Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men's
Ohio State at Indiana - Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
Richmond at URI (weather permitting) - Cox Sports RI, 7 p.m.
UConn at Syracuse - ESPN, 7 p.m.
Florida State at Clemson - ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Florida at South Carolina - SEC Network, 8 p.m.
LSU at Arkansas - SEC Network, 8 p.m.
Utah at TCU - the mtn., 8 p.m.
Northwestern at Iowa - Big Ten Network, 8:30 p.m.
Georgia at Auburn - Comcast Sports South, 9 p.m.
Duke at North Carolina - ESPN/Raycom, 9 p.m.
Baylor at Nebraska - ESPN2, 9 p.m.
Virginia Tech at NC State - ESPNU, 9 p.m. (Raycom markets will see this game on ESPN)
Wyoming at San Diego State - the mtn., 10:30 p.m.
New Mexico at UNLV - CBS College Sports, 11 p.m.
Nevada at Idaho - ESPN2, 11 p.m.

women's
TCU at Utah - CBS College Sports, 9 p.m.

NBA
Boston at New Orleans - NBA TV/Comcast SportsNet New England. 8 p.m.

NHL
Nashville at New York Rangers - Fox Sports Tennessee/MSG Network, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at New Jersey - Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.
San Jose at Columbus - Comcast SportsNet California/Fox Sports Ohio, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Pittsburgh - NHL Network (US)/MSG Plus 2/FSN Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Washington at Montreal - TSN/RDS/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, 7:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Minnesota - Fox Sports North, 8 p.m.
Atlanta at Colorado - SportSouth/Altitude, 9 p.m.
Edmonton at Anaheim - TSN/Fox Sports West, 10 p.m.

NHL On The Fly - NHL Network, 10 p.m.

Entertainment
A Charlie Brown Valentine - ABC, 8 p.m.
Inside Polygamy: Life is Bountiful - National Geographic Channel, 9 p.m.
Nip/Tuck - FX, 10 p.m.
CSI: NY - CBS, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Late Night/Early Morning Linkage

I'm going to provide a few links during this overnight period. Trying to make up for the lack of links over the last week or so.

The Smoking Gun has the court documents filed earlier this week alleging that convicted stalker and scumbag Michael Barrett not only was following Erin Andrews, but apparently 30 other female sports reporters and TV personalities. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.

Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times writes for the Indiana University National Journalism Center regarding the perfect storm that led to record ratings for the Super Bowl.

Mike Farrell of Multichannel News reports that Disney Company CEO Robert Iger is going to seek higher cable fees for ESPN. Here's a story that will bear watching as cable providers may balk at higher prices to carry the Alleged Worldwide Leader.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel writes that the dispute between DirecTV and Versus could prevent subscribers from seeing the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek says CBS set a record for Super Bowl ad time by cramming in almost 48 minutes of commercials during the game.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post's DC Sports Bog says Sunday's Penguins-Capitals game on NBC drew very good numbers for the NHL.

From the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, Olympics reporter Philip Hersh says Vancouver's natural beauty makes it hard for him to do his job.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says it's no surprise that Brooklyn Decker was chosen to adorn this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Eric Lacitis of the Seattle Times writes about the local NBC affiliate which is treating the Vancouver Olympics as a local story and is spending the resources to do so.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says it should be no surprise that the Super Bowl did well in Canada on Sunday.

In Truth & Rumours, William Houston writes that NBC will have its share of Canadians in its on-air staff.

The Sports Media Watch has the weekend overnight ratings.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media would like the posturing between DirecTV and Versus to end.

I'll end there for now. Back tomorrow morning with more linkage. Enjoy your snow day.

Some Press Releases For A Snowy Wednesday

Trying to catch up on press releases. I have a whole bunch piled up in my inbox and it's time to release them into the wild, or at least post them here.

First, the Today Show, that long-running morning show on NBC will be in Vancouver. Actually, if you saw Tuesday's show, it marked the first of almost three weeks of live broadcasts from Whistler, which is outside Vancouver.

‘TODAY’ IN VANCOUVER

America’s No. 1 Morning Program Broadcasts Live from Grouse Mountain in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

"Today" in Vancouver Begins Tuesday, February 9

NEW YORK - America’s favorite morning program will bid farewell to Studio 1A in New York, and once again bring the excitement of the Olympic Winter Games to viewers at home. Matt, Meredith, Al, Ann and Natalie will travel north of the border to Vancouver for XXI Olympic Winter Games. The Vancouver Winter Olympics marks the seventh Olympic Games the "Today" show has traveled to and covered. 

Before the start of the Olympics, "Today" counted down to the Games from the heart of the action. Matt Lauer broadcast live from Vancouver on Tuesday, February 9 with Natalie Morales reporting live from Whistler. "Today" will introduce viewers to the athletes-to-watch, while also taking a look at the Olympic venues and the tremendous preparations underway. Additionally, Lauer will be participating in the Olympic Torch Relay on Thursday, February 11, carrying the flame through the town of Burnaby, British Columbia. 

On Friday, February 12, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry will join Lauer and Morales to kick off their Olympic coverage atop Grouse Mountain, where "Today" will call home for the duration of the Games. During this special edition of the program, the "Today" anchor team will preview the Opening Ceremony, look ahead to the start of the Winter Olympics, and showcase their new mountainside location. Special athlete guests include Jeret "Speedy" Peterson and Emily Cook, and Canadian-born crooner Michael Bublé will perform a special mountaintop concert.

Beginning Monday, February 15, "Today" will begin two weeks of in-depth news coverage of the Winter Olympics with the latest on the events, and previews of the upcoming action. America’s first TV family will give viewers an all-access pass to everything Olympic, going behind-the-scenes and profiling the outstanding competitors that make up Team USA. They will interview athletes including Apolo Ohno, Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Evan Lysacek, Lindsey Jacobellis and many others as they go for the gold, and they will also take a look at the competition the U.S. athletes will be facing. 

Additionally, Olympic gold medalists Picabo Street and Kristi Yamaguchi will serve as "Today" special correspondents providing expert commentary and analysis of the Games. NBC News’ Lester Holt will anchor special split editions of “Weekend Today” from Grouse Mountain.  

"Today" will also explore the beautiful city of Vancouver, and introduce viewers to the unique culture, society and cuisine surrounding the Winter Olympics. "Today" correspondent Jenna Bush Hager will contribute human-interest stories and reports to the program throughout the Winter Olympic Games. "Today’s" Sarah Haines will give Kathie Lee and Hoda the daily Olympic dish from Grouse Mountain for the fourth hour. In addition, "Today" style editor Bobbie Thomas will showcase the hottest cold-weather Olympic fashions and winter trends. 

Vancouver.TODAYshow.com will feature the most up-to-date news as well as compelling slideshows and exclusive behind-the-scenes video of the Winter Olympics. Viewers can also visit the site to participate in live votes, connect with the show on Twitter and Facebook, and get the latest medal count. 

"Today’s" exclusive set and Olympic home will be located on breathtaking Grouse Mountain overlooking Vancouver. Grouse Mountain, which boasts an 82-year history, is a four-season recreation destination, and "Today" will broadcast live from the top of the mountain for the duration of the Winter Olympics. Located 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, the mountain will remain open 24 hours a day during the Olympics offering snow sports and alpine recreation, including night skiing, to all visitors. "Today" fans are encouraged to visit Grouse Mountain each day to watch the live broadcast and to get a chance to meet the Olympic athletes as well as the show anchors. "Today" will broadcast live each morning at 4 a.m. local time. 

NBC Universal will present more than 835 hours of Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage - representing the most total hours ever for a Winter Olympics, more than the last two Winter Olympics combined, and the most live hours ever for a Winter Games. The Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, which will be the first Winter Olympics to be presented entirely in high definition, commence with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 12. The more than 835 total hours of coverage on six NBC Universal platforms - NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com - nearly doubles the coverage from Turin (419) and is more than Turin and Salt Lake City (375.5) combined (794.5).

Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today" (Mon.- Fri., 7 - 11 a.m.). Don Nash is the senior broadcast producer overseeing "Today’s" Olympic coverage and Mary Alice O’Rourke is the senior producer.
Last week, ESPN announced some of its college football matchups for Labor Day and Thursday Night Football.
Labor Day and Thursday Primetime Matchups Highlight Early ACC College Football Selections for 2010
 
An ESPN Labor Day doubleheader and marquee matchups on Thursday nights are among the telecasts involving ACC teams slated for ESPN’s 2010 college football schedule. Additional games will be announced in the coming months. Highlights include:
 
  • ESPN’s Labor Day doubleheader Monday, Sept. 6, will feature games from NFL stadiums, beginning at 4 p.m. with Maryland vs. Navy from M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, followed by Boise State vs. Virginia Tech from FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, at 8 p.m. An ESPN.com early pre-season poll for 2010 ranks Boise State nationally at third and Virginia Tech at sixth.
 
  • ESPN’s popular Thursday night series -- ESPN College Football Primetime – will feature four telecasts involving ACC teams, all at 7:30 p.m., highlighted by:
 
  • Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech on Nov. 4 in a showdown between ACC Coastal Division rivals. Georgia Tech defeated then-No. 4 Virginia Tech 28-23 last year for its first home victory against the Hokies since 1990. Virginia Tech is ranked No. 6 and Georgia Tech No. 13 in the ESPN.com early pre-season poll.
 
  • Miami will visit former BIG EAST Conference foe Pittsburgh on Sept. 23. It will mark the first time the teams have played since 2003, a 28-14 Hurricanes victory. Pittsburgh is ranked No. 15 and Miami No. 17 in the ESPN.com early pre-season poll.
 
  • North Carolina State will appear twice: Sept. 16 against Cincinnati, coming off an undefeated regular season, and Oct. 28 against ACC foe Florida State.
 
  • The Kickoff Game from Atlanta as part of the third annual Kickoff Week will feature LSU vs. North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 4. Time and network are to be determined.
 
The 2010 ACC schedule through Nov. 4 (additional selections to be announced):
 

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sat, Sep 4 TBD LSU vs. North Carolina (from Atlanta) * TBD
Mon, Sep 6 4 p.m. Navy vs. Maryland (from Baltimore) ESPN
  8 p.m. Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (from Landover, Md.) * ESPN
Thu, Sep 16 7:30 p.m. Cincinnati at North Carolina State ESPN
Thu, Sep 23 7:30 p.m. Miami at Pittsburgh ESPN
Thu, Oct 28 7:30 p.m. Florida State at North Carolina State ESPN
Thu, Nov 4 7:30 p.m. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech ESPN
 
* Previously announced
To college basketball on the ESPN family of networks as its coverage of so-called "Rivalry Week" continues.
Men’s College Basketball: Rivalry Week Continues with No. 12 Tennessee at No. 2 Kentucky Saturday

ESPN’s 14th annual Rivalry Week – spotlighting top rivalries in men’s college basketball across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com – will continue this weekend with telecasts involving the top five teams from the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll. Details include:
  • ESPN’s College GameDay and Saturday Primetime Game of the Week matchup, both on ESPN, will originate from No. 12 Tennessee at No. 2 Kentucky. College GameDay – hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and Digger Phelps – will air at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
  • No. 4 West Virginia will visit No. 23 Pittsburgh in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl on Friday, Feb. 12, at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
  • ESPNU will televise the nation’s new top-ranked team Saturday, Feb. 13: No. 1 Kansas against Iowa State at 8 p.m., as well as No. 5 Villanova against Providence at 2 p.m.
  • ESPN will televise No. 10 Michigan State at Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 13, at noon and No. 3 Syracuse against Louisville on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m.
Date Time (ET) Matchup Commentators Network(s)
Thu, Feb 11 7 p.m. Michigan at Minnesota Brent Musburger, Bob Knight & Holly Rowe ESPN/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. Louisville at St. John’s Dave Pasch & Tim Welsh ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. Notre Dame at Seton Hall Scott Graham & Jay Williams ESPNU
  9 p.m. Mississippi at Mississippi State Rece Davis & Hubert Davis ESPN/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Washington at California Dave O’Brien & Steve Lavin  ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Morehead State at Eastern Illinois Dave Weekley & Mark Adams ESPNU
  11 p.m. Saint Mary’s (Calif.) at No. 11 Gonzaga Bob Wischusen & Stephen Bardo ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  11 p.m. San Diego at Portland Steve Andress & Miles Simon ESPNU
Fri, Feb 12 7 p.m. Fairfield at Rider Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy ESPNU
  8 p.m. Siena at NiagaraLou Canellis & Tim Welsh ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. No. 4 West Virginia at No. 23 Pittsburgh Dave Pasch, Doris Burke & Allen Hopkins ESPN/ESPN360.com
Sat, Feb 13 Noon No. 10 Michigan State at Penn State Dave O’Brien & Steve Lavin ESPN/ESPN360.com
  Noon Kent State at Buffalo Michael Reghi & Tim O’Toole ESPNU
  2 p.m. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State Ron Franklin & Fran Fraschilla ESPN/ESPN360.com
  2 p.m. Providence at No. 5 Villanova Justin Kutcher & Dickey Simpkins ESPNU
  4 p.m. N.C. State at North Carolina Mike Patrick & Len Elmore ESPN/ESPN360.com
  4 p.m. Dayton at Saint Louis Dan McLaughlin & Mac McCausland ESPNU
  5 p.m. Texas A&M at Texas Tech Jon Sciambi & LaPhonso Ellis ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  6 p.m. Xavier at Florida Brad Nessler & Jimmy Dykes ESPN/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. Memphis at Tulsa Bob Wischusen & Stephen Bardo ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  8 p.m. Iowa State at No. 1 Kansas Clay Matvick & Stephen Howard ESPNU
  9 p.m. No. 12 Tennessee at No. 2 Kentucky Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Erin Andrews ESPN/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Saint Mary’s at Portland Kevin Calabro & Mark Adams ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  10 p.m. San Diego at No. 11 GonzagaGreg Heister & Tim McCormick ESPNU
Sun, Feb 14 1 p.m. Louisville at No. 3 SyracuseSean McDonough & Len Elmore ESPN/ESPN360.com
  8 p.m. Missouri State at Wichita StateDan McLaughlin & Mac McCausland ESPNU
  11 p.m. Albany State at Fort Valley State ^Charlie Neal & Dennis Felton ESPNU
Mon, Feb 15 7 p.m. Connecticut at No. 5 Villanova Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery ESPN/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. South Carolina State at Morgan StateCharlie Neal & Stan Lewter ESPNU
  9 p.m. No. 1 Kansas at Texas A&M Brent Musburger, Bob Knight & Holly Rowe ESPN/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Jackson State at Texas Southern Trey Bender & Stephen Howard ESPNU
  11 p.m. Tuskegee at Morehouse ^Anthony Calhoun & Sedric Toney ESPNU

^ Tape delay
And on Wednesday while you're sitting at home stranded inside due to the snow, you can check out ESPN's coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series opening practice. Why? Because Danica Patrick will be taking part, that's why.

ESPN Expands Daytona Schedule with Telecast of NASCAR Nationwide Series Opening Practice
 
ESPN has expanded its schedule from Daytona International Speedway this week and will now televise live the two-hour opening practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 3-5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The practice session will mark the NASCAR debut of open-wheel racing star Danica Patrick.
 
ESPN2 will televise live the NASCAR Nationwide Series 2010 season opener at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 also airs NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying Friday, Feb. 12, at 3 p.m., as well as NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11:30 a.m.
 
NASCAR Countdown starts ESPN2’s race day at noon ET, with the green flag at 1:34 p.m. Marty Reid will be the lap-by-lap announcer with analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. NASCAR Countdown will be hosted by Allen Bestwick from the ESPN Pit Studio with analysts Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Brad Daugherty.

I'll do more press releases throughout the day tomorrow. I'll be home. What else do I have to do?

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Mayne Street - You Don't Know Pain

Yes indeedy, it's a new season of the ESPN.com webseries Mayne Street. In the season 4 premiere, Kenny talks with X Games daredevil Travis Pastrana about what real pain is. ESPN NFL fantasy expert Matthew Berry (why?) and ESPN NFL analyst Mark "Stinky" Schlereth make cameos.


We await the return of the lovely Alison Becker to the series. And Video Cowboy who was noticeably absent from the third season. For the next few weeks, I'll be posting each webisode here.

Some Tuesday Programs You Can Watch

I have previews of three sports programs you can watch in case you're not a Lost fan.

