A Bunch of Press Releases

I’ll provide the press releases that I was going to post late last night, but did not after I finished my late night links. I was too tired and wanted to sleep. So here are the releases.

Starting with NBC, Sunday Night Football apparently finished 2008 with higher viewership from the season before.

“NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” FINISHES 2008 SEASON WITH VIEWERSHIP GAINS OVER LAST SEASON

SNF POWERS NBC TO SUNDAY NIGHT WINS IN 13 OF 16 WEEKS

WEEK 15 DALLAS-GIANTS MOST WATCHED GAME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

NEW YORK – Jan. 7, 2009 – "NBC Sunday Night Football," in its third season as the NFL's premier primetime package, averaged 16.8 million viewers for its 16 Sunday Night broadcasts, a gain of six percent from last year (15.9 million).  In the three years since the shift from Monday to Sunday nights, SNF is averaging half a million more viewers than the last season of Monday Night Football (16.2 million in 2005).  

SNF's 10.3 rating and 16 share for the 2008 season shows a four percent gain over last year (9.9/16), according to Nielsen Media Research.  

SNF DOMINATED SUNDAY NIGHTS: "Sunday Night Football" powered NBC to Sunday Night victories in 13 of 16 weeks in the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic up from 11 of 16 weeks in 2007 and 9 of 16 weeks in 2006.

SNF NO. 1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM FOR SEASON AMONG MEN: For the full season, "Sunday Night Football" ranked as the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Men 18-49 and Men 18-34.  Additionally, SNF ranked No. 3 in Adults 18-49, No. 4 in Adults 18-34, No. 8 in Viewership and No. 9 in household rating among all primetime programs for the season.

WEEK 15 COWBOYS-GIANTS GAME MOST VIEWED EVER ON SNF:  The Dallas Cowboys 20-8 victory over the Super Bowl champion New York Giants on December 14 drew 23.1 million viewers, the most ever for a "Sunday Night Football" game.

NBC's broadcast of the Cowboys-Giants game was the No. 1 primetime program on network TV this season among Adults 18-49 (8.6) and the No. 3 primetime program in terms of viewership this season behind only the 60 Minutes which featured an interview with President-elect Barack Obama (25.1 million) and the October 9 CSI season premiere (23.5 million).  

SNF NO. 1 PROGRAM DURING NOVEMBER SWEEPS: "Sunday Night Football" finished the November sweeps (10/30/08-11/26/08) as the No. 1 program in all of primetime television across the key advertising demographics of Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, Men 18-34, Men 18-49 and Men 25-54. 

Among viewership and households "Sunday Night Football" was the No. 1 program on Sunday nights during November sweeps with 17.2 million viewers and a 10.7/17 rating respectively.  

MORE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING NFL FOOTBALL ON SUNDAY NIGHTS: In the three years since the shift of the NFL's premier primetime package from Monday to Sunday nights, "Sunday Night Football" is averaging half a million more viewers (16.8) than the last season of Monday Night Football (16.2 million in 2005).  

"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" TOP 20 METERED MARKETS 
FULL 2008 SEASON:
1. Indianapolis, 18.8/28
2. Washington D.C., 17.0/27
3. Baltimore, 16.4/24
4. Dallas-Ft. Worth, 15.7/25
5. Las Vegas, 15.4/23
6. Pittsburgh, 15.3/22
T7. San Diego, 14.9/26
T7. Nashville, 14.9/21
9. Charlotte, 14.6/22
10. Norfolk, 14.3/21
11. Jacksonville, 14.2/21
12. Richmond, 14.1/21
13. Philadelphia, 13.7/21
14. Milwaukee, 13.3/20
15. Albuquerque, 13.2/20 
16. New Orleans, 13.1/18
17. Denver, 13.0/21
18. Chicago, 12.8/20
T19. Minneapolis- St. Paul, 12.7/20  
T19. Memphis, 12.7/17

The NFL Today on CBS previews what it will cover for the Divisional Playoffs this weekend.

