I would like to note the first press releases from Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and California here. I have been posting releases from Comcast SportsNet New England and it’s nice to get these from the West Coast. And these releases deal with the broadcast plans for both Bay Area baseball teams.
First, the Oakland A’s are moving from Comcast SportsNet Bay Area to Comcast SportsNet California and it gives them their own regional sports network without having to worry about conflicts with the San Francisco Giants, San Jose Sharks or Golden State Warriors.
The A’s and Comcast SportsNet California announce a full schedule of regular season games this season.
COMCAST SPORTSNET CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL OAKLAND ATHLETICS TELECAST SCHEDULE
147-Game Schedule on Comcast SportsNet California is Most Comprehensive Telecast Season in Team History
Schedule Includes 75 Games in HDTV and Expanded A’s Pregame Live and A’s Postgame Live Coverage
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Comcast SportsNet California, the new exclusive cable television home of the Oakland Athletics, today announced the most comprehensive Athletics television schedule in the team’s history. Comcast SportsNet California will exclusively present 147 Athletics games (145 regular season, 2 exhibition) for the 2009 Major League Baseball season, an increase of 37 games from the Athletics’ overall telecast schedule last year.
Comcast SportsNet California’s coverage also includes 75 HDTV telecasts, a 75% increase from the previous season and the most HDTV Athletics telecasts ever offered, as well as comprehensive A’s Pregame Live and A’s Postgame Live coverage. Today’s announcement was made by Larry Eldridge, Vice President and General Manager, Comcast SportsNet California.
Prior to most home and away games, A’s Pregame Live will present keys to the game, exclusive pregame interviews, feature stories on Athletic players and the latest team news. Immediately following the final out, A’s Postgame Live will feature expert analysis, highlights, clubhouse interviews and player reaction, and a preview of the next game. The reporting for A’s Pregame Live and A’s Postgame Live will be based at the stadium and anchored from the network’s new state-of-the art studio, 24-hour newsroom and HD production facilities at 370 3rd Street (South of Market) in San Francisco. On-air personnel for A’s Pregame Live and A’s Postgame Live will be announced at a later date. Calling all the A’s games will be the veteran announcing team of Glen Kuiper and Ray Fosse.
For approximately 24 hours following each game, Comcast SportsNet California’s Athletics telecasts will be available on Comcast Digital Cable’s ON DEMAND Channel 1 at no additional cost. Select Athletics HDTV games will also be available ON DEMAND Channel 1.
Prior to the start of the regular season, Comcast SportsNet California will present Cactus League action from Phoenix Municipal Stadium, when the Athletics take on the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m. In addition, the telecast schedule features a contest from the annual Bay Bridge Series as the Athletics play on the road against the Giants on Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m.
The first of 145 regular season games will be seen on Monday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. as the Athletics begin the 2009 season on the road against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Athletics take on the 2008 A.L. West Champion Angels eighteen times on Comcast SportsNet California (April 6, 7, 8, 9; May 4, 5; July 16, 17, 18, 19; August 28, 29, 30; September 25, 26, 27; October 2, 4). The Athletics return to Oakland for their home opener on Friday, April 10 against the Seattle Mariners with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. with A’s Pregame Live and the game telecast at 7:00 p.m.
Extensive Athletics coverage includes games against two-time World Series Champion Boston Red Sox (April 13, 14, 15; July 6, 7, 8, 27, 28, 29, 30), the 26-time World Series Champion New York Yankees (April 20, 21, 22; July 24, 25, 26; August 17, 18, 19), the 2008 A.L. Champion Tampa Bay Rays (April 24, 26; May 18, 19, 20; July 10, 12) and the 2008 A.L. Central Champion Chicago White Sox (June 1, 2, 3; August 14, 16; September 8, 9).
Interleague action includes games against their cross-bay rivals, the San Francisco Giants (June 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24), the 2008 N.L. West Champion Los Angeles Dodgers (June 16, 17, 18), the Arizona Diamondbacks (May 22, 23, 24), the San Diego Padres (June 19, 20, 21) and the Colorado Rockies (June 26, 27, 28).
