Category Archives: NBC

Michele Tafoya shows why networks need sideline reporters: News happens

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A few weeks ago, Richard Deitsch at SI.com did an interview with Michele Tafoya. For the millionth time, she was asked to defend the role of the sideline reporter.

She said:

“It’s a role people don’t realize is quite difficult,” Tafoya said. “You don’t know when you will get on — sometimes it is very little and sometimes you are very active. Every year I have found more and more ways to be better prepared for every game and it continues to a position where I can grow. Industry-wide, and I have to be very careful how I say this, I have seen some networks take the sideline reporter off of their broadcasts. I’ll never understand that.

They have found themselves in positions where they are missing a lot of information, lacking insight, and [losing] immediacy to their reporters because they do not have someone down there field-wise to access this stuff for them. That is mind-boggling to me.


The next time Tafoya is asked about the value of sideline reporters question, instead of launching into a long answer, she should just pull out the tape of last night’s game.

Can you imagine how difficult the Gary Kubiak story would have been to cover if NBC didn’t have a sideline reporter on the scene? And not just any sideline reporter, but one of the best in the business in Tafoya.

She was able to provide concise and accurate updates on the situation. In fact, for much of the early news cycle on this story, the various media outlets were quoting Tafoya’s reports.

You can bet NBC and producer Fred Gaudelli  were glad to have Tafoya on the scene Sunday night.

 

 

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Costas replies to columnist’s critique of his Redskins commentary: Every definition says nickname is ‘offensive’

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Bob Costas wasn’t going to let Jonah Goldberg’s column go without a retort.

Goldberg, who writes a column syndicated by Tribune Media Services, objected to Costas’ recent commentary on NBC saying the Redskins nickname has to go.

Writes Goldberg:

“It is an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent,” Costas continued.

This is ludicrous. I say this not as someone who has particular love for the Redskins or its name. I say this as a lover of words.

Goldberg concludes:

Ultimately, of course, this isn’t a fight about words but about cultural politics and the imperative to scrub society of all offensive language (or, often, merely language that offends liberals). That fight will never end, and not just because some people always need to be offended by something. It will never end because words themselves will never cooperate.

Costas wrote a response that appeared in the Baltimore Sun.

Goldberg twice refers to my comments as a “tirade.” I defy any fair-minded person to view the two-minute piece in its entirety and find anything in its tone or content that remotely resembles a tirade. He later refers to my “crusade.” How does addressing a prominent football-related issue one time on the very night Washington was playing on NBC qualify as a crusade?

Goldberg writes: “It strains credulity to believe the team name was intentionally pejorative, or that fans or ownership see it that way today.” I went out of my way to stipulate that very thing. Or don’t the words I actually used matter if they get in the way of whatever point Goldberg is trying to make in this case?

Costas concludes:

Every dictionary I have consulted has defined “redskins” with words such as offensive, insulting, pejorative and derogatory. No such words are part of the definition of Braves, Chiefs, Warriors or any other team name associated with Native Americans.

One would think a professed lover of words like Goldberg would appreciate that clear and compelling distinction, and recognize that many of those who have problems with the name “Redskins” are motivated not by liberalism or political correctness but by common sense and common decency.

Yes, keep those letter coming, folks. I only can imagine the letters Costas received.

 

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Costas on Redskins nickname: It is an ‘insult, slur’; Gets ripped on Twitter

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Bob Costas became the first big-name commentator to weigh in on the Redskin nickname controversy within the context of a NFL game involving Washington. He did it last night at halftime on NBC.

This platform is highly relevant since Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is part of the entity that owns the copyrights to the telecast: The NFL.

Costas, though, is Costas. Obviously, he didn’t believe he could let the issue go by without making a statement.

It seems as if Costas measured his words for a NFL telecast. He was very careful not to offend Snyder or fans that support use of the nickname. He might not have meandered as much if the commentary came on a non-NFL platform.

Costas, though, eventually weaved his way to his main point at the end:

“Still, the NFL franchise that represents the nation’s capital has maintained its name.  But think for a moment about the term “Redskins,” and how it truly differs from all the others.  Ask yourself what the equivalent would be, if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group.

“When considered that way, “Redskins” can’t possibly honor a heritage, or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term.  It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent. It is fair to say that for a long time now, and certainly in 2013, no offense has been intended. But, if you take a step back, isn’t it clear to see how offense “might” legitimately be taken?”

Naturally, Twitter blew up with Redskins fans who were outraged over Costas’ position.

Yep, should be an interesting Monday for Costas.

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Here is a transcript of the commentary:

With Washington playing Dallas here tonight, it seems like an appropriate time to acknowledge the ongoing controversy about the name “Redskins.”

Let’s start here. There is no reason to believe that owner Daniel Snyder, or any official or player from his team, harbors animus toward Native Americans or wishes to disrespect them. This is undoubtedly also true of the vast majority of those who don’t think twice about the longstanding moniker. And in fact, as best can be determined, even a majority of Native Americans say they are not offended.

But, having stipulated that, there’s still a distinction to be made. Objections to names like “Braves,” “Chiefs,” “Warriors,” and the like strike many of us as political correctness run amok. These nicknames honor, rather than demean. They are pretty much the same as “Vikings,” “Patriots,” or even “Cowboys.” And names like “Blackhawks,” “Seminoles,” and “Chippewas,” while potentially more problematic, can still be okay provided the symbols are appropriately respectful – which is where the Cleveland Indians with the combination of their name and “Chief Wahoo” logo have sometimes run into trouble.

A number of teams, mostly in the college ranks, have changed their names in response to objections. The Stanford Cardinal and the Dartmouth Big Green were each once the Indians; the St. John’s Redmen have become the Red Storm, and the Miami of Ohio Redskins – that’s right, Redskins – are now the Red Hawks.

Still, the NFL franchise that represents the nation’s capital has maintained its name.  But think for a moment about the term “Redskins,” and how it truly differs from all the others.  Ask yourself what the equivalent would be, if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group.

When considered that way, “Redskins” can’t possibly honor a heritage, or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term.  It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent. It is fair to say that for a long time now, and certainly in 2013, no offense has been intended. But, if you take a step back, isn’t it clear to see how offense “might” legitimately be taken?

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Twitter support for Bob Costas’ Redskins commentary: ‘It’s time, Danny Boy’

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In the interest of being balanced, it has been pointed out that there was some positive reaction to Bob Costas’ commentary. Here are a few excerpts.

Tim Sullivan of the Louisville Courier-Journal posted this tweet.

I would say Twitter is weighing 90-10 against Costas’ commentary. However, this is an important caveat: People who are upset about something are far more likely to express their views than someone who agrees with a position.

Definitely a polarizing issue. More to come.

 

Posted in NBC

Ryder Cup announcement: PGA of America takes shots at United States Golf Association

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I was out yesterday and missed the big announcement: NBC has extended its Ryder Cup deal with the PGA of America through 2030. How long is that? Well, Jordan Spieth, now 20, will be a seasoned veteran at 37 when this deal expires.

Given the outrage from both the PGA of America and NBC over the USGA’s timing and wording of awarding the U.S. Open to Fox on the eve of the first round of the PGA Championship, it hardly was a surprise that some thinly veiled shots were fired.

As always, Geoff Shackelford on his site had his own unique take.

I’ve sobered up after the drinking game gone bad that was today’s PGA of America/NBC conference call to announce a Ryder Cup rights extension to 2030.

Considering the USGA pre-empted this year’s PGA Championship to rush their Fox Sports broadcast deal in a woefully unsuccessful attempt to generate a few more cents per FSN1 subscriber, I had budgeted for three shots in the “jabs at the USGA-Fox deal” jello-shot game.

Before a question could even be asked, I was already sounding like Foster Brooks.

Now a zinger from PGA of America president Ted Bishop:

Finally, from my standpoint, it became apparent to me on the night that we announced that Bethpage would host the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, that this exciting extension was going to take place.

