Versus becomes NBC Sports Network

From NBC Sports -

VERSUS to be re-branded as NBC Sports Network

NBC Sports to adopt redesigned logo

NEW YORK – August 1, 2011 – As part of a new strategy to bring all four tiers of its assets (broadcast network, two national cable networks, 11 regional sports networks and digital) into a consistent framework of branding, the NBC Sports Group today announced that VERSUS will be re-named the NBC Sports Network. In addition, the NBC Sports Group will implement a redesigned NBC Sports logo. Both changes take effect January 2, 2012. Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group, made the announcement today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) conference in Los Angeles.

The NBC Sports Network will serve as a 24/7 cable platform for NBC Sports’ rich heritage of unmatched storytelling, best-in-class production and broad promotional power. Many NBC Sports production and programming elements have already been introduced on VERSUS since the merger – such as adopting the “Inside the Glass” production philosophy for all its NHL games, and adding horse racing and Notre Dame Football-related programming. Viewers can expect to see even more changes in the future.



“This effort is a major step towards a complete strategic alignment of all our platforms and businesses,” said Lazarus. “This is more than just a name change for VERSUS. It’s a complete repositioning of the brand to provide value for marketers, consumers as well as all our affiliates and distributors. We want anyone who comes into contact with any of our assets to immediately connect with the NBC Sports brand promise.”

A new NBC Sports logo will also be implemented on January 2. The new logo features an evolutionary design that maintains the equity of the classic NBC Sports logo, while signaling something new. Changes include:

The Peacock is slightly larger.
The letters "NBC" are still bold but have a new font which puts them in balance with the Peacock.
"Sports" maintains its scripted feel, but features a new hand-lettered font exclusively created for NBC Sports.
Previously "Sports" was on an angle, but it has been straightened to allow for "Network" to fit easily beneath it and to accommodate the on-air design of commonly used sports tickers.

“The re-brand effort afforded us the opportunity to modernize the NBC Sports logo,” said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBCUniversal Television Group and head of the NBC Sports Agency. “The changes are subtle, but signal a big change: a new beginning for the NBC Sports Group.”

January 2 was chosen as the re-brand date for several reasons, including the number of strategic events with large viewing audiences on NBC within a short timeframe that can be used to call attention to the re-branding efforts:

On Sunday, January 1, the NFL's regular season will conclude with the Week 17 Sunday Night Football matchup just hours prior to the re-brand.
On re-brand day, Monday, January 2, the NHL Winter Classic on NBC will allow for significant cross-promotion with the newly-named NBC Sports Network.
On Saturday, January 7, the NBC Sports Group will utilize its NFL Wild Card doubleheader coverage to drive re-brand awareness.
On Sunday, February 5, Super Bowl XLVI, the most-watched program of the year, will provide an unprecedented opportunity for cross-promotion between NBC and the NBC Sports Network.

The January 2 re-brand efforts are a continuation of branding initiatives that began as soon as the NBC Sports Group was formed. In February it was announced that all golf broadcasts on NBC would be re-branded as “Golf Channel on NBC.” In April, NBCSports.com absorbed VERSUS.com to create a single, robust online destination for fans.

NBC Sports Group’s regional sports networks are not currently scheduled to be re-branded, however, Lazarus said “many will evolve to have the look and feel of our NBC Sports brand and production values.”

NBC gears up for Game 7 Bruins vs. Canucks

From NBC Sports -

GAME 7 OF STANLEY CUP FINAL BETWEEN VANCOUVER CANUCKS & BOSTON BRUINS AIRS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8 PM ET ON NBC

VERSUS has Pre- & Postgame Coverage

Comcast SportsNet New England Provides Local Boston Coverage

“One game, one opportunity to be number one.” – NBC Sports Group hockey analyst Eddie Olczyk

“I can't remember being this excited about a game I wasn't playing in.” – NBC Sports Group hockey analyst Jeremy Roenick

NEW YORK – June 14, 2011 – The NBC Sports Group will surround Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins tomorrow night with game coverage on NBC, pre- and postgame coverage on VERSUS, local Boston coverage on Comcast SportsNet New England, digital coverage on NBCSports.com and social media content on Facebook and Twitter.

NBC: Coverage of the deciding game begins from Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Emmy-award winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will anchor NBC Sports’ game coverage with analyst Pierre McGuire stationed “inside-the-glass.” The studio show will feature host Dan Patrick and analysts Keith Jones and Mike Milbury.

Olczyk: “There are times in sports where you say with envy: 'This is it. Game 7. One game, one opportunity to be number one.’”

VERSUS: Hockey Central will start the NBC Sports Group’s national coverage at 7:30 p.m. ET with a 30-minute pre-game show. Immediately following NBC’s game coverage, VERSUS will present postgame coverage with highlights, news, analysis and player interviews, live on-location from Rogers Arena. Bill Patrick will host both programs with Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick serving as analysts and Darren Pang working as the in-arena reporter.

Roenick: “I can't believe that in the best playoff season I've ever seen, and with the outstanding talent pool in the NHL, that the Stanley Cup Final will be decided in a seventh game. I can't remember being this excited about a game I wasn't playing in.”

CSN NEW ENGLAND: For viewers in Boston, Comcast SporstNet New England’s Game 7 coverage will begin at 6 p.m. ET with Chevrolet SportsNet Central. Anchors/reporters Mike Giardi and Kevin Walsh along with CSNNE.com Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty report live from Vancouver. Michael Felger and Tony Amonte anchor from Boston.

DIGITAL: NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com have combined forces to create a single, robust destination for hockey fans. The NBC Sports Group consolidated NHL content from both the NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com’s hockey sections onto the rapidly-growing NBCSports.com site. Game 7 coverage includes:

Web-exclusive videos featuring NBC Sports Group hockey commentators previewing Game 7.

"Star-Cam” will follow marquee players during the game and "Net-Cam" will provide a unique perspective from behind the goalie.

ProHockeyTalk, which recently had its most-trafficked month ever, will update Game 7 news around the clock and will conduct a live in-game chat.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Fans can interact with Game 7 through a variety of NBC Sports and VERSUS social media platforms:

Behind the Scenes: Through the joint “NHL on NBC and VERSUS” Facebook page and @NHLonNBC_VS on Twitter, fans receive exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews and video.

Team Tabs: Fans who “Like” the joint NBC and VERSUS Facebook page will have the opportunity to play a variety of games and upload fan photos.

News: Fans can follow NBC and VERSUS Facebook and Twitter accounts to receive the most up to date news on Game 7 from ProHockeyTalk.

Belmont Stakes up for NBC

From NBC Sports -

BELMONT OVERNIGHT RATINGS UP 55%

NBC’s First Belmont Stakes Broadcast Since 2005 Earns 4.8 Overnight Rating and 11 Share

Pre-Race Following VERSUS 2-Hour Belmont Access up 86%

NEW YORK – June 12, 2011 - NBC Sports first broadcast of the Belmont Stakes since 2005, which was won by 24-1 long shot Ruler on Ice, registered a 4.8 overnight rating and an 11 share for the race portion, up 55 percent from last year’s race on ABC, according to overnight ratings data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

The NBC Sports Group presented 6 ½ hours of Belmont Stakes coverage (four-and-a half hours on VERSUS and two hours on NBC), the first time the entire Triple Crown was broadcast on one network since 2005.

The race portion of the Belmont (6:15-7 p.m. ET) registered a 4.8/11 overnight rating, 55 percent higher than last year’s race portion on ABC (3.1/7 from 5:30-7 p.m. ET).

The rating is down just four percent from the Belmont in 2009 when jockey Calvin Borel attempted to make history by becoming the first jockey to win the Triple Crown on two different horses (Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont and Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness).

The pre-race (5-6:15), bolstered by a two-hour Belmont Access show on VERSUS that preceded the NBC broadcast was up 86 percent over last year’s pre-race on ABC (2.6/6 vs. 1.4/3).

The 2.6 overnight rating for the pre-show was the best for that segment in a non-Triple Crown year since 2006.

BELMONT STAKES OVERNIGHT RATINGS SINCE 2006 (Race Portion):

2011, 4.8/11, NBC
2010, 3.1/7, ABC
2009, 5.0/12, ABC (Borel going for unprecedented jockey Triple Crown)
2008, 9.5/21, ABC (Triple Crown at stake – Big Brown)
2007, 3.5/8, ABC
2006, 3.8/9, ABC

TOP 10 OVERNIGHT RATINGS FOR BELMONT STAKES:
1. Ft. Myers, 8.7/17
T2. Louisville, 8.6/18
T2. Baltimore, 8.6/18
4. Hartford, 8.1/15
T5. New York, 7.4/16
T5. Buffalo, 7.4/17
7. West Palm Beach, 7.2/13
8. Nashville, 7.1/13
T9. Tampa, 6.8/15
T9. Providence, 6.8/13

The Belmont ratings success follows strong ratings for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the first year since 2005 that NBC broadcast all three Triple Crown races.

14.5 MILLION WATCH KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC Sports' coverage this year’s Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including last year’s Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

8.8 MILLION WATCH PREAKNESS STAKES: NBC Sports coverage of the Preakness Stakes drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of five percent over last year’s race and the second most-watched Preakness in five years, topped only by the much-hyped boys vs. girls showdown in 2009 when filly Rachel Alexandra – with jockey Calvin Borel – beat Mine That Bird, which Borel rode to victory in the Kentucky Derby.

*Viewership for Belmont Stakes will be available on Tuesday when The Nielsen Company releases national ratings.

NBC previews the Belmont Stakes

From NBC Sports -

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS 6½ HOURS OF BELMONT STAKES COVERAGE

Coverage of NBC Sports Group’s First Belmont Stakes Since 2001 Begins Friday at 4 p.m. ET on VERSUS and Culminates with 143rd Belmont Stakes on NBC, Saturday at 5 p.m. ET

Kentucky Derby Winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes Winner Shackleford Headline Field

“I think it’s pretty cool they have a rematch at Belmont because both of these horses were deserving winners of their races.” – NBC’s Mike Battaglia on Animal Kingdom and Shackleford

NEW YORK – June 8, 2011 – Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford headline the field as the NBC Sports Group presents 6½ hours of coverage of the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes, the final stage of horse racing’s Triple Crown, from Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., beginning Friday at 4 p.m. ET on VERSUS and culminating with the Belmont Stakes Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.

This marks only the 22nd time that both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners face off at the Belmont, and the first since Giacomo and Afleet Alex battled at Belmont in 2005.

COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports coverage of the 143rd Belmont Stakes is co-hosted by Bob Costas and Tom Hammond alongside two-time Preakness winner Gary Stevens. NBC Sports’ broadcast team also includes race-caller Larry Collmus; contributing analysts/handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier; reporter Kenny Rice and on-track reporter Donna Brothers.

Added for this year’s expanded coverage are Laffit Pincay, III, son of Hall-of-Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., to host the coverage on VERSUS; veteran horse racing analyst Randy Moss; and the Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman.

FEATURES AND STORYLINES: The features that the NBC Sports Group are preparing for its Belmont coverage include:

A “Tale of the Tape” – Animal Kingdom vs. Shackleford.
Animal Kingdom jockey John Velazquez and his relationship with legendary jockey Angel Cordaro.
Shackleford trainer Dale Romans “Family Affair” with horse racing.
Donna Brothers demonstrating the effect of “kickback” on the horses and jockeys.

PRODUCTION TEAM: The coverage of the Belmont Stakes will be produced by Fred Gaudelli and directed by Drew Esocoff, NBC Sports’ Emmy Award-winning “Sunday Night Football” production team. The VERSUS coverage will be produced by Rob Hyland, who has worked on the network’s horse racing coverage since 2001 and also produces NBC Sports’ Notre Dame Football, and directed by Doug Grabert. The executive producer of NBC Sports and VERSUS is Sam Flood who has produced 11 Triple Crown races for the network.

BELMONT STAKES COVERAGE ON NBC SPORTS GROUP
Friday, Belmont Classics, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS

Friday, Live from Belmont, 5-6 p.m., VERSUS
Includes Poker Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap

Saturday, Live from Belmont, 3-5 p.m., VERSUS
Includes Just a Game, True North Handicap and Woody Stephens

Saturday, Belmont Stakes, 5-7 p.m., NBC
Includes Manhattan Handicap

Saturday, Belmont Wrap-up, 7-7:30 p.m., VERSUS

STREAM THE BELMONT LIVE ON NBCSPORTS.COM: As it has for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, NBCSports.com will provide live streaming of the Belmont Stakes. In addition to hearing Larry Collmus’ race call live, users can choose to watch Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom on an isolated camera.

NBC SPORTS HANDICAPPER MIKE BATTAGLIA ON ANIMAL KINGDOM VS. SHACKLEFORD: “I think it’s pretty cool they have a rematch at Belmont because both of these horses were deserving winners of their races. Animal Kingdom ran great in the Derby and he just couldn’t beat Shackleford in the Preakness. I think these are two good horses. The mile-and-a-half would probably be to Animal Kingdom’s benefit over Shackelford’s and the pace for Shackleford over Animal Kingdom because there’s really not a lot of speed in here so Shackleford might have things his own way on the front end. I think it’s going to be interesting. I give Animal Kingdom the slight edge over Shackleford just because of the distance.”

