FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 31st, 2017

CSN ANNOUNCES ITS COMPREHENSIVE 2017 CHICAGO BEARS/NFL SEASON COVERAGE LINE-UP

LAURENCE HOLMES TO JOIN CSN’S BEARS COVERAGE TEAM
WSCR AM 670 “The Score” personality to host the network’s game day coverage of “Bears Pre/Postgame Live” beginning Sunday, September 10

“Pro Football Weekly” (Season Premiere): Friday, September 1 at 5:30 PM
“Bears Recap presented by United Airlines” (Season Premiere): Monday, September 4 at 4:30 PM
“Bears Huddle presented by Verizon” (Season Premiere): Wednesday, September 6 at 4:30 PM
“Bears Blitz presented by XFINITY” (Season Premiere): Thursday, September 7 at 4:30 PM
“BEARS PREGAME LIVE” (Season Premiere): Sunday, September 10 at 11:00 AM
“BEARS HALFTIME LIVE” (Live stream Season Premiere): Sunday, September 10
“BEARS POSTGAME LIVE presented by State Farm” (Season Premiere): Sunday, September 10 at 3:00 PM
“In the Loop: Inside the Huddle w/Dave Wannstedt, presented by Ankin Law” (Season Premiere): Sunday, September 10 at 10:30 PM
“Chicago Huddle” (Season Premiere): Friday, September 15 at 4:30 PM

CSN live stream available on CSNChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app

CSNChicago.com to deliver 24/7 Bears coverage all season long; Details on new “Bears Classics” specials coming soon

Chicago, IL (August 31, 2017) – CSN Chicago (CSN) – transitioning to “NBC Sports Chicago” beginning October 2 – the regional home for the most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Bears, has announced veteran Chicago sports media personality/WSCR AM 670 “The Score” host LAURENCE HOLMES will be joining the network this season as host of its Bears game day programming, including Bears Pregame Live and Bears Postgame Live.  Holmes will make his CSN hosting debut for the Bears 2017 home/season opener on Sunday, September 10 at 11:00 AM CT on Bears Pregame Live and will be joined by a panel of Bears/NFL experts including former Bears linebacker/seven-time Pro Bowler LANCE BRIGGS, former Bears quarterback JIM MILLER, and former Bears defensive end standout ALEX BROWN.

A mainstay at WSCR AM 670 for nearly two decades, Holmes is the host of “The Laurence Holmes Show,” which airs weeknights from 6:00-10:00 PM.  He began his career at “The Score” in 1998 as a part-time producer and quickly moved up in the ranks at the popular all-sports station as one of the network’s most valuable producers and fill-in hosts.  In 2003, Holmes was promoted to the role of Bears beat reporter, which he handled on a daily basis from 2003-2008, including covering the Bears Super Bowl run in the 2006 season.  In 2008, Holmes joined Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton to host the Bears midday show, along with the station’s Bears pregame coverage.  In addition, Holmes was a sports anchor at WMAQ-TV (NBC) from 2011-2015, where he hosted “Sports Sunday” with former Bears Mike Adamle, Dan Hampton, and Brandon Marshall.  He also hosted a national morning show for 120 Sports from 2014-2016.  Holmes is proud graduate of south suburban Homewood-Flossmoor High School and DePaul University.

“Laurence is one of the city’s most respected voices on the Bears and we’re very pleased he will be joining Lance, Jim, Alex, and our entire Bears coverage team beginning this season,” said Kevin Cross, CSN Chicago Senior Director of News & Original Content.

In addition, CSN has also announced its complete line-up of Bears and additional pro football related programming/coverage for the upcoming season.  NOTE: CSN live stream also available on CSNChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app to authenticated CSN Chicago subscribers:

BEARS GAME DAY PROGRAMMING… 

BEARS PREGAME LIVE – Beginning Sunday, September 10 prior to the Chicago Bears 2017 NFL home/season opener against the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons at 11:00 AM CT, CSN kicks off its Bears game day coverage with Bears Pregame Live.  Now in its fifth season, this one-hour pre-game show – the ONLY live, local Bears pre-game show on Chicago television – provides fans with the very latest game day news, player updates, a detailed X’s and O’s game preview breakdown and analysis, along with numerous on-field pre-game reports.  Bears Pregame Live is hosted by Laurence Holmes featuring expert analysis from former Bears linebacker/seven-time Pro Bowler Lance Briggs, former Bears quarterback Jim Miller, and former Bears defensive end standout Alex Brown.  CSN Bears reporter JJ Stankevitz will also provide additional pre-game coverage from the field with up-to-the-minute game day information.

BEARS HALFTIME LIVE – Also returning for its fifth season, debuting Sunday, September 10, will be Bears Halftime Live, a special “live-stream” exclusive that fans can view on CSNChicago.com & ChicagoBears.com.  Bears Halftime Live features Holmes and Miller, who will breakdown the first half of every game focusing on the key plays/game moments that had the greatest impact during the first 30 minutes of action, along with their thoughts on precisely what the Bears need to focus on for the remainder of each contest.

BEARS POST GAME LIVE presented by State Farm – Immediately following the Bears-Falcons NFL season opener on Sunday, September 11 (approx. 3:00 PM on CSN+), Bears Postgame Live presented by State Farm returns as THE destination for fans to hear from the experts who played the game, along with their always-entertaining, no-holds-barred take on the day’s events.  Bears Postgame Live presented by State Farm is a 90-minute post-game show hosted by Holmes and features detailed post-game analysis from Briggs, Miller & Brown.  In addition to the spirited banter from the stars of the show, Bears Postgame Live also showcases the live post-game press conferences with coaches and players from both teams.  Stankevitz will also provide immediate post-game interviews with Bears players inside & outside the locker room.  NOTE: Due to CSN’s White Sox baseball coverage on Sept. 10, Bears Postgame Live can be seen on CSN+ and will re-air in its entirety on the main CSN channel location immediately following White Sox Postgame Live (approx. 5:00 PM).  Bears Postgame Live presented by State Farm can be seen on CSN following every Bears game this season with replays airing regularly throughout the season on Sunday nights and Monday afternoons.

WEEKLY BEARS/NFL PROGRAMMING…

BEARS RECAP presented by United Airlines – CSN is also the destination for Bears fans to watch the official team press conference featuring head coach John Fox.  Hosted by CSN’s Mark Schanowski and former Bears offensive lineman/veteran Chicago sports personality Dan Jiggetts, Bears Recap will go to Halas Hall each week to hear from the Bears head coach, along with additional Bears players/coaches.  The show will also air game highlights and viewers can also look forward to additional Bears Recap content on CSNChicago.com.  The one-hour Bears Recap presented by United Airlines makes its 2017 debut on Monday, September 4 at 4:30 PM with a special “season preview” edition with weekly premiere airings to take place on Mondays at 4:30 PM throughout the entire Bears season.

BEARS HUDDLE presented by Verizon – Every Wednesday at 4:30 PM beginning September 6, CSN will provide Bears fans with a preview of the team’s next opponent on Bears Huddle.  This one-hour show, hosted by Schanowski and Jiggetts, features weekly interviews with Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and additional Bears players.  To go along with numerous game highlights, Bears Huddle will also provide a multitude of key stats for all categories and will feature in-depth player match-up analysis for every upcoming game.

BEARS BLITZ presented by XFINITY – Every Thursday at 4:30 PM beginning September 7, CSN will provide Bears fans with even more in-depth game previews and analysis on Bears Blitz.  This one-hour show features the same talent line-up and similar show format as presented in Bears Huddle and will include interviews with Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and additional Bears players.

IN THE LOOP: INSIDE THE HUDDLE (featuring Dave Wannstedt) presented by Ankin Law – Debuting Sunday, September 10 at 10:30 PM and airing every Sunday night at 10:30 PM during the Bears/NFL season, In the Loop: Inside the Huddle presented by Ankin Law features the in-studio appearance of NFL expert/former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt, who will discuss the day’s game in detail and offer his thoughts on what the Bears did right or wrong in that particular’s day’s game.  Plus, the half-hour show will showcase full NFL highlights from all the day’s key match-ups.  In addition, all season long, In the Loop’s team of anchors and reporters will provide the very latest Bears/NFL updates nightly at 6:30 PM and 10:00 PM.

PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY – Now in its third decade on television, Pro Football Weekly is a half-hour program hosted by CSN’s Pat Boyle and features an expert panel led by Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Hampton, NFL expert/former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt and PFW founder Hub Arkush.  The program’s in-depth preview analysis and unique format make the show a preferred vehicle for football fans desiring the most thorough coverage of the NFL.  This hard-hitting program features the latest NFL news reports, opinions and insider information.  Pro Football Weekly makes its regular season premiere on Friday, September 1 at 5:30 PM with regular weekly debuts airing on Friday afternoons at 4:30/5:00 PM, while replays can be seen Saturday afternoons/evenings at varied times and Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM.

CHICAGO HUDDLE – Back for its fifth season on CSN, Chicago Huddle is hosted by former Bears longsnapper/17-year NFL veteran Patrick Mannelly, who will be joined each week by Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, media personality/features reporter April Rose, along with special appearances from additional Bears standouts during the season. Taped at Chili’s in Vernon Hills, Chicago Huddle provides fans with an in-depth, weekly Bears review/preview/interview show throughout the entire 2017 campaign.  The season premiere airs on Friday, September 15 at 4:30 PM with replays airing at varied times on Saturdays, along with Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM.

ALSO… 

SPORTSTALK LIVE presented by The Chevy Silverado – CSN sets the table with lively sports talk every Monday through Friday night at 6:00 PM on SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado.  Throughout the 2017 NFL season, SportsTalk Live host David Kaplan and a panel of local pro football experts, along with guests from local sports talk radio and national media, will breakdown the games and preview the match-ups that lie ahead for the Bears and other key games from around the NFL.  In addition, SportsTalk Live will also feature a number of special guests from the world of football all season long, including appearances from players, coaches, celebrities and many more.

CSNCHICAGO.COM – CSN Chicago’s digital home – CSNChicago.com – delivers comprehensive 24/7 Bears and NFL coverage all season long via its “Bears Talk” platform featuring the following digital and social media highlights this season:

  • BearsTalk, presented by Max Madsen – CSNChicago.com’s high-velocity, real-time, comprehensive Bears news section featuring original commentary, video interviews, feature reports, the latest trades and rumor via contributions from CSN’s roster of in-house Bears/NFL experts as they lend their knowledge and expertise to the latest happenings in the NFC North, as well as league-wide: CSNChicago.com/bears.
  • Facebook – Facebook Live “Bears Warm-up” – A half-hour prior to every edition of Bears Pregame Live, host Laurence Holmes, along with analysts Alex Brown and Jim Miller, will hold a special Facebook Live segment on CSN Chicago’s official Facebook page: Facebook.com/CSNChicago. Bears fans will have an opportunity to have their questions answered by submitting their game day inquiries via the “comments” section on the live stream.
  • BearsTalk PODCASTS (presented by State Farm): Throughout the Bears/NFL season, fans can look forward to “BearsTalk” PODCASTs featuring CSN’s roster of football experts, and additional special guests.  All of CSN’s podcasts can be downloaded at CSNChicago.com/podcasts and by simply subscribing to them via Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.  The podcasts can be played on any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.
  • Twitter – Bears Talk (@CSNBears) is THE Twitter source for Bears breaking news, updates, rumors, trade and much more 24/7.  Fans are encouraged to tweet at the @CSNBears handle to voice their opinions and interact with CSN reporters and analysts.  Additional must-follow Twitter handles include @LaurenceWHolmes (Laurence Holmes), @15miller (Jim Miller), Alex Brown (@alexbrown96) and @LanceBriggs (Lance Briggs). CSNChicago.com Bears contributors Scott Krinch (@scottiekrinch) and Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) will also be providing game day reports, analysis and features during the NFL season.
  • In addition, a multitude of Bears game day “Sights & Sounds” moments will be provided throughout the season via Snapchat (‘csnchicago’), along with additional photos/quick video offerings from ‘CSN Chicago’ through Instagram and Instagram Live. 

 

In addition, CSN will be airing brand new BEARS CLASSICS documentaries this fall/winter.  More specific details and air dates for these specials will be announced separately in the coming weeks.   

NBC Sports Chicago (beginning Oct. 2; formerly CSN 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, 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, and standout coverage from the network’s team of “Insiders.”  Follow the network on Twitter via @CSNChicago.

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.

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