After spending the past couple of years on ABC and ESPN, the Breeders' Cup is returning to it's orginal television home. NBC who had shown the BC up to 2005 (with ESPN starting in 2006) will be the "new home" for the BC. Well technically speaking, NBC will be showing just the Classic, with the NBC Sports Network (formally known as OLN and Versus) will be showing the rest of the races. This is the big boost for a network whose been struggling lately with it's scripted shows (the very much hyped Playboy Club was a bust, Whitney isn't funny and Up All Night hasn't lived up to it's early high ratings).
So what went wrong at ESPN? The producer who had brought the BC to the station left shortly afterwards. I also think that putting Football specialist Chris Fowler and then Boxing specialist Joe Tessitore instead of Basketball specialist Reece Davis as the main anchor also hurt (before Chris and Joe where part of the racing coverage, Reece was the second host behind Kenny Mayne). It didn't help that Jim McKay (RIP) and Al Michaels, both who worked racing on ABC where no longer part of the Disney family. Lastly, many people don't like Trevor Denman.
While many people are happy that the BC is returning, NBC Sports Network is not as well known as ESPN. The station is a baby (started in 1995), and up until a few years ago was not really that well known station (at the time Comcast's OLN (which now owns NBC, but didn't at that time) and NBC teamed up to secure US tv rights for the NHL). However, thanks to the success of last year's Saratoga meet (ratings where good) and the fact that NBC's crew will be used is a win (although someone will have to fill in for Tom Hammond that weekend at Notre Dame as the Irish are home).
As for ESPN, it's obvious that they have moved on to focus on football, basketball, baseball, tennis and soccer (although for the latter they will also have comp. from the said NBC Sports Network). As disapointing as that is, the hit on losing viewers for them won't be great.
The biggest plus of all though? No more Hank!
Showing posts with label NBC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBC. Show all posts
January 26, 2012
April 24, 2011
Who will host the undercards?
With NBC picking up the Belmont after a few years absence, they also picked up the Black-Eyed Susan card, Derby undercard Preakness underard, and Belmont undercard. This goes with the Oaks (which they aquired two years ago), Derby and Preakness. This year will be big as they are moving the Oaks (and their undercard which they have not been showing I belive) from the woman's channel Bravo to Versus. Some people may have not heard of Versus before, but they have heard of it's predasessor OLN (Outdoor Life Network which I believe is still used in Canada, because they don't show hockey). This is a station that was brought into the fold by Comcast when they bought NBCUniversal from GE. Reportly the station will be renamed after the channel to combinsante their expanding coverage of other sports. Which begs the question, who will host the Oaks undercard, Black-Eyed Susan, Derby, Preakness and Belmont undercards?
The following are the possible candiates.
Erik Kuselias- a relateve newcomer to Versus, he also works at the Golf Channel. Comes from ESPN after host/filling in for certin spots. He's more of a football guy, but the next guy down that same road.
Cris Collinsworth- an odd choice you may say? But his Sunday Night Football cohort has done horse racing telecasts, plus he worked on Madden with Tom Hammond a few years ago. NBC sent him Bejing and Vancouver to do fluff pieces. He might be better suited for a different spot, but still.
Gary Siebel- the recently fired TVG harness anyalist, but he has worked with NBC on Hambo telecasts.
Mary Carillo- Super Brat's (John McEnroe) childhood friend, of course Tennis is her main sport, but she has hosted Westminster (something that former horse racing anaylist Charlise Canty did when she was with NBC, although she was a sideline reporter) twice for USA, and has done fluff pieces like Cris did in Bejing and Vancouver.
Al Michaels- He's no stranger to horse racing as he had done several telecasts when he was still with ABC. He returned to his "roots" last year when he went to Vancouver for the Olympics, and with the NFL lockout going on, might be fun to see him doing a horse racing telecast again.
Donna Brothers- Would be nice to see her not in a horse saddle all the time, although I'm sure she doesn't have a problem with it.
Kenny Rice- The most logical candiate as he has hosted Hambo and the Eclipse Awards. He and Donna will still be able to fulfill their regular spots though.
Kenny Albert- Dad is the one and only Marv Albert, but Kenny holds his own. He hosted horse racing coverage when Fox had it on. He's more of a hockey guy, but with the playoffs starting to wind down they more then likely won't need as many people, thus he'll be avalible.
Someone from HRTV whose name is not Gary Stevens- yep I went there. He'll more likely be the analyst for part of the cards though before NBC takes over the coverage.
Bob Costas- Although he's used in more of a Brent Musberger way when it comes to horse racing, he's going to be there anyway.
Tom Hammond- Hey if he can handle it, great! The reason why I decided to post this is when ESPN did the undercards, their main hosts didn't work the entire underard. It will be interesting who they choose weather it be him or someone else.
Most likely: Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers
Want: Kenny Albert, Al Michaels, Bob Costas
Would Laught at: Cris Collinsworth
Won't happen, but would be happy if ESPN would let him go on just for one day: Kenny Mayne (cuse he's Kenny!)
Edit: Laffit Pincay III and Randy Moss will be the hosts for the undercard. Laffit is not a big suprise, but Randy a little bit since he works for ESPN. I'm wondering though if they let him go, but I don't think they did because he covered the reaction from Minn. when the Lynx drafted Maya Moore earlier this month.
The following are the possible candiates.
Erik Kuselias- a relateve newcomer to Versus, he also works at the Golf Channel. Comes from ESPN after host/filling in for certin spots. He's more of a football guy, but the next guy down that same road.
Cris Collinsworth- an odd choice you may say? But his Sunday Night Football cohort has done horse racing telecasts, plus he worked on Madden with Tom Hammond a few years ago. NBC sent him Bejing and Vancouver to do fluff pieces. He might be better suited for a different spot, but still.