BATTAGLIA ON WHO COULD CHALLENGE THESE HORSES: “Santiva showed some speed in the past and he could get out there with them and maybe even Stay Thirsty. Another interesting horse is Master of Hounds, the horse of Aidan O’Brien’s that went right back to Ireland after the Derby. I’ve watched his Derby race a couple of times and I thought he ran a pretty good race. This horse is definitely bred for the distance. They’re sending him back over here for the Belmont and they must have a reason to think that he can get this mile-and-a-half. He’s very dangerous, probably the most dangerous of the horses other than the Derby and the Preakness winners. The there is Mucho Macho Man, but he kind of fell off in the Preakness so he’d really have to make a comeback and there’s Nehro. I’m still not exactly sure about his ability to win. He’s had a lot of runner-up efforts but he doesn’t seem to want to win.”

BATTAGLIA ON WHO IS IN THE MONEY: “Animal Kingdom, Shackleford and Master of Hounds are my top contenders.”

TRIPLE CROWN RATINGS INFO:

NBC AND BELMONT STAKES: NBC Sports broadcast the Belmont from 2001-05, including three straight years in which the Belmont had a Triple Crown at stake. The 2004 Belmont featuring Smarty Jones racing for the Triple Crown was seen by 21.9 million viewers, the most for a Belmont broadcast since Seattle Slew captured the elusive Triple Crown in 1977.

14.5 MILLION WATCH KENTUCKY DERBY: NBC Sports' coverage this year’s Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including last year’s Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

8.8 MILLION WATCH PREAKNESS STAKES: NBC Sports coverage of the Preakness Stakes drew 8.8 million viewers, a gain of five percent over last year’s race and the second most-watched Preakness in five years, topped only by the much-hyped boys vs. girls showdown in 2009 when filly Rachel Alexandra – with jockey Calvin Borel – beat Mine That Bird, which Borel rode to victory in the Kentucky Derby.

NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING: The NBC Sports Group is now the exclusive home to Horse Racing’s Triple Crown. This marks the first time that all three races will be on one network since NBC last aired the Triple Crown in 2005. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001.

Since its involvement in the Triple Crown, NBC Sports has been honored with 11 Eclipse Awards for its thoroughbred racing coverage, Preakness (2002-03-05-06-08), Kentucky Derby (2007), Belmont (2004) and Breeder's Cup (2001). Additionally, NBC Sports has won three Eclipse Awards in the features category: 2002 on War Emblem (Preakness broadcast), 2005 Afleet Alex (Kentucky Derby broadcast) and 2009 Mine That Bird (Preakness broadcast), and the 2005 and 2006 Preakness broadcasts were nominated for the Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Special.

NBC wins Olympics Games Rights 2014-2020

Breaking news on the Olympics today as NBC upsets the ABC/ESPN and Fox bids to net the Olympics once more, even without Dick Ebersol. Here's the release from The Peacock.

NBCUNIVERSAL ACQUIRES U.S. MEDIA RIGHTS TO UNPRECEDENTED FOUR FUTURE OLYMPIC GAMES

LAUSANNE – June 7, 2011 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that it awarded the U.S. media rights to the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games to NBCUniversal for $4.38 billion.

Brian Roberts, Chairman & CEO Comcast, said: “We are honored to continue as the U.S. Olympic broadcaster for the remainder of this decade. The vision for our new Comcast-NBCUniversal was to create new platforms and technologies to distribute the very best content. Every two years the Olympic Games provides iconic content for us to deliver on all platforms. We are proud to continue the rich heritage and long association that NBC has had with the IOC and I personally want to thank President Jacques Rogge and Richard Carrion for their long-term trust.”

Steve Burke, CEO, NBCUniversal: “I’m extremely pleased we will be continuing as the IOC’s U.S. media partner. Broadcasting sports events is an important part of our business and the Olympics are obviously a significant part of the portfolio. We have a talented and experienced team in place with a legacy of outstanding Olympics coverage and we are all looking forward to London next year and to Sochi and Rio after that.”

Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group: “It is a great thrill to know that NBC’s unsurpassed Olympic heritage and unprecedented partnership with the IOC will continue through 2020. The Olympics are a significant part of NBC and the IOC again recognized NBCUniversal’s unmatched ability to promote, market, program and produce the Olympic Games. London, Sochi, Rio and the 2018 and 2020 Games will benefit from our ability to galvanize all the resources of the newly-formed NBC Sports Group to bring the Games to more homes and more platforms than ever.”

