Fang's Bites

Friday’s Viewing Picks

Australian Rules Football
Collingwood Magpies vs. Sydney Swans — Fox Soccer Plus, 5:30 a.m.
Port Adelaide Power vs. Geelong Cats — Fox Soccer Plus, 11:30 p.m.

College Baseball
ACC Tournament, Durham, NC
Pool Play
NC State vs. Miami — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona/Carolinas/Florida/North Plus/Prime Ticket/San Diego/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN), 11 a.m.
Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech– Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona/Carolinas/Florida/North Plus/Prime Ticket/San Diego/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic), 3 p.m.
Clemson vs. North Carolina– Fox Sports Net-regional (Florida/North Plus/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic), 7 p.m.

Big Ten Tournament, Minneapolis, MN
Semifinals
Illinois vs. Minnesota — Big Ten Network, 1 p.m.
Nebraska vs. Illinois/Minnesta winner — Big Ten Network, 4:30 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Indiana — Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.

Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City, OK
Pool Play
Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech — Fox College Sports Central, 10 a.m.
Kansas State vs. Baylor — Fox College Sports Central, 1:30 p.m.
West Virginia vs. TCU — Fox College Sports Central, 5 p.m.
Oklahoma State vs. Kansas — Fox College Sports Central, 8:30 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

College Softball
NCAA Division I Tournament
Super Regionals

Ann Arbor Super Regional, Ann Arbor, MI
Game 1: Michigan vs. Louisiana-Lafayette — ESPNU, 2 p.m.

Austin Super Regional, Austin, TX
Game 1: Texas vs. Florida State — ESPNU, 9 p.m.

Columbia Super Regional, Columbia, MO
Game 2: Washington vs. Missouri — ESPNU, 6 p.m.
Game 3: Washington vs. Missouri — ESPN, 9 p.m. (if necessary)

Knoxville Super Regional, Knoxville, TN
Game 1: Tennessee vs. Alabama — ESPN2, 7 p.m.

Norman Super Regional, Norman, OK
Game 2: Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M — ESPNU, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M — ESPN, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

Cycling
Tour of Belgium
Stage 3: Beveren (time trial) — Universal Sports, 8:30 a.m.

Giro d’Italia
Stage 19: Ponte di Legno to Val Martello — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Formula 1
Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Principality of Monaco
Practice 2 — NBC Sports Network, 11:30 p.m. (delayed)

Golf
European PGA Tour
BMW PGA Championship, Surrey, England
Second Round — Golf Channel, 6 a.m.

Champions Tour
Senior PGA Championship, St. Louis, MO
Second Round — Golf Channel, noon

PGA Tour
Colonial Invitational, Fort Worth, TX
Second Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Bahamas Classic, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Second Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

19th Hole — Golf Channel, midnight

IndyCar
Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, IN
Qualifying — NBC Sports Network, 11 a.m.
Indy Lights Freedom 100 — NBC Sports Network, noon
Qualifying — NBC Sports Network, 1 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC Countdown: 160: Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2 — Fuel, 6 p.m.
UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2-Weigh-in — Fuel, 7 p.m.

MLB
American League
Baltimore at Toronto — MASN2/Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Boston — STO/NESN, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit — Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay — MLB Network/WWOR/Sun Sports, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Kansas City — Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.
Oakland at Houston — Comcast SportsNet California/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 8 p.m.
Texas at Seattle — KTXA/Root Sports Northwest, 10 p.m.

National League
Atlanta at New York Mets — SportSouth/SNY, 7 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati — WGN America/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington — MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/MASN, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee — Root Sports Pittsburgh/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 8 p.m.
San Diego at Arizona — Fox Sports San Diego/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers — Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.
Colorado at San Francisco — Root Sports Rocky Mountain/KNTV, 10:15 p.m.

Interleague
Miami at Chicago White Sox — Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Saturday)

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Finals
Game 2: Indiana at Miami — TNT, 8:30 p.m.

NBA Tip-Off — TNT, 8 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Pacers/Heat, Game 2 Postgame — NBA TV, 11 p.m.
Inside the NBA — TNT, 11 p.m.

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 5: Ottawa at Pittsburgh — CBC/RDS/NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

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 — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10:30 p.m.

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV), noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
Best of ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover with Michelle Beadle — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Artie Lange Show — Audience Network (DirecTV), 10 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
UNITE (The Final Days) — ESPNU, midnight

Tennis
WTA Tour
Brussels Open, Brussels, Belgium
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.

ATP Tour
Open de Nice Cote D’Azur, Nice, France
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
Power Horse Cup, Dusseldorf, Germany
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. (same day coverage)

WNBA
Indiana Fever at San Antonio Silver Stars — NBA TV, 8 p.m.

Entertainment
Rise of the Planet of the Apes — HBO, 8 p.m.
Savages — MoreMax, 8 p.m.
Americans on Everest — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Mean Girls — Showtime, 8 p.m.
Flea Market Flip: Put a Sock in It! — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Brain Games: Blow Your Mind — Fox, 9 p.m.
Live From Lincoln Center: Audra McDonald in Concert: Go Back Home — PBS, 9 p.m.
That Metal Show — VH1 Classic, 9 p.m.
Extra Yardage: Mid Century Modern Bungalow — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Mystery Diners: Friends with Benefits — Food Network, 10 p.m.
Best Week Ever — VH1, 10 p.m.
America’s Book of Secrets: The Drug Wars — H2, 10 p.m.
XIII: Pong — Reelz Channel, 10 p.m.
Network — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
The Dead Files: Bloodlust-Buffalo, Wyoming — Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
20/20 — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Rock Center with Brian Williams — NBC, 10:01 p.m.
House Hunters International: Belize City — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
The Jenny McCarthy Show — VH1, 10:30 p.m.
Zane’s the Jump Off: Offensive Holding — Cinemax, 11 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Moment: Broadway Costume Designer — USA, 11 p.m.
The Half Hour: Jonah Ray — Comedy Central, midnight
The Half Hour: Gabe Liedman — Comedy Central, 12:30 a.m. (Saturday)

NBC Begins Coverage of The 2013 French Open This Sunday

On Sunday, NBC begins coverage of the 2013 French Open in the first year of a long-term agreement that will run until 2024. NBC hits the air at noon with its tennis crew of Ted Robinson, John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. When the U.S. Open moves to ESPN in 2015, the French Open will be the last tennis Grand Slam tournament to remain on network television.

NBC will air coverage during the first two days of the Tournament including Memorial Day on Monday. And then air exclusive weekend coverage. NBC will air the women’s and men’s semifinals live in the Eastern Time Zone only on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7, respectively.

Here are the details of the French Open on NBC.

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S EXPANDED FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE BEGINS THIS SUNDAY ON NBC

27 Hours from 2013 French Open on NBC Culminates with Live Coverage of Women’s Final on Saturday, June 8 and Men’s Final on Sunday, June 9
This Marks NBC’s 31^st Consecutive Year as the Broadcast Home of the French Open

NEW YORK – May 22, 2013 – In the first year of a new agreement with the French Tennis Federation that keeps the French Open on NBC through 2024, NBC will present 27 hours of 2013 French Open, the most-ever network coverage of this major. NBC’s coverage begins this Sunday at Noon ET, with live opening-round coverage, and culminates with the Women’s Final on June 8 and the Men’s Final on June 9. In all, NBC will broadcast 27 hours from Roland Garros, including coverage on the first Monday of play for the first time (Monday, May 27).

Defending champion Rafael Nadal has won seven French Open titles (2005-2008, 2010-2012). Last year, Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic to surpass Bjorn Borg for the most men’s French Open championships in the Open era.

Maria Sharapova will defend her Women’s singles title this year. Sharapova is the sixth different woman in six years to win the French Open singles title.

COMMENTATORS: Host Ted Robinson anchors NBC’s coverage, joined by analysts John McEnroe and Mary Carillo. McEnroe and Carillo teamed to win the mixed doubles title at the 1977 French Open. This is NBC’s 31^st consecutive year televising the event.

FRENCH OPEN ON NBC: Following is the television schedule for NBC’s coverage of the 2012 French Open, which culminates with live coverage of the Women’s (June 8) and Men’s (June 9) Finals:

FRENCH OPEN ON NBC
Sunday, May 26	Noon – 3 p.m. ET	First Round (Live)
Monday, May 27	Noon – 3 p.m. (all time zones)	First Round (Live ET)
Saturday, June 1	Noon – 3 p.m. ET	Third Round (Live)
Sunday, June 2	1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET	Fourth Round (Live)
Thursday, June 6	11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (all time zones)	Women’s Semifinals (Live ET)
Friday, June 7	11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (all time zones)	Men’s Semifinals (Live ET)
Saturday, June 8	9 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET	Women’s Final (live)
Sunday, June 9	9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET	Men’s Final (Live)

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE

NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will live stream NBC’s French Open coverage.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

Coverage on NBC Sports Live Extra includes the Men’s and Women’s Finals, and live streaming coverage, across the country, of the second Women’s Semifinal on Thursday, June 6, and second Men’s Semifinals on Friday, June 7.

NBC AND THE FRENCH OPEN: In 1975, NBC became the first American television network to provide coverage of the French Open when the network signed a three-year deal with the French Tennis Federation. The tournament was covered by CBS from 1980-82 and returned to NBC in 1983, where it has remained since.

In August, 2012, NBC and the French Tennis Federation announced a multi-year, multi-platform extension that includes increased U.S. television coverage and increased digital rights for the French Open event through 2024. At the conclusion of this agreement, NBC will have served as the broadcast home of the French Open for 42 consecutive years.

That’s it.

TNT Rules Wednesday Primetime with Game 1 of NBA Eastern Conference Finals

This in from TNT, it did very well with an overtime Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat. With the Heat winning on a buzzer beater by LeBron James, TNT was paced to the most watched 2013 NBA Playoff game to date.

The game received a 5.3 US household rating and 8.2 million viewers. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals gave TNT the number 1 primetime show in all of broadcast or cable television on Wednesday.

Miami saw a 24.4 rating while Indy saw a 20.2 rating.

Here’s the TNT press release.

TNT’s Exclusive Coverage of the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 Delivers 5.3 U.S. HH Rating & 8.2 Million Total Viewers

Network Ranks No. 1 Across All of in Prime Time Based on Nielsen Metered Market Ratings
Most-Viewed 2013 NBA Playoff Game to Date

TNT’s exclusive presentation of the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat delivered a 5.3 U.S. HH rating and 8.2 million total viewers, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals, and propelled the network to rank No. 1 across all of television (cable or broadcast) in prime time.  Last night’s game is the highest-rated and most-viewed 2013 NBA Playoffs telecast to date.

The Pacers/Heat telecast is up 10% in U.S. HH rating (vs. 4.8) and 6% among total viewers (vs. 7.8 million) when compared with the network’s Game 1 of the 2012 Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.

Last night’s Pacers/Heat telecast generated a 24.4 metered market in Miami and a 20.2 locally in Indianapolis. Miami is the 16^th largest DMA among the 56 metered markets (in household reach) with Indianapolis ranking 24^th overall.

TNTs coverage of the Pacers/Heat Game 1 was also the most-discussed program of the night across social media platforms, garnering 2.7 million comments from 1.4 million authors.

Source: Nielsen Fast National Data based on Live + SD for 05/23/2013.  2013 and 2012 NBA Playoffs through the first game of the Conference Finals.  Social Media based on Bluefin data for the same date. 

There you have it.

NBC’s Sunday Night Football is the No. 1 Primetime Show for the 2nd Straight Year

NBC has another reason to crow. Its ratings for Sunday Night Football has topped all network primetime programs for the 2012-13 season. This marks the second straight year that SNF has topped all primetime shows in overall viewers as well as all key adult and male demographics.

As far as viewership, Sunday Night Football averaged 21.5 million people for 19 broadcasts beating out the second highest series, NCIS on CBS which garnered 21.3 million.

NBC averaged a 12.8 rating with a 19 share for the entire series, just off the previous season’s high of 12.9/20.

Overall, NBC is running to the bank with the numbers.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” ON NBC IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW

SNF is No. 1 Among Viewers and All Key Adult and Male Demographics

NEW YORK – May 23, 2013 – Sunday Night Football on NBC finished this television season as the No. 1 show in primetime (Viewers 2+ and all key adult and male demos), based on Nielsen combo data and all 19 SNF telecasts. This marks the second straight television season, and the only two times on record, that a sports series has been the most-watched show of the primetime TV season.

For the 2012-2013 primetime television season, Sunday Night Football ranks as the most-watched show (21.5 million, viewers 2+), and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54.

• The 21.5 million average viewers for Sunday Night Football (all 19 telecasts) tops second place NCIS (21.3 million);
• In the advertiser-coveted Adult 18-49 demographic, SNF tops the second place show by two full ratings points (8.2 vs. 6.2 for Big Bang Theory);
• In the Adult 18-34 demographic, Sunday Night Football’s margin over the second place show is 60% (7.2 vs. 4.5 for Big Bang Theory).

OTHER SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL VIEWERSHIP NOTES:

• The 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons of Sunday Night Football are the first three seasons that an NFL primetime package drew more than 21 million viewers since the 1994-1996 seasons of Monday Night Football on ABC.
• The final average household rating of 12.8/19 (all 19 telecasts) is on pace with the last two seasons of Sunday Night Football and just one-tenth off of last year’s 12.9/20.

There you have it.

