ESPN gets early start on season
One way to maximize ratings is to manipulate starting times. In the process, fans can be left out in the cold or faced with fighting sleep in front of their TVs. To wit: Night NFL games at Foxborough in December and January and "Monday Night Football's" midnight (or later) finishes for East Coast viewers.
But no one is accusing ESPN of "time management" for Tuesday's season-opening Major League Baseball game between the Yankees and Devil Rays from Japan, which begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time. The sun will rise in the East -- make that the Far East -- on this Opening Day.
Even ESPN will be challenged when it comes to getting the nation to set its alarm clocks.
"Just call it `Breakfast in Bristol,' " said ESPN "Baseball Tonight" analyst Harold Reynolds, who will work the game with Karl Ravech and Peter Gammons.
Usually, ESPN is masterful when it comes to turning such games into events. But even ESPN seems resigned to letting this opener remain a lower-scale event on the cross-programming front. The "Baseball Tonight" announcing crew will work the game from the Bristol, Conn., studios to save cash, and ESPN will take the feed from Japan's NHK TV. It's a system that a variety of networks, including ESPN, have refined to cover Formula 1 races and major soccer matches from around the world.
"We're going to try and take advantage of having our announcers in Bristol where you can see them, and we'll try to utilize some of their storytelling and graphic devices we can use back here," said Tim Scanlan, ESPN's senior coordinating producer.
"I think it's going to make for a great broadcast," said Reynolds. "The magnitude of the game makes it a compelling event. And I think our crew will bring a lot to it. Spring training is still going on, and we're dialed in to what's happening as a lot of rosters are being finalized. We'll have a lot of good baseball talk."
After this ersatz start to the season, ESPN will pull out all the stops for next Sunday's Sox-Orioles opener on "Sunday Night Baseball" (a game that will be carried on NESN) followed by four Opening Day games Monday.
"Given our budget -- and that was set before the game in Tokyo was confirmed -- we decided to put our financial resources into the April 4 game in Baltimore," said Scanlan.
Still, a little baseball along with bagels and the morning traffic reports won't be a bad thing.
Special guest star Bill Walton, in town to call tonight's Celtics-76ers game (simulcast on FSN and ESPN at 6:30 p.m.), is scheduled to be a guest this morning on the city's newest show: "The Narrow World of Sports" (Channel 68, 9:30). Bob Katz, who made a ton of friends as CEO of My Grandma's coffee cakes and as host of the signature program on Dedham cable access, is taking his show to the bigger time . . . NBC, already in a business partnership with the Arena Football League, is going the same route in launching the Action Sports Tour in conjunction with Clear Channel Entertainment, looking at a 2005 season. NBC is seeking young viewers who participate in and watch skateboarding, BMX, and freestyle motocross . . . Red Sox spring training TV ratings have been up 64 percent on Channel 38, with the increase among the male 18-34 demo showing a 140 percent jump. Part of that is attributable to public awareness of where to find the games, but another part has to reflect the increased interest in the team. Wednesday's game against the Yankees did a 3.8 rating in Boston on NESN, peaking at a 4.9 between 7:45 and 8 p.m. In Hartford, the game did a 1.1 rating on NESN and a 2.1 on YES . . . The National Television Academy will announce its nominations for New England Emmy Awards April 6 at a party at The Rack. Curt Gowdy, who would have won a few for his work with the Red Sox from 1951-65, will receive a Governors Award for lifetime achievement when this year's winners are honored May 2 at the Seaport Hotel . . . Sean McDonough has an interesting stretch coming up. He's scheduled to work the Frozen Four at the FleetCenter April 8 and 10. On the day in between, he has another minor gig: Calling the Red Sox home opener on Channel 38. Last year, he did the same events, with a couple of twists: 1. The Frozen Four was in Buffalo, necessitating a couple of flights, and 2. Sox Opening Day wound up being rained out after the chilly pregame ceremonies . . . NESN will have a preseason special, "Red Sox Nation: 2004 Preview," tomorrow at 10 p.m. with Tom Caron as host. The guest list includes Theo Epstein, Terry Francona, Keith Foulke, Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy, Gordon Edes, and Nick Cafardo.
Target golf As the final round of The Players Championship unfolds today (Channel 7, 1:30-6:30 p.m.), expect plenty of coverage of the 17th "Island Green" hole at Sawgrass. Tower reporter Gary Koch (16th green and 17th hole) gets to describe what he calls "great theater. It's like everyone collectively holds their breath every time a ball is hit, to wait and see where it comes down." . . . Tomorrow and Tuesday, The Golf Channel hosts The Tavistock Cup (1-6 p.m.), a Ryder Cup-style match between teams of touring pros from Orlando's Isleworth and Lake Nona Country Clubs. Annika Sorenstam and Sergio Garcia are playing for Lake Nona, captained by Ernie Els. Mark O'Meara's Isleworth team won't have neighbor Tiger Woods, but it will have Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Darren Clarke, Craig Parry, and Charles Howell III . . . Freddie Adu, the 14-year-old soccer player signed by D.C. United, is the subject of a "60 Minutes" segment with Lesley Stahl tonight (Channel 4, 7).
Bill Griffith's e-mail address is griffith@globe.com
