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Linda Cohn To Anchor Record 5,000th SportsCenter

Jason Barrett
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A fixture on SportsCenter for nearly a quarter of a century, Linda Cohn will reach a milestone with ESPN’s signature news and information program in February.

Cohn, who has hosted more editions of SportsCenter than anyone in the 36-year history of the program, will anchor her 5,000th show on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 8 a.m. ET on ESPN. More than 60,000 SportsCenters have aired since ESPN was launched in September of 1979.

Cohn anchored her first SportsCenter on July 11, 1992, a 2 a.m. program in which she was paired with former ESPN anchor Chris Myers, now with Fox Sports.

“It’s just an amazing journey that I’ve been very fortunate to have been on for 23 years,” said Cohn. “As players and athletes always say, they don’t look at a number or body of work until that body of work is over, that’s how I kind of compare it. I don’t even think about the number.”

Cohn is now most often seen hosting weekend morning editions of SportsCenter (10 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. Sunday). She also reports from events, as she will do from Sunday’s NHL All-Star Game in Nashville.

During her career at ESPN, the versatile Cohn has hosted, reported, commentated, interviewed, written and called play-by-play. She also has appeared in many of ESPN’s iconic “This Is SportsCenter” commercials. A partial list of events, sports and assignments Cohn has had for ESPN in addition to anchoring 5,000 SportCenters:

Cohn’s early career included both radio and television, starting in local radio in 1981 in Patchogue, N.Y., on her native Long Island. She became the first full-time female sports anchor on a national radio network (ABC) in 1987. Her first TV work was with WLIG-TV on Long Island as a part-time anchor and reporter, and before coming to ESPN, she was a sports anchor/reporter for KIRO-TV in Seattle.

As far as she is concerned, Cohn would like to do many more shows.

“I just figure, hey, I’m going to work each day doing what I love to do,” she said. “There will be plenty of time to look back and say ‘wow, did I really do that many SportsCenters?’”

To read the full article visit ESPN Media Zone.

The Sinclair Group Purchases The Tennis Channel

Jason Barrett
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The Sinclair Group Purchases The Tennis Channel

The Sinclair Broadcast Group have reached an agreement to buy the Tennis Channel for $350 million dollars.

Baltimore-based Sinclair presently own 171 stations which operate in 81 markets across America, but the acquisition of the Tennis Channel is their biggest move yet.

Programming on the Tennis Channel includes all four Grand Slam events plus the ATP and WTA Tours, the Davis and Fed Cups, and a number of original programs. Financially though, the network has been operating at a loss of $200 million dollars. The Sinclair Group believes they can fix that.

Credit to Sports Pro Media who originally reported this story

Southern California Sports Broadcasters Honor Their Own

Jason Barrett
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Southern California Sports Broadcasters Honor Their Own

The Southern California Sports Broadcasters annual banquet took place this past Monday, and a number of awards were handed out to Los Angeles’ best.

Vin Scully received the award for best radio and television play by play. Orel Hershiser earned honors as best game analyst on television, and Rick Monday received recognition as the best game analyst on radio.

Patrick O’Neal who works on Los Angeles Kings broadcasts won the award for best pre/post game on television.

Mason and Ireland of ESPN LA 710AM were named the best local sports radio show. KNX was acknowledged as having the best sports news team on radio, and KCBS/KCAL were chosen as the best sports television team.

Former Los Angeles personality Joe McDonnell who passed away last March, was also honored with induction into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

For more visit their website by clicking here. 

NBC Sports To Cover Super Bowl 50 Across All Platforms

Jason Barrett
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NBC Sports To Cover Super Bowl 50 Across All Platforms

NBC Sports Group’s broadcast, cable, digital and radio platforms will cover Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco, Calif., in the week leading up to the game. With many programs originating from San Francisco, NBC, NBCSN, NBC Sports Radio, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports Live Extra, and NBC Sports Group’s social media channels will combine to present up-to-the minute coverage, daily news and information, athlete and VIP interviews, and live original programming surrounding the big game.

THE DAN PATRICK SHOW – WEEKDAYS AT 9 A.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBCSN’s daily coverage of Super Bowl 50 from San Francisco will kick off each morning with The Dan Patrick Show from 9 a.m. – Noon ET, beginning on Monday, Feb. 1. Dan and the Danettes’ will conduct their show live from the Observation Post at the Presidio. Throughout the week, The Dan Patrick Showwill feature live interviews with current and former players, including Football Night In America’s Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison, Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Tim Brown, current NFL players J.J. Watt, Drew Brees, and Blake Bortles, and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

PRO FOOTBALL TALK – WEEKDAYS BEGINNING MONDAY AT 4 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Beginning on Monday, Feb. 1, two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison and co-hosts Mike Florio and Paul Burmeister will anchor Pro Football Talk on NBCSN live all week at the Mosconi Center in downtown San Francisco. In addition to all-encompassing coverage of the NFL, including the most current news and analysis, engaging features, thought-provoking debates, and interviews with a wide array of NFL newsmakers, Pro Football Talk will provide in-depth analysis of all the angles surrounding Super Bowl 50. Following is NBCSNs Pro Football Talk schedule during Super Bowl week:

Pro Football Talk Super Bowl Week Schedule on NBCSN

Date

Time (ET)

Monday, Feb. 1

4-5 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 2

6-6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

6-7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 4

6-6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5

6-7 p.m.

NFL TURNING POINT – THURSDAY, JAN. 28 AT 1:30 A.M. ET

NFL Turning Point will analyze how Panthers and Broncos punched their tickets to Super Bowl 50, with a brand new episode Thursday, Jan. 28 at 1:30 a.m. ET/Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 p.m. PT, on NBCSN. NBCSN will air encore presentations on Thursday, Jan. 28, and Friday, Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Hosted by Football Night In America’s Dan Patrick, the show will examine last week’s AFC and NFC Championship Games and focuses on the biggest moments from both contests. NFL Turning Point features anatomy-of-a-play type segments and long form, Game-of-the-Week style narratives that includes the pre-game and post-game access, sideline sounds, jaw-dropping cinematography and incredible storytelling that is synonymous with NFL Films.

CRIS COLLINSWORTH’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SPECIAL – SUNDAY, JAN. 31 AT 1 P.M. ET ON NBC

16-time Emmy Award-winner and Sunday Night Football analyst Cris Collinsworth will review the 2015 NFL season and look ahead to the big game onCris Collinsworth’s Sunday Night Football Special, airing Sunday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. The one-hour special will take a look back at some of the best moments of the 2015 season on Sunday Night Football, and will include a behind-the-scenes tour of the Arizona Cardinals’ practice complex, filmed prior to their Divisional matchup with Green Bay.

Collinsworth will also be joined by Pro Football Focus analyst Steve Palazzolo to examine the matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. Collinsworth uses PFF’s data as part of his weekly SNF game preparation. Nearly half of NFL clubs work directly with Pro Football Focus to use its play-by-play and player-grading analytics.

NBC SPORTS RADIO

NBC Sports Radio will surround Super Bowl 50 with daily coverage from radio row in San Francisco across more than 425 radio affiliates, highlighted by Safety Blitz with Rodney Harrison, featuring three-time All Pro and two-time Super Bowl-winner Rodney Harrison; Going Deep with Amani Toomer and Dan Schartzman; and Pro Football Talk Live, featuring NFL insider and Football Night In America commentator Mike Florio.

Voices of the Game with Newy Scruggs will kick off NBC Sports Radio’s live programming each morning from 9 a.m. – Noon ET, followed by Pro Football Talk Live from Noon – 3 p.m. ET. Coverage continues in the afternoon with Under Center with Mark Malone from 3 – 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Jon Stashower Show from 7-10 p.m. ET, and Going Deep with Amani Toomer and Dan Schwartzman from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. ET.

NBC Sports Radio is produced and distributed by Westwood One in partnership with NBC Sports Group. Westwood One is also the radio rights holder for Super Bowl 50. Their broadcast begins on Super Bowl Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports Radio Super Bowl Week Schedule

Program

Time (ET)

Voices of the Game with Newy Scruggs

9 a.m. – Noon

Pro Football Talk Live

Noon – 3 p.m.

