NBC Sports Network Cancels The Crossover in Programming Shift

The NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) today announced a series of programming moves as it continues its coverage of the NFL and the Premier League and gets set for the NHL season.

The big news from the announcement was the cancellation of The Crossover, which was hosted by Michelle Beadle.  Beadle was on our Sports Media Weekly program last week talking about how she had hoped for better promotion for her show from the network.  Unfortunately for her that will not be needed.

Beginning Monday NBCSN will pro producing a 90-minute block of NFL programming beginning at 5:00p.m. ET.  On weekdays with a live Premier League match, that game will be followed by Premier League Goal Zone.

Here are more details from NBC Sports PR:

NFL Programming

• Pro Football Talk will be preceded by NFL programming each weekday. On Mondays without a live Premier League match, Pro Football Talk expands with a 90-minute program.
• NBCSN will air an additional Fantasy Football Live on Tuesdays. Fantasy Football Live, in conjunction with Yahoo Sports, will air at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Thursdays, followed by Pro Football Talk at 5:30 p.m. ET, with an encore presentation at 6:30 p.m. ET on evenings when NHL Live, NBCSN’s pre-game show starts at 7 p.m. ET.
• Football Night in America: Coach’s Clicker will air on Wednesdays and with an encore presentation on Fridays at5 p.m. ET, followed by Pro Football Talk at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Premier League Programming

• NBC Sports Group’s Premier League Goal Zone expands on weekdays, primarily Mondays at 5 p.m. ET, following Premier League fixtures.

NHL Programming

• NBC Sports Group’s 2013 NHL regular-season coverage begins Tues., Oct. 1 with NHL Face-Off as the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks host the Washington Capitals. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with NBC Sports Group’s pre-game show, NHL Live.
• New NHL programming to be announced tomorrow on 12 noon ET conference call.

Typical Weekday Programming Schedule – without a Premier League Weekday Fixture (all times ET, subject to change):

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
5 p.m.	5 p.m.	5 p.m.	5 p.m.	5 p.m.
Pro Football Talk	Fantasy Football Live	Football Night in America: Coach’s Clicker	Fantasy Football Live	Football Night in America: Coach’s Clicker Encore
	5:30 p.m.	5:30 p.m.	5:30 p.m.	5:30 p.m.
	Pro Football Talk	Pro Football Talk	Pro Football Talk	Pro Football Talk
		6:30 p.m.	6:30 p.m.
		New NHL Program	Fantasy Football Live

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Sports Media Weekly No. 164- Pete Dougherty, Albany Times Union & Michelle Beadle, NBC Sports

Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I are back for a brand-spanking-new edition of Sports Media Weekly.

Ken and I are joined for our news segment this week by old friend Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union.

We begin the show by looking at the news out of CBS this week announcing that Greg Anthony and Clark Kellogg will be swapping roles on the network’s coverage of college basketball.  Anthony will move to the sidelines along side Jim Nantz while Kellogg will return to his previous role as studio analyst.

Next we see through the release earlier this week from ESPN showing their viewership increases for the past month beginning August 17th…ironically the same day Fox Sports 1 launched.  Coincidence…we think not.  We follow with the news from Steve Lapore of SB Nation that Fox Sports 1 has begun tinkering with its line-up.

We shift gears to online journalism and the news of the Bleacher Report‘s recent roster moves to bolster its NBA coverage.  The most notable hire was of Howard Beck, formerly of the New York Times.

We close the segment by looking at the apparent apology from the CBS affiliate in Orlando seeking in forcing viewers there to watch the away games of the Jacksonville Jaguars as required by the NFL.

For the second half of the show Ken talks with Michelle Beadle of NBC Sports.  Michelle is very candid about the changes made to her show The Crossover and talks about her ideas for expanding her role at the network.

NBCSN Officially Announces “The Crossover”

We initially broke the news on a recent edition of Sports Media Weekly with guest Michelle Beadle.  NBC officially made the announcement today that Beadle will be joined by former Fox News Dave Briggs on  The Crossover: with Beadle and Briggs, a new 30-minute daily topical sports, entertainment and pop culture show that will air on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN).

The program will premiere on Monday, January 28th at 6:00p.m. from New Orleans, the site of Super Bowl XLVII.

As part of the show, Beadle and Briggs will welcome guests from sports and entertainment to discuss the news of the day, the sports teams they love, the projects they are working on and more.

“We’re merely a show just looking to change the entire landscape of sports television in America,” said Beadle. “Also, someone finally needs to address this Tim Tebow guy.”

