Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Opens New Era in Northern California Sports Coverage
SAN FRANCISCO-(Business Wire)-February 11, 2009 - Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the home of “Authentic Bay Area Sports,” today unveiled details surrounding the launch of Northern California’s most comprehensive sports programming operation, including signature sports news and analysis shows, the creation of a 100+ person newsroom featuring some of the most experienced on-air personalities in sports, and a brand new state-of-the-art studio facility.
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will debut its lineup of original sports news programming on Monday, April 6. Signature shows will include SportsNet Central and Chronicle Live.
SportsNet Central will be the region’s only live daily locally-focused sports news show, and will provide Northern California sports fans with in-depth, comprehensive news coverage on hometown teams, breaking local and national news, up-to-the-minute scores, the best local video highlights and daily insider reports on the Bay Area’s teams. Concentrating on key local stories and scores from across the Northern California region, along with exclusive interviews with players and coaches, and unprecedented access to hometown teams, SportsNet Central will be the place for local fans to turn seven nights a week with live 30-minute newscasts at 6:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 12 midnight.
Also debuting on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area on April 6 will be the show Chronicle Live, produced in partnership with the San Francisco Chronicle sports department. Chronicle Live, a new, hour-long daily sports talk show, features a rotating panel of sports experts from the San Francisco Chronicle including reporters and columnists, and other sports authorities from the region. Chronicle Live will analyze and debate hot sports topics each day from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and be hosted by veteran Bay Area sports announcer Greg Papa.
Comcast SportsNet’s on-air team of experts is backed by a newly formed 100+ person news team of reporters, editors, producers, talent bookers, researchers, and other professional positions. Since January 2008, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area has hired more than 90 news, creative and production professionals, growing its staff of 30 employees in 2008 to over 120. Comcast SportsNet’s on-air team is comprised of nine anchors/reporters:
SCOTT REISS Reiss joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in October 2008 and has anchored preview and wrap up analysis for San Jose Sharks and Golden State Warriors telecasts, and other shows. His background includes eight years at ESPN. Reiss graduated from Stanford University where he did play-by-play at the school’s radio station for the Cardinal baseball and men’s basketball teams.
DAMON ANDREWS Andrews brings nearly 20 years experience to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, and most recently worked in Los Angeles as a television sports director and anchor. Before that, he was the national sports anchor for FSN Bay Area, FSN Chicago and FSN Ohio. Andrews has been recognized with numerous industry awards for journalism.
MATT MORRISON Morrison helped launch the start-up news operation at Comcast SportsNet Northwest. His experience includes national exposure with CNN/SI, FOX Sports, and CNBC. Morrison grew up in Tiburon, graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur, and was an All-MCAL (Marin County Athletic League) in football and baseball.
GREG PAPA Host of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Chronicle Live, Papa is a 22-year veteran of Bay Area sports broadcasting and one of the most accomplished announcers in the sports television industry. He has been the play-by-play voice for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Oakland Raiders and Golden State Warriors. His national network assignments have included work with ABC, NBC, ESPN and Turner Sports.
MINDI BACH Bach has worked with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (formerly FSN Bay Area and SportsChannel Pacific) since 1995 in various roles, most recently as host of A's Pregame Live and A's Postgame Live. She was a reporter on San Francisco Giants telecasts during the 2005 MLB season and has also worked at several Bay Area television stations as an anchor/reporter.
CHUCK FISHER Born and raised in San Francisco, Fisher was a sports anchor and reporter at various television stations around the country, most recently in Dallas, TX. Fisher began attending Giants games at Candlestick Park when he was just five years old. Fisher graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, attended City College of San Francisco, and graduated from Sonoma State.
DAVE BENZ Benz joins Comcast SportsNet Bay Area after working as a sports anchor/reporter in Washington, DC. Before that, he worked at FSN Rocky Mountain and the MountainWest Sports Network – The Mtn. He hosted the nationally televised AFL Weekly, Rockies All-Access, and many other shows. He also served as a play-by-play analyst for the AFL’s Colorado Crush and men’s and women’s college basketball.
JAYMEE SIRE Sire joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in January 2008 and has served as a reporter on Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors and San Jose Sharks telecasts, and other shows. She was previously a sports reporter in San Diego, CA, where she received several broadcasting accolades. At Washington State University, Sire received the prestigious Judith Waller Award for Outstanding Senior Woman in Broadcasting in 2002.
KATE LONGWORTH Longworth joined Comcast SportsNet Bay Area in June 2008 and has served as a reporter on San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes telecasts. She has hosted episodes of A Conversion With, Giants Classic Games, and various specials. Longworth has also worked for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and MountainWest Sports Network – The Mtn. She was the first female sports anchor/reporter in Palm Springs, CA.
“Our lineup of entertaining, original and insightful programming will give fans the most in-depth, comprehensive coverage on all Northern California sports on a daily basis,” said Ted Griggs, Vice President and General Manager, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. “For Bay Area sports fans, Comcast SportsNet will become the ultimate source for complete local news coverage, breaking stories, highlights, scores, analysis and feature stories on their hometown teams.”
“I am delighted to announce our team of sports news professionals and analysts,” said Chris Olivere, News Director, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. This talented group will provide fans with the best local sports coverage in the country, bar none. We are looking forward to April 6, when we introduce our programming and our people to Bay Area sports fans and change the way sports are covered and debated.”
SportsNet Central and Chronicle Live will originate from the network’s brand new state-of-the art studio, newsroom and HD production facilities occupying 37,000 square feet at 370 3rd Street (South of Market) in San Francisco.
Comcast Sports Group operates 10 sports networks that cover more than 2,400 live sporting events annually and deliver comprehensive sports news and analysis to 40 million cable and satellite homes. Comcast Sports Group’s networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, SNY, The Mtn. – Mountain West Sports Network, and CSS. These networks provide live game coverage of 18 professional teams, as well as college, minor league and other sports. For more information, see ComcastSportsNet.com.
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