10/12/17: CBS Sports prepares for hoops press

Good morning. It’s Thursday October 12, 2017 and this is your first early morning Sports briefing.

CBS Sports locked in programming plans for the upcoming college basketball season, locking in its most extensive schedule ever. CBS is set to showcase a lineup of 42 games this year, with play beginning Dec. 2 pitting Indiana/Michigan and including the CBS Sports Classic featuring Ohio State/North Carolina and UCLA/Kentucky on Dec. 23. CBS Sports Network televises 234 games beginning with the fourth annual “Veterans Classic at the U.S. Naval Academy” on Nov. 10 featuring Alabama/Memphis and Pittsburgh/Navy. Eight automatic bids to the Men’s NCAA Tournament will be awarded on CBS and CBS Sports Network this year, the most in network history, including the Big Ten Conference Championship (March 4), Missouri Valley Conference Championship (March 4), Mountain West Conference Championship (March 10), Atlantic 10 Conference Championship and American Athletic Conference Championship (March 11) on CBS. CBS Sports Network televises the Colonial Athletic Association Championship (March 6), Patriot League Championship (March 7) and Conference USA Championship (March 10). CBS Sports Network will televise 29 women’s basketball games, highlighted by three appearances by UConn.

Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery and reporter Tracy Wolfson return as CBS Sports’ lead college basketball broadcast team.

ON THE AIR

With US Soccer dropping the ball on a potential 2018 World Cup bid, eliminating the biggest audience draw in coverage for the tournament, FOX Sports was quick to point out that its coverage of the event will not be affected by the disappointment, stating, “Last night’s World Cup qualifying results do not change FOX Sports’ passion for the world’s biggest sporting event. While the U.S. was eliminated, the biggest stars in the world from Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo stamped their tickets to Russia on the same day, and will battle teams ranging from Mexico to England that have massive fan bases in America. The World Cup is the greatest sporting event on earth that changes the world for one month every four years, and FOX Sports remains steadfast in our commitment of bringing the games to America for the first time in 2018 and will continue to support the US Soccer Federation as they look ahead to the 2022 World Cup.”

ESPN is set to welcome the NBA season with NBA Rookies: The Introduction tonight at 8p. The one-hour special will provide an in-depth look at several of the top 2017 NBA Draft picks through on-site, one-on-one interviews with ESPN NBA analysts and Michelle Beadle as host.

Meanwhile, NBA TV prepares for 106 live game telecasts this year and will see the Players Only franchise expand for the first half of the 2017-18 season. Players Only Presented by Verizon will air as the network’s signature weekly game of the week for 13 Tuesday nights starting Oct. 24, with the Bulls/Cavaliers. Players Only will include studio coverage anchored by Chris Webber with Isiah Thomas and Kevin McHale. The network will tip off its regular-season coverage with a doubleheader on Oct. 21 with the Warriors/Grizzlies oat 8p followed by the Clippers/Suns 10:30p. The programming lineup will also include The Starters on weekdays at 7p, NBA Inside Stuff starting Oct. 21 at 6:30p, while 10 Before the Tip airs weekdays at 6:30p.

NBC Sports Group takes on the second race of the Round of 12 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with more than 11 hours of trackside coverage this weekend from Talladega Superspeedway. Live race coverage begins Sunday at 2p on NBC and will see Dale Earnhardt Jr. don NASCAR on NBC’s helmet visor camera.

Stadium is producing its own NBA Preview Special tonight at 6p. The show will see New York Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek break down Kristaps Porzingis’ development, and feature insiders from around the league providing local perspective on the biggest questions.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Cynopsis Digital Awards: Check out the talent!

November 10 | 12pm – 2pm | NYC

41 Digital “It List” Honorees, 71 Model D Finalists and 6 celebrity presenters make for
a one-of-a-kind Digital Awards Reception with UNLIMITED networking opportunities. The event will be hosted by actor/host Oilver Trevena and among the ceremony’s guest presenters will be actor, comedian, writer and internet sensation, Randy Rainbow along with YouTube sensation, The Gregory Brothers .

