TV Schedule Saturday, September 10

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Italian Grand Prix Qualifying 7am on Speed Channel
AMA Pro Racing: 6pm & 7pm on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Wonderful Pistachios 400 6:30pm on ABC

Bull Riding: PBR Tour 10:30pm on VERSUS (same day tape)

College Football:

Big 10:

Florida Atlantic @ Michigan St. 11am on ESPN2
Oregon St. @ Wisconsin 11am on ESPN
South Dakota St. @ Illinois 11am on BTN*
Toledo @ Ohio St. 11am on BTN*
Eastern Illinois @ Northwestern 2:30pm on BTN*
New Mexico St. @ Minnesota 2:30pm on BTN*
Purdue @ Rice 2:30pm on CBS Sports Network
Fresno St. @ Nebraska 6pm on BTN*
Virginia @ Indiana 6pm on BTN*
Notre Dame @ Michigan 7pm on ESPN

*Check local listings for game availability.

Big 12:

Iowa @ Iowa St. 11am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago+, FS Midwest, FS North, and MC22 in Eastern Iowa
BYU @ Texas 6pm on ESPN2
Northern Illinois @ Kansas 6pm on Fox College Sports Central

National Games:

Central Michigan @ Kentucky 11am on ESPNU
Rutgers @ North Carolina 11am on SNY
San Diego St. @ Army 11am on CBS Sports Network
Mississippi St. @ Auburn 11:21 on SEC Network (available on various RSN's across the country)
Nothern Colorado @ Colorado St. 1pm on The MTN.
Alabama @ Penn St. 2:30pm on ABC
Cal @ Colorado 2:30pm on Fox College Sports Atlantic & Fox College Sports Pacific
Cincinnati @ Tennessee 2:30pm on ESPN2
Hawaii @ Washington 2:30pm on Root Sports Northwest
Nevada @ Oregon 2:30pm on FX
North Carolina St. @ Wake Forest 2:30pm on FS South, Sun Sports, & FS Prime Ticket
Stanford @ Duke 2:30pm on ESPNU
TCU @ Air Force 2:30pm on VERSUS
Virginia Tech @ East Carolina 2:30pm on FS North & FS Midwest (JIP @ 3:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago)
Rhode Island @ Syracuse 3:30pm on SNY
South Carolina @ Georgia 3:30pm on ESPN
Ft. Lewis @ Northern Arizona 5pm on Fox College Sports Atlantic
Texas St. @ Wyoming 5pm on The Mtn.
Ball St. @ South Florida 6pm on Altitude
New Mexico @ Arkansas 6pm on ESPNU
UCONN @ Vanderbilt 6:30pm on SNY
Utah @ USC 6:30pm on VERSUS
Boston College @ Central Florida 6:30pm on CBS Sports Network
UTEP @ SMU 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS North
San Jose St. @ UCLA 9pm on Fox College Sports Pacific

Extreme Sports: Dew Tour, Toyota Challenge Part 1 3:30pm on NBC

Golf:

European PGA Tour 6am on Golf Channel
LPGA Tour: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship 2pm on Golf Channel

MLB Baseball:

Chicago Cubs @ NY Mets 12pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Cleveland @ Chicago White Sox 3pm on FOX (some markets may receive Minnesota @ Detroit)
Atlanta @ St. Louis 6pm on FS Midwest
NY Yankees @ LA Angels of Anaheim 8pm on MLB Network

Soccer:

English Premier League: Sunderland vs Chelsea 8:55am on ESPN2
English Premier League: Arsenal vs Swansea City 9am on FOX Soccer
English Premier League: Bolton vs Manchester United 11:30am on FOX Soccer
Italian Seire A: Cesena vs Napoli 1:30pm on FOX Soccer
MLS: Chicago @ San Jose 9:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Track & Field: IAAF Diamond League 2pm on NBC

US Open Tennis: 11am & 7pm on CBS

WNBA Basketball:

Washington @ San Antonio 7pm NBATV
Chicago @ Los Angeles 9pm on NBATV

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

NBC's NFL opener puts up big TV numbers

The 2010 NFL season ended with huge TV ratings and despite labor unrest this Spring & Summer, one thing is for sure and that the NFL is king in the American sports landscape and the ratings for last night's New Orleans @ Green Bay game back that up.

According to a Press Release from NBC Sports, last night's 2011 NFL debut generated the highest NFL prime time rating for a regular season game in 14 years with an unbelievable 27.2 million viewers and was the most watched Thursday Night season opener since NBC started the tradition.  In the key 18-49 demographic, last night's game generated a 10.9 rating, the highest in that demographic for any NFL prime time, regular season game in 14 years.