Paul Finebaum Joins ESPN and the SEC Network

One of the bigger names in sports radio is joining ESPN. Paul Finebaum whose radio show was syndicated throughout the South and heard on SiriusXM, will taking his Birmingham, AL-based program to Charlotte, NC where it will be part of the new SEC Network. Finebaum’s show will be heard beginning this August and seen on SEC Network starting in August 2014.

Finebaum has become well known throughout the South for his candor about the SEC. He’ll join ESPN to make appearances not only on radio and the SEC Network, but other platforms including SportsCenter, College Football Live, College GameDay and ESPN the Magazine.

He becomes the first on-air hire for the SEC Network and gives the channel instant credibility.

Here’s the ESPN announcement.

Paul Finebaum Joins the SEC Network and ESPN Audio

Beginning in August 2013, Paul Finebaum, considered a leading sports authority in the South and the “Voice of the SEC,” will join ESPN, Inc. with a daily radio show and a variety of appearances across ESPN platforms from ESPN’s Charlotte, N.C. studios. Then starting in August 2014, when the recently announced SEC Network launches, a television simulcast of Finebaum’s radio show will anchor the afternoon lineup.

ESPN Audio will be syndicating the Paul Finebaum show and distribution agreements will be forthcoming. Additionally, Finebaum will appear on a variety of other shows and outlets, including SportsCenter, College Football Live, College GameDay and in ESPN The Magazine.

As the former 20-year host of The Paul Finebaum Show which was syndicated on stations from South Carolina to St. Louis and heard nationally on Sirius XM, Finebaum is known for his ability to tap into the deep-seeded emotions college sports fans have for their teams. As both moderator and provocateur, Finebaum has curated a forum for passionate discussion and debate across the spectrum of college sports while amassing an audience of millions nationwide.  Additionally, his former home station, WJOX, became the second-highest rated sports station in the country, thanks largely to Finebaum.  His show attracted nearly a quarter of the adult male listeners in Birmingham, ESPN’s highest-rated college football television market the past several years.

Justin Connolly, senior vice president, programming for the SEC Network said, “Paul has incredible range as a writer, radio personality and reporter. We’re excited to have him join the ESPN team. Paul’s show will create appointment television for viewers and differentiate SEC Network programming in the marketplace.”

Finebaum is the first on-air hire for the SEC Network. Additional announcements will be made in the coming months.

Finebaum said, “I remember something the late Steve Jobs said: `Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.’ In other words, dare to be different. That’s what ESPN and the SEC Network are about. You have the extraordinary coalescence of the premier brand in sports combined with the preeminent conference in intercollegiate athletics.’’

About Paul Finebaum
After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Finebaum found his way to Birmingham in 1980 and became an award-winning columnist and investigative reporter for the Birmingham Post-Herald and later the Mobile Press-Register. In 2001, he launched the Paul Finebaum Radio Network and quickly became the leading voice on college football in the South. The Tennessean named him one of the SEC’s top power brokers in 2002, and in 2009, the Orlando Sentinel named him one of the SEC’s 10 most powerful people.

That will do it.

Thursday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
ACC Tournament, Durham, NC
Pool Play
Virginia vs. Georgia Tech — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona Plus/Carolinas/Florida/North Plus/Prime Ticket/San Diego/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN), 11 a.m.
Miami vs. North Carolina — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona Plus/Carolinas/Florida/North Plus/Prime Ticket/San Diego/South/Wisconsin/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN), 3 p.m.
Florida State vs. Virginia Tech — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona Plus/Carolinas/Florida/North Plus/Prime Ticket/San Diego/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic), 7 p.m.

Big Ten Tournament, Minneapolis, MN
2nd Round
Illinois vs. Michigan — Big Ten Network, 1 p.m.
Ohio State vs. Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 4:30 p.m.
Indiana vs. Minnesota — Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.

Big 12 Tournament, Oklahoma City, OK
Pool Play
Oklahoma vs. Baylor — Fox College Sports Central, 10 a.m.
Kansas State vs. Texas Tech — Fox College Sports Central, 1:30 p.m.
West Virginia vs. Kansas — Fox College Sports Central, 5 p.m.
Oklahoma State vs. TCU — Fox College Sports Central, 8:30 p.m.

SEC Tournament, Hoover, AL
3rd Round
Mississippi vs. Alabama — SportSouth, 10:30 a.m.
South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt — SportSouth, 2 p.m.
Arkansas vs. LSU — SportSouth, 5:30 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M — SportSouth, 9 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

College Softball
NCAA Division I Tournament
Norman Super Regional, Norman, OK
Game 1: Texas A&M at Oklahoma — ESPN, 7 p.m.

Columbia Super Regional, Columbia, MO
Game 1: Washington at Missouri — ESPN, 9 p.m.

Cycling
Tour of Belgium
Stage 2: Knokke-Heist to Ninove — Universal Sports, 8:30 a.m.

Giro d’Italia
Stage 18: Mori to Polsa — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Formula 1
Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Principality of Monaco
Practice Session 1 — NBC Sports Network, 8 a.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
BMW PGA Championship, Surrey England
First Round — Golf Channel, 5 a.m.

Champions Tour
Senior PGA Championship, St. Louis, MO
First Round — Golf Channel, noon

PGA Tour
Colonial Invitational, Fort Worth, TX
First Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Bahamas Classic, Paradise Island, Bahamas
First Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

19th Hole — Golf Channel, midnight

MLB
American League
Baltimore at Toronto — MASN/Sportsnet One, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Boston — MLB Network/STO/NESN, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Detroit — MLB Network/Fox Sports North/Fox Sports Detroit, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Angels at Kansas City — Fox Sports West/Fox Sports Kansas City, 8 p.m.

National League
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh — Comcast Sports Chicago/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight

NASCAR
Nationwide Series
History 300, Charlotte, NC
Practice — Speed, 1 p.m.Final Practice — Speed, 5 p.m.

Sprint Cup Series
Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte, NC
Practice — Speed, 3:30 p.m.
Qualifying — Speed, 7 p.m.

NASCAR Race Hub: Special Edition: Charlotte — Speed, 6:30 p.m.

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.
The Top 100 Players of 2013: 60-51 — NFL Network, 8 p.m.
The Top 100 Players of 2013: Reactions — NFL Network, 9 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinal
Game 4: Boston at New York Rangers — CNBC/TSN/RDS, 7 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinals
Game 4: Chicago at Detroit — NBC Sports Network/CBC/RDS2, 8 p.m.
Game 5: San Jose at Los Angeles — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS, 10:30 p.m.

NHL Live — NHL Network, 5 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 — NBC Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Friday)

Soccer
Friendly, St. Louis, MO
Chelsea vs. Manchester City — ESPN2, 8:20 p.m.

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV), 9 a.m./NBC Sports Network, 9:30 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
Best of ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover with Michelle Beadle — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
UNITE (The Final Days) — ESPNU, midnight

Tennis
WTA Tour
Brussels Open, Brussels, Belgium
Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (live), noon (same day coverage)

ATP Tour
Power Horse Cup, Dussseldorf, Germany
Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Secrets of the Earth: Rain (series premiere) — The Weather Channel, 8 p.m.
Wipeout: Wipeout Family Values — ABC, 8 p.m.
American Reunion — Cinemax, 8 p.m.
Alaska: The Last Frontier Exposed: Til the Cows Come Home — Discovery, 8 p.m.
Mountain Movers: The Big Time — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Secrets of the Earth: Tsunamis — The Weather Channel, 8:30 p.m.
Fatal Encounters: Closing Time (season premiere) — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Russia’s Toughest Prisons — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Monumental Mysteries: Smoky the Yorkie; Golden Gate Bridge; Oakville Blobs — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
World’s Dumbest…: World’s Dumbest Partiers 21 — truTV, 9 p.m.
Anger Management: Charlie, Kate and Jen Get Romantic — FX, 9:30 p.m.
Yardcore: Eclectic Entertainers Paradise — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
House Hunters: Raleigh, NC — HGTV, 10 p.m.
How Do They Do It?: Chewing Gum, Fish Hooks, Delta — Science, 10 p.m.
Men at Work — TBS, 10 p.m.
Faked Out: Miami Vices (series premiere) — Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
The Graham Norton Show — BBC America, 10 p.m.
American Greed: Talk Radio Takedown — CNBC, 10 p.m.
Giving You the Business: Handle with Care — Food Network, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark — HLN, 10 p.m.
Behind Mansion Walls: Above Suspicion (season premiere) — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Top 20 Funniest: Worst Days Ever (series premiere) — truTV, 10 p.m.
House Hunters International: Port Douglas, Australia — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Faked Out: Savannah Charms — Travel Channel, 10:30 p.m.
The Doors: Live at the Hollywood Bowl — VH1 Classic, 10:30 p.m.
The Fugitive — IFC, 10:45 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Morgan Freeman — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Gigolos: Just for Licks — Showtime, 11 p.m.
Taxicab Confessions: New York, New York 2 — HBO, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
The Colbert Report: Christopher Chivers — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Prometheus — HBO2, midnight
Stash House — MoreMax, midnight
Animal Kingdom — Sundance Channel, mdinight
Blue Valentine — The Movie Channel, 12:05 a.m. (Friday)

The Grand Prix of Monaco Live on NBC

NBC has been running a deceptive promo making it appear that this Sunday’s airing of the Grand Prix of Monaco is the first time ever it has been run on network television. Now if NBC had said, “Live for the first time on network television,” then it would be correct. However, the race has been run on tape delay on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and also on Fox. This Sunday’s airing on NBC marks the first time it will aired live in its entirety and that’s a good thing.

NBC will begin its coverage on NBC Sports Network at 7 a.m. ET with its Pre-Race Show. Then NBC will sign on at 7:30 a.m. ET. The NBC Formula 1 crew of Leigh Diffey, David Hobbs and Steve Machett will live from Monte Carlo to call the race. Insider Will Buxton will be in the pits to provide reports and interviews.

Here’s the NBC announcement.

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS LIVE COVERAGE OF GRAND PRIX OF MONACO ON NBC THIS SUNDAY

NEW YORK – May 22, 2013 – NBC Sports Group presents the Monaco Grand Prix live, plus practice, qualifying, F1 Extra, and two GP2 races.

For the first time, Formula One’s famed Monaco Grand Prix will air live on network television Sunday, May 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC. Race day will begin with a live pre-race show at 7 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, and conclude with F1 Extra, NBC Sports Network’s half-hour post-race show, live from Monaco. Live coverage begins tomorrow, May 23, at 8 a.m. ET with F1 practice from Monaco. F1 qualifying will air live on Saturday, May 25, at 8 a.m. ET. In addition, NBC Sports Network will air two GP2 races, F1’s developmental series, at 12 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26.

NBC Sports Network’s Grand Prix of Monaco Coverage
(subject to change, all times ET):

Thursday, May 23	F1 Practice	8 a.m.	NBCSN
Friday, May 24	F1 Practice Encore	1:30 a.m.	NBCSN
Friday, May 24	F1 Practice Encore	11:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Saturday, May 25	F1 Qualifying	8 a.m.	NBCSN
Saturday, May 25	F1 Qualifying Encore	10:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	GP2 Race 1	12 a.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	F1 Pre-Race Show	7 a.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	Grand Prix of Monaco	7:30 a.m.	NBC
Sunday, May 26	F1 Extra	10 a.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	Grand Prix of Monaco Encore	10:30 a.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	F1 Extra Encore	1 p.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	GP2 Race 2	1:30 p.m.	NBCSN
Sunday, May 26	Grand Prix of Monaco Encore	10:30 p.m.	NBCSN

F1 COMMENTATORS ON SITE IN MONACO: NBC Sports Group’s F1 announce booth will be on site to capture the unique glitz-and-glamor atmosphere of the Monaco Grand Prix. Leigh Diffey will serve as lead race announcer alongside veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, analyst and former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team Steve Matchett, and F1 insider and former journalist Will Buxton. Diffey will precede his work in Monaco by calling Indy 500 qualifying coverage.

The team participated on a media conference call today from Monaco and shared their excitement about this weekend’s upcoming race:

Rich O’Connor, producer: “To be able to tell the history, the stories and the challenges of this venue is something we’re really looking forward to this weekend.”

Leigh Diffey: “It’s something that has to be seen to be believed. I am still in awe. Wait till you see the view.”

David Hobbs: “You just can’t get your head around it. All the drivers here want to win this race.”

Steve Matchett: “It’s absolutely unique in the challenges it poses to the teams. Every corner around Monaco, they all have names, they all have history. It’s a race of legends.”

Will Buxton: “If ever there is a moment at which you became disillusioned with the sport, you are reminded of the majesty and splendor of this incredible sport, it is standing trackside here in Monaco with cars flying past you over 100 mph inches from your face. You can feel the working parts of the engine rise through your feet and your legs, up your spine, draw the breath out of your lungs as they fly past you. This place gives you a buzz for motorsports that nowhere else on earth gives you.”

That’s all.

Fox to Air the UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday

As part of a busy Memorial Day Weekend, Fox has soccer, primetime baseball and NASCAR on Saturday and Sunday.

The UEFA Champions League Final will kick things off as an all-German and Bundesliga contest between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund takes place at the venerable Wembley Stadium in London.

Gus Johnson and Warren Barton will call the game live. Rob Stone takes Fox Soccer studio crew to London as he’ll host the pregame, halftime and postgame shows. Eric Wynalda and Brian McBride will join Stone as will U.S. Men’s and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Fox’s coverage will begin this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Fox Soccer will have a one-hour pregame before the Fox broadcast sign-on.

Here’s the Fox announcement.

FOX SPORTS TO BROADCAST FIRST-EVER ALL-GERMAN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL THIS SATURDAY

Extensive Pre- and Post-game Coverage Live From London; Brad Friedel Added
Gus Johnson and Warren Barton Call Match from Historic Wembley Stadium

LOS ANGELES – On Saturday, all eyes of the soccer world are on the one game and two remaining teams in the 2013 UEFA Champions League competition, the world’s most-watched elite club soccer competition. German powerhouses Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund square-off at London’s Wembley Stadium for the world’s most coveted club prize, broadcast live on FOX, Saturday, May 25, with broadcast coverage beginning at 2:00 PM ET. FOX Sports’ renowned play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson calls the action, alongside FOX Soccer analyst and former England international Warren Barton, live from London.

In addition, FOX Soccer’s Rob Stone hosts on-site pregame, halftime and post-game coverage with FOX Soccer analysts and former United States National Team players Eric Wynalda and Brian McBride. During his playing days, Wynalda became the first American-born player to compete and receive honors for a top level German club in the Bundesliga. The broadcast team is also joined by U.S. international and Tottenham goalkeeper, Brad Friedel. FOX Soccer’s coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show at 1:00 PM ET followed by FOX Sports’ over-the-air programming. Coverage features comprehensive news, analysis and an exclusive interview with German legend Jurgen Klinsmann, former Bayern Munich manager and current head coach of the United States Men’s National Team.

The UEFA Champions League post-game show on FOX Soccer airs immediately following FOX’s coverage of the match at approximately 5:00 PM ET, followed by encore presentations of the final match at 8:00 PM ET Saturday night, and at 7:00 PM ET on Sunday, May 26 on FOX Soccer Plus.

“It’s going to be a very exciting game, a great atmosphere and two very offensive teams,” Barton said. “Bayern has the experience and Dortmund is the underdog, but it’s a final; a one-off. All in all, it will be one to remember.”

Completing two of the most stunning victories in UEFA Champions League history, both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are riding significant momentum into London, after knocking out heavily favored Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona in the semifinals.

The Bavarian giants appear in their third final in four years, after a resounding 7-0 aggregate thrashing of Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Dominant, but unable to seal the title since 2001, this German squad is hungry to capitalize on Saturday, following last year’s final defeat in devastating fashion in penalty kicks at their home stadium. Bolstered by midfielders Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller, one of Europe’s most potent attacks is on the cusp of glory yet again.

Local rivals, Dortmund, are considered newcomers to this stage of the tournament, with their last and only appearance in a European final back in 1997, when they walked away with the trophy, and are a force to be reckoned with now. Striker Robert Lewandowski leads his side with 10 goals in the UEFA Champions League, four of those goals coming against Real Madrid in their semifinal victory.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund faced each other in the Bundesliga earlier this month and battled to a 1-1 draw. A dress rehearsal of sorts perhaps, but with Bayern already crowned the league champions prior to that match, this Saturday’s Champions League Final is set to be the ultimate showpiece.

There you have it.

ABC Airs the Indianapolis 500 for the 49th Consecutive Year

Sunday is going to be a big motorsports day and three broadcast networks will air three of the biggest races of the year. NBC will start it all off with the Grand Prix of Monaco to be aired live for the first time on network television (but aired for the first time on network television as NBC has been stating as ABC and Fox have aired it before). Fox ends the day with the Coca Cola 600. In between the Formula 1/NASCAR sandwich is the Indianapolis 500 live from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

ABC hits the air at 11 a.m. ET with the cars starting their engines at 12:15 p.m. Lindsay Czarniak makes history as she becomes the first woman to host the Indy 500 on national television. Then the usual ESPN’s Marty Reid will do the lap-by-lap call and he’ll be joined by Scott Goodyear and Eddie Cheever. In the pits will be Dr. Jerry Punch, Jamie Little, Rick DeBruhl and Vince Welch.

Here’s the press release from ESPN.

ABC Memorial Day Tradition Continues with 49^th Indianapolis 500 Telecast

ABC will televise the Indianapolis 500 for the 49^th consecutive year on Sunday, May 26, continuing a Memorial Day tradition that began in 1965.

A one-hour preview show airs from Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 11 a.m. ET, with the race telecast, presented by Go Daddy, at noon. The green flag for one of the world’s iconic and most historic sporting events is at 12:15 p.m.

Indianapolis native Ed Carpenter, who broke through to win the pole position for an event he grew up wanting to compete in, provided drama as he paced last weekend’s time trials while driving for his own small race team against a field of international drivers and mega racing organizations. Carpenter will lead the field of 33 drivers to the green in the traditional three-abreast starting formation.

ESPN’s production of the Indianapolis 500 on ABC will utilize 84 cameras to televise the premier event of the IndyCar Series, including three onboard cameras per car in 12 of the 33 cars competing in the race.

Among the cameras will be the newly-enhanced “Batcam,” a camera that provides unique and dramatic views running on a cable over pit road and the frontstretch and has been utilized by ESPN at Indy for several years. But with new technology, “Batcam” can now move faster than ever, reaching speeds of 95 mph.

Views and replays also will be enhanced with expanded usage of four Ultra Hi Motion cameras. As was the case last year when the cameras were used for the first time, they will be located in the short chutes at each end of the 2.5-mile track as well as at the fourth turn exit, with a fourth robotic camera added this year to provide a low shot entering the first turn. The cameras can shoot at speeds of up to 1,200 frames per second. ESPN also will have Super Slo Motion cameras positioned in each turn.

Carpenter will be one of the 12 drivers carrying onboard cameras as will defending race winner Dario Franchitti and defending IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay. Others will be Charlie Kimball, JR Hildebrand, James Hinchcliffe, Townsend Bell, Will Power, Helio Castroneves, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal and Tristan Vautier

Viewers of the ABC telecast will have the option of a second screen experience through a choice of live streaming video from the onboard cameras on ESPN3, ESPN’s multi-screen live sports network. ESPN3 will carry the feeds exclusively through WatchESPN and on Indycar.com to fans who receive their Internet or video subscription from an affiliated provider. Viewers will be able to choose which driver’s onboard cameras they want to watch from among the available cars and this year, for the first time, all of the feeds also will include ESPN’s live scoring ticker. ESPN3 also will have replays of the ABC telecast following the event. ESPN3 is available online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE.

Marty Reid will call the race with analysis by former IndyCar driver Scott Goodyear and 1998 Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Lindsay Czarniak will host the telecast while pit reporters will be Rick DeBruhl, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch.

ESPN’s Indianapolis 500 coverage will be produced under the oversight of ESPN vice president, motorsports, Rich Feinberg. Shawn Murphy will produce the race telecast and Bruce Watson will direct, while Jeff Ingalls will produce the pre-race show with Chip Dean directing.

The telecast’s opening tease focuses on the life of Carl G. Fisher, the entrepreneur and founder of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The tease opens on a farm, where Fisher’s dream to build the greatest automobile racetrack in the world began. Combining live action elements and CGI, the tease celebrates record-setting speeds, innovation and classic Indy 500 moments as Fisher reflects on his realized vision and looks ahead to the future.

Among the special features that are planned for the pre-race show or in SportsCenter’s Indianapolis 500 coverage:

• Andretti Curse — The Andretti name is synonymous with the Indianapolis 500, yet in the family’s long history they have claimed the Borg Warner trophy just once. Is it a curse or is it just bad luck? ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap narrates and asks what will the Andretti’s lasting legacy be at the greatest spectacle in motor sports?                                           
• Dario’s Go Kart — As Dario Franchitti prepared to go for his fourth Indy 500 win, the vehicle that started it all was quietly being rebuilt by his father. George Franchitti was a race car driver and his son, as he turned 40, re-received the gift of a go kart that was given to him 35 years ago. ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi narrates.
  
• James Hinchcliffe: Beyond Hinchtown – A man of many ideas, James Hinchcliffe markets himself in ways his peers have not. This profile of Hinchcliffe explores his magnetic personality, his success on the track and how his Canadian roots factor in.
• Helio and Tony – IndyCar drivers and childhood friends, Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan, reflect on their relationship, their lifelong rivalry and their success and struggles at the Indianapolis 500
• A.J. and Takuma — Outwardly, the race team of Takuma Sato and A.J. Foyt could not be more different. Far East meets Wild West. This piece will explore their differences but ultimately, will show that the heart of a racer is the heart of a racer, and this fundamental quality is what binds Sato and Foyt
• Speed and Danger — A high energy, frenetic and unnerving look at the high speeds and danger associated with IndyCar racing and the Indianapolis 500.
• America Made the 500 — Iconic still images bring to life the legendary history and tradition of the Indianapolis 500, an event made by America, for America, in a stirring tribute to the origins of the race and its Midwestern home.
• Memorial Day — Every year, in a single afternoon, 1,700 members of the Old Guard take to the hills of Arlington National Cemetery and place American flags at the headstones of the fallen. More than 200,000 graves are marked with the red, white and blue, and it is done in just a few hours. These soldiers are shown as they honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

There you have it.

The 2013 SEC on CBS Schedule

CBS has released its college football schedule for 2013 SEC season. Its 16 game season spanning 13 weeks begins on Saturday, September 14 with Alabama at Texas A&M. In addition to the SEC, CBS will air two service academy games including Air Force at Navy as well as Army vs. Navy.

Other announced SEC games include Georgia vs. Florida at Jacksonville, FL on November 2 and Arkansas at LSU on Friday, November 29 during Thanksgiving Weekend. CBS’ other SEC games will be announced six to 12 games in advance. There will be two SEC doubleheaders on October 19 and November 9.

Uncle Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson return as the main SEC on CBS announcing team.

Here’s the SEC on CBS press release.

Andy Roddick Joins Fox Sports 1

This in from Fox Sports. Former U.S. Open champion and tennis star Andy Roddick will be joining the upstart Fox Sports 1 and its signature studio program, Fox Sports Live when it launches in August. Roddick’s role on the program will be as a co-host with Charissa Thompson who is leaving ESPN2′s SportsNation as part of various panel discussions. Fox Sports Live will be one part panel discussions led by Roddick and Thompson and the other part highlights hosted by TSN SportsCentre’s Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole. With Fox Sports Live occupying a three hour block, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic works.

Fox Sports execs are familiar with Roddick’s sports knowledge with him having co-hosted a syndicated radio show for Fox Sports Radio with Bobby Bones.

And Roddick is also known for being the husband of Brooklyn Decker. Say no more.

Here’s the official announcement from Fox Sports.

TENNIS LEGEND ANDY RODDICK TABBED FOX SPORTS LIVE CO-HOST

Former World No. 1 Player & Grand Slam Champion Appears on FOX Sports 1 Beginning August 17 

New York – Andy Roddick, at one time the No. 1 men’s tennis player in the world and a Grand Slam singles champion, is joining FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network launching August 17, as a co-host for FOX SPORTS LIVE, the network’s flagship news, opinion and highlights program. The announcement was made today by FOX Sports Co-President and COO Eric Shanks and Executive Vice President, Studio Production, Scott Ackerson who is overseeing FOX Sports’ news coverage.

“It is very rare that you find an exceptional athlete who can step off the field or in this case the court, who has the potential to be as equally talented in an on-air role,” said Ackerson. “Andy is not only an expert tennis analyst, but his knowledge, candor and opinions on all sports are equally as impressive, and that makes him a unique fit for what we have in mind for FOX SPORTS LIVE.”

Besides his obvious credentials as a world class tennis champion, Roddick is an avid sports fan. The Nebraska native has had a lifelong devotion to the Cornhuskers and became an ardent follower of the Heat after moving to South Florida as a young boy, frequently attending games. Roddick is also a fantasy sports junkie, and spends a great deal of time on his football and baseball teams. Roddick joins Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole, previously announced as the primary highlight team, on FOX SPORTS LIVE.

“I was a tennis player for a long time, but I’ve been a sports fan a lot longer than that, and I am beyond excited to be joining FOX SPORTS LIVE, being a part of television’s newest national sports network, FOX Sports 1,” Roddick said. “It has always been a dream of mine to pursue an opportunity like this after my playing career, and I am incredibly grateful to Eric, Scott and the entire FOX Sports 1 team for helping make this dream a reality. I can’t wait to get started.”

Roddick is a former world No. 1 professional tennis player and is the most recent North American male to have won a Grand Slam singles event with his 2003 US Open title. Following his US Open win, Roddick spent much of the next decade ranked in the world’s top 10. He advanced to the Wimbledon finals three times, reached the Australian Open semifinals four times and played in 42 Davis Cup matches, leading the United States to victory in 2007.

One of the greatest tennis players in history, Roddick announced his retirement from the sport on August 30, 2012 – his 30th birthday – with the aim of focusing on his foundation. He founded the Andy Roddick Foundation at the age of 18 with the goal of developing and inspiring underserved youth through sports-based mentoring. Roddick’s work off the court was recognized in 2005, when he received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award. He then received the Arthur Ashe Leadership Award in 2007 and the Heineken Star Award for achievements in the fields of athletics and philanthropy in 2009.

No stranger to television, Roddick made the rounds on the late-night talk show circuit during his career with multiple appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also made daytime television stops at Live with Regis and Kelly and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Roddick hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 2003, becoming just the second professional tennis player to host the show.

In 2011, Roddick began hosting a show on FOX Sports Radio with his friend Bobby Bones, which was nationally syndicated in 2012. The successful show was a mix of sports, pop culture and entertainment, and while seemingly unlikely, sports other than tennis usually ruled the day.

