FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 21st, 2016

WHITE SOX vs. CUBS “CROSSTOWN CLASSIC” COVERAGE RETURNS TO COMCAST SPORTSNET NEXT WEEK

Comcast SportsNet’s Crosstown coverage gets underway on Monday, July 25 LIVE from U.S. Cellular Field starting at 5:00 PM CT!

CSN to carry LIVE coverage of all four Crosstown battles (July 25-26 at U.S. Cellular Field & July 27-28 at Wrigley Field);
Coverage team to include Harrelson, Stone, Kasper, Deshaies, Melton, Hollandsworth, Kaplan, Garfien, Crull, Santos, Mooney, Hayes…along with Scott Podsednik & Ozzie Guillen!

CSNChicago.com to also provide LIVE video stream of post-game press conferences, plus detailed “Crosstown Classic” analysis via ‘CubsTalk’ & ‘WhiteSoxTalk,’
along with numerous feature stories & in-game “Tweets” from CSN on-air/digital talent!

 Cubs and White Sox fans can get interactive throughout the week by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #CrosstownCSN

 “SportsNet Central: Crosstown Preview” to air Sunday, July 24 at 10:30 PM

Chicago, IL (July 21, 2016) – Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, is ready jump start the annual northside-southside rivalry in a big way with expanded, LIVE coverage of ALL FOUR GAMES of the “Crosstown Classic” series beginning MONDAY, JULY 25.  Plus – CSNChicago.com will be there to provide dedicated 24/7 coverage of this always-entertaining city series.

Comcast SportsNet’s “Crosstown Classic” coverage gets underway on Monday, July 25 with a live, remote U.S. Cellular Field edition of SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado (hosted by David Kaplan and a panel of local baseball experts and special Cubs/Sox guests) at 5:00 PM CT.  Immediately following SportsTalk Live, a special one-hour edition of White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Kowalis Family of Dealerships will take place from the U.S. Cellular Field at 6:00 PM (featuring hosts Chuck Garfien and David Kaplan, analysts Bill Melton and Todd Hollandsworth, along with 2005 White Sox World Series hero Scott Podsednik) for a complete series preview, interviews with players and coaches and much more.  First pitch coverage of this “White Sox telecast” on CSN begins at 7:00 PM featuring Ken “Hawk” Harrelson & Steve Stone with the game call.  Immediately following the game, fans can look forward to a complete game recap/analysis, plus live post-game press conferences, player interviews and much more on Subaru White Sox Postgame Live.

Tuesday’s (July 26) game at U.S. Cellular Field will be a “Cubs telecast” on Comcast SportsNet featuring the announcing tandem of Len Kasper & Jim Deshaies. A special one-hour live remote edition of Cubs Pregame Live presented by Fields Auto Group begins at 5:00 PM (hosted by Kaplan & Garfien and Hollandsworth & Melton as analysts). First pitch coverage begins at 6:00 PM, which will be followed by Cubs Postgame Live presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois immediately after the game.

The “Crosstown Classic” then shifts to the northside for the final two games of the series with the Wednesday, July 27 game being a “White Sox telecast” on CSN (SportsTalk Live from Wrigley Field begins the coverage at 5:00 PM…White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Kowalis Family of Dealerships takes place at 6:00 PM featuring CSN’s full coverage crew, along with Podsednik and 2005 White Sox World Series winning manager Ozzie Guillen). The Thursday, July 28 game will be “Cubs telecast” with SportsTalk Live coverage from the ballpark starting up at 5:00 PM.  First pitch coverage for these two games begins at 7:00 PM.

Kelly Crull (Cubs beat reporter) and Siera Santos (White Sox beat reporter) will also be on hand for every game providing detailed pre-game/in-game/post-game reports and player interviews throughout the Crosstown series.  Plus – CSNChicago.com Cubs “Insider” Patrick Mooney & White Sox “Insider” Dan Hayes will provide additional pre-game reports all week long.

To kick off “Crosstown Classic” week on CSN, fans can look forward to SportsNet Central: Crosstown Preview on Sunday night, July 24 at 10:30 PM.  Hosted by Pat Boyle, along with analytical segments from Kaplan/Hollandsworth and Garfien/Melton, this half-hour special will also provide a number of feature segments including a montage-style feature with White Sox players discussing the dominance of the their pitching ace: five-time All-Star Chris Sale, a behind-the-scenes game day look inside the iconic man-operated Wrigley Field centerfield scoreboard, and a “Know Your Opponent” segment with White Sox & Cubs players answering light-hearted questions about their crosstown rivals, among others.