Gary Siebel- the recently fired TVG harness anyalist, but he has worked with NBC on Hambo telecasts.
Mary Carillo- Super Brat's (John McEnroe) childhood friend, of course Tennis is her main sport, but she has hosted Westminster (something that former horse racing anaylist Charlise Canty did when she was with NBC, although she was a sideline reporter) twice for USA, and has done fluff pieces like Cris did in Bejing and Vancouver.
Al Michaels- He's no stranger to horse racing as he had done several telecasts when he was still with ABC. He returned to his "roots" last year when he went to Vancouver for the Olympics, and with the NFL lockout going on, might be fun to see him doing a horse racing telecast again.
Donna Brothers- Would be nice to see her not in a horse saddle all the time, although I'm sure she doesn't have a problem with it.
Kenny Rice- The most logical candiate as he has hosted Hambo and the Eclipse Awards. He and Donna will still be able to fulfill their regular spots though.
Kenny Albert- Dad is the one and only Marv Albert, but Kenny holds his own. He hosted horse racing coverage when Fox had it on. He's more of a hockey guy, but with the playoffs starting to wind down they more then likely won't need as many people, thus he'll be avalible.
Someone from HRTV whose name is not Gary Stevens- yep I went there. He'll more likely be the analyst for part of the cards though before NBC takes over the coverage.
Bob Costas- Although he's used in more of a Brent Musberger way when it comes to horse racing, he's going to be there anyway.
Tom Hammond- Hey if he can handle it, great! The reason why I decided to post this is when ESPN did the undercards, their main hosts didn't work the entire underard. It will be interesting who they choose weather it be him or someone else.
Most likely: Kenny Rice, Donna Brothers
Want: Kenny Albert, Al Michaels, Bob Costas
Would Laught at: Cris Collinsworth
Won't happen, but would be happy if ESPN would let him go on just for one day: Kenny Mayne (cuse he's Kenny!)
Edit: Laffit Pincay III and Randy Moss will be the hosts for the undercard. Laffit is not a big suprise, but Randy a little bit since he works for ESPN. I'm wondering though if they let him go, but I don't think they did because he covered the reaction from Minn. when the Lynx drafted Maya Moore earlier this month.
March 13, 2009
Weekend Preview Part 2 and Oaks on Bravo
So I decided to preview one more race for this weekend. The Honeybee Stakes which is Sunday at Oaklawn Park.
$100,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III, Race 9, 5:11 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Be Fair (FL), 119, Terry J. Thompson
2. Afleet Deceit (KY), 115, Christopher A. Emigh
3. Hightap (KY), 119, Shaun Bridgmohan
4. Just Jenda (KY), 122, Gabriel Saez
5. My Spanx (FL), 119, Martin Escobar
6. Peach Brew (OK), 117, Quincy Hamilton
7. Bon Jovi Girl (KY), 119, Jose C. Caraballo
I really like Bon Jovi Girl in this race, she is coming off an race against older females which she won. Just Jenda comes up from the Fair Grounds after finishing third in the Silverbulletday. I'm going with Peach Brew for third, partially for her name and partially because she an OK bred, and one of my favorite horses currently in training is an OK bred as well.
Top Three:
Bon Jovi Girl
Just Jenda
Peach Brew
Also ESPN is dropping the Friday before the Derby coverage, this includes the Kentucky Oaks. (Link) Even though, NBC Sports will pick up the slack and put the Oaks on Bravo (home to shows like the Real Housewives of New York, which ironicly, one of the stars is Bethaney Frankel the daughter of Bobby Frankel. But this is a story for another day), it's still not good. I mean ESPN is supposed to be "The Worldwide Leader in Sports", and they show poker over horse racing? Yes I know there are people who don't like Kenny Mayne, but honestly he knows more then people think. If I remeber correctly, he was the only one who correctly chose Jazil and Invasor to win their races respectivly in 2006. I don't know, hopefully the Bravo crew includes Tom Hammond and maybe Tom Durkin calling? But then again he may be waiting a day and let the new track announcer Mark Johnson call his first national televised race.
$100,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III, Race 9, 5:11 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Be Fair (FL), 119, Terry J. Thompson
2. Afleet Deceit (KY), 115, Christopher A. Emigh
3. Hightap (KY), 119, Shaun Bridgmohan
4. Just Jenda (KY), 122, Gabriel Saez
5. My Spanx (FL), 119, Martin Escobar
6. Peach Brew (OK), 117, Quincy Hamilton
7. Bon Jovi Girl (KY), 119, Jose C. Caraballo
I really like Bon Jovi Girl in this race, she is coming off an race against older females which she won. Just Jenda comes up from the Fair Grounds after finishing third in the Silverbulletday. I'm going with Peach Brew for third, partially for her name and partially because she an OK bred, and one of my favorite horses currently in training is an OK bred as well.
Top Three:
Bon Jovi Girl
Just Jenda
Peach Brew
Also ESPN is dropping the Friday before the Derby coverage, this includes the Kentucky Oaks. (Link) Even though, NBC Sports will pick up the slack and put the Oaks on Bravo (home to shows like the Real Housewives of New York, which ironicly, one of the stars is Bethaney Frankel the daughter of Bobby Frankel. But this is a story for another day), it's still not good. I mean ESPN is supposed to be "The Worldwide Leader in Sports", and they show poker over horse racing? Yes I know there are people who don't like Kenny Mayne, but honestly he knows more then people think. If I remeber correctly, he was the only one who correctly chose Jazil and Invasor to win their races respectivly in 2006. I don't know, hopefully the Bravo crew includes Tom Hammond and maybe Tom Durkin calling? But then again he may be waiting a day and let the new track announcer Mark Johnson call his first national televised race.
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