Under Center with Mark Malone

3-7 p.m.

The Jon Stashower Show

7-10 p.m.

Going Deep with Amani Toomer and Dan Schwartzman

6-7 p.m.

Cubs TV Future Factors Into All Business Decisions

Jason Barrett
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Cubs TV Future Factors Into All Business Decisions

Telecasting nonstop programming from Kyle Schwarber‘s tape-measure home run to Ron Santo clicking his heels after victories is a vision that runs deep in the minds of Cubs executives.

“We look forward to the day we have the rights to start our own channel,” Chairman Tom Ricketts said recently at the Cubs Convention.

But as profitably tempting as operating their own regional sports channel may be — as the Yankees can attest through the YES Network — there are many variables that have the Cubs keeping an open mind for 2020 when they can control television rights for their games.

“We’re studying it to death to look at pros and cons and weigh the risks of launching on our own or launching with a partner,” Crane Kenney, the Cubs’ business president, said.

The structuring of contracts for free agents Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist suggests the Cubs will have deeper financial pockets in 2019 and beyond, which also will allow them to retain talents such as Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell in their arbitration years.

“The money is still out there,” media analyst Jeff Kagan said. “(The Cubs) brand is recognized around the country, and now they’re viewed as winners.”

But Kenney realizes that grossing millions of dollars that can bankroll the player payroll easily doesn’t guarantee a new contract will be a success. Because of distribution issues, less than 40 percent of the Southern California audience has TV access to Dodgers games.

And the Pacific-12 Network hasn’t reached a deal with DirecTV to carry its football games for the last four seasons.

Kenney acknowledged that the Cubs are continuing to negotiate with Comcast SportsNet Chicago, in which they hold a 20 percent ownership stake. Two years ago, the Phillies and their local Comcast affiliate agreed to a 25-year, $2.5 billion contract.

“(But) as we have conversations, which are on-going with all sorts of partners, if somebody offers us something dramatically better, we’ll of course look at it,” Kenney said. “But what we control is the idea of launching our own network in 2019.”

But the biggest decision, should the Cubs choose their own network, is selecting the right business partner. The YES Network has achieved success through the 80 percent ownership backing of 21st Century Fox. The Dodgers’ 25-year, $8.35 billion contract is considered an anomaly because Time Warner has absorbed all the financial risks.

 

Kenney said the Cubs would need a two-year setup before televising games in 2020 if they choose to operate their own channel. But they won’t be rushed into making a deal soon.

“Maybe aside from changing (baseball) leadership, this is the biggest decision we’ll have,” Ricketts said. “So we have to get it right.”

To read the full article visit the Chicago Tribune where it was originally published

 

Kato Kaelin To Host Sports-Themed Program

Jason Barrett
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Kato Kaelin — best known for having stayed in O.J. Simpson’s guest house the night Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered — is set to host a sports-centric talk show alongside Will Stumpe titled Sports Haters. But don’t let the name fool you: They don’t actually hate athletics.

“We don’t hate sports. We hate the stupid stuff that goes with it,” Kaelin said in a statement. “Like back-to-back Viagra commercials and athletes who thank God for the game-winning touchdown because clearly God hated the other team. You know the stuff you’re screaming at the TV? We actually say it on TV!”

Sports Haters will stream on FilmOn.com weekly beginning Jan. 30 and will air on Dish Network’s FOTV Saturday evenings.

Credit to Entertainment Weekly where this article was originally published

Azinger Named Lead Golf Analyst At Fox Sports

BSM Staff
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Azinger Named Lead Golf Analyst At Fox Sports

Paul Azinger, winner of the 1993 PGA Championship and veteran broadcaster, has joined FOX Sports as lead analyst for its golf coverage, beginning in 2016. Azinger joins seven-time Emmy Award-winning announcer Joe Buck and analyst Brad Faxon in the 18th Tower for FOX Sports’ USGA Championship telecasts. The announcement was made today by John Entz, President, Production & Executive Producer, FOX Sports and Mark Loomis, Coordinating Producer, USGA Studio & Event Production.

