The Stanley Cup Playoffs returned after a year on the shelf and the big winner was the fans.
OLN came out of the box with some great coverage with doubleheaders Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The best move was to add to their own game coverage the CBC telecasts of selected games giving fans a chance to see the award-winning “Hockey Night in Canada.”
For American fans the CBC rolls out the big guns and covers the Stanley Cups like we cover Monday Night Football. For OLN to combine their coverage with the CBC was a true stroke of genius.
Also, WBAL showcased the networks return to hockey and it was a truly successful one. The marquee match between the Rangers and the Devils did not disappoint. NBC had every great angle of the New Jersey?s rout of the Rangers, 6-1.
There will be plenty of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey all this week on OLN.
NBA rolls on
The Wizards continue their series with LeBron James with games on Tuesday and Friday on CSN with pre- and post-game coverage book ending the telecasts.
Meanwhile, every game of the NBA playoffs will be aired all week on ESPN, TNT, NBA TV, and ABC on the weekends.
Bryant Gumbel to the NFL Network?
A number of sources report that this week The NFL Network will announce that former “Today” host Bryant Gumbel and NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth, will be paired together for the Thursday night primetime package in the fall.
Sources confirmed that both Gumbel and Collinsworth were given permission to talk to the NFL Network. Also, that Collinsworth would still do the NBC studio show.
Gumbel would do the play-by-play, while Collinsworth would be the lead analyst for eight regular-season games on either Thursdays or Saturday nights. The first game ? the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs ? will be telecast Thanksgiving night.
Industry sources told me that “It?s possible that the NFL Network will have deals in place and the announcement of their new duo could come at the network?s first-ever showcase presentation to advertisers” which is slated for Wednesday in New York.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
