ESPN is flexing out a pair of Warriors games; ABC is adding yet more live sports; Michelle Wie is joining CBS golf coverage.
ESPN drops pair of Warriors games
ESPN has dropped two upcoming Warriors games, replacing Warriors-Jazz with Clippers-Timberwolves on December 13, and Warriors-Blazers with Celtics-Mavericks on December 18. Golden State, which made the NBA Finals for five straight years entering this season, was scheduled for the maximum number of national TV games on ESPN and TNT. The injury-wracked Warriors currently have the worst record in the NBA at 4-18. [NBA.com]
ABC to carry Euro tournament for first time since 2008
ABC will carry five matches during next year’s UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament, marking the first time since 2008 that it has aired coverage of the quadrennial event. The ABC matches will be Belgium-Russia on June 13, Portugal-Germany on June 20, a pair of round of sixteen matches on June 27 and 28, and a quarterfinal on July 4, all airing at 2:30 PM ET.
All other matches will air on ESPN or ESPN2, with the former televising 39 and the latter seven. ESPN will air both semifinals and the July 12 final. [ESPN PR 12.3]
Wie joining CBS in network’s latest golf shakeup
CBS announced Tuesday that it has hired golfer Michelle Wie as a contributor to its PGA Tour coverage, including the Masters. Wie served a guest analyst on Golf Channel’s Solheim Cup coverage earlier this year.
In addition, the network announced that is hiring Trevor Immelman as an analyst and expanding the roles of Mark Immelman, Frank Nobilo and Dottie Pepper. In particular, Pepper will now serve as lead on-course reporter.
The moves are just the latest tweaks to the CBS golf roster. The company previously parted ways with Peter Kostis and Gary McCord, while bringing on Davis Love III. [CBS Sports]