Roddick was born in Omaha, NE, and moved to Boca Raton, FL, at age 11, which served as the catalyst for his tennis career. He was the No. 1 junior player in the U.S. from 1999 to 2000, and by 2000 he was ranked No. 1 in the world. He won six world junior singles titles and seven world doubles titles. In 2000, he won the Junior US Open and Australian Open singles titles before going pro that year. He is married to model/actress Brooklyn Decker.

More stuff is on the way.

Wednesday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
ACC Tournament, Durham, NC
Pool Play
Georgia Tech vs. Florida State — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona/Florida/North Plus/San Diego/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN), 11 a.m.
Virginia Tech vs. Virginia — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona/Florida/North Plus/San Diego/South/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN), 3 p.m.
Clemson vs. North Carolina State — Fox Sports Net-regional (Arizona/North Plus/Prime Ticket/South/Sun Sports/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic), 7 p.m.

Big Ten Tournament, Minneapolis, MN
First Round
Illinois vs. Minnesota — Big Ten Network, 1 p.m.
Michigan vs. Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 4:30 p.m.

SEC Tournament, Hoover, AL
Second Round
Mississippi vs. Arkansas — CSS, 10:30 a.m.
Alabama vs. LSU — CSS, 1 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Vanderbilt — CSS, 4:30 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. South Carolina — CSS, 8 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 17: Caravaggio to Vicenza — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Golf
On the Range: Senior PGA Championship and Colonial Invitational — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.
Go Annika — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.

Gymnastics
Pro Challenge — ESPN2, 8 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC Tonight: UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2 Preview — Fuel, 7 p.m.

MLB
American League
Oakland at Texas — Comcast SportsNet California/Fox Sports Southwest, 2 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Toronto — Sun Sports/Rogers Sportsnet, 4:30 p.m.
Detroit at Cleveland — Fox Sports Detroit/STO, 7 p.m.
New York Yankees at Baltimore — ESPN/YES/MASN2, 7 p.m.
Seattle at Anaheim Angels — Root Sports Northwest/Fox Sports West, 7 p.m.
Boston at Chicago White Sox — NESN/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8 p.m.
Kansas City at Houston — Fox Sports Kansas City/Comcast SportsNet Houston, 8 p.m.

National League
Cincinnati at New York Mets — MLB Network/Fox Sports Ohio/SNY, 1 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee — MLB Network/Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Fox Sports Wisconsin, 1 p.m.
Washington at San Francisco — MASN/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 3:45 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh — WGN America/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Miami — WPHL/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at San Diego — Fox Sports Midwest/Fox Sports San Diego, 10 p.m.

Interleague
Minnesota at Atlanta — Fox Sports North/SportSouth, noon

MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 11 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Final
Game 1: Indiana at Miami — TNT, 8:30 p.m.

NBA Tip-Off — TNT, 8 p.m.
NBA GameTime: Pacers/Heat, Game 1 Postgame — NBA TV, 11 p.m.
Inside the NBA — TNT, 11 p.m.

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinal
Game 4: Pittsburgh at Ottawa — CBC/RDS/NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

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 — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10:30 p.m.

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
Best of ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover with Michelle Beadle — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Sportfolio — Bloomberg, 9:30 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
UNITE (The Final Days) — ESPNU, midnight

Entertainment
The Middle (season finale) — ABC, 8 p.m.
Dateline NBC — NBC, 8 p.m.
Outrageous Acts of Science: Homemade Heroes — Discovery, 8 p.m.
Inside Out: The People’s Art Project — HBO2, 8 p.m.
Orlando — Sundance Channel, 8 p.m.
Rescue My Renovation: From Flooded to Fabulous — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
MythBusters: Indy Car Special — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Motives & Murders: Not Forgotten — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Bomb Girls: Romeo Foxtrot — Reelz Channel, 9 p.m.
Looper — Starz, 9 p.m.
Desperate Landscapes: A Better Than Ever Landscape — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
I Was Murdered: Written in Blood — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Tower Heist — Cinemax, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark — HLN, 10 p.m.
Nazis vs. Aliens — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
The Real World: Portland — MTV, 10 p.m.
The Town That Caught Tourettes? — TLC, 10 p.m.
Cop Land — IFC, 10:15 p.m.
House Hunters International: Playa del Carmen, Mexico — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
I Was Murdered: If I Can’t Have You — Investigation Discovery, 10:30 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Bill O’Reilly — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11:02 p.m.
The Colbert Report: The National — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.

NHL on NBC Announcing Assignments for May 21, 2013

NBC Sports Network has a doubleheader tonight, Boston at New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings at the San Jose Sharks.

Here’s what NBC Sports is saying about tonight’s NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S “NHL PLAYOFF PASS” – MAY 21

Conference Semifinal Doubleheader

All times are listed as ET and are subject to change:

Time	Coverage	Network	Talent
6:30 p.m.	NHL Live	NBCSN	Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, Bill Patrick, Jeremy Roenick
7:30 p.m.	Boston (4) @ New York Rangers (6)	NBCSN	Dave Strader, Pierre McGuire
10 p.m.	Los Angeles (5) @ San Jose (6)	NBCSN	John Forslund, Joe Micheletti

TONIGHT, May 21, 2013

Coverage of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue tonight with a Conference Semifinal doubleheader on NBC Sports Network.  The New York Rangers host the Boston Bruins in Game 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET as they look to change the momentum on home ice (Boston leads 2-0). Dave Strader will call play-by-play alongside Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire.

At 10 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, the San Jose Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 (Los Angeles leads 2-1). John Forslund will serve as play-by-play announcer and will be joined by analyst Joe Micheletti.

Coverage begins on NBC Sports Network at 7 p.m. ET with NHL Live hosted by Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Keith Jones. Bill Patrick and Jeremy Roenick will host later in the evening.

VIEWERSHIP: Chicago-Detroit

Following are some viewership notes for last night’s Chicago-Detroit game:

• Game 3 of the Chicago-Detroit series (7:30P-10:27P) drew a 1.02 US HH rating, 1.631 million average viewers.

• The 1.631 million viewers last night was NBC Sports Network’s best-ever Western Conference Game 3 and most-watched Western Conference Game 3 on cable in 12 years, since Colorado-LA in 2001 (1.656 million).
• Among M18-49 and M25-54, NBC Sports Network ranked as the #2 most watched cable network from 7:30P-10:30P.
• The game peaked with nearly 2.2 million viewers (2.187) from 10P-10:15P.
• Chicago received an 8.47 HH rating, +20% from the Blackhawks’ 2010 Semifinal exclusive average on NBC Sports Network in the market (7.04).  In comparison to Game 1 of the series on NBC Sports Network, Game 3 was +4% (8.47 vs. 8.13).
  • NBC Sports Network was the #1 rated cable network in Chicago during the 7:30P-10:30P time period and the #2 network overall.
• Detroit received a 12.27 HH rtg, +14% from the Red Wings’ 2011 Semifinal exclusive average on NBC Sports Network in the market (10.78).  In comparison to Game 1 of the series on NBC Sports Network, Game 3 was +18% (12.27 vs. 10.41).
  • NBC Sports Network was the #1 rated network overall in Detroit during the 7:30P-10:30P time period.

Also of note, Sunday night’s Game 3 between Pittsburgh and Ottawa was watched by 1.401 million viewers, making it NBC Sports Network’s best-ever Semifinal game involving a Canadian team, and the best such game on cable in 20 years (1994’s Sharks/Leafs Game 7, 1.67 million viewers).

That will do it.

REPORT: ESPN to Cancel ESPNU’s UNITE

Deadspin which broke the ESPN layoffs story today continues to break news. From sources e-mailing information to John Koblin, we learn that the ESPNU late night show, UNITE will end its run in July. The show began with an hour show with a lot of fanfare last August.

Over the last month, the show was chopped to a half-hour while still airing at midnight ET. We learn through Koblin’s post that UNITE staffers either have been told or are anticipating to be informed that the show will be canceled. Many of the show’s employees were hired nine to ten months ago and may not be absorbed into other ESPN programs.

The show was meant to be a snarky late night sports show. ESPN was hoping it would catch on with younger viewers, but apparently to meet Disney’s bottom line, the show will not even meet its year anniversary.

We’ll have more on the layoffs when they become available.

ESPN Confirms Layoffs

This story broke this morning when Deadspin tweeted that layoffs, probably in the range of 300-400, will take place. Since then, the story was picked up by ESPN tome author Jim Andrew Miller and Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand.

ESPN has now confirmed the layoffs, but won’t say exactly how many people were let go. Deadspin says some will come in the technology group. Miller says some cuts won’t be filled while some open positions will remain so, however, the network will continue hiring.

Here’s the official ESPN statement.

“We are implementing changes across the company to enhance our continued growth while smartly managing costs. While difficult, we are confident that it will make us more competitive, innovative and productive.”

More details as they become available.

Tuesday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
SEC Tournament, Hoover, AL
Quarterfinals
Kentucky vs. Mississippi — Fox Sports Net, 10:30 a.m.
Alabama vs. Auburn — Fox Sports Net, 2 p.m.
Florida vs. Texas A&M — CSS, 4:30 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. Missouri — CSS, 8 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

College Volleyball
AVCA Sand Championship — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 16: Valloire, France to Ivrea — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Golf
Golf Central Special: USGA News Conference — Golf Channel, 8 a.m.
Big Break Academy: Michael and El Grupo — Golf Channel, 7 p.m.
Golf’s Greatest Rounds: 2006 U.S. Open — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.

Gymnastics
Pro Challenge — ESPN2, 8 p.m.

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

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

Interleague
Minnesota at Atlanta — Fox Sports North/SportSouth, 7 p.m.

MLB Network Countdown: Top 50 Most Bizarre Moments — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Network: On-Deck Circle — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)

NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Finals
Game 2: Memphis at San Antonio — ESPN, 9 p.m.

NBA Draft Lottery — ESPN, 8:30 p.m.

NFL
Super Bowl Selection Show — NFL Network, 2 p.m.
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 3: Boston at New York Rangers — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS, 7:30 p.m.

Western Conference Semifinals
Game 4: Los Angeles at San Jose — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS, 10 p.m.

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 Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Wednesday)

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
Best of ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover with Michelle Beadle — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel — HBO, 10 p.m.
In Play with Jimmy Roberts — Golf Channel, 10:30 p.m.
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight

Entertainment
Eat St.: Aloha, Portland — Cooking Channel, 8 p.m.
The Ghost Army — PBS, 8 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: On Deck: Judgement Day — Discovery, 8 p.m.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — IFC, 8 p.m.
Roadtrip with G. Garvin: San Francisco — Cooking Channel, 9 p.m.
Airport 24/7: Miami: Caught on Camera — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
CONSTITUTION USA with Peter Sagal: Created Equal — PBS, 9 p.m.
Crowd Rules — CNBC, 9 p.m.
Deadliest Catch: Fist to the Face — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Polygamy, USA: The Baptism — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
I Hate My Kitchen: Cramped to Convenient — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
I Hate My Yard: Modern Tropical — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
House Hunters: Chicago — HGTV, 10 p.m.
Who Gets the Last Laugh? — TBS, 10 p.m.
What’s Love Got to Do With It — Cinemax, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark: The Jodi Arias Trial — HLN, 10 p.m.
Warrior POV: Road to Baghdad — Military Channel, 10 p.m.
The Color of Money — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
Inside Amy Schumer: The Horror — Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.
House Hunters International: Mauritius — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Phil Jackson — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Flip or Flop: Inland Empire Cosmetic Nightmare — HGTV, 11 p.m.
Nitro Circus Live: London Calling — MTV, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
The Colbert Report: Noah Feldman — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Flip or Flop: Awkward Floor Plan — HGTV, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Lettterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
Ali — Starz, midnight
Pop-Up Video: Legends — VH1 Classic, midnight
The Exterminating Angels — Sundance Channel, midnight

ESPN2 Has Early Morning Coverage of the French Open

Being the secondary cable rightsholder, ESPN2′s coverage from Roland Garros in Paris will begin at 5 a.m. ET during the first week of the French Open.

For the second week, ESPN2′s coverage resumes on the second Monday of the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.

ESPN2′s coverage ends with the women’s semifinals. Chris Fowler and Chris McKendry share hosting duties. Fowler will also call matches. Also on the scene in Paris will be Cliff Drysdale, Chris Evert, Darren Cahill, Mary Jo Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver.

Overall, more than 50 hours of the French Open will air on ESPN2.

ESPN at the French Open:  Live Morning Matches Start Sunday, May 26

50+ Hours on ESPN2, ESPN3 with 330 Hours; Most View Nadal (despite ranking), S.Williams the Favorites

Live morning matches on ESPN2 and day-long coverage via ESPN3 will bring French Open action to fans starting Sunday, May 26.  ESPN2’s schedule of more than 50 hours – starting live at 5 a.m. ET most days – continues weekdays through Thursday, June 6, culminating with the women’s semifinals. ESPN3 will provide up to seven screens of action on the days ESPN2 is on the air, totaling 330 hours.

In both the women’s and men’s draws, contenders hope to break the stranglehold the top players have had on recent major championships.

