Sports Media Digest- March 27, 2012

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NBC Announces Official Information on NFL Season Kick-Off- The news of the date was announced last month, but NBC and the NFL have announced more details on the opener to the 2012 NFL season. The game will be played Wednesday, September 5th as the Super Bowl champion New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys. NBC will begin coverage at 7:30p.m. ET with its pre-game show NFL Kickoff 2012 with kick-off at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Golf Channel Signs Three-Year Extension To Air Kraft Nabisco Championship- The Golf Channel has signed a three year extension with the LPGA for the exclusive television rights of the first LPGA major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. The network provided coverage of the event last year, and had the highest first round rating for the tournament in 18 years. The Golf Channel begins coverage of this year’s event Thursday and Friday at Noon ET and Saturday and Sunday at 4:30p.m. ET.

NBA TV Has Record Viewership for First Quarter- NBA TV has announced that its first quarter viewership was the highest in the history of the network. Through 73 games on the network the audience reached 344,000 total viewers (+36%) and 270,000 households, up 36% each from a year ago. Viewership for NBA TV’s Fan Night telecasts were up 22% over 2011.

NBA on TNT Double Header Thursday- TNT is set for this week’s Thursday NBA double header. The opener at 8:00p.m. ET will pit the Dallas Mavericks at the Miami Heat in a 2011 Finals rematch Kevin Harlan will be courtside along with Reggie Miller and Craig Sager. The second game of the night at 10:30p.m. ET will see the Oklahoma City Thunder travels to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and Cheryl Miller will have the call. Thus far this season the ratings for TNT’s Thursday night twin bills are up 13% over last year.

Nantz to Receive Coaches Award- CBS lead announcer Jim Nantz will be honored this weekend as the recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Metropolitan Award. The award has been given out since 1941 an honors those who provide long and outstanding service to men’s college basketball. Nantz will receive his award Sunday at a ceremony in New Orleans.

NFL Media Properties Get Re-Branded Logos- The NFL has announced that many of the various media properties under the control of the league are getting new logos. The NFL Network, NFL Red Zone, NFL.com, NFL Mobile, and NFL Films will all have similar looks incorporating the updated NFL shield. Here are the new and old logos: