TV Schedule, Sunday October 30

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Indian Grand Prix 4am on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Tums Fast Relief 500 12:30pm on ESPN
NHRA Drag Racing: Big O Tires Nationals 6pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)

Bull Riding: PBR World Finals 3pm on NBC

College Basketball: Missouri @ Missouri Southern 5:30pm on ESPNU

Golf:

Asia Pacific Classic 12am on Golf Channel
European PGA Tour: 7am on Golf Channel
Nationwide Tour: Tour Championship (Final Round) 1:30pm on Golf Channel

NFL Football:

Miami @ NY Giants 12pm on CBS
Minnesota @ Carolina 12pm on KDSM (check local listings outside of Des Moines)
New England @ Pittsburgh 3:15pm on CBS
Dallas @ Philadelphia 7:15pm on NBC

NHL Hockey: St. Louis @ Edmonton 7pm on FS Midwest

Soccer:

A-League: Gold Coast United vs Newcastle Jets 1am on FOX Soccer
Italian Serie A: Udinese vs Palermo 9am on FOX Soccer
College: Michigan @ Michigan St. 11am on BTN
English Premier League: Tottenham vs Queens Park 11am on BTN
College: Indiana @ Ohio St. (women's) 1pm on BTN
MLS: Teams TBA 2pm on ESPN2
Italian Serie A: Cagllari vs Lazio 2:30pm on FOX Soccer
MLS: Teams TBA 4pm on ESPN2
MLS: Sporting Kansas City @ Colorado 6pm on FOX Soccer

WTA Tennis: TEB-BNP Paribas Championships 12pm on ESPN2

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

Deadline looms for DirecTV and Fox

Tuesday's deadline for DirecTV's carriage of FX, Speed Channel, NatGeo, Fox Movie Channel and several regional sports network's looms with no deal in sight.

According to a report in this morning's Los Angeles Times, the two sides remain far apart on reaching a carriage agreement and that both sides are running propaganda ads as was evident during the FOX's coverage of the World Series.

I think in the end, both parties will reach an agreement and kiss and make up, especially with DirecTV being known as the sports leader in the industry.  Then again, Dish Network subscribers went through the same situation last year with the regional sports networks being dark for nearly a month and DirecTV subscribers went  through almost an entire NHL season 2 years ago when DirecTV and Comcast was locked in a heated carriage dispute.

TV Schedule, Saturday October 29

Auto Racing:

Formula One: Indian Grand Prix Qualifying 3:30am on Speed Channel
Camping World Series: Kroger 200 Qualifying 9:30am on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Tums Fast Relief 500 Qualifying 11am on Speed Channel
Camping World Series: Kroger 200 1pm on Speed Channel
NHRA Drag Racing: Nevada Nationals Qualifying 9:30pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)

Bull Riding: PBR World Finals 8pm on VERSUS

CFL Football:

Toronto @ Winnipeg 2am on NFL Network (same day tape)
Edmonton @ BC 9pm on NFL Network

College Football:

Big 10:

Michigan St. @ Nebraska 11am on ESPN
Northwestern @ Indiana 11am on BTN
Purdue @ Michigan 11am on ESPN2
Illinois @ Penn St. 2:30pm on ABC or ESPN2
Iowa @ Minnesota 2:30pm on BTN
Wisconsin @ Ohio St. 7pm on ESPN

Big 12:

Missouri @ Texas AM 11am on FX
Baylor @ Oklahoma St. 2:30pm on ABC or ESPN2
Oklahoma @ Kansas St. 2:30pm on ESPN
Iowa St. @ Texas Tech 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin

Missouri Valley:

South Dakota St. @ Missouri St. 2pm on Mediacom channel 22
Illinois St. @ Southern Illinois 2:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Northern Iowa @ North Dakota St. 3pm on Fox College Sports Central

National Games:

Albany St. @ Wagner 11am on Fox College Sports Atlantic
Syracuse @ Louisville 11am on SNY & MASN
UAB @ Marshall 11am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Arkansas @ Vanderbilt 11:20am on SEC Network
Lehigh @ Colgate 11am on CBS Sports Network
North Carolina St. @ Florida St. 11:30am on ESPNU
Air Force @ New Mexico 1pm on The Mtn.
Washington St. @ Oregon 2pm on FS Midwest & FS North
Buffalo @ Miami, OH 2:30pm on STO
Florida vs Georgia (Jacksonville, FL) 2:30pm on CBS
Fordham @ Army 2:30pm on CBS Sports Network
Navy @ Notre Dame 2:30pm on NBC
Wake Forest @ North Carolina 2:30pm on ESPNU
Colorado St. @ UNLV 5pm on The MTN.
Colorado @ Arizona St. 5:30pm on FS Arizona & Root Sports Rocky Mountain
Cal @ UCLA 6pm on FS Prime Ticket & Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
Mississippi St. @ Kentucky 6pm on FS South
Ole Miss @ Auburn 6pm on ESPNU
Oregon St. @ Utah 6pm on Root Sports Northwest & Root Sports Rocky Mountain+
South Carolina @ Tennessee 6:15pm on ESPN2
Southern Miss @ UTEP 7pm on CBS Sports Network
Stanford @ USC 7pm on ABC
Wyoming @ San Diego St. 9pm on The MTN.
Alabama St. @ Alabama A&M 9:30pm on ESPNU (same day tape)
Arizona @ Washington 9:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North

