Saturday, January 22, 2011

TV Schedule Sunday January 23

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
7am on Tennis Channel
12pm on ESPN2
4pm on Tennis Channel
6pm on ESPN2

Bull Riding: PBR Tour 7pm on VERSUS

College Basketball:

Big 12: Oklahoma @ Kansas (women's) 12pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North

Big 10:

Wisconsin @ Northwestern 11:30am on Big 10 Network
Indiana @ Iowa 2pm on Big 10 Network
Illinois @ Wisconsin (women's) 5pm on Big 10 Network

Missouri Valley: Southern Illinois @ Illinois St. 7pm on ESPNU

National Games:

Memphis @ Houston (women's) 12pm on CBS College Sports
St. John's @ Notre Dame (women's) 1pm on ESPNU
Vanderbilt @ Kentucky (women's) 1pm on ESPNU
Oregon St. @ Oregon 2pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest & FS North
Duke @ North Carolina St. (women's) 4pm on FS Midwest & FS North
Navy @ Army (women's) 4pm on CBS College Sports
North Carolina St. @ Maryland (women's) 4pm on ESPN2

College Wrestling: Oklahoma St. @ Iowa St. 2pm on IPTV

Extreme Sports: Winter Dew Tour Part 2 3pm on NBC

Golf:

European PGA Tour 7:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour (Bob Hope Classic 5th round) 3pm on Golf Channel
Champions Tour 6:30pm on Golf Channel

NBA D-League: Reno @ Iowa 4pm on Mediacom Channel 22

NFL Football:

NFC Championship: Green Bay @ Chicago 2pm on Fox
AFC Championship: NY Jets @ Pittsburgh 5:30pm on CBS

NHL Hockey: Philadelphia @ Chicago 11:30am on NBC

Disclaimer: All times are Central.

Friday, January 21, 2011

TV Schedule, Saturday January 22

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
9am on ESPN2
6pm on Tennis Channel
8pm on ESPN2

Auto Racing: Daytona Testing 12pm on Speed Channel

Bowling: PBA Tournament of Champions 1:30pm on ABC (may not be seen in some markets due to Big 12 Basketball)

Bull Riding: PBR Tour 7pm on VERSUS

College Basketball:

Big 10:

Ohio St. @ Illinois 11am on CBS
Minnesota @ Michigan 6pm on Big 10 Network
Michigan St. @ Purdue 8pm on ESPN

Big 12:

Texas A&M @ Iowa St. (women's) 11am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS Midwest
Colorado @ Oklahoma 12:30pm on Big 12 Network*
Kansas St. @ Texas A&M 1pm on ESPN
Nebraska @ Kansas St. (women's) 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, and FS North
Oklahoma St. @ Baylor 3pm on Big 12 Network*
Texas @ Kansas 3pm on CBS
Iowa St. @ Missouri 8pm on ESPNU

*Check local listings for channel availability in your area.

Missouri Valley:

Creighton @ Missouri St. 4pm on ESPN2
Drake @ Northern Iowa 7pm on KCWI (Des Moines) & KWWL (Waterloo)

National Games:

George Mason @ James Madison 10am on ESPNU
Villanova @ Syracuse 11am on ESPN
Arkansas-Little Rock @ Florida Atlantic 12pm on ESPN2
Eastern Kentucky @ Morehead St. 12pm on ESPNU
St. Edwards (Texas) @ Newman University (women's) 12:30pm on CBS College Sports
Charleston-Southern @ Liberty (women's) 1pm on Fox College Sports
Tennessee @ UCONN 1pm on CBS
Buffalo @ Ohio 2pm on ESPNU
Temple @ Xavier 2pm on ESPN2
Navy @ Army (women's) 2:30pm on CBS College Sports
Arizona St. @ Washington 3pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, and FS North
Duke @ Wake Forest 3pm on ESPN
New Mexico @ UNLV 3pm on VERSUS
Louisville @ Providence 4pm on ESPNU
Kentucky @ South Carolina 5pm on ESPN
Navy @ Army 5pm on CBS College Sports
Oregon @ Oregon St. 5pm on FS Midwest & FS North
Boston College @ Florida St. 6pm on ESPNU
Memphis @ UAB 6pm on ESPN2
TCU @ Utah (women's) 7pm on CBS College Sports
Wright St. @ Cleveland St. 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
New Mexico St. @ Utah St. 10pm on ESPNU

College Football: East-West Shrine Game 3pm on NFL Network

College Gymnastics: Illinois @ Ohio St. (women's) 11am on Big 10 Network

College Hockey:


Nebraska-Omaha @ North Dakota 7:30pm on Fox College Sports

College Wrestling: Ohio St. @ Iowa 3pm on Big 10 Network

Golf:

European PGA Tour 7:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour (Bob Hope Classic 4th Round) 3pm on Golf Channel
Champions Tour: 6:30pm on Golf Channel

NBA Basketball:

Utah @ Philadelphia 6:30pm on NBATV
Cleveland @ Chicago 7pm on WGN

NHL Hockey:

Washington @ Toronto 6pm on NHL Network
Columbus @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest
Minnesota @ San Jose 9:30pm on FS North

Disclaimer: All times are Central and outside of Iowa, blackouts are likely for regional NHL telecasts.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

TV Schedule, Friday January 21

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
7am on Tennis Channel
2pm on ESPN2
6pm on Tennis Channel
8pm on ESPN2

Auto Racing: Daytona Testing 12pm on Speed Channel

College Basketball:

Green Bay @ Butler 6pm on ESPNU
Southern Illinois @ Bradley (women's) 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS Midwest
Siena @ St. Peters 8pm on ESPNU

College Hockey:

Alaska-Fairbanks @ Michigan 6:30pm on Fox College Sports Pacific
Miami, OH @ Michigan St. 6:30pm on CBS College Sports
Nebraska-Omaha @ North Dakota 7:30pm on Fox College Sports Central

College Wrestling:

Pitt @ Penn St. 5pm on Big 10 Network
Nebraska @ Wisconsin 7pm on Big 10 Network

Golf:

European PGA Tour 8:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour (Bob Hope Classic 3rd Round) 2pm on Golf Channel
Champions Tour 5:30pm on Golf Channel

NBA Basketball:

New York @ San Antonio 7pm on ESPN
LA Lakers @ Denver 9:30pm on ESPN

Disclaimer: All times are Central.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

TV Scheudle, Thursday January 20

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
7am on Tennis Channel
2pm on ESPN2
6pm on Tennis Channel
10pm on ESPN2

Auto Racing: Sprint Cup Testing @ Daytona 4pm on Speed Channel

College Basketball:

Big 10:

Michigan St. @ Indiana (women's) 5:30pm on Big 10 Network
Wisconsin @ Minnesota (women's) 7:30pm on Big 10 Network
Indiana @ Wisconsin 8pm on ESPN

National Games:

Florida @ Auburn 6pm on ESPN
South Florida @ Rutgers 6pm on ESPN2
Utah Valley St. @ North Dakota (women's) 6pm on Fox College Sports
Tennessee Tech @ Austin Peay St. 6pm on ESPNU
Western Kentucky @ South Alabama 7pm on Fox College Sports
Gonzaga @ Santa Clara 8pm on ESPNU
Virginia Tech @ Maryland 8pm on ESPN2
Arizona @ Washington 9:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North

Golf:

Eurpoean PGA Tour 8:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour (Bob Hope Classic 2nd Round) 2pm on Golf Channel

NBA Basketball:

Dallas @ Chicago 7pm on TNT
LA Clippers @ Portland 9:30pm on TNT

NHL Hockey:

Washington @ New York Islanders 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Pittsburgh @ New Jersey 6:30pm on NHL Network
Dallas @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are likely for regional NHL telecasts outside of Iowa.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Whatever happened to the TV deal that was going to save the Big 12?

FSN's TV deal with the Big 12 expires at the end of the 2011 football season. FSN has already renewed their contract with the Pac 12 that will increase the number of Pac 12 games that FSN televeises. In addition earlier this winter, it was announced that FSN and Conference USA reached an agreement that will bring about 20 Conference USA football telecasts to the all sports network beginning this September. Also, there are reports are that ESPN and Texas will formally introduce The Bevo Network tomorrow.

Yet, all remains quiet when it comes to the Big 12 and the magical TV package Dan Beebe was bragging about last June that was going to save the Big 12.

TV Schedule Wednesday January 19

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
7am on Tennis Channel
2pm on ESPN2
6pm on Tennis Channel
10pm on ESPN2

College Basketball:

Big 10:

Iowa @ Ohio St. 5:30pm on Big 10 Network
Penn St. @ Purdue 7:30pm on Big 10 Network

Big 12:

Iowa St. @ Oklahoma St. 8pm on ESPNU
Texas A&M @ Texas 8pm on ESPN2

Missouri Valley:

Bradley @ Creighton 7pm on NET (Nebraska Public TV)
Northern Iowa @ Wichita St. 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS Midwest

National Games:

Cincinnati @ Notre Dame 6pm on ESPN2
Duke @ North Carolina St. 6pm on ESPN
Tulsa @ Houston 6pm on CBS College Sports
Wake Forest @ Georgia Tech 6pm on ESPNU
BYU @ TCU (women's) 8pm on CBS College Sports

Golf: PGA Tour (Bob Hope Classic, 1st round) 2pm on Golf Channel

NHL Hockey: Toronto @ NY Rangers 6pm on NHL Network

NBA Basketball:

LA Lakers @ Dallas 8pm on ESPN
Minnesota @ LA Clippers 9:30pm on FS North

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are likely for regional NBA telecasts outside of Iowa.