The decision came after two days of meetings held at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne. Switzerland, during which ESPN, Fox and NBC each gave a presentation and submitted their proposals to the IOC. The negotiation process started earlier this year with preliminary discussions conducted with all interested parties. Each proposal was discussed by an IOC delegation chaired by President Rogge.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with our longstanding partner NBC. We received three excellent bids and would like to thank each broadcaster for their presentations. In the end we were most impressed with NBC, which not only has a track record for broadcasting the Games that speaks for itself, but also has a clear and innovative vision of where it wants to take the broadcast of the Games between now and 2020. We look forward to continuing to build on our already strong relationship beginning in London next year.”

NBC, America’s Olympic Network, has broadcast a total of 12 Olympic Games, more than any other network. The 2012 London Summer Olympics will be NBC’s 13th Olympic Games broadcast and seventh consecutive. Today’s announcement means that at the conclusion of the 2020 Summer Olympics, NBC will have broadcast 17 Olympic Games and 11 consecutive.

French Open best in 12 years for NBC

From NBC Sports -

BEST OVERNIGHT RATING IN 12 YEARS FOR FRENCH OPEN MEN’S FINAL

Nadal-Federer 4-Set Match Earns 2.6 Overnight; Up 63% From Last Year’s Men’s Final

Friday’s Live Men’s Semifinals On NBC up 30% From Last Year

NEW YORK – June 6, 2011 - NBC Sports' coverage of yesterday’s French Open men’s final earned the best overnight rating for the event in 12 years, and was up 63 percent from last year’s men’s final, according to overnight data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

Rafael Nadal’s four-set win over Roger Federer earned a 2.6 overnight rating and a 7 share (9 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. ET), up 63 percent from last year’s final (Nadal-Soderling, 1.6/5) and the best overnight for the French Open men’s final since 1999 when Andre Agassi became the last American man to win this event, beating Andrei Nedvedev in a classic five-set match (4.0/12). Nadal’s win ties him with Bjorn Borg for the most men’s French Open wins in the Open era (6).

NADAL-FEDERER FRENCH OPEN FINAL OVERNIGHTS: This marks the fourth time in the last six years that Nadal and Federer met in the French Open finals (all Nadal wins). Below are the overnight ratings for each match:

2011: 2.6/7
2008: 1.8/5
2007: 2.2/6
2006: 2.1/6

On Friday, NBC aired Federer-Djokovic semifinal match live and the conclusion of the Nadal-Murray semifinal match. That drew an overnight rating of 1.3/3, an increase of 30 percent over last year’s semifinals (1.0/3).

NBCSports.com’s live streaming of Friday’s semifinal match produced strong numbers with nearly 120,000 video starts, an average viewing time of 48 minutes per stream and more than 5.7 million total minutes consumed. NBCSports.com’s homepage traffic for the day was five times higher than average.

On Saturday, Li Na became the first Chinese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles event by defeating the defending champion Francesca Schiavone in straight sets. That match (9 a.m. – 12 noon ET) earned a 1.7 rating and a 5 share, which tied last year for best overnight since 2008.

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR MEN’S FINAL:
1. West Palm Beach, 5.1/12
2. Washington, D.C., 4.0/11
T3. Atlanta, 3.8/9
T3. Richmond, 3.8/9
5. Columbus, 3.7/9
6. New York, 3.6/10
T7. Denver, 3.5/11
T7. Austin, 3.5/9
9. Detroit, 3.3/8
10. Greensboro, 3.2/7

NBC, Versus and CSN NE team up for Bruins Coverage

From NBC Sports -

NBC SPORTS GROUP TO SURROUND NHL STANLEY CUP FINAL WITH COVERAGE ON NBC, VERSUS AND COMCAST SPORTSNET NEW ENGLAND

VERSUS to Air Hockey Central after Every Contest and Pregame Shows prior to Games 3-4; CSNNE to Provide Local Pre and Postgame Coverage after Every Game

NBC Sports Drops the Puck on the Series Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET with Game 1 between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins; All Games will Air in Primetime

NEW YORK (May 31, 2011)– The NBC Sports Group will surround the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Western Conference Champion Vancouver Canucks and the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins with primetime coverage of every game on NBC and VERSUS as well as pre- and postgame coverage nationally on VERSUS and locally in Boston on Comcast SportsNet New England. NBC will broadcast Games 1-2, and, if necessary, Games 5-7, while VERSUS will present exclusive coverage of Games 3-4 of the series.

