TV Schedule, Sunday, August 25

Beach Volleyball:  Manhattan Beach Open 5pm on CBS Sports Network

Cycling:  USA Pro Challenge, final stage 1pm on NBCSN & 3pm on WHO

Golf:

European PGA Tour:  Johnnie Walker Championship, Final Round 7am on Golf Channel

PGA Tour:  The Barclays, Final Round 11am on Golf Channel & 1pm on KCCI

Web.com Tour:  Cox Classic, Final Round 1pm on Golf Channel

LPGA Tour:  Canadian Women’s Open, Final Round 3pm on Golf Channel

Champions Tour:  Boeing Classic, Final Round 6pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

High School Football:

Beech (TN) @ Station Camp (TN) 11am on ESPN2

American Heritage (FL) @ Cypress Bay (FL) 2pm on ESPN2

Little League World Series:

Third Place Game, teams TBA 10am on ESPN

Championship Game, teams TBA 2pm on WOI

MLB Baseball:

Milwaukee @ Cincinnati 12pm on FS Wisconsin

Minnesota @ Cleveland 12pm on FS North

Atlanta @ St. Louis 1pm on FS Midwest

Texas @ Chicago White Sox 1pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Washington @ Kansas City 1pm on FS Kansas City & FS Midwest+ (Mediacom)

Chicago Cubs @ San Diego 3pm on WGN America

Boston @ Los Angeles Dodgers 7pm on ESPN

MLS Lacrosse:  Championship Game, teams TBA 2pm on ESPN2

Motor Sports:

MotoGP:  Czech Grand Prix 6am on Fox Sports 1

Formula One:  Belgian Grand Prix 6:30am on NBCSN

IRL:  Grand Prix of Sonoma 3pm on NBCSN

NFL Preseason Football:

New Orleans @ Houston 3pm on KDSM

Minnesota @ San Francisco 7pm on WHO

 

Soccer:

English Premier League:  Swansea @ Tottenham 9:55am on NBCSN

MLS:  Portland @ Seattle 9pm on ESPN2

Youth Baseball:  National Youth Championships 12pm & 3pm on CBS Sports Network

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

TV Schedule, Saturday, August 24

Australian Rules Football:  Brisbane vs Western 1:30am on Fox Sports 2

Cycling:  USA Pro Challenge, stage 6 1:30pm on WHO & 3:30pm on NBCSN

College Volleyball:  Cardnail & Gold Scrimmage 12:45pm on Cyclones.tv (Mediacom)

Golf:

European PGA Tour:  Johnnie Walker Championship, third round 7am on Golf Channel

PGA Tour:  The Barclays, third round 12pm on Golf Channel & 2pm on KCCI

Web.com Tour:  Cox Classic, third round 2pm on Golf Channel

LPGA Tour:  Canadian Women's Open, third round 4pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

Champions Tour:  Boeing Classic, second round 6:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

High School Basketball:  Under Amour Elite 24 Bed Stury vs Coney Island 6pm on ESPNU

High School Football:

Apopka, (FL) @ Byrnes (SC)  11am on ESPN

Plant (FL) vs Godby (FL) 2pm on FS Midwest

Lincoln (FL) vs South Gwinnett (GA) 2:30pm on ESPN

University Christian (FL) @ Highlands (KY) 2:30pm on ESPNU

Booker T. Washington (FL) @ Norcross (GA) 6pm on ESPN
Booneville (ID) vs Bingham (UT) 8pm on ESPNU

Central (CA) @ Valor Christian (CO) 9pm on ESPN2

Horse Racing:  Travers and Kings' Bishop 3:30pm on WHO

Little League World Series:

International Championship Game:  Japan vs TBA 11:30am on WOI

U.S. Championship Game:  West vs TBA 2:30pm on WOI

MLB Baseball:

Boston @ LA Dodgers 3pm on KDSM

Atlanta @ St. Louis 6pm on FS Midwest

Milwaukee @ Cincinnati 6pm on FS Wisconsin

Minnesota @ Cleveland 6pm on FS North

Texas @ Chicago White Sox 6pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Washington @ Kansas City 6pm on FS Kansas City & FS Midwest+ (Mediacom)

