FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 22nd, 2016
NBC SPORTS GROUP’S PRESS PASS – WHAT TO WATCH – DECEMBER 22-26, 2016
(All times ET)
The “Press Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box is a quick overview of upcoming program information and highlights from the NBC Sports Group Communications team. For live streaming information on NBCSports.com, and Golf Channel Live Extra, click here.
Thursday, December 22nd
6 p.m. on NFL Network – Thursday Night Football GameDay
7:30 p.m. on NBC – Football Night in Philadelphia
8:20 p.m. on NBC – Thursday Night Football: New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
2 a.m. on NBCSN – Big Bash League Cricket: Sydney Sixers v. Hobart Hurricanes
9 p.m. on Golf Channel – Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 7
Friday, December 23rd
7 a.m. on NBCSN – Pro Football Talk Live
9 a.m. on NBCSN – The Dan Patrick Show
2:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Aviva Premiership Rugby: Northampton v. Sale
9 p.m. on Golf Channel – Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 6
Saturday, December 24th
9 a.m. on NBCSN – Aviva Premiership Rugby: Wasps v. Bath
Noon on NBCSN – Big Bash League Cricket: Sydney Sixers v. Hobart Hurricanes
2 p.m. on NBC – Rolex Grand Prix
3 p.m. on NBC – Red Bull Signature Series – “Rampage”
4:30 p.m. on NBC – 2016 Winter Dew Tour
Sunday, December 25th
2:30 p.m. on NBC – PGA Tour Special: Must See Moments
3:30 p.m. on NBC – Nitro Circus
4:30 p.m. on NFL Network – NFL Special: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
5 p.m. on NBC – Spartan Race
7 p.m. on NBC – Football Night in America
8:20 p.m. on NBC – Sunday Night Football: Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs
Monday, December 26th
7 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Live
7:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Watford v. Crystal Palace
10 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Manchester United v. Sunderland
10 a.m. on CNBC – Premier League: Chelsea v. Bournemouth
12:15 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Hull City v. Manchester City
2:15 p.m. on NBCSN – Goal Zone
3:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Download: Bob Bradley – A Football Odyssey
4:30 p.m. on NBCSN – It’s Called Football: Chelsea
5 p.m. on NBCSN – It’s Called Football: Arsenal
5:30 p.m. on NBCSN – THE MEN IN BLAZERS SHOW: Boxing Day Special
8 p.m. on NBCSN – Behind the Badge: Watford FC (Episodes 1-4)
9 p.m. on Golf Channel – Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 5
10 p.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Match of the Week
NFL
NBC Sports – the only network with two primetime NFL packages – continues its coverage this week with multiple matchups on NBC and NFL Network.
NBC continues its coverage of Thursday Night Football tonight as Eli Manning and the New York Giants (10-4) aim to clinch a playoff berth with a win at Lincoln Financial Field against Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles (5-9). Coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. ET with Football Night in Philadelphia on NBC.
Calling Giants-Eagles are Mike Tirico (play-by-play); Cris Collinsworth; and sideline reporter Heather Cox. Bob Costas will serve as the host of the Football Night in Philadelphia pregame show from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. He will be joined on-site by Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison.
In addition, NBC will produce Sunday’s Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers game at 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Tirico calls the game joined by analyst Doug Flutie, with Cox reporting from the sideline. Dungy will join Tirico and Flutie in the booth beginning in the second quarter.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football continues this week with an AFC West clash, as the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) aim to clinch a playoff berth with a win against the rival Denver Broncos (8-6) on Christmas Night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Coverage begins with Football Night in America this Sunday, Dec. 25, at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.
Calling Broncos-Chiefs are Al Michaels (play-by-play); Collinsworth; and sideline reporter Michele Tafoya.
PREMIER LEAGUE
NBC Sports Group presents a Premier League packed holiday season in the next two weeks, highlighted by 30 Premier League matches in 10 days, and 20 consecutive hours of Premier League programming on Boxing Day, Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2.
This week’s live Premier League match coverage begins this Monday, Dec. 26, at 7 a.m. ET with Premier League Live on NBCSN followed by Watford v. Crystal Palace at 7:30 a.m. ET. Monday at 10 a.m. ET, NBCSN hosts coverage of Manchester United v. Sunderland, with coverage of first-place Chelsea v. Bournemouth on CNBC.
Coverage continues Monday at 12:15 p.m. ET on NBCSN with Hull City v. third-place Manchester City. Sports Group’s lead Premier League play-by-play commentator Arlo White calls the match, joined by analyst Lee Dixon.
Rebecca Lowe hosts Premier League Live, joined by a combination of Robbie Earle, Kyle Martino and Robbie Mustoe.
NBC Sports Group and Whistle Sports have teamed up on a new series – It’s Called Football – hosted by the YouTube sensation F2 Freestylers. The six-part series debuts on Boxing Day with back-to-back episodes this Monday, Dec. 26, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN following a live Premier League tripleheader.
In each 30-minute episode, F2 Freestylers Billy Wingrove and Jeremy Lynch will take fans behind a different club from the Premier League, providing background on the culture, songs, stadiums, history, and fans of the club.
In the first episode, Billy and Jeremy examine the key facts fans need to know about Premier League football, and take fans through London’s Chelsea neighborhood to speak with Blues fans. The guys also speak with Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi, and perform trick shots under the lights at Stamford Bridge.
The second episode in the series will premiere immediately following at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and features a look into the history of Arsenal Football Club, including appearances by Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, defender Shkodran Mustafi, and former Arsenal player Daniel Karbassiyoon.
Monday, Dec. 26
7:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Watford v. Crystal Palace, commentated by Peter Drury and Clive Allen
10 a.m. on NBCSN – Manchester United v. Sunderland, commentated by Gary Weaver and Danny Higginbotham
10 a.m. on CNBC – Chelsea v. Bournemouth, commentated by Tony Jones and Tony Gale
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Arsenal v. West Brom, commentated by Jim Proudfoot and David Prutton
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Burnley v. Middlesbrough, commentated by Jonathan Beck and Neil McCann
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Leicester City v. Everton, commentated by Ian Crocker and Andy Hinchcliffe
10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Swansea City v. West Ham, commentated by Phil Blacker and Terry Gibson
12:15 p.m. on NBC – Hull City v. Manchester City, commentated by Arlo White and Lee Dixon
Tuesday, Dec. 27
12:15 p.m. on NBCSN – Liverpool v. Stoke City, commentated by Peter Drury and Jim Beglin
Wednesday, Dec. 28
2:45 p.m. on NBCSN – Southampton v. Tottenham, commentated by Jon Champion and David Prutton
CRICKET
Big Bash League coverage continues on Friday, December 23 at 2 a.m. ET, when the Sixers travel to Blundstone Arena, in Tasmania, Australia, to take on the Hobart Hurricanes. Roz Kelly will serve as studio host for the matchup, and Mark Howard will handle play-by-play duties. Kelly and Howard will be joined by analysts Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting. An encore presentation of Sixers – Hurricanes will air Saturday, December 24 at Noon ET.