September the 17th was truly a great day for the PGA of America. It’s been hard to contain our excitement.

We had very productive conversations with Commissioner Finchem and certainly respected the President’s Cup last week, and that’s why we’re doing this announcement this week. So thanks to all involved.

No, Fox Sports 1 isn’t the Golf Channel:

PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua: And, Mark, if I can just add to this, what was such an attractive component of the continuation of this relationship for us is if you look at the Golf Channel as the broadcast voice of golf on a daily basis in America, and the PGA of America is really the tangible connection between the game, and quite frankly everybody who plays it in this country, what we can do together to promote the game and to attract new golfers into the game is really one of the most exciting components of this relationship.

And regarding the USGA saying it wanted a fresh look and innovation with Fox, the Ryder Cup is happy with NBC and golf producer Tommy Roy.

Bishop: When you look at NBC’s ability to produce golf telecasts, who knows whether Tommy Roy will be around in 2030, but he just does a phenomenal job. I think that the PGA of America cares greatly about the quality of the product and the production.

I don’t think that when it came to the Ryder Cup, there was anybody that we would feel more comfortable with in entering into a long-term agreement, based on what they’ve done in the past, what we expect in the future in terms of their innovation, and their ability to be always on the cutting edge of the production aspect of golf than NBC.

Yep, if I had played Shackelford’s drinking game, I’d be gone too.

 

 

Golf Digest: Move to Fox about making U.S. Open bigger than Masters; inside the deal

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The November edition of Golf Digest has Ron Sirak’s terrific breakdown of the stunning move of the U.S. Open going from NBC to Fox Sports, beginning in 2015.

The art features a Fox choking a peacock, which pretty much says it all.

Sirak writes about USGA president Glen Nager’s desire:

He is also a man hellbent on reinventing the USGA to make it what he sees as more relevant. NBC/Golf Channel executives who met with him that day at Seminole heard evidence of that.

“I told them that if you went back to the ’70s and looked at TV ratings and other indicia of what makes a championship great, the U.S. Open was considered the premier major championship in golf,” Nager says. “And that if we looked at indicia today, the Masters is considered the No. 1 major in golf. I said I wanted to work with a media partner that had a proposal to elevate the U.S. Open and the other USGA championships and the USGA as a governance organization.” (The weekend rating of the 1973 U.S. Open beat the Masters, 9.0 to 8.4. The next year, the Masters edged ahead and began widening the gap after that.)

Now don’t go blaming NBC here. The Masters and Augusta National have achieved a certain mystique. Also, keep in mind when the events are played; Masters in early spring when the weather still is cold in most of the country, keeping people inside; U.S. Open in mid-June when people are outside and not tied to the TV. That accounts for a significant difference in the ratings.

Sirak writes about NBC bringing in Arnie:

And then the door opened, and in walked Arnold Palmer, one of the founders of Golf Channel and a longtime USGA spokesman. Palmer gave an impassioned appeal that he believed it was in the best interest of the game to keep the package with NBC/GC. One of the lawyers from Proskauer asked for Palmer’s autograph.

Arnie should have sealed the deal, right? Nope.

Sirak writes about NBC receiving the news.

Then shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, NBC’s Lazarus got a phone call from Nager breaking the bad news. FOX, which had never televised golf in the United States—though Sky Sports, also owned by News Corporation, does golf overseas—had the exclusive rights to the U.S. Open and the rest of the USGA properties for 12 years beginning in 2015. “The board made its decision on Wednesday morning, and our president informed NBC sometime Wednesday,” Hirshland confirmed.

“Deals like this don’t happen this quickly,” says one former USGA staffer.

“Only four or five people knew what our offer was,” says an NBC official. “When you’re a longtime incumbent, you get some sort of hometown prerogative. Would we have matched? I don’t know. They chose not to give us the opportunity. FOX ended at $93 [million a year], NBC just north of $80 [million].”

