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Beth Mowins Makes Chicago Cubs Debut On Marquee Sports Network

“As the camera panned the stadium to start the broadcast, it zoomed in on a father and daughter with a “Welcome Beth” sign.”

Brandon Contes

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Trailblazing broadcaster Beth Mowins made her first appearance as play-by-play voice for the Chicago Cubs on the Marquee Sports Network over the weekend. 

During the offseason, Mowins was named part of the Cubs rotating cast of announcers who will fill-in for the team’s lead play-by-play voice Boog Sciambi this year. And on Saturday, not only was it her first appearance in the Cubs broadcast booth, but it was the first time in franchise history that they had a female play-by-play voice. 

As the camera panned the stadium to start the broadcast, it zoomed in on a father and daughter with a “Welcome Beth” sign. 

“Oh, that’s very sweet,” Mowins said when she saw the sign. “Thank you so much. Looking forward to being part of the Marquee team this year, as we get set for the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies.”

Not lost on the historic moment over the weekend is the fact that Mowins has been a groundbreaking sportscaster throughout her career, helping to inspire women young and old.

“Having two little girls, it’s a big deal,” said Brandon Bajema, the father holding the ‘Welcome Beth’ sign. “I want them to feel like they can be a part of anything or do anything that they want to do. So, we’re excited.”

Mowins joined ESPN in 1994, where she’s called the Women’s College World Series for over 20 years. In 2017, Mowins became the second female play-by-play voice in NFL history, and the first to call a nationally televised game, doing so Monday Night Football matchup between the Chargers and Broncos. 

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Sports TV News

MLB.TV Sees Record Numbers in 2023

MLB.TV had nine of its top-10 most-watched days in its 21-year history in 2023.

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MLB.TV
Courtesy: Major League Baseball

When MLB.TV was launched in the summer of 2002, the product revolutionized the way people consume the game of baseball, especially for people out of the home marketplaces of their favorite teams. The app has engendered people to become immersed in fandom across the country, a cable television subscription notwithstanding, and has been one of the most successful streaming packages on the market.

In the 2023 season, Major League Baseball reports that there were 12.7 billion minutes of action watched on the platform, up 9% from last year. Furthermore, the outlet has experienced a 14% increase in users, along with a concurrent 17% increase in the games watched. These changes are attributable to the remodeled portal, and likely the rules changes that have hastened play and grown offensive output.

MLB had a 24-minute decrease in the average length of a standard, nine-inning contest and a 7% increase in runs per game, leading fans to come to the ballpark in droves.

The out-of-market streaming service further backed the trend that baseball is on somewhat of a resurgence, with fans ages 18-24 watching 16% more games in 2023 than last season. MLB.TV had nine of its top-10 most-watched days in its 21-year history in 2023, including the top five of all-time. Overall, the number of games watched from start to finish rose by 17%, evidence of the sport being able to more effectively capture the attention of consumers.

Major League Baseball’s postseason coverage begins on Tuesday afternoon with Wild Card round matchups in both the American League and National League on ABC/ESPN.

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Big Ten on Peacock Basketball Schedule Released

In addition to 32 regular season matchups, Peacock will exclusively stream early-round games from the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament.

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A photo of the Big Ten and Peacock logos

As part of its new media rights deal, NBC Sports has the right to exclusively stream 47 Big Ten men’s basketball games. For the inaugural season, 34 matchups will be on the streaming service.

In addition to 32 regular season matchups, Peacock will exclusively stream early-round games from the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The announcement of the schedule comes on the heels of reporting that former ESPN analyst Robbie Hummel will serve as one of the color commentators for NBC Sports and Peacock’s coverage of the Big Ten. Additionally, Jordan Cornette, Zora Stephenson, and Noah Eagle are also joining the network for its basketball coverage.

The Big Ten on Peacock basketball schedule is below.

DateTime (ET)Matchup
Mon., Nov. 67 p.m.Princeton vs. Rutgers (Trenton, N.J.)
Fri., Nov. 107 p.m.Texas A&M vs. Ohio State
Fri., Nov. 107:30 p.m.UTSA vs. Minnesota
Fri., Nov. 108 p.m.Alabama State vs. Iowa
Fri., Nov. 109 p.m.Tennessee vs. Wisconsin
Fri., Nov. 177 p.m.Morehead State vs. Penn State
Sat., Nov. 182 p.m.USC Upstate vs. Minnesota
Sat., Nov. 184 p.m.Oregon State vs. Nebraska (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Tues., Dec. 57 p.m.Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Tues., Dec. 59 p.m.Indiana vs. Michigan
Sat., Dec. 164:30 p.m.Arizona vs. Purdue
Thurs., Dec. 217 p.m.LeMoyne vs. Penn State
Fri., Dec. 297 p.m.Maine vs. Minnesota
Fri., Dec. 298 p.m.Jackson State vs. Northwestern
Tues., Jan. 27 p.m.Purdue vs. Maryland
Thurs., Jan. 47 p.m.Penn State vs. Michigan State
Thurs., Jan. 49 p.m.Minnesota vs. Michigan
Tues., Jan. 97 p.m.Indiana vs. Rutgers
Tues., Jan. 99 p.m.Purdue vs. Nebraska
Tues., Jan. 167 p.m.Purdue vs. Indiana
Tues., Jan 237 p.m.Ohio State vs. Nebraska
Tues., Jan 239 p.m.Michigan vs. Purdue
Tues., Jan. 307 p.m.Illinois vs. Ohio State
Tues., Jan. 309 p.m.Michigan vs. Michigan State
Tues., Feb. 67 p.m.Indiana vs. Ohio State
Tues., Feb. 69 p.m.Michigan State vs. Minnesota
Tues., Feb. 137 p.m.Michigan vs. Illinois
Tues., Feb. 139 p.m.Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Tues., Feb. 207 p.m.Iowa vs. Michigan State
Tues., Feb. 209 p.m.Maryland vs. Wisconsin
Tues., Feb. 277 p.m.Wisconsin vs. Indiana
Tues., Mar. 57 p.m.Purdue vs. Illinois
Wed., Mar. 136:30 p.m.Big Ten Tournament
Wed., Mar. 139 p.m.Big Ten Tournament

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Matt Shepard Won’t Return as Detroit Tigers TV Voice

Shepard became the TV voice of the Tigers in 2019.

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A photo of Matt Shepard
(Photo: Matt Shepard)

The Detroit Tigers and Bally Sports Detroit have decided that Matt Shepard won’t return to the team’s television broadcast booth in 2024.

“Bally Sports Detroit thanks Matt Shepard for his five seasons of dedication in the Tigers television booth, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” Greg Hammeran, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports Detroit, told The Detroit News in a statement. “He’s been a great teammate and has an incredible passion for Detroit sports and bringing compelling storylines to millions of fans every year.

“Change is often difficult, but we feel it’s time to head in a new direction and are looking forward to the process of finding our next play-by-play voice of the Tigers.”

Shepard became the TV voice of the Tigers in 2019 after previous broadcasters Rod Allen and Mario Impemba were fired due to a physical altercation in 2018.

Before joining the Tigers, Shepard hosted radio shows in Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Northern Michigan. He was also previously the radio play-by-play broadcaster for University of Michigan men’s basketball and Eastern Michigan football broadcasts.

During his five-year tenure as the television voice of the Tigers, Shepard was paired with numerous analysts on a rotating basis. Kirk Gibson, Craig Monroe, Dan Petry, Jack Morris, and Cameron Maybin all worked alongside Shepard on Fox Sports Detroit and Bally Sports Detroit.

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