get healthier on their blue line. Nicklas Grossmann has been practicing with the team since missing games against the Penguins in the first round and looks to be available in round two.”

JONES ON CAPITALS: “Great news for Capitals fans whose team knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Washington played a complete team game for all seven games in the first round. They are no longer Alexander Ovechkin’s team. It is Dale Hunter’s team now.”

CHANNEL FINDER

With all 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games airing nationally for the first time, the NBC Sports Group created a channel finder to help fans find NBC, NBC Sports Network or CNBC in their area by simply entering a zip code.

Click here for the channel finder.

PRE-GAME & POST-GAME COVERAGE

NHL Live, NBC Sports Network’s NHL pre-game show, will air every game night at 6:30 p.m. ET. NHL Post-Game will air a 30-minute program following the conclusion of game coverage every night of the playoffs.

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Comcast SportsNet, the local home for the Capitals and Flyers will closely follow hometown team playoff progress with pre- and postgame coverage, breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run.

NBCSPORTS.COM

NBCSports.com’s fast-growing ProHockeyTalk, which has experienced a 140% increase in unique visitors and a 289% in page views compared to last season, will anchor NBC Sports’ online and mobile coverage of the NHL Playoffs.

Featuring writers Jason Brough & Mike Halford, ProHockeyTalk provides unique, informative and entertaining news, commentary and analysis– updated around the clock — on all the stories surrounding the NHL Playoffs. ProHockeyTalk is also an integral part of the popular NBC Sports Talk app. Other NBCSports.com features will include:

• The debut of PHT Extra, a multiple-times-a-week. online-only. video segment, featuring ProHockeyTalk’s Brough and Halford
• Online-only videos featuring NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network hockey commentators previewing upcoming playoff games and wrapping-up all of the NHL action that day
• Content provided by Comcast SportsNet NHL insiders
• An NHL Playoffs Channel Finder tool that will help fans locate the times and stations for every NHL playoff broadcast
• “Second screen” companion programming on NBCSports.com for games airing on NBC will include live, in-game video highlights; a live chat with ProHockeyTalk’s Brough & Halford; “Star Cams” featuring alternating, video coverage of the best players on each team, and a newly-introduced “Spotlight Cam,” a just-above-ice-level/center ice look at the action

SOCIAL MEDIA

In addition to broadcast, cable, regional and digital platforms, the NBC Sports Group will connect with NHL fans via numerous social media initiatives, including social integration, on-air integration and news:

• Social Integration:
  • #StanleyCup Hash Tag: NHL Fans can join the conversation by using the #StanleyCup hash tag across every game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
  • Milestone Mania: With the launch of the new Facebook Timeline, fans can explore and answer Stanley Cup Playoffs trivia questions
  • NHL on NBC Sports Instagram: NHL fans can upload photos to Instagram and use #instahockey. The NHL on NBC Sports Instagram account “Because It’s the Cup” will feature the best fan photos
  • Live Twitter Chats: Fans will have the opportunity to have live Twitter chats with NHL and NBC Sports personalities and commentators throughout the playoffs
• On-Air Integration:
  • Playoff Polls: Fans can weigh in on a variety of NHL themed polls on Facebook and Twitter that commentators will discuss throughout the broadcasts
  • #MVPonNBC – During pre-game, post-game and in-game coverage, fans can tweet who they think the #MVPonNBC is. Commentators will discuss the fan favorites and weigh in with their own opinions.
• News:
  • Fans can engange with Twitter (@NHLonNBCSports) and Facebook (facebook.com/NHLonNBCSports) to receive the most up to date tune-in information, scores, reports and stories from around the NHL and ProHockeyTalk.

REMAINING STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF COVERAGE

CONFERENCE FINALS
NBC and the NBC Sports Network will team to provide exclusive coverage of the Conference Finals. NBC will broadcast a game each day on the weekend of May 19-20. The remaining games from both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be televised exclusively on the NBC Sports Network.

STANLEY CUP FINAL
For the seventh consecutive year, NBC and the NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS) will provide exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. NBC will broadcast Games 1-2 and Games 5-7 (if necessary), with NBC Sports Network televising Games 3-4.

• Last year’s Stanley Cup Final seven-game series, which featured the Boston Bruins defeating the Vancouver Canucks to claim their first championship since 1972, (Games 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 on NBC and Games 3, 4 on VERSUS) averaged 4.6 million viewers and a household rating of 2.7/5, surpassing the 2004 series (3.3 million, 2.2/4 on ABC/ESPN) as the most-watched combined network/cable Stanley Cup involving a Canadian team ever and up 39 percent from that series
• Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, which saw the Boston Bruins defeat the Vancouver Canucks, 4-0, was watched by 8.54 million people on NBC, making it the most-watched NHL game in 38 years, according to The Nielsen Company

That will do it. CBC’s press release is next.

ESPN/ABC Announces NBA Playoff Schedule Through May 6

Just as Turner Sports announced its NBA schedule and announcing assignments through May 6, ESPN/ABC has done the same.

For the opening weekend of the NBA Postseason and the Conference Quarterfinals, ABC will have single games on Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET with the old 1990′s rivalry between the New York Knicks and Miami Heat on Saturday and Denver at Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

ESPN follows up with a Saturday night doubleheader and an early Sunday afternoon game. And then ESPN returns to the NBA Playoffs on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 with two games each. ABC has an doubleheader on Sunday, May 6.

Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Lisa Salters will be the main announcing team for ABC/ESPN. Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown and Heather Cox will be the “B” team for the networks. And other play-by-play announcers include Dave Pasch and Mark Jones. Chris Mullin and Doris Burke will be the analysts and on the sidelines will be the aggressive Holly Rowe and Ric Bucher.

Here’s the press release.