The numbers are just incredible, last night's game drew more viewers for an NFL on NBC telecast than Brett Farve's second return as a Viking to Lambeau Field..

Former President George W Bush to open FOX NFL Sunday

Former President George W Bush will open the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show with a special speech commemorating the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

According to a Press Release from Fox Sports, President Bush will be surrounded with members from FDNY and NYPD.  In addition, at 11:57am, Fox Sports and several Fox owned cable channels will have live coverage of the NFL 9/11 remembrance event.

TV Schedule, Friday September 9

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Italian Grand Prix Practice 7am on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Wonderful Pistachios 400 Practice 11am on ESPN2
Sprint Cup Series: Wonderful Pistachios 400 Happy Hour 1:30pm on ESPN2
Nationwide Series: Virginia 529 College Savings 250 3pm on ESPN2
Sprint Cup Series: Wonderful Pistachios 400 Qualifying 4:30pm on ESPN2
Nationwide Series: Virginia 529 College Savings 250 6:30pm on ESPN2

CFL Football: Calgary @ Edmonton 8pm on NFL Network

College Football:

Florida International @ Louisville 6pm on ESPN
Missouri @ Arizona St. 9:30pm on ESPN

College Water Polo: Stanford @ Princeton 5pm on ESPNU

Golf:

European PGA Tour 8am on Golf Channel
LPGA Tour: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship (First Round) 2pm on Golf Channel

High School Football:

Iowa City West @ Iowa City High 7pm on KCRG-DT 9.2/Mediacom channel 109/ImOn channel 709(Cedar Rapids)
Yulee (FL) @ Buford (GA) 7:30pm on ESPNU

MLB Baseball:

Chicago Cubs @ NY Mets 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago+
Minnesota @ Detroit 6pm on FS North
Atlanta @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest
Cleveland @ Chicago White Sox 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Philadelphia @ Milwaukee 7pm on FS Wisconsin
Kansas City @ Seattle 9pm on FS Kansas City

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
Tim Brando Show: 9am on CBS Sports Network
The Scott Van Pelt Show: 2pm on ESPNU

Soccer:

Italian Serie A: AC Millan vs Lazio 1:30pm on FOX Soccer
College Soccer: Virginia @ Duke 6pm on FOX Soccer
MLS: Colorado Rapids @ Los Angeles Galaxy 10pm on FOX Soccer

US Open Tennis: 11:30am on CBS

WNBA Basketball:

Indiana @ New York 6pm on NBATV
Tulsa @ Los Angeles 9:30pm on NBATV

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

ESPNews to simulcast 5 hours worth of ESPN Radio every day

ESPN has announced that the ESPNU simulcast of The Herd & the ESPN2 simulcast of Scott Van Pelt radio programs will move to ESPNews effective Monday, September 12.

According to the radio industry Web Site Radio-Info.com, The Herd & Scott Van Pelt Show will be seen on ESPNews every weekday from 9am (CT) to 2pm (CT), with The Herd airing from 9am to 12pm and The Scott Van Pelt show occupying the 12pm to 2pm time slot.

Last Summer when it was announced that SportsCenter would air live on ESPN into the early afternoon hours, many speculated what would become of ESPNews and the idea was tossed out by several that ESPN would consolidate move the simulcast of their radio shows from ESPNU & ESPN2 to ESPNews.

ESPN & NFL reach 8-year extension for Monday Night Football

ESPN today announced that it had reached an eight-year extension that will keep Monday Night Football on ESPN through the year 2021.  The Sports Business Daily is reporting the new deal is worth an unbelievable $1.9 billion per year.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, the new deal will bring several changes and additions to ESPN’s NFL programming.  Starting this Sunday, ESPN’s Sunday pregame show, NFL Countdown will expend to three hours, rights to over 500 hours of NFL-branded studio programming on multiple ESPN platforms, and an expanded digital presence as well.

In addition, several new NFL-themed studio programs will be making their debut over the next several days.  For a complete schedule of NFL programming on ESPN as well as information on the new programming, please visit this Web Site.

