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| Comcast SportsNet Houston sidewalk level studio - you can walk right up and look |
I figured the Comcast SportsNet Houston launch party Monday at the network's new Houston Pavilions studio would be big, but it hit me just how big when I walked up and standing there on the street was Calvin Murphy. Then, as I was getting my badge, Kevin McHale's was right behind mine! You know me, it doesn't take much to excite me since I rarely get out anymore.
The crowd was full of Houston Astros and Rockets players and staff members (both teams own the network along with Comcast/NBC Sports). After a little crowd smoozing, members of the University of Houston Cougar Marching Band showed up to drum the crowd into the House of Blues which is directly across from the new sports network's studios.
Houston City Council Member James G. Rodriguez, who represents this area of town, said the city recognized the day as Comcast SportsNet Houston day.
Houston Rockets broadcaster Bill Worrell took the microphone and addressed the crownd about how Houston cable sports coverage started on Home Sports Entertainment (HSE), then became Prime Sports Networks and eventually Fox Sports Southwest and Fox Sports Houston. He says a lot of the original crew is back with CSN Houston.
Worrell added he likes the fact that CSN Houston will be broadcasting live Houston sports news in the afternoons and evening instead of the two minutes the rest of Houston TV devotes to it.
Matt Hutchings, President and General Manager at Comcast SportsNet Houston, closed the evening saying CSN Houston will be one of the best regional sports networks in the country. No stranger to Houston, Hutchings said he grew up here and his father worked for the Houston Astros under Judge Hofheinz.
Three CSN programming partnerships were announced last night:
- UH/Rice
- The Marathon Oil Corporation Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards
- Houston Shell Open
The Houston Rockets begin pre-season play so we'll see how CSN Houston handles team coverage for the first time.
RELATED
- Comcast SportsNet Houston launches
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