Chicago Cubs @ San Diego 7:30pm on WGN America

Major League Lacrosse:

Charlotte @ Denver 12pm on ESPN2

Hamilton @ Chesapeake 3pm on CBS Sports Network

Motor Sports:

Formula One:  Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying 11:30am on NBCSN (same day tape)

AMA Motor Cross:  Lake Elsinore National 2:30pm on NBCSN & 5pm on Fox Sports 2

NASCAR Sprint Cup:  IRWIN Tools 500 6:30pm on WOI

IRL:  Grand Prix of Sonoma Pole Qualifying 8pm on NBCSN

NFL Preseason Football:

Buffalo @ Washington 3:30pm on NFL Network

Kansas City @ Pittsburgh 6:30pm on KDSM
Whip around 6:30pm on NFL Network 

St. Louis @ Denver 7pm on KCCI

Rugby:  Raiders vs Sea Eagles 11pm on Fox Sports 2

Sailing:  Louis Vuitton Cup 6pm on NBCSN (same day tape)

Soccer:

English Premier League:  Arsenal @ Fulham 6:40am on NBCSN

English Premier League:  Sunderland vs Southampton 8:55am on NBCSN

English Premier League:  Liverpool @ Aston Villa 11:30am on WHO

National Women’s Soccer League:  Portland @ FC Kansas City 1pm on Fox Sports 2

National Women’s Soccer League:  Sky Blue FC @ Western New York 7pm on Fox Sports 2

Softball:  Women’s National Pro Fastpitch Championship, Teams TBA 4pm on ESPN2

Tennis:

ATP World Tour:  Winston-Salem Open 11:30am on KCCI

WTA: New Haven Open 2pm on ESPN2

WNBA:  Chicago @ Atlanta 6pm on ESPN2

Youth Baseball:  National Youth Championships teams TBA 1pm & 5:30pm on CBS Sports Network

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

BTN Announces Fall Programming Lineup

Game week for college football teams all over the country is almost here and BTN is gearing up for extensive coverage of the 2013 College football season and via a press release, the BTN has revealed it’s fall programming lineup.  #BTN Live will make its season premiere on Monday, August 27 at 5pm and a simulcast nationally on Fox Sports Radio will take place.  #BTN Live will feature BTN personalities on a rotating basis discussing the news of the day.  Obviously with a hash tag in the show’s title, expect a lot of fan interaction.  #BTN Live will air Monday-Friday so be sure to check local listings for the Fox Sports Radio affiliate in your area.

Beginning Labor Day night, BTN’s fall schedule kicks into high gear with studio shows nearly every night.  Your favorite shows from last year return along with new shows like Forever B1G on September 6 at 6:30.  Forever B1G is a “where are they now show” on former B1G athletes.  In adittion, The Journey:  Big 10 Football returns in October as well.

For more information on the BTN's 2013 fall programming lineup, visit the Web Site linked above.

CBS Sports Announces 2013 NFL Broadcast Crews

CBS Sports begins its 54th year of NFL coverage in just a couple of weeks on Sunday, September 8th and the network has recently announced via a press release its Broadcast Crews and NFL Today anchors for the upcoming season.

There are no big changes for this coming year.  James Brown, Dan Marino, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe all return to The NFL Today.

Here are the broadcast crews:

Jim Nantz/Phil Simms
Greg Gumbel/Dan Dierdorf
Ian Eagle/Dan Fouts
Marv Albert/Rich Gannon
Kevin Harlan/Solomon Wilcots
Bill Macatee/Steve Tasker
Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein

Chicago Bears Radio Network Affiliates In Iowa

The following Iowa radio stations are part of the Chicago Bears Radio Network for the 2013 NFL season:

Burlington:  KCPS-AM (1150)
Cedar Rapids:  KGYM-AM (1600)
Davenport:  KBOB-FM (104.9)
Dubuque:  WDBQ-AM (1490)

In addition, the flagship of the Bears Radio Network (WBBM-AM (780)) out of Chicago can be heard across most of Eastern Iowa.  You can find a complete list of affiliates here.