TV Schedule, Thursday September 8

College Football:

Florida A&M @ Hampton 6:30pm on ESPNU
Arizona @ Oklahoma St. 7pm on ESPN
Central Washington @ Humboldt St. 7pm on CBS Sports Network

Golf: European PGA Tour: 8am on Golf Channel

High School Football: Waterloo West vs Cedar Rapids Jefferson 7pm on KCRG-DT 9.2/Mediacom channel 109/ImOn channel 709 (Cedar Rapids)

MLB Baseball:

Cleveland @ Chicago White Sox 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Philadelphia @ Milwaukee 7pm on FS Wisconsin
Kansas City @ Seattle 9pm on FS Kansas City

NFL Football: New Orleans @ Green Bay 7pm on NBC

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick Show: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
Tim Brando Show: 9am on CBS Sports Network
The Herd: 9am on ESPNU

US Open Tennis: 10am on ESPN2 & Tennis Channel and 6pm on ESPN2

WNBA Basketball:

Chicago @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North & NBATV
Tulsa @ Phoenix 9pm on NBATV

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

NFL to offer free previews of NFL Sunday Ticket and the Red Zone Channel on Sunday

To celebrate the start of the NFL Season, the NFL has announced that there will be a free preview of NFL Sunday Ticket for DirecTV subscribers and the NFL Red Zone channel for cable & Dish Network subscribers for week 1 games on September 11..

This announcement is big for Mediacom subscribers to test drive the NFL Red Zone Channel as Mediacom will offer the the NFL Red Zone Channel on an ala-carte premium basis for a one time payment of $50.00.

BTN to televise 64 men's conference basketball games

Yesterday, CBS & ESPN announced their schedule of televised Big 10 Conference men's basketball games and today, the BTN has done the same.  According to the BTN's Web Site, over 60 conference games will be shown on the BTN.

BTN's conference schedule begins on December 27 with Illinois hosting Minnesota at 6:30pm (CT) and coverage wraps up with the BTN showing several games of the Big 10 Tournament in March.  You can get the complete BTN telecast schedule from the BTN's Web Site at the link above.  Between the BTN, CBS, and ESPN, every conference game will be on national TV with select non-conference games being telecast on BTN and multiple ESPN platforms.

NBC Universal "returns to football" this week

NBC Universal returns to football this week with NFL Kickoff 2011 that begins at 6pm (CT) on a host of NBC owned cable outlets including VERSUS, USA, Syfy, G4, as well as NFL Network, due to President Obama’s address, NBC will join NFL Kickoff in progress, which has been extended to 90 minutes.

According to a Press Release from NBC, the President’s speck won’t conflict with coverage of the first NFL game of the 2011 season.  NFL Kickoff will feature performances by Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5.  In addition, NFL Kickoff will feature a preview of the upcoming season by a host of NBC Sports commentators.

For more information, including a complete schedule of NFL themed programming on NBC, please visit the Web Site linked above.

NFL Network's NFL Total Access get's a face lift

With the NFL kicking off the 2011 regular season this week, the NFL has given a face lift to the NFL Network's signature news & highlight show, NFL Total Access.

According to a Press Release, permanent anchors will co-host the show throughout the week.  Monday-Thursday, Kara Henderson and Andrew Siciliano will be joined by numerous NFL Network analysts on a rotating basis and Scott Hanson and Lindsay Soto will co-host Friday and Saturday.  In addition, a new graphics package and theme music will make their debut this week as well.

For more information, including a schedule of programming throughout the week, including information on new shows, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Wednesday September 7

MLB Baseball:

Atlanta @ Philadelphia 6pm on ESPN
Chicago White Sox & Minnesota 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & FS North
Cincinnati @ Chicago Cubs 7pm on WHO-DT 13.3/Mediacom Channel 114(Des Moines) & WQAD-DT2/Mediacom Channel 101 (Quad Cities)
Milwaukee @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin
Seattle @ LA Angels of Anaheim 9pm on ESPN

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
Tim Brando Show: 9am on CBS Sports Network

US Open Tennis: 10am on ESPN2 & Tennis Channel and 6pm on ESPN2

WNBA Basketball: Washington @ Indiana 6pm on NBATV

Women's College Soccer: Marquette @ Wisconsin-Milwaukee 7pm on FOX Soccer

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

Faith Hill returns for the Sunday Night Football opening on NBC

For those wondering, Faith Hill will return for a fifth consecutive season to do the Sunday Night Football opening on NBC for the 2011 NFL Season.

 According to a Press Release from NBC Sports, Ms. Hill and her theme song, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night" will make their season debut this Sunday night prior to the NY Jets hosting Dallas on NBC as what will be an emotional day as the nation remembers 9/11.

44 Big 10 men's basketball games to air on CBS & ESPN

The Big 10 today, in association with their TV partners in ESPN/CBS today announced a schedule of 44 Big 10 Conference men's basketball games that will be televised by ESPN & CBS.