“With the benefit of hindsight, we’re not sure the process was handled in the way that it was presented to us,” says NBC spokesman Greg Hughes.

NBC was never given a chance to top the FOX offer, something Nager defends.

“I told John Skipper at ESPN, I told Brian Roberts and Mark Lazarus at NBC/Comcast, and we told Randy Freer at FOX they had a 5 p.m. Monday deadline for making their last, best and final offer,” Nager says. “I had given my word that I wouldn’t [divulge bids]. They needed to value these things according to what they thought was the appropriate thing to do and be comfortable with their bid.”

NBC golf producer Tommy Roy tells Fox where to go.

The sentence in the USGA release that annoyed NBC and ESPN was this one: “The game is evolving and requires bold and unique approaches on many levels, and FOX shares our vision to seek fresh thinking and innovative ideas to deliver championship golf.” Mike McQuade, who produces golf for ESPN, and NBC’s Roy privately bristled at what they perceived as a knock on their ingenuity.

“We were disappointed that the USGA chose to disparage our production and the production of every media company [CBS, ESPN, Turner, Golf Channel, NBC] that covers golf instead of just being candid in choosing money over mission,” says NBC’s Lazarus.

Barely more than two hours after that press release about bold new directions went out, a former NBC executive now at FOX, David Neal, called Roy to talk about jumping to FOX. A close friend says Roy viewed the wording of the press release as “reprehensible” and told Neal thanks, but no thanks.

Now the upcoming stories will be on how Fox creates a golf production team from scratch. Everyone will be watching.

CBS’ McManus on glut of NFL on TV: ‘I don’t think we’ve hit saturation level yet’

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My latest column for the National Sports Journalism Center site at Indiana University is on the endless feast that the networks will be serving NFL fans this season.

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When Fox Sports swooped in with the NFL in 1994, it dared to be revolutionary by launching a 60-minute pregame show. Previously, the versions aired by CBS and NBC were 30 minutes.

An hour? Such lunacy. Who would want to watch a pregame show almost as long as the first half of a game?

The answer: Everyone.

Less than 20 years later, an hour of an NFL pregame show almost counts as clearing your throat. This year, the various networks are pushing the notion of too much football on Sundays and beyond to the extreme.

Besides the regular Sunday pregame coverage on Fox Sports, CBS, NBC,  ESPN and the NFL Network, there’s two new major offerings this year: “That Other Pregame Show,” a four-hour extravaganza on CBS Sports Network and “Fox NFL Kickoff” on the new Fox Sports 1 network.

This is all in addition to the myriad of shows that provide constant talk about all-things-NFL during the week. And that’s not including the NFL’s 24/7 own network. There’s so much out there, Richard Deitsch of MMBQ needed 3,500 words for his preview of NFL studio shows.

Is there any chance of breaking the saturation point? Or does the concept of infinite not apply to TV and the NFL?

“It’s a logical question when you ask when is too much enough?” said CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus. “The answer is, I don’t think we’ve reached the saturation level yet.”

ESPN’s Mike Tirico tried to put it in perspective.

“I would assume at this point if we added up all the hours of pregame programming with so many people doing daily shows, it might equal the hours of actual football played during the week in the NFL,” Tirico said.

Actually, there’s probably more. There’s a simple reason for this endless smorgasbord of NFL: The audience is there.

NBC’s Sunday Night Football was the highest-rated prime-time show on TV last year; ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” does the highest ratings on cable; and nothing comes close to the Super Bowl. It’s the football version of “Field of Dreams.” Show the NFL and they will watch.

“I don’t see people complaining that there’s too much NFL product on now,” said NBC Sunday Night producer Fred Gaudelli. “At some point, ratings will get involved and how much you can sell things for will be the determining factor. But with five 24-hour sports networks, I mean how can you not have room for an NFL show or two or three? So I think at some point, we hit the threshold. Where that is I have no idea.”

McManus is counting on viewers finding CBS Sports Network’s new pregame show. Initially, the network was thinking three hours.