College Hockey: St. Cloud St. @ North Dakota 7pm on Fox College Sports Central

College Volleyball: Nebraska @ Penn St. 7pm on BTN

Golf:

Asia Pacific Classic (Third Round) 12am on Golf Channel
European PGA Tour: 7am on Golf Channel
Nationwide Tour: Tour Championship (Third Round) 1:30pm on Golf Channel

NHL Hockey:

Ottawa @ NY Rangers 2pm on NHL Network
Boston @ Montreal 6pm on NHL Network
Detroit @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North

Soccer:

English Premier League: Chelsea vs Arsenal 6:30am on ESPN2
English Premier League: Manchester City vs Wolverhampton 9am on FOX Soccer
English Premier League: West Brom vs Liverpool 11:30am on FOX Soccer
Italian Serie A: Inter Millan vs Juventus 1:30pm on FOX Soccer
MLS Playoffs: Teams TBA 6:30pm on FOX Soccer
MLS Playoffs: Sounders FC @ Real Salt Lake 9pm on FOX Soccer

WTA Tennis: TEB-BNP Paribas Championships 7am & 9am on Tennis Channel

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

ESPN's coverage of the MLS Cup playoffs gets under way this weekend

ESPN's 16th year of televising the MLS Cup playoffs gets underway this weekend with a double-header this Sunday on ESPN2.  According to a Press Release from ESPN, coverage begins this Sunday at 2pm (CT) with New York & Los Angeles squaring off followed by the Philadelphia/Houston match-up at 4pm (CT).  In total, the ESPN family of networks will televise 5 MLS Cup playoff matches.

For more information, including a complete MLS Cup schedule as well as a schedule of additional upcoming soccer matches across multiple ESPN platforms, please visit the Web Site linked above.

Game 6 of the World Series puts up big ratings

Last night's Game 6 of the World Series was the most watched World Series game since 2009 and was the highest rated game of the 2011 Fall Classic.

According to a Press Release from Fox Sports, last night's Game 6 generated a 12.7/21 household rating/share with an average viewership of over 21 million.  In addition, it was the highest rated World Series game not involving the New York Yankees since 2005.

For more information, including an hour by hour breakdown of the ratings, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Friday October 28

Auto Racing:

Indian Grand Prix: Practice 3:30am on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Tums Fast Relief 500 Practice 11:30am on Speed Channel
Camping World Series: Kroger 200 Final Practice 1pm on Speed Channel
Sprint Cup Series: Tums Fast Relief 500 Final Practice 2:30pm on Speed Channel

Bull Riding: PBR World Finals 8pm on VERSUS

College Football: BYU vs TCU (Arlington, TX) 7pm on ESPN

College Hockey:

Nebraska-Omaha @ Wisconsin 7pm on FS North
St. Cloud St. @ North Dakota 7:30pm on Fox College Sports Central

College Soccer: Virginia Commonwealth @ High Point 6pm on FOX Soccer

Golf:

Asia Pacific Classic 12am on Golf Channel
European PGA Tour: 8am on Golf Channel
Nationwide Tour: Tour Championship (Second Round) 1:30pm on Golf Channel

High School Football: Bethany (OK) @ Heritage Hall (OK) 7pm on ESPNU

MLB Baseball, World Series Game 7: Texas @ St. Louis 7pm on FOX

NHL Hockey:

Chicago @ Carolina 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
San Jose @ Detroit 6:30pm on NHL Network
St. Louis @ Calgary 8pm on FS Midwest

Pan American Games: 7pm on ESPN2

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNews
Tim Brando: 9am on CBS Sports Network
Scott Van Pelt Show: 12pm on ESPNewd

WTA Tennis: TEB-BNP Paribas Championships 9am on Tennis Channel

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

News & Notes from the Fox Sports Group

With the World Series poised for a dramatic finish either today or tomorrow night, the Fox Sports Media Group will take the momentum from the final game(s) of the World Series and head right into another weekend packed full of NFL & college football action across multiple Fox platforms.