In addition, Comcast SportsNet’s website, CSNChicago.com, will provide even more exclusive “Crosstown Classic” content including the following highlights:

  • Live stream of White Sox manager Robin Ventura and Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s “Crosstown Classic” post-game press conferences (sponsored by Xfinity) following every game.
  • #CrosstownCSN – Fans from both sides of town can interact with their comments throughout the week on Twitter via the hashtag – #CrosstownCSN – plus, select tweets will also be retweeted via the network’s @CSNCubs, @CSNWhiteSox, and @CSNChicago Twitter handles.
  • IPowWow – On every edition of “Pregame Live” this week, Cubs and White Sox can vote in real-time on a specific topical question that will offer up five choices…fans just need to log onto CSNChicago.com/vote to cast their vote as many times as they choose with the immediate percentages of each choice appearing on their desktop, laptop, or mobile device.
  • Complete coverage of the “Crosstown Classic” 24/7 from CSNChicago.com Cubs Insider Patrick Mooney (@CSNMooney), White Sox Insider Dan Hayes (@DanHayesCSN), plus – additional coverage provided by CSN “Pre/Post Game Live” hosts Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) and David Kaplan (@thekapman), along with Todd Hollandsworth (@hollytime28), Siera Santos (@SieraSantos) and Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull).  CSNChicago.com digital baseball reporters Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) and JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) will also be providing game day reports, analysis and features.
  • White Sox/Cubs In-Game Live (Cubs sponsored by State Farm), a second screen platform for web and mobile devices that combines state-of-the-art infographics, data visualization of real-time statistics and game info with rich social interactivity tied to CSN Chicago’s live White Sox/Cubs “Crosstown Classic” game telecasts.
  • “Cubs/White Sox Pulse” (sponsored by Service King) — a one-stop social media hub that reveals the latest trending topics and player buzz from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Plus, “White Sox/Cubs Pulse” aggregates all White Sox/Cubs player tweets, along with fan tweets that utilize the hashtag #CrosstownCSN for the latest news, rumors, trades and more by following @CSNWhiteSox/@CSNCubs.
  • WhiteSoxTalk & CubsTalk, CSNChicago.com’s high-velocity, real-time, comprehensive Cubs news and opinion section featuring original commentary, reporting and aggregation. CubsTalk is under the banner of NBC SportsTalk, NBC’s successful digital franchise on NBCSports.com that includes ProFootballTalk, HardballTalk, ProBaskteballTalk, ProHockeyTalk, CollegeFootballTalk and GolfTalkCentral. SportsTalk was extended to CSNChicago.com through the creation of BlackhawksTalk, BullsTalk, CubsTalk, WhiteSoxTalk, ChiFireTalk, BearsTalk, PrepsTalk, IrishTalk and B1GTalk which contains interactive content and continually updated insights from the network’s digital and on-air talent.
  • CSN Chicago’s White Sox & Cubs content will also be distributed via its digital network of partnerships including NBCSports.com, NBCNews.com, Yahoo! Sports and Xfinity.com.

 

Note Comcast SportsNet’s full coverage breakdown for the upcoming White Sox vs. Cubs “Crosstown Classic” series:

MONDAY, JULY 25
5:00 PM – SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado – Special edition pre-game discussion & analysis with host David Kaplan and special guests LIVE from U.S. Cellular Field
6:00 PM – White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Kowalis Family of Dealerships – Special ONE-HOUR edition pre-game show LIVE from U.S. Cellular Field with special guest Scott Podsednik…features to include “Know Your Opponent” & a new 10-year retrospective interview with former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski on his unforgettable “Crosstown” home plate confrontation with former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett.
7:00 PM – CUBS at WHITE SOX (L) – “White Sox telecast” featuring Ken “Hawk” Harrelson & Steve Stone
9:45 PM – Subaru White Sox Postgame Live (time approx.) – Complete game recap/analysis, plus live post-game press conferences and player interviews
10:00 PM/10:30 PM – GMC SportsNet CentralFull Crosstown Classic Game 1 recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:00 AM – SportsNet Central presented by CLR – Full Crosstown Classic Game 1 recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:30 AM – Cubs at White Sox (game replay)

