NBC Sports Coverage of the NHL Conference Finals

NBC has released its schedule of the first four games of the NHL Eastern Conference and Western Conference Finals.

Both series begin this Saturday.  Here is the schedule:

 

	Saturday, June 1
5 p.m.		Los Angeles (5) @ Chicago (1)	NBCSN
	8 p.m.	Boston (4) @ Pittsburgh (1)	NBC
	Sunday, June 2
	8 p.m.	Los Angeles (5) @ Chicago (1)	NBCSN
	Monday, June 3
	8 p.m.	Boston (4) @ Pittsburgh (1)	NBCSN
	Tuesday, June 4
	9 p.m.	Chicago (1) @ Los Angeles (5)	NBCSN
	Wednesday, June 5
	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh (1) @ Boston (4)	NBCSN
	Thursday, June 6
	9 p.m.	Chicago (1) @ Los Angeles (5)	NBCSN
	Friday, June 7
	8 p.m.	Pittsburgh (1) @ Boston (4)	NBCSN

Second Round of the NHL Playoffs Begin Tonight on NBC

The second round of the NHL Playoffs get underway tonight on the networks of NBC.  Here is the schedule through next week along with the network each game will be telecast:

	Tuesday, May 14
7:30 p.m.		Ottawa (7) @ Pittsburgh (1)	NBCSN
	10 p.m.	San Jose (6) @ Los Angeles (5)	NBCSN
	Wednesday, May 15
	8 p.m.	Detroit (7) @ Chicago (1)	NBCSN
	Thursday, May 16
	7:30 p.m.	New York (6) @ Boston (4)	NBCSN
	10 p.m.	San Jose (6) @ Los Angeles (5)	NBCSN
	Friday, May 17
	7:30 p.m.	Ottawa (7) @ Pittsburgh (1)	NBCSN
	Saturday, May 18
	1 p.m.	Detroit (7) @ Chicago (1)	NBC
	9 p.m.	Los Angeles (5) @ San Jose (6)	NBCSN
	Sunday, May 19
	3 p.m.	New York (6) @ Boston (4)	NBC
	7:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh (1) @ Ottawa (7)	NBCSN
	Monday, May 20
	7:30 p.m.	Chicago (1) @ Detroit (7)	NBCSN
	Tuesday, May 21
	7:30 p.m.	Boston (4) @ New York (6)	NBCSN
	10 p.m.	Los Angeles (5) @ San Jose (6)	NBCSN
	Wednesday, May 22
	7:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh (1) @ Ottawa (7)	NBCSN
	Thursday, May 23
	7 p.m.	Boston (4) @ New York (6)	CNBC
	8 p.m.	Chicago (1) @ Detroit (7)	NBCSN
	10 p.m.	San Jose (6) @ Los Angeles (5)	NBCSN

Upcoming NHL Playoff Schedule on NBC

The first round of the NHL Playoffs continue.  Here is the schedule of games on the networks of NBC, along with announcer assignments:

Tonight	Coverage	Network	Talent
6:30 p.m.	NHL Live	NBCSN	Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury, Keith Jones
7 p.m.	Boston (4) @ Toronto (5)	CNBC	TBA
7:30 p.m.	Washington (3) @ N.Y. Rangers (6)	NBCSN	Mike Emrick, Pierre McGuire
9 p.m.	Los Angeles (5) @ St. Louis (4)	NHL Network/CNBC*	Dave Strader, Brian Engblom
10 p.m.	Detroit (7) @ Anaheim (2)	NBCSN	John Forslund, Daryl Reaugh

Date/Time (ET)	Game	Coverage	Network
Thurs., May 9
6:30 p.m.		NHL Live	NBCSN
7 p.m.	5	N.Y. Islanders (8) @ Pittsburgh (1)	NBCSN
7 p.m.	5	Ottawa (7) @ Montreal (2)	CNBC
9:30 p.m.	5	Minnesota (8) @ Chicago (1)	NBCSN
Fri., May 10
6:30 p.m.		NHL Live	NBCSN
7:30 p.m.	5	N.Y. Rangers (6) @ Washington (3)	NBCSN
8 p.m.	6	Anaheim (2) @ Detroit (7)	CNBC
10 p.m.	6	St. Louis (4) @ Los Angeles (5)	NBCSN

Sports Media Weekly Podcast #38- Neil Best, Newsday

Time again for the latest Sports Media Weekly Podcast.

Today Ken Fang from Fang’s Bites and I are joined for the entire show by Neil Best, Sports Media Columnist for Newsday.

We start the discussion on the impressive ratings thus far for ESPN and it’s coverage of the World Cup, both on television and online.

We also discuss the impact the NBA and NHL Playoff ratings will have long term, how a projected NFL lockout will impact the television networks, and whether the agenda at the Associated Press Sports Editors Convention really fits into the future of newspapers.

We also discuss with Neil a couple of New York-centric sports media items…the Jerry Seinfeld/Lady Gaga rift as the behind-the-scenes alleged treatment of WFAN interns.

NBC Seeing Good Numbers for Stanley Cup Final

People are taking notice of this year’s Stanley Cup Final between the Flyers and Blackhawks.  NBC saw a 4.1 rating for last night’s Game Two…

From NBC PR:

NEW YORK – June 1, 2010 — Last night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final registered the best overnight rating for a Game 2 on record. The 4.1 overnight rating and 7 share for the Philadelphia Flyers-Chicago Blackhawks Game 2 is higher than all other Stanley Cup Final Game 2’s since 1975. NHL overnight data prior to 1975 is unavailable. NBC again won the night, as it did Saturday for Game 1, finishing No. 1 in primetime (2.4, A18-49).

Game 2 posted a 21-percent increase over last year’s Game 2 (3.4) between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby.

Games Three and Four, and if need be, Game 5, will be telecast by Versus.

Sports Media Weekly Podcast #34- Rob King, ESPN.com

After a welcomed week off on vacation we are back with another edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.

Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I talk about the growing ratings for Versus during this year’s NHL Playoffs, rumblings that Fox may move some of its Saturday MLB games to prime time, ESPN’s new 12-year deal with the Atlantic Coast Conference, and what ESPN has in the pipeline as unveiled to advertisers and the media this week in New York.

Speaking of ESPN, our guest this week is Rob King, Vice President and Editor-in Chief of ESPN Digital Media.  We talk to Rob about the evolution of ESPN online, specifically it’s expansion to the local media markets in Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York.  We also ask Rob about whether Bill Simmons will be staying with ESPN.com and the controversy last year over the WWL’s Twitter and social media policy.

Sports Media Weekly Podcast #30- Victor Rojas, Yakcy

Welcome to the 30th edition of the Sports Media Weekly Podcast.

Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and I delve into CBS’ coverage of the Masters and the improved, but not record ratings for the telecast.  Ken also relates his experience of seeing a 3D presentation of the tournament sponsored by Comcast and Cox Communications.

Ken and I also provide a preview of how the ratings may fare for the upcoming NHL Playoffs and we discuss our disdain for local sports talk radio in the Boston market.

Our guest this week is Victor Rojas, play-by-play voice for the Anaheim Angels.  Victor joined us earlier this year to discuss his role at the MLB Network.  Today he talks about taking over the Angels’ job under not-so-perfect circumstances.  He also tells us about Yakcy, a social media enterprise where fans can congregate to discuss games featuring their favorite teams…