MLB Network has an interesting interview with Willie Mays tonight.
HALL OF FAMER WILLIE MAYS OPENS UP TO BOB COSTAS ON MLB NETWORK FOR A RARE SIT-DOWN INTERVIEW

New episode of Studio 42 with Bob Costas airs Tuesday, February 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET

February 2, 2010 – Hall of Famer and two-time MVP Willie Mays, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, discusses his legendary 22-year career in an episode of MLB Network's Studio 42 with Bob Costas on Tuesday, February 9 at 8:00 p.m. ET & PT. Throughout the interview, Mays recounts memorable moments from both on and off the field, including playing in the Negro Leagues, being signed by the New York Giants, his hitting style, his famous over-the-shoulder catch, fellow Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Stan Musial, and his relationship with his godson, former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds.

A preview of the interview can be viewed here.

Prior to Studio 42 with Bob Costas, MLB Network's live nightly studio show during the offseason, Hot Stove, will air at 6:00 p.m. ET with updates and analysis of the moves all 30 clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season.

Highlights from the interview with Mays include:   

ON HIS INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
I guess I was more of a team player than just an individual player. I liked for the team to win. I would go in the clubhouse, sit in my locker and just laugh and have a good time. The guy would bring me a sandwich over and I would see the guys smiling. That was more fun to me than hitting four home runs and going in the clubhouse and everybody’s mad because we lost the game. So a lot of things happened in baseball that I had a little bit of control over, but I would have rather been known as a complete player, a team player, not showing up anybody on the field or off the field, just, you know, a nice guy.

ON HIS FAMOUS OVER-THE-SHOULDER CATCH:
When Vic [Wertz] hit the ball to centerfield I never was worried about catching the ball, I was worried about getting the ball back into the infield.  And I’m saying to myself, ‘I gotta get this ball back in the infield or Larry [Doby] is gonna score.’ … But as the ball was coming down, I knew I had the ball, but it was just a matter of getting it back into the infield.  In The Polo Grounds I never had a cutoff man. They never came out.  They’d say, “You’ve got a good enough arm, we don’t need to come out, it’s a waste of time,” so I never did throw it to a cutoff man. I always had the ball back into the infield.  I was the cutoff man, so when a ball goes to left center, I would come to centerfield and be the cutoff man because I had the best arm, which made a lot of sense to Leo [Durocher]. Leo never said anything, so I just kept doing what I had to do, so it was fine.

ON JACKIE ROBINSON:
But that’s when I thought, boy I got a chance to get out of here and go to the Majors as quick as I can … Before that, I had three guys that I’d look up every Sunday. In Sunday’s paper there was Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.  So now when Jackie Robinson came in, that gave me hope, because all these other guys I didn’t know and I didn’t think I was going to ever meet them, but I thought Jackie was my mentor.

ON WHETHER HE WAS NERVOUS BEFORE TEAMMATE BOBBY THOMSON’S “SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD”:
I thought they would walk Bobby to get to me anyway because Bobby just hit a home run off of [Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph] Branca in Brooklyn, probably the day before. It’s a three-game playoff and I’m saying to myself, ‘They’re gonna walk Bobby to get to me. What can I do?”  I wasn’t nervous, I didn’t get nervous or anything like that, I was always kind of cool, you know, whatever happened happens. So I wanted to go to the plate right quick, but I tell you when you say nervous, when Bobby hit the home run, I was the last guy to get to home plate, and I’m saying to myself, “You’re on deck, fool, get up to the plate right away, so nobody can see you,” but somebody caught it, and I’m just number-24 coming up and when everybody else is there, shouting, and, and, and trying to wait for Bobby to get to home plate and I was the last  guy, so I think I was a little nervous.

ON HIS GODSON, BARRY BONDS:
I think he’s gonna be in the Hall of Fame and I don’t think he did anything other than what other guys were doing. I don’t even really know that but I don’t like to get involved in things that I don’t know about, controversial stuff, and that’s why a lot of times I don’t even go on shows because they’re gonna ask me the same kind of questions … As far as what he was using, I don’t really know. I really didn’t ask him about his problems because it wasn’t my duty. He never asked me about anything so why should I get involved in what he was doing? So I really don’t know. I don’t get involved unless he calls. I don’t know what he does. If he did something, I’d be right there. I don’t care what it is, I’m never gonna leave someone that I like very much, and I think if he picks up the phone and calls me, I would be right there.

ON HIS NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend:
This book was a book for the people. I travel a lot and when I’m getting on planes or going through the airport, there always was someone saying, ‘You did this for me, you did that for me, and I’m saying, ‘I don’t remember all of these things,’ and so I said that maybe there’s a book in this, so these people can tell their stories …  So if you look at that book … it’s probably four or five hundred different things that people tell you that I did for them and I didn’t know anything about it. So that’s the type of book I wanted, not just me talking about me, because I have like four or five books already out and how much can you talk about baseball when you’re doing things? … Most all the money is going to the foundation that I have for kids. I take care of battered wives, I take care of the police department around my house, the fire department, everybody around there because they’ve been so good to me that I have to do all these types of things a lot.”
Two programs from HBO tonight, one the latest edition of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL
PROFILES U.S. MEN’S FIGURE SKATER JOHNNY WEIR;
EXAMINES THE STRINGENT OLYMPIC DRUG TESTING PROCESS;
TAKES AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE SPORT OF CURLING; AND
REVISITS FORMER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST BILL JOHNSON WHEN THE EMMY®-WINNING SHOW RETURNS FEB. 9, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO®

            With the Winter Games in Vancouver just days away, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL presents an Olympic-themed program when its 155th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, FEB. 9 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), an hour earlier than usual, exclusively on HBO.
            Segments include:
            *Johnny Weir.  Johnny Weir may not be the top American figure skater heading into the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver, though he’s certainly the most talked about. Thanks to his unfiltered comments, controversial costume designs and revealing reality TV show, the flamboyant star from Pennsylvania’s Amish Country has always had an easier time making headlines outside the rink than on the ice. But as correspondent Frank Deford discovers in this REAL SPORTS profile, there’s more to Weir than meets the eye. Fully committed to his skating and dead set on proving the critics wrong, Johnny Weir is ready to take the Olympics by storm. But are the Winter Games ready for Weir? Interviews also include: Johnny’s mother, Patti Weir.
            Producer:  Lisa Bennett.

            *Olympic Enforcers.  As the eyes of the world turn to Vancouver, the issue of drug testing inevitably returns to the forefront. Due to the high profile and infrequency of the Games, the war between Olympic athletes looking for an illegal edge and authorities seeking to govern them is especially fierce, resulting in the most stringent drug testing on the planet. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) conducts more than 8500 tests a year, both in and out of competition; athletes must inform the USADA of their whereabouts 365 days a year and can be tested anytime, anywhere. But does all this testing really catch the cheaters?  In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated report, correspondent Jon Frankel goes behind the scenes with the USADA to see how enforcement works. Interviews include: USADA chief executive Travis Tygart; Doping Control Officers Arnold Thomas and Scott Lowell; Distance Runner Shalane Flanagan; Rower Aleks Zosuls; Skeleton competitor Zach Lund; Attorney Howard Jacobs.
            Producer:  Nick Dolin.

            *Sweep This!  If you’ve ever watched the Winter Olympics on TV and wondered how a bunch of people sliding rocks across the ice and sweeping with brooms became a sport, let alone an Olympic sport, you’re not alone. While curling hasn’t exactly gone mainstream here in the United States, it’s a national obsession north of the border.  REAL SPORTS correspondent Bernard Goldberg travels to Canada to see what all the excitement’s about and visits Duluth, Minn., to take an inside look at the sport with a bartender, substitute teacher, construction worker and parole officer, aka the U.S. Olympic Curling team.  Interviews include: U.S. Curling team members – John Benton, Phil Drobnick (coach), Jeff Isaacson, Chris Plys, John Shuster and Jason Smith; Toronto Globe columnist Bob Weeks; Canadian curler Glenn Howard; Ice maker Mark Shurek; amateur curler Eleanor McKitrick.
            Producer:  Tim Walker.

            *Hard Times. In 2006 REAL SPORTS told the story of Bill Johnson, the United States’ first downhill skiing gold medalist. Johnson arrived at the 1984 Sarajevo Games a brazen 23-year-old without much of a track record, but with enough ability to carry him down the mountain in record time. Instead of emerging from the Olympics an American hero, however, he acquired a bad image to go with his medal. Many had already been put off by his cocky prediction that he would win the gold, finding it unbecoming in a sport that values respect and etiquette. And unfortunately for Johnson, the next 25 years proved more challenging than any downhill gates, as he suffered the death of a child, the deterioration of his marriage and a horrific skiing accident. Now, four years since his original profile, correspondent Frank Deford updates this moving story.
            Producers:  Chapman Downes, Jill Klapper.

            REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL has won the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 12 of the last 14 years, in addition to being the first sports program honored with the duPont Award for excellence in broadcast journalism.

             The executive producers of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; Kirby Bradley is senior producer.
That will be followed by 24/7 Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona.
24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA
FEB. 9 EPISODE

            HBO Sports’ all-access show 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA continues with its third episode, debuting TUESDAY, FEB. 9 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT). The four-week series spotlights one of racing’s biggest stars, reigning four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, and gives viewers an inside look at the driver and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team as they prepare for the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl of auto racing.

            Episode #3
            Debut:  TUESDAY, FEB. 9 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

            The intensity builds for the 48 team as they head to Florida to prepare for the all-important Daytona 500 time trials.

            The series finale of 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA debuts Tuesday, Feb. 16 (10:00-10:30 p.m.), two days after the race, with cameras tracking all the drama and excitement surrounding Johnson and his team on race day. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and be available on HBO On Demand.

            The executive producers of 24/7 JIMMIE JOHNSON:  RACE TO DAYTONA are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Scott Boggins; producer, Bentley Weiner; writer, Peter Nelson.  Liev Schreiber narrates.
So you have your sports viewing along with the replay of Super Bowl XLIV on NFL Network tonight.

Time for Some Quick Tuesday Linkage

I'll give you some quick links as I've been out of the office for much of the day once again. I wonder when work will ease up for me. These last two weeks have been insane.

Here's the official announcement from Nielsen that Super Bowl XLIV was the most watched Big Game of all time.

Nielsen also states that the Doritos Super Bowl ad in which two men are are attacked in a gym for stealing a bag of chips was the most watched ad of all time.

John Ourand in Sports Business Daily has bad news for DirecTV subscribers who've been hoping for a resolution in its dispute with Versus.

SBD also rounds up several stories and quotes on CBS' reaction to its monster record ratings for the Super Bowl. 

The SBD also recaps the now-famous Letterman/Oprah/Leno Super Bowl promo from the viewpoints of both Dave and Big Jaw Leno.

Michael Hiestand in USA Today has a look at the weekend ratings from events other than the Super Bowl.

Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated grades CBS' pregame, game and postgame productions.

Paul Bond of the Hollywood Reporter says TiVo users replayed some of the Super Bowl's biggest plays rather than the ads.

Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable says Major League Baseball has set this year's price for its out-of-market broadband MLB.TV service.

Glen Dickson of B&C writes that NBC Universal is producing the 2010 Winter Olympics entirely in HD.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News previews Darren Rovell's special on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue on CNBC.

Mike adds that Danica Patrick's closed wheel racing debut paid off in the ratings for Speed. 

Katy Bachman of Mediaweek reports that the strategy to rename the Miami Dolphins stadium just in time for the Super Bowl paid off for Sun Life.

Mike Shields from Mediaweek writes that the SportsFanLive site has launched an Olympic Twitter page.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the record audience for Super Bowl XLIV and also gets reaction from actor Alan Alda who starred in the M*A*S*H season finale which was the previous viewership recordholder.

The New York Daily News' Bob Raissman says quarterbacks receive too much attention. Really, Bob?

Keith Groller from the Allentown (PA) Morning Call looks at the record viewership for Super Bowl XLIV.

Laura Nachman has her bests and worsts for Super Bowl XLIV.

Sarah Talalay in the South Florida Sun Sentinel writes that the Indianapolis Colts championship gear that never saw the light of day during the Super Bowl was immediately sent to Haiti as part of the earthquake relief effort.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle gives his impression of the Super Bowl ads.

Ed Sherman of Crain's Chicago Business says Drew Brees and other members of the New Orleans Saints are about to become ad agency darlings.

Christopher Byrne of Eye on Sports Media has noticed that NBC has cut its staff for the Vancouver Winter Olympics as compared to the 2006 Games in Turin.

I'm going to end it now. I'll have more later.

NFL Network Airs New Orleans Super Bowl Parade And Re-Airs Super Bowl XLIV

If you're a Saints fan, then tonight is your night on NFL Network. Not only will tonight's parade in New Orleans be aired on the channel, you get to watch Super Bowl XLIV again in its entirety so you may want to roll your DVR's or VCR's (if you still have one).

NFL Network Features the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl XLIV Parade Tonight at 6:00 PM ET – Super Bowl XLIV Replayed at 8:00 PM ET

Beginning tonight at 6:00 PM ET, NFL Network salutes the Super Bowl Champion Saints and the city of New Orleans with live coverage of the Super Bowl victory parade through the streets of New Orleans, leading into NFL Total Access at 7:00 PM ET with extended coverage of the parade.

Following NFL Total Access, NFL Network’s Super Bowl Classics at 8:00 PM ET and 12:30 AM ET/9:30 PM PT features the complete CBS broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms calling the action along with all of the network’s original graphics.

In addition, a special two-hour NFL Replay of Super Bowl XLIV debuts Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET. The abridged, yet enhanced version features the game minus halftime and other elements not critical to the outcome, while granting insider access to fans with sideline and on-field sound, as well as post-game press conference sound bites. NFL Network’s NFL Replay also incorporates exclusive shots and camera angles distinctive to NFL Films.
Certainly the Saints have captured the imagination of the entire country. Well maybe except for the stray Colts fans.

24 Season 8, Hour 8 Sneak Peek

Now that we know Jack is heading to see Bazhaev to negotiate the sale of the nuclear rods, the Russian goes to see President Omar Hassan's brother, Farhad to inform him that the delivery has been stopped so Bazhaev can check out Jack's story. Here's a sneak peek at next week's episode.


24 airs on Fox, Monday nights at 9 East and West.

NBC Finally Gives Us The Talent Roster for The Winter Olympics

Even though I posted a version of the talent roster last week, NBC Sports sends us this release today so I'll do them the favor of posting it now.

I'm a bit busy again today so links may not get posted. I'll do my best to get them up sometime during the day.

Anyway, here's the NBC press release listing the entire talent roster for the Winter Olympics which as you know starts Friday.
NBC ANNOUNCES TALENT ROSTER FOR VANCOUVER OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES - 53 COMMENTATORS IN ALL

Costas Returns for 9th Olympics, 8th as Primetime Host

Michaels Returns to Olympics After 22 Years, 30 Years After ‘Miracle on Ice’; Carillo Again Anchors Late Night Show

Button and Collinsworth Serve As Olympic Correspondents

NBC Talent Roster Has Won 16 Olympic Medals Including 7 Gold
NEW YORK - Feb. 9, 2010 - Bob Costas leads a lineup of 53 NBC Olympic commentators who will broadcast more than 835 hours of Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage - the most total hours ever for a Winter Olympics - when the Games commence on Feb. 12. The lineup returns many of the network’s signature Olympic hosts, play-by-play commentators and analysts.

