TV Schedule, Sunday May 8

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Turkish Grand Prix 6:30am on Speed Channel
NHRA Drag Racing: 2pm & 3pm on ESPN2

Bull Riding: PBR Tour 3pm on VERSUS

College Baseball:

Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo @ UC Irvine 4pm on ESPNU

College Lacrosse:

Ivy League Championship: Teams TBA 11am on ESPNU
Ivy League Women's Championship: Teams TBA 12pm on CBS Sports Network

College Baseball: TCU @ Oklahoma St. 1pm on Fox College Sports Central

College Softball:

Michigan St. @ Ohio St. 11am on Big 10 Network
Texas @ Missouri 12pm on ESPN
Penn St. @ Iowa 1pm on ESPNU
Tennessee @ Florida 2pm on ESPNU
San Diego St. @ UNLV 2:30pm on CBS Sports Network
Indiana @ Northwestern 3pm on ESPNU

MLB Baseball:

Minnesota @ Boston 12:30pm on FS North
Cincinnati @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on WGN
Milwaukee @ St. Louis 1pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin
NY Yankees @ Texas 1pm on TBS
Chicago White Sox @ Seattle 3pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Atlanta @ Philadelphia 7pm on ESPN

NBA Playoffs:

LA Lakers @ Dallas 2:30pm on ABC
Chicago @ Atlanta 7pm on TNT

NHL Playoffs: Detroit @ San Jose 7pm on VERSUS

NLL Lacrosse: Teams TBA 1pm on VERSUS

Golf:

European PGA Tour 7:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship (Final Round) 12pm on Golf Channel & 2pm on CBS
Champions Tour: Regions Tradition (Final Round) 2pm on Golf Channel

Soccer:

English Premier League: Stoke City vs Aresnal 8am on Fox Soccer Channel
English Premier League: Manchester United vs Chelsea 10am on Fox Soccer Channel
Barcelona vs Espanyol 11:55am on ESPN2
Italian Serie A: Genoa vs Sampodria 1:30pm on Fox Soccer Channel
WPS Soccer: Boston @ Philadelphia 5pm on Fox Soccer Channel

Tennis:

WTA Tour: Mutua Madrellna Masters 8:30am on Tennis Channel
ATP Tour: Madrid Open 11:30am on Tennis Channel

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

TV Schedule, Saturday May 7

Auto Racing:

Sprint Cup Series: Showtime Southern 500 6pm on Fox
AMA Supercross 9pm on Speed Channel

Bull Riding: PBR Tour 3pm on VERSUS

College Baseball:

Northwestern @ Indiana 11am on Big 10 Network
Maryland @ North Carolina 12pm on Fox College Sports Atlantic
Kansas @ Oklahoma 2pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS North
Penn St. @ Iowa 2pm on Big 10 Network
Central Florida @ Florida St. 5:30pm on Fox College Sports Atlantic
Florida @ Arkansas 7pm on ESPNU

College Lacrosse:

Big East Women's Championship: Teams TBA 12pm on CBS Sports Network
ECAC Championship: Teams TBA 12pm on ESPNU
America East Championship: Teams TBA 2pm on CBS Sports Network

College Softball:

Tennessee @ Florida 11am on ESPN
Arizona @ UCLA 12pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS North
Cal St. Fullerton @ Long Beach St. 2pm & 4:30pm on ESPNU
Minnesota @ Michigan 5pm on Big 10 Network

College Volleyball: UC Santa Barbara vs Ohio St. 6pm on ESPNU

Golf:

European PGA Tour 7:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship (Third Round0) 12pm & 2pm on CBS
Champions Tour: Regions Tradition (Third Round) 2pm on Golf Channel

Horse Racing:

Kentucky Derby: Undercard races 10am on VERSUS
Kentucky Derby 3pm on NBC

MLB Baseball:

Cincinnati @ Chicago 12pm on Fox (some Iowa markets may receive Minnesota @ Boston)
Milwaukee @ St. Louis 3pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin
Oakland @ Kansas City 6pm on FS Kansas City & Mediacom Channel 22
NY Yankees @ Texas 7pm on MLB Network
Chicago White Sox @ Seattle 8pm on WGN

NBA Playoffs:

Oklahoma City @ Memphis 4pm on ESPN
Miami @ Boston 7pm on ABC

NHL Playoffs: Nashville @ Vancouver 7pm on VERSUS

Soccer:

English Premier League: West Ham United vs Blackburn 8:55am on ESPN2
English Premier League: Everton vs Manchester City 9am on Fox Soccer Channel
English Premier League: Tottenham vs Blackpool 11:30am on Fox Soccer Channel
Italian Serie A: Roma vs AC Millan 1:30pm on Fox Soccer Channel
MLS: Vancouver @ Chicago 7:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
MLS: New York @ Los Angeles 10pm on ESPN2

Tennis:

WTA Tennis: Mutu Madrellna Masters 7am on Tennis Channel
ATP Tennis: Madrid Open 9am & 11:30am on Tennis Channel

World Hockey Championships: France vs United States 10pm on VERSUS (same day tape)

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are likely for regional MLB & MLS telecasts outside of Iowa

TV Schedule, Friday May 6

ATP Tennis: Madrid Open 6:30am & at numerous times throughout the day on Tennis Channel

Arena League Football: Tampa Bay @ Orlando 7pm on NFL Network

Auto Racing

Formula One: Turkish Grand Prix Practice 6am on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Southern 500 Practice 10:30am on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Southern 500 Final Practice 1pm on Speed Channel
Nationwide Series: Royal Purple 200 Qualifying 2:30pm on ESPN2
Sprint Cup Series: Southern 500 Qualifying 4pm on Speed Channel
Nationwide Series: Royal Purple 200 6:30pm on ESPN

Boxing: Friday Night Fights 9pm on ESPN2

College Lacrosse:

Johns Hopkins @ Army 6pm on CBS Sports Network
Notre Dame @ North Carolina 7pm on ESPNU

College Baseball:

Minnesota @ Michigan 6pm on Big 10 Network
Texas @ Nebraska 6:30pm on NET*

*NET - Nebraska Public TV, available across most of Western Iowa on satellite.

Golf:

European PGA Tour 8am on Golf Channel (same day tape)
Champions Tour: Regions Tradition (Second Round) 12pm on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship (Second Round) 2pm on Golf Channel

Horse Racing: Kentucky Oaks 4pm on Versus

MLB Baseball:

Cincinnati @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on WGN
Atlanta @ Philadelphia 6pm on MLB Network
Minnesota @ Boston 6pm on FS North
Milwaukee @ St.Louis 6pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin
Oakland @ Kansas City 7pm on FS Kansas City & Mediacom Channel 22
Chicago White Sox @ Seattle 9pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

MLS Soccer: Philadelphia @ Portland 9:30pm on Fox Soccer Channel

NBA Playoffs:

Chicago @ Atlanta 6pm on ESPN
LA Lakers @ Dallas 8:30pm on ESPN

NHL Playoffs:

San Jose @ Detroit 6pm on VERSUS
Philadelphia @ Boston 8:30pm on VERSUS (joined in progress)

Goodbye Comcast SportsNet Chicago, hello NBC Sports Chicago

Sometime soon, NBC will be rebranding the ComcastSports Net regional sports networks ("RSN's")to NBC themed RSN's, what the exact name will be, not Dick Ebersol knows for sure.

I kinda figured this was coming for the RSN's, I just don't know if I like it or not. Outside of the Olympics and Sunday Night Football, the NBC Sports brand just isn't very strong. Would that change by rebranding VERSUS and the Comcast RSN's into NBC SportsNet National or NBC SportsNet Chicago? I don't know, however, i'm sure the NBC Sports brand would grow if on NBC SportsNet National (the channel formally known as VERSUS), especially if NBC launches a nightly sports news & highlight show.

