Florida Marlins Announce 2008 MLB Telecast Schedule

FSN Florida, Sun Sports to produce and distribute regionally 150 telecasts; 75 in high definition

02/12/2008, MIAMI -- The Florida Marlins in conjunction with FSN Florida, the exclusive regional television home of team, today announced the team's telecast schedule for the 2008 MLB season, which includes 150 regular season match-ups. All games will be produced by FSN Florida, with 100 regular season games scheduled to air statewide on FSN Florida and another 50 games available as special FSN Florida presentations distributed on sister network Sun Sports (offered by participating cable and satellite systems in Florida).

Going beyond just coverage of games, FSN Florida's partnership with the Marlins provides fans with more opportunities to get to know the team and its players. Nine half-hour episodes of FSN's popular INSIDE THE MARLINS are planned this year and will include player profiles, with rare behind-the-scenes stories and interviews, plus episodes offering inside access to other aspects of the team and its operations - all designed to bring the fans closer to their favorite team.

Providing extensive HD offerings at the regional level, FSN Florida will once again produce regional high-definition (HD) Florida Marlins game telecasts in 2008. Seventy five of the games will be made available in high definition to HD subscribers of participating cable/satellite affiliates including Comcast, Advanced Cable, Knology, Verizon FiOS, Home Town Cable, DIRECTV and DISH Network. (HD schedule TBA).

To help fans get ready for the upcoming season, FSN Florida will produce its annual FLORIDA MARLINS SEASON PREVIEW, hosted by Craig Minervini, premiering Monday, March 17, at 2 p.m.

Tommy Hutton, who spent 12 years in the Major Leagues as a first baseman, returns to the broadcast booth with expert commentary, marking his 12th season as FSN Florida's Marlins' television analyst. Rich Waltz returns for his fourth year as play-by-play announcer and Craig Minervini is back for his seventh season as pregame host and in-game reporter in addition to hosting INSIDE THE MARLINS. FSN Florida's Frank Forte also returns as part of the telecast team, hosting a number of pregame shows this season. Raúl Striker Jr. and Cookie Rojas return for their sixth season, providing Spanish-language commentary for all home game telecasts via secondary audio program (SAP).

FSN Florida's regular season coverage begins on Opening Day with MARLINS ON DECK, a live pre-game show on Monday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m., followed by live game coverage when the Marlins host the New York Mets at 4 p.m.

Highlights on the 2008 regional telecast schedule include 18 games against the Mets and 15 games with the Atlanta Braves. Interleague match-ups include home games against Kansas City with road games against Tampa, Seattle and Oakland.

MARLINS ON DECK, the network's entertaining and informative half-hour pre-game show airs live from site prior to each game telecast. FSN Florida also offers a program designed for kids and their families and its back for an eighth season with a new title, BILLY'S BUNCH, and a new look. Emmy Award-winning host Stephie Vainder (a.k.a "Stephie") hosts the monthly show. A unique baseball experience for the kid in all of us, BILLY'S BUNCH takes viewers beyond the playing field and shares players' interests both on and off the field.

FSN Florida's Marlins Director Jim Holly returns for his 11th season with the team and his 20th directing live professional sports events. FSN Florida has two new additions for its television crew this season - John Sulser moves from pre-game producer to game producer and Tim Fanguy joins as pregame producer. For the past five years Fanguy worked as producer and director of in-game entertainment for the NBA New Orleans Hornets.

Florida Marlins Broadcast schedule (PDF)

Source: MLB

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •