Sports Media Digest- January 19, 2012

We have been a little behind on the digest…so here we go…

NFL Network to Produce Six Hour Championship Sunday Pre-Game Show- The NFL Network is getting set for NFL Championship Sunday by producing a six hour pre-game show prior to the action on the field. Host Rich Eisen, along with his cast of analysts, will kick-off NFL GameDay Morning beginning at 9:00a.m. ET

Fox Set to Air First Live Premier League Match on Broadcast Television- Fox Sports will kick-off its NFC Championship Sunday with live coverage of the Arsenal and Manchester United Premier League soccer match, the first time a Premier League match will air live in a U.S. broadcast television network. Coverage begins at 10:30am ET with Rob Stone in his first FOX Sports appearance along with analyst Eric Wynalda, and CNN talk show host Piers Morgan.

NBA TV Sees Record Audience for Lakers/Clippers- Last Saturday’s NBA match-up between the Lakers and Clippers on NBA TV delivered the most-watched regular season game in the network’s history, with 756,000 total viewers. So far this season the network is averaging 383,000 total viewers per game, up 68% from 2010.

Four Top 25 Clubs Will Be Part of CBS NCAA Basketball Triple Header on Saturday- CBS will have triple header college basketball action this Saturday. Coverage begins at 12:00p.m. ET as #2 Kentucky takes on Alabama with Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel on the call. Kevin Harlan and Bill Raftery will broadcast game two at 2:00p.m. ET as #19 Michigan travels to Arkansas. The finale at 4:00p.m. ET will feature regional action with Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg calling #7 Kansas at Texas and Tim Brando and Greg Anthony calling #11 UConn at Tennesee.

Four College Hoops Games on Tap Saturday on CBS Sports Network- Not to be out done by its big brother, the CBS Sports Network will have four games on tape this Saturday. Theaction tips off with a women’s doubleheader as St. Joseph’s visits Xavier at 1:00 PM, ET. Brent Stover and Tammy Blackburn announce. Wyoming-ColoradoState follows at 3:00 PM, ET. Jason Knapp and Krista Blunk call the action. Men’s action returns to the Network at 5:00 PM, ET with UMass at Richmond. Tom McCarthy and Pete Gillen will have the call. The nightcap comes at 10:00p.m. ET as New Mexico takes on #14 UNLV. James Bates, Steve Lappas and Turner Sports’ Reggie Miller handle the call.

Real Sports To Receive Another DuPont-Columbia Journalism Award- HBO Sports has announced that Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel will once again be awarded the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for excellence in broadcast journalism. It is the second time in seven years the program has received the award. It also marks marks only the second time a sports program has received the duPont since its founding in 1943.

Documentary on Rod Laver Premiers on Tennis Channel Saturday- The Tennis Channel will debut Signature Series: Rod Laver, a documentary on the life of the tennis legend, tomorrow night at 9:00p.m. ET. Laver won 11 Grand Slam singles championships before being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.

Speed to Cover NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction- Speed Television will air the induction of Darrell Waltrip into the NASCAR Hall of Fame this Sunday at 6:00p.m. ET. Waltrip will join Cale Yarborough, Dale Inman, Glen Wood and the late Richie Evans in the third class of inductees at the Hall on Friday.

CBS Sports Network has PBR This Weekend- Professional Bull Riders (PBR) returns to CBS Sports Network on this Sunday at 6:00p.m. ET with the Portland Invitational. Craig Hummer and PBR Ring of Honor Member J.W. Hart announce, with Leah Garcia reporting from dirt level.

Supercross Comes to Dodger Stadium for CBS Sports Spectacular- CBS Sports Spectacular will have the first Supercross race of the season with the Monster Energy AMA Supercross this Sunday at 12:00p.m. ET. Ralph Sheheen, Jeff Emig and Erin Bates call the action.

Ice Cross Downhill on NBC- The Red Bull Signature Series, Red Bull Crashed Ice will air this Saturday, January 21 on NBC at 2:00 pm ET. Sal Masekela will serve as host.

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