“THE NFL TODAY” PREVIEWS DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAMES ON SATURDAY, JAN. 10 AND SUNDAY, JAN. 11 ON CBS

Sam Ryan Visits with Tennessee Titans Quarterback Kerry Collins; and “THE NFL TODAY” Features a Look at How Philadelphia Turned Its Season Around; Reports from Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf from Tennessee, and Jim Nantz and Phil Simms from Pittsburgh;

Lesley Visser Reports Live from Carolina on Arizona-Panthers NFC Divisional Playoff Game on Saturday

THE NFL TODAY Also Features San Diego Quarterback Philip Rivers;

Sam Ryan Reports Live From Philadelphia-New York Giants NFC Divisional Playoff Game On Sunday

THE NFL ON CBS continues its coverage of the 2009 A
merican Football Conference Playoffs with the national broadcasts of the AFC Divisional Playoff games on Saturday, Jan. 10 (4:30 PM, ET) and Sunday, Jan. 11 (4:30 PM, ET) live on the CBS Television Network. AFC South champions and No. 1-seeded TENNESSEE TITANS (13-3) host the No. 6-seeded BALTIMORE RAVENS (12-5) on Saturday, while the AFC North champions and No. 2-seeded PITTSBURGH STEELERS (12-4) host the AFC West champions and No. 4-seeded SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (9-8).

AFC Divisional Playoff action kicks off live on the CBS Television Network beginning with THE NFL TODAY, the Network’s pre-game studio show, on Saturday (3:30-4:30 PM, ET) and on Sunday (4:00-4:40 PM, ET), with host James Brown and analysts Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Shannon Sharpe and Bill Cowher, along with NFL TODAY “General Manager” Charley Casserly, as well as reporters Lesley Visser and Sam Ryan, live from THE NFL TODAY studio at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.

Sam Ryan sits down with Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, looking back at his unexpected role this season in leading his team to the best record in football, and his chance to lead the Titans to Tampa, where he led the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV eight years ago. Jeff St. Arromand produces.

THE NFL TODAY also previews the NFC Divisional Playoffs by featuring the Philadelphia Eagles, looking at how they turned their season around by winning five of their last six games after the benching of quarterback Donovan McNabb in Week 12. Charlie Bloom produces.

Live reports will be given with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms reporting from Pittsburgh; and Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf from Nashville. Lesley Visser will report live from Carolina on the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC Divisional Playoff game.

Sunday’s NFL TODAY previews the Chargers-Steelers game with a feature on San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers and whether he will make it back to the AFC Championship Game and whether he will become the third quarterback of the Class of 2004 (Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning) to win a Super Bowl. Deb Gelman produces.

And Sam Ryan also reports live from East Rutherford, N.J. on the other NFC Divisional Playoff game, Philadelphia vs. New York Giants.

Fox Sports has Michael Strahan and Troy Aikman discussing the NFL Divisional Playoffs.

FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES

College Football National Champion Crowned Thursday on FOX

NFC Divisional Playoff Doubleheader Weekend on FOX

Panthers & Cardinals Square-Off in Charlotte Saturday

Giants/Eagles Rubber Match at Meadowlands Sunday

Aikman & Strahan Weigh-In on Eagles/Giants Showdown

FEDEX BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: OKLAHOMA SOONERS VS. FLORIDA GATORS — All eyes turn to Dolphin Stadium in Miami on Thursday for the college football season’s main event. BCS on FOX’s lead broadcast team of Thom Brennaman, Ch
arles Davis and Chris Myers call the action as the Oklahoma Sooners face off against the Florida Gators for the coveted crystal ball trophy in the FEDEX BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. Coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET with host Chris Rose, National Championship-winning coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer and former Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George.

