TV Schedule, Sunday July 24

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Grand Prix of Germany 11am on Fox (same day tape)
IRL: Edmonton Race 1pm on VERSUS
NHRA: Mile-High Nationals 6pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)
American Le mans: Grand Prix of Mosport 9pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)

Cycling: Tour de France, Stage 21 7am on VERSUS & 1pm on CBS (same day tape)

Extreme Sports: Dew Tour, Part 2 3:30pm on NBC

Golf:

European PGA Tour: 6:30am on Golf Channel
British Senior Open: Final Round; 11am on ESPN
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters (Final Round) 12pm on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: RBC Canadian Open (Final Round) 2pm on CBS
Nationwide Tour: Children's Hospital Invitational (Final Round) 6pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)\

High School Football: Iowa Shrine Bowl 5pm on Mediacom Channel 22

MLB Baseball:

Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland 12pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
St. Louis @ Pittsburgh 12:30pm on FS Midwest
Seattle @ Boston 12:30pm on TBS
Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: 12:30pm on MLB Network
Houston @ Chicago White Sox 1pm on WGN
Tampa Bay @ Kansas City 1pm on FS Kansas City
Detroit @ Minnesota 3pm on FS North
Milwaukee @ San Francisco 3pm on FS Wisconsin
Atlanta @ Cincinnati 7pm on ESPN

Soccer:

Los Angeles vs Manchester City 3pm on ESPN
WPS: Western New York @ Boston 5pm on FOX Soccer

Tennis:

ATP Tour: German Open 7am on Tennis Channel
ATP Tour: Atlanta Championships 12pm on Tennis Channel & 2pm on ESPN2

World Cup Softball: Great Britain vs USA 4pm on ESPN2

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

ESPN goes all-access with Oklahoma football

The start of fall camp is right around the corner for college football teams and one program has given ESPN & ESPNU an all-access pass to cover practice.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, Oklahoma will provide ESPN with extensive behind the scenes access practice, meetings, etc.

Coverage begins August  15th at 4:30pm (CT) on ESPNU.  For a complete schedule, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Saturday July 23

Arena League Football: Milwaukee @ Chicago 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Auto Sports:

Formula One: Qualifying from Germany 7am on VERSUS
Nationwide Series: Federated Auto Parts Qualifying 2:30pm on ESPN2
Firestone Indy Lights: Race from Edmonton 3:30pm on VERSUS
IRL: Qualifying from Edmonton 4:30pm on VERSUS
Nationwide Series: Federated Auto Parts 300 6:30pm on ESPN
NHRA: Mile-High Nationals Qualifying 6pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)
AMA Pro Racing 6pm & 7pm on Speed Channel
MotoGP Racing: 10pm on Speed Channel (same day tape)

CFL Football: Edmonton @ Calgary 6pm on NFL Network

Cycling: Tour de France, Stage 20 7am on VERSUS

Extreme Sports: Dew Tour 2:30pm on NBC

Golf:

European PGA Tour: 6:30am on Golf Channel
Senior British Open, Third Round: 11am on ESPN
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters (Third Round) 12pm on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: RBC Canadian Open (Third Round) 2pm on CBS
Nationwide Tour: Children's Hospital Invitational (Third Round) 5:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

Horse Racing: Coaching Club American Oaks 4pm on NBC

MLB Baseball:

Houston @ Chicago Cubs 12pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Detorit @ Minnesota 3pm on Fox
Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland 6pm on WGN
St. Louis @ Pittsburgh 6pm on FS Midwest
Tampa Bay @ Kansas City 6pm on FS Kansas City
Colorado @ Arizona 8pm on MLB Network (DirecTV channel 214)
Milwaukee @ San Francisco 8pm on FS Wisconsin

Soccer:

MLS: Chicago vs Manchester United 4pm on ESPN2
Summer Friendlies: Everton vs DC United 6:30pm on FOX Soccer

Softball:

Women's World Cup: Canada vs United States 1pm
Men's Slow Pitch: Canada vs United States 3pm on ESPN
Women's World Cup: Japan vs United States 8pm on ESPN2

Tennis:

ATP Tour: International German Open 6am & 8am on Tennis Channel
ATP Tour: Atlanta Championships 12pm on ESPN2 & 6pm on Tennis Channel

WNBA All-Star Game: 2;30pm on ABC

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

TV Schedule, Friday July 22

Arena League Football: Spokane @ Jacksonville 7pm on NFL Network

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Grand Prix of Germany Practice 7am on Speed Channel
Camping World Series: Lucas Deep Clean 200 Qualifying 4pm on Speed Channel
Camping World Series: Lucas Deep Clean 200 7pm on Speed Channel

Boxing: Friday Night Fights 8pm on ESPN2

College Football: SEC Media Days 8:30am on ESPNU

Cycling: Tour de France, Stage 19 7am on VERSUS

MLB Baseball:

Houston @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Atlanta @ Cincinnati 6pm on MLB Network
Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
St. Louis @ Pittsburgh 6pm on FS Midwest
Detroit @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North
Tampa Bay @ Kansas City 7pm on FS Kansas City
Milwaukee @ San Francisco 9pm on FS Wisconsin

Golf:

European PGA Tour: 8am on Golf Channel
Senior British Open: 11am on ESPN2
Nationwide Tour: Children's Hospital Invitational (Second Round) 11:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: RBC Canadian Open (Second Round) 2pm on Golf Channel
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters (Second Round) 5:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS North, and FS Midwest
Scott Van Pelt Show: 2pm on ESPN2

Tennis:

ATP Tour: International German Open 5am & 7am on Tennis Channel
ATP Tour: Atlanta Championships 11am on Tennis Channel, 3pm, & 6pm on ESPN2

USL Soccer: Pittsburgh @ Rochester 7pm on FOX Soccer

World Cup Softball: Australia vs United States 7pm on ESPN

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

ABC to televise the WNBA All-Star Game

I'm sure this will no way generate the buzz that the United States Womens World Cup team did, but the WNBA All-Star game is this weekend and ABC will have exclusive TV coverage of the game.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, the WNBA All-Star game will be played Saturday afternoon on ABC with coverage beginning at 2:30pm (CT).  To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the WNBA, some of the league's most influential players will be honored.

For more information, please visit the Web Site linked above.

ESPN announces it's 2012 Big 12 Big Monday TV schedule

On what has been a slow day in the sports media world as we all await news on the NFL Labor situation, ESPN today did announce it's 2012 Big Monday schedule of televised Big 12 games.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, the Big 12 portion of Big Monday telecasts starts Monday, January 16 with a MLK Day double header beginning at 4:30pm (CT) of Missouri hosting Texas A&M. and Baylor traveling to Kansas.

For a complete schedule, please visit the Web Site linked above.

HBO premieres Derek Jeter 3K July 28

HBO recently had an all access pass to chronicle Derek Jeter's run to 3,000 hits and with the milestone accomplished and work on the documentary complete, HBO will debut Derek Jeter 3K on July 28.

According to a Press Release from HBO, Derek Jeter 3K will take fans behind the scenes as Jeter was in pursuit of the milestone.  With assistance from Major League Baseball, Jeter wore a mic the day he got his 3,000th hit and the documentary will include Jeter reflecting on his career, and footage of Jeter in his home and his recent rehab from an injury.

For more information, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Thursday July 21

ATP Tennis: International German Open 4am & 12pm on Tennis Channel

Chelsea Asia Tour Soccer: Chelsea vs Malaysia League 7:30am on FOX Soccer

College Football: SEC Media Days 8:30am on ESPNU

Cycling: Tour de France Stage 18 6am on VERSUS

Golf:

European PGA Tour 8am on Golf Channel
Senior British Open: First Round 11am on ESPN2
Nationwide Tour: Children's Hospital Invitational (First Round) 11:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: RBC Canadian Open (First Round) 2pm on Golf Channel
LPGA Tour: Evian Masters (First Round) 5:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

MLB Baseball:

St. Louis @ NY Mets 12pm on FS Midwest
San Diego @ Florida 12pm on MLB Network (DirecTV channel 214)
NY Yankees @ Tampa Bay 6pm on MLB Network
Detroit @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North
Milwaukee @ Arizona 8:30pm on FS Wisconsin

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
Scott Van Pelt Show: 2pm on ESPN2

WNBA Basketball: Chicago @ Indiana 8pm on NBATV

World Cup Softball: Czech Republic vs United States 7pm on ESPN

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

Longhorn Network will put on hold plans to televise HS football games

Some breaking news tonight from the State of Texas.  Enough red flags have been raised that the Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Longhorn Network has put on hold plans to televise Texas high school football games as well as a Big 12 conference game.

