The NFL’s Big Game is in town on Feb. 2 and MSG Networks have lined up some big telecasts ahead of pro football’s championship.
Starting January 25, MSG Networks, as part its "The Big Week" lineup, will feature 25 live professional and college games, highlighted by Syracuse-Wake Forest on Jan. 29 at 9 p.m., the New York Rangers-New York Islanders on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and culminating with the Miami Heat against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 1 at 8:30 p.m.
MSGNs'“The Big Week” will also include Rangers and Devils practice from their Yankee Stadium, postgame coverage of the Broadway Blueshirts’ outdoor matchups against the Devils and Islanders, and new episodes of original fare, including Four Courses with JB Smoove, and a special tribute to longtime Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen.
MSG faces off the week on Saturday, Jan. 25 from Yankee Stadium with live coverage of Devils practice at noon followed by Rangers practice at 3:00 p.m. as the clubs get ready for their Stadium Series game the following day. At 8:30 p.m., Hockey Night Live will take an in-depth look at the outdoor games with a special Stadium Series Edition, featuring host Al Trautwig alongside Butch Goring, Ken Daneyko and Dave Maloney, and reports and interviews from Yankee Stadium.
MSG will also telecast two hockey documentaries during the week. On Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m., NHL Network’s Road to Victory: The ’94 Rangers Story chronicles the Rangers’ march to the Stanley Cup and at 10 p.m. The following night the RSN will encore ESPN Films 30 for 30: Big Shot, directed by actor and Islanders fan Kevin Connolly, looks back at the story of the fraudulent Texas businessman who briefly purchased the Long Island team in the early 1990s.
“The Big Week” includes a trio of Knicks games at The Garden. In addition to the aforementioned matchup versus LeBron James and his Heat on the night before Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium (weather-permitting), MSG will carry the action versus the Celtics on Jan. 28 and Cavaliers on Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. Post-game coverage of Knicks-Los Angeles Lakers (the contest on ABC) is set for Jan. 26.
ACC basketball on MSG Networks continues on Wednesday, Jan. 29 with a doubleheader on MSG+. No. 2 Syracuse travels to Wake Forest in the night’s marquee matchup at 9 p.m., preceded by Virginia Tech-Boston College at 7 p.m.
MSG will debut the second installment of the sophomore season of the critically acclaimed original program Four Courses with JB Smoove, starring actor and comedian JB Smoove, on Jan. 30 at 11:30 p.m., immediately following Knicks-Cavaliers. The episode will feature actor Ralph Macchio, comedians Wyatt Cenac and Jim Norton, and Knicks Legend John Starks as they discuss sports and entertainment in the Big Apple.
On Jan. 31 at 10:30 p.m., immediately after coverage of the Rangers-Islanders game, MSG will honor and celebrate longtime Rangers play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen with the 30-minutue special “This One Will Last a Lifetime: 30 Years of Sam Rosen.” The show will look back at Rosen’s top calls from his distinguished career in the booth and include testimonials from Rangers greats Mike Richter and Brian Leetch, Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin, hockey legend Don Cherry, Rosen’s former partner Phil Esposito, and MSG’s broadcasting family.
Highlights from “The Big Week” schedule follow:
Saturday, January 25
9:30 a.m. 2012 Winter Classic: Rangers at Flyers (MSG)
12:00 p.m. Live Devils practice at Yankee Stadium (MSG)
1:00 p.m. Blues @ Islanders (MSG+)
3:00 p.m. Live Rangers practice at Yankee Stadium (MSG)
8:30 p.m. Hockey Night Live Stadium Series Edition (MSG & MSG+)
Sunday January 26
3:30 p.m. Postgame coverage of Rangers-Devils from Yankee Stadium (MSG & MSG+)
6:00 p.m. Knicks Extra postgame coverage of Knicks-Lakers game (MSG)
7:30 p.m. NHL Network’s Road to Victory: The ’94 Rangers Story (MSG)
Monday, January 27
7:00 p.m. Islanders vs. Bruins (MSG+)
10:00 p.m. ESPN Films 30 for 30:Big Shot (MSG & MSG+)
Tuesday, January 28
7:30 p.m. Knicks vs. Celtics (MSG)
8:00 p.m. Devils @ Blues (MSG+)
11:00 p.m. “The Game 365: Tyson Chandler” (MSG)
Wednesday, January 29
7:00 p.m. Virginia @ Boston College (MSG+)
9:00 p.m. Syracuse @ Wake Forest (MSG+)
10:00 p.m. Postgame coverage of Rangers-Islanders from Yankee Stadium (MSG)
Thursday, January 30
6:00 p.m. The AV Squad with Rangers coach Alain Vigneault (MSG)
8:00 p.m. Knicks vs. Cavaliers (MSG)
8:30 p.m. Devils @ Stars (MSG+)
11:30 p.m. Premiere of Four Courses with JB Smoove Season 2, Episode 2 (MSG)
Friday, January 31
7:00 p.m. Rangers vs. Islanders (MSG)
8:00 p.m. Devils @ Predators (MSG+)
10:30 p.m. Premiere of “This One Will Last a Lifetime: 30 Years of Sam Rosen” (MSG)
11:00 p.m. “The Game 365: Sam Rosen” (MSG)
Saturday, February 1
7:30 p.m. Visa Knicks Game Night (MSG)
8:30 p.m. Knicks vs. Heat (MSG)
10:00 p.m. Ford Knicks Postgame Show (MSG)
10:30 p.m. Knicks Extra (MSG)
