FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 29th, 2013

COMCAST SPORTSNET TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF CAPITALS-RANGERS NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL SERIES

NETWORK TO PRESENT LIVE COVERAGE OF FOUR OF THE SERIES’ FIRST FIVE GAMES, INCLUDING GAME 1 ON THURSDAY, MAY 2, AT 7:30 P.M.

 

CAPITALS CENTRAL, CAPITALS POSTGAME LIVE TO DELIVER EXTENSIVE NEWS, ANALYSIS AND OPINION SURROUNDING FIRST-ROUND GAMES

 

EXPANDED PLAYOFF CONTENT TO BE FEATURED ACROSS NETWORK PLATFORMS, INCLUDING SPORTSNET CENTRAL AND CSNWASHINGTON.COM

 

Bethesda, Md. (April 29, 2013) – Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will provide comprehensive multi-platform coverage of the Washington Capitals’ 2013 NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the New York Rangers, highlighted by live coverage of four of the round’s first five contests, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. Comcast SportsNet will also present its signature game-day shows, Capitals Central and Capitals Postgame Live, and extensive Capitals coverage across its television and digital media platforms throughout the best-of-seven playoff series.

 

Live Game Coverage

Comcast SportsNet’s schedule of live coverage of the Capitals’ first-round games, which will be exclusive throughout the Washington/Baltimore region, includes at least four contests and begins with Game 1 on Thursday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. Comcast SportsNet is also scheduled to televise Game 3 on Monday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m., Game 4 on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Game 5 on Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m., if necessary. NBC will air national coverage of Game 2 on Saturday, May 4, at 12:30 p.m. Game time and television information for Game 6 on May 12 and Game 7 on May 13, if necessary, will be announced at a later time. Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati, analyst Craig Laughlin and reporter Al Koken will continue to lead Comcast SportsNet’s live game coverage in the postseason.

 

Pre- & Post-Game Shows

Comcast SportsNet will present its live pre- and post-game news, analysis and opinion programs surrounding the Capitals’ opening-round contests. Capitals Central, the half-hour pre-game show, will air immediately prior to all games on Comcast SportsNet. Capitals Postgame Live will follow all seven potential first-round games for a half hour, regardless of which network televises the game. These shows are hosted alternately by Rob Carlin (home games) and Al Koken (road games) and feature analyst Alan May. Beninati and Laughlin will also contribute to the coverage from the arena.

 

News & Entertainment Programming

Geico SportsNet Central, the network’s daily news show, will offer expanded playoff coverage throughout the series, led by Capitals television beat reporter Jill Sorenson. Prior to weeknight match-ups in the first-round, special hour-long editions of Geico SportsNet Central will deliver full pre-game news and interviews beginning at 6 p.m. Coverage will continue on multiple editions of Geico SportsNet Central following each game. In addition, SportsTalk Live, the network’s daily talk show, will feature extensive Capitals commentary and debate throughout the playoffs.

 

Digital Media Content

Comcast SportsNet’s digital media properties, highlighted by CSNwashington.com, will continue to feature extensive Capitals coverage throughout the playoffs. Led by Capitals Insider Chuck Gormley, comprehensive written, video and interactive content will be delivered across the network’s online, mobile and social media platforms. In addition, CSNwashington.com will continue to feature “In-Game Live,” the real-time statistics platform, during games. Fans can also follow the coverage on Twitter at @CSNwashington and join the conversation by using #CapitalsTalk.

 

2012 Playoff Ratings Highlights

Comcast SportsNet’s coverage of the Capitals’ 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against Boston was the highest-rated Capitals playoff series in network history, posting an average household rating of 5.90 in the Washington market over four games. Game 7 on April 25, 2012, was the second highest-rated Capitals game in Comcast SportsNet history, earning an 8.01 average household rating in the Washington market, just shy of the all-time record of 8.10, set in Game 7 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal against Montreal on April 28, 2010.

 

Capitals-Rangers 2013 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Regional TV Schedule

 

Gm.   Day     Date         Time             Game                                           Television                     CSN Pre-game        CSN Post-game

1        Thu.    May 2        7:30 p.m.     NY Rangers at Washington    Comcast SportsNet    Capitals Central      Capitals Postgame Live
2        Sat.     May 4        12:30 p.m.   NY Rangers at Washington    NBC                               –                                   Capitals Postgame Live

3        Mon.   May 6        7:30 p.m.     Washington at NY Rangers    Comcast SportsNet    Capitals Central      Capitals Postgame Live

4        Wed.   May 8        7:30 p.m.     Washington at NY Rangers    Comcast SportsNet    Capitals Central      Capitals Postgame Live
5        Fri.      May 10*    7:30 p.m.     NY Rangers at Washington    Comcast SportsNet    Capitals Central      Capitals Postgame Live
6        Sun.    May 12*    TBD              Washington at NY Rangers    TBD                                TBD                            Capitals Postgame Live
7        Mon.   May 13*    TBD              NY Rangers at Washington    TBD                                TBD                            Capitals Postgame Live

 

*If necessary.

 

Notes: NBC Sports Network is scheduled to provide non-exclusive national coverage of Games 1, 3 and 4 of the Capitals-Rangers first-round series, but it will be blacked-out in the Washington/Baltimore area. Those games, as well as Game 5, which has not been assigned national television information, will be available to regional viewers exclusively on Comcast SportsNet. Game 2 will be exclusive to NBC. Games 6 and 7 are to be determined (TBD.)

 

Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic – the official sports network of the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, D.C. United, Atlantic Coast Conference and Colonial Athletic Association – delivers more than 500 live sporting events per year, along with Emmy Award-winning news, analysis and entertainment programming, to more than 4.7 million homes throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Comcast SportsNet’s digital portfolio, highlighted by CSNwashington.com and CSNbaltimore.com, is the region’s leading source for online sports news and information.

 

NBC Sports Regional Networks, part of the NBC Sports Group, consists of 13 local networks that deliver more than 2,400 sporting events annually, along with breaking news and comprehensive analysis, to more than 50 million cable and satellite homes. The NBC Sports Regional Networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Houston, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, CSS and SNY. NBC Sports Regional Networks also manages NECN (New England Cable News), the nation’s largest regional news network, and The Comcast Network, based in Philadelphia and Washington, which delivers community-oriented programming. For more information, see ComcastSportsNet.com.

 

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

 

www.CSNwashington.com

www.CSNbaltimore.com