There's also the issue of ownership issues, Comcast/NBC only owns a 20% share of Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

Here's a link to some of the comments made by Ebersol with regard to the rebranding of the Comcast RSN's. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=149913&nid=126425

NFL Network announces a new announcing team for Thursday Night Football

The revolving door of announcers in the booth for the NFL Network's package of Thursday night NFL games keeps spinning with a new announcing team for 2011. This will be the third broadcast team the NFL Network has used since the NFL Network began televising NFL games.

According to published reports, Mike Mayock and Brad Nessler will form a two man booth when the NFL Network begins coverage of Thursday night games on November 10.

There was speculation that Gus Johnson would be doing the play by play.

For more information, plese visit this website: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81fafa8b/article/mayock-nessler-to-call-thursday-night-football-broadcasts?module=HP_headlines

TV Schedule, Thursday May 5

ATP Tennis: Madrid Open 9am on Tennis Channel

College Baseball: Florida @ Arkansas 6:30pm on ESPNU

College Lacrosse: Big East Women's Semi-finals 4:30pm & 7:15 on CBS Sports Network

College Volleyball:

UC Santa Barbra vs USC 6pm on ESPN2
Ohio St. vs Penn St. 8:30pm on ESPN2

Golf:

European PGA Tour 8am Golf Channel (same day tape)
Champions Tour: The Tradition (First Round) 12pm on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Championship (First Round) 2pm on Golf Channel

Disclaimer: All times are Central and

MLB Baseball:

San Francisco @ NY Mets 12pm on MLB Network
Florida @ St. Louis 12:30pm on FS Midwest
Baltimore @ Kansas City 1pm on FS Kansas City & Mediacom Channel 22
Milwaukee @ Atlanta 6pm on FS Wisconsin
Washington @ Philadelphia 6pm on MLB Network (DirecTV channel 214)

NHL Playoffs: Vancouver @ Nashville 7:30pm on VERSUS

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are Ikey for regional MLB telecast outside of Iowa.

ABC & ESPN's coverage of the NBA Playoffs has put up big ratings

Just like their counterparts on TNT, ABC & ESPN's coverage of the first round of the NBA playoffs is drawing a record number of viewers.

According to a press release from ESPN, on average, over 3.6 million fans have been watching ESPN's coverage of the first round, while on ABC, ratings are up 36% from last year with over 4.3 million viewers.

For more information on the ratings as well as a schedule of upcoming playoff games on ABC & ESPN, please visit this site: http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/05/03/nba-playoffs-first-round-on-espn-highest-rated-and-most-viewed-ever-highest-rated-and-most-viewed-on-abc-since-2004/

Pac 12 announces a new TV deal with ESPN & Fox and the creation of the Pac 12 Network

The expanded Pac 12 conference today announced new TV contracts with ESPN/ABC and the Fox family of channels that will see a significant increase in the number of televised football & basketball games as well as the creation of the Pac 12 Network.

According to a press release from the Pac 12, 44 regular season football games will be televised across the ESPN & Fox family of networks, including 10 games that will be shown in primetime on either ABC or the Fox broadcast channels with the remaining games appearing on the new Pac 12 Network. Sixty-eight regular season men's basketball games will be televised on the ESPN & Fox family of networks with the remaining games being televised on the Pac 12 Network.

This is a huge deal for the Pac 12 that not only will increase their coverage of football & men's basketball, but women's basketball and other "Olympic sports" will have significant coverage on the Pac 12 Network.