SEE MODEL D FINALISTS SEE “IT LIST” HONOREES REGISTER YOUR TEAM

SPONSORSHIP & PROMOTION

The NCAA is forming a commission to tackle the recent college basketball bribery scandal in response to the federal investigation. The NCAA announced the commission Wednesday and said former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will head up the committee. “We need to do right by student-athletes,” NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. “I believe we can – and we must – find a way to protect the integrity of college sports by addressing both sides of the coin: fairness and opportunity for college athletes, coupled with the enforcement capability to hold accountable those who undermine the standards of our community.” Emmert also noted that the NCAA needs to quickly make “substantive changes” in the way it operates.

Kudos to MLB, which chartered a FedEx cargo plane filled with supplies for families affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The New York Yankees and the Hispanic Federation are supporting the initiative in conjunction with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort, which is providing supplies donated by New Yorkers across the state, including water, diapers and baby food.

DIGITAL & STREAMING

The Washington Capitals are now the first professional sports team to unveil an Alexa Skill for Amazon’s voice-controlled speaker market. “The Capitals” Alexa Skill, available now, allows fans with an Amazon device to ask “Alexa” specific questions including schedule, roster and statistical information about the Washington Capitals. In addition, the Capitals Skill has unique additions for fans including the ability to ask the Capitals to play the team’s goal song or to “Unleash the Fury” or get a Flash Briefing.

ESPORTS

In this week’s edition of Cynopsis Esports & Gaming…

H1Z1 goes Pro
ESL talks Hulu deal
Rocket League is DC bound
Team SoloMid in the spotlight
ELEAGUE now has the It factor
Mario’s US tour
PUBG continues to blaze trails
Gaming’s holiday season wish list

ROSTER MOVES

Bill McCullough was named Vice President, Creative Director for NFL Media. McCullough will lead the Marketing Creative Services team that oversees advertising, on-air promotions, graphics, digital/social promotion marketing and brand strategy for the NFL Media group and be charged with developing brand strategies, driving ratings and hitting marketing KPIs for the NFL Media group and its properties.

THE MAIN EVENT

Eagles/Panthers on CBS/NFL Network/Amazon Prime at 8:25p.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Now Accepting Entries!

Cynopsis TV Awards

The Cynopsis TV Awards salutes excellence in national TV programming, from writing and directing to casting and hosting. In addition, we recognize outstanding achievement across teams, platforms, and overall merit. The submission process is quick and easy and you can take your pick of over 40 categories. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to win a Cynopsis TV Award and appreciation from your peers.

ENTER BY 11/10

ON THIS DAY in 1992: The Washington Redskins’ Art Monk sets an NFL record with his 820th reception.

In the Know: From what school was Art Monk drafted? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company and city.)

Answer to Our Last Sports Trivia Question: Who formally became the next NFL Commissioner after Bert Bell’s passing? Answer: Austin Gunsel served as president in the office of the commissioner until the formal election of Pete Rozelle in 1960. Kudos: Aymon DeMauro-Discovery Communications/NY; Nate Hammond-JCC/NY; Matt Meachem-Gracenote/NY; Jon Miller-NBC Sports/Stamford; Troy Perlowitz-ESPN/Charlotte; Tom Wetzel-MMSI/Warwick; Mark Lehman-Atlanta Braves/Atlanta; Steve McNair-IHeart Media/New Orleans; John Kukla-KDFW/KDFI/NY; Tom Doherty-Starcom Media/Chicago; Gretchen Brady-KTVT/KTXA/Dallas; Judie Henninger-Valentine Productions/Santa Monica; Don Surath-CBS360/San Francisco; Rick Blakely-Casa Del Verde Productions/LA; Bob Ramsey/Palm Springs

Later — Chris

Chris Pursell @VegasandVine
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