• On the men’s side, injuries – both current and Nadal’s in 2012 – leave the seeding up in the air. Novak Djokovic is ranked No. 1 and won the year’s first major in Australia while No. 2 Andy Murray, who finally won his first Grand Slam title at the 2012 US Open is likely to withdraw because of injury. No. 3 Roger Federer – who has reached the quarterfinals of 35 consecutive majors, winning a record 17 – heads to Roland Garros without a title in the current year for the first time since 2000. Defending champ Rafael Nadal is ranked No. 4, thanks to his long layoff the latter half of 2012, but leads the 2013 points race with six victories (five on clay) and few would be surprised if he were to bring home his eighth trophy from Paris. The contenders after Nadal – David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych, Juan Martin Del Potro (who may be forced to withdraw) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – have have all shown the ability to defeat a member of the Big Four but a major title would be a huge break through.
• At 31, Serena Williams’ recent play certainly befits the top-ranked player in the world: 36-2 this year, riding career-best win streak of 24 matches and five titles. Winner of two of the last three majors and 15 overall, she is looking to avenge her stunning first-round defeat a year ago in Paris and win back the crown she has won just once (2002). No. 2 Maria Sharapova is the defending  champion and 30-4 in 2013 but three of those losses came to Williams in finals. No. 3 Victoria Azarenka is 22-2 year to date with two titles including her second straight Australian Open.  She fell to Williams 6-1, 6-3 Sunday on clay in the Rome final. At No. 4 and No. 5, Agnieszka Radwanska and Sara Errani are at a career-best ranking but each has only reached one Grand Slam final (Wimbledon, 2012; French Open, 2012, respectively) while No. 6 Li Na took the trophy in Paris in 2011 and reached the final of this year’s Australian Open. American Sloane Stephens, 20 – who emerged as a threat with an upset of Williams in Australia – is ranked No. 17 while Varvara Lepchenko of Allentown, Pa., is No. 29 but reached the fourth round at Roland Garros 12 months ago.

TV Coverage

After the opening day, ESPN2’s schedule will continue with an all-live telecast starting at 5 a.m. each day through Friday, May 31, and again on Monday, June 3.  The network will air live quarterfinal action Tuesday, June 4, at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, June 5, at 8 a.m.  ESPN2 will air the women’s semifinals live Thursday, June 6, at 9 a.m.  All the action on ESPN2 is also available through WatchESPN online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.

Chris Fowler and Chris McKendry will again share host duties on ESPN2, with Fowler also calling matches.  They will be joined by Evert, along with returnees Darren Cahill, Cliff Drysdale, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver.

ESPN networks present all four Grand Slam events and have televised the French Open 1986 – 1993 and since 2002. ESPN3 delivers an unmatched multi-screen presentation of the sport’s four majors, all ATP 1000 and 500 tournaments, WTA Premier Events and season-ending championships for both tours.

For the seventh consecutive year, ESPN2 is working with Tennis Channel to bring viewers an almost around-the-clock tournament experience, with each channel cross-promoting the other’s schedule.  Tennis Channel will produce all coverage for both channels, with each making use of its own on-air team.

ESPN3

ESPN3’s French Open schedule totals 330 hours with a multi-screen offering of up to seven courts and ESPN2’s coverage and is available on the days the network is televising. ESPN3 will begin each day early in the morning with the first ball in the air and continue to the last shot of the day. Matches will also be available after they take place via replay. Additionally, ESPNPlay in Latin America and the Caribbean will provide customers with extensive live coverage with multiple windows totaling over 500 hours in both English and Spanish on broadband platforms in addition to televised coverage throughout the regions.

Other ESPN Platforms

Fans will have a variety of ways to follow the French Open with live action and updates on an array of ESPN platforms wherever they are and regardless of whether there is live television offered.

ESPN.com will provide comprehensive coverage before, during and after the French Open, highlighted by CourtCast, which will feature all the live action from ESPN3.  As always, it will also include real-time scoring from all courts, plus continuous live polling with results revealed immediately in ESPN2’s telecasts. CourtCast will also provide an augmented  social media feed (Twitter and Facebook) from the players, analysts and writers. And, of course, ESPN.com will have the latest news, analysis, schedules and more.  Fans can watch Digital Serve daily with ESPN2 commentators discussing the latest action and previewing key matches.  Other highlights include:

• The Latest Dirt – a daily notebook roundup of all the day’s action;
• Center Court – a tennis video show featured each week on all the major news from Roland Garros;
• espnW.com – Comprehensive daily coverage of the women’s draw by senior writer Jim Caple;
• What We Learned – ESPN.com senior writer Greg Garber and others will highlight the day’s news and notes with quick video snippets on the overlooked storylines.

The WatchESPN App – for fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription via Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast Xfinity TV, Midcontinent Communications, Cablevision, Cox, Charter or AT&T U-verse – will provide access to for ESPN2’s live coverage online at WatchESPN.com and through the WatchESPN app on smartphones and tablets, in addition to ESPN3’s multi-screen offering.

ESPN Mobile TV will have 46 hours of live coverage, simulcasting ESPN2’s live programming, highlighted by the women’s semifinals Thursday, June 7.

ESPN Interactive TV, exclusive to DIRECTV, will present the French Open showing ESPN2 or Tennis Channel’s live coverage along with five other courts available with commentary. Other features include interactive data, the tournament draw, up-to-date scores, and daily order of play.

ESPN International will present over 100 hours of live French Open coverage to more than 50 countries in Spanish-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean on its pan-regional and regional networks.  Matches will be chosen based on local interest, and commentary will be offered in English and Spanish, with expert analysis provided by two Spanish-speaking announce teams: Luis Alvarez & Javier Frana and Eduardo Varela & Jose Luis Clerc  In addition to both SD and HD television telecasts, ESPN International’s broadband service, ESPN Play, will stream over 500 hours of live French Open matches, including the men’s and women’s finals.

2013 French Open on ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD

Date	Time (ET)	Event
Sun, May 26 – Fri, May 31	5 – 10 a.m.	Early Round Action	Live
Mon, June 3	5 – 10 a.m.	Round of 16	Live
Tue, June 4	1 – 7 p.m.	Quarterfinals	Live & Same-day action
Wed, June 5	8 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Quarterfinals	Live
Thur, June 6	9 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Women’s Semifinals	Live

2013 French Open on ESPN3

Date	Time (ET)	Event
Sun, May 26 – Fri, May 31	5 a.m. – 3 p.m.	Early Round Action	Live
Mon, June 3	5 a.m. – 3 p.m.	Round of 16	Live
Tue, June 4	8 a.m. – 7 p.m.	Quarterfinals	Live
Wed, June 5	5 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Quarterfinals	Live
Thur, June 6	5 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Men’s Doubles Semis Women’s Semifinals	Live

There you have it.

Tennis Channel is All Over The French Open

Tennis Channel, the main cable rightsholder for the French Open, has announced its coverage plans for second Grand Slam tournament of the year. This year, Tennis Channel will begin its coverage during the first week at 10 a.m. ET, then move to 5 a.m. on the first weekend.

John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova will be the main analysts for the French Open on Tennis Channel. Bill Macatee will host and also be on during French Open Tonight which will begin at 7 p.m. ET.

Other announcers working the tournament will be Ted Robinson, Ian Eagle, Mary Carillo, Rennae Stubbs, Brett Haber, Lindsay Davenport, Leif Shiras, Justin Gimelstob, Katrina Adams and Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim.

Let’s take a look at the Tennis Channel release.

TENNIS CHANNEL TO DEDICATE MORE THAN 200 HOURS TO FRENCH OPEN STARTING MAY 26

Close to 70 Live or First-Run Match Hours on Tap During Two-Week Event, from First Day of Play through Men’s Semifinal Round
Macatee Returns to Host French Open Tonight in Primetime; McEnroe, Navratilova, Davenport, Carillo, Robinson, Eagle, Haber, Gimelstob, Shiras, Adams, Stubbs, Wertheim to Handle Match Action
Hundreds of Hours of Free Digital Coverage Available on Network’s Web Site, Mobile App

LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2013 – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will begin its first day of 2013 French Open coverage with nine consecutive hours of matches followed by a another nine hours of interview-and-encore show French Open Tonight. This daily balance – long blocks of competition followed by an all-night review of the day’s play – will be the template for much of the network’s two-week telecast, set to get underway Sunday, May 26. With plans for close to 70 live match hours, more than 65 hours of encore replays, and 114 hours of French Open Tonight, Tennis Channel will devote more than 200 hours of seemingly round-the-clock coverage to the world’s most prestigious clay-court event this year.

In its seventh year at Roland Garros, Tennis Channel’s live coverage runs from the first day of play through the men’s semifinal round and includes encore replays of the men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals, semifinal and championship competitions. The network’s most common daily schedule will offer live matches from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET. From 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m. it will showcase the day’s best action via encore match replays, regardless of whether the matches originally aired live on Tennis Channel or broadcast partners NBC or ESPN2 (a complete schedule follows, below).

French Open Tonight, hosted by Bill Macatee (@BMacatee), will run from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. and then again twice throughout the late night and early morning. Since 2008 the show’s stage has overlooked the scenic Musketeer Plaza in the heart of the Roland Garros tournament grounds, with crowd bustle and spectator applause an ever present audio backdrop. As he has done since Tennis Channel’s first French Open in 2007, Macatee will bring his engaging interviewing approach into tennis fans’ homes each evening, encapsulating the day’s best through conversations with the players, coaches, and industry representatives who will write the history of this year’s tournament. Thirty-seven-and-a-half first-run hours of French Open Tonight are planned for 2013.

From 4 a.m.-5 a.m., Tennis Channel will run daily highlights provided by the event’s governing French Tennis Federation, before ESPN2 initiates a new day of match coverage at 5 a.m. Between Tennis Channel and ESPN2, viewers will have virtually non-stop, 24-hour coverage of the French Open. Since 2007, Tennis Channel has produced all telecasts for both channels, with each network cross-promoting the other’s telecast.

On-Air Talent

In addition to Macatee at the helm of French Open Tonight, Tennis Channel’s coverage in the City of Light has been marked each year by lead analysts Martina Navratilova (@Martina) and John McEnroe, Hall of Famers who return to the network booth in 2013. With 76 major championships between them – and reputations for telling it like it is – both have endeared themselves to tennis fans through unique points of view honed by years of tennis knowhow and accomplishment.

“It’s great to be back at Roland Garros with Tennis Channel,” said Navratilova. “With Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer either attempting or rewriting history, it’s an exciting time in tennis.”

Lindsay Davenport (@LDavenport76) will add her champions’ perspective to the network’s coverage again, along with fellow analysts Justin Gimelstob (@justingimelstob) and Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs). Leif Shiras (@LShirock) and Katrina Adams (@katadams68) will see to Tennis Channel’s multiple-court mosaic offering to DIRECTV customers, while Mary Carillo will host the network’s live tournament desk and conduct interviews for the third consecutive year. Play-by-play responsibilities are again shared by Ted Robinson, Ian Eagle and Brett Haber (@BrettHaber), with Sports Illustrated‘s Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) on hand for special reports and opinion.

Broadband and Digital Coverage

Tennis Channel’s Web site, www.tennischannel.com, has offered free match streaming live and on demand since its first year of French Open coverage in 2007. Up to five simultaneous courts will be accessible to visitors from 5 a.m. ET through the end of the day’s play, with more than 300 hours overall. New for 2013, the network is launching a free mobile app – Tennis Channel Everywhere – that is available to all users of Apple or Android digital platforms. In addition to French Open matches, the app will include daily updates from Tennis Channel’s online video page with highlights, Court Report news and popular player Bag Check clips.

Veteran tennis reporters Steve Flink and Joel Drucker (@joeldrucker) will be in Paris to contribute to Tennis Channel’s Web site again this year. Throughout the tournament online users can access real-time scoring, photos, daily highlights, interviews, features and segments from French Open Tonight. Interactive tournament draws will be available later this week, as will sweepstakes information and the network’s “Racquet Bracket” tournament prediction game. Additionally, Tennis Channel’s digital team will introduce a Twitter feed, @TCEverywhere, that will be integrated with other social media channels to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Tennis Channel and its on-air team’s 2013 French Open production. Tennis Channel currently engages with viewers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tennischannel), Twitter (www.twitter.com/tennischannel), YouTube (www.youtube.com/tennischannel) and Instagram (http://instagram.com/tennischannel.)

Tennis Channel’s Live 2013 French Open Match Schedule
(Men’s/Women’s Singles Unless Otherwise Specified)

Sunday, May 26 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., First-Round Action
Monday, May 27 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., First-Round Action
Tuesday, May 28 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., First-Round Action
Wednesday, May 29 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Second-Round Action
Thursday, May 30 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Second-Round Action
Friday, May 31 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Third-Round Action
Saturday, June 1 — 5 a.m.-Noon, Third-Round Action
Sunday, June 2 — 5 a.m.-1 p.m., Round-of-16 Action
Monday, June 3 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Round-of-16 Action
Tuesday, June 4 — 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Quarterfinals
Friday, June 7 — 7 a.m.-11 a.m., Men’s Semifinal

Tennis Channel’s encore coverage will include same-day replays of singles quarterfinals and semifinals, and the men’s and women’s singles championship matches after the tournament concludes (ET):

Wednesday, June 5 – 1 p.m.-7 p.m.: men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals
Thursday, June 6 – 2 p.m.-7 p.m.: women’s singles semifinals
Friday, June 7 – 5 p.m.-midnight: men’s semifinals=TBD: men’s and women’s finals

On Tuesday, June 11, the network will air the women’s doubles championship from 6 a.m.-8 a.m. ET and men’s doubles championship from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET.

Tennis Channel’s French Open Tonight Schedule

Viewers who miss Tennis Channel’s live or encore match coverage during this year’s tournament can tune into French Open Tonight Sunday, May 26-Thursday, June 6. Typically the show airs from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. (all times ET), followed by immediate repeats from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. and 1 a.m.-4 a.m. On Saturday, June 1, the show originally airs from 3 p.m.-6 p.m., followed by encores from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., 9 p.m.-midnight and 12 a.m.-3 a.m. The schedule on Sunday, June 2, sees a first run from 4 p.m.-7 p.m., then 7 p.m.-10 p.m., 10 p.m.-1 a.m. and 1 a.m.-4 a.m. Thursday, June 6, the show will air from 7 p.m.-11:30 p.m. and then 11:30 p.m.-4 a.m.

That’s it.

Golf Channel To Re-Air Feherty Episode Featuring Ken Venturi

With the passing of golfing legend Ken Venturi on Friday night, Golf Channel has decided to re-air the David Feherty interview with Venturi that originally was shown last year.

The show will air at tonight at 10 ET.

GOLF CHANNEL TO AIR SPECIAL ENCORE OF ‘FEHERTY’ WITH KEN VENTURI, MONDAY, 10 P.M. ET

Video: Venturi Shares Secrets of Television Broadcasting

Video: Venturi Shares Memorable Masters Telecasts

ORLANDO, Fla., May 19, 2013 – Monday at 10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel will air a special encore presentation of FEHERTY with Ken Venturi, the 2013 World Golf Hall-of-Fame Inductee who passed away Friday at the age of 82. Monday’s episode (which premiered in April, 2012) features Feherty traveling to Los Angeles for a stroll down memory lane with Venturi. Their engaging conversation covers the gamut of Venturi’s seven decades in golf that began in 1941, including friendships with golf legends Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan, becoming America’s finest amateur in the mid-1950s, freak injuries that led to his retirement; and how, despite dealing with an incurable stutter, destiny led him to be a commentator and analyst for CBS Sports.

Programming Note: Monday’s originally scheduled new episode of FEHERTY with LPGA professional Stacy Lewis will now premiere July 1 at 10 p.m. ET.

More coming up later in the day.

Monday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
SWAC Championship, Fort Worth, TX
Jackson State vs. Prairie View A&M — ESPN, 9 p.m. (delayed from 5/19)

Florida State at North Carolina — ESPNU, 6 p.m.

College Football
College Football Live — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Golf
Big Break Mexico: It Takes Two — Golf Channel, 9 p.m.
Feherty: Ken Venturi — Golf Channel, 10 p.m.

Gymnastics
Pro Challenge — ESPN2, 8 p.m.

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

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

Interleague
Minnesota at Atlanta — Fox Sports North/SportSouth, 7 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 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)

NFL
NFL Live — ESPN, 4 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Western Conference Semifinal
Game 3: Chicago at Detroit — NBC Sports Network/CBC/TSN, 7:30 p.m.

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 — NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10:30 p.m.

Sports Talk
NHL AM — NHL Network, 6 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 1 p.m.
Outside the Lines — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Highly Questionable — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
The Best of the Dan Patrick Show — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Crossover with Michelle Beadle (new name) — NBC Sports Network, 6 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
UNITE — ESPNU, midnight
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight

Entertainment
Bath Crashers: Garage Door Art Bath — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Oh Sit!: The Ready Set — The CW, 8 p.m.
Antiques Roadshow: Seattle — PBS, 8 p.m.
People Like Us — Showtime, 8 p.m.
Our Man Flint — Turner Classic Movies, 8 p.m.
Pizza Cuz: Dough — Cooking Channel, 9 p.m.
Bath Crashers: Sedona Style — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Brain Games: Battle of the Sexes — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Burger Land: Old Miss Burgers — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Oh Sit!: Taryn Manning — The CW, 9 p.m.
American Masters: Mel Brooks: Make a Noise — PBS, 9 p.m.
Sins & Secrets: With This Ring, I Thee Kill — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Guilty Pleasure TV Shows — TV Guide Network, 9 p.m.
Yard Crashers: Country French Backyard — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Hawaii Five-0 (season finale) — CBS, 10 p.m.
Bates Motel: Midnight (season finale) — A&E, 10 p.m.
James May’s Man Lab — BBC America, 10 p.m.
HLN After Dark — HLN, 10 p.m.
FBI: Criminal Pursuit: Off the Radar — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Going Ape: Hooking Up — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
The Big C: Hereafter: The Finale (series finale) — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Rectify: Jacob’s Ladder (season finale) — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
Revolution — NBC, 10:01 p.m.
House Hunters International: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua — HGTV, 10:30 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Ellen Page — Comedy Central, 11 p.m.
Conan — TBS, 11 p.m.
The Colbert Report: David Sassoon — Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Inside Mad Men: Season 6, Episode 8, “The Crash”

This was one of the wildest episodes of the series. With this year set in 1968, drug experimentation is a big part of the plot. So the Agency That Has Yet To Be Named takes an “energy serum” otherwise known as Speed to help deal with another Chevrolet deadline. Frank Gleason of the old CGC dies. In the meantime, Don works on how to get Sylvia back into his life. Sally and Bobby Draper have to deal with a robber. The culture clash between the merged Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason Chaough continues. We also get a flashback to when Dick Wittman lost his virginity in the whorehouse where he was raised.

Peggy is hit on by Stan. And Don and Sylvia’s affair appears to be officially over. The episode really needs explanation.

So Matthew Weiner is here along with Kevin Rahm and Jon Hamm to talk about what went on.

Costume Designer Janie Bryant discusses Peggy’s funeral dress.

And we look at what kind of happens next week.

Mad Men Season 6, Episode 9, “The Better Half,” one of the last remaining new episodes of the season airs next Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

ESPN’s Farewell to the EPL and Ian Darke and Steve McNanaman Complete with Outtakes

ESPN2 said its goodbyes today to the English Premier League. In its three years, ESPN2 has had a few good matches and most of them called by the great Ian Darke and Steve McNanaman. In the final moments of its run, ESPN2 gave us some outtakes of the pair. Great stuff.

Coming up later, I’ll write on the transition of the English Premier League from Fox to NBC.

Sunday’s Viewing Picks

College Baseball
Oklahoma at Kansas State — Fox College Sports Central. 2 p.m.
Oregon State at Oregon — Pac-12 Network, 3 p.m.

College Lacrosse
NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament
Quarterfinals, Indianapolis, IN
Denver vs. North Carolina — ESPNU, noon
Notre Dame vs. Duke — ESPNU, 2:30 p.m.

College Softball
NCAA Division I Tournament
Austin Regional, Austin, TX
South Carolina vs. Texas — Longhorn Network, 2 p.m.
Elimination Game (if necessary) — Longhorn Network (only if Texas is involved), 5 p.m.

College Station Regional, College Station, TX
Baylor vs. Texas A&M — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
Elimination Game (if necessary) — ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln Regional, Lincoln, NE
Stanford vs. Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 2 p.m.
Elimination Game (if necessary) — Big Ten Network, 4:30 p.m.

Tempe Regional, Tempe, AZ
Georgia vs. Arizona State — ESPNU, 6 p.m.
Elimination Game (if necessary) — ESPNU, 8:30 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 15: Cesana Torinese to Col du Galibier, France — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Tour of California
Stage 8: San Francisco to Santa Rosa — NBC, 1 p.m.

English Premier League
Survival Sunday
Newcastle United vs. Arsenal — ESPN2, 10:30 a.m.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Sunderland — Fox Soccer, 11 a.m.
Chelsea vs. Everton — Fox Soccer Plus, 11 a.m.
West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester United — Fox Sports Net, 11 a.m.
Manchester City vs. Norwich City — Fox Soccer Plus, 1:30 p.m. (same day coverage)
Liverpool vs. Queens Park Rangers — Fox Soccer, 6 p.m. (same day coverage)

Survival Sunday Pregame — Fox Soccer/Fox Soccer Plus/Fox Sports Net, 10:30 a.m.
Goals on Sunday (series finale) — Fox Soccer, 1:30 p.m.

Golf
PGA Tour
Byron Nelson Championship, Irving, TX
Final Round — Golf Channel, 1 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

Web.com Tour
BMW Charity Pro-Am, Greer, SC
Final Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Mobile Bay Classic, Mobile, AL
Final Round — Golf Channel, 5 p.m.

IndyCar
Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, IN
Qualifying: Bump Day — NBC Sports Network, noon

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

National League
Arizona at Miami — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Florida, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Philadelphia — Fox Sports Ohio/WPHL, 1:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta — TBS/Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Fox Sports South, 1:30 p.m.
Minnesota at St. Louis — Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Midwest, 2:15 p.m.
New York Mets at Chicago Cubs — WPIX/WGN America, 2:20 p.m.
San Francisco at Colorado — Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 4 p.m.
Washington at San Diego — MASN2/Fox Sports San Diego, 4 p.m.

Interleague
Houston at Pittsburgh — Comcast SportsNet Houston/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 1:30 p.m.

MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 1 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN, 7 p.m.
Plays of the Week — MLB Network, 10 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 11 p.m.

MLS
New York vs. LA Galaxy — ESPN2, 1:10 p.m.
DC United vs. Sporting KC — Univision Deportes/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/KSMO, 5 p.m.
Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake — KUCW, 10:30 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Western Conference Finals
Game 1: Memphis at San Antonio — ABC, 3:30 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Grizzlies/Spurs, Game 1 Postgame — NBA TV, 6 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 2: New York Rangers at Boston — NBC/TSN/RDS, 3 p.m.
Game 3: Pittsburgh at Ottawa — CBC/RDS/NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

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

Sports Talk
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 11 a.m.
30 for 30: Fernando Nation — ESPN Classic, 4 p.m.
30 for 30: The House of Steinbrenner — ESPN Classic, 5 p.m.
30 for 30: Four Days in October — ESPN Classic, 6 p.m.
Catching Hell — ESPN Classic, 7 p.m.

Tennis
ATP Tour
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open), Rome, Italy
Final — Tennis Channel, 10 a.m.

WTA Tour
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open), Rome, Italy
Final — Tennis Channel, 1:30 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
60 Minutes — CBS, 7 p.m.
Alaska: The Last Frontier Exposed: Fall Feast (series premiere) — Discovery, 7 p.m.
Mega Dens: My Home Away From My Castle — DIY Network, 8 p.m.
Trip Flip: Puerto Rico — Travel Channel, 8 p.m.
The 2013 Billboard Music Awards — ABC, 8 p.m.
60 Minutes — CBS, 8 p.m.
Call the Midwife (season finale) — PBS, 8 p.m.
Alaska: The Last Frontier: Til the Cows Come Home — Discovery, 8 p.m.
The Shawshank Redemption — IFC, 8 p.m.
Ultimate Survival: Alaska: The Extra Mile: Into the Wild — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
A Bryk at a Time: No Fun and Games — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Nurse Jackie — Showtime, 9 p.m.
Masterpiece Classic: Mr. Selfridge: Part 8 — PBS, 9 p.m.
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown: Libya — CNN, 9 p.m.
North America: Born to be Wild (series premiere) — Discovery, 9 p.m.
Game of Thrones — HBO, 9 p.m.
Extreme Homes — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Dateline on ID: The Confession — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Ultimate Survival Alaska: River of No Return — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Snapped: Nancy Novack — Oxygen, 9 p.m.
Future Scream Machines: Bigger, Wetter, Faster — Travel Channel, 9 p.m.
Veep — HBO, 10 p.m.
Mad Men: The Crash — AMC, 10 p.m.
Casino — Cinemax, 10 p.m.
North America: No Place to Hide — Discovery, 10 p.m.
Restaurant Impossible: Muskrat Mayhem — Food Network, 10 p.m.
Unusual Suspects: The Deacon’s Demise — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Life Below Zero: End of the Road (series premiere) — National Geographic Channel, 10 p.m.
The Borgias — Showtime, 10 p.m.
Network — Sundance Channel, 10 p.m.
Family Tree — HBO, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Viewing Picks

Arena Football
Orlando Predators at Philadelphia Soul — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.

Australian Rules Football
Collingwood Magpies vs. Geelong Cats — Fox Soccer Plus, 5:30 p.m.
Carlton Blues vs. Port Adelaide Power — Fox Soccer, 11 p.m.

Boxing
Showtime Championship Boxing, Atlantic City, NJ
Jr. Welterweight Fight
Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Martin Matthysse — Showtime, 9:15 p.m.

All-Access: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Epilogue — Showtime, 9 p.m.

College Baseball
Central Florida at East Carolina — Fox Sports Net/Fox College Sports Atlantic, 11 a.m.
Pittsburgh at Louisville — ESPNU, noon
Michigan at Nebraska — Big Ten Network, 1 p.m.
Mississippi at LSU — CBS Sports Network, 1 p.m.
Baylor at Texas Tech — Fox College Sports Pacific, 1 p.m.
Texas A&M at Tennessee — Fox Sports Net, 1 p.m.
Kentucky at Missouri — Fox College Sports Central, 2 p.m.
St. Mary’s at BYU — BYU TV, 3 p.m.
Clemson at Florida State — ESPNU, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Ohio State — Big Ten Network, 4 p.m.
Notre Dame at Cincinnati — CBS Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Texas at TCU — Fox College Sports Atlantic, 4:30 p.m.
Oregon State at Oregon — Pac-12 Network, 5 p.m.
Oklahoma at Kansas State — Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.
Cal-Irvine at Cal State-Fullerton — Fox College Sports Pacific, 9 p.m.

College Lacrosse
NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament
Quarterfinals, College Park, MD
Ohio State vs. Cornell — ESPN2, 12:30 p.m.
Yale vs. Syracuse — ESPN2, 3 p.m.