“Our feeling was that if you could start at 10 (a.m. Eastern), you also could start it at 9 (a.m.),” McManus said.

Sure, what’s another hour or four? McManus said the network got the idea to do a regular-season show after airing special coverage on CBS Sports Network during last year’s Super Bowl.

“The Other Pregame Show,” which can be conveniently shortened to “TOPS,” will be hosted by Adam Schien and feature Amy Trask, the former Oakland Raiders CEO who will become the first woman NFL analyst on a pregame show. After talking to Trask a couple of times, she has a chance to become a breakout star in her new TV gig.

“The lesson we learned from the Super Bowl is that if you’re creative enough and have some good panelists, you can put on some compelling programming,” McManus said.

Then again, you probably could stick a football with an NFL logo on the screen and it still would do a decent rating. Tirico has his theory on the insatiable demand beyond the fantasy football and betting elements.

“I think football fits the lifestyle of the fan because if you have five or six hours a week to devote to it, which is the equivalent of two Major League Baseball games, those six hours can have you as a pseudo‑expert on your team,” Tirico said. “You watch them play for three hours, watch a couple hours of pregame, listen to some talk during the week, get online and read whatever you need to get your fantasy team ready.  So when people want to access the information, it’s available to them and in a variety of methods of delivery, with personalities and approaches on all those pregame shows. ”

It all starts Thursday with an appetizer of Baltimore-Denver to launch the season on NBC. Then the complete feast gets rolled out on Sunday morning for Week 1.

Dive in America. The networks can’t wait to serve you football, live and in HD.

Dan Hicks on NBC losing U.S. Open: ‘A kick to the stomach’; Will Miller retire?

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Earlier today, I posted my Chicago Tribune column on Dan Hicks taking over as NBC’s voice for Notre Dame football.

Here are some more excerpts from my interview:

How do you feel about NBC losing the U.S. Open to Fox?

I was shocked. I’ll be honest with you. It was a kick to the stomach. It’s a business. I know that. I knew the USGA was going to take it out to market. It was the right thing to do.

But it is tough to take. The U.S. Open gets in your blood. It becomes a part of who you are. I’m still coming to terms with knowing that next year will be our last U.S. Open. I probably won’t absorb it until 2015 when we’re on the outside looking in. It’s going to be tough.

I feel worse for (Johnny Miller) than anyone. He gives so much emotion to that championship. After I talked to (producer Tommy Roy), I called Johnny. You could hear the emotion in his voice.

Miller will be 67 next year. Is there any chance he does one final Open in 2014 and rides off into the sunset?

I don’t know. I don’t think so. I think Johnny is too good to just walk away because we’re not doing the Open anymore. He still wants to do some golf. Our team is tight. If the crew was breaking up, then I could see him leaving.

We still a lot of good golf at NBC; the Florida swing; the Players; the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. I think Johnny will want to be part of that.

How did the Notre Dame job come about for you?

I missed doing football. When I first got to NBC, I did 50-60 NFL games (in the 90s). I did express some interest. Any play-by-play guy wants to be at the games. I didn’t want to look back on my career and say, “Boy, I think I could have done more.”

When the Notre Dame announcement was made, there was some speculation NBC is making you the heir apparent to Al Michaels on Sunday Night Football. Michaels is 68.

Al is the best football play-by-play announcer in history. I’m not saying that because we work at the same network. I’ve always believed that.

The speculation is beyond flattering, but Al is as good as he’s ever been. You never know how things will change–certainly learned that when we lost the USGA rights. But Al isn’t going anywhere.

 

 

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Dan Hicks expects scrutiny as new voice of Notre Dame for NBC

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My latest Chicago Tribune column is on Dan Hicks, who assumes the full-time play-by-play role for NBC’s telecasts of Notre Dame games this fall. You also can access the column here via my Twitter feed.

From the column:

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Dan Hicks knows he will be subjected to intense scrutiny as NBC’s new play-by-play voice for Notre Dame football.

And that will be from within his own home.

