Comcast SportsNet is stepping into the game show genre with The Batter's Box.
Starting on July 1, the regional sports network home to the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, along with StarPilot Productions, will present a Chitown baseball trivia game on the service, pitting fans from the two squads against each other.
The half-hour Batter's Box presented by Midas will bow at approximately 5 p.m. (CT), following the RSN's coverage of Cubs Post Game Live. Hosted by Comcast SportsNet's Luke Stuckmeyer, the game features contestants answering multiple-choice questions, while applying baseball logic to move "runners" around the bases and score runs. The questions' level of difficulty ranges from a "single" (for easier questions) to a "home run" (for the most challenging questions). The player with the most runs at the end of three innings wins and advances to the next round.
Playing out over 15 weeks (late Sunday afternoon premieres, plus encores), the game's grand prize winner from among the 16 contestants will receive a "Game Day Experience of a Lifetime," including a luxury suite for the winner and their guests at either U.S. Cellular Field or Wrigley Field for a game in 2013, a meeting with the announcers in the broadcast booth, a visit to the CSN production truck, and the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
In addition, viewers at home have a chance to win some prizes by visiting CSNChicago.com and correctly answering the "Midas Trivia Question of the Week." One random winner among all the correct entries will be chosen weekly.
"The Batter's Box is the first show of its kind in Chicago to pit passionate and knowledgeable White Sox and Cubs fans against each other in a fun, competitive baseball trivia game show," said Greg Bowman, vice president of programming for Comcast SportsNet Chicago, in announcing the show. "This is truly a unique, local, original programming venture for us that definitely caters to both old and new Chicago baseball fans. Plus, viewers at home will also enjoy playing along to see how much they know about these two historic baseball franchises."
CSN Chicago's schedule for The Batter's Box:
First Round
Sun, July 1 at 5:00 PM (Cubs round) Brian Bosley vs. Will Cook
Sun, July 8 at 3:30 PM (White Sox round) Mike Medley vs. Ned Mulka
Sun, July 15 at 4:30 PM (Cubs round) Kristin Lee vs. Beau Thalheimer
Sun, July 22 at 3:30 PM (White Sox round) Milo Berrera vs. Patrick O'Malley
Sun, July 29 at 9:30 PM (Cubs round) Monty Childs vs. David Sellars
Sun, Aug. 5 at 4:30 PM (White Sox round) Julie Farby vs. Tony Paink
Sun, Aug. 12 at 4:30 PM (Cubs round) John Dooley vs. Anthony Hoffman
Sun, Aug. 19 at 4:30 PM (White Sox round) Antonio Barrentez vs. Tom Pauly
Quarterfinals
Sun, Aug. 26 at 4:00 PM (Cubs quarterfinals, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 2 at 4:00 PM (White Sox quarterfinals, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 9 at 6:00 PM (Cubs quarterfinals, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 16 at 4:30 PM (White Sox quarterfinals, contestants TBD)
Semifinals
Sun, Sept. 23 at 7:30 PM (Cubs semifinals, contestants TBD)
Sun, Sept. 30 at 4:30 PM (White Sox semifinals, contestants TBD)
Championship Game
Sun, Oct. 7 at 7:30 PM (White Sox champion vs. Cubs champion, contestants TBD)