2012 NBA Playoffs on ABC & ESPN to Tip Off Saturday

Extensive Coverage on ESPN Radio; ABC Ratings Up 10 Percent, ESPN Up 7 Percent for Regular Season

ESPN and ABC’s comprehensive 2012 NBA Playoffs coverage – up to 44 games, including The Finals exclusively on ABC – will begin with five games this weekend. ABC’s game coverage will begin on Saturday, April 28, when the Miami Heat and their superstar trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh host the New York Knicks – led by Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire – at 3:30 p.m. ET.  ABC’s coverage will continue on Sunday, April 29, when the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant host the Denver Nuggets and Ty Lawson at 3:30 p.m. Mike Breen will provide commentary for both broadcasts with analyst Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Lisa Salters.

ESPN will televise a primetime doubleheader on Saturday, April 28 – Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. with Dave Pasch, Chris Mullin and reporter Holly Rowe providing commentary; defending World Champion Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki at the Oklahoma City Thunder and scoring champion Kevin Durant at 9:30 p.m. with Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown and reporter Heather Cox calling the game.

ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs follows a regular season that delivered a 7 percent ratings increase on ESPN (Christmas to date) and a 10 percent ratings increase on ABC, according to Nielsen. More details below.

The NBA Countdown pregame show will preview both ABC broadcasts this weekend at 3 p.m. and include commentary from analysts Magic Johnson, Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon and Chris Broussard.

All ESPN games will also be available on ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV and via the WatchESPN app. The Finals on ABC are scheduled to begin June 12. Additionally, ESPN2 will televise a special one-hour NBA Playoffs Preview on Saturday April 28, at 1 a.m, 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.

NBA Playoffs opening weekend schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Commentators	Network
Sat, Apr 28	3 p.m.	NBA Countdown	Magic Johnson, Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, Chris Broussard	ABC
	3:30 p.m.	New York Knicks at Miami Heat Gm. 1	Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Lisa Salters ESPN Radio: Jim Durham, Dr. Jack Ramsay	ABC, ESPN Radio
	7 p.m.	Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers Gm. 1	Dave Pasch, Chris Mullin, Holly Rowe	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
	9:30 p.m.	Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder Gm. 1	Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Heather Cox	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
Sun, Apr 29	1 p.m.	Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurts Gm. 1	Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Ric Bucher	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
	3 p.m.	NBA Countdown	Magic Johnson, Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, Chris Broussard	ABC
	3:30 p.m.	Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Gm. 1	Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Lisa Salters ESPN Radio: Kevin Calabro, Dr. Jack Ramsay	ABC, ESPN Radio

NBA Playoffs schedule for May 4-6 (commentators TBD):

Date	Time (ET)	Game	Network
Fri, May 4	7:30 p.m.	Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks Gm. 3	ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
	8 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers Gm. 3	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
	10:30 p.m.	Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Gm. 3	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
Sat, May 5	2 p.m.	Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic Gm. 4	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
	4:30 p.m.	Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Clippers Gm. 4	ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Mobile TV, WatchESPN
Sun, May 6	12:30 p.m.	NBA Countdown	ABC
	1 p.m.	Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers Gm. 4	ABC, ESPN Radio
	3:30 p.m.	Miami Heat at New York Knicks Gm. 4	ABC, ESPN Radio

NBA on ESPN Radio
The NBA on ESPN Radio will begin its 17^th season of NBA Playoffs coverage on Saturday, April 28, and will present exclusive national broadcasts for select first and second round games and every game of the Conference Finals and The Finals. Commentators Jim Durham, Hall-of-Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay, Kevin Calabro and Will Purdue will contribute to the broadcasts during the first two rounds. Durham and Ramsay will then call the Eastern Conference Finals while Calabro and Hubie Brown will call the Western Conference Finals. During The Finals on ABC, Durham, Ramsay and Brown will describe the action, while Ric Bucher will be courtside reporter with Marc Kestecher and Will Perdue serving as on-site studio host and analyst.

NBA Ratings on ESPN Up 7 Percent, ABC Delivers Highest-Rated & Most-Viewed Season
ESPN averaged a 1.5 household rating during the 2011-12 NBA regular season, an increase of 7 percent from the same Christmas to date timeframe in 2010-11 (1.4), according to Nielsen. The 1.5 rating also matches last season as the highest-rated regular season ever on ESPN in a full-season comparison.

ABC delivered its highest-rated and most-viewed NBA regular season ever, averaging a 3.3 household rating and 5,421,000 viewers for its 15 broadcasts during the 2011-2012 campaign, according to Nielsen. The 3.3 rating is up 10 percent from last season (3.0) and 5,421,000 viewers is up six percent from last season (5,110,000). The NBA on ABC is also up nine percent in household impressions, averaging 3,831,000 compared to 3,519,000 last season.

NBA on ESPN Digital Platforms Delivers Gains
During the 66-game regular season, NBA content across ESPN digital platforms – including ESPN.com, the mobile Web, ScoreCenter, ESPN3 and WatchESPN – logged an average minute audience of 70,000 people, up 25.2 percent compared to the same time period last year (Christmas Day through the end of the season).  Specifically, the NBA section on ESPN.com generated an average of 1.9 million daily unique visitors (up 12 percent) and an average of 17 million total minutes per day (up 21 percent).

Fantasy and mobile usage logged the biggest gains.  NBA content on the ESPN mobile Web averaged 1.5 million daily unique visitors (up 43 percent) and 13.6 million total minutes per day (up 56 percent).  Fantasy Basketball on ESPN.com and mobile platforms was also up 57 percent in average daily unique visitors and 69 percent in average total minutes per day.

“Fight To Win” with Cee-Lo Green
ESPN will debut a new NBA Playoffs promo on Saturday featuring Grammy-award winner Cee-Lo Green. The promo will air throughout the weekend during ESPN and ABC’s NBA Playoffs coverage.

ESPN.com
ESPN.com’s comprehensive NBA Playoffs coverage will include:

• Daily Dime Live – a live blog before, during and after each game;
• NBA Today podcast;
• TrueHoop and TrueHoop Network blogs;
• special sections for every postseason series;
• extensive coverage from local ESPN.com sites (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and Dallas);
• pregame and postgame coverage, essays, columns, video analysis for every NBA Playoffs game.

ESPN Social Media

• Facebook – ESPN’s NBA Facebook page will include regular updates throughout the NBA Playoffs with videos and imagery, shareable NBA content, polls, instant reactions to memorable moments, “This Day in NBA History” series and other highlights;
• Twitter – ESPN’s NBA Twitter – @NBAonESPN – will provide breaking news, game updates, links to ESPN.com stories, photos and more.

ESPN3 & WatchESPN
Fans will also be able to watch every ESPN and ESPN2 postseason NBA game live on their computers, smartphones or tablets via WatchESPN.  Additionally, fans will also have access to special simulcasts of The Finals on ABC on ESPN3.  WatchESPN delivers live access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN Buzzer Beater/Goal Line on PCs, smartphones and tablets to fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription from Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks or Verizon FiOS TV.

ESPN International
ESPN International will present the NBA Playoffs throughout Latin America, Brazil, Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Pacific Rim.

That is all

NBA TV Announces Its Early Playoff Schedule Plus Other Programming

NBA TV, the league-owned and Turner Sports-run network, will be part of the TV rotation in the early-going for the playoffs. For the first week, it will carry three games and will utilize NBA television veterans Ian Eagle and Kevin Calabro to call the games. Steve Smith and Greg Anthony will be the analysts. Tracy Wolfson and Stephanie Ready will be the reporters.

In addition, NBA TV will provide plenty of programming surrounding the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Matt Winer, Rick Kamla and Vince Cellini will be the studio hosts. Chris Webber, Greg Anthony, Brent Barry, Dennis Scott and Steve Smith will be among those who will join the fun in the studio.

We have the NBA TV announcement.

NBA Digital to Provide Comprehensive Coverage of 2012 NBA Playoffs Across Television, Online and Mobile

NBA TV to Air Approximately 1,500 Hours of Playoff Coverage Including Originally-Produced Games
NBA.com to use Playoffs Pulse to Track Popular Social Media Content and Highlight Fan Tweets with Social Spotlight; NBA Mobile to Offer Enhanced Playoff Experience with NBA GameTime App

NBA Digital, coming off a record-setting regular season, will guide fans through the 2012 NBA Playoffs with comprehensive coverage and enhancements across multiple screens, including originally-produced NBA TV game telecasts, NBA.com’s Playoffs Pulse and Social Spotlight, and new features for an enhanced experience on NBA Mobile.

NBA TV’s original productions of NBA playoff games will mark the first time the network will independently produce its playoff games since the start of the Turner Sports-NBA partnership to jointly manage the NBA’s digital assets four years ago. The network’s playoff telecasts will tip off with the Indiana Pacers hosting the Orlando Magic on Monday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Ian Eagle will provide commentary with analyst Steve Smith and reporter Stephanie Ready.

NBA TV playoff telecasts will include interviews with coaches, who will also wear microphones during the games. Each game night will include the Pregame Show, Halftime Report and NBA GameTime postgame shows.

2012 NBA PLAYOFFS ON NBA TV (All Times ET)

TIME/DATE	GAME
Monday, April 30
7:30 p.m. ET	Orlando at Indiana  (Game 2) Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst) and Stephanie Ready (reporter)
Tuesday, May 1
7:30 p.m.	Boston at Atlanta  (Game 2) Kevin Calabro (play-by-play), Greg Anthony (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
Wednesday, May 2
7:30 p.m.	Indiana at Orlando (Game 3) Eagle (play-by-play), Anthony (analyst) and Ready (reporter)

NBA TV will air approximately 1,500 hours of wall-to-wall NBA Playoff coverage. The network will provide pre- and post-game analysis, press conferences, complete-game playbacks of every playoff game and encore presentations of NBA GameTime.

The 2011-12 NBA regular season on NBA TV was the most viewed in the network’s history.  The league’s 24-hour network averaged 337,000 viewers (up 33 percent vs. 253,000 last year) and 266,000 household impressions (up 34 percent vs. 2010-11) for its 96-game schedule.

“This has been a record-setting year for NBA Digital and we look forward to carrying that momentum into the postseason,” said Albert “Scooter” Vertino, vice president of content, NBA Digital.  “NBA Digital prides itself on being the home for all things NBA and that will be our focus throughout the playoffs with originally-produced games, constant updates and analysis across NBA TV, NBA.com and NBA Mobile.”

NBA.com will transform into “Playoffs Central” including a converted home page with access to series breakdowns, complete video highlights, stats, game storylines and live streaming press conferences. In addition, NBA.com’s Playoffs Pulse will allow users to vote, track top trending topics and share content in real-time about NBA players and teams.

Throughout the Playoffs, NBA.com will showcase the best tweets, photos and videos from players, fans and NBA.com writers through NBA.com’s Social Spotlight – a dynamic mosaic that flips every few seconds to highlight the conversation in the social media space.

NBA Digital’s complete playoff coverage – from the opening tip through trophy presentation – will also include:

NBA TV

• NBA TV’s studio teams will include hosts Matt Winer, Rick Kamla and Vince Cellini, alongside a deep roster of analysts – Chris Webber, Greg Anthony, Brent Barry, Dennis Scott and Steve Smith, among others.
• Winer, Smith and Sam Mitchell will break down each first round series on Friday, April 27, with the Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview at 8 p.m. followed by the Western Conference Playoffs Preview at 9 p.m. with Cellini, Smith and Mitchell.
• NBA TV will feature NBA GameTime every night before, during and after games throughout the playoffs featuring highlights, analysis, player interviews and live press conferences.
• The network will produce Playoff Playbacks, which will be 60-minute versions of every playoff game for re-air on NBA TV.
• Original programming will include: (*air dates TBD)
  • Sounds of the Playoffs – Airing at the conclusion of each round of the playoffs, the three 30-minute NBA Entertainment-produced shows will provide exclusive coverage of games plus access on and off the court, delivering all the big shots, clutch performances and memorable moments in the weeks leading up to The Finals.
  • NBA Backstage: The Playoffs – The NBA’s top stars talk about what it takes to succeed in the playoffs.
  • The Association: Denver Nuggets – In Episode 7, The Association follows the Denver Nuggets as they begin their playoff run.
  • One on One with Ahmad Rashad – Ahmad sits down with three players to discuss their compelling stories.