“We are delighted to be the new home of the Oakland Athletics,” said Eldridge. “For the first time A’s fans have a dedicated and exclusive destination where they can follow their favorite team, and fans will get now more games, more insider coverage and more HD with this change. Our 2009 telecast schedule of a record 147 games includes 75 HD telecasts, expanded live pregame and postgame shows, and some innovative programming ‘twists’ that will make Comcast SportsNet California A’s coverage unlike anything that has ever come before.”
And this one is unveils the broadcast plans for the Giants on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
COMCAST SPORTS NET BAY AREA ANNOUNCES
2009 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS COVERAGE ENHANCEMENTS AND TELECAST SCHEDULE
Schedule Features 137 Games – 134 Regular Season Telecasts
and Three Exhibition Games
Network Expands Live Pregame and Postgame Coverage and Increases HDTV Coverage
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the home of “Authentic Bay Area Sports,” announced today its 2009 San Francisco Giants coverage plans, including additional live pre- and post-game coverage and more games in HD than ever before. Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will offer viewers 137 Giants games (134 regular season, 3 exhibition), of which 75 telecasts will be presented in HDTV. The announcement was made by Ted Griggs, Vice President and General Manager, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area begins its coverage on Sunday, March 15 at 1:00 p.m. when the Giants host the Kansas City Royals in Cactus League action from Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. Additional spring training contests include Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. against the Chicago Cubs and Sunday, April 5 at 1:00 p.m. versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will present the Giants home opener at AT&T Park against the 2008 N.L. Wild Card Winner, the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, April 7. Extensive Giants coverage on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area against playoff contenders include nine contests with the 2008 N.L. West Champion Los Angeles Dodgers (April 13, 16, 27, 29; May 10; August 11, 12; September 13, 20), six games against the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies (July 30; August 1, 2; September 1, 2, 3), five matchups with the 2008 N.L. Central Champion Chicago Cubs (May 4, 5; September 24, 25, 27) and six games versus N.L. East contenders the New York Mets (May 14, 15; August 14, 15, 16, 17).
Interleague action includes games against their cross-bay rivals, the Oakland Athletics (June 12, 14, 22, 24), the 2008 A.L. West Champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (June 15, 16, 17), the Seattle Mariners (May 23, 24) and the Texas Rangers (June 19, 21).
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will present 75 Giants games in HDTV, a 25% increase from the previous season and the most HDTV Giants telecasts the network has offered in a single season. For approximately 24 hours following each game, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Giants telecasts will be available on Comcast Digital Cable’s ON DEMAND Channel 1 at no additional cost. Select Giants HDTV games will also be available ON DEMAND Channel 1.
Prior to most home and away games, Giants Pregame Live will present a preview of the upcoming game, exclusive pregame interviews, feature stories on Giants players and the latest team news. Immediately following the final out, Giants Postgame Live will feature in-depth game analysis, highlights, clubhouse interviews and player reaction, and a preview of the next game. All the reporting for Giants Pregame Live and Giants Postgame Live will be from the stadium and anchored from the network’s new state-of-the art studio, 24-hour newsroom and HD production facilities at 370 3rd Street (South of Market) in San Francisco. On-air personnel for Giants Pregame Live and Giants Postgame Live will be announced at a later date.
“We’re pleased to offer our viewers the most comprehensive coverage ever in the history of Giants baseball,” said Griggs. “Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s coverage of the Giants continues to improve and gets stronger every season as part of our commitment to give Giants fans inside, in-depth coverage. With a 2009 baseball telecast schedule of 137 Giants games, 75 HDTV telecasts, along with expanded Giants Pregame Live and Giants Postgame Live, Giants fans can look forward to exciting baseball on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area all season long.”
And that does it for now. Again, thanks to the people at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and California for sending these releases over.
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