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Turner, Disney Reveal Their NBA Schedules

The NBA released its schedule for the 2021-2022 season with 101 games set for the ESPN family of networks and 107 set for NBA TV.

MIchael Quirk

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The NBA made waves in the news cycle a week ago when they unveiled this year’s Christmas Day schedule. The rest of the schedule was then released on Friday, with 107 games set for NBATV, 82 for ESPN, and 19 for ABC.

ESPN’s headline matchups include a double-header for opening night on October 20, a primetime double-header the night before Thanksgiving, and the five-game marathon on Christmas Day. NBA Saturday Primetime will continue on ABC with a marquee game at 8:30 p.m. each week, beginning December 11.

The Kia NBA Tip-Off 2021 will kickoff the NBA TV action on October 23 with the Heat-Pacers followed by the Trail Blazers-Suns. The next night, NBA fans will be treated to No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft Jalen Green and the Rockets playing the Boston Celtics. NBA TV will also host a pair of premium matchups on Martin Luther King Day.

The season marks the 75th anniversary of the NBA. Both ESPN and NBA TV have vowed to commemorate the occasion throughout the season.

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ESPN Announces NCAA March Madness Women’s Basketball Commentary Teams

The network has unveiled 16 commentary pairings that will be utilized for the first weekend of action across the United States.

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ESPN Logo at ESPN Headquarters DC2 Building Exterior Daytime
Courtesy: Derek Futterman, Barrett Sports Media

ESPN has announced its commentary teams for its exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship. The network has unveiled 16 commentary pairings that will be utilized for the first weekend of action across the United States. Additionally, it will utilize two teams for studio coverage during the First Four and first and second rounds of the tournament featuring College GameDay host Elle Duncan with analysts Rebecca Lobo and Andraya Carter.

The second studio crew will feature ACC Huddle host Kelsey Riggs with analysts Nikki Fargas and Chiney Ogwumike. During the second weekend of play, Duncan, Carter and Ogwumike will continue providing coverage before traveling to Cleveland for on-site coverage, where they will be joined by Hall of Fame coach Carolyn Peck.

Over the course of the tournament, the SEC Network and ACC Network will provide coverage of the teams from their conferences, and The Pat McAfee Show will broadcast live from the University of Iowa for a special live show on Friday, March 22. WWE superstar and universal champion Roman Reigns is currently scheduled to appear on the program, which is simulcast from 12 to 2 p.m. EST on ESPN, ESPN+ and the program’s official YouTube channel. Its final hour, which lasts from 2 until approximately 3 p.m., is available on ESPN+ and YouTube.

The slate of First Four games begins on Wednesday night when No. 16 Presbyterian plays No. 16 Sacred Heart, which will feature Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck on the ESPNU broadcast at 7 p.m. EST. Following that game, Jay Alter and Kelly Gramlich will call the action for No. 12 Columbia’s game against No. 12 Vanderbilt, also on ESPNU at 9 p.m. EST.

Games will be televised on ESPN2 Thursday night beginning with a faceoff between No. 11 Arizona and No. 11 Auburn with commentators Pam Ward and Christy Winters-Scott at 7 p.m. EST. First Four action concludes at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN2 when Beth Mowins, Stephanie White and Holly Rowe call No. 16 UT Martin vs. No. 16 Holy Cross.

Rowe is part of the Final Four and National Championship commentary team, which also includes play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco and analyst Rebecca Lobo. Furthermore, she will be in Iowa City, Iowa to cover the Iowa Hawkeyes first- and second-round games, the latter of which is dependent on a victory in the former, to continue its coverage of star guard and NCAA basketball all-time scoring leader Caitlin Clark. The full commentary teams as announced by ESPN can be found below:

First and Second Round:

Play-by-PlayColor Commentator(s)City
Courtney LyleCarolyn PeckColumbia, S.C.
Beth MowinsStephanie White; Holly Rowe (reporter)Iowa City, Iowa
Elise WoodwardMary MurphyLos Angeles, Calif. (USC)
Tiffany GreeneJimmy DykesAustin, Texas
Roy PhilpottBrooke WeisbrodPalo Alto, Calif.
Matt SchumackerMeghan McKeownColumbus, Ohio
Kevin FitzgeraldKim AdamsLos Angeles, Calif. (UCLA)
Sam GoreTamika CatchingsSouth Bend, Ind.
Jason Ross Jr.Aja EllisonCorvallis, Ore.
Dave O’BrienChristy ThomaskuttyBaton Rouge, La.
Pam WardChristy Winters-ScottStorrs, Conn.
Eric FredeSteffi SorensenRaleigh, N.C.
Ann SchatzMike ThibaultSpokane, Wash.
Jay AlterKelly GramlichBlacksburg, Va.
Brenda VanLengenHolly WarlickManhattan, Kan.
Angel GrayAndrea LloydBloomington, Ind.

Sweet 16 and Elite 8:

Play-by-PlayColor CommentatorSideline ReporterCity
Ryan RuoccoRebecca LoboHolly RoweAlbany Regional
Pam WardStephanie WhiteHolly RoweAlbany Regional
Courtney LyleCarolyn PeckBrooke WeisbrodPortland Regional
Beth MowinsDebbie AntonelliAngel GrayPortland Regional

Final Four and National Championship:

Play-by-PlayColor CommentatorSideline ReporterCity
Ryan RuoccoRebecca LoboHolly RoweCleveland, Ohio

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Buck Showalter Returning to MLB Network

Showalter previously worked at MLB Network from 2020-21 to provide analysis from a manager’s perspective, and will replace Bo Porter in that role once more.

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Buck Showalter as Mets manager
Courtesy: MLB.com

Former Mets skipper Buck Showalter is returning to MLB Network as an analyst, the network announced today. Showalter will start work in April once the regular season gets underway.

Showalter previously worked at MLB Network from 2020-21 to provide analysis from a manager’s perspective, something Marchand says the network prefers having. Last year’s managerial analyst, Bo Porter, returned to coaching as first-base coach of the Los Angeles Angels. Now, Showalter returns to fill that vacancy, one he also filled on ESPN and the YES Network in previous stops. He’ll join new MLB Network hire Adam Wainright for the 2024 season.

“I enjoyed my time at MLB Network with people I know and respect, so when this opportunity came up, I couldn’t say no,” said Showalter. “There are many ways to analyze baseball, and I appreciate the different perspectives that come with working at the network. We all bring what we bring and it’s very entertaining. The place is filled with smart, passionate people, who want to teach and grow the game, so I’m excited to be back on the team.”  

Andrew Marchand of The Athletic broke the news earlier this morning and contributed the original reporting for the news:

“We loved having Buck with us a couple of years ago given his on-field expertise and years of baseball knowledge,” said Marc Caiafa, MLB Network Senior Vice President of Production. “Having gone up against the new faces and stars of our game, and managing under the new on-field rules, Buck will only make our content stronger this season.”

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ESPN Agrees to $1.3B Annual Extension for College Football Playoff

There are no details available on a proposed sharing of major CFP games as was speculated in the past.

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ESPN and College Football Playoff logos
(Photo: ESPN)

ESPN and the College Football Playoff have officially agreed to extend their ongoing agreement for more years. However, there are no details available on the proposed subleasing of major CFP games as was speculated in the past.

According to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach on X, the media titan and the college football entity finalized a new deal that will pay the CFP $1.3 billion annually starting in 2026. Auerbach also makes note of new revenue models and protections for qualifications.

In February, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand said the two sides agreed to a 6-year, $7.8 billion rights extension. However, news was slow to break on the story. Now, it seems that the deal is finally done, pending official confirmation.

ESPN was keen to keep the CFP for itself, especially because of the record-high viewership numbers it garnered last season. The 2023-24 CFP reached the third-highest viewing audience in its existence, averaging 22.6 million viewers between the two games. NBC was reportedly sniffing around to acquire broadcast rights but will have to wait until this new deal ends.

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