Seen on Screen: NBA Launches #NBATogether With Ernie Johnson Digital Show; NFL Network Ramps Up Draft Content

Seen on Screen provides a roundup of the current sports programming landscape as networks deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In this week’s edition, major networks like NBC Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN are combating the silence of no live sports with previously-released, taped, or archival content. Many networks have also continued producing live studio content – often with on-air talent located remotely.

NBA Digital, jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports, will launch #NBATogether with Ernie Johnson, a new social talk show hosted by TNT’s Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson, featuring high-profile guests from across the basketball community. #NBATogether with Ernie Johnson will stream on the NBA’s Twitter account (@NBA) Monday and Wednesday nights during the season hiatus as part of the new #NBATogetherLive initiative. Following each show, highlights and clips will also be available via @NBAonTNT Twitter account.

Johnson will be joined by special guests each episode and will take questions submitted by fans via @NBA Twitter.  NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was the first guest on Monday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by five-time NBA All-Star and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard on Wednesday, April 8.  Additional appearances through the month of April include Toronto Raptors President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ahead of his 73rd birthday, among others…

…With the 2020 NFL Draft less than a month away, NFL Network’s journey to the draft continues with the return of Path to the Draft and NFL Mock Draft Live.

Airing Monday-Friday at 8:00 PM ET on NFL Network, Path to the Draft provides in-depth analysis of all the top prospects, the latest news reports and more leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft on April 23-25. Led by NFL Network analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, and host Rhett Lewis, the 30-minute show also delves into all 32 NFL teams’ needs, breaks down which players can help each team, and discusses where in the draft teams can select the players to help them next season.

Additionally, NFL Mock Draft Live airs Tuesday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 14 at 9:00 PM ET on NFL Network, with Jeremiah, Brooks and host Colleen Wolfe. Each edition of NFL Mock Draft Live releases and debates a new Mock Draft from NFL Network’s team of analysts and experts, as well as unveils draft sleepers, offers NFL player comparisons and provides the best Fantasy Football team fits.

NFL Mock Draft Live culminates on Sunday, April 19 at 8:00 PM ET providing a complete first-round Mock Draft…

…NBC Sports Philadelphia creates Philly sports fans’ to-do list, which includes classic games, simulated games, team specials, plus updated stories, articles, videos, and quizzes. 

 Weekdays, NBC Sports Philadelphia airs SportsNet Central, The Mike Missanelli Show, and the digital-exclusive shows Quick Slants, and Lunch Break.

Fans have a number of opportunities this week to re-live some classic games from the Philadelphia Flyers, Phillies, and Sixers. These games are available via live stream, on the MyTeams app, and on nbcsportsphiladelphia.com. Stories, articles, videos, and fun quizzes are available daily across NBC Sports Philadelphia’s platforms, including the MyTeams app and nbcsportsphiladelphia.com.

The schedule includes:

Tuesday, April 7
6:00 pm – NBA 2K20 Bucks at Sixers
7:00 pm – 2018 NBA Playoffs Sixers at Heat, Round 1 Game 5 from April 21, 2018
9:30 pm – New York Mets at Phillies from June 27, 2019

Wednesday, April 8
6:00 pm – Case for 88: Eric Lindros Special
7:00 pm – NHL Alumni game: Pittsburgh vs. Flyers from 2017
9:30 pm – 2020 Flyers Wives Carnival

Thursday, April 9
6:00 pm – NHL20 Rangers at Flyers
7:00 pm – Rangers at Flyers from February 28, 2020

Friday, April 10
6:00 pm – NBA 2K20: Sixers vs. TBA
7:00 pm – 2018 NBA Playoffs, Miami at Sixers, Round 1 Game 5 from April 24, 2018
9:30 pm – Cardinals at Phillies from June 18, 2018

Saturday, April 11
12:00 pm – MLB The Show 20: Mets at Phillies
1:00 pm – Marlins at Phillies from August 2, 2018
7:00 pm – Sixers game You Pick the Game

Sunday, April 12
12:00 pm – The Perfect Season: 2008 Phillies Video Yearbook
1:30 pm – High Hopes: The Story of the 1993 Phillies
4:30 pm – Phillies Focus: Joe Girardi
7:00 pm – Capitals at Flyers from March 4, 2020

…NBC Sports’ new daily sports talk show, Lunch Talk Live, debuted on  Monday, April 6, at Noon ET on NBCSN, featuring host Mike Tirico joined by special guests, including current and former athletes, NBC Sports’ lineup of on-air commentators, and other prominent voices and figures within sports and media.

Lunch Talk Live focuses on the current state of the sports world and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, providing guests with a platform to discuss the state of sports, voice their personal stories and detail how they are adapting their daily lives during this challenging time.

The hour-long show will air weekdays at Noon ET on NBCSN and stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Select content and interviews will additionally be hosted on NBC Sports’ YouTube channel and social media platforms…

…SHOWTIME Sports will continue to serve boxing fans during the current hiatus from live sports, announcing today SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS with regularly scheduled replays of legendary bouts from the network’s deep archive of world championship boxing. SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS will air on three consecutive Friday nights beginning April 10, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME. The telecasts will also be available via the SHOWTIME streaming service and SHOWTIME ANYTIME.

The April slate of SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS will be highlighted by three Fight of the Year winners, which include some of the most heart-pounding and unforgettable fights in boxing history.

• Friday, April 10:
• • Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo I – 2005 Consensus Fight of the Year (also featuring the Round of the Year and later named Fight of the Decade)
  • Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo II
• Friday, April 17:
  • Paulie Ayala vs. Johnny Tapia I – 1999 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year (Ayala earned Fighter of the Year honors)
  • Paulie Ayala vs. Johnny Tapia II
• Friday, April 24:
  • Lucas Matthysse vs. John Molina – 2014 Consensus Fight of the Year
  • Mickey Bey vs. John Molina