For more information, please visit this site: http://www.pac-10.org/News/tabid/863/Article/225167/Pac-12-Announces-Landmark-Media-Rights-Deal-With-ESPN,-Fox-Sports-Media-Group.aspx?bg=%2FPortals%2F7%2FDigArticle%2F225167%2FIMG_6684-web.jpg

TV Schedule, Wednesday May 4

ATP Tennis: Madrid Open 7am on Tennis Channel

College Softball:

Pitt @ Notre Dame 3pm & 5:30pm on ESPN
Ohio St. @ Michigan 4:30pm & 7pm on Big 10 Network

Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby Draw 4pm on VERSUS

MLB Baseball:

Minnesota @ Chicago White Sox 1pm on FS North & WGN
Chicago Cubs @ LA Dodgers 2pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Milwaukee @ Atlanta 3pm on FS Wisconsin
LA Angels @ Boston 6pm on ESPN
Milwaukee @ Atlanta 6pm on FS Wisconsin
Baltimore @ Kansas City 7pm on FS Kansas City & Mediacom Channel 22
Florida @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest

NBA Playoffs:

Atlanta @ Chicago 7pm on TNT
Dallas @ lA Lakers 9:30pm on TNT

NHL Playoffs:

Philadelphia @ Boston 6pm on VERSUS
Washington @ Tampa Bay 6pm on NHL Network
San Jose @ Detroit 8:30pm on VERSUS (joined in progress)

UEFA Champions League Soccer: Schalke @ Manchester United vs 1:30pm on FX

World Hockey Championship: USA vs Sweden 11:30pm on VERSUS (same day tape)

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

Some changes are coming to the Des Moines Mediacom lineup

Some subtle changes sports changes are coming to the Des Moines Mediacom lineup effective May 16.

ESPN Classic will move to the digital sports package as well as the digital plus package and replacing ESPN Classic in the Family Cable package is Fox Sports Midwest+, at least that's what it's called on Mediacom's updated channel listing.

Starting this season, Mediacom has added all 140 Royals games that are produced by FS Kansas City and these games have been shown on either MC22 or on FS Midwest when there hasn't been conflicts with St. Louis Cardnail telecasts.

I'm not exactly sure what FOX Sports Midwest+ is, as other than for Royals games and few Kansas State basketball games, FS Kansas City is a direct mirror of FS Midwest and on DirecTV, other than for live games, FS Kansas City is "dark". Probably what's going to end up happening is that other than for Royals games or when there is a conflict on FS Midwest between the Cardnails & Blues, Fox Sports Midwest+ on Mediacom Channel 34 will be dark most of the time.

Moving ESPN Classic to the ala carte digital packages is no big deal as ESPN has been allowing cable & satellite providers to move ESPN Classic to ala carte digital packages and replace it with ESPNU. To be honest, i'm surprised Mediacom hasn't done this sooner. Does this mean ESPNU will be coming to the Family Cable package in the near future? I have no idea.

In addition, from looking at the updated Mediacom channel listing for Des Moines which a link for is at the end of this blog, I wouldn't be surprised if Mediacom in Des Moines will soon pull the plug on analog and go digital only as it's already done so in Eastern Iowa. Discontinuing the analog packages will free up capacity which will allow Mediacom to add alot more HD programming.

http://www.mediacomtoday-lineup.com/lineup/76/altoona_ankeny_bondurant_carlisle_clive_des_m.aspx

ESPN family of networks win a combined seven Sports Emmy Awards

At last night Sports Emmy Awards, the ESPN family of networks walked away with a combined seven Sports Emmy Awards.

According to a press release from ESPN, Sports Emmy Awards were won in categories ranging from music used during the 2010 World Cup to best weekly studio show in College GameDay.

For a complete list of Sports Emmy Awards won by the ESPN family of networks, please visit this site: http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/05/02/espn-wins-seven-sports-emmy-awards-2/

Winners of the Sports Emmy Awards are announced

Last night was a big night in the sports media as the 32nd annual Sports Emmy Awards with HBO Sports and NBC Sports coming out the big winners.

According to a press release, both HBO Sports and NBC Sports took home the most Emmy Awards with seven.

The top higlight of the evening was Al Michaels, the voice of NBC Sunday Night Football, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

For more iformation, including a full listing of winners, please visit this website: http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/sports_32nd_winners.html

The 2011 NFL Draft gives the NFL Network record viewership

The current labor situation in the NFL wasn't enough to keep fans away from getting their football fix. In fact, the recently concluded NFL Draft lead to record viewership on the NFL Network.

