ESPN has picked up Korean baseball; the NBC family of networks will carry a charity golf match this month; the NFL is calling off its international series games this season; and more.
Baseball tonight
ESPN announced Monday that it has acquired rights to the Korean KBO baseball league, with its networks set to carry six games per week during the coming season. Coverage will begin with an Opening Day game on ESPN Tuesday morning at 1 AM ET, followed by additional games the next five mornings on ESPN2.
The agreement spans the entire KBO season and playoffs, meaning that ESPN’s networks will continue to air games in the event that the traditional US sports leagues return. A rotation of ESPN baseball broadcasters Karl Ravech, Jon Sciambi, Eduardo Perez, Jessica Mendoza and Kyle Peterson will call the games remotely. [ESPN PR 5.4]
NBC nets to air golf skins match May 17
PGA Tour golfers Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff will compete in a charity skins match that will air on NBC, NBCSN and Golf Channel May 17, it was announced Monday. NBC’s announcers, including Mike Tirico, will work the event remotely.
The match will mark the first televised golf competition since the PGA Tour season was halted in March and is slated to air directly opposite NASCAR’s return at Darlington the same day.
As noted by Sports Business Daily, the exhibition is scheduled to occur a week prior to the next Tiger Woods/Phil Mickelson match, which is set to air on TNT and include NFL stars Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. [NBC Sports PR 5.4, SBD 5.4]
NFL calls off London, Mexico games
The NFL announced Monday that it has abandoned its plan to hold five International Series games in London and Mexico City this season, with those instead being contested in the participating teams’ home stadiums. The NFL has played at least one game overseas every year dating back to 2007.
The NFL is expected to release its schedule this week. [NFL PR 5.4]
Plus: NBA lotto, December starts, MNF booth
The NBA announced Friday that it has postponed its draft lottery and combine indefinitely. … The NBA and NHL are both considering pushing back the start of their next seasons from October to December. Such a move would allow for a late summer resumption of their current seasons and possibly reduce the number of games played next season in empty arenas. … ESPN is now looking “almost exclusively” at internal talent for its Monday Night Football booth, Front Office Sport reported Thursday, with Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky and Pat McAfee as its top candidates. [NBA, ESPN.com 4.30, 5.1, Front Office Sport 4.30]
