NBC Sports Senior VP/Original Production & Creative Mark Levy when asked if the net would continue to push the NHL hard said, "It’s part of our hope. We want to provide the destination for the hockey fan to be able to come and stay and enjoy the hockey programming, be it watching a live game, or a show we’ve worked on, or Bob Costas sitting down with [Penguins C] Sidney Crosby." Levy, when asked if Costas would help NBC's hockey push, said, "Most definitely. This is something Bob wants to do. This isn’t an assignment on a monthly schedule. This is something he loves" (TRIBLIVE.com, 10/29).
EVERYTHING ON YOUR PHONE: VARIETY's Todd Spangler reported, "Comcast has inked deals to let subscribers tune in to 35 live cable channels through its updated video-player app for mobile devices over any Wi-Fi connection -- including outside the home -- aiming to give customers a new reason to keep paying for cable TV." The new Xfinity TV Player App will let Xfinity TV customers watch channels including ESPN, CNN, CNBC and Fox News "over any Wi-Fi connection on Apple and Android mobile devices, with availability depending on subscription level" (VARIETY.com, 10/29).
BASKETBALL IS THE NEW HOCKEY: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Etan Vlessing reported TSN "plans to feature" every Univ. of Kansas men's basketball game this season, as Toronto-born Andrew Wiggins "makes his U.S. college hoops debut." TSN VP/Programming Shawn Redmond said, "As the top prospect in basketball and now a Sports Illustrated cover star, the excitement surrounding Andrew Wiggins is soaring." Meanwhile, Sportsnet "launched 'Wiggins Watch' during Connected, the cable sport channel's nightly news program, and online at sportsnet.ca" ahead of Wiggins' debut last night (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/29).
DRIVE TIME: In Dallas, Barry Horn reported Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw on Monday joined Matt Mosley "as co-hosts on the afternoon drive show" on ESPN Radio 103.3 Dallas. The show, called "The Afternoon Show," will air from 3:00-6:00pm CT. Cowlishaw "plans to remain a panelist" on ESPN's "Around the Horn" (DALLASNEWS.com, 10/25).
