Some Press Releases For A Snowy Wednesday

Trying to catch up on press releases. I have a whole bunch piled up in my inbox and it’s time to release them into the wild, or at least post them here.

First, the Today Show, that long-running morning show on NBC will be in Vancouver. Actually, if you saw Tuesday’s show, it marked the first of almost three weeks of live broadcasts from Whistler, which is outside Vancouver.

‘TODAY’ IN VANCOUVER

America’s No. 1 Morning Program Broadcasts Live from Grouse Mountain in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games

“Today” in Vancouver Begins Tuesday, February 9

NEW YORK - America’s favorite morning program will bid farewell to Studio 1A in New York, and once again bring the excitement of the Olympic Winter Games to viewers at home. Matt, Meredith, Al, Ann and Natalie will travel north of the border to Vancouver for XXI Olympic Winter Games. The Vancouver Winter Olympics marks the seventh Olympic Games the "Today" show has traveled to and covered.

Before the start of the Olympics, "Today" counted down to the Games from the heart of the action. Matt Lauer broadcast live from Vancouver on Tuesday, February 9 with Natalie Morales reporting live from Whistler. "Today" will introduce viewers to the athletes-to-watch, while also taking a look at the Olympic venues and the tremendous preparations underway. Additionally, Lauer will be participating in the Olympic Torch Relay on Thursday, February 11, carrying the flame through the town of Burnaby, British Columbia.

On Friday, February 12, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry will join Lauer and Morales to kick off their Olympic coverage atop Grouse Mountain, where "Today" will call home for the duration of the Games. During this special edition of the program, the "Today" anchor team will preview the Opening Ceremony, look ahead to the start of the Winter Olympics, and showcase their new mountainside location. Special athlete guests include Jeret "Speedy" Peterson and Emily Cook, and Canadian-born crooner Michael Bublé will perform a special mountaintop concert.

Beginning Monday, February 15, "Today" will begin two weeks of in-depth news coverage of the Winter Olympics with the latest on the events, and previews of the upcoming action. America’s first TV family will give viewers an all-access pass to everything Olympic, going behind-the-scenes and profiling the outstanding competitors that make up Team USA. They will interview athletes including Apolo Ohno, Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, Evan Lysacek, Lindsey Jacobellis and many others as they go for the gold, and they will also take a look at the competition the U.S. athletes will be facing.

Additionally, Olympic gold medalists Picabo Street and Kristi Yamaguchi will serve as "Today" special correspondents providing expert commentary and analysis of the Games. NBC News’ Lester Holt will anchor special split editions of “Weekend Today” from Grouse Mountain.

"Today" will also explore the beautiful city of Vancouver, and introduce viewers to the unique culture, society and cuisine surrounding the Winter Olympics. "Today" correspondent Jenna Bush Hager will contribute human-interest stories and reports to the program throughout the Winter Olympic Games. "Today’s" Sarah Haines will give Kathie Lee and Hoda the daily Olympic dish from Grouse Mountain for the fourth hour. In addition, "Today" style editor Bobbie Thomas will showcase the hottest cold-weather Olympic fashions and winter trends.

Vancouver.TODAYshow.com will feature the most up-to-date news as well as compelling slideshows and exclusive behind-the-scenes video of the Winter Olympics. Viewers can also visit the site to participate in live votes, connect with the show on Twitter and Facebook, and get the latest medal count.

"Today’s" exclusive set and Olympic home will be located on breathtaking Grouse Mountain overlooking Vancouver. Grouse Mountain, which boasts an 82-year history, is a four-season recreation destination, and "Today" will broadcast live from the top of the mountain for the duration of the Winter Olympics. Located 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, the mountain will remain open 24 hours a day during the Olympics offering snow sports and alpine recreation, including night skiing, to all visitors. "Today" fans are encouraged to visit Grouse Mountain each day to watch the live broadcast and to get a chance to meet the Olympic athletes as well as the show anchors. "Today" will broadcast live each morning at 4 a.m. local time.

NBC Universal will present more than 835 hours of Vancouver Olympic Winter Games coverage - representing the most total hours ever for a Winter Olympics, more than the last two Winter Olympics combined, and the most live hours ever for a Winter Games. The Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, which will be the first Winter Olympics to be presented entirely in high definition, commence with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 12. The more than 835 total hours of coverage on six NBC Universal platforms - NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal HD, as well as NBCOlympics.com - nearly doubles the coverage from Turin (419) and is more than Turin and Salt Lake City (375.5) combined (794.5).

Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today" (Mon.- Fri., 7 - 11 a.m.). Don Nash is the senior broadcast producer overseeing "Today’s" Olympic coverage and Mary Alice O’Rourke is the senior producer.

Last week, ESPN announced some of its college football matchups for Labor Day and Thursday Night Football.

Labor Day and Thursday Primetime Matchups Highlight Early ACC College Football Selections for 2010

 
An ESPN Labor Day doubleheader and marquee matchups on Thursday nights are among the telecasts involving ACC teams slated for ESPN’s 2010 college football schedule. Additional games will be announced in the coming months. Highlights include:
 
  • ESPN’s Labor Day doubleheader Monday, Sept. 6, will feature games from NFL stadiums, beginning at 4 p.m. with Maryland vs. Navy from M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, followed by Boise State vs. Virginia Tech from FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins, at 8 p.m. An ESPN.com early pre-season poll for 2010 ranks Boise State nationally at third and Virginia Tech at sixth.
 
  • ESPN’s popular Thursday night series — ESPN College Football Primetime – will feature four telecasts involving ACC teams, all at 7:30 p.m., highlighted by:
 
  • Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech on Nov. 4 in a showdown between ACC Coastal Division rivals. Georgia Tech defeated then-No. 4 Virginia Tech 28-23 last year for its first home victory against the Hokies since 1990. Virginia Tech is ranked No. 6 and Georgia Tech No. 13 in the ESPN.com early pre-season poll.
 
  • Miami will visit former BIG EAST Conference foe Pittsburgh on Sept. 23. It will mark the first time the teams have played since 2003, a 28-14 Hurricanes victory. Pittsburgh is ranked No. 15 and Miami No. 17 in the ESPN.com early pre-season poll.
 
  • North Carolina State will appear twice: Sept. 16 against Cincinnati, coming off an undefeated regular season, and Oct. 28 against ACC foe Florida State.
 
  • The Kickoff Game from Atlanta as part of the third annual Kickoff Week will feature LSU vs. North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 4. Time and network are to be determined.
 
The 2010 ACC schedule through Nov. 4 (additional selections to be announced):
 

Date Time (ET) Game Network
Sat, Sep 4 TBD LSU vs. North Carolina (from Atlanta) * TBD
Mon, Sep 6 4 p.m. Navy vs. Maryland (from Baltimore) ESPN
  8 p.m. Boise State vs. Virginia Tech (from Landover, Md.) * ESPN
Thu, Sep 16 7:30 p.m. Cincinnati at North Carolina State ESPN
Thu, Sep 23 7:30 p.m. Miami at Pittsburgh ESPN
Thu, Oct 28 7:30 p.m. Florida State at North Carolina State ESPN
Thu, Nov 4 7:30 p.m. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech ESPN

 
* Previously announced

To college basketball on the ESPN family of networks as its coverage of so-called “Rivalry Week” continues.

Men’s College Basketball: Rivalry Week Continues with No. 12 Tennessee at No. 2 Kentucky Saturday
ESPN’s 14th annual Rivalry Week – spotlighting top rivalries in men’s college basketball across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com – will continue this weekend with telecasts involving the top five teams from the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll. Details include:
  • ESPN’s College GameDay and Saturday Primetime Game of the Week matchup, both on ESPN, will originate from No. 12 Tennessee at No. 2 Kentucky. College GameDay – hosted by Rece Davis with analysts Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and Digger Phelps – will air at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
  • No. 4 West Virginia will visit No. 23 Pittsburgh in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl on Friday, Feb. 12, at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
  • ESPNU will televise the nation’s new top-ranked team Saturday, Feb. 13: No. 1 Kansas against Iowa State at 8 p.m., as well as No. 5 Villanova against Providence at 2 p.m.
  • ESPN will televise No. 10 Michigan State at Penn State on Saturday, Feb. 13, at noon and No. 3 Syracuse against Louisville on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m.
Date Time (ET) Matchup Commentators Network(s)
Thu, Feb 11 7 p.m. Michigan at Minnesota  Brent Musburger, Bob Knight & Holly Rowe ESPN/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. Louisville at St. John’s  Dave Pasch & Tim Welsh ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. Notre Dame at Seton Hall  Scott Graham & Jay Williams ESPNU
  9 p.m. Mississippi at Mississippi State  Rece Davis & Hubert Davis ESPN/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Washington at California  Dave O’Brien & Steve Lavin  ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Morehead State at Eastern Illinois  Dave Weekley & Mark Adams ESPNU
  11 p.m. Saint Mary’s (Calif.) at No. 11 Gonzaga  Bob Wischusen & Stephen Bardo ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  11 p.m. San Diego at Portland  Steve Andress & Miles Simon ESPNU
Fri, Feb 12 7 p.m. Fairfield at Rider  Doug Sherman & Rob Kennedy ESPNU
  8 p.m. Siena at Niagara Lou Canellis & Tim Welsh ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. No. 4 West Virginia at No. 23 Pittsburgh  Dave Pasch, Doris Burke & Allen Hopkins ESPN/ESPN360.com
Sat, Feb 13 Noon No. 10 Michigan State at Penn State  Dave O’Brien & Steve Lavin ESPN/ESPN360.com
  Noon Kent State at Buffalo  Michael Reghi & Tim O’Toole ESPNU
  2 p.m. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State  Ron Franklin & Fran Fraschilla ESPN/ESPN360.com
  2 p.m. Providence at No. 5 Villanova  Justin Kutcher & Dickey Simpkins ESPNU
  4 p.m. N.C. State at North Carolina  Mike Patrick & Len Elmore ESPN/ESPN360.com
  4 p.m. Dayton at Saint Louis  Dan McLaughlin & Mac McCausland ESPNU
  5 p.m. Texas A&M at Texas Tech  Jon Sciambi & LaPhonso Ellis ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  6 p.m. Xavier at Florida  Brad Nessler & Jimmy Dykes ESPN/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. Memphis at Tulsa  Bob Wischusen & Stephen Bardo ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  8 p.m. Iowa State at No. 1 Kansas  Clay Matvick & Stephen Howard ESPNU
  9 p.m. No. 12 Tennessee at No. 2 Kentucky  Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale & Erin Andrews ESPN/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Saint Mary’s at Portland  Kevin Calabro & Mark Adams ESPN2/ESPN360.com
  10 p.m. San Diego at No. 11 Gonzaga Greg Heister & Tim McCormick ESPNU
Sun, Feb 14 1 p.m. Louisville at No. 3 Syracuse Sean McDonough & Len Elmore ESPN/ESPN360.com
  8 p.m. Missouri State at Wichita State Dan McLaughlin & Mac McCausland ESPNU
  11
p.m.
Albany State at Fort Valley State ^ Charlie Neal & Dennis Felton ESPNU
Mon, Feb 15 7 p.m. Connecticut at No. 5 Villanova  Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery ESPN/ESPN360.com
  7 p.m. South Carolina State at Morgan State Charlie Neal & Stan Lewter ESPNU
  9 p.m. No. 1 Kansas at Texas A&M  Brent Musburger, Bob Knight & Holly Rowe ESPN/ESPN360.com
  9 p.m. Jackson State at Texas Southern  Trey Bender & Stephen Howard ESPNU
  11 p.m. Tuskegee at Morehouse ^ Anthony Calhoun & Sedric Toney ESPNU
^ Tape delay

And on Wednesday while you’re sitting at home stranded inside due to the snow, you can check out ESPN’s coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series opening practice. Why? Because Danica Patrick will be taking part, that’s why.

ESPN Expands Daytona Schedule with Telecast of NASCAR Nationwide Series Opening Practice

 
ESPN has expanded its schedule from Daytona International Speedway this week and will now televise live the two-hour opening practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 3-5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The practice session will mark the NASCAR debut of open-wheel racing star Danica Patrick.
 
ESPN2 will televise live the NASCAR Nationwide Series 2010 season opener at Daytona on Saturday, Feb. 13. ESPN2 also airs NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying Friday, Feb. 12, at 3 p.m., as well as NASCAR Nationwide Series final practice Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11:30 a.m.
 
NASCAR Countdown starts ESPN2’s race day at noon ET, with the green flag at 1:34 p.m. Marty Reid will be the lap-by-lap announcer with analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. NASCAR Countdown will be hosted by Allen Bestwick from the ESPN Pit Studio with analysts Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Brad Daugherty.


I’ll do more press releases throughout the day tomorrow. I’ll be home. What else do I have to do?

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