Boston Sports Media Watch

A couple of quick programming notes:

 The Instigators Returns to NESN

The Instigators presented by Cadillac Village of Norwood returns for its second season on Thursday, November 19th at 6:00 pm. The Instigators is an Original NESN Entertainment (ONE) production that was first introduced last December. The weekly show is hosted by NESN studio analyst Mike Milbury who is joined by color analyst Andy Brickley, play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards and other special guests as they debate the hottest and most controversial hockey topics every Thursday night.

The Instigators, which will once again air every Thursday at 6:00 PM and again at 10:30 PM the same night, is unlike traditional regional sports network programs as Mike Milbury and his co-instigators tackle national topics like hirings and firings, NHL rules controversies, and debates about their favorite NHL tough guys and personalities.

Comcast Unveils Expanded Celtics On Demand Library

The new season of Celtics On Demand returns exclusively to Comcast to put fans in control and give them access to in-depth coverage of the players, team and Celtics Dancers, as well as press conferences and community events, which have been produced by the Boston Celtics.  With Celtics On Demand, fans can watch Celtics Captain Paul Pierce teach a new generation how to play basketball; see Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo rollerskating; and take a front row seat at Coach Rivers’ post-game press conferences.  Soon, fans will also enjoy the latest documentary “Take It Back,” which tells the story of how the Celtics added Rasheed Wallace and other talent to this year’s team to make for another championship-driving season. 

Additionally, fans can tune into replays of Comcast SportsNet’s Celtics game telecasts within four hours of each game’s conclusion.  Games are available On Demand for 24 hours. 

Celtics On Demand programming is updated regularly and is available around the clock with the ability to pause, fast forward and rewind selections for Comcast’s digital cable customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.  It’s easy to access just by selecting the “Get Local” or “Sports and Fitness” categories from the On Demand menu, then choosing “NBA TV” and “Boston Celtics.”  For game replays and other Comcast SportsNet content, viewers can then select the “Comcast SportsNet” category.  As with the vast majority of Comcast’s 17,000 On Demand programs available each month, Celtics On Demand comes at no additional cost to the company’s digital cable customers.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Comcast SportsNet announced this morning the official hirings of Sean McAdam, Tom Curran, Art Martone, Sherrod Blakely and Joe Haggerty as they relaunch their website and partner on-air with NECN to provide broadcast and internet coverage of Boston sports.

CSN’s online presence at CSNNE.com will now feature the following lineup:

• Veteran MLB reporter Sean McAdam will cover the Red Sox for Comcast SportsNet after 24 years with the Boston Herald and Providence Journal. McAdam is a member of the Baseball Writers of America and a Baseball Hall of Fame voter.
• Veteran NFL reporter Tom Curran will cover the Patriots after serving with NBCSports.com, the Providence Journal and the MetroWest Daily News.
• Sherrod Blakely, respected NBA reporter and Detroit Pistons beat writer for several Michigan newspapers and MLive.com, will cover the Celtics.
• Joe Haggerty will cover the Bruins for Comcast SportsNet after covering the Bruins and Red Sox for WEEI.com, Boston Metro and the Woburn Daily Times.
• Art Martone, sports editor at the Providence Journal for the past nine years, will serve as CSNNE.com sports editor.
• Improper Bostonian sports editor and columnist Rich Levine will share humor and insight as a CSNNE.com columnist and editor.

For the website, Comcast SportsNet has also hired digital media veteran Bill Via as senior director of digital media. Via has been designing and implementing strategic digital campaigns since 1994 and has comprehensive television experience. Via has developed digital media strategies for A&E International, WGBH Boston, Telemundo and KHNL-TV in Honolulu, HI.

NECN sports personalities Mike Giardi and Chris Collins will now also join the Comcast SportsNet news team, alongside Michael Felger and Gary Tanguay, and recent additions Kevin Walsh, Carolyn Manno, Jessica Moran and Jackie Peper.

CSN will debut a new 30-minute program to air three times a night; SportsNet Central. The new show will start on December 3rd, at 6:00pm and will air each night at 6:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.