NCAA Women’s Division I Tournament
Quarterfinal, Evanston, IL
Penn State at Northwestern — Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.

College Paintball
2013 National Collegiate Paintball Championship — CBS Sports Network, noon

College Softball
NCAA Division I Tournament
Austin Regional, Austin, TX
Texas vs. South Carolina — Longhorn Network, noon

College Station Regional, College Station, TX
Texas A&M vs. Baylor — ESPN, 3 p.m.
Arizona vs. Penn — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket — ESPNews, 8 p.m.

Tempe Regional, Tempe, AZ
Arizona State vs. Georgia — ESPNU, 6 p.m.
San Diego State vs. San Jose State — ESPNU, 8:30 p.m.
Winner’s Bracket — ESPNU, 11 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 14: Derver to Bardonecchia — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Tour of California
Stage 7: Livermore to Mt. Diablo — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
World Match Play Championship, Kavarna, Bulgaria
Round of 16 — Golf Channel, 6 a.m.

PGA Tour
Byron Nelson Championship, Irving, TX
Third Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m./CBS, 3 p.m.

Web.com Tour
BMW Charity Pro-Am, Greer, SC
Third Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Mobile Bay Classic, Mobile, AL
Third Round — Golf Channel, 5 p.m.

Hockey
2013 IIHF World Championships, Stockholm, Sweden
Semifinal
United States vs. Switzerland — NBC Sports Network, 1 p.m.

Horse Racing
Preakness Stakes, Baltimore, MD
138th Preakness Stakes — NBC, 4 p.m.

Preakness Stakes Prep — NBC Sports Network, 3:30 p.m.
Preakness Post Show — NBC Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.

IndyCar
Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis, IN
Qualifying Sessions — NBC Sports Network, 11 a.m. & 4:30 p.m.

Mixed Martial Arts
UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold-Prelims — Fuel, 6 p.m.
UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold-Main Event — FX, 9 p.m.

MLB
American League
Seattle at Cleveland — Root Sports Northwest/STO, 1 p.m.
Toronto at New York Yankees — Rogers Sportsnet/YES, 1 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Anaheim Angels — Fox, 4 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore — Fox, 4 p.m.
Boston at Minnesota — NESN/Fox Sports North, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Texas — MLB Network/Fox Sports Detroit/Fox Sports Southwest, 8 p.m.
Kansas City at Oakland — Fox Sports Kansas City/Comcast SportsNet California, 9 p.m.

National League
New York Mets at Chicago Cubs — WPIX/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia — Fox, 4 p.m.
Arizona at Miami — Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta — KCAL/Fox Sports South, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at St. Louis — Fox Sports Wisconsin/Fox Sports Midwest, 7:15 p.m.
San Francisco at Colorado — MLB Network/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Root Sports Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m.
Washington at San Diego — MASN/Fox Sports San Diego, 8:30 p.m.

Interleague
Houston at Pittsburgh — Comcast SportsNet Houston/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

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

NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series
All-Star Race, Concord, NC
Race — Speed, 7 p.m.

NASCAR RaceDay: Special Edition: All-Star Preview — Speed, 4 p.m.
NASCAR RaceDay: NASCAR All-Star Race — Speed, 5 p.m.
NASCAR Victory Lane: The All-Star Race — Speed, 11 p.m.

NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinal
Game 6: New York at Indiana — ESPN, 8 p.m.

NBA GameTime: Knicks/Pacers, Game 6 Postgame — NBA TV, 10:30 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Western Conference Semifinals
Game 2: Detroit at Chicago — NBC/CBC/RDS, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Los Angeles at San Jose — NBC Sports Network/TSN/RDS, 9 p.m.

NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 3:30 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 6 p.m.
NHL Plays of the Week: First Round — NHL Network, 9 p.m.
NHL Tonight — NHL Network, 10 p.m.
NHL Live — NBC Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.

Sports Talk
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 11 a.m.
Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth and the Legend — ESPN Classic, 8 p.m.
The Clemente Effect — ESPN Classic, 9 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.

Tennis
WTA Tour
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open), Rome, Italy
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m. & 8 a.m.

ATP Tour
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open), Rome, Italy
Semifinals — Tennis Channel, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Track & Field
IAAF Diamond League, Shanghai, Communist China
Shanghai — Universal Sports, 8 a.m.

Entertainment
Blazing Saddles — IFC, 7:30 a.m.
Top 20 Video Countdown — VH1, 9 a.m.
Fix This Yard: Oli & Cori: Bomb Shelter by the Bay — A&E, 9:30 a.m.
Going Yard: Outdoor Bar, Fire Pit and Creativity Retreat — HGTV, 9:30 a.m.
Sell This House: Extreme: Tucker, GA — A&E, 10 a.m.
E! News — E!, 10 a.m.
Top 20 Video Countdown — VH1, 10 a.m.
Build It Bigger: London’s Olympic Aquatic Stadium — Science, 11 a.m.
Million Dollar Baby — HBO, 11:15 a.m.
Giada at Home: My Grandfather’s Favorites — Food Network, 11:30 a.m.
Full Metal Jacket — Encore, 12:15 p.m.
Hanna — HBO, 1:30 p.m.
Mecum Car Auction Live — Discovery, 3 p.m.
America’s Best Bites: Bellyq — Cooking Channel, 4:30 p.m.
Doctor Who: The Name of the Doctor (season finale) — BBC America, 8 p.m.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith — Cinemax, 8 p.m.
Collateral Damage — IFC, 8 p.m.
Behind the Music Remastered: Motorhead — VH1 Classic, 8 p.m.
Renovation Realities: The Meyer Job — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
20/20: Rock ‘n’ Royalty: Billboard’s All-Stars — ABC, 9 p.m.
Orphan Black: Entangled Black — BBC America, 9 p.m.
My Ghost Story: Caught on Camera — Biography Channel, 9 p.m.
2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony — HBO, 9 p.m.
Murder in Paradise: French Kiss of Death — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Wicked Tuna: Hooked Up: The Last Battle — National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Dateline: Real Life Mysteries: Deadly Connection-Part 1 — TLC, 9 p.m.
Download Festival 2012 — VH1 Classic, 9 p.m.
Sydney ER: Race Against Time — Discovery Fitness & Health, 10 p.m.
48 Hours: The War in Chicago — CBS, 10 p.m.
The Nerdist — BBC America, 10 p.m.
My Haunted House: Trapped & Retreat — Biography Channel, 10 p.m.
Zombie Preppers — Discovery, 10 p.m.
How Sex Changed the World: Sex & Power — H2, 10 p.m.
Scorned: Love Kills: Black Widower — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Outrageous Acts of Science: Power Junkies — Science, 10 p.m.
Dateline: Real Life Mysteries: Deadly Connection-Part 2 — TLC, 10 p.m.
The Fugitive — IFC, 10:15 p.m.
The Last King of Scotland — Sundance Channel, 10:15 p.m.
Sydney ER: Halloween Night — Discovery Fitness & Health, 10:30 p.m.
That Metal Show — VH1 Classic, 11 p.m.
Saturday Night Live with host Ben Affleck and musical guest Kanye West (season finale) — NBC, 11:29 p.m.
Metal Evolution — VH1 Classic, midnight

Ken Venturi, 1931-2013

We get word on this Friday night that one of the legends of golf, both on the course and in the broadcast booth, Ken Venturi has died at the age of 82.

Just less than two weeks ago, Venturi was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, but was unable to attend due to a lengthy illness.

Venturi was known to generations of golf fans as CBS’ lead analyst on its PGA Tour coverage from 1968 until 2002, a total of 35 years. He worked with a Who’s Who of Sports Broadcasting in the the 18th tower, Jack Whitaker, Vin Scully, Pat Summerall and Jim Nantz. Venturi holds the record for his tenure as the lead analyst.

For older golf fans, Venturi is remembered for winning the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD, overcoming heat stroke in extreme high heat and humidity, playing 36 holes on the final Saturday.

Venturi retired from the PGA Tour in 1967 due to what became eventually known as carpal tunnel syndrome and was hired the next year by CBS.

What you may not know is that Venturi overcame a severe stutter. His clear and concise commentary for CBS gave him a large legion of fans. And he’s also known for his role as Ken Venturi in Tin Cup starring Kevin Costner.

We have a statement from CBS Sports on Venturi’s passing.

STATEMENTS FROM CBS SPORTS ON THE PASSING OF LEGENDARY BROADCASTER AND GOLF HALL OF FAMER KEN VENTURI

Ken Venturi provided lead analysis and commentary for CBS Sports’ coverage of golf for 35 years from 1968 when he, along with Jack Whitaker, co-hosted “CBS Golf Championship” and “CBS Golf Classic,” until 2002 as the lead golf analyst for the CBS Television Network. He was the longest-running lead analyst on television for any sport.

One of golf’s elite players, Venturi won the 1964 U.S. Open Championship, and was recently inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in a ceremony on May 6.

“For the second time in a month, the CBS Sports family has lost one of its legends with the passing of Ken Venturi. Ken was not only one of golf’s greatest champions, but also the signature voice of golf for almost two generations of fans and viewers. His stature, expertise and personality working in the 18th tower alongside Pat Summerall, Jim Nantz and the rest of the CBS golf team will forever be synonymous with the greatest golf events on CBS.” – Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports

“He was one of the finest gentlemen the world will ever know and one of the greatest friends you could ever have. He was a deeply principled man with a dynamic presence. He just exuded class. Through his competitive days and unequalled broadcasting career, Kenny became a human bridge connecting everyone from Sarazen, Nelson and Hogan to the greatest players of today’s generation. Kenny faced many adversities in his life and always found a way to win. When I hear Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” I will always believe that Ol’ Blue Eyes was singing that song for his close pal, Kenny Venturi. It makes me think of him every time. On his farewell broadcast in 2002 I told him, ‘You will be, always by my side.’ Five years later I wrote a book about my Dad and father figures in my life. I named the book after that very moment.

I’m so happy he lived to know he was going to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. I will cherish my 17 years working with him. But more than that, I will treasure the rich, personal, deep friendship that we shared for nearly 30 years.” – CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz

Venturi’s impact on golf is felt to this day.

Dottie Pepper Joins ESPN’s Golf Coverage

Dottie Pepper has joined ESPN for its golf coverage. She was part of NBC/Golf Channel’s team since 2004 and left last year.

Pepper will join ESPN in time for its US Open coverage next month and also be on the network’s Open Championship team in July when it travels to Muirfield in Scotland.

Pepper left NBC/Golf Channel citing a desire to cut back on her schedule plus she took a position with the PGA of America.

In addition, she has written two golf-themed children’s books.

Here’s the ESPN announcement.

Dottie Pepper Joins ESPN’s Golf Coverage Team

Dottie Pepper, a major championship-winning golfer as well as a respected television commentator and author, has joined ESPN’s golf coverage team and will make her on-air debut at next month’s U.S. Open.

Pepper, a 17-time winner on the LPGA Tour during her career, will serve multiple roles on ESPN’s multiplatform golf coverage including analyst, on-course reporter and anchor during live play. She also will be an analyst on ESPN’s signature news and information program SportsCenter and will write for ESPN.com.

“Joining the ESPN golf team offers me the chance to cover the greatest golf events in the world,” said Pepper. “It’s a team of passionate and proven winners, dedicated to making the events they cover the best in the game.”

Pepper, who retired from the LPGA in 2004, worked for the past eight years as a golf commentator for NBC Sports and The Golf Channel and also was a contributing columnist for Sports Illustrated. She announced at the end of the 2012 season that she would be joining the PGA of America Board of Directors to work on developing junior golf in the United States.

ESPN’s championship golf schedule for 2013 includes the Masters, U.S. Open and The Open Championship; the U.S. Women’s Open and Women’s British Open; and the U.S. Senior Open and Senior Open Championship.

“ESPN’s golf schedule is perfect for me,” said Pepper. “I love working in television and this schedule allows me to do that but also gives me time to continue my work with the PGA of America and junior golf. It’s an ideal situation.”

A three-time NCAA All-American golfer at Furman University, Pepper turned pro in 1987 and her 17 victories on the LPGA Tour included two of women’s golf’s major championships. She was LPGA Player of the Year in 1992, a six-time Solheim Cup team member and won more than $6.8 million during her career.

In addition to her work on television, Pepper also is co-author of the Bogey Tees Off and Bogey Ballton’s Night Before Christmas children’s books.

“We’re very pleased to have the opportunity for Dottie to join our team,” said Mike McQuade, ESPN vice president, production. “Her knowledge, experience and professionalism will bring another layer of strength to our golf coverage.”

ESPN will televise the first two rounds of the second men’s major championship of the season, the U.S. Open from Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., June 13-14. Coverage also will include six days of SportsCenter specials from the event beginning Tuesday, June 11.

That’s all.

Friday’s Viewing Picks

Australian Rules Football
Essendon Bombers vs. Brisbane Lions — Fox Soccer Plus, 11:30 p.m.

College Baseball
Illinois at Minnesota — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Ohio State — Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
Notre Dame at Cincinnati — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
West Virginia at Oklahoma State — Fox College Sports Atlantic, 7:30 p.m.
Texas at TCU — Fox College Sports Central, 7:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s at BYU — BYU TV, 8 p.m.
Clemson at Florida State — ESPNU, 8 p.m.
Cal-Irvine at Cal State-Fullerton — ESPNU, 11 p.m.

College Softball
NCAA Division I Tournament
Austin Regional, Austin, TX
Army vs. Texas — Longhorn Network, 7 p.m.

College Station Regional, College Station, TX
Arizona vs. Baylor — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
Penn vs. Texas A&M — ESPN2. 6 p.m.