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt NBC was the gold standard in television, and it’s an honor to join the team together with the talented Michelle Beadle,” said Briggs. “Bringing together me, who’s been covering the bitter politics of D.C., with Beadle, who follows glamorous and scandalous Hollywood, can only produce one thing; a unique new show.”

“Michelle is one of the most talented and popular broadcasters in sports, and we wanted to design a show on NBC Sports Network that was uniquely suited for her. She developed an immediate chemistry with Dave Briggs, who has a sharp wit and a solid sports background,” said Sam Flood, executive producer, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Sports and entertainment intersect on a daily basis, and The Crossoverwill bring those worlds together on a daily basis on NBC Sports Network.”

Sports Media Weekly No. 129- Ed Sherman, The Sherman Report & Michelle Beadle, Access Hollywood/NBC Sports

We have two guests on this edition of Sports Media Weekly.

Joining Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I for our news segment is Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report.

We begin the show by looking at how differently CBS sports handled the death of Cowboys practice squad player Jerry Brown, who was killed while in a car driven by Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent.  We all agreed that CBS handled this event better than one week earlier when the network waited five minutes to discuss the murder/suicide involving Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher.

We then take a look at a proposal floated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to expand the number of teams to make the playoffs, and the media implications that go along with it.

We discuss how the once-mighty Big East has fallen as its seven basketball-only teams threaten to leave the conference.

We examine the curtailing of ESPN’s fascination with Tim Tebow and how the WWL was not alone in riding the Tebow bandwagon.

We look at the end of an era as The Sporting News halts its print edition and we look back at the career of Larry Merchant, who is stepping down from covering boxing for HBO Sports.

Our other guest is SMW favorite Michelle Beadle, formerly of ESPN, now of Access Hollywood and NBC Sports.  We talk to Michelle about her experience at last night’s concert in support of the victims of Super Storm Sandy in New York City, her first Olympic assignments with NBC, and we get the scoop on the new daily studio show she will host on the NBC Sports Network beginning in late January…

Sports Media Weekly No. 103- Ed Sherman, the Sherman Report & Michelle Beadle, Access Hollywood/NBC Sports

We have two fantastic guests joining Ken Fang and me on this week’s program.

The first is Ed Sherman, former sports media columnist for the Chicago Tribune who now has his own sports media blog,  The Sherman Report.  Ed joins Ken and I for the news portion of the show, which kicks off by looking at the move by Michelle Beadle from ESPN to Access Hollywood and NBC Sports.

We then move to the announcement last week of the extension of the contract between the ACC and ESPN and this week’s news that CBS will be sub-contracting some college basketball action from ESPN.

We finish the news segment by looking at TBS getting the rights to the Major League Baseball Wild Card games and the prospects of the MLB Network reaching a wide enough audience for its two Division Series playoff tilts.

Our second guest is the aformentioned Michelle Beadle.  Michelle goes through why she decided to move away from ESPN, the attention surrounding her move, and the roles she will play with Access Hollywood and NBC Sports.

It’s Official…Michelle Beadle Lands at NBC

NBCUniversal made it official today.  It has signed former ESPN personality Michelle Beadle to serve as on-air telant at Access Hollywood and with NBC Sports Group.

Beadle will serve as correspondent for Access Hollywood and cover all major red carpet events, including movie premieres and fashion week, plus report on all breaking Hollywood news.

Her role at NBC Sports will be expansive; working the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as the network’s 2012 NFL kick-off and Horse Racing’s Triple Crown.  The network will also be producing new content featuring Beadle.

“Michelle Beadle is a perfect fit for ‘Access Hollywood’. She is a tremendous broadcaster, smart, clever with a terrific sense of humor,” said Rob K. Silverstein, Executive Producer of “Access Hollywood in a press release.” “Michelle’s sensibility will help Access to continue to separate itself from the pack.”

“I am thrilled to join the NBCUniversal family and to have the opportunity to work alongside many of the most talented and accomplished individuals in the business,” said Beadle. “This gig is the perfect blend of the two things I am most passionate about – sports and pop culture. I look forward to getting back to New York City and immersing myself into a myriad of NBCUniversal platforms, while trying to kick ass and have some fun along the way.”

“Similar to the agreement with Ryan Seacrest, this is another great example of attracting a talent who can contribute across multiple NBCUniversal platforms,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group.

 

Sports Media Weekly Podcast No. 85- Best of 2011

Welcome to a very special end-of-the year edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.

Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I use this show to take a look back at some of the best interviews we conducted during 2011.

We re-play our talks with James Andrew Miller, Michelle Beadle, Curt Menefee, and Ian Eagle.

We hope you enjoy this stroll down memory lane.  Ken and I will return next week for a fresh edition of the podcast as we begin 2012.

Happy New Year!