In total Comcast SportsNet is creating more than 40 new local newsroom reporting and production positions and has constructed a new newsroom, added a new studio set and expanded its production facilities at the network’s Burlington, MA headquarters. Comcast SportsNet is consolidating the sports news operations of NECN into its Burlington facility and will serve as the exclusive source of sports news on NECN and NECN.com beginning on November 2. NECN will air encore presentations of SportsNet Central each day.

Related link:  NECN, SportsNet find way to share strengths (Globe)

Popularity: 10% [?]

In a blog post this afternoon on ProFootballTalk.com, Tom Curran said good-bye to that site, and announced officially that he is heading over to Comcast SportsNet New England where he will be covering the NFL and the Patriots for the new CSNNE.com, which I’m hearing is set for an official launch on Monday, November 2nd.

I had gotten a few emails this week asking why Michael Felger’s columns and Patriots Report Card were not on the CSNNE site this week, and I’m told that they were just sort of re-organizing and getting caught up before the official launch.

So it looks like the lineup for the site will be Felger and Curran with Sean McAdam and Kevin Paul Dupont said to be soon coming aboard, and Art Martone editing. They will also be hiring a Celtics writer.

That’s a pretty good lineup.

Update: I’m hearing now that Dupont is staying at the Globe. As I mentioned in an earlier post, leaving the Globe, where he had been since the 1970’s would’ve been a huge leap for Dupont. I’m not surprised he’s remaining put.

Popularity: 11% [?]

According to Scott MacKay’s blog on WRNI.org, Providence Journal sports editor Art Martone is leaving the paper to join Comcast SportsNet’s new online venture.

The really interesting part of this post is the last paragraph, which reads:

For Martone, the new post is a good opportunity. Reportedly joining Martone in the new venture is Globe hockey sportswriter Kevin Paul DuPont, McAdam and former Journal sportswriter and football beat guy Tom Curran.

Those are three pretty big names in the local market that could be going to the new CSNNE.com. The site recently had a makeover, and has had Michael Felger providing Patriots content for the last few weeks.

Right now I don’t know if Dupont, McAdam and Curran would be leaving their current positions, though it would seem likely. Dupont has been with The Boston Globesince the 1970’s, making this a huge leap for him, if he is calling it with quits with the paper. McAdam is a good friend of Martone, and the two worked together for years at the Providence Journal, along with Tom Curran, who is currently a national football writer for NBCSports.com

Popularity: 10% [?]

Going back to their days at Fox Sports New England, Comcast SportsNet has always had columns and blogs as part of their webpage. In fact, I did a Celtics blog for them for a couple of seasons. They’ve expanded in recent years by adding in the “Wicked Good Sports” blogs and content to their website, CSNNE.com.

Look for them to step things up even more in the near future.

With the newspaper industry as we know it seemingly on the verge of a complete collapse, writers and reporters are abandoning their print positions for online ones on a daily basis. Recently we saw Marc Spears leave the Globe for Yahoo! Sports and Mike Reiss will leave the Globe this week for the new ESPNBoston.com, which is set to launch next Monday.

WEEI.com has shown that a local on-air media outlet can also be successful at providing written (though not “print”) material and reporting. ESPNBoston.com, with Reiss on board, is going to be a competitor right away, at the very least in terms of covering the Patriots, to the coverage provided by newspapers such as the Globe and Herald. NESN.com also has a stable of bloggers covering all sports.

Comcast SportsNet wants a bigger piece of that.

They recently have been contacting big name writers in town to try and recruit them to write for them. They contacted Mike Reiss about a job prior to his accepting the position with ESPNBoston.com. I’m told they’ve also contacted Chris Gasper and other Globe writers.

Since Michael Felger left WEEI and WEEI.com to host the afternoon show on WBZ-FM, he had been left without a writing outlet. His mailbag at WEEI.com was one of the most popular features on that site. As part of the expansion at CSNNE.com, Felger will now be taking on nearly the same role he had at WEEI.com, writing columns and a weekly mailbag. His first column is already posted.

Could we see a scenario in the near future where the morning links are dominated with content from WEEI.com, ESPNBoston.com, CSNNE.com and NESN.com, instead of from the Globe and Herald websites? I can, especially if the Globe and other newspapers follow through on their threat to start charging for their online content.