According to a The Big 10, the first televised conference game of the 2011-12 season will be December 27 when Nebraska plays their first conference game as a member of the Big 10 when the Huskers play host to Wisconsin at 8pm  (CT) on ESPN2.  New this year will be the addition of ESPNU for conference telecasts and you can get the entire CBS/ESPN schedule at this Web Site.

National lineup of those RSN's carrying Saturday's Iowa/Iowa St. game

Here is a listing of the regional sports networks across the United States who will televise Saturday’s Iowa/Iowa St. game.

FS Arizona
FS Detroit
FS Florida
FS Houston
FS Midwest
FS North/Wisconsin
FS Ohio
SportSouth
FS Southwest
Root Sports Northwest
Root Sports Rocky Mountain
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
Comcast SportsNet Chicago+ (MC 22 in Eastern Iowa will carry CSN Chicago+ feed)
Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
Comcast SportsNet New England
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
MSG Plus

Mediacom expands viewing choices for Saturday's Iowa/ISU Game

With the biggest college football game in the State of Iowa this weekend, Mediacom has expanded the viewing opportunities for everyone in the state to watch the game.

With FSN being the TV home for Saturday's game and with Comcast SportsNet Chicago airing an MLB game on the primary CSN channel, Mediacom is making Saturday's game available on MC 22 in Eastern Iowa and will be available also on Comcast SportsNet+, which is the standard "spill over" channel for Comcast SportsNet Chicago (DirecTV Channel 666 and Dish Network subscribers should check their onscreen guide for channel number).

Mediacom subscribers who receive either FS Midwest or FS North, will be able to watch Saturday's game on your normal cable channel for FS Midwest & FS North.

TV Schedule, Tuesday September 6

MLB Baseball:

Atlanta @ Philadelphia 6pm on MLB Network
Chicago White Sox @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North & WHO-DT 13.3/Mediacom Channel 114 (Des Moines) & WQAD-DT2/Mediacom Channel 101 (Quad Cities)
Cincinnati @ Chicago Cubs 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Milwaukee @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin
Kansas City @ Oakland 9pm on FS Kansas City

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: AdvoCare 500 10am on ESPN

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike and Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPNU
Dan Patrick Show: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNU
Tim Brando Show: 9am on CBS Sports Network

Soccer:

Belgium vs United States 1:30pm on ESPN
Euro Qualifier: England vs Wales 1:30pm on FOX Soccer

US Open Tennis: 10am ESPN2 & Tennis Channel and 6pm on ESPN2

WNBA Basketball: San Antonio @ Los Angeles 9:30pm on NBATV

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

Big 10 basketball TV schedules coming this week.

Just saw a tweet from a BTN executive that the Big 10 conference will be releasing int's 2011-12 schedule of men's televised basketball games this week. ESPN/CBS will release their collective schedule's tomorrow and BTN on Wednesday. Look for me to post these schedule's Tuesday & Wednesday night.

Longhorn Network to air the Texas/Kansas game

The much criticized Longhorn Network announced over the weekend that the Kansas Jayhawks match up with Texas on October 29 will air on the Longhorn Network.

According to a Press Release, the game will be televised on yet to be determined on over-the-air station's throughout Kansas and in the Kansas City metro as well.

TV Schedule, Monday September 5th

CFL Football: Montreal @ Hamilton 12pm on NFL Network

College Football: Miami @ Maryland 7pm on ESPN

High School Football:

Edna Karr vs Arlington Bownie 10am on FS Wisconsin
Camden County (GA) at Cleveland Gienville (OH) 11am ESPN
Centerville (OH) vs Indianapolis Catherdal (IN) 3pm on ESPNU
Dweyer (FL) at Glades Central (FL) 3pm on ESPN

MLB Baseball:

Baltimore @ NY Yankees 12pm on MLB Network
Chicago White Sox @ Minnesota 1pm on ComcastSports Net Chicago & FS North
Cincinnati @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on WGN
Kansas City @ Oakland 3pm on FS Kansas City
Milwaukee @ St. Louis 3pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin
Atlanta @ Philadelphia 6pm on MLB Network
Chicago White Sox @ Minnesota 1pm on FS North & WHO-DT 13.3/Mediacom Channel 114

NHRA Drag Racing: Mac Tools US Nationals 11am on ESPN2

PGA Golf: Deutsche Bank Championship (Final Round) 11am on Golf Channel & 7pm on NBC

Soccer:

U-21: England vs Israel 1pm on FOX Soccer
MLS: Los Angeles @ Sporting Kansas City 5pm on FOX Soccer

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
Tim Brando Show: 9am on CBS Sports Network

US Open Tennis: 10am on CBS & 6pm on ESPN2

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