To wrap up each night of coverage during the best-of-seven series on NBC and VERSUS, there will be a Hockey Central postgame show on VERSUS with the latest highlights, news, analysis and player interviews, live on-location from either the TD Garden in Boston or Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The shows will be hosted by either Bill Patrick or Liam McHugh with Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick serving as analysts as well as Darren Pang working as the in-arena reporter. Additionally, before coverage of Games 3-4 on VERSUS there will be a Hockey Central pregame show 30 minutes prior to puck-drop with Bill Patrick as host alongside Keith Jones and Mike Milbury.

Emmy-award winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will anchor NBC and VERSUS’ game coverage with analyst Pierre McGuire stationed “inside-the-glass.” NBC’s studio show will feature host Liam McHugh and analyst Mike Milbury for Games 1-2 and Dan Patrick with Mike Milbury for Games 5-7, if necessary.

For viewers in and around Boston, Comcast SporstNet New England’s nightly coverage of the Bruins-Canucks series will begin every evening at 6 p.m. ET with Chevrolet SportsNet Central. Anchors/reporters Mike Giardi and Kevin Walsh along with CSNNE.com Bruins insider Joe Haggerty will provide extensive nightly reports. The Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Bob Beers and NBC Sports Group hockey analysts are expected to contribute to Comcast SportsNet's nightly and game-night coverage.

NBC SPORTS AND VERSUS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SAM FLOOD ON THE STANLEY CUP FINAL: “We are really excited about this final and the NBC Sports Group working together between the two platforms to make this the biggest and best yet in the new world of the NHL. The combination of the game group and the studio group coming together on the road and sharing the platforms between VERSUS and NBC is very exciting. It’s allowed us to put everyone in the best position to be successful. It should be a great start tomorrow night in Vancouver.”

FLOOD ON THE NBC SPORTS GROUP COVERAGE PHILOSOPHY: “The NBC Sports Group philosophy is more about telling a story and showcasing the game. The technology takes care of itself. We’ll obviously have players with microphones, but we’re not going to get in the way of the game. We’re going to let the game be the star. Our job is to document that game and then make the viewing of that game more enjoyable for the fans.”

EDDIE OLCZYK ON THE STANLEY CUP FINAL: “You need stars and both these teams have them, but the interesting dynamic is that you need more than just top two line players. You need your role players that need to execute and I think this speaks to the success and why these teams made it here.”

OLCZYK ON BOSTON BRUINS ROAD TO THE FINAL: “They were able to beat Tampa Bay by out-defending them and found a way to play to their strengths.”

JEREMY ROENICK ON THE STANLEY CUP FINAL MATCHUP: “The two teams that are playing are very worthy of being here and have gotten here in different ways. I think Boston, with their true grit and their resiliency going to two Game 7’s, being down in a series and being able to battle back, and Vancouver maintaining a very consistent level of play, it couldn’t be a better fit for the National Hockey League having the two teams that are in the Stanley Cup Final.”


FLOOD ON GAME TALENT: “Doc Emrick, who won the Emmy as best play-by-play guy in all of sports, not just hockey; he won it over the NFL, NBA, MLB. Doc was recognized this year as the best – the gold standard -- so it’s very exciting to have him as the captain of our team. Eddie Olczyk breaks the game down better than anyone in terms of showing why things are happening, and then Pierre McGuire being inside the glass for all seven games of the Final. He’s another huge advantage for us that he can have those unique insights from ice level.”

NBC SPORTS GROUP STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE (all times ET)

Wednesday, June 1
Game 1: Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBC
Saturday, June 4
Game 2: Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBC
Monday, June 6
Game 3: Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – VERSUS
Wednesday, June 8
Game 4: Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – VERSUS
Friday, June 10
Game 5 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBC
Monday, June 13
Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – NBC
Wednesday, June 15
Game 7 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBC


DIGITAL: NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com have combined forces to create a single, robust destination for hockey fans during the NHL Stanley Cup Final. The NBC Sports Group consolidated NHL content from both the NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com’s hockey sections onto the rapidly-growing NBCSports.com site. One of the key content areas is ProHockeyTalk, one of NBCSports.com's popular “Sports Talk” platforms that also include ProFootballTalk, CollegeFootballTalk, HardBallTalk, ProBasketballTalk and ProGolfTalk.