NBC Universal Olympic commentator notes:
  • The roster includes 18 Olympians who have won a combined total of 16 Olympic medals (seven Gold, six Silver and three Bronze). Team NBC would have been seventh in the Torino medal count; ahead of Sweden and just behind Norway. 
  • Bob Costas, a 20-time Emmy Award winner, serves as primetime host for the eighth time and works his ninth overall Olympics for NBC; Al Michaels, who will serve as daytime host, makes his NBC Olympic debut and works his fifth Games overall after a 22-year absence and 30 years removed from his legendary “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call; Mary Carillo, who serves as both late night host and Olympic correspondent, works her 10th Olympic Games and seventh with NBC; and Cris Collinsworth, also serving as an Olympic correspondent, makes his third Olympic appearance for NBC. 
  • Olympic correspondent Dick Button has more experience at the Olympics than any NBC commentator, appearing at his 17th Olympic Winter Games and his second for NBC. Button won gold for the U.S. team in men’s figure skating at the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics. 
  • Eight commentators are making their NBC Olympic debut: the aforementioned Michaels; hockey analysts Mike Milbury, Ed Olczyk and Jeremy Roenick; Olympic freestyle gold medalist Jonny Moseley; two-time curling World champion Colleen Jones; Olympic skeleton silver medalist Lea Ann Parsley; and Olympic short track silver medalist and four-time Olympian Andy Gabel. 
  • The commentator roster includes seven Canadians: Sandra Bezic, Todd Brooker, Don Duguid, Colleen Jones, Tim Ryan, Elfi Schlegel and Tracy Wilson. 
  • The 53 commentators will cover more than 835 total hours of coverage on six NBCU platforms - NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com - the most in-depth coverage in history for a Winter Olympics.
Following is a rundown of NBC’s Olympic talent:

HOSTS:
  • The 2010 Vancouver Olympics will be Bob Costas’ ninth for NBC Sports and his eighth as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, Costas has won acclaim and Emmy Awards for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin and Beijing. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network’s sports announcers, joined NBC in 1980. 
  • Al Michaels, one of the most renowned commentators of all-time and whose legendary “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics 30 years ago stands as the most famous call in sports history, will work his first Olympic broadcast assignment in 22 years. He last covered hockey and hosted the Closing Ceremony at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics for ABC. Michaels will serve as host of NBC’s live weekend and weekday daytime coverage from Vancouver. 
  • Mary Carillo will host NBC’s late-night coverage for the second time, reprising her role from Beijing. Carillo will also serve as an Olympic correspondent in her 10th Olympic games and seventh for NBC. 
  • Bill Patrick will serve as hockey host in Vancouver, his second appearance as a full-time Olympic host. 
  • Fred Roggin, the sports director at KNBC-TV, NBC’s owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, will work as curling host, his sixth Olympic assignment for NBC. Roggin hosted CNBC and MSNBC’s curling coverage from Turin.
OLYMPIC CORRESPONDENTS:
  • Cris Collinsworth: A 10-time Emmy Award winner and currently the analyst for NBC “Sunday Night Football,” Collinsworth will serve as an Olympic correspondent, providing on-the-scene reports throughout Vancouver. This will be his third Olympic assignment and first Winter Games. He joined NBC’s Olympic coverage at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics proving his versatility as a commentator and receiving critical praise while working as a reporter for track & field. In 2008, he provided on-the-scene reports throughout the Beijing Summer Games.
  • Dick Button: Two-time Olympic gold medalist and Emmy Award-winner Button will serve as Olympic correspondent in Vancouver, his second Olympic assignment with NBC. Vancouver will mark the 17th Olympic Winter Games he has attended in some capacity, including winning gold for Team USA in men’s figure skating in 1948 and 1952. Button made his television debut during CBS’s coverage of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley. In 1962, he moved to ABC Sports where he served for more than 40 years as a figure skating analyst. He joined NBC for the 2006 Turin Olympics.
SPORTS DESK REPORTERS:
  • Lester Holt, weekend anchor of “NBC Nightly News” and co-anchor of NBC’s weekend edition of “Today,” returns for his fourth Olympic assignment. Emmy Award-winner Jimmy Roberts will work his sixth Olympic Games. NBC News’ Peter Alexander returns for his second Olympic Games. Alex Flanagan, NBC Sports’ sideline reporter for Notre Dame home football games, returns for her second Olympic assignment, along with three-time Olympian, Dwight Stones, who will serve on NBC’s team for his ninth Olympic Games and 10th overall.
SPORT BY SPORT:
  • ALPINE SKIING: Play-by-play commentator Tim Ryan returns to NBC for his ninth Olympics and his sixth Games serving in this role. Also returning is Todd Brooker, a three-time World Cup downhill champion who previously worked as an analyst for both the Torino and Salt Lake City Games. Returning to NBC for the first time since Salt Lake in 2002 is 1984 Olympic giant slalom silver medalist Christin Cooper, who will serve as an analyst. Former U.S. Ski team downhill racer Steve Porino again serves as an on-course reporter, his third Olympic assignment with NBC. 
  • BIATHLON/CROSS COUNTRY: Al Trautwig, a sportscasting veteran for over two decades, returns to NBC for his eighth Olympic assignment and 13th Olympics overall as the play-by-play commentator. Working alongside Trautwig in his second Olympic broadcast assignment is former U.S. Biathlon team member Chad Salmela. 
  • BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON: Returning to NBC for his eighth Olympic assignment, Bob Papa will serve as the bobsled/luge/skeleton play-by-play commentator. Lewis Johnson, reporting from his sixth Olympic Games, will work alongside Papa as a reporter in all three disciplines. Serving as analysts are: former U.S. National Bobsled team member John Morgan (bobsled); three-time Olympian Duncan Kennedy (luge); and Olympic silver medalist Lea Ann Parsley (skeleton). 
  • CURLING: In his sixth Olympic assignment with NBC, Fred Roggin, sports anchor at KNBC-TV, NBC’s owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, and winner of 28 regional Emmy awards, will serve as host. Andrew Catalon, a sports anchor from NBC’s affiliate in Albany, N.Y., returns as a play-by-play commentator in his second Olympic assignment and first winter Games. Serving as analysts are two-time world champions and native Canadians Don Duguid and Colleen Jones. Reprising her role as curling reporter, Elfi Schlegel, who is also from Canada, returns for her 10th Olympics.
  • FIGURE SKATING: Tom Hammond, working his ninth Olympics, will serve as figure skating play-by-play commentator. Scott Hamilton, Olympic gold medalist, member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and one of the most recognized male figure skating stars in the world, will serve as an analyst. Working alongside Hamilton are analysts Sandra Bezic, a former Olympian and Canadian pairs champion, and Tracy Wilson, who was part of the first Canadian ice dance team to earn an Olympic medal in 1988. Andrea Joyce, who returns for her sixth Olympic assignment with NBC, will serve as a reporter.
  • FREESTYLE SKIING: In his second Olympic assignment with NBC, Todd Harris, will serve as the play-by-play commentator for freestyle skiing. Joining Harris in his Olympic broadcasting debut is Olympic moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley, who will serve as an analyst. In her second Olympic appearance and her first time covering freestyle skiing, Tina Dixon, a former professional snowboarder, will provide reporting. Harris and Moseley will also handle ski cross duties. 
  • HOCKEY: Veteran broadcaster Bill Patrick will host all hockey coverage in Vancouver, his second Olympic broadcast assignment with NBC. Mike “Doc” Emrick (sixth Olympics and third with NBC) and Kenny Albert (third Olympics, all with NBC) will serve as play-by-commentators for both men’s and women’s hockey. Analyst Ed Olczyk (first Olympics), inside-the-glass reporter Pierre McGuire (second Olympics) and studio analyst Mike Milbury (first Olympics) will reprise their NHL on NBC “Game of the Week” roles in Vancouver. Joe Micheletti (game analyst), making his sixth Olympic appearance, and former NHL all-star Jeremy Roenick (studio analyst), making his Olympic broadcasting debut, will bolster the men’s hockey roster. Micheletti will also serve as a reporter for both men’s and women’s hockey. Olympic gold medalist Cammi Granato returns to NBC for her second Olympic appearance as women’s hockey studio analyst. Reprising her role from Turin, AJ Mleczko will serve as women’s hockey analyst.
  • SHORT TRACK: Ted Robinson, working his seventh Olympic Games and his sixth with NBC, returns as play-by-play commentator for short track speed skating. Making his NBC broadcasting debut is Olympic silver medalist and four-time Olympian Andy Gabel, who will work alongside Robinson as an analyst. Andrea Joyce will serve as a reporter.
  • SKI JUMPING: In his fourth Olympic assignment, Matt Vasgersian reprises his role from Torino as ski jumping play-by-play commentator. Working alongside Vasgersian is four-time national champion Jeff Hastings, who will serve as an analyst for his seventh Olympics and third with NBC. 
  • SNOWBOARDING: Pat Parnell will serve as lead play-by-play commentator for snowboarding, a role he served in Torino as well. World champion and former U.S. Olympian Todd Richards returns as an analyst in his second Olympic broadcast assignment. Tina Dixon will serve as a reporter. 
  • SPEED SKATING: Dan Hicks, host of NBC Sports’ Emmy Award-winning golf coverage, will serve as the lead play-by-play commentator for speed skating, his eighth Olympic assignment for NBC. Olympic gold medalist Dan Jansen, serving as an analyst, returns for his fourth Olympic assignment. This is the duo’s third Olympic speed skating assignment as a broadcast team. In her second Olympic appearance, Andrea Kremer will provide reporting.
UNIVERSAL SPORTS AT THE VANCOUVER GAMES:As previously announced, Universal Sports will present Universal Sports at the Vancouver Games, delivering five hours of live daily news and information as well as continuous news and results updates throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Universal Sports’ talent roster for Universal Sports at the Vancouver Games includes a cast of celebrated Olympians, renowned commentators, Olympic insiders and veteran journalists.