According to a press release from the NFL, just over one million viewers was watching first round coverage of the NFL Draft on the NFL Network and day 3 coverage saw a 7% increase in viewers from the same time a year ago.

For more information and a recap of the NFL Network's coverage of the NFL Draft, please visit this site: http://sportsmedianews.com/05/2011-nfl-draft-record-viewership-for-nfl-network/

TV Schedule, Tuesday May 3

ATP Tennis: Madrid Open 7am on Tennis Channel

MLB Baseball:

Milwaukee @ Atlanta 6pm on FS Wisconsin
NY Yankees @ Detroit 6pm on MLB Network
Baltimore @ Kansas City 7pm on FS Kansas City & Mediacom Channel 22
Florida @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest
Minnesota @ Chicago White Sox 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS North
Chicago Cubs @ LA Dodgers 9pm on WGN
Texas @ Seattle 9pm on MLB Network (DirecTV Channel 214)

Minor League Baseball: Durham @ Indianapolis 10am on MLB Network

NBA Playoffs:

Boston @ Miami 6pm on TNT
Memphis @ Oklahoma City 8:30pm on TNT

NHL Playoffs:

Washington @ Tampa Bay 5:30pm on VERSUS
Vancouver @ Nashville 8pm on VERSUS

UEFA Champions League Soccer: FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid 1:30pm on Fox Soccer Channel

World Hockey Championships: Canada vs Switzerland 11pm on VERSUS (same day tape)

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

An update on radio coverage for the Kansas City Royals

KWKY (AM 1150) in Des Moines has joined the Royals Radio Network broadcasting only games played Friday-Sunday. KWKY is not included in the affiliate listing on the Royals website.

The addition of KWKY as a part-time affiliate of the Royals Radio Network makes for radio coverage of four MLB teams in the Des Moines metro. Chicago Cubs can be heard on KRNT (AM 1350), St. Louis Cardnails on KXNO (AM 1460), and Twins baseball can be heard on KBGG (AM 1700).

ESPN's SportsCenter to celebrate 100 years worth of the Indy 500

When the Indy 500 takes place later this month, the traditional Memorial Day weekend race will be celebrating it's 100th anniversary and ESPN's SportsCenter will be having a month long celebration in honor of the milestone.

According to a press release by ESPN, SportsCenter will have daily segments looking back on the greatest moments and greatest drivers of the last 100 years that will be seen at least three times per day across all day parts.

For more information, please visit this website: http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2011/04/29/sportscenter-celebrating-100th-anniversary-indianapolis-500-throughout-may/

Turner Sports sees record breaking NBA Playoff ratings

As the NBA Playoffs head for the second round, Turner Sports coverage of the NBA Playoffs saw record TV ratings during the first round.

According to a press release from Turner Sports, over 4 million fans tuned in for first round coverage on TNT, that's an increase of 32% from the same time a year ago.

In addition, all three of the key male demographics saw an average increase of 36% in viewership from last year's first round coverage.

The strong playoff ratings come on the heels of TNT's record breaking regular season coverage of the NBA.

For more information on TNT's NBA playoff TV ratings, please visit this site: http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5675

TV Schedule, Monday May 2

ATP Tennis: Madrid Open 7am on Tennis Channel

Hockey: IIHF World Championship, USA vs Norway 9am on VERSUS

Italian Serie A Soccer: Juventus @ Lazio 1:30pm on Fox Soccer Channel

MLB Baseball:

Milwaukee @ Atlanta 6pm on FS Wisconsin
NY Yankees @ Detroit 6pm on ESPN
Florida @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest
Chicago Cubs @ LA Dodgers 9pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

NBA Playoffs:

Atlanta @ Chicago 7pm on TNT
Dallas @ Los Angeles Lakers 9:30pm on TNT

NHL Playoffs: Boston @ Philadelphia 6:30pm on VERSUS

Disclaimer: All times are Central and blackouts are likely for regional MLB telecasts.