His wife, ESPN’s Hannah Storm, and members of her family are avid Notre Dame alums.

“Her dad, Mike Storen, (a one-time ABA commissioner) watches every second of every game,” Hicks said. “I’ve got to make sure I keep the family happy before I worry about everyone else.”

Hicks, though, likely will hear from everyone else at some point, starting with Notre Dame’s season opener Saturday against Temple (WMAQ-Ch. 5, 2:30 p.m.).

While he has done fill-in work on three Irish games previously, he assumes the full-time duties this year, taking over for Tom Hammond, 68, who said his leaving the broadcast was a mutual decision and that he wanted to cut back on his NBC duties.

Hicks walks into a rare position for a broadcaster. He will be doing a national telecast focused on one team. Earlier this year, NBC extended its contract to air Notre Dame home games through 2025.

“You know you’re going to be watched closely,” Hicks said. “People are going to say, ‘Who is this Dan Hicks and why is he covering our team now?’ The sensitivity level of Notre Dame people runs high.”

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The dynamic will have Hicks being accused of being pro-Notre Dame from viewers outside of the school and anti-Notre Dame from Irish fans who will bristle at any criticism of the school. Such are the love-’em, hate-’em passions that surround the Irish.

Hicks knows the drill. He insists he is going to do a down-the-middle, objective broadcast. To wit, he plans to detail Notre Dame’s rocky off-season during the opener.

“We have a responsibility to tell people what happened,” Hicks said. “It hasn’t been a fantasy world here since the (BCS title game against Alabama). We can’t ignore those things. … I am going to try to do a fair job of putting the school and the game in perspective.”

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And there’s more on Hicks and a look at the first big weekend of college football in the column.

 

NBC bumps up Irish coverage: Will do live pregame shows from Notre Dame Stadium

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In addition to Dan Hicks taking over the play-by-play chores this year, NBC is bringing the entire gang to South Bend this year.

Here is the official rundown from NBC:

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Stamford, Conn. – August 21, 2013 – NBC Sports Group will produce a live pre-game show from Notre Dame Stadium, prior to every Notre Dame Football broadcast on NBC, during the upcoming 2013 season. NBC Sports Group’s Notre Dame Football pre-game show will debut Saturday, August 31, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, preceding the Fighting Irish’s first game of the season against Temple. Beginning on Saturday, September 21, and prior to all remaining Notre Dame Football home games in 2013, including the annual off-site Shamrock Series game, the pre-game show will air on NBCSN.

Liam McHugh will host the show from the field at Notre Dame Stadium, and will be joined on-site by 1984 Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie and two-time Super Bowl champion Hines Ward.  McHugh, Flutie and Ward will also handle half-time coverage on NBC broadcasts, all of which will originate from the field.

In addition, NBC Sports Group will produce a post-game show, on NBCSN, after three Notre Dame Football broadcasts on NBC.

NBC will broadcast seven Notre Dame Football games this season, including two in primetime. NBC Sports’ 2013 Notre Dame Football schedule is highlighted by the Fighting Irish’s primetime game against USC on Saturday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Continuing its annual off-site Shamrock Series, Notre Dame will host the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET. This is the fifth straight season that NBC will broadcast a Notre Dame off-site home game in primetime.

Live game coverage of Notre Dame Football on NBC begins Saturday, August 31, at 3:30 p.m. ET, when the Fighting Irish host Temple. The 2013 schedule also includes 3:30 p.m. ET games against Michigan State on Saturday, September 21; Oklahoma on Saturday, September 28; Navy on Saturday, November 2; and BYU on Saturday, November 23.

The post-game shows, where applicable, will air on NBCSN, immediately following game coverage on NBC. Post-game shows will air after Temple – Notre Dame on August 31, Oklahoma – Notre Dame on September 21, and BYU – Notre Dame on November 23.

Dan Hicks, NBC Sports Group’s longtime and critically-acclaimed golf and Olympic commentator, will lead NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football coverage for the first time this season as its play-by-play voice. Hicks will join analyst Mike Mayock and sideline reporter Alex Flanagan for NBC’s 22nd season broadcasting Notre Dame Football home games.                                  