Some of the features on NBCSports.com during the Stanley Cup Final include:

Online-only videos featuring VERSUS and NBC Sports hockey commentators previewing upcoming games and wrapping-up all of the NHL action that day.
"Star-Cam,” which follows marquee players in NBC games, and "Net-Cam," which provides a unique perspective from behind the goalie.
ProHockeyTalk, which recently had its most-trafficked month ever, will update the 2011 Stanley Cup Final news around the clock.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Fans can also keep up with the NHL Stanley Cup Final through a variety of NBC Sports and VERSUS social media platforms throughout the postseason. Content will include:

Behind the Scenes: Through the joint “NHL on NBC and VERSUS” Facebook page and @NHLonNBC_VS on Twitter, fans receive exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews and video.
Commentator Tweets: Various NBC and VERSUS commentators will provide Twitter content throughout the Final, including occasional in-game Tweets.
Fan Questions: Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions to NBC and VERSUS commentators via Facebook and Twitter.
Team Tabs: Fans who “Like” the joint NBC and VERSUS Facebook page will have the opportunity to play a variety of games and upload fan photos based around each of their favorite teams who made the playoffs. As teams advance in the playoffs, new and more difficult games will challenge fans.
News: Fans can follow NBC and VERSUS Facebook and Twitter accounts to receive the most up to date scores, reports and stories from around the NHL and ProHockeyTalk.

Schanzer retires at NBC Sports

Another one is gone at NBC Sports....

KEN SCHANZER, NBC SPORTS PRESIDENT, RETIRES AFTER THREE DECADES AT NETWORK

NEW YORK – May 26, 2011 – Longtime NBC Sports executive Ken Schanzer announced his retirement today after three decades at the network, including the last 13 years as president of the sports division. At the request of the company, Schanzer will stay on through the end of the summer.

A respected executive and negotiator, Schanzer was integral in the NBC Sports Group’s recent efforts to reassemble horse racing’s Triple Crown and its landmark 10-year NHL agreement. Throughout his career, he also played a vital role in managing NBC Sports’ partnerships with Notre Dame, the PGA TOUR and the NFL. Schanzer has led the day-to-day operations of NBC Sports since being named the division’s president in June, 1998.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my professional career to have contributed to the growth of NBC Sports and to have worked with so many prodigious people,” said Schanzer. “It’s comforting to know that when I leave at the end of the summer, the NBC Sports Group will be in the hands of Mark Lazarus and all the talented people here who have meant so much to me throughout my career.”

“Ken, who I have known for 15 years, has been one of the most respected and influential sports-television executives of the past three decades and is a major reason that the NBC Sports Group is so well positioned for the future,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “I am pleased that he will remain through the summer as I will regularly seek his counsel as I transition into my new role.”

“Ken has had an impressive career here and I am incredibly appreciative of all he has done to build NBC Sports into the formidable brand that it is today,” said Steve Burke, CEO, NBCUniversal. “I wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Dick Ebersol out at NBC

From NBC Sports -

DICK EBERSOL, CHAIRMAN, NBC SPORTS GROUP RESIGNS AFTER A LEGENDARY CAREER AT NBCUNIVERSAL

Mark Lazarus Appointed New Chairman of the Group

NEW YORK --- Legendary producer and broadcast executive Dick Ebersol has announced his resignation after a career spanning more than 40 years, the last 22 as the top executive at NBC Sports.

Steve Burke, CEO, NBCUniversal and Executive Vice President, Comcast Corporation said: “Dick Ebersol is an incredible talent whose contributions to the company over the last four decades in sports, news and entertainment are unsurpassed. Dick has masterfully produced everything from the Olympics and Sunday Night Football, to the Triple Crown, NHL games and major golf and tennis events. In the entertainment world, he helped create Saturday Night Live, one of the most significant programs in television. We will miss his intellect, experience, and passion for the television business."

Dick Ebersol said, “What I have enjoyed most is working so closely with so many truly outstanding and incredibly talented people over decades of producing some of the greatest events in the world. Those relationships are what I cherish most. I have always said this business is about relationships and I have been fortunate enough to have more deep and meaningful friendships than any man could imagine.

“It has been a sincere privilege to tell so many remarkable stories that have inspired me throughout my entire career. Some of my favorite memories come from reading letters and talking to viewers who also have been moved by such powerful stories.

I simply want to say thank you to all of those people who have touched me so deeply throughout my career.”

Mark Lazarus, who is currently President, NBC Sports Cable Group, will become the new Chairman of the NBC Sports Group.

Said Burke: “Mark will take over an organization that is well-positioned for growth. Mark is an industry veteran who has worked with every major sports league, and I know that he will do a terrific job leading the team.”