“Paul is a respected and trusted voice in the golf community, and he has the credibility of being a major champion with a strong track record of experience in the broadcast booth,” Entz said. “He has been one of golf’s most candid and thoughtful analysts and we are excited to add him to our team.”

A 30-year PGA Tour veteran, Azinger was a 12-time winner on the tour, highlighted by his triumph at the 1993 PGA Championship at Inverness Club. Azinger joined the tour in 1981 and hit his prime later in the decade, earning PGA Tour Player of the Year honors in 1987 and spending nearly 300 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1988 and 1994. He also represented the United States on five Ryder Cup teams, participating four times as a player and serving as captain of the victorious 2008 squad.

“I am honored to partner with FOX Sports and the USGA to provide analysis for the compelling slate of USGA Championships,” Azinger said. “It will especially be an honor to call our nations national championship, the U.S. Open, beginning in June at storied Oakmont Country Club.”

Azinger began his broadcasting career serving as an analyst for ABC’s PGA Tour golf coverage for 2005 and 2006, quickly becoming one of the most well-respected voices in the industry. He remained at ESPN through 2015 and has called early round coverage of the U.S. Open Championship, anchored coverage of the British Open Championship and contributed to early rounds of Masters Tournament coverage.

In his new role at FOX Sports, Azinger is scheduled to broadcast the 116th U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club, the U.S. Women’s Open at Cordevalle and the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club. He will also broadcast the 116th U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club and the 2017 Walker Cup Match at Los Angeles Country Club.

Jonah Keri Brings His Podcast To Nerdist Sports

BSM Staff
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2016 is shaping up to be a busy year for Jonah Keri. The ex-Grantlander and ESPN writer ended 2015 by announcing he’d contribute written work for Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, and GQ. He also agreed to do television work for the MLB Network.

Now he’s secured a home for his podcast too. Keri announced yesterday on Facebook that he was teaming up with Nerdist to develop a new Nerdist Sports Venture, which will become the home for “The Jonah Keri Podcast”.

jonah2

What Nerdist has planned for their sports platform is unknown at this time but they have the backing of Legendary Entertainment, a movie company with strong funding, and Keri’s addition shows that they plan to play in the sports audio space.

Dan Rafael Signs New Deal With ESPN

BSM Staff
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ESPN senior writer Dan Rafael has signed a new, multi-year agreement to remain at ESPN as the company’s lead boxing multimedia reporter and columnist.

“Dan is an award-winning boxing authority and one of the most respected and dedicated boxing writers in the industry, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead our efforts in this time-honored sport,” said Patrick Stiegman, vice president and editorial director of ESPN Digital & Print Media. “Whether he’s breaking news or covering big fights or driving the conversation through his reporting and commentary, Dan continues to distinguish himself among boxing journalists — and we are proud that he will keep building on that legacy at ESPN.”

Under the new agreement, Rafael will continue to serve as boxing writer and analyst for ESPN.com and all digital properties, contribute to ESPN The Magazine, and appear on SportsCenter and other ESPN television and audio shows. He will also collaborate with the network’s boxing commentators on special coverage of major boxing events throughout the year.

Sid Rosenberg Swaps Formats, Returns To NY

BSM Staff
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Sid Rosenberg Swaps Formats, Returns To NY

Sid Rosenberg is heading back to the big apple! Only this time he’s switching formats.

The former WFAN personality who spent the past decade in Miami working for WQAM, 790 The Ticket, and most recently 640 Sports (WMEN-AM), is making the jump from sports to news, as he settles into a new 10a-12p slot on Cumulus’ WABC 770AM.

Sid will team with “Imus In The Morning” producer Bernard McGuirk. The pair are filling the slot left vacant following Geraldo Rivera’s departure. Rosenberg has contributed to Imus’ program for over a decade.

The official launch of “Bernie and Sid” will take place on Wednesday January 27th but the new midday team have already been working together doing fill-ins on the radio station since December.

Credit to All Access who were first to report the story

 

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