TV Schedule, Friday, August 23

Australian Rules Football::  Adelaide vs Melbourne 10:30pm on Fox Sports 2

Boxing:  Friday Night Fights 8:30pm on ESPN2

Cycling:  USA Pro Challenge, Stage 5 3pm on NBCSN

Golf:

European PGA Tour:  Johnnie Walker Championship, second round 8:30am on Golf Channel
Web.com Tour:  Cox Classic, second round 11:30am on Golf Chanel
PGA Tour:  The Barclays, second round 2pm on Golf Channel
Champions Tour:  Boeing Classic, first round 5:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)
LPGA Tour:  Canadian Women's Open 11:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

High School Basketball:  Under Amour Slamn Dunk Contest 6pm on ESPNU

High School Football:

Ensworth (TN) @ Trinity (KY) 7pm on ESPNU
Good Counsel (MD) @ Gilman (MD) 7:30pm on ESPNews
Mountain Pointe (AZ) @ Bishop Gorman (NV) 9pm on Fox Sports 1

MLB Baseball:

Milwaukee @ Cincinnati 6pm on FS Wisconsin
Minnesota @ Cleveland 6pm on FS North
Atlanta @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest
Texas @ Chicago White Sox 7pm on WHO-DT 13.3
Washington @ Kansas City 7pm on FS Kansas City & FS Midwest+ (Mediacom)
Chicago Cubs @ San Diego 9pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago

MLS Soccer:  Sporting Kansas City @ Chicago 7:30pm on NBCSN

Motor Sports:

Formula One:  Belgian Grand Prix Practice 7am on NBCSN
Nationwide Series:  Food City 250 Practice 8am on Fox Sports 1
Sprint Cup Series:  IRWIN Tools 500 Practice 11am on Fox Sports 1
Sprint Cup Series:  IRWIN Tools 500 Happy Hour 1:30pm on Fox Sports 1
Nationwide Series:  Food City 250 Pole qualifying 2:30pm on Fox Sports 1
Sprint Cup Series:  IRWIN Tools 500 Qualifying 4:30pm on ESPN
Nationwide Series:  Food City 250 6:30pm on ESPN

NFL Preseason Football:

Seattle @ Green Bay 7pm on KCCI
Chicago @ Oakland 9pm on KCWI

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick 8am on NBCSN
Tim Brando 8am on CBS Sports Network
The Herd 9am on ESPNU
SVP & Russillo 1pm on ESPNews 

Tennis:

WTA:  New Haven Open 12pm & 6pm on ESPN2
ATP World Tour:  Winston-Salem Open 2pm on ESPN2
US Open:  Qualifying 4pm on CBS Sports Network

Women's College Soccer:  Iowa St. @ South Dakota St.5:50pm on Cyclones.tv

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

By The Numbers - History of College Football on ESPN

On the ESPN Media Zone,  is a fascinating 3 piece story on the history of college football beginning from the early days of ESPN to how massive coverage of the sport is today.

Part 1 is a look at the total amount of live games that are televised across multiple ESPN platforms and coverage growth over the last thirty years.

Part II overs the history of the Thursday Night telecast, including a look back at memorable games and events which has been a staple on Thursday night's over over twenty years.

Part III examines ESPN's ratings history with the most viewed games and the highest rated games from 2012.

Overall, a pretty good ready from ESPN.

A Look At ESPN's New Set For SportsCenter

ESPN is in the process of construction of a new digital studio in which will be a new set for SportsCenter , which according to Deadspin, the new set is 10,000 square feet and the studio which will house the new set costs over $125 million to build.

At the link above, you can see a digital animation video of what the new digs will look like when the set and studio is complete in 2014, SportsCenter will have a cast of thousands.

