FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 28th, 2020
2020 MLB POSTSEASON-BOUND CHICAGO WHITE SOX POST SIGNIFICANT YEAR-OVER-YEAR AUDIENCE GAINS ON NBC SPORTS CHICAGO
2020 Final Season Average Increased 89% for Chicago Market Households (up 163% for Adults 25-54) compared to 2019; Highest White Sox Season Average on NBC Sports Chicago in EIGHT YEARS, including Digital Consumption Increases on NBCSportsChicago.com, ‘MyTeams by NBC Sports’ App, and “White Sox Talk” Podcast
NBC Sports Chicago also Announces its AL Wild Card Series Coverage Details including “White Sox Pre/Postgame Live” Surrounding Every Playoff Game,
Monday-Friday Airings of “Baseball Night in Chicago,” along with Expanded Digital/Audio Content and Much More
Chicago, IL (September 28, 2020) – NBC Sports Chicago – the exclusive, local home of the 2020 MLB Postseason-bound CHICAGO WHITE SOX – posted significant year-over-year audience increases for its White Sox game telecasts in both traditional television viewership and live streaming consumption, along with across-the-board increases for its White Sox digital/audio content offerings.
NBC Sports Chicago’s 2020 White Sox television ratings finished with a 1.78 Chicago market Household (HH) average, which is the highest White Sox average on record (back to 2012) and up 89% compared to last season’s final average. In addition, game telecasts also delivered triple-digit growth in all key demographics, including Adults 18-34 (up 208%), Adults 18-49 (up 218%) and Adults 25-54 (up 163%). Source for all television ratings information is provided by Nielsen Media Research.
On digital, White Sox live streaming on NBCSportsChicago.com and the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app posted year-over-year audience increases with the 2020 MLB season being the most-streamed season ever for the White Sox with average “Uniques” per game up 274% and average “Minutes Per Game” up 379%. NOTE: Live streaming/digital data provided by Adobe Analytics.
On audio, the “White Sox Talk” Podcast presented by Wintrust continues to flourish in 2020 with year-over-year download growth up 68% and 2020 downloads to date already surpassing 2019’s year-end totals. NOTE: Research data provided by Art19.
WHITE SOX vs. OAKLAND/AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES — MULTIPLATFORM COVERAGE DETAILS
“BASEBALL NIGHT IN CHICAGO” – With the #7-seed White Sox set to take on the #2-seed Oakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card Series, NBC Sports Chicago will provide fans with extensive surrounding game coverage all week long starting TONIGHT at 6:00 PM CT with a special Baseball Night in Chicago: Playoff Preview hosted by NBC Sports Chicago White Sox “Insider” Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge), along with the network’s roster of White Sox & Cubs experts (re-air at 10:00 PM). NOTES: Throughout the duration of the White Sox & Cubs respective playoff runs, NBC Sports Chicago will carry Baseball Night in Chicago presented by Jet’s Pizza every weeknight at 6:00 PM with Pat Boyle (@BoyleNBCS) hosting tomorrow’s show and David Kaplan (@thekapman) returning on Wednesday to host all remaining shows. On White Sox game days when there is a timing conflict, Baseball Night in Chicago will immediately follow White Sox Postgame Live.
“WHITE SOX PREGAME LIVE & WHITE SOX POSTGAME LIVE” – Beginning tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29) with Game 1, NBC Sports Chicago will carry its signature, surrounding White Sox game programs – White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Village of Bedford Park & Subaru White Sox Postgame – before and after EVERY White Sox postseason game with host Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien), along with featured analysts/White Sox legends Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) and Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35). Taking place from the network’s new, state-of-the-art 4,100 sq. ft. studio facilities, White Sox Pregame Live will air 30 minutes prior to every AL Wild Card Series game providing a detailed game preview featuring pitching match-up analysis, position players comparisons, interviews with players/coaches, an overview of new playoff format, “Picks to Click” and much more. Expanded editions of Subaru White Sox Postgame Live will immediately follow games featuring White Sox manager Rick Renteria’s postgame press conference and White Sox player interviews, a complete game breakdown featuring highlights and analysis from the studio’s “demo” area, along with next game previews, a look around the league at other MLB Postseason match-ups and more. NOTE: Fans can also live stream all editions of White Sox Pre/Postgame Live via the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app (NOTE: fans located anywhere in the U.S. can download MyTeams for free on iOS and Android devices in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store).
NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.COM/”MyTeams by NBC Sports” app – Throughout the playoffs, White Sox fans can also visit the NEW NBCSportsChicago.com and the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app for 24/7 expert digital coverage provided by Adam Hoge and veteran White Sox beat reporter Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) featuring in-depth pre/postgame reports, player/coaches interviews, a special “Postseason Heroes” video series highlighting the biggest October impact players in team history, along with game highlight videos, special features, galleries and much more. In addition, NBC Sports Chicago will provide White Sox fans with numerous, multi-platform content offerings on Facebook (Facebook.com/NBCSChicago) and Twitter (@NBCSWhiteSox & @NBCSChicago), along with a multitude of team & player facts/photos/quick video offerings via Instagram (‘NBCSChicago’).
“WHITE SOX TALK” — On audio, fans can look forward to special “playoff” editions of the acclaimed “White Sox Talk PODCAST” presented by Wintrust. Hosted by Chuck Garfien, along with Adam Hoge and NBC Sports Chicago’s White Sox content producers Ryan McGuffey (@RyanMcGuffey) and Chris Kamka (@ckamka), the “White Sox Talk” podcasts will feature in-depth White Sox discussion on the hottest topics and breaking news throughout the playoffs. Fans can download all of NBC Sports Chicago’s podcasts at NBCSportsChicago.com/podcasts and simply subscribe to them via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. The podcasts can be played on any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.
Please note the following game day pre/post specifics for NBC Sports Chicago’s surrounding White Sox/AL Wild Card Series coverage:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
1:30 PM – White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Village of Bedford Park – Hosted by Chuck Garfien, featuring analysts Ozzie Guillen and Frank Thomas, this AL Wild Card Series preview edition of White Sox Pregame Live will break down Game 1 in detail with pitching match-up analysis, position-by-position comparisons, along with player/manager interviews and more.
5:00 PM (time approx.) – Subaru White Sox Postgame Live – An expanded edition of Subaru White Sox Postgame Live, hosted by Garfien/Guillen/Thomas, will feature White Sox manager Rick Renteria’s postgame press conference and player interviews, a complete breakdown of the Game 1 from the network studio’s demo area, a preview of Game 2 and more.
6:00 PM (time approx.) – Baseball Night in Chicago presented by Jet’s Pizza – Hosted by Pat Boyle, along with analysis from NBC Sports Chicago’s roster of MLB experts, Baseball Night in Chicago will provide fans with a complete White Sox Game 1 recap, a look ahead to Game 2, along with a detailed preview of the Cubs NL Wild Card Series against the Miami Marlins. BNIC will re-air later this night at 10:00 PM.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
1:30 PM – White Sox Pregame Live presented by The Village of Bedford Park – This edition of White Sox Pregame Live will break down and preview Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series featuring a thorough Game 1 recap, Game 2 pitching match-up and position player analysis, along with player/manager interviews and more.
5:00 PM (time approx.) – Subaru White Sox Postgame Live – An expanded edition of White Sox Postgame Live will deliver a complete Game 2 breakdown, along with postgame manager/player interviews, a look ahead to Game 3 (if nec.) and much more.
6:00 PM (time approx.) – Baseball Night in Chicago presented by Jet’s Pizza – Hosted by David Kaplan with featured analysis from NBC Sports Chicago’s roster of baseball experts, this edition of Baseball Night in Chicago will provide a complete ALWC Game 2 White Sox game recap, an NLWC Game 1 Cubs recap, along with game recaps/previews for other MLB Postseason Wild Card match-ups. BNIC will re-air later this night at 10:00 PM.
NOTE: NBC Sports Chicago’s surrounding pre/post coverage details for GAME 3 (Thu, Oct. 1, if nec.) will be announced directly on NBCSportsChicago.com and via Twitter @NBCSChicago & @NBCSWhiteSox.
NBC Sports Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), 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 Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs multi-platform coverage, plus – massive cross-platform coverage provided by the network’s growing digital platform, NBCSportsChicago.com, the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app, and its variety of fan-focused social media outlets. Fans can 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/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.
– NBC SPORTS CHICAGO –