For insights from the Fox baseball announcing team on Tony LaRussa's 8th inning blunder in Game 5 as well as a complete weekend preview of football action across the Fox family of networks, please visit this Web Site.

ESPN networks to have live coverage of the Breeders' Cup

With the mid-fall tradition that is The Breeders' Cup just a week away, multiple ESPN networks will team up to provide live coverage of the 28th Breeders' Cup.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2 will be all over the Breeders' Cup on Friday,  November 4 & Saturday, November 5.  Coverage will be on ESPN2 Friday beginning at 3pm (CT) with ABC offering coverage Saturday beginning at 1pm (CT) moving over to ESPN at 2:20pm (CT).

For more information, including a complete schedule as well as information on the Breeders' Cup teaming up with The V Foundation, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Thursday October 27

Boxing: Junior Middleweights 10:30pm on FS Midwest & FS Wisconsin

Bull Riding: PBR World Finals 8pm on VERSUS

College Basketball Exhibition: Seattle Pacific @ Arizona 8:30pm on Fox College Sports Pacific

College Football:

Augustana (SD) @ Minnesota St-Mankato. 7pm on CBS Sports Network
Rice @ Houston 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS Wisconsin
Virginia @ Miami 7pm on ESPN

High School Football: Aledo (TX) @ Birdville (TX) 7pm on ESPNU

Golf:

European PGA Tour: 8am on Golf Channel
Nationwide Tour: Tour Championship (First Round) 1:30pm on Golf Channel
Asia Pacific Classic: 4pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

MLB Baseball, World Series Game 7: Texas @ St. Louis 7pm on FOX (If Necessary)

NHL Hockey:

Montreal @ Boston 6pm on NHL Network
Anaheim @ Minnesota 7pm on FS North

Pan American Games: 7:55pm on ESPN2

Soccer:

English Premier League: Teams TBA 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
College: Texas Tech @ Oklahoma (women's) 7pm on FOX Soccer

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNews
Tim Brando: 9am on CBS Sports Network
Scott Van Pelt Show: 12pm on ESPNews

WTA Tennis: TEB-BNP Paribas Championship 9am on Tennis Channel

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

A look at MLB Network's off-season programming

With a potential series-clinching win by the Rangers tonight, weather permitting, MLB Network's  programming plans for the off-season has been announced.

According to a Press Release from the MLB Network, the network's signature off-season studio show Hot Stove will return this off-season with all of the free agent player movements as well as the latest news from around the league.  In addition, former ESPN host Brian Kenny has joined the MLB Network and will host a new first-ever analytical-based studio show called  Clubhouse Confidential as well as the debate-themed show Intentional Talk will continue in the off-season as well. With these new additions, MLB Network will offer 5 more additional hours per week of studio programming during the off-season.

For more information, including a daily off-season programming schedule, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Wednesday October 26

Bull Riding: PBR World Finals 8pm on VERSUS

College Football: UCONN @ Pitt 7pm on ESPN

College Volleyball:

Indiana @ Michigan St. 7pm on BTN
LSU @ Arkansas 7pm on ESPNU
St. Mary's @ San Diego 9pm on ESPNU

NHL Hockey:

Philadelphia @ Montreal 6:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago
St. Louis @ Vancouver 9pm on FS Midwest

Pan American Games: 7pm on ESPN2

Soccer:

Italian Serie A: AC Millian vs Parma 1:30pm on FOX Soccer
MLS: Teams TBA 7pm on FOX Soccer

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNews
Tim Brando: 9am on CBS Sports Network
Scott Van Pelt Show: 12pm on ESPNews

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

Gus Johnson to call nearly 30 games on BTN this winter

Gus Johnson's popularity has soared in recent years and this coming basketball season, Johnson will be anchor the #1 basketball announcing team for the BTN calling nearly 30 games this coming winter.

According to a Press Release from the BTN, Johnson will be the primary announcer on the BTN's "Super Wednesday" double header coverage, in addition, Johnson will be the voice of the four Big 10 Tournament telecasts that the BTN will present this coming March.

All total this winter, BTN will televise over 100 men's basketball games, including 68 conference games as well as the aforementioned 4 games from the Big 10 Tournament.

For more information, including days that BTN will have live college basketball on it's schedule, please visit the Web Site linked above. 

Ratings for Game 5 of the World Series is flat when compared to Game 5 last year

The rating numbers are in for Game 5 of the 2011 World Series and according to a Press Release from Fox Sports, ratings for last night's telecast are on par with Game 5 from the 2010 World Series.

Game 5 last night generated an 8.8/14 household rating/share, good enough for 14.3 million viewers and Series to date, ratings are down just 1% from last year.

After a day off for travel today, the World Series resumes tomorrow night in St. Louis with Texas looking for a possible series clinching win with first pitch scheduled for just after 7pm (CT).

A sneak peek at college football across the ESPN platforms this weekend

It's another big week of college football action across the ESPN family of networks that gets underway tonight with a Sun Belt Conference match-up of of Troy at Florida International.

According to a Press Release from ESPN the weekend schedule of games is highlighted by a key Legends division game in the Big 10 with #14 Nebraska hosting #11 Michigan St. at 11am (CT) on ESPN and a top 10 battle between 9th ranked Oklahoma traveling to 8th ranked Kansas St. with kickoff scheduled for 2:30pm (CT).

For a complete schedule of college football action this week across the ESPN family of networks, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Tuesday October 25

College Football: Troy @ Florida International 7pm on ESPN2

Italian Serie A Soccer: Fiorentina @ Juventus 1:30pm on FOX Soccer

NHL Hockey:

Tampa Bay @ Buffalo 6:30pm on VERSUS
Anaheim @ Chicago 7:30pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNews
Tim Brando: 9am on CBS Sports Network
Scott Van Pelt Show: 12pm on ESPNews

WTA Tennis: TEB-BNP Paribas Championships 9am on Tennis Channel

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

Missouri Valley & ESPN reach a 5 year agreement

ESPN & The Missouri Valley Conference today announced that the two parties have reached a 5 year agreement that will see the men's basketball championship game at "Arch Madness" will move from CBS to ESPN.

In addition, according to a Press Release from The Missouri Valley Conference, the new agreement that runs through the 2015-16 academic year, the conference will get a minimum of 40 appearances per year across multiple ESPN platforms as well as ESPN3.com having a strong presence in presenting conference athletic events.

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

ESPN steps up coverage of the WTA

ESPN has recently announced that an agreement has been reached with the Women's Tennis Association ("WTA") that solidifies ESPN's online platform, ESPN3.com as the top destination for WTA events.

According to a Press Release from ESPN, the new deal with the WTA runs through 2016 and will see an increase of 150 hours per year of WTA coverage on ESPN3.com as well as coverage of the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships that gets underway today and live coverage of 70 matches from 11 WTA Premier events.

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

Sunday Night Football generates an 8.2 overnight rating

Last night's New Orleans blowout of the Colts on NBC's Sunday Night Football generated an overnight rating of 8.2/13 share.

According to a Press Release from NBC Sports, to the surprise of no one, Sunday Night Football lost the ratings battle to Game 4 of the World Series that turned in an overnight rating of 10.1 and a 16 share.

For more information, including the highest rated markets for last night's Colts vs Saints game, please visit the Web Site linked above.

TV Schedule, Monday October 24

MLB Baseball, World Series Game 5: St. Louis @ Texas 7pm on FOX

NFL Football: Baltimore @ Jacksonville 7:30pm on ESPN

Pan America Games: 8pm on ESPN2

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike in the Morning: 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick: 8am on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Midwest, & FS North
The Herd: 9am on ESPNews
Tim Brando: 9am on CBS Sports Network
Scott Van Pelt Show: 12pm on ESPNews

Disclaimer: All times are Central.

TV Schedule, Sunday October 23

College Hockey: Vermont @ Minnesota 1pm on FS North

Bull Riding: PBR Tour 8pm on VERSUS (same day tape)

Golf:

European PGA Tour 6:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour: Children's Wish Miracle Network Hospitals Classic (Final Round) 1pm on Golf Channel
Nationwide Tour: Winn Dixie Jacksonville Open (Final Round) 4pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)
LPGA Tour: Tawian Championship (Final Round) 6:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

MLB Baseball, World Series Game 4: St. Louis @ Teas 7pm on FOX

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Talladega 500 1pm on ESPN

NFL Football:

Chicago Bears vs Tampa Bay 12p on KDSM (outside of Des Moines, check local listings)
San Diego @ NY Jets 12pm on KCCI (outside of Des Moines, check local listings)
Green Bay @ Minnesota 3:15pm on FOX
Indianapolis @ New Orleans 7:15pm on NBC

Pan American Games: 8pm on ESPNU

Rugby: IRB World Cup, France vs New Zeland 2pm on NBC

Soccer:

College: Purdue @ Michigan (women's) 11am on BTN
College: LSU @ Florida (women's) 1pm on ESPNU
Italian Serie A: Bologna vs Lazio 1:30pm on FOX Soccer
College: Oklahoma St. @ Texas A&M (women's) 3pm on ESPNU

Disclaimer: All times are Central.