Comcast-NBC merger expected to be approved today

The Washington Post this morning is reporting that the FCC is expected to approve the Comcast-NBC merger today.

In my opinion, this is big news for the fledgling VERSUS channel that is owned by Comcast. Several years ago when Comcast rebranded the then OLN (Outdoor Life Network) into VERSUS, it was the hope of Comcast that VERSUS would become a direct competitor to ESPN. With the FCC giving the go ahead to the Comcast-NBC merger, Comcasts's dreams of VERSUS becoming a direct competitor to ESPN may come true.

When the Comcast-NBC merger becomes complete, Comcast will have full access to NBC Sports and along with the Comcast owned RSN's which are in several of the nation's largest media markets (including Houston beginning next year) and along with the Comcast owned Golf Channel, I think this will give Comcast enough firepower to once again rebrand VERSUS into a national Comcast SportsNet/NBC Sports hybrid and finally go head to head with ESPN.

Sure several have tried to take on ESPN and several have failed (the regional sports reports on FSN and CNN/SI come to mind), but the marriage between Comcast & NBC is different.

Four or 5 years ago, Comcast made a serious effort to land the late season package of Thursday Night NFL games that eventually went to the NFL Network. If an 18 game NFL regular season becomes a reality, the NFL could easily carve out an additional TV package and if that happens, Comcast would certainly be a major player to win those rights and if NBC retains the U.S. TV rights for the Olympics, that would further legitimize a national Comcast SportsNet as being the cable home for Olympic news and highlights.

Link to the Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/17/AR2011011704099.html

Monday, January 17, 2011

TV Schedule, Tuesday January 18

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
7am on Tennis Channel
2pm on ESPN2
6pm on Tennis Channel
8pm on ESPN2

College Basketball:

Big 12:

Colorado @ Nebraska 6pm on ESPN2
Texas Tech @ Oklahoma 8pm on Big 12 Network*

*Check local listings for game availability in your area.

Big 10:

Michigan St. @ Illinois 6pm on ESPN
Michigan @ Northwestern 8pm on Big 10 Network

Missouri Valley: Illinois St. @ Drake 7pm on Mediacom Channel 22

National Games:

Georgetown @ Notre Dame (women's) 6pm on CBS College Sports
Tennessee @ Georgia 6pm on ESPNU
DePaul @ Marquette 8pm on ESPNU
Kentucky @ Alabama 8pm on ESPN

NBA Basketball:

Atlanta @ Miami 6:30pm on NBATV
Charlotte @ Chicago 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

NHL Hockey:

Montreal @ Buffalo 6pm on VERSUS
Los Angeles @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest
Minnesota @ Edmonton 8:30pm on FS North

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are likely for regional NBA & NHL telecasts outside of Iowa.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

TV Schedule, Monday January 17

Australian Open Tennis:

2am on ESPN2
7am on Tennis Channel
3pm on ESPN2
6pm on Tennis Channel
8pm on ESPN2

College Basketball:

Big 12:

Kansas St. @ Missouri 4:30pm on ESPN
Kansas @ Baylor 8:30pm on ESPN

National Games:

Villanova @ UCONN 2:30pm on ESPN
Jackson St. @ Prairie View A&M 6pm on ESPNU
UCONN @ North Carolina (women's) 6pm on ESPN2
Syracuse @ Pitt 6:30pm on ESPN
Norfolk St. @ Howard 8pm on ESPNU

High School Basketball:

Christ the King (NY) vs Westchester County Day (NC) 10am on ESPNU
Bishop Gorman (Nev) vs St. Patrick (NJ) 12pm on ESPNU
Dallas Lincoln (TX vs Findlay Prep (Nev) 2pm on ESPNU
Academy New Church (PA) vs Boys and Girls (NY) 4pm on ESPNU

NBA Basketball:

Chicago @ Memphis 12pm on ESPN
Sacramento @ Atlanta 3pm on NBATV
Orlando @ Boston 7pm on TNT
Minnesota @ Portland 9pm on FS North
Oklahoma City @ LA Lakers 9:30pm on TNT

NHL Hockey:

San Jose @ Phoenix 3pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Los Angeles @ Dallas 7:30pm on VERSUS

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are likely for regional NBA telecasts outside of Iowa.