BCS NATIONAL CHAMP GAME OFFERED IN 3-D & THROUGH WEBCAST FOR FIRST TIME EVER – FOX Sports along with Sony, Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp and 3ality Digital present FOX’s exclusive broadcast of the FedEx BCS National Championship Game tomorrow night in 3-D. The broadcast, live from Dolphin Stadium in Miami, is available in over 80 theatres throughout 35 states across the country, including six in the states of Florida and Oklahoma. Tomorrow night’s presentation marks the first time that a major live sporting event will be available to the public in 3-D. To find the nearest participating theatre location and to purchase tickets online, log on to www.CinedigmEntertainment.com.

For those fans watching from home, the BCS, FOX Sports and FOXSports.com on MSN offer additional coverage this year’s FedEx BCS Championship Game through a live online webcast, allowing viewers to choose from six different camera angles. The webcast is free to all users and coincides with broadcast coverage of the game. Fans will be able to access the webcast by visiting FOXSports.com’s home page. Once the video player opens, viewers will be able to select from a number of different camera shots, including OKLAHOMA BAND, FLORIDA BAND, CABLE CAM, CART (isolated on each team’s QB) and FULL FIELD. Viewers also have the option to access a live stats feed during the game.

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS: REMATCH WEEKEND – FOX Sports continues its drive towards the NFC Championship Game on Saturday, Jan. 10 (8:00 PM ET) when Kurt Warner leads the high-flying Cardinals into Bank of America Stadium to take on the Panthers’ vaunted rushing duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Arizona looks to avenge a 27-23 loss to Carolina in week 8. Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa call the action from Charlotte.

On Sunday, Jan. 11 (1:00 PM ET), NFL on FOX’s playoff coverage shifts to the Meadowlands as Eli Manning and the Giants host Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and the red-hot Eagles in the third matchup between the NFC East rivals this season. Each team notched victories on each others home field in the regular season. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver & Chris Myers call this playoff match-up.

FOX NFL SUNDAY – NFC DIVISION PLAYOFF EDITIONS

Coverage begins on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET and Sunday at 12:00 PM ET with America’s most-watched pregame show, FOX NFL SUNDAY. Co-hosts Terry Bradshaw and Curt Menefee join analysts Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Michael Strahan to provide insightful opinions on the NFL. The NFL’s best insider, Jay Glazer, breaks the latest information from the FOXSports.com newsroom with updates on coaching and front office moves from around the league. Critically acclaimed comedic impressionist Frank Caliendo makes his entertaining playoff picks.

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2008

FOX NFL SPECIAL 7:30 PM ET

• Howie Long profiles the big-play wide receivers from the Cardinals-Panthers matchup: Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith.

Sunday, Jan. 11, 2008

FOX NFL SPECIAL 12:00 PM ET

• Michael Strahan sits down with former teammates Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to discuss how the three running backs have been the offensive anchor for the Giants this season.
• Reporter Pam Oliver talks to Eagles Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins to reflect on his career in Philadelphia.

STRAHAN: THE GIANTS ARE A DIFFERENT TEAM WITH PLAXICO BUT NOT NECESSARILY WORSE – The defending Super Bowl champions have had to deal with a few disruptions this season, namely the suspension of Plaxico Burress but as the Giants prepare for their first game of the playoffs, FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan says his former team has made the adjustment of not having their star receiver. “The Giants played well at the beginning of the season without Plaxico, so in the later games where they struggled, I think you can pinpoint their problem to the running backs than any void that Plaxico left. Brandon Jacobs’ absence is a void because he sets up Derrick Ward that sets up Ahmad Bradshaw. Those three guys really have been the key to what the Giants have done this year and will be the key moving forward in the playoffs.”

