FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 28th, 2018

OZZIE GUILLEN AND DOUG GLANVILLE TO JOIN LEILA RAHIMI ON “BASEBALL NIGHT IN CHICAGO,” DEBUTING THURSDAY, APRIL 5 AT 6:30 PM CT ON NBC SPORTS CHICAGO

Chicago, IL (March 28, 2018) – NBC Sports Chicago, the multi-platform home for the most games and the most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, has announced it will launch Baseball Night in Chicago, a brand new, “Chicago-focused” baseball show airing Monday-Friday at 6:30 PM CT.  The new half-hour show will serve as the lead-in program for every 7:00 PM weeknight Cubs or White Sox game on NBC Sports Chicago this season.  NOTE: Baseball Night in Chicago will also stream live on NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers.

Beginning Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 PM, Baseball Night in Chicago host Leila Rahimi (@leilarahimi) will be joined by a rotation of White Sox and Cubs experts, which will include 2005 White Sox World Series championship manager Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) and former Cubs standout centerfielder/veteran baseball analyst & author Doug Glanville (@dougglanville).  In addition, current NBC Sports Chicago studio analysts David DeJesus (@David_DeJesus3) and Scott Podsednik will also make regular appearances on the show throughout the season.

Breaking away from a traditional pre-game show, Baseball Night in Chicago will focus on the day’s top local baseball storylines as it pertains to both the Cubs and White Sox featuring discussion/debate on the issues that matter most to the Chicago baseball fan. In addition to live game night reports from Wrigley Field or Guaranteed Rate Field, which will include interviews with Cubs/White Sox players and coaches, Baseball Night in Chicago will also have a heavy emphasis on viewer social media interaction that will prompt fans to chime in with their thoughts on the top issues of the day.

“The creation of Baseball Night in Chicago will focus on the most important topics of the day surrounding both teams and, more importantly, involve the fans in those discussions as well,” said Kevin Cross, Vice President of Content for NBC Sports Chicago.

Fans can submit their Baseball Night in Chicago comments and questions directly to the network’s team-specific Twitter handles for the Cubs (@NBCSCubs) and White Sox (@NBCSWhiteSox) and use the hashtag #BaseballNightChi. Select fan comments will be highlighted on screen.

NBC Sports 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, NBC Sports Chicago delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as the Chicago Bears, along with numerous entertaining local sports discussion/social media-focused programs via In the Loop and SportsTalk Live.  Through the network’s growing digital platform, NBCSportsChicago.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, and standout coverage from the network’s team of “Insiders.”  Follow the network on Twitter via @NBCSChicago.

NBC Sports Regional Networks is NBC Sports Group’s portfolio of nine regional networks that delivers more than 2,200 live sporting events and original content to more than 35 million homes. Aligned within Eastern and Western Divisions, the NBC Sports Regional Networks are: NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia +, NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports Washington + and SNY; and NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Northwest. For more information on NBC Sports Group properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios, headshots and logos, please visit www.NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.