Following is NBC Sports Group’s 2013 Notre Dame Football schedule (all times ET):

Date Opponent Pre-Game Network Game Time Network
Saturday, Aug. 31 Temple** 3 p.m. NBC 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Sept. 21 Michigan State 3 p.m. NBCSN 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Sept. 28 Oklahoma** 3 p.m. NBCSN 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Oct. 5 Arizona State* 7 p.m. NBCSN 7:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Oct. 19 USC 6:30 p.m. NBCSN 7:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Nov 2 Navy 3 p.m. NBCSN 3:30 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Nov 23 BYU** 3 p.m. NBCSN 3:30 p.m. NBC

*Off-site Shamrock Series game from Arlington, Texas.

** Post-game show on NBCSN

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA ONLINE & APP: NBC Sports Live Extra — the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets — will stream all Notre Dame Football home games.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play.

NBC Sports Live Extra online will feature a simulcast of the broadcast feed in full HD quality plus one additional online-only bonus camera. The video player will include picture-in-picture capability and full DVR functionality, allowing the user to pause the live video and even review plays in “slo-mo.”

Sideline reporter Alex Flanagan will provide live in-game tweets. Additionally, fans can watch in-game highlights, live coverage of the Notre Dame and visiting teams’ bands at halftime, as well as live postgame footage that will include head coach Brian Kelly’s press conference.

NBCSPORTS.com

NBCSports.com will again continue its Notre Dame football coverage though its Notre Dame Central section. Notre Dame will also be featured within NBC Sports Talk with its popular Inside The Irish blog written by Notre Dame Football insider Keith Arnold.

 

COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO

Beginning this season, NBC Sports Regional Networks’ Comcast SportsNet Chicago will join forces with NBC Sports to help power NBCSports.com’s “Notre Dame Central” (http://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/notre-dame-central).  CSN Chicago will contribute a dedicated Notre Dame Football “Insider” in JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) from CSNChicago.com, who will serve as a beat reporter providing up-to-the-minute Fighting Irish news and analysis, columns, game previews/recaps, interviews and much more.

 

Fans can also follow the network’s @IrishTalkCSN Twitter handle for the latest Fighting Irish news and updates 24/7.  Also this season, CSN Chicago will provide its TV viewers with same day replays of every Notre Dame home game produced by NBC Sports beginning Saturday, August 31, along with a CSNChicago.com live stream of Head Coach Brian Kelly’s weekly press conferences.  In addition, Comcast SportsNet Chicago has also hired Tony Rice, quarterback of the 1988 National Champion Fighting Irish, to be its ND Football on-air/online contributor throughout the upcoming college football season.

 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ON NBCSN

In addition to Notre Dame Football on NBC, NBC Sports Group will air 11 games featuring teams from the CAA and Ivy League, all on NBCSN.

 

Date Teams Time Conference Network
Saturday, Sept. 7 Delaware State at Delaware 3:30 p.m. CAA NBCSN
Saturday, Sept. 21 Lehigh at Princeton 6 p.m. IVY NBCSN
Saturday, Sept. 28 Brown at Harvard 7:30 p.m. IVY NBCSN
Saturday, Oct. 12 Lehigh at Columbia Noon IVY NBCSN
Saturday, Oct. 12 Richmond at James Madison 3:30 p.m. CAA NBCSN
Saturday, Oct. 12 Villanova at Towson 7 p.m. CAA NBCSN
Saturday, Nov.  9 James Madison at New Hampshire 12:30 p.m. CAA NBCSN
Saturday, Nov.  9 Cornell at Dartmouth 4 p.m. IVY NBCSN
Saturday, Nov. 16 Penn at Harvard Noon IVY NBCSN
Saturday, Nov. 23 Harvard at Yale Noon IVY NBCSN
Saturday, Nov. 23 James Madison at Towson 3:30 p.m. CAA NBCSN