Veteran sports host and anchor Terry Gannon will host Vancouver Olympic News Center daily at 10 a.m. ET from the Olympic Broadcast Center in Vancouver and will be joined by sports journalist/anchor Lindsay Soto. Gannon will also host The Vancouver Figure Skating Hour daily at 2 p.m. ET. 

Emmy Award-winning NBC Sports reporter and host Jimmy Roberts will anchor Meet the Olympic Press, a daily roundtable discussion featuring veteran Olympic reporters including, among others, NBCOlympics.com’s Alan Abrahamson, Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune, Vicki Michaelis of USA Today, and John Powers from the Boston Globe. Reporter Stacey Dales will be in and around Vancouver with updates, and Olympic swimming gold medalist and television personality Summer Sanders will do the same from Whistler.

Universal Sports’ roster of expert analysts includes Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and Olympic silver medalists Paul Wylie and Peter Carruthers on figure skating; Gold medalist Picabo Street and two-time Olympian Jeremy Bloom on skiing; NBC Sports action sports analyst Kenan Harkin on snowboarding; and former U.S. Nordic Combined Team Coach Tom Steitz on the Nordic sports. These insiders will examine the personalities behind the athletes, describe the pressures of Olympic competition and explain how storylines are impacted by training technology, state-of-the-art equipment and weather conditions.  

In addition, Craig Hummer, a member of NBC’s broadcast team for the past three Olympic Games, will serve as the anchor of Universal Sports’ daily show, based at Universal Sports’ facilities outside of Los Angeles.

SPORT-BY-SPORT ROSTER:
ALPINE SKIING:
Play-by-Play: Tim Ryan
Analysts: Todd Brooker and Christin Cooper
Reporter: Steve Porino

BIATHLON/CROSS COUNTRY:
Play-by-Play: Al Trautwig
Analyst: Chad Salmela

BOBSLED:Play-by-Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: John Morgan
Reporter: Lewis Johnson

CURLING:
Host: Fred Roggin
Play-by-Play: Andrew Catalon
Analysts: Don Duguid and Colleen Jones
Reporter: Elfi Schlegel

FIGURE SKATING:
Play-by-Play: Tom Hammond
Analysts: Scott Hamilton, Sandra Bezic and Tracy Wilson 
Reporter: Andrea Joyce

FREESTYLE SKIING:
Play-by-Play: Todd Harris
Analyst: Jonny Moseley
Reporter: Tina Dixon

MEN’S HOCKEY:
Host: Bill Patrick
Play-by-Play: Mike Emrick and Kenny Albert
Game Analysts: Ed Olczyk and Joe Micheletti 
Studio Analysts: Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick
Reporters: Pierre McGuire, Joe Micheletti and Mike Milbury

WOMEN’S HOCKEY:
Host: Bill Patrick
Play-by-Play: Mike Emrick and Kenny Albert 
Game Analyst: AJ Mleczko
Studio Analysts: Cammi Granato
Reporter: Joe Micheletti

LUGE:
Play-by-play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Duncan Kennedy
Reporter: Lewis Johnson

SHORT TRACK:
Play-by-Play: Ted Robinson
Analyst: Andy Gabel
Reporter: Andrea Joyce

SKELETON:
Play-by-Play: Bob Papa
Analyst: Lea Ann Parsley
Reporter: Lewis Johnson

SKI JUMPING:
Play-by-Play: Matt Vasgersian
Analyst: Jeff Hastings

SNOWBOARDING:Play-by-Play: Pat Parnell
Analyst: Todd Richards
Reporter: Tina Dixon

SPEED SKATING:
Play-by-Play: Dan Hicks
Analyst: Dan Jansen
Reporter: Andrea Kremer

SPORTS DESK REPORTERS:Peter Alexander
Alex Flanagan
Lester Holt
Jimmy Roberts
Dwight Stones

UNIVERSAL SPORTS:Vancouver Olympic News Center Hosts: Terry Gannon and Lindsay Soto
Vancouver Figure Skating Hour Host: Terry Gannon
Figure Skating Analysts: Kristi Yamaguchi, Paul Wylie, and Peter Carruthers
Meet the Olympic Press Host: Jimmy Roberts
Meet the Olympic Press Panelists: Alan Abrahamson - NBCOlympics.com, Brian Cazeneuve - Sports Illustrated, Helene Elliott - Los Angeles Times, Tracee Hamilton - Washington Post, Phil Hersh - Chicago Tribune, Vicki Michaelis - USA Today, John Powers - Boston Globe, Amy Shipley - Washington Post
Skiing Analysts: Picabo Street and Jeremy Bloom
Snowboarding Analyst: Kenan Harkin
Nordic Sport Analyst: Tom Steitz
Reporters: Stacey Dales and Summer Sanders
Universal Sports Host (Westlake Village, Calif.): Craig Hummer
Nice to see Fang's Bites faves Stacey Dales, Lindsay Soto and Summer Sanders getting some work at the Olympics. Too bad they won't be widely seen as they'll be on Universal Sports, not the main networks of NBC. Oh well.

Anyway, thanks to the NBC Sports PR Department for sending this release.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men's
Illinois at Wisconsin - Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
Vermont at Boston University - Comcast SportsNet New England, 7 p.m.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - ESPN, 7 p.m.
Georgetown at Providence - ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Virginia Commonweath at George Mason - ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Texas Tech at Oklahoma - Big 12 Network, 8 p.m.
Purdue at Michigan State - ESPN, 9 p.m.
Alabama at Kentucky - ESPN2, 9 p.m.
Colorado State at Air Force - the mtn., 10 p.m.

women's
Syracuse at Villanova - CBS College Sports, 7 p.m.
South Florida at Marquette - CBS College Sports, 9 p.m.
Air Force at Colorado State - the mtn., 8 p.m.

NBA
Oklahoma City at Portland - NBA TV, 10 p.m.

NHL
Boston at Buffalo - NESN/MSG Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Florida at Carolina - Fox Sports Florida, 7 p.m.
Nashville at New York Islanders - Fox Sports Tennessee/MSG Plus, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Ottawa - Rogers Sportsnet West/Rogers Sportsnet East/RDS, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Tampa Bay - Sun Sports, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at St. Louis - Versus/TSN, 8 p.m.
Dallas at Chicago - Fox Sports Southwest/Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

NHL On The Fly - NHL Network, 8 p.m.

Entertainment
NCIS - CBS, 8 p.m.
Lost - ABC, 9 p.m.
Business Model: Inside the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue - CNBC, 9 p.m.
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel - HBO, 9 p.m.
24/7 Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona - HBO, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.

Monday, February 08, 2010

The NFL's Take on Super Bowl XLIV's Ratings

As we all know by now, Super Bowl XLIV is now the most watched event in US TV history. CBS is happy. The advertisers are happy. And you can bet the NFL is really happy.
SUPER BOWL XLIV MOST-WATCHED TV SHOW OF ALL TIME

153.4 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS

AVERAGE VIEWERSHIP TOPS M*A*S*H FINALE


The 2009 NFL season concluded with another record as Super Bowl XLIV reached a total audience of 153.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched show in U.S. television history according to Nielsen Media Research. The Colts-Saints championship game topped the previous mark of 151.6 million total viewers set last year (Cardinals-Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII). Super Bowls account for the 19 most-watched programs in history in terms of total audience.

Most-Watched TV Programs, Total Viewers

Game 
Total Viewers
Super Bowl XLIV (Colts-Saints), 2/7/10  
153.4 million
Super Bowl XLIII (Cardinals-Steelers), 2/1/09         
151.6 million
Super Bowl XLII (Giants-Patriots), 2/3/08
148.3 million
Super Bowl XXXVIII (Patriots-Panthers), 2/1/04
144.4 million
Super Bowl XL (Steelers-Seahawks), 2/5/06
141.4 million
Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research 

In addition, a record average of 106.5 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLIV – topping the previous mark of 106 million for the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 and an eight percent increase over last year’s Super Bowl (98.7 million viewers).