NBA.com

• NBA.com will produce Playoff Series Hub pages available for every series. Each page will include video highlights, box scores, series stats and game stories from the site’s stable of award-winning writers.
• NBA.com will provide instant analysis on all breaking news throughout the playoffs.
• Exclusive content, live chats with NBA.com writers, and replays of Inside the NBA will be available on TNT OverTime on NBA.com.

NBA Mobile

• During the playoffs, users can follow all the action through NBA GameTime, the signature mobile app of the NBA available via the iTunes App Store, Google Play and the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace. NBA GameTime will provide live scoring, game alerts, video on demand, radio feeds, a redesigned app dashboard and full bracket view.
• Users also can follow the playoffs through NBA Game Time Courtside, the official tablet application of the NBA, available via the iTunes App Store. Courtside will provide live scoring, a new NBA dashboard view, video on demand, and full bracket view.
• The NBA.com mobile web site will provide users with an enhanced experience with new features including video, series trackers and an expanded bracket view.
• The site will also allow users to access postseason stats, scores and standings, as well as follow their favorite players from any HTML 5 enabled device.

That is all.

NBA Playoffs on TNT Schedule Through May 6

The NBA Playoffs begin this weekend and TNT will carry the first game on Saturday before handing off to ABC/ESPN to kick off the eight game schedule this weekend. Then on Sunday, TNT has an evening doubleheader.

Thanks to TNT, we also have the announcing assignments for the three games it will carry this weekend and then for the games through May 6. The usual suspects will be involved for TNT including Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert and Dick Stockton with Matt Devlin joining the crew to call games. Analysts include Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller, Mike Fratello and NBA TV’s Chris Webber.

Reporters include Craig Sager, Cheryl Miller, Marty Snyder, David Aldridge and Jamie Maggio. I believe Tracy Wolfson from CBS makes her NBA on TNT debut this season.

We have the schedule of games for the first week of the Playoffs.

TNT’s Coverage of the 2012 NBA Playoffs Begins April 28

TNT on Pace for Highest-Rated & Most-Viewed NBA Regular Season; More Than 40 NBA Playoff Games on TNT Including Western Conference Finals

On pace to deliver a record-setting 2011-12 NBA regular season -– the highest-rated and most-viewed in its 28-year history with the league -– TNT will televise more than 40 NBA Playoff games beginning Saturday, April 28. TNT, the home of the Western Conference Finals this season, will open its postseason schedule with the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose hosting the Philadelphia 76ers and Andre Iguodala at 1 p.m. ET. Recently, Turner Sports was nominated for four Sports Emmy® Awards for its coverage of the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

Through 43 telecasts, the NBA on TNT has averaged a 1.7 U.S. HH rating, 2,566,000 viewers and 1,955,000 household impressions. The top six NBA regular-season games on cable this season have all aired on TNT and the network has televised two of the top five most-watched NBA regular-season games in cable television history this season.

The NBA on TNT is up nine percent among household impressions (vs. 1,797,000); seven percent among viewers (vs. 2,397,000); and six percent in U.S. HH rating (vs. 1.6) when compared with last season. TNT is expected to post its fifth straight year of growth among viewers and households. There has also been considerable growth among all core demos:

• A18-34 +17% (899,000 vs. 771,000)
• A18-49 +9% (1,440,000 vs. 1,325,000)
• A25-54 +4% (1,234,000 vs. 1,188,000)
• M18-34 +19% (651,000 vs. 545,000)
• M18-49 +9% (1,032,000 vs. 946,000)
• M25-54 +3% (866,000 vs. 839,000)

TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs will feature the four-time Sports Emmy^® Award-winning studio show hosted by Ernie Johnson with analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal (in his first year with the network) and Kenny Smith.

Commentator teams for TNT’s first round coverage include Marv Albert/Steve Kerr; Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller; Dick Stockton/Chris Webber; and Matt Devlin/Mike Fratello.

TNT’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs will also include sideline reporters Craig Sager, David Aldridge, Cheryl Miller, Marty Snider, Tracy Wolfson, Jaime Maggio, Lewis Johnson and Stephanie Ready.

Additionally, TNT OverTime on NBA.com will provide multi-camera angle coverage including an “Action Cam” and a “Backboard Cam” for up to 21 games through the Western Conference Finals. Users also will have the ability to vote for which player they would like the “Home Player Cam” and “Away Player Cam” to follow per quarter. Fans can watch each camera individually, with picture-in-picture or in the Mosaic View. Viewers also can participate in “Ask The Expert” Cover It Live chats where they can ask NBA insiders questions during the playoff games.

2012 NBA PLAYOFFS ON TNT (All Times ET)

TIME/DATE	GAME
Saturday, April 28
1 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
	Philadelphia at Chicago – (Game 1) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
Sunday, April 29
6:30 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
7 p.m.	Boston at Atlanta — (Game 1) Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Memphis  (Game 1) Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Monday, April 30
7 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
	New York at Miami – (Game 2) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	Dallas at Oklahoma City — (Game 2) Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Tuesday, May 1
8 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
	Philadelphia at Chicago – (Game 2) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Cheryl Miller (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	Denver at L.A. Lakers — (Game 2) Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Jaime Maggio (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Wednesday, May 2
7 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
	Utah at San Antonio – (Game 2) Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers at Memphis – (Game 2) Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Thursday, May 3
7 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
	Miami at New York – (Game 3) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and David Aldridge (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City at Dallas — (Game 3) Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Saturday, May 5
7 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
7:30 p.m.	Oklahoma City at Dallas – (Game 4) Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst) and Marty Snider (reporter)
10 p.m.	San Antonio at Utah – (Game 3) Matt Devlin (play-by-play), Mike Fratello (analyst) and Lewis Johnson (reporter)
Post-game	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
Sunday, May 6
6:30 p.m.	NBA Tip-Off Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)
7 p.m.	Atlanta at Boston (Game 4) Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (reporter)
9:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at Denver — (Game 4) Marv Albert (play-by-play), Steve Kerr (analyst) and Craig Sager (reporter)
Midnight	Inside the NBA Ernie Johnson (host), Charles Barkley (analyst), Shaquille O’Neal (analyst) and Kenny Smith (analyst)

That is all.

