ESPN to provide early round coverage of the US Women's Open

Multiple ESPN platforms are teaming up to provide early round coverage of the US Women's Open next weekend from Colorado.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, coverage begins next Thursday at 4pm (CT).  LPGA Champion Yani Tseng will be looking to complete the career Grand Slam.  She is the youngest golfer, male or female to have won four professional majors.

TV Schedule, Saturday July 2

Auto Racing:

Lucas Oil Off Road Racing 5:30pm on Speed Channel (same day tape)
Sprint Cup: Coke Zero 400 6:30pm on TNT
AMA Pro Racing: 8pm on Speed Channel (same day tape)

CFL Football: Toronto @ Calgary 7pm on NFL Network

Cycling: Tour de France, Stage 1: 7am on VERSUS 1pm on NBC (same day tape)

Golf:

European PGA Tour 7am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: AT&T National (Third Round) 12pm on Golf Channel & 2pm on CBS
US Amateur/Women's Amateur Public Links (Final Round) 3pm on Golf Channel
Champions Tour: Montreal Championship (Second Round) 5:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

MLB Baseball:

Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs 2pm on Fox (SW Iowa will have NY Mets @ NY Yankees)
Milwaukee @ Minnesota 6pm on FS North & FS Wisconsin
St. Louis @ Tampa Bay 6pm on FS Midwest
San Francisco @ Detroit 6pm on MLB Network
Kansas City @ Colorado 7pm on FS Kansas City

Lacrosse:

High School: Under Armour All-America Game 7pm on ESPNU
MLL: Rochester @ Chesapeake 6:30pm on ESPN2

Soccer:

Women's World Cup: Korea DPR vs Sweden 6:45am on ESPN2
Women's World Cup: United States vs Colombia 10:30am on ESPN
MLS: Philadelphia @ DC United 6pm on FOX Soccer
MLS: New York @ San Jose 9:30pm on ESPN2

Wimbledon Tennis: Women's Final 8am on NBC

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

ESPN sees an increase in viewership in the College World Series

Over the last 12 months, most major sports has seen an increase in viewership and the same can be said for the recently concluded College World Series.

According to Press Release from ESPN, the best out of three championship series from the 2011 College World Series averaged over 2.3 million viewers and a 1.6 rating, an increase of 43% from the 2010 championship series.  Overall, the College World Series  on both ESPN & ESPN2 saw an increase in viewership from last year and you can get those numbers at the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule Friday July 1

Arena League Football: Pittsburgh @ Orlando 7pm on NFL Network

Boxing: Friday Night Fights 10pm on ESPN2

Golf:

European PGA Tour: 8am on Golf Channel
Champions Tour: Montreal Championship (First Round) 11:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: AT&T National (Second Round) 2pm on Golf Channel
US Amateur/Women's Amateur Public Links: Day 5 5:30pm on Golf Channel

MLB Baseball:

Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & WGN
NY Yankees @ NY Mets 6pm on MLB Network
St. Louis @ Tampa Bay 6pm on FS Midwest
Kansas City @ Colorado 7pm on FS Kansas City
Milwaukee @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North & FS Wisconsin

NASCAR:

Nationwide Series: Subway Jalapeno 250 Qualifying 1pm on ESPN2
Sprint Cup Series: Coke Zero 400 Qualifying 3pm on Speed Channel
Nationwide Series: Subway Jalapeno 250 6:30pm on ESPN

Soccer:

Women's World Cup: Japan vs Mexico 7:45am on ESPN
Women's World Cup: New Zealand vs England 11am on ESPN
USL Soccer: Antigua @ FC New York 7pm on FOX Soccer

WNBA Basketball:

San Antonio @ New York 6pm on NBATV
Chicago @ Phoenix 9pm on NBATV

Wimbledon Tennis: 6am on ESPN2 & 12pn on NBC

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

Patriot League signs TV contract with CBS Sports Network

Nothing really earth shattering here, but since we have entered the slowest time of the year for sports, some news is better than no news.

The Patriot League recently announced a partnership with CBS Sports Network that will move the Patriot League Men's Championship game to CBS Sports Network.  The new deal also calls for increase exposure of Patriot League men's & women's regular season basketball games as well as men's lacrosse and football telecasts.

For more information, please visit the website linked above.

ESPN to once again televise the International Hot Dog Eating Contest

I have no idea how this has become a Fourth of July tradition, but it has.  ESPN once again in 2011 will televise the International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, the fun gets under way from Coney Island in NY at 11am (CT)..  Some of the highlights of the hour long broadcast besides the 10 minute power feast include a Sports Science feature on Joey Chestnut and even the use of a heart monitor on one of the participants.

Over the last five years, this event has averaged over 1.5 million viewers.

TV Schedule, Thursday June 30

CFL Football: BC @ Montreal 6:30pm on NFL Network

Golf:

European PGA Tour 8am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: AT&T National (First Round) 2pm on Golf Channel
US Amateur/Women's Amateur Public Links (Day 1) 5:30pm on Golf Channel

MLB Baseball:

Boston @ Philadelphia 12pm on MLB Network
Milwaukee @ NY Yankees 12pm on FS Wisconsin
San Francisco @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on WGN
Chicago White Sox @ Colorado 2pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
St. Louis @ Baltimore 6pm on FS Midwest
Texas @ Houston 7pm on MLB Network

NASCAR:

Nationwide Series: Subway Jalapeno 250 Practice 1:30pm on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Coke Zero 400 Practice 3pm on Speed Channel
Nationwide Series: Subway Jalapeno 250 Practice 4:30pm on ESPN2
Sprint Cup Series: Coke Zero 400 Final Practice 5:30pm on Speed Channel

Soccer:

Women's World Cup: Canada vs France 10:45am on ESPN
Women's World Cup: Germany vs Nigeria

Wimbledon Tennis: 6am on ESPN2 & 12pm on NBC

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

Al Michaels & Bob Costas to call action together on MLB Network

MLB Network today announced that legendary broadcasters Al Michaels & Bob Costas will call a game together for the MLB Network in the month of July.

According to Press Release, the legendary sports broadcasters will work together for the first time ever on Friday, July 8th as the NY Mets visit San Francisco.  In addition, MLB Network will present doubleheader action on the 4th of July.

For more information, as well as a schedule of televised games for July on MLB Network which begins on July 1 with the Subway Series in New York, please visit the web site linked above.

NFL Network to debut the NY Jets season of Hardknocks

Those without HBO like myself will be excited to know that The NFL Network will debut the 2010 season of Hardknocks: Training Camp With the New York Jets this Sunday at 10pm (CT). Fans may recall, the 2010 season of Hardnocks featured Jets Coach Rex Ryan and the controversy be bought with the foul language.

You can get a complete schedule of the 2010 season of Hardknocks at this Web Site.

NASCAR on TNT is enjoying an uptick in viewership

TNT's summer season of NASCAR coverage is at the midway point and just like TNT's NBA coverage, viewership is up on TNT.

According to a Press Release from Turner Sports, TNT is averaging just over 5 million viewers for the first three weeks, that's up 7% from last year.  In fact this past weekend's race from Sonoma's Infineon Raceway saw a double digit increase in both it's overnight rating and total viewership from the same time a year ago.

For more information, as well as how TNT's RaceBuddy is performing, visit the website linked above.

TV Schedule, Wednesday June 29

Golf:

European PGA Tour 10:30am on Golf Channel (same day tape)
PGA Professional National Championship (Final Round) 2:30pm on Golf Channel

MLB Baseball:

LA Dodgers @ Minnesota 12pm on FS North
Milwaukee @ NY Yankees 6pm on FS Wisconsin
Boston @ Philadelphia 6pm on ESPN2
St. Louis @ Philadelphia 6pm on FS Midwest
San Francisco @ Chicago Cubs 7pm on WGN
Chicago White Sox @ Colorado 7:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Soccer:

Women's World Cup: Norway vs Equatorial Guinea 7:45am on ESPN
Women's World Cup: Brazil vs Australia 11am on ESPN

Wimbledon Tennis: 6am on ESPN2 & 10am on NBC

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

BTN rolls out the welcome mat for Nebraska

This Friday, Nebraska offically becomes a member of the Big 10 Conference and when the conference has it's own TV network, one would expect a heavy dose of programming shining the spotlight on the new kid on the block and that's exactly what the BTN is doing this weekend.

According to a Press Release from the BTN, "Nebraska Weekend" kicks off Friday at 11am (CT) with a special studio program welcoming Nebraska to the Big 10, followed by memorable games from various Husker sports, including the Volleyball team's 2006 championship match, all three football national championship games from the 1990's, a spotlight of the 2005 baseball team, and live internet chats with Husker legends.

For a complete schedule, please visit the website linked above.

TNT's "Wide Open" format returns for the Pepsi 400

In 2007, TNT launched it's "Wide Open" format of televising Sprint Cup races and the format returns this weekend for the NASCAR Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

According to a Press Release from Turner Sports, the Wide Open format provides continuous race coverage free of national commercial breaks.  Since "Wide Open" launched four years ago, only nine laps have live coverage hasn't been televised and over the last two years, "Wide Open" hasn't missed a single live lap.

For more information, please visit the website linked above.

An update on the partial Twins blackout for Mediacom customers

Good news for those Mediacom customers in Northern Iowa, nearly 3 months after the start of the 2011 MLB season, Mediacom & FS North have reached an agreement on that extra package of games that FS North was asking extra money for.  That means no more blackouts of select Twins games on FS North for Mediacom customers!

TV Schedule, Tuesday 27

College World Series Championship Match, Game 2: Florida vs South Carolina 7pm on ESPN

Golf: PGA Professional National Championship (Third Round) 2:30pm on Golf Channel

MLB Baseball:

San Francisco @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on WGN
Boston @ Philadelphia 6pm on MLB Network
Milwaukee @ NY Yankees 6pm on FS Wisconsin
St. Louis @ Baltimore 6pm on FS Midwest
LA Dodgers @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North
San Francisco @ Chicago Cubs 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Chicago White Sox @ Colorado 7:40pm on WHO-DT 13.3/Mediacom Channel 114
Kansas City @ San Diego 9pm on FS Kansas City & across Central Iowa on Mediacom Channel 22

Soccer:

Women's World Cup: Colombia vs Sweeden 7:45am on ESPN
Women's World Cup: United States vs Korea DPR 10:45am on ESPN

WNBA Basketball: Los Angeles @ Connecticut 7pm on ESPN2

Wimbledon Tennis: 6am on ESPN2 & 10am on NBC

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

NFL is beginning to market a new TV package

One of the details that was leaked last week in the NFL labor talks was the possiblity of expanding the current late season slate of Thursday night games and turning it into a season long package of Thursday night football, going head to head on a weekly basis with college football, something that has never happened before.

Well today, the Sports Business Journal is reporting that the current late schedule of 8 televised games will remain on the NFL Network, however, the NFL is in the early stages of looking for bidders on a bundle of early season games and the bidding process for these games could go as high as $700 million per year.

Myself, i'm a much bigger college football fan than I am NFL (up until the 2010 season, you can thank the Chiefs for killing my interest in the NFL).  By the time the NFL Network schedule of games kicks in, the college season is in the home stretch and other than for the NFL opening their regular season on a Thursday night, college football and the NFL have never really gone head to head.  All signs point to the NFL playing every Thursday night, as soon as 2012, it will be interesting to see how the competition plays out and who coughs up the $700 million, which is a topic for another day.

TV Schedule, Monday June 27

College World Series Championship, Game 1: Florida vs South Carolina 7pm on ESPN

Golf: PGA Professnional National Championship (Second Round) 2:30pm on Golf Channel

MLB Baseball:

Colorado @ Chicago Cubs 1:15pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Cincinnati @ Toronto 6pm on ESPN2
LA Dodgers @ Minnesota 6pm on FS North
Kansas City @ San Diego 9pm on FS Kansas City & FS Midwest across Central Iowa

Soccer;:

Women's World Cup: Japan vs New Zeland 7:45am on ESPN
Women's World Cup: Mexico vs England 10:45am on ESPN

Wimbledon Tennis: 6am on ESPN2 & 10am on NBC

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

TV Schedule, Sunday June 26

Auto Racing:

Forumla One: Grand Prix of Europe 11am on Fox
Sprint Cup Series: Toyota/Save Mart 350 2pm on TNT
NHRA Drag Racing: 7pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)

Golf:

European PGA Tour: 7:30am on Golf Channel
PGA: Professional National Championship 1pm on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: Travelers Championship (Final Round) 2pm on CBS
LPGA Tour: LPGA Championship (Final Round) 3pm on Golf Channel
Champions Tour: Dick's Sporting Goods Open (Final Round) 6:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

MLB Baseball:

Chicago Cubs @ Kansas City 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Kansas City, & Mediacom Channel 22 across Central Iowa
Colorado @ NY Yankees 1pm on TBS
Minnesota @ Milwaukee 1pm on FS North & FS Wisconsin
Toronto @ St. Louis 1pm on FS Midwest
Washington @ Chicago White Sox 1pm on WGN
Cleveland @ San Francisco 7pm on ESPN

Soccer:

FIFA Women's World Cup: Nigeria vs France 7:45am on ESPN2
FIFA Women's World Cup: Germany vs Canada 10:30am on ESPN
MLS: New York @ Chicago 1pm on ESPN
FIFA U-17 World Cup: Germany vs Panama 2:45pm on ESPNU
FIFA U-17 World Cup: Brazil vs Ivory Coast 5:45pm on ESPNU

Track & Field: US Outdoor Championships 2pm on Universal Sports & 4pm on NBC

Wimbledon Tennis: 1pm on NBC (same day tape)

WNBA Basketball: Indiana @ Minnesota 6pm on FS North & NBATV (subject to blackout across Iowa on NBATV)

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