Super Bowl XLIV earned a 45.0 household rating marking the highest-rated Super Bowl in 14 years (46.0 rating for Cowboys-Steelers in Super Bowl XXX, January 1996) and a seven percent increase over last year’s 42.0.
We'll have reaction tomorrow.

Could Another High Profile Talent Leave The Mothership?

Interesting news surfacing tonight. The Big Lead and SportsbyBrooks are reporting that ESPN Original Chris Berman is being highly courted by two companies. Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead says Berman is being sought by the NFL Network. SportsbyBrooks says DirecTV is also actively seeking Berman's services to be part of a new sports channel which would also include Dan Patrick whose radio show is currently being simulcast on the satellite service.

It's a rather intriguing scenario. NFL Network hired Rich Eisen to be the face of its programming and he's done tremendous work as the host of the NFL Draft, Super Bowl coverage and the channel's live eight game schedule. If Berman comes over, there's really no room for Eisen and that would mean Rich would probably be jettisoned from NFL Network.

However, the real intriguing scenario is DirecTV. According to SportsbyBrooks, Berman would be tapped to host a pre and post game show that would be the TV sandwich around NFL Sunday Ticket's Red Zone Channel which is hosted by Andrew Siliano. In addition, DirecTV would start up a new sports channel which would involve Berman and Patrick.

The reason for this courtship? Berman's contract with ESPN expires in three months and both the NFL Network and DirecTV would love to make a splash by bringing Boomer into the fold. Could either scenario happen? Anything's possible. If it does, it makes the third high profile departure from the Worldwide Leader after Patrick and Peter Gammons. However, it all could be a negotiating ploy to get the maximum dollar for Berman from ESPN.

It's a story that bears watching. Berman almost left ESPN in 1986 when NBC attempted to lure him to the network, but as we know by now, he stayed with the Mothership. If he chooses to go, it would leave a big hole with ESPN's NFL coverage.

As usual, if anything happens, you'll see it here.

Fang's Bites Grade for 24, Season 8, Hour 7, 10 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Opening Sequence: President Taylor gets support for the treaty - B.

President Taylor tells British Ambassador Dalton about the nuclear material on American soil - D. Don't do that, Madame President

Jack is taken to Vladimir by Lugo - A.

Arlo is an idiot - F.

Dana is called by Kevin - F.

Chloe scolds Arlo - A.

Jack arrives at Vladi's place with Lugo in tow - B.

Jack brings Lugo in at gunpoint - A.

Jack scolds Vladi - A.

Vladi tells Jack it's a misunderstanding - A.

Jack tells Renee he's pulling her out - C.

Renee refuses - A.

Vladi plays grabass with Renee - D.

Dana calls Kevin - F.

Dana calls up a bunch of security pictures and gives Kevin a security code to break into an evidence locker - F.

Kevin and his man are in. Can't anyone at CTU see what Dana's doing? - F. F. F. F.

Kevin and his man are stupid - F.

Why is this storyline continuing? - F.

Kevin and his accomplice are leaving, but accomplice gets greedy - F.

Dana heads back to her station - F.

Brad Garrett 7Up ad - F (not included in the grade)

Vladimir calls a contact to find weapons grade uranium - B.

Vladi wants Jack to drink vodka which he does - C.

Vladi continues to feel up Renee - D.

Vladi is getting drunk - C.

Jack tells Vladi to call his contacts - A.

Vladi wants more vodka - C.

Jack waits with Lugo and Vladi's other men - B.

Bazhaev tells one of his men to bury Oleg with full military honors -  B.

Bazhaev sees a catatonic Josef and tells him to get up - C.

Bazhaev says he had to kill Oleg - B.

Bazhaev says he wants to leave Josef a big inheritance - B.

Bazhaev finds Vladi on the phone -  B.

Vladi wants weapons grade uranium - A.

Bazhaev calls Vladi stupid and not to call again - B.

Renee tells Vladi to call someone else - B.

Vladi wants to kiss Renee - D.

Renee stops him and has him calls others - B.

Bazhaev is worried about Vladi knowing about uranium - B.

Bazhaev calls one of his men in a tractor trailer and instructs him to pull off the road with the uranium - C.

President Hassan gets a phone call from President Taylor and she wants him to continue to work on the treaty - B.

President Taylor says she knows about the arrest of Jamot - B.

Hassan says he'll release Jamot - C.

Taylor doesn't believe him - B.

Hassan finds that the interrogation of Jamot was very hard, but yielded nothing - B.

President Hassan wants Jamot's children and wife arrested - A.

Tarin tells Hassan that he will not do what is asked - B.

Hassan then gets a reality check - A.

Tarin leaves and then Hassan tells another one of his men to arrest Jamot's family - B.

Now Hassan wants to find stuff on Tarin - B.

Nick is getting greedy - F.

Chloe talks with Dana and Dana leaves Chloe to try to fix a bad situation. This is a horrible storyline - F.

A cop now enters where Kevin and Nick were ransacking and they try to slip past him. - F.

The cop tries to call in the complaint, but Nick beats the cop - F.

Tarin goes to see Kayla - A.

She lets Tarin into her room - A.

He hugs her and cops a feel - A.

Tarin now tells Kayla about what her father is doing - C.

Tarin says he knows Hassan went behind his back - B.

Hassan's man, Tabil knocks on the door and wants Tarin - B.

Tarin goes with him after Kayla lies to Tabil - C.

Kayla is told not to bother Hassan - D.

Jack is worried about the situation - A.

Vladi has reached the end of his rope - A.

Renee tries to convince Vladi to keep calling - B.

Vladi cops a feel - F.

Vladi punches Renee - B.

Renee stabs Vladi dead - A.

Jack runs in to save Renee and she stabs him by accident - A.

Lugo tries to run in and Jack throws the knife and HITS HIM IN THE NECK - A+

Jack kills two more men - A.

Jack hugs Renee - A. 

Jack patches himself up - A.

Jack says noo-cu-lar - A.

Hastings is an idiot - F.

Hastings is really an idiot - F.

Cole is instructed to go to Jack - B.

Dana is distracted - F.

Hastings yells at Dana - A. That's the best thing he's done all season.

Renee is catatonic - A.

Renee says she couldn't handle it - A

Renee falls apart - A.

Jack says Renee has him - A.

He gets her back - A.

Jack says they have more info than they had three hours ago - A.

Jack says he'll back up Renee on Vladi's attack - A.

Now Bazhaev's men come into Vladi's compound - A.

Jack goes back to Renee and they decide to get Bazhaev - A.

Jack convinces Bazhaev's men to do the deal over the uranium - A.

One of Bazhaev's men sees a door and almost encounters Renee, but he's called away - A

Jack leaves with them - A.

Cole shows Hastings the scene at Vladi's hideout - A.

Renee tells Cole that Jack left with Bazhaev's men - A.

CTU hasn't seen anything - D.

But Jack and the men have left via underground tunnel to a car waiting nearby and they leave - A. Holy frijoles!!!!!

Final grade - 80, B minus. After a weak start, a very strong finish.

Quick Super Bowl XLIV Aftermath Links

I had to drive Dad to the airport and got back late, but I know you want some linkage so I'm to give you three links from the Sports Business Daily which opened up some of its stories today. Much appreciated to the SBD for doing that today.

First, SBD says Super Bowl XLIV set the all-time viewership record in US TV history, hitting an average of 106.5 million viewers, topping the previous record set by the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983, which coincidentally was also on CBS.

Next, SBD rounds up the newspaper sports media critics thoughts on CBS' Super Bowl Today pregame show.

And SBD has the cross section of critics' takes regarding the CBS production of Super Bowl XLIV.

Back later.

Super Bowl XLIV Is The Most Watched US TV Event in History

There are many factors as to why Super Bowl XLIV set a viewership record. One could have been the huge storm in the mid-Atlantic that kept people home in Washington, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania or the fact that the Indy-New Orleans matchup struck a chord with the nation or people love watching the Super Bowl. Not matter what it was, last night's Super Bowl was the most watched in US TV history topping the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983. Those are rather impressive numbers.
CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLIV IS MOST-WATCHED PROGRAM IN TELEVISION HISTORY

AVERAGE OF 106.5 MILLION WATCH NEW ORLEANS WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV AS GAME TOPS M*A*S*H FINALE IN 1983

Network Garners Fast National Household Rating/Share of 45.0/68 – Highest in 14 Years

CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLIV featuring the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS’ 31-17 win over the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS on Sunday, Feb 7 (6:31-9:50 PM, ET) was watched by a Nielsen estimated average of 106.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in television history, eclipsing the finale of M*A*S*H in 1983 (106 million)

“With all the memorable story lines going into Super Bowl XLIV combined with the awesome power of the NFL, we are thrilled with this rating, and I am extremely proud of the way the entire CBS Television Network produced, sold and promoted the most-watched television show in history,” said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports.