NBA Conference Quarterfinals Schedule

With the NBA Playoffs starting on Saturday, let’s provide the schedule of games in each series and networks where applicable.

That is it.

NHL on NBC Sports Group Announcing Assignments Through Sunday, April 29

Thanks to the NBC Sports public relations department for sending the information as soon as it’s requested. Much appreciated.

So we have the announcing assignments for the NBC Sports Group for all of the NHL Conference Semifinal Series for the weekend. You’ll notice that Doc Emrick, Ed Olcyzk and Pierre McGuire pull double duty for NBC on both Eastern Conference series and they’re located down Route 95.

We have the assignments for you.

Friday, April 27

Game 1: Nashville at Phoenix, NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m. — John Forslund/Joe Micheletti

Saturday, April 28

Game 1: Washington at New York Rangers, NBC, 3 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Game 1: Los Angeles at St. Louis, NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m. — Dave Strader/Brian Engblom

Sunday, April 29

Game 1: New Jersey at Philadelphia, NBC, 3 p.m. — Mike Emrick/Ed Olcyzk/Pierre McGuire
Game 2: Nashville at Phoenix, NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m. — John Forslund/Joe Micheletti

I don’t think we’ll see Doc, Edzo and Pierre pull double duty on the Eastern Conference throughout. I suspect we’ll see Rick Peckham and Daryl Reaugh on the New Jersey/Philly series next week.

As always, I’ll update the assignments when they become available.

NHL Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinals Schedule

I admit this is a cut-and-paste job from NHL.com, but instead of me typing everything, why not lift their nicely-made graphic and put it here? I promise to type out the Conference Finals schedule.

2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals Schedule

(ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN):
- * denotes if necessary

2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE Semifinals
series i	Time (ET)	#1 vs. #7	Networks
Saturday, April 28, 2012	3:00 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBC, CBC
Monday, April 30, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBCSN, CBC
Wednesday, May 2, 2012	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	NBCSN, CBC
Saturday, May 5, 2012	12:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Washington	NBC, CBC
*Monday, May 7, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Washington at NY Rangers	NBCSN, CBC
*Wednesday, May 9, 2012	TBD	NY Rangers at Washington	TBD, CBC
*Saturday, May 12, 2012	TBD	Washington at NY Rangers	TBD, CBC
series j	Time	#5 vs. #6	Networks
Sunday, April 29, 2012	3:00 p.m.	New Jersey at Philadelphia	NBC, CBC
Tuesday, May 1, 2012	7:30 p.m.	New Jersey at Philadelphia	NBCSN, CBC
Thursday, May 3, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at New Jersey	NBCSN, CBC
Sunday, May 6, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at New Jersey	NBCSN, CBC
*Tuesday, May 8, 2012	TBD	New Jersey at Philadelphia	NBCSN, CBC
*Thursday, May 10, 2012	TBD	Philadelphia at New Jersey	TBD, CBC
*Saturday, May 12, 2012	TBD	New Jersey at Philadelphia	TBD, CBC
2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
series k	Time	#2 vs. #8	Networks
Saturday, April 28, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Los Angeles at St. Louis	NBCSN, TSN
Monday, April 30, 2012	9:00 p.m.	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CNBC, TSN
Thursday, May 3, 2012	10:00 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles	NBCSN, TSN
Sunday, May 6, 2012	3:00 p.m.	St. Louis at Los Angeles	NBC, TSN
*Tuesday, May 8, 2012	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis	CNBC, TSN
*Thursday, May 10, 2012	TBD	St. Louis at Los Angeles	TBD, TSN
*Saturday, May 12, 2012	TBD	Los Angeles at St. Louis	TBD, TSN
series l	Time	#3 vs. #4	Networks
Friday, April 27, 2012	9:00 p.m.	Nashville at Phoenix	NBCSN, TSN
Sunday, April 29, 2012	8:00 p.m.	Nashville at Phoenix	NBCSN, TSN
Wednesday, May 2, 2012	9:00 p.m.	Phoenix at Nashville	CNBC, TSN
Friday, May 4, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Phoenix at Nashville	NBCSN, TSN
*Monday, May 7, 2012	10:00 p.m.	Nashville at Phoenix	NBCSN, TSN
*Wednesday, May 9, 2012	TBD	Phoenix at Nashville	TBD, TSN
*Friday, May 11, 2012	TBD	Nashville at Phoenix	TBD, TSN

And when I receive announcing assignments, I’ll post them immediately.

Weekend Viewing Picks

Saturday, April 28

Boxing
World Championship Boxing: Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson II & Seth Mitchell vs. Chad Witherspoon — HBO, 10:15 p.m.

24/7 Mayweather/Cotto — HBO, 9:45 p.m.

College Baseball
Loyola Marymount at Gonzaga — ESPNU, 10 p.m.
Indiana at Michigan — Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State — Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Men’s
Syracuse at Notre Dame — ESPNU, 5 p.m.
Cornell at Princeton — ESPNU, 7 p.m.

Women’s
Rutgers at Georgetown — CBS Sports Network, 1 p.m.

College Softball
Illinois at Michigan — Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.
Colorado State at UNLV — the mtn., 4 p.m.
Illinois at Michigan — Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.

English Premier League
West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa — Fox Soccer Plus, 9:53 a.m.
Stoke City vs. Arsenal — ESPN2, 9:55 a.m.
Wigan Athletic vs. Newcastle United — Fox Soccer, 10 a.m.
Norwich City vs. Liverpool — Fox Soccer, 12:30 p.m.
Everton vs. Fulham — Fox Soccer, 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
Swansea City vs. Wolverhampton — Fox Soccer Plus, 6 p.m. (same day coverage)

Equestrian
Rolex Championships — NBC Sports Network, 1:30 p.m.

