Net Notes: NBC Sports Net has record ratings. ESPN lands stars for softball

This week there were some interesting notes coming out of the networks. As your media insider I will boil all the info down that you need to know.

Lets’s start with NBC Sports Network where they have some good news to report:

 Buoyed by more live programming hours in the second quarter than ever, NBC Sports Network averaged 633,000 primetime viewers – marking the most-watched quarter in primetime (8-11 p.m.) in the network’s history and a 17% increase vs. last year, according to data released by The Nielsen Company.

In addition, NBC Sports Network posted its most-watched non-Olympic quarter in total day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.) with an average of 153,000 viewers. Live Q2 programming included the Stanley Cup Playoffs, featuring two games of the Stanley Cup Final, Formula One racing, IndyCar, MLS, pre-game and post-game studio programming, and studio shows The Dan Patrick Show and Pro Football Talk.   

John Strong makes his NBC Sports Network debut as lead MLS play-by-play voice this Saturday calling the Seattle Sounders versus the Vancouver Whitecaps match alongside MLS and Premier League analyst Robbie Earle and host Russ Thaler. In addition, NBC Sports Network will air the U.S. Men’s National Team match versus Guatemala as the U.S. team prepares for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

NBC Sports Network’s soccer coverage this weekend (all times ET):

Date      Time      Coverage

Fri., July 5            11 p.m. U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Guatemala

Sat., July 6           11 p.m. Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders

 NBC Sports Groups’ lead Premier League play-by-play announcer Arlo White will call the U.S. vs. Guatemala action and will be joined by analyst Kyle Martino and host Russ Thaler at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calififornia.

  

ESPN has information on the upcoming Comedian Chris Rock, film and TV star Kevin James, singer and actress Ashanti, TV star George Lopez and more will join Mets Legends and Baseball Hall of Famers in the 2013 Taco Bell® Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Citi Field on Sunday, July 14th.  Additionally, former Mets catcher Mike Piazza has been added to the roster.  Also joining are Hall of Famer and former Mets and Yankees outfielder Rickey Henderson along with former Yankees Bernie Williams, who joins as the American League Captain. Williams will rival former Mets John Franco as the National League Captain. The Softball Game will be televised immediately following the Chevrolet Home Run Derby on ESPN on July 15th.