Kentucky Derby Ratings

From NBC Sports -

Third Straight Year NBC’s Coverage of the Derby surpasses 14.5 Million; 4th Most-Watched in 21 Years

NEW YORK – May 10, 2011 – NBC Sports' coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby drew 14.54 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Kentucky Derby in 21 years according to data provided by The Nielsen Company. Since implementing NBC’s Big Event Strategy, the last three Kentucky Derby races have recorded at least 14.5 million viewers including last year’s Derby, which was the most-watched for the event in 22 years.

NBC Sports coverage of the Kentucky Derby over the last 11 years averages more than 2½ million more viewers than the previous 11 Kentucky Derby broadcasts on ABC (14.1 million vs.11.5 million, up 23 percent).

Saturday’s race (6:06-6:54 p.m. ET) was off 12 percent from last year’s 16.5 million, and 10 percent off from 2009’s 16.3 million, the two most-watched Derby’s since 1989 when Sunday Silence won the Derby (18.5 million). The only other Derby viewership to surpass Saturday’s since 1990 was in 2004 when superhorse Smarty Jones won the Derby (14.6 million).

KENTUCKY DERBY IS A HIT WITH THE WOMEN: The Kentucky Derby once again proved to be very popular with female viewers. In fact, 51 percent of Derby viewers 18+ were women, making it the only annual sporting event that draws more female than male viewers.

KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWERSHIP

2011 14.5 million NBC Animal Kingdom
2010 16.5 million NBC Super Saver
2009 16.3 million NBC Mine That Bird
2008 14.2 million NBC Big Brown
2007 13.8 million NBC Street Sense
2006 12.9 million NBC Barbaro
2005 13.6 million NBC Giacomo
2004 14.6 million NBC Smarty Jones
2003 11.8 million NBC Funny Cide
2002 12.8 million NBC War Emblem
2001 13.8 million NBC Monarchos
2000 9.1 million ABC Fusaichi Pegasus
1999 9.9 million ABC Charismatic
1998 9.5 million ABC Real Quiet
1997 11.3 million ABC Silver Charm
1996 11.0 million ABC Grindestone
1995 9.3 million ABC Thunder Gulch
1994 12.1 million ABC Go For Gin
1993 11.5 million ABC Sea Hero
1992 13.7 million ABC Lil E Tee
1991 13.4 million ABC Strike The Gold
1990 15.6 million ABC Unbridled
1989 18.5 million ABC Sunday Silence

Saturday’s race coverage notched an 8.5 national rating and a 19 share, down from a 9.8/23 each of the past two years.

VERSUS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY SEES INCREASED VIEWERSHIP: Friday’s 90-minute live coverage of the Kentucky Oaks on VERSUS drew 235,000 viewers, an increase of four percent from last year’s Oaks that aired on Bravo and an increase of 180 percent over VERSUS’ prior four-week time period average.

Overall, live Kentucky Derby coverage from Churchill Downs on VERSUS drew an average of 280,000 viewers, an increase of 143 percent over the network’s prior four-week time period average.

PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 21: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will take one more step to try to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 33 years, since Affirmed in 1978. NBC Sports Group coverage of The Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 20 at 3 p.m. ET.

Fri. May 20, Preakness Classics, 3-4 p.m., VERSUS
Fri. May 20, Black Eyed Susan Stakes, 4-5 p.m., VERSUS
Sat. May 21, Live from Pimlico, 2:30-4:30 p.m., VERSUS
Sat. May 21, Preakness Stakes, 4:30-6:30 p.m., NBC
Sat. May 21, Preakness Wrap-up, 6:30-7 p.m., VERSUS

TOP 20 METERED MARKETS FOR 2011 KENTUCKY DERBY

1. Louisville, 34.4/62
2. Cincinnati, 21.2/37
3. West Palm Beach, 18.4/32
4. Dayton, 16.2/28
5. Ft. Myers, 16.1/31
6. Indianapolis, 15.5/32
T7. Nashville, 14.9/28
T7. Columbus, 14.9/31
9. Hartford, 14.1/28
10. Knoxville, 13.1/22
11. Buffalo, 13.0/28
12. Cleveland, 12.9/30
T13. Tampa, 12.6/28
T13. Pittsburgh, 12.6/25
15. Boston, 12.5/27
T16. Orlando, 11.8/25
T16. New Orleans, 11.8/22
18. Philadelphia, 11.7/24
T19. Baltimore, 11.5/25
T19. Greensboro, 11.5/23