Golf
European Tour: Ballentine’s Championship, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day coverage)
LPGA Tour: Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.
PGA Tour: New Orleans Classic, 3rd Round — Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

MLB
American League
Anaheim Angels at Cleveland — Fox, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Minnesota — Fox, 1 p.m.
Detroit at New York Yankees — Fox Sports Detroit/YES, 4 p.m.
Seattle at Toronto — Root Sports Northwest/Rogers Sportsnet, 4 p.m.
Boston at Chicago White Sox — NESN/Comcast SportsNet, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Baltimore — Comcast SportsNet California/MASN, 7 p.m
Tampa Bay at Texas — Sun Sports/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.

National League
Milwaukee at St. Louis — Fox, 1 p.m.
Houston at Cincinnati — Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Ohio, 4 p.m.
Arizona at Miami — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia — WGN America/The Comcast Network, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports South, 7 p.m.
New York Mets at Colorado — WPIX/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m.
San Diego at San Francisco — Fox Sports San Diego/KNTV, 9 p.m.
Washington at Los Angeles Dodgers — MLB Network/MASN2/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 9 p.m.

MLB Player Poll — Fox, noon
Fox Saturday Baseball Pregame — Fox, 12:30 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 5 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, midnight

MLS
Montreal vs. Portland — TVA/KPDX, 2 p.m.
New York vs. New England — NBC Sports Network, 3:30 p.m.
Philadelphia vs. San Jose — Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 7 p.m.
Columbus vs. Vancouver — Fox Sports Ohio/Rogers Sportsnet Pacific, 7:30 p.m.
DC United vs. Houston — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/KPRC, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago vs. Seattle — WMAQ, 5.2/KONG, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado vs. Chivas USA — Altitude/Fox Sports West, 9 p.m.
Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto — KUCW/Gol TV (Canada), 9 p.m.
LA Galaxy vs. Dallas — KDOC/Fox Sports Southwest Plus, 10:30 p.m.

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series: Richmond 400 — Fox, 7 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Philadelphia at Chicago — TNT, 1 p.m.
Game 1: New York at Miami — ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Game 1: Orlando at Indiana — ESPN, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Dallas at Oklahoma City — ESPN, 9:30 p.m.

NFL
2012 NFL Draft: Rounds 4 – 7 — ESPN/NFL Network, noon

2012 NFL Draft Kickoff — NFL Network, 10 a.m.
SportsCenter Special: On the Clock — ESPN, 10 a.m.
ESPNU Draft Coverage Day 3 — ESPNU, 10 a.m.
The Top 100: Players of 2012 – 100-91 — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions — NFL Network, 9 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Washington at New York Rangers — NBC/CBC/RDS, 3 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Los Angeles at St. Louis — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS, 7:30 p.m.

NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live Postgame — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.

Tennis
ATP Tour: Barcelona Open, Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 2:30 p.m. & 5 p.m. (same day coverage)
WTA Tour: Porsche Grand Prix, Semifinals– Tennis Channel, 8 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.

Track & Field
USA vs. The World at the Penn Relays — NBC, 1 p.m.

Entertainment
French Food at Home: Vegetarian — Cooking Channel, noon
Kelsey’s Essentials: Pickling Class — Cooking Channel, 4 p.m.
Indiana Jones and the Laqst Crusade — Bravo, 8 p.m.
2012 White House Correspondents Dinner — CSPAN, 8 p.m./CNN/MSNBC, 9:30 p.m.
Shark Men: Tiger Bait — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Killing bin Laden — Discovery, 9 p.m.
My Ghost Story: Caught on Camera — Biography, 9 p.m.
48 Hours Mystery: Death Wish — CBS, 10 p.m.
Flipped Off: I Smell A Rat — A&E, 10 p.m.
My Ghost Story: Caught on Camera — Biography, 10 p.m.
Scorned: Love Kills — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
The Graham Norton Show — BBC America, 11 p.m.
That Metal Show — VH1 Classic, 11 p.m.
Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show — BBC America, 12:40 a.m. (Sunday)

Sunday, April 29

College Baseball
Oklahoma State at Kansas State — ESPNU, 1 p.m.
Georgia at LSU — ESPN2, 2 p.m.
Arkansas at Florida — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
Iowa at Minnesota — Big Ten Network, 4 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Men’s
Patriot League Championship, Hamilton, NY
CBS Sports Network, 3 p.m.

Women’s
Atlantic 10 Championship, Richmond, VA
CBS Sports Network, 1 p.m.

College Softball
Minnesota at Penn State — Big Ten Network, noon
Michigan State at Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 2 p.m.
Texas A&M at Texas — Longhorn Network, 6 p.m.

English Premier League
Chelsea vs. Queens Park Rangers — Fox Soccer, 8:30 a.m.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Blackburn Rovers — Fox Soccer, 10:30 a.m.

Equestrian
Rolex Championships — NBC, 2 p.m.

Golf
European Tour: Ballentine’s Championship, Final Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day coverage)
LPGA Tour: Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, Final Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.
PGA Tour: New Orleans Classic, Final Round — Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

IndyCar
São Paulo Indy 300 — NBC Sports Network, 11 a.m.

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

National League
Arizona at Miami — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Florida, 1 p.m.
Houston at Cincinnati — Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports Ohio, 1 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia — WGN America/WPHL, 1:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta — Root Sports Pittsburgh/SportSouth, 1:30 p.m.
Milwaukee at St. Louis — Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Midwest, 2:15 p.m.
New York Mets at Colorado — WPIX/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 3 p.m.
San Diego at San Francisco — Fox Sports San Diego/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 4 p.m.
Washington at Los Angeles Dodgers — MASN2/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 4p.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.

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Boston at Atlanta — TNT, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
Game 1: Utah at San Antonio — ESPN, 1 p.m.
Game 1: Denver at Los Angeles Lakers — ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Game 1: Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis — TNT, 9:30 p.m.

Inside the NBA — TNT, midnight

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 1: New Jersey at Philadelphia — NBC/CBC/RDS, 3 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinals
Game 2: Nashville at Phoenix — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS, 8 p.m.

NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live Postgame — NBC Sports Network, 10:30 p.m.

Scottish Premier League
Celtic vs. Rangers — Fox Soccer Plus, 7:40 a.m.
St. Mirren vs. Hibernian — Fox Soccer Plus, noon (same day coverage)

Tennis
ATP Tour: Barcelona Open, Final– Tennis Channel, 10 a.m.
WTA Tour: Porsche Grand Prix, Final — Tennis Channel, noon

Entertainment
CBS News Sunday Morning — CBS, 9 a.m.
60 Minutes — CBS, 7 p.m.
The Amazing Race 20: I Need Hair To Be Pretty — CBS, 8 p.m.
Once Upon A Time — ABC, 8 p.m.
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: Samuel L. Jackson, Condeleeza Rice & Ruth Simmons — PBS, 8 p.m.
Nurse Jackie — Showtime, 9 p.m.
The Killing — AMC, 9 p.m.
Game of Thrones — HBO, 9 p.m.
Snapped: Clara Schwartz — Oxygen, 9 p.m.
The Big C — Showtime, 9:30 p.m.
Veep — HBO, 10 p.m.
Mad Men: At the Codfish Ball — AMC, 10 p.m.
Unusual Suspects: Hotel Homicides — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
The Borgias — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Girls — HBO, 10:30 p.m.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Baseball
Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina A&T — ESPNU, noon
Indiana at Michigan — Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State — Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.

College Lacrosse
Patriot League Tournament, Hamilton, NY
Semifinals
Bucknell vs. Colgate — CBS Sports Network, 5 p.m.
Army vs. Lehigh — CBS Sports Network, 8 p.m.

Duke at Denver — ESPNU, 10 p.m.

Golf
European Tour: Ballentine’s Championship, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 9 a.m. (same day coverage)
LPGA Tour: Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.
PGA Tour: New Orleans Classic, 2nd Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
The Ultimate Fighter Live — FX, 10 p.m.

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

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

The Rundown — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
On-Deck Circle — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Saturday)

NASCAR
Nationwide Series: Some Race That Goes 250 Miles — ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

NBA
NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Preview — NBA TV, 8 p.m.
NBA Western Conference Playoff Preview — NBA TV, 9 p.m.

NFL
2012 NFL Draft: Rounds 2 & 3 — ESPN/NFL Network, 7 p.m.

2012 NFL Draft Kickoff — NFL Network, 1 p.m.
SportsCenter Special: On the Clock — ESPN, 5 p.m.
ESPNU Draft Coverage Day 2 — ESPNU, 6 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Western Conference Semifinals
Game 1: Nashville at Phoenix — NBC Sports Network, 9 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 p.m.
NHL on the Fly — NHL Network, 7 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live Postgame — NBC Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.

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, 1 p.m.
Numbers Never Lie — ESPN2, 2 p.m.
Outside the Lines First Report — ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.
NBC Sports Talk — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
CNBC Sports Biz: Game On! — NBC Sports Network, midnight

Tennis
ATP Tour: Barcelona Open, Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 6:30 a.m.., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
WTA Tour: Porsche Grand Prix, Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Undercover Boss: Philly Pretzel Factory — CBS, 8 p.m.
Nikita — The CW, 8 p.m.
The Finder — Fox, 8 p.m.
The Ricky Gervais Show: Comic Relief — HBO, 9 p.m.
America’s Most Wanted: Bad Girls — Lifetime (The Network That Hates Men), 9 p.m.
Primetime: What Would You Do? — ABC, 9:01 p.m.
20/20 — ABC, 10 p.m.
Dateline NBC — NBC, 10 p.m.
Sonicsgate: Requiem for a Team — CNBC, 10 p.m.
Magic City — Starz, 10 p.m.
In Plain Sight — USA Network, 10 p.m.
House Hunters International: Belize — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
The Girl’s Guide to Depravity: The Unavailable Rule — Cinemax, 11 p.m.
The Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.

NFL Network Quotage For “2012 NFL Draft Kickoff Show”

We have NFL quotage on this Night 1 of the NFL Draft. It’s from NFL Network’s pre-draft show. And it’s a 1,757-word press release. Get ready to scroll.

News and Sound Bites From 2012 NFL Draft Kickoff Show

Interviews with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway & Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen
“The success of Jason Pierre-Paul is what has moved this guy up – everybody covets that.” – Brian Billick on DE Chandler Jones
“I don’t see an elite quarterback here; I see a guy that can develop and be a solid quarterback.” – Charley Casserly on QB Ryan Tannehill
“The Broncos feel free, unencumbered now because they realize they didn’t have to do something specifically for Tim Tebow.” – Jamie Dukes on Denver’s Draft strategy

Quotes from 2012 NFL Draft Kickoff Show:
“The Broncos feel free, unencumbered now because they realize they didn’t have to do something specifically for Tim Tebow. Now they have that freedom where they can go anywhere they want to go because they are going to take the best player off the board and not necessarily have to cover for some shortcomings for the player that was going to be the guy running their franchise.” – Jamie Dukes on the Denver Broncos heading into the 2012 NFL Draft

“Fletcher Cox is the most complete defensive lineman in this draft.” – Charley Casserly on Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox

“It’s a very unique situation because you’re following a guy [Peyton Manning] that is still playing, and we consider him one of – if not the – best quarterback to play our game…He has to be Andrew Luck regardless of what happens in this situation. There is no replacing Peyton Manning.” – Marshall Faulk on quarterback Andrew Luck

“Andrew Luck is about as near perfect of a prospect as we’ve had in a long, long time and he’s the exact right guy for the Colts. They can determine long-term now how they want to build their football team around him offensively and defensively.” – Steve Mariucci on quarterback Andrew Luck

“This guy is a top-10 back in any draft in any year. He is a complete back; he can run inside with power, he can run outside with speed, he catches the ball, he blocks – he does everything…There is a value to having a great back. This guy is a great back.” – Charley Casserly on Alabama running back Trent Richardson