AIKMAN: NOT FAIR TO COMPARE 2008 EAGLES TO 2007 GIANTS – With the Eagles surging into their divisional matchup with the Giants, many have made claims that they may be on the same path as last year’s Giants. NFL on FOX lead analyst Troy Aikman isn’t so sure that is true. “The big difference is that last season’s Giants team was really struggling. When they got into the playoffs, I don’t think anybody thought that they would run the table and win the Super Bowl. The Eagles on the other hand, have won five of their last six games. I don’t think that anybody looked at Philadelphia and said this team has no chance of going to the Super Bowl. I just think that the expectations of the teams going into the playoffs were much different.”

STRAHAN: EAGLES FANS WON’T KNOW WHAT THEY HAD ‘TIL IT’S GONE – As the Eagles prepare to face the No. 1 seed and division rival Giants this weekend, FOX NFL SUNDAY analyst Michael Strahan looked at how Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has handled his tumultuous season on Philadelphia. “When you cannot accept criticism for what you do, I think that’s where you get into trouble and Donovan accepts his critism very well. There are some guys in the league who would have thrown a fit if they were benched but Donovan took it like a man. Right now, he’s having fun and doesn’t care what the fans and the media say. You see him on the sidelines and he really enjoys being there. I played against a lot of quarterbacks, when he’s done Eagles fans will realize what they had in him as a player and at that point, it’s too late.”

NFL Network tells us what it will carry during this Divisional Playoff Week.

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (1/7-1/13)

31 HOURS OF DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF PROGRAMMING THIS WEEK

Marshall Faulk Sit Down with Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams & Warren Sapp 1-on-1 with Ravens LB Ray Lewis

NFL GameDay Morning Saturday

”Rematch Weekend” Features Complete 2008 Matchup Re-Airs:

Week 8 – Panthers vs. Cardinals

Week 11 – Chargers vs. Steelers

Week 14 – Eagles vs. Giants

Week 5 – Ravens vs. Titans

NFL GameDay Final

Saturday at Midnight ET & Sunday at 8:00 PM ET

THIS WEEKEND ON NFL GAMEDAY MORNING: Interviews with Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams & Ravens LB Ray Lewis

­­­

NFL GameDay Morning expands to Saturday and Sunday with complete coverage of Divisional Playoff Weekend with ‘Word on the Street’ reports from all four stadiums and reporters providing late-breaking information. In addition, player correspondents Keith Brooking, Trent Green, Ty Law and Antwaan Randle El join NFL Network’s crew in the field to bring fresh from-the-field analysis and locker room interviews.

Saturday, January 10 • Ravens vs. Titans • Cardinals vs. Panthers – 2:00 PM ET special time

• Marshall Faulk with Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams
• Warren Sapp 1-on-1 with Ravens LB Ray Lewis
• Scott Hanson and player correspondent Keith Brooking (Atlanta Falcons LB) report from Carolina.
• Lindsay Soto and player correspondent Trent Green (St. Louis Rams QB) report from Tennessee.
• Jen Allen looks back on the high and lows of Titans QB Kerry Collins and how his career has come full circle.
• On the road with NFL Total Access, part II

Sunday, January 11 • Eagles vs. Giants • Chargers vs. Steelers – 4-hour show

• Giants RB Brandon Jacobs shares with Kara Henderson his story of growing up in Napoleonville, LA and being placed in special educational classes as a youth.
• On the road with NFL Total Access, part III
• Henderson and player correspondent Ty Law (New York Jets CB) report from Pittsburgh.
• Steve Wyche, Bob Papa and player correspondent Antwaan Randle El (Washington Redskins WR) report from New York.

NFL GameDay Morning is the longest, most comprehensive NFL pregame show on TV starting Saturday at 2:00 PM ET and Sunday at 9:00 AM ET on Divisional Playoff Weekend.

The NFL GameDay Morning cast features analysis from Faulk, Sapp and Mariucci with reports from top correspondent Adam Schefter. Spero Dedes and Alex Flanagan will co-host the first hour.

Complete 2008 Game Re-Airs, NFL Replay and Game of the Week Highlight Wild Card Weekend Programming

In preparation for the weekend, NFL Network will treat fans to 31 hours of Divisional Playoff programming.

