David Kaplan to host new weeknight roundtable sports panel discussion show featuring guests from the local/national media, entertainment industry, plus – daily interviews with athletes, coaches and pro team front office executives;
Enhanced focus to be placed on fan engagement within the show via social media interaction, along with a greater leveraging of assets across all NBC Sports Group properties
Chicago, IL (February 21, 2013) -- Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox, has announced it will launch SportsTalk Live presented by Smirnoff, a one-hour weeknight sports roundtable discussion show featuring lively debate on the hottest local and national sports topics of the day hosted by David Kaplan. SportsTalk Live will make its debut on Monday, February 25 at 5:30 PM CT.
Airing Monday-Friday at 5:30 PM (with occasional 5:00 PM start times due to live pro event programming), SportsTalk Live will feature a fast-paced, topical format drawing on Kaplan’s always-entertaining and opinionated sports mind, along with some sure-fire spirited debate from a wider range of guests in the local media, national media and entertainment industry. In addition, a parade of Chicago sports athletes, coaches, and front office execs will also be showcased regularly on SportsTalk Live.
In addition, SportsTalk Live will be making the “viewer” a part of the panel each and every night through a dedicated and enhanced social media fan engagement process through both Twitter and Facebook. Viewers will be able to interact directly with Kaplan and the show’s guests by posting their thoughts and comments on the network’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CSNChicago) and via Twitter by sending their messages to @CSNChicago. Also, fans are urged to utilize the hashtag #ChicagoSportsTalk in their Twitter posts. Select viewer comments and questions for the panel will be read on the air on every show.
“Our goal for SportsTalk Live is to provide Chicago sports fans with a voice on this show, making them a part of the panel discussion each and every night,” said Phil Bedella, Vice President/General Manager of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “Through a wider range of guests, topics and high-energy debates, not to mention our host David Kaplan leading the charge, we’re looking forward to SportsTalk Live being a very entertaining and informative experience for our viewers.”
Added Kaplan: “I look forward to bringing the greatest sports fans in the world an engaging and lively sports debate show that will include the biggest guests and the hottest topics on a nightly basis.”
SportsTalk Live on Comcast SportsNet is under the banner of NBC SportsTalk, the popular digital franchise on NBCSports.com that includes HardballTalk, ProBasketballTalk, ProHockeyTalk and ProFootballTalk among others. The successful franchise was adapted by Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s digital outlet (CSNChicago.com) in 2011, which now features BlackhawksTalk, BullsTalk, CubsTalk, WhiteSoxTalk, BearsTalk, IrishTalk and PrepsTalk platforms, containing interactive content and continually-updated postings from the network’s digital and on-air talent.
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, visit CSNChicago.com or ComcastSportNet.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.