“The success of Jason Pierre-Paul is what has moved this guy up – everybody covets that…This is not a great defensive end draft so to get an impact guy, he may get pulled up on the board a little earlier than he might otherwise be.” – Brian Billick on Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones

“Obviously he is going to be over-drafted, obviously he is a guy that Miami is reaching for in a sense of desperation because they didn’t get their quarterback. Great players typically never move; Joe Flacco transferred, he didn’t move positions. For me, that is bothersome. He’s a potential starter, and drafting potential starters with the eighth pick overall is not something I would do.” – Michael Lombardi on Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill

“I don’t know if people realize how competitive he is. You see this nice guy, humble guy with the media but on the field he’s a fierce leader and a fierce competitor. He’ll get into you if you mess up.” – Stanford OT Jonathan Martin on quarterback Andrew Luck

“I like the guy as a prospect. I don’t see an elite quarterback here; I see a guy that can develop and be a solid quarterback.” – Charley Casserly on Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill

“You have to play New England twice a year with those two tight ends. You better have good safeties and good linebackers.” – Mike Mayock on Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly going to the Buffalo Bills in his mock draft

Interview with Washington Redskins GM Bruce Allen
On if he can say that he is 100 percent sure that the Redskins will select Robert Griffin III in the first round of the NFL Draft:
“We know exactly who we are going to take after the Colts take Andrew Luck. Yes, we do.”

On what they saw in Robert Griffin III that convinced them to trade up to the number two overall pick to select him:
“The exciting part about what we were able to do was we fell in love with both quarterbacks [Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck]. We knew we wanted to move up; the Colts didn’t want to make a trade and the Rams having a franchise quarterback allowed us to pinpoint the number two spot. But it’s not just this year for either one of those quarterbacks; it’s the body of work that they accomplished in college football, it’s what we found out about them as individuals that really set them apart from everybody that we had graded in this draft.”

On quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck:
“They both have terrific talent. First of all, it starts with their leadership. As most people will tell you, that position takes more than talent; it takes a leadership and a drive and a toughness that other positions in other sports don’t require. But they’re unique in what they do and we think that Robert fits our offense to a tee. We’re excited about being able to complement him with what we’ve already been able to do with some of his special talents. Obviously his charisma is going to be embraced by the Redskins nation.”

On his reaction to analysts predicting Robert Griffin III will have more success than Andrew Luck initially because he has a better team around him:
“We have to play the games. What I love about Robert is that he wants to get to work. The only way we’re going to get better as a football team is if the talent on our team right now improves, we do a good job in the rest of the draft and the players are focused on our upcoming opponents. I love his attitude, his dedication and he is ready to get to work.”

On what the Redskins will be doing from now until their next pick:
“We’re going to watch the draft like all NFL fans and try to imagine that if we had a pick at 24 or 25 what we would do. But we spent a lot of time on picking the guys that we think will be there around [pick] 69 and developing our plan for the second half of the draft. We’re looking forward to it, but there is going to be a special celebration in the nation’s capitol tonight.”

To view the entire interview with Allen, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d8289f26a/Redskins-GM-We-know-exactly-who-we-re-going-to-take

Interview with Denver Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway
On quarterback Peyton Manning:
“We obviously haven’t been able to be on the field with him yet, but he’s been going through his rehab in the training room and he’s continuing to make strides. The type of guy that Peyton is, he wants it done yesterday, but he’s working hard and making strides every day. We know with three months to go, by the time we get to camp we expect him to be 100 percent.”

On the conversations that he has had with Peyton Manning:
“It’s been difficult because at this point in time I am not able to spend a whole lot of time with Peyton. Obviously when we were going through the process of recruiting Peyton to come here as a free agent, we were able to sit down and have a great conversation. Really the conversations were about what was best for Peyton Manning at that time, what I went through when I was 36 years old and what I was looking for to try to help us win world championships. There is a unique bond there in the fact that when you play that position, there is so much that goes into it, there is so much pressure that is involved, that you have a unique bond with the other quarterbacks; obviously with Peyton, but Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, the other guys that came out with me. I’ve always had a great relationship with them.”

To view the entire interview with Elway, visit:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d828a09fc/John-Elway-gears-up-for-the-draft

Interview with Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones
On the blueprint for the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East next year after finishing 8-8 in 2011:
“When I woke up this morning, it didn’t take me long to realize that having the 14th pick meant that we did go 8-8, and that just was not acceptable. Today is a reminder of how much we need to improve and where we can improve. I’ll assure you one thing: we’re interested in while we have [Tony] Romo, while we have the great years ahead with Romo, we’re going to do the things on this team that are going to make it Romo-friendly and give us a chance to be knocking at the door. We think that is the key. We could be looking at protection for him, we could be looking for, without being cute, how to get the ball back – that means defensive players; how to get them out of there on third down so we can get Romo back on the field. All of this comes to mind because this is bittersweet: getting the 14th pick, you have to earn it. You have to have fallen on your butt.”

On the Cowboys’ secondary:
“First of all, we all want to put pressure on the offense, put pressure on the quarterback. But that pressure most of the time really manifests itself getting to make some plays in the secondary – not necessarily a sack. We use the term ‘pressures are just as important,’ but you have to be able to make plays in the secondary. We haven’t been able to do that the last two or three years. We have to address that and tonight may give us a chance to do it.’

Video Links:
- Stanford offensive lineman Jonathan Martin appears in-studio to talk about where he thinks he will be drafted and playing in the NFL.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d8289fb5e/Jonathan-Martin-on-set

- Will the Dallas Cowboys have the opportunity to draft Alabama safety Mark Barron with the No. 14 pick? Analysts Charles Davis, Brian Billick and Jay Glazer discuss.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d828a005a/Will-Cowboys-get-Barron

- Analysts Brian Billick, Charles Davis and Jay Glazer debate if it is worth it for the Dolphins to make a move on Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/miami-dolphins/09000d5d828a0111/Is-Tannehill-on-Dalton-s-level

- LSU head coach Les Miles and Stanford head coach David Shaw discuss how they used their NFL experience to evaluate football players.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d828a1241/Evaluating-talent

That’s all