Coverage kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 9:00 AM ET with a Game of the Week presentation of the fabled Nov. 19, 1978 “Miracle at the Meadowlands,” in which Eagles defensive back Herm Edwards returned a fumble 26 yards for a game-winning score in the game’s closing seconds as Philadelphia edged the New York Giants 19-17.

Wednesday at 9:30 AM ET, Game of the Week presents a three-point Titans victory over Baltimore in a 2003 AFC Wild Card game followed at 10:30 AM ET by an NFL Replay of the Ravens’ 27-26 thrilling victory over the Titans in Week 10 of 2006. In that game, the Ravens overcame a 26-7 deficit and blocked a potential game-winning field goal in the game’s final minute.

Back-to-back NFL Replays begin Thursday at 9:00 AM ET with the Giants’ 30-24 overtime victory against the Eagles in Week 2 of 2006 followed at 10:30 AM ET by Philadelphia’s 23-20 win over the Giants on David Akers’ field goal as time expired in the 2006 NFC Wild Card playoff. The latter game also was the last in the career of Giants RB Tiki Barber, who rushed for 137 yards.

Complete 2008 game encores air Thursday at 1:00 PM ET with Carolina’s 27-23 victory over Arizona i
n Week 8. The Panthers scored 24 of the game’s final 31 points to overcome Kurt Warner’s 381-yard passing day. Thursday at 9:00 PM ET Pittsburgh’s 11-10 win over San Diego in Week 11 will encore, featuring Jeff Reed’s field goal with 11 seconds remaining to win a game in the snow at Heinz Field.

The look back continues Friday at 9:00 AM ET with Game of the Week from Week 15 of 2006 as the Eagles scored 22 fourth-quarter points – including 15 points in 10 seconds – to defeat the Giants 36-22. At 9:00 PM ET, NFL Replay presents the Giants’ 36-31, 2008 Week 10 primetime win over the Eagles followed at 10:30 PM ET by a complete re-air of the Eagles’ 20-14 victory four weeks later.

THIS WEEK ON PLAYBOOK: Eli Manning, Lorenzo Neal, Kevin Mawae and Steve Smith

Sunday Divisional Matchups (Thursday, January 8)

• Brian Baldinger and Sterling Sharpe examine how the Giants run defense will be much improved for the Playoffs, why the Giants will have success passing the ball against the Eagles and how the Eagles passing game will create matchup problems for the Giants.
• Giants QB Eli Manning explains how the Giants passing game will attack the Eagles defense.
• Brian Billick analyzes Dick LeBeau’s zone blitz and identifies the most important player on the Steelers defense.

Saturday Divisional Matchups (Friday, January 9)

• Brian Baldinger and Sterling Sharpe on how the Ravens defense revolves around S Ed Reed, how the Cardinals will run the ball to set up their dynamic passing game and why Panthers WR Steve Smith is the key to a Panthers victory.
• Solomon Wilcots is at the board with Ravens FB Lorenzo Neal to talk about opening holes in the running game.
• Kevin Mawae explains why Kerry Collins is the right quarterback for the Titans.
• Mike Mayock shares how Titans RB Chris Johnson has turned his doubters into believers.
• Smith discusses his legacy as a wide receiver with Sharpe.

Some things from ESPN. First, we get a preview of what it will show during its two editions of Sunday NFL Countdown this weekend.