Popularity: 6% [?]

It’s official – CBS Radio Steps up to the Plate and Launches FM Sports Stations in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Little did you realize that yesterday when I asked you to program The New Boston Sports Radio Station that there really IS going to be such a station…

There are a couple of stories going around today on the end of the current WBCN (Idolator blog):

Boston-area rock stalwart WBCN is going off the air later this summer, with its Linkin-Park-and-Led-Zep playlist being shoved aside in order for parent company CBS Radio to make room for a new, all-sports yakfest on the area’s radio dial. (WBCN had broadcast New England Patriots football.)

This was followed by the fine Boston Phoenix media reporter Adam Reilly, who says that what is actually happening is that parent company CBS will be moving Mix 98.5 to 104.1 in August, and that a new station, the Sports Hub will emerge at 98.5 will the call letters WBZ-FM. He also says that ‘BCN’s current morning duo Toucher and Rich will do the morning show at the new WBZ-FM.

He then adds this intriguing nugget:

I’m told that WEEI.com’s Michael Felger and Comcast SportsNet’s Gary Tanguay will be doing afternoon shows on the Sports Hub when the station’s up and running. Those are nice gets–and as the Sports Hub competes with powerhouse WEEI-AM, it’ll need all the talent it can get.

Felger on the move again? 98.5 and 104.1 have decent signal, at least up to up here in NH. That’s a leg up on prior WEEI competitors such as 1510 the Zone and ESPN890. Toucher and Rich have an established audience, and Felger and Tanguay are big names in the local sports media. It might just work…especially if the Patriots broadcasts come along as well.

I checked a little  into the Felger/Tanguay thing with some industry sources, and while I can’t say it’s 100% for sure, let’s just say I’m very comfortable echoing what Reilly says about them being on afternoons on the new station.

It is not clear as of yet where the Patriots games will be heard. It would make a ton of sense to have them on the new WBZ-FM, and give them something to anchor their sports lineup around. The Bruins could very well be in play as well.

Update: Multiple posts, plus apparently promos on WBCN itself, are saying at the Patriots and Bruins broadcasts will be heard on the new WBZ-FM.

Patriots and Bruins on WBZ-FM vs Red Sox and Celtics on WEEI.  

What do you think the rest of their lineup should look like?

Related Links:

Say Goodbye to WBCN. Say Hello to WBZ-FM (Ken Fang)

Official ruling on the field: The Rock is dead as FM sports talker comes to the Boston airwaves (Boston Radio Watch)

CBS sacks WBCN for all-sports Boston station - Jessica Heslam

Bruins to debut on new Hub sports radio station - Heslam

Popularity: 20% [?]

The Celtics will hold at press conference  at 4:00pm on Thursday to officially introduce Rasheed Wallace as the newest member of the Boston Celtics.

Comcast SportsNet, the broadcast partner of the Celtics will carry the press conference live, and will stream it on CSNNE.com. Gary Tanguay will anchor coverage from CSN’s Celtics studios and Greg Dickerson will be on-site for post press conference reaction.

Following the press conference, Michael Felger and Tanguay will have full analysis and Dickerson will have an expected one-on-one with Wallace on Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight at 6:30 p.m. The Boston Globe’s (for now) Marc Spears will breakdown the signing on the Late Edition of Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight at 10 p.m.

CSN’s sister station under the Comcast umbrella, NECN will also stream the conference on their website, NECN.com.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Gary Tanguay of Comcast SportsNet reports that Wallace’s agent has told him that his client has committed to joining the Celtics.

In his short post at the CSN website, Tanguay says Wallace’s agent will be a guest tonight on Sports Sunday.

Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald has more extensive story on this.

I also have the Sunday links over at the Fang’s Bites page.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Tommy Heinsohn, Comcast SportsNet’s 28-year color analyst and Celtics legendary player and coach, was awarded the NBA Coaches Association’s Inaugural Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is named for the late Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly and was presented to Tommy for the special contributions he has made to the sport and the coaching profession. Heinsohn has been a member of the Celtics and NBA families for more than five decades as a player, coach and broadcaster.

