On Opening Day, Comcast SportsNet Chicago Goes 24

Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the 2008 AL Central Division champion Chicago White Sox and 2008 NL Central Division champion Chicago Cubs in HD, will be making viewers see “double” on Monday April 6. The network will carry both the White Sox and Cubs season openers live for the very first time.

In addition to the 2009 White Sox regular-season opener live from U.S. Cellular Field vs. Kansas City and the Cubs opener live from Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros, CSN will provide fans with 24 straight hours of White Sox/Cubs Opening Day programming.

“This is easily one of the biggest days in our network’s history,” says James J. Corno, president of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. “To be able to bring 24 hours of Opening Day White Sox and Cubs coverage to our viewers is a thrill for us and fans of these two great teams can look forward to the comprehensive coverage they’ve come to expect from us throughout the entire 2009 baseball season.”

Among the Opening Day highlights on Comcast SportsNet are two live special-edition morning shows from U.S. Cellular Field on April 6: Monsters in the Morning with hosts Mike North and Dan Jiggetts (6-9 a.m.) and a morning edition of Chicago Tribune Live hosted by Pat Boyle (11 a.m.-12 noon). Both shows will feature numerous live guests from the ballpark, including local/national media, White Sox players, coaches, front-office executives, and VIPs.

Viewers can also look forward to a one-hour expanded edition of Feldco White Sox Pre-Game Live at 12 noon live from U.S. Cellular Field hosted by Chuck Garfien and former White Sox slugger Bill Melton. Chris Boden and Sarah Kustok will also be live from U.S. Cellular Field, providing the latest player reports, pre-game interviews, and festivities in and around the ballpark. Immediately following the White Sox-Royals game, CSN will air U.S. Cellular White Sox Post Game Live (approximately 4 p.m.) featuring post-game analysis, locker-room interviews, and manager Ozzie Guillen’s post-game press conference.

Following an “in-between games” edition of Chicago Tribune Live (approximately 4:30 p.m.) with host Pat Boyle and Tribune sports writers and additional Opening Day special guests, Comcast SportsNet will kick off the second part of its Opening Day doubleheader with an expanded, one-hour edition of Cubs Pre-Game Live hosted by Gail Fischer and new CSN Cubs studio analyst, former Cubs standout, and 1996 NL Rookie of the Year Todd Hollandsworth. Plus, Luke Stuckmeyer will also be in Houston with live updates and interviews. Following the Cubs-Astros game, CSN will carry Lowe’s Cubs Post Game Live (approximately 9 p.m.) with post-game discussion, player interviews, and manager Lou Piniella’s post-game press conference.

Comcast SportsNet’s live Opening Day ’09 programming continues following its Cubs coverage with SportsNite, presented by DEX (approximately 9:30-11 p.m.) and featuring a complete recap of the White Sox and Cubs season openers, along with numerous highlights from MLB’s Opening Day lineup of games. At 11 p.m., CSN airs a one-hour version of Monsters in the Morning taped at U.S. Cellular Field earlier in the day. Another live edition of SportsNite airs at 12 midnight followed by replays of the White Sox-Royals game (12:30 a.m.) and Cubs-Astros game (3:00 a.m).