NFL Playoffs — Two Editions of Sunday NFL Countdown, Guest Analyst Appearance Sunday by Vikings Pro Bowl Defensive End Jared Allen

ESPN will continue its comprehensive coverage of the NFL playoffs with two editions of Sunday NFL Countdown – a one-hour special Saturday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m., and the regular two-hour edition Sunday at 11 a.m. Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen will join host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson and Chris Mortensen Sunday to review Saturday’s matchups and preview the day’s games. Other highlights:

• Saturday’s features: Rachel Nichols tells the story of how Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme became a football medical marvel – the only quarterback to play in the NFL after undergoing “Tommy John Surgery,” where a ligament from his hamstring was placed on his throwing elbow; and Greg Garber reports on how the Tennessee’s resurgence can be traced to a moniker and unifying ritual – Bryan Pride – adopted by the offensive line in training camp.
• Sunday’s features: Berman travels to Philadelphia to capture how an idea to grow playoff beards by safety Brian Dawkins in mid-December has become a rallying point for the Eagles and still lives on the faces of players, head coach Andy Reid, and even owner Jeffrey Lurie; Garber profiles Giants running back Derrick Ward, highlighting the path and circuitous road he traveled to get to where he is today; and Jackson looks at the lineage of Steelers’ linebackers and the team’s pedigree for producing strong players in the position.
• On-site reporters at all four playoff games: Saturday, Nichols will cover the Baltimore-Tennessee game and Bob Holtzman will report from the Arizona-Carolina match-up. Sunday, Sal Paolantonio (Eagles) and Suzy Kolber (Giants) will handle the Eagles-Giants game, and Ed Werder will cover San Diego at Pittsburgh.

ESPN says it’s college bowl season was highly rated.

Bowl Game Audiences Grow Eight Percent on ESPN and ESPN2

ESPN and ESPN2 combined to televise 23 college football bowl games and averaged 2,810,000 homes (based on a 2.5 U.S. rating), an increase of ei
ght percent over last season. In 2007-08, the networks combined for an average of 2,596,000 homes for 21 bowl games (based on a 2.3 U.S. rating).

Highlights (all ratings are coverage area – ESPN or ESPN2 universe):

On Saturday, Dec. 27, the Champs Sports Bowl delivered ESPN’s second-largest bowl audience ever. Florida State’s 42-13 victory over Wisconsin averaged 5,098,000 homes, based on a 5.2 rating. (ESPN’s most-watched bowl game ever was the Alamo Bowl on December, 30, 2006, between Iowa and Texas. It was watched by an average of 5,521,000 homes, based on a 6.0 rating.)

ESPN “won the night” December 27 among all TV networks (broadcast or cable) by averaging 4,535,000 homes (as well as viewers; People 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54; and Men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54) based on a 4.6 rating for the Emerald Bowl. California defeated Miami 24-17.

On two other nights, ESPN led all networks in male viewers 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. On Monday, Dec. 29, ESPN televised the Valero Alamo Bowl, which earned a 4.6 rating for Missouri’s 30-23 overtime victory over Northwestern. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, ESPN televised the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, which earned a 4.6 rating for Oregon’s 42-31 win over Oklahoma State.

Overall, ESPN’s 21 games averaged 2,920,000 homes, up two percent from 2,866,000 for 17 contests a year ago (both based on a 3.0 rating). ESPN2 averaged 1,663,000 homes (based on a 1.7 rating) for two games, up 11 percent from 1,502,000 for game bowl games last season (1.6 rating).

Local highlights:

(In all cases, historical records go back to 2000, except 2001 for Ft. Myers)

Meineke Car Care Bowl (Dec. 27, West Virginia vs. North Carolina: averaged a 10.5 rating on ESPN in Charlotte, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2.

Champs Sports Bowl (Dec. 27, Florida State vs. Wisconsin): averaged an 11.6 rating on ESPN in Ft. Myers, the highest-rated bowl there on ESPN or ESPN2 ever. The game averaged a 10.4 rating on ESPN in West Palm Beach, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2.

Emerald Bowl (Dec. 27, California vs. Miami): averaged a 5.0 rating on ESPN in Sacramento, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2.

Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (Dec. 30, Maryland vs. Nevada): averaged a 5.8 rating on ESPN in Baltimore, the highest cable ranking in that market in December, with the exception of four ESPN Monday Night Football games.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31, Georgia Tech vs. LSU): averaged a 17.3 rating on ESPN in New Orleans, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2.