Here is the release from the NBA Coaches Association:

NBA Coaches Association Presents Inaugural Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award to Hall-of-Famer Tommy Heinsohn

New York, June 10, 2009 — The NBA Coaches Association announced today that legendary Celtics player and coach Tommy Heinsohn will receive the inaugural “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.” The award carries on the memory of Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly.

Daly set a standard of integrity, class and competitive excellence, and his recent passing is mourned by his fellow coaches. The award will recognize a coach who made special contributions to the sport throughout his NBA career and whose body of work had a positive, lasting impact on the NBA coaching profession. It will be presented annually to a current or former NBA head or assistant coach.

Following his Hall of Fame playing career, Tommy Heinsohn led the Celtics to two NBA championships as head coach in 1974 and 1976. During eight-plus seasons on the Celtics’ sideline, Heinsohn displayed a passion for the game and an unwavering loyalty to the Boston franchise that continues today. His love and respect for the game, along with his major contributions to the establishment of the NBA Coaches Association, make him a perfect choice for the inaugural “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.”

“I’m honored by this recognition,” said Heinsohn. “Chuck Daly was a man and a coach who everyone had great respect for, and to be recognized in his memory is very special. I humbly accept this honor on behalf of all those who coach and have coached in the NBA.”

Dallas Mavericks head coach and NBA Coaches Association President Rick Carlisle added: “Like Chuck, Tommy Heinsohn has shown a lifetime devotion to improving NBA basketball for all who play, coach and watch the sport. His dedication, drive and vision unified NBA coaches and helped ensure their welfare for decades to come. Tommy helped pave the way for future coaches to make meaningful contributions to the game beyond the locker room and sidelines. All NBA coaches owe Tommy a debt of gratitude for his work and his example.”

The NBA Coaches Association encompasses all current head and assistant coaches, as well as an active alumni totaling more than 225 members. The NBA Coaches Association is an integral part of the NBA family, working closely with the league on a wide variety of game-related, marketing and community service initiatives. With the “Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award” the association salutes Tommy Heinsohn for his groundbreaking efforts on behalf of our group.

Popularity: 6% [?]

From CSN today.

COMCAST SPORTSNET’S MANNY BEING MANNY WINS REGIONAL EMMY AWARD

BURLINGTON, MA – Comcast SportsNet, New England’s original regional sports network, was honored with a New England Emmy Award in the Sports One-Time Special category for Manny Being Manny: The Final Days in Boston. The 2009 Emmy is Comcast SportsNet’s 11 Emmy this decade.

Manny Being Manny examined the key moments in Manny Ramirez’s final season as a member of the Red Sox, including his hiring of super agent Scott Boras, the Kevin Youkilis dugout incident, the Jack McCormick clubhouse incident, his no swing at-bat in Yankee Stadium and his mysterious July knee injury.

Honored with Emmys were Kevin Miller, coordinating producer; William Bridgen, executive producer; Steve Reagan, executive producer; Torey Champagne, producer/editor; TJ Powers, graphics/editor and Tom Guilmette, videographer.

“Manny Being Manny was a special project for Comcast SportsNet and our production team is honored to be recognized with an Emmy Award,” said Bill Bridgen, Comcast SportsNet executive vice president and general manager.

NBC held a noon conference call (Still going on, actually) to officially announce the additions of Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy to their Football Night in America lineup.

Dick Ebersol, the Chairman of NBC Sports and Executive Producer of FNA had the following to say about Harrison:

“Rodney is someone we’ve had our eye on. He is a strong communicator and personality, and our initial thoughts about him were confirmed when he did a terrific job for us at the Super Bowl. We have no doubt that Rodney will be as hard-hitting with his opinions as he was with his body on the football field.

“To paraphrase one of his teammates, ‘Rodney was as blunt with his opinions as he was with this hits.’”

In the call, Harrison talked about his approach to his new job, and the need to be candid. He said that there would be times when he would need to be “brutally honest with guys you played with, guys who are your friends” – he then gave the example of if when the Patriots play the Colts this year, and Tom Brady is not performing, and the talk is that his knee is bothering him, Harrison is going to need to point that out.

If more of interest is said, I’ll try to pass it along. Update: Such as what Harrison said about Peyton Manning.

Popularity: 8% [?]