Tempe Regional, Tempe, AZ
San Diego State vs. Georgia — ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.
San Jose State vs. Arizona State — ESPNU, 6 p.m.

Cycling
Giro d’Italia
Stage 13: Busseto to Cherasco — beIN Sport, 9:30 a.m.

Tour of California
Stage 6: San Jose (Individual Time Trial) — NBC Sports Network, 5 p.m.

Golf
European PGA Tour
World Match Play Championship, Kavarna, Bulgaria
Day Two — Golf Channel, 7 a.m.

Web.com Tour
BMW Charity Pro-Am, Greer, SC
Second Round — Golf Channel, 12:30 p.m.

PGA Tour
Byron Nelson Championship, Irving, TX
Second Round — Golf Channel, 3 p.m.

LPGA Tour
Mobile Bay Classic, Mobile, AL
Second Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.

19th Hole — Golf Channel, midnight

Horse Racing
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes — NBC Sports Network, 4 p.m.

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

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

Interleague
Houston at Pittsburgh — Comcast SportsNet Houston/Root Sports Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

The Rundown — MLB Network, 2 p.m.
MLB Now — MLB Network, 4 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 6 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 10:30 p.m.
Baseball Tonight — ESPN2, midnight
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Saturday)

NASCAR
Camping World Truck Series
NC Education Lottery 200, Charlotte, NC
Final Practice — Speed, 10:30 a.m.
Qualifying — Speed, 4 p.m.
Race — Speed, 8 p.m.

Sprint Cup Series
All-Star Race, Charlotte, NC
Practice — Speed, 1:30 p.m.
Qualifying — Speed, 6 p.m.

Sprint Cup Series
Showdown, Charlotte, NC
Practice — Speed, noon
Qualifying — Speed, 5 p.m.

Trackside At …: Charlotte — Speed, 3 p.m.
NCWTS Setup — Speed, 7:30 p.m.

NBA
NBA Pre-Draft Camp — ESPNU, 10 a.m.
2013 NBA Combine — ESPN2, 2 p.m.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game 2: Ottawa at Pittsburgh — CBC/RDS/NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

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

Sports Talk
NFL AM — NFL Network, 6 a.m.
The Dan Patrick Show — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Tim Brando Show — CBS Sports Network, 9 a.m.
Sky Sports News — Fox Soccer, 9 a.m.
Morning Drive — Golf Channel, 11 a.m.
The Box Score — Audience Network (DirecTV)/NBC Sports Network, noon
Outside the Lines — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
SVP & Russillo — ESPNews, 3 p.m.
SportsNation — ESPN2, 4 p.m.
Pardon the Interruption — ESPN, 5:30 p.m.
ROME — CBS Sports Network, 6 p.m.
The Artie Lange Show — Audience Network (DirecTV), 10 p.m.
Fox Soccer News — Fox Soccer, 10 p.m.
Lead Off — CBS Sports Network, midnight

Tennis
ATP Tour
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open), Rome, Italy
Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m. & 3 p.m.

WTA Tour
Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Italian Open), Rome, Italy
Quarterfinals — Tennis Channel, 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. (same day coverage)

Entertainment
Shark Tank — ABC, 8 p.m.
Undercover Boss: Epic Bosses (season finale) — CBS, 8 p.m.
Dateline NBC — NBC, 8 p.m.
Nikita (season finale) — The CW, 8 p.m.
The Hangover Part II — HBO2, 8 p.m.
How Nature Works — National Geographic Channel, 8 p.m.
Garage Gold: Disaster and Dolls — DIY Network, 9 p.m.
Flea Market Flip: Flipping and Flirting — HGTV, 9 p.m.
Shark Tank (season finale) — ABC, 9 p.m.
Blood Relatives: Cradle to the Grave — Investigation Discovery, 9 p.m.
Da Vinci’s Demons: The Devil — Starz, 9 p.m.
Garage Gold: Pinball Pains — DIY Network, 9:30 p.m.
Garage Gold: The Bad Side of a Barn — DIY Network, 10 p.m.
Mystery Diners: All in the Family — Food Networ, 10 p.m.
House Hunters: San Diego — HGTV, 10 p.m.
Dates From Hell: A Date With Hate — Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.
Best Week Ever — VH1, 10 p.m.
48 Hours: Unraveling the Lies of Jodi Arias — CBS, 10 p.m.
Anderson Cooper Special Report: Back to Boston: Moments of Impact — CNN, 10 p.m.
America’s Book of Secrets: Presidential Cover-Ups — H2, 10 p.m.
XIII: Mousetrap — Reelz Channel, 10 p.m.
The Dead Files: Death Valley-Death Valley Junction, California — Travel Channel, 10 p.m.
20/20: Work Wars — ABC, 10:01 p.m.
Rock Center with Brian Williams — NBC, 10:01 p.m.
Garage Gold: Down in the Dumps — DIY Network, 10:30 p.m.
The Jenny McCarthy Show — VH1, 10:30 p.m.
Zane’s the Jump Off: Backfield in Motion — Cinemax, 11 p.m.
Cops Reloaded — CMT, 11 p.m.
Garage Gold: Hit Pay Dirt — DIY Network, 11 p.m.
VICE: Addiction — HBO, 11 p.m.
The Moment: Choreographer — USA, 11 p.m.
The 2013 AVN Awards — Showtime, 11:30 p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel Live — ABC, 11:35 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman — CBS, 11:35 p.m.
The Half Hour: Dan St. Germain — Comedy Central, midnight
The Half Hour: Sean O’Connor — Comedy Central, 12:30 a.m. (Saturday)

Fox Soccer and ESPN Combine for Their Last EPL “Survival Sunday”

Last year, Fox Soccer gave soccer fans a true smorgasbord of English Premier League coverage on the final Sunday of the regular season. Utilizing Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Sports Net, Speed, FX, FoxSoccer.com, FoxSoccer2Go as well as ESPN2, fans had access to all of the games as teams positioned for European honors, cash and avoidance of relegation.

This season as Fox Soccer and ESPN end their relationship with the English Premier League at least for the next three years, games will be seen on Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus, FoxSoccer.com, FoxSoccer2Go and ESPN. Most of the ten games on Sunday will be streamed online. Four of the games will be seen on TV.

In addition, we say goodbye to the excellent Goals on Sunday which really ramped up when Rob Stone joined Fox Soccer.

We have the schedule of games below.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON WRAPS SUNDAY WITH NINE LIVE MATCHES PRESENTED BY FOX SOCCER

Last-Minute Drama Expected as Chelsea, Tottenham & Arsenal Battle for European Honors Features Include David Beckham Interview & Martin Tyler Essay

Los Angeles – Every year on the final day of the English Premier League season, the 20 teams from the world’s top domestic soccer competition play each other in a frantic 10-match race for financial reward, hardware and European honors.

This year, FOX Soccer, FOX Sports Net and FOX Soccer Plus, together with digital platforms FOXSoccer.com and FOX Soccer 2Go, carry nine of the day’s 10 matches live, on Sunday, May 19 at 11:00 AM ET.  Pre-match coverage begins at 10:30 AM ET on FOX Soccer, followed by coverage of Tottenham vs. Sunderland. The Spurs’ season comes down to this: a must-win match at White Hart Lane, plus help from other match results, in order to give them the fourth-place finish and a coveted Champions League berth.  Simultaneously, FOX Soccer Plus carries UEFA Europa League champions Chelsea against Everton, who is still without a manager after former manager David Moyes replaced the retired Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The final day of the Barclays Premier League season has drama and passion for all fans and teams involved. While Manchester United revels in glory as the League’s newly crowned champion, and the bottom three teams, Wigan Athletic, Reading and Queens Park Rangers, lament their relegation to the lower division, the battle for European qualification spots lives until the last whistle on Sunday.

The top four clubs in the Barclays Premier League earn UEFA Champions League qualification, receiving a potential reward of $75 million and the right to play in the world’s most prestigious club tournament. Pending the results of other domestic competitions, the fifth, sixth and seventh places in the Premier League also hold much significance. Once Sunday’s results are in, the holders of those spots qualify for the UEFA Europa League, a continent-wide knockout tournament with more than 40 years of history and tradition. Beginning this fall, 2013-2014 Europa League and Champions League contests air live on FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network, launching August 17.

After the matches, the series finale of Goals on Sunday airs at 1:30 PM ET on FOX Soccer, with a feature on Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, one of the best players to ever play in the Premier League, as well as an interview with David Beckham following his announcement to retire at the end of the season. The show also takes a look back at the English Premier League on FOX Soccer and includes a Martin Tyler essay highlighting his favorite memories.

MAY 19 MATCHES

Tottenham v Sunderland
FOX Soccer/10:30 AM ET

Chelsea v Everton
FOX Soccer Plus/10:30 AM ET

West Brom v Manchester Utd.
FOX Sports Net/10:30 AM ET

Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers
FOXSoccer.com/11:00 AM ET

Manchester City v Norwich City
FOXSoccer.com/11:00 AM ET

Southampton v Stoke City
FOXSoccer2Go/11:00 AM ET

Swansea City v Fulham
FOXSoccer2Go/11:00 AM ET

West Ham v Reading
FOXSoccer2Go/11:00 AM ET

Wigan v Aston Villa
FOXSoccer2Go/11:00 AM ET

Newcastle v Arsenal
ESPN/11:00 AM ET

That will do it.

REPORT: Michelle Beadle to Host “The Crossover” Solo

This coming from Jason McIntyre at The Big Lead. Dave Briggs, co-host of NBC Sports Network’s The Crossover is being dropped and Michelle Beadle will host a revamped show solo.

According to McIntyre’s post, Briggs and Beadle did not get along from the get-go when the show launched back in late January. The Crossover hasn’t been on this week as it’s been pre-empted for the Tour of California, a cycling event.

Michelle tweeted on Monday that the show is getting a new set and “Better vibe.”

Briggs who left Fox News for The Crossover is apparently getting his own NBC show. Admittedly, the show was quite sluggish and has had its trouble getting off the ground. Hopefully, this will be a better vehicle.

[The Big Lead]

ESPN Snatches the Rights to the US Open Starting in 2015

ESPN has made another sporting event into an all-cable affair. Starting in 2015, the U.S. Open which has been on ESPN2 since 2009 will now be seen on the Alleged Worldwide Leader from start to finish. CBS which has been the home of the Open since 1968 will end its association with the event in 2014.

ESPN’s coverage will now include Labor Day Weekend which had been part of CBS’ coverage. The women’s semifinals which had been on the second Friday afternoon of the U.S. Open will now move to the second Thursday night and the men’s semifinals from Super Saturday to Friday. The women’s final will remain on the second Saturday and the men’s final on the second Sunday. This gives a day of rest for both the women’s and men’s finals.

Having the U.S. Open, ESPN now has three of the four tennis Grand Slam finals on its air along with the Australian Open and Wimbledon. The French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament in which ESPN is not a main rightsholder as Tennis Channel and NBC are.

In addition, ESPN will make available all matches on all 17 courts on ESPN3.

Here’s the ESPN/USTA press release.

ESPN Acquires Exclusive Rights to Tennis’ US Open Beginning in 2015

Adds Labor Day Weekend, the New Semis/Finals Format, plus Expanded Digital, International Rights in 11-Year Deal

ESPN will be the exclusive home in North and South America of the US Open from first ball through the women’s and men’s championships each summer from New York beginning in 2015, in a landmark agreement with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced today.  With this 11-year agreement, ESPN now will air the championship in three of the four tennis majors.

ESPN has televised approximately100 hours of live US Open matches annually since 2009, and now will air 130+  hours with the addition of day-long coverage of the “middle weekend” – Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day Monday – plus both the men’s and women’s semifinals and finals.  The new US Open schedule – previously announced to start in 2015 – places the women’s final on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday.  This creates new prime-time telecasts of the women’s semifinals on the second Thursday and the men’s semifinals the following day, giving a day of rest to the two players before each final.

“Certain sporting events become synonymous with when they are held, and there is no better – or bigger – way to celebrate the end of summer than at the US Open in New York,” said John Skipper, ESPN president.  “We look forward to capturing every match, every star, every championship and all the drama on this grand stage.”

Dave Haggerty, USTA Chairman of the Board and President, said, “This wide-ranging and broad relationship with ESPN positions tennis at the forefront of American sports.  By teaming with the world-wide leader in sports, the USTA will continue to ensure that tennis at every level thrives in the United States.”

In addition to ESPN and ESPN2, all telecasts will be available on WatchESPN.  In an expansion of offerings, over the term of the agreement ESPN will make every match on all 17 tournament courts available on ESPN3.  Presently, six of the 17 courts have coverage.  Also, ESPN3 will begin each day’s coverage the first Monday – Friday morning with two hours at 11 a.m. ET while SportsCenter on ESPN will have the right to do live cut-ins.  ESPN3 is available via WatchESPN for fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription via Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast Xfinity TV, Midcontinent Communications, Cablevision, Cox, Charter or AT&T U-verse.

ESPN will continue to be the home of the entire US Open in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Canada on TSN, as it has since 2002.  The new agreement brings expanded rights and increased programming hours, as in the U.S. – both on the multiple linear TV channels throughout these regions and on digital platforms.

ESPN also will become the exclusive home to the US Open Series with 72 hours of action in the five-week summer series leading to the US Open.  In addition, ESPN will now present Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, the music and tennis festival geared to families that serves as the unofficial kick off of the two-week tournament, on the weekend prior to the main draw tournament’s Monday start.

There you have it.