International Bowl (Jan. 3, Buffalo vs. Connecticut): averaged a 16.5 rating on ESPN2 in Buffalo, the highest-rated bowl there ever on ESPN or ESPN2.

And ESPN says Rick Reilly gets his own show starting Friday. Hoo boy.

Rick Reilly Hosts New ESPN2 Series — Homecoming — MLB Player Josh Hamilton First Guest

ESPN2’s new series — Homecoming — challenges that old adage “you can’t go home again.” Hosted by 10-time Sportswriter of the Year Rick Reilly, Homecoming will debut Friday, Jan. 9, at 8 p.m. ET with an episode on Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers in his hometown of Raleigh, N.C. The following week, Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway returns to Van Nuys, Calif. The shows are the first two of a six-part series featuring one-on-one, hour-long interviews of today’s top names in sports from the towns and cities where they grew up. In the first episode, Hamilton is surrounded by friends, family and teammates at Athens Drive High School, where his life and career were first nurtured en route to him becoming the first overall draft pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. His career was derailed by injuries and addictions in 2001, but with the help of his family and friends, and with great resolve, he reclaimed his life and his swing. Hamilton’s recovery was noted by his mesmerizing performance at the 2008 MLB All-Star Home Run Contest.

Excerpts from the first episode:

Hamilton on his comeback

“You know, I did everything for almost four years to tear my body completely apart and I almost killed myself…”

Hamilton on supporting his habit

“It’s amazing the things you do when the drug takes a hold of you, and you don’t care about anything.”

In the second episode, Reilly sits with Elway at Granada Hills High School, where his skills were cultivated before going to Stanford and then the Denver Broncos. Special guests include his mother, his college coach Paul Wiggins, and several of his high school teammates and friends.

Finally, NBC’s Universal Sports will air yet another outdoor hockey game, this one from Moscow and it will be called off a monitor.

KHL All-Star Game Live Broadcast and Webcast Starts
8 a.m. ET This Saturday, Jan. 10

“With the excitement of last weekend’s Winter Classic still fresh, the idea of top international hockey stars playing under the stars in Red Square in Moscow is something that shouldn’t be missed.” — Universal Sports’ David Michaels

LOS ANGELES — January 8, 2008 — There is more hockey to be played on an outdoor rink from a historical site. Universal Sports presents live broadcast coverage of the first-ever Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) All-Star Game between Team Yashin and. Team Jagr, this Saturday at 8 a.m. ET from Red Square in Moscow.

Team Yashin, featuring Russian-born players and led by former New York Islanders center Alexei Yashin, will take on Team Jagr, made up of players from the rest of the world and captained by former Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers star winger Jaromir Jagr.

COVERAGE ON UNIVERSAL SPORTS: Universal Sports, available in 30 million homes, will present a live broadcast on its 24-hour television network from 8:00– 10:30 a.m. ET and a same day encore presentation from 11:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. ET.

COVERAGE ON UNIVERSALSPORTS.COM: Universal Sports will offer a free, global live webcast on UniversalSports.com starting 8:00 a.m. ET. The game will be available for on-demand viewing.

COMMENTATORS: John Ahlers (play-by-play), the television voice of Anaheim Ducks and Brent Severyn (color commentator), Ducks radio analyst, will call all the action from the Universal Sports studio in Los Angeles.

MICHAELS ON THE BUZZ FACTOR: “This particular game is what Universal Sports is all about. This kind of exciting international event that in the past hasn’t had a place to air. With the excitement of last weekend’s Winter Classic still fresh, the idea of the top international hockey players playing under the stars in Red Square in Moscow is something that shouldn’t be missed,” said David Michaels, NBC Emmy Award-winning producer and head of Universal Sports production.

I can now clear these press releases from my inbox. I’ll be back later.