After more than 10,000 live professional, collegiate and high school game productions, studio shows, as well as countless hours of original programming, along with 51 Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards, NBC Sports Chicago will take a look back at two decades of local sports coverage in a new retrospective special, NBC Sports Chicago: Celebrating 20 Years. The NBC Sports Chicago half-hour program will premiere on Tuesday, September 3, immediately following White Sox Postgame Live at approximately 8:30 PM CT.
Hosted by longtime NBC Sports Chicago anchors Pat Boyle and Chuck Garfien, NBC Sports Chicago: Celebrating 20 Years will take viewers back to the regional sports network’s early years, when Comcast SportsNet Chicago entered the homes of local sports fans on October 1, 2004. There will be clips from the regional sports network’s very first program, Chicago Tribune Live with host Dan Jiggetts, which was followed by the network’s signature local sports news & highlights program, SportsNite, with primary co-anchors Pat Boyle and Kerry Sayers. The special will also celebrate present day NBC Sports Chicago, showcasing the network’s roster of on-air and behind-the-scenes talent.
NBC Sports Chicago: Celebrating 20 Years will include numerous championship moment segments that covered the 2005 White Sox World Series title, three Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championships (2010, 2013, 2015), the long-awaited 2016 Cubs World Series title, the Bears run to the Super Bowl in 2006, the Bulls playoff runs with NBA MVP Derrick Rose, along with many additional moments that defined NBC Sports Chicago’s legacy of expert team coverage.
The special will also highlight the personalities and most entertaining interviews over the past two decades, featuring memorable soundbites from players, coaches, managers and front office execs, along with the most impactful calls from NBC Sports Chicago’s award-winning broadcasters Ken “Hawk” Harrelson, Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk, and Stacey King, among others. There will also be a light-hearted blooper reel and the airing of additional rare footage captured by the network’s photographers over the years.
“The past 20 years have been one of the greatest periods of time in Chicago sports history, said Kevin Cross, president and GM of NBCUniversal Local Chicago. “We were truly honored to deliver the finest coverage of the entire Chicago sports scene, each and every day, to our viewers. Most importantly, we are grateful for everything the fans gave to us.”
“NBC Sports Chicago has been a part of countless special events over the past two decades and our celebratory special will bring back those memories and feel-good moments to our viewers,” added John Schippman, VP of sports content at NBCUniversal Local Chicago. “From championship celebrations to Buehrle no-hitters, to D-Rose dunks, to Kane & Toews taking over the city, our special will celebrate these great moments and much more.”
Finally, NBC Sports Chicago: Celebrating 20 Years will also pay tribute to the late Jim Corno, who was at the helm of Comcast SportsNet Chicago on day one, and was instrumental in launching every regional sports network in Chicago television history, including SportsVision, SportsChannel and Fox Sports Chicago.
In addition to the September 3 premiere date, NBC Sports Chicago: Celebrating 20 Years will re-air throughout the month on NBC Sports Chicago channel location and NBC Sports Chicago Plus (+). Viewers are urged to check their on-screen channel guides for exact air dates and times.
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