Minnesota Viking Radio Network Affilates In Iowa

The following Iowa radio stations will be part of the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network for the 2013 NFL Season:

Mason City:  KGLO-AM (1300)
Sioux City:  KMNS-AM (620)
Des Moines:  KXNO-AM (1460)
Spencer:  KICD-AM (1240)

In Addition, WNAX-AM (570) out of Yankton, SD is part of the Vikings Radio Network and has a strong signal that blankest much of Iowa.  You can find a complete list of affiliates here

TV Schedule, Thursday, August 22

Canadian Football League:  British Columbia @ Montreal 6:30pm on NBCSN

Cycling:  USA Pro Challenge, Stage 4 3pm on NBCSN

Golf:

European PGA Tour:  Johnnie Walker Championship, first round 8:30am on Golf Channel
Web.com Tour:  Cox Classic, first round 11:30am on Golf Channel
PGA Tour:  The Barclays, first round 2pm on Golf Channel
LPGA Tour:  Canadian Women's Open, first round 5:30pm on Golf Channel (same day tape)

Little League World Series:

International Play, elimination game:  Latin America vs TBA 3pm on ESPN
U.S. Play, elimination game:  Teams TBA 7pm on ESPN2

MLB Baseball:

Arizona @ Cincinnati 11:30am on MLB Network
Minnesota @ Detroit 12pm on FS North
Washington @ Chicago Cubs 1pm on WGN America
Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City 7pm on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FS Kansas City & FS Midwest+ (Mediacom)
Atlanta @ St. Louis 7pm on FS Midwest

NFL Preseason Football:

Carolina @ Baltimore 7pm on ESPN

Sports Radio on TV:

Mike & Mike 5am on ESPN2
Dan Patrick 8am on NBCSN
Tim Brando 8am on CBS Sports Network
The Herd 9am on ESPNU
SVP & Russillo 12pm on ESPNews

Tennis:

WTA:  New Haven Open 12pm on ESPN2 & 4pm on Tennis Channel
ATP Tour:  Winston-Salem Open 2pm on ESPN2 and 9pm on ESPN2 (same day tape)
U.S. Open:  Qualifying 4pm on CBS Sports Network

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

It's Time To Blow ESPNews Up And Start From Scratch

Scrolling through the DirecTV on screen guide and putting together the TV Schedule for tomorrow, one thing is evident, after ESPN pulled the plug on Highlight Express that aired on ESPNews, it's time for ESPN to blow up ESPNews and start from scratch.

15 years ago, prior to the Internet, ESPNews was a must see for round the clock highlights and news.  These days, as soon as a Royals player hits a homerun, I can see a video clip of it on either Twitter or Facebook.  Bottom line is, ESPNews has run it's course and it's outdated.

In 2013, ESPNews is nothing more than reruns of talking head shows that previously aired on ESPN or ESPN2 along with reruns of Mike & Mike.  Even the simulcast of ESPN Radio's SVP & Russillo gets little to no air time, maybe an hour or less.

If the SEC Network powered by ESPN is looking to get into TV homes this time next year, ESPN needs to look into parking the SEC Network on ESPNews. Look at what Fox Sports did with Speed Channel, the hold outs to Fox Sports One caved at the last minute.  It can be done, but I wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall when carriage agreements come due for renegotiation.

CSN Chicago Expands Its Coverage of Notre Dame Football

Comcast SportsNet Chicago ("CSN Chicago") has announced that the regional sports network available on cable in Eastern Iowa and state wide on Dish Network and DirecTV has announced an expansion of coverage of Notre Dame football starting with the upcoming college football season.

In a Press Release from CSN Chicago, same day replays of home games will be aired on CSN Chicago late in the evening and that weekly press conferences from Head Coach Brian Kelley will be streamed live on www.csnchicago.com.  In addition Brian Kelley's TV show will air on CSN Chicago as well.

For more information, visit the Web Site linked above.

Northern Iowa Panther Radio Network

Here are the affiliates of the Northern Iowa Radio Network, the majority of the affiliates are in Eastern Iowa:

Cedar Rapids:  KGYM-AM (1600)

Charles City:  KCHA-AM (1580) & KCHA-FM (95.9)

Decorah/Waukon:  KFXE-AM (1160)

Des Moines:  KXNO-AM (1460)

Fort Dodge:  KVFD-AM (1400)

Hampton:  KQCR-FM (98.9)

Mount Pleasant:  KILJ-FM (105.5)

Waterloo/Cedar Falls:  KXEL-AM (1540)