The CBS Television Network’s coverage of Super Bowl XLIV earned an average fast national household rating/share of 45.0/68, up +7% from last year’s 42.0/64 (Pittsburgh-Arizona), making it the highest-rated Super Bowl in 14 years (1/28/96; 46.0/68; Dallas-Pittsburgh).   

Last night’s Super Bowl HH rating/share peaked at a 48.5/70 from 9:00-9:30 PM, ET with an average of 114.1 million viewers. 

Nielsen estimates that CBS’s coverage of Super Bowl XLIV was seen in-all-or part* by an estimated 153.4 million viewers, +1% higher than last year’s previous high of 151.6 million (NBC).

* * * * *

* six minutes-or-more
And the overnight rating for the Super Bowl was the highest in two decades.
CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SUPER BOWL XLIV SCORES HIGHEST RATING IN 23 YEARS

New Orleans Win Over Indianapolis Garners Overnight Rating/Share of 46.4/68 in Metered Markets

CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XLIV featuring the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS’ 31-17 win over the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS on Sunday, Feb. 7  (6:30-9:45 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 46.4/68, the highest-rated Super Bowl in the metered markets in 23 years (1/25/87; 47.8/68; CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl XXI – Phil Simms-led New York Giants’ win over Denver).

This year’s 46.4/68 is up +10% from last year’s 42.1/65 (Pittsburgh-Arizona) in the metered markets.

            The Super Bowl XLIV rating/share peaked at 50.6/71 from 9:30-9:45 PM, ET.  Following is a breakdown of the ratings by half-hours.

(All times ET)

6:30-7:00   –    41.5/65                                    8:30-9:00   –    48.0/69
7:00-7:30   –    45.0/69                                    9:00-9:30   –    49.8/70
7:30-8:00   –    46.3/69                                    9:30-9:45   –    50.6/71
8:00-8:30   –    45.3/67                                   

Top 10 Rated in the Metered Markets

1.  New Orleans - 56.3/82
2.  Washington, D.C. - 56.0/73
3.  Nashville - 54.4/73
4.  Indianapolis - 54.2/80                       
5.  Columbus, Ohio - 54.0/74                       
6.  Dayton, Ohio - 53.7/73
7. Norfolk, Va. - 53.1/72
8.  Knoxville, Tenn. - 52.0/65
T9. West Palm Beach, Fla. - 51.8/69
T9. Pittsburgh - 51.8/67

* * * * *

CBS’s premiere of UNDERCOVER BOSS averaged a 20.3/33, the highest post-Super Bowl lead-out since 2006 (ABC; Grey’s Anatomy).
Overall, a very good night for CBS and the advertisers which paid a mint for the commercials.

Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks

College Basketball
men's
Villanova at West Virginia - ESPN, 7 p.m.
Maryland-Eastern Shore at North Carolina A&T, ESPNU, 7 p.m.
Robert Morris at Pittsburgh - Big East Network, 8 p.m.
Kansas at Texas - ESPN, 9 p.m.
Alcorn State at Grambling - ESPNU, 9 p.m.

women's
Maryland-Eastern Shore at North Carolina A&T - ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.
North Carolina at Duke - ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt - ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.

NBA
New Orleans at Orlando - TNT, 8 p.m.
San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers - TNT, 10:30 p.m.

Inside the NBA - TNT, 1 a.m.

NHL
New Jersey at Philadelphia - Versus/TSN, 7 p.m.
San Jose at Toronto - Comcast SportsNet California/Rogers Sportsnet Ontario, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Phoenix - Rogers Sportsnet West/Fox Sports Arizona, 9:30 p.m.
St. Louis at Colorado - Fox Sports Midwest/Altitude, 9:30 p.m.
Los Angeles at Anaheim - Fox Sports Prime Ticket, 10 p.m.

NHL On The Fly - NHL Network, 8 p.m.

Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother - CBS, 8 p.m.
House - Fox, 8 p.m.
24 - Fox, 9 p.m.
Damages - FX, 10 p.m.
CSI: Miami - CBS, 10 p.m.
Secret Diary of A Call Girl - Showtime, 10 p.m.
Late Show with David Letterman - CBS, 11:35 p.m.

CBS Aces Its 17th Super Bowl

CBS' broadcast day started early with Face The Nation live from Sun Life Stadium with an interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a CBS Sports roundtable and it ended with the Vince Lombardi Trophy handed to New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson.

In between, the network tried to keep viewers entertained, but it was the game that kept the nation watching. Thanks to a close margin deep into Super Bowl XLIV and a top notch production, the hopes that CBS could average over 100 million people for this game may indeed come into fruition.

For its game production, CBS kept it simple. It's the game, stupid. There were no shots of Reggie Bush's girlfriend, Kim Kardashian that Fox seemed to overdo during the NFC playoffs. There were no hackneyed shots of wives or other girlfriends on parade. Instead, CBS focused its cameras on the field. There were two notable replays that worked well. A two point conversion caught by Lance Moore that clearly showed him gaining control of the ball then breaking the plane of the goal line before it was jarred loose and called incomplete. Thanks to a reverse angle on the goal line, the call was overturned and the two points given to New Orleans.

The second replay showed a catch by Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey getting hit and his helmet getting jarred by two Colts defenders. CBS' super slo mo and tight shots were not overdone and were done right.

Jim Nantz and Phil Simms meshed well as usual. In their second Super Bowl together, both men did not overhype nor did they overanalyze. Simms allowed the game to breathe and come to him. Right before Tracy Porter's game-changing interception of Peyton Manning, Simms mentioned that the Saints were saving defensive looks in the 4th quarter in hopes of confusing the Colts quarterback. Sure enough, two plays later, Porter made Simms look like a genius with his 74 yard Pick 6 that gave New Orleans a two touchdown lead.

There were two notable glitches. When CBS tried to interchange live action and tape for the introduction of both the Saints and Colts, the audio of players failed to come through and all we at home saw were silent players with their mouths moving. Also, the audio from the field was not clear, but when Commissioner Roger Goodell made an introduction of the winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, suddenly his microphone came in loud and clear. There were portions of the game where the crowd drowned out Nantz and Simms. That went on throughout the night and never got corrected.

CBS saved shots of New Orleans and Bourbon Street until the game was officially over. I thought the network would go to them after the Porter interception, but there was no need to go that early.

For the Big Game, CBS chose to bring back sideline reporters and they utilized analysts Steve Tasker and Solomon Wilcots. Tasker was used throughout the game while Wilcots seemed to disappear after his first report before the opening kickoff.

Overall, the production led by producer Lance Barrow and director Mike Arnold was top notch. CBS has broadcast the most Super Bowls of any network and it showed on Sunday. The overall grade for Super Bowl XLIV on CBS gets an A minus. Very well done, but there were some areas that could have been done better.

For the pregame, an open that paid homage to CBS' previous 16 Super Bowl telecasts was well produced. A 15 minute interview of President Barack Obama by Katie Couric appeared out of place as Ms. Couric pressed the President on health care, the trial of an accused terrorist and other issues. Only in the last minute did Ms. Couric ask the President for his Super Bowl pick. That interview would have been more appropriate on any CBS News program, but not before the Super Bowl.

And as far as other pregame programming was concerned, NFL Network's show from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. was was much too long. While Rich Eisen and Stacey Dales did bang up jobs in hosting their segments, NFL Network would be better served in starting the show at noon instead of 10 a.m. Way too much time to fill and too much talk.

The Super Bowl ads were lackluster as they have been over the last few years. The best ad in my opinion was not an ad, but CBS' surprise promo featuring David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. There was a strange theme of seeing men in their underwear this year. At least five ads off the top of my head had men walking either with no pants or in their skivvies and for the most part, they were quite creepy.

We should know by mid-Monday about CBS' Super Bowl ratings and whether it set a viewership record.