TUESDAY, JULY 26
5:00 PM – Cubs Pregame Live presented by Fields Auto Group – Special ONE-HOUR edition pre-game show LIVE from U.S. Cellular Field…features to include a real-time fan voting segment (via CSNChicago.com/vote) on the “Top 5 Moments in Crosstown History” & a piece on baseball analytics and how Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks utilizes them to his advantage.
6:00 PM – CUBS at WHITE SOX (L) – “Cubs telecast” featuring Len Kasper & Jim Deshaies
9:00 PM – Cubs Postgame Live presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (time approx.) – Complete game recap/analysis, plus live post-game press conferences and player interviews
9:30 PM/10:00 PM/10:30 PM – GMC SportsNet CentralFull Crosstown Classic Game 2 recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:00 AM – SportsNet Central presented by CLR – Full Crosstown Classic Game 2 recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:30 AM – Cubs at White Sox (game replay)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27
5:00 PM – SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado – Special edition pre-game discussion & analysis with host David Kaplan and special guests LIVE from Wrigley Field
6:00 PM – White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Kowalis Family of Dealerships – Special ONE-HOUR edition pre-game show LIVE from Wrigley Field with special guests Scott Podsednik & Ozzie Guillen…features to include a piece on Cubs superstar Kris Bryant’s baseball roots in San Diego, which includes interview with Bryant and his USD coach.
7:00 PM – WHITE SOX at CUBS (L) – “White Sox telecast” featuring Ken “Hawk” Harrelson & Steve Stone
9:45 PM – Subaru White Sox Postgame Live (time approx.) – Complete game recap/analysis, plus live post-game press conferences and player interviews
10:00 PM/10:30 PM – GMC SportsNet CentralFull Crosstown Classic Game 3 recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:00 AM – SportsNet Central presented by CLR – Full Crosstown Classic Game 3 recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:30 AM – White Sox at Cubs (game replay)

THURSDAY, JULY 28
5:00 PM – SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado – Special edition pre-game discussion & analysis with host David Kaplan and special guests LIVE from Wrigley Field
6:00 PM – Cubs Pregame Live presented by Fields Auto Group – Special edition pre-game show LIVE from Wrigley Field…features to include a behind-the-scenes look at the work life of a Wrigley Field vendor & montage-style feature with White Sox players discussing the dominance of the their pitching ace, five-time All-Star Chris Sale.
7:00 PM – WHITE SOX at CUBS (L) – “Cubs telecast” featuring Len Kasper & Jim Deshaies
9:45 PM – Cubs Postgame Live presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (time approx.) – Complete game recap/analysis, plus live post-game press conferences and player interviews
10:00 PM/10:30 PM – GMC SportsNet CentralFull Crosstown Classic Game 4 & entire series recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:00 AM – SportsNet Central presented by CLR – Full Crosstown Classic Game 4 & entire series recap, along with the latest news/highlights from the day in sports
12:30 AM – White Sox at Cubs (game replay)

ALL TIMES CENTRAL TIME

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Comcast SportsNet Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, features over 275 live pro games in high definition each year.  In addition, CSN delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as the Chicago Bears, along with Emmy Award-winning regional sports news and analysis via SportsNet Central and SportsTalk Live.  Through the network’s growing digital platform, CSNChicago.com, Chicago sports fans tap into the most comprehensive and dedicated 24/7 online destination for breaking news, up-to-the-minute game previews/recaps, highlights, multimedia video clips, blogs and standout coverage from CSNChicago.com’s team of “Insiders.”  Follow the network on Twitter via @CSNChicago.

NBC Sports Regional Networks, part of NBC Sports Group, consists of 10 regional networks that deliver more than 2,200 live sporting events annually, along with award-winning news, comprehensive analysis, digital content and original programming to more than 43 million homes. The NBC Sports Regional Networks are: CSN Bay Area, CSN California, CSN Chicago, CSN Mid-Atlantic, CSN New England, CSN Northwest, TCN, CSN Philadelphia and SNY. For additional information, visit CSN.com. For more information on NBC Sports Group properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios, headshots and logos, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

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