You can get more information at the link above, but it sounds like Big 12 Commissioner  Dan Beebe played a role in getting the Longhorn Network to rethink it's plans.

It should be noted that with just over a month until the Longhorn Network hits the air, no major cable or satellite provider has signed up to carry the Longhorn Network.

NFL Network goes wall to wall with labor coverage

With the NFL & NFLPA nearing a new collective bargaining agreement that will bring labor peace to the NFL just in time as training camps are on the verge of opening, the NFL Network is planning on continuous live coverage of the labor situation the reminder of the week.

According to Fangs Bites, the NFL Network is going to suspend reguarly scheduled programming both Thursday & Friday and will go with blanket coverage of upcoming labor peace in the NFL starting at 7am (CT) the remainder of the work week.

You can get more information on NFL Network programming, especially if a new labor deal is reached, at the Web Site linked above.

ESPN's college football commentators for 2011

With the start of SEC Media Days today, it signals that the college football season is getting closer by the day and ESPN just put out another sign the season is closer with their announcement of who will be calling the action for the ESPN family of networks and who they will work worth.

We’ve known for most of this year that former Florida coach Urban Meyer has joined ESPN and he will team with Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman on Saturday afternoon ESPN telecasts. 

According to a Press Release  from ESPN, the broadcast teams who called action last year that are returning with no changes for 2011 are Brent Musburger & Kirk Herbstreit on ABC Saturday Night Football; Brad Nessler & Todd Blackledge on ESPN Saturday in prime time; Rece Davis, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Jenn Brown on Thursdays; and McDonough & Millen on ABC Saturday afternoons.

You can get a complete roster of broadcast assignments across all of the ESPN platforms at the Web Site linked above.

MLB Network to televise the MLB Hall of Fame inducation

Bert Blyleven's long wait for enshrinement to the baseball Hall of Fame comes to an end this weekend with the 2011 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony this weekend and MLB Network will have exclusive coverage.

According to a Press Release from the MLB Network, coverage begins this Sunday afternoon at 11:30am (CT) with a pre-ceremony show on the MLB Network that will feature interviews will all of the inductees that will be done by Bob Costas and coverage of the ceremony begins at 12:30pm (CT).

SEC releases a partial schedule of televised football games

SEC Media Days kicks off this week and to go along with Media Days, the SEC has released their schedule of televised football games for the first few weeks of the college football season.

Some of the marquee early season televised games for the SEC include:

Oregon vs LSU (Dallas, TX) 7pm on ABC
Boise St. vs Georgia (Atlanta, GA) 7pm on ESPN
Alabama @ Penn St. 2:30pm on ABC
South Carolina @ Georgia 3:30pm on ESPN
Auburn @ Clemson 11am on ABC
Tennessee @ Florida 2:30pm on CBS

All times listed above are Central and you can get a complete scheudle here

ESPN announces it's roster for Sprint Cup races

When ESPN takes over televising the remainder of the 2011 Sprint Cup season in a week and a half, a familiar voice to NASCAR fans will move into the booth to call the action.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, veteran NASCAR announcer Allen Bestwick will move into the TV booth and will be joined by race analysts Dale Jarrett and  Andy Petree.  In addition, Nicole Briscoe who hosts NASCAR Now on ESPN2 will host pre-race coverage for ESPN.

For more information, including the full roster of talent who will be involved with ESPN's coverage of NASCAR, please visit the Web Site linked above.

NBATV releases their 2011-12 TV schedule

With the NBA in lockout mode and with a portion or maybe even all of the 2011-12 NBA season in real jeopardy of being cancelled, that’s not stopping NBATV from releasing their 2011-12 schedule of televised games.

According to a Press Release from Turner Sports, 96 regular season games will be shown on NBATV and for the fourth year, Fan Night returns which allows fans to vote on NBA.com the game that they want to see on NBATV every Tuesday night.

NBATV's schedule tips off Saturday, November 5 with a rematch of the 2011 Western Conference Finals when Oklahoma City takes on Dallas at 7:30pm (CT).

For more information, including a roster of NBATV talent, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Wednesday July 20

College Football: SEC Media Days 12pm on ESPNU

Cycling: Tour de France, Stage 17 7am on VERSUS

MLB Baseball:

Cleveland @ Minnesota 12pm on FS North
Philadelphia @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
St. Louis @ NY Mets 6pm on ESPN & FS Midwest (subject to blackout across Iowa on ESPN)
Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS Kansas City
Milwaukee @ Arizona 8:30pm on FS Wisconsin

Minor League Baseball: Cedar Rapids vs Quad Cities 7pm on Mediacom Channel 22

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick Show: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNU
Scott Van Pelt Show: 2pm on ESPN2

Soccer:

WPS: Western New York vs. MagicJack 6:30pm on FOX Soccer
Manchester United @ Seattle 9pm on FOX Soccer
Real Madrid vs Chivas de Guadalajara 10pm on ESPN2

WNBA Basketball:

Atlanta @ Washington 10:30am on NBATV
Minnesota @ Phoenix 2:30pm on NBATV
Atlanta @ Washington 5pm on NBATV

World Team Tennis: Washington @ New York 6pm on Tennis Channel

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

ABC/ESPN releases their 2011-12 NBA schedule

With the NBA in lockout mode and with a portion or maybe even all of the 2011-12 NBA season in real jeopardy of being cancelled, that’s not stopping ABC/ESPN from releasing their 2011-12 schedule of televised games.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, the first regular season telecast on ESPN will be a doubleheader on Wednesday, November 2 of Miami @ New York and the LA Lakers visiting Golden State.  Seventy-five regular season games will be shown on ESPN and ESPN2 and online at ESPN3.com.

ABC begins their 15 game schedule with the traditional Christmas Day doubleheader featuring a rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals and Chicago visiting the Lakers.  ABC’s broadcast schedule will conclude with the 2012 NBA Finals in June.

All telecasts on both AB & ESPN are subject to flex scheduling which will provide the best matchups all season.

For a tentative schedule of televised NBA games on ABC & ESPN, please visit the Web Site linked above.

ESPN launches it's second social media game

Last September, ESPN got into the business of social media games with the launch of ESPNU College Town, well today ESPN is launching it's second social media game for Facebook.

According to a Press Release, "ESPN Sports Bar and Grill" is now opened for business.  The premise for the game is for fans to build and operate a fictional sports bar and restaurant.  The more friends "visit" the establishment, owners can purchase enhancements ranging from TV's, arcade games, and sports memorabilia.  In addition, users will be able to pipe in ESPN Radio and scores from ESPN's ticker into their restaurant.

For more information, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TNT's NASCAR Summer Series sees an increase in viewers

TNT's NASCAR Summer Season came to an end this past weekend and TNT saw an increase in viewership.

According to a Press Release from Turner Sports, TNT's NASCAR Summer Series averaged 5.1 million viewers, up 3% from last year TNT's RaceBuddy averaged 886,000 weekly web streams for the six race portion of TNT's coverage of NASCAR.

After taking this week off, the baton is passed to ESPN as they will televise the remaining races on the Sprint Cup schedule.

New feature on the blog

This week, i've added a new feature to the daily TV listings and that's "Sports Radio on TV". Several national sports radio shows have been simulcasted on various cable sports networks for several years and will get even bigger next month when CBS Sports Network begins to simulcast the Tim Brando Show which airs on Sporting News Radio.

TV Schedule, Tuesday July 19

Cycling: Tour de France Stage 16 7am on VERSUS

MLB Baseball::

St. Louis @ NY Mets 6pm on FS Midwest
Atlanta @ Colorado 7pm on MLB Network (DirecTV channel 214)
Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City 7pm on FS Kansas City & WHO-DT 13.3/Mediacom Channel 114
Cleveland @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North
Philadelphia @ Chicago Cubs 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Milwaukee @ Arizona 8:30pm on FS Wisconsin

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick Show: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNU
The Scott Van Pelt Show: 2pm on ESPNU

WNBA Basketball:

Indiana @ Atlanta 11am on NBATV
Seattle @ Chicago 6pm on ESPN2

World Team Tennis: Sacramento vs Springfield 7pm on Mediacom Channel 22

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

13.458 million watched yesterday's Women's World Cup Final

Earlier today, I made mention of the TV rating that yesterday's Women's World Cup Final received, well ESPN has just released some TV information that's easily for all to understand.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, yesterday's championship match was seen by 13.458 million viewers, making it ESPN's most-viewed and highest-rated soccer match.  ESPN also notes that yesterday's final was the second most-watched daytime telecast in history and not excluding NFL games, the fifth most-watched telecast in the history of ESPN.

Impressive numbers to say the least.  For more information, including viewership numbers on ESPN3.com, please visit the Web Site linked above.

Women's World Cup Championship gets big ratings

Over night ratings are in for the Women's World Cup Championship and the ratings are impressive.  According to USA Today, the over night rating was a whopping 8.6, meaning that in the top 56 urban TV markets, 8.6% of the TV's had their TV's on ESPN for the match.  Yesterday's match was the second most watched women's soccer match of all time, the 1999 Women's World Cup Championship being the most watched.

Exact numbers for total viewership has yet to be determined, but not only was yesterday's game a hit with TV viewers, it was a hit on Twitter as well.

Iowa St. volleyball to be on ESPNU 3 times

ESPNU's Wednesday night's women's college volleyball series begins Wednesday September 14th with a schedule of 17 televised matches and for the first time ever, all matches will be shown in HD.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, Iowa St. will be televised three different times with the first appearance taking place on September 21 with the Cylcones hosting Missouri.  ESPNU's regular season schedule concludes in early November.

For more information, please visit the Web Site linked above.

Colorado closes in on a TV deal with Fox College Sports

Former Big 12 member Colorado is closing in on a one year contract with Fox College Sports that will guarantee at least 11 televised football games this fall.

According to a report in the Boulder Daily Camera, for the 2011 season, any Colorado game that is not televised by the Pac 12 TV partners (ESPN/ABC & Fox Sports) becomes eligible for TV coverage on Fox College Sports and must not compete with games televised by the Pac 12 TV partners.  This is only a one year deal because the new Pac 12 TV contract kicks in for the 2012 season.

TV Schedule, Monday July 18

MLB Baseball:

Cleveland & Minnesota 12pm on FS North
NY Yankees @ Tampa Bay 6pm on ESPN
Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS Kansas City
Cleveland @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North
Philadelphia @ Chicago Cubs 7pm on WHO-DT 13.3/Mediacom Channel 114
Milwaukee @ Arizona 8:30pm on FS Wisconsin

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick Show: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNU
The Scott Van Pelt Show: 2pm on ESPNU

Soccer: Vancouver vs Manchester City 9pm on ESPN2

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

Big day for ESPN

Big day for ESPN today with the final round of the British Open, the United States playing in the FIFA Women's World Cup Championship match, and now the Red Sox & Rays scoreless as it goes to extra innings.

ESPN gets alot of flack at times, as well they should especially with the Bruce Feldman saga, from last week, but it's been a banner day for sports on ESPN and i'll be anxious to get the ratings for all three events tomorrow.

With ESPN available to well over 100 million homes, money and the per cable/satellite subscriber rate is the big reason why sports are migrating to cable and the trend won't let up anytime soon, especially with the NFL exploring a full 17 weeks worth of televised Thursday night games.

ESPN to cover all four rounds of the Senior British Open

With the British Open winding down this morning, the senior golfers take to the stage next week for the Senior British Open with coverage of all four rounds on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3.com

According to a Press Release from ESPN, Thursday & Friday coverage begins Thursday at 11am (CT) with weekend coverage on ESPN.  Loren Roberts, Tom Lehman, and Corey Pavin are some of the American golfers expected to compete.

For more information, including those who will be calling the action next weekend, please visit the Web Site linked above.